Norton, Andre - Anthology (37 page)

 
          
 
I laid out the food I had brought and, while
she still waited, filled her water pan. She approached slowly and drank as I
stepped back. Then, as she moved to the food, I filled the pan again. Each
filling had taken a whole waterbag. Next time I would bring a third to leave
her a drink once I had gone. Or would that be dangerous? Should Tromar enter
and find water there, he would know someone aided. I wavered. If Tromar found
out any of this he might forget his purposes for me and choose another. I felt
sweat break out along my body at the thought.

 
          
 
I drank. The taste of the cold clear water was
wonderful, better than any I had ever tasted. The cub's scent changed as she
stood there. A sudden stench of terror and a picture. I swallowed a snarl as I
understood. The male who smelled of evil had used a female of this cub's clan.
Worst yet, he had taken the female unwilling and before my cub. It was this she
now feared. I forgot my hunger, moving to the bars, to utter a small soft purr.
I could not comfort her in the two-legs way. But perhaps she would understand
mine?

 
          
 
Lady Cat had stopped eating. Could she smell
my sudden fear? It seemed she might. In the shadowy light she leaned now
against the iron, her gentle purr vibrating in the air. I caught my breath. It
was like one of the old tales. Did she . .. was this to comfort me .. . could
she ... I stretched out a hand almost without thought to touch the thick soft
fur under her massive jaws. She continued to purr. I moved m a little closer,
the purr continued. It did bring comfort—and courage, too. If she could try to
comfort me, child of a different kind when it was she who was in greater danger
... I stroked slowly.

 
          
 
Finally I remembered Nurse waiting in fear in
our room above. I whispered a farewell and hurried for the panel, snatching up
my basket and waterbags as I fled. Upstairs all was yet safe and silent. But I
had been gone far too long so that poor Nurse had worked herself into a great
flutter. I sat down to tell her all that had happened. Once I ended she regarded
me thoughtfully.

 
          
 
“There are tales ..."

 
          
 
"I know but that's all they are—aren't
they?"

 
          
 
She shook her head. "No, loveykin. Not
all of them. Your great-great-grandmother met a Dravencat twice. And those
stories are true. I know, your father told me once that he'd read them in the
old archives. Both were written by your great-great-grandmother."

 
          
 
"You mean the tale of how one spared her
and teased her Nurse?"

 
          
 
"Aye, and the other of how she saved that
one's cub many years later. They also say, although she left no tales further,
that at times on moonlit nights she would leave the Keep to hunt beside her
comrade. It was she who gave us the law that women of our clan learn weapons
and have far more freedom than in other Keeps."

 
          
 
"My father told me that when I began to
learn the bow," I said slowly. "So the Dravencats are
intelligent."

 
          
 
"Not as we are, child. But in their own
fashion, so I believe."

 
          
 
I retired to my bed to think of that and,
still pondering, slept. Morning brought more scraps slipped into my hands as my
people passed. Night after night now I slipped silently down my secret stair.
Food, water, and also a quiet time just sitting beside the Lady as she ate and
drank. I knew now she would never hurt me. I could feel that she might even
have a small fondness for me besides the aid I brought. I remembered the tale
of my ancestor and wondered. She permitted such liberties as my gentle
stroking, my fingers digging gently into the thick fur about her neck to
scratch pleasantly.

 
          
 
I was still losing strength but not so fast as
my captors would believe. The evil one allowed me one pan of water each day.
About a quarter what I required so that even with the cub's contribution I was
always thirsty. Nor was the food she provided enough. I could have eaten all
she offered five times over. But I was young still and powerful. It would take
longer yet before my strength was seriously depleted. But I suspected there
might be little time. Twice now the two-legs who stank of evil had come to
stare at me. Twice, too, he had drawn markings with a soft white stone on the
floor.

 
          
 
The second time I had been left sneezing
vigorously. The stench had been unbelievable. I did not know what it was that
he had called, but there had been an answer of some sort. I lay back later
recalling the smell of the creature. It had been an odd compound of evil and
kio. But, distasteful as the kios were, they were not evil. Not those in the
High Hills; perhaps somewhere else kios partook of wickedness? I could not be
sure. I was sure that whatever was being urged into existence here was evil—and
far more dangerous than this stupid two-legs understood.

 
          
 
I returned that night from my usual visit to
the Dravencat to find Nurse weeping.

 
          
 
"What is it?"

 
          
 
I was told in a few short sentences. I was to
be dressed as a bride and made ready. At dusk the next night I would be sent
for.

 
          
 
"But no Priestess would agree?" I
stopped—no, that was true. Which meant Tromar must now be ready to try one of
those other paths I had once overhead him speaking of. I shivered. It might be
the last time I would have a mind of my own. The last time I would see those I
loved. I demanded fine food and for once it was allowed us. I ate well, forcing
the food down and a glass of the strong pale wine atop it all.

