Crimson - open -

[allison]

When Kendall made no threatening move, Allison relaxed. If she was going to do something to harm the young spy, then the princess would have done it already or would have been thinking about it - which Aly doubted. Still cautious, of course. You don't stop being wary in a lions den when they're not hungry. As the Saxon spoke, inhaling deeply before, Aly released the strange hold on her wrist - instead moving her hands onto the table, fingers laced and thumbs silently tapping together. "I'm sorry about your father," She said with false sincerity. "Forgive me if my history is faulty, but I do believe it was the Saxon's who invaded the British first?" She asked, raising a delicate eyebrow. She allowed herself to slip a bit into her usual Aly - now that her cover had been pretty muchly blown - though not fully. Recklessness had cost her enough.

She wanted to ask what had first made Kendall suspicious, but constructive criticism was not what the situation needed. Stiffening when Kendall picked her sword up, Aly followed her movements slightly wary, mainly cool eyes. Her face was quite calm despite the danger, merely because she thought Kendall wasn't going to rat on her. Yet. And if she did, well, Aly had a merciless heart and three knives. Wouldn't be a problem. Aly found herself appreciating, if not respecting, Kendall's intelligence. She was observant, no doubt more aware then her siblings. She was good at putting two and two together, but again this wasn't the time for Aly to get distracted by mind games.

"You say they wish for Arthur to be dead. Do you?" She asked, thumbs still tapping together. As she thought about the last thing Kendal had said, Allison's blue eyes focused back on the table once more. How far was the princess willing to commit treason? Perhaps Aly could convince her into revealing Cynric's plans. Of course, it would depend on how strong her loyalty was, how powerful her hate of the British King. Aly bit her upper lip as she thought, looking at Kendall as a biologist might look at a particularly interesting beetle. "King Arthur is a good man. A good leader. The British have prospered under his rule, the people like him. He doesn't take pleasure in mass blood shed and if - say," She paused. "The Saxon's get captured or surrendered or over powered, he won't kill them. Let them on their way, or even join him." She was fudging the details a bit, trying to show Kendall that King Arthur's rule might be the best for the Saxon's. "Cynric might be a good man, even a good leader - but revenge shouldn't be his motivation." She took a slow breath. "Are there-" She hesitated, acknowledging the fact she was crossing into dangerous territories. "Any plans King Cynric has thought of, one which can be stopped, which might reduce the bloodshed?"

[Alowyn]

Kendall narrowed her brow, chewing on the bottom of her lip, bringing the blood. She noticed the false sincerity, and decided to just let it fly by; it was no use getting into a brawl over something so stupid. Kendall was cautious of this girl, everything that had been spoken in the Saxon camp, was now regarded as a lie in Kendall’s book. ”I am not uneducated, I know about my father’s history, but his death was in cold blood, and even worse was that Cynric almost died.” Kendall slammed the cup down on the table, wiping the froth away from her mouth.

Her temple could flare up in a matter of seconds, which usually resulted in broken glasses. Kendall did not like being told anything that she already knew, much less, anything about her father. Kendall diverted her attention back to Allison as she inquired about her siblings, and folded her arms crossly. ”I do not believe you, Allison. I’m quite sure that Arthur will kill my people if they are caught.” She said boldly, contradicting the young woman. Kendall sighed and walked over to the entrance way, looking around eagerly, then walked over to Allison swiftly, pulling a chair beside her. ”I have heard many, but the one that bothers me the most… is that he is planning to kidnap Arthur’s daughter and hold her hostage. I do not know if this is true, for Cyrnic has spoken nothing of that sort, though.”

Kendall ran her fingers threw her dark, wavy locks, tapping her fingers on the table. ”I swear, by the goddess of water, and goddess of light, that if you tell anybody, I will come after you myself. If Cynric finds out about this, he could have my head.” She said, gazing at Allison with stern eyes, letting a long breath emerge from her throat. In a way, the Princess had just committed treason, whether or not the rumor was true, that was a completely different story.

