FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Foreword

Some of the races mentioned in this world.

Loupi: A wolf/canine like people, they have a large centralized kingdom that has existed for centuries

Ikati: A feline people, there are several tribes with drastically different appearances.

Hu: Tiger: Physically, the largest and strongest. Excellent warriors

Tao: Lion: The second largest physically, excellent hunters

Bao: Panther: Second smallest physically, excellent hunters, trackers and foragers

Huz: Cheetah Physically smallest, often merchants, minstrels and entertainers

Naga-Ra: An isolated people, they possess scales on some areas of their body. Some possess tails, others have facial horns, while a very rare few have wings.

Chapter 1

Dominic stared out into the pouring rain, mind wandering as his eyes beheld the splendour of Rayon. For nearly 24 years the Loupi had ruled over his beautiful Terralun. The view of the capital city never lost its charm to him, but today he gazed out with a pensive smile. Word had reached his court of a strange creature in his city.

Ages ago, shortly after the founding of their kingdom, his ancestor had saved a tribe of fleeing catfolk, Ikati. They had been fleeing through one of the mountain passes and swore their loyalty after the rescue. From those passes and the ships to the east, rumours spread of all manner of beastfolk across this world. But this creature was unlike anything they had ever heard of. It had scales like the lizardfolk, but horns like the Minotaurs and pale soft flesh in places. Even now, Dominic's best Ikati guards stalked the city for this intruder. The Ikati were excellent swordsmen and duelists, but their true talent lay in infiltration, tracking, and assassination.

Watching the bustling city between the mountains, Dominic pondered what the arrival of this strange traveller could mean for his people. The last time a new species had arrived skirmishes with the lizards had broken out along the border for years, ending shortly before he had taken the crown. Remembering this, Dominic told his guards to act with all haste, to observe the visitor before bringing them before they could leave the city, let alone the valley.

A bustling in the town square had his attention. While the market was usually quite busy, he noted that there seemed to be a much larger amount of activity but from the great distance he could not make out what was happening far beneath him.

What Dominic could not know is that a small ruckus had occurred when the very being he was pondering tripped over a crate and crashed to the ground. The new being's cloak had slipped, revealing a long arm, covered in equal parts pink flesh and dark scales. Several passersby had noticed, and one young girl had screamed, as the scales reminded her of the stories her grandfather had told her of the war.

The young man, for his face and body had briefly been seen, leapt up and ran for the alleys of Rayon, hoping to vanish into the shadows and allow the shock to wear off. What it failed to notice were several shadows detaching from under eves as they slunk after him.

In a dark corner of the city, the young being leaned against the wall, panting. The guards slowly stalked forward, unseen, blades drawn. The young man slowly straightened, and the hidden trackers' eyes widened as they heard soft mumbles they recognized as magical incantations. Suddenly, a veil of shadows descended around the being, cloaking him in darkness. If the guards didn't see it with their own eyes they would have missed him entirely, cloaked in darkness as he now was. Seeing the cloaked being begin moving down the alley again, the guards continued to trail after him, straining their senses to keep track of the strange creature. Following him for several more minutes led the two of them to a lesser known Inn near the edges of town, where the shadowed man surprised them by quickly scaling the side of the wooden building and vanishing into an open window. Glancing at each other they quickly used a messaging crystal, the small stone lightning up and casting a glow around the alley, alerting their captain to what had happened. The taller of the guards whispered to his smaller comrade, "Vari, have a shield spell prepared. If he comes careening out that window I want you to block him." The smaller guard simply nodded as his companion drew a sword and they both were swallowed by the nearby shadows.

Several streets over, a broad-chested Bao Ikati ran over the cobbled stones towards a small run down Inn where his quarry awaited. The Bao was extremely muscular, long years of training gave him hard earned muscle that moved smoothly beneath his midnight black coat, a scar over his left eye was just one of the many that decorated his skin. Two blocks away, the panther slowed, allowing his breathing to return to normal as he wandered down the street. When he reached the Inn, he slipped in through a side door, avoiding the gazes of the staff. When he reached the relative safety of a storage closet, he drew out his messaging crystal.

"Vari, Aaron, report," he hissed quietly.

"The subject appears to be washing Captain Ajax." The deeper growl of the Loupi guard sounded.

"The soap and singing should mask your approach," Vari the Bao snickered softly. "I have a shield ready near the window if he tries to escape."

Ajax nodded, despite the fact his lieutenants couldn't see him. "Remain close and be ready."

Ajax stepped from the cupboard, and silently stalked up a floor and down the hallway. At the appropriate door, he slowly turned the knob, cognizant of any rusted metal, before swinging the door open on surprisingly silent hinges. Stalking in, Ajax took note of the open window through which he caught a brief signal from his subordinated before they vanished again. To the right, was another door, from which poured some rather impressive singing and the sound of water splashing. The Bao made the decision to glance around the room, to see if he could learn anything more about the newcomer.

On the desk was a satchel, and from his current angle, he could see a jar filled with herbs. Hmm, Healer, Priest, or Mage? A travel cloak lay tossed over the bed. Ajax leaned down and noted the boots under the mattress. Standing, he caught sight of a book, half hidden under the cloak. Pulling it out, he took one glance at the pages before coming to the obvious conclusion. A mage. As he slid the tome back into its place, his ears flicked, as they caught the sound of a drain being pulled.

Ajax took of position to the left of the door and drew his longest dagger. Several moments went by as Ajax strained to catch every sound. Suddenly the door swung open and Ajax got his first glimpse of the newcomer. His eyes widened at the strange appearance of the other man. Long limbs, covered in wicked looking scales in some areas and pale, fragile looking skin in others. The scales formed patterns along his arms, hips and legs. His back was facing Ajax, and what drew his attention right away was two long stripes of scale pressed tight against his back. It took a moment for him to realize that the stranger had wings, midnight blue and purple like the rest of the scales.

Not wasting a moment, Ajax brought the blade to bear, swiftly bringing it up against the man's throat. Pinning the man between his blade and his body.

"Don't. Move." the brush in the man's hand clattered to the floor.

Several second of absolute silence went by before Ajax spoke again. "I am sorry for the rough treatment, but the last time a visitor of unknown species visited these lands, we had a war for several years. Your name, species and reason for entering Terralun please."

The winged man stilled when the blade pressed against his throat, as the water continued to steam beneath him. "My apologies." A deep, yet almost melodic voice replied. "I was unaware that my presence would cause such a stir in your fair city. My name is Halen, and my purpose here is simply passing through. My species, I doubt you've heard of us." He replied, his voice calm despite the danger.

Ajax raises a brow at the calm manner the stranger, Halen, was using. Most would be a bit put off at having a dagger held to their throats. "It's because we haven't heard of your species that we're having this conversation. I'm going to remove the knife. Please do not attempt any quick movements or spells."

Feeling the blade leave his neck, Halen calmly turned around to face Ajax giving hima view of Halen's face. Halen's scales formed a pattern at the base of his neck, more scales covered the bridge of his pointed nose. Two horn-like protrusions stuck out from the sides of his head, farming the lower portion of his face. His eyes were a deep purple, and a mess of dark blue and purple hair sat atop his head, spiking despite the water clinging to it. The muscle on his chest and legs hinted at him being more than a simple mage. Ajax resisted looking lower, waiting for Halen to cover himself with a towel. As he did this he let the messenger crystal pulse, signalling for Aaron and Vari to come up.

