The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

Sam watched Fiona go for a long moment, silently hoping she'd remember everyone who needed her to come back alive, and knowing she'd do anything for her father. With a quiet sigh, he straightened and turned back to his work with a stoic, focused frown.

As Fiona reached Schaller and her officers, they were all armed, armored, and ready at a moment's notice. Ezra was at the head of the group, Sadah at his side. "Are we going in with a plan?" He asked her bluntly, ready to go whether there was a plan or not. "Or are we just ripping into Edinburgh directly?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona looked over at Ezra as he asked for a plan. She climbed into the saddle and pulled Schaller so that she could look at him, thinking about the question that had been asked.

"Do I have a plan right now? No. Will I? Perhaps." Fiona said as she gave him a shrug. "Luckily I have time to think while we fly."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Well, without footsoldiers to wait for, we can get there in a couple hours. So think fast." Ezra pulled on his helmet and gave Sadah leave to set off. No one else questioned what they were doing, the dragons especially focused on their Caller's task. They followed Schaller into the sky and northward, climbing out of the reach of anti-dragon weapons below. Before they were out of sight, the roar of battle broke out at Hadrian's Wall, marking the beginning of the invasion of Scotland.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona came up with a plan to send Dani and Ezra into the alehouses and pubs along the way to gain information. There was no better place to get information about the innerworkings of a city than among the seedy characters that ran the roads between them. The rest of the party stayed sky bound and out of harm's way as they left to gather information. It was as they drifted that Fiona felt the Scottish caller trying to regain control again, pushing against her to enter her brain. She pushed back brutally, forcing them to take on the pain and suffering that she had been laid up with for days. She truly hoped that they suffered immensely.

 

[KieranSoares]

The Caller who'd been Fiona's torturer for over a week began to mentally writhe in pain, hinting at what their physical reaction might've been somewhere in the depths of Edinburgh. By the time Ezra and Danica returned, it was approaching midnight and they were all covered by darkness. Danica dropped into Fiona's saddle so they could speak more easily, temporarily clipping her harness in.

"You've got quite the legend going down below," Dani told her. "Half the people are ecstatic to see you and the Ghis come tearing through in a blaze of glory, and the other half are ready to flee the isles altogether to escape what they assume will be the North's wrath." Reaching around, she placed a folded piece of parchment in Fiona's hands. "Ezra spotted some of Royer's officers at one of the inns, managed to pickpocket him. Looks like orders from Royer to split his forces- half to Hadrian's Wall, and half to Edinburgh itself. That was a week ago, so it sounds like we'll be approaching a heavily-occupied city. Even if we know our way around the city, odds are Royer's shored up a bunch of entrances. But we might've found a way in via Kirkcaldy to the north across the Firth of Forth. I managed to buy information from a tavern keeper selling some illegal goods, that there's a smuggler's tunnel under the River Forth that connects Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy. It's a long way to walk, but it's unguarded and would pop us up just beyond the northern docks of Edinburgh. Other than that, we could try going out to sea, commandeering a boat, and approaching disguised as traders. Sadah could also sneak us in, staying underwater while we're on her back. We should be fairly inconspicuous on a cloudy night like this."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona read over the orders, thinking it all over as Dani talked about the possibilities to reach Edinburgh. Turning the piece of paper over, she paused when she saw more written on the back that made little sense to her at first. Reading it again, her eyes narrowed, and she glanced up at Dani.

"How about this wedding?" Fiona asked, showing her the written orders for guards to attend the wedding of Lady Jane MacAskill and Lord Ramsey Royer. "The bastard is feasting at a wedding during the middle of a war?"

"Take Sadah out to sea. We will approach from two angles. I think that there's a wedding I need to attend." Fiona said as she laid out who would be going to the river and who would be going to the ocean.

