Then, something dark hurtled through the air, spitting and yowling, to land on the stranger's head. The man screamed, dropping back and releasing Tae so quickly the Easterner sank to his knees. Before he could think or wonder, Tae scrambled beyond further reach of his attacker, not caring how clumsy or desperate he appeared. Air rushed back into his lungs in an agonizing contraction, and he breathed in and out so quickly it worsened his dizziness. It took him a moment to recognize the furry, silver dervish tearing, clawing, and biting at the stranger's face. *Imorelda!*
Tae got no acknowledgment as the cat remained singularly focused on mangling her target.
Tae rose carefully. He knew better than to give direct orders to a cat.*Imorelda, please, get away! He might hurt you.*
Still fluffed to twice her normal size, Imorelda bounced to the cell floor and growled menacingly at the stranger. *He's quicker than he looks,* Tae warned.*Please. Get out while you can.*
Imorelda remained facing the stranger, back firmly arched, though she did take several rearward steps toward Tae. *Slip out the front, if you can,* Tae suggested.*If they know we're a team, they'll get more cautious.*
Imorelda whirled suddenly and ran through the front bars, galloping into the darkness.*Maybe if they know we're a team, they won't be so quick to murder you.* An angry howl escaped from the shadows.*Isn't saving your foolish life worth a thank you?* *Thank you, Imorelda,* Tae sent dutifully. He resisted the urge to rub at his neck, instead glaring at the pirate. The other man did not return the look, more concerned with his own lacerated scalp and face. He rubbed blood from his cheeks and nose with the back of his sleeve, blinking several times to adjust his vision, then uttered a string of savage words Tae took to be the equivalent of swearing. Just my luck. The first words I learn in their language, and I can't use any of them.
From behind Tae, the other pirate spoke.
This earned him a reply laced with similar words. From it all, Tae took away the term for cat, yonha, and a few other words he tucked away for later comparison. The syntax seemed a bit sideways, with adjectives and nouns switched in their places. He thought he sifted out a descriptor for Imorelda as "savage" and for himself, "stupid." They referred to him as "takudan," which he supposed more likely meant "little rat" or "idiot" than "brave neighbor." It was not the impression he had intended to make, but at least he had them talking.
Suddenly, Tae realized Imorelda was still addressing him.*… not even listening!* *Sorry, Imorelda. I'm working.*
Tae imagined her tail twitching in angry bursts.*If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be alive to work.*
Tae did feel grateful, but he could not waste any time in idle conversation.*You're right.You saved my life, and I am eternally grateful. I owe you the finest fish and hours of rubbing. But right now, Imorelda, I need to listen.*
The cat mumbled something incoherent, but the moment was lost. The pirates returned to their own problems, the larger one nursing his wounds and the smaller moving to the darkest corner to use his chamber pot.
Damn. Tae remained on the floor of his cell, enjoying the simple act of breathing. His gambit had failed miserably, but he was not without further tricks. He just needed to keep the pirate's deadliness and quickness firmly in mind.
Misery found Tae in the dark, dank depths of Bearn's dungeon, dragging out thoughts better left buried. He refused to further contemplate the son he had alienated, the Renshai who had ruined his life, nor the woman he had loved and lost. Those topics could paralyze him, make him careless and dim-witted at a time when his life and the world depended on his wile and agility, so he banished those concerns.
And suddenly Tae found himself thinking about the maid, Alneezah, which caught him utterly off his guard. He had not realized she meant anything special to him, but he clung to the image of her with a great fondness he had never before recognized. He pictured her demure expression: gentle brown eyes that simultaneously managed to show concern and amusement for his antics, the pink circles of her high-set cheeks, the pert nose and heart-shaped lips. He found himself smiling at the image. As common as she seemed, as unfathomable as most found him, she understood him in a way few others could. *Marry her.* The words brushed Tae's mind.
Startled, Tae nearly answered aloud.*What?* *You should marry that woman. She's good for you.*
Tae felt his cheeks grow warm. He had not intended to project his thoughts.*How did you know…?* *How could I not know. You're splashing her image all over the place.* *I am?* Tae truly had no idea. He had not even realized that Imorelda still remained silently hidden in the dungeon.*And stop telling me that. I can't marry her.* *Why not?*
Why not, indeed? Nothing legal or physical stopped him from marrying anyone he wanted. He could hardly claim that his blood was too royal to mix with commoners.*I don't love her, Imorelda.* Tae sighed inwardly, wondering how much time the cat might occupy grilling him about human emotion.*People aren't like cats. Despite the apparent contradiction of my son, we don't just mate and move on to better things.* He added to forestall insult,*Not that there's anything wrong with that, if you're a cat.*
Imorelda let the species differences lie.*Are you sure you're not in love with her?*
That being the last reply Tae expected, he tried not to let surprise show on his face. No one knew he was having a conversation besides Imorelda. To onlookers, he would appear insane by reacting to absolutely nothing.*I know what love feels like. I loved Kevral.* A pang of regret touched him, and he had to banish a tear forming in his eye. He would miss the little time they had managed to spend together since her marriage. *And you love me, and you love Subikahn.*
Tae's chest tightened. He did not want to think about his son right now, could not afford the emotions it would raise.*Of course. But differently.* *Exactly!*
As Tae had no idea what she meant, he waited for her to explain. *Love is felt in different ways. Just because something is fast and intense doesn't make it better. In fact, sometimes that kind of knock-you-on-your-ass love wanes as quickly as it formed.*
Tae could not help contemplating the cat's words. Like Mior, Imorelda had moments of blinding insight.*You mean-?*
Imorelda did not wait to have her intentions explained to her.*I mean, when you fell for Kevral you were nineteen. Mature love, adult love, doesn't usually come in a rush of naive passion. It's cautious, slow-growing, steady. Full of thought and wonder.*
Tae wondered why he had never thought of such a thing. It certainly explained why he had never married. He was searching for that overwhelming, gut-wrenching fervor he had felt for Kevral.Yet nothing else in his life ever seemed that extreme, no decision so obvious and easy as when he had asked Kevral for her hand. He shook his head to clear it. He had no time for philosophical discussions or idle speculation.*Thank you for the insight, Imorelda, as well as for saving my life. If you would, please, go to Matrinka now. She needs someone to ease her soul over my decision. She needs to know I'm all right here.*
Imorelda made a sneezing sound from the darkness that displayed her displeasure.*Are you all right? I'd hate to lie to a queen.*
Since her only positive form of communication with others was rubbing and purring, Imorelda could hardly be considered a liar.*I'm fine. I promise not to get within reach of either of them again.* *Or do anything to provoke the guards?*
Tae did not currently intend such a deed, though he could not rule it out if circumstances demanded it.*Or that either,* he promised, not nearly as concerned about telling the truth as putting the cat at ease. She distracted him from a job he wanted finished as swiftly as possible, for his own good as well as Bearn's.