Knight�s Pride
By T.F. Kit
Chapter 8: Formality
Ryan walked down the hallway his dress shoes making their clip noise as he did. This was an important meeting the initial face to face with the Anion Conclave. Everyone was nervous the tension was extremely present but they were still functioning.
His father, Lance McClain, had been requested to stay by both Keith and Alura. In case they needed him for anything.
I am friends with royalty. Ryan thought again. It always amazed him that he knew these people and that they cared about him and his father. It should not but it did.
Keith and Lance had become good friends when they ended up on Arus despite their rivalry for Alura's affection. Not that Lance had any chance with the then Princess, destiny has away of making things happen and Keith and Alura were destined for each other, even back then. Some people would say it was written in the stars not.
Keith had said that also about Lance and Chari, Ryan�s mother. Of course Lance�s response was something along the lines of if he had listened to his horoscope he never would have ended up on this backwater planet.
Chari who was more mystical than her husband had apparently given a flippant response of the stars might have been against them but maybe a great defender was on their side.
Ryan smiled at the story before he reached the door he was heading for Princess Katleina�s room, his best friend. A lot of people had that feeling of destiny about him and the current Princess that they did with their parents, but he and Kat knew differently. There was no spark no tension, that and they were just thirteen. No need to rush anything. At least that was what Keith said. He was a little protective of his daughter sometimes.
Ryan raised his hand and knocked.
"Go away." Came the slightly muffled response.
"Kat." Ryan called through the door. "Can I come in?" There was a long pause.
She must really not like the dress Cordilla got for her. Ryan thought waiting for the door to open. Hopefully I won't have to open it myself. Keith hates it when I do that. Just as he was about to knock again the door opened and there stood not the Princess, but the King.
"Sir." Ryan said in surprise.
"Hi Ryan." Keith said with a smile, stepping to the side to let the young man in. "She is having some� problems with the dress Cordilla picked out."
"It is horrid." Came a voice from the bathroom.
Ryan walked in to the bedroom as Keith shut the door behind them.
"Kat." Keith's voice slightly chided his daughter. "It isn't that bad."
"Really." Kat walked out of the bathroom and Ryan stared; he had only seen her in a dress briefly, a few times. Now she stood framed in the doorway with her hands on her hips looking very irritated.
"I think you look cute." Keith said, maneuvering into the room to sit down on the bed.
Kat looked at him with a shake of her head before asking Ryan. "And what do you think?"
"It looks�" He paused a brief second trying to pull a word out that would be appropriate. "�pretty."
She shook her head. "That was calculated." Keith chuckled, slightly at her. "This isn't funny, dad." She walked over to the mirror hanging on her wall and tugged at the top of the dress. "I can handle the poofy sleeves, the crinckly flouncy skirt, the bows and ribbons sewn on everywhere but� did Cordilla have to get� pink." She sighed. "I HATE pink." She needed to stay in the dress if this treaty is going to happen.
"I know you don't like pink Kat but�" Keith started, playing the diplomat, but Kat interrupted.
"That is not it dad. Yes I hate pink with a passion. I admit that. However I also don't look good in pink." She sighed again turning to face to two men near the door. "I have your complexion and hair color. I am not blonde and rosy like mom. Pink just doesn't look good on me."
Now it was Keith's turn to sigh. He moved over to her, standing behind her looking at their reflection in the mirror. It was true, pink did not flatter her, but circumstances did not permit her to wear anything but what she had on. "Unfortunately you do not have much choice." He told her. "The Anion delegation that is coming is very strict about what they wear and all their women wear. They consider women only worthy if they are wearing a dress. You have grown out of or destroyed what dresses you had and we don't have time to get you another one. Cordilla was luck she found this one for you."
Kat grimaced. "I know." She said. "As the princess of Arus, and future Queen I represent an important part of our monarchy." It sounded rehearsed and repeated, but also resigned to her fate. "I will be good and wear the dress."
Keith patted her shoulder and said. "I have to change as well here. Your mother should be done by now and be out of the bathroom."
