The Cat Who Left No Stone Unturned

Blaise Zabini was standing in his rooms at Hogwarts, his trunk in one hand, a vial in another, the crate with his cat Macavity on the carpet. Blaise sipped from the vial, put it in his robes pocket, took the crate in his free hand and concentrated on a memory of a small white one-story house with red tiled roof, an open yard, protected by a breakwater, in front, a nice beach near the house and a rock wall behind, with a path running up the wall. Blaise felt dizziness, and the next moment he was standing on the beach. It was sunny, and the sea was blue, and a fair-haired man was swimming near the breakwater. A green tunic was lying on the pebbles of the beach.

'Liam!' Blaise shouted. 'Bathing?'

'Blaise!' Liam shouted back. 'And here I thought that you forgot your old friend!'

'Sorry.' Blaise smiled. 'Students, you know - a batch of young wizards aged thirteen to seventeen. But now they're all on summer holidays, and so am I.'

'Welcome, Blaise!' Liam said and swam to the shore. He emerged from the water and proceeded to put his tunic on. He was tanned, lanky but well-built, with pale blue eyes and a long nose.

'Yaow!' the crate said.

'You are absolutely right, Macavity,' Blaise said. 'Let's go in, Liam, and I'll unpack.'

'Sure,' Liam said.

They went towards the house. Liam opened the French window leading to a parlor, and they went in. A small black dragon with golden belly and gold feline eyes was sitting on the floor.

'Fanuilh.' Blaise smiled.

'Good afternoon, Master Blaise,' the dragon said in Parseltongue.

'I came to stay with you both for all the summer!' Blaise announced.

'I am glad to hear this, Master Blaise,' Fanuilh said.

'Your familiar is glad to see me, Liam,' Blaise said, turning to his friend.

'Well, he's not unique in this matter.' Liam smiled.

'Indeed?' Blaise raised one eyebrow.

'Yes,' Liam said. 'And there's a long delightful summer in front of us, if only Coeccias won't dump something undecipherable on me.'

'But admit you would be delighted to decipher it!' Blaise said.

'I am forced to say I would.' Liam smiled.

'Where there's a will there's a way, as they say in my land,' Blaise said. 'And you have plenty; it's even in your name.'

Liam just smiled.

'I always thought it fit you very well,' Blaise said. 'Will to defend.'

'YAOW!' Macavity said forcefully.

'Yes, sorry, sorry,' Blaise said, dumped the trunk on the floor, put the crate down and opened it. A little slender red-gold cat with leopard spots, large ears, tasseled tail, long whiskers and enormous green eyes streaked out of the crate and went to sniff Liam and Fanuilh.

'Hallo, my friend.' Liam smiled.

Macavity was busy nosing with Fanuilh.

'You can sleep in the master bedroom,' Liam said. 'I'll sleep in the library.'

'Thank you,' Blaise said.

Liam guided Blaise to a luxurious bedroom with a four-poster. Blaise put his trunk on the floor.

'Now I'll unpack,' Blaise said. 'See you soon.'

'Alright,' Liam said.

Blaise put his things away and went to the cozy kitchen with a wooden table, some wooden chairs and a tiled stove with cave-like mouth.

'You like Oriental cuisine, Blaise?' Liam said. 'Fanuilh considers it too spicy.'

'I am fond of Oriental food,' Blaise said.

'Excellent,' Liam said and a few moments later he took out of the stove a large plate of rice with raisins, shrimps, chicken and ginger.

'Oh, Phoenix and Dragon fried rice!' Blaise said. 'One of my favorites.'

'Yaow?' Macavity said, appearing by his side.

'Sure, you'll get your share too.' Blaise smiled.

Blaise sat down, took the pair of chopsticks that were lying in the plate, and began to eat. Macavity jumped to the table and tasted the rice. Liam looked at them both with a smile.

Fanuilh trotted to the kitchen, sniffed the air and sat down on his haunches.

