Chapter 67: The Bigger Picture

Arthur stood amongst the training men and women, watching their progress with shooting guns. He had to say, he was pretty impressed with how far along a lot of them were. He hadn't been training them to shoot much, but Dutch and Hosea had. And they were the ones who taught Arthur, after all, so it was fitting for them to teach. Right now, though? Arthur was just passing time, waiting for everyone to get here for the meeting as he studied the future gunslingers' shots and stances. There was one man in particular off by himself who wasn't quite getting it right, however, so Arthur ambled on over to him.

The man was actually very young, looking no older than seventeen. He was holding his rifle like an unsteady leaf in the wind, his arms shaking as he took a wide shot and missed his target completely. Arthur chuckled at the young blonde man before he went to his side.

"What's your name, kid?" Arthur asked.

The boy jolted a bit and almost dropped his rifle as he looked at the Earl of Moycullen. "Me name's Finn, m'lord," the boy said.

As he got a good look at the boy, Mr. Morgan rubbed his own chin. Finn was small, lanky and didn't seem very coordinated. His eyes were a light grayish hazel and his nose was slightly crooked. He was pale with freckles and had a homely look to him. Arthur sighed and bowed his head, thinking for a moment before raising it to meet the lad's gaze.

"You sure you wanna shoot rifles?" Arthur asked curiously.

Finn stuck his chin up, a defiant look in his eyes. "I wantah fight fer ya, sir, and fer the countess."

Arthur nodded and grasped his belt buckle. "Not when you're holdin' the gun like that, you ain't."

Finn shut his eyes tightly, taking in a deep breath. "I ain't got much talent fer shootin', sir, I must agree with yas on that. But what else can I do?"

Arthur hummed and stroked his chin. "You got any interest in a trade, Finn?"

Finn lowered the gun and sighed. "Sort of, but it's...it's embarassing, really."

"Can't be more embarassin' than this," Arthur grumbled, motioning a hand towards Finn's rifle. "I mean, who the hell's been teachin' ya how to hold the damn thing?"

"Nobody."

Arthur made a very confused face. "How long you been here, boy?"

"Mm, 'bout a week."

"You been here a week and nobody's been teachin' you...oh for-" Arthur shut his eyes and breathed deeply before looking at Finn. "Why ain't nobody been teachin' you?"

Finn lowered his head. "They all think I'm a lost cause..."

Arthur grunted softly before grabbing the rifle from Finn. "Follow me..." he said before marching off.

Finn scrambled to catch up to Arthur. "Where are we goin', m'lord?"

"Who was supposed to be teachin' you?" Arthur asked, pointing towards the tents and groups of would-be warriors. "Point 'em out to me."

Finn walked by Arthur's side, gazing out at the field before pointing at a very tall red head. "There. Mr. Doyle. He's the one."

"The red headed asshole?" Arthur pointed.

"Yes, m'lord."

Arthur nodded and gripped the rifle tighter, being mindful not to break it as he sauntered over to Mr. Doyle. As some of the men spotted the Earl of Moycullen, they immediately stopped what they were doing and went to a knee, bowing their heads. Soon, others followed, as did Mr. Doyle when he realized who was behind him.

"M'lord!" he exclaimed in shock. "It's a pleasure tah finally meet ya."

Arthur got a look of the man. He was definitely built like a soldier, but there was something about the man's dark eyes that Arthur didn't like.

"Are you Mr. Doyle?" Arthur asked quickly.

"Yes," Mr. Doyle said with a nod, looking at Finn briefly before snapping back to attention towards Arthur. "Is there a problem?"

"Yes, there is," Arthur replied lowly, holding the rifle lazily in his hands as he took sluggish but commanding steps towards the teacher. "You been pickin' on this boy?"

Mr. Doyle smirked. "I wouldn'a exactly call it pickin' on the lad, m'lord. It's a trainin' tactic."

Now Arthur really didn't like this guy. "A trainin' tactic?" Arthur barely snarled.

