AoPaSK chapter three

Ok so it turns out, I shall have a new chapter every Saturday. How do you like that? I am going to make this my weekend activity. YAYS FOR SITTING DOWN AND TYPING UP THIS OLD THING! So, I would really, REALLY appreciate feedback, as I am hoping to publish sometime in the future.

Chapter Three: In which Cat and Devon meet the mysterious cloaked Silent Guardian

On the morning of Cat and Devon’s birthday, Devon had gotten up early to help Mrs. Silvan with the decorations and breakfast. As she finished putting up blue, green and lavender streamers, Mrs. Silvan was finishing bacon and waffles, Devon’s favourite. “ Mrs. Silvan, Why don’t I go wake Cat before the others come down?” she asked sensing one of Mrs. Silvan’s monologues about botany coming..

“ That’s a great idea. Here, take up a tray and you both can eat up there if you’d like.”

“ Thanks!”

“ I’ll be out in the garden covering the plants if you need me.” Called Mrs. Silvan over her shoulder on her way out the door, but Devon was already on her way upstairs.

As Devon walked upstairs carefully balancing the tray, she wondered how she would fit through the trap door leading to the attics. She really hated how cumbersome it was just to get up to his room, let alone up to his inventing room above his. There’s got to be a way to do this! I just need to think… She soon spotted a set of boxes that could be stacked to reach the top floor to set the tray up there and then climb through her self. Just as she was about to open the trap door to put the tray up there, Cat poked his head through the door, bumping the tray and spilling tea all over the boxes, nearly getting Devon as well.

“Oh! I didn’t see you there! Here, pass me the tray. I’ll set it up here and grab a rag from somewhere up here… Sorry about that… Happy birthday though.” He said.

“ Here, we’re allowed to eat it in your room. I was on my way to bring it up.” She handed him the tray.

“ So I could tell. Cool.” He replied. He never, ever looked surprised, at least, never more than bemused. Devon, always slightly playful at heart, found this quite frustrating.

They worked together to clean the boxes fortunately nothing had been damaged. “ Happy birthday to you as well! How long have you been awake? I thought you would still be sleeping.”

“ Only for a few minutes. I think that’s the last of it. Need help getting up? “ He extended his hand and Devon took it willingly.

“ How do you manage to get up here without a ladder or anything to help you up?”

“ I’m taller than you.” He laughed.

"That doesn't take much..." she grumbled under her breath. Cat laughed quietly, just to inform her that he heard her complaint.

In the spacious, circular tower room, was a bed, two small round tables, two large bookshelves (rounded to fit the walls) that were filled with books and a perch for Paige, who flew over to Cat, landed on his shoulder, and started nibbling on his ear. His bed was more of a bunk bed, though instead of a lower bunk, there was a desk strewn with what appeared to be the homework assigned over the Christmas holidays. On the tables were lamps, books, and a notepad full of scientific scribbles. Where the walls were not obscured by furniture, there were huge ceiling-to-floor windows, from which the forest of Dean could be seen. It was an amazing view. Against the opposite wall was the stepladder that led through the trap door up to Cat’s inventing room. Devon knew that Cat would not want to eat down in his room, because he would have to clear the little tables. When he was in the middle of a project, he kept it all out all at once. Devon never understood this about him, but she got tired of fighting it. Cat signaled that they go up stairs.

“ Ill go up first and then hand me the tray. Ok?” suggested Cat.

“Sure,”

Cat went up first, and Devon passed up the tray and climbed up herself. “ Which should we use? “ indicating the many tables, all-full of books, small gears, blueprints, journals (for designing and tracking progress and scientific records), pens, pencils, scraps of paper and spare parts. She shook her head. He never cleaned up here, though; he did organize it to some extent. At least he knew where everything was.

The room was of the same dimensions of Cat’s bedroom (being a tower), but there were many differences. The walls were entirely windows from floor to ceiling. A few windows opened as a door onto a balcony artistically draped in ivy perfect for viewing the entire town and outlying farms. It felt to Cat like the sort of thing that would be described in storybooks.

“ Uh, I don’t thing there is much room up here… Outside maybe? There are blankets in a box under my bed…” he scratched his head and raised one eyebrow in contemplation. He cleared a spindly wooden table and pulled it out one of the swinging doors onto the balcony. Devon went back down to get the blankets.

When she returned, Cat had set up two chairs, and set out the tray (on top of a heated mat he used in inventing). They ate their breakfast in silence and then sat slight awkwardness. “ Dove, do you want to go out, well, I mean, go for a ride some time today?” he asked her tentatively a slight blush crawling up his face. “ And maybe, if I can find my skates, go skating on the pond?”

“ Cool, that would be great! Do you think we could get Ash to drive us over to the stables?” she wondered aloud.

