Journeyman Cat Read online

  “Madam,” he said, turning his attention back to the woman, “I believe your money is safe — for the moment. In situations like this we advise vigilance. Do you grow your own food?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Good, good. Have you planted a ring of garlic around your garden?”

  The old woman’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping open.

  “Why no. Should I?”

  “Oh, it may not be necessary, but one can never be too cautious, wouldn’t you say, Journeyman Toby?”

  “Indeed. It is well known that devil cats are allergic to garlic,” Toby said, forcing his whiskers to stay closed. “That is why members of the OKG wear the herb concealed within our medallions.”

  The woman glanced at the orange tom’s collar, the flat round disk of the Office of Kingdom Guardianship dangling from it. She clutched her shawl closer to her neck.

  “Is there anything else I should do?”

  “The usual, of course,” Lorn said, waving a dismissive hand. “Don’t dance under a full moon, never look a devil cat in the eye, boil your water before using it for cooking or drinking, those sort of things.”

  She squinted at the partners, puckering her mouth. “Boil my water?”

  Lorn’s eyes widened. He turned to stare at Toby, who returned his fake shock look. They both turned serious gazes on the old woman.

  “They didn’t tell you?”

  She shook her head as she placed her gnarled fingers to her sunken lips. Lorn clucked his tongue and turned a frown on Toby who also shook his head, eyes narrowed in a scowl. The orange tom turned his stern gaze back on the woman.

  “The apothecaries in every province were instructed to tell everyone they see to boil their water before using even a drop. May I have the name of your local herbalist?”

  “Jensen’s the ‘pothecary, but ain’t no one goes t’ him. Charges ya twice for herbs that ain’t no good. No, Lucinda be the one we be trustin’. But how’s cum she didn’t say nothin’ ‘bout boilin’ our water?”

  “Is Lucinda a member of the apothecary guild?” asked Lorn.

  “Nah. She just be the local healer.”

  “I see. That is probably why she didn’t know about the boil order.”

  “We will be sure she learns of it and any other orders the Office of Healers and Apothecaries deem necessary,” added Toby. “Thank you for your time, madam. We will be sure to file this report with the OKG.”

  “That’s it? You ain’t gonna haul that cat away?”

  Toby sighed inwardly. It had been six years and still the majority of humans distrusted their feline counterparts. They’d interviewed several that wanted cats exterminated. Those were the ones that refused to say anything until Toby left the room. At least this woman just wanted her neighbor’s cat arrested. Lorn tapped the small pile of papers on the table.

  “When we file this report, you can rest assured that the OKG will keep a close eye on both your neighbor and his cat.”

  She frowned at them. The man bent closer, motioning the old woman to do the same. As she did, Lorn glanced around the empty room as if looking for spies.

  “Mind you,” he whispered, “you won’t know who is watching. They could look like anyone, so if someone new should show up in the village be sure to ignore them. We wouldn’t want to blow their cover, am I right?”

  The woman grinned, showing a gaping hole where there should have been teeth, and winked. Lorn smiled in return.

  “Good evening, madam.”

  As the elder shuffled out the door, Toby washed a paw. His fur rippled with suppressed laughter as the door closed.

  “I do believe you missed your calling. You should have been a troubadour.”

  “I thought about it for a while our last year at the academy. Problem was I seemed to be saddled with a certain orange tom who thought we should finish our studies first.”

  Toby swiped the air in Lorn’s direction. “Good thing one of us wanted to graduate. If I hadn’t been looking out for you we’d never have been appointed to the OKG.”

  “And it’s been an honor and privilege, hasn’t it. One exciting assignment after another.”

  “Well there was that one interview with the old farmer and the pitchfork.”

  Lorn chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you move that fast.”

  “There are a lot of ways I wouldn’t mind dying, but shish ka-kitty is not one of them.”

  A soft knock at the door interrupted them. The door opened a few inches and a young woman with wild red hair peeked around it at them. She smiled shyly at Lorn.

  “Beggin’ yer pardon, good sirs, but Lars is here. He says he has infermashun ‘bout some goin’s on up north near the hills.”

  Lorn glanced at Toby and smirked. “Does he have a pitchfork?”

  Toby ignored his partner, watching the young woman instead. The girl blinked a couple times, looking confused.

  “Not with him, sir. I s’pose he could git it if’n you wanted.”

  The young man waved the idea away as he looked back at the young lady and grinned.

  “Send him in.”

  The woman disappeared behind the door. A moment later she was ushering a burly, gray bearded mountain into the room. Toby was struck by the similarities between Lars and Lorn when he’d been transformed into an Outer Reaches trapper during their first year at the academy. That little reconnaissance mission to the White Dog Pub had helped them solve part of the mystery to Toby’s father’s disappearance long ago. It had also been the beginning of figuring out how to end the plague released by Chivato. The tom glanced at his partner to find the memory had occurred to him as well.

