Thanks for the ideas. I will use the thought of Nathan being untrusting. This will be a good chapter!
The next day they set off early, determined to make it to Malvint on time. Cat, letting her body-guarding instincts take over, made them ride right in front of her so she could block them from rear attacks. James agreed readily enough; though he was worried about her, he knew she would never let him look after her when there was even the slightest way for her to take care of them.
"I'm not too sure about her," muttered Nathan to James, glancing back to make sure Cat was out of hearing range.
"What do you mean?" asked James, keeping the anger out of his voice. Sometime over the past few days, he had begun to develop a strange feeling for her. Protectiveness for her washed over him at the most random moments.
"What I mean," said Nathan with another glance behind, "is that she could be hiding something from us. What else could she be keeping from us? She did hide her identity from us for, what, six years or so? How do we know she's really working for us?"
"She's Silence's daughter," James stated firmly, as though that fact alone were enough for Cat to have Nathan's full trust.
"That's another thing. Do you really think she could have grown up around our top spy and never picked up ways to conceal secrets?" The prince felt Nathan's accusations burn him as though they had been directed to him personally.
"Think about it, Nathan; are we being completely open with her, either?" He knew Nathan knew what he spoke of.
"You know as well as I do that we can't trust her with that! Not even Silence knew of your power! Can we really be expected to tell her everything?"
Hoof beats came from behind them. Looking around, James saw Cat trotting up. "Hey guys. I think we should make camp soon; a bad storm's coming in."
So focused James had been on his agruement, he had failed to notice the tell-tale darkening of the sky: the calm and cool breeze sweeping through the canopy and the silence of the animals. He watched Cat direct her gaze down to Cylon, who was perched on her saddle. James had grown an immense liking for the cat; it seemed almost human at times.
"A real bad storm," Cat said, obviously translating Cylon's warning. Callie, who was perched on Cat's shoulder, gave a pitiful mew. "I think it best we get under cover. I know of a little town nearby where we can check in. We're just inside Malvint's border, still a day's ride from the royal city." After a pause, she said, "I think it's best if we gave false names, just to ensure our safety."
She pulled ahead of them, leading the way. James found himself staring at the gorgeous way her multi-colored hair glistened in the weak sunlight and how her strong profile was staring determinedly to the horizon. Suddenly, the voice of Nathan interrupted his daze, "Aye, but who will ensure our safety from her?"
Cat led them to a shabby-looking hotel, looking uneasily around. The streets were dirt and full of barefoot peasants. It seemedthat nothing, other than a lack of money, was wrong. People bartered with each other for home-baked goods and handmade clothes and furniture, while others caught up on the latest gossip with their friends.
By the time they hadreached the little town, they were all on tense nerves. All felt bored and energetic at once; a feeling caused by the tension of the approaching days and storm,intensified bythe long ride They had all stopped and changed. Seeing as this was an old-fashioned town, Cat had settled for a long dress with a worn, brown leather jacket that she had inherited from Jack, and the two boys were in patched brown pants and plaid shirts.
She looked back to make sure Lord Nathan and Prince James were sticking close. Though she had been on speaking terms with the lord longer, Cat felt as though he was untrusting. Perhaps,because he had known her longer, he was suspicious: For how many trustworthy people would keep their name secret the entire six years you knew them?
Wiping a drop of sweat from her brow, Cat called to the boys:
"Come on! Tie up your horses while I get us a room." Seeing the curious expressions they were drawing from townsfolk, she added, "And stay out of trouble," before hopping off of Ashpetal and swiftly tying her to the post. 'Cylon,' she thought to the cat, 'Watch over them. Don't let them out of your sight!'
"Relax, Cat. I'm on it. I've kept up with you so far, haven't I?" the cat meowed in mock-offended tones. Rolling her green eyes, Cat strode into the dingy inn.
Seeing a greasy-looking man at the counter, she sauntered up and said, "Do you have open rooms?"
With an impatient sigh, he said, "Yes. 12 nobles a night. 2 extra per horse. Now, will you hand over the coins?"
With an incredulous scoff, the weary Cat hissed, "Look, sir, my friends and I have had a rough ride, so attempt a few manners. And no, I won't 'hand over the coins!' So you really think my friends and I would even consider staying here now?" On her shoulder, Callie hissed at the man.
Taken aback by both the anger and the feline, the man said with a confused stare, "We have the only hotel in town."
"Oh, well then," said Cat, getting over her temporary burst of emotion. Such a rough week had put her in a grouchy mood. "Here," she finally said, giving him 18 nobles.
"Here's your room key," he said, handing her the rusty key. Written on a crumpled yellow parchment tied to it was "Room 209."
Cat pocketed the key and left, leaving behind a bewildered innkeeper.
The moment she walked out of the hotel she knew something was wrong. Looking over to where the lone Ashpetal was standing, she saw a sheepish looking Cylon sitting in her saddle cup. "Er... oops?" said Cylon in explanation.
"Where'd they go?" asked Cat frantically. Cylon used her tail to point to her left. "Guard," Cat ordered Ashpetal, so the mare would attack any horse thieves. With a small growl of fury, Cat stalked off, carrying along an excited Callie.
