Poisonous Fox

Kate refused to wither before her mother’s ire.

They were in her mother’s office quarters, on the top-most livable floor of Garrison Tower. This was a position Kate had found herself in many times before, standing stiff while measured and weighed. Her mother remained sitting behind her desk, with wall length windows behind her. The windows gave Kate something to focus on besides meeting her mother’s gaze.

In the distance, banners flew from the eastern hill and the baron’s fortified palace. It added a splash of color against the bleak Firmament.

Her mother, Lady Killian Guardson, likely knew Kate’s attention lay elsewhere, besides her lecture… which might have explained why Killian slapped the palm of her hand against her table, startling Kate.

But Kate did not startle from the sudden sound, as Kate’s newest perception had been aware of Killian’s muscles tensing and hand moving in real time. Instead, Kate had startled because Killian had resorted to such a mundane means to gather Kate’s attention.

“You bring your hairbrained scheme to me, then doze off while I’m considering it?” Killian asked hotly.

“Then you’re considering it?” she asked, smiling at the prospects of adventure.

“Of course not!” Killian shouted. “But what are your tutors teaching you if you cannot deliver a godslicking pitch?! Do you think I go before the Lord General with a plan to fortify the bridge, then take a nap as he judges it?”

“...no?” Kate offered.

“You better believe not! What are you even thinking? I’ll have to have words with your tutor.”

“But why won’t you consider it?!” Kate asked. “It would work!”

“Just–ugh, no! You shouldn’t even have to ask. You cannot visit Bath on your own. Why would you even think I would allow that? You’re not even a legal adult! And you think I’d let you venture off on your own with mercenaries of all things?! Utter ridiculousness.”

“I can look after myself!”

“Really.”

Killian crossed her arms and looked down her nose at Kate, even though Killian had remained sitting. What little light streamed in from the window cast an intimidating shadow around Killian, making it hard to even see her angry brown eyes.

“Yes really!”

“I suppose you do have some experience with questionable persons of late.”

Within Kate’s mind, warning bells began ringing. Her mother had used that tone.

“W-what do you mean?” Kate asked, already cringing at her own cowardice.

“Oh?” Killian asked.

That tone again, the one that all mothers have, that all children loathe, the one that said the mother knew the guilt of the crime already, the one that said the mother was stringing the child along, playing with the victim. That sadistic pleasure, that schadenfreude, that tone.

“You mean you thought I didn’t know?” Killian asked.

“Know what?” Kate cringed.

She decided the best course of action was to refuse admitting to any wrongdoing. It was her only hope, which she knew, since she had been down this road before. Killian might not know something already, but if Kate admitted to anything, somehow Killian would dig and dig until the list of crimes far outweighed whatever Killian had originally known.

So no, Kate kept her trap shut.

“Your forays into the western district, across the divide…” Killian led off, likely fishing for dirt.

Except, the bait Killian fished with already was bad enough.

Of course, when Kate had done it, she knew she might have been found out. That had always been the risk of the game. And depending on which time Killian was talking about, it had been a good time, and it had been worth it.

But that it was coming up now?

Why bring it up now, when Kate actually needed permission to do something?

It was almost as if… oh, oh that was diabolical. Kate wisened up to her mother’s plots..

“You thought I didn’t know?” Killian finally continued, likely realizing that Kate refused to further incriminate herself. “About your liaison with a pit boss even?”

Oh, yeah… that trip had totally been worth it, Kate thought. Her lips curled up a bit recalling the visceral spray and the tension of fighting with a live blade. But if Killian knew about that already… Kate almost complained about how boring it was that proper blood sports were outlawed.

“...If you thought it secret,” Killian, still continued lecturing. “Then you are clearly not competent enough to venture out on your own. But now, to find a fitting punishment…” Killian trailed off once more, allowing Kate to stew on this alleged punishment. However, Kate and Killian both knew already where Killian was going with this. Kate had not been fooled.

And yet, Kate took some of the bait all the same, in her own ploy to drag the fisherman (her mother) into the ghoul infested waters.

“You knew?” Kate asked, putting on her best tremulous act that she could. It ended up more as a smirk than anything.

Killian snorted. “Of course I did. You think I won’t have tails assigned to my own daughter? The city is dangerous.”

“I thought I lost them,” Kate muttered, wondering how she had missed a knight trailing after her. She had been using the forum malls to lose them out a side street, but if they knew which street she used, they could have had someone innocuous waiting.

