Chapter 86

She almost didn’t believe it. They had reached the Church grounds without molestation. She demanded Cyrillus be roused from bed, and he appeared, disheveled and furious until he saw the group and Katarina amidst them, mounted.

"What is this? Katarina, who are these people?"

Katarina’s mouth thinned. "Cattle, if Lord Norry Dalakis had his say. Unsanctioned mages, smuggled by ship into the city." Cyrillus’ face paled. He scanned the group. "All of them?" She nodded.

"All of them?!" He exclaimed again, and Katarina nodded a second time.

"There’s worse, old friend. Norry has named himself a Witch Hunter." She spat. "I mean to have his head." She wheeled her horse, the group of mages scattering, and she tore off back to the Inn.

She got halfway to the inn before she remembered that she’d seared it to the ground. She mentally kicked herself. "Hasty, Katarina. Too hasty." A subsequent search of the second warehouse turned up nothing. Her teeth ground, and she stalked back to the church.

Olivia greeted her as she marched into her rooms. She glanced at Katarina’s face and quailed at the murderous fury there. "I heard the news. Lord Dalakis will be arrested, dear."

Katarina hurled her hat onto the floor. "Arrested?!" She spat furiously. "He is an offense!"

Olivia stepped closer to Katarina, arms out. Katarina waved her away. "There will be justice, dear." Olivia tried again, and Katarina let out a scream of frustrated rage.

"Justice?! There can be no justice. He disgusts me. He has offended me to the core. He- he-" She broke off, and Olivia finally managed to take the woman in her arms.

"Breathe, my love. Breathe in, breathe out. Calm down and tell me everything." Katarina struggled against her, but Olivia locked her arms around her tightly and would not let her go.

"Earlier, he approached me in the temple with a request to "protect his investments.". She eventually said. "I rejected his offer." She took a deep breath.

Olivia knew that much. Norry Dalakis had been known as a smuggler of goods, primarily trafficking in things like tobacco, coffee, and spices. He’d been in and out of the Low Courts, skipping by with bribes and his noble title. Unknown to Katarina, he’d been forced into extending that offer to the Witch Hunter.

A ‘diversion’, the Grand Cardinal had explained, to keep Katarina busy. There was no way that the Grand Cardinal could know that he had been smuggling mages however, and Katarina had caught him.

"Later, I got to thinking about the residue of magic on his hands. Where did it come from? What of this "investment" he was talking about? I suspected that he had some sort of unsanctioned magical device, or perhaps a weapon that he had. Where would I find him? Where do things come into the city in large amounts?"

"the North Gate, the East Gate, and the docks." Olivia ticked them off on her fingers. Katarina nodded. "Except that the East Gate is mostly for exports. It’s least likely that magical goods would come from the north, so-"

"So that leaves the docks." Olivia finished. Katarina nodded.

"I found a trail of residual magic leading back to the twenty or so mages."

"Twenty-three." Olivia murmured. Katarina glanced at her, stepped back, and continued.

"One of the mages asked for rescue. He told me that Norry Dalakis claimed he was a Witch Hunter, and smuggled them from Rothgar up here to Darnell."

Olivia twitched. "So that is why you’re so upset. He is no Hunter."

"Of course he isn’t!" Katarina snapped, whirling on her. Olivia stepped back and raised her hands defensively.

"And so you want to end his life?" Olivia asked, curious. Katarina nodded.

Olivia looked away.

"Could he not be tried and executed by law?" She asked, walking away from Katarina, and toying with a chalice resting on a dresser.

"I-" she said, and then cut herself off. "I can arbitrate that law myself." She said coldly.

Olivia looked down at the bowl. She had been there when the Grand Lady had spoken to the young lord, when she had made her proposal. Olivia trembled, and her hand shook. She knew what she was expected to do.

She turned towards Katarina, and was surprised when the taller woman embraced her tightly.

"Wha- Katarina?!" She exclaimed.

"I don’t know why. Just let me hold you for a minute, My Lady." Olivia embraced her back, happiness warring with dread.

"I’ve told you before, Kat. You need to call me by my name." Katarina murmured an apology, leaned down and kissed Olivia lightly, and left.

Olivia sank down to her knees. "Oh Goddess." She prayed. What was she to pray for? Things were- things were out of hand, out of control. Katarina was furious. She had been angry with Olivia before, and that was enough to terrify the Lady Cardinal. Who could stand against Katarina’s fury and survive? Likely the Witch Hunter would systematically kill everything between her and the lordling Dalakis.

