As Lord Kestrel moved slowly with slumped shoulders toward the reception area, the ending event of this all too long day began. Sert entered with a dark annoyed scowl on his normally cheerful face. He was grumbling under his breath and Mekiliean wasn’t with him. I could hear Cole scribbling notes in his room upstairs which I presumed was his report about how the Fairy situation was dealt with fully. A soft imperceptible sigh to normal ears escaped Kestrel’s body.
“What happened Sert?” he stated. Kestrel had not stopped moving as he was headed for his den. I was unsure why going to his den matter at this very moment but it seemed to take precedence in his actions.
“Meli has locked herself in the Royal Kitchen with Chichi.” Sert retorted through clenched teeth. Kestrel stopped and turned to face his first guard. He said nothing as he looked squarely at Sert. I took this moment to move in a shadow closer to the door of the house as my nose could smell Sert’s true worried emotions veiled by false annoyance. “She sounded inebriated.” he added softly. Kestrel closed his eyes for but a moment before bolting through the door with a string of garbled words. Only a very few of these words I recognized which were Atlantian swears.
I helped Sert barely keep up with our master who moved like an unstoppable juggernaut in the nearly empty nighttime streets of Atlantis. I returned to the shadows once we reached the doors to the kitchen but this was after Lord Kestrel had kicked them cleanly open easily. I smelt not only anger but an unworldly scent coming from him, the hint of strong liquor mixed with another unfamiliar blood scent, and the steaming sweat on Sert’s body. What I witness within the kitchen will stay in my memories forever. A trapped look appeared on Meli face at first but was soon replaced with a mischievous grin before she tossed back the content of her glass which ended up shattered in the cooking embers. The bright flash of fire and reek of burning alcohol nearly chocked me at this moment. Both Meli and Sert suddenly froze in their actions like realistic statues. I remained silent in the shadows peering into the kitchen ready to listen to what would be said by my master.
“Have you lost what little mind you have left Famine?” Kestrel bellowed into the now silent room. I could see the blackness oozing like tendrils of smoke from my master’s body. “You were told that the ingestion of Dragon's Blood is not allowed on Atlantis, you fool!” screeched out of Kestrel. His hands now turning into chitin covered talons glowed as lightning played along them. I was frozen in place witnessing this awesome power of my chosen master which truly looked more dreadful than his actions of plucking a Fairy’s wings.
“She wanted to know the effects of Dragon’s Blood so she understood why it is not allowed here.” the foreign head chef returned in a whine. The other two came alive again as Kestrel’s talon fist struck Meli cleanly on her cheek. A squeaking mewl escaped me but none seem to notice. Meli’s body pirouetted once before being caught in Kestrel’s arms. A gurgling gasped escaped Sert at this moment.
“We will have words later Chilörąn!’ Kestrel warned him. He opted to carry Meli’s unconscious body personally back. I didn’t move as they passed by me to return home. I peeked into the kitchen to see the little chef sigh before pulling out another bottle of libation. I rushed to catch up to them now. Sert was still grumbling loudly about teaching the chef a good lesson when Kestrel stopped without turning at him. “I order you to not speak again until I give you permission to speak!” Kestrel barked. I could smell and feel the feral anger radiating from his body. It drowned out all my senses at the sheer level it was at.
With Sert finally silent, I walked nearly with them as we moved at a normal pace to return home. Neither of them seemed to notice as I followed closely up the stairs and into Meli’s room. Lord Kestrel placed Meli gently on her bed which is when I noticed the tear in his eyes. They entire events of the day had been more than he could take and tears ran freely down his cheeks. With a deep breath, he rose and turned in a single graceful motion. He left the room and firmly closed the door at his back. This was when I realized that I was now trapped in Meli’s room.
“Guard this door but do not go into the room no matter what protests or cajoling Meli attempts on you.” I heard Kestrel order. Now my fate was sealed since only I was available to help Meli if she needed assistance during her recovery from the alcohol, Dragon’s Blood, and the master’s firm hand. “I am going to have more direct words with Chichi.” he continued. “Do not make a move against him, understand?” he added bluntly. Then the master’s scent was gone from the door which suggested to me that Sert had agreed to hold his anger in check for now. Now my nose started truly reporting the smells around me. The sweet hint of flowers and bitter herbs were filling my nostrils. Meli moaned a call for Sert who refused to answer her. I crept close to her bed but held my tongue.
“Sert!” she moaned louder. No reply came from the other side of the closed door.
“Best to simply sleep Meli.” I whispered to her.
“I have a kitten to watch over me?” she asked softly. Her hand reached out towards the sound of my voice. I knew her eyes could not truly see me in this dark room while I could still see mostly clear. Her outstretched hand bore no fear for me but what her other hand did was a problem for me. It had grasped at the string holding her clothing on her body.
“You should not be doing that.” I stated under my breath. I did attempt to avoid the sight being exposed to me but my own curiosity had me glance as more of her skin was being revealed to me. Her outstretched hand finally found me in a firm unyielding grasp. My toe claws tried digging into the wooden floor resisting her pulling me onto the bed with her but it was in vain. I curled into a small ball of fur as she clutched me tightly to her exposed bosom. I was lucky enough to flip myself around so I was not facing her.