"My kind are quite reclusive, rarely leaving our mountain home, far to the North of here." He spoke while drying his hair with a towel. "I'll cooperate, but if you want to reach my home, then you have very little chance of doing it soon, quickly at least, it took me months to get here, and as you can see, I have a bit of an advantage." He said, letting the wings unfurl a little, revealing sapphire blue skin within. Continuing to dry his limbs he continued. "My kind are called the Naga-Ra, not very imaginative, but its stuck for millennia. Anyway, what else do you need to know?" Halen said, tossing the towel aside and moving back towards the main room. Ajax following behind congratulating himself on avoiding a glance at the mans backside, especially as he bent over to retrieve his clothing from the floor. He didn't look. Nope, not once.

As Halen dressed, in rather revealing robe, Ajax spoke. "You have my thanks again for taking this so well. However, my king wishes to meet with you. As I said, the last species to meet us declared war for some time. My subordinates and I are to escort you to the Castle as soon as we make contact. I must insist you follow us once you are clothed."

Halen glanced over his shoulder, having slipped on his pants, long blue and purple, becoming wider as they neared his feet, unlike anything Ajax had seen before. "And what kind of man is you king? Is he a good man?" A deep rumble broke from Aaron's chest at the perceived slight against his lord. His hands twisted into claws, and he seemed about ready to speak when Ajax easily overrode him, seeing the playful jab for what it was.

"He is. A man I am proud to call lord. Beyond that, you must discover for yourself." Halen grinned at Ajax's answer and nodded in acceptance. Putting on the strange top, Ajax was surprised by how much of his torso was left exposed. The entirety of his lower chest was exposed, as were his sides and the majority of his pecs, all bare to the air. A stripe of cloth circled around his neck that ended in tassels, hanging over his abs and etched with arcane symbols. Another stripe of cloth circled around the lower portion of his pecs and around the back, leaving plenty of room for the wings to move. A pair of sandals followed, covering only the bottom of his feet and secured with several straps.

Once dressed, Ajax leapt from the window sill, up onto the roof of the Inn with a playful smirk to the newcomer. "I assume you would prefer to avoid the crowds." Halen chuckled softly and left after the panther. Vari followed a beat after, a mirth-filled chuckle passing his lips. Aaron, huffed softly. "Show offs," he mumbled as he leapt down into the street and raced after them, muttering about how the Captain knew he wasn't good at roof running.

Above on the shingles and thatch, Ajax and Vari seemed to have taken it as their duty to introduce Halen to the city during the impromptu, yet willing, kidnapping. They performed more and more daring and elaborate feats of acrobatics, which Halen constantly matched, only occasionally using his wings to compensate. They passed over the Grand Market, several residences of various splendour, and even at one point leapt across one of the cities more infamous bordellos.

Eventually, the Rooftops ended at a large wall, where the two Bao leapt down to the quiet side street. Halen landed beside them, chuckling, which devolved into giggling when the Loupi guard, Aaron, broke around the corner at a breakneck pace, panting.

"You're late lieutenant," Ajax growled softly.

"Fuck you too Captain," Aaron said, half pant, half growl.

Once Aaron and Halen composed themselves, Ajax led them over to the small door carved into the great wooden gate defending the castle. He knocked and the eye hatch slid open for a moment before snapping shut. The door swung out to admit the group into the castle.

The two guards and their captain walked in quickly, used to the extravagance, while Halen moved at a more sedated pace, examining the palace around him. The courtyard they were in was ringed with statues of Loupi, all regal looking, posed for battle, clad in stone armour. The castle stretched high up into the mountainside, made of fine stone Several guard towers were scattered along the path they would have to take to reach the palace proper. Another set of towers, more artistic than the guard towers, ringed the main keep of the castle. Arriving at the keep's main door after several minutes of walking, Ajax beckoned a guard over and spoke to him briefly before he dashed off.

The doors opened and at once the three guards changed, their postured becoming stiff and their expressions serious. The change startling Halen, but not quite reaching his face, a calm mask having settled over him. The castle seemed to be decorated in silver and black with the walls adorned with paintings and tapestries that, from what Halen could tell, detailed how the kingdom had come to be. Sconces and weapons also inhabited the walls, many embossed with symbols of the moon goddess Halen had heard about. Overall it was slightly gaudy to his eye, but still overall magnificent. Ahead of the foursome stood a row of six guards in front of a large double door. They saluted Ajax as he approached and moved to open the massive doors. Passing through, Halen could feel six pairs of eyes drilling into his back, a threat from the obviously agitated guards.

Entering the massive throne room. Halen's eyes swept back and forth taking in the sight. The room was clearly made of stone, but the decorations almost made you forget that fact. The rug was a deep black, embroidered with silver and covered in symbols. It was like staring at an arcanist's idea of the night sky. Each symbol looked to be made of delicate silver thread', and depicted several ancient symbols of power, most to do with the moon and the earth. The walls were adorned in a similar manner, with images of the Moon Goddess interposed over certain black, symbol scattered tapestries. Several large bronze braziers were built into the wall and filled with flickering flames. In the far wall was a gigantic window, which spanned from the ceiling, down half the wall. It too had symbols, this time in shimmering coloured glass. Halen instantly recognized these patterns as spells meant to make the glass harder than steel, and reduce the loss of heat. Winter nights must get cold so near the mountains.

Just in front of the window was a raised dais, upon which sat two thrones and several smaller chairs. Only one seat was filled though. Upon a dark silver and mahogany throne sat a wolf of regal bearings. Halen placed him at about 6'6 with a decently muscular build. His fur was smokey gray and neatly kept, marred only by a scar across his left eye that stood as a shock of white. Despite the obvious injury, both eyes were two chips of frozen ice, their blue hue sending a chill down Halen's spine. The king was dressed in a fine white shirt and black pants with only a few simple adornments. An emerald ring on his left hand glinted when the light hit it, and a silver pendant, embossed with the Goddess symbol, lay against his chest. The look was completed by the delicate silver circlet upon the wolf's brow. A short sword lay against the side of the throne, small jewels shimmering in the hilt as he sat on the throne, taking in the room before him.

