Ghis (closed)

[heartofcourage]

Rissa simply shook her head and turned to leave the stables as a loud crash of thunder rocked the building. It would be pouring down rain by the time that she made it back to the manor house, but it was a quick jog.

 

[KieranSoares]

Rissa heard nothing of the stables or Qira for the rest of the night, and come morning, the rain had turned to a light mist and a deep fog that limited sight to some twenty feet. Everyone was going about their usual work, and breakfast was taken out to the stable hands. Qira was still there, looking after the female drake, as Rissa was told.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa left the manor after breakfast, making her way to the stables to check up on Qira herself. The evening staff had told her that he was still tending to the female drake, but she wasn't one to sit by and let others to tasks for her. She was going to check things out with her own two eyes.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Rissa entered the stables, she found the female drake peacefully asleep under blankets, now curled up seemingly having recently eaten, and water standing by. However, Qira and Lance were missing. A stable hand directed Rissa out to the pasture, where she found her aggressive, male-hating red drake sitting across from Qira in the grass, Qira calmly inspecting some missing teeth that Lance had lost in his fight with the female. Lance didn't look thrilled, but he didn't fight as Qira touched his maw before moving on to inspect the wound on his neck as well.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa stood in the door of the stable, watching as Lance begrudgingly allowed Qira to inspect his missing teeth. She knew how uncomfortable the drake was by the way that he sat there with a tense awareness. It was amazing that Qira was able to get that close to the drake that notoriously hated any and all men that he came into contact with.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Qira finished, he stroked Lance's maw and offered him a large piece of jerky, coaxing him softly til the drake begrudgingly allowed himself to be pampered a bit by someone other than Rissa.

 

[heartofcourage]

"He'll only fall for that a few times." Rissa commented as Qira finished and tempted Lance with a piece of jerky.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He will be calm enough on his own by then," Qira murmured, letting Lance go to her, where Lance immediately nuzzled up against Rissa with a soft rumble, always melting for her when he was calm.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Hello, my love." Rissa said as Lance greeted her and she ran her fingers through his dark mane. "Did you survive the storm in one piece?"

Lance had never been scared of storms. He would often be sleeping like a baby while other drakes fretted when a storm appeared. He was scared of so many other things that it seemed like his mind couldn't focus on storms.

"How is the other drake?" Rissa asked, looking over at Qira. "She seems to be sleeping peacefully."

 

[KieranSoares]

"She will survive," Qira nodded, rising and dusting himself off. "I call her Avery."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Why Avery?" Rissa asked, knowing that the naming of a drake, like naming a child, could be a deeply personal thing.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira paused, not prepared for the personal question. "... Avery was the name of someone I used to work with. Their eyes are exactly the same color."

 

[heartofcourage]

"A sentimental panther. That's...surprising." Rissa said, looking over at him before Lance nudged her for her attention. "Enough of that, beast. Go for a run."

 

[KieranSoares]

Lance rumbled at her command, finally leaving her side begrudgingly. Qira shook his head at Rissa. "Everyone has something they miss. Assassins are no different."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Assassins aren't typically the kind of people that wax poetic about those that they used to know." Rissa said simply as Qira tried to defend his choice in name. "She's your drake. You can name her whatever you like for whatever reason you like."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Assassins are just people," Qira reminded softly. "Some are heartless, but not many." He watched Lance go before looking back to Rissa. "What else needs doing here?" He'd helped the stable hands with all their morning work, and in between looking after the female drake, he'd once more run out of things to do to feel useful.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You could probably stand to relax for a while. There's little more to do now after the drakes have eaten." Rissa said, knowing that Qira was not a man to simply sit around and relax. "We could hike to the loch. That might force you to actually take it easy today."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira only nodded and murmured, "I will pack, then." While he was normally independent, he was glad to follow Rissa's lead if only because she was independent herself and interesting to listen to.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa wanted for him in the great hall, no drakes besides Hassan coming with them. It was a hike to the loch and she was sure that the young drake would enjoy the exercise. By the time that Qira reappeared, Rissa had Hassan at her side with a harness, the young creature looking around alert and excited.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira had gathered a simple satchel of food and drink for them, slinging it over his shoulder as he stepped out and greeted Hassan with a pat, nodding to Rissa and following her lead.

 

[heartofcourage]

Hassan rumbled as Qira patted his head, lumbering after Rissa as the woman started off without a word to Qira. She would let him carry the satchels as she led the way towards the loch that was on the outskirts of the small village. They would pass by the houses of some of Qira's former counterparts, but most of them were more interested in living their new lives in peace than starting trouble.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira kept pace, taking in their surroundings as they left the estate grounds. He was quite at home away from civilization, and Rissa would see his deliberate pace grow more casual. It was typical of tribal folk, naturally relaxing when they were surrounded by nature. He remained alert, but his golden gaze was softer, silently enjoying himself after not having spent much leisure time in the wilds for a long while.

Once they were a fair way along the path, Qira spoke up quietly, "Thank you." He looked over to Rissa. "For this time away from Edinburgh. It is... A good change."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think the Lord Protector would have paid me a hefty sum to take you away from your duties for a while." Rissa commented with a grin towards Qira as he thanked her. "So don't give me any credit yet. Let's see what I might be able to get out of him when we tell him what I did."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, you have done what he could not. I have been keeping watch almost every day since he gave me this job." He looked to Rissa with a hint of a smile, clearly more relaxed than usual despite the late night.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Let's also hope that he's doing his duty and keeping our stubborn Queen relaxed. I think the castle would be much more enjoyable if she's not constantly grousing and grumbling." Rissa said as she turned down a path that seemingly led to nowhere.

It went through the woods, leading to another part of the loch that was secluded. Technically still part of her lands, she often found that no one ventured to this portion, leaving her in peace when she wanted to get away from everyone else.