Puppeteer

New chapter, yay! A lot of Sorr'an this time - that's good, isn't it? Thanks to brillianbean for betaing!

 

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First words.

“Food, hmm? Well, I guess you must be
hungry. Follow me; I think Gerald or Elise can fix you something to eat.” I indicated
Sorr’an to follow me but stopped in my tracks when my catboy got up. He was
still stark naked. I should get him some clothes; not that I minded the sight
but because of these narrow-minded and conservative social rules.

“Wait a moment.” I went to my room and took
a shirt and trousers from the closet; clothes I wore years ago when I was a
little smaller. To complete the outfit I grabbed a pair of socks and returned
to Sorr’an.

“Here you go!” I tossed him the clothing
and he put on the shirt and trousers but perplexedly watched the socks. ‘Well,
it’s working without them. We just don’t want Elise to faint when you walk
around naked, hmm?’

“Fine, leave the socks. Let’s get you
something to eat! Follow me!” I turned and went off to the kitchen with Sorr’an
in tow. He warily watched his surroundings; his ears almost flat against his
head, only the pointy tips peeking out of his hair and the fur of his tail all
bristled. You could feel the cautiousness radiating from him.

We reached the kitchen where Gerald sat at
a table, drinking wine and reading a book. He looked up when we entered the
room. I heard a hiss from behind me and Gerald stood up, backing away a little.
Turning around I saw my catboy crouching in a lurking position, baring his
fangs at the servant with his talons protracted. Blinking in confusion I asked:
“Okay, what’s going on here?” I received no answer from Sorr’an and looked back
at Gerald. “Gerald?”

The servant took another step back. “I
don’t know Master Niven. He reacted like this at noontide when I looked after
him. He also clawed and growled incomprehensible sounds at me.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. Sorr’an hadn’t shown
any signs of arbitrary hostility before. My gaze was fixed on my catboy, who
was slowly approaching Gerald predatorily. “Sorr’an?” He took another step forward.
“Sorr’an!” No reaction. “SORR’AN!” The addressed cathuman flicked his gaze
shortly at me but didn’t stop his advance. “Stop this, catboy!” I reached for
his shoulder to hold him back. “He helped to heal you!”

Sorr’an halted in his tracks and cocked his
head toward me. “What? Heal?”

I nodded. “Yeah, he and his master healed
you after I brought you here. He’s no danger to you.” Smilingly I added: “If
anything he’ll make you food. So stop threatening him, he’s a friend.”

He looked intensely at me and after a few
moments his stance relaxed slightly. “Ptransa helped me?”

I looked confused. “Ptransa?”

Sorr’an pointed at Gerald who watched the
catboy suspiciously. “Ptransa is.”

‘Okay, that must be one of the words that
aren’t translatable.’ I nudged Sorr’an gently towards the table. “Ptransa’s
name is Gerald. Sit down; Gerald will make you something to eat.”

The catboy took a seat, still on alert.
Gerald cleared his throat. “What would… he… like to eat? I fear we’re out of
stock of mice.”

A smile stole on my face. “I think fish or
meat would do. Oh wait a moment.” I regarded Sorr’an. “Gerald would like to
know what you want to eat. Tell him what you like.”

“Meat or fish fine.” Sorr’an said to
Gerald. The servant lifted an eyebrow and shrugged his shoulders. ‘Right, he
can’t understand Sorr’an because he doesn’t wear a translation-necklace.’

“Meat or fish will be fine, Gerald.”

“Fried or will it be enough to throw him a
chunk of raw meat or a wriggly fish?”

I tried to keep my face impassive. “Fried
will be okay, I think.”

“Well, Master Niven. I will have to go to
the market because we’re out of fresh meat or fish. Would he like something to
drink meanwhile?”

‘Right, Sorr’an definitely needs something
to drink!’ Before I could reply, Sorr’an said: “Water, milk!”

“He wants water or milk.”

