“Are there any other female Council members?” Lea ventured.
“You will be the first,” he replied.
“How do my whiskers look? They aren’t tangled are they?” she asked while wiggling her whiskers and looking cross-eyed in an attempt to examine them.
“You are perfect,” Chesh smiled.
****
The Duke of Lynxes stood at the entrance to the cavern. He had been waiting for the Marquis and his candidate. After greeting Cheshire and Leana, the lynx told them to wait. The lynx then walked into the center of the chamber.
“Would the Marquis of Cougars step into the center with me?” he began.
“Will Miss Leana Longclaw join the Marquis?
Leana, who had been momentarily distracted by the gems in the ceiling, snapped to attention, inhaled once, and then joined Cheshire.
The Council then proceeded to question Leana as a group. The questions were not hard or tricky. They were simple and demanded honest answers. Leana answered truthfully and the council members seemed satisfied. The questioning was not as bad as the waiting. It felt like time had stopped while the council members conferred among themselves. Leana was overjoyed when the council members finally returned to their seats and she and Cheshire were asked to return to the middle of the chamber. Once there a black jaguar stood and waited for the council orator.
“Has the Council reached a decision, Sir Panther?” Joshua asked after joining Cheshire and Leana in the middle of the Council chamber. From the center of the cavern the tension was staggering. All three cats could feel it pressing down upon them as if the air had taken on weight and now rested upon their backs.
“We approve Leana Longclaw,” Max Jaguar announced as he delivered the Council’s vote.
Cheshire, Leana, and Joshua could feel their fears and anxieties melt away after hearing the Council’s decision. Cheshire allowed his shoulders to sag momentarily as he exhaled and released the nervous energy that had been building up throughout the meeting. “Thank heavens!” Leana whispered. Joshua heaved a sigh of relief and then turned to face Leana and Cheshire, who both looked grateful to have the ordeal over with.
“Leana Longclaw, do you swear to defend the Land of Evermore and to aid the Marquis of Cougars to the best of your abilities?” Joshua began in a serious tone.
“I do,” Leana replied confidently after a moment’s pause.
“Do you swear to defend all the Clans of Evermore from the Dragon?”
“I do.”
“Leana Longclaw, you are now a member of the Council of the Trinity, sworn to protect all that are innocent from the Dragon. May the Master be with you and protect you.” Joshua finished and turned to face the whole Council.
“If there is no other business, I now declare this meeting adjourned.” Joshua closed the meeting and the members started to disperse.
Leana was flooded with well-wishers and welcomers as various members came up and greeted her. The participants were abuzz with the news that the first female member had been appointed and accepted. After the well-wishers had cleared out, Michael Shepherd walked up to the two cougars to offer his support.
“Welcome to the Council!” Michael greeted the Council’s newest member in the warmest tone that the Belgian Shepherd was able to muster.
“Thank you. Mish-I-ell,” Leana struggled to return his greeting and looked flustered. Having never been around him, Leana was at a loss as to what to call him.
“My name is the same as Michael in your dialect,” Michael explained with a smile. “It is just pronounced differently. We canines think and pronounce things just a bit differently than you cats do.”
“Dad said you oversaw the Trial,” Cheshire joined the conversation.
“Yes, and I was quite impressed. It is an honor to have Leana with us. She is a true Alpha,” Michael replied using terms that Leana hoped were complimentary since she did not know their meaning.
“And the rational shepherd shows through,” Cheshire commented with a laugh.
“I’m not. I’ve been told I can be quite the sentimental softie at heart,” Michael responded with a chuckle and then excused himself.
****
A new member on the Council meant many things. It meant change--a big one. Cheshire was not worried about change or the consequences that might be feared by some. At the moment the only thing worrying Cheshire was training Leana. In a public ceremony, Leana would be presented to the clan and blessed by Chaplain. The next day Cheshire would begin training his new assistant. The problem was, he did not know where to start. Surrounded by scrolls that listed laws, customs, ordinances, and how all of the above were affected by jurisdiction, Cheshire felt overwhelmed.
