Child of the Australs: A Tanuki named Juni (5)

You ponder that for a moment, before turning to the crowd. “Hey Riley, you here?”

“If you try and pin this on me I’ll claw your face onto the back of your head, Trader.” The Quoll’s voice rings out from somewhere in the crowd. “And you’ll never see me coming.”

“Tyris be Merciful, was just gonna ask if you were sure it was a week ago you saw the vegemite!” You groan.

“Oh. Well. Yeh, to the day.” Riley admits.

“You sure?”

“Who do you take me for, Shambles?”

“Leave off the Null, Riley!” Connor calls from where he stands with the soldiers.

“If I have to tell folks to shut it again, I’m gonna start collecting tongues.” Douglas snarls. “Freeman, you don’t call others unless Her Reverence tells you s’orright first. Understand?”

“Thank you, Sir Douglas.” Kathleen replies with a gracious inclination of her wimpled head.

“Sorry Your Worship, Your Reverence…” You apologize sincerely “…But to answer your question, a week at most.”

“How do you know?”

“Because neither the Cook or her Assistant would have touched the vegemite, and it wasn’t there when I went into the larder.”

“And what, pray tell, were you doing in the Larder, Adam?” Justin asked suspiciously.

“Counting parsnips and spikerush, Captain Justin.” You reply evenly, was this fucker trying to pin this on you? “Corporal Connor… conscripted my assistance. Apparently there was a bit to-do with his ability to get fresh supplies if your Quartermaster wasn’t satisfied with the existing stocktake.”

“Corporal? Quartermaster? This true?”

“Yessir!” Connor answers quickly, straightening to attention.

“That is the… spirit of my instruction, if not the EXACT wording…” The Quartermaster clarifies, looking between Sergeant Bennet and Connor with a look of slight irritation. The Sergeant had the good grace to look somewhat abashed. Clearly some florid exaggeration of the situation had occurred somewhere along the chain of command.

“Right…” Douglas mused. “…So. A week. I’m safe to say all Anointed are suspect?”

“Sir Douglas! Surely you’re not taking this… Dead… THING at her word?!” The Paladin exclaimed in objection.

“Why not? Simple matter really. “Oi Ghoul. Do you see who led you here?”

Grek shakes her head. “No see. Bright-burny bad-make ouch in eyeses. Just know mans.”

“Well piss.” Douglas curses. “Orright, so we confess all the Anointed here, and if we’re all clear, we stick the ghoul in a hole somewhere until we can confess the others. Drop a dead horse in there with her, keep her outta mischief.”

Grek made a slathering noise of anticipation at the prospect, ignoring the widespread sounds of revulsion from the gathered crowd.

“To be put to Confession on the word of THAT though?”

“Humility’s good for the soul, Brother Stefan. Now, since I’m already talking to you…”

“Y-you want to confess… me first?”

“Why? Nervous?”

“…yes.” The paladin admitted with a look of ashamed chagrin.

“Well there you are then!” Justin declared. “He admits it!”

“No! What? Justin, why in the name of Tyris…” Stefan exclaimed in horrified shock.

“I asked him if he was nervous, Justin, not if he did it…” Douglas replies evenly. “…and no Stefan, I’m not confessing you first. You will be confessing me.”

“You?”

“What man claims righteousness if he is not willing to drink of the cup he offers to others?”

“As you will, Sir Douglas…” Stefan concedes, walking over to his fellow paladin. Swallowing, he raises his hand, palm outwards “…Kneel and be Confessed.”

Without hesitation, Douglas kneels, Stefan placing his hand atop the Paladin’s head. The Glow of the Benedictus suffuses both men, and Douglas gives a grimace of discomfort.

“Hast thou guilty knowledge of this Ghoul before thee?” Stefan intones formally.

“I do not.” Douglas declares clearly.

“The Blessing of The God speaks to the truth of thy statement. Thy thoughts are made clear unto me and thy soul is free of guilt.” Stefan concludes.

“I KNEW I saw an extra card in your hand last week…” Stefan hisses in a barely audible whisper.

“Later, dumbshit.” Douglas retorts in a likewise hushed tone.

Oh Tyris… Tonight was going to be interesting…

“This is pointless!” Justin declares as yet another Paladin rises with a sheepish expression. The dour look on his confessor’s face spoke to yet another conversation to be had after this business had concluded, however. “…Nothing but minor infractions, nothing even with a hint of malice.”

“I notice you have not been Confessed, Justin.” Douglas remarks.

“I’m sure I have.” The Paladin blusters.

“And I’m sure you haven’t.”

“Do you denounce me?” Justin demanded, fronting up to his fellow Paladin.

“Confess then, and if I’m wrong I shall do penance.” Douglas replied evenly.

Justin’s face twisted, as if he had just eaten something foul… then, between one moment and the next, he bolted, shoving his way through the crowd.

“Seize him!” Douglas ordered.

Justin chanted a short phrase, and the light of the Benedictus erupted around him, causing those around to shield their eyes and stymying their efforts to grab the fleeing captain.

“Your Reverence?” Douglas growled, looking expectantly at the High Priestess.

“The light… I can’t see him, there’s too much of a risk that I’ll hurt someone else!” Kathleen replied, grimacing in outrage and frustration. Truth be told you sympathised, Justin was little more than an intensely bright shape making his way steadily towards the outlying derelict buildings. You couldn’t even begin to try and focus a glyph on him. You realized with a sinking heart that once he was in that maze of ruins, finding him would be even more difficult.

A shriek resounded throughout the courtyard, and a winged shape launched itself at the light, tumbling over and over as the two collided. As the struggling subsided, you saw Bella, talons firmly around Justin’s arms and shoulders, pinning him to the earth as the light around him faded, her eyes squeezed shut.

“Thank you Bella, Stand him up please.” Kathleen asked in an almost conversational tone.

Still with her eyes closed, Bella forced the man upright, and you sensed a stream of resonant glyphs being cast, expertly woven by the High Priestess. Justin shrieked, pulled in two directions as the glyphs warred with Bella’s iron grip.

“Let him go, Griffon, that’s Her Reverence.” Douglas yelled across the courtyard, before turning his head towards the gathered soldiers. “Secure Captain Justin, if you please Sergeant.”

“Aye sir! Second squad, penal detail!” Sergeant Bennet commanded. The Griffon released the man with a sigh, then opened her eyes… and screamed.

“Adam! Blue! Prithee! Help me! I cannot see!” She cried in utter terror.

“Oh Tyris…” you moaned, rushing towards her, pushing your way through the crowd, and coming to a pause in amazement. A group of humans had quickly made their way to her and with soft words and gentle encouragement, were guiding her back towards the inn.

“C’mon Lady Bella, your mates’ve got you…” One murmured.

“Argh!” Another man cried as Bella stumbled, mashing his ankle beneath her leonine paw. “Don’t stress Lady Bella, s’just a leg, I’ve got another’n.” He assured her with a friendly pat to the shoulder before limping away with a grimace.

“Bella!” You gasp, taking the Griffon’s talon in your own and putting it to your face without thought for the razor-sharp claws it was tipped with. “I’m here. You’re alright.”

“M-maou… I am blind!” The Griffon sobbed.

“Shhh…” High Priestess Kathleen interjected soothingly, having somehow appeared next to you. “…Let me see.”

“She’s Mamono, your reverence.” You mentioned as Kathleen pulls down one of Bella’s lower lids, peering at the gold-irised eye beneath

“Aren’t you a clever lad, Adam? I spotted that too.” Kathleen murmurs mockingly.

“What I mean is…”

“…Am I going to know what I’m looking for? An eye’s an eye, Adam, there’s not much difference to the way they work, regardless of species.” And then, in a near whisper. “If you spent any time in Magisterium, you’d understand this.”

That hit you. How MUCH beyond your understanding was mere child’s play to trained Resonants? Suddenly you did feel very inexperienced.

“Someone fetch a warm washcloth and some essences of Aloe, Witch Hazel, and Peppermint.” Kathleen commands the gathered priestesses. One bows and departs, and Kathleen turns to another. “Sister Sarah, you will tend to Bella here. The washcloth is to be changed hourly.”

“W-wilt I see again, Your Reverence?” Bella asks in a small, timid voice.

“You’ll be seeing just fine by tomorrow, but it’s going to start itching like the dickens in about fifteen minutes. That’s what the washcloth’s for.” Kathleen assures her.

“A Miracle! Praise Tyris!” A nearby human declares.

“Praise to the Most High indeed, but I do believe we were in the middle of something.” Kathleen reminds the gathered crowd, leaving Bella in the veiled Priestess’s care.

“Indeed.” Douglas agrees, turning to the struggling Justin, clasped in irons and the ungentle hands of a group of Faith Militant soldiers. “Will you Confess willingly or am I going to have to force you?”

“I did it.” Justin snarls “I led that rotting thing here. But only to expose the corruption that has been allowed to stand within Kalbarri! We have been found wanting, my brother Paladins. We have allowed unseemly tolerance to stay our hands from righteous act…”

Justin’s preaching is cut short by Sir Douglas’s mailed fist coshing him firmly in the mouth. “You’ll have the chance to challenge soon enough. Now. To the other.”

“What’s left to tell?” Matriarch Neisha scoffs. “The Alp has nothing more to say.”

“Pardon, Your Worship, Matriarch… Ernie was no murderer.” You interject, stepping forward once again.

“Maou’s ample Bosom, what NOW, human?” The Matriarch whinnied in exasperation.

“I’m given to understand the bodies were those of Criminals and Ferals, duly convicted.”

“That can be investigated, but they were butchered for FOOD, Freeman.” Douglas growls, “How do you explain that?”

“And what was being fed, your Worship? I don’t know, but how often do Waylanders leave those selfsame corpses for Ghouls, Bungarra and scavengers?” You reply “Abhorrent as the… preparation is, is there really any difference?”

“It’s still unlawful defilement, which is still Heresy.” Kathleen explained. “Although, the complexity of ‘why’ does lead me to further curiosity. How does this exonerate the Alp?”

“Because I believe that apart from running an inn atop it and putting the prepared ‘meat’ in storage, Ernie didn’t have anything to do with its administration.” You explain.

“You’re mad, Trader! They’ll kill you!” The Alp shrieked.

“Prove me wrong then. Please. I can only look like an idiot, and I’m kinda used to that.” You retort with a wry grin.

“How do you know this, Freeman?” Douglas demanded

“Because all the funds were funneled through Nautilus Futures, and purchases of ‘Giltfleisch’ were only ever paid with Nautilus notes. It’s right there in the stock ledgers, he was audited, frequently, from the looks of things, and did his best to obfuscate the figures, but as me dad taught me, numbers don’t lie. Ernie was nothing more than a middleman, and I think the Alp’s reaction speaks louder than any other testimony to the fact he didn’t have a choice as a human.” You explain, ticking the points off on your fingers.

“Well fuck me backwards, what do you expect me to do with that, Freeman?” Douglas demands, “Line up every Mer, Kraken, and Trader associated with Nautilus until I find someone willing to take ownership of this horror?”

You shrug, “It’s your Inquisition, Y’Worship, but youse already stayed the Ghoul’s execution due to coercion. Figured the same should apply for the Alp, especially since as she says, her life as ‘Ernie’ is pretty much shot as is.”

“Fair.” Douglas concedes, before turning to the Alp. “Give me a name and I’ll exonerate you, absolve you of all sins, fete you as a fucking hero.”

The Alp shakes her head sadly.

“Anybody else?” Douglas booms, panning his steely gaze about the gathered crowd. Silence was his only answer.

“Pity. Reverence?”

“As it stands the sins not mitigated by coercion are largely secular… On the middling to serious side, but absolvable by corporal punishment.” Kathleen explains with a frightening casualness.

“Bah… New Alp? She’d be dead within a week if we flogged her, or back up here for rape. Exile.” Douglas declares.

“Agreed.” Kathleen nods, “Matriarch Neisha?”

“What do I care? She’s not my problem.” the Centaur snorts dismissively, flicking her tail absently.

“Matriarch, as a Mamono, regardless of how she got to that point, she sort of is.” Kathleen corrected in that deceptively sweet tone that sent crawlers up and down your spine, despite the fact it wasn’t aimed at you.

“Urgh. Fine. Exile.” Neisha groans, rolling her eyes and pointing off towards the west. “Thealiss is thataway. Get moving, Alp.”

“I’m just to cross the desert with just the clothes on my back? I’d rather you just killed me now if it’s all the same to you, I’ve seen men die from exposure and burning’s quicker.” The Alp scoffs cynically.

“Indeed, it would behoove you to supply enough for her to at least GET to her destination, Matriarch?” Kathleen adds, a touch of steel beneath the sweetness

“Why am I shelling out? She’s not Gorge-Runner.” The Matriarch objects.

“I refer you to my previous statement.” Kathleen smiles, her eyes growing flintier by the moment.

“Sky-horde… it never ends with you two-legs… Fine. Seline, see it done.” The Matriarch waves presumptively.

“At once, Matriarch.” The Stablemistress replies obediently, extending a foreleg and bowing deeply.

“Now… Justin.” Douglas began, turning once again to the restrained Paladin as the Alp was led away by her escort. “…I get it. I do. Your house fallen, your title disavowed for the Heresy of your Father… watching Kalbarri fall to ruin… Anybody would want to act.”

“Then you will absolve me?” Justin asked hopefuly.

“Of the Sin of false witness against Brother Stefan, I’ll absolve you. It’s a tenuous charge. But the Heresies of Forcing by malice a Human to surrender His humanity, of Enabling assault on a Freeman of the Australs, of the use of the Benedictus for Mercenary ends, of the forced Mutation of a Mamono, of by word or deed bringing the Faith Militant of the Holy Church of Eternal Tyris into disrepute… and most egregious of all, the concession of Monstrosity by omission… Oh… for these you’ll answer to The Most High.”

“Clemency!” Justin begged, his face white as a sheet. “Clemency!”

“You KNEW, Justin! Knew that horror was there and not only said nothing, but conspired to COMPOUND it. You would have manipulated the Faith for your own ends… Here’s my Clemency, Justin. You burn now, instead of doing penance nailed to a cross for a week beforehand!” Douglas roared in pain and fury

“For the sins listed, Justin is stripped of rank, title, and property and sentenced to Immolation.” High Priestess Kathleen intoned formally before turning to the arachne furiously working at the machine. “Anthea, did you get all those?”

“There were a lot…” The Arachne replies, her mouth twisted in disgust, her multiple obsidian eyes glittering.

“There were. Sir Douglas, you may carry out the sentence.”

Justin begged and pleaded as he was dragged towards the Pyre. You made your way towards where Blue was still standing with Chad and River, taking her paw in your hand. The Kobold made a small sound, turning into your chest.

“Sure you know what you’re doing?” Chad murmurs “Nautilus will not like their name being attached to this.”

You shrug slightly “We’ll soon find out… not like I proved it was them, and Douglas is right, they’ll probably end up getting a stern finger wagging, maybe have some assets seized… They’ll survive.”

“Having Blue distract me to keep me away? Bit of a dog move mate.” Chad chides softly.

“Didn’t know how you’d react. Rather a minor deception than not be able to save an innocent life.”

“Ernie wasn’t innocent.”

“He might have been a deviant and a dodgy cunt, but he was no heretic. He’s lost his life as it was, but he… she… didn’t deserve to burn.”

Chad grumbles acceptance “You’re probably right.”

“Boss…” Blue whines as torch is touched to oiled wood, Justin’s screams becoming more frantic. “..Can we go?”

You shake your head, stroking Blue’s hair, now reaching to her shoulderblades. “Go play with River if you want, Pup. But I’ve gotta stay.”

“Why?”

“Because I killed that man up there.”

The fire reaches the once-paladin’s legs, and his screams, once desperate and terrified, take on a new note. You would muse later in life, when the memory of that sound brought you awake in the swarming dark, that the sound of a man burning alive has its own particular horror, unmatched in your experience by any other. Though it be presumptuous in the extreme to think it, in a way you felt you all shared in the punishment through those screams, the sounds of that indescribable agony etched into your very soul

—

“How’s Bella?” Chad ventures from across the rude table where you sit with your Kobolds. The mood of the inn, now re-opened, was understandably somber, the community, already under strain from the mismanagement of the (to your discovery) negligent disinterest of the Centaur Matriarch, forced to come to terms with the revelations

“She does not do restricted movement very well.” You drawl, a faint smile at your lips at the memory of her wall-climbing frustration at her confinement in Thealiss. “But Sister Sarah’s a merciless fuckin’ bully, Tyris Bless her. She’ll be fine.”

“No concern about contamination?”

You snort, “From Bella? Ever shared a canteen with River? You’re at more risk.”

“Fair.” Chad concedes. “I never did thank you for not selling me down the creek today.”

“Don’t worry about it. It was my fault anyway.” You grumble.

“Boss what’s up with this?” Blue demands “You blame yourself for Justin… spirits harry him to hell…”

“Don’t shittalk the dead pup”. You order.

Blue whuffles dismissively. “And now you’re blaming yourself for what?”

“The lot of it pup… It’s my fault.” You repeat, taking another drink of the average wine atop your table. The beer had run out in short order once Connor had made it clear it was now for general consumption, and the Faith Militant had been forced to prevent a near-riot from the Centaur once they discovered the same.

“Really…” Chad scoffs. “…How do you figure you’re that important?”

“If I never came here, Connor never would have told me about people messing with the stock, which meant I never would have gone looking in the Larder, which meant I never would have found Grek, which means the whole inquisition never would have happened. She would have eaten until it was all gone, and when she got bored or hungry she would have just dug her way out. Nobody had to die. I’m responsible for this.”

“Well, you’re cut off, you’ve clearly had too much of this shit and it’s affecting your brains.” Chad declares.

“Be serious.” You retort.

“I am. Do you hear yourself? You are no more special than anyone else who just happened to be where they were. Sure, you were the Inquisition’s star witness, but if it wasn’t you, it would have been someone else, and it might have gone a lot worse. Tyris… We just dodged a crusade! And if you had the slightest idea of the kind of bugfuck crazy I’ve had to deal with in the past month and you not even NEAR here…” Chad breaks off, shaking his head.

“Mister Chad’s right boss.” Blue agrees, “If you were going to take responsibility for anything, what’s happened here would be the last thing I’d suggest.”

“Oh? And what would you suggest?” You demand, turning to fix the Kobold with an imperious stare.

“Lemon. Tarts.” Blue retorts seriously. “You promised, and you haven’t even so much as LOOKED!”

You sat there for a moment, mouth hanging open, brow twisted incredulously. “How… what? I never…”

“Nah yeh you did. If you can’t remember the important stuff, why even bother beating yourself up over the stuff you’re only involved a bit in?” Blue demands, her huffy expression marred by the smile she is unable to suppress.

“Was I being that ridiculous?” You ask sheepishly.

“You were.” Blue agrees, hugging you tightly to her.

“Orright, mea fuckin’ culpa… Leggo pup.” You chuckle, patting the Kobold on the head fondly.

“Where you goin?”

“To see a man about a wallaby.”

“Don’t take too long, I can’t drink all this by myself.” Chad insists, holding the ceramic carafe aloft.

“Thought I was cut off.”

“Yeh, well, you might make more of a dick of yerself. Challenge Riley to a fight or something.”

You chuckle helplessly, extending a middle finger over your shoulder as you head through the back of the taproom to the rude privy outside… Now what were those two blokes doing just standing about? And… Hmmm… Over there too… Nope, you’d been caught once with your dick in your hand and you weren’t about to let it happen agai…

“Hello trader.” A low voice drawls as you fasten your trousers and turn to head back inside.

“G’day.” You reply, hand at the hilt of your cutlass… Only to have it removed from your grip by a sudden slap and twist.

“We’ll take that.” Another man remarks conversationally.

“Don’t suppose it’d make much difference me telling youse blokes you’re makin’ a terrible mistake?” You ask cynically.

“Listen to him will you?” a third voice laughs, its owner pulling a stout billy club from a ring at his belt.

“What’re you after?” you demand, taking deep breaths, trying to keep your mind as calm as you could, the Logos so near you swore the glyphs were scrolling across the backs of your eyes. All it would take is one… just one…

“We’re in a bit of a spot. See, Nautilus is getting shot of Kalbarri before the Faith Militant decide to look any further into what you told them this afternoon. Gonna make honouring our notes a little more tricky, see.”

“Me heart bleeds, but there’s a trade freeze, the other offices’ll take…” You begin.

“Oh, minor inconvenience that, name of the game really… The problem you have, Trader… is before they left, Nautilus paid us very well to make you good and sorry for the inconvenience.”

“Ah.”

“Don’t worry…” The man with the billy chuckled “…We won’t kill ya… well… not deliberately.”

“Imagine me fuckin’ relief.” You murmur. “Now look lads, I’m sure we can work out som…”

Pain exploded in your shoulder and you spun instinctively, sweeping your leg out like Kessiah taught you, feeling the jolt in your ankle where it hooked on another’s, hearing them grunt in surprise and then hit the cobbles. What could you do? Lashing out with Resonance would at the very least give you away, at worst, result in these men’s deaths… You doubted Kathleen would show you the same leniency as Raoul if you were to be known publicly here as a wilder.

A bellow rang off the stone, and a sturdy and an… oddly curvaceous frame came into view, impacting with another of your assailants and driving them bodily into the wall, breath whooshing from lungs as yet more figures, unknowable in the darkness of the alley appeared, restraining the other two and moving in to grab the figure pinned to the wall by your odd rescuer’s… head?

Your deliverer stepped back, your three assailants held before her. Scooping up your cutlass from where it had been dropped in the melee, she tapped each of them on the chest in turn with the blade.

“Y’all know who I am?”

Nods and gulps all around.

“Then y’all know what’ll happen if’n I catch you troublin’ one o’my creditors again, mmm?”

Vehement nods.

“Give Nautilus back their coin, and tell ‘em they’re lucky that’s all they’re losin’. Go on now, git!”

Your would be assailants are released, and with hissed oaths scramble over each other to be quit of the alley.

“Well…” Ivy smiled, turning to you “…if it ain’t my new favourite person in the world! Bring him upstairs boys.”

—

“Gotta say sugar…” Ivy remarks as she twists thick cork baffles from the pointed tips of her horns. “…That was somethin’ else. Pinnin’ Nautilus for their fleshmarket? Ain’t nobody else could’a done that and got away with it.”

“You corked your horns…” You remark in bemusement.

“Course sugar.” Ivy answers without a hint of shame “Can’t be up and killin’ folks on account-a bit of business. Jus’ plum-ain’t right. Plus them Faith Militant all got their dander up on account-a one o’their own gettin caught in a dang monstrosity and all… Better not to, y’hear?”

“Yeh… Guess so. Look, can I get me cutlass back?”

Ivy looks at you in puzzlement “Course sugar, it’s right there…” She gestures to where the blade is leaned nonchalantly against a wall.

“So… I don’t have to sit here.” You clarify, gesturing to the chair in which your impassive escort had placed you.

Ivy pauses for a moment, then lets loose with a peal of laughter. “Have they got their scary-faces on? Go on boys, we’ll be fine, I’m sure Adam thanks you for yer trouble.”

You had to agree with that, they DID just save you from a sound drubbing… “Sorry, thanks lads.” you venture.

“Really Adz…” One of them chuckles, pulling a leather cowl back and grinning at you “…Thought you would’ve clued on by now.”

“Garret. G’day.” You greet the man, returning his grin.

“Not bad today, if I didn’t know better I’d say you planned the whole thing.” He praises as he leaves, his fellows in tow.

“That’s one I hope doesn’t follow me.” You murmur, not quite sure how to take that.

“Sugar?” Ivy queries.

“Planning the whole thing… Tyris… I didn’t want… fuck… ANY of that… just… couldn’t let them die.”

“I hear ya sugar.” Ivy agrees, sitting herself in a chair next to a stocked vanity and brushing out her waterfall curls with a boarbristle brush. “If Nautilus had any brains they woulda got shut-o that fleshmarket a week before the Paladins rolled in… But… You know mermaids, let ‘emselves get dragged clear out the water if there’s gold on the other end.”

“Boy did I pick an enemy, eh?” You chuckle.

“Naw… Sure they’re pissy now, but it’ll all come out in the wash, you’ll see.”

You nod thoughtfully, your gaze returning to the door that your rescuers had left through. “The muscle though… What…”

“Debtors, direct employs, people who owe li’l ol’ me a favour or two…” Ivy muses, twirling a waterfall curl around a finger, a smug smile on her face as she stands, clopping over to you on digitigrade hooves and tapping a knuckle against your chest. “…which as I thigure, now numbers you among ‘em.”

“Oh really?” You grin “Miss the part where I’m a creditor?”

“Miss the part where I just saved that cute butt from a beatin’?” Ivy retorts without hesitation.

“Bloody hell, you’re good…” You remark helplessly.

“Thankee sugar.” Ivy beams, winking at you and flouncing back to the chair. As she moves to sit, she pauses momentarily, wincing and rubbing at her neck.

“Y’orright?” You ask in mild concern.

“Yeah, just hit him at a weird angle, done gone pulled a muscle. I’ll be fine.” Ivy assures you.

“Cairn…” You sigh, walking over to the Taurean and gesturing for her to move. “…Turn around.”

“Oh? Oh… My… Aren’t we a multi-talented individual?” Ivy drawls in pleased surprise as you begin to knead at her neck and shoulders.

“Comes with the territory, ever seen a Kobold’s legs after running back and forth across a paddock all day?” You chuckle.

“No, but I’m bettin’ you have…” Ivy muses teasingly “…and a bit more besides.”

“I plead the Peace of Tyris.” You answer nonchalantly.

“S’allright sugar… we all got our little secrets that don’t hurt nobody…”

“Oh do we?”

“Show me yours and I’ll show you mine…”

You press a little firmer, drawing a squeak from the Taurean which quickly turns into a lowing moan. “Buy a man a drink first.” You drawl urbanely.

“Oh sugar you gonna start somethin’ here you better be finishin’ it…” Ivy groans, her eyes almost rolled back as you work on her. You glance forward, noticing the top of her shirt has come partially undone… That sinfuly ample cleavage… all you had to do was slide your hands forward…

—

“Starting something?” you muse, continuing to knead at Ivy’s neck and shoulders with your fingertips, leaning forward so you are almost breathing into her floppy, bovine ear. “Dunno what you’re on about…”

“Do I gots to paint you a picture, sugar?” Ivy drawls, her impressive bust swelling with her deliberate breathing.

“Those are very nice…” You admit, “…But I had something I wanted to ask you about.”

“Oh?”

“Yeh… Chad.”

“What, both of you? That’s a first…” Ivy lows coquettishly “…But I ain’t above tryin’ new thangs…”

“I’m sure you’re not…” You murmur, letting your warm breath tickle her neckline for a moment, listening to the slight catch in the Taurean’s breathing, watching her try and hide her frustrated squirming. “But…” You add, straightening and giving Ivy’s shoulders one last firm squeeze before stepping away. “…That’s not what I was getting at.”

“Freeman Adam…” Ivy begins in a frustrated tone, standing from the chair and turning to face you, hands on her wide hips as she stares at you challengingly. “…Are you teasin’ li’l ol’ me?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it…” You grin as cheekily as you can. “…But reckon business before pleasure, yeh?”

“As they say in the Brasil Protectorate…” Ivy moans, sauntering over to you seductively and trailing her fingers lingeringly up your torso “…Porque no los dos?”

“Porky no-lose does?” You echo, your brow furrowing with incomprehension “What the fuckssat?”

