Archive of Our Own

Cassandra quite liked homework.

The other kids complained but that’s because they were dumb and didn’t know a good thing when it hit them in the head (something she had been told to stop doing to them).

Homework meant a visit to the library. Homework meant sitting at the table with her dad watching his brows furrow as he tried to figure out maths. Homework meant knocking on the Queen’s door to ask her about the maths her dad couldn’t work out.

Homework was good.

But today’s homework was different.

“Alright class, this week we’ll be learning about family and history.”

A boy in the front row groaned. He was always groaning. Cassandra found it quite annoying.

“Each of you will create a family tree. The more information you can get the better. I want to hear about your parents, your siblings, your cousins, your grandparents. Now, the size of your tree will probably vary from student to student…” she tried not to look towards Cassandra. “But what matters is you do your best!”

Though the teacher had made an effort to not call anybody out and was now explaining about genetics and other stuff, the other students weren’t so kind. Cassandra did her best to ignore the boy next to her, staring and snickering both of which were rude.

Part time was the worst.

Cassandra didn’t understand why they couldn’t just eat their snacks in the classroom and not waste valuable learning time. Surely the kids had better places to run than this fenced off field?

Cassandra sat on a bench eating her apple, waiting for the time to pass.

Other children played but they never invited her unless it was to make fun of her.

“You don’t have a mum.”

A voice to Cassandra’s left, familiar and annoying. She ignored him.

“I said—” a finger moved as if to poke Cassandra only to be swatted away. “You. Don’t. Have. A. Mum.”

“I heard you,” Cassandra said, looking at the boy like he were dumb because he was and she had no idea what he was trying to accomplish right now. To irritate her probably but she wasn’t understanding the angle.

“It’s weird and once you put that on your family tree, everyone will know you’re weird.”

Cassandra was pretty sure everybody already knew. Cassandra had arrived at school far too late. With no idea how to talk to other children. And an expensive dress that Captain had thought would make a good first impression but had just made her stick out even more. Cassandra had learnt a lot about how children talked to each other since then… but the damage had already been done.

“My mum said that the only reason the Captain kept you is because the orphanage didn’t want you.”

Cassandra’s fists clenched at that. “Your mum’s dumb.”

“Hey! My mum’s smart. Smarter than your dumb dad ever will be. I mean how smart can a man who raises a child whose not his own actually be?”

Cassandra stood up.

The boy grabbed her arm. “You don’t get to leave when I’m talking to—”

Cassandra threw the boy to the ground with one quick and easy twist. He stared up at her, lip trembling and eyes starting to tear up.

Cassandra moved her hand behind her back and grinned. “Why don’t you go cry to the guards about this? Oh. Right.” She gave the boy a light tap with her foot before walking off. Not a kick. Just a warning that next time he messed with her she may not be so ‘gentle’.

Cassandra got in trouble for ‘bullying’ the other kids often, but as she’d explained to her dad, she was only treating them as they deserved.

Captain was struggling to draw the line between standing up for one self and abusing one’s power.

That evening Cassandra found some paper and a pen. She wrote down her name.

Cassandra
(Me)

Then a line going up to her dad.

Captain of the Guard
(Dad)

|

Cassandra
(Me)

It wasn't very big. She needed to talk to her dad, get his names, his parents’ name, did her dad have any siblings? She sure had never met them.

It didn't matter.

Cassandra liked her family just as it was. Of course, she still needed the information so she could fill in her homework.

She looked up at the door. Dad probably wouldn't be home until late. Cassandra rested her head on her arms. Owl hooted and fluttered down from his perch.

“Sorry Owl, I can't play until I've finished my homework.”

Owl hooted, lifted her pen with his talon then dropped it to make a point.

“I can't finish my homework until Dad comes home.”

Owl gave her a look like she was being dumb (because she was), but knew better than to argue with this stubborn human. It wouldn't get them anywhere. So he flew back to his perch to preen his feathers.

By the time Captain got home, Cassandra had fallen asleep at the table with her very small family tree and ink smudging her face. Captain lifted his child up and tucked her in without waking her.

The next day at school Cassandra glared at her incomplete family tree. She'd tried her best. But those dumb merchants had once again seen a blonde child and sent her dad on a wild goose chase that kept him away from her.

It was fine.

What she didn't have in information she'd make up for with the greatest presentation this class has ever seen. After all, there was no way anybody else in this classroom had a family as cool as hers.

The first boy to go up was the one who bullied her every day. The one with the dumb mum. Or perhaps a mum who he carelessly put words in her mouth, impossible to say, Cassandra had never met the woman she just knew some adults were impressively cruel.

He spoke about his mum kindly. Not so much about his father. But the person he talked about the most was his little sister.

“She’s four years younger than me and super annoying. She pulls my hair. She babbles about nothing. She's super picky about dumb stuff—”

The teacher coughed, indicating he had to say something nice.

The boy rolled his eyes. “But she's cute. Whenever I go places with her I get free sweets. And she’s mine. So like, if anybody hurt her, I’d have to destroy them. That's just the way things are, you know? Cause she looks up to me. I'm her hero.”

Hero.

That sounded nice.

Cassandra would like to be someone's hero.

Alas, she had no younger siblings.

It was just her and papa.

“Agh! Stop that!”

“Sorry, sorry,” Rapunzel quickly pulled the brush away though it was clear from the look she was giving Cassandra’s hair she was tempted to go right back in for more.

Cassandra put her veil back on before Rapunzel got the chance. She wasn’t sure why she’d let her do that… well, she did, it was to shut her up first and foremost because she’d been babbling on about nothing. Paints and colours and consistencies… she was so picky about such dumb stuff. And then when she’d noticed a tangle in Cassandra’s hair she’d put on these adorable puppy dog eyes as she begged to help.

Mistakes had been made.

Cassandra could brush Rapunzel’s hair but Rapunzel was never allowed near hers again.

“Here’s a lesson from your elder,” Cassandra adjusted the veil in the mirror. “What nobody can see is nobody’s business.”

Rapunzel quickly wrote that down in her journal causing Cassandra to smile. “I don’t know if that’ll work for my hair…” she glanced back at the golden braids that had come back relatively recently.

“It’s flexible advice, doesn’t always have to be about hair.”

“You’re so smart! I don’t know what I’d do without you Cass.”

Cassandra blushed. “Anyway… paints, if you put your shoes on quickly, we might be able to pop into town to pick up that shade you’re looking for before your next meeting.”

