Chamberlain Family/Chamberlain Family RP log

Catherine

1.1 Sailing to Kazan

She stood on the weathered wood, lookig to both sides, the normally tranquil harbour now bustled with the requisitioned boats from all along the coast. The banners of all of the coastal ports were evident, Oroya, Pucallpa, and ofcourse Juaziero. Among them were some of the smuggler fleet, insinuating themselves at unexpected speed across the peninsula.

She had hoped to approach Kazan quietly, to catch the foul get of Obsidia in their whore houses and dens, but her fleet would be far too obvious for such a landing, and the greedy fat lords would force their vassals to fight for their unjust and undeserving masters.

There was a buzz of anticipation on the boat, her men, set about their wopons, tightening bow strings and checking the fletchers works on their arrows. She was the only woman amongst them, 100 all told, with the scouts and healers, and all following her orders. She had never found the company of soldiers difficult; she had journeyed now so long with many of them, she felt closer to them in some ways than to some of her family.

What would he family think of her. By her age har mother had already birthed her two eldest brothers. She had attended finishing school, she was bred to be a wife and mother. But now... now her body was so accustomed to the reassuring weight of her battle armour, she felt uncomfortable in her gowns, no matter how pretty her ladies might say she appeared. Her hands were not soft and smooth like her mothers, she had many small scars from bouts and from battle. Her sister-in-law thought her to be sapphic, however untrue, it did not change the musing for her as to what man would want a woman such as she who presumed to lead not only her own men, but those of the army to war.

The sun was setting over the bay, the sky blood red, the fleet would soon be embraced by the night, and tomorrow, tomorrow may be a defining point for the future of her homeland. But for now, surrounded by her family of men, with an entire army within less than half of a mile of where she stood, she had strangely, never felt so alone.

1.2 On board entertainment

They were basically untried, a worthy group of men, but one minor skirmish and now they were set to defend the soverignty of Nivemus at Kazan. There were still a few of her old hands, assisting the green horns to oil their leathers and tighten their bows for maximum efficacy and range. She heard the songs of war from the barges and ferries surrounding her, but could only think to herself how could she prepare them better, what training could she give archers at sea?

Looking to Lords Ketchum and Alumanni's ferry she smiled to herself.

"Dekmar, call the men starboard side, Lord Ketchum presents target for them!"

She smiled pulling back her own bow and loosing an arrow at the bobbing lane of barrels trailing the ferry.

1.3 Vessol's injuries and the Lady of Ashforth

"I am sorry to trouble you at this time your Majesty." Catherine had spoken often with the Kronogos in her capacity as Marshal and Arithagan, but now, regarding him in his bed, broad bare chest, bandaged at the left shoulder, his modesty secured only by the clean white sheet pulled to his waist, she felt oddly embarassed. She bowed her head cheeks flushing red. The princess noted Catherine's pause with a snort of disdain.

Catherine had known Snowe for many years, indeed Kristina had attended finishing school with her. They had always shared a cordial relationship, but there was a gulf between them socially. The Mithridates' were an old family, and with 'old money'. Her own family had risen by marriage and alliegance from gamekeepers and squires to the modest holdings they now possessed. The age of money still had far reaching impacts in some areas of society.

Her eyes lingered on the bare chest of her King. Looking at her own bloodied leathers she wished she had changed.

"My father needs rest, what do you want Dame Catherine," the princess prompted, pointedly using the lowest of Catherine's titles. The Kronogos censured his daughter with the briefest change in his eyes and she crossed the room to the window, looking out over the village for which she was now overseer. Snowe's worry for her father was palpable, and Catherine silently thanked Ora, that she had never had to witness or share a battlefield with her own father.

"Yes, ah... yes," she bowed her head. "Nivemus did you proud today your Majesty, the men fought valiantly, and gifted our enemies with heavy losses, their own Emperor, licks his wounds in a tent but a league from here. Preparations have been made for the defence of our territories, but I fear we have a problem, a subtle blade. An infiltrator."

Snowe spun from the window looking to the heavy wooden doors, as if she could see the guardsmen on the other side. For his part the Kronogs eyes narrowed. He moved himself with difficulty, propping himself up on his elbows. As he moved the sheet slipped a little from his thigh. Blushing anew, Catherine raised her eyes to the cieling wishing silently that she had shared her fears with Barons' Ketchum or Wolf rather than be standing as she was now in the presence of her Kronogos.

"Go on," he bade her.

"Ah... I... yes..." she could feel Snowe's gaze burning into her. "I went from camp to camp, reviewing and congratulating the troops and their commanders. I came in time to the camp of Lord Alumaani, as you know his men were magnificent today," she viewed again with her internal eye, the young Baron fighting valiantly amongst his men. "When I reached Lord Alumaani, I was conftonted with the most offensive odour. His man Ingwald, reported him as unwell but I fear it is more serious than some simple malady. I spoke to his troops, and many stated that they feared he had been poisoned by some villainous female whose name I am yet to isolate, it seems though, she goes by the title of 'The Ashforth Lady'..."