'Don't like the scent, Fanuilh?' Blaise smiled.

'I do not.' Fanuilh answered.

'Well, it takes all kinds to make the world.' Blaise smiled. 'You visited the Orient, Liam?'

'I happened to.' Liam smiled.

'Tell me about it,' Blaise said.

'With pleasure,' Liam said and began.

'Well, you saw the world indeed,' Blaise said at last. 'You ought to write a book.'

'I've tried,' Liam said, smiling. 'But then I took up investigating, and it sort of stopped.'

'Liam, you simply must complete that book,' Blaise said firmly. 'You're such an interesting person, I'm sure your book will become a classic in the course of time.'

'You're flattering, Blaise.' Liam smiled.

'Not at all,' Blaise said. 'You have it in you, I'm sure.'

'You know, Blaise, one Lady Necquer nearly persuaded me to write a cycle of sonnets about my travels.' Liam smiled. 'Only her husband forbad me the house.'

Blaise raised one eyebrow.

'I learned too much about the family in the course of my inquest,' Liam said.

'Well, I'm not going to sever my relationship with you, Liam,' Blaise said. 'So you will complete your book.'

'I guess I will have to,' Liam smiled.

'How about a game of chess, Liam?' Blaise asked.

'Why not?' Liam said.

'I'll bring the chess set,' Blaise said, retired to his bedroom and brought a folding chessboard. He unfolded the board and arranged the chessmen. Liam saw that the chessmen were making warlike gestures and shouting.

'This is the Wizard Chess, Liam.' Blaise explained. 'You have to command your chessmen.'

'This is complicated,' Liam said with excitement in his eyes. 'But I've issued orders before.'

'Excellent,' Blaise said.

They began to play. Liam was arguing with one of his knights, trying to persuade him to move where he was told to, when they heard a knock.

'I'll answer,' Blaise said. He rose and went to the door, Macavity followed with his tail up.

Blaise came up and opened the door. He saw an elderly, stately lady in a black velvet dress and cloak with gold-embroidered edging and a veil.

'Good evening,' she said. 'Is Quaestor Rhenford in?'

'Yes. He's in the kitchen.' Blaise answered. 'I'll guide you to him. I'm his friend, Blaise Zabini, and this is my familiar Macavity.'

'I'm Milia Saffian,' the lady said. 'I didn't know Quaestor Rhenford had wizard friends.'

'I met Liam not so long ago,' Blaise said. 'I strayed, and Liam kindly agreed to give me lodging.'

'So even wizards can go astray?' Mistress Saffian smiled.

'Yes they can.' Blaise smiled. 'And how do you know Liam?'

'He once served in the duchy circuit court I head,' Mistress Saffian said.

'He didn't tell me he served as a judge,' Blaise said.

'Quaestor Rhenford is a very modest man,' Mistress Saffian said.

'And why he left?' Blaise asked.

'He didn't like the pressure,' Mistress Saffian said. 'He's a very independent man too.'

'That he is.' Blaise nodded. 'Well, I'm sure he shall be glad to see you.'

'I hope, for I need his help,' Mistress Saffian said.

'As an investigator?' Blaise asked inquisitively.

'Yes,' Mistress Saffian said gravely.

'And where is the Aedile Coeccias?' Blaise asked.

'He's out of town,' Mistress Saffian said.

'Please come with me,' Blaise said and escorted Mistress Saffian to Liam.

'Liam, here's Mistress Saffian to see you,' Blaise said.

Liam rose and bowed.

'Good evening, Areopage.'

'Good evening, Quaestor Rhenford,' Mistress Saffian said.

'You never told me you served in a circuit court, Liam,' Blaise said.

'It was very long ago and for a very short time,' Liam said. 'Coeccias persuaded me to.'

'Yet the Duke's Men in all the towns of the Duchy remember you very well, Quaestor Rhenford,' Mistress Saffian said.

