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What was he doing here? He was finally free after centuries of servitude; he wasn’t some lowly fur ball, he was Yrael, the Eighth Bright Shiner! Even if his cat shape was truly magnificent, if he said so himself –
“Mogget?” asked Sam in amazement, shocked to see the white creature in his bed. “What are you doing here?”
Good question, thought Mogget in dismay. He had plotted and schemed to be away from this place – he had planned elaborate revenges, even tried to kill the Abhorsen several times, so why was he back in Belisaere –
“I just wanted to see how terribly have you messed things up since I’ve been gone,” he said lazily, before he rolled on his back and started licking his paw. “Now bring me fish.”
“But–”
Mogget narrowed his eyes. “Fish. I’m hungry.”
Sam just stared at him for a while. Then he blinked and chuckled. “All right.”
“Some salmon would be nice,” Mogget called after him before the prince could leave. “And no need to tell your mother I’m here. Or anybody else.”
“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed,” said Sam cheerfully.
“We’ll see,” Mogget grumbled before the door closed.
He settled himself on the sheets. What comfy blankets. This was a nice bed. Hmmm…
* * *
“Sorry, they didn’t have salmon, so I – what happened here?!” exclaimed Sameth when he saw the state of his bedchamber.
There were feathers everywhere. His clothes were in disarray and – was that cat pee on the floor?
Sam dropped the basket with the fish, and immediately, Mogget ran towards it and pulled out the two scaled shapes.
“I tore the pillow…. Hmmm, trout. That’ll do I suppose.”
“Why, you – ” Sam swallowed the words that threatened to escape his mouth, even as he very much wanted to throttle the cat creature. “I’d very much like this room to stay clean, Mogget.”
His paws and mouth bloody as he expertly tore through the first fish, Mogget suddenly looked at him through squinted eyes. “So what are you going to do; call your mother? I wonder, is she already regretting letting me go? I suppose she could bind me again, make me a slave–”
“Of course not. She wouldn’t,” said Sam and then immediately wondered if he was telling the truth. His mom wouldn’t bind Mogget unless she absolutely had to – she was Abhorsen, not a Free Magic sorceress who would enslave creatures for their own purposes and pleasure – but if he started any real trouble…
But Mogget wouldn’t. Sam had to believe that – he did believe it; had to believe it because setting Yrael free had been the right choice – the only choice after everything that happened. He had to believe in Mogget because if things went wrong, he wasn’t sure his mom and Lirael could re-create the Charter spells that had held Mogget for centuries. Even if they could, the inevitable fight would surely tear the Old Kingdom apart.
“Hrrrmf.”
Clearly, Mogget wasn’t impressed by his claim. Sam glanced around his bedchamber – the puss had really made a royal mess out of it, he thought – and then he suddenly chuckled. Mogget glared at him, and Sam started to laugh.
“I fail to see what is so amusing here–”
“I’m sorry, just – I’m glad you’re back, Mogget,” said Sam still smiling. “I’m glad you’re back,” he repeated. “And that you helped us against Orannis. Thank you, Mogget.”
“Humph.”
“How’s the trout?” Sam asked instead.
“Adequate…. I suppose you’re not completely useless for a royal prince,” said Mogget as he tore into the second fish.
“What a high praise from you,” Sam quipped.
“Indeed.” The second fish disappeared within seconds. Mogget checked if there wasn’t a bit he missed, then licked his paws and face clean and looked back at Sameth. “I’m not staying,” he said warningly.
“I know.”
“As much as I will inevitably regret it… I suppose I could be persuaded to come back if there is more fish.”
“Would you?” Sam smiled.
“I want salmon and those tiny fish in shiny boxes,” demanded Mogget.
“Sure, that should work. I’ll have to order the sardines from Ancelstierre though so it might take a while.”
Mogget snorted. “You’re a prince. Get them to make them here.”
Sam raised an eyebrow. “I’ll get on that. As soon as I finish making Lirael a new hand, and repairing the Charter stones, and–”
Mogget huffed. “Fine, be that way.”
With a sigh, Sameth grabbed a rag to wipe the cat pee, then picked up the clothes that Mogget had dragged on the floor and folded it before sitting down on the bed, feathers still everywhere. For the first time, the cat gave him an almost guilty look.
Sam saw it. “I’m glad you here,” he said again, because even if he made a mess, it was true and maybe Mogget needed to hear it.
Mogget stared at the floor before meeting his eyes. “So am I,” he said quietly. Hesitantly, he jumped on the bed next to Sam.
With a smile, Sam started stroking his fur.
In the complete silence, Mogget began to purr.