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PrincessВ cat
Natalie Yacobson


Brendan ran away from his royal uncle and pretended to be a wandering minstrel. Already at the beginning of his journey, frivolous fairies had predicted him that he would marry a monster. Brendan wandered into an enchanted castle, home to a scratched beauty and an elegant but clawed princess, who for some reason hides her face under a veil.





PrincessВ cat



Natalie Yacobson



Translator Natalia Lilienthal



© Natalie Yacobson, 2023

© Natalia Lilienthal, translation, 2023



ISBNВ 978-5-0059-6992-7

Created with Ridero smart publishing system




Jewels and claws


This castle is incredibly difficult toВ get into. But is it easy toВ escape from here? Tobias glanced at the rope ladder thrown down from the window ofВ the not-too-high tower. The end ofВ it was less than five meters from the ground. Yes, he was inВ trouble! He would have toВ use the normal entrance instead ofВ the window. Fortunately there were no guards except the statues. He would have been arrested with aВ sack ofВ stolen jewels, and they would have quartered him for sure.

Tobias tried to shove the diamond tiara he had just noticed into the bag as well. It wouldn’t fit anymore. The sack was already filled to overflowing with jewelry, and his pockets were stuffed with gold coins minted from the Kingdom of Cats. At least that’s what Tobias himself had called the country. In the old days it had been called something else. Now it was called Grapevine-land, because the country was covered with grapes and roses. A pretty maid told Tobias that a cook had once tried to sneak away with a basket of stolen oranges. Vines supposedly caught the boy in a net and tore him to pieces.

«The road to Cat’s Castle is paved with the bones of those who have tried to come here, and soaked in the blood of all those who have been invited and escaped from us,» confided the pretty former chaperone of the local princess at dinner. «If you go out into the wasteland behind the castle and look closely, the sand there is mixed with human skulls and body remains. You’ve come to a dangerous place. Only supernatural beings are welcome here, but you’re an ambassador. Ambassadors have to be let in.»

Tobias remembered waiting under the gate for nearly three days and three nights before they took pity on him and let him through. The gate itself resembled the mouth ofВ aВ mythical beast. On the chains ofВ the winch lived mischievous leprechauns that taunted anyone who wished toВ enter. AВ strange whisper seemed toВ emanate from the vines on the ramparts. Or so he thought from the long wait. What were the castle dwellers thinking? He could, after all, get sunstroke or die ofВ dehydration. The only well near the castle was rotten, and some water creature had taken up residence inВ it and filled the ambassador with riddles. It was she who first called the kingdom the Cat Kingdom. Tobias understood why only when he met the scratched beauty who had been acting as both steward ofВ the castle and maid toВ the princess.

«It’s a dangerous place; deserted, saturated with magic,» she explained, studying the royal seal on the message Tobias had delivered.

«So why don’t you move to my suzerain’s court?»

Tobias liked the pretty brunette much, despite the scratches on her shoulders and neck.

В«IВ wish it were that easy toВ leave,В» she sighed as if the horses and carriage house were never inВ the castle.

Tobias at first mistook her for a harmless lunatic who’d read fairy tales, but in time he realized that it wasn’t that simple. It was as if the devil himself had taken up residence in the castle. Feline portraits of the ruling dynasty were interspersed with human portraits. The tapestries were torn apart by claws. But the royal coffers were full of jewels. And it was not Tobias’ fault that he decided to rob the castle. Here he had been treated in a way that could not have been done otherwise.

He shoved the sumptuous tiara into his tunic. The caftan swelled with it. It was hard toВ breathe. The diamonds chilled his chest as if his heart were frozen inВ ice.

No matter how hard one tried toВ take all the treasure with him, he could not take it all with him. There were too many treasures piled inВ chests and forged chests. And there were many more glittering crowns on velvet pads inВ the depths ofВ the treasury. Tobias looked at them with great regret. He had more than he could carry.

That’s it, it’s time to get out of here, and the royal regiments should be brought here to put all the cats on leashes.

Tobias grinned at his plan. Maybe it wouldn’t turn out so easily. But the troops would deal with the local population far better than he would alone. There would be no peace.

The greedy ambassador reached for the glittering ruby crown. Why didn’t he think of putting it on his head and throwing away his inexpensive beret? With what he could get for the cat’s jewelry, he’d buy up all the velvet of Aluar instead. Tobias’s fingers were on the verge of reaching for the coveted crown when nimble, hard claws scraped across them. And how sharp they were! Tobias howled in pain. His little finger and middle finger had been replaced by ragged stumps.

Cats didn’t scratch like that. It wasn’t a cat, either. Cats’ claws weren’t the size of human fingers, and they didn’t wear sleeves with lace cuffs.

Finding out who had maimed him was as inappropriate as protesting. He was the thief here, not the assailant. Tobias dashed away, dropping rings and bracelets from his overstuffed bag along theВ way.

It was aВ good thing he had spotted the marble staircase that spiraled down into the garden from the parapet ofВ the tower where the treasure was kept. It was as if it had been specially made for thieves. The architect here was excellent. He planned everything for the benefit ofВ burglars.

The steps led up into the night garden, into a thicket of lavender and balsam. The smell of the flowers was suffocating. But there were no guards in the garden. But the gardener’s gate must be there somewhere.

The jewels fell out ofВ the sack as often as if holes had been made inВ it. Tobias stepped on aВ dropped ring, lost his balance, and fell. He fell, and his foot was sorely stabbed, as if byВ knives or claws.

The bag fell out, its glittering contents scattered in the flower bed. He couldn’t get all that expensive things together fast enough. And time was running out. Tobias couldn’t see the pursuit, but he could sense that something was moving behind him. Only the vines that braided the wall had changed position. It happens! Suddenly they looked like snakes.

Several vines were wrapped around his legs and arms. This was no joke. The vines twisted his limbs like ropes. There was blood on the skin beneath them. Maybe the myths about plants eating fugitives weren’t fiction.

В«The claws ofВ masters wound thieves toВ death!В» There was aВ lady inВ an opaque veil, and she was already standing there, as if she had sprung up from the ground.

В«No, IВ am not aВ thief. IВ am an ambassador,В» Tobias hissed, and felt the vines sink deep into his meat.

«Silence,» the lady held a hand mirror up to his face. In it, Tobias could see how badly his cheekbones, nose, and chin were scratched. That’s why it hurt so much.

He would have liked to see the lady’s face, but instead of a face she showed her claws. These claws would have cut him to death. They are as long as a stiletto blade.

В«Thieves find death here,В» the stranger almost chanted.

Tobias believed her eagerly. Especially when the white, sharp claws, somewhat reminiscent of a cat’s, darted toward his throat. The crown had long since fallen from his forehead, but the message from the local princess to the king was still in his pocket, rolled up like a tube. It looked as if it would remain undelivered.




The Wandering Minstrel


«That’s it! I’ve had enough! I’ll live by myself! To wander the roads and earn my living by playing the lute!» With pathos proclaimed Brendan.

The cat inside the crown purred and rolled onto its side. It became his favorite pastime toВ curl up inside the large royal crown. He was like aВ king who sleeps inside aВ symbol ofВ his power.

It was a pity to leave the Bastard. But here he would be taken care of. All his antics are tolerated, because he is a cat of a very rare breed. He’s also the cat of the king himself.

«Come on, let’s say goodbye, kitty!» Brendan reached out to stroke him, and he did so in vain. The proud cat awoke only to scratch his mate’s palm with all five claws.

«Oh, you… they don’t call you Scoundrel for nothing,» Brendan blew on his palm, but the pain didn’t subside.

What was it the royal wigmaker used to say? Royal property must not be touched without asking. But the white fluffy Aluar’s cat named Scoundrel is also, after all, royal property. They even put a cot for him in the king’s study.

Brendan himself had sneaked in today just to get the locket with the portrait of his parents on it. He should have taken the money with him, but that would have been stealing. He could earn his own keep. If minstrels were in demand even at the royal court, music was not so difficult to make a living from. Brendan learned a variety of songs, changed his clothes to the simplest, and prepared for the challenges ahead. Better to wander the dusty country roads than to marry a capricious widow from a neighboring kingdom with which the uncle-king had decided to form an alliance. The influential relatives can get into their heads all sorts of things. So it’s better to do without them. One is more comfortable.

What is it about marriage? Brendan had no intention ofВ getting married anytime soon. There were too many beautiful girls around. ToВ choose aВ particular one as aВ lifelong burden would be toВ be completely out ofВ love.

In Aluar, they could drive you mad, too. There was a mysterious old lady in his uncle’s court named Effigenia, who dressed exclusively in black and was reputed to be a master of spells. She boasted that she had worked magic on several impertinent young men so that they jumped off the tower and crashed to their deaths out of unrequited love.

This is another excuse to flee his uncle’s kingdom. Otherwise he too will be bewitched to some toothless gray-haired widow.

Brendan was delighted to find that no one would recognize him in the noisy corridors of the castle. All he had to do was dress poorly, and you were no longer the king’s nephew. He had also learned the secret passages behind the sliding panels of the walls, and could get in everywhere without opening a door. Here he was, all alone in the locked royal chambers, and outside he could hear outside conversations.

В«More and more danger was coming from the east, and even Lady Ephigenia could do nothing more.В»

В«How can you send aВ witch doctor against danger when there are troops?В»

В«And how can you send troops not against men, but against the black mist.В»

В«They say it will be resolved soon, and if not, we will have toВ fight all the same.В»

В«Is it weapons or magic?В»

В«All means are good inВ aВ fight.В»

«Or maybe we should just turn a blind eye to what’s going on until we are directly approached with an ultimatum?»

It sounds like the voices ofВ counselors! Brendan was immediately disappointed inВ them. The wisest men inВ the kingdom were so drunk they were talking nonsense. Soon they would begin toВ shy away from their own shadows, suspecting that something magical had settled within them. What had Uncle King done toВ them that made them drink themselves toВ death? Usually they walked around the castle puffed up like peacocks, making puffed-up speeches. That was when Brendan saw them. Now all he could hear were frightened voices. It was aВ good thing he himself did not drink, even after fierce quarrels with the king over his future and even inВ moments when his uncle, enraged byВ his behavior, threatened toВ executeВ him.

