OOC: Tags to
@Draconian ! I hope this works for a transition for our new plot ideas :D figure you can work out the details on how she's discovered and how it's negotiated your Duke more or less buys Kella lol
It had only been years but felt like a life time since she had run away from home. With her brother hounding her, and conquering duchies in her wake, she had no idea where to turn to, where to hide, or who to trust. Long was the road and tired was her life, but rumors spread and secrets were more valuable than gold.
That's how it was. Her life was worth far less than the gold to her name, and her captives were no fools. Rumors about her being 'cursed' or 'with magic' were enough to keep many wary (and the fact her brother was on a powering war path was scary enough); however, it was like a game of chess; but each move was like stepping over your own grave as you dug it out.
The men who had been sent to capture her were part of the first pair that had died from her touch; something that sent her reeling, and left her more vulnerable, mad and confused. When it was realized just how the men had died, transporting Kella Harmond became a task in itself. First, she was tossed inside a box, no bigger than a coffin, as she was dragged down North towards the capital. They knew so many men would pay a high price for her- and what fame would befall the men who gave her over to the Grand Duke?
Or what money could be given to the man who gave her elsewhere. Certainly, many disapproved or approved greatly of the Grand Duke, but knowingly possessing Kella Harmond spread rumors faster than wild fire- it was just a question of who had her, and where. It was difficult to name this new band of men, because they wouldn't let her see them, let alone barely let her out of her coffin like cage. She only knew they were traveling by the movement of the wagon that pulled her, and knew of her fate each time it changed as the men spoke. they were still guarded near her, despite knowing she was tied up half the time, but even by now she was lost in their details because it seemed someone of high power was asking for quite a lot for her.
A Duke, it was the only type of person who had any sort of mounting money to pay for a woman such as she- But it was still a deadly game, and she still had no idea if she'd survive to her destination.
Mage or not, she had no real powers against the elements, and it wasn't even a few weeks with her second batch of captors that she fell ill. She felt their sense of urgency as they knew she had gotten 'the illness' that was beginning to spread through Connlaoth the winter following the long winter year. This year the weather at least was mild- but it was the perfect way to brew the disease that now had Kella stowed away in some shack somewhere in the woods, blind with fever, and still locked away from the light, from the world.
The Duke of Folkvar had spent a fortune.
Between the under the table dealings for his daughters- who still weren't dealt with - He'd also spent a fortune in funding the search for the traitor's sister. He knew that if he gathered her, he would be hailed a hero. Not only would he gain favor to the crown, he'd also go down in history books. If there was something he wanted, it was immortality, and only those that existed on paper, in records and portraits. Only they were truly immortal. It didn't drain his coffers but it made a dent and he knew that, ever so slightly, there would be suffering for it. Folkvar would suffer for what it was trying to achieve.
Not unlike flying too close to sun with wings made of wax. Hopefully though, it would be overcast so the sun's light wouldn't burn too hot.
When the Duke had gotten note that their prey had been captured, he'd gathered the best of his army, a few of his personal mordecai and set his heir and the few men to bring her home. The journey, Kairius found, sucked. While he hadn't been particularly pampered and wasn't ignorant to hard work, sleeping outside was still an issue for him and he could barely do it. So, tired, angry, irritated. Kairius was hardly the sight of a grand heir to the Duchy of Folkvar and when he met up with the thugs his uncle hired he gave them a nod.
The threat of the soldiers kept them from drawing blades. The thread of being killed immediately probably helped more.
The woman's location was a secret and Kairius frowned when he discovered where it was.
He actually whined and rolled his eyes. What a mess. What was his uncle thinking. Why couldn't he just send people here to collect the woman and bring her back. Kairius recalled the conversation, added a burly voice to the recollection of his uncles memory. 'I need to know that at least one of you has my best interests in mind, because my best interests are also yours, Kairius'. It was for the good of Folkvar. It would bring a good light and finally, when he was made Duke of the Duchy it would be with only positive thoughts.
Or something.
Kairius was tired and he'd been damp for a few days.
Mostly he just wanted to go home to his bed with or without this damnable woman.
It took half a day to get to the cabin in the woods. Well, once he saw it, the shack. Guards were posted everywhere and he pondered, for a few moments, if this woman was dangerous enough to be needing guards then just why did his uncle send him here. Whatever. He didn't care. Just... Collect her and go. Of course he heard the tales of her deathly touch and, of course, he was foolhardy and went into the shack anyway.
