True to his word, he was back in under fifteen minutes, another deer draped across his shoulders. The succubi were awake by this time, and after a quick breakfast of venison (Koreen made a face, but submitted to Yumiko's insistence that she should at least eat some) Fenrir pulled Nelith aside to ask her about the dead succubi.

  "We don't really have a specific custom for that. I mean, until semi-recently it was a really rare thing for a succubus to die. There's not that many of us to begin with, and we don't live together in tribes very often with the whole needing sex to thrive thing. Most Dark-races aren't that picky about what happens to them after death. Once they're dead, that's it; they're gone, so who cares? I know some of the more civilized tribes of Dark-races do specific things; the oni for example bury their dead in special mounds on mountaintops, and harpies have each of the dead's loved ones pick a primary from their wings and sow it into their own feathers, but most orc tribes just pce their dead in the forest to decay or be eaten by wild animals. I don't think goblins even do that much." The dark-haired succubus shrugged. "My old mistress would ugh at me for being sentimental, but I do kind of want to do something for them. I know they're gone, but I want to do something in their memory. They were my- our friends, after all."

  Fenrir nodded. "In many cultures, funerals are not really for the sake of the dead. They are for the living, to give them a way to say goodbye."

  Nelith thought that over. "I actually kinda like that. I think that's what I really want to do, say goodbye."

  "Very well. It's best that we do this sooner rather than ter. Do you have any objections to burning their remains?"

  "Not particurly." She looked up at him. "I would like to make a request though. Can you make something to remember them by? Like a marker or something like that. I'd like there to be more than just a pile of ashes to mark their resting pce."

  Fenrir smiled and nodded. "Not to worry. I know just the thing."

  Several hours ter, five neat biers stood in a small clearing to the north of the castle, not far from the wall. On each was id one of the dead succubi, covered with tent canvas. As he worked, Fenrir had mused to himself, 'The succubi did fairly well for themselves, only losing five of their number. Of course, from what I could tell, the soldiers were mostly focused on cornering them first, and then I showed up just when they finally managed it.'

  Surveying the pyres, he reflected, 'Technically I'm only a quarter Scandinavian, and I'm not even sure that counts anymore, considering this is an entirely new body. I never paid that much attention to my heritage, either, so counting this as 'my customs' may be stretching it a bit, but oh well. It's not like there's anyone around to call me out on it, and it's not like I'm only pretending to honor the dead, so I suppose I needn't feel guilty about it. The important thing is to give the ones still living closure, and this ceremony should do that, even if I'm half making it up.'

  Once done with the pyres, he searched for a stone which suited his specifications. Finding it, he carved out the names Nelith had given him in the faces of the roughly rectangur cube, marveling as he did so at the strength of his cws. 'It's true that this is retively soft stone, but it's really not that difficult to make grooves in it. I guess making those hollows I wanted won't be too difficult either. I was worried I might have to give that idea up.' Once finished carving, he dug a hole and with some effort set the obelisk upright in the center of the clearing, protruding about six feet from the ground.

  Once all was in readiness, he called everyone to the clearing. The succubi were sombre, even Chellise having lost her smile, and Safara exhibited hints of curiosity beneath her facade of indifference. After giving all of the succubi some time to view and say goodbye to each body, he set each bier alight. Earlier he had cut a tip off each dead succubus' horns, and now the ones still living gently affixed each into the hollow in the stone painstakingly carved for it. The end result showed each name accented with the horn tip of the succubus in question. As they pced the horns one by one, Nelith spoke, recalling each of the deceased's qualities, sharing a memory which encapsuted the personality of each.

  By the time the service, such as it was, was done, there was not a dry eye among them, even Safara surreptitiously wiping away tears at the raw emotion in Nelith's voice. Fenrir could not entirely suppress his own sympathy. He did not so much care for the dead succubi; after all, as Kira had pointed out earlier, he had not known them. But to see the succubi he was quickly coming to care for so sorrowful brought answering emotions alive within him.

  After spending some time watching the fmes in silence, by unspoken consent they all started back towards the castle. Later Fenrir would return and bury what remained of the pyres at the base of the memorial column. Nelith made her way to Fenrir's side, and after taking a moment to gather her thoughts, told him, "Thanks for that. It feels... good, I guess, to say goodbye like that. And the memorial pilr, too. I'm gd you had the idea about putting the horn tips in the rock. It feels more like them than just a name would."

  "You're satisfied, then, with the memorial?"

  "Oh, yeah. It was actually way more than I expected." She gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you."

