Maker of Fire

Oyyeth, Is'syal, Harvest Season, 9th rot., evening of the 6th day

"Oh my darling lovey duck, I'm home!" my husband's bass echoed down the hallway that led to the family sitting room and the back door. "And I have company!"

The King had sent a message last rotation to warn me that Hessakos was on his way back from the East Coast. While I was expecting him, I didn't know when, and I didn't think he'd be bringing guests. But before I could get up from my place at the dinner table, Troy was out of his chair and out the door.

"Troyeepay Kas'syo haup Gunndit," I pronounced loud enough for the whole house to hear, "did I excuse you from the table?"

"So, you left the table without being excused first, son?" Hessakos asked. I could hear his smile.

"Yes, Father," a contrite Troy answered.

"And what should you be doing to fix that?" Hessakos posed.

"Going back and asking to be excused."

"And what else?"

"Apologizing to Mother for forgetting."

"Well, don't let me delay you, son."

Troy's dragging footsteps approached the dining room and came through the door, accompanied by my drooping son. I had to exert myself not to laugh at his dejected face. For a nine-year-old, he was so serious about everything. He sat back in his chair and took a big breath.

"I am sorry, Mother, that I left the table without asking first."

"Apology accepted," I tried to sound stern.

"May I please be excused so I can greet my father?"

"Yes, you may," I nodded, trying to look parental.

Troy was out the door faster than the first time. "Daaaaaaaaaaaa!" my boy squealed as only a child can squeal.

"Mommy, may I please be excused to see Da?" my little girl Amoythoy asked quietly.

Before I could reply, I heard Troy impact Hessakos in the hallway.

"Uff," my husband said. "I can give you a proper hug in a moment, Troy, but aren't you forgetting the rules about proper comportment when Coyn or Chem are in the house?"

"No, Amoy," I said sternly. "You must stay seated for now. We have non-Cosm guests and we must follow special rules with them. You must be extra careful because it's easy to accidentally hurt them."

My four-year-old pouted but said nothing. I stayed in my seat for her sake despite my own desire to see my husband after more than a season's separation.

"We've never had Chem visit before," I heard Troy spurt from the hallway. "Welladay, I'm Troy."

"Sssss," a silibant voice answered. "I am Twee, friend of your father, little human klm."

"Wait, you're the Blessed Twee, revelator of Vassu?" Troy squeaked. "And you're Emily's Tom. Oh dear." I heard a pair of knees thud onto the floor.

"May the blessings of the eleven gods be upon you, Great One, Revered One," Troy said reverently, shedding his unusual exuberance and reverting to his perfectly polite self.

"Sssand upon you too, klm Troy," the Blessed Twee said.

"Have you eaten?" Troy asked. "Let me get some place settings and talk to Milfy about food for you. What do you eat, Great One?"

"We haven't eaten since midday, son, and we're hungry," Hessakos said. "Twee prefers fish, though he can eat duck, crane, or cygnet if it's uncooked and deboned. He also eats sugar cane. I have two bundles for him that I still need to bring in from our mounts. Ask Milfy if we have any raw fish or uncooked birds in the cold cellar. If not, I'll bring in some sugar cane. And now, let us greet my lovely wife."

Then he was standing in the doorway with the Blessed Twee on his back and looking over his shoulder. The Revered Tom was a pace behind, which is where Coyn usually walked to avoid being stepped on. My darling husband was still in rumpled flying clothes with a muffler around his neck. His hair had grown out but wasn't long enough yet to braid. Both he and Tom sported several days of whisker growth at the scruffy length between stubble and proper beard.

"Oyyuth, love," Hessakos sounded distressed, "why the look? What's wrong, darling?"

"Have you looked in a mirror, dear?" I refrained from mentioning that he probably needed a bath or shower.

He looked relieved. "I thought I had done something wrong. We all need to eat before I do anything else." He grinned and then winked, "I missed you."

He was always like this right after one of his long trips. I knew he'd be back to his normal, polished self in the morning, but for now, he would be a handful until he had a chance to eat, clean up, and rest.

While he was gazing at me wistfully like he had never seen a woman before, I took the opportunity to manage Amoythoy before her four-year-old ability to stay still completely failed.

"Amoythoy, dearest," I got her attention. "Your father has just returned from a long trip, and he has brought two sacred persons home with him. This is the first time for you to greet sacred persons, so let me tell you what you need to do."

