A Keith Claes Interlude

When Keith had woken up to the sound of rain to find his sister– and Anne– gone, he'd sighed, but had though she's simply gone off to visit Maria Campbell or something.

When she didn't return by dinner or by midnight, however, he knew the worst had finally happened.

The ADVERSARY And Enemy Of The Alliance had kidnapped his sister, absconded with her to the castle, and was having his way with her so he could force Katarina to marry him!

Blast it, if only Keith hadn't held his urges back and done it first!

This and other thoughts filled Keith's head as he took his carriage through the rain to finally have the confrontation with The ADVERSARY And Enemy Of The Alliance that had been long in coming, using his Earth Magic to harden the road ahead of him so he wouldn't be slowed down by mere wet dirt. He probably should have called the other members of the alliance, like Mary and Sophia and literally everyone else, but there were somethings a brother had to do by himself. Killing an evil prince to save your sister and finally get her to see you as a man not related by blood so that she'd realize your non-filial love for her was one of them!

He gripped his sword, the same sword his father had given him a few years ago once. Years of practicing with Katarina had given him a swordman's hands, and while he didn't have his sister's sturdy defense, he was much better at rolling than she was. He knew it would take every last measure of skill he had to defeat The ADVERSARY And Enemy Of The Alliance and then fight his way out of the castle with his sister! Hopefully it would be enough.

"– Stuart!" he called out as he entered the door, so that at least Alan would know Keith wasn't here for him. He was unarmed– why did he keep forgetting he had to leave behind his sword before entering the castle since he wasn't a knight?– but the castle was stone, there wasa garden just outside the window and he had Earth Magic. He'd find a way. "Face me, you black-hearted kidnapper!"

"Good morning to you too, Keith," The ADVERSARY And Enemy Of The Alliance said dryly. "Please, make yourself comfortable. Try one of the muffins, I've been trying to replicate one of Maria's recipes and failing miserably. The kitchen staff still hasn't cracked the secret."

"I don't want failed Maria muffins!" Keith declared as he grabbed one and bit into it. Yup, definitely not as good as one of Maria's. "Awh ahm hweew foh JHUSTISH!"

"Chew, then talk Keith, you're not Katarina who can talk with her mouth full," Alan said. "What did he do this time? You haven't strode into the castle intent on striking my brother down since… huh. Since we entered the Academy. Has it really been so long?"

Keith finished swallowing. "It has!" he declared. "But not long enough! What did you do to Katarina, you… you…"

"Wow, it's been so long you're out of practice with insults," The ADVERSARY And Enemy Of The Alliance said. "Want to take a minute to think it over?"

Keith gave it up as a bad attempt and called on his Earth Magic. The soil and stones from the nearby decorative plants flew to his hand, compressing into a dirt and stone sword, various rocks making up a toothy edge.

"Abyss consume all, Keith! Now they won't let me keep houseplants in my room for years," The ADVERSARY And Enemy Of The Alliance sighed. "I hope you're happy. I've found I like having some plants around, and you just ruined it!"

"I don't care!" Keith said. "Anything to free Katarina from your vile, black-hearted clutches, you dangly of a curse-rotten greatwood! Where is she?"

"I don't know, I haven't been to see her yet," The ADVERSARY And Enemy Of The Alliance said. "We've sort of been busy."

"Liar!" Keith snapped, holding up his dirt sword dramatically. "You expect me to believe that she doesn't come home or even send word that she's staying over at Maria's. and you're not somehow involved? I know you kidnapped my sister!"

The two princes stared at him. Then they both began cursing and calling for their stewards and spies.

"Put that down, you idiot," Alan said, using Water Magic to create a high-pressure stream and cut off the earthen blade as The ADVERSARY And Enemy Of The Alliance began swearing, calling for search parties to be sent out and alternately castigating his spies for not realizing Katarina had been kidnapped AGAIN and telling them to find her. "Are you SURE she's been kidnapped?"

