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How To Deliver Justice (with KiraMusani

Aurora was just a few steps quicker than her queen. "Clair, I had wanted to give you another physical once we got back to Dunwyn, but we ended having to stop Princeton's bloody army of usurpers first. Before the king gets here and the painting commences, if I can give you a quick once over? It'll give Kenna," She nodded quickly to her queen, "a chance to see the stethoscope and blood pressure regulator in action."

Kenna raised an eyebrow, and then saw Ruby nearby. "A moment, Ruby, before this game starts. You've been around Clair the most of everyone here, is my understanding. I'm assuming Dr. Service has the second most, or maybe Avenger. I want your opinion of her. A good friend?"

Aurora caught up, and helped Clair to a nearby no backed settee. "Can we start with the blood pressure measurement?" To Kenna, Aurora explained, "We've learned that an average measurement has two distinct readings, Queen Kenna. Most of the girls, save two, have between 115 and 125 on the first measurement. Avenger's averages in the 130s and 140s probably due to her activity, with Princess Sapphire I have to constantly monitor."

Kenna raised an eyebrow. "I'm afraid to ask, but fear I must. Why are there two readings?"

"Pulse and between pulse, my queen. It actually gives us a better read of the health of the individual." She turned to Clair, pulling out the blood pressure cuff. "When you're ready, Clair. Ruby, technically I have to give you a physical also, so don't go anywhere."

Kenna gripped Ruby's shoulder. "Oh, she won't, Dr. Service, I assure you. Besides, I'd like her to watch that I don't say anything to frighten her inventor friend when I ask about a few of the inventions. This compass you showed me, doctor, in particular." She took a glance around quickly, to see if Ethel was also in, since she asked her to at least be present, when Kenna spoke to Clair. "Will she be able to speak while you do this blood pressure measurement?"

Aurora nodded, to Kenna and Clair. "Just don't move your arm while I'm counting on your blood pressure, Clair, okay? Feel free to tell the Queen of Cordonia about the compass."

She would get started as Kenna distracted Clair from worrying needlessly about her blood pressure by asking about the compass.

Ruby explaining rules were paused.
 
Clair blushed a little.
"Oh, umm yeah that works, I suppose I should be able to help show how they work" Clair agreed and took her position for the physical, though tried to think of it more like an invention show off.

Clair nodded and offered her arm to Dr. Aurora.
"You see the bag inflates and we measure the pressure in the bag, but as blood pumps through the body it causes small changes in that pressure, that difference is how we get our measurements." Clair explained.

Ethel was indeed watching, though not quite involved as the rest of them, more so listening and watching from a distance.

Clair smiled.
"Oh! The compass, I initially designed that for sailors when they can't see the sun or stars, you see we discovered that the planet it's self had a magnetic pull towards the north, so that we could use that to get the needle to point us in specific directions that would be accurate. Though it might need testing as we don't know if any weather may effect the magnetic pull"
 
Having had practice with the top of the silken dresses, or lighter clothed shirts still on with the stethoscope, Aurora put the ear pieces in the tapped the main piece a few times, before saying, "Okay, I need all of you to be still and quiet so I can listen to Clair's heart, lungs and stomach, for a minute or so." She then explained before she got started. "This helps me or any doctor, listen to the inside of the body to check for anything going on inside. Sometimes, like when Avenger was suffering from an inflamed appendix, it's quite apparent without this instrument. Simple finger taps and good eyesight produce the same results for a diagnosis. Stiffness, unbelievable pain and a bounce when pressing on her right side, escaping gas... Things like that which are abnormal, normally." She then put the large metal piece against Clair in different parts of the torso, along her back in places, then along her abdomen, making a grimace as she did so, before finally pulling the ear pieces out and shaking her head, chuckling more to herself. "My. SOMEbody's hungry." She motioned for Ruby and positioned the larger piece on her stomach, while nodding to Kenna to listen to Ruby's. "Listen, my queen, as I'm sure Ruby's will likely also be noisy."

Kenna did so, but soon quickly pulled the ear pieces out of her ears. "Good lord, sounds like a bloody war going on! I could kind of hear it without the instrument, but it like canons with that thing!"

