drakensis
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Spreading Shadows
The power of love is a curious thing
Make a one man weep, make another man sing
The power of love is a curious thing
Make a one man weep, make another man sing
~ Huey Lewis
Chapter 1
We ought to fear a man who hates himself, for we are at risk of becoming victims of his anger and revenge. Let us then try to lure him into self-love. ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
“These claims of dark magic affecting the fleet are nonsense.” Malcolm Fou Frampton shook his head sorrowfully. “I remind the council that my ministry has had a dark mage in captivity for some time now and while he’s certainly dangerous when it comes to the ill-prepared, we’ve had nothing to suggest it can do anything on the scale that Lord Redgrave and Lord Bartford report.”
And hopefully no one would want access to the damned man. Frampton was setting up a cover-story for how the man had died under interrogation, but it’d be another week or two before he could plausibly make the claim without being tied to it if the mage turned up again. His escape was infuriating - the more so as he wasn’t sure if Brode had managed it alone or with help.
“Are you suggesting that they’ve lied to us?” Count Arclight was as sharp as his sword, lean and deadly. His eyes, locked upon the older man, spoke of duels and deathblows.
Good old Malcolm shook his head in sympathy. “No, no. Nothing like that. But they’re both very young, and with respect to Lord Redgrave, I could understand stretching the truth a little to cover for his father’s errors.”
“I wonder if you’d be saying the same if Duke Redgrave was in condition to attend this meeting,” the count asked flatly.
“If he was then we’d not be having to deal with reports from a pair of youngsters who were clearly in over their heads.”
The queen gave Frampton a gimlet stare. “I’ll remind you, Marquis, of the last time that you under-estimated Lord Bartford.”
Behind his veneer, the marquis would have liked nothing more than to slap the smug expression off the foreign woman’s face. Except perhaps to see young Bartford dragged in front of a block to have his head taken off. How the letters had been replaced was still a mystery. How he’d somehow got copies of letters Frampton had burned with his own hands was a greater one.
But this was no time for that and letting that matter rise again would be a terrible error. Not a mistake he could afford when playing for these stakes. “I am beginning to admire the young man in question, your highness. He duelled Sir Vandel Him Zenden to a standstill. Only one other knight alive - if the mysterious Masked Knight of our last war is indeed still alive - can be said to have done as much. But Lord Bartford… Perhaps to become Sir Leon at the next opportunity, he certainly merits the accolade for that alone? …he was commanding the escorts for the supply ships so he wasn’t in a position to see this alleged dark magic first hand.”
“I believe,” he continued, “That what we are dealing with here is more simply explained. Duke Redgrave was disinclined for whatever reason to wait until Marchioness Dieke and I had the time to assemble our levies to reinforce his forces. He attacked too soon, without assembling sufficient forces and without gathering enough information.” And he’d let people draw their own conclusions about why the Duke had decided to do that.
“It’s easy to blame someone that isn’t here.”
Duke Auld Rafa Ades leant forwards. “Count Arclight, blame is not really what we should focus on. Let us deal with the facts. Princess Hertrude’s fleet has defeated ours. Whether or not Duke Redgrave was at fault or not, he is in no position to rally his forces for a second attempt. In fact, barely a quarter of his warships have returned and the enemy’s losses appear to have been significantly lower. They might well have been negligible if it were not for Count Seberg’s heroism.”
Good, Frampton thought. Praise the dead man, it takes credit away from Redgrave. Ades was dull but he could remember advice. And Augustus Fou Seberg had been a friend of King Roland, of Count Arclight and of Viscount Marmoria. The three of them were naturally predisposed to think well of him.
“The question is, what do we do now?” observed the queen. “I’m not prepared to discount the claims of dark magic. Quite a number of other lords returning with the fleet have supported Lord Redgrave and Lord Bartford’s reports.”
“I have no doubt that monsters were involved.” Marchioness Dieke was the only woman present except for the queen. “Fanoss is known to have lost items that allow them some control over monsters. This may be some new device or some new aspect of a lost item that we haven’t seen before, but the idea that they can simply turn people into monsters is… unlikely. Some degree of caution is merited through. Another disaster like this one could leave the kingdom’s core open to direct attack. None of us want that.”
