Fog of War. Chapter Three.
Fog of War
Chapter 3
By Roofles
Duran stood shivering in Arn's tent as the wolf pulled the rugs off the ground and rolled a wooden bowl into the middle of the room. The bowl looked like a barrel that had been cut in half; the largest barrel Duran had ever seen however as even with the wolf size, there was enough room for Duran. Which he'd soon find out.
There was a hole in the ground, just under the bath. Duran had never noticed with the rugs covering it, just glad he hadn't accidentally stepped on it. Arn tossed a few more chips of wood, some strange gooey substance and then with a piece of flint and a rock started the fire. The goo ignited quickly and burned with a low flame. It was just like the fire pit within the middle of the camp.
It must've been valuable, Duran mused watching the fire. In the cold North, fire would be a luxury few could afford, like water was in the desert. Even with a few chips of wood, the fire was burning nicely and would last long enough for the bath. Even the central fire was still burning because of this tar like substance.
Arn didn't seem impressed at all as he disappeared, coming back a second later with his arms full of snow. And just dropped it all into the tub. Some missed and fell into the fire. The ooze crackled sharply, sparking and the flames grew larger.
"Fascinating." Duran crouched down watching the fire. "How does it do that? When exposed to water, it has such a violent reaction. What's it made of?" The polecat's analytical mind was at work once more.
Arn grunted, looking at the polecat as if he had lost his mind. "It's dung."
"Excuse me." Duran said looking up at him.
"Some of the Northern crawlers." Arn just went on, disappearing before coming back with more snow. "Live in caves up.... North." Arn grunted dropping more snow into the tub. "The dung they produce is good for keeping fire going. During storm." And the wolf kicked some of the snow into the fire so it'd begin to heat up the wooden tub.
"Nevermind." Duran gagged and quickly withdrew from the fire. Arn chuckled a bit and stood back up after inspecting it, to make sure it'd last. It'd also keep the whole tent warm. Arn moved the rest of the rugs out of the way, laying down thick slabs of wood around the fire to keep it in check.
"Get in." The wolf ordered after standing back up and nodding in approval at his handiwork.
Duran looked at him. Then at the snow filled tub. "Usually you use water." Duran felt the need to point out.
"It'll melt." Arn just said, crossing his arms and frowning now at Duran.
"What?" Duran took a step back, looking at the wolf.
"Well?" Arn grunted. "Your the one who wanted a bath."
"And your the one who needs it." Duran crossed his arms now, frowning back at the sweaty wolf who had worked out most of the morning. Who only frowned back at him. Duran secretly did want the bath, alone that is.
Duran was familiar with barbaric, nomadic customs. Didn't mean he was happy with them. Nudity was seen as something to hide back in the valley; that one of the Goddess's first acts was to grant her children clothing so that others may not have to see the nakedness. Something you reserve for family (as in children and mothers) and loved ones only. There were no public baths back at home, in the capital that is.
And here he was, about to get naked, for someone who wasn't his betrothed.
Arn replied to Duran snide comment with silence. Instead, the wolf just reached over and picked the polecat up. Moved him over and dropped him into the tub.
"H-hey!" Duran said landed on his butt, still in his undergarments. Linen pants that were now getting snow in all the wrong places. Duran hugged himself. "It's freezing!" The polecat shivered.
"Your the one who wanted the bath!" Arn growled back, kicking some more snow into the fire. It hissed in protest and grew in size until the flames were licking the sides of the barrel tub. The polecat tried not to point out how easy it would be to burn down a tent with such a firepit. Or this whole camp.
He might need to do that one day.
The large wolf was still grumbling as he declothed. Stripping the leather armguards off and letting them fall to the ground. Stripping the under cloth of each one and tossing it aside. Until finally he kicked off his loincloth and stepped into the tub, sitting down on his rear and stretching his legs out on either side of the polecat. And the wolf just sat there, crossed armed and stared at the polecat.
