To Kill A King (Kinny and Aodh) - Finished.

Aodh had spent most of the day working his ass off to keep busy and keep himself distracted. Anna had left early that morning, and he felt that she probably couldn't have left fast enough. Poor woman. He didn't know if she was more upset with herself for drinking too much or with him for being a bit awkward. Oh well. It didn't matter now. Right now he was inside getting a drink after having spent the last hour or so stripping and re-bedding stalls in the stables again. Not that they had needed it, but he'd been bored and needed something to do. He hated being inside when he didn't have to be. He'd cleaned himself up a bit before getting the much needed drink because he'd been covered in sweat. And the feeling of sweat drying on the skin isn't a pleasant one. Finished with his drink he placed the cup on the table before he strode down the hall towards the front door of the main house on the estate. He opened the door and found a young woman standing there. What the fuck? When did he become so popular? And why the hell hadn't anyone warned him? "Can I help you? Are you lost?" he asked with a cant of his head as he closed the door behind him. He stood on the top step of the estate with his arms crossed over his chest as he waited for her reply.

He didn't know her grandfather, but that wasn't because he was stupid. It was because he hadn't come back to Chastershire until after the man had been killed. He'd heard of MacEoin before, but he'd never known the man personally. His gaze narrowed on the girl and he silently counted to ten in his head. "So? Out with it. The hell does the Grand Duchess; of a different kingdom no less, want from an Earl," he said, the last word was laced with distaste. He hated his station, but it wasn't like that was some big secret. He'd rather have just killed his worthless father and jackass brother and gone back to living in the forest. But, no, somehow he'd ended up thrown into the rank of Earl instead of just being left alone to do what he wanted with the rest of his life. He had no patience for games, and if she was going to try to play one with him he'd probably toss her out on her ass. He had other things to do than just stand around waiting for the girl to tell him what it was a non-Western Grand Duchess thought she was going to get out of him.

He shrugged his shoulders at her comment about talking about it in front of God and everybody. Like there was actually anyone around that was listening? Pfft. His "servants" didn't usually spend much time near the front of the house. He listened to what she said about the bounty and his eyebrows rose at the price that had been placed on Risteard's head. Oh yeah, he was going to enjoy killing that son of a bitch. At least that's what he thought until she said there was a catch. He snorted, literally, at her comment about taking her with him and letting her kill the man. "Sorry, little girl, but if you're Grand Duchess knew anything about me, she'd know I work alone. Period. End of story. Have fun getting to the king on your own. I'm not interested," he said as he pushed passed her and walked down the stairs of the house. He strode across the grounds towards the stables and ordered her horse brought back out. "The girl's leaving. Bring her horse around," he said to whatever stable boy she'd handed her horse off to. Then he grabbed the pitchfork and shovel and entered the closest stall that had yet to be stripped and re-bedded.

The comment about the grand duchess? Yeah he pretty much ignored that. When she said he wouldn't have to kill the man and would still get the money he shook his head and laughed. "Then you don't understand, girl. I've been waiting to feel that bastards blood on my hands for years. The shit that he's done to me makes whatever reason you have for wanting to kill him look like child's play," he growled. Risteard hadn't attacked him directly, but the shit that the king allowed to go on for so long? Oh yeah, he'd kill to get that man's blood on his hands. Which was the point really, wasn't it? Her comment broke into his thoughts and he grabbed the reins of her horse before she had the chance to jerk the horse away. "The hell you will," he growled. Pain flashed across his face, but he quickly schooled his expression. She'd hit a nerve with those words and he already wanted to cut the throats of any of the men who would think about touching her. Not because he cared about her, but because of what had happened to his wife before she'd been murdered. He swallowed thickly and gave a sigh. "Saddle my horse," he ordered loud enough for someone to be able to hear him. "We're going to the palace," he said, though his words were directed at the girl in front of him.

