We were back in my room, lying side by side on the bed, relaxing. My fingers played with the strings of my shirt.

"Would you really let Larina into your room?"

"She's so sad. If I can make her happier."

"Oh, Kiara," she sighed.

"What?"

"You don't know her at all. You have to be more careful."

"You were the one who said we should be instant friends because we have four legs."

"You had a look in your eyes like you were about to strangle each other."

I said nothing. Much of it was Freya's jealousy speaking. But there might be more than a grain of truth in it. Just thinking about how I got along with children now. They were open and had no hidden agenda. Either black or white. And my new life, to be honest, didn't I approach it very carefree. More like laughing at dangers like highwaymen or risky rock climbing. Even at being a lady. Did I need to change my attitude? Was I treating this like a game? Which my fate resembled, didn't it, I had died and respawned as a different creature in a different period.

Well, I was a different being. Maybe merging with the animal souls had changed my attitude. The old me would never have jumped five metres, not even into a safety net, and certainly not from one tree to another. And never roared at wolves. Or climbed rocks with Freya on my back, she depended on me for her life. And never approach children like a pet.

And now I had more responsibility than ever. I was a lady representing Earth. Ok, as much as this overgrown cat-squirrel could represent people of another unreachable world. And Freya relied on me too, if not officially, then as a role model. At least.

"Penny for your thoughts."

"I thought you were broke," I giggled.

"Says the lady of no money and no grammar."

Ouch, that hit. So much for being a role model. Better change the topic. "Can you play an instrument?"

Freya shook her head violently. "No, neither can I sing. Can you?"

I shot out my claws. "I should try the harp or the lyre with them. And I cannot speak, so singing will have to wait. Can you sing in mindspeak?"

"No, at least not me."

I took her in my arms. Feeling her warmth against my chest, smelling her hair. The rain was still murmuring outside and we cuddled. Just sharing our warmth. After a while I had an idea: "Do you have board games?"

"Hnn, again these words that I feel like I should understand. Is it something funny?"

That sounded like a no. So I collected my thoughts on how to explain board games. First, I had to remember the rules. The simplest one I could recall was checkers. I was confident I could explain the rules. But there was no need to hurry.

The cosy silence was soon interrupted by my stomach growling menacingly. Sometimes I thought it had gained extra independence, being so far away from the head in this body.

* * *

For dinner I decided to go to the Nobility's Hall, which required a detour next to the Healers' Room to go up the wide straight staircase three floors, past the Healers' Refectory and then down one floor. It was a big detour, starting with a dash through the rain, because the Healers' Room was on the ground floor in the third courtyard. I waited next to Freya's bunk where she was changing into her better civilian clothes; the white shirt with the leather band under her breasts. It reminded me that I only had a single shirt and that I really needed to see a tailor. Freya was soon dressed, and I suppose make-up was only for the nobility and courtesans. Not for this lady, not then and not now.

Thanks to the detour, we arrived at the Nobility's Hall slightly damp (well, I was) but free of cobwebs and plaster. Freya rushed to hold the door open for me. Before she could say a word, the servant on the other side announced my presence in a deafening voice: "Lady Kiara of Earth.

My ears were ringing. Not sure if it was to warn the other servants. For we were early and so far there were only three other noblemen in the hall.

I turned to a suddenly very shy Freya. "Freya, my mindspeak," I nodded to the next servant and walked to an empty table where a servant hastily removed the chair and placed a cushion under my bottom before it hit the floor. Embarrassed, I said, "Thank you," which embarrassed the servant. I smiled and he hastily retreated to get me some mulled tea.

Meanwhile, Freya had silently sat on the chair next to me. She sat up straight as a stick. I put my paw softly on her foot. "Freya, relax," I whispered.

Then the servant returned. "Milady, what would you like to eat?"

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I made a show of Freya translating for me. "I would like a nice watercress salad with toasted bread and some carrots," I said in my gibberish Earth, which Freya translated truthfully, as far as I could tell. I am sure she added a lot of honorifics. As soon as the order was finished, the announcer drowned out all the noise and announced “Count Radel of Karenburg, the younger.” The count didn't hesitate and sat down opposite me.

"Good evening, Lady Kiara of Earth," he said with a smile, "congratulations on the official recognition. If I may ask, where is Earth?"

Freya dutifully translated into mindspeak, too scared to even add a snide remark. "Count Radel, this is Freya, my translator." I waited for Freya's translation. "Earth is very far away. Perhaps only magicians can reach it."

Poor Freya had to talk a lot. Count Radel addressed me at first. But soon he and Freya talked more directly. Obviously, his fascination had won and he did not care that common Healer Apprentice Freya was sitting at the same table as him.

"Administrator," the announcer boomed. Freya jumped up and stood very close to me.

Administrator was of small stature, a head smaller than Count Radel. He was old. With his bald head fenced in by a wild rim of white hair and his simple brown tunic, he looked more like a monk of the order of the mad scientists. I suppressed a grin. I cursed my vivid imagination. This was the most powerful person in the Kren Republic. Squirrel brain, keep your wits together.

