Queen's Own: ok, this chap is gonna start with a bit of a time skip. Sorry if its at all confuzzling at the beginning- all shall become clear!
Iceflame (my loyal muse): She's been lazy and forgetting the disclaimer. Now that I am here, such an oversight shall no longer plague my wonderful readers. The illustrious and great Tamora Pierce owns everything except the Lady Cat.
Queen's Own: He'll go on FOREVER if you let him!
Reviewer Responses
IloveHobbits: you had a couple good points in your reviews. In response to pointing out that it was common knowledge that Alanna and Jon were lovers, I don't think it was. First, they never actually told anybody. If you look at that part, Jonathan points out that Raoul knew, and Raoul basically says cool, but you never actually told me. As to the fiefdom thing, Cat actually is in line to the throne. If all of Jonathan's children were to die, and Jon had no relations, she would be queen after Jonathan. Second, do you really think that Alanna would just let Cat take her fiefdom –and therefore land her with sole responsibility- while Jon was free and happy? If so, you obviously don't know Alanna. Also, conservatives would be freaking out anyways, because Jon and Alanna both are famous for being rather unconventional. Thanks though!!
bubblegum*girl: thx muchly!! Here's your chap!!
treanz-alyce: yours was the 100th review!!!!! (fireworks and happy dancing peeps!!)
Kat: none of Alanna's kids are of Olau, just Pirate's Swoop, so I'm assuming Cat wouldn't be either.
queenofdiamonds1: here's an update!!
Liviania: she does sort of have a knack for that, doesn't she!!
Galadvende: here's another update!! and amen to 'may writer's block never plague you'!!
AJ 4EVA: thanks muchly for the review!!
Wake-Robin: I don't think Jon would have changed that much in becoming a king. I mean, sure, he matured a little, but when peeps make him overly stiff, it annoys me too!!
milky way bar: there's nothing wrong with George!!
Peachy Garlic: straight awesomeness? Wow!! I'm so totally honored!!
dragonobsessed: it doesn't sound rude- I say exactly the same thing!!
Chapter Nine: Court
Cat descended the Queen's Staircase, as the herald announced "Lady Caterin of Pirate's Swoop." Every eye in the ballroom rested on the slender girl dressed in purple silk. After a long –well it was really an argument- between her parents, Gary had pointed out in exasperation that in Tortall, bastards go by their mother's fief. This had set Alanna off again, until Thayet had pointed out that doing that would eliminate some of the more pressing concerns about Caterin's possible inheritance. Alanna had grudgingly agreed to this point. Even so, though she was Caterin of Pirate's Swoop tonight, everyone remembered when the same girl had descended the stairs last night as Caterin of Conte.
Although tonight, I definitely have a better dress, Cat thought wryly, as she crossed the room to spread the elegant, full, purple silk skirts into a deep curtsy at her father's feet. The dress –a gift from Thayet and her father- was beautiful, with a slender bodice leading into a full skirt. The neckline was round, just low enough to be elegant without being revealing, and the sleeves were short and just crossed her shoulder. Her hair was pulled into a knot at the base of her neck –it had just been long enough-, and she wore a very small black opal on a ribbon around her neck, a gift from her combined parents and family.
Her father raised her gently from her curtsey. His blue eyes twinkled as they caught hers. "Welcome to Corus, Lady Caterin," he said, voice carrying to every corner of the room. "Your mother told me this is your first time in the capital."
"It is," she said, pitching her voice so it carried. "I was kept from the capital for all of my fourteen years until now."
"Indeed," he returned. "I trust that you enjoy your time in the capital." He turned to the court. "May I present to you," he said formally. "Lady Caterin of Pirate's Swoop, my daughter." A hush fell over the assembled courtiers.
"And also mine." Alanna spoke up and stepped forward from her place behind the monarchs.
"As she is illegitimate," Jonathan continued. "She is not surpassing Roald for heir. She is taking my Champion's fief."
"Also note," Thayet said, as though thinking of it for the first time. "Any disrespect to either the Lady Caterin or Sir Alanna would be constituted as disrespect to the Crown." Several of the more conservative courtiers paled slightly. The queen smiled, and returned the spotlight to her husband.
"Thank you, my dear," Cat's father said, smiling at his wife. He sat next to her, beckoning for Cat to come and talk to him and the Lioness. After a second, the court burst into excited –if somewhat strained in some quarters- conversation. George approached the throne.
"That," he said, accepting a glass of wine from a roaming squire. "Was well done, Jon."
"Why thank you," Jonathan said, taking a glass as well.
"Mother, Father," Cat said. "Could I go- mingle?"
"Certainly," Jonathan said. "Alanna?"
"By all means," her mother seconded. "Go ahead, Cat. Have fun!" Cat grinned and disappeared into the crowd.
A group of young nobles her age caught her eye and she walked slowly towards them. It was a large group, but several in particular caught her eye. There were a few girls who were obviously straight from the convent- an platinum blond in a low cut icy blue dress and a brunette in a green dress with a more respectable cut seemed to be the two to whom the others deferred. The other two who caught here eye looked to be siblings, a boy and a girl, both with mahogany colored hair. The girl was wearing a very flattering ruby red dress, and the boy was dressed in a dark blue –almost black- tunic and breeches over a saffron colored shirt.
