Sionnach (closed)

[heartofcourage]

“It’s all true.” She said with a shrug of her shoulders. “I fought Frederick Barbarossa to the death in the middle of the forests of Inverness. If I didn’t, he would have killed me and my unborn daughter. You do whatever you can for your family.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Finn's eyebrows raised, seeing no lie in her eyes. "... Damn. I always thought all those stories o' kings an' queens slaying opponents were jus' overdone. Always thought most royalty sent champions t'fight their battles."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Some do, I suppose. I was raised to settle my disputes on my own. It’s the code of a thief.” Fiona said as she stood and turned to pull up her cost and tunic to show him the large scar that she still had from Barbarossa’s sword. “He thought he had won. I blinded him and then took his head from his shoulders. Good riddance.”

She let the tunic and coat drop back into place as she took her seat again. "I grew up hungry and cold. I fought for everything that I have in my life and it was through fortune that I found my way to Samuel Ghis' side. Some of us will come and some of us will stay. I can promise you that if we can keep war from Scotland, we will do that. It has seen too much. We do not want to be victors. We simply want what is ours. What we lost."

"If you came to us with a message, surely you can return with a message, right?" She asked, folding her hands and resting her chin on them as her breakfast remained uneaten as many of her meals lately had.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Of course," Finn assured with a nod. "In fact, I believe my father hoped for an answer. I'm listening."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You tell him that we will be coming without arms the first time." She said as she looked Finnegan dead in the eyes. "And the second time with force if needed. And that I'm terribly sorry for that."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Understood," Finn confirmed. "I'll let him know immediately when we return. We'll head out today, unless there's any further discussion or meetings needed."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Not with you, lad. Most of what will be discussed will be among my family. Some will come back home and others won't. You don't need to concern yourself with that." She said with a nod as he agreed to take her message, standing with her crutch. "Until we meet again."

She turned to leave him, intent on walking to clear her head. She had been told that exercise was good, but not to the point of exhaustion. She had trouble with that part. She wanted to go until her leg was better, but it had been a slow process much to her chagrin.

 

[KieranSoares]

Fiona was left to her own devices even when Sam woke again. Finding out where she'd gone from those on duty, he instead got breakfast and called a meeting with all present officers and a number of scribes and Riders to get the word out that they were considering new developments, and any offensive movements were postponed.

In the meantime, Andre woke with Riley late in the morning and bid her come to talk with Marth and Gia about their plans. They came upon a new sight when they found the two, curled together in a little cleared, dry area, dozing with Marth's head tucked beneath Gia's. While she was silent and her head lay atop his neck, Marth was ever so slightly purring in his sleep.

Andre stopped short of disturbing the two, grinning to himself. "Aw, look at them... Gia finally admitted to herself that she likes him."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, considering we are talking about marriage, it's nice to know that they don't completely hate one another." Riley said as she looked at the two dragons.

She had noticed Marth trying his best to impress Gia. He had even gone so far as to add decorations to his scales and his crest. When Riley had asked him about the dried grasses and colorful clay, he had simply said it was tradition. She knew it was to make an impression with the notoriously tight lipped dragon.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's much more than that, but it'll take her a long time to admit it," Andre chuckled before stepping up to pat Gia's maw. The dragon's eyes opened slowly and as she came awake and realized how she was curled with Marth, she immediately pulled away and rose, waking Marth and leaving him to stretch. Gia was clearly embarrassed, silent and turned away, but Marth didn't seem to be so bothered.

"Morning," Marth yawned, glancing up at the sky. "Or... almost noon, I guess."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Seems that everyone is slow to rise after yesterday.” Riley said, noticing how Gia pulled away and gave them all the cold shoulder in embarrassment. “We have a few things to talk to you both about.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Marth sat before them, rubbing his good eye while Gia listened but kept her distance. "What new trouble are we in for now?" Marth asked before yawning once again.

"We're going to Scotland, but not to fight," Andre began, letting Riley explain her plans to them as both dragons fixed them with curious looks.

 

[heartofcourage]

“We are going to see just which way the wind is blowing in Scotland. To set the scene for my Ma and Da to return home.” Riley said with a mischievous little smile.

 

[KieranSoares]

"So we're still getting into trouble," Marth chuckled. "Well, be more descriptive. What are we actually doing?"

 

[heartofcourage]

“We’re going to Scotland to be as disruptive as we can be.” Riley said with a shrug of her shoulders. “Challenging chieftains and kings. Getting them to see that we are the best choice over the boring so called scots that are currently on their thrones.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"That sounds like you want to start a rebellion," Gia muttered, clearly not convinced. "Do you think you are a good enough public speaker to rouse that kind of opposition to the current leadership?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm as much a public speaker as you are a hospitable host. However, if I know Scots, and I do, they respect someone that can talk to them on their level and drink with them just the same. I don't need a silver tongue to convince them of anything." Riley countered to Gia as the dragon groused at them all. "I mean, we could always leave you here with the rest of the dragons. Marth is strong enough to carry two of us."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You're not dragging Andre to Scotland without me," Gia snorted.

"Alright, you two," Andre hushed them both. "Gia, jealousy doesn't get you anywhere. Riley, sarcasm doesn't help." Glancing between them as Gia turned her gaze away, he continued, "We have to try, anything to cut down on loss of life. And if we can get to the folks who remember the Ghis and respect them, we might even use that to push the current nobles out of power. No matter their positions, no noble can deny a majority of their people. It's worth a shot."

 

[heartofcourage]

"At some point, you're going to have to accept that I'm part of Andre's life. We're going to get married. What will you do then?" Riley asked the obstinant dragon that seemed jealous that there was another important person in her rider's life.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll see when we get there," Gia grunted, unwilling to engage as she heard Marth sigh. He had hoped she'd start to get along with Riley, but the dragoness seemed very slow to befriend anyone. Marth was perhaps the first since she'd followed Andre to Norway.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I thought you had talked to your dragon about all of this." Riley said as she turned to look at Andre, slightly angry that Gia was so dismissive of her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I have," Andre sighed quietly, speaking more softly that Gia wouldn't hear. "It's clear some things were left unsaid. Let it be, I'll talk with her again. We're going to get this sorted out before it causes real problems."

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley was about to speak when there was sudden movement all around them. Kell's agents appeared out of nowhere, as they normally did, grabbing both her and Andre.

"What's happening?" Riley asked as she was hustled away from Andre, both of them separated. "Andre?"

"We don't have time to explain. There's danger and we have to secure you." The female agent said in response to her question.

Riley turned her head to see another group doing the same for Andre, splitting them up in entirely different directions. "I want to be with him."

"Lady Ghis, we don't have time." The woman said as she looked over at her partner.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The separation is necessary, and everything will be explained once you're secure," the male agent murmured, the line deeply ingrained from experience. One last agent came to speak to Marth and Gia, and the pair were sent off to join a larger group for safety's sake.

Andre looked back as he was escorted away, feeling anxiety creep in as he was separated from Riley and no doubt ushered somewhere enclosed and more defensible.

 

[heartofcourage]

The entire estate had gone on high alert the moment that a strange dragon had been seen on the coast. The dragon was riderless, but some had recognized him as the vicious steed of Stila Oliveras. It had heightened when she strode into the courtyard of Calais's castle, undeterred by the threats of the guards. She had simply given them a glance and walked past them, telling someone to gather Samuel Ghis.

She stood at ease in the courtyard, watching everyone who was gathering. When Samuel appeared, she gave him a sly smile and a nod. She then caught sight of someone else that she knew.

"Ah...young Finnegan." She murmured with a grin. "Coming to speak with your enemies?"