A lot had happened in Kat's life the last few months. Aestas had sped by and then Autumna with it. Then coming back she had to hit the ground running to show that her experience was worth its weight in gold. And she'd had to deal with issues that had been building up since before she left for Coheed. All of it was exhausting.

But, there was some light, one of which was Odina sending her a letter. She had almost forgotten that the Cambrian woman kissed her, a grin on her face as she read the letter. It was nice to know that she still had people in Nevermere. People that weren't afraid of the bite that accompanied her hissing.

It was still odd to be visiting the former Midnight House employee in the palace, that was certainly not something she would ever get over, but fitting all the same. There had always been something different about Odina. After being led through to the private quarters Kat laughed and shouted out. "Guess who's back!"

When she heard the door open and that familiar voice Odina was on her feet and making a direct course toward her friend. Odina was glowing and all teeth her smile would have hurt a lesser man but she didn't care if Kat accepted it or not but Odina would wrap her up in a hug. It wasn't just a friendly hug or one would give a sibling but one that was deeper.

"Welcome back," when she did pull back Odina was smiling and raised a hand to stroke the woman's cheek, "I hope you didn't hurt to many Coheed men's egos while you were away, but if you did good job," taking Kat's hand Odina pulled her further into her private quarters, "Celebration drink for your big tournament win? Congratulations I was pulling for you the entire time."

Kat was not, and never would be, a hugger. So as Odina wrapped her up in a hug, her nose wrinkled but she returned the hug lightly. She had been a loose cannon when she was younger, but she, unlike her husband, had dialed some of that back. Maybe something she wouldn't have to worry about forever. A nice thought about a future free as she wanted to be. How she was meant to be.

"One or two, but only the ones who really deserved it." They were their allies after all. And while Kat would have prefered to train Nevermere soldiers (well really she would prefer not to teach at all but that was another story) it hadn't been that bad.

Letting herself be lead along with a laugh she nodded her head. "A drink sounds grand. I wish you could have been in there, you would have been good competition." Rolling her eyes, Faylin had pretty much been her only opponent, and that had only been at the end.

Odina grabbed a bottle and two glasses, "Oh that would have been very fun but wouldn't want to upset all the boys would we?" her tone was playful and she offered Kat a seat on the circular sofa as she sat, "but seriously congratulations Kat, I do have a question, how long have you been able to do that neat trick?"

"Of course we want to upset the boys. More upset the better. Still nice to see the look on Faylin's face when she lost though. Serves the bitch right for cursing me though." To be clear, she had a lot of respect for her twins pair. But no one cursed her and got away with it. And her fellow witch had gotten her comeuppance right away. Perfect.

Taking a seat and her glass, Kat took a sip of her drink, taking her time with an answer. "I'd feign not knowing what you're talking about but you're far too smart for that. But it's new, don't know much about it, and that's all I'm at liberty to say." Winking Kat laughed, but really she didn't know much about it.

"I thought it was amazing, never seen something like that before," she commended her friend, "brilliant use of it and everything. So to personally congratulate you both on your victory and coming home I made you a little something," Odina stood back up and stepped to pull the drape off of a beautiful set of armor , "I got your measurements from your sister Saska...I made this armor as though I would for a Cambrian woman, so it's strong and durable. You'll have full range of movement, you didn't strike me as a stand still fighter so I figured that in the design...."

Kat raised an eyebrow, a rapidly growing sly smile on her face. A gift? She wasn't sure why, but she was incredibly happy. Odina had always been so fucking cool, and it was nice to know that even as a posh princess she was still the same woman as always. Time hadn't changed it yet, and Kat was sure it never would.

"Odina..." Laughing she leaped up and planted a kiss on the woman's cheek. "This is too much. I love it." Moving her hands over the armor, Kat was in aw, and a lot of shock. She knew that her and her family had done a lot for Odina... And then there was that moment they'd had. One she hadn't forgotten, and couldn't quite parse out.

Kat loved it and that alone put a sparkle in Odina's eye then when she kissed her cheek before looking over her gift Odina felt a heat burn through her, not her cheeks but her heart...through her stomach and... below.

"I don't think I could ever do to much for you Katerina Van Zant," Odina countered and just as badly as she wanted to pull Kat into her and kiss her, no wrap her up in the furious passion she holds for Kat the lost Princess fiercely fought the urge, "or your family," she added, "I'm glad you love it, wish I could do more before I go back to Cambria as Governor."

Kat was too caught up in the moment to notice Odina barely containing herself. This was an amazing week. She had won the tournament, she had finally talked to Fabian about how broken things were, and now this. She was pretty sure that the ball would be even more fun.

But then Odina dropped the news.

Whipping around with a frown Kat put her hands on her hips. "You're not actually leaving so soon?"

Her joy slightly turned to panic she hadn't expected Kat to react perhaps disappointed? Mad? Hurt? Odina rubbed the front of her dress down, "No, no, not soon. There are things in Cambria that have to be fixed before I go, so it will be sometime before that," she figited with her hands because all she wanted to do was take Kat's hands...she wanted to play with her fingers...brush her skin...kiss her. Odina was fighting all the urges, "so don't worry, you can still have me...we still have time to spend together if that's what you want, because I know it's what I want. I've missed you Katerina..."

Kat's eyes clouded with a concern that was unusual for her. "Is it safe for you there Odina?" She didn't know a lot about Cambria, really about anything outside of Nevermere. She had only left for the first time in Aestas. And with war looming? Surely she'd end up somewhere else, and not in Cambria given the close and good relationship.

Looking at Odina, Kat bit her lip before shaking her head. "And I want to be my usual carefree self with you." Her usual grin was on her face, not really looking at the gift anymore. "Maybe I should try it on, can you help?"

Odina smirked, "I will be absolutely fine, I'm not returning as the scared little Cambrian I had to act and be," in fact Odina would go back a bit more powerful with her Witch magic as Nevermere had offered her access to training she'd never dreamt of, she never lacked confidence and if anything facing open court with all their men Odina Ellis was more than confident now, "but," she shrugged, "would you go with me if I asked?"

The Princess would of course help she stepped up and closer to Kat, "Here let me tie your hair back...turn around for me."

"And people bought the scared act? You're far too bad ass for that to seem realistic." Shaking her head, Kat knew why a lot of men bought it. They were idiots after all that couldn't see past their own egos, well, most of them anyways. There were a few exceptions of course, but not usually worth the hassle to find.

As Kat turned around for Odina to tie her hair she sighed. "Part of the military means I don't chose where I go, boring as it sounds." Although Octavius did have a lot of experience in Cambria, so maybe they'd end up back there. Something to look forward to potentially.