Hard Times in The City
Bad title is bad, but whateves, it's three in the morning so here, have a bit of back story on one of my RP characters Armand De Oro and the introduction of a sexy new character, a lynx named Miranda. This takes place in the upcoming setting of the New Dawn reboot before the actual beginning of the RP itself.
if you'd like to get in on this role play we're planning then please, send me a PM and I'll send you an invite ^.=.^
WARNING!
This fiction contains scenes of rape, violence, gore, and death. if such things do not interest you, or offend you then please do not read further, viewer discrestion is advised. rating NC-17
or ignore that and read anyway, get out of your comfort zone ;3 either way i'm happy.
This is a work of fiction, any similarity between real life events or people is accidental and purely coincidental.
as always comments and feedback are welcome and appreciated!
Thank you, and enjoy.
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Miranda crept through the quiet mansion. The baggy silks and cheap linen top she wore muffled the sound of her movement while bare paw pads made no sound as they moved her lithe feline body across the carpeted floor. The lynx gazed up at the ornate fixtures where tallow candles glowed with soft warm light. They were silver, but bolted to the walls. No way she'd be able to pilfer those away. She had a special prize tonight a rare bracelet, supposed to be magical even! That always got the fence to add more coin to the item. Of course this time around this was a special little heist. She'd been contracted by an energetic and smooth talking jackal to take the bracelet.
She reached the bottom of a large staircase and smiled beneath her hood. "Third landing, portrait of a wolf..." she repeated to herself as the stealthy predator slowly ascended the stairs. When she reached the third landing and found the portrait the lynx rubbed her wrapped paws together and slowly lifted the painting off of the wall, just behind it was a very simple panel embedded into the wall. The hole was roughly carved out of the stone wall, the box and panel itself appeared to be made of rosewood with black iron fittings. It didn't take the vixen long to open up the poor lock it had.
She widened her green eyes for a moment as she beheld the small stash before her eyes. Gems and gold, not in coins as she knew them but small bars. She took one in her hand it had a "1, OZ" stamped into it along with a crest from a noble House, she didn't know which one. the woman opened a large leather pouch she carried under her shirt and began to load up, finally the very last thing in the poor safe was what she'd been hired to steal, a rather ornate bracelet made of gold wire wrapped around a silvery looking metal, it was inlaid with several precious stones but in the middle a dazzling emerald was set. The thief put the bracelet on her arm and returned the picture to its place, she quickly made her way down the stairs and out through the window she climbed in from.
As soon as Miranda's paw pads struck the ground she heard the whistle and the shout, then she was running. "After her!" a voice barked, she rounded a corner and ducked into an alleyway as the sound of the armored guard's footfalls echoed within the narrow streets. Miranda sprinted, her feet splashing in the water of a puddle while she searched for a spot to stash her loot so she could come back for it later. Finally she skidded to a halt; a bush was growing between the wall of the alley and a small rod iron gate that lead to the yard of an old mansion. She quickly jabbed the pouch and bracelet into the bush hanging it on a branch within the thick foliage before taking off again determined to not spend the night in a cell.
As that thought blazed through her mind she was suddenly and violently slammed onto her back. She let out a pathetic grunt as the air rushed from her lungs and did not rush back in. "well well have a look at this little tart!" the voice was raspy and old like a worn out grindstone scraping on chewed up steel. When at last Miranda gasped a lungful of air she was hauled up onto her feet by two of the tin guards. She opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by the butt of a spear slamming into the side of her head. Stars exploded in her eyes and everything went black.
A bucket of water is a rude awakening, so was being thrown in a dirty cage all alone for the night. Her head ached and throbbed with pain, when she touched the angry red skin beneath her brown fur it came away sticky with congealed blood. "Serves you right fer stealing from the lord little lassie." That same old grindstone voice rattled through her ears, she got up and sat down before the man a wolf, a big one too. "Lucky for you we've already recovered the nice bit o' gold you stolt, otherwise I'd have to be putting you to the screws."
"Damnit..." Miranda clenched her fists and swayed to the side before lying on her elbow. She was still too dizzy to sit up, much less stand up. She looked back up at the lupine, he was still holding the bucket he'd doused her in. his smile was cruel and rotten as black fang on the left side of his skull, black and yellow. The rest of him though seemed much more fit. A strong body hardened by fighting clad in a simple mail covered leather hauberk. The sleeves though were crudely cut off in favor of light steel vambraces this gave everyone an astounding view of the man's bulging biceps. His pants were thick leather, with mail covering his shins and a cock piece over his groin to protect... well what else does a cock piece protect?
