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Isiat was up before dawn. Sleep had eluded him, and he still smelt of summer wine when he rose from the bed that Shadi had tucked him into... The glass of water on the bedside table was a welcome relief for his headache though, and he downed the cool liquid in three long gulps. Sitting himself on the edge of the sheets, he rubbed his temples, trying to gather his thoughts.

He had done something terrible last night, and it was gnawing at his mind like the march of a thousand ants over a corpse, eating away at his mind. Shadi would likely never forgive him for what he had done to her. The felines sweet, rich scent still hung in the air, and turning, he realized that it was still dark outside... She had tucked him in like a child, because he had been to intoxicated to do it himself, like the fool he was... If he hadn't of drank so much, he might have at least been able to convince her it had been something that he was sincere in doing.

As it was though, he'd be lucky to pass it off to her as anything more than a drunken, lust filled fling. He shouldn't have drank so much, nor should he have come here and spied on Shadi as he did... None of his actions last night had been gentlemanly in nature or conduct. He knew he'd have to make it up to her somehow over the next few days... Assuming she would even so much as speak to him.

He needed to clear his head, and lingering in her scent would not make that any easier... He rose unsteadily, bracing himself on the table as he climbed to his feet. The floor was cold beneath his bare foot paws, and he felt a shiver run over his body as he adjusted to the chilly atmosphere of the morning. What he needed was to be outside... Even now he could hear the laborers in the outer courtyard working to erect a large grandstand... The main jousting run would be within the manor's walls, but everything else would be assembled outside, so as to not bring unnecessary amounts of people into his home.

It was better to keep the masses outside the walls anyway, that much was common sense... If they became unruly when a knight was de-horsed or one of their bets went afoul, his guards would have an easier time knowing they had somewhere to fall back on if they needed. Easier to keep them outside his walls than inside them, and less risk to his property.

He stumbled out, wearing little more than his trousers down to the kitchen, guided only by the light of the candle Shadi had left by his bedside. The lanterns had been extinguished for the night, and all of his night watchmen held torches as they patrolled. A few challenged him when they saw the candle approaching, but quickly moved aside when they saw their lord approaching.

The smell of freshly baked bread helped take his mind away from the previous night, and he took a loaf as it left the oven, the cooks quite pleased to see their lord appreciating their hard work. Feeding the staff and guards three times a day was by no means an easy task, but few people could appreciate the sheer logistics behind it. Each day, fresh flour, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, all of the food the manor would need to keep operating without the staff going hungry. Several wagon loads came up each morning before sunrise, and that was only provisions for the day.

When he did finally make his way outside, it was foggy, and the morning watch were mostly huddled around fire pits and braziers of coal. Visibility in the thick clouds was down to a few dozen yards, and Isiat could only make out the guards atop the walls by the glow of their torches penetrating the darkness. Outside of the walls, he imagined it would be even worse, but yet still he could hear the sounds of laborers trying to complete their work done before the sun rose and it became too warm too continue in the heat.

Isiat had wandered over to one of the morning watch guards, and they shared quiet conversation between them, about the tournament, about the ladies, about the wart growing on the nose of one knight's coming in to compete. Small talk for the most part. He made the rounds with the guard until they reached the northern gate. He had wanted to inspect the preparations for a while, and now was as good a time as any.

Isiat helped the workers where he could, as he had little else to do, and it helped work the alcohol from his system as they erected the large grandstand, and hammered in posts for the second jousting run... It was hard work, but not so hard as he had worked to help make his father's estate run smoothly in the holy land. At least here, you weren't fighting against the sun as well as the ground.

"Well, well, fancy that, a lord doing the work of the common man. Somebody migh' have to make note o' this. It's a rare occasion indeed!" Sir McGregor jested as he approached. Evidently, it wasn't too early for the Irish fox's wit to be awake. Isiat gave a quiet grunt, and motioned for the knight to come and help him with the long piece of lumber he was dragging across to the laborers.

As they dragged the long pole to where the grandstand was nearly completed, Ewen couldn't resist the opportunity, and his tail flicked, swatting Isiat across the face, which did little to improve the Keynari's exhausted mood. "So... About mistress Shadi... I know she is still caring for your daughter my Liege... But I think I would like to dedicate my tournament victory to her..."

At that, Isiat looked up. Part of him really, really just wanted to punch him for some reason right now, just to lay him out on the ground with an Iron fist. Instead, they finished dragging the pole across, before dumping it unceremoniously on the ground, where a few of the laborers began to tie rope around it's middle to hoist it to the upper levels.

"You have to win first, Ewan. That's how the tournaments work... And besides, I hear she's already spoken for." Isiat shrugged, starting back to where the lumber pile had been delivered to fetch another pole.

"Oh, by who? Give me a name, and I shall duel them for the honor." The Fox barked, drawing his sword an inch from its scabbard, evidently trying to make himself seem more intimidating than he was. It was hard to look fearsome when you were wearing little more than a pair of pants and a sword-belt...

"Oh, put it away... Some bloody foreigner fellow, you haven't heard of him. I can't even pronounce his name..." Isiat smirked as they hefted up the next pole over their shoulders, much easier than dragging it. Sir McGregor grunted as they walked it over to the grandstand.

"Fah... I shall simply have to find him on the day then... It'll be easy enough to spot the only other knight going near her, and if you see him, you let me know. She'll be with your children, right?"

Isiat chuckled quietly, grinning to himself. "Aye, that she will be. If I see him, I'll come and find you right away. Promise." He lied terribly, honestly trying not to laugh. No, that honor would go to him. Ewen would simply have to beat him for it afterwards, but Shadi was his now...

The grandstand was finished at last just as the sun was beginning to crest the eastern sky, and Isiat could see the field laid out in its full glory from atop the highest row of seats, leaning back on the rail. One of the workers had brought out a flask of water, and they passed it along the line of them, taking long, hearty swigs as they watched the sunrise. Everywhere around the outside of the wall, brightly colored tents were coming up, as well as stalls, cook-houses, and even, much to his amusement, a pyramid of ale-barrels for the victor.

Indeed... It wasn't bad for a morning's work.

X---------------------------------------------------------X

Shadi meanwhile, was wrestling Hunter into his best clothes. The little lord was being no help to her at all, and Emma's constant crying for attention was starting to wear the little feline out...

