Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"She will recover quickly," Qira chuckled softly. "She is only ever content in Inverness, and only for a short time." He lifted his hand from her waist to run his fingers through her hair, showing an affectionate side no one really knew.

 

[heartofcourage]

“You seem confident of that. I suppose you’ve spent much of your time in the shadows, you should know.” Rissa teased as he ran his fingers through her thick dark hair. “You can deny that you listen in on them all you like. There is no red blooded man alive that wouldn’t be tempted by our queen.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I do not, actually," he assured her honestly. "... But I have been tempted." He shook his head at the admission, and then offered a secret. "I was interested in Kell in my teen years as well. They are... Attractive people."

 

[heartofcourage]

“In Kell?” Rissa asked, a bit interested but not disgusted. “Well, panther, you have secrets. What has attracted you the most to both?”

 

[KieranSoares]

"They are beautiful people... But it is in the way they carry themselves. The same reason you caught my attention, though you are all different. It is... Difficult to explain beyond that, even in my native tongue."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Her majesty is beautiful, but she is also a spoiled brat. No doubt, one day she’ll be a confident woman, but for now, she’s simply playing at being a grown up.” Rissa said boldly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She does not compromise well," Qira agreed quietly. "You see the worst of it, she does not like many other women. She can be... Difficult, but she has the makings of a good woman and leader."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Well, one day we might just have to convince them to share our bed and show her that I’m not threat.” Rissa said, giving Qira a grin.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're welcome to try. I do not know if either of them would do that, or if they might get jealous." He sat up then with a sigh, welcoming her to join him in the loch once more to cool down.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa glanced down the banks to see Hassan dozing in the daylight, blissfully at ease as she followed Qira into the loch.

 

[KieranSoares]

They spent the better half of the day on the loch, breaking to eat at one point from the basket Qira had brought. Qira made sure to help wear Hassan down before they began the trek back to Rissa's estate. Once there, Qira left her side to check on Avery before finally returning to the small manor, calm and rather content.

 

[heartofcourage]

Hassan was a happy drake as they made it back to the estate, too tired to even eat dinner as he instantly went to sleep in his stall without a fuss. Rissa had to grin as she watched the little drake sleep. The other drakes were quiet as the sun set, content to eat or rest after a day out in the sunshine. The last few drakes in the pasture were Lance and a couple of the more wild males. She could see them from the front steps of her home, chasing one another in the last few moments of day. They would be called in soon, grumpy at having their fun ruined. It made Rissa laugh softly as she turned to enter the manor, intent on washing up before dinner was served.

 

[KieranSoares]

Inside, Rissa's home was in its usual state of calm business, her small staff going about their afternoon chores before retiring themselves when the few nighttime staff would take over. Qira went to his own quarters as well, emerging for dinner in fresh but more comfortable attire. His naturally stoic state hadn't changed much, but he was visibly more relaxed and a bit less intimidating to approach for the staff.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa was relaxing in her parlor with a hot cider, completely at ease after her day at the loch. She'd had many lovers in her life, both male and female, but none of them were as interesting as Qira. He was quiet and contained, but he could be as passionate as anyone when the moment took him.

"Help yourself. Dinner is coming soon." Rissa said as she directed him to the selection of alcohols that were arranged for them on a table. "I decided to sit in here to watch the sunset. They're bringing in the last of the drakes and they are the most lively of the bunch."

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira quietly perused the bottles, gathering that Rissa probably knew her drink well by the very particular selection. Instead of his usual bourbon, he chose a Dutch gin, pouring a small glass and settling in a chair also facing the windows. In her time at the castle, Rissa had known Qira to be constantly alert, his presence often warding anyone from bothering him and interrupting his task of patrolling and looking after Kate and her guests. But now, she had cracked that shell and he seemed to let his guard down, practically sinking into his seat.

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa was watching as the stable hands worked together to get Lance into the stable. The red drake gave them a run for their money, scurrying back and forth to be annoying simply because he could. She admired his spirit and his stubbornness. There was something in him that reminded her of herself when she was younger. Too head strong to be told that she couldn't do something.

"When we make it back to Edinburgh, I think they'll see something different in you." Rissa commented, glancing over towards Qira with a smile. "You're not so uptight when you've had a good roll in the sheets. And trust me, panther, what we did out there on the loch won't be the last time."

"When we return to the monotony of Edinburgh, perhaps we might continue this as well. No strings attached, of course."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You are welcome to take my attention anytime Kell is with Kate," Qira assured her with a small smile. His job was essentially to be on guard when Kell was not, though occasionally with agents like Lyra, they could both take a break.

 

[heartofcourage]

"And how will you work to take my attentions? Perhaps I'll be too busy trying to fight off wayward lords." Rissa said as Qira assured her that he would make time when Kell was with their queen.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I will gladly help you do that as well if they annoy you," Qira assured her. "... What do you like? I know little about you beyond your history."

 

[heartofcourage]

Rissa looked at him across the room as she took another sip of her drink, pondering his question for a long moment. "What do I like? What do you think a woman like me would like, panther?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think you have a wide range of taste," Qira murmured. "You know the refined, but also enjoy the simple. I think a rich dinner would impress you as much as a picnic in the spur of the moment, as long as you like the company."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I value quiet solitude above anything else. I have no need for pompous lords or large parties." Rissa said as Qira tried to read her like a book. "The refined only comes because I have privilege. I never forget that for a moment, but that doesn't mean that it completely defines my life. I enjoy simple gestures like flowers picked from the fields, a drake fed before I wake, and a thoughtful note written by a friend or lover."

She took another sip of her drink and pondered all of that further. "One thing I will never tolerate from someone else is being trapped. I refuse to be a caged bird in a gilded cage for someone else's pleasure. I will say what I want to say, do what I wish to do, and if someone doesn't like it, so be it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then you and I are similar in many ways," Qira murmured. He would never be as forthright as her, finding he didn't need words to make his intentions and purpose known in Edinburgh. However, he liked simple things, and he enjoyed his freedom to roam and work by his own judgement without anyone constantly intruding.

 

[heartofcourage]

"A simple man made even simpler through years of work as an assassin." Rissa said as there was a knock at the door and the kitchen staff began to bring in the evening meal, setting up a table and an impressive spread of fresh produce and meat.

 

[KieranSoares]

Once the staff was finished, Qira rose, pulling out chairs for Rissa and himself and bringing his drink with him to the table. "I have meant to ask," he murmured as she filled her plate. "You told us your mother was from Egypt. Have you ever seen her homeland?" He knew it might be a sensitive topic, but he hadn't seen Africa since his childhood, barring one short visit in his late teens.