The carriage rolls through the forest in north-western France roughly. The bumps jar Marcel in the driver's seat. He looks over to Reynold keeping next to the carriage on Nanesti and then looks over to Veni who is riding his own horse just ahead, sniffing the air.
Thinking back to dusk's events when he awoke the two-- Reynold's eyes seemed so far away and Veni was as stoic as ever. Marcel sighs as he wonders what he could do to lighten their spirits when a scream shatters his thoughts.

Veni reigns his horse in quickly and turns toward the scream, sniffing the air. Reynold reins in Nanesti and Marcel stops the carriage. A man runs screaming into a clearing just ahead. Behind him just a few paces is a loping bear, its eyes wide and wild from the hunt. The man turns to look behind him just as the bear's claw reaches out and rips his back, tearing away cloth and flesh, and blood sprays over the moonlit grass.

Reynold squeezes his knees and Nanesti is off galloping towards the bear. Reynold pulls his sword and gives a cry to distract the bear. The bear stands on it's hind legs roaring at the man, unheedful of Reynold leaping from Nantesti.
Reynold lands on the bear with a crash as the man scrambles away. He grapples the bear a moment, and seeing that the man is out of the way, he lets it go and dances back. The bear growls in frustration and stands again pawing at Reynold.
Reynold throws one of his fists out, catching the paw, and brings his shoulder into the bear's chest knocking it down.
*Sit*, Veni says, catching up to Reynold. The bear continues sitting. Reynold backs away from the animal as Veni continues to whisper soothingly to it. Reynold turns to the injured man.
"Hail, friend. Come, let my man take a look at that wound," Reynold says motioning to Marcel.

Marcel nods and hurries over to the man, who has gotten onto his side to see who his rescuers are. He's a man of seemingly average height and appearance. Marcel would gauge his age to be about 45, and he doesn't appear to be very strong-- his hands are smooth...probably a craftsman of some sort. The man is very pale and weak now, and Marcel hurriedly bends and turns the man so he can get a better look at his back. The man moans and mumbles something in a language neither Marcel nor Reynold knows, and Marcel murmurs to him soothingly as he tries to keep his face calm after seeing the horrible gashes in the man's back.
"My lord, if you would, I need a full bottle of wine, and there are some rags in the small chest. This man is gravely wounded, but I'll do what I can for him." Marcel takes off his jacket and begins rolling up his sleeves.

Reynold jogs to the side of the carriage and opens the chest. He grabs the bottle and uncorcks it and grabs some rags. He jogs back and hands them to Marcel.
"Is the wound fatal, Marcel?"

Marcel glances at the man and then back at Reynold. "I believe that if we don't get him to someone who has more knowledge of healing than I do, it's very much a possibility." Marcel takes the wine from Reynold, and pours most of over the wounds. The man grimaces and lets out another moan, but seems to understand what Marcel is doing and doesn't struggle. Marcel quickly begins binding the wounds with the rags, and turns the man back onto his back, and holding the man's head up, Marcel helps him drink the rest of the wine. When the man is finished drinking, he looks up into Marcel's face and begins to speak.
"I heard you speak in Latin and so I will speak to you, also, in Latin. You must not be from this area...your clothes are so fine..." The man tries to reach up to touch Marcel's sleeve, but winces and puts his arm back down. "I...heard what you said, and I, too, know that I will die of this wound. There is but one hope-- return me to my mistress the high priestess. She and her priestesses can heal me...please..."
Marcel nods quickly and looks up at Reynold. "What do you say, my lord? This area is a superstitious one...it may be dangerous."

Veni watches the bear lope back into the forest and walks back to the carriage. He grimaces at the wound and shakes his head.
"This man will die."

Reynold nods his head and looks at Marcel. "We'll go to the village." He says and then puts a hand on the man's shoulder, "Take us to your village good sir. We will not let you die."
He walks over to Nanesti and mounts her as Veni sighs and stirrups his horse as well.

Marcel nods a little nervously, and then regains his composure and motions quickly to Veni's ghouls to come help him with the man. The ghouls quickly run over and lift the man, and Marcel walks by the man's side, directing the ghouls where to lay him. After the man is settled, the ghouls jump up onto the driver's bench as Marcel takes a seat inside the carriage. The man has Marcel help him lean up a little so he can see out the window, and then begins instructing Marcel where the path is that leads to the village. They soon find the path, and the man sinks back again and closes his eyes.
As the carriage jolts and rocks over the well-worn path, Veni brings his horse in beside Reynold's and motions for him to lean over. "My prince," Veni begins, "...that man's a ghoul. His "mistress" must be a Cainite. I smell trouble if we go to that town."