“The fact that the Fanoss fleet hasn’t moved from Field suggests that they’re digging in,” Frampton picked up smoothly. “Has there been any more news from the barons and viscounts along the border?”
“Some,” admitted Arclight. “We know two of them have fallen. An attack on Baron Sullivan’s island failed - we believe that the Principality didn’t expect the Royal army forces sent there after the Claes’ abduction and pulled back when the numbers looked too even. Most likely they’re using small detachments to consolidate their position without weakening their main force.”
“That matches the Marquis’ assessment,” decided Ades. “That being the case, I believe I can risk removing some of my forces from guarding the north and joining them with the Frampton and Dieke levies to provide us with a fleet. But whoever leads it must be more cautious than Redgrave.”
“We can take the time that it’ll take to send out scouting expeditions,” the queen agreed. “As well as repairing damaged ships that made it back under Bartford’s leadership.”
Ades nodded in agreement. “Will the royal family be bringing out your lost item to lead the fleet directly?”
The queen hesitated, but King Roland spoke for the first time. “We will withhold any decision until we understand better what Fanoss is using. If they do have some weapon targeting the crew of a vessel, then I must consider how to best address that rather than risk losing it to a trap.”
Frampton cleared his throat. “I would have to agree, your highness. While I don’t claim detailed knowledge of your family’s legacy, we cannot afford to risk such a potent lost item falling into the wrong hands. But if you won’t be leading the fleet then someone else must be selected. Duke Redgrave is unavailable, and the same is true of both his vice admiral and his rear admiral.” Almost exactly as planned. It was just a shame that Bartford had saved Redgrave - the duke would recover, and the young man was almost certainly the heir to the Bartford county now that his father and brother were missing. A clean sweep of the red admiralty would have been better, but the world was imperfect and if Redgrave was simply dead then his son would have inherited immediately.
Arclight arched an eyebrow. “Are you volunteering?” he asked in a threatening tone.
“I would,” Good Old Malcolm agreed patriotically. “But with the way my name was dragged through the mud over those forged letters, I fear I lack that credibility. I will gladly subordinate myself to whoever is appointed to command.”
“Our commanders lost heavily in the last battle,” Queen Mylene admitted. “Lord Bartford and Duke Redgrave are the only flag officers to return.”
“One too young, the other too injured,” murmured the Marchioness.
Viscount Marmoria glanced at the king and after an unspoken message was exchanged, he turned to Duke Ades. “You suggested that you would require a degree of caution from anyone taking charge, and with the other dukes forced to focus on their own borders no one of equal rank is likely to send ships. You appear to have a plan?”
“I have some ideas,” the duke agreed.
This was true, Frampton had spent hours putting them into his head.
“But before committing to anything, more information will be needed.”
King Roland raised his hand. “Duke Ades, our admiral of the red has failed to defeat this attack upon the kingdom. I offer you the opportunity to serve Holfort as our admiral of the blue.”
Duke Ades inclined his head respectfully. “Your highness honours me with your trust.”
Good old Malcolm put his hand over his heart, “My levies are at your service, your grace.”
“As are mine,” Marchioness Dieke lowered her eyes demurely. “As a mere lady I cannot presume to command the levies, directly. However, I shall accompany them to ensure that my vassals comply with your orders as if they were my own.”
“That being the case,” the duke said, as if he had only just decided upon it, “I must ask that you serve as my vice admiral, Marquis Frampton. I realise that this will take you away from the Ministry, but your experience will be a valuable asset to me.”
“We are in a crisis,” the marquis agreed. “And in this case my military obligations must take priority.”
“And as your rear-admiral?” asked Count Arclight.
Frampton smiled slightly. Putting yourself forwards, are you?
“How many ships can you provide?” Ades asked the count bluntly.
“Ah… three.” Arclight was a court noble, of course. Unlike the feudal lords he had no domain to guard and thus maintained far fewer forces than other counts.
