Ghis (closed)

[KieranSoares]

Qira cracked a tiny smile at that. "I would like to see that." He knew it would get on Kate's nerves, but eventually she would break and come to respect Rissa.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Stick around, panther. You'll have a front row seat." Rissa said with a laugh as the meeting ended and she excused herself to her rooms to get things settled.

 

[KieranSoares]

Qira quietly watched her go, silently interested in this strange new woman's confidence and what plans she might have. He returned to his own duties shortly, disappearing into the rest of the castle.

 

[heartofcourage]

The moment that Kell and Kate were alone in their rooms later that evening, Kate ready for a fight. She knew he might scold her as Warwick had and while she was willing to let Warwick get in that last word, but she wasn't willing to let Kell have it.

"Not a word about her, Kell." Kate growled as she sat down at her chair with a long sigh. "I don't want to hear about it."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I didn't say anything," Kell told her matter-of-factly, hanging up his jacket and bandolier quite calmly. It was a typical tactic of his, letting her stew on her own so that if she did get mad at him, it was ridiculous and she knew it.

 

[heartofcourage]

"No, but you're thinking it." Kate groused, looking over her shoulder at him. "I know everyone else has something for this mysterious Rissa, but I don't want her here. I don't want anyone."

 

[KieranSoares]

"Your disdain has been well-noted, Your Majesty," Kell assured her in monotone. "And it will be noted when we review her performance."

 

[heartofcourage]

"So, you're going to play that game? Calling me 'your majesty' instead of Kate? You infuriate me just as much as anyone else." Kate said with a shake of her head.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I'll call you Kate when you start acting like my wife rather than a child. I still don't understand what your problem is with her. She's perfectly lovely, capable, and she's been more than patient with you. What's the issue?" Kell leaned on the wall with his arms crossed. "Has she personally offended you? You've been fairly alright with all the other new staff and advisors we've selected."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I don’t need her, plain and simple.” Kate said as he told her that he wouldn’t call her by her given name until she acted like an adult. “I don’t make friends with other women. They make me feel so inadequate because I don’t enjoy the same things that they do. And believe me, Ma tried to get me interested.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Have you taken a moment to even give her a chance? No. Have you gotten to know her interests? No. You probably didn't even listen when she talked about her farm and her drakes, which she runs alone other than the odd helping hand. Even from a glance I can tell you that Rissa is no delicate and flowery court maiden. She's a hard-working woman whose noble blood has nothing to with her getting this position. She earned the chance and made the right connections. Now you can't just tell me you want to dismiss her along with 'other women.' She's exactly the kind of woman I'd expect you to pick yourself."

 

[heartofcourage]

“But I didn’t want to pick anyone in the first place!” Kate countered, looking over at Kell as she crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t want or need a lady in waiting. I have Warwick. I have Qira. I don’t need someone else offering opinions.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Warwick is getting old," Kell reminded her. "And it was his idea. Now from my experience, Warwick normally knows what he's doing. And I've told you Rissa doesn't have to be a lady in waiting, hounding your every step and pushing social calls. She'll be assuming Warwick's responsibilities when he retires. He wanted to train someone specifically for his work."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Then why do I have to be involved in this? Let him pick his own successor and get them out of my hair.” Kate said, letting out a long sigh.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Because she'll have to work with us," Kell reminded with a sigh of his own. "And he wants you to be able to work well and trust whoever he chooses."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I know that no matter what my feelings are on the matter, I’m going to lose, so just do what you feel you need to do, Lord Protector.” Kate said, turning back to the paperwork on her desk and doing her level best to ignore her husband.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Why does anyone have to lose?" Kell stepped over, not letting her shut him out so easily, laying a hand on her desk as he looked down at her. "You can't give her a chance?"

 

[heartofcourage]

“No.” Kate said simply as Kell came to her side.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Do you have an actual reason, other than just to be difficult, why you can't give a qualified woman a chance to show you what she's capable of?" He leaned down to get a good look at her expression. "... You're jealous."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’m not jealous of anyone.” Kate said defensively as Kell looked into her features to get a read on her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"You absolutely are," Kell chuckled, stepping back to continue undressing. "And here I thought you saw something off about her that I didn't."

 

[heartofcourage]

“When have I ever been jealous of anyone? You just want to make things more difficult than they already are, Khelt.” Kate accused, looking over her should at him as he continued to undress.

 

[KieranSoares]

"Give me a better reason, then, love. You've never been this venomous about anyone, even your enemies. But my real question now is why you're jealous. Is it her confidence? Looks, maybe?" He was soon changed into just a pair of loose trousers. "I've never seen you really interacted with other young women you aren't related to, come to think of it. This must be why."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Because I have no use for other women!” Kate said, completely exasperated by her husband and his unwillingness to drop the entire subject.

 

[KieranSoares]

Kell paused to fix her with a strange look, still not understanding her. "That's not a reason, Kate. Lords in this court have no use for women. Women afraid to lose something have no use for women. If you want to actually explain it, let me know. Otherwise, goodnight." He came to kiss her cheek before retreating to bed.