Chapter 11: A Search Party and A Tea party

"I really don't think we have the time for detailed introductions at the moment." The Baron looked to Natoru rather seriously, following him into a lounge room.

"Oh dear have you found the Queen's location? I see you've found Haru!" Natoru said rather obviously, as they stood in the rather elaborately furnished room where three cats were already seated, and Muta sat on a chair in the corner, tapping his paw impatiently.

"Oh dear the poor child, I shall have someone go fetch some tea and a blanket!" The black golden-eyed female cat seemed to spot Haru, in a rather formal red dress suddenly left.

"I apologize. That was my sister Lady Charnette Maicoon. She is here to support the search." Santan suddenly stood up in proper address, sitting with King Lune.

"What have you found out?" King Lune stood up and turned to face the Baron, sitting in the other direction, then spotted Haru. "Oh Haru, I truly hope you weren't-"

The Baron noticed King Lune's face looked warren. He suspected they'd only been resting for a few moments.

"Ah-ah-choo!" Haru sneezed involuntarily and then covered her mouth. Her gaze went nervously to Santan, who seemed to be giving her a rather harsh look. Had Santan known that Charnette had pushed her over? Or did he even care? Or was he more concerned with the Baron's return? He did look much more stern then before.

"It seems a trip into the deep end deems these catnappers quite serious about the whole situation. Haru, I recommend you take a rest on the lounge chair." The Baron said still serious and composed. "On the other hand I think we ought to investigate those rooms at a much closer glance. I found a passage underneath the Southern Tower which led us straight to the cellar. I suspect another is situated in that room."

"Then I suggest the Baron and I check it out." Santan suggested standing.

"No way you're leaving me out on the action this time! I've been over here trying to help…just because I got snuffed by a smoke bomb doesn't mean-" Muta complained loudly.

"Why Muta I didn't think you liked this kind of thing?" The Baron asked.

"Ehh, I don't but this chair is-"

"Don't go by yourself Baron." Haru interrupted as she anxiously recalled Santan's original promise to get rid of the Baron. She hoped her meek sneezes might cover the worry in her voice.

"I second Haru." King Lune added. "In cause that I cannot trust all of my men, I will attend with you this search. It doesn't appear that our original findings were adequate… I must find Yuki. Baron you will lead us."

"I admire our uniformity, but it seems one of us should stay here with the women of the household." The Baron put his hand to his chin thoughtfully. "What about you Muta? Would you stay here and protect the two women there? Haru cannot join us quite yet. I don't suspect Lady Charnette needs to be wrapped up in it either." The Baron looked to Haru. She looked strangely pale.

"No, no, not this time. I've been sitting in this castle for way too-"

"Tell me King Lune, you wouldn't happen to have a bribe of angel cake for this situation would you?"

"Not angel cake, however I have my chef and castle-staff working on a feast for Queen Yuki and I's anniversary. I hope she will be present…days are passing too quickly and it is coming up abruptly…" Lune trailed off. "I suspect they might have something there to fuel you Sir Muta?"

"Oh, oh, really? Well in that case I guess I could stay here and watch over Haru and the sister cat…as long as I can attain my fuel King Lune?" Muta's defenses quickly fell.

"Off to the right of this room, down the hall, and the large doors on the left." King Lune nodded.

"That settles it. Let's go." The Baron stood up.

"Baron, your jacket-"

"You need it more than I Haru. Stay warm and we will return with some kind of news I suspect." The Baron's hand went softly under her chin lifting her face up as he looked down with concerned emerald eyes. "Be safe Haru, and I shall be just as precautious."

Haru was taken back by the words. Why would he warn her to be safe? Did he know something or was it just concern? She nodded slightly as he left with King Lune, and Santan following behind. She silently wished Santan had left in front of him.

"Ah, here's the tea." Suddenly Charnette emerged into the room. "It's terrible. All of the servants are in such a fluster; you would think they would attempt to aid me in attaining it! I did grow up here!"

Haru looked to Charnette, who placed the tray of tea down, but had a ornate knife in her hand. Her body felt weighted as it was, too weighted to really put up a fight against her. It was true she felt damp and sick after the fall. Tea sounded wonderful.

"I'll give you this for the singular reason that you seem to have kept our information a secret. For that I'll keep Yuki alive a bit longer. All the same, how you survived such a drop…that Baron…" Charnette raised a brow.

"Why do you want to do this?" Haru took the tea gingerly.

"I was supposed to marry Lune. Before the old Cat King ever saw you, I was who he'd planned on betrothing Lune to! And then the measly little servant cat came along! I had grown up with Lune in this castle! And yet she? And you? No, no. I will attain my place as Queen or I will stand to put myself in the position to become such no matter what cost." Charnette put her paw to her mouth and laughed rather obnoxiously. She stopped for a moment and looked to Haru. "Oh I did not attain that tea for nothing, if you're not going to drink it I'll water the plants with it or something."

Haru reluctantly took a sip. Charnette was terribly bossy amongst all of her other diabolical qualities. She did feel the soft heat of the boiled water on her nose, warm her as it was.

"I wish it was as easy to tame all humans as it is you." Charnette sneered. "I'm surprised you didn't go with them…"

"Why?" Haru noticed the tea was bitter. Not like the Baron's.

"The Baron left with my brother. You'll be lucky if he returns."

"I'll tell Muta!" She exclaimed. "He'll be here any minute-"

"No you won't darling. This will all become part of the cover up." Charnette raised her shoulder up, her red shall skimming against her cheek, as she looked down at Haru with haunted eyes.

"I don't see how there could be a passage in there…" Maicoon said.

"It's the only explanation." The Baron seemed fervent about it. So did Lune who was nearly a flight of stairs above them running slightly faster to the floor of the room the Hooded figure had disappeared too that previous night.

"How did you figure out the cellar passage way …or Haru's location the tower for that matter…" Santan asked, annoyed and slightly impressed with his ability to deduce such a far fetched conclusion.

"It was simple. The cellar was the only place that could have been where the captor had escaped too. But remaining within the castle seemed much too risky. Not to mention there was no rooms with balconies at the southern side. Of course when I saw Haru's scarf fall to the water, I took it for a warning of what was to come to her, and deducted that whatever was parallel to the cellar, and had an area of water was the next best place to look."

"If only I had realized it. I had no suspicion of it all…or that she'd be disposed of like that…." Santan had spoken some truth.

He hadn't expected his sister to so recklessly dispose of Haru. Still Haru had survived, and Santan expected it wouldn't be long before she revealed his sister and his own identities to him. If they got as far as the Western tower, then their plan would still work, but the Baron might have to have an accident. However he had internally hoped that Haru might survive.

She was quite a striking cat… for a human.