by Colin Forest
“So you’re here to save me?” he sneered.
Yes, replied the cat, springing once more in Oswald’s direction, opening its third eye.
“Oh no, I’m not going anywhere with you,” cried Oswald and he rushed in a blur towards the cat. Every time he struck at the cat, it disappeared in a golden light, only to re-appear somewhere else a few moments later. So absorbed was Oswald that he was taken completely aback by Octavius’s ramming his back. He flew off his feet and landed on his belly. Octavius pawed the earth and issued a threatening call. Every now and again, he lowered his head to display his magnificent, curved horns; but cloaked as he was by the glamour, he appeared as a nervous horse bowing his head repeatedly. The Spindle Cat appeared a short distance away beside Felina.
Oswald flew off the ground and before anyone could blink, he had his arms wrapped around Octavius’s throat. The muscles lining Octavius’s neck bulged as he fought against Oswald. Only Christophe could see the eight eyes squeezed tightly or a few scales falling to the earth; or his horns scraping against Oswald’s body. Christophe called the same spell he had used earlier and with a gesture repelled Oswald back. But Oswald’s grip on Octavius was firm, and when he was pushed back, he took Octavius with him. Octavius fell to the ground with a loud thump. With his head still locked in Oswald’s arms, he cried out in pain.
“No,” uttered Christophe.
He gave Oswald a cold look. Without warning, he began reciting words. His voice was clear and his pronunciation precise. With each word he uttered, Oswald appeared more confused. He released his hold on Octavius and staggered about looking for support. He shook his head a few times and blinked furiously. His cheeks puffed out like two bubbles of flesh as he exhaled hard.
“What are you – ”
He did not finish his sentence as Necronis came as summoned. Oswald felt Necronis’s presence in his body and although lightly dazed, he was still able to charge at Christophe. Christophe did not make any attempt to protect himself. Suresh, who had remained by his side, roared in warning. A little trail of spittle fell from Oswald’s lips as he pulled back his arm, fist clenched into a ball. His steps quickened, his feet barely touching the ground. Then quite beyond his expectation, they left the ground completely. He looked down, astonished. His legs kicked the air uselessly like the wriggling legs of a beetle which had been turned on its back.
“Now!” cried Christophe. Felina ran a few steps and scooped the cat into her arms. She then jumped on to Suresh’s back and leaped into the air; and at the apex of her trajectory, she released the cat. It sailed spinning through the air and landed on Oswald’s chest. With fangs bared, it reached for Oswald’s arms and bit into one of them. Oswald screamed but the cat did not let go. Seconds and then minutes passed with the cat latched onto Oswald’s arm. There was a struggle initially, with Oswald flailing his arm about him. The cat swung in the air, hanging on to Oswald by the grip of its teeth. Slowly, it wrapped its limbs around Oswald’s arm, extending its talons and planting them into his flesh. Oswald continued with his flicking motion but after a while, stopped.
Christophe continued reciting the words he remembered from the Noble Grimoire. He felt a chill move through him. It was the same sensation he felt when he had first recited the summoning spell. Although it eventually went away, he had recognised it as the first tentative encounter with Necronis’s essence. And now he felt it again. He stopped his recital immediately, and the chill gradually dissipated from him.
You can let him down now, the Ringmaster heard the cat’s voice in his mind.
Oswald’s body floated slowly down. As it touched the ground, the Spindle Cat released its bite.
“Necronis is gone,” said Christophe.
Excellent, replied the Spindle Cat. You have done well.
“Your plan worked, Arcanus,” said the Ringmaster.
“Thanks in large measure to you, Adam. You kept him airborne, and shared my plan. If it weren’t for your telepathy, I doubt we’d be having this conversation.”
“But why did you decide to summon Necronis?” asked Felina.
“If there’s one thing I can say about Oswald, it’s his single-mindedness. Summoning Necronis was the only way I could think of to divert Oswald’s attention from you all.”
“But you cast the summoning spell,” said the Ringmaster. “By rights, Necronis’s essence should’ve entered your body.”
“Normally, yes. But Necronis already has a minute portion of his essence in Oswald. And such a being would never suffer the loss of even the tiniest drop of power. So, I speculated that Necronis would be drawn to Oswald instead.”
“And he was,” gasped Felina. “You are brilliant, Arcanus!” And then she frowned, wondering, “But what happened to Necronis?”
I drove him away, answered the Spindle Cat, when I bit Oswald.
“And he came for me, but it was a simple matter then to just stop the spell,” said Christophe.
“Is every bit of Necronis gone?” asked the Ringmaster.
