The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

"He's too pompous for his own good. I told him that someone will knock him on his ass if he isn't careful." Shani murmured, glancing at Brogan as Arslan greeted him like a long lost family member. "So far it hasn't happened, but it doesn't mean that it won't."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Pompous? Versus all the nobles coming out of the woodwork to leech off Ma?" Brogan raised an eyebrow at Shani, and Arslan only laughed.

"Good to see nothing's changed." He wrapped an arm each about their shoulders and looked out across the courtyard and the outer wall of the castle grounds. "I've never been this far west in my life, little ones. By all rights, I should still be chasing raider bands and hosting peace talks on the steppes. But I am here to repay the love your parents have given my clan for nearly twenty years. If all goes well enough, I may even see Inverness with you. And I brought two hundred men and a small mountain of gold to help Kate get us there. But already, it is good to see Edinburgh slowly getting itself together. I will help as I can. That includes helping you two."

Arslan looked down at Shani with a slight pain to his smile. "I've heard of the hard battles you've been through, Shani. I wish there was more time for you to take a well-earned rest." Glancing up at Brogan, he added, "And I know you are doing your best to keep anxiety and temper in check against these battles of the mind. Let an old Khan help you along."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ovoo, this is what I'm meant to do. Risking my life comes with the territory. It'll only be a short amount of time before I'm back out there with my father, doing it all over again. It's a risk that we take." Shani said as she looked up at the old Khan as he promised that he would help Brogan in any way that he could.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I have never been one to stand in your way," Arslan assured her. "If you'll recall, your mother has had a few talks with me about encouraging you two a bit too much."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I don't mind the encouragement. It's much more appreciated than the scolding." Shani said with a smile up at Arslan and she welcomed him to watch the training with them.

Across the castle, Fiona walked with Markos towards where the Spanish dragon was residing. He wasn't in any danger of leaving since his rider was a prisoner. She wanted to meet this dragon but also to talk to Markos privately.

"I have to silence Hesperus. He will drive me mad if I don't." Fiona said softly, glancing towards the other rider. "I cannot tell you the last time I slept without aid."

 

[KieranSoares]

Markos walked along barefoot as usual in his embroidered druid-like clothing, quite enjoying Fiona's company even if the subject was serious. He enjoyed being around any dragon or Caller, but many were still nervous about him despite how he'd helped bring Hesperus down.

When Fiona spoke up about Hesperus's madness, Markos absently smoothed a hand over his shaved, tattooed head. "Mm... There are shards of him still left in both of us, then. But I wonder if it's really him, or leftovers from his physical brain and sickness. I haven't been brave enough to find out yet." He looked over at Fiona and paused to face her, his hands clasped before him. "At the same time, I've gathered that you have a much greater affinity for the dead and the past. Blackstones have always been empaths, as I understand it. We Karides have more talent for the future and intuition. But what I can do is serve as a conduit, if you would like. I've noticed it's easier to connect with someone or something you're familiar with, or have a piece of. It's not unlike how you go to certain places or touch certain objects to forge a link. Hesperus is in my blood, ingrained in my very psyche just as Reven is in yours."

It was perhaps the most focused and serious Fiona had ever seen him. His airy, not-all-there disposition still came back often and he didn't get stressed about impending doom however certain. But since Hesperus had died, Markos seemed clearer and sharper.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've met many of the dead, I do admit. I wouldn't mind carrying the burden of it, but Sam made comment about my health the other day. He worries that I'll take too much one evening and be gone before he wakes in the morning. A most inglorious end for the Rider Queen." Fiona said with a distance that was carefully calculated.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not long ago you said we might be friends one day. I'd much rather you survived long enough for me to find out." Markos gave her a light smile despite the grave subject. "We can reach out to Hesperus now that he's had time to settle. I can't guarantee all will be fixed quickly. But with his mind free of a diseased physical brain, he may be able to offer some help in hindsight. After all, he was grateful to meet his end. He was just too twisted to go about it softly..."

