The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

Sam grunted as he was pushed to the floor, and grinned in arousal and excitement at being pinned down. His hips rose to meet hers, giving a soft groan of appreciation. "Love," he murmured, gazing up at her with clear adoration and showing her he was completely at her command. He naturally took hold of her thighs and tilted his head back, freely showing how much he enjoyed her attention and casting aside stress for a moment.

 

[heartofcourage]

The commander of the North, the most fearsome soldier on land, was like a puddle beneath her. Fiona sighed as she rode him, his fingers gripping her thighs to encourage her in her actions. Her fingers traced over his heavily tattooed skin. They followed over familiar lines and tiny scars that he had gathered over the twenty years that she had known him. She knew him better than she knew herself.

 

[KieranSoares]

Soon Sam was reaching up to lace his fingers through her hair once more, pulling her down to press a hungry kiss to her throat, practically worshipping her skin. "I love ya," he growled against her ear, giving it a sharp nip to tease her. Watching her fingers trace his tattoos and scars, she felt his hand press over the tree image on her side in a moment of appreciation and understanding. "Beauty," he murmured with a soft moan.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Sam.” She gasped as he pulled her down towards him, his teeth pulling at her throat and ear as he growled against it.

It sent shivers down her spine. They moved together as one, in sync with each other in a way that hadn’t been possible twenty years earlier. She pressed her lips against his shoulder and bit down on the solid flesh, letting out a cry of pleasure as she came. It was sudden and jarring, leaving her breathless and slightly embarrassed that she had not lasted long for him. He could undo her in the most intimate way.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam's fingers clutched against her hip as she bit into his shoulder and suddenly, he was taking control. Rolling to press her into the cool stone floor, he wrapped her thighs around his hips without missing a beat. His thrusts took up a quick pace and his lips demanded harsh, heated kisses from her. He didn't give her a chance to recover, once more pinning her wrists above her head in a playful fight for dominance. When his lips found her neck again, he groaned and growled against her skin like a great bear. Even if he was fully human, she brought out an animalistic side to him on occasion that no one else had ever known.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let out a cry as Sam flipped their positions, her back suddenly against the floor as he wrapped her legs firmly around his hips. Her voice was stolen as he captured her lips with his own in a heated kiss, demanding everything from her. Her hands found their way to his strong shoulders only to be pulled away as he pinned her wrists above her head and seized the moment. Then he was devouring her skin, the husky bass of his voice vibrating across her body until she shivered beneath him.

"Samuel...I need you." She whimpered, fingers curling into tight fists as she fought against the need to cum again. "Gods....Sam..."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam only let her wrists go when he once again tangled his fingers in her hair, stealing another intense kiss before she felt his fingers slip down to her clit, roughly massaging over and around it. When he came, he locked his hips into the cradle of her own, a few final, deep thrusts and a hiss of pleasure accompanying a hot flood of his seed into her belly. "Christ," he breathed shakily, the high lasting a little longer than usual thanks to the intense romp. Between deep, heaving breaths he sat back on his knees and stared down at her in appreciation. They'd both have a couple of bruises, he knew.

As he looked over her, he got a little silly smirk on his face and it was only a moment before his arousal reignited and she could see him hardening again for her. "Can't get enough of you," he murmured, immediately scooping her up and carrying her to their bed. She was laid back in the soft sheets and pillows and Sam followed, leaning down to kiss her again with a more subdued, gentle touch. His fingers traced over her curves, the peaks of her breasts, the valleys of her hips, and up to brush his thumb over the line of her cheekbone. Soon his hands hooked behind her knees, pulling her flush against him as he sank slowly back into her body. They'd had nights of both wild and gentle lovemaking, but Sam was always ready to offer both.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona let out a cry and came with her husband as he found his pleasure. She whimpered loudly, thighs clenching against his hips as she felt him spilling into her body. She was absolutely spent as he pulled away and sat back in front of her. She pushed herself up on her elbows, watching as a slow smile broke on Sam's face and soon her was growing hard again. Samuel had stamina, she had to admit. Especially when it came to her.

