Chapter Nine: All Before Breakfast
Creatures of routine that they were, Avocato and Nikos were awake at their usual early morning hour. Without mercy, they roused Kedi and, after many a moan and groan, made him go for a jog with them.
"At least there's no drill," promised Nikos.
"We'll get breakfast after," added Avocato.
"With all the forks you could want."
"Such priorities," groaned Kedi, falling out bed.
The grounds were cool and quiet as they jogged, and Avocato lead them along the garden-lined avenues to the main gates of the estate. Pausing to catch their breath and stretch, Nikos asked,
"Can we go back the same way? I'd like to see that pond we passed a bit closer."
His friends exchanged a look.
"How close?" demanded Kedi suspiciously.
"Mmmm . . . very?"
"You want to go swimming," concluded Avocato, realizing his friend had been denied his favorite sport for the better part of a year.
"I might," admitted Nikos coyly. "Would anyone mind?"
"Only the authorities who have to come arrest you for being insane," Avocato replied.
Nikos grinned and set off at a run. "Let's go!"
The pond was a serene and picturesque setting, as manicured as the rest of the grounds, with ancient trees and tall, flowering grasses growing at the edges. Avocato lead them to a small dock jutting into the misty water. Curious water birds, some wild, some tame, drifted by as Nikos crouched down, gauging the depth. The water was clear and still and –
"It's going to be cold," warned Avocato as Nikos happily removed his shirt and shoes.
"Water is a different sort of cold," insisted Nikos dismissively.
"You won't say that where I come from," breathed Kedi, hardly able to believe a somewhat mature Ventrexian was actually going to immerse themselves on purpose. It was unheard of. "If you start to drown, I promise to watch."
Trailing his hand in the water, Nikos rolled his eyes. "Please. Avocato could almost walk across to the other side and his ears would stay dry."
"No, he couldn't," insisted Avocato.
"That's enough." Nikos shook his head and pointed, vowing, "You're coming to Vel Pitten and I am going to teach both of you how to swim. You made me learn how to dance, Avocato! The least you can do is learn how to swim."
Avocato's protests were cut off. There was justice in that argument. Kedi grinned and took up the challenge. "And after that, I'll show you how to run an ice field, and hunt snow cloud flickers. Agreed?"
"Agreed," said Avocato with a smile.
"Agreed!" Nikos called, and throwing his arms wide, fell backwards into the pond with a happy whoop and a tremendous splash. Open-mouthed, caught midway between horror and amusement, they watched as Nikos glided underwater, as agile as the little silver fish darting about.
"I don't want to do that," admitted Kedi.
"You didn't want to dance, either."
A garbled sound of despair escaped Kedi's throat at the notion of so much liquid water. They watched for a few minutes as Nikos indulged himself. He could move astonishingly fast on the surface and below it. True to form, Avocato was shifting from horrified to intrigued.
"What the hell are ye doing, ye young, damned fool! Ye'll drown!" shouted a furious voice. "Get out! Get out of there before ye drown, ye daft idiot!"
"Ooooh, the gardener!" yelped Avocato in alarm, scrambling back the way they'd come. He dashed around the pond to intercept the feisty old Ventrexian heading their way. Skidding to a halt on the dew-damp grass, Avocato held up both hands. "No! No! Tatari, it's all right!"
He pointed at Nikos splashing about. "Lad's fallen in the wet, he has!"
"No, no! He jumped!"
"Suicide?" Tatari demanded, scandalized.
"What? No! He's swimming!"
The grizzled old face twisted into an expression of the deepest revulsion. "Swimming?" He looked again, and the scandal increased tenfold. Somehow swimming was worse than murder or suicide. "On purpose? What are they teaching ye at that academy, boy? Next ye'll be running on all fours!"
Suddenly struck by the ridiculousness of the situation, Avocato burst out laughing. "It's good to see you again, Tatari. Come meet my friends."
"Are they all so crazy as that one?" he wondered, letting Avocato lead him along. "Haven't infected ye, have they?"
