Since everything seemed to be going well in planning the welcoming banquet for the two new princesses, Kittenus was nearly certain that meant something was about to go horribly, horribly wrong. He attempted to head off this impending disaster by tracking down Logan Grimnar.
"Logan, there you are!" Kittenus said, hurrying over to the girl. She was dressed in traditional highland garb, with a kilt and blouse in grey and blue, along with a tammie hat, and turned to frown at Kittenus.
"Aye, and what is it you need?" Logan demanded.
"Look, this is very important: Where is Russ?" Kittenus asked desperately.
"Looking for a quick shag before the ball, are you? Well, you'll just have to wait for after, she's busy," Logan told Kittenus. She eyed him up and down, raising an eyebrow. "I can see why she's interested in you. She told me to tell you to join the two of us in her chambers after the feast if you're after a good time."
"I...you...want...wait…" Kittenus poor brain short circuited, and he could only gape at Logan for a moment.
"Oh aye. I don't mind boys exactly, and it sounds like fun anyway. But it's more what Russ wants." A look of beatific worship passed over Logan's face. "What a woman. I'd follow her anywhere."
"No, wait, this-" Kittenus forced his mind back on track. "Look. I just want you to help me keep Russ from doing anything...embarrassing."
"Och sae noo ye fin' me embarassing, dae ye?"
Kittenus slowly turned, pasting a smile on his face. "Ms. Russ! I'm glad you see you here. I was just hoping you'd be ready to welcome your new sisters to the academy."
Russ, thank the Empress, was dressed similarly to Logan, though her getup also included a sword she'd strapped to her side. It appeared to be a tasteful ceremonial blade, though Kittenus did not double Russ would be just as capable of using it as anything else to kill someone.
Ignoring Kittenus, Russ turned to partner in crime. "Ye ken whit, Logan, if he's aff tae mak' a bahookie o' his-sel ah will let ye pick oor third."
"Look, as nice as that offer is, I'm going to have to turn you down," Kittenus said, feeling both deeply disappointed, highly frustrated, and more than a little manic. "What I want, Ms. Russ, is for you to help with the welcome party without...well…"
"Och, 'n' ye think a'm a bawherr lassie tae need ye tae haud mah haun, wee kitten?" Russ demanded, her eyes glinting dangerously.
A vein pulsed in Kittenus' temple at the hated nickname, but he answered calmly. "Tell me one thing, Russ. Have you even spoken to Ferri or Ms. Fulgrim?"
Russ jerked back, and Logan let out a heavy sigh. "Th' jimmy haes a point, Queenie. Ye'v bin avoiding yer sisters."
"Ah'ament avoiding thaim, we juist dinnae hae anythin' in common!" Russ snapped.
"'N' howfur dae ye ken that if ye wilnae even speak tae thaim?" Logan demanded planting her hands on her hips and glaring up at her leader.
"...fine. Ye twa win this round. Ah will bloody weel say awright tae th' Golden Haradin's brood,'' Russ snapped, and stalked away, shouting, "Git me a bloody dram, 'n' none o' that pisswater, a'm waantin' a proper mead!"
"Just keep her from doing anything too egregious, will you," Kittenus said to Logan, shaking his head. Why he thought Russ would be easier to manage after sleeping with her, or rather, wrestling her, he didn't know.
"I'm not her minder, cat boy," Logan said with a mischievous smile, and skipped off after Russ.
"I'm going to lose my mind," Kittenus moaned, scrubbing his face with his hands.
"I can help."
Kittenus looked up to find the quiet girl at his elbow, her eyes following Russ.
"You...think you can keep her under control?" Kittenus asked dubiously, wracking his brains for the girl's name, but he just couldn't remember it. Really, she just seemed to have shown up at the Student Council meetings one day, and no one had questioned it. She was competent enough, always doing small tasks in the background that kept things running smoothly.
"If that's what you want. But I have a price," the girl said, giving Kittenus a shy smile.
"Er, what is that?" Kittenus asked.
"My name," the girl said, reaching a trembling hand up to her own face. "I want my name."
"Oh, er, that...I can do that," Kittenus said, resisting the urge to scratch at his head in confusion. Her name?
"Thanks. I really need to know which I am. Am I the beginning, or the end? Or am I a circle, that goes on and on forever?"
With that, the girl hurried off. Kittenus resolved to look her name up on the student council rosters as soon as possible. He felt bad enough not to remember it, and asking him to just call her by her name was really just common courtesy.
With Russ more or less handled, Kittenus turned to the rest of the preparations. He took half a step towards a knot of student Council Members, but Shaserra was there. She gave him a baleful look, sniffed, and turned away with a toss of her head.
Kittenus sighed and turned away. He should talk to her, but...he still felt guilty.
"How are preparations coming?"
"Just fine, Ms. Hor-" Kittenus froze when he turned, his jaw dropping open as he beheld the Imperial Heir in her full glory.
