The North (Closed)

[KieranSoares]

As more guards left the keep to answer the alarms, Shani would notice a few didn't budge from their places. With what she knew from Qira's rough maps of the castle, most of these particular guards were posted outside offices, bedchambers, and the kitchens. The kitchens had to be carefully watched to avoid any rebel deciding to poison Royer's men, and the offices and bedchambers were where sensitive information and important people spent most of their time.

By the time Shani had gotten a look at most of the main hallways, one detail stood out. There were not one or two, but four guards standing watch around a door to the castle's four-story tower, its most defining feature. Qira had mentioned the tower had once served as barracks and an armory for Lochlan O'Hennessey's elite. In Cahal's time, the top two floors served as a barracks and armory for his watchmen, a set of offices for staff on the second floor, and a library on the ground floor. And the guards outside the door to the tower stairway and library were all in recognizable elite Rider armor with a map of Scotland etched into their breastplates. Each was armed with a crossbow on their back, a dagger, and a shortsword.

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani stood in silence as the stared at the four men guarding the door to the tower so closely. In her mind, she saw each move she was going to make before she made it. If one fell, the others would go like dominos. They were taught to work together for a common good while Shani was to work alone and efficiently.

Her heart was hammering in her chest as she reached to her bandolero and unhooked a knife, her fingers going into the hole at the end as she tested the weight. She was the granddaughter of a great Khan. She was an assassin. The Lord Protector of Scotland had the upmost faith in her. This was for the queen and her kin. She was death.

Shani twirled the knife on her finger before she let it launch. It sank neatly into the neck of the front guard, the man dropping to his knees as red blood poured over his breastplate. Just as she had wanted, the other three turned their heads. It all happened in slow motion in her mind as she emerged from the darkness with her dagger drawn. She was upon the first man before the other two had even realized that the fourth was dead. Her dagger plunged into the man's neck from behind, dropping him to his knees before he collapsed completely. Reaching to her chest, Shani grabbed a glass vial from her arsenal and crushed it in her hand, the fine powder blown into one man's face as he turned to look at the chaos to his left. He was blinded immediately, gasping for air in moments. She moved swiftly to the last survivor, her face paling as the dark figure was upon him. She weighed barely anything as she grabbed him by the breastplate and held on, her dagger slicing through his neck as if it were made of paper.

When it was all said and done, Shani stood in the midst of four bodies without another weapon drawn and without an alarm given.

 

[KieranSoares]

Despite the noise outside, the hallway seemed deathly silent as the last man fell with a quiet thud. As Shani considered her work and turned to the tower door, she could start to make out voices within. A key from a guard's belt was all it took to open the door to the inner stairway and the library, and Shani could make out the conversation within.

"This isn't some coincidence. Katherine Ghis knows by now that we've taken over Wick. We should've reinforced every single entrance the second we set up here. If we lose the city or any of the prisoners, Royer will-"

"Will what? The only thing he's king of now is a tiny fishing clan up north, and you can bet they'll be conquered under House Aleister before autumn at the most. I say we take one of the Dunlands to Edinburgh and give them back in exchange for a pardon. Royer's fucked, but we can still get out of this."

Two men in Dyne Rider armor stood on either side of a table in the center of the library looking over a number of documents. It was all maps and likely reports and orders. The taller of the two who'd offered the idea to free a Dunland brother stepped away from the table to pick up and shoulder a small pack.

"If you so much as move either one of them," the shorter man snarled, "we're both dead."

"Then run now and I'll do it alone," the taller grunted, turning to head for the stairs that spiraled around and up the tower.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Or, you can give them both to me." Shani murmured as she stepped forward. "I will take them for you and you both and go."

She glanced towards the door that she had just come through as both of the riders stopped and looked for the guards to come. "They're all dead. It's in my best interest to leave you alone if you can show me where the prisoners are being held."

 

[KieranSoares]

The shorter man turned and drew his blade in an instant, but hesitated as he took in Shani's dark form and the men who'd died so silently. The taller of the two was paused on the first step, a hand on his own blade. They glanced at each other briefly before lowering their weapons, knowing they were facing one of House Aleister's elite assassins.