Well.
The sight of the sick woman was a little underwhelming and Kairius poked his head out of the door and gave the guards a 'really?' look before he went into the shack, taking steps. This was the woman that would help end the war? Bring glory to Folkvar? This slip of a woman? A glance at his hand, gloved from the cold and he cupped his hands around his mouth to warm them slightly before he knelt down beside bed and pressed his hand to her face hesitantly. When he didn't die instantly he decided that, maybe, the stories weren't true... Or at least it was skin to skin. Who knew. He wasn't going to risk it. Either way, even through his glove he could feel her burning with fever.
Great.
Just great.
Kairius sighed, it wouldn't do well to have the woman die when so much money had been spent to find her. Kairius left the shack after a moment, returning with water and a few blankets. His hand smoothed over her cheek, thumb brushing her temple. He'd tossed blankets over her and sighed, water ready. "Hey," He said, voice husky from disuse, "Wake up and tell me the name of your cat or horse or something," He huffed, "I need to make sure you aren't about to die before we bother traveling with you."
Touch... Touch. The strangeness of it, so foreign, it was enough to break the woman from a fevered sleep. Touch. And a man's touch, one strong enough for her to realize it, and confident as well. But her eyes didn't open, not at first, as the frail woman moved upon the bed. Limp curls brushed across her face, masking her brows as she murmured something from the sweetest of lips, on the sweetest, saddest of voices, and on a voice about as low as the dying wind outside, "Aryn." She made another noise and simply repeated the same name, her own hands reaching out to hold to his.
"Aryn."
Aryn.
Kairius blinked.
Was that the horse or the cat?
And who said the name of a cat like someone would whisper a lovers name in the middle of a hot night's passion? Still, he felt bad for the woman. Clearly out of her head with fever, Kairius held the womans hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before he moved his other hand to push her hair from her face. Should he like... Toss her into a river? Would that wake her up? A call to one of the soliders and they popped their head in. A quick instruction for a cool cloth and it was brought to him.
Slowly, he pressed it to the womans face.
He couldn't believe in what terrible condition she was in. Sure, the rumour was that someone could drop dead from touch. That didn't mean she deserved to rot in a shack though. When was the last time they fed her? Kairius murmured on about nothing in particular, probably which crops grew best where and when fishing was viable during the year. "Kella?" He said softly, cloth to her forehead. He'd left the hand in hers alone while he pressed the cloth along her face, trying to cool her down and mop up the sweat from her fever. "Kella, I need you to wake up. We're going to take you away from here."
He wanted to say back to her cat Aryn... But... He still wasn't sure if it was a cat or a horse.
She felt the cold compress to her face, the burning fever making her dizzy. Groaning, she moved where she lay and slowly opened her eyes, groggily peering up at a man. Still not drawn back to reality, she found herself only able to repeat the name, "Aryn?" as she peered up into Kairius's face.
Hm.
Aryn might not have been a cat or a horse.
Considering he was holding her hand - how could something feel both cold and hot? - Kairius bet it was a man? A lover? He paused, thinking of her little... Skin touching condition. Maybe not a... physical lover. He tilted his head and gave her hand a squeeze.
"Not Aryn Love. No man named Aryn here," he reported to her, stoic and slightly frowning, "just Kairius and he's here to get you somewhere better than a frozen shake. You awake yet?"
The world was swirling and bubbling all around her. But as his words collected, like bubbles, delicate in their landing, she sat up suddenly as reality popped her into the present. Gasping, she jerked away from him, eyes becoming wide and fearful.
"D-Don't touch me!" she went on, hugging onto her gloved hands and cringing.
"Holy fuck," he startled, hands lifting.
Kairius blinked at her, hands up and away.
"Honey, I'm... Not?" He tried to smile at her tilting his head, "just trying to get you out of this shack. We're gonna get you somewhere safe. Fed and watered. You're sick."
Her eyes were so wide, there was no hiding the tears that formed; and her entire body was shaking.
"Who.. who are you?"
"My name is Kairius," he was knelt by the bed and looked at her. Underneath the dirt and sickness he imagined she could be pretty. "We're here to take you somewhere safe. Obviously these fools have only managed a part of that. Can you walk?"