'Err, how can I help you, Mistress Saffian?' Liam asked.

'Mistress Saffian is in need of your service, Liam,' Blaise said. 'Coeccias is out of town.'

'I see,' Liam said. 'Please sit down, Mistress Saffian.'

Mistress Saffian seated herself. Liam, Blaise and Macavity also sat down, Macavity in Blaise's lap.

'Quaestor Blaise and I shall endeavor to help you, Mistress Saffian,' Liam said.

Mistress Saffian looked at Blaise.

'Blaise assisted the law in his previous stay here and was given the power of Quaestor.' Liam explained.

Blaise bowed.

'Well,' Mistress Saffian said. 'I found missing an ancient heirloom of mine, brought by an ancestor from the East. It is a gold pendant of fine work, with a large star ruby. It is called Ayn el-Tannin.'

'The Dragon's Eye?' both Blaise and Liam said.

'That's right,' Mistress Saffian said with respect. 'And, you see, it was locked in a chest, the key I always wear on a chain around my neck. I'd feel if someone took it. And moreover, my servants are all trustworthy. None of them would take the key.'

'Talk about undecipherable,' Liam said. 'Some challenge.'

'Very interesting,' Blaise said. 'Well, I can take us to the main square of Southwark, and you'll guide us to your house, Mistress Saffian.'

'Certainly,' Mistress Saffian said.

Blaise rose and offered his hand to Mistress Saffian, then linked hands with Liam. Macavity leapt to Blaise's shoulder and Fanuilh fluttered to Liam's. Blaise concentrated on the memory of the square, and the next moment they were there, the massive building with a bell-tower - the Ducal Court and Chancery - in front of them, the Helekin's Tavern behind their back.

Blaise was breathing deeply.

'It takes a lot of power,' he said.

Mistress Saffian led them to an old gabled house with fine carving, nestled in one of the narrow winding streets of Southwark.

'You have a very nice house, Mistress Saffian.' Blaise remarked.

'Thank you, Quaestor Blaise,' Mistress Saffian said.

She led them through a fine hall with ancient folding chairs and a large fireplace, up a noble wooden staircase, to a spacious chamber with a carved oak four-poster having green velvet curtains, a great fireplace, a high armchair with a canopy and a hassock, by the bed, and some chairs and chests. Mistress Saffian reached under her dress, produced a key on a massive chain and gave it to Blaise.

'You see, it is impossible to remove,' she said.

Blaise looked the key over and gave it to Liam.

'It is secure,' Blaise said. Liam nodded.

Blaise handed the key over to Mistress Saffian. She walked to one chest and opened it with the key. Blaise and Liam came up and looked the chest over.

'There are no traces of a break-in,' Liam said. Blaise nodded.

'Well, the servants, then,' Blaise said. 'There were no guests in the house, I take it?'

'No. I'm a lonely woman,' Mistress Saffian said. 'Only Quaestor Rhenford visits me sometimes.'

'Mistress Saffian is widowed,' Liam hastened to say. 'Her late husband, Master Acrasius Saffian, a legal scholar, was the Head of the Duchy Circuit Court. Mistress Saffian was one of the two Quaestors. When Master Saffian died suddenly, Mistress Saffian took his place, but they were still one Quaestor short, and Aedile Coeccias recommended yours truly.'

'And if he didn't, many a criminal would get off clear.' Mistress Saffian added.

Liam blushed violently.

'Mistress Saffian, call your help, please,' Blaise said.

'Quite,' Mistress Saffian said and rang a bell. An old woman and an equally old man came to the call.

'My maid, Drusilla, and my butler, Sextus,' Mistress Saffian said. 'Quaestor Rhenford and Quaestor Blaise Zabini are here to investigate the disappearance of the Dragon's Eye.'

Drusilla curtsied; Sextus bowed.

'Now, we need to know where you were and what you did when the stone disappeared,' Blaise said gently. 'Mistress Saffian said she puts trust in both of you, so this is a mere formality.'