  “Lars?” the young man asked, standing up to shake the mountain’s hand. The man looked at Lorn’s hand and scowled, then sat down across the table.

  “You the guardian?” the man rumbled. Lorn nodded and sat back down.

  “I understand you have some information for us.”

  The man grunted, nodding once and putting his beefy hands on his thighs.

  “There’s a temple up yonder in the hills. Been there since I were a kid. Nice enough Brothers. Keep to themselves.”

  “But?” prodded Toby, wishing the man would spit it out so they could go back to the inn. The mountain turned his bald head toward the tom and gave him a hard stare, his hand inching toward the hunting knife tucked in his belt. Toby swallowed, thinking a knife wasn’t any better than a pitchfork. Lars turned his attention back to Lorn.

  “Couple years ago they built a school. Seemed a good idea at the time. Learnin’ can’t hurt no one. Keeps the merchants honest if they know ya can read and know yer numbers.”

  “I would imagine that’s true. So what’s the problem?”

  Lars put his forearms on the table and stared at Lorn as if sizing him up for an arm wrestling match.

  “Summa those kids ain’t there ‘cause they been sent. Ya git my drift?”

  “I’m not sure I do.”

  The mountain sat back in his chair and crossed his arms, glaring at the partners. Toby thought back to some of the conversations he’d had with his friend Terence during their short time together at the academy. Terence had said some cats had ended up slaves to apothecaries and gangs. It wouldn’t be too much of a stretch of the imagination to think human children ended up in the same situation. But this man seemed to be suggesting it was more than falling into bad company. The orange tom cocked his head to the side as he studied Lars.

  “Are you saying the Brothers are stealing children?”

  The man nodded. Toby looked at his partner, noting the bearded man’s frown. They turned their attention back to the large trapper.

  “That’s a serious accusation,” Lorn said, tapping the table, “Do you have proof?”

 
“Close ‘nuff.”

  “Care to explain?”

  “Found a lad wanderin’ ‘round the lower hills while I was trappin’. Half starved. Went to take ‘im to the Brothers thinkin’ they’d be better help than me. Kid turned pale and screamed. Begged me to kill him afore I took ‘im back.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Don’ know,” Lars said, shrugging. “Took ‘im back to my cabin. Fed ‘im. Gave ‘im an old shirt to sleep in that night. Kid was covered in cuts and bruises.”

  “From wandering the woods?” asked Toby. The man shook his head.

  “I know what accidents look like,” he said, rolling up a sleeve and pointing to a large scar on his arm. “These was made on purpose.”

  “Did the lad say how he got them?”

  “Nope. Didn’ ask. Kid was scared.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “Dead.”

  Toby blinked, his ears swiveling back in surprise. “Dead? How?”

  “Not sure. Passed in the night. S’pose he was just too far gone for a little grub to do any good.”

  Lorn put his elbows on the table and steepled his fingers in front of himself. “How long ago was this?”

  “‘Bout a week. Gave the lad best burial a simple man can. Came here soon’s I knowed a guardian was in the area.”

  The young man turned his attention to Toby. The tom could read his thoughts as well as if he had spoken them. He wanted to go immediately and start investigating. Toby shook his head slightly, they’re position at the OKG was tenuous at best. Probationary status seemed to follow them no matter where they went. At least when they were at the academy the head masters were pulling for them. Gillespie, their supervisor in the OKG, would gleefully show them the door and slam it behind them.

  If that happened it would be impossible to get another job within the government and any chance he had of finding his missing father would disappear. They couldn’t take a chance on an investigation without orders. No matter how much they both wanted to. Toby looked back at Lars.

  “I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do at this time.”

  The mountain man glared at the orange tom and pounded a fist on the table, making both of them jump.

  “‘Cause he’s a kid or ‘cause they’re Brothers?” he growled.

  Lorn took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Toby laid a paw on the young man’s elbow.

  “Neither. I assure you we will report this to the OKG as soon as we return. Unfortunately, we are not equipped to do a proper investigation at this time.”

  Lars continued to glare at them. Toby stared back.

  “Unless you have further information, sir, I believe we must bid you good evening.”

  For a moment Toby wondered if the man was going to move. He sat staring at them. The tom could see his jaw working, grinding his teeth. In one smooth move, he stood and turned toward the door. He paused with his hand on the knob.

  “I saw somethin’ there a while back. Wagon headed for the school with a cage on it.”

  “Anyone in it?” asked Lorn. Lars turned slightly to look at the partners from the corner of his eye.

  “Yeah. A big black tom.” Without another word, the man yanked the door open and walked through, slamming it behind himself.

  A mottled brown and black she-cat trotted through the office door. The brown tabby, sitting behind an enormous cherry wood desk, looked up. He frowned at the intruder.

  “What is it?” he snapped.

  “The visitors are here, your Excellency.”

  The tabby’s ears perked up and his whiskers splayed. “Excellent. Show them in. Show them in.”

  The she-cat turned toward the door, waving her tail at the waiting partners.

  “You may come in now.”