Glancing off in the direction they'd been heading, Markos shrugged slightly. "Whenever you're ready. It doesn't have to be now. But I warn you... you've been closed off for a while now. I'll need you to let me in when the time comes. I know that's difficult to ask given our history... and my own mind is quite the labyrinth, I imagine. But we'll step gently."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've been closed off my entire life, perhaps more than anyone else knows. You were tortured for your gifts. I was made to feel ashamed for mine. Never given the chance to experience tribal life or even know about my heritage." Fiona murmured softly. "My father and I are making amends for what happened in the past, but no one, and I mean no one, has ever truly known what is going on in my mind. I'd like to keep it that way, Markos."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't ask for the sake of rooting around and clawing into your psyche. I did enough of that under Royer's boot. The only creature that has ever known your mind at all is your partner. I only ask for a surface level connection." Markos was treating her resistance delicately and respectfully, knowing better than most what she was worried might happen. "I have no secrets left worth hiding. I don't fear opening up my mind for you to find a path to Hesperus. You may delve as deep as you need. I will not pry into yours."

Fiona had connected with a few beings in her lifetime, the most invasive of which were those trying to break her or scare her away. Hesperus had been the worst with Markos in a close second, but Dzana had given her quite a battle too before they saw eye-to-eye. Now, Markos was docile and gentle, volunteering his own mind with complete trust in the woman who'd spared him and freed him of some of his dragon's madness.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona stared at Markos for a moment, silent and stoic as always. She didn't move or dare to smile, the same old Fiona on the surface, but struggling inside. She glanced towards where the dragons were resting, her blue eyes taking in each and every one.

"Shall we speak to a Spanish dragon?" Fiona asked.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Indeed we shall." Markos let their previous conversation go without question, and followed her lead toward the rust-colored female dragon awaiting the fate of her Rider.

The female seemed to have her hackles constantly raised, watching people and dragons go about their day with a suspicious and hard eye. She paced occasionally and couldn't lay down to relax even if she wanted to. Seeing the pair approach, she folded her wings in tight and stood in a wide, defensive posture. She couldn't tell who Fiona was with her mind closed off, but she knew Callers stood before her.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We mean you no harm, love." Fiona said softly, holding up her hands in a surrendered gesture. "And I will make sure that your rider is taken care of as well. We would just like to speak with you if you would allow us some time."

 

[KieranSoares]

Markos stood back respectfully as Fiona stepped up to the task of talking down the worried and angry dragon. She snorted smoke and embers, but there was no telltale roar of a blaze burning in her chest.

"Don't bother lying to me," the dragoness growled quietly. "We all know who he is and who he's related to. He will be tortured and used as bait. You'd be fools to do anything else."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Of course. You have absolutely no reason to trust us." Fiona said calmly, knowing that the dragon was probably worried sick about her partner. "He is an important person and has information that we need. What I should say is that I can put in a word for him with the Lord Protector."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hardly better. Perhaps he'll live, crippled and imprisoned," she spat.

"If I may... Galician Riders go through many partners due to their negligence or recklessness," Markos spoke up, earning a dark glare from the rusty female. "Is yours different?"

"Of course he is," she snapped. "Arturo and Stila Oliveras choose for keeps. Altair and I have been with them for over a decade!"

Markos smiled gently, taking the dragon very much off-guard. "It's good to know your Riders love you. As Riders should."

Unsure what to say to the strange, vacant man, the female's rage seemed to quiet a little in favor of confusion. She sat down and wrapped her tail tightly about herself. "I don't know what your game is... But I don't want to play. I know who you are. I don't want to catch your patron's madness."