“Yes! Let’s do that!” And Rapunzel grabbed Cassandra’s hand, dragging her out of the princess tower without any shoes on.

Cassandra had pretty much given up on the shoes, but she still slipped them into conversations every once in a while to see if it’d work.

On their way to the paint store Cassandra decided to pop into Monty’s to pick up some of her dad’s favourite licorices. Rapunzel dragged her feet but went in alongside Cassandra.

“Cassandra!” Monty greeted with a smile. “Oh. And the princess…” he frowned.

Cassandra smiled and ignored the tension. “Was wondering if you had any of my dad’s favourite in stock? I know a ship from Bayangor came round last week but haven’t had the chance to pop in since. Hope they haven’t ran out!”

“Too busy are you? Guessing someone has you overworked…” he glared at Rapunzel who crossed her arms. “Well, seeing as there’s only a handful of people in Corona who likes the stuff… you’re in luck.” He pulled out a bag of sweets.

“Oh, yay! He’ll be so happy.”

“You’re such a sweet girl buying sweets for your old man,” Monty said placing the coin in the cash register. “Oh, I also have some of these toffess you so like.”

“Oh,” Cassandra’s eyes widened with joy.

“Here, on the house. You deserve them.”

“Really?” Cassandra smiled.

“Of course! With how much you do to uphold the traditions of Corona it’s only right you be rewarded.” Cassandra noticed Monty was glaring at Rapunzel and not looking at her. But she didn’t care. She loved the fact she got free sweets whenever she took Rapunzel along to Monty’s even if the reasoning was flawed.

“Thanks Monty. I promise to enjoy them!”

Monty smiled and before Cassandra could wish him a nice day Rapunzel was dragging her away. “Alright. Got what you came for now let’s go to the paint store.”

Cassandra offered an apologetic smile before matching Rapunzel’s pace.

As they exited the store Rapunzel was mumbling under her breaths. Annoyed at the set-in-his-ways shop-keeper who hadn’t an ounce of subtlety. “…it’s unbelievable, really—!” she was so distracted she walked right into the street.

Cassandra quickly dragged her back right before a carriage rushed by.

“Oops.”

“Raps!”

“Oh, it’s fine,” Rapunzel dusted of her dress.

“You need to pay more attention to your surroundings.”

“I do when I’m alone. But it’s not like anything could happen to me when you’re around.” Rapunzel smiled. “You’ve always got an eye out for me.”

“I do?” Cassandra placed her sweets in her bag as they continued down the street.

“Yeah… you’re kinda like my hero? My day to day hero who keeps me from dying a stupid death because the world beyond the tower is so chaotic sometimes.”

Cassandra took those words in then smiled.

“Anyway as I was saying, can you believe that Montgomery?” and then Rapunzel continued to babble on about nothing.

The next presentation went to a girl with two braids. She was sweet as far as children went. She’d never been mean to Cassandra although she also didn’t invite her to play or anything of the like. Cassandra thought that if they’d met before the entire school had marked Cassandra as ‘weird’ they’d of been friends.

Or maybe she was just sweet to everybody.

It was hard to say.

Her family tree was a fair bit smaller than the boys.

“My family moved to Corona not many generations ago,” the girl explained, clearly word for word the explanation her parents had given her. “So we lost a lot of history. But it was worth it to live here.”

Cassandra tilted her head, confused by the idea of moving away from family to go someplace else.

The girl talked in depth about the sacrifices the older generations had made for her.

Then she got down to her generation.

“This is me… and this is my older brother…” she looked tired just at the thought. “He is…” she paused, looked at the teacher. “Can I be honest if I’m not mean?”

The teacher hesitated, but she’d had him as a student in the past and knew how naughty he could be, so she nodded.

“He’s a bit of a menace…” the girl tried, watching the teacher to make sure she hadn’t gone too far. “Big brothers are like that a bit,” she added, as if to justify the behaviour. “He constantly steals my things. According to him some of them used to be his which makes it alright but mum says they’re mine now and he needs to respect that. Especially because they’re no good for him anymore. He used to make fun of me a lot. But he does it less now. Ever since I grew up a bit and got better at snapping back at him. Dad taught me to fight back.”

The teacher smiled at that before quickly trying to look more stern.

“On a more positive note…” the girl frowned, really having to think about this. “He loves me…” she said, although didn’t sound entirely sure. “He won’t let other kids mess with me. Once one of his friends tried to take my snack and he slapped him across the back of the head!”

“That’s enough,” the teacher said, deciding the mention of outright violence was a step too far.

The girl blushed. “Sorry. Anyway, that’s my family.” She quickly sat down.

Cassandra tilted her head thoughtfully. Older brothers sounded like hard work. Maybe not worth it. But it would be nice to have someone else stand up to her bullies for a change. And maybe she wouldn’t mind being teased if the person doing the teasing cared about her?

“Eugene!” Cassandra swung open the door to Eugene’s room to find him using her halberd to shave again.

“Hey!” Eugene turned around. “Has nobody ever taught you to knock?”

“Did you knock when entering my room to steal my halberd?!”

“Well that would go against the idea of stealing now wouldn’t it Cassandra?”

“Give it back!”

“When I’m finished!”

“Eugene!” Cassandra tried to grab at the halberd but Eugene held her back with one hand.

“Cassandra! For goodness sake! Have you never heard you shouldn’t play with sharp objects!”

“My sharp objects!”

“Did nobody teach you to share?!”

“No!”

“Then let me teach you—”

“I don’t want to learn!”

“It’ll be good for you to learn Cassandra—”

“I said no!”

This went on for quite some time. Longer than it needed to.

It ended not by Eugene finishing his shaving or Cassandra retrieving her property, but with the door that had been left ajar being opened by a guard, new recruit who wouldn’t last a week—Captain would make sure of it. A boy who had once upon a time taken pride in attempting (and usually failing) to irritate a younger Cassandra.

He took in the sight. “Is she giving you trouble?” he asked, a mischievous glean in his eyes. The same one he’d had years ago.

“Why yes she is!” Eugene jumped at the possibility.

“He stole my halberd!” Cassandra defended, not having recognised the man yet.

“And can you prove it’s yours, Miss?” the guard challenged.

“Why yes I can!” Cassandra finally managed to snatch the weapon out of Eugene’s hand and turn it to show some engraved text in the handle that read ‘Property of Cassandra’. “Added it after you stole it the fifth time,” Cassandra said to Eugene with a grin.

