Heirot

Talon walked to Ylia and gently shook her awake. "Time to go, we need to be leaving. We should arrive in Hepian by this afternoon..."

He stood up and glanced around the room, finding Shinobu was sitting up slowly, running her fingers through her long black hair.

"Kami, I seriously doubt this is the time to throw a fit at my companions." Kaze said sternly to Kami as he went on about they should've help stand up against the monks. They were still trying to find them but after awhile just gave up and were now standing outside the stables. "They're monks, pretty much closed-minded people who act against anything that isn't apart of their beliefs."

"Still..." Kami grumbled. He was glaring at his feet. Kaze rolled her eyes and made sure her scarf was still where it was. Since they were leaving, she'd let it blow over and make this place a bad memory. Kami was still wearing the borrowed monks clothes, and he itched to get them off. Kaze promised to get him clothes once they left.

Vlad grimaced. "There's not a chance I'm leaving without taking down that guard and his fool of a priest," the vampire told Kyosuke intently.

Kyosuke blinked a few times, "I think it'd be easier on us if you don't do that," he said. "And I think your job is going to be harder since he," the samurai jerked his thumb towards the guard that had been guarding Vlad the whole night, "has heard your plans. Besides, it'd cause trouble for both the Queen, who will probably be displeased with you, and the group, who needs to travel and would rather not be chased by vengeful monks." Kyosuke declined to bring up the possibility of Vlad killing all the monks instead of just two.

Vladimir smirked hellishly at the guard in the corner. "So you're the understudy for my pant-wetting babysitter?"

The monk stared in terror. "The vampire has escaped! He's going to--" he shouted toward the others outside, but was cut off by a sharp disciplinary rap on the head by Vladimir. The man thought he was dead for sure, but when he opened his eyes Vlad was heading out of the room. "Coming or not?" Vlad said to Kyosuke over his shoulder without slowing.

Vlad brusquely waved off a group of monks who rushed inside toward him anxiously, intending to stop him from approaching the temple. "Hands to yourselves! I know celibacy is lonely, but I'm not that good looking," he chastised as he pushed through them and walked out of the clinic. He caught Talon's eyes as he passed him and Ylia. "I'm getting out of this shithole," he said flatly.

Kyosuke's words had had an effect on him, much to his surprise. It made him want to slice something all the more, but he would have to figure that problem out later.

Kyosuke grinned at Vlad's comment and walked out of the room and back into the clinic. There he waited for the doctor to finish his checkup on Shinobu, waving cheerfully at the woman he served. Internally, he was trying to figure out what had happened in the battle the night before.

Ylia stood up slowly, and reached for her bag. "I'm ready when you are," she told Talon.

Nickole fluttered towards Talon. Hovering over his shoulder, she began to land as she asked, "Mind if I take my old spot back?" Flying the whole way didn't sound like fun to her.

Talon smiled, feeling a strang feeling enter him when he realized they were ready. Soon, he thought and looked to Nickole. "No," he said plainly and looked at her with a sour expression. Then his face took on a delightful look and he laughed. "Of course!" He chuckled and pushed his long silver hair off his shoulder and into a pulled it back into a ponytail.

"Yes, yes, you look lovely, let's go," Vladimir said, taking Talon from behind by the shoulders and urging him toward the door. "Kyosuke's got the Ongoreth woman. Why, hello there. Fancy bumping into you here," he teased darkly as he spotted the tiny fairy on Talon's shoulder, gracing her with a fanged grin.

Nickole grimaced as Vlad's voice coarsed through her mind. He set every nerve in her little, tiny body on edge. Sure he wasn't expecting an answer, she turned to get a better grip on Talon...

Ylia walked gracefully along with the group. She was near enough to Talon to hear Vladimir's words to the small blue fairy. She walked slowly, and waited purposefully so that she could keep an eye on Shinobu. Even though Shinobu was with Kyosuke, Ylia felt a responsible connection toward the girl.

Kaze and Kami were still waiting at the stables when they heard voices getting closer.

"It seems they are coming." Kaze announced and looked towards Kami. Kami had long ago told her that he could change back so...

"Darnit!" Kami protested and pouted. Kaze stared at him hard before he finally gave in and turned back into a horse in a puff of smoke and the sound of popping.

"Thank you." Kaze said smugly and if Kami could roll his eyes he would.

Shinobu straightened her clothing, though there was a blood stain on the front of the robe. One of the monks offered her a robe to where over it and she took it with a thankful smile, draping it over her shoulders and moving slowly as if stove up. She looked towards Kyosuke and gave a smile to him, waiting for him so she could walk beside him.

Kyosuke approached Shinobu and did as she wanted, as if she had given an unspoken order to him. "So, I think we're suppose to be leaving soon," he started saying. He wondered whether or not he should tell Shinobu that he was going to leave soon, so he could hunt after the dark elf that had injured her. The samurai planned on leaving when they finally found the Shogun, but he maintained the cheery smile at his face, though if someone knew him well, they would see a bit of strain on his face.

Shinobu looked at him and smiled softly. "Oh, yes... I believe we are," she said tiredly, shuffling towards the door that Talon was heading out of. One of the monks had sent for the horses to be brought to the front of the monestary.

She didn't notice the strained sort of look, though if she would have been more awake she probably would have... If she looked closely.

A fair-sized farewell committee was stationed along the central boulevard at the mouth of the monastery gates, watching solemnly as the group of outsiders finally gathered in the road. Vladimir noticed the high priest standing in the crowd and his first instinct was to have at him, but he checked his movements quickly with the recollection of what Kyosuke had pointed out earlier and the awareness of the circle of deeply concentrating monks positioned in a ring around him, their hands folded in prayer. No doubt, a defensive shield of some sort surrounded them, much like the one that had trapped him inside his room the night before.
The no life king walked past the monks sternly and mounted his horse along with the others, and soon the group stood ready to depart.

One young monk stepped out of the crowd nervously and walked out toward the group. He knew what he was doing was dangerous, and probably treasonous, but he had a nagging in his gut that he should do this. His arms stiff at his sides, he walked out to them, past Vladimir. It would be too obvious to go to the vampire directly. He came to stand before Talon's horse and looked up at the elf solemnly.

"You must feel disappointed by our hospitality, but please accept our best wishes as you continue with your journey," he said seriously, holding his hand out to shake Talon's hand. It appeared a simple enough token of goodwill, but the tip of a small bound paper could be seen from where it was curled secretly in his palm. He looked Talon straight in the eye as he held the disguised communication out to him.