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"My Lord?" a messenger said politely, bowing as he entered the throne room of his Emperor. "The ambassador to the western provinces is awaiting an audience in the courtyard."

The massive, twenty-five year-old bull whom ruled nearly half of the continent, sighed with a slight grin. "Alright, I'll be with him in a moment." Emperor Feran Blackridge IV rose from his intricately carved mahogany throne, inlaid with pieces of emerald, and stretched his stiff muscles as his regal attire shimmered in the morning sunlight which streamed in through the stained glass windows lining his throne room. The bull hated wearing his official Emperor clothing, but he was essentially required to when having an official meeting with someone of importance. He much preferred wearing a loose tunic and trousers instead of his current attire: luxurious green clothes trimmed in gold, an equally impressive green and gold cape, and an elegant golden circlet encrusted with emeralds and sapphires which rest upon his head. The color scheme had been chosen by his personal tailor since it apparently complemented the deep green color of Feran's eyes, but the bull had no eye for fashion, so the overall magnificence that he radiated when wearing the clothes was lost on him.

Throwing open the doors to the throne room, Feran took an immediate right and walked through the archway that led into the royal courtyard. The old owl waited in a small grove of trees, looking up into an old fruit tree, until his Emperor stood behind. He felt the bull's presence, smiled, and bowed to the point where his beak nearly touched the ground. "My Emperor, I cannot begin to express how happy I am to be in these halls once more, and that I am once more in the shadow of your magnificence."

The huge bull shook his head, slightly annoyed by the flattery and what he interpreted as sarcasm. "Rise, Uncle Avern. We've been over this time and time again: You bow to no one. The man that practically raised me deserves that privilege," he smiled, taking his life-long friend by the hand and leading him to a short, stone bench next to a rose garden. The owl sat and adjusted his deep red robe, setting his staff-like cane on the ground beside him. "What brings you here, Avern?" Feran spoke. "What news have you from the western territories? Are the preparations finally completed for my invasion of Soringrad?

"Yes, of course! But...I have some concerns, my boy," Avern replied slowly, considering his words wisely. "You must be aware that...well, a large amount of the men in your legions hail from the country you plan to invade. Are you really sure that is a wise decision to make right now?" The old owl whispered to the huge bull that sat next to him.

"Soringrad may be an influential neighboring country, but they have refused to pay sovereignty to the throne in exchange for peace. While my late father may have let that slide, I am not as soft as he, and as such, Soringrad must be made an example of. Bow to the might of the Garran Empire, or be crushed and forcefully absorbed into it," the Emperor said, his fiery gaze fixed on the ambassador.

He bowed his head in agreement. "Long live the Empire, my Lord. The western provinces will always remain loyal to you, as of course, shall I. However, I cannot be by your side as much as I wish to be because of the position you recently bestowed so generously upon me, but I do know of a place where you may find the right man to help you in this time of sensitive relations with the men of Soringrad. Have you heard of The Chamber of Whispering Smoke?"

The bull looked confused for a moment before speaking. "I've heard a little about them over the years, but much of their Order is still a mystery to me. You were once a member, weren't you, Avern?"

"Oh no, Emperor, not I. I am merely a former customer of theirs. It was there that I hired the spies that told me of this disgusting rebellion that Soringrad was planning. Spies are cheap, but what you need is a Raven!"

"I'm not sure I follow," Feran replied, still confused. "You're suggesting I hire on a complete stranger, a mercenary of sorts, to act as some kind of unseen bodyguard or something?"

"Not JUST a bodyguard my Lord. 'Raven' is the title that is given to one that has mastered the arts of stealth, magic, hand-to-hand combat, and all forms of weapons. Best of all, they have absolute loyalty to their masters!" The owl kept his voice down, but failed to keep his excitement about the topic hidden.

"So what I'm hearing, Avern...," the bull said slowly, "Is that you want me to replace you, my most loyal and wise servant and advisor, with some master assassin? Being the perfect bodyguard is one thing, but they will never measure up to your infinite wisdom!" Feran sighed heavily. "I know I made the right choice in appointing you as ambassador...I just wish there were two of you. The Empire needs more men like you."

The owl began to choke up like he was about to cry. "Oh, my Emperor! Your words strike my heart with a happiness that none could ever imagine! But you must understand, The Chamber of Whispering Smoke is the only place I know, and trust, to provide absolute protection for you while I keep your influence over the western provinces strong! As I have said before, the Raven that you select will know no boundaries when it comes to loyalty. You do understand the importance of that, right?" The old owl reached over, holding the bull's large hand in his own feathered hand. "I couldn't stand the thought of losing you to some silly rebellion or civil war."

