A/N: I'm so sorry for not updating everybody. I know exactly what I want to
happen after this, it's just that this is the in between stage and I have
simply NOT been able to write it. You don't know how many times I've tried!
Anyway, I've finally got something written, and even though I'm not completely satisfied I know if I don't post I'm not going to ever get this done! Oh, and I've noticed the comments about short chapters, so I hope you'll enjoy this longer one!
Now, as thistledemon would say: A word to our sponsers.
BellaShamharoth: Thanks! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
rebecca: I'm glad you liked it, I have to admit the comment about the footnotes was flattering, that's always one of my favourite parts in Pterry's word. As for the pairing, well, that would be telling, wouldn't it? But I'm amused you thought one of them would be Sam. ^.^
Chaos: I'm glad you like it! I'm trying to continue, but it's tough going. XP
Chess: I want to bring forth the slash, I really do, I'm just afraid it's going to be a little subtle for most people's tastes. I'm glad you like Vetinari, and if you aren't familiar with the other characters then GO FORTH AND READ!!! Lol
sacrelicious: I'm really glad you think that, the 'sharp wit' comment, really lifted me up! I'm glad you like that line too, I'm a little proud of that one. XD And don't worry, I won't let it die ... just have a holiday, maybe. ;D
Eagle Lord: Awesome! You reviewed every chapter, thankyou! I like writing Vetinari, he has a certain flair that I wish I possessed, and writing Vimes is just so amusing. If you liked them too then I guess that's a job well done, thanks!
Anyway, thankyou everybody!
Enjoy!
5: A Later Arrival
Sam sat and watched the dancers, brooding. This glorified event designed to allow parents to introduce their young to society and surreptiously match them up with the person they'd be spending the rest of their lives with, though they didn't know it yet, was beginning to bore him. It seemed his original assumption that it was a chance for ladies to coo over their young (1) and show them off to each other was correct, not that it made any difference now. What was aggravating was that he also knew it was a long time coming. Though parents and children had all gotten to know one another in thousands of dinner parties and mother evenings, enough of the 'younglings' were now of age that they could be presented to society without fear of *too* many slip ups. And with the task of being presented to society certain ... tasks ... were expected to be completed, tasks that were watched with great interest, especially if you were the pre-eminent bachelor to be in Ankh-Morpork. Sometimes status could be *so* annoying. He cast his eyes around the room and sighed. Thankfully he did not seem to be required yet.
He downed a glass of wine (more expected than approved of and he knew if his father saw him he'd be in for a hiding that wouldn't necessarily be delayed until he returned home) and thought of all the places he'd rather be than here. But seeing as he was here, and in truth there weren't really many places he enjoyed in the city, he muzzily decided he'd sit it out like a martyr and wait for Khye to appear. Yes. Khye might possibly be able to distract him.
Khye was what his parents would have fondly described as his best friend, had they not been an evil-minded little sod who had floated to the top only because people like to believe Fate has a sense of humour (2) and a woman who was only here because her ancestors had been suspicious. (3) Khye and he were not, could not, ever be best friends, but they understood one another, were similar enough that they could tell each other the things that needed immediate comprehension, and were both smart enough to have a rather important piece of information about each other that the other would rather not get out. And besides, Khye had his mother's sense of humour, one of many things he'd inherited from her, and always knew the latest bit of gossip about anyone.
He smiled as trumpets rang out and another glassful of wine flew down his throat. It was funny how trumpets always seemed to follow his Uncle Carrot around. Of course, it was a public secret that he was actually the heir to the throne and didn't want the job, but Sam had the feeling that Lord Vetinari would rather not take chances. The trumpets were almost like his way of saying 'yes, you are the heir and it can be good, but remember, there are always responsibilities as well.' Of course, most people would have thought of the trumpets as part of the luxury, but thankfully Carrot wasn't most people.
Sam shook his head and chuckled as his 'uncle' entered the room. Typical of him to answer the trumpets in such an obvious way. 'Yes, there are luxuries and responsibilities that come with the crown but if you'll notice I already have a perfectly serviceable helmet and any extra weight may affect my thinking.' Not even his father had dared come to this event in armour, but Carrot had. Well polished armour, of course, but armour all the same. Sam noticed Vetinari's mouth tighten slightly, then turned his head back to watch the rest of the arrivals.
