Mark of the Cat and Year of the Rat Read online

  “There is the High Maid Allitta,” Melora said. “She has a place with the Queen if she claims it. Certainly she is apart from their schemes.”

  I thought of Allitta, of my own brash plan to bring closer one I could trust. Dare I approach her again and ask for help? It was like being entangled in slime ribbons, save that these could not be seen and cut away.

  “Why do you not consult with Ravinga?” my sister asked. “She holds wisdom. This I made with her teaching.” Melora unwrapped the packet.

  What she revealed was another wristband. A line of very old inscription ran around it—silver on gold—the ancient words separated by gems—not diamonds, but the sapphires of my own home.

  Melora took my hand and slipped it on. “Look you,” she gave it a tug and it loosed to slide forward and rest now about my knuckles. “Thus!” She lifted my hand higher and I caught her meaning. I wore now a weapon of sorts and one not to raise suspicion.

  “This is of Ravinga’s learning and my work. Both of us labored under the Essence. Let it be your shield against all harm.”

  Her arms opened to me and I drew her close. Nor did I want her to leave. Like Murri she was warmth and good will, something to hold to amid the murk of the court.

  “May the Essence be ever with you,” she said when I released her. “You are far more than they believe, Hynkkel. I think that some will discover this to their sorrow.”

  As she went out Mohambra entered, flanked by Murri and Akeea. Their fur was still patched with stripes but bare skin was no longer to be seen and they were fully themselves again.

  Allitta:

  I had much to consider and no one at hand to whom I could appeal for advice. Ravinga’s interest was not mine—she favored Hynkkel from the first. I thought of our meeting in the under ways and his abrupt, shaming suggestion. It would seem practical to him, yes. It was a blow in the face to me.

  Yet, since we shared knowledge of the waterways and it was his hope to learn if the Queendoms were so linked, his idea was realistic. But how could he claim me as a Companion when I was not in heat? That would be apparent to all. Such pretense might even be against the will of the Essence.

  I held Kassca close as the Kotti sang a song of comfort, which vibrated through her warm body. Cuddling her I went to that private place where, by custom, none might intrude.

  Once settled on the cushions there I turned to the time-worn appeals I had known from early childhood, calling upon the Strength of the Essence. Kassca was a part of me; this room was a part. I opened wider invisible gates. The city was full of other lives, which, in turn enfolded—one with me—with the Essence. The rocks beneath, the air above, all of the Outer Regions: I was carried aloft—my eyes closed—yet I could see, I could feel—This was true life—not separate—but part of the whole. I was cushioned, held by greater arms, even as I held Kassca. There were questions to be asked but I did not ask. I was part of the whole. Allitta as one alone ceased to be. Never had I gone so deeply into the hold of the Essence. The peace that filled me now was all I could ever desire and I wanted to remain one with it.

  Yet the comfort of it was not with me for long. There came a troubling through that which held me. My content was gone. I saw again the Outer Regions below. From the north arose a shadow, even as the slaying force of a sand storm. For several breaths I saw it so, and then was again in my small room with Kassca’s small body vibrating, not with soothing purrs, but deep chested growls.

  “A warning, little one?”

  There were stories of favored ones who had so closely communicated with the Essence. But I was not a Seeker. I had not sought, yet I had gained an answer. It was our belief that only as we were aware of the Essence would our inner lives be safe.

  “Kassca, what is asked of me?” But I knew.

  To go openly to Hynkkel, to boldly tell him that I would agree to his plan: I just could not face that. A message—then—

  So I wrote some terse words on a strip of parchment, which I twisted around a chain about Kassca’s throat. At the last moment I had to resist tearing that away and denying what I must do.

