FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Sixteen: You Need A Friend

Bailey stepped delicately through the crowded room, his new vest buttoned up tightly, his eyes locked to the floor respectfully. All around him affluent Akkedisian Lords and Ladies coalesced, discussing various issues and drinking their problems away. He picked up plates and glasses, answered questions the guests had about the directions of certain rooms, and reorganised any messed up decoration. The noble that had been nice to him was here tonight, and in fact Bailey had learned the whole event was being thrown in Oderan's honour. His final fight with the duelling champion Ferei was close approaching, and Zakhar was eager to show off his acceptance of his new daughter-by-union's family.

Despite Garrett's warnings, Bailey had hoped that the Akkedisian Lord would try to make time to speak with him during the night, since arriving he hadn't even made eye contact as they passed one another.

Maybe he forgot about me. Bailey worried, feeling a little embarrassed at the fact he'd been hoping the Lord might care. Garrett remained cynical;

"Bailey please listen to me. They're all awful, every one of them. I promise you, this Oderan may look nice, and maybe he doesn't hit his slaves, but we're still property to him. He would still own us, he still has slaves. Don't get your hopes up, we're on our own." Garrett had pleaded the fact with him, but he found it hard to fight the feelings.

Bailey licked his lips, blushing as he saw one of the nobility make a right fool of himself, tripping over himself and giggling madly. It was very late, and the more modest members of the guest list had begun filtering out ages ago.

"Oi you there, mutt!" A tall male with three back-facing horns barked, pointing straight at Bailey. He approached respectfully; tail held carefully between his legs, head lowered.

"Yes, my Lord?" He said softly. "What do you need?" The Akkedisian grinned, his brown and olive scales shimmering in the warm candlelight.

"You're just so cute aren't you? Why look at your little ears!" He said, reaching up and scratching just behind Bailey's ear. The wolf flushed again with shame, but didn't pull away. It was uncomfortable, but ultimately easier to just let the drunk idiot touch his ear. "No wonder Oksana loves your kind...Can I get another wine? The dark...dark one? It's the...I don't know. Something dark." Bailey nodded promptly.

"Of course, My Lord. Just one moment." And glad of the request he pulled away from the petting claw, ducking into the kitchen and fetching another 'dark wine'. He returned to the spot the Noble had been, and instead found the Lord deep in slurred conversation with some young Lady, and so he silently passed the glass into the lizard's hands before retreating to the kitchens, careful to void eye contact with any nobility. It was so hot indoors, and the celebrations had been going for hours now, Bailey was exhausted. He sighed deeply.

There are a few guests outdoors, maybe I can slip out there. He thought, glancing about the empty kitchens. It was getting quieter anyway, so Tram and the others could probably handle without him for a few minutes, and Allgod only knew where Garrett had taken himself.

Bailey breathed a deep breath of fresh air as he stepped outside, relishing the cool breeze tickling his fur. Akkedisians were always_cold, and so their hearths were always going at close to full blaze. They loved the heat, and unfortunately this fact clashed terribly with creatures covered head to toe in warm fur. This wind though, it was just what he needed. He rubbed a paw over his muzzle, wandering further into the garden, slipping out of sight of the house. A few meters away he could hear a small group of Lords chatting privately, and if anyone _did happen upon him, he'd just say that he'd come out to ask if they needed anything and gotten lost in the dark.

"The heat inside is brutal huh?" Bailey turned, mouth working to form an excuse before he recognised Garrett. The Akita grinned, coming close and putting his paws on Bailey's waist. The two kissed softly, relaxing into each other.

"It is pretty intense. And all those aristocrats...wanting either this or that..." Bailey admitted, yawning. He let himself take a step back, Garrett coming with him as he leaned up against the fence. "This is nicer though."

"Yeah?" Garrett asked, his voice teasing. "Well, I think this is even nicer." His mouth met Bailey's as they kissed again, his paw brushing over the front of the wolf's trousers. Bailey's heart rate picked up as his cock stiffened in it's sheath, the tip of his shaft poking out just slightly and brushing against the inside of his pants.

