The Feline Wizard

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Though I have taken great liberties and embroidered considerably, most of the wonders Balkis and Anthony encounter on their trip north, such as the giant ants, the Grand Feminie, the magical oasis, and the curing stone, are taken from later versions of the Prester John letter and from works claiming to describe his empire. I have even taken a new name for Prester John's capital city—an older name for one of the great cities on the trade route. I have, of course, invented events to tie them all together. I hope the reader will enjoy the result.

The royal children were pestering Matt and Alisande when the call came.

“Mama, need another kitty!” Princess Alice said, pouting.

“She has the right of it, Mama,” Prince Kaprin maintained with the magisterial weight of his six years. “Balkis was a great deal of fun, but she went away!”

“Good cuddle, too.” Alice was still pouting.

The family was gathered in the solar for a few precious minutes before the queen began her arduous day. Breakfast leftovers cluttered the sideboard, and the table bore the scraps of a good breakfast. Both the notion of a well-balanced meal and the china on which it was served were the suggestions of the Lady Jimena Mantreli, the royal grandmother. She had imported them from her own universe with her husband, who sat back watching his grandchildren fondly and his daughter-in-law the queen with admiration. Jimena glanced at her son, the Lord Wizard and Prince Consort, and was pleased to see that his attention was all for his family.

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