52. Arguing and Other Blood Sports

"Avocato."

Gentle hands on his shoulders raised him, and Avocato lifted his eyes to his father's. Grand Lord Catomar looked uncommonly weary, and concern for his sire replaced Avocato's anxiety about the situation. That same worry was reflected in his father's eyes as he cupped Avocato's face in both hands and scrutinized his youngest son closely. It was clear Catomar had been informed that Avocato had been attacked and injured by another cadet, and he searched Avocato's face for any lingering traces of physical or mental trauma.

"You're well?" Catomar asked softly, still studying him.

"Yes, my lord," Avocato replied in kind. Just as when he'd been a child, his father's mere presence was enough to erase all fears. "Thank you for coming. I am very happy to see you." He wanted rather desperately to ask after his father's well-being but knew this was not the moment. Instead, he leaned in and closed his eyes as Catomar drew him close to touch their foreheads together in the understated display of affection his family used. Avocato felt a pang of remorse for having caused his father any trouble. That was not, would never be, his intent.

His worries were banished when Catomar gave him a small, proud smile. Yellow-green eyes were warm with amusement and indulgence as the grand lord said, "You've caused quite a tempest."

Taking heart at the mild teasing, Avocato said, "Catowba always said I was made to be the scandal."

"Ah, yes. Catowba. You've rather made your elder brother's year. Your eldest brother hasn't come out of his rooms since last night's dinner."

"Overcome by joy, no doubt." Typical and predictable. Catowba had been waiting a decade for this moment and would probably throw a party the next time Avocato was home. Catomar would only see the social aspect of his brother running on all fours, not how it could benefit the military. As usual, it would all be about the future Catomar VII and the family name. If Avocato was really lucky, the first heir of House Cato wouldn't talk to him for a few years. Not that they talked much now. In truth, Avocato thought brother Catomar could go comb grass. He was far more concerned about how his parents would react. "I hope my conduct hasn't caused you or my lady mother any undue distress, my lord."

Catomar gave a tiny shrug. This was neither the time nor place for reprimands of any kind and they both knew it. "You have your reasons? They are sound and well based?"

Though his carefully worded letter had explained all, Avocato nodded. "Yes, my lord."

"And you carried through with all due diligence?"

"As far as I could, my lord. Further, permission was sought and granted." He nodded to where Cataloupe waited by the windows.

"Then I have no complaints, Avocato, and am far more concerned about your health and safety than how you chose to run one race."

He bowed again in formal acknowledgement of this support. Growing up, his father had expected his children to always try and do their best in whatever they attempted. Failure, Lord Catomar believed, was simply discovering what didn't work, and meant it was time to try something different. That formula lead to Avocato trying everything with wild abandon, Catowba trying what intrigued him, and Catomar trying only the things he knew he could do the first time.

Avocato could feel cold orange eyes upon them. He knew perfectly well this whole exchange was for Grand Lord Tigger's benefit. Of course, Tigger knew as much but manners prevented him from saying so aloud. Even if Catomar had been on the verge of disowning Avocato, they still would have staged this play to establish House Cato's public stance on the matter. It was still possible his father's wrath was being held in reserve, but Avocato didn't think so. Most of the wrath in the family was derived from MewMew, and then mostly because she was so protective. Odds were, she was far more interested in ending Yammi than Avocato. So, he was safe. For now.

Catomar looked past his son to the other cadets, then stepped over and put his hands on their shoulders, looking back and forth between them. "Nikos. Kedi, my boys. I was told you were injured as well? Nikos, your tail, is it healed?"

"Yes, sir," said Nikos. "Thank you for asking."

"If either of you need anything at all, just tell my son. We'll see to it immediately."

"Thank you, Lord Catomar," said Kedi with a slight bow, clearly well aware of Tigger's burning eyes upon him. Kedi was, after all, the reason Lady Clawdia had broken off marriage negotiations with Tigger's eldest son. "That is most generous."

There came a quiet grumble, and Tigger let out an annoyed sound as he rose. Catomar paid his simmering no mind, saying, "Not at all. I'm just glad I'll be able to tell her ladyship you both are well. She's very anxious after hearing what happened."

"Perhaps," said Lord Tigger, his very lack of emotion betraying his impatience, "we could actually discuss the real reason we're here, Lord Catomar?"

Catomar paused, then gave their shoulders a quick squeeze before turning to Tigger. They were of an age but had little else besides the title of grand lord in common.

"Lord Tigger. This is why I'm here. My youngest son was physically assaulted and injured during the course of a school event, as were his two closest friends. What more reason could I possibly have or need?"

"Your son had disgraced himself and this academy," stated Tigger, bypassing manners and introductions and going straight to the attack.

"Strong words, cousin," murmured Maredo in warning, but he went ignored.

