Apprentice Cat: Toby's Tale Book 1 (Master Cat Series)

by Virginia Ripple

  The orange tom thought he’d die soon from lack of air when the family carriages began to arrive. The Hielberg carriage arrived first. Toby breathed a prayer of thanks as he watched Reginald leap into the dark interior. Lorn loosened his hold.

  “I bet he’s the one who created that explosion,” growled the orange tom.

  “I wouldn’t put it past him, but how do we prove it?”

  “I wish I knew.”

  “Was it just me or did that last bit seem like a threat?”

  “You mean about accusing one of the Houses? I think it was. It makes me wonder how far Gravin Arturo is willing to go to keep the reason behind my father’s disappearance a secret.”

  A dark shadow loomed out of the snow followed by the muffled sound of horses hooves moments later. Two black horses appeared from the thick falling snow pulling the worn-out city coach. Sitting in the driver’s seat, the dour man was wrapped head to foot in a large black cape. Toby shivered.

  “Do you believe in omens?” he asked as the coach pulled beside them and the driver slid the door open.

  “Nope. You?” Lorn replied, gripping the cat a little tighter.

  “Nope.”

  Neither friend moved. The driver turned slowly to look at them. He motioned sharply toward the cavern-like opening with his whip. Taking a deep breath, Lorn grabbed his bag and hurried to the coach. The driver’s bone white hand was the last thing Toby saw before they were enveloped in darkness.

  “Honestly, I don’t mind sleeping on the floor,” said Lorn.

  “Nonsense. What kind of hostess would I be if I made even a half-trained mage sleep on the floor,” said the black queen, casting scathing glances at her son.

  “It really isn’ no trouble, lad. Th’ Master keeps a spare cot ‘round jus’ in case,” said Mariam as she bustled about the cats’ quarters making Lorn’s makeshift sleeping arrangements comfortable.

  “I’m just sorry we haven’t better accommodations for the former grand master mage’s nephew. Had we been informed earlier, I’m sure we could have had something more suitable prepared.”

  Like a bed of nails, thought Toby as he watched his mother’s claws soundlessly knead the rug. He kept his mouth shut.

  “Adele,” said Master O’dorn from the doorway, “once you’re satisfied the boys are settled in, I would appreciate your help with that new remedy. The last of the supplies have just arrived.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  The black queen watched the housekeeper finish tucking the bedding on the cot. She nodded approval, dismissing the housekeeper, and rose unsteadily to her feet. As she neared, Toby caught a whiff of the sickness clinging to her fur. The young tom stiffened, alarm zinging through his body to his paws. He opened his mouth to draw the smell across his glands, wanting to be sure.

  “Close your mouth,” snapped the queen. Toby obeyed quickly. He stared at his mother.

  “It’s just fatigue and the smell of someone who works with sick people. Nothing more.” Without another glance, she strode past the orange tom. Toby stared after the black queen.

  “Do you think she’s lying?” whispered Lorn.

  “I don’t know. I don’t remember her ever smelling like that before, but I don’t remember there ever being a sickness this bad either.”

  “Master O’dorn would know, wouldn’t he?”

  Toby watched the young man dig his night clothes out of his bag.

  “Maybe.”

  “What’s the harm in asking him?”

  “Other than mother finding out?”

  Lorn stood, holding his night clothes loosely and stared at the young tom.

  “Toby, don’t pretend you don’t care. Go ask him. I’ll even come with you.”

  “No. You go ahead and get some rest. I’m sure mother will have more barbs to throw at you tomorrow. Best be well rested for that,” said the orange tom lightly, forcing his whiskers to splay in a cat grin. Lorn tossed his clothes on the cot, then bent down. Placing a gentle hand on his friend’s head, he stroked it.

  “Let’s go.”

  Toby blinked at him gratefully. Turning, he led the way back down the hall toward Master O’dorn’s work room. A soft knock at the outer door made the friends pause out of sight around the corner. They heard the soft footsteps of the master mage. The door’s hinges creaked.

