Post by mariusdebrabant on Mar 4, 2010 16:25:41 GMT -6
Born of Lies: For Kae it was another day..except this day she had chosen to go to the target arena and train with the archers and go through the
basic drills before doling out a more rigorous routine. Though she had only partial sight she was determined to not let it slow her down and after her meeting with Maahes she felt once more like she was useful...besides for her it was a part of her life as she had been a ranger for most of it. First in her homeland, then in the Kingdom of Windsor and now here in Scotland. She had many
skills that would benefit these rangers and archers. With her two Shadow Knights and personal guards at her side she paid attention to those more skilled and then she would move on to where the new recruits were training. Kae was tall for a woman and most would say more skilled than any man, but she did not brag or boast about it. Barking orders and commands as she walked down
the line of archers giving suggestions where they were warranted and then waiting for the execution of her dictates. Her long blonde hair was unbound and hung to her waist... she was wearing black leather pants, and knee high boots... looking every bit the warrior she was... taking pride in her status as Elite
Ranger and Knight.... titles she had earned through years of hard work and service... and not many dared cross the She wolf of Aragnia and walked away without fang marks as proof.
MariusdeBrabant: Marius had been looking for the Elite Ranger for a few days now, but this was a difficult woman to track down, as she should be with such
a title. He was much worried about the security of the island, especially after his patrol along the shores. Something was need to plug the gap, and
the rangers were his choice. Being trained to remain invisible and to observe and report, these were the perfect people to take care of the situation. But first he needed the approval of their head, no easy task. But perhaps privately and without any publicity at all, they could come to some workable arrangement. Today Marius was attired as usual in a plain surcoat, to draw no attention to himself. His boots were worm, but still serviceable, and at his hip rode his ever present bastard sword. A large dagger was situated on his right hip as well. He wore his gauntlets due to the weather, instead of tucking them into his belt and a heavy black wool, lined cloak kept him warm. Making his way to the Rangers' training area he spied a tall, blonde woman, easily in command of the situation. He made his way forward, waiting until she had withdrawn a bit to observe that her instructions were being carried out. He
came onward, with his usual brisk, military strike. He came close to her and inclined his head. "I am Sir Marius de Brabant. I seek the Elite Ranger, Kaelyn Urquart-Raven."
Born of Lies: Ademar her cousin was boasting about his skills and Kae figured he needed a lesson in humility " Ademar you think you can outbest any here? Well cousin mine take me on then." she was smiling and Ademar know
then and there he was about to be put in his place " two out of three and all have to be dead center...what say you?" she chuckled knowing he would not pass the opportunity and yet knowing he could not win. Kae was not as heavily
dressed for in her homeland it was much colder... a simple tunic and her always present vembraces she stepped forward bow in hand and notched two arrows at
once... a side glance to Ademar who swallowed hard as those around gathered close and made wagers. Leveling her bow she let out a slow breath as she
pulled the string back nd release it with ease sending the twin arrows down the range... landing with a distinct thud! in the target two perfect bulls eyes ... men cheered and clapped. With a smile she handed her bow to Ademar " Keep practicing and one day you will do that as well." she turned seeing the man that had just arrived and walked down the line when he approached and spoke. Blue eyes looked him over a military man... though she could not see him all
that well she knew by the way his footsteps sounded... she turned to him and bowed her head gracefully " Then you are in luck I am the Elite Ranger Dame
Kaelyn Urquhart-Raven...nice to meet you Sir Marius." she put out her hand to shake it but would he think it odd that she was not directly looking at him?? Her sight was not so good today... she saw in shadows. pagan and Phantom
her guards were at her side." how may I assist you today?" her voice soft and laced with an odd accent it was obvious she was not full Scots.
MariusdeBrabant: "I am most pleased to finally meet you Dame Urquhart-Raven" He took her hand firmly. He did not have to be a genius to realize that she
was unable to see him well. "Dame Urquhart-Raven, I have come across a situation with regard to the security of Skye and I believe the Rangers can be of great use to this isle. Anything further and I would prefer we spoke inside
and alone. I don't wish to be too dramatic, but danger is all around us now." He licked his lips. "This cannot wait; the situation deteriorates with each passing day." His eyes echoed the seriousness of the situation; giving off a faraway, haunted look. She was most desperately needed now.