Reynold glances at the man then back to Veni. Thinking a moment, he purses his lips.
"The man has not done any wrong to us, Veni. I also think that we are in need of allies. We have not yet heard of the Tremere, nor will any speak of them. Perhaps his master knows of them and where we might find them. If there is any trouble we will handle it then. Until that happens we will assume the best."

Veni looks at Reynold steadily for a moment, and then finally nods and nudges his horse to take the lead again.
Inside the carriage Marcel sits closer to the man and places his hand on the man's forehead. It's cold and clammy.
"My good sir, please open your eyes if you would. Try to keep conscious." Marcel says briskly. The man struggles and finally opens his eyes. "Ah good!" Marcel says pleasantly. "Now, tell me of yourself. I notice you don't have a fighting man's hands, nor the hands of a farmer. What is it you do?"
The man gives a pained smile. "You are a good observer...uh..."
"Marcel Ghislaine Thibaud, en service!" Marcel quickly inserts in French. "Aah oui!" the man cries excitedly, and now reverts to speaking in French. "I am Guillaume Le Goff, master tailor of the town Bigouden."
Marcel-- thrilled to be speaking in his native tongue-- quickly feels a warmth and openness bloom between he and Mon. Le Goff, and begins asking him more questions.
"Monsigneur Le Goff, what were you doing in the forest so late at night, and where is your horse? Surely you weren't walking on foot!" Marcel asks with wide eyes.
"Ah, I did have a horse, and cart as well. I travelled to the neighboring town of Pont l'Abbe. They are a much larger town, and get shipments of cloth finer than we have here. I took my wagon to Pont l'Abbe to pick up a shipment I had ordered-- I was such a fool to have left so late! I was too eager to get home and begin sewing! My horse was spooked when the bear wandered out into our path, and took off like a shot. I was dozing, and was thrown off the cart when my horse took off-- the useless beast! That left just me for the bear to attack. You came just in time, monsigneur! My saviors!"
Marcel and the man continue to speak animatedly-- Marcel explaining that the man who saved Mon. Le Goff is his master Reynold, and that Veni and his men are Reynold's bodyguards. Then the talk turned to fashion and clothing, and Marcel accidentally let slip that he had to do all the buying while his master slept during the day. Mon. Le Goff's eyebrows go up.
"Aah, and why does your master sleep during the day?" Le Goff grins and leans up conspiratorily. "Is he like my mistress then? Only seen at night? She favors me and a handful of others. She mixes a concoction for us once a month that keeps us strong. She is favored by the dark goddess. I did not know that there were men like this for I have never seen one!"
Marcel is stunned by this revelation. This man a ghoul? But then his mistress is a Cainite and might prove to be dangerous like the last Cainite they ran into. And why is this man so eager to share this information with Marcel? Then Marcel looks around the carriage and realizes that is IS a little suspicious-looking on the inside with all but one of the windows painted black and hung with heavy curtains.

"Monsigneur Le Goff, I also receive a...concoction once a month from my master. It is, indeed, possible that your mistress and my master are...similar. I'm sure Veni could tell us-- he has the sight to be able to discern these things."
Mon. Le Goff nods excitedly, and then winces and sinks back again. The two resume their conversation in more subdued tones until the carriage finally comes to a halt. They can hear a man shouting something in a dialect that Marcel can't understand.

Two men wearing crude leather armor weilding spears come running out and block the path as the carriage and horses arrive at the village gates. They stop in the path and cross their spears, shouting something at Veni and Reynold. Then another man-- larger than the others-- comes walking up with a puffed-up arrogant look to him and places his hand on the hilt of his sword. He calls out a question to Veni and Reynold. Veni looks steadily at the men for a moment, and then leans over to Reynold again.
"My lord, I don't like this. That big man who's so full o' himself is also a ghoul."

"I see." Reynold says loudly enough for Veni to hear yet low enough for the ghoul not to. Reynold draws himself up and begins to speak.
"Good sir, we were traveling through those woods when we saw a citizen of yours running from a wild animal. We chased it off, however he is hurt gravely from it. We brought him here so that he may receive the healing he needs. Please we are in haste," Reynold says looking the man in the eye and using his blood to make his presence seem inspiring.

The man looks at Reynold in surprise-- his eyes widening-- and then hesitantly takes his hand off the hilt of his sword.
"Monsigneur...forgive these brutes' rudeness..." he says motioning to the guards on either side of him. "Only those of us favored by the high priestess speak the language you speak. Where is this man who's injured?"