"Aye, damn it indeed. But congratulations are in order I suppose, you'll be getting a relatively 'light' punishment." Said the lupine, this caused the lynx's ears to prick up. "Its three days in the stock for you little tart." Miranda groaned and shivered, the stocks... she knew what happened to women that got put in the stocks. They were set right in the middle of the town, nude and... available for men to slake their need. "Oho... so you're familiar with the stocks hmm?" the wolf chuckled. He finally dropped the bucket and got close to the bars.
"I'll tell you what... I'll make a nice deal with you little kitty." Said the wolf grinning as only a lupine can. "Bring that pretty muzzle of yours over here and I'll keep the pesky brutes from fucking that pretty tail..." Miranda opened her mouth and bared her fangs ready to tell the bastard off but then closed her maw and growled. She certainly didn't want to be used by every creep in the town or every virgin looking to slake their lust within her. If that meant sucking one wolf off... well...
"J-Just shut up and let's get on with it", sighed the lynx as she brought herself up on her knees and scooted towards the bars of the cell. The wolf hooted and laughed as he unlaced his leather pants. It wasn't long before the cock piece came off and Miri was presented with a rather thick sheathe, the pointed tip of his erection already beginning to peek out of its furred home.
"Eager girl!" cried the wolf as he pressed his hips against the bars. Miranda shivered and reached out with her paw, taking a hesitant grip on the sheathe. She pulled down on the loose skin, exposing more of his shaft to the musky air. "One little detail... I'll keep the rabble away, but if a noble wants to sample your honey pot there's nothing I can do." Miri had figured as much, she nodded her head and leaned closer to him. Her nose was filled with the musky scent of his maleness and she stooped, screwing up her eyes and wrinkling her nose. Leather really didn't breathe and he smelled like he hadn't washed for a few days.
She looked up at him and glared before reluctantly opening her maw. Her tongue licked the bottom of his sheathe then traveled up until the red flesh of his penis was on her smooth organ. The strong taste of his maleness made her pull up a lip in disgust, she nearly gagged but powered through it. he nursed the tip, taking it in her lips and giving him a soft kiss before rubbing up and down his quickly swelling length "aaahhh... good girl... behind the knot now..." he said reaching in and grabbing her head. He chuckled as more of his hot dick filled her mouth, catching her by surprise. Miranda let out a muffled protest but the wolf held her firmly by the back of the head.
The lynx closed her green eyes tight as he grew within her maw; she tasted his salty pre-cum that now leaked freely from the pointed tip of his pecker. The male pulled his cock out of her mouth and grunted before pulling his sheathe down past his angry red knot. "Come on now sweetie, I haven't got all day" crooned the man before her slapped her on the cheek with his pride. She winced and opened her mouth to protest, granting him the perfect opportunity to shove his hard on into her warm wet mouth. Poor Miri was forced to take him into her throat all at once, gagging as tears were brought to her eyes. The guard moaned and withdrew from her before slowly pushing his dick into her sucking maw once again.
Miranda concentrated on her task; she did her best to ignore his sour taste, and the pulsing of his cock on her soft tongue and lips. The guard grunted and snarled before going to the back of her mouth again. This time there was resistance and the girl gagged, stopping his cock from traveling any further. The lynx was drooling a fair bit, unable and unwilling to swallow the foul tasting pre tainted saliva.
The guard of course had other ideas. He took a hold of her skull with both leather gloved hands and held her still, she protested, trying to push him away but he was far stronger, and before the lynx could do anything the lupine was thrusting his hot red cock in and out of her mouth, fucking her face as if it were her sex. Miranda closed her eyes tight, giving up with one last strike against his leg in protest. The wolf didn't care though, he grinned and panted, his red tongue lolling out the side of his maw like a beast while he happily forced the woman to give him head.
Despite herself Miranda blushed, thoroughly embarrassed and humiliated at being used... violated in such a way. She did her best to hurry this along, using her tongue to tease his knot every time it bumped into her nose and trying her best to suck on his hot length. It wasn't until the Lupine shoved himself down her throat did he finally blow. The guard's ears lay back flat and he growled as thick ropes of seed were pumped down the lynx's throat. She gagged initially but couldn't breathe, so with a tear of strain in her eye she gulped, drinking down his slimy cum even as he pumped a few more shots into her.