"There's only one brother here," the taller Rider said slowly, raising his hands and stepping to the side of the staircase. "Cahal Dunland is north of the city at an outpost. They'll be moving him north to Royer's home in the Shetland Islands. They're leaving this morning, if they haven't already left. But his brother is upstairs." The Rider took a key from his belt and offered it out. "I don't want any part of this anymore. Those fools still standing with Royer are suicidal."

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani held her hand out for the key as she considered the rider's words. "I can make you one offer, but I promise that if you betray the queen, I will be the least of your worries. Fly to the outpost and find Cahal Dunland. The both of you together can bring him back to her majesty. There are other Dyne riders in her employ and a gift such as that would go a long way in getting into her good graces and back with your friends."

 

[KieranSoares]

The Rider turned the key over gingerly and looked to his companion. "I don't know if we can get him away from the others without tipping them off..."

"We can try. At worst, they catch wise and we run," the other muttered. They exchanged nods and got out of Shani's way. "There's one more upstairs with Dunland. He's one of Royer's favorites, one of our best, and he has orders to take Dunland's head to Katherine Ghis if the North attacks here," he warned before he and his companion headed toward the door out of the library.

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani watched the two of them go, her eyes turning towards the locked door. A man that would put up a greater fight was on the other side of the portal and she prepared herself mentally for what she was about to face as she unlocked the portal and entered further into the tower.

 

[KieranSoares]

The two floors above the library seemed long empty and dark, only furniture left behind and a meager amount of spare equipment for guards. The top floor, however, was dimly lit by a hearth as Shani came up the stairs. There was no additional door to the former barracks, so she could see inside right away. Bunk beds were all shoved to one side, and all the footlockers were stacked out of the way.

One bunk bed had been taken apart and a single bed placed against the opposite wall with two side tables. Laying on his side with his back to the entryway was an older man, tall and far too thin. One side table was home to an untouched portion of potatoes and a bowl of simple soup. The other was topped by an array of medicines and a glass and pitcher of water. A length of chain coming from under the sheets suggested Abel was shackled in place, though it was unclear whether he was even capable of getting up.

Sitting in a chair near the hearth was another of Royer's Riders in the same style of armor as his compatriots, but he wasn't just sitting idly or distracted. His helmet was on, the visor flipped down and ready, and he held a sword Shani would recognize from growing up in Mongolia: a jian from China. And strapped to his thigh was one of the Chinese pistols, likely already loaded and ready for anything. Since hearing the alarm bells at the prison, the Rider was ready for anything. He was glancing back and forth between the windows and the entry, his sword resting across his lap.

 

[heartofcourage]

The pistol was what had her attention immediately. Shani knew the damage that one might cause and the last thing that she wanted was to be permanently maimed. Her armor, though stout, was made for face to face combat and not a blast. Shani thought for a moment about what she was going to do before she acted. There were so many choices to make, but none felt right.

She withdrew her short sword, intending to meet this man in close combat. It was the only thing that she felt truly comfortable with.

 

[KieranSoares]

The instant Shani's dark form entered the doorway, the Rider was up with his sword at the ready. She could see dark eyes peering out from behind the helm, unblinking and stoic. His stance was wide and low and his left arm- outfitted with a heavy gauntlet to act as an efficient shield- was raised protectively ahead of his neck and face. His overall bearing reminded Shani more of the Mongolian warriors she'd ridden with than the European knights that seemed to be more common among Royer's favorites.

"You have a chance to walk away," the man warned in a heavy Chinese accent as he squared up in the open space. His off-hand reached into the front of his armor, and he pulled free a whistle. "Turn around and I'll let you leave quietly. One wrong move and a dragon will tear the roof off this tower to get to you."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I don’t wish to fight.” Shani said softly. “I have come for him, however, which means that this is inevitable.”

"I'm from Mongolia. Your accent is familiar to me." Shani murmured, staring at the soldier for a long moment. "It's a pity that two children of the great empires should be placed in this position."

 

[KieranSoares]

Caught completely off-guard by Shani's words, the Rider hesitated briefly. Then, in fluent Mongolian, he said, "So you must be the Aleister girl who killed Hess. Our spymaster warned us about you."

