Holier Than Thou

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked at the gold ring around his finger, and then down at her own hand. She reached forward, twining her fingers around his as they admired the bands that tied them together. She wasn't sure what to say to that, or if deep down she had any doubts he would. Everything about this situation told her to wasn't real, and that she'd be waking up to the sound of battle.

Tenele smiled down at their hands, and then at her father.

"We will talk... catch up," she told him.

He nodded. "Tomorrow," he told her softly, bowing his head to them. "I will see you tomorrow." Vincent backed away before disappearing through the line of trees.

Stalker came up behind her and nudged her with his nose enough to push her forward. She yelped, turning her eyes down as the hell hound sniffed his way around them. "I don't think he's used to you being clean," she whispered to Vlad, reaching down to rub the hell hound behind the ears.

[Soran Nightblade]

Stalker yelped slightly - a sound that was more monstrous than anything else to the humans observing them -, ducking away from her ringed hand and straying toward the one without the burning metal thing.

"I supposed we'll need to be cautious about that," Vlad mused. "Good, it will stop you always spoiling him. You're going to turn my beast into a lap dog," he scoffed. His eyes trailed back to where Vincent had disappeared. He wondered if he would see the man again.

The priest made his way through the crowd and came to see them. "I suppose you'll be off, then? On your...honeymoon," he asked, visibly pausing as he thought through what in the world a human and a vampire could do on their honeymoon.

[Emora Deen]

"I'm sorry!" she told him quickly, giving him an extra loving pat with the hand that wouldn't hurt him. "He will not be a lap dog," she warned Vlad. "He's too big..."

Tenele met the priests gaze. "I suppose," she agreed slowly. For the life of her she hadn't a clue where to go. How would she go about explaining this part of there relationship to the guy. And could they just leave these people in that mess?

"I would gather everything you have and head for Lowight," Tenele told him, unable to forget business even in this moment. "The sanctuary isn't safe anymore. I'd leave at first light."

"As for us... We'll find someplace," she told him, turning her eyes to Vlad with a smile. "A cabin in the woods perhaps?" It have to be abandoned... Shouldn't be too hard to find in a war torn forest.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Well," the priest said, lowering his voice as if his next words might be some sort of blasphemy, "you could try the mayor's estate. When Hepian burned, everyone headed north, as you're suggesting. He had a rather lavish home build on a hilltop, and I've heard that it escaped the fire and most of the looting. Just too remote and inconvenient for a passing army to bother with."

"As for us...this is our home. We will send the refugees north, when they are well, but as for us, we will stay here and continue to provide shelter for whoever needs it."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled, "Thank you for the tip," she told him, patting his shoulder gently. "And thank you... for marrying us. It means more than I could ever express. Be safe. May Thar be with you." Then, she turned her attention to Vlad. "To the mayors house?" she asked him quietly, not sure if he had something else planned. It wasn't but a few hours walk to Hepian, and the clouds spoke that the whether would cooperate with them.

[Soran Nightblade]

"A walk would be nice," Vlad confirmed, his eyes warming as they met hers. "Priest, thank you." He turned and shook the high priest's hand, withholding a cringe. His own ring might be harmless, but suddenly the priest's grip brought a scalding sensation wherever the man's ring touched his skin.

"Take care, and rebuild that wall," he called to the others as he waved goodbye. Their wedding guests kept waving until they reached the bottom of the hill.

Vlad turned to her as they passed the compound. "We should probably gather our things. We'll need your pack for the trip back to Ighten, when it's time."

[Emora Deen]

"That would be a good idea," she agreed, though she really wanted to run away with him that instant. "I will get it... you wait here. If the circle did that too you, I don't want you bursting into flames five minutes after I marry you." Tenele stood on the tips of her toes and kissed his cheek before walking off through the broken gate.

A few minutes later Tenele came out balancing his bag and hers, and when she was within a few feet of him she tossed his down with a huff. "Okay," she muttered. "That was a lot more stairs than I remember, and I haven't worn a dress this long in some time."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled and pulled both packs up out of her arms to rest across his back. "Thank you, my wife," he experimented with the term playfully.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled. "You're welcome, but don't get used to me fetching things for you," she teased him sweetly. They started walking towards Hepian with Stalker trailing off a head of them for signs of trouble. "I have a living father," Tenele told him after they'd gained some distance from the church. "This whole day is so strange." She reached down and looped her hand with his. "We're leaving, I wonder if he will find us? I suppose he would ask the monks where we might have gone. I'm so curious to know what sort of things he has to explain. What mistake he made..."

Her head tilted to him. "And then, there is you... and I'm married to you. You're really my husband..." She laughed. "Its amazing!"

Tenele's eyes narrowed slowly. "Vlad," she whispered. "Why did that circle bother you? I mean, aren't you immune to holy magic now?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was still riding high on her comment about them actually being married. The subject of holy magic made him stiffen a bit as they walked up a grassy hill that stretched between the trees. "About that," he noted dryly, "It seems Thar's mercy was a loan, not a gift." He sneered a bit as he realized he'd even used the term "mercy". As if the whole thing had ever been anything other than some deranged science experiment in the first place. "I'm not sure if it's fading from use, or if it just wears off of its own accord."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele walked next to him, tugging the cloak around her shoulders at a cold gust of wind caught hold of it. "Hmm... maybe you just need another dose," she tried jokingly. However, she remembered very vividly how the first dose had nearly killed him. "Honeymoon," she mused, deciding to change the subject.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Honeymoon," he agreed, glancing at her thoughtfully. He wondered if she was disappointed that his immunity was failing. After all, he'd been almost human inside that monastery. He was too proud to think of asking such a thing. "It's a good thing those monks packed us some supplies," he grinned. "I don't expect I'll be willing to share you with anyone for some time."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele grinned widely. "Some time?" she asked him, wondering how long of a time he wanted to stay out in the desolate empty town of Hepian. "I'm glad."

A few hours later they came to the smokey desolate remains of Hepian. What was left of the city were charred remains of buildings, a ghost town. They passed along the outer edges of the city surrounded by trees. Tenele ignored the sadness that wanted to well in her at the knowledge of how many people had lost their homes, their livelihoods, and their lives. "We should be getting close... They said it was off the beaten path, the question is which one."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad stepped over chunks of rubble as they finally came out on the other side of the city. A quiet looking path that was already growing in from lack of use caught his eye at the outskirts of town. He glanced down at her not-exactly-comfortable wedding shoes and bit back the impulse to suggest they explore. Instead, he turned and swept her up without warning, already smirking with the knowledge that she would probably retaliate.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele yelped, her legs kicking up into the air, her arms flailing until she settled horizontal in his arms. She wasn't expecting that. "You can't very well carry me and the packs!" she protested sternly, narrowing her jade eyes on him, and secretly admitting her feet ached from their walk.