“ He might… You go ask while I do the dishes and get out of my pajamas.’” He laughed. Devon hadn’t noticed before, he was wearing a dark tee shirt and green hand me down basketball shorts and a pair of black socks. He must be freezing! The blankets are warm, but not that warm! He is truly insane, she thought.

She stopped by her room which she was staying while she stayed at the Silvans’ to grab a warmer sweatshirt. Devon found a small package in brown paper wrapping hastily tied with twine. The tag said it was from her dad. How did it get here? Mrs. Silvan must have put it here when she came in to wake me. Curious that I didn’t notice it before now… she pondered. Opening it, she found a necklace. It was a small maple-esque leaf inlaid with tiny sapphires on a black leather strap. She thought it was vaguely familiar, but swept the ridiculous, impossible thought aside. She slipped it on under her sweatshirt.

Upon exiting the door, she bumped into Ash, who hurriedly apologized.

“ Oh! Ash! Could you drive Cat and me to the stables? Please?” she asked.

“ Sorry Birdie. No can do, kiddo. Mum has all hands on deck helping prepare for the party… You could ride your bikes. It’s not far. Have fun! “ He winked at her and added, “ Oh, and happy birthday,” he scruffed her hair as he walked away.

~•••••••••••~

Cat and Devon arrived at the stables, but to Cat, something did not feel quite right. He felt as though he was being watched again. Feeling paranoid, he tried to ignore it, to no effect. He cast a questioning glance at Devon, wondering if she felt it too. Understanding what he meant, she nodded apprehensively. He put a finger to his lips and walked noiselessly toward the ever-nearby forest.

The dense forest, coated in a blanket of fresh overnight snow. He walked nearly silently, an art he had perfected in many years of hiding from his two brother. Using the shadows as an aid to cloak his prescence, most people would be completely unaware he was there. An unfamiliar voice softly spoke directly behind him causing Cat to turn on the spot open-mouthed eyes wide in surprise.

“ Very well done. Very well done indeed Cat. “

“ Who are you?" he asked slowly, curiously and cautiously, and then added "And how do you know my name?”. Cat had no idea who it possibly could be who would know him. He really was amazed. Nobody had ever been able to surpass his skill. Finally recognizing the speaker as the cloaked figure that had been following him the week before, he added “ And why have you been following me?”

“ Here is not the place to discuss this. You both have horses?” inquired the older boy.

“Yeah, we do. Why?” replied Cat

“ Not here, as I said; we cannot talk here. Meet me at yonder oak in a twelfing, and bring your charming lady-friend with you. I will explain then.” He added noting Cat’s expression. He turned away and seemingly vanished without a trace into the dark interior of the forest.

Cat walked back to where Devon waited for him rather impatiently, a frown playing her face. She was very worried, he knew. When she caught sight of him, she darted to him and threw her arms around his neck. Devon self-consciously released him and mumbled an apology. They stood there awkwardly for a moment until Cat remembered what had happened just moments before.

“You took a long time. What took you so long? Are you okay?” She asked, breaking the silence.

“ Yeah, No time to explain. C’mon. Get Esperanza tacked up, I’ll get Cairo. I found the person who was following us.” Cat answered her question while hastily grooming his beautiful, black, Arabian horse, Cairo. Devon shrugged and proceeded to do likewise to her roan mare Esparanza. Once both horses were fully tacked, both Cat and Devon set off hurriedly to the oak leading their horses for it was not very far from the barn.

They found a young man in outlandish garb and tousled black hair grinning warmly at them and leaning against a massive long bow. As Devon scrutinized him, she caught the steely glint of what she presumed to be a knife. She also noted the queer grey-green cloak he was wearing. It blended into the snowy forest background, Devon wondered at it. At the foot of his knee high black, leather boots sat what looked to be a wolf puppy, of a foreign breed. It was white and scruffy with black tipped ears, feet and tail and glass blue eyes. Queer, it seem almost as if is trying to smile at me, but oh those blue eyes, they don't look tame...

Devon leaned over to Cat and whispered as quietly as possible “ Do you think it’s safe to have it so close to the horses without a lead or collar? “

“ Amiki? “ the youth laughed, “ She’s perfectly tame. Quite friendly really, and well trained.“ He responded, obviously hearing her. Devon blushed scarlet. Cat crouched down to stroke the wolf, glancing up at the boy, who nodded his ascent. Cat had a great affection for dogs of all kinds from an early age, though he was never allowed to own one himself. Amiki looked at her owner as if asking him May I? He nodded and she immediately jumped up and placed her paws on Cat’s knees in attempts to lick his face. Cat stood up and whipped his face with the back of his hand.

“ Now will you please explain why you asked me and Devon here? It’s not exactly warm out. “ asked Cat.

The boy, Cat realized, could not be older than 17, in fact, he was really quite young.

