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A Biography of a Human

Chapter Forty:

“Factions"

On this day I took time to visit with my niece, Her Majesty. I am becoming worried about her inability to carry a litter. Sister told me of her rage when she brought up the prospect of adopting and mentioned it once more with her; this time she did not rage but I could smell her anger nonetheless. Soon she will relinquish that pride and for the sake of all of us, adopt an imperial pup that will be named Crown Prince.

I also brought up the affair with this human, the one who was owned by Gernan Koff, Iskander. I am not certain about his name but then again even Titus has forgotten his name, despite voicing his misgivings about the whole affair. I asked Her Majesty, what if the human becomes another Jao, then what would be done about him? She diminished such a claim, saying how Iskander, having been in the wilds for nearly a decade, is sure not to be 'untouched' by the paws of others and that none would not stand for our Imperial Alpha receiving a used human. “We'll just find the proof. Surely barbs inflict scars upon the interior," were her words.

_-_Diary of Galba Chen

One thing I should note that occurred around this period of time in the year, 3082, was that of the conflict between Princess Selene and Prime Beta Titus. With Jao gone from the scene, niece and uncle locked fangs frequently over matters great and trivial. Dowager Nu tried her best to be a mediator in this conflict though it only did so much.

It started up again when Princess Selene asked to appear at court sessions even though she was not an official in the court. Titus turned this request down, stupefied at such blatant corruption. She apparently tried to get Dowager Nu to sign on this as well but Nu pretended not to remember. Titus wrote back to his royal niece saying that if she wanted to engage in court affairs, engage in the bottom civil service levels and work your way up as was right. Titus, thinking nothing of this but a naive trifle, suggested a post overseeing the granaries which were vital for feeding livestock for meat.

This incensed Selene and I heard that as she read this, her paws gripped the paper more and more as the perceived slight grew more and more. She growled out 'How dare he!' and, 'I am the daughter of an Alpha and brother of another!'

She asked her pitiful mate what he thought and nodded in agreement, afraid of being subject to her wrath. After all, he was the inferior in rank next to the daughter of an Alpha.

All of this came to a head when Selene yelled her way through the gates of the palace and threatened any being, be them fur or skin, with death if they so dared to not give her highness admittance. A morning court was in session and Selene was coming to take part in it as she thought was her right! She burst in to the audience chamber with smug pheromones and countenance. Titus was left speechless, Ulric was left stuttering and the rest of the wolf officials whispered among themselves.

Selene was only in her late teens yet she acted as if she was grand chancellor of everything. She demanded to sit and take part, asking for a chair when most of the court had to stand in sessions. Her retinue found one and loudly dragged it over to her parting masses of wolves in the process.

As all the wolves watched, awe-struck at this blatant act of intrusion, Gao'ao's mother, who was present along with Chu, slowly moved to Titus. Hackles abound were raised as a dog maid of Selene's started rifling through state documents and handing it to her mistress to look at.

After looking over a few, she spoke up towards her litter-mate, Ulric, seated on his throne above this scene suggesting which and what affairs he should consider and not in a tone that was overtly dictating orders than of suggestions. Even Titus knew to frame his puppetry as only just suggestions for Ulric to consider.

Turning back to her fuming uncle, Selene smugly teased him, “Prime Beta, Uncle? You look ill? What taken you?" and further went on in an acidy tone about Titus' previous offer. “Thank you for your offer of deputy grain supervisor but I happen to find that oh-so dull so instead am doing this."

“I hope you do not mind, dear Uncle."

It almost looked like Titus was about to lunge out and start an old wolven brawl with his niece when Ulric called court to close and dismissed everyone, making sure to mention his sister in the command to be dismissed.

Little wolf was in the middle of a nervous breakdown from that and it was up to me to tend to him. I could not blame him, he told me how tense it was and Selene's abject entitlement shattered all norms of good governance in the pack based on meritocracy.

