In The Cards

All right. There's this one trick, this one thing that can get me to do almost anything you want. But I'm not about to explain it in detail. It's private, and if you haven't got the talent for it already, I'm certainly not going to instruct you. It's not as easy as simple enthusiasm, you know. Technique and skill is equally, if not more important.

Excerpt from 'Ruminations Of A Master Bard'

The adventurers made camp in the forest near the Cloakwood Mines, that night, unwilling to start the journey back towards Beregost before they'd had the chance to rest. And where do we go from there, I wonder? Zaerini thought. Baldur's Gate seems the obvious choice…but there was that Reading I did. I can't help but wonder…

Eventually the half-elven bard fell asleep, her eyelids fluttering nervously as she found herself caught within a dream. One of those dreams.

Blood. There was blood all around her, a massive, raging river, as great a flood as that which had drenched the mines. It tossed her helplessly here and there, like a drifting leaf, it roared in her ears like thunder. And it smelled. That smell… It was the smell as she had known it when it led her to Davaeorn, the smell of fresh blood that had betrayed the wizard, leading her to him, to her prey. It enflamed her senses, it made her heart beat faster and it made her bare her teeth unconsciously in a snarl. The blood…I need it. I want it. I must have it.

The river of blood spread and widened, she could tell that much. Soon it would cover the entire world. It tossed houses and trees aside, it overturned the very mountains and turned the seas a deep, dark red.

OF COURSE, DAUGHTER. MURDER, LIKE BLOOD, IS EVERYWHERE. AMONG RICH AND POOR, NOBLE AND COMMONER. IT LURKS IN EVERY MAN AND WOMAN'S HEART. AND IN YOURS TOO.

"No," Rini moaned. "No…go away. I don't want this. I don't want you."

BUT YOU DO, DEAR DAUGHTER. YOU DO. DID YOU THINK I WOULD NOT SENSE IT AS YOUR POWERS GREW? YOU ARE GROWING STRONGER, AND AS YOU DO THE THIRST FOR MURDER AWAKENS WITHIN YOU. STRUGGLE AS YOU WISH, IN THE END IT WILL OVERCOME YOU.

"No! It won't! I don't want it! Not like that!"

REALLY? AND WHAT IF THE POWER TO DO MURDER HAD BEEN WITH YOU EARLIER? WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN WITH YOU…ON THE DAY YOUR GORION DIED?

Images of Sarevok danced across the waves of blood, raising his terrible sword again and again, mercilessly cutting through the bent figure of the old mage whom she had loved like a father. "NO! Gorion! Leave him alone, you bastard! Leave me alone!"

Her sire's voice chuckled, a cold and horrible sound. SO YOU SEE, YOU DO WANT MURDER AFTER ALL. ISN'T THAT INTERESTING…THIS FLOOD IS CAUSED BY YOU, DAUGHTER. BY YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS, SLAUGHTERING YOUR WAY ACROSS THE REALMS. YOU ARE JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM. ACCEPT IT, AND SERVE ME. ONLY THAT WAY LIES PEACE. ONLY THAT WAY LIES ACCEPTANCE.

And then, just as her sire's words almost got through to her, there was a soothing voice inside her head. Don't listen to him, kitten. He's lying. Softpaws stood on the sea of blood, walked across the waves as easily as if they'd been a smooth floor, her black fur neat and unruffled. Kitten, you don't want murder itself. You just want the ability to kill when you have to, like any good cat does. There's a difference.

WHAT? YOU LITTLE GNAT! GET AWAY FROM HERE!

You are dead, the cat said. Cats don't fear what's dead and gone. You will leave my kitten be unless you want me to play with your bones.

Softy! What are you doing?! You can't fight him!

Of course I can, kitten. And so can you. The only power he has here is the one you let him have. Now come join me. It is time you came into your own.

NO! SHE IS MINE, YOU ANNOYING PEST! MINE! The river of blood tore at the struggling half-elf, attempting to pull her under.

Softy! Help me!