'Quaestor, we never came near that chest!' Drusilla said. 'Sextus and me were lying together that night - we're married.'

'Oh?' Blaise said. 'Well. Macavity, come here.'

Macavity appeared on the floor.

'This is my familiar, Macavity,' Blaise said. 'He feels unsavory or suspicious things at once. Macavity, what do you think?'

Macavity came to Sextus and Drusilla and then rubbed himself against them both.

'It seems you are clear, then,' Blaise resumed. 'Now, did you see or hear something strange?'

'Not a thing, Quaestor,' Sextus said.

'I believe you can go, then,' Blaise said.

Sextus and Drusilla retired.

'Well?' Liam said.

'They speak truth,' Blaise said. 'It's absolute.'

'And that leaves us...' Liam said.

'Where we started,' Blaise said. 'In an impasse.'

'And what about magic?' Liam asked.

There is no magic in this room, master, Fanuilh said mentally.

'Fanuilh says no magic,' Liam said.

'Macavity?' Blaise asked.

The Kneazle explored the room and returned to Blaise.

'None.' Blaise resumed.

Mistress Saffian looked concerned.

'No magic, no break-in, and neither Sextus nor Drusilla did it,' Blaise said. 'What shall we do now?'

'We must search the place closely.' Liam conjectured

Blaise nodded in agreement:

'Mistress Saffian, allow us to examine your chamber.'

'By all means,' Mistress Saffian said firmly. 'I want that jewel to be found.'

Blaise, Liam and their familiars began to search. Mistress Saffian sat down in the armchair, not wishing to hinder them.

Suddenly Macavity gave a high, 'Yaow!'

Mistress Saffian started:

'What a high voice he's got!'

'Yes, it's a trademark of his breed.' Blaise smiled. 'Now what have you got there, Macavity?'

Macavity was holding in his teeth a torsade.

'Let me see.' Liam demanded.

Macavity brought the torsade to him.

'This is decidedly foreign-looking,' Liam said. 'Look, Blaise!'

Blaise looked. The torsade was red and gold, ending in silver doves.

'Arab,' he said confidently.

'I concur,' Liam said.

'I take it there are not many Arabs in this town?' Blaise asked.

'No, not many,' Mistress Saffian said. 'They're merchants.'

Blaise nodded. It was only logical.

'And does somebody of them know of the stone?' Blaise asked.

'Nobody,' Mistress Saffian said. 'Why should they? I don't flaunt it around.'

'Unlike one fine lady some time ago.' Liam smiled.

'Duessa Ockham?' Mistress Saffian said. 'I don't care about her.'

'Well, then,' Blaise said. 'Tell me more about this stone, Mistress Saffian.'

He sat down on one of the chairs, and Macavity curled up in his lap momentarily. Blaise smiled and tickled Macavity.

'Well, the stone comes from the Emirate of Laida,' Mistress Saffian said. 'That is on the easterly shore of the closed Sea of Rhudda.'

'I know the place,' Liam said. 'It is south of the City of Gi.'

'Quite so,' Mistress Saffian said. 'Well, my ancestor, Claudius Dolabella, he was a merchant and traveled far and wide. And once, he rode across the Peaks of Valion and saw a young man attacked by a fierce catamount. Claudius was a very brave man, so he brandished his sword and slew the catamount. The saved young man thanked Claudius profoundly and invited Claudius to be his guest. It turned out that the youth was a royal of the Emirate of Laida. He had a castle in those wild mountains and went hunting that fateful day. It would be his last hunt if not for Claudius. So the prince Aziz, as he was called, presented Claudius with this stone. You surely know that the star rubies and sapphires are valued far above usual rubies and sapphires.'

'I know,' Liam said.

'I am well aware of this fact.' Blaise nodded.

'Well, and so Claudius brought this stone home, to Southwark. It has been passed in the family of Dolabella for many generations. My full name is Milia Dolabella Saffian.'

