AbbeyRoads

    Owls, bats and bugs marked the local wilderness that surrounded the foothold of Marquis Liam of Hanover, nephew of Queen Victoria. The man had not been of the mind to take this role as regent of Ireland but as the years had passed he had gained a new appreciation for the relative peace that came with being withdrawn from the court. Ten years ago Ireland had experienced a famine that wreaked havoc on the economy and against the nobility of the countries wishes, they had been forced to ask for help from the one person they would have rather avoided at all costs, Queen Victoria of England. Britain's assistance not only had saved Ireland's people, but brought in a new set of technology that exploded, steam.     Liam sat at his desk looking over a number of missives and invitations, some he welcomed, and other's he scorned. His former affianced was now engaged to another, and with this came mixed feelings, he stared at Marie's name on the paper with a thoughtful smile. There had been a time when he had looked forward to his marriage to Marie, but this position had forced him to give up on the idea as there was no advancement to sit as mere regent.     His thoughts were violently interrupted by the muffled sound of cannon fire and the resulting quake of impact on stone. The castle's head butler burst through the doors of the office, " Your Highness!" he panted looking quite disheveled," We're under attack.!"  'That much is obvious.' Liam thought sarcastically, he was not one to panic at the first sign of trouble, there were plans in place in these cases. " Who?" he asked as another explosion rocked the castle and Liam rushed to the door. " Nobody knows, it's an airship." he said in a rush as he led the prince through the halls and staircases to the servants exit. " An airship!" he exclaimed, what the f**k.     The butler didn't answer him and let Liam out into the yard. Across the courtyard in the shadows of a tree Liam could see the outline of a man holding the reins of a horse. Within the protection of the covered doorway Liam took a breath, as the moonlight illuminated grass became shaded. He and the butler both looked up in time to see the dark form of the airship creep like a phantom, silent across the star filled sky, one word was illuminated briefly by the orange cannon blast, Abbey, ironic.      In the dark break between fire Liam made the mad dash across the lawn nearly crashing into the man waiting with the horse. " My Lord." he said, holding fast to the reins of the panicking horse that threatened to rear, with every quick step back and forth." North, go north." he said quickly. Behind him the ship curved around the castle, barely avoiding a returned cannonball fired from the Eastern Turret. The horse continued to dance as the Captain of the Guard held him steady," Look for the ship Dawnbreak at the dock." This information was rushed as Liam mounted the horse. Granted that this method was unorthodox, leaving a Marquis alone to get to safety, but in this case, it was the best method to ensure his safety.     Mounted on the steed Liam directed him north as the Captain said, charging through the trees as top speed. Leaving the quickly deteriorating structure that had been his home for the last 7 years behind.     It took almost 20 minutes before the glow of candlelit windows appeared between the trees, and another 5 before he got to the edge of the trees. To his left almost 200 yards away was the main road in and an Inn. Coming down from adrenaline he was starting to feel almost drained and slid out of the saddle, walking the horse to the Inn and just leaving it in the stable yard and started jogging into town. Very quickly the Marquis realized that he was very lost.     He wasn't looking where he was going as his attention was on trying to find out where he was supposed to go. He stumbled straight into a young woman who, with a loud 'oomph' and a heavily accented "Oy!"  landed on her ass on the cobbled street. Immediately he leaned over and offered her a hand," Ma'am, my sincerest apologies."      She took his hand and with some serious difficulty given the presence of a corset underneath the pine green gown that gave the petite some serious curves, she bore a scottish accent when she spoke," Och, dinna know where yer goin'?" she said as she got to her feet and brushed her dress off. He was struck a little speechless for a second when she finally looked up at him. Curly red hair pinned back under a hat, though his crashing into her had unleashed several locks from their place giving her a wild woman look. " Uh no...actually." he said once his brain finally caught up with him. She eyed him with a dark green gaze and copper rimmed glasses, in the glow of the orange streetlights it gave her a glow that was reminiscent of the celtic faeries. " The port?" he asked.     " Which." she said," The air o' sea." apparently having forgiven him for the folly of running her over. She waited expectantly for is answer. Liam recalled that his Captain had said dock and he silently curses his apparently broken brain," Dock."     "Och, follo' this un, lef' at the font, secon' right, straigh' a'ead." she said pointed down the road.      He gave her a charming smile and with a quick thank you jogged down the road.     She turned to watch him for a moment, and when he had disappeared from sight pulled her hat off, from the shadows of the nearest building, a large, older man appeared and approached her," You alright?" he asked with fatherly concern in his voice." Yeah." she answered, shifting her neck side to side. Another man appeared, remaining off to the side in the darkness, she shoved the hat unceremoniously back onto her head, squashing the semi-updo that been knocked askew. She turned to the darkness and muttered in a very serious tone," Follow him."