Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

After she has finished Jourdain shoos the jackals and they run off back to the wilds around the monastery. He over the hill and begins walking toward the monastery himself. He doesn't say anything till they get much closer to the monastery, he sounds and looks a little melancholy as he says.

"Like I said the blood of animals isn't all that great but it will keep the beast at bay till we can both get fed properly. I can do most of the talking when we get to the monastery.

It may be better if you go back to pretending to be a male while we're here. Do you have an alias you prefer?"

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

"I went by Nabe. That's what everyone called me, and there were never any questions asked," Anabelle said, throwing her voice a few pitches deeper, and checking to see how tight the bandages were around her chest.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

"All right, Nabe it is." Is all Jourdain says as they make their way up to the monastery. Walking in through the portcullis two monks step forward and bow their heads before offering water jogs for the pair to wash their hands after traveling. One of the younger monks bows and motions for them to follow after they have finished.

The courtyard of the monastery is rather plain but functional, with about a dozen monks busy at various jobs throughout. A few look up and nod to the visitors but none say anything until they have been lead to the abbot. The abbot looks to be rather old judging from his greyed beard, but as he moves Anabelle can see he must be a good warrior. He nods to them both in greeting and speaks to Jourdain as if they were old friends.

"Glad to see you return to the monastery once more my brother. I assume you haven't come to see Osment since I see you still have his handiwork. How may I be of assistance to you."

Jourdain has remained just as quiet as the monks through all this but finally smiles and greets the abbot just as warmly.

"It's good to visit again. My squire, Nabe, and I merely seek shelter for the day. Tunis is a bit to far for what remains of the night."

The abbot bows and smiles at Anabelle as she is introduced subtly holding out the ring on his hand before turning back to Jourdain.

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Bending to one knee out of respect, Anabelle presses her lips quickly against the ring before getting back to her feet and standing beside her 'lord'. She does her best to keep her eyes from wandering, though occasionally they do slide across the courtyard to take in some of the monks.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

The monks don't seem to concerned about them as they stand speaking with the abbot. The abbot smiles and leads them into the monastery itself taking them down a flight of stairs and chatting with Jourdain about news of the outside world as he does so. Finally he stops at a small room with a stout door and opens it revealing a plain cell without windows.

"I think this should serve you and your squire quite well. Osment and I rest int he two adjoining cells. Now I'll let you retire since sunup is very near and I must see to the daily instructions of the others."

He leaves them in the small cell at that point and heads back up the stairs. Jourdain enters the room and takes off his sword belt setting the belt and the hammer on the mattress before sitting down himself and pointing towards the other cot for Anabelle.

"It probably won't be long before we get the urge to rest but I can answer more questions if you wish. We'll be more than safe here for the day."

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Anabelle carefully unbuckles her own belt, and lays the strip of leather and the sheathed sword hanging from it beside the offered cot before sitting herself down and staring across at the other vampire.

"After this trial... am I free to go home?" she asked somewhat nervously, pulling off her boots.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Jourdain leaves his armor on apparently not bothered by it's weight as he stares intently at Anabelle for a moment. Finally he shakes his head and answers her.

"Of course. You could leave now if you wished to, though you did give your word that you would testify before my elders. Often our word is all we really have that's worth anything of true value in our society. You should be careful about giving it too freely though because most of us are predators to the utmost degree and we'll take advantage of every chance we get."

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Anabelle watches the man, for despite his undead state she still thinks of him as such, stare at her. She wonders briefly why, as her armour still conceals most feminine traits about her save the womanly features of her face. Features she explained away by receiving plenty of teasing for being a "girly man".

"That is good to know. Perhaps we should rest, it is a long journey to Malta,"

 

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

"Yes, I am rather tired after the trials I have had this night, and tomorrow we must make haste for Tunis. I have a galley waiting there to take us on to Valetta. A week at the most and you'll be free from my service."

With that he laid back upon the cot and closed his eyes, looking much like any corpse would. She began to feel tired as well as she sat there and knew the sun must be rising outside of their shelter.