Born of Lies: She returned his hand shake firmly... not she was no demure female but warrior born from many battles. "Please call me Kae all do... no need to be so formal." she canted her head as he spoke and something
flickered in the blue depths of them. Danger? Was there never going to be peace here she turned to her guards " Ingra uisht drumnae korma vuent. ( leave us
see to the training )" she said in her native tongue. " Sir Marius follow me I would hear of this situation at once." her voice turned cool though not toward him but in the matter of which he found so important that he had
sought her out. She led the way to a small barracks of sorts and within was an office where she sat going over maps and such... a command center of sorts. " Please sit down and speak freely... we will not be disturbed here." she
walked smoothly toward a desk... and she was doing fine except it had been moved and she rammed her knee into and let out a few choice words many would not be
understood for they were in her native Arganian tongue. " Damn it who moved the bloody damn desk?" she bent and rubbed her offended knee and then turned to him " Sorry
about that..." she looked a bit ashamed at the out burst. If
there was a need for her Rangers to be of assistance then she wants details and all of them " Hold nothing back Sir... " it was a soft command spoken firmly.
MariusdeBrabant Marius breathed a great sigh of relief; he did not have to speak like a courtier and ever so politely tiptoe around the edges of the subject. "Please Kae call me Marius." His face was still grim. On this subject alone it was most dangerous. He followed where she led to the little office and ignored her little accident with the desk. He had heard of this female knight and her lack of vision; he could only imagine what it was like for her. Yet she did
not pity herself. Marius did not simply follow her lead;
he admired her spirit. "I shall try to begin at the beginning. And I shall omit nothing. You most assuredly need to know everything. "It began, at least
to my knowledge, just a few weeks ago when the High Lord requested LadyJanice Vicreed de Brabant to translate a document into Berber for
transmission to the Sultan of Morocco. It was a tentative move to create a trade agreement or possibly more. Soon after that her bookshop was ransacked by two locals, who were looking for that document. I was there and apprehended them. My back was turned for a moment and both of their throats were slit.
Only then did find out the contents of the document. Scant days later, there was an assassination attempt against Lady Janice and myself who was present.
Fortunately, I was able to kill one and capture the other assassin. I did not expect much from his interrogation even with the Ebony Hall involved." he pauses and takes a breath "I investigated on my own and found that one man
had fled and even paid extra to go out on the evening tide. But I also learned that he arrived in Skye about a month before with a companion. Said companion,calling himself James of Lincoln, attempted to penetrate the castle by
obtaining a position as a servant. No positions were open. Apparently, under another name, he then befriended several of the servants who all frequented the Blue Boar Inn. He buys drinks and they give him the talks of the castle. Later, I obtained permission to go on patrol. I did. Believing that our coasts were open to enemy agents, I made a point of visiting the fishing villages. Apparently, enemy agents come and go on schedule, through the use of the European and Skye's fishing fleets. Also smugglers are regularly bringing in agents and taking them off again. During this time, there was another assassination attempt, made against myself specifically and also Lady Janice.
I was singularly fortunate in capturing my assassin and foiling the attempt on Janice. This involved an entirely new group of three more assassins, who were all captured." Marius hold up his hand. There is a bit more, but it is not necessary for this, yet I am involving the Bishop of Skye as well. Kae, Skye needs your Rangers as they have never been needed before. To put it bluntly there is no one who is keeping watch on these places. And rangers are well trained to be invisible and to observe and report accurately. Are they not?"
Kae behind the desk and listened carefully as he talked and she was glad he said he would omit nothing for if he did and she found out he would find himself on the business end of her sword. Only for the fact that she would be putting her rangers in potential harms way. By the end of his tale she had made up her mind... she was not going to send her rangers and archers in until she had more information and to do so meant she was going in alone... at least for now.
She leaned forward resting her elbows on the desk and covering one hand with the others as they made fists... blue eyes looked over in his direction. " Aye, my rangers and archers are trained in this sort of thing.... but I am not sending them... I will go in first and gather what information I can." her tone said it would be no other way. If one thing was evident about the woman before him it was that she was no ordinary woman.... out of all the rangers and archers only one rivaled her in ability and that was Danae.
