Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Kate nodded her understanding and took a spot at the head of Kell's bed, her hands on either side of his head to keep him still. She leaned in and pressed a kiss against his cheek before Alex began his work. She hoped that he knew all of this was for his own good and she hoped that he wasn't feeling much pain in that moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell let out a slight whimper when Alex made the first cut. It was bloody and painstaking to get to Kell's throat and to carefully cut into it, but the real pain set in when Alex began removing the dark, terrible sores. Kell jolted violently, still unconscious, with a yelp like a wild animal.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate held him still, murmuring soft words against his ear as he whimpered and yelped like a wounded animal. Alex worked quickly but it must have been incredibly painful. She spoke in Lunar to him, her words halting, but she needed him to know that it would be alright.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell woke in the middle of the operation, pressing his cheek to Kate's as she leaned in close. Letting out a painful growl, he struggled to hold still. But already, thanks to Alex's careful management of the blood and quick, precise skill, it was easier to breathe.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Shhh, eldere." Kate whispered as Kell's amber eyes opened and he pressed his cheek against her own, growling in pain as Alex removed more sores and made it easier for him to breathe. "It's almost over and you'll feel so much better."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell tried to keep still, his fingers digging into the sheets until his nails began tearing into the fabric. But Alex carefully cleaned up Kell's throat with a few stitches and blood-staunching herbs, and sealed it up with more careful stitches and sealing it with a resin-like glue. Kell slowly relaxed and pressed a weak kiss to Kate's cheek.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate relaxed slightly as Alex finished and Kell pressed a kiss to her cheek. The worst was over and now she had to hope that Kell would survive. She helped Alex to clean up, getting Kell a new blanket and a drink of cool water. It might have hurt, but she hoped that he would start to feel better now.

"Do you remember your grandfather being here?" She asked Kell softly as she tucked the stuffed horse into the crook of his arm. "He'll be back in a little while."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell nodded slightly at her question, clutching the horse close. His head still wasn't quite clear, but it was clear enough to understand Kate. He wouldn't be able to talk for a few days. Alex meanwhile stepped away to clean his tools and his hands.

 

[heartofcourage]

He was still weak, moving slowly but coherent enough to hear her. As Alex stepped away, Kate leaned in and pressed her lips against Kell's, giving him a smile as he clutched the horse close.

"If you haven't scared me off by now, I think it's safe to say that I'm sticking around forever." She murmured softly, nuzzling against the man that held her heart so securely.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell gave her an adoring smile in return, letting his head rest against her shoulder as they finally settled. Alex sat down against the wall with a sigh, "Well... that didn't go too badly for my third operation... Good thing Ma spent so long teaching me..."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Thankfully it wasn't your first surgery." Kate said as Alex relaxed against the wall. "Perhaps when you get back to Inverness you should take your master's test. Grandpa and Aunt Val always like having extra hands around."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Maybe. It'll have to wait til everything settles, though." Alex came over to check Kell over once more to make sure there was no residual bleeding. Finding nothing, he let them be. Just as he walked out, Khelt stepped in. It seemed he'd been there the whole time, but unable to come in at the risk of watching his grandson die.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate lifted her head as Khelt entered the room and she glanced towards Kell as his grandfather stood there. She knew that the two hadn't seen each other in a long time and there was the possibility that the reunion might not be welcome.

"Kell. Would you like me to step out for a few moments?" She asked him softly. "He traveled a long way to see you. Maybe you would like to talk in private."

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell shook his head and Khelt spoke for him. "No need, Princess. He needs you beside him." Khelt sat down at the foot of the bed and Kell slowly and carefully sat up against the headboard to face him. As Kell couldn't talk, it was left to Khelt and for Kate to fill in what Kell couldn't.

"I'd planned on settling down after my mistress was spared and sent to exile... but it seems someone had other plans for me. I remained in Wick, in hiding, until it was left to the leadership of trusted Invernessian caretakers and a regent. My last orders from King Arland were to see that Wick one day had a proper king again. A Dunland, or a descendant of the Dunland family. I went to Ireland first to help make sure the one called Oliver Colton never interfered again. He had done little to Arland other than fan the fires of his love for Sarah, but what he's done to Wick and Inverness in the past gave me some concern for the future of Ireland when I heard he'd coerced Lord Cavan who was already... mentally fragile, to say the least. But most of all, I went to protect and serve my mistress."

Not many people understood why a world-renowned assassin like Khelt Aleister the First was so loyal to a woman like Sarah, but the very simple answer was because she was loyal to him. He was more than a dagger at her side. She treated him like a valuable asset and above all, a person.

"I'm sure you may have heard of what transpired, what with Durban Ghis getting involved. I had intended to return home to fetch you, Kell, but by then, the regent of Wick already had hold of you and I would be your death sentence if I came anywhere near you... And when I heard of little Mary's birth years later, I wished I had taken the chance and gotten you and your mother away. She might not have been my granddaughter, but she might as well have been. But since then... I have remained in Queen Sarah's service and have been training a young Wolf not unlike you to take my place as the guardian and spymaster for her family. I'd like you to know about him, should either of you end up on the opposite end of the other's blade... his name is Lancir Alturi, but the Queen has taken to calling him Lance." He then looked to Kate. "It would be wise for you to know of him too, should he ever come calling in service to his queen. I've instructed him never to fight with the Ghis except to protect the Monaghan family, but I doubt that will ever come to pass."