«If it hadn’t been for the good memory of your humble mother, your head would be on a pole by now,» his uncle liked to say.

Brendan had long ago stopped believing him, so often he had heard such empty threats. InВ fact, his uncle took pity on him and would not have him executed even inВ the case ofВ high treason. For it is always possible both toВ protect the guilty and toВ execute the innocent. There was much injustice inВ the kingdom, and the black magic ofВ Ephigenia sometimes seemed toВ slip through the keyholes, inspiring aВ melancholy that made one want toВ howl.

Suddenly it seemed toВ Brendon that his shadow had become some kind ofВ mythical horned creature, dancing on the floor no matter what its masterВ did.

That’s enough! It is enough illusions, optical deceptions, compulsions and reproaches of his uncle. Better to be free than noble and rich. Brendan had made his choice. The main thing was that no one would stop him from getting away. A chase would be a nuisance, too, so Brendon cleverly disguised himself, even smeared his skin with grated chocolate powder to simulate a tan. Now he looks like a hobo.

«Sleep well in captivity, Bastard. I don’t let the guardian get to me again!» Brendan slung his bag over his shoulder, grabbed his lute, and was off.




Fairies and fortune tellers


He was free! At last! The guards at the drawbridge didn’t even recognize him. Brendan felt like a hero until he spotted a group of pretty gypsy girls in the market square. Before, pretty fortune-tellers in colorful dresses would have mobbed him and started promising all sorts of prophecies. Well, he used to be a duke. They naturally didn’t pay any attention to the beggar minstrel.

But the three graceful winged ladies swooped down on him. Brendan was taken aback. They were fairies! Real fairies with colorful wings behind them! He had only heard of fairies, but had never seen them up close, except for one of his uncle’s favorites, who was occasionally received at court, but she always delicately hid her wings, folding them behind her back in the form of a cloak. But these three beauties proudly unfurled their wings and waved them as if they were huge fans. Two of the fairies were brunettes and one was a blonde with violets growing in her curls. What wonders! And such creatures walk through the marketplace! And how many wonders were in the woods outside the city? He shouldn’t have stayed at home so long. He should have gone on his journey much earlier. Too bad he hadn’t been wearing well-worn boots when he’d barely set foot outside the castle. He would have been surprised if someone hadn’t noticed he was wearing new boots. He was playing the beggar, after all. Brendan glanced warily at the drawbridge.

«Oh, you’re cute,» the fairies were already combing through his hair. «You are as pretty as a summer’s day. We are lonesome.»

В«Play for us!В» The blond suggested she see the lute dangling from aВ leather strap over his shoulder.

«Shall we coin first?» Brendan was reminded that he had a part to play, not to gawk at any curiosity that came his way. «I don’t play for free. I only play for money, or for the broth.»

That’s it! He spoke with an expression like an actor on the stage of a traveling theater. Travelling actors were often invited to perform at royal feasts, so he had someone to learn from.

«Wouldn’t you like it in exchange for the fulfillment of a wish?» The blond fairy smiled slyly.

Brendan hesitated. She looked very sly, Brendan thought.

«Play, or we’ll curse you!» One of the brunettes snapped. She was beautiful, and obviously not used to being rejected by boys.

The fairies whirled over Brendan’s head in a hurricane of color, even ripping off his beret and throwing it into a puddle. Not fairies, but hooligans. And why had he left the castle? Or were they henchmen of his guardian who wouldn’t let him out into the open world? They must be in cahoots with the old king.

«Leave me alone!» Brendan was already wishing he’d played them right away. It was better not to bargain with witches. Luckily, a group of gypsies was passing by.

«That’s who I came with,» Brendan lied to get away from the fairies. «They can curse you just as badly as you can curse me if you don’t let up.»

Strangely enough the fairies believed him and left him alone. Scary ones! And behaved like bullies! But communication with the gypsies was much easier and more pleasant. They didn’t even look at his lute.

В«Would you like aВ prediction, my dear?В»

One ofВ the fortune-tellers at once asked for aВ coin. At least they were fairer than fairies. He had aВ coin inВ his pocket. It was all he had left ofВ his royal allowance. From now on, he would have toВ make his own living.

The young gypsy with the piercing black eyes studied his palm for aВ long time, and then suddenly spat on the ground with disgust.

В«Is something wrong? Did IВ not pay enough? Or am IВ going toВ die early? Or am IВ cursed?В»

В«The latter was more likely.В»

В«What do you mean?В» Brendan was taken aback.

«You’re marrying a monster!» The fortuneteller paused theatrically.

And it was worth payingВ for!

«How’s it? Are you sure?»

«I’m sure!»

And for such aВ prophecy he was left without lunch.

To live his whole life with a monster! It wasn’t worth running away from his guardian for that. Though, perhaps, if he were caught and brought back, the king would just marry him off to some old hag with a big dowry, and thus the prophecy would come true. The ugly woman and the monster are essentially the same thing. The fortune teller might have used a metaphor. If only she knew what it was. And if she did not know it, she was guided only by a secret vision. Are Gypsy women as good at fortune-telling as they are said to be? Should they be trusted unconditionally?

Brendan had such aВ sad look on his face that passersby looked at him with pity.

:So they predicted happiness for me, too!» The wretched cripple at the bridge muttered. «But it didn’t come true.»

«Well, maybe it won’t come true for me, either!» Brendan rejoiced.

He was relieved. He would have thrown a coin into the cripple’s pewter mug, but he had none left. He’d given his last for a prediction.

Marry the beast! What fortune-tellers are they! They think because he’s young, he’s stupid. He’ll believe anything you tell them.

The gypsies were beckoning with their tambourines, but Brendan was already inВ aВ hurry toВ avoid them.




Sleeping Fields


AВ cavalcade ofВ knights dashed down the dusty road. Brendan hastily ducked into the bushes so they would not see him. Their crests indicated that they were no vassals ofВ his uncle. Somehow the stately knights resembled elves inВ silvery armor. There was even one lady among them, aВ blond beauty on aВ snow-white horse. He would have married such aВ woman and would not have run away from the wedding, but alas, no one offered himВ one.

Brendan would have composed an ode inВ her honor, but there was not enough time. The cavalcade rushed past quickly. Only clouds ofВ dust remained on the road.

He had chosen the road at random, by the way. He probably should have swiped a map from his uncle’s office. He didn’t even know where he was going, or if there was any settlement ahead. Or is there nothing but woods for miles ahead?

Come on, Brendan consoled himself. The world is full of different kingdoms and principalities. If you persist, you’ll eventually reach a kingdom or two.

By nightfall, the wilderness was replaced by a wilderness that seemed to have no end. Or was it fields, not wasteland? Brendan remembered stepping on dry, cracked ground, and now the rye was flattened beneath his soles. It had barely sprouted yet, and in the distance tall ears were already growing. How can it be? Weren’t all the stubble fields sown at the same time?

This was suspicious, but he didn’t want to turn back. Brendan wandered on. The birds flying around the fields were strange, with angry red eyes. Brendan hummed a merry song to cheer him up. The lyrics were humorous, but for some reason it sounded gloomy in the fields, like a funeral hymn. Was it something wrong with his voice, or was it the witchy echo of which Lady Ephigenia had spoken so much? It usually taunts people who have wandered into forbidden and enchanted territory.

Nonsense! Fields cannot be enchanted.

В«Hey, are you minstrel?В»

Brendan looked around for the person who had called out to him. There was no one around except a straw scarecrow, which for some reason was wearing a fancy jester’s coat and a motley hat with bells on instead of the usual old shirt.

Even the scarecrows look luxurious inВ this field. And the rye seems cast from solid gold. Brendan bent down and plucked one straw. Both the grains and the chaff inВ it were cold and golden. He was so astonished that he almost dropped the expensive item. Surely it was Fortune himself who had led him toВ these fields. If you pick such rye, you can buy your own estate.

В«You rejoice too soon!В»

Another haunting voice from nowhere! There is only aВ scarecrow nearby. And scarecrows, as everyone knows, are not alive and do not speak. Unless the leprechauns live underground and tease him. They are usually the ones who keep treasures. The field ofВ golden rye might be their joke. Surely they are waiting for him toВ pick it greedily. Then you can laugh at the fool who will throw all the stuff out ofВ the bundle toВ put rye inВ there, which will turn from gold toВ ordinary stalks inВ the morning.

В«Get out ofВ here!В»

This time it was clear that the muffled hoarse voice was definitely coming from the scarecrow. Brandon stopped inВ front ofВ it, looking up at its face. There was no mouth toВ be seen beneath the bells ofВ the hat. But the scarecrow itself, on aВ pole, somehow resembled aВ man crucified inВ aВ field.

В«Where must IВ go?В» Brendan wondered. В«There are fields all around. Everywhere you go, there are fields ahead.В»

В«There is aВ castle up ahead.В»

«I don’t see any castle.»

«Just because you don’t see one doesn’t mean there isn’t one.»

Brendan was so amazed that the stuffed jester spoke to him that he didn’t think much about the meaning of his words.

В«IВ was like you, coming here toВ make fun ofВ an ugly princess who had her beauty taken away from her byВ some wizard for her stubborn character. IВ could joke, but look what my jokes have done toВ me!В»

«But I’m not going to make jokes about anyone.»

В«Then why do you have aВ lute, if not toВ accompany frivolous songs?В»

В«IВ sing only good songs,В» said Brendan indignantly. В«And IВ write my own songs. Would you like toВ hear them?В»

Stop! Scarecrow wouldn’t pay him to play. Why did he take out his lute so readily? Has the creature on the pole bewitched him? What if it was alive? Brendan touched the leg of the scarecrow. There was straw under his caftan. So it’s not alive after all, but it’s certainly magical.

«Don’t play!» It warned.

«Didn’t the rulers there forbid music?» Brendan snapped. He wasn’t going to play for free either, but if he was forbidden to play, that was a professional insult.

В«Loud noises would wake themВ up.В»

В«What do you mean?В»

«They are under the field. They come in all kinds: small and large, like giants, ugly and statuesque beauties, but step into their circle and you’re lost. It’s the same if you steal something here. They can’t stand thieves.»

Brendan quickly threw away the golden spike, though it’s a waste, but if someone is watching him from under the ground, it’s best not to steal. The scarecrow might have lied. But it’s a good idea to double-check. He has no royal retinue with him now. If he gets into trouble, he will have to defend himself.

