Kara walks down the fine red carpet with a dark purple trim that runs from the foot of the Throne to the tall oakwood double door where members of the KingsGuard are standing. Two Guards push the door open as Kara does not break stride as she exits the Throne Room. As the doors shut behind her she hears a familiar voice call out her name, Mi'lady McKaeyln. She turns her head, and sees an average height man with tan skin, wearing plate armour with the same Coat of Arms as the man inside the Throne Room who supported her, and recognizes him right away: Sire Marcus Cnaith, Commander of the Cavalry, her husband's trusted friend, loyal Bannerman, and adviser. She gives him a very formal greeting, to which he smiles and chuckles.

"Come now, Kara. We aren't before the Court, you don't have to be so formal, Mi'lady." She smiles while they approach each other, and hug after not seeing each other for so long.

The last time Kara saw Marcus was the day he, and her husband departed together to ride North to fight. Seeing an old friend after so many months replaces the burning for revenge to joy as she smiles for the first time in weeks.

"Its funny how you say no formalities but yet still called me, mi'lady." She says with a joyful tone and a smile.

Marcus chuckles at her returning the smile, "It's good to see you again, Kara. I'm sorry I couldn't be there for the funeral. You know he was like a brother to me."

Kara's smile slowly fades, her heart sinks as her mind returns to that day. The day of the funeral: several of the bannermen returned from the frontlines to be there but not all could return. Marcus had to continue the defense of the Twin Valleys, the same battle that claimed her husband's life. Marcus sees the emotion in her eyes: not one of sadness, but anger. The same burning desire she felt in the Throne Room. clenching her fist.

I'll find the man who did this! Then I'll come for the head of the man truly to blame!

Marcus clears his throat napping her attention back to him while he steps to the side, putting his arm out,

"We should leave now if we're to make it to the camp by morning. Shall we, Mi'lady?" Kara says nothing, marching past him. Marcus trails just behind her quickly making pace with her again.

Marcus, and Kara exit the palace, and are greeted by the afternoon breeze. She sees the comforting sight of her House Banner flying with two of the four Cavalry members: White banner with an Eagle flying over a two-point shield. Kara mounts her horse which is being held by a member of her Household Guard. She traveled to the Capital with five Guards all wearing studded armour, armed with swears, and short swords.

While they ride through the busy streets of the Capital Kara takes it all in: the sights of the fancy stone buildings, the smells of the foods, and the everyday life of people living here.

All these people living their lives as if there isn't a war going on. Capital life makes people complacent. Shelters them from the reality of what's going on out North.

They approach the front gate and without hesitation the sentry orders the gate opened. The grated iron gate slowly rises up as Kara, followed by Marcus leads the other riders out of the city, and onto the open road now beginning their journey North to the Royal Army encampment at the Twin Valleys.

While the wind runs across the grasslands surrounding the Capital blowing Kara's hair in her face she looks at the sword, and thinks day to the night before he left.

It was a rainy night, and he had spent much of the day cleaning off his armour, sharpening his sword that his father handed down to him when he came of age to serve the Realm. We didn't say much to each other all day because he knew I objected to him going to the frontlines. I still remember what he told me "Bannermen serve their lords, but a Lord must serve his Banners. I can't ask these men to do something I myself am not willing to do." I couldn't argue with him because he was right. I was nonetheless scared for his life...

The day draws on as the ride continues across a rough stone bridge over a small, clam river. The sound of the running water, the hooves of the horses tapping on the stone, and birds chirping in the trees bring a sense of peace to Kara despite the sadness she feels as the anger has settled. While they continue across the bridge she can see more clearly the scar underneath Marcus's left eye but tries not to be obvious with her stare.

"subtlety never was your strong suit, Mi'lady." Marcus breaks the silence, knowing full well Kara was staring at the scar.

She apologizes, and asks him how it happened. He hesitates to say, telling her he got it during the battle that claimed her husband's life. Her head hangs low as the silence sets in again as they cross over the bridge.

"Tell me. Tell me what happened Marcus." She says with a mournful expression, and low voice. Marcus sighs, hesitating to tell her.

"Scouts reported a Rebel force attempting to move across the ridge of the second Valley so your husband mustered the men to face them. I insisted on him to stay, and let me and the others handle them. But of course Aidan had to set the example, he led his men from the front."

Kara sees Marcus grin slightly knowing Aidan's bravery, and boldness was something his men respected. She knows from Aidan's letters home how much the younger men looked up to him. Her head stays lows as Marcus continues

"Aidan ordered half the force to remain in the Valley since we outnumbered the Rebels. He didn't see the need for the whole force. When confronted they fled. He led the chase after them but it was a trap. They ambushed us, and I got separated from him." He stops talking, sighing deeply. Kara sees the emotion in his face, the guilt and sadness in his eyes.

"By the time I found him, he and his guards were surrounded. We tried to push through but we couldn't. I watched as a rebel officer rode up behind Aidan, and drove a spear through his back like a coward! After his death morale was broken, and the rank crumbled. We were forced to retreat back to the Valley." Kara remains silent as her heart beats against with a piercing pain.

Aidan was an Honourable man, and he held his men to the same standard: Never strike down a man who can not defend himself. It was one of the qualities I love about him. Selfless, kind, and as noble as they come. The day the rider came to me with the news of my husband's death I felt a pain like a thousand daggers were driven into my stomach, as if my heart had shattered like a pot under a stone. But I didn't cry, I felt grief, I felt sadness but I did not cry.

As the sun begins to set Marcus sends riders to find a suitable location for camp since the nearest settlement is too small to have an Inn. They find a location clear enough for a few tents to be pitched for: Kara, Marcus, and two of the guards to sleep at a time.

The camp fire burns low while Kara and Marcus dine on their rations, mainly dried meat, bread and cheese. Marcus starts a conversation with Kara asking her about how things were back home since the war started, how she was ruling in place of Aidan. She told him it wasn't easy since the war had disrupted trade, and commerce to the west causing food and good shortages.

"I made a visit to Galeen to see how bad things had gotten, and it was heartbreaking. Families without food, crops dying all because the men are away fighting the King's war." She continues, with a low spirited tone while Marcus listens like eating a piece of dried meat.

He asks who was to act as ruler while she was away leading the Army, my sister, Aine. He looks at her in disbelief since Anie was still in his eyes a little girl being seventeen when they left.

"She's grown up so much since you left. She's really matured these last months taking on more responsibility."

Marcus doesn't say anything, just eats the meat stick he is holding thinking about how much things have changed in the time since the war began. He spent much of his life growing up with Kara and Anie, and remembers Anie being quite the trouble maker.

Truly her fathers daughter she was. Stubborn as him as well, Times really have changed since this all began.

Late into the night Kara retires to her tent while Marcus relieves the first set of sentries for the rest of the night. Kara removes the sword from her waist, and changes into a spare set of more comfortable clothes before settling into her bed roll. She lays on her back as an uneasy feeling sets in: she's nervous. She didn't agree with the Court dismissing her for being a woman, but she knew they were right about her inexperience leading an Army. She rolls onto her side looking at the sword as it lays next to her as she rests her hand on it giving her a sense of comfort. She starts to drift off with the thought of the night before Aidan left: the last time he held her in his arms. The warmth of his touch, and the feel of his kiss.