Before the boy could answer, or Cat could add more, Devon, who had been scrutinizing the older boy more carefully interjected “ You’re not from our world are you? “ It was more of a statement, not a question. Cat ogled her in disbelief. It was not like her to believe fairytalish things such as foreign worlds.

“ No, I’m not. Astute as ever, “ he replied grinning his charming smile. “ I really will tell you all that you wish to know, but not here. If you come with me to somewhere, where we won’t be overheard… “ He swung smoothly into the saddle of a dappled grey horse that Cat and Devon hardly noticed, due to the unsettling fact that it’s coat melded into the snowy grey winter background. Cat looked into the older boys grey eyes, searching, for something, the boy did not know what, but he recognized doubt on Cat’s face. Finally, Cat nodded and mounted Cairo.

“We’ll come, “ replied Cat at last, glancing at Devon who nodded also. The boy whistled and Amiki jumped eagerly onto his lap. Devon smiled.

“ Oh, I forgot! My name is Pimlico, Pim for short. Are you guys ready? “ he said pulling the deep cowl of his odd cloak low over his shoulder length dark brown hair. He turned around to his saddlebags and extracted two cloaks identical to his own. He tossed one to Cat and the other to Devon. “ Put them on. They are warm and render you essentially invisible. They are yours too keep. “

“ Thanks Pim… Uh why do we need them, other than the obvious point that they are way cool?” Asked Cat as he pulled the cowl over his head.

“ I will explain in a moment. Let’s go. “ He tapped his horses flanks lightly with the toes of his boots, which Cat noticed were completely made of leather, entirely without a rubber soles. He was indeed a very fine horseman, gentle, but his horse and he seemed to work in tandem, understanding eachother... again, queer, thought Devon

After twenty minutes ride, the group reached an open field with a creek running through it with a few old gnarled trees on its bank. There was little or no snow on the ground, but the creek was frozen solid. Near the band was a little hill, and a lowspot. They two children had used the place as a bunker and a secret base in their child hood snowball fights. it was quite hard to see behind the little hill if positioned properly. Amiki jumped down to the ground, wandered around sniffing the ground as Pim took the saddle off his horse, laid it on the ground, and sat on it. He gestured for the others to do so as well.

They all settles down in to the sleety ground. Pim pulled a canteen out of his saddle bags, as well as four small, ceramic bowls, into which he poured a brownish, steaming liquid. He offered it to the two graciously.

"What is it?" they both inquired simultaneously

"Just tea, I picked some up from the local merchant shop; a fantastically warm, pleasant place. Huge it was!" he replied.

Devon giggled, " Thats a grocery store!"

"Fantastic things, grocery stores" Pim mused, staring contemplatively at his feet.

They all sat in silence for a few moments, sipping their tea. Devon glanced quickly at Cat, who looked to feel just as awkward as she did herself. suddenly, Pim cleared his throat.

“ I guess the first thing I need to tell you, “ Pim started not looking directly at either of them “ Is that you, Cat, Devon, are siblings. Not just siblings, twins.”

“ That’s impossible, ridiculous! I can’t, we can’t…. Twins? “ Interjected Cat incredulously. Devon on the other hand simply nodded slowly, gazing intent into Pim’s eyes. She smiled almost imperceptibly.

“ You are related to us how? “ she asked calmly. Pim burst out laughing.

“ Devon strikes again! Yes! I am your elder brother! We have a sister too. Niccolette is married to a Russian noble somewhere…. You would be curious about our parents?” He smiled his charming smile again. Devon found him to be quite endearing. Cat on the other hand had no idea what to think.

“ So let me get this straight. Devon and I are twins, you are our brother and our sister is a Russian noble? “ Cat felt as though a rug had just been pulled out from under him, though, experience told him to keep a straight face.

“Yes. Our parents are dead. Niccolette is the oldest. Four years older than me. I haven’t seen her since you both were infants. When our parents were assassinated, we were all hidden in different parts of this world. Well, you three were. I traveled a lot with our uncle. He’s a Silent Guardian. I was his apprentice. “

“ A Silent Guardian? What’s that mean?” Asked Devon.

“ A Silent Guardian is a person whose job it is to protect the Kingdom and who has nearly as much authority as the king himself. We are known for our sharp shooting and swords mastery. As Cat may have noticed, we are trained to be experts in unseen movement. Silent Guardians are not commonly known about outside of our Kingdom. I am a Silent Guardian as you know, but don’t go shouting about it.” Devon nodded, now understanding his odd cloak and the massive long bow.

“ I am beginning to feel that nothing can surprise me anymore,” added Devon “ But there must be something more. Parents murdered, children hidden in another world, eldest daughter married to Russian nobility? A Silent Guardian sounds like a very important figure, not just an anybody if you know what I mean. What are you neglecting to tell us?” She raised one eyebrow and cocking her head to one side. Cat laughed because the look was so familiar.

