Mark of the Cat and Year of the Rat by Norton Andre

Author:Norton, Andre [Norton, Andre]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Worldbuilders Press
Published: 2017-05-18T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 2

Hynkkel-ji:

Though dusk was a curtain outside the window before me, my duties were not over. There was still the feasting. The Queens, the major lords of each land who had appeared before me this day, would be the honored guests.

Honored guests—for one reason that had the sour taste of wilting algae for me. I had, after a goodly space of time, seen my father this day. Indeed he had been forced to the duty of swearing loyalty to me. He had worn his old uniform of a Commander of an army—an army long since disbanded—perhaps to impress on me the belief that I was not fit to meet him so. A son who was weakling by his measure—one who was no warrior—I must still be unfit.

We might never have met, by his attitude, the cold reserve with which he looked at me. I could only trust that at our short meeting I had displayed none of my own feelings.

My brother had not appeared, or else not chosen to swear faith to me. But I had seen Melora-Kura, my sister, and had arranged that she would come with my father for this feast.

The bubble lamps about the room were responding to the lessening light from without, their jeweled colors growing stronger. Somewhere one began to play a kifongg—a soft melody such as would lead a weary one to sleep.

My time now would be, I was sure, steadily occupied. However, I fully intended to follow my own path whenever I could. I thought about my needs. This, and this and this to be done now. It had been my intention to check upon Ravinga—and perhaps Allitta. But she was now well provided for. I had been startled by her appearance, for she seemed so remote, as if the rich garments she wore walled her from the Allitta I had known in the past, an apprentice to a doll maker.

I would somehow make my sister known to both Allitta and her former mistress. Melora-Kura; my hand went to my right wrist. When I had assumed this Imperial splendor early this day, I had been presented with a soft hide bag, one on the side of which was painted the symbol of our House. It had contained a wide armband with an intricate design using of the gems of all the Queendoms—the emerald of Twahihic, the sapphire of Kahulawe, the diamond of Valapa, the topaz of Azhengir, and the ruby of Thnossis. It seemed to me as I slipped it on that its touch held the warmth such as my sister alone had shown me. And the work was truly her best. This was my own; no other ruler had worn it before me and I intended to let Melora know just what her gift meant to me.

The chiming of the mobiles was growing louder. I shrugged to settle the weight of my outer robe firmly and strove to manage my train. Murri arose and blinked. At the other side of the room Akeea, the leopard, was already moving towards me.

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