"Not too badly. I can make a bed now."
"Not as well as Master Catomar, I warrant," he muttered with a wry smile.
Avocato grinned at mention of that open secret. "No one's as good as my brother."
Kedi was hauling Nikos onto the dock when they arrived. Already skin and bones, Nikos' stark leanness was exacerbated by being waterlogged, and despite his broad smile, he looked rather pathetic.
"Do they not feed ye?" Tatari demanded, horrified anew. He eyed Kedi, who was trying to figure out what to do about his wet hand, and gave his arm a smack. "Leave something for this toothpick, boy!"
Nikos laughed, stepping back to give himself a good shake. Water droplets flew wide as he shook from head to tail, fluffing up fur and producing shouts from all of his companions as they got doused.
"Is everything set for the wedding?" asked Avocato after introductions were made.
The old gardener shrugged. "Most all. Just some last minute fripperies and gewgaws for me and the boys to set up."
"Need any help?"
A slow, fond smile was his answer. "Haven't changed a hair, have ye, Master Cato? Can't just watch. Come on, then, lads! Three strong backs are always useful."
They spent the next hour helping the gardeners move and arrange furniture and decorations on the patios before heading in to eat. The household was waking up by now, and there were more people milling about.
"When I get married, there will be none of this bother," swore Avocato as they went to clean up and change. "I hope whomever my parents pick for me just wants a quiet life."
"Wait – what?" exclaimed Nikos, stopping midway up the stairs. "You expect your parents to pick out who you marry?"
Avocato blinked, shocked at his shock. "Yes. Of course. I'm in the military. I haven't got time to find a suitable wife."
"What if she finds you? Or you fall in love with someone?"
"They'll take it into consideration." He was as astonished as Nikos. "You mean you won't have an arranged marriage?"
"I'll marry for love. If I get married."
"If?" Avocato blinked and glanced at Kedi. "You're not required to get married?"
"Re- What?"
"Part of having and keeping a title is producing a legitimate heir for said title. So, yes, Nikos, I am obligated to marry and have children."
Nikos stared, slack-jawed. Finally, he managed, "Kedi. Help."
"This is the best thing I've ever witnessed," said Kedi, thoroughly enjoying the culture clash.
"No help at all."
Chuckling as Nikos tried to battle millennia of tradition, Kedi gestured with both hands. "I'm on Cato's side with this, my friend. Who knows what we need better than our mothers?"
Smacking his head, Nikos groaned. "What are you? Children?"
"To our mothers, yes!" Avocato pulled him into a one-armed hug, laughing.
"What about love?"
"It will follow," Kedi assured him.
"Come on, Nikos!" exclaimed Avocato. "We'll find you a beautiful wife who wants a dozen blue-eyed children!"
"Short, blue-eyed children," corrected Kedi, closing in from the other side.
"With lots of teeth!"
Another groan escaped Nikos. "Still with the teeth, Avocato! Get over it!"
"Never!"
"Avocato!"
They all looked up the stairs at the sound of a woman's voice on the landing above. A tall young woman, too thin for her height, was looking down her nose at them and their roughhousing. She boasted with very short, gray fur and slanting green eyes in a long face, and sharp cheekbones. The expression she wore was haughty and cool and . . . angry.
"I'll meet you in my rooms," Avocato said rather than introduce his friends. He knew what this was about and did not want to expose them to an affront. Sensing his reluctance, they went on ahead, but not without a moment's hesitation. When they were out of sight, Avocato angled up the stairs to meet her. He forced himself to smile thinly as he said,
"Cordata. How are you, dear cousin?"
"What are you doing?" she demanded, ignoring his greeting.
He thought for a moment. "Talking to you, entertaining my friends, visiting my ancestral home for my brother's wedding, and attending the Royal Military Academy. Take your pick."
"You know Lady Clawdia overheard your friend yesterday," she snapped. "What are you playing at?"