When he picked her up off the floor, she kissed him again, sighing as he settled her on the bed and traced over her skin with his fingertips. Her blue eyes were raised to his as he carefully stroked over her cheekbone, settling in between her thighs yet again for another, slower round. She welcomed him with open arms, nuzzling against her husband as his body weight pressed her firmly into the sheets.

"Eldere." She murmured as they moved together, the moment searing itself into her memory.

 

[KieranSoares]

There was no hurry as Sam made love to his wife like she was the only thing on his mind. The outside world seemed not to touch them for the rest of the evening. But as others were resting and preparing, a trusted few were already creeping closer to London's outer defenses to open the way for a dawn invasion.

A few hours before dawn, despite the dark and early spring cold, Darkwood came alive with activity. With the Northern Alliance's armies already in place awaiting orders, the leaders and major officers were preparing for Soma's final command to march. As Riders, cavalry, Axemen, and elite guard took up their mantles for a dangerous day of battle, the Ghis Clan and their dearest friends and allies headed out into the night to command positions and final secret details were shared with only those who needed to know.

At London's major southwest gate to Southall- the gate that faced Darkwood- several of Kell's senior agents converged inside the gatehouse where they'd just silently swept the entire nighttime guard. The bodies had been piled in an out-of-the-way room and more agents were posted keeping watch for anyone unexpected who might approach. Even with the London guard doubled, they'd kept it all silent. Shani was among the senior five who met up to discuss their next move.

All of the agents sent to breach the outer wall had been carefully selected- mostly human men- so that they could steal armor and uniforms to pretend to be guards if needed. Shani was among a handful of women, half-were, and full-blood werefolk who were the stealthiest and most trusted and could support the false guards from the shadows.

The captain of Shani's particular task force pulled them all in close to speak as dawn was less than an hour off. "Well done, everyone," he complimented quickly. "Everything's gone exactly to Lord Aleister's command thus far and we haven't been noticed yet. Our task is to hold this gate and avoid rousing suspicion til the moment Lord Durban's retinue arrives before dawn. He'll silently take over the gate and we'll move into the city to join the team already working on the palace's defenses. With any luck, they'll have opened a door for us to get in and pick off Hess's commanders and possibly capture Hess himself. Orders are to take him and his lords and major officers alive. You all also have descriptions of a number of traitors from the fall of England twenty years back. They are to be taken alive as well."

Glancing toward the slitted windows that overlooked the Southall road, the captain began doling out specific orders to each of the agents in the group. When he came to Shani, he gave her a confident nod. "Per Lord Aleister's orders, you're to stick with me til he arrives, lass. He wants you to see how every facet of this invasion works. He'll come in just before Lord Durban, so you'll head to the palace at Lord Aleister's side and act as part of his personal team. Until then, I need you up here watching for our allies' approach. As slowly and quietly as you can, winch up the portcullis," he pointed toward the massive contraption that controlled the portcullis in front of the gate, "and disengage the gate locks. That way no one from the inside will see it's open and our allies can blast through at speed when they're ready."

"Captain," a quiet call came from the stairway leading to the lower parts of the gatehouse. "Incoming messengers, Hess's colors."

Glancing out the windows, the captain's brow furrowed. "As much as we don't want him getting information... we don't want to blow our cover by taking out expected arrivals either." He looked to Shani and nodded. "Open it all up for them. We'll let them pass."

Below, they could hear one of the disguised agents talking to the new arrivals, holding the messengers at bay to give the rest time to prepare to kill or open the way.

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani glanced at the Captain and gave a nod, hurrying off towards the portcullis crank. She could hear the voices just beneath her, one of the agents keeping the messenger busy as they formed a new plan. Releasing the lock, Shani slowly started to raise the gate, keeping her movement steady until it had seated itself into the top of the stone arch. Engaging the lock back, she practically held her breath to hear the signal that everything was back on track.

 

[KieranSoares]

The voices continued while a number of sets of hooves clipped through the open gate. The conversation ended shortly thereafter and one last rider went through. Shortly thereafter, through the opening that looked down into the threshold, a dark shape suddenly darted up into the gatehouse next to Shani, followed by two others. Shani had never had the opportunity to see Kell work and use his assassin skill set. Normally he was the watchful Lord Protector, visible to all while pulling strings in the shadows. Now, he had become one of those shadows and it would've been difficult to recognize him if not for the golden eyes Shani knew so well. He and two other black Wolves who'd purposely been chosen and made to look like him climbed in and each quickly scanned around them.