"Garrett..." He breathed, breaking away and looking around. "Not...not here." He said, but the Akita was already massaging his growing erection through the coarse material. Ever since they'd opened up to one another sexually, they could hardly keep their paws off each other. Bailey felt like a teenager just 'discovering himself'. He wanted more than anything to let Akita continue, to slip his own paw inside Garrett's trousers, to turn around and have his lover cum deep inside him.

But now was not the time.

"Later..." Bailey said, his paw closing around Garrett's wrist. He didn't want to, but their lives would be forfeit if the wrong person were to walk around the corner and see them. Garrett relented, leaning in again and kissing him briefly.

"I need to be getting back inside anyway, I've been gone for too long as it is. Was fun though." He replied, still grinning. With his tail wagging slowly, he turned away, paw slipping free of Bailey's as he left.

The wolf let out a pent up breath, running his now empty paw up and over his head, massaging the back of his neck. He took a minute to compose himself, readjusting his pants absentmindedly, before heading back towards the house. As he approached the back steps to the mansion, he saw a tall cat in a resplendent suit step outside, eyes scanning the yard before landing on him. Bailey automatically moved to the side, assuming the Lord was looking to meet up with the others in the garden. Instead he descended the steps slowly, head cocked as he continued to study the wolf. He looked like a panther, and if it weren't for the bright colours of his suit he'd be nearly impossible to see, that pitch-black fur melting into the darkness like a shadow.

"Do you need something my Lord?" Bailey asked softly, a tingling worry creeping up his spine. He'd seen the panther around earlier in the night of course, but had simply assumed him some visiting noble-blood. What did he want?

"Bailey?" The cat asked, his voice surprisingly deep. Bailey's head snapped up and he instantly felt a pang of fear shoot through him, mind suddenly imagining a dozen scenarios where his masters knew what he'd been doing only a few moments ago.

Can he smell it on me? Surely not, they can't...did somebody see? What does he want? He tried to step back, but his back hit a tree.

"I...er..." He began, but the cat splayed his paws in a peaceful gesture.

"Please, relax." The cat said. "You are_Bailey, right? I was told to look for a handsome wolf, and you _are the only one here." Bailey swallowed, heart thumping. He felt sick.

"What do you want?" He asked, trying to reassert control of himself.

"My name is Albion, and you've nothing to fear from me, I swear. I'm no Lord, and I live on the Tevarian side of the city. If it helps, I hate most of the cold-bloods nearly as much as you probably do." He explained. Bailey relaxed, but he couldn't stop the automatic response that slipped from his tongue;

"I'd never hate the masters." He winced, hating how submissive he sounded. The panther was just trying to be nice.

Or could it be a trick? Is he trying to look good or make some move by exposing what a weak willed master Zakhar is?

"Oderan asked me to come find you, he said he hasn't seen you all night and he's worried." Albion continued. Bailey bit down on his tongue, shoulders relaxing slightly. It was still possible it was a trick, but that seemed increasingly unlikely with every word. "He couldn't get away from the sycophants and socialites, you...know how they are."

"I...er, I guess." Bailey said with a shrug. He used to know; he'd seen it up close and personal. How far away that all seemed now. How...ludicrous an idea it was that he'd been a Lord once, like them. In fact even the Tevarian slave encampment seemed a lifetime ago, all those people he'd know; Turin Depra, Walter Randor, Resh, Misha, Yuri...thinking of the tiger brought back a flash of violent memories he'd rather forget, and Bailey chose to focus instead on Albion, pushing the bloody images from his mind.

"Well, I'm fine." He said, feeling awkward. "Um, you can tell Oderan that...thanks." He wasn't sure what else he could say. Albion turned, looking up at the house.

"Is there somewhere we could maybe talk? Away from unkind ears?" Bailey hesitated, but he couldn't think of a good reason to say no. He was more than wary of being alone with noble-bloods, after what had happened. Still, they'd be outside...and this Albion seemed relatively safe.

