Two Cats

Chapter 21

It was Theo!

And, gods love him, he was bristling!

“Hey there, Theodore,” I waved, not quite able to keep the relief I felt from my voice. “This is a pleasant surprise. How are things?”

“They're well,” he said, tearing his eyes away from Redforne and looking up at me for the first time. He squinted slightly, as if surprised. “Goodness! What are you doing up there? And don't say 'just hanging around', or I shall have to climb up there and beat you.”

Damn. So much for my first answer.

“Nothing, really. Relaxing, enjoying the view. I really should be cleaning, though,” I said, making a small production of whisking dust and small pebbles off the ledge. “With all the torches I burn in here, the stonework can get pretty sooty, and-”

“Lord Theodore Haundsing,” Redforne smiled, his voice full of good cheer. “Oh, I had hoped that it was you. Of all the Lords I suspected to be working with this walking dead man, you were the one I wished it to be most of all. Of all the many surprises that have happened this day, I do have to say that this is one of the more pleasant.”

“Really? How special,” drawled Theo.

“Indeed. If I may say, it is quite an honor you're about to do me. Unless you were about to suggest we do something ridiculously boring, like talk things over,” Redforne said, still grinning.

“Wouldn't think of it,” said Theo, rolling his neck. “Not the talky sort.”

“Rules?”

“Let's not bother – you don't strike me as the type to adhere to gentlemanly agreements.”

“Ah,” said Redforne sarcastically, briefly placing his palm on his chest. “You wound me, sir.”

“Yeah, that's sort of the plan actually.” Theo drew his sword with a distinct lack of flourish and inspected its length, still standing a good twelve feet away from the young Lord he was speaking with. “I'll give you a moment to wipe some of that white goop off of yourself, clean up, perhaps look a little less like someone who's been intimate with a street clown.”

I noticed that while Theo was speaking his left arm remained at his side, perfectly still. He wasn't drawing attention to it, but he wasn't using it either, thumb hooked casually at the top of his sword belt. I had forgotten that his arm had been cut badly in the Circles just yesterday ... and hadn't he said he wouldn't be doing anything with it for a month or so?

Maybe I had no right to be relieved, him showing up like this. Who was the better swordsman, after all? I had no clue.

“Theo,” I called down, realizing I should actually be doing something. “Be careful of the puddle on the floor there. Poison, extremely strong.”

“Noted,” he called back, eyes briefly darting to the puddle I'd referred to.

“Also,” I called out, “I stomped on his left hand a while ago – it's probably still really sore.”

Theo frowned, and appeared about to say something.

“Oh, and another thing,” I said, scooting over to the side of the precipice, preparing to slide forward and lower myself, “he seemed to favor the ribs on his right as he got up just now. Rather nasty fall ... he's probably a little tender on his whole-”

“Vincent,” Theo said, in his best I'm-being-patient voice, “I know you're trying to help, but please let me handle this. Details like that are just as likely to put me at a disadvantage when discussed openly. I'll explain exactly why in about five years or so, once you've reached a certain level of expertise. Also, stay up there where you are, I don't want you coming down here just yet.”