The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

"I know... Better than anyone, I know. And I have hoped against hope that Hesperus might reconsider your offer to find him a peaceful place to sleep again, mostly for your sake. And any one of us in this family would gladly take your place to spare you the pain of having to face such a cruel situation... I hope that in the end, everyone can find some peace. I only wish it could be achieved in a gentler way." He curled in around her with a heavy sigh. "You were the one to remind me of mercy so long ago... If only Hesperus could see you the way I did back then."

 

[heartofcourage]

"He doesn't want to. There is something in his brain, something that is long...dead. Disturbed. He wants this in his very core." Fiona said softly as Schaller curled around her with his long body and tail. "And I know that even if we put him back to sleep, it would only be temporary in the end. If he woke later, it would start all over again. This has to be the way."

 

[KieranSoares]

"And pride and sickness have mixed to give him illusions about slaying or being slain by a Blackstone... it's like he wants to finish the battle he once fled from." Schaller closed his eyes, hating the fact that his partner had to pay the price for Margaret surviving her fight with Hesperus.

 

[heartofcourage]

"We will go into this battle together and I will do what is needed." She said, leaning her forehead against Schaller's maw. "My soul will crumble but I'll survive. I always do."

When she had gathered herself, she pulled back and looked down at the ring, admiring it for a moment. "You'll come to the banquet? And you'll bring Dzana and Rikke too. I won't take no for an answer."

 

[KieranSoares]

"We already agreed to it. As much of the family as possible should be there, " Schaller assured her with a slight smile. "As much I have grumbled about such gatherings in the past... I have missed seeing everyone together. And there are a few I haven't seen much since we reached England."

 

[heartofcourage]

Fiona hadn't smiled in so long that she was afraid she would forget how to do so. Even as Schaller smiled, she couldn't return it to him. Instead, she gently patted his maw and nodded at his promise that he would make sure that everyone was there. She wouldn't admit that she was already mentally connected to Hesperus. They were in a mental standoff, neither pushing the other into anything, but the duel had already begun. She felt him sliding along her nerves, testing and teasing her. She did the same to him, making sure that she wasn't the only one made to feel uncomfortable. It was exhausting and distracting, but it was all part of the little game being played.

 

[KieranSoares]

Schaller curled in a little tighter and settled, silently wishing he could offer more help as he knew Fiona had been constantly fighting for a while. But in lieu of being able to fight back for her, all he could give was the unconditional love they'd cultivated.

That night as supplies came in and Shani slipped away, much of the remaining warriors and family pitched in to help prepare things. The real cooking would start the next day, but there was plenty of prep work to be done and most of the non-essential staff and normal soldiers had been sent away already. It was the quiet sort of hum of activity common at Kayla's castle on days when the family would meet up for dinners, taken from the same monthly tradition back in Inverness under Brogan and then Sam after him.

In the later evening when folk headed to bed, patrols switched out among the Riders and Rangers. Things were quiet but everyone was growing more worried and tense. And the few who knew Shani was out there near Hesperus could barely rest at all.

Shani's journey through the Scottish countryside and forests was peaceful. Areas that were once patrolled by Edinburgh soldiers were now left unattended. Even when she came within sight of the city on the horizon, there were few signs of military activity outside the walls. Either they'd holed up in fear, or all the soldiers had followed Brennan Royer.

Hesperus's temporary nest built of wreckage topped with leaves and hay sat boastfully atop a highland hill overlooking Edinburgh's holdings. Hesperus had chosen the spot to make sure he couldn't be ignored. The locals in nearby villages were too terrified to come out into their fields, worried Hesperus might start burning it all any time. But Hesperus was much too preoccupied with his latest prisoner. Queen Astrid Royer had been a noble all her life and never known true danger til her husband decided to kill a king. Mateo Emile had been a tough nut to crack, but Brennan had used rumor, fear, and incredibly underhanded methods to ruin any loyalties Emile had had, then struck when the man's men would most likely defect or flee. Suddenly Brennan was High King and everything was dangerous for him and his family, confining them to Edinburgh most times. But even years of that didn't compare to being directly in the hands of the oldest, most dangerous dragon known to mankind.

Hesperus had torn into Edinburgh Castle to get Astrid, and then he'd settled in his new nest with her trapped there with him. She was mostly unharmed save some nasty bruises, but Hesperus had been demanding information of her tirelessly, trying to learn about Fiona in particular. Whenever he did allow her to rest, she was under constant watch or trapped within the nest while he hunted down wild game or local livestock and ate them by the dozen.

It was as Shani approached the nest area that she found Hesperus wasn't there at the moment. The high walls of the nest had been built up to contain the captured queen, but it wasn't too big a challenge to an accomplished athlete.

