The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

Fiona sat there with Dzana, letting her eyes close for a short nap. Keeping up a mental wall was exhausting as well as the constant press of voices that had happened since they had entered Inverness. It was a lot for a single Caller to take in. Her slumber only lasted a short time before she opened her eyes and looked towards Sam, considering something.

"I wonder if the market still comes to Inverness." She murmured softly. "It would be easy enough to slip into the keep proper if there were a number of people there."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I've got some furs we could use as cover, say we're in the market to sell," Sam murmured as he gathered twigs and branches for a fire. He wouldn't bother with a tent. They could sleep beneath the dragons' wings be able to move at a moment's notice. "But I'm worried someone'll recognize us an' word will spread."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Well, I could spend this evening rearranging your face if I made you feel better.” Fiona said as she heard Schaller snort beside her. “But I’d rather not. You’re too handsome.”

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam paused, caught off guard with a little smile. "Well, glad t'know my wife still finds me handsome, grey an' grizzled as I'm gettin'."

"Should we let you two be alone?" Dzana asked dryly with a raised brow and a twinge of a smile. The levity was needed in the middle of all the seriousness.

"Hush. I should ask the same of you, all cozied up with tha' old man," Sam teased, rising as Dzana lowered her head to breathe a tiny flame into his collection of branches to start their fire for them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona watched Sam fret around, working to get their camp up and going with Dzana's help. The fire was soon going, a meal heating over it. He was worried and his nervous energy put her on edge. She let out a sigh and finally said something.

"Samuel." She murmured, giving him the look that told him that she wouldn't put up with a night full of fretting. "Come here, love."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam looked up from nervously trying to organize things, as he often did when anxious. Setting their bags aside, he stepped over and knelt beside her, taking her hand. "Sorry, love..." He murmured, knowing already what she was getting at.

 

[heartofcourage]

She pulled Sam down beside her, wrapping herself up with an arm around her shoulders. She nuzzled against his throat as she forced him to sit there and relax.

"We have a few options to get into the keep, but we have to talk them through to figure out what the lesser of all the evils actually is." She said softly.

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam nuzzled back against her, soon lifting her into his lap to hold her just a little bit closer. "Most direct way'd be through the kitchen door on the east side," Sam murmured. "We could try t'do what Andre did fer you an' pretend t'be staff, but in such a small city, everyone knows everyone. Wouldn't be surprised if some people who knew us were still here. We could try t'distract with Schaller an' Dzana, get in during the panic. Or... I could go in requesting an audience for a parley, an' you could sneak in. But I don' know if your hands are strong enough yet to tear open the tunnel."

 

[heartofcourage]

“A parley so that you too can be crucified in the courtyard.” Fiona murmured, looking up at Sam. “I know my hands aren’t worth much right now, but they’ve got to be strong enough for something. I’m small enough to pry my way into the tunnels through an opening. I just don’t like the idea of you using yourself for bait.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don' know another way tha' doesn't endanger someone else," Sam sighed. "If we get caught sneaking in, they'll kill us on sight before they realize who we are. We've lost several scouts an' agents tha' way. An' their defenses are almost on par with Royer's despite Inverness bein' so much smaller. We have to have a distraction to even hope to get in."

Meeting her gaze, Sam murmured. "It's up to you, love. We can have Dzana an' Schaller distract while we get in an' hope Inverness's dragon defenses aren't as good as Edinburgh. Or I can call for a parley to try to pull attention peacefully. Unless you think somethin' else might work."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Dzana...what are your thoughts?" Fiona asked, glancing up at Sam's dragon as she loomed over them. "Is he crazy for wanting to be the distraction? Am I crazy for thinking that I can get into the tunnels on my own?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think you're both crazy for wanting to sneak into a keep whose current inhabitants hold your former titles, and whom have proved to be absolutely vicious thus far."

Dzana shook her head slowly. "While I don't doubt Samuel's diplomacy, I do think he should be beside you when you go down into the tunnel. There's no telling if it's still sealed off and unguarded, and there may be things you'll need his help with, not just because of your wounds. The panic of a dragon attack- especially two very recognizable dragons- will cause these people to muster all their forces in preparation for an invasion. They won't know it's just us at first. That will be a better opening, I think."

 

[heartofcourage]

"All of them are usurpers." Fiona murmured as Dzana gave her opinion in the matter. "They're lucky I don't turn you both on them and let the fire even the score. If I didn't care about the keep, I would strongly consider that. Sam might have different opinions."

"What we have on our side with the dragons is that they don't have a dragon or a caller to defend the city. If Dzana and Schaller stay far enough above Inverness, they would be out of range for any weapons that might cause them harm." She thought aloud, considering their plan. "It might just work."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We don't know yet if they have Riders," Sam murmured before looking to Schaller and Dzana. "If you two are willing t'take the risk... We'd need to you charge in and start some fires. Preferably away from residential areas. In the initial panic, Fiona an' I can slip in. Getting out... Well, we'll have to play tha' by ear."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Dinner's about to burn." Fiona mentioned, glancing towards the food that was warming on the fire. "I'll help you dish it up."

She kissed Sam's cheek and pulled herself up, letting out a long sigh as she stretched and then turned to look at Dzana and Schaller. She knew that Schaller wouldn't like the plan of just leaving her and Sam alone in Inverness so soon after she had been captive in Edinburgh. When he woke, she would have a long talk with him about it.

