howlingplayground | A King AU... again

A King AU... again

It figures. It just figures. The one time he goes out without Josh, Kevin gets stabbed through the side. They're relatively sure that nothing important was damaged, but the knights can't touch him. One's already lost a glove to Kevin's power, and who knows when they'll be able to get to Josh.

"Your Highness, we need to keep moving -" Sir Julian says, scowling as they come upon a village.

"We keep moving and he's going to bleed to death," the heavily helmeted Lady Sooraya points out. "Perhaps this village has a healer?" She suggests, looking around.

Julian snorts. "Healer or not, how are they -"

Kevin falls off his horse, stopping all talking. One of the other knights, smaller than the other two jumps down. "I'm alright." He tries to reassure.

"Julian!" The knight on the ground snaps. "Ride ahead into the village. See if they have someone." He nods and knees his horse heading toward the village. "Sooraya, get over to that house and see if they have a cart. Buy it if you have to." She snaps out orders, her metal gloves holding Kevin still. "Stay still, Your Highness. We'll get you somewhere safe."

He swallows and nods. He knows his side is bleeding again. He knows that he's been losing blood pretty steadily since they had been attacked by the small troupe of bandits. He closes his eyes, only to have his shoulder shaken. "Don't you dare pass out on me." She snaps at him.

"Not trying to." He whispers, as he fights to keep his eyes open. "J, ride for Josh. Soo and Julian got me."

"Not yet. I'm going to get you to a healer first." She says, stubbornly. "Besides, the King will have our heads if we let you die. I like my head." She looks up as someone approaches. "Stand and explain yourself." She says, getting to her feet and resting a hand on her sword.

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Josh is more than used to it. He knows his place in Kevin's life, and is content with it.

Jubes shakes her head. "No trouble at all." She says, after she swallows a bite. "Honestly, you were in the right place at the right time. We appreciate that." She says, gently. "Like we said, Kevin's being an ass, and will be apologizing, once whatever's wrong with him is taken care of."

"We know what's wrong with him," Soo points out. There's a knock on the tent post. "Come in Julian!" She calls, not reaching for her veils. Then, she turns back to Angela as Julian comes in, carrying his own dinner. "Kevin is being asked to marry. The problem, of course, is his power. He doesn't want to accidentally hurt anyone. But King Erik is... fervent in his desire that his son marry." She sighs.

"The other problem is Lady Cessily." Julian points out around a mouthful. "She's hell bent on marrying the Prince." He shrugs. "She's... if she's going to be our Queen? I quit."

Angela doesn't even bother disguising how intrigued she is about this. She sits forward in her chair, sitting criss-cross up in the chair with the bowl settled between her legs.

"Josh mentioned her being a little clingy and touchy. Is she very forward then? I mean ... being "hell bent" sure sounds like it ..."

Surely she must be a little more than just touchy feely if everyone has such a problem with her.

Oh, and they are so willing to spill the tea.

"Lady Cessily's skin is metallic. Kevin can touch her. She makes it a point of fawning all over him and touching where she isn't welcome." Soo says.

Jubes pours water for the four of them, handing Angela a glass. "Look, when Lady Cessily first came to court, Prince Kevin was kind to her. She didn't look like other people, and was lonely because she thought others would hate her." She explains. "He invited her out to his shop a few times." She shakes her head. "Then, he started dating Josh. She was okay with that, for whatever reason. Even when she caught the pair sleeping together, she didn't throw a fit."

"I didn't know she caught them." Julian put in. "But it makes sense, she was always going into his shop invited or not."

"I think everyone caught them." Soo says dryly. "But then the Summerses appeared. And Josh fell hard for the younger son. That's his husband, now. So when Cessily found out they weren't together anymore, she redoubled her efforts. Kevin's polite, but can be too polite sometimes, believe it or not."

Jubes picks up the story. "Anyway, since he and Josh were no longer together, she started angling for the Princess spot." She sits down, finishing her stew. "No one likes the idea, not even King Erik, but if all is said and done? Kevin has to have an heir."

Angela seems to give her whole attention to the story, to the point where she almost takes the water without noticing she has. By the time she gets back to her stew it's gone cold but she doesn't seem to care a bit about that.