"They haven't eaten since before they left Berkshire yesterday afternoon. There hasn't been time." Aurora stated. "That's what you're hearing. They need body fuel. If they say they weren't hungry, this can tell a medical professional, that they're lying, and can instruct them to eat something. I'm telling the King, we need to eat before we start painting. I won't play the physician card unless I have to." She then looked at Clair. "125/75, Clair. Pretty standard among all of you. Everything else was good also... Well, except your stomach. But, we all need to eat."

Kenna looked at Ruby, "Have YOU been eating everything on YOUR plate?"

"Yes, ma'am." As Aurora took her blood pressure, Ruby continued. "So, Clair has been a good friend this year, and I think I kinda, well, fell for her. We have so much in common, including science and nature and stuff. I still don't know why Doctor Aurora and Avenger stopped me from sharing a bed when we were trying to finish your Christmas present. It woulda saved so much time."

Kenna made a face and facepalmed. "Ruby! We've been over this! You're too old to share a bed but not a room!" She looked to Clair. "Did Doctor Service or The Crimson Avenger let YOU know why you shouldn't share a bed? Especially with a princess?"

Avenger had, but would Clair remember, or would she need the court physician to bail her out?
 
Clair blushed, not sure why but she was embarrassed by her stomach making those noises, she stayed quiet until she was directly talked to.

"Oh Umm, yes, they told me why it would be inappropriate, and we didn't share a bed for that reason. I didn't want Ruby's options to be taken away like that"
 
Kenna nodded, satisfied with Clair's response, and Aurora glanced her way. "I might have mentioned something, but I mostly focused on correcting my fellow Cordonian, and teenage princess. Avenger likely filled in the gaps. I remember Avenger almost had a princess style meltdown on RUBY about it, which caused the need to separate and talk to them separately."

Kenna raised an eyebrow as Gregor came in to the ballroom, grabbed Tuxford by the shoulder in a greeting and nodded to Ethel. "If there are no objections...."

Aurora's stomach: GAAARRRRRRROOOOWWWWWLLL!!!!

This caused Ruby, the nearest to Aurora to actually jump, while still seated next to Clair. Kenna looked surprised at the newest medical professional, before knitting her eyebrows and face into a perfect royal frown.

Tuxford raised an eyebrow, and quipped a line that would be rewritten in the 20th century. "Awright... Who let the dragon out?"

Gregor shook his head, chuckling. "Damn, doctor! Objection sustained. Okay, we'll eat first."
 
Ethel nodded in response to Gregor, staying quiet with no objections.

Clair jumped as well at the noise.
"Heh, good thing we didn't have the stethoscope set up for that one" She whispered to Ruby.

Ethel spoke up.
"If you are all going to eat, I'll keep watch, just in case"
 
Ruby giggled and asided back. "By all the apples in Cordonia, we didn't need THAT magnified any more than it was. Let's show mother how you can escort me to a meal." She presented her hands ready to hook into the crook of Clair's elbow.

Gregor nodded, "Very well, although I don't expect us to have another event. I'll have either Tuxford or Amethyst bring you something to eat when they come to relieve you."

Aurora blushed beet red and hung her head as she made a hasty retreat for the dining hall. Arden relieved Bristol in watching the threesome, and Ian was able to be discharged from the recovery room as the court had oatmeal, scrambled eggs, grilled ham, Earl Grey tea and a choice of several different juices. Aurora would start everyone's order on juice, by getting herself apple juice, straight out of Dunwyn's orchards since they didn't have any Cordonian Cider.

Tuxford ate relatively quickly, and brought Ethel what everyone else had, with two fairly large pieces of ham and what had to be double the eggs, and a slightly larger bowl of oatmeal than was served the court, and a full stein of tea. As he took over watching Dom, who didn't want breakfast much to Kenna's chagrin, he pointed to an alcove where Ethel could eat in piece. "I heard you had to go on the King's mission before dinner yesterday afternoon, so I requested double portions of everything. The shaker has ground cinnamon for your oatmeal." He sighed. "I apologize, but didn't know what juice you would have preferred of apple, blackberry, pear and cranberry. I would have bought you a juice as well."

It would be another half hour before the ladies would be back in the ballroom for the painting, breakfast would be a perfect time for Clair to ask for the rules, while the king had a relatively captive audience.
 
