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Two hyenas walked, dragging four unconscious captives with them. The journey would have been easier by cart but in that time any of the creatures could have stirred. When the smaller hyena had a moment to recover his strength he conjured a flare spell, sent high into the air.

Soon more of their party arrived, coming down the road to meet them and make sure that each unconscious form was carried individually. “Damn, wondered what was taking you so long to catch that shorty. Half expected you to have been taken down, too.” A bluejay said, flanked by a pair of humans.

“C’mon, surely you don’t think that little of us.” The larger hyena replied with a grin.

The jay shrugged his wings. “He knocked out four of us before we knew what was happening. Don’t worry, the lads and lass have been tended to, they’ll have some bumps and bruises to show but nothing that won’t heal.”

“This kobold did that much?” The hyena said, shaking the furred dog-like form on his back.

“Yep, even though we ambushed him as planned, he was still prepared. He must have sensed something was wrong with the ‘job offer’, maybe we’re being too generous with the alleged payout.” The human woman said as she gathered up the wolf.

The smaller hyena scoffed, throwing the lioness he’d been dragging to the human male. “Either way, he ends the same, he gets to join in as stock! But no… this is the real prize…”

The three newcomers turned to look and all shared a moment of shocked silence. “Is that…?”

“The same. Amazed she managed to sneak out without a guard, though I guess this is still the Crystal Kingdom we’re in.” He replied, hauling on Saphira’s scruff to show her off.

“What about the lion and wolf? They weren’t guarding her?”

“Oh they were with her but if that’s the calibre of training their royal guards get then their entire military is doomed.” The hyena chuckled wryly.

“Well, let’s get them back to camp and lock them up. We’ve got more than enough space, hell, might be best to send them to market straight away.”

The trip back to the camp was uneventful, none of the captives so much as stirred.

Zheil and Radasus were taken in one direction, slung into a simple fenced pen, dust for the floor with several hooked spikes embedded in the ground as tethers.

The kobold was checked for any remaining equipment before the bulk of his armour and clothing was removed, leaving him in an undershirt. The large hyena had stepped by to watch and offer some words of advice. “The tiny kobold’s stronger than he looks. You’ll need to make sure he stays put. The wolf didn’t seem to do anything special, just regular ropes will see to her.”

“Angelos can bind them both. Better safe and both magically bound than having to recapture, right?” Another human slaver said, taking the kobold’s stuff away.

Angelos turned out to be the bluejay, summoned over to tend to the captives that needed security but nothing extra special.

Magical energy glittered along his wings as he took hold of a length of sturdy ropes. His hands toyed with the brown lash before it slid out, moving towards one of the anchor points. The bird directed the rope round Zheil’s legs and neck, simply yet firmly tying her with loops above each paw secured by an additional four turns around each limb.

The bird was practised enough with it that the animated rope soon used up the last of its length. He took another long strand, repeating the process with Radasus.

His arms were wrapped by one end of the rope while the other got his legs, anchoring into the same metal post as the wolf. The kobold was the first to stir, yet before he woke enough to interrupt or shout, one of the other slaver’s moved forward, ripping a wide strand of tape and slapping it down over his lips. He rolled it around, too, taping his muzzle to make sure he couldn’t shift the simple strand.

The wolf was already tied and so the slaver turned to her, able to seal her muzzle up with tape before she even began to stir.

When the ropes were done with, they ran tight and firm down both slave’s limbs, hogtying Radasus behind his back and lassoing the quadruped wolf so that all four paws were almost touching. Certain that neither would be squirming loose, the slaver stepped out of the pen, closing a rattling cage door behind him and latching it.

“This’ll do.” Said a rabbit, leaning into a large crate on his knees, brushing down a thick cushioned lining that didn’t fit squarely along the base, leaving a short gap between the back and front and pushed up the narrow walls.

“What are you doing? These are slaves for profit, not pets!” The human who had taken Saphira commented as she let the kitsune’s body down on the floor.

“I’m no expert in our finances but I’d be willing to bet that the queen fluffball alone would make more than we have in the last three months. Think of it as an extra layer of padding protection around a package, you don't want fragile things getting damaged, right?” He said as he tucked the final corner and then squirmed back.

“And yet we’re using a solid metal box?” The human asked.

“All the more reason for the cushioning!” The rabbit replied before clarifying. “She’s weak to electricity, stops her even when she’s using her magics. That way if we sense anything unusual, well, we’ll have a taser or a prod or something set up for those of us who can’t make zappy jolts out of nothing.”

The woman rolled her eyes but took it as a decent enough explanation, turning to deal with the fallen lupine queen. Padded pouches were slipped over each of Saphira’s paws, then secured with a sturdy cuff. Another four cuffs were employed above the upper joint of each limb. Meanwhile the many tails were belted individually and then worked into a thick sack which was further reinforced with another belt over the top.

“Hey, what happened to the animal harness?” The woman asked after the rabbit finished his crate decorating and started assisting by tethering the cuffs to each other.

“Hm? Oh- Berick took it for the other one, the lion. He had that face on him, the one that made me not want to interrupt, you know?”

“Seems like a thing we want on the valuable captive, no?” She sighed. “Well, he does what he wants. Not like a bit more window dressing will be needed for her.”

“Yep, those colours would do enough even if no one knew who she was!” The rabbit replied, running a finger down Saphira’s purple markings.

“We should get more of them in stock, the harnesses. Ideally all three of these critters should have one.” The woman mumbled.

“What, you think we’re gonna suddenly run into a pack of ferals? This was a hell of a rarity.”

Their conversation meandered for a while as they bound the forelimbs together, linking them to the collar Saphira already wore. Still with a while before she stirred, a high quality muzzle was pulled over her snout, multiple straps adjusted to hold it in place and fit her head. She was slid into the crate tail-end first. Her connected front limbs were limited but the box itself was large enough for them to leave her be.

“Right, I’ve got first watch with her, could you find some of the others so we can tow this crate where she’ll never be out of sight?” The rabbit asked, hopping to sit nonchalantly on the crate.

The woman nodded. Soon the kitsune queen would wake but until then there was nothing more they needed to do.

Away from the general pens and the specialised vip treatment that Saphira was receiving Ofenna was carried away elsewhere, into one of the dimly lit storage rooms. The vengeful and vicious hyena, Berick, checked multiple crates, boxes and the like for what he considered the perfect fit.

The harness he’d pilfered had already been strapped tightly around the lioness. Built in loops pinned her arms to her chest and her legs to her belly. A sturdy strap ran down the spine, holding the tail in place and giving a handle that others could lift her by. He’d also muzzled her but not before stuffing bundled up cloth between her jaws, making the buckled straps strain from how much they had to compress.

Those who helped and those who dropped by could tell he was going overboard yet none were willing to put themselves in his sights for the sake of merchandise.

