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 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?"

Angela has barely made it down from her horse to even get hidden slightly by Josh before Kevin just latches onto her. It's such a surprise that she sort of ends up openly gaping at the man. He could barely stand the sight of her last night! She'd been aiming to give him a wide berth until he came to her -- well he sure came to her alright!

Her mind is tossing around so violently that she only realizes he's said anything about True Halves until he's outright pulling her along behind him.

"True ..."

It seems to hit her brain all at once and then she's trying to shake him off of her with her first truly angry expression of this whole mess.

"What! Do you think! You're doing!"

Each exclamation is accompanied by her vigorous shaking.

Once they're away from Lady Cessily's eyes, he turns on her. At six-two, he's tall. As a knight, he's broad. He doesn't care. "Be. Quiet. You're getting me out of a horrible situation. Mimsy!" He calls his dog. "I'm sure the others have told you about Lady Cessily. It's their current favorite topic." He says dryly. He knows his people and the ones with him are the ones he trusts the most.

"She's bound and damned determined to marry me. I was kind to her, but I have no desire to marry her. She's flaky, over the top and her friends?" He snorts. "Plus, I justput you as untouchable by the court. No one would dare bother you until such time as it is determined as to whether you are my True Half or not."

In the moment he could be ten foot and made of metal himself and Angela would still come real close to giving in to the urge to kick him in the ankle. As it is she stands there eyeballing him like he's already lost what good sense she figured he had.

"Did I look like I needed your help?"

Like maybe once they were in the court it would be different but at the moment? She isn't scared in the least of the court. The intimidating people will be intimidating but she's dealt with those sorts of people. She ran away from them as a kid!

"And here you go using the whole concept of True Halves to get yourself out of a mess! True Halves aren't something you just play around with. They're very important! There are people who wait their whole lives for their True Half and here you are --," she runs out of words to even describe what he's doing. Then she huffs, "Even if that woman is flaky and over the top and much more she's a person. One who deserves straight communication! If you don't want to marry her then tell her that, don't use me as a shield!"

She's huffs and puffs for a few moments before she wheels around on her heel and begins stalking off with an aura reminiscent of an angry she-bear stomping through a forest.

"Now wait just a damned minute." Kevin steps in front of her - foolish, perhaps, but he's not having her think he's played with Lady Cessily. "I have told her. I've told her in private, in public, in front of the King." Notice, he doesn't say 'my father'. "The only thing I haven't done is publicly humiliate her by screaming at her in front of the court that I will never marry her!"

Mimsy is sitting and watching the pair, her ears perked. Daddy isn't mad so much as frustrated. She scratches an ear.

"And I know I will never find my True Half. Freaks like me don't get that lucky." He says. "Now, do you want to meet the King or not?"

At first she pauses simply because there's a roadblock in her way. Then she pauses because as he lays it out she as least has the good sense to feel bad for getting huffy over Cessily without pausing to listen to Kevin herself. Par usual she let her emotions get a little too hot in the moment.

Her brows scrunch up a bit. They said everyone had a True Half out there even if most never found theirs. It's a blow to her anger in the moment that he doesn't believe that. Still he had just drug her along and used True Halves as an excuse so --

"I should to be polite."

No for real, that's how she thinks of it. Climbing the court social ranks is the last thing she wants to do to be perfectly honest.

He sighs. No one meets the King to be polite. King Erik is not a polite man. Strong in his power, and the ability to move metal around, King Erik doesn't suffer fools.

No, he doesn't believe that he has a True Half out there. He's a freak that kills with a touch. No one should be paired with that. He is quite content to be by himself. Even if he knows that won't last, right now, he's quietly certain that the only time a woman will want to touch him is for the societal perks that being with the Crown Prince offers.

"Mimsy, go find the King." He orders his dog off. She barks and takes off into the Castle. Then, he offers his armored arm to Angela. "You get this mad about everyone, or is it just me?"

Angela takes the offered arm with a distinct huff. "Anyone who just drags me around randomly, yes."

She grows a little somber as they walk. "Not that that made it right to accuse you of not talking to Lady Cessily. I apologize for that."

"It wasn't random." Kevin defends himself as they walk. "You're the only new person." He says reasonably. "Had to be you."

He sighs. "Even Lady Cessily's friends don't believe that I talk to her and they've been there. The whole lot is delusional."

He doesn't like it, and even can't be around them without a guard anymore. Poor Jubes is often tasked for that duty.