"Yeah, there's a quiet space just around here." He replied, stepping away and gesturing for Albion to follow. They turned past some tall hedges and statues, stepping in to the place where only a short while ago Bailey had killed Claude. It had been cleaned and rebricked since then, all trace of the sin scrubbed away. There'd still been no repercussion, and Bailey expected none considering that in an effort to save face with his father, Urie had claimed he was responsible for the death.

Better to be a killer than to have slaves you can't control. Bailey thought with a shudder. Where before the space had featured plants and garden beds, it now hosted a small wooden bench, where apparently Lady Oksana liked to sit in the sun and be read to. Bailey watched Albion take a seat, before following suit next to him, keeping an arms length from the panther.

"Oderan has told me what happened, or at least some of it." Albion said softly, looking into the garden. Some distance away a series of deep belly laughs erupted, some undoubtedly hilarious noble joke. Bailey scowled. "They didn't have slavery in my home, a place which lies to the west. Every person was his own man, and it was considered extremely shameful to expect anyone to do a days work without pay. When I came here I was...shocked. It's the worst in the city too, I see them on my side as well, manacles locked around their wrists, backs scalded from those wicked brands." He said the last word like a curse, shaking his head. "You're still a person. I find it vile."

"It's...not a pleasant way to live." Bailey added. "So what made you stay then?" Albion sighed, stroking his chin.

"You see, my father was a smith, and he was the one who taught me the basics of weapon-smithing. When I was nearly sixteen he sent me out into the world, saying I shouldn't 'waste my potential' by staying in our village like he did. I came to the city built on war to study under a master, and well...I ended up better than him." He chuckled softly. "Here I get to really make some fantastic stuff, the people can afford it. I'm able to really work to achieve that potential my father saw, to honour him. And then..." He paused, whiskers twitching.

"And what?" Bailey asked, leaning in.

"And I met someone to keep me tied here. That's the main reason I stay now, this city is filth. Each side as morally reprehensible as the other." Bailey nodded slowly.

"Yeah."

"My point is." Albion continued. "That while our world may be cruel, it's the one we live in. Slavery is unfortunately a part of it, but there's no need to be as cruel and malicious as some of the noble-blooded. That brute Urie killed one of his, and it's hardly more than a morsel of gossip! It disgusts me how callously life is treated here." He growled slightly, and Bailey felt his stomach turn. The conversation died then, with Bailey unsure what to say next, and Albion lost in thought.

Our world is cruel. Bailey thought. A select few are allowed to rule over the others, for no good reason other than their birth name. Here we are. I have come to hate the world...this world that always hated me.

"Oderan wants to buy you. If you'd have it." The panther said suddenly, looking right at Bailey and meeting his eyes. "He made sure I would ask you, not tell you. The decision is yours. He's wanted to for a while now, but...well he needed the right moment. Things are tense right now, but with the celebration tonight...he could probably make the request seem innocuous enough." Bailey's jaw dropped, this was what he wanted, delivered straight to him.

This isn't real.

"You can get away from these bastards, if you want. You'd still be a slave unfortunately, at least for a while. He couldn't give you your freedom right away and not look suspicious, but his slaves live a far better life than you ever could here."

"I..." Garrett. He couldn't leave Garrett here, he wouldn't. A comfortable life without Garrett, knowing that he'd abandoned him to suffer the whims of the Khasteers...He swallowed. "Just me?" Albion nodded, smiling broadly, totally unaware.

"That's the plan." He said. "In a few years, you could go. Oderan makes sure his family don't sell their slaves off when they're tired of them. They're usually given their freedom back."

How do these two know each other? Why is he here asking me this? He shook his head. This is too good to be true anyway.

"I can't." He said, tears brimming in his eyes. "Not if it's just me. I'm so sorry." He'd fallen hopelessly in love with Garrett. To leave him behind here, it would destroy them both.

"Oh." Albion replied, his joy dying in an instant. "I...I see...is it...why not? Can I ask?" Bailey wiped at his eyes, looking to the panther.