"She missed dinner last night, breakfast this morning and hasn't sent a message telling us if she's sleeping over with anyone," Keith said, sighing in annoyance as he let the earthen hilt dissolve. Stupid incompressible water magic cutting up his dirt and rocks!

"Hex it, she's been kidnapped," Alan swore. "You go tell Nicol, I need to break this to Mary. She's not going to be happy…"

"Where's Maria?" Keith said. "Maria can find her."

"Maria's mother was abducted by a Dark Magic wielder," Alan said. "She's gone on a quest to rescue her."

"Hex it! The worst possible time for Maria's mother to be kidnapped!" Keith said.

"Katarina's been kidnapped, so to save your life I won't tell Maria you said that," Alan said.

…

"Yes, that was wrong of me to say," Keith mumbled.

Alan sighed, muttering about lovesick idiots. "Look, go home. Tell your parents, your father can mobilize the duchy's resources. You didn't even tell them, did you?"

Keith winced. "No," he mumbled again. He'd been so convinced…

"Well, turn around and go do it," Alan said. "Cool down. Then meet us at the Ministry, we can pool our resources there."

Unable to muster any sensible objection, Keith nodded again, heading out to do as he'd been told, even as worry began to gnaw at his heart…

A quick carriage ride later, a sick to his stomach, Keith found himself in front of the doors to his father's study. He hadn't been able to find his mother, and he supposed she'd gone to meet with other ladies. At least he'd been able to put off that meeting.

Taking a deep breath, he knocked on his father's door.

"Come in!"

"Father…?" Keith said as he entered to find his father at his desk, surrounded by paperwork. "I'm afraid I have terrible news."

"Oh no," his father, the Duke Luigi Claes, moaned. "Don't tell me, it's not ogres again is it? Please, don't tell me it's ogres! Lie to me if necessary!"

"It's not ogres," Keith said dutifully, glad to be able to spare his father that.

"Oh, praise the sun," his father sighed in relief. "Currently absent as it is. Okay, you can tell me the truth now. It is ogres, right?"

"No, it's really not ogres," Keith said. He took a deep breath. "It's Katarina, father. Something has happened to her."

His father frowned. "Oh, were the rains too fierce? Did your mother and Katarina have to turn around and cancel their trip to the Duchy of Hasard?"

Keith blinked. "What?"

"A pity," his father said. "Your mother had really been looking forward to introducing Katarina to her side of the family. She's been exchanging letters with them for months, making happy faces she usually only made when I used my tongue to–"

"Father, too much information!" Keith cried.

"Oh, sorry Keith," his father said, abashed. "I should probably comfort her and–"

"Father, are you telling me Katarina and mother are gone because they're on a journey to see relatives?" Keith said. "And not because Katarina's been kidnapped?"

"Why would Katarina be kidnapped?" the duke said, confused. "Wait, didn't you know your mother and Katarina were leaving?"

"No, this is the first I've heard of it," Keith said.

"Oh…" the duke said. "Well, I'm sorry you weren't told Keith, I assumed your mother or Katarina would have told you. Still, at least she hasn't been kidnapped."

"Yes…" Keith said nervously, realizing things were going to be very embarrassing at the ministry later…

Maybe he should stay home and not attend?

A Millidiana Claes Interlude

"By the way Katarina, how did Keith take it when you told him we were going with me to the Duchy of Hasard to meet the Adeth side of the family?" Mili asked.

Katarina blinked at her. "Eh? I thought you were going to tell him, mother!"

They exchanged awkward looks.

"Surely father would have told him, right?" Katarina said nervously. "I mean, it wasn't exactly a secret."

"Yes, I'm sure someone informed him before he noticed you hadn't been showing up for meals," Mili said, equally nervous.

Katarina laughed self-consciously. "Ah, I hope he doesn't think I was kidnapped!"

Mili joined her. "Well, it has happened before… but no, someone would surely have told him before it came to that."

They exchanged nervous laughs as their carriage continued its journey through the rain…