Marcel carefully opens the carriage door and peeks his head out.
"Good sir, he is in here. My lord speaks true-- he needs to see your mistress the high priestess for healing or he will die. He is Monsigneur Guillaume Le Goff, your tailor!"
The captain of the guard's eyebrows go up, and he hurries over to the carriage and peeks in. "Good god, Le Goff! You really did make it there and back in one night, although not quite in one piece, eh?" the captain laughs, elbowing Marcel in the ribs. Marcel gives him a pained smile, and the captain clears his throat and stands back.
"Wait here and I'll get my mistress!" he calls to Reynold, and then runs back to the village, followed closely by the two guards who have been gazing at Reynold in awe ever since Reynold spoke.

Reynold nods and looks back at the men and then to Veni.
"Ready yourself for anything, Veni." He says as he smiles at the men and moves his hand slowly from his saddle closer to his sword.
Veni nods and does the same. Miskos and Davara sniff the air but remain steady.

A few minutes pass, and then the town suddenly seems to wake up as torches are lit near the gates, and Reynold and Veni can see dark shapes moving down the main street of the town that leads up to the gates. The shapes finally move to either side of the street, and a glint of steel flashes here and there. Then there seems to be some sort of procession moving down the street towards the gates, and the members of the party waiting outside the gates can hear the sound of women's voices chanting. At the head of the procession is the captain and 6 guards. They open the gates and file to either side with their spears held upright. The captain walks over to Reynold, and then stands beside him and watches the gates. He leans over to Reynold. "Monsigneur, you're about to be in the presence of the high priestess, herself, so show a little respect when you see her, oui?"

Reynold nods and dismounts and motions for Veni to do the same. He watches for the high priestess and waits.

Veni dismounts as well and watches the villagers waiting for something to happen-- ready to spring into action.

Filing through the gates after the guards come 10 women wearing dark robes with hoods, chanting something eerie and primal. They walk until the one in front is about 15 feet from where Reynold, Veni, and the captain are standing, and then split down the middle like a zipper and face one another, creating a path between them with 5 on each side. They begin chanting louder, and a woman wearing a red robe advances down the path followed by a woman wearing a white robe. Veni nudges Reynold urgently, and motions with wild eyes at the two women. The woman in red walks proudly with her head held high, and then stands to one side, allowing the woman in white to be in full view of Reynold's party. The woman in white steps forward and throws her hood back to reveal a head of long brown unkempt hair and intense brown eyes. She's a rather small woman physically, but her presence makes her seem overbearing. She looks right at Veni, squints her eyes, and then mutters something in that unknown dialect while looking just over his shoulder at seemingly nothing. Then she shifts her eyes to stare intensely at Reynold without blinking. Suddenly her eyes narrow and she walks quickly up to him, reaching out to place her hand on his face.

Veni moves slightly, and Reynold motions him to stay his hand. Reynold allows her to touch him, feeling a bit strange. He takes off his helmet and meets her eyes. His eyes send a greeting...and a warning.

The woman is so intent on her goal of touching Reynold that she doesn't react at all to his eyes, but continues on. She places her hands on his face, finding his skin warm, and then leans forward and sniffs near his neck. She is still for a moment, and then suddenly pushes his head to one side and reaches her fingers down the neck of his armor, feeling around for something.

Reynold watches her intently and then he backs up once she moves his head to the side. He takes her wrist, gently enough to not illicit a reaction from the villagers, but strong enough to give warning to this strange one. Veni moves to Reynold's side.
"What are you looking for?"

The woman looks at him for a moment, and then quickly turns her head to the side and speaks in Latin as if there were someone standing next to her...which there isn't. "Not cold, but something's...different. I tried to check-- sheep amoung snakes!" Suddenly the woman spits on the ground and looks back at Reynold. "Are you of the Cult of Christ?" she asks simply in a slightly husky/raspy voice.
The woman in red folds her arms and looks piercingly at Veni and Reynold, and suddenly her eyes open in surprise. She makes as if to move forward, but then stops herself.

Reynold looks at Veni and Veni shrugs.
"No, I am not." Veni says as he scowls. "Nor have I ever been."
Reynold thinks about how to answer. He considers telling the truth.
"No, not since I was a boy and my parents took me to church. I have no real reason for it, and if you knew to whom you speak, you would know my faith in a benevolent Christ...has been taken from me." He says a determined look in his eyes.

"Benevolent Christ...ha-HA! This one's funny, eh?" the woman says to the place next to her. Then she turns back to look at Reynold. "At least you keep good company. Parents took you to church, eh? Not much choice there." She suddenly claps her hand onto his shoulder and looks up at him, and her eyes are dark and viscious, but she speaks in low tones. "My dear, there is no such thing as a benevolent Christ, nor has there ever been. Renounce your past...your murderous, intollerant cult...and be welcomed back into the busom of the dark mother who created me with her blood." She watches Reynold intently, still not blinking.

