{"id":89,"date":"2017-09-26T18:00:58","date_gmt":"2017-09-26T18:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/?p=89"},"modified":"2017-09-25T18:27:13","modified_gmt":"2017-09-25T18:27:13","slug":"twenty-the-kitten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/09\/26\/twenty-the-kitten\/","title":{"rendered":"Twenty: The Kitten"},"content":{"rendered":"

The gardener in front of them cut a strange figure, her pockets wriggling. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Raizel bowed politely anyway. If she had learned anything so far on this trip it was that she might find the god-touch or even stranger things in places she was expecting nothing of the sort. \u00a0\u201cI, uh. \u00a0I offer apology? \u00a0We were hiding from,\u201d she dropped her voice lower. \u00a0\u201cWe were hiding from a deserter who wanted to accost us, and this was the first open gate. \u00a0I didn\u2019t mean to trespass.\u201d \u00a0She might have said <\/span>We didn\u2019t mean to trespass,<\/span><\/i> but she was fairly sure the Diamond Raven had meant exactly that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, but, trespass you did. \u00a0And now what will you do about it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI could -\u201d \u00a0urgh. \u00a0She had so little money in her pockets, and she had worked so hard or so strangely for all of it. \u00a0\u201cI could pay you a fine, for the, uh, for the insult of our presence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have a better idea.\u201d \u00a0The woman, Raizel thought, had a glint in her eye. \u00a0She mistrusted that, but they <\/span>had t<\/span><\/i>respassed, after all. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are at your service, madam.\u201d \u00a0Diamond Raven was not being particularly helpful, but that deep bow was at least distracting. \u00a0Raizel watched him straighten up and wondered what, exactly, had been so bad about him, that the architect had left him so firmly and so\u2026 well, no, \u201cfirmly\u201d was a pretty good word for it. <\/span><\/p>\n

She shook herself mentally. \u00a0There were those waiting for her at home and there was a gardener in front of them with a rake. \u00a0It wasn\u2019t the time to be distracted. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, then. \u00a0I need you to take this, and I need yo to take it far enough away that it doesn\u2019t find its way back here, <\/span>without<\/span><\/i> harming it in any way. No harm, do you understand? \u00a0I just need it gone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She produced a small kitten, barely-weaned age, from one pocket. \u00a0It gave a pitiful little mew and two of her other pockets mewed as well. <\/span><\/p>\n