Killian had her ‘ah-ha!’ moment. As though she had won. As though she had defeated Kate.

“The fact you thought that and still failed is proof enough you don’t deserve this trip,” Killian finished sealing the trap, or so she thought! Kate would not be deterred.

“Why bring this up?” Kate asked, already knowing her mother’s ulterior motives.

“This is the first time you made a request,” Killian said. “Actions have consequences, Katherine.”

“Ha!” Kate barked. The counterbait was taken, and now it was time for Kate to reverse the trap in a double trap!

“That’s rich,” Kate said. “So you held this in reserve, waiting to smite me? You could have, should have, punished me already. That you waited till now? Not right at all.”

Kate just barely kept herself from smiling at her own victory.

But apparently, Killian did not realize her defeat.

“And now you will instruct your mother on how to raise a daughter?” Killian asked sarcastically. “Especially one such as yourself? So headstrong and hot blooded? So reckless and quick tempered? Think this an easy task?”

Kate scoffed, realizing that perhaps her upset had been reversed, or at the very least countered. Regardless, it would not matter. Kate would get that glyph, regardless of what her mother did or said.

“For your punishment, I think additional studies are required. Perhaps, a new tutor.” Killian hummed thoughtfully. “One on a subject you’re particularly short on…”

“C’mon,” Kate said, rolling her eyes. “You’re not gonna scare me that easy.”

“Oh, you asked for it,” Killian scolded. “Maybe mathematics? I know you struggled on that subject.”

“Because it has nothing to do with the sword!”

“Not everything is about dueling and killing,” Killian admonished. “Tact? No… etiquette. Yes, I think that is where you need the most polish…”

Kate might have cringed. Just a bit.

“...I’ll find a governess for you. You’ll have plenty of time to master your manners, since you’re not to leave the tower for the next month.”

“Yeah, sounds real fair, mother,” Kate said, still unbothered.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Killian said. “And so you know, it’s not going to work.”

“What am I thinking then?” Kate asked jovially.

“That you’ll sneak out and do whatever it is you’re planning on your own. Likely end up indentured or dead in a ditch. Or worse, conscripted to a colony. No, you will not. I’ll have knights guarding all your little hidey holes and seal your perimeter breaches.”

Kate was getting a little worried at this point, but she still had routes she was sure would work.

“Including the old sewer system–”

“Mother!” Kate snapped.

“-you need to take this seriously!” Killian shouted back. “You’ll end up dead in a ditch at this rate. My own daughter, volunteering to fight in a pit? And wanting to consort with mercenaries?! Outrageous! It’s time you began preparing for your future seriously!”

They both settled into an awkward silence. Kate stewing on her punishment, and Killian doing whatever Killians do.

A full month, Kate kept thinking. She was already plotting new escape routes. This would be a challenge.

Killian broke the silence with a heavy sigh.

“Katherine, I see you thinking. Your face is expressing every little plan that runs through your head. You think I don’t know my own daughter?”

“I need my next glyph,” Kate stated bluntly. “I need it.”

“But why? Why do you need it right now?”

“Because I’m wasting time otherwise!”

Killian took what could be considered a vaguely conciliatory tone. “You’re still growing plenty fast, and this very year you begin at the Academy. You’ll get another glyph then.”

“Other martials will have a bigger head start!” Kate protested.

The Academy, short for Royal Academy East, held three curriculums: Management, Social, and Martial. Of course Kate would enter on the Martial track. But what Killian referred to was the fact that each of the tracks provided a single relevant glyph, with better quality glyphs going to those that could pay for it–or provide their own materials.

“I highly doubt that any of the other children will be more advanced along their paths than you,” Killian said. While normally a cold and stern woman, a trace of pride leaked into her voice. “And you’re not exactly wasting time between now and then. Your Body still has room to grow, as do each of your runes. And that is beside the skill to use it all effectively.”

“Yeah, but I can already use it all effectively–” Kate started.

“-You just received your third rune today.” Killian shut her down.

“Yeah, but I can do all of that while I work on getting new runes!” Killian pointed, now pacing excitedly, thinking of all the different options out there, all of the flavors her progression could take, if only she had access to a sacred artist!

“Katherine.” Killian stated.

“But mom!” Kate protested, not giving up. Not when it was her future at stake, not her mother’s.

Killian groaned, rubbing her temples with both hands.