  A young woman dressed in a knee-length robe in High Council colors of blue and russet entered the office, her yellow feline companion perched upon her shoulder. The brown tabby smiled at the newcomers, then looked at his assistant.

  “Thank you, Janelle.”

  The she-cat bowed her head, then trotted out the office door. The tom pushed a small button on his desk. A pulley system hidden somewhere in the walls whirred to life, shutting the door behind the mottled feline.

  “Brother Hanif?” asked the woman.

  “It’s Father Hanif,” the brown cat replied, forcing his neck fur to lie flat and keeping his whiskers splayed into a smile. The young woman nodded.

  “I am Guardian Therese and this is Guardian Ophelia. I trust you know why we are here.”

  The brown tabby smiled at the partners again.

  “We were so pleased to hear that the High temple priest selected Our humble school for your visit,” he said. “Please, have a seat.”

  The woman sat gracefully on the offered chair. With a flick of her wrist, she floated over a nearby stool and extended her arm for her partner to descend. The tabby’s whiskers twitched at the blatant display of magic, but he said nothing.

  “We don’t get many visitors up here in the hill country.”

  “I’m certain you don’t, your Excellency” she replied, placing her hands in her lap and crossing her legs at the ankle. The human smiled thinly. The tabby’s whiskers twitched.

  “We’re given to understand you have some questions for Us?”

  “As you may know, the High temple priest has recommended that the temple schools take over the instruction of our younglings.”

  “Yes. We welcome it wholly as a beneficial move forward for humankind.”

  The young woman’s lips tightened and she glanced at her companion. The little she-cat’s ears twitched. The head temple cat’s whiskers clamped tighter as he watched the partners send each other skeptical looks. When the woman looked back at him, he forced his whiskers apart, setting his expression into benign fatherliness.

  “It may be,” she said. “We are here to ascertain the veracity of the priest’s words regarding how well the temple schools are doing instructing its students.”

  “His Holiness is most forthright in his criticisms as well as his praise, madam. We are sure you can trust what he has said.”

  “We are not here to discuss his character. We are only here to gather data for the High Council to use in their final decision.”

  The head temple cat swallowed a growl. “In that case, how may We be of service?”

  The human produced a set of papers from her robe, grabbing a charcoal stub from thin air. The tabby’s tail twitched, but he kept his expression serene.

  “Do you instruct your charges in basic letters and numbers?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do your charges have the option of learning increasingly complex usages of letters and numbers?”

  “Of course.”

  “Beyond basic and complex usage of letters and numbers, what other curriculum is taught at this temple school?”

  “Our students learn many things. Is there any particular subject you are interested in hearing about?”

  “We’re most interested in knowing what forms of philosophy you are teaching.”

  The head temple cat smiled inwardly. Now would come the questions he had been warned of.

  “Our studies are based on the most ancient of philosophy, as you call it. It is Our most Holy of Callings to instruct Our young in the ways of New Life, so they may be ready for New Eden. No one may enter His paradise unless that person has undergone Transformation, body and soul.”

  The young woman scribbled something down on her paper. The tabby’s eyes narrowed. When she looked up again, the cat blinked and forced his whiskers into a congenial smile.

  “Would it be accurate to say, then, that you instruct your students with the Followers of the One doctrines?”

  “We teach them t
he truth, daughter.”

  “And what of magic? Are students having magical talent identified early so they may begin training?”

  “Although We discourage the use of magic in Our hallowed halls, We can honestly say there have been no students who have displayed even a latent ability in the last few years.”

  More scribbling. The head temple cat’s patience was wearing thin, his tail tapping a soft rhythm on the desk.

  “We can see you are also a student of truth,” he said, startling the woman into looking up. “Perhaps you and your companion would better understand Our ways if you saw them yourselves.”

  She dismissed her charcoal nub back into the air and stared with narrowed eyes at the brown tabby. She looked at her companion, who gave a slight nod.

  “That is most generous of you.”

  “Think nothing of it, daughter,” he said, waving a paw in the air. He pushed the button on his desk and called out the open door to his assistant. She dipped her head to them when she entered. The head temple cat motioned to the partners.

  “Janelle, please take Our visitors on the special tour.”

  The mottled brown and black she-cat glanced sharply at the partners, then back at the head temple cat. She opened her mouth to respond, but closed it again with a snap as he glared at her. She nodded and motioned them to follow. The tabby called after them.

  “Be sure to introduce them to our field experts.”

  Chapter 2

  Toby locked the door behind himself. While Lorn would be the sole person likely to come into their room, he didn’t want to chance his human partner would discover what he was up to. They’d discussed — heatedly — whether or not to go to the temple school in the hills on their way back to make their report to the Office of Kingdom Guardianship.

  Toby had convinced his friend they should see what the OKG officials decided before taking off on their own, reminding him that this time the probation hearing wouldn’t be weighted in their favor. They didn’t have someone like Master Jalen or Master Meredith siding with them.