"And then- and then they just stick each other with giant poles- on horseback! Some of the horses are bigger than houses, Miss Shadi! And my horse is going to beat them all!" He insisted as she struggled him into his shirt, growling at him for squirming around so much.

"Oh, will you now?" Shadi giggled, her tail constantly brushing against Emma's cradle, rocking the little red furred vixen back and forth with gentle motions. She was very colicky and very grumpy. She looked constantly grumpy and was always making displeased noises, or crying, unless she was at Shadi's breast...

"Yes Ma'am! And when I win-" He paused, looking thoughtful as he sat down, letting Shadi help him to put on his socks, so he could don his boots. "And then... I think I'll give my win to my mother..." He looked shyly down at Shadi, who smiled back up at him, righting his socks carefully. "Do you... do you think she would like that?"

"Aye, it's every girls dream to have a handsome young knight dedicate a tournament to them, don't you know? I can't imagine anything that would make her happier, little lord." The female giggled, grabbing the boy's boots and lacing them on. He smiled down at her, a flurry of tails behind him beating against Emma's crib, making her scream at him, her little face wrinkled in rage.

"If my win will make mother happy, nothing will make her happy..." He grumped at his sister; as if honestly hurt she was not happier on the day he was to become a hero. Isiat was holding a 'small tourney' today for the noble's children and Hunter was as excited as a man who'd just found the dragon's hoard. To Isiat and the other lords, it would be a chance for their sons and daughters to mingle and get to know their future prospective partners, as well as for the boys to fight it out among themselves... She had met Isiat on a day just like it, in fact... The thought made her blush, wondering perhaps if her lord would seek her out again, now that he was sober, or if perhaps he would just avoid her entirely...

X---------------------------------------------------------X

Outside, the sun was beginning its assent, and Isiat had decided to bathe quickly before breakfast was served in the main hall. He tried to wash the sweat and sex and sweat from his body frantically in the guest bathroom where he had claimed Shadi last night... The water was cold, a vain attempt of his to try and cure the last of his hangover as well as to try and snap the already exhausted vulpine into focus.

Isiat yelped suddenly, a sudden down-pour of ice water hitting him squarely in the back, making him whirl around and flash his teeth at whomever-

"Please, you think I wouldn't have smelt her on you? Your little whore?" The red figure of his wife startled him more than the water had, the woman normally was nowhere to be found when Isiat lost his clothing... Though, her expression was not one that inspired arousal in him, not by any means.

She glared down at him, and it struck Isiat just how beautiful his wife looked... beautiful, and cruel, like a statue of a harpy. "I knew you would go after her when I sent you away, it was just a matter of time... If I had any good standing with the church, I'd put in a 'good' word for her. It's been a while since I have been to a pyre..." Victoria grinned, the russet furred bitch's tails seeming to flick in delight, as she looked at her excuse for a husband, soaked head to toe and standing knee deep in the cold water of the tub.

With a lick of dread and a torrent of rage, Isiat bared his teeth at the mother of his children. "And what? Let your child starve because god help us, you're too pretty to feed your own damned infant? Grow up woman, you do anything to her, you only harm your own child-"

"But what about your reputation though? I wonder how much damage this little nugget of fact could do if it were to become public knowledge. Your little 'friend' would be ruined... No man would want a lord's whore, nor would her family even want her either. I would like to hold my daughter for the show today, and I would like for you to send fifty of your men to swear under my Father's banner, as a show of good faith... That would make him oh so happy, and my father's happiness would mean my own, as well." She grinned almost maliciously, but Isiat knew the bitch had him snookered.

Isiat growled. "Get out woman. I will allow you your daughter, and consider your fathers... gift. Now Leave me, bitch, and don't let me see you again until the tournament begins." He snarled, striding towards her quickly, his fist balled. Victoria quickly retreated from the room, a smug grin of victory on her muzzle.

So that was her end game, was it? It didn't surprise him. She wanted her family to have the power in the region here, rather than him... He wouldn't allow for that to happen, but for the moment, he was in a corner with few options... and with images of Shadi fresh in his mind from last night (hazy though they were) he was in no state of mind to counter the threat, not now...

X---------------------------------------------------------X

Isiat finished his bath in relative silence, the vulpine still fuming about his wife finding out. Since last night, he had gone out of his way to avoid her, and yet still the bitch knew! While he knew some of the household guards were definitely under her employ, unless she was also paying off every one of his maids and servants as well, she shouldn't have known that...

He growled, the confusion of how she had found out making him irritable, and he tugged on his day's garb with annoyed grunts and snarls, the white and red cuffed shirt going on beneath his black jacket and pants... Not quite a formal suit of sorts, but it was his family's colors, and today was his day to represent his family before the true tourney began tomorrow. Today was more like... Friendly competition, a chance for the guests and crowd to view their favorites and make any early bets on their favorites. Already since he had left, a large flat board had been erected with the ladder of competition, each knight represented by a hanging shield on the list.

And from what he had heard, it was to be a long list indeed. The area had been devoid of tournaments for quite a while, and this was a chance for many of the lords to show off without having to ride for several weeks to do so. Over a hundred knights from the region and afar were to be in attendance, and they expected at least a dozen others on top of the ones who had sent written replies stating their intentions to appear.

He tightened his rapier's belt a little more around his waist, trying to suck in his gut. While the lord was in good shape undoubtedly, he was not quite as fit as he had been during the crusades... Being doted upon and having no-one trying to kill you each day did that to you... There was nothing quite like a good war to whip oneself into shape.

Stepping out into the hallway, he looked about, wary for his wife's criticism again. In his current state, he might have needed someone there to stop him from running her through and saying she fell on it. His mood had been soured by his wife's little 'visit' to him, and now he had to go through the entire day greeting lords and nobles and knights. If it wasn't already the day for it all, he would have called off the entire tournament.

But as it was, that was no longer an option, and he would simply have to grin and bear it. On his journey towards the dining hall, he hoped to at least run into Shadi with the children, unless they were already waiting for him. He had been longer in cleaning than he had meant to be, but his wife's interruption had delayed him quite significantly.

"Quickly now, your father will be waiting for us!" He heard Shadi's rushed voice, and he nearly ran into her as she herded Hunter around the corner in front of herself, not looking where she was going as she tried to hurry the children to the dining hall. Isiat had to raise his paws to steady himself as she bumped into his chest, the feline stammering an apology as she blushed and looked up. "Oh, Master Carcer! I am so sorry, Hunter was fussing about his clothes, and Emma is colicky and sick." She tried to explain to him, but Isiat just help up a paw, chuckling.

