Reality 02: Clan Akkaba - Arrival - Log 3
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xp_logsMolly and Namor are waiting at the rendezvous point when guards get a little too close. Namor deals with them while Molly and Evan go to the castle.
Molly crouched down, moving quickly and quietly among the grass. She could see the castle in the distance. This entire mission felt one part fairy tale and one part like she was back in Asgard. It made her miss Sif and the Warriors Three more than a little bit.
The faint snap of a twig made Molly stop in her tracks. She put a finger up to her lips, hoping the boy king dude understood that meant quiet, then pointed at her eyes and motioned to everywhere else. That was supposed to mean keep a lookout.
The boy’s stoic companion, who was naturally floating, only returned the hard stare that His Grace, the Avenging Son, Blah blah to Righteous Volunteering Jerkface had been giving Molly ever since this plan had been drawn out. In a non-flying capacity, he was hovering close to the other crown prince, rightful heir to the throne, His Glorious Sun Blah Blah. Did royalty draw each other like magnets? Did this somehow make Molly more kingly by proxy?
Namor’s glare cast doubt on this. He had, fortunately, kept his mouth shut for most of this adventure.
The rest of the scene was quite lovely. In the distance, a castle straight out of a chivalric tale of knights and ladies stood painted against the sweep of mountains and meadows. It wasn’t until one looked closely that they could see the grimly glowing, arcane lamps amidst the ramparts or the slowly grinding gears of steam-powered trickery beneath the whitewashed walls that hinted this place was only somewhat like either home Namor or Molly had known.
Then again, the comm-bracelets on their wrists likely told a similar story to any observant local.
“Tell Us,” Namor’s bored tone cut through the requested silence, “What you see."
"The same thing you do, Aqua Spock," Molly whispered back, giving him a 'WTF?' look. "We should do this stealthily, not punchily.”
Namor continued in a lecturing tone, “Stealth requires a view of the entire board. You claim to be an apprentice of Sif.” He gestured dismissively at the castle walls, “I have promised to keep the Prince safe. Asgard delights at meddling and destabilizing worlds, but in Atlantis we know when to use a club instead of a knife in the dark.”
He floated cautiously to Molly’s position. "Three shifts of guards in pairs. Two patrols around the gates. Mere guards. Locals. But the group there,” he gestured, “Better armor, better weapons, more coordination. They are the challenge."
"They are the royal guard," Evan supplied, watching the scene with intense scrutiny. "The best trained men in the kingdom, and their captain is also skilled in what you would call magic.”
"Been there, done that. So we distract them somehow. Get them looking one way while someone else goes the other way " Molly said. surveying the group before glancing back to Namor.
"Also, we've all promised to keep Evan safe. We definitely need to talk about this whole 'I'm a lone shark, and Asgard stupid' thing later, 'kay?"
"His Majesty," Namor corrected, "Is the priority." Which naturally meant that none of Molly's other points mattered to the Atlantean at all. As was the assumption that Namor would be the one tasked with providing the distraction. His focus went to the Prince, "Tell me their worth to The Crown and I will measure out retribution to fit their loyalty."
"They are all simply men doing their perceived duty. They are loyal to the city and to the crown, and will have been told any number of lies about my disappearance and my 'death' so it is likely they will treat me as some kind of interloper until convinced of my identity. None deserve death for that." Evan had noticed the tension between his two protectors, but was too polite to get involved - it was obviously a personal thing.
"I'm not planning on killing anybody. And Namor isn't either, right?" Molly said, staring at him expectantly.
"We are in service to His Majesty." Namor cracked his knuckles as the group of guards circled out from their initial patrol of the white castle courtyard. They'd soon rotate into the surrounding gardens and royal forest, drawing closer to the group's obscured vantage point. Close enough to where action would be required.
"I will meet you at the rendezvous shortly."
"Be careful," Molly said. Though he thought he was Posideon's gift to man so he'd be fine. Molly glanced back at Evan. "Shall we, your worship?"
"We shall, m'lady," Evan replied in a similar tone, although there was a certain frustration in his expression. A king ought to lead, not be shuffled from place to place under protection. He nodded towards what seemed to be the kitchen gardens, visible past a low hedge. "Through the kitchens is our best option - I used to sneak out that way as a boy."
They were accompanied by the sounds of combat and the clang of metal as they crept. A stray fireball — likes like Evan was spot on, there — singed its way through a nearby hedge, but all they could see was the dodging and weaving of Namor's silhouette as he parried, ate soft blows only to turn them back on their attackers, and used both his strength and maneuverability to deal with the royal guard. The soft, strained gasps of "What are yo---" were carried in by the breeze, but cut off quickly as the guard was, presumably, rendered unconscious.
