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Sheep-Dog

Chapter 13 - ... Damned if You Don't

Days passed with no sign of Sid, Renny or Dan, and each one brought them closer to the border and Bobby's fate.

Most of Bobby's unit had stopped short of the border to allow the army to catch up, while the experienced reconnaissance troopers went forward to certify the route that the double-dealing fox had drawn out for Drystan Dorset. Bobby was not one of them. It seemed that 'James' was not deemed trustworthy enough after Dan, Renny and an unknown cat had slipped out of camp under his nose.

They were only a drop in the bucket when it came to the number of desertions, however, and the army could not afford to lose a single more soldier, so Bobby's punishment was to be held back while others went forward. He would now be part of the vanguard during the main assault on the border.

"An easy enough duty, if the crossing is unguarded, as the fox claimed." Sergeant Willie noted. "And probably better than average if it is defended. They'll cut off and kill all in the Recon party first if it's an ambush."

All that Bobby could think of was staying alive long enough to see Barbara again, but how could he do that? If Sid had made it to Prince Argus the passage would be closed, if not Bobby would likely die during the assault on the castle. That was if Prince Argus did not use Barbara as a bargaining chip, trading her for the army's withdrawal from the Territories. He casually mentioned it to Sergeant Willie, as the old dog seemed to have contacts in the Headquarters and usually knew their orders before they came down the official chain of command.

"They've considered the possibility." The Sergeant told him. "But Drystan is bent on wiping out this Prince Argus and all his supporters, so even if they give up the lamb he intends to break this Prince's castle and lay waste to his lands before he leaves."

"Won't that bring the rest of the Territories down on us?"

"Not if Drystan stops there. He's sent out messages of truce to the other leaders in the Territories, one of which was carried by a certain fox that slid by you the other night. So it's a good thing that you didn't catch him; another reason why you weren't put in the box."

"Was Dan Doberman carrying a message too?"

The Sergeant frowned. "I don't think so. I haven't figured out what that brute was up to, but I'm glad he's gone. No matter." He added as he tapped the bowl of his pipe on the log they were seated on. "We won't be seeing him again"

The Sergeant proved to be wrong about that.

The next day the reconnaissance teams reported back to Commander Festus and Drystan Dorset. The way was clear all the way to the road that lead to the castle, they said. They had left half of their team there to watch the road while the rest came back to guide the army through the swamp. "Except for the siege engines." Julius, who had been on the team told Bobby as they ate a last meal before moving out. "The ground is too soggy for them, or the heavy supply wagons. After we surround the castle one of the battalions will go south along the old post road and escort them back before the assault."

"No siege weapons means we can't bombard any opposition." Bobby mused. "And no supply wagons means that we fight with just what we can carry. Archers included."

"While we were standing by at the Headquarters waiting for orders I overheard the big ram say that the most we could expect to run into was a wandering patrol, maybe twenty wolves at most. He said that the Vanguard would get orders to take no prisoners and give no quarter. Any enemy encountered is to be run down and killed."

"How do the others feel about that, Julius?"

The canine looked down at his paws. "We were taught that any enemy that dropped their arms and fled were to be left alone, and that anyone surrendering was to be treated humanely. But ... the Commander says that the element of surprise is vital ... so ..."

"So, we're supposed to kill anyone we come across just so that the Prince will have less notice to pull up the drawbridge and lock himself inside?"

"Basically. Hey, how do you know that they have a drawbridge?"

"Umm ... don't all castles?"

"I dunno. I've never seen one, but the fox drew the castle defences for the big ram before hightailing out of here and there was definitely a drawbridge on the plans I saw on the big table in the headquarters."

"Just a lucky guess."

"Yeah. Anyway," Julius said whipping his muzzle on his sleeve, "I have to go. Will I see you on the trail?"

"Yeah. I'm with the first Company, leading the Vanguard. The one that gets caught in the crossfire if it's an ambush."

Julius laughed. "Don't worry about that James. We swept the route really good. I doubt that you'll see a wolf until the castle is in sight"

"Right. Good luck, Julius. Watch your tail"

"You too, James." And with that Julius left to report to the group guiding the army.

Bobby had to go also, to report to his new company.

"You were with Recon?" His new Sergeant-Major asked, squinting under thick brows at his new charge. "You got a knife?"

"Uh, no Sir. They took it back. I Just have this stick." He patted the sword disguised as a walking stick, which he had stuck in his belt. "But I'm pretty handy with it."

"Good, 'cause we're out of spears and clubs. Idiot ram officers left them all in the supply wagons. Anyone that breaks one will be shit out of luck unless they can grab one off'n a dead wolf."

"I heard that were not expected to see any wolves until we close on the castle."

"Go to war expecting the best-case scenario and your first fight will be your last, lad." The big canine checked his papers. "We're supposed to make best speed through this shit hole swamp, but I ain't taking any fox's word that there's no cross trails or hidey holes along the route, so I've put together a small group to move ahead and off to the sides. You're experience with Recon makes you a good candidate for that group." He looked up at Bobby through eyes made red from lack of sleep and a lifetime of heavy drinking. "You're not going to run off and hide in the swamp on me, are you lad?"

"No Sir. Believe me, sir, I want to be the first one at that castle.

