Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

“We are ready to leave when you are. At least rest for a while and change out your horses.” Kate offered to Henry, knowing that he was ready to go at a moment’s notice to end this fight.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The horses, fine, but we're against the clock." Henry turned to face his commanding officers who awaited his word. "Change out the horses, get these men fed and ready to go again."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate sent out the order to her own men that they were leaving as soon as Henry was ready and soon the fort was a flurry of activity. She left word for those that were staying behind to be on guard and in constant contact with Kell. She wanted to leave nothing to chance.

As they waited, she took time to change into her armor, her Claymore strapped to her back. If she was going into battle, she was going to look the part.

 

[KieranSoares]

Her father and uncles followed suit, though they had never worn full suits of metal armor. Instead, in true Axeman fashion, they wore leather guards and a cuirass, a few metal plates or chain in the most important areas, along with kilts and no helmets. It was the sort of sight Kate had grown up around seeing the Axemen train. To the unknowing eye, they were a band of highland warriors, shoddy at best with the armor not being standard. Each warrior had their own style. But any Scot knew that they were truly a deadly guerilla force whose discipline came from vicious field practice rather than marching and obedience drills. They worked flawlessly without the rigidity of the normal military, as the marching and structure didn't lend itself well to the chaotic and ever-changing nature of their battle tactics. They could hit and run without leaving a trace, making survivors swear they were ghosts or demons rather than highly trained men. And Kate's father and uncles were some of the best to ever live.

It truly became just like the old days as Boar fastened his battleaxe and sheath to his belt, Durban slid his blade onto his back and holstered his throwing axes, and Brogan emerged wearing the armguard Kate hadn't seen in years, its rings and chain acting as a shield Brogan could use against smaller weapons while using his own Claymore now on his back. Even if they were greyer, their faces lined, the three brothers were as powerful and dangerous as in their youth.

 

[heartofcourage]

It was almost comical to see such a tiny woman being packed by three hulking men armed to the teeth. Not to mention the dark black wolf that was constantly at her side. Kate was dressed much like her husband, matching matte black armor that he had specially designed to hide in the shadows when he needed to. Kate looked at ease in her armor with her specially designed claymore at her back, made just for her small stature. She knew how to use it with the best of them and even without it she could win a battle.

 

[KieranSoares]

The two small armies set off at the same time, together with Henry's in the lead in their signature red and gold, and Kate's behind in the Scottish blue and white, flecked with the black cloaks of Kell's assassins who moved through with ease despite the quick marching pace.

Within hours, a few messengers on horses split off, though the messenger to their allies south of Rothbury at Newcastle-Upon-Tyne had left long before at full speed. It was a day's march to Alba's new hiding place, including the time spent in camp that night. In the morning, Henry's side would split off for the western approach while Kate rounded north.

That evening as they all settled in their central camp together, Henry joined the Ghis and Aleisters with an unexpected guest. "Look who came back to report," he announced, a hand on Ashien Ghis' shoulder as they approached, John close behind.

"Hello, darling," Ashien greeted Kate first with a tight embrace and a kiss to her cheek before meeting his brothers as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Uncle Ashien." Kate said with a smile as he kissed her cheek and hugged her nearly as tight as her other uncles had. "I should have known you wouldn't stay put for long."

Behind John, bringing up the rear, was Burke, silent and dutiful as always as he carried his father's satchel of important documents. Having already taken care of their horses and weapons like a good squire, Burke was doing his best to stay in the background of the moment.

"You might have to watch him, Henry. I'm not sure that you can really ever trust any of the Ghis brothers." Kate said with a smile towards the king of England as Ashien greeted his brothers.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know I can't. But that's why I have this lad," Henry placed a hand on Burke's shoulder as the boy approached. "He keeps everything in order to free up Ashien to do his proper job as a knight and cavalry major."

Ashien turned to smile to his son, welcoming him forward. "Dylan doesn't like it, but Burke knows what he wants to do and he's of age for it. No all-out battles for him yet, but he's a fine example of what a squire should be. And I dare say he has only a handful of able rivals among the other boys his age."

