Party

The people had relaxed a bit, their murmurs of conversation turning excited as the large, open spaces room turned into a scene from a military ball. Cathlinn began to feel comfortable from it as people danced and talked to one another. She set the second bottle down as the gang walked up to her with impressed looks. "Cathlinn, you should dance," Mei giggled.

"I'm good, this isn't my type of scene," Cathlinn shrugged.

They looked to one another and Simon cleared his throat, "Her majesty is quite livid with the turn of events. Are you sure this is all right?"

"No one else is having an issue with," Cathlinn stopped, watching as someone simply dressed moved through the crowd effortlessly. "Carmichael, double security. Have them check each person without raising any alarm."

"Your highness," he blinked and looked around, following her gaze before straightening up and walking away. Mei sighed and crossed her arms before leaning on the table next to Cathlinn.

"Always on your toes, even when you're drunk," she sang. "Don't you ever take a break?"

"If I did, people would die," Cathlinn patted her back as Simon poured himself a glass of wine.

"You need to mingle with your people. They haven't seen Monique since her last birthday if they didn't have grievances," he informed her.

"I'll only ruin whatever image they have even more," she ruffled his hair and his scowl deepened.

"Your highness," a group of girls stepped forward, the lead giving a curtsey with a coy smile on her face. "Duchess Valencia of house Grimoir."

Cathlinn hopped from the table, "Its nice to meet you." She curtsied back and the girl blinked owlishly.

"I was appalled when I heard the law on magic was appealed. I was even more shocked when I was told you were the one to initiated it," she hummed. Cathlinn stared and didn't bother hiding the sigh that left her lips at the hidden question.

"I did it to be fair," she stated.

"I heard it was because you used it yourself," she held a fan to her lips as the small group drew closer. "It would make sense since you were whipped for your affinity."

"A problem was introduced to me," Cathlinn said bluntly, "And I decided to do something about it."

"Is it true that the savages are here to take advantage of your kindness," another asked quickly. She covered her mouth as the others glared at her and Cathlinn rubbed her face a bit aggressively.

"The savages are a potential alliance," Simon intervened and the women looked to him, "So please, ladies, show some respect? They are not here to take advantage of her highness in the slightest."

"Might I be frank," the duchess asked. Cathlinn waved her hands in a way to say the floor was open. "You've made a joke out of the courts, it feels like. Saving whores front heir own doing, putting businessmen away, and now allying with enemies while building schools for the general public. It's almost as if you wish to tear this country apart." Cathlinn took in the rich brown hair, the bright red dress that blossomed out into what she considered a frilly mess.

"Valencia, yes," she asked. The duchess blinked and set the fan against her chest as Cathlinn started speaking, "General knowledge is not to be coveted. It allows for new ideas and growth amongst a nation. I didn't save a whore, I saved one of my closest friends from a life of subjugation and slavery. I am not allying with enemies, I am making friends with a separate power to avoid a war that everyone seems so keen on having. The businessmen you're speaking about are slavers who hold the largest number of unpaid laborers and they've avoided taxation from it.

"To say I don't care about the country, that I am tearing it down, is a load of shit that I can't believe you just said. If you look at the bigger picture, I've opened doors to farther the country's development and even though it's abrupt and uncouth," Cathlinn made air quotes, her face turning into a sneer, "The country now has the potential to become a super power in the world. It'll increase trade, tourism, and overall the general wellness of the people." The girls behind the duchess looked to one another, only one of them calmly taking it in as thought raced through bright blue eyes. "Look at the bigger picture and stop worrying about something as small as your own life because I have encompassed the many in my decisions."

She stared with a look of anguish as Cathlinn shut her down, Simon was almost impressed and Mei looked close to tears. "I am trying to make this country the best it can be. So open your eyes."

"You realize who this is, don't you," a girl snapped. Cathlinn looked to her, drinking from the bottle again.

"Does it look like I care? As it stands, you're insulting me and what my small group of people are doing," Cathlinn shrugged. "If I was doing anything to harm where I call home, one of my own would correct me. They have done it before and I hope they continue to do it no matter how difficult I prove to be when working."

"You're ruthless," the blue eyed woman stepped forward and the duchess moved aside. "Marchioness Elizabeth Callwell." The woman gave a curtsey and Cathlinn returned it. "Your highness, what you say is true that you have opened many doors, but these paths are unmarked and not tread heavily. How do you propose they are traversed? As I see it, there are many options that could go wrong."

"I actually have plans already written out in detail thanks to Simon," Cathlinn motioned to the man. "There are also plans in place for schooling on magic for those that have the affinity. That way we can avoid any unrest amongst magic users." Elizabeth gave a soft smile and Cathlinn marveled at it for a moment.

"I see," she nodded. "Might I lend my assistance? I don't use magic but it's quite a hobby of mine."

"I don't see why not," Cathlinn smiled back and held her hand out. "You can just call me Cathlinn."

"Liz, if you wish," she nodded. She turned to the duchess and her smile grew, "Now, was that so hard?" Cathlinn watched as the other women felt uncomfortable, her eyes glancing over the rest of the crowd.

She stopped, her head slightly turning to Mei as she kept eye contact with the simply dressed figure, "Flank."

Mei followed her eyes and smiled sweetly, kissing Cathlinn's cheek, "I'll go find my suitor, your highness. Don't do anything too reckless." She began walking off and Cathlinn leaned against the table, taking a gulp from the wine bottle. The figure was in front of her and she jumped, holding the bottle back as if to swing it.

"Your highness," he bowed his head before taking a step closer. A metallic clink was heard as Cathlinn felt a sudden pressure. She swung the bottle down onto his head and he crumbled as people gasped and stepped back. Her heel locked his throat down as he stared at the broken dagger in bewilderment, his gaze slowly looking up to Cathlinn.

"You fucked up," she stated.

"What are you-"

"Shut the hell up," she buried her knee into his chest, forcing his mouth open and reaching into it. She pulled a pill out as his eyes somehow opened wider and she smirked down at him as Carmichael and Mei got close. "Now you can talk you son of a bitch."

"Your highness, we caught a few more," Carmichael nodded.

"Get everyone in one location. Look for bodies as well," Cathlinn ordered. She grabbed the man's hair and pulled him up, moving his arms behind him. "And make sure the royal families are well."

"Yes ma'am," Mei and Carmichael nodded before the walked off. Istvan stepped from the crowd, his fist flying and hitting the man in the gut hard enough to render him unconscious.

"You're a walking magnet for trouble," he sniffed.