"It is alright, I was just on my way to the dining hall myself... Uhm, can we have a word, quickly?" Isiat motioned to Hunter, who had gotten distracted looking at one of the newer tapestries of knights in the desert fighting raiders on camels.

Shadi nodded, confusion appearing on her sweet little face as she stepped aside. In a heartbeat, Isiat had her pinned against the wall lightly, and Emma let out a quiet gurgle as he leaned his head down, kissing his daughters forehead. Running his nose up Shadi's neck, the feline shivered softly, before he whispered in her ear.

"Victoria knows. I don't know how, but she knows." He growled quietly, his tongue flicking out to lick at the base of her large, furred ear tenderly. "If she tries to pin anything, deny it for now. I don't want that being used as fuel for a fire against you... And also..." He smiled, before he kissed her flush on the lips, making Shadi's nose blush a hot shade of pink as he pulled back, grinning from ear to ear. The rich, sweet scent of her fur clung to his nostrils like a summer wine would his tongue. "Thank you for it as well... I should have been that for you years ago."

"Come Hunter." Isiat called, a broad smile now on his muzzle. His day was already starting to look up again. "It will be a big day today. There are knights from all over the land coming for the tournament, and you will be expected to watch them compete for gold and glory... But it's the gold they really come for." He chuckled, as he led the way to the dining hall, tails flickering behind him. Shadi paced by his side, the little feline's nose still a vivid pink. She was smiling.

X---------------------------------------------------------X

The table at breakfast was surprisingly quiet that day. There was little conversation, and the silence made it none the less awkward than it already was, with Victoria quietly eating her fill, all the while shooting glares across the table at both Isiat and Shadi, as if daring them to speak up. Though eventually, she seemed to bore of her new game, and stood slowly, the creaking of her chair seeming unnaturally loud in the silent hall.

"Do try not to get killed husband. It would be such a shame for us all..." She taunted Isiat. No doubt, she would merrily place bets against him if she had the coin to spare. She exited slowly, taking her time to walk by behind Shadi. "My husband wishes it that Emma be with me today. I would like to keep my darling daughter with me for the events." She stated flatly as she stepped around to the felines side, holding out her paws for her daughter. "She needs to spend some time with her mother, not her wet-nurse all day..." She spat the title as if it were an insult on Shadi's dignity, her russet tails flicking back and forth.

Emma, for her part, almost immediately began to sob and wail pitifully, and the sounds of his daughters distress made him cringe as Shadi was forced to give up the child to her mother. 'I wouldn't want to go with her either' Isiat thought to himself as he watched his daughter in some level of distress at being held by her birth mother.

Shadi for her part, was unaware of Isiat's agreement, and looked over at him accusingly. "The young lady is sick... I have been doing my best to help her heal..." Shadi began, but Victoria silenced her with a paw.

"This is not my firstborn you forget. I am not new to this like you are... Oh, except you aren't new to this either... I do hope your own child is doing as well..." Victoria sneered, and It took all of Isiat's self-control not to stand up and strike his wife again. That was going too far... Perhaps Victoria needed a good reminding of how close her vanity had come to costing him his daughter's life.

Shadi remained quiet in her dignity however, simply bowing her head as she handed the child to Victoria. "Of course, my Lady..." Emma flailed about in her mother's arms, clearly uncomfortable and not wanting to be there as she let out an almost blood curdling wail. She had to resist just snatching the child back from her mother, her tail twitching erratically, like an angry cat. Victoria wasn't even holding her right for goodness sake! A baby with colic couldn't be held straight on her back like the vixen was holding her. But she bit her lip, and remained silent... It was not her place to speak. She could feel her heart breaking for the young infant.

As soon as she was gone, Isiat looked across to Shadi, sighing. His expression said it all. That woman had no business trying to raise her own child.

X---------------------------------------------------------X

Isiat had departed just shortly after Victoria, his appetite suddenly gone like his enthusiasm for the russet furred vixen. He had lords to meet once again, and unfortunately, they wouldn't simply show themselves to their tents. He thumbed at the map he had hastily drawn up of the tents and who they had been assigned to.

While he had people to move their things and show them around, it was still the lord's duty to greet his guests. And with the list that Isiat was expecting, that would be the better part of his morning until he could find a minute to sneak away. He'd spared Shadi a quick, polite peck on her cheek on his way out, but it was likely going to be the last he saw of her for at least a few hours unless something better came up. As it so happened this morning, something better would come up..

Isiat stood with a handful of his household guard at the gates of the manor, including Ser Parker. Isiat liked to keep him nearby whenever he had to meet guests. The dragon made his rather imposing presence felt. Eight feet of obsidian armored reptile with a sword as tall as most men made sure the conversations were kept brief, and Isiat was glad for that much at least. Parker could handle the small talk only so much before he found something better to do that required the lord's attention.

Several carriages and about an hour later, one particularly elaborate carriage rolled up, and Isiat had to resist the urge to simply turn around and march himself back inside. But that would have probably been the worst move he could have made, both for his own sake and if he wanted anything at all to do with his wife in the next month... Though at that though, he seriously considered doing it just for that opportunity.

The banner the outriders held aloft were a pair of long bladed pole axes, with a king's gold piece between them. Turens. Victoria's brother. Shit. Isiat did his best to fake a polite smile as Ser Julien stepped from the carriage, the knight in mirror polished steel armor shooting a broad smile, across his russet furred muzzle. A single paw reached up to scratch the white tuft of a goatee on his chin, and he tried to grin politely at Isiat, the vulpine's twenty even tails swaying behind him.

"Ahh! Sir Isiat! How is that knighthood treating you, brother?" He almost spat the word. They had never seen eye to eye... Isiat had been granted his knighthood, where Julien had never even received recognition for anything but his tournament wins, an unbroken streak of twenty now. They had both fought in the crusades and returned, but only Isiat had received more than a simple 'thanks' for his gallant efforts. Julien for the first time in his life had returned all but forgotten. He'd resented Isiat almost from the moment he had married his sister.