Reynold shakes his head, "My lady, I would have to believe in the benevolence of the universe and at this moment I am in doubt." He says and suddenly a voice rings in his head, 'Would you settle for a goddess?'. Reynold's eyes widen and he takes her hand, "However, I would very much like to hear of this Goddess you speak of. Perhaps we should discuss it once this man's life is no longer in danger."

The woman looks surprised at Reynold's gallantry and forwardness to take her hand. No man would dare to do that in her village, yet she feels no animosity towards this man who HAS dared! Curious, she studies him again. Suddenly the woman in red moves to the high priestess' side and whispers something in that dialect, and then quickly retakes her place. The high priestess looks at Reynold in amazement, and then wraps her fingers around the hand holding hers and clamps down on it tightly.
"You...childe of Cain...with skin so warm...why are you here??" she rasps. "Be wary and do not lie to me or you will lie dead under me with your blood in me!"

Reynold nods, understandingly. He motions towards the carriage. "A man from your village was chased by a bear and hurt gavely. He is in dire need of attention, and we brought him home to you, I believe." He motions at Marcel and Veni, "We however are on our way to Paris, if we could just buy some road supplies we would be on our way."

The high priestess squints at Reynold, and then suddenly releases his hand and turns to the captain of the guard and speaks to him in the dialect. The captain bows quickly and then runs over to the carriage. Marcel hastily opens the door for him and gets out, and the captain leans in and picks up Mon. Le Goff in his arms effortlessly, and then steps back from the carriage. He hurries over to the high priestess with Marcel tagging along behind wringing his hands worriedly, and stands motionless before her. She places her hands on Mon. Le Goff's face and leans in close. The two talk back and forth for a moment, and then the high priestess steps back and calls out an order, and the captain hurries down the lane of chanting women followed by the priestess in red and two of the women in dark robes.
Marcel takes his place by Reynold's side and leans over to him. "My lord, Mon. Le Goff-- the injured man-- is the high priestess' ghoul. They are communicating in a dialect of this region called 'Breton,' which as far as I can tell is a mixture of French and some ancient Celtic tongue. The high priestess must be a Cainite, as well, and from the looks of it, caught up in some goddess-worship-cult!" Marcel whispers to Reynold in a worried tone.

"Hmm, 'Settle for a Goddess?'" He says to himself quietly. Veni furrows his brow and Reynold waves his hand.
"Nothing...something I heard in a dream," he turns to the two of them, "Perhaps we should stay a bit. She seems to be accepting enough and may have some information. If she's a mystic she may know of the demon-thing."
Marcel nods, and Veni grudgingly nods and turns back to watch the priestess.

The high priestess turns once she's satisfied that her orders are being seen to, and walks back up to Reynold while talking to the empty air. "Yes, yes, yes-- always watchful. We'll see...I'm ever your servant..." She stops talking once she reaches Reynold and looks at him with her intense eyes. "Yes, yes-- stay and speak with me. This is curious...I have never met a childe of Cain, although I know much about you. We are cousins, you and I, but I am a childe of something much older than your Cain!" The high priestess smiles a knowing smile and turns, nodding at the empty space next to her, and then looks back at Reynold. "All right then my doves, you will be my guests of honor and stay with me in my home." The high priestess' eyes have an odd look that is a mixture of warm welcoming and warning, and she repeats this declaration in Breton in a loud voice, and the guards rush down the lane of chanting women to stand by the gates with their spears upright. The high priestess turns back to Reynold, and then glances at Veni, Veni's ghouls, and Marcel.
"Your carriage and horses will be well-tended, but goddess your dogs are magnificent! They will stay in my home, as well. Come, come! I have a man to tend to and your brains to pick! The moonlight's wasting!" The high priestess cries the last sentence in a loud, joyful voice while holding her arms up in the air. Then she begins walking quickly down the lane of chanting priestesses.

Veni nods with pride when she mentions the dogs. "A woman of taste," he says clapping Reynold on the shoulder and following her. Reynold turns to Marcel.
"She seems...good-hearted, odd but good-hearted." He says as the two of them begin to follow her. Reynold jogs up to her walking by her side. "I have a few questions for you, myself, Ms...? I don't believe I know your name."

The high priestess glances at Reynold out of the corner of her eye and gives a little smile. "The older ones remember my full name, and so will I reveal it to you in time...if my childe agrees that you can be trusted. But for now you may call me 'lady,' or 'my lady.' Given that explanation, what shall I call each of you by? You do understand the power of a name, don't you?" The high priestess folds her arms inside the wide sleeves of her robe and continues walking while watching Reynold and his band.