В«Who are they? Do they have aВ name? Do you say they live underground, like the leprechauns?В»

But the scarecrow was already silent. But his posture had suddenly changed. One hand pointed inВ the direction from which Brendan had come.

So it’s trying to get him to turn back. All this must be Lady Ephigenia’s magic tricks. Surely hys uncle had already noticed his nephew’s absence and told his witch to track him down. Where the guards were powerless, Ephigenia acted. But he was no match for this one. He’s already gone far enough away from Aluar that the king’s witch’s charms won’t catch up with him.

We need to keep moving. The farther he went, the more her magic would weaken. Brendan went forward, against the scarecrow’s advice. And if there really was a castle up ahead, he would have lodging and supper. In feudal castles, itinerant actors and minstrels were free to roam. Bored hosts usually expect entertainment and are willing to provide both dinner and shelter for them.

«Don’t go! Don’t go!» Some buzzing insects tried to fly into his ears. Brendan pushed them away with difficulty.

The ground vibrated slightly beneath his feet. The fields suddenly seemed alive and breathing, as if a giant were slumbering beneath the rye, but Brendan would be swept away like a gnat as soon as he got up. Maybe we really shouldn’t have come in here.

Yeah, what was wrong with him? Didn’t he think he was the bravest when he made jokes about uncle’s ministers?

«Silly fellow, you don’t even know who sleeps under the field!»

There was no scarecrow around this time. So the voice came either from the void or from aВ large black bird that was circling over the fields.

It’s all Ephigenia’s jokes, Brendan consoled himself again. Though she remains in the king’s castle, her evil power extends far beyond it. We must hurry. The more miles he walked, the weaker her sorcery would become. My uncle had the misfortune to tangle with a witch! If Brendan could find a wizard along the way, he would ask him, just for the fun of it, to bewitch his uncle the King with Ephigenia. In this way he would settle his debts and grievances. The uncle would find himself forcibly married to a witch, and he would think nothing of meddling in other people’s private lives in the future.

Although, they say, magic is not so simple. You can’t always make a magical plan work the way you thought it would. Sometimes things go wrong. And magical failures can even lead to the destruction of the world, according to the words of the wise men.

Brendan noticed that the spikes inВ the fields were regular toВ the touch instead ofВ golden. He must have done well not toВ pluck anything. Sometimes it pays toВ listen toВ warnings.

He didn’t listen to the last warning, since he’s wandering around looking for a castle. Well, the castle is not the fields. You can’t conjure up strange vegetation underfoot like that. The field was changing. First there was wheat and rye, now barley and beanstalks, on which live creepy biting bugs. These bugs also shine brighter than fireflies. And up ahead are vineyards and cornfields. Had someone conjured this place up by mixing all the plant crops?

Brendan picked one cob ofВ corn because his empty stomach was already rumbling with hunger. Instead ofВ corn kernels, real gold coins spilled from the cob. They tinkled and fell right under his feet. More and more ofВ them, as if the earth had bred them.

No, he wouldn’t fall for that. Pick them up, and the coins would be yellow grains again. Maybe he should pick some up after all. He has no money on him, and he has a long way to go.

Brendan leaned over and picked up a handful of coins. These are the real ones! Only the coinage was unfamiliar. The tails have a feline profile, and there’s a claw print instead of a coat of arms. Good thing gold is valuable anyway, no matter whose mint the coats of arms were minted from. Brendan slipped the coins into his pocket and felt the fields beneath his feet as if they sighed and twitched. Something moved beneath the ground, as if an army of monsters were rising from there.

Where toВ run toВ now? Brendan felt something like aВ tourniquet wrap around his wrist and begin toВ squeeze. It was aВ living vine! It clung so tightly that it nearly tore his arm off. As soon as he was free ofВ it, many other vines crawled toward him like hissing snakes.

Brendan jumped from his seat and ran. The swift vines darted after him, trying toВ grab his legs. Coins fell from the corn again, but there was no time toВ pick them up. The vines were determined toВ trap the fugitive. Brendan barely dodged their grip, and they hissed grudgingly. Here he passed corn fields, and fields ofВ peas. Ahead ofВ him was an empty, unseeded field. As he ran into it, the vines suddenly retreated, hiding inВ the shade.

Were they afraid ofВ the uncultivated land? Brendan looked back at the fields. The ground there was trembling, as if whole armies ofВ monsters were already climbing out ofВ it, but there were no monsters inВ sight.

Brendan waited aВ moment. No dangerous plants were climbing the uncultivated ground toВ chase him. Here, then, was the place toВ take aВ break. InВ the sky, the moon was just shining, framed byВ aВ scattering ofВ stars. Brendan only now realized how tired he was. He had no pillow or blanket, but he did have aВ bundle ofВ belongings. Brendan put it under his head instead ofВ aВ pillow.

«We’ll get you, you impudent thief!» hissed the vines from a distant field, or were they women’s voices? Through the haze of sleep Brendan saw beautiful embittered girls in wreaths of leaves and grapes. And there were a variety of monsters, small and large, galloping haphazardly across the fields. It was like a coven and a preparation for a war of infernal creatures against all mankind.

There were vague threats, like, «We’ll get you, boy!» to the sleeping Brendan.

«You’d better be quiet. I like silence at night,» he wanted to reply, but his tongue couldn’t roll with the fatigue. He was exhausted from running through the magical fields.

He had aВ strange dream: both frightening and pleasant. InВ the dream, the evil creatures were talking about something inВ the fields, pointing at him with their claws. Against the background ofВ the monsters aВ marvelous image flashed across his mind: aВ girl with braids the color ofВ ripe wheat and azure eyes. Just like the one he had seen inВ the cavalcade with the knights. This time she was alone, not counting the living vines behind her. She leaned over him, rustling her luxurious brocade gown, and tugged at his shoulder as if toВ awaken him. But if he woke up, he would never see her again. She exists only inВ dreams. Yes, she is too beautiful toВ be true.

В«Rachelina! My name is Rachelina,В» she repeated several times.

When Brendan awoke, there were scratches on his shoulder. AВ wild cat must have scratchedВ it.




The GreenВ Well


Barely aВ crack ofВ dawn came when the rough activity inВ the fields came toВ aВ halt. Maybe if the sun rises, the bad things inВ the fields go toВ sleep. Brendan awoke the next morning convinced that what had happened toВ him that night was aВ joke ofВ the devil. They say it often frightens travelers inВ deserted places. There are even tales ofВ wandering fires that lure lonely travelers into swamps or precipices.

One must be more careful inВ the future, that is, travel during the day and not at night. He was inВ such aВ hurry toВ get as far away from Aluar as possible, that he did not calculate his own strength or time. His tired body ached as if it had been beaten.

Good thing there were no more fields ahead. Otherwise, the sight of rye and wheat was already making him sick. It was a nervous reaction! The green meadows didn’t look like magic, yet Brendan stepped very carefully through them. There might be a hole under the grass, and if you fell into it, you’d go straight to the underworld, where the creepy creatures lived.

AВ few miles ofВ the road passed inВ complete tranquility. The sun warmed his skin pleasantly, but byВ noon it was getting too hot. Brendan was thirsty, looked for aВ flask ofВ wine inВ his bundle, and found it was gone. He must have dropped it while running through the enchanted fields at night. Or perhaps aВ drinking fiend had stolenВ it.

The devil had done him aВ great disservice. His throat was dry, and there was nowhere toВ get water. He wondered how far toВ walk toВ the nearest village, where there is aВ well?

As soon as he thought ofВ aВ well, it suddenly appeared inВ the meadow, as if from under the ground.

As Brendan approached the well, he noticed that the entire well was covered inВ mud. Even the bucket had turned green from theВ mud.

Brendan wanted toВ pass by, but aВ scaly green tentacle suddenly deftly coiled itself around his neck and drew him toВ the well.

Who would have thought the serpent on the blockhouse would be alive!

«Excuse me, I didn’t mean to touch anything!» Brendan hoped that the well guard, like the scarecrow in the field, understood human speech. Though at the sight of someone hissing and dragon-faced, there was little hope of that. «I am not a thief by any means! I had no ill intentions toward your well, that is, the house in which you reside. I was only curious to take a look.»

Brendan justified himself as best he could, hoping the creature would understand him. He might as well have hoped that the well serpent had an excellent grasp ofВ the sciences and court etiquette.

В«IВ was only passing through.В»

В«Are you passing?В» The serpent squinted. His tail, which had already half strangled Brendan, suddenly loosened its grip.

В«No one passes my well without guessing the riddle.В»

In the snake’s hiss, human speech was barely audible.

Brendan could barely catch his breath when the serpent let him go. AВ necklace ofВ bruises was left on his neck. But the poisonous saliva ofВ the serpent, which dripped on his skin, gave him burns.

– If I don’t guess the riddle, will you eat me or burn me? – Brendan grimaced. He was no good at guessing riddles.

«If you guess it, I’ll let you go ahead,» he hissed with a sly tone. «But it will be better for you if you don’t. Then I have the right to keep you out of the castle.»

«There isn’t a castle,» Brendan said indignantly. «It’s an empty horizon.»

Even if the serpent didn’t eat him, going back to the enchanted fields was worse than going to hell. The mystery of the serpent would have to be solved.

«Well, let’s get to it! Or will you buy me a nice glass of Aluar wine before the riddle? Do you have any clean water left in your well?»

The serpent was clearly offended. He’d obviously thought the well, overgrown with slime, was very clean. Now it was clear that the green traces on the well, is poisonous saliva of the snake. It turned the whole well green. The snake’s skin was the same color, bright emerald. You’d think he himself had crawled out of some fabulous treasure trove, not a rotten well.

«Listen carefully, boy! I will not say it again!» The serpent’s bright yellow eyes flashed slyly. Their gaze was slightly hypnotizing. A powerful emerald tail tightly enveloped the log of the well.

«She is beautiful and delicate, like the rose of May, and she is the same, prickly as the thorns of a rose. When you see her, you almost fall in love. It is almost, but not quite. It is because there is one small obstacle to falling in love completely. If you touch her, you’ll immediately hurt yourself, like you hurt yourself on the rose thorns. Who is she? Tell me her name!»

