Sin-Claire
Temptation is a Beast
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2020
- Location
- Texas, United States
Isolde Claremont looked out from the seat of their covered wagon with a small sigh. They had finally arrived to the place she would be calling home for the foreseeable future and the sight of it made her heart sink. It was a rectangular stone structure with a cylindrical tower attached at the side. While it may have been lovely in its prime, the stone walls now held innumerable cracks, there were broken windows, and the roof on the tower had begun to collapse in on itself.
Shifting in her seat, she clutched a full cloth bag to her chest, her pale gray eyes wandering over the structure and grounds. A small stable sat off to the side and they were just down the road from the rest of the town's shops and other homes.
Jameson, the servant that had been sent with her on her journey, pulled on the reins of the pair of harnessed draft horses until they slowed to a stop. His own eyes barely looked at the structure and he offered no argument, which would have been hard to do anyways since he lacked a tongue. It had been cut out by the Church of Eternal Goddesses in his youth for blasphemy but it had only added to his value as a servant. He was a strong man with a gentle manner and Isolde had been glad that he had been the one to accompany her.
She had been sent by the central library of Aramoor, one of the largest libraries in the world to tend to their latest acquisition: a small library in the nearly forgotten town of Yarrin. She was to restore and catalogue the books before sending any of value back to Aramoor.
The sun was beginning to set and she gave a resigned sigh. Jameson jumped down from the wagon and then as she neared the edge he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her to set her down as if she were a child. Earlier in the trip she had scolded his action but once it became clear that she couldn't exit on her own in a dignified manner she had apologized and asked that he continue. Still, the feeling of his hands around her waist made her blush and she looked down to brush off her dark blue travel cloak and the white dress she wore beneath, not wanting him to notice.
While normally it would have been highly improper for her to travel alone with a man, the fact that he acted as servant and bodyguard changed the matter. Not to mention, she would probably not have made it had she tried to set on the trip alone. Taking the lead, Isolde moved to the front door while he trailed behind. It opened easily and the low light from the setting sun filtered in.
There were shelves lining the walls on each side of the room as well as bookshelves in the center, and they were all nearly filled with books. The sight of them brought her a modicum of comfort as her gaze traveled the room. It was covered in nearly 100 layers of dust it seemed and the room was drafty which wasn't a good sign. Against the opposite wall there was a wide hearth, cold and dark.
Turning to Jameson she said, "Please see to the horses and bring in our things and I will start a fire." He nodded lightly and walked out, leaving her feeling a slight unease at being alone. Stepping back outside she gathered some sticks and felled limbs from nearby trees before walking back in. Starting the fire took a long moment, even using the flint and steel from her bag. Once it was formed she tended to it gently, building it up until it became self sufficient. Pulling forth some candles, Isolde set them on a nearby desk to fight against the encroaching darkness just as Jameson returned, their things in tow.
He was quick to move to the hearth, warming the food rations they had by the fire as she began to explore. Her fingers traced gently over the spines of the forgotten dusty books and she hoped that she would be able to save them. Walking forward her hand suddenly passed over a radiating warmth. Pausing, Isolde stepped back and peered at the shelf in the low light. Her hand reached out and her eyes widened as she touched a certain tome and it was indeed warm. Peculiar.
Curiosity kept her fear at bay and she pulled the thick book free, carrying it over to the lit desk so she could have a better look. Blowing off the covering dust she was surprised by how good of shape it was in. The hard cover was wrapped in soft black leather and the binding was remarkable, a style she'd never seen before. Opening it, she gasped to see the contents. Beautiful golden script, the ink so bright it seemed to still be wet sat on pristine paper. She never seen anything like it. It was if it had fallen from another era. Magic, her mind whispered.
Magic in the world was incredibly rare, only gifted to those championed by the gods. But it was said that magic had once been more abundant and so had the gods. Her pale lithe fingers touched the page lightly and she tried to decipher the language. It was written in familiar script and letters but the words didn't make any sense. Still her eyes were drawn to one of the words that was emboldened and she whispered it softly, "Khotar."
Jameson approached silently and she nearly jumped out of her skin as he held out the warmed jerky and bread. Fighting back a curse she took the offered food gratefully. He peered over her shoulder, eyes moving to the beautiful script and she shifted so he could see. She didn't think that Jameson could read but the book was beautiful nonetheless. A true treasure.
Taking off her cloak she set it on the ground close to the hearth and then sat down so that she could eat. Jameson looked at the book a little longer before picking it up and seating himself near the wide fire as well about five feet away. She felt an odd flicker of protectiveness but his large hands were being gentle as he looked at the pages. Once she'd finished eating he rose and walked over to place it in her lap before returning to his spot and watching her.
Realizing what he wanted she smiled sadly. Jameson enjoyed listening to her read aloud. "It's not in our language," she told him with a sad smile. Still he watched her expectantly and she sighed. "Very well. I will read what I can if that will appease you," she relented, reopening the book. Beginning to read in a soft and gentle tone, Isolde felt the subtle warmth of the book began to grow. The words echoed around them and it felt as if something she couldn't deny was urging her to continue. And so she did, losing track of time around them. Nothing mattered but the words.
