RPF A War of Kings

Malik Stone

"I've just never been in the middle of something like this before."

"You think I have?" Malik responded, but not unkindly. In his uncertainty, Keine seemed younger- much younger than Malik himself. There was still time, perhaps, for reality to set in. "Gods be good, I just woke up. Today is not a very good day for me."

He could hear Rosa whimpering quietly to herself, and it dawned on Malik that he was probably the only family the girl had left. And vice versa. Which probably meant that everyone who knew he was rightful kind of Mirwyth was probably also dead.

The thought cheered him a little as he opened the door to the tower. "Onwards, sers. We haven't a moment to lose."

TAG: @Rilwen_Shadowflame , @spycoder9

IC: Ser Lawrence Kildare
The Prairies of Mirwyth
15 days before his wedding

Rickard's suspicions troubled Lawrence. They were moving away from Fenton's base of power, not towards it. And he'd thought--incorrectly it seemed--that King Demond has a firm hand on the Prairies to prevent the raiding of villages. He had expected a relatively uneventful journey. Very little of what Lawrence had expected was coming to pass this journey.

It would slow them even further to wait, but if there was a threat it would be foolish to leave it in their rear. The Prairies offered little in the way of strategic positioning, so an advantage could not be gained by way of terrain. This was to be a flat out fight.

Lawrence ordered that the camp not be struck. Let whoever was trailing them think that they had come upon their quarry unawares. It also gave a convenient place to put Illiza and the boy out of sight. Short of sending them on and away from the fight--a dangerous proposition itself--there was not much that could be done to shield them from hazard other than to have them in a tent where they at least might not attract attention until everything was said and done. If Lawrence and his men won then perhaps the pair would be spared injury if they kept their heads down. If the Desert dwellers lost...well they'd be no worse off than if they'd been in sight to start.

As the men made their preparations in their own way (far be it from Lawrence to tell them how to prepare for battle--every man had to make his own choices there and pray that they would save his life rather than cost it), Lawrence was faced with a difficult decision. If they were pursued by Fenton's men then his heavy armor was a must. His opponent would most likely be heavily armored as well and choosing light armor would put Lawrence at a severe disadvantage. But if they were bandits, they would be lightly armored themselves. The protection of his heavy armor would be a plus...but the bandits would be nimble. Lawrence would not be. That could be the difference. In the Desert, he rarely used heavy armor. The heat alone could broil a man alive inside his armor. He knew how to use it all the same, but it had been some time.

With no idea how little time he had, Lawrence could not procrastinate. "The heavy armor," he informed his squire. It was more likely Fenton had found him than it was a roving group of bandits. They were far from any settlement. Why he would be pursued here by bandits was beyond Lawrence. The squire buckled the plate onto Lawrence, double checking straps as he did so. It was quick, efficient work for the squire, who had performed this duty hundreds of times, perhaps thousands. It gave Lawrence time to meditate on the coming battle. Assuming Rickard was right.

His armor complete, the squire put the belt with Lawrence's sheathed scimitar around his waist. Lawrence removed the blade and inspected it for imperfections. It met with his satisfaction, so he sheathed it once more and stepped outside, his squire trailing Lawerence with the helmet that completed the armor.

The other men seemed to be finished with their preparations as well. Lawrence surveyed them.

"Keep calm," Lawrence said evenly, walking through the camp and the men, "Lookouts in all directions. We'll see them coming on a clear day like this. You have your training." He paused and put a hand on Rickard's shoulder as he passed. "We will use it well."

The rains had left the Prairies muddy this morning. Lawrence had considered being mounted for this assault, but the horses of the Desert were more used to sand and rock than they were to sucking mud. It was a good way for a steed to break an ankle and Lawrence had no desire to be trapped beneath a horse in the middle of battle. He would take this assault on foot.

There was a slight flaw in Lawrence's plan. Anyone approaching the camp would see the men arrayed for battle. There wouldn't be much surprise on the part of the Desertmen. But Lawrence figured it was enough--any approaching attack would already be in sight by the time their enemies figured out that they were expected. The Desertmen would by then know their enemy was coming and committed. Still not a perfect plan...but it would have to do.

Lawrence gently curled and uncurled his fingers around the hilt of his scimitar and waited.

Tag: @HanSolo29, @Obi Anne

OOC: Not my best work, but it will do. Thank you for the patience.

IC: Nathaniel Delmari, King of the Isles
Guest Quarters, Breezecroft

Nathaniel nodded quickly, almost absently. "Yes, yes, goods should not be hard to obtain. We've had some to trade, again it's a matter of name. One without official or hereditary ties to the Isles would be all that is necessary." The king settled down in one of the two chairs, pensive as he mulled over the details. Yes, this arrangement would do quite nicely. Could the merchant be trusted? Nathaniel was not entirely sure, but current events called for some risks. Besides, the old man was not unaccustomed tracking down individuals of interest across land and sea. If the young man chose to betray Nathaniel's confidence, then he could do something about that.

