LIVING IN THE PAST, CH 6

Chapter 6: Reaching Megalith City

The next morning, early, the family was already up fixing breakfast as were the group from the future.

Feral took a moment to speak to Justin. "How far is it to Megalith City?"

"At least three days, my lord."

That wasn't good news but at least they finally knew just how much further there was to go now. "Thank you," Feral said gruffly then returned to his group to eat breakfast and relay that bit of information.

T-Bone grimaced. "Three more days? I hope things are still doing alright back at the cave."

"As do I," Feral sighed.

"It might take us a little longer than that as their horse is kinda old and that will force us to move at its pace but at least the injured can ride so we're no longer delayed. That's a little good luck," Razor reminded those that were groaning at Feral's news. They all nodded that was very true.

So, in better spirits and in quick, military fashion, the camp was cleaned up. The family was aided in reloading their wagon and the horse was fed and hooked back up in its harness. Making space among their belongings, the injured were carefully loaded and made as comfortable as possible in the family's wagon along with the medic. When all was in ready the group set off at a brisk pace, the horse moving a little faster than Razor thought it would.

The older family members, except for Justin who drove the cart, walked beside the slowly moving wagon with the healthy Enforcers flanking them on the sides and rear. They made good time that first day, covering over eight miles with only a couple of breaks before nightfall. Switching out the walkers every now and then helped keep them moving for long periods so they wouldn't have to stop very often, though they did have to pause long enough to let the horse drink.

It actually took them only two and a half days to reach the main road that led to Megalith Castle. It was fairly well maintained and wound around some low lying hills before ending up at an enormous castle they could see perched on a mountaintop in the near distance.

Though they were finally within sight of it, it still took most of the day to reach the castle's gates. Along the way they were joined by many others on foot or riding wagons going in the same direction, obviously carrying their wares to market as the wagons were heavily laden.

A lake could be seen north and east of the castle, glistening a pure blue in the late afternoon light. A forest lay to the west and south. Before them, on either side of the road, were fields of grain waving in the warm summer sunshine being cared for my many peasants whose thatched homes could be seen dotting the landscape here and there. Nearly all the homesteads had pigs, cows, horses, and chickens that could be heard and smelled even this far away.

As they went through the towering gates, they were greeted by a surprise. Unlike the Pastmaster's castle which only consisted of a large courtyard surrounded by high stone walls, Queen Callista's home was a city about a quarter of the size of Megakat with towering buildings made of stone and cobbled streets. The castle itself was located at the far end of the city.

No direct path led to the castle, they learned, which only made sense to Feral. The Queen was protected by many winding roads which prevented any invaders from marching straight up to her door, giving her troops time to ambush them before they could reach their leader. A very smart idea.

Now that they had reached their destination, they bid Justin's family farewell. Their injured members were now ambulatory so the little family was no longer needed.

"Good fortune to thee, lord. May the Queen grant you what you require to fulfill your quest," Justin said by way of farewell.

Feral nodded his thanks for their assistance then his group quickly headed off down a street a friendly gate guard had told them led to the castle. As they walked, the group stared around them in fascination. Here was a working city of the past.

"I know a certain archeologist who would give anything to be able to see this," Razor murmured, looking around. He and T-Bone kept their faces shadowed by their hoods so that their masked faces wouldn't raise difficult questions.

"You mean Dr. Sinian...yea, she'd flip if she got to see this," T-Bone, agreed, staring about him in awe.

Feral was forced to agree with them though he didn't say so aloud. Any historian of their time would just go nuts seeing all this. He promised himself to try and catalog everything into his memory for putting on paper later and handing over to the historians when they got home. It was a very impressive place and it made sense why the Pastmaster was so hot to take command of it. Well, he won't, not if I have anything to say about it, he promised himself.

It took them till dust to finally reach the Queen's front door. Feral spoke with the guard and managed to convince them of the urgency of their mission. The Queen and her court were just sitting down to a meal when the group from the future were led in.

Feral had to bite his tongue when he saw the Queen for the first time. Dang those SWAT Kats, why didn't they tell me the Queen was the spitting image of Briggs, without the glasses? He cursed, shock holding his tongue a moment.

Shaking himself, he managed to be gracious and respectful to the beautiful she-kat whose emerald eyes, so like the deputy mayor's, watched him with interest as they approached her seated form.

"Oh great Queen. We've come a long distance to seek your aid. Would it be possible for us to speak with you in private after the meal?" He asked, carefully.

Callista eyed them with cautious curiosity. What an odd group. They were dressed in clothing like her subjects but their speech pattern and mannerisms were strange yet familiar somehow. Where and when had she heard those odd cadences before? Two of the group were doing their best to hide their faces but a brief movement by the thinner and smaller of the pair gave away a flash of a familiar masked face. Memory snapped into place as she remembered the strange but welcome pair of warriors that had come to her aid once before several years ago. Though her eyes widened with recognition, she guarded her tongue as she didn't want her subjects to know they had returned until she'd heard what had brought them and these others here again.

