The Heart of Pellitine

• Posted by Paws August 18, 2017 - Filed in TSC: Short Story - #TSC's Book and Terminal Event  - 1,772 views
   

  

  

   

  "The Trickster God has had more tales told about him than there are grains of sand in Anequina. Listen well, kittens, to another story of Rajhin, the Purring Liar. It is a true account, for it was told to this one by a friend of a friend of a friend...."

   

  Jone and Jode glowed brightly one night, their light casting long shadows in the streets and alleys between the buildings of Torval, and the stars glinted like silver gems laid across a black velvet dress.

   

  Rising above all other roofs and domes of that great city was a spire, gleaming like a silver and pink jewel reflecting the twin moons’ light. It was the palace of Princess Sugar Paws.

   

  For the Cat Who Walks, the summit of that structure where the princess' bedchambers were located was like the smell of the finest baked and caramelised fish wafting through the cool air, as enticing and beckoning as the princess, herself the finest jewel in Elsweyr. And that night he would steal her heart.

   

  So Rajhin set off, as silent as the stars and as stealthy as the third moon, leaping over houses, and slinking like a shadow beneath support beams as he made his way ever closer to the princess’ chambers. Passers by only noted a faint breeze, if they noticed anything at all, and the wealthiest merchants in his path found themselves a coinpurse lighter, or perhaps missing a ring or three. The poorest awoke from their slumber to find they were beggars no longer.

   

  Thus Rajhin crept ever closer, getting by turns richer and poorer himself, doubling his shadows when the need arose or removing them entirely when the moons were obscured by whispy cloud. Finally he stood at the base of the tower, the gilded golden doorway guarded by two massive Cathay in lacquered armour. Like the sands of the desert, Rajhin shifted his silhouette so as to appear like a palace guard himself and walked confidently between them with a wink and a grin.

   

  Nimble and agile as Khenarthi herself, the Trickster stole up the stairs, each soft step bringing him ever closer to the finest jewel the world had ever known. Many locked doors were passed during his ascent, his curiosity overcome by single-minded determination.

   

  At last he stood before the final door, pausing a moment to savour the smell of sweet Khajiit perfume emanating from the room beyond. Putting one ear to the door, the Shadow Cat listened for any noise besides the faint and ladylike snores of the princess. Hearing nothing, Rajhin deftly picked the lock before slinking in.

   

  There, between silken sheets of a four-poster bed whose drapes billowed slightly from a breeze coming from a partially open window, lay the Gem of Elsweyr, Princess Sugar Paws.

   

  His mouth dry from the long journey, Rajhin thought, “What better way to moisten it before the main course than with discourse?" So with a dazzling smile, Rajhin sat on the foot of the bed and purred. "How beautiful you are, bathed in the light of the moons and stars. What a vision of delight, like colour to one bereft of sight."

   

  One by one, Rajhin's shadows fell away from him as the Princess sat up with a frightened cry, which became a sigh when she saw whom she was in the presence of. "Lord" she gasped, the sheet she had been clutching to her breast falling to her lap, her pupils dilating. "How can this one be of service?"

   

  Rajhin continued to purr, the soothing sound making the princess sway slightly from side to side. "Dearest Sugar Paws, you serve nobody. Tonight I have come for your heart alone, nothing more." Rajhin slowly crawled towards the princess, stradling her. She pushed the sheet gathered in her lap to the floor, revealing her heart to the eyes of the Purring Liar.

   

  Keeping his gaze locked on hers, he confidently reached down and unfastened the heart from the lady's naval.

   

  Immaculate Aetheric crystal, the Heart of Pellitine shone like the light of the sun at dawn.

   

  Gently stroking the sacred stone to the delight of the Princess, Rahjin purred a final time. "You give your Heart to me so willingly, yet now I have it I have not the heart to take it." And with a deft paw, the Cat Who Walks replaced the jewel in the Princess' belly button.

   

  The Princess sighed. "But my lord, it is this one's to give to whom she wishes."

  The Purring Liar withdrew from the bed, again mantling his shadows. "Guard your heart, sweet Honey Paws, lest it be taken by one more unworthy of it than even I" he whispered as he slipped out from whence he came, leaving the princess alone save for the company of moonlight and the sound of the stars.