Surprisingly the whole family had come, even Catherine, all dressed up in a pretty yellow dress. Sam had noticed that little girls were often dressed in yellow. Perhaps it was the only age they would accept the colour. At Carrot's side was Aunt Angua, stunning in a low-cut red dress that suited her figure perfectly. And coming at the rear, laughing at some private joke, came the two oldest, Khye and Raoul, twins, both dressed in royal blue. Sam rolled his eyes at the insinuation, then smiled as he noted that the twin's cockiness had caused them to create a nice entry palette of primary colours, something that their fashion-conscious crowd would make them rue. Aside from Carrot, of course, who was in his own brightly burnished metallic world. Slowly the dancers wheeled by Carrot and his family, each pausing to say hello. Sam sat back and waited to see just how long it would be before the twins could escape.
**(1) There were rather a lot now. Sybil's pregnancy had started a wave of screaming children and harassed parents all over the Ankh side. Lord Vetinari had sent her a rather amused letter of thanks.
(2) He does, but it's not the kind that laughs with the world.
(3) They had the suspicion that their neighbour's properties were better than their own, and after the mess was cleaned up that suspicion was generally proved correct, along with the suspicion that an army and a battering ram at the castle gates will always do more than a battering ram alone.**
After the formalities Carrot proceeded over to Vimes and Vetinari. Vimes couldn't keep his lips from twitching a bit. Even here the copper in Carrot shone through, though he had to admit the uniform accentuated it. He sighed to himself as he considered the uniform. He wished he'd had the idea or the guts to wear his, but truth be told he was starting to get a bit soft, and besides, when it came down to the kind of armour he was expected to wear these days and the clothing Sybil made him wear, he'd take the one that was at least *meant* to look idiotic.
And besides...it was Carrot.
It really was an odd thought that, and Vimes often wondered if anyone else shared it. Take Vetinari, for example, did he wake up in the morning, get faced with a stack of proposals from Carrot that totally changed his plans for the city and just shrug and say, "Shmeh. It's Carrot."
Somehow he doubted it. (5)
Even now, when every other bloody lord in this city basically genuflected when Carrot walked past, Vetinari remained the same as ever. It was a kind of ... antipathy ... Vimes supposed. While Carrot had loads of Charisma, enough to get two armies playing football, Vetinari had none. Carrot could have gotten Ankh Morpork to clean up their act and enter a good citizens competition, and not only would they have won *they would have enjoyed it*. Vetinari couldn't inspire a snail. *Organise* a snail, yes, but not inspire.
And so, Vimes rather hazily figured, whenever they came into contact they kind've ... cancelled each other out. Like a big dark whirlpool, sucking up both of their influences until they could meet square on the playing field and look each other in the eye.
At least, he concluded, they were the only ones who could meet each other's eye. Which he didn't necessarily envy in either of them.
Take right now. Just *looking* at them was giving him the chills. Carrot was smiling and Vetinari had his eyebrows raised and beneath their lack of veneer was an arctic river filled with chunks of fast-flowing ice.
"Interesting outfit, Captain," Vetinari was saying. "However, though it most definitely fits and certainly suits you, I was not aware this was to be a fancy dress party."
"Neither was I, sir," Carrot replied, his honest brow crinkling. "I did have a suit, but I'm afraid it was ruined after I tried to fix the wheel on that coach you so generously provided. It took a while for help to arrive, so I had time to nip back home and change into something cleaner."
"I see. And how close were you to the palace?"
"Only a few blocks sir."
"You run commendably fast, Captain. You don't look back, either, I've heard. I'm sure Rincewind would be proud of you."
"Sir." Rincewind was not Carrot's favourite person.
"You may go, Captain," Vetinari's mouth lifted in a decent attempt at a smile. "This isn't a report, you know."
"Sir." Carrot started to turn.
"Oh, and Carrot?"
"Sir?"
"*Do* try to enjoy yourself."
"Yes sir."
"Hm," said Vetinari to himself. "First time he's given me a positive answer to anything in years."
**(5) Which was entirely correct. Vetinari would never actually say something like that aloud. No, no, those thoughts were kept locked up safely in his head.**
After many bows and curtsies the twins finally managed to extricate themselves and make their way over to where Sam sat. He noticed Raoul wasn't trying very hard. Not that that mattered. Someone and he didn't get on as well as he and Khye did. Raoul seemed to consider himself rather aloof.
Sam grinned at them both as they neared him. "Late as usual, I see," he said.