It was during Cheshire’s second attempt to decide where to begin that Chaplain Lewis arrived. Grateful for a distraction, Cheshire gave Chaplain his full attention. Chesh liked and respected Chaplain Lewis. He had been the cat that had blessed and prayed over him at his Pathfinding Ceremony. Chaplain Lewis was kind-natured, compassionate, and smart too. All of these things, coupled with his faith, made Lewis a cleric that the whole clan trusted. Chaplain Lewis was also one of the few cats that Gabriel and Cheshire discussed important matters with.
“Cheshire, you have done a wonderful thing and I came to let you know that you have my support and prayers,” Chaplain greeted Cheshire.
“Thank you, Chaplain, but in all honesty I chose the best candidate,” Chesh replied.
“True. But few others would have chosen a female assistant. Change is hard for some cats.”
“I just did what I thought best. Many of our cougar sisters are just as smart as we are. They deserve a chance to let their wisdom shine. I chose Leana because she is smart and is a cat that I can depend on.”
“Just see that you do not let her become a distraction,” Chaplain warned.
“Ugh! Distraction? Chaplain, why has everyone suddenly become so pre-occupied with my future relationships,” Cheshire complained. “Claws, I don’t even know where to begin training, much less worry about anything else.”
“May I suggest that you start at the beginning, with the basics.”
CHAPTER 17
Taking Chaplain’s advice, Cheshire started with the basics. The basics included taking Leana on a walking tour of council territories and introducing her to the various clan elders and officials. Leana had to hide a look of complete surprise when Cheshire introduced her as Lady Longclaw. Leana was greeted warmly by all she was introduced to. Even head Nurse Thistle managed to take the fact that she would be under the authority of Leana graciously--graciously meaning that she did not throw a fit or pass out.
“Chesh, do I have to address you as Sir Cougar?” Leana inquired.
“Only during official proceedings and trials. Otherwise call me what you always have. Your position and mine do little to change us. We have always been friends, so why change that?
“My heart almost stopped when you called me Lady Longclaw.”
“It is a title that reflects the authority you have. I think that you will carry it well." Chesh answered with a smile.
When Cheshire and Leana stepped into the meadow a herd of deer were grazing contently on the new shoots of grass. The deer paused momentarily to see who the newcomers were and then went back to grazing peacefully. Seeing the two Council members on patrol reassured them that they were protected, and they knew that there was nothing to fear.
“They seem glad to see us,” Leana whispered as she and Cheshire crossed the meadow.
“They and many others rely on us for protection from the Dragon. I also settled a squabble that the white-tailed deer had with the elks,” Cheshire explained.
Suddenly Cheshire stopped dead in his tracks at the head of the trail and started to sniff the air. Cheshire knew that he could not smell serpents, but the breeze carried on it a scent that turned it bitter. The scent was barely noticeable but it carried with it a feeling of foreboding.
“I know you can?
??t…” Leana began after sniffing the air herself.
“I may be nose-blind, but I can still smell a skunk approaching,” Cheshire snapped defensively as he now recognized the scent that was fast approaching them.
The moment the words left his mouth Cheshire felt ashamed of himself for letting his injured pride get the best of him. His nose problems did not give him the right to snap at others. Nonetheless, his inability to detect scents precisely at a distance caused him to realize the danger which he now faced by being nose-blind. When in battle timing means everything, and his was now impaired due to his handicap. Still, Leana did not deserve to be the brunt of his injured pride. However, before Cheshire got a chance to apologize, a skunk burst out from the underbrush and stood panting and panic-stricken before them.
“Sir Cougar! There is a fawn stuck in the branches of a sapling!” he stated between gasps.
“Where?”
“Follow me and I will show you!” the skunk exclaimed as he started to lead the way.
Cheshire turned to follow but stopped when he remembered Leana.