Shani was already earning a reputation thanks to rumor and loose ends who'd seen her at London and been allowed to flee. Like Kell and Qira in their youth, she would come to be known and feared, but she was always long gone before anyone realized it was her.

The Rider still had his blade and whistle at the ready, but he was visibly hesitating at meeting a foe who was once practically his neighbor "... Who is your Khan?" He asked quietly.

 

[heartofcourage]

“I won’t deny it. I was there when Hess took his own life. He took the coward’s way out.” Shani murmured as the man seemed to hesitate at the idea that she was also from his home.

“Arslan Khan. He calls me his granddaughter.” She said softly. “Why are you here? Why serve Royer?”

 

[KieranSoares]

"He bought my freedom from a black powder merchant that I was indentured to. My partner too." The man flipped up the visor of his helmet, and Shani was met with a multitude of scars surrounding hardened, dark eyes. He was no older than twenty-five, but it seemed he'd once been attacked or severely abused. A series of whip scars painted the side of his face, so much so that it seemed a miracle he still had both eyes. He sported a patchy beard and he had weather-darkened skin, making him look especially rugged.

"Arslan Khan always treated my people gently, even though he could've raided us without any real consequence. The most peaceful warlord we'd ever seen. And now here you stand, the first assassin I've ever seen who doesn't kill first and ask questions later. That will get you killed one day."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Perhaps it will.” Shani agreed with a nod. “I’ve already killed the four guards, but not your fellow riders. None of the riders asked for this. It’s grotesque that he bought each of you and put you into another kind of slavery. He even took away your names in an effort to make you feel loyal.”

“Let me take Lackland. He’s ill and not meant to be a prisoner of war.”

 

[KieranSoares]

The Rider stared at Shani for a long, silent moment, considering what he was about to gain or lose. The North would win, but as long as Royer was alive, he would be hunted if he betrayed his failing king. Finally, he made his decision by sheathing his blade. "I will call my partner. Lord Dunland has been bedridden since Wick was taken over. He'll need to be carried."

He turned toward Abel, deciding to trust that Shani wouldn't just kill him when his back was turned. "My name is Liu Xiang. I hope you will put in a good word for me to the Rider Queen." He leaned down and carefully began gathering Abel up in his blankets. Abel didn't seem to react, speaking to his deteriorating condition.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Wait." Shani said as the rider gathered Abel in his arms to transport him. "If you will fly him straight to Edinburgh, I will make sure that you can return home. At least return straight to the Khan. He would treat you like a tribal member if you wished."

She reached into one of her pockets and withdrew a small coin, something that each of Arslan's honored grandchildren carried. "You take this to him. You have my word that you will be taken care of."

 

[KieranSoares]

The man considered the coin for a moment, then graciously accepted it. "I don't know when I'll go back... but your kindness will not go unrepaid," he promised. Once he had Abel wrapped up securely in blankets, he walked over to the window. He didn't use his whistle to call his dragon, not wanting to draw too much attention. But he was able to get the dragonness's attention with just signals for her to approach quietly. Soon the forest-green female with a golden underbelly came up. At Xiang's order, she stood on her hind legs and offered a hand up to the window. Xiang carefully placed Abel in her palm before climbing out the window after him. He briefly looked back at Shani.

"We can drop you somewhere if you need," he offered, glancing around to see if anyone was watching outside.

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani watched him as he loaded Abel into the dragon’s claw and she shook her head.

“I have somewhere to be and someone to meet.” Shani said. “I’ll have to take care of those that stubbornly remain.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Then you'll want to go quick. With all this commotion, they'll be locking the city down." Xiang climbed out with his partner's help, got settled in his saddle, and gave Shani one last nod before they darted skyward. They headed northward first to avoid too much suspicion, and would round back to turn south once they were a ways away and could go out over the sea.

The distant din of the prison had only grown louder, and alarm bells all over Wick were ringing now.

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani watched the dragon fly, hoping that she hadn't made a terrible mistake in offering the man a way out. She had the capacity to be a killer, but she wasn't exactly like her father or Kell. She wanted to talk a situation out, if possible, to save death for the occasion that called for it. Shani turned and left the tower, walking through the middle of the crumbling keep as chaos reigned around her. Men were too busy trying to secure their positions that they never spared a second glance at her.