"Honestly, I *know* you servants aren't meant to know the meaning of punctuality or even common courtesy, but can't you at least make the *attempt*?"
"Skulking, as usual," Raoul said. "Honestly, I know you Lordlings have two left feet which you're always putting in your mouths, but can't you at least make the *attempt*?" Khye finished.
Sam laughed. "Nice. But seriously, why *are* you late?"
Khye shrugged. "The usual. Dogbotherer sent a man to play around with the axle on our coach. It didn't take much to fix, but father made sure he got *filthy* doing it. Had absolutely *no* choice but to go home and get some clean clothes. Typically his 'clean clothes' were his uniform."
"I would have thought he'd just have come running in this direction and made it before us."
"No. I think he's finally realised that this is just going to keep going on until he meets Dogbotherer on his own terms. So he's doing what the man wants, but doing it in a way that shows he understands and isn't a threat."
Sam narrowed his eyes. "Alright, I managed to avoid that the first time you said it by exerting all my powers of ignorance, but now I'm curious. Who exactly does 'Dogbotherer' refer to?"
"Vetinari, of course!"
"Really? And where did you pick that rather crude but slightly amusing nickname up from?"
"What?" Raoul asked. "Don't think we're capable of inventing it ourselves?"
"Actually I was going to say your wit was above it, but if you wish to insult yourself be my guest."
"Please!" Khye said, waving his hands placatingly. "Just calm down!" Both boys looked at him a little oddly, and he smiled rather sheepishly. "Sorry. I just don't want this evening to go badly."
"Your mum?" Sam asked sympathetically.
"Worse," Khye answered.
"Father," Raoul explained.
"Oh." Sam understood. Mothers were bad, but when Fathers got themselves involved you knew one way or another all hell was going to break loose. The best you could do was stave it off for as long as possible.
Khye nodded. "Anyway, you know how Father's always taking us around to see the sites of Ankh-Morpork?"
Sam nodded. He used to be dragged along as well, but thankfully no more.
Unfortunately the boys didn't have his level of freedom.
"Well, this time we were taken to the Assassin's Guild." Sam's ears perked up. Perhaps there was some merit in viewing the civic sites of this great city.
"Anyway, typically we were taken straight to the library, but we figured this time there might actually be something interesting, and there was!" Khye pulled something from his pocket. "There were a couple of old journals lying around, and you won't believe some of the first-class gossip written in these things." He grinned maliciously. "I bet Downey'd pay a fortune to get these back."
Sam shook his head, but he was smiling nonetheless. "I'd watch yourself. You know the kind of trouble you could get in, blackmailing an Assassin?"
"I'll be careful. Anyway, do you want a look or not?"
"Don't be stupid." Sam took the books and started flipping through them. "Of course I want to look."
Raoul stepped forward from the wall he'd been leaning on and said casually, "Well, enjoy yourselves and all that, but I've read them already and, frankly, that's my future wife over there and I'd much rather her delightful company than yours." He walked off with a purposeful gleam in his eye.
The other two watched after him and Sam asked incredulously as he approached a girl, "Does he really mean that? About the wife and all?"
Khye shrugged. "I don't know. He's so obsessed with getting a title of his very own and everything, he could be serious. But I think you'll find he'll dance with more than one girl tonight."
"He's such a Lord," Sam said scathingly, ignoring the irony of the statement. Much of his life was like this, switching between arrogance, playfulness, streetwise and a dozen others. Already he was a successful social chameleon and at this point in time he was going back to his father's roots and the contempt for the upper classes that brought with it. It was often like that when Khye was around.
"Anyway, read it." "I'm reading already."
"You're not reading fast enough!"
"Stop talking and I will!"
There was a moment's pause, then, "Want to see a trick?"
"Whatever." Sam's head didn't lift,
Undiscouraged, Khye continued, weaving his hands intricately. "And then you do this, then this, and then you -"
There was a yelp and Sam lifted up his hand, which was currently closed over that of a little girl in a yellow dress. "And then you break the hand of the sneak who was trying to pickpocket you."
Khye gaped. "You know this one too?"
Sam grinned. "Nobby's my uncle as well you know."
"Wh-"Khye's face grew angry. "He set me up!"
"Probably. You know Nobby."
"Why that little - that little -"
Sam laughed and lifted Catherine up. "Come on Khye," he said. "The banquet's ready. Let's eat."
