The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

Dismounting from his sturdy warhorse, Ciaran's green eyes surveyed around them briefly before he gave a nod to his aunt. Even out of his signature Ranger uniform- once of Inverness, then Norway- he had a military officer's bearing. They had all dressed more simply to avoid notice, but like Selena, Ciaran also wore a cloak pin that honored his clan. It was a bear's paw embossed by hand on a steel shield boss-like face, one that Sam had made specifically for his siblings some years ago. Each wore theirs with pride when representing or taking on tasks in the name of their brother, whom they still considered their rightful king. As such, Ciaran was deeply serious about the task before him.

"I think I already see them," Ciaran murmured so only Selena would hear. "It looks like they have guards. As expected." With that, Ciaran began a measured, unthreatening approach. Not wanting to alert civilians or the Ferngill soldiers, he slowly walked by a few vendor stalls until he caught the gaze of who he assumed was Artair's queen. He surveyed her for a moment, glanced at Dunn beside her, and slowly approached with his hands visible at his sides. The sun was halfway below the horizon as he came to a halt a respectful distance from Inga.

"Good evening, ma'am. Sir." Ciaran greeted with a brief dip of his head. Dunn's eyes narrowed at him, but thanks to Ciaran's similarities to his mother, it wasn't immediately obvious that Ciaran was a Ghis, rather than just a simple Northern soldier.

"Evening," Dunn half-growled in return. He rested his hand lightly on the hilt of his shortsword, but Ciaran didn't flinch. Instead, he addressed Inga directly, taking a slow step forward and giving her a more respectful bow.

"I believe you're the Lady I'm looking for," Ciaran said quietly now that he was closer. "My sister-in-law sends her regards." He didn't speak any names aloud, just in case someone was listening in.

Dunn pushed in front of Inga protectively, half-whispering and half-snarling, "And who exactly is that? Who sent you?"

Ciaran fixed him with a calm, icy stare, straightening up fully. He towered over the average man, and despite his slimmer frame, he was visibly lean and strong and in his prime. "With all due respect, sir... If you have not been told, you don't need to know. I'm here to see the Lady and her children to safety beyond the battle lines, and that's all you need to know."

Dunn looked back at Inga, silently demanding answers, but also on guard. "I thought you and the eldest were staying."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Unfortunately, our plans have had to change since your lady’s offer. I will remain with my eldest.” Inga said, brushing past Dunn to address Ciaran directly. “I can trust that the rest of my children will be treated properly without me physically being there?”

“We don’t harm children.” Selena’s voice sounded from behind Ciaran, her hands resting atop her cane as she casually stood, having moved as silently as she had in her younger days.

Selena’s eyes slid from Lady Ferngill to the man guarding the family. “You’ll stand aside and let us take them. If you do not, our deal is void. Blockades have already been set up and any that remain within Inverlochly and Inverness when we pass back through to Wick will stay there until this battle is done.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I hesitate to separate a family," Ciaran muttered, as much to Inga as his aunt. Dunn, on the other hand, was staring hard at Selena with clear recognition.

"You won't have to," Dunn growled at Ciaran. "I won't hand over my king's family to the enemy." He began to draw his blade, but Ciaran was faster. Instead of attacking first, Ciaran bolted forward and seized his sword arm while throwing his full weight against the man. Dunn was winded and stumbled, giving Ciaran the perfect opportunity to twist his arm up behind him and grab him by the back of his shirt. Finding purchase on a piece of hidden armor to grab onto, Ciaran kicked the back of his knee and brought him down with practiced ease. In a mere moment, Dunn had been brought to his knees, helplessly struggling against a man who took down criminals and poachers for a living.

When Dunn's men tried to intervene, Ciaran drew a small dagger and placed the blade at the base of Dunn's skull. Everyone, including Dunn, froze.

"Now," Ciaran sighed in frustration. "If everyone will just calm down... Lady Inga," he looked up toward her, knowing any attempt at secrecy and subtlety were ruined by Dunn's aggression. "It's up to you who goes and who stays. But I must strongly recommend that you come with us. While our soldiers would not intentionally harm you when they arrive, I can't promise safety in the midst of dragon fire and black powder."

Off to the side, her children stared in shock, terror, and a bit of wonder at the whole scene. They had never seen anyone take Dunn down, not to mention so effortlessly. Among them, Locke had drawn his own dagger and pushed to the front of the group to defend them, but he was looking to his mother for guidance. Everything had been kept secret from them except that they were leaving.