“Why don’t we have both?” Ivy whispers, putting a hand behind your head and pulling you towards her moist, pouty lips, her eyes half-shuttered in anticipation.

You chuckle, putting a finger on that bowlike mouth to halt her advance. Whilst the Taurean does pause in pulling your head down, she seizes your hand and envelops the finger in the warmth of her mouth, sucking it suggestively before releasing it with a moist ‘pop’. “What’s the matter sugar, you chicken?”

“Yeah Nah…” You grin, turning your wrist to gently break the Taurean’s grip, before taking her hand and turning her in an almost dancing fashion, coming to rest with her back now facing you, her ample backside grinding into you without reservation… You suppressed a moan… Tyris she was good!

“Just wouldn’t work…” You whisper salaciously in her ear, hoping your will could hold “…I can’t have you screaming the ceiling down with that lot downstairs.”

“Dangit…” Ivy moans in defeat, slumping against you. “…Ain’t got nothin’ to argue with that.”

You give her a brief, one armed embrace, before stepping away from the Taurean who tromps frustratedly back to the vanity, brushing aggressively at her slightly mussed hair.

“Don’t get stroppy Ivy.” You chuckle.

“In your ear, Freeman, I just WASHED this dang shirt.” Ivy retorts bluntly, pointing at two damp patches on the front of her flannel top. “Set me to damn leakin’ then don’t even get me off right… Criminently…”

You’re pretty sure you put a fair few Cheshires to shame with the smugness of your grin. “Sorry…”

“Naw y’ain’t, don’t lie.” Ivy harrumphs, wiping at the front of her shirt with a clean cloth. “Thought I tol’ you get shot-o that boy or you’ll have trouble outta him.”

“Yeh well…” you accede with a shrug. “…Seems he’s in something of an interesting position, and you stand pretty well poised to capitalize on it.”

“How d’you mean?” Ivy demands, looking at you thoughtfuly, her interest pricked slightly.

“I take it that the IMFC making Kalbarri a free city is not exactly in the best interests of the other financiers here in the Australs?”

Ivy fixes you with a deadpan stare. “Sure… if you consider the Dominus taking a Lilim to bed to be ‘slightly unadviseable’.”

“See what you did there…” You chuckle “…And thanks to Justin, the justification for a Crusade has been firmly yanked out from under them.”

“Sugar are you approaching some kinda point or are you just delightin’ in tellin me stuff I already know?”

“Chad’s the closest thing this region has to an Heir Apparent. It’s a three-way race between him, the IMFC, and our incumbent Matriarch.”

“Hmm… If’n they had the slightest clue how to do it, I thigure half the Mamono in Kalbarri who ain’t centaur’d stick your pretty winged friend in that seat.”

You blinked in surprise at that. “Bella? A Matriarch? It’s not the WORST idea I’ve ever heard, at least you couldn’t accuse her of nepotism. She wouldn’t go for it though.”

Ivy nods with a slight smile. “She knows y’all humans are fixin’ to get another one o’your own in that chair.”

The hair on the back of your neck stands up. Shit, did she know something about your task?! “W-what makes you say that?”

Ivy laughs. “Sugar do you think I’m stupid? This whole MONTH has been nothin’ but positionin’ and politickin’ on who’s gonna eventually kick Neisha outta office. Maou knows she didn’t have but a paper-thin claim and dang fine timin’ to begin with.”

“S’pose you’ve got me there…”

“Still don’t see why Chad’s any interest of mine…”

“What did you just say about not bein’ that bloody stupid, Ivy?” You drawl.

“Why don’t we pretend for a minute, and you can tell me?” Ivy replies breathily, twirling a lock of hair around her finger and looking at you with a vapid, wide-eyed expression.

“A friendly Baron in Kalbarri. A Baron who owes T&G for his ascension… Not to mention as far as I’m aware, the opportunity for T&G to control its first port.”

“Gee willikers mister Adam!” Ivy exclaims, clapping her hands girlishly “I done never woulda thought of that!”

You sigh, rolling your eyes. “Orright so who DID you have in mind?”

“I had a few ideas…”

“Such as?”

“Well one of ‘em’s in this room.”

“Me?!” You exclaim incredulously “Have you been fuckin’ drinkin’?”

“Why not? You’ve got enough money of your own that you wouldn’t look like a puppet Baron… Y’all at Gibson are pretty close to House Reinhardt…”

“OK, just shy of two solar marks is no amount to be sneezed at, yer right, but from what Breyten was tellin’ me, it takes a shitload more’n that for the Court of the Highlords to uplift a lowborn like me to nobility.”

Ivy clops over, putting a hand on the small of your back and leaning in conspiratorially, “Palms we could grease, sugar, much more efficiently than dear ol’ Breyten. You know we DID make him the same offer, stubborn idjit wanted to do it on his own though…”

“Tyris be fuckin’ Glorified Ivy, I don’t know the first THING about running a Barony!” you exclaim.

“I did say you were just one of my ideas… not like I’m gonna be pickin what horse we back by my own self now.” Ivy chuckles, patting your shoulder comfortingly. “But out of curiosity, apart from his lineage, what makes ol’ Chad worth me countin? Surely not just because he needs our money…”

“He knows how to run the shop.” You begin. “He’s been trained, knows the people, knows the land… Knows Horses.”

Ivy reaches up, ruffling your hair before stepping away thoughtfully. “Why should horses matter?”

“Because assuming he takes the throne tomorrow, it’ll be at least ten years before Kalbarri’s fit to produce anything else. The fishing yards are full of shipworm, the fort’s a ruin, the houses are deathtraps… Tyris, if it doesn’t eat grass or rocks you’ll be paying for every bite of food or scrap of material it needs.”

“Well… Seems you DO know the first thing about running a Barony… and, so it would seem, does your little buddy.” Ivy muses, smiling mysteriously. “Gonna have to give it some thought…”

“All I can ask for, I guess. Cheers Ivy.” You sigh, turning to leave.

“Oh, Sugar?” Ivy remarks as an afterthought.

“Yeh?”

“I’m gonna be gettin’ some-o the boys to buy some horses, run a drove down to Fremantle… Could always use an investor to increase the margins… Tell Chad too… if’n it’s as you say and he’s an eye for horseflesh, could come in useful.” Ivy advises nonchalantly.

“What about the money, Ivy? You’ve still got it squirrelled away somewh… Oh.” You pause as the penny firmly drops. “Good plan.”

“And I’m glad to see you’re not as dopey as you look, sugar.” Ivy replies sunnily.

“Tyris be Glorified I will put you over my knee…” You grumble through your teeth. Why did everyone seem to want to call you stupid or remark on your dick?

“Criminently… What did I say about threatenin’ me with a good time?!” Ivy demands through the door as you stomp back downstairs.

“Boss!” Blue exclaims, rushing over to you “Where did you go?! I looked and looked and I couldn’t find you and…”

“S’orright Blue… I was just having a word with Ivy…” You assure the Kobold, stroking one of her tawny-furred ears.

“Wow… You smell like it… She leaked on you.” Blue points out, gesturing to a damp patch where the Taurean had pressed against your torso.

“Hence why you couldn’t find me, I guess…” You concede thoughtfully. How much of that interaction did that canny bitch plan?

“We were getting a little worried, all things considered.” Chad continued, pouring you another cup of wine. “Thought you might have fallen in… a nautical mile offshore…”

“Better order another one…” You sigh, flopping back into your chair and taking a good long drink. “…This might take some explaining.”

“Your buy?” Chad asks hopefully.

“Yeh. My buy.” You agree with a slight grin.

—

“Move it, two-legs!” a centaur demanded presumptively, leading a spirited stallion by a rope bridle towards an empty auction stall. You and Chad wisely moved out of the way, Chad with a note of approval as the snorting animal was corralled.

“Good one?”

Chad nods emphatically. “Oh yeh. Recognise that bloodline anywhere. Get you two-to-one if anyone from Albany even SNIFFS that stroppy lad being put up for auction.”

“Barely broken, pulls at the bridle, looks like he’s a biter… Yeah nah you’ve lost me on him, Chad.”

“Merchant Princes, Noble sons and the like, they like to show off. Horse like him, they’ll risk a whole bunch of broken bones to be seen riding it.” Chad explains.

“Wish Bungas came with that kinda status.” You chuckle.

Chad laughs “Those reptilian garbage disposals…”

“Twice as strong as a horse.”

Chad glances at you with a cheeky grin. “Mmm, and how much coin have you spent feeding them when there’s nothing but mallee scrub for five nautical miles in any direction?”

“…Shaddup.”

“Attention please, attention!” A tired-looking auctioneer called from behind his lectern. “Lots twelve through eighteen will commence bidding shortly.”

You turn your head at the sound “We wanted some of those, didn’t we?”

“The bay in particular.” Chad agrees. “Thanks for offering to front me on this.”

“The look on your face when you woke up this morning and saw that on the bedside table mate… Thought it was all I could do to stop you from bursting into tears.” You tease, elbowing your fellow trader gently.

“Leave off!” Chad objected. He had indeed been possessed of a singularly choleric mood as he joined you, Blue and Bella in the common room for breakfast earlier that morning, holding a somewhat modest coinpurse in one hand and a sheet of parchment in the other. It was official. Nautilus had disenfranchised its Kalbarri branch, and all local accounts and debts were to be paid out or called in respectively. Chad had, to his credit, been in the black, but not to such a great extent that anything involving leaving the ruined barony wouldn’t severely overextend him. Against that, you felt offering him twenty-five percent for advice and assistance was only fair. To be sure, seeing as ideally you would be bidding against him, you justified that you would still be coming out ahead for it.

“Are you sure?” Chad murmured uncertainly

“How many times do I gotta say ‘I got it’ before it sinks in?” You demand wearily as you and Chad head back towards the inn. The auction had eaten a good portion of the day, and you were bone-tired from the intensity of it, and starving like you hadn’t eaten since yesterday.

“Sorry, sorry… just… that wasn’t a small chunk of change you dropped there. What if it all goes balls up?”

You wisely determine that telling Chad that this drove was a front for moving the T&G wealth back to Fremantle wasn’t the best idea. Setting your face in a long-suffering expression, you turn to your fellow human. “Then I’ll drink it off when we get to Fremantle and hope Dad doesn’t mind me sulking in his guest room for a week or so. I’ve got the coin mate.”

“Fair enough… Heh… Sometimes I forget how good it is still having family in contact” Chad mused with a slightly cynical tone.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean.”

“Oh no…” Chad waves dismissively “…Me and Dad were never that close. Just… River was.”

“You love her, doncha?”

“That’s disgusting.” Chad objects with a look of revulsion.

“Not like that.” You groan.

“Oh, well then of course I do… She’s my baby sister.” Chad shrugs as if it was the most natural thing in the world. For some reason that stings you… you can’t put your finger on why.

—

Entering the common room, you pause to see a group of Humans and Mamono gathered around a table in animated conversation, the wings of your Griffon companion, Bella, poking from atop assorted heads.

“I’d better take care of this…” You groan. Chad nods, heading over to a table where your respective indentures were seated, Blue obviously trying to teach River the finer intricacies of a card game.

“Orright, orright, what’s the flamin’ drama?” You demand, pushing through the group.

“Hey! Wait your turn!” A kangaroo objects, shoving at you with a furred, muscular forepaw, frowning in irritation.

“Adam!” Bella exclaims in recognition. “Prithee, a moment, gentles all.”

“Lady Bella I’ve been waiting forever, I counted!” A kobold you didn’t recognise whines.

“Possess thy heart in patience, for verily, as Maou giveth me strength I shalt hear thee anon.” Bella assures the kobold with a smile, gesturing for you to join her at a slight distance from the group.

“S’goin on there?” You murmur.

“Oh Adam, it doth rend mine heart to see them at such odds. Certes, their lamentations hath gone unheard yon many months prior. Tis no great feat to list unto them, yea, that blessed harmony be restored in the absence of petty dispute.” Bella explains, hugging you briefly in greeting.

“You’re playing Waylander.” You chuckle.

“Waylander?” Bella echoes in confusion.

“Yeh, secular law such as it stands. They investigate and prosecute secular Sins and make arbitrations on official documents and stuff in the names of their respective Barons. Keeps the official court shit at a minimum.”

“Certes, I thought the Faith Militant fulfilled that role.” Bella mused thoughtfuly.

You shake your head, a wry grin on your face. “Nah, well… only when there’s no other choice. I mean, I don’t know what it’s like in the rest of the world but it rankles us enough to have to get Magisterium’s chop just to acknowledge a new Baron, if our governance was coming from the Cathedral Solar, I don’t know how folks’d react.”

“I am not overstepping myself I hope?” The Griffon asks with a slight note of trepidation.

“Not unless you’re making promises someone else has to deliver.”

Bella gives an uncharacteristic snort of laughter. “Why, prithee, would I do something that obviously foolish?”

“Y’never know what kinda dumb shit folks’ll do without thinking about it.” You chuckle. “Horses’re bought… You still wanna come with?”

“Verily, if thou wilt have me. I yearn yet to see more of this world.” Bella agrees emphatically.

“Glad to have ya along.” you smile genuinely, stroking the griffon’s headfeathers fondly.

—

“What kinda bullshit… OI! Keep that fuckin’ rowan under control!” You demand, standing atop the wagon’s bench and pointing to where a rowan and chestnut stallion were eyeing each other off in the dusty herd.

“Bit of a scrap won’t hurt anything, Trader…” Garret muses from where he has pulled in next to you, a scrubby thoroughbred gelding under him.

“They won’t be worth shit all bloodied up, but I guess you’re right if you want to give away the game, mate. Unless youse were stupid enough to clue in all the extra hands…”

“Shit, good point…” Garret concedes. “…Horse thieves I can deal with, but actually managing this?”

“River! Git away round!” Chad’s voice rings out, punctuated by the crack of a stockwhip as he expertly seperates the stallions from atop a muscular-looking grey.

“Showoff…” Another one of the drovers mutters jealously.

“Just because he knows what he’s doing? And him not even drawing a wage cunt. Now stop picking at your fuckin’ navel and keep this lot moving in the right fuckin’ direction!” Garret retorts, glaring at the man, who harrumphs, wheeling his own mount and riding to head off a few horses who had decided to meander off at the side of the herd.

Supressing a grin, you whistle shrilly, Blue’s answering howl ringing from the front of the herd.

“You right pup?”

“I could do this in my sleep boss!” Blue answers, running back towards the wagon, her hair streaming out behind her. “Horses don’t bite nearly as much as bungas.”

As if to prove that point, four takes a questing snap at a nearby mare, which snorts, lashing out with a rear leg and striking the huge lizard in the side of its broad, scaled head. Though uninjured, four still hisses, turning its head to look at you reproachfuly.

“Serves you right.” You drawl, flicking the reins at the Bungarra. Blue gathers her athletic frame and leaps onto the wagon in a single bound, grabbing a canteen and drinking deeply before giving you an enthusiastic, if sweaty hug.

“How’s our eye in the sky?” You murmur, rubbing her tawny ears affectionately.

Blue’s questioning ‘Awoooo’ is high and shrill, and you’re not entirely sure the way she scrunches up her face adorably isn’t somewhat for your benefit. Bella’s clarion screech answers from high above you, and you spot the dark shape against the dimming sky where the Griffon lazily circles above you.

“Shadows’re getting a bit long boss…” Blue ventures.

“Good call pup… Oi Chad! What do you reckon?”

“Fair call, I don’t fancy dealing with the Keniny in the dark.”

“Ken-wha?”

“Wind-spirits… The Geraldton ruins are lousy with ‘em.” Chad explains, whistling and pointing, the brunette blur of his sister-indentured kobold sprinting in the indicated direction.

“Heresy.” a drover decries.

“Shaddup fuckya, unless you’ve got a better term for it.” Chad retorts.

“Also…” Garret adds, “…We’re in the bush mate. We play by Mamono rules out here.”

“Don’t say that unless you mean it, Human…” Blue snickers with a predatory grin.

“Blue. Behave.” You growl warningly.

“Yehboss.” Blue murmurs meekly, nuzzling into you.

“You really must teach me how you do that…” Chad mumbles absently. You bite your lip to keep from bursting out in laughter as Blue stares at the man incredulously.

“Orright, hands off cocks. Wagoneers, I want a picket in thirty. Drovers, if I don’t see hobbles on half the horses by the time the fire’s up then I’m gonna get stroppy.” A heavyset man atop a bulky shire demands, leaning forward in his saddle.

“You sure you weren’t Faith Militant Jerry?” One of the drovers asks suspiciously.

“Baronial Director of Ceremonies. I’m what the Faith Militant has nightmares about.” The large man replies without pause, his eyes narrowing in a sun-leathered face.

“How’d you end up working for T&G then mate?” You ask, reining in the Bungarra and hunting through the wagon for the large canvas sheets of the communal tents that comprised part of your cargo.

“Never play dice with Juni.” Jerry responds with a shake of his head.

“No Blue.” You insist without turning.

“Maou’s tits boss! I didn’t even say anything!” Your Kobold sulks as she clambers over the cover to assist you.

—

“Sing it again Lady Bella!” One of the drovers insists, his eyelids heavy as he passes a flagon of spirits around the campfire, its cheery warmth reaching with fiery fingers towards the sea of stars above you.

“Thou flatterest me, sir.” Bella murmurs bashfully, an attractive blush colouring her sun-kissed cheeks. “And I do not know that I hath earned the title of ‘Lady’, Certes, for e’en…”

“Bollocks.” The drover objects. “You’ve been a better Matriarch in a few days than that fuckin’ centaur’s been in a half-decade.”

“Gotta say Bella, If I didn’t know better I’d say you were spying on me brother.” You add.

“I do not understand.” Bella replies, looking at you with her golden eyes.

“He’s a Waylander, and you managed to settle disputes he would have had to sic his ‘roos on cunts to solve.”

Bella blinks in confusion. “His what?”

“Dani and Kira, his Kangaroo indentured. Top sheilas, both of ‘em. Keep the bugger honest more often than not.” You explain.

“Have a drink, Lady Bella, and sing us another one of those songs!” Jerry rumbles, thrusting the flagon at the Griffon insistently.

“If thou art insistent…” Bella accedes, taking the flagon and drinking, coughing slightly as the spirit burns her throat.

“Where’s me Kobie?” You ponder, looking about for your absent companion.

“She said something about a haircut Adz, try the covered wagon.” Chad remarks, jerking his head in its direction, absently stroking River’s back as the Kobold dozed against him.

You nod, standing and brushing the dust from your trousers. “Back in a bit. Don’t wreck Bella’s throat, cunts.”

“Ah, stop babying her Freeman, Lady Bella knows when she’s had enough.” A drover objects.

“Certes…” Bella agrees with the faintest hint of a naughty smile in your direction.

You chuckle, holding a raised middle finger over your shoulder as you head towards the black shape of the large wagon, silhouetted against the star-spangled horizon.

“Oi Blue, you in her…” You begin, pulling the cover aside and pausing as you see your Kobold indentured, her hair once again a short pixie cut, naked atop the unmistakable form of the Taurean Ivy, her mouth insistent against a large breast, an athletic leg writhing between the thick thighs of the Trade Factor’s digitigrade legs.

“Oh! H-howdy sugar…” Ivy lows breathily, her waterfall curls a mess and her face flushed.

“Ivy… I didn’t know you were coming with.” You remark conversationally, too bemused to be surprised by the sight. “Pup. Y’orright there?”

Blue’s lips leave the Taurean’s nipple, the sheen of milk upon her lips. “Yehboss, this is EXACTLY what it looks like.” She drawls cheekily, echoing the Quoll Riley some few days previous.

“So… Thanks for the haircut? Y’both kinda accidentally fell out of yer clothes? S’goin on here pup?” You query, trying to keep your expression neutral.

“Well she done started grillin’ me on if’n I was plannin’ on havin’ my way with you, and… well… Y’see what happens is…” Ivy explained, her hands busy upon Blue’s torso.

“Ivyyyyy…” Blue moans, writhing at the Taurean’s touch. “…You’re not meant to just TELL him how it works!”

“I’m sorry cutie-pie…” Ivy giggles.

“So… She passes your ‘Test’ then?” You muse, trying to keep a straight face.

“And then some. I’m tempted to keep her all for meself!” Blue replies eagerly, nibbling at a bovine ear which draws a moan from the Taurean.

“Pup, you know you can talk to me about these things…”

“Boss…” Blue retorts, looking at you insistently.

“…I mean I like to think I’m a reasonable bloke…” You continue

“Boss!” Blue interjects more forcefully.

“…There’s just no need for…”

“BOSS!” Blue growls demandingly.

“Whazzamadda?” You ask, your face what you like to think is a picture of innocence.

“Do you want a written Maou-Damn invitation right now?!” Blue asks incredulously.

“Sugar… Please… Don’t make me beg now… Blue’s been tellin’ me all kinds’o thangs, and I gots to find out if’n they got any merit…” Ivy pleads, looking at you with smouldering eyes.

“Oh really…” You drawl indulgently, dropping to the wagon bed next to the entwined Mamono. “…Such aUMMMFFF” Your drawl is cut off as Ivy’s hungry mouth is planted against yours, her lush lips eager, her tongue busy within your mouth. You feel your heartbeat quickening, not assisted by Blue’s panting and licking at your earlobe.

“Oh he IS a good kisser.” Ivy sighs.

“Right?” Blue agrees, her nude body writhing against your side. “Boss… do the thing?”

“What thing?” You murmur, your brain rapidly losing blood to its competitor between your legs.

“You know…” Blue hints coquettishly, trailing a furred paw down Ivy’s bare thigh.

“Giving away me tricks beforehand pup?” You ask with a predatory grin.

“Did I do bad mastAAAAAAhhhhnnn!” Blue’s teasing query turns into a lewd whimper as you grip the Kobold’s firm buttock roughly in your hand.

“Sugar, don’t leave me hangin’ in the breeze here…” Ivy insists, opening herself to you, her bovine tail writhing serpentine between ample buttocks. You release your indentured, who rapidly returns her attention to Ivy’s voluminous breasts, as you bend your head to kiss and lick at the Taurean’s soaked, quivering womanhood.

“O-oh mah stars…” Ivy gasps “…I ain’t had me a good hello-kiss in… Ohhh… Maou… T-there! R-right there! Don’t you dare stop sugar!” Ivy pleads, planting a hand atop your head and pressing you to her insistently. “K-keep… going… I’m… Oh… I’m…”

Whatever she was going to say next was smothered by her thighs clamping about your head as the Taurean shook in the throes of orgasm. You held your breath valiantly, until finally you forced yourself free, pushing yourself up to see Ivy panting, her eyes unfocused, a hand absently toying between Blue’s legs as the Kobold whimpered, her small, pink tongue hanging from her mouth as she relished in the sensation.

“You… Shit…” Ivy moaned as she regained her equilibrium. “Holding out on me like that.”

“He’s so mean…” Blue agrees, licking her lips at you lewdly. Ivy removes her hand, much to the Kobold’s objection, looking at you challengingly for a moment before launching herself at you, grappling, kissing her juices from your lips as she forces herself atop you.

“Maou damn pants…” the Taurean curses, grinding on you in frustration, and suddenly Blue’s nimble paws are sliding your trousers off, your erect manhood springing from their confines.

“Big boy…” Ivy remarks with a pleased drawl “…I do believe I’ll have me some-a that…”

She groans as she straddles you, lowering herself onto your shaft inch by agonizingly exquisite inch.

“Me now boss… Hello-kisses for me now…” Blue pants, her dripping sex poised above your head. Hungrily, you pull the Kobold down onto your mouth as Ivy begins moving atop you, grabbing your hands from Blue’s thighs and pressing them to her voluptuous breasts. Absently, you marveled at the weight of them, though it did strike you as a little funny that your thoughts should be so abstract with a Kobold fucking your face and a Taurean impaling herself on your manhood. You chuckle slightly, and Blue gives a surprised squeak at the unexpected vibration, leaning back and looking down at you askance. You take her sensitive little nub between your lips, kneading softly, sending the Kobold’s sky-blue eyes rolling almost violently into the back of her head in sheer pleasure as she collapses into a whimpering, shaking mess atop you.

“I… ah… knew y’all… unh… had done that… before… “ Ivy pants, bouncing enthusiastically atop your shaft, the velvet walls of her innermost secrets dragging along the length of you most deliciously. A grin from you and the wordless thumping of Blue’s tail on your torso is her only answer.

You take the Taurean’s nipples between your fingers, teasing at them, and are rewarded with small trickles of creamy liquid in your hands. Ivy pauses in her motions atop you, smiling wryly.

“Ever had it straight from the source, sugar?”

“Can’t say I have.” You admit, gently moving Blue’s trembling post-orgasmic form from atop you and propping yourself up to take one of Ivy’s massive breasts in your mouth. Almost instantly, your gullet is filled with creamy sweetness, and you feel Blue’s furred paw slide around your shoulder, the Kobold licking your jaw cheekily before latching onto its partner.

“M-my stars… Between the two of you I… I’m not going to be able…” Ivy protests unconvincingly as she clamps and quivers against you, the three of you locked in a triune embrace, your cries of passion muted by each other’s bodies.

“Ivy…” You gasp, raising your head from her coral and cream. “…I’m close…”

“Gotcha sugar.” Ivy giggles, sliding herself off you with a low, lewd moan and taking you in her hand, squeezing gently and watching all enraptured as your head swells in her grip.

“Don’t mind if I do!” Blue declares, planting herself atop you, driving you home within her.

“Pup! Taurean milk!” You gasp in shock.

“Don’t care…” Blue pants, taking your face between her paws. “…I love you Adz… I want you to put a baby in me.”

“I…” You begin, before your own body reaches its limit and you erupt within Blue’s scalding depths. On and on your orgasm seemed to go, pulsing and spurting, Blue making small, happy noises punctuated with kisses on your open, panting mouth.

And then… it was done. You lay spent on the wagon-bed, Ivy running hands through her mussed hair, her breasts jiggling delightfuly, Blue holding you to her as if she would never let you go.

“Did you two plan that?” You demand suspiciously.

“Would it matter if we did, sugar?” Ivy replies, leaning over to kiss first you, then your indentured. “That was real nice y’all. We should do it again sometime.”

“Right… Talk to me when I find the top of my head again.” you groan helplessly, absently patting Blue’s head with one hand and squeezing Ivy’s ample buttock with the other.

—

“Thou art concerned to such an extent?” Bella asks from where she has perched on the canvas behind you, a slab of cured, spiced meat held in one talon, its mate draped familiarly over your shoulder.

“I dunno…” You admit. “With continuance there’s a process… a tradition… it’s something you’re raised to expect. This? It’s so…”

“Natural?” Bella quips.

“Pretty sure that’s Blasphemy…” You mutter.

“Prithee? Then denounce me properly and we shall fight about it.” Bella retorts.

“You are getting far too good at this.” You chuckle. “Why would you even want to fight me anyway?”

“Forsooth, to move to yon more clement act of kissing and making up, of course…” Bella murmurs, nipping at the nape of your neck teasingly.

“I’ll have the rest of the humans lookin’ to tear me to pieces for defiling the object of their adoration.” You object laughingly, tickling the Griffon at the base of one of her massive wings.

“N-nay! Villain!” Bella objects, squirming away with a giggle, before her face turns more ponderous.

“Brass for yer thoughts?” You prompt.

“Yea, ‘tis no guarantee that thy seed wilt quicken within her, though she may pray in moment of sweet passion for it to be so.” Bella remarks. “Please do not think I mean to speak slightingly of thee or her in regards to this.”

“Taurean milk though Bella.”

