"But I think that you're right, brother," she said. "There's a good chance that you may be onto something. Too bad we can't really take advantage of it. There are only three of us. Four, if you count Dolanna. Actually five, if we let Dar into our little group. And Dar hasn't yet managed to touch the Weave."
"There may be something we can use, Kerri," Tarrin told her. "When I got swept up into the Council's circle, the stress put on me suddenly lifted. I was still being flooded, but I could almost control it. I shunted most of what I couldn't control onto the Council, and that left me coherent enough to understand a few things before the circle was broken."
"What broke the circle?"
"I did," he said. "The Cat in me doesn't like the sensation of joining consciousness. It attacked the circle's bonds as soon as they formed, and it broke them before I could really get a handle on what was going on. I think it was an instinctive reaction. With some practice, maybe that part of me could accept a circle."
"We're not going to experiment, Tarrin," she warned. "I have a fondness for my own tail."
"I'm not asking you to, sister," he assured her. "But you're the smartest of us. If anyone could think up a way we could use this information, it's you."
"Not without a better understanding of the subject," she said emphatically. "Maybe a visit to the library is in order. They have to have a couple of books on circles there."
"That's always an idea," Tarrin agreed. "But that'll have to wait."
She nodded. "We have bigger whales to hunt tonight."
"I'll take care of it, Princess," Miranda said demurely. "I know where the library is. I'll find the books you'll need."
"Thank you, Miranda," Keritanima told her sincerely. "You're too good to me."
"Someone has to be, Princess," she said with a disarming smile. Tarrin glanced at Miranda, and he caught a very slight little smile.
"Be careful, Miranda. You don't have appearances on your side here."
"What does that mean?"
"My younger sister, Jenawalani, she's a mink too," Keritanima told him. "That let Miranda get through the palace at home a little easier. They look nothing alike, but from a distance, it's hard to tell them apart."
"My tail is longer than Princess Jenawalani's, and her coloring is more gray than white," Miranda told Tarrin calmly. "And she's shorter than I am."
"And she's ugly, where Miranda always has the eyes of the young men," Keritanima said, which made Miranda's cheek fur ruffle slightly. A Wikuni version of a blush. "Sisska, be a dear and escort Miranda tonight. She's starting to attract attention, and the rather unpleasant deaths of few of my spies means that I have to start protecting the important people."
"It will be as you command, Princess," Sisska said in a deep, rumbling voice. A voice that was not even remotely female. Now that he looked at them, he couldn't easily tell Binter and Sisska apart by anything other than scent. Binter's crest was larger than Sisska's, and she was shorter than him, but they weren't very apparent distinctions. They were equally muscular, and there were no real physiological differences between their genders. No, Sisska was a bit slimmer than Binter, but she was still awesomely muscled.
"Deaths? You mean there were more?" Tarrin asked.
Keritanima nodded. "Three," she replied. "All of them were my spies at court. Someone's trying to undermine my operation, and now I'm not so certain that it's Jervis. Ahiriya has her own people, and I have the feeling that it's her."
"How can you tell?"
"Because wanton killing isn't Jervis' style," she replied. "He prefers to buy off enemy spies and turn them into double agents, because he has such a large budget to work with. Ahiriya is reputed to have a heavy hand. Eliminating the opposition is more in line with her way of doing things. It also makes sense. Jervis doesn't care what I know, because it's not his job to keep me in the dark. He's just here to keep an eye on me, and use his information network to search out and remove threats to my safety. In that respect, Jervis works for me. But Ahiriya has a very real need to keep Miranda from finding out what's going on, and then taking steps to protect me, or passing that information on to Jervis. Right now, Ahiriya is probably doing everything she can to disrupt both my and Jervis' operations, because they both represent a threat to the interests of the Tower. I don't doubt that a few of Jervis' men have also turned up dead. I'm waiting for him to get his daily reports, so I can confirm that."
"Sometimes you scare me, Kerri," Tarrin told her.
"Why?"