Meanwhile, Molly proceeded to sneak Evan through the thick forest until a quiet sigh made her pause as she caught sight of a guard, presumably on break. She held up a finger to Evan, pressing it to her lips. Hopefully that meant the same thing on Terra. Creeping forward, she emerged through the brush, then put the guard in a sleeper hold. The man struggled, but quickly went down, falling unconscious.
After a glance around, and a listen to make sure no one else was around, Molly motioned Evan forward.
With a brief, concerned glance at the unconscious guard, Evan joined her. "There's an entrance to the kitchen gardens there, in the hedge," he said quietly, pointing past the last remaining trees to where the neatly-trimmed hedges began. "We shall have to be quick."
"You got it," Molly said, giving him a smile as quick as they needed to be before leading him that direction.
This was punctuated by a large gout of fire that exploded from behind them, indicating that Namor was probably dealing with the guard's captain.
"There's a path, here. I used to sneak out this way often, usually when my tutor was looking for me," Evan murmured as she continued to sneak through the undergrowth. His tone was nostalgic, perhaps a little sad. "I never thought I'd need to use it again after I was grown. And certainly not to steal into my own castle..." There was movement up ahead and he paused, lightly grabbing Molly's shoulder. "Another guard?"
Molly shoved Evan behind him just in case, the two of them hiding behind the hedge. As the shadow darkened the ground, Molly let out a sigh of relief to find a man wearing a simple dirt-caked shirt and pants while holding a shovel.
"Gardener," she said quietly, waiting for him to pass before continuing on.
"Have you always been so strong, Lady Molly?" Evan asked as they entered the gate in the hedge and crept through the garden. It was definitely a food producing garden, with vines and bushes and even small trees covered with fruit, none of which were really familiar to Molly. On the other side was the castle, with a door set after a series of steps.
Momentarily distracted by the fruit, Molly squinted. "Like literally or figuratively?" she said, glancing over.
He chuckled. "I meant literally, although you also have much inner strength. "
Molly's cheeks flushed red. She bit her lip. "Uh thanks," she said, then shook her head. "We're mutants. So...most of us don't get our powers until we're teenagers. I was 12 though. Someone tried to take me from my parents and...they didn't get very far. The X-People stopped them. Well, me too. I got my powers then."
"So young." Evan shook his head. "Our magic users, they start training at that age, but they have no real power until much later. I can see now where the inner strength comes in." They reached the steps and he paused to listen inside. "No guards. It's clear." He moved inside.
'Clear' might have also been due to the fire quietly spreading across the gardens behind them. The muffled sounds of curses and scuffles in the background were likely another sign that Namor had drawn out most of the surrounding guards for a quick bit of engagement. If one really listened, they might hear the clang of swords on metal and the swoosh of guards being punched far further than they might have anticipated going that day.
"Evan wait--!" Molly called after him but was cut off when she heard something shatter much closer than comfortable. Oh crap. Darting inside, she found a group of people in the kitchen, all staring at Evan in shock.
"Um...hey," she said with a casual wave.
"A ghost?" murmured one of the kitchen maids, her face pale with fear. "Nay, it's a demon, summoned by the Evil One, cloaked as our lost king," said another. "Necromancy!" exclaimed a young man who was standing by the large fireplace, turning a spit on which something like a deer seemed to be roasting.
"Peace, my people, please..." Evan began, holding up his hands placatingly, trying to make himself heard over the increasing rumble of voices. But then he was interrupted by a large man dressed in cook's whites, with a large apron over all, who came rushing at the king with a carving knife in his hand.
Molly's eyes widened, and she rushed to try to tackle Evan out of the way, but it was too late. He...hugged him?
Squinting, Molly took a step back, but kept an eye on the others as people started to murmur amongst themselves, a mixture of confusion and happiness.
"My boy! I would know you anywhere! I knew the Regent had lied to us about your death!" The big man crowed, almost lifting Evan off the floor with his hug. Even returned the embrace, and when he was at last released, was grinning widely and his clothes were covered with flour.
"'Tis good to see you too, Henry," he replied, holding the cook by the forearms. "And I have much to tell you, but first..."
"What is going on here? Guards, guards! We have intruders! To the kitchens!" The voice came from a man wearing a powdered wig and rich-looking clothes who was standing in the doorway set at the top of a flight of stone steps on the other side of the kitchen, who swiftly turned back and left. Henry swore under his breath and pushed Evan towards the exit.
"Go, my king! We will seek to delay them!" he said quietly but urgently, before turning back to the rest of the staff. "Look busy!" he bellowed. "Activity! To your stations!" He glanced at Molly. "Get him out of here and keep him safe!" He'd taken in her movement to protect Evan earlier and understood her role. "Quickly now!"
