18837

Kat stood in front of her closet frowning at her clothes. It should be this hard to pick out a shirt, normally she had no trouble. Yet today it did matter. Pants were easy, the blue of the uniform, but fringed and beaded, with the clunky looking soft blue boots that had just enough of a heal to make it look like you couldn’t run in them, but soles hard enough to make kicks count., that each held a knife. For all it not practical to have a knife in your boots, there were times you couldn’t have to many and it would help to know she had them. However the shirt was another matter. It wouldn’t do to go military, but not full blow noble. Yet not to common either. Arrg this was nuts. She was thinking to much. Yet heaving to go to court meant they needed to know her full titles. This so isn’t what she wanted. She was fine staying to uniforms, and forgetting the court. However, life didn’t work that way anymore. It will be so nice to have someone that understands this nonsense. For all she didn’t want the servant she was forced to admit she did need one. She shook head and tried to slow her thoughts. It shouldn’t be so hard. It was just a shirt. Yes it needed to be dressy, but not screamingly so, and this time of year it is best that it be light, for it was going to be hot. That removes half, she puts them them to the side, then not scream uniform, so take those out as well. Now what is left? She starts sorting through them, ruining her hands them, That one is the wrong color so it that one. That is nice, but it doesn’t have my shields on it, so that won’t do. Perfect! This have enough red to hint a purple, yet still be blue. The fabric is shimmery and the lacy on the sides makes it just the right amount of racy for my age, and has my full medals on it. A bit over the top for campus more for a causal day at court, but that is just what I need today. For all I do definitely need a few more fancy outfits as well as the gowns. Seth will be delighted. She got dressed at last and then it was her hair. That was going to need help. I hope that Beth or one her girls likes to braid. Won’t hurt to ask. First she put on her necklace and a belt that looked to be studded with gems, but in fact was glass, some that could be pulled of and dropped to release a gas or mist, others acted as energy reserves Not that they would be needed, but it fit the look. She went across the hall and knocked on the door. Bobbie opened and shook his head. “Right over there, next to Alice, Heather will get your hair next. Nice clothes. Don’t see why girls get all dressed up for school.” Kat laughed. “Thank you, but you could have let me ask first. Do you mind? I know it is a bit silly, but I just can’t do anything that looks right. I know this is a bit much, but I found out last night I have to go to court soon so I need to look the noble today.” Bobby said. “Well that looks expensive so should do it. And why else would you be at the door if not needing help to get your hair? That and Mom had just told me to go get you, as you likely wouldn’t want to ask.” Beth shook her head. “Sorry, but I know it is hard to start a new school and not have anyone to help. The clothes are perfect, over done if you were trying to blend, but just right where you need to be noticed.” Heather nodded. “We kept to that and go with a braid that looks like it took a dozen maids and hour to do. Just let me get a couple comes and a few beads. No, I won’t use the bells in yours.” Alice said. “I like the bells and Mrs. Willes already has me pegged as trouble so no reason to disappoint her.” Kat said. “Just a minuet, I will be right back.” She left and came back in with a red feather. “You want her to think you are a problem, add this in. She can’t kick you out because it is not against the rules, but she is going to want to.” It will also see to it that Beth and Ann keep an eye on you and see that you aren’t being left out. Or should, I am sure there sisters will have told them what it means. Small as you are it can’t hurt. Alice said. “Is that a phoenix feather? Really? That is so. Yes! Thank you! However?” Kat said. “They are a lot more common in the south I have a bunch I gathered when they shed them. However any feather that is dyed red works just as well. Not that I should be encouraging you, but in this case I can understand your reasons.” Beth said. “So that explains the notebooks you asked your grand to send. I was wondering why you were asking for dragons and gryphons. It is normalcy Heather that goes for them. So why are you sure you are going to be going to court soon?” Kat said. “I am going to end up at the Coronation. There is no way I can avoid it. I can’t go as John’s wild sister and then go before the Court as an ambassador for Nightlin later, so we