Saeldian was too busy getting their feet centered to sass back. They had to jump for the next bough, the one where Snowball, who needed daily brushing and was too good to eat mice, cringed on a branch. He stared at them with huge frightened eyes, backing away as they approached.
“Hey, buddy,” Saeldian said. Gentle, soft. “Those aren’t strong enough to hold you. We’re okay. We’re just up in a tree, because it’s fun.”
Jubilee snorted.
Saeldian ignored her and went on. “It’s a nice afternoon and there’s nothing to do but sit with my friend Snowball, who is so pretty and fluffy and smart, oh yes, he is.”
Kell covered his mouth, but his eyes squinted with mirth. Snowball, meanwhile, was not buying any of it.
“And I’m wearing my good clothes, and there is not a single long white hair on them anywhere! How will people know that I belong to Snowball, buddy? Huh? How’s that going to work?”
The kitten’s ears swiveled forward, and he meowed. Saeldian pulled out a bit of fleece and made it look and smell like smoked smallfish, which Snowball was not supposed to steal off Mr. Bastion’s toast. Irresistible. Stinky.Forbidden.
Snowball leaned closer, then moved up the branch before he knew what he was doing. Every step was steady and balanced as any cat who hadn’t forgotten that he was a cat, and when Snowball touched his nose to Saeldian’s fingers, they grabbed the kitten by the scruff and said, “And elsewhere!” in Draconic.
In the next instant, they were both on the ground. Snowball writhed and scratched at Saeldian’s gloved hand. Saeldian let go, and Snowball raced off toward the main house.
“There,” Saeldian said. “Snowball is safe.”
Verity blinked at Saeldian. “How did you do that?”
“I tricked him,” they said. “If you can give him a bit of smoked fish, he’d appreciate it.”
Kell slowly clapped his hands. “Way to go, hero.”
“I don’t have time for you.” Saeldian rolled their eyes. “I have to rest. Will I be permitted to have a nap, O my warden?”
Kell looked to Jubilee. “I want the room across from their door. Do the floorboards creak?”
“Like an orchestra. But that room isn’t as nice as the others.”
“I camp outdoors,” Kell said. “It will be fine.”
“The sun is still falling and I haven’t rested,” Saeldian said. “Claim whatever room you want. There’s no time to lose. I’ll see you at dinner.”
They followed after the child and the kitten before Jubilee had the chance to keep asking questions.
Kell shaded hiseyes and watched Saeldian disappear through a cheerful yellow door after a kitten and a four-year-old tiefling girl. Nothing about the last ten minutes made any sense. Saeldian had just rescued that kitten out of a tree to soothe a child.
And Saeldian apparently lived here, in this once-grand villa that had two tarpaulins stretched across different parts of the roof. None of this made sense, but that didn’t matter. Saeldian was no longer in his sight.
Jubilee hooked his elbow, stopping him from following. “Hold. Saeldian said they needed rest. There’s not much time until dinner. Let them be.”
“Saeldian only needs an hour to rest.”
“And then,” Jubilee explained patiently, “they’re going to build a complex illusion to dress like a wealthy Waterdhavian and speak to their patron. Who is an archfey, in case you’ve forgotten? Since we’re going to the Feywild, it’s a good idea to get some help from someone there. Leave them be.”
“Saeldian is attached to my chance to get home, and I’m not throwing that away because they need a nap.” Kell twisted his elbow out of Jubilee’s grasp. “I mean to sit outside whatever door they’re behind and wait. I won’t be noisy.”
“You will not disturb them,” Jubilee said. “You’re coming withme to fetch the eggs, and then we’re going to find out what needs doing after that.”
“That sounds like it would be fun,” Kell said, “but I can’t—”
“You can’t what? Give Saeldian a moment’s peace so they can be at their best tonight? Do you want us to fail?”
“I don’t want us to fail,” Kell said. “That’s my point.”
Jubilee squared herself directly before Kell. She was a good four inches taller than him even before counting her tall, spiraling horns, and she knew how to put menace in the step she took toward him. “It’s time for you to explain why you’re being such an ass.”