Kella trembled, still uncertain whether or not to trust his words. He was just one man, a stranger, who she had awoken to at her bedside. But even she knew it was at least some relief not to be at death's door, but for all she knew, she could be being prepared to be handed over to wolves.
"Where do you plan to take me?" she wasn't going to answer any of his other questions. She didn't care if she could walk, and she only wanted to know what was going on. At least now she was out of her coffin, out of her box, and out of the fever. But she was still Kella Harmond, and the long winter and time on her own had hardened her.
..Someplace safe...
Nowhere was safe.
Kairius watched the girl and he felt perhaps a little bad. This woman was obviously exhausted. Physically. Mentally. When was the last time she'd been comfortable? Obviously Kairius was of the mind that women were, well, not weak but obviously deserved to be pampered. He sighed and ducked his head down, taking a deep breath but still kneeling.
"Reajh and then Folkvar" He said simply, "Not as a prisoner." Sort of.
Sort of a prisoner.
His uncle hadn't exactly told him what was to be done with her just where to take her and how much time he had. "You'll be safe," He looked around, "Don't you want to rest? Have a full belly?"
It didn't matter what else he said the moment he mentioned Reajh she gasped, and jerked away from him defensively on the bed.
"N-no! I can't go there!"
Even if she had no direct association with her brother, she was still now a known mage, and one who had been keeping it a secret. That, coupled witht he fact she's the twin to the biggest rebel in all of Connlaoth....
"P-please.. I.. I can't go there!" she went on, trembling and not bothering to fight off her tears.
They'd kill her. Even if he said she'd be safe. She wasn't a fool. To bring a woman such as she into Reajh.... There were so many that could only see her as Blaith Harmond's sister. And Reajh was swarming with the vast majority of mage hate supporters under Calent's rule.
The explosive reaction had Kairius's eyes widen and he jerked back away from her as surely as she moved away from him. An arm went up defensively but... She didn't attack and didn't lunge. No. She was absolutely terrified and his lilac eyes widened, blinking at her owlishly before he started to shake his head, moving closer to her, hands out and open.
The intention was to comfort, but how could you comfort someone who couldn't touch?
"We won't go to Reajh then," He said simply, a high promise but... His uncle could meet them back in Folkvar if he needed to tell them something so badly. "My uncle has negotiated full immunity for you, Lady Kella," He said softly, hands still out, crouched beside the bed, "You're more useful alive than you are executed and..." He nodded to her neck, the exposed flesh there, "the people that need to know are aware of your... Affliction."
While he himself didn't partake in touch much... Was it torture to not even have the option for it? Kairius looked at her, keeping himself calm for the both of them. "We'll just head right for Folkvar and you can rest there. You're as safe as you can get," He reiterated, not safe forever but... Safe enough. "Now..." He held out a gloved hand, "Come along. We'll get you situated on a horse to take you to the carriage and then we'll be on our way. Have a doctor look at you or... Something."
SHe looked at him, breathing heavy. Dirty mops of blond hair, ratty from months of travel hung about her face and her sunken cheeks were marked pink.
"Folkvar?" The notion, the place, almost seemed foreign. Sure she'd been there, but for the life of her, she couldn't even begin to remember what she had ever done there, who she'd met, what family now ruled or...
If at this turn in the war, just what side they were on.
She kept back, her lower lip trembling, pouting as she whimpered, "Please... can't you just.. let me go?" she asked, closing her eyes as she lowered her head, hot tears slipping down her cheeks.
"Folkvar," Kairius confirmed, voice soft, "It's in the east. Farthest southern corner," Like describing where it was would help her but... Maybe a little? He gave no further information and simply watched her. His expression fell when she began to cry and he sighed heavily, moving to sit on the cot, reaching forward to her face with one hand before he gently rested a hand on hers.
"No, My Lady," his voice was soft and perhaps a little regretful. The woman was clearly a mess and for all that trouble she'd gone through to simply end... Here. Kairius sighed. "Now, you can come with me on your own two feet, or I can wrap you in a blanket and carry you out," He paused and let go of her hand, moving to stand aside. "Either way, we're leaving here in fifteen minutes and headed out."