 

[KieranSoares]

Dani nodded, memorizing Fiona's orders before signaling her partner for a pickup. Soon the group was split, with Sadah leading the way to the eastern coast. Those remaining with Fiona followed her lead further north. In the late night darkness, Edinburgh glimmered with lantern light like a candle in the highlands. Fiona hadn't seen the city in twenty years, and it seemed most of the scars of Kate's fight and flight there had been repaired or long since covered over.

 

[heartofcourage]

The city of Edinburgh had been polished and prepared for the wedding of King Royer's second son and the Lady Jane MacAskill, daughter of the Lord MacAskill. Lady Jane had old Norse blood in her family, but most importantly, her father was heavy handed with a sword and had offered quite the dowry for his daughter to wed the king's son. Jane was a quiet soul, shy, and wholly unprepared for life in a court full of political intrigue. In fact, the wedding that had just concluded as the sun set had only been her second time meeting the young man that would be her husband.

The great hall of Edinburgh Castle was filled with lively music and laughter. Many of the king's men were getting drunk in anticipation for the traditional bedding of the bride, something that the young woman was not looking forward to in the least. Jane looked around at the festivities, her large dark eyes taking in the sights and sounds of her new home. Her father-in-law had spared no expense to show off to his men and those Lairds that had come from far away.

Her new husband was dancing the night away with various ladies of the court. She briefly wondered if he would be faithful to her as his vows had sworn. No Royer had the reputation of being a faithful spouse...even a sheltered country girl like Jane knew that. Still, she had her part to play and she quietly made her way to her father-in-law's seat, bowing her head down to him briefly.

"I...wanted to thank you, my Lord. For everything that you have given to me and Ramsey over the past few days." She murmured in her soft voice.

 

[KieranSoares]

Brennan Micah Royer was everything the world imagined when they thought of a traditional highlander: tall, broad, long dark brown hair and a full beard, and always wearing his family tartan with immense pride. While he hadn't been king for too long, his reign had been incredibly prosperous but terrifying at the same time. Many of his supporters liked to boast that Brennan Royer had whipped Scotland into shape in record time. Unfortunately, it was rather literal. When he'd executed the Imperial-appointed king and consul with his own bloody Claymore, he'd laid down a very hard-line system of laws and barely gave a week for everyone to confirm across his new kingdom. Any who resisted or didn't comply fast enough were punished viciously and swiftly. Those who stayed within his laws prospered and were well-cared for. But stepping out of line, even accidentally or out of desperation, could be deadly. Thus, he'd earned the growing reputation as the "King in Steel" both for his harsh justice, and how he wore steel jewelry instead of gold or silver. It was a tribute to the ancient Royer Clan from the Orkney Islands, descended from Danes and Celts, who'd always excelled in smithing and martial prowess and hailed steel as greater than any diamond or gold.

As Jane approached the rustic throne carved of ancient oak and whalebone scrimshaw, Brennan pulled his attention away from watching his son. Icy blue eyes indicative of his Danish heritage looked her up and down. He'd been quite pleased to know his son's wife would be Scottish and Norse like the Royer Clan, leading to a polite start to his relationship with his new daughter-in-law.

"Evenin', lass," he spoke gruffly, having never tamed his heavy brogue to sound more stately or proper. "You've been overwhelmed this past week, readyin' for the wedding while Ramsey was out organizing my troops. So I'm glad t'give you all you need." He looked out toward Ramsey again and grunted, "Finn's betrayed us, so that puts Ramsey next in line. An' seein' how you handle yourself, I'm glad to know my lad will have a good queen."

Jane hadn't been in Edinburgh when Finn swore off his loyalty to his father. And despite Finn's letter trying to convince his younger brother to join the North who treated their people so much better and with more mercy, Ramsey had seen more value in securing the throne for himself despite having never been educated to become Crown Prince. As a second son, he'd been allowed to do practically whatever he wanted, and he had kept that pattern up whenever Brennan wasn't looking. In front of his father, however, Ramsey was the picture of princedom. He knew not to step out of line where his father could see, especially after Brennan had gone into a massive rage at Finn's betrayal and destroyed Finn's old study and had his belongings burned.

