On the Outside

[Brian]

"That would be Hamar, and of course, the Lord of Stormwall Keep, once we arrive.  I would be Madame," she says, frowning.  "Though, you may simply call me Mirallia, when we are alone."

At the last, she turns away, and says, "That is my sin, and why I should not have been chosen for this task."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn studies the set of the back of Mirallia.  Haven't played father-confessor in years.  When needs must, I guess.

"I'm probably in no position to pry," Bjorn says, gently, "but in a real sense, you hold my life in your hands, and I swear that I will do nothing to break your trust.  Do you want to talk about it?"

[Brian]

"Not ... you.  But, who you were before.  A priestess of Hamar should remain chaste ... and I did not.  The sin, once commited, could not be undone.  I fear to ... truly pray to Hamar, for I think His greatest blessings are denied to me."

[Bjorn]

About to say something comforting, Bjorn stops, mouth slightly open, as he realizes something very disturbing.

He knows what Mirallia is talking about.

"Chastity is required of the clergy," he says, half a question and in a voice full of wonder.  "But it isn't of vassals.  Wouldn't matter, because who would have a vassal of the Church?  Unless my vassalage got bought out... but what would have been the odds of that?"  His voice trails off, and he stares at the wall, lost in thought.  In an abstracted voice, he muses, "I can't imagine how lonely it would be."

[Brian]

"I'm sure if you put your mind to it you can," Mirallia says, rubbing at her eyes.  "Tomorrow we go to the Keep.  We should probably best get some rest."

[Bjorn]

Bjorn shakes his head, breaking out of his reverie.  "Uh, sorry.  I didn't mean...." He trails off, and stands.  "Sleep well," he says, and settles himself cross-legged at the foot of the bed, leaning his back against the wall and resting his sword across his knees.

Meditation leading straight into sleep, he's found, is the best way to keep from thinking too much about losing one's mind.

[Dracos]

Dracos keeps an open ear for any interesting tidbits that get said during the night.

Dracos

[Brian]

Phil: You try and eavesdrop.  The men are mostly grumbling behind you about the music, which they agree is okay, but not what they wanted to hear.  The only other things they talk about are who was out on the last patrol, this really pretty maid left behind at Stormwall Keep, a references to owning a farm 'once this is all through' in some place called the heartlands, and how a few of them are worried about the upcoming siege.

None of them are trying to start a conversation with you or your companions, though, as they figure you've probably been busy enough already.After an hour or so of music, the warden reappears, and leads you to his office, which is a spacious, well lit room opposite his private quarters (which have their doors shut) and the kitchen.  Some pallets have been laid out for you to sleep on.

It's actually not that bad, after taking in sleeping on the ground, as you had been doing.  A proper bed (and a hot bath) would be awesome, but they don't seem to have any form of bathing facilities here.  They do have a latrine, though, and that's out a small door in the back.

Once you lie down, you realize the men in the common room are sleeping beneath the tables, and therefore, you should probably not stomp through it in search of a glass of water, or anything.

Regardless, after the night passes (there are no windows, so it's dark enough to get to sleep without too much trouble), you all wake up.

Bjorn: You're a bit stiff from sitting upright, but still better rested than when you stayed outdoors.  Your armor is starting to actually feel kind of warm.  The lady looks pretty comfortable, though.

Everyone else: Your room is cool, but with your cloaks (and the blankets provided by the warden) it's not that bad.  Someone's banging around in the common room and ladling up something for breakfast.

[Bjorn]

Getting carefully to his feet, Bjorn stretches, rolling his head from side to side to work out kinks.  When he's limber (or at least not quite as stiff), he says, gently, "It's time to wake up."

[Brian]

The lady grumbles, and makes some very un-ladylike noises before sitting up.  "Time to go already?" she asks sleepily.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods.  "I'm afraid so.  We don't want to waste the time we've gained."

[Brian]

"I'm awake," she sighs, climbing to her feet, checking her robes to see that everything is in place, and then opening the door.

The smoky morning light and cheer of the main hall spill through the door, and you can see the guardsmen hauling on their armor over their underclothes sleepily.  The warden is already up, talking to one of his men, and the cook is setting out the next meal -- looks like the last one, but it comes with a small wedge of bright yellow cheese.

[Dracos]

Dracos gets up, glancing over his companions and stretching out a bit before facing the morning.  While a proper bath would be nice, he's lazy and inured enough not to give it any mind.

He glanced outside to check what is going on.  Presuming it's just breakfast and nothing weird, he gets his lazy bum non-early morning companions up.

Dracos

[Bjorn]

After last night's discussion, Bjorn has a little more of an idea of what's expected of him.  As such, he follows Mirallia's lead, keeping quiet and staying out of the way of others.

[Brian]

She moves to the head table, nearest the fire, and starts eating her meal.  The others file in the from warden's office and join in after a bit.  It's pretty subdued, without any conversation from the majority of the men outside of how they're assigning their duties for the day.