I was still miffed at Kato for running off and leaving Bob to play tour guide when we had way more pressing concerns. But since there was nothing to be done about it now, I might as well make the most of it and pump Bob for information. I hurried forward to catch his attention before he could launch into a discussion about how he was Horanthamum the Third’s second to last cousin. Twice removed. “So, Bob, was this Puff the Magic Chimera the founder of…whatever this is?”
He stopped and used a wing to gesture all around him. “Not exactly. Pufflepotomus was the first alpha to nest in this home. But it was the magnificent Bestiamimickos who combined the clans and claimed the title as King of Beasts. And the clans have been united here ever since, keeping watch of the White One…tending the flames… I probably shouldn’t have said that.” He quickened his pace to leave us behind.
Not happening.
“Keeping watch over what? The white what?” I asked.
“I can’t say. We are not to speak of her to outsiders.” Bob looked at us with wide eyes, practically begging us not to say anything to Kato.
I wouldn’t, and he’d kind of accidentally answered my question anyway. The white one was a her. Of course, that opened up a whole ’nother can of questions.
I tried bugging and badgering him with them, but he steadfastly refused to utter another word about the White One or the whole Fire Priestess thing. He tried to distract me with details about Kato and his family, like that his parents had died a few years ago—meaning we were both orphans, although my state of orphan-hood was just temporary—and that his mom was the Frost Queen, which is where the snow cone trick Kato pulled earlier had come from.
We stopped at the entrance to a smaller cave, one that had a human-sized entrance—clearly Kato’s room, since there was no way for a chimera to fit. Even Kato probably wouldn’t fit anymore. Apparently this was our stop, but I wasn’t ready to let Bob go yet. I still had questions. I wanted to know what kind of prince Kato was, why the chimeras were ruled by a human, and what had brought Kato to Emerald in the first place.
Rexi was apparently on the same wavelength, which was disturbing. “Hey, Bob, why do you guys follow Kato anyway? He’s less than a quarter of your size, and as a human, he’s even less impressive.”
Bob shifted his weight uncomfortably from paw to paw. It almost looked like he had to use the little chimera’s room.
I decided to add some pressure, because I wanted to know the answer too. “If I’m supposed to be this priestess, shouldn’t I know these things?” I crossed my arms and looked at Bob expectantly.
Rexi nodded appreciatively and leaned close to whisper, “Very manipulative. I like it.”
Bob still looked distressed. “I don’t know… He made it very clear that I wasn’t to say any more about it and that he’d rather tell you himself.” The dilemma must have deflated him, because he let out a great big sigh and slumped to the ground in front of us. With his chin on the floor, the top of his head was just a pinch higher than mine. If I stood tall and reached, I could probably touch his ears tufts.
Bob glanced around nervously, checking to make sure we wouldn’t be overheard. It reminded me of when the chambermaids gossiped with each other in the hallway when they thought no one was looking.
Someone was always looking.
“I’m just passing along what I’ve heard. Bestiamimickos was the greatest chimera to ever live, but he was in love with a human princess. So he begged the Storymakers to transform him so they could be together. And ever since, the Beast Kings have been human, including Lord Kato. But he can’t claim the title for himself until after he’s married, although with his mother’s command of ice and his father’s power over beasts, he’s powerful enough to fend off any challenges for the title for a little while. Although now with you at his side, all the dissenters will follow him because—” Bob’s muzzle remained open and his eyes widened perceptibly.
I started to ask if he was okay, but all I got was dust in my mouth as Bob flew down the hall. He sped off as if the Big Bad Wolf were knocking on his door. I’m pretty sure he wasn’t scared of me or Rexi, soooo…
“There’s someone behind me, isn’t there?”
“Yup.”
“Is he small and fluffy or big and ugly?”
Rexi squinted and weighed her answer. “That’s a matter of perspective.”
I finally turned to face Kato, and he was not a happy chimera. He looked like he had aged ten years while he was with the council. In fact, my mother often had that same worn-out face after she spoke with her advisors.
His tail tapped the floor. “I thought I told you to rest and stop asking questions.”
“Sheesh, Mr. Bossypants,” I said under my breath. “You were much cuter when you couldn’t talk and chased your tail.”
Rexi coughed into her hand.
Kato didn’t share our amusement. “You wanted to know what threatened our realms and why I needed an alliance with Emerald. You’re about to get your wish.” He turned and padded down the hall, clearly expecting us to follow.