Her smile broadened with amusement as the woman introduced herself and chuckling the Princess would tilt her head in greeting. Adaria Campana, and yes, not Tevene. We are neighbours though, King Enzo of Antiva is my brother. Her father had been an outspoken monarch when alive, but little was known of his passing since Tevinter’s seclusion.
The scene unfolded before her, the stashed uniform clearly caught her attention, but her head swivelled around attempting to gauge if there was anything else disturbed. This looks hurried, I’d argue we’re late. But which direction?
Adaria inhaled a steadying, grounding breath. Her eyelids fluttered closed, magic drawn in while her mind began to reach out as far as she could to sense for any vibrations. There was something at the far end but it was out of her reach to clearly distinguish, turning her focus away Adaria moved on to another, one that quickly had her smirking. There is a couple who are… enthusiastically engaged, somewhere to the east… her head shook, turning back to the group. Something else at the far side, but I can’t quite identify what.
Deme was about to say something, his mind considering the fact that it might be quicker to just make shortcuts through the maze instead of going around, but then suddenly, Deme's ears pricked up at the sound of a familiar meow. Without hesitation, he dashed towards the sound, not hesitating for even a moment to see what his companions had to say about it.
He ran through the maze, his mind solely focused on rescuing Saxton. The meows grew louder and more desperate, urging him forward. Finally, in a small, secluded corner of the maze, he spotted his cat sitting serenely on a stone bench. Relief washed over him as he hurriedly approached.
Saxton! Deme exclaimed, reaching out to pick up his furry friend. But as his hands made contact, the cat began to shimmer and shift in his arms. Deme immediately took a few steps back and watched the events unfold.
To Deme's astonishment, Lord Saxton transformed into a young man with a wary yet relieved expression. "I'm Xavier," the stranger said, straightening his clothes and brushing off leaves. "I've been on the run from a crazy cat cult for over a year. I infiltrated them because I believed they were responsible for my father's death. When they found out, they cursed me blind, but I managed to shapeshift into a cat and escape. I've been hiding ever since, eventually finding safety in your household.”
Deme's mind raced as he processed the unexpected revelation. So, you’ve been living as my cat all this time? he said, as it seemed a question, when in reality it was simply Deme’s way of processing the information that he was given. So this cat cult, they’re just looking for you? Deme asked, concerned for the safety of those at the ball.
Xavier responded, “I fear it may have been a coincidence, I overheard two that had disguised themselves, one as a servant and one as someone from The Eyes, they aim to take all your cats from you, free them from the tyranny.” He explained.
Kaczor was going to answer, but then the Archon took off on foot towards the sounds of meowing, and all Kaczor could think was if there was any question about her loyalties still, she needed to stay close. This damned cat was proving to be more headache than it was worth. Ladies, shall we?
She lifted the hem of her skirt and took off after the Archon, at a rather sedate pace, just fast enough to not lose sight of him in the maze. Quietly cursing under her breath, she rounded the corner to see the tail end of the transformation, her left brow raising sharply as she listened, skeptically to he story told. And by the end of it, her eye was twitching as she fought with the urge to just turn around and stalk off.
Far be it for me to question the, ...validity, of this new information, I'm sure an investigation can be launched later into the pussy cat's true origins, but perhaps it would be best to make an arrest until such a time when that questioning can take place. That will then leave us able to find these two and put an end to this evening. The Archon would be mad to believe a man who remained a cat this entire time, in a life of luxury. It smelled of a con, and when it came to the Archon and his cats, it probably was.
Ilaria let the beginnings of her spell fizzle out, rather disappointed that she didn’t get to kill anything. Perhaps another time. She accepted the collar from Caesennia and hurried after the group as they all went chasing after the Archon.
She caught the tail end of the conversation between Arvina and the stranger. It was all so mad it almost had to be the truth. No one would tell a lie that unbelievable, would they?
“Oh, what a strange little pervert you are. Pretending to be the Lord Archon’s pet for a year, really?” Just imagine … Having your hair stroked by an old man every day with the mind of a fully grown person inside your silly little helmet. Ugh. It was creepy anyway you sliced it. There had to be a less disturbing way to cope with curses and cults.
She glanced toward the Tilani woman, not quite sure she wanted to go so far as she. Ilaria still hadn’t picked up the knack of reading Arvina’s moods. For all she knew, he was still very fond of this stranger. He might not be a tyrant toward house cats, but who knew what he might do to his people?
“By all means, let us keep searching. After all, where else would a cult find twenty to thirty odd cats in Minrathous at this time of night?”
Following after her mistress, she then opted to hide behind the woman rather than attempt to study the strange man. He'd been the cat? She didn't understand it; what was the appeal...?
How are you going to know which cat is human? She whispered, as Ilaria suggested they search the rest of the cats. She wasn't this savvy with her magic to know all of the ins and outs.
The Archons’ sudden flight of fancy and hastily pace did not catch the young Princess off guard. A genuine chuckle fell instead, following the others once the chase was on. The nostalgia of the past came again to mind, her Father’s impulsive switch from one task to another of complete opposite attraction. There was often a trail when his mood failed to focus solely on one thing.
The discovery though immediately threw her guard back up, scanning their surroundings while they listened to the man’s tale. Every word caused her eyes to narrow with deepening suspicion. There are ways to validate your words… If you will allow me, Archon, I can enter his mind. We’ll know soon enough if he’s speaking truthfully or not. While not one to boast her talents this party was about positive outcomes was it not? Antiva couldn’t afford to have more enemies in its current state.
Deme watched as the figure of Xavier, no longer disguised as a cat, stood amidst the wary gazes of his party. Xavier's tale of fleeing a deranged cat cult was bizarre, and while some of Deme's companions were quick to show distrust, Deme himself remained cautiously skeptical. He was not one to take chances, especially when the safety of his group and his cats were at stake.
With a measured breath, Deme raised his hand to call for attention. Guards, he commanded, his voice firm, escort Xavier to Malachai immediately. Malachai will know how to handle this situation. And bring Adaria along as well. If Malachai decides her skills are needed for interrogation, her presence will be invaluable.
The guards moved to comply, taking hold of Xavier, who offered no resistance but glanced around nervously. Deme watched the scene with a critical eye, ensuring that everything was in order.
Dismissed, Deme announced to his party, the authority in his tone brooking no argument. His companions began to disperse, still murmuring among themselves about the strange turn of events.
Deme, however, had other matters on his mind. He turned away from the group, his steps purposeful as he headed towards his sanctuary where his beloved cats resided. It was time to ensure their safety and account for each one.
As he moved through the familiar paths, Deme made a mental note to use magic to verify that there were no more hidden threats lurking within his feline companions. The thought of more people masquerading as his cats was unsettling, and he needed to be certain of their true nature.
Reaching the haven of his cats, Deme began his head count, the familiar faces bringing a sense of calm amidst the recent chaos. Each cat was precious to him, and he would not allow any harm to come to them.
With a final glance around, Deme's resolve strengthened. He would protect his cats and his people, no matter the cost. And with Malachai and Adaria on the case, he was confident that the truth about Xavier and the bizarre cat cult would soon come to light.
