Kittenus was just dragging himself to the front Tactics class when a short girl with her dark hair in twintails bumped into him.
"Sorry, wasn't watching where I was going," Kittenus apologized. The truth was, he'd spent the entire night stewing in his own juices over Shaserra breaking up with him. It was his own fault, and really, they hadn't actually been dating...but he had known. And he'd gone with Russ, well aware of what she intended.
"S-sorry, I wasn't, I just…" the girl stepped away, taking a deep breath, then blurted, "Her Royal Highness wants to meet with you after class!"
Kittenus' brow furrowed at that. It wasn't like Russ to send intermediaries, she seemed to prefer the direct approach. And when had she taken an interest in timid little Ezekyle?
Suddenly, Ezekyle leaned in close, her eyes suddenly flashing with rage. "B-but just so you know, I-I saw Lady Horus first, so don't you try to steal her from me!"
Kittenus could only blink stupidly, then look up to where Horus was sitting. She nodded to him politely, then crooked a finger at Ezeklyle The poor girl tried to scurry back over, but made the mistake of giving Kittenus a dirty look over her shoulder. This resulted in tripping over a chair as someone drew it out to sit, and with a cry of panic, Ezekyle ended up cartwheeling head over heels and ending up lying dazed on her back at Horus' feet.
The princess primly crossed her legs, frowning down at her clumsy minion. "Ezekyle dear, please do try to watch where you're going. A lady must be decorous."
"Y-yes, y-your highness, I-I'll be more careful in the future!" Ezekyle vowed, staggering to her feet. Then she sat and glared at Kittenus again.
What Horus saw in the girl, Kittenus didn't know, but he did suppose a princess might take up a charity project.
Setting that aside, Kittenus hurried up to the front of the lecture hall, where Professor Cain was writing on the chalkboard with one hand and sipping at that rather particular tea with the other. He looked up as Kittenus approached, and gave him a fatherly smile.
"Yes, Kittenus? I told you about Shaserra, she'll need an Imperial Signature."
"I got one, sir," Kittenus sighed, and handed over the paper.
Cain blinked twice, then took the paper, his eyes scanning it. His eyebrows shot up, and he looked to where Princess Russ was sitting. Or rather, where she was snoring and Logan laying with her head on the table. What had happened to those two? It was only 10:00, not even lunch yet.
"I...see. Well, I suppose this is an Imperial Official's signature," Cain allowed. "Let Ms..Shaserra know her transfer to my class is accepted."
"Yes sir, thank you sir. I, er, added a name to the transfer paper," Kittenus admitted.
Cain's eyebrows shot up again, and he scanned the paper again. "Macha Ulthran?!"
"Er, yes sir, she was previously barred from this class, I don't suppose you would be willing to take an aeldari student?" Kittenus said hopefully. Macha was Shaserra's best, and perhaps only, friend, and getting both of them into Cain's coveted course was a favor he hoped would win back Shaserra's affection.
Of course, he hadn't asked Macha about this, but he assumed the aeldari girl would be grateful as well.
Sometimes Kittenus wasn't very smart.
"Well...I suppose at the very least, having the perspective of the daughter of that pointy eared-never mind. I, ah, crossed paths with the Prime Minister of Ulthwe in my career a few times."
"Really sir? I'd like to hear the stories," Kittenus said, perking right up at the thought of Cain's mythological exploits.
"I'm sure you would," Cain sighed. He looked up, and cleared his throat. "Ms. Russ?"
Logan poked the lady in question in the ribs, and she jerked up to a sitting position, her eyes wild until they focused on Cain. "Aye, I mean, yes?"
"You approve of the transfer of Ms. Ulthran and Ms. Shaserra, in your function as Imperial Princess?"
Russ bristled, until Logan kicked her under the desk. She took a deep breath and smiled sweetly at Cain. Since she had rather pronounced canines, the effect was somewhat disturbing. "Yes, Professor."
"Er, good. Very well. Go back to your seat Kittenus," Cain ordered, and Kittenus hastened back to his own seat.
As he did so, Russ leaned out and growled, "Whit th' hell's bells is a Ulthran? Ah thought ye juist wanted th' blue lassie wi' th' hooves."
"She's Shaserra's friend. She's aeldari," Kittenus explained.