“You smell so much like this place.” she murmured at my ear. I could smell the heavy stench of alcohol on her breath in this close distance. “You could be like a little brother to me.” she continued. A slight sleepy slur was audible in her voice. “Little brother Redpath that big sister Meli can cuddle with.” she whispered. I could hear that her breathing had started falling into the slower pattern of sleep. Her heart beat was still strong but it had calmed down as she drifted into sleep. Her grip on me took longer to loosen but, as she truly fell asleep. I could have escaped her bed. I opted to stay there purring softly as I myself drifted to sleep with her.
I was awake much earlier than her and silently slipped out of her bed. I walked in slow silence on my padded feet to the door. I listen to hear the sounds of Sert snoring softly on the other side of the door. I opened the door cautiously fearing Sert had slept leaning against the door to make it easier to notice the door opening while still getting rest. My fears proved validated as I had to hold the door more firmly against the weight of Sert’s sleeping form. It took very careful moves on my part to slide out and reclose the door without disturbing the sleeping guard. Once extricated from the room, I lightly shook Sert’s shoulder.
“A guard should not sleep while on duty.” I softly reprimanded him. One of his eyes opened to stare at me.
“And little kitten shouldn’t be in a girl’s bedroom all night.” he returned just as softly. I gulped and blushed. I have always been happy that when a feral guard blushes, it usually goes unnoticed by all others. “And your tail shows me that you are blushing Kitty.” he added. A little smirk formed on his face as I realized my tail had curled up around me when I blushed.
“I did nothing wrong and it was Lord Kestrel himself that left me in the room with big sister Meli!” I retorted quickly. Sert smiled and chuckled at my words. It took a moment for me to know what I had stated and the blush returned to my cheeks, ears, and tail.
“Is it a good feeling to be a little brother?” he asked softly to me. I was thinking about this when the knock on the door came from below us. “We can discuss this later.” he added. He quickly was on his feet signalling me to follow him. He rushed down the stairs to the main door’s of the house. My nose still couldn’t find a trace of Lord Kestrel in the house as I followed. The frantic knocking came again as we landed in the foyer. My sense of smell already told me who was on the other side of our door this early in the morning: Khën, of the Ferret Guards. I had no chance to warn Sertian as he opened the main door.
“Glorious morning to you both!” the ferret announced as he entered.
“What bring you Khën to Lord Kestrel’s mansion this early in the morn?” Sert replied easily. “And in such high spirits?” another smell touched my nose that was both familiar and exotic.
“The last Captain has returned...” I stated softly.
“You are a brilliant kitten Redpath!” he chittered merrily. “He will be landing at the dock soon and rushed to the Palace to meet our new Royal family.” he continued. His nose seemed to have a life of its own as it twitched violently out of his control. “Lord Kestrel must meet him immediately.” he concluded.
“I will go awake Kestrel right away with this wonderful news.” Sert answered. As he tried to turn, I blocked his path.
“The master of the house is not here Sert!” I nearly screamed at him. “I have not sensed his return last night.” I added quickly. I was saved more explanation as the door opened and Lord Kestrel entered. The smell of alcohol still clung to him even if he appeared fully sober but it could have been the bottle in his hand that smelt. Meli was there with us before I noticed her. The only oddness in her was the lack of a mark upon her cheek where Lord Kestrel had struck her.
“What has happened?” Kestrel stated with a small mischievous grin. Khën turned to face him. It was evident that the ferret had spotted the bottle of liquor in Kestrel’s hand. I couldn’t see his face but the slow back step he took spoke volumes of his nervous state. It was not a big surprise to me since dealing with a drunk is a quick way of getting hurt without true intentions. Kestrel simply laughed waving his free hand dismissively at Khëndrâèl while Meli moved to his side.
“Have this bottle placed in a safe place since it is a most potent mix of sake.” he informed Meli. He quickly handed the bottle to her smiling sheepishly. “Relieved it from our alcoholic little chef.” he explained to her in a whisper. She blushed violently and nearly dropped the bottle. “And it is not the stuff he was sharing with you.” he added with a small chuckle. His attention turned to the much more relaxed Khën.
“I bring word that Captain Jäzærha is arriving on a ship shortly.” Khën informed him. “Your presence is requested in the greeting line immediately.” he continued. “You are to stand near the dais holding a royal place because of the position you still have even with your long absence Sir.” he stated merrily. Kestrel still examined the ferret’s face. “He is accompanied by a foreign woman.” he added under his breath. Meli exited the foyer instantly holding the bottle at arms length for her body.
“I must presume that Lord Munin is taking this opportunity to make a Royal assembly filled with pomp and ceremony?” Kestrel returned quickly. He smiled viciously as the ferret nodded his annoyed agreement. With this short exchange, Kestrel was off again following the Ferret Guard out of our door.
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