Post by odis on Apr 21, 2008 19:07:14 GMT -6
He had recieved the summons by the hand of a young novice, thankfully Willa was already elbow deep in the chores of the kitchen. He had taken up the walking stick and set a path down the cobblestoned streets towards the cathedral. The tapping keep a beat to his steps as he wore the dark expression upon the freshly shaved face. The pressed white shirt was covered by the tunic baring the Griffin ensignia. His eyes squinted a bit to demand their focus as he moved slowly inside.
The woman sat within, half kneeling down as she was draped in the heavy finery of deepest black. The heavy lace veil hide away the dusky coloration of her skin while the gloved hands were folded before her. The golden chain hug between them as the small cross flashed now and again in the pool of light that slipped in through the windows. By all appearances she was merely a woman in mourning.. as there were still a great many that were having troubled times in dealing with the loss of loved ones. For Augusta, it was merely a cover, there were very few the woman could ever claim to care about, less that she would shed tears if they were to pass from this world into the next. The tapping of that walking stick caught her attention, though she did not lift her hand away from her prayers.
Odis caught sight of the woman, the familiar silohuette sitting there in her repose. Even if he had no liking for the woman, he had to admire the serene beauty she could possess, when she took the mind to. He moved forward towards the pew in which she had seated herself in and slowly knelt down to genuflect to the alter. The grimace came as he slowly pushed himself up once more, the thick hand resting on the end of the pew as the other gripped the walking stick tighter. He was no longer the young man he once was. Pity in that. His dark eyes flickered to the shadows before looking forward once more. He did not interupt her, he would be patient , for now.
Augusta took her time in her prayers, making the man wait for a few long minutes before her hands slowly slid back to her lap as she eased herself again into the pew. " It is good of you to come, I trust you and the girl are doing well? "She asked in the soft sultry voice. There was something almost hypnotizing about Augusta. Born and bred for things that no one spoke about in good company. Least of all the hallowed halls of a church.
" What do you want, Augusta? " He cut across the polite conversation as he offered this woman no quarter. The woman beside him was flawless, her features , her voice.. the manner in which she held herself. Flawless and deadly, he had a nice scar along his left ribcage that proved that. Thankfully she had merely been playful, else for all Odis's ego, he could admit to himself. He'd be sitting there dead.
" Always into business, Odis. You should learn to enjoy the meeting of old friends. " She half purred before the amused smile pulled at the pulp lips. The sigh was staged , as nearly everything with Augusta was. " Very well.. They are not pleased with your disappearance, let alone the sudden absense of the child. I have been informed that I am allowed to bring you an offer. " She spoke softly, she did not have to look at him to know the expression.. nor did she wait for his reply. " I told them they were being foolish. However their terms were simple Your reinstatement into their good graces for the return of the girl. " She spoke softly as she glanced over at him. " I was however most heartbroken to hear of her Mother's death. "
Odis state at her side, the expression turned as though the winter would return by the stare that was cast forward. The jaws clenched and settled again while the thick hand tightened around the knot in the top of the walking stick. " You know my answer to this , Augusta. Over my dead body will she be forced back.. there. " he stated quietly and coolly. " Do they know where we are? "
The small kerchief was lifted and used to dab at her eyes beneath the veil, keeping up the appearances of the mourning widow, as she shook her head. " They believe you took the child east. I have seen no reason to correct them in this. " She stated softly.
He gave a small nod as he pulled in a deep breath. " At what price must I pay to keep it this way? " He inquired quietly. Knowing full well when dealing with this toxic beauty there was always a price.
" It is something you and I have agreed upon all the while. There is no reason to upset the papal throne by bringing the girl back. My superiors would be put far more at ease if she never returned, nor heard from again. I am willing to continue the farce of your location silent and if necessary I will have bodies found and identified as you both. " She stated quietly. It was a dangerous game to play, though politics within the empire did keep a girl busy. And she did adore winning..
" The senate? " he was confused for a moment as the dull eyes flickered to the woman.
" Of course not. Please, do keep up , Odis. They would like nothing better then to have the child within their grasp to bring down our beloved lord and Father. " She spoke in an amused tone. " The church has come to believe that the disappearance of the child and her mother as a blessing upon them. " She looked forward to the alter. " Does she share his features? " She inquired softly.
The man for a moment held a brief glimpse of pain as he lowered his attention to look at the walking stick in his hands. " She does" He answered softly as he found to tuck down those hurts of years so far passed.
She gave another little nod as the dark gloved hand came to rest upon his arms. " I am sorry, Odis. Had I known the feelings.. "
She had begun those words though his arm was removed from her touch. " It does not matter now. Keeping her away from them, safe from their leecherous hands. I will not see her used against the throne of God. " He stated coolly once more. " Thank you for keeping me aware that they still search. " He spoke as he pushed himself up to his feet.
Augusta watched him with that distant sort of stare. She said nothing else as she turned her gaze forward to the alter once more. " I live but to serve my Lord and Father. " She stated quietly. The hand lifted to cross herself before lowering again. " May God watch over you, Odis. " She stated quietly at the man's retreating back.
Odis stopped and he looked back to her. He had no doubt there was far more in this for Augusta. She didn't travel anywhere.. deliver such information for no payment at all. The flat flaring of his nostrils came as he bowed deeply to the woman once more. " And you, may he forgive you " He stated quietly. In the bow he slipped something onto the polished wood of the pew before leaving. The tapping of the walking stick continued again as he departed. Finding the interior of the building stifling.
The woman canted her head a bit as she looked down to the pouch. The delicate gloved fingers slowly lifted it from its place. The strings removed as she poured the contents into the palm of her hand. The veil hid the expression of shock that came across her beautiful features... though nothing hid the wince. There within the palm of her hand had been the small glass vial. He knew.. she turned in the seat to regard him. Perhaps the man was quicker then she thought?
