Chapter Four: Nothing but Luck
Remember success is nothing but luck. Just ask any failure.
-Anonymous
xxXxx
Humbert was fairly easy to please. The bare essentials of life were usually enough for him; a place to call home, food on the table, and clothes on his back. The only physical items he had ever put real value in, was his precious flute and a good friend. If there happened to be a library nearby, well, he wouldn't complain about that either.
But from the moment he saw it, he knew he had to have it. He couldn't explain his fascination with such a simple piece of work, nor did he feel the need to. He wanted it, and that was all that mattered.
Lune noticed where the power of his gaze was directed as they passed yet another shop, and laughed good-naturedly. "That hat would look good on you, Humbert. Let's see if it will fit."
"Do you think so?" the smaller cat asked hopefully as his friend pulled him into the store.
"If not, we can get something similar. Hello, sir. My friend would like to try on the hat in your window." Lune said as the shopkeeper bowed respectfully.
"Anything for a friend of the prince," the old white cat fawned, hobbling over to the window display. "Which one did you want to try, young cat?"
"The grey one," Humbert said simply, too entranced to even think about the misconception.
The shopkeeper laughed a little, as he eased the simple top hat from its resting place. "My apprentice finished this one only yesterday. He'll be pleased that someone is already asking for it."
"He did a wonderful job," Humbert replied, reverently taking the hat from the old shopkeeper, and easing it between his ears.
It was only then, that he understood his father's fascination with top hats. No matter that Arthur Garrington could only wear one for special occasions.
It felt right at home on his small head.
Lune only smiled warmly. "It looks like it was made for you, Humbert. We'll take it."
"It won't be too much trouble?" Humbert asked, looking at his reflection in a mirror on the counter.
The hat looked like it belonged there. It would even match the grey suit Lune had just bought him.
"Of course not, Humbert. I owe you my life, after all," Lune retorted as he paid the hatter, who stopped cold in accepting the money.
"Hold on; this is who cured you?"
"Indeed. How, I'll never know, but he did," Lune responded, shaking his head in wonder.
Humbert smiled a little nervously at that. He had already returned the firebird tears to Toto, but had felt it prudent not to tell anyone about them.
Toto had enthusiastically agreed.
"Well, thank you, young cat," the hatter said gratefully, after a minute of staring at him. "I'd hate to think of what would have happened, if the prince-"
"But it didn't, so there's no need to worry about it," Humbert consoled a little self-consciously.
"That's right. Have a nice day, sir," Lune said politely as he and the smaller kitten left the hat store.
"Thank you, Lune," Humbert said gratefully, although he was looking down at his simple black shoes. They were hurting his feet a bit from being new, but not enough for him to complain about.
"You're welcome. It must be getting a little old for you, to have everyone react like…" the prince struggled to find a term that wasn't offensive.
Humbert looked up at his new friend, and smiled a little weakly. "I may as well get used to it. We both know I'm going to be getting that for a number of years yet."
Lune nodded in sad agreement. "Still, I'm glad that baronetcy went to you instead of one of the noblecats bothering Father for it."
Humbert looked up at him curiously. "Why would one of them want it? Don't each of them already have titles?"
"Not all. You see, when a cat with a title has more than one child, it goes to the firstborn son. There are only so many viscounts and such we can have before there are cats with noble blood, but no titles. Intermarriage can only do so much, you understand."
"Oh. I suppose I didn't think of that," Humbert admitted sheepishly as he scratched one ear around his new hat. 'One would think that my brothers would have ensured that I'll never forget such a detail.'
"Obviously not, but still, I'm glad that it went to you instead of…" Lune trailed off, and his mismatched eyes grew just a shade distant.
"Instead of whom?" Humbert asked curiously.
Lune shook his head as if to clear it, and sent the shorter cat a comforting smile. "Don't worry about it. In any case, you're already more likeable than the old Baron of Piaal was. I think even Father was relieved when he killed himself."
Humbert looked up with shock as the prince suddenly put both hands to his mouth.
"Oh dear. I shouldn't have said that."
"… What happened?" Humbert nearly whispered.
