Exton

I place a hand on Bloodstone's shoulder. "Wisely and slow, my friend. They stumble that run fast." I hand him a small deerskin pouch. "Perhaps your own natural armament will be sufficient against Jean-Marc and his followers, but I prefer an edge." I open the pouch and show him ten gleaming objects. "Claw sheaths, forged of an iron-silver alloy, and razor sharp. I would have you at least Jean-Marc's equal in this fight, and preferably his superior."

I turn to Obsidian. "In the back of the car, you will find a long narrow box, the length nearly of a coffin, but not nearly so wide. Please bring it in."

The hunters equip themselves for the search and rescue while Obsidian performs his task. The box is placed on a table in the kitchen and I call the remaining Tavern folk to attend me there.

The first item out of the box is a Savage Arms double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun. "I borrowed these items from a colleague of mine, Father John Matthews, a former Jesuit priest and avid hunter. On occasion, he hunts things that require special ammunition." I show them a large wooden box. "The shells in this box contain silver shot which has been quenched in a bath of holy water. I need say no more."

I next take out a Colt Automatic, 45 caliber. "The bullets for this weapon are of the hollow-point variety. The hollow has been filled with a drop of silver nitrate - as poisonous to a shifter as cyanide to us, if not more so - and the hollow then sealed with a drop of molten lead. When the bullet hits, momentum will keep the silver nitrate moving and it will spray the soft lead nose away in all directions. Once it gets into the bloodstream, in any concentration, death is certain."

I turn to Obsidian again. "I believe you have at least one magical blade in your possession?" He nods. "Excellent. Jean-Marc or some of his followers may think to come here when they learn that they have lost their prize and the hunters are upon their track. Be wary, and shoot to kill. I must go now; pray for our success this night."