A few hours later, as the sun was rising, there was a commotion in the inner garden that separated the Lady Cardinals’ quarters from the rest of the living quarters.

"What’s going on?" Lady Cardinal Olivia asked the two other Lady Cardinals that were discussing something in hushed tones. She recognized one as Phoebe, the other Celeste. They looked at her as if she’d gone mad.

"Surely you know." Phoebe said, a touch of irritation in her voice.

"Know what?" She replied, confused.

"Is this a game?" Celeste asked curiously, tucking an auburn lock behind her ear.

"I’m afraid you have me at a loss. Regretfully, I overslept."

Phoebe snorted. "Your little dalliance may be at an end, Olivia."

"You keep talking but you’re still not making sense." Olivia demanded, angry. Her throat still hurt from crying last night.

"Your plaything, the Witch Hunter Katarina snapped." Phoebe replied with a mock surprise, toying with her golden curls idly.

"Huh?"

"You honestly don’t know?" Celeste asked, puzzled. "I- we would have thought that since … you know..." She trailed off. There was no way she could diplomatically say it. She was raised too purely. Phoebe jumped in. "We thought you knew already. You’re fucking her, aren’t you? Well, that is that, and this is this: your little … pet went into the city this morning; into the Noble Quarter. Marched right in. Caused a huge ruckus. The rumor is she kicked in the door to the Dalakis estate, grabbed the poor lordling Norry Dalakis by his hair and dragged him- literally dragged him to the church. Called him all sorts of things."

"Abomination." Celeste cited.

"Creature" Phoebe shot back.

"Heretic." Celeste ticked off.

"She stripped his clothes off, tied him like... like some sort of animal, and dragged him to the High Court, yelling her fool head off for High Justice or whatever. I have never seen the like." Phoebe stated, a touch of wonder in her voice. "I thought you had tamed her?" She shook her head. "No matter. Out in the free marches, in the uncivilized wilderness and the filthy shanty towns, things like that may be tolerated," She broke off, making a disgusted face, "even encouraged, but here in Darnell, we have laws. We have rules to protect us from harridans like her." They tittered.

Olivia had tried to let the insults slide over her, but each one against Katarina was like a knife wound. She wanted to cry again. Instead she firmed her voice, wished them a good day, and bid them farewell, and hurried to the High Court.

Olivia strode into the High Court, trying to appear as calm and collected as if nothing had happened. the Grand Lady was there, of course, and the guard. There were no other Cardinals around. The Grand Lady glanced at her, eyebrow raised, but said nothing.

Katarina stood behind the young lordling, foot on his ribs. He was indeed naked, and covered in scrapes and scratches. His arms had been bound together behind him at the elbows, but she only had eyes for Katarina.

Olivia’s heart went out to her. She stood there, unconquerable, fearless, glorious and resplendent in her indomitable spirit. Olivia loved her in that moment, more fully and completely than at any other time.

The Grand Cardinal sat there, looking down at the young lord who was naked, bound, and weeping.

"I have reviewed the testimonies. The evidence was carefully examined. We found two of your accomplices." She shuffled her papers around. "Norry Dalakis, you are accused of conspiracy, smuggling, trafficking, associating with unsanctioned mages, treason against the church, impersonation of an agent of the church, and heresy." The man winced at each charge.

The Grand Lady took a breath, held it, and released it.

"How do you plead?"

"He is guilty, Grand Lady." Katarina interjected. Her voice was as cold as tombs, as empty as the void, and as pitiless as a sword.

"I did not ask you, Lady Katarina." The Grand Cardinal remarked. Katarina didn’t flinch or bat an eyelash.

"Guilty, Grand Lady." he whispered. "I beg mercy!" he added, trying to reach out in a supplicating gesture. Katarina’s eyes narrowed, but she did nothing.

"Each of your crimes carry a heavy price, Lord Norry Dalakis, each of them demand death."

He burst into tears.

"Craven dog." Katarina muttered.

"Since we cannot condemn you to death seven times, we have but one punishment befitting a … thing such as you." She said, mouth twisting contemptuously. "You are consigned to the void. Your soul will be extracted and cast into the depthless void of oblivion. Your body will be incinerated. There will be no redemption for you, only the eternity of nothingness. The Goddess will not welcome you. Your name will be erased. All records will be expunged, your line severed. You will never have existed."

