Keeper of Cats — Elizabeth Boyer

VILE EXILE!

When Jutta's mother sent her to tiny, windswept Bardhol to stay with their ancient female relations, she hinted slyly that those crafty crones might be hiding a fortune...

But all Jutta found was boredom, toil--and cats! Her grandmother and the other doddering relics of her once-mighty clan puttered away at endless, backbreaking chores. Their spoiled pets commanded constant food and attention. And their only neighbors were antiquated, mad, or resting--permanently--in the graveyard at the foot of the hill...

On closer inspection, however, Jutta found the barrow-graves to be a surprisingly lively place. Local ladies met there to dowse for ley lines, rumored to hold the key to lost powers of magic. A couple of barbarians, come from otherworldly realms, prowled about seeking a gateway back to their uncivilized home. And Jutta--with the ever-present cats--soon stumbled across grave robbers, curses... and murder!

Jutta's grandmothers warned her away from the barrows. Maybe they should have warned the cats!