Sorr’an looked in bewilderment at me. “Why
you repeat me?”

Gerald cautiously put down a small bowl of
milk in front of Sorr’an. “If he spills some milk while lapping it up I’ll wipe
it away when I’m back. I’m off to the market, it shouldn’t take long.” With
this he took his leave.

I had to grin because of Gerald’s words
while my catboy hissed a little when Gerald almost invaded his personal space.
“He can’t understand you, that is why I repeat it to him.”

“But you understand. Why?”

“Because of this necklace I gave you. When
we both wear it, it makes it possible to understand each other.”

“But I understand Ptransa.”

‘Ptransa? Oh, yes, Gerald.’ “The necklace
allows you to understand many languages but it doesn’t give you the ability to
speak all these languages. Because the two of us wear a pendant we can understand
each other.”

Sorr’an nodded thoughtfully. “Yes. But
Ptransa weird. Feel bizarre.”

“Really? Well, Arias is a Dhuran mage and…”

Sorr’an interrupted me. “Arias? Old man?”

I chuckled. “Yeah, old man. Old man is a
Dhuran mage and they are specialized in alchemy and healing. A particular way
of healing. They take energy of a third person, channel and enhance it with
their magic and body and then use the refined energy to heal another person.
Gerald is the current medium of Arias – the old man – and gives his energy to
Arias, so he can do most of his magic. It affects Gerald in many ways, most
apparently in his outward appearance. He looks like a surreal mixture of an old
and a young man – well, at least to me. It’s like parts of him look a different
age and sometimes they even seem to change.”

Sorr’an looked into space ruminatively. He
took a tentative lick of milk and then started to sip at it. He put the bowl
back down on the table. “So, Ptransa give energy to heal me?”

“Yes, Arias took life energy from Gerald to
heal you here.” I touched his shoulder. “And your other wounds, too.”

Sorr’an seemed deep in thought. Minutes
later Gerald returned with a small package in his hands. “There was no fresh
fish anymore at the market but I got some steaks. I took the liberty to bring a
steak for you, too, Master Niven.”

“Thank you Gerald, I actually am hungry.”
The servant went to the hearth, put a pan on it and started to fry the meat,
strewing spices on it. A delicious scent drifted through the kitchen.

Sorr’an startled us when he raised his
voice. “Gerald?” The addressed one looked up from his cooking. “I don’t know
your task. Don’t know you help me. You feel weird, smell unnatural. I sorry I
attack you. Hiss at you. Will not do again. I sorry.” With these words he
scratched the back of his head embarrassedly.

Gerald tilted his head and then Sorr’an and
he looked at me expectantly. With a smile I translated. “Sorr’an is sorry that
he attacked and threatened you. He didn’t know that you’re the medium of Arias
and that you gave your energy to heal him. You apparently smell and feel weird
to him because of your task and that is why he reacted the way he did. He is
sorry.”

Gerald lifted an eyebrow. “Okay. No hard
feelings. I know I can scare people for just what I am and look like. You’re
forgiven, cat.”

Sorr’an smiled widely. “Thanks. Name
Sorr’an!”

Again I translated. “He says thank you and
that his name is Sorr’an.”

“You’re welcome Soran.” Gerald flipped the
steaks in the pan.

“Sorr’an!” My catboy pronounced every
syllable.

“Uh?” Gerald looked at me enquiringly.

“You have to roll the ‘r’ a little more,
even use your throat and make a small break before the ‘an’.”

“So-rr-an?” Gerald tried again.

Sorr’an beamed and nodded. “Sorr’an!”

I saw a hint of a smile on Gerald’s face
and it amazed me. The medium rarely ever smiled! Gerald prepared two plates, a
thick slice of bread and a steak together with some pickled salad. He put them
down in front of us together with cutlery and returned with milk. This time
Sorr’an got a normal cup.