Then there was the matter of the girl, Gwenn, an issue that pressed more presently upon Nathaniel's mind. The details of the trade negotiations could be left to younger men, and in fact that was a large part of Korianton's role within Nathaniel's kingdom. He had a knack for details, that young lord, and Nathaniel had grown to trust that instinct explicitly. Better leave these things to younger men.

"Very well then, I think we can have quite an arrangement. If you please, though, good sir, my friend Lord Rynquist will see to the details. At the present, I have... other details to attend. The Lord's rooms are just down the hall, four doors, I believe. Any servant of House Moorecroft should be capable of directing you. If you'll excuse us?" Nathaniel gestured Abbott toward the door, a brow raised inquiringly before his attention turned completely to Gwenn.

"As for you, my dear, if you'd care to have a seat?" The monarch gestured the girl to the other chair at the table, waiting patiently for the others to react.

TAG: @Jedi_Padawan_Leigh , @Mitth_Fisto , @spycoder9

IC: Gwenn Cliffe
Guest Quarters, Breezecroft


Gwenn had remained silent as the king and the merchant conducted business with one another, but she has listened as she stood to the side, her eyes cast down to the floor. Even though she didn’t understand what a “ponzio scheme” and other such things were, she was glad to hear that even with the Isles being so close to war, the King was focusing on making sure his subjects were able to get the supplies they desperately needed, instead of focusing his attentions on arms and knights and other war assets, at least for now

Glancing up, she noticed that the king had now settled into one of the plush chairs by the table. He seemed pensive, almost lost in thought for a few long moments. To rule a nation during war time was probably not the easiest of tasks. There was so much to consider, so much to prepare and organise. She wondered how the aging king was coping with it all, and how he was feeling…The king pulled out of his thoughts and addressed Abbott once more

"Very well then, I think we can have quite an arrangement. If you please, though, good sir, my friend Lord Rynquist will see to the details. At the present, I have... other details to attend. The Lord's rooms are just down the hall, four doors, I believe. Any servant of House Moorecroft should be capable of directing you. If you'll excuse us?"

His business apparently concluded, she watched the king gesture Abbott toward the door with a wave of his hand. Then he focused his attention onto her, and Gwenn suddenly felt like the bottom had dropped out of her stomach.

"As for you, my dear, if you'd care to have a seat?"

The king gestured to the vacant chair across from him. She gave a small nod of the head and walked over, concentrating on not stepping on or tripping over the hem of the grey and blue dress she wore. The last thing she needed right now was to make a fool of herself.

“T-thank ye, yer grace”

She said quietly as she sat down on the chair. She sat stiffly and probably looked somewhat awkward, her hands clasped together in her lap as if she didn’t know what to do with them. She mentally kicked herself, and in the back of her mind a voice practically screamed at her

“Darn it girl, pull yerself together!”
　

TAG: @Chukles38 @spycoder9 @Mitth_Fisto

IC: Ser Andras Maegorion, Keine Stone

Ser Andras was in a particularly bleak mood just now. There was, of course, the massacre of all these people - but there was also the steady suggestion that history might repeat itself. Another Maegorion had loosed ravens amid hostility, sending out warnings, so long ago. She'd died doing so. Ser Andras had no wish to do the same.

He signed to Keine crisply in warning.

"He says the Capitalmen may look up and see the ravens, and come to find whoever loosed them," Keine told Malik. "We'd probably better not still be there when they do." He smiled wanly. "I hope you know a quick way out, or at least a decent place to hide." The squire's voice shook a little; the knowledge was overtaking him that there was a very real possibility they'd all die here.

Oh, they'd be heroes of a sort for warning everyone, but Keine's dreams of heroism generally involved his still being alive to enjoy it.

TAG: @Livi-Wan, @spycoder9

IC: Beldak Darkeyes
Camp

Their journey would soon be nearing its end. The scouts he had dispatched the night before had come across remnants of a fire and a camp not more than a day old. They were close to achieving their goal - very, very close. And that also meant the end of a mutual understanding between himself and Anyanka. Or did it? Perhaps Anyanka would be so grateful to him for rescuing her brother that she would prefer to stick around. He was fairly confident that they had taken steps to improve their relationship, but at this point, only time would tell. Darkeyes could not dwell on it, either. Right now, he had to worry about the upcoming battle and prepare himself to fight.

When they had stopped to set up camp for the night, the ground was soft and muddy from a rainstorm that had moved through the region that very afternoon. It would be a difficult to move and lift supplies in such conditions and it would be even worse to attempt to sleep. Darkeyes did not anticipate that many of his men would be able to sleep anyway, but he would like to remain optimistic. The men would need their rest in order to perform to the best of their ability in battle.