“Ah.” Ades let the moment hang for a moment. “While I would welcome your sword at our side, I fear that as even Lord Bartford - a mere student - was able to bring more forces, I could hardly appoint you as rear-admiral.”
“Speaking of Bartford,” Frampton murmured. “Despite his youth, he did well guarding the supply ships. If he is willing, I would suggest retaining him in the role, perhaps reinforced by any Redgrave levies still willing to fight.”
After all, young Bartford’s ship was huge and an obvious target. While it would be foolish to risk their entire strategy on it, if he did wind up over-run by Fanoss it would eliminate him as a future problem, along with more of the Redgrave’s military strength. And if he did not, he could be ordered to sign off on a new treaty with Fanoss, which would raise suspicions again from those letters. Frampton might have to pass off the credit thanks to that disaster, but as long as he cleared away his opposition, he’d still have come out ahead and there would be other chances.
-
Sophia Fia Ascart hadn’t stopped crying since Katarina Rafa Claes removed the dark magic. It made the taller girl feel guilty - her friend had seemed happy just to see her when Leon brought her back.
They were in Sophia’s bedroom and Katarina had lain down on the bed next to her best friend so she could hug her. It wasn’t wracking sobs, just sniffling and slow tears - the white-haired girl clinging to her like a lifeline.
After a while, Nicol’s sister had fallen asleep. Katarina kept hugging her and considered doing the same. Sophia going missing had been terrifying. As bad as losing Keith - perhaps worse, because at least then there had been a way to follow.
Olivia had brought out Alexander, and the little bear had pointed out Sophia’s direction to them. Leon’s trick with maps had worked enough to be sure that Sophia had left the continent going north-west but there were no ships available to give chase - almost everything in port that could be commandeered or hired had already been taken for Duke Redgrave’s fleet!
Nicol had been quietly frantic and his parents scarcely better. Any claims that they saw their daughter as a shame or burden would have been disproved just by seeing the Ascarts.
The door cracked open before Katarina closed her eyes. Looking over, she saw Angelica’s head poking around the door. “Hi Angie,” she said softly.
The blonde smiled a little wanly. “Leon wants to talk to us.”
Katarina looked at Sophia, in her arms. “I don’t think she should be alone. Have her parents arrived?”
“The countess is here. And Nicol, of course.” Angelica shrugged helplessly. “I’m sure the count wants to be here, but with everything going on…”
Of course. Katarina carefully worked herself free of her friend’s arms. The smaller girl clutched at her like a lifeline, but eventually - with Angelica’s help - a pillow was substituted. Nicol tiptoed in with his mother, both having removed their shoes. Countess Ascart sat down on the bed, while her son gave Katarina a smile that mixed sorrow and gratitude - she almost fainted, but Angelica supported her. When they left the room, Nicol had slumped into an armchair, far from his usual posture. The shadows gave him a brooding and dangerous look, far from his usual reserved kindness.
Once the door had closed behind them, Katarina gave Angelica a hug too. “I hope your father will recover quickly.”
The other girl leaned into her. “He should,” she said in a muffled and uncertain tone. “There’s a light mage at our home - more Lafan’s weight-class than Olivia’s, but better than most have access to. It’s strange to think that if Julius hadn’t gone back then he might not have made it at all.”
“They were… very brave,” Katarina said. Should she have gone too? Her mother would have been furious - Katarina had asked for a knight-armour for her next birthday and got a lecture. It wasn’t as if she could keep borrowing from Leon - she’d wrecked Big Stein and Big Charznable!
“It’s strange to feel grateful to him… and sorry for Greg and Brad.”
Katarina gulped. She’d not really known Brad, and him beating her little brother in a duel hadn’t really inclined her to try to change that. And however brave Greg’s father had apparently been, he still wasn’t able to go home to his family. It was dreadful.
They walked quietly to the lounge, where Leon was waiting with Olivia and Clarice. The older girl had her arm around Leon, who looked grim and serious. Katarina was glad that he had a girlfriend to look after him.
“Is she alright?” the boy asked. “In hindsight, I could have been kinder when I brought her back.”
