Assar Assar stood as still and as quiet as an oak tree as he waited for Oksana to meet him at the gates of the house seat. It was completely at odds with the impatience that was fighting to make itself known. The old vampire, Yuri, stood waiting in equal parts still and silent. He had arrived an hour early and met Yuri who had provided him with a raptor, supplies, as well a mix of maps that covered the majority of the blood lands. Assar eyed the scaly mount in displeasure. It was large, easily nine feet long with large corded muscles. Its head was triple the size of his head and longer with a snout filled with razor-sharp teeth. Instead of four legs like a horse, it had two large feet with three toes each ending in large talons. He had ridden a few of the beasts in the past and had hunted

