Lance Valley. (Closed)

[SinisterSpiders]

Willow hauled her pack onto her back and made her way down the stairs just in time to hear Nikki make her caustic comments. She walked across the floor and past the woman, giving her a look of complete and utter disdain.

"If you're aware of what freaks like me can do you would know it would be wise not to talk so openly within my hearing range," Willow sighed, but the comment that Nikki had made about Thon wanting to do away with her and the other Scouts was a concern. It wasn't the first time she had heard it, and there had been a ripple of discontent within the scout ranks of late, a string of bad postings and horrible timing. Willow brushed it off and walked past the gathered Councillors, furious that they still wanted to burn the bodies.

"When the King bemoans all of the petitioners that come to his open court sessions I will be sure to let him know that you were the ones that made this call," She said before stepping out of the inn for the last time and slamming the door behind her.

Willow walked over to Krow.

"Before we go I need to return to that farmer's property. I promised him payment for seeking you out and I need to make good on that," she said, thinking of the brave farmer and his pregnant wife. "Besides, there is a nice stream on the way there and I desperately need to clean off," she added, gesturing to the drying smears of blood and dirt all over her body.

 

[KINKYCanada]

Krow nodded and agreed that the farmer had earned what payment he had been promised. The rode on and soon the dawn air was alive with flames. Krow shook his head. "They have no respect! none what's so ever, Willow are we so different then them. Sure we have power, but we use it in service to the king!" Krow said in a low voice. There were times he hated his gift and hated that he was using it to allow scum like the ones they just left to live a happy life.

They paid the farmer and moved on. Krow was a little shocked to see the amount promised but said nothing. Willow made the deal and honored it, he would have done no less.

At the stream he kept a look out as Willow striped to clean up. This was where their relationship was a little odd. He liked her, loved her really but they were Scouts, you had to trust the man or woman at your side no matter what! This over time developed a familearity that could make one fall for the other. Though Krow had seen Willow naked a lot he never looked at her in any way other than that of a friend or sister, certainly not as a lover.

Somehow today was different, today after all that had happened he had a growing need for contact with her on a physical level. But he kept it all to himself. He just took glances at her every now and then!

KC

 

[SinisterSpiders]

The trip back to the farm was much nicer during the day. Despite how furious Willow was at the events of the night she was at least able to take some comfort in the beauty of their surroundings. The emerald hills rolled on for miles around to the north, east and west, and the forest bordered them entirely on the south.

When Willow and Krow knocked on the door the farmer once more answered it, his wife at his side looking tired and worse for wear. The first few moments were tense, as though they were waiting for Willow to make more life-threatening demands on them, but instead Willow thanked the farmer for his efforts and gave her the rest of the money she had promised him. He looked shocked, as though the attack on his life earlier had made him forget. Or maybe he had thought she wouldn't keep her word. Either way she was able to give him the remainder before heading off.

The stream was a little while away, and Willow eagerly dropped her pack at the foot of a small copse of trees before she started to peel off her clothes. Despite her minor role in the conflict she had blood along all of her hems and cuffs, and she would need to soak it out now before it stained too badly. It was lucky she always kept a spare set of cottons for under her leathers.

Willow wanted to bathe in the stream for longer, but she knew Krow was standing watch and they had a mission. So with a heavy sigh she slipped completely under the water one last time, gliding through it and making sure her hair got a good soaking before looking back to the shore. She realised that she had forgotten to pull her fresh clothes from her pack.

"Uh, Krow?" She called out, staying on her knees at the edge of the stream so her body and breasts were covered by the water. "Would you mind passing me the spare clothes from my pack please?"

 

[KINKYCanada]

Krow watched the smoke rise in the distance. Though he had many astonishing abilities, he was this day glad that smell was not one of them, the smell of burning bodies was a stench he could do with out for the rest of his years.

Willow had called to him. She as it seemed forgot to take her clothes out of her pack. He didn't blame her for wanting to wash off, both figuratively and literally, The night had been long and brought nothing but misery to the two scouts. He walked over to her.

