| Chapter 3 The morning came. Rathkanar awoke to see his sleeping Mari next to him. As he sat up in bed to stretch, his long moan of a yawn woke Mari up. The jaguaress rolled over and looked up at him with a broad, sleepy grin. Rathkanar caressed her cheek. "Good morning, love," he said. "Hope you slept well." Mari held his hand. "Of course, I did," Mari laughed. "I slept with you. You showed me a most wonderful evening." "Let us rise," Rathkanar said, "for your mother and father must be worried about you. Dress yourself and I will take you home." Rathkanar put on his clothing while Mari dressed herself in her leotard once more, carrying her purple cloth skirt instead of bothering to put it on. Rathkanar brought her out of the stronghold, only to run into his father, who had risen much earlier to attend to the kingdom's business. His son became nervous, but instead Asmodo simply smiled at him, as if to say, "Congratulations." After bringing Mari home, Rathkanar went back home to dress himself in his armor. He also owned a few wooden swords that most cat warriors of the day used while sharpening their fighting skills. He called for his faithful attendant, a tiger named Tal, to fight against him. Outside the stronghold Rathkanar and Tal practiced fighting in the courtyard. Tal was anxious to know where Rathkanar was the previous day. "Where were you, Master Rathkanar?" he asked. "I was courting Mari," Rathkanar said. "You remember Mari, don't you? She and I were the best of friends when we were children." "Ah, yes," Tal said, swinging at Rathkanar, only to be fended off. "I remember you two; you used to play together all the time. It seemed as if the both of you would never part." "I know." Rathkanar tried to block a shot, but it struck him in the shoulder. "Now I think that she and I may never part at all." "So what exactly happened last night?" Tal asked, sitting down to rest. Rathkanar sat down next to him, removing his skullcap. "We had long walks, and a wonderful supper; it was a wonderful evening." Tal snickered. "That wasn't all, was it, Rathkanar?" he said, smiling. Rathkanar sighed and laughed. "All right!" he exclaimed. "She went to bed with me. What wonderful lovemaking. Only the first time in my life." "I just thought that--" "No, no, no. I'm a cat warrior; I know what to do when I court a woman." He laughed. "Let's keep practicing," Tal said, standing up. "You couldn't stop my shot." "That's fine," Rathkanar said, stapping his skullcap to his head. He and Tal went to the middle of the courtyard. "Let's do this again." Rathkanar and Tal swung their swords at each other, each of them fending off the other with sword and kite shield. Tal chased the prince around a small tree, in an effort to outwit him. Suddenly, in all the running and jumping, Rathkanar's helmet came loose. "Wait," he called out, just stepping around the tree. "My helm--" Too late. Tal swung at Rathkanar with the wooden claymore just as he came into view. It hit him squarely in the temple, almost precisely where he was hit by the treeball as a boy. Rathkanar fell to the ground screaming, as if his head was being crushed between two rocks. Blood leaked from his head slowly, onto his hands. "AAAHHHHH!!!" he moaned loudly, falling onto his side. He stared up at Tal, who looked panicked. "You idiot!!" Rathkanar held onto his head. Tal reached down to him. "I--I'm so sorry!!" he cried. "Let me help you...." "Get my father and the healer!" Rathkanar screamed. Tal ran to get both of them as fast as he could. Brom and Asmodo arrived, with Tal following close behind. "How did this happen?" Asmodo shouted, grabbing Tal by the neck. "What did you do, you idiot?" Tal panicked. "It was an accident, your majesty! I swear it!" he cried. "His helmet came loose when I swung. He came around the tree--" "Nevermind," Asmodo groaned. "Get out of here now! I'll deal with you later." Tal took off running in the opposite direction as Brom stooped down to examine Rathkanar. Brom looked up at Asmodo. "It's the same, master," he said. "He was hit in the same place 8 ladurs ago, when he was hit with the ball, only now it's worse." Asmodo sighed, watching his son writhe on the ground in pain. "Bring him inside and to his quarters," he commanded, pointing to the stronghold. "He needs to stay in his bed and rest." Chapter 3, part 2 |