The North (Closed)

[heartofcourage]

"We can only hope to come up with a plan." Riley said as she leaned into Andre's side, kissing his cheek to let him know that she was there for him when he needed her.

Across the keep, Shani slowly woke, the smell of food making her belly rumble. She was dazed but wasn't feeling the pain of her wounds, which was a small mercy. "Mama?" Shani called out, remembering that Rissa had been the last person to be with her. When Rissa didn't respond, she wondered why she was alone.

 

[KieranSoares]

After a few seconds, the door to Shani's room opened and Brogan stepped in. "Hey," he said with a worried smile. "Sorry, I was talking to Jan. We didn't want to disturb you." As he spoke, Jan left and Bo closed the door before coming to Shani's bedside. "I sent Rissa off to eat," he explained, pausing beside Rissa's chair beside the bed. He laid a hand over Shani's and reached up to brush a lock of hair out of her face. "Can I get anything for you?" He asked softly. He'd already taken a moment earlier to deal with his initial panic about Shani being badly wounded again, but he'd promised himself he'd get her back on her feet just like before.

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani was dazed, staring straight ahead and as she gathered her wits about her. She had been expecting her ma to come back, but Bo was there just as he had promised her. "I could try and eat." She said softly, leaning her head back against the pillows.

"I screwed up, Bo. I screwed up terribly." Her blue eyes found his and she squeezed his hand tightly. "Just after Da finally gave me my knives. I didn't see the man with the crossbow."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Qira gave me an idea of what happened," Brogan sighed, taking a seat beside her. "Given where Stila's from, we gathered that the man who caught you off-guard was a Galician mercenary from the northwest of Spain. If Stila's from the same guild... They're no joke. They're from a group that raise their kids to be killers from birth, kind of like Da was. They're employed all over Spain to hunt escaped slaves, capture new ones, and hunt down bounties for the nobles. We've never dealt with people like that. So... I don't think you were ready for that kind of enemy." He didn't want Shani to blame herself entirely, but he also feared the next time she went up against Stila or her fellows.

 

[heartofcourage]

"I'll be ready next time." Shani muttered as Bo explained what he knew about the situation. "It'll never happen again."

She winced as she shifted to get comfortable, the wound in her should pulling from where Alex had worked to save her left arm. If the pointed bolt had been only shifted slightly, she would have instantly been dead.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We'll worry about that once you're on your feet." Brogan leaned in to kiss her cheek and stood again. "For now, we're on pretty high alert. Between what Stila knew about Qira, and Sam noticing something off among the medical staff, we know there's someone feeding Stila information. So everyone goes everywhere in pairs from here on out til Da says otherwise." He walked to the door, calling a nearby guard over to request a meal for Shani. When he closed the door again, he returned to her side and offered, "I have to admit, though, this is a much better use of my time than arguing with some of the lords that have come crawling out of the woodwork demanding Ma's attention. I'm starting to see why Ma can be such a hardass. She has to be with these idiots running around. And they really don't like the idea of a Wolf Prince."

 

[heartofcourage]

"What?" Shani asked, her eyes turning to Brogan as he stated that there was an investigation on going into who was feeding information to Stila's network of mercenaries. "I have to see my Da."

She threw the covers from her legs, struggling to stand on a leg that had recently been wounded. "I need to find out what happened."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Absolutely not," Brogan carefully pushed Shani back into place. "I'll have someone get him. You'll only hurt yourself worse if you start running around right now." Once he'd replaced her blanket, he sent off another guard to fetch Qira. Within minutes, the great Panther opened the door with a worried furrow of his brows.

"Shani?" He murmured, glad to see her awake but concerned that Bo had sent someone to get him so quickly.

"She got riled up when I told her about the security breach," Brogan told him, letting Qira take his chair to sit beside Shani. Qira naturally took her hand as soon as he was settled.

"I told you to keep it quiet for now so she could rest, Bo," Qira muttered.

"You told me what Stila said. Shani's a possible target in the future, she needs to know what's going on," Brogan insisted calmly, crossing his arms. "Even if there's someone always here with her, there's still a threat."

Qira sighed quietly and gave a single nod before waving Brogan away and turning his attention back to his daughter. "Things are locked down for now. Kate's imposed a curfew, and we're re-vetting the staff new and old," he explained. "At least for the moment, we're trying to keep everything quiet and calm."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Riled up is an understatement. If there's been a breech of security, I need to be there to help you." Shani insisted as her father seemed less than impressed that Brogan had let that detail slip. "Is Ma safe? Are you safe?"

Her mind was racing at the possibilities that there was someone close to the family that could harm them and she was laid up like an invalid.

 

[KieranSoares]

"We have made it clear to everyone that they need to be in pairs at all times," Qira explained. "No exceptions. Your mother is with Kate and Kell right now. Even I'm not going anywhere alone. At the moment... we believe we have a mole among the medical staff, but we haven't seen any signs of someone looking to attack. That may change soon depending on our response to Stila's demands."

"Soma's trying to come up with a plan. And some of the Callers are discussing what might be done about that dragon, Altair," Bo added.

"Little cub, you cannot help physically in your condition," Qira told her quietly. "You would be a liability. I know I haven't set a good example, and I have tried to be better myself. But when we are badly wounded, we must step aside for others to take our place. And with you being a potential target, I need you to watch out for yourself right now. The more you rest and heal, the faster I can get you back up to speed."

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani pursed her lips as her father told her that she was staying put to heal. She wanted to argue, but along with being her father, he was one of those over her in the ranks. She was beholden to listen to him.

