“Redpath's Journals: Dodging Kestrel's Steps” (4)

Lord Kestrel spoke bluntly to Sert and Meli before forcing his way through the streets of Atlantis with a dozen mixed Feral Guards clearing a path for him. I followed him to the doors of our Holy Highness' prison and before any could notice, I slipped in with him keeping tightly to the shadows. I nearly crashed into his legs as he stopped suddenly in the doorway to the Holy Queen's private garden. I glanced passed him noting what had stopped his steps.

The Queen slept on the grass like a child after playing too long in the sun. Miss Hope stood too clearly visible or this to be a feigned slumber by Her Holiness. The tigress turned slowly to gaze at Lord Kestrel making me dodge deeper into the dark shadows within the hallway. I watched in silence as she moved with perfect feline grace and quietness to join him at the doors. I fell back from shadow to shadow as Miss Hope lead Lord Kestrel back to the foyer whispering words to him.

“They want the ones that broke away turned into an example?” he asked directly. “Destroyed?” he added coldly. I shivered in the shadows at the hard edge frost in Lord Kestrel's voice. I remembered watching the carnage he levelled upon them during his visit.

“They are being called rebels that have broken their Fairy Oath.” the tigress replied tensely. “They have spoken about the many treatises signed with Atlantis making this Her duty to exterminate them.” she concluded growling darkly. I felt I had betrayed them by not having the information in their hands before all this could turn rotten.

“Where does the Council stand on this matter?” he returned without even glancing at her.

“They feel like the Fairies are over stepping themselves and should be the ones crushed under Atlantian heels.” she growled back.

“Which places them in the right as the Rebel Fairies claim a conspiracy afoot to take Atlantis.” he reported in a whisper. His words had Miss Hope growling and cursing in disbelief and anger. “If Annianka bows to their will in this matter, then she is handing them the reigns of Atlantis.” he told her. “If they persist to drag Atlantis into their drama, break the treaties with them and throw the winged little arses off Atlantis en mass.”

“And cause a civil war within the Fairy Nation?” she rebuked him. “Turning other non-humans against Atlantis?” she added bluntly.

“A show of Atlantian Power and Integrity might be in order.” he suggested. His face turned into a feral mask as purely animalistic as any of the Feral Guards gone rabid. “Send me their representatives in the morning and get all this renegotiated in Atlantis' favor.” he ordered. He grinned like a hyena about to gorge itself on easy prey.

“We cannot afford a diplomatic incident between us and them at this time.” she growled at him.

“They face the Envoy of the Ones On High who is negotiating the new treaty between them and Atlantis.” he scowled at her. He did not listen to what followed as he walked away but I heard her words of warning.

“Without knowing how deep this conspiracy goes, we might be walking directly into their hands with this idea of yours.” she roared at his retreating back. I pounced behind him as Miss Hope turned to return to her charge sleeping peacefully in the garden. Once more I nearly crashed into his legs as he had stopped to face the viper Cole. I smelt the acrid staleness of perspiration wafting from Cole as he stood alone bravely facing off with Lord Kestrel. I did, for a moment, hope that this would be his day to die at Kestrel's hands but this was unfortunately not that day.

“Our friends in the Council wish me to convey gratitude for your actions.” the viper stated. They knew what Lord Kestrel had done but glorified his debauchery. “We have kept the others in the dark since they are mostly secluded in an attempt to find a loop hole in the treatises to refuse the Fairy Nation's demands.” They stood nearly nose to nose making me think Cole would lose his face to Kestrel teeth as he bit his head clean from his body. Blood pumped faster in my veins as the possibly seemed closer for Cole's early demise.

“Tell them if they acquiesce to the Fairies' requests, they may as well give them full authority over Atlantis.” he snarled in his face. Cole stepped back as his eyes showed too much white suddenly. “I will renegotiate all the treaties in the morning if the Fairies still wish to remain in favor with Atlantis.” he ordered bluntly to him. “Warn our friends that it will be aggressive negotiations so some may be injured, maimed, and even killed to make a point to those fluttering parasites.” He moved to walk away but Cole placed a brave or crazy hand upon his arm to arrest Lord Kestrel's motion.

“Speak with our friends directly before leaving sir.” he said in false braveness. “They received notices from the other non-humans in the area of that mound that might be of value in your negotiations.” he stated humbly. I truly felt pity at that moment for this man trapped between the vileness of the Council and the nobility of Lord Kestrel. The latter looked confused at Cole as a wicked smirk showed more than words that the Council had something that would benefit Lord Kestrel's efforts.

I followed as he walked into the Council Chambers to be meet warmly by the Guards on duty with pleasant jibs about not requiring flying lessons. They lead him to a small study in the back forcing me to hide in the hallway attempting to hear a passing word or two from within the room. Burdish appeared shortly to enter the room in a rush with a pair of clerks, all carrying bundles of letters.

