Cataindar

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The next day the abbot met Luisa at her chamber again, he shuffled along quickly, and seemed animated.

"How did you feel your rites went Luisa?"

"Well, umm, OK I think, I mean it is really interesting in Cataindar. I have to say.  It has been quite fun."

"Hmm," the abbot said thoughtfully.

"Why?"

"Well, in all honesty Luisa, our Sovereigns tend to struggle during the rites somewhat. What with being under supervision, doing laymen's jobs, they usually find it quite unbearable, they are used to leading and giving instructions, opposed to receiving them. The idea being that to truly lead Cataindar one must understand Cataindar, the rites are placing the Soveriegn on the lowest rung as it were, even if it was just for a day."

"Oh."

They arrived at the cast-iron gates of the scougers.

"So in a way it is quite impressive, how you were... quite happy on the lowest rung isn't it? But enough, from now on you will train with the readers and the scougers."

The cast-iron gates were scraped open. The armed guards on the doors chests' puffed as Luisa and the abbot passed. They continued deeper into the scougers area. The walls were lined with portraits in tapestry of catain's in battle wear, no doubt their names in catain runes underneath.  Wooden shields, spears and throwing darts decorated the walls.

"The final door," he said pushing the high wooden double doors open.

It opened to a large hall, more weapons fitted to the walls and the ground was laid with a thick layer sand mixed with root chips.

In the centre was a horrific looking monster dummy made of sacking. It stood over two meters tall with huge hunched shoulders, giant arms, clawed hands and powerful legs.  A large tail protruded from its rear.  Its face was like a giant, snarling rat.

Luisa's hand went to her mouth, it was terrifying.

"What is that?"

"A ratain" said a voice to Luisa's side.

She turned to see Finn, the leader of the scougers. He bowed to her graciously.

"What's a ratain?" Luisa couldn't tear her eyes from the monster.

 "Our mortal enemy," the abbot said slowly.  "We have been at war with the Ratains for centuries."

Luisa began to feel a little uncomfortable and confused, war?

"How? I mean... I thought you are the only ones down here?"

Finn glanced at the abbot, and looked at her in puzzlement.

"Princess, forgive me I do not follow."

Luisa took a deep breath.

"OK, so far I have got this, the catains live down here in Cataindar, under England... Wales.  You have to stay hidden and secret down here from humans, because, well that always is the way isn't it..."

She had reconciled Cataindar with stories of Toy Story, or The Borrowers and had presumed up until this moment that the situation would be similar.  In saying this out loud she felt rather foolish and looked at Finn and the abbot for clarification.  Their faces were blank.  She continued, less sure of herself.  "...but you let just one human know about you, that we can be your princess and so we can, well..."

The abbot waved his hand.

"Princess, excuse me, you say we are to stay hidden from you, that we live 'under Englandwales'.  We live in Cataindar. And Cataindar exists both here and above the surface."

'But I thought, well you know, you can't show that you're... that you... well... you know, big talking cats,"

The abbot looked perplexed, his furry forehead creasing,

"Princess with respect, you are making no sense. If, or when you go to the surface, you would find a place far different to the dysc's location in Englandwales."

"Are you saying...  that you, that we, are in a different world?"

"Precisely." said Finn.

Luisa couldn't help but sound exasperated.

"Then why do you live down here and not up in the sun and fresh air?"

"Why indeed?" Cut in an icy voice from the far side of the room.  It was Darcius who had quietly entered from a far door. He gave a short bow, and cast a cold look towards Finn as he ambled over.

"Why do we live down here abbot? Pray, enlighten our sovereign to our true predicament."

The abbot looked stricken for a moment, but he jutted his chin, "We are the last semblance of the catains..." he began in a rehearsed rumble, but Darcius cut him off.

"We lost the war.  Why can't we go up there Princess? Because it is not safe. That's what scougers are for.  Heralded as warriors! Tah! We should be called beggars!"

Darcius' blue eyes were wide, and his cheek twitched. He took a deep breath, calming himself before speaking to Luisa directly.

"The scougers are teams that sneak up to the surface.  We avoid the ratains. We find food, sustenance, herbs for medicine, spices for flavour.  We bring them back."

"And collect important intelligence on the enemy," the abbot tried to chime in.

"Tah! We know there are more ratains than ever before.  They hunt the land for us.  And still we are trapped down here.  Cataindar is a prison so drenched in irony it makes me..."

"ENOUGH." Finn growled.  

Darcius hackles' rose, and Finn leaned forward, his yellow eyes ablaze.  The two catains faced each other for a moment before Darcius dropped his eyes and backed away, he turned and strode away from the group, but with a defiant whip of his paw he threw a dart from his belt towards the ratain dummy.  The dart curved in the air and with uncanny accuracy drilled itself in the eye of the dummy ratain. It hung there quivering while he left the room.

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