“ I was hoping not to have to tell you yet. Yes Devon, there is something that I have avoided mentioning. Mum and Dad were the King and Queen of a country in another world called Monaterra,” He continued after seeing a confused look on Cat and Devon’s faces, “ That makes you Prince Cat and Princess Devon. And Cat, not only are you a prince, but you are the heir to the throne.” Pim could not help but smile wanly.

“ What about you? Wouldn’t you inherit the throne? You’re older than I am!” Declared Cat.

“Normally I would, but under the circumstances, well, that does not really matter… what matters is that I’m not, that you’re the heir. “ replied Pim awkwardly, a shadow of resentment momentarily flickered in his deep, dark eyes. Devon's face lit up with sudden compassion and understanding. Cat looked at her, and she shook her head; she would not say at the moment. This frustrated Cat further. By this time he was actually quite agitated.

“I half believed you for a while there, but this is bloody ridiculous! You have got to be joking! I cannot be a prince! And other worlds? You are out of your mind it’s truly impossible!” Cat looked insulted and betrayed. He swore. Devon slapped him.

" What was that for?!" he cried out.

"Shut up, at least let him finish! He is telling the truth... I think, I have done lots of study on the possibility of other dimensions, and it seems quite plausible what he says" she snapped. " Please continue," she finished with a small smile directed at Pim.

"Oh Drat! I must dash. I really will tell you all you want to know. Meet me here, tomorrow evening. I will have more for you then." replied Pim as he swung unto his saddle, signaled for Amiki and rode off. "Remember, be safe, stay inside, do not risk yourselves. Don't go out alone, stay in public. There may even already be scouts from the Others searching for you. They will kill you. They are not safe. You are not safe. Take care, and act as though nothing happened, play it cool, do whatever you would normally do. It will protect you," and he disappeared in to the forest once more without a trace, leaving both Cat and Devon speechless.

"What do we do now?" asked Cat, and for once in her life, Devon didn't have the answer. They slowly mounted and rode back to the stables and then went home, feeling as though reality had just shattered around them.

Now for a brief interruption of our novel-lit.

Prolly the most frustrating English asinine-ment I have done this year. The original assignment was an essay explaining, in two pages, the poor morals in a few of the tales and how the author of the essay would go about correcting it. I proposed an idea, to make the project more interesting: actually rewriting a story, as its written in the books, in rhyme.


That was a stupid idea.



A rewriting of the Greek tale Daphne and Apollo (from Ovid's Metamorphoses)

Cupid, tired of his brother’s gloating over archery prowess, seeks revenge by causing Apollo to fall in love with a mortal woman named Daphne, who initially spurns his advances, but eventually causes Cupid’s plan to backfire and marries Apollo.


One day, Cupid went out to find,
A comely maiden of winsome kind.
He sought out, a woman true,
Upon whom his arrow he drew.
T’was Daphne, river maid he shot
And Apollo fell captive to his brothers dastardly plot.
He then pursued her with sudden fervor,
And she was smitten with his pure love for her.

He admired her beauty, inside and out,
Permission to court her from her father he then sought.
Apollo told him he sought to make Daphne his bride,
And her father granted him permission, sent with his blessing and pride.
Many months did he pursue her,
And she waited ‘til she knew her love, too, was pure.
Finally he asked he to be his wife,
And with him she agreed to spend her life.

One would think, seeing as his plan backfired,
Cupid would be consumed by bitterness, though that did not transpire.
Instead, he too took for himself a bride to be his own,
And he welcomed with great joy his brother into his home.
Now this tale of love so true,
Has come to an end, for now it’s through.
Let it leave an example of goodly love,
And that which pleases Our Father above.

AoPaSK chapter two

Chapter Two: In which Cat and Devon are sent home from school

Cattely Silvan who went by Cat for short, a short thin boy of 14, woke with a start in the bedroom he was temporally sharing with his brothers while his room was in reconstruction after yet another one of his failed experiments exploded. He remembered that it was the last day of the fall term at school at long last, which meant, that his birthday was just a few days away. At this thought, any other boy would have been excited. Cat however was not. This year, his birthday was scheduled on the same day as one of his four sister’s, Lilac’s, fifth birthday party. He groaned. All of his sisters seemed to attract more attention from his parents, and everybody. He presumed it was because they were girls. Moreover, possibly because they were younger. Either way, he seemed to be constantly overshadowed by all of his eight siblings. Ash and Aspen were both off to an American college in a few months, Rowan was the captain of his rugby team at school, and Mahogany was on the swim team. Chamomile was a dancer and the eldest of the girls. Lilly and Lavender both were into acting and regularly took lead roles in the school plays. Lilac was the youngest, and simply adorable.
Cat, small and wiry, did not play sports, was to shy for acting, and dancing was out of the question. He did have hobbies, but not any his parents were proud of. He did archery, fencing and of course, inventing. Mr. and Mrs. Silvan considered inventing a waste of time. Cat and his parents had often fought about this. They also thought it was loud, and they had a point. Occasionally, experiments would indeed explode. That is why they had given him the old tower room because it was the furthest from the main floor. Cat also had his bedroom up there. He liked it because he could easily get away from the bustle of the rest of the busy mansion.