           
 
My father had once said in my hearing that one
should eat when one could. That if a captor was foolish enough to offer food it
should be accepted. Strength was more important than pride at-such times. So I
ate, drank, and then took up much of what was left. Leaving Nurse 'Standing
guard at an empty bath chamber door, I raced down the hidden stair. With the
cellars windowless, I must halt to light a candle, but with that showing me the
way, I ran lightly across the paving to empty the tablecloth before my friend.

 
          
 
I heard the rustle in the wall and was
waiting. Something must have occurred which the cub had not expected. She never
came by day, knowing that it was then my captors sometimes visited. This time,
too, she had food which was not scraps. A whole fire-seared chicken, lengths of
some sort of minced meat laced with herbs, and slices of some other meat doused
in a sauce. I ate it all swiftly as she sat watching. I could smell the terror
in her. For once, the food was almost enough. She had water also, and I drank
my fill. Then I sat waiting as she talked. I knew she did not think I
understood her language, and in truth I did not. But I understood more than she
knew from her movements and scent. And from that flicker of power which I
shared in pictures.

 
          
 
This time her fear and hatred was so strong I
could see more than ever before. There was the tiny bright picture of the gown
she must wear very soon. The picture of what had happened to the female of her
clan. The face of the evil man who held me prisoner. And over it all a wild
longing to be free of him, to save her clan—and me. Even in the midst of her
own terror she wished for my freedom along with her own.

 
          
 
Then, with a final hug, she was gone. I
accepted the thin arms about my neck. I touched her forehead with my tongue in
love and blessing, and I listened to the flying steps within the wall. Alone in
the dark of my iron cage and dungeon I bowed my head to the Bright Lady. Let
the cub live, let her be free. I who have never cared greatly for even my own
kind, beg for one not of my clan, kin, or blood. Twice I have mated and given
cubs to the clan. But not even they have been so dear to me as this small cub
who had fed me at risk to herself. With all my heart, all my being, I lifted my
mind toward the sky.

 
          
 
"Bright Lady, Moon Lady, aid the cub, let
her live free and not die in the hands of the Dark."

 
          
 
Then I lay down to wait. Something told me I
was to be present at whatever would happen. Somewhere I had a part to play.

 
          
 
I donned the gown brought and laid out for me.
The fine silk head-dress and soft leather shoes. I loosed the mass of my hair
that all should see whatever came I was maiden. But from Nurse I accepted a
short keen pin. Once it had backed a cloak-broach of my father's. Wrenched from
that it was near three inches long and needle-pointed. It would be a door for
me when all other doors were barred. I secured it to the nape of my neck
beneath my hair and went out, Nurse's hand in mine.

 
          
 
To my bewilderment only Tromar and his aide
awaited us. Nurse was brushed aside and I was hurried downstairs toward the
cellars. Nurse followed, crying. Outside the cellar door she was pushed away
roughly and the door slammed with her outside. I was led forward to see that the
inner cellar was ablaze with lamps. In the iron cage Lady Dravencat lay
sprawled as if too weak to lie more comfortably. Within I applauded her
cleverness. Looking at her, none would guess she was not almost dead from
thirst and starvation.

 
          
 
I saw them bring in the cub as I lay in my
abandoned pose. I had seen more earlier and now my fears for us both were
great. The evil two-legs had written much with the white stone upon the floor.
He had killed twice, the second time a male of his kind. Now the thing he would
give passage raged at the thinning barrier. He had power, strong power and I
had opened my mind to see the picture. I had seen and my fear risen with each
action and chant. The thing outside had offered him all he desired for a
doorway here. I had known two-legs to oft be foolish. I had never known them to
be so stupid they would believe a creature of the Outer Dark. If this one
gained entrance, all our World could be prey to its hungers.

 
          
 
As I waited, I had gradually come to believe I
could not be held for that doorway. But a doorway they must have. Only for a
short time, no more than days. Then the thing would be strong enough to break
free, leaving only a husk behind. Free to kill and prey on us all. I think I
had guessed who they would use before the cub appeared. But my heart wept as
she entered, small and brave. By the Bright One, she would have made a cub of
our kind to be proud of. I waited until she glanced my way, then half-opened
one eye. A tiny movement of her lips acknowledged me.

 
          
 
I smelled the filthy copper stench of blood as
I was hauled through the door. Nurse's tales came back with a rush. Of how long
ago before all the demons were driven from the lands, there were those who
offered sacrifices to them in return for power. So this was the other use
Tromar had for me. Well, at least it should be swift, but why did they have
Lady Dravencat, too? A sacrifice, but was there some reason it should be both
of us? I fought hard not to scream, to break down in terror. If I were the last
of my House, then I must act as its Lady.

 
          
 
I was dragged toward the wall and pushed into
a corner. Tromar glanced at the sprawled form in the cage.

 
          
 
"Get that beast out. Drag her over here,
but try not to spill any blood. The Dark One will want all of it when he takes
the brat for his."

 
          
 
His? I was to be a demon's ... a demon's what.
Bride?

 
          
 
A snigger from the other. "She'll not
last long with his spirit using her body."

 
          
 
"Long enough. Once he's used to this
World again, he can be rid of her. Then he will give us everything we
ask."