Lore: Upon The Heels of War

[Emora Deen]

Tenele had stopped when they were close to adorn the wardrobe of a Queen's Maiden. Her dress was a light violet that hugged her curves in the most flattering way. It had many layers, the last a thin layer of silk that was so thin one could see through it as the wind tossed gently. She wore a thin veil over her face that hid her features some what.

Glancing back at her riding partner she smiled, though she doubted he could see. The guards knew she was a queens Maiden and new Vladimir's face all too well and let them in without question.

It was a short right to the center of the city, where the palace gates opened to greet. She dismounted her horse and stood and walked the long staircase up to the double doors with the image of her tatoo carved into the wood. The symbol of Queen Sineads family line.

"Ready?" she asked her partner in "crime" as they were four steps away from the throne room, at which point she lowered the veil.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Overjoyed," Vlad said with a dull wave of his hand as they entered the elegant throne room.

Queen Sinead was seated at a glass table with a young man who was making busy gestures with his hands and giving the Queen some kind of animated speech. She had rested her chin gracefully against her fingers, patiently attending to the longwinded story that it was clear from a glance she'd been listening to for some time.

Vlad eyed up the runt bemusedly as he and Tenele approached the Queen and then stood at an appropriate distance to wait for her to finish. Sinead noticed her two servants the moment they entered the room, managing to stay focused on her speaker, but the peasant clearly had no consciousness that anyone had entered the room.

Vlad's expression stayed barren as the peasant's collar began rising up around his neck. The man smoothed it down, only to have it rise up again. This time the cord around his neck was sneaking up his nose. Just as the man grew flustered and swiped it away, Sinead stood firmly.

"I'm sorry, Matthew, but I'm afraid our discussion needs to be continued at another time. I assure you I will dispatch a soldier to see to the safety of your farm tomorrow," she said so kindly that only one intimately used to her company would notice that she was annoyed. "Go safely," she bid goodbye to her subject as he left the room, her eyes falling sharply to Tenele and Vlad. As her focus shifted to Tenele, her face softened.

"Welcome home, my Maiden," she said with real affection, giving Tenele a welcoming embrace. "It is good to see you safe." She cast an almost imperceptible glance at the Vampire.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele's mother had died long ago, before she was old enough to get a good memory of her. Sinead had been there from the moment her mother died, since her mother too had been a Queen's Maiden. Sinead was almost like a mother, and the embrace felt nothing less than a mothers embrace.

"It was a difficult mission, My Queen, however dangerous, it was accomplished," she told Sinead, bowing her head respectfully.

Tenele's silvery hair shimmered in the bright light of the throne room as her shimmering green eyes glanced at Vlad, before glancing back at Sinead. "The slave town is unstable at the moment with the man who runs it dead. To completely squash any resistance it might be best to send a small regiment in?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead smiled good-naturedly at her dutiful Maiden. "You read my mind. We shall see to it later, but for now, tell me some of your adventures? I so rarely get to leave my castle," she said like a young girl expecting gossip as she took Tenele by the hands and led her out to a gorgeous floral Veranda outside that overlooked the ocean. Vlad followed them silently; Sinead had yet to acknowledge his presence after the mischief he pulled on her visitor.

[Emora Deen]

"I was so busy trying to see that all was going to plan I forgot to eat forgot to eat and when I did eat it was very little. However, I was in the company of a thoughtful vampire... Though the house he took me took was less than safe, we made due," she said with a smirk, wondering if it would be best to tell the Queen about Vlad's own miss-adventures.

"The Ashgrown forest is becoming a little more dangerous than usual, and I'm afraid the demons are growing restless. I can't help, my queen, to think that something is amiss..." She brushed her hair gently with her fingertips.

[Soran Nightblade]

Queen Sinead listened to Tenele's words seriously. "I see. This is the first I've heard of any trouble," she said somewhat doubtfully. But Tenele was one of her finest servants, and was bright as well. If she felt something was unright, it was worth looking into. "I will have my scouts raise their guard," she said. "I am sorry to hear that you fell upon hardship, but it is a relief to know that my Vampire maintained your safety. And you honor, I am sure," she said catchingly, meeting Vlad's eyes warningly. She was displeased with the vampire. He should have been able to bring Tenele straight home at her request, but instead it had taken nearly two weeks. He had stalled, which meant he had done something she would dislike.

Vlad's eyes met hers evenly with that hard, empty stare that only the dead can perfect. It unsettled Sinead. The vampire was being too quiet. She looked back at Tenele, as if seeking a clue to what was going on. She did not look pleased. "My Maid, have you somehow taught this vampire manners, or has he taught you something worse?" she said quietly.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked puzzled for a moment, unsure what Sinead meant by that. She looked a little taken aback, glancing at Sinead and then to Vlad, then back again. "I'm sorry, I don't believe I entirely understand, my Queen," she said, turning her face serious for a moment as she stood straight.

"Do you suggest that Lord Dracul and I are... Surely you do not believe the rumors that have surrounded us for so long?" she asked the Queen. She had hoped to speak with her in private about them, but had not had the time.

"We are close friends and as of this moment that is all we are," she looked to Vlad. She did not close the option off, but left room for what could be. What she hoped would be, although did not look like would ever come.