"Secure the path. We're ahead of schedule," Kell muttered calmly in Erygonian to the two Wolves. They disappeared back through the threshold overlook and Kell looked to Shani. "I'm earlier than we expected, but better than late. We will shadow the messengers passing through and use the distraction of their passing to clear any checkpoints." Straightening with his hands clasped behind his back confidently, clad in black with blades, vials, and tools across his belt and bandolier, Kell regarded Shani with peerless confidence. His load out was almost identical to Qira's, save for one detail. After twenty years in storage, Kell had brought out his Lord Protector's blade given to him by Kate on her first anniversary of being crowned. It was a gorgeous rapier with a guard forged to mimic a tidal wave. The hilt and guard were plated with silver, the pommel set with a blue topaz, and the blade polished to perfection with a double-edge. Kell had blacked the shining hilt so not to draw attention, but he was carrying it as a symbol of his confidence in the North and their prowess, and in his eventual return to Edinburgh.

"If you're ready, little cub," Kell murmured as another agent came to take her place. "Today we revive the England that once defended her sister Scotland with blood and blade."

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani glanced over Kell with a trained eye, taking in every detail of his uniform but also the touches that he had added. She knew what they meant, even if she had never seen the sword before. He was quiet and confident, everything a Lord Protector should be. Everything that she would be expected to be. She quietly touched the matte dagger at her side, the one that her father had given her as a gift for her last birthday. It wasn't as flashy as Kell's but it still had great meaning to her. He had forged it with Damaskus steel himself, carved into the hilt symbols from his homeland that were as mysterious as they were beautiful. He wanted something deadly for her, protection in both a spiritual sense and a literal sense. She knew Qira was probably on pins and needles waiting for word that they were successful.

"If you still believe that I am the one to lead it." Shani said softly as a trust agent came to relieve her, freeing her to follow in Kell's shadow to learn intimately at his side.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Together. You're still learning, little cub. But I trust that you are ready. You have the knowledge, you know when to challenge me, and you know how to react to things going wrong. All you need now is the experience. And that's what you're here for."

Placing a hand on Shani's shoulder, Kell took a moment to meet her eyes. "You'll do just fine, my love. Your task today is to help me personally capture Amadeus Hess. But your primary responsibility is keeping us alive. I need to return to my Queen and you to your Prince, success or failure. So we watch each other's backs and prioritize survival above all. We can't help retake our Queen's throne if we're dead."

Pressing a kiss to her forehead, Kell stepped back. "Take the lead, Agent. You know where we're going."

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani gave Kell a slight nod of understanding and paused only briefly to pull the hood on her uniform tightly over her hair. She then pulled her mask up to disguise her face as she had been taught. Suddenly, she wasn't Shani any longer, but one of the faceless agents that Kell employed, marked only by her cub blue eyes. With that, she turned and led the spymaster of the North on their hunting journey.

At Darkwood, a ceremony had been well underway. A priest has been secured that would give Edward the blessings that he needed to claim the throne. Dawn hadn't even broken as Ashleigh joined her husband under a small canopy in the courtyard, surrounded by hundreds of onlookers. Kneeling beside him in a red gown as she had promised herself so many years ago, she couldn't help her nerves. She stopped herself from flinching or fidgeting, but she still couldn't help small glancing at her husband then at the manor. The house glowed warmly in the pre-dawn, almost as if Ashien were telling her that it would be alright. It was small comfort, but it was something. This has all happened so quickly and she knew that under Edward calm exterior, he was probably just as nervous.

As the only crowned royal available, Fiona stood in the position of honor, uncomfortable with the attention, but dutiful to fulfill this for the duo. Kate also joined her, and Schaller stood silent guard over the entire proceeding. There was heavy guard, watching for any sign of trouble that might come their way, especially as the time of crowning drew near. It seemed calm, however, and reverent. Those gathered knew that this was right and just.

