BOOK ONE
Chapter One
In Which a Certain Unease Surfaces
Life was good. Jot Kidderth turned in bed, slowly, joyfully; careful not to wake her up as he rested his hand on Toleenh's shoulder. The touch of her dark Forni skin sent shocks of pleasure up his arm, and he knew that a poem had to be encarved in the Cave of Jehkorte.
The door opened ajar, and Kidderth watched Tjem H'h Corry's face appearing amongst the gold ornaments that snaked up the door and down the casing, producing an artificial ivory of sparkling yellow against the crimson walls.
"Don't have me for a fool," said Tjem after a few seconds, "you're awake, and you think I'm spying on you."
Kidderth giggled. "Well, aren't you, my tasty Corry?"
"As always," said Tjem, opening the door wide and bowing lavishly. "After all, what interest does the world offer but your gracious self?"
"You're a nuisance, Corry." Kidderth reluctantly withdrew his hand from the Princess' earthy touch, and swung out his legs as he sat up in bed to rub his eyes -- those famous eyes of a dark blue hue that no human had ever been known to have before. "You're a flatterer, but still a nuisance."
"I am aware of that, Master." Tjem seemed to hesitate for a part of a second, which puzzled Kidderth a bit, tergiversation not being a familiar trait of Tjem's. The servant picked out a bit of straw somehow caught in the golden ornaments of the door, and carelessly pocketed it. "Perchance I had better leave."
"Indeed, my dear Corry. Why has the idea never occurred to you before?"
Kidderth stretched and writhed on the edge of the bed, feline fur carressing his feet. He got up and relished in the tiger skin that protected his feet from the cold of the marble.
"I might," Tjem said. "I... might."
"Never." As Kidderth got up, the warmth of the sun fell into his eyes. He went over to the herb shelf and produced himself some leaves of mint and ss'hern. "I could picture you killing. Arsoning. Even lying. But leaving? Don't be ridiculous. Where would you go?"
"Outside the Palace, I suppose."
"Outside the Palace?" Kidderth laughed. "Now, there's a novel idea."
"What am I here for, if not to entertain you, my Lord?"
"True, my dear Tjem, so very true." Kidderth. with his glance, carressed the earthen beauty sleeping in the bed before striding out past the fanciful servant, who followed him onto the Balcony of Mahogany.
Kidderth went over to the Fountain of Fresh Water at the top of the stairs, and splashed some refreshing handfuls of icy liquid into his face, feeling the energy of pure water entering his pores. The world was truly a perfect place. He felt in a good humour, and turned back to his servant, rubbing his face with a piece of bear skin.
"And what do you have in store for me today? Not the usual Dancers, I hope." Kidderth summoned all his strength to look severe and not let his eyes twinkle as he looked back at Tjem.
The mock reproach had its effect. The little man with the square face cringed under his master's glance, so determinedly stern. Kidderth almost felt sorry for him.
"We have something new, my Lord. The m'Hreeh."
Kidderth shrugged. He was beginning to feel bored. "And what is that?"
"A creature that wishes to produce harm, my Lord."
"Harm?" said Kidderth. "How do you mean?"
"It's hard to explain... harm is like... something you do not want."
"Something you do not want?" Kidderth felt amused again as he went down the wide marble staircase. "What on Earth could I not want?"
"The m'Hreeh, my Lord." Tjem followed Kidderth down the stairs. "It's in the Great Hall."
Chapter One
In Which a Certain Unease Surfaces
Life was good. Jot Kidderth turned in bed, slowly, joyfully; careful not to wake her up as he rested his hand on Toleenh's shoulder. The touch of her dark Forni skin sent shocks of pleasure up his arm, and he knew that a poem had to be encarved in the Cave of Jehkorte.
The door opened ajar, and Kidderth watched Tjem H'h Corry's face appearing amongst the gold ornaments that snaked up the door and down the casing, producing an artificial ivory of sparkling yellow against the crimson walls.
"Don't have me for a fool," said Tjem after a few seconds, "you're awake, and you think I'm spying on you."
Kidderth giggled. "Well, aren't you, my tasty Corry?"
"As always," said Tjem, opening the door wide and bowing lavishly. "After all, what interest does the world offer but your gracious self?"
"You're a nuisance, Corry." Kidderth reluctantly withdrew his hand from the Princess' earthy touch, and swung out his legs as he sat up in bed to rub his eyes -- those famous eyes of a dark blue hue that no human had ever been known to have before. "You're a flatterer, but still a nuisance."
"I am aware of that, Master." Tjem seemed to hesitate for a part of a second, which puzzled Kidderth a bit, tergiversation not being a familiar trait of Tjem's. The servant picked out a bit of straw somehow caught in the golden ornaments of the door, and carelessly pocketed it. "Perchance I had better leave."
"Indeed, my dear Corry. Why has the idea never occurred to you before?"
Kidderth stretched and writhed on the edge of the bed, feline fur carressing his feet. He got up and relished in the tiger skin that protected his feet from the cold of the marble.
"I might," Tjem said. "I... might."
"Never." As Kidderth got up, the warmth of the sun fell into his eyes. He went over to the herb shelf and produced himself some leaves of mint and ss'hern. "I could picture you killing. Arsoning. Even lying. But leaving? Don't be ridiculous. Where would you go?"
"Outside the Palace, I suppose."
"Outside the Palace?" Kidderth laughed. "Now, there's a novel idea."
"What am I here for, if not to entertain you, my Lord?"
"True, my dear Tjem, so very true." Kidderth. with his glance, carressed the earthen beauty sleeping in the bed before striding out past the fanciful servant, who followed him onto the Balcony of Mahogany.
Kidderth went over to the Fountain of Fresh Water at the top of the stairs, and splashed some refreshing handfuls of icy liquid into his face, feeling the energy of pure water entering his pores. The world was truly a perfect place. He felt in a good humour, and turned back to his servant, rubbing his face with a piece of bear skin.
"And what do you have in store for me today? Not the usual Dancers, I hope." Kidderth summoned all his strength to look severe and not let his eyes twinkle as he looked back at Tjem.
The mock reproach had its effect. The little man with the square face cringed under his master's glance, so determinedly stern. Kidderth almost felt sorry for him.
"We have something new, my Lord. The m'Hreeh."
Kidderth shrugged. He was beginning to feel bored. "And what is that?"
"A creature that wishes to produce harm, my Lord."
"Harm?" said Kidderth. "How do you mean?"
"It's hard to explain... harm is like... something you do not want."
"Something you do not want?" Kidderth felt amused again as he went down the wide marble staircase. "What on Earth could I not want?"
"The m'Hreeh, my Lord." Tjem followed Kidderth down the stairs. "It's in the Great Hall."
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