"Well that was a bit stupid! haha" he gave a chuckle. He opened her bag and took the clothes she wanted and brought them to the edge of the stream. "Here you are!" He said looking down at her, he never really gave it any thought till now. They lived dangerous lives and lived them out in the wild most of the time. Yet they never did anything, he had lovers but they were a night here or a night there. Nothing he would call a significant other. Actually it was Willow, there was no other woman in the world that he trusted or cared for more deeply then Willow.

After a bit to long of a stare Krow moved back away and let her dress unnoticed by him.

"I want to head back to the castle and collect Roc and Sparrow. They will be good to have helping us with figuring out who might be the spy! The King may not believe us, the pompous ass thinks everyone loves him and seems unable to grasp the idea that a spy could get with in the castle walls." Krow said climbing back onto his mount and waiting his partner.

KC

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Willow thanked Krow for passing her clothes over, noting with curiosity the way his eyes lingered over her. She waited until he turned away to get out of the water and dry off. She dressed as quickly as she could, shoved her dirt and blood stained clothes into her pack, and then mounted her own horse once more.

Then they were off. On the journey back to the castle they took the paths that only the scouts ever used, and Willow was sure to keep her sight and hearing abilities extended for ever twitch and shifting shadow. Thankfully they made it back to the Keep that afternoon without further issue.

"Do we find Roc and Sparrow first, or should we report to the King? I have a feeling we will need all of the support we can get to earn his belief," Willow said with a frown as they dismounted in the stables.

 

[KINKYCanada]

When they made it to the castle Willow asked what he thought their next move should be.

"Check on your mother Willow. They targeted us! That means if there is a spy here that they probably know about your mother. I'll get Roc and Sparrow then we will meet at your place, I want to cover all our options before confronting the King with this. We have no idea what we've stumbled onto here.

Then he took off for the whores ally where he knew Roc was. His girl was one of the most in demand whores in all of Lance Valley. He when he wasn't working was her handler. Sparrow would be close by too, she liked it in the bowels of the City she was an odd one that way.

"Krow what do I owe the pleasure?" Roc said getting out of a large comfy chair to greet his friend.

"Where's Sparrow?" Krow asked shaking Roc's hand, he wanted to get back to Willow, he knew she was fine with out him but he wanted them together while there might be a spy about!

KC

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Willow didn't need to be told twice. After she and Krow arrived at the castle she left her horse with the stable hand and the promise of a tip if he looked after her steed properly. Then she ran through the streets of the Keep. Krow's words about assassins and the craziness of the last few nights played in her mind, and it wasn't until she burst through the door to see her mother sitting by the fire that she was able to relax.

Willow's mother was, understandably, happy to see her. Willow wasn't sure what to do; she knew that Krow was right, that any good assassin would know about her mother, but Willow had to return to duty to help catch these bastards, and she knew she would be unable to protect her mother herself.

Willow explained the situation to her mother. There was little else she could do. She didn't want to stress the poor sick woman out, but if she didn't bring home the importance of her being safe then she would never be able to leave again. In the end Willow's mother agreed to call on her brother who was also older, but in much better physical shape. He lived on a farm just outside of the keep, but the crops had been bad enough that they he was struggling out there on his own. Willow agreed that this was a good idea, and she made sure to let her mother know to expect all of her wages to be delivered to her, to keep her and her uncle well and fed. She also gave her mother the name of a couple of scouts that lives in the keep that she could trust if she was worried about her safety.

It wasn't much, but it was all Willow could do. She trudged back to the castle, considering asking the King for assistance, and then went to settle into the scout's meeting room to wait for Krow.

 

[KINKYCanada]

Roc, Sparrow, and Krow entered the scouts building and entered the private room. Sparrow walked up to Willow. "Willow how's your mother? I hope all is well, Krow didn't really fill us in on what happened out there."

"Ya you two what's going on?" Roc added taking a seat by a large oak table.

