Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I will. Be careful, love. We'll be moving before dawn, so don't be too late." Kell stole a gentle kiss. "I'll be sorting out some infiltration. Hopefully we can get those gates open for the Axemen first, then we'll have taken the main town by the time Henry finishes the forces outside."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’ll be out as long as they need me. I’m not going to shirk responsibility simply because I hold a high position.” Kate said, stealing one last kiss from Kell before she turned and grabbed her helmet on the way to join up with a patrol.

 

[KieranSoares]

The small patrol headed out around the northeast side of Rothbury, looking for additional hiding places and taking a look at a back gate that could be infiltrated should the northern assault be held off. It was an uneventful night for the most part, the patrol returning by midnight to allow at least a bare minimum of sleep. Upon their return, Kate found that a few scouts from Rothbury had been captured, currently in the hands of Kell and his people.

But first to approach Kate was one of her lieutenants. "Milady, a report for you."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was taking off armor as the man approached, handing her letters that had come through for her. She finished removing the last of it, sitting on a bench in her tunic and trousers to read what had been sent.

 

[KieranSoares]

Among the group was a proper report, citing everything as normal and listing that four captives, all normal scouts, had been captured. But with it came two letters. One was a message from the Lady of Paxton, informing that Glasgow had answered the calls for help with a veritable army of builders and wagons of supplies, as well as a small force of soldiers to help with policing.

The second letter, however, was strange. It was unmarked aside from a hand-drawn Scottish crest in the upper left corner. Opening it up, it displayed a black X with the text 'You are marked. -VC'

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate stared at the letter for a long moment, pondering over who could have sent it. It wasn’t a mark that she recognized nor were the intials ringing a bell. She carefully folded it and slipped it into her pocket, moving into her tent for some privacy. The moment that Kell appeared, she would show him what had been delivered.

 

[KieranSoares]

By the time Kell returned, it was about an hour later, and he had a few papers of his own to look over. Pausing as he stepped in, he looked to Kate. "Evening, love," he murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was quietly staring at the ground, looking up at him as he finally spoke. She had an odd look on her face, considering just what being a marked woman meant. She knew, but she needed to hear the words from him.

"How much is my bounty?" She asked him softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell paused as she asked, and his brows furrowed in concern. "Why? What happened?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"How much, Kell?" Kate asked, looking at him as he showed concern over why she would even be asking. "I've been marked. I'm not stupid. I know what that means and someone saw it fit to send me a note telling me as much."

She pulled the note from her pocket and offered it to Kell, watching as he read over the short missive. "So, how much?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell frowned darkly, growling quietly, "It's not just money." He dropped the note on a table. "It's a parcel of land in Ireland... The contract was posted by the same organization that used to control your grandfather."

 

[heartofcourage]

"A parcel of land in Ireland?" Kate asked, watching as Kell's face contorted into a mask of anger. "Oliver Colton is dead, Kell. How is this group still around?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"He may be dead, but his men aren't. Plenty survived." Kell sighed darkly. "I thought they'd gone on to operate in the Byzantine Empire, but it seems some stayed in hiding in Ireland. They aren't out for revenge, but they know that a woman like you is worth a lot to the right person, specifically your death. So they gather support, funds, and then put out a contract for their organization's assassins. A warning like that tells me the one who has accepted it is very sure of himself, willing to give himself the challenge of being expected."

Kell turned back to Kate. "Does Qira know?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't know." Kate said with a shrug of her shoulders. "I only just got in from patrol and was handed this note in with my other letters. I haven't seen Qira since I got back."

It seemed that Kell was on edge, nervous over the idea that she had a mark on her. It was one of many, she was sure, but there was something in the way that Kell held himself that told her that this was a very serious threat.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Qira!" Kell called suddenly, but no answer came. That told Kell that Kate had been unguarded, he knew not how long. "If he's not here, something happened," Kell murmured, a hand drifting to his long dagger at his hip. "And if he didn't report back, he's injured or dead."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate watched as something came over her husband that she had only seen once before. He was a killing machine in an instant, moving into action as he called for her personal guard and the panther failed to appear. She stood from her spot, her own dagger in her hand as she watched him do the same. If he failed her as well, it would be up to her to defend herself against a trained assassin.