"Yes. It's a way tah," Mr. Doyle hissed inwards and looked up sideways for a moment before putting his hands behind his back, lowering his gaze to Finn, "weed out the undesirables."

In several swift moves, Arthur put the rifle in one hand, grabbed Mr. Doyle by the shirt and lifted him off the ground, glaring hard at the man's frightened face. "Is that what he is to you?" Arthur drawled out. "An undesirable?!"

"Bu-bu-but m'lord!" Mr. Doyle stammered out. "The boy is not fit fer war!"

"War ain't just about the soldiers, you dumb bastard!" Arthur dropped the man and turned to Finn. "Finn!" Arthur snapped, making Finn jerk.

"Yes sir?" Finn asked.

"What's that trade you was interested in?"

"Um..." Finn lowered his head. "Animals, m'lord."

Arthur grinned before looking at the now standing Mr. Doyle. "Did I say you could get up?" Arthur asked in a dangerously calm tone. Doyle didn't hesitate to fall right back down on his ass. "The boy wants to work with animals. That is a very important job, war or not. So what is it?" Arthur turned back to Finn. "Animal doctor?"

"Um...no..." Finn replied meekly. "...I...I want tah train them, sir."

Some snickers were heard amongst the small group and Arthur pivoted at the hip to give everyone a death stare. They promptly shut up.

"So, trainin' animals," Arthur began, looking back at Finn. "You got a knack for it?"

Finn chuckled, daring to look up at the Earl of Moycullen. "As a matter of fact, I do. Or so I've been told, m'lord."

Arthur nodded and shifted around slowly to look at Mr. Doyle. "Alright, git."

"What?" Mr. Doyle said.

"You heard me. Git."

"What do ya mean, m'lord?" Doyle asked, getting up.

"I mean you're fired. Pack up your shit and go home."

"But ya canna do that!" Mr. Doyle shouted. "I was hired by the king!"

Arthur chuckled angrily. "I don't give a damn who hired you. This is my land," he pointed at the ground, "and you ain't welcome on it no more."

"It's not yer land!" Mr. Doyle shouted. "It's yer wife's land! Ya aren't even a proper noble, yer an American!"

Just as Arthur raised his hand into a fist, a hand grasped his wrist. "Temper, temper, Mr. Morgan..." Lilly sang in a low voice.

Arthur gaped at her. "Lilly!" he snapped. "You're supposed to be in bed!"

Lilly sighed. "I can't sleep, especially with all ya fuckers shoutin'," she said calmly before pushing his arm down. "Now please explain to me, Mo Fear Álainn, just what led you to firin' one of the country's best gun teachers?"

"He's a god damn bully, is what he is!" Arthur turned angrily to the crowd. "And so are the rest of you who think Finn ain't worth a god damn!"

Lilly nodded and looked over at the boy. "You're Finn, I presume?" Finn nodded nervously before Lilly giggled and looked back at her husband. "Mo chuisle..."

"What?" Arthur snarled at her.

Lilly smiled. "While watchin' you beat a man to death would make me wetter and hotter than the swamps of Saint Denis, I think you should let me take care of this."

Arthur squinted his eyes at her, trying not to smile. "Lilly, now ain't the time for-"

Lilly leaned by his ear. "I want you to save your energy..." she nibbled his earlobe, making him gasp, "...for when you're fuckin' me in the next five minutes."

Arthur's mouth went dry as it dropped, his eyes wider than saucers. The woman never ceased to amaze him with how indecent she could be at times. Especially in public. And of course, that meant he had to...take it a step further. He immediately dropped the gun.

"Jesus Christ, woman," Arthur chuckled lowly with a shake of his head, grabbing her fully and planting a big kiss on her mouth. Of course, the kiss was reciprocated, a small moan escaping Lilly's preoccupied lips as Arthur's tongue went into her mouth.

"Mr. Morgan," Lilly cooed against his lips, grasping his shirt collar tightly. "Such unbecoming behavior for a gentleman..."

"You know damn well I ain't no gentleman," he purred, nuzzling her nose with his as he smiled brightly.