"It's almost frightening, how smart you are."
She gave him a shy smile. "I'm glad someone appreciates me," she told him.
There was a knock at the door, and Binter opened it to reveal Allia. "I am sorry I am late," she said in the common tongue, scurrying in. "Alloran would not let me leave until I master multi-flow weaving. I am exhausted."
"It's not easy, is it?" Keritanima asked in Selani.
"Not remotely," Allia agreed. She sat down on the other side of Miranda, who put aside her embroidery and began to listen to them attentatively. Like Tarrin, Allia accepted Miranda and the Vendari without question. They trusted Keritanima's judgement.
"Miranda, I need the plans," Keritanima told her.
"Yes, your Highness," she said calmly, standing up and retreating to the communal closet linking Keritanima's room with hers. She returned as Keritanima moved over to the bed, and helped the fox Wikuni spread them out. On the large rolled parchment were detailed plans of the T shaped building known as the Hammer Cathedral. The hammer and scales were the symbol of Karas, and they had built their main cathredral in that shape and places a huge sculpture of a set of scales at the head of it to honor the god.
"Alright, this is our target," Keritanima said in a brusque, businesslike manner. "There are three rooms that we'll have to check out. Here, here, and here," she said, pointing to rooms within the "heads" of the hammer shape. "These two are linked by this secret passage, but we'll have to cross the cathedral's open passages to get to this one. We'll enter through this servant's door here," she said, pointing to a door in the left branch. "We should be able to reach the secret passage that links to this room easily and without attracting attention. We'll check out these two rooms, then go through these secret tunnels so that we have the smallest amount of open area to cross," she explained, tracing her clawed finger along a series of dashed marks that ran through the cathedral's walls. "That will put us in the third chamber without putting ourselves at too much risk. After we're done, we leave through this servant's entrance," she concluded, pointing to a door that mirrored the one through which they wound enter. "Tarrin will carry our loot. I'll take point, and Allia will bring up the rear. We'll use your little trick to get over the fence, Tarrin, but Binter will be there when we return to help us get our loot onto the grounds quickly."
"You think you can manage landing after I get you over the fence?" Tarrin asked.
"I'm not a china doll, Tarrin," she said with a teasing smile. "I may look like a little slip of a girl, but I know how to land after falling some distance. Trust me. I'll be fine."
"I have worked with her on the field, Tarrin. She is capable," Allia assured him. "She is much stronger than she appears."
"Why thank you, Allia," Keritanima said to her with a grin. "We'll leave on the first bell after sunset. Dress in clothes suitable for sneaking around."
"That's it?" Tarrin asked. "That's the plan?"
"That's the plan."
"I thought it would be more complicated."
"The simpler a plan is, brother, the easier it is for it to succeed," she told him patiently. "Our only real danger is getting caught out in the open in the cathedral. For something like a simple break-in and theft, I hope things will go smoothly and easily. They have priests and acolytes up and moving at all times, so we'll get our share of excitement." She looked at Miranda. "Did you pack my skulking clothes?"
"I'll have them ready for you, Highness," she assured her. "I've also got the sacks you asked fo
r. They're in my clothes chest."
"What would I ever do without you, Miranda?"
"Let's hope you never have to find out," the mink said in a lilting voice, a gentle smile on her face.
"Indeed," Keritanima agreed with a toothy grin. "Alright, we'll meet on the Knight's field on the first bell after sunset," she told them.
"I'll be there," Tarrin assured her.
"As will I."
"Pray to your Goddess, Tarrin," Keritanima told him. "We may need her help before all is said and done."
"I thought you said this would be easy."
"I said I hope it will be easy. I'm a cynic, brother dear. I'm sure something will come along and ruin my elegant little plan. It's best to be ready for it now, than scrambling to cover it when it happens."
"Things should go well," Miranda assured them. "It's such a simple plan that it can't help but to succeed. I'll have the books you want here when you return, Highness."
"Is everything ready for us?"