Kat smiled at that. Mom was mom and a fairly typical woman. She spent a little more time getting ready than her dad had patients for.
Keith started to go but stopped half way to the door and said. "Try and stay away form the moat."
Kat turned to him and said. "Are you going to hold that against me for the rest of my life?"
"Yes." Keith retorted.
"That was the only time I deliberately ruined a dress dad." Kat stated. "The only time."
"Yes, but somehow you have managed for every dinner party gathering or reception to end up in pants." Keith stated back.
"I admit I tempt fate and usually get slapped by it." She stated. "Between games of tag in the grass to walking into a dish water fight to practical jokes I have ruined a few dresses. But the moat was the only time I deliberately ruined a dress."
"Yeah," he said. "Your mother and I were looking directly at you. You had your skirt gathered up in your hands and were eyeing the water with a vengeance. We told you not to move but then you just jumped." He shook his head giving a slight chuckle. "I also loved your reasoning why."
Kat grinned. "Oh yeah, my dress made me do it." She too chuckled as her father continued.
"You claimed it was possessed and it took over." Keith smiled back at her.
"If I recall correctly it was a pink dress too. The only pink dress you ever got me." Kat narrowed her eyes as she spoke but still smiled. "I am having this strange completion to go for a swim."
Ryan groaned and placed his head in his hand looking through the fingers at the scene before him.
Keith gave her a patented 'don't even think about it look' and she raised her hands in defeat. "I am kidding. I know my duty. For the first time in my life dad I am going to wear a dress to a formal gathering. I give you my word."
Keith gave a soft smile. That makes me feel better, her word is as strong as mine is.
"I will see you there." He looked at her then to Ryan. "You are escorting her Ryan, make sure she doesn't get into any trouble before hand." He moved past Ryan to the door.
"Dad." Kat looked at him with amazement. "I just told you that I promised to wear the dress. Now you have to have Ryan look after me."
Keith turned back a moment. "It isn't that I don't trust you it is more that I don't trust the situations you tend to get into. I will see you there." With that said he walked out the door.
Kat looked after him then sighed and looked back at the mirror in disgust. "I hate this dress." She said through clenched teeth.
Ryan chuckled. "Well if you had gone with Cordilla the first time she asked you might have gotten something you liked."
She looked at him with almost accusation. "Thanks for taking my side." The sarcasm dripped from her words.
"Hey, just stating the facts." He walked fully into the room and flopped down on her bed. "So how long before we have to be there?"
She turned to him. "About an hour or so. I wish it was sooner�"
There was a knock at the door.
"Princess?" The door opened and a maid came in with a cart and tray.
There was another person behind her that Ryan could not make out. He worked at seeing around the maid, he knew Kat would be checking out the person talking to her.
"We have�" the maid was talking picking up the lid covering the tray. But Ryan finally saw the person behind her was holding. A knife� crap.
Kat was already moving. She had seen something else. She grabbed Ryan's arm and pushed him off the bed. A knife whizzed by their heads thudding loudly into the wall.
"Balcony." Kat hissed as they moved towards the window.
"Long drop." Ryan said.
"Moat's close enough." Kat retorted.
Suddenly there was a whip wound around her feet, followed by a quick jerk that caused her to fall on her face. Ryan turned to face the man leaping over the bed.
"Oh crap." Ryan's voice was soft as he braced himself. Their bodies hit and Ryan fell backward with the weight. He glanced at Kat. She was struggling with the maid, who now had the whip around her neck trying to chock her. He managed to grapple his attacker, using his small amount of weight to shift and slam the head against the bed frame. The man cried out and Ryan slipped from under him.
He grabbed a lamp, leaving his attacker holding his head in pain and moved toward the woman strangling his best friend.
"GAAAHAA." He screamed placing a blow on the back of her head. Her body slumped off of Kat.
"Kat." He said, removing the whip from around her neck.
She was coughing gasping for air. "Ryan." She gasped. "What just happened?"