Clair smiled and paused for a moment at the offered arm before she recalled.
"Oh! sorry here" She wrapped her arm and walked with her.

Ethel nodded.
"Sounds good to me"

Ethel took the food.
"Thanks, don't worry about it I'll eat just about anything, and drinks go the same way. There has been times where I could not afford to be picky, it's eat what you find or starve" She explained.

Clair mustered up her courage and approached to ask.
"Umm, excuse me, but umm, is there like written rules for the painting?"
 
Tuxford nodded an understanding. "Been there a few times, Ethel." He looked at Dom scowling at the fall flowers. He shook his head. "Don't rush your meal, I'll be your partner all day watching Grumpy McGrowlypants, out there." He thumbed towards the garden. "Just don't tell Gregor or Kenna, I called Dom that." He gave a light-hearted chuckle.

He didn't know Kenna would be the first one to agree with the old knight, for his impromptu diss nickname. Tuxford refused to retire as long as he could fight.

Kenna watched Clair escort Ruby properly to breakfast, and gave Clair a small smile and regal nod.

Gregor nodded as Clair asked the question. "Right, you aren't the only new one to court. I just hope Avenger remembered to explain to Butcher, as she's new too." He tapped his glass as he arose. "For you ladies present for the painting game for the first time. The portrait you are to be painting is a Christmas gift to the person you are painting, something the person can be proud of, and display in their chambers or home, in a prominent place. It doesn't have to be perfect, but do the very best that you are able."

He took a breath and continued, "Although it doesn't have to be someone in court, for many of you it can be, but doesn't necessarily mean, he or she is who you would propose to. Many of you may not even have your beloved here, today. For you newcomers to court, this person could even represent your best friend in court, or the one you are closest to." He noticed Ruby's hand up. "Yes, Ruby, a question?"

"Since it's not a proposal, can it be two people?" She looked lovingly at Clair. Clearly, her number one pick.

Thwack! Ruby got a double smack to the back of her head. One from Mom Kenna, and the other from Doctor Aurora; both Cordonian, so Kenna wouldn't say Aurora was overstepping Kenna. Both apologized to Clair for their reaction and Ruby's brazenness. That had to have embarrassed Clair, or scare her one.

Gregor said nothing about the smack to Ruby's head. Really, if he had been next to her, he probably would have bopped her one, himself. After a facepalm and deep breath, Gregor answered the question. "This is an all day event. If you can without rushing the portrait, and you are able, you can paint a second portrait of someone else who you care about. Just make sure you're first one, for the most important one is done first. You've been here before, Ruby. One person per portrait."

Sounds like Clair was Ruby's number one, but did she have a number two?
 
Ethel took the food and began to eat without leaving her post.
"Oh? On the streets, or in the wild?" She asked curious about his experience surviving.

Clair returned the smile with a friendly wave to Kenna.

Upon the display Clair did indeed get a fright, she had not only wanted to paint one, or two, but many in a single portrait. Luckily Ruby had helped make it clear it was one per portrait and that the first was assumed your choice. At least it wasn't an automatic purposal.

"Thank you, that clears things up greatly" she gave a curtsy to Gregor and returned to her seat next to Ruby.
"Sorry you got hurt, but thanks your question helped clear things up for me" she whispered.
 
Tuxford shrugged. "Didn't know there was much of a difference. Of those choices, I would say in the wild. I did a quest about ten years ago. You could say I was on a wild dragon hunt, as there was plenty of proof and tracks of the beast, and for nearly a year, I tracked the woods and what amounts to hills around here, as compared to the Alps. Nary a hide nor scale of the supposed fire breather. Several villagers saw the beast, I thought I got a glimpse." He looked at Ethel, hands in the air in a more visible don't know. "Came back from the quest with more questions than answers, but with a greater understanding and love for camping."

Kenna, meanwhile, made her way over to Mr Handler, after Olivia, and another court lady pointed him out. "I would like to discuss a possible uniting of our houses. I hear from my daughter you're quite the chess player. I would move your family to Cordonia and even give you land, moving you from Merchant to Baron, and actual peerage instead of just low nobility. May we discuss Ruby and Clair while they're painting?"