Duran was just thankful the Northern wolves were so... fluffy. It made it look as if Arn was at least wearing something.
"Well? Aren't you going to bathe?" Arn grunted, still glaring at Duran with folded ears. Duran kept shivering, tail curling around his legs as he tucked them close.
"In what? Snow?" Duran said back, teeth chattering. "Going to catch hypothermia..." And he sneezed a bit, looking down at the water pooling up in the button of the tub. It'd have been smart to wait for everything to melt, to heat up and then to take the bath.
Arn batted one of his ears and twitched his nose, looking down at the polecat. His shoulders sagged a bit. "Maybe I was too hasty." The wolf admitted, under his breath and grumbled some more. Getting angry at himself for it.
"Ya' think?" Duran glared back. He sighed and shook his head quickly before the wolf turned that anger on him. He got up slowly. "It's fine." Duran just gave in. "Just needs to melt and warm the snow up. Is all." And he looked over the edge of the tub at the fire. Watching it crackle some more, lost in thought. "I'm not built like you are, I'm just..." Duran stopped as Arn put one hand on his back.
The polecat splayed his stubby black ears out.
"I am a warrior. One of the great wolves." Arn lifted his head prideful of his heritage. "Snow has little affect on us. I..." Arn clenched his other hand tightly, looking away. "Forget this. At times."
"Thank you," Duran said truthfully, in thanks. Arn looked at him, lifting his ears up. "I am not strong as you are. I'm smaller, weaker and the cold..." And Duran shivered. "All I can ask of you, is for you to keep that in mind."
Duran wanted Arn to underestimate him. To think of him as some fragile doll, as the wolf liked to treat him as so. It'd be easier then, when Duran did have to act. The wolf wouldn't be aware of just how strong he was. If he needed too... when he needed too.
Arn pet over Duran's side once more with the back of his hand, letting one nail slide through his fur as he did so. Just feeling the softness of it. How clean it was and prim it looked. Arn almost wish he could freeze the polecat, keep him like this forever. A perfect, flawless statue that Arn could admire and keep.
"You don't have to worry about such things." Arn laid out a bit, sliding one leg under Duran and pushing him up above the cold water that was beginning to fill up the tub from the melted snow. "Stay with me, and you'll never have to worry about such things again." The wolf grinned.
"Am I not already yours to keep?" Duran just replied, turning around to sit on his knee and rest back. Duran held on as Arn rocked his leg up and down, watching the polecat bob on it and chuckled. The snow had melted and the water was beginning to warm up. The inner lining of the tub had some sort of slick tar substance coated to it. It seemed to help the snow melt, heat the water and kept the barrel of a tub from leaking.
Their ingenuity was remarkable, Duran noted. They might not be as primitive as they were originally led to believe. That or more likely, they had stolen and taken these things from others. Raiders and bandits; that's all he saw them as.
It took another half hour before the water was steaming and Duran could actually relax within the tub. It seemed to have been many seasons since he last had the chance to have a warm bath. Even if he did keep the linen pants on as he laid out and soaked in the warm bath, ignoring the fact someone else was in it with him.
To be able to wash the grime, the sweat of travel and the musk of the wolf off was an experience Duran was thankful for. Having taken such a thing for granted. He felt so fresh coming back up from the water and wiping his face off. Shaking his head free of water and letting his hair down.
The Northern lands were harsh. Only the strong survived. Grizzled, scared combatants that could die at any seconds from the various dangerous of the North. Poisonous insects, internal conflicts, the storms that could hit without warning... Countless dangerous and threats left the people there ugly and cold as the land itself.
They had never known the peace those of the Valley have. It was a simple illusion, a fairytale told to young pups so they could sleep easy at night. The very word didn't exist to them. Peace was a fantasy in the North. A luxury they couldn't afford. As it was in the valley.
