Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Kate stared at her uncle for a long moment, knowing that it took a lot for him to admit to her that he was proud. She could remember when she was little, crying at something during her training and Boar setting her straight with a firm tone. Warriors didn't cry and he wouldn't let her cry either. It was the same training that he had given to Eli and Leon, seeing the great potential in all of them and working to make them into fine young men and women.

"One day, when everything is calm and settled, I'll come back to Inverness for a summer and I'll let you properly finish my training." Kate said softly, reaching out to touch her uncle's arm. "It's the very least that I can do for a gift like this."

 

[KieranSoares]

Boar met Kate's gaze for a long moment. While he had softened considerably over time and was a downright pushover for the women of his family, he had never softened when it came to combat and training. He had always insisted that he couldn't be kind in training because no soldier would be kind in battle. But his warrior mindset fell away for a moment to embrace Kate for a long silence before murmuring, "Come back because I love ya, no' because y'owe me anythin'."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You don't have to ask me to do that twice." Kate murmured as her uncle hugged her tightly against him.

As the call was given across the camp to pack up and each of her commanders were briefed, Kate had one last moment with Henry. She listened as he told her his wishes for this operation and she agreed to most of them. She wanted Alba for herself, but he wasn't her lord to punish. It was perhaps the one thing that they disagreed on.

"I will ask for a monetary sum for the family that is left. I will make it known to my other lords and ladies that it came from the English crown to support them as they try to rebuild their lives." Kate said, knowing that it was the very least that she could ask for. "And if you find their missing son, to return him as quickly as possible. Or bury him with honor."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I will make arrangements with the treasury, of course, and keep an eye out for the boy. However, on the subject of Alba... I have been thinking, Kate," Henry murmured, stroking his chin. "He is my rebelling lord, yes... But he has brutally murdered one of your own, as well as the innocent family, not to mention peacetime defenders and civilians. I still want the bastard's head. But if we capture him alive, I welcome you to appoint his executioner or do it yourself. I will happily bring him to the border so both sides may see justice done."

 

[heartofcourage]

"As brutal as it sounds, it would do my lords some good to see it done." Kate said, knowing that some of the clan leaders could be as blood thirsty as they were loyal to Scotland.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then we will make arrangements to have him face justice in the very town he ruined, should he survive the wrath of our soldiers." Henry placed a hand on her shoulder then. "Together, then. I'll fight alongside you as I have your father, Kate. Time to put this mongrel down."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I trust you, Henry." Kate said as they shared that parting moment before each turned to mount their horses.

Before Kate got into the saddle, she checked her own tack. While she had the best horsemen that money could buy, her father and uncles had taught her to be as self reliant as possible. Even the simplest task wasn't beyond her.

As she was tightening a piece of leather, she caught site of Kell coming her direction. Before he could pass her to his own horse, she reached out and grabbed his sleeve, pulling him to a stop.

"I'm not going off to war without a kiss, no matter how public the moment is." Kate murmured softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell paused, taking Kate's hand as she spoke. He himself was in a full armor suit, all black matte leather with a few key metal plates underneath, his arsenal of blades sheathed on a bandolier and hidden around his person.

Kell offered her a serene, small smile, leaning in to press his forehead to hers. "Well... Hopefully it's only a battle by the time we're done, and not a war." He pressed a lovely and warm, long kiss to her lips.

 

[heartofcourage]

How he could be so calm and serene when they were preparing to ride into battle she would never know. However, Kate appreciated the way that he softened for a moment, pressing his forehead against her own before he kissed her in such a loving manner. Her hand reached up and cupped his cheek, surrendering for a long moment to her husband. She wasn't a queen, nor a Ghis in that moment. She was his.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell's arms looped around her for a long moment until he had to draw back. "You may not always see me once we get there, but I'll be with you. Just shout. And Qira will be right behind you."

 

[heartofcourage]

“When was the last time I truly needed you?” Kate asked with a small grin on her lips.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The night before last, if memory serves me," Kell teased in a whisper, kissing her once more before going to his horse.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate’s grin widened as her husband mentioned their stolen moments together before she turned back towards her horse. She paused when she saw the young man that had thrown the rotten fruit at her days earlier. He was dressed in her royal colors, holding her helmet under one arm.

“So...Qira has made you my squire?” Kate asked, looking level to the young man as he stood her height. “I’m a hard mistress. Are you prepared for that kind of hard work?”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Can't be any worse than what happened in Paxton," the boy muttered, then quickly remembered to add, "your Majesty." He had his own horse behind him packed with supplies and extra arrows for her should she need them, and a couple weapons of his own.

 

[heartofcourage]

“First rule, son. I will not be called by my title while on campaign. You will address me as ma’am if the need arises. Being referred to by royal rank is a sure fire bet to get me killed.” Kate said, taking her helmet from him and buckling it securely. “Second rule, if you betray me, I assume you know punishment will be swift.”