"Well Willow and I were on our patrol, taking a Knight back to Lord Grantstons stronghold. When we came upon a few bandits. I returned to tell the King of the bandits gall to enter the Forrest's and attack Lancers. Upon my return having left Willow with the Knight Bishop, I found out that the Knight was an imposter. Willow being the warrior she is Killed the imposter sadly only after he slaughtered everyone in the Inn. He was no mere assassin, he was skilled and beyond anything we've encountered before. I my self brought one of them down, Both killed themselves before they could be questioned. Through all we've seen this night we are sure there is a spy on the inside. We don't know who we can trust! So we start this we need to be careful!" Krow said. Roc and Sparrow looked from one to the other.

"Anything to add Willow?" Sparrow asked.

KC

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Willow greeted Sparrow and Roc as they entered, and let Sparrow know that her mother was doing as well as expected. She would have said more, if only to allay Krow's fears, but after the night they'd had she no longer knew who to trust any more. At the moment that was Krow and Krow alone.

Willow listened as Krow summed up the events of the past thirty six hours and then shrugged.

"Not really, Krow summed it up pretty well. The assassin was not only skilled in dealing death, but he played his role with alarming accuracy. I never, not in a million years, would have suspected him."

 

[KINKYCanada]

After they explained the situation. Krow out lined his plan. If they didn't like it they would work on a new one. Krow was a leader by nature, but Willow was his partner 100% and she knew it. Knew that he never commanded her to do anything. Only suggested, this was the same for her to him.

"First we will find out all we can about the assassins! Sparrow you and Roc are on that. We will go to the King, your names and what we are doing will be left out, no one but us four are to know what we are doing. Trust no body else. We will reconvene here after dark! No one will question us seeing this is our building. No other scouts are to be brought into the fold unless all four of us agree! Agreed?" He said. Roc and Sparrow nodded, then they went on there way. Krow turned to Willow. "Are you Ok? I know having your mother here will occupy your thoughts. Is there anything I can do? Just let me know!"

Krow in many ways loved her, he was a typical male in many ways, his powers kept him singled out, as many of the scouts were. For this reason he kept no long standing girlfriend, only single nights of company. Willow knew him more completely then any other person on the planet.

KC

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Willow nodded in agreement with Krow's plans. He always was good at knowing what needed to be done and then assigning tasks to the right people. Roc and Sparrow got up and left to go about their business and Willow turned to Krow.

"She is as well as can be expected," Willow said with a heavy sigh, leaning against the back of her chair heavily. "I have warned her that there is danger about and she has agreed to visit my uncle's farm for a while, to get out of the city. Perhaps the fresh air and company will do her some god." As Willow spoke her voice was quiet, not wanting anyone to overhear what is the most precious to her. She thought about the fact that she was supposed to be on leave, but knew that there was no way of it happening with everything that was going on.

 

[KINKYCanada]

Krow put a hand on her shoulder. "We will make it right. Now let's see our king!" He walked out of the room followed by Willow. The great hall was all a buzz. A lot of people were there to see him. Though he often had visitors he rarely saw this many. Krow pushed past the main group and got to the hall doors a large guard was standing, blocking the door, his battle ax in hand and ready.

"Business?" He said giving the two scouts a disgusted look.

"We have news for the king!" Krow said curtly. He hated these men but he was never rude to them.

"Many have news! What is your news?"

"It's for his ears first! We are not some wayward visitors! We are trusted scouts who have never been denied visitation to our king before!" Krow said. The guard looked neither amused nor put out by Krows words.

"He will see you when his current meeting is over wait over there!" The guard said. Krow looked at Willow!

"What's happening. The air is thick. Can you sense it Willow. Something is not right. There are to many people here!" He turned to a elderly man. "Excuse me sir may I ask what business you have with our King?" The man looked up at Krow and Willow.

"All my cattle are dead, killed in the night. Strange people have been crossing my lands, hundreds of them!" The old man said. Krow looked at Willow.

"Well this isn't good news!"