He exited a few minutes later smiling in earnest at what had been shown to him though he carried nothing of those letters with him. He moved quickly with the surefootedness of a feline reminding me of when I first meet him. He easily dodge my brothers' and sisters' attacks in that same surefooted style. I lost track of him as he entered his residence while I scrambled over the shorter part of the wall into the training area. On padded paws I quickly moved around the home avoiding detection as best I could from the other residents. I found him in his den writing multiple copies of what appeared to be the same document for a small army to read easily. I hide half behind, half under the desk by his legs as a jubilant Cole entered with Sert and Meli following cautiously.

“The Council will back any treaty you draft with the Fairy Nation unanimously.” he nearly crowed triumphantly. Kestrel shifted to sit straighter at the desk.

“We can expect guess tomorrow?” Meli asked confused. “We truly do not have the staff to hold a meeting with the whole Fairy Nation.” she cautioned.

“Both the Royal and Council Kitchen have offered their support in these negotiations.” Cole informed them. “And the Royal Guards have already volunteered to patrol any such event upon the Council’s most politely earnest request.”

“And I will speak to Odin since he and our rebel leader will be attending this meeting.” Lord Kestrel stated. My gulp was hidden by Meli's thunderous gulp.

“Might give you a chance to ask if he was truly behind the supposed Royal Appointment of the naive Munin.” Sert suggested.

“That subject will not be touched.” Kestrel growled back. “His time is too precious for more than a few minutes to tell the flutter bugs to behave and listen to the one he is allowing to represent Atlantis and the world.” he continued bluntly.

Later that afternoon found me looking down from a tree perch at a darker skin woman in the Lord's private garden. She was the wife of the Egyptian representative but, to my shock and disbelief, she was also Lord Kestrel's niece. The smell was indisputable in the closed area of the small garden.

“Why must I constantly change bodies in the outer world while you remain in the same stoic body I first meet you in Uncle?” she asked harshly.

“I am special plus this body regenerates because I live in Atlantis.” he whispered back. “Why did you finally decide to leave Egypt and see this grand world with your loving eternal husband?” he continued softly. I felt nearly lulled on the branch by the calmness in his voice.

“My skills are as sharp as ever just like the honest and humble heart of my sweet husband.” she answered. I froze since this did not make any sense to me as answer. This odd half spoken half alluded to conversation continued lulling me to near sleep until the words “my cousin Sara” escaped the woman's mouth. I came awake nearly falling from the tree into the woman's lap.

“But you two can still speak since she shares our family gift of mental speak.” Lord Kestrel commented. I filled my nose with his sense before launching myself in silence over the lower section of wall. My heart pounded in my chest as I rushed through the street not worrying about being seen while this information that Lord Kestrel would be the true father of Princess Sara driving me to move faster. Sections of the streets blurred at the speed I forced myself to move since this would be a nearly impossible chance to smell Lord Kestrel scent upon Sara. It would be a scandal if this was true. Miss Hope and the other Captain must be informed if this was the dark truth. I hung nearly upside-down from a branch within the garden that Princess Sara would play and study during the day away from all others.

The thought hit like a hammer between my eyes before I even got a scent of Sara. The Captains, Miss Hope, and all the feral should have smelt Lord Kestrel upon Princess Sara and still they remained silent about it. Sara glanced up from playing to look directly at me.

“Little Kitty should not worry so much.” whispered in my mind followed by Princess Sara's squealing giggles. I dropped to the ground by her and slipped into a bush next to her.

“You know the truth?” I asked softly.

“Yes, I know who my father is.” she stated in my mind. “But it is something we do not talk to others about.”

“But this is improper.” I protested weakly to her.

“They all know you silly Kitty.” she rebuked me. “Munin is the pretend King while Father is the one who makes the decision with Mother while she gets to be a true Queen once more.” she explained. “Leave it be and watch to see how noble and honorable this arrangement truly is Kitty.” she added. Her mental giggle combined with her real vocal squeals of pleasure. Her private Feral Guard moved from concealment to stare hard in my direction. I moved in total silence into view to salute her before departing in the same speedy but creeping pattern I entered this place. I did not look back to see if the tigress followed me as I went to the training field to ponder the events I discovered today. I was absently watching the sparring sessions when I spotted Sert and Cole arriving together to stand in the sandy battle square.

My curiosity was peeked and I moved closer to watch these two that I never would believe practice together. I was not alone as a few younger cadets and their trainers moved over to use this as a demonstration of “differing styles of combat pitted against each other”. My position was still closest to the sparring square as both stopped to move to their own side of the field. A mewling gasped escaped me as both glanced in my direction while they removed all weapons and armor for this session.