"I would be pleased to hear what has brought you so far to speak with me, sir knight. Please join me for a meal and tell me of your travels as we eat then we will retire to my study to speak of why you need to see me."

Feral felt the tension in his shoulders relax a little. She would hear them, one hurdle out of the way. "Thank you, your majesty. We accept your generous offer." He bowed his head in respect then he and the rest of his group at a bench that was emptied for them. They were served some kind of very spicy, hot soup and flagons of milk. Feral found he quite liked it.

"It's called Pepperpot Stew, a favorite here," Razor muttered to the rest as he gobbled down his share, sweat dripped down his face at the heat in it.

With great care, Feral spoke for all of them as he weaved a tale of their travel, fighting brigands, then befriending a family that helped them arrive here. He had been forced to call himself Lord Ulysses of Lyndor (Razor had made it up) to gain access to the Queen. It felt weird calling himself some kind of lord. His story seemed to have pleased her and her court and when dinner was over, she led them out of the hall and up a long staircase, pausing at a landing two floors up and stepping over the threshold of a large stone room.

Tapestries covered some of the walls, a coat of arms made of metal with two swords crossing it was on another wall. At the left of the entrance was a cleared space where two windows were spaced by stone walls. In the center of the space was a four-foot stone column with a huge basin set atop it. From where they stood, they could see it was filled with clear water.

To the right of the door were bookcases filled with ancient books then a huge stone fireplace which already had a roaring fire in it and past that near another window was a huge oak desk with many odd objects sitting on it as well as more books and scrolls. Before the fireplace were several comfortably padded chairs. This part of the room was cluttered with all kinds of arcane devices but overall, her study was comfortable, warm, and interesting.

"Please, sit and tell me why you have sought me out," Callista said sitting in a high backed chair near the fireplace that was apparently hers.

Feral, the SWAT Kats, Felina and two of his ranking officers did as asked while the rest of the group chose to stand near the door and act as guards.

Clearing his mind, Feral quickly and succinctly told the Queen how they had come to be there, who had been responsible, how many souls were trapped here with them, and what aid they sought from her.

Instead of looking at them with disbelief, her face flashed with anger as well as unexpected, but welcome, recognition.

"Sir Razor and Sir T-Bone, please uncover thy faces so I might see the warriors who had saved me once before," she said warmly. With sighs of relief, the two shoved their hoods back and grinned at her.

"You don't know how much it means to us, my Queen, that we're here after the time we met before. I would have hated to waste time trying to convince you to help us." Razor dipped his head in a bow.

"I too am grateful that is so, though I am unhappy that the Pastmaster has once again brought us together and that this time is even graver than the last. It grieves me to hear how many innocents have been dragged into this war, Sir Feral," she said, addressing the Commander, already realizing he was the leader and not the SWAT Kats.

Feral was also very relieved this was the time after the pair's last visit. Things were going to go much smoother and quicker he was certain. "I'm sickened by what that bastard has done already, your majesty. I want to get our people out of here before more are lost. Can we count on you to help us?"

"Of course, Sir Feral. He is my enemy and it is not right you were burdened with him in the first place. But allow me to give you an accounting of what the current affairs are in regards to our battle with the evil wizard." Over the next hour, Callista briefed them on the events that transpired over the past year for her kingdom.

Surprisingly, it wasn't war with the Pastmaster or anyone else that had plagued them, but normal, natural disasters. They'd just weathered a severe winter and spring floods which had brought much sickness. Her people were tired, exhausted, and only just recovering. During that time, the Pastmaster had been silent which she had been grateful for but also worried about knowing full well it usually meant he was planning something dire. Her fears were now confirmed.

"This is a monstrous plan he has concocted and with my descendent in his paws he could very well succeed in taking over my kingdom this time," she summed up her tale, grim eyes staring into theirs.

"He certainly picked the right time with your people at their weakest," Razor agreed, sourly.

"Oh indeed. Have you any information that could help us mount an attack that would be successful against him?" Callista asked. "All my efforts to send spies into his midst have failed and with his army of trolls, dragons, his watch, Grimorie, and my descendent, my army would fail the first time we attempted to storm his castle."

"We have to time the attack when the Pastmaster is totally occupied with the spell he plans to cast. When do you think he might attempt it?" Razor asked.

Callista thought a moment. "When did you say you were brought here?" She asked in turn.

"The last full moon, some fourteen days ago," Razor answered promptly.

"He would need another month or even two to recharge to full strength for a spell working of this magnitude. But the Pastmaster is an unknown. Being dead, he may not need that much time to be ready. We'd have to observe him somehow to determine when he plans to cast the spell but it will be on the night of a full moon, that much is certain."

Multiple groans met that announcement.

