[The X Phial]

Athel threaded her way, unseen, through the darkened hallway, trailing Habeth. The maid seemed distressed and confused, glancing occassionally at the food bowl, smelling it once to see why Miaama had rejected the choice cuts of meat. Athel laughed to herself at that. As if a human's unrefined senses would be able to smell anything at all! Even Miaama and the others had been oblivious until Pirro warned them. She felt a momentary pride for her brother's remarkable senses.

Avoiding the kitchen, and the chance of being spotted, Athel slipped through a window and circled to the scrap pile behind the building. She arrived before Habeth, who seemed to have stopped to ask others what might be wrong with the cat's food and say she would make the next batch herself. Athel took up a spot under a low hedge and settled herself. Habeth came and went, depositing the rejected meat on the midden heap. Bones and other scraps were collected here throughout the day and then disposed of by a grounds crew every night. The rats always seemed to know when new scraps were added, however, and were never far from the kitchen. Even the presence of the cats didn't discourage them, though it certainly kept them from entering the gardens and the buildings themselves.

Athel had waited perhaps 5 minutes when she heard the scraping and chittering of the rats. The meat was aromatic and a treat not to be missed. She couldn't tell if there were four or five who climbed through the rubbish, but she saw some scuffling over the larger pieces and heard a squeaking cry of triumph as the winner took the largest piece some paces away and began to devour it right there. Apparently the rats had no sense that anything was amiss. The remaining rats tussled briefly for the rest of the meat and all got a share before they were done. They dug through the pile a bit and found a few hard bread crusts and ate those as well. Athel itched to attack them, disgusting little creatures fighting over the trash. They should be taught a lesson.

The rats began to move away from the scrap pile, and Athel wondered if she would have to follow them back to their nasty nests. Suddenly, the rat who had eaten the largest portion froze and then started shaking. The other rats did not seem to notice. He foamed at the mouth and let out a small moan, and then the others turned, interested. He shook more violently, and Athel could tell he wouldn't last long. As he fell to his side the others started shaking as well. Soon enough there were no live rats to tempt a playful cat.

Athel was appalled at the display. Not for the death of the rats, for they meant nothing to her, but for the fact that it might have been Miaama...that someone had dared to try to poison their leader and hurt their mistress. Fury warred with disgust in her feline brain, and Athel did not move for several long moments, mastering her feelings. Finally she stalked to where the five rat carcasses lay. She picked one up, gingerly, by the tail, afraid of any lingering poison. The rest she left to be found by human, dog or rat companion. She doubted any would mourn for the fallen.

Trying not to think about the possibilty of any other food being poisoned, pulsing with a cold rage, Athel entered the Queen's garden and left the rat beneath a tree. She went inside and found Miaama, who was finishing a new meal which had apparently been approved by Pirro.

It was poisoned. The rats who ate the scraps all died, like the hound. I brought one back so you could all see for yourselves. I did not want to believe it, but we have been betrayed.

Impulsively, she rubbed her head against Miaama's bulk.

We cannot let this go unpunished!