The massive bull scratched his chin and replied in his deep, velvety voice. "I see your point I suppose. I'll definitely need someone I can trust. Sure, I have plenty of servants here, a few of which have earned my trust, but having a servant of that caliber...none of my enemies in the Senate would ever see them coming!" He laughed an almost maniacal laugh for a moment, thinking of all the fun ways he could have those that opposed him cut down discreetly and disposed of without anyone noticing. "Alright, Avern. You've convinced me. I'll pay this Chamber of yours a visit."

"I'm so glad I've managed to convince you!" He held the bull by his forearm, leading him out of the courtyard. "We should take a chariot! It's going to be a long ride, but I assure you it's absolutely worth it."

---

Having changed into equally regal yet much more comfortable clothing, Feran stepped into the chariot alongside Avern, the bull's favorite battle axe strapped to his back and his hand grasping an ornately carved, black staff which looked like a tree whose branches were climbing upwards to encase a green crystal within their boughs. The chariot was flanked by nearly twenty mounted, well-armed soldiers whom were hand-picked by the bull himself as pure white horses began to pull the chariot out of the palace gates.

Feran looked straight ahead as the chariot travelled through the city streets, looking like a statue of raw power that commanded respect and devotion from the citizens who waved and cheered as they rode past, some feeling obligated to cheer due to the somewhat tyrannical nature of their Emperor, others genuinely cheering because they knew what the country was like without him on the throne. Not turning his head, Feran spoke. "I hope you know what you're doing, Avern. You know I don't trust people easily, especially not strangers."

"Oh, my Lord, have I ever steered you wrong or ever given you anything that was other than beneficial to you as a ruler?" The owl spoke back, smiling and waving his hand towards the citizens. "However, you must keep in mind that these 'merchants of death' are NOT under your rule, nor anyone else's. They follow their own way of life and do nothing but look after themselves and their students until they are given a price that fits their desires. So I implore you to please, PLEASE, watch-your-temper," Avern spoke in an firm yet assuring tone, making Feran nearly grin as the bull realized the owl had started to slip back into his previous role as Advisor.

"They live in my Empire, therefore they are my citizens, whether they want to think so or not. They exist because I allow them to exist. They can think themselves high and mighty, but you know as well as anyone that I can extinguish the flames of their existence with a snap of my fingers." The huge bull sighed audibly. "HOWEVER, I'll play their little game and let them think they have some kind of control." The bull's words didn't exactly surprise the owl, given his Emperor's temper and how Feran ruled the empire with an iron fist due to his aggressive, militaristic nature.

"My Lord, do you remember the story of the three disasters that led to the destruction of the great nation of Rashiek? Plague, famine, and war? They were not disasters. They were names; the names of Ravens that came from the Chamber of Whispering Smoke. Think: it only takes one to defend an Emperor, and it took three to destroy a kingdom. Remember that, my Lord."

"Rashiek was nothing compared to the Garran Empire, Avern. In the seven years I've been Emperor, I've practically eliminated all threats to national security, built irrigation systems which have made crops flourish and our people healthy, and I saved the Empire from near ruin after my late father nearly made its coffers run dry. Sure, I may be seen as a bit of a tyrant, but I've made this Empire something amazing, something to be truly admired...and feared." The bull looked like he was lost in a daydream after he spoke, the Emperor recalling some of his military victories against some of the northern barbarian tribes.

"Anyway," the bull continued, "I'm not some pushover that would let my life's work fall to shit because of some spies who fancy themselves as demigods. Where is this place even at?" the bull asked.

"There..." Avern pointed over the horizon, where a fortress made completely out of what appeared to be obsidian stood.

The guards looked over at them as the chariot began to its pace to a halt. "Lord Avern, there are no guards out-" a guard spoke.

"Of course there are no guards, you fool. They know we are coming. Be sure to watch out for....oh no...she's already here..." Avern groaned as the view of a beautiful black she-wolf stepped out from the shadows of the fort's gates, wearing what looked to be an ebony dress made of silk with gold trim, and inlaid with black mother of pearl. She was an impressive sight to behold. Though she was a wolf, the first impression that came to Feran, as well as the soldiers who accompanied him, was that she was like a serpent. She was beautiful, sleek, and powerful. However, it was clear to see that she-wolf was not amused to see them, which was obvious by the way her golden eyes seemed to look past them.

