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Harem Tales Part II: Cerid's Story

By Nickylion

I awoke to slivers of light pouring in from small slits in the drapes that next morning. Thinking it all but a dream, I turned my young white muzzle around and sat up with a start, fully expecting to rap my head against the slaver's wooden cage. It wasn't until my hands gripped the soft silk of the sheets, and a pair of hands came up upon my back, stroking me lightly, that I turned and looked back to see my Master staring at me.

"Good morning, Rinn." He smiled at me and I felt lighter. I leaned back, letting his arms wrap around me. Gods above, I could stay like this forever. My Master began stroking his hand down my chest, "Did my newest slave sleep well?"

I nodded mutely. To speak at this point felt wrong. My stomach, however, rumbled quite loudly, causing my Master to chuckle.

"Hungry, Rinn?" Watching me nod again, he shifted, patting me and bidding me rise with him, "Saeltim has already gotten up and begun arrangements for our breakfast."

I slipped out of the bed, quietly gathering my discarded ‘clothes,' if they really could be called that, and began putting them back on when my Master shook his head, "No dear young one, come with me." He took my hand and led me to a door, not the one I came in from, and opened it, gesturing for me to walk through. I looked through and was amazed to see the harem room proper staring back at me. I looked back at Lord Harish, who chuckled at my befuddlement.

"Saeltim did mention I was well versed in the arcane realms, did he not?" I nodded, still staring dumbly out at the gardens and cascading waterfall, "Now come little one, let us wash off together. As a slave of mine, I expect you to learn to keep your body and mind always ready for me to enjoy. And that means keeping yourself clean." The leopard took my hand, his bright emerald eyes staring down at me. I blushed and allowed myself to be led through this doorway.

The water of the bathing pool was cool as it was the day before. Lord Harish helped me in and handed me the shampoo and smiled when I took it and began to use it on myself without instruction. He slipped into the pool with another bottle, quickly soaping up and rinsing off in the cool water, "My apologies, dear Rinn, but as lord of this domain, there are many pressing matters for me to attend."

I heard a splash and turned to see what made it, seeing the cacomistle Cerid rolling around in the cool water. I noticed Lord Harishalith grinning at me, "Cerid, please come over here." My face must have reddened, because I felt my Master's hand upon my shoulder, "why don't you show young Rinn how you spend your day. Help him learn about his new home."

The ringtailed cat smiled, rising rather formally from the water and bowing, "Of course, my Lord." He looked up at me and winked, then pushed backwards into the water with a beckoning finger, "C'mon little snowkitty, come swim with me!" I waded into the deeper water, going as far out as I was comfortable with. The effeminate little being circled around me, floating on his back and languidly paddling about me, "You know, I bet he never asked, but can you swim, little one?"

I shook my head, "What is...swimming?" He looked at me, then giggled, "What I'm doing right now, silly!" He turned over and put his head into the water and pushed about, kicking with his feet and moving his arms in broad circular motions. The action propelled him towards one end of the pool, where he touched and turned gracefully under the surface of the water, kicking off and shooting back towards me. I backed up cautiously, fearful he might knock me over, but Cerid stopped a bit shy of me and poked his muzzle up and out just above the surface, "See? It's fun! And great exercise!"

A quiet splash caused my head to swivel away from Cerid, back to where Lord Harishalith had risen from the pool and was now drying himself off with a large woolen cloth. I moved to go towards him, but a tugging from Cerid brought me back to face the cacomistle.

"Don't worry, dear little Rinn. He'll be back. He has lots of duties to attend to. Crops to survey, tasks from the government to perform, rivals to defeat." The ringtailed cat had risen from the water, pressing himself up behind me and pulling me close, "He always comes back, but you can't always go with him." I turned back, looking slightly up to see Cerid's eyes. In that moment, he looked somber, as though the happiness and carefree attitude were naught but a mask.

"Cerid?" He looked down at me and blinked, and the mask returned, "Oh nothing hon. Now, once we get you cleaned up a bit more, what would you like to do? I'm betting you're a bit hungry." He smiled broadly as I nodded, "And I'm also betting Saeltim will be by the moment we finish here with your meal, if I know him well enough."

