Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

"My sincerest apologies for her behavior," Sharif spoke up as he closed the door behind us. "I had no idea she would be so brusque to you."

Ben smiled and shook his head. "The dhaka aren't known for their pleasantries, but she did give us a name, and that's more than I expected."

"Do you believe she knows who is responsible for the curse?" Sharif wondered.

Ben folded his arms over his chest and cupped his chin in one hand. "I believe she has suspicions, but if she knew the name she would have already sold it to you for a high price. As things stand, we'll find it cheaper and faster to ask this Dakin ourselves what he knows."

Our host pursed his lips. "Normally I could not ask you to venture into the Huthala on my account, but I am desperate."

Ben clapped a hand on his cousin's shoulder and smiled at him. "We'll do whatever it takes to clear this curse, and if we find ourselves discovering the source of the Thaqiba troubles then we'll have benefits from the search, as well."

Sharif's face brightened and he set his hand on Ben's arm. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart, cousin. Perhaps you would like a rest before you venture out into the Huthala?"

Ben turned to me. "Are you in need of some rest?"

I rubbed the small of my back and winced. "I think I'd like to stretch my legs. Besides, I want to see those Thaqiba up close."

"Then we'll set off immediately," Ben announced as he draped an arm around his cousin's shoulders and led him downstairs with me following behind.

"What will you do if you cannot find this Dakin?" Sharif asked him.

Ben winked at him. "I have other connections in the bazaar, should Dakin prove either elusive or unwilling to cooperate."

We reached the main entrance hall where I found the cat still in the same position. Temptation and the lack of fear in its eyes made me move over to the feline.

"What a beautiful cat," I complimented as I stroked the feline's back. The cat didn't arch as I expected, but he did slightly lean into my touch.

Ben and Sharif joined me at the pedestal, and Ben's eyes danced with mischief. "It's a family heirloom."

The cat flattened its ears against its head. "I am no such thing!"

I started back and my mouth dropped open. The cat's lips hadn't moved, as I had heard the voice in my mind as Ben could do in his Dragon Thief form.

Sharif caught my eyes and used a hand to gesture to the cat. "Millie, this is Qita. He is the charm of our household."

"As in luck, not personality," Ben chimed in.

The cat swiped a clawed paw at Ben who stood far out of reach. "I am both, you heathen!"

I leaned back and lifted an eyebrow. "He's a charm? Against what?"

"Against evil!" Qita insisted.

My eyes wandered up to the ceiling in the direction of Lila's room. "Against evil, huh?"

The feline lowered his paw and the tip of his tail twitched. "I cannot block all the evil in the world, and this magic is powerful. Very powerful."

Ben still looked bemused as he turned to his cousin. "We'll return before sundown, and should we discover anything we'll send a crow."

Sharif bowed his head. "I still do not know how to thank you enough."

Ben grinned. "It's enough to know we're helping out family, and I'd like to see little Lila's bright smile again."

"Then I will go with you," Qita announced as he hopped down from his perch and sauntered over toward the door with his tail held high. "I have my reputation at stake."

I folded my arms over my chest as I watched the cat reach the open doors and turn toward us. "What can you do?"

The cat's whiskers twitched. "You would be surprised how few people notice a cat in their presence, and my stealth abilities are legendary."

I opened my mouth for a retort, but Ben set a hand on my shoulder. "We'll be glad for the company," he replied to the feline.

Qita puffed out his chest. "I am more than just handsome company. After living for seven lives, I am the best guide you could find in the whole of the city, as well."

I cast a curious look at Ben, but he nodded at the door. "We can talk on our way through the city."

"Then follow me, humans!" Qita commanded as he sauntered through the door.

Ben offered me his arm which I accepted with a smile, and together we followed our furry guide out into the streets. The residential area was only sparsely populated, though the few people whom we did come across cast a curious look at the cat in the lead.

"You might do better at stealth by riding atop our shoulders," Ben suggested.

Qita scoffed. "And look like nothing more than a fancy rug? Hardly."

I caught Ben's bemused attention. "So what's this about cat lives? Do they have nine in this world, too?"

He nodded. "Felines are known for their longevity and many, barring accident or illness, live well over five hundred years."

My jaw dropped to the dusty ground. "Come again?"

He lifted an eyebrow at me. "Do your cats not live the full length of a human's life?"

I shook my head. "I wish. We're lucky if we can get them to fifteen."

"Fifteen?" Qita scoffed as he looked over his shoulder at us. "One is hardly out their kitten years in that time."

"So how old are you?" I asked our furry guide.

Qita lifted his chin slightly and I swore I saw him grin. "I am nearly six hundred years old."

I lifted my wide eyes to Ben. "Is he telling the truth?"

"Of course I am!" Qita snapped.

Ben nodded. "That is about his age. He's been with Sharif's family that entire time and their documents do contain a date of his purchase."

"And a grand purchase it was!" Qita chimed in as his hips swayed a little. "I was sold for five barons, which in those days went much farther than they do now. It was a princely sum for a princely family, and I've kept them in good luck these many years."

"Until three months ago," I reminded him.

The end of his tail twitched like that of a rattler. "And that is precisely why we will remedy the situation forthwith!"

I cast a doubtful look at Ben, but he stared straight ahead with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Something wrong?"

He pursed his lips. "I was just thinking about the ill timing of the curse on Sharif and the Thaqiba trouble."

"And?"

"I'm of the same mind as Salah. There's something too coincidental about the troubles starting at the same time."

"You think somebody is trying to get him on the wrong side of the king?" I wondered.

"That's possible, or perhaps Salah's family is a hindrance to their plans."

I cocked my head to one side. "How so?"

"I told you one of my very great aunts on my mother's side married into Salah's family, didn't I?"

"Well, you didn't mention the side, but you did mention the aunt."

"She was particularly strong in magic. So strong, in fact, that the Sharif family sought her out for her gift in order to undo a curse."

I jerked my head toward Qita. "Another curse our venerable guide couldn't handle?"

"I was away visiting family!" Qita countered.

"That was where the young son met my aunt, and they became betrothed," Ben finished as he furrowed his brow. "That same blood flows through both Salah and Lila, but it has often been stronger through the female line."

My eyes widened. "So you're saying someone would want Lila out of the way in case she had that gift, too?"

"That gift may be one of the reasons why she didn't die before Salah hired the dhaka," he mused.

Qita stopped and spun around to face us. His back was arched and he spat in our direction. "You're forgetting about my part in saving her!"

Ben smiled and held up his hands. "I merely said that the gift may be one of the reasons for both the attack and her survival. There's also no proof she has the gift at all. It's merely conjecture."

The frazzled feline glared at him a moment longer before he turned his ‘cute' end toward us. "Let's move faster, shall we? I grow weary of your presence." And with that, he trotted forward.

Ben and I shrugged at each other before we followed after him.