Widow maker, part 1, het, PG-13
Monday, January 18th, 2010 02:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tsaikoTotally written because I wanted to write it.
I think it's amusing that I almost feel it more necessary to put a warning up for het than I do for yaoi or yuri stories...
Ingraine was growing increasingly tired of her escort. She shouldn't be. It wasn't like the Grand Duke of Nahash hadn't had her escorted since he'd been sending her out on these missions, some seven years now, ever since her husband's death. Only this time the landless "knights" the Grand Duke had hired were some of the coarsest, foulest fools Ingraine had ever encountered. Given that she still had to deal with most of her husband's relatives that was saying something.
Really, next town they stopped at, Ingraine was going to write the Grand Duke a letter. That would serve a two fold purpose. It would let Ingraine express her displeasure in one of the few ways open to her. It would also annoy the Grand Duke to no end. He hated to be reminded that she could read and write. The man felt it was a waste to educate a woman. Bastard.
Perhaps she should wonder if his finances weren't running low if this was all he could afford. That would be a blow to the Grand Duke's pride. All the better. His plans were going too smoothly lately. Someone had to prick his giant ego.
"Lady Ingraine?" The voice was just loud enough to be heard over the sounds of the cart and the horses. It brought Ingraine back from her thoughts and into reality.
"Yes Rolf?" Ingraine asked. She always had to remind herself not to address him as Sir Rolf. He had the manners of a knight, was in fact better mannered than most knights she had met. Ingraine suspected that Rolf had been a knight, though he was one no longer. It would explain much.
"We'll be stopping at the town of Athan for the night." Rolf didn't look pleased at the news. She could tell by the way the corners of his mouth tightened, as if he'd tasted something foul.
"Athan? That's awfully close to the border." If her mental map was correct, it was right next to the mountains. Far too close to the lands ruled by wild magic. What was the Grand Duke thinking?
As if reading her thoughts, Rolf started talking. "We were supposed to cross the river at Raban. The bridge was out though and we couldn't have taken the cart across at the ford, what with it swollen with snowmelt. Sir Galan says this is the quickest way that won't take us through one of the kingdoms likely to be hostile to King Amick's dethronement."
"So this wasn't the Grand Duke's idea," Ingraine murmured to herself. He'd probably be upset at the change in his plans. He usually was.
"No, my Lady. His lordship likes wild magic about as much as you do."
Which was to say, not at all. Damn that Wild Witch Amick. Ingraine had always been discrete when she was sent to expose wild magic. If she were fingered as the person who the Grand Duke sent when he wanted someone taken out, she would be as good as useless to him. Her reputation was bad enough without rumors of her playing the whore going about. Yet another reason she usually kept these things quiet.
But her last assignment, being sent to determine if one of the Witch Kings had been taken by wild magic... well that was too big for even the Grand Duke to hide. Then the advisor Mallen had gone and condemned Amick to his fate. He'd meted out the punishment before any of the other Witch Kings could verify the claim of wild magic. Such a thing wasn't unheard of, but it wasn't exactly smiled upon.
"There's nothing to be done about it now," Ingraine said both to Rolf's comment and her own thoughts. "We will deal with problems as they occur. We certainly don't need to borrow trouble."
Truer words had never been spoken. Trouble found her so often she really didn't need to go looking for it.
"I don't trust Sir Galan."
She wished she could laugh. Rolf was supposed to be a secret spy for the Grand Duke, though Ingraine had long ago guessed the truth. Ingraine couldn't trust him not to repeat anything she said or report anything she did, straight back to the Grand Duke. He was one to speak about trust.
Instead of voicing her thoughts, Ingraine looked forwards. Sir Galan was in the lead atop a bay horse, his blonde hair slightly stiff from sweat. She wasn't sure what to think of him. The company he chose sure didn't speak highly for him.
"I'll be careful around him." She always was careful. Ingraine had to be. Her life and others depended on how well she played her role. "Watch him closely, if you think he'll cause trouble."