Ashleigh had to smile to herself as the priest blessed them both by name, stumbling over the Scottish names that her father had given her at birth. She heard an uncle quietly correct him, but with her eyes downcast, she couldn't tell which. Just before the borrowed crown was placed upon her head, she gently reached with her fingers and looped a few through Edward's hand as he knelt beside her, squeezing it tightly to allay her nerves.

 

[KieranSoares]

When Ashleigh took Edward's hand, he gripped hers firmly in return. She could feel him trembling slightly despite his outward stoicism. His expression was steely and determined as he tried to live up to Henry Beauclerc's lion-like presence and Sir John Davies' brave, loyal, and righteous reputation. Despite all his fears and feeling so small compared to his famed and deeply respected predecessors, Edward had no doubts about what he needed to do in this moment. Fear couldn't dissuade him from doing everything in his power to put England back together.

"As former Archbishop of England under His Majesty King Henry Beauclerc," the priest spoke as he placed the crowns upon their heads, "and as representative of His Holiness Pope Adrian of the Catholic Church, it is as much my duty and pleasure to welcome these houses home. And with representatives of all the Northern Alliance here today, it is my deepest honor before God to name His Majesty Edward of House Beauclerc and Her Majesty Ashleigh of House Ghis, King and Queen of England and all her holdings from this day forth. God save the king and queen!"

Beckoning the two to rise, those gathered around them erupted into roars and cheers of triumph. Many older English officers were in tears, and one particular knight- Sir Benjamin of Southall, Ashien's former squire and dear friend who'd helped evacuate Darkwood and fought at Ashien's side when he received his eventually-mortal wounds- fell to his knees and burst into tears of both pride and grief. He was quickly surrounded by his old comrades who'd fought and bled beside Ashien, and all of them looked to Ashleigh and Edward with a doubtless loyalty cultivated by their fathers before England fell.

In amongst the roar of the crowd, Kate felt a familiar hand on her arm. Qira pressed close beside her so she could hear him over the din as he spoke in his native tongue. "They're in the city, undetected still with gates secured to open before sunrise." As he spoke, his golden eyes scanned ceaselessly for any sign of trouble. Even if he was still recovering, he refused to stay away from Kate's side while Kell was leading the infiltration. Even if their enemies didn't know where Kell was, they would still guess that he wasn't with Kate as the Northern armies clearly gathered to strike. "Windsor Castle was infiltrated," Qira added. "They must've thought Edward was going to be staying there after we took it over. We've captured an assassin and we lost another fleeing west."

Windsor Castle, the private home of the English royal family, was west of Darkwood near Slough. It had been captured rather easily since it wasn't really in use. While it wasn't the main palace and governing seat, it was an important landmark as the home of the royals since 1070 after England was conquered. And having assumed the royals would go there to wait out the war, their enemies had missed the chance to kill Edward and Ashleigh before they could be crowned and recognized not only by the Church, but the entire North. And with two Kings of England in existence now, one of William the Conqueror's bloodline and one of German heritage, it was obvious who'd win noble and public approval in the end even without a bloody battle over London. Hess had just been legally and socially dethroned.

"Soma was targeted as well," Qira added, glancing toward Fiona but avoiding catching her attention. "He's fine. But we've arrested one of his aides and made sure he's with Idunn while out away from Darkwood. She has orders to flee to our safehouse with him if he's targeted again." Only Kell, Rissa, and Qira knew where the safehouse was, and now Idunn too. While Kate didn't know where it was, they knew it was where she would be whisked away to at a moment's notice if they caught wind of assassins or targeted attacks on her. Once there, she'd be hidden and the only people allowed anywhere near her would be her three loves and their two children. A separate safehouse would be in a completely different area for Brogan if he became a target, but at the moment Kate was crownless and while it was known she had an heir, Brogan had been carefully hidden and his identity misrepresented to the world. As far as men like Hess knew, Prince Brogan Ghis was a frail young human man who looked like his mother. And thanks to clever tactics with body-doubles and Kate leaving Brogan entirely out of any of her public appearances and political activities for twenty years, Brogan would hopefully remain unknown to the greater world a little longer.

Scanning around them again and seeing nothing out of place yet, Qira remained close at her side as if shielding her with his massive form. "Nothing out of place around Darkwood just yet... but they're going to know who's here before long. It would be best to split you all up as soon as possible to avoid multiple people being targeted at once."

