Tale of Four

Isis stepped into one of the large manors that sat above the hill, looking around with amazement at the halls, decorated with a number of jewels, paintings, plants, statues, and ornaments. After over an hour of waiting, it was a welcome sight. Yet one thing confused her about it all.

’So many cats.’ Paintings, statues, and even a few jewels all had some relation to cats, whether they were outright drawn, sculpted or referenced. ’Even a church doesn’t show so many icons of God.’

”Please wait inside. The Jude will be with you shortly.” One of the servants said and bowed, leaving Isis to sit alone. Making herself comfortable, she waited and heard a small flap open; from it a chubby black cat strolled in, arrogantly holding its head high, as fat flaps on its stomach swayed side to side. Much to her surprise, the cat wore a purple collar with a small bowtie attached to it.

The cat paused, seeing a new guest and watched Isis for a moment, circling around her, sniffing the air. After a minute of it, the cat jumped up, landing on Isis’s lap and kicking her dress and curling around, lying down, purring softly when Isis stroked it. Looking up, she wondered what was even happening, nearly failing to notice the door open.

Relaxing, she watched Tyrak walk in; her eyes widened at the man, and her mouth opened in shock. Closing it, she quickly recovered, realising she was being rude. Instead, she felt nostalgic looking at him, reminded of Hampton, seeing his obviously dyed yellow hair slicked back and parted. His beard was thin, perfectly groomed, but dyed white. Most would have looked ridiculous like that, but Isis couldn’t help but feel he suited the bizarre look, given how much confidence he carried himself with. Alongside his whimsical hair, his chest poked out of the blazer he wore without a shirt, sat atop trousers curled up to sit just above the knees.

Realising she should stand and show respect, she nearly rose without care but stopped and turned between him and the cat, wondering whether to show respect, risking an interruption to the cat’s nap. Tyrak smiled and reached into his brown blazer, pulling out a pouch. Opening it, the cat’s ears twitched and, with a speed that didn’t suit its size, arrived before him, mewoing for him to give what was inside. Tyrek threw the pouch across the room and sat down.

”Forgive me for keeping you delayed; I had matters to attend to.” Isis smiled and shook her head.

”There is no need. I was the one who showed up unannounced. I am surprised you even accepted to meet me.” Tyrak smiled and clapped his hands. With it, the doors on both sides of the room flew open as a stream of servants walked in, laying out a banquet of food for the two with five different pots, each with a different smell. Between them, two trays full of small cakes and pastries with cream.

”Please, indulge yourself. A guest deserves every right.” Tyrak smiled and poured his own glass of tea, filling a plate with nummular cakes and pastries, spreading a bit of the brown cream beside them. Grabbing a pastry and scooping up some cream with it, he stuffed the entire thing in his mouth in one gulp, unbothered about the mess on his beard.

Isis could tell he was much like Darion and quickly made a plate, realising he would want to enjoy the meal with her. Biting into a cake, her eyes widened in surprise at how sweet it was, and she instantly devoured it, covering her mouth after realising she had dropped the Veston Lady persona she was acting out. Tyrak chuckled, seeing her clapping his hands, ”Do not be so shy. Food is to be enjoyed, not performed.”

”It is delicious.” Taking another cake, she stuffed it in her mouth like Tyrak did, ”So sweet, I feel I might get fat if I eat.”

”There is no shame in that. A larger woman is the most beautiful. She enjoys life and has thick armour compared to a thin woman.” Tyrak laughed at his own words, his eyes holding a deep affection, obviously thinking about someone. The two shared a few more bites before he leaned back, spreading his arms around the chair and yawning, ”You asked why I met you so easily. Well, it surprises me that fat snake has friends to be honest.”

”Darion? He is lovely.”

”To you maybe, but how many times has that man cheated me out of a gold coin?” Sighing, Tyrak smiled to himself, obviously not annoyed, ”A stingy snake that one, but a reliable business partner. Besides, you passed the test to even be talking to me.”

”Test?” Isis raised an eyebrow.

”Well, you met the Lord of the manor, and he liked you.” Tryak chuckled and made a noise to call the cat over. The fat black cat looked at Tyrak for a moment before returning to the pouch he threw, trying to dig for whatever was inside it. Realising what he meant, she laughed.

”Tell me? What is it with cats and this city? I saw them everywhere and as I walked your halls, well.”

”Cats are holy animals. They protect us from plagues, are smart, and have many lives. This city’s founder understood that truth, and we carry that wisdom to this day.” Tyrak smiled to himself and closed his eyes for a second before reopening them, ”Enough small talk, what can I do for you?”

”I don’t really know,” Isis said. Thinking for a moment, she finally thought of something and reached into her bag, ”Actually.” Taking out the statue of Lady Death, she placed it on the table. ”I want to return this to who it belongs to. Whilst I do that, I wish to explore Oros and the many wonders of this land.”

Tryak’s gaze narrowed, seeing the statue, ”A dangerous thing you have. Did you steal it?” There was a sharpness in his voice.

”No. You don’t steal soemthing you wish to return. I helped kill the men who did.” His gaze unarrowed as the friendly smile returned.

”Then it is fine. The snake’s letter did say something about your wish to write a book. Said to charge him for the service I provide to help you.”

”He did?” Isis frowned, realising she was getting more from Darion than she had first thought, ”There is no need. I will pay for whatever help you provide me.”

”No, you won’t. This is my chance to get some of my coin back from him.” Tyrak chuckled again, ”You wish to explore. I assume you want knowledge and help. As for that statue, you need to know where to go to deliver it.” Falling into thought, he closed his eyes and bounced his foot, ”I have a man, an eccentric one, in my service right now. He is rather strange, but would be a good translator for you and has travelled to Oros himself. I can give him to you.”

”Are you sure?” Tyrak waved his hand.

”This manor has enough people; missing one won’t hurt.” Looking at the statute, he smiled, ”As for where you need to go. There is only one place that worships that deity that has those statues. Verat. A Kingdom, in the north, I do not like very much. Very scary people.”

Isis nodded. ”Any advice I should know about it? I want to discover the rest of Oros for myself, but that place I need to understand a little if I am to return this.” Tyrak clicke dhis tounge.

”Do you hold any Gods in your heart?” Isis thought for a moment and shook her head, realising that she wasn’t faithful in any meaningful degree. ”Good. Most civilised places trade on the basis of respect for one another’s deities. That place sees all other Gods as fake. They are people who will kill if you mention a so-called fake god in their land. Especially their clergy.”

”Anything else?”

”Just be careful what you say. It’s all that matters. But Darion mentioned you are a chronicler, correct?” Isis nodded, ”Then you will be safe. In their religion, the emissary of their God is called the Latish. Roughly, it means The One who Records or The One of Many. I think it depends on how you say it and the context, but I can’t be sure. I am not well learned in their faith after all.”