" No one is to know about this for right now it stays here between us... can I trust you in that Marius?" this is what she had been waiting for a chance to prove herself... if to no one but herself. " I am the most experience and besides who would expect a half blind woman to be a threat... not alone a knight and the Elite Ranger of these lands. They do not know me so none will suspect anything more than that I am simply looking for work... and knowing my way around the ports can offer my sword arm to them." it would be a perfect plan she knew these lands so to slip away and meet to pass along whatever information she found out would be done easily.
Kae was not one to ask something of anyone she was not willing to do herself....not now.... not ever.
Marius listened most carefully to Kae as well. He had kept certain ramifications of the High Lord's policy out of their discussion. That he could not reveal except with his permission. Lady St. Laurence had hopefully informed the High Lord. Marius simply could not wait any longer; the security of Skye was not in danger; it was nonexistent. To him keeping this between themselves was not a problem. Far from it; it was much better and safer. But he was not convinced that this was a one woman operation. Granted, she might well be able to pass herself off, but he had already made a friendly connection with these people, at least in the fishing villages. "I do appreciate your interest and your intentions. But I must disagree with your methods. I have already spread enough gold around as myself. They trust me and the Griffin insignia I wore. For the fishing villages we only need to be there. As for the smugglers, I have the coves in question. People only need to be there and wait when the tides are right. We already have the information Kae. If we both quietly go back there, I will be remembered and so will my gold." He pauses for a moment. "I do understand your concerns for your people. This is what they have been trained to do. Let them do it. Yes, I do know about your disability. You wish to prove yourself............to yourself. This is for Skye. Think of that first. And believe me when I say that time is not on our side."
Kae gave him a wry smirk but her mind was already working, she to could appreciate his feelings and respect them as well. " You may come if you wish I will not stop you but before I bring in a good amount of my archers and rangers I need to know what is going on... I will take my two guards Sir Pagan and Sir Phantom. We can easily enough pass ourselves off as hired swords... and perhaps you can introduce us to those you have communications with. I also have my own ship if need be to get us in closer to the coves, and out lying shore regions." She herself had been thinking about taking back up with her for the just in case it was what made her an excellent ranger. As for money she had more than enough and could buy a few loyal people as well if for nothing more than to get messages back to Marius.
" I may be partially blind Marius but I am better than most with two eyes." she gave him a soft smile" there is no need for concern on my part and my men will be with me but again I am not sending in a bunch of my men before I know all that is happening and first hand not that I do not trust you or your word but I have to know... I hope you understand." she could not blame him for with all he had been through and with knowing what he knows she herself would feel the same. "I ALWAYS think of Skye and her people before myself... it would do well to remember that. I am not what many see and I am more." her tone chilled a bit as she did not like people thinking she was false in her duties or beliefs. Kae inhaled slowly and closed her eyes pinching the spot where nose met forehead with her thumb and index finger. " Marius I do not mean be come off gruff but I have made my living doing the very thing you came to me for... I carry the marks of my trade on my body... that is not a brag but a reassurance that I KNOW what I am doing in this matter." her voice softened a bit. " We need a plan. What thoughts do you have?"
"Dame Kae, you are not alone in bearing the scars of the profession. I am quite a bit more then the simple warrior many take me for. And I have done much in this area myself. In fact all the investigating of this situation was done by me alone, and I survived. I agree on back up, but not quite in the way you thing. Your two guards and perhaps some other rangers. I was thinking of going as ourselves to the very places I was previously." He smiled directly to her. "Yes, bait. If they are true to us, we are safe. If not, our people can move in and rescue us. Both of us would be wanted alive; so the risk is minimal. We will know in short order who is loyal and who is not. As for the danger, I think we are both used to that." Understand me Dame Kae, I can just imagine what you are capable of, and I respect it greatly, or I would not have asked for your assistance.
Kae regarded him with cool blue eyes " Sir Marius let me just say I do not think you simple in the least for it takes great conviction to seek me out on such a matter." her voice calm and almost soothing ass she spoke. His words resounding in her mind as she once more seemed to relax.... so much so that she stretched her legs out before her and crossed them at the ankles hands folded neatly across her trim waist. " Aye, I agree but for now I take my two guards and six others for now... no more until we know exactly what we deal with Ademar will remain as our contact here.... Danae for now has command over the rangers.... and as my second in command I trust her explicitly. I will say we are going on patrol that way none will think it odd that we are riding out and gone for a bit as we patrol for weeks at a time." she was smart as a whip which has saved her and her many countless times. She was not one to rush into things without first hand details and knowledge.