And for the battle itself...there was much work to do. Not just on preparations and forming strategies, but the weapons also needed to be tended to. That's where Darkeyes found himself now - sitting by himself, the flickering of the campfire casting eerie shadows over his features as he propped his sword before him on a woodblock. With slow, even strides, he ran the tool over the blade in an attempt to sharpen it. He got so immersed in this tedious, rhythmic motion, that he did not notice the figure of Anyanka approaching from behind.

TAG: @Obi Anne, @spycoder9

Malik Stone

"Is there anything else on which you'd like to advise me?" Malik replied as he wrenched open the door to the tower. He was discovering his tongue, now there were little consequences to not holding it, and finding he enjoyed letting it loose. "We'll go back out the way we came and through the gates, it is not as if it is a long way."

And if they didn't like it, well, Keine and his silent, scarred companion could go whistle, couldn't they?

The ravens, already agitated by the noise and the smoke outside, fluttered noisily at Malik's familiar presence. Quickly, he crossed over to the desk set up at the corner and scribbled out a message.

The Capitalmen have attacked. Harrowmont has fallen.

It was the work of a moment to grab a raven from its cage and attach the message, then open the windows and let it fly out. Malik left the rest of the cages open, and soon the air was filled with the birds, cawing and scratching their way to freedom. Like him, they had found a new life in the destruction of Harrowmont. It was hard not to smile at the sight.

TAG: @spycoder9 , @Rilwen_Shadowflame

14 days before the Wedding

The Isles of Mirwyth

Delmaristead

The Harbor


“You, a wild child?” Ser Amery smirked. “Impossible.”

He stared at her for several seconds, absorbing her beauty. And then, as if struck by a strong spell, put his hand on the back of her head and pressed his lips onto hers. Never had Raven ever kissed a man, mostly because she had never had the urge or the kingdom would’ve looked down upon it. The fact that she was now betrothed made this one kiss even more illicit.

As quickly as his lips had touched hers, they were gone. He looked away, his face a vibrant red. For once his charming smile was gone.

“I-I am sorry, princess. Please forgive me.” He rose from beside her. He paused, considering turning back to kiss her lips once again, but didn’t. He hurried away, leaving her sitting there. He realized the consequences of kissing a princess, a betrothed princess.

Several minutes of pure silence passed around Raven before her mother rode up in a horse drawn carriage, following soon behind her was the assassin Diana. Guards and knights aplenty followed the queen, as a huge variety of Delmaristead citizens were following to see them off.

“Raven, my dear, don’t slouch.” Her mother whispered to her as she stepped off the carriage and kissed her daughter’s cheek for the crowds. She turned around and offered a final wave, before heading to the boardwalk. The sailors and knights who were to ride with them had already gotten aboard and were waiting for her.

Diana might notice a young man standing at the front of the other citizens. His hand rested on his side. And then a woman stood off to the side with her hand scratching her leg. Innocent really, but she had been doing it for a long time.

Time slowed as Kalera turned back to wave one final time. An arrow was let loose, and it hit her in the shoulder. Her smiled oozed away as she looked at it in shock. She collapsed on the ground as a fury of other arrows fell around her and Raven. Diana would see several people, more than twenty at least, with weapons. Some were slashing down the unexpecting guards, others were firing on the boat. None seemed to notice Diana, though she wouldn’t be able kill all of them in this confusion. The citizens who weren’t involved were screaming and adding to the craziness.

Raven would feel a hand on her arm. Ser Amery held her mother in his arms, and pulled her by the hand onto the boat.

“GO, GO, GO!” He shouted at the sailors. They were wary at first, but after giving a final glance at the wildness on land, proceeded with doing so. Raven heard them shouting as something. . .or more like, someone, landed beside her. One of the women had climbed up the boardwalk and stood beside her, a sword in her arms.

“Raven!” Amery tossed her his sword. As the ship latched off from her homeland, which was under attack, Raven had to fight for her life.

And Diana had a choice to make. Make a stand against the attackers and possibly face imprisonment or death, or try to hide and stake out the situation.


TAG: @Teegirl00, @afellowjedi

OOC: Part one of a combined post w/ spycoder9
IC: Safia Rolmar
The Mountains of Mirwyth
Shodaire, The Tower of Stone
Corridors—15 days before her wedding

She tried not to cry as she rushed down the hallway, heading down towards the kitchens, where she was most likely to find Karridan and her father. She knew not where Ectarion had gone, and at the moment, she didn’t really care.

Why did he have to be so hateful? All of the comfort and reassurance Karridan had given, Ectarion had completely undone. He might blame her for their mother’s death, and by extension blame her for the defects in his own character, but Safia was of the opinion that although a person’s attitude could be shaped by such a traumatic event so early in life, ultimately it was Ectarion himself to who was to blame for his behavior; he chose to act that way. He could change if he wanted to.

