#Zhonathan leviathan

[yzeltia]

The First Union

Chapter 2: Khassandra 1

Characters: Khassandra Leviathan, Zhonathan (Izoh'Juhn Reign Unsundered) Leviathan, Emet -Selch

Rating: Teen

Notes: N/A

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Rancorous applause echoed through every inch of the Royal Spire. A gratuitous display of loyalty and praise to the Queen from those her council had seemed worthy to sit in on her court. For any outsider, this of course would be a treat to be even remotely in the presence of the Queen; however Khassandra knew she was more than that. 

More than her Uncle Zhonathan's aide and ward. More than the Jewel of the Leviathan Clan to be shown off as proof of the Catter people's loyalty to the crown. She was leverage.

 No one still loyal to her father would dare stand up to the Queen's hunger for conquest, less she'd suffer her wrath. And in that same vein, the Queen would not dare harm her unless she wished to have her fleet revolt. Khassandra doubted even her traitor Uncle would be able to keep from retaliation. At least she counted on that when she put herself in this position.

"Another farce decree of liberation. Does the Queen ever tire of the court blowing wind up the skirts of the black cloaks and herself?"

"Khassandra," her Uncle shushed, chin raising as he swallowed a laugh.

"Uncle, I've heard her Winds of Freedom speech three times this week. This is hardly of importance yet she's insistent we listen to her squawk over how well her projects are doing and hear reports of how much her 'liberated' people adore her. And it's the same thing every time. The people kneel to her and her Hydrotowers bring prosperity and jobs to all. Ignoring well the toll it has taken on the people from making lands unlivable to-"

"Khassandra, I know well of your abhorrence for the way things are. You repeat yourself as much as they do. But there is a time and place. If the wrong people hear you," her Uncle warned.

Another round of applause interrupted them as they started each other down. The screech of chairs across stone began to fill the room, causing both Catters to fold their ears as they went to leave.

Heading towards their keep, they walked in silence until Zhonathan felt they were well enough alone. "Khassandra, your heresy will see us both in the gallows before long."

"Do you think our people would stand idly by if their princess and half-king were executed? They'd revolut and she'd lose the seas."

"There are worse things she could do than execute us publicly. Even then, you forget that there is no kingdom but hers!"

"That's your fault! And my dad did not abdicate as you did. There are those on the seas that still fly the cerulean banner," she huffed.

Zhonathan rubbed his face then shook his head. "You've too much of him in you for your own good. We are far from the sea and any kingdom or allies you cling to on your head."

"That's disappointing. Here I thought we were friends," whined a voice from behind.

Turning, the two Catters watched as a man in a black feathered robe pushed off the wall, arms crossed.

"Your Lordship, we didn't see you. Apologies for my niece's tongue."

"Do not speak for me Uncle," Khassandra protested before looking up to the bemused man, staring him right in his golden eyes that always seemed fatigued, "Tell me, how far does Lord Pashtarot have to put his arm up the Queen's skirts to get her head to flap about in such a manner that he his voice goes through her, Lord Emet?"

"Khassandra!"

The Black Cloak smirked then lifted his arms as he shrugged, "Do not look so shocked Admiral. I enjoy your niece's sharp tongue. It's rare to find any challenge in these halls and I grow quite bored when my projects are in their hands off phase."

Zhonathan put his hand on his niece's shoulder as she stared down the amused man.

"Your Queen has united the entire Silver Continent under one banner, why does that still leave you unimpressed?"

"No doubt by the influence of her council. Not to mention it's hardly unification when she's made rebelling an impossibility. She can mass produce weapons for her armies and as she intimidated the smaller domains under her rule, she was able to take their land, install more of her factories to bleed their kingdoms dry and make herself all too overwhelming for anyone else who might have stood a chance. Anyone that dared oppose her had their own turn on them," she huffed, looking to her Uncle before moving from his grasp, "The Queen offers only fear, not freedom or whatever your cohorts have used to fuel her unhinged nationalism."

"It's intimidation over violence. Hundreds of lives have been spared because they chose to join her rather than resist."

"And hundreds of lives are destroyed weekly now by the havoc her war machine brings to the weather. They say all of the moisture set forth killed every dragon before my time!"

Emet tilted his head and looked to the side. "Do not worry. They simply relocated themselves to somewhere with a more....hospitable source of sky and water. If you'd like, I could bring you a scale to assuage your guilt."

Khassandra huffed, "I don't need your trinkets. I wouldn't have a way of authenticating it anyway."

"I offered," the man sighed before shaking his head. "Perhaps if you were born in another time it could be you up on the throne Princess. But with no army and no kingdom behind you, perhaps you should heed your Uncle's council and not brazenly advertise your treason."

The Catter woman huffed and brushed her cloak open, placing her hands on her hips as she showed off her dad's daggers, "I won't be taken in or silenced so easily."

Emet shook his head. "Your spirit brings nostalgia. I pray that it's not extinguished by your hubris," he sighed before turning and giving his hand a flick in the air as a send off.

Zhonathan exhaled sharply. "Khassandra.  To speak to a Black Cloak like that..."

Looking to her uncle, she shook her head. "Some in our clan aren't cowards that tuck their tails when there's danger. He'd have had my head long ago if he cared," she replied before sauntering off towards her quarters, leaving her uncle to catch his breath.