Shani paused in the keep's entrance, the feeling of eyes on her skin. She scanned around, her eyes pausing on the figure that was staring back at her from the depths of the stables in front of her. Her eyes caught sight of the crossbow moments after that. The force of the impact spun her around, flinging her slight form back through the keep door. She immediately curled into a ball to lessen the size of the target that she made if someone else took aim. When a second shot didn't come quickly, she reached out to push herself off the floor and found her left arm completely lame.

"No..." She muttered as she clawed with her right hand to get herself out of danger.

 

[KieranSoares]

Rushing boots came thudding up the cobbled path from the stables, joined by the creaking of a string being pulled back. The figure darted around the corner, a new bolt leveled at Shani as she was faced with someone in completely unfamiliar garb. They wore elements of sea blue and gold on their light leather armor, and wore a visored partially-steel helm with a ridged, aerodynamic front like many Rider mercenaries.

"Ven aquí! Tengo uno!" The man shouted back out the door before delivering a harsh kick to Shani's back in an attempt to pin her down. "La hemos estado esperando, Norteña," he sneered at her. "Stila se alegrará de verte."

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani gritted her teeth against the kick, her right hand going to her hidden knives. She rallied against the pain and swiped violently through the air to create some distance between the both of them. She stumbled backwards, charging to her feet in order to run. She was only feet outside of the keep door when she was air born again, thrown hard into the dirt of the courtyard by a monstrous force. She was only free for a moment before a great, vicious dragon was standing on top of her, his wicked teeth hovering over her face as he blew his hot breath over her cheek.

"Hola, chica." A woman's voice sounded as Shani opened her eyes despite the pain. "The little cub, we finally meet."

Shani found it hard to focus against the searing pain as the armored woman crouched down next to her head, her fingers cupping her chin and forcing her to look at her. "Pretty enough to be a queen. Stupid enough to be an assassin."

"You see, assassins, where I come from lead a very short life. We take care of them the moment that they come scurrying from the darkness like the cockroaches they are." The dragon growled darkly, gnashing his teeth as Shani held her breath. "It might be your lucky day though. I would hate to know that the new prince lost his little love so quickly after taking the throne."

Shani sucked in a breath between her teeth, bile rising in her throat. "I'm..."

"No, no." Stila murmured softly, placing her finger against Stila's lips. "I'm not interested in what you have to say. What I have to say is for your father. Be a dear and call for him."

Shani's eyes turned towards the other woman with confusion before she let loose an agonizing scream as Stila suddenly began pushing against the bolt stuck in her shoulder. Shani felt it move, pain following in the wake as it ever so slowly pushed through the back of her shoulder. Stila was watching with a soft smile, reassuring as she stroked her cheek.

"Do you think he heard? Will he answer his cub's cries like he did when you were a baby?" Stila asked softly. "Or do we need to be louder?"

"No..." Shani gasped, another scream issuing as another bolt was suddenly sent into the meat of her right thigh.

There was immediate pressure against the new bolt this time, Stila slowly twisting it as Shani screamed against gritted teeth. "You have to be loud, hija, so he knows just how urgent this is."

 

[KieranSoares]

The violet dragon Altair rumbled lowly, ready at any moment for permission to rip Shani apart and devour her. He was crouched like a cat ready to pounce on a wounded mouse, his strange, sharpened teeth bared and his chest glowing with internal fire. But as Shani tried to hold back her screams, Altair suddenly jerked away with a snap of his jaws, hissing at a large, dark figure who had stepped into the courtyard and came walking calmly up the path. Qira pulled back his hood and came to a halt, glancing at the other Rider who leveled his crossbow at the Panther.

"There is no need for this," Qira murmured, his perfectly calm mask on despite seeing his own daughter badly wounded and being tortured. His cloak settled around him and he leveled a stoic gaze at Stila. "I am here." Internally, every fiber of Qira's being screamed at him to do something- anything- to save Shani. But he knew all too well that Stila was not a woman to be reckless or emotional with.