“At least you managed to bring her back,” Angelica told him. She went and sat down next to Olivia. The scholarship student put one arm around the waist of the duke’s daughter in sympathy. “Gilbert told me that everyone who made it home was because you kept your head.”
“If you can keep your head, when all around are losing theirs...” the dark-haired boy mumbled, sounding as if he was quoting something.
It sounded familiar to Katarina. “That’s a poem, isn’t it?” She wasn’t sure where she might have heard it though. It wasn’t Japanese, but she was terrible at Holfort’s poetry as well. “Something about… every line starting with if.”
“I don’t know it,” Clarice admitted.
“It’s old,” Leon said quietly. “I don’t remember it all. Maybe I should write it down.” He took a deep breath and shook himself. “Right. I don’t suppose Sophia remembers who used dark magic on her?”
“She didn’t say anything,” Katarina told him. “She’s pretty upset. Maybe we can ask her when she wakes up.”
He nodded. “I can’t. I need to get back to the port.”
“You’re leaving again?” Clarice exclaimed.
He spread his hands. “I took responsibility for those kids. And having gone out looking for glory and seeing what it costs, I think most of them would rather quit but don’t dare be called cowards.”
“Why are you calling them kids?” his girlfriend protested. “Most of them are older than you are!”
He shrugged. “Besides, Nicks and dad are out there. I don’t know yet if they got away with the Roseblade division.”
Clarice slumped. “I… I suppose I can’t argue with that. Just be careful. I don’t trust Frampton, and Duke Ades does. That’s a bad combination.”
Leon pulled the girl closer. “I trust you, and you’re right. It’s a calculated risk - hopefully I got the maths right.”
Katarina decided she should avoid calculating risks. It always took her two or three attempts to make numbers add up right.
“I’ve got a request for the three of you,” Leon continued, using the hand not holding onto Clarice to indicate Katarina, Angelica and Olivia. “Partly for your safety, partly because I really think you may be needed.”
The three girls exchanged looks. “What can we do?” asked Olivia.
“Director Smith is looking at ways to counter dark magic,” Leon explained. “Originally to stop things like… well, what happened to Sophia. But with what happened to the fleet, it’s even more urgent. Frampton’s claiming that it’s impossible, but I know what I saw. We need some way to protect people.”
“Of course I’ll help,” Olivia assured him.
Angelica nodded. “I do have two questions though. Firstly, you said for our safety?”
Leon looked tired. “The temple have officially requested that Marie Fou Lafan be sent with the fleet - they also believe dark magic is involved. Her brother agreed, so the best I could do is assign Julius, Jilk, Chris and Greg to protect her. I have to assume that a similar request will be made for other light magic users, and you’re the only ones with actual experience against dark magic.”
“Shouldn’t we go then?” asked Katarina.
“If we don’t know what we’re doing, we could lose every light mage available.”
“I’m fairly sure mother wouldn’t let me go to war,” Katarina added. “And I don’t think I could protect many people.”
“You might be surprised, but I’d rather know for sure. I’ve been talking to Larna for a while about this, if anyone’s going to figure it out then I think it’s her.”
“Alright,” Angelica agreed. “But my other question is: why me? I’m not a light mage.”
The boy smiled slightly. “That’s true, but with the temple trying to trace descendants of the Saintess, I decided to take a slightly wider view. The Redgraves were one of the first principalities to join the kingdom and there was no royal princess to marry into them to seal the deal at the time.”
The girl nodded. “Yes, we did have one royal match a generation or two later. Not close enough that it mattered when it came to me marrying Julius.”
“The heir of the first duke did marry a prominent noblewoman of the kingdom though,” Leon explained. “And the third duke, your ancestor, was therefore descended from her family.”
“What’s special about that family?” asked Clarice.
“They’re descended from the founder of the Temple, the Saintess’ sister Mary.”
“...what?” Angelica exclaimed. “I didn’t know that!”
Katarina winced as Ann started to complain about her little sister and how she had only started the temple to spite her.