Harnessed and gagged, the still unconscious lioness was dragged into the cage that the hyena had picked out. Small, cramped, it barely fit the lioness, pushing against her on all sides. The only saving grace for her was that the cage at least had a hole for the neck and head.

Confident that she couldn’t have moved anywhere if she was awake, Berick slipped out of the room, eyes lighting up as he saw a blue feathered form walking alone. “Angelos. I need you over here.”

The bird stopped, turning and with a sigh headed over. “What is it?”

“Need your special magic here. Last of the slaves-to-be needs to be properly seen to.”

He grimaced in response. “I thought I was only needed for the general population area today. I don’t have infinite mana, you know.”

“It’s just for one more. Look, I’ll make it up to you later!”

“Damn right you will.” He replied, stepping into the room. He paused, taken aback at what he saw. “What the hell? You don’t seriously need more bindings on this one do you?”

“You questioning me?” He asked, turning a frown to the bluejay. Angelos knew better than to question Berick, of all people. “Anyway, you should see what she’s like at full strength. The amount of damage she did, I could have lost a leg if I didn’t have healing. So shackle her up, will you.” He exaggerated but knew he wouldn’t be pressed on it.

Instead the bird stepped forward, wings glowing once again. His hands ran along the solid metal chains that the hyena pushed his way. They clanged and clattered as they struck the metal cage, the first link of each chain bent open and reformed around a bar. Each ring on the harness was caught by a chain which threaded back. Another twist added to the already tight muzzle before anchoring to either side, limiting how far the now twitching lioness’ head could move.

“Heh, finally waking up are you?” The hyena snarled, swatting at her thigh where it squeezed out between two tight cage bars. “Well get comfy in there! Your old life of freedom is over. You, your friends and that stupid dog you threw yourselves in to save are all gonna make us a tidy sum. Of course, that’s assuming you sell! If not, eh, I guess we can let you go… by abandoning this cage by the road.”

“Mnnh?! Mh-mhnhhhhgh!” Ofenna growled, rapidly waking up to feel that all her limbs were well and truly bound, and any degree of thrashing or squirming did nothing except aggravate her situation and make her aware of how helpless she was. Leather creaked and chains clinked, yet otherwise she was kept still.

“If you’re up that means the queenie will be soon if she isn’t already. I’ll be back to stow you away. Don’t go anywhere.” He said, laughing at himself as though his joke were impressive. Angelos stayed for a moment, eying the chains, wondering if they were perhaps too much.

“Oi, you coming?” Berick yelled, pulling his focus away. He let out a breath before following, leaving the lioness behind.

The slavers took their time to explain the situation to Saphira, yet Radasus and Zheil were left with only contextual clues. The queen bridled at the insult, left muzzled for a while until she had calmed down enough.

“I demand to see the others, to know no harm has come to them.” Was the first thing she said.

“Oh? Not going to demand release and all that? Threaten us with retribution?” One of the human slavers asked.

Saphira was well composed, despite the metal crate and the bindings, she held her head up and spoke simply. “You know who I am. You have my demand. A simple one to buy my co-operation, no?”

The slavers shared a look and a shrug. “We’ll see about that, your behaviour is well and good but they need to play nice as well. We’ve sent some of the crew to potential buyers. Quite a few are going to be fascinated in you alone but I’m sure the rest will fetch a price. Your handmaiden for example is just the kind of product our buyers love. Spirited, strongly muscled and with connections to you? A wonderful combination.”

“She’s no handmaiden, only a friend.” Saphira stated flatly.

“Sure she is.” He said back matching her tone.

“Alright lads, you two make sure they’re all fed. If any of them give you trouble after a warning, you have permission to skip their meal.”

The following day carried on much as could be expected. Saphira’s crate was carried with some stability out into the middle of the camp where the guards could watch her while still keeping her separate from the kobold and wolf.

When she saw the state Ofenna was in, her hackles raised for a moment, there was far less civility in her renewed demands. Ordering more humane treatment in order to buy her own relative calm. The cruel hyena resisted but enough of the band relented, finding a middle ground of letting the lioness out of the too-small box.

The chains were moved but not taken off, still a bit overly secure than was necessary, yet they reasoned that they couldn’t be certain she didn’t have some magic that she’d just not shown yet.

She was placed in the same general population enclosure as Radasus and Zheil, tethered down with enough security and distance between her and the others that the guards were satisfied but not so much that Saphira would object.

After mastering her anger, her subsequent calm and stoic demeanour did a lot to soothe her two quadrupedal companions and even seemed to alleviate Radasus.

The slaver’s threats were far from idle, however. The very next morning the four were transported to the nearest slavery-friendly town. They weren’t the only ones to be sold that day, other slavers had come to push their ‘products’.

Saphira was put on a fancy display, easily sighted with just enough metal for her captors to electrify if needed, yet open enough for all to see her radiance and let her prove her good behaviour. Ofenna was kept just a step behind, in a cage big enough to prowl around, her harness cuffs loosened for the display against Berick’s desires.

Enough buyers had expressed an interest in the pair that they were to be auctioned off in private, yet letting the public see them served a bigger purpose. Enough would recognise Saphira that the slaver group’s renown would grow vast.

For Zheil and Radasus, the enchanted rope remained mostly in place, keeping them from any ideas that they might have had despite how outmatched they were.

Still, the jeers came. Pointed mostly at Saphira though a few scoffed at the prices.

“Like hell they caught three sapients. I’ll bet they just keep them muzzled so no one can tell the other two aren’t plain old animals.”

“And that starting price for the tiny thing, pfft, are they just coasting on the success of grabbing the queen?”

The one in charge of the show, another rabbit, said nothing. He knew that there would be buyers in town and to them the starting bids were already a steal.

The auction soon began in earnest. Starting with the wolfess. With the muzzle stripped she was ordered to speak. Only for her voice to be drowned out immediately by excitement from the crowd and the auctioneer yelling over them.

“See! With a luscious coat like that and such a gentle voice, there’s so many options for this one. Have her sing for you, read stories, or hell if you need another sled-dog she’d fit right in!” The comment prompted a scattered chuckle or two and some further conferring happened.

“Just remember, if the bids get high enough, we’ll throw in some complementary taming and transporting tools!”

The first bid kicked off a moment later, as the price ramped up the action slowed, figures dropping out until the buyer had been decided. “Sold to our representative from Melvayne Manor!”

The wolf looked frantically, trying to pierce the gloom of the audience from the bright stage and see who had won, to get any inkling of her future but soon the leash at her neck was pulled. It prompted another surge of fright as she realised she was being pulled away from her friends. They wouldn’t even know who had bought her! “Ofenna! Ofen-mmmh!” A hand grabbed her muzzle as she was more insistently led backstage for preparation.