He may know what she was capable of but few had seen the extent of her abilities.... Bess would hold that honor... she smiled a bit and to most the look on her face would make them shiver for it was cold and calculated. " I am do not fear danger... it has been a life mate of mine but there are others here to consider. I will trust you but if you break that trust you will find yourself on your arse in a flash with my blade at your throat... I hope I make myself clear." she hated having to say it but she had been betrayed before and it almost cost her life to be forfeit and she was not willing to be put there again. " I will speak with my men and meet you in two days time at my home RavensCrest... just to the East of the city in the woods. It is not hard to find." she stood slowly and looked in his direction " What say you Sir Marius? Can you accept these conditions?" now she leaned against the desk arms folded over her chest as she waited patiently.... not one of her stronger virtues but still she did it.
Marius almost chuckled. "Dame Kae, you have no need of such "inducements" My loyalty is to Skye and to the Duke and Duchess." He could smile to himself realizing that soon they would be King and Queen. We may well need even more back up then you suppose, not for the fishing villages, but I do have fears about the smuggler coves when we investigate them. Please bear with my thinking. If they could so easily put ashore two different assassination parties, why not larger parties? We know their spy master is still at large and has been available for such activities."
"I believe that we may need a stronger force, just in case. But as long as we are working the fishing villages first we should be all right. As long as we're going, let's go"
Marius led the way to the sable, where their party swiftly prepared their mounts. Two of the party had disappeared into the kitchens and reappeared with the supplies they would require for the "patrol". Once out of sight of the city, the pace quickened and the miles flew by underneath the horse's hooves The coast was reached several hours later, and their horses pace was slackened to make less noise; so as not to alert the enemy to their presence. At this point the group separated Marius and Kae going forward alone into the first village with the others hanging far back. Marius whispered to her. "I've been in this village before, best let me to do the talking. Keep you senses alert." He gave her a smile, as they headed their mounts down into the village itself.
The boats were all drawn up on the beach, the fleet was in. This was a perfect time to interview the villagers and to see if they had followed Marius's instructions, which he had impressed upon them with gold. From a distance a commotion of some sort was visible in the middle of the village, but neither Marius nor Kae could quite get a clear view of it.
basic drills before doling out a more rigorous routine. Though she had only partial sight she was determined to not let it slow her down and after her meeting with Maahes she felt once more like she was useful...besides for her it was a part of her life as she had been a ranger for most of it. First in her homeland, then in the Kingdom of Windsor and now here in Scotland. She had many
skills that would benefit these rangers and archers. With her two Shadow Knights and personal guards at her side she paid attention to those more skilled and then she would move on to where the new recruits were training. Kae was tall for a woman and most would say more skilled than any man, but she did not brag or boast about it. Barking orders and commands as she walked down
the line of archers giving suggestions where they were warranted and then waiting for the execution of her dictates. Her long blonde hair was unbound and hung to her waist... she was wearing black leather pants, and knee high boots... looking every bit the warrior she was... taking pride in her status as Elite
Ranger and Knight.... titles she had earned through years of hard work and service... and not many dared cross the She wolf of Aragnia and walked away without fang marks as proof.
MariusdeBrabant: Marius had been looking for the Elite Ranger for a few days now, but this was a difficult woman to track down, as she should be with such
a title. He was much worried about the security of the island, especially after his patrol along the shores. Something was need to plug the gap, and
the rangers were his choice. Being trained to remain invisible and to observe and report, these were the perfect people to take care of the situation. But first he needed the approval of their head, no easy task. But perhaps privately and without any publicity at all, they could come to some workable arrangement. Today Marius was attired as usual in a plain surcoat, to draw no attention to himself. His boots were worm, but still serviceable, and at his hip rode his ever present bastard sword. A large dagger was situated on his right hip as well. He wore his gauntlets due to the weather, instead of tucking them into his belt and a heavy black wool, lined cloak kept him warm. Making his way to the Rangers' training area he spied a tall, blonde woman, easily in command of the situation. He made his way forward, waiting until she had withdrawn a bit to observe that her instructions were being carried out. He
came onward, with his usual brisk, military strike. He came close to her and inclined his head. "I am Sir Marius de Brabant. I seek the Elite Ranger, Kaelyn Urquart-Raven."