"Sounds like it's a problem for both of them then," she finally says around the spoon in her mouth as she considers all of that spilled tea. Pulling the spoon from her mouth she continues, "I mean ... I can't blame her for going for that spot. I wouldn't but there's got to be some security in knowing you'll be well taken care of. Annoying someone isn't quite the way to win their heart though."

She perks her brows up now. "Do you think she likes him? Maybe that's why she's trying so hard." Of course in the game of court and politics she assumed love didn't factor into the marriages as often as it did in books. One didn't just trip into their True Half who happened to be royalty on a regular basis.

"See; Kevin could completely ruin Cessily, but he won't, because he's too nice." Jubes says, putting her bowl to the side. "And if you're going to win his heart, backing off when he says leave him be is one way to do it."

"He's half in love with Lady LeBeau," Julian puts in.

"Most of the men of the court are half in love with Lady LeBeau." Soo says, rolling her eyes dramatically. "Besides, Lord LeBeau is her True Half."

Julian shrugs. "She's always treated him with respect and treats him like a younger brother sometimes." He points out. "Plus, he can touch her."

"As for Lady Cessily," Jubes puts in, getting back on the subject. "If she likes him, she's going about it all wrong." She pats Angela's arm. "Don't worry. We will get you settled with the court."

"You know, eventually, you're going to have to marry, Jubes." Julian says with a wicked grin. "What about that guy from Pomary? He likes you."

She throws her pillow at Julian.

Now and then there are a few names she recognizes. Lord and Lady LeBeau are certainly two of them. Being a True Half couple they're pretty popular and she's seen more than one piece of paparazzi fanart other the two of them.

Her smile turns gentle as Jube pats her arm. She wasn't afraid of the court so much as she was wrapping her mind around the intricacies of it. Maybe talking to the Lady Cessily would help? Angela was always one to push conversation and mutual understanding over pretty much everything else when it came to problems after all. She's like to get to know the woman before she formed an opinion on her ... maybe even help her with her erstwhile lovelife? If she truly felt anything for the prince anyhow.

She huffs out a laugh at Julian, her brows perking up some. "You could say the same for you too, you know." She's just being playful as she notes, "The upside to being a commoner I guess is that we can end up marrying or not. No grand names to uphold anyhow~."

"Nope!" Julian leans back on his hands. "I may have a knight's title now, but my family is merchant class." He grins. "Not a noble amongst the bunch. And I have an older brother. I'm footloose and fancy free."

Jubes snorts. "He's a cad is what he means." She stretches out on her bed. "Always flirting with everyone."

"Nothing wrong with a good flirt, is there, Soo?" He winks at the other Lady.

She snorts, stretching out on her own bed. "I wouldn't know." She says primly. "My marriage will be arranged, when and if the King sees fit. Advantage of being a hostage of the court." She grins.

Once she's polished off the rest of her food Angela is happy to have a good laugh at the light teasing back and forth. Usually it's just her and her grandparents unless she goes into town. There she's friends with absolutely everyone; she's a good listener, good at keeping secrets and empathetically gives advice. It's not often she gets to sit with big groups and enjoy herself though.

She leans back where she sits. "I guess arranged marriages would take a lot of the guesswork out of finding someone. One of the town elders set me up a few times but ... mm, it never quite worked out. I'm too much of a romantic."

"Oh, do tell." Soo says, leaning up on her elbow. "We rarely get to hear about people outside of the court, please share."

Julian wrinkles her nose. "Nope. I think that's time for me to leave." Julian gets up. "Sir Logan said -" He stops when someone knocks on the tent post again.

"Dawn is saddle up." Logan calls in. "Josh and Kevin ain't yellin' no more."

Jubes and Soo groan, flopping back on their beds. "Julian's on first watch!" Jubes calls back to her father.

"Yeah yeah." Julian agrees. "I'll take first, but Jubes has third." He grins at her dirty look. "See you guys later."

"I hate third and he knows it." Jubes grumbles.

Angela huffs out a laugh at Jubes grumbles. "I tend to get up pretty early if you'd like company."

That said she's almost thankful for the chance not to get into those failed arrangements. In one the man was too old and the second the man was too much of a braggart. She was sure the local "matchmaker" (i.e. an older woman with too much free time) meant well but she really missed the mark both times.