  “Come in, my friends,” said Master O’dorn.

  “We’re sorry to bother you at this late hour,” said a soft male voice, “but we received news.”

  The door hinges creaked again. More soft footsteps accompanied by a set of paw steps retreated into the master mage’s work room. The door opened and closed. Toby looked up at Lorn. The young man’s brow was furrowed, a frown on his lips. He gave the orange tom a sharp nod. Together they tip-toed to the door and pressed ears to the wood.

  “What news,” came Master O’dorn’s muffled voice.

  “The sickness has spread to the other counties. The Temple has been attempting to contact the King to aid us in our fight against this tragedy, but we’ve been stone walled by the High Council,” said another raspy male voice.

  “That’s odd. I should’ve been notified about this by the High Council itself.”

  “Oh dear. We were hoping you had more information on what was going on,” said the first male.

  “I’m afraid not. It seems someone has seen fit to keep me out of the loop.”

  Toby could imagine the old mage’s scowl as he drummed his fingers on the table. He turned his head to smile at Lorn. The young man was standing rigid, looking at something in the room. Toby turned to see what had captured the boy’s attention.

  “Eavesdropping? I thought I taught you better than that,” growled Adele, tail lashing.

  “Mother, I –”

  “I don’t want to hear excuses. I want you to march in there and apologize.”

  “But, Master Adele –”

  “Now!”

  Adele lashed her tail and flung the door open behind them. Toby jumped. He looked over his shoulder to see Brother Jason and Brother Yannis standing with mouths hanging open. Master O’dorn quirked an eyebrow, straightening slowly beside the table.

  “Usually you scratch first, my little friend. To what do we owe this display?”

  “Spying,” said the black queen between gasping breaths. Master O’dorn hurried to the queen’s side. He ran a practiced hand over her sides. Lifting her chin, he gazed into her eyes.

  “Adele, you know you shouldn’t tax yourself like this.”

  “What’s wrong with her?” demanded the orange tom.

  The old mage gathered the black cat into his arms. He strode into his work room and gently laid her on the table. Grabbing a bottle of liquid and an eye-dropper from a nearby shelf, he walked back to the table. With the ease of one used to making reticent patients take their medicine, Master O’dorn forced Adele to drink the remedy. Toby leaped to a nearby stool. He watched as Adele’s sides shook with each labored breath. He could count her ribs. Her dull fur seemed to absorb the light from the fire in the fireplace.

  “She has the sickness, doesn’t she?” asked Lorn, quietly.

  “Yes,” said Master O’dorn.

  “Clarence, no,” said the queen through a wheezing breath.

  “He deserves to know the truth.”

  Toby jumped to the table and sniffed his mother. It was true. He stared into the old man’s face, seeing the new worry lines for the first time. He looked back down at his mother. Her eyes were closed. Her breathing shallow, but easier. Feeling drained from his limbs. He looked from one face to another, searching, though for what he didn’t know. Silence. He dropped from the table and slunk to his nest.

  When Lorn arrived later, Toby was curled into a ball, tail over nose, prete
nding to be asleep. He heard the young man ease onto the cot. A few moments later there was nothing but the slow steady breathing of sleep, something he wished he could have.

  Toby ran. The black coach careered toward him. Faster. Faster. He could feel the fetid hot breath of the black demons pulling the oversized coffin. The harder he pushed his legs to run, the slower he moved. He glanced back. The skeletal driver’s cape whipped in the wind. His bony hands reached toward the orange tom.

  Toby jerked awake. He lay in the silence, panting. He swallowed the bile rising in his throat. There’d be no waking from the real nightmare. He wanted to just curl into a ball and pretend reality didn’t exist. He settled for numbness instead.

  The young cat heaved himself to his feet. His legs felt wooden as they carried him down the hall toward the kitchen, a ritual he’d performed every morning he’d lived here.