Raizel could guess at the problem. \u00a0\u201cMother is a pure-bred sort?\u201d she guessed. \u00a0The two other kittens sticking their heads out of pockets hat the silver tips and nearly-white bodies that were popular right now. \u00a0The kitten in her hand was a silver-and-black tabby. \u00a0\u201cBut the father – or one of the fathers – isn\u2019t?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cExactly. \u00a0And if the Mayor knows that I let her prize queen out and – well. \u00a0It\u2019ll be my head, or at the very least my job. \u00a0So you get little baby out of here so she doesn\u2019t get me in trouble and I don\u2019t have to hide any evidence, and I won\u2019t notice that you were here <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> I\u2019ll show you an exit that\u2019ll get you away from your problem. \u00a0Deserters,\u201d she shuddered. \u00a0\u201cThere\u2019s been more and more around here, and we\u2019re not even at war right now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey seem\u2026 driven?\u201d Raizel offered. \u00a0He\u2019d seemed more than driven, if there was a thing that was more than that.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, of course. \u00a0They want forgiveness, but the curse doesn\u2019t allow that. So they keep pushing and pushing for that forgiveness. \u00a0They\u2019ll do anything they think will get them there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Raizel shuddered. \u00a0She couldn\u2019t imagine being pushed like that, by some sort of magical force, just to keep going on and on. \u00a0\u201cSo,\u201d she tried to get the conversation back on track, \u201cIt I take this kitten away so it can\u2019t return and get you in trouble-\u201d she snorted. \u00a0\u201cThat seems to be the story of my life lately.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHey!\u201d \u00a0The Diamond Raven glared at her. \u00a0\u201cI am not a kitten.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, but I\u2019m removing you from someplace, too. \u00a0You\u2019ll show us a back way?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat I will. \u00a0And forgive your tresspasses.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen we\u2019ll take her.\u201d \u00a0She held out her hands and accepted the tiny kitten. \u00a0\u201cShe\u2019s weaned?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, and a trick it was hiding her for that long. \u00a0But now she can be without her mother and she needs to be. \u00a0This way, you two, there\u2019s a tradesman\u2019s exit that will do you well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m a tradesman, or close enough,\u201d Raizel agreed. \u00a0She cradled the kitten against her. \u00a0She would need some sort of sling; she didn\u2019t have pockets like the gardener did.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThen here we go.\u201d \u00a0The gardener led them through the garden and out another side gate. \u00a0\u201cSafe travels, you two, and take good care of her.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The gardener in front of them cut a strange figure, her pockets wriggling. \u00a0 Raizel bowed politely anyway. If she had learned anything so far on this trip it was that she might find the god-touch or even stranger things in places she was expecting nothing of the sort. \u00a0\u201cI, uh. \u00a0I offer apology? \u00a0We… Continue reading Twenty: The Kitten<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Side Quest Chapter Twenty: The Kitten\r\n~\r\nWell, some quests are just worth it.","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-89","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8Tn4Q-1r","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":126,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2018\/02\/02\/thirty-teamwork\/","url_meta":{"origin":89,"position":0},"title":"Thirty: Teamwork","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"February 2, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cWhy did you even buy us?\u201d \u201cKid,\u201d Weckel sighed, \u201cyou are going to get yourself and everyone else in a world of hurt. \u00a0Would you stop that?\u201d \u201cCome here. \u00a0Cory, right?\u201d \u00a0She had no idea what she was doing. \u00a0Did it show? \u201cCory. \u00a0Mistress.\u201d \u00a0He was only a couple seats\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":124,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2018\/01\/26\/twenty-nine-overheard\/","url_meta":{"origin":89,"position":1},"title":"Twenty-Nine: Overheard","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"January 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Raizel napped for a while, only to wake to very quiet conversation circling around her. \u00a0Her head was on the Raven\u2019s shoulder, and his was resting on her head. \u00a0It felt cozy, the way she\u2019d only ever felt with - she felt a stab of guilt. It had been days\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":95,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/10\/11\/twenty-two-lost-and-found\/","url_meta":{"origin":89,"position":2},"title":"Twenty-Two: Lost and Found","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"October 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cWhy her?\u201d The Diamond Raven shifted so he was standing almost between Raizel and the Left Hand. \u00a0\u201cWhy this stranger on the street?\u201d \u201cBecause she\u2019s not a stranger, is she? \u00a0She\u2019s the one that everyone\u2019s been muttering about. \u00a0She\u2019s got you, which is interesting in and of itself. \u00a0She\u2019s made\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 3 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 3 comments","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/10\/11\/twenty-two-lost-and-found\/#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":58,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/07\/25\/eleven-the-diamond-raven\/","url_meta":{"origin":89,"position":3},"title":"Eleven: The Diamond Raven","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"July 25, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Esteronzerai was the biggest town Raizel had been in yet, and it was where the carriage\u2019s route diverged from Raizel\u2019s, whether or not she had been stopping to lasso a wizard. \u00a0She bowed to the driver and, her grandfather\u2019s words in her mind, tipped him, although she had not been\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":69,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/08\/16\/fifteen-singing-of-fire\/","url_meta":{"origin":89,"position":4},"title":"Fifteen: Singing of Fire","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"August 16, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Diamond Raven was fussing at her as she walked over to the veiled Tzarin - but he walked with her the whole way. \u00a0Raizel didn\u2019t listen so much to his words as she listened to his tone. \u00a0He wasn\u2019t happy with her, no, but he was also worried for her.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51,"url":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/2017\/07\/20\/eight-a-kiss\/","url_meta":{"origin":89,"position":5},"title":"Eight: A Kiss","author":"Lyn Thorne-Alder","date":"July 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Raizel took breakfast in the inn\u2019s bar the next morning, feeling well-rested, content, and ready to face the rest of her journey. \u00a0Perhaps she\u2019d even hire a coach. The barmaid leaned over the table while she was refilling Raizel\u2019s mug. \u00a0\u201cThere are opportunities around here, you know, for someone as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Quest"","block_context":{"text":"Quest","link":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/category\/quest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=89"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":90,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/89\/revisions\/90"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=89"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=89"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.lynthornealder.com\/sidequest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=89"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}