“I feel so powerless! First Uncle and now this!" he sighed as I tried my best to help as he recounted more of it all to me and how Dowager Nu was leaving the palace that very night to speak to both parties after this showdown which was making waves in Lupercal.

“Xan, I'm having a migraine...my whole body hurts, help me to the couch. Stay with me too, I need you…" I guided the weary wolf to a flat couch canopied with chiffon which I pulled closed to block the lamp light from us.

“Xan! Xan! I'm going to puke, quick get a basin!" I rushed off and brought one in time for his use as his muzzle jerked and spasmed open and close with painful sounding grunt and gags.

All I could do for him was to rub his back in assurance that I was there for him. I was not chuffed at Selene for being the cause of this. Little Wolf had enough issues as it was and now she had to jump in and make a scene that left Ulric a wreck.

After his body finished this desperate act, he fell back panting as I grabbed a napkin to dab at his taught jowls. He told me ever since that poisoning attempt during his birthday all those years back his stomach was always vulnerable to times of stress which induce migraines.

“Ulric, you did good when you said you got the strength to dismiss court just before it could've gotten worse," I said this, wanting to draw away from his sense of feeling totally without agency in affairs, which was true, but he still had that imperial authority which he wisely used to defuse that mess that occurred before a claw fight broke out and charges of lese majeste could be thrown about at random.

In my peripheral vision I caught the sight of some petty wolf officials coming in to the chambers afar, bearing a stack of reports and memorandum on the whole affair. They, upon seeing us, were about to announce themselves but I made a quick gesture for them to stay quiet and followed with a pointed figure for them to deposit the documents on the imperial desk for later, then shooed them off with a wave. I breathed a sigh relief when I turned back to resting Ulric and saw he did not notice. The last thing my Little Wolf needed was to be burdened even more.

I also noticed that he quickly had fallen asleep, so giving him a tender kiss on the side of the muzzle, I got up and made my way into the main chamber to over look the documents deposited for Ulric. The most important documents were from the Grand Auditor, criticizing deeply in the harshest terms both parties. Princess Selene for breaching court protocol and setting up a bad example to all wolves and Titus for growling in the presence of the Alpha.

The willingness of this Grand Auditor to even speak ill of the Prime Beta spoke volumes to me. I felt like this was one of the few high-level wolves who was not ingratiated to Titus' service. It was reassuring evidence to me that his Titus' roots were not everywhere.

Hearing a groan from Ulric, I looked to him and saw he was still sleeping but reacting to his migraine. I was taken with a need to sort this mater out for him and without even thinking I grabbed the imperial brush, dipped it in the ink, and marked both documents from the Grand Auditor with the character, 'Approved' and sent it off under the guise I was under orders.

Watching from the threshold into the night-lit courtyard of Reclining Lupine Hall as the wolf servants took those two orders to the reprimand both parties back to the Grand Auditor. The rush of action receded and that fearful regret set in.

“What had I done!? Not even Jao dared to do what I had just done while his master Alpha Wuffrim II was alive!" my mind screamed at me as I nervously watched the moonless sky filled with stars shining high in the firmament. I turned back inside and looked at the resting form of my Little Wolf and told myself. “I did it for him! He needs me to help him, I am just doing what he himself would do!"

It was just like when I was young and I was out in the markets and remembered that Gernan's manor was running low on charcoal and bought it, knowing full-well we would need it. Just like that.

Am I trying fool myself by writing this excuse? Was this the start of it all?

Being left with a thrill from this action I took, I just watched the stars and wondered to myself about the future as my heartbeat went from quick to steady. Worry subsided and I felt assured of what I did was the right thing. I could only imagine what would be done once the Grand Auditor received the documents with my approval dubiously committed in the name of the Alpha who slept on his couch behind me.

I could not help but wonder if I was the first human in over three thousand years to exercise executive power in that simple act. It was one of those questions one often thinks when doing a momentous feat such as scaling the summit of a mountain and wondering if you were the first to do so. Yet this was only me putting ink to paper yet because I am human its profound.