He laughed quite literally at her growled words. "Aye? And you're what? Thirteen now? I'm twenty eight, and I've wanted to kill the bastard since I was fourteen. Get in line," he'd growled right back at her. "Just like you have no idea the things that he let happen to me," he'd said in response. When she asked what it was to him he patted her horse on the neck as he waited for his own to be brought around. "My wife," he started, but shook his head. "It's not important," he growled as he handed her the reins of her horse when his own was brought around, fully tacked up. He took the reins of the bay stud horse and swung himself up into the saddle. "One way or another that bastard dies today," he said before he reined his horse around her and spurred him into a trot in the direction of the palace. He had no intentions of waiting to see if she would follow. He knew she would without a doubt. "We do this. We do it my way. You listen to everything that I tell you or I will out you in a fucking heartbeat," he said when the sound of her horse's hooves got close enough. "And trust me, they'll take the word of an Earl over that of a girl who has no real title."

He laughed at her attempt to say they'd take her word over his. "Right. Bastard being the key word there, little girl," he said as he kicked his bay up into a lope without a second thought. He wanted this done and over with. Chastershire wasn't exactly close to the palace, but nor was it overly far in distance. That meant he could lope the horse most of the way there without having to worry too much about exhausting the poor creature. And that meant that they would arrive at the palace a hell of a lot quicker than if they'd had to just walk the whole way. When they finally arrived he would dismount his horse and hand his reins off to one of the stable boys that had come running up at his appearance. He waited a moment for the girl to dismount, nodded to the stable boys, and walked up the front steps of the palace. When he entered he called out to a servant. "Tell the king that the new Earl of Chastershire is seeking a private audience immediately," he ordered. The king had been waiting for this, and he'd been putting it off. Damn convenient. Whoever this Grand Duchess was she knew too much about him for his comfort. Damn being forced into this nobility shit.

He'd ignored her comment about some bastards having favor with their family. He might not know many people personally, but he did know the majority of the kingdom by reputation. One of the perks of being a former bounty hunter. They didn't have to wait very long for a servant to come collect them and steer them towards the king's private audience chamber. Because, yes, Risteard O'Maoduin had a private audience chamber as well as a public one. He resisted the urge to roll his eyes at that fact as they were lead down the palace halls. Despite the fact that he'd been cleaning stalls when Ciannait had arrived, he was still armed to the hilt. When they arrived and the servant tried to pull Ciannait away he shook his head. "She's with me and that's where she stays," he said firmly. The servant bowed to him and rushed away. When they entered the audience chamber it was to find Risteard seated on an ornate chair that was as much like a throne as it was anything else. He didn't bow to the man, and he could see the irritation that flashed through the king's eyes at that fact. But he was totally playing on the fact that he'd spent the majority of his life away from court.

"Whelan," the king said in that annoying voice of his. Aodh kept silent and let the man speak. To keep Ciannait from trying anything just yet he splayed his hand out by his side, hoping that she would pay attention to the silent signal. He had no idea if she would know what he was trying to hint at. And this was why he typically preferred to do these things on his own.
"It's been fourteen years since you were last in this palace," he said, acting like a know it all. Which just made a tick start in Aodh's jaw. He hated people who thought they knew everything or could impress him with their knowledge.
"And you killed your father and brother to take the Earldom," he said in a tone that was accusing. Aodh laughed. Like seriously laughed. And Risteard starred at him.
"What are you laughing at, boy?"
"I didn't kill my father and brother to take Chastershire. I have no interest in being an Earl. I killed them because they were bastards that deserved it," he said. He clenched his fist at his side, giving her the signal to ready herself if she was paying attention.
"I killed them because when I was fourteen my brother watched our step mother run me through with a sword and spat on me instead of helping me. And my father was too piss ass drunk to do anything about..well..anything." He flexed his fingers, telling her she was to move.
"And now I'm standing in your private audience room. You. The man who, even though you were not the king at the time, did nothing to seek justice or help. You allowed my step mother to make my life a living hell and didn't even bat an eye when she sent men to rape and murder my pregnant wife. You've had countless men and women slaughtered silently so that no one could prove you were the one who did it. And laughed at the pain and anguish of their families when they came to you, seeking justice and comfort. Well. I think it's high time someone repaid that favor, Majesty," he said, spitting the last word like he didn't believe the man deserved the title. Because he didn't. He nodded to Ciannait as he turned and strode across the room to the door. He stood with his back against it and waited. "Oh, and calling for help won't do you any good. No one is around to hear you scream," he said with a glint in his eye.