Yes, replied the cat.
“And are you still going to – ”
Yes.
The Spindle Cat then jumped into the air and cycled its legs. There was a shimmer in the air, and Oswald’s appearance began to change. His skin took on a golden tinge. When he opened his eyes, there was a difference in the expression on his face. He looked calmer.
“Oswald?” asked the Ringmaster, to whom Oswald turned. “Are you feeling better?”
Oswald nodded.
He lifted his arms and looked at them intently, turning them every so often. He looked down the collar of his shirt and muttered, “It’s golden.” He then looked up at the Ringmaster and pointed at his face with an enquiring look, to which the Ringmaster nodded.
The Spindle Cat sidled up to Oswald and hopped on to his shoulders.
It is time to go, Oswald.
Oswald got to his feet and looked around him.
Do not fear. We will be back. We have to retrieve Fanfer first. After that, there are sights to see. But, we will be back.
The Spindle Cat opened its third eye, and just before disappearing into the golden light, said to those gathered: a favour rendered is a favour earned.
Chapter 14: A Favour Rendered is a Favour Earned
Fotherington stood with his back to Christophe, looking out his window as he did when he had summoned Christophe to assign him the task of finding Kenneth Monckton. Fotherington was not happy.
“Are you sure, Christophe?” asked Fotherington.
“I’m absolutely certain. Mr. Monckton has been staying at Circus Infinitus since his escape from Lockwood Asylum, but he has been a disappointment to them. I heard that they found his act too mundane. The Ringmaster apparently then took pity on him and allowed him to stay until such time as he was able to fend for himself.”
Fotherington tightened his lips. “Very well. I shall relay the news to the administrator of Lockwood Asylum. At least someone will be happy today.”
Christophe cleared his throat.
Fotherington turned slightly. “What is it?” he asked.
“Mr. Monckton is completely lucid. Whatever malady that affected him is gone. I’ve personally observed him going about on his regular business. There was nothing out of the ordinary I can report.”
“Then what can you report on?” asked Fotherington irritably. “Is there nothing you saw at the circus to arouse any suspicion?”
“Nothing other than what you’ve observed yourself.”
Fotherington turned around completely. There was a deep frown on his face. He looked deep into Christophe’s eyes and said, “Nothing? You learned nothing in all the time you spent there? You were gone for more than a week! Perhaps I have been mistaken about you.”
Christophe said nothing.
“Perhaps,” continued Fotherington, “the resources at our disposal would be better spent on someone with greater hunger for success.”
Christophe returned Fotherington’s glare. “Perhaps
… there is something.”
Fotherington’s look softened a bit on hearing that. Christophe could see the hunger gleaming within Fotherington’s eyes.
“The circus travels in an unusual fashion.”
“How?” Fotherington almost slavered as he uttered that one word.
“I believe there is a machine controlled by the one called Professor Abacus which transports the circus in its entirety from one location to another instantaneously. That is why the circus leaves no sign of its coming and going. Regrettably, I didn’t manage to uncover the secret, but when I was there, I experienced such a move.”
Fotherington hung on Christophe’s every word, devouring every syllable.
“If you want to discover how it’s done,” continued Christophe, “I suggest you set your sights on the Professor.”
Fotherington sunk into his chair as he considered Christophe’s words.
“Thank you, Christophe. I can always count on your wisdom.”
Christophe gave a slight bow and left the room.
Christophe rode home leisurely after his meeting with Fotherington, mulling over the events of the recent past.
“Where am I?” asked Kenneth Monckton. He emerged out of the woods, dressed in ragged clothes but otherwise looked very healthy. Icarus plunged into utter speechlessness, the only sign of his discomposure being the balls of smoke which sputtered out of his chimney. The Ringmaster however, appeared calm. A little smile appeared on his lips when he saw Kenneth.
“Mr. Monckton,” he greeted. “How are you? Would you care to join us for a spot of breakfast?”
Kenneth looked confusedly at the Ringmaster. He turned his head back to where he came from a few times. “No. I … You …”
“Don’t be alarmed,” said the Ringmaster in a low voice. His eyes softened as he said, “I won’t hurt you. What happened before … won’t happen again.”
“You’re dead,” blurted Icarus, who finally found his voice. “We buried you.”
“It’s really him,” said Felina. “The smell is unmistakable.”
“What do you remember?” asked Icarus.
“I drowned,” he said. “And then, I woke up beside a mound of earth.” He looked from one to the other. “I don’t understand.”
