The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

"Search him," Sam ordered two soldiers nearby, who immediately moved in to seize Markos's knife and search him for any other weapons. All he carried was a satchel full of strange items that one would expect to find in a shaman or druid's home. He had simply watched the soldiers, explaining a few spiritual items quite calmly when a soldier found something strange on him.

Once in Soma's tent, Markos glanced around the space, like a curious wild beast entering a new space. There were times when he seemed dangerous and mad. But in this instance, he almost came across as a wandering child, simply exploring and living in the moment as if there were no war and he wasn't surrounded by people that would've killed him the moment Fiona said the word. As Markos looked around, it was as if he'd forgotten Fiona was there, looking at Soma's large map and inspecting the small wooden pieces Soma used to mark battalions and detachments across southern Scotland, and conflict points where skirmishes happened.

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, he sent you away?" Fiona asked as she took a seat across the large table from where Markos was looking over Soma's maps and figures. "Does he think that he's better off without you and an elder dragon in your place? He's truly lost his mind if that's the case."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Hm? Oh, he doesn't think I'm useful anymore since I failed getting information from you. He dismissed me in the middle of your time there and let Ramsey take over. They said I was too weak and too stupid to deal with you." Markos plucked a small dragon figure from the map, studying it. It represented different branches of the Northern Riders and their allies. Smiling fondly at the tiny figure, he put it back in its place. "When I tried to return, Brennan told me I was no longer of use. I lost everything. My home in Edinburgh, my work, many of my belongings... All I kept was my Diana," he said a calm nod back in the direction of his partner. He'd just described losing absolutely everything, but had said everything matter-of-factly and almost peacefully without a trace of anger.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You do understand that just because he saved you from the zealots of the church means nothing. You traded hanging or burning for damnation of another kind." Fiona said, watching as he seemed to study everything intently, nothing too small for his notice. "You remind me of my grandfather, Ephriam. He took joy in small things, trinkets, and his work. He would have filled our home with all manner of small things if we had any sort of money."

 

[KieranSoares]

"'At long last a clear day breaks the mist; even the gloom must come to an end. In the burning of the grey curtain, at last the summer takes reign again,'" Markos recited from memory the final stanza of one of Ephriam's books. He'd written five total: one for each season, and one inspired by history and the stars. This stanza came from the end of the book about spring which then transitioned to summer.

Markos smiled lightly to himself like the poem brought him great joy, but there was also a tinge of regret there. "You're too kind to say such a thing about me. I wasn't worthy to be compared to him before. Even less so now." It was the first moment Fiona had seen him falter in his sureness, not to mention the genuine exasperation he'd had when she wouldn't cooperate. "His poetry inspired me deeply as a boy, even though I couldn't read it myself til my late teens. My mother read his books to me. She would quote him all the time."

Markos finally seemed to have calmed his usual curious energy, and pulled up a chair only to sit cross-legged in it. "She taught me unwavering loyalty. But I also think she would be deeply disappointed, even pity me for who I gave my loyalty to."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona regarded him for a long moment, considering her next steps with him. He wasn’t a typical foe or adversary. With great effort, she unbuckled her cloak and sat it aside and stood, carefully walking around Soma’s great table.

“War is distasteful. I think we can both agree on that.” She said, pausing to place her hands on the table, looking across the length at him. “So, let’s not speak about it. Let’s talk about dragons.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Markos's dark eyes widened and lit up with a childlike excitement at Fiona's offer to speak on dragons instead of their current situation. He leaned forward with a smile, crossing his arms on the table and resting his head on them like a child waiting for a story. "You know and work with so many," he murmured. "It must be wonderful. And the number of elders you know... But I admit I'm most curious about Lady Invah Kyre. I heard you woke her first, the legend herself from the beginning of Inverness."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Invah and Lord Gaiann have just had a fledgling. One of many that they have had together." Fiona said, seeing that Markos seemed so interested in talking about dragons. "A boy they named Amistad."

She picked up a dragon piece from the pile beside the maps, placing it where Invah and Gaiann resided in Sweden for the moment with Amistad, glancing towards him. "They help to raise little Sveri as well."

She added another figure next to them to signify Sveri. Methodically, she laid out dragons as she knew them, the names and histories of them, hoping that he might add to them the names that she didn't know.

 

[KieranSoares]

Fiona had Markos's undivided attention. As she spoke, he soon began grabbing blank and scrap papers, drawing a rough map of Europe, Asia, and Africa with absolute glee and placing Soma's figures all over. He politely corrected a few things she explained, adding more names and ancient histories not even held in texts. It was as though all torture to either of them, all knowledge of the danger, and everything else in the world had come to a halt, and Fiona was seeing a man revert to a young boy ecstatic to share his greatest passion.

