Catáryn pulled hard on the reins, her geldings hooves skidding on the loosely packed gravel that led up to the stables.  A fine sheen of white dust floated up about the roan steed as she laughed slightly, exhilarated and fully relaxed for the first time in what felt like years.  For a few moments she had recaptured the carefree childhood that her brother’s disappearance had stripped from her, but like every moment of pure enjoyment it was fleeting, dying quickly as she dismounted, the disapproval written in the royal guard’s eyes sending a flash of anger through her that was hard to contain.  She could feel magic rising with her emotions and quickly banished it, proud that her training had progressed far enough that she had some semblance of control over it.<br/><br/>He stood beside the entrance to the stable, his intimidating frame leaning against the weathered brown wood of the wall as he regarded her with a reproachful expression that threatened to send her back out into the fields alone.  Perhaps she shouldn’t have taken Corlan out by herself.  She knew about her father’s orders that she be accompanied off of the citadel grounds by at least one of the royal guards, but it galled her to no end.  They were all loyal men, each one of them willing to place himself before her, facing any danger that might come her way, but she could only stand so much of it.  She had grown up the pampered middle child with a freedom that the heir had never known, she had known that she would never inherit a crown, but all of that had changed, and her brother’s disappearance had left her father understandably paranoid when it came to her safety.<br/><br/>She just wished he would understand that she could take care of herself, Khalida had seen to that.<br/><br/>She started to open her mouth, a heated response to his silent disapproval on the tip of her tongue when she heard the sound of hooves beating against the gravel, the sound stopping her in mid thought.  She glanced behind her, a smile blossoming on her face as she came face to face with Adair, one of Khalida’s riders, barely able to see Jerian behind the mountain of a man.  He towered over her, his face battered and scarred by years spent as a slave and gladiator.  The half feral diminutive woman behind him didn’t even come up to his chest, though only a fool would think her the lesser of the two.<br/><br/>“Welcome back, Khal will be happy to see you two,” she said with a smile, her anger from a moment before completely forgotten as she greeted the two Riders.<br/><br/>She had only been allowed to truly associate with any of them beyond Khal in the last few months, mostly because of her need to train with Merith, but she liked what she knew of them, and felt honored by the slight smile that Adair bestowed upon her in return.<br/><br/>“Thank you Highness,” he said, his deep voice only adding to the intimidating power of his physique.<br/><br/>Cat wrinkled her nose, her storm grey eyes laughing as she shook her head.  “Enough of that Highness business, come on, I’ll accompany you inside, perhaps Khal will even let me stay and hear what you two have to say.”<br/><br/>She led the way into the citadel through the servant’s entrance, ignoring the guard who followed at a discreet distance.  He would follow her long enough to feel that he had properly reminded her of her obligation to inform him when she was planning to leave the citadel grounds, it was quickly becoming a silent routine for her, one that she fervently hoped she would be able to end with her father’s blessing, though she would not be willing to bet on that ever happening.<br/><br/>With a sigh she brushed strands of her deep auburn hair out of her face as she took the stairs quickly, heading up towards the rooms that the Champion had been given with the two Rider’s following closely behind.  By the time she reached the upper levels of the citadel she was so intent on her destination that she practically ran into her father as he stepped out of one of the small sitting rooms nestled between the suites on the upper floors.  She skidded to a halt, a girlish squeak of surprise spilling from her lips as she managed to stop mere inches from him, a bright blush staining her cheeks as he arched an eyebrow at her.<br/><br/>“Daughter… need I ask what you have been doing this day?” he asked, not unkindly as he nodded towards her companions.<br/><br/>“N-no Father, that won’t be necessary… I was simply accompanying the Rider’s to Khal’s… I mean Lady Khalida’s study…” she trailed off, her cheeks burning even more brightly as she looked away from him, not willing to meet his eyes.<br/><br/>“Well then… perhaps you would be so kind as to ask her to join me, I have someone I would like her to meet.”<br/><br/>“Of course,” she said quickly, bowing slightly as she quickly hurried down the hall, happy to be out of range for a few moments at least, though curiosity prickled along her nerves as she wondered who could be important enough to warrant a private meeting with her Father.<br/><br/>Finally reaching the door she was looking for she knocked lightly, waiting just long enough to hear someone inside tell her to enter before she opened the door and slipped into the room with Adair and Jerian in tow.  She hesitated but a moment, her youth showing in that moment as she glanced around the room, still slightly uncomfortable with the Rider’s.  It was a failing she would have to overcome as she got to know them better, having never expected to be thrown into the height of power and politics as she had been in the last few years.  “Khal, Father would like your company, there is someone he wants you to meet…”<br/>