Lady Isild was famous for her Courtyard of Cats. It was attached to her villa in Tiriel, where she spent her summers to visit family. Most were strays that had climbed the villa's vine covered walls. Sometimes, if she felt extra generous, she would invite homeless children to rest a while. She had even ordered artists to design towers and small, beautiful nooks throughout its gardens. In the center was a large fountain, always with fresh, sweet water. Radustan welcomed its taste to his rough tongue. His journey had been long, though pleasent. The walls were protected against influtaters, sneaky shapeshifters who wished to sneak in as cats- but the spell had loopholes. As a werecat, Radustan fit the bill. He looked towards the sun dial, the markings on the ground representing each hour with beautiful script.
The nineth hour, he noted. He sat up in attention.
As if on que, the lady appeared, her gray hair tumbling down her shoulders. There was kindness in her soft, violet eyes, the werecat noticed, but also a keenness as her eyes landed on him. He blinked and returned to drinking water.
She sat by him, running a hand through his fur. She found the scroll hidden in his collar from a small, secret compartment. She scanned it, her lips pursing together.
She anticipated this, though does not like whatever is written, the cat noted.
She pulled out a pencil and a small, thin piece of paper. She looked around to make sure nobody was around before scribbling a brief reply.
"I sent a servant to the post master with an idle message and extra money to cover your fees," she explained as she tucked the letter away.
"You know to whom this goes to?" she inquired, her voice quick and direct.
The werecat nodded.
The lady blinked, a little taken aback. She had been aware of whom the messager was, but the sight of him was still shocking!
"Urm, very well then," she said, regaining her composure. "off you go, now. Quickly."
The werecat pretended not to hear, as only a cat would, before trotting on his way and back up over the gate, into the streets of a waking Tiriel