"As you wish, my Lady." Rolf inclined his head, as close to a bow as he could do on horseback. He prodded his own mount forward until he drew even with Sir Galan. There he stayed.
***
The streets in Anthan were cobblestone and the houses that lined them were made of timbers and daub. Ingraine watched them go by from the back of the cart born litter. She noted the wooden signs that proclaimed the shops in town: an apothecary, a tavern, a tailor, a baker, a jeweler. The town seemed much too prosperous for one its size.
Curious. Where was all the wealth coming from?
"Lady Ingraine." Sir Galan had noticed her interest in the town and had dropped back to ride beside the cart. "We will stop here for the night. My men are securing lodging as we speak."
"I didn't think our route included Anthan," Ingraine replied.
"There was a change of plans. I am sure that your man told you of it." Sir Galan said the last in a dry tone. Well then.
"Rolf did in fact tell me of the change. After the fact. In the future, I want to know of such changes before they occur." Ingraine watched as Sir Galan's eyes narrowed. The good knight was not pleased.
"I have my orders," Sir Galan replied. His voice was tight with annoyance, the barest thread of civility coating his words.
"Regardless of what the Grand Duke has told you to do, he is not here. I am. And I can make your life very difficult should I choose to." Ingraine kept her voice even, but she held Galan's gaze. "In the future, I will be told about changes in plans."
Galan's fist clenched around the reins and his horse snorted and tossed his head. He forced himself to relax. "As you wish, my Lady." Despite his anger, his hands were gentle as he swung his mount around. Ingraine watched as Sir Galan spoke briefly with the cart driver, before heading in the direction she supposed the inn was. She had won that battle, but she wasn't sure it had been worth it.
Still, it was best to know about changes in plans ahead of time. The Grand Duke tried to keep her in the dark unless it directly affected what he wanted to do. He didn't grasp the fact that the more information she had, the better Ingraine could do her job. Mostly because he didn't trust her to use that information against him.
And rightly so. Ingraine would take the Grand Duke down. It was not a matter of if she could, but when. As soon as she knew that Henrick would be safe…
Abruptly, Ingraine decided she was tired of being stuck riding. She needed to walk, to stretch her legs. A sharp tug opened the door to the litter with a squeal of hinges. Seconds later the cart driver was there.
"My Lady, if you will wait but a moment, I shall fetch Sir Galan to…"
"There is no need," Ingraine said, cutting the driver off. "I am perfectly capable of walking by myself down a main street in the middle of the day." She lifted her skirts with one hand, and used the other to steady herself. "Gods willing, I'll even make it out of this cart by myself."
That had the effect that Ingraine wanted. The cart driver lurched forward, offering her his hand. She took it so she could step down, making sure of her balance before she let it go. Ingraine dropped the dark blue brocade that made up her skirts and reflexively arranged them. "Which way to the inn?"
"It is just down the street, my Lady. Please, if you will just wait for Sir Galan's return. For my sake." The cart driver must be pretty desperate if he was trying to appeal to her sense of compassion. Rumor was that she, the fair Lady Ingraine, had a heart as cold as ice. Even the peasantry had surely heard such a thing.
"I will be sure to tell Sir Galan that this was all my idea. I do not doubt that he will believe it," Ingraine replied. She headed in the direction the cart driver had indicated. Where were the people? Surely her arrival had attracted some notice.
It didn't take long for her to figure out where everyone's attention was. The shouting from up the street was muffled by distance, but Ingraine didn't need to understand the words to place the voices. Rolf and Sir Galan. She hurried towards the sound. As she drew closer the words
"… do it. There are many things I will agree to, but giving up my sword is not one of them." Ingraine could count on one hand the number of times Rolf had raised his voice. Something was very wrong.
"I am the leader of this mission and you will do what I say. Now give the man your sword." That was Galan. Ingraine could see a crowd of people as she approached, watching the very public spectacle that her escort was making.