She nodded. "The tents you asked for are where you wanted them to be in the maze. I had some trouble getting the waterproof chests in there without arousing suspicion, but they're waiting for you as well."
"What do we need those for?" Tarrin asked.
"We have to put this stuff somewhere, Tarrin," she replied. "We can't very well just stick in our rooms. Nobody ever goes into the courtyard, and nobody will disturb it if we hide our booty in there. Put it in waterproof containers and throw some good waterproof canvas over it, and it'll be just fine. A good thief is as ready to dispose of his loot as she is ready to get it. The longer you hold stolen goods, the better chance others have of pinning the crime to you."
"That makes sense, I suppose," Tarrin said dubiously, noticing the bright, eager look in Keritanima's amber eyes. She liked stealing things.
"Trust me. I've done this before."
"That's what scares me."
"You," she said, slapping him on the forearm.
"Is she like this at home, Miranda?" Tarrin asked the mink curiously.
"No," she replied. "She's worse."
"Miranda!"
"It's the truth, Highness," she shrugged. "You don't have to do all the things you do. I can do it, or find someone to do it for you. You just enjoy the game."
Keritanima gave Miranda a withering look, then she laughed ruefully. "Alright, alright, I do like being a sneak. It's much more entertaining than listening to my father's teachers rant about history and etiquette, and it keeps me ready for Jenawalani and Veranika's assassins." She looked to her maid again. "Do you have my diversion ready?"
Miranda nodded. "They'll never know you left, your Highness," she assured her, scratching her little pink button nose absently.
"What diversion?"
"Oh, just a squad of Royal Marines getting into a very nasty brawl," Keritanima said with an evil smile. "They'll provide us with a good ten minutes to get out of here unseen."
"You're scaring me, Kerri," Tarrin said.
"What?"
"Is there anything you can't arrange?"
Keritanima laughed. "I couldn't get the Keeper married," she said with a wolfish smile. "So I guess there are some things that I can't manage."
"All in all, deshida, I prefer her having the skills," Allia said with a slight smile. "She makes it much easier for us."
"True enough," Tarrin agreed. "I think I want to get something to eat before we go."
"Dar is waiting for us anyway," Keritanima shrugged. "Let's go eat. We have a long night ahead of us."
Miranda halted Tarrin as he left behind his two sisters, and he stopped to see what she wanted. "Watch her," she said in a low voice. "She sometimes loses her head on these little excursions. She can be too impulsive. Keep her focused on the plan."
"I will," he promised. "Why don't you come with us and eat? There's always room for one more."
"Maybe next time," she said with a cheeky smile, a smile that enhanced her almost insufferable cuteness. "I have some errands to run."
"Well, alright. Hope they go well."
"Oh, they will," she said with a smile, letting Tarrin leave the room. She looked to Binter and Sisska, and they all traded a calm, knowing look. Binter moved with surprising quiet as he moved to shadow the Princess, keeping an eye on her, and Sisska closed the door behind him. "We have much to do, Sisska," she said in a calm, businesslike tone.
"Much," the Vendari agreed. "Her Highness needs us, and we must help as we can."
Miranda sighed. Keritanima would not be happy about this. "Do me a favor and go get Jervis, Sisska," she said. "It's time that we had a little talk."
"It is about time," Sisska said bluntly, picking up her massive two-handed axe and setting it on her shoulder, then going out the door. Miranda bolted it behind her, fingering a small dagger she had at her belt.
Ahiriya was becoming an inconvenience. Jervis would listen to her, Miranda was sure of it. They may be at odds from time to time, but at the moment, they were working towards a common goal. She was sure that Jervis would agree to her little plan to get at the truth.
The truth was all that mattered.
Keritanima had taught her well, and unknown to her Royal employer, Miranda did alot more than she would ever know. Talking with Jervis wouldn't be the first time that the cute little mink Wikuni had acted outside her employer's knowledge, but it was always for Keritanima's good. Miranda took Keritanima's well being seriously. It was her duty, it was her role as protector, friend, and confidante.