The Grand Lady tapped her gavel, and the man was hauled out. Katarina remained motionless.

The Grand Cardinal regarded Katarina curiously, setting aside her gavel and leaning forward.

"Lady Katarina, indulge my curiosity a moment." The Grand Lady started, and then gestured at the papers on the desk, papers Katarina couldn’t see from her position. "You could have killed him yourself and there would have been no objection. There are very few that can oppose a Witch Hunter performing their duties, and none may bar an Inquisitor." She took a slow breath. "I know you wanted to. Anyone could tell that much from your face alone."

Katarina said nothing.

"Instead, you brought him here, to us, and demanded justice. Will you tell me why?" The Grand Lady asked curiously.

Animation slowly flooded Katarina’s face; she looked down at her hands for a moment.

"I wanted to, Your Grace. You’re right; no one could have stopped me." She replied defiantly. The Grand Lady raised her eyebrow at that, but said nothing.

"And why didn’t you?" She asked, folding her hands.

Katarina licked her lips. "My justice... I would have killed him for the Golden Lady." she began.

The Grand Lady’s gaze sharpened. "Be careful with your words, Witch Hunter. You imply that your justice is the Golden Lady’s justice. You could join Norry on the block."

Katarina nodded. "My justice is not the Churches’ justice. He needed to be seen. To be tried. Judged. Executed." She took a deep breath.

The Grand Lady sat back, a smile on her face.

"You have no idea what this means to me, Lady Katarina. I am so very happy to hear you say this. You understand that the Church is the arbitrating word between the Golden Lady and her subjects." She sighed and extended one hand.

"You serve the Golden Lady and carry out her will. We acknowledge this, and we respect your will, your courage, and your determination." She extended her other hand. "You have recognized that though you carry her will, the Church legitimizes your authority." She smiled and clasped her hands together. "You have done well. No censure, no discipline. I will encourage you, however, to hurry and learn your drake. You have responsibilities waiting to take you away from Darnell. From us." her voice dropped. She looked like she wanted to say more, but caught herself. She glanced at Olivia, as if daring her to say something. Instead, she got up and left.

Olivia approached the Witch Hunter. How should she address her? She wondered. I must must pretend nothing happened, she decided. I should remind her... no. She took a breath, and firmed her voice.

"Dearest Kat, you smell horrible." She remarked, and blinked. Was that what she had meant to say? No matter, run with it! "You need a bath. And i think we should do something about cleaning your clothes, dear."

Kat turned to look at her, and Olivia swallowed what she was going to say next. Her face was blank and stiff, devoid of feeling. Katarina let out a breath.

"All right." She agreed, face softening. Olivia linked arms with her and led her back to her quarters, to breakfast and a bath.

"There’s to be a meeting of the Book today, so unfortunately I can’t lay about in bed with you today my dear." Olivia announced regretfully as they ate their respective breakfasts side by side on the low divan Katarina kept in her sitting room.

"I was planning on spending the day in the stables after my lesson, so I’m not put off." Katarina replied, and Olivia hit her playfully.

"You’re supposed to at least pretend to be regretful." She laughed. "It’s a closed meeting, so it means I’ll probably be out for the entire day."

"The meeting is probably about me, isn’t it?" Katarina asked quietly. Olivia felt a jolt go through her, but she forced a smile.

"You’re awfully on edge, aren’t you?" She shook her head. "It’s possible you might come up in conversation, but I can’t say if the meeting is about you specifically. We have these sorts of meetings infrequently. They’re usually to deal with infrastructure."

She’d slipped a little white lie, there. She couldn’t say. A closed meeting meant that sensitive matters were discussed behind closed and locked doors.

She cupped Katarina’s face in her hand and kissed her. "If you do come up at the meeting, most likely we’ll talk about all those mages you dropped on our doorstep." She kissed Katarina again. "You’re so industrious." Katarina chuckled a little, and made as if to get up. Olivia restrained her with a hand on her hip.

"You know you’ve probably just set a record? I don’t think there’s ever been a Witch Hunter that has rounded up so many mages at once. You’re in the history books, my dear."

Katarina pushed Olivia over on the divan and moved on top. "Perhaps I should stay in bed, and keep you here with me to drown my misery." Katarina groaned.

"Oh my. Has it finally come?" Olivia said teasingly.

"Has what come?" Katarina asked, kissing her. Olivia laughed.

