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Ceasefire

Word that a ceasefire had been declared was a relief to the soldiers. It could be seen in how they composed themselves with their backs straightened and their heads held high. Peace was still not confirmed but in their minds they could see no other course of action.

It would appear that I had overestimated the blood-thirst of my soldiers. I suppose they were content with whatever scraps of meat we stole away from the wolves but I wanted the whole roast.

Frowning, I dipped my false eye into a wash basin and began scrubbing away the dried gunk that had crusted over it.

_They never see the forest for the trees,_I thought, idly looking out the window of the cottage I was using as my quarters. Lycanlong was playing hopscotch with some of Livio's adopted kits and the local village children.

We set up base in a farming town that bordered the Black Sea and it was becoming a makeshift metropolis of shacks and shanties. With nothing better to do, my soldiers had decided to start building their own little homes here and I allowed them to do so as long as they did not steal from the locals or disrupt them in any way. It was better to keep the soldiers distracted with whatever antic they felt would occupy their time well rather than crack the whip and insist they sleep in the same worn tents.

With my eye scrubbed clean, I took it out of the basin and retrieved a gray towel from Galip, who had been standing there as if he was part of the furniture. Patting my eye dry, I carefully put it back in its socket.

"What do you think about all of this?" I asked Galip.

The wolf lowered his ears, "About what, Alpha?"

"The peace, the concessions we've demanded."

"My Alpha's empire will grow powerful from it," Galip smiled and I scratched him behind the ear.

"We're a republic, not an empire," I licked Galip on the lip and he returned the favor. "I'm only Dictator until the emergency is over."

"When will that be, Alpha?"

I shook my head, "Certainly not now, that's for sure..."

Not as long as the Alphate is a threat...

Word had been received that the Alphate diplomatic mission was due to arrive and I assembled my inner circle in the village hall, the only building big enough in the town to support such an affair.

I didn't want to make this a long deal. No extended negotiations, no days of uncertainty. We would make a treaty by the end of the day, no matter what.

The hall was more of a barn than a hall, but it was clean, relatively spacious and had a rectangular table for us to sit at. It reeked of wild herbs that we rubbed all over each other, in lieu of luxurious perfumes and spices to hide our scents from the wolves.

"Do you want to go over Luce's recommendations?" Vito asked me, poking the letter we had received from her, which was lying on the table in front of me.

"Fuck..." I hissed and pushed the letter away, "...I already read it, her demands are too soft! She wants to give up Transylvania, right when it's depopulated and ready to be colonized by foxes? Ridiculous!"

"Her argument, Dictator..." Vito snatched the letter and waved it, "...is that it will be too much trouble for us to support and we might as well shift rebuilding it onto the Alphate."

"It will make the Alphate think the Carpathian Basin is up for grabs. Not a chance."

"Marco," Livio butted in. One of his bald patches on his face was bright red from a rash, "I think Luce is right. Takes a lot of effort to colonize an area like that and the soldiers ain't gonna like the land there. Don't think it's worth it, I know I don't wanna go there again."

"We'll give soldiers an extra incentive to settle there, if they wish," I stated. "But this is our chance to make that area properly vulpine, I won't waste that."

I looked around the table, waiting for another objection. Guy was staring aimlessly off in his own world while Laurent was focused on the door of the building. Guy, I could tell, was starting to feel his purpose was coming to an end with the war. As for Laurent, I couldn't tell you what his problem was.

The door suddenly creaked open, startling me a bit, and a fox ducked in.

"Beta Mu Tiber Aydin has arrived," he announced with a bow.

"Send him in," I waved.

A tall, black wolf stepped in wearing a perfectly white kaftan with black buttons tied with silk rope as dark as the wolf's own pelt. Somehow he had not picked up a single speck of dirt on his immaculate robe. My nose itched upon sniffing towards him, he smelled like he rolled around in cinnamon.

"Tiber Aydin," the wolf smiled, flashing a gold fang from beneath his lips. A subtle expression of politeness but also with a hint of threat, "at your service."