"Welcome, young Lord. We have been expecting you. You're late." She turned her exposed back, revealing her muscled frame.

Feran shot a glance at Avern that said "Are you fucking serious? I have to be polite to this bitch of a woman?". The bull stepped out of the chariot and respectfully followed a few steps behind the she-wolf as she walked under the midnight black, stonework archway which led deeper into the fortress, Avern at his side. The fortress was dead silent, which seemed absurd for a building of this size which more than likely housed a fair amount of these 'Ravens'. The silence began to gnaw at Feran after a few moments, and he politely said to the she-wolf, "Forgive me, milady, I don't believe I caught your name."

"I have no name, and it is not 'milady'. I would assume an 'Emperor' would know, it's 'My Lady' anyway, as I am far above you in both station and power," she hissed. "I renounced all titles the moment I was taken into the Chamber of Whispering Smoke, my young Lord, however, if you feel the need to call me by any name, you may call me Famine," she spoke in an irritated tone, her back still turned to the massive bull. The group of them were lead into a courtyard, where three cloaked men stood still, looking at the bull with a hard, steely gaze in their eyes. "These men have been training since the moment they left the wombs of their mothers. These Ravens have each mastered all forms of spear, sword, shield, hammer, and projectile weapon styles. They have each mastered the art of stealth. Spies know how to hide, but my Ravens know how to disappear. The darkness is their ally and their cloak. And, of course, they know how to destroy entire armies with the magic I have taught them. All you have to do is select which one you would like."

The she-wolf walked over to the golden-furred lion on the far right. "Rakshan is most skilled when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. Just yesterday he killed a man by crushing his rib cage with a single punch." The massive lion gave a loud snort, giving each of Feran's guards a condescending glare, looking at them with a look of extreme superiority. His body was covered in solid muscle from head to toe, and the aura of sheer power that Feran felt from him was impressive.

Famine moved on to the white tiger on the far left. He was taller than Rakshan, but his body seemed to be more toned. His arms were thick and bulging, as was his chest. He had icy blue eyes that seemed somehow less serious than his counterpart's. When Feran's eyes met his, the tiger gave a soft smile and a nod, surprising the Emperor, as the bull had assumed that seasoned killers such as these would be practically soulless. Then again, they were probably trained to act that way even if they didn't feel anything.

"This is Bogram. He is able to hurl a spear over 200 yards, easily killing a man with pinpoint accuracy." The white tiger held a small needle up, and then launched it towards Avern, killing a dragonfly that had been pestering the owl. Avern looked shocked for a moment, then gaped in awe at the tiger.

Then she moved over to the middle, placing a paw on each shoulder of a young, black and white husky, his body hidden underneath his robes. Feran always made direct eye contact with whomever he spoke to or with whoever was speaking to him, a quality that many found unsettling, but he was taken back when he saw this dog's eyes were clear as the Garran Sea and seemed to swirl and shine. Feran knew that this husky was special, but as to how or why was yet to be determined. "This one is my pride and joy: Jordan. He is incredibly gifted when it comes to his skills in stealth and the arcane." Jordan stepped up, taking a stance, and was about to perform a spell, but the she-wolf stopped him. "No, not for free. If they want a demonstration, they can pay." Jordan nodded, stepping back into the line. "Now, you may choose only one, young Lord, and please be quick about it. I have many other clients to attend to."

Feran stood rooted to the spot, looking very confused. "Forgive me, I mean no disrespect, but you have this huge fortress probably teeming with students, and yet I can only pick from three? And even then I can only purchase one of them? Why?"

"Because this is how I do my business, young Lord. If you do not like it, you may leave," she barked back, sounding annoyed.

"Apologies, my Lady," Feran bowed slightly.

One of Feran's guards growled, the massive bear stomping towards the she-wolf.

"You disrespectful cur! How dare you talk to the Emperor that way! I ought to slit your thro-" The bear choked in fear when multiple blades pressed against his throat, ten Ravens coming from nowhere and surrounding the single guard. If the she-wolf looked displeased before, now she looked absolutely disgusted.

"I was considering doing you a kindness and giving you all three, but now-" she was cut off as Feran walked up and punched the guard square in the face, sending the bear flying across the floor.