The next slave on sale was one she didn’t even recognise gathered from elsewhere by another group. The curtain fell back, she was cut off from the event and any hope of her comrades seeing her.

More auctions preceded Radasus’ turn. The kobold was pushed out into the spotlight with his arms kept firmly tied behind his back. “Our next item. Do not be fooled by his short stature. While I’ll avoid naming names to save their face, I’m told this little ball of muscles put almost ten fully armed mercenaries out of commission using just a pair of shields!”

A flapping cloth was thrown out of the way, revealing the kobold’s armaments, as part of the set.

“A perfect little labourer. His strength is higher than most of the others we’ve seen sold tonight, with endurance to match! Plus with the size of him, surely even the smallest home could find somewhere to put him and fit an extra bowl to feed. That’s right, we’re talking low upkeep!”

The pitch rambled on for a while, yet the key features had been broadcast.

Before long he’d even outperformed their expectations. “Sold! To the Melvayne’s. Is that your second buy of the night sir? I certainly hope you still have room in the budget for more.”

The kobold grimaced as he was led off the auction block, over to the work area. He felt pangs of guilt that his own inability to fight off the last two slavers had led to others being snatched up with him.

He kept his gaze ahead, calm on the surface, though he didn’t know what the future held for him and that uncertainty burned in his brain and twisted inside him.

Saphira and Ofenna were sold as one. Advertised as the queen and her handmaiden. Their auction took place in a more luxurious hall and as the final item of the night. Five bidders remained, and each of them, along with their guests, were invited on stage to see exactly what they would be getting.

Saphira stayed calm and quiet as they took off her bindings, leaving her in a metal collar that could be used to zap as a precaution. Her tails rested, she sat, with posture befitting a queen. Ofenna was less amenable. The tight muzzle was replaced with a wire mesh to stop any threats of biting, though she too was unbound.

Yet just looking at the pair one could see the striking difference. Ofenna was tense, barely holding herself in check thanks to Saphira’s example.

That tension only grew and tweaked as the potential buyers moved closer or ran a finger over her.

“Hmm, I would have thought a large cat would be softer than this.” One said.

“You can fix that with the right shampoo, you know.” Another buyer who obviously had a rapport with him replied. “The right products can make even the most wiry hairs far more pleasant to stroke.”

“Is that so? Are you already thinking of putting them in a pair of nice pet-beds?” The first said with a chuckle.

His companion sighed, shaking her head. “Alas, they’re both much too large for me, personally. I’d not have room to keep them. But owning a queen? That opens up so many possibilities.” She said, catching her bottom lip below a fang.

“My lords, my ladies!” A louder voice rang out. “If you would take your seats, we shall conclude the night's festivities, and see who among you shall be feathering their nests with possibly the most prestigious item to ever have passed these halls!”

The conversations died down. The main event had begun.

A count from a rival nation had been the one to secure the purchase. One with no friends among his fellows and thus no reason to overstay his welcome. Saphira barely recognised the stoat, though she feared for his intentions. Ransom was always a possibility, in times of war nobles could end up as prisoners and held until the other nation coughed up a tidy sum, even in peace such practices were still common enough. Another thought was that this count might use her to curry greater favour in the courts. To use her as a gift to his liege to raise his own standing.

There was even the possibility that they wanted to keep her for personal reasons.

Regardless of the outcome, dwelling on it would earn nothing, she was led away to be transported onwards. Her fur ruffled when she saw what awaited her.

The count had come here to win, the confidence in his victory was obvious from the array of items that were spread in wait.

The harness from the slavers’ camp was set to one side, with a second harness hung up. Extra straps and loops around the tail section made it clear who was going to wear that. Auction staff and the count’s retinue were already taking the other things out of containers. Cuffs, drooping rubber and leather were placed on the desk.

“Which one first?”

“The queen. She’s more important and if she knows what’s good for her she’ll set an example for her friend to behave.”

“Alright.” The pair were kept in spotlights, unable to discern the details of the figures moving around them, until they moved close. A brown snout here, a striped muzzle there.

“Nothing personal, you understand that right? The count just wants you gussied up before he meets you face to face.” One of them said, she was definitely more pragmatic than gentle, but compared to the harsh yanks of the slaver band, this was comparatively gentle. “One paw at a time.”

Saphira acquiesced, keeping her posture with some dignity while a long sleeved mitten in sapphire-blue rubber was dragged up each leg in turn. They clung around her limbs but were slightly loose at the top. No wonder they asked for her to behave, it’d be hell to keep those fully on in a struggle. Still, a cinching strap at the wrists made sure that her claws were nullified and by extension kept the garments in place even if their sleeves were to fall down.

“If the count wants to meet us so badly, why doesn’t he dress us up himself?!” Ofenna growled.

“Ofenna, enough.” Saphira said, turning her snout, wanting to yell, herself. The lioness winced but grudgingly shut her lips.

With all four of Saphira’s legs dressed, they brought down the harness. Custom made for her, fitted with luxurious and high grade padding on the inside. There was even a thread of fanciful embroidery on the outside.

The harness was pulled on from behind her, first. Loose belts were strapped around each shoulder and thigh, garter-like clips hooking around the rubber sleeves to hold them in place. Saphira’s back and belly felt a lattice of straps, with a sturdy line down either side. Each belt took a while to be cinched properly, compressing her coat enough that there was still ample room to see the straps. Secured at the neck, that left only the last few straps which were wound around her tails, woven between them so that each strap held three tails, and each tail was held in place by at least two straps. Saphira felt a small nagging when she realised the harness looped several times around the base of her tails, leaving her far less able to shield her modesty.

“Alright, over here, cat.” One of the others said, pulling the similar pieces of gear.

While Saphira heard the grunting of effort as they dressed the heftier, ‘maliciously civil’ feline’s limbs, they didn’t feel put out enough to seek any reprisals.

Delicate cuffs were added, still made of metal, yet again, they had been crafted with care.

They were fastened around the thigh and shin of all four legs. Joined by a belt at her hips and then a collar with a dangling gemstone at the neck. Fingers prodded below her belly, making her tense, then shiver as the thinner fur felt cool metal. It clicked on to the belt at her front and hooked around, covering what the bound tails exposed before clicking against the back. She winced, aware that it would defend her, but also something about the device’s implications made her feel contradictively more flustered.

Light delicate chains, seemingly more for decoration, connected the belt chains to each of the limb ones. Yet as she moved around a little she felt another purpose, the jingling chains were felt around that lower-hug of the belt. Devious bastards…

Ofenna’s own equipping lagged only a little behind Saphira’s own, when the queen’s last cuff was fully clipped they were ready to start applying Ofenna’s own. Saphira took a glance. The lioness’ rubber was a simpler purple, the harness lacked the touches and even the cuffs were more practical, solid steel.