 

[heartofcourage]

Inga couldn’t help but stare at the woman who stood so calmly just feet away. She looked like some of the older paintings that had been stored away in Inverness’s keep.

“You have children?” Inga asked, sparing a glance for the man that held Dunn at bay.

Selena’s jaw flexed slightly before she nodded. “We both do.”

“Then you will both understand when I say that sometimes you have to sacrifice you own well being for your children.” Inga turned then to look at her babies, a sad resolve in her gaze.

“I have to send you all away for a while.” She explained, looks of fear coming to their gazes. “I need you all to be on your best behavior. When your grandfather receives my letter, I’m sure he will come for you.”

“Ma, you can’t…” Ingrid pleaded, tears already pooling in her eyes.

“Locke and I have to stay. We have to remain for your father, but I promise when this is done, I will come to you all.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Ma..." Morgan murmured weakly, a look of heartache and panic written plainly on his features. He trusted her above all else and had promised to follow her instructions, but leaving her behind was unthinkable.

Ciaran took Dunn's weapon in one smooth motion, shoving him away toward his men. He held the shortsword at the ready toward the soldiers, but gave the children a gentler expression. "Come along, everyone. You have the protection of Clan Ghis, and you will go free when this war is done. I promise we'll do everything in our power to make sure you see your mother and brother again."

"They'll die..." Roy whispered, staring at his elder brother- his partner in everything- at a complete loss.

"I'll bring Ma back to you myself," Locke replied with more confidence than he felt. Something had changed about him lately. He spoke less of fighting beside his father for honor and loyalty's sake, and more of protecting his family from the havoc of war. He was beginning to see them not as being on Artair's side, but another family caught up in the conflict and trying to survive.

Locke gathered his siblings close in a circle- something he'd done with them all their lives when he needed to get them all on the same page- and he made sure to embrace each one. "Roy. Ingrid. Morgan. Garrett... I need all of you to pull together like you've never done before. After today... you're no longer royalty. But that's a good thing. It's safer that way. Clan Ghis... they aren't monsters. We've heard of all they've done, no matter how Dunn or our father tried to twist it. They don't hurt people if they can avoid it. There is nowhere in the world safer than being in their care right now, with things as they are. So I need you all to mind yourselves, listen well... and if they ask you for information about Inverness and Da... Tell them."

Locke's expression turned stony, knowing that he was betraying his father by encouraging his siblings to speak to the Ghis. "I want this to be over quickly... Gods know our people have had enough of living in fear, and plenty of them have never been loyal to Clan Ferngill. Even if Da pretends he built it all back up into some shining city... we know otherwise. It's hollow. The sooner we can be done with it and Clan Ghis goes home... the better for all of us. And maybe we'll get to go back to Grandpa. We always loved it there, didn't we? Maybe it can be home for us for good."

Locke forced a smile, trying to give them something to look forward to. Straightening up, he looked to Ciaran and Selena. Ciaran still held the soldiers at bay, Dunn glaring with absolute murder in his eyes. "Sir. Lady. Would you make sure, no matter what happens in Inverness..."

"They will go to their grandfather once this is all over," Ciaran promised without hesitation. Looking to Locke, he gave a small nod. "And you will too, if we have our way."

"Go on," Locke murmured, motioning them toward Selena. "It's just for now..."

Morgan pushed past him, immediately throwing his arms around Inga's waist and hugging her tightly. Ever her shadow, he couldn't leave her without a final, proper goodbye. Garrett quickly joined, then Roy. Soon, all of them were gathered around their mother, holding one another tight and giving a silent goodbye to her and their eldest brother.

Ciaran looked on with a slight furrow of his brow. It broke his heart to separate a family, but he wouldn't force the eldest prince and his mother to go if they needed to stay behind. And though he was worried for all the eyes on them and the scene they were causing, he didn't have the heart to rush them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Inga knelt in front of her son, hugging him tightly. “You always wanted a grand adventure, right? Well, now is your chance.” She whispered to Morgan, giving him a small smile that was meant to encourage him. “And with werefolk. I’m sure someone will help you practice their language.”

Inga smoothed her hand through Garrett’s hair as he approached, her more serious twin looking shocked and overwhelmed. “I expect you both to keep up your lessons. I’ll be cross if you forget everything when I come back.”

Inga glanced up as the dark furred fox stood beside Selena, her green eyes peaceful but sharp. “And see there? I don’t think we have ever met a fox before.”