Cerid helped me finish bathing. I found that I much preferred the shampoo he picked out for me. It had a crisp smell that reminded me very much of some of the trees found high up in my former mountain village. "Mint and evergreens" I think he called it. Good for my fur too, apparently. The ringtailed cat helped me out of the pool, just in time for Saeltim to walk in with a covered tray.

The smell of cooked meats made me whine and my stomach burn, to which both other cats looked at me and giggled, "C'mon Rinn." Saeltim beckoned me over to a table, where all three of us sat down. He pulled the top off of the tray and set it aside, handing me a plate filled with a generous portion of what appeared to be minced meat covered in a wonderfully smelling sauce atop a pile of grains. Rice I think I remember it being called.

"Eat slowly," I was reminded. I nodded and took a utensil and stabbed some of the meat, bringing it up into my muzzle and letting it swim around in my throat. The flavor was so much unlike anything I had tasted. Smokey and heady flavors coated my throat and the meat itself practically melted.

"Good isn't it?" I nodded, staring openly in amazement at rich textures invading my muzzle. "It's a curried chicken dish. One of the Master's favorite." I moaned, feeling my stomach greedily accept the new nourishment and immediately begin to get overwhelmed. I ate a bite or two more and stopped. Cerid and Saeltim both looked slightly worried, "Too rich?" I nodded.

"But so wonderful..." Saeltim giggled and took the dish away, promising to return with something a bit nicer to my once-starved stomach. He left a number of juices in decanters, somehow always cool to the touch, for Cerid and I to enjoy while he worked.

I pointed over at a sprawling pile of cushions, "Can we go sit down over there?" Cerid nodded and helped me up and over, letting me sit down before fetching the juice. I looked at Cerid, "Why did you look sad earlier?" He almost dropped the decanter.

"I..well I suppose you'll hear it soon enough, and best through me than through someone like Nyseme." The ringtail growled out that last name, "I...wasn't always a slave. In fact, I used to just be a common run-of-the-mill thief in the city." He paused, "Well, okay exceptional thief."

*****

"Stop Thief!"

The hustle and bustle of the market did not even flinch as my casual stride became a bobbing dash through the crowded city market. The busy scents of a thousand different incense sticks filled my nostrils as I passed one stand after another, moving through the crowd far more quickly than that oafish pig of a hyena. I glanced back as I rounded a fruit cart, and not seeing him ducked into a back alley, palming a nice plump orange as my body slipped past.

I wandered the back alleys of this grand city, away from the market and skirting the house of auctions, where new slaves would take their first steps into new lives. Several of the slavers looked up at me, yet quickly dismissed me as just another female on the way home from market. As I got further from the highly guarded parts of the city, I began peeling the orange to get at the crisp, delicious fruit within. The veil I wore to conceal both my gender and identity came away so that I could sink my teeth into the flesh of the orange. The juices were tangy, sour, and crisp, the perfect thing for relieving the oppressive heat of the city streets. A trickle ran down my muzzle, and my long ringtail tongue greedily lapped away at it.

I discarded the last of the peelings along the side of the road and ducked into a small alcove, one of so many in the city's grand design. The alcove, with the proper key, gave way to the city's underground tunnels, a maze of plumbing and sewage that brought and removed the finest water and waste the city could offer for those rich enough to pay for the privilege. I smiled as I entered, knowing that it was from one of these same rich folk that I had just procured a large sack of gold. Holding it aloft I gave it a slight shake, delighting in the musical tinkle the coins produced while I walked.

As the tunnels branched out the number of pipes became smaller and smaller, eventually leading me to one particular tunnel with no pipes at all, merely an exit alcove. I slipped off the remainder of my cloths I used for "procurement," folding them neatly and slipping them into a nap sack I had stored in a carefully concealed hole in the mortar.

A quick glance at the peephole that had been carved into the doorway revealed no passerby, so I slinked out into the deserted alleyway and across into one of the many doors nearby. I grinned and stretched as I entered my home, smelling a wonderful meal roasting on the fire. I was home.

"Another good day at the market, Cerid?" a soft but powerful voice came from our kitchen. I allowed my self a chuckle and walked over, letting my eyes absorb the sight of my lover, a large, well built horse.