But she had no strength or will to respond to him,a nd remained slumped over- simply crying more.
Kairius sighed, feeling pity and... Anger? Frustration?
He simply left the room, going to a saddle back to fetch a blanket. It was for if they had to spend a night anywhere. And it was cleaner and damn him if he was going to get any of those sheets by his face. Returning to the room, he moved closer to Kella, throwing the blanket over her before he wrapped her up like a babe and pulled her close.
There was a pause after he picked her up, finding her alarmingly light. It was easy to bring her outside, pass her off to a solider carefully, get on her horse and then have her hefted up to him so he could hold her carefully. "You can rest," He said simply, "And, I suppose if you have a death wish, you can kill me," He smiled down at her, "Because then they'll kill you." And he nudged his horse to start moving, keen on not having to spend the night in the forest.
Who knew what sort of ghoulish creatures lingeredout here.
She felt awkward cradled and passed around in the blanket, but it was better than being dragged around inside a box. The air felt nice, cool on her skin and fresh- not stale like the shack she was confined to, nor the coffins that have long since been relinquished only Ansgar knew along the roads.
SHe must've been more exhausted than she thought, because not even a half hour on the road, she drifted off to sleep, cuddled in closely against her captive's side, taking in the warmth of his chest and body as best she could, and so far gone to her sleep, she wouldn't have even considered, nor worried, there were any consequences in a potential touch. That was, until her movement slipped her into such a way that her forehead brushed just enough of- what was it- his cheek? His forehead.. a hand? She couldn't know, but the reaction was enough to jerk her awake as she cried out in pain, tearing herself from him and throwing herself away.
She was on the ground, who knew where, who knew how, with the blanket half tangled up in her body. And she hurt, she knew she was bleeding but she was too weak, too dizzy to react.
A touch..
She knew that zing. She had touched someone- but who.. how? And as she trembled, she managed to lift her gaze, blue eyes seeking across the white.
It was perhaps a foolish idea to carry their captive in his arms wrapped up only in a blanket. Still, Kairius didn't want to instill fear of him into her because in the end, that would make everything harder. If she hated him that would only make having her trust him more difficult.
Kairius needed her to trust him.
Of course, he needed to trust her too and he let her rest. Finding himself a little content that she fell asleep so quickly. That was good. It wouldn't do well for her to just freakin' die. Kairius held her closely, not noticing when the blanket had fallen from her head. Periodically while they'd traveled, he'd tuck his chin down against her forehead to feel her temperature through the blanket but it was the time when he wasn't looking. Warm in his arms, that his jaw touched her forehead.
It felt like electricity zinged through his system and he froze. The girl falling from him spooked the horse and the horse reared up with a scream and Kairius landed hard on the gravel on his back. His air left him with a woosh the horse jerked away a few steps before it calmed down, leaving Kella on the ground and Kairius gasping for arm before he slowly rolled onto his side.
There was a few minutes of breathing before he caught his breath before he crawled over to the girl. "Are you okay?" He panted, "I'm so sorry," He lifted the blanket, pressing it to a cut on her forehead, "I didn't notice the blanket fell and I touched your head with my chin," and fuck had that been fun. Not something he was interested in repeating any time soon.
She flinched at his touch, avoiding his gaze and trembling. Her eyes had teared up, and were already spilling down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, I forgot," he whispered. The horse had calmed some and Kairius looked to the beast for a moment. His thumb brushed a tear away. "Lady Kella, please ... Are you hurt?" He looked at her, reaching for her arm to bring her up.
But instincts had her flinching away, at any attentions- at all of them. And she never once looked at him. Though it didn't matter, her vision was too clouded in hot, fresh bubbling tears.
"Please stop crying," he asked softly, "I dont know how to fix this if you dont tell me how I can help." Kairius kept his hands from her face, instead crouching down beside her and moving to fix the blanket
She couldn't stop crying, but when she was able to calm down some, able to breath...
she shook her head and trembled.
"You.... It... Nothing can be fixed."
Confused, Kairius shook his head and forcibly bundled her up back in the blanket. His hand smoothed up and down his back and he tried not to show the annoyance on his face at her blubbering. It was okay for her to be scared.
"Then we'll patch it up or reinforce it. We have to go, are you able to stand?"
She frowned at his words, foolishly brushing away at tears before nodding, and stood numbly beside him.