*smiles* Bon Appetit.
I hope you liked! Will try to get the next chapter up soon.
Anyway, I've finally got something written, and even though I'm not completely satisfied I know if I don't post I'm not going to ever get this done! Oh, and I've noticed the comments about short chapters, so I hope you'll enjoy this longer one!
Now, as thistledemon would say: A word to our sponsers.
BellaShamharoth: Thanks! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
rebecca: I'm glad you liked it, I have to admit the comment about the footnotes was flattering, that's always one of my favourite parts in Pterry's word. As for the pairing, well, that would be telling, wouldn't it? But I'm amused you thought one of them would be Sam. ^.^
Chaos: I'm glad you like it! I'm trying to continue, but it's tough going. XP
Chess: I want to bring forth the slash, I really do, I'm just afraid it's going to be a little subtle for most people's tastes. I'm glad you like Vetinari, and if you aren't familiar with the other characters then GO FORTH AND READ!!! Lol
sacrelicious: I'm really glad you think that, the 'sharp wit' comment, really lifted me up! I'm glad you like that line too, I'm a little proud of that one. XD And don't worry, I won't let it die ... just have a holiday, maybe. ;D
Eagle Lord: Awesome! You reviewed every chapter, thankyou! I like writing Vetinari, he has a certain flair that I wish I possessed, and writing Vimes is just so amusing. If you liked them too then I guess that's a job well done, thanks!
Anyway, thankyou everybody!
Enjoy!
5: A Later Arrival
Sam sat and watched the dancers, brooding. This glorified event designed to allow parents to introduce their young to society and surreptiously match them up with the person they'd be spending the rest of their lives with, though they didn't know it yet, was beginning to bore him. It seemed his original assumption that it was a chance for ladies to coo over their young (1) and show them off to each other was correct, not that it made any difference now. What was aggravating was that he also knew it was a long time coming. Though parents and children had all gotten to know one another in thousands of dinner parties and mother evenings, enough of the 'younglings' were now of age that they could be presented to society without fear of *too* many slip ups. And with the task of being presented to society certain ... tasks ... were expected to be completed, tasks that were watched with great interest, especially if you were the pre-eminent bachelor to be in Ankh-Morpork. Sometimes status could be *so* annoying. He cast his eyes around the room and sighed. Thankfully he did not seem to be required yet.
He downed a glass of wine (more expected than approved of and he knew if his father saw him he'd be in for a hiding that wouldn't necessarily be delayed until he returned home) and thought of all the places he'd rather be than here. But seeing as he was here, and in truth there weren't really many places he enjoyed in the city, he muzzily decided he'd sit it out like a martyr and wait for Khye to appear. Yes. Khye might possibly be able to distract him.
Khye was what his parents would have fondly described as his best friend, had they not been an evil-minded little sod who had floated to the top only because people like to believe Fate has a sense of humour (2) and a woman who was only here because her ancestors had been suspicious. (3) Khye and he were not, could not, ever be best friends, but they understood one another, were similar enough that they could tell each other the things that needed immediate comprehension, and were both smart enough to have a rather important piece of information about each other that the other would rather not get out. And besides, Khye had his mother's sense of humour, one of many things he'd inherited from her, and always knew the latest bit of gossip about anyone.
He smiled as trumpets rang out and another glassful of wine flew down his throat. It was funny how trumpets always seemed to follow his Uncle Carrot around. Of course, it was a public secret that he was actually the heir to the throne and didn't want the job, but Sam had the feeling that Lord Vetinari would rather not take chances. The trumpets were almost like his way of saying 'yes, you are the heir and it can be good, but remember, there are always responsibilities as well.' Of course, most people would have thought of the trumpets as part of the luxury, but thankfully Carrot wasn't most people.
Sam shook his head and chuckled as his 'uncle' entered the room. Typical of him to answer the trumpets in such an obvious way. 'Yes, there are luxuries and responsibilities that come with the crown but if you'll notice I already have a perfectly serviceable helmet and any extra weight may affect my thinking.' Not even his father had dared come to this event in armour, but Carrot had. Well polished armour, of course, but armour all the same. Sam noticed Vetinari's mouth tighten slightly, then turned his head back to watch the rest of the arrivals.
