The Stable Cat

By Donna and Abby

Phillipe Gaston, better known as *The Mouse*, rose early. It was his custom to go take care of Captain Navarre's horse, Goliath. As he entered the castle stables, he spotted a cat sitting on feed containers, one of the other stable lads gently stroking her.  

He had not seen that cat the day before, when he had come to the stable for the same purpose, but he went to stroke the kitty anyway as he made his way to Goliath's stall. 

The cat jumped down from her perch and followed him, and when he stopped, she weaved her body in and out of his legs, purring loudly. 

"I think she likes you!" the other lad said with a laugh underneath the hood of his homespun shirt. 

"And I like her," Phillipe said, reaching down to stroke the cat's long silky fur. "But she better stay away from Goliath's feet! I haven't met you yet. I'm called the Mouse."  

"I am Jean," the lad said, pronouncing it the French way, making it sound like *Zahn*.

Just then there was a little ruckus outside the stable, and two men came in.  One Phillipe knew, the other Jean knew.  "Are you sure she's of mild disposition?" asked the one.  "Sidney does not know horses well." 

"This mare is a beauty," said the other.  "Jean!  Where is that lad?" 

"Right here, Sir," Jean called out. "Do you need me to bring out a horse for you?"  

"Yes," said Count Alexei Vronsky, eyeing the boy with a subtle uneasiness Hugh Beringar barely caught.   "The dapple mare, please.  Should make Sheriff Beringar a proper set."  Hugh's horse was a rawboned, hard-mouthed animal, but he was overly fond of the beast and would have no other.  The girl he had brought from the monastery, to whom he considered himself affianced, needed a mount, and in this way they might make more than one match! 

"Right away, Sir!" Jean said, turning from Mouse and the new cat and going to fetch the mare in question. Speaking softly to her, he let the mare know he was there before placing his hand on the mare's hip and walking up to untie her. "Back, girl," he told her, and the mare obediently backed out of the tie stall where she had been eating her breakfast.  

Beringar looked at the animal with a critical eye.  "She does seem quite tame," he remarked.  "Boy, is she sweet of disposition?  A lady's mount?" 

"She would be very suited for a lady, sir," the lad said. He tossed the lead rope up over the mare's neck and with one smooth motion, vaulted up onto her broad back. Using just his legs to guide the horse, he rode her up and down the courtyard of the stable, to show Beringar the gentleness of the animal.  

"Well," he said, turning to Vronsky, "contingent on my lady's approval, I believe you have just made a trade."  Vronsky smiled at that, but then, seeing Jean bring the mare back and vault off, the same look of unease and confusion passed his features. 

"Come," he said, rousing himself.  "We shall discuss it over dinner.  I shall invite Aurora, as well." 

As Jean returned the horse to her tie stall, Philippe came over, the cat curled up happily in his arms. "Could you teach me to jump up on a horse like that?" he asked. "You make it look so easy!"  

The other lad laughed. "I grew up on horseback," he explained. "My father is the stable master here."  

"Well, yeah, I can see how that would come in handy," said Mouse.  "Though of course it is not easy to leap onto Goliath's back." 

"It would be a little harder," Jean admitted. "But not impossible. Is your Master going for a ride again this morning? Once he has no need of you, I can try to teach you a few things if you like!"  

"He goes for a ride every morning," he sighed. And he knew why. Navarre was very unhappy.  Was that hawk Isabeau, forever cursed?  Or was it just a hawk!  Would she arrive some day, as herself, the curse broken? 

The cat made a plaintive meow, and Phillipe stroked her, crooning softly. "There, there, little puss, all is fine! Are you hungry? I can go get you some cream from the kitchen if you like." The cat rubbed her head against his chin and cheek, purring her pleasure at that suggestion.  

"I don't know where she came from," said Jean.  "But I haven't had time to feed her myself.  You go get her something and I will start on your duties." 

"Thank you!" Phillipe called out. "I won't be gone long!" He left the stables, the cat riding on his shoulder, looking around with her bright eyes. The Mouse headed straight to the back door to the kitchen area, where he sweet-talked one of the cooks into giving both him some bread and honey, and the cat a bowl of meat scraps and cream.

"Such a lovely puss!" the portly woman said as the cat ate hungrily. "Worth their weight in gold they are! We could use a dozen more just like her to keep the rodents under control in the store room!"  

The cat, who had been eating ravenously, looked up at the word "rodent", and almost seemed to smile. 

She licked her bowl clean, and then preceeded to groom herself. "Perhaps I should leave her here?" Phillipe said, but as soon as the words were out, the cat jumped up onto a table and then onto his shoulder again, a smug look on her face. "But then again, maybe not!" the boy laughed. "Come, puss, let us away! The Captain will be wanting his horse for his ride soon." 

When they got to the stable again, he could see that his master was already there, and it worried him.  He should not have taken so long!  But Navarre was leading Goliath out and he looked none the worse for wear. If anything, he had never looked better!  Well, that young lad was not much of a thing, but he certainly had not boasted!  He sure did know a thing or two about horseflesh. 

Seeing Phillipe, he paused. The cat on the boy's shoulder made a funny chirping sound at the man, and he laughed. "I see the Mouse now has a Cat as a friend! My, my, little one, what lovely eyes you have!" He reached out to tickle the cat under her chin.

The cat moved back from the finger, smelling it before it could touch her, but still keeping her perfect balance on Phillipe's shoulder.  When she had judged the finger worthy, she gave it a lick with her sandpaper tongue. 

"I heard from the lad that groomed Goliath this morning that he will be helping you to improve your riding skills this afternoon. Good! I am pleased!"  

“I shall endeavor to learn as much as I can,” the Mouse replied. 

“Good lad,” the Captain said as he cocked his head, studying the cat. "Such beautiful green eyes you have! It is as if I knew you in one of your other lives, little one." He sighed, then walked away from the others.  

Phillipe picked the cat up and looked into her eyes.  "Just how many lives have you used up, anyway?" he asked. 

The cat just stared back, making Phillipe shudder. "The Captain is right. Looking into your eyes is like... it is like looking into those of someone we both knew in another lifetime."