The male moaned and pulled his member free of her maw, he panted and grinned. A bit weak-kneed he laced his pants and chuckled. "Good girl... hell of a mouth on you." Miranda held her hand up to her mouth, a look of revulsion on her face as the bitter salty taste of his semen struck her. "Gonna be sick? Poor girlie!" the wolf laughed as he turned to walk off. "I'll hold up my end of the bargain, no rabble will get at that pretty body of yours."
Miranda waited until the wolf had gone, his foot falls fading away before buried her face in her hands and tried her best to keep the dam of tears from braking. She was only mildly successful, a few errant pearls of silver falling from her eyes, staining the black stripes that drifted down from her green eyes. When they came from her several hours later she could still taste the lupine in her mouth. She winced as they tore the rags she'd been given off of her body. Exposing her slim frame and small perky breasts to the dank sultry air. They joked at the small size of her breasts, when one of the groped she slapped, and they struck back undoubtedly bruising her face once more.
She was lead out in irons flanked by four guards all armed with spears and short swords. They walked right down the middle of the street, it was utterly humiliating for all the people in the town to look at her, they called her cruel names, mothers covered the eyes of children and men whistled and made promises to visit later. Finally, they were at the town square, the dais in the middle had three means of public punishment: the stocks, where she was going, then there was the gallows, with a rope swinging eerily from it, and finally the headsman's block, a punishment reserved for nobility.
Right beside the stocks Miranda caught sight of the wolf; she glared at him as he smiled at her. Her guard opened the stocks and removed her irons. She thought about running for a brief moment but that was a foolish thought. She'd be dead before her seventh step. So, she submitted, resting her hands and neck in the appropriate holes before the heavy wooden black was slammed above her. The feline thief started and then closed her eyes as the lock as fixed into place with a soul shattering click.
It wasn't long before word spread, and the mob formed. They shouted, they jeered and worst of all they threw things at her, a cabbage here, spoiled tomato there, even a knife sailed over her head and struck the stock. At that point the wolf stepped in and brandished his spear, with a loud bark and some shouting the culprit, a youngster, no older that fourteen, was thrown into the open. The wolf boxed his ears and sent him away with a kick to his rump. The crowd laughed and continued on.
The lynx endured this for hours, the nature of the stock was such that her arms were widely spaced, and she was forced to bend over low, her head was slightly below her hips. However, it was close to sunset when the first 'suitor' appeared. He was young, still a boy really, he'd somehow snuck up behind the wolf and she only noticed he was there when she felt his paw moving across her perky rump. She gasped and kicked, startling the youngster who then ran off when the wolf barked and shouted once more.
"I thought you said you we- AAH!" Miranda was cut short by a painful smack on her ass by a leather clad hand. The lupine moved to the front of her and grabbed her by the ear.
"Got rid of 'im didn't I? Now keep quiet or I'll let the next one have his way with ya, you little tart", he whispered in a harsh tone. Miranda cried out but remained silent otherwise, she knew better than to test her boundaries. As time passed and it became dark the wolf was true to his word, he turned one suitor away after another. Getting violent with some of them when they didn't comply, she was certain he'd stabbed one due to the shriek but guessed it wasn't a lethal wound.
Over time she gained a little rough respect for the lupine he was technically keeping his promise, but she had yet to see if he would for two more days. Even more time passed, and exhaustion crept into the feline's body. She was able to put her knees on the ground after asking permission, an act that grated on her. Soon enough though she was resting, it was still uncomfortable, her neck and arms were strained like this but she was too weary to care.
She woke to the wolf calling out a challenge. "who goes there?" she opened her eyes and looked down the dais, where there was a man in robes flanked by a few men armed with long swords when the man in the center spoke she whined and her ears fell to the sides.
"Count Alberte La Monda" it was the man she'd attempted to steal from. In the corner of her eye she watched the wolf bow low and step aside.
"It is an honor my lord, what can your humble servant Jarrod do fer you this evenin?" the lupine, apparently named Jarrod, said. The count looked the wolf up and down, his yellow feline eyes gauging and piercing. The cat was spotted, clearly not a native of the cooler country. He came from some land far to the west it seemed.
