Castle Rouviere

It was a sure thing that Adrian, of all people, would seek out the permission of Count Raoul before he officially married Cerridwyn von Heschburg. Technically, he already had the permission of Cerri, and the support of Archduke Isenbardus in the matter. And technically, as Protospatharius, he could probably take Cerri as a wife at his own command, permissions be damned.

But that wasn't how Adrian's conscience worked. It didn't matter who protested, Adrian was going to seek Raoul out once more - and when he found him he'd formally ask for his daughter's hand in marriage. And so Adrian, Lady Cerri, Klaus, Shagger, Johann, and the other five Brother Knights made for Castle Rouviere sometime after Lord Ruther's 'funeral'. Cerri would remain in her carriage, or be given a horse of her own: whatever her wishes may have been.

"I do hope your father has been well," Adrian expressed some doubt on their way to the castle. He was pretty sure Raoul would happily give his permission, but at the same time he feared the man's other demands. "I've never asked, but... how is the relationship between you two?"

Adrian frowned, bothered that Cerridwyn von Heschburg felt ill will towards her father. Adrian knew that something wasn't entirely right, so he didn't press the matter any further. "We shouldn't be here to long, my Love," he reassured her. And soon enough, you'll never have to face your old life again; he didn't say it to her, but the considerate and compassionate glance he cast her told her how he felt about the matter. The retinue pressed on until they finally came upon the castle.

Adrian held his hand up and the Brothers all stopped. He hoped the locals would notice their Lady, Cerri, and so he awaited for one of them to fetch Count Raoul.

"That's not what I meant Lord, for what specific reason were you given your title, what great work did you perform." The Witch Hunter placed his paper on the table and wrote "Refuses to Cooperate" on it and underlined it three times so that the man would get just a glimpse. He let out a light chuckle but quickly shut his mouth when the man brought up the poisoning. "Yes, indeed, preposterous...." he muttered. "If what was said by her is true, do you know any reason why the chaperone may do this?" he asked giving the man a sideways glance.

He whirled around crossbow and sidesword in hand when he heard the knock and asked "Who is it? What do you need?" he would demand not really caring that Raoul should be doing this. 

Adrian watched Count Raoul came rushing into the courtyard to embrace his daughter, Cerridwyn von Heschburg, and so he dismounted to greet the man. At first Adrian was a little relieved; maybe the Count did care for his daughter. But these thoughts vanished when Cerridwyn pulled herself away. Adrian used his reflexes to put himself between Cerridwyn and Raoul before anything serious happened

Before anyone could say anything, Adrian extended his hand out to shake Raoul's own. "Count Raoul, a pleasure to meet you again," he said. "I have returned from Steitz Fortress, your daughter in tow." He grinned at the foul man, "who happens to be my fiancee." It would become evident to Cerri herself that Adrian would figuratively - and literally - stand between Cerridwyn and all her troubles.

Adrian wanted to see Raoul's expression and gauge his reaction. Would he be happy to see his daughter go, or upset that she was leaving?

Raoul was annoyed that the witch hunter was there, but maybe he'd leave now that the stupid girl was safe and sound. "Marry her tonight, my lord, for her sake. I will ensure a team of horses be readied before you leave, and will have her dowry and belongings readied. You must make haste," said the older man... He had a moment of clarity there, for he was trying to fight off the enchantment without realizing it. He did not like that he had the urge to strangle the girl. He might dislike her, but she was still raised by him. Then again, he felt a disgusting awareness in his loins at the perverse thought of wrapping his hands around her neck. After all, she was not of his blood, and quite comely. He stared at her as she peered out from behind he betrothed's back, licked his lips and cleared his throat. "Yes, yes, talk to the witch hunter too so he didn't waste his time in coming here."

Cerri did not like the look in Raoul's eyes and gave a shudder. She wanted to leave. The air was filled with tension at that moment, she finally excused herself from the group and went toward the nearest servant to quietly ask for help in packing whatever wasn't still in trunks from the village...

In the meantime, Raoul led the men back into his study and handed the key to the witch hunter. saying, "You two should have some privacy, and I need to alert servants to make haste." Before anyone could say anything, he was off.