"I am sworn to protect my Lady and I will. I shall not do it."
"You will do it, or I will have you…"
"What is going on here?" Ingraine made sure to pitch her voice so that it easily carried over the noise. People turned to look at her. She made sure her back was straight and that she carried herself like royalty. Years of practice made it easy.
The crowd parted before her. That was unsurprising. The only thing more entertaining than watching a drama unfold between two people was watching it unfold between three. Ingraine walked up to where Rolf and Galan stood, ignoring the people around her.
"My Lady." Rolf bowed low as he spoke. "No weapons are allowed at the inn."
At first Ingraine thought she had misheard. She looked to Sir Galan for confirmation. His lips were pressed tight with irritation.
"It's an old custom still widely observed in the mountains. Travelers give up their weapons when staying in town. If we want to stay here in town, we must give our weapons to them. They will hold them for the night until we leave in the morning," Sir Galan explained.
Ingraine considered this for only a second before making her decision. "Then thank the innkeeper for his time and let us be on our way." The townspeople murmured. It was probably a great insult that she had offered them, but Ingraine found she did not care.
"No," Sir Galan replied. "We'll not reach another town by nightfall and this close to the border, I won't risk you or my men to dragon attack. We have no choice. Now tell your man to give up his sword."
For long moments, Ingraine held Sir Galan's gaze. It was a battle of wills. Sir Galan looked away first, his blue eyes dropping as he shifted uncomfortably, but Ingraine did not feel like she had won. "Rolf, hand over your sword."
"My Lady." Rolf undid his sword belt with sharp, angry movements. He handed it over to Sir Galan.
"You will be protected, Lady Ingraine, have no fear. I swear on my life and honor," Sir Galan said. As if that was all she worried about He smiled and it struck Ingraine that he was very handsome. The women at court probably fawned on Sir Galan, but handsome no longer had the power to move her. "I thank you for your trust."
"The Grand Duke will hear of this," Ingraine said in reply. Sir Galan's smile disappeared. She didn't wait to hear his reply. Instead she turned sharply on her heel and returned to the cart.
I think it's amusing that I almost feel it more necessary to put a warning up for het than I do for yaoi or yuri stories...
Ingraine was growing increasingly tired of her escort. She shouldn't be. It wasn't like the Grand Duke of Nahash hadn't had her escorted since he'd been sending her out on these missions, some seven years now, ever since her husband's death. Only this time the landless "knights" the Grand Duke had hired were some of the coarsest, foulest fools Ingraine had ever encountered. Given that she still had to deal with most of her husband's relatives that was saying something.
Really, next town they stopped at, Ingraine was going to write the Grand Duke a letter. That would serve a two fold purpose. It would let Ingraine express her displeasure in one of the few ways open to her. It would also annoy the Grand Duke to no end. He hated to be reminded that she could read and write. The man felt it was a waste to educate a woman. Bastard.
Perhaps she should wonder if his finances weren't running low if this was all he could afford. That would be a blow to the Grand Duke's pride. All the better. His plans were going too smoothly lately. Someone had to prick his giant ego.
"Lady Ingraine?" The voice was just loud enough to be heard over the sounds of the cart and the horses. It brought Ingraine back from her thoughts and into reality.
"Yes Rolf?" Ingraine asked. She always had to remind herself not to address him as Sir Rolf. He had the manners of a knight, was in fact better mannered than most knights she had met. Ingraine suspected that Rolf had been a knight, though he was one no longer. It would explain much.
"We'll be stopping at the town of Athan for the night." Rolf didn't look pleased at the news. She could tell by the way the corners of his mouth tightened, as if he'd tasted something foul.
"Athan? That's awfully close to the border." If her mental map was correct, it was right next to the mountains. Far too close to the lands ruled by wild magic. What was the Grand Duke thinking?
As if reading her thoughts, Rolf started talking. "We were supposed to cross the river at Raban. The bridge was out though and we couldn't have taken the cart across at the ford, what with it swollen with snowmelt. Sir Galan says this is the quickest way that won't take us through one of the kingdoms likely to be hostile to King Amick's dethronement."