  In Queen Yuikala’s private Garden:

  The Diamond Queen had chosen the inner garden for this meeting. It gave her confidence, which she hardly needed, to glance up now and then at the windows of the Emperor’s chambers. So—it had finally been decided. She looked to her informant, one of her quarry’s body servants. Pulling out a bag from the swirl of her robes she tossed it to the elderly man. An excellent tool—he had been a confidant of Haban-ji and was resentful of the outlander who had taken the late Emperor’s place. He bowed deeply and withdrew, having pushed the bag into the breast of his tunic.

  When he was out of sight, and she hoped out of hearing, Yuikala rang the mobile near to hand. It was Luvania, her trusted First Lady who answered the summons.

  “She has come?”

  “Yes, Highness. I do not think that she is pleased.”

  Yuikala laughed. “She must learn she is under orders.”

  “Highness, she—she is said to have strange power. Perhaps if she is provoked too much—”

  The Queen smiled. “Do not listen to childish babble, Luvania. People talk and raise common acts to the level of things mysterious. This one has great knowledge of growing things—but she has no invisible powers. Now bring her and then make sure that you stand as guard. I do not wish this meeting to be talked of—”

  Luvania brought out a woman harshly treated by age. Years had weighed down her upper back, throwing her head forward. In contrast her face was unwrinkled, smooth, though the large eyes were sunken into pockets of flesh. Hair was untouched by any gray and gem-pinned into elaborate coils, as a much younger woman would wear it. She wore a false mask of youth above shrunken flesh and creaking bones.

  As she joined the Queen, she offered no gesture of respect.

  “You have sent for me, Highness,” her voice was a rusty rasp.

  “I have sent for you.” The Queen pointed to a cushion such as inferior would use. “Be seated, Gornar. There is an important matter to be discussed.”

  The woman scowled but she did lower herself slowly, as if such action pained her, onto the cushion.

  “You are said to have a vast knowledge of the uses of plants. I have heard of the First Maid of Verdit.” Yuikala eyed the woman closely as she spoke.

  Gornar needed to hold her head at an angle to meet the Queen eye to eye. She showed no surprise to hear very secret matter spoken of so openly. Nor did she make any comment, though Yuikala waited for a space. Finally the Queen continued.

  “That such a thing is possible is difficult to believe.”

  “That First Maid is dead. Those who tend the ill have sworn it was sand fever that killed her. The silly wench went hunting a guardsman who caught her eye.”

  “So we are told,” the Queen agreed. “There is another and more truthful tale, is there not?”

  “Of that I know—” Gornar began.

  “A great deal! Come, come, Learned One! I tell you that I have read the full report sent from Thnossis. Also a later one—the case of the daughter of Rasmussion, the dealer in gems. And that occurred in Valapa. That case was more successful. I believe she mated with her cousin, thus keeping a fortune safely within the control of her House.”

  The woman made no reply to that. Yuikala continued.

  “It is said that you are in search of a certain plant which does not grow in the Outer Regions.” Now she reached again into the folds of her robe to produce a box of metal, its cover and sides patterned with symbols of blood red.

  Gornar’s hand was out in a flash but the box was held out of her reach. The Queen laughed again.

  “Everyone has a price, Learned One. It only remains that it must be found. Yes, this shall be yours—in return for that you have used twice before.”

  Gornar’s eyes were still on the box. “The potion may kill if it is given to the wrong person.”

  “So. But that will lie on you, Gornar
. You must help to make a certain maiden very happy. She will look high and if she succeeds, she will bring power to this court. You have other products for sale—have you not one which can keep certain aspects of age at bay—one you yourself are using? Would not the good will and needs of one at court be worth much to you?”

  Gomar replied with just one word. “When?”

  “Within a day,” Yuikala answered promptly.

  “I may not have enough to hand.”

  “Oh, I think that you do. I shall expect you to return before nightfall tomorrow. We have very little time. Go now and let me see you again before the tenth hour.”

  Hynkkel-ji:

  I straightened the ribbon of parchment I had unwound from Kassca’s throat chain. The writing was very small but clear. Reading it I gave a sigh of relief. She would do as I had suggested, but she demanded a promise in return, one that I would cheerfully give. I reached for a pen and used the last scrap of unmarked surface to tell her so.

