Anniballe crept into the hall of archives and was quickly spotted by the librarian who immediately walked towards her. She was still in awe at the room, bigger than the entire market square back home the shelves extended twenty shelves high and filled the cavernous hall. Illuminated by hundreds of chandeliers forty feet above her marking out the neatly ordered access ways between the shelves. On each shelf piled to the top were scrolls. And in the heart of the library an area of forty desks equipped with ink and blank papyrus awaited the authors creation of new scrolls. The hall was barely half full and extending out from the centre it eventually vanished into darkness, except for the shelves which decorated the path in. These stored the traditions and legends of the early days of the clan, on display so that all who visited could read them without touching them.

She was led to a desk in the middle, and silently handed parchment, quill and ink. The librarian then spoke quietly with a gentle tone, barely loud enough to hear "You must write it down for us, your embrace, your life before and most importantly your encounter with that being. The devil creature is new to us, though other demons are known this one we have not encountered before. A written account is required, it will be added to this centuries row. When you are finished hold up your arm. Be silent while you are here, there is no reason for you to speak."

Anniballe nodded obediently and set to the task. As one of the kindred she did not require food, though she did need to rest while the sun was overhead. Here deep inside the heart of the mountain she was safe, well safe from its rays at least. She did need to take more regular breaks than that though, it was a tough task to write a life history and she wanted to include as much as she could. She took a short break every hour or two, and used the time to wander the shelves. They were just as she had been asked to do herself reports, histories and first hand accounts. It seemed that they stretched back to the dawn of time, the shelves nearest the centre were the oldest, and the most revered. Only the shelves which marked the route to the heart were exposed and on display, and many kindred could be found perusing those sections. She had been in Alamut for almost a year, she had been accepted though it seems had made enough enemies by simply being European let alone female. In the library his was more evident, the passages on display were as much from the local kindred's version of Islam as they were from the histories which her sire had wanted her to read on their arrival. Something it seems was changing, or had changed here, though what that something was Anniballe was not privy to.

When she was complete the librarian dried the page with powder and read it through quickly. When she was done she rolled it up neatly binding it. You have written well, though in time you will learn to organise your thoughts better. The description of the demon is most interesting and will be of benefit to the clan. Thank you." Then in the same quiet tone she continued "You are leaving soon I am told. Back to your homeland to continue where you sire had left off. Watching and listening, and helping the kindred she was helping. In time you will be visited by vizier's from our clan and they will collect your sire's tithe, review your accounts and bookkeeping and on occasion will present you with assignments to complete. After a few decades when you have the time return and I will ask and write another account like this one."

Anniballe nodded and asked "May I ask about Afya?"
"Your sire has departed for another assignment, it may be some time before you see her again. If you need training or have other specific requests let your vizier know and the request will be answered."
"Erm.. sorry ma'am but I just wanted to say farewell, we were close and I don't have very many friends around here really."
"I see" the librarian looked slightly confused, the first expression Anniballe had seen on the woman. "I will pass on your concern when I next see her" she said eventually.
Anniballe was not sure if that was a negaative mark she had just earned or not, but decided to remain quiet. The librarian left and visited another kindred so Anniballe got up and left. It had been four nights since she had eaten so she headed to the great hall, and performed the rite to gain her blood from the font. She sipped the vitae from the small wooden bowl slowly and watched the warrior's. All of them islamic, and none of them female. She kept her head down and avoided their gaze. She was disturbed when a man sat opposite her. He was tall and handsome, and the only other European she had seen since her arrival. "Anniballe, they tell me your name is." she nodded, the warrior's were watching she noticed. "Allow me to introduce myself, Tegyrius of Rome. I believe you are to meet with a kindred by the name of Corvinis, the watcher of Constantinople."
"Erm, how? well I have not actually met him before, but that's the name I was given." Anniballe tried to be factual, like her sire had explained.
"Excellent" continued Tegyrius "He is an old friend, would you be willing to carry a letter for him?"
"Sure, I suppose so."
Tegyrius stayed and chatted for a short while, while he wrote out a long letter. He had some recent news from Italy which gave Anniballe the closest to news from home in a year and she was pleased to note that her homeland had not been conquered or anything too terrible. The second pestilence, 'the children's plague' had been quite a problem but had vanished quicker than the first one so that was good too. He also asked about her equipment. She explained she had only the dress she was wearing and Tegyrius laughed. He took her to a room filled with weapons and told the kindred there here situation. She was provided with armour, light and manouvreable. Knives and a short Assyrian style bow. He also handed her a purse of coin to help with paying for passage by boat.

The next night Anniballe left. It was a long journey home. A hike to the black sea port which took several weeks, a boat to Constantinople, then another to Athens, then a final one to Venice. She hid as a stowaway on each boat, saving the coin for a rainy night. At night she read by candle light in the hold, and as the boat arrived in port every day or two she found a secure place in the crawlspace under the hold to avoid getting caught while she slept. Her sire had taught her this method as it was in her mind more secure than leaving a trail of well paid port officials and sea captains.
On the docks a tall and very neat man approached her. Anniballe was obfuscated as she snuck down the gangway so the man was potentially kindred or some other supernatural.
"Anniballe Meinhardiner I presume" the man bowed, using her real name did not do anything to set Anniballe at ease. Not even the Assamites had asked her of that detail.
"You know me?" She asked cautiously, ready to run. Though not really sure where she would go in the strange port city.
"I do not" he began, she turned "But I am very good friends with Afya"
Anniballe stopped at the mention of her sire's name, she looked at the man more closely. He was smiling at her and did not seem threatening.
"My name is .. "
At the mention of his name she immediately trusted him, or at least felt far less distrustful. Almost as if all distrust vanished from her she felt like a huge weight was lifted from her. Though as she climbed into his carriage and they headed for the city gates, she realised she had already forgotten his name.