End shoping and are getting ready to go to Court.

Zander said. “I can’t believe the distance some of them come, and don’t see the point of it. Just how do they keep stuff safe? It is a mess anymore. I do hope that you are being careful Rob, so much here is like a danger to people here. Thank you for waiting on the dye. I do think he would try and make them faint and even Ruth’s parents will be here. I hope you will let out your extra rooms Rob, or we just won’t have space. I truly don’t know what is posing them. They never come here.” Rob said. “If something is likely to cause an allergic reaction the sellers tell you and insist you try a sample in front of them so they know it won’t harm you. They all have remedies for it, if it should. As to the relatives, it is simple. They want to know from Kat just what she was doing and the Coronation gives them a good excuse to get it from her in person. I already offered a room to Uncle Herb, but have others. Are they coming next week as well?” Zander said. “I am not to sure there are still messages going, but yes it sounds like a few are insisting on come next week, for all there is a month yet. It is turning into a big deal for some reason. I thought that a week before would be the earliest we would see anyone. I do fear just how shocking it is going to be. If the market is like this I can just bet it will be worse next month and most will be here to experience it. An event always brings in vendors from the Center, and this is going to bring more. Then all the outsiders that have been coming.” He shook his head. Kat said. “A Coronation at homes means dances and parties all over town, and folks wanting new clothes. So there will be a few of our clothing merchants coming to see if they can find a market here I bet. The dangers of ocean cross has slowed those wanting to see what was here, but now they can gate to the coast so more will indeed be coming. I am sorry that it is turning into a big headache for you. A few likely want to hear from me that I was just being a silly teenage when I took off. My return is just as upsetting as my disappearance, even without my titles.” Zander shook his head. “They are just using you as an an excuse. Most were saying they needed to come early before you were here. Though yes, there are a few more now. It isn’t all your doing. Though some do have question about your titles, it is more the Coronation. The others reasonably went to Center for theirs, so having one out here is giving people that would never come so close to danger an excuse to do so. As it gets out that we have trades from the wild lands here, those numbers are only going to grow. All towns close will be getting a boost. You enjoy your lunch, and Rob do watch those wild things. You need to have care. I hate to think just what will be found, there is much here that should not be.” He looked at the food again and shook his head, leaving. Rob shook his head and started walking. “Well at least he did come close to talking to you. Come on before the food is cold. And don’t worry, it will be fine. You are sure you can get me some clothes? I do need some new ones, and I don’t want to be stuck with what Mom has.” They reached the table and he put the food down than sat. Kat sat down. “”Go on and do more than look. I am not sure what all we ended up with, but there is enough for everyone,” She took a plate and started filling it from the larger ones, taking the time to eat a bit before answering Rob. “Yes the clothes will reach me in time, and trust me you will find some you like. For all a few will be two wild even for you.. I am having Seal bring me dresses because I know that Tiger will have repacked my clothes with ones she finds fit and so I am not going to have any gowns that I will feel comfortable in. I will work a few in anyway, for I do need to look wild, but I want the majority to be something I like. I am going to be tense enough at the events. Yes I thought of Petter and John as well. I will make the best one official gifts, so they have to wear them, as I can well imaging that it is a fight for those trying to get them to understand that they do have to wear something bright. If they can get the ports going it will take an hour at most to get goods sent to Rome, and thirty minutes for them to be delivered from there. If they don’t have them it might take up to two days. I am expected to send daily reports during the coronation and requests will be expected. So if I can get them to tell me what they want I can get it. I know ribbons will be needed, so have them coming. Ours are different than those found here, but knowing how the fusions went trough them at midwinter I expect that anything will be welcome, for this will be worse. After all they will have invites to the Royal balls and events. Two weeks worth.” Livie groaned. “Don’t I know, and yes Mom and Liz are already worrying over the lack. I do think they will be glad to know you have some coming. What on earth are you eating? That looks creepy. Tentacles?” Kat said. “Let me know what else they don’t think they can get locally and I will get it. A mix of sea food, and yes some has tentacles. Help yourself.” He shook his head, bit did reach over and get a bit. “How are they getting it here? Seafood doesn’t travel well and we are days from the coast.” Rob said. “If you cross it is only a day to the closest port. Dad just won’t admit it. You know how he is about anything outside. He won’t even say how close the shield is half the time. Truly there should be a better class on geography. I don’t see how the school gets by with using only the old maps.” Livie said. “They all got changed out this year, but they are still a bit light on towns outside of the line. And even a day is a bit far isn’t it? Well the new cold boxes are supposed to last that long so maybe not.” Kat said. “It would make it in the boxes, but wouldn’t have quite the same taste. They are gating to the area near the shield.” He looked at her and she shrugged. “The old writings say that as the shift gets closer gates are going to become easier. So that is one of the ways we are testing to see how close we are. No reason not to make use of them. The locals are always asked before the gate is