Feran roared, literally red in the face from rage. "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK OUT OF TURN, YOU SACK OF SHIT! YOU'RE LUCKY THAT I DON'T JUST BEHEAD YOU RIGHT HERE! TAKE HIM AWAY!" Two other guards slowly moved forward, bound the unconscious bear's hands, and dragged him from the chamber.

All of the Ravens simply stared at the situation until they heard the snap of Famine's fingers and disappeared back into the shadows of the building. "Your choice, young Lord?" Famine asked, a bit of pleasure found in her voice.

Feran was known to be a somewhat ruthless ruler who bowed to no one, which was why it surprised every member of his guard and Avern that the bull fell to one knee and bowed his head. "Please, Lady Famine, do not let that filth's outburst change your opinion of myself or the Garran Empire. Clearly I misjudged his loyalty in that he had a little too much of it, but I can assure you he will be severely punished for interrupting our negotiations." Feran slowly rose to his feet and looked Famine in the eye once more. "I find myself at a loss, Lady Famine. I am unsure if I can choose between these three students whom you've trained so well. Each is an extremely appealing candidate..."

"Simple, young Lord. Just pick the one that seems most pleasing to you. Not only are they your bodyguard, they are your servant; your eyes, ears, and above all the one you can rely on without any doubt," the she-wolf spoke, giving Feran a slight bow.

"The only one that has made any real impression would be the tiger, but I'll admit I would like to refrain from choosing until I've seen a demonstration of their abilities. Or, if the offer is still on the table, I WOULD be interested in purchasing all three," the bull said, making a point of keeping his voice calm, collected, and diplomatic.

"My Lord, may I show you what I am capable of?" a soft voice whispered. The guards looked over to see that it was Jordan that had stepped up. He lifted his eyes, a deep china blue looked into the forest green eyes of the Emperor.

Taken completely by surprise, the bull took a moment to nod his head as he looked over at Famine for some kind of permission.

She nodded as well. "Go on, Jordan..." The husky stepped forward, extended his paw out, and suddenly the bull and the husky were alone if a field full of emerald star flowers, a plant that had long been extinct. "If you choose me, my Lord, I can give you every form of happiness you could ever desire...including..." The star flowers withered to dust, and soon the two found themselves in a wasteland, destroyed by battle, the banners of Garran raised high while the banners of all the other neighboring nations were either tarnished by mud on the ground, torn to shreds, or simply in flames. "A world where you are not simply the Emperor of Garren, but the one true king of the world. Everything under the sky and above the sea is yours! I will be your tool to get there," Jordan smiled, the blood red sun rising behind him.

"Impressive display of magic...Jordan, was it?" the bull asked. "Very impressive indeed. I would be lying if I said I hadn't made that same magical vision of total domination myself from time to time, so I know how taxing that spell is to maintain, and you're doing very well keeping it up for so long. Your merits have been noted, so unless there's anything else, I'll be judging your brethren next."

Jordan reached over to the bull, placing his paw on Feran's chest. His china blue eyes stared once again into his green eyes. "My lord, do you not believe me to be the best?" The husky giving what seemed to be a hurt expression on his face.

Somewhat put off by the husky's actions, Feran gave the dog a confused look. "I know from what I've seen that you are extremely talented, but I've yet to even SEE what the other two can do, so you'll forgive me if I don't immediately jump to conclusions," the Emperor said, taking a step back so that the canine's hand wasn't touching him anymore.

Jordan circled around the bull, the two of them now back in the dark courtyard. The other two Ravens looked down at Jordan, looking displeased that the dog had taken so long. Soon, however, Rakshan stepped forward. The lion growled, "My Lord, you do not need some magician! What you need is a warrior. A warrior that is stronger than an entire battalion and has the intelligence of a General. My claws and fists alone have shed more blood than the the millions of swords of your soldiers," he boasted with a grin. "RAAAAAAAH!" Rakshan slammed his fist through a nearby column, shattering it like it was nothing, and part of the roof coming down on top of the lion. With a swift upward punch, the falling stone of the roof was practically vaporized by the feline's fist.

Feran had to exert a surprising amount of willpower to not let his jaw hit the floor at the lion's display of strength. Surely a warrior like this would be the perfect bodyguard. "I...I don't know what to say beside that I am extremely impressed. I've never seen such a display of strength before!" Feran turned his gaze to the siberian tiger. "And you? I've seen your display of accuracy with projectiles, but is there more to you than marksmanship?"

