It would be weeks before her aunt and uncle questioned whether all that fanfare and her Uncles absence had been necessary and noticed the discrete changes she was going to put into place, Tragic though the situation was, she wasn't going to let the opportunity to fix some of her uncle's poor decisions go to waste. So, she spent the next few days working in her uncle's office.
When the army had arrived with news of her fathers and brother's deaths, her aunt, uncle, and cousin had moved in and deemed a teenage girl unfit to do the work of an Earl despite the valid facts that she had a very good aid and had been trained for this position for years and had successfully kept things running during the war while her father and brother were away with some help of course. At first, she'd just been a bit insulted they didn't want her help but also a bit relieved someone else was willing to help take on such a responsibility.
Then she realized, that her aunt and uncle didn't want the job of taking care of her father's lands and people any more than they wanted to take on the responsibility of raising her. They just wanted the prestige of the title, the power, and the ability to use said power to make more money for themselves. She had begun to sneak into the office and do what she could to help her people whenever she had the chance just weeks after their arrival a little over a year ago.
On the afternoon of the second day, Captin Thatch knocked on the door frame to the study as she'd always preferred to keep the door open. "Yes?" she asked.
"After you arrived the other day with news of the attempt on your life I took the liberty of upping our security and well, today a group of 6 men in stealth combat gear arrived on our northern borders and have been scoping out the area and it appears like they are attempting to close in on the manor," he reported.
"Humm… Let's go take a closer look then shall we?"
"My lady, seeing as how you've been targeted, I would recommend you stay here; the men are armed and surly dangerous."
"In that case staying here could be more dangerous. it's a good thing I look and act nothing like a lady, they'll never suspect me to be the target and I'll be safer with you and our men. It's time for the hunters to become the hunted," she said with a smile and tossed on her swordbelt and cloak.
"There is no stopping you is there?"
"No. However, I will permit you and three others to accompany me, I assume you left at least two men nearby to watch their movements?"
"Four my lady,"
"Even better, then they will be outnumbered if it comes down to a fight."
They rode to a nearby hill and dismounted then traveled silently on foot meeting with the closest of the lookouts before spreading out to circle the intruders from a distance. When she had them in the sites of her arrow she signaled for her other archer to make his warning shot from another angle, this way they wouldn't be looking in her direction.
The arrow flew threw their small camp and thunked as it sunk into a tree behind them; a white piece of parchment tied around the shaft. All six men started, swords drawn and shields up as they scanned the woods. Then realizing they were not under attack, at least not yet, they took a closer look at the arrow and the closest man untied the missive as his comrade guarded his back. He took a moment and read it, then shared it with his group. There was a short discussion, then all six lay their swords and then their knives on the ground and placed their hands on their heads, and walked thirty paces forward as directed in her note.
"I am Selzar, of Kalmar my men and I have come under the order of Duke Ravi'en Kasius, as a gesture of goodwill to help protect Lady Kassidy Calloway. We bear a gift and a letter from our master to yours. We wish you no harm."
Satisfied she released the tension on her bow and returned her three arrows to her quiver. She jumped off her branch landing in a role that popped her right back up on her feet. Just a few yards to the right of the men. Her captain stepped out of the foliage sword drawn from the other side.
"Next time just travel the main road, and deliver the message to the front door," Kassidy said lowering her hood. "You," she said pointing to the man closest to her. "Go fetch me the letter, touch a weapon and one of my archers will shoot to kill." eyebrows rose as the men eyed her. It was uncommon, to say the least, to see a woman in men's garb and more so to see one armed. The first man rushed back and handed the letter over.
She inspected the Silver seal of the Duke's house emblem sealed the letter shut. She removed her dagger from her belt to slide under the seal and pop it open but the first man yelled "Wait" and she paused studying him her captain tensed to her left.
"The letter was to be given directly to Lady Kassidy. It may be personal in nature…" the man said eyeing the letter.
She smiled, "then you should be happy to report your success to your master, let me introduce myself," she said giving a dramatically elegant curtsy in her men's attire. "I am Lady Kassidy Calloway." The man's eyes bulged in shock which she ignored as she opened the letter and pulled it out.
"Dear Lady Kassidy Calloway,
I have been informed of an attempt on your life by way of poison, and feel responsible as it may have been my attention towards you that made you a target. If so I apologize for the trouble and will give you a chance to back out of our agreement if you think the risk is too high considering the culprit and others may continue to target you. Please accept this poison detection kit as an apology. I await your reply.
Stay safe,
Duke Ravi'en Kasius."