Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Qira carefully measured fifteen minutes for Kate to listen and gather what information she could before he struck and caused chaos. Kate didn't get to see what he did, but there was a loud crash of a body falling into the barricade and yelps and shouts of shock among Alba's unit as they scrambled in confusion. A second man dropping made them all try to duck in the limited cover, and a third made nearly half flee the market square in panic, mostly mercenaries who were no longer so tough having lost the upper hand.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate waited until the confusion took people away from her location before she darted free. Staying low to the ground and in the shadows, she took the path that she and Qira had taken in the first place to get to the hiding spot. She could only hope that Qira was following.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Kate reached her unit again, they quickly drew back to avoid contact with their enemies, letting as many flee as possible before they engaged to aim for Alba. Qira, however, was nowhere to be found for the moment.

Hiding inside a tavern near the market square, Kate's scouts reported that they were almost certain Alba was still in the square, surrounding himself with his men while most of the mercenaries either fled or fanned out.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I need Qira secured. As soon as possible." She said as reports were given to her about Alba and his movements. "There is more danger out there than just what is happening here."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We're looking everywhere for him, milady," the scout nodded. "But I'd say it's impossible to find tha' Panther when 'e doesn' want t'be found, no' unlike th'Lord Protector."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate took that news and nodded, knowing that she was in extreme danger if he were not around. She schooled her features, not letting them see her panic. Anyone around her could be the one that had been following them. That was a bitter pill to swallow.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He may already be back, but hidden," the scout suggested as she remained silent. "From my time in your service, I've known him to do that... But as long as you stay close to those here that you trust, milady, you should be alright til he returns or until we have more backup."

 

[heartofcourage]

"There won't be backup." Kate said simply. "As long as they are tied up at the gates, we are all we have to depend on."

 

[KieranSoares]

"What would you like to do, then, milady?" He asked. "We probably have enough to engage Alba, but we may suffer heavy losses in the attempt if things go wrong, especially if we capture him alive."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We wait." Kate said simply, looking at the man who was beside her. "We wait for one of them to make a move."

 

[KieranSoares]

He nodded and went to pass around the order, men posted at all doors and windows but hidden as they looked out into the square and monitored the situation. An hour passed and Qira still hadn't returned. A couple of the men whispered about what might've happened to him, perhaps he'd been caught or killed thanks to his remaining wounds from Rothbury. After all, Qira hadn't been at his best, even if he was still better than any normal spy or assassin.

Finally, a man called to Kate, "Milady, they're leaving the square, toward the north!"

 

[heartofcourage]

"We go after them then." Kate ordered her men. "We cut them off if possible or signal to the rest of our troops where they are going."

 

[KieranSoares]

The men quickly organized, sending one fast runner to the north gate to warn the Foulden guardsmen, and soon they were all in pursuit, keeping to the shadows til they had the chance to trap Alba's men between the gate guard and themselves.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate drew her own weapon, her trusted and modified claymore, as she waited for the signal that they were to attack. She would fight alongside her guards, as a queen should, even if she knew her husband would be angry at the news later. SHe didn't care if it meant putting a stop to this chase once and for all.

 

[KieranSoares]

The group rushed along the alleys to keep up with Alba's men, until Kate heard a commotion break out when the front runners made contact. In just seconds, her men had entirely engaged Alba's flank, and it wasn't long before, just ahead, Foulden guardsmen from the gate and walls came barreling into the fray as well. Alba's men were outnumbered and trapped in a pincer maneuver.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate joined the fray, fighting her way alongside her men like the knight that she was. She wouldn't back down in moments of need.

"Find Alba! And find Qira." She ordered to her men, shoving a soldier aside as he attempted to defend himself. "If you lay down your arms, we will consider it your surrender and no harm will come to you. That much I can promise."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kate's deal was echoed by the other soldiers, demanding surrender to end the fight quickly. But a voice answered her promise with one of their own.

"If any of you yield, I'll have you drawn and quartered!" That immediately drew the Scottish warriors' attention. A few of Alba's men surrendered anyway, and were pushed out of the way and bound.

"In the purple tabard!" One soldier shouted, spotting a suspicious figure among the men who didn't quite match the rest, and whose face was covered by a helmet visor.

In minutes, Kate's men hacked down half of Alba's guard, and finally the rest threw down their weapons. The figure in the purple tabard was thrown against the wall, disarmed, and his helmet ripped off by an Axeman among Kate's group. His forearm was jammed into the throat of the middle-aged lord, constricting but not suffocating him. Alba was in his late fourties with short brown hair, balding slightly and with stubble and a goatee. He tried desperately to tear at the Axeman's arm, but was unable to rip through the heavy leather guards.

"Here, Captain!" The Axeman called to Kate, avoiding using any noble or royal title and instead calling her what he'd call the Axeman leader.

 

[heartofcourage]

As Kate was called to, she caught sight to Alba being restrained. Sheathing her claymore, she made her way to the lord and paused a short distance away.

"Inform Henry and Ashien that we have captured him." Kate said to a messenger at her side.

As the man ran off, she approached a little further, pausing to let him see her fully. "Alba."

 

[KieranSoares]

The lord struggled hard against the Axeman and two others who came to pin him, but he fell still upon seeing Kate. His gaze became venomous and spiteful, and he growled low, "So the false queen shows her face."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would warn you to watch your tongue in the next few moments, but it would do little to keep your head on your shoulders." Kate answered as Alba accused her of being a false queen.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I owe no respect to your kind, Scot," he growled, only to choke as the Axeman placed just a bit more pressure on his throat. Alba was turned and pinned to the wall, his hands and ankles shackled. With Alba's unit destroyed or in chains, Kate's men regrouped with the Foulden gate guards, and sent runners to bring the news to both allies and the mercenaries still fighting.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate only gave Alba a nod as he insisted that he didn't owe her any kind of respect. She couldn't get respect from someone who willingly didn't give it. He had his own thoughts on the Scots and nothing that she could do would convince him otherwise. Instead, she watched over them subduing Alba, not saying a single word.

 

[KieranSoares]

Soon Alba was dragged away toward Castle Ralthier, the home of Foulden's lord and his family, and guards welcomed Kate to come as well to await her allies. Alba and his men would be held in the prison for the time being.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I want a status on Qira immediately. I also need the Lord Protector informed of his disapperance." Kate said to her guard as she was shown to the castle. "If he cannot be found, I need the Lord Protector here with me, no matter what he is doing."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yes, ma'am," her guard nodded. "We'll send word immediately and search the area as well."

As Kate entered the castle, a man of thirty years or so came into the entry hall with his own bodyguards and an advisor. The Lord of Foulden was a tall, thin man with long blonde hair and a well-kept goatee with expressive blue eyes. "Your Majesty Katherine Ghis, I presume," he spoke up upon apparently recognizing her. Many people knew Kate had deep red hair and green eyes and a petite frame. "Avery Lloyd Saunders, Earl of Foulden, at your service." He bowed formally to her. "Let me be the first to say that I am so happy to see you here and successful on your mission. I only hope our ploys to trap the former Baron were of some help."