"Your highness." A huge mountain of a blond man stands there, Mimsy with her paws on his hip, ruffling her ears.

"Sir Victor." Prince Kevin says, brightly. "May I present Healer Angela?" He says, nodding to the woman on his arm.

Victor smiles, all fangs and teeth. "Welcome, Healer Angela. I understand you are our Prince's True Half."

All fangs and teeth indeed. Angela drops off any arguing she might have left in her for the introduction. Though she cringes internally at being called the Prince's True Half she still manages to give a gracious smile.

"It seems so. It's very nice to meet you."

Victor bends over her hand, kissing it ever so delicately. "Very nice to meet you, my dear." He practically purrs. "Now, where -?"

"Probably on her way to the bath." Kevin chuckles. "We took the Path back, so the men should be here sometime tomorrow morning, if they don't push through." He says. "She's fine."

Victor nods. "Thank you. Now," he sniffs. "go get that wound taken care of after you speak to the King."

Kevin nods, and walks toward the throne room. "What's his mood like?" He asks, looking over his shoulder.

"Lord Xavier left." Victor says, going to see to his daughter.

Kevin grimaces. He sighs and heads for the throne room.

And a sharp nose too apparently. It's not too surprising considering the myriad of ways magic crops up in this world.

Angela ends up following along carefully.

The throne room is almost half full with the court. Kevin walks forward, patting Angela's hand on his arm. Sitting on his throne, King Erik has his hand braced on his chair arm. He braces his chin on his hand, watching his son approach.

"Prince Kevin," King Erik rumbles, watching them approach. "It is our understanding that you have met your True Half."

Kevni grinds his teeth together. Dammit, his father has heard. He'd hoped that he could contain it. But... apparently not.

"Your Majesty, may I present the healer Angela?" He says, gently. Cautiously, he pulls his glove off, and touches her hand with his bare hand. "She is the healer that saved my life."

Word sure does travel fast around here. Angela wisely stays quiet for the moment. She doesn't think twice about taking Kevin's hand, assured the whole thing the day before couldn't have been a one time fluke.

Luckily it isn't, she's perfectly find standing there hand in hand with Kevin himself. Once she's introduced she does bow a little. She doesn't speak quite yet, more interested in weighing the situation before her first.

Unfortunately, want the King to know something without having to tell him personally? Say it anywhere in the castle, and someone will let the King know. It saves time, sometimes too.

"Young lady, come here." The King stands and extends his hand.

Kevin tenses, patting her hand. "Go ahead." He says gently.

Angela hesitates only a moment before she makes her way up, hands gently folded together before her. She feels somewhat nervous but she can't say she's exactly afraid.

... Does he want to take one of her hands? She offers one up just in case with a, "Yes, your Highness?"

He takes one of her hands and studies her. "Well," he says after a moment. "I assume my son has done the appropriate thing and proposed?" He leans closer. "Are you ready to become a princess?" He asks softly.

Kevin sighs. "There hasn't been time," he explains. "There was my injury then your missive. There will be time enough to settle that now that I am home."

"Hmm." The King looks at Angela. "And what do you think?"

... Oh god, what did she say. She didn't want to lie but frankly she barely knew Kevin. She's rather not hitch herself to him just because he was the Prince.

It might be telling she hesitates to begin with. "Perhaps we should find out if we're really True Halves and go from there." That's diplomatic enough, yeah?

"Hmm." The King's eyes narrow, but he says nothing to her. "Well, we shall see you settled. My son will see to your comfort."

"Yes father." Kevin says, contritely. He bows and holds out a hand for Angela. "Come I will see you settled." He says, softly. The court is watching the tableau, wanting to see what the King shall do.

Angela is more than happy to take Kevin's hand now. The King is intimidating for sure and she'd rather not be under his scrutiny for too long until everything gets settled.

Once a bit away from him she sighs out heavily. "What a day." What a mess. What is the King going to do when he finds out they aren't True Halves after all?

"It's not over yet." Kevin mutters, taking her through the halls of the castle. People get out of their way, bowing.

"Your highness!" Is merrily called down the hallway and Kevin smiles a little. "When did you arrive?"

"About an hour ago." Kevin admits. "Healer Angela, may I present Lord Alex Summers, the poor bastard married to Josh."

"Them's fighting words." Alex mock growls, but it sounds like an old joke between the two. "M'lady, it is an honor to meet you." He says, bowing over her hand.

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