FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Feyrahl, SoFurry Edition

Introduction to the Kingdom, Ch 1.4

Before Rolin could make it out of view Mac called after him "I don't mind if you stay... unless you're in a hurry to run off."

The Lynx-Bear slowed to a stop, slowly turning around. "Well... it's not every day I get a chance to chat with an honest-to-goodness Human..." The ranger took a step closer before pausing. "Unless I'm overstepping, Commander?"

The Rhino gestured to Mac. "I have no complaints, Mr. Shadow Star. Seeing as I was invited to join Master Millman and you are being likewise included, it is only fair to humor the preferences of the emperor's guest."

Offering an affable smile that suggested he was happy enough to join in, Rolin offered a wink as he returned. "Well, I certainly wouldn't want to insult a guest of the Emperor by turning down an invitation."

Mac quickly interjected "Well... assuming it's not taking you away from anything important. To be honest, I'm just curious in general and you're... easy to talk to."

Joren gave the Lynx-Bear a gentle punch to the shoulder once he was in range. "You see, Mr. Shadow Star? even Humans find you approachable."

Letting out a good humored 'ha', Rolin flopped onto the ground, crossing his legs beneath him, as he regarded both Mac and Joren. "Well then... it appears your council is convened, Foot-Cousin Millman."

Joren's small, leaf-shaped ears raised. "Did you say 'Foot-Cousin', Shadow Star?"

The Lynx-Bear showed his teeth when he grinned. "Millman's feet are shaped like mine... he could very well wear Bear-boots."

The Rhino glanced between Mac's sandals and Rolin's boots, then back. "Mmm... this is true. I'll have the cobbler prepare him a set in the event he be required to travel. However, I also note that the Emperor likewise has feet rather than foot paws, yet I have never recalled a time in which you referred to HIM as Foot-Cousin."

Rolin laughed heartily. "Perhaps that's because he's the emperor, Sir Stonewall! You spend more time in court than I do so I SURELY don't have to tell you how uncouth something like THAT would be!" The Lynx-Bear winked pointedly at Mac, giving off the vibe that the Ranger was purposefully chiding the commander. "Besides... Millman and I share a bond: we are both rare denizens of this fine empire, so we need to stick together."

Mac hadn't experienced much of Joren but from what little he'd seen of the Rhino, the Commander seemed to be relatively straight-laced and formal; he was caught by surprise when Joren smiled. "As a stranger in a strange land I suppose he could use a little kinship, and I suppose it doesn't hurt anything. Despite him not being in my direct care, I must admit that I would prefer the Emperor's guest be comfortable during his stay."

The ranger nodded. "Kinship. Yes! The Emperor certainly has plenty of that, and our honorable visitor here should be made to feel welcome-- hence him being my Foot-Cousin... isn't that right, Millman?"

The Human realized after hearing himself be addressed again that the gregarious Lynx-Bear had dropped the formal 'Mister', and was simply calling him by his last name. Others in court seemed to be relatively formal (except Khosk, who had just taken to calling him by his family either because it was simple for the Lion, or maybe he was just getting used to him). Was Khosk that casual, or was he more relaxed? Mac honestly didn't know, but he decided to keep the conversation moving forward. "Yeah... heh. Thank you, Mr. Rolin... but, if it's okay to ask, Khosk called you Flat-Paw, and Sir Joren calls you 'Shadow Star'."

Rolin coughed, covering his muzzle as his fluffy ears lowered slight. "Ah... well... Commander Stonewall DOES outrank me, so there's no reason he'd have to refer to me with a title, or even a 'Sir' or 'Mister."

Mac wasn't sure whether the ranger was avoiding what seemed the more obvious point to the name. "But... 'Shadow Star'?"

The Lynx-Bear glanced to the Rhino, who shrugged back. Sighing, Rolin rubbed his paws on his britches. "My father was a nobleman of a noble house-- House Shadow Star. Since I was born of a union between Lynx and Bear, I am not able to retain my father's name, so I have no formal family; Flat-Paw was a nickname provided to me by the Emperor's men, so that is used as a substitute."