"I will speak to the prisoner, and do as I please" said the leopard concretely. The wolf fidgeted slightly and cleared his throat.
"Duty compels me to err... remind my lord that ah..." he paused and glanced to Miranda, she caught something in his eyes that made her heart sink. It was fear. "There is a heavy fine, fer slaying a prisoner or tearing their flesh", spoke the wolf. He was uneasy, but certainly steadfast in appearance. The leopard noble only smiled and nodded his head before moving around towards the lynx.
"I shan't make any gashes on her. But I will have some fun from an existing one she possesses." Miranda whimpered and crossed her legs at that, earning a chuckle from the mercenaries behind Alberte. The leopard was middle aged, and was starting to show more advanced signs of it. Grey on his yellow muzzle, bags under his eyes and even a few wrinkles showed at the corners of his mouth and eyes.
"You thought to steal from me and didn't think there would be repercussions?" said the feline, snapping his fingers at the end of his sentence. His sell swords walked up the dais and pulled her up while she thrashed and screamed a protest. It took almost no effort for the armed men to hoist up her hips and spread her legs. Her tail fanned out and hid her sex from him. The older leopard chuckled and grabbed her tail, yanking it hard out of the way, earning a yelp from her.
The woman closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, trying to hold back a sob and doing a poor job of it. She looked over to the wolf, her green eyes full of desperation. But she only saw forced indifference there, the lupine wasn't stupid. He knew the pecking order. She gasped and rolled her hips when she suddenly felt a wet finger run up and down her slit along with the noise of clothing hitting the ground.
"Please don't please!" she cried but that only earned another laugh from the men. Without warning the leopard's finger slid past her labia and into her sex. She screeched and pulled hard at the stocks making them clatter and rattle but she didn't budge. The leopard snickered and began to move his digit back and forth inside of her tunnel, causing the Lynx to feel pleasure despite what she felt. She bit back a sob and tried to kick out but it was no use.
"I'm going to enjoy this you little whore, I wonder", began the leopard before sliding a second finger inside of her pussy. "Should I spill my seed in you? Give you my bastard? I bet it would stop you from thieving for a while... being heavy with child" the smooth tone and the lust in the count's words caused the hair on the back of Miranda's neck to stand up the thought of carrying... no, no he couldn't he wouldn't!
"I-I'm unworthy of your seed m'lord! D-Don't please... don't dirty yourself with my body" she said trying to sound as sincere as possible. For a moment she thought it had worked, instead the male began to use his thumb to rub over her clit which caused her to take a shuddering gasp. Despite her feelings, her body reacted. Her lips were now swollen from his attentions and her nectar began to flow from her womanhood.
The leopard chuckled and removed his fingers, he held him to his nose and murred, taking in her scent. "You smell clean enough for me little thief", he growled. She felt him against her ass; his member was hot, and lined with spines. The swollen dripping head of his 6 inch long member trailed through the fur on her rump until it lay between her anus and sex. She cringed and closed her eyes while he ran the hot tip up and down her vagina, before pressing against her. She resisted, squeezing tightly but that only encouraged him.
"Now now... I don't want to pay a fine tonight, you've already cost me a lot of trouble", said the count as the head of his shaft pressed further into her body. At last he pinched her cheek hard causing her to gasp and become distracted. Both of them cried out, she in pain and humiliation and he in pleasure. "Aahhh... now that is quite a cunt..." the leopard said with a snarl. His murred deep and wasted no time, sliding deeper and deeper into her hot snatch. At last he hilted himself within her, his twitching member and spines rubbed against her walls forcing her to whimper and choke back a sob of both humiliation and fear. She started to breathe taking deep breaths while at the same time telling herself that it would be okay, all she had to do was try to be somewhere else. The noble began to withdraw, his spines raked against her walls, rasping over her sensitive spot. She shamefully shuddered, trying to ignore the pleasure this brought her even as he thrust back inside of the lynx
Miranda's mind wandered to her old home out in the country, to when life was easy and innocent. The male behind her began to snarl and moan, thrusting into her body as he willed. She thought of playing in the sun, and the grass, finding old arrow heads from an ancient war. The leopard grunted with effort, picking up the pace further, smacking his hips against hers and drawing her back out of her mind and into reality. The spines of his member and the way she was angled... he was as deep as possible with every stroke. She fought to reign herself in panting and trying not to moan, she didn't want to enjoy this, she couldn't. She would not feel pleasure from being raped!