Kairius nodded at her.
"Good," He tucked the blanket around her more securely, and again, he was on his horse and she was pulled against his lap, making sure to adjust the blanket before he tucked her under his chin again. No skin to skin. For good measure, he fixed his collars to add more fabric between them. His skin still tingled and he'd ache from the fall tomorrow but... It was no use worrying about it now. "You can rest again, I'll wake you up when we make camp so you can have something warm to eat. I'll do my best not to touch your skin again."
She grew quiet, and remained agreeable, even if numbly so. She was as much a prisoner here as anywhere else, but she could at least make the best of it. At least she wasn't in that traveling coffin, or on her death bed where he had found her.
As they traveled, her mind returned to their meeting and she realized, for the life of her (most likely due to stress) she could not recall his name.
"Your... family name.. and where we are going... Where did you say it was again?"
there was an itch of a memory- something that felt a little off as she was asking about it, but let it simply simmer beneath her skin.
Kairius sighed and looked ahead.
"My name is Kairius," He said simply, not offering his last name and instead gave her arm a rub, "We are going to Folkvar." He sighed and the horse began to go again and he ignored the ache of his back, "Do you know where Folkvar is...?"
She made a face, trying to put two and two together.
"Are you... The duke's son?" But wouldn't she have remembered that? She thought Folkvar had no direct male heirs.
Kairius sighed and looked up at the sky before turning away.
At least with her fever the woman was a living heater, so there was that, which was nice.
"I'm his nephew by his sister," He supplied quietly, voice low. It wasn't that the people around him didn't know, they did obviously, but... It was always uncomfortable to talk about his mother, even in a very indirect way.
So he was the Duke's nephew .,things were making sense now as she grew quiet.
Kairius sighed.
"Lady Kella," His voice was soft and he smoothed a hand up and down her arm, "I'm not going to hurt you and you aren't going to be tried. My uncle has established immunities for you," He didn't know why but... His uncle had gone a long way and spent a lot of coin for this woman.
Why?
He sighed and shifted slightly so she was more comfortable against his chest. "Just rest, we'll be at camp in no time." The ride was simple, easy. Kairius's ass hurt from being thrown from the horse and there was a bit of a headache but nothing permanent and he was careful to not touch the girls skin again. It seemed to have hurt her too, for some reason so... That was odd.
Finally, the sun began to go down and they had finally reached the camp. A chorus of greetings from the soldiers left behind. A fire was popping joyfully in the middle of the camp and the smell of a stew that hopefully didn't taste like leather shoes permeated the air. Kairius gave Kella's arm a pat, frowning. "Lady Kella? Are you awake? We've come to the rest point," It was the first stop in a long journey but... A stop and some food.
He had brought nothing with him earlier except for a waterskin he hadn't even thought to offer her. "Are you thirsty? Hungry?"
She awoke quietly, groggily and accepted the water when offered. As she looked around the army base, or so it appeared that's where they were, she found herself frowning and her stomach rumbling for food.
"I could do with something to eat," she admitted softly, eyes low to the ground.
"Just a platoon," He said softly.
"You're an important woman and we had to be prepared for anything," Kairius hadn't seen her look but he could feel the hesitation in her body when she took a drink and he couldn't help the little smile on his face when her stomach grumbled. Of course he also felt bad.
Easily he slid off the horse before he reached up, took her blanketed waist in his hands and helped her down. Slowly, carefully, he rearranged the blanket so it was over her shoulders and acted as a hood of shorts before he put an arm around her shoulders and guided her to the fire. The soliders gave her a wide berth and once the fire was close enough to feel the warmth of, two bowls were pushed into his hands and he handed one to Kella. "There's plenty, so..." He shrugged, "Eat your fill?"
He really didn't need her to die on the way there. So. Be nice, be a gentleman. Be the courier of the Not Dead Kella Harmond.
She ate and ate in silence. And though ravenous, she still clung to her pride and ate with dignity. All in all, she ate quite a lot for her and didn't hesitate when seconds were offered and finished that before growing quiet again and just waited to see what fate had in store for her now.
She took this time to study Kairius. He must be younger than her, or she should have known him. If they were similar in age, he would have been a possible match in her youth for a future husband. The hair gave away what side of Connlaoth he was from, but it still didn't answer much of what bothered her.
