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CHAPTER 16

A Candle in the Abyss

The peak of summer had hit and the sun blazed hotly in the sky, the heat bringing many an anthro to seek shade or cover to rest and relax from their arduous duties. The cheetah soaked in the heat, enjoying the warmth as it permeated his fur and spread through his body. In place of his normal doublet, he wore a royal blue jerkin so as to maintain the image of a royal guard and instead of his halberd, he brandished a short sword which was sheathed and attached to his belt. As he wandered down the street, he got salutes from each soldier and bows of respect from the natives. He tried to acknowledge them all, but it seemed rather pointless after a while and besides that his mind was too distracted to focus on every other denizen of the Plains.

The last two months have been an emotionally tumultuous time for the young cheetah, though his concerns were not directed inwardly. Indeed, his mental unrest was directed at one particular individual that he'd spent the last two months feeling sorry for. In that time, Rishi had kept his promise, spending every day walking from his home to the High Court to pleasure Roland. Worse, though, was that the mouse's own sense of dutiful obligation made him offer his body to the rest of the Royal Court and Dubois' comrades were not that hard to convince to accept.

Jarai was the easiest target and accepted without really putting up any sort of fight. Dubois didn't really know what was going through the lynx's head, but knowing his sex drive and his single-handed focus to his duties as royal guard of Roland, he probably just felt like it was part of his job. Amarro also didn't put up much of a fight and accepted Rishi's offer fairly easily, but the cheetah had a better idea of what was going through his head. He was the oldest guard and has served Roland since the lord was a cub and was the most dedicated guardian he's ever had. Even if he personally disagreed with the lord's decision, he'd get behind him and support him as long as he felt it was just. With that in mind, the lion would no doubt feel that Rishi's punishment was rational and could accept the mouse's offer without feeling even the slightest tinge of guilt.

Kish took a bit longer to accept, often using the excuse that his agreement was to pleasure his lordship and not his men, even if the mouse felt obliged to offer himself to the rest of the feline members. He and the cheetah had spoken about the matter a few times, both expressing feelings of sympathy and doubt about their lord's decision. His willpower didn't hold, however, and Dubois couldn't blame him entirely. Rishi was a cute little rodent, his own bodily musk an alluring aphrodisiac, but add to that the smell of cum, sex, and musk from cougar, lynx, and lion and pretty much any horny feline would want a piece of that furry ass. Dubois had even admitted to himself that he found the scent intoxicating when he got a whiff of it, but it was Kish who succumbed and now the mouse was once again providing sexual gratification to most of the Royal Court.

For Dubois, though, the allure of the male mouse's form and the intoxicating scent of exuded vapors from every other man in the court was not enough to assuage the feelings of doubt weighing down the cheetah's conscious. He was a dedicated member of the Royal Guard and a dedicated servant to his lord and friend, but that didn't stop him from questioning the cougar's motives. Plagued by internal strife, the royal member decided to wander the plains, heading off west towards the rocky shores. The edge of Darreen was hilly and the closer it got to the ocean the rockier it got. Towards the north it was flatter and there was a nice beach that many people liked to visit during the spring, summer, and fall. South it was much rockier with elevated cliffs and jagged rocks that made traversal difficult. It wasn't as well guarded as the rest of the land, but a small group of soldiers surveyed the southern cliffs daily to insure no one violated the boundaries of the land.

Dubois stood on an uneven rocky surface overlooking the crashing waves of the ocean. It was windy that day and the waves crashed into the rocks with a thunderous boom, which was music to the cheetah's ears. The smell of salt water filled the feline's nostrils, removing the various scents of the townspeople and the land and helping to focus Dubois' mind. There was no one nearby on the rough, rocky shores, but it wasn't enough. Looking out north, there were several people enjoying a nice little swim on the sandy shores, a pack of naked bodies crowded together in one area. Despite the distance, the cheetah was seeking total isolation and so continued to tread along the shores to an area where he felt like he was the only soul in Darreen.

To the south was a large, upwards climb of jagged rocks. He ascended the stones quickly and effortlessly, reaching a cliffside view of the magnificent ocean, admiring the undulating pattern of torrential sea water. The large cascade of wave after wave against the rocky cliffs was an appropriate sight for the cheetah suffering from his inner turmoil. He moved further south a little, leading on to a series of boulders on a narrow slope downwards towards the ocean, but without some force or effort, there was no chance of slipping and falling off.

With the rest of the townspeople out of sight, Dubois' thoughts returned to that of the disgruntled mouse forced to service the Royal Court. The young, small individual had asked the cheetah on several occasions if he wanted to ravage the poor rodent's body and each and every time the cheetah told him he wasn't interested. There were times, however, when his refusal required great effort. On a couple of occasions, the mouse absolutely reeked of sex, cum stains on his backside, body dripping with sweat, both his own and feline, and small strands of saliva and cum staining his muzzle and face. It took incredible restraint not to just grab the mouse, throw him on the ground, sniff his body, and plow him until his balls were dry, but he managed somehow. The mouse seemed off-put by the cheetah's refusal, but Dubois chalked it up to his utter disdain for his duties. Since he left and began traveling back day after day, Rishi was able to put on a brave and content face for the sake of satisfying Roland and his guards, but he wasn't fooling Dubois and the cheetah figured he wasn't fooling anyone else. Everyone knew the mouse was unhappy and ungrateful for this treatment, but he did what he had to do for the safety of his family. But as the weeks wore on, the mouse's facade began to fade. It was obviously becoming harder and harder to maintain a contented expression and whenever the cheetah refused the mouse's advances, the rodent's expression turned more and more depressed. The whole experience was draining everything the mouse had, it was tearing him apart from the inside.

