Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"She is struggling," Qira admitted softly, trying to explain Kate to her. "She tries her best, but is stopped at every turn. She has a good heart. I hope you will see."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's very young. Either this job will break her or she will be a lovely queen. I think it's pretty up in the air at the moment." Rissa motioned for the bartender to bring her another wine and something sweet to eat.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think she will make Scotland proud. She has already started. Common folk are impressed with her work on the border." Qira looked up as the bartender took her order, quietly asking for the same dessert and another ale, and giving the bartender enough coin to cover it and everything they'd had so far.

 

[heartofcourage]

"The common folk will flock to her. It's the blessing of being a rural princess. She's been taught that hard work is the key to success. To over power those dreadful lords, she will have to understand their want for wealth and finer things." Rissa commented, knowing what was in the hearts of those lords that pushed so hard for their queen to bow to them.

 

[KieranSoares]

"All she knows is caring for the people. Inverness has so few Lords that she struggles to understand the ones in Edinburgh. But I have faith," Qira said with a nod. "She and Kell are a good team."

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa didn't say anything to that, simply looking at Qira before her second glass and the dessert arrived. They finished up and were soon on their way back to the castle. She still hadn't gotten used to going through the large gates, entering not as a guest, but as a resident. She didn't know that she could ever really get use to such a thing.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira once again made his way along in silence, this time giving a nod to a dark orange Fox they passed that seemed to be a fellow agent. He walked with Rissa to the bottom of the stairs that led to the second floor, pausing there to part with her. "I... Enjoyed talking with you. I do not talk much with people," he murmured. "Thank you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You'll be back in my room before too much longer. I'll make sure to leave the door open again." Rissa said as she started up the staircase and paused. "I'll leave for my home the day after her majesty leaves. You are welcome to come."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira watched her go in silence, unsure of her easy welcome and how she seemed so at ease with him in general. Most folk were fairly cautious of him, intimidated, even. While he didn't expect Rissa to be intimidated, he wondered why she was so very comfortable.

 

[heartofcourage]

The day after the queen and lord protector left for their holiday on the coast, Rissa was loading up her main drake, Caleb, to take her back to her estate. Hassan was attached to a lead behind the great black drake, ready for the journey himself. Rissa wanted to see how Hassan traveled and if the little drake had the stamina to make the trip back on his own.

As she packed her last saddle bag with what she needed, she paused seeing Qira watching her from the edge of the courtyard. "Well, are you coming?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira looked at her for a long moment before asking, "... You were serious?" He stepped closer, Hassan greeting him like a cat, rubbing against his legs.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't extend invitations idly." Rissa said as Hassan greeted Qira with a rub against his legs like a cat. "If you're coming, you better hurry and saddle up something. We leave within the hour."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira said no more, disappearing for some fifteen minutes into the castle to get a small bag of things, then fetching a horse that wouldn't spook around the drakes. They were off shortly after, Qira falling into step beside her.

 

[heartofcourage]

Hassan kept up beautifully behind Caleb as Rissa led the drakes along the familiar path to her home. The little drake trotted from time to time when he dallied too long on the end of his lead, but he didn't seem to mind the journey at all. Rissa glanced over her shoulder at him from time to time, pleased that he was holding his own in spite of his young age.

"It's not a long trip, but it seems that way sometimes." Rissa explained to Qira as he rode along side her on his horse.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've been past a few times. It's not far at all," Qira assured her, also looking back occasionally at Hassan. Qira was mostly quiet for the journey, still trying to understand why he'd just up and followed her. He was beginning to wonder if he was a bit too interested in her.

 

[heartofcourage]

“It’s not far, but it’s clear you wanted an adventure.” Rissa said with a laugh.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It is strange not to be at Kate's side," he observed quietly, letting her know that such adventures we're not normal for him anymore.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You could have gone with them as well. I'm sure you would have been welcome." Rissa stated as he commented that it was strange not to be at Kate's side. "But they need time alone to be young and married. They don't need a guard lurking around, watching their every move."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I do not invade their time together," Qira assured her. "Kate is safe with Kell. I leave them be."

By the time they arrive at the farm, it was nearing noon. Qira dutifully helped unsaddle the animals, following Rissa's lead in where to put his horse and put away the tack. Once that was done, he silently followed to offer what other help he could.

 

[heartofcourage]

Hassan followed Rissa like a well trained dog as she got him into his own stall in the stables, content with his food and water and the few toys she allowed him to play and teeth with. There were two other half grown drakes there as well, both of them already out in the pasture for the day bonding with the rest of the herd. She watched them from the stables for a moment before she motioned Qira to follow her inside.

Contrary to popular belief among the lords of Edinburgh, her estate was large, but certainly nothing fancy. Most of it was taken up by large stables and the manor house was big enough for herself and a few trusted servants. Everyone else lived in cottages or cabins dotted around that had been built by them.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira stepped in glancing around and following Rissa's lead. When it wasn't his job to sneak through places he wasn't supposed to be in, he was shy and unsure in people's personal spaces. But he hid it entirely behind a practiced, stoic mask.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Why are you so nervous about everything?" Rissa asked as one of her servants came to take her riding gear, taking them to the closet where they were all stored. "You have nothing to do here but relax, Qira. I know that you're capable of doing that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"This is all new to me," Qira murmured. "I... do not know much outside my work. I do not take time off much."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, I insist that you start." Rissa said as she marched into the kitchens to see if there was anything to eat. "George, if you would, please show Qira to an extra room upstairs."

George, her faithful estate manager appeared as if on cue, never really far away. The older man was probably too old to be an estate manager, but he had served her father and she didn't have the heart to tell him that he needed to find other employment. She paid his salary and gave him a small home next to the main manor house to live and he, in turn, loyally cared for the entire estate.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira looked down at the old man as he stepped up, giving him a respectful nod before following him up the stairs.