“You are not alone, Mr. Monckton,” said Mrs. Frankenstein, who had joined them. “But I gather there are those of us here to whom you should be thankful for this second chance at life.” She passed her gaze over those gathered there, though her eyes lingered a while longer on the Ringmaster.
“A favour rendered is a favour earned,” uttered Christophe who looked on from within the shadow of the big tent. He caught the Ringmaster’s eye and he nodded once. The Ringmaster returned it and then resumed devoting his attention to Kenneth. A crowd of the circus folk gathered around Kenneth, marvelling at him, bombarding him with questions. He seemed to enjoy the attention, and before long, resumed the persona of the Great Kenneth Monckton, Performer of Miracles. As he regaled the crowd with his stories, his hands swept around in a flamboyant flourish.
“I’m so glad you’re back, Mr. Monckton,” Christophe heard the Ringmaster say.
Christophe drew the curtains of his drawing room. It was a room of modest dimensions, covered on three sides with floor-to-ceiling shelves, each one lined with books, so that it resembled a library. An armchair stood with its back to the window facing the middle shelf and the door to the room. A tray bearing a decanter of wine and a couple of glasses sat on a table by the chair. Christophe went over to the wine and poured himself a generous glass. Then he dropped himself into his armchair and took a small sip. A soft contented sigh escaped his lips.
He scanned the shelf opposite him for his most recent acquisition, and having found it, crossed the room to retrieve it. It was a nondescript book bound in black leather and was in excellent condition. When he returned to his seat, he turned the pages to where he had stopped reading the night before. The title on the page bore the heading: Nomadic Gods. Christophe resumed his reading and in the following pages found the section on the Spindle Cat. He could not help but wonder whether Marcus Noble knew the cat was a Nomadic God when he wrote the book. Seeing the page brought the cat’s parting words to his mind. “A favour rendered is a favour earned,” he muttered to himself. He gave a short bark of a laugh and said, “A favour indeed.” And draining his glass of wine, Christophe returned his attention to the Noble Grimoire.
Felina sat by Suresh’s side in his cage, grooming his pelt. There was a faraway look on her face, as she ran her fingers through his fur. As she did so, she hummed softly to herself. Suresh yawned and laid his head on his paws.
“Lazy bones,” she said.
Icarus was nearby, talking to the Ringmaster. “What?” she heard Icarus’s shocked tone. “You asked a favour of the cat?”
“Yes,” replied the Ringmaster. “It was an opportunity to make amends. Do you disagree with my decision?”
“Of course I disagree. You should never make deals with such beings.”
“I think you’re being too guarded, Icarus. Kenneth is back, isn’t he? And the cat’s intentions were good.”
“The cat is a god. And gods only want adherents, followers and worshippers. Good or evil has nothing to do with it.”
Felina roused Suresh from his stupor.
“Come Suresh. A walk would be good.”
They left the cage and headed towards the woods beyond the circus. Behind her, the sound of Icarus’s voice still carried faintly in the air. Icarus’s words settled in her thoughts, and she thought hard about them. Suresh walked by her side, occasionally looking up at her. His tail swished from side to side, and touched hers a few times. She coiled her tail around his playfully, and twined in such a fashion, the two of them proceeded deeper into the woods.
Felina, she heard in her head.
She looked about her. Suresh also looked about, purring softly. Out from behind the trunk of a large oak stepped Oswald with the Spindle Cat around his shoulders.
“Hello Oswald,” said Felina.
“Felina,” he said
“I thought you would not be back until you have rescued Fanfer,” she said.
The cat hopped off Oswald’s shoulders and approached Felina.
There is the matter of the favour you are owed. You have yet to ask for your favour, Felina. The other two have received theirs.
“There’s nothing that I want.”
There is always something, Felina.
“I can’t think of anything.”
Then take your time. When you are ready, call me and I will come.
“What do I call you? I don’t think the Spindle Cat’s your name.”
The cat meowed.
No. My name is Iovalitus. Call me by my name and I will come.
“How goes your plan to rescue Fanfer?” asked Felina.
Everything in good time, Felina.
“I’m still getting used to this,” said Oswald. “When I am ready, we will go for Fanfer.”
Felina nodded. “Take good care of yourselves in the meantime,” she said.
The cat meowed again and returned to Oswald’s shoulder. Then, the cat opened its third eye. When the golden light died away, they were gone.
“Till we meet again, Iovalitus.” And turning to Suresh, she said, “Come on, let’s go back.”
The End
“The Circus Infinitus – Embers from a Fallen Star” preludes the Spindle Cat and is a comic book available from www.stormpublishing.net.
Coming soon: “The Circus Infinitus – the Bidgee Code”.
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