Just as he said that and the sun began to peek over the horizon, alarm bells began ringing in the east. The gates of London had been flung open and the armies were marching in. Edward and Ashleigh's first royal guardsmen- four veterans of King Henry's court and their sons and nephews- closed in around Ashleigh and Edward to escort them away. As much as everyone wanted to celebrate, it wouldn't be safe to have multiple leaders in one location for long til Hess was dealt with and London secured. Then, Royer would have to be dealt with.

 

[heartofcourage]

Kate listened stoically to Qira's report and only gave one nod in response. They would have to move quickly now that Ashleigh and Edward had been crowned. Looking towards Fiona, she met her sister-in-law's gaze and gave her the lead, motioning for her as the acting crowned ruler to give the orders.

"Schaller, give the call." Fiona said as she turned from Kate and Qira, climbing effortlessly into her dragon's saddle.

She would dominate the sky with her forces and Sam would oversee the grounds. With the Triad blocking the Thames and the seas beyond, it would hopefully be a quick and painless fight. As Schaller tilted his head back and shot the gout of flame into the air, answered by Riders positioned strategically along their path, Fiona knew that this was the beginning of their long trek.

Kate moved through the crowd to find Sam, pausing just beside her younger brother as he finished giving out his own orders. "As much as I would join you, I know my place is elsewhere. Give him hell, Samuel."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam's gaze was set on the horizon where London lay, the calm, gentle father put aside for the energy that his old rage gave him. Kate could practically see it welling up. But this time, Sam was not a slave to his anger as he'd been twenty years prior. It was a tool, a sword in skillful hands. "Hell's already here, love, in th' heart of every man an' woman that lost somethin' here twenty years back," he muttered to his sister, reaching out to give her hand a squeeze in his heavy gauntlet. Beside him, his father paused only briefly to offer out a sheathed, slim claymore that was built for a person of leaner stature and grace. It was one of Ashien's collection, the blade given to him by his mother when he'd left home for good to build Darkwood. Brogan gave his children a firm nod with dark eyes full of fire, and continued on to mount his horse.

Sam slung the claymore over his back and gave Kate a final look. "It's only fitting tha' Uncle Ash leads the charge, hm?" He gave her a little smirk that reminded her of the troublemaker he'd once been as a little boy, a confidence and righteousness in him despite his doubts and worries. With Qira close beside Kate and other agents around to safeguard her in the chaos, Sam strode forward with purpose to mount his own steed, backed by Durban and the Invernessian Axemen as his guard.

As the Riders took to the skies and the vanguard approached London's open gates with Sam and the main forces coming up behind, every possible exit from London was sealed off. No one could be allowed to leave, but Sam had made it clear many times that London and her people were to be left as unscathed as possible. Destructive engines had been turned down for the sake of public safety, the North instead utilizing subterfuge, ladders, and the wiles of Soma and Kell to gain access to blocked-off areas. The only exception was two battering rams on standby if the London palace wasn't breached and opened by agents ahead of time.

As the sun soared up into the morning sky, the London countryside and hamlets gleamed with armor and blades and the sky filled with dragons. Slapdash anti-dragon weapons fired up, but had poor range and accuracy. Soldiers clashed in the streets but the sheer number of Northerners and Imperials made many kneel in surrender or flee. Civilians were ordered to stay in their homes. Those caught outside were rounded up in city squares to be kept safe but monitored in case of any spies and assassins waiting to catch officers in the open. The march of the Northern Alliance slowed as streams of soldiers squeezed down narrow streets. But that only gave Kell more time to consider how he'd slip into the palace estate.

An hour after dawn as the outer city flooded with soldiers and the advance had slowed due to skirmishes, bottlenecks, and surprisingly brutal strikes back from Hess's men, a whistling signal arrow suddenly streaked out to catch all the Riders' attention. Jani had fired it, directing their gazes toward one tall building with a suspicious-looking slapdash roof made of planks. Before anyone else had time to scrutinize the strange architecture, the roof was thrown off and down into the street by a team of soldiers. Revealed inside was a massive cannon that was already loaded. It fired instantly, and a large chain shot whipped out toward the nearest dragon. From Fiona's perspective nearby, she had a perfect view of the projectile striking a veteran dragon and Rider. As the chain hit, the balls on either end swung back with such sickening force that they crushed the Rider and the chain nearly entirely decapitated the dragon. The green male was dead instantly and went crashing down, his Rider's crushed corpse still strapped into the saddle.