Except he didn’t seem to want to.

Safia suddenly stopped in her tracks; she could have sworn she heard something like footsteps, but looking around, she saw no one. When she started on her way again, she heard it again, and now she had the strange feeling that she was being watched. The feeling persisted all the way down to the kitchens.

Neither Karridan nor her father were there, and their fox had already been given over to the cooks to be prepared for supper. Her next guess as to her brother’s location would be his room, back the way she’d come from, so she turned back and began heading that way.

Rounding the corner just down the hall from the kitchen, she gave a startled cry and jumped back as she nearly walked right into Ser Malcolm Granville.

Safia did not know the particulars of the events had led her father to knight Ser Malcolm, but no matter how noble they might have been, she did not like the man. He was not much older than she was, perhaps around Karridan’s age, but the thick beard he wore added some years to his appearance, and there was something disturbing about the way she sometimes caught him looking at her. She tried to avoid him whenever she could.

“I am sorry, ser, I did not see you there,” she told him, hoping she did not look as unnerved as she felt.

"No need to worry." The strange knight smiled at her, and his teeth were positioned just so that he looked like a wolf. "What are you doing running about the castle as you are? Dangerous people can be hiding anywhere."

I might ask what you were doing following me, she thought, but she didn't say it. "I was looking for my brother Karridan. Have you seen him?"

"Your brother? No, I don't think I have. But if I see him, I'll tell him that you are looking for him." He smiled and pushed a string of her hair behind her ear. "You look frightened. Did I scare you?"

She tried to shy away from his touch, at the same time trying not to make it obvious that she was nervous of him. It wasn't easy. "Just my nerves, I think," she fibbed. "With the wedding so close..."

"No one deserves you. . ." He noticed her moving from his touch, and patted the top of her head, "The daughter of Desmond Rolmar. I tried to convince your father that this desert fox wasn't good enough for a pure soul like you, but he wouldn't change his mind."

That was even more annoying; it made Safia feel like a child, and it brought to mind the way Ectarion had pinched her cheek earlier. "I do not think I have ever known my father to change his mind on any decision he makes." After a moment, though, one instance did come to mind: Except Matheus.

"Sometimes the decision has to be changed for him." His eyes held some knowledge that was unknown to her. "Run along, Safia. Perhaps we shall meet each other again in the next few days."

Inwardly thankful for the short encounter, Safia gave a quick nod. "Perhaps. Again, if you see my brother, I would appreciate if you would ask him to come find me."

"If I see him, I will." He paused for several seconds, staring into her eyes. His grin faded away, and the coldness in his heart slid onto his face for only a second. Then he whirled away from her and rushed back to the shadows.

Safia shuddered, not sorry to see the back of him. To her, there was something ominous in his face, in his general manner, that she simply could not ignore. And what had he meant, "Sometimes the decision has to be changed for him"?

Shaking her head, she turned back around and took the long way to Karridan's room, in the hopes of not meeting with Ser Malcolm again.

TAG: No one (to be continued)

19 days before the Wedding

The Deserts of Mirwyth

Near Aqarda

Coast


“You’re ‘bout a day’s walk from Aqarda.” Another key coastal town, but it was a lot closer to Fair Groves than Caraba. Luck seemed to be on Lorain’s side. The features of each individual man were more evident now that Lorain had gotten close. One was taller, with vibrant orange hair. He was in full body armor, with a crest emblazoned across his chest. Lorain would later find that it was the crest of the men who served House Reynard.



One of them who had been silent for several minutes wore long white robes. The hair he had remaining on his head was a bright grayish blonde. He eyed the wet young woman.

“Why in King’s name are ye swimming? I don’t care if someone made ye, I can’t believe you swam as much as ye did.” The one talking was wearing more peasant like clothes, and looked to be younger than Lorain.

“Leave her alone. She just swam for who knows how long.” The knight smiled at her, but not too wide. He had seen prettier girls. “What’s your name, girl?” With that he offered out a hand. “My name is Kaleb Sand, and that is Maester Daven,” He pointed to the older man in robes. “The little kid over there-”

“Hey!”

“-is Burney.”

“No I’m not.” The young man shook his head. “It’s Emmitt. I burn me hand one time in that fire and I get stuck with that name.”



TAG: @Ktala

Abott Tuckman
King's Quarters, Breezecroft

Giving a slight bow with open hands he acknowledged the scabards words and thoughts on the matter. Although he had to say the sheen was off the scabard for a moment there, and perhaps his plans should entail a little more buffer for himself in this coming war. He might not admit it, but he was a young man, at heart if not face, and he still had his prospects. . .provided they weren't sober. Something he didn't want to have to forego for the hereafter anytime soon if he could help it.