Eugene gasped. “Untrusting!”

And before the bickering could start up again the guard held a sword up, pointing it to Cassandra. “Drop the weapon, Miss.”

“Excuse me?” Cassandra looked ready to raise the weapon.

“Drawing a weapon on a royal guard is a criminal offence.”

“Drawing a—?” Cassandra looked flabbergasted. “I didn’t draw anything! I’m holding it. He was holding it before and you didn’t point your sword at him!”

Eugene also seemed a bit on edge on this turn of events. Seriously, had nobody told this guard to not play with sharp things?

“Drop the weapon,” the guard repeated.

Cassandra glared, she seemed to consider her options for a moment then reluctantly dropped it to the ground, letting it cling against Eugene’s floor.

“Good. You can listen. Now hands behind your back, you’re under arrest—”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“Who you going to run to? The guards?” the words were spoken with such venom they did make Cassandra take a closer look at the man.

As the guard was reaching for his manacles, Eugene moved forward, standing between Cassandra and the guard. “Hey chill. It’s fine.”

“That’s not for you to decide.”

“I stole her stupid big knife, okay? If you’ve got an issue you have it with me. Leave her out of it.”

The guard glared at Eugene.

“Besides, not sure if you know this but Cassandra here? She’s the daughter of the Captain of the Guard so if you arrest her and I have to put in a statement that she didn’t do anything wrong… you’re going to be in some hot water buddy. Trust me, not worth it for any of us.”

The guard glared and finally turned around to leave.

Cassandra’s shoulders de-tensed. She’d tell her father about this later. The legal system was no way of handling a childhood grudge.

“You good?” Eugene asked, picking up the halberd. “Did you know that guy?”

“I’m fine. I think he was a kid I went to school with. Real piece of work,” Cassandra held out her hand expecting Eugene to give her halberd back.

“Just let me finish shaving first—”

“Eugene!”

The next presentation wasn’t very good.

It was clear the girl who made it hadn’t gotten any help from her parents as most of the names were missing and those that were there were just first names. Cassandra couldn’t judge. At least the girl had an extensive list of people even if they were just Aunt This, Uncle That, Cousin Something or Other.

And just like Cassandra planned to do, this girl made up for her lack of information with enthusiasm.

“…so having seven siblings isn’t the best situation!” she laughed in that unhappy way people did when they didn’t want to acknowledge the real tragedy of the situation. “But you know what is great? Having twelve cousins! Cousins are the best! Cousins are fun, they can be silly but they make you laugh and even though I don’t see them very often at all, whenever we visit it’s like no time has passed. You know, other than the fact we are all a bit older and some of us have different hairstyles,” she touched her own hair proudly.

Cousins sounded great.

Far away friends you got to grow up with?

Cassandra didn’t even have nearby friends.

Lance was trying to teach Varian to juggle.

It probably would have gone better if Lance knew how to juggle in the first place.

The apples flew all over the place, one hit Eugene right in the face, another hit Rapunzel’s shoulder and a final one rolled over to Cassandra’s feet.

She’d just gotten to Corona after hours of riding. She’d expected to be the most exciting thing her friends got to see today. Alas, the guys had out-did her. Everybody was too distracted glaring at the boys to notice her arrival.

“Maybe we should try with knives?” Lance suggested. “I reckon if there were more at stakes you’d do better!”

“No!” Eugene stood up, ready to put his foot down.

“I don’t know guys, maybe hear him out,” Cassandra interrupted drawing everybody’s attention.

“Cassandra!” Rapunzel jumped up and rushed to hug her friend. “I didn’t know you were coming!”

“That was on purpose,” Cassandra admittedly, returning the hug. “Only here for a day. Have a lot to do. Didn’t want you getting excited for such a short visit. And most of all didn’t want you filling my schedule with all the stuff we just had to do during my visit.” She sighed, thinking of her last visit where she’d come for a break and left more tired than she’d arrived.

“But Cassandra, I have meeting after meeting today! I have no time to spend with you! Eugene, which meetings can I cancel?”

“To spend time with Cassandra? None.”

“Eugene!”

Eugene shrugged. “I’m being serious Blondie. They’re all really important and I’m sure Cassandra here understand the weight of duty.”

“Too well, that’s why I left it behind.”

Rapunzel looked heartbroken.

“I’ll visit again, Raps.”

“You promise?”

“Well my dad lives here so sure. Promise.”

“Alright…” Rapunzel sighed as Eugene gestured for her to leave. Cassandra could just make out the whispers of corruption as they left. “Could we pass a new law in which ex-Captain’s of the guard can’t move away? Just in case. We can pretend it’s about kingdom secrets or something?”

Cassandra trusted Eugene to keep that law from happening, if only because he was a Captain of the Guard now.

With half an hour until she had to be at her dad’s, Cassandra crossed the small space between herself and the guys. “So, knives? Want some? I have a few I could spare—”

“We do not!” Varian interrupted before Lance could agree.

Cassandra laughed.

“How are we going to master this new skill before the gala with that attitude?” Lance complained.

“We’re not. And I don’t even know why we tried,” Varian complained. “I don’t even think juggling is a gala mandatory skill like you said! Cassandra?”

Cassandra pretended to think carefully. “You know it’s been a while since I’ve had to attend a gala but I do recall that juggle-master walking around and testing random guests, those who failed were put into the stockades.”

“See!” Lance grinned.

While Varian rubbed his forehead, frustrated that Cassandra was getting in on the messing with him.

“Of course there were exceptions for people with one hand so maybe the knives thing—”

Lance was already at Fidella’s side rummaging through Cassandra’s bags in search of a knife set.

“Don’t worry,” Cassandra laughed. “The knifes are blunt. Someone still owes me a sharpening after using them to climb down a mountain.”

“Pft. No idea who that could be!” Lance answered pulling out the familiar set he’d stolen more times than was wise.

Cassandra laughed, she didn’t get to see Lance and Varian often, usually her visiting days were taken up by her dad and Rapunzel, but whenever she did it was like no time had passed. Well, other than that Varian had a whole new set of inventions.

“So I’m the youngest and my older siblings already have children of their own, that, makes me an aunt!” the girl said proudly to the awe of the classroom.

How could someone so young be an aunt? Aunts were meant to be adults!

Cassandra rolled her eyes, it was like these other kids hadn’t even listened to the teacher’s explanation.