Shifting in her seat, she clutched a full cloth bag to her chest, her pale gray eyes wandering over the structure and grounds. A small stable sat off to the side and they were just down the road from the rest of the town's shops and other homes.
Jameson, the servant that had been sent with her on her journey, pulled on the reins of the pair of harnessed draft horses until they slowed to a stop. His own eyes barely looked at the structure and he offered no argument, which would have been hard to do anyways since he lacked a tongue. It had been cut out by the Church of Eternal Goddesses in his youth for blasphemy but it had only added to his value as a servant. He was a strong man with a gentle manner and Isolde had been glad that he had been the one to accompany her.
She had been sent by the central library of Aramoor, one of the largest libraries in the world to tend to their latest acquisition: a small library in the nearly forgotten town of Yarrin. She was to restore and catalogue the books before sending any of value back to Aramoor.
The sun was beginning to set and she gave a resigned sigh. Jameson jumped down from the wagon and then as she neared the edge he grabbed her by the waist and lifted her to set her down as if she were a child. Earlier in the trip she had scolded his action but once it became clear that she couldn't exit on her own in a dignified manner she had apologized and asked that he continue. Still, the feeling of his hands around her waist made her blush and she looked down to brush off her dark blue travel cloak and the white dress she wore beneath, not wanting him to notice.
While normally it would have been highly improper for her to travel alone with a man, the fact that he acted as servant and bodyguard changed the matter. Not to mention, she would probably not have made it had she tried to set on the trip alone. Taking the lead, Isolde moved to the front door while he trailed behind. It opened easily and the low light from the setting sun filtered in.
There were shelves lining the walls on each side of the room as well as bookshelves in the center, and they were all nearly filled with books. The sight of them brought her a modicum of comfort as her gaze traveled the room. It was covered in nearly 100 layers of dust it seemed and the room was drafty which wasn't a good sign. Against the opposite wall there was a wide hearth, cold and dark.
Turning to Jameson she said, "Please see to the horses and bring in our things and I will start a fire." He nodded lightly and walked out, leaving her feeling a slight unease at being alone. Stepping back outside she gathered some sticks and felled limbs from nearby trees before walking back in. Starting the fire took a long moment, even using the flint and steel from her bag. Once it was formed she tended to it gently, building it up until it became self sufficient. Pulling forth some candles, Isolde set them on a nearby desk to fight against the encroaching darkness just as Jameson returned, their things in tow.
He was quick to move to the hearth, warming the food rations they had by the fire as she began to explore. Her fingers traced gently over the spines of the forgotten dusty books and she hoped that she would be able to save them. Walking forward her hand suddenly passed over a radiating warmth. Pausing, Isolde stepped back and peered at the shelf in the low light. Her hand reached out and her eyes widened as she touched a certain tome and it was indeed warm. Peculiar.
Curiosity kept her fear at bay and she pulled the thick book free, carrying it over to the lit desk so she could have a better look. Blowing off the covering dust she was surprised by how good of shape it was in. The hard cover was wrapped in soft black leather and the binding was remarkable, a style she'd never seen before. Opening it, she gasped to see the contents. Beautiful golden script, the ink so bright it seemed to still be wet sat on pristine paper. She never seen anything like it. It was if it had fallen from another era. Magic, her mind whispered.
Magic in the world was incredibly rare, only gifted to those championed by the gods. But it was said that magic had once been more abundant and so had the gods. Her pale lithe fingers touched the page lightly and she tried to decipher the language. It was written in familiar script and letters but the words didn't make any sense. Still her eyes were drawn to one of the words that was emboldened and she whispered it softly, "Khotar."
Jameson approached silently and she nearly jumped out of her skin as he held out the warmed jerky and bread. Fighting back a curse she took the offered food gratefully. He peered over her shoulder, eyes moving to the beautiful script and she shifted so he could see. She didn't think that Jameson could read but the book was beautiful nonetheless. A true treasure.
Taking off her cloak she set it on the ground close to the hearth and then sat down so that she could eat. Jameson looked at the book a little longer before picking it up and seating himself near the wide fire as well about five feet away. She felt an odd flicker of protectiveness but his large hands were being gentle as he looked at the pages. Once she'd finished eating he rose and walked over to place it in her lap before returning to his spot and watching her.
Realizing what he wanted she smiled sadly. Jameson enjoyed listening to her read aloud. "It's not in our language," she told him with a sad smile. Still he watched her expectantly and she sighed. "Very well. I will read what I can if that will appease you," she relented, reopening the book. Beginning to read in a soft and gentle tone, Isolde felt the subtle warmth of the book began to grow. The words echoed around them and it felt as if something she couldn't deny was urging her to continue. And so she did, losing track of time around them. Nothing mattered but the words.