  He wasn’t hungry. He wondered if he’d ever be hungry again.

  Without knowing how or why, he found himself at Master O’dorn’s work room door. He reached a leaden paw up to scratch. The door swung open at a touch and he peered inside. He could hear the wheezing breath of his mother accompanied by the gentle snore of the master mage. He turned to leave.

  “You may as well come in,” said Adele.

  “I don’t want to intrude,” Toby said, squeezing through the narrow opening. The black queen snorted. A coughing fit seized her. Toby rushed over. The young cat fervently licked her head.

  “Stop fussing,” said Adele when she could breath again.

  He sat back, studying his mother. He’d hoped his imagination was playing tricks on him last night, but now he could see it hadn’t. Her ribs still showed prominently beneath her fur, her coat as dull as cast iron. She stared at him through slitted eyes.

  “It’s not as bad as you think,” she said in a raspy voice.

  Toby opened his mouth to reply. A snort from the old mage made them both look up. Master O’dorn groaned and sat up. He stretched his arms forward, fingers laced, then slumped back in his chair.

  “Good morning, my friends,” said the old mage, rubbing his eyes with the fingers of his left hand.

  “Good morning, Master O’dorn. I hope I didn’t wake you.”

  “No. You’re fine. Has your mother filled you in on the diagnosis?”

  “She says I’m over-reacting.”

  The mage glared at the queen resting on the hearth.

  “That’s typical of her.”

  “She’s lying, isn’t she.”

  Adele glared back at her companion.

  “She is right here.”

  “Adele, we discussed this already. It’s time Toby knew the truth.”

  “What truth?” Toby looked from one stern face to the other. His mother’s wheeze filled the air.

  “He won’t thank you later for trying to save him. Do you really want to leave it like this?”

  The black queen growled. With a sigh she lowered her head to her paws. Master O’dorn smiled sadly. His eyes were full of compassion when he looked at the orange tom.

  “How long?” asked Toby.

  “At most two weeks, if it proceeds like it has in humans.”

  “Haven’t there been other cats who’ve gotten the sickness?”

  “A few, but Brother Yannis says they were already dead by the time they were found.”

  The young tom looked at his mother’s frail form. Her chest rose in shallow breaths through a hot, dry nose. He could see small drops of moisture at the edges of her eyes, the culprits of the darker tracks down her cheeks.

  “I’ve been giving her a strengthening remedy, but it won’t keep the sickness from overwhelming her, especially since she refuses to rest.”

  “You need my help. Without it more will die. We must find a cure.”

  “What if someone else helped you and mother rested?”

  “Assuming that someone was fresh and well trained, it could cut our discovery time down considerably.”

  Adele gave a coughing laugh.

  “And where do you expect to find anyone qualified who isn’t already whisker deep in this sickness?”

  “What if this someone had very little training, but was fresh and eager to learn?” Toby asked, ignoring his mother. There was a creak as the door opened wider. Lorn stepped into the room, head held high.

  “Make that two someones.”

  Master O’dorn smiled.

  “It’ll take longer than it would if they were fully trained, but I’d say no longer than it has thus far.”

  “Clarence,” gasped the black queen, “you can’t be serious.”

  The old mage turned a stern look on his friend.

  “I’ve never been more serious.”

  Adele looked around at their determined faces.

  “No,” she said.

  “Adele.”

  “No.”

  Toby’s ears flattened. He glanced at the master mage who slumped in his chair. The orange tom looked over at the young man who had leaned over the work table, hanging his head. He stared at his mother, trying to think of what to say. Adele swung her gaze to her son.

  “Not unless you test your remedies on me first.”

  Chapter 11

  Toby sat by the gazing pond. He stared at the frozen patterns, willing their feathered shapes into some kind of message. They ignored him. He watched the gray clouds float past in the sky, hoping for a sign. They refused to cooperate.

  “What am I supposed to do?” he asked. A twig snapped behind him. He swung his head around.