"Cool down, lad. Being over eager in battle is worse than being stupid."

"Right sir. But I won't let you down. If there's a wolf out there I'll find him." And then I'll tell him to run straight to Prince Argus and warn him, he thought to himself.

They moved up to the border during the night. The dawn came slowly, with air that was cool and foggy.

"Good for us." The Sergeant-Major said as he sent his advance party out. "Bad weather favours an invader."

The Sergeant in charge, a terrier named Ted, had them fan out so that they could barely see the next soldier through the mist. They maintained contact by using a series of low whistles developed by herding dogs that allowed them to move as a group and send warning if necessary.

Bobby recognized the route from his previous journey, by smell if not so much by sight. By his estimate they were halfway between the border and the east-west road when the first sign of trouble came.

He almost tripped over a corpse on the ground that had been concealed with brush and leaves. He knelt to examine it and discovered that it was the body of Sid, the cat from his home farm. A hasty examination of the body and the surroundings told a baffling tale of fox prints and a fight with a large canine but who had been fighting who was unclear.

Even less clear was which direction Sid had been traveling in and when he had died. Bobby was no expert, and he assumed that Sid must have been heading into the territories when Renny caught up with him, but the tracks came from the north. Perhaps Sid had tried to double back to throw the fox off before he was caught. Then there were the dog tracks, which were much larger than Renny's. Had Dan interrupted Sid's murder?

He followed the tracks north and soon came across a hastily dug grave. Clearing the dirt away he found the body of Renny. The claw marks on his face were too shallow for that of a wolf, and the tracks were pure canine. In fact, they were exactly the same as those left by Dan out behind the wall of the Bayfield Academy. But why had Dan killed the fox instead of bringing him back to the Army for a reward? He could easily have captured Renny instead of killing him. Or was the fox really working for Argus the whole time?

Bobby's head was spinning. He recovered Renny's body and scuffed the paw prints around it so that none of the others would find it and raise an alarm. He was so distracted trying to figure out what was going on that he did not hear Sergeant Ted came up behind hm until the terrier whistled softly to indicate his presence. Bobby slid the blade of the sword back into the walking stick that disguised it before the terrier could see it and tuned to ask what was up.

"Laddie and Bowser have disappeared." The terrier said with a worried note in is voice.

"The fog is pretty thick." Bobby noted. "Maybe they got turned around and wandered off?"

"Maybe. Maybe they both fall down deep holes. Or maybe something is stalking us. Anyway, we can't close up and still cover the ground we've been assigned, so send out a position whistle every hundred paces and scream if you see anything."

"Scream?"

"Believe me, if a wolf comes at you out of this fucking fog screaming will come easy, and it will warn the others." He waved back the way he had come from. "The rest of the vanguard is right on our tails and the main body is not far behind. Everyone is bunching up. No bloody disciple anymore."

"Right, Sergeant. I'll scream really loud."

"Good. I'll check in again soon."

Bobby was left alone. He began moving forward again slowly. Off to one side and a bit behind him he could hear the sound of the main bobby of the vanguard moving, iron-bound clubs clacking against armour and the muffled curses of dogs and sheep as they slipped and slid along the trail that was becoming muddier as more and more soldiers trod along it. Sergeant Ted had been right about them bunching up, he saw as an errant gust of wind cleared the mist for a moment. He could see no gap between the units at all as they crowded the trail and the silhouette of the large Ram pushing them forward even faster could only be that of Drystan Dorset.

Bobby had whistled his position a dozen times already when a large figure loomed up in front of him. Thinking it one of the Prince's wolves Bobby did not draw his sword but raised an arm to arm off a blow as he prepared to reveal his identity to the wolf and beg it to take a warning to the Prince.

He almost choked on his own spit wen the figure grabbed his wrists and said, "Long time no see Bobby."

It was Dan! Bobby struggled to free his paws so that he could draw the sword and strike the doberman down, but the larger canine had a firm grip.

"Whoa there, doggy. Calm down. There's no need to panic, or to call for help."

Bobby remembered the signal he was supposed to give, but something stopped him from screaming for help. Perhaps it was because he thought that he could reason wit Dan, or maybe it was something in Dan's voice that did not match his expectations.

"You're wanted for desertion, Dan." He sputtered. "One scream and they'll be on you like flies on a sheep's butt."

"I'm not your enemy, Bobby"

"Prove it. Let me go."

Dan did release his wrists but kept close enough to block any escape and prevent a sudden attack with a club ... or a sword, to Bobby's chagrin.

"I can explain." Dan offered.

"Really?" Bobby said doubtfully.

"Ronnie sent me."

Bobby fell back into the wet muck, his jaw hanging slack. He had thought that he was only one who knew the true identity of 'Mistress Ella', but he supposed that the well-connected doberman knew everything about everyone. More proof of his corruption, he thought.

His expression must have given away his thoughts, as Dan held out his paws and shook his head. "No, no, Bobby. You got me wrong. I'm in love with Ronnie, been that way since she first showed up at Suzie's looking for work."

"You? You love Ronnie?" Anger welled up in the collie. "What about Angel? What about your son?"

