The Land of Miu (Land of Miu, #1, 2nd ed.)

Chapter 11

 “You do not know that for sure, Siptah.”

“Yes, I do. Why do you insist on purr-protecting him?” Siptah glared at Alara.

Kate wrung her hands as her gaze shifted repeatedly between her two companions.

“He has always been nice to me,” replied Alara.

“Of course he has.” Siptah knelt down. “He knows you will tell him things if you trust him. He has been using you.”

For a moment, Kate thought Alara was going to say something nasty as the princess’s eyes narrowed, her jaw dropped open and her orange nose twitched. But Alara remained quiet. Her gaze fell to the ground at her feet. “I know you are right.”

Siptah looked up at her. “He and Min have been purr-plotting against you and your father the whole time. I know it.”

Alara nodded, but said nothing.

Siptah straightened up. “You two must stay here. I am going back to the cavern to find out what their purr-plan is.”

***

“Are you sure, Siptah?”

“Yes,” Siptah said to Alara. “They have been purr-plotting this for years. When you left it gave them the purr-perfect opportunity. The purr-people think you have abandoned them. Min and his father killed your father, and now they must kill you before you enter Manu and reach the court.”

Alara sat in silence.

Siptah looked at Kate. “You and Emma are not a concern to them. However, they will use you both to get to the purr-princess.”

“Use us?” Kate shifted her back to a more comfortable position.

Siptah nodded. “As bait.”

Silence. Kate stared at the rock wall, numb. This could mean that if she rescued Emma, they would be allowed to return home. But ... it might also mean that Min would kill them both if his need for them disappeared.

“What about the wizling?” Kate asked a moment later.

“Djal?” Alara tutted and waved her hand dismissively. “It will be years before he is a real wizard. He is not good at his craft. We do not have to worry about him.”

Kate remembered the power oozing around Djal’s circlet and the damage to the tunnel entrance. Anyone who could do those things was dangerous. “I disagree,” said Kate.

Alara and Siptah stared at her.

Kate swallowed. “He made a dragon! He blasted half a cave away! From what I’ve seen, he’s got a lot of power. Granted he can’t use it affectively, but he is powerful enough to spoil anything we might plan. We can’t discount what he can do.”

Siptah pressed his fingertips together as he thought. “She is right. We must be prepared for whatever he might throw at us.”

“And this is something that’s been niggling at me for a while. Won’t they be able to smell us coming?” asked Kate.

Siptah looked amused, but Alara was not impressed. “We are not cats.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you,” said Kate. “It’s just that you have cat’s noses, so I thought—”

“We are not cats,” Alara said again. “Our smell is only a little more acute than yours.”

“How long do we have?” Kate asked, wanting to change the subject. With no sun or moon to guide her, she had no idea what the time was.