The Wyvern's Spur - Kate Novak [79]
Cat shook her head. "Sometimes it's used to describe a person who goes a little mad. Usually, though, it means a person cursed with lycanthropy."
Giogi paled. "You mean like werewolves?"
Cat nodded. "Or wererats or tigers or bears."
"Wererats or tigers or bears? Do you think that's why I have those awful dreams about hunting things?"
"Have you ever noticed if they're stronger when the moon is full?"
Giogi thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I've never really kept track. No, it's too preposterous. I'd know if I was a lycanthrope. I'll admit that sometimes I get in late after imbibing a little too much grape and things are pretty foggy the next morning, but I've never come home in torn clothes covered with blood. And tonight's a full moon, isn't it? I haven't shaved since this morning, but I'm not looking any hairier than usual, am I?"
"Sometimes such curses don't show up until a person reaches a certain age. Twenty, usually."
"I'm twenty-three."
"Sometimes twenty-five or thirty."
"Then what about Aunt Dorath? She has the same dreams." "She does?"
"Well, she did. She said I had to ignore them."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Cat said. "Our dreams tell us important things about ourselves, and sometimes the gods talk to us in them. Do you plan to go back to this Mother Lleddew to find out more about your father and the spur?"
"Yes, the girl in the temple said to try again tomorrow afternoon," Giogi explained.
"May I come with you?"
"I think it would be safer if you stayed here, so we don't run the risk of Flattery spotting you."
Cat looked down at her lap again. "I can't hide in your home forever, Master Giogioni," she whispered.
Giogi was suddenly aware of the pounding of his heart. He wanted to say that he wished she could, but he bit back those words. "Just a little while longer," he assured her. "When we've found the spur and locked it safely away again, Flattery will give up and go home. If not, well, I'll get Sudacar's advice. He's the king's man. He's supposed to preserve the peace. He'll know what to do."
Cat looked up and smiled weakly, but Giogi was afraid he hadn't reassured her.
"Do you think that if your uncle did know more about the thief, he might have written it down somewhere?" she asked.
"Of course!" Giogi said, smacking his head. "He kept a journal. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. He kept it in his lab."
"Perhaps, if you don't think it's too personal, you could let me help out by reading through it, to save you time while you visit Selune's temple. Maybe, too, you could ask Mother Lleddew to perform a divination for you."
"Steele was supposed to be getting that done this afternoon. He may already have learned something. I'll ask him. The list of things I have to do is getting pretty long, isn't it? I know it's not very late, but I've had a long day, and I should be getting to bed so I can get an early start tomorrow. Would you think me a terrible host if I left you on your own?" Giogi asked.
"Of course not," Cat said. "I'm tired as well."
Giogi escorted the mage from the candlelit dining room to the hallway. He felt very odd following her up the stairs. While he'd offered her his protection without hesitation, no other woman except his mother had ever stayed in his house before.
Cat halted by his bedroom door and turned to face him.
Giogi, feeling very awkward, stopped short and clasped his hands nervously behind his back. "So, you prefer to stay in the lilac room, then?" he asked.
"Yes. It's too lovely to resist."
"I'll let Thomas know in the morning."
Cat stepped closer and stood on tiptoe to brush her lips against his. "Good night, Master Giogioni. Sweet dreams," she whispered.
Giogi blinked hard. "Good night," he replied weakly.
Cat turned and walked down the hall to the lilac room. She let herself in and closed the door behind her without looking back. Giogi stood in place for several moments. With a sigh, he entered his own room.
It wasn't until Giogi had finished undressing that he remembered that he meant to stop in