As soon as he saw me, he was on his way to our table. Count Radel stood up and I did the same. Freya tried to merge with me and started to tremble. "Freya, please relax. I need you!" I said quietly. He sat down next to me and Freya quickly slipped to my other side. "Good evening, Administrator. I am Lady Kiara."

"Good evening. Lady Kiara of Earth." Then he smiled. "I apologise for your involvement in the intrigues of old Hofengart and Vice-Administrator. Fortunately, those worked to your advantage. We do indeed live in interesting times. Please sit down."

As soon as Freya had whispered his words in mindspeak, I sat down again. I even folded my paws underneath me to be closer to his height. "I am honoured." The now exposed Freya stammered out the translation. "Sorry, my language is bad, Freya mindspeak." Freya bowed almost to the ground.

"I know it may be tiresome, but I would love to hear your story."

I sighed slightly. "I don't speak well. Please, Freya."

Freya remained silent. "Freya."

"Sorry Lady Kiara, I can't, sorry," and with that she rushed out bowing backwards, almost hitting the announcer. I should follow her. But I could not leave Administrator, not as a lady. Even squirrel-brained me understood that. I gestured to a maid and she understood and followed Freya.

Then I smiled at Administrator. "I trying. I cominged from the far world Earth. Dyinged on Earth. Then here. Ten days. Seven days riding with Freya from Kerwnough to Krenburg. Faster than horse, higher than squirrel." I showed my claws. "Good climbing trees," I smiled, "Thank you, Administrator." My longest speech yet. I was proud.

"I must say, Lady Kiara, you did very well for not knowing Kren."

"All Kren I knowing," I nodded at Count Radel, "Freya sayinged lot for Count Radel."

"Administrator, I am Count Radel of Karenburg, the younger, I am pleased, and indeed, I think I could elaborate." And he was visibly glad to do so. What a relief. Still, I wished I could use the opportunity to make Freya my entourage. But my vocabulary was not up to the task. Nor did I knew if Administrator could do this. With what little I knew, it might backfire. And it was not the best time after Freya's flight.

After Administrator had sat, the next announcements were not so loud. There was no need for it anyway, as most tables ate in silence, trying to overhear what was being said at our table. Not because of my story, but because knowledge of Administrator's thoughts was power.

Finally, my salad came with some fried carrots and other greens in a white butter sauce. Even Freya would find it delicious, despite the lack of meat. I dug in with my knife and fork, ignoring the stares. Count Radel even tried to imitate my use of cutlery, but with far less elegance. Administrator looked interested but ate in the traditional way, dipping his fingers in the finger bowl between bites. It was also quite a civilised way to eat, not as rude as one might imagine. Something I couldn't do: the sauces and flavours would mix in my claw sheats.

With Administrator at our table, the empty chairs were quickly filled. And of course, they were for him. I almost thought he was using me as a deterrent. If that was his intention, it wasn't very successful.

Soon I understand why they wanted to get to Administrator quickly. Not only did he look like a monk, he ate like one. Before I had even finished half of my meal, he stood up and all the others jumped to their feet as well. I rose too, chewing as discreetly as I could.

He nodded at me, so I bowed quickly. "Dear lady, I hope to see you soon with your translator." Or something like that, I guessed.

"Thank you, Administrator," I said for lack of better words. Then Administrator nodded to the general audience and said a few words that felt like a blessing. Was he indeed a cleric? Then he just walked out. Only after the door had closed did the chatter begin again, and soon reached a level where the announcer again used the impressive volume at his disposal.

"Count Radel, is Administrator cleric?"

"It's complicated. He sdfgn fbgb nytn."

"Please, speaking easy, Count Radel."

"Sorry." He took a deep breath. "Lady Kiara, do you know clerics?"

"Little."

"Three cleric groups. The Brown, the Order of the Nuncipal and the White. Before becoming Administrator, he was a cleric of the Nuncipal, but he changed to brown." He frowned. "Too simple, but you understand?"

I nodded. "I asking cleric tomorrow."

Count Radel was relieved. "Yes, please, Lady Kiara."

Despite Freya having left and many other nobles sitting at our table, the count still tried to talk to me. He seemed genuinely interested in me and my story. He tried metaphors and children's stories of similar fates, but with my simple vocabulary, only the simplest got through. He even distracted me a little from my worries about Freya.

When I had finished eating, I rose, bowed to the count and then to everyone, and went out to find Freya. It was easy, she was upstairs in the Healer's Refectory. Apparently fully recovered, with a chicken leg in one hand and an almost empty goblet of wine in front of her. She waved the half-eaten leg around during a lively conversation, only occasionally taking a bite. Freya was probably the last to notice me. Then she jumped up, ran over and hugged me. "I'm so sorry, Administrator. I couldn't."

"Freya, everything's fine." I brushed her hair. "Please, eat first. You smell like chicken."

"Well, I ran like a chicken," she admitted.

Silly me did a chicken "Freya, gock gock" with the sudden head movements of a walking chicken. I must have looked very stupid. Freya laughed and the others looked shocked at first, then joined in. I laughed even harder when I thought of the commotion it would have caused in the hall one floor below, where only the count would laugh.