This could develop into an amazing series. You have one serious fan here, my friend x

I just thought it was kinda funny, but thanks for the kind words. =) Who’s next, and what word that rhymes with ‘anarchy’ will the writer use?

What happened here? He exploded for no reason? Also, I thought the monk had already left the tavern.

Thought the vampire was somewhat overly smug. Don’t like smug vampires. So:
1) Monk knows vampire’s behind it.
2) Leaves anti-vampire candle at table, talks to misdirect vamp. Reader would hopefully deduce this without making it explicit, or so I hoped. Will think about this, may change on other comments.
3) Monk left tavern at end of Part 1, Part 2 is mostly reverie immediately after with no fixed timing. Monk is just outside tavern.
4) Author finds seemingly random vampire explosion hilarious, semi-retconned candle for logic.
Oh, and hey — any thoughts on this one? http://ficly.com/stories/11743

Yeah, in retrospect I wasn’t clear enough about the candle and the monk’s positioning. Changes made, thanks! =)

Methinks we’re looking at Monk/Vampire war here with the ritual as the prize.

The undead sire’s killed by one lousy monk using a magnesium-based pyrotechnic charge hidden in the body of a candle?

OH – IT IS ON, SIR.

This piece makes much more sense to me with your edits!

It is a shame you can’t enter this into the challenge because it’s (another) serious contender. You could always post it separately if you really want to enter.
Either way, it’s a very good piece of writing. I do love the exploding candle. Monks aren’t as naive as vampires think they are :)

“Monks aren’t as naive as vampires think they are :)”

Damn straight. I think I will enter this separately… if anybody has a problem, I can delete one or the other. Or something.

Thanks for the comment. =)