Burke shook his head slightly at that as if to dismiss the notion that he were anything special, but he only spoke quietly as he greeted his uncles and as he turned to Kate. "I hope I can be useful."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm sure that you're more than useful, Burke." Kate said with a smile towards her quiet cousin. "You have to be with three younger sisters around the house. I'm sure that you help to keep them all in line."

 

[KieranSoares]

Burke only noddeed slightly, earning a smile from his father. "Our house is still standing because of him, in more ways than one," Ashien chuckled softly before turning back to Kate. "Now, love... I'm up to date with everything on your end, but I have some new information for you."

At this, Burke pulled out a small journal and handed it to Ashien, who flipped through to his field notes. "We got close to Rothbury, but we couldn't get into the town itself- there's mercenaries and soldiers everywhere. Alba and his support have given up being secretive. He knows we're aware that it's him, and who's helping him. But he's also using this new visibility to try to talk other Barons into rebelling. We intercepted a couple letters with the same message to other northern English lords. Essentially, he was entreating them to rise up with him, knowing the north is where some of Henry's best officers and soldiers come from. He insisted they could make a stand here and demand Henry's dethronement and replacement."

"Why?" Boar asked with a raised eyebrow. "What's Henry done? He'd 'ave t'do something awful t'be legally removed rather'n usurped."

"Well, being who we are and not terribly connected with the Pope or the Catholic Church... I'm afraid we missed an important memo. As you may know, a few years ago the first Pope from these isles was elected and went to serve in the Vatican... and as you may know, a Crusade began some years before he was elected. They trickled off for a while, headed mostly by the southern Europeans... but now Adrian has began asking his homeland to join in. He's English by birth... and Henry has been ignoring his call."

Ashien glanced to Henry, who turned his gaze away. Henry was a fairly devout man, but not the zealot some of his lords were. "Alba and some of his cohorts have long been at odds with Henry in a struggle of power, but some of them have, on their own money and men, been to aid in the Crusades as the Pope does overpower Henry. Now, these power-hungry lords are using God and the Pope as an excuse to try to overthrow or coerce Henry. If he doesn't commit armies to the Crusades, the lords can say he's not doing his duty to the Church and to God. After all... it is cited that an English king's right to the crown is God-given. And since the Catholic Church believes they are God, the lords can deem Henry a heretic and defy him."

"You know..." Henry murmured. "My grandfather William would've had you burned at the stake for saying such things about the Church, Ashien... But you're right. The Church no longer views itself as a conduit, but as the voice of God on Earth, his direct hand. And the people I'm ordered to kill in the Middle East are not heathens... they don't deny God or his son. They simply believe the true messiah hasn't come yet. How can we murder them for such a small difference? So I won't. If some of my lords want to go and fight, they're welcome to it. I can't change their minds, and I know none of this will change anything in the long run. There will still be Muslims and Christians when the wars die down. My focus is here, on a warmonger who wants to replace me with someone more akin to his ideals. They mean to remove my direct family from the line of succession, and turn it back over to my distant cousin who was meant to be King in my place. A spoiled princeling that Boar here has met on terrible terms."

Boar's eyes narrowed darkly, and he gripped the dagger handle at his hip. "I thought you were him when you took th'throne... Y'both have th'same name. But there's no mistaking tha' brat." He looked among his family present and murmured, "He was Emma's betrothed long before we met... he was th'bastard tha' threw 'er away like garbage an' tried t'take 'er back t'be 'is mistress once 'e married some princess. I stormed into London an' brought 'er home."

"Henry is the name he was given at baptism, but we have always called him by his original name, Harold Stanwick. As I was the older, I kept the name Henry," Henry explained. "He lost his right to the crown when his father disowned him for his terrible public conduct. He was found passed out in taverns and brothels constantly, not to mention he managed to set fire to the royal retreat in Manchester. He was adopted by Alba's uncle later on, after my own uncle named me his successor to the throne."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate was a little taken back that the man that was behind most of what was happening had a personal connection to her family. Boar had a murderous look in his eyes as he told them how Henry had thrown Emma out and then tried to take her back when he had married a foreign princess. It was clear that Boar had some very bad memories of that time in his life.