"I don't know." He responded. "But we need to get our parents. "
Kat nodded. This was not good, right before a peace treaty. Ryan stood helping her stand as well. "We should also get you to the doctor to have your throat checked out."
Kat shook her head, small wisps of hair flying around her face. "No we�"
Just then a couple of people burst into the room. "Shit move." Kat's voice was tense as both she and Ryan turned and ran through the sliding door on to the balcony.
Shoving the door shut he locked it from the outside. Fortunately they could do that. He watched as the figures completely dressed in black made it to the door and attempted to open it.
Turning back to Kat he made a statement. "That dress will sink you."
"Yeah, I know." There was tension on her face knowing what had to happen next. "Sorry dad." She muttered.
Ryan handed her the pocketknife he always carried. She slipped it in at the steam slitting a hole and then pulled. The tearing sound seemed deafening as the skirt separated from the bodice.
"Okay." Ryan glanced back at the door.
One of the people was checking on the original two while the other had picked up a chair and was about to hit the window with it. Kat watched a moment knowing the outcome. The chair was swung with great force and speed. It contacted the window and two of the legs splintered with the force.
Kat smiled as she said. "Reinforced bullet proof glass. Don't need the royalty getting killed from outside."
"But right now it's the inside I am worried about." Ryan's voice pulled her back to what they had to do. "Ready?"
She looked directly at him with grim determination; he had removed his jacket and shoes. "No." Her voice was slightly shaking; she had not even put her shoes on yet. "But we don't have any other choice."
They both turned and stepped up to the railing. Looking down they could see the water lapping at the shore. They were about two stories up.
"There is a deep drop right here. So we should be fine when we hit the water." Kat said, still looking down. Heights did not bother her, she just was hoping they would make it to the water and not hit the ground.
Ryan took her hand and began climbing over the railing. She followed.
"On three." He said once they were in place on the other side of the railing. A simple nod was all she could manage. "One... two... three." And with that said they were in the air, fly and falling, out and down.
"Shadow." Her voice was a high whisper, right as they jumped. Ryan was not sure he heard correctly. Then he felt hands on his back they pushed and they were farther out from the castle.
Then the water was around them. He felt her hand slip from his but he had to reach the surface. Breaking the water he gasped for air then did a quick look around orienting himself and spotting Kat. She was treading water next to him sputtering and gasping for breath.
"More on the bank by the castle." She managed to say.
Ryan did not even look. "My dad's ship. It is in a clearing in the forest." He said. "This side of the castle."
Kat turned in the water and began to swim. Ryan followed suit. They had both grown up near these waters and were fairly good swimmers.
Upon reaching the forest side of the moat Ryan chanced a glance back. "They aren't following us." He said.
"Let's get to the ship fast. I don't like being this exposed." Kat shivered slightly as the water chilled against the air.
Ryan gave a small nod and took her hand. "This way." They maneuvered into the trees.
"It isn't that far." He said. "It's just past�" He turned his head as he stopped talking, staining to listen. Did I hear something? He wondered.
"You hear it too." Kat said, her own body tense ready to spring.
"Yeah, but where?" He responded.
They began to move slowly, listening to every twig snap and leaves rustle. They had a synchronicity in situation like this. He was her honor guard; they had trained together for things like this. Though this was the first time they actually had done so without parents there to help and protect them.
"Off to the left." Kat whispered.
" 'Kay." Ryan said. "It's not that much furth..." his words were cut off as an arrow embedded itself into the tree next to him. "Crap." His voice was still soft and they began to run again.
There were arrows and laser fire whizzing past them as they ducked around trees praying they did not get hit.
Ryan saw the edge of his dad's ship. The ramp was down. Good. All we have to do is make it up the ramp. Someone should be there.
Just then four men completely dressed in black stepped in front of their path. Both he and Kat came to a halt. They did not speak or move, just stood there blocking their way.