Molly nodded. "Cmon your Kingness. We gotta move," she said, making their way up the stairs and back toward where they were supposed to meet Namor and the others.
Molly crouched down, moving quickly and quietly among the grass. She could see the castle in the distance. This entire mission felt one part fairy tale and one part like she was back in Asgard. It made her miss Sif and the Warriors Three more than a little bit.
The faint snap of a twig made Molly stop in her tracks. She put a finger up to her lips, hoping the boy king dude understood that meant quiet, then pointed at her eyes and motioned to everywhere else. That was supposed to mean keep a lookout.
The boy’s stoic companion, who was naturally floating, only returned the hard stare that His Grace, the Avenging Son, Blah blah to Righteous Volunteering Jerkface had been giving Molly ever since this plan had been drawn out. In a non-flying capacity, he was hovering close to the other crown prince, rightful heir to the throne, His Glorious Sun Blah Blah. Did royalty draw each other like magnets? Did this somehow make Molly more kingly by proxy?
Namor’s glare cast doubt on this. He had, fortunately, kept his mouth shut for most of this adventure.
The rest of the scene was quite lovely. In the distance, a castle straight out of a chivalric tale of knights and ladies stood painted against the sweep of mountains and meadows. It wasn’t until one looked closely that they could see the grimly glowing, arcane lamps amidst the ramparts or the slowly grinding gears of steam-powered trickery beneath the whitewashed walls that hinted this place was only somewhat like either home Namor or Molly had known.
Then again, the comm-bracelets on their wrists likely told a similar story to any observant local.
“Tell Us,” Namor’s bored tone cut through the requested silence, “What you see."
"The same thing you do, Aqua Spock," Molly whispered back, giving him a 'WTF?' look. "We should do this stealthily, not punchily.”
Namor continued in a lecturing tone, “Stealth requires a view of the entire board. You claim to be an apprentice of Sif.” He gestured dismissively at the castle walls, “I have promised to keep the Prince safe. Asgard delights at meddling and destabilizing worlds, but in Atlantis we know when to use a club instead of a knife in the dark.”
He floated cautiously to Molly’s position. "Three shifts of guards in pairs. Two patrols around the gates. Mere guards. Locals. But the group there,” he gestured, “Better armor, better weapons, more coordination. They are the challenge."
"They are the royal guard," Evan supplied, watching the scene with intense scrutiny. "The best trained men in the kingdom, and their captain is also skilled in what you would call magic.”
"Been there, done that. So we distract them somehow. Get them looking one way while someone else goes the other way " Molly said. surveying the group before glancing back to Namor.
"Also, we've all promised to keep Evan safe. We definitely need to talk about this whole 'I'm a lone shark, and Asgard stupid' thing later, 'kay?"
"His Majesty," Namor corrected, "Is the priority." Which naturally meant that none of Molly's other points mattered to the Atlantean at all. As was the assumption that Namor would be the one tasked with providing the distraction. His focus went to the Prince, "Tell me their worth to The Crown and I will measure out retribution to fit their loyalty."
"They are all simply men doing their perceived duty. They are loyal to the city and to the crown, and will have been told any number of lies about my disappearance and my 'death' so it is likely they will treat me as some kind of interloper until convinced of my identity. None deserve death for that." Evan had noticed the tension between his two protectors, but was too polite to get involved - it was obviously a personal thing.
"I'm not planning on killing anybody. And Namor isn't either, right?" Molly said, staring at him expectantly.
"We are in service to His Majesty." Namor cracked his knuckles as the group of guards circled out from their initial patrol of the white castle courtyard. They'd soon rotate into the surrounding gardens and royal forest, drawing closer to the group's obscured vantage point. Close enough to where action would be required.
"I will meet you at the rendezvous shortly."
"Be careful," Molly said. Though he thought he was Posideon's gift to man so he'd be fine. Molly glanced back at Evan. "Shall we, your worship?"
"We shall, m'lady," Evan replied in a similar tone, although there was a certain frustration in his expression. A king ought to lead, not be shuffled from place to place under protection. He nodded towards what seemed to be the kitchen gardens, visible past a low hedge. "Through the kitchens is our best option - I used to sneak out that way as a boy."
They were accompanied by the sounds of combat and the clang of metal as they crept. A stray fireball — likes like Evan was spot on, there — singed its way through a nearby hedge, but all they could see was the dodging and weaving of Namor's silhouette as he parried, ate soft blows only to turn them back on their attackers, and used both his strength and maneuverability to deal with the royal guard. The soft, strained gasps of "What are yo---" were carried in by the breeze, but cut off quickly as the guard was, presumably, rendered unconscious.