“ Humans Shall not Rule" is often uttered and written, though it's neither commandments of the First Wolf nor of Ysengrim, it was a commonplace formula in the minds of not just wolves but many Chimera. It is known that some of the far off Dog Kingdoms are more loose with human freedoms, similar is said for the even farther cat domains. Though the dogs are said to be a spread of states lead by canine elites practicing inbreeding according to ancient codes, so its hard to say if that's widespread across them all.

To many chimera, a human wielding political power is tantamount to an unnatural disaster. Stories upon stories of the decline and corruption of human rule abound at the very thought of human leadership. I read one fox thinker whose view of it bordered religious zeal with calls to snuff every single instances of human groups exercising independent self-determination.

Tribes, city-states, kingdoms. This bigoted fox said that once that was done the world would be at peace and things would be right. I knew full-well Titus must feel the same. Gernan always thought such thinking was foolish.

“ Humans shall not rule," that again rang forth in my head as I gazed out into the night. My thoughts and mind coming back from my deep musings on power and humanity with the clear realization that I just challenged that very fact with the simple action of approving those two documents with a stroke of a brush.

Sighing to myself and turning back inside, I closed shut the richly framed door. Wandering across the fine wooden floors and returning to my wolf's side, I clasped his paw in my hand which rose him a bit from sleep.

“Oh you're back, Xan," he crooned up to me, making me feel warm inside.

“Of course I am, Little Wolf. I just had to go shut the door," not quite a lie since I did close the door.

“Are you doing better now?" I asked Ulric.

He nodded and responded, “How can I feel bad when you are around to make it better for me?" I smiled at his words, blushing. Using what little strength he had left to move his body deeper in to the width of the couch, he continued. “Here, sleep with me tonight. I would like it"

I affirmed his request with a joyful nod and got up to get undressed as well as going around to blow out a few of the lamps nearest us.

Having stripped to my undergarments and neatly folding my coat and setting my slippers by the legs of the couch, I slipped in next to the sleeping wolf's form. He wrapped one furred arm around me and I tucked up one of my arms next to his sides. The other, I outstretched across his chest. I was holding my wolf, latching onto him so no one could take him from me.

Though the airs about were filled with tension, the days were calm. The day to day affairs of the government were handled and the scandal caused by Selene settled but had left impact. Ulric, in a show of assertiveness, refused to attend government in a formal manner for a while as to stave off a potential repeat of a public showdown between his sister and uncle.

Selene, of course, was reprimanded but that was not it. The Grand Auditor, having my ghost-written approval on behalf of my Little Wolf, had Titus' salary suspended for the entirety of the month. This made silent ripples in the members of the government since it shattered the sheen of untouchability of the Prime Beta. It was small, tiny, but it showed a sign to all the wolves from his supporters to the wolves who sat in the middle of factional blocks, that there was limits.

Maybe that's why Titus took ill and left for a tiny villa he owned some distance south. Whether it was legitimate illness, shock, or wishing to be away from the capital for a bit, he was gone and in his place his deputy, Chu Hege, attended to the affairs of state. It brought some fresh air to the place which was refreshing to all and especially to Ulric, who much needed a reprieve from it all.

“Perhaps a sojourn to the Imperial Villa would be good?" was a thought I had which I kept in mind to bring up with Ulric. As for the meantime, I settled into my new compound residence. It was a bit before we had settled into feeling it as our home, though as it's ample accommodation meant that Yosef could lodge in a room next to my own bedroom located in the center of the structure behind the medium meeting room.

One room I fitted out to be a study for my personal use and with vigor picked up my old hobby of calligraphy with much joy.

During this time, Yosef came forward to my desk as I was focusing on my practice. Giving him a small nod of acknowledgment of his presence while darting my eyes back and forth from gazing over at the model of calligraphy I was copying and to the fresh paper; my friend drew nearer to me as to get a better view of my work, then he, noticing the open book of wolven characters which I had taken as my model for this session, he remarked, “This is Chu Hege's work, is it not?"

