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The Seduction of Seleste

from the world of the mating season

Where He Belonged

Chapter 11

Keme didn't know who Zaldon was or why he should give a fuck. As long as this Zaldon didn't speak in third person or try to suck his dick, he didn't care. But as they entered the hut, Talisa whispered quick instructions on how to behave, what to say and what not to say, and how to address this Zaldon. He knew Talisa was mostly talking to him: Seleste had grown up in court and should have known these formalities.

". . . never just call him Zaldon. He's the advisor now. You must call him Advisor --"

"Talisa!" Keme cried and squeezed his eyes shut impatiently. He clutched the strap of his traveling pack as he said wearily, "I can assure you I don't give a fuck . . . and neither does he."

They had passed from the corridor to the throne room at last. It was a wide room with a firepit. More feathered decorations dangled from the ceiling, ornamental weapons were on the walls, and opposite the curtain, two thrones loomed against the wall. They were the fur-back chairs of the chief and chieftess, but because the old chief had retired and because the new chief was in mourning, their advisor sat upon the throne instead.

Zaldon was the last thing Keme ever could have imagined. Keme had thought this new advisor would be a frail, shriveled up old wolf with teeth missing, but he wasn't. In spite of his age, he was huge and muscular. His muscles were softening and his belly had long since gone to seed, but it made him no more what someone might call "small." He sat slouched on the throne and his body fairly consumed it, his white fur practically glowed in the dim light of the fire. His chin was on his fist and his other paw rested calmly on the armrest. His legs were open wide to reveal his great cock, his neck was thick, his white mane long and streaming over his shoulders. On his big wrists were the feathered bracelets of an advisor - Keme could only assume. He didn't understand any of this court crap.

Tall torches stood either side the throne chairs, as well as tall guards. Keme was beginning to notice that all the sun wolves were too tall to be true, even some of the females. He was suddenly glad that Talisa had taken after her mountain wolf mother: the height of some of those females was a bit unnerving.

"Advisor," Talisa said reverently and knelt before the throne.

"Talisa," the apparent Zaldon said wearily.

Talisa straightened up and laughed, and Keme couldn't believe it when they fell to talking as if they had always known each other! After all the muttered instructions she had just given --!

"Court life is not for you, Zaldon, eh?" Talisa said, her face etched with the typical amusement.

Zaldon made a non-committal grunt and she laughed again. "I'm getting too old for this crap," he said. "I thought I was a happily retired sorcerer. With the banishment of magic here, I thought I could rest, that I had put in my time."

"But the _prince_asked for you," guessed Talisa.

"Aye," returned Zaldon. "And I've known him since he was a wee pup this high," he held his paw out somewhere just below the height of the armrest. "I couldn't say no. You brought the bitch's head who killed his mother? Well done."

Talisa grinned, and the way her eyes glowed, Keme could swear she had just received the highest praises possible from her own father. But he couldn't understand why she was glowing: Zaldon looked anything but pleased. The advisor pinched the flesh between his eyes as he said wearily, "You did this alone?"

Talisa's smile faltered. "Well - yes, Zaldon. The others were too chickenshit - I had to!"

Zaldon's face furrowed into the angry scowl of a disapproving father. "Talisa," he scolded, "we have discussed this again and again! You are not to disobey your superiors and run off all over the wastelands playing super wolf! I don't think you understand how dangerous it is out there --"

"No, I don't think you do!" Talisa shot back heatedly. "Here we go again! Talisa saves the day, and all Zaldon can do is coddle and scold! How in god's name Yuri put up with you is beyond me --"

"Talisa!"

Talisa halted and bit her lip as if she had said too much, and standing behind her, Keme felt extremely awkward. It was as if he was being forced to witness a very private, familial argument. He wished he could sink into the shadows and go unnoticed. He saw the squirming look on Seleste's face and knew she felt the same.

Zaldon heaved a sigh. "I warned you about doing these dangerous things alone. Your fellow warriors are there to assist you on these types of missions - that's what they are for! And if your superior says it's time to retreat --"

"But --"

"It's time to retreat," Zaldon continued firmly.

Talisa bowed her head and whispered, "Yes, Advisor."

"You're lucky to be alive," Zaldon went on angrily and waved a big paw. "I can only assume you caught the witch off guard. Otherwise, you wouldn't be standing here. Who are these strangers you bring to the court? Tahki's distractions, no doubt."

For a half-second, Keme thought Zaldon was addressing him and almost answered. Seleste grabbed his paw and shook her head frantically. She didn't let him go until he nodded that he would remain quiet. He supposed he understood: the last thing he needed was to make things worse for Talisa. He was therefore startled when Seleste stepped forward to speak. Ah, so the princess was allowed to speak at court, just not the wild savage from the jungle! He watched her narrow back as she stepped forward and bowed to Zaldon, and he reluctantly admitted to himself that she was right: what did he know about addressing wolves at court? This was better handled by her, a friend of the resident family.

