Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Remains t'be seen if Marri'll let 'im, though," Brogan chuckled, knowing most of his sisters and sisters-in-law were vehemently against their children being any kind of soldier. Selena had nearly throttled Ruben when he'd joined the reserve warriors and Marri had nearly done the same to Gabriel when he began training to join Brogan's axemen and gotten the battalion tattoo on his neck like his father and Boar and Brogan.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Seamus would be a good soldier." Kate said softly, knowing her burly cousin was most definitely built for that kind of work. "I know he hates the lumber camps."

Kate probably knew more about the inner workings of the family then even Kitty did. She was close to her cousins and kept in touch with every single one of them. If something was going on and a parent needed to know what the problem was, they would simply go to Kate to find out.

"Durban told him that he had to make an honest living, especially if he continued to get into trouble." Julia commented, knowing her nephew had a problem following the straight and narrow path from time to time. "It's better than spending his time in the stocks or in the jail."

 

[KieranSoares]

"A good lad... Good heart, but hard t'keep occupied. Has a problem with authority, jus' like Boar when he was young." Brogan nodded slowly to himself. "It'll do 'im good t'leave home and learn how t'be his own man. But Kate, y'may find ye'll have t'put 'im in his place if he's a soldier. Can't have a soldier o' the queen gettin' into trouble, cousin 'r no."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know, Da. Trust me, I want to do what is best for Scotland." Kate told her father, promising him that she would use all that she knew and had learned to steer the country the very best that she could.

"It's important to follow your heart, kitten." Julia told her daughter. "No matter if your brain or your belly tell you otherwise. Look at what you know is right and you'll never be steered wrong."

 

[KieranSoares]

The three ended up talking for quite some time until Brogan finally shooed Kate off to bed. Her first lesson with Boar came quickly, and it was decided she'd have four lessons a week. Two would be with Durban and two with Boar. Boar brought a simple battleaxe for Kate as well as a double-bit axe she could actually lift as opposed to his own which was far too heavy for her. But what he capitalized on was a hatchet. It was the way of the sword fighters in the family to carry a dagger and a hatchet as well as their claymore. The dagger was good for spaces where a claymore couldn't be used, like tight areas or indoors with low ceilings. The hatchet was primarily for throwing, but also a good tool should a dagger not do the trick.

Durban's first lesson with Kate was far more brutal. Even if he loved her dearly and couldn't stand to see her on a battlefield, he laid into her with no mercy after explaining what she needed to do. Not learning a block correctly meant bruises. Their swords were wooden, but there was little pain spared. And Durban took her strikes in return, coming away with some of his own bruises.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was a dutiful student to her uncles as they taught her about how to handle an axe and a sword. Boar was holding back slightly, not wanting to hurt her, but Durban saw it as his duty to make sure that she got the same training as anyone else.

She was bruised and sore, but she kept going through her sheer stubborn spirit alone. Khan was there with her to learn as well. He was all big paws and long legs, but he seemed to understand that this was something that he had to learn in order to help Kate in the future. The tiny tiger was attentive to the different commands and was learning just as quickly as she was.

One morning as Kate practiced with her wooden sword, she noticed Sam and Rho watching from the side of the courtyard. They had those curious and excited looks on their faces as they watched their sister go up against their strapping uncle.

"Uncle Durban, can we learn too?" Rho asked him, his eyes bright at the thought of learning from his uncle.

 

[KieranSoares]

Durban quite brutally disarmed Kate as Rho spoke, leaving Kate on the ground and her sword laying several feet away. He was breathing a little heavier than usual, his wooden blade point at Kate's neck. "Don't ever let anyone get yer sword away from you, lass. Maybe honorable men won' kill an unarmed woman, but he'll find yer worst opponents aren' so honorable." He helped her to her feet and turned to look to Rho and Sam.

"I know you two're gettin' t'be capable fighters an' heave seen battle, but this kinda training might yet be too rough fer you. An' I'm not gonna lie to you, Rho, yer at a serious disadvantage no' bein' able t'use two hands 'r a shield " Those who trained Rho had always been straightforward with him about his disadvantage, not to hurt him but to warn him that he'd have to work harder than anyone else to be able to fight properly.

"But if you wanna try... He'll have t'face your sister first before I'll give ya a yes 'r a no."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was not prepared for her Uncle's brutal strike which sent her crashing to the ground on her back. The wind was knocked from her lungs as she felt the dulled point of her Uncle's sword against her throat as he told her to never let her blade leave her hand. She was weezing as she nodded, struggling to gain her breath again as he pulled her to her feet and turned to regard Rho and Sam.

"If Kate can do it, so can I." Rho insisted, hating the brutal honesty that they all used regarding him and his disability. "Just cause I only have one arm doesn't mean that I'm going to give up on life."

Kate had never heard her brother speak so passionately. She wondered if learning that he was going to be the King of Inverness had changed something in him. He seemed to want to prove himself to everyone.

