Mark of the Cat and Year of the Rat

by Andre Norton

  “You try to tease, eh? One does not lightly leave service.”

  Kalikku faced the other directly. “I am of the house of Kaverel. We stand by our oaths. I did not give one to your leader, but I have to the August One as my father before me. Therefore I do not spy—”

  Kalikur’s lips flattened against his teeth. Kalikku tensed.

  “There are fangs for the flesh of a traitor, you of the House of Kaverel! So your father still rules you as if you never made the solo and gained true manhood. Look well behind you, Nothing One, payment awaits you from our leader.”

  Kalikku was already on his feet. Perhaps he should have prepared better for this encounter. But he stood by his sworn oath. Turning he made for the door, weaving a path through the crowd to avoid any immediate attack. He was almost sure Kalikur would not try that here—unless he called formally for a duel.

  He himself could besmear his name by betraying Kalikur to his father. However it would be his word against one said to be Queen Yuikala’s favorite. Also he must hold to what honor he had; without honor no man could claim warriorhood.

  Allitta:

  The carry chair met few pedestrians as we headed away from the fair. At last we reached a narrower way leading directly to our goal.

  Suddenly Kassca, who had been lazing upon my lap, sat up. Her head pointed to the dwelling ahead. Her ears flattened and the fur on her back and tail puffed up. I could feel and hear a deep growl within her.

  We reached the entrance door. The bearers the Captain had found were laborers but I knew she had chosen with care. They set down the chair as Kassca leaped to the wide stoop. She voiced a battle cry. I took a second look and saw what had aroused her so.

  The typical outer door slab was open. On the very threshold lay a pitiful bundle of torn fur in a spreading pool of blood.

  “No!” I cried out.

  The Captain was down on her knees by the sadly twisted body. I head oaths from the chair bearers. To kill a Kotti was one of the great crimes, for which there was a single answer—death!

  Kassca sounded another battle cry. Before I could reach her she was into the house. Was the murderer still inside?

  Captain Sanspar drew her sword. “Go you,” she snapped a quick order to one of the bearers, “for the city guards; bring the first one you sight—or if you come upon any of the Progress warriors, call upon them.”

  He was already on his way. I drew my sleeve dagger. That Kassca might be in danger too sent me after her in spite of the Captain trying to keep me from the house.

  I stumbled into an entrance hall where the walls were alive with carvings. It was somewhat dim, since only two bubble lights hovered there, one by the entrance and the other at the far end. There a door curtain hung half off its rod. The captain pushed past me to halt at the torn curtain, then used the point of her drawn sword to push it fully back.

  Another yowl from Kassca sent me past Sanspar. The room’s circular wall was not only carved but glittered with gems. On the floor a rug of Sand Cat skins had been kicked into a tangle. Half covered by it lay the body of a woman, face down.

  With the Captain’s aid, I rolled the inert body over. The flesh was still warm. The House Mate Jessely stared up at me open eyed. Heavy bruises were darkening her upper arms where her robe had been nearly torn from her body. Two deep cuts, one slanting across her right eye, had produced a mask of blood. Her mouth was open as if she had died screaming and from it her swollen tongue protruded. Around her neck was a cord twisted from one of the scarves I had seen her buy at the fair, puffed flesh nearly concealing it. She must have fought; her fingers were curled, broken nails red with blood.

  This was not the first time I had seen death. No one who has caravanned escapes such sights. But most of those had come from rat attacks, or some force of nature. This had struck the woman in her own home where she must have felt safe. Even when House raged against House in some private quarrel I had never heard of such savagery as this.

  Kassca drew back from the body. Her head high, she faced the door but did not yet move. Then I heard what had alerted her—a faint mewing cry for help. Kassca leaped—then she was on her hind feet clawing at a carven cat which was part of the wall. The whisper of a mew sounded again. As Kassca scratched at the wood, she turned her head to me and uttered a full voice demand.

  “In!” a thought not as distinct as Murri’s, but understandable.

  I went to the wall and knelt down to run my hands over the strip of paneling below the carving. Nothing was to be seen or felt. Stroking higher toward the cat I felt a line a fraction higher than the rest of the surface.

  There were voices, the sound of boots outside and the Captain was by the torn curtain.

  Hynkkel-ji:

  It seemed that we had been seated around this conference table for more than a day. There was a drift of parchment sheets at hand but I no longer needed to reach for any, having reached the point I believed I could recite by rote every word written there. I could only trust I had impressed upon my audience the seriousness of what we faced.

  My main subject had been the threat of water failure. And that had instantly caught their attention. Making a decision, which might indeed defeat me even before we were pushed to battle, I had disclosed the existence of the underground river in Valapa and the chance that it might be part of a wide system.

  It was my father, together with Alompra’s chancellor, who seized upon that. Yuikala was not far behind.

  “August One, you say that this lies beneath Valapa. Yet we are not in Valapa and only now you speak of it.”

  She was plainly hostile. Her heavily ringed fingers caught up a page of a report and twisted it.

  “There may be those in Valapa, Highness, who have had knowledge of this for long and kept it secret.” I met her eye to eye and I could feel her malice as plainly as if she cursed me openly. “If this net of water lines touches all the Queendoms then it must be uncovered. Our time is short and there are other dangers.”