Dan doubled over like someone had skewered him. "What do you want from me Bobby?" He cried, tears of regret rolling down his face. "No one can be as noble as you. Sure, I've been a shit. Working every angle, taking advantage of everyone, but that's what I had to do to survive. Not all of us grow up on farms, Bobby. Some of us get cast off as unwanted puppies on the streets of the city, and only the strong survive, or so we thought. In reality it's the ones that are willing to sell their souls that survive. Guys like me that would pawn their mother for an advantage, or like Ronnie, who had to give up on the dog she loved and peddle her ass on the street."

Bobby's face became uncomfortably hot.

"I'm not blaming you, kid. You did what you were told, what you were bred to do. And I would have gone on being the tailhole I was too, until I met her at Suzie's. She ... she's got something ... something fierce and undefeated in her. The rams can sense it, but they think that they control it because they pay her to do what she does to them. They're wrong though ... She hasn't given in, like I did. She fights them each and every night, they just don't realize it."

Dan hung his head; the speech having exhausted him.

"I loved that defiant spirit in her, and I wanted it to be in me too, but I was weak. She can see the weakness in everyone, even you." He said, looking up. "She said that you're not flawed, like me and her, that your weaknesses were also your strengths: mercy, compassion, loyalty, tenacity; the kind of strength we would need to overthrow the sheep. And she promised that I could be with her if I protected you."

"You expect me to believe that? After what you did to Sid and Renny?"

"Sid was the cat? I wasn't after him, I was after Renny. Festus couldn't help but brag about the spy he had in Prince Argus's employ. I figured that if I could stop him from getting the army into the Territories I would be fulfilling my promise to Ronnie. I intended to come back and help you escape while the army was stuck on the border, but the slippery bastards was too quick for me."

"You didn't catch up to him in the swamp?"

"No, I only found him when I came across his tracks following a cat back south, the same cat he had been following that night in the camp, I figure. I thought they were in it together, until I caught up and found him with his paws on the throat of the dead cat. We fought then, and I killed him."

"Yeah, I figured that, but you said that the cat was headed south, out of the Territories when you found them?"

"Yes. He was a fast one and must have been in the territories for a couple of days before heading south again."

"Then that means ..." but Bobby was interrupted by the sizzling sound of fire arrows cutting through the fog.

The sound of the passage of the arrows was quickly followed by screams of surprise and pain as they struck the soldiers that were crowded close behind them. Then the screams were almost wiped out by the sound of nearby siege engines releasing their loads of rocks and those rocks rending the air until they landed in the middle of the massed troops.

The cries of agony and anger doubled while ram officers called conflicting orders. But one voice cut through the din, overlaying the panicked orders and rallying the troops around him. It was the voice of Drystan Dorset.

"Stand firm, stand firm!" The big ram called. "Rally round me and send for resupply."

"This is a bad place to be," Dan said, pulling Bobby to his feet, "caught between the wolves and the sheep." He started to drag Bobby to one side, but Bobby resisted, and ran towards the wolves' line. Dan was close behind.

"We are with Argus!" He cried as they came in sight of the troops that had sprung the trap. "We're with Argus!"

As they drew close a dozen arrows were trained on him and Dan, but the wolf-dog in charge was one of Captain Asher's company.

"Hold your bows." It called. "I recognize the collie. It's Bobby, the one that came in with the ewe. But the doberman is one we've been told to watch out for." He added with a snarl.

"I can vouch for him." Bobby told the leader hastily. "He is here to protect me." It felt strange saying that, but it felt right, all the same. "What's the situation? Obviously, Sid the cat was able to warn Argus."

"That he did. We have been holding well back off the trail watching as they sent their soldiers to check it. After they were certain that it was clear we moved in and captured the ones they left behind and taking up ambush positions where the invaders were sure to bunch up. Captain Asher is leading the Calvary south from the castle to circle around and attack their rear area as we speak. There will be no resupply for those trapped in the swamp."

"Will they surrender when they discover how untenable their situation is? And will you accept their surrender?"

"If they surrender, we will accept it, but if they counterattack we must defend the Territories. I'm sorry, Bobby, I know that you must have friends in the Pastoria Army."

The siege engines that Prince Argus had concealed in the swamp continued to cast their deadly missiles and the archers continued to fire from both sides of the trapped Army, but the wolves did not attack.

'We can hold them like this forever." The leader commented. "And Prince Argus has ordered that we do so until they realize that all hope is lost and surrender."

"And if they don't?"

"Then they will either be whittled away slowly by our long-range fire or they will attack and it will end quickly, one way or the other."

They fell into silence. It was not long before the cries of messengers too scared to approach the killing zone could be heard

"The supply wagons and siege engines are under attack!" They called. "There is no hope of resupply or reinforcement, my Liege. All is lost."

"The surrender should be imminent." The wolf-dog said.

"I wouldn't be so sure." Bobby said, loosening the blade in his walking stick.

Sure enough, the bold voice of Drystan Dorset cut across the pandemonium. "Don't lose faith, you fools. We still outnumber them ten to one! Attack to the west where the stones and arrows are coming from. Once we overrun their position the way to victory will be clear. Attack!"