"So this wasn't the Grand Duke's idea," Ingraine murmured to herself. He'd probably be upset at the change in his plans. He usually was.
"No, my Lady. His lordship likes wild magic about as much as you do."
Which was to say, not at all. Damn that Wild Witch Amick. Ingraine had always been discrete when she was sent to expose wild magic. If she were fingered as the person who the Grand Duke sent when he wanted someone taken out, she would be as good as useless to him. Her reputation was bad enough without rumors of her playing the whore going about. Yet another reason she usually kept these things quiet.
But her last assignment, being sent to determine if one of the Witch Kings had been taken by wild magic... well that was too big for even the Grand Duke to hide. Then the advisor Mallen had gone and condemned Amick to his fate. He'd meted out the punishment before any of the other Witch Kings could verify the claim of wild magic. Such a thing wasn't unheard of, but it wasn't exactly smiled upon.
"There's nothing to be done about it now," Ingraine said both to Rolf's comment and her own thoughts. "We will deal with problems as they occur. We certainly don't need to borrow trouble."
Truer words had never been spoken. Trouble found her so often she really didn't need to go looking for it.
"I don't trust Sir Galan."
She wished she could laugh. Rolf was supposed to be a secret spy for the Grand Duke, though Ingraine had long ago guessed the truth. Ingraine couldn't trust him not to repeat anything she said or report anything she did, straight back to the Grand Duke. He was one to speak about trust.
Instead of voicing her thoughts, Ingraine looked forwards. Sir Galan was in the lead atop a bay horse, his blonde hair slightly stiff from sweat. She wasn't sure what to think of him. The company he chose sure didn't speak highly for him.
"I'll be careful around him." She always was careful. Ingraine had to be. Her life and others depended on how well she played her role. "Watch him closely, if you think he'll cause trouble."
"As you wish, my Lady." Rolf inclined his head, as close to a bow as he could do on horseback. He prodded his own mount forward until he drew even with Sir Galan. There he stayed.
***
The streets in Anthan were cobblestone and the houses that lined them were made of timbers and daub. Ingraine watched them go by from the back of the cart born litter. She noted the wooden signs that proclaimed the shops in town: an apothecary, a tavern, a tailor, a baker, a jeweler. The town seemed much too prosperous for one its size.
Curious. Where was all the wealth coming from?
"Lady Ingraine." Sir Galan had noticed her interest in the town and had dropped back to ride beside the cart. "We will stop here for the night. My men are securing lodging as we speak."
"I didn't think our route included Anthan," Ingraine replied.
"There was a change of plans. I am sure that your man told you of it." Sir Galan said the last in a dry tone. Well then.
"Rolf did in fact tell me of the change. After the fact. In the future, I want to know of such changes before they occur." Ingraine watched as Sir Galan's eyes narrowed. The good knight was not pleased.
"I have my orders," Sir Galan replied. His voice was tight with annoyance, the barest thread of civility coating his words.
"Regardless of what the Grand Duke has told you to do, he is not here. I am. And I can make your life very difficult should I choose to." Ingraine kept her voice even, but she held Galan's gaze. "In the future, I will be told about changes in plans."
Galan's fist clenched around the reins and his horse snorted and tossed his head. He forced himself to relax. "As you wish, my Lady." Despite his anger, his hands were gentle as he swung his mount around. Ingraine watched as Sir Galan spoke briefly with the cart driver, before heading in the direction she supposed the inn was. She had won that battle, but she wasn't sure it had been worth it.
Still, it was best to know about changes in plans ahead of time. The Grand Duke tried to keep her in the dark unless it directly affected what he wanted to do. He didn't grasp the fact that the more information she had, the better Ingraine could do her job. Mostly because he didn't trust her to use that information against him.