Brennan rose from his throne then, pushing aside dark thoughts for the evening. Offering an arm out to Jane, he nodded his head toward the hall leading to the gardens. "Too bloody stuffy in here. Walk with me, lass, an' tell me your thoughts about all this marriage an' royalty business. I want t'hear some of your ideas an' concerns."

 

[heartofcourage]

Brennan Royer terrified Jane even if he had been nothing but polite and chivalrous to her. Her own family had grown wealthy during his rule, her brother elevated to a knight as her father offered council, but there was always something about the king that put Jane on edge. When he offered her his arm, she took it and allowed him to escort her out towards the gardens. Never did she think that he would be asking her opinions on royalty and marriage, especially since she had just joined the family.

"It is very different here than home." Jane said softly. "But your staff has been gracious, and the Queen has been...charming...when she's available."

Queen Astrid was a dower German woman who rarely expressed any form of emotion besides distain. In fact, in the week that she had been in Edinburgh, Jane didn't think that she had ever seen the woman smile. Not even during the wedding when her own mother, the Lady Rosalind, had sobbed at the loss of her beloved daughter. It had caused quite the family fight when her father had announced that the deal had been struck and she was to wed the prince. She had lost two brothers to the king's forces and her mother wasn't about to lose her daughter as well.

"I have to admit that perhaps I was a bit naive, my lord. Ramsey never spoke of his new position in the court the times we met, so it came as a surprise to learn that he will one day sit on the throne." Jane glanced up at her father-in-law as she said that.

 

[KieranSoares]

"It's a very new development," Brennan sighed heavily. "Tha' witch from Trondheim turned my boy against me with false promises an' fairytales. Trust me, you're not nearly naive as Finn. If he's so easily swayed... Well, maybe it's best this way." As they walked down a stone path lined with young buds and bushes starting to turn green, Brennan shook his head. "Things aren't going quite t'my plans, I'll admit that. But I have faith that my boy Ramsey will shape up. He's still young an' foolish, but he has potential. An' with my best advisors an' officers beside him, I have to believe he'll manage t'keep Scotland prosperous."

Pausing at a corner of the path where he could see down each way, Brennan turned to face her once he was sure no one else was nearby. "Jane. I 'ave a serious request for you. You migh' call me callous an' cruel, but I will do anything to keep Scotland afloat an' free of the Empire an' the Northern Alliance. You already know war's at our doorstep an' it's a delicate situation. But if we make it out of this, I need you t'look after Scotland." His hard expression showed immense worry as he said that. "If Ramsey turns out a wasteful, vain fool like Amadeus Hess... I need you to take the reins, lass. By whatever means necessary. Hopefully you'll be able to just run things while he's a figurehead... but if he threatens this country with his nonsense an' I'm not around anymore..." He didn't have to finish the sentence. He was asking her to remove his son if Ramsey turned into a lavish, careless tyrant.

Looming over her, she could see he was worried to request such a thing, and he'd quietly cornered her quite on purpose so she couldn't flee if she wanted to tell Ramsey. But as king, he'd win that battle anyway even if she escaped. Despite his reputation as a great warrior, Brennan Royer was also quite the strategist and he thought much longer-term than most. His love for Scotland was irrefutable, and he'd sacrifice his own kin to see the misty highlands shine and stay free.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Sir?" Jane asked, suddenly startled at the turn in conversation. "Your Majesty...I'm flattered that you believe I can handle something like this, but I'm just a simple girl who knows nothing about monarchy and politics."

As he loomed over her, trapping her in his garden, Jane wondered just what had been happening outside of the walls of the city. It seemed that everything was calm, but there were obviously bigger problems at play. She considered briefly what her father had gotten her into and if the viper's nest that she had been warned about was indeed true.

