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

by Virginia Ripple

  “Say that again.”

  Lorn lowered himself to Toby’s eye level, glaring at the tom. He leaned closer, inches between their noses.

  “Wimp.”

  Toby leaped, screeching. Lorn stumbled back. He screamed as the tom’s claws dug into his cheeks. The young cat felt the boy’s fingers digging into his sides, grinding into his ribs. He hissed.

  Stretching his mouth wide, he aimed for the human’s nose. Lorn’s hand gripped his head, covering his eyes. The tom bit the finger over his mouth. Lorn screamed again. The young man pounded the cat’s head. Toby’s vision swam. He couldn’t hang on.

  Lorn hit him again. With a thump, Toby came to rest against the far wall, breath heaving in and out. He scanned the room for the young human. Lorn lie on his side, facing away from the tom. Toby closed his eyes. He took a deep breath, then another. He opened his eyes and padded toward the boy.

  “Hey,” he said softly, gently prodding Lorn. The young man rolled onto his back and stared at Toby.

  “I deserved that, didn’t I?”

  “Yeah.”

  The young man groaned as he propped himself onto his elbows.

  “You okay?”

  “I think I bruised my hip when I hit the wall, but otherwise I’m fine. How about you?”

  “I’m pretty sure I won’t win any beauty contests any time soon, but I think I’ll live. Man, your claws are sharp.” Lorn gingerly touched his bleeding wounds.

  “They’re supposed to be.”

  “Yeah. Remind me next time not to call you names.”

  The young mage levered himself into a sitting position. He looked around the room. The table was on its side. The stool had been knocked into a corner next to the bed. The ceiling lantern was swinging, casting crazy shadows everywhere.

  Lorn reached toward a piece of cloth hanging from a hook nearby. He let his hand flop to his side. Toby flicked his tail at the cloth. It wiggled as if it wanted to obey, but remained steadfastly on the hook. The tom sighed. He shuffled to the wall and stood on his hind legs to snatch it between his teeth. He dragged the thing to Lorn who smiled as he took it and pressed the cloth to his cheek.

  “Should we clean this up?”

  Toby flopped onto the floor.

  “I’m too tired.”

  The partners sat in silence. Toby began cleaning the blood and skin from under his claws. He glanced at Lorn who had scooted back to recline against the wall.

  “Mind telling me what that was all about?

  “All what was about?”

  “Besides calling me a wimp? Let’s see, there’s the lie about giving copies to the head masters and keeping the originals for ourselves. Then there’s the fact that the cylinder you gave them was about half the size it should have been, not to mention tied with a purple ribbon. And what about not telling them that we asked a reference dragon for help to get the information you obviously didn’t give them?”

  “Caught that did you?”

  Toby stared at the young boy, waiting. Lorn tightened his lips into a thin line. He took a deep breath and blew it out through his nose.

  “All right,” he said, resting his head against the wall, “you want to know the truth?”

  “No. I want you to lie to me. Of course I want the truth.”

  “I need to solve this myself.”

  “Why?”

  “Most of my life I’ve been a nobody. Uncle Hecktor tried to tutor me when he could, but it just wasn’t enough to make a difference. Mother thought putting me in a class for gifted students would help. Father said it was too expensive for someone who wasn’t showing more than rudimentary skill.”

  “Ouch.”

  Lorn managed a strained smile.

  “Father’s solution was to bribe the local mage school to add one more student to its already over crowded class. It was a nightmare. Stolen homework. Hide and seek with the school bullies. Projects that would self-destruct moments before the teacher could grade them.”

  “How did you manage to make it to the academy?” asked Toby, staring wide-eyed at the young mage.

  “One night Uncle Hecktor caught me trying to do an invisible spell on my notes. I was trying to keep the bullies from stealing them again. He not only told me it was better to do it the non-magic way, but showed me how to do it. A few days later, he took Father aside and convinced him I should have a personal tutor instead of being in an overcrowded school.”

  “Did it work?”

  “Sort of. Father thought maybe the old man was right — that it would look bad for his business if his son had to go to a public institution, but he didn’t see the need to hire a first rate mage. After all, as far as he could see I wasn’t showing any promise.”

  “So you ended up with a second rate tutor,” surmised the orange tom.

  “Third rate, more like. We’d be doing a lesson and the old coot would fall asleep. In the middle of a sentence, no less.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yeah. Anyway, I did my best, but it was never good enough. Then Uncle Hecktor turned traitor. Father was dead set against me following in his footsteps after that. If Mother hadn’t seen to it that I was shipped off to the academy before Father returned from one of his business trips, I’d still be there, likely being apprenticed as a merchant instead.”

  Lorn fell silent. Toby stared into space, trying to imagine what the young man had gone through. He shook his head, making his ears flap.

  “We can’t do it, can we?” asked Lorn softly.

  “No.”

  “Then it’s over.”

  Toby stared at the scattered ashes. They didn’t have the skill or the energy, but he couldn’t just give up. He glared at the ashes.