With a pause that seemed to try to refill the empty dulling scabard with fresh steel that wasn't present the ascent to his proposition was hollowed slightly like a wine cask that is dipped too many times before trading. "Lord Rynquist, four doors. At once m'lord." he repeated with a nod back to the scabard. How the tradition of title started was lost to him, and so he picked it because the scabard had used it, personally he believed he had slept through that lesson. After all when does one really have to pay attention to titles of rank? They get announced everytime you meet them and a ser or miss is often enough spilt from leaking lips that no one truly cares.

Leaving, he headed to the door as the scabard addressed the board to sit, and so something other then steel was about to about to sate the empty scabbard. The fact that the board had responded, his last stitches of overhearing as he passed through the door to close it behind himself made him sigh for the lass. Whereas in the world she had presented as a solid hardwood she had seemed to now falter and show the stress of a softer greener wood when being left alone. She was in the end a mirrored image like one sees in a shine or still pool, a shadow and backward presentation of the reality of the preferenced existance of her kind. Poor board. Hopely she would make it alright without breaking, and he just as well with the steel.

TAG: @Chukles38 , @Jedi_Padawan_Leigh, @spycoder9

Lorain Ashkey
The Coast near Aqarda - The Deserts of Mirwyth - 19 Days before some wedding.


Lorain coughed as she wrung the water from her shirt to wipe her face with. She listened as the man replied to her question. "You're 'bout a day's walk from Aqarda." She slowly nodded, but if it could be called luck, she seemed to be having it. She was much closer to Fair Groves than she would have dared dream to be. She carefully looked at the men that now surrounded her. One had hair that flamed a bright orange. Full body armor, and crest, which Lorain knew she would now have to be careful.She studied the crest for a moment, and then continued to gather herself as she listened. A day's walk didnt sound too bad.

Another man, wore long robes had not said anything to her so far. He just kept staring at her. His hair was a bright grayish blonde. Not a knight. Commoner? That, or priest sprang to mind. She did wonder why they were out here in the desert, but right now, she was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

“Why in King’s name are ye swimming? I don’t care if someone made ye, I can’t believe you swam as much as ye did.”

'Cause I havent yet mastered walking on water!' came the swift response IN HER MIND. She bit her lip, to keep it from exiting her mouth. She quickly noted that the man used the phrase, 'in the Kings's name.' Her father and she had spent many a debate about the news of events around them. She looked down at the ground, her thoughts of her father suddenly surfacing.

“Leave her alone. She just swam for who knows how long.” Lorain heard the knight admonish the other as he smiled at her. “What’s your name, girl?” With that he offered out a hand. “My name is Kaleb Sand, and that is Maester Daven,” He pointed to the older man in robes. “The little kid over there-”

“Hey!”

“-is Burney.”

“No I’m not.” The young man shook his head. “It’s Emmitt. I burn me hand one time in that fire and I get stuck with that name.”

Lorain looked at the assembled group, and gave a slight smile, as she looked at the hand offered to her. So far, it was twice in a few days that someone had offered her a hand. That was amazing almost in itself. Listening to them argue, was almost humorous. Remembering the hand, Lorain looked up, and took the offered hand, as she slowly stood up.

"My name is Ashkey. Lorain Ashkey. Thank ye for the help." She replied, as she stood. Her legs felt tired, but a bit better than she had earlier. She looked to try and determine what time of day it was. If she had enough time, she might dry off fairly soon. But she would need to rest, before she could make her way where she needed to go next. Time was an issue. Then again, she had another problem. Jumping from a pirate ship, left her with very little coin. She would have to come up with something. She looked to the Knight.

"Would there be a village, or town nearby, Saer, um... Sir Sand? She asked the man. "After the attack on Caraba, I need to send word.. to my guild." she stated. She had no need to totally trust these men enough to tell them of her need to get to the Fair Groves. Not knowing exactly where their loyalties lay, she decided to keep some things to herself. She hoped it would not take too long to dry out. She let her hair down, so that it would have a chance to dry.


TAG: @Spycoder9

OOC: Just a heads up to let you guys know I'll be away for 2 weeks starting from tomorrow! Sorry to do this to you Rilwen ):

Raven Delmari
Delmaristead
The Harbor

14 days before the Wedding

Raven found it was easy to talk to Ser Amery. She enjoyed his company. He was always grinning and making jokes Raven couldn’t help but laugh. He kept staring at her, which made her blush every time. She felt different when she was with him. He made her feel alive. She acknowledged to herself that she had a crush on him but he could never know. She wouldn’t dare act on it. She was betrothed to Korianton, but he has been gone for awhile. He left with her father somewhere. She had no idea when he was coming back.

“You, a wild child?” Ser Amery smirked. “Impossible.”

She laughed at him cause he must not have believed her. She was not the proper princess that most think. Raven was always doing something that made her mother disapprove. In fact she was always getting scolded for dirtying up her dresses. If Raven had a choice she would prefer the trousers that the men wear. She already fought like a man she might as well dressed as a man. She knew her mother would not like her thinking like this. But what she don’t know won’t hurt her. Raven thought.