"I don't have to agree with it." Shani muttered. "And the moment I'm well enough, I'm out of this bed and back to duty."

 

[KieranSoares]

"You will be back on duty when Alex clears you," Qira told her firmly. "If you want to help in the meantime, you may work with our scribes and intermediaries. No arguments, and no going behind my back. Not to mention, you are still too young and inexperienced for this level of subterfuge. I need you to heal so we can continue training."

 

[heartofcourage]

The look that Shani gave was the most mutinous that she had ever mustered, but she slowly nodded her head. "Yes, sir." She said softly as a knock sounded at the door and soon a servant was bringing in a meal.

"Thank you." Shani said softly as the servant nodded and was escorted back by a guard.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I trust you to use good judgment over stubbornness, little love," Qira murmured. "We can't handle a rebellious cub right now, and Stila would take advantage of any recklessness in an instant." He then looked up to Brogan, and added, "The same goes for you, young prince. Be careful with those lords."

"I'm having every single one checked ahead of time," Bo assured him. "And I'll stick with Shani as much as I can."

"That's what worries me: the two of you scheming together the way you did when you were small." Qira sighed heavily, a lack of sleep starting to catch up with him. He hadn't slept more than a few minutes here and there since before Kate reached Edinburgh. Rising from his seat, he rubbed his eyes. "I'll keep you updated on what's going on, Shani. And your mother will be back in a bit. In the meantime... I need to sleep."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I promise I won't do anything foolish." Shani murmured, watching as he tiredly left the room.

She turned her attention to the food that had been brought, her appetite suddenly gone. She glanced at Brogan and shook her head.

"I ought to skin you for getting me riled up."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Yeah, get in line," Brogan sighed. "I didn't mean to, but I also knew you'd be even madder if I kept it from you." He retook his seat and leaned back while idly rubbing at his damaged ear. "I wasn't gonna win either way."

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani stared at her food as Bo muttered his apology. She pushed the tray away and turned her gaze towards him, reaching out to touch his cheek. "I don't have to worry about you accidentally dropping secrets in a meeting, do I?"

 

[KieranSoares]

"Not really, no. I tend to pick my words pretty carefully around other people," Brogan tried to reassure her as he paused at her touch. "I've had to be really mindful of my temper and such since we arrived in the isles. I'm trying not to make your life or Qira and Da's life any harder when it comes to me getting in trouble."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I've lost my appetite." Shani said softly, so incredibly tired. "Would you hold me? I know my Ma is coming back soon, but I'd really like to be held right now."

 

[KieranSoares]

Bo's head tilted slightly in concern, but he moved to her side right away. Scooping her up with great care, he helped her settle against him as they curled up on the bed. He nuzzled against her dark hair, completely surrounding her with warmth and as much comfort as he could offer. "I'll hold you anytime you like," he promised softly and kissed her forehead.

 

[heartofcourage]

Shani curled against Brogan, her head tucked under his chin as she let out a small sigh. She was always the strong and silent one, but with all that she had been through, she needed a moment of calm. She was happy that Brogan was all too ready to oblige.

As the evening wore on, a small group had gathered in a secret room of Edinburgh Castle where they couldn't be disturbed. Luna and Alex were questioned about their staff, Luna beside herself when the theory of a traitor in their ranks was revealed.

"It makes me sick to think that someone is spying on us." Luna murmured as she saw Kate consider their answers. "I know Ma is watching our youngest in Trondheim, but I wouldn't have any issue with bringing our eldest cubs here with us. The healers have always been tight knit and safe."

 

[KieranSoares]

"As much as we could use the extra help from reliable hands, I'm worried about bringing more of our children into this..." Alex murmured, leaning on the table before him with his hands clasped. "I'd have sent Huda and Yasir back to Trondheim if we weren't so scared of them being away from us. And Yasir is an assistant I don't know that we could do without. It's times like these that I desperately wish my grandfather was still here and my mother could handle this work still."

"You are welcome to bring in your older cubs, Luna," Kell advised from his place beside Kate. "Kayla can defend those who are too young or too old in Trondheim, and Rory has Riders and dragons around too. We could use the help of more healers with tribal knowledge. As much as I understand Alex's point, I think people are safer when we keep them closer."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I can't help but think that it is a tribal healer who has been selling us out." Kate said as she glanced at Kell. "Who has the most to lose and the most to gain by working with the Spanish? We know that they have the most brutal conditions for slaves on the continent."

"You still have Loren." Luna said, glancing over at Alex. "And I have Jan. If you feel like your children would be safer in Norway, send them. My Ma and Da would welcome them into their home."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I don't know," Alex murmured, "I'll talk to Yasmine." He knew it would hurt them both to send their children away. But as Kate offered the idea of a tribal healer being the culprit, Alex glanced up and his brows furrowed in thought, trying to think over recent additions.

"I've gone over our lists," Kell told Kate. "All of our tribal healers currently are from the isles or Northern territories. Anyone we've freed from continental slave operations has stayed away from the front save for Dola." Kell's brows furrowed at that, thinking over how Dola often helped the healers, being a master of comforting and caring for the wounded and sick. "I'm certain it wouldn't be her. But that would mean it could be someone who's been with us a long time. Possibly someone from the Corel or Gol Dun. In which case Stila's either holding something over them, or has convinced them that Royer will win somehow."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Then it's simple. Until we know who it is with absolute certainty, the only healers that will be allowed near the Ghis family are members of our own family." Kate ordered after thinking over the situation. "I...pray that is isn't one of us. Our family has never known that level of betrayal and I won't have it starting now."