"Am I finally going to be ravished by my lady love?" She asked, sliding her hands up and down Katarina’s back.

"I supposed you could have asked me to." Katarina forwarded.

"But then I would not be able to pretend to fight back!" Olivia mocked playfully. Katarina nuzzled her and they embraced for a few minutes, but Katarina broke off with a sigh. "I should not make you late." She leaned down and kissed Olivia again, and then climbed off of her. Olivia sighed ostentatiously, but sat upright. They dressed in silence, and then Olivia perked up.

"There’s a ball tonight. Come dancing with me."

"I refuse." Katarina replied without hesitation.

"If you don’t come, I’ll burn those smelly clothes I can’t seem to keep you out of."

"I like these clothes." Katarina replied smartly.

"Come dancing with me." Olivia repeated.

"I refuse." Katarina repeated.

"You’re so difficult to negotiate with." Olivia pouted.

"Probably because you’re always asking me to do things I don’t like." Katarina retorted.

"You should have been taught to dance, my dear." Olivia remarked as she dressed.

"Oh, of course. I learned it well. I just don’t want to." Katarina replied.

Olivia turned towards her and slipped her arms around the woman. "Look! It’s easy." She waltzed a few steps with the other woman, who danced adroitly. Olivia pressed herself against the other woman. "We can even dance like this." She murmured.

Katarina chuckled. "You won’t accept no for an answer?" She asked, taking the lead and completing a half-turn.

"I’m open to negotiation." Olivia replied. "Here, I tell you what: you come dancing with me tonight and I will have new clothes made for you for when you leave. Leather breeches, blouses, the works. Anything you want."

Katarina sighed and released the other woman. "Bribery is negotiation?" She asked sardonically. Olivia nodded emphatically. "It’s a form of negotiation, yes. Please?" She asked, stepping into Katarina’s arms again and looking up at her imploringly. "Please? Also, this will be the last time we get to spend much time together. For a while, anyway."

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"I’ve just received a great crateload of documents, and it falls to me to review them." She rolled her eyes. "All of them."

"I could help." Katarina offered, and Olivia shook her head. "They are sensitive, and sealed to the Book." She smiled. "Frankly, if you were to look at them, the outrage would not stop at your death...or mine."

Katarina nodded at that.

She pulled off Katarina’s pants and ran her hands over the other woman’s thighs. "So come dancing with me for a couple of hours tonight." She leaned forward and kissed Katarina who responded grudgingly.

"A couple of hours?" Katarina asked.

"Just a few. I want to dance with you, my darling, and show you off to everyone. I think everyone would be simply delighted to see such a beautiful woman in a lovely dress, waltzing to the music."

Katarina sighed. "It sounds like more trouble than it’s worth."

"Fun, my dear Kat." Olivia pressed, kissing her. "Fun. You know what ‘fun’ is, right?"

"It doesn’t sound like fun." She replied.

"What do you think of when you think of ‘fun’?" Olivia asked.

"I..." a pause. "Well, it’s..." She stopped and blinked. "I don’t really know."

Olivia giggled and moved lower, kissing Katarina’s chest.

"Well, I suppose we can try dancing, then." She said, and Katarina let out a resigned sigh.

"We’ll see." She replied.

Olivia sighed. "I suppose that will have to do, for now." She kissed the other woman. "You’re a difficult woman to love, you know that?" She complained. Katarina was silent. She turned away from Olivia and picked up a bustier and slipped it on, turning for Olivia to do up the laces.

"What will you do when I leave?" She asked quietly. Olivia stopped tightening.

"I... I don’t really know." She said in a low voice. "I’ve never felt this strongly for someone, anyone." Olivia was morose for a moment, but continued briskly. "Probably be moody and depressed and make life miserable for everyone, I suppose. I will miss you so much, my dear. In a way I miss you already. We spend time together and I think, "This is the happiest moment in my entire life!" and then I am reminded, "But she will be leaving soon." and I ache for missing you." Her hands resumed negotiating the complex crisscross pattern of laces for the bustier. As she finished, she wrapped her arms around the woman, embracing her from behind. "I’m so selfish. I’m sorry, dearest Kat."

Katarina nodded, and adjusted the top of the bustier, and then slipped on her travelling blouse, which was loose and voluminous, with long sleeves. Olivia came around to her front and helped her button the shirt up, and then helped her with the brigandine vest, which molded itself to her figure fetchingly.

"Hmm." Katarina remarked. "It fits better this way."