I cocked my brow, "No formalities? No recitation of needless titles?"

"I was informed that you disliked such things," Tiber smiled, once again poking that gold fang of his into view. His nose twitched and I caught him gagging, either from the herbs or our natural vulpine musk that wolves were so disgusted by. "Flexibility is the greatest boon to a successful diplomatic mission, wouldn't you agree?"

"Agreed," I waved towards an empty chair across the table. "Please be seated."

"Gladly."

As the wolf swung around the chair and took his seat, Galip stepped in from the back storage room, carrying two platters: one with cheese and meat atop it; and the other with a jug of ale and cups. The slave was totally naked, as I ordered him.

"Have you met my slave before?" I grinned and rubbed the base of his tail while he poured ale for everyone. "Formerly of the Pesht-Kutlar family. I took him as a trophy back during my first campaign against the Alphate."

And you're not getting him back.

"Yes, we have heard the tales back in Nu'tag..." Tiber took a wooden cup from Galip and swirled the ale around in it.

I waited for him to continue but instead the wolf kept on playing with his cup, constantly on the verge of speaking but never doing it.

Finally, I broke the silence, "Are you wishing to ransom him?"

Tiber blinked, "Hm, oh no! We've written him off ages ago and you've seen to making his family a shadow of what they once were. You can keep him as a gesture of goodwill from the Alpha."

_I expected a bit of demand for him,_I could smell Galip growing upset at being so undesired by his own people. He hid it as best as he could, but my nose was very familiar with his moods.

"In fact, we can even have Alpha Aokus send a letter of congratulations on acquiring such a concubine," Tiber leaned forward, pointing a finger. "In fact, you want him adopted as a Kutlar? We might be able to swing that. I bet it must feel so empowering, expressing yourself on member of the royal family, hm?"

He's mocking me.

"I have an actual member of the royal family in my captivity..." I paused, realizing how bad that sounded, "...who has been treated with the utmost dignity and hospitality."

"Ah, Prince Lycanlong, yes!" Tiber clapped his hands together. "Before we continue, I'm afraid I'll need to see him and ensure he is well. A fair request, yes?"

"Agreed," I nodded.

I whispered for Laurent to retrieve the Prince and he left for the storage room at the back.

"Quite a talented young cub, that Lycanlong," Tiber smiled as he took a bite out of a wedge of white sheep's cheese.

"Indeed he is," I played along. The wolf's voice was playful but it sounded like he was being serious. Clearly he had not met the Prince.

Laurent cursed sharply behind the walls and I could hear a vase break. I was about to call out and ask if he was okay but Laurent quickly emerged, holding Lycanlong up by the scruff of the neck. The cub was thrashing about, trying to break out of Laurent's grip.

"I'm afraid he got into the sugar," Laurent announced as he walked towards the table and held Lycanlong forward like a rag-doll, "but he's otherwise in fine health, wouldn't you say?"

Tiber sniffed the Prince once and smiled, "Indeed. Thank you for showing him to me."

Laurent pulled the Prince back and whispered in my ear, "The priest wants to talk with you."

Closing my eyes tight, I stood up, "Pardon me, I know it's early but I need to relieve myself. Vito, can you prepare the map with the claims we discussed?"

"Absolutely, sir."

I followed Laurent as he led me back into the kitchen, holding Lycanlong in front of him like he was a lantern, until we reached a heavy wooden door leading into the pantry. Laurent swung it open and entered, I followed behind.

The smell of dried meat and salted cheese greeted my nostrils. White grains of sugar were scattered across the hardwood floor and Lycanlong dove to the ground to start licking them up.

Wuji stood in the corner, the cowardly wolf standing tall with his ears erect. It was a level of assertiveness and confidence I never knew the priest was capable of mustering.

"Is it true?" Wuji pressed the sleeves of his cassock together, wringing his paws beneath the fabric. "The Beta Mu is here?"

"Tiber Aydin?" I asked, having already forgotten the diplomat's title.

