The small black cat raced for cover under the large oak table but before she was under the safety of its thick legs and heavy, long table cloth a large hand grabbed the scruff of her neck and pulled her into the air until the cat's eyes were level with her captor's.
"As ever-impressed as I am with your shape-changing, Alina, I'm going to have to ask you to change back and explain why you are skipping your lessons." The man said crossly.
The cat looked away from his face and mewed reluctantly.
"Good," the man said, placing the cat on the floor, "and don't let me hear one of your usual excuses this time."
With that the cat trotted briskly out of the dining room. A few minutes later a thin, dark-haired girl walked sullenly into the room. Without even looking up at the tall, black-haired man she sat with a thud into one of the chairs placed neatly around the table. After a moment of silence Alina finally spoke.
"So, Numair, what kind of trouble am I in now?" she asked sarcastically.
"You aren't in any trouble, yet," the main replied running his fingers through his thick black hair, "but that could quickly change if you don't show your father any respect."
His grey eyes locked gazes with hers but she quickly looked away. With a sigh he continued.
"Are you still bent out of shape about this knight business?" he asked.
"You and ma laughed at me." She said quietly without looking up.
"We certainly did not laugh at you, and if you really think we did, it was a misunderstanding," he explained quickly to keep any comments she had to herself, "we were simply surprises at your decision, you never showed any interest in knighthood until this spring. We never said you couldn't do it, in face quite the contrary, we've always said that any path you choose to walk in life is good enough for our daughter."
"So I can go to Corus then?" Alina asked, finally looking up.
"Of course you can," Numair replied with a grin, "But you better go pack if you're serious, they want new pages their by next week."
Alina jumped to her feet, almost knocking over her chair and raced to her father hugging him tightly.
"Thanks dad," she murmered.
"Anything for my shining star, Lina," he replied, glad that his daughter was finally happy.