Jubes yawns. "If you get up, come join me." She mumbles. Between one breath and the next, she's asleep.

Soo shakes her head. "She can fall asleep anywhere, anytime." She says, admiringly. "But we should follow suit. Will you be alright on the camp bed? Do you need an extra blanket?" Soo asks.

Angela laughs lightly at Jube just conking out immediately. "Believe it or not I'm pretty much the same." By now she's begun tucking herself into bed as well, wrapping up in the blanket before Soo can offer extras. "Oh no, that's fine. This is perfect."

Her bed at home might be more plush but Angela has slept in far worse conditions with far less. As it is if Soo gives her a minute she too will be out like a light. She also tends to sleep splayed out and by the time light barely begins creeping over the horizon she's got both feet and her hands outside her blanket, laying on her belly drooling away.

She does keep her word to Jube though. It's the wee hours just before dawn when she comes out dressed in more riding appropriate wear. A long tunic belted at the waist and breeches along with the same boots she wore the other day. All of it is well-worn but well kept up and she's even wrangled her hair into a more serviceable ponytail.

She goes to say good morning but ends up giving a wide yawn instead before she stretches her arms out above her head. "I slept like a rock."

"Good morning." Jubes offers her a mug of camp coffee. "Do me a favor and give this to Soo? And tell her no breakfast this morning, we have to eat while moving." Then, she offers her a second mug. "And one for you. I get the unenviable job." She stands. "I get to wake up Prince CrankyPants." She wrinkles her nose.

She sighs. "We'll break camp as soon as he's up and moving. Would you warn Soo?"

Julian stumbles out of his tent, and pours himself a mug of coffee as well, sniffs it, realizes just who made the coffee and groans. He pours back half, then adds boiling water to the coffee. "If you don't like it strong enough to peel bluing off a sword, I suggest cutting it with water."

After Julian's suggestion Angela takes a moment to eyeball the offered cup of coffee. She takes an experimental sip.

"... I see what you mean."

After the shiver runs up her entire body (even to that antenna of hair up top) she opts to water it down a little. She does take the full strength cup to Soo though along with the warning. "Jube is off to wake up the prince. She said there's no breakfast today and we'll have to eat while on the move. We're breaking camp once he's up and moving."

Julian nods. Jubes's coffee is infamous and drank only by her and her two dads. He sips his and still grimaces after adding boiling water. Most people would think it's for tea. No, it's for cutting the strength of the coffee.

Soo sighs and sits up, sipping the coffee - that Jubes had already cut with only a quarter cup of coffee to boiling water. "I see Jubes is making coffee." She says dryly. Then she nods. "That's fine. I can fast until this evening." She shrugs, pulling a bit of jerky out of a bag. "I'll be out as soon as I'm done dressing."

Angela gathers up her own bag with a nod. "I can help with the tents whenever we start breaking them down." She's not exactly versed in them but at least she can help with them.

Either way Angela isn't the sort to be too much of a layabout. The coffee isn't bad but she had brought some tea with her among all the medicinal things so she goes back to the warm water to brew a few cups in case someone besides her prefers tea.

Kevin's out by the fire, when she comes out. However, her appearance gets a whistle from Logan. The camp becomes a flurry of activity. With her help taking down tents and gathering things, they're on the road within an hour - a truly remarkable feat, but done because the Prince demands it. But he falls in to help as well, taking down his own tent without help.

Once they're on the road - with Angela and her own black and grey mare - Kevin pulls ahead to talk to Soo about something softly.

"So." Josh says, reining Buttercup to walk beside Angela. "How do you find our little group?" He knows good and well that Jubes, Soo and probably Julian had dropped tea about things last night while he was dealing with Kevin. Logan isn't with them, instead disappearing into the wood they'd camped by. Jubes and Julian ride right behind Kevin and Soo.

Angela is immediately pleased with the mare. Before they ride out she talks gently to it, pets it's nose and generally tries to make friends with it. It's a patient horse she finds, pleased to have attention and so Angela is pleased to ladle out said attention in generous amounts.