  “My apologies, my child,” said Brother Yannis. “I did not mean to disrupt your prayers.”

  Toby blinked at the tonsured old cat, then turned back toward the pond. The patterns remained unchanged. He gazed up at the clouds again. Still nothing. He heard the soft pad of paws as Brother Yannis turned to leave.

  “Why is she doing this?”

  The old Brother padded to the young tom’s side. He sat down and stared out at the pond.

  “There was a cat on his way to meet his master in the market. He lost his way and wandered into the bad part of the city. A gang found him and when he told them he had nothing of value to give them, they beat him and left him for dead.

  “A Church Father happened by, but crossed the road to avoid the half-dead cat. An Apothecary did as well. Later, a man who sold death drugs came down the road. Seeing the wounded cat, the man scooped him up and took him to a nearby mage. He paid the mage enough to see to the cat’s needs, both the remedies and his lodging.”

  The old cat fell silent. Toby waited, glancing at the Brother from the corner of his eye. Snow began falling. The fat flakes clung to the old tom’s fur, but he didn’t shiver them off, making the young cat wonder if the old Brother’s mind was wandering. Toby chirped to bring the old cat’s attention back. Brother Yannis turned his sharp yellow eyes on the young tom.

  “Do you know what The Priceless Measure is?”

  “It’s a moral code from one of the Books of the One,” replied Toby.

  “But do you know what it is?”

  Toby blinked in confusion. In the distance he could hear Brother Jason calling his companion. The old tom placed his ragged tail on the young cat’s shoulders.

  “Once you understand The Priceless Measure, you will understand what it is your mother is asking. Until then, have faith in the gifts the One has bestowed upon you.”

  The old cat padded away. Toby’s mind whirled with questions. He felt no closer to a decision. He stared at the pond, the snow piling higher on the frozen water. Still no answers there.

  He had faith in his abilities, didn’t he? But what about all those times he’d failed when she was tutoring him? This was no basic transference spell where failure would mean ink
y snakes under the floors. What if I do this and screw up? She could die.

  A rock of emotion lodged in his throat. He kneaded the frozen ground, tearing at the dead grass below the snow. He shook his head until his ears made a popping sound. Snow melted on his furry head and ran into his eyes, blurring everything. He blinked the water away. His vision cleared.

  He backed up a step. Adele could die if he failed. He backed up another. She would die if he did nothing. He turned and raced back to the house, his decision made.

  The apprentices watched as Master O’dorn sifted the ground willow powder into the boiling mixture. Toby mentally cataloged each ingredient and the amount used. He could hear the scritch scritch of Lorn’s pen as the young mage made notes. They had all agreed that the apprentices would observe and learn for most of the process, only adding their energy when the time came. Master O’dorn would prepare the remedy and carry the burden of focusing the magic.

  “That should do it,” said the old mage, giving the brew one last stir. He extinguished the flame under the small cauldron and ladled the mixture into two bowls. With a sigh, he looked at the young apprentices.

  “Now comes the challenge. Toby, I need you to spin a very fine thread of energy into a ball just above the liquid in this first bowl. See it as a walnut sized ball of spider silk. Think you can do that?”

  Toby nodded, already concentrating on the image.

  “Lorn, I want you to watch what I do with your inner eye. After this is done I’ll have you and Toby repeat the process on the second bowl to see how well you’ve comprehended the process. Ready?”

  Both youths nodded.

  “Then let’s begin.”

  The orange tom spun the energy into a ball. Master O’dorn captured the end of the thread as Toby clipped it off. The old mage wove the energy into something that looked like a shimmering net around the liquid. When the shape was complete, Master O’dorn paused. Toby looked at the man, using his inner eye, and saw that the old mage was examining the warp and weft of the magic. The tom felt a gentle tug on his mind as the master mage pulled them all into the close up examination. He watched silently as the old man shifted strands into better positions until he was satisfied.