KC

 

[SinisterSpiders]

It was unexpectedly busy in the Great Hall. Krow and Willow managed to push through the crowd, but they were stopped by the guard. It was odd, normally scouts were given immediate access to the King if on matters of security, but it seemed as though the Guards were now fobbing them off on purpose.

Willow listened with a frown as the elderly farmer explained his situation. Strange people crossing the land? Hundreds at a time? This couldn't be good.

"Are there others with this problem?" Willow asked the man, he nodded, his face set in anger.

"Yes, all the farmers in my town report the same thing."

"How long has this been going on for?"

"Just for the last week, but our livestock is all but gone and soon we will perish!" The old man looked particularly frustrated about this. "There are men, women and children who will starve! We need the King to do something about this soon before people start to die!"

"I agree," Willow said with a curt nod, "When we speak to the King we will bring this up also."

Just then the doors to the King's Reception room flung open and three very rich, very important looking men walked out. They were dressed in the typical style of those from Purcell, which made Willow feel rather uncomfortable. They pushed through the crowd with no concession to the fact that it was people that they were wading through and the doors to the King's chambers slammed shut again. Willow walked up to the Guards.

"Can we see the King now please?" She asked, the Guard just laughed. Willow gritted her teeth. "We need to see the King on urgent business." She demanded, squaring off her shoulders and refusing to back down.

"Take your urgent business to the shitter. That's the only place it's worth something," The guard laughed, making a friend of his to the side laugh at her.

"Come, let's go," Willow said, she grabbed Krow's arm and turned, leading him through the crowd and to one of the Eastern corridors. "There is more than one way to skin a cat," She said, "there is a servant's passage behind this portrait that leads directly to on in the King's chambers."

Willow looked around, checking that no one was watching, before grabbing the frame for the portrait and heaving it back. Sure enough, a hole that was about as tall as her and as wide as Krow was in the wall. The tunnel beyond was dark, but she was confident she knew where she was going.

 

[KINKYCanada]

When Willow led Krow out she seemed to have a plan, he followed and watched as she gained entrance to a passage. He smiled at her, he had no idea that was there. He would ask how she knew later.

He followed her in, the space was tight but not so much that he couldn't move. They moved with purpose. "I trust you know where this goes?" He said following her, he knew she had good vision but it would be to dark for her. He could see just fine and was ready to tell her if she was about to make a bad step.

After not to long and passed almost ten branch offs, Krow figured there must be dozens on these throughout the black keep. Soon they were upon another large painting. There were voices coming from beyond it.

"Sire the rumors are just that! Purcell is not entering your lands. What happened to Your scouts is not fully known. We saw the Inn but there was hardly any evidence to show that it was more then an isolated problem. I would also add that your Scouts are prone to exaggeration and spinning lies! I agree with you that they are good at what they do but let's be candid! They are not like us! They are by their very nature untrustworthy and beneath you or I!" It was Gabrielle speaking. So the King wasn't alone. And he was being fed lies. This made Krows blood boil.

KC

 

[SinisterSpiders]

As Willow and Krow listened to the King's discussion with Gabrielle she gritted her teeth. She looked over at Krow, wanting to see what he thought of it all.

"The King sounds like he's buying this," She whispered, leaning in close to him. "I don't like this at all, we need to get to the bottom of this situation."

They listened for a while longer, with Gabrielle continuing to complain about scouts, and to doubt Krow and Willow's story. Gabrielle even told the King that the peasants must just be suspicious fools who can't care for their own livestock properly. Out of all of it, that was what annoyed Willow the most.

"Come on, we need to sort this out," Willow whispered before leading the way out of the secret passages. Gabrielle had just begun to take his leave, and by the time Willow and Krow pushed back through the crowd in the waiting room, the smarmy bastard was just leaving the King's presence. The guard stepped in before them but Willow pushed past, Krow following in her wake.

"Ah Willow, Krow, to what do I owe the unique pleasure of your visit?" The King asked, as amicable as though he hadn't just been complaining about them.

 

[KINKYCanada]

Krow was in no mood for the King's niceties. But would also not go so far as to disrespect the king either.

