Ezmeralda

Fire Embem: Arise

Katherine's eyes seemed to go even wider, she shook her head in disbelief, "I knew he wasn't, but I didn't know my father was a King... And Mother knew as well. And you all never told me....I suppose I understand why, to protect me, right? But...it still hurts that I never knew." she looked down at her hands in her lap.

She looked back up at him, "...Save the country? Now, hold on a minute. How? Where would I even begin? I don't know the first thing about ruling, much less how to save it in the first place. What could I possibly do? I doubt it'd be as easy as 'HEY I'M HIS DAUGHTER' anyway...Emmerich, I...I don't understand...What do I do?" she sighed.

Fire Embem: Arise

"Felix is a lazy goof, but there's few I trust more." Katherine smiled and nodded.

She looked at the portrait Emmerich unrolled. She could easily pick out a younger Emmerich. But the man next to him...reminded her a bit of herself actually. She recognized some of the features. "So it's....A royal crest that denotes a heir to the throne?" Kathy frowned and leaned in closer to the old man and spoked in a whisper, "Emmerich...that sigil appeared on my thigh last night, but there must be some mistake? I'm just a simple cleric/farm girl. Why would it appear on me?"

For some reason this was scarier to her than those bandits the night before.

Fire Embem: Arise

Katherine gasped, "That's terrible! And so sudden.... Why would Volin want the King dead? Were they really on that bad of terms?" Admittedly she didn't know much or pay attention to Volin. Mostly because she'd never heard of it.

She silently watched the two as their conversation unfolded, and she watched him walk out. "Felix..." she turned back to Emmerich, "He'll come around. He always does sooner or later..."

She shook her head, "You don't need to apologize. It's not like it's your fault. But uhm...we had a question for you. That sigil on a lot of the swords the militiamen carry....what is it?" she asked.

Fire Embem: Arise

Katherine nodded as she walked beside him, "Yeah....everyone seems confused and...sad I feel? Did something happen?" she tried smiling at the townsfolk, but they barely smiled back or waved at her. It worried her even more. She thought they were fairly fond of her.

She followed Felix inside and smiled at Emmerich, "Good morning, Commander. How's your arm feeling? And what news? What happened?" She was very worried now. It was rare to see Emmerich in such a state.

Fire Embem: Arise

Katherine frowned, rewrapped her thigh, and lowered her dress, "Why would that randomly appear on my thigh? Maybe that's why it felt familiar? And he might, I guess. Emmerich is probably back in town by now since he has a horse. It'll take us longer to get there, since I don't think the farm has horses to spare for travel....what should we do?" she asked, clearly concerned.

Fire Embem: Arise

Katherine giggled and whispered back, "You're even worse at lying than I am. Seriously, what were you doing? As for me, uhm....I'll show you later after breakfast, okay? Maybe you know what it is."

She ate and then lead Felix where they'd be alone. Away from peeking eyes. "Don't tell anyone about it, okay? It feels so familiar, but I can't place what it is...." she said, hiking up her robes to her thigh, she blushed a little bit, realizing what she was doing while taking off the wrap she had on it. "It appeared last night. What do you think it is?"

Fire Embem: Arise

Katherine jumped, apparently very startled, so much so she almost dropped her spoon. She looked up at Felix, "Oh! Good morning, Felix. You don't look like you slept much." She looked down at his hands, "What....what were you doing all night? You should take a nap."

She glanced at her parents, they seemed to either have their backs turned or busy with farmwork. She was unsure if she should tell them about it. "I...no, I was just thinking a lot. I guess I let my mind wander too much." Felix could probably tell she was lying. Well, sort of. Suffice to say he could probably tell she wasn't being entirely truthful. "What were you doing though?"

Fire Embem: Arise

Katherine rose an eyebrow at him, "Felix? Ohhh, is there a girl you like? Tell me all about her!" she shook her head, "They aren't that complicated. They're meant to be simple and quickly understood so people can prepare to fight or flee. And I can't imagine training is all that demanding. I thought you liked to fight, so that should be easy, right?" she asked, poking him in the ribs with a chuckle, "And yet here I am saving your butt."

"Not really. It was only a few years ago that I started to be able to beat you at chess. And you still do win most the time. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses." Katherine smiled, "Yes, I suppose we should go eat and then get some rest." she said, standing up and brushing off her dress.

-----

((The next morning after the attack on the castle. The King and his relatives are dead. Or are they? ))

Katherine awoke to a strange sensation on her leg, it was kind of itchy and burned a bit. Quite possible one of the strangest feelings she had ever felt. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked at her leg, lifting her night dress up to look at her thigh. It was still rather dark and she couldn't see well, but she could clearly make out a sigil. She could've sworn it looked familiar, but she had no idea how or why it got there. Was there someone in her room?

She looked around, finding no one. All was quiet. She wasn't sure what to make of it, and decided it was best not to mention it. At least until she figured out what it was. Kathy tried to go back to sleep, but had difficulty for the most part. She couldn't stop thinking about the sigil, and she didn't get anywhere with it either.

The sun finally came out and she got out of bed. She took a bath and put on some fresh robes for the day. Kathy also decided to wrap up her thigh where the sigil was. She wondered if Felix or Emmerich knew what it might be. Maybe she'd ask him once he woke up. He had decided to stay the night there, in the guest room, since he was too lazy to go back to town.

For breakfast they had leftovers from the feast. It was still just as delicious as it was last night, but Katherine was clearly bothered by something. She sat at the table, stirring a bowl of stew, her face lost in thought.

Fire Embem: Arise

"Every day is pile on Felix day." Katherine smiled, "And how is it that I, a Cleric, know the military smoke signals better than you do, Felix?" she chuckled.

She smiled at Emmerich, "Very well. Farewell, Commander." she waved at him as he left.

Kathy looked back down at Felix, "Like what?" she frowned at him, "What brought this on? Seems a bit out of the blue, even for you." she looked up at the stars, "So it is.... A rare sight indeed."

Fire Embem: Arise

Katherine nodded, "Yes, although not just any stew, and among other things. How do you make a meal out of just stew though, Felix? I always need to at least have some bread or something with it."

She feigned a gasp and looked at Emmerich, "You mean he isn't one?!" she then giggled and sat down next to him.

Kathy rose an eyebrow, "....Stir the pot? What do you mean? Like a family? ...Those poor souls!" she said, jabbing him in the ribs with a finger, and smiling.