He watched as the three guards gave the king a bow before motioning for him to step forward. Doing so, he realized that they intended for him to bow. His back straightened, and his eyes met the icy eyes, staring into their depths, making no move to bow as the guards before him has. A rumble behind him drew his gaze as Ajax spoke in a harsh tone. "It is tradition for all to bow before the king in his throne room." Every word was spoken calmly, but an underlying steel, a threat was within what he had said. Halen gave him a glare in return, straightening his back, his wings fluttering slightly in agitation. "And among my people, to do show is a sign of loyalty, and as I have yet to see what kind of man your king is, I have no loyalty to him." Biting off his words before an argument could develop he wrenched his gaze back to the king on his dais. He could feel the eyes analyzing him, while behind him he could hear the guards shifting, ready to do as their king commanded.

~~~~~~~POV SHIFT~~~~~~

Lord Dominic Alaric, King of Terralun, Guardian of the Ivory Peaks, Hunter of the Wyld Wood, Alpha of the Loupi, and Beloved of the Goddess Ipomoea had sat upon his throne for nearly an hour, awaiting the return of his trusted captain Ajax. When the message had been received that the guards would be bringing the creature in soon, Dominic had issued several orders to the staff and guards. A room had been prepared and refreshments were being made at that very moment in hopes of a congenial introduction. Of course, several guards in full armor were stationed against the left and right walls of the receiving hall, and no less than four Bao assassins hid amongst the rafters.

Dominic's heart quickened when the doors finally swung forward to reveal this strange traveler. Ajax and his cohorts were arranged around the newcomer but Dominic barely payed them any mind. It was this man that had his attention. Had Dominic not been a master at schooling his features, the man's mode of dress alone would have had his eyebrows rising. But even that pales in comparison to the man's body. Long swathes of scales covered the man's arms and legs, with sharp protrusions along the edges oh his face. But what captured Dominic's attention the most, were the voluminous wings on his back. Dominic was very curious if the man was capable of flight.

Ajax and his men bowed as was custom, but even after several seconds, the newcomer did not. Dominic began to wonder at the man's level of intelligence until he opened his mouth and stated he would not bow, for it was not his way. The long list of shocks finally became too much and Dominic allowed one brow to reach upward in surprise.

Ajax and the other guards seemed to bristle at the apparent challenge against him, despite their stalwart attitudes. Dominic chose to defuse the situation. "As you wish. We can hardly expect you to adhere to a culture not your own. How would you greet one of my station in your land?"

"A visiting noble is rare for my species, given how isolated my kind is, but based on the customs of the path I chosen for myself, this would be the traditional greeting," Halen spoke and towards the end of his speech he curled his hands into fists and lay them across his chest before giving Dominic a deep nod that lasted several moments. Coming out of the nod he uncrossed his arms are resumed his stiff, if somewhat cautious, posture that he had held the entirety of the time he had been in the throne room. Eyes darted around, searching the shadows for those things that remain unseen. "I must say, your majesty, that your kingdom is among the most prosperous I have encountered in my travels. Truly a spectacular castle you possess." He spoke, eyes trailing over the finery when nothing was found in the darkness.

Dominic noted the man's wandering gaze and wondered just how many of the defenses before him he had seen through. Regardless, Dominic stood from his throne, and slowly descended the dais, towards his guest. "You are kind to say as such. I do hope my men were not over forceful when they brought you to me...."

A laugh echoed through the room, brief but amused. "No, no, they were quite polite overall, among the gentler introductions I've had. A knife to the throat while I'm bathing is far from the strangest thing I've encountered. Although..." He trailed off, a smirk crossing his lips at the thought of mischief. "Your guard there, the Bao, with the scar. He seemed to be poking me with more than one 'blade' when we met. Can't say I've had that happen before." He chuckled at the thought. "Ah, forgive me, my name is Halen. Halen Neoma."

Dominic felt his brow rise again, as he slowly looked over at Ajax, whose gaze was fixed firmly on the glass window, expression stoic. "I see. Well it is a pleasure Halen, if i may call you that. I should still apologize for the rather sudden summons. The last "new" species to my kingdom caused quite a lot of problems for us." Here Dominic paused to see if the man knew of their history.

"Your guards said as much. And as I told them, I highly doubt you would encounter any more of my kind. They are widely reclusive, and even with my advantage," his wings ruffled a bit, the membrane reflecting some of the torchlight, "it took me months to reach this place. I imagine that by ship and land it would take over a year for even a small party to travel between our homelands." Shaking his head, his eyes unfocused slightly. "Even so, I haven't spoken with anyone from home in many years. You have nothing to worry about from me." Shaking his head as he came out of his memories.

"I see," Dominic said. "Are you a wanderer by nature or necessity then?"

"A bit of both, my people are somewhat strict in regards to some people, causing me to leave. Then my studies have prompted me to travel further. So much to learn in this world." Halen spoke, keeping the answers vague.

"Studies? I presume you speak of magic. Ajax mentioned you were at least familiar with the art. Or am I wrong?" Dominic's voice took on a slight tint of excitement. Magic was something of a passion and a hobby for him. He loved his people and his crown, but magic was a personal pleasure for the powerful Loupis.

"Among other things, yes. Several branches, healing, elemental, some summoning, among other schools. Some cultures have very different reactions to magic users you will find. I'm glad that this is one of the better ones I've encountered." Halen spoke, a shake of his head when he mentioned the reactions others have had. "Speaking of magic,my equipment is still back at the inn, under several cloaking spells, I will need to retrieve it before they fade."

For the first time, Dominic allowed a grin to spread across my face. "That is a most impressive repertoire, my friend. I would be delighted to discuss them all at length." At this Ajax failed to hold a back a playful snicker, which earned him a swift glare from his king. "As for your equipment and spells....I may have a solution. I believe it necessary for you to be monitored at last somewhat, in order to assure my advisors. Therefore, I would like to extend an invitation for you to stay here at my castle, at least for the next few days. I would very much like to continue our discussion of magic, and perhaps make inquiries about your people on the off chance we ever meet. A guard would be assigned as your guide of course. We can even make it Ajax if that would please you." This last part was said with a devilish grin. Off to the side, Ajax seemed moments away from sputtering and stammering in refusal.

Glancing around the room, Halen realized that he lacked any real option here, but it was probably the best option. "Who would I be to refuse. I'd be delighted to stay for a time. As for a guard, the two that trailed me through the backstreets would do, as would Ajax." He heard a groan from the Bao, while the other two guards snickered at their captain. "As for magic, I would be more than happy to discuss it with another practitioner." Looking around, he gave the King another look. "That being said, as much as I would enjoy being a guest. Would it be possible for me to wander the castle at times? Maybe a trip to town?"

"I had intended as such. The guards can show you most of the city, and you are free to wander the castle. Very little is locked, and if you are looking for information on magic, my library is on the third floor. Do be warned, however, I have spent more than one sleepless night locked up in it." Dominic chuckled and offered his hand to Halen. "I imagine it's been a day. I'll send for your things. In the meantime, I'm sure Ajax can answer most of your questions, once he's escorted you to your room." Dominic's smirk only grew as Ajax made several abortive motions at that statement. "Relax please, dinner should be in about two hours. I'd love for you to join me."