Markos bowed slightly and backed off. But the effect he'd wanted was achieved: the female had calmed down a little and was willing to talk to Fiona instead.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've been with my partner for 20 years. In your words, I chose for keeps." Fiona said as the dragon still seemed so defensive. "Tell me about Altair. I've never known another dragon like him. Call it a professional curiosity."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You want to know how to cripple him," she snorted. But seeing little choice with her Rider in chains and herself surrounded by powerful Callers and their partners, the dragoness gave in a bit. "Altair is... dangerous. Maw to tail, he's a weapon. He and Stila were born the same year, and Arturo raised them both to be the guild's finest blades from the moment either could walk. They've known each other all their lives. But they didn't become partners til they were sixteen and they'd each defeated someone much more powerful. Altair took down an Elder, and Stila defeated a Caller."

Markos's serene expression grew concerned, even dark. "... An Elder and a Caller who died a decade back... I don't recall that. Who were they?"

"A partnered pair from somewhere east of China's shore. A place called Nihon. They served an emperor there. Their names were Kaede and Aiko of Kyoto. Aiko's gift was that of language; she and her Rider could understand anyone."

"It seems there are still corners of the world that surprise me," Markos murmured thoughtfully. "I would've loved to meet them."

"They were marked for death and Arturo sent his daughter and trainee dragon to prove themselves. They passed their test with flying colors and they've been the pride of our guild ever since," the dragoness snorted. "Altair's fangs are a memento of their victory. Aiko had the same sharpened teeth, as is a custom among Nihon partnered dragons."

 

[heartofcourage]

“My dear, hear me very well. If I wanted to kill Altair, I would do it. I don’t need your information to put him down.” Fiona said as the dragon told them about Altair’s past with Stila, how they had been trained side by side to be killers.

“Your loyalty to Alturo is impressive. I shouldn’t expect anything less from a devoted partner of a decade.” Fiona said, glancing at Markos. “Would you like to see Alturo? As a gesture of good faith.”

 

[KieranSoares]

The dragoness squinted down at Fiona suspiciously, but gave a slow nod. "I would."

Markos turned toward the castle to let the guards know to bring Arturo out. Once he was gone, the dragoness shook her head. "He's even stranger than I was told."

 

[heartofcourage]

“So you do know of Markos.” Fiona murmured as she looked over her shoulder as he went to retrieve Arturo. “I’m afraid you’re wrong about him, though. Hesperus does not live on through him.”

She regarded the dragon for a moment before she extended a hand towards her. “I apologize for my rudeness. I don’t even know your name. I’m Fiona Blackstone.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Still hesitant, the female placed a claw tip in Fiona's hand. Her claws were filed to razors, but she was careful. "Eliza," she murmured. "You confuse me, Fiona Blackstone. You and your people should want mine dead or at least far from you. Your hospitality is... Strange."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'm well aware what a place Spain is. Especially when it comes to whether someone is were or not. Many spend the worst years of their lives serving in a mine before they are given freedom or escape. I can only imagine that to be a dragon is difficult." Fiona said softly, feeling the razor sharp claw as she greeted Eliza properly. "I've heard from some that you are bought and sold like slaves. I find it...interesting that you have such a companionship with Arturo."

"I wish that you weren't here...for your sake and mine. However, fate has decided that we will cross paths and there is nothing that either of us can do about it. We don't need to be enemies in the moment." She murmured.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Galicia may be part of Spain, but our guild does not take part in the dragon trade. Just like many of our Riders, we guild dragons are selected and developed carefully. It is... disturbing to meet members of my kind who never learn to speak. We are meant to be intelligent creatures as strong physically as we are mentally. The tame ones... they're no smarter than farm animals. It's hard to even look at them as people anymore."

 

[heartofcourage]

"There is a haven that we have created. It's beyond the sea, but it is where we send those that never had the chance to learn as you did." Fiona said as she took a seat, waiting for Markos and Arturo to arrive. "The riders there care for them and let them live wild as they please. They also allow them to learn if they wish. Barbarossa did a great disservice to those that he forced into service, and I hope that I can give them even just a few moments of peace in their lives."

Fiona glanced up at Eliza as she considered her next words. "Stilla believes that I'm too soft to be a rider queen. She believes that since she has taken advantage of my weakness before that she will continue to do so again and again. I will put her down as I have put down the others."