"So I'm to be used against my brother?" she found herself asking, after finding herself mostly alone with her captor.
Kairius finished his meal, watching the girl eat her fill and then some. Whiskey for after dinner. God know he needed it. Well, he didn't, but he wanted it. After he noticed the girl was done her meal, he brought his canteen over and sat beside her. The rest of the soldiers moved along after the silent motion to give himself and his captive some space.
"I don't know," He said honestly, taking a sip and offering it to her, "Whiskey," he said simply before he pushed a hand through his hair. "All I've been told is to bring you home - my home - and then they'll figure out what to do with you. Either way, it's a warm bed and a warm meal. Better than being out in the wilderness or in a camp." At least, it seemed that easy to him.
She didn't look at him. She didn't want to.
"I chose to be out here. I chose to leave my home." Her eyes were fierce, like two blue spheres of fire, staring holes into the wall across from whcih she stared.
Kairius cleared his throat and took the canteen back.
Tucking that away, he looked off to the side and frowned slightly.
"Well, hasn't worked out so far, has it?" He added simply, looking around, "Kinda... Almost starved to death. And you're sick..." He shrugged, "This is the best chance you got," He went on to pout slightly, "I'm not that bad."
She turned her glare to him.
"You're my captor."
That made this all bad enough.
Kairius frowned at her, sitting cross legged and resting his elbow on his knee, and then his chin on his hand.
"Well, true," He nodded, "But now you're fed and warm. So, you're welcome. You're going to sleep beside me - on other sides of the tents - none of the other guards want to be near you. They'll kill you if I die mysteriously in the middle of the night so... Don't get any ideas."
Her eyes narrowed, her anger rising.
"I'm not my brother!"s he snapped. "You can sleep well knowing I'm no killer." She stood suddenly, evidently having enough strength returned to be so defiant. "But I will not sleep with you, or near you. If you want to take me as your prisoner, you still need to treat me like the noble lady I am!"
Kairius tried not to smile.
He watched her, pleased she was angry. Well, pleased and a little irritated. Still, he watched her stand up and sighed, "It's a big tent, My Lady. Be able to fit a horse between us," Kairius looked to the soldiers, moving his hand to fiddle with the rocks on the ground, then his voice lowered, "It's for your safety as much as their peace of mind," He didn't stand up, simply motioned to the ground, "It's only for a little while, once we're in a building you'll have your own room."
Kella held her breath, thinking over his words before swallowing down her anger. But she said nothing, simply looked away from him to the floor where he gestured would be her bed.
"Then I suppose it's time to retire?"Or he just wanted to keep her in here and out of his hair for a while.
Kairius tried to smile at her before handing the canteen of whiskey over.
"Just take a sip, it'll help you sleep if you're a little fuzzy," he nodded to the tent and tried to smile at her. "Feel free to sleep, there's... well not a cot but a pile of blankets. My pile of blankets is closest to the front."
She turned her nose to the canteen, shaking her head. But then as he mentioned sleep, she simply huffed.
"I'm not tired."
Kairius tilted his head and smiled, "alright." He sighed and looked at her, a brief glance away, "did you ... want to talk?" He puffed out his cheeks and looked away, tucking the canteen in his coat. "Tell me about yourself?"
She didn't want to talk, even though part of her did. But it would make the situation, and her captors more human if she obliged. She simply shook her head.
"What is there to say?"
Hm.
Kairius pushed his hand through his hair and sighed, "well... Do you have a middle name?"
She looked at him, furrowing her brows.
"A middle name?" What kind of question was that?
Kairius smiled and looked at Kella, an eyebrow raised, "sure. Do you have one??" Seemed like an innocent enough question.
"Of course," she went on with a frown, looking away from him unhappily. "All nobles give their children middle names, sometimes two of them."
"And yours are...?" Kairius started, eyebrows up, curious. A little smile and a tilt of his head. "Brittany? Kella Louisa? Kella... Thumbalina?" He hummed and hawed, "Kella Elizabethia Franchesca Harmond."
She looked at him, blinking before shaking her head.
"No." Though it was amusing, she showed no ounce of amusement from it. "Kella Ann."
Plain and simple enough. Why did he care?
A little nod.