Helmut moved a little forward, maintaining a glare upon the face all the people present. He was a good judge of character, some would say none better. There definitely was something odd with the man, he could smell the hormone infused sweat even if the man had control and made little of it. Cerridwyn's response to the look was also quickly written in van der Minnenstein's notebook. He also noted Adrian's reaction, and groaned when the man walked over. He put a hand on his shoulder and smiled but only with his face; his words were sharp and cold. "Do you realise how much you have complicated things for me by chasing after skirts, Herr Adrian? Do you realize now the magnitude of the investigation I will have to undertake? By protocol when an investigation is started it cannot just stop, so now I have to investigate you as a party and that broadens things a lot. Do you know that if I find something I can accuse you of heresy by association?" he demanded, not blinking at all. He growled a little under his breath, tipping a hat to a passing servant. "Do you know that I am supposed to sit you down and ask a whole lot of questions, but first I have to think of what they are?" 
 

Cerri went into the castle proper, heading up toward her bedchamber in order to collect a few personal items that she did not wish to leave behind. As she rounded the corner, she felt the steely grip on her elbow as she heard, "You stupid chit, look at what trouble you've caused me now!" It was said as a low growl and only meant for her ears. Raoul shoved her into her chamber, went in after, and quickly turned the key in the door. He pocketed the key and looked at her, anger brightening his gaze.

She rubbed her arm, having been taken by surprise and left floundering for a reply. When it came, he had already locked the door and stalked round her like she was a fly and he a spider, "I did not wish to cause trouble, but you and the Archduke gave me a shock." Which was not a lie by any means.

"If you had but stayed in court, none of this would have happened. But now I have a gods damned witch hunter breathing down my neck because of your disobedience!" His hand whipped out and wrapped around her throat, squeezing just enough to put fear into her eyes. But then he softened the touch and began to caress. "You are more beautiful than your whore mother was." His whisper was hoarse. She found herself trying to back away, but he only followed. 

"Stop this!" She cried out and pushed his hand away, but he clamped it around her neck again, and she clawed at his hands. "Father..." She choked out, it sounded gardbled.

"You should have stayed away!" He whimpered, a crazed look in his eyes. "You should have never come back!" Now he lifted her and slammed her onto the floor, where her head hit hard enough tgat she saw flashes of light and dark at the same time. He straddled her belly, knees on either side as his hands pressed down. She tried to claw at his hands, but was still blinded by the blow to her head.

She stopped thinking, and he suddenly jerked away from her with a startled scream. "You bitch!" She heard him unlock the door and scramble out, not knowing that she had done it again, that she had used magic without thinking about it, and that Raoul now had several thorns protruding from his cheek, and one in his eye. But she couldn't know, because as he stumbled and fell down the stairs into the hall, she lay there, darkness enveloping her. She wasn't dead, but Lord Raoul was.

Adrian only gave Helmut van der Minnenstein a squinted glare with a smirk on his face. "I welcome our next meeting," he would say, as the man started to walk to where Cerridwyn von Heschburg and Raoul was.

When Helmut reappeared with Lady Cerri in tow, Adrian raised his hand. At his command, Adrian, Johann, and two other Knight-Brothers drew their swords. The three other Knights drew their crossbows and loaded with bolts, aimed at the Witch-Hunter. They slowly approached the Witch-Hunter, surrounding him.

Adrian spoke with anger, "you will release her, or I suppose we'll all be murderers." Helmut would find himself surrounded and threatened by three crossbows, and four swords. "I won't ask a second time," Adrian threatened.

Helmut smiled at the reaction; the thing was that the Witch Hunter held all the cards here, and a whole spare deck in his pocket. "No." He stated calmly, moving his swords blade to Cerri's throat to draw blood but not end her. He also pulled a hand-crossbow, meticulously cranked to have the power of an ordinary one into his other hand, pointing it right at Adrian's forehead. "This is what will happen, you will drop your weapons and all go inside the castle to make sure I can leave unmolested. You will do so because otherwise both she and you meet your maker, AND all present are persecuted as enemies of the state, tortured and killed. Come now lover-boy, you're stupid but you won't let her die, will you?" He asked mockingly. When the serf came out he giggled a little at the assertion. "He was murdered because I say he is. That's the end unless after my investigation I deem that something else had happened. 'sides, how the hell did he get thorns in his eye. I see no vases of giant roses about." He said, moving slowly out of the courtyard, the sword going deeper with every movement Adrian and his men would make to get them to back off.