Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Of course it will. I plan everything," Warwick chuckled. "If not directly, then I'm asked constantly for advice and proofing to avoid overlaps. But what you're looking for specifically are ladies-in-waiting, I believe."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ladies in waiting?" Kate asked, looking at Warwick with a slightly confused expression. "We never had those in Inverness. I've only heard bad things about the gaggle of women that constantly fight for their mistress's attentions."

 

[KieranSoares]

"They're meant to be assistants, not gossip-mongering, catty social climbers. The position allows for experience in court and getting to know valuable people, yes, which is why so many nobles send their daughters to be considered. But it is not in the tradition of Edinburgh to suffer people who come to sow seeds of doubt and dissent for favoritism."

 

[heartofcourage]

"And I will be the one to choose them? No one else has to weigh in on that matter?" Kate asked, knowing that she was a terrible judge of character in women.

She had many more male friends than she did women. She wasn't like most of them and had barely anything in common.

 

[KieranSoares]

"If you like. Or Kell could choose," Warwick said with a half-smirk that made Kell chuckle.

"I'd rather not start those rumors."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You might find that it takes me a while to find people that I trust." Kate said as Warwick suggested that Kell could choose those women. "I would trust him. He married a woman that could make him pay if he even thought about another pretty face."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm well aware," Warwick nodded. "But it should be someone you like as they'll be working with you, not him."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I suppose I’ll have to keep my eye out for someone.” Kate said as they finished their meal and she’s had the general shown to a comfortable room.

Kate was soon back at work, writing dozens of letters to those that had written to her asking for various thins. She worked until someone placed a tray of tea on her desk. Glancing up she saw Qira standing there quietly.

“Join me?” She asked softly in his native tongue.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira silently took a seat beside her, pouring the tea for both of them. "What can I do for you?" He asked quietly.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Nothing, really. I just want to have a quiet conversation with a friend.” Kate said, showing him that she was still struggling with the entire transition.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm always listening," he reminded quietly. His calm and sharply focused disposition rarely faltered, but Kate had seen personally a few times when he would soften for her alone. Despite appearing to others as an emotionless and goal-driven guardian, he had a deep capacity for empathy.

 

[heartofcourage]

“But you never talk.” Kate said with a small smile. “I want to get to know you. Where you’re from, where your family is, everything.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira was quiet for a long moment, perhaps the first time Kate had seen him a bit uncomfortable. "There isn't much worth saying," he murmured. "It's not a happy story."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Are you like Kell?” Kate asked softly as she’s took a cup and held it between her hands to warm herself up. “I mean, he has a...dark history. I assume you are much the same.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"There are a few similarities," Qira admitted, sitting back slowly as he considered where to begin. "... I wasn't born for the job like Kell. My mother was a house slave at the time in French-owned African holds. My father, though he never claimed me, was her owner who enjoyed having his way with the female slaves whenever his wife wasn't looking. I had at least six half-siblings, all from other women who were too scared to fight the master off. I was just a slave for the first seven years of my life, helping my mother or working in the vineyard. But when a slave rebellion broke out in a nearby vineyard, all the keepers of the house went to help. My half-siblings and I were all gathered together by our mothers along with a few others, and altogether, twenty of us escaped into England. Along the way, all the adults except my mother and an older woman were recaptured. We managed to make it to Scotland, and we fled all the way to the countryside around Wick and joined a farming community. A couple of the children died of sickness that first year, but I ended up getting lucky, my mother thought. A butcher took me in as his apprentice, and he called me an artist with a knife. He wasn't exactly... Normal. But between hauling carcases and learning the most efficient way to use a blade, I managed to get the wrong kind of attention... The kind that rivaled Kell's own handlers."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’m sorry that anyone has to be taught those kinds of things. No child should ever have to live with that kind of uncertainty.” Kate said softly as Qira told her his story.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, your husband certainly didn't help," Qira added with a hint of a smile, offering humor to color an otherwise very dark and terrifying rivalry that the two had been pitted in from a very young age.