"Of course, silly silly horsie," my voice squeaked a little, "You know I've yet to find guards that can catch me," I paused and gave the horse a knowing glance, "present company excluded, of course." He knickered a soft laugh and placed his hands, large and calloused, upon my shoulders. I wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling safe and warm in his embrace. We held each other for several long moments before breaking away so that I could hand him my day's earnings.

The equine smiled and pulled a handful of coins from the bag before noting another, smaller bag that sat on my hip. He pointed at it, "That's Jabarti's coin purse, isn't it?" I smiled and tried to be coy, but one of his hands tipped my muzzle upwards to look into those big brown eyes and a smile of bemusement on his own muzzle, "Couldn't resist, now could you?"

"But that guard's purse was so loose, I just couldn't help myself." My horse could only sigh and shake his head.

"Well now that you've given us a bit of extra spending money, shall we celebrate?" My horse looked over at his lover as he disrobed, admiring my lithe form, ending in such a wonderfully long black and white poofy tail. Walking over he wrapped his hands around my slender waist, "Since dinner won't be ready for another hour at least," he pulled me up into a kiss, his tongue invading my mouth , my own tongue darting a daring raid back into his. They mingled for what seemed an eternity before we broke away, leaving me slightly dizzy and air-deprived. He smiled at me, "Oranges too? Naughty naughty ringtail," I yelped as he swatted my rear with one hand suddenly, "And we know what happens to such naughty ringtails, don't we."

I smiled and swished my tail into his face, "They get taken by mean ole horsies?" His hands tugged my tunic off leaving it to flutter to the ground next to my pants, which were already pooled around my ankles. My hands were fast to undo his cloths, but faster still did his hands bring my sheath to plump and full arousal. I arched my back and lifted up my fluffy tail, his hands directing my body down onto the floor with a casual grace.

"Would the naughty thief wanna get taken?" I could only whimper an affirmative as he let several drops of oil cascade down into my ready rear. "Good," he said huskily into my ear. I felt a large well-lubricated finger penetrate my hole and a stifled a yelp, my own arousal only growing larger by the second. The finger was removed, replaced by his large equine hose of a cock. My eyes widened a little as my lover penetrated me.

"Still just as tight as when I, unggghh," he managed to say while his thick meat made its way in, "first took you, Cerid." His body bent lower, letting him nibble on my neck. It was always such a pleasant sensation, sending little ripples of erotic sensations all the way up and down my body, "And you know how crazy that makes me," he pushed inwards a little more forcefully to emphasize the point and I nodded, whimpering softly in that way I knew pushed his buttons.

My lover began to pump in and out of me, letting his instincts for fucking take over while I rode the wave of sensations his large equine-hood produced inside my petite little frame. We stayed like this for what seemed like ages, fucking nice and slow, enjoying each other's bodies. Eventually I rolled around, his member still within me.

"I love you, Estaw" I murmured, feeling my orgasm approaching. He looked at me, lust and pleasure mixed within those iridescent brown orbs of his and shoved his cock into the hilt, grunting and spraying thick equine seed within my body.

"I love you too, Cerid." We lay there, exhausted, for a long while before dinner, then sleep beckoned, but as the evening progressed we wound up in bed together, sleeping comfortably within each other's arms.

My eyes blinked open, harkened back to wakefulness by a distinctive smell coming from our small kitchen alcove. Fresh pastries or sweet cakes, it smelled like. I smiled and breathed deep in the scent, letting it mix with the slight smell last night's passions before stretching a lazy ringtail stretch and plodding up behind my love.

"Hello Cerid," the giant horse rumbled as he felt the ringtail's hands slip around his chest, "Sleep well?"

"Of course Estaw," I purred and continued to rub my hands over the horse's chest for a moment more before pulling away to sit at our small kitchen table, "I was next to you, wasn't I?" The horse only smiled and continued his cooking, and a few minutes later handed me my breakfast.

"Do you need anything from the market, love?" I asked curiously, already planning out my day's "activities."

"Aside from a trouble, thief-free day?" I couldn't help but wince as the horse said the words.

"It's your shift at the market then?"

Estaw nodded somberly. I crossed my arms and pretended to be sulky, "Well I suppose I should go out and check my contacts with the guild then. We can't exactly afford to go a day without money, now can we?"