Lilly giggled lightly. "That's what I love about you, bithiúnach." [Reprobate.]

"Oooooh, is breá liom é nuair a ghlaonn tú orm é sin." [I love it when you call me that.]

Lilly chuckled and pecked his lips. "I won't be more than two shakes of a lamb's tail, bithiúnach."

Lilly suckled on his lower lip before slinking out of his arms and walking up to a very stunned looking crowd. She cleared her throat and folded her arms, squinting at Mr. Doyle.

"You heard the man. Get your shite and get out," Lilly said abruptly.

"But m'lady..." Mr. Doyle begged. "I-"

Lilly raised a hand, silencing him. "Mr. Doyle, if I have tah use me shout on ya, I will. Do not make me say it again," she stated with just a hint of fury in her voice.

"Mrs. Morgan, please..." Mr. Doyle said, clearing his throat. "I am-"

"ARE YA STUPID!?" Lilly's voice belted out, making Mr. Doyle and a bunch of the trainees back up. "OR ARE YA JUST DEAF?! GATHER YER BELONGINGS AND GET THE FECK OFF ME HUSBAND'S LAND, YA GOD DAMN CRETINOUS BASTARD!"

Arthur busted out laughing as he started rummaging through his satchel, eyeing the field as Mr. Doyle made his escape. "God dammit, I love that woman!" he exclaimed with a laugh.

Finn gulped as he wandered up to Arthur. "M'lord?"

Arthur pulled a piece of salted venison from his pouch. "What?" he asked, taking a bite as he chuckled while watching Lilly chew out some assholes.

"NOW YA LISTEN TAH ME, YA WEE SPINELESS WORMS!" Lilly shouted loudly. "RULE FECKIN' ONE!" Arthur watched her begin to pace back and forth, shaking his head and taking another chomp out of jerky.

"M'lord?"

"Mmm?" Arthur looked at Finn. "I'm sorry, kid. My wife is...very distractin'."

Finn eyed Lilly who was still cursing and yelling at the small crowd.

"UNDESERVED DISRESPECT IS A BLOODY FECKIN' NO NO!"

Arthur snorted and shook his head. "So, animal trainer, huh?"

"Yes, sir," Finn replied, gaping at Lilly's display of power.

"THAT MAN IS ME HUSBAND, AND HE IS ALSO ME PARTNER! RIGHT, BABE?!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Arthur shouted back. "For life!"

"MOTHER FUCKER, IT'S FOREVER!" Lilly snarled, turning at the hip to glare at Arthur. "YA AIN'T NEVER GONNA GET RID OF ME!"

"I'd never dream of it, mo stór!" Arthur belted out affectionately. [my darling!]

Lilly scowled and gave him the middle finger, which made him burst into laughter once more. "I got me eye on ya, Arthur Morgan...ya feckin'...no...just..." Lilly turned away, her voice turning into a mumble that Arthur couldn't catch.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Arthur asked loudly.

"I'M TEACHIN' THESE LOUSY LEPERS HOW TAH ACT RIGHT! WE GOT LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES BEFORE I RIDE YA LIKE A BULL, SO FECK OFF! I'M BUSY!"

Arthur flat out cackled and clung one hand to his belt buckle, leaning on one hip as he took another bite of jerky. "Finn, you gotta find yourself a woman like her."

"Why?" Finn breathed out shakily. "She's scary. And...if I may daresay, not very lady like."

"Good. She hates bein' called a lady," Arthur said calmly, still watching Lilly shout.

"RULE NUMBER TWO! LOYALTY IS KING!"

"That..." Finn blinked. "Why?"

Arthur grinned and glanced at the boy. "She was trained to be an assassin and raised by a gang of outlaws. Learnin' how to entertain guests and get money that was owed was a little less refined," he explained, looking back at Lilly before lighting a cigarette and puffing on it. "You smoke, kid?"

Finn shrugged. "Sometimes."

Arthur offered him one and lit it for him. "Also, a lot of women ain't treated right and she...I think she didn't want to associate herself with something that was considered weak."