And it was tearing Dubois apart as well. He admired his lord and friend, his charge to protect had taught him a great deal about battle, valor, and morals, but this just didn't seem like the man he chose to serve. It was only a short time before they were dispatched to the Plains of Darreen that the cheetah was assigned to protect the high lord, but Dubois had practically fallen in love with the cougar from the moment they met. They formed a bond, both platonic and sexual, and the cheetah sent his request to become a personal servant to the prince's cousin immediately. Roland was so enamored with the young feline's eagerness, that he took him on as an assistant and trained him personally, teaching him much of what he knew, and getting him ready to be a guardian. Dubois was so happy that he was living out his dream, but that dream had faded recently and the man he fell in love with had changed.

Roland had become distant, distracted, and overly focused on minuscule things, shirking off the more important duties to his generals or his guardians. But his most egregious conduct definitely involved his treatment of Rishi, entrapping him in an everlasting service of sex that the mouse has always shown great aversion to since it was suggested. True, the offer was originally intended to provide an alternative, albeit unsavory, means of allowing the mouse and his family to keep their home and remain safe and secure under the protection of the Felis Army. However, now the lord has eliminated any alternatives, even the option to leave the Plains. In addition, due to Rishi's completely inadvertent injury to Kish, the mouse was officially forced to endure this unpalatable treatment on a daily basis.

To top things off, the poor rodent must also operate under the impression that if he doesn't perform his duties, then his family will be handed over to the Ferochen canines like a sack of meat, thanks to a threat made by the lord himself. Dubois had doubted Roland's intentions from the start and not only did Kish doubt their lord would actually hand over an innocent family to a bunch of cruel barbarians, but Amarro and Jarai did as well. They all swore that the cougar would never do such a thing and that the threat made against Rishi's family was merely part of the mouse's altered punishment for his insubordination. Dubois was not so sure anymore, though, and began to wonder if everything he'd done was truly in response to the mouse's conduct.

Regardless of the legitimacy of the punishment, the truth is Dubois also thought about what would've happened to Rishi had someone else been lord of the Plains. As most rulers would've kicked Rishi out the second week he failed to bring tribute, so too would most have killed the mouse for striking one of the royal guards. True, it was an accident and even Kish believed the act was merely incidental. The tiger is a strong believer of an eye for an eye, the punishment should fit the crime, and he'd probably have been satisfied with merely smacking the mouse around a little or, at best, running the end of his halberd along the side of Rishi's face to give him a matching scar. But neither he nor the cheetah are high lords and most other high lords would've considered death to the mouse before a daily continuation of sexual services. A stay of execution would normally only be considered if the individual had contributed something of great value to the Identine Nation, the Royal Court, or the Felis Army. Dubois thought about it and while he believed Rishi had suffered greatly in order to maintain his presence in Darreen, the mouse hasn't actually contributed anything of great value and unwanted sex was not a proper alternative. Was sparing the mouse's life truly perpetual torment or was it actually an act of mercy?

Dubois wanted to confront Allon to ask him why he's done what he's done, but it was not his place to question the lord's orders. If word reached the King or his son and they discovered what had happened, Roland might be required to release the mouse or he might be required to carry out their law. But if that happened, Dubois didn't want to be the cause, nor did he want to be the cause of any turmoil amongst the other guards. He fought with himself all day and night and was reaching a breaking point where he figured that regardless of his feelings, he'd have to say something to his good friend and leader.

His thought were interrupted by movement out of the corner of the cheetah's eyes, a large clump of fur blowing in the wind sitting on a slope left of the feline. Startled, the guard scowled defensively, turned, and reached for his sword, but he never drew it. His face and form relaxed as he realized it was a rodent, a native to the Darreen Plains. His face then contorted into shock and concern as he realized who it was he was looking at. Sitting naked on the rough rock was Rishi, bare to the world with nothing but his fur to cover him, staring out at the edge of the cliff to the ocean below, having not even bothered to glance in Dubois' direction as he arrived. His cheeks were wet and matted, not from the water of the sea or sweat from the warmth of the sun, but tears from an unseen cry.

The cheetah released his grip on his sword and stood up, worry on his face as he addressed the small mouse. "Rishi, what are you doing here... and where are your clothes?"

Rishi didn't answer right away, continuing to stare out at the waves as they traveled inland, crashing against the walls. Finally, he spoke. "The edge of that cliff is thirty feet above the surface of the water. Directly below are sharp, jagged rocks jutting out from the ocean... and if I were to stand up, walk to the edge of that cliff, and dive face first into those rocks, I could end my misery here and now."

Dubois' face lit up with shock and terror at the mouse's response and his heart began to race. "Rishi, hold on, just listen to me. I know it's hard, but talk to me, I'll listen to you. I might be able to help you." As he spoke, he took a few careful steps forward, worried the rodent might actually try and end his life.

"But if I did that," he continued almost as if the cheetah hadn't spoken, "then what would happen to my wife, my beautiful children? Would Allon consider that an act of disobedience on my part? Would he say that I went back on my deal? Would he then hand over my family to those mangy dogs from Feroche just because I wanted to end my own suffering? I couldn't do that to my family, but I don't want to do this anymore. What do I do? Why can't I do it? What did I do?"

The mouse began to sob, tears welling up in his eyes to begin another cry for the cheetah to witness. Dubois' heart sunk at the scene, understanding much better what the mouse was going through, seeing the rodent spill his guts to the feline. He struggled with himself about how to handle the situation, but seeing the mouse sitting here, contemplating ending his own existence, the cheetah couldn't stomach it anymore. He couldn't hold onto the lie anymore. Rishi let his head sink into his palms as he sobbed.