Come to me, kitten. Come to me now. Reach inside, find what you know is there. You are no mouse to be played with by the likes of him. You are a cat, as I have taught you. And cats hunt.

And there was something inside her, hidden deep within her soul. A shining, glittering ball of red light, spinning rapidly, shifting shape as she watched it. All she had to do was touch it…

NO! YOU CANNOT DO THIS! IT…IT IS NOT PART OF THE GAME!

…touch it…and…change.

Zaerini shot up out of the river of blood, feeling heat radiating from her very skin. She walked across the raging waves on four good paws, never in danger of losing her balance. Flames shot out from her paws as walked, dancing across the waves and keeping them at bay. They were almost as red as her fur, she noticed. She hissed, raising a paw to let needle-sharp claws slide out, batting at the invisible presence in front of her. While she couldn't actually destroy it, it was still shaken, still disturbed by her actions. It fled, retreating into the darkness, drawing the blood after it. The red cat hissed once more after the creature, and then delicately licked her paw. There was blood on her fur, and she wanted it off.

Yes, kitten, her mother/friend said, her green eyes proud within her beautiful black face. You have done well. Now come with me. It is time we went back.

Zaerini yawned widely, holding off the moment when she had to open her eyes. The dream had been unpleasant enough, she really wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep, but something told her she couldn't just yet. So she yawned, and stretched, extending all four legs until she almost felt her joints crack, unfurling her tail proudly and spreading her whiskers. Wait a second. Four legs? Tail? WHISKERS?

Of course, kitten, Softpaws said, sounding very smug. I told you that you were about to come into your own, didn't I? And you look absolutely lovely too. Softpaws was standing in front of her, staring into her face with amused green eyes, looking just as usual. And yet there was something very wrong with the entire picture this presented, since she herself was standing upright by now and there was no way her cat could be at eye-level with her unless…

I'm a cat, Rini thought, her mind almost stunned with disbelief as she stared at the red fur of her paws, then twisted her head around to catch sight of the tail arching high from her behind. Moving it about caused the oddest sensation, and yet she seemed to do it without even thinking about it. I'm…a cat?!

Very good, kitten. I thought you'd never notice.

But…but I can't be a cat!

Why not? Cats are the most perfect of creatures, and you make a very pretty one.

But…

Oh, don't worry. It's a temporary thing. You can change back later.

Are you sure?

Certainly. Don't worry, I won't let a thing like this keep you from your mate.

My what?

For a moment the black cat almost seemed to snigger. Come now, kitten. Why don't we take a little walk around camp, to get you used to that lovely new body of yours? There are all sorts of benefits to being a cat, you know…

Once had got used to walking on four legs rather than two, Zaerini came to the conclusion that her familiar was right. It was fun being a cat, though she tried not to think too hard about just how she was going to turn herself back again. For one thing, she could walk very silently, her paws making no sound whatsoever as she slipped across the ground. Bet Immy would love this. Then there was the way her senses worked. True, as a half-elf she had very good hearing and eyesight, as well as a keen sense of smell, but they were nothing against those of the cat she had become.

The night was filled with a thousand voices, little creatures moving everywhere. She heard the tiniest rustle in the leaves, and even the slightest movement in the deep shadows was enough to attract her attention. And the smells…she was feeling almost drunk on the smells, dizzy, as if she couldn't quite control herself. When she mentioned this to Softpaws the other cat sounded rather indulgent. You are a kitten. You aren't used to this yet. You will be, in time, but right now you should amuse yourself.

And she did. She climbed trees she never would have dared attempting in her normal form, she crept invisible through the shadows, she drank in the night with every breath she took. Her tail was still a little bit of a distraction though. She had to concentrate really hard in order not to start chasing it, and she knew that her familiar would never let her live that down.

Eventually the black cat turned back towards the camp. We should go back now, she said. There's another cat experience you really have to try.

Oh? What's that?

You'll see, kitten. You'll see…

Softpaws led the way towards the campfire, and Rini followed. She wasn't sure what was up, but she trusted her familiar implicitly. That is, until she saw just who currently had the watch and was sitting by the fire staring into the darkness.

