51637

Luckily the sky was clear when Kat got up Saturday. She was still wondering how many would be waiting for her on the road leading out to the ruins. It seemed best to meet of there, they were going to get noticed so best not to try and hide. I do wonder if any of the guards have spotted Cheetah. I hope so, but it sure didn’t look like anyone noticed she was there last night. It never worried me that I could get in, as I knew they were letting me, but that. Her people should have been stopped in the welcoming chamber, but there were some among the guards in the dining hall. That is sloppy. At least it will get fixed soon, but it is hard not to yell at them. Just what is going there? Unless they had passed the tests they never should have made it to the uniforms. It is not my place, and it will get taken care of soon. It felt good to be fully armed, for all it would be needed. She wondered what Wills would think of the amour she had on, if he would even realize what it was. None seemed to notice the set she wore under her clothes, but this one was a bit more obvious, for all it looking more like a filed uniform. There was no threat, not whit Milly there, but best to get them thinking that there could be. The sooner they started to act like targets the better. They need to realize just how much danger they are in. Granted the risk is still small now, but that will change fast after the Coronation. Still I can’t go saying anything, I can’t be hovering or they will bolt. They need to come to the realization on their own. As hard as it is not say anything it isn’t my place to. She walked up to the others and had to shake her head a bit, for the guards weren’t watching the area. “Just why did I get this close without being noticed? I am sorry, I have being doing my best not to complain, but this is to much. What if one of the assassins here were after them? You don’t even know that they are there! Not a one of can give me a count of the people with in range. Not a one of you was pay attention to anything in this direction.” Wills said. “The lady with the cart and the ones playing cards are mine, but that doesn’t excuse the rest. Nor does it explain why there were four extra guards in the dining hall last night. Just how did you keep from yelling at them then?” Kat said. “Only four? So the other two must have taken the test then. That still doesn’t explain how those four got a uniform. I am trying my best not to complain. It isn’t my place to call them on it, but this. Even after I have said something about the assassins they have not made a move to fix their formation.” John said. “I know it is a mess and it is on me. When Akland showed up I redid the units. I saw to it that the best of our guards went to the emperor, he had the most danger, then the next went to Robert, being the oldest, then the children. I took the remaining, as we would not be looked at. However, Cornation is going to change that. I do realize it, but haven’t done anything to fix it.” Kat shook her head and would have said something but Cheetah said. “It is far worse than that. One of mine has trailing them for the last week, everywhere they went and no one has ever seen them. I mean everywhere. They have been in the bed chamber three times. Walked right in. You were the only one that made them, and you shouldn’t have been the one watching. I have been in the palace, clearly armed, and not been stopped. You can’t say I blend in. I will say that the city guard does a better job of stopping any that are openly carrying and even got a few concerned. Better than expected. However the personal guards are not worth the uniform. My own will be taking over and you all will be going back to basics if you want a shot at earning your job back.” Wills said. “You were in and. You mean the door guards didn’t question you either? That is inexcusable! Clearly I have gone to long without testing them. Just? I am sorry that you found it that sloppy. I assure you there will be changes made to the palaces guards today, and thank you. I mean no offense, but there is no way that you should have went unseen. You don’t blind in.” Cheetah said. “The emperor’s guard did far better. One of mine did get in as a waiter, but non made it to his personal rooms. The guards on the doors stopped me three out of eight times. I have seen worse, but that needs to improve. Then there are a few holes that you simply don’t know of. Truly the palace guard is better than I expected when you don’t have any assassins. It won’t take long to get them into to shape. The Princes guards on the other hand. It is all to clear that John has been doing the work himself. That has to change.” Kat said. “I can see moving the guards, but you should have started working on improving your own that very day. You should have been holding try outs. Yes, with Akland here. Let them see what you are trained to do. They are looking, so show them strength.” She shook her head. “Cheetah do you have people enough to get a handle on things? I can call some more if you need me to. Thank you again. He is going to be just as bad as I was.” Cheetah smiled. “Your letter told me it was a mess, so I came with that in mind. The rest of the guards will be here soon. I was going to wait, but this needs to end. It was bad enough before the dinner, but that I had armed people in there. Right next to them. I can accept the guards not checking the gifts you