Chapter 1
One thing was certain, that the white kitten had nothing to do with it – it was the black kitten’s fault entirely. The white kitten had been sound asleep when he had picked it up and stayed that way even as he placed it into the basket. The black one, however, began to stir in the absence of the other. As the dark-hooded man reached to grab the second kitten, it woke fully, and seeing the unfamiliar hand coming at it in the darkness, scrambled away. Tumbling across the stone floor, the kitten knocked into piles of dishes sitting on the floor, sending them falling with loud rattles and crashes.
Cursing, the man jammed the lid down on the basket and chased after the kitten, searching for it in the darkness. Another crash sounded and the man froze. He prayed the people upstairs in their beds did not wake to the noise. His breath came as a sigh and he moved in the direction of the noise. Where was that cursed cat? He needed it… he couldn’t afford to leave without it.
Catching sight of shadowy movement in the corner of his eye, he dove, snatching up the kitten. It squeaked, as the man, carried forward by his momentum, tripped over a pile of pots by the window. Falling head first, he knocked open the shutters as he tumbled through the window into the open street. The kitten, safe in his hand, squeaked again and the man groaned.
He started to sit up but froze as he spotted the shadowy figures standing above him. The uniformed guards recovered from their surprise and frowned menacingly. Immediately abandoning any slim chance he had of escape, the man chose instead to let a choice collection of his favorite curses rain upon their ears as they dragged him roughly to his feet.
Some time later, the castle gate was heaved open as the entering guards escorted a new prisoner into the courtyard.
The hooded man had been relieved of both his hood and the kittens. Now his dark hair curled freely towards his neck as the guards hauled him across the cobblestones towards the next door. The kingdom soldiers were taking him to see the Queen - a trip he’d rather not make, especially not on account of a crime so unimpressive. Arrested for attempted kitten theft.
Of all the possible ways he had considered he may die, this certainly was not one of them.