Isiat grit his teeth through the rather blunt insult, but he paid it turn in turn. "Ahh, it goes well Julien. How go your tournaments? The people say they're your greatest achievements." Isiat smiled as humbly as he could manage, which really, wasn't much at all. He despised the Turens with a passion, and some days, it took everything but biting his own tongue off to keep himself from insulting their pride directly. His paw rested almost instinctively upon his sword's hilt, until Parker spoke up, the dragon's own tail lashing back and forth. He'd seen Isiat's movement.

"My Lord, if you and your, ahem... Brother, are quite done, the final draws for the tournament tomorrow require your attention, and your son needs his armor fitted." The dragon interrupted, calmly laying a paw on his lord's shoulder and giving him a gentle tug away from an almost inevitable pissing contest between the two males.

"Ahh, yes, of course. Brother, I wish you best of luck." Isiat smiled, leaving the fuming and sneering Keynari to boil in his own rage as the dragon led him away, back through the large doors to the Manor. Parker shut them quickly behind himself, separating the squabbling siblings by marriage.

"I'll make sure that he's good and settled before the next cart arrives. With any luck, the only time you will need deal with him will be in the arena, and then you can deal with him how I would like to." The dragon chuckled, and Isiat managed a quiet laugh of his own, calming back down. Something about Julien just made him want to lop the sorry boy's head clean off.

"You were serious about Hunter's armor though, weren't you? Is it finished?" He quizzed quickly, changing the topic to something less murder inducing, and the dragon gave a nod.

"It arrived with the goods train this morning. Just as you ordered it, hardened silver, with gold and platinum trim on the gauntlets and greaves. The blade is a Gladius, and the coif is silver chain with an open-faced helmet, as requested." Parker read off almost proudly, before he began walking. Expected to follow, Isiat set off behind him at almost a jog to keep pace with the dragon's strides.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner? Where did you have it taken?" Isiat barked out the questions as they walked, Parker slipping out a side door of the manor, closer to the training area.

"Well, the smiths of course. He's there right now with Miss Shadi trying it on, or I should hope he is." He spoke, holding the door open with his tail as Isiat walked past and out into the yard. It was as busy as it ever was, but true to his word, Shadi and his son stood across the yard at the small blacksmith's shop by the sparring arena. Even from where he was he could hear Hunter's whining.

"Is it done yet? I want to show father! He'll be so impressed! I'll be the grandest of all the knights today! You'll see!" The child boasted enthusiastically to the blacksmith, a wolf who was clearly weary looking, and tiring of the boy's squirming as he tried to tighten the leather straps to secure the elaborate breastplate in place.

"Hold still young master and it will be done sooner! I can't very well tighten the armor on you if you keep squirming about like a fish." The smith complained, wrestling with the armor and tugging on the leather straps to secure it to him. At the same time though, Shadi dabbed at his muzzle with a small linen hanker chief, trying to scrub a patch of breakfast off his jaw. It did nothing to help stop his squirming.

Hunter scrunched up his brow, trying in vain to get away from the moist fabric and his nanny's cleaning, but the blacksmith held him still, giving a quiet growl. "Hold still boy, it is hard enough adjusting the armor as is... The straps are too long..." He finally concluded, lifting the breastplate back off over the child's head, and setting it down on a long wooden table by his forge tools.

"I'll need to cut them down to length. The plates themselves are a perfect fit, but- Oh, my lord." The wolf bowed quickly as he saw Isiat approaching. Shadi turned at his mention, and made a sweet curtsey, the feline smiling up at the rather dashing looking male. He did look quite splendid in his full armor and cloak, his family crest fluttering behind him in the slight breeze.

"Please, continue. I must say, it looks better than I expected on him. He'll make a fine show of it indeed today. You've done well just managing to keep him still for this long." Isiat smirked proudly, and Hunter seemed to beam at the praise from his father. The trio of tails he sported swished back and forth like an excited pup.

"Aye me'lord, the armorers did a fine job of it indeed, though the straps are too long, and will require some shortening before it's ready for him to use. It should not take long, an hour at most. I think I can handle the young lord here." The older wolf smiled, before standing up. At his full height, he made even Parker look small. Standing at close to nine feet, Remus had been his father's smith before Isiat had even been born. The shaggy black and ruddy-brown fur of his pelt was always stained with soot, or singed from heat of the forge.

The thick leather apron around his neck was seared from working on his latest order, a new batch of training blades for Ser Parker. The current ones they had were chipped and deformed from years of abuse and beating against dummy targets and the other blunted blades. Though Isiat knew by far that the Goliathan wolf's craftsmanship was the damned strongest anyone could make. Any other smith and those training swords would have been worn through in a matter of weeks with the way Parker trained his knights.

"Only, of course if Miss Shadi consents to leave him in your care for that long, Remus." He chuckled heartily at the thought of all the mischief Hunter could no doubt get up to in an hour... And all the mischief that he could get up to in less than that. Shadi seemed to hesitate. She did not know these people nearly as well as Isiat did, and was wary to trust a stranger with the boy, even one Isiat trusted so...

"It is your decision, of course. They're in your care, but I'm sure you could use a break for an hour, as could I..." He looked over at Shadi with a wry smile, and to the feline, it only made her that little more hesitant... She knew how Isiat got as a child once you gave him his way, and she doubted that had changed since he was a boy.

"Do you promise to be good for mister Remus here?" She stared down at Hunter scrutinizingly for a long moment, before sighing quietly as he gave her his best puppy eyes.

"I promise I'll be good miss Shadi..." He chimed in a sing song voice. Isiat held back a snicker as he looked at his son from the other side, his crossed tails behind his back giving no credit to his innocence. One of Isiat's own tails flicked out and whapped the whelp over the back of the head.

"See to it that you are, because if Remus here says you've been up to your usual mischief, I'll have you mucking out the stables for a week." The tone of his voice implied the severity of his warning. While he knew Hunter would get up to being a nuisance for the smith one way or another, a blacksmith's shop was hardly the safest place for his shenanigans, so it was best to keep a heavy penalty over his head to keep him in check. He wouldn't do anything too bad this way at least.

"Yes father..." The pup whined softly, as Remus replaced the armor over his head and slotted it into place, drawing a dagger from his belt of tools. Hunter's eyes widened and he stiffened visibly, the pup looking to his father for a way out of his situation.

"Now hold still lad while I score the leather... Wouldn't want to be slipping with this now, and my eyes aren't as good as they were..." The wolf gave Isiat a wink, motioning him off with his muzzle before Hunter could make a run for it or beg of his father to stay.