Lune sighed. "He was a cat that loved wealth, and showing off wealth. He was intent on having the biggest castle in the area, and worked his people to the bone in order to build it. It was almost finished when he died."
"What happened?" Humbert asked again, a bit more forcefully.
The prince shrugged a little. "To be honest, no one knows. He was found at the bottom of one tower that was almost finished. Some say he was pushed, others say that he jumped or was drunk, but I suppose it doesn't matter. He's still dead, and quite frankly, no one really misses him."
Humbert bit his lip nervously. "I suppose I've inherited that ridiculous castle?"
"Indeed. Actually, Humbert; there's something I was hoping to ask you," Lune said a little hesitantly.
The little kitten looked up curiously. "Oh? What is it?"
"… I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but… it gets terribly boring at the palace. I was hoping to… perhaps go with you, the first time you see it," he said in a rush. "Just in case the authorities over there have trouble believing that you're the new lord."
Humbert stared at him a bit. "It's not my place to say no to you. I wonder if Toto can handle the extra weight," he mused.
Lune stopped cold. "W-Wait," he stammered a bit. "You mean… ride a bird?"
"Naturally. It's the fastest way to travel, not to mention quite enjoyable."
ooOoo
From the way the prince was clinging to both himself and the feathers for half of a day's worth, Humbert had the distinct feeling that Lune had a different opinion of flying.
"Lune, would you mind loosening your hold, just a shade?" Humbert asked yet again, almost gasping the request.
He had a tendency of tightening his hold less than ten seconds after each time the little cat asked that.
"Do you see the large tree yet?" Lune begged, not even daring to open his eyes to see for himself.
"I see it!" Toto crowed happily, making a beeline for the largest tree Humbert had ever seen in his life.
As the large bird dove for the base, and began circling up its trunk happily, Humbert couldn't help but wonder if it would have taken less time to circle the castle. Lune could only meow in distress.
The tree-in-question's trunk was several hundred feet around, and thousands of feet high. Then it got into the branches, which Humbert didn't even bother trying to measure.
"I love it here, already!" Toto exclaimed in an exultant voice, brushing the tips of his wings against the trunk before flying down again. "Not even my kingdom has more than five trees this big!"
"That's because it's from the Human Kingdom," Lune reported in a slightly sick voice. "About a hundred years ago, the current baron forced one of his servants to go there and collect a seed from one of the giant trees that grow there. I'm told the seed was so small, that the servant was punished for taking the wrong type."
Humbert shuddered convulsively as he looked at the impossibly large tree. If this was one of the Human Kingdom's trees, how close were they to a portal?
But then he forced such thoughts aside as Toto made a landing, just inside the castle's courtyard. "It's safe to let go, Lune. We're on the ground."
"Finally!" the prince exulted, hopping off the crow to throw himself on the grey cobblestones. "Oh, sweet, sweet ground! You don't know how I've missed you!"
"Now really, was it that bad?" Humbert scolded softly as he slid off of Toto's back.
"Yes! From now on, I'm sticking to hares and carriages!"
"Now who's acting like a kitten?" Toto whispered slyly into Humbert's ear, making the stunted cat choke back a laugh.
"Your highness?" a tired old feline asked incredulously, as he stepped out of a smaller door.
"Oh, uh, hello, Richard," Lune said, quickly composing himself as he stood up again. He coughed a little self-consciously, and gestured to Humbert. "Meet the new Baron of Piaal, Humbert von Gikkingen."
The old cat stared at Humbert incredulously as the little cat tipped his hat politely. "… Are you certain?"
Humbert stiffened slightly, but allowed Lune to speak first.
"Quite certain. He saved my life earlier this week, so Father gave the baronetcy to him. Humbert, this is Richard Kingsleigh, your new steward. He's been keeping the castle and lands in good order ever since the old baron died. Richard, would you show us around?"
"I'll be in the tree!" Toto told them cheerfully, taking to the sky and launching himself deep into the thick branches far above the castle.
Humbert waved at his dear friend before facing the old steward again.
Richard was still giving him a strange, almost bewildered look, but he bowed anyway. "Please follow me, my lord. There is much to show you."