Arn's paw pads were coarse, rough and cut up from running on them. They were as tough as leather and firm as any rock. From fighting, climbing over the hostile terrain and living in these unforgiving climate had shaped his very paws into weapons. The wolf's fur was much the same. The outer layer wasn't lush, wasn't soft or fluffy. It was made to protect him from the elements; strong enough to even help subvert blows from weapons. A type of armor in itself. Arn's teeth were made to rip open frozen bodies, to chew the rough skin of the strange fruit of their land. His claws were long and sharp, deadly and lethal weapons themselves. His paws were heavy and large to walk silently on the snow covered ground, to scale the roughest of mountain sides and to travel countless miles in a single day. Even his tail was made to curl around his face if he needed to sleep outside, in the howling winds; it could be used as a scarf to protect his large black nose. His whole body was shaped and had been bred to survive in the merciless North.
Then there was Duran.
The polecat was nearly the wolf's opposite. Lean and firm, muscular body that was meant only for short burst of energy, not endurance to travel for days on end. Duran had known a life of peace and it showed on his face. On his body. On his very hands; which Arn took in his own as he inspected the smaller male.
They were so tiny compared to Arn's. The paw pads were warm, smooth and soft to the touch. A faint pink with black markings unlike Arn's gray ones. Even Duran's fingers were made for artistic work and scrolling with a quill. Not holding a sword or stringing a bow. Like most polecats, Duran's claws were long. But not sharp. It could scratch an eye out but wouldn't even be able to cut Arn's flesh. Duran usually used them to write with if he had no quills at hand.
The wolf inspected his nails, his fingers. Just looking the polecat's over slowly. Carefully, as if afraid to break him. Arn curled his fingers around Duran's hands, around his very arms. Afraid he would mess up that black and mahogany fur of the polecat body. Duran's back, face, arms and legs were of that reddish brown color of the Felcrest clan. His face had white markings like his fingers did; everything else, from under his muzzle to the tip of his tail, was black. His fur had lightened several shades since he had come to the North. Changing color with the season.
Duran's people had always been an adaptable race. Unlike the wolves, who made things adapt to them.
Arn had once seen something called porcelain within the Capital city. It had been acquired from a raid on a merchant party that had strayed too far into their borders. It was one of the few beautiful things the wolf had ever seen in the cold, harsh North. That was, until he had seen Duran.
Within the camp, Duran had worn royal robes before the raid. Golden necklaces and braclets, jewels on his fingers and studded bands in his ears. To look the part of a diplomat, to make a good first impression was half of his job in itself. Arn had never seen anything like him before. To have such clean, straight fur. Without a musk to it. Arn hadn't been sure an angel had walked amongst them; almost radiating.
It wasn't that Duran was weak. He had a strong jaw line and firm shoulders, always holding his head up high and walking with a purpose. The very air about him said enough about his strength. He showed respect without belittling himself. And was a strong willed, soul.
Arn had just been a scout. He spied on them, following their party and watched and waited as he had been ordered too. Just watching Duran in his camp. And stalking after him when he fled during the raid. Only after the fight was already lost. To stand and fight with his men until the polecat was the only one left and when he ran, he ran to live. To not insult those who had given their lives to protect him.
The mighty wolf had followed him, covering Duran's tracks and letting his own heavy musk cloud Duran's so no other wolves would find him. He followed him, watching within the blizzard the polecat's resilience to the storm. How impressive he was even after discarding the useless pieces of fancy metal he wore around his neck and arms. That despite everything, Duran still kept his head up and fought against the howling winds. For survival.
An how Arn envied that. How the wolf coveted him so... and now he had him. This porcelain doll. Was all his.
Arn brushed a hand down Duran's back roughly, bringing the polecat back to mind as to where he was. A captive of this wolf.
The wolf lifted one of the polecat's legs up, letting it slide free of his fingers slowly as he brought a finger over to pet over Duran's chest; growling with a massive grin as he played with his little toy. Curling the polecat's long tail around his pink and letting it slide free from his fingers, slowly as he watched Duran with sultry eyes.