"I'm playing at nothing, Cordata," he replied, offended – but not surprised - she would accuse him so. "Kedi danced with the lady. He found her beautiful. Can you honestly say there's not a one of those ladies in the dining room yesterday who wouldn't want to hear her graces sung to the heavens like that?"
She glared. "I have been Lady Clawdia's lady-in-waiting since she was eleven. All her life, men have called her beautiful because they know she's a grand heiress. They see wealth and titles, not a young woman who's conscious of every shortcoming and flaw, who's constantly compares herself to the beautiful women around her. She heard everything he said! He noticed things about her she hadn't even noticed herself, and he saw her in ways she's never imagined. What did you tell him about her?"
"Nothing, Cordata! I told him nothing. As far as Kedi knows, Clawdia is just one of my cousins who was kind enough to help him learn to dance."
"She is terrified that anyone who sees her as he did might be trying to use her!"
Anger seized him. "Do you really think so little of me?"
"You've never disappointed on that account in the past."
"Still looking for the negative in every situation, eh? Your suspicions do you no credit. Clawdia is my cousin too, and I have the same responsibility to protect her as you do. Do you actually think I would befriend someone who would do such a thing? Bring them to my home? Introduce them to my lady mother?" he demanded, matching her fierceness.
"So you have limits?"
"Clearly defined ones. Do you? Or do you assume anyone who shows the least attention to Clawdia couldn't possibly find her beautiful because she doesn't match some ridiculous standard set by other people? Some people care about more than titles and wealth." It was a low blow, but well earned and he didn't care at this point. Angry, he climbed the last step to face her directly. Five years his senior, she was almost as tall as he, which was why they had been dance partners in Madama Mayka's classes for years. That was the only reason he knew her so well, and dancing was the only thing they did well together. Cordata's father had married twice, and it was her stepmother who had brought wealth to House Cordon. Compared to her stepsister and half-sister, Cordata had little by was of wealth or influence, which was why she served Clawdia. "I've seen holos of Kedi's family. They're all built just like him. Even his mother. Clawdia is exactly what would appeal to someone from the Far Reaches. And he would not have said any of it if he didn't mean it." He shook his head, at a loss. "Kedi finds her beautiful. And I find your accusations against me and my friend insulting. Good day, cousin."
He turned to go, and Cordata snapped, "Lady Clawdia also told me what your other little friend said about my sister. A farmer? Really, Avocato?"
Avocato glared over his shoulder, in no mood to engage her in another round but not about to ignore her disdain. "Not a farmer, a cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Cordata, and a future officer," he corrected sharply. "Any woman would be fortunate to secure Nikos. He's worth any ten men here."
"Including you?" she sneered, meaning to insult him.
As if being compared to Nikos could ever be a bad thing. He smirked and said, "And you, lady," before heading down the stairs, leaving her to glower and seethe and hopefully reassess. He tried to stave off a foul mood as he made his way through the halls, refusing to let her spoil his enjoyment of the day. Back at his suite, he paused for a moment outside the rooms to collect himself and rein in his emotion. He was met at the door by Kedi, resplendent in his uniform.
"Ha!" Kedi cried, slapping his sides before turning this way and that. "Look, Little Cato! Such a fit! The handsome hunter just got better! Who knew it was possible?"
Called Nikos from the next room, "We managed to amuse the maids, Cato."
"Oh?"
"We made our beds," Kedi laughed. "Nikos gets top score again."
"Have you seen our uniform boots?" asked Nikos.
"The black ones?" wondered Avocato automatically.
Nikos leaned his pointy head around the corner. "I'm going to stab you. Yes, the black ones! How many pairs of uniform boots do you think we own, Avocato?"
Their banter was just what he needed to dispel the lingering irritation Cordata had roused within him. Avocato laughed. "I'm sure they're being polished. We'll get them back soon." He joined them in the main room, enjoying the pleasure both cadets were getting from sharply tailored uniforms before the large mirrors. "Stop preening! You both look lovely, but I'm starving and you can't wear uniforms without boots. Get changed and let's eat!"