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Evvy flung her arms around his neck "I hate it that you’re his captive!" she whispered in his ear

"I don’t like it, either, but what can we do? We’re just little cats in his big house full of lions," he replied

Evvy let hi the thin door shut with a bang

Parahan bowed to theods watch over you on your journey hoht Briar listened until he could no longer hear the slightest jingle of chain

Rosethorn went to bed soon afterward Briar made certain the cats were all tucked into Evvy’s rooate stones Then he went to his own bed

He was drifting off when he thought of Parahan Gods curse it, I need to sleep! he told hi it; the plight of the man from Kombanpur bothered him Any other master would have let them buy Parahan from him, but not Weishu Parahan was sos full of gold coins for the Weishu Rose alone -- and he had -- but he wouldn’t sell this one captive Briar would have traded all of that gold for Parahan, and he knew Rosethorn and Evvy would have done the saet up before dawn

Calhts I’ll be able to wear plain old breeches and a tunic again I look nice in all the silk robes, true, but there’s nothing for comfort like the clothes Sandry ood old boots instead of slippers, where I feel every rock in ht he drifted off to sleep

Soht He listened, but the pavilion house was quiet Uneasy, Briar got up and checked Evvy’s room

The cats were draped over her bed They had moved to take the space she had left empty They looked up at Briar

"When I catch her, she’s dead!" Briar an to wash

Swiftly he pulled on breeches and a tunic, then slung his se kit over his shoulder Boots in hand, Briar crept to the door of Rosethorn’s roo snore that he thought was so funny