"Yes...Canis..." Wuji hissed something under his breath.

"Something wrong?"

"I must ask a favor of you and for your sake, I hope you grant me it."

I looked over at Laurent and rolled my eye, "This should be good."

"No matter what happens, if you successfully negotiate Lycanlong's return, do not let him go with Tiber Aydin. You must insist that a military envoy led by Beta Gamma Shen Hege retrieve him, just tell him it is protocol if he objects."

"Why should I do that?" I crossed my arms.

"Because Tiber Aydin will kill Lycanlong if you hand him over. His sister is married to another one of the Alpha's brother's cubs and he has everything to gain from Lycanlong being killed."

Wuji looked down at the cub as he continued to lap up sugar, "I know you want Lycanlong to live, because you think him ascending to the throne a mockery to us. I want him to live as well because I care for the cub and I think his innocence is not a vice but a virtue. He is a good cub and will not grow into a monster like so many others."

"You make a compelling case, agreed," I nodded. "I won't let the diplomat touch him."

"Thank you," Wuji bowed, scraping the floor. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

Silently, I stepped out of the room and let Laurent follow behind me into the kitchen.

Lowering my voice as Laurent shut the door behind him, I whispered, "Does this sound truthful?"

"The marriage part is true and as for any ill intent..." Laurent shrugged, "...we have no reason not to insist on his request."

"Agreed."

I swung around and immediately caught a spicy taste in my nose. I didn't have to turn around to know that the wolf was outraged.

"Are you serious, Dictator?" Tiber's ears were folded back and he was furiously tapping a claw on the map. "Constantine? Pray tell, how many foxes occupy the city?"

"If I recall, foxes outnumber wolves in the city," I sat down in my chair and rested my chin on my palm.

"You recall wrong. Wolven migration has made foxes a minority there."

"But more than enough to cause a fuss, no?" I sneered. "With our rightful lands being reclaimed, who's to say what kind of ideas they might get? Really could fire them up, don't you think?"

"That's a risk we're willing to take," Tiber tapped his claw one more time. "Constantine is out of the question."

"What a shame," I laughed inside my head. I never really expected them to cede the city, that would be a conquest for another day, another war. "I trust there's no objection to the Balkans and Grecia?"

"The Alphate..." Tiber paused and leaned back in his chair, "...is willing to cede those territories, so long as local wolven landlords have their property rights respected."

Vito cleared his throat, "There have been quite a few wolven landlords that have been-"

"Killed," I finished for my second-in-command. "Their humans slaves got a bit enthusiastic in rebelling, I'm afraid. We will respect the remaining ones but the damage has been done..."

"Compensation for their families, then?"

"Because their slaves rebelled?" I tilted my head. "How is that our fault?"

"Don't be coy," Tiber leaned forward, narrowing his eyes. "We know you instigated their rebellion with your talk of absolute emancipation for all humans owned by wolves in the Balkans and Grecia. We have more than enough witnesses to testify."

Vito whispered into my ear and I waved for him to speak.

"We will receive compensation requests from immediate surviving family members. We would request that you send a delegation over to the Republic to assist with these matters and we will agree on a third party to mediate. The Ursines, perhaps?"

Tiber shook his head, "They were selling weapons to you during the war and clashed with our borders. They are not a third party."

"Then we can agree on another when the delegate arrives, yes?" Vito asked.

"We can agree on that."

"Excellent," I clapped my paws together.

There was only one major issue left to settle and it would be the most difficult.

"Carpathia," I circled the basin on the map, "we want all of it, including Transylvania."

Livio groaned lowly, just loud enough for me to hear.

The wolf covered his mouth with his paws, closing his eyes tight. He was silent for some time, brow furrowing, lost deep in thought.

Tiber knew that Carpathia is too much of a flashpoint to remain in Alphate hands, even with the valuable ranchlands there. He knew that he had to give it up but if he did, it would be an embarrassment to the Alpha and compromising over the Carpathian heartlands during the last war failed. So he would have to try and save face somehow by clinging stubbornly to something...anything...