Isiat snickered playfully as he took Shadi's paw in his own, leading her off with him towards the stables. "Tell me my good lady, do you still like to ride along the riverside?"

X---------------------------------------------------------X

Not twenty minutes later, Isiat was joyously neglecting his duties as lord, with such a big tournament being organized, he had suddenly dumped his responsibilities on his Sargent at arms. It wasn't as if Parker wasn't used to this kind of treatment whenever Isiat needed a break for an hour, and so what if he insulted some lesser family by not greeting them personally? He'd have time later to do the rounds with the ones he missed. His midnight black stallion snorted as he drove his heels into its ribs, kicking the horse up to a quick canter along the riverside, trying to keep up with Shadi on her white mare. "Now hold on a minute! Shadi!"

She simply laughed at his slow mount, covered in chain mail and elaborately woven blankets, the warhorse had no chance at keeping up with her lightly loaded courser, only weighted down by the feline and a simple leather saddle. Her horse nickered as she tugged on the reigns, drawing her steed to a halt, Isiat's own mount riding up alongside her a moment later.

"Why, if we were just going down the river, did you insist on taking your warhorse in full mail? It's just cruel to the animal..." She tutted at him disapprovingly, watching as the stallion lowered its head to drink from the river by them.

"Nonsense. Charger here rode through the crusades wearing more than this, and it was twice as hot and without water for days at a time. Today, it's cool, it's windy, and there is a river right here." He waved his paw about with a grin, looking at Shadi.

She seemed to fit perfectly onto the saddle, her dress's middle bunched up between her legs to keep her modesty. He long hair had been let down for their ride, and it spilled down her spine until it almost touched the saddle. "This was a good idea. I... I needed this. Thank you Isiat. My Lord." She bowed her head with a baiting smile as she said it.

He sighed wistfully, looking out at the village about a mile downstream from where they had stopped, under a great pair of willow trees. "You remember when we used to make this ride every day as children? Not a care in the world, just the wind in our faces, and my father's guards at our backs once they realized we'd taken the horses." He snickered. They had never been caught at least. Isiat and Shadi always took the fastest horses in the stable.

"Yes, I do. And I also remember you trying to convince me to do unmentionable things on those rides as well. Such a charming example of a gentleman you were back then." She giggled, rolling her eyes sarcastically at him.

"Oh! So you do remember those times too... Glad I'm not the only one."

She reached her paw out to take his hand, and she gripped around his wrist tightly. "Do you also remember my reaction whenever you made those terrible suggestions?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. Isiat didn't like the smile that was on her face. She gave a hard yank, and the armored male toppled from his saddle like a tower going over sideways, landing in the mud with a wet squelch.

"Hyah!" Her mare shot off the mark, racing away from the floundering lord, who was curing and laughing at her, half in rage, and half at the fact that he should have seen that one coming.

"Dammit Shadi! Get back here!" He barked at her, scrambling back up onto his own steed's saddle, his previously shining armor caked and dripping with mud and dirt. He drove his boots into Charger's flanks, spurring the stallion into a gallop. His hooves kicked up clods of dirt with each racing step, and in a matter of moments, he had chased Shadi down. He reached across between their galloping steeds, tugging sharply at her courser's reigns, bringing them both to a stop.

Shadi was laughing almost hysterically. "Oh! The look on your face! Oh my, your armor! I am... I'll help you clean it before we go back..." She giggled, calming herself down and giving him an apologetic smile. There was a small fishing pier they had passed in their chase just upstream a short ways, and the pair turned their steeds about, trotting along slowly. Shadi's cheeks were bright red with embarrassment. Isiat's pants and shirt were stained brown entirely on one side, and there was little she could do about that, but his armor would be easy enough to scrub off in the running water. At the very least, -it- would look clean when they finally got back.

The playful duo dismounted, and Isiat knelt at the end of the pier, working at unbuckling his greaves and pauldrons. Shadi gasped when she saw just how much of his shirt had gotten dirtied, and silenced herself before she could giggle about it. Isiat looked over saw her snickering, quickly flicking one of his muddied tails, and speckling her dress with brown spots. She gasped, looking utterly offended and appalled at his conduct.

"Isiat! What will I wear now!?" The only response she received was his laughter, and she took his pauldrons from where he had set it down, and threw it at him in a fit of playful rage. It bounced off his breastplate with a resounding clang, before sliding off the pier and into the water, promptly sinking to the bottom of the river.

Now it was Isiat's turn to look shocked, and he did so with gusto, his tails flicking back and forth behind him as he stood up, grinning at Shadi almost evilly.

"Oh no, don't you dare young man. Don't even- Ach! Isiat!" She squealed, thrashing and kicking against his armor as he picked her up and hoisted her over his shoulder. "Isiat! I can't swim!" She wailed, but Isiat simply laughed.

"Liar! We used to swim together all the time. See?" He smirked, before tossing her unglamorously into the water with a large splash. Shadi resurfaced a heartbeat later sputtering, the length of her dress floating around her like a bizarre lilly pad.

"See? Like a cat to water, what did I say?" The look she gave him promised vengeance for his heinous actions against her. He smirked at the soaked female, who looked somewhat like a drowned rat, her fur sticking to her angular face with possibly the most unimpressed scowl Isiat had ever seen. Unbuckling the rest of his armor while she treaded water, he left the heavy plate on the pier, standing up in his plain beige undershirt, and pair of long johns.

Shadi could feel her cheeks turn red before she even had a chance to avert her eyes, and the only indication of movement was the loud splash Isiat made as he catapulted into the water like a stone. The dress floating around her was beginning to get heavy as it soaked, and she quickly pulled her arms back in the sleeves, the feline taking a deep breath before sliding down under the surface, leaving her dress behind. She knew she was far from decent in merely a wrap for her chest and her linen panties, but she had yet to see another soul along the river thusfar. She was confident her modesty was safe with Isiat.

One look at the wet, dripping and grinning vulpine had her thinking otherwise though, and memories of last night came unbidden to the front of her mind. She was still unsure about the honesty of Isiat's attentions, but he had seemed... Very satisfied with her last night, if his comments this morning had been anything to go by. Admittedly, she had been somewhat afraid of him at first because of their past friendship, but now that everything had happened...

