Page 97 of Crimson Oath
Tatyana
“Tatyana Vorona!”
She turned when she heard Kezia’s voice in the meadow. They’d moved during the day, and Tatyana wondered if the Hazar suspected someone had intruded in the camp.
She saw Kezia walking toward her with a vampire behind her who had the bearing of a Hazar with his fitted black T-shirt and dark wrap sunglasses. He had sandy-brown hair cut military short and a square jaw.
From Tatyana’s observation, wind vampires wore sunglasses when they flew, which made sense to guard against irritation of the eyes. And some vampires wore glasses when they looked at screens or bright lights.
But to walk through the camp wearing them looked ridiculous.
“Tatyana.” Kezia called her name again and waved. “I’m so glad I found you.”
Tatyana rose and walked to Kezia, greeting the woman with a light press of her cheek to Kezia’s on one side, then the other, as the Poshani women had started greeting her.
“I am happy to be found,” Tatyana said. “What a beautiful new spot the darigan have found for us tonight.”
“Isn’t it?” Kezia turned to the water. “This location is one of my favorites.”
They were parked on the edge of a very large pond fed by a gently flowing stream, and instead of the kamvasa spreading in concentric circles, in this location it wrapped around the shore.
Many of the human wagons and trailers were opposite the central campsite, and the smell of cooking fires drifted across the water along with the sound of happy conversation and quiet music.
“Vano, you must meet our new surati, Tatyana Vorona.” Kezia held Tatyana’s hand and motioned to the man behind her whom Tatyana had thought was a guard.
Despite Kezia’s warm introduction, Tatyana got nothing from Vano. Not warmth and not distance. The man’s energy felt like a void.
Vano greeted her in Russian. “Welcome to the Dawn Caravan, Miss Vorona.”
“The Dawn what?” She looked at Kezia.
“That’s what many foreigners call the kamvasa.” Kezia smiled. “Vano is our businessman. He’s in charge of the money, so he talks with more foreigners than Poshani most nights. She speaks Poshani, brother. She picked it up surprisingly quickly.”
Vano nodded a little bit. “You honor us.”
“It’s a beautiful and fascinating language.”
“Some find it difficult to learn.”
“I enjoyed the challenge. It’s very nice to meet you.”
“You are most welcome to our wandering home.” Vano smirked a little bit. “Kezia and Radu say you have been a delightful addition to our traveling season this year. They sing your praises.”
“They’re very kind.”
“It’s good to get new blood into the caravan.”
“The season is coming to an end too quickly,” Tatyana said. “I love being here.”
“Perhaps you will visit us again when you have the time.” Vano’s tone of voice didn’t match his words. “I wish I could pull myself away from the office for a full season.”
“You could,” Kezia said. “But you love your accounts, brother.”
Tatyana smiled. “You know, my background is in accounting.”
“So I’ve heard.” A smile touched his lips. “Oleg’s clever bookkeeper.”
“I did work for Oleg for a time.” Tatyana kept her smile on like a mask. “I enjoy numbers, and he had an interesting job for me. I’m independent now.”