“My nieces are like younger siblings, but better! Because when I can’t handle them anymore, I just give them back to my brother and walk away. Ideal.”

Those with younger siblings who caused a lot of work nodded along.

Cassandra thought the idea of loving someone and wanting to walk away was odd?

“Drop that!” Cassandra said with as tern a look as she could.

“No?” Keira said from too high in the tree house for Cassandra to reach, spinning a knife that didn’t belong to her.

“That’s not safe for children!”

“We’re barely children,” Catalina argued.

“Lance do something!”

“Me? Why me?”

“They’re your kids!”

“Sure… but I like, found them.”

“You—Lance!”

“Okay, okay. Girls, give your very angry aunt Cassandra her knife back and you can have pancakes for dinner tonight.”

“That’s not a healthy—” the knife plopped to the ground at her feet. Cassandra sighed and picked up the blade. “So glad they’re your problem and not mine.”

Lance shrugged.

It was the final presentation before Cassandra’s.

A boy was going on and on about his aunt who was like a mother to him.

Cassandra had been tuning out every mention of actual mothers because they made her feel inexplicably sad. She wasn’t entirely sure why. It wasn’t just that she was jealous because she didn’t have one. She only had a Papa. That would apply to every family member except dads. No, it was a stronger feeling.

But this boy wasn’t talking about his mum, rather an aunt who was like one.

So Cassandra listened.

“She gives the best advice. She tells me I’m special! And even when my parents are super busy, she always has time for me.”

Cassandra smiled. She liked the sound of this aunt.

“That’s lovely. Okay, last presentation. Cassandra.”

Cassandra’s blood ran cold.

She really, really didn’t want to do this. She knew she’d get a low score. She knew she’d be teased for it later. Nothing about this was okay. But it was homework so she had to.

She slowly stood up, bringing her piece of paper with her tiny family to the front. Looking up at the teacher.

“Go on.”

Cassandra showed the paper to the class. “My family’s not very big. It’s just me and my Papa. See… I was an orphan, which means I didn’t actually have any parents. I don’t…” she hesitated, biting her lip to hold back tears. “I don’t know what happened to my parents. I don’t remember but… Papa picked me to be his daughter. He’s the Captain of the Guard so he’s very busy. But he still loves me. He does all the things a papa should do, he teaches me to defend myself, buys me clothes and takes me to the market. Next week we’re going to learn to ride a horse! He’s a really great papa. I love him lots…” she glanced over at the teacher, hoping that was enough. It hadn’t been her proudest work but she felt she’d made a good point.

The teacher was frowning. “Cassandra, what’s your father’s name? Captain of the Guard isn’t a name.”

“Oh… umm… I don’t know. Everybody calls him Captain except for me.”

“And you didn’t ask him?”

Cassandra felt a bit defensive at that. “Well you only gave us a day and he was working.”

“Then you should have asked someone else…” the teacher sighed. “I’m sorry Cassandra but I can’t pass this work.”

“What are you saying?”

“That this is a clear zero.”

A zero? Cassandra had never gotten a zero in her life! “But Miss—”

“This isn’t a discussion Cassandra…” though the teacher did feel a bit bad. She sighed. “Come talk to me after class and I’ll try and arrange some extra credit for you.”

Cassandra’s shoulders tensed, she wanted to cry, but she didn’t want to be made fun off so she clenched her small family tree and rushed back to her desk.

She hated school sometimes.

Cassandra exited the school building looking as upset as she felt. Which usually was fine because nobody actually cared about how Cassandra felt.

But today apparently her dad had found some time in between shifts to come pick her up alongside Owl. And before Cassandra had spotted them they’d already noticed her mood. So despite forcing the widest smile and rushing to her dad. “Papa!”

His first question was: “What happened?”

Which made Cassandra’s smile fade and forced her to tell him about the homework, showing her family tree to him.

Owl hooted, flapping his wings and pecking at the paper. “I know you’re family. But I already asked the teacher where to put owls and she said to leave them out.”

More hoots.

“I’m going to talk to her,” Captain said but Cassandra quickly grabbed his hand.

“No.”

“Cassandra, this wasn’t your fault—”

“I know! But life isn’t always fair.” She repeated the thing Captain said often. “And I got extra credit work I can do to make up for it so it doesn’t actually matter.” She held up her new papers. “It was just… a bit disappointing.”

Captain knelt down to look at his little girl. “We’re getting ice cream on the way home.”

That made Cassandra give a small smile. “Really?”

“Yes. And a new toy.”

Owl hooted.

“And a new bird toy,” he rolled his eyes.

Owl moved up onto Cassandra’s shoulder.

“You don’t have to—”

“It’s what father’s do when the world is unfair to their little girl.”

Cassandra smiled. “I love you Papa. After spending an entire day hearing about people’s families… I know I have the best Papa in all of Corona.”

Captain smiled lifting his girl up into his arms causing Owl to fly off. “And I the best daughter.”

“I know.”

The ice cream was good.

Owl loved his new toy, it was meant for large dogs to rip apart but Owl’s beak was just as much a threat and he intended to prove it.

Cassandra’s new toy was a few more marbles to add to her collection. Papa had gone back to work. And before Cassandra could play with her new toy she had extra credit to full out.

Most of the questions were easy enough for Cassandra who’d paid attention in class.

But one of them was a bit more complex, and it was on purpose, it instructed students to ask a parent for help, although the teacher had made sure to specify Cassandra could ask any adult.

So Cassandra decided to go ask one of her favourite adults in the palace.

Knock, knock.

Her knock was soft and low on the large door.

“Come in!” But the queen always heard her.

Cassandra jumped up and managed to pull the handle, pushing the door open to find the queen sitting on a chair with a book.

“Cassandra,” the queen smiled. “Why how may I help you today?”

“With homework, Your Majesty.”

“Fractions?”

“What are those?”

Arianna giggled. “Too young for those I suppose. I always struggled with them.”

“Huh. Then I’ll ask someone else when I get there.”

“Probably wise,” Arianna patted the stool beside her chair.

Cassandra moved over to sit on it before showing Arianna her worksheet. “It’s extra credit.”

“Well aren’t you an overachiever?”

“Usually yes. But this time it’s because I failed the original assignment.”

“Oh dear, you? Fail? How is that possible?”

“We had to make a family tree.”

Arianna raised a brow, more confused now than ever because surely there wasn’t anything that could go wrong with Cassandra’s family tree.