What's wrong? Softpaws asked.

Are you kidding? I can't go out there! That's Edwin.

So?

So, suppose he sees me like this!

Of course he'll see you. He just won't know it's you. Now come on!

Full of trepidation the red cat followed her black companion into the circle of light, keeping a few paces behind her. Edwin turned his head as Softpaws approached, looking a little surprised. "Oh, it's you," he said. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be keeping an eye on your mistress?"

The black cat made a small noise that Zaerini could recognize as the cat equivalent of suppressed laughter, but that Edwin was obviously oblivious to. She carefully edged a little closer, dreading for the wizard to spot her but at the same time hoping that he would. And then he did, and he gave her a curious look that somehow made her heart race faster. "Well, hello there," he said. "You're new. A wildcat, I take it?" He smiled slightly at Softpaws. "Found yourself some male companionship, perhaps? (Some creatures have it easy.)"

Male? MALE! How dare he! I'll personally scratch his eyes out if he doesn't start using them!

Edwin must have noticed the indignant look on the red cat's face, for he suddenly laughed quietly to himself. "My apologies," he said, giving her an ironic half-bow. "Of course you're a lady."

Why don't you come a little closer, kitten, Softpaws said. If you did, he wouldn't make that mistake again.

Well…maybe. She carefully walked a little closer. The wizard was stretching out his hand towards her now, and surely it couldn't hurt to let him touch her, cats liked that sort of thing after all, at least when they were in the mood, and she was in the mood, and…and then he touched her fur.

For a moment Rini thought her entire body had caught fire, and she could feel herself nudging her currently small head into the wizard's hand, and now he stroked her all the way from her neck to her tail and…and…

She was on his lap by now, and she had no idea how she had wound up there, and he was petting her all over, slow steady strokes that were just right, and she could feel her paws pushing at him as if she were trying to tread through him, and she was tingling, even to the tips of her ears and tail. And now she was somehow on her back, and he was rubbing the soft fur on her belly, and her paws were flailing quite helplessly in the air, but somehow she didn't mind, since it felt so right, and as she turned she arched her back to get closer to that wonderful touch, and get more, and more, and more. Pleasedon'tstop, pleasedon'tstop, pleasedont'stop…That was all she was able to think of.

Vaguely she could hear him speaking to her, telling her what a beautiful cat she was, but she couldn't quite comprehend the words any longer, the touch was all that mattered. That divine touch. And the voice. That perfectly hypnotic voice. And he stroked her beneath the chin, and behind her ears, and then her back once more, and she was all fire, burning and burning and unable to stop. There was another sound, a deep rumbling sound, somewhere deep inside of her. I'm purring?

She was uncertain how long it had been going on. Minutes? Hours? Years? She didn't care. All she knew was that she never wanted it to end, ever. And then…and then suddenly she felt something inside of her, something that wanted her attention, and she tried to make it go away, not wanting to be distracted, but it wouldn't let go and she felt herself twist inside and…change…

Zaerini slowly came back to herself, only vaguely aware of where she was since her body was still sending her all sorts of distracting sensations. Closing her eyes in order not to get too dizzy she tried to concentrate. She was sitting on something, her arms wrapped around something. So far so good. I have arms again? That's a start. Now where am…

As the bard opened her eyes she wasn't quite able to hold back a shocked gasp. She was, in fact, sitting exactly where she had been a moment ago. On Edwin's lap, that was. With her arms wrapped around his waist and one of his hands still resting on her hair. The wizard was staring at her as if he had just seen a ghost, his dark eyes almost as wide as saucers. "You…," he managed. "I…how…that was you?"

"I…," the bard stammered. "I…I didn't mean to…I mean…it was an accident!"

Didn't look all that accidental to me, kitten.

You knew didn't you? You knew my enhanced senses would rob me of all dignity, since I wasn't used to them?

Maybe. Softpaws' voice still sounded incredibly smug. You seemed a little tense earlier. I just thought you could use a really good petting, that's all. And remember, once you've marked him as yours you'll be able to enjoy that whenever you want…