“Yes I am and don’t you forget it” She replied back.

Ser Amery kept staring at her for good while. Raven looked toward the ground blushing once again. Then everything happened so fast she finally looked up, then all of a sudden Ser Amery put his hand pressed at the back of her head and kissed her. Raven never kissed anyone before not like this. Her heart was beating fast. The kiss was warm and wet. She felt as if she could just melt in his arms. Her knees felt wobbly as she stood there being kissed.

The kiss seemed longer than it actually was. Just when she felt his lips on hers it was gone. Raven looked at Ser Amery but that charming smile that he always had was gone. Instead it was replaced with a red and apologetic expression.

“I-I am sorry, princess. Please forgive me.”

Raven just stood there in shock. She could not believe he kissed her. She watched as he turned away. Her face was flushed as she continued to stare at him as he was walking away. She knew that if her father would to find out about this Ser Amery would be in a lot of trouble. She had to keep this secret. If anyone was to see it will be the end of Ser Amery.

As Raven continued to watch Ser Amery walk away her mother Queen Kalera had rode up in a horse drawn carriage. Behind her was the assassin Diana who Raven admired for her abilities and her independance. There were guards and knights around her mother. Surprisingly there was a variety of citizens that followed toward the end.

Raven was glad that her mother didn’t see the kiss between Ser Amery and her. She tried not to look guilty or her mother would suspect something. Queen Kalera stepped out of the carriage and as usual had to give a jab at Raven. “Raven, my dear, don’t slouch.” the Queen said as she whispered in Raven’s ear then kissed her cheek for the eyes of the public.

The guards and knights boarded the ship followed by the her mother. The queen turned around to give one last wave to the crowd, that’s when Raven saw an arrow fly by so fast toward her mother. The arrow had hit her mother in the shoulder.

“Mother!!!” Raven shouted.

She was about to run to her but felt a presence behind her.

Ser Amery had her mother in his arms then pulled her by the hand on to the boat.

Chaos was all around. Arrows shooting everywhere some guards falling off the ship. People were screaming it was madness.

The presence that Raven felt behind was a woman with a sword. Ser Amery shouted at her flinging a sword. Raven caught the sword and began fighting for her life. Raven slashed at the woman hoping to knock her off balance and to fall off the ship.

TAG: @spycoder9 , @afellowjedi

OOC: Part 2 of combined post with spycoder9

IC: Safia Rolmar
The Mountains of Mirwyth
Shodaire, The Tower of Stone
Karridan Rolmar’s chambers—15 days before her wedding

Karridan was sitting on his bed when she walked in, staring out at the balcony. He turned to glance in her direction, but didn't say anything.

Her first thought was that something was wrong, but with everything else on her shoulders right now, she wasn't sure if she wanted to know. Sitting down next to him, she put a hand on his back and rested her chin on his shoulder, the same way she had done for years when they had been younger and she had wanted something from her big brother. This time though, her request was nothing that he might deny her. "I could still use that hug right now--and frankly, you look like you could, too."

He smirked and wrapped an arm around her back, squeezing her once. "Reynard's men burned down the Harrowmont castle and killed all of them. They ride to stop the wedding, or at least that's what Father thinks." That was all he said, and he looked out the balcony again. Almost absorbing the beauty of the mountains before they were gone.

Stunned, Safia said nothing for several long moments, still leaning against her brother. She had not known any of the Harrowmonts very well, but they were a respected family in the mountains. All of them, dead. And all of them, innocent. The Harrowmonts hadn't done anything to Reynard. She was slightly surprised that he had already found out about the wedding, and that his men had reached the mountains this quickly, but that was irrelevant.

And if Fenton knew, then surely so did Matheus. What must he think of me? Did Matheus know what his father was doing?

Now, despite the pain it had put her through--that she was still going through--she began to truly understand why her father had called off her bethrothal to Matheus, if Fenton was capable of atrocities such as this. For all that she still harbored feelings for Matheus, she did not want a man like that as a father-in-law. Though she could understand that Fenton was probably more than a little angry that her father was marrying her off to someone else, there was absolutely no excuse for what he had done to the Harrowmonts.

Finally, she found her voice again. "What is Father going to do? I know it's too late to do anything about Harrowmont, but...if Father is right, and they are going to try to stop the wedding..." She got the sudden feeling that security around the Tower was about to get a lot tighter.

"He plans on massing some of his army and sending them ahead to stop the army. But still, there'll be an ample amount of knights and archers here to protect you." Karridan tried to smile at her, but couldn't. "I'm staying here to guard you. Father likes to know that I'm safe here." He sighed. "But. . .why would Reynard do that? Attack House Harrowmont, which hasn't done anything except declare allegiance to Father? If he wants to stop this wedding, he should've just came to us himself. And I'd chop off his damn head."