After nearly an hour of this, Markos finally turned his attention to Greece, and some of that boyish excitement faded into melancholy, though he still had a forced smile. "I grew up on a tiny, hidden haven island. I would love for you to see it someday. My great-grandmother was its keeper when I was born, and she introduced me to the dragons and the other keepers at a summer festival. Great Hesperus was hibernating still, until I was ten years old and accidentally woke him. Pirates had come to the island and I was shouting for help... I did not know there was an elder asleep beneath the island, nor that he would hear me. He destroyed the ships and devoured the sailors whole. My family was terrified, but I... I saw him as a hero. Then as our ancient blood recognized him, my family slowly warmed to Hesperus and we tried to welcome him. But he would have nothing to do with my mother or those of his bloodline, save for me."

Markos settled back on the chair, legs drawn up to his chest as he thought back and stared at the figure that marked his rough approximation of Greece. "He asked me ceaseless questions about the world and dragons in it. I was a bit... strange, even before the Church got hold of me. I had a hard time with other children and learning. But when it came to dragons, it was as though my mind could capture and store every shred of information ever given to it. I told him every story, conversation, rumor, even fairytales. And when I was old enough to have a proper craft and make my own home, Great Hesperus didn't want me to stay there in Greece. He wanted me to roam, to find other elders and bloodlines and tell him about them. I was so happy to do what I loved that I never questioned it til I was much older."

Looking across at Fiona, Markos admitted quietly, "He never loved me. I knew that long before now. I knew I was just a tool the day the Christians dragged me from Paris after I was caught making a small offering to Hephaestus in my inn room. I wasn't hurting anyone... But they didn't care. Nor did Hesperus. I begged him for help. I knew he could hear me. One of my greatest talents was always speaking across long distances like him. He never answered til the day Brennan Royer freed me. I was so grateful to hear his voice again when he reached out, so lonely, that I ran back into his arms- figuratively of course- without thought. I am loyal... I do my best for him and I did my best for Brennan. But I fear I've driven away everyone who might've actually come to love me, rather than throw me away after my usefulness expired."

Even though he looked and spoke like a man full-grown, Fiona could see a very hurt little boy still in Markos's mind. In some ways, he had a lot in common with Soma, wanting to be useful and sometimes equating usefulness with worthiness.

"Anyway," Markos murmured softly. "That is Hesperus's recent history, if you care to know it..."

Suddenly he shook his head as if coming out of a stupor. "Who is Sveri, by the way?" He asked suddenly, like he'd just locked off his hurt into a separate part of his mind. "I know of a Sverier, but he was slain."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona listened as he spoke, learning all that she could about Hesperus as Markos let her have a small look into his life. She didn't write a single thing down, instead soaking in the information and digesting it as she often did with the same stoic look on her face. She was beyond exhausted, but she wouldn't even let that show as she had Markos talking and in the moment. When Markos paused and looked up at her, asking about Sveri, Fiona used the moment to end their long conversation.

"I guess you'll have to come back to learn more." She said with a simple shrug of her shoulders. "You are free to camp with my riders and I will let the soldiers know that you have my protections, however, I won't put up with betrayal. If you betray my trust, I won't hesitate to let my husband's soldiers loose on you."

 

[KieranSoares]

Markos glanced back at the tent opening as Sam stepped in, hearing Fiona wrap things up. Markos stood from his chair, glancing over Sam curiously and watching as Soma followed to get back to his work. Seeing his maps moved and a new one laid out, Soma paused in confusion. "What's all this?"

"Dragons," Markos said with a cheery, airy little smile. He turned to leave but Soma stopped him.

"Hold on. If we're playing nice, I have a question for you," Soma said firmly.

"Oh?" Markos turned back to face the younger man with puppy-like curiosity.

"We've been looking for a fallen dragon, she-"

"Gia?"

Soma paused at that, suspicious and surprised. "... How do you know her name?"

"Andre Zaufberg's partner. The Empire considered her 'stolen property' til Joachim Hendrik dismantled the council and pardoned the Johania Riders. Yes, I know she fell."

"Where?"

"In the forest west of Edinburgh. She was burned and buried at the site." Markos then started patting his pockets, turning in a circle before digging into his satchel. "I have... somewhere... Maybe my saddlebags..." He darted out the tent without warning, scampering up to his partner and climbing her side to dig into his bags. "Ah, here it is..." He said softly, the guards around his dragon all looking thoroughly confused. Sam and Soma emerged to watch as Markos climbed back down, gingerly cradling something wrapped in cloth. "Where is Major Zaufberg?" He asked, turning slowly in a circle to scan. "Or maybe the Princess?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Most likely back at their camp. We've taken quite a while." Fiona said as she emerged slowly behind Soma and Sam. "We will deliver your package to them. They wish not to be disturbed at the moment."