The wolf was using both hands now as he pet over, stroking the polecat's full body with greedy, grubby fingers. Just wanting to feel the smaller male, to know that he was his and no one else. Arn tilted his muzzle down to bump against Duran's body. Sniffing over his clean fur and inhaling that faint scent. Duran gagged as Arn licked up over his whole body and left him covered in saliva.
"Maybe it would be best if I cleaned you instead?" Duran asked moving out of his grip and down to one of the wolf's legs. Duran aimlessly rubbed and washed the fur there. Hoping it'd be enough to satisfy the canine.
Arn snorted at that. Moving back, the wolf pulled his leg free and then shoved his whole hind paw into Duran's face and body.
"Start at the toes. Work your way up." Arn snarled now, his tail wagging in the water as he began to pant loudly, open muzzle at the polecat.
Duran begrudgingly obeyed.
"Lord Arn," Duran said as he pulled the wolf's musky paw out of his face.. "Do your people have any bathing equipment? Brushes? Soaps? Scrubbers?" Duran frowned at the last one, figuring he'd need a metal file to work on the wolf's paw pads, let alone his nails.
Arn rested back, lifting one leg up and out of the tub as he thought it over. "We wouldn't, no." Arn just relaxed, spreading his toes so his pet could clean between them. He was beginning to enjoy this; more than he ever had before. Arn usually hated taking a bath.
"But my people had." Duran said, lowering the foot down and rubbed at it between his fingers as he looked up at the wolf. "And you raided our camp." Duran clenched his teeth but said no more on that. Arn thought that over, not even seeming to see the problem with the fact the wolves had attack Duran and his people.
"It'd be in one of the storage tents. On the West side of camp." Arn grunted with a shrug.
"Perfect." Duran said getting up and getting out as quickly as he could. The wolf frowned at this. Duran's feet landed on the cold earth and shivers ran up his legs and body. He quickly began drying off. "I'll get them! And soaps. And other bath things. You just stay here and look..." Duran just frowned at the naked wolf in the tub looking at him. "Just stay there." And Duran suited up before heading out before Arn could object.
The wolf eyes softened as he went, ears folding back as he snarled. Slapping down at the water. Then looking down at his oversized paws, at himself. "Damnit," Arn cursed, clenching his fingers tightly. "Was I too rough?" The wolf could only think as he waited for the polecat to return.
"If they have our stuff..." Duran mused to himself, keeping off to the side and low to the ground in hopes of being over looked as he had been before. The polecat had already forgotten about Arn and focusing on what had plagued him all night. "Our things were taken. Stowed away. Then maybe they have the documents!" Duran's eyes widened hopefully as he nodded at this.
The chances were slim to none but he had to hope. These wolves claimed to be warriors? The very thought made the polecat laugh. They were only bandits, raiders that looted any who trespassed in their lands. Not that Duran blamed them, honestly. This land had so very little to offer to begin with. It was only natural to want more.
There were a few wolves that took note of him. One even, jokingly, offered to have a fight with him impressed with how Duran dealt with the drunk wolf the other night. Another offered, not so jokingly, that he should come back to her tent and she'd "show him all three moons in a single night." Duran shuddered, not wanting to think what that meant. And hoping, beyond hope, Arn wouldn't want to do it either.
Duran hadn't had an ounce of luck since he came to this land. And his luck really had ran out as another wolf beckoned him over, trying to get his attention with catcalls. Duran ignored him. He however did not ignore the axe that had been thrown at him.
Duran wasn't sure if it'd hit him or not but the polecat had already ducked down as the axe struck the side of the tent he was standing next too.
"If it isn't the little meat," the wolf growled. Duran knew the voice. It had been the same one that had challenged Arn to a duel, Grimkel. "Far away from the safety of your owner? Pet's shouldn't stray." The wolf tried to get up, but cursed, having to crouch back down. Duran could see there were medicine wraps around his ankles were Duran had cut his hamstrings. The polecat took great delight in seeing the wolf's misery. "Without a leash, no less." The wolf gave a slimy, yellow tooth grin as he continued to mock him. Some of his fangs were cracked, others were blackened and some were all together missing.