He rubbed his head, and then looked at Safia. "Why am I throwing all of this on you? You have enough to worry about." He kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry about any of this. We have that army, and then you have me." He chuckled.

A little half-smile crossed her lips, but with the murder of the Harrowmonts still fresh in her mind, it was all she could manage. "I am glad you are staying. I should not care to be stuck here alone with Ectarion." Their brother's name came out in a hard tone and with a bitter taste, as the memory of her earlier conversation with him overrode all thoughts of the Harrowmonts. She rubbed her arms, suddenly recalling the almost threatening manner in which he'd spoken to her. And then there was her recent encounter with Ser Malcolm.

No, it was definitely better that Karridan was staying. Had he been sent with the army, there was no way Safia would have felt safe.

"Do I even want to know what he has done now?"

She hesitated for a moment, before relaying to him the entire discussion she'd had with Ectarion in the dressing room. She was near to tears when she finally finished, her strained nerves threatening to give out altogether.

"I don't think he's ever spoken to me like that before, and maybe I'm just over-reacting, maybe it's just my nerves, but...Karridan, I actually felt like he was threatening me. I know Ectarion has never been particularly pleasant to anyone, even to me or you, but until then I never actually believed that he would ever want to hurt me. Now I don't even want to be alone in the same room with him.

"And on top of that, I ran into Ser Malcolm while I was looking for you. I know he is a knight, but there is something...something wrong about that man. I do not like the way he looks at me."

"Don't worry about Ser Malcolm. Once this wedding business is over, he'll find himself looking for a new job, I can promise you that. But our brother. . .if he was anybody other than himself, I would have him killed for saying those things to you. But he's been through everything, Safia. Father dislikes him, I dislike him. Losing Mother. Getting. . ." Karridan didn't continue. "He's had a lot of stuff happen to him that a normal person couldn't handle, I'll just say that. And look how he turned out."

"I can understand that he's had to deal with a lot of difficult things in his life, but that doesn't mean he should take it out on other people." Getting…what? But if Karridan was unwilling to tell her, then there was no point pressing the matter.

"Just ignore him. That's what I do. I know it's your wedding, and he'll be around, but try to just avoid him. If he speaks to you, reply, but don't go out of your way for conversation." A knock came at the door. "Let's hope that is not him." Karridan rose from his spot and opened the door. There stood a small boy with a headful of blonde hair dressed in servants clothes.

"Um. . .Lord. . .I mean, King. . .King Rolmar calls you to supper."

"Thank you." Karridan stared at the boy for a minute, even as he had rounded the corner. Then he closed the door. "Well, Father bids it. Remember what I told you about Ectarion." He sighed, taking her hand to help her stand. "And just think, once this wedding is over, you'll be far away from here and your crazy brothers." Karridan smiled as he led her out the door.

Safia smirked, taking her brother’s arm and walking with him to the dining hall. ‘Crazy’ was perhaps the last thing that came to mind when she thought of her beloved older brother, and it didn’t truly fit Ectarion’s personality, either. And though she would miss Karridan terribly when she left, somehow she could not say the same for Ectarion.

TAG: @spycoder9

IC: Nathaniel Delmari, King of the Isles
Breezecroft Guest Chambers

Nathaniel sat for some time, examining the girl across from him. Seeing her here, like this, well, he was certain. She was certainly who he had thought her to be. Still, it didn't hurt to be sure. The old king helped himself to a biscuit and gestured for Gwenn to do likewise. He'd always enjoyed the sweetness of these biscuits. In truth, it was one of the more pleasant parts of being king. "If you're hungry," Nathaniel added, "I can have some food brought up as well, should this not be enough."

He took a bite and chewed thoughtfully, his gaze never leaving Gwenn. When he had finished, he decided he best get to the matter at hand. No sense in dallying any longer. "If I may ask, who was your mother?" Though the question would seem random, it had occupied Nathaniel's thoughts since he first laid eyes on the girl the night before.

TAG: @Jedi_Padawan_Leigh , @spycoder9

OOC: eh, can't think of much more to add, so... there ya are

IC: Gwenn Cliffe
Breezecroft Guest Chambers
　

The king seemed to take his time appraising Gwenn as she sat across from him, but she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. It was then he helped himself to a biscuit from the plate that had been laid onto the table, before gesturing for her to help herself to one if she liked.

"If you're hungry, I can have some food brought up as well, should this not be enough."

He added before he took a bite. Though his offer was a kind one, Her stomach was already occupied by a flurry of nervous butterflies so it probably wasn’t a good idea. She might be able to manage one of the biscuits though. Not wanting to appear rude, She took a biscuit from the plate and took a small bite. It was tasty, but she wasn’t accustomed to overly sweet foods, and the sweetness set her teeth on edge for a moment. The kings gaze never left her as he finished his food. It wasn’t cold or judgemental by any means, but at the same time, it was a little disconcerting.