She pushed the twins towards Riley, the fox for her part giving them an easy smile. “You know Erygonian?” She asked as she collected the twins and steered them towards the wagon.

“And my dear, Ingrid. I hope that you learn to be brave with this journey.” Inga whispered to her daughter, seeing the fear in her eyes. “There is nothing to fear. I swear it to you.”

“I’m staying with you, Ma.” Ingrid insisted, even as Inga shook her head and glanced towards Roy.

“No. Roy will watch out for you. And as Locke said, you’ll answer all the questions they ask. Everything that you know because you are a smart, brave girl.”

Ingrid sobbed as Inga turned towards Roy, taking his face in her hands and looking him in the eye. “You are not to come back. Swear that to me.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Even if he seemed mostly composed, trying to be like his brother, Inga could feel Roy trembling the moment she touched him. But he gave her a resolute nod. "I'll keep them safe. And I'll do my best to help the Ghis. That way we might have a firmer footing when this is over," he murmured to her. He had always been the sort to think ahead, and he was shaping up to be a fine diplomat even as young as he was.

Ruben came forward to join Riley in ushering the twins on, greeting them gently in Erygonian. Roy soon followed, guiding Ingrid gently by the shoulders. Each one looked back at their eldest brother and mother at least once. But it was Morgan who looked back longest, feeling suddenly uprooted. For him, home wasn't Inverness. It was his mother.

As the Ferngill soldiers looked on helplessly and angrily, Ciaran still holding them at bay, Dunn looked oddly afraid. He pushed as close as he dared, the point of Ciaran's blade touching his chest. "Roy! You defend them with everything you have, lad!"

It was the first time Dunn had shown any care for the children outside of his obligations to Artair. He looked scared for them. Roy seemed shocked at the order from his father's right hand, but he nodded with absolute certainty.

Dunn fixed Ciaran with an icy glare and snarled, "If anything happens to those children, Ghis..."

"They will be safer than you ever could've kept them in Inverness," Ciaran murmured, finally lowering the blade. In an act of peace and assurance, he flipped the blade and offered the handle back to Dunn. "They will be wards of the Rider Queen. You couldn't ask for a better warden."

Dunn took the blade and quietly sheathed it, lowering his head as he muttered to his men, "Alright lads... Time to go."

 

[heartofcourage]

Inga felt so utterly defeated in that moment as she watched most of her children get packed away in a wagon to take them straight to their enemies. Dunn’s fiery words made her feel physically ill and if it weren’t for his men being there, she would have attacked him. Her ire for this man who had supported her husband blindly and brought them to this moment was strong.

“Wait.” Inga called, moving from Locke’s side to approach Selena. “I have to admit that this is a strange position to be in. My father never lost a battle and taught me to do that same.”

“It isn’t a battle.” Selena said gently. “You would do what any of us would do if given the chance. There is no shame in that.”

“They’ve never been away from me.” Inga whispered, Selena taking a step towards the her with a calmness that radiated from her.

“I was your age when my son went through his great change. I knew then that he wasn’t mine anymore and he belonged to the greater world around him. I wish that was a lesson my own mother had taught me earlier in my life.” Selena murmured as she reached up and pulled off her cloak pin, handing the fabric to Ciaran because offering the piece of silver to Inga. “It is your right to fight as shield maiden for your children and their lives. However, to keep you save, keep this on you. When the Axemen come it will be the only thing that stops them.”

Inga looked down at the silver clasp, and slowly blew out a breath, her courage wavering slightly. “The Rider Queen is fair and reasonable. Do not believe the stories that they tell.”

Selena was about to turn to return to the wagon when a sharp whistle caught all their attentions. Riley stood stock still, staring at the grey sky. She had pulled her crossbow free, something catching her attention.

“Get them under cover.” She called urgently, the deep rumble of an approaching dragon reaching everyone’s ears.

Luna grabbed an oil cloth as she climbed into the back of the wagon, hushing the scared voices that followed as she got herself and the Ferngill children hidden from view.

“Fuck.” Riley whispered to herself crouching low to the ground beside the wagon as a dragon’s roar shook the woods around them. “Go. Get them out of here.” She called to Ciaran, urging him to get the soldiers to safety in the woods.

The way that Stilla’s dragon casually flew through the cloud cover, Riley didn’t anticipate danger but she never knew with the volatile rider.

