The Never-Dying Man

Chapter 3 The Cat

Chapter 3

The CatIt was a subdued little party that left the farm. Asphodel had cried after her beautiful song, and they all felt sad at the untimely demise of the children, especially. Asphodel could not get the thought of how the little girl must have been afraid and hurt by the orcs out of her mind. Grnff had stood back as they searched but now came towards them, exclaiming his sorrow in his guttural tones.

That night they set up camp by a little stream where they could fill their water bottles. Grnff elected to sleep in the woods away from their fire, as he did not really like the heat.

They were still a little depressed by what they had witnessed earlier in the day and so they were surprised when a figure approached their camp. The figure was a small man dressed in black and carrying a small bag.

'May I share your fire tonight?' he asked. 'I'm alone and a little afraid of wild animals.'

'Where are you coming from?' asked Basalt. 'There's nowhere near here. No villages or towns.'

The little man laughed. 'I've actually come from Bluehaven. I'm making my way to Hambara. Let's just say “on business” shall we?'

'You've travelled all the way from Bluehaven on your own?' said Thadora, eyes widening at the thought.

'Well, sort of. I started off on my own, then I met a group of people who let me travel with them, but they turned off towards the Mountains of Doom. Not knowing what was in that direction I decided to continue on towards Hambara.'

Carthinal had been looking hard at the man and now he spoke.

'Why did you leave, Bluehaven, then? I thought you had it made there.'

The little man started, then laughed.

'Well, if it isn't Carthinal. What a small world! Why are you on this road if I might ask? Are you returning to Bluehaven?'

The others stared open-mouthed. Carthinal and this stranger knew each other? What were the odds of them meeting on the road like this? Then Carthinal laughed with the little man and answered his questions.

'No. We're not going to Bluehaven we're going to help a friend find his daughter who's been kidnapped. You still haven't answered my question though. Why've you left Bluehaven?'

'First introduce me to your friends then I'll tell you all about it.'

After the introductions had been made, The Cat, for that was what Carthinal told them his name was, began to tell them his story. It seemed he was a cat burglar in Bluehaven.

'The best in the city,' put in Carthinal. 'Probably the best in Grosmer.'

The Cat went on to say how he had been betrayed by a traitor in his gang and had had to flee the city before the guards caught up with him.

'I think that she really wanted to take over the gang. I had become the leader after Fenilla, who you left in charge, Carthinal, was captured. By the way, Carthinal, you said that you'd come back to us when you'd learned magic, but you never did.'

'I learned a better way of life, Cat.'

There was silence for a while. Thadora was leaning forward to hear every word The Cat said. As an erstwhile thief herself, she was fascinated by this man whom Carthinal had said was the best cat burglar in Grosmer.

'So here you are,' she said. 'I bet you could teach me a thing or two.'

Randa and Basalt spoke at once.

'Thadora, you've given up that life. You promised father.'

'Red Cub, just forget that idea.'

Thadora laughed, her green eyes dancing. 'OK, but he could come with us, couldn't he? He's not really got anywhere else to go.'

A big discussion then ensued until Carthinal called for quiet. 'We don't even know if The Cat would like to join us,' he said. 'First let's ask him and introduce him to our friend on whose behalf we're undertaking this journey.'

When Grnff emerged from the woods, The Cat gave a squeak and made to run, but Thadora ran up to the large creature and flung her arms round him.

'This is Grnff,' she told the astounded cat burglar. 'He's our friend and the one whose daughter has been stolen. We're going to help rescue her.'

The Cat couldn't get any words out. He stood and spluttered. Then, pulling himself together, he walked slowly towards the yeti, holding out his hand.

'I…I'm The Cat,' he told the other. 'P…pleased to meet you.' Then turning to the others he said, 'I have nothing better to do, so if you'll have me, I would like to join you. Carthinal was a good friend to me in the old days and I'd like to renew our friendship.'

Basalt grunted. 'Just as long as you realise that we are an honest bunch. We do not steal from each other, nor anyone else, come to that. I think everyone should have a chance to better themselves and so I'm willing to let you join, on probation, as it were.'

The others agreed, somewhat reluctantly, and so the original eight became ten.

Just after the crossing over the Brundella where the flood had happened the previous spring, the road branched, one road heading straight on to Bluehaven and the other turning east towards the Mountains of Doom. The party turned towards the mountains to where Zplon was waiting anxiously for them to arrive.

The journey across the hills of Grosmer was uneventful and, after staying in wayside inns wherever possible, but sleeping rough when there were none, they eventually arrived at the foothills of the Mountains of Doom.