Adorable!~!
A short list of the Raffin/Katsa bantering in Bitterblue because it amuses me so. c:
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“You’re doing well,” Katsa said. “You have quick instincts—you always have. Not like that nincompoop,” she added, with a roll of her eyes at Raffin, who was sparring with Bann awkwardly at the other end of the practice room.
Raffin and Bann were far from evenly matched. Bann wasn’t just bigger, he was faster and stronger. The cowering prince, who handled his own sword ponderously, as if it were an impediment, never seemed to see an attack coming, even if he’d been told exactly when to expect it.
“Raff,” Katsa said, “your problem is that your heart’s not in it. We need to find something to strengthen your defensive resolve. What if you pretended he’s trying to smash your favorite medicinal plant?”
“The rare blue safflower,” Bann suggested.
“Yes,” Katsa said gamely, “pretend he’s after your snaffler.”
“Bann would never come after my rare blue safflower,” Raffin said distinctly. “The very notion is absurd.”
“Pretend he’s not Bann. Pretend he’s your father,” Katsa said.
This did seem to have some effect, if not on Raffin’s speed, then at least on his enthusiasm.
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“Your face will freeze like that, you know, Kat,” Raffin said helpfully to Katsa.
“Maybe I should rearrange your face, Raff,” said Katsa.
“I should like smaller ears,” Raffin offered.
“Prince Raffin has nice, handsome ears,” Helda said, not looking up from her knitting. “As will his children. Your children will have no ears at all, My Lady,” she said sternly to Katsa.
Katsa stared back at her, flabbergasted.
“I believe it’s more that her ears won’t have children,” began Raffin, “which, you’ll agree, sounds much less—”
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“What!” Katsa exclaimed. “I can’t believe it. Can you believe it? I can’t believe it!”
“We’ve established that Katsa can’t believe it,” said Raffin.
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