 

[KieranSoares]

Each of the werefolk quickly hid or pulled up hoods to better hide their features, getting into the wagons and making for better cover. Ciaran didn't really get the chance to warn the Ferngill soldiers away. Dunn immediately rushed Locke and Inga toward the treeline at the sight of an unfamiliar dragon and Rider. At the same time, civilians who had been gawking all ran for cover too. Hopefully with the scrambling and confusion, no one could be identified.

Ciaran was the one to get the wagons moving toward a nearby roadside tavern to blend in among merchants and travelers and their own carts. He played the part of wary civilian well, trying to get away from the dragon but trying not to make himself too obvious.

Ruben had appointed himself keeper of the Ferngill children for the moment, arranging the cover so it draped over the sides and empty containers so they had room to move beneath it. Roy clutched his siblings close, keeping them quiet and focused as best he could. He didn't recognize Stila, but he knew the look of a mercenary and he had no idea who she was aligned with. Not to mention her strange, especially dangerous dragon.

Having Riley keep watch on Stila as they went, Ciaran called out to her quietly, "Is she searching? Or does it look like she's just traveling?"

 

[heartofcourage]

“Ma has her father in the dungeons of Edinburgh. Could be she’s traveling back and forth between there and Royer’s hold.” Riley murmured as another roar shook everything around them, but it was thankfully a bit more distant. “I wouldn’t put it past her to burn the forest down just for sport.”

When the dragon’s roar sounded like distant thunder, Riley slowly relaxed, her grip on her box loosening until she forced herself to store it back away.

“Give me your horse. I need to warn whomever is doing patrol.” Riley called to Ciaran, moving from her hiding spot to approach her uncle. “Especially if it’s my husband.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Take him," Ciaran immediately handed the lead over, his warhorse automatically focusing on Riley as his new charge. "We'll get moving. As soon as we get out of range of Inverlochly, our forces will be moving in to surround and lock it down. If Oliveras is still on Royer's payroll, she'll probably back off to avoid being overwhelmed. But if she's independent again, we have no idea what she could do."

Ciaran left his horse to Riley and jumped up into the main wagon with Selena beside him and Luna and Ruben in the back with the Ferngills. They left the other wagon behind where they'd dropped off supplies, no longer needing the extra space.

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley climbed into the saddle and directed the horse towards the path she knew the lookout would use, taking off at a blistering pace as Selena quietly handed the reins to her nephew.

“There’s death in the air.” She said softly as the wagon rattled and creaked along at his command. “Like there was when Tamblin was king.”

She gently patted his arm, glancing at him as her words settled around them. “I can only hope it isn’t an omen.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"We won't get home without losing something," Ciaran murmured in return. "We all knew that when we set foot in the isles again."

Setting off at a calmer clip, Ciaran spent some time trying to blend in and make them all look less suspicious before he turned the wagon back out of town, heading for the safety of the treeline where their allies were waiting. As soon as they were secure, Inverlochly would be locked in, and Inverness shortly after.

As Riley galloped ahead to find the patrol, she would quickly spot Rikke drifting high, letting the occasional clouds offer her white scales camouflage from anyone looking up from below. The instant she spotted Riley speeding across the Highlands, she dropped into a dive. Pulling up with time to slow down and avoid too much stress on her Rider, Rikke landed a few hundred feet from Riley and trotted toward her. Ciaran's warhorse approached fearlessly unlike most horses, trained to work around drakes and dragons without the usual nervousness of prey animals.

Andre leaned out from his saddle as Rikke paused, looking down at Riley with clear concern as he pulled off his aerodynamic helmet. "What's going on? Is everyone safe?" He asked quickly.

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley guided the horse towards Rikke, her heart pounding wildly. She had hoped that Andre would be on the other path between Wick and Edinburgh.

“Stila.” She called to her husband, turning the horse so that she could look up at him easier. “Flying towards Inverness. Or Royer’s lands. And going quick.”

“Ciaran is with Selena and the children. I need you to tell Ma.” She shouted as she watched Rikki straighten slightly at the order.

 

[KieranSoares]

Rikke rounded in an instant at the slightest pull of the reins, and Andre called back to Riley, "Riders are standing by to take the kids to Edinburgh once they're clear of Inverlochly, make sure they make it!"

Pulling his helmet back down, Andre leaned forward as Rikke sprinted away and caught the wind under her wings. With all the speed of a strong, lithe young dragon, she seemed to vanish into the distance in seconds.