"The same reason you can't leave this damned city." He shook his head, feeling like he was making the stupidest mistake in his life. "I love him." He whispered. The panther froze and Bailey winced, realising what he'd just said. Any offer would probably be retracted now anyway in disgust. They might even tell Zakhar, tell him the truth...but he hadn't said Garrett's name, surely they wouldn't...

And who else would it be? He bit his lip, frozen. Why am I so weak? I hate being powerless in this. Things just happen to me, and I'm forced to accept them? What did I do?

"....him?" Albion said slowly. He didn't sound angry at least. Bailey nodded.

"I...please don't tell anyone." He replied, in the smallest voice he'd ever used.

"Oh, you poor pup." The panther exclaimed, sliding across the seat and pulling Bailey into a tight hug. The wolf's eyes snapped open. "I know, I know." Albion said, paws squeezing around Bailey so tight it almost hurt.

"Wh..what?" He gasped, thoroughly confused. Had his mind snapped finally from all the stress? Had he gone suddenly and irrevocably insane? Why in the Allgod's name was this muscle-bound panther now hugging him?

"You're so brave. I cannot imagine what your life must be like, the...oh Allgod's breath!" He laughed. "And I don't even believe in the Allgod." With that he finally released Bailey; pulling back on the seat, tail curling up around himself.

"What's happening?" Bailey wondered aloud. He'd never heard anyone say anything positive in reaction to the idea of two males being together. Even the slaves, the bottommost dregs of society, had thought it was foul.

"I...I know how hard it is to love a male." Albion said, his expression softening. "It's nearly impossible in this spiteful world, even if you have money and power. They just...the rest of them just hate us, and I can't understand why."

"You...you too?" Bailey asked, shocked. Albion nodded.

"Oderan. He's the...the one I met." The panther laughed, his voice still low. "I've told very few people that before. You never know after all, exactly how someone will react." He added.

"I've never told...well anyone. I thought...I didn't know there were others like me. I know males that have been with other males, but I always thought it was just about sex. Not...not love." Bailey said, still bewildered. "It sounds stupid out loud I guess." Albion stood, rolling his shoulders.

"Look." He said, holding a paw out to help Bailey up from his seat. "Just...please, stay here, and stay quiet. Do some easy work, don't call attention to yourself. I...I need to speak with Oderan."

"Uh..." Bailey began, cutting off as Albion grabbed his shoulders firmly. His features were suddenly very firm and determined.

"I won't leave you two here. We're not going to abandon you. I swear." He said, and the wolf swallowed.

"Thank you." He replied, there was nothing else he could say.

---

"They're like us." Albion said, his voice hushed. Oderan swished his drink, ostensibly studying the decorative swords on the wall, keeping his eyes peeled for eavesdroppers.

"Albion...one is difficult...but two...and the only two Tevarians here?" He began, unsure. His lover's paw clutched his arm, squeezing tight. He quickly pulled away, looking around.

"We have to Oderan. We can't just leave them here, with them." The panther insisted, and Oderan sighed. He rolled his neck, feeling suddenly very out of place. He hoped to anything that if someone were to look, they'd think it only natural he was studying the expensive sword collection with his own weaponsmith.

"It's insane what we're already doing. I...I don't know. We can't help everyone Albi. And what, if Szaresh does by some miracle allow me to leave with you, do we take them with us?"

"Yes! Of course! I know it's a lot, but imagine if we'd had help before. Think about how difficult it is for us to be together, and now imagine if we were slaves! Someone always breathing down our neck, allowed no privacy, and no freedom. We would be saving these two! If they were ever found out, they'd be flayed alive by Zakhar, and that's the best outcome."

"I know that but..."

"Please. Oderan, you have to help them. I need you to do this." The tall Akkedisian groaned, downing the last of his drink. He stood there silently for a moment, thinking.