"The fuck's an aeldari?" Russ demanded.
"She's an eldar," Logan stated.
"Weel how come in th' name o' stanes 'n' sky didnae ye say sae? 'N' ah dinnae waant na mangy pointy lug aroond. They're a bunch o' nancies that practice witchcraft 'n' dinnae hae proper respect fur civilized fightin'," Russ snapped.
Cain looked up at this, a scowl on his face. However, it was Horus who spoke up. "I quite agree with my sister, President Kittenus. We do not need an eldar in this class. Do I need to bring this to Dean Celestine?"
Russ blinked, then a devilish smile formed on her lips, giving her a rather wolfish appearance. "Ye ken whit? Ah changed mah mynd. Bring th' elf wench. Ne'er properly shagged an eldar afore. Be an experience."
Horus made a strangled sound, but Logan snickered.
"Is there a problem?" Cain demanded.
"Oh, no, Professor. I'm juist trying to hulp my sister be more...Logan, what's th' word?"
"Cosmopolitan?" Logan suggested.
"Aye, that. Juist think, how else are we supposed tae learn how the pointy eared de'il spawn think if we don't ever train with thaim?" Russ offered, her tone that of sweet reason.
Horus twitched slightly, and Ezekyle stood up, a look of pure murder on her face directed at Russ and Kittenus, her hands balled into trembling fists. She stopped from rushing the offenders to defend her lady's honor when Horus gently put a restraining hand on Ezekyle's breast, which sent the girl into paroxysms of joy.
"My sister...makes...a compelling point," Horus managed, her tone strained. "And...I would not...wish...to countermand...her exercising her rights...as a...princess…"
Russ turned to give a bright smile to Horus, which understandably made Horus look as though she were pondering fratricide.
"Very well then, if that is the Imperial Will on the matter, it is my honor to comply," Cain said, sounding faintly bemused at the entire exchange. "The T'au, at least, are proper members of the Imperium now. Speaking of which, today we shall be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of using t'au battlesuits, compared to more traditional tracked vehicles. Now, a battle suit has the advantage of mobility, but at the sacrifice of durability and ease of maintenance. Both have their place, and the wise commander-"
Slinking back to his seat, Kittenus very much wondered if he could find a way to escape from meeting with Horus on some pretext. Why did it seem no matter what he did, there was a woman who wanted to murder him?
Unfortunately, Horus quite literally pinned Kittenus to the wall just outside the classroom. She was only a bit shorter than he, and despite her more petite frame then Russ, appeared to be nearly as strong.
"We need to talk. Now," Horus hissed, Ezekyle looking on smugly.
"Yes, your highness," Kittenus sighed. "Perhaps somewhere more private? The Student Council chambers are not far."
Horus' nostsrils flared, but she nodded, stalking after Kittenus.
To Kittenus' surprise, when he opened the door, the quiet little freshman representative was sitting in the room.
"Oh, hello. I was waiting for you. I wanted to- oh, I didn't see you there. Did you find out too?"
"Ah, hello there Ms- ah, I don't think I caught your name?" Horus said, pausing politely.
"That's too bad, I was hoping you'd know. Could you ask Her for me?" the girl replied in her usual soft voice.
"You'll have to speak up. Are you on the student council?" Horus asked. When the girl nodded, Horus sighed. "Very well. You can be of use then. Ezekyle?"
"Y-yes, your Highness? Do you wish for me to fetch your weapons?" Ezekyle asked eagerly.
"What? No. Go with, ah, this lady, and get the rest of the council."
"Oh. Um, OK!" Ezekyle left, and after a moment, the quiet girl stood and made to leave.
On the way out, she paused, leaning in to whisper in Kittenus ear, "What is done under the sky can be seen by many eyes. The two are one, but the one is two, but which am I?"
"I...beg pardon?" Kittenus managed, but the girl simply smiled at him, then scurried off after Ezekyle, closing the door behind her.
Kittenus turned back to Horus with no small amount of trepidation. The princess had her eyes closed, and was massaging her temples with both hands. "I'm not apologizing."
Horus opened one eye, squinting at Kittenus, and he hurried on, "The xenos are now a part of the Imperium, and integration is the first step to creating a more unified and peaceable world for us all."