"Rishi, look at me," Dubois said, but Rishi just continued to cry into his paws. "Look at me," he said with a more commanding voice, the mouse looking up with fear and despair. It was obvious the mouse was only responding to the cheetah because he was fearful of disobeying and Dubois hated having to order the despondent creature, but he felt it was necessary. "I want you to listen to me because I think you deserve to know this: Lord Allon never had any intention of giving your family to the Ferochens." It was Rishi's turn to look on with shock, his muzzle hanging slightly ajar as he listened intently to the cheetah.

"I'm not supposed to say anything as it's not my place to tell you this. By doing so, I am defying my only superior in the Plains, but I just... I can't stand seeing you like this. I know Allon and I know he would never give away an innocent family to our enemies. If he had any intention of doing something to your family, he'd do it himself, but considering the circumstances, I don't think he would have. He'd probably just have locked you away until you agreed to pleasure him or he might've locked your family away until you proved your loyalty to your duties. But trust me, your family is safe."

Rishi let a few more tears fall down his cheek, staining his fur, but in that moment a look of enormous relief washed over his face. "They are? Really? Even if I defied Lord Allon and refused to agree to give myself to him?"

"Well, considering how mad he was and that he was going to punish you for what you did to Kish, I think it was a good thing that you didn't defy him. But yes, if you had refused, nothing would've happened to your family."

Rishi's face contorted into the most heart-wrenching expression, cheeks scrunched up, lips curled back, and eyebrows furrowed as he began to sob from a mixture of sadness and joy. A torrential flood of tears began to flow from his face as if the world was on his shoulders and had just been taken off. The mouse brought his knees to his chest and he brought his head down so that he could cry into his bare fur. Dubois melted at the sight, finding more and more reason to confront his friend and lord and figure out for sure why the cougar was acting the way he was. The cheetah stepped forward slowly, kneeling next to the rodent and placed a paw gently and comfortingly on his shoulder.

Rishi sniffled a little, not bothering to look up at the royal guard. "I thought you were mad at me."

Dubois cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "What makes you think I was mad at you?"

"I kept offering my body to you, trying to fulfill my duties to the Royal Court, but you always refused. I figured you were disappointed in me for my conduct."

Dubois suddenly felt his heart skip a beat in utter shock at the mouse's admittance, a wave of guilt and remorse at the realization that his refusal to accept the rodent's offer had this effect on the mouse's psyche. "That's why you think I refused your offer?"

Rishi sniffled again. "What other reason could there be?"

Dubois had to stop himself from revealing the truth. He wanted to tell him that he felt this treatment was wrong and he didn't deserve it, but that would be counter to his own conduct as a royal guard. Roland would no doubt have issue with the cheetah admitting such feelings to the cougar's subjects, as would the other royal guards. Instead, the cheetah paused, trying to think of something a little more intelligent and plausible than 'I just wasn't in the mood.'

Rishi lifted his head up and looked back at Dubois. "I mean, you were always so anxious to have me, to take me, you always wanted to be the first one. Now, whenever I give myself to you, you look at me like you don't even want to touch me."

It was true, Dubois knew, but not because of disappointment or anger. Dubois smiled lightly at the mouse. "Your agreement was to offer yourself every day to Allon, not to me or any of the other guards."

"But none of the other guards reject me when I offer myself to them."

True, Dubois thought as he realized how pointless a line that was for him to say. Rishi stared back down at the ocean, watching the waves continue to undulate inwards toward land, his eyes once again shrink wrapped in tears.

"Dubois... I don't know what to do. I really don't want to do this anymore. My wife and I haven't slept together in months. When I come home, she doesn't want to touch me until I've bathed. Neither do my kids. Sometimes I don't bathe for a few days because I'm so tired and Samantha doesn't even want to be in the same room as me. She can't stand the scent of feline sex. I do all this for her, I put myself through this for her, but we're being driven further and further apart. I just want my life to go back to normal, but- I don't know what to do. What do I do? Why is this happening to me? I just want to be happy."

With that, another flood of tears began to pour out of the solemn mouse's eyes. Dubois, trying desperately to maintain an indifferent outward appearance, lost to his emotions and a single tear fell from his eye. He felt obliged to comfort the mouse and so leaned forward and pulled the despondent young man into a tight embrace. He held the rodent's head against his chest and wrapped his paws around him, giving him something soft to cry on. Whether out of fear or respect, the mouse did not turn away. Dubois wasn't sure why, but after a moment of holding him in a tender, caring embrace, the cheetah felt two small murine arms wrap around his waist and press his face hard against his jerkin. He then let his emotions flood out, gripping the guard's vest as his sobs were loud and heavy and he shook as he cried.

The scene was overpowering to the cheetah and he knew then that he couldn't let this go on anymore. It wasn't right. He decided he would speak with Roland and try to convince him to reconsider his punishment. Hopefully he could at least convince the other guards to talk to him as well, but if he was alone, he'd do what he had to. If the cougar was obstinate and decided to continue to treat the poor mouse like a soulless sex object, that would be the end of the cheetah's dedication to his lordship. It would mean the end of his career as a royal guard, the end of his service in the Felis Army, and the end of his friendship with Roland. He could only hope that it would never come to that.