Joren spoke up only once Rolin had gone silent. "While I appreciate the rules of the nation, I know that his father held this fine man in high regard and, even though it means little in the eyes of the law or succession, I feel that it would be doing a disservice not to acknowledge his heritage when not in court."

The ranger smirked. "Just so long as you don't make the mistake of using it IN court I won't stop, you, Sir Joren."

The two shared a laugh, and Mac couldn't help but join in. The fact that Rolin was using the Commander's first name was a sign that the two were properly acquainted if not outright friendly; the idiosyncrasies of the Feyrahlian social structure was complex, but not impossible to learn. That thought made him feel all the more awkward when the Commander turned to him and referred to him casually by his first name. "And what about you, MacKenzie? Many have wondered, but none of had the opportunity to ask. Is your Millman family of noble lineage, or no?"

Mac shook his head. "No... where I'm from there isn't a class distinction. The nation where I live is--" he paused, realizing that there was no way he would be able to effectively explain a republic to people who were living in a feudalistic... monarchy? oligarchy? dictatorship? His course of study wasn't sociology or political science-- another reason he didn't feel qualified. He rephrased what he was going to say. "The nation where I live is DIFFERENT."

Joren nodded patiently. "Well, then it is a good thing you have attendants, guards, and other companions willing to help you."

Rolin smiled. "Couldn't have said it better myself. By the moons, MacKenzie, if you have questions, you can ask me anything."

Although Mac hadn't really expected to just throw out question after question when given the chance, he honestly hadn't expected such a direct invitation; the way the Ranger offered up his vow gave the Human his first one before he even had to think about it. "Speaking of the moons... what's up with them?"

The Lynx-Bear and Rhino glanced to one another, both looking back at him blankly. There was silence for several seconds, almost as if neither knew where to start. Rolin eventually spoke. "...what about them? Xul and Shad are the same as they have always been... though they do change phase at a regular interval. Why? Are your moons not the same where you come from, Millman?"

The Human let out a nervous laugh. "Where I come from, we only have ONE moon."

The two Feyrahlians glanced to one another, eyebrows almost as high up as their ears. Joren recovered first. "Only ONE moon? Is that perhaps why you are so surprised when you encounter magic?"

Mac took a moment to try and connect the dots with relation to the discussion and the question. "What does the number of moons have to do with magic?"

Rolin explained. "Scholars believe that the flow of Mana is controlled by Shad, the second moon. If you have only one moon where you're from, I think the Commander is suggesting that you aren't familiar with magic."

Shrugging, Mac didn't have a specific answer. "It's possible, I guess... I haven't seen real magic in my own world, and it wasn't until I got here that I saw any for the first time."

The discussion lingered on magic for only a few minutes; although Rolin had a reasonable amount of skill with Wind magic, he was by no means a Magus, and Joren remained very muted for most of the talk, so the Human considered a way to bring the commander back into the discussion when the topic of magic lulled. "So... what can you two tell me about the Feyrahlian Empire? And, uh... start at the beginning please, because I know NOTHING aside from what people have told me so far."

Sitting up a little straighter, Joren was quick to pipe in. "The empire as it now stands formed five Emperors past. There were originally six kingdoms including Feyrahl, but there are now only five."

Rolin added "The sixth kingdom, far to the west fell to a great calamity during the reign of the third Emperor, Caldif Feyrahl the first, the Sage King's grandfather, with whom he shares his name.

The brief story about the fallen kingdom sent a shiver up Mac's spine, especially when he thought back to what was said about him in court. "Wait... wasn't there something about a prophecy? When I was introduced in court, they said something about a great disaster, and how a Human appearing was supposed to be an important."

Rolin corrected him. "A 'portent', and yes."

Joren elaborated. "The court Mystic did suggest that it is likely that you are indeed an indicator that the prophecy is coming true. The specifics are not known to me, but the Sage King has been working for decades on attempting to avoid catastrophe and, as such he has been on the look out for the three signs."

Mac chewed on his lower lips. "And I'm the first one?"

The Rhino and the Lynx-Bear glanced to one another; Rolin was the one to clarify. "Actually, Millman, you're the second. If the prophecy is accurate, then there is just one more event before whatever calamity is to befall the Kingdom of Feyrahl."