“Good eye, Yosef! Could you really tell from its style?"

“Well his name is on the side," I laughed as I set down the brush, letting my sleeve loose from it's position so as not to get it stained.

“Very blunt as always, Yosef," I smiled at him as he furthered this time about my choice of model.

“Strange of you to practice his style considering…" he paused, trying to find the right, or should I say, polite, words to put the current paradox of me choosing the works of Chu Hege.

“He's an enemy?" I finished for him as he responded with a nod as went on to explain “A malevolent person can still make fine art; just as a benevolent person can still make lousy art."

“Furthermore and more importantly, Yosef. This helps me get an understanding of Chu's character. Look here," I started as I pointed to the copybook of Chu's works. “Yosef, notice how some of his strokes are thin and dainty here and here? Clear indicator of a weakness, one can surmise he's not used to harsh realities and any sort of heaviness would affect him!"

Yosef, shocked by me pointing such things out, asked if this was true. I told him I could not be absolute of the weakness and what it was but it's an indication of something in his character.

“His will is not weak, as if you recall, he was quite steadfast in his refusal to do the calligraphy for the entrance of my new dwelling. So I figure this weakness of character is that he's very definitely used to the good life."

“This is remarkable Xan! How did you learn this?"

“It's nothing much in reality, Yosef. I'd just read before that how others write can reflect the mood and nature of the writer. It's not an exact method, mind you."

“Still, it's quite amazing regardless!" Yosef exclaimed as we moved on to other topics such as his reason for coming to me that hour. I figured he had a reason and he did.

“I spoke with the Chief Eunuch, he said that he would come over this evening once his duties have been completed and speak with you on those things which you have asked of him," he said referring to Dillian by his titles. An evident tinge of suspicion was in his voice as he said the words Chief Eunuch.

“Ah, good! I look forward to it," Yosef then looked around and spoke openly. “Can the bear be trusted?" my hand jerked, surprised from the bluntness of his tone and words, causing me to make a mistake on my brushwork. Setting down the brush, I looked up at my companion.

“I can see where you are coming from. I worried about him as well at first. But I feel he can be trusted. I've known him for years and feel he cares for the Alpha as much as me," proof of my statement came in the image of a memory of Ulric bleeding from the maw and carried in the arms of his Ursine guardian, “the look on Dillian's face when he thought Ulric was going to die…" Yosef coughed out a 'what' and I told him of that whole affair of when Ulric was poisoned at his birthday feast as a pup.

“As long as I support and love Ulric, I have no enemy in Dillian. None whatsoever" Yosef' bashfully expressed some shame at the accusation against Dillian. I moved to quickly dispels that from him. “Yosef...I appreciate you being this blunt, you are not false in warning me that I should be careful of everyone," My mind now shifting to more lighthearted things, I jested back “Can you also be trusted? Or are you going to go and run off to Titus' human training program? Hmmm?" We both laughed rapaciously at the thought of that.

As evening approached, I changed into a causal drape over my sleepwear. Loose and revealing of my body underneath, but since my guest was a eunuch there was no violation of etiquette for him seeing me in such dress. Reclining on a sofa, I paged through a book while awaiting the arrival of Chief Ursine Eunuch, Keeper of the Imperial Alpha's Bedchamber.

Footsteps on carpet alerted me to the form of Yosef, who, clearing his throat, whispered that Dillan was here and was waiting to come inside. I gave my consent and withdrew to let him inside as I sat up and put my book down.

“Consort, Sire," the bulky bear entered my lounge chamber, gliding towards me in a stark contradiction to his frame.

Bowing, he saluted me with honors of my rank. I nodded and exchanged my own for him and to rise. Then, he began, “You asked me about a wolf, a Saab Qurong. I had to go through the lowest levels of documents to even find him."

“That lowly?"

“Very! He is pretty much a court usher and escort with some scribal duties."