Ruby closed an eye as she rubbed the back of her head. "It wasn't the question, I don't think. And don't mention it." She sighed. "King Gregor is right. I was here before. Two years ago was my debut. I shoulda remembered you can't paint a group portrait. See, actually, I know you're friends with Avenger, and I wanted to paint you two together, to show your friendship. I figured you'd really appreciate it, considering you saw how well I painted Avenger's portrait for Mother. She's a decent fan of her. I told her about Avenger when I got home. She's already got Tuxford and Amethyst in their armour. Plans to ask King Gregor for one of him. She's setting up a wing for the heroes of Europe, and needs the best of England's. I don't know if she has Robin Hood, but does of Richard II."

Gregor called for all the painting participants to make their way back to the ballroom, find their easels and commence painting.
 
Ethel nodded "I see, and about how long were you living like that for? and what kind of supplies did you bring into that scenario?" She asked, knowing camping with supplies like a tent and materials for starting fire was a world away from one without.

Mr. Handler gave a bow.
"Oh hello, a pleasure to meet you, I hear our daughters are becoming fast friends. That is a very generous offer, let me ask my wife, she handles most of this stuff, Oh dear!" He called her over from another conversation she was having before she finished up with them and came over.
"This is Ruby's mother, she is offering us to join houses, which would move us out to Cordonia, and give us our own land, plus the benefits that come with that. And also she knows of my legendary chess skills" He explained in a joyous tone.

"Oh! Well your ego certainly did not need that" She teased with a smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, your Majesty, Would this offer of land also include the resources in which to build on said land?"
"Oh! Right, she offered for us to discuss this while the girls paint" He added.
"Oh! yes, a wonderful idea, let's get comfortable first before getting into the details" She nodded.

Clair blushed.
"Oh that is very kind of you, honestly you saved me a ton of embarrassment, I was planning to make a painting of you, Aurora, Avenger, Olivia, all the girls that have helped me so much, to show I appreciate you all. And Honestly, I think at this point I have spent more time with you than I have with Avenger. Though I was a fan of hers before we met, she is like the hero in the area I grew up and was a girl my age so I guess it drew my interest" She admitted.

"Oh, looks like we need to go paint, honestly I am still unsure what to paint, but I guess I better figure it out before we get there"
 
Kenna nodded as she waited for the Handlers to settle comfortably, and asked a servant to give them a round of tea and some of Millicent and Clair's Gummiberry Wine for each of them. Kenna was wearing her armor as well as her crown (latter not pictured below) and her sword was sheathed on her hip. She had been told by Gregor that Beatrice Beaumont of Ramsford, a Cordonian Great House, had quit and went home instead of coming back to Dunwyn. She cleared her throat just as the tea and wine were brought. "We had a traitor not long ago of the House Vescovi, which is the neighbor of Doctor Service who gained the lands of Fierro after he caused the great civil wars of 25 years ago, due to Arden's taking care of the mass casualties. It was still offered five years ago, this time to her as she chose to follow in Arden's footsteps as a physician. Intern or no, she accepted the lands with Arden's blessings, and renamed it Valtoria with the Phoenix as her house symbol." She took a sip of her tea.

"As Baron and Baroness, or perhaps Viscount and Countess, you would actually be in charge of the entire town there and would be able to run your general store out of it. We don't have many physicians, and Arden is the royal physician for Stormholt and Ramsford. You will share physicians with Valtoria, and you've already met her." Another sip of tea. "You will have an estate, and blacksmith, entirely your own, and the people have their own blacksmith and many shops. Unfortunately, Vescovi ruled with an iron fist, although I caught him after a few months, and stripped him of title and lands. As long as you treat your fellow people with honour, dignity and respect, there will be no issue from Stormholt."

Kenna set her teacup down. "You, like Service, will be able to rename your lands whatever you want, and name your symbol whatever you wish, that will be placed on your banners." She uncrossed her legs to switch the top leg. "That covers the backstory for your proposed gift of lands. Both Ramsford and Valtoria are trying to claim the land, I suspect Duchess Service wants it just so she'll have more people she can treat, Lord knows Arden has more than enough patients. This will also, if you accept, keep four Great Houses in Cordonia. Lythikos wants to run things on their own, but Duchess Nevrakis has mentioned interest, just earlier this morning when she debriefed with me, she doesn't want to rule Lythikos, but wouldn't mind running it for me. Apparently, their king is still acting the fool." A sigh.