Finn puffed on his cigarette, gazing off in the countess' direction. "I think she's scarier because she's an Irish woman."

Arthur coughed on his cigarette smoke and laughed. "You don't know the half of it, boah," he coughed, turning towards the treeline and spotting movement.

"Lilly!" he shouted. "The treeline!"

Lilly turned and looked at Arthur before looking at where he was pointing. "I see it!" she shouted. "It's...oh, it's just Brian and James! And they're...carryin' the Marstons?"

Arthur smirked as he spotted the giant wolves running out of the woods towards the group. As they got closer, Arthur could hear Jack laughing his head off. People moved quickly out of the way as the wolves darted their way through the large camp. Arthur put an arm around Finn's shoulders and started leading him towards the wolves.

"C'mon, here's your first test," Arthur said.

Lilly quickly caught up to the two and Arthur noticed her give him a questioning and playful look, causing him to roll his eyes.

"What exactly am I doin', m'lord?" Finn asked fearfully.

"We're gonna see if the boys like you," Arthur explained while the wolves came to a stop. "Boys," he said with a nod at Brian and James. "I hope you didn't give the Marstons too much trouble?"

Brian whined as Lilly helped Jack and Abigail down from the wolf, embracing them both in a big hug. John lowered himself down and the wolves shrank down in size...to their normal, gargantuan size, at least. Arthur chuckled and pulled John in for a hug.

"Those boys, I'll tell ya," John said. "They sure do make the scenic route dangerous..."

Arthur chuckled and clapped John on the arm. "Good to see you, John." He gazed at John's wife and son. "Abigail, Jack," he greeted.

Abigail smiled as she made her way to Arthur, wrapping her arms around him. "Good to see you, Arthur," she muttered.

Arthur smiled and clasped her gently on the shoulder. "Good to see you, too. Now, all we gotta do is wait for Adair and Patrick."

"Why?" Lilly asked.

"I called a family meetin'."

Lilly arched a brow. "And I suppose you were not goin' to wake me up for this meetin'?"

Arthur frowned at her. "I would've told you when you woke up, calm down," he groaned.

Arthur's wife gave him an eye roll. "Alright, mo chuisle. Yer lucky that I love ya."

He chortled at her before facing John. "So, I called you folks here for a meetin'. We're just waitin' for Adair to bring Patrick here." Arthur pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. "Hmm...they shoulda been here by now."

Finn spotted the watch and his eyes went wide. "That is a beauty of a time piece, m'lord!" he exclaimed.

Arthur smirked and pulled the chain from his shirt pocket, holding it out to Finn. "Go on, have a look."

Finn grabbed the watch greedily to inspect it. "Is that a bullet welded into the front and back?"

"Yes," Arthur replied. "Lilly had it fixed up like that."

"Why?" Finn asked curiously.

Lilly giggled and joined her husband's side. "Sentimental reasons. You see..." Lilly trailed off suddenly as the boys started whimpering and whining, barking loudly at the sky. Lilly looked off towards the northwest side of the manor. She cocked her head and squinted her eyes.

"Lilly?" Arthur asked. "What is it?"

Lilly put a hand up to shush him before walking in the direction of her home. She paused after a few steps and Arthur walked up to her. "Lilly, what are-"

"Shush!" Lilly hissed, glaring at her husband for a moment before looking back at the sky. After a few moments, a look of horror appeared on her face. "Oh fuck..."

Suddenly a flash of light and a clash of thunder hit the sky and everyone else looked up at it. Dark clouds were rolling in very quickly, a fierce storm brewing inside. Arthur spotted a giant red eagle falling out of the clouds.

"That doesn't look good..." John pointed out.

"Brian, James!" Lilly yelled suddenly, taking off her satchel and weapons before dropping them to the ground. As her brothers approached, Lilly looked at them. "Sound the alarm, get to Adair." Brian and James bolted off in the direction of the seemingly injured goddess as Lilly continued to bark orders. "Abigail, John! Get to the house, get everyone who can't fight into the tunnels! Tell Dutch and Hosea to get the kids if you see them! Arthur!"