Odis turned back to watch her as she opened it. There was a cold satifaction that came across his features. The small salute was given to the woman as he stepped out into the bright sunlit afternoon.
The woman sat within, half kneeling down as she was draped in the heavy finery of deepest black. The heavy lace veil hide away the dusky coloration of her skin while the gloved hands were folded before her. The golden chain hug between them as the small cross flashed now and again in the pool of light that slipped in through the windows. By all appearances she was merely a woman in mourning.. as there were still a great many that were having troubled times in dealing with the loss of loved ones. For Augusta, it was merely a cover, there were very few the woman could ever claim to care about, less that she would shed tears if they were to pass from this world into the next. The tapping of that walking stick caught her attention, though she did not lift her hand away from her prayers.
Odis caught sight of the woman, the familiar silohuette sitting there in her repose. Even if he had no liking for the woman, he had to admire the serene beauty she could possess, when she took the mind to. He moved forward towards the pew in which she had seated herself in and slowly knelt down to genuflect to the alter. The grimace came as he slowly pushed himself up once more, the thick hand resting on the end of the pew as the other gripped the walking stick tighter. He was no longer the young man he once was. Pity in that. His dark eyes flickered to the shadows before looking forward once more. He did not interupt her, he would be patient , for now.
Augusta took her time in her prayers, making the man wait for a few long minutes before her hands slowly slid back to her lap as she eased herself again into the pew. " It is good of you to come, I trust you and the girl are doing well? "She asked in the soft sultry voice. There was something almost hypnotizing about Augusta. Born and bred for things that no one spoke about in good company. Least of all the hallowed halls of a church.
" What do you want, Augusta? " He cut across the polite conversation as he offered this woman no quarter. The woman beside him was flawless, her features , her voice.. the manner in which she held herself. Flawless and deadly, he had a nice scar along his left ribcage that proved that. Thankfully she had merely been playful, else for all Odis's ego, he could admit to himself. He'd be sitting there dead.
" Always into business, Odis. You should learn to enjoy the meeting of old friends. " She half purred before the amused smile pulled at the pulp lips. The sigh was staged , as nearly everything with Augusta was. " Very well.. They are not pleased with your disappearance, let alone the sudden absense of the child. I have been informed that I am allowed to bring you an offer. " She spoke softly, she did not have to look at him to know the expression.. nor did she wait for his reply. " I told them they were being foolish. However their terms were simple Your reinstatement into their good graces for the return of the girl. " She spoke softly as she glanced over at him. " I was however most heartbroken to hear of her Mother's death. "
Odis state at her side, the expression turned as though the winter would return by the stare that was cast forward. The jaws clenched and settled again while the thick hand tightened around the knot in the top of the walking stick. " You know my answer to this , Augusta. Over my dead body will she be forced back.. there. " he stated quietly and coolly. " Do they know where we are? "
The small kerchief was lifted and used to dab at her eyes beneath the veil, keeping up the appearances of the mourning widow, as she shook her head. " They believe you took the child east. I have seen no reason to correct them in this. " She stated softly.
He gave a small nod as he pulled in a deep breath. " At what price must I pay to keep it this way? " He inquired quietly. Knowing full well when dealing with this toxic beauty there was always a price.
" It is something you and I have agreed upon all the while. There is no reason to upset the papal throne by bringing the girl back. My superiors would be put far more at ease if she never returned, nor heard from again. I am willing to continue the farce of your location silent and if necessary I will have bodies found and identified as you both. " She stated quietly. It was a dangerous game to play, though politics within the empire did keep a girl busy. And she did adore winning..
" The senate? " he was confused for a moment as the dull eyes flickered to the woman.
" Of course not. Please, do keep up , Odis. They would like nothing better then to have the child within their grasp to bring down our beloved lord and Father. " She spoke in an amused tone. " The church has come to believe that the disappearance of the child and her mother as a blessing upon them. " She looked forward to the alter. " Does she share his features? " She inquired softly.
The man for a moment held a brief glimpse of pain as he lowered his attention to look at the walking stick in his hands. " She does" He answered softly as he found to tuck down those hurts of years so far passed.
She gave another little nod as the dark gloved hand came to rest upon his arms. " I am sorry, Odis. Had I known the feelings.. "
She had begun those words though his arm was removed from her touch. " It does not matter now. Keeping her away from them, safe from their leecherous hands. I will not see her used against the throne of God. " He stated coolly once more. " Thank you for keeping me aware that they still search. " He spoke as he pushed himself up to his feet.
Augusta watched him with that distant sort of stare. She said nothing else as she turned her gaze forward to the alter once more. " I live but to serve my Lord and Father. " She stated quietly. The hand lifted to cross herself before lowering again. " May God watch over you, Odis. " She stated quietly at the man's retreating back.
Odis stopped and he looked back to her. He had no doubt there was far more in this for Augusta. She didn't travel anywhere.. deliver such information for no payment at all. The flat flaring of his nostrils came as he bowed deeply to the woman once more. " And you, may he forgive you " He stated quietly. In the bow he slipped something onto the polished wood of the pew before leaving. The tapping of the walking stick continued again as he departed. Finding the interior of the building stifling.
The woman canted her head a bit as she looked down to the pouch. The delicate gloved fingers slowly lifted it from its place. The strings removed as she poured the contents into the palm of her hand. The veil hid the expression of shock that came across her beautiful features... though nothing hid the wince. There within the palm of her hand had been the small glass vial. He knew.. she turned in the seat to regard him. Perhaps the man was quicker then she thought?
Odis turned back to watch her as she opened it. There was a cold satifaction that came across his features. The small salute was given to the woman as he stepped out into the bright sunlit afternoon.