"I get up and stand until they sit down, yes?" Amoythoy sat up and smiled, sure that she had the correct answer.

"Yes, standing is the first thing you need to do, so let's both do that." I stood and walked over to her side. "Now, because they are sacred people, they are very important. Remember what Nurse taught you about greeting important people?"

"I kneel and say the blessing thing?"

"That's right, and because they are important, I must say it with you," I took her hand and knelt with my little girl. I saw Hessakos beaming out of the corner of my eye. "Do you remember how it goes? Can you say it with me?"

"May the blessings of da gods be wid you," Amoythoy blurted out, not waiting for me. Then she smiled, proud that she remembered the words for an obeisance. Tom hid his amusement behind his hand. I have no idea what Twee thought. Chem don't have the same facial muscles, which made it hard for me to read Twee's expressions.

"Sssand also upon you, young Amoythoy klm. Please rise," Twee replied solemnly. He looked at me, "Your little klm is lovely, Presiding Craftmaster. Thisss is the first time I have met her."

"Thank you, Great One." I got up and helped Amoythoy to her feet. "Let me get you some cushions, Revered One," I told Tom. "Hessakos, can you shift the place settings?"

"Lovely Oyyuthsss," Twee was suddenly standing next to me with his head level with my elbows, "I have spent too much time with Emily and Tom. I have fallen under their bad influence. Those stuffed-up shk'tlt'stp from the Convocation are not here, so I will not behave according to Cosm customs. This chair will do," he sprang into the chair next to Amoythoy's place. "And I refuse to answer to 'Great One' when visiting a friend's nest." He flicked his tongue at me. "Ssso there."

"I must confess," Tom climbed into the chair next to Troy's place at the table, "I find I agree with Twee, at least about all the formality at a home dinner table. Hiya, Oyyuth. Don't you dare 'Revere One' me. I thought Foskans were bad, but I've just endured far worse formality from the Mattamesscontans. Please, can we not do the polite address thing tonight?"

"You will corrupt my children," I replied with mock severity. "Alright, Amoy," I prodded my daughter, "the sacred ones are now seated, so you can sit down now."

"No," she stamped her foot. "I want my daddy." She ran to Hessakos.

"Hey, princess," he scooped her up and tossed her into the air, catching her and then hugging her.

"Ew! Da! You're all scratchy!" my daughter protested after encountering Hessakos's stubble.

"Growl!" Hessakos made a silly noise at his daughter. "I grew a bear chin just to scratch you. Grrrr!" He rubbed his whiskers against her face. She squealed.

Troy returned with Milfy the cook in tow, bringing extra place settings and food for the hungry travellers. Hessakos made his dinner vanish in a moment and excused himself.

"Dear?" I asked before he fled the dining room.

"I need to make sure Spot and Cadrees have had enough to eat, Love," he looked at me with apologetic eyes. "Spot needs a rub down and blanket. Then I need to bring in our baggage. I must get cleaned up and pay a visit to the big house on the hill," he stated, referring to the palace.

"Don't move," I got up from my place at the head of the table, where Twee should have been sitting as the highest-ranking guest. I walked over to my idiot husband, dragged him by the collar through the door, and out of the sight of the children. I grabbed his tunic and yanked his too-tall head down and stole the kiss he should have given me when he arrived.

"Don't stay up too late, dear," I told him, "or I'll be asleep when you get back."

Aylem, Is'syal, Harvest Season, 9th rot., night of the 6th day

Imstay had been showing me places on maps of Impotu that he wanted inspected with the Great Crystal when he suddenly looked up to search his empty office with his eyes. This concerned me because only the two of us were here. I could detect no one else near us.

"Did you see any Impotu forces on your way home?" Imstay asked the empty room.

"None," a bass answered. "Galt advised me to take the northern route and avoid the Sasnakra region. We saw only struggling Jutu villages and towns in need of a government in the areas we have not yet reached. The remains of the Jutu Shrines in the eastern plains are struggling due to lack of leadership. I regret that I already killed Empress Arkalla because she has much she needs to answer for. Jutu is pitiful."

"Yet we did much the same to Yuxviayeth," Imstay answered the voice, who was obviously Usruldes. Despite his presence in the room, I still could not detect him, except perhaps by tracing air currents – a lost magic I had read about in the books of Yasknapa of Yantes but had yet tried.