"I'm sure Ramsey will be fine as a Crown Prince. He's young but he's ambitious." He was a fool, Jane thought, and everyone knew it. "He's been kind to me. I believe that we might have a good marriage as equal partners."

 

[KieranSoares]

"An' I hope you do," Brennan assured her with a nod. "But I'm askin' you to put Scotland first if he fails." He placed a large hand on her shoulder, offering her a gentleness he never showed to anyone else. "We may no' know each other well yet, lass. But the moment I met you, I had faith that you were right for this Clan. An' as long as you look after mine, I will look after yours. You know tha' a Scot like me never makes a promise lightly. My word is my law."

 

[heartofcourage]

Jane nervously twisted the heavy gold band on her finger that was stamped with the Royer crest as yet another surprise was laid at her feet. Her father-in-law didn't trust Ramsey to uphold his duty. What kind of man had she really married, she asked herself as King Brennan stared at her, his strong hand on her shoulder as he looked for her to swear that she would do as he asked.

"Of course, my lord." She said softly, giving him a slight nod. "I will do my best by Ramsey."

"Your Grace..." A servant called as she entered the garden, a slightly startled look on her features. "Your attention is needed in the great hall."

 

[KieranSoares]

Brennan looked up, fixing the serving woman with a hard stare. "What's happened now?" Not waiting for an answer, he offered his arm to Jane once more. "Not a moment's peace," he growled to himself as he practically marched back to the hall with his daughter-in-law.

Pushing past guests til he emerged into the great hall, he let go of Jane and strode forward with an annoyed bellow, "What's happened now, then?"

 

[heartofcourage]

There was a quiet panic that seemed to be spreading among the servants but had not yet reached the party goers. Jane made her way towards Ramsey, taking his arm as he casually drank and spoke with a friend. It seemed that no one wanted to tell the king exactly what was happening.

Suddenly the main doors of the great hall opened and a lord stepped in looking quite concerned as he kept looking over his shoulder as if to assure himself that this was really happening. He cleared his throat and as he had done with every other guest that evening, he announced who was entering.

"Your Highness..." He called; concern written on his features. "Queen Fiona Blackstone."

"Gott im Himmel." Queen Astrid said, her wine glass falling from her fingers and crashing to the floor at the sound of the name as a sudden hush settled over the room.

Fiona stepped into the great hall of Edinburgh Castle for the first time in twenty years, her ice blue eyes settling over the crowd of Lairds and Ladies that had gathered for the occasion. She was flanked by Ezra and Blair, the three dragon riders striding in confidently as all of the festivities came to a sudden halt.

 

[KieranSoares]

Several formerly-Imperial lords and ladies near the doors shrank back, some crossing themselves in fear while others simply stared dumbfounded. Other Scottish-born lords seemed to be a mix of absolute fear, all the way to glad surprise. It was easy to tell who feared they'd be punished for kowtowing to the Empire and then to Royer, and who was there against their will and wanted the North back.

As everyone cleared off to the sides, leaving a long aisle between Fiona and the current King of Scotland, it was not Brennan who made the first move. Seeing his reception interrupted, Ramsey stepped out into the open space with his glass of wine still in hand and a perplexed and slightly annoyed expression. "Your Ladyship. What a... pleasant surprise. Normally I'd be glad to welcome guests on my wedding night, but I do believe we're at war, madame. You are not welcome here unless you intend to sign a treaty."

Ramsey froze as Brennan seized him by the shoulder, instantly straightening up in his father's presence. The broad king stormed past his son, facing Fiona and her companions from some twenty feet away. He considered her for a moment, then Ezra, and then his gaze fell upon Blair who stared at him unflinchingly with a burning determination in her eyes.

"I suppose I can assume she got you too," Brennan rumbled as he looked at the young woman. "I told you not to parley with her, Blair."

"I'm going to let her speak... because if I try to reason with you right now, I'll probably do something we'll all regret," Blair snarled quietly. Despite her soft voice, her words were laced with venom. Fiona could practically feel the heat and anger radiating off her, and a deep sense of betrayal.