Jani's roaring battle cry resounded through the sky as veteran Riders changed course and sent greenhorns away. With the city below, they couldn't use fire or just go tearing through. And the gunners likely knew that, as other buildings in the city and towers on the palace threw off coverings to reveal an entire network of anti-dragon weapons. Ball and chain shot, massive ballistae, bola-throwers, and smaller, more maneuverable cannons were everywhere and suddenly, the sky was more dangerous than the ground.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona knew that Jani and Ezra would give the call of retreat to the greenhorns, getting them out of harm's way. That would leave only the most experienced riders to deal with the hell that had suddenly been unleashed on them. Fiona pulled Schaller's reigns hard, directing him into the air and clear of the danger as the rest followed her lead. Once above the melee, she thought for a moment about their next course of action. As Ezra pulled even with her, she pulled up her helmet to speak clearly above the wind.

"Gather debris from the woods and fields beyond. Scoop as much rock into the claws of our dragons and then rain it down on them." She called, pulling her whistle free to signal that there had been a change of plans.

As Ezra left to do her bidding, she signaled for Riley and Andre next and as they appeared, she pulled free her saddlebag and transferred over to Marth, motioning Andre close. "You wanted to show him what a bomb could do? Here's your chance."

"We can't attack with fire lest we burn our own forces, but you can get the drop on them." She opened the flap to show the duo the bombs within that Kell had helped her gather that morning in secret.

Riley glanced at her mother and gave a nod, taking the saddlebag and draping it over her shoulder. "We'll do our best."

Fiona nodded and transferred back to Schaller, letting her children take the lead with a bit of espionage. "Keep their attention on us, Schaller. We will provide the distraction."

Down below, Shani shadowed Kell near perfectly as the duo paused when the chaos in the skies began. It was carnage as they fired on the Riders overhead, trying to bring down more dragons, but with quick thinking, they backed off with minimal damage. It was at the side of the palace that Shani separated from Kell briefly, tapping him on the shoulder to signal that she might have seen a way to slip inside. A corroded bar in a window, big enough for her small body to slip inside. She pulled the bar from the bricking, no sound made as it slipped free. Glancing over her shoulder, she gave a nod to Kell and climbed the wall to glance into a darkened corridor. It was quiet and she turned to motion to him, wondering just where the nearest entrance might be.

 

[KieranSoares]

As soon as Fiona was back in the saddle, Schaller rocketed out over the city to draw fire, but he was going too fast and too high to be hit. He began feinting dives at their enemies, his fire roaring over the gunners and bowmen but avoiding catching any buildings. It was enough to scare the hell out of them and make them panic-fire his way so Riley and Andre could get low and start making targeted strikes.


Outside the palace, Kell kept pressed close to the wall in shadow as Shani found a way in just big enough for her. Briefly, he leapt up and grabbed the remaining bars, pushing his head through the window to get a look inside. He tried to pull himself through, but his shoulders were far too wide. With a nearly-silent huff of annoyance, he glanced around and directed Shani down the east corridor. Not wanting to risk speaking aloud, he mouthed the words, "keep going, I'll find a door." He then handed through a small piece of black chalk. She knew it was a way for Kell's agents to follow each other. It wasn't just black chalk, it had a faint sulfurous odor to it that most of Kell's werefolk agents could follow even in the darkness. It would allow Kell to catch up to her once he found a way in. "Stay on course," he mouthed again, and dropped back down outside.

In the dark hall, there was only the din of battle outside, and muffled, distant voices across the estate as servants panicked and soldiers rushed to defend the place. But this hall, being out of the way and connected mostly to guest rooms and storage, was quiet.

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani waited until Kell left her to move. She remained crouched and cautious, using the chalk to leave intermittent marks on the stone. In the silence, she was able to gauge movement easily, pausing when she needed to pause and hiding in the shadows if a person threatened to come by. Soon the darkened hall ended at an oak door, her ear pressed to the portal telling her that it was just as quiet beyond. If she remembered correctly, it was a hallway that would lead to the great hall. It was perhaps even the hallway that would take her to the war room. If she was a betting person, Hess would most likely be there...

