ga6..ga6..ga6..ga6..

He had a name now, or perhaps again. It had taken him a while, but he'd determined that when Red Woman used the group of sounds 'Ayn jel' she was referring to himself. Not in the form of his role, the tasks that he was responsible for, or to his nature as a blood drinker, which seemed to be the meaning of the word 'vahm pire', but him. He didn't know if it had been his name before he'd been sent to the Bad Place, or if she'd given him a new name for her own whim. It didn't matter.

The fact that Red Woman used a name for him meant he had individual value to her. This idea was reinforced by the fact that she'd taken him with her to the home of her parents, a bleeder woman and a lesser Magi man. No, he must remember that they were called humans here, one human, two humans, three humans... don't just grab one because you're hungry. Even if there were many of them that seemed to be under no protection at all.

Protection was important. This place had many blood drinkers, the vahm pires, and many demons, and most of them seemed willing to feed on the bleeders, humans. He shook his head, reminding himself to use the right words. Vahm pires and humans.

Red Woman had permitted him to guard her when she spoke with some of her allies. There was another Magi, not as strong as Red Woman, but stronger than Red Woman's father, his body beginning to weaken with age. Perhaps he was Red Woman's instructor in magic. If so, he'd best be alert for the slightest sign that the old one might betray Red Woman, or that he'd decided her power was a possible threat. Too often, the Magi turned on each other, fighting, weakening each other.

Yet another reason for one of the Magi to have guards. The old Magi's guards seemed to be a young warrior, oddly enough a human, and there was the female that had accompanied them, the young warrior's woman. Neither of them trusted him.

He'd decided that Red Woman's injuries were an obvious sign that whoever had been her guard before had not been very capable, or perhaps poorly motivated. Her injuries were signs of surviving an attack, not from some sort of accident or too much magic, though she'd only slowed her recovery by bringing him to her side.

Hunting the unaffiliated demons and vahm pires was a dangerous task, one that few humans would be well suited to accomplish. More likely that they'd become the vahm pire or demon's meal. But he'd watched them at the enclosure with the rows of carved stones. They had been hunting, seeking the vahm pires when they were still young and weak, before they could first feed and gain their strength. The way they knew what was happening showed that this wasn't their first time hunting, and they had done quite well, considering. Not as dangerous as he was, but he was a vahm pire, not a fragile human.

Red Woman could be too easily injured out hunting and fighting. Ayn jel didn't like it, and lacked the words to persuade her to remain in a protected place and destroy her prey with spells. Between Red Woman's stubbornness and her current weakness, he had been busy. As frustrating as it was that demons and weak vahm pires kept attacking her, it had given him a chance to show his usefulness, to prove his loyalty to her.

As he watched Red Woman sleep, he wondered if he would be so willing to guard her if she had not brought him to her presence, brought him away from the Bad Place. If he would have served her before he'd gone to the Bad Place. A part of him whispered that he hadn't, that he'd served no one, proud and stubborn in his independence, only fighting beside the Yellow Woman who lurked in his dreams, smiling, fighting, stabbing him and sending him into the Bad Place. Another part, that darker part that whispered that there were so many bleeders about nobody would miss one or two, that part felt that he might have given his service to anyone who had brought him out of the Bad Place, brought him out and given him blood and a place of safety. It was the darker voice within him that made him such a skilled fighter, but it was the other voice that had prevented him from giving his allegiance to any in the Bad Place. This voice wanted someone that was more than strong, but someone who was worthy. That was the voice that enjoyed Red Woman's kindness so much.

The darker voice was insisting that if Red Woman kept going out to fight, she would be injured again, even if he was much better than the wretched weak demons and vahm pires of this place. Even his darker voice didn't want that to happen, because without the patronage and protection of the Red Woman, even if that was not as impressive as the patronage of the Magi in the Bad Place, he would find survival much more difficult. Hardly impossible, but why let things get that much more difficult if he could prevent it by keeping one Magi alive? No, her continued survival and improved health would only be to his advantage, especially once her health remained good due to his guardianship.

She had to get stronger, more capable. He had no doubts about her innate power, but her training… ah, the older Magi had not given her the training that she deserved. Though Red Woman was very clever, perhaps if he could find her the Books of Power, she could improve without special instruction. Why else would so many Magi guard their Books of Power so carefully? With a nod to himself, Ayn jel decided that he would have to find Red Woman more Books of Power, even if that meant taking them from those who were less worthy of owning those Books. It would be tricky, but he could do it.

Yes, it was good to have an ambition as well as current responsibilities. It kept him alert, and would continue to prove his value to Red Woman if he brought her more Books of Power. Perhaps if he pleased her enough, she would reward him? And if he took the Books of Power by killing those who were her enemies… yes, beneficial to Red Woman and perhaps tasty.

He really was clever to devise such a good plan.

End Guardian Angels Interlude: Acceptance and Value.