******

The two returned to town a short while later, after Rishi had pretty much drained himself dry of tears. As they walked, Dubois held onto Rishi, guiding him along the street as his eyes were glued to the road. Passersby glanced in the direction of the couple, looks of confusion, surprise, and disgust as everyone had their own similar interpretation as to what the scene meant. Dubois caught the glances, but he didn't care. He knew that if he didn't help Rishi through the streets, he'd be wandering alone and the looks he caught would probably be far more judgmental. Of course, to outward appearances it wasn't unreasonable to assume what was happening. A member of the Royal Guard, wandering through the streets with a naked mouse and native of Darreen, whose paws were clasped together as he walked with shame in his eyes that avoided eye contact at all costs. If Dubois were in their place, he'd probably be thinking the same thing.

The pair came across a group of soldiers heading north on their patrol. They spotted the couple and smiled, thinking the same naughty thoughts as everyone else obviously was. "Good day, Sir Dubois," called a bobcat to the pair as they approached. "Having a little private fun with the land's residential slut."

Rishi tightened up at the statement and Dubois couldn't help but feel his blood boil. "Soldier!" he yelled back at the bobcat.

The group tightened up in nervousness at the cheetah's angered response, the bobcat's companions smirking at his misguided attempt at humor. "Sorry, sir," he said guiltily.

Dubois stopped several feet away, holding Rishi close. "Soldier, what are you doing right now?"

"Sir, we're on patrol at the moment."

Dubois scanned his fellow soldiers. "I think the other men can handle a patrol without you. For now, I want you to take him home. Make sure he gets there safely."

Rishi looked up into the cheetah's eye, surprise and awe in his face. "But... Dubois... I've got my duties to perform-"

"Not tonight, Rishi. I want you to go relax. I'm gonna try and put an end to this. I think it's gone on long enough." Rishi looked about ready to break into tears again, his face curling into a wide smile. Dubois turned back to the soldier. "Get him home."

"Yes, Sir!"

Rishi nuzzled Dubois chest again. "Thank you, Dubois."

The cheetah smiled down at him. "Go on." He handed him off to the soldier who placed an arm around the mouse's shoulder and guided him back to his home - to his wife and kids. After watching the poor mouse walk away a moment, more energized than before, Dubois turned back to the other soldiers. "Carry on, men." They continued on their way and Dubois spoke under his breath. "I've got to go piss off our lord."

Dubois made it back to the High Court around four o'clock, which meant they were expecting Rishi to come by some time within the next hour or so. Dubois saw Kish and Jarai in similar garb standing outside the entrance to the hunting ground with halberds in hand. Jarai spotted the cheetah first and nodded in his direction.

"Hey there. Where ya been?" the lynx asked.

"Just out, wandering around a bit," the cheetah responded.

"Well, Roland was looking for you earlier. Wanted you and Amarro for some training before Rishi came in and tired him out again."

Jarai had a smirk on his face, but Dubois couldn't even fake a chuckle. He was so incensed by the statement he actually furrowed a brow in annoyance. After a short while, Roland appeared in the doorway, stepping through and talking to Amarro behind him.

"I must say, Amarro, you really handle yourself quite well for someone your age," the cougar said, appearing as naked as he likes it.

The lion appeared shortly after, his privates covered in a dirty loincloth, limping slightly with a small cut on his lower lip. "Well, I must say, I hate it when youngsters who are so haughty and cheeky, such as yourself, actually have a leg to stand on, so to speak."

They chuckled at each other as they patted each other on the back. They were dirty from their time training in the hunting ground, small patches of dirt, leaves, and twigs clinging to their fur which was wet and matted with sweat. Their aroma was thick and permeated the large room quickly, the cheetah being assaulted by the moist, musky, and manly scent of his elders. The sight and smell of the larger, older males was a bit distracting, his thoughts wandering to the many nights the two felines spent pounding the youngest guard's ass and muzzle, but he was able to quickly bring his thoughts back to the matter at hand.

Roland spotted the cheetah and stared at him with an expression that hinted at disappointment that he wasn't there to practice with his lord and charge. "Well, hello there, Dubois. I was looking for you earlier. Wanted you to come help me let out some steam. You've been somewhat distant these last few weeks, I figured you of all people could use some exercise."

The other guards just stood there and watched him, waiting for a response. Amarro was breathing heavily.

"Sorry, Roland. I've had a lot on my mind lately. I just wanted to clear my head, so I wandered out to the shoreline."

Roland cocked an eyebrow. "Is everything alright? It doesn't do me much good to have guards that have distractions to deal with."

Dubois let out a bit of a sigh, his heart beat quickening and his breathing steadily getting shallower. "Actually, I am a bit distracted and I needed to talk to you about something."

The other guards looked on with both interest and concern. "OK. Well, I've got some time before Rishi shows up if you want to come with me to my room and discuss it." Roland turned to walk away towards his bedchamber.

"Well, actually, the mouse is actually what I wanted to talk to you about."

The lord stopped and turned to look back at Dubois, the cheetah's heart beat increasing in pace. Jarai grinned and stepped forward. "I thought I smelled the familiar scent of that little rodent." The lynx leaned in and sniffed at Dubois. "Yep. You've been hanging out with the little devil. Did you bring him with you? It's almost time for his service."

Dubois paused, his feelings of nervousness building as all eyes stared back at him expectantly. There was nothing left to do but to admit that he superseded Roland's authority. "Actually, I sent him home."

The friendly ambiance in the room quickly changed to an uncomfortable mood of uncertainty. All four fellow felines looked on with surprise and confusion, though Roland held a twinge of annoyance. "What?" he asked, hinting in his voice that the cheetah be cautious about his reasoning.

Dubois faced his lordship and gulped nervously, his fear over upsetting his friend, lover, and superior winning over his emotions. However, he'd already set the stage, he needed to follow through. Besides, the scent of the dismayed mouse still clung to his jerkin and it brought back the look of absolute devastation the mouse was going through right now and he couldn't sit back and just watch it happen.