Now she wasn't quite as sure about his feeling towards her. The way he was acting was like how he had been when the young lord was still just that. He had been so playful and full of life, and now, he was acting just like that same boy she had befriended so long ago. Part of her was still scared of him for what he had done with her last night, but not for the same reason she had been then...

Now, part of her was more afraid of him doing something that would leave her in tears than doing what he had done to her last night... It was bizarre, but Shadi knew what she was doing was a sin... And yet, she did not feel any guilt for it. She could understand why he had sought her out, especially with his wife's blunt and unconcealed hostility towards both Shadi and himself. Theirs was not a marriage of choice, nor one well matched. Both had controlling personalities, but Victoria possessed some sort of low cunning that Isiat refused to reduce himself to.

Isiat was still staring at her, she realized, suddenly snapping her attention away from her racing thoughts, and she folded one arm across her corset, tutting at Isiat like she would at Hunter. "Now, now, it's not polite to stare at a lady, especially one-"

"Half clothed in a wet white corset?" Isiat raised an eyebrow, his devilish grin spreading over his lips like a predator smiling at easily cornered prey. She backpedaled in the water, but a few quick strokes from Isiat and the vulpine had cut her retreat to the shore off, forcing her out into the deeper water instead to escape him.

She drifted backwards with delicate kicks from her feet, using one paw to guide herself in the river, the other covering her now nearly transparent corset that bound her chest tightly. Isiat pursued her playfully, giving quiet growls and nipping at her shoulders whenever she let him get close enough. When she did however, she quickly launched herself off his chest with a kick of her feet, leaving the male gasping and floundering as she took her turn to smirk at him. "Oh come now, are you so out of shape you can't even catch a girl now?"

"Hey! I was just being playful-" He protested, but Shadi cut him off with a laugh.

"And so was I? What? Can't handle playful from me anymore?" She teased him relentlessly, but let out a cry of surprise as he surged forward in the water, swimming freestyle towards her. She turned and tried to swim away, but before she had made it even a few meters he was upon her, his paws wrapping tightly around her chest.

"Only if you can handle my playfulness in turn..." He growled into her ear, and the low bass rumble of his voice made her shiver slightly, even as he skillfully undid the back of her corset, until the garment came free, floating in the water. She made a grab for it, but gasped at the sudden cold that enveloped her pillowy breasts as they floated with the water's surface. The male's paws quickly had them cupped in a firm grip, his index digits slowly swirling around her perked nipples.

Is-Isiat..." She hissed quietly, leaning her head down to nip at his wandering paws. Her corset was busy floating away downstream, lost to the gentle current. "I hope you plan on replacing that... And the dress." She purred as he molested her most delightfully, this time, relaxing into the male's embrace as they treaded the water together. He turned her slowly in the water, and pulled her back against his chest, before his paws returned to their former positions.

It was not at all like how he had been with her the night before... This time, he was sweet and careful with her, laying light kisses along the side of her neck as he fondled her ample breasts. His touch was comforting, like the old friend she knew instead of the drunken stranger he had been last night. He nipped gently back up her neck and over the rim of her ear, smirking all the while. Her dress was caught on the reeds by the riverbed... It was almost a shame for him. She'd have something to wear on the ride back.

"Oh, I'm sure we can find you something to wear... I still think you look best like this though." He rumbled, paws roaming down the curvy felines sides. He hooked his thumbs through the waistband of her panties, and she knew exactly what it was he wanted. She could feel his stiffness pressing against the small of her back, throbbing gently as he ground himself against her rear.

"Naughty pup you are... Especially you of all people, my lord. Shouldn't you be setting an example?" She hissed as his teeth lightly closed around her shoulder, the male holding her making a low, dominant growl.

"By being with the woman I love? I could have sworn I was... Besides, you're the one teaching them. Teach them something good..." He released her shoulder from his jaw's grip, before tugging with his paws outwards, and tearing the delicate fabric of her panties. The garment floated downstream with the rest of its companions, leaving the feline utterly naked in the middle of the river. She bit her lip, looking about to make sure nobody was peeking in on their little escapade.

"Mrrf!" She squeaked, darting one of her paws under the water and lightly smacking his hip. "Bad fox. I was already planning on that much..."She could feel his shaft probing her back through the opening in his long johns, and she gently reached behind herself, wrapping her fingers around him. He gasped quietly, and humped into her paw, the slickness of his length washing off slightly with the water around them.

He was still more than slick enough to run her paw smoothly up and down though, and she let him think he was setting the terms for just a moment longer. The moment his knot had emerged from his sheath, she gripped it tightly, squeezing the bulb of flesh in a vice like hold. "And now that I have your attention..." She smirked. "Perhaps I should make you pay for those clothes? It seems only fair..."

Isiat grinned. He liked this game of hers. "Oh? Should I buy you an even finer one perhaps? Your choice?" She wagged a single digit of her free paw in front of his nose as he rested his head across her shoulder.

"Uh-uh... I want..." She had to think about it a moment. What did she want that he could give her? He was the Lord of the manor after all... He could have anything he wanted at a whim. But she didn't want anything fancy, or expensive... But perhaps she could weasel something good from him, for him as well... "When we get back... I want you to spend some time with Hunter, and watch his tournament battles with me." She decided, and Isiat's paws slipped inwards towards her lightly furred snatch.

"Mrrhhmmm, done." His paws made contact with her sex as he spoke the words, but she reached down, and gripped his wrist, pulling his wandering digits back just out of reach...

"Ahh, I wasn't done... I want that tongue of yours as well... Like... Like how you did last night..." She blushed, the words barely above a whisper.

"What? Right here?" Shadi nodded, a little mischievous grin hidden behind her down-tilted head, trying to look shy and nervous in front of this big strong lord... "Shadi, I'm not a fish you know..." He started sarcastically, but a quick bop on his nose silenced him.

"Hush. I know. Please Isiat? For me?" She pleaded, and she felt his hold on her loosen as he let her turn back about in the water.

"Oh... How can I say no to that face?" He smiled softly, before leaning in and kissing her flush on the lips, his maleness probing against her hip lightly. She did her best to hide her little grin of victory in the kiss before he pulled away, and with a deep breath, sunk under the water.

The world was cold and wet for Isiat, but he felt his way down Shadi's belly and thighs, the little feline parting her legs while doing her best to keep treading the water. His nose brushed down over her naval, a small string of bubbles escaping his nostrils. Her fur felt entirely different when it was soaked down, smooth and silky instead of soft and warm.