Kell looked on as his grandfather spoke, listening closely to his story. The few times they'd met, they had shared their recent doings but never told each other everything. Kell would have his chance before long. When Khelt mentioned Mary, pain registered in Kell's eyes but he didn't shy away from her mention.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate took a seat at Kell's side as grandfather and grandson both invited her to stay and talk with the both of them. She listened as Khelt explained what had happened to him and how he had tried to come back for Kell. She knew that his life with his father had not been good but perhaps things might have been different if his grandfather had succeeded in helping him.

"Mary passed away." Kate murmured softly, knowing that the news was still painful for Kell to hear. "Years of torture and abuse. She was too weak to survive."

"Kell's life is different now. He has a good life in Inverness. He is a tutor for us and a invaluable part of my life." Kate knew that it would do his grandfather good to learn that his grandson had done well for himself outside of the killing business.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm glad to hear it... Very glad." Khelt reached forward to pat Kate's hand. "If he's anything like me... He needs someone to focus on. But it seems he also needs someone to look after him. He's a bit more reckless than myself or his father. And much luckier."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I make sure to keep him in line." Kate said with a smile as she glanced over at Kell as they talked about him. "He makes me very happy. My Da is very happy to have him as a part of our family as well."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I hope to visit occasionally if the king allows it... And odds are I may see a fair bit of you two when you go to Edinburgh. I'm always going to other courts for my mistress. And with the recent alliance of Ireland and Scotland, I may be here more often."

 

[heartofcourage]

"If you ask my Da to come to Inverness, he might have you speak with my sister, Annie, first. She had the final stay as to whether Kell could stay or not." Kate said softly, knowing that her sister had a traumatic experience when she was a little girl. "Annie is very forgiving, especially now that she has a little one of her own."

Kate glanced towards Kell, smiling softly as he had drifted off. "What does that horse mean to him?" She asked Khelt softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I was off in India when Kell was born... My son and I had long since had our falling out, so he didn't even tell me that he'd had a son until we found ourselves contracted to kill one another by our employers. We traded blows and ended up spending the next week together talking about all I'd missed. My son was heartless and didn't have pride in anything but his own skill... The result of my being unallowed to be a father to him. He was raised with a blade in his hand by my employers, though they felt more like slavers to me. After we parted ways, he went off to what would be his final mission, and I made my way into Wick to the barracks of Lochlan O'Hennessey's keep, and I found a toddler who looked just like me, golden eyes and all. He was sickly, weak, and terrified because he thought I was his father at first. But I spent nearly a month sneaking into his tower room at night and teaching him what I could. The last night before I had to go away to China, I brought him that little horse to remember me by. He always had it with him, until the day he left Wick with you. He left a box behind under his bed for me, full of journals and that little horse. I took it all with me to Ireland, and I decided it's time he had it back. I believe I'm responsible for his unfortunate affliction of being an assassin with a heart... But it seems now it's paid off."

 

[heartofcourage]

"If we do end up marrying, he will be the protector of Scotland. You must have done something right in your teachings, Khelt." Kate said with a soft smile. "My Da adores him. I think even if things didn't work out between us, my Da would still keep Kell as his sons. You have a grandson to be proud of. He has done everything that he possibly can to make himself a better person."

 

[KieranSoares]

"But I have you to thank for it. With what I taught him, he would've lived in guilt and misery. It took you to make him take control of his life. Assassins are taught to be independent of all but one or two masters. Kell couldn't see a life beyond what he was doing until a young woman came along and asked him to do what was right instead of what was expected of him." Khelt gave her a small smile, similar to the ones Kell would give her before he came to Inverness and really learned to be happy and show it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I know you seem happy in Ireland, but it you ever need a place to come and stay, Inverness is always open to you. Edinburgh as well." Kate offered him as he gave her a smile that was very much like Kell's own. "But it sounds as if Sarah treats you well in Ireland."

 

[KieranSoares]

"My lady is the only one who ever appreciated my work, not for it's vicious nature or efficiency, but because I worked tirelessly to serve her even down to the last moment when she was captured by your mother and she ordered me to flee for my own sake. Even when I failed, she appreciated my effort and she always has. I risked everything to return to her in Ireland, but seeing the woman she's become and the good I can do for her... It's worth it. Her love and appreciation will see that my life doesn't end in bloody battle, but in long-awaited comfort. And that's all I ever wanted." Khelt was proving more and more how entirely alike he and Kell were, and how far removed they both were from the infamous assassin responsible for the death of Cassandra of Inverness. Both had killed for money and for their duties, but neither enjoyed it like Cassie's killer had. But it was all they knew how to do.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Perhaps we could come and see you in Ireland." Kate offered, hearing the fondness that he had in his voice for Sarah and the work that she had him doing as her right hand. "My father has been sending me on more diplomatic trips to prepare me for Edinburgh."