It was a losing battle, slowly she succumbed, never showing arousal deliberately but she couldn't help the panting, or the occasional squeak or mew. Her walls tightened and laxed, milking his member as he pounded away at her sex. "Aaahhh... I'm close now little bitch..." the leopard said hilting her hard and grinding within her, making the woman gasp and gulp hard trying to hold back the urge to moan. It was an odd sound and it got the count to smile "go on cry out... I want to hear you moan when I fill your womb..."sneered the leopard. He was encouraged, and showed it by not holding back.
The male grabbed her hips and began to thrust wildly in her, gritting his teeth as he pushed his spined cock in and out of her soft pussy. She tried to hold back, but ultimately failed. With a great shame she orgasmed and let out a shuddering cry on pleasure she didn't want. That was all the leopard needed, with a snarl and ah shout he hilted himself deep within her hot sex and came, his seed gushed into her while his barbs flared, raking her tunnel as he gave her little thrusts each time a wave of his thick seed spilled within her.
At last Alberte pulled his spent member from her abused slit. The men released her and the lynx melted down. She fell to her knees and sobbed openly, tears rushing down her face. It was all too much for her, the guilt and the pain... she tried to stop taking deep breaths gulping down air, but it was like trying to stop a river. She could feel his seed dripping down from her womanhood, she crossed her legs to try and hide herself but it was of little use.
So hard was her sobbing that the footfalls of boots went unheard in the small hours of the morning. It wasn't until the wolf, who had been watching the event with a tight bulge in his pants, issued his challenge "Who goes there?" the voice that replied caused the woman to become silent and the leopard to freeze in disbelief.
"Armand De Oro", said the Jackal as he strode up to the foot of the dais. "I have business with the 'count' as he likes to call himself." The wolf scoffed and reached out to shove the bard away. The lithe Jackal simply stepped under the wolf's arm, causing the large male to lose his balance. A skillful trip had the lupine face plant into the cobble of the street.
Jarrod yelped and held his nose, which appeared to be bleeding. He quickly got to his feet and pulled his short sword, intending revenge. "Stop!" the leopard's order made the wolf hesitate then slowly put the blade back in its sheath. "He'll kill you before you have a chance to draw a single cut", said the count before pulling up his trousers and tying the laces.
"Not the first time I've caught you with your pants down Alberte" the Canine said with a grin. "I'm here to collect what you stole from my family, an honorable dual for the gold and the bracelet" the feline grinned in response and signaled to his men.
"We're leaving; I don't have to sully my honor with the likes of him." It was true, as a noble the man was only honor bound to answer challenges from nobility. Fortunately this was something that the clever canine had planned for in advance. As the count and the disappointed mercenaries passed by the Jackal he reached under his quarter cloak and pulled something into view. Light from the braziers told everyone what they were.
Undergarments.
Armand grinned and tossed them towards the spotted feline. "Those belong to your daughter. Or was she your wife? Hard to guess, she was so young. I'd say she hadn't seen her twentieth summer", said he canine with a sideways grin. He turned to face Alberte, his hand on the pommel of his basket hilt rapier. The feline stared at the underwear and then looked up to the wastrel.
"Kill him" said the feline. A melody of steel being scraped on wood and leather filled the streets as the sell swords drew. Armand smirked and shook his head; the first one was upon him when he threw his cloak to the side, revealing a dagger already drawn and ready. He plunged it deep into the first man's chest, piercing his heart. As the first brut sunk to the ground Armand stepped to the side narrowly avoiding a swing before drawing his rapier. He lashed out with a feint to the man's head before lunging and stabbing him in the thigh. The second of the four mercs fell to his knee.
The jackal didn't have time to finish him, as the third and fourth attacked together, the lateral swings aimed for his neck and his legs. The dexterous canine dived and rolled between their swords, both strokes missing him by miles. He tucked rolled and came back up to his feet again before thrusting his rapier through the neck of the injured sell sword killing him with a gargled shriek. The two remaining looked at each other then back to Armand, then to Alberte. Finally the sheathed their swords and pulled sacks of coins from their belts and threw them down at the count's feet before quickly walking away, pale under their fur.
