Chapter 27: Snow the Cat
DOCTOR ULYSSE was checking Samuel’s pulse. “Oh, Olivia. Are you leaving already? I’d hoped to talk to you a little about something, though,” he said.
“We can talk some,” she said, then she, Arthur, and Ulysse left the building so the three of them were alone.
“You already helped with the epidemic, now you’re helping me out again. Thank you,” said Ulysse. “There are surprisingly many doctors like Jean who get hung up on doing things their way. If a patient they’re treating with bloodletting happens to get better on their own, they just assume it was their treatment and grow more confident.”
“Oh.”
“Olivia, I’m hoping to go visit your restaurant if I’m able to take a longer period off.”
“I’d love to have you! And the area is full of medicinal plants and mushrooms. I’m sure there will be a plant that catches your interest.”
“I am looking forward to the plants, but I’m also just hoping to try some of your home cooking.”
“Please do. You’re always welcome.”
Arthur and Olivia left without saying anything about Derek. When they were going, Bethany again held out a leather pouch that looked like it probably had coins in it, but Olivia firmly refused.
Derek watched that exchange with an unamused expression, which made Olivia even more certain she didn’t want to accept the money.
The moment she and Arthur were alone, he said, “Olivia, what’s wrong? Something happened, didn’t it?”
“Yeah. Derek apparently met Jean at an illegal gambling den. He was the one who convinced the family to bring in Jean to treat Samuel.”
“Huh. A gambling den? But even if we tell the guard about it, there’s not much they can do if they can’t get a lead on the location. Just wish we knew where it was.”
“I actually think we might be able to manage something. When Derek remembered the location, there was a brief memory of a cat in the building. It’s probably there to hunt rodents. It was white, with long fur and blue eyes. And quite large.”
“Huh. And?”
“If that cat ever goes outside, then other cats will definitely know about it. Cats are very fussy about their territories. If I ask other cats where that white cat lives, we should be able to find the gambling den.”
Arthur listened, nodding along in agreement. “Olivia. We’re all the way out here in the capital. Might as well try and find the cat while we’re here, don’t you think?”
“Are you sure? I really don’t want you to get fired from the pharmacy.”
“I’ll just work enough to make up for the time off when we get back.”
“And I’ll deliver so many medicinal herbs Freddy can’t possibly fire you. As a thank you for always taking care of you.”
“That’s reassuring.”
Arthur walked along with a smile, but inside, he was thinking about something else, about how he didn’t like how that young, good-looking Doctor Ulysse smiled at Olivia. He’s getting too friendly with my Olivia. Pretty sure he can find all sorts of good food here in the capital, he’d been thinking while he listened to their conversation.
But he wanted to avoid Olivia hearing those inner thoughts of his and thinking he was inconsiderate, so he focused on thinking about his dear horse Annie while they walked.
Olivia had already sensed Arthur’s jealousy when she was talking to Ulysse. Right now, she couldn’t get over how cute Arthur was for trying to hide that jealousy by furiously thinking about Annie while they walked.
The two of them went through the shopping district, bought some things while on the main street, then went down a side street. It had snowed in the capital too, but it was nothing compared to Marlais which had accumulated over fifteen inches. The snow that was here, though, had been pushed to either side of the roads and hardened into mounds as tough as ice, and the cobblestones were freezing.
As they walked down that cold cobblestone road, they saw a gray cat meander across their path. Olivia crouched so her eye level was lower and said, “Hello. We’re looking for a white cat. Do you know it?”
The cat stopped and glanced at Olivia. Lots white cats.
“This one is big with long fur and blue eyes.”
Uncommon human. The gray cat seemed to realize Olivia was sensing its thoughts. It approached, though wary, obviously on edge because of Arthur. Seeing that, Arthur slowly moved away from Olivia.
“Do you know the cat I mentioned?” asked Olivia.
That white cat friends with black cat.
“All right. Could you take us to the black cat it’s friends with?”
Come.
The cat turned around and sauntered off. Arthur and Olivia followed behind it. Its paws moved quickly over the cobblestone ground until they came to an old multi-tenant building, where the cat went up the steps.
“Olivia, what now?” asked Arthur.