She gave them a grim but sympathetic smile. "I know this means forcing your people to survive a little longer before going home. I truly wish there was some way to aid thee, but you have far too many for me to succor when so many of my subjects are still weak."

"That's alright. We have food, water, shelter, and security where we are so please don't worry about helping us in that way," Feral was quick to reassure her.

"That is a relief to know. It is not my wish to make you suffer while waiting for rescue. Then what is required is building an army large enough to storm the Pastmaster's castle. It will take me at least a month to gather my scattered troops for this offensive."

"The fact you will help us is more than we hoped for, your majesty. We can do the spying as we are near his castle and aren't known by anyone there. We'll keep eyes and ears open for any hint of when he plans to cast the spell. I just hope there is enough time from finding out to notifying you to having your army arrive in time or the whole plan will fall apart," Feral said, worried about all the elements that could go wrong.

"That is very true, Sir Feral but it is all we have to work with. I will pray to the Goddess that we will be granted the time and that our efforts are successful. I will lend thee horses so that you may travel swiftly back to your people and return when the time is right. Shall we discuss our attack strategy?"

For the next couple of hours they talked about how they would take out the Pastmaster, rescue Ms. Briggs and their missing fellow Kats.

"One thing vitally important in this attack is the taking of the Pastmaster's watch, Grimorie, and his focal point which is Ms. Briggs. Without those things, he will lose but taking them will be the most difficult task of this quest," Callista warned.

"We'll manage it, my Queen. I promise. I don't know how yet but while we wait to act, we'll study the castle carefully and make plans," Razor assured her.

"Then I will leave that part of this quest to you. My army will keep the dragons, trolls, and his mercenaries busy. We'll also attempt to locate and return to you, your missing Katizens," Callista promised.

"If we succeed, will you be able to return us home? Razor said you could but I want to hear it from you." Feral asked.

"Yes, I can return you by using the power the Pastmaster raised to cast his spell. I'll have to do it twice though. First, to retrieve your people in hiding and then all those here during the fight. It will be a strain but I will not leave you stranded, this I swear!" She said solemnly.

"Thank you, we are very grateful to you and I hope you do not suffer doing this for us," Feral said humbly, very grateful but concerned that she was willing to do something that could harm her.

"I thank thee for your concern, Sir Feral but I will be alright."

Feral nodded then said, "Sounds like we have a viable plan then. If we may rest here tonight, your majesty, then ride out early tomorrow, we'll be able to get back to our people quickly before they lose hope and end up causing trouble. They won't be happy about waiting but with an end in sight, we should be able to keep them cooperative," Feral said, worried about what might be waiting for them when they returned.

"Of course you may stay here and I will ensure you each have a horse tomorrow. However, I do worry about the task of keeping the peace among such a large number of frightened and worried people, Sir Feral. It is a dire situation that could boil over in the time they must wait," she warned him, sympathetic to his desperate situation.

Feral nodded, a grim, unhappy look on his face. "It is the one thing that worries me constantly. It is difficult to keep so many diverse people calm and busy. It doesn't help there are so many weak and helpless ones among them either."

"Keep your courage and wits about you at all times, Sir Feral. Keep them busy, give them no opportunity to sit idle and share their worries. There lies the seeds of disharmony that could grow into the disaster you fear. Prevent it at all costs or the price will be most dire. That is the best you can do to keep their minds occupied and keep them safe from themselves," she said wisely as one leader to another.

"I have tried to do that, your majesty. I can only pray the ones I left in command have continued that while we are away," Feral sighed.

She gave him a gentle pat to his paw in commiseration, knowing full well what could happen when leaders are away from their people. She prayed things had not degenerated during his absence, his people had suffered enough already.

Briskly, she moved to close their meeting. "I think we have covered as much as the little information we have allows us. I thank you for bringing me this warning in time for my generals to do something about it. For now, it is time for rest especially after your long journey. I'll have you escorted to your sleeping chambers now and will see you all in the morning."

"Thank you, your majesty."

As they were escorted from the Queen's study, Razor lingered a moment to speak privately with her.

"It is so sad we have to meet under such trying circumstances again, Sir Razor," she spoke first, sadness in her voice though her eyes glinted with pleasure at seeing him once more.

"Seems to be the only way we can see each other, my Queen. Only this time, I hope we solve your problem with the Pastmaster more permanently so you and us will finally be rid of him," Razor said earnestly, wishing he dared to kiss her. He'd always found her very attractive which is why it hurt to know she was from the past and not for him.

"As do I, my brave knight. Sleep well," she murmured, giving him a kiss on the cheek which made him blush redder than his fur was.

T-Bone smirked at his friend as he rejoined the group walking down the hall. "Still carrying a candle for her, eh?" He ribbed his friend, speaking softly so the others wouldn't hear.

Razor rolled his eyes and shook his head but didn't rise to his friend's loaded question.