To his dismay Bobby could see the dogs that he had recently counted as friends turn and advance on the position he and Dan occupied. It was true that the sheep and their canine servants still outnumbered the wolves and wolf-dos, but they were attacking uphill on unfamiliar terrain against a prepared defence. No matter who won it would be bloody and many good creatures would die for nothing.

Suddenly it came to Bobby. The only thing driving this war was Drystan Dorset. The Army would never have assembled and marched north if it wasn't for his control over the Assembly, and the troops were only making this last-ditch suicidal attack because of the strength of his will and the influence he wielded. And the whole system of sheep dominance was because of the rules rams like him enforced on their own as well as other species.

In his mind there was only one solution, even though it meant that he would never see Barbara again.

"Are you sworn to protect me Dan?"

"Yes, but ..."

"Then arm yourself." Bobby said as he shrugged off his Army tunic. "Were going after Drystan Dorset. Lieutenant, if you have troops to spare I would appreciate some backup."

"Go big or stay home, my Daddy used to say when we played cards for tokens. Archers and Artillery, keep firing on the massed troops, the rest of you, follow us. For Argus!"

"For Argus!" A hundred creatures called.

"For Barbara." Bobby said as he raised his sword.

"For Ronnie." Dan said, hefting a tree limb almost as large as himself.

"Charge!"

A hundred creatures moved as one behind Bobby down the slope and straight for Drystan Dorset and his guard.

The remnants of Bobby's battalion stood between them. They were surprised to see their comrade charging down the hill followed by a pack of howling wolves, wolf-dogs and various other creatures, but their instincts took over and they turned and threw themselves into the fray. Behind them the remainder of the Army of Pastoria was pinned down by the wolves' long-range weapons with nothing to shoot back with save the short bows some of the rams carried.

The wolves were outnumbered, but they had size and superior weapons on their side. The dogs from Pastoria were well trained, but clubs and spears were no match for swords and bows. The rams with bows that had been deployed forward were incompetent at best, their arrows going wild, or worse, into he backs of the infantry. Those few that could actually hit a paper target discovered that drawing a bead on a living being was much harder to do, and they could not keep pace with the wolf long bows that targeted the sheep archers first.

The two forces met at the base of the hill. A fair number of canines fell in the initial clash and their line broke, allowing small groups of Argus's forces into their ranks. There was confusion on the Army's part, as many Pastoria canines hesitated when they came muzzle to muzzle with a canine from the Territories, but the northerners could strike anyone in an army uniform.

Bobby found himself leading a small group that included Dan and the leader of the ambush. Dan was keeping anyone from sneaking up behind them by swinging the big branch in great arcs. Bobby and the wolf-dog were cutting down any dog that stood against them, but it was breaking Bobby's heart to do so.

After sweeping aside a spear thrust, he raised his sword to strike down the bearer and was shocked to see that it was his friend Jimmy from the Recon unit. Jimmy was shocked also but recovered first. Instead of turning his spear back on Bobby, however, he laid it at his feet and then kneeled in front of his former comrade. He hung his head, baring his neck for the killing blow the soldiers were told to expect from the bloodthirsty wolves.

Bobby looked around. Small groups of dogs were surrendering or running back towards Pastoria after dropping their weapons. A great number of sheep were running too, mostly into the worst part of the swamp in their panic, but the group surrounding Drystan Dorset was holding firm and the wolves were still outnumbered.

Seeing Bobby's hesitation, the wolf-dog beside him raised his sword to deliver the final blow, but Bobby blocked it with his own blade.

"No!" He cried. "Show mercy to those that surrender and leave the ones that flee alone. Our fight is with the rams."

The wolf leader called out to his troops in a loud voice to repeat the orders, but they were not the only ones that heard. A murmur went up from the soldiers of Pastoria as they absorbed the fact that the wolves were being ordered to treat them better than they had been ordered to treat the wolves.

Bobby sheathed his sword as they continued to advance through the last of his battalion toward the group of large canines and rams surrounding Drystan Dorset. He used the walking stick to ward off blows and it was very effective because of the strong steel blade at its core. He did not stop to fight anyone, shoving them aside for those following him to deal with as he closed on his nemesis.

Penetrating the circle of guards was more difficult, but big dogs tend to pick fights with the biggest dog opposing them, and true to their breeding the ones surrounding the big ram concentrated on Dan and the wolf-dog, thinking them to be the greater threat to their master. That enabled Bobby to slip between them and confront Drystan.

"You!" Drystan spit when he saw the collie whose markings matched the description of the one that had run off with his daughter.

"Yes." Bobby admitted, holding his sword cane like a jousting staff. He wanted to kill the ram who had brought such misery to the land just so he could sell his daughter for more influence, but his sense of mercy forced him to offer the big ram a chance to surrender. He did not draw the blade from its sheath.

"Give it up, Dorset. There is no hope of victory. Even if you win here you will face another dozen attacks on your way to an impregnable castle, and your siege engines are already burning. Call off your troops and save their lives. Stop now and I'll allow you and any that will follow you safe passage back to Pastoria; terms of a truce can be decided afterwards.

"To be humiliated into 'peace' talks with a wolf? Never! I'll have my property back even if it takes every last dog, cat horse and pig in Pastoria to do it. But first, I'll kill you, you snivelling little butt-sniffer."