He ventured lower, pulling himself downwards until he could feel the warmth of her slit against the leathery tip of his nose. His paws took a firm grip on her hips, and he held his breath as his tongue snaked from his muzzle, gliding up her slit from bottom to the small nub of her clit. He could hear her moan quietly, the sound rippling from the felines chest through the water. He tasted the water first, before he tasted her sweet nectar upon his lips, sealing himself to her sex in a messy, naughty kiss with his tongue.

She squirmed at his tongue's intrusion into her body, but Isiat's paws held her steady, digging into her hips to keep her still. She got his message and tried her best, but holding still and treading water against a current was no easy task. Her paws fell against the top of his head, scratching behind the vulpine's ears as if she were praising a pet. But perhaps she could teach him a few new tricks...

She tightened her digits around his ears, tugging his muzzle forward into her sex with a quiet gasp as his nose pressed into her clit. A small rush of bubbles tickled against her sensitive flesh, but Isiat didn't relent, and she resisted the urge to squirm as that devilish tongue of his writhed about inside her. When he was trying to please her, she couldn't deny that the male knew what he was doing to say the very least on the matter.

His tongue reached deep, lapping at the sweet honeypot as if the male between her thighs had been parched for a week. Her digits tangled in his hair roughly as she forced his nose against her womanhood, the male letting out another stream of bubbles that had her body positively writing against his worming muscle probing against her insides. The rush of sensation across the tightly wound bundle of nerves at the tip of her slit was like having someone tickling her all over with feathers.

He writhed against her paws under the water, another stream of bubbles escaping his muzzle, and it took Shadi a long moment to realize what he was getting at. The short nip against her thigh got the message through, and with an apologetic gasp, Shadi moved her paws, the male kicking to the surface in a single quick stroke, gasping for air.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so... I didn't even realize! Are you okay?" She fussed over Isiat like she did with his pups, but he managed to laugh it off with a few coughs added in for good measure.

"I'm fine, I prom-" He cut himself off with another bout of coughing, his laughter intermingled with his body's attempts to remove the small amount of water he'd swallowed from his system. "I'm fine, really..." He swam a little closer, until his chest's fur meshed with Shadi's own, her nipples perk and erect just beneath the waterline. One of his paws came up, lightly tweaking and pinching the nub of flesh between his thumb and forefinger.

"But you my dear feline, still are missing something..." He pondered it a moment, and she felt his length pressing against the inside of her thighs. Even under the water, his package still felt almost hot to the touch, and it throbbed and twitched when she reached down and grasped him in her paw. Their gasps came almost simultaneously, as both of their paws stimulated the other's body in most luxurious ways.

She wrapped her fingers around the slowly throbbing fox hood, stroking along Isiat's maleness as if she were trying to scuff a mark from leather, giving him a series of quick, firm jerks that left his tongue lolling from his muzzle and gasping for breath momentarily. A quick glace down showed some of his watery pre drifting away from his tip, carried off by the slow current.

"Nggh... Take me home Shadi..." He rumbled, and she did. This time, without the doubts that she had last night. This time, she knew he would treat her right, and that he would be good to her... He wanted the relationship that they had almost had as young adults, and she was willing to give it to him now... Last night had been a mistake on his part, but right now...

She leapt into the decision without any regrets about the path her actions would take her down... She had always felt strongly about Isiat, but when their arranged marriages had drawn them apart... She felt like now was a chance for them to rediscover that love again... Surely the Lord wouldn't have put her on this path without reason... Sometimes sinning was for the right reasons, and she knew her adultery would not go unnoticed by the almighty.

With a single, smooth thrust, he entered her, like a key to its lock. His stiff vulpine spire pushed into her, aided by the attentions of his tongue before paw. The river water itself made a poor lubricant, and did more to wash the slickness between them away than it did to help their coupling, and Isiat had to keep his thrusts short to make up for it. Not of course, that it seemed to bother Shadi, who was busy huffing out moans with each buck of his hips driving his already hilted length deeper still into her.

She clenched her jaw when she felt the first signs of his knot slip into her, driving his tip to the gateway of her very core, and she knew he would get no deeper until well after he was swollen. Isiat, having admittedly never done anything quite like this before, was still trying to balance between rutting Shadi like he wanted to rut her, and keeping afloat in the water. She moved her paws to grip against his hips and help him along like an over eager pup.

A low growl escaped Isiat's throat, and Shadi gasped quietly as his teeth lightly closed around the side of her neck, the males hips rocking back and forth below the water, rubbing her slickly coated insides in all the right ways. When he drew back from her, it was no more than an inch, before he plunged right back into her tight passageway, breeding her in short, sharp thrusts that left her gasping for breath.

The stimulation that raced through her body had her nerves quivering like leaves in a strong breeze, and her brain struggled to keep up with the barrage of sensory information it was receiving. Her sex gripped down on the male inside of her with a vice like tightness, holding the slight bump of his forming knot inside of her while he swelled. She could feel his girth throbbing and twitching within her body, and she loved every moment of it.

Oh, how she would have loved if they could have been like this from the very beginning... Even as young teens behind the stable, they had still been a pair of naughty children, but it had never gone beyond petting back then. And now, here she was, floating in the middle of a river with his knot gradually expanding inside of her, ready to trap in everything he gave her. She would need to be more careful after she stopped breast feeding Emma, lest it result in another bastard in the world... The last thing she wanted for was another child to be rushed away from her.

She groaned throatily as he bottomed out inside of her, again and again and again pressing himself snuggly against the gateway to her womb. Already she could feel the spurts of his preseed against her sensitive insides, and they trickled back when he shifted, only to be lost in the river when they eventually dripped to the end of her passage.

And he was showing no signs of slowing down any time soon either. If anything, his vigorous mating was only picking up pace. His low growl continued to rumble between breaths, the warm air caressing along the nape of her neck in stark contrast to the cold water around them. He felt hot and hard like iron fresh from the forge, and he drove himself into her with a purpose.

Shadi could feel her body heating up, the pleasure building like a dam filling, getting ready to break... She clenched her passage's muscles tightly down around his invading spire of fox flesh, and the male growled out hotly in response. His girth spread her open like a gateway to some sinful pleasure filled oasis, and she couldn't help but open her maw in a long, deep moan... Before last night, it had been months since a male had touched her... And now, she couldn't seem to keep Isiat off her if she wanted to.

