Horseflesh

[Jedediah Knox]

It is shortly before eleven p.m. when Jedediah Knox walks with confident familiarity into the stabling area outside the main amphitheatre. A young stable hand looks, recognises him, flashes a look of dismay briefly across his face, and then greets the guest over-politely; Knox nods vaguely in his direction without breaking stride. The stables begin to rustle as sleeping horses stir, and some arise and press themselves against their stable doors, sniffing and whickering in the newcomer's direction. The stable boy drops his bucket and runs to a rattling door, opening the top in an attempt to calm the increasingly agitated horse within, who pays him no heed, straining against the door's bolt to pursue Knox.

Knox stops by a stable with a red door and unlatches its top, taking care to stand clear as it immediately springs open under the force of two inquisitive stallions within. He rubs their noses briefly, produces a pair of carrots from a pocket, and proffers one in each palm; the horses receive them gladly with nimble lips and crunch solemnly. A groom approaches.

"Evenin' Mr. Knox," he drawls, "anuvver busy noight at the office?"

Knox glances at him but keeps his attention on his horses. "Ain't they all? Ah do appreciate your stayin' around to these hours. How've these two bin?"

"Can't roightly say moiself Mr. Knox, they still won't let I or me lads next nigh nor near 'em. Only one as can do anythin' wiff 'em is that ginger Soimon lad o' yours, they seems to tolerate 'e. The chestnut 'ad a stone in 'is 'oof yesserday an' almost broke young Bertie's leg when 'e went to 'elp, 'ad to wait for your lad to show up to get 'e out."

"They are a mahte ornery," Knox agrees, "Ah had Sahmon assistin' me closely in breakin' them in. Listen, Ah've got bahyers for them meetin' me here tonahght, friends o' mahne, so Ah'd appreciate a little privacy for the business dealin'. Flintlock's out front, could do with a rub-down."

"O' course Mr. Knox, Oi'll see to 'e personally," the groom replies, grateful for the exit.

Stable doors around the yard continue to rattle as Knox slides through the red door to inspect his steeds more thoroughly.

[Bitterglass]

A half hour passes before a carriage stops near the stables.

Earl Durham opens the door, the last of his conversation audible to the night air. "...stay near the stadium. I will find you if I require you." There is a pause, as the occupant steps down from the carriage. "Oh and if I return and find you are not here, I will have you flogged through the High Street come the morning. Are we clear?"
The coachman nods nervously.

Durham glances around with disinterest before spotting Mr. Knox. He makes his way over to Jedidiah, ignoring the groomsmen entirely.

He smiles at Jedidiah, before extending his hand, the other resting on his cane. "Good Evening Mr. Knox."

[Jedediah Knox]

Knox appears at the half-door of the stable, minus his hat, coat, and fastened top shirt button, carrying a hoofpick in one hand. "Lord Durham! Ah appreciate you coming down." He glances at Durham's proferred hand, looks away awkwardly, and avoids the handshake by vanishing back inside the stable, rattling some bolts, and appearing through the door with his coat slung over one arm and carrying his hat in the other.

"Couple of fahne animals in there, if spirited! Bucked some of mah military friends further than Ah ever seen a man flah. Ah'm sure you'll grow accustomed to one another, Ah train 'em mahself to feel a little more comfortable around our kahnd. Not so much different to getting them used to gunfahre and such, just a matter of they get skittish around things they ain't accustomed to.

Have you met Lady Annabelle Sinnet? New arrahval, of mah clan. Says she's capable on horseback, and with a sword; anyway, she's coming with us. Ah agreed to arrange a horse for her too, with appropriate prestation involved. Mah sahre taught me that it behooves one to involve oneself in the prestation system when joining one of our communities, makes one a little less dispensible he says. So Ah thought Ah would extend her the opportunity; and certainly it'll benefit us all to each remain nimble.

Still, first come first served, Ah reckon; fancy steppin' insahde and seeing which takes your fancy? The trahcoloured skewbald is a mahte ornery at first blush, but loyal as you please and as strong as an ox. The palomino's more of a thinker, seems to me he's always got something up his sleeve 'fore you ever think of it yourself."