"We want Transylvania," he finally said. "It will work as a fine, defensible border for us and you will get the valuable plains in the basin."

"Your commander in Transylvania has slaughtered every village in the region. She caused us a lot of trouble and we deserve to have a right to the area," I added.

"The Alpha never gave her the orders to decimate the population."

Of course he didn't, he just merely loosened her leash and if she happened to cause a massacre, well, that would be entirely her fault, wouldn't it?

"Transylvania is a blank slate and it is traditionally fox territory, having only been stolen from us by Alpha Romulus and-"

"Regent Romulus," Tiber gritted his teeth.

Well, well, isn't that interesting? I wonder what the Alpha would think about this minister referring to his adoptive father that way?

"Regent Romulus," I corrected, "and I think we have a right to the territory, no?"

I looked over at my council who all quietly nodded along with me despite their previous objections.

"We will not give up Transylvania!" Tiber snarled slightly but caught himself before baring his teeth for more than a moment. "The Alphate will not budge on this!"

"Hold on," Livio suddenly stood up, "lemme tell you all a story, okay?"

"Livio..." I groaned.

"It'll be a good one, trust me."

I waved at him to proceed.

"Back when I was growing up on the streets of Vulpeculae, there were two gangs that ran my neighborhood, the Reds and the Blues, and they could never agree on what streets they owned. Rather than continue to get in brawls, they eventually decided to settle the thing in a tug of war match," Livio paused and pointed at the wolf. "You wolves have tug of war? It's when you get a rope and-"

"Yes, we do."

"Right, so the fact was, no matter who won it wouldn't be enough. Whichever one lost would be embarrassed and it would return to a cycle of vengeance, and all over something fucking stupid. So you know what me and my friends did?"

"Go on," the wolf motioned with his paw.

"We smeared ourselves in shit and covered our faces with brown hoods. Then we ran right to the rope and we sliced it in half with a knife, sent both the Blues and the Reds flying on their asses and we were gone by the time they were up. And then, the funniest thing happened...they were both humiliated enough that the Reds gave up the street to the Blues and started sharing resources to hunt down the 'Browns,' and wouldn't you know it, there was no more arguing over some stupid street."

"What is the point of this, Livio?" I asked.

"I think someone needs to give up Transylvania and think of something else to compromise on, something we haven't mentioned before."

"The Suez, perhaps?" Tiber interjected.

"We don't control that," I added quickly. "The Shah does."

"Of course, of course, but we understand you have very close relations with him, yes?"

I clenched my fist under the table.

"I'm certain that you could arrange an agreement on our behalf to ensure Alphate safe passage with a special toll rate? Or perhaps no toll at all but of course, we are not greedy..."

"What kind of agreement?" I blurted out.

"Marco, no," Vito whispered.

Tiber tilted his head, "That would be between you and him."

That fucker, I knew exactly what he was implying. I knew, oh yes.

But I wasn't about to let my outrage ruin the event.

"Agreed," I cleared my throat, "Transylvania in exchange for Suez guarantees."

"Very well," Tiber smiled, "I think we have everything sorted. If you'll just hand over Lycanlong, we can-"

"We would prefer to hold onto him for now until the Beta..." I paused, trying to remember the title. Eventually I gave up, "...Shen Hege, can retrieve him. As this is an agreement to cease hostilities, we would like a military delegation to receive him."

Tiber's ear's very suddenly folded back and for a moment I thought he was going to lunge. Wuji was right, this wolf had dangerous plans for the Prince and he expected me to just hand him over, not really caring if the Prince lived or died.

Well, I may have had ulterior motives for wanting the Prince to live, but I cared, in my own little way.

"I trust there's no opposition to this?" I asked.

"Not at all," Tiber forced a smile. "A very reasonable request."

"Then I believe there shall be peace," I smiled genuinely.

With a tentative agreement signed, the paperwork began.