Horus had her blonde hair done up in an ornate style, a golden hair pin holding it in place. Her lashes had been curled, highlighting her deep brown eyes that seemed to peer into your soul. Her dress was dazzling and white, with a low neckline that showed off her generous bust. The clothes and makeup, however, only served to enhance her sheer presence. Only the Empress had that same magnetic presence that drew the eye. Something beyond simply the two women's beauty, but their self possession, confidence, and aura of command and power. It was an effort for Kittenus not to fall to his knees and pledge his undying loyalty right then and there.
Instead, he took Horus' extended hand, planting a kiss on the back of her hand as he bowed over it. "Things are progressing nicely, my Lady. You look...glorious."
Blushing, Kittenus looked up to find Horus giving him a pleased smile. "Why thank you, President Kittenus." She held out her arm, and Kittenus took it, giving her a tour of the efforts of the student council. He barely noticed Ezekyle trotting along on their heels, giving Kittenus a mixture of jealous and enraged looks.
"Excellent work. I've prepared a few gifts for my sisters. Ezekyle?" Horus said, extracting her arm and turning to smile at her minion.
The smaller girl quickly held up five carefully wrapped presents.
"I'm afraid all I know are their names, and...intended functions." Horus made a disgusted face. "So I have opted to give a somewhat general, but still important gift. Imperial diadems. I shall be presenting them to Russ, Ferri, and Phoebe as well."
"Very good, will you be making a short speech as well?" Kittenus inquired.
"Just a simple greeting. I leave a speech to you; as Student Council President, it's only proper," Horus said, giving Kittenus a happy smile. She turned to Ezekyle, who quickly wiped away the scowl she'd been directing his way and replaced it with a grin. "Thank you ever so much, Ezekyle." Horus stroked the girl's dark hair, which was one more tied into twintails. "Do not fret, you shall not lose your place. I will not forget you were the first to give your loyalty to myself."
"Y-yes, your HIghness, thank you, your Highness!" Ezekyle stammered. Kittenus had a feeling she would be panting and wagging her tale if she had had one.
"I'll see to your reward later, never fear. But I am afraid Kittenus must be my escort this night: it will send the proper messages to have the Student Council President as my first dance partner. You may sit at my left tonight."
Ezekyle nodded eagerly, then hurried to place the presents atop the platform at the front of the room. Horus smiled as she tracked Ezekyle's progress, then frowned and sighed when the girl ended up stumbling and dropping the presents. "Well. She does her best. I suppose the enthusiasm at least is laudable."
"She, er, seems fond of you," Kittenus said, trying to gage just what Horus was thinking.
"It's more than that, I'm afraid," Horus sighed. "It's happened before. It started about the time I ventured into puberty, unfortunately. Thankfully, Mother sat me down and explained things. It seems we have some sort of...influence...over the hearts and minds of our fellow man. A tad disconcerting, honestly. I had to rebuff a number of suitors, and had more flunkies than friends. Mother takes occasional advantage, but thus far I have abstained."
"Oh." Kittenus felt mortified at the thought. Was his reaction to Horus and Russ a product of the same awe he felt for the Empress.
Seeming to sense Kittenus' consternation, Horus smiled at him. "You, however, seem to be immune."
"Well, you know, I er…" Kittenus trailed off, looking away and feeling guilty.
"Oh no. Russ is an attractive woman. What you did with her, you did because you're both healthy young adults. She certainly has a certain magnetism about her, but some are unaffected by the, well, I hate to say supernatural for fear of sounding like a superstitious yokel, but it is something of that nature. Regardless, you seem to be as immune to it as I am. I never felt any especial awe for my mother. Neither does Malcador, which is why I think he was her favorite lover."
Kittenus sucked in a breath, his eyes going wide. "You mean…?"
"Sorry, family business," Horus made a face, and put her arm back through Kittenus'. "Have I mentioned to you how nice it is to find a man who's actually taller than I am? And one of such wit and virtue as yourself."
Kittenus and Horus made their way towards the stage as the appointed arrival for the princesses approached. Russ was leaning up against a wall, a mug of something alcoholic in her hand, and looking frustrated. Logan seemed far more relaxed, but winked at Kittenus as if to indicate she had done her duty. He nodded his thanks, and the looked out as the students filtered into the room, taking seat. The various facility who had been invited arrived as well, including the Principal, which surprised Kittenus.
"Who's bringing the other Princesses?" Kittenus whispered.
"The first, Rogal Dorn, was to arrive via flier from the airport, but I don't know who is bringing her. The other, Vulkan of Nocturn, was coming overland," Horus explained. "I don't quite-"
There was a commotion at the back of the hall, and Kittenus swore as a great grey shape darted into the hall. Russ stood, frowning, as Bjorn the Wolf bounded up.
"What is it, laddie?" Russ demanded, jumping off the stage and hurrying forward to her pet.
Bjorn growled, then turned towards the door.
"What is-" Russ suddenly sniffed the air as Logan landed beside her.
"Ya reek that?" Russ demanded.
Shaking her head, Logan replied, "Na whit's it?"
"TAE ARMS!" Russ roared, ripping her sword free of its scabbard and raising it aloft. "We git greenskins!"
Kittenus had just enough time to think, "Oh shit," before complete pandemonium erupted. He'd been right after all.