[annabelle]

The young maid was creeping near the stables observing Mr Knox and the surroundings. The attire of this girl was absurd and made it hurt to walk without making any noise. That foolish girl must have thought that dressing with all these rugs will make her look more of a lady. “If you continue flaunting yourself like that, you will end up in a brothel not a prosperous house of a gentleman” She whispered to her but then she thought that ending in a brothel might give her a better life than the one Annabelle had now. She silently laughed, now Annabelle was stuck in her mind for good. They say that you do not die if you someone still remembers you. If that is true then she did a favour to Annabelle then, what a charitable lady she is!

A carriage stopped near the stables. A gentleman stepped out from the carriage. “That must be the Earl of Durham” she thought. She couldn’t hear what he was saying to the coachman, the young lad must be exceptionally deaf for her age, no surprise her parents wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible.

She had to memorise their etiquette and make sure this trip was not a trap. She felt that Mr Knox didn’t plan to kill her any time soon  but she got burned too deep to trust anyone. Even if Mr Knox was genuine inviting her to the stables, she did not know what to expect and this time she had to be prepared to not raise any suspicions. She hid behind the fence waiting for the exchange between the Earl of Durham and Mr Knox.

“Have you met Lady Annabelle Sinnet? New arrahval, of mah clan. Says she's capable on horseback, and with a sword; anyway, she's coming with us. Ah agreed to arrange a horse for her too, with appropriate prestation involved. Mah sahre taught me that it behooves one to involve oneself in the prestation system when joining one of our communities, makes one a little less dispensible he says. So Ah thought Ah would extend her the opportunity; and certainly it'll benefit us all to each remain nimble” Mr Knox said.

‘Less dispensible is the nicest compliment I’ve heard for a while’ she thought. She followed them to the stables and prayed they won’t hear her. Mr Knox started talking about the horses and her eyes got fixated to the palomino horse. What a beauty! What if Earl Durham wanted that horse? She couldn’t let that happen, she wanted that one desperately. Immediately she run to an ally far away from the Mr Knox and the Earl of Durham and left the body of the foolish girl in the streets. She felt like she was falling and she ended up back in her body in her chambers. She was already dressed. The plain brown evening dress was her armour. William managed to find her few dresses but she chosen the plainest for that day. She was going to travel with two gentlemen she did not know, the last thing she wanted was to look desirable. She learned her lesson long time ago.

Her ghoul was standing next to her bed looking at her like he found gold. She touched his cheeks and whispered to him “Take me to Mr Knox now, I need to be there in ten minutes.”

[Bitterglass]

If Durham notices Knox's reluctance in shaking his hand he doesn't show it. His eyes dart to the stables.

"I have not had the pleasure of meeting Lady Sinnet. However are you certain it is wise to be taking a Lady with us? It seems somewhat... inappropriate." Durham offers a smile though he twitches slightly at the last word.

"Regardless, thank you for the offer of a horse. My own clan has made certain to remind me that tasks like this require prestation, but I do find formalising favours is proving so very tiresome. It is however worthwhile despite it being irritating making everything about horsetrading." He stifles a small laugh.

Durham moves to examine the horses as they come into view, cocking his head slightly to the side, he holds up a hand and waits listening.

"The patter of small feet on cobbles." Durham mutters, before continuing. "Someone has been spying on us Mister Knox. They have fled... in that direction." He waves lazily but does nothing else about it, instead examining the horses. He draws close to the tricolour skewbald slowly and begins to examine it, wary of being kicked.

[annabelle]

William was efficient and precise as always. They reached the stables in 9 minutes as she instructed him. When the carriage stopped she looked at him and smiled sweetly “I would have been dead without you.”

“Sort of” he said, left the carriage and extended his hand to her. One of the things she loved about him was his sarcastic comments, you will think that a ghoul will be submissive and silent but no, William even as a ghoul was entertaining. Maybe because she instructed him to be entertaining.