“Mine didn’t have enough effort. Teacher said I failed because I didn’t put in Papa’s name… which isn’t my fault because Papa was at work and she only gave us a day and…” Cassandra shook her head before going on an entire rant. “But I know it isn’t true because other children also didn’t have names and still passed. It’s because mine was so small.”

Arianna looked angry. “Well that isn’t okay.”

“I know. Papa wanted to talk to the teacher, but I told him not to. I’ve got this extra credit so it’s okay.”

Arianna hummed. She’d have a talk with this teacher later unannounced to Cassandra or Captain. But right now what mattered was right in front of her.

“Anyway, I need advice because this question is really hard… it’s asking about what makes a family important?”

Arianna hummed, taking the paper from her. “That doesn’t seem too hard.”

“Love?” Cassandra tried.

“That’d be a perfectly reasonable answer, yes.”

“What answer would you give?”

“Me?”

“Yeah. The question wants us to ask an adult and you’re an adult.”

“Oh, how attentive you are.”

Cassandra giggled at that.

“I’d answer… that a family is always there for you. Even when a problem is too big to solve yourself, family will help.”

Cassandra smiled. “I like that answer. Thank you for your time Your Majesty.” Cassandra curtseyed.

“I’ll always have time for my special little girl,” Arianna said, standing up to curtsey back which always got Cassandra to giggle. She opened the door for Cassandra so she wouldn’t have to struggle with it’s weight.

“I’ll tell you when I pass.”

“Can’t wait.”

“Woah!” Cassandra laughed and cheered as Fidella leapt over a log that had fallen during a recent storm.

The horse raised her head proudly as she kept galloping along the familiar path towards Corona.

This visit hadn’t been on Cassandra’s inexistent calendar. It wasn’t a holiday and she wasn’t in desperate need of supplies (aka sweets only sold in Corona). She wasn’t visiting for the pleasure of seeing her dad or being dragged around by Rapunzel.

Rather she’d heard about a bad storm and promptly after received a letter from Eugene of all people asking for backup! And Cassandra knew it must be bad if Eugene was willing to ask her a favour. Though she had to admit, the letter didn’t sound like him. Well written. No insults. Properly signed and stamped.

Cassandra was almost proud of him. He must have been training hard. Taking his job seriously.

Then she fell.

She wasn’t sure how she fell because Fidella was amazing and Cassandra had been riding since she was very young.

But something had tripped Fidella. Something unexpected. Something small enough she hadn’t seen it. Something that had been placed there on purpose.

Cassandra glared at the clear trip-trap. Her hand reached for the hilt of her sword only for a boot to land on her hand before she could. “Stay down.”

Fidella let out a distressed neigh, trying to get up only for a couple more men to exit from the bushes pointing crossbows at the animal.

“Mercenaries…” Cassandra grumbled. “What, thought you’d take advantage of the less than ideal aftermath of the storm to rob some passerby? Well unfortunately for you I don’t carry any valuable on me so you decide if the ten coins in my purse is worth having me as an enemy.”

“I don’t want your coin.”

Cassandra looked up at the figure, face covered by a scarf. “Then what?”

“Stand up.” The man removed the boot from her now aching hand, drawing and pointing a sword at her.

Cassandra groaned as she brought her injured hand close and pushed herself up with her good one. “Do you know who you’re messing with?”

“The moonstone thief? The ex-Captain’s daughter?”

“Princess Rapunzel’s best friend?” Cassandra added with a smirk.

“That’s what I’m counting on.”

Cassandra’s smile faded. “I know your voice.”

The man pulled down the scarf.

“Ah. From school bully to corrupt guard to straight up criminal. Good to see you’ve had a slow but stable career path.”

“I suggest you be quiet before I decide slitting your throat would be worth more than the gold I plan to get out of the princess.” He raised the sword.

Cassandra just sighed. “You’re making such a big mistake.”

“Where is that damn stamp?” Eugene emptied another drawer out onto his desk but no luck.

“It’s just a stamp, relax,” Lance said.

“It’s not just a stamp,” Varian pointed out. “It’s the stamp of the Royal Guard.”

“Only one? Well that’s poor planning.”

“If it were to fall into the wrong hands it could be used to spread chaos!” Varian said.

“Really? A stamp will spread chaos?” Lance raised a brow.

“I’m sure it’s just lost,” Eugene tried to say, not at all convinced at this point.

“Not the stamp, the wrong hands it’s in. Think about it Lance, you could fake decrees! You could create wanted posts for innocent people!”

“Sounds hard work and boring.”

“You could trick someone into thinking you were the Captain of the Royal Guard and get them to do something they shouldn’t,” Varian added.

“And who would do that?” Lance asked with a shrug.

Eugene thought about that, mind going over all the people who had been in his office recently. “I know who.”

“Oh, wait, we’re for real here?” Lance looked surprised.

“This man came over earlier this week to ask for his job back, got fired back in the day for abuse of power…” he began searching for the file which was hard now he’d emptied several drawers out onto his desk. “He wasn’t in here long. Long enough to say some choice words I didn’t much appreciate about Cass and long enough for me to tell him to get out. But there was this crashing outside, a guard knocked over a suit of armour and I don’t think I’ve seen the stamp since and I bet that good-for-nothing jerk stole it!”

“About Cass?” Varian frowned.

“Yeah. They have history.” Eugene shrugged. “Apparently went to school together, probably didn’t get along seeing as I witnessed him threaten to arrest her without cause which is what got him fired the first time.”

“You think he just took the stamp to mess with you for not giving him his job back?” Lance asked.

“Probably. I’m going to go by his place though and figure it out for sure.” He said finally having found the file. “He doesn’t live far.”

“I’ll go with you,” Lance said.

“It’s fine Lance, I’ve got this.”

“Just in case, never bad to have backup.”

Eugene smiled. “Sure.”

Cassandra bit her tongue to keep from groaning but wasn’t able to keep her shoulders from trembling slightly as her injured hand was tied behind her back.

She’d assured her kidnappers they were making a huge mistake, though she was starting to wonder if that was true. She’d thought herself strong and capable and able to escape from any situation but… things weren’t looking good.

It wasn’t that these men were masterminds by any account. There plan was plain and simple. Trip Fidella. Snatch Cassandra. Tie Fidella to a tree. Bring Cassandra to their hideout. Tie her up and start working on a ransom note.

Issue is it was more too simple to fail.

