Post by Cassiel on Jan 10, 2016 23:56:32 GMT
Vivid blue eyes were turned down, flicking back and forth as they moved over the ancient script laid down on fragile parchment on the table in a tiny room deep within the old monastery nominally still owned by the Catholic Church, but now really just used as one of many storage facilities of the Knights Templar. As the petite woman's eyes moved across the script, her hand moved across the page of a composition book, elegant script in English forming under the direction of that hand as she translated the Old Aramaic for the order. She was alone in the small chamber, working in total silence aside from the scratching of the pen against paper and the soft sounds of her own breathing, exactly as she preferred it. Surrounded by the smell of parchments and paper and papyrus and inks, all of them older than the building in which she sat, the corners of her lips tipped upward in the faintest of smiles.
Eventually, however, she was interrupted by the soft sound of the heavy wooden door of the chamber being opened, and then carefully closed again. It didn't happen very often. Usually she was left alone in her work, unless she was needed for some special bit of translation or research that she was uniquely suited to within the order. She raised her head slowly, her eyes squinting just a bit in a mix of irritation and confusion. It was late, far too late to make it likely that her services were needed by another researcher since most would have already gone to their beds, or whatever they did once they were done with their tasks for the day.
“I'm so sorry to disturb your work, Tamiel,” the elderly woman said with a voice clearly unaccustomed to being used very often. She was dressed in the habit of a Catholic nun, her expression hesitant and respectful as she held up a small envelope made of elegant ivory paper. “I was asked to bring you a message.”
She straightened, breathing out a soft sigh. “It's alright, Sister Mary Agatha,” she replied gently. While the interruption might irritate her, she was above taking that out on the bearer of the message. The nun nodded and slipped the envelope onto the table, then nodded and slipped back out of the chamber with the same quiet respect she'd entered with. Tamiel picked up the envelope, broke the seal, and pulled out the paper within. Her brows knit into a frown as she began to read.
'Tamiel,
You have been ordered to accompany Adrian Blackwell on his trip to the United States, where you will render Mr. Blackwell any aid that he requires on his mission. You will pack and leave immediately.'
The frown smoothed away as she closed her eyes to compose herself. The last thing she wanted to do was leave this place, let alone to leave London and travel to America. But, she had given an oath to the order that had taken her in and sheltered her in her time of need. She would honor that oath, even if it terrified her to do so.
Eventually, however, she was interrupted by the soft sound of the heavy wooden door of the chamber being opened, and then carefully closed again. It didn't happen very often. Usually she was left alone in her work, unless she was needed for some special bit of translation or research that she was uniquely suited to within the order. She raised her head slowly, her eyes squinting just a bit in a mix of irritation and confusion. It was late, far too late to make it likely that her services were needed by another researcher since most would have already gone to their beds, or whatever they did once they were done with their tasks for the day.
“I'm so sorry to disturb your work, Tamiel,” the elderly woman said with a voice clearly unaccustomed to being used very often. She was dressed in the habit of a Catholic nun, her expression hesitant and respectful as she held up a small envelope made of elegant ivory paper. “I was asked to bring you a message.”
She straightened, breathing out a soft sigh. “It's alright, Sister Mary Agatha,” she replied gently. While the interruption might irritate her, she was above taking that out on the bearer of the message. The nun nodded and slipped the envelope onto the table, then nodded and slipped back out of the chamber with the same quiet respect she'd entered with. Tamiel picked up the envelope, broke the seal, and pulled out the paper within. Her brows knit into a frown as she began to read.
'Tamiel,
You have been ordered to accompany Adrian Blackwell on his trip to the United States, where you will render Mr. Blackwell any aid that he requires on his mission. You will pack and leave immediately.'
The frown smoothed away as she closed her eyes to compose herself. The last thing she wanted to do was leave this place, let alone to leave London and travel to America. But, she had given an oath to the order that had taken her in and sheltered her in her time of need. She would honor that oath, even if it terrified her to do so.