are making it formal soon than expected. So much for getting them to send someone else.” Heather said. “Well don’t worry you will get noticed and will be just flashy enough to compete. I can pull that off, but you had best get help for the big events.” Kat said. “My servant will be here before the coronation, and will have been trained in court styles. Grated the courts of the Nightlin empire, but it is best that I stand out a bit. For the presentation I am going military over noble, so that will be manageable. Still it is a mess that I was hoping not to face so soon.” Beth said. “I can bet it is, but at least it will be done and not there waiting to happen. Now did you find time to eat?” Kat nodded. “I did that before talking the clothes. After today Petter and John will be coming over. Just forget that they have crowns when you see them in the hall. I know easier said than done, but they will help you forget, I am sure.” Heather handed her a mirror. “What do you think? You want it higher or is that good?” Kat looked and said. “This is perfect, thank you.” Heather said. “Just come by when you get back and I will take it out for you. The beads are going to mean you need help, but they are needed.” Kat nodded. “Thank you, and I will. Now I had best be going. There is a lot to get done, and time is wasting.” Beth said. “See you when you make it in.” Kat nodded went back to her apartment, got her bag and left. Kat turned the corner and shook her head. “Don’t tell the blasted signs are wrong and this isn’t where new students should be for ids. So where should I go?” She moved in in and over to a coffee stand that was set up. Lunch was after thins, but she needed to get that id and given how that was the day was going it would be at least an hour, so she took two muffins with the coffee. Another said. “Just what I was thinking. Thank you for asking. Lady, and double thanks for showing me where to get a drink. And muffins! Just what I need to get trough this. Now I might make it to lunch. I was begining to wonder. You look as tried as me and wisely skipped the tour. My cousin tried to tell me but I didn’t believe him.” Jasper laughed. “You are in the right place, we all have to get new ones. Still they are moving right along so should be to long of a wait. If you don’t want coffee, there is cold drinks right over there. I still remember you Mom yelling at Kate and I for trying to poison ourselves with the foul stuff. He is right, you are looking rough. Just what has gone on?” Robbie said. “He called you Lady, and you didn’t hit him? There is a chair over there. John said you looked like a skeleton, and I see what he meant. Just what is wrong?” Vincent looked at them oddly, then looked at Kat again. “Sorry Katie, I didn’t recognize you. That just doesn’t. When did you get back? Mom is going to be yelling that no one told her! Where have you been? What have you done? No wonder you said you didn’t need the tour, and got believed. I was wondering how you manged, I couldn’t.” Kat shook her head. “I dressed for it, so no reason to be upset. At least someone didn’t recognize me. I truly thought that as much as I had changed I would go unnoticed for a bit. Shows how wrong I am. It is Kat, not Kate. I have to be picky about it because of titles. For all they shouldn’t matter here, it will upset my guys when they are here. I am fine. Just been a long morning. Two hours to get to the desk then an hour to get the papers fixed. Then there was the meeting with the international student adviser and trying not to strangle him as he pretends to be a diplomat. Never mind I was just there to get the credits straighted out, which thankfully I did do. Just with a lot of nonsense advises on how to address nobles here. None of it applies to me, and half of it was wrong for anyone. Pointing out that the papers in front of him said that I was from here did no good. At least I was able to confirm that it is acceptable to have a servant with you. I take it that they have gotten more common in the past years?” Robbie said. “Now I know something is wrong. Since when do you let anyone wait on you? You got mad at the guards for handing you a glass of water after a fight!” Petter said. “Don’t tell me he was telling you to bow to me. I thought that was fixed. What is it going to take to get that to understand that titles don’t count on campus? Bonded servants are no longer limited to the Sheves, and so they are accommodated on campus. Hence the reason the guard doesn’t even get a second look.” Kat said. “He was talking about off campus, but still was going to far. It was bad, but I don’t think he doesn’t with everyone. Just those that have a title. So hopefully they had lessons from someone who knows better.” To warn me about the danger of