"Would you mind just calling me Humbert, Richard?" the small cat asked as he followed both him and the prince into the castle. "I'm still new to being a lord."
"That is quite improper, my lord," the steward said firmly, just before beginning the tour.
The castle was only surpassed by the palace in grandness, at least the complete parts. The architecture of the building was finished, save for one tower, but a great deal of the castle was bare of anything save stone. Richard explained that was because the original family castle had been included in the bigger one's design. However, the previous baron had wished to finish building the castle before furnishing it according to his tastes.
Humbert was completely fine with that. Judging from the lavish, and frankly garish, décor in the original part of the castle, he should be grateful for the blank pallet to work with.
"How many people am I now responsible for?" Humbert panted wearily, after following the steward up yet another tall stone tower, one that held his personal chambers.
"Roughly two hundred, my lord, and most of them are within a day's journey of here," Richard answered, finally reaching a thick wooden door at the top of the tower. He opened it, and gestured for Humbert to walk through. "I'm terribly sorry about the mess, but we had no warning that you were coming."
"That's quite all right," Humbert assured him, but then stopped at the doorway. His eyes widened in astonishment, and no small measure of disgust.
This room was the most garish of all. There was room for at least twenty cats on the gold canopied bed, and the furnishings were very large and ornate. Although everything in the room was of the highest quality, there was a good amount of dust and cobwebs everywhere. About the only thing he could bring himself to like about it was the tall ceiling. It strangely reminded him of the cave he had been living in before curing Lune.
He could hear Lune scoffing behind him. "I'd expect nothing less from Baron Carouch. Even Father doesn't have a gold canopy!"
"He was a cat of… expensive taste," Richard said carefully, the slight strain in his voice betraying his true feelings.
Even he didn't care for the old baron.
"This is completely absurd," Humbert fumed as he circled the room. "I refuse to live in a place like this. Surely there are some other accommodations?"
"Quite a many, my lord, but this is the baron's personal chambers. I'd be more than happy to change out the furnishings to better suit your taste," Richard replied hopefully. "I could have a room set aside for you to stay in until we finish refurnishing this one, but I'm afraid that it is customary for you to live in this tower."
Humbert sighed, and approached the only other thing of interest in the large circular room. There was a series of bookshelves, filled to the brim with dusty literature. He curiously took one out to look at the title. He recoiled with a startled hiss, and quickly stuffed the book back into its place as the dust flew from his speed.
Richard purred with amusement. "I take it you are not fond of human folklore?"
"Not in the least," Humbert managed to reply, walking away from the shelves as fast as possible.
"Baron Carouch had an unholy fascination with humans. Before he turned his attention to remodeling the castle, he spent years building the largest source of information about them. What is up here is merely a few of his favorites. I take it you'd rather I moved all of those into the library as well?"
"I'd very much rather you would," Humbert replied gratefully, looking at his new room as a whole.
Once all the garish things were removed, and the place was given a good cleaning, he couldn't really find anything to complain about.
"I'll keep it," Humbert sighed in resignation. "But only because the windows are large enough to let Toto in for the winter."
"You would let a bird of that size into your chambers?" Richard gasped in shock.
"I don't see why not. He had no problem sharing his cave with me for a year."
"You… you lived in a cave?"
"You never mentioned a cave, Humbert," Lune said in a stunned voice.
The stunted cat shrugged, but his attention was already divided. From one of the large windows, he could see the sun set into the dark sapphire sea. The effect was breathtaking; almost like the sun was lighting the water on fire.
"The cave is no longer important, save for one thing. Richard, what is this area's main source of revenue?"
"Fish, mostly, and some types of hard wood. But I've been having the woodsmen cut back as much as possible; I don't want us to resort to cutting down the human tree."
Humbert smiled at that. "I wonder how willing everyone will be about considering a new investment."
"That depends, my lord. What do you have in mind?" Richard asked curiously.
"I'll tell you tomorrow, after I check over the lands. I want to make sure that they and the people are able to handle it before I continue to the next step."
"Dare I ask what the next step is?" Lune asked nervously.
Humbert had to laugh at how nervous the pair looked. "Don't worry. I won't turn into another Baron Carouch."