Ryan chanced a glance at Kat. To anyone else she was completely relaxed. He on the other hand saw the tension of a tightly wound spring. He had only seen that in one other person, her father, Keith. Keith had taught his daughter everything he knew about martial arts and she loved it. Like her father she had a natural aptitude for it.
"I don't suppose you would just let us pass." Kat spoke in a nonchalant manner. One pulled out a knife as they all took fighting stances.
"I guess not." Ryan spoke this time.
The attackers moved and Ryan and Kat were put on the defensive. Have to get to the ship. It is the safest place. Ryan thought as he jumped back from the swinging knife.
Kat managed to land a blow into one of her attackers noses. He stumbled back, hands in his face. She allowed herself a smile. That had to hurt.
It however was enough of a distraction to have the other one slice at her arm and connect.
"Ahh." Kat cried out as she was cut. Now she was mad she looked at the attacker with anger and pain.
Ryan pushed one of his opponents into a tree causing him to be knocked unconscious. He heard her cry out.
"Kat." He turned to see her facing the other man. No. Landing a blow to the stomach of his other opponent Ryan moved hitting Kat mid-waist and rolling with her. The tumbled and rolled up getting their footing and started to run. They heard rustling behind them.
"Screw." Kat's voice was tense as she actually uttered the curse.
Ryan set his focus on getting her up the ramp. Just then someone walked out of the ship. It was Mary. Oh crap.
"Get inside." Both Ryan and Kat yelled.
Mary's head snapped up and looked at the scene before her in shock.
"NOW!" Kat's voice held that of command.
Mary did as she was told, her short red hair flying behind her.
"Close the ramp." Ryan shouted as they were almost there.
Mary knew not to argue and punched the codes to close the ramp, hoping they would make it in time.
Just as their feet hit the ramp, it started up. Ryan stumbled at the motion and Kat went down, landing on her side and staying there. She knew she would not be able to get her footing back until the movement had stopped. Ryan turned and stayed with her, crouching to partially cover her.
Shots were fired. A few arrows clanked harmlessly on the haul and one made it into the ship. Ryan flinched as one whizzed past his head.
"That was close." He muttered as the ramp shut. He then turned his attention to Kat. Her breathing seemed okay, fast but not overly so.
"We need to get you to medical." Ryan started. "Then tell our parents. This�"
"No." Kat interrupted.
Ryan looked at her in shock. Blood was running down her arm, he had no idea how deep the cut was. "What?! Like hell." He stated. "You are hurt Kat. I have to make sure you are okay."
"Mary can handle it she is medically trained. There is something here that doesn't add up and I want to figure it out." She sighed. "Not to mention we need to get to the treaty."
"Kat." Ryan did not know how to argue with her on this.
She was getting stubborn and had that determined look on her face.
"It would have to be me anyway." Mary said. "I am the last one here."
Ryan and Kat looked up at her as she moved towards them.
"Everyone else went to the castle earlier. I had to make sure some of the cargo, went to the bathroom." Behind Mary there were some Kennels. Inside the crates were some dog-like creatures, Dextens, furry with manes and three sets of legs. Their faces were flat and had long tongs that pierced and sucked.
Mary bent down and placed a bandage on Kat's arm. Kat flinched, as it stung slightly. Mary risked a glance at her and said, "You okay?"
Kat grimaced but stood up. "Let's get this taken care of."
Ryan watched them a moment then looked at the cargo hold around him. On the floor lay one of the arrows. He picked it up and fingered it. Why arrows outside? He could understand why they might use them inside or closer to the castle. They would not want to set off the alarms by using an energy weapon. That however was not a concern this far from the castle. He sighed following Mary and Kat, carrying the arrow with him.
They went to Medical and Mary worked on patching up Kat's arm. Ryan stood off to the side still fingering the arrow. Kat was watching him her own eyes clouded with thought.
Fortunately Mary finished quickly and easily. "I will need to check this blood sample to make sure there were no foreign substances on the blade." She held a small vile in her hands as she made her way over to the lab area and started to work.
"You mean poison, right Mary?" Kat said almost absently.