"Valtoria, Ramsford and Lythikos, which is it's own country, will be your neighbors. You can count on aid until you get settled from all of them, as well as your own people. This offer is whether or not Ruby chooses Clair. From what I have already seen of Clair, and heard from Ruby, you would quickly become loved members of the land I'm offering you. I'd welcome you to the mainland. You might have more space for a bigger general store, something the land doesn't even have yet, in that area, or Valtoria. Perhaps even a larger clientele, which could result in more jobs, if you need to hire. That would help your land even more."

Kenna would talk about the topography, and other exports from there if the Handlers agree to the change.

Queen Kenna
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Meanwhile, Ruby looked at Clair as they reached the ballroom. "It's simple, then, I think. If Avenger and I are your only close friends, pick between the two of us. You ask me, Doctor Aurora is a good friend, but she's had to stick with being professional, since she's the court physician. And of course Avenger you've known longer, seeing as you're both from here. Dunwyn." She smiled as she grabbed her pallette. "You know who you're closest to, Clair, I don't think I need to tell you who to paint. You already know, deep down in here." Ruby placed her hand against Clair's chest. "So wow that person with a portrait."
 
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Both the Handlers listened carefully, nodding along as she spoke with Mrs. Handler taking notes, a trait her daughter must have gotten from her. Once she had finished explaining her offer and the history behind it they looked at each other and without saying a word to each other Mrs Handler spoke up.
"That is a hard offer to turn down, I suppose my only concern would be all these families wanting the land, I hope that they don't want it so badly that they may cause our family harm to gain it, or hold it against us if we gain it over them?"

Clair listened to Ruby, her face in a sort of half listening half stunned looked, following her hand as it was placed over her chest.
"I know in my bosom? Oh! heart! heh, sorry, too much medical talk with Service Afraid had me thinking more literally with that, my heart would be more like here" She said gesturing to her own left breast.
"Thanks, Ruby, I am still not sure, I am not so great at listening to my feelings, but I'll do my best" She nodded with a smile.
 
Ruby shook her head and laughed, more at herself. "Right. You probably learned that from Doctor Aurora, especially after you invented her stethoscope. She's so anatomically correct¹ and all." She shrugged with a smirk. "Physicians, amirite?"

When the court piled back in to began the painting of portraits, Tuxford watched Ethel stay at post. "Aren't you painting a portrait?" He then facepalmed. "Ugh. Never mind. Forgive me. Gregor has you keeping an eye on Dom, or rather, Grumpy McGrowlypants², with me as your backup. You'll get points because you're here, but on a different errand for the King. You're excused from the portrait painting." He sighed. "To answer your question, I had very little as far as supplies for camping. Only a blanket to keep warm. Had to use a flint to start a fire like anyone else, and shelter was usually a canopy of trees, or if I happen upon a cave, I could use it."

Kenna made a thinking face as Mrs Handler alerted her to what was a common issue with land ownership. She finally grimaced, and shook her head. "Cordonians know better than to go against the ruling class, id est³ the Rhys family. You both through knowing their princess, and therefore the royal family, are actually holding all the cards. Your only true competition for those lands are Service of Valtoria, and Beaumont of Ramsford. A physician and a vintner. I can't see either one of them having any issue with me choosing Clair's family, especially since the physician has already met all three of you and she actually endorsed you, by seeing if not her for more patients, then Mrs Handler for business reasons." She looked apologetically to Mr Handler. "The only thing she said about you, sir, is a retired knight with Gregor and knew him and his father. Ruby was the one who raved of your chess skills, and likened your skills to my strategies for the battlefield. You would have my approval and only need one of the other two to make it binding. Which you do. With Aurora Service. That's all you need to explain to the people under your protection and in your land. You have the Queen's favour and Valtoria's blessing, to own the land. You also have the added benefit of your daughter being close friends with the Cordonian Princess herself⁴."


1- Nowadays, Ruby would say and mean 'politically correct'.
2-As previously mentioned, Tuxford nicknamed Dom that due to his attitude.
3-Commonly spoken, among royalty and physicians, even back then. Latin for "that is". Remember: 14th century.
4-Ruby, until Kenna and/or Dom reveal the birth of a son, is heir-apparent, or crown princess, next in line for the throne after Kenna. Note: She will always be crown princess, but not heir-apparent once a son is born to the royal couple.
 