“It’s all right. Cats are smarter than people think. If we just wait… There, see?”
The gray cat came back down the steps with a black cat behind it. They padded down the steps and over to Olivia. The black cat was very clearly on edge as it said to Olivia, What you do to Snow?
“The white cat’s name is Snow? I want to go to the house Snow lives in. I promise we won’t attack Snow or anything. Don’t worry.”
Fine. Snow this way.
The gray and black cats led the way, occasionally turning back and grumbling, Humans slow. They led Arthur and Olivia to a building even farther back from the main road than the back street they walked down. The buildings in the area were run-down, but this one looked like it was being maintained. The occupants must’ve had decent money.
This Snow house, said the black cat.
“All right. Thank you for showing us the way,” said Olivia.
Want meat, said the gray cat. Apparently, it smelled the boiled chicken on Olivia. She pulled out the chicken she’d bought on the main street and tore it up a little before giving it to the cats.
Snow come, said the black cat.
“Hm?” Olivia looked up and saw a large, pure white cat looking down at them from the top of some stairs. She had no doubt that was the same cat that briefly flashed in Derek’s memories. Once certain about that, she told Arthur, and they went back to their carriage.
“You sure it was the right cat?” he said.
“I am. I have no doubt that’s the building with the illegal gambling den Derek went to.”
“All right. I’ll take over from here. I’ve got an in with the guard.”
“Oh? That’s amazing. You know someone in the capital’s guard?”
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not a big deal. You do remember how long I was a mercenary for, right?” he said with an uncomfortable smile while Olivia was looking at him with admiration. He was still smiling when Olivia kissed his cheek. “Well, anyway, just let me take care of it,” he said.
Arthur drove the carriage to the main office of the capital’s guard and went inside with Olivia. He had a quick exchange with the person at reception, and they were immediately led through to a room in the back. A man who appeared to be in charge came in and talked to Arthur in polite tones.
Olivia thought about how Arthur had been a famous mercenary, only to be impressed with how famous he really was.
After talking for a little while with this seemingly high-ranking person, the two smiled and shook hands as Arthur said, “Right, I’ll let you take care of it.”
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🍲🍲🍲
THAT evening, around ten o’clock, Arthur went to see what was happening at the building where the cat named Snow lived, with Olivia in tow.
The gambling den was in absolute chaos from the guards who had flooded into the building. Derek was among the customers who were dragged out. Olivia burst out laughing when she saw him.
Jean, the doctor Derek himself brought to the family, nearly killed his master, and yet, Derek was still only concerned about his own reputation. For some reason, Olivia just couldn’t forgive him for that.
As they watched the bound men being dragged away, Snow came closer to their feet. It meowed, but, to Olivia, it sounded like it was saying, Take with you.
“Was your owner arrested?” she asked.
Owner taken away. Hate that place. Lots of men bully me. Painful.
Snow was a chatty cat.
Once Olivia took a closer look at Snow, she realized its fur was matted in several places. She would be hard-pressed to say Snow was lovingly cared for. Its long fuzzy coat made it look like a large cat, but she could feel Snow’s spine when she stroked it. She could tell it was quite scrawny.
“We have another cat, a dog, goats, and horses at our house. If you’re fine with that, you can come along,” said Olivia.
I go, Snow replied immediately, then looked up at Arthur, wiggled its butt as it aimed, then leaped up at Arthur’s chest.
Arthur was surprised, but quickly caught Snow in his arms. “Never had a cat do that to me. Hey, there. Do you like me? You want to come with me?”
“Meow!” I like you.
Snow purred in Arthur’s arms. It leaned over and looked back at the building only once, when they were just about to go around the corner.
Olivia could feel Snow’s heart was filled with gentleness. Snow’s memories showed one female employee at the gambling den who had been kind to it. She’d likely been arrested with the others.
But Snow’s mind was already focusing on Arthur.
“Arthur’s a very strong, kind human,” Olivia said to Snow.
Good human. I like. Snow wagged its long, graceful tail, swiping against Arthur’s arms. Arthur gently stroked Snow’s back.
“Meow!” My good human.
“I think we’re going to get along well, Snow,” said Arthur.
And that was how Snow met Olivia and Arthur.