"We are not well sire! There is a situation which needs your utmost attention and discretion." Krow said bowing before the king. Thon in turn seemed to be torn as to what he should believe from them. On one hand his own counsel had told him that they should not be fully trusted. On the other, these two were his top agents and had never steered him wrong.

"What is then Krow?" He said taking a seat in his throne and gesturing to two seats in front and slightly below him.

They sat and Krow looked to Willow to see if she had any thing to add before he began. When she said nothing he pushed on.

"We believe there is a traitor in the Keep! Bishop was a plant, an assassin who was sent to do in with the scouts we believe. maybe even harm you. We are after all the first ones to warn you of any and all assaults on your lands. With us gone an enemy could march an army between your many holds right up to your very gates and catch you unaware!" Krow began. The king it looked to Krow was going to dismiss it all at any point but seemed to let him finish.

"The assassin was top tier should there be more your safety will be in question!"

"How do we even know the assassin isn't a rogue many have markings denouncing the kingdom he or she was aligned. Were there any on this assassin. And what proof do I have that there was only one assassin. What has been told to me sounds to fantastical to be true."

"The proof was there in the INN but your counsel burned it to the ground! So now it's just our word! Sire." Krow said having trouble holding his temper. He liked the King at one time but now it seemed his mind was on a path that no longer aligned with the scouts. This would put a wedge between them. It wasn't looking good for them.

The king rose and said he would look into it and they were to return to the Scouts building and wait.

Krow stood, bowed and walked out through the doors this time and through the mass of confusion. "I don't think it wise to return there. I think we are being sent to a trap! Whether he ordered it or not! I fear we can no longer count our king an ally!" Krow said in a low voice.

KC

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Willow and Krow had worked for their King for a long time, they had even risen through the ranks of the scouts to become amongst the top of the Kingdom's scouting talent. The King not only dismissed their claims, but he dismissed them altogether. As Willow and Krow pushed their way back out through the waiting room Willow had to make a conscious effort to calm herself down. Never before had she felt so angry towards the King, nor that he didn't care for the welfare of this people.

Willow agreed entirely with Krow.

"No, we are not going to remain in the scout's hall," Willow agreed. "We will return there for appearances sake. Wait for Roc and Sparrow to return, and then I think we need to set off. There are more problems here than the King will acknowledge, and we need to get some proof that he and his bastard advisers can't ignore."

As they were walking the sound of "Hey! You! Excuse me!" Sounded from behind them. Willow stopped and turned around to see the farmer they had been talking to in the waiting room.

"Yes Sir, how can we help you?" Willow asked, turning to the elderly man and noticing that he had come out alone.

"How did things go with the King?" He asked. Willow's eyes darted to Krow and she wanted to go back in and punch the King right on the nose.

"We shared your concerns with the King and he agreed to look into it," Willow lied, the man didn't look terribly convinced. "However we must keep it quiet. There are concerns that, if word of investigation got out, it may increase the actions of the invaders. So please; rest assured that it will be seen to efficiently."

Some part of Willow's words seemed to placate the man. He thanked them profusely as he turned and made his way towards the gate. Willow turned to Krow.

"Even if the King didn't sanction it, this will be investigated," She said in a voice that said that there would be no negotiations with this.

 

[KINKYCanada]

Krow for the first time in his life feared for the kingdom. A kingdom he loved so. Feared for his king and his friend. The signs were there and they were bad. Very bad. If the king as they feared had been deceived and believed the counsel over the scouts then the scouts were all but doomed.

He had read, that long ago the most gifted scouts had to leave to avoid persecution, they went and lived in the massive woods, of many generations they remained in hiding till one day a young king came into the woods looking for the fabled scouts, after many years of negotiations the king convinced them to come out of hiding and rejoin the kingdom. That man was King Thon's great, great, great grand father. He was a great man who did great things from that point on the Scouts and the rest of the people lived harmoniously together.

What he also read was that the persecution all started when the king's ear was turned to, and he was convinced that the scouts couldn't be trusted. Now it was looking like history was repeating it's self.