 

[KieranSoares]

As the forest grew dark while they ate, Schaller eventually stirred, muttering to Dzana about not meaning to doze off. The pair held their own quiet conversation as Dzana explained what he missed, Schaller glancing at Fiona every so often as his expression grew even more grave than usual. But just as Sam was getting ready to clean things up, Dzana suddenly bolted to her feet and leapt into the underbrush with a snarl. A yelp of surprise turned into panicked whimpering and pleaded. Sam's blade was drawn as Dzana returned with a familiar little Fox grasped in one hand.

"We have a guest," Dzana muttered with a growl.

"Ah, shit," Sam cursed to himself, recognizing the young mason. Looking at Fiona, Sam sighed and sheathed his blade. "Alright, kit... Looks like we need t'have a talk."

The little smoky red Fox was curled into a ball in Dzana's hand as Dzana opened her claws. Knowing she wouldn't be able to outrun the great dragon, the kit slowly climbed down to face Sam looking sheepish. "Sorry..." she muttered, messing with the frayed edge of a thin grey scarf about her neck. "So it really is you..." She glanced at Fiona and then at Schaller who now loomed over his Rider protectively after Dzana had gone on the attack. "I thought you looked familiar, but there's no mistaking Lord Schaller."

"What do you want?" Schaller growled.

"Nothing," the kit said quickly. "I just... I wanted to see if you were here to take Inverness back. I wanted... It's stupid... I wanted to help."

"Help?" Sam asked with a quirked eyebrow. "Little kit, this isn't house chores. You don't just 'help' overthrow a king. You're no warrior, I can see that. You're an artist. I'm sure you'd be useful for buildin' defenses an' homes, but a mason isn't meant for battle and subterfuge."

"But maybe I know something useful," she insisted. "My parents and grandparents talk about the haven they grew up in all the time. I want that back for them. I can help! I know how the city works and I can get into places most people can't."

"We're not usin' you as a spy." Sam sighed heavily. "But maybe you can tell us some things you already know."

"Anything," the kit assured him, looking between Sam and Fiona. "Ask me anything."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Ziva, right?" Fiona asked from her spot by the campfire. "Surely you know that you should never sneak up on a camp that you are unfamiliar with. It might mean your death the next time. Young lady, you didn't even come armed."

Fiona looked at the young fox, shaking her head at her bravado and hubris. "Come on next to the fire. If we're going to talk, at least you can make yourself comfortable."

 

[KieranSoares]

Ziva ducked her head a bit at Fiona's scolding, her still too large ears tilting back. But at her welcome, Ziva scampered away from Dzana and took a seat across from Fiona.

Sam lumbered over as well, continuing his task. "Here," he muttered, dishing up the last of their dinner and handing a bowl to Ziva with a couple rolls of bread. "You're thin as a rail, lass... "

Ziva looked at him for a long moment as if unsure whether he was serious. She seemed on the verge of tears before she began eating slowly, savoring every bite like it might be her last.

Sam looked at Fiona again, his face telling her silently that he was a bit heartbroken for the little Fox who clearly hadn't had a full meal in a while. Despite his frustration with her, she was about Soma's age and Sam was nothing if not a fatherly type, protective of any young person even if he didn't know them.

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona shared a glance with Sam before she turned her focus back on Ziva. She waited until the little fox was almost done with her meal before she spoke again.

"We need you to be honest with us, little one. Did you tell anyone about us?" Fiona asked her. "There's no trouble if you did."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't say a word," Ziva promised, but then added quietly, "but my aunt knew something had happened... she can see right through me."

"But you didn't give her names or details?"

"No, she just made me promise her that I was safe and nothing dangerous happened."

"You had no way of knowing it would be safe around us," Sam reminded her. "There are people who'd kill you just to make sure you didn't talk, little kit."

"But you're..." Ziva glanced around. "You... you know. You wouldn't hurt an innocent person from Inverness."

Sam shook his head. "Try not to, anyway... Doesn't make it any safer here for you. If anyone else found us, they'd assume you were with us an' kill you too."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona silently looked over the little fox, sipping her heated cider from one of Sam's mugs as the young woman spoke about the both of them in glowing heroic ways. It was true that Fiona was both nightmare and hero to different people and it seemed that the tribes there in Inverness that had been driven into the woods saw her as the latter.

"Our dragons almost killed you." Fiona said as she looked over at Dzana and Schaller. "After I was tortured in Edinburgh, they aren't going to let people sneak into our camp."

She saw the way that the young fox seemed chastised and embarrassed, and she let out a small sigh. "Listen, Ziva, you aren't a warrior. You are underfed as a means of control by the current king. It's to make sure that the were can't fight alongside us. We can't tell you why we are here, but you could help us by telling us about the inner workings of the keep."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We're... Not allowed there. Our Elder went once to negotiate terms of peace with the king, which we technically now live under, I guess. He lets us live in the woods and trade at the market, but he doesn't protect us. To him, we're vagabonds, not citizens."

"Bastard," Sam growled. "So... You don't know anything about what it's like inside?"

"Not really... Though the two youngest Princes sneak out all the time to join my people for meals and celebrations. If you could find how they do it without getting caught... That might help."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Or, we could take it a step further and find these two young princes." Fiona murmured, glancing over at her husband. "If there was anyone to parley with it would be two that are sympathetic to the were."

 

[KieranSoares]

Sam looked at Fiona for a long moment, considering the idea. "Ziva... How often do these two visit?"

"Every other day practically." Ziva looked between the two. "I saw them earlier. They should still be with the tribe. I could take you to meet them."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Let's go." Fiona said as she stood and made her way to Schaller to retrieve her sword belt and a long cloak. "You both stay here and keep watch." She said to the dragons, gently touching both on the maw as she passed.