“I expected that, considering things."

“His father was a butcher, his grand uncle served as deputy provincial secretary. Very humble," I nodded my head and moved onto the next topic, satisfied with the background of this Saab wolf. I still found him promising regardless of his minor position.

“Now, I wish to ask you personally, do you know of wolves that can be allies to Ulric. Ones that can support the Throne rather than the desk of the Prime Beta as it currently is? Loyalists to the Kutlar Pack?" Dillian did not hesitate and spoke immediately.

“There is Shi Loombi"

“The name is familiar, I am not exactly sure but I feel I know it"

“Military wolf, your late master would have known him"

“Ah! Yes! I heard Gernan speak of him before and with praise."

“He's an old wolf, old fashioned-"

“Oh, a Titus type?" I groaned, cutting him off, expecting another bigoted wolf of the likes of him.

“To an extent. He's no friend of Titus, I know as the two often have sparred over personal differences. Why else do you think he's been posted to a border region under a fancy title of garrison commander?" Dillian touched on things that occurred while I was sharing exile. “A lofty title with a requirement that keeps him away from the capital. Furthermore, the old wolf is too loyal to ever use his troops for rebellion no matter how much he disfavors Titus."

Titus was petty, he did that to a wolf who secured the east from the wolf nomad intrusions for years and won many a battle against them. Now he was away from the capital for such trivial matters of Titus being envious of his battle hardened peer's prestige.

“He should be recalled and possibly given a role in the government, he's well-liked by everyone, barring Titus, and if the proposal came up Titus could not risk alienating himself at this moment. His sending away Shi before was precarious enough, rejecting this would just confirm Titus' flaws."

“How can we propose this?" I asked.

“Simple, have a wolf issue a petition and it will be delivered to the council and debated upon."

“What's to stop Titus from burying the petition?"

“The wolf could present it verbally during the open suggestion of a council session, that way he can't do anything about it. The rest of the council would approve and Titus will be put into a bind."

“Yes, anyone else?"

“Yes, one more wolf to that might be worthwhile to consider as a possible friend of the throne."

“Go on, I am listening," then the bear's maw opened and said a name that took me by surprise, Rustem.

“Rustem!?" I said as I stood up from my sofa, my eyes wide “isn't he dead! He forged an imperial edict for Jao? Surely that's a crime that warrants death if anything!" I had not made myself much aware of those who orbited Jao in the aftermath of the coup. I assumed that he was put to the sword.

Dillian replied to my shocked exclamation. “Well no, he was exiled. Managed to put up a good defense effort that he was forced with his life to draft treason for Jao. The Judge ruled in his favor, much to Titus' displeasure."

“You would trust him?" I said, incredulously at what was being suggested.

The Ursine shook his head, “Not a bit, but he could be useful. If he is who I think he is, a recall would be something he would jump at and would owe us a big favor for."

“What about Titus, he has control of the board of appointments? How can we even slip him back in? He would refuse to make him director of fire kindling."

“You still have things to learn, Iskander, the board of appointments is a committee. Yes, it is headed by Titus' wolf, but his deputy is not. Furthermore, what chief of appointments would spend his time approving low-level job assignments?"

“Ah, I see what you are on to...slip him in via some meager job."

“Correct."

“This is something to consider later, for now ensure Rustem is taken care of. I'll arrange for supplies and what have you for him. It will delivered to him as charity from the Gernan monastery so that way we can keep this hush hush," I mused, tapping my chin, thoughts churning in my head about possibilities.

“Good thinking sire, you have a mind for this kind of thing," Dillian smirked with some admiration across his short muzzle.

“Of course I do, Dillian. I had to develop one when in the wilds of exile."

Offering the bear a seat, we went on and spoke more at length. Some topics causal, others politics. Dillian expressed how it was always a desire of him to see things come together for Ulric in support, “I am only one emasculated bear on the inside of the palace, there is only much I can achieve even as Head Eunuch and keeper of the Alpha's chambers," he said to me candidly.

