A Cat Among Dragons

by Alma Boykin

  “How long have you been my ‘concubine’?” Rada inquired, moving from her desk to the edge of the sleeping platform. “New topic—what do you think about the manor?”

  «I really like the hot spring in the basement,» Zabet started. «Central heat would be nice, but the wood and coal fires are fun in a primitive way. Food’s OK, I suppose, and the people here are decent. There’s not the backstabbing and nastiness I find with some of the Court servants. Are all winters this cold?»

  “No, some are much worse. The joys of a strongly tilted planetary axis,” Rada reminded her boss and the reptile considered, then nodded. They had already discovered that Drakon IV’s seasons were very seasonal indeed. Zabet and the Azdhagi throve in the hot summers, while Rada practically melted into a puddle of wet fur and bad temper. Autumn had been lovely, and this far north winter was cold and white, except during the new moons when it was cold and black.

  Rada scratched around the True-dragon’s round ears with one hand and stroked her throat with the other, making Zabet sigh with pleasure. «I think I’ll stay for a while yet.»

  The next day Rada and Zabet walked from Singing Pines house to the village. Zabet pointed to some bulky, placid looking reptiles standing in a covered pen near the village proper. «What are those?»

  “Supper next week.” Zabet sighed loudly at the smart aleck answer, but Rada insisted, “No, I’m serious. Those are shootee. They fill a niche here similar to cattle and other bovine grazers, without providing milk, of course. Steward Lokat says they will be slaughtered starting next week since they’ve finished fattening up and the meat will keep more easily then. During summer they graze up in the mountains, on the meadows, then come down in fall and clean up the stubble after harvest.”

  They’d been walking towards the village as she talked and a small but long bundle of cloth with steaming breath appeared on the path in front of them. It took a glance at the newcomers, glanced again, and ran for the village, calling “Meeesh, meeeesh!” Zabet shook her head in its fancy silk-lined hood. «Scaring the children already. You should be ashamed.»

  Rada started to protest, then stopped as a trio of adult male Azdhagi appeared from the edge of the settlement. One bowed, asking “Lord Mammal?”

  She nodded. “I’m Lord Ni Drako. Headman Xheel?”

  The heavyset reptile bowed again. “Yes, my lord. Welcome to Singing Pines Village, my lord. How may we be of service?”

  Rada thought for a moment. “If it’s not an imposition, Headman Xheel, I’d like you to give me a tour of the village, show me where the learning place, village hall, and temple are.” She’d rather poke around on her own but that probably wasn’t wise. Some Azdhagi responded poorly to the arrival of a sentient mammal.

  “Ah, certainly, my lord,” Xheel agreed, obviously a little surprised at the request. He turned and Rada and Zabet followed him. The other two males apparently decided that since she didn’t need their services they would go on about their business, leaving Xheel to squire their lord around. The village was compact, quiet, and clean, although the snow and cold could have been covering up a large number of olfactory sins, Rada knew. The every-other-sixt market was in progress and warmly bundled reptiles dickered over various goods, root vegetables and fancy breads that someone had baked for the upcoming Breakdark festivities. As usual, Rada and her concubine attracted a lot of attention and as usual they ignored it.

  As they strolled along behind Xheel, Rada stopped at the sound of raised voices. A male bellowed, “You stupid female! Now what am I going to do?”

  “You get your own beer for a change is what you’re going to do!” a female replied testily. “I’ve got juniors to feed and supper to cook. Get on with you if you want your brew!”

  The headman looked very embarrassed to see his brother-in-law (as it turned out) slinking out of the house with a beer-bucket hanging from his carry-harness. «So much for the patriarchy,» Rada sent to Zabet and was rewarded with a mental snicker.

  A clutch of juniors rounded the corner, laughing and snapping at each other’s tails. “No lessons, no lessons!” one of the older ones called, before the entire group screeched to a halt at the sight of Headman Xheel and the two strangers.

  “As you can see, Lord Ni Drako, the learning place will be closed for the next sixt in honor of the breaking dark,” Xheel observed loudly, obviously hoping the juniors would get the hint.

  Some of the older ones did, because they bowed deeply to the trio. A few younger juniors just stared at the first large mammal they’d ever seen and a high voice called from the middle of the pack “What’s the funny animal with the True-dragon?”