As Cat was rubbing sleep from his eyes, he noticed two things. Firstly that he once again, he was the first one awake, and secondly that Rowan had taken the extra effort to scatter all of Cat’s laundry across the floor. Grumbling something about not a maid and a choice swear word, he started to grumpily tidy his clothes. Just as he finished Ash woke up and dressed muttered a ‘ ‘Morning’ and left the room. While Cat was making his bed, Aspen woke and followed in his twin’s pattern. His eldest brothers never bothered him much. It was Rowan and Momo who found it their job to make Cat’s live miserable. Just as Cat dreaded, Rowan and Momo got up as Cat was about to get dressed.

“Rowan? I thought that you were gonna have some fun with Kitty’s laundry last night!” jeered Mahogany. ‘Kitty’ was their nickname for Cat and Cat hated it.

“ I did, but it looks like I did not do it properly. Ah well, I will have to do it again anoth-“

“ Shut up! Both of you! “ shouted Cat before Rowan could say any more.

“Now, now Rowan, you seem to have hurt the poor Kitty’s feelings! You should apologize.” Mahogany said in a tone dripping with sarcasm. Both older boys laughed as they left the room.
Fuming, Cat dressed and waited five minutes before leaving the bedroom giving his brothers a head start as to avoid more conflict. He went down the first flight of stairs with no sign of his antagonists. On the last one before the main floor, Rowan was waiting for him patiently, smiling cruelly.

“Where’s Paper, or whatever you call that ridiculous bird of yours?” he asked in a falsely innocent voice.

“ Her name’s Paige. What’d you do to her this time?” demanded Cat in a rush of emotion, tired of his brother’s games and concerned for his pet. Paige was his pet kestrel, a small hawk-like bird, which he had rescued as a fledgling from becoming Mahogany’s cat’ s dinner. Since then, Cat had obtained a hawking license and had been training Paige for falconry, another hobby his parents thought an unrespectable hobby of a boy of ‘his social position’ as they said.

“ I would try the attics if I were you. But if I were really you, I would stay up there for shame…” Rowan sneered. Cat reasoned he probably said more, but he was already dashing up the stairs to the 4th floor where the ladder to the attics was concealed in a closet next to the boy’s room.

The attics were accessed through a trap door in the closet. The door was small and Cat wondered how athletically built Rowan had squeezed his way through. He went through easily. It was filthy up there, books, boxes, a few of Cat’s failed experiments and Silvan family clutter from the generations making it a perfect place for hiding something and impossible to navigate. Cat often thought it resembled the Labyrinth from Ancient Crete. Fortunately, as part of her training, Paige was trained to come to a whistle, but he had a feeling that his brothers would have prevented it from being that easy. He whistled once, loudly and shrilly. As he had suspected, nothing happened, nothing stirred. Cursing his brothers, he began searching for her manually.

He found two of her feathers on the floor causing him to worry. He checked inside boxes, one after another, stacking them neatly as he went. After several minutes of searching, he found her in an empty box about the middle of the room. He examined her to see if she was injured. She was not, and he found a scroll of paper tied carefully to her leg. He had been expecting it.
Cat had left her at his friend Devon’s house so he could see if Paige would come back as he had been training her. Evidently, it had. He unfurled the scroll and read what his friend had to say.

Cat,
Recently I heard that Professor Thomas tripped down a set of stairs at school after school on Thursday. He won’t be able to teach on Friday because he is resting at home. He is having a substitute take his place. I sure hope it is not Professor Humphrey. She never teaches anything that I don’t already know! I never learn a thing when she teaches. I could teach better than she can.
How is your History essay coming? Have you finished it? I finished mine, though it is two pages longer than Professor Jones wanted. I just couldn’t condense it any further without loosing valuable content. I hope he will still take it. See you Friday!
Your friend,
Dove


Cat laughed. It was just like her. Devon, or Dove as many people called her, loved academics. She was just odd that way. He thought about her, her big grey eyes (so much like his own) that complimented her waist-length auburn hair perfectly. He remembered that she was coming over after school as usual today because her father worked until late into the evenings. He was happy because when she came over, her brother, Peter came to hang out with Rowan and Momo. This meant that they didn’t bother Cat. He liked Peter well enough, but he was far too alike to the twins to be trusted with anything.
He placed Paige on his shoulder and glanced at his watch. It was already time to leave for school. Wishing not but ill to his brothers, he hurried downstairs putting Paige in her cage on his way. He was glad he had gotten all his things that he needed at the door the night before. He grabbed a slice of toast on his way out the door.


