The Blood Jaguar by Michael H. Payne

Author:Michael H. Payne [Payne, Michael H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Ficion
Published: 2010-08-13T04:00:00+00:00

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The walls got taller and taller, the flickering spots separating till only two remained directly ahead, mounted on either side of one of the towers. Soon Bobcat could make out the ridges on the tower, the arch of the gate through it, the smoke stains of the torches. Several thin figures were moving across the road before the gate--meerkats, Bobcat could tell, by their upright posture; four of them, it looked like. He couldn't tell if the meerkats had noticed them approaching yet, but when one of them gave a short yip and pointed its spear, he knew they'd been spotted.

Fisher just kept right on walking, so Bobcat followed her into the range of the torchlight, the wall now high enough to block out all but the peaks of the mountains. The meerkats had formed into a line, three with spears and wide eyes, the fourth in front of them, a cloak of rank around her shoulders.

Bobcat heard Fisher clear her throat. "Good morning!" she called. "Would any of you be the Raj Tevirye?"

"We would not." The one in the cloak stepped forward. "Who are you who asks to know?"

"Travelers," Fisher said, settling onto her haunches. "We've come quite a ways and were told to ask for the Raj Tevirye when we arrived."

"Were you?" The meerkat looked from Fisher to Bobcat and back again. "Well, I am the Raj's lieutenant. You will tell me what you want of her, and I will decide whether to bother the Raj with it."

"Parkash, no!" one of the meerkats squeaked behind her. "You mustn't! Do you not know these three? The Pads of Doom! They must be destroyed at once! At once!"

"Silence in ranks!" The lieutenant whirled. "I'll have none of that superstitious nonsense here!"

The meerkat who had spoken flinched, his claws gripping his spear, but he held his place. The lieutenant glared at the other two, then turned back, her eyes narrow. "Stay where you are," she said after a moment, then, over her shoulder, "Mekjir, fetch the Raj."

One of the meerkats gave a squeak, spun around, and scurried through the gate. The lieutenant remained in place, her arms crossed, but a steadily growing whimper from the two behind her finally made her turn with a growl. The whimpering stopped.

Bobcat settled down to wait, and after a few moments, another meerkat came through the gate, a darker cloak at her shoulders, a sword at her belt. She missed a step, Bobcat saw, her eyes falling on him and Fisher, and he tensed, ready to run in case anyone started throwing spears.

But the meerkat only hesitated for a heartbeat before continuing forward to where the lieutenant stood. "Parkash," she said, her voice quiet. "Some trouble?"

The lieutenant tapped a paw against her chest. "Three storybook characters here to see you, ma'am."

The whimpering started again, but another glance from the lieutenant stifled it. "So it would seem," the other meerkat said. Her eyes on Bobcat, she bowed. "I am the Raj Tevirye. I feel obliged to

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