Deciding to disobey Cat, James and Nathan rode their horses to a nearby restaurant. A strong smell of sweat and beer hit the two friends as they entered the bar. The weary travelers sat down and simply got waters when the waitress asked what they wanted.
A dusty peasant with overly large muscles chuckled. "Sissies," he taunted while resting his hand on his rusted dagger.
"Excuse me?" asked James threateningly, leaning over to glare at the man.
"Water? What kind of girls are you?" mocked the man, giving James a face full of beer filled breath.
At that moment Cat walked into the bar. With his Sight, James could see a greenish amber flame engulfing her. "You idiots! Didn't I specifically say to stay by the inn?"
"Ah, I see," said the peasant. "You're girlies who are bossed around by a girlie." He ran his lecherous eyes over Cat's body. "A very tasty girlie."
Finally able to release his pent-up energy, James lunged at the man, fists raised and ready to attack. He punched the man hard in the stomach, causing the unsuspecting drunk to howl.
The man fought back with a strength obvious by his muscles, but with the training of a farmer. James ducked his uppercut and jumped over a poorly aimed kick. Beside him, he saw Nathan rise and join the fray. The peasant pushed James over the bar and punched Nathan square on the jaw. James leapt back up and, after vaulting over the bar, punched the man so hard in the nose that he felt it break under his fist.
The infuriated drunk leapt up for the two nobles but was held at bay by an invisible force. James too found that he was unable to move. With a focused look, James saw that his, Nathan's, and the peasant's bodies all glowed green as they were frozen mid-brawl.
Cat walked over and slapped the man on both temples.He fell, immediately unconscious,straight to the ground. James felt the power lift and Cat grab his arm and drag him and Nathan out of the bar. Stopping at the door, the girl released Nathan, drew a sack from her bag and threw a few gold coins on the ground. "Use this to clean up," she said, before grabbing the stunned Nathan's arm again, pulling him away.
They were in the middle of the street before Nathan regained his senses. He tried to jerk out of Cat's grip, but found he was unable to. "Let go, Cather- Cat," he said harshly, pulling his arm.
Cat rolled her eyes and let go so suddenly that Nathan fell down. Unfortunately, Callie fell down with him. "Cat!" she complained. "Pick me up," she ordered, showing her true feline side.
Cat picked up the calico kitten and set her gently over her shoulders. Once Cal was content, she turned to James. "We were going to keep a low profile here, remember! Do you have any idea what the consequences will be if you're discovered here?"
James sighed, "I just-"
He was cut off by Nathan sticking up a hand and saying, "Can you help me up, James?"
The prince hauled the lord to his feet. Nathan spoke to Cat, "Look Cat, I know you're our "body guard," but that doesn't mean you can boss us around. I took pity on you in TCSGT (their school), but now? You have no control over us." Cat, who had kept her Sight on ever since the fight, now saw that Nathan was telling a bold-faced lie when he had claimed to pity her back in school. Nathan had truly been her friend.
Cat froze, taken aback. If anyone, she had expected James to be the one who distrusted her, the one who would disobey her. "This is for your own good," she attempted to explain. "There is so much danger in Malvint that I doubt you can barely comprehend it."
At the boys' silence, she continued, "Have you ever wondered why he hired me, a bodyguard, for you? Especially a young female bodyguard? Did it not even occur once to you that maybe he wanted an undetectable source of protection for you? Well, Lord Stutrian, I believe it is my job to protect you and that is what I will do, with or without your permission."
Nathan was watching her curiously, as though she had been the one who had finally solved a puzzle he had been working on. A loud crash of thunder suddenly caused all of them to jump. Cat, who had been trained not to show shock, was appalled at herself.
"We'd better get into the room!" she said. The moment the words were out of her mouth, rain began to pour from the sky. It turned the dusty road into a trail of mud immediately. The families that they had seen on the streets earlier were running for their homes.
Nathan nodded and raced ahead, for he was obviously uncomfortable in the drenching rain. Cat lifted the yowling Callie off her shoulder and held her inside Jack's worn-down jacket to comfort and warm her.
She heard squelching footsteps come up behind her. She turned around quickly and found herself staring into the dark blue eyes of the prince. "I really wasn't looking for a fight," he said.
"Then what on earth caused you to attack that man?" asked Cat, aware that her heart was beating rather fast and her breaths were short. As she had been noticing over the past few days, James was rather handsome in a roguish sort of way.
"He insulted you," said James softly, a fire burning in those dark eyes of his.
Cat felt her breath catch in her throat. "I was.. protecting you," said James hesitantly, unsure how to interpret her silence.
"Thanks," she said softly, surprised by how much emotion those four words would fill her with.
Suddenly, there was a new kind of flame in James's eyes, one that burned with intensity unmatched by anything else. The next thing Cat knew, she was kissing James on the mouth tenderly. The rain hitting her head and the meows of the sandwiched Callie were drowned out, and she focused entirely on James. He drew away, still looking her in the eye.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, but was cut off by Cat placing her lips over his mouth for a brief kiss.
Once she pulled back, she gave a sweet smile that showed all of her returned feelings and said, "We should be going in."
He gave her a dashing smile. "Of course." With that, the two teens turned back to the hotel, holding hands unconsciously and filled with a strange joy.
Their first kiss! Did you like? Was it too sudden? Was it sweet? Lame? Gross? Please REVIEW!