At the bus stop, he saw Devon and she called out to him.

“ Cat! Come here. Did you get my letter? “ she asked hurriedly, seeming not to be interested in the answer. Chat could tell that she had something important to tell him . He wondered why she didn’t tell him. He presumed that she did not want others to hear, and he thought he knew what it would be pertaining. When the bus arrived, Cat and Devon took their usual seats in the back. He waited until Devon was ready to speak. After a few moments, she sniffed and Cat suddenly saw that she was crying.

He did not know what to do. He asked, “ What’s wrong? “

“ He did it again. Dad going out of town over the entire Christmas holidays. He promised that he would
be here this year. He is going all the way to America for some sort of Seminar.” Devon’s dad worked as a doctor and was very successful. He often taught at seminars and was away for long periods of time several times a year. “ Peter is also going out of town for something too. Good riddance. I don’t remember or care what it was. They both are gonna be gone. I just can’t believe how he could possibly go away again.”

“ Dev, I’m so sorry.” He responded in a deeply caring tone.” Do you know if you are gonna stay with us while they are gone?”

“ I think so, Dad said he would try to arrange it. “ They simply sat there in silence for a few moments, Devon moodily glaring at her shoes and Cat doing his best to comfort her but not knowing at all how to do so. After a while, she pulled herself together and nodded at Cat to say that he could ask the question she could see he was burning to ask..

“ Dove, do you want to do anything in particular on our birthday?” he asked cautiously. Devon and Cat had the same birthday and always spent as much of the day together as possible.

“ I didn’t have anything in mind… How about going for a ride in the pastures? And then maybe going to the park with Paige? Maybe we can get Ash to drive us to London to go to that new shopping center… What were you thinking? “ she suggested.

“ And maybe some archery practice at the park too. The tourney is in a few weeks. We need to practice for fencing before then. And a late lunch at the mall sounds cool. We need to stay out of the house anyhow. Lilac’s party is at home from noon ‘til evening. I don’t really want to be home while a bunch of kindergarteners running around. Truly frightening that is… “ He shuddered at the thought.

When they got to school, they met up with the other kids from their grade. A boy much taller than Cat or Devon was speaking to the rest of the class in an empty hallway when they approached.
“ Oh good. Everybody is here. As you all should know, Mrs. Humphrey is subbing for Professor Thomas today. I had an idea to make today a little less boring than usual.”

“ Now there’s a first.” Devon said derisively in Cat’s ear in a carrying whisper. The speaker who Devon recognized as Mikey, glared at them both.

“ I thought it would be fun to play a little harmless trick of Professor Humphrey. I heard that the roll card went ‘missing’” he make quote marks in the air with his fingers implying that he helped it go missing.” And that means that she will ask us all for our names. One of us will give a fake name. Mrs. Humphrey won’t know it’s happenin’. It’ll be funny! The catch is,” glaring at Devon again “ Is that we all have to agree not to squeak. That means you, Devon. “ He crossed his arms in front of his chest

“ Fine! I won’t say anything. But when you get into trouble, don’t be calling on me to help you right back out of it. “ She stomped away off to class.
Smirking on the effect that he had on Devon, Mikey pulled several paper clips out of his pocket. All of them were yellow except for one blue one. He placed them in a paper bag he took from one of his friends. “ Y’all get it. It’s whoever gets the blue one. “
They each in turn withdrew a paper clip, and Cat got the blue one. A tall boy with dark hair and eyes to match scowled at Cat, obviously wishing that he had the blue paper chip.


“ Good morning class!” Mrs. Humphrey stood in front of the class beaming her award-winning smile that put Devon in mind of a crocodile. One of the girls snickered, but other than that, there was no reply. “ Let’s try that again. Good morning class! “ she chanted still beaming.

“ Good morning Professor Humphrey.” they all droned in unison.

“ Very good! I couldn’t seem to find the roll card this morning… it wasn’t where Professor Thomas said it would be… Oh well, I will have to ask you your names and your favourite thing to do in spare time. Ok? “
The classroom was divided into desks that seated two or three. There were ten in the room and two to a row. She started at the first table on the left with two boys. She pointed to a boy with sandy hair and thick wire rimmed glasses and plenty of freckles.

“ Andy Becket. I like, er, scrap booking…” The last word all but inaudible, a scarlet flush creeping up his neck. Mikey and his gang cackled.

The next boy was Michel Brewers a track runner, and after him Mehgan Daniels, Mary Ellington and Kayla Faulkner, all on the cheer squad and all very giggly. Mrs. Humphrey pointed at the still skulking form of Devon glaring up at her Everybody knew how she disliked Mrs. Humphrey.
“ I’m Devon Fisher. I like fencing and archery. “ Mrs. Humphrey looked taken aback for a moment and moved on without making a comment.