Reynold motions to Veni, "He is my bodyguard, Veni. This," he motions to Marcel, "Is my ghoul, Marcel." He turns back to her. "I...trust you and will tell you that my name is Reynold of the Ventrue Clan." He says placing a hand to his chest just above the decorated plate.

The high priestess stops walking for a moment and stares at the breastplate. "A lion crying blood. An interesting emblem. Why did you choose this?" She suddenly looks to her side where no one's standing and murmurs, "A lion amoung snakes...a lion to eat the lambs..." She chuckles and then turns back and looks quizzically at Reynold.

"A lion weeping for someone who was taken from him...a lion who searches for her..." he says looking down at the crest then back up at her. "My lady do you know anything of demons, or where they go to when they leave this world?"

"Aaah...love. So you have fallen to love, have you? And a Ventrue at that! Ha! Whoever has taken her won't shake YOU off his tail, eh? Determined ones you Ventrue are, or so I've heard." The high priestess continues walking. "Demons..." she says darkly. "I work with the world of spirits, and from time to time have angered a demon-- the wretched bastards that dare to turn on me!" She turns and spits on the ground and makes a warding sign in the air. Then she suddenly stops again and faces Reynold. "Spirits go back into the place that created them when they leave this world. You see that water?" she asks, pointing to a horse trough. "I can raise a water-spirit. When I release it, it goes back into the water. However, there are good and evil water-spirits, you see? If I am weak, I could pull out an evil one, so I make sure I'm not weak when I call them. You are looking for a demon? Is that what took your lionness?" The high priestess has a dark look etched onto her face at this thought.

Reynold nods taking a step forward. She can see in his eyes a look of fierce determination.
"Yes! Yes, he took her and opened some sort of...door and left with her. I want her back. I know she's alive, I know it! If you can help me, anything anything at all I would consider it a boon of the highest magnitude."

"Ah my dove, that I could help...ah one second." The high priestess looks next to her, listens, and then smacks her forehead. She turns back to the men. "A good way to start..." she murmurs, and takes a dagger from her belt, and then pauses. "This will take some time-- I will wait until after the healing is done, yes." She nods and puts the dagger back, and then continues walking, deep in thought. "I can offer you the protection of the spirits of the moon and sun, which are never demonic unless captured in the body of a wolf." The high priestess turns and spits again, and then continues talking. "Do you happen to know what this demon is composed of, or his true name?"

Reynold nods as it stirs in his mind again, 'Menthu'....
"Menthu, it's name is Menthu. Do you know that name?"

The high priestess closes her eyes, but never misses a step as she walks. "Menthu...is that its true name? It's a short name, to be sure...is it short for anything? I regret I do not know this name, but that means nothing. What is he composed of?" She opens her eyes and glances at Reynold. "And Reynold my doveling, please be calm. When you grow animated it can make you weak."

Reynold nods and takes a deep breath trying to calm himself. He thinks for a moment and his shoulders drop.
"That's the only name I heard them call it by...I...damn." He says turning back to the street. "I had hoped you knew. You are the first person I have met who seemed knowledgble in this area. He must be very well hidden if you do not know of him. I only hope that the Tremere may have some inkling..."

The high priestess' ears prick up as Reynold murmurs to himself. "Ah Tremere...yes, now that would be a good group to consult about demons! The raving wretches and their unnatural powers! Going to Paris is the right idea if you want to find those children of Caine." The high priestess turns to her invisible 'companion' again and mutters, "Center of the cult of Christ...aah such ambition...foolish, oh yes...have to go SOMEwhere, tho'...interesting group..."
The high priestess suddenly stops in front of a cabin made of dark wood and opens the door. "Welcome to my home Reynold, Veni, Marcel, and dogs. Ah, so you are trusting with your names but not your dogs' names! Ha-HA! Well-placed trust will be rewarded, oh yes! Make yourselves comfortable and I will be back!" The high priestess ushers the group in, grabs a basket from under a table, runs to her large cabinet and pulls out random herbs and items, and then disappears back into the night.
The groups enters the cabin and looks around. There is a tiny window that faces west with a thick, dark curtain pulled halfway across it, but no other windows. The cabin is rather large and spacious with a long table and chairs against one wall, a huge wooden cabinet against another with cloth curtains covering the shelves, along with a fireplace, some sort of alter on the east wall, many more chairs lined up near the remaining wall with stairs leading up, and drying herbs of all kinds hanging all over the walls and from the ceiling. There's a beautiful ornate rug done in red, gray, black, and white in the center of the floor, the pattern being a large circle with a plus-sign in the middle whose arms touch the circle itself.

The three of them sit down and look the place over. Marcel smiles at the herbs while Veni keeps his eyes peeled. Reynold looks the place over and waits for her to return.