His snout was black and blue, bruised from where he had fallen on it. Grimkel's nose was a broken mess and there were more medicine wraps around his whole snout. There were dried blood still on the front of his muzzle. Duran wanted to laugh but held his tongue, enjoying the sight and keeping it to himself.
There was another wolf with Grimkel, one Duran hadn't seen. He gave the polecat a look. One of neither approval or disapproval. Just a look, before going back to tending to Grimkel's legs. The healer of the pack, medicine man or shaman for all Duran knew. The polecat wasn't sure of the beliefs of the Northern clans. Very few was known about them to begin with. One reason why the Empress wished to open the lines of communication.
Duran turned to leave but heard a clank of metal against the ground and looked down to see his sword, tossed to him by the wolf. Grimkel grinned but didn't make a move. "It's yours is it not?" The wolf asked as if offering it to him. Duran made no move to pick it up. The polecat didn't even look at the wolf, just turned away.
"You little piece of shit." The wolf snarled, forcing himself up and picking up his other axe. Being ignored by a slave was one of the lowest of insults.
Grimkel didn't even get half way up before he stopped, his face fell and he quickly sat back down. Cursing to himself and letting the medicine man continue his work.
"I believe I have a stalker." Duran just said, looking over to see Bernard standing next to him. The wolf presence had scared Grimkel into submission without him needing to do anything but be there. Duran really would have to watch his step around the war-party leader. "Should I be concerned?"
Bernard gave him a crooked smile from the corner of his muzzle. "There are many things to be concerned about. Being away from Arn is one of them." Bernard did frown, his good eye, at this.
"Of course," Duran turned to bow to the wolf. He looked over at Grimkel and gave the wolf a smile, hiding it from the pack-leader. The other wolf was nearly foaming at the mouth as he glared back. "Lord Arn," Bernard lifted an eyebrow at the honorific given to his brother. "Requested me to get some... things from storage; if you feel fit, you may ask him."
"Are you telling me what to do?" Bernard was the one to ask Duran. It was almost a threat. Until the wolf laughed. Duran still felt uneasy about it. "Walk with me."
"Of course." Duran nodded and followed behind the wolf to be safe. Rather than risk walking at his side or in front and somehow insulting the leader by doing so.
Bernard motioned Duran to walk at his side, and he did. Even if the polecat had to take three steps to match one of the wolf's.
"You walk on two legs. And hunt on four." Duran said as he looked around the camp before address the wolf who hadn't said anything as they slowly made their way to the other side.
Bernard looked down at him and that seemed to be confirmation enough. Duran grimaced a bit, hating how he had to be escorted like this. What was Bernard's gain in this? Helping him out? Doubtfully, it had to have an underlining meaning. Duran couldn't see it, which only made him uneasier.
"The storage units," Bernard finally said as they reached the West side. The camp seemed larger than it was.
"Thank you." Duran said with a nod. The polecat stopped in the door. "And thank you, for back there." Duran said talking about the incident with Grimkel.
"If you had picked up the sword, he'd be in every right to kill you." Bernard said softly, in that warm tone he always seemed to reserve for when he was around the polecat. Duran wasn't fooled by it, still it was comforting to hear the wolf didn't want to rip his head off.
"I figured." Duran said, then gave a nod of thanks once more.
Duran let the tent flap slide shut behind him before moving any further inside. It was dark but his keen eyes could see well enough. Most of the storage was kept in clay pots with leather strips tied to the top of them. They smelled of spices, fruit and other dried foods. There were boxes crudely stacked next to them. Silken rolls, jewels and other things from his camp were against the far wall; Duran headed over to investigate.
There weren't any form to how the wolves sorted their stolen goods. Most had just been tossed inside, wherever there was room. It made it difficult to find anything.