“E’en so, regardless of the warnings thou hast been given pertaining to its use… ‘tis not a certainty. ‘Tis no essence of Alarune…”

A nostalgic smile spreads across your face as you rein the trio of bungarra pulling your wagon around a pile of rubble they seem intent on marching directly over. “No… No it isn’t…”

“Thou knowest of what I speak?”

“Fucken oath…” You grin. “…It was about the time when…”

“Call a halt!” Jerry’s voice booms over the whistles and yells of the drovers. Blue and River’s howls of acknowledgement sound from the fore and aft of the sprawling herd.

“What’s the matter?” You call to the shire-mounted man.

“That’s Jurien Holding.” Jerry replied, pointing a sun-browned hand towards the collection of buildings faintly visible against the coast. “We go inland from here.”

“Lancelin… It’s spread this far?” You gulp.

“I don’t know, but I’m not risking everyone’s arse by going any further unscouted.” Jerry declares with a note of finality.

“I shall take to the air.” Bella declares.

“Thank you, Lady Bella.” Jerry remarks deferently, tugging a forelock at the Griffon. “Adz, Chad, think I could impose upon you two to have the Kobies find how much room we’ve got to play with? I’d much rather not have to skirt the entire dune-field before we hit something resembling civilization.”

“Don’t reckon it’ll be a problem.” You concede, whistling for your Kobold.

“Yehboss?” Blue pants, loping through the milling horses unconcernedly and up to the wagon.

“How you doin’ pup?”

“Just as well as the last time you asked me an hour ago…” Blue sighs, rolling her eyes but smiling at you fondly.

“We’re comin’ up on Matango territory. Jerry wants to know if you and River can give it legs around the top end of the spread, see how far we’ve gotta go ‘round.”

“Can you Humans handle the horses on your own in the meantime?” Blue remarks cheekily.

“I’ve got ten silver says no!” River calls from Chad’s side.

“Behave…” Chad laughs.

“Thou… Thou couldst join me… if thou wert of a mind to…” Bella offers hesitantly, looking at you askance.

“Sure Bel, be glad to.” You shrug, smiling at the Griffon. “Chad, reckon you could look after the Bungas for a bit-TYRIS FUCK!” your question is cut off by Bella’s Talons seizing you under both arms and the booming whoosh of her wings as you are unceremoniously yanked skyward.

“Yeh, it’s fine, not like you’re giving me a choice mind!” Chad’s half-teasing, half-peeved yell fades rapidly behind you.

“Cheers mate!” You yell against the buffeting wind. You look upwards at the Griffon who bears you skyward, a good portion of your vision obscured by her generous bust.

“Nice view…” You drawl.

Bella looks down at you in surprise, a rosy blush spreading across her cheeks. “Thou art a lecher, sir.” She chides, a bashful grin turning her mouth.

“Certainly seems that way…” You admit, looking down and sucking in a deep breath in surprise. Academically, you were fine with the idea of flying, but seeing the ground so far below you, and separating your dangling feet from it naught but so much empty air was another matter entirely.

“Art thou afeard of flying also?” Bella queries, pausing in her spiraling ascent, hovering with rhythmic, powerful beats of her mighty wings.

“In theory, not at all.” You begin, praying your voice doesn’t break. “In practice… Fuck me but that’s a long way down.”

“Thou art doing fine.” Bella assured you. “In point of fact, yea, I think thou art ready.”

You look up at the Griffon incredulously. “Ready for what?”

“This.” Bella states simply, throwing you up and spinning you in the air to face her, before catching you about the torso, inverting herself and diving back towards the ground. The wind howls in your ears, the world spins crazilly… and yet… there she is… smiling… looking at you… unafraid.

Fuck it. You press your lips to hers on impulse, a kiss the Griffon meets hungrily with her own.

“Hey Bella…” You grin, ignoring the fact you both are plummeting earthward, trusting the Griffon with your life. Glancing towards the approaching ground, your eyes widen. “Oh Tyris! UP UP UP!” You demand.

“Prithee, what…” Bella muses, not quite understanding your urgency.

You desperately hunt through the mental whirlwhind of the Logos of Resonance for a Glyph that will assist you… No… joining the bucket in the sky would be a bad idea… dammit… all of those rely on you as a point of reference and tearing yourself in half would kind of suck… wait, there!

Bella gives an unwitting squawk as the power of the glyph brings your dive to a halt, inertia dragging at you both painfully as you order gravity to piss off and leave you alone.

“How art thou…” The griffon gasps, still clinging to you. Ignoring her for the moment, you hold the glyph, raising the two of you up and up.

“Sorry Bella” you apologise, pointing at the ground beneath you. “But did you not see?”

“See? Certes, ‘tis strange vegetation to be sure but I wouldst not have let thee strike the earth.”

“Nope. that close is too close. Those aren’t plants…” You correct her. Below you a strange and lurid growth seems to spread in a roughly circular fashion from an unassuming holding on the coastline, covering field and ditch and tree with living burgundy tendrils. “…That is the Mohorovicic, Matango corruption, and the fucking sporeheads could be anywhere in it.”

“Oh Maou! Prithee forgive me!” Bella cries, releasing you in shock, her talons held to her mouth. Her eyes widen as she realizes what she has done, yet you remain in midair, hovering there as you hold the glyph steady.

“Thou art not falling.” She remarks plainly.

“Your eyes are working then…” You drawl. “…C’mon, I wanna get more height on this.”

Focusing your will, you raise yourself higher into the air, your ears popping as the air becomes thinner, low, scudding clouds obscuring your vision as you find yourself in their foggy midst.

“Ack!” You exclaim in surprise, clammy moisture covering you in an instant.

“Well what didst thou expect?” Bella teases, her winged form softened by the cloud which enclosed you both.

“I know clouds aren’t solid, but I wasn’t expecting wet!” You grumble, “Sides, I can’t see a bloody thing.”

“Certes…” The Griffon purrs in agreement.

“What?”

Bella once again enfolds you in her talons, “What thou canst not see, verily, is also obstructed in its view of thee…”

“Oh? OH!” You exclaim, understanding. Chuckling, you slide your own arms about the Griffon’s slender waist. “Cheeky. Didn’t know you were that hard up. Not like you’re starved for options either…”

“Tis not like that!” Bella objects, pouting adorably. “I… Know thee… trust thee… I… am fond of thee…”

“Feeling’s mutual Bel.” You grin, planting a light kiss on her mouth.

“And…” She continues, reddening further. “…the chance to do this… up here… fie ‘pon me if I were to let such pass.”

“If I lose the glyph…” You murmur, nibbling at the side of her neck “…you’ll have to catch me.”

“C-certes…” Bella moans, wrapping her leonine legs about your waist as you both hover in the cold mist of the cloudbank, her with beating wing, you with Resonant glyph. “…Trust in me to safeguard thee an…Oooohhhhh.” Her assurance is cut short by your hands hiking up the rude leather skirt of her armorlike tunic, one hand gripping a taut buttock through her smallclothes, another pulling gently on her feather-tipped, leonine tail. She kept her grip around your waist with her legs, yet clamped your head with her deadly talons, pulling you hungrily in for a lingering kiss, her tongue insistent within your mouth.

“I want thee inside me… Now.” She hissed, a predatory glare in her golden, raptorial gaze. Chuckling, you loosened the front of your own trousers, taking your manhood in hand and encouraging it the remaining way to tumescence. Pushing her smallclothes to the side, you pull her onto you, entering her with only the slightest resistance of flesh.

Bella moans, kissing you again, whimpering against your mouth as she moves atop and against you, her wings beating frantically as her breathing quickens.

“Thou… Feelest… So… Good!” She cries, clinging to you desperately. You grit your teeth, trying to simultaneously hold your concentration whilst the exquisite sensation of the Griffon’s womanhood enveloping you as she desperately writhes around you.

“Forsooth…” Bella sobbed, “…I want thee to release within me…”

“What about…”

“Please…” Bella begs, taking your earlobe between her teeth and pulling gently.

“Sweet Tyris…” You groan, feeling yourself clench and erupt within her, Bella’s own legs tightening vicelike around you as she pushes her hips to yours forcefuly. Panting, you squint as a ray of sunlight breaks through the cloudbank, bathing you both in blinding warmth.

“You look like an Angel like that…” You mumble, raising a hand to the Griffon’s face, her features hidden in the corona of light.

“Adam!” Bella declares in a shocked tone.

“Ah shit, I didn’t mean…”

“I know what thou meant, e’en if t’were not politic as such… I thank thee…”

“What’s with everyone wanting it inside all of a sudden?” You ask, stretching languidly.

“Late spring.” Bella admits.

You feel slightly crestfallen at that. “Ah. Shoulda spotted that.”

“And…” Bella continues, poking you on the nose with a talon “…we are indeed, all rather fond of thee. To bear a child from thee would be… welcome.”

“Even if nobody can admit it?” You ask, straightening your clothes and pulling the Griffon’s tunic back down to cover her modesty.

Bella smirks indulgently. “Parfay, doth we not know?”

“Fair point that… Tyris, Most High God, why’d ya have to make things so fuckin’ complex?”

Bella beats her wings, taking you out of the sunbeam and back below the clouds. “Is that Blasphemy?”

“Don’t tell on me?” you grin

“Mayhap… Perchance I shall want something of thee…” Bella smirks.

“Bitch… Since you’re carrying me I’ll take it I dropped the glyph.” You drawl.

“Aye, ‘tis of no import, thou art not the heaviest burden I hath born.” Bella admits.

“We should probably get to scouting.”

“Ut ut…” Bella tsks, tapping a talon against her pursed lips “…Kisses first.”

You laugh openly, before kissing the Griffon warmly. The rushing of wind and lurching in your stomach indicates she has folded her wings into another dive.

“Not too low!” You remind her, turning in her grip to be face-down, her legs and talons holding her tight against your back.

“Certes.”

You both scan the alien, burgundy growths of the Mohorovicic. The Matango within seemed to be content to limit themselves to the holding itself, and strange, furtive movement within its bounds spoke to their frightening numbers.

“Tyris be merciful… there’s so many…” You moan.

“Aye… Prithee, who art they?” Bella queries, pointing with a forelimb to what was evidently a group of humans beyond the Mohorovicic’s edge, busily moving barrels from a series of wagons and stacking them in a line along the corruption’s leading edge.

“Reinhardt Militia… Tyris! They’re supposed to have the Faith Militant with them!” You exclaim in panic.

“What troubles thee?”

“Without the Blessing of The God they’re sitting ducks for… Oh… Oh no…” You groan.

“Priestesses?” Bella asks in puzzlement, gesturing to the limping group of women dressed in tattered robes stumbling towards the militia. One of the Militia clearly sees them and points, his words lost to the distance. An argument seems to erupt, with Brown-clad waylanders waving their arms at the Militia officers, the Officers in turn gesticulating towards the Mohorovicic.

“I Highly fucking doubt it… I’d bet me whole wad on them being Plaguebearers.”

Bella hugs you against her body. “What wouldst thou do?

“Drop me on the lee of that dune, Bella” You order the Griffon. “Then you get a better eye on those priestesses.”

“Verily, for what doth I look?” Bella asked you, kicking up a massive cloud of sand as she came in to land.

“Anything non-human. Swellings, growths, extra limbs… mushrooms growing out their heads… it’ll be obvious.” You explain, dusting yourself off. “Quickly.”

Bella nods, taking wing again as you begin to slog through the sand towards where you spotted the humans from the air.

“…Don’t care, Waylander, if there’s even the slightest chance…” A Militia captain roared, his eyes bugging out in clear fury, his squad forming up to intercept the priestesses.

“Don’t move! For the love of Tyris, don’t move!” You yell, panting as you ran through the scrub.

The waylander turned, and you cursed all the sodding luck… Tristan.

“Adam!” Tristan exclaimed. “Stay back mate… You don’t want any part of this…”

“Got a Griffon… Scouting…” You pant, ignoring your elder brother’s instruction. “Keep out of the Mohorovicic… There’s thousands of them in there.”

“A what?” The Militia captain demanded. “Look Freeman, I don’t know who you are or how you got here but if those Priestesses are…”

“Like I said, I’ve got someone on it.” You insist. “Tristan, please. You guys have to go. This isn’t patchwork, the Moho’s solid from here to the coast, it’s even taken the Chancel Isle.”

“Dammit Adam, how do you know this?” Tristan demanded, grabbing your shoulder in a heavy-gloved hand as he turns you this way and that, rudely searching for signs of infection.

“I saw it.”

“From where?”

You point to the sky “Up there.”

“Dave-o did say he saw that weird harpy break through the Cloudbank…” A Militiaman added.

“Adam, did you get yourself nicked by a harpy? Where’s Blue?” Tristan grated, shaking you.

“No, and scouting the Northern end, we’ve got a whole drove coming south… And quit fuckin’ shaking me!” You insist, trying to pull away from the Waylander’s iron grip.

“Then how did you…”

“Adam!” You hear Bella shriek, spotting her form taking wing from the midst of the Mohorovivc. “They yet approach with ungainly haste! One of them erupted ‘pon me. Maou… I am covered in its foulness!”

“Oh piss… There’s our answer.” You curse. “Keep back Bella!” You yell. “Get over the water and call for Blue when you hit the northern end. Tell her to grab two bottles of that ping pong tiddly youse were necking last night, and then BOTH of you douse each other thoroughly!”

“I do not understand…” Bella lamented, hovering above the swaying burgundy fronds, wiping something off her with clear revulsion.

“She will!”

“Certes…” The Griffon agrees, winging towards the ocean.

“What was that?” Tristan blurted, his mouth hanging open in amazement.

“Griffon. Now please Tristan, we’ve gotta give it legs. I don’t wanna know how fast ‘ungainly haste’ is.”

Your brother’s eyes narrow as he studies you. Sighing, he turns to the captain. “Kick ‘em. We burn it now.”

The captain swears, yelling orders to the Militia who put boots to the barrels, sending them careening down the slope and into the Mohorovicic.

“Fire!” Tristain orders, and high, sharp sounds of shard rifles spitting glowing Shadrium are heard, glowing blue streaks lancing towards the barrels which erupt in black smoke and billowing orange flame.

“Dammit Waylander they’re just smouldering! I thought you said this stuff would spread!” The captain yelled, “Back! Back to the dunes!”

“It should!” Tristain retorted, swearing as you both scramble up the sand-hill. “That fucking piece of shit merchant… I’m going to feed him his fucking feet!”

You turn to look back… the barrels were burning, yet too far apart… This wasn’t going to stop anything…

To hell with the possibility of discovery. This had to end now. You called upon the Logos, feeling it respond…

“TYRIS FUCK!” A militiaman cried in shock as the leading edge of the Mohorovicic erupted in flame. The wall of fire boiled westward, consuming inexorably, choking smoke roiling in a skyward pillar.

“Please be clear Bella… Tyris… Please let her be clear…” You murmur.

The fire continued to roil, faster than should be physically possible, your mind straining under the effort of maintaining the glyph… suddenly it started to get cold, and you realized you were sucking an immense amount of heat from the surrounding air to spawn the flames. It didn’t matter, you held the glyph… You felt wetness dripping from your nose… It didn’t matter, you held it, forcing the wall of fire westward until the stinking black smoke turned to billowing white steam.

“Well fuck me…” the Militia Captain declared, slack jawed. “…It actually worked.”

“Seems so.” Tristan agreed.

“Why’d you snot the Freeman? He did warn us after all.”

Tristan looks puzzled, his eyes widening as he looks over to see the blood dripping from your nose. His mouth purses, and he pulls a kerchief from his pocket. “For bein’ an irresponsible cunt and worrying his big brother.” He replies without hesitation, tossing the square of fabric at you. “Clean yourself up, Adz, and don’t ever do that to me again.”

“Oh Balls… Captain… Waylander…” One of the militiamen exclaimed in a sinking tone as you held the kercheif to your face.

“What?” The Captain demanded shortly.

“That was our supply wagon…” the militiaman replies, pointing to a furiously burning cart at the leading edge of the inferno.

“You said you had a drove coming south…” Tristan remarks presumptively. “ I’m commandeering it in the name of Lord Baron Thomas of house Reinhardt.”

“Course…” you shrug, “…Ivy’s gonna be stroppy as hell mind…”

—

“Dangit Waylander I ain’t got no problem with feedin’ you and yours back to Fremantle, but by Maou I will not WAIT on you and y’all will NOT be takin’ your leave with my horses!” Ivy orders, hands on her broad hips.

“Madam. We have militia here who haven’t slept in four days. Look at them! They’re fit to drop!” Tristan retorted hotly, gesturing to the Militia who weakly objected, leaning against polearms and wagon sides, some indeed, having dropped to the ground in sheer exhaustion.

Ivy’s gaze softened somewhat. “Well… At least picket ‘em proper, I ain’t havin ‘em makin’ the place look untidy.”

“Your Generosity is overwhelming, madam.” Tristan replied in a slightly mocking tone, bowing slightly. “Adz, is that your three-train with Two, Four, and Twenty over there?”

You nod. “Yeh Tristan.”

“Good. I’m gonna go die on it, if that’s alright with you.”

You can’t help but grin. “Goferit mate.”

Tristan nodded curtly, turning and calling over his shoulder. “And when I wake up, you’re gonna explain a couple things to me. Clear?”

“Yes Waylander.” You sigh, cursing inwardly.

“Criminently, that is one demanding, infuriating… GORGEOUS Human…” Ivy harrumphs in clear frustration.

“You too, Ivy?” You groan, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“What?” The Taurean asks in puzzlement.

“Everybody bloody well falling in adoring lust with me bloody brother.”

“My Stars, the Waylander’s your brother?” Ivy exclaims in surprise “…How open minded is he, sugar?”

“If you disturb him right now he’s probably as likely to put a foot in your arse as… well… anything else.” You drawl cheekily.

“Well dang.” Ivy sighs in disappointment. “What’s he after you about?”

“This and that…” You reply nebulously.

“That big ol’smokestack over yonder part of ‘this and that?” Ivy asks.

“Any reason you can think of that it would be?” You reply, cursing inwardly and trying to keep your expression as neutral as possible.

Ivy studies you for a moment before smiling slightly. “…You’re good, sugar… I can see why Juni wants to jump you.”

“Juni wants to jump me so she can make me agree to things while all the blood’s busy in me other head.” You retort, snickering.

“That too…” Ivy agrees.

You swallow slightly. “Did… Did Bella…”

“Blue’s taken half a crate o’hooch down the beach with River to sort her out, not to fret, sugar.” Ivy assures you. “Some quick thinkin’ on your part seein’ as she got slimed and all.”

“I told her two bottles… What was she thinking?” You mumble.

—

“My brother is th’best boss ever.” River declares drunkenly.

“Pfft… No. Adz is.” Blue retorts.

“Lies! I’ll fight you!” River growls, pouncing on Blue as the two Kobolds grapple, giggling uncontrollably.

“I have *hic* been most foully abused…” Bella declares from where she is draped over your back.

“Gotta get everywhere feathersh…” Blue slurs, poking her head out from the kobold-ball before biting River on the ear.

“Ow! Blue! No fair!” River laments, pinching Blue on a modest breast with her brown-furred paw.

“Eep! Titty-twisters are against th’rules!” Blue yelps.

“Come on you two, it’s a bit of a walk back to camp.” You sigh, pausing while the Kobolds reluctantly cease their tussle.

“I’ll help carry feathers!” Blue declares, draping one of the Griffon’s massive wings over her head and shoulders.

“Me too!” River adds, mirroring her fellow Kobold on the other side.

“What is it with those two and Bella’s wings?” Chad asks, drinking absently from one of the remaining bottles you had confiscated from the sozzled Kobolds and the near-comatose Griffon.

“Wing cuddles mate. Can’t top em.” You chuckle, grinning at your fellow human.

“Thou art too gallant for thine own *hic* good…” Bella slurs, tightening the grip of her talons where she clings to your back, her feather-tipped, leonine tail dragging limply along the ground behind you. “…in fact were it not for the deep regard I hath for thine most comely indentured…”

“Bella, booze is talking…” You chuckle, placing a shushing finger on the Griffon’s plump lips.

“You think I’m pretty?” Blue asks in drunken wonderment.

“Certes…” Bella drawls, drunkenly smooching the air at the Kobold.

“Best. Packmate. Ever.” Blue declares.

“Blue…” You chide mildly, shaking your head in amusement.

“You right there?” Chad asks, passing you the bottle.

“Yeh, she’s nothing on me mate Eddie… There was a drunken deadweight…” You laugh, taking a belt and passing it back to Chad.

“Mister Adam! Yer screwing up the rotation!” River laments.

“You, little pup, have had quite enough.” Chad chides sternly.

“Yesboss.” River replies with instantaneous meekness.

“See?” You exclaim, “Nothing to it.”

—

“…Nothing to it.” You grumble, yanking at the reins of the witchy chestnut mare you found yourself mounted atop, putting heels to flanks to get her ahead of the rowan stallion who had decided to wander away from the main herd for reasons only known to its tiny equine mind. “Get back over there or I’ll fuckin’ eat you, and damn the lost profit!” You snarl at the wild-eyed horse, who wisely concludes that doing what he is told is preferable to dealing with the angry human.

“Don’t saw at her mouth, freeman.” A voice chides from behind you. The rider, clad in the ubiquitous high-collared brown of a waylander, reins in beside you.

“George, isn’t it?” You venture, recognising one of your brother’s colleagues.

“S’right Gibson. Your Mamono are a bit the worse for wear today.”

“Let ‘em out of me sight for one fucking second…” You grumble. Blue, River and Bella were indeed suffering the after-effects of last night’s impressive drunk, all three lain low with what seemed to be horrendous hangovers.

“Ah, don’t be too hard on them. Matango are fuckin’ scary, even when you don’t have to worry about infection.” the Waylander replies evenly.

“True enough…” You admit “…thanks for helping out, by the way.”

“You kidding, a night of uninterrupted sleep AND a hot bacon breakfast? I wouldn’t be surprised if a bunch of the militia were offering to buff that Taurean’s hooves and braid her hair this morning.” George chuckles.

“Tristan still out?”

“That man’s a machine.” George replies with sincere admiration “He must have pulled a straight week, plus patrols, plus keeping on top of Baronial missives. Far as I’m concerned he can sleep all the way back to Fremantle and still have my vote for the Commandery.”

“Commandery? What happened to old Seb?”

“Heart gave out two weeks ago, Tyris rest his soul.” George sighed. “Adrian’s the nextmost senior but he won’t give up Mount Barker, especially not after Scotty.”

“Yeah… What’s the latest version of that story?”

“Led a pack of Ghost-Kobolds against a beast twelve metres tall, slaying it with the Secret Name of God before succumbing to his wounds.” The waylander replies with a suppressed grin.

“We do love our fuckin’ stories…” You snicker, before the sight of a rot-bloated corpse adorning a cross on the side of the road sobers you. “…Tyris be merciful, another one?”

“Greed makes monsters of us all in the end.” George sighs philosophically. “All we can do is uphold the law.”

“Yeah but… I mean, how many?” You bluster, absently making the Sign of the Sunburst as you pass the crucified corpse of the looter.

“Enough that there haven’t been any Ghouls spotted around the Fremantle dump in near on a fortnight.” George replies simply.

“Tyris… Kinda makes you ashamed to share a marking with ‘em.” You remark, shaking your head. Looting during an official emergency was harshly punished, and rightfully so… still it rankled to see so many willing to put their own larcenous desires above the welfare of their fellow humans.

“Mmm… Hey… Joondalup finally fixed that fence after the Mihirung got into the vineyards.” George remarks, nodding at the freshly-peeled log fence which delineated the edge of a holding.

You blink in surprise. “Fuck off, we’re not in Joondalup yet… are we?”

“We’ve made damn good time, Freeman.” George explains with a tight grin. “The Landholder here’s a big fan of horseflesh, if I remember correctly, might even be able to offload a few of yer also-rans ahead of pulling in to Fremantle tomorrow.”

—

“This is thy home?” Bella asks, staring about at the buildings and bustling crowds from where she is perched behind you.

“Almost, HOME home is about half a day east of here.” You explain. “But close enough to feel good, doncha reckon pup?”

“Yehboss” Blue replies, closing her eyes blissfully as you pat her head.

“Tyris…” Came a groan from the back of your wagon, Tristan’s head popping up from under the cover. “…We here already?”

“You slept for two days, Tristan.” You chuckle, reining in the Bungarra before the stockyard stables, already crowded with the horses which had arrived ahead of you.

“Well that’d be why I’m hungrier than a Murchie Feral with twelve pups…” Tristan remarked.

“You wouldn’t even wake up for bacon!” Blue exclaimed, grinning at the Waylander, her tail wagging furiously in greeting.

“Oh… Nah, one of the lads saved me some when I woke up to drain the lizard briefly.” Tristan explained. “Still… Two days! Tyris. Must’ve needed it. Also hello Blue.”

“Hi.” Blue whuffled dreamily as the Waylander patted her head.

“And who’s this magnificent creature?” Tristan prompted, gazing at Bella appraisingly. The Griffon, subjected to both metaphorical barrels of the Waylander’s rugged charm, could only blush and mumble while wringing her talons.

“This’s Bella, the Griffon I was telling you about. To be perfectly honest you and the Militia owe her your continued non-shroomy existence.” You muttered somewhat darkly. Here we fucking go again…

“My sincerest thanks to you, gracious lady…” Tristan mused, taking one of Bella’s talons in a rough, calloused hand and raising it briefly to his lips. The Griffon giggled helplessly, actually trembling as the Waylander released her talon.

“Well, I’m off.” Tristan declared, pulling his high-collared brown coat about him and leaping from the wagon.

“P-prithee… why?” Bella lamented, earning herself a surly sideways glance from you.

“Gotta make sure me ‘prentice hasn’t given half the Barony away in my absence… make sure me Kangas are still alive… eat Joe’s larder bare… Take yer pick. Meet me there when you get a sec.”

“See how we go.” You replied noncommittally.

Tristan fixed you with a level stare. “That wasn’t a request. I still want to talk to you about what happened.”

“Balls.” You grumbled, having hoped against hope that two days of unconsciousness had muddled your brother’s infamously crystalline memory.

“Verily… He is…” Bella sighs lustily.

“Too right.” Blue agrees.

“Could ya fuckin’ not right now?” You spit venomously.

“Adam! What hath come over thee?” Bella asks in surprise.

“Adz gets surly when people notice Tristan is prettier than him.” Blue whuffles in amusement, throwing her furry forepaws around your shoulders. “Doncha boss?”

“Blue…” You growl.

“Boss…” Blue retorts, her azure eyes locked to yours. “…who’s your good girl?”

“You.” You surrender with a helpless sigh.

—

“Orright then…” You groan, handing the reins presumptuously to your Kobold. “…Blue, if you could be a good girl and sort us out here, I’ll go see Tristan. Bella, could you do me a favour and…”

“If it art all the same to thee, Adam, might I remain at leisure? ‘Tis mine fulsome desire to see more of this place.” the Griffon interjects.

“No drama. Blue, see if Cicerello’s got any room, otherwise the Tradewind’ll have to do again I s’pose.”

“Yehboss.” Blue replies, kissing you briefly on the cheek before barking harshly at the Bungarra, lashing them with the reins held proficiently in her tawny paws.

“You’re getting good at that…” You chuckle teasingly. Blue pokes her pink tongue out at you in wordless response before returning her attention to the lizards. You hop down from the wagon, ambling in the general direction of Joe’s. It felt like forever since you had tread these familiar streets, and every well-worn memory filled your heart with a curious warmth.

It was good to be back.