Saphira doubted that Ofenna’s strength was the cause, more likely the count had only prepared the single set in advance and sufficed with easier tools until he could prepare something more appropriate.

“Alright you two, into the box.”

“Box?” Ofenna asked, as Saphira was led away first. A padded box waited, two outlines cut out of foam, with tethers for hooking them down. The padding left no doubt as to how they’d sit. Lying face to face on their sides.

Even Saphira took a grudging breath, taking two steps around before she stepped into the box. She gave Ofenna a look that said; ‘The less you fight the quicker this is over.’

The lioness scowled lightly but seemed to understand the meaning.

It wasn’t a natural position to lie down on but it worked well enough. The lioness grimaced as she too joined the kitsune. Their legs were clipped first to the anchor points then cuff-to-cuff until they were nearly touching each other.

“Grhh…” Ofenna growled, the wire-basket over her face annoying with how it was pressed in. It seemed it wasn’t to stay, hands pushed in, raising her head and unbuckling it, pulling it away.

“Ugh, finally.” She grumbled. Opening her mouth to say something to Saphira before the opportunity was seized. A thick solid rubber bit was thrust between her teeth, a strap holding it on. Saphira’s brows rose as she too craned her neck up.

“What is the meaning of this? We’ve gone along with your orders!” She said, eye’s narrowing when a jingle of a customised gag was pushed near her.

“Yep, well, this is still in the count’s instructions.”

“Mghhha! Fhhhngh!” Ofenna growled.

“You beasts.” Saphira said, patience being sorely tested. “Even though we meet every demand, you need more? I should have you all scoured from the world for this!”

While a couple of them were taken aback by the sudden outburst, the one leading the charge barely shifted. Instead he

The gag was pushed firmly if not viciously into place, bracing straps held Saphira’s jaw shut around the carefully shaped mould, fitting her jaws thick enough that her tongue was pushed down without escape. “Now, lights out!”

Even that was another subversion of expectation, instead of the box being closed, the two ferals were instead hooded in more rubber, a tight band that left their gagged snouts free while covering over their heads and necks, blocking their eyes and compressing their ears.

Saphira herself grumbled, while Ofenna was muffling threats and annoyance into her gag. It meant little as the lid was dropped, clasped down heavily to secure the contents. See-through, hard plastic. Allowing the captors something to watch for their amusement and make sure there would be no sudden escapes.

The heavy crate was wheeled out on a trolley before being loaded up onto the back of the cart that would bear them on. The two trapped ferals groaned whenever there was a bump, Ofenna even trying to see if she could use the extra motions to struggle and fight.

“Oi, we see you trying.” A new voice said, booted heel stomping on the case near Ofenna’s head. “The count wants the queen pristine and unbattered but he only wants you as a trophy piece. It’s the queen who’ll get his attention. You’ll probably wind up kept in a menagerie room just because. In other words we’re within our rights to teach you a lesson.”

“Heh, or better yet, just write up a disciplinary report!”

“How is that better?” The first voice asked, the world around the two blindfolded captives shaking as the cart broke into motion.

“Oh you didn’t hear? The last servant who started acting out was buried up to the neck in the garden for a weekend. Just imagine what he’d do with slaves and property that earned the same thing.” His company replied, growing slightly quieter as they stepped to the front of the cart.

“Damn, dunno if I should feel sorry for ‘em or spur them to give me a reason, haha!” He said, taking out a water bottle and teasingly dropping a few splashes through the holes in the box lid so that they hit the lioness’ fur. “And now that you’re both property no whimpers from your queen will shield you.”

As the thuggish figure rambled on, the cart lurched into motion. It was going to be a long, endurance testing ride.

Hours of teasing and tormenting resulted in two outbursts the lioness couldn’t hold herself back from. Both making her regret it with the threat of a write up.

A short while later the carriage slowed to a stop. “What’s going on now? Does he need another break?” The one watching the two captives said rhetorically while standing up.

There was a sudden loud thud, his voice turning muffled as he yelped in earnest fright. A heavy painful sounding crunch accompanied by him yelling in pain. “Aaah! My arm! My arm!!”

“Silence or it will be your neck, too!” A new voice chirred, dark and terrifying, making Ofenna take a sudden scared breath. Saphira however had a totally different reaction… the breath Ofenna felt from her put her in mind of an eyeroll.

There were more noises as the newcomer shoved toward the cart, pushing boxes around to clear the path to the captives. The one who kept guard was still grunting in pain, falling quieter as his air was abruptly cut off. The newcomer paused above them, his breathing heavy and rasping from exertion as he found what he was looking for. Air flow grew as the lid was wrenched off. A long clawed digit hooked into the rubber hoods and tweaked them back.

The sight of a staring eye and grin with too many teeth was nearly enough to make Ofenna faint as she saw the synx who had arrived. It was Artemis, Saphira’s husband.

The box’s lining was ripped as he took hold of both captives and hoisted them bodily out and into the air, leaving them dressed and chained to each other. Ofenna was granted a quick look around, seeing the synx’s long tail unfurling to release the neck-hold it had on the guard who wheezed and struggled back, clutching his afflicted arm.

“The ngg- the count will hear of this.”

With scary alacrity Artemis rounded on the downed fellow, long jaws snapping an inch from his head. “Do you know me? Do you know what I could do? Tell your count. If he dares to raise an issue he can bring it to our court!”

With that issued his tail struck out again, enough to knock the guard out.

“Well well, my dear, how on earth did you get into another predicament like this even though you weren’t alone?” He chuckled before pausing to listen to the lioness.

She was grunting, squirming. “Hllmh, hllph nnhs hmm!”

“Help you? Oh, no no no. That’s not what happens now.” He held the two in his arms while leaning back supporting his and their weight on the powerful tail. Allowing his flexible legs to rise off the ground. “The way I see it, I rescued a goddess and her follower from a fate as an ornament, or worse. That means you owe me your lives. And I’m quite keen to do whatever I like with you both, my little… playthings.” As he said the last part the balls of his feet tugged teasingly on the belts they wore.

“So kind of whoever looked after you to gift me these new items, I’m sure I’ll get some mileage out of them.” He whispered closely as he finally disconnected the links holding the pair together. Slinging one under each arm he turned, making sure that their escorts were still out cold. The road was busy enough, they’d be found before too long.

Things were not as fortunate for the pair sold to house Melvayne.

Zheil felt a moment’s relief whenever she saw Radasus on being taken out of the transport. Both of them felt a pang of guilt, feeling partly responsible for the other ending up here.

They’d been driven to a large manor and then separated immediately.