Clair smiled.
"Hey I guess that's true, we did spend a decent amount of time together for the stethoscope, and Microscope, and now more for our element table" She admitted.
"And yeah, I think so"

Ethel didn't even need to reply to Tuxford, listening to his answer while keeping her eyes on Dom.
"Ahh, that's better than most, though if you ever want to learn some survival tips that can help you survive without a made flint and steel and well-made blanket, let me know. Though honestly if you always keep those on you, you probably won't need to know." Ethel had to remind herself that as time and people advanced, her old known ways were being replaced, sure it was good to know how to survive without those tools, but most people would never need to know.

Mrs. Handler smiled at the response. Mr. Handler chuckled at the apology.
"No worries, I am no stranger to the knowledge that my wife here is the glue of our little operation, I am mostly the muscle nowadays" He whispered jokingly.
"Oh hush you do more than that you goof, Sorry about him, it's hard for him to take things seriously most of the time. Your offer is too good to pass up, do you have something for us to sign?" She asked.
 
Tuxford chuckled. "Wasn't a made flint, I'm afraid. Not ten years ago. It was a flint rock that was near the campsite, and banged it again another rock to create a spark on my kindling. I'm not sure I would trust the made flint any farther than I could pick up someone like you, or Princess Cassandra. Old fashioned that way." He caught sight of Dom angrily turning on his heel and making to leave the garden. "Oh oh. Grumpy's on the move, looking like a bee in his britches. Shall we go to the doors into the ballroom that lead to the gardens? He has to climb several steps to the veranda, I know the quickest route there. He's probably going to still be in before we get there."

Kenna nodded. "My handmaiden can fetch them." Turning to her, Kenna said, "Bring the whole satchel. I put the corked inkwell and quills in there."

"Of course, right away, Your Majesty." She curtsied and headed out the large oak double doors leading to the main part of the castle.

Dom burst in to the ballroom from the veranda, on the opposite side of the room from Kenna and the Handlers, causing Gregor to say, "Now see here, guest or no, you do not need to tear doors off their hinges! Settle down, Dom, why are you acting like this?!"

Sapphire, the nearest to the window, looked up, and spoke in her Grecian tongue. "Prépei na écho isychia!¹" She finished off in her broken English accent "It is hard enough to paint without much noise!"

"Games! Bah! What's the meaning of all this! Painting, art, what's next?! Sewing? Cooking? Look at Queen Kenna! A warrior! Women need to learn things that help them and their peoples! A waste of time!" He, a nearly 6-4 man, roughly Diana's height, reached for Sapphire, "I'll learn you girls how to FIGHT!"

It only took one second. Enough time for Kenna to excuse herself from the Handlers and stand up, for the 5-7 Princess Sapphire to fling 6-4 Dom, who was much more meatier than her, ass over teakettle through the air, clearing the height of Olivia's head, and therefore her stand, and land hard on the unused dancefloor, face first. Sapphire pointed a finger at him. "The only girls who need to learn to fight, and get this through your head quickly, are Jewel Kingdom and Amazons. There are plenty of able-bodied men to do the fighting here in England and even your country of Cordonia. Learn you the difference, before some girl beats it into you! I'm from the Jewel Kingdom in Greece. I know how to fight. I choose not to if it's not needed. That throw is from a technique we were taught by one of our greatest female warriors from Cipangu². Perhaps you've heard of it?"

Sapphire again proved her Amazon heritage to Diana and Ethel both. Even if it was her great great grandmother and over 100 years ago.

Kenna would begin the round of applause, while nodding to Ethel that perhaps Dom needed to cool off in a cell, although that had to be embarrassing enough for the dragonkin to be handled thusly.

Diana and Ethel saw Sapphire flip Dom, but did Clair?

1-I must have quiet!
2-Sapphire is referring to both country and technique. Today we know the country as Japan, and the technique as Kung Fu
 
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Ethel nodded.
"You go that way, I'll follow more directly, in case he knows of us and tries something funny, I don't want him out of my sight." She explained.

