Ariane

Coming back to Templewood to gather a few necessities, Ariane caught sight of movement near the mews. Her head swiveled towards the spot with lightening speed as her crossbow came down into her arms aimed to the spot, releasing the bolt. With the sound of metal into wood, a grayish bird was disturbed into flight, its wings flapping frantically up into the air. She watched it as it flew around the vicinity a couple of times and returned to settle upon the bolt stuck out of the beam of one of the coops.

Calming herself, she went to the bird after pulling the crossbow over her shoulder. The pigeon had a small container upon its leg. Ariane picked up the bird in her hands, and removed the container from its legs before walking into Beaufort to read the message and leave it with the appropriate person.

She stopped short for a moment after walking through the set of heavy double oaken doors to the left of the main gates. How had this pigeon had managed to find her, let alone be released to find its way here in the first place? She couldn't fathom.

'T'were 'ee nay captured like?' she thought, 'T'were 'ee nay be'in interrogated?'

Maybe, his captors had indeed been kind enough to allow him send word to her, or so she had hoped.

The message was addressed to her.

Quote:

My love, Tonights patrol have lead down to most unfortunate events, and I believe that our family might be lingering in danger from it. A threat have been officially made against us. I'd like you to take the children and reside in the empath abbey for a while, for now I'm not able to come home. This will most probably change in a few days. Seek out Raen the abbot, he will most certainly help you. He can also be trusted. Same cannot be said about Isabella, Reiver, or Arilon. Whom witnessed the threats made against our family, without objections. I'd like you to keep away from Vesper and these persons for the time being, we shall be together soon again my love. I'd like you to announce that I step down from the position of Grandmaster within the order. As tradition have it, the Seneschal shall take the grandmasters place. May the vesperian plans for me not alter the decisions made on tomorrows meeting. I think of you. *signed swiftly* Gendin

Looking at the message again, still wondering the how and what behind its path to her hand, she found its contents even more perplexing.

She mused, 'T'were it nay 'mongst them 'ee be writ'in 'bout that done be mak'in means to be seek'in that I be tak'in the bairns to ground like? An' 'and'in o'er 'is position like to M'lord Taggart? What be this?'

To her small mind, she wanted it to seem too easy of an answer because her beloved husband was in captivity of the enemy for the moment. The Vesperians could literally be plotting anything at this moment or have any number of plans and twists in mind.

Then the thought struck Ariane, 'Iff'in 'ee be under duress like, O' captivity, O' some wytchcraft'in that be pursuad'in 'im, might be that they be forc'in 'is 'and to be writ'in someth'in so as to be be'in a diversion like for them plans they be 'av'in?'

However, Ariane gave in, she knew better and knew the truth as her hands slowly ran over the hastily written ink of the message. She wanted so badly to believe this was some trick, but knew beyond a doubt that this was indeed Gendin's writing. The woman knew full well this was how her beloved's strategy tended to work. He would see that he wasn't the prize goat to be sold in an auction house full of tanners. As the woman's long fingers traced over his name, they stopped, her gaze fetching upon his ring on her hand. He was alive, for now.

She had wept the night before when told of his capture, and the threats to their innocent children, but now with her sorrow spent, Ariane could only feel rage towards Gendin's captors.

Ariane walked stiffly, cold and emotionless in her armour past the ornate wooden doors of the Seneschal's office, placing the letter down upon the Seneschal's desk in full view. If any man knew what to do with this information and what orders to give, then it would be him. Whether Gendin handed the position of Grandmaster to Lord Taggart or not, the fact remained that Gendin was currently being held prisoner by Vesper and that meant the Seneschal was left in command of the order for the time being.

Turning, the crusader left the office and walked with a deadly silence of nothing more than armour plates echoing in the stone halls towards the main gates of Beaufort to go gather those few supplies she had returned for.