starting a war, when you all have no navy to speak of. She shook her head a bit, and relaxed as the line was moving a bit faster than the first one had. “We had to let servants tend us at school, so I have adjusted. My school shares a lot with Sheves and that includes the obligations to take a servant. As it will be a new bond I had to find out what needed to be so he could be with me, for at first it is necessary that he knows where I am, preferably that he can see me when not in trouble. Bonds are a pay as they set, and those of a servant create a need. That I don’t have a servant yet is causing a good deal of concern. The advisers all insists that it doesn’t look right for me to be alone, even for only a few weeks. The argument was still going when I left the palace. Titles are a pain. It would be good not to deal with a court for a bit.” John said, with a smile. “Coronation next month, and you are going. Even if I have to send some people after you.” She shook her head. “Not going to let you out of it, and I don’t care. Now your turn, then we can go get lunch.” Kat shook her head and moved up to get her id. “Yes Vin, you are welcome. After all you need the details of the events as well as what Kat has been up to.” Getting the id proved to be easy, and so it wasn’t long before she was at the table. Rob shook his head as she just sat and let the guards get the food. “I still can’t believe it. You are letting them do there job and not grumbling at it. I mean it was a month before John accepted that he had to let them. And he didn’t yell for being handed a towel or glass. I just knew you were going to complain every time.” Kat said. “Having rank means letting those under you wait on you. I made top of class two weeks into the year and never lost it. If I didn’t let them then I was given a punishment. It only took tow canings for me to stop cleaning up after myself, but a bit longer to stop complaining about not being able to.” They looked at her, she shrugged. “I knew the rules and knew the consequence for braking them. Yes there were psychical punishments, that was found more fitting for those that had rank the labor. Officers do not work among the unranked unless it is urgent. I have adjusted. There are still times when I take off to the woods for a break, of course, but I am doing better. Being titled is not something I ever wanted, and it is not like there was any reason for it to go beyond military. I mean, I am not married or even in a relationship.” John said. “Hay I was fine being Guard captain. Not my fault that things had to change. It was all for diplomatic reasons! Though I do think he was planing to crown us both from the start, just didn’t say so. So you have a nonmilitary title as well as being a knight?” Kat nodded and accepted the plate. “This actually looks good, thank you.” She took a big bite of the burger. “Sorry, but I am hungry. Now then, yes I have a court title, and not just a knighthood. It is a big mess. First, well I was at Colmen Conferences, I am sure you had a report of the attack there. It wasn’t much real, but that ended up getting me knighted in two kingdoms and my unit ranked to the elite forces. Which was bad enough. After that there were a few other events that led to more knighthoods, and then an Empirical one. Yes I know that is a lot of glossing, but the truth is none of them are any thing you would have heard of and the place names would be meaningless. I mean most here have yet to even hear that there is a Nightlin Empire is at this point. Trade is just getting off the ground with us, which given the distance and lack of sea charts is completely understandable.” Vincent blinked. Sea charts? Why would? So you have been living across the ocean not just in Victory? Mom is going to be mad. I am sure Aunt Ruth told her Victory.” Kat said. “She likely didn’t want to say she didn’t know. All I said in my letters was that I was in the the far south. I did say that I had taken a ship, but she could have resoluble thought I had went along the coast. At least she did pick someplace outside the break. Yes, my home is about three days by cart from Cailm’s Port. Just an hour from the Empirical Palace. Not that carts are used much there, but that gives you an idea of the distance. So see far to the south.” Petter said. “Far south indeed. By the way we do know that Nightlin empire could step on us and never even know it. Even if it has deduced in size since the split, but we are think it hasn’t. Given the attendance at the meet in Cailm that our adviser was permitted to attend, there are well over forty client nations in the empire, each with a military that is skilled, and those with a coast are trained to fight on boats or after long voyages. See we have been doing our