  Kassca was gone, a small gray shadow disappearing into other shadows. Murri looked at me.

  “Take mate?” his thought reached me.

  “Not so. But those about must think so.”

  If there could be a thought expressing laughter, I caught it then.

  “Ho, brother, you do now follow a twisting trail,” the Sand Cat returned.

  Allitta:

  I held Kassca close but the message she had carried lay crumpled on the floor. What had I done? I still lacked, and would at the crucial time, what I needed. How could any one possibly counterfeit going into heat? One certainly never did it by wishing—many women never had the experience at all. I had never wanted it. To allow one’s self to be tied to some man, to have to consult with another over the needs of everyday living, to relinquish freedom? No!

  Our coming together would not mean such a surrender, he had sworn to that. But all males within any company I joined would know that the situation was a false one. It remained the one barrier against carrying out his plan.

  There were those well practiced in dealing with ills of the body. Each House had at least one such on the rolls. Here it was—I searched for the name—Ulvira. I had seen her only at the first gathering of the household. I knew nothing of her trustworthiness. No, I could not share my quest for knowledge with a stranger.

  I thought of my openness to the Essence—surely what I had experienced had been sent by that. Therefore somewhere there must be the help I needed.

  Kassca mewed. In my mind there was a picture, rather distorted but not enough that I did not recognize it. Ravinga. She did not deal with healing but she had power—far greater probably than I could envision.

  Thus I made ready to visit her, taking with me—for I went openly—one of my guard and of course Kassca. I spoke idly of dolls and that I wanted an image of the Great Lady Assansi, who had been my grandmother.

  I left the guard in the outer room where she could browse the many treasures on display and followed Ravinga into greater privacy.

  Once there I made haste to state my problem. To my surprise, for I thought she would be shocked at such a thing, she laughed.

  “So, girl, he has made an excellent choice. As for what troubles you—there is an answer.”

  She went to one of those concealed drawers, which only she knew how to open and pressed the proper spot. From the interior she scooped up a box the size of her palm and brought it to the table.

  “Press here and here—” I watched her carefully. “No one who does not know its secret can open this. And here,” the box opened and she took out a fabulous necklace of alternate beads of silver and rock crystal. The pendant it supported was also of crystal and hollow, the contents within a swirling mist. As it swung from her hand a fragrance floated to me. I had known many perfumes but nothing such as this. My heart seemed to beat faster; in me an inner heat began to rise.

  “Wear this when you must show yourself in company. No one will say that you are not ready for a relationship.”

  She placed the necklace back in the box and handed it to me. Then she laughed again.

  “Be warned that when you wear this you will indeed be noticed—and by every man within sniffing distance.”

  I made a face and determined that I would wait until the last minute to prove her right or wrong. But I was sure that, being Ravinga, she was right.

  CHAPTER 11

  At the House of Kaverel in the Queendom of Kahulawe:

  “So,” Kaverel-va-Meguliel sat at ease, “my dutiful son has at last come to his senses.”

  He had not indicated that Kalikku was to seat himself.

  “And just what has brought you here now?” Meguliel continued. On the small table at his side there rested an impressive array of battle honors. Kalikku thought his father must be preparing for some very formal occasion.

  “The honor of the House!” He could not summon any other answer.

  “Honor of the House? You appear to have forgotten that. Was this House honored when you did not pledge your duty to our new ruler?”

  “To Hynkkel?” In spite of his attempt at control, Kalikku’s anger flared.

  His father leaned forward. “Selected by the Essence, a man faces the Five Ordeals—he who finishes is Emperor. Kaverel is a loyal House, accepting without question the will of the Essence. Our Emperor earned the throne by the ancient custom—no man can question that. Have you so forgotten what our House stands for—loyalty to the chosen?”