"You think this person is here already?" Kate asked softly. "So soon?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"You've been threatened from the moment Gale chose you. He's had plenty of time." Kell was nearly bristling at this point. There was no panic, only cold calculation, running all possible scenarios through his head.

"Kate," he murmured, coming close to her side. "I need you to promise me something. If he attacks, I need you to run."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not a runner and I'm not leaving you behind to face this alone." Kate said stubbornly as she saw the warning in his amber gaze. "Kell, I'm not going anywhere without you."

 

[KieranSoares]

"This is my job, Kate- to kill, and to keep you alive. If you're attacked, you disengage and you run to the royal guard. The more people, the better. If Qira's been compromised, you are in more danger than ever before. So stop arguing with me."

Before either could continue, footsteps nade Kell whip around, drawing sword and dagger, though his tension only grew as he saw Qira quietly step in through the tent flap. The hulking panther was slightly hunched forward, but any damage or wounds were hidden by his cloak.

"We've been infiltrated," Qira murmured in Erygonian. "Howe and Chester are dead. MacEnroy is missing, likely captured."

 

[heartofcourage]

The moment that Kell whipped around and hid her from view, Kate knew he was deadly serious. He rarely said a harsh word to her, but stating that she needed to run and hide if they were engaged by anyone made her heart beat a little bit faster. As Qira stepped through the tent flap, wounded and limping, Kate reached forward and slipped her fingers through Kell’s belt, anchoring herself close to him in case an attack truly did come.

“Is Henry safe? Is my family safe?” Kate asked, thinking about everyone that was there to support her that meant anything to her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Durban and Brogan are the only other potential targets," Qira murmured, and Kell took a step forward when the great Panther's knees seemed to buckle. Dropping his sword but keeping his dagger, Kell took Qira's arm to steady him. Qira took a deep breath and continued, "They're surrounded by Axemen and half of our own."

"Any alarms raised?" Kell asked quietly.

"None."

"Did you catch anyone?"

"One dead. Another got away from me."

"Keep this quiet. If they think we don't know, we stand a better chance of catching them. Go to Fawkes, get patched up."

"No." Qira's gaze turned to Kate briefly. "You need to go out hunting. I can still look after her."

"You're about to collapse," Kell frowned at him.

"So I will be better here, stationary."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’ll go with Kell if I need to.” Kate said softly as she felt Kell stiffen at that suggestion. “It’s either with you or with him. Where would you feel best that I be?”

 

[KieranSoares]

"We will stay here," Qira spoke firmly before Kell could.

"Qira, you-"

"Lord Protector," Qira spoke up, his voice firm but still quiet. "You are better suited to the aggressive approach. Find them before they find us. You have always been the better stalker of prey. I am better suited to the waiting method."

Kell's grip tightened on his blade and he finally stepped away from Kate, picking up his sword and sheathing it. "I defer to your judgement then... But at least let Kate and Fawkes patch you up. If you pass out on duty, I'll skin you myself."

Qira nodded simply, and Kell directed him to a stool to sit down, but not without the two clasping hands briefly, a silent show of trust before Kell kissed Kate and disappeared.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate watched as Kell slipped away silently, a worried expression on her face. She didn’t like the idea that he was going off to take care of an assassin on his own, but there was little she could do as she turned to tend to Qira’s wounds as she had been told.

“I’m sure he’ll send Fawkes our way.” She said softly, looking Qira in the eye as she moved his cloak to get a good look at his wounds.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira seemed about to stop her, but he followed better judgement and unpinned the cloak. It dropped away to reveal his black leather armor glistening with blood, ruined by several slashes that didn't quite break the surface, and punctured deeply in the left shoulder and stomach. His arms were clawed and scratched, and a shallow bite wound from a were was just visible on the join of his neck and shoulder.

"They caught me when I was trying to save Howe. They caught and hanged him," Qira explained quietly, somewhat embarrassed that he'd been caught off-guard. He was meant to be the best, better even than Kell.