Sorr’an sniffed at the steak, then took it
in his hands and took a hearty bite. Gerald and I looked at each other; I
chuckled and he rolled his eyes but the corner of his lips twitched. I started
to dig in, too.

“I will retreat for the night, Master
Niven, if you don’t need me anymore.”

“Good night Gerald, thank you for all your
help.”

Gerald nodded. “Master Niven, So-rr-an.”
With this he left the kitchen.

We finished our meals; Sorr’an munching
appreciatively, taking a sip from his milk from time to time – apparently he
knew how to handle a cup. When a small burp from the catboy signaled the end of
our meal, I got up and put the plates into the sink. Stifling a yawn I realized
that I was quite exhausted. The job for Belathia took its toll on my body.

“I go to bed, Sorr’an. I think you should
go, too. The poison was removed and you were healed but your body needs its
time to recover from the injuries and magic.”

Sorr’an nodded. “Bed. Sleep. Niven go, show
me?”

‘Show you? Oh hell, I hope you mean to show you the way to bed, not ways to use it or
we won't get much sleep!’ My wanton thoughts were interrupted when Sorr’an got up and
looked expectantly at me. I took the lead and guided us through the floors to
the small examination room we slept in last night. There was only one bed in my
room and I wasn’t sure Sorr’an would appreciate sharing one. Hell, I was sure
he wouldn’t enjoy me trying to molest him all night and remembering his claws I
definitely was sure I wouldn’t enjoy his reactions to my advances, so I decided
for the room with two beds.

When we arrived at the room he went to his
bed and without any signs of modesty undressed and slipped under the covers. I
followed suit, but took the empty bed after dousing the lights. Shortly before
fell completely asleep my catboy roused me. “Niven?”

“Um… yeah…”

“How I come here?”

I shifted on my side, presenting my back to
Sorr’an. “I tell you tomorrow, kitten, I’m really tired.”

The reply was a hissed “No kitten!”

“Okay catboy, but I still am tired.”

Something quite heavy pounced on me and a
furious Sorr’an snarled in my ear. “No cat, no boy. Name Sorr’an! Man is!”

I froze. Partly because of a claw that was pushed
against my neck, partly because of a naked catboy pressed against my back. I
gulped. “I’m sorry Sorr’an.”

Luckily the claw retreated; sadly the body
did so, too, but the weight remained on my bed. I rolled on my back and saw
that Sorr’an sat cross-legged on the side of the mattress. After this incident
I was wide awake and decided to answer some of his questions. With a snap of my
fingers a few candles inflamed. The guttering light cast a warm glance on
Sorr’an’s body and face. His mien showed only small traces of irritation; it
mostly held a mixture of confusion and forlornness.

I sighed. “Okay, what do you want to know?”

Sorr’an looked down at me. “Here! What this
place? How I come here?”

“Oh my, that’s going to be a long story.
Well this here is the mansion
of Arias in Arrandar, which is
the capital of Tamspod, the western province lang=EN-US> of Meygran.” I looked
into a blank face. “You didn’t understand one word, hmm?”

Sorr’an shook his head. I explained: “Okay,
there are different realms on this continent. One of them is Meygran; it’s a
huge and powerful one and is divided into five provinces. Tamspod is the
western province and this city here, Arrandar, is its capital.”

Sorr’an nodded. “Like plains where many
tribes roam around and groups of the clans with their own hunting grounds.”

I blinked amazedly. “Yeah, kinda.” Then it
hit me. “You talk better!”

The catboy grinned at me. “No, you better!”

‘Okay, so much for better talking.’

“But how do I come here?”

I told Sorr’an the story of our escape without
skipping the part when he crawled on top of me during the night. It didn’t faze
him one bit; he looked curiously and thoughtfully the whole time. I spared the
part where I undressed him, though. While relating the story to him my eyes
wandered over his upper body, the flickering candlelight illuminated it
beguilingly. ‘Damn, if all this is over these images will give me a lot of
inspiration.’

“Well, and then Arias healed you with the
help of Gerald. That’s the whole story.”