  “I propose that we unite our forces, prepare for a coming attack. Once the warriors of each Queendom did march under a single banner. There was such a war as we still remember racked this land. Dark is once more arising. There are these great rats, more evil than any we have fought. They are fostered somewhere within the Plain of Desolation.”

  “There is proof of this?” My father asked.

  I indicated the pile of reports. “You have the latest news beneath your hand.”

  I had never been one able to influence others with words and I seemed to be failing now. However, I continued to assert that we must unite to face danger or be lost. No one Queendom could stand alone.

  As the hours passed servants brought hand food and melon wine. However, little was eaten or drunk. My father had been scrawling on the back of one of the reports, a series of notes as to what must be done to assemble such a force as I bespoke. More hours wasted away.

  Perhaps we might have kept on through the night. Only, when dusk gathered a shadow appeared behind the curtain of the large window and Murri slipped in.

  I was instantly alert as his warning reached me. “Trouble!” He came to my side.

  My father half arose. “What does this beast here?” He scowled at the cat.

  “One who aids us.” Never had I spoken so to him before.

  My back was toward him as I looked into Murri’s eyes. I had seen the great cat in many moods but never had I sensed such strong emotion in him before.

  Thought speech came swiftly. There had been a meeting between the outlaws and that which abode in Plain of Desolation. Also new enemies—monsters—man rats! The thought speech came so rapidly I found I must open my mind completely, no longer conscious of those around me.

  Murri had entered without any warning—now excited voices broke my concentration. The curtain was swept aside and two high officers of the Sapphire Guard came in.

  We were all on our feet. The newcomers awaited no formal permission to speak.

  “August
One,” the elder reported, “the High One has discovered a murder!”

  I was not even aware I had moved until my hand clamped about his arm and I actually shook him.

  “Murder—The High One—?”

  “August One, she wished to visit House Mate of Hrangle. We found her dead—strangled. Also one of the Kottis dead. The guards were summoned.”

  I did not even look at the others.

  “This conference is over.” With Murri several paces before me I was already on my way.

  Allitta:

  With the point of my sleeve knife I pried at the small fault, paying no attention to anything else. That piteous mewing grew louder. Some catch gave way and a small section of the paneling opened. Beyond was darkness and the pleading intensified.

  “Give me light!” I did not look around. One of the bubbles had been captured and was now held above my shoulder.

  I saw well enough to cautiously slip in my hand until my fingers closed upon fur. As gently as possible I worked to lift a small body and draw it to freedom. Then the full light showed me another Kotti. Plainly it was injured, though I could see no open wound.

  Kassca put forepaws on my knee so she could reach to lick the wounded one on the head. She made a strong effort to touch mind to mind. “Hurt—inside.” She reported.

  I handled the Kotti as gently as I could. “Where is the nearest healer?” I demanded of one in uniform beside me.

  He spoke to one in a Kahulawen uniform, sending him off at a run.

  “High One,” he asked—I judged him to be an officer of the city guard. “What has chanced here?”

  I was trying to hold the Kotti as still as possible. It had stopped mewing, and nestled its head against my breast.

  “I wished to see the House Mate of Hrangle,” I returned curtly. “We came to find a Kotti dead at the door. Then we entered to discover Death had been here also.”

  “Perhaps it was a thief who was surprised.”

  Perhaps yes. Still I was inclined to believe this had been a planned crime. Though I did not suggest this.

  The guard surveyed the richly furnished room. “You met with no guards or servants, High One?”

  “None. We came no farther than this room. My Captain was with me, and the chair men also, for upon finding the dead Kotti we feared evil might still be here.”

  There was another stir in the hall without. A stout man richly robed, his upstanding fur headgear askew, burst in, panting, his jowled face flushed. He stopped short, his eyes going from one to the other of us, then to the floor. Someone had flung a covering over the body but there was no mistaking that one lay there.

  “Who—”

  The guard stooped and drew away the cover to disclose the swollen and torn mask of what had once been a face.

  “Noooooo—” The newcomer’s voice became a scream as he clutched the robe at his chest and tottered, to fall on his knees beside the body and then collapse utterly.

  “Is he House Head Hrangle?” I asked.

  Again there came the sound of boots almost at a run. This time a woman in the gold-braided green robe of a healer joined us. She headed straight for the motionless man, went down beside him feeling for a pulse. Then she snapped open the bag she had brought with her. I smelled the invigorating scent of baylo as she waved a vial under his nose until he coughed and aroused.

  It was her turn to give orders. “To bed with him! I have warned him that his heart needs treatment. Perhaps he will now believe me.”

  She noticed the shrouded body and snatched away its covering. “What is here?”

  I heard her give a small gasp—“Jessye! How—?”

  “Please,” I raised my voice and she looked around. “This little one is badly injured.”

  The Kotti reinforced that with a small mew, which Kassca echoed. At once the healer was at my side holding out gentle hands for my burden.

  “What’s this?” The guard, who was in command, stood at the wall where the Kotti had been imprisoned. He knelt, thrusting his hand into the opening.

