It was late at night, drawing on morning actually, when the giant barged into the inn, a cold wind howling through the open door, making the flames of the innkeeper's lantern flicker slightly despite it's protective casing. The poor man had just gotten up and was getting ready to accommodate his waking guests when the beastly silhouette had appeared at his door.

The stranger shut the door behind him, and took a few steps forward, and in the lamplight, the innkeeper could now see that despite his size, this was indeed no more than an ordinary man, if an especially hairy and unkempt one. Still, the man looked the terrible warrior, with that fearsome weapon strapped to his back. So, in a slightly wavering voice, the innkeeper invited the stranger in.

"Bonjour, monsieur. Je désirerais une chambre pour me reposer quelques heures avant de poursuivre mon voyage. Je serai parti cet après-midi, ou en début de soirée au plus tard."

His host did not speak french, but tending an inn so close to the border, he had learned enough to deal with the frequent travelers, and so understood that this one wanted a room. "Une chambre. Yes, very well, mon seigneur." Having something to do seemed to bring life back into the man, and he set out about his work energetically. "God as my witness, I didn't expect to see someone traveling tonight of all nights. There's been all kinds of bad omens, and the wolves have kept some of my guests awake all night, and me by extension, as though they expected me to be able to do something about it. Why, old Rodrigo, who fancies himself a hunter, even figured he'd go shut them up himself, whatever possessed him to get such a thought I'll never know. Haven't heard from him since, and as I am a sinner, I don't expect we will. It's a bad night, it is, you're lucky to have come here in one piece. Ah, here we are. The keys to your room. Shall you want something to eat or drink? Je vous sers quelque chose?"

"Non merci, je viens de me repaître." said the stranger and his smile displayed surprisingly white teeth. He took the innkeeper's key, leaving an écu behind as payment. While he could hide his presence from mortal senses easily enough, he had really never learned the trick to conceal his mental identity, so there was no way that the vampires in Barcelona would be caught unaware by his arrival. So, he might as well give them something to think about. He didn't know much about the intrigues of his brethren, but he suspected they would have spies along the border towns for news of travelers like himself.