Aleric Atheffelde was born to circumstances that if called poverty would be to elevate his and his families standing 10 fold. The setting is early Gaul during the Crusades. There's not much opportunity for him to have a good life but he can talk with birds so with a bit of pushiness he manages to obtain a job at the castle working with the hunting birds. The Priest of Blood is the first book of the The Vampyricon series and tells of Aleric's birth, childhood, teens, early manhood and the first years of his vampyric life.

(Source: Ace Hardcover)