Negotiations with the Shah were the most difficult of those. It took a long time for messengers to reach his palace and he had some very harsh and impersonal demands that I could not even consider fulfilling and shall not repeat.

In the end, I agreed to betroth the youngest kit in my litter to him to serve as his concubine when she came of age. This was a humiliation of the highest degree and it increased the murmuring of those false rumors that the Shah had taken me from behind, but most of the attention would be passed onto my daughter instead of me as time went by. Despite not being royalty, it was beginning to be expected of us to arrange suitable marriages and a mere concubine was seen as not fitting her station.

But we have to make some sacrifices when making peace, especially if I wanted Transylvania.

Autumn was a time of peace and winter was just starting to arrive when Shen Hege arrived with an honor guard to collect Lycanlong, the final act before the end of the war.

I was walking with Laurent through our village, which had grown so much with my army's shacks and shanties that I was half-tempted to demand it as an fox enclave; when Livio suddenly approach me and saluted.

"Sir, I'm glad the war is finally over."

I frowned, "We could have done better."

"You've reclaimed more fox land than any leader in centuries, you should be proud of that," said Laurent.

"Yes, I suppose I should," I sighed.

"Sir, I am here to tender my resignation."

My eyes flew open, "What!?"

"The war is over and I have the right to retire and collect my pension and land. I wish to resign."

"Livio, I..." I gulped, "...I still need you, you're a valuable officer and..."

My throat was raw and I coughed.

"...What made you decide this?"

"Marco, you've always encouraged me to speak my mind," Livio scratched at one of his bare patches of skin. "Is that still the case?"

"Of course, my friend."

Livio folded his ears back at that word, 'friend.'

"You scare me, Marco."

My hackles raised, a chill shot down my spine.

"What do you mean?"

"You've begun acting unstable and it's not the opium no more," Livio whispered as some of my soldiers passed by. "I don't know what you're going to do anymore and it's fucking terrifying, you know?"

"I've never done anything to-"

"You accused me of buggering cubs!" Livio hissed. "Did you forget that? Where the fuck did that come from?"

"Livio..." I tried to put my paw on his shoulder but he backed away, "...there's other roles you could serve...uh...guard captain? Prefect of someplace close to Vulpezzia, just name the city, I'll pull some strings! You wanna be a Senator?"

"Senator..." Laurent said flatly.

"I don't want any of those, Marco," Livio turned around and motion to Sister, who was playing with some of the cubs he had adopted. "I just want to take my pension, land, and loot. Me and Sister wanna start an orphanage for war orphans far, far away from you and Vulpezzia. I'm done with war and politics, done!"

"I can't accept-"

"You gave your word that we could retire whenever we like, as soon as the war is over. Does that mean nothing?"

I closed my eyes and sighed. My stomach was tied up in knots.

"Livio, you will always have a place in my army. You need only ask."

"Thank you, Marco," Livio saluted. "Despite everything I said, it has been an honor."

I saluted back and Livio turned around, walking over to his new family.

"Keep the cart!" I called out to him. "And just name the spot you want the land in, we'll get it for you!"

He turned around and nodded before returning to Sister and hugging her.

"This is a disaster," I hissed.

"We will manage," Laurent muttered.

Shortly after this, Shen Hege arrived. Me and Wuji had to practically drag Lycanlong out to meet him, the cub having decided to throw another tantrum because we had no honey for his cured meat.

A disgrace, I thought. I knew he was a simpleton but even my little Cosimo, a mere fraction of Lycanlong's age, behaved better.

Without any fanfare, we managed to bring him to Shen and plop him on the ground next to Vito, who was entertaining the minister.

I don't remember a single thing about Shen. He was a wolf, of course, but the color of his pelt, his clothes, his height, his weight...all of that has been erased from my mind. My memory is mostly perfect but under duress it can cloud my mind.

This was one of those occasions.

"I present to you, Prince Lycanlong, son of Youwulf. Alive and well."

Lycanlong stared at the ground and drooled.

