Fifteen years ago…


    Court, upon reflection, was a far worse torture than the bath, Tesco decided. To an energetic young eight year old such as him, few things were worse than the interminable boredom that accompanied most every function of his Majesty’s royal Guardians. The allure of being the son of one of the select members of the knighthood devoted specifically to the king had quickly worn away after nothing more exciting than a glass of wine being overturned on his mother’s dress had occurred in the three months that he’d been allowed to attend.
    As was the tradition, a youth of noble blood was required to attend at least a few of the sessions of court a year, to gain experience in what would be their life’s work. It was only worse when you were the son of one of the king’s knights. Then, you were required to attend all but a very few such events. It wasn’t right, the young feline thought. On the way to the palace in the carriage, he’d seen children of lower born families going about their games in the sun-drenched cobbled streets.
    Looking around for something to take his mind off the discussion (which happened to be rumors of the return of the virii, unsubstantiated as of yet), his gazed happened to fall on something that was definitely new. One of his father’s fellow Guardians was there, his wife in attendance. That wasn’t the part that interested him, though. Clinging to her legs were two young batchildren, looking about with wide, awe-filled eyes. Tesco strained to remember the names of the parents, and his brain offered them up after a few fruitless moments. Caden and Beata of the house Canon.
    Judging by their appearance, they’d be just about the right age to be presented to the court properly, Tesco thought. It wasn’t exactly a horrid prospect, either. He was alone in being the only child currently caught between the ages where he was part of the court, but not yet deemed ready to begin his period as a page. With the induction of these two, the boredom just might decrease.
    Court continued uneventfully for a short while longer, until the king asked if there was any further business to discuss. Caden stepped forward, standing tall and proud as his young wife approached the throne a step behind. The knight was in the prime of his life, lean in the style of his kind, with sharp features. His grey eyes were stern, shadowed by dark brows. He bore the scars of long service in the knighthood, but he bore them well.
    His young wife was no less impressive. She was truly beautiful, with the graceful carriage of someone having grown up in a noble house. Her eyes were violet and her hair was the color of gold, spilling down her shoulders to mingle with the russet dress she wore. Still standing at her sides, each with a deathgrip of the fabric of her clothing, were the two children. They were of a height, with tousled hair. They looked to be twins, a boy and girl both.
    Kneeling before the throne, Caden spoke in a strong, clear voice. “Your Majesty, if it pleases you, I would like to present my son, Nachtmusik, and my daughter, Aria, to the court.” Knowing their cues despite their nervousness, the two came forward. The young lad bent in a gravely serious bow, while his sister dropped a curtsey.
    The king’s smile was one of fondness, and he gestured for the two to approach. “Well, it is my great pleasure indeed to meet the both of you, young lord and lady Canon.”
    Tesco’s interest rapidly waned after this. He’d learned what he was interested in, already. Nachtmusik and Aria. Perhaps court wouldn’t be boring for too much longer.

Ten years ago...

    It was the height of summer, and the heat was merciless, oppressive. It pressed down on Aria like a cloak, making the young girl pause to take a breather. The tray in her arms had only grown heavier during the short walk from her home to the blacksmith's shop.
    She was bringing lunch to her brothers, Nachtmusik and Tesco. They were hard at work (and had been since dawn, she knew) caring for the armor of the knights assigned guard duty at the palace for the day. She knew they would relish the short respite from work her visit would provide.
    The young bat entered the cool shade of the shop, waiting while her eyes adjusted to the darkness. She could hear the clink of metal underscoring the voice of her twin brother, Nachtmusik. A moment later, she heard Tesco answer, and the shared laughter that followed.
    The sound made her smile. Thoughts of the lecture she'd received earlier on being ladylike fled her mind. Even the dresses that the ten year old hated so much didn't bother her as much in the face of that sound. Setting her tray down, she called out to the two. "Nacht! Tesco! It's time for lunch!"
    Almost instantly, the sounds of industry stopped, replaced by the scuffle of feet on the oiled dirt floor of the shop's back room. From the sounds of things, the two were pushing and shoving in a good-natured race to the front room. This was all a part of the daily routine, after all.
    Tesco was the first through the door, his blue hair damped against his tan-furred brow with sweat. He moved with the lazy, feline grace that was his birthright. Aria met his gaze and was struck, as always, by the intensity she saw there. Her brother in title only, he was older than Nacht and herself by three years and had hit a growth spurt which left him taller and broader at the shoulders than the twins.
    Following only an instant behind was Nacthmusik, who also showed signs of having been working all day in the heat. There was the familiar sensations of closeness that made itself known whenever the twins were in proximity to one another. Aria knew on an instinctual, empathic level that he was hungry, and that his left hand pained him.
    "Pinch yourself on the armor again, Nacht," she asked, making way as the hungry boys descended on the food like locusts on an orchard. Looking up from the roll he was already devouring, Nachtmusik nodded sheepishly. Tesco didn't bat an eye at the question; he'd long since grown accustomed to the twins' inexplicable bond.
    Aria reached over and rescued a pastry before all the food was taken. She'd had lunch with her parents before she came over, but she hadn't eaten much. The latest in a never-ending lectures on propriety and responsibility of being a young lady of noble blood had robbed her of much of her appetite.
    Taking a swig from the canteen Aria had brought along with the food, Tesco luxuriated in the coolness of the water. After he wiped his mouth, the young squire looked at the twins. They were easily the best friends he had in the world, the children of a knight who worked with his own father in protecting the king. In a few years, when he came of age and took his vows, he wasn't sure what he would do until Nachtmusik joined him in the order. Aria, he reflected, sadly, would likely be married off as soon as possible.
    The unhappy thought was followed by a new one: It just might happen that her betrothed would be Tesco, himself. Uncomfortable, he realized that was quite possible, even likely. Their parents were friends and might want to bind their families together for all time.
    Tesco shrugged the thought aside. It would be years yet before anything like that would even begin to become a concern. He could not supress a grin, though. Whoever was paired with Aria would have the fight of their lives ahead of them. She was a strong-willed girl, and intolerant of the expectations that she be a proper young lady. The person who thought to tame her would be sorely underestimating her spirit and personality.
    All too soon, the food was gone, and it was time to return to work. As they cleared up the tray, Nacthmusik begain to smile to himself. When Aria noticed this, she looked at him curiously; her twin was normally quiet and somewhat somber.
    "After we finish work for this afternoon, let's go to the lake. We have time before dinner." A hopeful expression on his face, he looked between the other two. Seeing their grins, he didn't need to hear their answers.