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By the time the Rainlords left, Linus was in a foul mood. Mr. Vance must've been able to tell, because he asked him to stay and talk instead of escorting them to their rooms. Granted, that was grunt work, but still. If the Rainlords decided to go crazy and start attacking people, Linus might've been the only person in the building who could stop them.

"I want you go with them," Mr. Vance.

Linus didn't understand. Go with them? The man had just asked him to stay behind and talk. "What?"

"To Logden Prison," he clarified. "Take some men with you, if you want, but I want you to accompany the Rainlords personally."

Linus blinked. "Sir, what are you talking about? I couldn't possibly leave Ridgemark, right now. If the VMP breaches the city, this place would be all but defenseless. You'd be defenseless."

"I know."

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Had the man lost his--?

Hmm.

Actually, no. On second thought, Linus could believe it just fine.

Vino Vance had been acting strange over the last few months. He'd been making decisions that he never would have a year ago, taking risks that he never would have.

Just last month, for instance, when that first group of Rainlords arrived, Vino had asked him to send a group to negotiate with them. This, when a Vanguardian field marshal had been only a stone's throw away from here. It had worked out for the best in the end, of course, but it could have easily turned into gigantic mess for a variety of reasons.

And there were subtler changes, too. Vino's appetite wasn't what it used to be. Linus barely ever saw him eating, anymore. It didn't help that Vino's natural appearance had always been rather pale and sickly, either.