Orders

Cathlinn rubbed her head, the man having been confirmed from Olvar. Her pieces were falling into place but she didn't feel right about it. Something was off about the whole thing and it felt too easy. Cathlinn organized the papers on the desk before standing and walking towards the door with them. She wasn't keeping them herself to save herself from being called out. A safety measure, she surmised.

She stepped into the office, nodding to Raymond a bit before walking behind his desk and placing the files in a drawer that he soon locked. "An assassination attempt on your birthday," he muttered.

"It's all right. No one expected the armor to be actual armor," Cathlinn nodded. She sat on the desk where there were no papers and tapped at what was in front of him. "How many pulled out?"

"All but two," he snorted. "King Fidor and Istvan the Conqueror still wish for your hand in marriage." Cathlinn blinked and stared at their names, her breath hitching. She expected it from Istvan but not Fidor. She figured after the incident at the party all but Istvan would pull out on claims she was too much to handle.

"King Fidor," she asked slowly.

"Yes. He was very adamant about keeping his request even against his advisor's words," Raymond smiled a bit. "We may just have a tournament between the two. We still need to see if either are worthy-"

"They both are. It isn't trials that we need," Cathlinn sighed. "Both will have to go back to their own kingdoms soon. I haven't seen either of their countries so that's what I'll do, make a game of it."

"That's a bit heartless, your highness," Raymond sighed. Simon pushes the door open, scrolls under his arm and his free hand swatting at a crow flying about his head.

"Go away, you pesky thing," he snapped. He stopped at the desk and the crow landed on Cathlinn's shoulder, cawing in her ear. "If that was your target than why did you bother me, huh?"

"But it liked you," Cathlinn cooed. Simon glared as she giggled and stared at the crow. A letter was tied to its ankle and she frowned, taking it. "Are those what I asked for?"

"Yes."

"Great," she took them from him as she read the letter. She hopped from the desk, smirking a bit and shaking her head at the drawing on the paper. "Cut all ties with Olvar. If we have to, force all the tourists from that country out. The only ones I will allow are the missionaries."

"Your highness, that's drastic," Simon warned quietly.

"Big picture, Simon," Cathlinn looked up and stared at him, rubbing her face. "There is no doubt they are the ones that are sending assassins and trying to break down the influence. I don't believe we should separate those that know the religion from those that have begun to follow but everyone else I want out. Who knows where their grubby ass fingers have reached."

"What if they say they are missionaries," he asked quickly. "You know that's a loophole they can extort."

"Than we come up with standardized questions that only their clergy will know," she shrugged.

"What are you doing," the queen cried. She held up the order that Cathlinn had sent out and Cathlinn stared at her blankly. "This is preposterous! You're sending so many people home that may not be able to afford it! What are you thinking?"

"What do you follow," Cathlinn asked. The queen stared and Cathlinn grabbed her pendant, making eye contact and fighting the urge to shy away.

"Excuse me," she sniffed. "My personal habits do not need to be known to anyone, including-"

"If you think I'm going to send you away because of what you follow, than you've misread the order," Cathlinn snorted. "So, if you've made me seem like a tyrant on the rise to our people, you're about to be in shock, your majesty."

"What," the queen's eyes widened before she looked around Cathlinn. There were guards, each with their own copy of the orders. Mei and Carmichael stood close by and Simon was already on a horse. Cathlinn has been given armor; thick leather that could be hidden under her clothes and steel greaves that only covered her shins and the tops of her feet. Everyone wasn't armored or armed to the teeth, but they were identifiable to be part of the royal guard.

"Where are you going," the queen snapped, "Especially like that?"

"To give my order to all the people," Cathlinn replied. "I don't want any misunderstanding. I explained it fully to the guards and they will also break off to different cities, villages, and towns. And I want them to go in peace. So, if they're attacked we have reasons to raise tensions with those trying to kill me for no fucking reason."

"You are singling our Olvar," the queen stared, "There is much prejudice in this-"

"There would be prejudice if I didnt allow their missionaries to stay for out subjects that follow their religious teachings," Cathlinn interrupted. The queen's shoulders fell as she blinked, her eyes glossy. "There are other ways to spread religious word without forcing nations to their knees and forcing conversion, don't you think?"

"You accept the ways of Maldrid," she was whispering, her voice soft.

"I accept any religion, your majesty," Cathlinn got on the back of the hound as Tatiana brought it forward. "I don't accept forcefully changing people's lives when there's no need for it. It's called freedom and equality." The queen put her hand over her heart and began to silently cry, her chest rising and falling quickly. "So you can stop now; there's no need to be so sneaky about who you are, your majesty."

Cathlinn started off and the three followed while Tatiana waved with a smile. Simon began to chuckle when the queen was out of earshot.

"What's so funny," Mei pouted.

"You mean you didn't catch it," Simon laughed. "Cathlinn called the queen out on her actions without outright blaming her. Did you see her majesty's expression?"

"That's What got you to laugh," Carmichael snorted.

"After all the queen has done, Cathlinn is being kind and the connotation of that is what's funny," Simon snickered. "Most would have had her annihilated."

"I think you don't get it," Cathlinn sighed. "I gave her a damn warning. I didn't call her out."

"She had already sent letters saying how you were going to force all followers out. It's going to be difficult to tell tour subjects about their status," Mei whistled.

"I know you already stopped the messengers," Cathlinn smirked.

Mei giggled and hummed softly, "Oh boo, I thought I'd slip that past you."

"I hand selected those guards," Carmichael nodded. "She won't be able to convince them to change their words."

"Good, we would have issues if that was the case," Cathlinn sighed and rubbed her face, "This would be so much easier if people could read."

"Ah, about that," Mei sang, "Marchioness Elizabeth has already begun to teach people reading and writing. She said she was too excited and couldn't wait for the schools to be built. She even got a few other nobles to agree."

"Did she? That's great," Cathlinn chuckled. "So maybe she can use the order as material for her lessons."

"Your highness, is it only the king that is aware of where you're going," Simon quickly asked. Cathlinn stated quiet as they left the gates to the city, her hands tightening on the hound's reigns.

"Caught red handed," it laughed. She lightly slapped its shoulders before turning and staring at the three.

"He doesn't even know. All he knows is that we're going to be gone for a while," she replied. The three looked to one another as their faces paled. "We'll go to King Fidor's kingdoms first and then we'll go to Trosinger to meet the tribes."

"Is that so wise," Carmichael asked slowly. "If something happens-"

"I have you three," Cathlinn nodded. "I couldn't be any more comfortable or safe than with what we have now." The silence from them had her turn around again and she blinked at their soft smirks. "Don't let that get to your fucking heads."