A hard won victory. "I don't have one myself," he smiled at her, "but i am tired, so," he waved his arm towards the tent, "after you. No need to change, the nights get pretty cold. We should be at a place with a roof we can rest tomorrow anyway."
She just stared at him.
Was he serious?
Inwardly she scoffed, but that was evident in her eyes as she turned from him and simply entered where he commanded, and stood in the center of the tent, arms rigid at her side as she awaited any further orders he might give.
No middle name.. And here she thought he was nobility! What sort of noble family lacked the middle name tradition?
Kairius just grinned at her.
A tilt of his head and a small smile before he watched her enter the tent. Definitely a noblewoman. Only that look could be given by one. Probably a hereditary thing that look. Passed on down from generation to generation. The look of frowning at an ant that would be better stepped on than talked to.
After she entered the tent, Kairius followed, and plunked himself down in his pile of blankets. Laying down, head propped under his hands, "Have nice dreams, My Lady," He said softly before he closed his eyes and... Waited for sleep. It took it's time.
And while he waited, Kella went to make herself as comfortable as possible, huffing as the situation was anything but ideal. Then again, nothing had been ideal ever since her brother had changed. She missed him. Not the new Blaith, but the way her brother used to be.
Just silence.
Kairius looked over to her, curious for a moment.
The various other soliders would be making ready for bed now. A sleep that, while probably uncomfortable, would be needed. Ann. Kairius smirked to himself, resting his arms over his face. Annoying people to the point of information was a thing and he'd found he was good at it. Perfect. A smirk to himself and finally, after listening to the shuffling outside the tent, he was asleep.
She hated to admit she had fallen asleep much easier than she ought to have, but awoke to the quiet of the night. For a long time she simply listened to the noises at night and to the faint breathing of her captive. Then slowly, ever so slowly, she sat up. She studied the tent, and the faint shadows of the tents around them and tried to think of a way to escape. If anyone touched her, they'd regret it, assuming they weren't wearing gloves or she kept her skin covered.
But she could make it. She had to try, didn't she? Who knew what fate befell her in Folkvar and she was not about to wait to find up. Slowly, quietly, she rose from her bed and tip toed over towards the tent flap. She opened it, silently, and peered outside. She saw a few guards on duty, but their backs were turned to her. But when one began to turn around, she slunk back inside the tent and let the flap fall and held her breath, hoping that didn't wake up Kairius.
Unluckily for Kella, kairius was a notorious terrible sleeper when it come to roughing it. The second she moved his eyes snapped open and he straind to see her. "Kella," his voice was soft, and rough from being tired "come back to sleep. You're safe with me," he moved to sit up, having found he'd rolled away from the tent entrance feom all his tossing and turning.
She grimaced, standing still as she felt her heart drum inside her chest. There was no chance of attempting to sneak out now, but pride was getting the best of her (especially around this man) Perhaps her time around Kathania had rubbed off on her.
"It wouldn't do well for me to relieve myself in the tent," she huffed. "I did not think I'd need an escort for that."
Kairius wrinkled his nose at her comment and moved to get up. "You're not going anywhere in the forest alone," he grumbled getting onto his knees and pushing his hands through his fluffy red hair. The hairtie had fallen out and the red locks fell a little passed his shoulders. "C'mon, lets go let you pee, i'll go with you and keep you safe from -" Kairius paused to yawn, "the ghosts and ghouls."
She glared at him but knew she had little choice. And even though it had been a fib, she realized she did kind of have to go. She folded her arms across her chest and kept her nose up.
"Then lead the way." It was the only gentlemanly thing to do, anyway. He might as well act his part. BUt she didn't appreciate the ghost and ghouls comment. Did he think she was a kid? She might have looked young for her age, but she was not some child!
Kairius smirked at her, lifting an eyebrow before he moved past her, making sure to bump her with his elbow - after he made sure that it was covered by cloth. For a woman who'd been sick, she sure was sassy. Impulsively he held out a hand before he remembered and snapped it away. Right. He could die.
"I think this means we're bonding," He quipped on their way there. He guided Kella to a tree, and moved to stand on the other side of it to do his own business.
As awkward as it was, she really had to pee, and waited for him to look away before tottering off to a little bit more of a private location behind the tree. But it was hard, and she wasn't a man. So she couldn't just stand.