Dubois took a deep breath and with a confident voice, he said, "This has to stop."

Roland's annoyance quickly turned to anger and disappointment as every other guard in the room looked on with horrified shock at what the cheetah had just said.

"Dubois, what the hell is wrong with you?!" Amarro asked shouting down at the cheetah, but Roland held up a paw to quiet the lion.

"Amarro, please."

Amarro backed off as Roland stepped slowly, but menacingly, towards the youngest of the royal guards, causing the spotted feline's chest to pound nervously in his chest. Roland stepped up to the cheetah, now a mere foot away from him, his towering presence making the cheetah almost regret crossing him. Roland crossed his arms and stared down at Dubois with a brow furrowed and his lip wrinkled up slightly in anger. Any hotter and the cougar would have steam coming out of his ears. Despite the glisten of sweat coating his golden-brown fur, the stout expression of fury on his lord's face made the cheetah want to wet himself.

"Would you mind explaining yourself, Dubois? Do you have something you would like to say to me?"

Despite his fear and apprehension towards the cougar (knowing full well what the big kitty could do to him if he wanted), Dubois had already cast the die and there was no point in hesitating. "Roland, I just spent about an hour with the young mouse and he is absolutely devastated. He's spent the last two months engaging in sexual activities that he wants no part of because he believes that his family is in mortal danger. When I first saw him, he was contemplating throwing himself off the cliff and ending his life. That's how miserable he is right now. I just couldn't stand to watch him suffer anymore and so I'm speaking on his behalf. Please, Roland, end this. He's suffered enough. I think his punishment should be over now."

Everyone looked on with nervous expressions, total disbelief plastered on all their faces, save for Roland himself who retained his agitated scowl. "So you think I'm being too hard on the mouse, is that it?"

Dubois nodded his head softly. "Yes, Roland."

Roland leaned forward till his face was mere inches from the cheetah's. "Well too fucking bad. If that mouse is so miserable, then he can hang for his contempt for this court, or have you forgotten what happened to Kish?"

"No, I haven't forgotten, but that penalty describes offenses that are intentional or caused during attempts at a lord's life. They're not meant for small town folk that are trying to run away in fear for their life. I mean, come on Kish," he said turning towards the tiger, "you don't honestly believe the mouse deserves to die just for accidentally bumping into your halberd, do you?"

Kish looked back at Dubois ready to answer, but he never got the chance. "It's not up to him, Dubois," Roland interrupted. "Regardless of the circumstance, the law is the law and like it or not I provided an alternative. If it's too much for him to handle, then I'll execute him myself."

"What about his family?"

"What about them?"

"I don't believe you'd be so heartless as to actually-"

Before he could finish, Roland grabbed Dubois by his jerkin and held him up close, his whiskers brushing against the cheetah's nose, tinkling him. His warm breath was cascading over his muzzle fur and the cheetah's heart was pounding harder now. The cougar seethed for a moment before relaxing and gently shoving the cheetah back.

"Alright, you called my bluff. You're right, I never had any intention of harming his family, but as far as he's concerned, they're safe only so long as continues to share himself in my bed. If I'm satisfied that he's shown enough dedication to honoring that deal, I'll consider officially letting them off the hook, but for now, he's not to know any better."

Dubois was tempted then to reveal to Roland that he'd already told Rishi the truth, but it wasn't important. He needed to convince the cougar to fully release the mouse from this debauchery of a deal. "But Roland, you can release him from this deal. You have the power-"

"Enough!" The puma held up a paw a few inches away from the cheetah's face, silencing him. Dubois was beginning to feel discomfited by the turn of events. "This conversation is over and is not open to debate. I have made my ruling and you will carry out my orders. For your sake, Dubois, I will forgive you for this transgression, but cross me again and I'll make sure you're not fit to guard a privy. Understand?" Dubois could do nothing but stand there and stare in disappointment at the cougar lord.

Roland backed off. "Amarro. Take Dubois and go to Rishi's house, collect him, and bring him here. Until I say otherwise, his punishment will carry on."

"Yes, my lord," replied the lion.

The cougar turned and walked away, leaving Dubois to stand there in utter disbelief at what was happening. Amarro grabbed Dubois by the arm and pulled at him. "Come on." As Roland began to ascend the steps, Dubois felt all respect for the lord fade away and a boiling anger was roused in the cheetah. He furrowed his brow, pulled his upper lips back in a snarl, and clenched his paws into fists.

He violently wrenched his arm free of Amarro's grasp. "No!" he yelled as he backed away towards the wall, moving away from the other guards. All of them looked on with shock and disappointment, except for Roland who kept his back towards the cheetah, calculating his reaction to his youngest guard's insubordination. Dubois looked on with utter contempt for the cougar, a sense of appall at the conduct from the man he once knew. "You may all be content to follow blindly, but not me! I refuse to obey such blatantly spiteful orders under false pretenses!"

"Dubois!" Amarro yelled at the cheetah like an adult yelling at his child. All the felines looked on, their levels of shock and amazement at the cheetah's behavior knowing no bounds, but Roland's expression was the most telling. As the cheetah made his declaration, the cougar spun around quickly with an intriguing expression on his face, obvious anger and frustration in a piercing glance. But hidden behind his eyes was an expression of fear as if he was afraid the cheetah had just stumbled upon a forbidden secret the cougar was hiding. Dubois was beginning to think he may have been right about the lord's true intentions.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Roland asked, both furious and apprehensive. No one else said anything, but all stared at Dubois like a disobedient child that had no sense of discipline. Amarro had the sternest scowl on his face, but Dubois didn't care. When he spoke his voice carried with it its own sense of disappointment, but now he felt like he had hit the proper button. He believed he knew how to break the lord down and since his respect had waned, he didn't bother holding back.