Bogram smirked, and he walked over to a column that had not been victimized by the lion's attacks and leaned his back against it. "My Lord, though it is true that Jordan and Rakshan have skills that prove to be vital, my skills-" he said mysteriously, "Can guarantee you will always have more than one pair of eyes watching over you." A second Bogram appeared from behind the pillar. The second Bogram spoke. "Many, many eyes," he purred, nodding towards the shadows next to him. To surprise the Emperor even more than he already was, the masked attackers which had subdued Feran's guard from before came forward, each of them taking off their masks and revealing themselves to all be exact clones of the white tiger.

The bull's calm facade shattered and his jaw did hit the floor this time, only somewhat figuratively. He slowly looked from Bogram to Bogram, walking between the identical white tigers as if trying to look for some kind of difference between them. "Are these...illusions?" he asked slowly.

Bogram simply smirked and walked over to the bull, his paws seductively caressing the Emperor's titanic, muscular body. "An illusion? Thats very insulting, my Lord." All of the voices converged into one, as well as the tigers themselves until only one remained. "You cannot FEEL an illusion, my Lord. You see?"

Feran didn't know what to say in response to the tiger. All he could think of were the implications of having a person loyal to him and only him, and then having a small army of that person. The possibilities for conquest were endless...He had to have the white tiger.

Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Feran finally spoke, addressing Famine directly. "Well, Lady Famine, the choice seems fairly obvious to me. Since I am unfortunately only allowed to pick one of these three magnificent Ravens of yours, I'm going to have to go with Bogram!"

"BULLSHIT!" Jordan and Rakshan yelled out, the lion and the husky stomping towards the tiger, growling at him with a mixture of anger and jealousy.

"He forgot to mention that he can only do that trick for three minutes!" Jordan snarled, extending his arm and summoning an immense war hammer made of a dark steel with a golden tribal pattern along the head. "Not to mention, he can only summon thirteen of those stupid clones, and when he does, his strength is split into them evenly. And that, my Lord, is by NO means an army."

"He's right! Surely you are not that foolish to be swayed by some pathetic parlor trick!" Rakshan growled with a ferocity in his eyes.

"Parlor trick!? I'll fucking slice your tongue off and shove it up your ass, you good for noth-" Bogram yelled.

"SILENCE!!!!" Famine screeched. The ear splitting scream was loud enough to pierce the heavens themselves, causing all the glass windows to crack. Once she quieted, the three Ravens stood in a line with the same poise they had before when Feran first saw them. Famine's nostrils were flared out, and she held out a dagger, walking towards the three of them and slicing each of their cheeks with the blade. "You will all be killed where you stand if you continue this embarrassment!" She looked over back at the Emperor and bowed. "I apologize, young Lord."

Feran just cracked a joking smile. "I'm just glad to see there's some fire hidden behind those masks of indifference."

"You are more than welcome to make your decision now, and if you wish, I am more than willing to offer you all three of them...for the right price of course." She finally cracked a small smile.

The Emperor's mouth practically watered at the possibility of getting all three, but his mouth instantly went dry when he realized it would probably be a heavy price to pay for the additional Ravens. A defeated look on his face, Feran asked, "Dare I even inquire as to what price that would be, Lady Famine?"

"Eighty million Tankrah-"

"Eighty Million!?" Avern squawked.

"...Each," She looked down at the owl sternly, then back to Feran.

"But that's two hundred and forty million Tankrah for just three warriors!" the captain of his guard regiment yelled out in protest. "My Lord-" he was cut off by a swift silencing motion from his emperor.

"I am aware of the gravity of the price, thank you, and I implore you to remember what happened to the last guard who spoke out of turn," Feran growled, giving the guard a sharp glance. The bull walked away from the group and admired the stonework of the nearby wall as he thought.

The upkeep of the entire Imperial Army for a full year was roughly one hundred million Tankrah alone, but to pay nearly two and a half times that for THREE warriors? It would pretty much empty the bull's personal coffers and most of the Imperial Treasury if he were to pay it out of pocket, and it would be political suicide to try to raise the taxes for this expense...What if...no, Famine probably wouldn't go for that, but it was all he really had short of running his coffers dry.

"What would you say to a trade, Lady Famine?" Feran said, giving the she-wolf a curious look as he returned from staring at the wall.

"Normally I would think this to be the desperate cry of a madman, but with you, it must be something of some value. What is it you wish to trade? If it interests me, I might take SOME of the price off as a gesture of good faith," the she-wolf smirked, thinking the young lord would have nothing she didn't already have.