Eventually, she came to Cat. He took a moment to choose a name reflecting that he would have smart to pick one in advance.
“ I am Felix Silvan. I like inventing.’ At this Mrs. Humphrey laughed.

“ A little boy with such an active imagination! Inventing things! That’s so cute!” she exclaimed.

“ Cat’s not a little boy and he’s not joking about inventing! “ Devon shouted her temper rising. As she opened her mouth to say more, one of Mikey’s friends slapped her across the face.
Chaos broke out in the class, Mikey shouting, Devon crying, girls shrieking and Mrs. Humphrey frozen not knowing what to do.

Cat shouted at Mikey’s friend, “ Oi! Leave her alone! “ He ran to her aid and hit the boy who slapped her. Mikey shoved the other boy away, always looking for a reason to fight with Cat punching Cat in the jaw. He tried to get Cat again, but agile as he was, Cat dodged the blows easily, taunting Mikey all the while.

“ Enough! Stop! BOYS! Stop fighting NOW!” shouted Mrs. Humphrey. Having no effect, she grabbed Mikey and Cat’s arms. They both tried to wrench out of her surprisingly strong grip, but she kept her hold.

“ Ha! This is what happens if you treat teenagers like four-year-olds! You got what you were asking for,” laughed Devon derisively.
Mikey and Cat glared at each other. Cat wiped his bloody lip with his sleeve. Mrs. Humphrey quickly jotted down a note on a scrap of faintly purple paper and handed it to Mikey.

“Take this to the Headmaster’s office.” She pushed him out the door. She rounded on Cat. “ No more games. What is your name, the real one this time? “ she said in a falsely sweet tone.

“ Cat Silvan. Felix means Cat in Latin. So in essence, I never lied to-“ he was cut short.

“Mr. Silvan I have had enough of your cheek,” she scrawled another note on the purple paper as she spoke, “Take this to the Headmaster’s office. Miss Fisher, you would do well to join him. I don’t like your attitude.”

It had started to drizzle as Cat and Devon walked gloomily home from school early. It’s such a silly reason to be sent home for! And making us walk in the rain… thought Cat. He could not shake off the feeling that someone was following him. It was impossible to think that it could possibly be one of his brothers. They were still in school. It was not even lunch. He glanced over his shoulder, sure he had seen something moving.

“ Cat, is something wrong? You seem nervous. You keep glancing over your shoulder… “
Apparently not hearing her, he asked “ Dev, do you want to take the short cut through the forest? “

“ Why?” tilting her head and raising one eyebrow in confusion. “ You only do that when you think Rowan and Mo are following us…” she faltered at the look he cast at her.

“ Trust me.” He said patiently.” I will explain on the way. Plus, it will get us out of this beastly rain. It isn’t thundering so it should be safe.” He added after a concerned look from his companion.
Once in the shelter of the forest, Devon and Cat walked in silence. Devon wrung out her skirt and hair and Cat shook his hair somewhat dry in the way a dog shakes its coat making Devon laugh. Other than that, they walked in silence. Devon waited for him to collect his thoughts, she knew when something was bothering him he liked to organize his thoughts before he said anything. “ I really do think we are being followed. I just can’t get rid of the feeling. Is it all in my head or do you sense it too? “ he asked hesitantly.

“ Yeah, I felt it too. I didn’t say anything because I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me. I knew if it really was there, you would know. I suppose you don’t know who it is then.”
Cat had an uncanny skill for being able to tell if someone was following him and correctly identifying who it was. He explained to Devon that it was the way people walk and the pattern of their footfalls that distinguished one person from another. When he shook his head meaning that he did not know, it worried Devon. What if some complete stranger is trying to kidnap us? What do we have that anyone could want? Voicing her thought aloud, “What do we have that someone could possibly want? Cat Shrugged.

“Let’s go home Dove. I don’t like this, but let’s stick to the path, OK? Said cat after awhile of contemplation. Devon nodded in agreement.

A cloaked figure watched them from a distance. He smiled for not many people possessed such skill as this boy and his sister. Not many could sense his presence, it was his job not to be noticed and he was an expert at it. As Cat and Devon walked up the lane to the Silvan manor house, the cloaked figure pulled two pictures out of his pocket. They were definitely the same as the two whose cuts and bruises were being tended by a very concerned Mrs. Silvan. He has found them at last.
Cat whipped around right as he was about to go inside. He saw the cloaked figure only a few yards away in the shadows of the trees. He was not quite sure what he actually saw. “ Dev, come here, I want to show you something. “ He called to Devon. When she arrived the mysterious youth was gone..