"Really?" Catomar questioned, suddenly cool. He looked to Avocato. "If disgrace is to be attributed, I feel it should be dispensed to the students who saw fit to attack my son and his friends for trying something different. Do you feel disgraced, Avocato?"

"In no way, my lord," Avocato replied instantly. He looked to his friends. "Nikos? Kedi?"

"Why would I feel disgraced for winning?" wondered Nikos, twisting the knife.

Kedi folded his arms, not backing down. "Ice running is an integral part of my culture and a necessary survival technique of the Far North. I see less than no cause for disgrace, Lord Catomar."

"Well, then."

That was all. The matter was ended as far as House Cato was concerned. Catomar was still, calmly waiting for the inevitable argument.

"You call that winning?" snapped Tigger, fixing the cadets with a sneer.

"Did someone finish in better time than us?" asked Avocato, forgoing the polite honorifics normally called for when speaking to a grand lord. The omission would be noted, he knew, but let it. Avocato was not about to forget Tigger had labeled him a disgrace to house and school. He looked to Cataloupe. "Sir?"

"No, cadet," said Cataloupe with obvious pride. "Your team's race time broke all school records."

"Thank you, sir. Yes, Lord Tigger, I call that winning. Perhaps you have a different definition of the word."

Oh, he was being impertinent, but it was no less than Tigger deserved. The man had come all this way from Riax for - what? He had no authority in the academy, and yes, he could ask the incident to be investigated, but since his son had no direct involvement outside of being motivation for several of the attackers, he could not insist on an investigation like Catomar could. He must have known an investigation was happening regardless. Had he shown up simply to yell at them? Or had he shown up expecting to see another award ceremony where his son and his team were given top honors for this event, only to find out a pack of rebels had snatched victory away?

"I do," growled Tigger, his eyes narrowed as he fixed his glare on Avocato. That was fine with Avocato. Better him than Nikos. "It involves hard work and following the established rules."

There it was. He was looking for a return on his investment. He had paid a lot for Tiggo's running coaches and had anticipated yet another track victory for his son. This was clearly a man who felt entitled, and did not like to share.

"Then our definitions align," Avocato replied. It was not lost on him that his father was letting him fight this battle, and he felt a surge of gratitude and protectiveness. "My team and I worked very hard. Ice running was challenging to to get used to. I especially had difficulties since I had to overcome the inherent prejudice towards ice running I had acquired from a lifetime of privilege. As for following the established rules, well, I had our family lawyers put the academy rules and regulations, code of conduct, oath, history, and case law under an electron microscope so to speak, along with the rules for the Smilodon Relay. They established, and my lord father can confirm this, that utilizing ice running during the course of this race does not break any academy rules, and in fact upholds the service oath and code of conduct."

"Ah, yes," said Catomar, reaching into the pocket of his coat. He produced a data strip, which he passed to Cataloupe. "That reminds me. Colonel, this is a copy of all related documents and findings from my lawyers. I thought Commodore Leoni might want it. It's quite thorough."

"Thank you, Lord Catomar," said Cataloupe. "I'm sure the commodore will find it extremely useful."

Lord Tigger looked as if he wanted to snatch the strip clean out of Cataloupe's hand and grind it to dust under his boot heel. He turned his orange-eyed glare back to Avocato, letting his disgust be known.

"You've spat upon your privilege with this lowly conduct."

Nikos frowned, and Avocato could instantly tell his friend had had enough of this man and his ego. When he spoke, Nikos' accent was deliberately thickened. "Didn't Tiggo win the Smilodon our first year here, Cato? And then two years before that? Is no one else allowed to win?"

It was the one who asked more so than the question that ignited Tigger's temper, even though the question hit the target dead center. He looked at Nikos with something like revulsion, his emotion overruling his reason. "This is the sort of provincial you allow you son the consort with, Catomar? Small wonder we've come to this shameful debacle! That's Lord Tiggo to you, peasant!"

Had he tossed a grenade into the room, Tigger could not have generated a more horrified reaction out of everyone present. Maredo was on his feet and Cataloupe let out a low, "I say, sir!" at his students being insulted before him. Avocato and Kedi tensed, ready to create a barrier of their own bodies between their friend and Tigger's wrath. Lord Catomar looked at his peer as if he'd lost his senses along with his manners.

Everyone reacted, that is, except Nikos, who did not so much as twitch as he stood his ground. Instead, in a display of exactly what sort of officer he'd someday make, Nikos calmly replied, "You allow your son to consort with cadets who gave my friend a concussion and broke my tail. This debacle, as you call it, is not of our doing."