[allison]

Allison watched as Kendall chewed her lip again, once more bringing blood. It was a wonder that the princesses lips were still intact. No doubt, judging by the way her eyebrows had narrowed, irritated with Aly's not so sincere apology about her fathers death. Allison was not the warmest person when it came to being sympathetic about the death of a relative. She was rarely sincere anyways, and certainly didn't grasp parental bonding. But she resist the urge to make a snappish retort for the most part. "People go into war and they die. Saxon's die, British die, in cold blood or not. Doesn't make a difference." She retorted apathetically. Aly was an assassin as well as a spy. She could stab a sleeping man in the chest without a second thought; murdering in cold blood had never been an issue for her.

But she resisted the urge to further argue, not wanting to get into a fight. She looked back at the table top, attempting to appear meek and humble in an effort to smooth down tempers. She looked up at the mention of Arthur, eyes narrowing slightly. "Arthur is too gentle to do anything of the sort." She said. Other British might be more then willing, but not Arthur. "And Guinevere is no fool, she wouldn't allow him to do anything of the sort." Neither would I. She thought, although didn't mention it. Killing a captured enemy was useless and could only do harm. Only an idiot would make such a mistake, but unfortunately there were a lot of idiots, and some in high positions.

Aly twisted to the side as Kendall pulled out a chair next to her and sat down, blue eyes intent. Her eyes rose when Kendall revealed the possible plan. Five hundred men might not be enough to completely take over Hadrian's wall, but more then enough to surge forward. It would only take one invasion, one to confuse the knights and enter the little girls room to kidnap. Aly sucked in her lower lip as she thought, staring blankly at Kendall, quite obviously not the in the moment. What would Arthur do for his daughter? What was he willing to risk?

She blinked when Kendall continued, releasing her lower lip, eyes a bit anxious now. "I would not endanger the life of someone who has just given vital information." And is willing to complete treason, she thought privately. "I'll have to tell Arthur, no one else though." She half lied. Allison was going to have to inform the leader of the spy network at the castle, although she might neglect to tell the king. Spies didn't tell Arthur a lot, when it came down to it. They did a lot under his nose, better off for him.

[Alowyn]

Kendall looked at Allison, her face blank, expression unreadable. She wanted, ever so badly, to just scream and yell at the woman, so she could possibly understand the pain that Saxons had dealt with. It would be a waste of breath and energy; they would never understand why they valued their beloved leader. The Briton’s would never understand; for one thing, they were bloody Briton’s as the Saxons would say, and, they had never lost a leader that had helped their people grow to be strong, and feared. ”Do not speak of battle to me. I have seen far worse than you could ever imagine.” Kendall said her voice cold and icy.

The young lady almost laughed out loud, noticing Allison trying to appear humble and meek; you could not get anything past Kendall. The kidnapped, Roman scholars had taught her well. ”Gentle? Arthur is a war lord, a king. The rumors that have been circulating state that he gives no second thought to the death of a Saxon, for that matter.” Did this woman, servant of Arthur, and diplomat think that Kendall was an idiot? It seemed as if the Briton’s thought all Saxon’s were stupid, and that they could slip past their grasp; they were wrong.

Kendall peered outside of the entrance way warily, and then proceeded with giving Allison a bit of information. She was willing to commit treason to keep her own people safe, innocent blood did not deserve to be spilt. The young lady smiled half heartedly; it almost looked like a smirk, as Allison spoke. ”I hope not, for you sake.” She said, her voice tuning dangerously low, as she spoke in regards of the diplomats remark. Kendall searched the woman’s face, noting anxiety in it; it seemed that it was written all over her face. Arthur must be exceptionally close to his daughter, if this bothered a diplomat so badly. Her heart sunk as Allison spoke to her; she did need her siblings to find out that she had just committed a form of treason. ”Arthur, and that is all, no one else.” Kendall said softly, watching as a guard walked past the entrance way.