“Not a lot of people do.” Leon shrugged. “But at the time it was the most prestigious bloodline save for that of the king. The direct line of the family died out; but if the records are correct, your descent is unbroken. It’s a longshot, after all these generations, but if Olivia can inherit her ancestor’s magic then maybe comparing her heritage to yours will shed some light on light magic.”
Angelica put her arm around Olivia, hugging her back. “My brother has to go home with father… the eastern border is seeing more raids now that word has reached them that we’re under pressure from Fanoss. He’ll leave some ships to support you. I guess this is at least a way for me to do something to help.”
Who would look after her vegetables? Katarina wondered, blotting out Ann’s complaining. Her practice withstanding mother’s lectures was coming in useful. Yumeria, maybe? No, wait. “Yumeria can come with us and show me the gardens at the Ministry!”
Clarice snorted. “Of course that’s a priority.”
“Well, no. But we can still do it! Not everything’s about the war or dark magic.”
Leon turned his head and kissed Clarice on the cheek. “She’s right, we shouldn’t let Fanoss spoil everything.”
Katarina looked away. They were sweet when they did that, but it made her uncomfortable. What if Keith or Gerald wanted to do that. What if Gerald AND Keith wanted to do that? Ugh, was Ann putting ideas in her head? Harem routes were the worst!
Ann huffed. ‘Like your brother or Holfort’s descendants are going to be any use. Go push that hussy out and give Lia a kiss.
Repress, repress, repress. Katarina was getting good at this. She imagined a mish-mash of bands from back in her past life playing music, drowning out Ann with clarinet, tambourine, guitar and maracas.
-
“Are you sure about going to the ministry?” Keith asked as Katarina packed - or rather, as Katarina moved everything to the bed for Anne to sort out to be fitted neatly into the two suitcases that they’d be taking with them, or to be set aside for later.
Katarina patted her brother reassuringly on the arm. She hated to leave him on his own without her to look after him, particularly after he’d been abducted, but there were only so many people that could be smuggled into the Ministry of Magic without the minister finding out. He’d been cracking down on security, but apparently there was a hidden annex to the ministry’s library which Director Smith had commandeered for use in her research.
“I’ll miss you,” she told Keith. “But this is important. Mother won’t let me have a knight-armour so at least this way I’m doing something helpful.”
“You did wreck the last one you were in,” he pointed out.
“That was important. And Leon said he didn’t mind.”
Keith bit his lip. “But maybe he’s holding a secret grudge. He is sending you off to the ministry to be experimented on!”
What that research would involve hadn’t been made clear. Olivia had asked if the books in the annex would be useful, but Leon had laughed and told her that they weren’t that sort of book.
For some reason, Katarina had a momentary image of the three girls being strapped down on beds while Larna Smith cackled (her glasses opaque with reflected light), throwing a great switch while lightning crackled down into coils and wires. But that was silly. That was mad science, and Leon had said it would probably be boring a lot of the time. Mad science would never be boring!
“Director Smith is a nice person!” Katarina assured him. “She won’t do anything bad.”
“When have you ever met her?”
Katarina was about to remind him that she’d been at Ian and Selena’s wedding, but then remembered that it was supposed to be a secret. “I think it was at a party.”
Her brother frowned. “I don’t remember that.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I heard that she’s the worst.”
“There can only be one worst,” Scarlet pointed out from where she was leafing through one of the books on Katarina’s shelf. Her cousin had asked if she could borrow some romance novels… She was researching something but was curiously evasive except that it was about Violette.
Perhaps she was going to try to help her twin sister with Sirius. Violette had been giving the new student council president looks all term. It was sort of like the way Mary looked at Alan lately. Gosh, Katarina hoped Alan wasn’t falling in love with Olivia right now. It might be a safe route for Katarina, but Mary would be broken-hearted.
“Who else are you suggesting?” Keith asked their cousin.
“If I understand the context of Leon talking to his familiar, he is.”
“...his familiar?”
“Wait, you hear Leon speaking to Luxion?” Katarina asked.
Her cousin looked as serious as ever. “He talks to it quite often. It seems to think he’s the worst.”