"We may have conquered the lands of the Chieftain of Capani and enslaved some Coyn, but we did not burn every city, raid shrines, and murder the High Priestesses and Revered Ones," the invisible Usruldes replied in a cold voice. "I am now certain that Arkaline Ugi ordered the killing of at least one high priestess and her staff. I spoke with a priestess of Mueb who offered us hospitality on our travels. She witnessed those deaths. She escaped only because she was left for dead. The Empress Presumptive Arkaline must die. I regret that she cannot receive a proper execution for her crimes. Give me the word, Mighty One. We can end this war with her death. If she is dead, her army and coalition will fall apart. The only dangling thread will be the missing Arkarshar Ugi, her son."

Imstay sighed, "No, we have found him. Will you please drop that damn charm and sit down where I can see you?"

Usruldes appeared by the door. How did he get in? Imstay and I had been here for at least half a night bell and the door had never opened. He got on his knees, "May the blessings of the eleven gods be upon you, Great One, Mighty One." He was such a stickler for protocol.

"And also upon you, Lord Usruldes," I replied. "Please rise and take a seat."

He picked up one of the page stools and sat in front of the map table. "I find the news that the missing Heir Arharshar has been found encouraging. Is he dead, or did you lock him in the citadel?" Usruldes sounded cheerful at the news.

"He is living at the Singing Shrine," Imstay said in a flat voice. "He snuck in and the Holy Senlyosart sniffed him out. He will enroll there on Planting Midday."

I could see Usruldes' fish face through the face covering. "You can't leave him there. He's a danger. I can take care of it."

Imstay heaved a sigh, "No, you can't. Sassoo has touched him, which is a clear message to us to keep our hands off him, at least for now."

"This is insanity," Usruldes muttered. "We should lock him up. Just his existence could start a war."

"He is at the shrine under an alias," I interjected. "We have a detail of wraiths following him. He is scared to death that his real identity will be uncovered. He is also incredibly talented. He can play the lithophone, and the Singing Crystal acknowledges him. Senlyosart has adopted him as a ward of the shrine. The boy has sworn on the Singing Crystal to forsake revenge, and she has sworn to protect him. She has invoked her right as his guardian to forbid any public contact until he is sixteen. She forced the Convocation to swear an oath of confidentiality that Sassoo has made an eleven-year-old boy a Revered One."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"Blarg!" Usruldes pinched his nose in a gesture he inherited from his mother. "This is worse than insane."

"Senlyosart and my daughter both say that the boy just wants to hide, convinced that if I know he's there, I will kill him," Imstay stated. "Before he was touched by Sassoo, that was close to how I felt. Senslyosart pleaded for time, because she had already proposed protecting him in exchange for his giving up revenge."

"He knows she knows who he is?" Usruldes expressed disbelief, clearly upset.

"She told him that she was sure he was from one of the eight great noble houses of Impotu," Imstay explained, "but if he would swear, she would never pursue inquiring after his real identity. The kid obviously believed her, not realizing she had already determined his real identity."

"So, we know who he is, but he doesn't know that we know," Usruldes dropped his head into his hands and shook it. "What a farse."

"And it's important that he never discover that we know, because then he may flee," I added. "If he believes he can hide from Imstay at the Singing Shrine, he will safely sit there, I hope, for several years. If we can hide his existence from the Impotuan nobility, we can contain the danger."

"I beg you not to do this," Usruldes got off the stool and fell to his knees, putting his praying hands against his forehead and dropping his head to the carpet. "Put him in the citadel if you refuse to kill him. You are gambling with the lives of millions."

"Because Sassoo has intervened," Imstay pronounced, "I will leave him under Senlyosart's care for now. Gwilekos has a detailed fifteen wraiths to keep an eye on the boy. He will keep for now. My biggest worry is keeping him and his great-great aunt Losnana apart."

"What about the Princess? Is it safe for Arkarshar to be at the same shrine as her?" Usruldes looked up from his knees.

I laughed, "Opa and the boy have become fast friends. They play duets together on the lithophone. The situation could not be more bizarre."

"Surd save us," Usruldes closed his eyes and shook his head.

"I'm sure you reported in to tell me you have arrived with Twee, Tom, Spot, and Cadrees, and to check that there were no brewing disasters you needed to address immediately. Be assured that Gwilekos has most of the looming disasters safely under control, at least for the evening." Imstay smiled kindly. "I can tell you are tired. We can catch up with the rest of the news in the morning. Thank you for coming by, but I would have forgiven you if you had stayed home this evening with your family. Your son, by the way, is turning into an excellent page."