With a muttered curse, he turned away from the wall, leaving the empty glass on a shelf and heading for the sitting room. Most of the other guests had left in the last hour, and now Zakhar was showing off his wine collection to a few close friends. Oderan's uncle Lorric sat in a chair near Eileen, swirling his sweet dark wine and marvelling at the heavy taste. Oksana and Zakhar sat across from them, while Urie sat slightly off to the side. Two or three other Akkedisian nobles had crowded around, sucking up as much as they could to Lorric and Zakhar. With the union between Eileen and Urie complete, the two families were both in very powerful positions. Oderan took the seat closest to Zakhar, and when Albion entered a few minutes later he sat nearest Eileen. The thought that his sister knew about them still terrified Oderan, but at least for now she hadn't said anything to him or anyone else. He also had no proof of the fact, except experience. She knew things, he could just tell. Her looks from Oderan and Albion, her very invitation to him in fact, it all reeked of some grand manipulation.

He was terrified, but Albion was right. He _was_able to help, and if he left him here sooner or later Lady Oksana would hurt that pup, badly. If the two Tevarian's secret were somehow discovered, it would most certainly be the former.

"Say, Lord Oderan." Lady Oksana said, leaning past her husband to speak with him. Her words slurred slightly from drink, but she seemed at least in control of the majority of her faculties. "You do seem fond of our furry slaves, have you spoken with your little pet wolfie tonight?" He resisted the urge to scowl, feigning a smile as Zakhar looked too, curious.

"Well, my Lady." Oderan replied, crossing his legs. "I'm not sure I'm quite as fond as you may be, but I did wish to bring something up in relation to the 'furry ones' with your husband."

"Oh?" Zakhar asked, eyebrow raising. From across the room, Eileen's interest seemed to pique, and she leaned forward.

"Well, I've been searching for a polite way to ask, but I think I'll be rather brutish and just say it." Oderan said. "The fact is my household is dreadfully understaffed, and after seeing your exceptional workers here...well, I wouldn't say I'm not jealous." Zakhar smirked at that, shooting a look to Urie.

"Thank you, Oderan. How kind of you to say." The old drake said, his voice distinctly baritone. "I assume you're going to lead this into some kind of plea then? Since we're being blunt?" Oderan chuckled, but inside he was panicking. His stomach turned, and he fought every urge to look at Albion for support.

No turning back on it now. He thought, as Eileen laughed.

"My brother is fond of novelty, honestly sometimes I swear he enjoys the Tevarian side more than our own!" Eileen exclaimed, laughing in a nasally sort of way.

"I'm wondering what I can't do to part you with two of your slaves." Oderan said, trying to sound nonchalant. "The two furry ones of course, you know I'm somewhat of a slave myself when it comes to collections."

"Hmm." Zakhar began, but Oderan cut him off, almost rudely.

"I'd be happy to compensate you of course, for the trouble." He said.

"It seems most unusual father." Urie said, before turning to Oderan. "If you'd like Lord Oderan, I'd be happy to introduce you to some of the Jackals on the Tevarian side. They are ruthless tradesmen, but I'm sure I can't make them give you a more than fair price." Oderan waved a claw.

"Bah." He huffed. "I'm not sure I'm interested in training up a slave from that level of skill. The ones on the Tevarian side of the city are unbelievably disrespectful sometimes." Each word made him feel guilty, but he refused to compromise the lie. He looked furtively at Eileen, noting her curious expression.

"Well, I suppose we did initially have some trouble with them." Zakhar admitted. "They've gotten much better however. The mutts simply have much lower standards of work than polite society." He scoffed, sipping at his wine. "However, I think the decision is more my son's. He was the one to purchase those two, and I had intended to gift them to him in his new home. Urie, do you have thoughts either way to dear Oderan's request?"

"I think a gift could be nice. Really help tie tonight's celebrations together." Lady Oksana said to Oderan's shock, leaning back in her seat. "Pretty as they may be." Urie pursed his lips, looking from his father to Oderan.