She's a decent enough rider as well. Once Josh comes up beside her she gives him a bright smile. "Everyone is very kind. I had a lot of fun chatting last night."

She doesn't breathe a word on the troubles with Lady Cessily of course. She's not about to go running her mouth about things she doesn't fully understand just yet.

Josh chuckles. "Have they filled you in on the court?" He asks, dryly.

Jubes turns her horse at a word from Kevin and trots back among the ranks. "We're not stopping for midday. He wants to make the castle by midafternoon."

Josh grimaces. That can't be good. He knew there were missives for the Prince at camp last night, but not what they said. "Which w - never mind." He says at Jubes' look. Luckily, they're riding heavy horse, which means a slower pace. "Is he breaking the company?"

She nods. "Those on foot will travel the main road. Us riders will follow the path." She states. "Prepare to separate sergeant!" She barks, getting a nod from the sergeant marching right behind Josh and Angela.

"Well, this will be interesting. I hope you're a decent a rider, Angela?" Josh asks.

This sounds irregular if the talk is anything to be believed. Did the prince just want to be home already or was it something more dire? Angela's expression turns a little worried until Josh asks her about riding. Even then her smile is softer.

"I like to think so. I did plenty of it before we sold off our horse anyhow."

Angela leans a little to pat her mount's neck as she speaks to the horse directly. "Just think of it as a nice little bit of exercise, okay?"

Josh nods. Then there's a whistle off to the right, and the pace picks up a little, the horses plunging into the forest, while the footsoldiers stay on the road.

They fade into a double file, following some path that Jubes, who takes the front, can see. Damned if Josh can see it though. "We're going to come out at one of the side gates." He advises. "So, we won't be going through most of the city." He knows where they're going, but damned if he can ever find the path.

They travel through the forest, usually dodging trees and branches.

Angela seems unbothered by the plunge into the forest and likewise by the news of not going through the town.

"Mm, that's alright. I can always explore later, right?"

Maybe, maybe not? Anyhow they're traveling and she ends up squinting some, obviously concentrating on trying to find this supposed path.

"Of course." Josh says, hoping that's true. He doesn't know why they're going this way. It makes no sense. There's no hurry, right?

If she's any good at woodscraft, she'll see it. A broken twig here, a scratching on the bark there. A twisted leaf pointing in the correct direction.

Josh is hopeless in the woods, hates camping out. Give him a city and an inn, and he's a happy man. His husband likes going on hunting trips, but that's what he's got his brother for. Josh? Stays behind and wishes them well.

When they come out on the killing fields surrounding the castle, there's a runner at the gate waiting. He takes off for the castle to tell them the Prince is coming.

Without a doubt Angela is hopeless in the woods as well. She's almost hopeless in a town. Her sense of direction is meager at best and if she weren't following a line of horses right now she might just lose her way entirely at any second.

So the two of them can wonder at the mystery of how the hell Jube manages to guide them. That's quickly stolen away by noting the runner up near the gate. She blinks a few times before she notes, "Were they waiting for us to arrive?"

Something must be really bad.

Jubes was trained by Logan and Victor. Logan being the best damned scout the country has, and Victor being second only because he's better at diplomacy. How no one is sure.

"There's always a runner placed at the gates when either the King or the Prince are out of the Castle. It lets the Castle, the court, and everyone else prepare for the disruption." Josh explains. "So, having a runner there? Not a big deal."

The horses clatter onto the cobblestones of the castle town's streets. Lightning snorts as Mimsy runs ahead. Buttercup perks up and dances a little bit. She knows there are oats and a warm stable with hay at the end of this.

When they clatter into the yard, members of the court are fluttering around, though they give wide berth to the animals, at least. Josh stays on the outside, hiding Angela from the court. One member of the court runs over. "Prince Kevin!" She gushes, practically throwing her metallic self at him. "You've returned! I hope all is well."

Kevin looks like a caged beast. His hand whips out and grabs onto Angela's without looking. "Lady Cessily. If you'll excuse us, we need to report to the King." He says.

"We?" She asks, looking disdainfully at the plainly dressed Angela.

"Yes." He says, peeling her hand off his arm. "True Halves have no care for hierarchy, and neither do I." He pulls Angela gently. "If you'll excuse us?"

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