Looking over them all again, Brennan straightened and faced Fiona fully. "Then speak, Rider Queen. In any other circumstance, we'd already be tradin' blows an' gutting each other. But out of respect for my son an' his wife, I'll abstain... for the moment."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched with a schooled and stoic expression as young Royer stepped forward to try his hand at the situation first. It seemed that his father was not amused as the young man was put aside as she came face to face with Royer himself. Fiona's hand rested comfortably on the pommel of her sword as Blair was addressed and then deferred to her for the time being. It was all left up to Fiona as Royer deemed her fit to address.

"I apologize to the young lord and his new bride. We only just found out about the wedding from the thieves outside of Edinburgh. They send their regards." Fiona began, perhaps the first time that many of those gathered had ever heard her voice. "I've come for one reason only, Royer. You have my father captive and I've come to retrieve him."

Fiona paused for a moment and chuckled to herself, shaking her head as if realizing a grave error. "Oh, I'm sorry. I meant "our" father." Alluding to Blair, letting him know that the secret was out. "You see, I know many things about your Sir Brennan. I know that you play a long and drawn-out game. I know that you will lie when it benefits you. Perhaps finding a bastard child in the mines, promising her and her mother the world if they never seek out the truth, was all part of that game? Naming her Dyne, like some cruel and sick joke? She knows the truth now. She stands here as a Blackstone."

"But that leads me to question...what other issues have you lied about? What things should these men and women know about you? Perhaps what Finn has told me? Or do they already know the truth...about what kind of king you are..." Fiona's blue eyes held his own in a challenge, daring him to force her hand so she could tell the entire court as gathered just what kind of a man Brennan Royer was. "The price for your secrets is Owen Blackstone, given to me here and now."

 

[KieranSoares]

"A very low price..." Brennan murmured, as if considering it, but it was really just an insult. "An old, half-burned Fox who couldn't even be sold fer work or 'is pelt anymore. I should pay you t'take him off my hands. An' I would in any other circumstance." His eyes flicked to Blair, noting her tension. "Do my words really bother you tha' much, girl? You can't 'ave known him longer than a few hours by now. Save your indignation for a worthy cause, aye?"

Looking back to Fiona, the king's expression grew a bit more grave. "Even if I wanted t'accept, it wouldn' be possible t'move him right now, Your Majesty. Y'see... my men were a bit too rough on 'im. An' if you want my doctors t'keep him alive long enough t'make a deal for his life, you'll leave peacefully tonight an' keep your husband at bay, an' we'll parley in the field tomorrow."

To her credit, Blair schooled her expression, holding steady beside her half-sister. At Fiona's opposite side, Ezra was keeping an eye on anyone around them with weapons, ready to defend if a fight broke out.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona stared at Brennan with a blank expression as he insulted them and informed her that her father was too fragile to move in that moment. She closed her eyes, bowing her head for a moment as if to consider his offer. A parley in the field for her father's life if she would leave peacefully. The longer she stood there unmoving, a sense of unease spread through the great hall until she slowly raised her head and looked upon Royer once more.

"I'll take my leave." She murmured, turning and catching both Ezra and Blair's gaze as she started out of the hall.

No sooner had she started walking before the glass surrounding the great hall blew inward as a great gout of flame laid waste to the gardens where the king and his daughter-in-law had been walking just moments before. Screams filled the space as the loudest dragon roar many of them had ever heard shrieked through the air. Even as many ran for cover, Fiona turned to look over her shoulder at Royer, giving him a slight shrug.

"You simply asked that I leave peacefully. Lord Schaller is another matter." She called. "A deal is a deal...Your Majesty. Tomorrow. A parley as you wish."

Another roar sounded, one that shook the very floor beneath their feet as Fiona left as asked. In the aftermath, Jane stood rooted in fear as her new husband worked to calm those around them. She looked at him as if he were insane to suggest that the party could continue with windows missing and a half-crazed dragon nearby.