She felt so uncivilized doing this so close to another man, and with so many other men around too. But it wasn't the end of the world, and once she was done, she sighed and fixed her clothing, not bothering to look the man's way. She just hoped he was smart enough not to watch her. Not only was it gross, but it would have been rude as well.
Kairius was waiting for her patiently, politely ignoring any sounds and also politely not trying to look at her. Mostly he was listening for any sounds that were akin to running and he leaned against the tree, with his arms folded. A wide yawn and he stretched his arms up, "Feel better?"
She looked at him, then away.
"Let's just get back to the tent before your men worry."
Feel better.. didn't he have a choice of words?
A little nod and Kairius offered her his elbow but... It was dark, so he simple gently guided her by holding his hand to her back. "Please go to sleep?" He asked, voice soft. Tired, "I know you don't want to be here, but I don't really sleep out in the forest so... Sneaking out of the tent isn't going to get you very far." He informed her, smirking at her slightly, "You need rest, anyway, you're still sick." At least he figured she was still sick, he'd have checked her temperature... Kairius frowned, "Do you still feel sick?"
She folded her arms and didn't look at him.
"I feel fine."
In truth,s he did feel still fatigued, and could have eaten more- as she hadn't eaten much in a long time. But she wasn't going to tell him that. He didn't deserve it.
"Good, then you'll sleep like a bear," Kairius grinned, the sound of it in his voice telling while he urged her towards the tent. Finally they arrived and he got a signal from one of the sentry's. From their count, dawn would be in a few short hours. Rest up. Kairius nodded and stood beside the flimsy door, "After you, My Lady." He smiled at her and bowed to her.
She simply walked past him without a word, went to her bedding and kept her back to him and closed her eyes, sighing as she tried to find some semblance of sleep. Tomorrow would be another day. But what would tomorrow bring?
Tomorrow would bring sunshine and Kairius jerked away with the dawn.
Fuck. What?
A glance over his shoulder told him Kella was still there and he sighed in relief. She hadn't tried to sneak out of the tent again. Fixing his messy hair he crawled out of the tent and rolled his shoulders, eyes puffy from his lack of sleep and his head hurting. The sooner they got moving, the sooner they could get back home.
He smacked the tent a few times.
"Time to go, Lady Kella," he announced, most of the camp had been packed away already, thank goodness. "The sooner we head out the sooner we can all sleep in real beds." Well, some of them anyway.
Kella was surprised she slept past her captor. She must've been more exhausted than she thought. She sat up, hair a mess and her own eyes puffy and sleepy. She stifled a yawna nd stretched as best as she could- yet she too suffered from a headache and hse sighed as she rubbed at her temples before moving to stand.
Kairius sighed and poked his head into the tent, frowning at her for a moment before... Ah, she was up. Good. "How do you feel?" his voice was soft and he turned his head slightly, "Still sick? We would have let you sleep longer but it's already passed dawn and we don't want to camp another night out here."
By we, he meant himself. Kairius couldn't stand the great outdoors. It was a good thing he had his nose deep into books and his uncle was doing the battle-duke things. So much camping.
She couldn't help herself but scowl when Kairius greeted her. He was an unpleasant reminder she was his captor. She supposed things could be worse. After all, her brother was now an enemy of the crown. Her life alone was more valuable than gold, and she knew that. Whatever barter they had in store for her....
She'd refuse. Or at least she'd tell herself that. But she knew at the day's end, her fate no longer belonged to her.
"Where are we headed?" she asked, moving to fix he clothing, which ahd gotten quite wrinkled through the night.
Where were they headed?
"To Folkvar," He said, blinking widely and watching her fix her clothing. Though he quickly averted his gaze to be polite. "It's just a small town on the way. We should be to my uncle's home in Folkvar within a fortnight - probably sooner." Kairius nodded to her before offering a hesitant smile - though quickly enough he turned away and stepped from the tent. The reaction from mentioning Reajh had gotten him to quickly ditch that.
If his uncle wanted to meet, they could do it at their home.
SHe knew they were going to Folkvar, but he eventually answered more specifically and she frowned. Once she was decent, she moved near to him. They'd be there in a fort night. Or sooner. Her frown deepened. She wished she could trust any of them. But this was war. And it was a man's game, and she hated feeling so vulnerable and clueless.