Holier Than Thou

[Emora Deen]

Tenele tried her very best to keep from smiling. So much so that she bit her bottom lip lightly. “It is the vampire… But, he has been shown favor by Thar… And is allowed to walk these halls unharmed. Besides, he’s well fed. You have nothing to worry about. He will aid us if we are attacked by demons, or rather the human minions they could inhabit.”

Tenele clamped her mouth shut as not to worry any of the peasants in the room. She wasn’t about to disclose that there was a large Arken militia heading their way… Or the possibilities of evil things that would come with it.

When she had healed the last man she looked to the nun who had brought food. She righted herself, glancing to Mylo for their things. He could tell she was tired. Her face had paled a bit, and she had faint purple circles under her eyes. She would be fine in a few hours though. “Will you show me to the kitchen so that I may retrieve Lord Dracul… We need to speak with the High Priest.”

[Soran Nightblade]

The monk who had led them in seemed horrified by this idea. "We are not retrieving him....we're expelling him!" he said firmly. "He's entered the compound against my instructions and without invitation...this is an ill omen." He looked to Tenele seriously. "Lady Raider, you must understand, that man can not be trusted here. He shouldn't even be able to cross our threshold...but for him to stand among us, in this place! It's an abomination!"

[Emora Deen]

“You will not expel him,” Tenele told him sternly. “He is allowed to be here by the grace of the Gods. He has found favor with them. Will you deny the will of the Gods?” Tenele’s face was emotionless as she looked at the man, looking suddenly every bit like her mother…. A mother she couldn’t even remember. However, there was the edges of weariness in her eyes from performing so many healing spells at once. Not to mention she was considerably out of practice.

“Will someone show me to the kitchen?” she spoke softly.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Why do you defend that creature?" the monk asked Tenele softly, genuinely confused. His eyes glanced down to her hand and widened uncertainly at the sight of the ring on her finger.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked at his eyes and then followed their angle to the ring on her finger. She clinched her fist and shifted her hand into a different angle. “I trust him… and he might very well be the only thing that keeps you alive. That is why I defend him.”

[Soran Nightblade]

The monk backed off slightly, looking relieved by her answer iin comparison to what he'd briefly suspected. Of course, it was ridiculous to think a maiden of the queen would be betrothed to a demonic being, but the thought had nonetheless occurred to him.

"I will take you to the kitchen, but then we are going straight to the high priest. I don't know why he's able to enter this sacred place, but without the high priest's blessing, he will not be permitted to stay," he said firmly. "This way," he began walking down the hall.

Rosalie went to Tenele's side and looked at her with concern. "You look tired...are you able to walk?" she asked the maiden discreetly.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled kindly at Rosalie. “I’m fine,” she told the woman, placing a hand on her arm as she passed towards the door, moving a bit more slowly than she had before.

She was worried about not being able to convince the high priest that Vlad needed to stay. Worried that he’d be cast outside and that Arken would get their hands on him… And then Verin would get his hands on him.

What sort of havoc that could create… if somehow Verin was able to possess Vlad, and reenter the temple using Vlad’s immunity to holy ruins to slaughter all the priests that could protect the people from the demons that lurked outside. The thought sent a chill through her.

[Soran Nightblade]

Rosalie led Tenele slowly through the long hallways of the compound while the monk followed close behind, scowling. At least they approached a double doorway at the side of the hall. Rosalie pushed wide the double-hinged swinging doors, pouring the scent of meat and potatoes out into their faces. She stopped cold just inside the doorway, as did the monk. The head cook, Martha, was standing very still next to the stove, bowed slightly forward. Vlad was very close to her, holding her hair to the side with one hand with his face pressed close to her neck.

"Demon!" the monk stammered in pure terror, his feet glued to the floor as he stared at the scene.

Martha stretched her head out to see around Vlad and stare at them curiously. Vlad straightened as well, glancing over to them calmly with bright ruby eyes. He was wearing an apron.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele narrowed her eyes on him as she slowly stepped into the room. “Now, normally I wouldn’t bother to ask,” she pointed out as she closed the distance between them. “But, what are you doing?”