“I feared for the Alpha's safety when it looked as if Titus and Jao would tear the Alphate apart in their strife."

I then brought up that human Siao, the pawn of Jao who resembled me in scent. The bearish Dillan looked tainted with some shame as he looked to the side, “There was nothing I could do about that. I hated that Jao was putting a spy in his bed. His imperial Majesty loved you and I could not stand in the way even though it was a pale imitation of yourself," he confessed. “His Imperial Majesty wanted to send out a mission to find you the moment he came to the throne but as you must be aware a certain Uncle halted that for years until he relented on it."

The hour was getting on and as I was growing tired I dismissed Dillian.

“Thank you, sire, for receiving me at such a late hour," the bear put his paws together, raised them up and bowed and withdrew to leave me to further ponder the things he said to me as I walked to my bedchamber, Yosef tailing behind closely.

It would have been shocking for me to even consider a wolf of Jao, but knowing that Jao was not the plotter of the murder of Gernan softened that inside me. I could not afford to be moralizing, not here, not now in my situation will rivals on all sides. One's life is worthless in the court and one can't be overly compassionate to others in this world of high politics. Your acts of kindness mean nothing to those types, you spare them, they will come back and drag you down when you least expect it.

The next event worth recounting was when I was with Ulric in the marvelously elegant Lotus Pavilion. It was one of the undamaged structures of the palace garden's and the one which the two of us decided to make use of during the cool summer evenings.

A square kiosk structure cornered with sturdy smooth pillars and with sliding walls open it up to the fresh air. The lotuses in the moat surrounding the pavilion were in full bloom. Seated next to my Little Wolf, I was twirling around one of the blossoms in my hands when Ulric spoke up, clearly inspired by the tranquil surroundings that gave a soothing calmness to both of our nerves.

“Xan, I decided to take your advice. A rest is much needed. So I decided to let Sister Selene handle the government while we take some time together in the Yalta villa together."

“ WHAT!" I spluttered out furiously. The utterance couldn't have come at a worse moment considering I was in the middle sipping some warm cha. Ulric, shocked, considered fetching a doctor, thinking I was in immediate danger but I waved him down and spent a good few moments calming my body down from the shock of inhaling hot liquid into my lungs.

Panting like a canine afterwards, I caught my breath, only simply managing a bewildered, “Oh," to what he proposed. Assuring him I just was taken off guard by the wonderful news of going on a trip with him when in reality the part of Princess Selene was what made me choke, I let him explain.

“You see, when father was an adult and Crown Prince, grandfather Lycan, when going on inspection tours of the provinces would grant father the status of 'Supervising of the Alphate Crown Prince,' as a way of training him to learn the reigns of the state while Lycan did not have to worry about such things or bring the entire government with him," I was suspicious these sounded like words fed to him. Then I remembered that Selene made a visit to her brother days prior and asked if she told him this precedent. Seeing my Little Wolf nodding his head confirmed it to me.

“Titus will blow up when he hears this," I thought to myself, partially worried about that but also amused simultaneously. “Xan this is good, let the fools fight amongst themselves not paying attention to you!"

“But your sister is not Crown Prince though."

“Yes, yes…but it can still be arranged and since you have been urging me to be more independent I already wrote out the order and it will be announced in the morning," his tone and expression was that of excitement and pride for doing what he did, but all I could see was him being led on like a horse and knowing that I was culpable without even being aware of it by telling Ulric to assert himself made me even more alarmed.

I asked him if he told Selene about me helping him be more independent, he again nodded his head happily. I did not have to ask if Dillian was made aware of this idea cause that answer was clear that he was not.

“Oh, and also, Selene helped me draft the command afterwards too before she left." the excited Alpha wolf said off-hand, further making me feel almost dizzy with what was clear to me but oblivious to him. Then I remembered Titus and found myself scolding myself over such paranoia.