 

[KieranSoares]

The boy only nodded, clearly still stubborn and quiet. It seemed he no longer blamed Kate, but she also hadn't earned more than a cold, base respect. "Qira said I'm to avoid direct fighting unless you're threatened. He said I'm better as an archer for you."

 

[heartofcourage]

“You’re too young for direct fighting. As you prove yourself in time, more responsibilities will come your way. For now, you focus on what he has told you.” Kate said as she’s mounted her horse and pulled the reigns around.

 

[KieranSoares]

The boy, Michael, followed suit and rode a bit behind her on the horse supplied to him by Qira. The ride toward Rothbury was mostly quiet beyond the hooves and shifting gear of the armies, but once they split a short while later, Kate's regiments of Axemen and assassins were incredibly quiet compared to her remaining footmen and cavalry who were there more as backup than head-on fighters. Once they got close enough, the Axemen and assassins would break off with Kate and they'd become shadows.

The journey was eaten up at a good pace to make sure they all reached a safe campsite by nightfall, and Kate got to see for the first time how her two eldest uncles and father acted on campaign. Previously when she showed up to join in, they'd be overprotective of her and resume some of their family attitude. But now, they were deadly fighters en route to a target, and Kate had never seen her father so singularly focused, nor her Uncle Durban seemingly so dangerous.

Along the way when it was safe, the Axemen occasionally sang- or rather, one or two would sing and the rest would hum. Kate knew it was common when they weren't in hiding, as song was how they kept their spirits up in training and especially when conditioning in extreme cold. The sense of camaraderie and hope kept them from giving up in the most grueling conditions, and made boring travel a little more enjoyable. They never marched, those strict drills were for regular soldiers. The Axeman went in what seemed to passersby a rabble, but was actually a carefully planned formation. All the best shieldmen were on the outside ring, swordsmen inside that, spearmen inside that, and the best rangers on the inside who rarely took their hands off their bows. Leaders didn't go at the front or center, they went where their skill best suited them. For Durban, it was the outer ring. For Boar, it was right between the swordsmen and spearmen. Brogan was among the archers, his more fragile health making the Axemen protect him more fiercely much like they would their wounded. And Kate was right behind the shieldmen, she'd be among the first fighters if they were ambushed.

Kell was not with the main group, and only about half his people were actually visible, scattered about. The rest were off in the distance, an early warning scout system that would give the warriors time to scatter and hide in preparation for a strike should anyone happen by them. Kell himself was far ahead, among the front scouts out of sight, and Qira's whereabouts were unknown.

 

[heartofcourage]

The songs of the axemen had been her lullabies when she was little. Her father sang them to her nearly every single evening, her uncles just about as often. She knew every single one of them by heart and she hummed along with them when the singing began. To Kate, this all felt like home. It made her heart ache slightly to know that when they left, she would be alone yet again. That was all pushed to the back of her mind as she focused on the task at hand, melting seamlessly into the crowd and no one would be the wiser that the queen of Scotland was among the group.

 

[KieranSoares]

By evening, the songs had silenced and the Axemen had moved into shadows and stealth, making a hidden camp beyond the patrol routes. No fires were lit, and a substantial night guard would be ready at any moment to wake everyone and hide them if needed. Kell did come to Kate in the night, but he was quietly organizing the night watch and defense.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate had insisted on helping with patrols and she was readying for her first time out, switching her heavier armor for lighter leather. As she checked her Claymore for damage and inspected her new axe, she was keeping a close eye on Michael, making sure that he was working just as hard to ready the rest of her tack. The boy was quiet and tightly wound as if waiting for something terrible to happen any moment. Kate left him be for the most part, only speaking when he did something that she didn’t like.

When Kell arrived, Kate glanced over at him with a nod and left Michael to his own devices. “I’m not sure why I need a squire, but Qira is invested in that young man.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Qira insisted he saw potential in the boy," Kell murmured, glancing at Michael as he tended to Kate's horse's hooves. He was a quick worker, and though quietly angry at the world, he channeled it well into his work. "He was a stableboy, apparently, and he told Qira that he often hunted and was learning to use a sword to join the city watch when he was older, taking after his father. But Qira seems to think he could make more of that boy than just a soldier. I believe Qira thinks Michael has the right personality to join our line of work when he's older. Even if that doesn't work out, Qira wants to challenge him by making him work for you, someone he's intent on resenting. I'm not sure about it... But Qira is. So I'll defer to his judgement."

 

[heartofcourage]

“So you’ll both saddle me with a young, angry child who has barely valed distain for me?” Kate asked, quirking an eyebrow at her husband. “I fail to see the wisdom in that.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'm not sure about it either, but Qira has never failed me. He seems to have a plan. But if you don't want him, Qira can't overrule you. We can assign him elsewhere. Qira seems to think the resentment will do more good than harm, that it'll drive this boy to try to prove he's better than you."

 

[heartofcourage]

“We’ll see how it all plays out.” Kate said, glancing over her should at the boy as he inspected another hoof before deciding that the task was done. “I’ll be late for patrol. Keep an eye on him for me.”