The wolf had been carried off by leash, cleaned, inspected and then led to a lavish room. As soon as the door opened she’d felt many eyes on her, different thoughts and feelings behind each gaze as she saw other creatures like herself. Varied animals, all showing the same keen intellect. They were bound to varying degrees, displayed about the room, sometimes with their restraints keeping them from being truly loose but still open to the air, others were kept behind glass so that they were more securely contained.

It was one of the latter that spoke, a green, wingless dragon, in the largest cell that still looked almost cramped based on the sheer length of his tail. “Hah! Looks like another confused pup got brought in. Why don’t you put her in with me? I’ll make her feel welcome.”

One of those leading Zheil growled, turning to someone at his side. “How did he get his muzzle off again? Who was assigned to him?” The wolfess looked at that, turning, indeed all the other creatures were muzzled, restricting them to mumbles at best.

“Oh, he came in for my feeding, but he let his guard down.” The dragon said, peeling his head back, revealing a bump in his belly that was still squirming. “As I say, there’s room for another if you want me to look after whoever that is while you wait.”

“Spit him out this instant, Dracour.” The lemur demanded striding closer.

The dragon sat smugly, knowing that for the moment there wasn’t anything they could do to force him. “Oh I’ll let him out eventually, if you let me out first, that is. Otherwise he’ll be keeping company with me.”

The lemur clenched his fist, walking close to the glass walled cage and talking to the lump rather than the dragon. “We warned you about him. So you can sit in there until you’ve learned to heed our warnings, and then we’ll look into how to get you loose.”

Dracour pouted, trying to hide his disappointment at what he thought would be an avenue to at least cause mischief, assuming he didn’t make it all the way out if they unlocked that door.

Zheil looked worriedly at the dragon as she was led to a glass walled platform near his cell. Thin black-covered cushions lined the bottom of it, with a groove in the corner. It was there that they told the wolf to sit. As she did, four leg-catching bands pinned her in a seated pose. The chain from her leash was pushed toward a ring in the centre.

“What? She’s new isn’t she? Getting preferential treatment cos she’s a dog with a nice coat, huh?” The dragon sneered.

“Shut up!” The lemur yelled, turning to the wolf and tuning out whatever else the dragon had to whine about. “You’ll start on thin ice, wolf. We’ve conceded that since you have been manageable you may have this to start with, but misbehave and we have no issue with moving or tending to you more securely.”

He turned to look where another wolf was kept, no glass around her cell. It wasn’t needed. Her head was completely hooded except for her nose. Her chest in a leather sleeve that was pinned to frame, which also braced her forelimbs to put her in the rudimentary stocks.

“If you really act up, with a nice coat like that, they’ll probably fit you into one of the form-fitting cells! Never seen anyone condemned to that fate come back. They’re kept elsewhere, you know.” Dracour said, not one to even put a fellow unfortunate to rest.

That elicited a small whine from the wolf as the entry panel to her own cell was shut and latched. The bands in the floor released, letting her stand, though leaving her trapped inside.

“For the last time, be quiet, lizard.” Then he looked back to Zheil. “When it’s feeding time, we expect you to lie back there and wait for the restraints. Resist and you won’t get fed. Do that multiple times and we’ll just have to intervene.” The lemur said pointing to the other wolf once again.

Zheil nodded, accepting the order with a soft sigh.

He wheeled on his heel, talking to one of those flanking him. “Go and find the custodian, we’ll ask him what to do about that dragon.”

Zheil’s eyes followed the lemur as he left, then drifted back to the dragon. His mouth was flapping open, in silent mockery of the lemur. One hand puppeting before he caught the wolfess watching. He turned his head eerily, eyes wide. “I wonder how you got caught by these clowns. Hey, maybe when I break out of here I’ll smash your cell too and take you with me, all wrapped up like that. I’m much more suited to keeping captives than they are.”

The wolf sighed, fur slightly ruffled by the words.

The following days let her in on what to expect. The custodian was the final authority and even though the wolfess had mostly done her best to behave, asking questions had earned only a blindfold added to the muzzle.

Beside their feedings, figures would enter the room during the afternoon and evenings, guests or residents of the manor, walking by to observe the trapped creatures as though they were just a living gallery.

Back in the safety of the Crystal Kingdom, before all of this. The wolfess had been told that owning sapient ferals was considered a distinguished luxury. She’d been captured and collared just to be a status symbol.

After two days the blindfold had been removed, allowing the wolf to see something new. A replacement for the still-trapped member of staff had arrived in the form of the corgi-kobold Radasus.

His legs and arms bore sturdy cuffs, though unshackled at present to fulfil the task they had for him. He was directed to the dragon’s cell.

“What is this, you’re offering me a trade or something?” Dracour said as the kobold opened the door and entered the cell. Instead Radasus lifted up the muzzle on the ground. “Pff, seriously?” The dragon said with a chuckle.

His overlong tail shot forward, snaring the kobold’s arm. “You’d barely fill me, maybe coil prison will be better for you.” Dracour teased, his tail bunching up before to his surprise the diminutive creature pulled loose and wrestled back. The dragon yelped as Radasus brought his strength to bear, able to drag the dragon out of the cell!

Dracour was leapt on by the other figures who had brought the kobold in, his squirms were strong but without the cramped confines actually protecting him, he was unable to evade them all. Zheil watched the intense struggle until his head was down on the ground, the staff trapped in his belly realising his salvation was impending, he too started to fight. The tail was still a threat, especially when Radasus released it but the kobold had moved to the dragon’s neck, pinning his head down and prising his mouth open.

“Thigh ighh unhhhair!” Dracour complained petulantly. “G-uh uhhlp!” He felt his belly moving and tried to hold the servant inside his throat, feeling it was his bargaining chip.

The wolf found it hard to watch, wincing and looking away until she heard a squeam-inducing noise followed by wet splats and a coughing receding as the freed staff member ran for it, stumbling along the way.

By the time she looked back the dragon had been muzzled once more and thanks to the kobold’s lifting he was being carried away elsewhere, given their take on punishments presumably to somewhere more restrictive and worse, perhaps to that very immobilising that the dragon had mentioned...

The custodian had weighed the risk. Had Radasus failed, it would only have been a purchased slave inconvenienced rather than more valued staff. Instead, as a reward for his performance, Radasus himself was assigned to help take care of the creatures in the half gallery half menagerie, at least as a temporary break from the intense labour they had him performing.

He was still barely trusted, the shackles were kept chained. They only wanted him for his strength, efficient enough to do the work of more than two.

After another few days, the door opened once more, yet rather than his usual rounds Radasus was led past every other cell directly to Zheil. The wolf’s heart felt anxious at the sudden difference in schedule. The kobold had been as generous as he could to all of them yet perhaps he had seemed overly friendly to the wolf. Indeed he was bearing a new crate, laden with restraints.