Judging by the crowd which had gathered at the front of the taproom of Joe’s, Tristan’s return had brought with it some burning issues people either didn’t feel comfortable entrusting to Matt, your boyhood friend and apprentice Waylander, or he had fucked up something major. You prayed it was the former, you honestly did. You also had no interest in waiting for the crowd to disperse, novelty sated or issues dealt with. You skirted the outside of the building, ducking through a staff entrance and hurrying back towards the taproom, hoping nobody saw you.

“He’s gonna flog me bloody…” A voice lamented. A voice you recognised. Matt. You paused, hugging the wall behind the corner of the hallway, listening intently.

“Don’t be so defeatist. He’s not unreasonable.” A second voice murmured comfortingly. That was one of the Kangas, you were pretty sure, but you couldn’t quite tell which one.

“There’s not unreasonable and then there’s this though Dani!” Matt exclaimed, clearly having worked himself up.

“Oi ‘prentice…”

“What, indentured?”

“Shut up.”

“Mmmffff!” You heard Matt’s objection smothered as something was pushed over his mouth. What the hell was that Kanga doing? You turned the corner, ready to give Dani a jolly good telling off for bullying your friend, but the excoriation died on your lips as your eyes took in the sight before you, The Kangaroo-girl with a fistful of Matt’s shirt in her furred, clawed forearm, pulling her roughly against him, his arm on the wall as he kissed her hungrily, a hand groping at the swell of a breast…

…You also couldn’t help but notice the slight swelling of the Kangaroo’s normally flat, toned abdomen.

“No shit…” You blurted in astonishment. Dani and Matt sprang apart like the other had each become white hot.

“Adz!” Matt exclaimed, a look of shock and horror on his face. “Now don’t…”

“Don’t what? Who’s talking? I swear I heard someone just then…” You state myopically, deliberately looking past the couple partially obscuring the hallway. “…I sure do hope I can get through to the taproom and see Tristan about something completely unrelated to this hallway with nobody in it.”

“Thanks Adz.” Dani murmurs gratefuly.

“I really must get my ears checked… Though I have a distinct desire to say congratulations… I have no idea why…” You continue, not looking at them as you give a thumbs up in their general direction, turning slightly sideways to squeeze past them… And almost colliding with Tristan who is coming around the blind corner the other way.

“Adz? I was just about to send…” Tristan exclaims, looking at you in mild surprise, before he notices Matt and Dani behind you. For a moment his eyes harden, his mouth tightens, then he sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Thanks for being proactive and getting Adz for me, Dani.” He states evenly, not really looking at the Kangaroo.

Dani frowns in puzzlement. “But I didn’t.”

“Thanks. For. Being. Proactive. And. Getting. Adz. For. Me.” Tristan repeats, fixing the Kangaroo with an imperious, almost threatening look.

“N-no worries, Master.” Dani almost gushes.

“Now Matt. I know we’re technically not supposed to start intensive field work until your third year, but for some reason I think about six or eight months from now I should get you working with Kira.”

“Uh… As you see fit, Waylander.” Matt agrees quickly.

“I hope your wrist is limber, I have a LOT of paperwork for you tonight.” Tristan promises menacingly.

Matt sighs. “Yes, Waylander.”

Tristan turns to you, beckoning. “Well, saves me the trouble of looking for you then. C’mon Adz.”

You follow the Waylander into the halls which house the inevitable offices required to run a tavern and eating-house of this size. Tristan knocks on the door of one before entering presumptuously.

“In the name of Baron Thomas, blah blah, so on and so forth… Bugger off.” He demands, flashing his badge of office to the surprised, callow looking youth bent over a pile of parchment.

“Y-yes Waylander!” The youth swallows, rushing from the room.

“Tell Joe I told him to give you the rest of the day off… and a good pint of stout, you look peaky!” Tristan called after the youth.

“Joe Junior?” You chuckle as Tristan closes the door behind him.

“Maybe, maybe not…” Tristan shrugs, flopping into the recently vacated chair. “…Now. Spill.”

“‘Bout what?” You reply carefully.

“Oh I don’t know, the weather? Price of salted fish in Esperance? New shoes? Fuck me backwards Adz, don’t play about with me…” Tristan demands.

“Well I didn’t really see anything, there’s any number of reasons they could have been in the hallway togeth…”

“NOT MY BREWERY, NOT MY SATYROS…” Tristan exclaims loudly, putting his fingers in his ears. You pause, getting the point. Tristan takes his fingers out of his ears, staring at you pointedly. “…Whatever you were talking about is clearly a matter for our Holy Mother Church. And she’s been real fuckin’ busy of late… Be a shame to bother her about something so trivial, doncha reckon?”

“Real busy.” You agree. “Why, it’d be a Virtue to save the Priestesses the trouble.”

“A Holy Virtue indeed. All Glory to Tyris and his Bollocks.” Tristan declares, raising his hands in the sign of the Sunburst. “Now, stop fucking about and tell me what happened.”

“You’re gonna have to be more specific, Tristan.” You reply, shrugging helplessly.

“You’re really gonna play this fucking game with me Adz? Me? You dozy little cunt, you haven’t been able to lie to me since the first day they marched your sniveling arse to Dad’s doorstep.” Tristan snarled, leaning forward in the chair. “Lancelin. That supposed naphtha was fucking trap-grease mixed with vegemite. Wouldn’t have done shit, yet somehow it managed to magically spread to the coast. Tell me how.”

“I suppose you wouldn’t accept Tyris showing His Divine Favour upon your efforts?” You offer lamely.

“Adam…” Tristan growls warningly.

“Alright! Shit!” You exclaim. “You’re a fucking pushy cunt towards someone who hasn’t done anything wrong, you know.”

“Take it up with the Baron if you’re that arsehurt. Now talk.”

You sigh, squeezing your eyes closed. “Say someone had come across a Matrix of Resonance out there in the bush somewhere. No how or why or wherefore… just… found it. Say that person opened it, and instead of going mad or vegetative… that person survived. Say that person knew that the Dominus had forbidden Resonants from operating in the Australs outside of official Church business, over which he has no authority. Say that person refused to go to Magisterium, but is pretending to be just another ordinary Jezza Smith-Son.”

Your breath catches in your throat, your eyes sting, but you press on. “Say that person came across his big brother about to get fuckin’ swarmed by shitfungus… Say that person had no other choice to save you…”

“You’re telling me you’re Resonant.” Tristan states evenly.

“Wilder.” You correct. “It was a choice made on impulse… If I’d known…”

Tristan gets out of his chair, moving around the paper-strewn desk to catch you in a rough hug. “Simmo told me mate… I didn’t want to believe it…”

“Wait. You knew?!” You yell, shoving him away. “You fucking knew, and you forced it out of me anyway? Why? Tyris be fucking Glorified Tristan, this isn’t a fucking game! If you knew the half of what I’ve had to fucking do after that rock fucked me in the brainstem you’d…”

“That will be quite enough of that.” A female voice interjected, the wimpled features of a High Priestess standing in the now open doorway.

“Your Reverence.” You and Tristan automatically responded, ducking your heads and tugging forelocks at her.

“Waylander.” The High Priestess began imperiously. “I will have a Vow of Silence from you for everything you may hear in this room.”

“O-of course, Sister Superior Rachael.” Tristan agreed obsequiously, before fixing the High Priestess with a smouldering stare. “Foreasmuch as you know I am our Holy Mother Church’s most loyal servant…”

“Don’t you give me those eyes Tristan…” Rachael demanded, flushing slightly and adjusting her wimple.

You turn to your elder brother, fixing him with a level stare. “One day you’re not going to be pretty any more, then you’re fucked.”

“But not today.” Tristan grinned cheekily, and for a moment you saw the fifteen-year-old boy who had taught you to catch yabbies in the dam and how to properly steal cooling pastries from the cook’s trays without getting caught.

“You’re fuckin’ good Tristan.” You chuckle appreciatively, shaking your head. “Why’d you go law? You could have owned half the world as a trader.”

“Few are called, fewer are chosen.” Tristan remarked enigmatically. “Course you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you… Resonant.”

“You will not refer to him as such. He is unacknowledged by Magisterium.” Rachael stated, stepping in front of you. “Though it appears I am too late to prevent his mouth from running over.”

“He’s my Brother, Reverence.” You explain simply, before puzzlement furrowed your brow. “Who told you I was here, by the way?”

“Your winged friend. She is possessed of a marked eloquence and a singular presence, by the way. The way she framed herself against the setting sun… a few of our acolytes nearly genuflected in her presence, would you believe?” Rachael exclaimed.

“Bella…” You grin helplessly. “…I love that girl… Uh… In a purely platonic sense, of course!” You quickly correct.

“Of course…” Sister Superior Rachael sighed, rolling her eyes before moving towards you. “…I understand we have you to thank for that spectacular display to the north… You impulsive, careless…”

You brace yourself for the slap, eyes widening in surprise as the High Priestess embraces you warmly.

“…wonderful, wonderful man.” She exclaims. “How did you manage to get it all?”

“Well…” You explain, feeling slightly uncomfortable in Rachel’s arms, your brother making it no better by fixing you with a mocking grin. “…Bella brought me in from above… I had a rough idea of the span, and from there you just… Y’know…” You explain, extricating yourself from Rachel’s matronly embrace.

“There was no chance of any survivors?” Rachael asked desperately.

“Mohorovicic was thick and solid from the road to the Chancel Isle.” You shake your head sadly.

“Tyris… Most High God… take your poor children to you gently…” Rachael sighed, squeezing her eyes shut against the tears threatening to spill over.

“I’m sorry, Reverence…” You offer, putting a comforting hand on the Priestess’s back. “…You lost someone there?”

“Dear friends… and…” The High Priestess broke off, biting off the grief threatening to spill from her mouth with a will of meteor iron.

“Family?” You offer.

“Blasphemy!” The Priestess grates, though her voice is one of pain, not anger.

“I supplicate The Forgiveness of The God.” You offer sincerely, sinking to your knees, raising your hands in the Sign of the Sunburst.

“Granted.” Rachael remarks absently, control returning to her voice. “Though I would know you, Wilder.”

Right in front of me brother and all Your Rev-OH TYRIS FUCK! OUCH!” You declare, as letters of fire seem to inscribe themselves on your forehead.

“I recognise you.” Rachael states simply.

“I stand recognised… also fuckin’ ow!” You lament, dabbing at your forehead as if expecting to see blood on your fingertips. “Why didn’t you use the other one?”

“Didn’t think of it. Don’t forget you have a job to do, Freeman. Waylander, see this doesn’t leave this room.” Rachael orders absently. “Also… I summon you for Continuance.”

“The Will of the Most High be forever Obeyed.” Tristan responds without hesitation. “Give me a small time to allow my Apprentice to take over my duties?

“Granted, but don’t dawdle, Waylander.” Rachael muses with a smoky, challenging stare, before turning and leaving the room, closing the door behind her.

“Tyris…” Tristan sighs, rolling his eyes.

You raise an eyebrow. “Whazzamadder?”

“She’s a crier…” Tristan responds with a helpless shrug.

“You should see what they make you do when you’re Resonant.” You drawl, a grin spreading across your face.

“I take it I don’t want to know.” Tristan laughs.

“You really don’t.”

Tristan shakes his head helplessly. “Adz… Really… Are you alright?”

“Tristan… If I gotta be honest mate, I feel like I’ve aged three decades in the last year.” You admit sincerely. “What I’ve seen… what I’ve done… It’s been hard.”

“Why didn’t you just go to Magisterium?”

You take a deep breath, looking at the floor before letting it out. “You’re still sworn to secrecy, yeah?”

Tristan spreads his arms. “We’re still in this room, aren’t we?”

“Blue.” You reply seriously. “I can’t leave her mate… She’s… she’s a part of me.”

“Please Tyris, let Dani and Matt be less complicated.” Tristan prays effusively, raising his eyes to the heavens.

You can’t help but chuckle at that. “You alright with that?”

Tristan shrugs slightly “Assuming her Mob is fine with looking after their daughter… also assuming Matt doesn’t fall over and die doing fieldwork with Kira. Won’t denounce ‘em for Heresy but I’ll be damned if I’ll let them slack off any more than I have to for getting pregnant.”

“All any of us can ask for I suppose.”

“Heh. Yeh.” Tristan agrees. “Welcome home mate.”

—

“Adam!” Ivy exclaims as you walk through the door of the Tenno and Goldstein office. “I done gone thunk we wouldn’t be seein’ you until tomorrow, Sugar!”

“Yeh welll…” You reply absently. “…better to keep accounts current.”

“Do you owe us money?” Juni asked eagerly, the Tanuki’s fluffy tail positively bottlebrushing behind her. “Please tell me he owes us money Ivy…”

“Other way around I’m afeared honey.” Ivy sighs. Juni groans in near religious lament at the news.

“Just wanted to check in, make sure everything got sorted like planned.” You continue, leaning absently against the counter.

“You know between you and the Kalbarrian…” Juni begins, sidling up to you and tracing a finger up your torso. “…I might even think it’s worth doing this run regularly.”

“We skimmed the cream Juni.” You chuckle, patting the Tanuki’s hand. “Thoroughly. You’re looking at at least a year before we get anything of similar quality.”

“Ivy showed me the Solar Marks you brought her…” Juni states almost accusingly. “…You know you could have gotten me to do just about anything with those…”

“Heh. You Tanuki.” You smirk, patting Juni on the head absently. The Tanuki makes a small sound, her head pressing against your hand, her mouth open and her eyes rolled back into her head.

“Late Spring?” You ask the Taurean, who is trying very hard to look like she isn’t fidgeting on the other side of the counter.

“Somethin’ like that, Sugar.” Ivy admits.

“Come ON Human….” Juni demands. “…Ivy told me about what happened near Geraldton. You’re really going to leave me out?”

“Geraldton, Juni?” You exclaim in mock surprise. “She told you about that, did she?”

“Well I mean I done kinda mentioned it in passing…” Ivy explains.

“You were bragging your horns off, Ivy, don’t lie.” Juni retorts hotly.

“Oh. I see…” You remark, walking around the counter as if lost in thought, pausing behind the Taurean who looks over her shoulder at you in slight puzzlement. “…So she told you how she nearly tore my head off with her thighs the first time I made her come…” Without warning, you grab Ivy’s buttocks roughly with both hands, the Taurean’s brief shriek of surprise turning into a moaning low as you massage her hindquarters. “…So that’s what you’re after? Or would you prefer me to just take you over the counter like so…”

Ivy gives a small, pleased chuckle and an ‘Oooh…’ as you push her forward at the nape of the neck, bending her over the counter with one hand, the other continuing to tease at her thighs and rear, her voluminous breasts squashed against the wood, threatening to spill from her shirt.

“One, either, both…” Juni agrees without hesitation, almost drooling as she stares at you greedily.

“Or maybe I should show you what you’re in for with Ivy first… No sense going into things unprepared…” You continue, pushing aside the crotch of ivy’s short-cropped pants and teasing the wetness beneath with your fingertips.

“S-sugar you’re bein’ dreadful naughty…” Ivy pants, her hands clawing at the wood of the counter.

“Sorry Ivy, just making a point.” You apologize, straightening her up down there and moving back around the counter, the act of which drawing a frustrated, wordless sound of objection from the aroused mamono. “Maybe put you on your knees…” You purr at Juni, a hand on her cheek, your thumb on her pouty lower lip. “…Have you clean me off first.” You slip your thumb into the Tanuki’s bowlike mouth, a moan vibrating around your digit as the Tanuki visibly quivers, her tail and the fluffy ruffs on her calves brushing out as if she’d been struck by lightning.

“Okay…” Juni whimpers in a small voice, as your thumb pops free, beginning to sink to her knees.

“It’s too bad really…” You sigh, turning away from the pair. “…I’ve just got so much to do this afternoon. Tyris forgive me my proximity to blasphemy but he really doesn’t make enough bloody hours in the day.”

“WHAT?!” Juni demands in an almost animalistic snarl.

“Sugar! That’s just plum mean now.” Ivy scolds in shock.

“I’m sure you understand Juni, Tanuki and all. Business’s gotta come first… Though I mean I might see fit to…”

White stars bloomed in your vision as something hit you behind the ear. Hard. Strange, you didn’t remember falling, yet here was the floor. Good floor… Your mouth throbs and you tongued the area experimentally. You taste copper and a tooth wiggles slightly. Bad floor… Someone was pulling you somewhere, your eyes weren’t exactly working properly and everything seemed to sound like it was underwater. You tried to regain your feet but for some reason your arms and legs wouldn’t do what they told you. That sent a jolt of panic and adrenaline through your system, clearing your sap-addled mind. You groan, blinking, raising your head and squinting through clearing vision to see your hands and feet thoroughly bound.

Thank Tyris, at least you hadn’t broken your back or something similarly permanent.

“…Don’t think that was really necessary though Honey.” Ivy chides from somewhere behind you.

“I am not going to be denied a third time in my own damn office!” Ivy retorts. “You know how it works. I like him, and I want him, and he was given plenty of options to do things the easy way, but he just had to have it the hard way. The choice was his.”

“Juni.” You groan, blinking against the thumping headache which has decided to take up residence in your skull “This is a terrible idea. Stop it now, untie me, and we can forget this whole thing ever happened.”

“Oh, I’ll untie you, after I’ve gotten what I want…” Juni hums sweetly, her sunny smile belying her intent.

“You did tease her somethin’ awful, Sugar.” Ivy reminds you in a disapproving tone.

“A bit of bully’s no justification for rape in the eyes of the law, Ivy.” You reply seriously. “Juni, think about it. This is going to end very badly…”

Juni snorts. “Come on Adam, you’re a big guy…”

“…For you.”

“Just me?” Juni chuckles. “Adam, say you DO decide to denounce me. I’ve got enough swing around here to get you at LEAST put to the confession over it. And what other little details are you going to let slip before your God, hmmm? Something about a certain Kobold wanting a baby in her perchance?”

You look back at Ivy with a mixture of hurt and disapproval. “Thought we had an understanding, Ivy.”

Ivy sighs, lowering her eyes regretfully. “Sugar, I like you, I really do, but like you said, business is business, and we ain’t got nearly enough of a hold on you to make any of us comfortable… Plus, you seem to have a knack of makin’ the dice turn up in your favour too damn often.”

“Put ‘em on a plate in a hot bread oven for an hour.” You retort snidely.

“Ain’t what I’m talkin’ about sugar… Just say yes and let her have you for a little while, it ain’t gonna hurt nobody after all.” Ivy almost pleads.

“Ooh, is this a new game?” An echoing voice crawls from somewhere near your feet, sending goosebumps up your spine. “I like games.”

You raise your head, curious as to the source, to see an… odd… being standing at your feet. Her stance was demure, and she seemed to be clad in the garb of a servant of a noble house. One of House Reinhardt’s? Couldn’t be, where was the crest? And why did she seem so… wet?

With a crashing realization, you understood. Those weren’t clothes, those were an extension of her body manipulated to look like clothes. As if to solidify your theory a tendril of blue-grey snaked from beneath her ‘dress’, poking at your ankle experimentally.

“He doesn’t do much, does he?” The newcomer remarked, looking directly at you with those glowing yellow eyes. At that stage it wouldn’t have mattered if you had retained the presence of forethought to attempt to cast a Resonant glyph, the whispers in the tongues of madness itself which filled your skull would have rendered you incapable.

“Tyris… Most High God… Deliver me…” You almost whimpered, snaking away from the figure as well as your bound form could manage.

“Yisbeth, quit it.” Juni ordered shortly. “I don’t quite need his mind but I really would prefer him not reduced entirely to shrieking madness.”

“My Apologies, miss Juni.” the entity identified as ‘Yisbeth’ replied, inclining her head towards the Tanuki.

“Why are you here, you’re supposed to be looking after Mr. Goldstein?” The Tanuki prompted.

“I am, Miss Juni… He is on his way. He wished me to proceed him so that his time was not taken up by… unforeseen delays.”

“Dangit.” Ivy remarked in displeasure. “I am not in the doggone mood for a lecture today.”

“Maou’s got a weird sense of humor. Come on, help me get Adam in the back, no sense giving the old man more things to talk about…” Juni sighs, picking up your feet and gesturing for Ivy to take your shoulders. Yisbeth giggles in that discordantly echoing voice of hers, which makes you shudder once again. The Mamono pair set you down (surprisingly gently) and Ivy makes some show of bundling a throw-pillow behind your head.

“She don’t mean no harm Sugar, honest… Just… Late spring, y’know?” The Taurean explains with a hint of desperation.

“I really don’t.” You remark in a nonplussed tone.

“Can I get you anything? A drink maybe?”

“I’m fine. Just don’t forget I’m back here. You two might want to think about how Blue and Bella will react if they find me like this.”

“I like to think there’ll be giggling involved.” Ivy suggests, trying to inject a hint of levity.

“Dunno, I’ve never seen Bella kill…” You reply in a neutral tone. “…Maybe think about that.”

“Y’all gots to be complicated, doncha?” Ivy sighs in frustration as she follows the Tanuki back out the front of the office. Truth be told the Mamono had made you as comfortable as they could given the circumstances, and you gave some thought to a brief nap, thought which was interrupted by the outside door opening and the step-clump-thud of someone leaning heavily on a crutch or cane as they entered.

“Ahhh…” A deep, smooth, undeniably male voice sounded from the main office “…Juni, Ivy. It’s been some time.”

“Two years, Mr. Goldstein.” Juni answered with the closest thing to subservience that you had ever heard from her.

“Miss Tenno tells me that our operations throughout the Archipelago are proceeding apace, How are things on this end? Oh… thank you Yisbeth.” A slight grunt of relief and the slight scraping of a person taking a seat.

You had an itchy nose, and were growing thoroughly bored with this. The only question was, what was the best way to proceed? Finance Magnate of unknown influence and that nightmare thing straight out of hell’s blackest hole? Yeah, there was no way you were going to wave your metaphorical dick around, resonance or no resonance.

It took little complexity to sunder the bonds about your wrists, though the effort of restricting the glyph to a single section of rope was surprisingly taxing. What WAS this, that it seemed to want to split the world in half by default, you wondered? Leaning forward, you quickly undid the bindings around your ankles, standing and stretching before scratching your nose thoroughly. Ahhhh, much better. You gingerly poked the area of your skull where Juni had rabbit-punched you, it was tender, but she didn’t seem to have damaged anything. For a moment you pondered the deceptive strength of the Tanuki, as well as the fact that once again you had underestimated her. You would need to take pains to ensure you did not do so again.

“…Up at least fifteen percent.” Juni’s voice intruded from the main office.

“Only fifteen?” Goldstein’s deep, smooth voice enquired.

“Well we did scoop up quite a bit of infrastructure that Nautilus has had to liquidate. They’ve been hit pretty hard here in the west.”

“And valuation wasn’t included in your forward estimates?”

“The situation is a little unstable… We’ll be able to get a more solid view once Kalbarri’s back under Human control.”

“Neisha was a disappointing development, it’s true…” Goldstein sighs “…Too bad that promising young man from Gilgai’s already under Nautilus’s tentacles.”

“Uh, Beggin’ yer pardon Mr. Goldstein, Sir. But not anymore he ain’t…” Ivy interjects in her trademark drawl. “…Nautilus done cashed him out when they liquidated their holdin’s in Kalbarri on account-a that Fleshmarket I told you about.”

“Oh yes… Fleshmarket… Terrible business that. I assume we’ve pulled all investment out of similar establishments?”

“No need for it in the interior, mining accidents happen often enough that those who need it can get it easily enough.” Juni again.

“See now I’m thinkin’ he’d be better as a Majordomo or the like…” Ivy continued. “…He’s knowin’ the land and all, sure, but I got a good feelin’ about Adam from Gibson Holdin’…”

“Can we NOT talk about him right now?” Juni spits hotly.

“Master, she’s all afluster…” Yisbeth echoed discordantly.

“Shut it Shoggy.” Juni growls.

“My my… six years in the Australs has turned you into something of a local, Miss Juni…” Goldstein snickers amusedly. “…The name hasn’t escaped my notice, Miss Ivy, but from what I can tell he’s just an eager young man with the inexplicable luck Tyris grants to fools and madmen.”

“See that’s my point Sir.” Ivy explains. “Whatever higher power done fell in love with his cute butt, I can’t think of a better place to take advantage of it than a barony what sorely needs itself an injection of good fortune.”

“It’s worth considering, but he’s still something of an unknown factor. Do we have any leverage on him?”

“Rumor and hearsay, I’m afraid.”

“Pity. Probably best to meet the chap then. You can get ahold of him?”

“I can practically guarantee it, Mr. Goldstein.” Juni replies smugly.

A wicked grin spreads across your face. With a quick glyph, you reduce a section of the stone wall to so much sand, slipping through the makeshift opening and into the street.

“Cameth not Pride before the Fall of God-Before-Tyris” You intone under your breath, melting away into the milling crowds, luckily still plentiful as the days lengthened into summer. Right, better go find Bella and the Pup and work out a plan. You? A Baron? The concept was ridiculous, clearly they thought you little more than a rube to be manipulated once on the throne… Still… Nobility… Money didn’t buy happiness but a feather bed was still more comfortable than a swag in the dirt.

Spotting Cicerello’s sign waving in the late afternoon breeze, you made towards it, hoping that some of your purported luck had rubbed off on your indentured.

—

“She did WHAT?!” Blue snarls, her hackles raised as she paces the room she had secured for the three of you in Cicerello’s establishment. “Tanuki bitch… I’m gonna do her hamstrings.”

“Oi, settle down pup, wasn’t too long ago you were giving some consideration to having a go at her yourself.” You interject, surprised at Blue’s vehemence.

“There’s a way to go about things boss!” Blue explains, still fuming. “Rabbit punching my Hus… I mean, my Master and making with the forcey fun time is fuckin’ off value. Did Ivy not do a damn thing to help?”

You shrug. “I think there’s a bit of politics there, she tried to talk her out of it but she also kinda seemed to think I deserved it a bit.”

“Certes…” Bella remarked.

“Bella?” You ask incredulously, raising an eyebrow at the Griffon.

“Hast thou not heard of the expression ‘poke thou not the bear-girl?” Bella asks, folding her talons across her chest and looking at you with mild disapproval. “Thou knowest that all Mamono are somewhat… sensitive due to the demands that the season doth place ‘pon us, yea, as Maou hath dictated foreasmuch as…”

“Orright Bella I don’t need the sermon…” You sigh, truth be told you did lay on the bully a bit thick.

“Pfft. Shit excuse feathers.” Blue retorts. “Juni KNOWS how this works.”

“How exactly DOES this work, Blue?” You interject, “Because from where I’m sitting it looks like you girls kinda make it up as you go.”

“You’re Human, you wouldn’t get it.” Blue sniffs.

“‘Tis indeed a subtle matter which Mamono are best placed to comprehend, Adam.” Bella agrees.

“Try me.” You drawl levelly.

Blue rolls her azure eyes, beckoning with a tawny paw at the Griffon. Putting paws to Bella’s cheeks, she kisses her deeply, Bella’s talons resting atop the Kobold’s slender shoulders. Blue breaks the kiss, looking at you pointedly, before kissing Bella again.

The kiss looks slightly… different somehow, you can’t put your finger as to exactly how it differs, but something nagging in the back of your mind insists it is.

“Now boss, tell me what you just saw.” Blue states, straightening her clothes.

“You kissed Bella, then you kissed her again, but different.”

“Impressive…” Bella remarks, raising her thin, golden brows in surprise.

“Different how?” Blue prompts.

“I… I dunno… just different.”

“Well the fact you noticed it is a big thing anyway boss.” Blue declares, throwing her paws about you and kissing you lingeringly. “But until you can tell me WHAT was different, you won’t understand.”

