Chương 345: 7.1

Evren was honestly surprised by how little thought those around him put to the black cat that now followed him everywhere he went. Fizzbunches had suggested he call him by a different name, but beyond that apparently all the wizard needed to do to become more or less completely ignored was to simply stop wearing his hat! It was shocking at first. Like a cruel joke even. Evren and his family struggled every day to make those beyond their neighbors see them as anything but animals.

They strived to be acknowledged as even 'half-men' under the law of the cities. The 'wolf prince' struggled to not be treated like a particularly willful beast of burden. Fizzbunches? He melted into invisibility and apparently earned perfect freedom by simply being a 'mere cat`. He'd suggested the name of Sooty, Black or Night whenever Evren spoke to him even when they were in private to help keep the ruse going.

Evren had not wanted to lie, but Fizzbunches had simply smiled unlike the cat he pretended to be and tilted his head." My name is what I'm called and Fizzbunches is as much a name for me as soot paw and lazy fucker. There is no lie or insult in you calling me such. And do not be shy to speak to me openly, it is a fashion many a lord, lady and child takes to with their beastly companions. No one will think anything of it."

Which was how Evren had gotten what everyone else in court called his pet, or sometimes in what had begun as condescending endearment his 'little advisor'. And strangely, if that was literally the only thing that Fizzbunches had done for him Evren would have found it a great boon. Simply having someone to talk to that did not sneer or scheme when they thought he was not there. Who would listen and speak to him at night when something newly horrific had happened? That would have been a blessing upon his wind.

His parents had been distrustful, but Fizzbunches had then done far more than Evren had imagined possible. He'd given them protection! More than that he'd given them Magic! Five Talismans of gold set around a grain that shone with the deep blue of the sky, inscribed with a meaning into them that matched the words spoken by Fizzbunches." You shall suffer no strike done in malice or hate. Any who should trespass a blow upon your brow once and half again will strike their own.

All blades' wielders which seek to pierce you shall feel once and half again their edge's bite. As wards and Citizens of Ghergeintat." For that alone Evren might have considered the deal with Fizzbunches won. But that had been dismissed as mere portions of the wizard's work to fulfill their deal. Fizzbunches had asked Evren what he truly wanted for himself and his family more than anything else beneath the heavens. And he had answered with the only thing in his heart." Freedom and safety for my family."

Which was when Fizzbunches had then promised, with a truth that rang far deeper than the half lies vowed to the heavens by the High King and his Princes." By the cobbles of my streets, the light in my lanterns and the gold in my eyes, Your family will know no harm from man, beast or wyrm that any of my act, art or craft can prevent. So long as I stalk, plot or breathe." So came out the talismans for his family's protection. So were plans already set in motion to see them away to safety if the worst were to come.

And all of that and more was for the simple service from Evren of allowing Fizzbunches to be with him and observe him as he grew. To speak to his family and himself when Evren or them could afford it. Which was how Evren obtained what everyone else in Kars thought of as a stray pet he had picked up from home. Of course there were numerous murmurs about Fizzbunches on first arrival. Concerns about him bringing disease, curses and filth to the household of the 'Regent'.

But such notions were stalled at Evren offering his keeper Fizzbunche's words.

"Then have the temples purify my companion of such ill things then?" And as was becoming a pattern with Fizzbunche's advice that had worked! A temple worker was brought in with a bowl of warm water, salt, oils and strong smelling smoldering herbs. And Fizzbunches was given the most elaborate and perplexing bath Evren had ever seen.

Hilariously, despite how rumor spoke of cats and water the black furred wizard had absolutely enjoyed it every step of the way and the silken shine to his fur and rumbling leaning and nuzzling at a few choice courtiers of Kars afterwards utterly banished all further talk of sending him away. He also put deed to his earlier promise that Fizzbunches did not care what others called him. Among the ladies especially Evren had heard quite the collection of names and endearments."

Little Gentleman"" Fine Missy"" Puss Puss The Seventh"" Shining Night"" Fierce Mouser" And most common of them all of course, now spoken with delight instead of a sneer." Little Advisor" And, as he also promised, Evren could hear that many did in fact speak to the wizard in confidence, often while stroking or scratching behind his ears in a way that made the Wyrm flush beneath the fur on his cheeks. They in fact spoke much more to Fizzbunches than they did to one another.

For so little effort words spilled out of them in the dark for both Fizzbunches and Evren's ears to hear. Secrets and trials that Evren would never have guessed at were whispered softly to the Wizard with no prompting but soft fur and a happy purr. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! Deep tirades about their spouses, their mistresses and concubines just from the simple expedient of mewling or yowling at the correct time.

It was astounding how skillfully the Wizard cat could interrogate someone without them even realizing it! And still that was not all that Fizzbunches did for him! The 'Regent' and his terrible men? Somehow Fizzbunches knew exactly what Evren needed to say or do in order to sooth the worst of his keepers. Or, if needed, how to distract them with unrelated matters or events set in motion days before. How to draw away their attention.

And when even those machinations failed, he was there to sooth Evren the same night that they were sowing the seeds of the awful man's ruination. Evren did not rightly know if that was true, but hearing another thoughtful voice consoling that it was so helped. Truly the wizard's magic was greater than the tales had sung! He had scarcely been back in Kars for half a year and for the first time since he'd been taken from home Evren felt almost relaxed in his smothering room of silks and riches.