Surprisingly the whole family had come, even Catherine, all dressed up in a pretty yellow dress. Sam had noticed that little girls were often dressed in yellow. Perhaps it was the only age they would accept the colour. At Carrot's side was Aunt Angua, stunning in a low-cut red dress that suited her figure perfectly. And coming at the rear, laughing at some private joke, came the two oldest, Khye and Raoul, twins, both dressed in royal blue. Sam rolled his eyes at the insinuation, then smiled as he noted that the twin's cockiness had caused them to create a nice entry palette of primary colours, something that their fashion-conscious crowd would make them rue. Aside from Carrot, of course, who was in his own brightly burnished metallic world. Slowly the dancers wheeled by Carrot and his family, each pausing to say hello. Sam sat back and waited to see just how long it would be before the twins could escape.
**(1) There were rather a lot now. Sybil's pregnancy had started a wave of screaming children and harassed parents all over the Ankh side. Lord Vetinari had sent her a rather amused letter of thanks.
(2) He does, but it's not the kind that laughs with the world.
(3) They had the suspicion that their neighbour's properties were better than their own, and after the mess was cleaned up that suspicion was generally proved correct, along with the suspicion that an army and a battering ram at the castle gates will always do more than a battering ram alone.**
After the formalities Carrot proceeded over to Vimes and Vetinari. Vimes couldn't keep his lips from twitching a bit. Even here the copper in Carrot shone through, though he had to admit the uniform accentuated it. He sighed to himself as he considered the uniform. He wished he'd had the idea or the guts to wear his, but truth be told he was starting to get a bit soft, and besides, when it came down to the kind of armour he was expected to wear these days and the clothing Sybil made him wear, he'd take the one that was at least *meant* to look idiotic.
And besides...it was Carrot.
It really was an odd thought that, and Vimes often wondered if anyone else shared it. Take Vetinari, for example, did he wake up in the morning, get faced with a stack of proposals from Carrot that totally changed his plans for the city and just shrug and say, "Shmeh. It's Carrot."
Somehow he doubted it. (5)
Even now, when every other bloody lord in this city basically genuflected when Carrot walked past, Vetinari remained the same as ever. It was a kind of ... antipathy ... Vimes supposed. While Carrot had loads of Charisma, enough to get two armies playing football, Vetinari had none. Carrot could have gotten Ankh Morpork to clean up their act and enter a good citizens competition, and not only would they have won *they would have enjoyed it*. Vetinari couldn't inspire a snail. *Organise* a snail, yes, but not inspire.
And so, Vimes rather hazily figured, whenever they came into contact they kind've ... cancelled each other out. Like a big dark whirlpool, sucking up both of their influences until they could meet square on the playing field and look each other in the eye.
At least, he concluded, they were the only ones who could meet each other's eye. Which he didn't necessarily envy in either of them.
Take right now. Just *looking* at them was giving him the chills. Carrot was smiling and Vetinari had his eyebrows raised and beneath their lack of veneer was an arctic river filled with chunks of fast-flowing ice.
"Interesting outfit, Captain," Vetinari was saying. "However, though it most definitely fits and certainly suits you, I was not aware this was to be a fancy dress party."
"Neither was I, sir," Carrot replied, his honest brow crinkling. "I did have a suit, but I'm afraid it was ruined after I tried to fix the wheel on that coach you so generously provided. It took a while for help to arrive, so I had time to nip back home and change into something cleaner."
"I see. And how close were you to the palace?"
"Only a few blocks sir."
"You run commendably fast, Captain. You don't look back, either, I've heard. I'm sure Rincewind would be proud of you."
"Sir." Rincewind was not Carrot's favourite person.
"You may go, Captain," Vetinari's mouth lifted in a decent attempt at a smile. "This isn't a report, you know."
"Sir." Carrot started to turn.
"Oh, and Carrot?"
"Sir?"
"*Do* try to enjoy yourself."
"Yes sir."
"Hm," said Vetinari to himself. "First time he's given me a positive answer to anything in years."
**(5) Which was entirely correct. Vetinari would never actually say something like that aloud. No, no, those thoughts were kept locked up safely in his head.**
After many bows and curtsies the twins finally managed to extricate themselves and make their way over to where Sam sat. He noticed Raoul wasn't trying very hard. Not that that mattered. Someone and he didn't get on as well as he and Khye did. Raoul seemed to consider himself rather aloof.
Sam grinned at them both as they neared him. "Late as usual, I see," he said.
"Honestly, I *know* you servants aren't meant to know the meaning of punctuality or even common courtesy, but can't you at least make the *attempt*?"