"If I may ask, who was your mother?"

He asked suddenly, and Gwenn swallowed the morsel of food quickly, a flicker of surprise flashed in her grey eyes at the question

“My mother?”

She replied, mirroring his question. Why would he ask her about her mother? It seemed a rather strange thing for the king to enquire about. She shifted a little in the plush chair and regretted it as her back suddenly flared up again. “Damn Slade Moorecroft!“ She thought, annoyed, Fighting back the urge to grimace she straightened up in an attempt to look unfazed. Whether or not it worked, she didn’t know. She let out a soft breath before replying

“She were no person of note, yer grace…her name was Harriet. She served house Moorecroft as a scullery maid”

Her expression softened a little then, but there was also a hint of sadness that crept into her eyes. Even after all these years, her mother‘s death still occupied a dark spot hidden deep down in her heart. She had been only seven years old when Harriet had been stuck down by the flux, and to see her mother in so much pain, to watch as she deteriorated so quickly…the helplessness Gwenn had felt as she slipped away…Nothing could make her forget that, nothing. Memories of the strange dream she had experienced the night before surfaced in the front of her mind for a moment and she saw Harriet’s face, Her gentle smile and her kind, loving blue eyes. Bringing her focus back to the king, she continued

“She…died when I were a child”
　
TAG: @Chukles38 @spycoder9

The Isles of Mirwyth
Delmaristead

The Harbor

Diana Cupiditas
Diana stepped out of her carriage, a group of Delmaristead citizens were gathered to see the family off.Diana watched as the queen kiss her daughter, the smallest feeling of envy pricking her; even though she knows that there was only so much love between the queen and Raven. The queen then turned around and offered a final wave, before heading to the boardwalk. The sailors and knights who were to ride with them had already gotten aboard and were waiting for her. Diana noticed a young man standing at the front of the other citizens his hand rested on his side, she knew that pose, she scanned the crowd her instincts telling her something was wrong. She noticed a woman off to the side with her hand scratching her leg just a little too long. Diana felt for her dagger hidden in her long sleeve, she started to approach the woman. Suddenly the whisper of an arrow was heard and Diana watched as the arrow hit the queen in the shoulder. Diana spun, many people within the crowd were slashing down guards, others firing upon the boat. Diana scowled, the made a dash for the boat, she need to make sure the royal family was alive. No one seemed to notice Diana as she made her way, the citizens who weren’t involved were screaming and adding to the chaos providing ample coverage.
Diana got to the ship and saw Ser Amery holding the queen in his arms, and pulling Raven on to the ship“GO, GO, GO!” She heard him shouted at the sailors, after some hesitation the boat started to move. Diana turned her attention away from the ship and to the crowd. Her anger at such an attack on her home told her to stay and fight, but she knew she had to back away and regroup. She made a run for her carriage, it stood abandoned, the driver long since run off for his life. She reached in and grabbed her satchel. Then in a risky move she quickly unhitched the horse and proceeded to climb on. This would draw her more attention but she need fast transportation. She kicked the horse and speed off, cries of surprise emanating from the crowd as they dodged the oncoming animal. She slightly felt guilty at leaving her men to fend for themselves. She rode to first place that came to mind, the home of the late Earyn, it was after all hers now.

She arrived to the house and went around to the back. After securing her horse she entered the house via the back door. The house was nice, not extravagant, but it had the comforts of a woman who had some money. It was a 2 bedroom home with a large living area and, the part Diana was interested in, a fully stocked kitchen.

“Well at least I won’t starve.”

Diana walked back to the living area; she reached into her satchel and brought out her clothes, quickly getting changed. The wails and roars of pain and battle cries filled the city.

A woman’s scream rang out, “There will be no leaving tonight.” She said to herself. Diana set to preparing her escape should things go wrong in the night. As the sky darkened the city was still filled with the sounds of riots and parties. Diana sat in the dark house; she left the candles unlit so no unwanted attention was drawn. She sat on the floor sharpening her knives, she had found an old sword in a chest of old clothes. Her satchel lay ready and her supplies were by the back door.

She put down her knife and stared up at the window; she could do nothing but wait for the most opportune time to strike, and strike she would.

TAG: @spycoder9

OOC: I wanted to apologize for not updating in so long! I have been on vacation these past few days, and just got home today. I promise to have at least one update in the next hour or so. The others will have to wait until tomorrow, but I'm going to make sure this keeps moving along. I do think this Move is getting closer ( ), and I believe we are almost to the point when this part of the story ends. When we hit the day of the wedding, the first part of A War of Kings is over, that much I'm for sure of. Also, players be forewarned, we have hit that point in the plot where characters will die. First one is coming up in the next few updates, actually.