  Xheel cringed as Rada walked forward, leaned down, and identified the speaker. “I’m Lord Ni Drako. What are you?” she asked the long, low-slung junior.

  “Er, um, uh, I’m an Azdhag?” the very young reptile guessed, obviously spooked by the strange creature in the furry-hooded coat.

  “Good enough,” Rada decided, straightening up and stepping off to the side out of the juniors’ way. Zabet shook her head in amusement as Xheel shooed the group off.

  They stopped at the village temple and Rada made a small donation, but declined the invitation to enter. “I thank you, Headman Xheel. But your gods are not mine and I don’t want to accidently give offense to them, especially not at this time of the year.” He looked relieved and Rada smiled. “Thank you for your time, Headman. I won’t keep you any longer.”

  “Oh no, my lord! Please, is there anything else I can show you?” he protested.

  She shook her head. “No, truly, Headman. You have matters to attend to, as do I. My greetings to the village council and let them know that I’m pleased with what I’ve seen. A warm Breakdark to you and your family,” and Rada and Zabet turned to go.

  “And to you and yours, Lord Mammal,” Xheel replied, bowing low.

  The odd pair retraced their way through the market and Rada insisted on buying an intricately carved wooden flute. “Please, take it my lord,” the green male protested, but Rada refused.

  “No, your work and time went into this instrument and it won’t play well if the maker isn’t rewarded,” she argued. The craftsman made polite noises but accepted her coin at last. Zabet had already bought some steaming-hot spice bread and she let Rada have a piece as they walked back to the manor.

  «What do you think?» The True-dragon asked.

  Rada swallowed before answering. “I’m pleased with what I saw. Granted, things are cleaned up and prettied for the holiday, and winter robes can hide starvation and bruises, but overall things seem well run. The juniors were well fed and cheerful and no one acted hostile or scared.” The Wanderer chewed another mouthful of bread, trying to decide what it reminded her of. Oh, the flat bread with pictures stamped on it that she’d had on Earth back all those years ago; that was it. “Things look good for the moment and that matches the reports I’ve been reading. You?”

  «Seems cute and quaint, like something from a book of tales,» the reptile opined, her steaming breath making her look like an illustration out of dragon fiction. «Not many people there, though.»

  “Azdhagi don’t deal well with cold,” the mammal reminded her business partner. “Plus there’s a lot of cooking and work associated with Breakdark, or so I’ve been told.”

  «Mmpf» Zabet licked crumbs off her muzzle. «What are you getting me?»

  “Well, since his Imperial Majesty doesn’t want me going native, I’d planned on skipping that part of the festivities.” Rada walked a little farther ahead, then yelped as a soft-packed snowball splattered against the back of her hood. “Hey!”

  «Consider that the first round,» and Zabet flounced past the amused mammal and up the trail, her whiskers stiff with indignation.

  That night, Rada dimmed the lights in her quarters and opened an oddly shaped case that had been sitting in the corner away from the ceramic and metal stove. She flexed her fingers and claws, then settled the small harp on her lap and tuned it. After s
ome practice scales Rada started an easy melody, then worked her way through more complicated and faster tunes. Zabet poked her head out of the blankets and moved to a pile of cushions that she’d arranged into a nest near the stove.

  «I didn’t know you played!» she accused.

  Rada finished “Drifters Kay” and set the harp on the floor so she could stretch. “I haven’t in a while, silver dancer. But a noble is supposed to master at least one of the fine arts as well as the martial arts, so I’m going to get back into practice. I’m not equipped for calligraphy and let’s face it, there is no physical way I can perform the Azdhagi court dances even in my full-feline shape.”

  «True. And I just don’t see you spending hours on a painting or at the potter’s wheel,» the silvery-blue lump agreed. «Do you know ‘Stardancer’s Pavane’?»

  “Um, is that the one that goes,” and Rada began the stately tune. Zabet nodded, got up from her nest, and began dancing, as much as the tight quarters allowed. The dim light flashed off her talons as she gracefully twirled, folded, and wove in time to the music, ending up on one hind leg with her tail curled around that foot for balance, forefeet up like a cat. “Beautifully done, boss,” the musician smiled.