The horse's expression softened slightly, "You know I don't like it when you do that," he said quietly, "those jobs are always so dangerous." He paused again, "I wouldn't want you to get hurt."

I only nodded and held out my hand for the horse, "I won't love," I said somberly, "I'll always find a way to come back to you. I promise."

******

The thieves' guild was dark and dank, as befit their purpose. This was the invisible guild of the city, one where ex-slaves, murderers, convicts, and of course, thieves all eventually found their way. I slipped in as silently as I could but still I could feel their eyes upon me, cold and calculating, waiting for the first misstep. I criss-crossed the myriad of different tunnels that constructed the entrance to the guild, finally emerging into the central headquarters of the guild. The head of the guild sat there, already alerted to my presence and awaiting me. He was an aging wolf, yet for those that knew him, he was a feared opponent and cunning cutpurse. Indeed, I'd once had the pleasure of him rescuing me from three guards who'd managed to get the drop on me. They never even noticed the elder wolf till he'd darted into action and disabled two of them faster than they could draw a sword.

"Greetings Cerid of the nimble fingers," the old wolf said in a voice like grating granite, "You've come for assignment?" I nodded and glanced about, my keen ears picking up the shuffling of aged feet upon stone, an odd occurrence for such a place where no sound was the norm. It was not uncommon for certain high level assignments to request an audience with their "procurement officer," and it appeared that such was the case today.

An elderly jackal entered my field of view, towing behind him a pair of slaves, a tiger and a lion by the look of them, "I require certain items," he said with a voice crackly like old parchment, "from a rival of my own. A Sahir who lives in a castle just beyond the city limits." He pointed at me, "You will get them for me, and be handsomely rewarded."

With a snap of his fingers, the lion walked over to me and presented a rolled sheet of parchment. As I took the sheet I could not help but notice the lion's eyes were blank, as if something important was missing from him. Turning away from the lion, I glanced over at the other slave for a moment. The tiger had that same glazed look in his eyes that the lion had, yet a hint of something deeper, perhaps a flare of hope, lay inside him still.

"This should be all a thief of your caliber needs to know," the jackal continued, "I expect it here by the next sun's rising."

I looked at the jackal and tried not to look too flabbergasted, "Now wait just a moment," I said slowly, "I haven't said ‘yes' yet and I don't â€"" My hands darted up to my neck as some invisible force reached out from across the room, literally choking the life out of me.

"You mistake my order for a request, petty thief. I did not come here to ‘ask.' You will do this for me, and I will let your guild survive." The jackal glared at him and calmly walked up to me, still gasping on the floor, "Do not, and I shall rain fire down upon you and show you terrors that even your worst nightmares pale in comparison to. And then, only then will I take your mind. I will force you to relive these horrors over and over again. Failure is not a possibility." He cupped the my chin and gazed harshly into my eyes with his own steel grey orbs, "Do I make myself clear, thief?"

I nodded, staring back and trying to remain stoic despite the well of terror building up in my chest. The jackal, clearly sated by this response turned and released whatever force held my throat, leaving me curled up feebly on the floor, breathing heavily as my body recovered from the near death experience.

"Until next sunrise, thief." The jackal walked away, disappearing into the darkness along with my guildmaster and all attendant thieves, leaving me alone, humiliated, and concerned. A single night was no way to plan a job of the likes he asked of me, I thought to myself. But then again, there does look to be a good entryway here... and the guard shouldn't be too tough to overpower. I hastily prepared to make my way into the tower where the item was kept, the mental and physical preparations taking long into the night.

******

The moon hung silently overhead as I made my move on the castle proper. Being surrounded by desert had made the approach difficult, but I had managed. After all, I had to. The survival of the guild depended upon it. I pushed all other thoughts out of my mind as I scaled the rough outer wall, carefully grasping each stone so as not to make the slightest sound.

As I reached the parapet my claws dug in to the loose stone. I took a deep breath, and with one fell move I scrambled up across the sheer curve of one of the guard towers, stopping just beneath the window. Bracing myself I pushed with both legs, vaulting into the room and colliding harshly with the guard, a burly lion, who went down with a solid grunt. Producing a length of rope from one of many carefully concealed cloak pockets, I bound the guard's arms and legs firmly, leaving just enough rope present to gag the lion before I continued, bounding down silently into the inner keep of the castle.