Born of Lies: Ademar her cousin was boasting about his skills and Kae figured he needed a lesson in humility " Ademar you think you can outbest any here? Well cousin mine take me on then." she was smiling and Ademar know
then and there he was about to be put in his place " two out of three and all have to be dead center...what say you?" she chuckled knowing he would not pass the opportunity and yet knowing he could not win. Kae was not as heavily
dressed for in her homeland it was much colder... a simple tunic and her always present vembraces she stepped forward bow in hand and notched two arrows at
once... a side glance to Ademar who swallowed hard as those around gathered close and made wagers. Leveling her bow she let out a slow breath as she
pulled the string back nd release it with ease sending the twin arrows down the range... landing with a distinct thud! in the target two perfect bulls eyes ... men cheered and clapped. With a smile she handed her bow to Ademar " Keep practicing and one day you will do that as well." she turned seeing the man that had just arrived and walked down the line when he approached and spoke. Blue eyes looked him over a military man... though she could not see him all
that well she knew by the way his footsteps sounded... she turned to him and bowed her head gracefully " Then you are in luck I am the Elite Ranger Dame
Kaelyn Urquhart-Raven...nice to meet you Sir Marius." she put out her hand to shake it but would he think it odd that she was not directly looking at him?? Her sight was not so good today... she saw in shadows. pagan and Phantom
her guards were at her side." how may I assist you today?" her voice soft and laced with an odd accent it was obvious she was not full Scots.
MariusdeBrabant: "I am most pleased to finally meet you Dame Urquhart-Raven" He took her hand firmly. He did not have to be a genius to realize that she
was unable to see him well. "Dame Urquhart-Raven, I have come across a situation with regard to the security of Skye and I believe the Rangers can be of great use to this isle. Anything further and I would prefer we spoke inside
and alone. I don't wish to be too dramatic, but danger is all around us now." He licked his lips. "This cannot wait; the situation deteriorates with each passing day." His eyes echoed the seriousness of the situation; giving off a faraway, haunted look. She was most desperately needed now.
Born of Lies: She returned his hand shake firmly... not she was no demure female but warrior born from many battles. "Please call me Kae all do... no need to be so formal." she canted her head as he spoke and something
flickered in the blue depths of them. Danger? Was there never going to be peace here she turned to her guards " Ingra uisht drumnae korma vuent. ( leave us
see to the training )" she said in her native tongue. " Sir Marius follow me I would hear of this situation at once." her voice turned cool though not toward him but in the matter of which he found so important that he had
sought her out. She led the way to a small barracks of sorts and within was an office where she sat going over maps and such... a command center of sorts. " Please sit down and speak freely... we will not be disturbed here." she
walked smoothly toward a desk... and she was doing fine except it had been moved and she rammed her knee into and let out a few choice words many would not be
understood for they were in her native Arganian tongue. " Damn it who moved the bloody damn desk?" she bent and rubbed her offended knee and then turned to him " Sorry
about that..." she looked a bit ashamed at the out burst. If
there was a need for her Rangers to be of assistance then she wants details and all of them " Hold nothing back Sir... " it was a soft command spoken firmly.
MariusdeBrabant Marius breathed a great sigh of relief; he did not have to speak like a courtier and ever so politely tiptoe around the edges of the subject. "Please Kae call me Marius." His face was still grim. On this subject alone it was most dangerous. He followed where she led to the little office and ignored her little accident with the desk. He had heard of this female knight and her lack of vision; he could only imagine what it was like for her. Yet she did
not pity herself. Marius did not simply follow her lead;
he admired her spirit. "I shall try to begin at the beginning. And I shall omit nothing. You most assuredly need to know everything. "It began, at least
to my knowledge, just a few weeks ago when the High Lord requested LadyJanice Vicreed de Brabant to translate a document into Berber for
transmission to the Sultan of Morocco. It was a tentative move to create a trade agreement or possibly more. Soon after that her bookshop was ransacked by two locals, who were looking for that document. I was there and apprehended them. My back was turned for a moment and both of their throats were slit.
Only then did find out the contents of the document. Scant days later, there was an assassination attempt against Lady Janice and myself who was present.
