At long last--home!

[Marcabru]

The troubadour looked around curiously. "There is something about this country... 'tis strange, yet familiar. This stream, the lake yonder, and meseems there is a town not too distant. And... yes, a manor house around this bend...." Shaking the reins, he urged Storm on until, rounding the curve in the road, he spied a great house, surrounded by barns and outbuildings, but with a sign on the gate and another above the door: "Nopalo's Place." Pulling the great black stallion to a halt, he turned to the rest of the party, saying, "I have, in all my travels, known but one man with such a name. If it is indeed he, my dear friends, we have fallen into friendly hands indeed."

[Prince]

Xandr, ever the Prince's faithful servant, holding the reigns to the lead carriage, looked to Marcabru to for guidance. "Where, then, should we draw the carriages, sir? We can set up the servants well enough, but our lords and ladies dare not come forth before nightfall."

[Soraya]

Soraya shifted inside the darkened carriage. They had stopped, it seemed. Perhaps this would be somewhere they could actually rest for awhile. As good as the company was, she was weary of traveling, and she wanted somewhere to simply stop, and perhaps even begin an attempt at a real life again. After all, there was little in the way of privacy or time to be spent alone when cooped up in a carriage most days.

"Where are we?" she asked to no one in particular, a quiet voice inside her head silently hoping home was the answer.

[Naitachel]

Naitachel, high among the clouds above, banked into a circle as he caught sight of the party stopping below at a certain manor house with its extensive grounds. Gliding, he waited and watched, then started to drop down into a dive, swooping lower and lower to see better. Finally, he hovered a bit to one side of the party, uncertain of their decision.

<Do we stop here?> he asked. <It feels comfortable... The ley-lines converge here, and there is no taint of any kind that I may detect. Oddities, yes, but no Darkness...>

[Marcabru]

Xandr, ever the Prince's faithful servant, holding the reigns to the lead carriage, looked to Marcabru to for guidance. "Where, then, should we draw the carriages, sir? We can set up the servants well enough, but our lords and ladies dare not come forth before nightfall."

"Follow the wagon tracks to the rear of the building," replied the troubadour. "Doubtless there will be a barn or stable wherein you may rest until we have spoken to the Innkeeper. Wait you there until we return." He rode up to the building and dismounted, throwing the reins over a hitching rail. As he stepped onto the porch and approached the front door, he heard within the building a familiar sound: "Step, thump! Step, thump! Step, thump!" Excited, he turned to the others; "It is he! Truly we have found a place of rest."

[Rowanna]

Rowanna's eyes went wide in disbelief. She looked at Mirzan, there beside her on Nip. Could it really be him? A slow smile spread across her lips. How long had it been?

"It is who?" Shayori asked from atop her own mount, clearly lost.

[Mirzan]

Mirzan frowned under his wyvern helm, shaking his head. Nip rumbled under them, shifting hungrily to bite the nearest tree. What were the odds?

"It... can't be. There's plenty of one-legged guys in the world... Besides, he didn't have the money to buy a place like this when we knew him--even if it is him, surely he's still only a cook?" he mused.

Still, in the mercenary's opinion, it was likely time they stopped and considered their options in this land. And there was abundant vegitation around, likely enough to suit Nip at least for a while... and this place looked comfortable and clean and large, a good place to rest and rebuild their lives from.

[Terhon the BlackSilver]

Terhon glided in the wake of their party, a silent but good goad for their beasts to good speed with his hungry and dark aura, better than a whip any day. He hung back as the group pondered the Inn and mused over who inhabited it. Not exactly his kind of place, but it suited Shayori's and Sihlus' needs and there was abundant prey around for himself. He needed nothing else to satisfy his desires at the moment. It was a nice thought, though, of hunting without worrying about causing trouble for those he cared about...

[Rowanna]

At Mirzan's frown, Rowanna's smile faded. She shrugged. Of course, he was probably right. It really would be too much to ask, wouldn't it...

[Shayori]

"Do you guys know the owner, then?" Shayori asked, still prompting for details of some sort.