"It means I don't think you've been honest with any of us. From the beginning, you had that mouse on a leash, giving him a single option to save his life and the life of his family. Once he was able to free himself from that leash, it meant you would lose your little prize. So, you took away any opportunity he had to free himself, changing the deal that you know damn well was never a lifelong commitment. That was never in the original agreement, but being the lord of Darreen, you got to make that declaration so that if he refused, he'd be the one in the wrong. Then when he tried to run, he wound up causing injury to one of the highest ranking officers in the Royal Court, giving you the opportunity to entrap the mouse completely, leaving him no choice but to warm your bed and satisfy your every desire."

Roland was breathing heavy now, his patience lost in the last thirty seconds. Dubois glared back with fearless defiance, unbending in his conduct towards the lord's rule.

"Dubois, do you realize what you're doing?" Amarro asked. "Making these types of claims is considered treasonous. You'll not only be stripped of your rank and kicked out of the army, you'll go to jail. You need to stop this."

Dubois stared back with heated eyes at the lion, but never faltered. "Hah!" called Roland. "You think I would spare a mouse from death and cheat his obligations to me just to warm my bed? I could get anyone I wanted for a rather cheap price from anywhere in Identine. You think too little of me, Dubois. I'm a merciful man. That's why I let him live and I think it's time you acknowledge that."

Dubois was unmoved by the cougar's words. The cheetah saw desperation in the lord's eyes, desperation for validation from the one man who so far has had the courage to call him on his bullshit. Dubois paused a moment and looked around the room, everyone's eyes on him, Jarai and Kish staring pleadingly at him to end his damaging accusations against their lord and friend. But Dubois ignored their silent pleas and warnings.

"It doesn't matter what I think or what I say. We both know the only thing that matters... is that Rishi will never give you what you want."

Roland's opened his eyes so wide they nearly popped out of their sockets. That last statement truly seemed to strike a nerve and in a flash, the cougar had leapt forward, down the stairs, and pinned Dubois up against the wall. The other guards looked on with surprise that the lord responded the way he did. Roland was baring his teeth at the cheetah, growling loudly and heaving his breath in utter rage.

Amarro tried to calm him down. "Whoa! Easy there, Roland. He's not-"

"Shut up, Amarro!" Roland shouted back. This time it was Amarro's turn to look on with shock and disbelief at the cougar's conduct. "What the hell makes you think you know what I want?! You've been my guardian for a few years and you think that makes you an expert on my wants and desires?! These other men here have known me for longer than you have. Hell, Amarro has known and served me most of my life. And you think you're somehow a better judge of me than them?"

Dubois was frightened and grunted against the cougar's knuckled digging into his chest, but he refused to yield to fear. "I think that makes me the best possible judge. I'm not blinded by loyalty to you, so I'm able to tell when you're selfishly trying to hold onto something that-"

Roland's anger boiled over and Dubois soon found a large, gold-brown paw wrapped around his neck squeezing the life out of him. All oxygen was cut off and Dubois grabbed on uselessly, trying to released the cougar's grip on his throat, but it did no good. Roland growled at the cheetah like a wild animal, fury overtaking him as he crushed the smaller feline's throat. Dubois continued to struggle, trying desperately to breathe, but the lord would not give him any leeway. Finally, a large, golden-furred paw grabbed Roland's arm and held firm.

"Roland, stop this!" Amarro yelled.

The lord looked back at the lion, staring into his eyes and soon that primal fury melted away and the cougar lord soon realized what he was doing. A couple more seconds and he released his grip on Dubois' neck and let him fall to the floor. Dubois coughed away as he gasped for air. Kish ran over to him and held him, ensuring he was alright. Roland stood there, total disbelief at what he'd just done, while Amarro stood staring at his lord, judging him now the same way the cheetah had done a few moments before. Roland was shaking now, his paws trembling, and his breath was ragged. After a moment, Dubois finally caught his breath again, but he kept on his knees cradling his neck as breathing had become harder now.

After a moment, Roland regained an expression of annoyance as he spoke to no one in particular. "This bickering is pointless. Rishi has made his bargain and he will honor it. Now go get him and bring him here!"

The cougar turned and began to walk up the stairs again. Dubois looked up at Amarro and saw the lion staring down at him with both concern and regret. The cheetah stared back with a sadness and plea for the lion to not let their lord continue his foolish escapade. With a sigh, the lion turned to his lordship. "No."

Roland stopped and turned back, his patience evaporated and a madness overcoming him. "What is happening? Is everyone against me now? Are you really going to disobey me, Amarro, my closest friend?"

Amarro walked towards the cougar slowly. "Are you going to choke me if I do?" He stopped just short of the puma. The contrast between the two was extensive: Amarro was calm, poised, and collected in his emotions while Roland was restive, fidgety, and emotionally unstable. He tried to speak, but couldn't, as if he wanted to argue, but didn't know what to say.

"How can you do this to me, Amarro? You've been my guardian for so long. How can you just suddenly decide to turn against me like this? You honestly believe what that little kid is saying?"

Amarro stared back with unbroken stoicism. "Is it true?" Roland stared back, his expression breaking into a more frightened one. "Is what Dubois saying true?"

Roland's eyes began to water up, his body shaking more. "I am the lord of Darreen. My decision is law and I expect my orders to be followed." His voice quivered as much as his body did.