“Selene is Ulric's littermate, this may be underhanded but maybe this is for good, it is a further unseating of Titus' power base," fears and alarms dispelled, I ridiculed myself for worries and assured myself.

After I departed Ulric's company and went to Dillian and told him of this, he too was unsure of it. Saying how he never thought much about the Princess before and could not say for sure about it other than he thinks this should be for his Imperial Majesty's benefit.

Now I should mention the reaction of Prime Beta Titus the next morning when he arrived rather late to the Forum of the Moon and saw that a crowd of fellow wolf officials were assembled around the table on which the Alpha's command was unrolled and placed. Hearing the arrival of their superior called in the chamber they all stood to attention giving low howls of respect to the Prime Beta.

He went over to the table, looked over the order, and his eyes darted around the chamber in a panic which was only lightly suppressed when he paused and took a moment to breathe and close his eyes. Having collected himself, he picked up the order reverently, holding it above his head and over his ears, and got on his knees in supplication followed by the rest of the officials.

“We obey the command of the Imperial Alpha, his word is the command of the Heaven's Mandate!" Titus exclaimed, supplemented by the others chanting the same after him. I was honestly surprised Titus knew when he should and shouldn't fight. The old wolf is no fool but this was impressive, for I was assured he would stir up all manner of resistance to this, such as employing his comrade Chu Hege to deploy his skilled remonstration rhetoric in public protest.

No, this was not worth a war over and I must give him due credit for such pragmatism. The full force of that would be saved for later, for a much more important matter which would avail itself much later. In due time I will recount that.

With Selene confirmed as designated supervisor of the Alphate, the rapid preparations for departing on a pleasure trip commenced. I don't need to describe everything. I could, the records of the whole thing are available, but I am only using them to refresh my memory. Most of them are dull things: expenditures, lists of supplies, even a detailed roll on horses which are in good health to pull the carriages and carts for the imperial progress. They would make this present memoir of mine bigger than it already will be when I reach the end.

Amusingly, there is even a complaint from Gao'ao in the documents which I feel would be fitting to surmise here. Citing austerity as a cover, the Imperial Mate, along with even Dowager Nu, was not to come along. Gao'ao was offended and sent a strongly worded complaint to one of the overseers of the planned trip asserting her right as the lawful mate of the Alpha to come along.

This line strikes me and I can even hear Gao'ao's voice as I read it to myself, “I am the mother of the Alphate! All the wolves of the Empire look up to me as their mother just as they do towards the Alpha as their father. My imperial presence being so glaringly absent from this excursion surely shall have the effect of giving much distress to the populace. Would it not appear like in the Imperial Pack that there is discord between father and mother?" at the bottom of the roll, in the bottom right margin, is the impression of the rarely used Ceremonial Seal of the Alpha's Imperial Mate. One of the sharp corners of the jadeite seal, having ripped into the paper from the force it was smashed upon the document. No doubt she was livid when finished with this complaint and made it clear with that.

The response to this was a short response from the overseer about this being a sojourn for mediation without the entanglement of the clan so that the Alpha can muster his focus to the benefit of the Empire. Of course, I was coming so that was a bit of a lie.

Regardless, it was set and Gao'ao complained naught more of it, speaking of nothing but good fortune to his health in the journey. To say one could not be keenly aware of her rage at this would be wrong, the spoiled she-wolf seethed and the weekly harem gathering of that time was tense as we all sat in her hall.

The top-most wolf consort seated on one side of the aisle on chairs and us humans of which there were only two, me and Siao, on platforms. Gao'ao felt humiliated at losing face. Kun looked smug and Gao'ao shot daggers at her and even gave me a sour look.

And Siao, he smelt of alcohol and fell flat on his face after we were all dismissed and he tried to get up to leave.

This just made me happy that I was going to be leaving with Ulric. The air was stifling in the palace and the capital at large and I state that both in the humidity and temperature, and the mood.

Everyone's either a bitch or a bastard and I needed to, Canis damn it, to get away from them.