"Skulking, as usual," Raoul said. "Honestly, I know you Lordlings have two left feet which you're always putting in your mouths, but can't you at least make the *attempt*?" Khye finished.
Sam laughed. "Nice. But seriously, why *are* you late?"
Khye shrugged. "The usual. Dogbotherer sent a man to play around with the axle on our coach. It didn't take much to fix, but father made sure he got *filthy* doing it. Had absolutely *no* choice but to go home and get some clean clothes. Typically his 'clean clothes' were his uniform."
"I would have thought he'd just have come running in this direction and made it before us."
"No. I think he's finally realised that this is just going to keep going on until he meets Dogbotherer on his own terms. So he's doing what the man wants, but doing it in a way that shows he understands and isn't a threat."
Sam narrowed his eyes. "Alright, I managed to avoid that the first time you said it by exerting all my powers of ignorance, but now I'm curious. Who exactly does 'Dogbotherer' refer to?"
"Vetinari, of course!"
"Really? And where did you pick that rather crude but slightly amusing nickname up from?"
"What?" Raoul asked. "Don't think we're capable of inventing it ourselves?"
"Actually I was going to say your wit was above it, but if you wish to insult yourself be my guest."
"Please!" Khye said, waving his hands placatingly. "Just calm down!" Both boys looked at him a little oddly, and he smiled rather sheepishly. "Sorry. I just don't want this evening to go badly."
"Your mum?" Sam asked sympathetically.
"Worse," Khye answered.
"Father," Raoul explained.
"Oh." Sam understood. Mothers were bad, but when Fathers got themselves involved you knew one way or another all hell was going to break loose. The best you could do was stave it off for as long as possible.
Khye nodded. "Anyway, you know how Father's always taking us around to see the sites of Ankh-Morpork?"
Sam nodded. He used to be dragged along as well, but thankfully no more.
Unfortunately the boys didn't have his level of freedom.
"Well, this time we were taken to the Assassin's Guild." Sam's ears perked up. Perhaps there was some merit in viewing the civic sites of this great city.
"Anyway, typically we were taken straight to the library, but we figured this time there might actually be something interesting, and there was!" Khye pulled something from his pocket. "There were a couple of old journals lying around, and you won't believe some of the first-class gossip written in these things." He grinned maliciously. "I bet Downey'd pay a fortune to get these back."
Sam shook his head, but he was smiling nonetheless. "I'd watch yourself. You know the kind of trouble you could get in, blackmailing an Assassin?"
"I'll be careful. Anyway, do you want a look or not?"
"Don't be stupid." Sam took the books and started flipping through them. "Of course I want to look."
Raoul stepped forward from the wall he'd been leaning on and said casually, "Well, enjoy yourselves and all that, but I've read them already and, frankly, that's my future wife over there and I'd much rather her delightful company than yours." He walked off with a purposeful gleam in his eye.
The other two watched after him and Sam asked incredulously as he approached a girl, "Does he really mean that? About the wife and all?"
Khye shrugged. "I don't know. He's so obsessed with getting a title of his very own and everything, he could be serious. But I think you'll find he'll dance with more than one girl tonight."
"He's such a Lord," Sam said scathingly, ignoring the irony of the statement. Much of his life was like this, switching between arrogance, playfulness, streetwise and a dozen others. Already he was a successful social chameleon and at this point in time he was going back to his father's roots and the contempt for the upper classes that brought with it. It was often like that when Khye was around.
"Anyway, read it." "I'm reading already."
"You're not reading fast enough!"
"Stop talking and I will!"
There was a moment's pause, then, "Want to see a trick?"
"Whatever." Sam's head didn't lift,
Undiscouraged, Khye continued, weaving his hands intricately. "And then you do this, then this, and then you -"
There was a yelp and Sam lifted up his hand, which was currently closed over that of a little girl in a yellow dress. "And then you break the hand of the sneak who was trying to pickpocket you."
Khye gaped. "You know this one too?"
Sam grinned. "Nobby's my uncle as well you know."
"Wh-"Khye's face grew angry. "He set me up!"
"Probably. You know Nobby."
"Why that little - that little -"
Sam laughed and lifted Catherine up. "Come on Khye," he said. "The banquet's ready. Let's eat."
*smiles* Bon Appetit.
I hope you liked! Will try to get the next chapter up soon.