Zaldon watched in soft-eyed amusement as the little princess knelt before him. She bowed until her forehead had touched the earthen floor. He stroked his chin and smiled, and Keme slowly realized that he knew her.

"Princess Seleste," Zaldon said, "all grown up now. Get up, child - don't bow to me! How many times was my mother called to court to sell her trinkets to your father? Tell me, how is the chief?"

Seleste rose to her feet and stood with her head bowed, and Zaldon need not have asked.

"Ah, little one, I am sorry to hear that," he said. He held out his paw, and Keme watched in silent amazement as the little princess went to him and sat on the armrest of the throne. He put a big arm around her and looked up at her sadly, "But what brings you to the sun village? You should have been married with ten pups by now!"

"It's a long story," Seleste muttered to her knees, and Zaldon pushed her no more. He pulled her close instead and kissed her on the head. She smiled under this comforting kiss and thanked him.

Keme stood watching this exchange and didn't know what to think. Typical. Seleste and her damned "lost child" charms had calmed the advisor until he was gentle and concerned and no longer scolding. Keme couldn't tell if she was doing it on purpose or not, but she had that big male wrapped around her little finger. He watched her and realized it must have been this way with her father.

"Please don't be angry with Talisa," Seleste begged. "She saved us! The witch had captured us and was going to eat us! If not for Talisa . . ." Seleste shivered and held herself.

Zaldon eyed Talisa grudgingly; who Keme could tell was holding back her amazement. Keme couldn't blame Talisa for being amazed: Seleste was just too good. He studied her for a moment and realized that it wasn't something she was doing on purpose: Seleste was the last wolf in the world to be manipulative. No. It was just in her nature to carry this childlike charm. She was sincerely trying to protect Talisa, and she was sincerely fond of Zaldon: she played absently with his big fingers the way an infant pulls its mother's mane. It was all so familiar, as if she had sat in Zaldon's lap any number of times and been doted upon by him like a daughter. Watching her, Keme could just imagine her at court with her father, stepping in to plead for this wolf's mercy, to save that wolf from a stoning, to save another wolf from banishment.

"Talisa," Zaldon said calmly, "what have you say in your defense? I was going to strip you of your title as warrior, perhaps force you to my apprenticeship as future advisor. Or you could be a bodyguard for Yuri. Wouldn't you like that?"

Talisa tried to keep a cold face, as if she would not be pacified, but she laughed before she could stop herself. "Zaldon! As if Yuri needed a bodyguard! She's the best shaman in the village!"

Zaldon smiled as he thought of his daughter. "Yes, but she'll always be a little pup to me." He cleared his throat and looked back at Talisa. "I'm serious, Tali. This is your third strike! The chief said if you disobeyed orders again, you were to be forced to another livelihood. Leave your necklace and weapons here at the hut, and don't let the chief see you with a weapon for at least a week. Meanwhile, I will try to talk to him. Perhaps he'll let you keep your status as warrior."

"I hope so," Talisa said miserably. "I don't wanna spend the rest of my life standing over Yuri as she blesses fishing nets."

Zaldon laughed but scolded, "You should have thought of that before you ran off alone, disobeying your superiors!" He frowned at her and tisked. "So much like your parents, it scares me. Your father was a great warrior and just as headstrong. And your mother was just as reckless --!" He broke off and cleared his throat miserably. "You are dismissed, Talisa."

Talisa nodded and turned to go, but Seleste started up from the armrest and cried, "But wait!"

Zaldon looked at her, and Talisa paused.

"I. . . ." Seleste twisted her fingers bashfully. "I mean, we," she said, glancing at Keme. "We wanted to stay at Talisa's home with her." She nodded at Keme to make sure that he wanted to, and Keme shrugged. So long as he got a full belly and a full night's sleep, he didn't care.

Zaldon lifted his eyebrows. "What? But why? I'm sure the chief would welcome you here with open arms, Little Flower."

Seleste blushed miserably at the nickname, and Keme exchanged curious glances with Talisa. Zaldon was closer to Seleste's family than they had realized if he was calling her by old nicknames.

"The chief's family has enough sadness, they don't need some of mine," Seleste said. Keme couldn't believe it: she was begging! What was so horrible about staying at the chief's hut? Looking around at the riches it contained, he couldn't understand why she didn't prefer it.

"Please, Zaldon? We would like to stay with her." Seleste waited, ears flat, biting her lip.

Zaldon's black eyes twinkled in amusement. "Very well," he said, smoothing Seleste's mane. "If it will please the little flower. I'll have to tell the chief you're here, though. And you must tell me why. Is something going on in the summer village I should be aware of?"

"Nothing my tribe can't handle," Seleste assured him, but Keme knew she was lying. Why wouldn't she just let the sun village help?

Zaldon's black eyes narrowed. "You are lying, Little Flower," he said. "But very well. I'll let the matter drop for now. Head on home with Talisa. I'm sure you all need the re--"

The words halted in Zaldon's mouth.