The rope was tight. Her hand ached. The only exit was guarded. She didn’t have a weapon within reach.

“On your knees.” She was pushed down and glared intensely. “Now stay put and wait patiently for rescue.”

Patience was not Cassandra’s strong suit.

Eugene quickly discovered the man still lived with his mum as she invited him inside.

“A stamp you say?”

“Yes. Of the royal guard,” Eugene said.

“Oh, yes, a very fancy stamp. I do recall him coming home with one of those. I thought maybe he’d bought it at the market. It was market day you see? I believe he used it to send a letter.”

“You wouldn’t happen to know to who?” Eugene asked.

“Ah, here it is!” the woman pulled the stamp from a desk drawer and handed it back to Eugene. “To who?” she looked thoughtful. “He did mention it but… hmm…” she sat down, looking thoughtful.

Eugene waited patiently.

“Oh, right! Yes. I forget her name but to the Captain’s daughter.”

“Cassandra?”

“Cassandra! Yes. That’s it. He’s always been a bit obsessed with her. I suspect a crush.”

Eugene honestly hoped that wasn’t the case given what little of his behaviour towards her he’d seen.

“Used to talk about her all the time when they were kids,” she laughed, though it was a bit forced. “I think he mentioned her coming home for work? I don’t know. He talks a lot my boy. Has big dreams and plans. Never really works out for him though.”

“Thanks Mam. We’ll take it from here.”

“Of course Captain, have a nice day!”

“Hungry?”

Cassandra looked up at her kidnapper who had a smug grin and an apple slice in his hand.

“No,” she answered, and it was honest because she was actually starting to feel a bit nauseous from the pain.

“Don’t be like that…” he held the apple slice closer. “All you have to do is beg and I’ll give you some.”

Cassandra’s nose scrunched up. “I’ve been here for a few hours. You think I’m hungry enough to beg?”

The man shrugged and ate the apple slice.

Cassandra rolled her eyes.

“Blondie, emergency—”

“I’m in a meeting Eugene,” Rapunzel glanced towards the doors that had been flung over, offering an apologetic smile to the visiting diplomats. “It’s kind of important.”

“I think Cassandra’s in danger.”

Rapunzel went quiet then quickly stood up. “I’m so sorry. Nigel will reschedule this. I must go.” She rushed to the door. “Danger?”

“I’ll explain on the way.”

Rapunzel nodded.

It was a cold night.

The storm had come and passed but it had left a chill in the air that Cassandra couldn’t shake right now. The trembling was uncomfortable. Her toes were tingly at this point. She wished her hands could go tingly and stop having sensations. The pain was getting worse and it was clear none of her kidnappers had any intent to treat it.

How she’d not recognised such an obvious trap?

Captain had taught her better.

Maybe she’d been excited for an early visit home?

Foolish of her.

“Fidella!” Rapunzel rushed up to the horse who perked up, pulling at the rope with which she was tied to the tree, looking distressed.

Maximus reached the other horse first, pulling at the rope with his teeth though it was Eugene who cut it loose. Fidella immediately started to run in the direction the men had taken Cassandra… though she didn’t go far.

She’d only been able to follow her with her gaze for a while. The forest made for good cover.

“It’s okay girl,” Eugene reassured. “We’ll find her. Got a good team here,” he gestured to Rapunzel, Maximus, Pascal, Varian, Lance, Keira and Catalina.

Fidella let out a snort and looked somewhat judgemental.

“Yes, I know we lose some stealth by being such a big team but nobody was willing to stay behind once we figured out Cass might be in danger.”

Fidella raised her head a bit more respectfully at that because she also wouldn’t have been willing to stay behind.

Maximus moved to Fidella’s side, sniffing at the bags Cassandra used often before moving his nose to the floor.

“Best tracker horse in all of Corona,” Eugene praised.

“Only tracker horse seeing as scientifically speaking this makes no sense,” Varian pointed out.

“Scientifically speaking most of the stuff we’ve faced makes no sense,” countered Rapunzel.

“Touché.”

Maximus quickly began to move east.

Cassandra couldn’t sleep.

She was cold. Her hand hurt. And she was ever so thirsty.

She hadn’t had a sip of water since she’d left towards Corona. A mistake. Eugene always talked about the importance of hydration (perhaps for skin more than health), but for once he was right.

Cassandra watched as one of her kidnappers sat up and sipped his skin of water.

She could ask for some… she didn’t want to. Her pride said no. But every other part of her body demanded she put her pride aside for goodness’ sake. Her pride however was difficult to put aside, it was a tad too big to fit comfortably into any corner of her mind.

The man noticed Cassandra’s staring though.

“You thirsty?”

Cassandra bit her lower lip before nodding.

The man walked over slowly, a smirk forming on his face which told Cassandra she either wouldn’t get water or she’d regret it.

The man held the skin above her head. “Ask nicely.”

“Fuck you.”

So close. But pride always won.

The man glared. She expected him to put the skin away but instead he proceeded to pour it all over her.

“Fuck you!” Cassandra shouted louder as the other men began to stir.

“Watch your attitude.”

Cassandra just glared, teeth clenched in an expression that promised to bite him if he got too close.

“Good news is we found them…” Eugene whispered from behind a large rock, peering out to see a cave entrance beyond the trees guarded by two large men.

“Bad news?” Varian asked.

“Cassandra sounds like she’s keeping all the guards awake to make our job harder.”

“How many do we think there are?”

“Unsure.”

“Probably not more than us?”

“And even if there were I mean, we’ve been outnumbered before.”

“The issue is they have Cassandra.”

“Right.”

“We’d be wise to make a plan and not just run in frying pans raised.”

Varian gestured towards his belt. “I mean… from sticky traps to smoke, it shouldn’t be that hard.”

“Unless someone has their hands on Cassandra as we speak. No amount of smoke can help a knife held to a throat,” Lance pointed out.

Pascal let out a little squeak.

“We can send Pascal in to find out and give a signal when the men are far enough away from Cassandra,” Rapunzel translated.

“Alright, so the chameleon susses out the place and gives the signal,” Keira started. “Then goggles here throws in some giant glue and smoke to remove their visibility and movement.”

Varian nodded.

“Then we run in, kill everybody except Cassandra and steal her knives before saving her!” Keira spoke a tad too loud causing Catalina to drag her down and cover her mouth with a hand.

Eugene flinched but quickly checked to see the guards hadn’t heard.