She glanced over at Soma and nodded towards him, encouraging him to take the lead for his sister. Moving to Sam's side, she gently took his arm and leaned into his side, mentally and physically exhausted.

 

[KieranSoares]

Soma stepped up to take the bundle, and Markos unwrapped it a bit to reveal the brilliant green scale. "It's all that remains of her," Markos murmured quietly as a confused but relieved expression came over Soma's face.

"Why did you keep this?" Soma asked softly, taking the scale and holding it to his chest.

"I keep a scale from every fallen dragon I find," Markos explained with a small shrug. "I'm never sure if anyone else cares that they died."

"Well... we do. Thank you... I suppose," Soma muttered, completely confused by the strange man whom he'd expected to be a monster.

Markos and his partner Diana were escorted to a place where they could camp, while Soma headed off to find Riley and Andre. Sam took Fiona back to their tent to rest, knowing it'd all taken a lot out of her.

When Soma arrived at Riley and Andre's ger, he found the pair sitting at their fire outside with Dola and Jani. Andre had cleaned up a little, trimming his beard down and forcing himself to go outside for a while. He tried to do a little more each day, but it was a struggle. Jani had brought Dola to try to get Andre a little further out of his haze, but it was tough. At the moment, he was leaning against Dola's side listlessly while Jani sat across from Riley. She was still regaining her strength and energy, but already pushing herself in training and flight to get better and better til she outdid her usual friendly rivals like Riley.

As Soma approached, Jani looked up. "Oh boy, another melancholy kid." She stood to greet him and Soma immediately hugged her, having not gotten to see her since her return. She embraced him tightly, her softer side showing as she reunited with one of "her kids" as she often called them. "Hi, kiddo," she murmured, reaching up to smooth his hair back fondly.

"It's good to have you back," Soma said with a half-smile. "The other Riders needed your energy back."

"Yeah, typical sad sacks," Jani huffed with a little smirk. Soma hugged her once more and greeted Dola as well before looking to Andre and Riley. Andre had greeted him, but was already faraway again.

"Ri," Soma said softly, giving her the carefully-wrapped bundle. He'd slipped a piece of parchment in with the location where Gia was buried. "I'll be back in the war tent if you need anything... There's a lot to sort out. Markos is camping with the other Riders, just so you're not surprised if you see him around. I'm not sure if Ma is taking mercy on him, or she thinks he's useful."

"You mean that Greek bastard?" Jani growled, instantly protective of her family, but Soma quickly held up a hand.

"Ma gave him a personal promise he'd be safe for now. He's hers to judge."

"Well, you let her know that if she changes her mind, I'm ready." Jani took her spot back beside Dola with a huff.

"You're at the top of the list if he causes trouble," Soma promised before walking away back to his work.

 

[heartofcourage]

"You know Ma. We never quite know what she's thinking." Riley said as Soma walked away and she unwrapped the bundle, pausing when she saw what it contained. "Andre..."

She turned to look at her husband, offering it to him where he could see the scale in the sunlight.

 

[KieranSoares]

Andre slowly looked over to Riley, still seemingly faraway. "Yeah, love...?" But then the glint of deep green caught his eye and he looked down at her hands. Slowly he sat up from being curled against his mother's side, his cub-blue eyes wide in recognition and starting to fill with fresh tears. With shaking hands, he reached out to take the scale wrapped in soft cloth. He stared down at it for a long moment, tears streaming down in silence.

Dola moved up behind him, her arms looped under his shoulders as he suddenly sagged and clutched the scale to his chest so tightly as if he was afraid it would disappear. Jani instantly moved in as well to help support him, reaching up to brush his hair out of his face but letting him sob out his heartache freely. She would never begrudge anyone that after she'd nearly lost her own partner.

"Koah," Dola whispered softly, speaking to him in her native Tibetan as he shuddered and tried to breathe normally. Looking at Riley over his shoulder, Dola welcomed her in to surround Andre with three of the many women in their combined families that loved and protected him most fiercely.

 

[heartofcourage]

Riley didn’t hesitate to step forward and wrap her husband in the tightest hug she could give him, nuzzling against him as he mourned for his partner properly now that he had a piece of her back. Riley didn’t understand his grief and couldn’t, but she could support him until he could stand on his own two feet again.

Fiona woke a few hours later, wrapped in thick blankets and no memory of making it back to her tent. Her aches and pains were blissfully dulled by herbs and the smell of hearty meats and vegetables filled the air. She moved and saw Sam there, working quietly as always, a meal simmering on their camp fire.

