Trunks lay open about her quarters, Cordelia standing in the midst of them. She was no longer the modest veiled figure in black, instead meticulously clad in silken sky blue, the fabric clinging to her curves. The low dip of the neckline and the flattering cut felt simply scandalous after months in the black drab, and when she caught sight of herself in the mirror, she flashed herself a pleased smile. Fingertips stroked the sleek blonde hair swept back perfectly, looking much more herself again.

She plucked a white fur shrug from her bed, slender manicured fingers pointing toward each trunk as she directed the packing of her things. "The rose one, yes! Be careful or you'll mar the silk. No no..that one is much too worn for court." And so it went, the Lady Ysdale quite contentedly arranging for her departure until the door of her quarters suddenly slammed open.

Coolly, she turned toward it, a mock-polite smile on her lips as she caught sight of the hard face of her brother-in-law. "Ahh, good day. Did Cecil tell you I'll be needing a carriage tomorrow?" She asked in a sacchrine voice, as if she knew nothing of why he might burst in.

"What do you think you're doing?"

If the snarl effected her, Cordelia made no show of it, simply blinking as if puzzled by the question, her sweet tone remaining. "I told you before, brother dear, that I would be attending court once my hair is long enough."

"And I told you that you would not be."

"So you did." Apparently, understanding did not mean obedience, for her fingers drifted toward another of the trunks, a few murmured orders passed to one of her serving girls.

"I'll not have you whoring around at court. You're to mar-" He lunged two steps toward her, anger rumbling in his voice.

Cordelia interrupted gently, oh so gently, her smile never faultering, "General Alexston has commanded my presence, m'lord. It certainly would not do to disobey."

"I don't care what that earsling said! I am sworn to the Swordking!"

"Who is sworn to King Drysllthen just as General Alexston is.." The words crept from her lips in a quiet pointed tone, her honey eyes holding her brother-in-law's boldly. It was a sore point, she knew, the Ysdale men infuriated by the surrender.

Anger reddened his fierce face, the blood vessel in his temple pulsing visibly as he stared her down. "Watch your tongue, Cordelia," he hissed, his hand darting out to yank the shrug from her arms. "You're not going, and I won't hear another word on it."

Placid eyes met his with a smile that refused to waver, and the shrug found itself in a rather elegant tug-of-war, Cordelia unwilling to release it. "Yes, I am."

His fist snapped forward to slam into her stomach just as he viciously wrenched on the shrug, dragging her into his blow. Pain exploded, Cordelia nearly wretching as she stumbled, white knuckles still clutching at her shrug. Fury broke through her calm eyes, and she ignored the agony that laced down her legs and up her spine as she lunged toward him.

Before shock could leave his face at her transformation, her long-nailed hand found its mark between his legs. Without mercy, she twisted, her whole weight behind her effort as her lips pulled in a snarl. He smacked backwards against the wall, and the moment a hand flew toward her, she worsened the twist until he was groveling, Cordelia's own servants simply watching. They knew better than to interfere.

Her hand loosened but remained threatening as her brown eyes stared into his, a nasty smile on her lips as she spoke reasonably. "Let me rephrase. I have already written General Alexston to inform him that I will be joining him soon in Valwyn. If I do not show, I suspect he will come looking for me. Do you want that?"

He seemed about to launch himself at her again, but when her grip tightened, he slumped and shook his head.

"I will leave tomorrow morning. Now go, and pray that I don't tell General Alexston what you've done."

Another flick of her wrist brought his agreement, and with that, the matter was settled.