Olivia laughed. "Because the bustier is holding them in place, my dear." Katarina shrugged. "Perhaps."

"What about panties, my dear?" Olivia remarked, pinching where the pinching was good for emphasis.

Katarina shook her head. "There’s no point." She grabbed her pants and stepped into them.

"Nonsense, girl. You have to match top to bottom."

Katarina smirked. "No I don’t."

"No?" Olivia inquired, slipping into her panties.

Katarina began the process of latching and buckling her greave to her leg. "No, I really don’t. I have only one of these, remember?" Olivia snorted. "That’s true." She blinked. "Would you like another? I could have one commissioned for you." Katarina shook her head. "That would definitely be an imposition. This is True Steel. The amount of coin that would set you back-"

"-is inconsequential where my beloved is concerned." She finished for the other woman. She embraced Katarina’s hips with her hands. "An additional greave, and some proper faulds to anchor that cape of yours." She mused. "Should be just fine." Katarina pulled out the cape from the closet, and Olivia grabbed an edge. "this is amazingly well-made, I think. It looks like silk, feels like velvet, and is heavy as cotton. I confess I have no idea what it’s made of."

"I did say it’s bannercloth, right?" Katarina reminded, wrapping it around her hips.

"Yes, but that doesn’t tell me what it’s made of, darling." Olivia replied testily. Katarina’s mouth fell open.

"Oh. You don’t know." She remarked in realization.

"Know what?" Olivia replied, irritated.

"There are magical devices that make it. I’d assumed that they’d brought at least one over from Rothgar."

Olivia shrugged. "That’s Arm of the Sword business, I should think." She replied diplomatically, and then brightened visibly.

"So you’re coming dancing with me tonight?" She asked, and Katarina twitched. "This again?"

Olivia nodded emphatically.

"I already told you-"

"That’s not good enough. You’re coming dancing with me tonight, right?"

"Olivia, please."

"You’re coming dancing with me tonight, right?"

"You’re becoming pushy and irritating."

"You’re coming dancing with me tonight, right?"

Katarina picked Olivia up in her arms, turned, kicked open the door to her bedroom, and casually heaved Olivia into the air.

Olivia sailed through the air with a terrified shriek, hit the bed with a squawk of protest, rolled about, and pulled herself off the bed, but Katarina was already waving as she left.

One thing Katarina was curious about was getting some of her things enchanted. She’d had a long knife that had been enchanted to be as sharp as a razor and to never lose that edge, however she’d lost the blade in the castle of Schactice.

If anyone wanted anything magical, they went to the Miskatonik, the Schola Magica of the Anglish Empire.

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" A man’s voice called out. Katarina paid it no mind, continuing to ride towards the front door of the Miskatonik.

"Hey, Kitty-cat. Why don’t you come over here and tell me what you came here for?" The voice called out, and Katarina glanced over.

There was a young man in women’s makeup of all things, waving at her cheerily. Katarina eyed him over. There was a sense of magic about him, and she could easily see the sacred tattoo on his hand. A Sanctioned Mage. He gestured to her.

"Excuse me?" She asked, brows lowering.

"Come on over here, kitty-cat." He urged. He looked younger than her, and he was much smaller, and slim. He radiated an effeminate sort of beauty which made her uncomfortable. She dismounted and approached.

"And so the kitty-cat comes to me." he announced, and gave her a respectful bow. "Mage Adrian, at your service." he introduced himself smoothly.

"My name is Katarina, I’m a Witch Hunter in service to the Golden Lady." Katarina replied.

He smiled at her again. "I know. You’re the one that brought me to the church in Tannit five years ago." he replied with a warm smile. "Though back then I was younger, and I had snot running down my face."

Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "I hadn’t expected to see you here in Darnell." She exclaimed, and he laughed delightedly.

"Right back at you. The way I hear it, they practically had to drag you here kicking and screaming."

She nodded. "Was there something you needed?" She asked, and he shrugged. "I’m on day duty today. It’s my job to ask all the visitors about their business."

"I’m here to maybe get some things enchanted." She replied.

His eyebrows raised. "That’s my skill." he said, his smile refreshing itself. "What would you want? For most warriors it’s fire. Or ice. Lightning is actually easier, but for most, it’s fire. They have to have it."

She smiled wanly. "I used to have a knife that was enchanted for permanent sharpness. It was pretty useful."

