Mint and Honey

[KieranSoares]

"Considerin' she's got a beau in Kayla's military over there, she may end up choosin' between love an' home. Then again, they're both pretty young. Migh' be puppy love. No' that she thinks I know about it," he smirked.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I would expext nothing less from you, sir.” Yasmine said with a chuckle. “If my uncle couldnhave, he would have kept a watchful eye on me from afar.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll be glad t'do it for 'im. Though I'm sure Alex's got tha' covered." As they came into the great hall, Durban paused as he saw Marri from afar. "Let me know what decisions y'make, lass. Think my wife's lookin' fer me." He gave her a smile before stepping away.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course, sir." Yasmine said with a nod, watching as Durban went to join his lovely wife. Marri gave him a smile before she greeted him with a kiss, taking his hand like a woman still completely in love with her husband after so many years.

 

[KieranSoares]

Yasmine was left to her own devices for some time. Alex was entirely preoccupied and there seemed to be a small lull over the keep as every tried to prepare for whatever was ahead. But in that time, Yasmine got a look at the Riders as a group of them entered.

Named knights for their rare and dangerous skill set, the dragon lords and ladies were all fit and focused individuals with a wide range of nationalities. But they didn't act like typical nobility. These were deadly and dextrous warriors who played very specific roles. The group that entered the keep included werefolk and humans, all focused and speaking of training among themselves. Yasmine would catch a snippet about one Owen Blackstone with a dragon called Orion who was training new Riders for the first time in decades.

 

[heartofcourage]

Yasmine listened to those that entered the great hall talking about the training that they were going through. They were on their way to eat a late meal, but Yasmine didn't want to join them. They had their own things to attend to. She wanted to talk to the trainer directly. She saddled up Bahir and directed him out towards where she had seen the dragon earlier.

When she came upon the large beast, she saw him deep in conversation with a red fox, an Arctic drake seated near by with a calm expression on his features. He seemed to be content simply sitting next to his master, much like Bahir on a calm day.

"Lord Blackstone?" Yasmine called out, pulling Bahir to a stop a respectable distance away.

 

[KieranSoares]

The conversation paused and both the onyx dragon and the red Fox looked up. "Yes?" Owen asked, standing from his seat in the grass a bit stiffly. His Rider armor, newly made, was sitting in the grass beside him.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Forgive me for interrupting." Yasmine said as she dismounted and extended her hand towards him. "I'm Yasmine Al-Zariq. I just wanted to come and meet you. Some of your students came to the keep talking about the new riding master."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Miss al-Zariq," he nodded. "The people who just went in are all masters in their own right, more fit for the job. But they all have their own work, so I've paired myself with Orion to teach the young and new Riders." He looked up to the dragon, who nodded to Yasmine and shifted his weight. Even the slight movement made his black scales ripple in the sunlight.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've been gone from Inverness because of the war. I only just returned yesterday." She explained as the dragon nodded at her in a respectful greeting. "General Ghis has just made me the master of the drakes. I thought I would come and meet you considering you are training their counterparts."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ah, I've heard of you, then. Durban mentioned some of the people being considered for special promotions." Owen offered a kind smile. "Sergeant al-Zariq, then. You've come back at a good time. Scotland just took in an influx of arctic drakes from across the north, most of them bred for hunting in the snow and farming in the warmer months." He looked to his own drake who perked up slightly when attention came to him. "Not unlike Kesh who's been with me for some time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"They are certainly handsome." Yasmine said as Kesh suddenly perked up at the attention. "Mine is from the desert. A rescue who was mistreated."

She glanced over her shoulder at Bahir as he cocked his head to the side. "I will work on training those drakes and sending them to those that could use them in the north of Scotland. I'm sure that there are farmers that could use a drake or two to do all of their heavy lifting."