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

The feeling was odd, not entirely like being tired when she had lived but hours before, but similar in many ways. She laid herself back on the cot and let her eyes close, falling into something akin to sleep.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Anabelle's eyes abruptly open to stare at the ceiling of the quiet cell. She felt entirely refreshed even after her ordeals of the previous night. She felt a bit hungrier than she had at the time she had gone to rest the previous night however.

Looking about the cell she could see Jourdain was still in their deathlike state of rest. At least she thought he was, how could she really tell if the knight was asleep or awake on the small cot. He hadn't moved a bit since they had lain down to rest, his weapons still sitting loose by his side.

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Pulling herself up from the cot she tried to ignore her hunger. She'd done it before countless times on the march, but this time it felt different; more primal. Pulling on her boots and pulling her belt back around her waist, she started to pace back and forth across the cell.

She didn't want to just leave, nor did she want to awaken the knight whom she'd come to see as her mentor, despite being a different clan. Clans were something else she'd have to figure out, but with what she'd been told, apparently she didn't care all too much.

Finally ceasing her pacing she got to her knees and pulled a rosary from beneath her mail. Clutching the cross in her hands she began to quietly pray to God.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Jourdain's eyes suddenly flipped open and he looked about the chamber, seeing his companion in the midst of prayer he silently stood and put his sword belt back on.

While he waited for her to finish he made his way over to a wash basin and began to clean his face. He was incredibly thorough in his grooming habits, almost to the point of obsession. He then began to check his armor and weapons in much the same way. After his obsessive grooming was finished he knelt and said a quick prayer of his own.

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Finishing her prayer Anabelle got back to her feet and watched the knight. It was a good reminder of what he said before, sticking with humanity. When he finished she nodded her head gently.

"I'm ready to depart when you are,"

 

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Jourdain stands and leads the way from the cell quietly, heading up the stairs he leads the way toward the stables. Whispering quietly as they walk across the dark courtyard he says.

"Don't mention we're heading for Tunis, we don't have the time for a three day lecture about Carthage from the Abbot."

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Anabelle nodded, trying to speak as little as possible now that she was outside the room. It wouldn't do to draw any more attention to herself than was necessary.

She followed the knight closely, keeping her eyes locked ahead towards the stables, and their ride out of here. She couldn't wait to get this whole affair dealt with, so she could return home.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

In the stable, the abbot and another Cainite wait as one of the monks finishes preparing 2 horses. After the monk finishes and leaves the abbot points to the horses and smiles as he says.

"They are prepared as you asked, Jourdain. They should be able to get you to Tripoli in no time, though you'll likely have to lair somewhere for one day. That should fulfill the boon we owed you, though I look forward to the day when you return to trade favors again. Farewell and god speed."

Mounting his horse Jourdain waits for Anabelle and says a farewell of his own to the abbot and Osment before leading the way out of the monastery. They travel south till they are no longer in view of the monastery and then they gallop at full speed back the other way. They avoid the monastery and travel for at least an hour at full speed when Jourdain finally slows. Strangely the horse don't seem to tire at all despite their speed up to this point.

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

Following quickly, trying to remember how to ride from years before, Anabelle looked down at her mount when they finally slowed. She ran her fingers through his mane, expecting him to be panting, sweating. But he seemed so calm.

"Are the horses vampires as well?" she asked, trying to lean forward to look into its mouth and nearly falling off.

Well, it was better than walking, as she'd always had to back in the Holy Lands.

 

[dmronny]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

A smile creeps across Jourdain's face when Anabelle almost falls off the horse trying to look at it's teeth.

"No they are typically called ghouls, when Cainite blood is given to a mortal either animal or man it confers many of the benefits of an undead body such as increased strength and stamina. They are typically used as guardians during the times of daylight, since the sun doesn't hurt them.

Our vitae can be a very useful tool since it also instills a bond in the one who drinks making them more loyal to the Cainite who gave them the blood."

 

[Sinfulwolf]

Re: Prologue: Anabelle MacLoyd

"So who's horse do I have then?" Anabelle asked after taking some difficult moments to right herself back up in the saddle. Despite her new state, her rear was starting to feel sore. She was certainly not used to this.