В«Is it her name? IВ am not acquainted with such aВ lady.В»

В«You may not call her byВ name, but byВ her title.В»

Brendan scratched at the back ofВ his head. AВ dead end! It was just as he supposed. He was no good at riddles.

В«Do IВ have an hour toВ think aboutВ it?В»

«You’re such a slowcoach!» The serpent was almost triumphant, feeling his victory.

«I’m not a magical creature like you. I can’t think instantly,» Brendan snapped at him.

«You people are all so weak and feeble and stupid,» the serpent chided him triumphantly. «Well, at least you’re not rude, unlike the rest of the strangers. So I’ll give you five minutes.»

«That’s not enough!»

At least give me 24В hours. Then you could have hoped for help from aВ good fairy, or at least evil, if such flies over the fields, and inВ exchange for the soul will help with the decision. But there were no helpers around. He was alone with the serpent.

«Do you have a watch?» Brendan tried to confuse the snake. «You can’t tell the time without a watch. I could run to the nearest town and get it. You said there was a castle near here.»

«Don’t bother!» The serpent pulled a sandglass, overgrown with mud, from the well, with the tip of his tail. What a bastard! He’s got everything! He’s probably got a torture machine ready for anyone who can’t solve the riddle.

He could try to escape from him, but Brendan already knew that a snake’s tail catches faster than a lasso.

The hourglass was green from the mud, but it worked fine. The serpent flipped it over with the tip ofВ its tail, and the sand spilled down.

Along with the sand, his life was running out. Something had toВ be done. It is useless toВ puzzle over aВ riddle.

В«Let me play for you!В» Brendan took out his lute. He has exactly five minutes. He can spend it on whatever he likes. He has little choice: he can either beg for mercy, which would be ofВ no use, or he can utter aВ curse, which would only have aВ bad result, causing the serpent toВ attack him. Choose music, the most harmless solution.

Once drowning, so with aВ pleasant melody!

«Just don’t sing any slow ballads. I do not stand them,» almost resentfully hissed snake. He wanted to bury his ears in his tail, but the problem was that he only had one tail, and two winged ears. One was left free to hear Brendan play.

The music made the snake relax. Could it have aВ hypnotic effect on him? Then it was not for nothing that he did not want toВ listen toВ it. Five minutes passed, and Brendan kept striking the strings ofВ the lute, playing melodious sounds. The serpent did not think ofВ interrupting him. On the contrary, he wagged his tail awkwardly and broke the clock, which he himself had set on the edge ofВ the well. The sand inВ it was green. It hissed as the glass shattered, but the serpent paid no attention. He began mumbling something sleepily toВ the music.

«Living vines! Dry vines! The whispering of fairies! A spell! She should never have turned him down. The groom was good. And now there’s magic everywhere. Grapes and roses are about to drive me out. They are as aggressive as the magically gifted matchmaker.»

It must be another mystery. Maybe the serpent forgot that he hadn’t guessed the first one either. It’s a clear overdose. Brendan’s riddles and problems immediately gave him a headache. As his uncle the king had often told him, he was stupid. He hadn’t even mastered swordsmanship. But he did learn music. It was more useful with the serpent. With one sword he would have been strangled here long ago.

«What a wonderful sound!» The serpent stretched and yawned sleepily. «It’s a long time since my mistress played for me like that.»

В«And you even have aВ mistress! May IВ see her?В»

Maybe, at least, she’ll tell him do not to terrorize travelers.

В«It is all right! Come on in!В» grumbled the serpent. В«IВ only let you inВ because IВ have aВ weakness for musicians.В»

Brendan rejoiced. He had told his uncle he had talent! And the old king didn’t believe him. And he shouldn’t have. Music doesn’t need an army to put a dragon to sleep. Still, Brendan had a guilty conscience after all.

В«IВ will try toВ solve your riddle on the way back,В» he promised.

В«Is it on the way back?В» The serpent grinned sarcastically, letting out aВ puff ofВ green smoke as he fell asleep. В«He is an optimist! He hopes there will be aВ way back from here.В»

Another man would have been alarmed, but Brendan decided to let the well-dweller mutter all he wanted. In his half-asleep state, the serpent resembled a drunk. And drunks, as everyone knows, don’t know what they’re saying. The music probably had the same effect on him as alcohol does on people. Even the green vapor he exhaled folded into hearts and notes. Who would have thought the well dragon would turn out to be such a music lover. Brendon rejoiced in his good fortune and moved on. Strangely enough, as soon as he passed the well, the silhouette of a beautiful white-stone castle twined with vines loomed up in the distance. He had not seen it a moment before.




Cat’s Castle


The green creature on the well was sleeping peacefully. Brendan kept turning around, fearing that the serpent might blow green fire at him. He said В«pass,В» as if his mistress were hiding just ahead. But there was no one around.

Brendan tripped over something and swore. It felt as if his boot had been bitten right through. Was there another snake hiding inВ the grass? No, it was just aВ skull underfoot. It was an unusual one. He was neither animal nor human. It looks like the skull ofВ aВ supernatural creature, with several eye sockets, aВ mouth with fangs, aВ shell-shaped skull, and curved horns, also made ofВ bone. He wondered what such aВ creature was called while it was alive.

«Don’t go!»

Well, what’s the matter! Why does everybody keep telling him, «Don’t go»? Is that where the devil is waiting ahead?

«You won’t come back like me, you fool!» warned the skull as Brendan gently stepped over it and went on.

If everyone warned not to go ahead, then there’s a fabulous treasure waiting there, Brendan thought.

The white stone castle loomed inВ the distance, against the blue skies. Its towers had the color ofВ puffy clouds floating above them. The fortress wall was also white.

It would take an hour toВ reach it, Brendan estimated inВ his mind, but he did not reach it until late afternoon. The torches on the parapet were already blazing, illuminating the bizarre architecture ofВ the walls.

Up close, the castle was even more beautiful than he could have imagined. Vines stretched along the walls like aВ luxurious net. The walls themselves abounded with stucco decorations and alabaster statues.

The gates were open, as if they were already waiting for aВ guest. The caryatid winked at him. Or was it just aВ dream?

Outside the gate was aВ beautiful garden ofВ roses, jasmines, magnolias, and exotic plants.

The avenue ofВ rosebushes leading toВ the open castle doors was empty. No guests but Brendan himself, no guards.

There are also bas-reliefs of graceful cats engraved on the doors that open. And inside you can see tapestries depicting a cat’s hunt for mice and birds. The interior of the castle was decorated either by a great humorist or an avid feline.

Brendan whistled when he noticed aВ fountain inside the spacious hallway, with wine pouring out instead ofВ water. And he wanted toВ drink from the well! OfВ course there was no bucket or glass beside the fountain, but if he was thirsty he could always take aВ scoop ofВ wine with his hand. It was sweet and invigorating, ofВ the highest grade for sure! It was not until he was thirsty that Brendon remembered that the wine might be bewitched, or worse, poisoned.

«Look who’s here!»

A pleasant girl’s voice came from the top of the stairs. Brendon looked up and saw two slender ladies. One of them, a brunette in a blue dress with bows, was an incomparable beauty. The second was dressed even more splendidly, but for some reason she hid her face under a veil. Was she a sorceress, perhaps? Effigenia also liked to throw a black veil over her head from time to time. She was rumored to enhance her connection to the spirits that way. Someone more realistic asserted that she was hiding age-related wrinkles. Since she used the veil most often in bright daylight, the second is more likely. What about the mistress of this castle? Brendan was sure it was the lady under the veil who was the mistress, because only a princess could afford such an expensive outfit, embroidered with gold thread and pearls. Is she hiding her face because she has made some elaborate vow to the gods? Or is it because she is ugly?

In any case, Brendan was more attracted to the first girl. She had black sable eyebrows, violet eyes, a chiseled profile, and soft dark hair that cascaded down her bare shoulders. In a word – beautiful! Except that her plump pink lips pouted dismissively at the sight of a mere minstrel. Perhaps she was waiting for a prince. A mere musician showed up. And he was in his dusty clothes. If only she knew how difficult it was to run through the magic fields without tearing his clothes.

В«It is another guest!В» She blurted out phlegmatically, as if Brendan were aВ disappointment toВ her.

В«IВ am not aВ guest. IВ am an employee,В» he immediately tried toВ prove his usefulness and showed her the lute. В«IВ am aВ minstrel.В»

It was as if the beauty had not heardВ him.

«We’ve had many guests before, and they’ve all disappointed us. Maybe we’ll have better luck with this one.»

What’s she talking about? And what’s with the way she talks about him like he’s a piece of furniture? Either he’s being deliberately mocked, or he’s misunderstood something.

«If I’m not welcome here, I’ll be going,» Brendan was reluctant to leave, but he turned around defiantly.

«You’re not going anywhere,» the pretty girl said arrogantly. «We don’t let our guests leave so quickly.»

Would she go down the stairs toВ the hall toВ greet him as usual, or should he ignore decorum and go up himself? There are no guards around, so you can behave however you want.

Brendan brazenly went up himself, though no one invited him. The flight ofВ stairs was even more chic than the one below. And the brunette was even prettier up close. Except that inВ the light ofВ the sconces you could see the deep scratches on her neck and shoulders.

В«AВ cat scratched you, too!В» Brendan wanted toВ roll up his sleeve and show her the scratches, but she snorted angrily.

«What makes you think it’s a cat?»

«I just thought…»

He thought he’d found a comrade in grief.

«I know from experience that pampered palace cats are not always affectionate to the lords’ minions.

В«Watch your tongue. You insultВ us.В»

«Whom do you mean? Are they you, her, the cats? Or are they the minions of noble lords?» Brendan realized that if the beautiful woman was the mistress’ companion, then the word «hangers-on» might have been applied to her before he had. Then no wonder she was so angry. It was not clear why her mistress suddenly felt so unwell. The lady under the veil almost fainted.

Brendan could only now see how splendid her attire was. The corset was embroidered with tiny diamonds, the sleeves were decorated with sapphires, and the layered skirts were made of the most expensive Aluar’s brocade. Only kings could afford such. The lady herself, judging by her graceful figure, is worthy of the costume. Her waist is as narrow as a hornet’s waist. Her movements are supple. Her posture is haughty. What is her face like, he wondered? It can’t be an ugly face in such a graceful lady! Her voice is very pleasant.