Fortunately, I was able to kill one and capture the other assassin. I did not expect much from his interrogation even with the Ebony Hall involved." he pauses and takes a breath "I investigated on my own and found that one man
had fled and even paid extra to go out on the evening tide. But I also learned that he arrived in Skye about a month before with a companion. Said companion,calling himself James of Lincoln, attempted to penetrate the castle by
obtaining a position as a servant. No positions were open. Apparently, under another name, he then befriended several of the servants who all frequented the Blue Boar Inn. He buys drinks and they give him the talks of the castle. Later, I obtained permission to go on patrol. I did. Believing that our coasts were open to enemy agents, I made a point of visiting the fishing villages. Apparently, enemy agents come and go on schedule, through the use of the European and Skye's fishing fleets. Also smugglers are regularly bringing in agents and taking them off again. During this time, there was another assassination attempt, made against myself specifically and also Lady Janice.
I was singularly fortunate in capturing my assassin and foiling the attempt on Janice. This involved an entirely new group of three more assassins, who were all captured." Marius hold up his hand. There is a bit more, but it is not necessary for this, yet I am involving the Bishop of Skye as well. Kae, Skye needs your Rangers as they have never been needed before. To put it bluntly there is no one who is keeping watch on these places. And rangers are well trained to be invisible and to observe and report accurately. Are they not?"
Kae behind the desk and listened carefully as he talked and she was glad he said he would omit nothing for if he did and she found out he would find himself on the business end of her sword. Only for the fact that she would be putting her rangers in potential harms way. By the end of his tale she had made up her mind... she was not going to send her rangers and archers in until she had more information and to do so meant she was going in alone... at least for now.
She leaned forward resting her elbows on the desk and covering one hand with the others as they made fists... blue eyes looked over in his direction. " Aye, my rangers and archers are trained in this sort of thing.... but I am not sending them... I will go in first and gather what information I can." her tone said it would be no other way. If one thing was evident about the woman before him it was that she was no ordinary woman.... out of all the rangers and archers only one rivaled her in ability and that was Danae.
" No one is to know about this for right now it stays here between us... can I trust you in that Marius?" this is what she had been waiting for a chance to prove herself... if to no one but herself. " I am the most experience and besides who would expect a half blind woman to be a threat... not alone a knight and the Elite Ranger of these lands. They do not know me so none will suspect anything more than that I am simply looking for work... and knowing my way around the ports can offer my sword arm to them." it would be a perfect plan she knew these lands so to slip away and meet to pass along whatever information she found out would be done easily.
Kae was not one to ask something of anyone she was not willing to do herself....not now.... not ever.
Marius listened most carefully to Kae as well. He had kept certain ramifications of the High Lord's policy out of their discussion. That he could not reveal except with his permission. Lady St. Laurence had hopefully informed the High Lord. Marius simply could not wait any longer; the security of Skye was not in danger; it was nonexistent. To him keeping this between themselves was not a problem. Far from it; it was much better and safer. But he was not convinced that this was a one woman operation. Granted, she might well be able to pass herself off, but he had already made a friendly connection with these people, at least in the fishing villages. "I do appreciate your interest and your intentions. But I must disagree with your methods. I have already spread enough gold around as myself. They trust me and the Griffin insignia I wore. For the fishing villages we only need to be there. As for the smugglers, I have the coves in question. People only need to be there and wait when the tides are right. We already have the information Kae. If we both quietly go back there, I will be remembered and so will my gold." He pauses for a moment. "I do understand your concerns for your people. This is what they have been trained to do. Let them do it. Yes, I do know about your disability. You wish to prove yourself............to yourself. This is for Skye. Think of that first. And believe me when I say that time is not on our side."
Kae gave him a wry smirk but her mind was already working, she to could appreciate his feelings and respect them as well. " You may come if you wish I will not stop you but before I bring in a good amount of my archers and rangers I need to know what is going on... I will take my two guards Sir Pagan and Sir Phantom. We can easily enough pass ourselves off as hired swords... and perhaps you can introduce us to those you have communications with. I also have my own ship if need be to get us in closer to the coves, and out lying shore regions." She herself had been thinking about taking back up with her for the just in case it was what made her an excellent ranger. As for money she had more than enough and could buy a few loyal people as well if for nothing more than to get messages back to Marius.