“Your plan is far too risky for me to consent to,” Killian said, slowly breaking down. “It’s reckless.”

It was progress, and Kate would take it. Now to worm into those cracks and expand until the edifice of parental strangulation was torn down and pissed upon.

“Yeah, I think so to,” Kate said, grinning. “That’s why I’d sign up with some Mercs heading north. It’ll be great!”

“That is not reassuring!” Killian said. “Not at all! How many mercs have you met? Do you know the type of people in their guild? Terrible!”

“Of course I’ve met them!” Kate said, referring to the fact that the Merc Guild Hall abutted Muster Square. Mercs were always coming and going. They were always interesting, especially the hardened women.

Killian groaned, more frustration in her voice. “And then there are the potential bandits, hundeor, risks of rockslides, and not to mention the dangers when you get to Bath itself! It’s a big city, not like Southbridge. Not like you’re used to. They’re Marked for Crown’s sake!”

Kate already fantasized about visiting the fabled infinite dungeon offshoot. The thing that separated the towns from Marked cities. The thought of all the fights she could handle, and of an actual arena, left her giddy.

“Your face right now makes me highly doubtful that you would survive.”

“I’d be–” Kate started to say, but was interrupted.

There was a single knock on the entryway door, near where Kate had left Gregory out in the hall.

After the knock, the door flew open.

Only one person could get away without waiting for Killian’s permission.

“-Aunt Jan?” Kate asked.

Lieutenant Janet Muleater, Killian’s sister, entered the room and immediately grabbed Kate by the shoulders, twisting her around to inspect her niece. Kate looked down to meet Janet’s eye, a little confused at the antics. Janet tended to be a bit strange, but usually towards the lighthearted end of strange, and not the concerning.

“Janet!” Killian scolded. “I was in the middle of a discussion with my daughter, your niece… why–you’re not paying attention to me at all, are you?” Killian asked, eventually stopping, probably realizing that Janet was behaving uncharacteristically concerned.

“Kate, you in there?” Janet asked. She pinched Kate’s chin and cheeks with rough hands and twisted Kate’s head each way, squishing Kate’s cheeks.

Thoroughly confused by the weirdness, Kate pulled back as much as she could. Janet followed, not releasing Kate’s face.

“Aunt Jan?” Kate asked, though her speech was hindered by Janet. “Let go!” Kate tried slapping Janet’s hands away, but Janet pulled Kate into a tight hug.

“Heh, you’re still you.” Janet said, giving a relieved chuckle.

“Of course I am!” Kate said, finally pushing Janet away.

“So, uh, yeah…” Janet acted marginally embarrassed. “I was just coming to congratulate you after I heard the good news!”

Kate took a few steps back when it looked like Janet might try to embrace her again.

“Er, thanks,” Kate said.

“This–putting all this aside,” Killian started, seeing that the strangeness had stopped. “What have I told you about knocking?” Killian scolded.

“But I did knock,” Janet smirked.

While also a knight, Janet led the Low Guard, which stood independent from Killian’s forces. This, combined with the fact they were sisters, allowed Janet certain privileges that even Kate lacked. Such as excessive ‘backtalk.’

“You’re also supposed to wait after knocking!” Killian said, “You know this!”

It was actually common sense, but Aunt Jan could never be bothered about that.

“Huh. Is that how it works?” Janet joked. “Anyways, I came to find my niece when I heard the good word, and also to ask about a few… let’s call them concerns? Yeah, concerns.”

A wave of trepidation welled up in Kate. While Janet might be the friendlier of the two, neither woman could have held their positions or even achieved them in the first place unless each woman had a certain steel beneath their skin. Kate would not be fooled by Janet’s usual casual act.

“Go on,” Killian said, frowning.

“What’s this I heard about my niece getting caned in the training yard?”

Kate winced. That would not be how she would have put it, and she decided to step ahead of the arrow before it landed on Boke instead.

“That was all my idea, to help get my third rune.”

“And a foolish idea at that,” Killian scoffed. “As if any of my knights would come up with such a fool ploy, let alone follow through with it.”

“Is it that foolish if it works?” Kate said. Results mattered.

“In front of all to see in Muster Square?” Killian nearly shouted, “Yes!”

“Well where else would I have done it?!” Kate asked quickly, the words tumbling out.

“Why’d you need to do it anyways?!” Killian demanded.

“And how’d you convince old Bokey-boke to go along with it?” Janet asked, using her pet name for the knight.