  “Kassca, my Kotti, heard the little one crying and guided me to that. It must be a place of safekeeping. But how the Kotti got into it I do not know.”

  He leaned forward pushing his arm within to the shoulder. When he drew it out he held in a tight grasp an oblong of what could only be gold. On its surface series of gems had been scattered—emerald, sapphire, diamond, topaz, and ruby—The five Queendoms.

  He regarded it with a puzzled look and put it on a nearby table. It was plainly a treasure, yet I had a suspicion that it might be more than just gold and jewels.

  CHAPTER 20

  Hynkkel-ji:

  This was no time for any ceremony. Paying no heed to anyone save Murri, I took to the street. If a tail of guards and courtiers were following me I paid no heed to them.

  Dusk was upon us and visitors to and from the fair crowded the streets. There were screams at the appearance of Murri and shortly I saw that I was flanked by the Commander of the Progress and Jaclan.

  Bubble lights had been released ahead and we pounded at a run to a dwelling where city guards were gathered. Even they scattered before Murri. I dashed in after him. The Sand Cat was already half through drifting rags of a door curtain.

  “Hynkkel!”

  Murri was already beside Allitta, his nose against her hand. But he was only a moment before me. I caught my foot in a tangled rug and more fell against her than embraced her. She steadied herself against my weight as my arms went about her.

  Nor did she try to deny me. Her hold on me was as tight as mine on her. I quite forgot in the moment that we were in company.

  “What has happened?” I finally caught my breath enough to demand. Turning a fraction in my hold but not enough to free herself, she pointed to a covered bundle on the floor. By that knelt a man in bright robes, his round face beslobbered by what only could be tears. A tall woman in healer’s garb was trying with the help of a guard to get him on his feet. Three other city guards stood by while the Commander and Jaclan were just inside the door.

  “The House Mate Hrangle-van-Jessley,” Allitta said, “has been killed. One of the Kottis also, and a second imprisoned in a wall.”

  “A thief?”

  “We are not yet sure, August One.” The nearest guard answered. At the use of my title Allitta slipped away from me.

  “I want to—” I began when the healer interrupted.

  “August One, the House Head is ill. He must be put to rest and treated at once.”

  “Let it be so.”

  I gestured to the guard assisting him to stand. It was plain the Healer could not handle him alone. His head wobbled from side to side and he seemed able only to whimper. With the aid of a second guard, both of them having trouble keeping him on his feet, they lurched toward the door.

  They had not supported him more than a couple of steps when the whimper became a loud cry. Showing unexpected strength, he twisted free, took another weaving step to snatch an object from the top of small table.

  Hugging it against his chest he turned. Now his face was a mask of rage as he began to back towards the door.

  “Essence blast you—murders—blasphemers—may rats gnaw on your bones!” his voice arose to a screech. Then he crumpled to the floor and lay very still.

  The Healer was instantly on her knees beside him. After a quick examination she raised her head.

  “He has suffered a severe attack. He must be tended now!”

  The force of her speech brought the two guards back to her aid and now together they carried him after her out of the chamber. At that final moment of collapse he had dropped the object from the table. Jaclan retrieved it and handed it to me.

  It was heavy for its size; it must have been solid gold. On the surface, not set in a pattern, were five large gems. I stared down at it and then understood. This was a map of the Outer Regions. I held it closer to the bubble light at the wall. Allitta was once more with me. Almost together we recognized a record
we had studied before.

  “The waterways!” She clutched my arm.

  I looked up. “Since the House Head is in no state to answer questions—who is there to speak for the house?”

  The city guard answered, “The House Head has no children, August One. There is a son to his elder brother; the brother is also dead. The son rides with the caravan guards and is on Trail at present.”

  I gripped the map tightly. If this were what we believed it to be, it had long been a secret. How did it then come to be lying openly here?

  “It was in the wall,” Allitta might have caught that thought even as Murri could do. “The second Kotti was trapped beside it. So it was discovered when we hunted for the little.”

  A secret of Hrangle House, however perhaps one known to the Sapphire Queen. Her guards would take charge now—she might come to claim what I held. But for the present I would keep this discovery.

  In a guest chamber at the Palace at Kahulawe.

  Yuikala lay on cushions while her personal attendant unlatched her slippers. The room was shadowed and she would rest before having to don court robes for the feast prepared to honor the Progress.

  Still her thoughts did not allow her the rest she wanted. This matter of waterways beneath Valapa—She waved the maid away and her lips twisted in a grimace. So, not only the barbarian meddled but also his slut shared the discovery. All those who had inherited that knowledge had been wiped out save the few who were accepted as safe. Haban-ji had believed all leads had been erased.

  He thought it was his chance to be more than a somewhat impotent Emperor. Maybe he wished to be a hero, should another water failure develop—as seemed to threaten now. That detestable Sand Cat! There was no getting at the barbarian as long as the beast was near. And by stupidly blurting out in company that there were possible hidden waterways—There would be those who would believe that this secret had been hers—and that she had kept it to increase her own power.

  The barbarian must be removed—but first—that cat. She had already sent for those eyes and ears that had so well served her over the past months.