“Oh!” Cole drawled. “It is the annoying cat that skulks around the residence.” he told Sert loudly.

“Maybe facing him would be more your speed than facing a trained soldier?” Sert suggested back.

“Or a better challenge for you facing wild fangs and claws?” Cole retorted. My ears burned with anger as I heard their comments. I was on the verge of walking out and challenging both of them to prove myself to be part of Lord Kestrel's retinue permanently. Their soft merry laughter halted my step and my anger.

“Let us just practice this unarmed combat form while we have the chance before all the running around tomorrow.” Sert stated between laughs. “If we have time, we can test the kitten to see if we should continue ignoring his presence within our household.” he continued easily. Cole shrugged at first before nodding slowly in agreement to his companions deal.

“The winner must be the panther's tester?” Cole countered after a moment of slow nodding.

“Is that agreeable to you, Young Redpath?” Sert asked. I could not find words within my mind at this comment. I am sure my jaw hung loosely ground ward as I felt the eyes of all the cadets and trainers on me at that moment. I forced myself to nod as I gulped to close my mouth nearly trembling with anticipation and wanting to disappear from the view of the others present. “Good.” Sert remarked loudly to the crowd. “The one who bares the noble name of Lord Kestrel should never feel out of place facing a challenge.” he added louder for me.

“Just be nice enough not to beat us down Young Kestrel Redpath.” Cole commented wryly.

I heard the murmur of surprise and awe whispered in the ranks of the Council cadets before noting the soft foot step at my back. My nose already warned me that Captain Curd himself moved up behind me making me stiffen. I turned my head to face him with the rest of my body unmoving while my heartbeat drowned my hearing partially. The Captain smiled cattishly at me but refrained from saluting as he took a place next to me to watch the show. The action in the sandy square was not the typical clawing attacks I learned through my young life. The attacks started with simple fists but progress to kicks, elbows, knees, and throws making it a deadly looking graceful dance like nothing I had seen before. This was all new to me that my observing Lord Kestrel training Sert did not happen before this odd moment.

“I suggest you do not disturb Princess Sara too frequently.” Curd whispered to me. My relaxation of watching the beauty of the sparring melted away to the same stiffness I first felt upon his arrival. “But it is not wrong for you to bring Her word of Lord Kestrel's journey since she cannot know of them directly.” he continued in the frozen lip whisper. “If you understand my suggestion to you.”

“I cannot speak of things I have never seen.” I commented defensively. Curd sighed softly.

“None of the Feral would even attempt stopping you leaving with Lord Kestrel.” he stated silently.

“Why would this be?” I growled back. I felt the heat of redness in my cheeks but it was not embarrassment but sheer anger making me boil.

“You would do it anyways.” he returned. A small purring chuckle escaped him making me turn to face Captain Curd. I saw his eyes looked sad and the smell of fear seemed to be coming from him. “You will do whatever you put your mind to and none of us have a chance of stopping you short of killing you.” he told me. His tone was still a whisper but sounded at a normal tone to me. “Most of the Guards have only been spotting you after the fact little kitten.” he continued. “A feat that none of us would even consider how you did it.” I stared into his eyes for but a moment before nodding silently to him. My eyes returned to the training field to see both Sert and Cole dropping to their knees, breathing hard, and showing the forfeit symbol.

“If this is your best,” I remarked loudly, “I think my training will be exciting as part of Lord Kestrel's household.”

“Well said Young Redpath.” Curd stated at my side. “Now do we show these Council Cadets, what claws and fangs can do?” he asked. His words were followed by a derisive purring laughter I could not ignore.

“When you are ready, I will face you without fear as I represent Lord Kestrel's claws and fangs.” I retorted. The gulp from the Cadets was like an earthquake hitting us but more importantly was the look of acceptance from Sert and Cole at my words. I did not fair half as well as either of the other two members of my newly accepted household's draw against each other facing off with the Tiger Captain. I lost without question but at least escaped serious injuries at the claws of vicious fighter. The Cadets still looked at me in awe as I walked off the field to face both Sert and Cole without fear.

“That was truly an awful performance.” Sert stated seriously.

“You join the training group in the morning with Sert, the afternoon with Meli, and with me in the evening.” Cole decided instantly. “We need you up to speed as quickly as possible.” he added with a little smirk.

“Need all your house guards able to face any opponent victoriously.” Curd commented. “Best you also take a fourth session every other day with the five Guard groupings.” he suggested. “I want a true challenge for our next official sparring session.” he added purring.

“As is your will Captain Curd!” I responded quickly. I gave him a quick salute that made gasps rise from the onlookers. It took me a moment to realize that I was not alone in my salute to the Captain. Both Sert and Cole joined my in my salute before we walked together back to, what was now, my home.