Which of course earned him a paw slapping him in the nose. A yowling growl slipping into his ears but somehow as clear as anything the wizard said." Evren! This is no time to ease your watch, there are yet hunters in these halls. Your flock will need you keen even though the predators have yet been thrown from the trail." That was the strangest magic of all with Fizzbunches. The wizard could make himself known to Evren no matter the manner he tried.

And whatever means he spoke to Evren seemed to settle his grasp of it all the better afterward! They had cured his struggle with the letters and script of Magarska with a single night of Fizzbunches refusing to do little else but write out his side of their conversations for Evren to read. After that they had spoken in a dozen different 'tongues' some of which Fizzbunches promised were no longer spoken by living men." Yes of course, you're right, Little Advisor. What shall we need to work on tomorrow then?"

He spoke the Magarskan court language smoothly now, there were no more halting stumbles, no incorrect tenses or badly chosen words, the syllables came easily! That had earned so many fewer sneers from the court of Kars it was infuriating! They didn't respect him simply because he struggled to speak their foreign tongue?! It brought a rumble of annoyance deep in his throat where his wind churned just recalling it!

Fizzbunches circled on the cushion in front of where his nose rested then sat down and blinked up at him, no sign of the extra expressions that had shown Evren that this was more than just a cat now. If there was not the intensity and meaning behind every twitch of a whisker he would have been able to mistake the figure on the pillow as truly a cat. Golden eyes blinked in a slow and incredibly self satisfied manner. Far as Evren was concerned, the wizard earned his pride."

If you want your family to be secure and safe even beyond my means to provide, then it is time for you to begin learning about power." Evren huffed and made sure to lilt his voice in the same way he heard the other courtiers speak to Fizzbunches. It grated the least of the deceptions that the Wizard had asked of him, itched the gentlest under his fur and scales." But little advisor? I'm already a match in martial combat for fifty soldiers on the ground. What more power could you mean by that?"

It was not really lying, that's what Evren told himself. It was not even demeaning to the Wizard either! In fact he seemed to enjoy the absurd way everyone around Kars spoke to him like a baby. But it left an ill shift in his winds anyway. Still Fizzbunches answered him with a slow blink and a soft mewing." If Martial power was all that mattered then All the world would be ruled by Giants, Ogres and the Feral Mountain Wyrms. But that is not the way of men or cities or the hunters who stalk you and your family."

The wizard who was not a cat strutted like the animal he appeared to be. Slender black body and sweeping tail shining in the dark with the lustre of his fur as he paced beside Evren's coils before reaching his goal and sitting himself down at the tip of Evren's tail." No, Young Shepherd, To keep your family safe you must learn of a different sort of power." He pawed at Evren's tail like the feathers that some of the ladies and children in Kar's court swung when they 'played' with him."

You have, however, already taken the first steps even without my assistance, young Shepherd." Evren hummed in exaggerated thought, the way he heard the one boy make the noises when he held a mock trial with Fizzbunches as a judge over pewter figurines and cups." Is that so little advisor? What step have I taken? What is your recommendation?" The golden eyes shone in the gloom of Evren's room and for just a brief moment Fizzbunches smiled like a man instead of a cat."

My young Shepherd, already there are a hundred whispers in this city of Kars that call you their prince in their heart of hearts. Tales of your mercy and justice spread through their homes like wildfire on dry grass. And your greatest enemy has only fanned those flames in his foolishness to wield you as a tool for his own gain." Evren scowled at that, he had heard his 'regent' making the orders for that.

Seeking to put Evren's name upon his own acts where such could be said to be just or serving the seeming interests of the gutti and poor. While doing nearly the opposite in the same breath but making sure the rumor and words never attributed them to Evren's growing reputation. He'd heard the man delighting how his Wolf Prince had given the 'mongrels of the city' an idol to fall in line behind. Even as the man ordered to enact outright theft against them. It was a farce.

An awful play performed upon the people of Kars, letting the 'Regent' be both the just and righteous Wolf Prince and the terrible and cruel 'vizier'. Or if the audience was the higher courts and nobles the clever and wise lord who had tamed the bestial and feral monster. To be both the savior of the gutti in his city and their slavemaster. To be the defender for the fearful merchants and other courtiers from the 'gnolls' and their monstrous dragon just as feral as said beast men.

Fizzbunches had made Evren aware of how the man was doing all of it at once. The compounding lies made Evren's chest and lungs fill with a wind so sharp he felt it like he must surely bleed from it." So Shepherd, how would you like to kill a lie?" Evren's wind was too fiercely whirling through his chest to take on the childish tones he was supposed to in his conversations with Fizzbunches. At least he was able to get the words suitably vapid." But little advisor? How can one possibly kill a lie?!"

Fizzbunches did not grin like a man then, no his eyes closed to a deeply self satisfied smugness that Evren had learned to savor. There was usually something awful in store for someone when the wizard got a look like that. Ears perked high, cheeks bunching up, whiskers full splayed. Golden eyes barely visible, gleaming like gold scimitars swinging through the night." Why young Shepherd. You kill a lie by making it true." It took Evren a moment to catch the meaning of that.

But when he did it made the wind inside him go almost absolutely still. Not the calm of death, but the utter flat presence of air before a storm, before the raging winds and the howling rain of the mountains. The stillness before most terrible violence. He could only ask one word." How?"