She was instructed to her position, locked down and then Radasus was directed to dress her within them. Leather and gold, expensive, pricey. While at first she was worried about if somehow she were being punished, instead it was concerning that she might be being moved elsewhere. Perhaps she’d performed too well and was to be relocated to a private room, with all the worrying implications that came with potentially having to serve people who thought nothing of treating her like an art piece.

The kobold dressed her as delicately as he could, even the restraints themselves felt different though. A softer lining allowed them to sit snugly and they were light enough that she’d easily be able to bear them.

As seemed common practice in these parts, mitts were once again added before the paw-cuffs, yet even those had a padding that felt sculpted to be easy to walk on, simply there to nullify her claws and any thought of gripping.

A few of the restraints felt more like accessories than bindings. Yet they still all had tell-tale rings to hook chains into. Chains which were secured between her limbs and even over the tail tip and muzzle, keeping her head bent down however she might want to raise it.

“Alright, you mutts, come on.” One of the staff said, dragging a leash and taking it away. Radasus was also pushed firmly in the back, led toward the smaller side door of the chamber, the one reserved for servants and where Zheil had originally been brought in.

The mixed expressions from the other captives around them gave little help in answering what their fate was to be.

Radasus knew some of it. He’d been chained in a more plain cell whenever it was time to rest. Ankle chains had kept him tethered to a ring in the floor, far too sturdy for him to have prised off and too tight to slip out of.

Despite seeming like an escape artist at first, his propensity for getting out of complicated restraints higher than any captive they’d had before, the captors had realised that by just having a single effective and sturdy means to keep him from mischief they didn’t need much else.

They never fully lowered their guard around the kobold, though they’d given enough for him to have overheard snatches of conversation.

He knew that Zheil, the blue wolfess he’d been transported with, had been resold for a much higher price. That this was quite uncommon for the representatives of the house to agree to, meaning it must have been quite the cost. He also knew a second figure was to be sold along with her.

The strangest part was that it sounded as though the new buyer lived in the Crystal Kingdom, where slavery was outlawed. Still, his mind rationalised the reason for the high price to be the same. Anyone willing to keep slaves there had to have money, power or connections to be able to operate.

Now as he led Zheil to her new fate, he wished he could have said anything, even to have whispered that it was going to be alright. Yet the welts on his back and the threats he’d been given stopped him for now. He’d find a way to pay them all back…

Out they came into the open air, the wolf’s tail clinking the chains at the relative joy of feeling the lightest of breezes once more. The new carriage awaited and even that was beyond anything Radasus had expected. The golden restraints had been one thing. The cage at the back was ornamental, eye-catching and gilded itself, furnished with a few cushions, too!

In short, it was far more spacious and luxurious than the glass box the wolf had been in and this was just the transport. He smiled for her, at least she’d be going to a nicer place.

The others with him stepped back, gesturing for him to lift the wolfess up and put her in the cage. She agreed easily enough, letting him place her down. As soon as he’d finished, arms grabbed his own, dragging him away. “Hmmh?!” He couldn’t help grunting in surprise.

Smooth leather greeted his arms and legs, the heavy steel shackles releasing to the ground with weighty thuds, yet before he was given time to so much as rub his irritated skin, they were replaced. His brows rose; the new cuffs were of the same leather and gold design that Zheil was wearing.

A belt circled his waist, a collar for his neck, all linked and chained to give him some movement but never quite enough.

His muzzle was stripped off last, causing him to turn. “What’s going o-oof!” He was interrupted as he was lifted and pushed unceremoniously into the cage beside the wolf. “W-wait. I’m the second captive being sold?!”

“Silence!” One of them snapped. “Until you leave the grounds the rules still apply to you. It would be a pain to pull you out of there so consider this your last warning or it’s a stint in solitary for you. They won’t care if you take another month to arrive. Now take off the wolf’s muzzle and throw it back, that’s still our property.”

Minutes later the carriage turned from the gate, moving out of sight. The lemur had emerged to see them off. “Damn shame that it was the kobold they wanted, we’d only just drilled the rules into him. We’ll probably never get a slave that efficient again, nor a feral that readily docile.”

“Where are they headed anyway?”

“Hell if I know, Crystal Kingdom is all I was told, the house makes bank off the slave trade and we simple servants barely see a pay rise.” he scoffed before turning back in. His own duty still had to be seen to, especially now there was a gap to fill.

In the named kingdom an entirely different encounter was taking place. Artemis was doing his best to maintain his intimidating aura- something the synx found quite easy to do. All part of his play, he’d given both captives a ball gag, stretching the straps around the rubber sleeve-hoods they wore. “Oh, Saph, I can’t recall the number of times I’ve saved you. At least your captors went for an interesting set of garments.” He said, stepping around her, his hands were apart, each brushed down the back of one of the liberated ferals. “However, just because this is your first time, lioness, you won’t be getting special treatment. You are my toys now, and I think the best way to start is with what your captors neglected.”

“Mhh, mhhhph?” Ofenna murmured, curious what was meant.

Saphira had a more accurate suspicion and merely let out a softer “Hrrfh.”

His hands rustled through a small pouch as he plucked out a series of secure enchanted padlocks. Small things that looked delicate yet held as firm as a door bolt. They clicked lightly as he made sure to seal each cuff and each tightening strap of the harnesses. “There we are, two pieces of property, locked in as they should be. Oh, and Saphira lost the key to this set years ago, not that it matters as you’ll both be kept bound like this now.”

“Mmhh? Mhhr hhhhfff!” Ofenna started in a shock, she’d felt the pokes and assumed it was just the straps being tightened, she hadn’t realised what he was about.

“Like I can understand you- Oh, I see, you’re letting me know I missed one.” Artemis teased, grabbing the gag straps and putting three different locks on after tightening it so that it squeezed over the eye-covering, ear-flattening rubber. Ofenna let out a more panicked squeak before he grabbed her head, kneading it gently. “Relax, the gag is a separate lock set. There is a key for that at least. Just like I haven’t locked this.”

He rapped his free knuckles on the shield between Saphira’s legs. “I’m not going to go without someone to use for unwinding just because she can’t learn her lesson.”

He stepped away while the lioness struggled, realising that the mittens she’d assumed were just for transport were now going to be with her indefinitely, brushing over her straps, hand sliding away.

The synx had turned his attention back to his queen. “Oh, keeping the two of you like this is quite the idea. I get to play with one while the other squirms.” He was resting on his tail again, his arms scooped the kitsune up, pulling her onto the bed. “I’ll start by warming you up to make sure I remind you both who the master of the house is.”

He followed his words with actions, pulling the belt open and falling beside Saphira. She felt everything, her feelings should only have been raised by the blindness but they felt that they’d been heightened higher! Artemis noticed the same, humming to himself as he traced all the zones he knew to target, one by one. Giving a sensual scratch or soothing brush where needed, soon his wife was groaning into the gag.

