Cat’s eyes flickered across her father, noting the tension that always seemed to ride his shoulders with an absent sorrow at the necessity that had seemed to age him far more than the mere passing of the years could account for.  Even as the sorrow settled upon her own shoulders she turned her gaze to the man who stood beside her father, taking in everything she could about him, using the knowledge that Khal had practically beaten into her over the past year to assess him quickly and far more thoroughly than most people would have thought possible.<br/><br/>The man’s features marked him as a son of Irelki, which was confirmed with her father’s words a moment later.  She couldn’t quite hide her curiosity as her head tilted to the side, her study of the man deepening noticeably before she bowed slightly in return, forgoing the more formal curtsy that her station would have required under normal circumstances, of course normal circumstances had disappeared with her brother.<br/><br/>“What situation would that be Sir Gamun?” she asked quietly, her cheer from but a moment before stifled as she took her cue from her father.  “What has brought you so far from home?  I assume that your business with us is less than official, or the proper titles would have been included in your introduction.”<br/><br/>Caution warred with curiosity as she stood next to Khal, mindful of her position as heir even as she showed Khal more courtesy than other nobility likely would have by standing by her side as an equal instead of stepping forward to take a place at her father’s side.  It was a calculated move on her part, one that told the man before them that she trusted her Champion and valued her council and friendship more than her position as heir.  It was a statement that she had been making time and time again as the court grumbled about Khal’s choice in Riders.  A show of solidarity that was quickly becoming second nature.<br/>