Feran gave the she-wolf an almost victorious looking smile. "I will give you the country of Soringrad."

Her eyes were as wide as dinner plates, as were Avern's and the others present. "YOU LIE!" Famine pointed at the bull with her claws.

The young emperor gave her a cocky smile. "Do I? As we speak, my armies are marching on Soringrad to, shall we say, make them see the light as to why they should never fuck with me. Within the week, the capital, Sorin, will be mine, and their people swearing fealty to me. That entire country, while admittedly not being a particularly large one, is a hugely valuable expanse of wilderness that could be yours to rule as you see fit...while under my supervision, of course. Wouldn't it be nice to get out of this dark fortress and move into the castle of some soon to be dead noble?" The bull finished his persuasive argument with a large gesture to the halls around them, pointing out that life could be so much more lavish than living in some murky dungeon of a fortress.

The lady would not falter at first, but then she paced back and forth for a moment. "Scribe...SCRIBE!" She yelled out, and a young fox with an abacus and sheaf of papers appeared from a waft of smoke.

"Yes, Lady Famine?"

"Do you have the financial records for Soringrad!?"

"Yes, my Lady," the young fox stated as he pulled out a foldable desk and a scroll out of thin air, opening the records on the table.

"I want you to calculate the income of Soringrad, income and property taxes of each citizen, and include the profits from the country's resources and exports! Now!"

The fox quickly wrote down numbers, the quill pen looking like a blur as the ink bled into the paper. He ripped off the sheet and gave it to Famine. The she-wolf read over each number. She kept nodding her head, and then gave it back to the fox. "Now, subtract this number from the price of the warriors."

"Yes, my Lady." The fox scribbled along the paper again and handed the sheet back to her, who looked over it again, and then she gave a soft smile.

" Well, it seems that after doing the math, you are still short," Famine spoke with a sly grin.

"Short!? By how much!?" Avern demanded, to which the she-wolf simply lifted her finger up.

"One. Single. Tankrah." She smirked upwards at Emperor, extending her paw out. "I will take my payment now, if you don't mind, my Lord."

Feran smiled and laughed at Famine. "My Lady, were you not such a shrewd negotiator I would simply offer you a kiss and then we complete our negotiations, but I daresay I know better," the bull joked, taking a single Tankrah from a small pouch hidden within his clothes and placing it in the she-wolf's hand.

"Oh, my Lord, you have yet to spoil me enough to receive that kindness." She took the coin and walked back to the three Ravens. "You have all done well. Go with him, and remember your training. What do we say to those before they die?"

"We take nothing but pleasure from this," the three ravens answered.

"And when Death calls for us?" the she-wolf asked ritualistically.

"Not today," the three growled.

Famine turned back to Feran and bowed. "They are yours."

Feran returned her bow with one of his own. "I am pleased we were able to come to an agreement, Lady Famine. I'll be in touch with you soon to discuss the details of your new position as Duchess of Soringrad." The bull turned to the three warriors. "And I am pleased to have each of you join me. Together we will work to build the Garran Empire into the strongest Empire that the world has ever seen, and you will be by my side every step of the way."

With that, Feran bowed to Famine a final time in farewell, and walked down the corridor that would lead him back to his chariot and the horses which carried his personal guard rode, along with one guard of who would be forced to walk on the journey back to Garran, the one who spoke out against Famine, his face now bloody and beaten. Moments later, the Ravens appeared by Feran's side, each atop a jet-black warhorse, each looking like a god of death. The return back to the capital was silent and uneventful for the group, or so Feran thought, for during the night the Ravens easily dispatched a few bandits looking for riches while the caravan slept. So silent were the kills that not even the guards on watch heard or saw a thing.

---

"And this completes the tour of the my palace," Feran said, leading Bogram, Jordan, and Rakshan into the throne room. "Any questions?"

"None, my Lord. We have the entire layout of the castle memorized. All we wish for now is to tell you where we shall be posted and to begin our duty as your guards," Rakshan spoke in his deep voice.

Bogram stepped forward and cleared his throat. "Rakshan, with his expertise in military protocol, will be posted at the front gates. I, myself, will be posted on the battlements to watch over the city and the palace grounds. Jordan will be with you at all times, even when you sleep. Jordan will be not only guarding you physically, but subconsciously as well when you sleep. We cannot rule out the possibility that Soringrad might send a mage to slip into your dreams and read your mind for battle plans or something," Bogram finished, looking up at Feran as the bull walked up to his throne and sat down.