She folded her arms across her chest, looking visibly drained, but with enough energy in her eyes to tell that she could give him a sound kicking in the rear if she needed too.

[Soran Nightblade]

"The pot was spitting grease, and I just wasn't careful," Martha muttered, seeming somewhat embarrassed by the audience.

"I was taking a look at the burn," Vlad clarified, sounding actually serious for once, though his expression was hard to read. Was he actually taking this whole 'high priest's approval' thing seriously?

"I'd thank you to step back from our cook, and go back outside where I told you to wait," the monk hissed, though his stance seemed to be using Tenele as a shield, which took most of the authority from his message.

"Jonah!" Marge scolded, "That's no way to speak to a guest sent by the queen! Besides, this lad is helping me prepare dinner. I don't see anyone else pitching in, do you? Now scoot, out of my kitchen!" the woman bellowed.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele tilted her head at the moment. Not exactly what she had thought would be said. She trusted Vlad enough to know he wouldn't attack the woman, though that had been a very damning position. "You don't mind what he is?" she asked the woman slowly, her eyes meeting Vlad's.

Tenele looked at Vlad in his apron and a thousand questions suddenly filled her mind. Did he even know how to cook? She was afraid to eat the food of someone who hadn't tasted human food in nearly five hundred years. It’s not that she hadn't faith in Vlad's culinary skills... Okay that was exactly the problem.

[Soran Nightblade]

"What he is? No, what is he?" Martha asked curiously, glancing to Vlad for a moment. The vampire just cast her a charming grin. She looked back at Tenele blankly, but it was Rosalie who barely whispered, "V....vampire..." The girl looked very timid as she studied Vlad nervously, as if she might bolt at any moment.

"You're a vampire?" Martha asked Vlad blankly just before a telltale smell began to cross through the air. "Nooo my potatoes!" Martha wailed, abandoning the silent vampire to run woefully toward the back of the kitchen. She yanked open an oven and scowled at the contents. "You didn't put a pan below?" she scolded. "The drippings will burn!" She eyed them all crossly. "Get out! Especially you!" she pointed at Vlad.

"Because he's a vampire?" Jonah specified.

"BECAUSE HE WRECKED MY YAMS! GET OUT!"

Vlad hesitated slightly as the large woman herded them out of her kitchen. "They would have been fine," he said stubbornly as they found themselves out in the hall again.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele stared at the door that closed in their faces before she faded into soft laughter. The woman could have cared less about his race, she just wanted to make sure he didn't ruin her food. That was probably the funniest thing that had happened in a while. "And you thought you'd help by cooking," she mused to herself, glancing up at him. "Well, I guess this means we can face the music sooner." She turned to the monk. "You will show us to the high priest now, won't you? We really don't have time to waste."

[Soran Nightblade]

"I was recruited," Vlad muttered, taking off the apron.

"I will not allow this..thing in the high priest's presence," Jonah growled.

"Won't allow who in my presence?" asked an elderly but magisterial voice from behind them. Vlad balled the apron in one hand as he glanced over his shoulder at the source of the voice. His garnet eyes met the soft blue of an older man who was possibly even taller than Vlad, wearing a white robe with gold and silver embroidered into the trim. The man's face somehow looked gentle and stern at once, and he held the vampire's gaze solemnly. Vlad found it difficult to look away for some reason.

"Father," Jonah murmured, bowing his head while trying to keep a skeptical eye on Vlad at the same time.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele curtsied low before him, bowing her head. "We have been sent by the Queen, father," she spoke softly, the darkness under her eyes more profound with the dim lighting. "Arken is sending an army, it will pass by here. There is reason to believe that they might attack. Not to mention, the bandits will look to this place for fortitude. We have been sent to aid you, and protect you. This is Lord Vladimir Dracul, he has also been sent by the queen."