Crossing his arms, Halen gave Dominic another nod. "Thank you, your majesty. I'll do just that." He spoke, turning to face Ajax again. Nodding to him and the other two guards they took up positions and exited the throne room, the massive doors slamming shut behind him. Walking through the opulence, he examined the guard more closely. Ajax seemed to be a bit flustered as he rushed through the hallways, his armour was minimal compared to the others. His top was covered only with a vest and bracers, leaving much of his muscular arms exposed. Black leather pants clung to his legs, built for both power and speed. By comparison, Vari was more in line with the average Bao, muscular but less bulky than the other man. He wore leather armour with a hood that covered his head, shading his face when it was up. Aaron, the Loupi guard, was quite muscular, his grey fur accenting his muscular build. His armour was also leather, but only his upper arms were covered, the bottoms of his arms were only covered by thin straps of leather, highlighting his fantastic muscle. His massive pectorals, strained against the leather. On his back rested a broadsword, something that only the strongest of men could wield. "So," Halen started. "Can you tell me about yourselves?"

Aaron and Vari both swung their gazes to their captain, the former with a smirk and the latter to see how to proceed. Ajax glared at them both briefly before he spoke. "I suppose I'll go first. I'm a Bao, which I believe you already know about. Several hundred years ago, a large group of Bao and a few other Ikati were attacked and pursued by their enemies. The records fail to indicate who. Simply put, they fled through one of Terralun's passes and ended up here, where the then king saved them and vanquished their enemies. Since the enemy had been destroying their homes and land, the king offered to allow them to find a home here, so long as they accepted his rule. The accepted as you can probably guess." The Bao captain gave a sarcastic smile then let it fall. "But you don't want ancient history, you want me. So...I suppose it's nothing really fantastic. I'm a Bao who doesn't quite fit the mould of my people. I am an excellent tracker and hunter, but the poisons and silent kills my people are fond of never suited me. I prefer my sword. So in recognition of our history, I took work here at the castle with my skills. Hunting down criminals and the like."

"I've come across some tribes of your people before, but it was quite a ways from here," Halen spoke, looking off into the distance through a window, his words having surprised the two Bao in the group. "Interesting people certainly, if a bit odd at times." Shaking his head he returned his gaze to the others. "And yes, I can say that seeing a Bao that wields a sword that large is quite uncommon." He spoke, gaze fixed on the massive blade resting on Ajax's back. Looking towards the other guards he gave his head a tilt as if asking them to explain themselves as well.

Vari spoke first, having deemed that his story was similar enough to Ajax to not give away too much. "I'm a bit more standard for a Bao, good at tracking and such, good with a bow, some skill with my daggers." He said this as he pulled out a wicked looking blade, curved slightly and formed of a metal that seemed to suck in the light around it. A red stone rested at the base of the grip. "Joined the guard some years ago, bit of a tradition in my family for at least one member to join it every generation."

Aaron just shrugged. "Dad was a merchant. I was shit with the customers and what not. Got along better with the guards. So left the business to the little sis and kept to fighting. Eventually wound up here." Aaron didn't feel his story needed anything more. It was pretty basic.

Nodding Halen began his own story, knowing that it was likely to get back to Dominic quickly. "Hmm, mine is a bit longer, so I'll just stick to the basics. Born to an average family, parents were a merchant and mage, two younger siblings, both skilled in their fields." A sense of longing entered his voice at the mention of his family, a far-off look in his eyes that quickly faded. "I took to magic early on and due to, let's just say a stroke of luck, found myself with quite a few offers for apprenticeships. I studied for some time before circumstances at home changed, people demanded things I was not prepared to do, so I left." His voice growing bitter at the mention of the demands, then sombre when leaving was mentioned."Found myself travelling and continuing to study what I could my hands on. Eventually wound up in Terralun, and you know the rest," he spoke with a smile playing across his face.

Ajax gave a similar smile, not at all surprised that Halen's story had been just as devoid of detail as their own. Finally, they made it to the room the staff had prepared. Ajax pushed the door in and made a sarcastic sweeping gesture inward. Within was what passed for an average room in the castle. A large four poster bed of light wood sat to the side with fresh blue sheets. A large desk was pushed up against the wall and a stack of blank paper and an inkwell had been prepared. A simple wash basin had also been brought, it was a lovely silver bowl on a stand by the corner. A decent sized window let light to flow into the room.

Aaron and Veri watched as Halen entered and began to look around the room. Once Ajax stepped inside they shared a look and wordlessly agreed to leave. Ajax could handle him for the time being. He didn't seem dangerous and the king wanted to be informed about anything that the visitor revealed.

Halen moved to the bed, flopping down on his stomach and letting his wings unfurled slightly. Stretching his arms above his head, he heard a throat clean behind him. Turning his head, he saw Ajax giving him a look, one eyebrow raised in question with his arms crossed over his chest. "What?" Halen spoke. "It's been quite some time since I've gotten the chance to sleep in a bed this big and let my wings out a bit." His wings spread out more, covering most of the mattress beneath their bulk. The sapphire scales sparkled in the dying light, drawing Ajax's gaze.

"I'm sure the king will be glad you like it. We have some time before dinner and the king said I was to answer any of your questions." The Bao leaned against the wall, calmly taking in the wings and glistening scales. Ajax briefly wondered what it would be like to run his hand across those scales, would they be rough and sharp, or would they be smooth? Did they have feeling? Would Halen find the sensation pleasurable if they did? Just where did those scales extend to......and it was time to shut that train of thought down! Ajax shook himself and worked to focus just past the newcomer, lest he react like he did in the Inn.

"So..." Halen drawled, still laying on the bed. "What happens now? We just wait here for dinner? I have no clothing to change into with me and I doubt that you just want to stand there for an hour while I relax." He slowly shifted, his wings retracting again and sitting up, turning to face Ajax. The muscular Bao was gazing at him with a look that he recalled seeing back at the Inn. Smirking, an idea ran through his head. "You know. I never got to finish bathing earlier. Think there is a place I'm allowed to use?"

Your things should be here soon. But I wouldn't worry. And there should be a bath house down on the grounds. I can take you if you wish." Ajax fixed his eyes firmly on the wall.

Standing, Halen nodded to Ajax. "Sounds excellent. Shall we then?" Moving off the bed he stretched his arms above his head, joints cracking as he strained them. Moving to the door he turned to face the other man that stood rooted to the spot. "Ya coming? I'd be happy to wander until I find it, but I doubt the other people here would be happy with that."

Ajax nodded sharply, closing the door as they stepped into the hall. He tried to smile at Halen and then led him down through the corridors until they exited into the courtyard behind the castle. There, set into the cliff face was a short building that was unusually long. Within, Halen saw a well-lit chamber with a large pool. Ajax ignored that however, and led Halen around to the other side, shouldering open a door. There was a long hallway with several doors. Ajax stalked to the third door on the left and pushed it open as well. Within was a large tub with a small shelf filled with bottles of scents and oils.

Halen gave the steaming tub a glance, easily large enough for a dozen man the size of his guard to be seated comfortably with room to spare when Ajax noticed he explained. "The pool is warmed by magic," Ajax explained. "Theres a large crystal in back that stores and absorbs ambient magic, or if you have the talent you can heat it yourself with this." Ajax indicated a runic circle just over the tub. "Do you need something specific for the scales?"

"No, no, the wings need some special equipment, but they are not due to be cleaned for a few days yet," Halen replied, gazing around the room, the walls lined with bottles of oils and soaps. "I must say, this is certainly an amazing bathhouse. That tub seems large enough for a full troupe of guards. And impressively stocked as well." He spoke while moving to a wall shelf, taking an elegantly shaped bottle of soap from its place. "Thank you for guiding me here," He said, taking off his top and placing it on a low sitting bench, his pants quickly followed leaving him in a set of highly revealing underwear. "So, care to join me in the tub? You seemed to be interested in joining me last time I was wet," he joked, recalling the time they had met.