gave, for you are trusted. I can not accept the fact that I had a person standing right next to John all night and no one quested who they were, for all the clearly were a changeling and there were non in the palace guard. Wall said he took his gloves off shortly after you arrived, and by the end of the meal his ears were showing. His silver eyes should have been enough, but claws ans furred ears without one question?” Kat nodded. “It was unbelievable. Hell they didn’t even ask why servers were wearing knifes!” John looked at her and then flushed, clearly he hadn’t even realized they had been. “Come on, we need to get go or Milly is going to be worried.” She started walking so they did, the guards were still looking confused, and did nothing when others stepped up to join the group. Kat however relaxed. “John, I can see why you didn’t think about. You aren’t supposed to. However your guards should have. Doug’s stopped the servers, but yours might as have been playing cards as standing there. That is going to change. I think it best that I don’t know just how bad it was. What I do is enough. I know it will be fixed and that is all I need to.” John said. “Thank you, I will fully agree it is needed. I am just glad that you are willing Cheetah. I wouldn’t have objected before this, but now. I mean they just let a bunch of armed strangers join us. That shows just how badly I have done with them. Even with the conversation, they should have objected until they were told who the people were. I. There is no excuse for this. There were eight watching us on the street.” Kat said. “Not bad, not right, but acceptable. You were just noticing the ones tracking Petter, you have to remember that you are the target. That is going to be a steep learning curve. It is hard to make that switch, and yes I have been there. Four on you two on me, one of those was not Cheetah’s but isn’t a problem yet.” John looked at her. Cheetah nodded. “We will get him there. Hunter will teach him how to use the life magic he has. Right now he is just getting hints, but when he will be better than you at knowing threats. Joan will be keeping an eye on you, but from a distance. It is just to reassure Seal, he was doing fair, but having his sister here will see he doesn’t gate.” Kat shrugged. “I was expecting someone to turn up. I know that the speed is causing upset. I am not going to complain over it, I just wanted him to know what he missed. Yes John I am a target and, yes they have come close a few times. Cheetah was giving the task of keep me alive after the worst of those. I didn’t take well to having a guard, but I learned to accept it after a lot of yelling.” She smiled as Milly came sailing over chipping. “Yes, I’m late, but I am fine.” Milly dived at them and the laughed as some ducked. “At least none ran. Silly guards. You should duck. That is no way to protect anyone. Good you brought your brother and his mate. Hi Cheetah. How bad is it?” Cheetah said. “Kat is fine, I have no concerns about her safety. So relax, there. Now the other two do need help, but that is why she asked me to come.” John blinked and said. “I think it is a good thing that we don’t know what was said. I have the feeling that Milly was calling me a fool.” Kat smiled and said. “More your guards than you, but she is not to impressed by you either.” Milly chirped and landed on Petter’s shoulder. “I did not say that! Boys aren’t bad. Need some training, but there is hope. Those others there. Not so sure they can be saved. Two on the left are not what they say, but tall man knows it. He is good, keep him. He is seeing more than he lets on.” Cheetah nodded. “That was my thoughts, but thank you, it does help. Now then it isn’t right that we are excluding them.” Milly changed her languages. “Did you bring the bread this time or forget it again? I don’t know why you can’t remember it. However I see baskets so maybe you are intending to do more than have a rabbit.” John said. “I am not sure what all we have, but there should be a full meal in the baskets, sis said we would need lunch I had the cooks pack the baskets for us. She has been just having a rabbit? That doesn’t sound good.” Kat said. “I had a full meal, she just didn’t like the rolls as it was dark bread. Yes I took a couple of rabbits as well, but I had more than just rabbit. If you want some it won’t take long to set snares, there is a bunch out here.” Cheetah looked at her and smiled. “Yes it is a good hunting ground, rough enough to be a challenge with enough life to make it worth it. Still rabbits are hardly enough. There is a deer herd not far when you feel like some real game. There is enough here to make a smoke hut for what you don’t eat.” Kat nodded. “There will be one before long, I have the rights, just haven’t started building it yet. Right now it isn’t the right season, but the herd is large enough and hunting is legal out here. Even if I will being some on four feet not to, I will be taking a few.” Wills looked at her then at the others. John said. “I think that Cheetah was trying to see if we knew it. Or at least if she could shock us. Not knowing that we have been trying to get more races in the guards. It is just hard to convince the people here that we mean it. Now then the table is just over here, so you can get the baskets sat down.” Cheetah said. “I will see that mine stop hiding, that will help a bit when they see you trusting them.”