Kingmaker

Knights of York #2

"You are a fool, Howard. You are a fool for what you say" muttered Sir Henry Stafford after a while of riding in silence. Howard couldn't help but sigh. "Why am I a fool, Stafford? For speaking the truth? I know what you are about to say, and I do not regret saying what I did. You must stop believing that she will return to the House of York. She will not"
"How can you be so sure of the words you speak? What does the House of Lancaster have that we do not? Howard we have a job to do today. I will do what I have to in order to get her to return to the House of York. And you will do whatever it takes aswell. I will allow my thoughts and feelings to reflect in my actions. And you not get involved in what I do. You will do your own work" said Stafford, making sure each word was clear. He never took lightly to people fleeing from the House of York. And always took it upon himself to return the traitor to the house. Sometimes, they returned in chains. Other times they returned willingly. How Ava returned was a whole other story. And how David returned was a whole other story aswell.
Howard merely sighed, looking ahead of him once more. Gazing at the citizens as they gave respectful bows of their heads. At least some did. Some citizens had since defected to the House of Lancaster. "If you are seeking the Woodville girl. She recently bought a horse from the stable down the street. Lancaster girl, that one" commented a middle aged man as he tossed a bucket of water onto the street infront of his house. "Thank you" said Howard, tossing the man a few coins from his pocket, the man clutching them to his chest; nodding his thanks to the knight.
"So. She bought a horse. So she passed through here recently. We are close, Howard. But not close enough. Let us continue on our way. I do not wish to be in this street when the children are let out of day care. The local nurses opened a day care for the children in this street several weeks ago. Word is that some aspire to be knights. And we cannot be known as those that stop to speak with peasent children, Howard" muttered Stafford, urging his horse into a trot along the street.
The words earned a sigh from Howard as he followed Stafford. This whole 'mission' was to capture a traitor that would not come without a fight. It angered him. He knew Ava wasn't one to fight, and he knew she was one of the sweetest girls in the House of York. She wouldn't put up a fight unless she was provoked repeatedly. He knew she didn't like Stafford that much either. But still, she would remain respectful of the knight. She kept her family name clean in that sense. And in a way, he admired her for having the courage to defect to the House of Lancaster. As much as he hated to admit it, he saw Ava's actions as brave. Regardless, she was now marked as a traitor, and had to be captured before she succeeded in that which she set out to do.

Failure would result in a war between the houses. Especially if Ava spoke of House of York's plans. She was an honest girl. Sometimes, she could be too honest.