The inner courtyard was awash in the cold crystal light of a half-moon, stretching out before me as I crept down the stairs that connected the guard tower to the castle grounds. I kept to the shadows until I spotted my quarry, the wizard's tower rising up, conspicuously tall against the rest of the castle. I dashed into the shadow of the tower, letting the darkness cloak my ascent.

A grueling half hour climb later the faint sound of my climbing claws echoed against the tower's highest window. There were no guards this far into the tower, a fact I was extremely grateful for, as exhausted as I was. Sweat beaded upon my forehead as I glanced about the room, looking about for even the slightest sign of a ward or trap. Seeing none I straightened up and dashed up the stairs and into the room where, according to the jackal, my prize lay.

The highest room of the tower was a small laboratory with bubbling broths and potion reductions boiling on a table on one side while books of arcane lore lay open on another table. I stifled a cold shiver down my spine and tried my best not to look too hard into any of the books for fear that the mere sight of such knowledge might shatter my mind. Many more volumes lay stacked neatly upon several large oak bookshelves line up side by side along the curvature of the wall. The prize lay most unobtrusively next to one of the many bookshelves, a small chest of carved wood.

I approached the chest cautiously, ears keenly perked for any traps, magical and mundane alike. I'd robbed several magic users over my years in the guild and it had taught me a thing or two about the magical traps used by them. Sahir were djinn summoners and demon bargainers by trade. True they were magi in their own right, but runes and sigils were the key here. Seeing none about, I crept up to the chest. It took a moment or two, but the lock responded my picks and talented fingers by opening with a small ‘click.'

My hands retreated into the darkness of my cloak and returned bearing a small thin rod of silver. It cost me nearly a weeks worth of pick pocketing, but the apothecary assured me it was proof against all save the most powerful of magical charms. I creaked the chest open just enough to slide the rod inside along the edge. If I was right I'd trip any of traps awaiting me into the rod, and it would dispel them. To me surprise the chest simply popped open, bumping against the wall with a heavy thud.

Inside lay several small baubles, a small choker with a glowing sapphire in the center, a crystallized ruby lotus flower, and a collection of rings most assuredly magical in nature. Yet most notably displayed in the chest was a large crystal pendant that sat prominently on a cushion in the center. I snatched it up, admiring the sheen of its reflected glow upon the walls for only a moment before I turned ready to slip out silently as I had entered.

The sound of clapping broke me from my reverie, "Bravo, little thief," came a deep baritone voice, "I don't think Radang has ever been floored by a single blow before." I spun to face the speaker and stopped cold.

The Sahir stood there between me and me escape. His large frame seemed thinner in the moonlight, which in turn only served to highlight the glinting white fur of his chest. The master of the castle was dressed in a pair of long flowing tan robes and a white vest, holding nothing but a small censer dangling on a long chain and slowly emitting a soft stream of incense into the air. I dropped my body down low, crouching into a combat stance with one hand on a hidden dagger beneath my robe. One move and the wizard would find himself in a world of pain.

He noticed my changing stance and slowly held up his hands, "It's a bit early for the fighting, isn't it?" His voice was calm, casual even, "You've taken all the trouble of getting into my tower. I think that at least deserves a good explanation before I attempt to use magic and you throw your hidden dagger there at me and spoil my spell." I couldn't help but crack a smile.

"I've been hired to procure an item from your laboratory," I said smirking as the incense tickled my nose. I glanced over at the censer, wondering for a moment what kind of odd or exotic incense the jaguar was burning within. It smelled absolutely wonderful, a lingering pulsating smell that threatened to send my senses reeling. I shook my head. Something was wrong here.

My hand tightened on the dagger, "Now if you'll excuse me," I tried to put on an air of confidence, "I must be off. My employer insists I be quite punctual about this delivery." I ducked low and jumped, tossing the dagger towards the mage. It wouldn't be fatal, but it certainly would provide enough distraction to get me out of his line of sight, which would be all I needed to make my escape. To my surprise my jump fell far short of its intended distance as my legs gave out from under me. The dagger clattered to the ground only a few feet away.