"Roland, I have followed your orders without question, I have defended your decisions because I always thought there was a legal precedent or at the very least a reasonable explanation. But if you really are just keeping this mouse on a leash because you want to fuck him, then I can't follow your orders."

As Roland looked back at the lion staring him down, his expression was not a commanding one, but a defiant one. The lord of Darreen was could no longer command his men and as the reality set in, any hint of anger or impatience dwindled away and the cougar's face became contorted into sadness and pity. He turned to look at Dubois and Dubois stared back longingly at the puma, holding out hope that the man he fell in love with was still there. After a moment, Roland lowered his head in defeat and fell to the floor, brooding at having been found out.

Amarro sighed in disappointment. "Roland, why would you do this? You're better than this. You said yourself, you could get anyone from anywhere in Identine. You didn't need to keep this guy coming back to you."

"Because it's not that simple," replied the cougar quietly. "I wasn't interested in just his body. I... ... ... I'm... ... ... I am obsessed with him." Dubois stared back in surprise, his heart rate picking up again. "When I first offered him the chance to keep his home, I really was just trying to get a little mouse tail. I tried to make it easier on him as time went on so that the experience wouldn't be so hard for him. Then that night after we came back, when we were all in heat, and we... we... we-"

It was obvious the lord didn't want to say it, so Dubois decided to say what was on his, and everyone else's, mind. "Raped him." Everyone looked back in shock at the cheetah as he revealed the truth that they all wanted to escape, but then an expression of guilt came over all their faces.

Roland took a deep breath before continuing. "Well, he came to speak with me the following week and told me about what happened with the Ferochens. After that, I started looking at him differently. Instead of just a simple subject who couldn't pay his tribute except by offering his body, I saw someone I needed to protect. As time went on, the highlight of my week was always that short time I got to spend with Rishi. I felt like a kid every time I was with him. It was great at first, but things soon start to spiral downward. After every session, I would start to feel pain when he left, an emptiness that I couldn't fill until the following week when I saw him again. But the pattern just repeated itself, week in and week out, he comes, we fuck, he leaves, and I'm left with a longing that I just could never fill. I actually... started trying to think of an excuse to force Rishi to show up more often, but I couldn't, not legitimately. I just held it inside of me and took what I could get, hoping beyond hope that he might actually start to have feelings for me.

"And then the day came when he offered me that bread and those bottles of spirits. I don't know what went through my head, but I just lost it. I felt betrayed, like when you discover a lover cheating on you. I wasn't about to let him leave me, so I altered the deal. And then when he ran and injured Kish, I knew it was over. No matter what I did, there was nothing I could do. His fate had been sealed and I was the one to seal it."

"But you didn't seal it," Dubois interjected. "You forewent his execution in place of continued servicing of you and your desires."

"But that wasn't my intent." Dubois looked surprised by the revelation. "When I tracked him through the hunting grounds, my original intent was not to actually let him leave. Now I'm a man of my word; if he reached the exit, I would've let him live, but if I caught him before he reached it I would have killed him. That was my plan. Scare him into thinking I'd torture him or make him suffer, but once I had my jaws around his neck, I planned to squeeze until every last bit of life had been drained... ... ... but I just couldn't. As I stood there, listening to him gasp, feeling him squirm, and ultimately when I saw the look of sympathy on Kish's face, my heart couldn't handle it." Roland looked down at his paws in contemplation.

"I've killed dozens of people in my life and I've watched as thousands more died by my orders, or the orders of other officers. Yet in that moment, when it came time, the life of that mouse was just not right to take. But there was no other reasoning for keeping him alive. Over the last two years, he's given very little that has benefited our nation or our army, save for giving his body over to us, so I used that. I let him keep his life in exchange for continuing to bed with me. He'd still be able to see his family and I'd get to have him every night. It seemed reasonable."

"But did you really need to threaten his wife and kids?" asked Dubois.

Roland paused, still staring down at his paws. "The truth is, I did want to kill her. Every week, I get an hour at most alone with Rishi while his wife gets him every second of every day. I couldn't handle it. I wanted her gone, then I could have Rishi all to myself, but I knew I couldn't do that either. So, I used his love for her as punishment for striking one of my men. I finally had him to myself every night and I thought I finally had what I wanted... but-"

Dubois sat stunned as he listened to Roland's confession, not having realized the true feelings the cougar had for the mouse. The other guards sported similar expressions of surprise. Amarro, standing over his young lord, leaned forward and placed a paw on Roland's shoulder.

"Do you remember when you were twelve? You met that fox that you really wanted to be friends with, but he refused and so you threatened him that if he didn't play with you, you'd have him executed. When your father found out, he whooped you good."

Roland nodded. "I remember."

"Well, what you may not have been told was that I was also yelled at by your father for not chastising you from the beginning. He told me that as your guardian, it is my responsibility to not just guard and protect you from outside harm, but to remind you what it means to be a lord of the people. If ever I saw you acting irresponsible or reckless or just... whenever you weren't being you, I had to speak up. It was part of my duty to make sure you knew you were not behaving honorably or respectably. Well Roland, my young boy, you are not behaving honorably or respectably."

Roland looked up at his old friend, his eyes becoming glossy from the tears that began to form. The gaze they shared underlied the familiarity and history they have and the friendship that has kept them together. Dubois knew that the lion was Roland's oldest and longest employed guardian, but seeing him standing there, speaking to him the way that he did, the cheetah realized there was more to their relationship than just a lord and his guard. There was an almost familial acquaintance between the two and it was something the cheetah had never seen. Roland lowered his head solemnly, even though just a couple of minutes ago such a comment made on the cougar's character would've garnered sharp rebuttals of anger.