“How did I get back?” She asked softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Same way you always do when yer not feelin' well," Sam murmured, looking up from the fire. "Y'were gettin' kinda dizzy anyway. Didn't feel comfortable lettin' you walk." He'd carried her home or back to camp many times in their lives whether she was drunk or hurt or simply exhausted. Ever since he'd carried her to Alex's home when she'd gotten hurt falling down a hill, it'd been a recurring theme in their relationship.

Rising from beside the fire, Sam walked over and pressed a kiss to her lips, looking her over briefly. "Y'okay? Didn't much care for that crazy bastard bein' near you for that long."

 

[heartofcourage]

“We just talked about dragons.” Fiona said as Sam came to her side. “He gave me some information about Hesperus. Perhaps I can use it in the future.”

She pushed herself to sit up, sighing as she leaned back against the pillows. “He’s not dangerous outside of misplaced loyalties, Sam. You want to hate him for what he did to me. I think it’s admirable, but we have to be realistic. He has information that we need and I can get that information from him.”

“After dinner, I’d like to see my hands. You and Alex have worked to hide them from me but I think it’s time.” She murmured, meeting his gaze.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not really sure there's much 'realistic' goin' on with that man," Sam grumbled darkly. But at Fiona's request, he sighed deeply. "It's not pretty, love..." Still, he turned back to the fire and soon brought her a bowl. He sat beside her with his own in case she needed any help, but she had been better off since he'd carved her a spoon with a wider handle that was much easier for her to hold til she got her dexterity back.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I know it’s not pretty but I have to face reality.” Fiona said as he brought her a bowl and a spoon, sitting near in case she needed help. “I want to know what I’m dealing with. You both have shielded me and I think I’m strong enough to take it.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I know you are. That's never been in doubt. It's just... A lot in the past year or so," Sam told her. "Now that they're healed shut, it's not as bad. But still."

Looking down at his own bowl, Sam felt restless. It was tough to simply sit by and wait in a war. Waiting for his wife to heal, waiting for the other battalions to liberate or neutralize the other clans, waiting for Kate to return, and most of all, waiting for the right time to hit Edinburgh. He'd been open about his worries for his father and uncles as they drew closer to freeing Inverness, and about their allies whom Royer would surely target.

"What'd you an' Markos talk about? Dragons, I know. But anything tha' might be useful fer Soma?" Sam asked to distract his racing mind.

 

[heartofcourage]

“Plenty that would be useful for him. Men like Markos have a wealth of information. You just have to be patient and sus out what is important. He told me plenty of what we need to know regarding their forces and Hesperus.” Fiona said, glancing up at Sam as she noticed his restlessness. “If I had been in better health, I might have gotten more.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'd offer t'talk to him a bit more, but somethin' tells me he'd only be interested in talkin' to a Caller or someone like Jani or Ezra. An' I'm not sure anyone else is ready t'be patient with him."

Setting his food aside, Sam leaned forward with his arms resting on his knees, hands clasped before him. "I need t'know more about this Hesperus... I don't know if I understand exactly what's happening around him."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona glanced over at him as Sam set aside his meal and got down to the heart of the matter. She pondered just how to explain what was happening so that he might understand on the same level that she and her Blackstone bloodline understood.

"When you were a child, I'm sure your Ma told you stories of great heroes and fairytales about their lives and exploits. When I was a child, grandpa told me the same stories about dragons. Hesperus was...a myth. An elder that was long gone to our knowledge. We were wrong." Fiona murmured as she continued with her meal. "With his age has come some rather disturbing abilities. Not to mention his sheer size. He spoke to me himself in Edinburgh, without Markos involved. When Schaller was wounded and I was screaming in pain, he spoke to me and knew who and what I was."

"He has told Markos that I, Fiona Margaret Blackstone, am the means to an end. What end...I don't know." She admitted, looking up at Sam. "And now he has abandoned Markos entirely. Used him for his worth and laid him aside."

 

[KieranSoares]

"An' this dragon is allied with Royer now..." Sam murmured. "So... because he's so much older, he's bigger an' stronger than any of our family?" He asked, nodding in Schaller's direction in particular as he was the eldest and largest alive that they knew. "How... how big? Schaller can rip down castle walls if 'e puts his mind to it, an' damn near melt stone when he's worked up enough. An' I barely know what his unique ability is. What's this Hesperus capable of? Do we 'ave any idea?"

Fiona could see Sam was worried, verging on fear. "If Hesperus is so much more dangerous than dragons we've ever faced... We need t'get as much information out of Markos as we can, an' quickly. I'll talk t'the kids about it. We can tackle this as a team instead of relyin' just on you, anger aside. I need you t'rest as much as you can, love. No' just for my sake. But when dragons are involved, we need your mind sharp t'help us save an' turn who we can."