The Adventures of Caterwaul the Cat (27 page)

“But I know what the queen will do to me if I do not follow her orders. Servants quickly find themselves to be ex-servants, or worse.” Orris thought of the castle's former chef Elias and the hair. It made him giggle for only a second, and then he was dead serious again.

“Let me get this straight. You were ordered to cut off the tail of the white cat, correct?”

Again the chef nodded.

Well then, it seems that we need to make sure you have a white cat to work with.” Caterwaul smiled. “You just leave that to me.”

Pudding arranged for Muse to travel with a procession on her journey to Cathoon Castle. The furry, brown cat had two reasons for this. First, there was still the possibility that the Felinos were out there ready to cause mischief, and second, she believed that anyone traveling to visit the queen should travel with an escort. It was just the classy thing to do.

When Muse left the village for the castle, she did it in style. In her entourage, she brought a friend of Pudding's to dress her, as well as the brothers Juan and Feliz to serve as her protection. It was understood by all that the brothers would only escort her as far as the castle gate, but they felt that this was the least they could do considering what Caterwaul had done to help them in the battle against the Felinos.

Besides, both Juan and Feliz were completely smitten with Pudding, and they would do just about anything to keep her cousin safe, especially if it meant showing off their bravery.

The trip to Cathoon proved uneventful. There were no ambushes or attacks of any kind. Feliz was disappointed. Like most fighters, he liked to keep his skills finely honed. He was expecting, or hoping, to be jumped at least once along the way. Nevertheless, Muse was ecstatic the journey went off without a hitch.

Up ahead, they could see the walls of the castle. Though it was still a good distance away, Muse knew it wouldn't be long before she would see her cherished Caterwaul. She smiled and called to increase the party's pace.

In the great room sat the queen. She was dressed in her royal finest. Caterwaul had never seen her dressed so formally before. She really looked regal as she approached him on the day of the feast. Her dress was made of the choicest golden silk from the east, and on her head she wore a crown adorned with the most beautiful and ornately carved gems imaginable. This was to be a day for the ages.

“It won't be long now,” she said to her cat companion. “Your Muse will be arriving soon. I certainly hope we have done all we can to fulfill her expectations.”

The queen seemed genuine in her goodwill, but by now Caterwaul knew better. He now knew she had the ability to slip in and out of character at will. It was the way she used people—and cats too, it seemed. There was nothing at all sincere in her appearance. Caterwaul found it just a bit too creepy. He wondered if there ever had been any love in her at all, whether their entire time together had been a sham.

The black cat shook his head. He wanted to believe he had meant something to the queen, but in the long run it didn't matter. Her plan to drug them was exposed. He continued to play along with Druciah for as long as he could stand it.

“You have removed the spell from the mirrors?” she inquired.

“Of course, my queen,” he replied. “I am your dedicated servant.”

It was about teatime when Muse arrived at the castle. Caterwaul met her at the drawbridge. She was even more beautiful than he remembered. He thanked Juan and Feliz for their help in escorting his lady friend all the way from Harsizzle and offered them a room filled with food and water in which to rest. They eagerly accepted this hospitality; neither of them had been to a castle before.

Muse was very glad to see Caterwaul. He looked strong and rested. All of the wear and tear he'd absorbed back at the old windmill was gone.
He really is a handsome cat
, she thought.

“You must give me the grand tour of your home, my love,” she begged, grabbing him tightly by the paw. He was delighted to again be with her. As she dragged him forward, she was giggling. Dinner was more than an hour off, so Caterwaul figured he had the time to show her at least some of the sights.

He took her to all of the places he'd redesigned. He brought her to the solarium where they stretched out on the many plush pillows strewn all about. Then they went to the maze of hedges he had planted in the yard and watched the birds as they ate and drank at the special feeders he had designed.

Muse could not believe her eyes. Every room they ventured into came alive with swirls of color and wonderful textured fabrics. Every one of them was filled with various cat playthings. She could see that he'd been right when describing it to her back at the old windmill. This place was a cat paradise.