"Imbeciles", declared the leopard. He glared at the Jackal, who stood before him panting somewhat and wide eyed with an impish grin upon his face. He looked over to the guard who had watched the entire event, then to the woman who had caused all of this who only looked on with her mouth agape. The guard had would ruin his standing, and honor, he'd testify that the count had declined a challenge from a bard after deeming him worth enough to kill. "Noon tomorrow, here."
The musician took out a rag and wiped his blade clean of blood before returning it to its black lacquered scabbard. "Noon, here", he confirmed.
By the time noon rolled around word of the count's duel had spread like wild fire, the square was filled with people all chattering and fretting while vendors sold wars and book keepers took bets. A crude ring had been set up, lined with chalk and a brazier at each corner of the square. There was plenty of room to move about within. The referee for the duel was the captain of the city watch, a man who was himself a famous duelist. He called order and brought the two fighters together.
"Armand De Oro, his lordship claims you have slighted him. Are you prepared to apologize?" the Doberman asked. The Jackal smiled at the notion. Then slowly shook his head.
"No, I do not apologize in the least; I had quite the time with his lovely wife." The dog shit his jaw tight and shook his head.
"Count la Monda, this man has slighted you, are you prepared to forgive him?" The leopard shook his head and didn't speak a word, causing the older captain to sigh and step back from the pair "then I hope the gods save you both. There shall be no back stabbing, no sand throwing, no poison or hidden blades, both fighters must agree to a rest. These are the terms of the duel; you will not break them under pain of death. Go to your sides of the ring, and when I give the signal you may fight." Both of them promptly turned their backs on each other and headed off.
Miranda was still on the dais, along with the wolf, they had a prime view of the fight right before them. She watched as the two drew swords and took their stances, each seemed to have assembled a small team to aid them, it was quite professional.
The jackal took off his quarter cloak and cast it away at the insistence on the captain, earning a smile from the leopard. He wouldn't be distracting his opponent with that it seemed. Still Armand merely smiled at the count and bowed a gesture that he had to return. Then on the signal of the captain both duelists advanced. Their rapiers met with a slight clang, each one had their sword pointed straight at the others chest. Around and around they went, circling each other, waiting for the other to make that first mistake. Impatient, the Leopard moved first, parrying the Jackal's sword and lunging. Armand only stepped to the side, dropping his arm low which snapped the point of his rapier up.
The leopard nearly stepped into his opponent's sword while his point had sailed between the canine's shoulder and neck. Armand took the initiative and stepped inside the feline's guard, but the crafty count leaped back and parried Armand's thrust, then countered with a cut to the jackal's muzzle which the bard ducked under, flattening his ears just in time while the blade whistled by.
This earned a gasp from the women of the crowd and applause from the men. The two backed off for a moment then closed once more, beginning their deadly dance anew. This time the two met and exchanged a flurry of blindingly fast attacks and parries. The sound of steel striking steel and the cheers of the crowd rang out through the streets. Alberte snarled and lunged deep, earning a nick on the Jackal's arm, a bit slow to step out of the way. But the technique was sloppy, and the canine retaliated harshly attacking in quick succession before he caught his opponent with a feint and was able to stab the leopard in the shin.
The count hobbled backwards for a moment then held a hand up, Armand reluctantly did the same, signifying a break. The two walked over to their party and received crude medical treatment in the form of a tight bandage. They rest for a moment while the mob surrounding them rattled on. It seemed that there were some bets won and lost already. After a minute the two stepped into the square once more with a great cheer. They met in the center, trading soft, testing blows, both being quite cautious of the other. It was Armand who struck first, feinting a jab to the older man's chest, unfortunately the count anticipated and rotated his sword and stepped in. the two blades met and Alberte pushed hard downward with all his might.
Armand's sword was thrown out of his hand, the crowd collectively gasped then fell silent again as the jackal dived and rolled out of the way of Alberte's follow up strike. He tried to circle around to his sword but the leopard kept up the pressure causing the lithe bard to keep moving for his life. It was in that moment that the Jackal saw a slim chance of victory; he snarled and stood his ground, raising his hands up in a frame around his center he breathed in and out. Thinking that the canine wanted to go out standing and not winded the count lunged. Armand side stepped, and ducked under the blade. He then grabbed hold of the Leopard's sword arm by the wrist while in the same fluid motion he slammed his palm into the older man's elbow.