Time passes, and finally the high priestess returns. She throws the door open and comes in quickly with her now-empty basket, followed by the woman in red. The woman in red closes the door behind her, and takes a seat in one of the chairs. The high priestess puts her basket away and looks around the room with a smile.
"Well then, all done! He will live, thank the Crone." She and the woman in the red robe make identical signs in the air, and the high priestess walks over and takes a seat across from Reynold. "Now we may talk while the moon still rules the sky. This is my childe, Lelaine. I am preparing her to become the high priestess one day...maybe sooner than later. I trust you, Reynold the Lion. You threw yourself on a full-grown bear without knowing anything about that chosen one who you saved. And you-- " she says turning to Veni. "-- you charmed the beast. A wonderous skill! I shall have to barter with you to learn that, oh yes! And you-- " she says turning to Marcel. "My chosen one Guillaume thinks very highly of you! From Paris, are you? My Guillaume thinks himself to be a tailor equal to those from Paris! Beware or he will talk you ear off about his designs! Ha!" The high priestess turns back to Reynold.
"My lion-hearted one, I will tell you my name. I am Ursula Chupennou, and you may call me what you wish unless we're out with the villagers, and then I am 'Lady' or 'Lady Ursula.' Is that agreed?" Ursula asks in a pleasant, friendly tone.

Reynold nods, "I understand perfectly." He says with a smile. He stands and walks over to her. He turns to Veni and Marcel. "Marcel...Veni...would you find the other two and have the carriage unloaded and our things brough here?' The two agree, and bow in farewell to Usula and Reynold.
Turning back to her, Reynold smiles again.
"How long have you been here, Ursula?"

"Sit, sit, Reynold!" Ursula cries, waving her hands. She waits until Reynold is sitting comfortably, and then leans back and folds her hands in her lap. "I have been here since my birth, which was only 52 years ago. I am at the beginning of my cycle of service, oh yes. Do you know of the Lhiannon, Reynold?" Ursula asks, leaning forward in her chair. Her childe Lelaine sits silently, taking everything in.

Reynold sits back and considers, "No I must confess, I do not. I have heard of the others," he says naming off the clans, "But the Lhiannon..." he says shaking his head.

"Ah yes..." Ursula says sadly. "We are dying off-- being driven into the dust by the Cult of Christ." Both Ursula and Lelaine spit in unison. "The most horrifying aspect of this destruction is that it has come from the hands of the children of Caine who worship that abominable Christ more than from the short-lived mortals! Why, I do not know. We keep to ourselves and keep the old ways of the dark goddess, may she reign forever. We find places of power of use them for her service. We are a dying breed. In this part of the world, we are trying to keep her worship alive. There are towns and villages scattered throughout that are controlled by a Lhiannon priestess who converts the town to the old ways. She then teaches women in the ways of the Crone, makes those worthy her priestesses, and then selects one from those to be her childe. When the time comes that the high priestess' agelessness would start becoming unnatural to the mortals, she stages her own 'death,' and then her childe takes her place while she is now free to travel to another distant town and set up the same process there. In this way we hope to raise a force strong enough to fight the Christ-Cultists back to the hell that spawned them when they come looking for witches to burn!" Ursula and Lelaine both turn and spit in unison. Then Ursula sits back, resuming a pleasant expression on her face once more, allowing Reynold to question or comment.

Reynold listens to her and nods when appropriate. He rubs his chin as he listens.
"It seems the world has gone to madness at times. I too have seen others hunted and destroyed. The Salubri, who I have counted a number of them as friends, all hunted and destroyed. The times have changed. It seems intolerance is the rule of the day." He says thoughtfully.
"Lady Ursula, I...I had a dream in which a Goddess was mentioned. It said that she would help me, or send aid or...I don't know. Tell me of this Goddess, or what you know of her."

Ursula perks right up when Reynold asks this, and rubs her hands together. "Ah Reynold, the Goddess can take many forms, but she existed before even Caine, himself. She will come when you need her...when she is ready to come. Not even I can tell when that would be. If you had a dream where it was said that the Goddess would aid you, then you and your lionness are both chosen people!" Ursula suddenly turns next to her and speaks to the air. "Chosen! Yes, indeed?" Ursula pauses to listen. "Meant to be! Ah yes, blessed be Thy hand!" She turns back to Reynold with a radiant look on her face.
"The Goddess says that she sent you to my village because my time has come to 'die' and abdicate to Lelaine." Lelaine cries out and stands quickly, her eyes filling with red tears. "Lelaine!" Ursula thunders, and Lelaine cowers in humiliation. "Girl, do not make me regret my decision to Embrace you!" Ursula rages at Lelaine, and Lelaine quickly straightens her back and her eyes grow fierce. "Ah, there! Much better!" Ursula turns back to Reynold.
"Tell me, Reynold. You have something about you that tells me you are a powerful man. The way your men snap to attention and hover about you-- quite admirable! Is this through some sort of magic, or are you a secret royalty travelling in disguise? To have a demon I've never heard of taking your lionness away-- what is your secret, Reynold?" Ursula tilts her head to rest it in the palm of her hand as she studies Reynold.