"Oh, that. I'm not in the mood for a philosophical debate, Kittenus," Horus sighed. Opening both eyes and sitting up. "For now, I will tolerate the aliens for the sake of my sister. Provided she does not- never mind. That is not what I wished to speak to you about."
"Oh?" Kittenus shrunk in. "Well, the other thing...just sort of happened. I mean, I knew what Russ was going to try, but, well...I am sorry if I besmirched the Imperial name by sleeping with your sister."
"You did WHAT!?" Horus cried, jerking up right. "Oh that little-" Kittenus had to disagree, was Russ was the largest woman he'd ever seen- "Look. If Russ has selected you as her consort...fine."
"Er, no we just, ah, coupled. I do not think...that is, I would not presume…" Kittenus took a deep breath. "I believe it was in a moment of passion. I do not think Russ intended a deep relationship beyond, ah, the immediate pleasure of the act."
"Of course she didn't." Horus sighed heavily, shaking her head. "Well, that's...something. Thank you for telling me. But that is also not why I wished to speak with you. However, I will ask, are there any other little landmines you wish to make me aware of?"
Kittenus blushed and winced, looking away. Horus glared at him a moment, then suddenly flushed a deep red. "I...I apologize, President Kittenus. That flippant remark was… I have read your file. That was crass of me."
"No, no, it's just a turn of phrase. And...I suppose I deserve it," Kittenus said, forcing a smile on his face and turning back to meet Horus' eyes.
"It was graceless of me regardless. Please, accept my apologies," Horus said gently.
Nodding stiffly, Kittenus made himself sit up. "Very well. What did you want to discuss."
Horus sighed again, looking away, but not before Kittenus caught a flash of pain across her face. "My mother...The Empress...she has found two more of my sisters. They will be arriving shortly."
"So soon? After so long...I had thought the Lost Princesses might never be recovered, aside from yourself. How are they all being found now?" Kittenus asked, baffled.
Now it was anger that marred Horus' face, her teeth set in a grimace. "How indeed. I have my theories. But that is beside the point. I wish to welcome them, properly. Something to make them feel valued. What happened with Phoebe and Ferri…"
"That was my fault, my Lady. I should have-"
"No," Horus snapped, turning to glare at Kittenus. "Mother had to know for weeks, since even before I was dispatched, that they were coming. She told no one. It was not a priority. Well. If she will not prioritise my sisters, then I will." Something drained out of Horus, and she slumped. "Can you...help me? I am not certain...I have little experience with showing affection."
"Well...What about a feast?" Kittenus suggested, trying to fathom just what was going on. "We have a celebratory budget, and spending some of it for a large dinner party for two new Princesses seems appropriate. Do you know their names?"
"No. But I will learn them, and remember," Horus vowed. "I think I know who we can ask. Uncle Malcador would know all our names."
"Well, we can improvise if we have to. I'm not an expert at planning dinner parties, but several of our student council members are experienced in that area. What about Ms. Manus and Ms. Fulgrim?" Kittenus asked, thinking of the other two princesses.
Horus' hand flew to her mouth. "I had not thought...no, no, you are quite correct. Yes. They will want to learn of their new siblings. Russ as well. I'll drag her to this banquet dressed properly by shoving her in a dress by main force if I have to."
"Very good, do you, er, happen to have suggestions for dishes and beverages?" Kittenus inquired.
"More to ask Uncle Malcador about, as well as the exact date they'll be showing up," Horus sighed. She visibly collected herself and smiled. "Thank you, Kittenus. It's quite a blessing to have your input."
"I am humbled and delighted to serve the Imperium, your highness," Kittenus said, bowing his head.
"Please. Just Horus. I need...I don't know what I need. But to distance myself is certainly not it. I'll call Uncle Malcador and ask him to come." Horus managed a smile. "Yes, a chance to celebrate, and an evening of joy. Now, personally, I do love a good dance. I don't suppose you know anyone who could provide music…?"
They hammered out the outline of a party, with the help of the arriving student Council and even Principal Malchador. Kittenus relaxed slightly, grateful that at least this woman didn't seem to want to nail his hide to the wall.
Though the back of Kittenus' neck kept itching. Probably because Ezekyle kept glaring at the back of his head, and imaging him bursting into flames.