[Soran Nightblade]

"I hope you are right, Tenele. I want you to be very modest in your dealings with this boy," she said without falling from Vlad's iron gaze. "Even if he has hinted otherwise, to place this creature in the shackles of love would only result in your disappointment."

Vlad's eyes sparked at that, though it wasn't clear what emotion was taking place. When he spoke, however, his voice was smug. "Oh, I think a few dozen women in a certain Sex Town would beg to differ on my performance in shackles," he sneered.

Sinead's expression deadened. "What is the meanning of this?" When Vlad just grinned, she turned her question on Tenele.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked at Sinead. "Did you not know? The messanger you sent said that Vlad was to pose as a slave in one of the whore houses. He did... And they used him quite frequently... as well as abused him. We made many enemies while there," She said. She didn't want to tell Sinead about the man who almost raped her. It was something she was hoping to avoid at all costs.

Tenele hid all emotion from her voice. On the inside she was very disappointed that Sinead would hate so much for her to be with Vlad, even though Vlad was the only man who she felt so attracted too.

"I'm sure that is what he was meaning, my Queen." She glanced at Vlad as if asking him silently to be courteous and quite about certain situations.

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead stared at Tenele, and then turned back to Vlad in slow shock. "Pose as a slave and infiltrate the city.... This is how you interpreted my words?" she said, the light dropping out of her regal eyes.

Vlad blinked. "Don't get bent out of shape, Queenie. It wasn't all that bad, all things considered."

"All that bad?" Sinead parroted, her voice faltering. "You fool, of course it's that bad! Oh, Gods... I never meant for you to..." she said softly, tears of guilt and anger glittering in her eyes. "You're so strong, how could you let them do that to you?" she demanded, swallowing her emotion like a rock in her throat.

Vlad laughed in her face. "I don't understand your horror over this in light of what I endured to obtain this strength," he smirked in real amusement. "I have certainly lived through worse, and can't complain about the results." He closed his hand slowly and a sculpture in the corner of the balcony shattered. "But do not think, my master, just because you've changed me so well, that I am invincible. Metal is easy to bless."

Sinead stared at Vlad, for once really unsure how to deal with him. She could handle his pranks, his crassness, and his insanity, but this was the first time he'd ever come so close to confronting her about the experiments that created him. She had not participated in them first-hand, but afterwards he was so greatly changed, so vastly distorted, that she knew they must have been cruel. She could apologize for overestimating him and sending him to be abused, but that would not please him. What would? She looked over at the broken sculpture thoughtfully.

The queen looked so stunned that Vlad finally rolled his eyes, and the pieces of the sculpture floated upward and back into place. "By your leave, my master, I'll return when you're not feeling so jealous," he said, touching the underside of her graceful chin charmingly.

"JEALOUS?" Sinead's careful composure snapped as she glared in astonishment.

Vlad just laughed victoriously as he disappeared.

Sinead shook her head, her queenly manner ruffled by her wayward servant.

[Emora Deen]

"Sometimes I wonder if he really does things to aggrivate us, or if he even realizes the things he says," Tenele spoke softly as she turned to look over the balcony.

"Those were the words of the messneger you sent, maybe he had some cruel grudge against Vlad?" she asked, unable to remember now the face of the messenger. She then turned back to Sinead.

"I'm in a desperate need for a long hot bath and I miss my own bed terribly. I'll probably head home, and tonight prepare a full report to turn into you tomorrow," she said as she lifted the veil almost completely over her head.

"Good day, my Queen," she said, bowing respectfully.

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead sighed gracefully and shook her head. "Those were my words, but I meant for him to pose as a slave, not actually become one. I fear the experience was probably not as amusing as he now claims, but there is little to be done about it now.

"But stay a moment, my Maiden. I have something important to discuss with you," she called, stopping Tenele before she could leave.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele paused, lowering her veil and walking towards a balcony chair. She took a seat, wondering what the Queen could possibly want to speak with her about. Unless it was to ask again what was between she and Vlad. She hated to lie to Sinead, but... she feared what would happen if she admitted her feelings for the infamous vampire.

"Is there something troubleing you, my queen?" She folded her hands over in her lap, and her mind couldn't help but wonder off at Vlad's jealousy remark. Could Sinead actually have feelings for Vlad? Is that why she seemed so upset? Is that why she was telling Tenele to stay away from love with Vlad?

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead took Tenele's cue and spoke. "I know that you have only just returned from a very tiring trip, but I must speak to you briefly about the reason I called you back home," she said, her royal manner completely recovered. "You mentioned that something seems amiss in the kingdom. I cannot go into too much detail, but I have my tips as well that danger may be coming. Until I know what it is and how to fight it, I am pulling my most valuable swordsmen into one area. You certainly fall among those. So I want you to enjoy being home, and rest for now, because when this danger strikes, I need you and the other maidens at the head of my army. Will you accept this?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenele had waited for a chance like this. She wanted to ride into battle. She had a bone to pick with Shea herself, and would gladly do anything for her queen.

"I accept it gladly," Tenele said, bowing her head respectufully. "I will ride at the head of your army at any time you call. I serve you with all the willingness of my soul."

She rose from her seat. "Vlad only did what he felt was best, my queen. He is a bit insane, but he knows good and well what he is doing. Without that sacrifice... we would not have gotten anything done."