The Grandmaster of Sarthas - Chapter 21
#6 of The Grandmaster of Sarthas
A month had elapsed since the wolf had first gotten approval for the raising of an army, and there were already enough recruits for a full platoon. Alhundro chuckled as he watched the unit going through morning drills, led by their young Bsani sergeant. He approached the Lord of the manor from his blind side, a test of the wolf's perception. There was no reaction from the wolf until the King reached into his sash to take hold of a letter that was tucked into it. An action he instantly regretted as the wolf drew steel and held it to his throat before he could even blink. "That will be your first...and last warning Alhundro. Approaching from my blind side is bad enough, making for a weapon will end your life the next time it happens." Said the cold and calculating Grandmaster. The fox shivered and handed over the message. "You do not usually offer intelligence reports to your Lords unless there is something very important..." The wolf said putting his steel back into its saya. The King, resuming his normal breathing after being allowed to live, answered. "Or I want to hire you for your first job. There is more than the report and contract in there as well." He said. Ceberune smiled warmly as he read the unofficial document in the packet. "A courier from Kokori? And an Akahoshi at that." Said the wolf. Alhundro frowned. "Aren't they Ghost Hunters? What are they doing sending one of their own here?" Ceberune chuckled. "That title only belongs to those of that family that are dragon trained to fight necromancy. They have long been favored by the Grand Dragon as honorable and dependable. They do not send Ghost Hunters on simple courier runs save in two cases." Alhundro shrugged. "And those would be?" he asked. "The first is a necromantic force detected in your lands. The second being by direct order of the Grand Dragon." The fox shuddered. "My Necro-hunters have had no reports of any major incursions." Alhundro said. Ceberune chuckled. "She is not here to hunt Alhundro, she is here to join me and bring me word from my Sensei." Alhundro let out a relieved breath. He had heard frightening things when a Ghost Hunter was sent. Then he paused as he looked at the wolf confused. "How do you know the identity of the courier? I don't even know who it is." He said curiously. The wolf turned letting the fox see the small black dragonet sitting on his shoulder. "A little birdie told me." He said with a smirk. The Fox laughed.
Meanwhile
Nadia was being looked over by Bomani after Ceberune stopped a recruit from making unwilling use of her. Bomani chuckled as he cleaned up a scrape she had gotten by striking her assailant. "You realize that the Bsani you hit could have snapped you in half right?" he teased the grumpy fox. "Lucky I didn't kick him in the groin" she grumbled. He laughed. "As if you were in any danger." He said. She glared at him. "I nearly got raped and you think I did it on purpose?" She asked incredulously. The Tiger chuckled. "You will find that I am a student of the psychological as well as the physical healing arts little fox. When I arrived on the scene, you were spread eagle on the ground, begging your rescuer for some attention. Your attacker was out cold and you were putting off enough pheromone hints to get a saur to pounce on you." He teases, she raised a finger and tried to argue, but he continued on without a skipping a beat. "Your purpose was not to attract the Bsani in the room you were in, but the wolf in the next room," he said. Nadia was becoming outright angry now as he held up a finger. "Before you start lambasting and reporting me to the little princess for insulting your honor let me give you a few ideas for attracting his attention without attracting unwanted attention in the future." He said. She huffed, hushing up as the cat happily lectured her well into the morning.
