Fandom For Queen and Country

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

Katudo kept his scowl but he started walking ahead of the guard. Damn guard....he doesn't understand why I carry just a dagger and not a real man's weapon like a sword. He doesn't know anything about me....and I'll never talk. He thought as he continued walking, his hands by his sides.

 

[RelicFire]

Luke's Father stopped him in the hall with a hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine." Luke said softly knowing his Father wanted to talk about what the General had said earlier. The head of the Queen's Guard sighed softly then left his son and started towards the dungeons. Luke went to go speak to Eddis on the matter of their new 'guest'.

The Guards didn't touch Katudo but they did lead him down to the dungeons and made sure he made it to a nice comfy cell. Once the door was locked they drew lots to see who would stay to stand watch.

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

Katudo didn't look back at the guards. He was too focused on trying to figure out how to escape so he sat down on the ground and looked up at the ceiling of the cell. "No bother watching me.... I can't get out of here, much less leave the palace." He said.

 

[RelicFire]

Luke's Father came by and he sent his guardsman away with a simple wave of his hand. The guard simply bowed his head and left.
"You're kind of gutsy..." The head of the Queen's Guard said softly. "But you still have a lot to learn on being stealthy." He chuckled. "I'm Rodrick, Head of the Queen's Guard and Father of the Queen's Thief. I take it you are working for Attolia... But, what business did you have here, today? We are still at peace last I had heard from your Queen."

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

"One little slip up and then you're going to criticize me? You haven't seen what I really do...." Katudo stated, "As for my Queen, I suggest you return me back to Attolia. No doubt she is furious about why I haven't returned yet." He didn't look back at the cell doors still as he crossed his arms.


"Attolia is.....concerned about the suggestions that Eddis makes.....so she sent me....to retrieve any information and report it to her." The thief said, "And I knew it......your boy is a thief....I just knew it."

 

[RelicFire]

"If you're still so new to this that you slip up, you aren't ready. My son doesn't make mistakes. He is ready for duties." Rodrick said flatly, then chuckled. "It's a two day trip in the best of weather, we have more snow on the way so it could be a four day trip... She wouldn't be expecting you back tonight, if you were here to spy on us today..." Rodrick raised his hands in a small shrug. "I've no real reason to hold you here, as I said we are at peace at this time. I'll have Luke take you back to your Queen, later this evening."

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

That injured his pride by hella lot but Katudo knew better than to lash out. Although, the anger seemed to rise as he slowly turned to face Rodrick. "So that's his name, huh? Lachlan? Odd choice but....eh, you're the father, not me." He shrugged then turned back to face the wall, "It's a shame, really.....I wouldn't have expected such mercy from Eddis.....but I doubt my Queen, Attolia, would be the same. As for peace...... don't be so sure that peace is always around....I may be a new thief....but I'm sure as hell I can do anything." A grin formed on his face.

 

[RelicFire]

"I am the Head of the Queen's Guard. I don't believe in the word peace, but I shall respect the treaty between our kingdoms." Rodrick smiled lightly, "Luke is my most promising student in the Queen's Guard. He'll be the best escort for your journey, to ensure you return to your Queen and let her know that you're unharmed by us." Rodrick turned to leave, "Get some rest, he's not one for moving slowly."

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

"Yeah, I saw that look in his eyes. Nervous energy.....makes me wonder how he is a Thief." Katudo muttered as he climbed onto the bed that was provided in the cell. He didn't bother taking off his hiking boots. They were somewhat comfortable while sleeping, strangely enough. Katudo then curled up and stared at the wall again. He shivered lightly as he remembered the dark rooms and now he was in one again.

 

[RelicFire]

Rodrick knocked on Luke's bedroom door, then entered before there was an answer. "Are you packing?" He asked softly looking around the room to see if his son was even in here. Luke's armor was laying on the bed but the room looked empty.
"I haven't started yet." Luke's voice came from up in the rafters. "What are we gonna do about the boy?" Luke was sitting up in the rafters of his ceiling, he was dressed in his darkest clothes.
"You're going to travel with him, drop him off in Attolia and continue on your way to see if Sounis is planning something." Rodrick couldn't help but smirk at his child up in the rafters. "I am trusting you to get him there alive. Unharmed." He said with a sternness.
"I've no plan to kill him..." Luke said and slid from the rafter to his dresser then down to the floor.
"You need to work on that. I heard your boots on the Dresser." Rodrick said before he turned and left without another word. Luke sighed loudly, then moved to pack his things up for his trip.

Hours had past and Luke walked silently down into the dungeons, he had a plate with some stew and bread on it. He stopped in front of the cell that Katudo was being kept in. He didn't speak, he just stood there a moment holding the plate with food on it.