“I hope they won’t be mad that I brought you with me but what other choice do I have? If somebody see me with 2 men in the stables unchaperoned they will assume too many things... scandalous!” And she laughed maybe too loud.
“..and being seen with three men in the stables is better right?” He asked and smiled.
“Ah yeah, I didn’t tell you. You are now my brother, this is what I told to the humans I’ve met.”
“I cannot handle so much responsibility sorry” He said and she started laughing hard until she sensed that Mr Knox and the Earl of Durham were close.

When she saw them she frowned to look serious and straighten her dress.
“Gentlemen” she said trying to imitate as much as possible a British accent and failing miserably “I hope you didn’t wait for long, I had some business to take care of. As you know I am a newcomer, so I have to take care of many of things”.

“Please don’t mind my ghoul” she continued “He is here in case there are prying human eyes around, also I am planning to take him to the trip if that’s ok with you and..” She shut her mouth immediately when she suddenly remembered the etiquette lessons she had recently. She looked at Mr Knox and she waited for a formal introduction to the Earl of Durham...

[Jedediah Knox]

Knox raised an eyebrow at Durham's warning about spies, but took no action. "Nothing to hahde here, just a straightforward nocturnal business transaction," he grinned, opening the stable door again. "Here, take a closer look at him. Ah'll have his saddle prepared and you can stretch his legs a little."

The orders were given to the stable staff, and Durham proceeded to inexpertly examine the horse he deemed preferable. When Lady Annabelle approached, Knox, leaning on an elbow atop the stable half-door, coughed politely to draw Durham's attention in her direction, then bemusedly waited through her introductory monologue.

"It's a great pleasure to see you tonahght, mah Lady. Ah hope you're looking forward to our little excursion. May Ah do you the courtesy of introducin' the Earl of Durham of the Toreador. Lord Durham, Ah have the honour to introduce Lady Annabelle Sinnet of mah own clan. Ah believe Ah'll leave matters of lineage and so forth amongst y'all.

Lady Annabelle, you may want to take a look at these two horses now; Durham's had a head-start and seems to have a favourite already!"

[Bitterglass]

"I am of Clan Tremere, Mr. Knox, I had hoped such a thing had not escaped you." Durham says sharply. "Childe of Marcus Waylund of Durham, Childe of James Finlay Weir Johnston, not that that will mean much."

He pauses a moment, before examining Lady Annabelle. "Though on second thought, it amusing you think of me of the Toreador, I find many of them quite good company."

"My Lady, a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I hope such a late night meeting is not causing you any undue distress." He pauses arching an eyebrow, "Or undue amusement?"

Durham clears his throat before continuing. "They both look like fine beasts. I am happy to let the Lady choose first." He steps back and offers a slight bow.

[annabelle]

“ My lord I am of clan Ventrue, childe of Edward Sinnet, childe of Robert Duckinson, not that that will mean much” she said and smiled knowingly. “I am looking forward to our excursion, it will bring me some peace of mind to know that I am contributing to this court”

She looked at the horses and approached them. She pretended she was investigating both carefully. The palomino one was looking at her with curious eyes. It reminded her of her brother’s beloved horse “Phobos”. She always wanted his horse. Sometimes she was sneaking in the middle of the night and she was taking it for a ride... Good times.

“I would like this one my Lord” she said and showed the palomino horse “It calls to me. Hopefully Lord Durham doesn’t mind my choice”...

[Bitterglass]

Durham nods approvingly.

"I do not. The Tricolour, I believe, will suit my temperament better." He examines the horse more closely.

"Loyalty is after all to be praised and there is nothing like an ornery mare to force one to improve ones amateurish horsemanship." He grins. "As long the Lady isn't simply being generous. I would not like to be the cause of any undue stress. I'm told it can be debilitating to those of the fairer sex."

He turns, "These are lovely animals, Mr. Knox. I thank you greatly for the pleasure of owning one. Were you intending to let us ride them briefly tonight?"