Ethel followed behind him, getting to the room as he charged at Sapphire, and kept near in case help was needed, but knew that Sapphire had combat knowledge, and that it would do him some good to get knocked on his ass by a girl he thought was a defenceless princess.

Once he was down and the scene was done Ethel walked over and picked him up, holding him by the arm.
"Let's get you cooled off, and somewhere private to talk," She told him before nodding to Kenna and then Sapphire.
"That's a good move, though you could have done so with a little less effort if you moved your back leg back a little" She whispered.

Clair meanwhile froze during the whole scene, she didn't know what to do, she didn't like conflict and part of her panicked thinking he might be headed for her, her mind flashing back to the man who tried to take her and lead to her nearly dying from poisoning. Even once the scene had finished Clair was left in a shocked state, just staring at Sapphire.
 
Olivia nodded, "And if you had angled your lead leg and ankle slightly right, your toes would have pointed you in a direction with no obstacles. Namely me." She said calmly as she pointed with her paintbrush.

Sapphire looked from Ethel to Olivia before her own feet as she rotated her shoulder she had used to fling Dom. She blushed. Her stance was perfect if she had been aiming and firing arrows and not people. "That explains why my shoulder hurts a little. I had to fling him over Olivia because my stance was wrong. Thanks ladies."

Ruby glanced at Clair. "Are you okay, Clair? Need to talk about it?"

Kenna took a deep breath. "Keep painting, Ruby, Clair can talk to her folks. We can postpone what we were doing easier than you can pause your painting." The Queen of Cordonia motioned towards Clair's parents if Clair chose to get her worries off her chest with someone.

Tuxford obediently fell in step behind Ethel. "The sot sit." He said. "First cell when we get to the dungeon. The Queen's look and nod to you said lock 'im up to cool him off. I've seen this behaviour on belligerent drunks at the balls enough, and that look from Gregor enough to know the drill." Not knowing what Dom suffered from, but then not even the Amazons would since it was trauma from Dom's wars he fought in, Tuxford shook his head. "Awful early t' be drinkin' a little after nine in the bloody morning."

Dom said nothing, just stewed as he was taken away. Kenna wasn't even on his side this time.
 
Ethel gave a wink and a nod.
"No worries li- Sapphire"

"Huh?" Clair shook her head.
"No, I umm, I am okay, that was just a little intense, I am okay" She said as she returned to painting taking a breath and composing herself.

Clair's parents both went to go to her, but stopped as she claimed she was okay, and decided to let her paint and talk about it later as long as she seemed to be able to continue.

Ethel left with Dom toward the cells, allowing Kenna and Tuxford to follow them.
"Any ideas what spurred this behaviour?" Ethel asked Kenna quietly after she placed and shut Dom in a cell.
 
Kenna pinched her eyes shut with a forefinger and thumb on one hand. "No idea. He's been getting slightly worse around Christmas every year since we had the civil war around 20-25 years ago. It took two full years, and two holiday seasons before we defeated Olivia's grandfather and got the Great Houses back together."

She turned to Dom who just looked at her from his seated position on the cot in the cell. "Talk to us Dom. And why go after Princess Sapphire of House Amethyst? You know she's not your daughter. This makes Cordonia look warlike, which I've been trying hard to curb European thinking of us SINCE our civil war. Yes, I'm a warrior, but I don't go around starting fights." She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Another thing, even if I started having courtly games in Cordonia, Sapphire's right. I wouldn't need to have them learn war techniques. Self defense, yes, actual fighting like you tried to force on Sapphire, who again, is NOT your daughter, no. They're ladies, not recruits. What Gregor is having them learn in a game type environment, is what they should be learning to be proper productive ladies of court. Hell, Doctor Aurora was even participating in the painting!"

Dom blinked at his queen. He then glared at Ethel and Tuxford and shook his head, before glowering at his feet, not saying a word.

"At least answer me if you've been drinking already this morning." Kenna huffed crossing her arms. "Again, this looks real bad on Cordonia."

Dom just stared at Kenna. "Do I usually drink this early?!"

Kenna threw her arms up in a sigh of exasperation. "If you want to stew, that's your prerogative. You can just sit here in Dunwyn's drunk tank until you want to tell us what your problem has been lately. We go through this every year around the same time."

Dom looked up at the ceiling, almost expecting something to fall on him.

