They reached the palace in good time, Kel showed the woman where she could leave her horse and whispered to Stephan to watch it closely, she walked to the dungeons and pushed the unsuspecting female in and slammed the door.
"You can stay there until the parade is over." She shouted through the door, she heard a shout and the door burned white for a second then died.
Kel walked back to her room chuckling. Lalasa was inside waiting for her,
"Good Day my Lady I thought I'd come and see how many sleeves and buttons need mending," she said smiling, as Kel entered,
"Thank you Lalasa, should I will wear full armour or just a tunic and breeches?"
"I spoke to Lady Alanna in the corridor and she said she couldn't be bothered with full armour, it's too heavy, she was opting for the tunic with a warm cloak."
"Then so will I...now which one." Chewing her lip she rooted through her collection of outfits,
"I think you should wear your Mindelan colours Keladry they suit you well," replied Lalasa as she rooted round in her sewing basket for a needle, to darn one of Kel's socks.
"Yes I believe I will."
As Lalasa was making a few adjustments to the buttons on the tunic of Kel's outfit, a whole troupe of young men entered and lined up quietly.
"Reporting for inspection General, Sir... ummm... I mean Lady!" proclaimed Owen in his best army voice. Kel grinned at them and stepped off the stool and walked up and down the line noticing that Neal was not there. Stopping to tug Merric's collar straight, she heard the door open and Prince Roald talk to Lalasa about a hem, there was a cough behind her.
"Err... Kel could you...um... try and do something with my hair it...err... won't go where I want it." Neal stammered,
"Since when did you become inarticulate?" said Kel grinning, "Come here and bring that bowl and comb," in a whisper she added, "you're forgiven by the way, you were right about Cleon... and me."
"Where is he, did you find him?"
"Oh I found him alright!" she said with a malicious grin "lets just say he's a bit tied up right now!"
"What did you do to him?" asked Neal smiling,
"I didn't do anything"
Alanna banged on the door,
"Are you knights or are you snails stir your stumps!" she shouted so the whole barracks could hear her "Get a move on, you have very little time"
Lalasa put the last stitch into Roald's hem and shooed them all out to join Alanna, who looked radiant in amethyst velvet, her bright copper hair pinned back with clips. Kel looked down at her own grey- blue velvet tunic and breeches teamed with a grey silk shirt and felt that there was something missing from her ensemble, she looked around.
"My sword!" she cried slapping her forehead and turning back at the same time Lalasa ran out of her room looking thoroughly discomforted and carrying Kel's sword 'Griffin' at arms length.
"My Lady you forgot this, please take it its very big." She looked terrified
"Thank you Lalasa" Kel chuckled tying the sword to her belt
"When you're ready Kel." said Owen.
They stepped out into the first courtyard and lined up in their rows. Alanna and Kel, being the only two Lady Knights, stood together,
"What's he like" Kel hissed to her neighbour knowing Alanna had met the Emperor,
"A charming young man, and a good ruler. Jons' thinking of him as a possible match for Kalasin"
At that moment an eagle soared across the courtyard and landed in the stable loft, a few minutes later Daine walked out picking golden feathers from her hair. She stopped in front of Alanna,
"You'll never guess what I just saw," she exclaimed excitedly "I was flying over the Royal Forest looking out for the Catharki train, when I came across Cleon of Kennan tied to a rock! I tried to free him but the ropes were magical, very strong, I've sent a few mages out to get him, I hope he's not late" she said suddenly looking worried. She hurried off to where Numair stood shaking her head, Kel said nothing. Before Alanna could say anything a fanfare sounded and a large golden carriage came into view.
King Jonathan welcomed the Emperor warmly, as one would do to an old friend, albeit a formal one, Emperor Kaddar moved along the ranks of important people before reaching Daine whom he greeted enthusiastically. A tall, very beautiful woman climbing gracefully down from the carriage caught Kel's attention, an unintentional growl escaped the Wildmage's throat and Numair bit his lip.
"Varice," said Daine coldly polite "I didn't know you were coming." She glared at Kaddar, he smiled apologetically. Before Varice could make any reply there was an almighty explosion from the direction of the dungeons.
"Oh Gods" said Kel, a nasty feeling in the pit of her stomach. A black hawk with silver feathers shot out from the wreckage shrieking in triumph.
"Oh no you don't" shouted Numair, a black bolt of light shot from his hand and wrapped itself around the bird, dragging it back down to earth. The bird landed reluctantly on his arm and dug its claws in.
"Who is that?" asked the King angrily his eyes glittering with fury, "show yourself!" he ordered. A bright white flash blinded all those in the courtyard. When it cleared the tall woman stood there. Her height brought her only a few inches shorter than Master Numair and eye level with the King. She stared defiantly at him, Numair massaged his arm, which sported a large burn.
"My name is Leah Draper," she said in the same steely voice Kel had heard earlier. The King raised an eyebrow,
"Oh really, well you will address me in the proper way" she hesitated before bowing to Jonathan and Kaddar.
"Your Majesties' she said icily not taking her eyes from Jonathan's face.
The King waved to Alanna to disperse the curious knights from the courtyard.
"Your Majesty may I speak?" asked the Emperor who looked anxiously at Varice who looked terrified, "Lady Draper is a Catharki, who disappeared from my country several years ago, we had a feeling she would come here." He shifted nervously.
"You told me she was dead!" shrieked Lady Varice,
"Is she any relation of yours?" the King asked Numair
"Yes sire, she is my sister, I haven't seen her for years, she was only nine when I fled Cathark." He said sombrely.
"I think we should go to my office, Your Majesty would you please join me, how did you get into the dungeons?" asked the King. Leah looked around until her eyes fixed on Kel, who was trying to sneak away unnoticed,
"She put me there" Kel cringed, the King sighed,
"You had better come too Lady Keladry, Lady Alanna would you see to the rest of the Catharki party please".