A bejeweled comb. A brush. Some various soaps. These alone took him far too long to find. He stuffed everything into a satchel, dumping out what was in it on the ground. Then, with his cover secured, began rummaging in the papers. What he had really been after.
Gathering everything up before looking over them, one by one. Duran had to light one of the candles to be able to read any of the papers. Quickly as he could, hearing movement outside. It would be one thing to be found getting the supplies he had told them he had been sent to get. To be found anywhere else would be problematic for both him and Arn.
"A thousand curses," Duran swore tossing the papers to the side and pulling down another box to go through. The wolves might not have even grabbed the scroll and parchment; being of no real value to them. Other than to wipe their asses with maybe.
There was more movement outside. Duran stopped to listen before going back to work. Finding nothing once more.
The polecat pulled everything else down onto the ground, jumped up on a wooden crate and began looking in a parcel that had once belong to an old friend of his. Inside were some more riches and gems, a topaz set in a brooch (much like the one he had on) and nothing else.
"Damnit all." Duran jumped down, grabbing the bag of supplies. As he did there was a brush of wind next to his cheek, the sound of a feather and a bolt from a crossbow thunked into the wall just behind him. Duran cursed and dropped down to one side as the smallest wolf of the hunting party came from around the corner.
"Careful there," the wolf chuckled, picking his teeth as he came into view. Duran looked at him, then behind him at the wall. A massive blue, black legged centipede was thrashing around violently. The crossbow bolt was sticking out of it's head; the centipede kept snapping, drooling pincers at Duran's back. Just out of reach. "The Nocturnal poison. In a single night, you'll fall asleep for ever." And the wolf chuckled some more as he walk over, past Duran, and pulled the bolt free.
The wolf tore into the insects lower body with his muzzle at the same time and devoured it, letting the head fall to the ground. It still moved and twitched. The wolf looked back at him, crunching the insect in his jaws.
"Shouldn't terry, pup." The greasy black fur wolf chuckled as he moved past Duran and headed for the exit, hefting the massive crossbow over one shoulder. It was black like the rest of the wolves weapons, the crossbow had spikes along the edge, Duran was sure it'd serve as a good club if anyone was foolish enough to draw too close.
Duran followed behind the wolf, outside the tent and all the way back to Arn's tent at the other side of camp. The polecat didn't say a word, guilt written all over his face and body language for being caught looking over the paperwork. The wolf gave a mock bow as they reached Arn's tent, mimicking the one Duran had given the captain and gave him a wink before leaving. Duran could only figure Bernard had ordered the wolf to escort him back.
"Thank you," Duran finally said to him, turning around to face the wolf.
"Look," the wolf chuckled a bit rolling his neck back and looking over one shoulder at the polecat. "If you really want to thank me," and the wolf adjusted himself. "Come to my tent tonight." And with that gave him a wave as he left.
Duran rolled his eyes at that as he returned to Arn.
The large wolf had been laying all the way in the tub, pouting. His twin pointed ears jumped up and his eyes beamed as he saw Duran turned. The wolf scrambled to his feet and nearly slipped.
"You've returned!" Arn smiled widely, eyes sparkling as he held the side of the tub for support. His whole body was dripping wet. Duran could see the wolf wagging.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Duran asked a bit nervously.
"I was afraid..." Arn cleared his throat, going back to a growl. "That something had happened."
"Well..." Duran began thinking about how he had almost been hit by an axe, shot with a crossbow and poisoned by an insect... Then decided it was best not to worry Arn. If the wolf thought he was endangered, Arn would never let Duran out of his sight. "It just took me longer to find what I needed, is all."
Duran lifted up the satchel and put it off to the side. Rummaging in it before pulling out a few jugs and a bar of soap. He dumped half of one of the chugs into the water. Arn watched, still standing up a bit. He wrinkled his nose.
"It's... fruity." Arn scowled.
Duran rolled his eyes at that. "Next time when I get the soaps, I'll keep that in mind." Duran rolled one hand several time in the water where he had put the liquid. It began to bubble and foam up. "So lay back down, as you were." Duran said, lost in his own thoughts as he took two more jugs out from the satchel.