«Do not be offended, Rebecca. He meant no harm,» said the veiled lady to her companion, or lady’s confidante, or servant.

В«You are an angel ofВ mercy! You know what IВ mean!В» Brendan encouraged his hostess. В«ByВ the way, IВ am aВ very talented minstrel. My music makes people, and even snakes, feel as euphoric as if they had gone toВ heaven.В»

Well, if you don’t praise yourself, no one will know how good you are! Rebecca looked at Brendan with great doubt. He wasn’t lying. She was the only one who was a liar. The scratches on her skin were obviously cat’s scratches. Only a cat could have made such marks on her shoulders, her neck, part of her cheek, even her arms. Brendan only now considered how serious the damage was. Maybe that’s what made her so angry. He couldn’t handle the Bastard himself, so he endured the pain of the scratches. It was impossible to negotiate peace and friendship with the royal cat. Thankfully, Rebecca’s thin scratches on her cheek didn’t spoil her at all. They were fresh. You could still see blood on them. But when they healed, there might not be any scars left. Brendan himself had hardly any scars from the Bastard’s claws.

«Cats, when they scratch, they just play,» he whispered to Rebecca. «Next time you don’t play with the pet with your bare hands, you’d better take the ribbon.»

Rebecca herself almost hissed with anger at the friendly advice, like aВ realВ cat.

В«Idiot!В» She muttered toВ herself under her breath.

В«He us so handsome and so stupid,В» her veiled companion said thoughtfully.

«What’s that?» Brendan couldn’t help it.

«It’s all right.»

В«You need your rest. We have aВ bedroom for guests,В» said Rebecca, who had taken aВ candle from the ornamental table, though there was enough light from the sconces on the walls.

В«You must have hundreds ofВ bedrooms here,В» Brendan followed the ladies inside the castle, marveling at the lavish surroundings. True, there were too many locked rooms. But the gilded doors gave the impression ofВ wealth and luxury.

«Are you the mistress of the castle?» Brendan wished he could see the mysterious lady’s face under a layer of silk. The beige veil with lace trim was, alas, opaque.

«She’s the local princess,» Rebecca snapped. «She owns all the land and everything in it.»

«Then she’s magic, because there’s a lot of magic in the lands around your castle,» Brendan blurted out, and then bit his tongue. If she really did make all that magic he’d escaped from in the night, she could hardly be expected to cast a spell on him. Turn him into a toad, for instance. He is being disrespectful. You have to agree with witches, or you’ll be in a lot of trouble.

«Am I a sorceress?» The lady gave a very theatrical show of amazement. «That’s the first I’ve heard. I have been called many things-beautiful, a heartbreaker, a rival, a senseless person who sends knights to their doom-but never a sorceress.»

Her train, like a tail, whipped Brendan to his feet. It was certainly not done on purpose, but somehow he was still embarrassed. It was as if he’d been put in his place.

«You’ll play for me tomorrow night at dinner,» the princess decided.

Why not tonight? It’s suppertime-unless they’ve decided to skimp on the minstrel’s food tonight.

«They’ll bring your supper to your chambers. You are tired. Tonight you will rest and eat, and tomorrow you will entertain us.»

Now that’s noble. He thought he’d be exploited at once.

В«Thank you!В»

But the princess had already slipped behind one ofВ the closed doors, and Rebecca led him down the corridor. There was no flirting with her. The beauty was very serious.

В«Do not think that if you are allowed toВ stay, you can do anything,В» she warned.

«Can I see the cat that scratched you so? Does it live in the Princess’s apartments?»

The Bastard always slept and ate in the King’s apartments. It must be the same here. He wondered what the local cat’s name is. «Is it the Sadist? Is it Lady Scratchy? Or is it just Rival?» Rebecca was definitely hurt by it, so to her the princess’s cat was no other than a rival.

«If you were smarter, you wouldn’t ask so many questions.»

«You sound like a schoolteacher. Where are we going, by the way?» Brendan quipped. Rebecca’s coldness hurt him. It’s not nice when a pretty girl pretends she’s not interested in you. Nothing! After listening to him play, she’ll be kinder. All girls love to hear minstrels.

At the end ofВ the corridor was aВ winding spiral staircase.

«It’s the way to the tower,» Rebecca explained.

В«Is my bedroom is inВ the tower?В»

В«Yes, itВ is.В»

В«IВ feel like aВ prisoner.В»

«Don’t be so dramatic. You’re a guest, of course.»

The lock on the door was strong. Rebecca opened it with a key from a large bundle she carried with her. Behind the door, however, it was so luxurious that Brendan dismissed the notion of a dungeon. The silk-covered walls, the paintings on the ceilings, and the abundance of upholstered furniture created aristocratic comfort. The bed under a lush canopy was the size of an entire tent, and there were vases of flowers on the cherry wood tables. A tray of supper was already waiting here. He wondered who had brought it. Brendan did not notice the servants. They must have learned to sneak around like shadows. With Rebecca’s nervousness, it was no wonder they’d been trained that way.

Who would have thought that a wandering minstrel would be treated like a nobleman? Something’s not right after all. Either they suspected he wasn’t who he said he was. Or his uncle has sent out messengers with news that he’s wanted. He must be on his guard. Brendan locked the door with a latch and prepared in advance a rope from a torn sheet to escape through the window in case of capture. It was very high up here, but there were bushes of vines twisting below the tower. Their vines braided the window vault. It was a pity they were not so strong that they could be climbed down at once.

Brendan’s entire dinner consisted of fruit. Not a crust of bread. He wasn’t used to this kind of diet, but it was better than nothing. A pitcher of fine ale supplemented his diet. The ale was unaccustomedly strong. The first sip made him insufferably sleepy. Brendan hoped he might dream again about the blonde called Rashelina.




Prisoner’s Dream


The vines whispered something and reached out toВ choke him, like living snakes or dryad hands. Brendan now understood the warning ofВ the whisper that hovered over the fields. The whispers might be aВ warning toВ the vines coming toВ life. They were whispering about his fate.

«Would he survive, would he not survive? Will he love – will he not love?»

Their whispering was like aВ little counting rhyme.

В«Would the same thing happen toВ him that happened toВ everyone else? Or was he the only one who would makeВ it?В»

В«He looked like aВ smart guy!В»

Brendan fluttered his eyelids open sleepily. Could the vines really be whispering, zigzagging above his bed? He was dreaming! He’d have to be out of his mind to believe they were reaching out the window like living hands.

«Look! He’s got a handkerchief with the King’s crest on it!»

В«He must have stolenВ it!В»

The voices were still whispering, and the tip ofВ the grapevine slid down his neck. Brendan pushed it away with his hand and sat down. When he had entered this bedroom, the vines had only hung around the high arched window, but now they lay imposingly across the rug and even draped aВ border around the bottom ofВ the four-poster. What the devil is this? Or had he not looked carefully the first time?

To one of the vines was indeed clung his new handkerchief, with an Aluar’s crown embroidered in the corner. It was a gift from his uncle! He certainly hadn’t stolen it. But could one of the mischievous vines have stolen it right out of his pocket?

It’s worth a walk. There’s something wrong with this room. Perhaps insidious Rebecca had deliberately put him in a haunted tower. Everything is to be expected of that proud girl. Unlike the princess, she doesn’t like visitors. Perhaps that’s why the castle is so quiet and there are no servants to be seen at all. Rebecca has driven everyone out of here. But he can’t be handled that easily. He was used to his uncle’s mentoring, he would get used to Rebecca’s whims.

Brendan was sure the door was locked from the outside, but he was wrong. It gave way easily. He strode down the empty corridors ofВ the castle. All the rooms looked uninhabitable, but luxurious. There was lots ofВ feline molding all around. But the cats themselves were nowhere toВ be seen.

Brendan touched the gilded symbols embossed on the walls and columns. The patterns are amusing, as if a wizard had painted the marble with witchcraft symbols. It’s definitely an imitation of magical writings! It was well done. Even Ephigenia couldn’t do it. And it also glows in the dark!

His fingers ached to touch the murals and his eyes felt as if a sheath had been taken off his eyes. Brendan only now noticed the hideous, deep scratches on the furniture, the sculptures, and even the walls. They certainly weren’t cat’s claw’s prints. They were more like tiger’s or a cheetah’s. Or maybe they were something bigger. Suddenly the dreadful legends of woodland werewolves sprang to mind.

Brendan felt sick toВ his stomach. But why should he be so nervous? It was aВ field, not aВ wilderness. But inВ those fields he had encountered more evil creatures than he could count inВ hell, much less inВ the woods. What if one ofВ those things got into the palace?

В«Hey! Somebody! Help me!В» AВ desperate voice came from somewhere on the lower floors. It was barely audible, but Brendan broke out inВ aВ cold sweat.

A trellis just caught his eye, completely torn apart by someone’s claws. And on the mantel screen he could see the furrows from five large claws.

В«Where are you?В» Brendan climbed down the stairs, trying toВ determine which side the voice was coming from.

В«Go this way! Quick! It is before they come back!В»

The voice was clearer now. How much anguish there was inВ it! It was as if the unfortunate man had been tortured.

Brendan had seen the executions of traitors and rebels in Aluar, but he had never heard such despair in anyone’s voice.

Trying toВ find the victim, he went deep into the cellars. It was damp and cold. Cobwebs laced the walls. Instead ofВ the customary cellars with wine and food supplies, there were cells with bars. The floor was flooded. Clamps bolted toВ the walls where chains had been fastened. Where had he gone?! Maybe he should turn back, but Brendan heard another call for help. How could he not help? No good fellow would leave aВ man inВ trouble. And Brendan was very kindhearted. This time it was on his own head. Because the prisoner discovered inВ the dungeon was definitely insane.

At any rate, his eyes gleamed madly in his pale, feverish face. His neck was crushed by an iron collar from a chain embedded in the wall. That’s the kind they usually put on crazy people. Brendan would have turned back if he hadn’t noticed the deep scratches from the paws of an unknown animal on the prisoner’s body. The same scratches as on the walls upstairs!

«Who are you?» Brendan came up to the bars. «I’m from Aluar myself, and…»

«It doesn’t matter who you are! It doesn’t matter who I am! We’ve got to get out of here…»

If it hadn’t been for the bars separating them, the mad prisoner would have clung to Brendan’s collar.