Dorset reached under his cloak and pulled out a large sword with a golden hilt and silver etching on the blade. It was the largest sword that bobby had ever seen, and after the first swipe, which he was barely able to duck, he knew that the senior Dorset ram knew how to use it.

"Surprised?" Drystan snarled as Bobby scrambled to regain his feet. "Not all of us are soft, woolly poofs." He swung again, low this time, and Bobby was forced to leap into the air to avoid having his legs cut off.

All around them the guards had the Prince's troops engaged in paw-to-paw combat, leaving a circle clear for their leader to finish off the smaller collie. Bobby's agility saved him from the sweeping blows, but Drystan soon realized that he would tire out first if he kept it up, so he changed tactics. The big ram pressed the attack, swinging his blade down at Bobby, hoping to cut him on the arm or chest as he backed away, anything to slow the agile collie down.

Bobby had to back way in circles least he get to close to a guard fighting a wolf and be caught by an errant blow. He was forced to try and deflect the great sword with his walking stick, and when he could back away no more he held it up with both paws to catch the descending blade. The wood cracked, but it did not break, thanks to the blade hidden inside.

The move bought him enough time to scuttle around behind the big ram but when he tried to draw his sword he found that the last strike had jammed the mechanism that locked the cane closed. He had no time to work on it though, as Drystan had already turned and was slashing down on him again.

The blows rained down as the enraged ram closed right in on the dog that he thought was armed with no more than a stick. Bobby blocked as well as he could, but each strike did more damage to the wooden sheath and forced him farther back and down into the muck.

Soon the sheath was no more than a collection of splinters and Bobby was on his back. Drystan Dorset, confident that the brass armour he wore would protect him from any punch of kick that the desperate dog might deliver stood right over the collie that had given him so much trouble and brought his sword down with as much force as he had in his right arm. With his elbows braced against the ground Bobby was able to stop it before it sliced him in two, and the effort came with the shattering sound of the last of the wooden sheath giving away.

Drystan cried in triumph at the sound. He suspected the stick that had proved unexpectedly resilient could not take another hit. He straddled Bobby's prone form and raised the sword high above and behind his back in a two-handed grip as he looked down on the helpless canine with a mad smile of victory on his face.

Bobby looked at his cane. The wood had shattered so completely that it was no longer connected near the hilt. With a flick of his wrist he flung the remainder of the sheath aside, and then he drove the naked blade straight up, up under the rim of Drystan's breastplate, under the ribs, and straight into the big ram's heart.

Drystan Dorset went rigid as his expression of victory changed into an almost comical combination of pain and surprise. After a moment that stretched into an eternity his eyes rolled back. Then his hands lost their grip on the big sword and it fell to the muddy ground behind him. His body followed, toppling backward to land on the muck with a smack so loud that all of the creatures still fighting around them stopped and stared.

Bobby struggled to his feet. He was exhausted. The fight had been a very close thing, he realized, as one more blow would have put an end to him.

All around him dogs and rams that had pledged their loyalty to the senior Dorset paused, uncertain if the leader's death meant an end to their servitude or not. The wolves took the opportunity to move in and surround them. Almost all of the guards surrendered their arms on the spot.

The exception was Commander Festus. He was the only dog in the Army allowed to carry a sword. Although he was old the big dog had put up a good fight against the wolf that had paired with him and he had wounded the northerner just before Drystan fell, but he had used up all his remaining energy in the fight. With his sword hanging limp from his paw he shuffled over to where Drystan's body lay in the mud, stopping opposite Bobby.

"You killed him."

"Yes, I had to." Bobby said, surprised to find that he could feel pity for the ram he hated. "He would not surrender."

"Neither will I." Before anyone could stop him, Festus raised his sword and stabbed the collie in the side.

Bobby mouth made an 'Oh' of surprise, but he kept his feet under him as the Commander pulled his blade back for another try. Bobby clutched at the wound and bright, red blood gushed from between his digits. He looked for his sword, and then remembered that it was buried deep inside Drystan Dorset.

Everything was moving in slow motion. He looked back at the Commander. Bobby could see the dog's lip curl to expose old yellow teeth. He saw the blade the Commander was wielding draw back, halt and start back toward him in what would surely be a killing blow. But before the blade could make it halfway something large and black reared up behind the Commander, and it swung a long dark object.

Time snapped back to its regular speed and Bobby focused on the figure of Dan, who had swung the great thick branch he was carrying at the Commander's head. It struck with such force that it tore the old dogs head clean off, showering both Dan and Bobby with blood as the still upright body twitched and jerked, dropping the sword between it and Bobby before collapsing.

Bobby felt warm and weak, and the mist seemed to be growing thicker around him. He felt his legs go limp just as Dan and the wold-dog in charge of the Prince's troops reached him.

"Hold on, Bobby." He heard Dan's voice say from a great distance it seemed. "Everything is going to be okay, but you have to stay with us. Bobby? Bobby? .... Bobby don't ..."

* * * * * * * *

The sensation of something warm against his body and something warm and moist on his lips. Was he dead, Bobby wondered, had he gone to suck on the great teat in the sky?

