Paris to Germany in same night

On a grassy bank in a park on the outskirts of Paris, a young man lay beside
a middle-aged woman, holding her hand. They were talking softly, shielded
from the setting evening sun by a large umbrella. Those passing by thought
they were perhaps a mother and son. None suspected that the orange-haired
gentleman in the blood-red suit was more than twice the age of the woman.

***

“How long can you stay this time?” Alicia asked, already knowing the
answer. Larten and Gavner had arrived a week earlier, and though nothing
had been said, she’d gathered within a few hours that it would be a short
visit. Larten always tried to cram in a lot if he wasn’t staying long. When
she heard him making plans for all the things that he wanted to do, she
knew the pair would be moving on in a matter of days, not weeks or
months. From his expression this afternoon, she realized the time had come
for them to leave, so she asked the question at last, the same way she
always did. It was a long-established routine of theirs.

“We go tonight,” Larten said. “We have a meeting that we must attend.
It is not far from here as vampires measure things, but it will take us most
of the night to get there.”

“Will you return soon?” she asked, again already knowing the answer.

Larten sighed. “I do not think so. We have been forced to deal with
unpleasant but determined people, and I suspect the negotiations will take
some time.”

***

The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Brothers to the Death, Chapter 1

***

This was the first time a Prince had negotiated with a human
delegation and it was a momentous event in the history of the clan. Mika
had to choose a General to be his second, someone he could discuss the
complex issues with. Most thought he would opt for an elderly vampire
with a proven record, but to everyone’s surprise—not least of all Larten’s—
he had asked for Seba Nile’s ex-student.

The pair had been engaged in talks with the Nazis for several weeks.
Franz was only the latest in a line of party members that they had dealt
with. They’d been treated to a tour of Germany to meet a variety of the
National Socialists in the flesh. Mika had read many documents about the
party, their beliefs and aims. They had dined well, slept in fine hotels, and
been treated like honored dignitaries.

***

The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Brothers to the Death, Chapter 2