He nodded. "Ah, I see. I might be able to do that." he remarked. "I’ll call someone to watch the gate, and we’ll have a look."

In his room, which looked more of a lab than anything else, she gave him a short sword she’d picked up from the Garrison to look over.

He took it up, ran his thumb down the flat of the blade, then ran the edge of a painted nail down the sharp edge. Even from where she was, she could hear the nail as it hit every tiny chip in the edge.

"Hmm. What sorts of materials do you have?"

"Materials?" Katarina asked, confused.

He shook his head. "By itself, the sword would take the enchantment, but it would fade. A month, two, at some point it would fade. The only way to fix that would either to forge a new sword and weave the enchantments into the metal during the forging process, or add materials to the sword that would hold the enchantment."

She nodded. "That does make a sort of sense." She agreed. "Well, let’s have a look." She replied, and began emptying her pack and saddlebags.

When she pulled out the three large sheets of glass, his eyes widened in surprise and shock.

"Where in Aggenmor did you find those?!" he exclaimed, picking up one of the jagged shards.

"A Witches’ workshop in Ardeal." She replied, and he nodded. "This has got to be the purest, clearest glass I have ever seen in my life. I would love to know the process from which it was made." He babbled.

Katarina continued laying out all the things she’d picked up, and casually tossed the lump of metal she’d found in a creek in Montesilvano.

"Ohhhh." Adrian breathed as he picked it up. "Ooooh." he exclaimed as he turned the lump of green metal over and over in his hands. "This. Now this is something spectacular." he turned to her. "Do you know what this is?"

She shook her head. "At first I thought it was jade, but I think it’s metal." She replied. "Do you know?"

He nodded. "There’s only been a few pieces of this ever discovered. It falls from the sky, sometimes. We call it star-metal. Very rare. Holds a magical charge like no other."

He glanced at her slyly. "How adventurous are you, Lady Katarina?" he asked curiously.

She smiled at him. "Tell me what you have in mind."

A few hours later, and it was done. He didn’t enchant her sword, but instead gave her something else, a long knife made from glass. Inside the handle was a tang of star metal, extending out to three metal tines in the glass blade.

"It’s not lightning-glass, but it’s strong enough to be used as a weapon." He remarked as he finished.

"Lightning-glass?" She asked cautiously, remembering the piece she gave the whore in Norn. She’d thought it merely decorative.

"Glass, formed by lightning striking the ground. The fusion of glass and minerals make it nearly indestructible." He paused for a moment, and then added, "It’s also nearly impossible to forge anything useful out of it, because it usually shows up in small amounts."

"I had no idea." Katarina murmured. "I’d found a tiny piece, once, and gave it away."

His mouth dropped open in shock. "I daresay that’s the most audacious thing I’ve heard today. It’s more valuable than diamonds."

Katarina’s eyebrows rose at this and she took a step back in shock. "Well, someone got pretty wealthy that day." She acknowledged.

"The blade should function as well as your average knife. Also..." he paused, and added, "It lights up. Could be useful." he advised, and gestured with the blade. "Light." The blade obediently glowed warmly. "Douse." He commanded, and the light faded. "See? Useful."

Katarina smiled. "Useful, indeed."

He nodded, and swung the blade around a few times. The blade was about eighteen inches long with a clipped point, and the surface of the hilt had been slimmed so that she could wrap it in leather or cloth. He handed it to her, and she immediately leveled the blade at him.

"And for the record, don’t call me ‘kitty-cat’." She ordered, and he laughed at her.

"Remember, just because the glass has been strengthened, doesn’t mean you can use it like a club, or a trowel or a lever. The glass can break. Don’t try to chop wood with it."

She nodded and slid it behind her belt. "I’ll keep that in mind."

She paused. "You seem to be..." She paused, trying to figure out how to ask, and then decided to simply ignore the obvious question and ask for something else, entirely. "What do you know about harlequins?"

He laughed and clapped his hands together. "So the Lady Katarina would like a harlequin?" He asked, a saucy tone in his voice. "I can make you one, easily." He ran his hands down the lapels of his coat. "It’s actually my specialty."

Katarina smiled warmly at that. "Simply fantastic. I want one." She paused, and feeling like she could ask him without fear of recrimination, "And clothes that’d go with it."

His eyes widened at this. "Fashion. Such fashion as to shake the courts and ballrooms with your grace!" he breathed. "Oh, absolutely, kitty kat. I will definitely rise to that challenge."