Kate struggled to explain exactly how she had convinced Boke, so instead said simply, “we have rapport. Also, why’re we judging my methods? They worked!”

“It could have worked had you chosen to engage in such foolishness in a cellar, or our private yard. Not the one by Muster Square!”

“Ah, it wasn’t that bad, eh?” Janet prompted. “And the kid’s right, it did work.”

Killian glared at Janet, held a finger up, looked at it, almost as if at a loss, then shook her head and let out a deep breath. “Fine. Whatever. I’ll deal with my daughter later. Why’re you here?”

“We~ell, there was another issue,” Janet said. “Similar, related, though a bit different in that the blame doesn’t fall all the way with my niece’s decision making.”

“But… what?” Kate asked, trying to think of any more recent ploys. It had been weeks since she had snuck out to fight… and Janet would never have sat on a juicy piece of gossip like that for that long. So what was it, Kate wondered.

“Well, after her little demonstration,” Janet said. “She apparently had an encounter with the Halflight twits we all know and hate.”

“No,” Killian groaned. “Which one?”

“Velvetcall,” Janet spat.

Killian narrowed her eyes at Janet, then faster than Kate could track, Killian was over the desk then in front of Kate, glaring up at her daughter.

“And you did not think to mention this!” Killian’s voice was tight with restrained emotion, almost a hoarse whisper.

“I’m alright mom!” Kate said, trying to wave off the concern. “I mean yeah, I hate the guy too, but his gift wears off pretty quick.”

“Not always,” Janet said darkly.

“No, not always.” Killian agreed, her face narrowing into pinched ire. “You don’t see the reports. Nothing untoward yet, but he can leave a permanent impression. You’re sure you’re–”

“-Mom!” Kate said, fighting to get a word in edgewise. “I’m still me. Seriously, he just tried his soothing charm. And it was right there next to the training yard, next to the knigts. It’s fine.”

Kate might have failed to mention that she was already fantasizing about murdering the boy, but that likely went without saying. They probably all were. If not for the princess, that boy would already be dead and rotting in a gutter.

Fantasies of murder aside, the older women continued their conversation.

“What was–why was that person even talking to you in the first place?” Killian demanded, emphasizing the word person to the point that it served as its own curse.

“To recruit me…” Kate explained, then trailed off, having an idea. “Huh.”

Killian glared up at Kate, and Janet let a strangled laugh.

“No!” Killian said first.

“But!” Kate said, she had not even said what her idea was yet!

“Agree with your mom here kid. By the fallen gods no.”

“Absolutely not!” Killian insisted.

“An Imperial Glyph though…” Kate trailed off.

“I thought you were smarter than that!” Killian shouted.

“But I need another glyph, and that is the best one available…”

“And you can’t wait till the academy, why?” Janet asked.

“That’s what I asked her too!” Killian said. “She’s too impatient.”

“Ugh! We’ve been over this!” Kate said. “I don’t want to lose my head start against the other martials. And eventually I want to tourney. I need every edge if I’m going to make it.”

Killian shook her head slowly but remained silent, glowering. Probably considering all the ways to trap Kate in the tower, to keep Kate from escaping and gaining even more power, even more experience.

Janet was the one that broke the fresh wave of silence. “I know you well enough that you came here with a plan in mind–” Janet said.

“-a fool brained plan,” Killian interjected.

“So spill,” Janet finished.

“I’ll sign up with some mercs guarding a caravan north to Bath to get a glyph.”

“And the way back?” Jillian asked.

“I’ll find another caravan,” Kate hedged. Likely, Kate would actually try traveling solo, especially with a new glyph in need of runes. Getting a timely ambush would offer a great chance to fast-track that. But of course, Kate was not about to admit to that.

Killian gestured to Kate in a ‘see what I put up with,’ motion. While Janet coughed to suppress a laugh.

“I dunno, Kill,” Janet said. “I think the plan’s got merits.”

“Oh not you too,” Killian groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose.

“No, hear me out!” Janet said. “So she travels with a caravan, what’s the worst that can happen.”

“She’s an impressionable young woman,” Killian said. “And there will be… mercenaries.”

“So instead of mercenaries, we go with her and bring a few knights. We’ve been meaning to take a vacation anyways.”

Kate began to feel hope. She had not expected her aunt to support this plan.

“I can’t get away from the garrison to take you north, not with the theatrics happening across the bridge.”