"I could...possibly part with one of the mutts. Perhaps the darker one, the wolf? He's a bit quicker than the light one anyway. And he has all his fingers." Oderan cursed internally, heart fluttering. He caught sight of Albion for a second, the panther's eyes pleading with him.

He's right. Of course he's right. He thought, sighing.

"I wouldn't want to cause them undue stress by separating them, after all it must be frightful to be the only ones of their kind here. I've not any other canines on my meagre staff you see." He replied, lounging slightly.

You bastard, just give the two to me. Let them go, before you destroy even more lives.

"My brother can be quite soft, perhaps it's why our slaves are so lacking." Eileen added, waving her claw dramatically.

"I'm not sure I'm willing to lose both of them my Lord." Urie said slowly, clearly suppressing a grin. "For all my complaining, they are quite hard workers."

"Oh Urie." Eileen scoffed. "Just give them to him, Odirium preserve you you stubborn drake. They'd just get that filthy fur everywhere, and we'd have to make them clean it, and then what's the point?" Urie froze, suddenly embarrassed. Oderan could see he didn't want to give them up, but he also didn't want to contradict his wife in public so directly.

Thank you. Oderan thought at his sister, glad she was good for something. The bastard drake rolled his eyes, sighing dramatically but waving a paw.

"Fine then. Oderan, you may take the two mutts, my goodness." Urie exclaimed, standing and yawning. "It's time I was leaving anyway, we've got a home that's scarcely been lived in as of yet." He helped Eileen up, bowing curtly to Oderan. "Odirium bless you in the duel with Ferei, I'll be watching with no fears of your loss." Oderan thanked them, bid goodbye to his sister, before mentioning to Lorric they too should be leaving.

"Lord Zakhar, let me thank you very much for your family's hospitality. Hopefully I'll see you the day of the duel." Albion said as he left, bowing deeply. Zakhar walked with Oderan and Lorric outside, snapping his fingers.

"Morika!" He cried, and a moment later an autumn coloured Akkedisian woman in an apron appeared.

"Yes Master?" She asked, bowing her head respectfully.

"Fetch the two mutts we have left, make sure they're presentable and send them here. They're to be off with Lord Sarossum." He commanded, and Morika was gone. The Lord of the house looked to Oderan. "I worry my son doesn't know what he's gotten himself into with that daughter of yours Lorric." He said, and Oderan's uncle chuckled.

"Eileen has always been a strong woman. Her mother was exactly the same, as stern as she was loyal, first to our Godking and second to her family." He motioned to Oderan. "Hopefully I can get this one to settle down soon, maybe seeing his sister make something decent of herself will spur him on, ay Odie?" He said, laughing. Oderan resisted the urge to sneer.

"Perhaps, we'll see." He replied cautiously. "But I'm afraid I keep mistaking Urie's wedding ring for a set of manacles, in all honesty." It was a sickening joke, but the kind that those of Zakhar and Lorric's generation would eat up; indeed they both bellowed at it, Zakhar clapping Oderan on the shoulder.

"My lad, I wish I had half the brains you do when I was that age." He said.

"Oh, you." Oksana tittered, swatting his arm. A moment later the two Tevarians were brought out, the wolf Oderan knew as Bailey, and his apparent lover. He recognised the lover as an Akita, but he doubted any of the others would know the difference between them. They wore tight manacles around their wrists, a short line of rope running from them into Morika's claw. Their expressions were quite dour, shoulders slumped in an apparent show of depression.

Very good. He thought, hoping they were happier than appearances let on.

"Have their leash secured to the back of the carriage, and they can trot along behind us. A run shall be good for them." Lorric said, and Morika hurried to obey. Oderan felt a pang of guilt, but at least they were leaving.

"Well Oderan. Odirium's immortal gaze may smile down upon you on the day of your duel, and I for one shall be watching with great interest. May you vanquish that scoundrel Ferei." Zakhar said, bowing slightly. Oderan bowed back.

"Thank you my Lord, for the well wishes and the celebration. It was...a lovely evening, truly." And then he, Lorric, Bailey, and the Akita left.