(to be continued)

NaNo =)

Dear world: I am participating NaNo (as an excuse to pick up this old fantasy of mine). So, because I have a blog intended for creativity, I shall be posting on here chapter by chapter slowly progressively. Its a short series compiled into what I like to call The Adventures of the Prince and the ShadowKeepers that, I'd like feedback. Now, without explanation or interruption:

Chapter One: In which a king makes his final request

A tall man slunk down an unlighted castle corridor. The walls were dank and smelled faintly of moss., but that had to be expected when traveling in an old unused passage in an ancient castle. Attempting not to be seen, Admiral Damian tried not to remind himself of the dangers that troubled this secret excursion, refusing to dwell on the fact that he could be executed right then and there for being out this far past the curfew. Some things were more important than that. He instead tried to formulate an excuse for being up this late for a simple ‘I’m going to see the King on urgent business’ just would not work. That was the catch. Nobody was allowed to see the King, especially at 5 in the morning. If he were to be caught or if Her people were to find out… He must not think that! He could not let it happen! The consequences would be dire.

Finally, he came to a door. He knocked and a voice emerged from within.

“ Damian? Be that you?” asked a deep, familiar voice, which, in Damian’s opinion was far too calm for the situation.

He entered the room, which was decorated sparsely. The stonewalls were draped in a vibrant red-orange colour that, in Damian’s opinion were mockingly cheery. On the floor was tattered oriental rug of a blue-ish gray colour that complimented the drapery nicely. A mellifluous scent wafted from a window that opened to the dreary purple-tinted sky. He recalled hours standing in that very position gazing upon the rolling hills from that window. Those carefree days seemed to him but a reflection, a dream from a happier time. Now he wondered if he ever would be happy again.

“Yes, it is I. What is your plan?” inquired the grim Admiral.

“You know me so well, you would of course. That’s why I chose you.” He paused and Damian could not identify the emotion that flickered across his brother’s face.” Yes, I do have a plan. As you know, our time here is limited. Please do not question what I say. I have arranged for Niccolette to live in, where was it? Ah yes, Russia. I would like for Pim to become your apprentice if you consent, “ he glanced questioningly at Damian who nodded his agreement.” Good. Then all that there is to settle is the twins. You will need provisions for a journey to Lydney, England. It’s just beyond the Forest of Dean. You will take the twins and hide them there. They will be safe. You will do that for us, won’t you?”

“ You seem to be neglecting yourself and the Queen in your plans. Are you suggesting that you GIVE YOURSELF TO THEM! THEY WILL KILL YOU!” Damian shouted, unable to control himself any longer.

“ Ah but that is exactly what I plan to do. We can’t hold out much longer. I am getting old and we are loosing men left and right. I am not prepared to change my mind. Please, just do as I say.” And the old king turned his back on his brother in dismissal.

As Damian left, he thought of the children. Niccolette only 8 and Pim scarcely 4. And the twins! They were barely a year old! Admiral Damian cursed under his breath as he packed for the long journey ahead of him.

~•••••••••••~

“ Ash dear? Would you go and fetch the paper?” Mrs. Silvan, A tall pretty woman with wavy blond hair and green eyes was the mother of two sets of twin boys. Ash and his twin Aspen were 4 and were identical. Rowan and Mahogany, or Momo, were barely 2 but hardly looked alike in any way. Mrs. Silvan and her husband were botanists and named their boys after trees. She always thought that if she had any girls she would name them for flowers.

‘ Ok Mommy! C’mon Aspen! Let’s go! “ Ash and Aspen trotted over to the big mansion doors and worked together to heave them open. They found not a newspaper on the eves but a baby boy in a wooden basket with intricate carvings.

The boy had dark, scruffy, thick black hair and was staring up at them curiously with big gray eyes without making a sound. His tiny fist gently clutched a piece of tightly furled paper tied with hazel green silk ribbon. “ Mommy? Come here! There is a baby outside!” Mrs. Silvan was a ‘no nonsense’ kind of person, walked skeptically over to the boys, clutching a cup of coffee. When she saw the child, she screamed and dropped her mug. The baby started crying into the still morning chill of late January.

Regaining her senses, she scooped the boy into her arms and soothed him. She noticed the scroll of the thin yellowish parchment and read it.

To whom it concerns,

This child is in danger. His parents were the King and Queen of a far off land. They were murdered by a usurping villain. Her followers are after all links to the throne, thus endangering his life. Bringing here into hiding is the safest option. The less he knows of his situation the better he will be.

Please bring him up as your own, not telling anybody of his background. I will return for him on December 18^th in 13 years, his 15^th birthday. Take care of him ~ Friend of the Crown~

Mrs. Silvan looked at the child. It was astounding, and she could not doubt the sincerity. She noticed that the boy was wearing a black leather cord with a silver leaf pendant inlaid with intricate blue sapphires that sparkled in the morning light. She gasped. Nobody, she concluded other than a prince would afford such an ornate ornament. She slipped the note into her pocket and recounted the story to her husband who had just come downstairs from his laboratory, the morning paper completely forgotten.

How could they know a very similar scene was happening just around the corner to the boy’ s sister?

(To be continued)