“That’s one way to describe the turmoil wiping out the Crown’s colonies,” Janet said, chuckling.

Killian growled. “If only that were all happening.”

With Janet as an ally, Kate decided to push. “You don’t have to be the one to take me,” Kate said, thinking herself quite the problem solver. Ingenious really. Time away from her mother, another glyph. A win-win, in Kate’s book.

“Of course I would be there!” Killian said, sounding offended. “Your second glyph is a big deal! And you know how dangerous it is from here to Bath? You’ve never read the reports, but I’m sure you’ve heard stories.”

“Yeah, but that’s exactly why my plan’ll work!”

“No,” Killian crossed her arms.

“But you didn’t even hear it!”

“And I don’t need to! It’s your second glyph! What mother wouldn’t be there for their daughter for that?”

“Ours wasn’t,” Janet said dourly.

“Our parents weren’t ideal role models,” Killian said. “I’m trying to do better.”

“And you are!” Janet said. “But sometimes little chicks hafta fly…”

“Spoken as though you’ve raised children,” Killian muttered.

Janet’s face went from amused to a hurtful grimace.

Killian winced.

Kate bet that her mother immediately regretted the comment but could not exactly apologize.

“But then again, you have been like a second mother to Kate,” Killian offered.

“Best Aunt,” Kate added, hoping her aunt would take Kate to Bath to get that next glyph.

“Since you’re such a doting aunt,” Killian said, “what do you think I should do with her?”

“Well…” Janet said, letting a small smile curl her lips. “if you’re asking my opinion… I think that young Kate here’s already better than most squires–”

“-all of them,” Kate bragged. She really was the best.

“-all the squires, and if she gets our help to pick out the right glyph and ink, then the process of actually getting it done, if from a sacred artist, is straightforward. The only risk would be getting to the one up in Bath. Which–” Aunt Janet held up a finger to delay any protests “-could be mitigated with the right plan, which I’m sure Kate has?”

Janet and Killian turned towards Kate expectantly.

Kate, impatient, excited, and trembling, could not help but blurt out her genius and very well thought out plan.

“Caravaner’s guild! I mean–er–I’ll sign up as an escort.”

“Huh.”

“You cannot enroll as a Merc,” Killian said, sounding offended. “That–just no. I don’t care what your aunt says. No. I refuse.”

“No, of course I wouldn’t join!” Kate said. “But they take on mercs with credentials, and with you I’ve got a better rep than most of them.”

“You… you want to sign up as a guard to a caravan north?” her mother asked, dubious but thoughtful at once.

“Yeah!”

“You know, they probably would take her on,” Aunt Janet said thoughtfully. “And it should be relatively as safe as it gets.”

“Assuming the other guards are reliable…” Killian said, now thoughtful.

After a pause and some deliberation, her mother reached her verdict.

“Fine,” Killian agreed, though somewhat unhappily.

“Yes!” Kate shouted, loud enough that most of the Crown’s Barracks must have heard.

“Under conditions–” her mother held up a finger, and Aunt Janet nodded along.

“Of course, name them.”

“Your Aunt will take a squad along with you, you have to negotiate with the Caravan’s guild yourself, and–and!” Killian kept her finger up high. “I have to approve both the glyph and the ink.”

“Deal!” Kate said, before rushing out.

Gregory joined her outside the office as Kate rushed to the stairs.

“So?” he asked, struggling to keep up.

“We just gotta talk with the Caravaner’s Guild,” Kate said, shouting over her shoulder.

Gregory snorted, “Oh that’s all–” he was panting, but began catching his breath as they began down the flight of stairs. “Have you ever negotiated with them before? Or negotiated at all?”

“No?” Kate said, already dreaming of which glyph and ink she would go with. Maybe something for protection, in case she ever came against someone like Velvetcall again. But to spend an entire glyph on resisting esoteric effects? Kate was unsure it was worth it.

“No experience negotiating then,” Gregory said sarcastically. “Lovely.”

“Pfft,” Kate said, jumping down the center of the stairwell, falling to the next floor down. “How hard could it be?!” she called back up, before jumping down another flight.

“Famous last words,” Gregory said, rolling his eyes, still hurrying down the stairs like a normal person. “Wait for me!” he said. “You need my business acumen for–”

Kate reached the bottom of the tower and hurried out, only realizing belatedly that Gregory had yet to come down.