"Sounds like you've got everything under control. I want you to report to me every hour, even if nothing eventful happens. A veteran guard will be with each of you, except Jordan of course, just to be there to help you with any local knowledge you may not yet possess," Feran said, telling them a believable lie when in reality he wanted them watched, as he did not yet trust the trio. "Dismissed." The tiger and the lion disappeared into smoke while Jordan stayed behind, walked over to the bull, and stood by his side with his hammer at his side.

Feran sighed and slouched in the throne, finding himself completely exhausted from the journey. As it was evening, the kitchens would be preparing his dinner, but all the bull could think about was curling up in his overly expensive silk bed sheets that felt like he was sleeping in a cloud. "I suppose there's no point in showing you to your quarters since you'll be spending nights in my room, but it's the room adjacent to my quarters. Just out the doors, take a left, and second door on the right. It should be furnished to your liking," the bull spoke, glancing at the stoic canine.

"It won't matter, my Lord. I am trained not to be distracted by luxury. My life's purpose is to protect you, and do so I shall." Jordan simply kept looking forward, keeping his stance firm, the bags under his eyes showing that the dog had not slept in days.

"You're not going to be able to protect me if you're falling dead from exhaustion. You're getting a good night's sleep, and that's an order, Raven," Feran commanded, curious to see if the dog would willingly obey such a command.

"If it is written by your hand, then so it shall be," Jordan nodded. His china blue eyes seemed to gleam, his white fur shining against his black silk robes.

"Then you're dismissed to your quarters. I'll be in the Great Hall eating dinner, but I'll have the kitchens send up something for you when you wake up," Feran said as he left the chamber. As the bull walked through the corridors which led to the Great Hall, he found himself realizing that he had just been more generous to that husky than he had been with countless Kings, Queens, Emperors, and more, who desperately begged him to show mercy on them and their subjects. "Might as well treat them well," he shrugged. "Daresay I want to keep my investments loyal to me and not assassinating me in my sleep..." he laughed at his own morbid thought. Although once he thought about that, he became increasingly uneasy. The Raven would be watching over him as he slept. A person he had no knowledge of and didn't trust would be with him when he was his most vulnerable.

The Emperor was shaken from his thoughts as he was swarmed with butlers and cooks, the bull not even realizing he had entered the Great Hall. Jordan was trailing behind him, continuing to perform his duty, the husky deciding that he would rest when the moon rose. His robes wafted into a dark, inky black cloud of smoke, and transformed into what appeared to be an all black uniform consisting of a coat, vest, shirt, and pants.

The massive bull was ushered by the butlers to the equally massive, polished oak table that was way too big for a single person to sit at. Ideally the table would have been filled with family, but through decades of warfare and political assassinations, and assassinations, the Blackridge family had gone extinct with the exception of Feran, and he was determined not to be the last of his line.

All grim thoughts were pushed aside as chef after chef piled plates of delicious foods in front of their bovine emperor. Giving the stoic husky a sharp glance for disobeying a direct order, Feran yelled a bit louder than he had intended. "Either get out of my sight or sit the hell down and eat something."

"Yes, my Lord," the husky nodded, taking the seat next to the irritated emperor. He reached over and grabbed a thick loaf of bread, a thick slice of roasted ham, and a spoonful of goat cheese, and made it into a sandwich. "My Lord, what is it that is troubling the inner reaches of your mind?" Jordan asked as he bit into the sandwich.

"That's none of your business, Raven," Feran replied shortly, taking another bite of ham.

"It is my business if it is causing you harm, my Lord," Jordan said bluntly, shooing away a maid that wanted to fill his glass with wine. "Bring me water," he said to her. She bowed and walked to the kitchen after serving Feran his glass of wine.

The bull sighed. "You and your brothers are going to be a pain in my ass, aren't you?" he asked rhetorically. "If you must know, I've been worrying about assassination attempts on my life as of late, not that I haven't dealt with them before. It's not uncommon, however, for enemy nations to try such things in times of war, but I know Soringrad has a few somewhat powerful allies, a couple of whom are known for their magic. I have trained my body to perfection and mastered many kinds of magic, but all of that means NOTHING if an assassin with magic manages to get in here and destroy my mind or even kill me," the bull said with a hint of frustration.