My vision blurred for a moment and I tried to rise, only to feel the world rebel at my pathetic attempt. The incense' scent was undeniable in my nose and muzzle now. It tingled and pushed itself as if burrowing into my mind. I blinked, "Whatsss," the tingling had numbed my tongue now and was quickly flowing down my body more with each panicked breath, "gooiin on..." A boot pushed my onto my back and sent my world into a debilitating spiral. Somewhere within that spiral I think I could make out the wizard, but that no longer mattered. I was suddenly both very sleepy and incredibly horny. My sheath thickened and fully engorged itself in a matter of moments, yet I was so very tired I could barely move, not even enough to close my eyes.

"Incense of the red lotus," the jaguar said as he stood over my paralyzed body. He reached into my vest, quite visible to him now that I lay helpless before him, and plucked the crystal from it's hiding space. I was aware of the words on some level I think, "A very powerful aphrodisiac if you've been properly inoculated against its paralytic effects."

The jaguar only chuckled, "Don't you worry," he said, a hint of kindness almost audible in his voice, "I still have need of you, little thief. I shan't kill you...yet." The Sahir swept a hand over the my eyes, closing them and leaving me in a spinning haze of darkness. The last thing I felt was the feeling of the jaguar lifting me up into his arms. It was an oddly comforting sensation, I thought as my conscious mind finally shut down.

******

I looked at Cerid, my face a mix of shock and horror on my face, "He...Lord Harishalith took you from your lover?" The cacomistle nodded. It was at that moment a large horse entered a footstep or three behind Saeltim. The leopard bore a tray of that same hot soup from yesterday, which I greedily accepted and began to work at eating at the table. Cerid, however, stood there, transfixed by the large horse, mouth slightly agape.

"Rinn, Cerid, I'd like to introduce you to the new captain of the household guard." Saeltim bowed and gestured to the horse, "His name is â€""

"Estaw." I looked up from my soup at Cerid.

"It took a bit of looking. And after I found you, I realized why you couldn't come back to me." The horse approached Cerid slowly. I noticed for the first time that Cerid was trembling. He looked at that very moment as though a stiff breeze might bowl him over.

"I-I," Cerid began to say before the horse put a hand on his muzzle, shushing him. Estaw pulled the cacomistle into a great big hug.

"Sometimes, it's the other person who has to find a way back," murmured the horse into Cerid's sobbing form, "And I will always find a way for us to be together." He broke the hug and cupped a huge hand under the ringtail's chin, bringing it up to look the horse in the eyes, "I love you, and nothing will keep me from being with you."

I felt a paw come down upon my shoulder, "Keep eating, dear. It will get cold if you don't." I nodded and began to slowly eat again, looking from the embracing pair to Saeltim and back. When I was finished I looked back up. The pair were walking back towards us, hand in hand. Cerid's face showed the dried stains of tears, but the smile he wore spoke more to his happiness now than any of the false-face I'd seen of him.

"Thank you, Saeltim." Cerid's hand left his lover's and wrapped around the jaguar slave, "Estaw told me what happened after I was captured. How our Master looked into my heart and mind and found Estaw within. How he sent you to recruit him." He sank to his knees in front of the jaguar, "Is there.." he looked like he was about to ask a question when Saeltim shook his head.

"Serve our Master faithfully, and heed his commands." The jaguard clasped a hand on the cacomistle's shoulder, "That is all that I ask." Cerid nodded and stood.

"Then I suppose I still have to show little Rinn here what we slaves do during the day, huh?" Saeltim smiled and nodded. "Does that mean I get to go to the clothier and get another outfit? Maybe one for Rinn too?"

Estaw snorted a chuckle, and Saeltim glanced at him before glancing at me and then at Cerid, "You know...sure, why not." He paused then wagged a finger at the ringtail, "But just this once." Cerid jumped up and down, practically pulling me into a great big hug in the process.

"Come on, little one. We've got a lot to show you, but you need new clothes for that!" He took me by the hand and began dragging me out the door. I managed to wave a polite goodbye to Saeltim and Estaw, both laughing profusely as the energetic creature known as Cerid hauled me away to the dressing rooms.