Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 9, 2014 18:56:17 GMT -5
Gram did not flinch as Chaltah decapitated the chained angel, only stepping out of the way to avoid getting blood on his clothes which were, to be honest, in a sore enough state already after his flee through the woods.
The site of blood did not bother him. But, just then, a memory flashed through his mind. 'Do you see?' He cut. 'Do you see?' And he cut. A slight shiver went down Nathaniel's spine.
"A pity. I might have liked to question him further, but I suppose we know what we need to." Gram said, shrugging. "Have you considered my earlier statement? That you two should leave your farm? It's probably for the best, at least for a little while."
An idea came to him just then and he smiled. "Perhaps you would like to come with me? I still have some traveling to do, so I can pick up my artifact. I would appreciate the help, especially if I end up running into any of his friends." Gram gestured towards the now headless angel corpse.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 9, 2014 20:16:58 GMT -5
Chaltah took no pleasure in what she did, and even Stormchaser lowered his head as she worked the limp body down to the ground. She kneels next to the body and rests a hand on its chest in a moment of silent respect before she and her companion took the body to be buried near by. She heard all that he said but was silent as she and the dragon dug the hole to lay the body with its head down into "May you see your path safely home" she says quietly before turning to finally address the man who offered the option of joining him, takes a deep breath, and then speaks "I will go with you, for the sake of ensure that whoever this band is, will not have the chance to use the artifact against the human race" she heads back for the house to pack while Stormchaser turns into a bird and takes flight to keep an eye out for any early advance from the forest
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 9, 2014 20:43:14 GMT -5
Gram watched, only half interested, as Chaltah and her dragon friend dug a grave for the dead angel, burying him with a kind of reverence. Raised to lead and manipulate others for his own gain, Gram had often made decisions that shattered the lives of others, occasionally even resulting in peoples' deaths. So long as he profited or, at the very least, lost nothing, he could not care less about what happened to others.
When Chaltah agreed to travel with him to obtain the scroll, Gram's smile grew even wider, actually genuine this time. After the deaths of his guards, he'd been slightly irritated. Gram only hired the best for his protection, but after the deaths of those four prices for new security would only go up.
Already having to worry about acquiring the weapons to fight off any possible further attacks in Egypt, Gram would also have to get some new men to meet him there. That meant chartering another jet so they would get there in time. But with Chaltah and her dragon friend, Gram didn't have to worry so much about that and he could probably just send for one or two men which would still be expensive. This scroll better be worth it, because it was costing him quite a bit.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 9, 2014 21:05:04 GMT -5
Chaltah nods and gets a couch ready for Gram to sleep on while Stormchaser remained outside most of the night, roosting on the top of the house to keep a watchful eye out for trouble. "Alright. But i want to see my horses to their winter grounds before we leave so when I return we will depart with haste" she hoped her house would still be standing when she got home or she would hunt the group herself until they last one of them was dead. her home was her life and if they chose to do anything to it as an example of their power, she would exercise her right to seek retribution. "i don't have much to offer in ways of entertainment, I don't even have cable. But the radio works well if you wish to listen to music or you can watch the local news." she goes back to her room to pack up a few changes of clothing and a few odds and ends in her bag.
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 9, 2014 21:17:17 GMT -5
Gram glared at the couch. Raised in a wealthy family, he'd become used to a certain level of comfort and luxury. While certain matters occasionally required that he step out of his comfort zone, Gram had never had to sleep on a couch before. It was unthinkable. Whenever he traveled, he always arranged the most luxurious sleeping accommodations possible to ensure that his powerful mind would be well rested come morning. But he had no other options at the moment, so he didn't bother complaining and only nodded his thanks to Chaltah.