Reaching out his paw encountered flesh. Flesh free of fur or wool. Smooth, clean skin. Searching around he discovered a nipple, a hard nipple sticking up from a mound of smooth flesh. That was a good sign, if you believed that good dogs went to suck from the All-Mother when they died, but not conclusive proof. Reaching up to what felt like lips on his face his paw encountered wool. Thick curly wool and thinner, velvety wool, like the kind on a lamb's ear.

So much for the All-Mother theory.

Bobby opened his eyes. He recognized the room in the castle where he and Barbara stayed as guests of Prince Argus. It was dimly lit by firelight and a couple of wavering candles. Most of the light was blocked by the sheep head attached to the lips that were kissing him.

"Bar ... Barbara." His throat felt dry and rusty, like he hadn't spoken for ages.

Her head came up. "Bobby! Thank the lord, you're awake."

"Shouldn't I be?"

"You lost a lot of blood and the doctors had to give you strong herbs to slow your heart while your wound healed." She touched his abdomen, and only then did he realize his side was bound up tight with bandages. "Augie was afraid that you might not wake up again."

"Augie? Who's Augie?"

"Prince Argus. It's what his family calls him informally, and he insisted that I use it when we were alone."

"Alone?" Bobby struggled to sit up but a sudden pain in his side forced him to abandon the attempt.

"Don't be jealous. I knew a lot about my father from growing up in his household and Augie ... the Prince, I mean, found it very useful in anticipating his actions. We became friends, it's true, but there is only one canine that I could love."

To prove it she placed her lips back on his and her hand on his sheath, which was just below the line of bandages. Something inside it twitched.

Barbara stopped kissing him long enough to smile and say, "With the cut so close I was afraid that little Bobby might be affected."

"What do you mean 'Little' Bobby?"

"Yep, you're back."

She had continued to stoke his sheath while they talked and was rewarded by the appearance of the pink torpedo that lurked within.

"Oh, yes, you are definitely back."

He put his paw on hers, making her stop. "Before we go any farther, there is something I have to tell you. Something that happened between me and the Commander's corgi, Angel, while I was spying in Ariesborough."

He told her about the evening he spent with Angel and her price for providing the information Argus needed. To his pleasant surprise, Barbara was not upset over the act or the prospect that he had impregnated the corgi.

"Faithfulness is not a common concept among sheep, and I know you would only do it for the greater good." She said. "And she and her pup, or pups, are far away, while you are here with me."

She bent to kiss him again as her hand moved up onto the pink pole that still protruded from his sheath. His paw returned to her breast and caressed it in a similar fashion. The other sought out the source of a most intriguing scent between her legs.

He was not surprised to find her mound already moist and open to his paw. Likewise, his cock was already dripping the clear odourless fluid that served to lubricate it when a female was not quite ready, but she was. He went to roll her over onto her back, but she pushed him back on the bed, with far more ease than he expected.

"You're still weak and we don't want to open that wound." She whispered as she rose to her knees beside him. You just lay back and let me do the work for a change."

Bobby obeyed. She was right about him being weak, especially since all his blood was now concentrated in a single organ.

Barbara scuttled around on the big feather mattress until her head was above his groin. Then, without pausing in her stroking, she lowered her warm, wet lips around his throbbing cock. Soon her head bobbing and hand motions were coordinated, and his knot began forming below them. She acknowledged it by releasing her hand from his shaft to squeeze that hard ball of flesh a few times before moving down to do the same with his fuzzy testicles.

Her twat, with her woolly white tail wagging above it, was too far from his head to lick it, even with his long snout, so he satisfied himself with plunging a thumb inside the gaping slit rubbing her clit with the band of flesh that connected it to his paw. He rubbed her flanks and teased her ass with the other paw, marvelling in the smoothness of her hide.

"You've shaved again."

"Hmmm Mmmh." She agreed before coming up for air. "I'm getting good at doing it myself, but it feels better when you help." She added before taking his shaft back into her oral orifice.

Bobby could have laid like that forever, comfy on a feather bed with Barbara sucking on his cock and squeezing his balls, but she had other ideas. Before his knot got heard enough to trap all the blood inside, she wiggled off his thumb and swung her leg up and over while she swivelled to face him. She ended up squatting with a foot on each side of his hips and her twat directly over the tip of his quivering cock.

She was a wonderous sight in the firelight, pink flesh where white wool once grew, black fuzz on forearms, legs, ears and face and a halo of white wool around her head. Her young muscles stood out as she lowered herself down onto his cock, the deeper pink of her slit splitting to accommodate his tapered shaft. Down she went, down until his thickness at the base forced her sweet nether lips back inside her and made her clit stand out invitingly. And still she went down, until that tiny button of flesh was pressed hard against his ever-swelling knot.

She moaned when thick hot flesh surrounded her clit and would have fallen over but for Bobby raising his arms to steady her. She took his paws in her hands and he braced his elbows on the bed the same way he had done when fend off her father's last blow. She used them as leverage as she slowly rose up again, up and up until the pointed tip of his prick was barely touching the soft pink lips that reappeared as she rose.

Sighing, she went down again, paused when her clit touched his knot and then rose back up. She repeated the cycle, slightly faster each time, until she was bouncing on his cock wile a lamb with The Itch. Her face was scrunched in concentration as she angled her hips to maximize the friction of his shaft on her clit, and the increased pressure on his cock made his knot ache all the more.