Reynold leans forward. "I'll tell you, but you must promise to take care with whom you share this knowledge with." He says. He looks at her again and sees the wisdom within her eyes and strangely enough, he begins to feel comfortable.

"Ah yes, my lion, you have my trust. When a Lhiannon trusts you with her name, she trusts you with her life." Ursula waits for Reynold to continue.

Reynold sighs and begins to tell his tale. He tells her of Belgrade and of Madara. He tells her of his secret love for her and the events leading up to the night she was taken. He begins to describe that night and not more than once does he break down and weep a little. He finishes and sits back not bothering to wipe the tear away.

Ursula sits spell-bound for a long time, silent and motionless. Lelaine, however, has tears streaming down her face, but doesn't dare sniffle or move her hand to wipe them. She can only pray that her mistress doesn't turn around!
"Reynold, I am in awe. My Goddess, what has come into my lap but this incredible retinue! I must be a part of it! I must aid my Goddess in her quest!" Ursula has her arms raised with her hands clasped together, eyes heavenward. "Goddess willing, I will meet this lionness and see the lion's tears stop!" Ursula jumps up from her chair and kneels before Reynold. "Once and future Prince, allow me to accompany you and aid you as I can! Only I can speak directly with the Goddess-- you will need my voice, for I am her chosen one!" Ursula cups the side of her mouth and leans towards Reynold. "You better say yes, or the Goddess will strike you down, or so she says."

Reynold looks at her once more and nods solemnly.
"I do believe you. I accept your aid, my lady. I...I need all the help I can find. I have been so long without the company...the company of those who were not there or lived there in Belgrade." He says and he stands taking her hand.
"My lady Ursula, I would be grateful to your goddess if she could give me some clue as to what to do next, for I am truly out of ideas."

Ursula stands straight and proud with her hand resting in Reynold's. "You are wise to accept my offer, and the Goddess thanks you, also!" Ursula suddenly raises her finger as if to tell everyone in the room to remain silent, and she looks to her side for a moment, listening. When she's done listening, she turns back to Reynold.
"Reynold, my lord-- for so you will be once my death is complete and I am high priestess of Bigouden no more-- the Goddess says that you are to go to Paris immediately. There you will find your Tremere, but beware! He will know all about demons...there is an excellent chance he will know the name of Menthu. Someone with that kind of knowledge can be a great ally or dreaded enemy. You are so desperate in your quest that you won't care, but that's why you have myself, Veni, and Marcel. Heed these words well, Reynold Lion-heart!"

"You are right, I will use your counsel, wise Ursula. How are you to fake your death?" He says with a raised eyebrow.

Ursula smiles conspiratorally. "You will see tomorrow!" She turns to Lelaine-- who is just finishing scrubbing the blood-tears from her cheeks, and who quickly sits up straight and hastily puts a proud look on her face when her mistress' eyes fall on her-- and raises an eyebrow before speaking. "Lelaine, bring the priestesses to me, and make sure that piece of excriment Landulec is well-fed and well-guarded at the prison. We will do the rite tomorrow."
Lelaine stands and bows quickly and hurries from the cabin into the night. Not long after that, Marcel, Veni, Veni's ghouls, and the two dogs return with all the luggage. Ursula greets them warmly, quickly informs them that she's going to join their party when they leave the next night, and ushers everyone upstairs, adding that Reynold will explain more to them.
"I'm truly sorry for this abrupt treatment, but would you all mind keeping to your rooms for the remainder of the night? I need to have a hasty meeting with my priestesses, and being the gentle folk you are, I don't think you'd appreciate some of what is discussed."

Reynold nods, "Yes of course, of course." He turns to Veni and Marcel. "Come let us rest. After the past few days, a bed would refresh us well." he says as the three of them head to their rooms.