 

[KieranSoares]

"It would certainly help make the winters a little easier with more food in the storehouses." Owen looked to Bahir with some interest. "That's a handsome beast you have. He certainly looks like a warrior."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I think he was used as a heavy lifter. Some of his scales have grooves from harnesses. He also had an eye that was bad. It got worse when we went into battle, which is how he lost it. However, I think he's certainly handsome." Yasmine said as Owen looked over Bahir with an appreciative eye. "And he's good with drakes that are frightened and lonely. I think he understands what it's like to be in their position."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He'll make your job a bit easier, then. But if you should ever need any help, let me know. I'm no master of drakes, but I know enough. Especially about the Arctic variety."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I will. I'm sure that a few of them will need some extra help along the way." She said with a nod towards Owen and then she glanced towards Orion. "I know the other dragons hang out around the loch. They've just returned with General Ghis and his partner."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We've seen them. Most of the dragons that can breathe underwater live in the loch, the while the others keep near. I tend to keep to myself," Orion murmured.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, just know that you are welcome." Yasmine said as the older dragon told her that he already knew and wanted to be on his own. "You'll never find a more welcoming place anywhere on Earth than Inverness."

 

[KieranSoares]

"So I've seen." He nodded. Owen smiled lightly and called Kesh over.

"I think it's time I got this one home." Owen stroked Kesh's long mane before climbing up on his back. "It was good to meet you, Miss. I'll be seeing you."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Certainly.” Yasmine said with a nod towards him as he gathered Kesh up to get him home. She was soon on her way as well, wandering for a while until she made her way back to the keep.

The sun was sinking in the sky as she placed Bahir in the stables, pausing when she heard the sounds of someone in the training yards. It was odd for that time of day and as she left the stable, she paused to see Boar Ghis there, watching as the queen of Scotland angrily sparred against a dummy. She had no idea how Kate had gotten away from those that were there to watch her, but it seemed she was incredibly upset. She attacked until she was panting, her cheeks as red as her hair. Her teeth were gritted tightly as she worked through pain and exhaustion, trying so hard to regain some kind of control in her life.

“How long has she been doing this?” Yasmine asked softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ten minutes now," Boar muttered. He had his own practice blade beside him, point down in the ground as he leaned on it. "Figured I'd let 'er get it out before I bring 'er back inside." He watched with concern, but also deep understanding. He'd done much the same in the months following his knees being ruined. When it got so bad that he was confined to sitting constantly, only riding when he went anywhere, he would storm out to the training grounds and demolish posts and targets until his knees collapsed under him.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate struck while pieces of wood splintered and flew around her. She was still incredibly strong but it clear just how weak she was. She had lost weight and muscle, her armor ill fitting and loose. She looked nothing like the woman that had been a perfect specimen just months earlier.

“I can go and get Alex.” Yasmine offered but it seemed that Boar didn’t want that.

Kate fought for a while longer before an errant swing had her sprawling in the dust. She panted on her hands and knees for a moment before she sat and simply stared st the wall. Fat tears trailed over her cheeks, short sniffles punctuating the quiet around them.

 

[KieranSoares]

Boar left the practice sword aside and took his cane, quietly walking into the ring and limping over to Kate. He leaned his cane up against the half-broken dummy and stiffly sat down on the ground with his niece, ignoring the fact that he'd have a horrible time getting up. He simply sat by her in silence for a long while, eventually pulling her against his side.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate sank easily against Boar's side, trying so hard not to lose herself in her grief like she had been doing. This burden wasn't his and she knew she had to learn to let it all go in time. However, when she had been woken from her sleep by the sounds of Brogan's sharp screams and cries again, it had all been too much. As Qira and Rissa tended to him, she had slipped away from the rooms, going to the only place where anything made sense.

"I just want it all to stop." Kate whispered softly, telling him things that she hadn't confessed to anyone else. "I've thought about stopping it all but then I get scared of those thoughts."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Sometimes it seems like it'd all be easier jus' t'give up, leave everythin' behind," Boar murmured, looking off toward the horizon as he spoke. "It's all too hard sometimes. Too many people depend on you fer things y'know it'd take a miracle t'deliver, an' everything tha' was supposed t'make life better an' more beautiful 'as gone horribly wrong. It's like some demon's taken all yer hopes an' dreams an' given 'em to you, an' 'e's now slowly killin' 'em in front o' you fer laughs." While the situation he spoke of suited her own, it seemed he was speaking of something he himself had been through.