  “Help me gather this up and put it in a box or something.”

  “Why? What are you thinking?”

  “We can’t do it, but I think I know someone who can.”

  Chapter 10

  It had been easier than Reginald had thought to lift the items he needed from the academy storage. Making the camouflage potion had proven more difficult to do by himself, but he’d managed. He could have asked his companion to help him, but he wasn’t about to share the glory with a human. No, if he was going to get back into Chivato’s good graces, he was determined to do it on his own. Reginald padded to the Commons and waited by the door for his quarry to come out.

  “Are you sure he’ll help us?” asked Lorn, holding the door for the orange tom.

  “No, but it’s worth a try.”

  “What about your mother?”

  Reginald fell in behind them, doing his best to move smoothly while staying just within earshot. Toby trotted alongside his human like a well-heeled dog. The orange tom snorted.

  “She’ll probably strip my fur from my skin for this.”

  “But will she help us?”

  “If we can convince her of what’s at stake, maybe.”

  “Maybe?”

  “Maybe.”

  The invisible tom was thankful the path to the residences had been cleared of snow. An extra set of paw prints following his quarry would have ruined everything.

  “Do you think she knows about the explosion yet?”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

  “That’s not likely to make her want to help us.”

  “Nope.”

  “So how do you plan on explaining it?” Lorn tugged his worn overcoat tighter, then shoved his pale hands into his pockets. Reginald sneered at the gap between the sleeve and the pocket edge. Toby ruffled his scruffy orange fur and sighed.

  “I doubt I’ll get the chance. She’ll know everything is connected.”

  “Won’t that make her want to get involved?”

  “You’d think so, but I think s
he’s scared.”

  “Of what?”

  “I wish I knew.”

  Toby stopped, glancing over his shoulder. Reginald held as still as he could. He cursed the snow that was beginning to fall. He watched as the orange tom scanned the area around them. Lorn waited quietly, a quizzical look on his face. The young tom began walking again, his companion falling into stride beside him.

  “What about Master O’dorn? Do you think he could talk her into it?”

  “Maybe.”

  “There you go with the maybe’s again.”

  “Yeah. I know.”

  “Well, let’s say they both agree to help and we get the — stuff — put back together again. Do you think we’ll be able to get it all figured out before the hearing?”

  “I hope so. The head masters weren’t very hopeful that finding that stick of incense would be enough to sway the arbitrators.”

  “I wish there were a way to prove you can smell things better than any other cat.”

  “So do I.”

  The orange tom stopped again and scanned the area. Reginald froze, wanting to growl with frustration. Lorn sighed.

  “What’s the matter now.”

  “You ever get the feeling you’re being watched?”

  The white cat’s whiskers clamped tight. How could that tom guess he was a tail length away? He glanced up at the human, trying to gauge his reaction to Toby’s question. Lorn narrowed his eyes. He looked around, turning in a slow circle.

  “I don’t see anyone.”

  “That’s the problem. Neither do I, but I can’t shake the feeling that someone is spying on us.”

  Toby’s skin shivered. He turned and stared back down the path they had taken. Reginald prayed the snow wouldn’t cling to his fur at that moment. He didn’t dare shake it off and reveal a tell tale shimmer. The orange tom raised his nose to sniff the air.

  “I smell Reginald.”

  “Where?”

  “Somewhere close. Give me a moment. The wind is making the smell shift around.”

  The young tom closed his eyes, his nose working. The white cat’s heart began to beat faster. Toby took a step closer. Reginald could almost feel the heat coming off the orange tom. A group of young humans and their felines raced by on a connecting path. The partners watched them run past.

  “There’s Reginald’s companion.”

  “Do you see Reginald anywhere?”

  The white tom jumped behind a hedge, said the incantation to reverse the camouflage spell and raced after the group. He glanced at the partners from the corner of his eye as he sped past. Lorn was pointing at him, smirking. Toby’s eyes were narrowed. Too close. That was way too close. The white tom wondered what stuff they were planning to put back together. Chivato would know. Whatever they were doing he was sure it wasn’t what his master wanted them doing.

  If it weren’t for the head masters’ leniency they would have been expelled already. They should be expelled. They didn’t deserve to be at the academy. But what else could he do about it? Reginald continued pondering that question as he ran toward the group standing outside his residence. The white tom’s fur bristled as he thought about what Toby and Lorn were trying to do. To smear the name of a House should be considered treason. Reginald slowed his pace. He saw a young girl lean toward the others in the group he was heading for.

  “Did you hear?”

  “Hear what?” asked another young man.

  “The Dastardly Duo have gotten a reprieve. The head masters have pushed their hearing back until after break.”

  “What rot. They should have been expelled immediately.”

  “Indeed. It’s not as if they belong to a House.”

  Reginald trotted up to his human, who bent down so he could leap to the young man’s shoulder. An idea sparkled into existence. Perhaps his comrades could aid him in his quest to get the partners expelled.