«Come on, let’s go!»

«But how could we escape?» Brendan was taken aback. «Where are the keys to your um… fetters?»

It was as if the prisoner only now realized that he was shackled and frustrated.

«That’s right. You are the only one who can escape. Run to Aluar! Get help! Tell them it’s urgent! I’m the ambassador from there myself.»

В«IВ never saw you there,В» Brendan said, scrutinizing the pale face as if he did not recognize the prisoner as anyone he had met at Court.

«Don’t go into details!» The prisoner pressed himself against the bars, as if he could walk through them. «Get out of here! You will thank me later for my advice.»

He does not think so! He is comfortable here too! Unlike the prisoner, he does not sleep inВ chains, but inВ aВ comfortable bed. Except that the vines have become restless. Perhaps the prisoner had such hallucinations too, which is why he is sitting hereВ now.

Again there was aВ bad suspicion that Rebecca deliberately put him inВ the tower, which is haunted, driving everyone who sleeps there crazy.

«You didn’t happen to sleep in the tower before you got here?»

«You’re out of your mind, boy!» The prisoner sounded like Brendan’s own thoughts. Their opinions about each other seemed to be mutual. Each suspected the other of losing his mind.

«You have to get out of here and tell them it’s time to attack the castle, or they will attack Aluar.»

«Who is it? There’s no one here but pampered women and a couple of servants, I suppose.

В«There are cats,В» the prisoner whispered fearfully.

«Only plaster and marble ones. I haven’t seen any real ones.»

Brendan would have been more likely toВ believe that there were werewolves, clawing at the furniture, if the man had told him there were.

В«It is peaceful here,В» he tried toВ reassure the poor creature, but he found the man was inВ aВ feeding frenzy, uttering one absurdity after another.

В«Cats leash people up inВ here,В» he finally blurtedВ out.

В«What is it? Are you serious?В»

В«Get out ofВ here!В» It sounded like an order.

«Okay, I’ll really go,» Brendan hurried toward the exit.

В«And get some help!В»

«Yes, yes… of course… don’t worry…»

Where would one come from? The prisoner must be out of his mind. Two exquisite noblewomen live in the palace. Not even guards at the door, and no sentries in the towers. What’s there to worry about? Why hasn’t a physician been called to this madman? Perhaps the physician lives too far away. Even at the royal court, there’s only one physician.

There’s a reasonable explanation for everything, if you think about it. Brendan returned to the tower and went back to sleep, forgetting all about the night walk into the dungeons. And in the morning he decided that he had only dreamed it all.




Vines ofВ grape


Early inВ the morning Rebecca herself knocked on his door, but she did not bring the tray with the light breakfast (again, ofВ only fruit). Somehow it had ended up on the bedside table. Who had put it there? Had not the living vines slipped the tray through the window?

В«Good morning toВ you!В» Rebecca said hello, but she did not look friendly.

Rebecca clearly didn’t want to get along with him. To hell with her! Let her be arrogant.

Brendan quickly devoured his breakfast, which consisted only ofВ orange and pineapple slices. They should have brought aВ ham sandwich or at least aВ cheese sandwich! Has the feudal estate become so impoverished that there is nothing but fruit from the garden toВ feed the guest?

He could ask Rebecca about it directly, but she is so prickly that it is better not to annoy her with unnecessary questions, or else she will give an angry tirade. Brendan didn’t like confrontation. It was better to keep quiet so as not to argue.

There must be no bread inВ the castle because ofВ the evil creatures that occupied the fields and drove all the peasants somewhere. After all, toВ get bread, someone must work the land, sow, plow, and then take the harvest toВ the mill.

«Where did all those things come from in the fields? Brendan couldn’t stand it any longer.

Rebecca struck him again with aВ wave ofВ icy contempt.

В«You are dreaming!В» She muttered.

Tonight she wore aВ beautiful light outfit with pink ruffles. She was crumpling aВ bowed hat inВ her hands.

«Let’s go for a walk in the garden!» She commanded rather than suggested.

В«Am IВ not supposed toВ play for the princess?В»

В«Her Highness does not wake so early,В» replied Rebecca inВ aВ stern tone.

How capricious princesses are! Does she sleep till afternoon or evening?

В«My uncle,В» said Brendan, В«always wakes up with the rooster.В»

В«Is your uncle aВ prince or aВ king?В» Brendan sarcastically snickered.

«Actually…» Brendan realized he’d almost blurted out whose nephew he was. He’s traveling incognito.

«Shut up!» Rebecca took his hesitation as a guilty pleasure at the awkward joke. «You don’t know the etiquette of nobles.»

«What’s up, noble persons!» Brendan muttered to himself. «They are sleeping until dusk, like werewolves.»

At just the right time he was reminded of the tortured man who had been chained up like a werewolf caught in the woods. What if…? Brendan was taken aback by his own hunch. Why were there so few people in the castle? He followed Rebecca through sumptuous enfilades of halls that were empty. There were no servants, not even the steward. Even if his attendants were confined to a discrete wing, the steward was sure to intrude.

В«Where is everyone?В» Brendan asked Rebecca as she led him into the fragrant garden, with its many fountains and pergolas.

В«Who is everybody?В» She made aВ puzzled expression.

«Well… the other inhabitants of the castle.»

В«Am IВ not enough for you? Would you prefer the company ofВ aВ noble lady toВ noisy drunken company?В»

«No. I’m sorry! I meant no offence.»

В«But you have!В» Rebecca opened the fan with aВ bang, the slats ofВ which again bore aВ scene ofВ kittens playing with aВ ball. The sight ofВ those kittens was somehow frightening. It looked like you were about toВ be inВ their claws instead ofВ aВ ball ofВ fur.

Brendan was distracted by the beauty of the garden. There were such rare flowers blooming here that he didn’t know the names of them. But mostly roses dominated. Their wattles stretched across arbors, steps, columns, gazebo roofs, even the ground. Only the water they did not reach. The lily ponds seemed abandoned without ducks or drakes. Just wait for the webbed paw of a waterman to poke out of them.

«Where’s the gardener?» It seemed to Brendan that the boxwood bushes had not been pruned in a long time. And the gladiolus bushes were neglected. Some black stems sprouted between the flowers, like weeds.

«We don’t need it!» Rebecca whistled melodically, and the vine, suddenly detached from the arbor on which it twisted like a living snake. It put her arm around Rebecca’s waist and helped her climb up the rose-covered stairs that led to the large, round fountain.

В«So they really are alive!В» Brendan watched inВ horror as the long vines separated from the walls, and as if his hands were pulling apart the bushes blocking the passage, even finding aВ basket and scissors so that Rebecca could cut the roses.

«Why do you think there are no guards in the castle? If it weren’t for them,» she gently stroked one naughty vine that was trying to pull her hat off, «we’d have an army to protect Her Highness’s domain.»

«I’ve never seen anything like it!» Brendan whistled, and one vine nearly strangled him.

«Don’t whistle in their presence!» Rebecca snapped at him. «And don’t make any sudden moves! Otherwise they’ll think you’re a thief.»

В«It is all right!В» Brendan gradually became accustomed toВ treating the vines courteously, like living beings.

As luck would have it, there were just as many grapes in the garden as there were roses. They twisted along the walls and towers, stretched along the parapets of the fortress wall, even wrapped around the roof. If it’s all alive, it’s no wonder the castle hasn’t been occupied by invaders yet.

В«Are the berries alive, too?В»

«No, you can pick the berries. But you try to prune them, and they’ll strangle you,» said Rebecca, looking triumphant, as if Brendan had walked into a trap.

«If you’d known it was so risky, you wouldn’t have come to us at any price,» she said, her gaze informing him.

В«Are you picking roses for the princess?В» Brendan guessed.

Rebecca nodded haughtily.

«Does she like roses? There are plenty of more harmless flowers. I don’t like roses myself, because I’ve often pricked myself on their thorns. But honestly, you’re prettier than roses. They just stabbed you!»

«What do you mean?» Rebecca didn’t even frown upon him for his impertinence. «I pick roses with gloves on. I’ve never been pricked.»

«I mean the scratches on your shoulders! They’re so deep! They don’t hurt!»

В«Is it scratches?В» She was amazed. В«You imaginedВ it.В»

You were dreaming! You imagined it! What kind ofВ game is she playing with him? He could see the marks ofВ the five claws on her arms, her shoulders, even her cheekbone.

«You’re like the bride of a werewolf who flirts with him at night and hides her dangerous affair by day.»

«You’ve read too many fairy tales!» Rebecca barked at him.

В«IВ do not read them at all!В»

В«Then how do you know about werewolves? Have you ever seen one?В»

Yeah, Brendan almost said it, the one on aВ chain inВ your dungeons. But it was better toВ keep quiet about the nightmare. Rebecca would have laughed atВ him.

В«Tell me honestly, do you have aВ werewolf beau?В» Brendan was getting bolder with his theories.

«No!» she retorted. «I don’t have a beau.»

«Probably it is because of your prickly disposition, but frankly, your wicked tongue aside, you’re as pretty as a rose.»

Rebecca was about to scold him, but softened when she heard the compliment. All women adore compliments. Here she is no exception. It’s worth continuing to flirt with her.

«You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen in my life,» Brendan admitted honestly. «Well, it is except for the one pretty girl I just dreamed about.»

You have toВ be honest toВ the end. The blonde named Rashelina, who flashed inВ his witchy dream, was far more beautiful than the graceful brunette Rebecca.

«Don’t believe in dreams!» Rebecca said. «Don’t believe in werewolves, either. It’s all nonsense, invented by the local plowmen.»

В«Where do you see any plowmen? The fields are empty!В» Brendan peered through aВ peep-hole inВ the vine-clad wall. He saw black silhouettes inВ the fields. Then they vanished.

«You’ll get sunstroke if you don’t get out of the shade!» Rebecca quipped again.

Brendan obediently stepped back, and glanced casually at the castle window. He must have thought he saw a large, clawed paw pull the curtain back. He wondered if a werewolf could live in a palatial castle. They usually nested in the thicket of the forest. And they do exist. Word once came to the Court of Aluar of a pack of werewolves. They terrorized the Northern. The King took it seriously and sent a band of knights to help. Brendan himself had seen no werewolves, but the scratches on Rebecca’s shoulders worried him. She’s definitely having an affair with a young werewolf boy who peeks into the castle at night. That’s why she’s so unkind to the other guys. After all, werewolves have a knack for flipping beauties and seducing women in such a way that they no longer want to see ordinary men.