  «Thank you,» and Zabet returned to her cushions.

  * * *

  Rada and Zabet stayed out of the way as the servants rushed to finish their Breakdark preparations while simultaneously getting ready for Shi-dan’s arrival. He was not bringing either of his mates or a concubine, so that was a little easier, and the Prince Imperial had gone to a colony world as part of a fact-finding group. That it was the most primitive and rugged of the six colonies suggested to Rada that Bis-tahbi was not on his sire’s list of favorite people at the moment. She found the Prince Imperial more than a touch slimy, but kept that thought to herself.

  The morning before Shi-dan’s arrival a messenger klopped loudly on Rada’s office door. “Yes?” she inquired, noting the junior’s wide eyes and rapidly thrashing tail.

  “Lord mammal, there’s three True-dragons outside the gate!” he panted. “Steward Lokat wants to know what he should tell them.”

  Rada got up from her work desk. “Tell him to let them in, make them welcome, and that I’ll be there momentarily.” The reptile clattered off down the corridor and she heard a series of thumps and muffled swearing as he tripped and rolled down the treaded ramp leading to the ground floor. “I need to have a set of stairs built,” she decided as she put on her coat and made certain that her House insignia was visible. Rada poked her head into where Zabet was frowning over their accounts. “Relatives come to visit, boss,” she announced. Then the mammal picked up her walking stick with the ice-claw on the tip and sauntered down to meet her guests.

  Oh. I see why Lokat was confused Rada discovered as she looked up at the three very large reptiles. She’d gotten so used to Zabet that she forgot how big most True-dragons were. The visitors were at least three meters long and proportionally built. A crimson, winged True-dragon seemed to be the senior, and the blue-gray and metallic green-grey individuals stood a little behind her.

  Rada swallowed hard at the sight of her guests’ large talons and teeth, smiled politely, and bowed. “Welcome to Singing Pines, my lady, good sirs. How may I be of service?”

  The crimson head tipped up and down as dark amber eyes studied the Wanderer. «Thank you for your welcome. I am Parlori, Head of House Moytou. My cousins and I heard rumors of a new House Head come to live on our borders and decided to visit.»

  “You are most welcome, Lady Parlori. I am Commander Rada Lady Ni Drako, Head and War Lord, serving as Lord Defender of Drakon IV,” Rada replied formally. About that time Zabet skittered up, almost bouncing with excitement. “And this is my boss and business partner, Zabet of House Nagali, known as my concubine.” Zabet bowed a little, whiskers stiff with curiosity.

  The True-dragons reared up with surprise. «A concubine!» Rada sensed confusion, disapproval and a hint of revulsion at a True-dragon doing that with a mammal.

  Zabet walked forward and snorted. «Let me handle this,» she ordered and shifted to a private sending. The quartet discussed something and Rada watched the tail swings, ear movements, and whisker twitches intently, in case she needed to get out of the way or to come to Zabet’s defense. Although concerned, the woman was also amused that the three True-dragons had apparently never heard of or met a HalfDragon. Well, it was a big galaxy after all and not everyone traveled. The colloquy apparently ended to the mutual satisfaction of all parties because the True-dragons all turned and looked at Rada.

  Parlori’s body language suggested tentative approval of the mammalian House Head. «Our cousin Zabet says that you are honest, fair, and do well for your people. Good. We’ll come back when the King-Emperor is here, to give him Breakdark greetings and to trade. We have some pelts and leathers and metalwork to sell.»

  “I will let him know of your pending visit and bid you welcome to come whenever it is most convenient for you.” That seemed to be all that was necessary for Rada to say because the trio bowed a little and left. She noted how Zabet and the blue-gray reptile had been exchanging glances and wondered if Zabet would remember to use protection this time. Rada did not care to try and explain if her “concubine” suddenly became “great with egg!”

