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The Kitsune monarch approached the seated amarok carefully. Nothing was quite as disturbing that walking up on a phoenix taking care of their ancestral weapons. Watching a male wolf copy those motions with unerring accuracy did not help matters as the wolf spoke. "I see why you flunked out of Sharp Shooter School Your Majesty." The wolf said in a playful manner. The fox king sputtered a moment before sighing. "I was never one for sneaking around. I was always a sucker for a fair fight." The wolf chuckled. "Says the monarch that used his 'celebrity' status to intimidate competition at the Midrarian tournament." Alhundro chuckled at this. "Considering your training, that would all be part of the 'fair' fight. Your Sensei is all for underhanded tactics. That is why most of his students are courtesans. Their battlefield is lies and deception. You are a warrior by nature, trained in the ways of honorable combat that the Pheonix live and breathe, and yet you do not hesitate to cheat when the opportunity presents itself." He said. The wolf chuckled and placed his blade back onto the pedestal that sat nearby after placing it back in its saya. "My master taught me what he used to win the wars he has fought. Because of my upbringing, I do not have the 'benefit' of the concept of honor or fair. I understand the concepts now, and would like if things could be kept on fair footing, but I will not hesitate to take the low road for the purposes of victory and survival." The King smiled. "That is what I wanted to hear. I am sure that Bianca and Bomani have tried to give you some ideas on how to use your Estate for the best profits, or any profit at all. I would like to add a proposal of my own. One that would keep with the best practices of the nation in which it is located." Ceberune chuckled. "How kind of you Alhundro." He said. The fox chuckled. "Your predecessor kept with the local druid circles in keeping no more troops on the Estate than he needed to keep it safe. Something that always hit the nation's bottom line. We make out talons through the hiring of our hunters and mercenaries to the world, and this estate refused to keep its own hirable unit." The wolf smirked. "You want a free male Amarok to raise an army, within your boarders, for the purposes of taxable income?" He asked. Alhundro smiled. "You have no ties here. No family and no political history in Horia. Your Estate would become a political wildcard, one that could provide me with some leverage to pass some laws that I have been working long and hard to get done." The wolf chuckled. "I have no interest in getting involved in the politics of your nation Alhundro." The fox smirked. "Then don't, but realize that you are in position that will make you a target. Lords will constantly wish to speak with you, invite you to Council meetings, or just bore you to death with small talk. I will be more than happy to tell them to leave well enough alone, but nobles being nobles, you will have spies constantly sneaking in here and likely assassins soon after." He said. The wolf grumbled. "Can I appoint a spokesperson? Having to show up in Horia every six months for a Council meeting will cut into the ability to raise a proper army." The fox laughed. "Like the idea do you?" the wolf chuckled. "Anything that makes you a target of the Matriarchy is always amusing Alhundro." The fox waved off the concern. "If I lived my life with worry of what another nation can or would do to me if they had half the chance, I would never leave my room at the Palace." The wolf smiled. "Consider your army raised Alhundro." The Monarch offered the wolf his paw which was taken in friendship by the Grand Master. "I and the coffers of my nation thank you Lord Onyxclaw." He teased the wolf. Ceberune chuckled. "I could almost get used to the title..." he said with no small amount of sarcasm. The King laughed. "Best get used to it. All the workers on the Estate will call you by that title, as per their standing contract. All visiting nobles and their messengers are also expected to use that title. Bowing isn't quite as formal here as it is in the East, but it is recognized as a respectful greeting." The wolf grumbled. "I think the army will just be calling me 'boss'." Alhundro chuckled at that. "How mercenary of you." He said. The wolf chuckled. "I will consult with my compatriots about the planning of this new company. We can meet in a month or two to discuss things in person?" He wolf asked. The fox nodded. "Excellent. I will see that I have the time. It is not often I get to meet with someone who could kill me in more ways that I can count, kill all my honor guard, then go up in front of my Council and make it all look like my fault." The wolf had to laugh. "That thought had never crossed my mind, but thank you for the ideas. Never hurts to plan for the future." He says teasingly. "As if you do not already have a rudimentary plan with several contingencies..." the fox fired back.

The wolf smirked. "All this talk of murder aside, I have to thank you." He said. The fox quirked his head. "For what?" he queried. "For taking care of Nadia while I recovered." The wolf said with sincerity. The fox nodded. "A service I would gladly perform again. Though with a few diet changes next time. And perhaps with bigger quarters. It seems no matter where I went in those rooms of mine, she was able to find me, pounce me or seduce me." The wolf chuckled. "Better you then me." He teased, Alhundro chuckled. "Trust me. She was using me as a substitute. She wanted you the entire time." The wolf chuckled. "I need to find her a good male to focus on. I am trying to get her away from looking at me as the be-all end-all male." He said. Alhundro chuckled. "Good luck with that my friend." He said. "But before a certain rabbit royal comes out here with the wailing voice that she is starving, we may want to return to the estate." Alhundro said. The wolf chuckled. "It is getting to be around dinner time. Surprised she missed lunch..." he said musing. Alhundro laughed. "Bomani kept her quiet for most of the afternoon." Ceberune chuckled. "Best get cooking then before the poor tiger dies from exhaustion." He said. Alhundro smiled. "And do not forget Nadia..." he said. Ceberune chuckled. "Come on Nadia. You may as well watch me cook as I know you will want something to do around here, at least for the time being." He said. The female fox popped out of her hiding place and looked around happily as she followed her master back to the estate.