How toВ make it clear toВ Rebecca that she was caught inВ aВ web ofВ enchantment, not true love. She was just whistling some dark ballad about aВ queen who fell inВ love with aВ demon. Such frightening tales even Brendan had never heard before.

The sun-drenched garden grew darker with the song. There was no longer aВ whisper from the vines, but aВ grunt ofВ dissatisfaction.

В«Would you like me toВ play lute?В» Brendan politely suggested toВ Rebecca.

В«No!В» she declined.

«Don’t you like the sound of the lute?»

«I don’t like music in general, and I don’t like yours in particular!»

В«But you yourself hum about demons.В»

В«You have auditory hallucinations!В»

There she goes again. Secrecy! Cunning! Insubordination! Insolence! What kind of behavior? Rebecca was clearly in love with some werewolf and hiding all evidence of a connection with him. Brendan hadn’t even considered the possibility that she, for example, might be a werewolf herself. She didn’t scratch herself.




Candlelight Feast


ByВ evening there were no more people inВ the castle. Brendan kept expecting toВ see servants who were not there. He even got aВ little creepy. Only plaster seals squinted at him from all sides. There were caryatids and bookends and stucco decorations on the walls. Even the candelabras are not the typical cupids, but pussycats.

He wished he’d met one living cat. Brendan had long dreamed of a cat of his own with it they would have mutual love. The Bastard, as luck would have it, preferred Uncle King and purred exclusively for him. He wished he had a personal furry friend of his own.

В«No more lazing about!В» Rebecca caught him looking at the murals. В«Her Highness wants toВ see you inВ the feast hall!В»

«Where’s that?»

«I’ll show you out. Don’t forget to bring your lute.»

В«Are there any other guests there besidesВ me?В»

В«What difference does it make toВ you whether toВ play for one princess or an audience?В»

«Don’t sulk! Let’s be friends!»

«We’re already friends!» Rebecca responded indifferently.

And you call that friendship?! What, then, was her enmity and hatred? Brendan was even frightened.

Rebecca acted like aВ stern nun, but she was dressed even vulgarly. The morning dress had been replaced byВ aВ provocative evening gown with aВ plunging neckline and train. The dress was so bright pink it made her eyes water. Brendan never saw whether Rebecca was holding the candelabra inВ her hand or whether it was flying ahead ofВ her through the enfilade ofВ the hall.

InВ the evening, the castle was lit byВ countless candles inВ chandeliers and sconces. Who lights them all when there are no servants around? There was something like aВ low whisper from the flames:

В«It is danger!В»

Did he hear the warning or was he imagining it? It wasn’t Rebecca who was dangerous! Brendan even glanced around, wondering if some monster was following them down the corridor, but it was quiet and comfortable and unoccupied. Only the candles flickered like the Milky Way.

The feast-room was as opulent as could be. She could have held aВ whole army, but the princess sat proudly alone at the head ofВ the long table. The usual opaque veil covered her face.

В«Take your seat anywhere you like!В» She politely offered.

It seemed to Brendan that the velvet covered chairs were occupied. But they were all empty. He thought for a moment and decided to sit at the farthest end of the table. He put the lute beside him and was greatly surprised when the strings jerked. The music began to flow. Didn’t he even have to work? It all worked itself out.

Rebecca walked noiselessly away. Why can’t she stay for dinner? Or does she have some urgent business to attend to? Is it at bedtime? Brendan’s mind was once again filled with thoughts of the werewolf with whom the beautiful girl goes on dates.

«Here you are.» The princess suggested it. She hadn’t touched anything herself. Or had she already eaten?

Contrary to Brendan’s expectations, there were only meat dishes on the table, and not much fruit – only one small vase. And they grow in abundance in the garden. Why save them so much? Grapes, of course, can also be used to make wine. But pears, peaches, plums, if they’re too ripe, they’ll just rot. Maybe they’re used to make juices here.

A mouse sniffed across the table. Brendan shuddered, and suddenly claws peeked out from under the lady’s wide sleeve and clawed at the mouse quite catlike. Was he dreaming? Brendan even pinched himself. Couldn’t a finely dressed lady have slipped a mouse under her veil and eaten it, could she? That’s absurd! The veil was opaque, but there seemed to be blood flowing from underneath. Or was it wine?

В«Would you care toВ show your face?В» He asked.

В«Why should I?В» The princess had aВ beautiful voice. AВ pure soprano!

В«Well, it would be much more comfortable toВ eat and drink without the veil.В»

В«IВ am comfortable as itВ is.В»

There was an awkward pause. Brendan himself fidgeted inВ his chair like aВ frying pan. He felt uncomfortable here for some reason.

«I’ve heard of hot eastern countries where women aren’t supposed to reveal their faces. Your ancestors are probably from such a country.»

«No, I’m from here. I am from this castle.»

«Is it a cat’s castle?»

«Do you say a cat’s castle?» She was astonished.

«Are there many cats here? I haven’t noticed any.»

«There aren’t even many mice.»

В«Are they considered aВ delicacy?В» Brendan bit his tongue as the awkward pause lingered again.

«It’s a wilderness,» the princess finally said. «But we’re in the castle, the center of civilization. So you’re lucky not to spend the night in the fields.»

«Does anyone live in the fields? You can’t see the settlements from the tower.»

«They’re camouflaged.»

В«Why is that?В»

В«There are raids from the mountains. Wild tribes live there.В»

В«And the castle can withstand the onslaughts?В»

«We have a treaty with the savages. They don’t come here.»

«I haven’t embarrassed you too much. I have noticed that the castle is not very fond of receiving guests,» was a subtle hint of Rebecca’s unkindness.

В«IВ am glad toВ have guests,В» the princess protested.

«So why don’t you show your face?»

В«Why is it so important toВ you? Do you think you can judge aВ lady byВ her beauty alone?В»

«I prefer intelligence,» Brendan admitted honestly. «I’ve already met empty-headed beauties.»

«Good! So it doesn’t matter what I look like to you.»

«You’re not pretty, are you? Or is your face covered with a rash? Or is it smallpox?»

В«Are you aВ healer, too?В»

В«It is not at all.В»

«Then don’t ask.»

В«Forgive me for not being delicate.В»

Her tone overwhelmed him, so playful and yet so commanding. She was about toВ put him on aВ leash like aВ tameВ cat.

«You’re good-looking,» the princess remarked playfully. «Handsome fellows usually prefer the ugly ones. Opposites, as we all know, mutually attract.»

В«Honesty is for honesty! IВ liked your companion Rebecca, though she was not amiable.В»

«Yes, she can’t give hospitality.»

В«But at least she set the table.В»

«That’s not her.»

В«Who isВ it?В»

В«They are the servants.В»

«But I haven’t seen any servants here.»

«You don’t have to.»

В«Are they all covering their faces, too?В»

Have they got some kind of epidemic here? It’s time to run away! But Rebecca doesn’t seem to have leprosy.

«It’s embarrassing that I still don’t even know your name.»

В«IВ am Rashelina,В» said the princess.

В«Are you Rashelina?В» Brendan almost fell out ofВ his chair. The same name as the fairytale beauty inВ his dream! Could he be so lucky toВ see her inВ real life, too? His heart fluttered. He was so inВ love with the girl from the dream that it was time toВ call him insane and put him on aВ chain. Barely had the chance toВ look at her again, he himself was ready toВ violate etiquette and violently rip the veil from the mistress ofВ the castle.

«I’ll play you on the condition that you show me your face,» he delivered his ultimatum, as if he were the castle’s invader, not a beggar.

В«But tonight is not aВ moonlit night.В»

– What has a moonlit night to do with it?

That’s absurd! What does a moonlit night have to do with her veil?

В«IВ usually only take my veil off on aВ moonlit night.В»

В«Why do you say that?В»

Rashelina hesitated.

В«Daylight, like candlelight, is not friendly toВ me.В»

That sounds like a riddle. Brendan didn’t like riddles because he didn’t know how to solve them.

«I thought you’d taken some stupid vow, like a vow of silence or a vow of celibacy.»

But is there any vow that requires one to cover one’s face with a veil?

The lute played itself. Brendan was taken aback byВ the sight ofВ the strings, as if they were being plucked byВ invisible fingers.

– I want to dance,» said Rachelina, fretting. – And there is no one to dance with but you.

«Take off your veil and I’ll dance with you!»

В«It is very well!В» Rashelina gave inВ and threw back the sliding piece ofВ opaque silk from her face. Brendan was stunned.

Well, there you have it! Such aВ face was worth seeing. Or was it better not toВ seeВ it?

And he brought up the subject ofВ beauty. Rashelina was the prettiest she had ever been. But she was aВ cat! Who could have aВ cuter face than aВ pretty, fluffy cat? Except that he had expected toВ see the girl from his dream, not aВ human-sized cat dressed inВ aВ lavish ball gown.

В«Would you prefer an ordinary lady?? Rashelina guessed.

В«It is not at all,В» Brendan mumbled. В«IВ love cats!В»

He would not have insulted the lady ofВ the castle byВ dreaming that he had seen inВ her place the beauty ofВ the dream. She was also called Rachelina. Alas, he was faced with aВ very different Rashelina. Perhaps the first was just aВ dream spirit, aВ moon fairy or something like that. Anyway, one could only meet her again inВ aВ dream. And now it is not aВ dream. Rashelina, impatiently waiting for him inВ reality, is just aВ regal cat. There is nowhere toВ go. He led her inВ aВ dance.




Invisible guests


The cat’s paw lay on top of his palm very gently, trying not to run her claws over his skin. And lace cuffs froth over the cat’s paw. Brendan had never before in his life seen precious rings even on the paws of a well-groomed Bastard. But the feline princess was wearing many rings: rubies, sapphires, and topazes. The cat’s kingdom is obviously very rich.