“Right…” You sigh. “…So what do you reckon? I mean, this could get hairy.”

“I’m sure she trims.” Blue replies without thought.

You stare incredulously at your indentured. “Oh hells, Blue, do you actually mean for me to go through with it?”

“Not if you don’t want to, Boss… But if you do, then you gotta make sure to do it right. She’s gotta be… Reminded. Reminded that I was your girl first, and that YOU’RE Alpha.”

“Put her across my knee?” You suggest helplessly.

Blue taps a furred digit against her bowlike mouth in thought. “Yeh… could work… It’s all about attitude boss, and you know how to pull that out with me.” Blue pauses as a delicious shiver coursed through her at the memory.

“Focus Blue…” You chuckle.

“Hmm? Oh right… But I mean there’s no need to. I can go and tell her off while you go see this Goldstump.”

“Goldstein.” You correct absently. “That’s… Not gonna be a problem?”

“Pfft. No. She knows she broke the rules, and I’m meaner than her.” Blue grins rapaciously, her sharp little teeth bared.

“Actually Blue…” You begin, scratching at the stubble on your cheek. “…Hang here a bit, I’m gonna go find Goldstein meself. That offsider of his gave me the willies and if I’ve got to drop a chunk of sky on him, I’d rather them not have the opportunity to hold you hostage.”

“But Booooossssss…” Blue laments, giving you her azure eyes.

“Don’t worry pup, we’ll go sort Juni out together.” You assure her, patting her head.

“Orright…” Blue sighs in acceptance.

“Good girl. Bella, could I impose upon you…”

“Hey!” Blue objects.

“Just to give me eyes on him, I’ll do the rest meself.” You explain.

“Aye, certes Adam… But art thou sure thou art not… EEEK!” Bella shrieks as an unseen hand yanks at her feathered, leonine tail.

“Got it darl. Cheers for asking though…” You smirk, tapping at your temple.

—

“There. That’s him.” You declare, pointing to the portly, well dressed human waddling down the street, the form of the Shoggoth almost flowing as it demurely moves beside him. “Set me down in the alley there.”

“Cry thou in a loud voice shouldst thou need my assistance. For yea, I shalt employ mine…” Bella whispers covertly as she sets you down.

“I got it Bella.” You chuckle, patting her Talon and kissing her cheek briefly. The Griffon’s mouth twists in a slight pout, before she beats her massive wings once, rendering herself airborne once more.

“Mr Goldstein, I presume.” You muse, stepping from the alley into the path of the portly man.

“M-Merciful Tyris!” He squawks, recoiling in surprise, his voice thin and reedy. “What do you want?”

“Hold the fucking farcaster…” You declare, noticing the difference between the portly man’s voice and the deep, resonant baritone you had heard in the T&G office. “…You’re not…”

A glint of steel catches your eye as a thin blade taps absently on your shoulder. You freeze, reaching for the Logos… And then the Shoggoth looks at you again…

“Gah!” You gasp, throwing an arm instinctively across your eyes, promptly cutting yourself on the blade resting on your shoulder. “OW! FUCK!”

“Well it serves you right for squirming” the more familiar voice chuckles from behind you, removing the blade. “Thank you Neville, that will be all.”

“N-no worries Mister Goldstein…” The portly man gulps, mopping his brow with a yellowed kercheif before waddling away at top speed. You weren’t exactly sure WHO the fat bastard was running from, to be perfectly honest.

Holding the cut on your arm, you turn to face the Magnate who has just outfoxed you.

“Adam of Gibson Holding I presume…” He drawls urbanely, a smug smile on his smoothly shaven face, finely boned like the most precisely bred Magisterian diplomat, his silver hair absolutely immaculate, high collar trailing down into a jacket and trousers which positively screamed obscene wealth. Tyris be Glorified, even the Baron didn’t tote such finery!

“That…” You grumble, holding up your cut arm. “…Was fuckin’ off value.”

“You tried to ambush me, did you not?”

“Tried to catch you off guard.” You correct.

“It amounts to the same thing.” Goldstein sniffs. “Come. Have a drink with me.”

“Master…” Yisbeth echoes, flowing towards you, her glowing yellow eyes suspicious.

“Yisbeth, don’t play with our creditor.” Goldstein chides gently, sheathing the thin blade into the haft of an ebony cane. “And please don’t dawdle Freeman. I have much to do and only so much time to afford you. Come.”

What could you do? You went…

—

“Fuck me…” You breathed, looking wide eyed at the subtle opulence of your surrounds.

“I’d really rather not. You’re a little rough for my tastes, Freeman.” Goldstein quipped in reply, gesturing for you to take a seat at a low table opposite him.

“Not what I… Nevermind.” You sighed, not willing to be drawn on the matter, especially not in such surrounds. “So… The Crux Club… High end.” You venture, sinking into the luxurious cushioning of your seat and feeling obscenely out of place. From the covert glances you were getting from nearby patrons, you weren’t alone in this conclusion. Goldstein murmurs a few words to the Shoggoth accompanying you, and with that same disconcerting flow of motion, Yisbeth moved to murmur quietly to the other nearby patrons, who near universally made haste to be anywhere but there. Soon, you were alone in the luxurious lounge.

“A completely manufactured exclusivity I assure you… In fact I can assure you there are a number of regular members here who Juni would just love to get her hands on.” Goldstein replies with a slight grin, signalling one of the few remaining waitstaff with the casual nonchalance of those used to being instantly obeyed.

You give a whistle of mock sympathy. “In the red?”

“To the proverbial neck.” Goldstein admits.

“Like who?”

“Ut ut… confidentiality, dear boy.” Goldstein chides, pausing as a Kikimora bends forward with a tray containing two tulip glasses with a rich, dark spirit within them. “Thank you Chesna. What are we blessed with today?”

“A rye distillate fashioned after Zipangan tradition. A favourite of The Aestenland High Lord, I am told, Sir.” The Kikimora replies demurely.

“Well then, in Zipangan tradition, Kampai.” Goldstein declares, raising his glass towards you.

“That’s disgusting.” You reply, making a face.

The magnate looks at you levelly. “You haven’t even tried it.”

“Yeah nah I don’t care how much of this plonk you fill me with, I’m not making a cum-pie.” You declare in revulsion.

“What? No… KAMPAI, you idiot…” Goldstein chuckles helplessly, shaking his head in disbelief. “Cum-pie… Really… What in the name of Tyris?”

“Old story…” You admit, somewhat bashfully after your obvious gaffe. “…’Bout how Succubi’ll milk you into a pie until you die from exertion. We used to tell each other the craziest shit when we were in the Abbey.”

“The most worrying thing there is that I can see it happening, under the right circumstances.” Goldstein remarks thoughtfully. “Nonetheless drink. Tell me what you make of it.”

You sip the spirit, feeling it burn its way across your palate. It was… interesting, almost ‘fresh’ in comparison to the smoky, and at times almost sickly sweet distillates popular in the Australs. You were, you had to admit, pleasantly surprised… Plus it kicked like a mare in heat.

“That’ll put some hair on your arse.” You declare, smacking your lips.

“I thought you’d enjoy it.” Goldstein replies, seemingly pleased with your reaction. “Still. To business. You put something of a hole in one of the walls of my office.”

“Thought it was Juni’s office…” You respond without thought.

“She may like to believe it so. Chesna, I believe we’ll move to something longer, perhaps involving citrus. The days do grow warmer after all.”

“Certainly, Sir.” The Kikimora replies deferently, her feathered tail rustling against her skirts as she moves away, but not before fixing a murderous glare at the back of the Shoggoth’s head. Yisbeth smirks, her glowing yellow eyes smug, yet she does not move from her position at Goldstein’s side.

“Kiki doesn’t like your assistant.” You remark.

Goldstein spares the departing Kikimora the slightest turn of his head. “Shoggoths and Kikimora have something of a… natural rivalry. Still, that’s besides the point. It’s easily repaired, in fact unless I miss my guess Juni probably has already strongarmed a stonemason into doing just that.”

“I’m not paying her back for it. Unlawful deprivation of liberty is a secular sin, and let’s just say her reasons for doing so wouldn’t make the church too pleased either.” You retort defiantly.

“She planned to rape you. I’m aware.” Goldstein replied nonchalantly, as if you had told him nothing more than your preferred fishing bait. “And the fact you did was expected and natural. I’m not seeking recompense from one of my best performing creditors for something so trivial. What I’m interested in is how.”

“Not bad this…” You remark, swirling the remaining spirit in your glass before polishing it off “…be interesting to find out how it’s made.”

“Zipangan distillers are remarkably close lipped about their… Ah.” Goldstein trails off, realizing your point. “Don’t ruin an edge by making it known.”

“For a man who keeps a pig-sticker in his walking stick I’m surprised that you weren’t expecting that response.”

“Still, there are other ways of revealing hidden truths. I did after all, invite you here to find out about you.” The magnate remarks, before promptly pulling a shard pistol from his jacket and pointing it at you.

“Tyris fuck!” You exclaim, rapidly raising a resonant shield in front of yourself.

“There.” Yisbeth remarks in that echoing voice. “He did it.”

“Resonance… Remarkable…” Goldstein almost purrs, rapping the barrel of his pistol against your hastily raised shield, the dull ‘chunk’ of alloy against whatever force prevented ingress through it sounding like nothing more than a spoon against a hard, stale loaf of bread.

“How commonplace…” Goldstein chuckles, as if reading your thoughts.

His nonchalance stings you. “Right.” You begin, your mouth curled with disdain. “So. You know from threatening me life I could set you and your moist little terrifying fuckin’ mate on fire with me brain and no law in the land could gainsay me?”

“Oh please, enough with the dramatics, it’s not even primed.” Goldstein scoffs, squeezing the trigger which does nothing but cause the device to emit a brief, impotent buzz. “Besides. I’m completely aware of the effect Yisbeth has on Resonants…”

Suddenly the Shoggoth was in your face, her glowing eyes filling your vision. Shrieking madness filled your brain and you cried out, squeezing your eyes closed. “I get the bloody point! Leave off!”

“Ufufufu…” The Shoggoth snickers smugly, tapping you on the nose with a cool finger. “…He’s cute when he’s scared.”

“Yisbeth. Don’t gloat, it’s unseemly.” Goldstein chides.

“Yes Master.” She replies automatically, and you feel more than hear her moving away from you. Experimentally, you crack an eye open to see her back at her place beside the finance magnate, moist hands folded demurely as if she had never moved.

“Orright… HOW.” You demand exasperatedly.

“Shoggoths are sensitive to changes in reality, considering their… Origin.” Goldstein begins.

“What are you talking about? They’re born of Hell the same as all Mamono.” You scoff.

“Oh no…” Goldstein tsks, shaking his head. “…They are projections into this world from… elsewhere. Expatriated and embraced by Maou in the centuries following, it’s true, but if you think Yisbeth is terrifying now, be glad you’re alive now and not in the time before that occurred.”

“How long are we talking?” You gulp.

“A million years or so, wouldn’t you say pet?” Goldstein queries.

“Yes Master, in vague terms.” The Shoggoth agrees.

“Fuck off.” You blurt. “You’re a million years old.”

“Dear me…” Yisbeth giggles in that echoing voice “…No. My memories are drawn from the sweet and warm times of my parents’ parents’ parents’ parents back to the beginning. The bits of a million lifetimes coalesced into a birth gift of complete awareness.

“Dinkum eh?” You reply, trying to look like you understood a single word of that. “Still doesn’t explain why you looking at me has me cheese perchin’ very precariously on me cracker.”

“Have a care, Mister Adam…” Yisbeth echoed warningly “…For there are forces beyond your ken at work in the world and when you know enough to see them…”

“Again? Tyris be bloody glorified I’ll stop you there.” You beg, holding up your hand. “At this stage I’m wondering if I shouldn’t find these ‘Forces’ and let them know a whole buncha cunts are talkin’ shit about them down here.”

Yisbeth blinks slowly, before raising a hand to her mouth and chuckling. “He’s funny, Master.”

“He certainly recovers quickly from the unexpected.” Goldstein admits.

“Mate if you knew even the bloody half of it…” You laugh, gladly taking the offered drink from the returning Kikimora. “Cheers sheila.”

“Well, to it then. Baron of Kalbarri.”

“You’re fuckin’ berko.” You reply absently, drinking deeply.

Goldstein steeples his hands. “You don’t want the position?”

“I’m not even twenty one yet. How the bloody buggering hell you reckon I’m gonna run a Barony?” You demand incredulously.

“You wouldn’t be the first. Ivy does have an eye for talent, she wouldn’t be putting you forward if she didn’t believe in you.”

You look levelly at the magnate over your goblet. “And I’m sure T&G are just gonna back me out the goodness of yer hearts… You know the kind of power a Baron has, legally, right?” You snort.

“We would of course insist on certain… Assurances.” Goldstein admits

“Such as?”

Goldstein rested his stick across his knees. “Your child.”

You call upon the Logos instinctively, the air around you positively crackling with power as you float from your seat to hover in the air. “There had better be a fucking explanation following that, fucking sharpish, or I’ll obliterate half the fucking block for that Heresy, cunt.”

“Language…” Goldstein sighs, seemingly unperturbed. “…And do calm yourself. We mean no harm, merely that you proceed as you already have been.”

“Explain.” You order, forming a white-hot ball of fire between your hands.

“The Kobold, Adam. Father her child… AFTER you become Baron.”

The shock of the suggestion shattered your attention, causing both flame and levitation to flee your mind like a covey of pigeons. With a slight exhalation, you collapse back in your chair. “The fuck? You know that’s a guaranteed way to find myself warming a square, right?”

“By Tyris, I do think he’s grasping it.” Goldstein remarks to his Shoggoth attendant. “Yes Adam. That is the idea. Play nice, and we keep your secret. Put us at odds, and suddenly our confidentiality will be much less guarded.”

“The Faith Militant would have questions for anyone who bore that information.” You remark, eyes narrowing suspiciously.

“After Neisha? You’d be lucky for the Paladins to GET to Kalbarri before the public lynches you.” Goldstein smirks. “Look, this can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, if you agree. A long and prosperous reign for you, and the Ascendency of Tenno and Goldstein in the Financial markets of The Australs.”

“I’m not the only option though.” You remark, reminding yourself as much as the Magnate.

“True. Chad of Gilgai Holding is a more than acceptable candidate for the Barony, and much easier to ingratiate into our influence, to be honest.” Goldstein admitted. “Look, this is getting much more heated than I intended, and my time, as I said, is limited.”

“What’s to stop me from going to the Waylanders with this the instant I leave?” You ask helplessly.

Goldstein smirks, putting an arm around his Shoggoth attendant and pressing his lips to hers. His silver hair shimmers, becoming a glossy black. His eyes change from ice-blue to a verdant green, and even his face seems to change.

“Please. Show me the Waylander who can find “Mister Goldstein” if he doesn’t wish to be found.” The Magnate chuckles, tapping his forehead with the metal head of his staff before standing and departing. “Enjoy the Hospitality of the Crux Club for as long as you wish, Adam. I will make a Baron of the Man who meets me here at this time tomorrow.”

“Fuck.” You grunt, throwing the remainder of your drink back.

—

“What’re you gonna do Boss?” Blue whines, looking at you askance with her azure eyes.

“No fucking idea Blue… But I for one am a bit fuckin’ peeved.” You admit, patting her absently. “Wanna go bully a Danuki?”

“Maou YES!” Blue grins rapaciously.

“Verily, I would question the wisdom of this course of action.” Bella muses warningly.

You shrug, still too irritated to really take her seriously. “Eh. Was gonna do it anyway Bella.”

“Certes. Well. Forsooth, ‘tis indeed thy fortune that I dine this eve with Miss Ivy.” The Griffon remarks. “…And mayhap it is better that ‘tis done by thee than by me.”

“Eh?” you grunt, raising an eyebrow at the Griffon.

“Thou wert churlish to tease her, certes. But parfay her actions were beyond pale in their own right. Also… I am made joyous at the thought of a Danuki begging.” Bella admits with the ghost of a smile and a covert wink.

“You’re a savage Bel, and I fuckin’ love you for it.” You laugh, ruffling the Griffon’s headfeathers.

“Were it not thee I would not be so accommodating. Daresay thou shalt owe me for this.” Bella replies naughtily.

“Wasn’t me.” Blue adds with overt innocence as you turn to regard her suspiciously.

You shake your head helplessly. “C’mon pup.”

The purple and orange tinges of twilight stain the dusty roads as you make your way through the thinning crowds towards the T&G office once more. All around you, a melange of delicious smells begins to waft, the cries of street hawkers vending all manner of fried mystery, probably as unhealthy as it is delicious beginning to ring out in the cool evening air.

“Reckon we shoulda eaten first?” Blue murmurs, staring longingly at some kind of fist-sized rodent impaled on a stick and fried in a thick golden batter.

“We’ll get a proper dinner at Joe’s later.” You assure her with a pat on the head.

The streets are nearly empty when you reach the office. A light is still on in the window. Good, you didn’t have to hunt her down.

“She alone pup?”

Blue nods. “Me first?” She asks pleadingly.

“Since you asked so nicely…” You grin, making a hooking gesture at the locked door, a resonant glyph raising the latch and pushing the door gently inward.

Blue barrels through the door at breakneck speed. “HIYA FLUFFYCALVES!” You hear her cry.

“Blue? What are you…ACK! S-stop!”

“Why? You didn’t…”

Okay probably a good idea to get in there. You sidled through the door, to see Blue pinning Juni against a bookshelf, the Danuki’s wrists pinned to the small of her back, Blue’s other paw yanking teasingly on her thick, fluffy tail.

“Wanna take liberties with MY Alpha? Juni… You KNOW that’s not how this works…” Blue almost purrs.

“Ngghhhaaaa” Juni moans, flushing in a mixture of discomfort and arousal. “W-wasn’t a big deal.”

“Sorry? Try again. All I heard was ‘Please Blue, can I have another…” The Kobold whuffles, sliding her paw lower.

“B-bitch!” Juni pants, shoving with surprising strength and bowling the Kobold over. Vaulting nimbly to her feet, Juni turns to glare at Blue “Your footwork sucks, Kobold.”

“Wasn’t me who soaked the floor…” Blue growls in retort, circling the Danuki with a predatory glare. “…how many times have you rolled up your little ball of yarn this afternoon?”

“N-none of your business! Dammit! This is MY office. I’M in charge here!” Juni shrieks, launching herself at Blue.

The Resonant Glyph you use is almost instinctive, it comes to you so easily, catching the Danuki almost in mid-air.

“Do you feel in charge?” You muse in a low, mocking tone.

“Adam? How…” Juni gasps, finally noticing you. “…Wait… You’re Resonant?”

“Mmmhmm.” You affirm, smiling smugly as Juni struggles against the bonds of pure force holding her in place.

“Then, this afternoon, you could have…” The Danuki gulps.

Your smug smile turns into a deaths-head grin. “They’d have been lucky to find enough of you to fill a bucket.”

“Speaking of buckets, boss…” Blue giggles, eyeing you naughtily.

“Behave.” You chide, popping her on the backside absently. Blue gives a short squeal, biting her lip as she stares at you lustfully.

“W-why play dumb?” Juni ventures.

“Not the sort of thing I’m supposed to just wave around. Politics. I’m sure you understand.”

“Then why…”

“Well your boss already knows, so I guess, who’s left to tell?” You shrug. “But that’s besides the point. What to do with you?”

“P-please… Don’t kill me…” Juni begs, seemingly on the edge of tears.

“Pfft… Yeah nah, not gonna kill you.” You scoff “Still… Can’t exactly just let today go.”

“Then what… aaahhh!” Juni’s query turns into a scream of surprise as you pull her bodily towards you, sitting on a nearby chair and positioning the Danuki face down across your lap.

“Now you’ve been a very, VERY bad girl Juni…” You remark, wrapping your hand absently around her tail.

“It’s just the season! Y-you’ve been doing nothing but teasing me and… Oooohhhh… P-please…” Juni sobs, squirming on your lap as you pull on her tail ever so slightly.

“Still, that was very unfair to Blue, wasn’t it pup?”

“Yehboss.” Blue growls throatily, ducking down to grin smugly in the Danuki’s face.

“What are you going to do to me?” Juni babbles in near-panic.

“A lesson needs to be learned, Juni. You’re used to getting your way, but I think it’s time someone reminded you what ‘Freeman’ really means.” You continue, bunching up her skirts and hiking them up, leaving her rounded backside covered by only a sheer set of smallclothes.

“You’re not serious… You’re going to spank me?! L-like a disobedient child?” Juni cries in disbelief. “Maou preserve me… This is so humiliating…”

A musky scent tickles your nostrils. Humiliated she might be, but from the way she squirmed, she was also absolutely SOAKED.

Drawing back your hand, you deliver a ringing spank to the Danuki’s buttock. Juni jolts with a squeal, her tail bottlebrushing and standing stiffly on end. You repeat the process on the other buttock, your experience chastizing Blue quickly letting you settle into the comfortable rhythm of habit. Still, as you warm Juni’s round, pert backside, you note with absent interest that at no point does she ask you to stop.

“Have we learned our lesson?” You ask in a low voice, almost a purr…

“Y-yes Freeman.” Juni sobs.

“Then what do you have to say to Blue?”

“I-I’m sorry for trying to rape your Alpha.”

“S’orright.” Blue whuffles with haughty magnanimity. “Now ask nicely.”

Juni stares disbelievingly at the Kobold from her position across your thighs. “What? You’re… letting me?”

“If you ask nicely.”

“P-please?” Juni whimpers. “I need it… I need it so fucking bad, I swear to Maou.”

“Boss?” Blue wheedles. “Could you do me a favour, please?”

“What would my good girl like?”

Blue’s answering grin is dripping with malicious mischeif. “Fuck the shit out of fluffycalves while I hold her down?”

“Hold… Wait…” Juni gasps as you raise her with Resonance, flipping her over so she lies on her back atop the counter. Blue wastes no time in straddling the Danuki across the torso, roughly pulling her clothing away until top and skirt are bunched in a rough wad around her waist. Planting her paws atop the Danuki’s hands, her blue eyes seem to positively blaze as she grins manically in Juni’s face. Opening her mouth, she licks at Juni’s jawline with her small pink tongue, drawing a squirm and a moan from the Danuki.

“Open up for him like a good girl now…” Blue pants, shifting her mouth to a nipple atop one of Juni’s ample breasts and biting teasingly with her small, sharp teeth.

Juni makes a noise halfway between a squeal and a moan, and opens her legs to you. Above her thrashing tail and the curves of her thighs, you notice your earlier assumption was correct. The Danuki was sopping wet, the petals of her innermost secrets seeming to open of their own accord. The sight made you almost hungry with desire, and you wasted no time freeing your own rapidly hardening manhood.

“Please… OH SWEET MAOU that’s all you!” Juni cries in shock where she peeks over Blue’s shoulder to regard you.

“Did you think he stuffed his drawers?” Blue chuckles.

“T-the possibility had entered my… Ooooohhhh Hell’s Throne! G-Gentle! Please!” She cries as you enter her. She isn’t quite as tight as Blue had been the first time, and she evidently is no virgin, but obviously the Danuki talked a much bigger game than she was actually experienced in.”

“Take it, Fluffycalves… Feel my Alpha inside you…” Blue growls, grinding atop Juni’s torso in rhythm with your thrusts. Having experienced her mischevious, playful submissiveness for the better part of your time together, seeing this dominance was an altogether new sensation… one you had to admit aroused you more than you expected.

“Maou… I’m… Cuh-cuh-cuhmmmiiinnnnggggggg” Juni shrieked, and you were grateful for latticed windows and thick walls as she cried out in her ecstasy.

“He could make you cum for days if he wanted… He can do anything… And who was his girl first?” Blue demands.

“W-what?” Juni groans, her eyes still unfocused with the aftershock of orgasm as you continue to thrust within her.

“Who. Was. His. Girl. First.” Blue repeats, her face mere inches from the Danuki’s

“Wuh… Y-you! You Werrrrrr… OH MAOU AGAIN! I’m… I’m…”

Juni’s fluffy calves clamp pythonlike about your waist and you feel her moisture positively dripping down your legs as she shakes around you.

“Blue… Pup… I’m getting close…” You grunt through gritted teeth.

“Yessss…” Juni hisses, staring at you with lustful eyes.

“Ut ut…” Blue tsks, pulling down her own shorts and presenting to you. “For me, master… For me…”

Almost instinctively, you pull yourself out of the Danuki, her yowl of protest transmuting into another sobbing moan as your dextrous fingers replace your member. As your teasing touch brings Juni to a third shaking orgasm, you plant yourself to the hilt within the Kobold’s molten core.

“M-master!” Blue moans, and the sensation of her around you sends you over the edge. With a choked groan, you erupt within her, feeling as if you would never stop. If you still held the Glyph on Juni, it had long since evaporated, your mind empty save for the waves of pleasure washing over you.

The three of you paused there a moment, A sweaty, heaving mass of flesh, fur, hair and clothing.

“Wow.” Juni moans. “And to think I would have been satisfied with you trussed up like a Midwinter ham.”

“Well I trust that our relationship will be a little more equitable from this point forward?” You prompt smugly, glancing at her shaking legs as Blue hops off her torso, The Danuki languorously fixing her clothing as Blue in turn straightened her shorts with a satisfied whuffle.

“Mmm…” Juni replies noncomittally.

“Do we have to go over this again?” You chide sternly.

“Oh… No… Trust me… I am DONE. I’m gonna be lucky to be walking tomorrow and Maou Bless you for it.” Juni replies. “And it’s evident that you can do whatever you want to me and I can’t do a thing about it.”

“Glad that’s settled.” You reply.

“C’mon Boss, I’m hungry.” Blue demands, once again the petulant submissive as she pulls at your wrist with a tawny paw.

“Oh, Freeman?” Juni adds as you open the door.

“Yes Juni?”

“Who really got what they wanted tonight?”

You pause as the realization hits you. “C’mon Blue…” You grumble, closing the door to the sound of the Danuki’s satisfied chuckling.

“I’m confused boss… Did she play us or is she just pretending she did to save her own ego?” Blue asks, looking up at you, her azure eyes luminous in the darkness as you walk towards the light and noise of Joe’s Tavern.

“Let’s go with the latter and be happy with it, pup…” You sigh. “…The alternative doesn’t bear thinking about.”

—

“Mfff” You mumble, still half asleep, your nose and mouth occluded by a soft, furry object. “Blue.”

“Myehboss?” The Kobold’s sleepy whuffle replies.

“Get your paw off my face.”

Blue moves, cuddling into you and you are struck with an intense sense of deja-vu. Outside in the morning light, a raven caws harshly.

“C’mon Blue… We’d better get up.” You prompt, pushing the Kobold off you gently and swinging your legs out of bed.

“Ten more minutes…” The Kobold whines, throwing her paws about your torso.

“Nah, my fuckery-sense is tingling. Something happened last night and I’ve got to figure out… Wait… Where’s Bella?”

“She was talking to Chad and Ivy when we left, remember? River walked back with us.” Blue yawns, stretching slowly, obviously trying to entice you with her scantily clad form.

“On any other morning that would work pup… Something’s bothering me though… Did she come to bed last night?”

“Not that I can remember…” Blue admits. “…But she’s a big girl boss, she can take care of herself.”

“You’re right…” You sigh. “C’mon. Bacon awaits.”

That was enough to get the Kobold moving, and in short order you both found yourself dressed and seated within the dining area of Cicerello’s Inn.