Ooc; sorry its so short and it took so long, got a little busy with some stuff

[allison]

Allison's eyes flashed dangerously, narrowing to slits though her face was carefully devoid of emotion. The death of their leader was no tragedy. One should know, going into war, that people died. Soldiers, kings, peasants, children, saints. They all died, knowing that the possibility was distinct, and yet people continually seemed to be surprised. As the Saxon princess mentioned seeing far worse, a small disbelieving laugh escaped her lips. But for the sake of not fighting, she clamped back the retort she planned, lips firmly pressed together omitting further outbursts. Aly had seen, and done, and have done to her, some unspeakable and unforgivable things. She doubted the princess had ever seen someone, specifically a family member, plunge a knife into their chest, and, when they failed to reach the heart, proceed to hang themselves.

Telling herself repeatedly to stay meek, and not agitate Kendall, she argued in neutral tones, "I have never seen a softer King than Arthur. He hands second chances and forgiveness out like candies. But he is a fair and disciplined leader, stubborn enough to resist the knights who would be more then happy to murder Saxons. Can your leaders say the same?" Aly challenged. Arthur was not a bad king. He was a seasoned warrior, but had a certain soft side which continued to irritate and puzzle the young spy. He continued to believe everyone had a good quality, that the best of someone could over power the worst. Completely illogical and naive. But, as all Kings do, he listened to his friends and knights. And most them would be more then happy to slaughter Saxons without so much as blinking.

Aly ran a hand through her hair once more, leaning back tiredly in the seat. It would mean another sleepless day and night atop her already sleepless night and day. Ugh. Who was she going to tell? She might not have the time to confer with her fellow spies, to decided upon the best course. But if she told Arthur, well.. He would send all of his men to guard his daughter, which would leave countless at risk as well as endanger Kendall's life. If Caetrin found out that there were a hundred men guarding the Kings daughter, she would know there had been a leak. Which would mean that Kendall would likely be held responsible. Perhaps she could gather Peter and Tom. Both were good fighters, maybe the three could guard the Kings daughter. And how would she get the King to agree without telling him what the problem was? Her eyes, which had previously been unfocused on the princess's face, focused once more as the guard walked past. "I don't suppose you know a way to get back to Hadrian, avoiding the larger roads?" She asked, chewing her lower lip.

[Alowyn]

Kendall pulled back her hair, pinning it back with some pins that Cynric had stolen from some rich Roman caravan. She listened to Allison’s laugh, shooting her a glance; Kendall did not need her buttons pushed. The poor Saxon Princess was already enough pressure with her siblings, protecting Allison, and much more. Kendall pulled up a seat, folding her arms stubbornly as Allison spoke of her King, finding it hard to believe that he was a soft King. Though, Allison did have a good point about Cynric, he was stubborn, and didn’t care to murder Briton’s and Woads, he was a Saxon. ”Cynric is a man of his word, and gets rather angry, rather fast, Caetrin is just like him, and tends to get her way. Adelmar is a mixture and me, I hate to say this, but I sound like Arthur. I am the kind one of the Saxons, the most popular amongst them.”

She reached over the table, grabbing a jug of water, and poured herself a cupful. ”The Saxons are quite different, you have to be harsh with them, so they will listen to orders.” Kendall muttered, shaking her head, before taking a drink. Kendall pulled the map out once more, unrolling it, and laid the jugs on the edge so it would not roll back up. Her fingers traced the fastest route to Hadrian City, before turning her gaze onto Ally. ”There is a route threw a mountain overpass, I believe there is a small Saxon patrol up there today, but I’m positive you can outrun them. If you take this route, it should take you no more than and a day and half to reach Hadrian.” Kendall said, pointing out the route to Allison.

Kendall drummed her fingers on the table, debating whether or not to help Allison, once more. She inhaled deeply, coming to her senses, before peering outside of the entrance. ”Look, I hope and pray that Caetrin does not take Arthur’s daughter hostage and bring her back here, but if she does, I promise you, I will bring her back, safe and sound. I will find a way to smuggle her out of the camp.” Kendall said softly, her voice a mere whisper, as she searched Allison’s face for an reaction. This girl was willing to betray her own people, to stop innocent blood from being spilt.

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