"Above all else, though...the thought of dying without an heir to the throne terrifies me," Feran paused a moment, surprised with himself that he was so forthcoming with such personal information. "I didn't think I would have to worry about such attacks on my life, especially ones of this magnitude, until I was at least in my thirties... And don't even get me started on what would happen to the empire if the throne was empty...total anarchy. With this invasion, every other country will know that I'm not to be taken lightly, but it's a dangerous move."

The bull found himself staring into his glass of wine as he spoke, then shook his head. "Why am I even telling you all this?"

"Because it needed to be said, my Lord." The dog reached over and held the emperor's huge hand, earning an almost nervous look from the bull. "With us, you are allowed to be at ease. While you have been with me, talking and eating, Rakshan and Bogram have already killed three of these so-called "assassins", and that was before they even got within the walls of the city." Jordan looked right into the bull's eyes, soon backing away and sitting back in his chair. "Now please, enjoy your meal, my Lord. It is one of many you and, when you eventually have one, the royal family, shall enjoy," Jordan said, reaching over to the lemon and raspberry tartlets with butter cream topping, biting into it.

Feran took a sip of wine before his eyes widened, realizing the implications of what the husky had just said. "Wait, THREE assassins?!" he yelled, practically choking on his wine. "Generally a country pools together all of its funds just to buy a single high-priced assassin...if there were three...then I'm at war with at LEAST three other countries! We're not even close to prepared for that kind of war, especially not with most of my armies out of the city! If we were attacked now-" Feran said quickly, getting himself worked up.

"Calm yourself, my Lord. Assassins of our calibre can secure not only yourself, but the entire city of Garran. Also, if need be, the three of us alone could easily take down a single country from the inside. That leaves you to deal with the other two countries who oppose you, and at the moment half of your armies are at work invading Soringrad. So, in my opinion, you need to take the remaining soldiers you have and keep your defenses as strong as Garran steel," Jordan calmly spoke.

"About the only choice we really have anyway..." Feran sighed, defeated. "I'll be damned if I'm letting this Empire fall because of a shithole country like Soringrad." The emperor finished his wine and stood. "I'm going to turn in early. This day has my head pounding like a blacksmith hammering on an anvil..."

Jordan wiped his chin. "My lord, there is still one factor that we need to take into consideration..." He stood up and made direct eye contact with the Emperor again. "We cannot rule out the possibility that the other opposing countries could have a Raven as well." Jordan walked past the bull, leading the way to Feran's bedchambers.

Feran almost shouted an incredulous "WHAT!?" but managed to quiet himself as they walked. "What do you mean they could have a Raven?! Does your mistress care so little about you that she allows you to get pitted against your brothers when countries go to war like this? I...I guess in a way I shouldn't be surprised..." he muttered as he entered his bedchamber, the lavishness lost on him.

"To be fair, my Lord. Lady Famine is not the only one who deals in Ravens. There are two other Houses in The Chamber of Whispering Smoke. Besides, we would kill hundreds of our own brothers to keep you safe. We each took a solemn oath that we would protect you, and do so we shall." Jordan walked over to the doorframe and started to carve into the wood with his claws, the windows and the pillars of the Emperor's bed as well. "These runes will keep you safe from any Raven or wizard that would try to enter your mind."

"I wish I could say my mind is at ease, but truth be told it almost feels like there's too much going on for me to rest..." Feran groaned as he flopped backwards onto the bed of animal furs and silk blankets.

Jordan got on the bed as well, slowly beginning to strip out of his clothes and armor. "Just try to relax. I'm here to keep you safe."

"Wait, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Feran yelped, half throwing himself off the bed.

"Preparing to sleep. If I am conscious, there will be too many distractions for me to focus on protecting your mind," Jordan said calmly, getting in the bed and pulling the sheets over his legs. "Now please, my Lord, come to bed."

"Can't you...sleep on the floor or something? I'm not comfortable sharing my bed with another male..." Feran said slowly.

"I need to fall asleep fast my Lord, and for me to do so, a bed of this quality should to the job. Besides, this bed is larger than the horse's stables, just sleep on the opposite side," the husky protested.

Jordan heard the emperor mutter something about 'goddamn blackbirds' before stripping out of his own clothes and into a comfortable loincloth before slipping his nearly naked, hulking form into the bed. "Just don't go doing weird shit to my dreams or something..." Feran muttered as he buried his face into the overstuffed pillows.

"I only do what I do to serve you, my Lord. Sweet dreams." Jordan laid his head on the pillow, the night falling around them.