“See boss? There she is!” Blue declares, pointing at the Griffon who seems lost in thought. “Hey Feathers!”

Bella looks over at you, her face conflicted, as if something was bothering her. Before you can say anything, Chad presumptively plants himself at your table.

“Adam, thank Tyris. I really need to talk to someone…” The young man begins earnestly.

Blue sniffs the air and her jaw drops, eyes wide as saucers. “No bloody way!” She gasps in utter astonishment.

Your brow furrows in thought, as you look over at the Griffon and back to the Human at your table… Both with the same uncomfortable bearing… both looking anywhere they could except for at each other.

“Tyris be fucking glorified…” You groan, burying your head in your hands as you chuckle helplessly.

“Come on Adz, this isn’t funny.” Chad remonstrates in a rather hurt tone.

“No, I imagine it wouldn’t be.” You admit. “And if Blue’s jaw on the floor is any indication it’s probably a conversation we’d be better off having in a more private locale. Tell you what, there’s a factor’s office called ‘Breyten Trading’ on the west side of the trade district. It should still be vacant. Meet me there in about an hour?”

“Thanks Adz. C’mon River.” Your fellow human beckons with a tight smile.

“But I haven’t finished my breakfast!” River whines sulkily.

“She can hang with us if you like Chad. We haven’t even really started after all.” You offer.

“You alright with that little one?” Chad asks. River nods eagerly, pushing her way next to Blue who eagerly makes space for her fellow Kobold.

“Eat up Girls…” you encourage “…I’m gonna talk to Bella.”

“Kayboss.” Blue murmurs from around a mouthful of bacon.

“Unku mushtuh Adam.” River burbles through a mouth full of eggs.

“Right…” You chuckle, making your way over to the Griffon. “…You alright Bel?”

“Adam… Certes… I…” Bella blusters, refusing to meet your gaze.

“Bella…” You entreat. “…it’s me.”

“Verily, I know not. Parfay it all happened so fast, and now… I doth not know how I feel!” Bella gushes helplessly, shifting her massive wings.

“Right. Definitely not a conversation to be had here.” You confirm. “Blue? You remember where Breyten’s is?”

“Yehboss.” Blue replies, digging into a bowl of beans

“When you and River have finished emptying Cicerello’s larder, meet us there?”

“No beating up whoever hurt Feathers until I get there!” The Kobold insists seriously.

“Me too!” River demands.

“Yeh right…” You chuckle. “…C’mon Bel.”

“I pray they do not cause mischief on my account.” Bella ponders, following you from the Inn and up the road.

“Nah. They love you though, in their own weird, overenthusiastic way.”

“Thou art becoming most attuned to the Kobold mindset, Adam.” Bella remarks.

“Yeh… Guess spend months on end together and you’re gonna pick up on each other’s bad habits eventually.” You admit.

“Certes.” Bella agrees softly.

“So. I’m gonna take a few guesses, and you let me know if I’m anywhere close to the mark.” You offer, patting Bella on the talon comfortingly. “You, Chad and Ivy were talking and drinking and generally having a beaut old time until quite late last night.”

“A-aye.”

“And at some point, you stopped talking.”

“Well…”

“Hmm?”

Bella wrings her talons “I-Ivy left first… Chad and myself were talking about rock moorings… Forsooth, for be it all wonder that climbing the Gorge walls is a popular pastime for the young men of Kalbarri. I too remember similar joy in exploring the hidden mysteries of a sheer face. Then… We stopped talking.”

“And things got heated.”

Bella spares you an uncertain glance. “A-Aye.”

“Ahhh… Dammit.” You groan.

“Prithee forgive me, I did not mean to hurt thee, yet…” Bella begs, clinging to your arm with her talons.

“Shhh… It’s not that Bel.” You assure her, delicately extracting your arm from her deadly talons “Do you like him?”

“I… I think I may.” Bella admits. “I mean forsooth indeed I am fond of thee to great extent but he… He’s different.”

“Don’t stress Bel.” You wave magnanimously, trying to keep the sting from your voice. It was only sex, it wasn’t like you were losing her as a friend, so why did this bother you so much? “Remember I’m human, we’re bred to take this sort of thing philosophically.”

“I suppose.” Bella agrees, yet her face is still troubled.

You raise an eyebrow. “So what’s still bothering you?”

“Do you think he likes me?” Bella asks in a small voice.

“Bella, in the months on the road I’ve never seen Chad show an interest in any Mamono apart from River.”

“Wilt she not be incensed, yea, that I hath…”

“Oh! No! Tyris…” You laugh suddenly “…River and Chad are… so not like that… Bloody hell.”

“I do not understand.”

“I’m sure he’ll explain everything.” You assure her, swinging the creaking door to Breyten’s abandoned office open. A human figure spins around in the dim, cool interior.

“Adam. Thank Tyris.” Chad breathes in relief. “And… Oh… Lady Bella.”

“Certes, Chad… After last night I would think we had dispensed…”

Chad starts making strangling noises, looking at you in wide eyed consternation.

“S’orright mate, I know.” You assure him. “But there’s one thing I want you to answer me true.”

“Of course.” Chad assures you.

“Do you like her?”

“Adz! She’s… Right here!” Chad chokes, flushing beet-red.

“Should make it easier. Now answer me, or I’ll thump ya.” You threaten.

“I… Tyris forgive me, I do! I’ve never met anyone who… GETS me like she does!” Chad admits desperately.

“Parfay…” Bella murmurs, flushing crimson and covering her cheeks with her talons, wings luffing up clouds of dust.

“Ack… pthpt…” You spit, waving the dust away from your face. “Well fuckin’ congrats, and I pray The God keep yer tryst away from the nosy eyes of the Church.”

“Blasphemy!” Chad gasps.

“Really cunt?” You reply levelly.

“Ah… point… I withdraw.” Chad concedes.

“Your Grace is received.” You wave dismissively. “Now… What’s got me a bit concerned is Ivy.”

“Ivy? She’s a lovely woman, what’s the issue?” Chad asks in a puzzled tone.

Briefly, you outline Goldstein’s stick-and-carrot speech from the afternoon previous. “…Needless to say, I have no bloody interest in a Barony I barely know, let alone my ability to govern it.”

“You’d be better than Neisha…” Chad counters.

“Fuckin’ BLUE would be better than Neisha.” You snort. “…Point being though, I can’t dismiss Ivy tryin’ to get you to put a bun up Bella for the purposes of future fuckery.”

Bella screeches in outrage and Chad makes a similar noise. “How fuckin’ dare!?” He gasps incensedly. “You reckon I’m so fuckin’ green I’ll go to bed with a Mamono, regardless of my station, just because a Taurean, who’s done NOTHING but go out of her way for us, mind you, suggests it?”

“Oi cunt, don’t shank the fuckin’ messenger.” You retort.

“Bearin’ false witness is a sin Adz, and right now I’ve got nothing to go on but a tall tale about some rich prick in the Crux Club.” Chad replies evenly, folding his arms. “I think me and Bella owe each other some discussion… In Private.”

You glance to your side at the Griffon, who is looking at you with a slightly hurt expression. Fuck this. If they weren’t going to listen to sense, then it was their bed.

“Fine. Fifteenth toll at the Crux Club. You want to be Baron? Be there. Maybe you’ll thank me for it someday, maybe you won’t… Hope you’re alive to do it. Just be fucking careful.” You grunt, exiting through the creaking door. “Ungrateful cunts…” You grumble to yourself.

You’re not exactly sure what’s driving your wandering outside of pure bloody-minded irritation, but you head into one of the smaller taprooms on the whimsical decision to try and wash the acid out of your throat… Sure enough, there at a table, laughing it up with Garrett and a couple of her other employees, the lush form of the Taurean Ivy.

You were going to use Resonance to set fire to the next Raven you saw, and fuck the consequences.

“Well Howdy Sugar.” Ivy declares. “Ain’t this some good luck?”

“If you say so…” You muse evenly, narrowing your eyes.

Ivy’s floppy bovine ears do not fail to catch your tone. “Orright boys. Here’s y’all’s wages, don’t spend it all on drink now.” She chides motheringly, handing each of the men an Underwriter’s note. “Adam, I wasn’t expecting you to be here, but I’ve got my book upstairs if’n you feel like popping up for a bit.”

The men’s chuckles turn lewd and knowing as they grin mockingly at you.

“Spell it out boys…” You grate, fixing the group with a death’s head grin and putting your hand atop the hilt of your cutlass. The chuckles die off, replaced with puzzled looks.

“Don’t pay him no mind. Go on now, y’all know the beer here’s terrible.” Ivy tsks, waving them away. “C’mon Adam, we’ll get you sorted out in short order.” The Taurean insists, beckoning you up the stairs at the taproom’s rear.

“Now…” Ivy sighs, closing and bolting the door after herself after ushering you into a cozy if humble room. “…Mind tellin me why you’re acting so fanny-flustered?”

“Where to fuckin’ begin, Ivy? You were gonna let me get raped yesterday…” You begin.

“Lemme stop you there. I KNEW Yisbeth was on her way. The whole point was to warn Juni in the first place… But then you had to swagger on in and get distracting. If’n you had just played it straight Juni never woulda even got that worked up!”

“So you’re telling me the whole ‘let it happen’ spiel was for Juni’s benefit…” You offer suspiciously.

“She’s still Senior Factor on the West Coast Adam! I need my Job!” Ivy declares incredulously “Juni was in NO shape to listen to reason. Maou… You really are as dense as they say, aincha?”

“Get a dog up ya.” You retort.

“Ain’t my taste, though yer girl is sweet as pie. She don’t deserve a man actin’ the dang fool like this…” Ivy rounds on you, hands on her broad hips.

“You keep yer fuckin…” You begin, raising a finger.

“HUSH yo mouth.” Ivy demands in a tone of unquestionable authority. “And then I hear you done went back and drilled her a quarter inch into the bench anyway. So you can SPARE me the woe-betide-me act because that werewolf don’t hunt.”

“How bout the one that got Bella and Chad bumpin’ uglies?” You retort. “That one got a better nose on it?

“What in tarnation are you on about?” Ivy demands.

“Oh, dunno… just your Boss giving away your plan to use Blue’s potential daughter as leverage on me if I accepted the Barony?” You muse smugly “You knew Chad was the better candidate… It just makes sense.”

“You… You think that I…” Ivy gasps.

“Don’t lie to me. Goldstein told me you wanted my child.” You growl.

“YOURS, you dumb fucker! Because we ain’t got shit else on you” Ivy retorts, pawing the floorboards with a digitigrade hoof. “You done go pulling the impossible out your ass like some kind of… Some kind of….”

“What.”

“The fire… The Ghoul… Bella with that dang boat… thing musta weighed a million tons… Juni wasn’t exaggerating! You… You’re Resonant!” Ivy gasps, backing away from you.

“Don’t try and play to my ego, Ivy… We’re not talking about me right now.” You warn. “You pushed Bella at Chad. Go on, deny it.”

“Alright! I did. Could we use their kid? She ain’t even sure she can have them, mind, there’s one thing you didn’t know we talked about, and I betcha something you never even asked.” Ivy accused. “But yeah, it’s a factor. Was it why I did it? No. You want the truth, Adam of Gibson Holding? I did it to get her away from you!”

“The FUCK?!” You exclaim.

“Fuckin’ frontier packer, right down to the bone, you don’t even know you’re doing it!” Ivy laughs, tears welling in her eyes. “Blue’s the sweetest girl, but she’s changing you. You’re becoming a Pack Alpha… and while that works for some Mamono… The rest of us? It’s fun for a little while, the dominance, the wildness… but some of us need more.”

“I don’t understand… It’s just Sex…”

“And there it is… The dang Pax, havin’ a sick ol’ dance with the pack mentality in yer brain there. You Humans are losin’ it… little by little, year by year, generation by generation. It’s killin’ you and y’all don’t even know it.”

“You’re lucky I’m not a Paladin, Ivy…” You warn, completely astonished by her outburst.

“At least a Paladin I can rely only thinks with one head, not three!” Ivy snorts. “You’d break that poor girl’s heart. Dangit… I nearly let you get to me… I… I like you sugar, you’re a one-of-a-kind sorta guy… but you’re like black lotus blossom… eventually we gotta give you up.”

“I…” You blurt helplessly.

“Your account’s been updated. Go check with the office if’n y’all are wanting a full statement.” Ivy sobs, sitting on the bed, big tears falling from her soft brown eyes. “Might wanna give Juni a day… She’s indisposed this mornin’… Can’t think why.”

“Ivy…”

“Just go…” the Taurean sniffs.

“Ivy… I’m…” You begin, feeling somewhat guilty now the burst of self-righteous irritation had run its course.

“If the next word outta your mouth is ‘Sorry’, I’mma hit you, Resonant or no, y’hear?” The curvaceous Taurean interjects with surprising heat. “We are who we are, that’s all we can be… We all gotta make our way in this broken ol’ world.”

“I didn’t want…” You attempt, halfheartedly reaching for her.

“I know y’didn’t sugar…” Ivy sighs, taking your hand and pressing it briefly to her tear-smudged cheek before patting it briefly with her other hand and releasing it. “…but y’did, and you can’t take it back now. I don’t hate you, for what it’s worth.”

“If things had been different…” You offer lamely

Ivy gives a great, gusty sigh, fixing you with her red-rimmed eyes. “Criminently Adam, will you quit tryin’ to shove the Djinn back in the bottle?! You’ve said yer piece and I’ve said mine. Hatchet’s buried but you’re REALLY tryin’ me right now.”

“Yeh. Right. Fair enough… Until… next time, I guess.” You offer by way of farewell, waving slightly as you leave.

“Yeah. See you, Freeman.” Ivy offers absently, holding a pillow to her chest as you close the door behind you.

“One down, I suppose.” You murmur to yourself, walking absently through the late morning crowds. Blue and River would have no doubt found Chad and Bella at the office by now… Strange that your own Kobold hadn’t sniffed you out after discovering that you were no longer there.

—

“…Must admit, I am surprised that you managed to find me so readily.” A deep, smooth voice exclaimed from somewhere within the muted din of daily commerce. You swore internally, you recognised that voice.

“Adam’s not the only one with a few tricks up his sleeve, Goldstein.” Chad’s reply sounded, freezing you into surprised immobility. “I’ve still got a few people in House Reinhardt’s court who remember which Gilgai kept his mouth shut.”

“Ah me… to be so cynical at your age!” Goldstein chides, and you spot the pair through the crowd, the Shoggoth Yisbeth flowing demurely a pace behind them.

They hadn’t spotted you yet. You hid yourself unobtrusively behind a dusty pile of empty crates, waiting for them to pass you by. Court intrigue… Yeah, if anything solidified your decision not to have anything to fucking do with the Barony, it was that. Something sticky meets your hand as you rest it atop a nearby crate. Absently, you wipe it off on your shirt, too engrossed in the conversation to care.

“I don’t understand the obsession with him.” Chad continued. “Seems like everywhere I turn it’s Adam of Gibson Holding this, Adam of Gibson Holding that… Tyris, what am I saying… I shouldn’t talk behind the bloke’s back like this.”

“You’re hardly impugning his character, dear boy.” Goldstein scoffed “But I’m not the one who brought him up.”

“Yeh… Sorry. Had a bit of a blue with him this morning… Personal matter. I’ll get over it.”

“He told you that I was planning to ransom a potential daughter against his cooperation?” Goldstein replied evenly.

“Tyris! We’re in public for fuck’s sake, Goldstein!” Chad hisses, looking around furtively… Damn, they were getting too far away. You moved as unsuspiciously as you could up the line of rude stalls and shopfronts, making some show of examining a pair of vintners shears.

“Nobody’s interested in us, Yisbeth is seeing to that.” Goldstein assured the younger human, gesturing presumptively behind him at the Shoggoth..

“…Did you?” Chad finally blurted.

“Of course I did. Leverage is leverage after all, and I don’t think he appreciated how MUCH power a Baronial seat would have given him over our affairs in Kalbarri.”

“And I got salty at him for telling the truth…” Chad sighed guiltily.

“Yeah. Put that in yer pipe and smoke it.” You thought with mild viciousness.

“Don’t tell me you’ve played the commoner for so long you can’t see the converse, My Prince.” Goldstein chides. “If he’d betrayed us, we wouldn’t have been shy about exposing his Heresy, it’s true. But loyalty runs both ways as well, A positive relationship would have meant our unconditional protection on any… let’s call them ‘Happy Accidents’.”

There were no more stalls… You grumble, looking around. That roof wasn’t exceptionally high…

Stepping into a side alley, you called upon the Logos, lifting yourself up to the flat rooftop before crouching at its edge.

“Can I assume you’ll be looking to make similar arrangement with me?” Chad asks suspiciously.

Goldstein laughs, “With what you have planned in the Murchison? That’s small beer, my Prince.”

A cloud of dust swirls around you, accompanied by the sound of massive wings, making you turn in surprise.

“Verily, it is rude to eavesdrop.” Bella chides evenly.

“Oh yeh? What’re you doing then?” You retort with a cheeky grin.

“Hush thou…” Bella retorts, trying to suppress a smile. “…Adam…”

“Nah shaddup a sec.” You plead, holding up a hand. “I’m sorry Bel. Didn’t matter how right I may have been, it didn’t give me the right to go wavin’ my proverbial about, especially considering how touchy y’both were about what happened last night. I shoulda treated you both with more regard.”

“I… Thank thee.” Bella admits, hesitantly reaching out with a talon.

“Geddere…” You insist, grabbing her talon and pulling her into a warm embrace. The Griffon screeches slightly in surprise, yet soon melts into the hug, her talons tight against your back.

“Forgive me?” You ask.

“C-certes… And… I hope…” She stammers, fighting tears.

“You’re going with Chad.” You finish for her. Why does that sting again?

“It is not as thou mayest think.” Bella assures you, slight desperation in her voice. “We had much opportunity to discuss things earlier. Chad shalt be Baron, which will mean much change to things such as they are. Mayhap it shall mean that all we shall ever have was one night and enduring respect and affection.”

You raise an eyebrow in confusion, “Then why go?”

Bella releases you from her embrace. “His dismissal of Neisha shalt be somewhat… declarative. The Mamono of the surrounds shalt be in disarray. He believes that I can be of some assistance in allowing sweet reason to prevail.”

“No arguments there.” You agree. “And of course the other reason.”

“Prithee… Other reason?” Bella asks, failing to keep a poker face.

“Bella you will never be able to lie worth a damn. Thank Tyris.” You chuckle, shaking your head. “You know… Me getting all packy, apparently.”

“Thou sayest it as if it were a bad thing!” Bella objects. “Parfay, ‘tis not! Thou art whom… and I pray He forgiveth mine presumption… Thy God hath made thee to be. I hath not known any other man before thee, in any sense. The Order were not human as thou art, as all of thee art! They wert… twisted. Broken. Mamono may lament the strictures of the Pax but I say truly unto thee, if they had lived through the alternative as I hath… They would not be so quick to lament.”

“Tell that to Ivy, I think she needs some perspective.” You drawl softly.

“Certes, I agree with thee on that front. She is a most intelligent and talented woman, but she doth allow her heart to lead her on far too many occasions. I am told ‘tis a Taurean thing.” Bella nods. “But… yea. After the opportunity to SEE humans as they live, both here and in Kalbarri… Nay… I am sorry. I shalt always be grateful to thee for saving me in Thealiss, I shalt always hold thee as most treasured friend… but I cannot any longer be with thee, lest mine heart be broken, for thou shalt never be what I wish thee to be.”

“I’m sorry.” You offer sincerely.

Bella shakes her head. “Thou needst not be. The Gods hath a plan for thee, e’en as my faith dictateth they holdeth one for me.”

“You’ll… Let Blue say goodbye?” You ask, your throat feeling oddly… thick.

“Oh certes.” Bella assures you. “Now I must away, lest that man and his horror convince Chad of actions most unbecoming a Noble of enlightened and chivalrous bearing.”

“Chad?” You scoff.

Bella sniffs. “Hush thee.” She demands primly before taking wing.

“Whatever you say Bel…” You muse with a note of melancholy to the dusty ghost of her departure.

—

“Where is me damn Kobold?” You mutter to yourself, before cupping a hand to your mouth. “Blue! Geddere!”

“Cooo-eee!” Comes a ringing cry.

“Hold the fuckin’ farcaster… that’s not…” You begin in slight alarm. Breath whooshes from your lungs as a broad pair of oversized feet plant themselves squarely in your back, driving you to the ground.

“Tyris FUCK…” You groan, rolling over to see the grinning form of Kira, Tristan’s other indentured Kangaroo. “…fuckin’ ‘Hello’ woulda done.”

“Yeah nah” Kira retorts. “You’re up to something.”

“Kira I told you when I was seventeen, I’mma tell you now. I am not going to play strip-search with you.”

“How Lewd!” Kira gasps girlishly, putting a slender, sharp-clawed paw to her sun-kissed face, deliberately pressing her modest breasts, clad in a leather jerkin together and giving you a deliberate eyeful of cleavage. “And have Blue do me hammies? No fuckin’ fear freeman, I’m on duty.”

“Then why the introduction to the road?” You demand, getting up and dusting yourself off.

“Because everyone’s been looking for you most of the day. Master Tristan got some REAL interesting things said about you.”

You swallow briefly. “Such as?”

“Well someone real high up in the tulies said that they didn’t know where you were, and were worried you were gonna do something dumb, but you hadn’t done it yet, so Tristan wanted me to come get you, then Blue comes barging in…”

“Blue’s at the Tavern? Why?” You interrupt.

“Looking for you, believe it or not, and she’s in a right state, causin’ Tristan no end of grief.”

“Tyris… Blue…” You breathe, heading off in a run towards the Taproom which comprised Tristan’s waylander ‘Office’.

“Hey!” Kira calls, bounding alongside you. “I get to say I found you.”

“Why…” You pant absently.

“Because Master will pat my head and tell me I done good…” Kira sighs dreamily, driving herself a good eight feet in the air with an enthusiastic hop, her thick, muscular tail stiff behind her.

“Bloody Mamono…” You grumble, dodging various townsfolk in your mad scramble to the tavern.

—

…And I want the Dominus, and the Kitties, and Princess Tittywings and her sisters, and Hatty-Lady and Fangs, and Blondie, and all the waylanders, and that angry man from Kalbarri, and the Horsepussies, and…” You heard Blue demanding as you stepped into the tavern.

“Blue! Down! We’ll bloody find him! Tyris be Merciful…” Tristan grumbled. “…will someone get ahold of her?”

“She’s too fast Waylander!” Another voice bemoaned.

“Tyris Almighty… Blue, Geddere.” You order shortly, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“Boss! Bossbossbossboss…” Blue cries joyously, before clambering straight over the top of the milling crowd and throwing herself into your arms. “…Icouldn’tfindyouandnobodywaslookingandIwassoworriedand… Angon…” The Kobold paused, pushing herself away from you.

“Blue…” You begin, feeling slightly concerned.

“Why don’t you smell like him? Who are you and what have you done with my Boss!” Blue snarls, baring teeth and hackles at you.

You stare incredulously at the Kobold. “Blue, it’s me, what’s gotten into you?”

“Reverence?” Tristan asks, and the crowd parts to let the wimpled form of Sister Rachael step through.

“Priestess-Lady… Make it take off my Boss’s skin! Make it do it now!” Blue pleads, clinging to the High Priestess’s robes.

“What the actual fuck…” You demand, only to feel Kira’s claws sieze your shoulders. Your heart hammers in your ears. The room seems to go dim around you.

“Do not think that you have gone unnoticed…” A voice echoes inside your head “…And do not assume that Obedience is the same as Acceptance… We Shall be watching you…”

“It’s in my HEAD!” You shriek as the room returns to normal, throwing your arms into the sign of the sunburst. “Holy God above All, is there no help for a Son of the Church?”

The High Priestess jerks as if struck by those ritual words. “Sir Neil! The Benedictus!” She orders, pointing at you with a long, slender finger.

The Paladin wastes no time, pushing through the crowd and grabbing you with a mailed hand, his other hand igniting in golden fire as he calls upon the Divine Blessing.

“Absolve me…” You beg, desperately searching for the Logos from within the miasma of fear roiling in your skull.

“Hold on Adz…” He murmurs, waving his hand across your body. “…There. Shoggoth. And POTENT with it.”

“Adam!” Rachael chides in disgust.

“She was a maid and I swear I never touched her!” You reply quickly “Put me to the Confession if you don’t believe me!” Screw it, you’d take the lashes for your indiscretions and be glad for it.

“Won’t be necessary… Here…” Neil remarked with distaste, pulling his hand away as if drawing a wound. Driblets of dark matter leech from your stained shirt, and you feel a tugging as Blue’s rooster-spur totem pulls with it.

“You slimed Blue’s present!” Kira remarks mockingly. “No wonder she’s pissed.”

“Sorry pup…” You offer sincerely. Blue glares for a moment, sniffing the air.

“I… I can smell you again! Oh Boss…” Blue crows, reaching out for you before being halted by the High Priestess.

“The Benedictus isn’t good for you, little pup.” She chides gently. “Are you finished, Sir Neil?”

“Just about…” The Paladin grunts. “…and… there.” The light flares brightly and the dark matter hanging in its luminescence is incinerated with a tiny puff of noxious smoke. “You, Adz, are one lucky son-of-a-bitch. Tyris bless and keep you…” The Paladin places his hand momentarily on your head in blessing, before cuffing you behind the ear. “…Next time be more careful what you wipe on yourself.”

“Yes, Your Worship.” You agree readily.

“One moment. Mental traces may yet remain.” Rachael adds, placing her hand against your face, the sigils upon her forehead glowing.

“Is it done?” She asks in the vaults of your mind.

“ Yes…” You reply.

“The Kalbarrian?”

“Yes.”

“With Tenno and Goldstein as his backer… it is not ideal, but it is acceptable, speedy, and in all likelyhood, stable… Well done.”

“He is fine.” Rachael assures the curious crowd out loud.

“Can I PLEASE hug my Boss now?” Blue laments. Rachael laughs, and the wind is nearly torn from you a second time as Blue fervently throws her paws around you.

“Good girl Blue.” You murmur, patting her head. “Well Tristan, I’m here, you can call off the search parties.”

“Bonza.” The Waylander declares, still clearly nonplussed by all the carry-on.

“I found him!” Kira gushes, bounding up to Tristan’s side and almost wiggling like a puppy in anticipation.

Tristan sighs, rolling his eyes and placing his hand between the Kangaroo’s long, furred ears. “Good girl, Kira.”

Kira gives a high squeal of pure delight, looking as if her legs were going to give out from under her at her master’s praise. Blue peers at the Kangaroo quizzically.

“At least I don’t do that in public…” She murmurs against you.

“Whatever you say Blue.” You chuckle, patting her on her back and pretending not to notice her frantically wagging tail.

“Perhaps you’ll tell me what the bastard Hell you’ve gotten involved in that I’ve got courtiers from the Baron’s select council telling me to keep the eye on you.” Tristan asks, folding his arms.

“Nothing. Someone with a bit of clout made the mistake of thinking I’m someone I’m not. Corrected the issue, no more problem.” You assure him. “Listen Waylander, I’m burning daylight and those three shit-lizards are eating me dry the longer they stay stabled. Mind if I…”

“Yeh… Gairn… apart from seemingly being the most interesting cunt this side of the docks today y’ain’t done nothing illegal. Git.”

“Good to see you again Tristan. C’mon Blue…” You offer, putting an arm about the Kobold’s shoulders and leading her from the Tavern.

“No more Shoggies Boss.” Blue harrumphs sulkily.

