An after battle celebration

"I see some of them brought guests." Katla remarked, watching the small crowd gathered in the corner of the cargo bay they'd reserved for the small ceremony. She could have held it on the flagship but most of the Vikings had already been on the cargo vessel. It simplified logistics greatly for her to just make her way there rather than reshuffle so many shuttles.

"You brought one too." Astrid pointed out, indicating the corner where Jaclyn had tried to seclude herself from the rest.

"Would have been far too rude to leave her behind." Katla said, trying to sound innocent and badly failing. "Plus it'll be good for her. Her Majesty's Navy brought me in to shake things up. What better way than to start with the junior officers."

"You mean by 'corrupting good wholesome nobility to barbarism?' perish the thought" Astrid said with a smile. Then she 'hmfed' and shook her head. "Not like they don't put up enough fancy words to justify when their noble cunts are getting stuffed."

"I happen to have a noble cunt now you know." Katla said, putting on her best haughty voice. "And I fully understand that in the course of my duties to the Queendom I might be bent over and ravished by some foul rapscallion. I take comfort in knowing that should their seed quicken within my pure depths it shant count lest I allow it." Katla tried a sniff of disapproval which turned into a sneeze as some particle in the air tickled her.

Astrid was clearly unimpressed, simply raising an eyebrow. "How does that work? Say in regards to the girls back on Asgard."

"If the girls decide to immigrate when they get older I'd have to do a lot of work to get them legitimized as my heirs. Avalon basically considers pre-noble Katla as a separate person legally speaking." Katla explained "I could have brought them along but they wouldn't have legally been my heirs for at least five years because they're pre-existing minors prior to the peerage." Katla had to untwist her tongue a little before continuing. "Essentially why I left them back home. They'd go to noble schools without the status and you know how kids are." She wasn't going to throw them to the sharks without knowing how to swim.

One wasn't a Raider like Katla without siring at least one daughter. In the end, the first one hadn't worked out between her and the mother but they'd stayed on friendly terms. They'd both been at the start of their Raiding lives so Katla had allowed her to go with the mother's family. The rest had of course stayed with Katla's family. When considering whether or not to bring them along she'd decided it would be too cruel to take them away from the network of family and support they'd grown up with. Especially considering the nest of vipers that would be throwing them into. If they wanted to join her in Avalon when they reached majority she'd happily do the paperwork.

"And now? Reborn blue-blood Katla?"

"Any child of body or sired can be designated as an heir so long as they are a citizen of Avalon." She explained. "They apparently put some thought into the problems that could happen with just straight birthright nobility. In some cases, it's automatic, like if between two nobles of the same social class, but if say... you and I had a child they wouldn't be until I recognized them as a legitimate heir."

"Would you do that?" Astrid asked, her voice sounding almost like she was trying to be casual.

"You know I would. Just because someone is an accident doesn't mean they don't deserve to be validated." Katla said, turning her head quickly as she heard the sound of glass hitting the floor. A few people were laughing as one of the guests looked hopelessly at their dropped cup. Fortunately one of the laughing Vikings was kind enough to help her pick it back up with a friendly slap on the shoulder. The material having prevented it from actually breaking. "Good thing the booze wasn't in there yet." Katla checked the time and saw that everyone was present. "About time to change that."

Looking back at Astrid Katla could see the sudden noise had provoked some kind of thought. The idea of spilled beer must really have troubled her. Katla's voice shook her out of it. "Oh, uh yeah. Might as well get the drinking started."

The projector they'd brought along sprung to life, showing the images of those who had been taken by the enemy. Saga's in the center surrounded by all the rest. Katla wasn't sure if that was a coincidence or not but she didn't really care. The kegs they'd set up were quickly tapped and drinks were filled to the top, Katla going last and taking up her position at the front next to the pictures of the lost. One of the guests tried to drink early and got a rap on the head from one of her comrades. The offender quickly trying to adopt an innocent expression. Katla decided not to make them wait any longer. Raising up her tankard, everyone following suit.

"Here's to the Queen!" She announced, apparently it was a rule that every toast had to start with that.

"The Queen!" Echoed back the reply. "Long may she rule!" The guests added on. The former Vikings apparently hadn't heard about that part. They echoed on a bit off-key.

"Here's to the bred!" Katla continued.

"And to the next bitch to get fucked!" The Vikings called back, the guests echoing. Then it was time to drink.