"I'll face them, Uncle Durban. I won't go easy on them either." Kate promised as she grabbed her sword off the ground.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Alright. Who first?" Durban looked to the boys, and Sam gave Rho the first go. The two had had quite the lengthy conversation about themselves after Rho was named Brogan's successor. Sam had never wanted the title, but he insisted on being his brother's right hand man as they grew. He would do the few things Rho could not, and he would be the military might while Rho was the social and political powerhouse. They would be together what Brogan was on his own.

Durban let Rho take the sword, but before he let go of it, he murmured, "An' Rho... I don' want you t'mistake my caution fer doubt. I know y'can do it." He stepped back and looked at the two of them. "Alright, kids. If either o' you let up before ye've got the other on the ground, I'll send Sam in t'finish you both. No light hits, no mercy."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Yes, sir." Rho and Kate answered together before they both turned to look at one another.

Kate hated the sight of her little brother with a sword in his hand, but she supposed that as the ruler of Inverness he had the right to learn how to defend himself...even if he was missing an arm. He and Sam were already starting to put on muscles and height and soon they would be just like their uncles, brawny and burly.

"Alright, Rho. Come at me." Kate said, holding her sword at the ready as she watched her brother take a few deep breaths before he came at her with a series of hard strikes.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Don' waste yer energy right away in what'll be a long fight, Rho," Durban called as he circled around the little makeshift arena watching them. Rho lightened up a bit, moving around a bit more. "Tha's it. Keep light on yer feet. Kate, don't block so close t'the hilt, ye'll get fingers cut off in a real fight." He gave them as much advice when they did wrong as encouragement when they got things right.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate and Rho both took Durban's instruction to heart. Rho suddenly moved quicker on his feet, making his sister follow him as he turned her about in a tight circle. Kate conserved her energy, letting Rho make the initial strikes while keeping her fingers away from the blade. The siblings were stubborn, neither willing to back down from the fight as they continued on for a whole longer.

 

[KieranSoares]

It was only when Kate landed a harsh blow on Rho's ribs on his left side that Durban stopped them. "Yer dead, Rho." He'd allowed them to trade strikes but none would've been fatal on their own with a real blade up til this particular hit. "Damn fine job, though, better'n any lad yer age I've seen. Sam, take his blade." The brothers switched places and immediately it was clear that Sam's style was the opposite of Rho. Where Rho fought more like a fencer and moved lightly and quickly while striking hard and fast, Sam was much slower and purposefully so. Rho emulated his dear Uncle Ashien most, while Sam was like Durban.

The twelve-year old looked like a prowling beast, and when he struck, he left dents and grooves in the wood of Kate's blade where she blocked. When she struck, he didn't just block. He practically threw her blade backward which resulted in a few close calls where she almost couldn't block or parry fast enough. Sam was powerful, even though his lean and young form didn't show it yet. And his gaze, centered on Kate, was devoid of emotion and hard as nails. It was as if he'd shut off the part of himself that was her brother.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was forced to study her brother's style as quickly as possible. Any attack that she leveled against him as thrown away, her sword arching back wildly before he launched into a series of harsh blows that jarred her arms. She went on the defensive, blocking each thrust as best as she could. She couldn't win the fight based on strength, but she could let him tire himself out and wait for her chance to strike at him.

 

[KieranSoares]

It was just as Sam was beginning to slow down that Kate got an opening. After such hard strikes and abuse, Sam's blade shattered into pieces and splinters when he blocked, and her wooden blade caught him in the chin and sent him to the ground in a daze. Durban came to make sure he was alright, and thankfully Sam had managed to narrowly avoid being knocked out cold. Durban set him on his feet. "Damn good, kids. Damn good. If not fer tha' sword breakin' I'd say y'couldve gone on fer a long time more. But Sam, if yer gonna fight like a berserker ya need more stamina. An' Kate, I wanna see more parries an' dodges. Y'could do serious damage t'yer arms or break a wrist blocking heavy blows constantly. But other'n tha' I'm damn well impressed."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thank you, Uncle Durban." All three said as he gave them praise for their performance.

"Does that mean we can come back?" Rho asked his uncle, his green eyes pleading for him to say yes. "We promise to be good and learn."

The children were so focused on their uncle that they failed to see Julia standing off in the shadows, watching her boys as they begged their uncle to train them. She knew that they were at an age where they needed to start learning, but she was already mourning her sweet little boys that loved to snuggle with her in bed. When Durban glanced towards her quickly, she gave him a slight nod, letting him know that the situation was alright with her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I suppose ye've proved yerselves, lads. That's enough fer today, though. Kate needs a rest an' so do I. Let Boar know I said ye can join in axe fighting too." He sent the twins on their way and kissed Kate's cheek before making his way over to join Julia's side. With a heavy sigh, he sat down next to her. Bruises shone plainly on his jaw and arms and hands from Kate, proving that she could definitely make up for her lesser strength compared to her uncle with speed.