“Tyris help me I hope not… They can get through me Resonance and THAT shit ain’t fun… and to find out their goop lets them in me head? I see another one I’m running or setting it on fire.”

“Best Boss Ever.” Blue whuffles happily. “Where’s Feathers?”

You grimace. “Ah… That one’s gonna be a thing… C’mon pup… I’ll tell you back at the Inn.”

—

Blue’s disbelief turned to tears as Bella arrived to say her goodbyes in person. Saddened though the Kobold might be, she seemed to instinctively understand Bella’s reasoning.

“I wanna go home…” Blue snuffled into your chest as you lay in the quiet dark with her.

“Back to Gibson? No dramas Blue, we’ll stop through tomorrow morning, maybe even stay a couple days if you want.” You assure her, kissing the top of her head.

“No Boss… I wanna go to Nulla’s Line, and I want you to come with me.”

You raise her face to meet yours, wiping a stray tear away gently with your thumb. “Where’s this coming from? This about the whole ‘Pack Alpha’ thing?”

“That…” Blue admits. “…It’ll be easier to… explain it there. But mostly I feel… I need to… reconnect. To the Spirits, to the sacred places…”

—

“How do I say it again?” You ask, trying to mimic the oddly complex movements your Kobold was showing you.

Blue makes an odd bark-whine, which you do your best to replicate.

“Mmmaybe you should just stick to Magisterian, hey Boss.” The Kobold suggests delicately, stifling her giggle with a paw.

“Just trying to make a good impression on yer mum, pup.” you retort gently, mussing the Kobold’s short, tawny hair.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve already done that.” Blue yawns, stretching out atop the wagon’s canvas cover in the afternoon sun, clad once again in naught but a brief pair of shorts and a leather halter. “She couldn’t stop talking about what a nice young man you were… Between Rats.”

“Heh, taking meat in Port Fremantle… Seems like forever ago.” You chuckle.

“It does hey…” Blue agrees. “…It feels like there was never a time we weren’t together.”

“Blue…”

“Mmm?”

“Look at me.”

Blue props herself up on her elbows. “Yehboss?”

The words “I love you.” leave your mouth like they have countless times before, yet this time there’s something… different behind them. Deeper. Blue’s azure eyes widen, her heart nestled therein, and her cheeks blush rose-red.

“I-I Love you too, M-master.” she stammers, wringing her paws as her tail thumps furiously against the canvas.

“Do you really think they’ll like the presents?”

Blue shrieks in frustration, hitting you with a furred paw. “Way to completely kill the mood Boss!” she laments, not really fighting as you restrain her by hugging her slender body against yours.

“It just seems so… Domestic.” You explain.

“Metal pots? Hides cured in tannin and not brains and piss? Good steel tools? Glasswrought beads?” Blue asks incredulously. “I am going to have to tie you to Four to keep my cousins off you!”

“You’re not tying me to shit, Pup…” You declare, kissing her briefly.

“Awww…” Blue laments, snuggling into you.

“Getting hot.” You declare, removing your hat briefly and wiping the sweat from your brow.

“In the middle of the road like this? Why Boss, what will people think?!” Blue snickers lewdly.

“No, I mean LITERALLY Pup…” You chide, tapping her nose with your finger. “…Never liked Summer in the interior.”

“You haven’t BEEN to the interior Boss.”

You look down at the Kobold incredulously. “Did you miss the bit where we spent like a straight month or so in Thealiss?”

“In summer, I mean. A two-dayer out to the Sawyer’s doesn’t count either.” Blue declares primly.

“Oh really…” You reply, tickling Blue’s midsection mercilessly, ignoring her shrieking, howling laughter.

“S-stop! Please Boss!” Blue begs desperately.

—

“D-don’t stop! Oh! Boss! Don’t Stoohhhhaaaaaaaaa!” Blue’s panting exhortation turns into a shuddering cry as she throws her limbs around you, shaking with orgasm. Feeling your own passion rising, you give a choked moan as you feel yourself erupt within the Kobold’s scalding depths.

“You think…” Blue gasps as you roll off her, your own chest rising and falling with exertion “…we’ll ever get bored of this?”

“Well I’m a bigger fan of beds, serve to keep the sticks out of me arse better than the swag Blue…”

“Not what I meant!” Blue retorts, playing with the sparse hair on your chest absently as she rolls over to look at you. “I mean this… Being on the road… just wandering…”

“It’s been paying the bills pretty reasonably…” You shrug.

Blue nestles her head into the crook of your shoulder. “We didn’t even slow down as we went past Gibson yesterday though.”

“Wanted to get up the scarp before nightfall pup, you know that. Even with Resonance I can’t keep those idiot lizards from doing a leg in the dark.” You explain, ruffling her hair and kissing her on the forehead. “Besides, we’ll stop in on the way back.”

“What if we don’t?” Blue asks in a small voice.

You peer at the kobold with furrowed brow. “How do you mean pup? Eucla holding’s a refit and the Baronial Township of House Esperance itself won’t be drawing dick yet, I don’t care how hell-for-leather Breyten’s been spending.”

“No Boss… What if we don’t go back at all?”

“Pup? You sure you’re alright? Throwing up this morning and now this? Sure you don’t have a fever?” You ask concernedly, putting a hand to the Kobold’s face.

“No Adz, I don’t have a fever.” Blue sighs, rolling her eyes before wrapping her paws around you. Something moves in the darkness beyond the firelight, you catch the glint of eyes from within the swarming black.

“Something’s got a deathwish.” You remark, loudly enough for anything sapient to hear. A clattering growl sounds from the dark, followed by a hiss and a wet crunch, the bungarra snorting and hissing as they fight over their new morsel.

“Mihirung?” Blue yawns.

“Or a trapdoor without the sense Tyris gave a flea.” You reply. “Between you, me, and the Bungas, nothing’s sneaking up on us tonight, right Blue?”

“Yeah nahboss.” Blue mumbles, nestling into you with a dreamy smile on her face as you stare at the sea of stars above you.

—

“Fuck’s sake…” You grumble, looking up at the pitiless blue expanse of the sky above you before wiping your brow and angling your hat down to reduce the brilliant glare from the angry sun high overhead. “…The woodlands were bad enough, but this?”

“Least the air can move out here.” Blue replies, seemingly totally unaffected by the blistering heat.

“Orright…” you chuckle, shielding yourself from another boiling gust rolling over untold miles of desert. “…We’ve got movement.”

“Boss, what’s got you so stroppy? You’ve been madder than a cut lamia since we hit the resupply depot at Eucla holding.” Blue insists, turning to you and taking your hands in her tawny paws.

“I just don’t like not knowing where we’re going. I mean, Nulla’s line, sure. We crossed it, officially, and now we’re…” You trail off, gesturing around you at the scrubby nothingness. It was the kind of landscape which drained hope, and if not for the string of sun-baked wagoneers resupplying and tending to exhausted and dehydrated beasts, one you would never have thought to attempt to cross.

“Here.” Blue insists.

“How philosophical of ya pup.” You drawl teasingly.

“No, HERE boss, turn inland.”

You peer at the Kobold, looking again at the utter nothing stretching to the horizon. “You sure?”

Blue fixes you with a level stare.

“Orright, you’re the Kobold.” You accede, pulling the Bungarra’s reins and directing the wagon off the wide, packed road into the rocky scrub beyond.

“Trader are you mad?” A voice yells from beneath a covered wagon trailing along fifty metres or so behind you. “You get stuck out there and there’s nobody coming to save you.”

“She’s right mate.” You assure the trailing wagon absently as it trundles past the tracks in the rocky sand where you have just turned into the featureless scrub. “Tyris favours the brave and the foolish I’m told.”

“Dying of exposure’s not my preferred way to get to heaven mate!” the trader yells back at you.

“Mine either, I’m trusting you here Pup…” You murmur, turning towards Blue, who promptly hops down off the wagon and dashes off into the scrub.

“Of fuckin’ course…” You grumble, lashing irritably at the Bungarra with the leather reins as you trundle further into the interior.

—

“I will fuckin’ split you if you don’t jog on sharpish…” You snarl at the Kangaroo trio who sit back on muscular tails, grinning at you openly as the sun’s molten blob melts towards the horizon.

“Well I DID have designs to that effect anyway. Why don’t you let my sisters go through your supplies, and you and me can get to know each other a little better?” Their leader chuckles, putting clawed paws on her hips and flexing her muscular arms.

“Nobody touches my fucking rig.” You growl, pulling your cutlass from its sheath with a steely hiss..

“The wagon or your…” The leader grins teasingly.

“In your case fucking either!” You retort savagely, planting a foot on the trace behind the scarred form of Two and tapping the Bungarra on the flank with the flat of your blade. “Fuckemup Boys! Dinner’s on!”

“Whoo!” The Kangaroos exclaim, bounding to the side rapidly as the Bungarra spread maw and frill, lunging at the trio. “Nice trick!” The leader continues. “Shame they can’t move so well when they’re all tied…”

“Sis!” One of the others exclaims, pointing over your shoulder with a look of horror.

“Maou’s tits, give it feet!” The Kangaroo shrieks, feet booming against the dry earth as the trio of would-be raiders positively flies away from you into the wilderness beyond

You freeze… What were they so scared of? Something made the back of your neck stand up on end…

“You breathe so loud pack-f…” A voice near-purrs in your ear, silenced as you instinctively spin, whanging whoever it was about the chops with the basket-hilt of your cutlass.

“Owwwww!” A female voice laments as the unknown, hide-clad kobold grips the side of her face from where she is sprawled on the canvas, looking at you with the hangdog expression of profound injury only a canid mamono can do justice to. “Why’d you hit my face, Pack-Friend?”

“Maybe he’s not a Pack-Friend… Maybe Blue gots the twizzly-head…” Another voice snarls, and a number of Kobolds bearing deadly, obsidian tipped spears seem to appear as if birthed from the low scrub, pointing them at you with clear intent.

“I’m Pack-Friend… Bloody hell…” You assure the Kobolds, putting your blade away and pulling out the necklace Blue had carved for you. “…And if you will sneak up on a bloke…” You remonstrate gently, helping the kobold atop the canvas up.

“My face hurts.” The Kobold whines, pointing a furred digit at her reddening cheek. Yeah, that was gonna bruise. Though she had snuck up on you when your nerves were clearly frayed, you still felt like a bit of a cunt.

“Well I’m sorry. But you’re lucky you didn’t lose half your head!”

“Blue says you’re cute when you’re surprised. I wanted to see!” The Kobold sulked.

You chuckle unthinkingly at that. “Oh did she?”

The Kobold angles her cheek towards you, her eyes half-lidded. “Kiss it better, Pack-Friend?”

“Brooke!” Blue’s voice rings out, making the Kobold before you squeal and leap acrobatically from the canvas. “Gerroffmeboss!”

“Glad you decided to come back pup. Kobold stuff?” You remark evenly, turning to see your tanned indentured in her leather halter, her skin glistening with the slightest sheen of sweat, her modest bust rising and falling with her deep breathing.

“Yehboss.” Blue confirms, holding up her tawny paws presumptively to be lifted into the wagon.

“Getting lazy…” You tease. “…These your cousins?”

“Yehboss, they didn’t get too frisky with ya I hope?” Blue asked, glaring bloody murder at the surrounding Kobolds who shuffled their paws self consciously under her possessive gaze.

You scratch your face before grinning sheepishly at your indentured, “In actual fact, I accidentally smacked Brooke there in the face… Sorry again about that… But in my defence I was just about to split three Kangas up the middle and…”

“It was so HOT Blue!” Brooke gushed, scampering up to her cousin’s side and gripping her leg eagerly, her minor injury forgotten. “He was like if the Bulls actually had something besides hair and teeth between their ears… Like a real…”

“Alpha.” Blue finishes presumptively. “MY Alpha.”

“I-I didn’t mean…” Brooke stammers.

“And he ain’t kissing SHIT better unless I say you’re worth it first. Got it?”

“Yehblue…” The Kobolds answer as one.

“Look at you… Little-Dog of Gibson…” You murmur teasingly in Blue’s ear.

“Everything’s relative Boss… I don’t think we need to go spreading the nickname Other-Boss gave me though.”

You nod, putting an arm about her waist as you guide the Bungarra behind the Kobold band sauntering ahead of you. “That Simmo or me Dad?”

“Yes.” Blue answers simply.

“Right…” You chuckle. “…Say pup… don’t take this the wrong way, but have I spoiled you too much?”

“S’afunny question. Why?” Blue asks, her azure eyes upon you in puzzlement.

“Just noticing you’ve got a bit of a tummy there…” You remark, stroking the bare skin on her midsection.

Yes Boss. Yes I have.” Blue replies in a clearly patronizing tone, obviously expecting the other shoe to drop… It does not.

“Awooooo!” One of Blue’s cousins howls, setting the air around you to ringing as countless replies ring out from unseen throats around you.

“Where in Tyris…” You gasp, looking around for the unseen Kobolds.

“He’s real cute Blue…” Brooke remarks with smug glee as the Kobolds pull away a section of what looks to be nothing more than dead weeds and scrub, revealing a surprisingly sizable limestone cave beneath. “…But he can’t see worth shit, can he?”

“Sometimes…” Blue admits, leaning up to kiss you warmly. “…Welcome to Nulla’s Line, Boss. Hope you’re Hungry, Mum’s gonna wanna take meat, hopefully she makes an exception for me, all things considered.”

“All things considered? Why would you…” You begin, when like the crack of doom, the other shoe drops.

“Hold the fuckin’ farcaster…” You hiss as the wagon trundles down the wide rocky slope into the cool earth below. “…You’re PREGNANT?”

“Thank Maou and the Spirits, you DO know where babies come from.” Blue drawls mockingly.

You fix Blue with a level look. “Don’t sass me pup, and of course I do, the Abbey’s fuckin’ downright DETAILED about the process, considering how seriously we take continuance.”

“Then why would it shock you? We’ve made love a whole buncha times after all.” Blue whuffles, looking at you concernedly. “Is something wrong boss? I mean, this is what I’m a’sposed to do, right?”

That gave you pause. Officially, fathering a child to a Mamono was a legally complex affair. Without the records of the Church, parentage was acknowledged in the purely matrilineal (and often oral) traditions of that particular band or species of Mamono. None but the most zealous of the Faith Militant liked dealing with it, and nobody who found themselves in that position wanted it made too public for the same reason. So, oftentimes the mother, frequently an indentured, would find herself returning ‘home’ for a ‘Well deserved respite’ until the child had been born, and little said afterwards about the matter.

The question was… how would Blue’s mother react to the news?

“A-are you mad at me Boss?” Blue whimpered, her eyes azure pools filled with trepidation.

“Tyris… No pup. No.” You assure her, pulling her to you and stroking her back. “I love you so, so much, and I won’t deny it, I’ve thought about this. I just… A Father… The God be Glorified, I have no idea what I’m bloody doing!”

“Yay.” Blue whuffles happily before looking up at you smugly. “And don’t worry, I’m pretty sure I do all the work.”

“Afterwards, cheeky.” You retort, booping her on the nose, looking around as the ramped tunnel opened up into a larger chamber, smaller caves leading off it in places, the dim gloom lit by naught but the ambient light streaming down from the surface. “I mean, the Priestesses taught the Girls in the Abbey about raising young kids while we were learning something else.”

“Something else boss?” Blue giggles suggestively. “Please tell me you boys practiced kissing together.”

“Wha?” You remark incredulously “Yeah nah pup, I’m pretty sure it was math… And where in the name of The God did that come from?”

“Fine… Just destroy a girlhood fantasy.” Blue sighs, gesturing for you to pull the wagon into a small alcove. A number of Blue’s cousins crowd around, some poking at the Bungarra and dancing away before the irritated lizards can bite them.

“Quit teasin me lizards, girls.” You order absently.

“Whatcha gonna do about it?” One of the more brash Kobolds retorts challengingly. Blue growls, rounding on the speaker.

“Blue, down.” You order sharply. Blue accedes with a frustrated huff as you fix your own eyes on the defiantly grinning Kobold. “I’m not gonna have to REPEAT myself, am I sheila?”

“M-my name’s not…” The Kobold begins, fidgeting slightly.

“I asked you a question.” You interject “Am I going to have to repeat myself?”

“N-no…” The Kobold whimpers, now clearly flustered and unable to meet your eyes with hers, squirming her thighs together and blushing red beneath the deep tan of her skin.

“Good girl.” You praise briefly, before patting Blue’s head and gesturing for your indentured to lead on. “Now no touching. Any of you.”

“We’ll be good, Pack-Friend!” One assures you.

“…Why did she get praised?” Another demands

“Can you pat my head?” A third pleads

“…Can you pat my…” A fourth, more lascivious voice begins, before being shushed by Blue’s snarl.

“What have I gotten into?” You sigh helplessly, heading back out into the main chamber.

“You love it.” Blue whuffles, taking your hand posessively in her paws as she leads you expertly through the tunnels..

“Now into the gates of Hell, I guess…” You gulp, noticing the two guards before the beaded hide hanging which separates the alcove ahead of you from the cavern around it, two stern looking Kobold guards holding spears in expert paws to either side.

“Oh Boss…” Blue whuffles, “…You have NO idea…”

—

“Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise?” the mature kobold lounging upon the rude hide-and-wicker throne chuckles.

“Respectfully Madam…” you drawl, bending slightly at the waist before the Matriarch. “…I have difficulty believing you didn’t know we were coming since Eucla.”

“Freeman!” The Matriarch gasps, putting paw to ample bosom in mock surprise. “And here I thought you held regard for the Kobolds of Nulla’s Line. We’ve known you were coming since you left House Boulder’s lands.”

You glance nonplussed at your indentured, still clinging to your hand. “Blue, woulda been nice for you to let me know we were being watched.”

“But then I wouldn’t have gotten five hours of pats while you were on watch Boss” Blue replies without a hint of remorse.

“Criminal…” You chuckle, mussing the Kobold’s tawny hair with your free hand.

“As lovely as it is to see my daughter and yourself again…” The Matriarch continues, rising from the throne with a slight grunt of aged joints “…Why do you come into our lands?”

You clear your throat, straightening and disengaging your hand from your Kobold’s paw.

“Madam…” You begin ritualistically. “…Though I seek forgiveness before the Throne of Tyris, my weakness has resulted in such occurrence as to render my Indentured in a state so as to impede upon her duties to me. Foreasmuch as we are both true servants of the Pax Deus, I am beholden to make such request of you, and assurance as to recompense for inconv…”

“Is he speaking Magisterian, Blue darling?” The Matriarch interrupts, looking at you with blank incomprehension.

“I think he’s being a retarded human and hiding behind tradition again.” Blue remarks in an unimpressed tone. “Mummy you know I’m pregnant, don’t make my silly master spell it out.”

“Well of course I do!” The Matriarch exclaims. “My question is, what precisely does he plan to do about it?”

“Do?” You echo dumbfoundedly, “W-well, as I was saying Madam, I’m more than willing to make adequate compensation for her to remain here as she requ…”

“Freeman, are you abandoning my daughter after getting her with child?” The Matriarch again interrupts, staring at you with her steel-blue eyes.

“Abandoning? Never!” You declare, hugging Blue against you instinctively. “She is MINE, and nobody’s going to take her away from…”

“Mum, stop teasing my Boss” Blue’s muffled voice sounds from against your torso.

The matriarch pauses for a moment, before bursting into peals of laughter. Grabbing the pair of you in her paws, she squeezes you against her ample frame in a matronly hug. “Dear boy, this is a blessing. It gives me such pleasure to welcome a pack-friend into the tribe.”

“As grateful as I am to hear it, Madam, I would ask that you don’t take the piss like that again…” You chide as respectfuly as you can manage. “…me poor nerves can’t take it.”

“Adam, don’t presume to order me, you’re not equipped for it.” The Matriarch remonstrates lightly, pinching your cheek. “Blue, take Adam to where you can both refresh yourselves. A Trader along the Line seems to have misplaced a couple of horses, much to our benefit. We shall take meat once the moon has risen.”

“Misplaced?” You echo suspiciously.

“Don’t poke Boss…” Blue whuffles, kissing you lightly and pulling you towards the hide flap. “C’mon, I wanna show you something.”

—

“Talk about unexpected.” You sigh, lying back in the dark, shallow water, Blue’s slender form wading out to join you, silhouetted by the light of the single oil lamp you had hung on a nearby rock. You look around at the hidden depths of the subterranean aquifer in wonder. “So this is how your people survive out here?”

“Kinda. The water’s got too much stuff in it to drink straight outta the lake here but it’s good for getting the dust off.” Blue replies, kissing you briefly before taking up position behind and underneath you, gently washing your chest with her paws.

“Pampering me pup?” You chuckle.

“If anyone’s earned it, it’s you.” Blue murmurs gently, continuing to lavish you in the mineral-rich water..

A distant, murmuring song pricks your ears. Echoing, etherial, almost on the edge of hearing. You sit up slightly, Blue making a slight noise of surprise and protest.

“Whazzat?”

Blue wraps her paws around you. “What’s what boss?”

“That song.”

“You can hear it?”

You look up, Blue essentially having your head and shoulders cradled in her lap at this point. “Well yeah…”

“Bugger…” Blue grumbles, before adding a few choice phrases in Kobold.

You had enough experience with the harsh, growling Kobold tongue to recognise a few phrases. That one was unmistakable. An emphatic negation with the promise of violence. Closest Magisterian equivalent would be “Not on (her?) fucking life…”

“Blue…” You press.

“Boss I really don’t wanna get into that right now… Later… Like next week… or next month… or after our baby’s first winter maybe?” Blue pleads.

“Pup…” You begin in a stern voice, sitting up in the water and turning over, so now you are looming over her. “…Are you keeping things from me?”

“Boss please, no good’s gonna come from playing knock-and-run at this particular bee-girl hive.” Blue whimpers, looking up at you pleadingly.

“And if I were to insist?”

“N-no boss… please, I don’t wanna…” Blue sobs. Okay, too far, dial it back a little. Chuckling softly, you trail light kisses down her body.

“Alright… Just wanted to impress the point…” You murmur.

“You are the WORST kind of Alpha, Boss.” Blue whuffles in relief and pleasure, running her paws through your lengthening hair (Seriously, when was the last time YOU had a haircut?)

“Ack, pthpt.” You spit, wiping your mouth as the bitter taste of the mineral-rich water hits your tongue. “You weren’t kidding about the water.”

“Told ya.” Blue snickers, pulling your head up insistently for a kiss.

“Mmm” you murmur, indulging her, your hand straying subconsciously to her swelling belly. Blue breaks off the kiss as she feels your hand, looking at you so tenderly you feared your heart would burst. You swallow, clearing your throat. “Hey Blue, reckon your Mum’s got a minute?”

Blue grumbles, rolling her eyes at you “You’re not going to bother HER about the song are you? I told you, nothing good will come from…”

“Nah Blue, I wanna know what it means to be a Pack Alpha… BEFORE I start growing hair in funny places…” You pause, looking down at your rather hirsute torso. “Well… More hair anyway.”

—

“Hair? Oh dear one, don’t be ridiculous…” Blue’s Mother chuckles, patting you on the cheek motheringly. You hadn’t experienced any kind of matronly affection since the abbey, and you had to admit, Blue’s mother was rapidly bullying her way into a very dear place in your heart. “…Do you know the Will of the Gods?”

“Outlined in the Laws of the Pax Deus and in the Holy Doctrines of Divine Tyris, the Immutable, the Eternal. May all Humanity cease not in praising and glorifying the name of the Most High.” You respond automatically.

“For Maou and Mamono…” Blue’s mother replied perfunctorily, making the sign of the Gates of Hell. “…Yes. The Pax IS Law, and we all do what we can to follow it. But it is not their Will.”

“Madam, that is heresy.” You correct sternly.

“Adam…” Blue’s Mother growls in no less implacable a tone “…I told you to call me mum.”

“Right… sorry… m-mum” you respond, decades of rote tradition fighting your utterance of that single word.

“And I suppose some could deem it Heresy…” The Matriarch admits with a shrug, gesturing for one of her attendants to make some minor adjustment to a wooden totem nearby. “…Doesn’t make it less true. The Pax is the law of survival, a law we Kobold understand all too well. But it’s not what The Sun and Moon wanted when they quit the sky together.”

“The… wha?”

“Tyris is the God of the Sun, yes?” the matronly Kobold whuffles.

“Well…. Yeah… I guess…” You admit, “…the light of the sun being the manifestation of the Order of Tyris being present upon all the earth or something.”

“Very poetic dear.” The Matriarch smiles indulgently. “But moving on. Women and Men were meant to support each other, to give each other strength and comfort in their own way. You’re becoming an Alpha because part of you has always been a leader, a trailbreaker, the kind of man she’s yearned for as long as she had the words to express it.”

“Mum!” Blue laments, blushing furiously.

“Am I wrong, Blue dear?” The Matriarch chuckles.

“Well no… But y-you can’t just TELL him like that!” your indentured whines, shuffling her paws.

You grin wordlessly, taking Blue’s paw in hand as you continued following along beside her mother. “So this isn’t a… bugger me don’t take this the wrong way because it’s the only word I’ve got for it…” You clarify. “A Corruption?”

“Boss!” Blue gasps, hitting your arm with her free paw.

“Don’t blame me for the limits of Magisterian, pup.” You retort.

“No, dear one. Women should bring out the best in the men they love… Mamono are just a little more obvious with it than Humans.” Blue’s mother assures you, pinching your cheek.

“So I’d have always been a bossy git, regardless of Blue being around?”

The Matriarch shrugs. “Maybe… Who’s to say someone else wouldn’t have nurtured a different aspect of your personality entirely?”

“Myboss.” Blue declares presumptively, gripping your arm with both paws.

“Yes Blue…” You murmur, patting her head with your free hand. “Thank you, Mad… er, Mum.” you quickly correct yourself “That’s definitely cleared things up a bit.”

The Matriarch smiles warmly. “My pleasure dear. Now you two run along. I’ve still got quite a bit to do before the moon’s properly up.”

“C’mon boss, I’ve got more I want to show you before it’s too dark for you to see.” Blue insists, pulling you towards a side passage.

“Don’t you mean ‘us’, pup?” You clarify, bemused.

“No.” Blue snorts in amusement.

—

“What IS that?” You gasp, taken aback at the deep, rhythmic booming which rings down the dark passageway.

“The Ocean.” Blue explains nonchalantly.

“But we’re at least a nautical mile from the coast…” You reply, frowning as you quickly do the math in your head.

“Yehboss. Sound goes a long way underground. Don’t get lost. You could hear the den like it’s right next to you and walk for hours in the complete wrong direction.”

“Too bad I don’t have your nose.” You jest lightly, booping the kobold on the bridge of her delicate little nose.

“My nose is way too cute to look good on your face, Boss…” Blue whuffles, scrunching up her face and grinning before throwing paws around your neck and kissing you soundly. “C’mon, we need to see them before the’re all the way awake.”

“They?” You echo uncomprehendingly.

“Yehboss.” Blue nods, pulling you onwards, down another fork until the whole place opens up into a vast cavern, tiny starlike lights winking across the span of its roof.

“Beautiful…” You sigh.

“Glowworms… They’re pretty from down here but up close? Eurgh.” Blue explains, making a face. “Besides… What I really wanted to show you was this.”

Blue pads delicately into the middle of the cavern before drawing in a massive breath, releasing it in a ringing, bell-toned howl.

“Eeek! Eeek! EEEEEEEEK!” voices shriek from every angle as dark shapes begin to whip around in the air above you.

“Tyris!” You curse, ducking as one of the things swoops uncomfortably close.