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

Katudo was already pacing on the cell floor then he took notice of Luke. A small grin grew into his face as he went towards the cell door. "So.....the Queen's Thief arrives. Honestly, I can't be surprised.....the way you caught up to me. I couldn't hear your boots along the stone floor." He congratulated then took the food plate from him. Starting to eat and seeing he had an appetite, Katudo rushed through the food quickly, wondering why Eddis or better yet, the Captain of the Queen's Guard wanted to spare him and send him home.

 

[RelicFire]

Luke tilted his head to the left looking a little confused. “How do you who I am?” He asked finally watching Katudo wolf down the food like a starving street pup. Luke was dressed for travel, dark shades of charcoal grey and black, his cloak looked like a stormy sky. His sword was tied at his left side but it was a smaller and lighter blade then he’d had earlier while dressed in his ceremonial armor. He reached up and opened the cell slowly, “We have to get going soon. There’s a storm coming. If we can get down half the mountain we won’t get stuck here for another couple days.”

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

"A thief never reveals a secret, do they not?" Katudo asked and stood up again, holding the bowl and plate. He was being freed now before a storm. The Attolian Thief didn't know what kind of storms happened in Eddis but he didn't want to find out. "A storm, huh? I'll need my dagger when we get to....my Queen." He muttered.

 

[RelicFire]

Luke snorted and turned on his heels heading back towards the stairwell, he hung the keys on a hook and started back up the stairs, his footsteps were so light on the stone stairs it was just a very soft scraping sound that was the only sign that someone was on the stairs. At the top of the stairs there was two Guards waiting, Luke walked past them and started down the hall heading towards the stables, the two Guards fell into step with Luke, only sparing Katudo a glance.

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

Katudo moved past the guards but as much as he wanted to fight them, he restrained himself and kept walking after Luke. "How are we returning to Attolia? By horse?" He asked the other thief. It seemed unlikely that someone would take the both of them and lead them to their destinations.

 

[RelicFire]

“No. By Eagle.” Luke said sarcastically with a small shake of his head. “Tell my Father I’ll send word once I drop our...” He waved his left hand aimlessly. “Guest,” he finally settled on the word, “Back home. And I’ll try not to kill him.” He added glancing over his left shoulder at Katudo. “Now.” He barked, and the Guards froze clapped their right fists over their hearts with a bow and waited for the count of five then turned and headed down another hall. “Try to keep up,” he called to Katudo as he started down the stairs to the courtyard the air was frigid and frozen, snow was fluttering around and ice covered most of the cobblestone courtyard.

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

"Great, by dragon." Katudo chuckled then followed after Luke, responding with his own witty remark, "By the way, what's your name? Your father, Rodrick, didn't say." He started to shiver a little, not being used to a mountain country.

 

[RelicFire]

“My name? Why should I share my name? You seem to know who I am. Figure it out.” He called back, his breath fogged in the air. The horses were already saddled and being held by stable hands. “Yours is on the left mount up.” He said as he approached his horse.

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

"No, I do not......I just know your title." Katudo responded as he went to his horse and mounted it, holding onto the saddle.

 

[RelicFire]

Luke pulled himself up on the horse and pulled the reins up shortly snatching up Katudo’s reins as well. “Can you ride?” He asked with an amused smirk, seeing how the boy was clutching his saddle.

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

"Yes, I can.....I've never ridden a horse with a saddle, however." Katudo said to Luke, "He always seemed to be...... discouraged about having a saddle on him."

 

[RelicFire]

Luke sighed loudly asking himself what he’d done to be stuck babysitting this Attolian. “Just don’t fall off.” He said then kicked his horse into a trot as they left the castle walls and started through the capital. People barely gave Luke a second glance, in his dark clothes and cloak of swirling greys that matched the clouds in the sky.

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

Katudo glowered as he dug his head into the horse's mane, trying to ignore the high and mightiness of this Eddisian. Just because of who he is doesn't mean he can act like better than anyone else? Is he Eddisian because he's almost like Sejanus' twin. He thought.

 

[RelicFire]

Luke kept the horses at a good trot until the path changed from cobblestone to dirt, then he slowed them to a simple walk. He dropped Katudo’s reins over the horn of his saddle and brought his leg up, sitting almost side saddle and resting his elbow on his leg and rested his chin on his hand. He sighed softly and let his eyes close lightly, he trusted his horse to stay on the road.

 

[RedtheRoyalGuard]

Katudo continued to hold onto the reins of his horse, not letting them go. "Snow storms are common in Eddis, I suppose." He muttered to the animal then looked up at the sky.