Bram admitted to himself how disappointed he was at the relative silent treatment her received from Lucille. But he also had to give her credit for her obvious dedication to her profession. She seemed to give the impression that she, indeed, was every bit the ninja he imagined her. Despite his own training in regard to stealth and stalking, she took it to an artform. Her answer to his question was both quizzical and expected. Was there really something other than a potential guardian that kept Lysa and her troops from entering. Was it really something as simple as 'holiness'?<br/><br/>Not that the concept of holiness was simple, but that something like could be identified and actually be used as a means to actually keep people from entering a physical structure...<br/><br/>His musings were cut off when they arrived at their destination. The view before with absolutely breathtaking. The striking blend of natural and manmade beauty was so much different from what he had see thus far in his short travels. He was once again thanking whatever had pulled him into this new world of such astonishing sights. The loud voice, however, made him question some of the recent choices he had made.<br/><br/>His attention brought to the imposing figure in front of him with an enormous cross that she was apparently wielding like a large, heavy hammer. In truth, he surmised, a<em>huge bitch</em>. Quite possibly the largest woman he had ever seen in his life that somehow still managed to have surprisingly feminine proportions. She was beautiful, in fact. The term, in this case, definitely meant something else from his time the the Army. This woman was something that pulled at his desire for a real challenge...just probably not in the sense that Lysa had meant her to be.<em>Good lord</em>, he thought.<em>Are all the women I'm going to meet going to be this stunning?</em><br/><br/>He shook his head as though trying to clear it while the woman planted her weapon beside her and pulled out a book and asked his reason for passage. It was not exactly what he expected, initially, but then realized that she was just performing the standard duties of a sentry. Something with which he was intimately familiar. It was also this moment in which he realized that he was standing alone.<br/><br/>He had to assume that Lucille had managed to hide or disappear, likely waiting for him to make a play one way or the other regarding getting past this guardian. He wondered at the wisdom of trying to handle this physically, and it gnawed at him that he would even be willing to consider it as a legitimate option in the first place considering how little he knew of both parties he was now becoming involved with. He always had very good reasons for fighting in the past, and the idea of killing someone for what amounted to 'fuel' was not a good enough reason. At least without knowing more.<br/><br/>He hoped that a simple parley might get him passed and in a position to bargain for the Manyte, but knew that it meant leaving his guide behind for the time being. It was a risk he felt he had to take, though. And, in his mind at least, there really was no other choice. Not yet.<br/><br/>"I seek refuge and a chance to speak with those in charge," he answered evenly. "I'm new to the region and have many questions and hope you, or those within, might be able to assist me in my travels."