“Invaders! Intruders! Fly! Fly! EEEEEEK!” high-pitched voices shriek from all around you. In the dim light of your lantern, you see Blue doubled over with helpless laughter. Laughter cut short as three of the flying shapes drop on her at once, the Kobold falling to the ground with a short grunt of surprise.

“Blue!” You cry, ripping your cutlass from its sheath.

“Boss! No!” Blue yells, holding a paw supplicatingly from beneath the mass which envelops her. “It’s fine. Girls, this is your evening wake-up call, and I’d like to introduce you to my Master.”

A fourth shape alights on the ground before you, and you peer uncomprehendingly at the strange figure. For a moment you thought it a horribly deformed harpy, its clawed legs furred to the knee, the remainder of its lithe body covered in a rude hide tunic not unlike what the Kobolds wore. Its slender forearms were massively elongated, and the creature walked seemingly on its knuckles, a thin, lightly furred membrane visible between the ‘fingers’.

You gape uncomprehendingly at the creature, her delicate features crinkling with amusement as the nostrils of a slightly upturned nose which almost seems to large for her face flare exploratively.

“I think we broke him, Blue…” The creature snickers over her shoulder. “…Shame, he smells really pretty…”

A surprisingly light weight falls upon your shoulders as a second creature drops onto your back, mantling you from behind in her membranous wings.

“He IS really pretty!” The figure on your back muses throatily in the same high-pitched voice. Instinctively glancing over your shoulder, you’re met with the sight of a grinning mouth filled with teeth that would put the vampire Nasha’s to shame.

“Oi!” Blue retorts, pushing the trio off her and resuming her feet. “Myboss.”

“Awww…” The creatures all lament, the one perched on your shoulders sneaking a quick peck on your cheek before releasing you.

“Bats.” You mumble dumbly.

“You DID break him!” Blue curses, putting paws to hips and huffing at the Bats. “…So much for ‘Nice to see you again’.”

“S’orright Blue…” You assure your indentured. “…This was just… I mean… I didn’t even know youse existed!”

“Kinda the point Human….” A voice pipes up from somewhere in the gloom above you.

“This another ‘Dingoes and Murchies’ situation?” You clarify.

“Pfft… No boss.” Blue snickers. “Bats are recognised under the council, there’s just not much call to interact with humans when youse are all asleep in the middle of their ‘day”

“Diurnals…” One bat pipes mockingly.

“How do you ever get anything DONE?” Another cheeps

“…All that sunlight… eurgh.” A third adds.

Blue returns to your side, looking up at you as she takes your hand in her paw, guiding the cutlass still held dumbly in your hand back into the sheath. “I hope they didn’t scare you, Boss. Just… I was always the littlest growing up… They were my friends when Mum wouldn’t let me go out with my sisters.”

“We missed you!” A bat peeps accusingly.

“Yeah, where’d you go?” Another demands.

“She was helping us at Gibson Holding, it’s a human settlement to the west…’ You begin.

“We know THAT.” One of the bats scoffs.

“Yeah, used to visit her there all the time.” Another adds

A third swoops close, brushing your face with a wingtip “We mean since midwinter, she just vanished!”

“Ah… She’s been trading with me.” You reply without thinking.

“Trading… Heh… that’s a funny word for it.”

“Yeah, don’t be coy human, we can SMELL her all over you.”

“And… Blue are you pregnant?”

Blue nods, blushing demurely, which sends the bats into a flurry of screeches.

“You better not abandon her, Human!” One of the Bats demands in a tone you would consider threatening if it wasn’t delivered by a four foot flying mouse-girl.

“No bloody fear…” You retort, putting your arm about Blue’s shoulders. Blue whuffles happily, nuzzling into your chest.

“Pretty AND nice!” Another bat squeaks happily.

“Blue… Don’t feel like sharing with your old friends do you?” A bat laments pleadingly from somewhere behind you.

“Well we gotta get back to Mum soon, but… Dunno…” Blue grins wickedly. “…What’s in it for me?”

“I was curious about something…” You begin, flashing a cheeky grin at your indentured. “…I’ve known Blue since we were both about twelve or thirteen, but what was she like as a little tyke?”

“We met her when she lost her favourite toy…” A bat replies, ignoring blue’s pleading groan

“…She wouldn’t stop crying…” a second added

A third whooshes overhead. “…It was pitiful, really it was.”

“You stole it in the first place, you winged rats!” Blue retorts hotly, lunging at the nearest who takes wing with cheeping laughter.

“Wow, whelping Kobolds really do get moody!”

“Human, I wanna know if she still has that cute birthmark right above her…”

“Oh Maou why did I think this was a good idea…” Blue laments, blushing furiously.

“Want me to make it better?” You drawl smoothly.

Blue’s answering smile is almost demonic. “Don’t bust ‘em up TOO much boss, they gotta fly…”

“Nobody said anything about walking though…” You snicker.

“Ooh… hear him talk!” One of the bats jeers, flitting just inside the light of your lantern. “Human even if you had wings there’s no way a clumsy day-walker like you could ever…”

The bat’s remaining teasing is lost in her shriek of surprise as you pull her mentally towards you, the Mamono frantically beating membranous wings in an instinctive effort to flee.

“Shhh…” You insist, replacing the glyph with an arm, pulling the Bat against you and stroking her face with your free hand “…You were saying?”

“I-I’ll bite you!” The bat threatens, the shock of her sudden vulnerability written all over her face.

“Now now… I’m sure you want to be a good girl. Don’t you want to be a good girl for me?” You almost purr.

“Ohhhh Maou…” The bat in your arms moans, quivering now with something more than fear.

“Blue that’s cheating!” A bat flitting somewhere above you laments

“You never said he was an Alpha!”

“And you girls always said I was too picky…” Blue whuffles smugly. “…Be gentle Boss, she’s not used to proper…”

A slavering howl rings out through the passages. The Bat in your arms screeches with a mixture of irritation and concern, pushing at you as her fellows begin flitting from the cavern at speed. Bemused, you release her, and she screeches something about later before swooping through a hole in the roof of the cavern.

“Maou’s ample bosom!” Blue curses, grabbing your wrist and pulling you back towards the den. “What in the Spirits name is he doing out?”

“He?”

“My Brother.” Blue sighs lamentingly.

“Your… Brother…” You echo, trying to wrap your head around the reality of the situation.

“Did you think the talk of my pack’s bulls was just talk Boss?” Blue chides absently, insistently pulling you faster.

“Ease off Blue…” You demand. “…I’m Resonant. I don’t care if it’s Wagyl’s fuckin’ Bull, nothing’s got the drop on…”

“Boss there are three. He’s the Prime… well, at the moment. If he catches you alone with me in the caverns he’ll do anything to fight you, doubly so if the other two are with him. He’s violent and bestial and about as thick as Ivy’s arse but his instincts will tell him to leave you alone when you’re with the pack.” Blue explains. “I’d rather you didn’t have to fight him… He’s still family…”

“So that’s why you never went to the Bulls…” You sigh in revelation.

“Well that, and…” Blue trails.

“And?” You prompt.

“Well I was saving myself for you, wasn’t I?” Blue blusters, blushing adorably in the dim light of your lantern.

—

“…Can’t BELIEVE you girls would be so careless! If you get Blue’s Husband killed so help me Maou I’ll…” You hear Blue’s mother remonstrating savagely as you enter the main cavern, the totems now surrounding a cheerily burning fire, its smoke miraculously draughting through passages in the roof of the cave.

“Husband?” You chuckle, the Matriarch spinning and putting a paw to her breast as she sighs in relief. “Pretty sure that’s heres…”

“Hush.” The Matriarch demands, hugging you tightly before presumptively forcing you to sit on a rude hide in front of the fire. In twos and threes the other Kobolds enter, strange, savage symbols painted on their bodies. So enraptured by the markings were you, that it took you a moment to realize they were all naked. You cleared your throat, politely trying to keep your gaze in acceptable locales.

“Bit late to be acting innocent don’t you think Boss?” Blue giggles. Your retort dies on your lips as you see that the Kobolds have stripped down your indentured and are busy painting her with the same primitive markings, making something of a big deal over the slight swelling of her abdomen.

“Nice Tan-lines.” You state lamely, to which Blue pokes her small pink tongue out at you.

“Children…” The Matriarch chides, and it is all you can do to keep your expression neutral. You knew academically that the matronly Kobold had birthed multiple children… maybe dozens… yet her naked body showed no sign except for what could only be called a ribald overripeness, a voluptuous incarnation of womanhood that left no question in your mind about what the future held in store for you with Blue.

You had better start taking better care of yourself if you had any hope of keeping up with her, you concluded, trying not to stare as the Matriarch turned, allowing her attendants to cover her curvaceous form in the strange markings.

“Bring forth the prize of the hunt.” The Matriarch intoned.

“Quit perving on mum.” Blue admonished in a low whisper, punching you covertly in the side as she took a place beside you.

“Wasn’t…” You began.

“Shhh…” Blue insisted, and you grind your teeth in mild irritation. It took a full eight Kobolds to bring the body of the horse in, its powerful throat torn open in a worrying display of sheer brutality.

A burp of laughter forced its way past your lips, and the Matriarch narrowed her eyes at you. “Was there something, Adam?”

“Sorry uh… Mum… Just, we bought that stroppy sod down from Kalbarri and he would not cooperate unless I threatened to eat him.” You explain.

The Matriarch’s eyes widen in surprise. “I believe that counts as participation in the hunt, don’t you Blue?”

“Yehmum.” Blue whuffles smugly.

“You shall take meat with us, as Pack-Friend, Adam.” The matriarch declares.

“Ha ha…” Blue mocks under her breath.

“Jokes on you, I like horse.” You whisper, sneaking a quick pinch of Blue’s bare buttock, making your indentured squeak involuntarily. Whilst it’s true, you did… Raw might be another matter, and as the Kobolds stood you up and began removing your clothing, unassisted might also be an issue, as your knife and cutlass were removed to be placed elsewhere.

“Paws girls…” You murmur chidingly as the Kobolds painting symbols on you strayed towards your crotch.

“Blue, how do you take that whole thing?” One of the painting Kobolds asks, staring openly at your manhood.

“Practice…” Blue replies smoothly, with a grin that would put a cheshire to shame.

“Enough Chatter, all of you.” The Matriarch demands, and the Kobolds obediently take their places around the fire. The matriarch looks at you appraisingly for a moment and you could swear you saw the hint of a naughty smile curve the corners of her mouth… ‘Conflicted’ was perhaps the kindest word for how that possibility made you feel.

Raising her paws, the Matriarch began to chant in the harsh, guttural Kobold tongue. You did your best to replicate the responses, drawing suppressed giggles from the Kobolds nearest you, yet their expressions were patient, indulging… it reminded you like nothing so much as the Mothers at the Abbey when you were stumbling your way through your first Angelic incantation. Then, as if some commandment had been given, the Kobolds fell upon the Horse, tearing into it with fang and claw.

“No time like the present eh Blue?” You muse, taking a knee next to her and grabbing a leg of the horse carcass, pulling the thick hide back from where it had been torn, revealing glistening red muscle beneath. Licking your lips in preparation, you bent forward, your mouth agape. No big deal. You’d had rare steak hadn’t you? Stop being such a weak cunt and just…

A snarled invective gave you pause as you glanced upwards at the sound. From behind the fire loped three figures… the unmistakable, undeniable shapes of the pack’s Kobold Bulls. Blue promptly put herself in front of you, and for a moment your heart burst with pride. One of the bulls, black of hair, with a stubbly beard looked at her with lecherous eyes.

“Oh this will not fuckin’ do…” You growled, standing yourself. The Bull ignored you, until his eyes fell on her swollen stomach. With a howl of jealous rage, it began stalking towards you, before a second, younger, but powerfully built slammed a clawed, tawny-furred fist into his chest with a slavering challenge. Black-Hair stopped, lowering his pointed, lupine ears, but did not break his murderous gaze upon you.

“Behaving ourselves, I hope…” The Matriarch mused in a level tone, speaking in Magisterian clearly for your benefit. Blue’s Brother narrowed his eyes, scrunching up his face as if whatever he was thinking was incredibly painful.

“Why. That. Here?” He slathered, biting off the words and pointing a furred digit at you as if the entire concept of speech was a herculean effort.

“Pack Friend, son.” Blue’s mother explained condescendingly, as if to a very young (and profoundly retarded) child.

“Pack… Friend…” The Bull replicated the sound, and you weren’t entirely sure if it understood the concept.

“S’right mate…” You agree in a level tone, standing as tall as you could and pushing your chest out. They were still Kobold, which meant you had a bit over head and shoulders on them, but Tyris be glorified, they were nothing but corded muscle from brow to toe. You kept the Logos so near you swore you could see the glyphs whirling on the inside of your eyeballs.

“No.” It concluded. “Human. Hide under sisters tail… See you alone… Kill you. EAT you.”

Black-hair understood that well enough, gaping his fanged mouth wide in an eager grin of agreement. Fucked if you were gonna let this slide. Who was the fucking Alpha here? You, or a bunch of primitive freaks even the Gods didn’t want to talk about in polite company?

“Boss… No violence when taking meat… He’s goading you.” Blue whispered, looking up at you pleadingly.

“Cute.” You smirk, crossing your arms over your chest and flexing slightly. The better part of nine months on the road had lent you a hardness of build… not to mention in some primal, instinctive fashion, you FELT strong.

Also you could tell reality to sit down and shut the fuck up… which also helped insofar as confidence went. Blue’s brother cocked his head, baring his teeth again in confused irritation.

“Honour your Matriarch.” you commanded with all the authority you could muster. “Honour your spirits.”

“Thank you Adam. Please. Take meat with us.” The Matriarch instructed politely, yet there was an undercurrent of adamantite steel beneath her words. You inclined your head respectfully, bending down and burying your teeth into the horse’s flesh. It took the combined effort of your teeth, as well as the muscles of your upper torso to rip a bloody hunk of meat away, which you chewed deliberately at the bulls, keenly aware of the crimson which coated your face.

“SUBMIT.” Blue’s Mother snarled suddenly. It was a tone of such savage, tyrannical authority that for a moment you almost called upon the Logos to shield yourself. It was said, that in the Day of the Midnight Sun, that Maou gave authority to the Matriarchs to command and dominate the bulls that had until that time, run rampant throughout the world. In that moment, you wholeheartedly believed it. The three bulls shied away, pressing ear to skull and grovelling, crawling towards the corpse as meekly as mice.

You understand now why Neisha, the centaur Matriarch of Kalbarri had failed so spectacularly. Being a Matriarch wasn’t a matter of bloodline, it was a matter of inherent ability, of innate will. It even gave you pause to re-examine some of the fledgeling mannerisms you had seen Blue exhibit. Could she, absent your dominance, be such a will to be reckoned with?

You shook your head, now wasn’t the time for philosophy, now was the time to eat horse. You took the bloody leg in your hands, burying your teeth into the crimson flesh again.

—

“BRAAAAAAP” You belched, the echoes bouncing off the ceiling of the cave somewhere above. You shifted slightly on the piled hides which formed your bed, soft sounds of other Kobolds getting comfortable around you.

“Nice…” A kobold giggled from somewhere in the darkness.

“I won’t hurt him if I can help it…” You murmur to Blue, half-asleep where she nuzzles into your chest.

“I know boss…” Blue yawns, hugging you tighter “…I’m just scared he won’t give you a choice. I don’t… I don’t want you to have to kill him.”

“Tyris willing.” You assured her, kissing her gently.

“Mmmm… Oh Maou” Blue sighed irritably, breaking off the kiss and sitting up. “What?” She demanded into the dark.

“Blue?” You murmured in surprise.

“I can FEEL them staring, boss.” Blue explained exasperatedly. “Go on, spit it out.”

“It’s just…” a kobold stammered lamely from somewhere in the black. “..I was wondering…”

“Go on…” Blue prompted, and you could tell your indentured was rapidly losing patience.

“Well… Can… Can we cuddle too?” The Kobold pleaded.

“Maou’s ample bosom. Fine…” Blue sighed, hugging you again. “…Paws where I can see them.”

You wheezed as an unknown number of lithe bodies clambered their way around and over you. You had months of this, you realized, before the baby was born… Maybe years, depending on what Blue wanted to do afterwards. You expected to feel concern at that, and were surprised when it was absent. You’d have to get word to civilization from time to time, you acceded, to stop Juni from simply absorbing your accounts if nothing else. But… Could be worse.

Could be worse indeed.

—

The sun baked down on your head as you crouched in the scrub, the form of the camel cow silhouetted against the shimmering horizon.

“No way you’ll hit it from back here, Pack-friend…” One of the Kobolds chortled.

You blew a lock of hair out of your eyes, the shaggy mane atop your head and face having long passed ‘unkempt’ and now into ‘wild man’ territory, you reflected you probably looked an utter fright. You flashed a grin at the Kobold, taking one of the obsidian spears in your calloused, sun-browned hand, before standing and casting it skyward with a suppressed grunt.

The Camel started, looking up at your sudden movement. You stood still, focusing on the black speck as it arced through the air, calling upon the Logos as you did so, forcing the spear to frightening speed as it lanced towards the camel. So fast was it travelling on impact that it tore out the beast’s throat, the deadly stone tip buried a good foot into the ground, shaft humming with the impact.

The kobolds gasped, staring at you disbelievingly. Did they suspect you of cheating so flagrantly? Who cares? The pack was fed for another few days at the least. They’d take it and be thankful for it. You stood there calmly as a group ran towards the twitching body, hauling it atop their shoulders, carrying it bodily back to one of the myriad entrances into the subterranean lair of the Kobolds of Nulla’s Line.

“You almost take the fun out of it, Pack-Friend” One of the Kobolds accused.

You shrug. “You want fun? Chase one down yourself. You ask me to come when you want it sorted, and you bloody well know it.”

“Y-yes, pack-friend…” The Kobold accedes meekly, shuffling her paws in the rocky dirt. You could take her here, you were perfectly aware of the fact. You could almost smell her desire…

Movement caught your eye… the lupine form of the auburn-furred bull you had come to call ‘white-eye’, on account of the injury he suffered when he lost the Prime to Blue’s brother. You narrowed your eyes. The male was following you again, and it was beginning to get on your nerves.

“Go on back girls.” You ordered.

“Are you sure, pack-friend?” Another Kobold asked dubiously “You’re not gonna get lost?”

“How long’s it been, Brooke? Three months?” You chuckle, shaking your head at the Kobold. “If I get lost now, I DESERVE to get lost.”

The Kobolds turn to one another, whuffling agreement with your statement, before jogging lightly back through the scrub to the cave entrances. You head deliberately towards the Bull, standing in that odd one-legged posture the Kobolds seemed to automatically adopt when they were looking for something.

“You’re following me again, White-eye.” You declare, approaching the Bull cautiously but confidently. Thus far he’d been the only one who hadn’t displayed open hostility towards you. You’d had to threaten to castrate black-hair the month previous for failing to leave Blue alone, her advancing pregnancy seemed to be taken as a personal insult by the bull. That had been stemmed off only by the Matriarch’s intervention, the concept of having to support or euthanize a sterile bull something more than Blue’s curvaceous mother was prepared to deal with. White eye stared at you with his one good eye, baring his teeth as if your presence was causing him actual physical discomfort.

“I’ll leave you alone as soon as you tell me why, White-eye.” You prompt. “Use your words like a big boy now.”

The mocking instruction seemed to puzzle the Bull, and not for the first time you wondered how much they actually understood. Clearly not enough to spot the obvious insult, White-eye must have been approaching forty, and your infantilization of him would have meant fisticuffs if aimed at a fellow human.

“See with eye.” The bull snarled, pointing to the milky, scarred eyeball. “See from spirit. Something come.”

“Well good fuckin’ on it. What’s that got to do with me?”

“Something come for you. You go. Go for tribe.” White-eye whuffled.

“I don’t know if you’ve spotted it, white-eye, but there is very little on Tyris’s sun-baked earth that can give me pause. The tribe’s in no danger from…” You begin, before your dismissal is halted by a full throat snarl from the bull.

“No!” He slathers. “If danger to tribe, I kill you! Not… not come for danger…” the bull chewed and growled, the effort of trying to form the concepts into words seeming almost agonizing. “Blue… You go, Blue safe… You no go, Blue danger. Tribe danger. Nuh-La danger. Australs Danger.”

“I have to go… or something horrible will happen?” You clarify, frowning at the impossible-seeming revelation. White-eye whuffles agreement.

“Let’s say I buy this.” You muse, crossing your arms. “When?”

“You know. Spirit say you know.” White-eye sniffs. “You go, or White-eye kill you before danger come.”

Your eyes narrow. “You’ve got no bloody chance of that.”

“No…” White-eye admits. “…But still try.”

For some reason that rocked you. The bull was serious. Serious enough to know that an attempt on your life was likely a death sentence for him. Serious enough to threaten you with it anyway.

“Well, thanks.” You murmur, not exactly sure how to take the news.

“Human go. Stink.” White-eye demanded, wrinkling his nose at you.

“And we shared such a touching moment.” You sigh mockingly, shaking your head.

“No touch or break arm.” White-eye promised, baring his teeth again.

“Tyris be fucking merciful.” You cry helplessly, throwing your arms up in surrender as you give the bull your back, clomping back towards the entrance to the den.

—

“That’s bullshit!” Blue declared, waddling her heavily pregnant form over to you and grabbing your arm presumptively. “Boss, they’re just trying to drive you off! They know they can’t do it openly after you threatened to cut off black-hair’s balls, then sat my brother over an eighty-foot drop for a day to think about what he’d done a week later.”

“Maou that was hot…” One of the other Kobolds sighs lustily.

“Yeah it was…” Blue agreed dreamily before spluttering and reigniting her indignation. “…N-not the point! You’re not going anywhere. White-eye’s full of shit.”

“Mmmm…” Blue’s mother muses hesitantly.

“Mum?” Blue demands, a sinking expression in her voice.

“Ordinarily I’d agree with you sweetheart… But… White-eye… His Father had the Sight.”

“His Father was the Spirit-damn Covenanter!” Blue retorts hotly.

“Covawha?” You blurt in confusion.

Blue curses in the guttural Kobold tongue. The Matriarch smiles rather smugly at her daughter. “You brought it up dear, you can tell him.”

Blue whuffles in frustration before sighing deeply. “Boss, you remember how you heard that music when you first got here? That was an Undine, a water spirit. She purifies the water we use for drinking, and in exchange we keep her Covenanter fed and healthy… And find a new Covenanter for her daughter when the time comes.

“I’m assuming the Covenanter is a human.” You remark levelly, folding your arms in disapproval.

“The water’s not just for us boss!” Blue babbles quickly “All the Mamono of Nulla’s line rely on the Undine to stay alive. Maou’s ample bosom, every drop of water you’ve had since coming here is thanks to her.”

“Still something I’m not fond of hearing you kept from me, pup.” You reply chidingly, before turning your attention to the Matriarch. “And you, Mum… You should have known it’s the kind of thing I REALLY should have been told about. For the sake of everyone’s safety, if nothing else.”

“Adam dear, I don’t know why you seem to have such an elevated opinion of yourself…” The Matriarch begins chidingly.

“Because, Madam.” You interject sternly, raising yourself from the ground with a resonant glyph “I could collapse every cavern in Nulla’s Line with an errant thought. Surprising me is Not. A. Good. Fuckin’. Idea.”

The matriarch recoiled in surprise and consternation. You felt a soft tugging at the leg of your pants, and you looked down to see your pregnant kobold lover looking beseechingly up at you with those limpid azure eyes.

“Please stop boss? You’re scaring Mum.” The Kobold begged.

“Adam…” The Matriarch stammered, still looking at you in awe “…I… I didn’t know…”

“And Tyris be Good I wanted to keep it that way…” You sigh before pausing as realization strikes you. “…Heh. Which makes me the biggest hypocrite in the fuckin’ joint. Forgive me, Mum, Blue. That was unworthy of me.”

“Of course we forgive you, dear one…” The Matriarch gushes, moving to you and cuddling you to her curvaceous frame. “Don’t we blue?”

“Yehmum” Blue agrees, cuddling into you before grimacing in discomfort. “Adz…” She begins.

“Blue?” You query.

“Our bloody child is sitting on something tender again.”

You laugh helplessly, bending down to caress Blue’s swollen abdomen, kissing the warm skin and marvelling at the faint feeling of movement within.

—

It was cool evening when you emerged from the den to walk the Bungarra. Kept relatively sedentary, the Lizards needed remarkably little food and water, but you still brought them out every day to keep their muscles from deteriorating too much. The pack would eat them one day, you were resigned to the fact, but not yet. Slaughtering your ‘faithful’ beasts meant a turning point in your life, a resignation from human civilization after which there was no going back.

“Besides…” You murmured to four, scratching the stupid beast above an eye ridge as it chewed on the leathery remains of some month-dead beast, “…If anyone’s gonna kill you shits it’s gonna be me.”

Four snorted slightly, snapping at your leg. You had to fight whimsical laughter as you kicked the lizard in retaliation.

“You’re a hard man to find, Adam of Gibson Holding.” A voice calls out from somewhere behind you.

“Ain’t it always the way.” You remark philosophically, peering at the somewhat foppishly dressed man picking his way through the scrub towards you. “You are?”

The man did not answer, but you sensed a resonant glyph being cast, and glowing sigils appeared upon the man’s brow.

“You’re not supposed to be here.” You remark evenly.

“Necessity, Adam. It makes criminals of us all” the resonant sighed. “I won’t beat around the bush. We need you.”

“We Who?”

“We the Lodge, who else? Raoul taught you some things, things that we need, things that if we don’t have, the world may be in very grave danger.” The resonant insisted.

“Easy enough. Sit down, I’ll go through them with you now.” You offered evenly.

The resonant smiled pityingly, shaking his head. “It’s not going to work that way, unfortunately. There’s a procedure to this sort of thing. You’re Summoned, Adam of Gibson Holding, and one way or another, you’re coming with me.”

You snickered derisively. “You know there’s probably twenty-odd Kobolds within striking distance of you right now, yeh?”

“Twenty-eight, to be exact.” The Resonant replied conversationally. “I can stop their hearts before you or anyone else can stop me. I don’t WANT to, of course, but necessity is a whore of a mistress.”

“You reckon.” You replied disbelievingly. “Isaac begs to differ, Tyris rot his soul.”

“I don’t think you or your Kobold understand how phenomenally lucky you were when she blindsided Isaac.” The Resonant explained. “He could have reduced every single person in that room to a messy red paste on the floor between one heartbeat and the next. In fact it’s the going opinion of the High Priestesses in the Lodge that it was Divine Providence which gave you the means to victory there. Realistically, you both should be dead.”

“Well Praise fuckin’ Tyris for small mercies… You’re serious, aren’t ya?”

“Deadly serious.” The Resonant agreed mirthlessly.

“Fuck.” You curse in impotent anger before turning to the seemingly empty field. “Tell Blue… Tell her I love her. I always will. Tell her I’ll be back. If I’ve got to rearrange the whole fucking world to bring us together again, by The God, I’ll do it.” you promised fervently.

“Please don’t joke about that.” The Resonant begged, pulling a crystalline device from within his tunic, gesturing for you to take the proffered extrusion.

“It’s possible?” You chuckled helplessly, gripping the device.

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll find out.” The Resonant answered enigmatically. The air shimmered like heat haze around you, and suddenly, it was as if you were never there.

A raven cawed harshly as the Bungarra continued to forage on the low scrub. Somewhere, deep within the earth, a lone voice howled in piteous anguish, building as sympathetic throats lent themselves to its lament.

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