  Late that afternoon, Commander Ni Drako and the senior manor servants waited patiently while a large half-hover settled onto the landing area, sending up a cloud of snow. As soon as the local blizzard died away, the group approached the aircraft and two soldiers spread mats out in front of the door, then rejoined Rada. The aircraft’s passenger door slid open and King-Emperor Shi-dan stepped out into the cold as the welcoming party prostrated themselves and Rada knelt in the snow. The large, dark-brown reptile studied the group, then walked towards them. “You may rise,” he growled, proceeding down the shoveled and swept path towards the manor, his two guards following behind. Steward Lokat glanced at Rada, who nodded. The grey-brown reptile gestured with a forefoot and four servants trotted up to the half-hover and collected the King-Emperor’s baggage, while Rada inspected the other four Palace Guards who had accompanied Shi-dan on his visit, making sure they had winter equipment.

  The beast tenders had butchered the first of the shootee earlier that day and large portions of meat roasted in the kitchens, sending very appetizing smells filtering up into Rada’s office and quarters as well as filling the lower floor of the manor house. The mammal wondered what spices were being used and made a mental note to see if there were any complementary herbs and spices for which she and Zabet might apply for customs permits. She’d already decided to see about trying to import a small cheese batch, preferably something hard and flavorful like aged Peerqualo Black or maybe a Romano or Asiago like the ones from Earth. Nothing with live bacteria and nothing soft, but hard cheeses should be safe for import.

  As his Lord Defender contemplated commerce, Shi-dan looked around his quarters and decided that he was satisfied with arrangements. He’d taken the precaution of having extra bedding, robes, and floor-covers brought to help cover the cold stones. Someone had prepared a spicy shootee broth and left it warming on the ornate stove/heater in his quarters along with his usual teas, and Shi-dan’s body servant had a bowl waiting for his master almost before Shi-dan finished changing out of his travel robes. “Only an idiot doesn’t dress as if the aircraft might have a forced landing,” his cadet instructor had warned him back when he was the second son and “spare heir,” and the King-Emperor still heeded the noncom’s advice.

  After making certain that his soldiers were taken care of and getting a full report from Lokat, Shi-dan decided to combine a soak with talking to Commander Ni Drako. He knew more or less what she had been doing and that the manor staff and residents regarded her with some trepidation, even though she had not behaved as they assumed she would. That was part of their concern, that she didn’t seem to act like a noble “should.” Shi-dan smiled to himself. One reason he’d wanted Commande
r Ni Drako on Drakon IV was for just that reason—to unbalance and shake what his people thought mammals and aliens should be and do. After seven moon-months, Ni Drako seemed to be filling that role well and the King-Emperor was not displeased.

  The muscular Azdhag arrived at the soaking pool to find his Lord Defender waiting for him, as she should. He didn’t say anything, but gestured, and after a momentary puzzlement the mammal shed her clothing and eased into the cooler part of the large, modified hot spring. Shi-dan took off his embroidered robe and foot-covers and plunged head first into the hottest area, where the live waters emerged from the bedrock. He swirled around underwater, then walked along the bottom of the pool to where the mammal soaked. He studied her closely before surfacing, noting how her body differed from the pictures he’d seen of humans and felinoids. The woman did not seem bothered by his inspection even after he emerged in front of her, and she waited in silence for him to start any conversation.

  He settled onto a submerged bench, only his head above the hot waters. “You are thinner when wet, Ni Drako,” he observed.

  She nodded. “Yes, Imperial-Majesty. The water makes my pelt lose its fluff.”

  “Hunh,” he grunted. “What news have you for Us?”

  Rada was starting to grow accustomed to Shi-dan’s jumps in topic, if not comfortable with them. “Your Defenders need to get their tails out of the barracks more in winter. Warfare is not seasonal when one deals with interplanetary invasions, Imperial-Majesty, as you well know. And Lady Parlori, Head of House Moytou, called on the manor. She and her kin will visit after the Break of Dark, to give you their greetings and to trade.”

  The news did not please Shi-dan. His spending the year turn at Singing Pines should not have been known outside his inner Court and he wondered who had told the True-dragons. He launched himself off the bench, walking to the far end of the pool and back, then resuming his earlier seat. Rada remained where she was. “You may go,” he informed the mammal. She bowed slightly, then climbed out of the pool. Despite himself the king-emperor stared at her figure, amused at how her wet fur clung and dripped in a most undignified way. Rada walked behind some rocks to dry and dress and Shi-dan dismissed her from his thoughts.