He showed her rooms designed as testing grounds for cats to improve their strength and conditioning. There were balance beams and vaulting horses. Finally he brought her to his favorite spot, the bridge above the koi pond.

As they sat together on the bridge, their legs dangling over the ledge, he told her his wonderful plans for the future. She beamed at him because, as she'd hoped, those plans included her. She sweetly slid her arm over his shoulders, kissed his cheek, and purred contentedly.

“Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined this place,” she whispered to herself. Cathoon was all he had promised her and more. She was the luckiest kitty in the entire world.

The sun was starting to go down. Caterwaul flicked a dangling paw at one of the huge goldfish below and said, “I believe that it just may be dinnertime.”

The table in the royal dining hall was beautiful. It was long and opulent, made of brilliantly carved polished hardwood. On top of it were placed three sets of plates and the appropriate silverware for a five-course royal feast. Caterwaul sat at one end of the table and the queen at the other. Muse sat next to Caterwaul on his right. She was shaking with excitement. She could hardly believe she was here.

“How was your journey, young Muse?” asked the queen. “Not too difficult, I hope.”

“Oh no, your majesty,” Muse answered. “It wasn't difficult at all. The weather was wonderful and the scenery magnificent. We had no trouble making excellent time along the way. But then I had some excellent escorts who knew how much I wanted to see Caterwaul again.”

Muse looked down the table to where the queen sat holding a glass of wine.

“And you also . . . your majesty. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the generous invitation.” The queen acknowledged her respectfully with a smile and a nod.

Then Muse continued, “Your home is the most wonderful place I could ever imagine; yet for years, everyone has spoken of this place with horror.”

The queen, unused to criticism of any kind, became agitated.

“Yet as Caterwaul told me, and more importantly, has shown me, the fears and concerns of Harsizzle are obviously unfounded. Every part of your castle that my love has shown me is incredible. I say to you, my queen, that you have been portrayed unfairly. I consider it my duty to tell the world they have been wrong about you.”

Druciah grinned with the impression of gratitude. “Thank you, Muse. My association with Caterwaul has helped me to grow more than I ever could have imagined. It is because of him that I have allowed my home to be opened to things I never could have imagined.” She hid her disgust regarding Caterwaul's “improvements” masterfully.

“You, my queen, are a true friend of cats everywhere.” Muse curtseyed to Druciah with honest respect.

Orris brought them the first course at a quarter after six. It was a delicate creamy soup made with mushrooms, root vegetables, and some type of shellfish. The smell coming from the terrine was heavenly. Both Caterwaul and his companion were in awe. Orris was a truly gifted man in the kitchen.

Muse dipped her spoon into the bowl and withdrew a huge piece of what must have been crabmeat and popped it into her mouth. For a few seconds, she felt slightly ashamed. This was truly a soup for royalty.
Nobody eats like this in Harsizzle
, thought Muse, as she licked her lips and cleaned her bowl of every drop.

Then she thought,
there is no need for me to feel guilty.
After all, she had been invited, and so, she would make sure she enjoyed every morsel of this fantastic meal. Next came the salad course and, about ten minutes after that, the “officially designated” appetizer.

Caterwaul did not usually care for salad. But this one was topped with tiny, delicate anchovies. Caterwaul gorged himself on the little fishes, while leaving the greens and other vegetables untouched. Muse, a much more civil and lady-like diner, savored the offering in the manner in which it was intended.

The appetizer was a stuffed and roasted pigeon breast. Though for Druciah, this was of appropriate size, for the cats it proved to be enormous. Caterwaul and his date each tasted a few mouthfuls, but then they retired it. After all, there were still two more plates to come.

As the entrée was delivered, Caterwaul noticed that in the back of the dining hall, a doorway opened and two of the queen's guards entered, pushing between them a large mirror covered by a silk spread. It was the mirror from her private chambers.