and then recruited. And if all that was not enough, he was now sitting here with three large cats. He felt like dinner. Cat and the rat was not a game he wanted to play ... especially since he believed George and Kepler were not affected by his visions.
Kepler cleared his throat. “Allow me to introduce my brothers, Keller and Koffler. The three of us are identical ... well, besides Koffler’s stupid socks. My brothers will be useful as we seek territorial dominance.”
Koffler growled and the spoke. The sound of his voice revealed his complete lack of wit. “My socks make me look ferocious!”
Keller rolled his eyes. “I bet Mom told you that before she passed. You’re an imbecile. You’re flawed, and you know it.”
Koffler hissed.
“Oh, shut up,” Kepler snarled. “I don’t have the patience to deal with your idiocy.” The demon-jaguar turned to look at George. “I’m the oldest by only moments. With the help of Keller, I have been able to create the perception that I’m everywhere within my pass. The three of us prowl with a common goal of keeping our pass under my control. My brothers will send an asordian sparrow to assemble my army. It will take 12 Peaks before they arrive.”
George took another deep breath. “How can a sparrow assemble an army?”
Keller’s eyes were intimidating as he glared at George and responded. “Kepler and I speak Asordian. This will allow us to send a sparrow with a message. The commander of my brother’s army will hear the message and comply.”
George looked at Kepler. “So you can talk to rats, birds...,” he nodded in Kroger’s direction, “big ass ogres, and humans. What other languages do you speak?”
“I speak most every language of Southern Grayham,” Kepler responded. “The goddess, Celestria, saw to that.”
A brief look of confusion appeared on George’s face. He still had no idea who this goddess was, but he did not feel it was best to admit it. He replaced his look of confusion with one of feigned understanding and then continued on with the conversation. “I’m glad you speak so many languages. That skill will serve me well, Kepler.”
Kepler’s eyes flashed a deep burgundy-red. “I’ve decided that I won’t live in service to you. I’ve chosen to think of our relationship as a partnership ... an equal partnership with a common goal. If you believe yourself to be above me, I’ll depart with my brothers.”
Kepler used one of his claws to scratch at the stone of Kroger’s lap. “It is clear to me that a relationship with you doesn’t come without peril. If we are to share in this risk, we shall be equals. No one will be above the Master of the Hunt.”
George smiled. He had an opportunity to strengthen his relationship with Kepler by simply agreeing with the jaguar. “Equals it is. I don’t need to be above you, Kep.” The manipulator looked back at Keller and Koffler. “Your brother and I can lead together. That will give us an advantage. We’ll never need to fight for control that way, right?”
After seeing the cats nod, George continued. “Kepler, looking at your brothers, I can see why you’re not concerned with keeping your pass protected. You have plenty of back-up.”
George’s nerves were still on edge. He rubbed his hands together and held them toward the flames, hoping that his actions would cover his nervousness. “So ... 12 Peaks is a long time … I mean, 12 Peaks is a lot of moments to be sitting around here doing nothing.” He rolled his eyes. “It would be so much easier if there was a word for time around this joint. You guys use the word moment as if you understand exactly what moment you’re talking about. It’s ridiculous. I mean ... who’s the dumbass that thought of a system to describe the moments of your days without thinking it was smart to create other words that referred to specific measurements of time? Even Athena looked at me like I was an idiot when I said the word time.”
Kepler shook his big, furry head. “Though I’m unsure what this word ‘time’ means, I believe you’re rambling. Why speak of matters that you cannot change? I hope you have a point to this nonsense. And who’s this Athena?”
George frowned. “Just forget about Athena. She isn’t our focus at the moment anyway.”
“Fair enough,” Kepler replied.
George looked down at Maldwin. “Since 12 Peaks is a long period of moments, why don’t we leave Maldwin here for