Mary glances back before continuing to work. "Yeah." She said. "That is right."
"We need to go to castle security." Ryan said almost exasperated.
"No." Kat's voice was firm.
"Kat someone tried to kill you." He looked at her wide-eyed. How can she be so calm?
"I know that Ryan. But this treaty is important and both planets need this. If we can�" She stopped and stared at the arrow as though for the first time. "Oh my god." She whispered.
"What?" Ryan went stiff, griping the arrow tightly.
"Mary." Kat spoke. "Do you still have that dress that I got on Sivia Four?"
"You mean the one that your parents would kill you for having?" Mary asked. "Yeah I have it." The look of shock was blatant.
"Good." Kat managed to keep her breathing calm. "I will need it. Also I will need the both of you in your honor guard uniforms. This is going to be hard but it is necessary."
* * * * * * * * * *
Ryan paused in his speaking as he took a sip of water.
"So someone attempted to kill the Princess, that isn't anything abnormal." Derk said. "What made this one different?" He had no knowledge of the Anion or the requirements their Conclave put on treaty negotiations or their history.
"There had been attempts on the Royal family before the treaty with the Drule Empire, but not after. It was something all of them had relaxed slightly on. This was a wake up call. One no one was ready for. I think Keith took it hard because the attack did not come to any of the adults but to a child. His child." Ryan sighed. "Kat was who she was. Her fathers daughter and wanted to take care of it herself. Also we really did not have time to tell any of the adults what was going on. She filled us in on the way to the conference room what she was going to do." He shook his head. "I still was nervous. I did not like the way this was going or the risks she was taking and I told her so too."
* * * * * * * * * *
"This is insane Kat." Ryan whispered as they came up through the catacombs. "It is too risky."
They entered the hall outside of the conference room and Kat spoke her mind. "We don't have time to argue this Ryan." She hissed at him. "This is the way it is going to happen and I need you there in full support." She looked him over. He was in is honor guard uniform. The dark blue accented his attitude very well.
Mary stepped out into the hall as well, her own uniform a straight skirt and jacket. She looked a little more nervous than Ryan did; she held a flat box that carried the arrow. "We have to do this Ryan." Mary said, looking at him. "There is no other way we can catch them and still keep the peace treaty."
Ryan's jaw clenched. "That's the thing though we don't know if this is going to save the treaty."
"No we don�t." Kat said. "But this is the only one that stands a chance of saving it."
He pursed his lips but finally relented. With clip steps they moved into the room.
"I am sorry we don't know where�" Alura was speaking to the delegation across the room from her as the three of them entered. The whole room fell silent.
Ryan and Mary were flanking Kat and her heart was in her throat. She knew she might be risking war but she was not going to sit around and let these people threaten her life and potentially her parents' lives. They had intended to kill her and she was not going to let that go.
Kat knew she looked like nothing these people or her parents were prepared for. A tight fitting top that tied behind her neck covered her chest and arms but not her stomach. It was exposed, as was her back. A loose fitting skirt hung from her hips all the way down to just above her shoes. They were flats the same dark red of her dress. Her hair was up piled on top of her head in cascading curls.
Miruts, the male leader of the Conclave stood up, he was a tall imposing man of dark skin and dark brown eyes. His manner was that of someone who was used to being heard and spoke with an indignant rage. "How dare you come to us looking like�"
She saw Alura start to excuse her and the guards move towards her. If she did not do this now they would loose everything.
"Why did you send them after me if you did not intend to kill me?" She kept her eyes on the woman sitting next to Miruts. She had regal appeal, one that knew how to command a room as well. Her skin was of a dark tone as well, darker than that of Miruts, but of a softer quality. Her eyes gave a slight twitch and Kat saw hardness around them.
"Do not speak in such a manner to us and I am�." He continued to try and pull the conversation to him.
Time to find out if this works. "How dare you speak to me like that." Kat raised her command. "I was not addressing you." She did not even spare a look to see if he made any give away, but caught his pause. "Answer the question."