She could feel his tip brushing up and over her cervix with each thrust, and she squirmed about, pushing her hips down to meet his as he thrust up into her. His knot pressed firmly against her outer lips, and he groaned in response to her body's tight grip around his length. Her little body was never meant to take males larger than her own species. It was not something she had been concerned about with her husband, however, the way his barbs would rake her insides, drag her into heat if she liked it or not...

Isiat had terrified her with his knot at first. It was so large, even compared to the rest of his shaft, which was already more than she was used to handling. Her paws could barely fit around his girth when he was at full mast, and it would take both of her paws together to encompass his knot easily... And for her tiny frame to fit that bulge of flesh inside her tight passageway was... Well, by no means could he have fit himself in her when he was fully engorged.

She groaned out lewdly as the thick, meaty flesh spread her outer lips lewdly apart, threatening to push inside of her, and yet she felt like her lions were just aching to be stretched around him, to be locked with the male as he filled her body with his essence. With her feet wrapped around his waist, she helped him with his efforts, her hips pressing back against his eager thrusts, her breasts pressing against his torso.

Isiat growled hungrily as he bred Shadi like a bitch in heat, his cock plunging into her depths. The deep maroon rod of flesh sunk into her slick cunt like she had laid out the welcome mat for him. His tip was buried deep, battering against the feline's final barrier as he tried to force her cervix to part for him. He was determined to knot her now that she'd let him get this far, his cock pulsing and leaking pre-cum into her body like a tap.

He could feel her body slowly yielding before his rapid thrusts, the water around them splashing with their movements, but neither seemed to care, too caught up in the sensations of their coupling. His climax was rapidly closing on him, and the vulpine's instincts were urging him to knot her already. A long, low growl left his throat as the male leaned in close, the feline's breasts pressed against his pecs. He ground his knot against her sex as he whispered softly in her ear.

"Moan for me Shadi... Tell me you want it..." She felt the warmth of his breath tickling the inside of her ear, her eyes closing softly in delight as she gave herself entirely over to him to do with as he pleased. In her mind, she was already his girl, his mate, and he treated her like a queen for it.

The male she had fallen in love with so long ago howled out his pleasure, intermingling his cry of bliss with her own voice as she toppled over the edge of her peak with him. Her inner walls caressed and milked the vulpine length within her, beckoning his knot welcome, and as he sunk within her tight, warm passage, she felt the first hot splash of his seed against her very core itself.

Her body stretched for him as his knot sealed her tight; the thick glands expanding to their full size within her, and making her sex ache from being stretched to her limit. She felt him in pulses, each throb of his length inside of her bringing with it a new wave of his cum to help soak her burning insides. She groaned in bliss. This was how lovemaking should be.

His lips locked to hers, and it took her by surprise when suddenly she found his tongue pressing it's way between her lips in a most lewd and messy kiss. She returned it just as eagerly as he gave it, their tongues dancing and wrestling within her maw for the longest time as the pair's joint orgasms faded into afterglow.

The experience left them both panting when they finally did part muzzles, Shadi's beautifully mismatched earthy eyes meeting Isiat's own. Their feet brushed past each other as they treaded the water carefully, Isiat motioning over towards the shore. "Perhaps... We should move back to shore before we sink from exhaustion, no?"

The male looked more than a little worn out. The fur of his face was matted both from sweat and water, and he hardly looked lordly in any sense of the word. The sight made Shadi giggle quietly. And she gave him a soft nod, and together, they paddled carefully through the water to the bank, nesting down in a thicket of reeds just out of the water.

Laying on the grass wasn't quiet as luxurious as laying on the bed back at the manor, but Isiat made do, letting his shoulders and back sink into the soft dirt of the riverside while Shadi lay over him, her head resting lightly on his collarbone. A quiet purr vibrated from her chest, and his paws found their way to her spine, stroking through the false mane of hair that ran her back's length.

It was an interesting feeling, combing down her wet fur with his fingertips... The way she normally dressed, nobody could see the mane of fur running along her spine, but it was a unique thing about her species, just like their overly long tails. Something Isiat found both most curious and delighting at the same time.

"You know, my wife is not going to be happy with me about all of this..." He managed to chuckle softly after some time of just quietly stroking her, and Shadi felt a sudden pang of guilt. She looked away from Isiat with her features cringing slightly.

Even if she did enjoy being with Isiat, she knew God saw everything, and he would have frowned upon her sinning. His paws against her back were comforting, but she was still tied at the hips to a married man. She looked about, suddenly paranoid that someone might see them like this again. She looked about quickly, before sighing, and resting her head back down against the Keynari's chest... She would be here for a while; she might as well make the most of it.

"She never seems to be happy with you to begin with my lord..." She said quietly, her little paws lightly gripping his shoulders, as if clinging herself to him. The only response she got was a quiet sigh, the male folding his paws around her back, holding her to him.

"It was quite bad from the word go. My father arranged the marriage in order to gain Lord Turen's support, but neither of us ever particularly liked eachother... We consummated our marriage as was expected of us, and for a while, she was happy raising Hunter... But our ideals of how he should be raised differed... She wanted to have him sent to her father's castle to be trained, and I wanted to keep him here with me... That was the first time I had to strike her after she clawed my face."

His voice was almost a constant sigh it seemed, and Shadi could tell just how unhappy his union made him. "The only good things that came from her were my children, and now she only wants part of their lives because I brought you here. She would have let Emma starve were it not for you, and even then she opposed the idea... What she wants is my fiefdom under her family's thumb... Her father might have a castle, but their coffers are empty. I don't have a castle, and my treasury is all but overflowing each month. Even with the taxes low, we export almost all of what we make..." He blinked for a moment, looking up at the clouds, before a quiet snore caught his attention. Looking down his chest, Shadi seemed quite content to nap against him, rather than listen to his talks of politics.

Shaking his head, he lay himself back down, his hair mingling with the grass and dirt, but he didn't care so much... He had at least an hour before Parker decided he was sick of entertaining his master's guests and sent some of the scouts to bring him back... He could rest for a little while before he had to return. Wrapping his arms around her tightly, and letting his tails drape over them like a blanket of wet fur, he let himself relax, resting his muzzle against the top of Shadi's head.

Honestly, at that moment, he couldn't think of anything else he'd rather be doing.