Goddess yes." Ajax response before his conscious brain could fathom the question. As soon as the words left his lips he slapped a hand over his mouth. His eyes grew to the size of saucers and his body made an abortive jerk.

Halen's eyes widened at what Ajax said, thinking he had misheard. Glancing at the Bao and seeing his embarrassed expression he smirked. "Well, I guess that I do owe you something for being such an amazing guide." Walking over, the bulge in the front of his undergarments growing, he trailed a finger around the waist of the other's pants. "But I think you're a tad overdressed." Walking towards the tub, back to the other man he stripped the remaining clothing from his body. "Why don't you join me in the tub so I can reward you?" Said, sitting in the steaming water.

Ajax felt his cheeks flush. "W-w-well I suppose it wouldnt be bad. Using my tub....with you....us...." Ajax turned away from the alluring sight and took a deep breath before he began to divest himself of his leather armour. He slowly laid each piece on a nearby shelf until he was stripped to his undergarments. Finally, he turned back around and took in the full sight of Halen in the bath. Ajax plucked a bottle from the shelf and stalked forward shucking his underwear. Slowly, he stepped into the bath, allowing the hot water to soothe him. Once he was in front of Halen he reached out tentatively and brushed a finger down his chest.

Smirking at the feeling of the silky fur trailing across his skin, he moved forward to do the same. A hand caressing Ajax's muscular chest. Bereft of armour he could see how unlike most of his kind that Ajax was. His muscles were massively built, his arms are chest were slabs of stone, covered in silky midnight black fur, a black nipple stood out on each pec, begging to be teased. His stomach was defined, muscular and solid, when a hand trailed over it, the deep ridges of abs could be felt beneath the fur. His legs were just as impressive as the rest of him and topped with a flawless ass. Moving forward, he gave the slightly shorter man an embrace, letting his cock run against the others. "So, what do you want to do, shadowstalker?" He whispered into the other's ear atop his head.

Ajax felt something within him break. He pushed Halen against the wall and began kissing him fiercely. Moaning into the kiss, Hanel moved his hands over the other's arms, caressing and groping the massive muscles that were holding him against the wall. His felt the massive tongue invading his mouth, dominating the kiss and trying to draw sounds out of him.

Ajax slowly worked his way down Halen's jaw and throat, scraping his teeth against the scales. Suddenly, Ajax slides his hands between Halen's legs and lifts him up, pressing his back against the wall and throwing his legs over Ajax's shoulders. Ajax let his hands caress Halens thighs as he worked down to one of Halen's nipples.

Feeling himself lifted off the ground had Halen breaking the kiss, moaning when the other's tongue attacked his chest, licking and sucking on his nipples. His cock rose between them until the 11-inch shaft stood throbbing, Pre leaking into the black fur of the man holding him up. He tried to buck into the tongue teasing him, but the strong arms held him in place.

"Careful. Don't want me to drop you now do ya?" Ajax chuckled as he momentarily broke his assault on Halen's skin. Flexing his arms around the less muscular man. Ajax chuckled as the cock throbbed against his stomach, the pre-cum soaking into his fur as his own cock began to rise. "Like being manhandled little dragon? Like the strong cat lifting you," He said, setting Halen down and flexing his bicep, showing the impressive mound of rock-hard muscle.

Seeing what Ajax was doing, Halen moaned and moved to caress the silky fur covering his arms. His head descended to kiss the right bicep, the musk coming off of the Bao making his cock throb, pre-cum spilling into the steaming water beneath them. Seeing that Ajax was not protesting, he moved to kiss the other bicep, his hands working over the other's chest and tweaking the dark nipples. He grinned when Ajax moaned from his actions and continued his ministrations.

Suddenly, Ajax wrapped the arm around Halen, until he had him in a gentle chokehold, with Halen's back pressed to his chest. "You're such a little tease, cutie. Well if our gonna play with me, I'm going to play with you." At Ajax's words, he reached down and began to stroke Halen's cock, chuckling in his ear.

Moaning at the large hand stroking his cock, Halen began to buck his hips, wanting more stimulation and ready to beg to get it. His knot beginning to form at the base, surprising Ajax when he felt the large mound of flesh inflate. He could smell the musk emanating from the pit that held him, driving him wild with lust.

Ajax immediately stopped his ministrations and wrapped a firm hand around the cock, stopping any ejaculation. "No no. You don't come without permission boy. You have to earn that right. Now, up against the wall. It's time you got the full Terralun welcome!"

Doing as ordered and loving the other's attitude, Halen braced his hands against the walls near the side of the tub, his lower legs still submerged in the steaming water. The flush that rose over his skin was caused by both the hot water and the attitude that Ajax was displaying. Feeling the gaze on him had his cock throbbing and his massive balls churning. Hearing movement behind him he turned his head and his eyes widened at what he saw Ajax was doing.

Ajax slid his hand down between Halen's cheeks and paused when his hand came into contact with something wet and gel-like. Slowly, Ajax massaged Halen's hole, feeling the strange substance. He drew his hand back and considered the slick before smirking at Halen. "When I felt the knot i assumed you were like the Loupi. Goddess knows I've felt the king's enough to know. But this is something else. Care to explain?"

Blushing, Halen muttered something beneath his breath. A sharp squeeze, making him let out a quick yelp had him speaking up. "I told you I studied many branches of magic. Some of them are a tad more 'exotic'. The slick is the result of a ritual. Same for some stretchiness down there." He quickly explained, a blush covering his face after he admitted to participating in a ritual that gave him such features.

Ajax seemed to freeze as he processed that....Then a large and worrying smirk grew on his face. "Really now..." Ajax pressed Halen back up against the wall and began to press two fingers into his hole. Chuckling ajax said, "You are just full of surprises aren't you little drake. I'm going to enjoy this, and you." He thrusted his fingers roughly, opening the lithe man and dragging several moaning cries from him. All this fueled Ajax's more dominant side and he returned to his assault in Halen's neck, leaving several marks low on his throat.

Feeling the mouth sucking on his throat, Halen moaned, a jab from the thrusting fingers on his prostate had him spurting pre-cum into the pool. His moans echoed around the chamber, and he knew that if someone was walking by they would hear his moaning. He thrust his hips back into the fingers, wanting to get more of the pleasure that Ajax was providing him with. His hands trembled, threatening to collapse under his weight and the torturous actions the Bao was inflicting upon him.

Ajax's other hand came around to abuse Halens nipples as he curls his fingers, applying direct and continuous pressure to Halen's prostate. Gasping at the pleasure, Halen gave out a whimper, his sensitive nipples causing his cock to swell and his balls draw up, he wanted to blow but knew that ending the fun now would be a waste. Holding back his coming orgasm, he waited for Ajax to make his move.

Ajax chose that moment to pull his fingers from Halen's hole. He positioned himself quickly before pressing forward, burying his prick into the little drake. His 10-inch cock was, like the rest of him, incredibly thick, almost the size of an average man's wrist. His other hand came around to Halen's cock. Slick stained and ready, Ajax stroked Halen's rod as he began to piston in and out of that tight heat. Snarling softly, Ajax took great delight in toying with Halen. Striking just below his prostate repeatedly to drag a tortured moan from the Naga-Ra. The slick flowing around his cock making the thrusting easier and faster, letting him thrust harder and harder, a squelching sound occurring whenever he pulled out.

Halen groaned in pleasure as the thick cock penetrates him, incredibly thick and hard. Glad for the ritual enchantments that allowed him to enjoy the cock to the fullest, the slight pain from the initial penetration was quickly overcome by the pleasure coming from his prostate being abused and his cock being stroked. He bucked back into the thrusting cock before bucking forward into the meaty hand, trying to get more and more pleasure.