  “That’s not the half of it. Wait until you hear what they’re claiming.”

  Chivato sat, watching the black tom wash himself before the fire. It was a shame to spoil such a beautiful winter day with bad news, but Reginald’s message had to be passed along. Lifting his chin, he decided to get it over with.

  “It seems our little spies are getting outside help.”

  The black cat looked up at the gray tom, narrowing his green eyes.

  “From whom?”

  “They’re taking what’s left of the documents to Victor’s mate and her human in hopes they can put them back together and solve the riddle of Ribaldy’s poem.”

  “That is not good. Adele and O’dorn have been a thorn in our paw before, always shifting the sentiments of the High Council at the last minute before an ordinance for our freedom can be passed.”

  The black tom stared into the blaze. His tail lashed to and fro. In an eye blink he raised himself to a hunter’s crouch, his gaze intent on whatever it was he saw in the fire. He looked back at the gray tom.

  “When you first began your work, didn’t you create something that killed both human and cat?”

  Chivato cocked his head to the side.

  “Yes. I lost a good many servants during that time. It became difficult to explain why they went missing.”

  “Do you still have it?”

  The gray tom’s whiskers clamped together as he bared his fangs. The black cat shifted forward, his eyes narrowing as he leaned closer to Chivato. The master cat closed his mouth on the unvocalized hiss and drew back. The fire crackled and popped as the two cats stared at each other. The black tom turned his gaze back to the fire and returned to his crouch. Chivato exhaled quietly and curled his tail around his toes.

  “I always keep the various stages of my experiments. One never knows when one might need a previous version.”

  “Very good.” The black tom relaxed again, flowing back into a reclining position with liquid grace. Chivato narrowed his eyes at the black cat.

  “What would you like to do?”

  Slowly, the tom turned his eyes back to the gray cat. His whiskers were splayed wide, his eyes narrowed to mere slits. A purr rumbled in his throat.

  “Adele is such a lovely queen, don’t you think?”

  “I suppose.”

  “So clever. So regal. And to think she’s had to raise our little spy all on her own.”

  Chivato was silent, watching the black tom’s tail twitch rhythmically. He turned back to the fire.

  “We should send her a gift.”

  “A gift?”

  “Yes. I think you should alter your designs just for her.”

  “It will take time.”

  “You have until tomorrow morning.”

  Four days had passed. Winter-break was here and the partners still had found nothing beyond the odd stick of burnt incense. They’d resigned themselves to facing the arbitrators as they waited for the city coach.

  Toby huddled close to Lorn’s feet. He considered suggesting the young mage try making a small fire ball, but thought better of it. Several other students were gathered nearby waiting for their carriages, hopping from foot to foot and rubbing hands together. No need to give them a show. Snow fell softly around them, making it difficult to see beyond a few feet.

  Although he’d fluffed his fur as much as he could, Toby was still shivering. Melted snow dripped onto his head and ran into his eyes. He shook his head and hunched himself into a smaller ball. Hands grabbed him around the middle.

  Before he could object, Lorn popped the shivering tom into his fur-lined wrap. At first he stiffened, thinking he should demand to be put down. As the warmth of the fur and the young mage’s body soaked into his skin, though, he began to feel grateful. Toby wriggled around until he could poke his head out under Lorn’s chin.

  “By the O
ne! It’s hideous!” said a nearby mage.

  “What is it? A two-headed golem?” asked a cat in the same group.

  “It must be. They’d never allow anything like that to be a student here,” said another mage.

  “No, wait, I know what that is. It’s only the Dorky Duo.”

  Toby’s fur rose along the ridge of his back. There could be only one cat with that silky voice.

  “We know Master Ribaldy was a crackpot traitor, but tell us, Toby, was your father as inept at creating magical bonds with a human as you are? Was that why he was a loner?”

  Toby growled. He braced himself against Lorn’s arms to spring at the white tom.

  “Ignore him,” whispered the young mage. “Remember what’ll happen if we cause any more trouble.”

  “I’m not the one making trouble.”

  “Yeah, but do you see anyone here who’ll agree with that in front of the arbitrators?”

  Toby growled again, but settled back into the young man’s arms. He purposely kept his eyes and ears forward as they continued to wait for the city coach.

  “I hear they’re claiming that someone else set up the explosion in their room,” said a young woman in the group.

  “I wager they’ll say this mysterious someone dropped a stick in their room and Toby’s excellent nose just happened to sniff it out,” said Reginald. Toby’s ears twitched. He wanted to demand the white tom tell them how he’d come up with that idea, but Lorn’s grip was tight enough to squeeze the air from his lungs.

  “Likely it would be a stick from one of the bushes outside the building. I wouldn’t put it past them to suggest one of the teachers was in on the whole thing,” added the white cat.

  “Sounds like something a traitor and a coward would come up with,” said a young tom with a snort.

  “Indeed. So long as they don’t start accusing the Houses, I say let them bury themselves in their lies.”