Kingmaker

Outsiders #2

Sir Henry Stafford gazed in thought into the crackling fire. His elbows resting on his knees. "What do you think of it, Howard" he asked absent-mindedly. "Of what? David and Ava. I do not know. But the way I see it. They are headed for the House of Lancaster. During past joust tournaments, I often caught a glimpse of Ava speaking to Sir Richard Neville. And David speaking to Sir George Plantangenet. They are both trying to gain status, I believe" The Knights knew all too well that David and Ava had fled from the House of York. Even as their families remained, they had fled. "They will gain status, Howard. Just not the status they desire. Right now, they are traitors. Outsiders, so to speak. In what way would the House of Lancaster accept them, anyway?"
"It depends, Stafford. What qualities do they posess? Ava may get in if Sir Richard falls for her. And David may get in if he is seen worthy to be a Knight himself. Regardless, Stafford. It has been asked of us that we capture the pair and return them to the House of York" stated Sir John Howard as he watched the fire. "What, pray tell, makes you believe that it will be so easy to capture them. And what makes you think Sir Richard will fall for Ava? A member of the Woodville family of York?" Stafford never liked speaking of Ava. Not since she had fled to go to the House of Lancaster. It was always such a sore topic of late. "They will not be easy to capture if we continue to stay awake at night like this in hopes that they pass us by. If we are sleepy when they pass us, we will not catch them. And I did not say he would fall for her for certain. Nor do I know if he would fall for a Woodville. But think about it Stafford. What draws you to her so?" he silenced, leaving the thought with Stafford as he drank deeply from his mug.
Ava stared for a moment. Just listening to what was being said. "I will not force Sir Nevile to fall for me just to gain access to the House of Lancaster" she hissed a little too loudly. The eyes of Sir Henry Stafford and Sir John Howard instantly looking in her direction. The two Knights approached, their hands upon the hilt of their swords as Ava quickly, but quietly pressed herself up against the tree. Silent, she heard the two Knights stop in the darkness before her. She could hear their breath. Feel their gaze burning through the cold air. Sir Henry Stafford got a little too close, causing her hold her breath. She felt his breath on her skin. Did he know she was there?
She shivered in fear, silently thanking the darkness for the cover it gave. Only did she release her breath once Sir Henry Stafford had backed away. It wasn't wise to hang around much longer. Not now. Ava was sure that Sir Henry Stafford knew she was there now. He had gotten close enough for her to feel his breath on her skin. And he could no doubt sense that she was there. The silence around them would give way for even the smallest of sounds. The swallowing of saliva. The slightest breath. All would be heard in silence such as this. "I know you are out here" muttered Sir Henry Stafford under his breath as he walked back towards the fire with Sir John Howard. "I am sure that I heard that voice. And I am sure I recognise it too. Only one girl speaks in such a manner" he muttered again as he sat back in his place near the fire as Sir John Howard did the same. "Are you sure it is her? If so, it means we are close to where she and David are hiding. If they have remained together, that is"
"Of course they have remained together. They are headed to the same place, so why would they separate? I know it was her. And if it is you out there, Ava. You will not be free for much longer. You fled from the House of York. And I. We. Cannot allow that to continue. You will be returned to whence you came" he didn't know whether he was speaking to the darkness, or to Ava. But she would not be revealing herself anytime soon. All she knew was that she would not be returning to the House of York, unless it was with Sir Richard Neville and Sir George Plantagenet.
"Where do we go from here, Howard?" asked Stafford, gazing at the Knight as he spoke now, drinking deeply from his mug. "We rest, and continue our search tomorrow. The night is growing old, and it is getting colder. If David and Ava are out there, the cold will stop them in their tracks. We must keep faith that we will find them, Stafford. None will escape the House of York without a fight. Especially not those seeking the House of Lancaster"
Stafford snorted a soft chuckle. "Those Lancastrian dogs will not know what to do when two House of York's show up at their gates" The pair toasted a drink over the fire, celebrating the small victory of being in the House of York. They saw it as a victory of sorts. But they did have a point. What would the House of Lancaster do when David and Ava eventually came upon them?