"Yes?" he asked as John and Abigail went running with Jack.

She handed Arthur her sword. "Hang on to this."

Arthur looped the scabbard around his form as Lilly got to undressing. "Lilly, maybe you should-"

Lilly tossed her shirt on him before kicking off her boots and yanking her pants down. "Finn, be a dear and keep an eye on all my stuff!"

Finn gaped at the now naked woman before averting his gaze. "Um, I...uh...yes, m'lady," he stuttered as Arthur took the shirt off his head.

Lilly immediately shifted into her large red wolf and howled loudly before running off towards the house, howling out just as her brothers did.

Arthur looked around at the gawking fighters. "Well, what're you waitin' for?" he shouted. "Get your damn weapons and go!"

All the men and women grabbed all their guns and went racing across the field. Finn had just finished picking up Lilly's things. Arthur grabbed the strap that held some of Lilly's knives and pocketed it in his satchel before grabbing Finn by the arm and running with him.

Lilly raced up to the house and howled loudly outside before running off to the side and chasing down her brothers. Thunder and lightning were still fighting with each other in the sky. A loud whistle filled the air and in a flash of light, Failinis was by their sides running with them. They raced past the barns, silos and stables through the field of crops to get to their eventual destination, Lilly and the others on high alert.

"ADAIR?!" Lilly shouted loudly. "WHERE ARE YA?!"

Screeches filled the sky and dark shrouds with menacing faces started flying down around them, swirling through the air like crazed birds. The sky grew darker as more ghostly shades circled around them. Lilly, Brian, James and Failinis dodged and jumped through the field to avoid their enemies.

"ADAIR!" Lilly roared, desperate to find her friend.

The four wolves raced towards the part of the field where they heard angry shouting. Part of the crops were now in destroyed heaps around Adair, who was cursing and yelling as she shifted from her eagle form to her goddess form. Fire burned in her blue eyes as she unsheathed her sword.

"Oh, now I'm pissed," she growled, slicing at the air as a shade dared to fly right by her. "Coward!"

"Where's Patrick?" Lilly asked worriedly.

Adair's entire mood changed at the mention of her lover's name. "Oh no," she said, realization widening her eyes as she began looking around. "Patrick!" she screeched.

A low groan emanated from a ways away and movement under some fallen corn stalks caught Lilly's eyes. She padded to the area and rooted her nose under the stalks, revealing a very disheveled Patrick with rips and blood on his suit.

"Patrick, are ya alright, lad?" Lilly asked as Adair and the rest of the wolves made their way over.

Patrick groaned again, rolling on his side. "Not really..." he mumbled.

Brian whined, licking Patrick's face. Patrick slowly opened his eyes while Adair sat at his side, holding his face in her hands.

"Patrick," she whispered. "Where are you hurt?"

"Everywhere..." he muttered in pain.

More shrieks and screams filled the air as the shades flew around them. Brian, James and Failinis jumped at the shades in an attempt to snare the evil with their teeth.

"What are those things?" Lilly asked hurriedly as Adair helped Patrick up.

"I don't know," Adair grunted, helping the Earl of Galway stand on his own two feet. "We must get Patrick out of danger."

"James," Lilly said, looking at her younger brother. "Can you get Patrick to the house safely?"

James barked in response and Adair helped her sweetheart get on James' back before the wolf grew in size. Brian nuzzled Patrick's hand before looking at Lilly pitifully.

"Brian, you better go with them. Make sure these fuckin' things don't get 'em."

Brian grew in size as well before the brothers went trotting through the corn stalks with Patrick barely hanging on to James. Adair watched with worry as they disappeared.

"Adair, what the fuck happened?" Lilly asked incredulously.

"We were ambushed," Adair hissed loudly, swinging her sword at another shade. "Where's your sword?"

"Arthur's got it."

"Well, lass, you're going to need it."

The two women and Failinis stared up at the lightning and thunder filling up the black sky, the sun being swallowed by ominous clouds and more screaming shades roaming around them before some descended on the trio.