Shen said something, some kind of pleasantry to mark the occasion, the kind of thing nobles do when exchanging ransoms in order to soften the fact that someone had just kidnapped and threatened to kill their relations if they didn't pay up. I heard him fully but it has all been expunged from my mind.

Everything in that moment was lost to me the moment Lycanlong stood up.

My skin went cold after Lycanlong took his first step. He was still hobbling but there was no shake to his step and it seemed with every step he grew more and more steady until he over half the way to Shen. At that point he was now standing up straight and walking tall.

Upon reaching Shen, he slowly turned around with a wicked smile on his lips and bowed.

"I must thank you, Dictator Marco, for your hospitality," Lycanlong's voice, despite his adolescence, was smooth and confident now. A far cry from the grunts and screams before. "If you're ever in the capital, I would love to host you and discuss military matters over dinner!"

My vision went white and my arms shook. I could barely see the delegation turn around and march away with the Prince in tow through the fog of anger brewing.

Lycanlong's tail was wagging playfully, mocking me as he walked away.

I should have killed the cub.

I should have split his head open on the floor when I found him.

No one makes a fool of me.

No one.

"Shoot them," I hissed.

Vito's ear twitched. He heard me, oh, he heard me.

But no bolt was loosed.

"Shoot them," I hissed again.

No response, not even an ear twitch.

I was too wracked with outrage to grab a crossbow and do it myself. I could have done it, I could have wiped that grin off his face, shown him who the real simpleton was.

But I didn't.

And that was the biggest mistake of my life.

I retired to my cottage in the village and refused anyone entry, not even Galip.

Between Livio betraying me and Lycanlong making me look like a fool, I was enraged. I smashed a chair to splinters and shattered several clay pots. None of it made me feel any better, all I could think of was that grinning little shit walking away from me, knowing damn well I just secured his future.

Marco, the Alpha-maker, that's what they would call me. Lycanlong would be trouble if he ascended to the throne and I would have to make plans to wage war once again and this time, I wouldn't let him live, not even if he begged for mercy.

No one makes a fool out of me.

There was a knock at the door and between breathless gasps, I shouted, "Yes!?"

The door creaked open and one of my guards entered, bowing.

"There's a cheetah cub here, claims that he knows you."

I peeled back my lips, "Why are you bothering me with such foolishness?"

"He said he has a dagger that you gave him, back in Sfox. You promised him a place in your army?"

I gasped and looked up to the thatched ceiling and silently thanked Canis. This was a sign that I needed, that there were still those loyal to me, loyal enough to travel all the way from Sfox to here.

"Send him in!" I smiled and took a seat at the only intact chair left.

It was indeed the same cheetah as before, though he had reached adolescence and had grown a good foot. He was carrying the same dagger that I had given him, tucked away in a leather sheath.

The fox guard put his paw on the dagger but I interrupted.

"Leave it!" I ordered. "And leave us!"

"As you wish," the guard bowed before stepping out and leaving us alone.

"It has been a long time," I spoke as the cheetah bowed before me, holding the sheathed knife atop his paws. "The journey must have been hard."

"It was not easy, General Marco," he spoke in Foxen with only a slight accent, a marked improvement from the last time we talked. "I have come to join you."

I rose, "It would be an honor to accept you. The war is over but there will be others to come and I will need good soldiers."

I took a step forward and saw the cheetah's eye flicker.

Before I could react, the cheetah unsheathed the dagger and sprang forward, tackling into me.

Pain sliced into my chest and I knew the dagger had found a home in my chest before I hit the ground.

"Die!" the cheetah shook violently as he tried to remove the dagger from my chest, only succeeding in wiggling it around in my insides.

My vision was growing dim and I couldn't utter even a gasp, let alone a scream for help, not that I even considered doing either.

What I wanted to ask was, "Why?"

I closed my eye and when it opened, one of the guards had flung the cheetah across the room and was kicking him while the other peered down at me.

"Get a surgeon, now!" he called out.

"Don't bother," I tried to say, but nothing came out.

The war was over...it was all over...