Stop! Why did he think it was a cat’s kingdom? After all, Rebecca is not a cat. And he hadn’t noticed any other feline subjects here yet, either. The creepy monsters in the fields were definitely not of feline stock. Which meant the cat was only a princess. Was her pretty, fluffy face a mask? Brendan dismissed the notion at once. The cat lady in front of him was definitely a natural, not a masquerade. Even the tone of her voice reverberated with a purr or a rumbling.

After the dance, the floor was covered in scratches. Apparently, the claws on the princess’s feet had left marks on the parquet.

«You weren’t as surprised as my other guests,» said Rachelina. «Have you seen anyone like me before?»

«I’ve seen a lot of things in my life,» Brendan brushed them aside.

«You’re too young to be a seasoned traveler. You’ve been a vagabond since you were a boy, haven’t you?»

Well, the cat princess had caught him in a lie. What should he do now? He could not tell her that he had only seen the world through Ephigenia’s crystal ball, but that he had been locked up in his uncle’s castle.

В«ToВ be honest, IВ adore cats,В» Brendan twisted. В«And your feline beauty is beyond all praise.В»

«You are flatterer!» Of course, she didn’t blush like a human, but she looked embarrassed.

«I’m not a ladies’ man,» Brendan hastened to object. «I’ve never been a ladies’ man, but cats, in my opinion, are the loveliest creatures on earth. And you are the most extraordinary and delightful cat I have ever met.»

What other words to describe that he was struck by the sight of a cat in a gorgeous lady’s dress and with a tiara between its pointy ears.

В«Was that aВ compliment?В» Rashelina guessed.

В«It is indeed!В»

The cat princess looked strangely at the empty rows of chairs at the banquet table, as if she were waiting for approval from someone. But from whom is it? After all, there were no guests at the table. At least, there were none in sight. Brendan felt sick at the thought that there might be ghosts in the hall. One goblet suddenly tumbled and rolled between the dishes, as if someone had pushed it. And it wasn’t a mouse at all!

В«Nearly all the mice inВ the place must have been captured,В» Brendan suggested, just toВ say something.

«You’re right! There used to be lots of them, but now there are hardly any left. You can never have too many mice.»

She touched Brendan’s fingers inadvertently with her claw.

В«Oh, IВ am sorry!В»

«It’s all right.»

Really, it’s nothing. It wasn’t the scratch that bothered Brendan, but the way the princess licked her face predatorily at the mention of mice. She might one day set her sights on the minstrel, too. She is, after all, a cat in human size. So she must have bigger game, too. Now it was clear who had scratched Rebecca. It was no werewolf suitor, by all accounts, and no sign of him. But there was a Mistress with claws. It must be hard to serve under a mistress like that. Anything at all, she’ll scratch you.

В«So you said you liked me aВ lot?В» purred or uttered the cat lady.

Is he just hearing things? Or is she asking for more compliments?

«I don’t think so!» Brendan confessed honestly. «Rendezvous with a cat is the nicest thing that’s happened to me in days.»

В«Is it with the princess,В» said Rashelina, with aВ matter-of-fact tone.

«You’re the sweetest thing that’s happened to me in days.»

«And you think I’m the loveliest creature you’ve ever seen in your life?»

Yes, it was except for the girl in the dream and the beautiful lady in charge of the cavalcade of elves. But Brendan didn’t want to upset the kitty. She might cut him with her claws, like poor Rebecca.

В«Yes!В» he nodded. He thought toВ himself how hard it was for Rebecca toВ be with such aВ mistress. She has every claw the size ofВ aВ knife. No wonder Rebecca was all twitchy and nervous, always on pins and needles.

But the waltz with the cat princess was like aВ sweet dream. Not counting the claws, Rashelina was so gentle and fluffy. And her muzzle, covered with white-golden wool, was so pleasant toВ look at. And her eyes were multi-colored, as if some wizard had sharpened aВ rainbow inside her pupils.

«You’re the prettiest cat in the universe,» Brendan flattered her once again.

В«Would you like toВ stay here with me forever?В»

Rashelina’s tone became mellifluous. Brendan had no idea her question was a tricky one.

В«OfВ course there was!В»

The lute was instantly silenced, as if aВ ghost playing the strings had stopped upon hearing his answer. Suddenly laughter erupted at the table, as if dozens ofВ guests had been seated there. Brendan turned around. No one was there. All the chairs were empty. And there seemed toВ be more candles inВ the room. And some ofВ them are floating right up above the dance floor.

В«The round has begun!В» Rashelina proclaimed.

В«Do you mean the next dance?В»

В«No, it is not at all.В»

There’s something not quite right. Rashelina looked at him with slightly squinting eyes, as if she’d snatched a bird.

«Is there something I don’t understand?»

«It’s all right,» the feline princess winked at him. «You must wait until the tournament begins.»

В«What tournament is it? Is it the music tournament?В»

Rashelina laughed aВ pleasant purr.

«You have a beautiful voice,» Brendan remarked. «I can play for you and you can sing along with my lute, if you like. Or I’ll sing for you.»

В«Sing for them,В» she turned him toward the empty table.

Who’s there to sing for? Not one chair is occupied. But if the princess wants to fool around, why not play along. Brendan has become accustomed to the Bastard’s caprices: give him a sleeve ribbon, bring him a ball of wool, part with a pearl button he wants to roll across the floor like a ball.

Rashelina has so far behaved far more decently than the Aluar cats. So why not pleaseВ her?

Brendan picked up his lute and began toВ recall the notes ofВ one rhapsody. As he tried toВ sit down inВ his chair, he was shaken byВ ice and pushed from his seat. Brendan was taken aback. There really was someone inВ the empty chair. He seemed toВ make out vague translucent silhouettes at the table inВ all the seats except the chair at the head ofВ the table.

В«Play the lute!В» Rachelina spurred him on. В«Everyone here loves music.В»

Now Brendan didn’t ask who everyone was. They were there, he just couldn’t see them.

В«Your eyesight is poor,В» said Rachelina as he peered around the corner ofВ the table, but you have aВ goodВ ear.

Brendan heard the clinking ofВ glasses before he noticed that the goblets and cups were indeed hovering aВ millimeter above the table, as if someone invisible were lifting them.

There was nowhere toВ go. Brendan played just toВ keep from going crazy. Music always cheered himВ up.

The invisible guests of Rachelina’s continued to feast, moving dishes around the table. Was there a whole crowd of them or just a few? He could hear them laughing, but he could not see them. He did not see them until he heard the rustling of their clothes. Some of the guests had evidently begun to dance. Brendan realized how difficult it was to play blind. Someone had elbowed him, and he couldn’t even see who it was. The invisibles started pinching and teasing him.

В«Play it cool!В» Rashelina noticed that the minstrel was nervous.

«How is it? They turn me on?» Brendan snapped when someone shoved him so he couldn’t stand on his feet.

«They’re just jealous,» the cat princess explained. «They sense competition.»

Brendan didn’t understand her again.

В«Dinner costs too much here if IВ have toВ play for those who want toВ tortureВ me.В»

В«It is all right!В» Rashelina clapped her hands together. The guests seemed toВ be gone inВ aВ flash. Only the sighs were audible.

«So you can get them out of here?» Brendan opened his mouth in amazement. «I mean, isn’t anyone capable of controlling invisible people?»

В«IВ am, after all, aВ princess!В» The little pussycat lady said.

В«And IВ have toВ play every night for the invisible?В»

В«No, after the wedding, you yourself will be the prince here, and you no longer have toВ earn your bread playing.В»

В«Is it aВ wedding?В» Clement had aВ cold sweat on his forehead. Whose wedding isВ it?В»

It was not without reason that he suspected something amiss. Rashelina’s feline face was already a smiling face, but she looked sly all of a sudden.

В«You asked me toВ marry you,В» she explained, В«because you wished toВ remain here forever, and byВ the rules ofВ the realm you proposed toВ me.В»

«I didn’t know there were such rules.»

«But you can’t go back on your word.»

«Even if I turn out to be an imbecile who didn’t know what he was talking about?» Brendan clutched the lute as if it were a shield against misfortune.

«I should be glad to let you go,» she understood his hesitation, «but there is no way to transgress the law of the land. Magic won’t allow it.»

Brendan knew there was magic here, but even he was shocked at the magic laws. Even Ephigenia hadn’t warned him about that.

«My Lady, that is, your feline highness…» Brendan staggered toward the exit. «You are very kind to me, but…»

«But you don’t want to marry a cat,» she prompted.

How aptly put! He couldn’t have put it more accurately. Brendan liked her. He liked her a lot. To look at a cat trained in social manners was a delight to the soul, but to marry her was nonsense! It was as if he had fallen into a nightmare.

В«Will you give me aВ night toВ think about it?В«He said toВ the princess, or her unseen subjects.

Rashelina merely nodded.

She nodded. В«If you refuse, you will be summarily executed,В» she warned him inВ aВ sorrowful tone.

Brendan did not specify who would execute him. But somehow he had no doubt that there would be invisible executioners. They might be invisible, but they knew how toВ inflict pain. While he was playing, he was pushed and plucked like aВ victim. Apparently, they saw him as aВ victim inВ the beginning.

Had he known how his visit to the cat’s castle would have ended, he would never have come here. Now all he had to do was escape. In one night he could get far away. He might even be able to take Rebecca with him.




Escape


Rebecca could not be found. She, too, is a victim. She must be saved! Otherwise the princess will scratch her to death. And even if she didn’t kill her, she would claw her to death.

Clement scolded himself for thinking Rebecca was a mean girl. You should never sulk at a man for being stern until you know what provoked his sternness. Showing herself a bitch and a prude, Rebecca only wanted to drive him out of the castle, because she knew the danger that threatens him here. And now he can’t even pay her back.

There are so many rooms and locked doors in the castle. Which one could be Rebecca’s bedroom? Clement jerked one handle and burned himself. The metal was red-hot. Another door knob, shaped like a lion’s head, bit him. A third doorknob, shaped like a bear’s mouth, laughed at him.

That’s it! That’s enough! Let Rebecca save herself. And he should take advantage of the forfeit he had struck out. In one night he’ll have time to leave the confines of the kingdom if he runs fast.

And what, in fact, is he running from? A gentle cat’s face and clawed paws? Ridiculous, really! But marriage to a cat is also ridiculous and silly. Not even his uncle would approve of It. Is it possible to call a marriage to the princess a mesalliance?




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