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“Good lad.” The gamemaster pulled out another form and added another broad stroke in gratitude. Archie hadn’t been able to collect a bounty from the widow without the gnome’s corpse, but the crown wasn’t nearly so particular. “And would you look at that? You earned yourself another half a crown. Another bounty like this, and you’ll have your charter in no time.”
His charter? Could he really get it done before Ainsley got home? Sure, it might not be the same as fighting through a tower of villains to earn her favor, but perhaps it would be enough for now. More than he ever hoped to wish for. And just like that, Archie had forgotten about the rats and was dreaming about his princess again.
* * *
As Leo followed the boy out of the gamemaster’s office, his tail twitched like it had a mind of its own. He didn’t care what the doddering, old gamemaster thought. Leo was the master hunter here. He caught quail, rabbits, and even the vast majority of the original plague rats—stacking the corpses next to the castle gates so they could be burned in the royal furnace. So Leo’s opinion was the only one that should matter.
“Kill the rats. Kill them until you discover the root of your kingdom’s curse.” The voice was in his head again, and there wasn’t any more time.
The urgency of that thought was unmistakable; it had to have something to do with the unknown danger from when before became now. That meant slowly letting the boy collect his coin and gain more royal favor (along with a few more of Leo’s elusive memories) drop by drop wasn’t enough anymore. They needed something that would open a proper flood.
And if years of catching rats and foiling the aims of creatures larger than himself had taught Leo anything, it was that there was always more than one way to get things done. He had been playing nice with Archie—just as any noble master should provide for his pets and loyal subjects—but the truth was, he didn’t need the boy to like him to get them both inside the castle.
He just needed another plan.
The princess and her father would be back in another week, and the time for bolder action had come.
* * *
The next week, the cat came to their usual hunting spot with a Cheshire smile, and Archie was ready for him—or at least as ready as he ever could be. “What is it, Leo? Do you have another scheme for me today?”
The cat waved his tail and looked back at him in a way that could only be in the affirmative.
Archie nodded and put down the bow. “All right, what do you want me to do?”
It took another moment for Archie to follow Leo back to the river, downstream from the mill and closer to the road that went through the Darkwood.
Far longer for him to understand what the cat wanted him to do.
“You want me to go into the river?” But Archie had learned not to argue with the cat, and it wasn’t like anyone else was here to see him. Maybe they would find a water imp and bring in another bounty? Then he might have his charter at last, and he could show it to the princess when she returned. “Fine.”
Archie pulled off his cloak and stripped down to his shorts, ready to wade in. Was catching imps like catching frogs? It was really the only reference he had. The water was now up to his waist—cool with the change of seasons, but not unbearably so. He could swim here for a while if that’s what the cat wanted. But how was he supposed to find a water imp? “Leo?”
No answer. Not even an encouraging “meow.”
He tried again. “Leo?”
Archie turned and scanned the bank with some annoyance. Where were his clothes?
And where was that cat?
The next thing he heard was hoofbeats, and he had a sudden sinking in his chest.
He was going to skin that cat alive.
Chapter 13
Cat Bandit
Leo’s plans were always brilliant, but he had a few serious misgivings about this one. He might have been able to throw Archie’s old tunic and breeches into the stream with only a passing pang when it came to soiling the local water supply, but he couldn’t ruin anything Tabitha had made. That would be a crime against the highest gods Leo knew to worship—the gods of hunting, fashion, and good sense. But the boots were more than half the cat’s size and awkward to drag across the dirt using only his mouth. Not to mention undignified.
The things one must do for fashion . . .
After hiding Archie’s clothes under a bush, Leo ran out into the road to meet the royal carriage. The king and his daughter were scheduled to return from their tour today, and he couldn’t afford to miss it. And really, he couldn’t miss it. No one could. Not with the number of guards and servants surrounding the carriage as part of the royal’s black and silver entourage.
Leo planted himself in the middle of the road in front of them, and the purebred horses were pulled to a reluctant halt.
“Shoo, beast,” the carriage driver tried. “Shoo.”