“Leon’s nice!” she protested. “In his own way.”
Scarlet nodded. “I believe Luxion may be... cranky.”
Katarina thought back to the one time the familiar had spoken to her and agreed that this was true. Although they had been helpful.
Keith groaned. “His familiar that we’ve never seen?”
“Luxion is shy,” Katarina explained. “And possibly invisible...?” She wasn’t sure about that, but it would fit.
“...Leon Fou Bartford, the biggest playboy at the academy, has an invisible familiar?” her little brother - who would have been the playboy if it weren’t for her expert big sistering, Katarina thought - sounded horrified.
“Why do you call him a playboy? He’s dating… er, courting, Clarice isn’t he?”
Keith glowered. “As if that would stop that man from flirting with y… all the other girls he’s keeping eyes on.”
Scarlet pursed her lips. “So you think that his being funny, rich, chivalrous, brave and clever doesn’t have anything to do with girls liking him?”
“I really can’t tell if you’re serious or not,” Keith confessed after a moment.
“Sirius is my sister’s fiance, I am her twin. It’s easy to keep us straight.”
“I think we’ve packed all your essentials now,” Anne told Katarina. “I’ll take the cases down to the carriage, Nana will put everything away so if you want anything else, please put it into your handbag.”
Katarina grabbed her handbag and trotted to the bookcase. She could get two romance novels into it, if she picked slim ones. Really she’d wanted a larger and more practical bag, but her mother had insisted that this was more ladylike.
There was a knock on the door while she was trying to decide.
“Come in,” she called absently.
Nana entered, still looking adorable in his maid’s dress. “You have a guest, my lady,” the young demihuman announced, demurely.
“Eh? Really?” Who would visit her now?
“Lady Claes.” The man who entered the room had silver-blond hair cut short, and wore a thin moustache. If it wasn’t for the latter, he was pretty enough that he could have passed for a particularly broad-shouldered and flat-chested woman. Really, he was unfairly pretty. “Lord Claes… ah, Scarlet! I looked for you in your own room but no one knew where you were. I’m glad that you’re getting on with your cousins.”
Oh! Katarina realised. This must be her uncle, Old Rafa Ades… er, no… that wasn’t his name. What was it again… he’d never shown up in the game, had he? She didn’t remember him…
“Duke Ades.” Keith bowed politely.
“Please, call me Uncle Auld,” the man said warmly as Katarina set down her purse and curtsied. Well, that sorted that out. Auld. Auld. She repeated it to herself to try to drum it into her memory.
“Father,” Scarlet greeted him reservedly, but the duke was having none of that and walked over, hugging the girl around her shoulder.
“Don’t be so formal,” he chided her. “You’re my little girl.”
“Mmmm.” Scarlet murmured, but she hugged him briefly around the waist.
“What brings you here?” Keith asked. “I’d have thought you’d be busy with your fleet.”
The duke reached up and touched a blue ribbon on his lapel. Oh! Katarina realised, it was because he was the admiral of the blue! “I have an able vice admiral and rear-admiral; and my daughter always deserves a visit. However, I’m also at the academy on business - striking two birds with one stone, as it were.”
Katarina looked back at the shelf. Aha, there was that copy of the script of the Countess of Monte Cristo. She could take that as well as two novels! And finally learn what lines she should have read. Even if Sophia said that she’d been just fine, it might cheer her up to have Katarina them do them right now.
The duke cleared his throat and looked at her. “Katarina, I understand that you’ve added light magic to your talents. While the Minister of Magic is sure that the red fleet wasn’t attacked with dark magic, I’d rather not take the chance. I sent a letter earlier but it must have gone astray. Please come and join the fleet.”
Keith’s eyebrow twitched ever so slightly at the mention of a missing letter. “Absolutely not!” he declared, moving to stand between the duke and Katarina.
Uncle Auld seemed taken aback. “I don’t recall asking you, Lord Claes. My sister’s husband may have adopted you, but it’s my niece that I’m inviting.”