Krow and Willow made it to the Scouts building, there were about a dozen of them in there lazing around.

"Krow, Willow. We heard you two were on assignment!" A tall dark skinned elf named Garsen said, he was sitting with a few of their peers.

Krow said nothing. Though this was their meeting place it was rare to see so many in there when there was no meeting. Most of their kind liked to keep to themselves, which was one of the reasons they worked so well out in the woods with little to no company.

"Were you two called back too!" A female archer, named Jaymes, asked. "Me and Arc, were a days ride to the west when a messenger found us, or we found him really, well he passed on that the King wanted to see all the scouts and that we were to return to the keep and wait in the Scouts building. Wait for further instructions. So here we are!"

"Jaymes. get out of here!" Krow said in a bit of a panic. "ALL OF YOU! LEAVE AT ONCE! IT'S A TRAP!" Krow shouted. "Don't you see Willow, when Bishop or who ever he was couldn't a bunch of us to leave with him he knew he needed another way to get a bunch of the Scouts together. The king didn't order this, who ever is pulling the strings of the spy! That's who's doing it. The counsel I'm sure is in on it and has convinced the king to not trust us." He told Willow. We were right! As he spoke a few of the scouts got up and left. Krow and Willow were recognized as the top scouts. Though the scouts held no rank, with in their kind they had a hierarchy and at the top were Willow and Krow, the king and queen of sorts. So when they spoke people listened.

"We need to disappear in with in the keep, do our work from the shadows!" Krow said to Willow. If they were going to have to fight he wanted no body but her at his side. With her bow and his sword they could take out half the keep before anyone knew there was a problem.

He went to gather supplies. "The secret tunnels, I trust you know where they all go! We might need them to move with in the keep it's self." Krow said piling food and water into his sack as well as a few other small weapons. Sparrow and Roc walked in.

"Sorry guys we could find nothing! What's going on???" Sparrow asked looking at the two pack up, mean while the rest of the Scouts had left or were leaving right then.

KC

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Getting back to the Scout's Hall made Willow's stomach lurch. This was wrong. So very wrong. When Krow spoke, his voice full of panic, she reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. She agreed with him, it couldn't be anything other than a trap, but they didn't know if any of the returned scouts were in on it. Thankfully they got up and left, but Willow knew that they didn't have much time to make it out. She had a terrible feeling that things were about to go badly.

Willow started gathering her own supplies as Krow did, and was relieved when Roc and Sparrow walked in. When they came over Willow slid her pack onto her shoulders and strung her bow just in case.

"We need to leave, now. We are certain that there is imminent danger. We fear another Exodus may be the only solution," she said, voice soft but urgent as she looked at them. Roc and Sparrow looked at each other, clearly weighing their words.

"We'll get our packs and join you," Sparrow said. The two disappeared for a few moments before returning.

"Good, we're taking the castle tunnels. Keep your eyes open," Willow said, even though she had the best senses of the lot of them.

Willow turned, leaning the Scouts out through a side door between the scout building and the nearby stables. The first tunnel was behind a fire wood storage shed just behind the stables. If they made it that far without being scene they should be able to get a head start on anyone who would follow them.

 

[KINKYCanada]

When Sparrow touched him, his heart skipped a beat. They had been in dangerous situations before but this was a whole knew level. They had always had the castle to come home to! A safe place in which to escape. Now it looked like that was gone.

He calmed and nodded. "Let's make for it. I am sure once in their we can gain an upper hand and do what we do best. Thanks partner!" He said and was soon letting her lead him out the door. Sticking to the shadows Krow moved quickly and silently with Sparrow, who was the only person alive who could keep up with him close on his heels as they moved.

They made it to the stables, there were two men who were no stable hands and way to well armed for that post. Krow heard the arrows fly and felt them speed past his ear. Then he saw the bodies drop Krow hid them and they entered the tunnels. He turned to Sparrow. Well you will lead us from hear. He looked longingly into her eyes and had an urge to kiss her seeing this more than any other time might be the last mission they ever go on.

KC