homework. Our marshal was a bit alarmed at how early the attack was put down. The ambassador there is a knight and so of course included a full breakdown in the full report.” Kat said. “Did he put in the fact that he took out two of them himself?” John nodded, and looked at her worriedly “Yes. You were there? It was bad just reading the reports. Had to have been worse in person. One assassin made it into striking distance of the rulers.” Kat said. “I was to be walking the grounds, but on one patrols I found a break on the line watching the platform, so stepped in to fill it, as I sent a message orb to the watch commander. Five minutes latter they attacked. So I was right in the center. Not long after the Commander went down, for some reason no one took over and things were slipping. You know me, I still don’t back down. So I started giving orders, and was shocked that they were followed, but as they were I took over. Never mind there was a lot there that outranked me, no one countered my orders. We had practiced for this, but still I should not have been left in charge. I was just a green General, not even out of school. Still it worked, the lines formed and they were pushed back. Only three civilian causalities that was a wonder giving how they pressed the guards. Helped that there were people in the crowd, that knew how to fight. We were not expecting anything that size, didn’t suspect there was a spy that cloud move them in unnoticed..” She shook her head a bit. A group of five rushed the stage, four created a hole for the assassin. The Emperor was armored, but it was done with a focus on distance attacks not close. He is not without skill, but he is a ruler before fighter. Given the people there a thrown knife would be to great a risk, so I dived for him. Toke the Emperor to the ground and took the blow aimed for him, then killed the attacker before I passed out. I was lucky, it was a poison that I am immune to, but the wound was deep.” They looked at her. You did what?” That was you!. I can’t. I thought the person was nuts when I read it. Now.” Petter shook his head. “The report said you were on the other side of the stage, and it seemed impossible that you reached him in time. That the blow should have made it impossible for you to land one of your own, but that you basically beheaded the attacker. Yes you have a title all right.” Kat said. “Hunting cats move fast and jump long distances, this one hits hard as well. I was already knighted in a lot of the lands, but after that I was in all of them. Of course that had already knighted me felt that more was needed, so there were land grants made. Mark was going to let them trump him, so he had to do more. First as I had knighthood in every corner of the Empire I was named The Black Knight of Nightly. Meaning I am one of the nine commanders that report directly to him, who’s command only he can overrule. My word can literately be law. I became a commander of the Nine. . Basically he gave me the rank I assumed during the fight. For all I didn’t want it. Yet that was just enough for my actions of leading the battle. That was not doing anything about my trowing myself in the assassins way. Which I still say was just me doing my job. That it is what any of the commanders should have done, I was just fastest. Cat reflexes, after all.” She shook her head. “It did no good. I am a Lord of the court and have a seat at the high table and in congress. That would be a body akin to your board of Governors. I serve the Emperor directly, and sometimes act as an Ambassador.” She looked at Petter and John then the rest of them. “There was still debate about opening relegations here formally, but things were moving that way, and I do need training in Shellen so offered to come and learn the lay of the land. I knew there was a chance that I would end up in court, but it wasn’t to be until Midwinter at the earliest, so there was time. However Coronation. I can’t go as John’s crazy run away little sister and then turn up as the Ambassador. So sometime today Ambassador Gravin is arranging a formal introduction for me, to take place next week.” Not the best way to tell them, but it was said, and just maybe they have a bit of the an idea just how big of a deal it is. Petter said. “Just how much trouble are they making that you would be reaching out? This is about Alklands new friends that Gaven was warning Father not to be alone with. It has to be. I don’t know anything else that would make them. Yet if it wasn’t yet.” Kat said. “Time will tell, and it might be we remain silent friends for some time yet. However it is nothing to worry about here.” Best not to say to much, fear will cause inaction, and it is just the opening acts. It could still go away. Unlikely, but possible.