The boys managed to look less scruffy than usual and we made our way to the meeting hall for breakfast, assuming someone remembered to get me some raw mutton. I must admit, I'm beginning to tire of non-stop mutton. I should probably find some more of those coneys soon.

We managed to arrive before people started looking impatient. Storm Eagle grabbed Blue Fox and dragged him over to where the two from Zimlakuliku were waiting. Owl and Cat followed Fox as if the three were tied together with an invisible string. I decided to go my own way and targeted the Sahkeena, who was sitting demurely to her father's left on one of the benches that lined the tables all the two-footeds ate at.

Silently sliding on the floor on my stomach, I started a low purr which I slowly increased in volume as I approached her primly tucked-in feet. When I was close enough, I rubbed the side of my snout on her calf with my eyes closed. I felt her jump a little but then fingers found the top of my head and started to scratch. Soon they found their way to the backside of my ears. Yes, I was right. The Sahkeena was very much a cat person. Before I knew it, I was on my back with all four paws in the air while my newest friend in this life was scratching my chest and tummy and under the chin.

I had forgotten that formalities and introductions were going on. I heard a pleasant woman's alto right above me say: "I believe the divine beast and I are already acquainted." There was laughter too, which caused me to open my eyes and reluctantly exit the state of pleasure I had sunken into.

"Yes, she's generally reliable and I can always count on her," my boy said, "except when someone finds all the spots she likes to get scratched. It's a fatal flaw in her otherwise sterling character."

"It sounds like you aren't properly appreciated," the Sahkeena cooed at me, going for under the chin. "Why don't you come home with me? I promise you lots of scratchies every day and all the antelope and gazelle you can eat. Hmmm? Is it a deal?"

"You better make a counteroffer quickly, Cat," Wren said, "or you may be in the market for a horse who is also a mage to replace Fuzzy."

"I will be most vexed with you, Lady Fuzzy, if you succumb to the Sahkeena's offer," Prince Willam pronounced, "since my offer was far superior."

"Aha!" the Sakheena leaned forward with an avid gaze. "Watch me squash the competition! Whatever you offered, I will triple it!"

"Enough!" Storm Eagle commanded, looking amused, "and you, Fuzzy, need to learn some dignity and comportment for occasions like this."

This prompted me to leap to my paws, pad over to Storm Eagle, and perform a curling roll so I landed on my back with my snout rubbing against his boots. I made sure I was purring as loud as I could manage. I wasn't too surprised that Storm Eagle resisted for as long as he did. Regardless, all I had to do was turn my head so I could make big kitty eyes at him, pupils partially dilated, and in my tiniest, most pitiful voice squeaked a tiny "meow?"

"You!" Storm Eagle accused, and he scratched under my chin for at least half a minute.

"The food is getting served, Father," Wren tugged on his sleeve. That was good enough for Storm Eagle to abandon me. Very little in this world can get in the way of food and Storm Eagle's stomach. No one remembered to serve me up some raw meat and no one had set up a bench for me at the table so at least I could be sociable. As a result, I pouted my way into the kitchen to see what I might be able to steal for food. The cooks were all off eating and only the soldiers with dishwashing duty were in the kitchen, and they were not watching the food that was left out.

There were several hams, beef roasts, and multiple ropes of smoked sausages on the big table in the middle of the kitchen. It was all cooked but I was feeling rather peckish at this point. One of the hams looked like it would tide me over until evening, assuming I didn't stumble across some of those garden-fattened coneys this afternoon. I almost escaped the meeting hall with my prize but Prince Willam spotted me before I got out the front door.

Both Willam and Cat got up to chew me out, not that it mattered. Once I got my teeth into a hunk of meat, it was mine.

Willam got to me first. "Alright, Fuzzy, why are you stealing the ham set aside for lunchtime sandwiches? Don't we feed you enough?"

* No. Hungry. Had to go hunting for breakfast. * By now, I was feeling grumpy about it.

"The cooking staff forgot to set aside some meat for you?" Cat asked, finally catching up with his brother.

* No seat at the table too. *

"Ah, crap," Cat grimaced. "I'll take care of that right now."

* Forget it. I'll go eat somewhere else. * I turned and walked over to the front door. * open! * I shouted at the door and left. I didn't bother to shut it behind me.

"What was that all about?" a bewildered Willam asked his older brother.

"She's really sensitive about when we have meals and forget to leave her a place so she can be sociable," replied Cat from the open doorway. Then he sighed. "That makes her grumpy. Then the kitchen staff this morning obviously forget to set some raw meat out for her. The result is a hungry and grumpy mountain cat. It's at least the third time since we've arrived that we've forgotten to leave her a seat at the table that she can sit on. We may not see her for the rest of the day. It depends on how much she needs to sulk before she comes back. She usually goes hunting when this happens."

"That's not good," Willam said. "Father Garshom wanted to consult with both you and her. I guess it will have to wait until this evening."