" I may be partially blind Marius but I am better than most with two eyes." she gave him a soft smile" there is no need for concern on my part and my men will be with me but again I am not sending in a bunch of my men before I know all that is happening and first hand not that I do not trust you or your word but I have to know... I hope you understand." she could not blame him for with all he had been through and with knowing what he knows she herself would feel the same. "I ALWAYS think of Skye and her people before myself... it would do well to remember that. I am not what many see and I am more." her tone chilled a bit as she did not like people thinking she was false in her duties or beliefs. Kae inhaled slowly and closed her eyes pinching the spot where nose met forehead with her thumb and index finger. " Marius I do not mean be come off gruff but I have made my living doing the very thing you came to me for... I carry the marks of my trade on my body... that is not a brag but a reassurance that I KNOW what I am doing in this matter." her voice softened a bit. " We need a plan. What thoughts do you have?"
"Dame Kae, you are not alone in bearing the scars of the profession. I am quite a bit more then the simple warrior many take me for. And I have done much in this area myself. In fact all the investigating of this situation was done by me alone, and I survived. I agree on back up, but not quite in the way you thing. Your two guards and perhaps some other rangers. I was thinking of going as ourselves to the very places I was previously." He smiled directly to her. "Yes, bait. If they are true to us, we are safe. If not, our people can move in and rescue us. Both of us would be wanted alive; so the risk is minimal. We will know in short order who is loyal and who is not. As for the danger, I think we are both used to that." Understand me Dame Kae, I can just imagine what you are capable of, and I respect it greatly, or I would not have asked for your assistance.
Kae regarded him with cool blue eyes " Sir Marius let me just say I do not think you simple in the least for it takes great conviction to seek me out on such a matter." her voice calm and almost soothing ass she spoke. His words resounding in her mind as she once more seemed to relax.... so much so that she stretched her legs out before her and crossed them at the ankles hands folded neatly across her trim waist. " Aye, I agree but for now I take my two guards and six others for now... no more until we know exactly what we deal with Ademar will remain as our contact here.... Danae for now has command over the rangers.... and as my second in command I trust her explicitly. I will say we are going on patrol that way none will think it odd that we are riding out and gone for a bit as we patrol for weeks at a time." she was smart as a whip which has saved her and her many countless times. She was not one to rush into things without first hand details and knowledge.
He may know what she was capable of but few had seen the extent of her abilities.... Bess would hold that honor... she smiled a bit and to most the look on her face would make them shiver for it was cold and calculated. " I am do not fear danger... it has been a life mate of mine but there are others here to consider. I will trust you but if you break that trust you will find yourself on your arse in a flash with my blade at your throat... I hope I make myself clear." she hated having to say it but she had been betrayed before and it almost cost her life to be forfeit and she was not willing to be put there again. " I will speak with my men and meet you in two days time at my home RavensCrest... just to the East of the city in the woods. It is not hard to find." she stood slowly and looked in his direction " What say you Sir Marius? Can you accept these conditions?" now she leaned against the desk arms folded over her chest as she waited patiently.... not one of her stronger virtues but still she did it.
Marius almost chuckled. "Dame Kae, you have no need of such "inducements" My loyalty is to Skye and to the Duke and Duchess." He could smile to himself realizing that soon they would be King and Queen. We may well need even more back up then you suppose, not for the fishing villages, but I do have fears about the smuggler coves when we investigate them. Please bear with my thinking. If they could so easily put ashore two different assassination parties, why not larger parties? We know their spy master is still at large and has been available for such activities."
"I believe that we may need a stronger force, just in case. But as long as we are working the fishing villages first we should be all right. As long as we're going, let's go"
Marius led the way to the sable, where their party swiftly prepared their mounts. Two of the party had disappeared into the kitchens and reappeared with the supplies they would require for the "patrol". Once out of sight of the city, the pace quickened and the miles flew by underneath the horse's hooves The coast was reached several hours later, and their horses pace was slackened to make less noise; so as not to alert the enemy to their presence. At this point the group separated Marius and Kae going forward alone into the first village with the others hanging far back. Marius whispered to her. "I've been in this village before, best let me to do the talking. Keep you senses alert." He gave her a smile, as they headed their mounts down into the village itself.
The boats were all drawn up on the beach, the fleet was in. This was a perfect time to interview the villagers and to see if they had followed Marius's instructions, which he had impressed upon them with gold. From a distance a commotion of some sort was visible in the middle of the village, but neither Marius nor Kae could quite get a clear view of it.