formed, if they say no then the mage is to move to different location.” Livie said. “All I know as gates are a pain and cause more trouble then they are worth, but then I don’t have any class on lines and that is different. I had best go see what I need to take home now. I will tell the girls that you need to know colors of hair combs if they want some that can’t be found here. That should get them to come talk to you. Say think you can get me a pair of sparkling pants? One of the dances is to be glitter and I don’t want to wear the gem stone things Mom has waiting. I mean even she says they are bad, but it is all she can find.” Kat said. “No problem, I will have a few choices delivered with the rest of the clothes. I will let you know when they get here. Might even be some that Mom will agree is fit, long as you don’t let on where I got them.” He laughed and left. They finished lunch then went back to the shopping. It was a full day, but the cupboards were full at the end of it and some finds had been made. The next few days passed in a blur. Kat made it over to see Wills and was told that she knew full well she welcome to joining in any class she wanted to. To stop being silly, no one would mind her sparing with them. Heck it would be good to have help showing the blocks from the inland schools what fighting was when you couldn’t depend on guns. They thought they knew, but didn’t at all. It had been fun to see the faces when she did show up, even as she held back a good deal. Guns could be used across the line, but well they tended to hurt the one firing them as well as the target. Explosives were safest when set off from a distance. That was one area that had everyone worried about the shift. What it would do to gun powder. The way to make guns and ammo was still know, but it would take time to get them if indeed they were needed, yet to make them in advance would be a waste of resources if they still were not safe. So in compromise armor and shields that could block them was being made and the components for the rest were ready. Just had to hope that would be enough. That most of the threats would be less prepared for the changes that were coming. All to soon it was time to go before the court. At least Granet was meeting her at the gate, so that would help. It felt strange to be getter ready to be formally introduced. She had been there a lot, hanging out with Petter or in a guard’s uniform. However those times the King was just Petters father or she was just one of the guards. This time she would be judged. Still it was a small and easier court than a number she had been to. Yet still this was harder some way. Kat was just picking up her jacket when there was a knock on her door. She went to and opened it. Uncle Herb looked her over. “Good you are keeping it simple. Most come here and dress to flaunt wealth, that you are not will show that you don’t care what they think.” Kat said. “I am an officer first, so I always make my first formal visit to courts in uniform. No matter what that court is. The frills will come out for the Coronation.” He blink she shrugged. “I have been sent as the Emperor’s representative to dozens of courts over the last two years. I have an established image. Never mind it isn’t know here, it will still be held to.” She smiled a bit and moved from the door. “Come on in, I need to finish getting dressed and get before Garnet is waiting on me. Did you trip here go all right? Are there any issues yet inland?” Herb said. “Just why do you think there would be problems? I take it they didn’t give you any news. Shame on them. Have you even spoken with your parents? I haven’t been to the house yet, just go in an hour ago. I am to be at court. Hillder wants someone here so it is clear he wants the alliance and as I was coming I got the task. For all I am honorable at trade talks. Hopefully Connie will be here in a few weeks to take over. There is a bit of outrage over Petter insisting on being crowned out here, but less then most expected. That he is marrying his guard caused more of a stir. More so as it became clear it was a man. Still that has died down and very few are still call for boycotts of the Coronation. Most were still try to grasp the size of Nightlin but were excited that there was another land sending an Ambassador. More trade options are wanted by just about every court. A few are with the isolationist, but they just try to stop the good at their borders, they wont cause trouble over it. Once the size of the empire is better understood even they are going to welcome offers of aid. Akland has been wisting a lot of courts making offers of protection that seem more like demands of loyalty. The few that weren’t alarmed by them are by the new friends they have found. All who have met them say the reek of dark magic.” Kat smiled a bit and put her jacket on then started on her hair as she talked. “Only an outright refusal to talk will end the attempt at this point. Aklands new friends are old enemies and we do not want them getting so much as a finger on any here. They are the worst sort of blood and demon uses. They are slavers. Yes I have proof with me and will be offering after I have them seeing something other than John’s shadow. It won’t take long, and I don’t think many will doubt it, knowing that Akland is near as black. Just to keep folks from think we are looking to make you a client. However that is for another night.” She looked in the mirror as she set the cap on her head and reached for the weapons, using the belt she had been given in the market, but her own sword, those the knife she had was from here. “I always feel like I am playing dress up, no matter how often I am in this. At home I leave off half the meddles, it is still to much. However this is all about show. Now so you don’t laugh my official tit is Lord Kat Wildston, Black Knight of Nightling Empire, Lady of Forest, Emperor’s Champion, Voice of Emperor Marckause Stonhinge, Wingsister of Emperor BlackFire of Sky Range.” He looked at her she nodded. “That is liver off half a dozen other kingdoms that I hold knighthood in. I was at the Cailm Meeting and so that tacked on a bunch. Most won’t mean a thing and I am hoping I wont have to explain them.”