She quietly pulled her dagger free from its sheath, holding it at the ready as she pushed the door open just wide enough to slip into the shadows of the hall beyond. It closed silently and she dragged the chalk along the floor to mark it before she found a spot to wait and get her bearings.

 

[KieranSoares]

As Shani paused, she could hear another door beyond her hiding spot open. Slightly muffled but still audible, she heard rapid muttering in a very out-of-place language: Mandarin. Thanks to her childhood in Mongolia, she knew enough Mandarin to get by in northern Chinese towns and markets. The voice belonged to a man, complaining to someone else, "I brought all you asked for and then some. Do you have any idea what this cost to transport across two whole continents? And now you're using my stock in the middle of a doomed war and you won't pay?!"

"Says 'e wants 'is money, General," a Cockney voice grunted in English.

A third voice joined in with an Austrian accent. "And money he shall have if his weapons keep London standing. Tell him that the king will pay him personally once the enemy is routed.

The Cockney man repeated the officer's words in Mandarin, and the Chinese man immediately grew angry. "How dare you lie to me! The contract was for payment on delivery! I have delivered and you have seized my stock withou-" He was cut off by a sudden thud, and Shani heard him drop to his knees, gasping for air.

"Arrest his caravan and put them somewhere out of the way. And send word to the sappers," the Austrian voice sighed. "See if you can't get some of the Ghis to poke their heads out before we set off the west wall. And for fuck's sake, bring Blackstone and Halfborn down already. The Empress too if she's not too high and mighty to make an appearance."

"On it, sir."

With that, the officer walked away northward into the palace center and the Chinese man was dragged off til everything was quiet again.

 

[heartofcourage]

They intended to blow up and entire wall of the city. Shani was suddenly torn between the information that she had just learned and the task that she had been given. With no sign of Kell, she knew that she had to stay and continue the hunt for Hess and hope that someone else figured out the rest of the plot before it was too late. As she crept to the door where the men had been gathering, she took a glance inside and saw one man within. With the information from the conversation, he had to be Hess's general. Not the target, but a step closer.

She slipped into the room, taking advantage of his distraction in watching the battle beyond his windows to take a position within in the room to study him for a moment. She was unseen and she had a choice to make: taking him down for good or with a chance at interrogation.

 

[KieranSoares]

The General stood before the windows with one hand on the wall beside, leaning lightly while his free hand rested on the pommel of a decorated sword. He was in full light armor with his helm on a loop at his hip, his gloves stuffed inside for the moment. Long greying brown hair cascaded down over his shoulders, draped over a white sash with a few medals and marks of his station. As Shani crept in, she could see him uncork a nearby decanter and pour a small glass of amber liquid while muttering to himself in his native tongue. He began a slow, leisurely pacing up and down the windowed wall, occasionally glancing down at a map laid on the side table before him.

As Shani considered her options, another door swung open and she saw a familiar face enter. With a leather collar about his neck and manacles around his wrists and ankles, the Irish Wolf Myr, guardian of House Monaghan, was escorted in by four guardsmen. No one had seen him since the North entered the isles. All of his personal belongings were missing from Monaghan as if he'd packed up and left suddenly. Many believed he'd abandoned his post because Queen Sarah had died, a woman he'd loved and looked after since he was a very young man being trained by Khelt Aleister the First and Khelt's mate Lyra. He'd been Khelt's replacement when the old Wolf finally retired, and the successor to Sarah's beloved Shia. After her husband had died, Myr was her constant companion and had protected her family all their young lives. Now, it was clear he'd not abandoned his lifelong prupose, but been taken from it by force. And while Shani had only ever met Myr twice when he'd come to visit Kell and Qira, she knew his normal bearing well enough to see he was barely holding together.

Midnight black fur mostly hid his wounds, but the shine of blood gave them away. And on his back, fur couldn't cover immensely deep scars from bladed whips and torture implements. His eartips had been clipped off, a horrible mark of slavery used by some countries to make sure slaves could never masquerade as free in other regions. Worst of all, however, was what was missing. His tail was gone without a trace, and his eyes were covered with a bloody cloth, having both been gouged out. He was barely standing, and when the guards let go of him, he collapsed in a bloody heap.