Arn obeyed, unaware of the order. Just glad Duran had returned to him. Afraid the polecat may have been taken by one of the others... or chose not to come back at all. Many slaves simply left into the cold North, walking out of the safety of the encampments and to wander aimlessly until the cold took them.
Duran poured one of the jugs over Arn's head, making sure to tell the wolf to keep his eyes closed, and then the other. Putting the cork back in each one, Duran began scrubbing and working on Arn's thick furry mane that covered most of his neck and ran down his back. It began to sud up.
The documents hadn't been there in the storage room. The scroll, with the royal seal of the Empress herself, was missing too. Duran might have to go back to his ransacked camp and search for them there. The storm would've covered everything by now... There was little chance, little hope... he couldn't give up.
Duran took his cloak off, his shirt and was in nothing more than the linen pants as he had been before as Arn kept sloshing around in the tub, knocking water off the sides. The large wolf was acting like a puppy as Duran worked his way down over his shoulders and scrubbed his fur with his whole arms and his upper body trying to get Arn to settle down so he could work.
Arn lazed back some more, lifting an arm up as Duran came around to wash it, and kicked a leg up and out of the tub. The wolf hadn't been sure as to why he had been so worried about the polecat leaving. Duran was working over his body with skilled precision and effort. Arn was sure the polecat wanted to do this as much as he wanted it done!
Duran was still lost in thought even as he reached the wolf's hind paws and began scrubbing at the paw pads with a luffa he had attained. The polecat was thinking over everything, trying to figure things out and was paying very little attention on the task at hand. Just going through the motions as he cleaned between Arn's toes.
"You are good at this." Arn just said as Duran went around to his other side, grinning widely at the polecat who had begun to scrub under his other arm and in his armpit with that soapy luffa.
"After, I brought a brush. So I can begin working on your fur." Duran just said in a hollow tone. Still not letting himself focus on the task at hand. Distancing himself from it.
Once, Duran had to do very much the same thing when an Ambassador had come from the Eastern sands. The Hyaenidae was a fat overweight, aristocrat from the Eastern Trade Empire that found great pleasure in torturing the maids assigned to him. Duran had been in charge of his care after the Hyena had injured one of the call girls who refused to sleep with him.
This was like a holiday in comparison.
Arn didn't like how the polecat was giving him such a cold shoulder. So, with a shrug, Arn wrapped one arm behind Duran and pulled him right back into the tub where he had been to begin with.
Best way to cure a cold shoulder was to warm up. The polecat splashed in the warm water before sitting back up, glaring at the wolf. Duran had ended up on Arn's belly, the wolf having laid out within the whole tub.
"You have to wash my chest too." Arn just gave a one shoulder shrug as if explaining why he had pulled Duran in. Arn lifted up both arms, folding them behind his head as he looked down at the polecat laying on his chest within the bubble bath.
Duran rinsed the luffa off a few times before moving over, next to rather than on the wolf, and scrubbed it up over Arn's chest and under his arm once more. Arn caught Duran's arms, with his teeth. Very lightly, he pulled the polecat back up and over him, back onto his stomach. Letting go of his arms and nosing down at him and giving his face a lick. Arn quickly wrapped his arms around the small polecat. And pulled Duran's face under one his arms in the hug.
Arn chuckled at that, rolling to face his body towards Duran's and tightened his hold as the polecat feebly struggled.
"Look how musky I still am." Arn murred down at him, rubbing Duran's face in his pit. "You still have so much work to do."
Duran kept his eyes close as his snout was rubbed up and under Arn's arm once more. "Yes, lord." He struggled a bit more, trying to get his arm free.
"Can't use your arms, this time." Arn huffed, breathing hotly over Duran's whole face. "Think of something else." The wolf whispered down to him, not even trying to hide his lustful growl.