[Sihlus]

A large grey cat, resting on the cantle of Shayori's saddle, stretched as he sent a quick mind-probe inside the Inn. He purred as he jumped to the ground and disappeared in a silvery shimmer. He emerged as a slender man dressed all in grey. He grinned as he helped Shayori down. "It's him all right. Bald-headed old coot, still wearing the same peg leg he had years ago. Yes, darlin', we do know the owner, and unless he's changed a lot since I last saw him, we've just come home."

[Mikki]

Small eyes peeked out from behind Shayori's collar. Mikki was curious, to be sure, but the idea of an actual human establishment made her uncomfortable; she normally made a point of avoiding them. She preferred to remain in the woods, even if that limited her mischief and merriment to travelers. At least there she could hide easily, use the foliage and underbrush as cover. At least there she knew her way.

This was completely foreign to her. Though, admittedly, it did present more opportunities for playing. She chittered nervously in Shayori's ear and ducked under the woman's red hair, though she peered out from her position, intent on what the group would decide to do.

From there, she could decide what she would do. After all, other than her liking for the woman who had protected her and for the seraph, Naitachel, she had no real ties here. Particularly given the fact that many of the group were actually dark creatures. Of course, the woman needed protecting from the man-cat and the mara, so perhaps Mikki shouldn't be so hasty to leave her alone.

[Shayori]

"Good," Shayori grinned, "Because if I have to ride another day..." She cringed at the thought of how much more chafed she'd become, uncertain she'd have any backside left at all. Looking around at the others she asked, "Aren't you coming?"

[Prince]

"It would seem," Vlad answered, sounding amused. "We have arrived at our destination despite having no foreknowledge of its existence. If you will but wait a moment, we are being directed to a place where you and the others who wish to may exit the carriage safely."

[Marcabru]

Eagerly, yet warily, the troubadour opened the door and cautiously looked inside. Sure enough, there was the familiar rotund figure, apparently changed not at all, turning to see who was coming in. "Nopalo, old friend," Marcabru cried, "is it truly you? The sight of you is like a draught of water to a desert vagabond." He strode quickly to his old friend, taking him by the hand and holding on for dear life. "We have journeyed long, in hopes of discovering a place of safety, and thanks be to the Great Architect, we have found you!" He turned to the door, crying, "Come in, my dear friends, we have found another lost sword-brother!"

[Soraya]

"You mean this is a place we shall remain?" Soraya asked, ears perked in interest. She couldn't look outside due to the danger of sunlight, but perhaps she could catch some sort of sound that would give her a clue as to their location. Were they in a village, perhaps?

"A possible home," she breathed, unconsciously taking Vlad's hand and squeezing it.

[Mirzan]

Mirzan gave Nip's reins a shake, and guided the warbeast to a clear part of the yard area to dismount, then gave teh command for the Tevae to lay down. With a grumble at being moved from his tree dinner, Nip complied, going to knees then haunches, finally settling on his belly for his master and Rowanna to get down.

"Well, in that case, we couldn't have ended up better. I think we could use a good meal after all this running around. And Nopalo can help us get back on our feet again. Trustworthy, and a good man--he must know the area, about jobs and land for sale, and until we get settled somewhere we can enjoy his cooking and hospitality," the mercenary mused, smiling.

Sliding down onto his feet stiffly, he reached up to help Rowanna down as well, Snap scurrying up to leap onto his shoulder.

[Nopalo]

Nopalo, shocked to his shoes (shoe) by the unexpected arrival, could do nothing for a moment but stare, open-mouthed, at Marcabru. Then, as his brain caught up, his mouth widened in a delighted grin. "Marcabru, ye old rascal! Ye're the last person I'd be expectin' t' see on such a fine fall mornin'. And ye've others with ye? Bring 'em in, bring 'em in, by all that's holy, an' we'll be settin' ye down to a fine meal, an' puttin' ye up in th' finest rooms in the house, we will." Spinning on his peg leg to face the door, he vigorously waved the others in. "Come in, come in! Let's be seein' who ye are!" Nearly dancing a jig of happiness, he mopped his forehead with a large red bandanna.

