Thread: Tilted Knights (Andronic and Gunner)

Scissors whispered softly in a small clearing. Jacque of Lancaster stood behind his twin, Jacqueline of Lancaster, his hands steady with sheep shears as he cut away at her hair. A warm red snow catheter around her. Light caught and glimmered like sparks of fire through the red tresses. Both had glaring red hair, the same finely boned faces. The differences were subtle, Jacque's jaw a little stronger, Jacqueline's cheekbones a little higher. Startling bright blue eyes and neat little noses. Shorter and shorter he cut her hair until it hung about her ears. Jacqueline reached a shaky hand to her crown. Soft and short like the fur of a pup. Shorter, she said quietly. She'd had a mane to be proud of. Now it lay in piles on the grass around her. Jacque purses his lips some and huffed a sigh. Too short and people will wonder if you have lice, he said as he began to cut again anyways. Too long and they'll question my gender, she quipped back. Jacqueline's hair was short near as short as a terrier. She wishes for a looking glass to see just how different she looked. Hopefully enough like a young man. Ruffling her newly shorn hair she rose up off the partially rotted log. She wasn't as tall as Jacque who was also relatively short for a man. Shined boots gave her an inch or so extra in height. Already she wore simple breeches and a green tunic with white edging. The colors of her house. A rampant badger edge in white splashed across her chest which was bound tight with linen. A far different feeling than her usual garb of a boned corset. She met her brother's eyes. Despite the roughspun robe he wore she supposed looking at him was near enough to tell what she looked like disguised as a man. Her twin's eyes were wide an round as he stared. Could I fool you? She asked with a wolffish smirk. Not quite but you just might be able to fool father, he said with a chuckle. Your turn, she said as she gestured to the log. With a straight razor she sheared her brother. Rather than a sever cut he was losing it all. The flesh pale and smooth as she shaved away the soft fox pelt that was her twin's hair. Jacqueline hummed quietly as she gently went about her work. A shame they have no creams to make it a bit more comfortable for her twin. The process was not so long or so difficult and soon her twin aged ten years. His bald head gleaming in the filtered light. With a deep breath he rose. She could sense his trepidation. This is an awful lot to avoid marriage Jacqueline...are you sure...? But she cut him off with a fierce snap. It isn't just the marriage. While a large part it wasn't the only. She was happiest riding and fighting not counting stores, needlepointing or sipping tea enduring rigid conversation. She also didn't wish to marry and just be someone's wife. A someone she didn't even really know. Probably someone who just wanted land or a sizable dowry. She refused to be relegated to a baby farm. Then this is farewell sister, Jacque said tightly. Jacqueline felt a similar tightness in her throat. Two sets and she wrapped her lithe arms around her brother. Their hearts beat frantically yet in perfect sync. Please be careful...you know the laws... Yes, she knew them well. Discovery meat death. Worse it could mean marrying. Tomorrow or fifty years from now...death could come. I would rather live my life to the fullest for a month than exist as a man's property. With that the twin's broke apart. Jacque headed for an old nag, swaybacked and ancient she would slowly bear him to the monastery. Jacqueline headed to William, a fine charger with a glossy chestnut coat and black mane. She stroked his nose affectionately as he stood, tied up to a small wagon. With armor, canvas for a tent, trappings for William, and various asundry things the wagon was necessary to carry everything one needed for a tournament. At least it was polished, built of fine wood. It was certainly no common farm wagon. To pull it a single, young mule. Jacque was due to meet up a small group of other knights, all traveling the tournaments together. Newly annointed Jacque had only be in squire tournaments. He had never jousted in a real one before. Jacqueline too, she didn't have much practice outside of sneaking out at night. One man in particular, Sir Lochland of the Highlands, had been asked to keep an eye on Jacque for a little, ensure he didn't make an idiot of himself. She wondered what folk would say. Wondered how soon her disappearance would be noted. It hurt her heart, just a little, to know she would cause her parents to worry. They didn't entirely deserve the deception, it wasn't their fault that women had such a station in life. Though it would be nice if they eased up even a little in trying to make her a lady. They brooked no argument. She would be a lady, marry her betrothed and that was that. Just be happy. Small chance at that. Briefly she wondered what her betrothed might think with her disappearance. Likely just find himself a new wife. Easy as that. It would take nearly a fortnight to meet up with Sir Lochland and the small group of tournament seekers he traveled with. She arrived late evening, the tournament set to begin the following day. Just barely in time. With William plodding behind the cart she stopped on the outskirts of a massive row of canvas tents. Some were bigger than peasant huts, other just large enough for a man to sleep under. Jacqueline scanned for Lochland's colors. The bright azure and cloudy white stood out in the soft light of evening. Outside of his tent a group of men was gathered, all drinking and laughing. Jacqueline approached and was quickly spotted. Lochland was a jovial man, bald but with a fierce, bushy beard. Broad as a bear and one of the tallest men she had ever seen. Jacque? Can't be you lad! Parents forget to feed you? He said with a bellowing laugh. Jacqueline huffed an awkward chuckle. Just...busy with vows.... she said with a forced grin. Lochland guffawed again and clapped her shoulder. How are ya holding lad? Lochland asked with gentle concern. She blinked in surprise and confusion. Sorry...holding? Lochland reeled back. Ya don't know lad? Your sister...she's gone. Disappeared after she saw you off. Jacqueline blinked and stared. It had spread faster than she anticipated. Here come on now lad, big news so sudden. I'll have my lads set you up. Sit, sit, eat and drink. Lochland was quick to steer her to the group of men and get her some bread, cheese, and ale. A few men were quick to speak up, give their sympathy for the disappearance of Jacqueline. None of them knew that Jacqueline sat right before them.