His grin came back as his hand prodded below the belt, teasing Saphira. He waited for a moment before sliding a thick toy, one of the goddess’s favourites into the now prepared lips. The belt clicked shut behind it, the thick padding serving to keep it in and ensure that each twitch she made aggravated it a little more.

The synx was chuckling to himself, his wife was already squirming, her hips moving to get more feeling from the toys, to purposefully wind herself up for him. His tail slid off the bed slipping over the floor toward the lioness. He paused, waiting for a moment for her four legs to be on the ground and then his tail curled around her neck, cinching down and squeezing as he pulled her in.

She stumbled, her paws trying to rise blindly, finding more of his tail in the way. He felt the strong but blunted push of her mittened paws along the articulate appendage, she was trying to get him to release her but he had the advantage. Artemis was able to casually deflect her while she was still unable to see what she was flailing at.

“You’ll run out of air if you keep fighting mindlessly like that.” He said without ever taking his hands off Saphira. They brushed, pushing under the harness, exploring her wiggles. His clawed feet meanwhile, rubbed over the lion’s masked head, directing her with them and the tail closer to what waited between his legs.

“I’ll let you have a gasp of air if you can bring me to gasp, myself.” Artemis crooned. He nestled his furred crotch against her, the ball-gag she wore brushing close, then he pulled upward so that her shoulders and arms could reach the bed.

“Nhhhg, ghhk-” Ofenna gasped, shaking her head to clear space yet that only made her feel more dazed.

“Oh no, the ball gag’s not coming off. You’ll need something else…”

“Bghhhk?!” Ofenna groaned. She tried to remember the path she needed and then reached gently, hesitantly with her forepaw. It found the sheath she was looking for, her second joining the other side.

“That’s right, fast learner, aren’t you?” Artemis teased, feeling those cumbersome digits try to push around within the rubber mittens. His body twitched in response and he let out a happy sigh. His tail released the lioness’ neck, moving down instead to twine over her own tail base. The dextrous tip slipped off Ofenna’s belt and then began to rub the exposed parts as a reward. She stiffened, arms going still as she braced against the touch.

Soon the stroking returned, Artemis glanced to the other side, the kitsune was panting softly, hotly. A moment more and she’d be ready, just like he now was.

His feet caught Ofenna’s shoulders and pushed her back. “Good work. You may now be my property but I am not without mercy. You did not wish for me to lie with you, last we checked. But I know what I can do instead.” Again he used his tail to direct her, throwing in a little more choking, if she thought to pull back.

His tail let go and he slithered along the bed, moving until his tail and legs were brushing Saphira to keep her ready while his hands found one of the smaller, less obtrusive toys he’d brought out. His teasing had done enough to let him thrust the toy inside of Ofenna with little discomfort. Her legs quivered for a moment, he shut the belt again, trapping the toy within her and then clicked a remote. The response was immediate!

Ofenna let out a loud “Ghhhmph!” And then dropped to the ground.

“Let me know if you need anything more.” He remarked before he fully turned his attention back to Saphira.

Bodily he lifted Saphira, pushing her down and swapping position so that her belly kissed his own, pressing his slightly softened rod up between them. The physical brushing coupled with the groans and grunts from the lioness were more than enough to bring him up to speed.

His hand slipped the belt open and dropped the shield to one side once he’d removed the larger toy to clear the way. With a smile he said. “Time for me to claim my reward…”

As expected, Saphira was more than adequately prepared. Artemis lined himself up as his hips shuffled down, he let his length grow to full, feeling the tip brushing against fur. His hand smoothed over Saphira’s lower back, finding her tail base and grasping it sensually tight.

As he felt the warmth kiss over the emerged head of his cock, he let out a sultry growl of passion, joined by a gagged moan from his wife. Her walls relented, moving, caressing and squeezing over him as tight as the rubber she wore.

Each inch of motion teased the pair of them, making those initial moments where Artemis found the depth he would be keeping to- where their mutual satisfaction was best shared- all the more tantalising. He wanted to ravage her, synx instinct seeking to take hold, to swing his hips in deep strokes, yet mindful of her pleasure he held himself to a level of restraint.

“Mhhhgn” Saphira moaned, feeling a quiver as the motion reversed, Artemis pulling out. His hands, down to the spindly clawed fingers, ruffled her fur, gripping on tightly. He was still toying with her even now, all to enhance the long awaited moment.

The frustrated grunts from the almost forgotten third party were similar to Saphira’s own, she wanted this desperately, even trying to wiggle out of his grasp to sit herself back on him. He was in control though, his hands held her steady as he pulled almost fully out, leaving just enough nested that he wouldn’t pop free.

He took a breath, holding it and then releasing with another groan as he slid back in once more, feeling that squeezing caress. Another plumbing, pushing close to that same point and then his eyes snapped open, sharp teeth flashed from his grinning.

The motion shifted once more but it was no longer something Saphira cared about, as the speed of it was far beyond that teasing pace. In and out he thrust, letting her move her body up and down rhythmically while holding and pushing just enough to help her feel that she was his to use.

After the time spent in captivity, in bindings that were alluring enough to her, it took Saphira’s will to not give in immediately. “Mnnnnhgh!!!”

“Yes, let it all out whenever, my divine housepet.” It wasn’t a command, more a reassurance, to show he wouldn’t be dissuaded. After all, Saphira already knew from experience this would just be the first joining of several before the night was through.

The wolven face scrunched up, Saphira’s breath getting hotter. Artemis went from gripping her with his hands to hugging her with his arms, the soft bed creaking as he turned, pulling her with him, rolling around, all without having to part.

When he was positioned definitively above her, he truly began his loving thrusts. His arms held her to his chest as his hands once more squeezed with indulgent affection into her thick fur.

Her breathing was now a constant moaning, his own grunts growing increasingly powerful. The rhythmic sliding rubbed that deep itch, his claws pushed just firmly enough to enhance the feelings without going too far. Her skin tingled, aching for that touch all over, yet that prickling was drowned out with each twitch and thrust within her.

Their hearts pounded, with their bodies touching both of them felt it, her own lined limbs hooked on, having to use her muscles, realising she was kept even from gripping him. Despite it all, the restraint only pushed her more into the moment.

The couple’s perception of time slowed as for a few blissful moments all they thought about was each other. Saphira’s needy, desiring twitches came from out of her conscious control. The feelings tipped Artemis to the same edge and with a breath, he was ready, both of them waiting for the other to reach a limit and able to join.

It was Saphira who caved, her tight clenching squeeze of ecstasy rubbed all along him, grasping and kneading, feeling the answering quiver as he joined her in climax. Muscles tensed, others thrusted a final few times, their breathing held for the moment before the synx’s snout found Saphira’s and pressed cheek to cheek. With a joyous heaving sigh they let the resulting pleasure drown over their thoughts.