Like Avocato, he omitted the usual honorifics and kept his gaze fixed on Tigger. Avocato was very familiar with the expression on Nikos' face and knew not only was his friend supremely offended, but he would not back down. Not without a direct order from Cataloupe, and by the looks of things, the colonel was perfectly content to let Nikos cross wits with the man foolish enough to call him a peasant. The adults in the room couldn't know it, but this was when Nikos was his most dangerous, and he would approach this situation like a duel to the death. It had taken Avocato a solid year of living with this spitfire and being on the academy's debating team to realize Nikos viewed arguing the same way Avocato saw thimbles and martial arts - as a full-contact sport. He actively enjoyed and was very good at verbal sparring, though he knew when to turn it on and off. Right now, after hearing this man belittle his friends and him, Nikos was locked in, and the battle lines were drawn.

"If you engage in provocative conduct, you cannot blame the students for responding in kind," sneered Tigger.

Avocato mentally upgraded from full-contact to blood sport when Nikos frowned and said,

"Yes, I can. The academy has channels for addressing provocation and disputes. Utilizing them or not is a choice. Besides, it's my understanding that when gentlemen differ," and he nodded towards his friends, "they do so civilly without resorting to violence, threats, or name-calling," Nikos fired back, in full debate mode. "All of which we have encountered in abundance since yesterday."

Ice settled upon Tigger. "You are no gentleman."

Unruffled, Nikos gestured with an open palm. "You make my argument for me."

Like Tigger's bombshell of an insult, Nikos' counter took them all aback. With six words, he essentially buried the grand lord up to his neck.

"Colonel Cataloupe," ground out Tigger, not shifting his gaze from Nikos as he drew himself up. Almost as tall as Avocato, he towered over Nikos. "Is this what the cadets of this academy are taught?"

"To fight their own battles?" asked Cataloupe. "Yes."

"To steal another student's glory."

"Is it stealing to fairly take what's been hoarded?" asked Nikos. "Tiggo's team still finished first for the fifth-years and is second overall for the academy. Again, I ask you, is no one else allowed to win the Smilodon?""

"I was not speaking to you," hissed the grand lord.

But Nikos saw his opening and took it. "Except to accuse me of theft, and my team with me. Is that not the real reason you're here?"

It was. It so clearly was. Avocato realized the grand lord had been blindsided by his son not winning the relay as expected. He expected a celebration with his son as the focus and instead found his bragging rights had been snatched away. It was hard to say now what, if any, award ceremony they might expect, even though Tiggo's team would still be a part of it. Tigger had not expected to be challenged so fiercely and was not used to being defied by a commoner – one much younger than him, no less - who was far sharper than he could have anticipated. Avocato was not overly familiar with ranking for the fifth-year class, but he suspected cousin Tiggo was reliant more on the physical aspect than the academic for his standing and reputation. Nikos was a proving to be a far bigger mouthful than Grand Lord Tigger was used to biting off, and far more than the nobleman could swallow in one sitting.

"It is not your place to question me, cadet," Tigger snapped, his contempt genuine even if it was wasted on Nikos.

Nikos frowned. "Why not?"

Incredulity and offense at being thus addressed visibly swept through Tigger's lanky frame, and his eyes were practically aglow with fury as he spat, "I will be speaking to Commodore Leoni about this, Colonel. Commodore." He nodded to Moredo and swept out of the room, ignoring House Cato and their allies.

For a long moment, no one moved as they all processed what had just happened. Then Maredo ducked his head, trying not to laugh. Drawing a deep breath, Nikos slowly turned to Kedi and Avocato with a wry little smile, his eyes bright with satisfaction.

With a happy whoop, Avocato seized his friend in a tight hug, laughing aloud. Kedi piled on, hanging onto both of them. They made a tight knot, rocking and laughing and talking all at once. For a few moments, they celebrated as they had not been allowed to celebrate their relay race.

Finally, coming back to the situation, Avocato gave a short bow to his relatives. "My lords. Apologies. I know he is our cousin."

Catomar smiled and shook his head, unconcerned. Maredo brushed aside his worries. "Being related doesn't make him any less an ass, Avocato. He came here solely to intimidate and try to get you disqualified. He did not anticipate an enemy with such tactical and logistical superiority." He grinned broadly at Nikos, thoroughly impressed. "Nikos, have you considered becoming a lawyer?"

Nikos laughed in response. Avocato gave his roommate a playful shove. "Try living with him."

"My apologies for allowing that to go on so long," Cataloupe said. "He arrived this early this morning and took up a full hour of Commodore Leoni's time when he found out what happened. I'm sure she'll be delighted to learn you were well able to defend yourselves. Though she told Lord Tigger the race times were final, he refused to accept her decision. I thought the counterarguments were best coming from you cadets, though no one could have foreseen so stunning a performance from our good Cadet Nikos," he said with an expansive gesture towards Nikos.

"Well," said Maredo brightly, clapping his hands together, "family drama always leaves me with an appetite. And if I'm hungry, you cadets must be famished. Colonel Cataloupe, would there be any issue with me and the grand lord kidnapping these young men for a quick bite to eat?"

Cataloupe smiled. "Get them back to my office in two hours, and they're yours."

"Done."