Tuxford cleared his throat. "Begging your pardon, Your Majesty. We call this our sot sit. What even IS a drunk tank?"

Kenna sighed. "A place for drunks to cool off. If they want to stew we give them an hour or two. If they don't want to talk, or continue to act belligerent, like Dom is, they get a big bucket of ice cold lake water dumped on them. Usually they talk before then about what's bothering them, or why they went on a drinking binge... Some have gotten the ice cold lake water. Opened right up on what caused the drinking binge. Brought them out of whatever haze they were in as well." A shrug. "Drunk. Tank."

So that's where Ruby got her naming things logic from. If Ethel had heard Ruby call the thing that held the battery for the squawkers a "battery cell" it would suddenly make a lot more sense.
 
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Ethel listened and watched the interactions placing a hand to her chin in thought.
"Kenna, would you say, knowing Dom from before the war, and since that this sort of behavior is out of the regular for him?"

She hasn't smelled any alcohol on his breath as she brought him down, he also seemed to have his motor skills working well enough, she didn't think he was drunk.
 
Kenna raised an eyebrow as she looked at Ethel after her question. "Night and day, and only around the holidays. But I don't see how that proves anything conclusively. There are no physical scars visible from 20 years ago. We were in that civil war from 11 November 1355, when my mother was assassinated, until 3 May, 1357 when I, myself, personally put an end to Luther Nevrakis, and this after we learned from his daughter, Olivia's mother Zenobia, that Luther had orchestrated the whole thing, against his King's wishes, and Luther had also committed regicide there in Lythikos as well, before attacking Stormholt. Zenobia was not part of that plan, and even Luther didn't make sure there was no surviving members of the King's line. The son, a child of eight, escaped through either Luther's negligence or someone close to the family."

She grimaced as she turned to look at Dom. "Two holiday seasons and countless lives unnecessarily lost, and for what? Hurt feelings? Ethel, I went through the same unnecessary near 18 month war, sure I'm bitter, but I didn't become bent on turning everyone into a war machine. Male and female alike." She shook her head. "And being dragonkin is a poor excuse. We had four, including Dom. Two each males and females. I'm in contact with the other three. They have ill will and what the one lady is calling 'walking nightmares', but even SHE isn't acting out like this. She doesn't look forward to the holidays anymore, which is perfectly understandable."

Kenna shrugged sadly. "I don't know what else to tell you to help, Ethel. Even Arden is stumped. Doubtful Aurora will be any better."
 
Ethel nodded and let her finish.
"Yes, well my mother had seen plenty of battle, as you may know, and she says different soldiers react differently to the same wars, could be that Dom just was affected in a way none of the others were."
 
Kenna closed her eyes and nodded, taking a deep breath as she did. "That makes sense, I suppose, and I'm well aware of your mother's heroics during our civil war. About the only thing Dom said although mistook you for your mother. Even when she was helping us, we already, or rather I could, could see that she looked about four or five years older than you look now. Like I told him. That was, well, twenty years and six months ago. You were what? A babe then?" She shook her head and put her hand up. "Not my business, and that's in the past now. Know that because of your mother, your descendants are always welcome in Cordonia and to approach the Rhys family as long as your motives are pure." She smiled and held out her hand. "Your family shares that bond with ours. I fought in the Cordonian Civil War with your mother. Always true allies."

Gregor made the rounds, looking at, but not exactly observing who the girls were painting. The painting has gotten started at just around nine o'clock in the morning. Three hours later, he announced, "Brushes down for an hour. Time to return to the dining hall for a repast and some tea. Please let a servant know if you would like a cup of hot tea, or a glass of cooler, room temperature tea. Princesses must have someone accompany them to a seat for lunch. No exceptions, Cassandra and Sapphire."

Cassandra sighed as she addressed Diana. "He didn't say anything about if a princess cannot be the one to accompany me to a seat, sister. And I'll fulfill his requirements by escorting a princess myself." Cassandra was always looking for a loophole, and lucky for her... This was one that was very much allowed. Aurora took Sapphire, and Ruby looked to see if Clair would take her.

Kenna would be back in the ballroom, would Ethel offer to escort her, although technically not a princess, Kenna was still a royal lady without an escort since Dom was currently cooling his heels in the dungeon, with Kenna's blessings.
 
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