Claymore and Dagger (closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I'll send Gaiann," Sam nodded, turning to hurry out while Deidre welcomed Fiona to sit down while they waited.

Deidre instructed the staff to prepare a meal for Sam and Fiona, and brought in tea and something to hold them over until it was ready. While they were alone, Deidre looked to Fiona. "So I hear you managed to soften the stone heart of Samuel Ghis. Father mentioned the other day that he'd been engaged."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm not sure how much it's softened." Fiona said softly as tea was brought for them. "But I'm trying my hardest. If he would quit running things would be beautiful."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know exactly what you mean. He's a lovely man, but he's terribly difficult." Deidre took a cup of tea with a sigh. "Though I suppose I ought to thank him. I wouldn't have found my partner if he hadn't pulled away."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We hope to marry this winter but there are a lot of things that have to happen first." Fiona said softly, thinking about Sam and his demons. "I know he'll try his hardest."

 

[KieranSoares]

Seeming to understand it was difficult to say the least, Deidre nodded and murmured, "I hope it works out. Sam is... Well, he's one in a million."

Before long, Sam returned and stepped in, but before he could speak, a servant stepped in behind him. "Your ladyship," the servant murmured. "The queen is on her way to meet with you and your guests."

Deidre rose with a worried gaze. "I thought she wouldn't leave Father's side."

"She has insisted, as she doesn't want to disturb the king."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your mother?" Fiona asked as Sam came to sit beside her as Deidre seemed concerned that the queen was leaving the king to come and greet them properly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"She saw everything that happened and was the only one not seriously wounded. She probably wants to inform Sam personally."

Soon a woman of around fifty years stepped in, slim and tall with a simple green gown and one forearm in a cast. She looked exhausted, her dark brunette hair slightly greying and her face lined with worry and dark bags under her eyes.

"Samuel." She spoke up as she entered. When Sam stood to bow his head, she stepped forward to embrace him and he wrapped his arms around her in return. "They cut my husband down, Samuel... Barbarossa is taking him from me."

Sam looked up at her and they shared a similar stony gaze. "I want blood, Samuel Ghis," she murmured in a deadly calm, and Sam nodded in response.

"Ye'll have it, Marlisa."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona politely rose from her seat when the woman entered, listening as she asked Sam for blood. She didn't like the idea of going to war but she knew that it was very likely a possibility. Sam didn't make idle promises and that frightened her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I want the assassins that escaped before anything else. We didn't capture any alive, but I believe two escaped. One of those two delivered the blow that felled Gallus."

"I'll tap into Kell's network, see what we can do. You focus on Gallus an' Glasgow." Sam turned to Fiona then. "I'll be back soon. Keep an eye out."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched as Sam went to leave, giving him a nod as he left the room. She turned towards the two women that were left with her and she knew that she had to do something to protect Sam. He would very well get himself killed if he was hell bent on finding those responsible.

"If the two of you will excuse me." Fiona said softly, turning to exit the room to find Invah.

 

[KieranSoares]

Invah was still in the courtyard, alone now that Gaiann had been sent off to fetch Mariko Varno. Sam had ridden off into the city on horseback with soldiers and everything was under heavy guard. Seeing Fiona step out, Invah lifted her head.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Can you track someone?" Fiona asked as she lifted her helmet from the pile of tack next to Invah. "We will end this ourselves and send a message to Barbarossa that we will not be cowed by a threat of violence."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I can," Invah nodded. "Who or what?" Seeing Fiona pick up equipment, she knelt low.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Those that attacked the king." Fiona said as she looked towards Invah. "Two men. They ran off after the attack. I want to take care of this and show Barbarossa that we will never put up with this kind of attack again."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I may be able to do something, but my size my prevent me from getting into anything other than the main streets." Invah stepped out toward the main path to the keep, inspecting the cobbled path. After a quick question to a guard she learned the assassins had fled over the courtyard wall and she followed the path finding the scent of blood.

Letting Fiona climb on first, Invah climbed onto the wall and followed it some ways before the trail dropped into a narrow street. Too narrow for her. But she could see people out near a ramshackle tavern. "They headed there, likely to blend in a while and then escape. A guard said they all spoke German, so go there and ask about that. I know you have history in subterfuge, but be very careful." She lowered Fiona down to the ground. "I'll be here."

 

[heartofcourage]

"We should just burn it to the ground with your fire while we have the chance." Fiona said as she slipped from Invah's back, taking care to arm herself.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We're looking for two people. No need to set a fire in the city and risk innocent lives," Invah reminded her softly. "They'd be fools to stick around with German accents after the king was wounded by German assassins. They likely won't be there. Get in, get information, and get out. Yell as loud as you can if you need me. If I have to, I'll rip out a wall to help you."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I just want to end this. Mostly for Sam's sake." Fiona said as she left her helmet with Invah and turned towards the tavern, making her way there to see what information she could gain from the people inside about what had happened to the king.

 

[KieranSoares]

The tavern was fairly raucous though there were a few less rambunctious folks thanks to the recent news. When Fiona entered, she went mostly unnoticed except by a barman who welcomed her over. "Evenin' lass. What can I get ya?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Information." Fiona said, placing a few coins on the counter from the pouch at her hip. "The German speaks that were here...where did they go?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"German?" The barman paused at her serious request, glancing down at the coins. "... Bastards stole two of our horses. Came in, threatened my wife not t'say she'd seen 'em, rode off. One more was waitin' for 'em, Panther I think. Had a collar."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Which direction did they head?" Fiona asked, interested to learn that they had a panther with them that was very obviously a slave.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Straight south at a gallop, plowed a couple people over. Tried t'report it, but th'guards were too busy lockin' down the city. If yer trackin' 'em down, I'd appreciate those horses back. Belong t'my friends, y'see."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I will try my hardest." Fiona said with a nod as she thanked the man and left the tavern, calling to Invah so that she could saddle up again. "Straight south. Three men. We are to try our hardest to save the horses."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Can do." Invah nodded, and the moment Fiona was set, she took off much to audible gasps and shouts below. The city was aware dragons would be there, but many people never thought they'd actually be seen.

With a few days to make up, Invah flew fast and hard. Rain started up the next morning, but as there was no lightning, Invah kept going after advising Fiona that Sam had put a masked helm in her saddlebags. It would narrow her vision considerably unlike the original helm, but it would protect her face from the pelting rain at high speeds while the armor and gloves protected the rest well.

By the next evening, Invah slowed and began following the scent of bonfires in the area near the main road she knew the killers had taken. On the third she found, she landed quickly outside the stand of trees as she could smell old blood and saw three horses nearby. Her incredibly sensitive nose and eyes also caught the presence of a werecat.