Of Cats and Men

“Ow…..Ow….OW!!!” Schwenk snapped as Lani dabbed his bloodied nose and bruised cheek.

“I’m sorry…I’m so, so sorry…..” Lani apologised for the hundredth time.

“Why would I be calling for help if I was drowning him…..why would I be holding his head out of water?”

“I know…I know…..I just reacted….I heard the commotion…..I reacted like a protective lioness……” she shrugged in an embarrassed kind of way.

“…and the worst part….” He snorted “You stomped on me…I’ve been around cats long enough to know that’s about as insulting as it gets! Aurelio tried it on before you knocked him out a couple of days ago!”

“Schwenk……..Gaston…….Please accept my apology…..I did treat you very badly and I’ll make up for it……..I promise you……” she was close to tears.

He placed his hand on hers. “Apology accepted……” he spoke tenderly

“How is that brother of yours?” he asked

She sniffed and wiped a tear.

“He’ll survive……..when he warms up……Why did you save him?” she looked into his eyes.

Schwenk sighed. “I don’t know….I just saw the abject terror in his eyes and…….I couldn’t let him drown…not like that…..”

“He wouldn’t have done the same thing…….he’s a bad man…..”

“Maybe so……” he nodded

“…and he still won’t spare your life……..he doesn’t think in those sort of terms……you’ve gained respect, but not enough to stop him doing his job, I fear…….”

Schwenk nodded. “Strange really…..I wasn’t thinking that when I saved him…..I just sort of acted…….maybe because of his connection to you…….I just acted.

“Well thanks to the gods you did………” she stroked his brow.

“Maybe I’ll visit the big galoot…….”

“I’m sure he won’t give you a tough time this time around…….” She nodded and Schwenk got out of bed.

“You stomp like a mule!” he said

“Just this once….I’ll let you get away with that comment……”

Schwenk was led into a small room with a big bed. Aurelio was barely visible under the covers.

“I’ve brought you a visitor……..” Lani told the big lion. He nodded

“Can I have five minutes alone?” he asked Lani.

“Sure….I’ll be back with a hot drink…”

Schwenk sat next to the bed as Lani left.

“So….you erm……you’ve got feeling back in your hands and feet yet?”

“A little…….still feels like I’ve been burnt….

“I know the feeling……..”

“Your face looks like a breakfast!” Aurelio noted

“Hmmmm……your sister is somewhat protective!”

“Foot in the face? Ouch…..”

“Yes…..good stomper, poor listener……”

“Runs in the family………”

There was an awkward silence. Eventually filled by the lion.

“You know…….this can’t change anything…..I still have my job and……”

“I know…..” he interrupted. “It’s me or you….we share a lot of the same job description….” he sighed.

“I have a suggestion…….” offered Aurelio. Schwenk nodded.

“I suggest a truce for the period of the festivities……48 hours….then truce is over and……when I catch you….you’re a dead man…..”

“More than fair…..” he nodded.

“Of course……if you leave the city during that time…..you’ll be out of my area……” he shrugged.

“Hmmm……something to think about….” He nodded.

“Schwenk…….leave…….you’ll live…..stay and you’ll die, I promise…..”

“May not be that easy………Myra……” he replied.

“She can follow you on…Lani will tell her……”

Schwenk stood.

“Look…..I appreciate the offer, really, I do….and I’m glad you’re on the mend….but if I stay….and if you kill me….then it’s meant to be…….I can live with that……it allows me a choice!”

Aurelio studied the human for a moment.

“If you die…..then it’ll be the death of a fellow warrior….with due respect……” he bowed very slightly.

“Excuse me if I don’t look forward to that……” Schwenk returned the bow and left the room.

“I have his tea……how did it go?”

“Well…….he’s offered me a lifeline…….”

“Then take it!!” she urged.

“We’ll see…….” He walked up the stairs to his room. “We’ll see……”