"Henry, I promise you that we will not allow an upstart to take you off your throne. If I need to send forces back home with you, I will." Kate promised, looking over at the king of England as he seemed rather pensive in that moment.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not necessarily worried my cousin will take it. He's disgraced himself enough that a majority of Lords will resist him and refuse to name him King. At best, he'll cause an uprising of his own."

Henry nodded to Kate with a sigh. "Be thankful most of your Lords are just pushy and spoiled. Mine like to put daggers to my throat."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Give it time. I’m sure mine will be doing the same.” Kate said as she turned to look at her husband. “I just have to trust that this brute will protect me as much as he says he will.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell met her gaze calmly, as if no threat could break his control over their situation even as they headed for battle. Henry chuckled to himself. "They won't take you seriously til you really threaten their power with an heir. So keep an eye out when that happens." He turned to glance off toward John, who was talking with some of the other knights. "God knows my lords started a ruckus when I allowed my daughter to marry a man who wasn't born into his position. And seeing he's not a complete fool, they know they can't ply him for favoritism. He's still a fool, but a good one."

 

[heartofcourage]

“If aunt Dylandra vouches for him, he can’t be all bad. She puts up with uncle Ashien.” Kate said as he wrapped his arm around her and hugged her to his side. “I understand that this will set the tone for my rule, for how I will treat those that threaten my lords. I just hope that they take my warning and action seriously.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're in the wrong profession to be taken seriously, my dear. They'll just keep pushing and pushing til you put your foot down, and then they'll cry tyranny. It's like dealing with badly-raised toddlers, but instead of sweets and toys, they want money and land."

 

[heartofcourage]

“They’ve never met a woman like me before.” Kate said simply, the honesty in her voice telling them all that she had a firm conviction in her beliefs and what she wished to accomplish in her life. “Married to a wolf, raised by a clan that was not my own, the first true female knight in scotland...they have no idea whom they’ve decided to cross.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Just take care you know who you're dealing with as they come," Henry reminded. "You've got a wide array of Lords, all with their own reputations, connections, and major achievements. Don't take them too lightly."

Henry sat down at the campfire they'd built, sighing as he removed a few pieces of armor. But the chest plate remained for now.

 

[heartofcourage]

As Kell had instructed her, Kate remained in her armor until she was safely in her tent for the evening. Taking off her armor had her instantly relaxing. Sinking down into the pallet that he had prepared for her personally, she glanced over to where her husband was working diligently on paperwork.

“How much danger are we really in?” Kate asked him in a voice barely above a whisper.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell didn't pause in his work as he spoke, "You can never be too careful." Meeting her gaze for a moment, he elaborated, "When it comes to noble feuds for power, there isn't much men like Alba won't do to secure their position. The one most in danger right now is Henry, probably John and Elizabeth close behind. But seeing as Alba tried to take Scottish land first, it may be that he didn't consider you a real threat til now. To answer your question more simply... We're probably more threatened at Edinburgh than we are here, but there's always the possibility that someone will use battle as a cover to reach us."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I would hope after so many years of peace under Marianne and her family that there wouldn't be much turmoil." Kate said with a deep sigh. "I don't want to be the ruler that has to fight for every single thing nor do I relish fighting with upstarts who believe they can take advantage of me simply because I'm a woman."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Things were good under Brian. Under Gale, everyone knew his rule would be short so Lords started making plans. And when Marianne took over again, she was just trying to hold things together."

Kell came to sit beside her. "You're fighting an uphill battle, love. Not an impossible one, and certainly a rewarding one when you outlast your nay-sayers. For now... We rally our supporters and prove ourselves."

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate let out a sigh and leaned her head on her husband’s shoulder. “That vacation away is looking better and better by the moment, love.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell let his head rest against hers for a long moment. "We'll make it, love. No matter what I need to do to see you content, we'll make it."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Hunting on a loch, just the two of us and my security detail. That’s what I want.” Kate said as she turned her head and kissed her husband gently before allowing him to go back to his planning and letters.