I felt Usruldes' anger and saw his aura flash red. "My son is your page?"

"I can feel your disapproval from here," Imstay King said, one eyebrow raised in confusion. "Why are you unhappy that Troyeepay haup Gunndit–"

"Troyeepay Kas'syo haup Gunndit," Usruldes corrected him in a frightfully calm and polite voice.

Imstay frowned, "I don't think I have seen you this angry in a long time. Why are you upset that I am training your son as a page? It's a tremendous honor for someone who is not from a lord holder's household. I thought you would be pleased. Oyyuth was happy about it, after I assured her he would not go to war with me or miss any of his schooling."

"Mighty One, I will not be able to fool my son if he sees me as Usruldes. He's twice as smart as I am." His words came out in a monotone of control. "My children cannot know. If my son is a page, I will not be able to hide my identity from him. Did that not occur to you?"

"I suggest that if Usruldes must visit in his wraith suit," I told Imstay, "that he does so under a charm of circular light, using that trick he has of changing his voice. Otherwise, he should come as Lord Irhessa. No one will think it odd if he must consult with you in private for long periods because everyone already knows you use him for diplomatic missions. I think we can keep his identity safe until Troy enrolls at a shrine."

Usruldes groaned and got to his feet. "I believe that I need to go home and drown myself in one of my wife's malting tanks. May I have your leave to depart?"

"Shoo," Imstay made waving motions at Usruldes. "Tell Oyyuth I say hello. Let's find some time in the next day or so to go fishing, before we depart for Black Falls for your nephew's handfasting. I'll see you in the morning. Don't forget to sleep in."

Lisaykos, Healing Shrine, Harvest Season, 9th rot., night of the 6th day to 7th day morning

"Who's the kitty? Yes, cutesy-wutesy rolly-polly little kitty pooh, he likes his belly rubs, yes, he does!"

A woman's voice woke me up. I sat up to see Mugash once again sitting at the foot of my bed and scratching my cat.

I quickly bowed my head to my knees, "Divine Mistress." Like the last time she visited me in my bedroom, I could taste my fear, and my hands were shaking. I could barely think straight.

"Is this better, dearest?" Mugash asked and waved a lazy hand.

My head was clear, and the fear was gone.

"We are within a bubble of time," Mugash smiled at me, "so my presence will not affect anyone at the shrine. I am here to warn you that Mueb will place a delivery for Emily on the south balcony in the morning. Please bring it in and place it in stasis for us. Go back to sleep now. You will remember this visit when you wake."

I did indeed remember when I woke a quarter bell before dawn. I bathed and dressed for the day. I had a quiet morn repast with just Sarfaz and Fed. I was taking Fed to be fitted for her gown for her cousin's wedding. It had to be fitted now so it would be ready when we left for Black Falls in four days.

At fourteen, Fed was just under nineteen hands. She was the tallest in her year. She might be my height by this time next year. She was descended from the royal house, after all. Her body clairvoyance was already fully developed, and her mastery of charms was maybe better than mine. She was indeed as talented as one would expect for someone with both haup Foskos and haup Gunndit bloodlines. I also had to acknowledge the contribution of the Kas'syo blood because this girl could do amazing things with temperature charms.

If anything, Fed's exuberance and energy were even worse than when she first arrived at my shrine. I swear, I got tired just watching her when she was in motion. Thank god she had finally learned how to be placid while at the table for a meal.

I felt a subtle shift in the warp and weft of reality and guessed the mystery delivery had arrived. Putting down my now-empty beaker of tea, I looked up at Sarfaz and Fed, who were waiting for me to finish.

"Well, ladies," I stood up, "I believe we have some things to bring in from the balcony. Sarfaz, I will leave it to you to get them stored." I exited directly into the corridor from the dining room and then out the balcony doors, trusting the others would follow.

"Goodness, what is this?" I gazed upon eight crates of exotic fruits and giant nuts and four firkins of fitted cane marked with Chem idiographs. The wood of the crates was strange, with a funny fibrous grain. I was sure the giant nuts were hair nuts. I had no idea what the pine cone-like fruit was.

"Sarfaz," I looked at my shy, reserved halfhair scholar attendant, "those are hair nuts, but do you know what these other fruits are?"