Caterin approached them cautiously. The blond saw her coming and sneered elegantly. "Lady Caterin," she said, making it very clear that she didn't think that Cat was much of a lady at all. "The Lioness' bastard. What are you doing talking to the likes of us? Shouldn't you be in the city talking to your friends at some tavern?" Several of the group broke into forced laughter. The siblings were not among them: the girl fixed her with a look of disgust and the boy raised an eyebrow.
"What about you, Evanjel of Stone Mountain?" the girl asked sweetly. "Shouldn't you be at a brothel somewhere- selling of course." The blonde's eyes –the same color as her dress- narrowed. The boy sighed and touched his sister's arm, murmuring something in her ear. She pulled away from him.
"I don't need your help, Damyin," she said. "Lady Caterin shouldn't have to put up with-" Her words were cut off as her brother laid a hand over her mouth.
"You should not speak that way, Laur," he reprimanded her. He turned to Cat, a smile on his face. "Forgive my sister. She has a temper that often gets the better of her. Though in this situation I can hardly blame her." He glared at the blonde for a minute, before turning back to Cat. "Damyin of Teldran. My twin sister is Laur of Teldran."
"It's very nice to meet you, Damyin," she said politely. "And I'm Caterin."
"Evanjel of Stone Mountain," the blonde said icily. "A blue blood, unlike you." Her cold eyes dared Cat to argue with her.
"Amia of Sisyein," the brunette said, no more welcoming than Evanjel had been. Caterin nodded, a polite smile fixed to her lips. Both girls were from conservative families which would explain their lack of welcome towards her.
"My blood's bluer than yours," Cat said, the corner of her mouth quirking up slightly. "Through my mother's family, I'm of one of the oldest and purest blooded fiefs in Tortall. Through my father, I'm royal." Her raised eyebrow dared Evanjel to argue with her. The blonde sniffed disdainfully.
"No one cares how blue the blood of your family is," she said scornfully. "You're a bastard, which automatically makes you lower than any of us."
"She's still closer to the throne than you," Laur pointed out. Damyin had taken his hand away. Now, he sighed, very much an annoyed and embarrassed sibling.
"But no one wants to marry a bastard," Amia laughed. "I mean- who would want their family's blood sullied like that!" Several of the girls giggled.
"No one wants to marry a bitch, either," Laur taunted. Amia's eyes snapped with barely contained fury.
"Then you'll never snare a husband," she shot back. Damyin sighed and grabbed his sister's arm.
"You know you won't win," he said in an undertone. "Not unless it gets to fists." Laur's eyes flashed.
"Then it will," she replied. Damyin raised an eyebrow.
"With the king not fifty feet away and his daughter standing next to you?" Laur blushed and muttered something. Damyin, content that his sister would stay away from the other two girls, turned to Cat.
"Might I have this dance, Lady Caterin?" he asked, extending a hand. Cat looked him over quickly. Handsome, she thought instantly. Probably about two years older than I. She took his hand and curtsied in response.
"It's Caterin," she said, as he led her onto the dance floor. "Or Cat, even." Damyin smiled, his eyes –a startling, almost unnatural shade of deep blue- meeting hers.
"Then I am Damyin," he said. "Caterin." She smiled. It was nice to be able to talk to people her own age, on equal footing.
"What are you training to be?" she inquired. "You're not a squire-"
"Laur and I are the youngest," he replied. "We have an older brother and an older sister. So, we're pretty much free to do whatever we want with our lives. She –not surprisingly- wants to become one of the Queen's Ladies. I want to join the King's Own." Cat nodded, impressed.
"A Queen's Lady?" She glanced over at the girl in question, dancing with another nobleman several feet away. "That's aiming high."
He shrugged. "That's Laur for you. If she decides she wants something-" He laughed. "She usually gets it. She's so determined, it's fairly amazing." He looked at his sister with obvious affection in his eyes. "If she wants to be one of Thayet's ladies, she won't stop to breathe until she does." Cat laughed.
"Sounds a lot like some of the stories Aunt Rispah used to tell about Mother," she said. Damyin nodded.
"I think they're very much similar in that way," he admitted. Smiling at Cat, he asked, "What do you want to do?"
"I don't know," Cat admitted, laughing a little. "I only found out a week ago who my parents were. I'm still trying to sort that out." Damyin smiled wider.
"Point taken," he said. "What's it been like?"
"They're taking it very well," Cat said, her eyes dancing with amusement. "Nothing has gone flying yet, no one has challenged anyone else to single combat- it's going rather well." As Damyin laughed, she added, "Really, though, it has. And besides finding out that the two most famous people in the kingdom –or infamous, depending- were my parents, I also gained the sweetest little siblings!" Damyin nodded.
"Kali's a sweetheart," he agreed.
"She told me she wants to be a knight," Cat said, eyes dancing. "If Thayet has anything to say about it, she will be, though I'm not sure about Father." Damyin shook his head.
"That sounds too strange," he admitted. "On first name basis with the queen and the king is father." He shook his head. "I'm glad I'm not you." Cat shrugged.
"It has its benefits." Like real friends at last, she thought, staring into Damyin's eyes as they danced. She'd made some enemies true, but maybe Corus wasn't going to be that bad.
Queen's Own: Cheesy ending, I know! But I had to end it somewhere! Hope you guys like!! Until next chap! ~Queen's Own and her faithful muse, Iceflame (who was up very late dictating!!!)