  Fenrir inclined his head in acknowledgement. They walked in silence for several minutes before Nelith was called to crify a detail of a story Kira was reting, and Fenrir dropped back to walk beside Safara, who was deep in thought.

  "What has you so preoccupied?" he asked.

  She jerked violently at his voice, before recovering herself and gring at him in embarrassment. "I don't see why you should care."

  "Perhaps I am simply interested in you," he replied genially.

  Her gre deepened, but a blush joined it as she retorted, "Save your lies for someone who believes them. You only care about making me into your sve."

  Fenrir chuckled. "Most certainly not. If I wanted you merely to be a sve, I would have forced your obedience long before now."

  This gave her a moment's pause, and Fenrir could almost hear her thoughts as she debated whether to believe him. Eventually she raised her eyes again, her voice unsure as she asked, "Then what do you want with me? You haven't done anything to me yet, but you say that you're going to make me yours. If you're not going to rape me or make me a sve, then what does that mean?"

  "An answer for an answer, little one. Tell me what you were thinking of before I interrupted you, and I will tell you what I mean when I say that you will be mine."

  She wavered for a moment, before blushing again as she replied, "Okay, fine. I was just thinking that I never expected to feel sorry for a demon, but they actually seemed to care for each other."

  Fenrir frowned. "Of course they do. They love, and mourn the loss of those they love just as you do. Did you expect them to be uncaring monsters who feel nothing for any other being?" She said nothing, but Fenrir read the answer in her face. He did not raise his voice, but it became yered more heavily with disapproval the longer he spoke. "Let me guess. It is what you were taught to believe, and you never even considered questioning it. 'All Dark-races are monsters which care for nothing beyond themselves, who delight in bringing pain and suffering to all about them, and none of whom have any redeeming qualities.' Is that it?"

  She shrunk in on herself under his censorious gre, blue eyes full of shame.

  "Learn this lesson now, and learn it well. You know but one side of this story. No sapient race is entirely without redeeming qualities, just as none is without shameful ones. Be very cautious about making judgements of those you do not understand. I highly doubt that any of these women around you have ended as many lives as you have. Considering that, who is really the monster here?"

  Safara looked utterly abashed, and they walked in silence for several minutes, until she almost squeaked, "I'm sorry. You're right, I never even considered that monst- I mean, Dark-races might have emotions like the Light-peoples. I was just always taught that they were... well, monsters."

  Fenrir sighed. "It is not entirely your fault. It is only logical that Light-races would attempt to dehumanize their enemies. After all, it is much easier to kill a monster than another person."

  Safara looked at him in surprise. "I didn't expect you to say something like that."

  "Still believe me a heartless monster?"

  "Well, no, but..."

  "But?"

  "...You killed all of the Vigil's soldiers, and you didn't even get hurt, so far as I could tell. You're not... I mean, you don't..." She trailed off into silence, unsure of how to put her thoughts into words.

  "I am a Dark creature is what you want to say, no? I can and have killed quickly and easily, to a degree not often seen outside heroes and monsters, nor do I seem to regret killing."

  Safara nodded.

  Fenrir continued, "You are correct. I do not regret what I have done, but make no mistake; I do not kill merely for the sake of killing. Those men would have killed these succubi. They did kill some of them. In the time since, I have gotten to know them a little, and I have seen nothing that would make me regret my decision. They may be demons, but they are good people, as I reckon such things. Yes, I killed the men of this 'Vigil', and yes, I would do so again. But not out of some instinctual need to spill blood. No, I killed to protect these girls."

  "Do you expect me to think you're a hero because of that?" Safara asked, a hint of scorn creeping into her voice.

  "No. I expect you to understand that I am no mindless beast, driven only by instinct or desire. I expect you to recognize that I am a being of purpose, like yourself."

  Safara sighed. "I don't understand you. Sometimes I could almost believe you are- well, maybe not good, but principled at least, and then other times..." She shook her head wearily. "What did you mean when you said you would make me yours?"

  Fenrir was silent for a moment as they turned into the courtyard of the castle. "I meant that I will bring you to serve me, not unwillingly, as a sve, but that of your own free will you will follow me and abide by my commands. You will serve me because that is what brings you the most joy, the greatest fulfilment. Nor will your service go unrewarded, or you be uncared for."

  She said nothing more, her face showing the tumult of conflicting emotions, thoughts, and desires that raged within her. Content to let the matter rest for now, Fenrir kept his peace as well, passing into the castle proper in silence.

  TheBestofSome