Hunting on Horseback

*** DISCLAIMER – THIS BLOG IS FICTION AND THE AUTHOR IS NOT LIABLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF ANYONE WHO PERSISTS IN THINKING IT IS NOT FICTION ***

We do not often get to hunt on horseback these days; it draws too much attention to us as horses are a rarity, so we enjoy it when we do for the novelty value.

I much prefer to hunt on horseback; there are more options than using cars, although unfortunately these days we have to avoid fast roads and can lose prey because of this.

We can also lose prey on horseback if the prey hides successfully from us in hedges or other countryside features.

Fortunately most humans live in towns and thus do not know about this, whereas it used to be common in the past.

We can only really use horses in the country, as they are too conspicuous in towns and could not get beyond a walking pace.

In towns we are actually faster on foot than on horses, so we only use horseback for the fun of it.

I find it exhilarating to ride with the wind in my hair, following prey until I catch up with them and dispatch them.

Unfortunately horses are expensive, so I use one of my Obligatees’ horses. People are always borrowing horses from one another, so my lack of horse has not yet been noted.

It is one of the things that I miss about not having any money. My servant Jane has expressed a wish to care for horses and I would be delighted to oblige her, but money only goes so far.

In the past it would have been male servants who took care of horses, but I only have one servant, so Jane would have to take care of the horses.

I might be able to stretch to buying a broken-down nag, but there is such a thing as standards and I would prefer to have the best, which of course are expensive.

Of course, a servant could not ride a horse except in exceptional circumstances and especially not in the Wild Hunt.

Glossary

Bonded Wedding Old Vampire marriage for political reasons

Common Status the point at where an Old Vampire becomes a real Vampire

Debutante Vampires before Dracula came out, vampires who had been newly turned vampire were taught the rules of society. They then “came out” when they were deemed presentable to vampire society as debutantes. They are the only Old Vampires who have a zero level of Status and are acceptable.

The Committee see The Committee to Regulate Non-Human Activity

The Committee to Regulate Non-Human Activity a committee that meets monthly and talks about affairs to do with werewolves, vampires and humans

Fence an Old Vampire fight in which they fight to the first blood using fencing

The Hunters see Vampire Hunters

Negatives Old Vampires with zero or negative points of Status.

New Vampires vampires who do not want to be Old Vampires, often live as Goths and hold down jobs. This started after Dracula came out.

Notice the Status Keeper serves a Notice on an Old Vampire whose Status has reduced to zero that they are in danger of becoming a Negative

Obligation when one vampire is under an obligation from another s/he has to do as they say

Old Vampires vampires who are polite society. Either turned vampire before Dracula came out or were turned after by an Old Vampire and decided to join the Old Vampires.

Parent the vampire who brought you up (if you are an Old Vampire) in polite society

The Ruler’s Men people employed by The Ruler to do anything she or he asks

Shun a vampire who has committed a sex crime is shunned on their release

Sire the vampire who made you a vampire

Status a ranking system which denotes whether you are an acceptable member of Old Vampire society, which is if you have plus points of status. See Negatives and Thousands

Status Keeper the Old Vampire in charge of the Status points

Thousands Old Vampires whose Status is over a hundred points

Vampire Hunters New vampires who hunt down those vampires who have committed crimes

Vampire Servants servants who are vampires themselves. Mostly Old Vampires, one of their functions is to repeat information and gossip to the Old Vampires they serve

Walk into the sun a euphemism for suicide