"I think they are yellow bird fruit, which only grows in the wild region between Mattamesscontess and Sussbesschem, and on the great chain of islands between Gungywamp and Kora Kor," Sarfaz replied. While she was quiet, she was also erudite with all sorts of interesting facts lurking in her impressive memory, waiting for a chance to escape. When she first started working for me, I used to tease her that we needed to write down everything she said so we could make an encyclopedia. However, these days, I had changed my mind, telling her that all we needed was just one book, to record everything that she didn't know. She would always blush and stammer when I said things like this to her. She was fun to tease.

"Where did these come from, Grandmom?" Fed asked.

"Mueb," I stated simply. Looking at the two astonished faces looking up at me, I added, "These are for Emily. I had a visit from Mugash last night, warning me that these would appear today, and now they are here. I don't know what these are for, but they are gifts from Mueb for the Prophet. No doubt, the Blessed Emily will make something amazing with them. So let's get the staff to put them in stasis in the basement. Then, Fed dearest, we need to see the dressmaker for your fitting. Let's get moving, ladies. The day isn't getting any longer."

Usruldes as Lord Irhessa, Is'syal, Harvest Season, 9th rot., 7th day

"Huh." Tom looked around Naheedray's clothing shop for Coyn, "This place again."

I took the closed sign and hung it on the outside doorknob, closed the door, and slid the lock latch.

"Well, all your tunics are looking scruffy," I told my little friend. "And you don't have any clothes for a wedding." I looked over to where Naheedray was getting up from her armchair. "Welladay, Naheedray."

"And to you, Lord Irhessa," she bobbed her head, then straightened, and clapped three times, getting the attention of her Coyn staff working on the large mezzanine that took up half the shop. "We have a dignitary, everyone," she called out. She got on her knees and waited for her staff to do the same. When all twelve Coyn were kneeling, she recited the words of obeisance, "May the blessings of the eleven gods be upon you, Revered One."

Tom sighed. "And also upon you, Naheedray. Please rise, everyone." He shot me an annoyed look and muttered softly so only I could hear it, "I will never get used to this." I managed not to chuckle. He sounded just like Emily.

"What may we do for you today, Revered One?" Naheedray asked with deference.

"Clothes suitable for the groom's side of a handfasting," Tom said. "I have also worn out most of the clothes you made me last year, so I need just about everything else, besides. I'm sure the everyday clothes can wait, but I must survive a Cosm handfasting four days from now. The event will have a pile of nobles attending, so I need a couple of suitable outfits. I'm afraid I need new stockings and underthings too. And some new boots. A hat, mittens, and a lined cold-weather overtunic might also be in order. Am I missing anything, Hessakos?" Tom looked up at me.

"I believe three changes of clothes good enough to be worn at the palace will do for the handfasting, Naheedray," I told the shop owner, "plus the wedding clothes, and the cold weather overtunic, boot, hat, and mittens. He needs a new belt, maybe two, a new pouch, and a new leather travel duffle to carry everything in."

"I don't need a new duffle," Tom protested.

"Oh, yes, you do," I countered. "The one you're using looks like it's been to Mattamesscontess and back. Remember what I told you about appearances? This is what I was talking about."

Tom harumphed quietly and made no more protests.

"As for the rest of the clothes," I told Naheedray, "he'll need four crafter grade and four attendant grade changes of clothes, using the best quality cloth. We can pick them up next rotation after the handfasting is over." By now, Naheedray had picked up a small vellum codex and was taking notes in it.

She looked up at the Coyn watching from the mezzanine. "Tovi, can you fit out the Revered One?"

"Coming, ma'am," a blond middle-aged Coyn man replied, running down the mezzanine stairs. He was the same Coyn who did the fitting for Tom last year. He bowed to Tom and then gestured to the racks of clothes under the mezzanine where no Cosm could fit. "If you would follow me, Revered One. I believe I remember your sizing."

I sat in one of Naheedray's guest armchairs as Tom disappeared into the clothes with Tovi.

"Tea?" Naheedray produced a teapot and two beakers.

"Please," I tried to relax. "Do you still have the Prophet's measurements?"

"Of course," Naheedray smiled as if I should have known better than to ask.

"Can you turn out a set of groom side clothes for the prophet before we leave in three days?"

"Lord Irhessa, we can do that by tomorrow morning," she smiled, confident in the productivity of her shop. "But isn't the Prophet still in foreign parts? I had not heard that returned."