And rightly so. Ingraine would take the Grand Duke down. It was not a matter of if she could, but when. As soon as she knew that Henrick would be safe…
Abruptly, Ingraine decided she was tired of being stuck riding. She needed to walk, to stretch her legs. A sharp tug opened the door to the litter with a squeal of hinges. Seconds later the cart driver was there.
"My Lady, if you will wait but a moment, I shall fetch Sir Galan to…"
"There is no need," Ingraine said, cutting the driver off. "I am perfectly capable of walking by myself down a main street in the middle of the day." She lifted her skirts with one hand, and used the other to steady herself. "Gods willing, I'll even make it out of this cart by myself."
That had the effect that Ingraine wanted. The cart driver lurched forward, offering her his hand. She took it so she could step down, making sure of her balance before she let it go. Ingraine dropped the dark blue brocade that made up her skirts and reflexively arranged them. "Which way to the inn?"
"It is just down the street, my Lady. Please, if you will just wait for Sir Galan's return. For my sake." The cart driver must be pretty desperate if he was trying to appeal to her sense of compassion. Rumor was that she, the fair Lady Ingraine, had a heart as cold as ice. Even the peasantry had surely heard such a thing.
"I will be sure to tell Sir Galan that this was all my idea. I do not doubt that he will believe it," Ingraine replied. She headed in the direction the cart driver had indicated. Where were the people? Surely her arrival had attracted some notice.
It didn't take long for her to figure out where everyone's attention was. The shouting from up the street was muffled by distance, but Ingraine didn't need to understand the words to place the voices. Rolf and Sir Galan. She hurried towards the sound. As she drew closer the words
"… do it. There are many things I will agree to, but giving up my sword is not one of them." Ingraine could count on one hand the number of times Rolf had raised his voice. Something was very wrong.
"I am the leader of this mission and you will do what I say. Now give the man your sword." That was Galan. Ingraine could see a crowd of people as she approached, watching the very public spectacle that her escort was making.
"I am sworn to protect my Lady and I will. I shall not do it."
"You will do it, or I will have you…"
"What is going on here?" Ingraine made sure to pitch her voice so that it easily carried over the noise. People turned to look at her. She made sure her back was straight and that she carried herself like royalty. Years of practice made it easy.
The crowd parted before her. That was unsurprising. The only thing more entertaining than watching a drama unfold between two people was watching it unfold between three. Ingraine walked up to where Rolf and Galan stood, ignoring the people around her.
"My Lady." Rolf bowed low as he spoke. "No weapons are allowed at the inn."
At first Ingraine thought she had misheard. She looked to Sir Galan for confirmation. His lips were pressed tight with irritation.
"It's an old custom still widely observed in the mountains. Travelers give up their weapons when staying in town. If we want to stay here in town, we must give our weapons to them. They will hold them for the night until we leave in the morning," Sir Galan explained.
Ingraine considered this for only a second before making her decision. "Then thank the innkeeper for his time and let us be on our way." The townspeople murmured. It was probably a great insult that she had offered them, but Ingraine found she did not care.
"No," Sir Galan replied. "We'll not reach another town by nightfall and this close to the border, I won't risk you or my men to dragon attack. We have no choice. Now tell your man to give up his sword."
For long moments, Ingraine held Sir Galan's gaze. It was a battle of wills. Sir Galan looked away first, his blue eyes dropping as he shifted uncomfortably, but Ingraine did not feel like she had won. "Rolf, hand over your sword."
"My Lady." Rolf undid his sword belt with sharp, angry movements. He handed it over to Sir Galan.
"You will be protected, Lady Ingraine, have no fear. I swear on my life and honor," Sir Galan said. As if that was all she worried about He smiled and it struck Ingraine that he was very handsome. The women at court probably fawned on Sir Galan, but handsome no longer had the power to move her. "I thank you for your trust."
"The Grand Duke will hear of this," Ingraine said in reply. Sir Galan's smile disappeared. She didn't wait to hear his reply. Instead she turned sharply on her heel and returned to the cart.
