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You have my deepest Apologies for the Unease this unfounded Report must have caused within the Group. I will, rest assured, look into the Matter with all possible Assiduity, and if the Culprit is discovered, I will reveal his Name to the Society, that he may be called to account.
Your Friend and Servant,
Athelstan Grisby, Brt.
As Sir Athelstan read the Letter, sprinkled Sand on the ink, and appended his Signature, I was investigating for myself. Beside the Spot on which Rufus's Pen had rested Lay his Copybook. I strolled to sit beside it and washed my Face daintily, managing while so doing to Read what was Inscribed there.
He had, as I suspected, been Writing in Sir Athelstan's distinctive Hand, making the Letters large enough to convince anyone that they had been formed by a Human Being. Additionally, those Letters were intermixed with Calculations resembling Those on my Master's unfinished Pages.
Without any Doubt, I was looking at the Practice Sheet that was the Foreru
Musgrave entered the Room, took the new Letter, and left again. With my most beguiling Purr, I settled onto Sir Athelstan's Lap, the Kits at the moment being engaged in being Fed in the Scullery.
I stared up at him, my Eyes pleading. "I know the Culprit," I conveyed to my Charge. "And it is no Enemy of yours, but instead a great Admirer. He meant no Harm, rest assured. I do hope that you will not be Angry with him!"
He stared down, his eyes wide. "But-but how could You possibly know who did this Outrageous thing?"
I sighed and licked one paw reflectively. Then I rubbed my Chin against his Knee. "Because it was Rufus. Look at his Copybook, there on the farther Side of the Table."
He reached and found the Item in question. When he began Perusing it, I felt his Stomach begin to quiver with Chuckles.
"That little Devil!" he said. Now he was begi
"Rufus is not your ordinary Kit," I responded, feeling great Relief that he was reacting with Amusement rather than Fury.
"But why did he imitate my Style and my Handwriting?" asked Sir Athelstan, rereading the scribbled Page.
"Admiration? Emulation? Who can say what motivates a Child?" I asked. "But you do need to Caution your Secretary, when you find the Opportunity. Unless you have outgoing Letters in a certain Spot, he should never send them out without asking you."
"I will see to it." His Stomach was still joggling gently. He stroked my Head with his free Hand as he read the Page yet a third Time.
As one might suppose, I had Words of my own with my Precocious Kit. Rufus was suitably Subdued when I was done, for not only the Society was misled for a Time. The News had been sent to the Newspapers, before the Recipients of the Letter thought to verify the Information therein. This led to considerable Excitement and Distress among the Readership of the Publications involved.
So respected was Sir Athelstan that his Name (which was admirably forged) was enough to convince the most Skeptical of the Authenticity of the Danger. By the time Corrections were made, the Damage was done.
It was not an easy Matter to correct this Mishap. Some u
However, nowadays when my Charge is busy with his Mathematics, Rufus is usually at his Elbow. The Kit has a Gift for this, and Sir Athelstan plans to Work with him in Future, using his unusual Skills to Augment his own.
As the Child's Mother, I am, of course, extremely Proud and Grateful. But as Sir Athelstan's Familiar, I keep a very close Watch upon them Both. Neither is as Mature as one would Wish, and both tend to be Daring in the Extreme.
I have no wish to deal with another such near Catastrophe as the last might have become. And though I have Worked extremely hard, I still ca
Quest of Souls by A
"Prosh! Where are you?" Rasson called, ru
The boy heard an a
Then let him sleep. Prosh licked his left paw to express disinterest.
"You don't understand. My master ca
Rasson raced through the main chamber into Master's bedroom with the cat darting past him. Prosh hopped upon the bed, using nose, whiskers and very keen cat eyes to examine the pale master.
You're right. Master ca
"Gone?" Rasson leaned over the bed to poke at his master's cheek. "You mean he's dead?"
No, but he will die, Prosh warned, if you do not rescue his soul by the next new moon.
"How can I do that?"
Get help from the village witch. Prosh leapt off the bed. Now I must find Cook and get my meal.
"Cat Prosh," called Rasson. "Come back!"
The cat ignored Rasson and shot away toward the kitchen with the pleading boy trailing behind. They found no one in the kitchen and the black stove had not been lit. No aroma of baking bread greeted them, no hearty good morning from Cook, and no breakfast for cat or boy.
"Maybe Cook is in her room behind the pantry," Rasson suggested. The cat and the boy found her door unlocked and cautiously entered Cook's chambers. No snores sounded from the huge lump in bed. Still, the boy stayed back fearing Cook's temper, and allowed Cat Prosh to investigate.
Her soul has been stolen, too, Prosh a
The boy crept forward. "Why?"
Prosh sniffed and stared at the human boy. Soul robbers steal souls and imprison them in the Dark Fortress until the seventh new moon. Then they drain the kidnapped souls, using that essence to increase their evil power.
"I thought soul robbers things of legend only-stories told to frighten children. If you knew about them, why didn't you protect Master?" Rasson cried in anger and fear.
Who knows when soul robbers will attack? A long time has passed since they last ventured forth-longer than either of our memories. Soul robbers strike at random, after dark. Cat Prosh leaped down and pattered back into the kitchen. Last night I was outside exercising Hound. He needs it.
"I should've been here-I would've saved them."
Where were you? Prosh's ears perked.
"In the woods catching glowflies," Rasson answered, hanging his head down in remorse and feeling as if he wanted to cry.
Did you catch any? The boy nodded, and Prosh added, Good. Put the glowflies in a lantern and take them with you on your quest. Their light will guide you at night.
"Please, Prosh, I need you to help me free Master and Cook," Rasson said. A thought struck him. He stopped and blinked down at the big gray cat. "Oh, no! Do you think they got Mistress?"
"Meooow!" screeched Prosh.
Prosh darted up the stairs with the boy scrambling after, Rasson reaching Mistress Sunlee's chambers seconds behind the cat.