“My parents,” and Keith stressed those words, “Have given us both very firm instructions. Neither my sister nor myself is to participate in any more expeditions or adventures. Last term was quite disruptive enough to our education here.”
“There are very few light mages in Holfort,” the man warned. “And it is our patriotic duty to serve as we best can. But perhaps an adopted child would not understand.”
Katarina put a hand on Keith’s shoulder. “It’s alright, Keith.”
“But…”
“I’m pleased that you understan-”
“No.” She glared at him. For this, for her little brother, she would embrace being the villainess. “You presume to speak to Keith like that, Duke Ades? You presumptuous creature. You’re a hundred years too late to walk into my life and make demands in the name of patriotism. That’s…” What was she going to say, what to do… “Why,” she laughed. “They say that patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel, and that fits you well. Go talk to the Duchess Claes about all the years you ignored your own sister and then maybe you can call yourself my uncle.”
“I have never been spoken to like that!”
“Then I’ll be the first.” In the heat of the moment, she jabbed her finger into his chest. “And how dare you say one word about my brother. He is a thousand times the brother you ever were to my mother, and he means far more to her than you!” Another jab of her finger. “Now! Get out of my room!”
The duke swallowed, but - perhaps seeing something of her mother in Katarina’s face - he said nothing further to her. “Scarlet,” he said instead. “Come with me, please. I have something important to tell you.”
His daughter looked at him steadily. Then she gestured towards the door. “Stand outside,” she told him. “You’re not welcome in Katarina’s room, but I am quite happy in my cousins’ company.” She emphasised exactly how she said cousins, to make it clear she included Keith.
Auld looked as if he’d been slapped. “I’m your father!”
“You seem to remember Violette and I - sometimes Violette or I - only when we are useful to you.” Scarlet trailed him to the door but remained inside the room. “I’m listening now.”
The duke took a deep breath, face shaken. “Scarlet, I have arranged a new fiance for you. Someone who is deserving of you, unlike your last one.”
Katarina thought that that might be a little harsh. Greg hadn’t loved Scarlet and he’d denounced their engagement, but he hadn’t tried to exile or kill her. Not even when she punched him! And hadn’t the duke been the one who engaged the two anyway?
Seeing that his daughter had no obvious reaction, the man continued: “You’re to marry Prince Layne. When the war is over, King Roland will name him as the crown prince and you will be the crown princess… our future queen.” He extended his hand to Scarlet - it wasn’t clear to Katarina if he wanted her to join him or was trying to show off what he was arranging for her.
‘He’s selling her to a Holfort bastard!’ Ann declared ringingly. In Katarina’s mind’s eye, the saintess was flailing at the duke with a carpet-beater.
“Prince Layne is some years my junior,” Scarlet pointed out. “And he also has a rather obvious crush on Violette. As you would be aware if you had paid any attention to them.”
Ades shook his head. “But you will be the better queen, Scarlet. Not a girl taught such twisted things by her insane mother.”
Scarlet clenched her right hand into a fist. “My mother was indeed insane,” she said with tranquil calm.
And then she stepped forwards, her arm blurring into a punch that hurled her father across the landing, through the wooden bannister and crashing into the wall above the descending stairs.
“And you’re the one who abandoned your daughter to her!” she added as her father slid bonelessly down the wall until his feet hit the stairs - unevenly so he pivoted until he crashed face-first down the steps. Katarina saw magical reinforcement forming around him, which probably at least mitigated some of the impact. Shock was probably impairing him at least as much as injury.
Scarlet produced a pair of fingerless leather gloves from somewhere and slipped them onto her hands.
And with regal grace she hopped off the landing and descended on her father like the wrath of an enraged twin-sister.
With indignified squawk of terror, Admiral of the Blue Duke Auld Rafa Ades fled the dorm, pursued by an angry teenage girl and the war cry of “Come back, my punchbag!”
Keith stared down at the trail of destruction and then turned back to Katarina. “On second thoughts, you’re probably safer at the ministry.”
“Can I take your satchel?” Katarina asked. “I think I can get more romance novels in that than I can in my handbag.”