"Master Myr," the General addressed him in English. "You've been accused of plotting to assassinate the king and encouraging treason among his subjects in Wales in particular... You have admitted to being in league with House Aleister and killing several of my key officers, as well as the murders of several nobles and knights supporting His Majesty. You've committed immense atrocities against England and her people in the form of cold-blooded murders, sabotage, spreading rebellion, supporting heathenish werefolk witchcraft, and supporting slaves stealing and fleeing from their masters. This is your court and jury, good sir, which is more than anyone like you deserves. The king has demanded your execution as the lapdog of the dead Queen whose house still opposes him. But I will give you a chance to earn your life back in the eyes of King Royer."

The General stepped over and knelt by Myr, grabbing him by the scruff to lift his head off the floor. "Where are the members of House Aleister and their little entourage. Each of them. Katherine and Brogan Ghis, Khelt Aleister, the Panther and his wife, and their halfbreed? I know you are close with your late mentor's family. If anyone will know the former Lord Protector's secrets, it's you."

In that moment, the slightest hint of movement caught Shani's eye. Another door slowly drifted open and she could see one golden eye looking out, slightly widened in a moment of fear as Kell heard what was demanded of the mortally-wounded Wolf.

Myr didn't have the strength to move hardly at all once he was on the floor, unable even to tense up in pain as he was grabbed cruelly by the scruff and his head hung from the General's grip. Taking in a slow, shaky breath, all that came out was a bloody, weak hacking cough as internal wounds threatened to drown him. Finally, he managed to speak, but it wasn't English. It was Irish Gaelic, the language of his beloved homeland and what he spoke with the Monaghans at home. Sarah had taught him when he was still in training, and he'd in turn helped her teach her children and grandchildren. While Shani didn't know the language, she could hear the rhyme and meter of a poem, or perhaps the words of a song. The only word she recognized was "Monaghan" before he began coughing up more blood and the General let go, letting Myr's head drop to the stone floor.

"How very poetic, Master Wolf. I'm sure your Queen will be ever so flattered that your last words were in praise of her." General reached to his left hip and drew his blade, positioning the rounded tip just over Myr's chest.

 

[heartofcourage]

In the silence of the moment, there was a small noise. A decision had been made. All five men paused and slowly turned to see a small piece of black chalk rocking back and forth on the map of London spread out on the side table. It had pinged off the decanter, fallen directly where it had been aimed.

The moment the general turned again, Shani burst free in a flurry of motion. In three steps she was on him, her slight figure giving her the gift of speed and surprise as she launched herself on him. His sword clattered to the ground as she anchored her knees against his hips, an intimate motion but one that gave her the upper hand of surprise as she pulled her dagger free and started to hack and slash at any free skin she could find.

“I’m right here.” She hissed as the guards looked on in shock and then moved to stop her only to be blocked by her own body.

A sword thrust threatened their general’s life as she cling to him. Her weight prevented him from defending himself as she reached a hand up into his loose hair and yanked back cruelly as he had done to Myr, exposing more of his neck to her dagger. He’d stare into her cub blue eyes and know that a half-breed had been his downfall.

 

[KieranSoares]

With a howl of shock and pain, the General stumbled and fell. Following Shani's lead, several small knives streaked out from Kell's hiding place and he exploded into the room. Two soldiers fell immediately with throwing knives buried in their throats, and Kell smashed into a third with all his weight, driving a long dagger up under the man's chestplate and ribs. The fourth had time to draw his sword and block Kell's swipe, but he wasn't fast enough to fend off Kell's shorter off-hand knife. The razor-sharp blade slipped between the man's armor down into his shoulder, past the collarbone and into his heart. He was dead before he hit the ground.

The General struggled against Shani with a snarl, grabbing at her clothes in the hopes of getting a good grip to pull her off and pin her while Kell was busy with the other men. He managed to get hold of her wrist and stop her dagger, and the other hand seized her by the neck. "Halfbreed," he rumbled in recognition when he saw her cub-blue eyes, his grip tightening.