"Indeed, her hair is far to dull to make an appearance to the public...but one thing can be for sure, she at least has the confidence not to cry out...tho that won't win people's minds now would it?"
(Ahh, alrighty then!)
When Natalia steps forward, it is difficult for Katherine to keep her eyes from following her. Natalia Arron is as close to a mother as Katherine will ever know, it is her skirts that Katherine burrowed into at the age of six, all the way from the Black Cottage to her new home at Greavesdrake Manor, sobbing after being parted from her sisters. There was nothing queenly about her that day. But Natalia indulged her. She let Katherine weep and ruin her dress. She stroked her hair. It is Katherine's earliest memory-the one and only time Natalia ever allowed her to act like a child. In the light of the parlor, Natalia's hair appears almost silver. But she is not old-she will never be old. She has far too much work and far too many responsibilities to ever allow it. She is the head of the Arron family and the poisoners, and the strongest member of the Black Council. She is raising their new queen.
Genevieve grabs Katherine's poisoned hand. She traces the pattern of scabs until she finds a large one and picks it until it bleeds.
(Oh my god the fact that you KNEW the dialogue that was coming next-)
Genevieve pulls away, still looking cross
"Gloves are fine, I suppose. Gloves over her elbows will give shape to her arms."
She releases Katharine's hand. Katharine has been on the block for over an hour, and there is still much day ahead. All the way to nightfall, her party, and the Gave Noir. The poisoner's feast...just thinking of it makes her stomach clench, and she winces.
"Hf-"
She quickly straightened her spine, fixing her posture and keeping her eyes lowered
"quietly S-Sorry Natalia..."
G: "She has to be ready. Every corner of the island will hear about what happens tonight."
The poison Katharine will be forced to consume, the sheer amount of it, may overcome Natalia's training. Of course this wouldn't be a problem if Katharine's poisoner gift were strong. The walls of the parlor feel heavy. They press in, given weight by the sheer number of Arrons inside. They have come all across the island for this, the queen's 16th birthday.
She looked up at her and nodded slightly
"Yes Natalia..."
G: "To herself We are entering the Ascension Year with a weak queen. If we lose...I will not go back to Prynn!"
Prynn. It was once the poisoner's city but now only the weakest reside there. The entire capital of Indrid Down is theirs now. It has been for over a hundred years. Natalia glances out the window, towards the Volroy's black spires. Five Arrons sit on the Black Council. No less than five have sat on it for three generations, placed there by the ruling poisoner queen.