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani had chosen a position that gave her a perfect view of the nest, but also cover in case someone might have seen her. It was there that she studied and made her plans. The bottom level of the nest was made with crushed wagons and other debris, most likely houses, and he had given himself a layer of padding to sleep. She could have dug her way through the underside because of the gaps that the debris gave her, but if she was going to retrieve Astrid Royer, she was going to have to go up and over.

With the dragon nowhere in sight, she cautiously approached. Hiding at the base of the nest in the shadows, she gave it a few more moments before she started to climb and hoped that he wouldn't suddenly appear. Before cresting the very top, she armed herself with a sharp knife. It wouldn't do much against a dragon of Hesperus's size, but it at least made Shani feel better to know that she wasn't completely defenseless.

She panted as she reached the top of the nest, still on high alert that he might appear at any moment. Carefully pulling herself over the top, she straddled the edge and glanced inside to find Astrid.

 

[KieranSoares]

The current Queen of Scotland had known relative comfort most of her life, but comfort this was not. It seemed Hesperus had bothered to at least steal tapestries and hay and bedding from some poor farmer, giving Astrid a spot to stay at one edge of the nest with a makeshift lean-to to keep off the inevitable spring rain. Whatever he was up to, he had some interest in keeping her alive and somewhat healthy for now.

In a now-ragged gown and sheer shawl, the woman was miserably huddled under some stolen sheets and horse blankets to keep off the chill. She hadn't eaten since she'd been kidnapped. It wasn't life-threatening starvation yet, but it was deeply uncomfortable and it was hard to sleep even without Hesperus there hovering and taunting her.

Movement caught her eye and she instantly tried to pretend to be asleep. Then she realized it wasn't Hesperus. Her light blue eyes, partially shadowed by her dark hair, looked up to see Shani silhouetted against the starry sky. Shani's dark outfit and dagger in hand immediately reminded Astrid of Kell's men, a couple of whom her husband had captured in the course of the war. She recoiled back into the cover of the lean-to and muttered, "Ich nehme an, ein attentäter ist zumindest ein gnädigerer killer als ein behemoth..."

 

[heartofcourage]

When it still seemed that Hesperus wasn't about to swoop out of the sky, Shani slid down the face of the nest and slowly made her way to where the great dragon had made a sort of temporary house for the former queen.

"Wie lange ist er schon weg?" Shani asked her, looking around with her nerves on edge. "I can get you out of here but we have to go right this moment and you have to do as I say."

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's been away since sunset," Astrid muttered, seeing Shani didn't immediately attack. "He passes by often. He'll know within minutes."

Despite being faced with an enemy and possible death if they were found out, Astrid rose from the ramshackle shelter and stepped toward Shani. The moon and starlight revealed nasty but shallow raking gashes across the queen's ribs from her abduction. She was certain she'd die whether she stayed or went, but trying to escape would just speed the process along.

"You must be one of Aleister's elites," she murmured, allowing Shani to lead. "The one who killed Amadeus, aren't you?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Your sons have sent me." Shani said, ignoring Astrid's question. "They care what happens to you. If I can get you out of here, I will. Can you climb?"

 

[KieranSoares]

Astrid's brows furrowed in confusion and relief when Shani mentioned her sons. "My sons... Both of them?" But at Shani's question, she nodded. "I can manage it, I think." She followed Shani to the nest wall and looked up at it. With a little hope to fuel her, she leaned down and ripped the hem of her gown, wrapping her hands with the cloth to protect them from sharp edges and thorns. She followed Shani's lead, letting her show where good handholds were. It would be climbing down the other side that would be tough.

Just as they reached the top, starlight flashed gold in the distance and Shani caught sight of a titanic form headed their way at high speed. It was as if he knew his prisoner was escaping the instant she began to climb.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Shit." Shani murmured to herself as she saw Hesperus starting to return and she glanced over at Astrid. "Crouch down low and make yourself scarce. I'm going to distract him."

Shani crouched down low and started to run along the rim of the nest, her shadowed form showing against the starry night. She was going to gain his attention and hopefully outsmart him.

 

[KieranSoares]

Hesperus came speeding in and landed in a long, destructive slide that tore deep gouges into the land. "You will stop where you are, little sneak," he bellowed. "If you flee, I will lay waste to the entire forest til I find you!"

Astrid was nearly paralyzed in fear, but she managed to get down to the ground. With no other cover, she hid in the shadow of the nest on the slim hope the dragon would be too preoccupied with Shani to search for her.