Sorr’an was silent for a few moments. “I
thank them. Old man and Gerald. And I thank you, you save my life.”

“You’re welcome, my catboy.” Sorr’an
narrowed his eyes and growled menacingly in the back of his throat. I quickly
added. “Hey, it’s meant as an endearment!”

Sorr’an furrowed his brows. “Oh really, my
humanboy?”

I blinked and then laughed. “Okay, I get it,
cheeky one. But you know I don’t mind much if you call me humanboy.” I lifted
an eyebrow and added with a grin. “Especially if you call me ‘my
humanboy’, kitten!”

Sorr’an didn’t look overly amused.
“Toddler!” was his short and snappish reply.

I smiled. “Okay, I don’t like the sound of
this, so no more ‘kitten’, I promise it.”

“Yes. Sorr’an is good name, strong name.” I
nodded smilingly and before I could reply he added. “Where are my clothes?”

I blinked owlishly. “Your clothes?”

“Yes, Sorr’an’s clothes. I had when we run
away from men.”

Gulping I took a deep breath. Why I was
embarrassed I didn’t know. “Well, the Versetzer is a great mystery to
everybody and few know how to make it work, but it takes a whole lot more
energy to transport an inanimate object then a living being. Seeing as I already
had to transport two persons and my magic vest and was already quite exhausted
from the flight I had to strip you and me down. So your clothes lay somewhere
far southeast from here. Hopefully they aren’t important to you?”

Sorr’an waved the question aside. “You
undressed me?”

“Um yeah, you weren’t in the state to do so
yourself.”

“Did you like it?”

This question hit me like a sledgehammer. “What?!”

“Did you like take off my clothes?”

I open-mouthed gaped like a fish at the
catboy. Of all questions I would not have expected this one. “Erm, I…”

Sorr’an leaned forward. “I am not dumb. I
see how you look me.” He grinned. “Eyes almost fall out.” From the corner of my
eyes I could see his tail swishing to and fro.

I shut my mouth with a click. “I… maybe…”
When did I turn into a stammering idiot?

“So you liked make me naked?”

I blushed a little but pulled myself
together. “Well, I was exhausted, but I did enjoy it. But you weren’t that
innocent either, snuggling against me at night.”

Sorr’an brought his face a little closer to
mine. “I wounded and you felt like protection and help. I remember I like it.”
There was a twinkle in his eyes. “What do you like?”

‘Is this catboy playing with me? Well, this
then let us play!’ I looked him into his eyes. “Well, you do have really
beautiful eyes.” I raised my hand and ran my knuckles gently over his cheekbone
and jaw line. “Your face is cute and sexy. And…” I fondled his cat ears which
twitched between my fingers. “On top of your head are the most amazing ears I’ve
ever seen. They are just exceeded by…” I ran the finger down the back of his
head and neck along his spine to the base of his tail, circled it and dipped
the tip of my index finger into the crack of his butt but then stroked his
furry appendage. “This marvelous tail.”

The light wasn’t bright enough but I could
swear Sorr’an’s cheeks were a little flushed. Suddenly he sat upright and
pulled back my covers. My eyes bulged at this unexpected action because all the
touching did have some effect on me. His eyes roamed over my body for a few
seconds then he rolled me onto my side.

“Erm, Sorr’an?” I rolled back on my back
frowning and my catboy looked at me.

“You real human?”

“Yes, I’m a real human. Why?”

“I looked to make sure.” He leaned closer
again. “Your eyes look…”

My facial expression froze and I abruptly
pushed the catboy away, pulling the covers over my body and snapped my fingers
hard to douse the lights. “I’m tired, go to sleep.” I turned away from the
confused boy.

“Niven? I… Sorry?”

“Good night, Sorr’an.” I replied with a
cold voice.

After a few moments I could feel and hear
the catboy leave my bed and enter his own.

Sleep didn’t come easy.

 

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