Later that day, Bianca was teaching the young fox more about the wolf and his past before the bunny noticed that the fox had become preoccupied with something going on behind her. Bianca took a glance back and chuckled. "I see I have reached the end of my teachable time." She commented as the fox shook her head returning her attention to the princess. "My apologies Bianca." She said. Bianca smirked. "No need to apologize Nadia. I know the look of lust when I see it." She teased, Nadia blushed hotly. "I should not be like this Bianca," she said. The bunny laughed. "And why not? You are a proud Kitsune female. Are you not allowed to lust after a male?" she teased horribly. "I am a slave, I should not..." The bunny interrupted. "You are a young adult Kitsune female. You need a quick history lesson as your own cultural education seems to be lacking." She said as she turned the Book of Sages to the view of the young fox. She eagerly looked upon its pages. As before, it held images, moving and still of the lecture. This time however it also held simple words as the fox was also being taught to read. "You are from a race of penultimate hunters and trackers, Nadia. The Kitsune race produces some of the world's most deadly snipers, feared bounty hunters, and most annoying skirmishers. One of the early rituals adopted by your race is the practice known only as The Hunt." She said as all this was played out before the eyes of the rapt fox. "The Hunt is the core of your race's courtship. A female is the first to initiate the ritual, often without the knowledge of the target male. Tales have been told of Epic Hunt's amongst the Kitsune. Many females being no better than slaves. For you see the Kitsune believe in the old adage 'All is fair in love and war, Nadia." She said. Nadia shook her head. "I could never think to..." with another timely interruption, the bunny continued. "The Hunt makes no exception for social class, race, religion, or magical skills. Once a female of your race has chosen a male, she will hunt that male down until she subdues him with her love. And that is what I am seeing in everything you say and do Nadia. The difference being that you are not being aggressive enough in your attacks on your chosen prey," she teased. Nadia growled in challenge, then quickly calmed. Bianca smirked. "That is more like it. Though I do have some requests. I have no romantic interests in your intended prey. I do hope you do not mind sharing him once he is available...which brings us back to that ever so important warning. Do not mate that wolf Nadia. It may cause you great pain and require mountains of willpower, but wait until the time is right. He already has to hold himself back from bending you over and pounding you into next week. I know he nearly did me yesterday...damned tease of a wolf," she grumbled getting another growl from the fox. "My apologies Nadia. I do not challenge your target choice. Just realize that it will be a long and patient path with him. I also have some ideas as I know the wolf is hoping to free you soon..." said the bunny. The fox suddenly looked panicked as the bunny smiled disarmingly. "Now Nadia, if you wish to stay with him, you should present yourself with a possible skills set where you could fit in here..." she said when the slave perked an ear. "Would skills in house management work?" she asked. Bianca smiled evilly. "That, my dear girl is exactly the kind of devious mind you will need in the coming months if you wish to bag your prey. Now that we have an anchor I should discuss what happened earlier today," she said. Nadia grumbled. Bianca chuckled. "The wolf has stayed away from you for over a month to prevent himself from mating you into next week. He has been building a resistance to your charms slowly over that time and will wish to give you an apology for his lack of attention soon..." Nadia scratched her head. "An apology? For what?" Bianca laughed. "Who cares? I should warn you however, an apology from the wolf will leave you unable to walk in a straight line for several hours afterward..." she said. "Does he hurt females?" Nadia asked. Bianca chuckled. "He is not one to brag...we do that enough for him. But the only tongue more deft than that wolf's tongue at getting a female off was Suzujomei's. Your master. soon to be employer, can lick a female so well that he knocked Chrysea out cold after about half an hour's worth of an apology. Hells her tail still twitches whenever the incident is mentioned." Said the bunny. The fox looked at her suspiciously. "Then why has he not accosted me in such a fashion?" She asked in a huff, then quickly shook off the disappointment. Bianca laughed. "His tongue is saved for the one he loves, or apologies. If you are persistent, and patient, you will have both...often." She teased. Nadia sighed. "I cannot win the heart of such a powerful male," she said. Bianca chastised her. "Look at the one you are hunting. Do you remember his humble beginnings? Do you think he became what he is because he was dragged kicking and screaming all the way along this path? No, he is what he is because he made the choices. He trained. He fought, bled, studied, and worked to where he is now. Through it all, he keeps it all to himself. The second most powerful individual in the world and here he is, running a humble estate in Kitsune lands." She said. "And you have the temerity to think that you cannot have that frazzled little ball of fur for yourself? Are all those stories that Alhundro told of your prowess false?" she asked. It was having its desired effect, every word was angering the fox. So much so that she bolted forward. The fox was not expecting the electric wards however and was violently thrown back once she touched the princess. The bunny strode forward confidently, approaching the still twitching foxling. "And today's lesson is?" she asked as she helped the fox to stand. "Do not let anger cloud your judgment?" the fox blurted out through her still twitching mouth. "Excellent. Next time try not to telegraph so much. I saw your attack building and where it was going to strike from for ages." The bunny teased. Nadia grumbled as Bianca put her back into her seat. "Now you go to your master and get the far more pleasurable version of that." She teased as she took back her book and placed it back on her hip.