"Don't worry about entertainment. I'm exhausted after tonight's ordeals so I intend on falling asleep immediately." When Chaltah left, Gram took out his satellite phone and called to make sure that his jet would be ready to leave in the morning and two cars would be sent to pick them up. Two because the second Gram returned to civilized society, he intended to make a quick stop at the nearest hotel for a warm shower.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 9, 2014 21:30:01 GMT -5
Once everything was in order, she crawls into bed to sleep and await the morning. If there was no interruption during the night she would get up just before sunrise and dress down for a ride, leather leggings and longsleeve shirt, gloves with soft leather boots. Once dressed she makes her way out to the stable and hops up on the back of one of the horses after letting them out of their stalls and leads them down a path that would lead the herd through the nearby hills and into a small valley that would be protected in the winter months, allowing the horses to have food and drink while she was away from home. All this trek would take several hours into the area and then the return walk home took about as long as she could move faster and off the trail she led the horses down, returning home as the sun fully crested over the horizon
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 9, 2014 21:41:09 GMT -5
It wasn't the most comfortable sleep Gram had ever had, but he barely noticed, falling asleep almost immediately after his head hit the cushioning. When he awoke in the morning, his neck was stiff and uncomfortable. "Damn couch." he grumbled to himself under his breath before yawning. The first thing he did was check his pocket for the small notebook containing the information about the scroll's location. Satisfied it was still there, he got up.
Getting up, he stretched and rubbed his eyes, looking around. Gram headed to the sink and splashed some water on his face. Peeking out the window, he could see that the cars had arrived so he walked outside.
"How long have you guys been waiting?" he asked, smiling. "Not long sir. Only an hour or so."
"I appreciate it, nonetheless." Gram told them. Taking out his wallet, he tipped them each a few hundred dollars before heading back inside to see if Chaltah and her dragon were up yet.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 9, 2014 22:16:11 GMT -5
She had arrived back home just as the cars pulled up. She had been a little concerned about their presence, not knowing that Gram had called them in to take them to his plane. But she talked with them a moment before heading inside, where Gram would find her washing her hair in the sink while Stormchaser packed up the last of the deer meat for their travel. She looks over at Gram "I almost shot your men out there." and grabs a towel to wrap her hair in while she pours a cup of tea for Gram as well as serve him a bowl of oatmeal (steel cut) with some apple slices and cinnamon before grabbing up their gear "Eat up, I'll go put our stuff in the car" and she and her dragon friend step out the door with duffle bags in tow. She normally flew on her dragon's back, but figured it was better to fly by plane since they didn't know where it was they would be heading to.
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 9, 2014 22:30:32 GMT -5
"Really? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to alarm you." Gram did his best impression of a good natured laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "I guess I forgot to tell you the other night that I would arrange transport."
Following them outside, Gram figured it was time to tell them of his morning plans. "So, I have some things I would like to do before we leave. I ordered two cars so you two could go straight to the plane. I won't be more than twenty to thirty minutes and then we will be on our way."
"Once we reach Egypt, some of my men will meet us there with weapons. You know, in case we run into anymore trouble I figure they should be able to help some. They're trained professionals, exmilitary, and paid well not to ask any questions." With a smile Gram gave them a quick wave, "I'll see you in twenty minutes." And got in his car which then drove to the nearest decent hotel.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 9, 2014 22:38:33 GMT -5
Chaltah stood there as he mentioned what he was going to do and tilts her head as he drove off toward the nearest city "Did he forget it will take a couple hours to get to the nearest town from here?" Stormchaser grunts softly "well... I guess we should go head for this plane of his. Not that we really need it" he climbs in the car and she follows after "Either way we have to wait for him to get back but at least we will have time to explore the plane" she gives a small chuckle and pulls out her book of stories to read on their trip to wherever this plane might be. Stormchaser just sat there and looked out his window at the passing trees wondering what it was about mechanical contraptions that humans seemed to like so much. "Why do they just not enjoy the world outside of their mobile boxes?" Chaltah just laughs at his question and nudges him "they have their reasons... always in a hurry to wait for something else"
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 9, 2014 23:12:51 GMT -5
Gram sat back in his seat, thinking about the possible obstacles he might face upon arriving in Egypt, when his driver, Bob, spoke. "Um, sir?"
"Yes, Bob?"
"I don't mean to contradict you, but it will take two hours alone just to reach the nearest town."
As he realized the mistake he'd made, Nathaniel's face flushed with embarrassment. See you in twenty minutes! "Thank you, Bob." Gram managed to choke out before remaining silent for the rest of the ride.