He could tell that she was close, as was he after so many weeks apart, but she was not done yet. At the top of her cycle she stopped, drew in a deep breath and then let her full weight bring her down hard, hard enough to pop his knot inside her cunt. Now her clit was trapped between his rock-solid knot and the base of his pelvis, and instead of trying to pull off of it she wiggled and twisted back and forth to rub her tiny love knot against him.

It was enough to push them both over the edge. Her hot, clear, coppery cum squirted out from around the seal of his knot while his milky spooge shot deep inside her. There the two fluids mingled, warming their flesh and lubricating their parts so that their contortions sent waves of constant pleasure through them both.

Her arms were trembling, as were his, so she released his paws and dropped down to press her breasts against his chest, but she was careful to keep her weight off his wounded abdomen by arching her back.

"Tell me that we'll be like this forever, Bobby Collie." She gasped in his ear.

"Well, we'll be like this at least until my knot goes down." Bobby replied, earning a poke in the unwounded side.

"For a romantic, you're not very romantic."

"Sorry, Barbara. I'm just glad to be alive, and safe with you."

They cuddled for the half hour it took for his knot to shrink and then Barbara led him to the bath where she bathed him and changed his bandage.

"That wound looks pretty good." He marvelled. "How long was I out?"

"Almost a month." She said as she towelled him dry. "A lot has happened since you tried to kill yourself by taking on my father single-handed."

"Single-pawed."

"Whatever. Anyway, the army has disbanded, and many senior rams and dogs have been jailed for corruption. The Commander's former secretary and the doberman that saved you have revealed all his misdeeds, named his partners in corruption and those Assembly members in on his schemes in exchange for immunity. Word travelled fast, and without an army, or the loyalty of the breeds that once served them, the leaders of the other flocks realized that they were in a bad position. They have gathered here in Prince Argus's castle to negotiate a re-unification of the land."

"What? Go back to wolf kings and tithes?"

"No. The wolves and their allies don't want that either. There is talk of a new form of government with a senate made up of an equal number from each species, each elected by their own kind. Meanwhile the Wolves will run the Territories as they always have and Pastoria will be under a council of creatures appointed by each side. Augie asked me to be one of them, but I refused, not wanting to leave you until we knew for sure whether you would ..."

"Live?"

"Wake up. But now that you are awake, we must go see the Prince. You are being hailed as a hero by both sides for stopping the war and minimizing the slaughter. You are to be given the title of "Knight of the Two Realms' and a pension so that you will never have to work again, at least, not for anyone else. We can buy our own farm, Bobby, just like we dreamed when we first planned on leaving Pastoria."

"A knighthood?" He asked uncertainly as she helped him dress.

"Yes! You'll be Sir Bobby."

"No."

"No? You don't want the Knighthood?"

"No, I don't want to be Sir Bobby. My mother always hated the name that the flock we worked for gave me. I've heard that Bobby is just a familiar name for Robert, and that there were many knights and heroes named Robert, back in the old days when dogs were free to pick their names and their employment. So, I would like to be known as 'Sir Robert' when we settle down on that farm."

She hugged him tight, but not too tight. "Of course, I'm sure the Prince will agree. Wolves care a lot about names and are very picky about choosing one that fits. Augie's family didn't settle on Argus until he was ten years old, he told me. But," she said looking up into his brown eyes with her black orbs, "can I still call you Bobby ... when we're alone?"

He laughed. "Yes, and maybe even 'Augie' too, if he has time for us now that the war is done."

The Prince was more than glad to see Bobby up and about, and he agreed with the renaming without hesitation. He was disappointed, though, when he heard that the mixed couple intended to settle down on a farm.

"You are a natural leader, Bo- ... Robert. We could use you in the new Senate."

"Politics isn't for me. But maybe I can work behind the scenes from here to support you?"

Prince Argus laughed. "It's still politics whether you stand at centre stage or direct the action from the wings. You think about it though." The gray wolf said leading Bobby away from Barbara before speaking in a lower tone. "Sadly, you will have much time to fill since you and Babs cannot ... well, I mean, being a mixed couple ... and all."

"We've come to terms with that. Barbara wants to open a school for all species, and I'm sure that whatever workers we hire will have young ones enough - on their own terms - to keep us on our toes."

Someone called the Prince away and Bobby turned look for Barbara, so he did not see the owner of the large paw that thumped down on his shoulder.

"Hey, Bobby, long time no see."

"Dan? Lord, why are always doing that? One of these days my heart will pop. What are you doing here?" Bobby said as he turned around with a frown, having had about as much of the doberman as he needed for one lifetime. But his frown faded when he saw who was with Dan.

"Ronnie?"

"Yes, for now. Not Mistress Ella in any event."

His eyes went back and forth between the two. "And you two are ... together?"

"Oh yes. I promised the big lug that if he saved you he could hang out with me, and a promise is a promise." Bobby wasn't sure, but he thought that he could detect the slightest note of affection for the doberman in her voice. "Besides, we were made, or rather broken, for each other."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to turn over the final bits of Angel's and my testimony." Dan answered.