"Ramsey, look at your father. There's no way to continue tonight." Jane whispered, trying her hardest to convince him that this wasn't a good idea. "Help him by ending this now."

 

[KieranSoares]

As Jane tried to change Ramsey's mind, he gave her a sour look. "I'll be damned if I let a witch ruin my wedding night," he told her. But even as he said that, many people began to flee once Schaller and the other dragons took off. Ramsey called after some of the more influential lords, but it was all for naught.

"Everyone out," Brennan's voice boomed through the hall. "Prepare for battle on the morrow. Whether or not Owen Blackstone is released, I want my border secured."

Ramsey sighed quietly, not willing to voice his displeasure aloud to his father. "I suppose that includes me now," he scoffed to himself, too naive as a second son to know the very real stakes involved. All he really knew was that his brother had run off and left a lot of responsibilities Ramsey didn't want.

 

[heartofcourage]

Jane slipped her arm through her husbands as Brennan dismissed their guests, the wedding party well and truly over. She could see that Ramsey's mood was dark, echoing his father's mood for different reasons.

"We should retire." Jane said softly, knowing that she was offering up herself to calm the temperamental prince. "I think a good night's rest will help more than you know."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ramsey gave another sigh and a nod, knowing there wasn't much else to be done as everyone else prepared. He led the way to his personal chambers which Jane had only seen in passing before. Much of Edinburgh Castle was nicely decorated with tapestries and paintings, but there was little in the way of precious metals and gems. Ramsey's quarters were a bit different. He liked to collect precious trinkets from traders from across the world, many of them strange pieces of jewelry or other accessories. They lined several shelves along with foreign books that were all for show as Ramsey only knew two languages, and the rest of the room was color-coordinated in blue and cream colors across the fine fabrics.

Ramsey put aside his jacket as they arrived, As he moved about putting things away as part of his usual nightly routine, there was a slow, creeping realization as to what Jane had gotten herself into.

Ramsey was a fairly handsome fellow, tall and broad like his father but not nearly as muscular or strong. He kept his hair at a medium length instead of letting it grow long, and he kept his face clean-shaven. He had a reputation for being entitled and impatient, but he'd managed to put his best foot forward in front of both his and Jane's father this far. Now in private quarters, it wasn't clear what kind of man she'd have to deal with.

"I'm sure my father will expect me to accompany him tomorrow," Ramsey told her as he moved about. "My mother will remain here to manage things. Being that you will hold a similar position someday, I think it would be wise for you to stay and learn from her."

He looked back at her and offered a piece of advice: "I know she's rather... Cold. If you want to get on her good side, ask about Germany. She'll talk for hours about it." He didn't seem to care all that much himself. While Finn had had a good relationship with his mother, Ramsey didn't seem to care about anyone's opinion except his father's. And even then, he only cared when he knew Brennan was watching.

 

[heartofcourage]

Jane felt like a stranger in Ramsey’s personal space, looking over the items that adorned the walls and the precious items that he seemed to collect. She only dared to move after a few moments, her dark eyes taking in the shelves and their treasurers.

“Do you think that she’s really a witch?” Jane asked, trying to make small talk. “She seemed normal to me.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Ramsey looked back at Jane with a quirked eyebrow. "Of course she is. She's a Caller. What else could that be but witchcraft? Granted, my father employs Callers himself, but Blackstone is a loose cannon with hundreds of followers. Not to mention, the Triad and the Rus seem to think she's some demigod. Callers have their uses, but more often than not, they're far too dangerous to risk dealing with."

Ramsey made his way over to a small cabinet beside the table and chairs in the corner of his room, withdrawing a bottle of wine from his private stock. Taking out a pair of glasses, he looked back toward her. "A glass to calm your nerves?" He asked. Even if he wasn't interested in romance, he was at least considerate and aware enough to know she was nervous.