The thrills and resulting calm of their coupling stayed with them as Artemis parted, tail flopping as he slid free.

The two of them lay in calm quiet, almost at risk of falling asleep, before Artemis finally moved some moment’s later, sitting up, eyes falling on the wriggling, softly squeaking but far more loudly muffling form of the frustrated lioness.

“Oh, yes…” He fished out a key, plucked the gag free from Saphira and leant closer, whispering and prompting a sharing of some secrets. As she revealed a few things about the lioness, he grinned all the more. “Is that so?” He said before returning the gag and buckling it shut once more.

Ofenna felt the tail return, grasping and pulling her closer. “My wife and I have decided it’s a poor display of hospitality to not let you join us on the bed.” He said, sliding to stand if just to give himself better leverage to heft the lioness where he claimed.

“However we would not be too forward to make any improper passes.” He teased, pushing Ofenna toward the middle of the bed. She squirmed and writhed, trying to get onto her front, to raise her flanks and show that the buzzing belt had more than prepared her. “Oh, no no, that would be coerced at this point, we wouldn’t want you to do something you regret under duress.” The synx said, licking his teeth at the delightful thoughts in his mind. Ofenna tried desperately to get their attention, yet she only felt light contact with Saphira for a moment. Soon after she felt a tug at the cuffs on her forelimbs. They clicked to a subtle ring in the bed, binding her along the middle of it. The synx climbed back into bed, his own body contact with Ofenna also felt like an afterthought. He recovered the remote to the vibrators scrambling the lioness’ thoughts and adjusted a setting, turning it from a constant buzz to a throb with frequent pauses.

“M-hhghh! Nhhghh!!” Ofenna squealed, tail and lower legs moving.

“Now, where were we? Ah yes, round two.” Artemis said, turning back to his wife. Their plan to tease their guest would drive her even more berserk, yet from what Saphira had shared of her proclivities, it would do far more for her than actually sating that need…

His words on the longevity of their restraint had been bluster, part of the scene to set the tone. He knew how to break the locks whenever he wished to, allowing him to change their outfits on a whim, revealing the fact when he took off the rubber hood and gags some time later and showed Ofenna their extensive collection of gear and toys, multiple parts of which could be adjusted to fit. However he seemed quite serious about keeping the pair as his pets for a long time.

Saphira found a moment when the three of them were in a quiet and relaxed calm to get Artemis and Ofenna to speak openly, even getting the lioness to confess how excited some of Artemis’ actions made her feel.

From there she let more and more details slip loose to Saphira, which the goddess then passed on to her husband. The plans they inspired in him allowed Saphira a break, one she needed as a member of her courts had reported news.

A special delivery had arrived.

She openly wore the gear that Artemis had dressed her in, incorporating a chest covering vest with a collar that openly declared his present rise in control. Yet she kept her regal demeanour as she saw the gilded carriage roll in.

The blue wolf and corgi-traited kobold within were led out to her, and Zheil abandoned decorum to sprint up to her and give an affectionate and warming nuzzle. “Welcome back. I trust the tail end of your ordeal was in some comfort?”

“Oh yes, absolutely. I was worried though, I had no idea where we were going until I saw the walls. Thank you so much for helping us. But how did you escape?!” The wolfess asked.

Saphira cleared her throat. “I’ll be sure to tell you about that in private, later.”

That seemed to remind Zheil they weren’t alone and she hopped back, settling to a more respectable distance. “Ah, th-thank you, your Majesty!”

Radasus had approached within earshot, his eyes scanned for indications on how to behave, keeping his head down, for the most part.

“Radasus Nailo, that is your name, correct? It is what they placed on their documents so I suppose it could be an alias.” Saphira said to get his attention.

“Yes, your Majesty. That is my name.”

“How did you come to be beset by ruffians on the unfortunate day of our first meeting?” She asked casually and affable in her tone.

“It was a trick… I was told there was work needing to be done in the area, monsters and dangerous creatures. But when I got there I was ambushed by those slavers. The whole thing was just a setup for lone adventurers, I believe.” He replied. His shame at falling for the trick plain on his face.

“That they would operate such a scam so close to my borders is shocking. Nevertheless, you did well in running further into the kingdom, it was a mere misfortune that we were all caught up in what transpired. I apologise for the delay in redirecting you out of their clutches. Rest assured you have nothing to fear nor any service to enter into, now. Meanwhile, I shall look into dealing with them personally. There were a few things I saw in that camp that do not belong in this kingdom or its borders.” Saphira said expression growing severe as she beckoned an attendant over. In a quiet tone she exchanged some words, she was after all, quite keen to know their whereabouts and pay them a vengeful visit.

The two waited patiently until the attendant left, then Saphira turned to them with a smile, brushing off the thoughts of the vile slavers.

“If you would follow me, we can see about getting all those shackles loosened and then you could be on your way. Though, I will remark that the Crystal Kingdom itself has a few tasks that might be suited to one of your skills and strengths, should you be interested.”

The wolf walked up to Radasus and nudged him softly. Whispering. “It’s okay, you can absolutely trust her. I think I’ll keep wearing mine for a bit, but you should go and get fully released!”

“Oh, Zheil, join us, will you. I would like to hear a few of your thoughts.” Saphira said, indicating with a gesture that the audience was over and the two newcomers should retire with her.

The wolf bounded up bobbing her head. “Certainly, though I have to ask… is Ofenna-?”

Saphira nodded. “She is safe and sound, rescued with me, though she’s now experiencing the inventive cost that our saviour asks for. She really should learn to be careful about what she wishes for.” A subtle little wink told Zheil all the rest she needed to know for the moment. “With that said, I have a question for you. Among the intelligence gathered in your recovery, we found some suggestion that a dragon was trapped in that sordid collection. A fellow by the name of Dracour.”

“A green dragon with an overly long tail?” Zheil asked, making Radasus look up sharply, too.

“That’s the one.”

“He was there but I don’t know too much.” The wolfess replied.

“I do, I had to drag him out myself. Seemed like he’d pissed off the guys in charge. He was thrown into a solitary cell, heavily restrained, and there were even talks of fixing him into a more immobile display.” Radasus added, having caught up enough to share.

Saphira smiled widely. “Good, good. Serves him right.” She added, prompting the kobold and wolf to share a look. “Now… these displays. Tell me more, I could always use more knowledge. It might serve us well to build a few of them here, so that we know how to break them should more of our subjects be taken from us.” She said, though inwardly she was already wondering if she could build a few for recreational purposes.

It had been a long, arduous path, but she and her companions had made it back safely, with another potential ally picked up along the way.