Ajax growled and groaned, feeling the Naga's hole flutter and twitch around him. He pistoned his hips, driving into Halen. "Such a good little slut. I think that your gonna fit in just fine here. The king is going to enjoy having you, I promise you that. And I'm going to have plenty of time to enjoy you while you're here." Ajax gave you a sharp jab to Halen's prostate. "I want you to make me a promise you'll visit my barracks." Ajax chuckled at that. Halen's hole seemed to spasm at that idea, and Ajax began to imagine the possibilities.

Nodding desperately, Halen had fantasies of what may come over the next days. Riding Dominic in the throne room, servicing Aaron and Vari late at night, taking cock after cock. All these thoughts ran through his lust fueled mind as the massive cock battered his prostate, each thrust forcing pre-cum from his cock and moans from his lips, his balls were drawing up as his ability to resist cumming fell away, caused by the overwhelming pleasure assaulting him from all around.

Ajax sensed the strain Halen was under and chose to break him swiftly. Ajax snapped his hips forwards, jabbing the Naga-Ra's prostate while he bit down on Halen's shoulder. Feeling the bite and the hard thrust pushed Halen over the edge. His cock swelled and the knot reached its full size. His massive balls contracted as they squeezed out rope after rope of thick, creamy cum. It splattered against the wall and into the tub, clinging to the surface and swirling around in the water. His hole tightened around Ajax's cock, trying to milk the Bao's cock of its cum.

Ajax moaned into Halen's shoulder as the heat around his cock tightened. The feeling threw Ajax over the edge and he came, with several shots of hot cum blasting into Halen's hole. Eventually, Halen's hole was filled and the cum and slick began to pour out as Ajax fucked through his release. "Fuuuuuck. Fuck little drake, you make a pretty little cum dump." Ajax chuckled as he slowly drew his cock free.

Halen groaned at the loss of the thick cock, his hole closing behind it as it left, sealing some of the cum inside of him. Collapsing into the tub, the water rose up to his shoulders, his sore muscles relaxed in the water. "Fuuuuck," he groaned, too tired to move any muscles. He saw Ajax lower himself into the water, his legs shaking as well. "Hah, glad you joined me for a bath? Guess it's a good thing ya interrupted me earlier." He chuckled, more to himself than Ajax.

Ajax chuckled as well and then reached over to grab the bottle and cloth he had left earlier. "I suppose it was," Ajax poured a little of the oil into the cloth and lathered it up. "Come here, let me take care of those scales of yours little drake."

Drawing himself up he trudged over to the panther and plopped down beside him, water splashing over him. "Gently please, the scales do need special treatment sometimes, so please avoid cleaning the edges for now." He slumped against the side of the tub as Ajax began to clean him. Seeing the soap he had grabbed earlier, Halen cast a simple spell to pull it towards him and emptied some into his hands. He lathered it up and began to return the favour, lathering the shampoo (lavender in this instance to his delight) into the silky fur.

Ajax began to purr softly as Halen's talented hands lathered his fur, working out small knots and tired muscles. Heeding the advice he was given, Ajax gently cleaned the scales slowly, before working a little more vigorously on Halen's skin. Leaning over gently, Ajax activated the cleaning function on the tub, which caused the water to begin clearing. Then he picked up one of his companion's legs and began to wash and massage it as well.

Halen groaned at the thorough job Ajax was doing. Having been ages since he had such a considerate lover. "Mmm, definitely have to have you massage me again some time. Are these all standard for a guard?" Halen teased, moaning as the strong hands massage a knot in his thigh, the firm fingers working it until it faded away. His own hands continuing their ministrations, working on one of the Baos arms, suds being washed off into the self cleaning water. Standing, he moved to Ajax's other side, allowing him to continue massaging his other leg while he cleared the other arm.

"Sadly no," Ajax smiled, "Let's just say I met an impressive young Bao who had an intimate understanding of the body and leave it at that. Comes in handy with those lovers who enjoy my more... rough nature." Ajax blushed lightly as he released the leg he was holding.

Lounging back in the tub, Halen enjoyed the feeling of the water lapping against him. "Hmm, I enjoyed it, can't say I won't be asking for another round while I'm here though." Looking around the room he spotted a timepiece. "Seems that we should take our leave soon, we don't have long until dinner is set to start." He said, getting out of the tub and stretching his sore limbs. "Come on, I'll get lost if I try to find my way back to my room, and I don't want to be late."

Ajax drew himself from the water and allowed it to continue cleaning. He grabbed two towels and tossed one at Halen, which he caught, while drying his fur with the other. Several tufts of fur began to stand up and Ajax huffed softly. He pointed to a small blue vial on the wall. "Toss me that would you?" Halen smiled and tossed the vial over. Ajax spread a small touch on a comb he kept here and began to brush his fur back into obedience. Once it was relatively straight, Ajax tossed on his armour after stretching out his muscles. Glancing over, he saw that Halen had redressed as well. Leading the Naga-ra out of the bathhouse was a simple affair, and they soon found themselves back in the room the king had provided. Inside a few bags, and the leather satchel Ajax remembered seeing at the Inn were placed on the desk. A long cloth wrapped object also lay near the food of the bed. "It looks like the palace staff delivered your things. Best check that everything is there. If we need to collect something I want to know now lest it get lost."

Looking over his bags, and ensuring that all of the enchantments on his items remained undisturbed he nodded, satisfied. "No, everything seems to be here. I'll give it a more thorough review after dinner though. I travel light most of the time, so there's not much to lose." Looking into his bag he pulled out a simple black top and pants, embroidered with runic symbols in silver thread. "This is the best wear I own, hopefully your king will not mind." Halen spoke, quickly changing into the black formalwear, slits in the back allowing his wings to remain free.

"Well, it does match the royal colours. I imagine that will please him," Ajax chuckled. "Dinner will be in just a bit. We should head down soon. But before I show you down, did you have any questions about Terralun? You said no earlier but I just wish to check."

"Not really. I was here for a few days before you found me and got a general vibe. Anything I should expect during the meal? Who will be there?" Halen asked, wondering if the council mentioned by Dominic would be present.

Ajax furrowed his brow in consideration. "The king of course. The general is also in Rayon so he should be in attendance. As well as the court mage. I normally attend but I have duties tonight. The head of the guild council should be there if work doesn't drag him away. And I believe any other advisors are out of the city at this time. The economic advisor is overseeing a large trade deal on the coast and won't be back for at least a month. And the Agricultural advisor is assisting in rituals to increase our crop yield. Other than that, the only people who regularly attend are visiting dignitaries but we have none now." Suddenly a deep, resonating gong sounded throughout the castle. "That would be dinner, allow me to show you the way." Ajax led Halen down to the second floor and across the castle to a large dining room. The room was decorated in wood and earth tones with several windows to let in light. A magnificent wooden table was covered with a white tablecloth and several candelabras, all of which were lit. Ajax stepped to the side and gestured in. "Enjoy dinner little drake," he said, "and behave for the king." With a lecherous smile and a peck on the cheek, the Bao was gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Halen walked into the dinning room to the wonderful scent. A banquet table set with finery was illuminated by the candelabra positioned around the room. A roaring fire to the left cast a warm glow over the table. The table was large enough for several dozen to be seated, but only a handful of chairs were filled by Ikati and Loupi of varying appearance and ages with Dominic at the head. Dominic gestured to him when he noticed Halens presence, to the empty seat at his left. As he walked to the chair he examined the plethora of dished. Bowls of vegetables, covered in sauces sat steaming. Baskets of puffy bread and platters of cheeses were scattered around. The centerpiece was a platter of many roasted meats, hams, poultry, fish and beef, all seasoned to perfection and wafting a mouth watering scent throughout the room.

