Dark Portents [for Rogue]

[on_ur_left]

The rain was pounding down, and Meri refused to go any faster than a walk, not that Steve blamed her in the slightest; even the paved roads were getting treacherous, water slicking the stone and mud in unexpected places making it even more dangerous for a misplaced hoof to slip in. He dismounted the horse and led her the last mile up the hill, where the innkeeper had told him he might be able to find shelter at the local manor. Unfortunately, due to the poor traveling conditions, the inn was already completely full, but he'd been told the lady of the manor often took in travelers for a fee, and he should have no problem securing a place to stay.

It seemed a little odd to Steve, how forthcoming the innkeeper had been about the manor taking in guests; wouldn't it be bad business to let others know about the affair? But then, there was no room at the inn anyway, so why not explain it - the innkeeper wouldn't be getting his business at the moment one way or the other.

Passing through the wrought iron gates to the property, Steve saw that, like many of the old-world estates he'd seen during the War, it had the name spelled out in Gothic lettering: Ravencroft. Despite what the South had fought for, Steve was glad to see, after so much devastation, that some of the old estates and towns had gotten by unscathed - architecturally, at least. He was sure there was no one, Union or Confederate, who had gotten by entirely unchanged by the battles. But at least there were still places where one could remember that it hadn't always been just blood and death.

Reaching the manor proper, Steve tied Meri's reins to a hitching post nearby, gave her nose a rub to let her know he'd return for her, one way or another, and headed to the door. It had an ornate silver knocker, and he firmly knocked several times, pulling the brim of his hat down a little more snugly over his head, trying to keep the rain out of his eyes a little more. It was no use; it was coming at a downpour, and he was already thoroughly soaked.

It didn't look like it would be letting up any time soon, either, which disheartened Steve; he'd really hoped to be able to make it to Houston within the week, but every second not spent riding meant a considerable delay.

There was a brilliant flash of lightning from behind him, with thunder almost simultaneously, and Meri startled, rearing up and whinnying, making Steve turn to ensure she didn't hurt herself.

Comments

[theycalledmeacurse]

The storm had moved in quickly, as they so often did. Marie had lived her entire life in the shadow of these storms and still she often underestimated them. The dark clouds had loomed in the distance and the wind had picked up, and still she had thought there would be more time. It was only when the shutters had started to slam against the windows and the trees bent with the force of the wind that she ushered Lizzie out the door, telling the young girl that she was to hurry home to her family in the village and not to even think about returning until the weather cleared.

Despite living in Ravencroft for six months now, it still took her more time than she'd have liked to move through the large manor, closing up the shutters and fastening them tight. The top floors were closed up first, then the back rooms, and finally the front. It was as she heading to take care of the last windows in the library that she heard the unexpected knocking at the door. She stared at the door for a long moment before hurrying forward, picking up the skirts of her dress with gloved hands so she could move quicker.

The door opened in time to catch that flash of lightning that left her flinching. There was a man there, clearly soaked through by the storm, and she could hear a horse somewhere out in the rain. She didn't hesitate to point to the right of the manor, stepping out onto the covered porch that was still being drenched, and instructing the stranger, "There's a stable at the side of the house, take your horse there and come inside."