  It was and yet it was not his father—Meguliel was again the commander of Kahulawe’s forces.

  “What must I do?” Kalikku knew the answer to that, but his pride was like a spear point in his breast.

  “What you should have done from the first, as you very well know. Are you also lacking in wits these days? You may remain under this roof for the present. The Emperor is to make the Progress. He will come here first. Then, if you are true son of this House, you will give allegiance. What ties you to the rebels? An oath to an outlaw is treason. You say you have seen your mistake and return to your duty—can any of those lurkers claim that you have already lost your honor?”

  “No!” Kalikku said. He was not honor broke—yet. Rather he was here to serve the leader he had chosen.

  He braced himself under his father’s searching stare.

  “While you are waiting,” Meguliel said, with the deliberation of one giving a order. “You will assume the guardianship of the herds.”

  Hynkkel’s labor in the past. Kalikku swallowed. He could taste the sour anger he had to subdue.

  “You have my leave to begin your duties.”

  That was the way that a servant was dismissed. Kalikku swallowed again and somehow got himself away from his father’s presence without losing rein on his temper. On the other side of the door curtain he brought his fists together with force—could he last out this humiliation? He must.

  Hynkkel-ji:

  I had nothing to do in preparing for the Progress. This was governed entirely by tradition. However there was one thing to be done. I sent a message to Ravinga, desiring her attendance at court.

  It was the custom of the ruler when visiting the Queendoms, to present each of the Queens with some lavish and unusual gift. I had a sudden idea what mine would be, if, of course, I had not left the matter too late for Ravinga to be able to supply what I wanted.

  When she came I had her ushered into my private quarters, for once not caring if I were breaking custom, and I dismissed the servant. Murri lay down before the door and I was sure that he could detect any would-be listener.

  I again shattered custom by rising at her entrance and escorting her to a seat.

  “High Lady—” certainly her support raised her in my eyes to nobility “—for all you have done, I thank you. Those are but words—I cannot truly put what I feel into them. I am one who walks a dangerous trail. Therefore I cling to those I can trust.”

  “Thus you consider me?” she asked quietly. “Now what would you have me do?”


  I flushed. Had I again spoken brashly? Could she believe that my true gratitude was only expressed because I wanted a new service?

  “Please, my tongue sometimes does not aid me as I wish. Yes, it is true I need help. Only—” I threw up my hands, “I ever make myself a fool when I mean to speak the truth! I never wanted to be emperor and certainly my ineptitude is visible. I do not know why the Essence has brought me here—”

  “Because you are the one who can keep the balance,” Ravinga replied and I did not know what she meant. But now she continued and I listened, first eagerly and then with growing concern.

  “The Darkness rises again. There is one who, long ago, strove to warp and twist our land, remold our people to serve his own purposes. He was beaten before—now he returns refreshed, determined to succeed.

  “Our lives rest on factors which other nations—those of the Inner regions—do not have to fear. Water is our first, our abiding need. All now living have heard the heart-tearing tales of what happened before when the algae pools shrank and died. The Master of Balance had then more power than any ruler. There was a closely guarded secret which was bought by the sacrifice of him who was then Emperor. Several of the Great Houses learned it.”

  “In each Queendom do the rivers run?” I demanded as she paused.

  “Just so. But this was also known by the Dark One. He used his power. Those who knew this secret of water were targeted and died. Sometimes the secret was relearned by those descended from the victims.”

  “Was this the fate of the House of Vurope?” I asked.

  “Just so.”

  “But who in Valapa served this enemy by bringing down that House?” I wanted to know.

  “The Dark Lord is able to spread his concealing cloak over those who obey him. Yet there was a Companion of the Emperor at that time who had much power. She died suddenly—after Vurope was erased. Had the House fallen for the reasons voiced at that time, then all its resources, as was the custom, would have gone to the accuser. Rather the holdings all went to Haban-ji.”