"Halen, please, come in. The cooks have outdone themselves tonight, as i told them we would be having guests. I wasn't certain what you would desire so they did their best to accommodate you. I hope you find something to our liking." Dominic smiled a charming smile as Halen sat down, taking a roll from the platter near him and placing it on the fine earthen dishes.

Looking again at the many dishes, Halen's mouth watered lightly, it having been months since he last had the chance to eat such fine foods. "And I thank you My Lord. This all looks marvelous. That being said, may I ask whom the others here are?" He asked, gesturing to the other people seated around the table.

Dominic chuckled and began to gesture around. "Allow me to introduce you to Eamon, the general of my armies and my personal military advisor," the king pointed to a grizzled old Loupi with a dark black coat who watched Halen carefully. "This is the court sorcerer, Asher, who advisoes me on mystical matters and is my contact within the mages guild. He makes frequent use of my library as well so expect to run into him." Dominic pointed to another Loupi, this one younger than Eamon, with a silvery-white coat of fur and sparkling green eyes. "And finally, let me introduce Jessica, the the head of my guild council. She keeps me apprised of the concerns of the artisans and craftsmen of the country." The king finally pointed to the Ikati at the table. A lovely Hu (tiger) woman, with a well kept fur and pleasant smile."My other advisors are currently out of the city, seeing to the kingdom. I will inform them later."

Halen nodded to each of the council members in turn, they returned the gesture. Seeing that Dominic had started reaching for food, the other followed suit, devouring the bounty before them. Halen spoke little during the dinner, unsure of how the council members view him and for the panic his arrival had caused. He listened as they and the king spoke, discussing topics both related to matters of state as well as personal. Asking about Jessica's wife, Ashers students and Eamon's grandson that had just joined the guard. He enjoyed the fine food all the while, eating savoring the delicious, fluffy breads, savoury meats and succulent vegetables. Eventually the meal was cleared away and Halen sat back in his chair, satisfied at the meal and at not being questioned. To his dismay, the Jessica took this moment to address him.

"So tell me Halen. Where is it you come from? I've dealt with many merchants over the years, and am told many tails. But none of them have ever mentioned your kind. And I'm sure that someone with wings would have quite a few stories about them." She spoke, leaning forward, an almost hungry look in her gaze that made Halen gulp.

"My kind reside in an isolated mountain range, and rarely venture out. I'm probably the first one to leave in several years, and I don't know if any of my kind have ever ventured so far from our homeland." He spoke, swirling his glass of Ice Wine lightly as he spoke before taking a sip of the sticky, sweet liquid. Jessica seemed satisfied with the response, but this opened him up to questions from the others. Most were things he had answered earlier, to either Dominic of the guards, until a question from Asher caught his attention. "Dominic has mentioned that your a mage, but when he mentioned the number of fields you studied I was surprised. Most don't branch out much until they are quite old, yet you seem to be barely out of your cub days."

Looking around, he could see the others at the table were interested in what he had to say. "I'm not quite as young as you may think. The Naga-Ra have a long lifespan compared to the Ikati and most other species. I'm 47, which is barely an adult for my kind, but most can live to be over 500, some even live to be over 600." He finished, a grin on his lips at seeing a dumbfounded look on the others faces.

Dominic was the first to recover. "That...it's incredible. The Loupi have life spans similar to the Ikati, falling just a bit short at about 160 years.To live so long, it must have quite the effect on your people.I...forgive me for asking, but it is my understanding that cultures that have such long life spans tend to have....fewer children." the king finished in a tentative voice. His duty to his country demanded he ask but he knew how delicate such topics could be. But if there was a race of ancient warriors, with a population to match Terralun....he had to know.

Halen nodded at Dominics statement. "Quite true, its not uncommon for siblings to have decades difference in age, I'm almost eight years older than my next sibling, and almost two decades for the other." He said, thinking on his family. "The long lifespan also makes many of the Naga-Ra slow to accept change, elders often make breaking from tradition hard, given how long their memories are." A scowl crossing his face at the mention of the elders.

"I can imagine," Asher chuckled, "still the oldest of your kind must be a great treasure. For the chance to speak to them, I have so many questions to ask and theorems to debate..." Here Asher seemed to trail off as he looked down clearly lost in his imagination. Dominic's face split into a grin as he too contemplated such an opportunity.

"That depends on the elder, some of them are quite wise. Open to discussing with anyone on many topics. Others....." he shook his head, a frown marring his face. "There is a reason my kind remain isolated, and that is largely due to some of the elders. They have views about others, and are quite obstinant about their opinions, looking down on those that they don't deem of 'value'." He spoke with a somber tone.

Asher gave a nod to Halen. "I apologize if i have brought up bad memories. Let me perhaps jump to a safer topic. Dominic mentioned you were adept with several fields of magic but he had not learned which ones or how many. If i may be so bold, what areas do you specialize in? Here in Terrealun we mainly have earth magic, with some of the mystics in the mountains being more attuned to ice and the priests having what is referred to as "lunar magic" if you don't believe it is the power of the Goddess. We also have such things as warding, healing, and enchanting but those are more generalized.

Taking another sip of the sweet wine, Halen replied. "I dabble in many fields, so if you want a full list we may be here for some time. But my specialties..... Fire and Ice are a specialty, I'm also somewhat handy with Warding and Ritual magics. Golem creation and Enchanting were part of the family business, so I picked those up early on. Healing, but more so combat based than in a clinic." Here he paused, debating his next words and how they may be taken."I've also studied some more, 'exotic' schools, Summoning and Necromancy, but those are things I cannot practice as often as I care for." He said, seeing the startled looks on the others faces. "And during my travels I picked up, from what I can tell, is a forgotten Magic. I can't translate the name well so I've taken to calling it Black Magic." he finished, downing the last of his glass and moving to pour another.

Dominic passed over the bottle while exchanging silent glances with his advisors. "Before i say anything, could you elaborate on this Black Magic you've been rediscovering? I do not with to make assumptions." The king kept his face neutral, despite the concern he could feel radiating from his advisors, especially Jessica.

Taking a sip of the refilled glass, Halen gave a hum, debating how much to reveal. "Combat focused, but on an entirely different level from most magics I've seen. Some ritual, enchantments and other lesser schools can be augmented by Black Magics, but it seems to be most combat in the end." he spoke, placing down the wineglass when a server placed a plate in front of him. A delicate glass containing a trifle, layers of custard, cream and fruit perched upon it. Breaking the surface with a spoon and taking a bit he hummed at the flavour, noting at the others at the table had yet to touch their desserts. ""Imagine a candle, sturdy flame, not the strongest, but long lasting. Then imagine a campfire, made with a dry dry wood. That is the difference. The candle can last for ages, but is not overly strong. The campfire though, will burn brighter and hotter, but it will fade sooner. Black Magic can damage the body with time, so it is not fit for prolonged usage." he spoke, taking bites of the dessert throughout.

Dominic and Asher seemed to have a silent conversation with nothing but their eyes for a moment before the king turned to his guest. "I confess, that was not what i was expecting when Asher firsts asked his question. Fire, ritual, golems, these all have peaked my interest, and im sure Asher and most of the Mages guild would you their right arm, for a demonstration, and their mothers for a copy of you books. Summoning.....Dear Goddess its a fairy tail to us. If it truly is possible.... Regardless. Im sure you can imagine that the last two are concerning to us. The necromancy is a concern culturally. We place great value on our family, and perhaps more so our ancestors. I must request that you not use this power too liberally here in Terralun. Normally I would demand you not raise any of the Loupi or even the Ikati, but I will only ask for your word that you will obtain the consent of any living family before such action. Is that acceptable?"

