Encounters Part 2
"Aren't you a pretty little thing, why don't you join me for supper this fine evening."
Oily black eyes leered at my bodice, his fingers tightened on the rusty blade poised on the skin of my throat. It pricked me ever so slightly. His other hand, to my dismay began to grope its way downward. Nauseated I could only think desperately for a way out. The other 5 brigands of the ambush party were nowhere to be seen. I yelped in complete surprise as my attacker's blood gushed forth in all directions. His dislocated head rolled about, staining the dirt road even further with crimson. Turning I saw Lorain scanning the forest around us, ever vigilant. Her chain mail armor was in disarray, tarnished with the signs of battle. Relieved I started to walk towards her when another man appeared, a most disturbing smile etched across his features. With blinding speed my dear friend reached me first, taking up a defensive posture.
"Come forth any closer and you will die, none shall harm my lady."
That small gesture of protective devotion brought a tiny smile to my lips. Knowing better then to get in her way, I quietly grasped the small dagger concealed in the waistband of my dress. I might not have the same level of martial talent that Lorain possessed but Id make damned sure I wouldn't hinder her. My nightly lessons in that blade's use assured that. The man only grinned madly and stared at us, his tattered gray robes obscured all but the blackened beard on his face.
"I know you Lorain, you bare the hopes of all of us. Our salvation, these things must come to pass you see."
His ranting worsened from there. It took on a more fanatical, awed tone.
"A shroud that encompasses all will darken across the landscape bringing forth misery and decay. "
Lorain glared at him showing no emotion, her entire face was like polished ice, cold and ruthless. A sliver of fear planted itself in my heart. This was not the look of my truest companion and secretly I wept in despair. Her dormant nature was reasserting itself. Gently I grasped her shoulder and felt the tenseness of her muscles even beneath the armor. Her green gaze stayed focused on our adversary, never wavering. Then without so much as a blink, she was gone from my hands, gliding across the ground with a feline grace. Soundless as the darkness itself. I turned away as her sword pierced his chest, slicing him cleanly in half. My body felt numb while my head filled with heat, almost like I was floating.
"Mariee!!"
So far away, I feel tears fall onto my face as Lorain cradled me in her arms. The dust and blood seeped into my nose as I finally passed out.
Sunlight and forest pines greeted me as I awoke. I tried to move but was hampered by something encircling my waist. Still groggy I tried to struggle but the enticing warmth of the blanket roll convinced me otherwise. Slowly I moved my head slightly to the right and was astonished to see Lorain spooned up against me. It was her arms that prevented my movement. She was now clothed in her shirt and breeches but I on the other hand was adorned in only my undergarments. A rather amusing arrangement indeed.
"Why is it that you are fully clothed?" I put a twinge of disappointment in my voice.
A solitary green orb opened and winked humorously, then she said quite seriously, "You were poisoned by that one fiend's rusty blade, I had to remove most of your dress to keep you warm though the night." Lorain paused for a moment then sighed. "The castle was taken along with the papers. Those –nuns- are nowhere to be seen. Where shall we go to now?" I didn't reply immediately, rather then ponder that question I buried myself deeper into the blanket to buy some time. Realizing my hesitation Lorain only mumbled tiredly and closed her eye again. Keeping her arms strategically placed around my midsection of course. With this the two of us fell back into a dreamless slumber.
Hours later we came upon a small hamlet on the edge of my father's former domain. It was a quaint little village with stonework buildings and farmlands stretching out into the horizon. Beyond that a mountainous path could be seen leading over to Spain's boarder. One would think it ridiculous that Lorain and I didn't know a word of French even though my former castle was stationed there but I had only just inherited it recently. I was sent from my mother's duchy in England to oversee father's assets. Being his only living child made me the only candidate. Lorain of course has only been with me for 5 years, before that her past was a mystery to me. Even now I wonder where she came from but alas my dear knight is loath to speak of it. As if sensing my thoughts she looks back at me showing that smile of hers.
"Time to find out where those nuns ran to! I swear to never leave your side Mariee, for as long as I breathe air on this earth."
Nodding my agreement I intertwined my arm with hers. "Time to play a rather dashing role, one of husband. We must not let anyone know of our true identities."
Lorain straitened her even more male attire complete with green feathered hat and cloak. Her hair was cut short now in the manner of gentry' men and paladins. I felt a pang of regret at the loss of her long locks but that subsided as she placed a fake mustache upon her lip. Gently I tugged at the sides of it.
"A grand ruse if I say so myself."
A slight blush formed on her cheeks, then she turned away but not before I saw the sparkle of laughter in her eyes. I finished straitening my own sapphire colored gown then Lorain tugged on the bridle of her black roan, sending it into a light canter. Soon the answers to this puzzle would become known.
----Within the recesses of the Manor---
Ambrosia looked at the two saplings before her and said, "Let the ritual of succession begin." The two young women nodded solemnly and set out in search of the third.
(AN- sorry this update took a little while, car troubles/college have taken up some of my time. *Remembers EP 26 of Noir and the entire Nun whacking, it was indeed like a Whack A Mole in the vineyards of the Manor, so very funny! ^_^* )
"Aren't you a pretty little thing, why don't you join me for supper this fine evening."