The resounding crack caused the crowd to cringe before the shout of pain was heard. Armand quickly wrenched the sword free from Alberte's grasp and drew the sharpened edge across his ribs leaving a long red gash. The jackal threw the sword skidding to the ground just as the count's knees hit the cobble. The canine walked over to his corner and returned with his dagger. The crowd had gone silent, it was rare for the fights to actually turn deadly, and they learned that most people didn't have the nerve or the skill. This was clearly not one of those times.
The bard kneeled in front of his foe and put a hand on his shoulder. The leopard struggled to breathe; his right side was dripping with scarlet. "Alberte" he whispered moving close. "Do you remember? We used to be the best of friends back home? How did we come to this?" Armand asked leveling the dagger against the man's chest.
"I... the rebels changed everything." He said after a shuddering gasp. "You were exiled... your sister... brother, f-father... they were all killed." The older man confessed. Armand shook his head and half embraced the man.
"Maria still lives. I was able to save her," the Jackal confessed, the leopard's golden eyes widened at that then teared.
"My love... I though her dead..." the canine sighed and patted him. It was strange for the jackal, they'd once been the best of friends, but now were the bitterest of enemies, and here at the end they would find peace.
"Alberte, who betrayed us?" he asked finally, this would be his last question. The count screwed up his face in pain the swallowed, knowing his time was near.
"Gasparo... it was Gasparo Vianicci." The Jackal took in a deep breath and nodded, he knew Vianicci well enough to know that the chances to kill him were slim. The Bard embraced his old friend fully, and positioned the dagger beside his sternum.
"We'll meet again in the next life, go with peace old friend" the jackal said before hugging the leopard tight to his shoulder and driving the dagger deep into his chest. Armand spared him from the indignity of crying out and being heard by the crowd, his shoulder muffling the noise. When he stood and pulled the blade free from his friend's heart the leopard was dead. Armand gently lay him down and closed his eyes before allowing himself a moment to breathe. The canine's shirt was wet with the blood of the man he once called brother, yet he found that he could not shed a tear.
Armand walked over to Alberte's party, where he received the bag that Miranda had stolen. He opened the sack and saw that it contained a medium sized fortune in one ounce gold bars, bars stamped with the crest of his house. Also inside was what he truly sought, the bracelet. He pulled it out as the people of the city began to disperse, and rolled up his sleeve exposing a bracelet of almost identical construction, the key word being almost. A glance inside the band revealed the seal of his house. "Fake..." he sighed. It seemed he had the real family heirloom after all since it was never stamped. The canine placed it back into the bag as the captain walked up beside him.
"I want you gone from the city by evening. You are no longer welcome here." The Doberman's tone was grave, and he spoke with a hand resting on the hilt of a hand and a half sword. Armand merely nodded in compliance. Thinking their business was done the captain turned to walk away before the Jackal stopped him with a gentle tap.
"How much will it cost to free the thief on the dais?" he asked.
One signature, on a parchment and three of the gold bars later the Jackal returned to the dais with a scroll in hand. He presented it to Jarrod, the wolf and smirked as he cursed and fumbled with his keys. When the Lynx was free he opened his arms expecting a hug, instead he got a paw across his muzzle. The Jackal blinked several times, stunned and slowly put his arms down.
"y-you could have come sooner... you could have stopped him!" she cried. She raised her arm again but only stopped upon seeing the mournful expression on his face.
"You're right, I could have. I'm sorry Miranda. I can't take away what happened to you, but I can try to help you", said the bard he then opened his arms once more, still wearing that frown. Miranda saw the sincerity and sniffled before slowly accepting his embrace. "Take this, and this." The canine said handing her both the fake bracelet and her sack back with a fair amount of gold in it. She shivered and nodded her head, ears laid back.
"Th-thank you." She said when he added his quarter cloak to the mix, draping it over her naked body for some decency.
"Thank you dear one, I should have never put you in harm's way." He said leading her down the steps of the Dais. "I just... didn't want it to come to that." The jackal added, confessing his selfishness in not wanting to kill the man. Miranda half sobbed and half laughed, but nodded in understanding.
The two walked in silence towards the tavern, once safely inside they got dressed in fresh clothes, Miranda had to settle for trousers and a loose fitting shirt but knew she'd be able to buy something later for herself. "Where will you go Armand?" asked the lynx. The bard thought for a moment and smiled
"Harbarad sounds good; I haven't been there in a while."