“Okay, more or less. We arrest rather than kill and… maybe don’t steal Cassandra’s knives.”

“It’s payment for rescue,” Keira argued.

“Girls,” Lance warned.

“Ugh fine. Rescue without payment. Goodness, this being good think is so unrewarding at times.”

“I agree,” Lance started.

“Lance,” Eugene warned.

“Oh right, gotta be good influence cause dad. Rescue is it’s own reward girls… or something or other.”

Catalina nodded while Keira rolled her eyes.

“Let’s just get this over with before Cassandra finds a way to kill a man.”

“Wait who we rescuing again, Cassandra or her kidnappers?”

“Yes.”

The man had the common sense not to get too close to Cassandra.

And now Cassandra was cold, in pain, tired and wet. Oh and still thirsty because the water was in her hair not her mouth. An all in all terrible way to spend a night.

Then Cassandra spot someone she was actually happy to see. A small chameleon blending nearly perfectly into the cave wall. Big eyes were looking at Cassandra.

How had Pascal known to come here? They hadn’t yet sent the ransom note out yet?

Cassandra leaned forward, before redirecting her eyes to the ground. Not wanting to draw attention. Pascal had seen what he needed to see, Cassandra was in a corner relatively out of reach if the glue trap worked and she’d seen him so she’d know what was going on when the place filled with smoke and goo. He exited out the cave and after checking the guards were facing the other way began to change colours: a signal.

“Girls,” Eugene gestured.

Varian looked at the two girls. “Remember, first the glue, then the smoke.”

“We heard you the first three times goggles.” Keira rolled her eyes.

Catalina nodded.

The two inched forward, quick and silent.

“I’m so proud of them,” Lance said.

“They haven’t done it yet,” Eugene pointed out.

“You doubting my girls?”

Catalina got into the bush closest to the entrance. Still out of view of the guards. She carefully rolled her compounded ball of chemicals across the floor between the guards feet and into the cave.

The guards did turn to look at the ball, but too late. It exploded into thick goo. She then threw another at the outside.

Keira then jumped out of the bushes throwing a whole handful of smoke bombs into the cave.

Soon both Catalina and Keira were coughing. The group rushed forward.

Lance picked up his girl holding them up high and out of reach of the smoke.

“I said to only throw three!” Varian shouted.

“Then why’d you give me so many?!” Keira argued.

Varian pulled up his scarf and pulled down his goggles as he quickly headed into the cave. He held up a glowing potion to help see, though ultimately followed the flashing chameleon. He stepped over guards stuck in goo until he reached the corner where Cassandra was curled up in. Her face buried into her knees to avoid breathing in too much smoke.

Varian touched her shoulder.

Cassandra glanced up and gave him a small nod to indicate she recognised him.

Without time to waste, Varian helped her up and started leading her towards the exit.

But before they could get out, while most of the men struggled against the goo and the few who did escape it made a beeline for the exit, one made a beeline to place himself between the exit and Cassandra.

“Halt.”

“Ugh…” Cassandra rolled her eyes.

“You think you’ll escape this easy?”

Varian stared at this man who in his rush to get in the way hadn’t even picked up a weapon. He reached for one of his potions though quickly realised he didn’t have another glue trap. He could go more destructive but that probably wasn’t the most responsible course of action. “Look… you’ve already lost so if you want to save us all some time, it might be best if you stand down?” He raised a brow, seeing through the smoke how Keira and Catalina had gotten inside and were rushing around with rope tying up all the bad guys like it was nothing.

“Already lost? Hah! What you think just because you have the favour of the princess and the guard and this… kid!”

“Hey!” Varian looked offended.

“You get to win every single time?!”

Cassandra stood up straighter, the smoke was lessening and she was starting to be able to breathe again. “Well… it helps?”

“Not this time Cassandra! This time you’re the one who’s going to lose!”

Cassandra raised a brow.

“Just wait until I get my hands on a sword,” he spun around as if to search only to find Lance, Rapunzel and Eugene standing behind him looking particularly annoyed.

“Looking for this?” Lance held up a sword he’d swiped from the ground.

Eugene had his arms crossed. “Dude, what is your issue? I get Cassandra is frustrating but this is a new level of anger.”

“Do you know him?” Rapunzel asked Cassandra, tilting her head to look past the man.

“We went to school together,” Cassandra shrugged. “I wasn’t the kindest but neither was he. Kept telling me I was weird for not having a mother.”

“Hey!” pretty much everybody except for Rapunzel said.

“It’s perfectly normal to not have a mother.”

“Perhaps a bit too normal in this kingdom…” Varian added thoughtfully.

“You’re under arrest,” Eugene informed, grabbing the guy’s arms. “I think it’d be best for you to stop fighting now.”

“She’s a menace!” the man gestured towards Cassandra.

“In many ways I agree but that doesn’t mean you can kidnap her I’m afraid.” Eugene answered simply with a shrug.

Rapunzel walked around the man rushing to Cassandra’s side.

Cassandra smiled and quickly hugged Rapunzel with her one good hand.

“What are you doing here?” Rapunzel asked excitedly, seeming to have forgotten the entire drama. “You weren’t scheduled another visit for months. I’ve got so many activities planned!”

“Great,” Cassandra forced a grin. “I got a letter that I thought was from Eugene asking for assistance after a storm caused issues.”

“Fake. I’d never ask you for assistance,” Eugene said, handing the man over to Lance.

“That’s what I thought,” Cassandra said. “Which is why I assumed if you were asking it must be urgent and rushed over.”

“How sweet.”

“In hindsight the letter was too well written to be form you, Fitzherbert.”

“And there’s the Cassandra I know!”

“Are you okay?” Rapunzel asked, circling Cassandra to inspect for harm, quickly spotting her hand. “Oh my.”

“It’s fine.” Cassandra pulled away.

Eugene raised a brow.

“It will be fine…” Cassandra corrected.

“Why’s your hair wet?” Varian asked.

Cassandra sighed. “Could we save the interrogation for the criminals who tried to kidnap me?”

“Of course. You must be so tired. Let’s go home,” Rapunzel linked her arms with Cassandra’s. “Oh it’s so good to see you! Not the best circumstances but there’s no such thing as bad circumstance to see a friend!”

“Heavily disagree,” Cassandra said but smiled all the same.

Cassandra had come to Corona to help save the day.

Instead she’d needed saving and now was stuck with her hand in a cast and very clear instructions from all of her loved ones that she wasn’t to leave the palace.