Halen gave him a look that was part disbelief and part respect. "Well, you took that much better than the last person I told. And I will attempt to do as asked, Necromancy is not something I practice much, so you have nothing to worry about."

"But it is something you wish more freedom to study. I love magic, and I believe myself open-minded. I will not stifle you. But I must ensure no one is harmed in my kingdom. Base animals should be fine. Can you only animate corpses or can you also converse with spirits?"

Surprised at Dominics response, Halen took a moment to respond. "Bodies mainly, communing with spirits of the dead is impossible as far as I know, but I've only read a handful of Necromantic texts. And communing with a spirit of nature or an element would be a different discipline." He spoke, somewhat dissatisfied by the lack on information on the topic.

Dominic grumbled in annoyance. "A pity. As i said, we hold our ancestors in great esteem. It would put many in your corner if you could allow the mto speak with those past of their line. But on to more delicate matters. This Black Magic you spoke of........I cannot lie i am extremely curious. But I must insist you not teach it to anyone here. If you yourself are still discovering all there is, i cannot allow any of my people to come to harm. Especially as you mentioned that it can have horrific effects on the body. But you said you discovered it in your travels. I believe i have your measure now so I must ask. Did you discover it in some ancient local? Somer ruin or temple?"

Finishing the dessert, Halen looked at it sadly, shame it was gone so soon. "I honestly don't know what the building was, maybe a temple, maybe a school. Whatever it was, the ruin was older than many I have seen before and deep in an uninhabited area surrounded by, if not dangerous, then rather odd creatures." he spoke, thinking of the difficulty he had reaching the knowledges resting place. "I wouldn't teach anyone even if I could. The first step to learning it is rather particular, and something that cannot be done at any place." Looking Dominic in the eyes, wanting the King to believe what he said.

Dominic nodded. "Then i suppose my next question is, did you come to Terralun looking for similar ruins?"

A playful smirk plastered itself on the scaled mans face. "Ah, you could say that. I'm traveling to look for ruins in general. But do I know if there is a ruin here? No. I can't say that I do. So you could say yes, or no. I am in search of ruins, yes, but I am unsure if there is one here, or if I'll have to go further to find the next one." Halen spoke, the eyes of every person at the table on him.

"I see." Dominic seemed to consider for several moments. "Well I would you to tell me if you discover any. Knowledge like that is dangerous. I will see if we can assist you of course. And please keep the Black Magic in check. I would prefer my castle standing in all honestly." He gave a smile to show he was teasing.

Mentally sighing in relief, Halen nooded. "Of course My Lord, but it can be rather dangerous, so I hope that if your guards keep escorting me, that they will be up for it." he said, grinning playful at the end. Looking around, the servers came to remove the last of the dishes, noting that every dessert but his own and Jessica's was untouched. Around the room, the candles and torches were being extinguished, indicating the end of the meal and the growingly late hour.

"I believe we should leave, lest the chefs begin shooting us. Allow me to show you that library i've been boasting about Halen. And please call me Dominic." the king smiled softly.

Standing, Halen walked over to Dominic, as the Loupi stood. "Of course Dominic." And moved to follow the man as he lead Halen out of the dining hall. Up a new flight of stairs, and down a well lit corridor, Dominic stopped at a simple wooden door. He pushed it open and stepped within, leaving alen a view of a large, almost cavernous space. The ceiling rose far above, the room clearly taking up two floors, and had magnificent arches and murals. But what was truly astonishing was the number of books. Row upon row, shelf upon shelf, there were thousands. Perhaps tens of thousands. Several tables were scattered around the door, but Halen couldn't see much further, the bookcases were so tightly packed. It was a small maze that Dominic found great pleasure in getting lost in.

"There are many subjects this library covers. History and treaties for Terraluna, ancient geography, the arts, long forgotten stories of daring heros, all that's on the first floor. The second floor is where everything on magic is kept." Dominic pointed upwards, where hundreds of shelves lined the walls

Halen examined the room, somewhat impressed at the collection. "A very respectable collection Dominic, I look forward to examining some of you magic collection." He said, moving over to the shelves. "You'll find that no two cultures view magic exactly the same, and that they can often have very different takes on the same spell. Perhaps we can discuss it more in depth later on." He spoke, a yawn coming out at the end. He gave the king a glance, admiring his appearance and looking forward to speaking to him again. "That being said, I think I'll retire shortly. It's been an......interesting day." Halen spoke.

Dominic chuckled, "Very well. I look forward to your stay here. Do you need an escort back to your room?"

Blushing, Halen rubbed the back of his head while chuckling. "If you don't mind. I'll probably get lost on the way there." He spoke, clearly embarrassed.

Dominic opened the door back up and motioned for Halen to follow. They stepped out and Dominic lead them down a few hallways until they came to a curved stairway. "Don't worry. You'll get a feel for the castle in time." Up the stairs, and to the left, Dominic pushed open the door to the room. "Here you are...little drake." Dominic gave a smirk.

Halen gave the Loupi a smirk, the teasing tone in the others voice giving him ideas of what he may do in the coming days. "Goodnight Dominic. I look forward to getting to know the castle, and its inhabitants, much, much better." He spoke, purring the last words, his tongue tracing his lips. Before closing the door behind him and moving to the bed. His formal wear was stripped and folded before being placed back in his bag.

Looking around the room, Halen began chanting under his breath, a purple glow emanating from his eye. Looking around with his altered sight, he was relieved to not find any sort of enchantments within the room, beyond a few standard spells. Canceling the first spell, he moved to his bag and removed several books, checking for any tampering before casting additional spells to keep them secure before moving to the four-poster bed. He flopped down on his stomach, his still glowing in the moonlight that flooded through a nearby window. His hand move downward slowly, wrapping around himself while thinking about what he could get up to in the near future.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Scene change~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dominic purred as his cock thrusted in and out of Ajax's sweet hole. The massive Bao guard moaned and cried out as his king plundered his hole over and over again. The flirtatious remark he had heard Ajax give to his new guest at the door to the dinning hall had intrigued him. So he had sent for the Bao for a full report of Halen. It had taken a little work to pull all the details from the nervous little kitten, but he had learned everything that Ajax had.

As the report had gone one, and Ajax had described Halen's experience in the bath, Dominic had felt his loins stir. It was very clear that he would have to take some time to enjoy the Naga-Ra to his fullest. But he had needed relief so he had pushed Ajax to his knees and fed the willing and submissive Bao his 10.5 inch cock. Dominic had been so lucky to find the kitten. A vers who loved to submit to authority, highly skilled in multiple forms of battle, and capable of instilling loyalty and obedience. Oh Goddess the Bao was his, and he was good. Things had progressed quickly from there. Dominic had thrown his captain on the bed and began to fuck his hole with wild abandon. While driving into his guard he had elicited several promises from his captain to assist him in entrapping and ruining his pretty visitor. Oh he would be a gracious host and allow Halen all the freedom he could, but he would have the Naga-Ra for as long as he chose to stay.

Unsurprisingly, the captain had been all too happy to comply. He even seemed excited at the prospect. Or it could have been the gallon of boiling seed that was being emptied into his pussy that had Ajax crying out in ecstasy. Dominic wasn't sure and he didn't particularly care as Ajax's shuddering was doing wonders to the knot that had tied them together. Dominic had taken great pains to ensure Ajax new how to service his knot.

"Good bitch," Dominic whispered as Ajax fell unconscious.