Khal’s smile put her at ease, her complete trust in the other woman giving her the security to relax slightly, tension easing out of her body.  She listened as Khal gave orders to her Riders, envious of the older woman’s ease with them, the sense of competence and command she exuded without even trying.  It made Cat feel even less prepared for the future that had been thrust upon her, less sure of her abilities to lead her people.  She wasn’t the natural born leader that her brother had been, and it showed.  All she could do was take her example from the friend and elder sister who twined her arm through Cat’s as they headed out into the hall.<br/><br/>She blushed slightly at Khal’s question, looking down at her shoes for a moment before an impish grin spread across her face.  “Why does everyone assume that I am going to get into some kind of mischief?” she asked, mock sorrow and injured pride lacing her voice.  “It’s not like I went out riding… without telling my guard where I was going,” she motioned to the guard who stood out in the hallway, evidently feeling that she had not been harassed enough for her transgression.<br/><br/>“It would be a nice change it you would simply mention the fact that you were leaving the Citadel Highness…” the guard said with laudable composure as he fell in behind them, bringing a sigh to Cat’s lips.<br/><br/>“I appreciate your position Captain, but I’m not used to having to run my every move by anyone, not even my father… next you’re going to want to place a guard in my very bedchamber to insure my chastity… as if I could ever find the time for a liason, let alone a man willing to risk my father’s wrath…” she grimaced slightly and shook her head, berating herself for her tone of voice.  “I’m sorry Captain, you deserve better than that from me…”<br/><br/>“I live to serve…” he said with an admirably grave tone, bowing slightly as he fell back, allowing them the small amount privacy he could in the hallway.<br/><br/>Cat leaned against Khal for a moment as they walked down the hall.  “Has everyone come in now?” she asked quietly, speaking of the Riders. “I know you sent a number of them out in the last month…”<br/><br/>In truth she knew that the majority of them were in or near the Citadel, but there were three in particular that she had not been allowed to meet on her father’s orders.  That would have to change, whether he wanted it to or not in the near future.  If what she had heard held true they would all be needed in the months to come, and her father would no longer be able to afford to protect her if he expected her to rule in her own right one day.  Her curiosity practically bubbled beneath the surface of her words, the rumors of the three that circulated through the court leaving her with a desire to see them for herself, to speak to the people who could so disconcert the people she had known since birth.<br/>