"Kell's father was never concerned with my handlers. He was a kingslayer and a political spark. He didn't care about other assassins, only the huge bounties on royal and noble heads that would start wars and make even more profitable work for him. Khelt Aleister the first, however, wasn't picky. He killed at least three of my teachers and the one mentor I ever saw eye to eye with. But Kell was different. His tasks included weeding out others his age, to narrow the market in the future and find out who the big players would be, early on. He and I first met when he was fifteen, and each of us walked away with a knife in the belly, but Kell was worse off with a broken hand. Once his handlers were aware of me, they put out a bounty on my head, and I killed every man that tried to claim it. Eventually Kell came back and we beat each other half to death before he realized I was going to win because I was stronger, faster, and older. He had to flee, and I ended up keeping his knives."

Qira smiled to himself at that, unsheathing a black medium blade with plenty of scratches and nicks, but not a trace of rust, and a carefully sharpened edge and hooked point. "I gave them back next time we clashed, except this one. This one, I almost gutted him with, and he told me to keep it as a trophy since I didn't get his head that time."

Setting the blade aside, Qira continued. "After failing so many times to kill each other, we started to respect each other. We even taught each other our own tricks and style. It gave me a massive advantage over him, in fact. Today, I genuinely think Kell wouldn't stand a chance. But I wasn't interested in trying to kill him any more. Eventually, I even met Khelt when he was sent to kill my handlers and destroy my organization. I was posted to guard them, but I let Khelt in and he offered me money for it. I refused, and told him that his grandson had paid for it years before. We were... Not friends, but we had an understanding, the old Wolf included. I stayed in that business, and never killed above minor nobles really. And then after Wick went to Cahal Dunland, Kell contacted me out of the blue and asked if I wanted a job defending the Ghis. So here I am."

 

[heartofcourage]

“You’d never want to betray him, right? I mean, I’d be a fool not to worry considering you once had a rivalry with him.” Kate murmured as she listened quietly to his story. “Kell’s father killed my Da’s first wife. It took a long time for my father and sister to get over her loss. We’ve been very protective ever since.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've never hated Kell or his grandfather. I've lost a person I cared about because of them, but it was with the understanding that they didn't have a choice. My handlers were saints compared to the ones Kell had. I was allowed to do as I pleased as long as I brought in a certain amount of money. Kell was held to a much higher standard, and anytime he failed to kill another assassin or failed a mission, he was punished severely. Not physical punishment, usually, but emotional and mental. I don't know the extent of it all, I only know that it wasn't often that Kell didn't look dead behind the eyes. He still had a conscience, though, and he suffered for it."

Qira paused to consider those memories for a long moment. "My job was just to make my handlers money. No specifics, except that they preferred I stay away from very powerful and important people and I was to refuse kingslayer contracts. Kell was the opposite, and because of it, he had to deal with contracts for terrible things. Inciting coups that would tear formerly close and loyal courts apart, killing lords and king's whose heirs were too young, in order for his handlers to control the heir or buy the regent... And murdering children. Heirs, sometimes the only heir to a noble title or certain resource the handlers wanted control of. Even newborns and pregnant mother's sometimes had contracts on their heads. I don't know how many Kell ever brought himself to carry out... But I know they were never in short supply."

 

[heartofcourage]

“There is probably one on my head right now.” Kate said in all honesty. “I know I’m in danger and probably will be for the rest of my life. I also know that Kell trusts you with what he treaures most in this world.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course there is," Qira told her quietly. "Kell would probably never say so, but there's usually two or three contracts on all rulers at all times, and more on new or vulnerable people. He's been asked at least twice to kill you since you married. The same goes for myself."

 

[heartofcourage]

“And he’s paid you more?” Kate asked softly. “Why would someone be loyal otherwise? Do you really care about Kell’s respect that much? You could be a very wealthy man by killing me now. You probably would never have to work another day in your life.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"No, he doesn't pay me more," Qira told her softly. "They've offered me as much as half your current treasury, no strings attached." His calm gaze, however, told her he wasn't in the slightest bit interested.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Why?” Kate asked, completely stunned that he would turn down such a sum of money.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I have all I need," he said simply with a small shrug. "I work for someone I respect, and protect someone I care for. All the money in the world wouldn't give me propose like that. And what would I do with it? Assassins don't get castles and mansions or really anything permanent. No families to spend it on, no friends. Kell covers everything I need or want and pays me well on top of that. That's all I need. The ability to sit down with you for tea is alone worth more than what others could pay me. I enjoy my work."