“Both of us will terrify the fawn. Could you stay here and keep watch? Just let me know immediately if anything happens,” Cheshire explained to Leana. After a moment’s consideration she agreed to stay behind.
“ Be careful. It could be a trap,” Leana whispered but stopped when Cheshire turned away from her.
“I will be fine.” he replied cooly after digging his claws into the ground.
“ Where is the fawn’s mother? A doe is always the first to cry for help when their young are in trouble. Why would she rely on a stranger?” she continued.
Cheshire stood kneading the earth and hating himself for his behavior. He turned and looked apologetically toward Leana. His ego had won again.
“ Please Sir Cougar, hurry!” the skunk interrupted impatiently.
“ I... I had better get going,” Chesh sighed.
CHAPTER 18
“I was just trying to be helpful,” Leana mumbled to herself as she waited on the trail. Standing vigil reminded Leana of the many times she had played warrior as a cub. Now here she was keeping watch on both the trail and the meadow as a Council member.
“The Master works in mysterious ways,” Leana thought to herself as she breathed in the warm afternoon air through her nose.
The scent that greeted her made her whiskers twitch.
“Jeremiah?!” Leana exclaimed in a whisper as she examined the group of scents that were coming from the inner forest. Jeremiah had always been snobbish about who he socialized with, so the thought of him being with a group was something that stood out as unusual. With her curiosity piqued, Leana followed the scent into the woods and found Jeremiah and a group of animals from other clans having what appeared to be a meeting. Not wanting to be seen, Leana hung low to the ground and hid out of sight, hoping to find out what they were up to.
“I am certain that you have heard about the Marquis of Cougars' recent decision. The idea of making a female a leader is hazardous at best. Choosing Nurse Longclaw is a travesty,” Jeremiah informed his audience.
“Why is Nurse Longclaw any worse than any other?” a fox inquired.
“Nurse Longclaw is from a cowardly family. Her father resigned from the army to tend plants,” Jeremiah replied
“You don’t say!” the fox huffed.
“Cheshire Cougar has handed my clan to this nurse as a gift! We are not traitors. We are civilized. We need to call for a vote of no confidence. That should tell that limping half-bit how we feel,” Jeremiah continued.
All debate ended when Leana pounced out of the bushes and landed in front of Jeremiah. Startled, Jeremiah jumped backwards. Ears lowered and tail swaying menacingly, Leana circled the group and then stood in front of them.
“This does not concern you,” he leered.
“Mutiny concerns everyone, or have you all forgotten that only a council member can call for a vote?” Leana rumbled.
“Don’t judge what you can’t possibly understand,” Jeremiah countered
“There is nothing to judge. Treason is treason,” she hissed.
Jeremiah flexed the muscles in his shoulders, lowered his ears, and did his utmost to look imposing. The fact that he was about the same size as Leana did not help. His tan fur was slightly darker than Leana’s and he was wiry and frail. Jeremiah’s self-imposed life of aristocratic importance had lead him to believe that maintaining his family’s social standing in the clan was of the utmost importance. Skills like self-defense, strength, and listening to others were far from Jeremiah’s core. His compassion and character were overshadowed by self adoration.
Leana responded by lifting a paw off of the ground and extending her claws. Leana was petite but she was also kept in shape by her duties as a nurse. Jeremiah knew that if he pounced onto her Leana would retaliate with all 20 claws. He needed to think quickly in order to avoid complete humiliation and shame.
“Now, see here! The Marquis’ joke has gone far enough, Nurse,” an older bobcat sputtered as he started toward Leana.
“I am no longer a nurse. My title is Lady. Lady Longclaw,” Leana corrected.
“Confounded upstarts! What’s needed here is a good whisker yanking!” he snapped.
Upon reaching Leana the bobcat pounced up to grab her whiskers. Leana slapped the smaller cat with a paw, sending him flying. The bobcat landed with a thud and lay there for a moment stunned.