The day passes and the night returns. Reynold, Marcel, Veni, Veni's ghouls, and the dogs return to the carriage and horses and ready them, loading up their luggage as well as Ursula's. They sit in wait for Ursula to meet them, unsure what to expect.
The hours pass until midnight arrives, and suddenly they hear a wild keening coming from the area of the village-center. The sound is like that of screaming banshees, and it carries up to the sky. The dogs pad around whining, but Veni keeps them in check. Marcel watches Reynold's face worriedly, but when Reynold makes no comment, Marcel slowly calms himself.
Suddenly two guards come rushing into the stables carrying an unconscious man between them. They lay the man on the ground and shackle his wrists and ankles. One turns to the group and says, in halting Latin, "don't touch." Then they bow quickly to the confused party, and leave just as quickly. Marcel inspects the unconscious man-- he's a large, healthy-looking lad in his middle 20s-- and wonders what could be happening.
The keening continues, and then gets louder as a giant procession passes by the stables. The party within can see the priestesses walking ahead of everyone lead by Lelaine, making those terrible shrieking-noises, and holding an unconscious Ursula above their heads. She's covered in blood, and looks very pale and, well, truly dead! Then the procession continues into the woods as the rest of the village stops at the gates. When the priestesses are out of sight, the villagers quickly return back into the village.
Another hour passes before the priestesses return, humming a haunting melody filled with different layers of harmony. Another 15 minutes pass, and then a dark-shrouded person creeps quickly into the stables carrying someone on her back. She hurries over to the unconscious man, and lays her burden down next to him and throws back her hood. It's Lelaine, and the person she carried in is Ursula.

Reynold watches the goings on, fascinated. He doesn't move to do anything. Veni turns to him and shrugs, Reynold shakes his head and mouths the words, 'Leave it alone.' Marcel sits in the drivers seat trying to keep his eyes from the scene, but in vain. Soon he, too, cannot keep eyes from it wondering what is going to happen next.

Lelaine surveys the scene and nods when she sees that everyone's accounted for. Then she turns and bends down, unwrapping Ursula from her shroud. She quickly strips off her mistress' bloody clothing, and pulls fresh clothing from under her cloak, dressing her mistress quickly but gently. Then she stands up straight, walks over to the unconscious man, and kicks him hard in the ribs. He awakens with a shout of pain, and when he opens his eyes and sees Lelaine, he gives a lewd grin through his pain. He looks her up and down and says something that makes Lelaine's face burn red, and she smacks his face so hard that his eyes roll back in their sockets. When he recovers, he laughs weakly and fastens his eyes on Lelaine once more. Lelaine turns her back on him and returns to Ursula's side, pulling her up to the man's side. The man looks surprised, and looks from Ursula's form to Lelaine questioningly. Then his surprise abates, and he makes another comment that causes Lelaine to look enraged. Suddenly Lelaine grins and is at the man's side in a second. He looks confused, but his expression suddenly turns to one of shock as Lelaine's dagger flashes and his neck starts gushing blood. Lelaine lifts Ursula's mouth up to the wound, and soon Ursula's throat begins to move as she starts drinking. Her arms fly up and fasten around the man's head and shoulders as she holds him locked to her mouth and drinks thirstily.
In just a minute she has sucked the man dry, and pushes him from her drunkenly. She blinks and holds a hand to her head as Lelaine wraps the man in the shroud, hefts him over her shoulder and carries him to the door. Lelaine turns for a moment, and then two women lock eyes. Then the moment passes, and Lelaine turns and hurries from the stables. Ursula gets to her feet and smiles at the gaping crowd.
"It is done. I am now 'dead,' Lelaine Montebleu is High Priestess, and a man deserving of death has it." Ursula gives a deep laugh and smiles at everyone. "So...are we ready to go, my pride of lions?"

Reynold has enough grace to close his mouth and nod, while Veni and Marcel continue to stare, their mouthes agape.
"Yes let us be off," Reynold says mounting Nanesti. He gives the two of them a warning look and they snap out of their shock. Veni hefts up to his horse and Marcel offers Ursula the seat next to him.

Ursula smiles a pleased smile and makes to get up next to Marcel when she suddenly freezes and listens for a moment. Then she laughs and nods, hitting her head. "If you don't mind, good Marcel, allow me to ride inside tonight so I won't be seen. After a night and day of riding, we should be far enough away from here that I could emerge and ride in your company!"

Marcel nods and climbs down. He opens the door for her and smiles.
"An excellent point, my lady." He says with a smile.

Ursula smiles and gets into the carriage. "Lady...Ursula...whichever you want to call me no longer matters! I'm free, and I serve your master AND the Goddess now!" Ursula cocks her head to one side. "What's that? Ah yes, I agree." Ursula turns back to Marcel. "The Goddess says that despite your sex, she has faith in all of you."
Ursula leans back into the carriage and folds her arms with a pleasant expression on her face.

"Indeed, how comforting," Marcel says closing the door and climbing back to the driver's seat. Reynold flashes a rare smile at the two of them and knees Nanesti into a gallop.

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