'I see,' Blaise said. 'Well, the search will be much easier now.'

'Yes,' Liam said.

'We must promptly visit all the Arabian vessels in the harbor,' Blaise said.

'Exactly,' Liam said.

'Mistress Saffian, I am sure we shall return your heirloom soon,' Blaise said. 'You would like to come with us, surely.'

'Yes,' Mistress Saffian said firmly.

'And we will have to fetch Boult,' Liam said. 'He's a watchman, a very reliable man.'

Blaise and Mistress Saffian nodded.

So they went to the quarters of the city guards. Liam went inside and returned with a sturdy man.

'Boult, this is Quaestor Blaise Zabini, my friend. We go to the harbor, as we think an heirloom of Mistress Saffian's can be found thereabouts. Some force can be required. Right?' Liam said.

'Yes, Quaestor Rhenford,' Boult said evenly.

They went to the Southwark Harbor. Liam proceeded to ask the sailors on leave, which of the ships were Arabian. There were only three of them. Liam went straight to the ships. On the third of them, the Moon of Moons, the captain, when showed the torsade, said:

'Yes, it belongs to my first mate, Rasoul. I've seen him wear it. What is the matter, Quaestor?'

'Where this Rasoul comes from?' Liam asked.

'Laida, I believe,' the captain said.

'That's it,' Blaise said.

Liam nodded.

'You see, Captain, this thing was found in the house of Mistress Saffian here, and another thing went missing - a gold pendant with a star ruby, of Oriental work.'

'It comes from Laida,' Mistress Saffian added.

'Mashallah!' the captain said.

'Mistress Saffian did not dilate on this stone, so there is very small possibility someone could know of it,' Liam said. 'If only...'

'Enough,' the captain said. 'You may search Rasoul's cabin.'

They found it in Rasoul's chest - a fine oval pendant with filigree, a large, blood-red cabochon ruby with a radiant star inside it.

'It's the Dragon's Eye,' Mistress Saffian said.

'When the man Rasoul returns on board this ship, arrest him, Boult,' Liam said.

'Yes, Quaestor.'

Liam handed the pendant respectfully to Mistress Saffian.

'Take what is rightfully yours, Areopage.'

'Thank you, Quaestor Rhenford,' Mistress Saffian said.

They returned to Mistress Saffian's house.

When the man Rasoul was arrested, it came out that he was an exiled descendant of Prince Aziz. Knowing of the stone, he ventured to 'regain' the Dragon's Eye to sell for a large sum of money.

'You are as brilliant as ever, Quaestor Rhenford!' Mistress Saffian said. 'And you are very clever too, Quaestor Blaise.'

'Thank you, Mistress Saffian,' Blaise said demurely.

Some time later Blaise was sitting in a comfortable armchair in Liam's parlor, reading a book. Macavity drowsed in his lap, and Liam was writing at a small table. Suddenly the French window opened forcefully, and a short, but very strong man with wild black hair and beard came in.

Liam started. Blaise said:

'Ah, Coeccias. Glad to see you.'

'Rhenford, Blaise!' Coeccias exclaimed. 'Mistress Saffian is very grateful to you both, you know. You puzzled that little case out very neatly.'

'Thank you, Coeccias.' Blaise smiled.

'I'm very glad I have a deputy like you, Rhenford,' Coeccias said.

'You're too kind, Coeccias,' Liam said.

'And what it is that you are writing, Rhenford?' Coeccias asked.

'A book about my travels.' Liam smiled.

'Really? Send me a copy when you're through, will you, Rhenford?' Coeccias asked.

'Certainly, Coeccias.' Liam smiled.

Months later, Liam put the full stop and sighed deeply.

'Completed,' he said.

'Now you have to send it to a scribe,' Blaise said.

'Yes.' Liam smiled.

'Well, bon voyage!' Blaise said.

'Bon voyage indeed.' Liam smiled.