Hesperus loomed over the nest, his mismatched eyes following Shani with as much annoyance as curiosity. "What's this, then? A child playing spy?" As he spoke, his chest began to glow and smoke billowed from the corners of his mouth and nose. He stalked along the edge of the nest watching Shani, like a cat watching a mouse stuck in a trap. "Come and talk with me, little mouse," he rumbled in a dangerously low tone. "Did Blackstone send you? Or did Royer change his mind?"

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani stopped running, turning to face the great dragon as he loomed over her. The others might have been terrified, but she showed him no fear. She was like her father in that respect. She would never let another see her emotions when she was working.

"No. Neither sent me." Shani answered, moving her dagger so that she could take a heartier swipe should Hesperus give her an opening. "They are afraid that you might see a rescue mission as a breech of your contract with Fiona Blackstone."

 

[KieranSoares]

Hesperus took a deep inhale, his chest glowing brighter, but his exhale was thankfully not fire. Still, drawing closer and closer with heat waves radiating off his body, it was almost unbearable to be close to him. "You smell like a Northerner," he growled with a smirk. "But if you say Blackstone didn't send you... then someone in the North did. Katherine Ghis? Khelt Aleister? Who is brave enough to risk annihilation of the Northern camps for a coward's queen?"

He placed his huge, clawed hands on the edge of the nest either side of Shani. "I am very curious about you Northerners... and I am very impressed with you, tiny half-blood. Few have been brave enough to face me as you do now. You and Blackstone are the first not to flinch since Margaret's time."

He lowered his head, but seemed to keep back just enough not to allow her near his eyes or anything vulnerable. "Let us talk. Tell me who sent you, and maybe we might have a civil conversation."

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani let out a short breath as Hesperus exhaled and she wasn't engulfed in flames. Drawing close, she kept her wits about her as he tried to decide what her game was and just who had sent her to free Astrid.

"I've never been to the North before now." Shani murmured as he teased her with a smirk full of sharp teeth. "I was raised far away in Mongolia. Arslan Khan helped to raise me. If you've been asleep as long as they say, you might not know the Khan's."

She glanced over at the wickedly sharp claws that curled into the sides of the nest just on either side of her. "I came on my own. There was no order, though they considered it. Her Majesty did not want to issue an order and Khelt Aleister did not send me."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Mongolia... Perhaps it is time I saw Asia as well. Tell me, why does the Khan send a child to rescue a queen of some far-flung little isle? I know of the Northern allies, but the Royer clan is no friend to anyone now that their own allies have been mostly made to kneel."

Hesperus's eyes darted over as he caught sight of a small shape trying to flee to the woods, and he smirked to himself. "Hm... Should I chase her down? Royer would rather his collateral lived, I imagine."

 

[heartofcourage]

"She's of no consequence in the scheme of things." Shani said as she turned her heard to watch Astrid run for the woods. "A former queen who will soon be without a husband and a country."

"You misunderstand me, sir. The Khan did not send me. He raised me. The North had an interest in the well being of Astrid Royer, but they are terrified of pissing you off." Shani spoke bluntly. "I suppose I'm not scared of making you angry. What is there to lose? You can't warp my mind like you did the Emperor. You have a death wish that only a Blackstone can solve. What did I have to lose by coming here?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Oh, my dear child, I may not be able to delve into your limited mind, but I can still ruin you. You don't need to be a Caller," he chuckled, taking a seat before her. "But you intrigue me. Why get involved if you truly have little to do with the North? Why risk your life knowing you could be ash in an instant if I wanted it?"

 

[heartofcourage]

"Is that not what my life is for? You see me as young, but I'm nearly 18. I've trained my entire life to be in the employ of Khelt Aleister. Is my life not dispensable in some way? Even if it were at the hands of a dragon, burned to ashes, it would be no different than if I died at the end of another assassins sword. I came here to do my duty and I did it. Astrid Royer is freed to return to her sons. You have a few short hours of amusement with me...and then I suppose you decide my fate." Shani spoke with the same certainty that she always did, never once flinching even as he took a seat in front of her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"So then you  are connected to House Aleister." Hesperus shrugged slightly. "To be honest, child, I have little interest in prisoners and parleys. Royer handed his wife over to keep me on his side, but I fully intended to rip her apart and rain her pieces over your camp before the battle. But if those pieces belonged to someone the North cared about... Perhaps I could get a real fight out of them. A challenge for the first time in half a millennium."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Passe." Shani said, rolling her eyes as the dragon spoke of raining her body down over the camps. "You already have a fight. She's been training for weeks. They all have. Trying to annoy them with blood lust won't make the fight much better."

 

[KieranSoares]

"But it will entertain  me," he insisted with a grin. "But you strike me as more interesting than most of the small ones I've come across lately. What is your name?"

It was clear she'd piqued his curiosity, unused to people who weren't terrified of him or at least respectful of his legend.