"She hasn't," I conceded, "but one thing I have learned about the Prophet is that she will always do the unexpected. If she dropped in at the handfasting at the last minute unannounced, I would not be surprised. Therefore, I believe it is prudent to be prepared. And if she isn't there, then she will have a nice set of groom side clothes already made for the next handfasting she'll be asked to attend."

"Might I suggest you add a set of bride side clothes to that order, to pick up later?" Naheedray handed me a hot beaker of tea, not one to miss the opportunity to make a sale. "That way, you'll have a set ready for either occasion in her closet at your house on Brewers Row."

"I believe that would be an excellent thing to do. Add it to the order, and send the bill to the Holy Kamagishi," I added, reminding myself to take Tom to pay his respects to her at the Fated Shrine.

House, Fated Shrine, Is'syal, Harvest Season, 9th rot., 7th day

I was sleeping, strategically positioned on top of the scroll of court verdicts that I knew my human wanted to read next. Instead of Kamigishi attempting to move me, I was awakened by unexpected visitors. I cracked open an eye to inspect the interlopers disturbing my afternoon.

One was a man in a courier's cape and herald's cap. He smelled like the Kas'syo Brewery. The other got my immediate attention. He was one of the little humans, but his smell carried hints of my savior, the little human who rescued me. Why did his smell remind me of her? This I needed to investigate.

My human was pleased that the little human was in her office. She made much of him, put him in one of the armchairs for special guests, and served him instead of leaving it to her staff. Who was he?

Soon she was telling him about the night that my savior broke fate, which was the night that she and Losnana were ill in their heads, and the scary queen came down from the palace.

"Wait!" the little human stopped my human in the middle of her account. "Your cat told you all of that?" He looked at me, where I was still on top of the verdict's scroll on Kamagishi's work table. "How is it possible for a cat to know what my Emily was doing on the other side of the world?"

"Meow?" I said, picking up my head and looking back. Did he just say "my Emily?" Was he my savior's mate? Was that why he had her smell on him?

"House is not a normal cat," Kamagishi explained. "Both Lady Veronteegan and Asgotl can understand her mindspeech."

"Where did you get such an unusual cat?" the little human asked.

"Galt gave him to me a season ago," my human said.

The little human got a strange look on his face. "Do you remember what day?"

"It was the night of the second day of the sixth rotation."

"And she was a kitten, yes?"

"Yes," Kamagishi looked puzzled.

"I think House is the kitten that Emily rescued after the Battle of Toyatastagka," the little human studied me. "The mother and the other kittens did not survive the battle. Emily said Galt took the kitten because he knew someone who would take care of it. That was on the morning of the third day of the sixth rotation, which would have been the night of the second day here in Foskos."

"Is that right, House?" my human asked.

"Meow," was all I could say, since my human's thoughts were too noisy for her to hear me.

"Did you say 'yes,' House?" the man in the courier cape asked, frowning as if his head hurt. His thoughts were much quieter than my human's.

*You can hear me, man in the cape?*

"If I trance, I can," he replied. The other two looked at him with big eyes when they realized he was speaking to me. "Where did you come from, House?"

*Toyatastagka, man in the cape. Emily saved me and gave me fish to eat. I was so hungry.* I jumped off the table and jumped onto the chair with the little human. I bonked him and rubbed on him and purred at him because I now knew for sure he belonged to my savior.

"Hey! What? What are you doing, you manic cat? Hey, House, stop! I don't need my face cleaned. Holy One? Help!"

He said all the words that humans usually say when I lavished my affection on them. I ignored him. I know they really don't mean what they say. I was grooming him because that's what cats do for their family. Then Kamagishi picked me up. She lifted me up so we were eye to eye.

"What's gotten into you, House?" my human frowned at me. "Will you please stop? You're making the Revered Tom uncomfortable."

That didn't make sense to me. If Tom belonged to Emily, then he was family, and grooming is how cats show affection to their family.

"If I am not mistaken," the man in the cape said, "House was showing Tom affection because he's Emily's partner, and she reveres Emily, who indeed rescued her in Toyatastagka."

"Meow!" So there, Kamagishi. See if I groom you ever again. Tonight, your toes are mine. I will have my revenge for this.

"You might want to sleep elsewhere tonight, Holy One," the traitor in the cape told my human. "Otherwise, your toes may be targeted by a vengeful feline."

I struggled out of my human's grip and left her office by the cat door in a huff. Humans were so badly behaved. And I was being nice! I left for the library to find some librarians dressed in white so I could shed on their robes.