Oily black eyes leered at my bodice, his fingers tightened on the rusty blade poised on the skin of my throat. It pricked me ever so slightly. His other hand, to my dismay began to grope its way downward. Nauseated I could only think desperately for a way out. The other 5 brigands of the ambush party were nowhere to be seen. I yelped in complete surprise as my attacker's blood gushed forth in all directions. His dislocated head rolled about, staining the dirt road even further with crimson. Turning I saw Lorain scanning the forest around us, ever vigilant. Her chain mail armor was in disarray, tarnished with the signs of battle. Relieved I started to walk towards her when another man appeared, a most disturbing smile etched across his features. With blinding speed my dear friend reached me first, taking up a defensive posture.
"Come forth any closer and you will die, none shall harm my lady."
That small gesture of protective devotion brought a tiny smile to my lips. Knowing better then to get in her way, I quietly grasped the small dagger concealed in the waistband of my dress. I might not have the same level of martial talent that Lorain possessed but Id make damned sure I wouldn't hinder her. My nightly lessons in that blade's use assured that. The man only grinned madly and stared at us, his tattered gray robes obscured all but the blackened beard on his face.
"I know you Lorain, you bare the hopes of all of us. Our salvation, these things must come to pass you see."
His ranting worsened from there. It took on a more fanatical, awed tone.
"A shroud that encompasses all will darken across the landscape bringing forth misery and decay. "
Lorain glared at him showing no emotion, her entire face was like polished ice, cold and ruthless. A sliver of fear planted itself in my heart. This was not the look of my truest companion and secretly I wept in despair. Her dormant nature was reasserting itself. Gently I grasped her shoulder and felt the tenseness of her muscles even beneath the armor. Her green gaze stayed focused on our adversary, never wavering. Then without so much as a blink, she was gone from my hands, gliding across the ground with a feline grace. Soundless as the darkness itself. I turned away as her sword pierced his chest, slicing him cleanly in half. My body felt numb while my head filled with heat, almost like I was floating.
"Mariee!!"
So far away, I feel tears fall onto my face as Lorain cradled me in her arms. The dust and blood seeped into my nose as I finally passed out.
Sunlight and forest pines greeted me as I awoke. I tried to move but was hampered by something encircling my waist. Still groggy I tried to struggle but the enticing warmth of the blanket roll convinced me otherwise. Slowly I moved my head slightly to the right and was astonished to see Lorain spooned up against me. It was her arms that prevented my movement. She was now clothed in her shirt and breeches but I on the other hand was adorned in only my undergarments. A rather amusing arrangement indeed.
"Why is it that you are fully clothed?" I put a twinge of disappointment in my voice.
A solitary green orb opened and winked humorously, then she said quite seriously, "You were poisoned by that one fiend's rusty blade, I had to remove most of your dress to keep you warm though the night." Lorain paused for a moment then sighed. "The castle was taken along with the papers. Those –nuns- are nowhere to be seen. Where shall we go to now?" I didn't reply immediately, rather then ponder that question I buried myself deeper into the blanket to buy some time. Realizing my hesitation Lorain only mumbled tiredly and closed her eye again. Keeping her arms strategically placed around my midsection of course. With this the two of us fell back into a dreamless slumber.
Hours later we came upon a small hamlet on the edge of my father's former domain. It was a quaint little village with stonework buildings and farmlands stretching out into the horizon. Beyond that a mountainous path could be seen leading over to Spain's boarder. One would think it ridiculous that Lorain and I didn't know a word of French even though my former castle was stationed there but I had only just inherited it recently. I was sent from my mother's duchy in England to oversee father's assets. Being his only living child made me the only candidate. Lorain of course has only been with me for 5 years, before that her past was a mystery to me. Even now I wonder where she came from but alas my dear knight is loath to speak of it. As if sensing my thoughts she looks back at me showing that smile of hers.
"Time to find out where those nuns ran to! I swear to never leave your side Mariee, for as long as I breathe air on this earth."
Nodding my agreement I intertwined my arm with hers. "Time to play a rather dashing role, one of husband. We must not let anyone know of our true identities."
Lorain straitened her even more male attire complete with green feathered hat and cloak. Her hair was cut short now in the manner of gentry' men and paladins. I felt a pang of regret at the loss of her long locks but that subsided as she placed a fake mustache upon her lip. Gently I tugged at the sides of it.
"A grand ruse if I say so myself."
A slight blush formed on her cheeks, then she turned away but not before I saw the sparkle of laughter in her eyes. I finished straitening my own sapphire colored gown then Lorain tugged on the bridle of her black roan, sending it into a light canter. Soon the answers to this puzzle would become known.
----Within the recesses of the Manor---
Ambrosia looked at the two saplings before her and said, "Let the ritual of succession begin." The two young women nodded solemnly and set out in search of the third.
(AN- sorry this update took a little while, car troubles/college have taken up some of my time. *Remembers EP 26 of Noir and the entire Nun whacking, it was indeed like a Whack A Mole in the vineyards of the Manor, so very funny! ^_^* )