[Naitachel]

Mentally following the conversations below, Naitachel glided off to a clear area behind one of the buildings, then swept into a landing, touching down gently on the rich grass there. While the party knew him for what he was, he had no wish to reveal to the inhabitants or guests of this establishment that a part-angel was among them. It had caused some erroneous assumptions already. The place immediately warmed him, in a sense--he could feel the ley lines running beneath the surface, offering him energy and warmth like a ray of sunshine.

With buoyant steps, the Seraph bounded around and over to where the others were dismounting, cheerful and lighthearted to feel the welcome of this place, hopeful that it would help them as the start of a new life for all.

"I think we have found a winner?" he chuckled, using the unfamiliar human expression as he joined the others.

[Marcabru]

As the others entered the Inn, Marcabru hesitated a moment, and taking a deep breath, said, "Friend Nopalo, we have one more favor to ask of you. It is a delicate subject, and one not easy to broach, but necessary. Some in our party are of a nocturnal species who have no tolerance for sunlight. It is lethal to them - deadly. At the moment they are enclosed in a carriage which we have taken the liberty to park in your barn. Tell me, old friend, if you might be persuaded, first, to allow them to remain here; second, to discover a means to remove them from the carriage to the Inn without subjecting them to the devastating rays of the sun; and third, to provide quarters wherein they may spend the daylight hours? They have a fairly large entourage, but are almost completely self-sufficient, except for meals for the servants." He gripped the rotund innkeeper's hand even more tightly in supplication. "It would earn my deepest gratitude, and that of your other friends in our party."

[Rowanna]

Rowanna accepted his assistance, and, though her smile returned and her great green eyes shone brightly, smoothed her skirts nervously. "Do you think he'll remember us?" she asked hopefully. She'd been so fond of him, Nopalo...

[Prince]

"It would seem so," Vlad replied, giving Soraya's hand a gentle squeeze in return. In truth, he doubted his own would be welcomed so wholeheartedly as to be 'home'. However, if they could be tolerated long enough to find more suitable accommodations for themselves, it would be enough. He could but hope.

[Mirzan]

Mirzan hooked Rowanna's arm in his, and escorted her after Marcabru, smirking. "I don't think Nopalo would forget us that easily. Unless he's gotten pretty senile over the years..."

As they entered, the serious mercenary brightened to a bit of a lopsided grin, recognizing the peg leg and loud voice. Oh, there were no doubts now, it was definitely their old friend! He strode up to clap that familiar balding cook on the shoulder. "Nopalo! You haven't changed much over the years, it seems! Still cooking feasts fit for kings and chasing armed invaders to your domain with cleavers?" he laughed.

[Nopalo]

Nopalo quirked an eyebrow, letting Marcabru's words sink in, then began laughing, a deep, delighted belly laugh that started somewhere near his knees and worked its way up to become a deep-throated bray of mirth. Slowly he settled down, wiping his sweaty head with the bandanna. He chuckled again when he saw the stares of both his staff and the newcomers. "Whoo! Whooee! Whee! An' just when I was thinkin' nothin' could ever be surprisin' me again." He lowered his voice conspiritorially. "So it's vampires ye're travelin' with now, is it? Well, I've had less pleasant guests from time to time. As long as they'll be promisin' not t' go chewin' on any o' the neighbors... or th' customers... They'll be welcome. Let's see... we've a portico on th' shady side o' the buildin', with trees givin' extra shade. If they could cover their heads an' hands, they could make a dash from there to th' door, an' then down into th' cool room. That'll be given' 'em room t' move around, anyway, till nightfall an' we can find somethin' more suitable. Come! We'll be seein' to it right away." He stopped long enough to slap Mirzan on the back and return his greeting, then turned, still holding Marcabru's hand, and stumped across the room toward the kitchen. The troubadour had no choice but to follow. "Molly! Molly, lass, will ye be lookin' after our new guests? Give 'em anything they want, an' the best rooms in th' place!" Out through the kitchen he went.

Reaching the barn, he burst through the crowd of curious stablehands standing in the door, and approached the carriage (s?), speaking to Xandr. "Pull around to th' west side, lad, under the cover, there, an' we'll see if we can get your cargo unloaded."

[Prince]

Xandr nodded and quickly complied, eager to have his masters safely indoors somewhere.

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