Miruts moved to speak again, when the woman's hand came up to his arm. "Stop." Her voice was soft. "You have played your part. Thank you."
He backed down and the woman stood speaking to Kat. "My name is Chanya. I am the true leader of this Conclave. No person has ever confronted us in this manner. I want to say that you have won my respect. But as for trying to harm you I have no idea what you are talking about."
Kat turned to Mary opening the box she was holding. Taking out the arrow she held it in front of her. "This is your arrow of challenge. In your planets history if this killed the person it was an act of challenge to the clan, if it only harmed it was a rite of challenge to the person. Depending on who the person was how many people were involved." Her eyes focused on Chanya. "I want to know why the challenge was made before I choose to accept it."
Chanya looked at the arrow then up at Kat. "This challenge was made with out my knowledge." A twitch of a smile pulled at her mouth. "But I will find out who did fire that arrow and who put the challenge out. I am willing to bet you knew I would be able to." She then turned to the King and Queen, not waiting for Kat to respond. "I apologize for any harm that was caused to your family, but this challenge is an internal matter. Unfortunately it must be resolved before we can finish our treaty. Can we continue this in three days, that would give me enough time to sort out this matter," She nodded towards Kat. "And come up with proper compensation."
Kat gave a nod to her parents to indicate it was fine with her.
Alura spoke, "That would be fine."
Chanya gave a bow and turned to Kat again. "I will have an answer to your question at that time. And at that time dresses will not be required." With that done the group left to their ship.
Kat breathed a small sigh of relief. Alura and Keith walked up to her. The look of concern on Alura's face said it all. Keith however was masked better.
"Shall we retiree to the sitting room." Alura suggested a brief glance to the retreating conclave.
The sitting room where the royal family had some privacy, only a few guards had access and they would leave upon request.
The group of them walked to the sitting room. At the door they stopped and Ryan and Mary looked to her. They would follow if asked but it was up to her.
She looked back to them and said. "Thank you, and you may go now." The relief was written all over them.
This could get very messy.
Keith was not happy, that much they could tell.
Ryan walked up and took her hand formally kissing it. "Milady." And stepped away. Both he and Mary turned and moved down the hall.
* * * * * * * * * *
"What happened next?" Cole asked.
"I was promptly chewed out by my father and I put my application in for the academy the next day." Ryan looked across the table. "I knew I had more than a year to wait but I wanted to make sure I got in. I never wanted to be that unprepared again." He sighed. "It was hard but I knew I had to trust Kat. I still do every day. To trust that she knows what she is doing staying away from her family and friends."
"Trust is a big thing in any relationship, both as friends or coworkers." KaLee looked at Ryan, who simply nodded.
"That isn't what I meant." Cole said. "What happened between the King and the Princess? He had to be angry with her."
Ryan nodded. "He was but that isn't something I can tell you because she did not tell me about it. She simply said that he was angry and they talked after the yelling stopped."
Cole looked disappointed but did not push it.
"So what did you palm her?" Spike asked, with a smile.
Ryan grinned. "An emergency call button. I had no clue what Keith was going to do in there. If it went off I was to bring in fifteen guards to pry him off of Kat." He shook his head. "When it comes to Kat, Keith is a little overprotective."
"Would you have really gone in with fifteen guards?" Lillian asked.
"Yeah." He looked at her. "Kat is my best friend. We grew up together, had a lot of the same dreams. The fact that she was a Princess born to a life full of responsibility never really occurred to us until after our friendship was made." He smiled at the memories he shard with her and what trouble they had caused around the castle. "She was the sister I needed to have."
And one who now is fighting a battle I can't help her with.
"I just wish she would be open with me now." He kept his eyes on a spot on the table, knowing that if he looked up he would give it all away.
"Sometimes," Droe's voice filled the room. "We have to give up important things to protect the most treasured."
The whole group looked at the Kaven with amazement. KaLee caught her gasp.
You are good Droe. You are very good. I am glad you are on our side.