It was her reason for living.
To: Title EoF
Chapter 17
There was a bit of anxiety wound up in what they were doing, but on the other hand, there was also an undeniable excitement about it.
Tarrin sat sedately on his haunches in the sand near one of the posts, his eyes scanning the dim, misty night, a night that promised frost. His small cat body blended with the shadows of the post, making his sleek black fur blend into the night and turn him into nothing but a pair of intense green eyes. Heavy clouds dimmed the usual light from the moons and Skybands, clouds that helped keep the warmth of the land trapped against it. Clouds that would only work in their favor. Humans had long adapted to the light of the Skybands at night, and when clouds covered the land and threw them into total darkness, they had a great deal of trouble seeing. Even with torches and artificial light. But to Tarrin's night-sighted eyes, the landscape was illuminated by light that the human eye couldn't see, or was too dim for it to use. The field and grass were painted in black, white and gray to his eyes, for it was too dim to see in color, but that black and white view of the world was every bit as sharp as it would have been if the sun was shining down on him. He could see Keritanima's stealthy approach, her feet not even disturbing the grass.
As could Allia. His sister was behind the post, keeping watch. She wore a pair of black trousers and shirt that Miranda brought to her at sunset, and her bright silver hair was bound into a black cloth and tied into a wrapped tail behind her. Her dusky skin helped her fade into the murky shadows. Allia's eyesight was her most dangerous weapon, for she could read an open book from one hundred paces away, and her night sight was just as acute as Tarrin's was. She was shepa, Scout, for her clan, for her unusual eyesight wasn't normal for her people, but did occur with enough frequency for the Selani to have a special word for her type.
Keritanima was an entirely different person. Gone was the meticulous dress and carefully groomed appearance. She wore black trousers, shirt, and boots just like the ones she had sent to Allia, and large leather bracers were tied around her forearms. A black cloth was over her head, with holes cut in it for her fox ears, and her russet hair was tied at the tip of its tail to keep it behind her. Where Keritanima looked soft and pretty before, she looked sleek and deadly in her skulking garb, for it clung to her slim form and accented her in ways her dress never could. Also gone was the vapid expression of the Brat, or the calculating expression of the Keritanima he knew. In its place was
a woman with dancing eyes, fully enjoying the danger to come, who moved with the grace of a cat even while those amber eyes took in everything around her.
Tarrin shapeshifted absently as she reached them, and her gloved hands started moving in the Selani Code, the hand-language her people had developed. That put Allia back on her heels. The Selani didn't teach that to outsiders. -Alright, are we all ready?- her hands asked.
– How did you learn that!- Allia's hands asked with a snapping motion that betrayed her disbelief.
– Sister, there's very little that the Wikuni don't know,- Keritanima replied with a smirk. -I was taught the Code at the same time I was taught the spoken tongue. It was so I'd have an advantage when dealing with Selani.-
– That's quite an advantage,- Tarrin noted.
– This is the first time I've ever used it. I was afraid I was getting rusty.-
– You are,- Tarrin noted.
She glared at him. -Let's move. We're on a tight schedule.-
One thing Tarrin had to admit. She may be a Princess, she may be smart, but she moved like Allia. Keritanima's flowing movements made absolutely no sound, and her flowing style produced no sharp movements that tended to attract the eyes, even when the eyes couldn't see. That she could alter the very way she moved, seemingly at will, was yet another example of just how remarkable she was. Keritanima was always graceful, but the perfect ease in which she moved without making a whisper of sound made her grace in a dress look like a cow trying to two-step by comparison.
They reached the fence without incident, having to wait for a few moments for them to move between the roving patrols, and they moved with quiet, efficient stealth. Tarrin first heaved Allia up and over, then tried to be gentle as he pushed Keritanima's foot as she lept off of his boost. But he realized that there was no reason to be gentle with her. She landed on her feet on the far side of the fence, then expertly tucked in and rolled through her momentum to prevent injury. She knew what she was doing.
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