"Did Angel come north with you?"

"No." Dan said. "Ariesborough has always been her home so she decided to tough it out there. I told her that no one is going to thank her for turning on the other corrupt bastards but she's stubborn, you know? Anyway, Ronnie and I are going to head north now that we're done, to the far edge of the Northern Territories."

"I hear that it is pretty wild up there."

"Yeah, but they don't ask a lot of questions about your past. There is a farm of goats that needs protection from some marauding badgers and the occasional wandering bear, and it sounds like a good place to get lost and forget about ... things."

"Hard place to raise a family."

Ronnie shook her head. "That won't happen. Suzie doesn't like the girls having to take time off for birth or abortions so she ..." A tear rolled out of the corner of her eye and she hastily wiped it away before continuing. "I won't be having any puppies."

Bobby hugged the sheltie, aware that Barbara was watching him from across the room. She knew about Ronnie, and that he no longer had those kinds of feelings for her, but she was still his friend.

"You guys take care up there, and don't let this delinquent doberman push you around."

"Ha! I can take care of him, don't you worry. I didn't give up all my whips when I left Suzie's." Ronnie glanced at the ewe watching them and gave her a nod. "You take care too, Bobby Collie. Be happy."

"I'm sure we will be." He said, putting an arm around Barbara as she joined them.

It was the last that they ever saw of Dan or Ronnie.

In the end Prince Argus insisted that they buy a farm he owned on the edge of town, close to the castle. The wolf was selected as one of the members of the Senate and spent most of his time In the Capital, which had been renamed Libertaria in honour of the emancipation of the species. Bobby, now known as Sir Robert, was elected Lord Sherriff of the Prince's homelands, running things in his absence and working the farm with Barbara and several creatures that they had hired, including Sid's sister Sue, who refused a salary provided that they would provide a place for her and whatever kittens she might have living with her in perpetuity.

Her kittens were not the only little paws that scampered about the farm though. Barbara's school was always full of young students from every species and the neighbour's pups came by to help during harvest.

But more importantly, a year after the war ended a coach came up the drive to their farmhouse. Inside was an old corgi, an aunt of Angel's. The old dog was as stern as a post and even less friendly than one with splinters.

"My niece died, three weeks past." She announced from the door of the coach, as if stepping down onto the soil of their farm might contaminate her. "The folk of Aries- Libertaria, they hounded her mercilessly. Not that she didn't deserve it." The corgi sniffed.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Bobby said, and then asked, "But why did you come all this way just bring us such news?"

"Because she left something for you." The dog reached back and pulled two pups from inside the coach. The older one was a boy that Bobby recognized, the younger, who looked barely a year old, was a girl that had markings just like his.

"They don't have any baggage. We had to sell everything else to pay for the coach." She pushed the boy forward and he almost fell out of the coach. Then she almost threw the girl down to Bobby.

Barbara came up from the school just then and saw Bobby clutching the little girl while the boy hung on to his leg.

"Why, who are these two adorable little pups?" She said, taking the sniffling girl from him. New students?"

"Angel's children. Dan's son and my ... my daughter. This, uh, kind lady has brought here after their mother died. It seems that Angel wanted us to take care of them."

"That's right." The old corgi barked. "She said that the doberman would never make a good father but that you'd take them in, out of guilt if nothing else."

Barbara gasped. "She said that!"

The corgi shrugged. "No, but it's obvious, isn't it? This collie is all she ever talked about when she was in her cups, that and how sorry she was to have made you do what you did. Do with them what you wish, but I'll not take them back if you don't want them. You can sell them to the wolves for all I care."

The air was rent by a snarl that would have done a rottweiler proud, especially since it came from Barbara.

"Yes, you should go now, and I'd advise against ever coming back."

"That's gratitude for you, after me dragging them all this way. Anyway, they're yours; consider yourselves blessed." With that the corgi disappeared back inside the coach and the horse pulling it made a hasty retreat, lest he get caught in a dispute between his passenger and the dog he recognized as being the one in charge in these parts.

Bobby and Barbara's faces gradually softened as the coach disappeared from view. He knelt and took the boy by the shoulders, lifting his little head to look directly into his eyes.

"Hey, Baxter. Remember me?" The little mixed breed nodded. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Barbara. Would you like to come live with us?" The pup nodded again, more assertedly this time, and even managed a small smile.

"Good. Say, what's your sister's name?"

"Bobbie, with an 'eye-eee' on the end."

"That's a wonderful name." Barbara said hiding a sly smile. "Just like someone I know."

She knelt beside Bobby and drew the pup into her with her free arm.

"Are you going to be our new mommy?" he asked as he nuzzled his snout into the soft wool around her neck.

"Ye- yes." She said through sudden tears. "I'm going to be your mommy and Robert here is going to be your daddy."

"Oh, good." The pup paused, as if thinking. "Are you ... bleast ... blossed ... argh ... what Auntie Rachel said?"

"What? Blessed? Well, yes. Yes, we are."

Bobby sank a paw into the thick wool on the top of her head and rubbed it. She looked at him.

"And you, Robert Collie." She asked with a smile. "Do you feel blessed?"

He wrapped both arms around the three of them before answering.

"Damned if I don't."