“She’s from your clan, Jeremiah. You correct her,” he muttered.
Leana then focused her attention on Jeremiah, who was desperately trying to find a way to save himself.
“Watch your temper Nurse.” Jeremiah growled.
“Why?” Leana asked through clenched teeth.
“Because we would hate to see your loved ones suffer because of the Marquis’ folly,” he answered with the most sinister threat he had ever concocted.
“You wouldn’t dare attack my family!” Leana exclaimed in a state of total disbelief.
Picking on her was one thing, but she had never imagined in her darkest dreams that anyone would target her older parents and little brother as a way to control her. While this possibility was a new thought to her, she knew in her heart that she could not stop the entire group from acting upon the threat. Her only recourse was to be vigilant and silent.
“We wouldn’t dream of it. Not if you can block this little incident from your memory.”Jeremiah could not believe his own words, but the thought of being publicly exposed and humiliated before the entire clan was a punishment worse than any the Marquis could issue. Leana’s only response was to look to the ground and nod.
Jeremiah knew that he had to carefully plot his next steps, and that damage control would be needed very soon. This he would think about later. For now, though, just seeing the cougaress yield to his plan was enough. The rest of the group enjoyed seeing Leana yield also. They smirked and whispered among themselves as she walked away. These were not the fair and decent animals that Leana was accustomed to. These animals mocked their own customs and practices by what they were doing.
****
Griffin had always considered himself without peer in the field of deception and manipulation, but Thorson’s technique had intrigued him from the start. When Thorson began his campaign on Jeremiah, Griffin had decided to keep track of the lie’s progress through his viewing table.
“All this without venom,” Griffin commented after contemplating the situation.
“This is a mere preview of what is to come once he internalizes it more,” Thorson hissed triumphantly from his vantage point in the shadows of the dismal cavern that Griffin called his throne room.
CHAPTER 19
Cheshire felt terrible about having left Leana without apologizing for his rude behavior. His nose-blindness crippled his nose as well as his ego and part of his confidence. Cheshire struggled daily to overcome his new-found handicap with success coming in small steps. He was, however, sensitive to certain subj
ects now.
“Did I miss anything?” he asked after walking back to where he had left Leana.
“No. I was just thinking that Jeremiah is a jerk,” Leana answered, trying to hide her preoccupied expression that showed in her face and eyes.
“If he could figure that out Evermore would be a more humble place,” Cheshire commented with a smile and started down the trail with Leana following.
An awkward self-induced silence fell over the two cougars as they continued the patrol. Cheshire attempted in vain to work up the courage to apologize for his behavior, while Leana spent her time pretending she had nothing to hide. Finally Cheshire broke the silence, stifling a loud yawn and slowing a few steps.
“Tired?”
“A little.”
“Where do you go in the mornings?” Leana asked after pondering his answer. Hearing this, Cheshire came to a dead stop and gave her an injured look.
“I exercise and train every morning. What is it that I am suspected of?” he asked in a defensive tone.
“Nothing. It’s just that when I came over the other morning you were not there. Your parents said you get up early, so I was curious.”
In a valiant effort to counter his injured pride, Cheshire took in a deep breath and turned to face Leana. He wanted nothing more than to knead the earth with his claws and move on. He could not spend the rest of his life that way.
“I’m truly sorry if I snapped at you. This whole experience is extremely stressful. I just wish my neighbors could accept me as I am, handicapped or not. I have not changed,” Chesh grumbled.
“Chesh, you are a hero. No one doubts that. You are respected by most of your neighbors. Just look at the way that Paul looks up to you,” Leana offered words of encouragement. Cheshire’s only response was to turn and move on without speaking a word.
CHAPTER 20
As Cheshire and Leana continued the patrol, the only sound that passed between them was the sound of their footsteps. After a few feet the trail ended at a stone bluff. A fallen tree created a path to the top of the bluff. After carefully surveying the downed tree, Cheshire started climbing with Leana trailing not far behind him.