Keme stiffened as the great white wolf stared at him in blank surprise. It was as if Zaldon had only just realized Keme was there. He just stared and stared. Keme scratched his ears, not knowing what to do. He saw Seleste and Talisa glance at each other: they looked as bewildered as he felt.

"Come forward, boy," Zaldon ordered, and his eyes were piercing in their intensity.

Feeling unnerved by all the staring, Keme awkwardly came forward. Zaldon ordered him to take a knee. He almost protested, but he realized it was because Zaldon wanted a better look at his face. Completely nonplussed, Keme knelt very close to the throne, and he hated it: he suddenly felt like a lowly thing, as if Seleste, Talisa, and Zaldon were all above him, looking down their noses at this strange creature from the jungle.

"What?" Keme said after another long pause during which Zaldon just stared at him. "Do I have something in my teeth?"

Zaldon gestured a guard close and whispered something in his ear. Seleste stood to one side as these whispers were exchanged, then the guard nodded and hurried from the room.

Keme looked to Seleste for an explanation and mouthed, "Is he touched in the head?" She just shrugged.

"Zaldon . . ." Talisa said slowly. "What is it?"

Zaldon said nothing and did not take his eyes off Keme. A second later, and the guard Zaldon had sent away returned with another old wolf. This was one was sleek and black, a muscular body gone soft, his belly a small pudge. There were lines around his eyes, eyes that were the brightest green - eyes that looked a lot like Keme's.

This new black wolf halted at the sight of Keme and just stared at him. The new wolf and Zaldon exchanged looks of wonder.

Zaldon held out his paw. "Come here, Kel," he said, "and look at this!"

The apparent Kel moved to the empty throne beside Zaldon and sank onto it absently, his green eyes fixed in amazement on Keme. He, too, just sat staring. Everyone was staring now.

"Will someone say something!" Keme cried.

Kel smiled mistily and took Zaldon's paw. "Even his smell," he said excitedly. "He smells like Zalia!"

Zaldon chuckled. "He smells like a girl?"

Kel playfully slapped the advisor's big paw, and the lovingly way in which they smiled at each other made Keme's ears prick forward as he realized they were lovers.

Kneeling there in confusion, Keme didn't know what to think. Sure, the old wolf could have been his older twin. But so what? Weren't there lots of black wolves with green eyes in the world? Apparently, there weren't. Not if such a thing were to cause this much amazement.

"And - he even has . . ." Kel reached out as if he would touch Keme, but he hesitated. He touched his own strong jaw instead. "My father's jaw," he said. "Gurwin's jaw and eyes. Passed down four generations now!" He laughed and tears sprang to his eyes.

Keme stared at him. He was clearly nuts.

Watching Kel with fondly hooded eyes, Zaldon nuzzled his nose against his lover and whispered, "We'll send him home to Kilyan with an escort. Anything you want."

Kel shook his head happily. "We have to tell Aliona tomorrow. We can't let him leave without meeting her."

Zaldon nodded. "Say the word," he whispered and stroked Kel's mane.

Kel was too busy staring at Keme to notice this affection.

Keme was feeling weirded out. "Um, excuse me?" he said, raising a finger. "What the hell is going on?"

"What's your name, boy?" Kel said sharply. His voice was sharp enough to make Keme snap to his feet, and in that brief moment, Keme was given a glimpse of the hard no-nonsense warrior this Kel used to be.

Keme stood before these old wolves feeling just as awkward. "It's Keme . . ."

"That's pygmy tongue," Zaldon said after a thoughtful pause. "It means secret."

Keme raised his eyebrows. Zaldon was the first wolf in his travels who actually understood pygmy. Until that moment, he was beginning to think no one could.

Kel dropped his head against Zaldon's shoulder. "Then it's really him!" he whispered to his lover happily. "Kilyan told me that he and Avi - but I never thought it possible." He cleared his throat and looked hard at Keme. "What if I told you we are blood, Keme? What if I told you that you are one of mine?"

Keme stood flabbergasted. This Kel did indeed look a great deal like him, but was it really possible? God, he wanted it to be. With Aiyana's death, he had never felt so dismally alone in his life. He had spent the past weeks wandering, looking for a place he could belong, trying to decide which villages might accept him. To know that he might have a family of his own, wolves who would accept him, perhaps even love him . . . that was wonderful. He suddenly burst into a grin, and everyone laughed.

"We must get you to the summer village," Zaldon said to him. "Perhaps first thing after he meets Aliona?" He looked fondly at Kel.

Kel nodded. "I could be part of the escort back the summer village!"

"Kel . . ." Zaldon shook his head.

Kel's face darkened. "I know. I know what happened last time!" He folded his arms and looked the other way, and Zaldon stroked his mane in much amusement.

"We're getting too old to keep going back, love," Zaldon whispered in his ear. "Kilyan will come to visit us soon and you will see him again, I promise. But until then," his black eyes went to Keme, "we need to get this one home where he belongs."