Meanwhile, Molly proceeded to sneak Evan through the thick forest until a quiet sigh made her pause as she caught sight of a guard, presumably on break. She held up a finger to Evan, pressing it to her lips. Hopefully that meant the same thing on Terra. Creeping forward, she emerged through the brush, then put the guard in a sleeper hold. The man struggled, but quickly went down, falling unconscious.
After a glance around, and a listen to make sure no one else was around, Molly motioned Evan forward.
With a brief, concerned glance at the unconscious guard, Evan joined her. "There's an entrance to the kitchen gardens there, in the hedge," he said quietly, pointing past the last remaining trees to where the neatly-trimmed hedges began. "We shall have to be quick."
"You got it," Molly said, giving him a smile as quick as they needed to be before leading him that direction.
This was punctuated by a large gout of fire that exploded from behind them, indicating that Namor was probably dealing with the guard's captain.
"There's a path, here. I used to sneak out this way often, usually when my tutor was looking for me," Evan murmured as she continued to sneak through the undergrowth. His tone was nostalgic, perhaps a little sad. "I never thought I'd need to use it again after I was grown. And certainly not to steal into my own castle..." There was movement up ahead and he paused, lightly grabbing Molly's shoulder. "Another guard?"
Molly shoved Evan behind him just in case, the two of them hiding behind the hedge. As the shadow darkened the ground, Molly let out a sigh of relief to find a man wearing a simple dirt-caked shirt and pants while holding a shovel.
"Gardener," she said quietly, waiting for him to pass before continuing on.
"Have you always been so strong, Lady Molly?" Evan asked as they entered the gate in the hedge and crept through the garden. It was definitely a food producing garden, with vines and bushes and even small trees covered with fruit, none of which were really familiar to Molly. On the other side was the castle, with a door set after a series of steps.
Momentarily distracted by the fruit, Molly squinted. "Like literally or figuratively?" she said, glancing over.
He chuckled. "I meant literally, although you also have much inner strength. "
Molly's cheeks flushed red. She bit her lip. "Uh thanks," she said, then shook her head. "We're mutants. So...most of us don't get our powers until we're teenagers. I was 12 though. Someone tried to take me from my parents and...they didn't get very far. The X-People stopped them. Well, me too. I got my powers then."
"So young." Evan shook his head. "Our magic users, they start training at that age, but they have no real power until much later. I can see now where the inner strength comes in." They reached the steps and he paused to listen inside. "No guards. It's clear." He moved inside.
'Clear' might have also been due to the fire quietly spreading across the gardens behind them. The muffled sounds of curses and scuffles in the background were likely another sign that Namor had drawn out most of the surrounding guards for a quick bit of engagement. If one really listened, they might hear the clang of swords on metal and the swoosh of guards being punched far further than they might have anticipated going that day.
"Evan wait--!" Molly called after him but was cut off when she heard something shatter much closer than comfortable. Oh crap. Darting inside, she found a group of people in the kitchen, all staring at Evan in shock.
"Um...hey," she said with a casual wave.
"A ghost?" murmured one of the kitchen maids, her face pale with fear. "Nay, it's a demon, summoned by the Evil One, cloaked as our lost king," said another. "Necromancy!" exclaimed a young man who was standing by the large fireplace, turning a spit on which something like a deer seemed to be roasting.
"Peace, my people, please..." Evan began, holding up his hands placatingly, trying to make himself heard over the increasing rumble of voices. But then he was interrupted by a large man dressed in cook's whites, with a large apron over all, who came rushing at the king with a carving knife in his hand.
Molly's eyes widened, and she rushed to try to tackle Evan out of the way, but it was too late. He...hugged him?
Squinting, Molly took a step back, but kept an eye on the others as people started to murmur amongst themselves, a mixture of confusion and happiness.
"My boy! I would know you anywhere! I knew the Regent had lied to us about your death!" The big man crowed, almost lifting Evan off the floor with his hug. Even returned the embrace, and when he was at last released, was grinning widely and his clothes were covered with flour.
"'Tis good to see you too, Henry," he replied, holding the cook by the forearms. "And I have much to tell you, but first..."
"What is going on here? Guards, guards! We have intruders! To the kitchens!" The voice came from a man wearing a powdered wig and rich-looking clothes who was standing in the doorway set at the top of a flight of stone steps on the other side of the kitchen, who swiftly turned back and left. Henry swore under his breath and pushed Evan towards the exit.
"Go, my king! We will seek to delay them!" he said quietly but urgently, before turning back to the rest of the staff. "Look busy!" he bellowed. "Activity! To your stations!" He glanced at Molly. "Get him out of here and keep him safe!" He'd taken in her movement to protect Evan earlier and understood her role. "Quickly now!"
Molly nodded. "Cmon your Kingness. We gotta move," she said, making their way up the stairs and back toward where they were supposed to meet Namor and the others.