Upon arriving in the town, the car dropped him off at the hotel and Gram ordered his driver to wait. He went up to the room that had been arranged for him and stepped into the shower immediately. In twenty minutes, when he was finished, Gram went to the closet and smiled at what he saw. Just like he'd requested, one of his custom three piece suits had been taken from the plane and placed within for him to change into.
He quickly got dressed, donning the charcoal grey suit with a simple but high quality white shirt with a red and dark grey striped tie. Feeling refreshed and put together, Gram put aside the traumatizing events of the night before and arranged his normally messy blonde locks in a more professional way. He wasn't a helpless human anymore. To the mirror, he said "You are Nathaniel Gram. You are in control, now." before leaving, looking the part of the cutthroat corporate CEO that he was, reassuming his normal arrogant air.
Arriving at his jet at the airport, Gram stepped aboard and greeted Chaltah and her dragon. "My apologies for keeping you waiting." Without another word, he took his seat as the plane began to take off.
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 9, 2014 23:31:20 GMT -5
Chaltah and Stormchaser were pretty much ready to go by the time that Gram returned from the hotel and they almost didn't recognize him as he stepped on the plane. He looked like a completely different person. But they take their seat as the plane taxis and and watch as the ground lifts beneath them "This seems so different than just feeling the wind beneath my wings Chaltah." Stormchaser comments in her ear before looking back out the window. Chaltah nods in agreement about the feeling of not feeling the wind or being able to look up at a star filled sky. She understood that this was the only option for regular people to travel across the water, but she would much rather ride on the back of her dragon, flying through clouds and weaving through mountain passes. "Best we take this though, it can travel faster than you my friend" Stormchaser simply huffs and keeps looking out the window
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 9, 2014 23:41:14 GMT -5
For the first time since receiving the information from his contact, Gram took out the small pad containing the information he'd paid in so much blood and currency for. The first page said the location was Alexandria, Egypt and he'd already told the pilot to take them there. The rest contained the number for what was, Gram assumed, a burner phone for his Alexandria contact who would know the specifics of the scroll's location, in addition to two words, beriberi and kohlberg, which were obviously the passwords by which they would recognize each other.
Looking up, Gram decided to tell Chaltah and her dragon friend some of the details. "We are currently headed to Alexandria, Egypt where we will meet with a contact of mine who, upon recieving the second half of the payment I owe," he gestured toward a duffel bag at his side, "will tell me the rest of the information regarding the location of the artifact I'm looking for. Any questions before we arrive?"
Post by Chaltah Songblade on Oct 9, 2014 23:48:13 GMT -5
She looks back over at Gram as he speaks and listens to what the plan was for where they were heading. She thinks about this for a moment before replying "Do you think that the guy will even be there? Suppose there is not a person to give that money to since it's apparent they were going to kill you before you even left Ireland?" she looks over at the duffle bag he had with him then back to him "And what makes you think that that what he gives you is going to be what you want if there is a reciever?" she adjusts herself in the seat to look at him better "I'm not entirely sure this whole idea is good Gram but I guess since you asked up to help you, what would you want my and Stormchaser to do while this transaction is going down?" she cracks her knuckles absently
Post by Nathaniel Graham on Oct 10, 2014 0:00:07 GMT -5
Gram shook his head. "I do not believe my initial contact was a part of the ambush," he began, trying to decide how much to reveal. "When the group first ambushed me, their apparent leader demanded I hand over the information I'd just purchased. If my contact was a part of the ambush, that would not have been necessary. They would have already had the information. No, I believe they learned of my meeting somehow and followed me from the airport."
Crossing one leg over the other, Gram steepled his hands together. "Besides. I am not a complete fool. I have developed a reputation as a man who is not to be crossed, just as my fathers before me. Any time information passes through my ears, I do not accept it as fact until it has been thoroughly cross checked for accuracy. I perform extensive checks on anyone I may do business with and I calculate the risk of possible betrayal versus the potential gain. I assure you, I did my homework before I left my cozy New York apartment for the wilds of Ireland."
"Preferably, I would like your protection and assistance in the event our dearly departed angel friend's friends crash my party."
