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I winced at his last words。 I knew what he meant。 What must a brave general feel when he knows the battle has gone against him and nothing remains but death？ Mael looked up at Avicus with a face full of sorrow and sympathy。
But Avicus was not finished。 On he went with his walking； seeing nothing before him but memory； his thick black hair falling forward as he dipped his head under the weight of memories he bore。
His black eyes were lustrous in the light of the many lamps。 But his expression was his finest feature。
〃Was it the sun； or was it a Terrible Fire？〃 he asked。 〃Did someone try to burn them？ Did someone believe such a thing could be done？ （Oh； it's so simple。 I should have remembered。 But memory is desperate to leave us。 Memory knows that we cannot endure its pany。
Memory would reduce us to fools。 Ah； listen to old mortals when they have nothing but memories of childhood。 How they go on mistaking those around them for persons long dead； and no one listens。 How often I have eavesdropped on them in their misery。 How often I have wondered at their long uninterrupted conversations with ghosts in empty rooms。〃
Still I said nothing。
But he looked at me at last； and asked me：
〃You saw them； the King and Queen。 You know where they are？〃
I waited a long moment before answering。 I spoke simply when I answered。
〃I saw them； yes。 And you must trust me that they are safe。 And that you don't want to know where they are。〃 I studied both of them。 〃If you were to know； then perhaps some night other blood drinkers could take you prisoner and wring the truth from you； and they might strive to claim the King and Queen。〃
Mael studied me for a long while before he responded。 〃We fight others who attempt to take Rome from us。 You know we've done this。 We force them to leave。〃
〃I know you do；〃 I said。 〃But the Christian vampires continue to e； and they e in numbers； and those numbers grow larger all the time。 They are devoted to their Devil； their Serpent； their Satan。 They will e again。 There will be more and more。。。〃 〃They mean nothing to us；〃 said Mael disgustedly。 〃Why would they want this Holy Pair？〃
For a moment I said nothing。 Then the truth broke from me hatefully； as though I couldn't protect them from it； nor protect myself。
〃All right；〃 I said。 〃Since you know so much； both of you； let me explain the following： many blood drinkers want the Mother and the Father。 There are those who e from the Far East who know of them。 They want the Primal Blood。 They believe in its strength。 It's stronger than any other blood。 But the Mother and Father can move to defend themselves。 Yet still thieves will always be in search of them； ready to destroy whoever keeps them in hiding。 And such thieves have in the past e to me。〃
Neither of them spoke。 I went on。
〃You do not want； either of you；〃 I said； 〃to know anything further of the Mother and the Father。 You do not want rogues to e upon you and try to overpower you for your knowledge。 You do not want secrets which can be ripped from your heart。〃
I glared at Mael as I said these last words。 Then I spoke again。
〃To know of the Mother and the Father is a curse。〃
A silence fell； but I could see that Mael would not allow for it to be very long。 A light came into his face； and he said to me in a trembling voice：
〃Have you drunk this Primal Blood？〃 Slowly he became incensed。 〃You have drunk this blood； haven't you？〃
〃Quiet； Mael；〃 said Avicus。 But it was no use。
〃You have drunk it；〃 said Mael in fury。 〃And you know where the Mother and Father are concealed。〃
He rose from the chair and rushed at me； and suddenly clamped his hands on my shoulders。
Now； I am by nature not given to physical bat； but in a rage I pushed him off me with such force that he was thrown across the floor and back against the wall。
〃How dare you？ 〃 I asked fiercely。 I struggled to keep my voice low so as not to alarm the mortals in the banquet room。 〃I ought to kill you。 What peace of mind it would give me to know you were dead。 I could cut you into pieces that no sorcerer could reassemble。 Damn you。〃
I was trembling with this uncharacteristic and humiliating rage。
He gazed at me； his mind unchanged； his will only slightly chastened and then he said with extraordinary fervor：
〃You have the Mother and the Father。 You have drunk the Mother's blood。 I see it in you。 You cannot hide it from me。 How will you ever hide it from anyone else？ 〃
I rose from my chair。
〃Then you must die；〃 I said； 〃isn't that so？ For you know； and you must never tell anyone else。〃 I made to advance on him。
But Avicus who had been staring at all this in shock and horror rose quickly and came between us。 As for Mael； he had drawn his dagger。 And he seemed quite ready for the brawl。
〃No； Marius； please；〃 said Avicus； 〃we must make peace with each other； we cannot keep up this struggle。 Don't fight with Mael。 What could be the oute； but two wounded creatures hating each other even more than now？〃
Mael was on his feet。 He held his dagger ready。 He looked clumsy。 I don't think he knew weapons。 As for his supernatural powers； I didn't think either of them understood fully what they might do。 All this； of course； was defensive calculation。 I didn't want this battle any more than Avicus wanted it； yet I looked to Avicus now and said coldly：
〃I can kill him。 Stay out of the way。〃
〃But that is the point；〃 said Avicus； 〃I cannot do this； and so you will be fighting the two of us； and such a fight you can't win。〃
I stared at him for a long moment during which words failed me pletely。 I looked to Mael with his uplifted dagger。 And then in a moment of utter despair I went to my desk and sat down and rested my head on my elbows。
I thought of the night in the far city of Antioch when Pandora and I had slaughtered that bunch of Christian vampires who had e so foolishly into our house talking about Moses in the desert lifting the Serpent； and secrets from Egypt； and all such seemingly marvelous things。 I thought of all that blood and the burning afterwards。 And I thought also how these two creatures； though we didn't speak or see each other； had been my only panions all these years in Rome。 I thought of everything perhaps that mattered。 My mind sought to organize itself round Mael and Avicus； and I looked up from to the other； and then out to the garden again。
〃I'm ready to fight you；〃 said Mael with his characteristic impatience。
And what will you achieve？ You think you can cut out the secret of the Mother and the Father from my heart？〃
Avicus came to my desk。 He sat down in the nearest chair before me and looked to me as if he were my client or friend。
Marius； they are close to Rome。 I know it。 I have known it for a long time。 Many a night you have gone out into the hills to visit some strange and lonely place； and with the Mind Gift I have followed you； wondering what could take you to such a distant spot。 I believe now that you go to visit the Mother and the Father。 I believe you took them out of Egypt。 You can trust me with your secret。 You can also trust me with your silence if you wish。〃
〃No；〃 said Mael； ing forward immediately。 〃Speak； or I'll destroy you； Marius； and Avicus and I will go to the very spot and see the Mother and Father for ourselves。〃
〃Never；〃 said Avicus； being for the first time angry。 He shook his head。 〃Not without Marius。 You're being foolish；〃 he said to Mael。
〃They can defend themselves；〃 I said coldly。 〃I've warned you。 I've witnessed it。 They may allow you to drink the Divine Blood。 They may refuse you。 If they refuse； you will be destroyed。〃 I paused for emphasis then went on。
〃Once a strong god from the East came into my house in Antioch；〃 I said。 〃He forced his way into the presence of the Mother and the Father。 He sought to drink from the Mother。 And when he made to sink his fangs into her neck； she crushed his head； and sent the lamps of the room to burn his flailing body till there was nothing left。 I don't lie to you about these things。〃 I gave a great sigh。 I was tired of my own anger。 〃Having t