“You still have outstanding crimes we’re not afraid to use against you to declare house arrest for your own good,” Queen Arianna had threatened. Sometimes Cassandra had to admit the many criminals shouting corruption towards the royal family did have a few good points.

But it was for her own good. She didn’t really feel up to riding with her hand in a cast. And she didn’t want to worry everyone.

So she’d hang out in Corona for a bit.

That was fine.

She’d hung out here for like twenty years once before and survived that!

What was a week or two?

“Ugh! I hate this place!” Cassandra groaned as Owl followed her down the hall. “I’d forgotten how stuffy it was. Polished floors and perfect paintings. Careful not to drag mud inside, keep your volume down, curtsey to the queen,” Cassandra did a quick perfect curtsey mid-step to prove her point and remind herself just how drilled into her brain all these politics had been.

“I should be fighting pirates and rescuing damsels in distress,” Cassandra sighed, reaching the basement.

Owl hooted a question.

“Dad told me to go through my old belongings if I got bored.”

Owl tilted his head.

“I already told him to just get rid of it all. I don’t need it on the road but you know how sentimental he can be at times…” she blushed, “when it’s mys tuff at least.” She sighed and pushed open the door, dodging numerous crates of festivity supplies until she reached one large crate towards the back labelled as Captain’s with a note scribbling on it that read (Cassandra).

“I can’t believe he kept all this…” she opened it up letting dust out and narrowing her eyes at the kid’s toys and clothes that no longer fit or had a use. “Kept all this and has now made it my problem,” she leaned on the box.

Owl landed on the side, eyes widening as he spot an old dog toy he snatched out and started playing with.

“Great. We start with a keep pile. Glad one of us is having fun.”

After a deep breath she started slowly organising the stuff. Much to donate. There were a few things Cassandra would keep but relocate to her dad’s new town house. Most of it was to throw away (if her dad didn’t intersect it again), lots of craft projects from when Cassandra could barely hold charcoal.

“Why did dad have to keep all of this junk?” she pulled out a piece of paper than paused. “Oh… I remember this…” she stared at the small family tree. Just her and her dad. The edges of the paper was slightly rumpled where she’d gripped it too hard after failing.

As an adult she could see why the work had been failed… she was also way more mad at the teacher for not letting her have some grace.

Before she could really sit with the sadness of the memory though there was a knock on the door.

Cassandra frowned because she was in the communal palace basement and not her room. “Come in?” she asked.

The door opened ever so slightly, Rapunzel peeking in, her brown hair covering half her face before she straightened. “Ah, Cassandra! You’re here!”

“Uh-huh.”

“Great! Then we don’t need to start a search party.”

Cassandra frowned. “Why is the door closed? Who is with you?”

“With me? Pft. Nobody. I trust you and would totally not call everybody over after just a few hours of not seeing you to organise a search party in case you’d left.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Blondie I think she knows,” Eugene’s voice came from behind.

“Look at that, when Eugene takes the time to think he can actually get stuff right.”

The door pushed open to reveal Eugene glaring at her. Keira and Catalina rushed past to check out the pile of toys. Varian, Lance, Arianna and Captain were also there.

“Really?” Cassandra raised her brows at Rapunzel.

“I was worried…” Rapunzel crossed the basement. “What you doing?”

“Going through some old stuff,” Cassandra frowned, holding the paper to her chest. “That’s the keep pile,” she pointed to some charcoal and old pens on the floor. “That’s to re-home,” she pointed at the pile of toys Keira and Catalina were already re-homing. “And that’s the throw away pile,” she pointed at a pile of old school projects.

“You can’t throw all of this away!” Captain argued, already going in to rescue some stuff.

“Then why’d you have me come down here in the first place if you just want to keep everything?”

“Oh, look at this,” Arianna picked out a crayon drawing. “This ones mine now.”

“Great.”

Eugene picked up a paper doll and looked ready to start teasing until Cassandra gave him a warning look.

“What’s that?” Rapunzel asked referring to the paper.

Cassandra blushed. “Nothing.”

“Oh, something embarrassing,” Eugene grinned, ready to snatch it from her.

“No. It’s not.”

Captain glanced over Cassandra’s shoulder. “Oh. I remember that.” He frowned.

“It’s just a failed school project,” Cassandra told Eugene.

“Oh, so little miss Smarty Pants was actually quite dumb?”

Cassandra rolled her eyes before finally holding the paper out to show the group. “It was a family tree.”

“Oh.” Eugene’s tone changed. “And what’s wrong with it?” he raised a brow.

“Low effort I guess. Like that was my fault.”

Eugene nodded. “See this is why I skipped school. Cassandra’s family tree is double what mine would have been! If she failed what would I have gotten? Cards stacked against me from the start. Not worth trying.”

“Don’t think that’s the lesson here Fitzherbert.”

“And what is the lesson then?”

“That… sometimes people suck.” She shrugged, glancing down at the family tree.

Rapunzel noticed the sadness, her hand finding Cassandra’s. “You okay?”

Cassandra shrugged then nodded. “Yeah. This was a long time ago and… I don’t think this really represents the full extent of my family anymore anyway.”

“Oh?” Rapunzel looked excited.

Cassandra smiled then sat down, quickly pulling some charcoal from the keep pile. “Well… this is like my official, legal family sure. And it was more than enough for me, don’t get me wrong.” She smiled up at her dad. “But the teacher said owls don’t belong when, I’d argue Owl is family.” She added the bird who let out a hoot, glad justice had been served all these years later.

“Nowadays I also have this little sister who can be like really annoying but also kinda cool…”

“Who?” Rapunzel asked, sounding jealous.

Cassandra laughed as she wrote ‘Raps’ to the side of her name.

“Oh!” Rapunzel looked excited.

“And she’s married to this guy which I guess kinda makes him like a brother-in-law which tracks because big brothers are very annoying.”

“Hey!” Eugene crossed his arms but smiled as he was added.

“And I’ve got friend who are so close they’re like cousins, ya know?” she added in Varian and Lance.

“And nieces…” she added Keira and Catalina.

“And I’ve always had adults in my life who I could go to for advice or help when dad wasn’t around…” she added in Arianna, before sitting up and staring at hew now fuller family tree.

“That’s not a half bad family tree,” Eugene said.

“I’d argue worth a passing score,” added Lance.

Cassandra smiled. “Yeah.” She folded the paper up and added it to keep pile. “It definitely is.”