"They grow up too fast, aye lass?" He asked softly, unable to get his own children off his mind. Gabriel was already a father, Elise a fully grown woman, and Seamus a powerful young man. He couldn't stand it some days, to know they were going to go off for their own lives. He knew Brogan and Julia were dealing with the same thoughts.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Much too fast for my liking." Julia commented as her brother-in-law came to join her. "And I've got two more that have just begun. I don't know how I'll manage when they're gone too."

She knew that Durban had struggled with his family in recent years. Gabriel was just as stubborn as his Uncle Boar, but he had a good head on his shoulders and he was fiercely protective of his little growing family. Elise was a beauty and Durban had sent away many different suitors that simply weren't right for his daughter. She was readying herself to serve her Aunt Kayla in Norway and she wondered just how Durban would deal with her being so far away.

"How has Seamus been? I've been worried about him." Julia asked softly, knowing that Durban had the hardest time with his youngest son.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Tha' blasted boy is gonna break 'is mother's heart... An' mine too before long. Got arrested las' night fer brawlin'. Two men fightin' t'settle their differences is fine, long as they settle an' move on. But Seamus got in a fight with a man who used t'pick on 'im when they were young an' they broke chairs an' a table in Gerald an' Ria's tavern. Don' know what Seamus was doin' there in th' first place. He promised 'is Ma he wouldn't drink durin' the week when he's got to work. But I didn' bail him out this time. He's gonna learn Da won' protect 'im from his mistakes anymore when he's bein' so reckless."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Kate said he doesn't want to work in the lumber camps any more." Julia said as she took Durban's hand and squeezed it to give him her support. "I know you don't want him to be a soldier but perhaps it's what's best for him. Or he could perhaps even become my guard. I could surely keep him busy and watch him without intruding too much."

 

[KieranSoares]

"My worry is tha' if he ever ended up somewhere th' family couldn't save 'im, he'd be on the wrong end of a hangman's noose fer insubordination in the military. He's jus' like Boar was as a boy... An' the only thing tha' straightened Boar up was... Hell, I don't know. Other'n Ma keepin' 'im in line, he never shaped up til after Da was long gone. But I've never laid a hand on th' lad when 'e didn't deserve it. We've had a couple spats ourselves that ended over a mug of ale. I don' understand why he's so angry. Boar was justified, but Seamus... If he doesn' like his job, tha's fine. But he needs t'make a living. I'm just afraid he'll end up doin' it the wrong way, or not at all if he stays behind bars..."

He sighed then, looking to Julia. "Even Marri can't reach him... And he doesn't know he's killin' her inside each time he screws up his own life. Julia... Would y'talk to 'im? You an' Kate have a way with angry Ghis men. I'd ask Emma since she managed to tame Boar, but... I don't think now's the time t'put more worries on her mind."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll go right now to the jail and talk to him." Julia promised Durban as he looked at her with such a lost expression. "You go home to Marri. I'm sure she's waiting on you."

She gave him a kiss on the cheek, squeezing his hand one last time before she stood from her spot and made her way to collect her wayward nephew. She made sure that the jailer collected his payment from Seamus first before he was released. He was a strapping young man, slightly older and more wild than Ciaran had ever considered being. Still, like all the Ghis men, he had a soft spot for his Ma, his sister, and his aunts.

"Come and take a walk with me, love." Julia offered as soon as he appeared. "We have some things that we need to talk about."

 

[KieranSoares]

To say Seamus was surprised that his aunt was getting him out of jail was an understatement. He was glad to see her, but seemed a little forlorn that his parents hadn't come to even make sure he was alright. He knew he was causing a rift in their family, but they just didn't understand. "Hi, Aunt Julia," he murmured when he came out. When she asked him to take a walk with her, he wasn't sure what he was in for, but assumed plenty of chastisement and guilt.

 

[heartofcourage]

Julia didn't say anything at first as she walked with Seamus towards the loch. She knew that he was use to people scolding him and making him feel guilty about what he was doing. She didn't want to do that. She simply wanted to understand what made the young man so upset and angry at the world.

"Tell me what's going on, love." Julia said softly, pausing to take her nephew's arm before they continued walking. ""I've been worried about you lately."

 

[KieranSoares]

Seamus looked down as she asked him what was going on, and he sighed heavily. "I love Inverness... Really I do. But... I'm jus' not happy with my life. There's no shame in an honest living, I know... But I don' want t'be just another lumberjack. I want t'see the world, Aunt Julia... More'n anything, I want t'sail again." He'd been on ships more often than his siblings, especially once Ria had arrived and still kept her ship for a side business of ferrying passengers and cargo to Scandinavia. Seamus joined in those journeys as often as possible.

"But Ma an' Da jus' don't get it. I want t'be free an' make my life on my own terms. I get into trouble because I want t'break up th' usual monotony."