Duran grimaced, swearing revenge as he nosed back at him and licked over the wolf's musky pit. The polecat could feel Arn tightening his fingers on his back, holding one of his legs with a hand as he huffed out heavily, groaning as Duran cleaned him with his tongue.
The wolf eased up at that, resting his arms back once more as Duran laid on his chest, scratching and washing off the soapy suds out of his fur. He could feel Arn's quickening heart beat as he rested against the wolf's chest as the wolf just grinned down at him.
A diplomat, a royal envoy of the Empress herself. Reduced to nothing more than a wash boy...
Soon ordered to clean the wolf lower than just his chest.
It wouldn't be until that night that the two climbed out of the bath, letting the fire still go to keep the tent warm.
"It'll burn out during the night." Arn just said, covering it now with a steel grate. Duran could see bits of burnt meat still clinging to the grate. The bath fire had thus turned into a cooking pit. Arn turned the tub over, after dumping it out outside, and placed it on the nearly smokeless fire. Arn pulled a cork from the button of the tub out and the smoke was able to get out and leave from the top of the pointed tent.
Duran didn't reply as he tossed the soil luffa to the side. Even after a bath, he felt so dirty. Cleaning the wolf's body. With his own. Like some prized luffa.
Arn had dried off and looked over at the polecat, about to say something else before stopping. Seeing the soaking wet polecat, standing there. Arn just gritted his teeth, tossing the towel he himself had used at Duran. "Dry yourself, before you catch cold."
The wolf tied the tent shut and walked over to the bed as Duran dried off. The wolf didn't put anything on as he slid under the blankets and waited, covering only half of his body and groin with them.
"Come." Arn gestured with a finger. "You said you were going to brush me." The wolf grunted, resting back a bit more.
"Of course, Lord Arn." Duran said without a bow. Heading over to grab the comb, brush and file.
Duran took a seat as he had the other day, at the very edge of the bed and barely on it. He took Arn's hand and began to file the edges of his dark gray nails. The tips and underneath.
"Was it really that unenjoyable?" Arn finally asked, after some time had passed and Duran had begun working on his other hand. Duran was silent. "Lackie." Arn growled now at the silence. At being ignored.
Duran smiled up at him, a forced look. "I live, only to serve." And then went back to work.
Arn clenched his fingers tightly, almost wanting to smack Duran for the way he had spoken. His anger only turned inwards, on himself. Duran should be praising his name! Thanking him for taking care of him, keeping him safe from the others. Now the polecat was just doing this out of forced duty?
"Enough." The wolf snarled, yanking his arm free. Duran had just begun brushing his fur. The wolf sighed, moving over towards the polecat who pulled back. Flinching away.
Arn tightened his jaw at the gesture before snorting, reaching down and picking up the bejeweled comb he had been going for. With one hand, the wolf turned Duran to face away from him and then pulled him back, close enough for Duran to feel him. And then with that comb began straightening the polecat's fur, starting at his back and working all the way down to his tail. It glided so easily through his fur, unlike Arn's. The brush Duran had been using was already becoming useless.
"I'm sorry," Arn spoke softly. "I should have... you are mine!" The wolf growled, snarling a bit and the fingers holding Duran shoulder tightened. They eased up the next second. "An I do not know how... to take care of you."
Duran wanted to chuckle at that. Was he just some pet the wolf needed to take care of? Or slave that needed to take care of him? Duran wasn't sure how to act, the two things were so close and yet so different from each other. Arn himself didn't seem to be sure of which of these two things he wanted from him either.
Duran would be a slave to someone like Grimkel. He might be a pet to someone like Bernard. To Arn? Neither of them was sure. And that seemed to be the main issue as the two settled back down.
Arn pulled Duran closer and turned over, nearly resting his weight on the polecat as the large wolf began to snore. The sound was loud. At least he didn't smell so bad anymore. Duran took that as a win as he slowly wormed his way free of Arn's grip and off the bed; suiting back up.
Duran had a certain crossbow wielding wolf to visit this night...