Rede Family/Philippa/1

A burning pain both ached and stung through her leg, originating in her upper thigh where the damage of a well-aimed lance was evident through the blood soaked bandages.

She cursed loudly as she struggled into an upright position, trying to clear the fog in her brain and recall what had happened. They had said with authority that there would be weeks until the Tassies would return - the battle had been unexpected!

She whispered urgently to the guard, slipping 3 gold coins into his grubby hand, “I need to have word on Ikalak” the guard’s dim eyes lit up at the glittering coins in his oversized palm and nodded a toothless grin. A few moment later he came shuffling back and shoved several parchments through the bars. She sighed with relief when she recognised her scribes neat scrawl.

She spotted the scribe notes sent before the battle and went to reach for them but the aloof, but not wholly unkind Taselak healer pushed her back down on her makeshift kitty in the prison.

“Your wounds have healed M’Lady, but you are only permitted light duties until you are fully recovered”

Phillipa cursed again, hitting the cold rock wall in frustration.

((Judge Aeneas robs Philippa of her gold and she write an indignant letter, outraged at the theft))

Aeneas looked at Philippa with a radiant smile in his eyes, only poorly reflected in his face. It has been years since Aeneas actually smiled or laughed, it was clear to see his duties fell heavy on his facial expressions, but his eyes now spoke very differently.

"You do not look that mad milady, for a mad person would not shine so" he said in slightly softer voice than his normal harsh voice he was accustomed to use for his prisoners and his servants. "If only I had no other business, but I fear I must hold court in Taselak, a pity," he mumbled as he turned away "I hope you will find comfort milady, otherwise do inform me, do inform me!”

Philippa tried to ignore the searing pain in her thigh as the Lord Justicar entered her cell, straightening and adopting a well-trained look of regal and noble control. However, her ordeal on the battlefield and painful night sleep could be seen in her tired eyes and unkempt hair.

She inclined her head respectfully at Aeneas’ kind words. Her checks flushed slightly red, uncertain if it was frustration or more likely embarrassment due to the impropriety of her thoughts towards her honest and honourable enemy. Despite all her efforts otherwise, she liked him and the smile in his eyes.

“I suppose as far as prisons go this place is not bad” She momentarily forgot her impending promotion under King Blanche and decided that some time to fully recover in cells of Taselak might not be too bad. Particularly as she felt unusually safe in the care of her captor.

Visit (32 minutes ago) While you rot in your cell, Aeneas Gabanus, Lord Justice of Taselak, Earl of Belus, visits you and says:

Aeneas once again returns to the dungeons, a thing he does not often do and his guards are therefore also somewhat surprised. You see them running back and forth and constantly checking to ensure they have not made a mistake. When they have concluded they can do no more they go to face what they believe to be a gravely dissatisfied master. In stead, Aeneas says nothing to the guards and walks up to Philippa in stead.

"Hello milady, I hope my healers have been treating you well and your wound is healing at least. One could only imagine the terror should you fall ill here. Please, I hope you are doing well still milady?”

Lady Philippa, fully recovered, stands and smiles genuinely at her visitor. Since Lord Aeneas’ last visit the guards have been somewhat confused and have for the most part avoided the prisoner who seemed to have caught their master’s attention.

She is still dressed in her armour undergarments, stained with blood and mud, however she looks healthy and well, if not slightly restless.

“M’Lord, your healers have taken leave of me and I am completely fine”, she presented her leg, showing off the trail of a neat wound beginning to scab and heal. “Surely you had trust in their abilities?”

She smiled coyly, her eyelashes lowering, “Are you sure there wasn’t a secondary motive for your visit?"

"Like releasing me perhaps?”

Visit (5 minutes ago)

While you rot in your cell, Aeneas Gabanus, Lord Justice of Taselak, Earl of Belus, visits you and says:

Aeneas looked at the wound and nodded satisfactory "They have done a good job, I expect nothing less of them and they have performed. Very well."

He continued to listen to Philippa who to postured herself almost in a shy fashion and submissive, but charming nonetheless. "Milady, please join me. A healing wound such as your own requires fresh air and not the vicinity of rats to properly heal. Strangely enough I have some time left this afternoon, join me for a walk outside, to let your would heal of course. That is to say, if you have no trouble walking? I can arrange different transport than walking of course if you prefer. Afterwards you are free to leave if you prefer it"

Philippa nodded her ascent as she stepped close to her capture, resting her hand lightly on his arm to be led out of her confinement.

His Judicial attire rustled beside her and he smelt clean and scented with subtle fragrance she couldn’t quite pinpoint. Though he had always seemed firm and unwavering in their dealings, she sensed a softer kindness behind his hardened exterior. The surreal experience was disturbingly pleasant.

“My Lord, you are my enemy” she broke the silence first. “At this moment I may forget its so, but tomorrow, if the God’s are willing, I will be raising my sword once more against you and your kin”. She silently willed him to understand, “It is my duty"

Visit (6 hours, 27 minutes ago) While you rot in your cell, Aeneas Gabanus, Lord Justice of Taselak, Earl of Belus, visits you and says:

Aeneas enjoyed the time off from his duties and let his face soften slightly in the presence of Philippa. "I understand you are my enemy now, but you will be my friend and ally in time. I feel it, I know it" he said. "If you desire it so I shall not hold you longer against your will here milady, although the fresh air has done your well if I may say so, truly well." Aeneas paused for a moment "I know I should not do it for you will work against all I strive for, you attempt to destroy my beloved Taselak, but I cannot deny you your freedom, not you"

Philippa’s shoulders visibly relaxed as Aeneas asserted that they would be friends and allies in time. It was hard to imagine that these wars would ever end.

She watched him as he paused, her serious grey eyes flashing momentarily with indecision.

“My Lord, you have been so generous to me. But I want to be released. And not only will I be part of the armies waging war against your beloved realm..” she paused momentarily summoning the internal strength to continue, “I plan to lead them”

Roleplay from Aeneas Gabanus (19 minutes ago) Aeneas looked at Philippa, "So you will replace that incompetent General, I am not sure if I am all to happy with that for it means even more trouble for us." He paused for a moment again "but I have said to give you the choice yourself and you are free to go milady. A pity, for I enjoyed your presence here greatly. May the gods keep you safe, but keep your armies small. And let us hope then you will see Sandalak for what they are in time." Aeneas bend over slightly to Philippa and took her hand, placed a kiss on it, and called his guards: "Guards, release the lady”

Before the guards moved to seize her, Philippa reaches forward and hugs Aeneas tightly her face flushed and excited. She pulls away from him and momentarily appraises his undeniably handsome features, but it was his letters from her very first visit that had attracted her to him.

She whispered quickly before the guards seize her to eject her from her confinement,

“My Lord, Taselak is the elite on the island. It is why they are attacked so ferociously. No one wants to take them on alone. I am loyal to Ikalak, but neither stupid nor blind. I know what Sandalak is.”

As the guards took her from Aeneas she looked back one more time with uncertain remorse before turning back to Ikalak with resolve.

A black horse with the Ikalak war emblem blazing across its cover flanks galloped towards the Ministry of Justice.

The Taselakian guards waved the messenger aside. “The Ministry of Defence is down that road” he gestured hard right.

The battle-hardened warrior frowned, “I know. This delivery is for the Ministry of Justice - from War Mistress Philippa Rede”

The guard raised a wary eyebrow but let the messenger continue on.

The sealed scroll held a neatly handwritten, if not brief, note. It had evidently been penned by the Lady herself rather than her scribe:

“My Lord Aeneas,

Words escape me, but I hope you are well.

Regards, Philippa"