A single tear rolled down Roland's cheek. "But... you don't understand. It really hurts. Every second that I'm not with him, I feel an ache in my chest and a sickness in my stomach. I can't bear not having him in my arms."

"You're wrong, Roland. I do understand, but don't you think it's unfit for a high lord, a general of the Felis Army and cousin to our prince, to handle jealousy and heart-ache in such a childish manner?"

Dubois became worried, that last criticism of his lordship seeming to go over the line. He looked on with concern for the lion who just stood there staring down at the lord with a sympathetic expression. Roland looked back into Amarro's eyes as he stood up and faced the lion. Dubois expected another explosion of emotion, but the cougar made no such scene.

"You may not believe me, but I do know how to compose myself in emotional situations. I've lost many friends and soldiers under my command. I've watched as each of my guardians, one by one, left by death, old age, or some personal matter. I've watched family members wither and die to war, disease, or strife. I've seen it all and it's never affected me like this. This is different. I've never felt this kind of longing or bond between anyone else before. I know it seems odd, but... ... ... I think I'm-"

They all waited for him to finish his sentence, but he never did. It didn't matter, though, as it was out in the open now and they could read between the lines. The lord held very strong, affectionate feelings for the mouse and very strong jealousy towards his wife. Dubois knew the lord was being selfish, but he never realized it was this obsessive. He felt conflicting emotions at that point. On the one hand, he felt sympathy for the lord and his love struck plight. On the other hand, his handling of the situation and disregard for Rishi's well-being was not justifiable from obsessive affection alone.

"My lord... my charge... I understand your feelings," Dubois stated as he stood up, his voice harsh and gravely from having his throat squeezed. The cheetah kept a paw on his neck. "But you cannot just think of your own feelings, your own desires. You have to consider the feelings of those under your charge and Rishi has been diminished to an almost vacant state. And he doesn't deserve this. He's done everything you asked of him. I think it's time you declared his punishment served and let him be with his wife and children, let him serve you and the Identine Nation the way the rest of the natives have been allowed to. He's given enough of himself to you... and me and Kish and Amarro and Jarai. I think it's time we gave back to him."

"Dubois is right, my lord. I know you feel strongly for the mouse, but he doesn't share your feelings and all you're doing right now is punishing him for not sharing those feelings. It's not just. I think it's time you let him go."

Roland lowered his head, his eyes watery and pained, the thought of losing the mouse and his warmth taking its toll on him. Dubois walked forward and stood a few feet away from the cougar, watching him carefully and hoping he would do what was right and honorable. The whole hall was silent, the seconds stretching on forever as the lord contemplated his next action towards the rodent. After a moment, Amarro placed a paw on the cougar's shoulder.

"Roland, it's time you gave him up."

Dubois felt a rise in his chest, a bright light of hope that his lord had come to his senses.

"I can't." Dubois and Amarro sighed with discontent.

"Roland, please, just take a moment-" Amarro continued, but was interrupted.

"I can't continue on that way. His family is innocent; OK, I'll make sure he knows they're safe, that he has nothing to worry about. His daily duty to my service was a punishment that he has carried out those duties efficaciously and he will be released. But I cannot continue on watching him come to these halls, week after week, handing me some useless bread or alcohol, without allowing me to hold him or feel the warmth of his touch. It's too much to bear. The only reason he still resides in this land is because I gave him an alternative. He might not have liked it, but without that alternative, he and his wife and his kids would've been captured by southern canines or bandits or raiders. No matter what he thinks about me, it would've been far worse for something to happen to him out in the wild and I am the reason that didn't happen. Me. If he can't appreciate that or being bedded by a male member of the Royal Court is too much to bear, then he can leave. But I will not let him off the hook entirely while he is a subject under my rule. We made a deal, I expect him to honor it."

Dubois stepped forward to say something, but Amarro spoke first. "So, you are letting him make the choice then. If he doesn't want to sleep with you anymore, you're allowing him to pack up and leave, is that right?"

"Yes. If he chooses to leave tonight, tomorrow, a month or a year from now, that's his right. I won't keep him prisoner here any longer. But he did agree to sleep with me if I let him stay and regardless of whether or not his crops are more prosperous that agreement is still on record. He can make larger trades, save up his coin, and move away whenever he pleases. Those are his choices and that's my decision."

Amarro nodded in understanding, appeased by the lord's compromise, but Dubois was not satisfied. He continued to stare back at the older felines with skepticism and displeasure. Roland looked back at the cheetah and lowered his head with regret. "You don't agree with my decision, do you Dubois?"

The cheetah straightened up and took a deep breath. "No, my lord. I'm happy that you've found someone that you like so much and I'm glad that you're willing to compromise and admit your errors, but I still think you're being- I mean, with all due respect-"

"It's alright, Dubois. Say what's on your mind. I want to know, I truly do."

"I still think you're being rather selfish. I think Rishi has paid his fair price and deserves to be released from the deal you made over a year ago. It's not right."

Roland paused a moment, thinking. "And if I don't release him, will you resign yourself from my services?"

The question caught the cheetah off guard, but Dubois had considered the possibility before coming here and it became more affirmable as the evening's progressed. Seeing his charge and friend standing there, tears staining his cheek, eyes drooping with sadness and regret, talking of loss and heartache, he didn't have it in him to abandon him anymore. "I-" he tried to speak, but the words wouldn't form. "I don't-" still nothing. He wasn't sure he knew how to answer his lordship. If he said yes, the cougar would be downtrodden and their relationship would almost certainly be damaged. If he said no, what would happen if he eventually changes his mind. There was so much confusion that the cheetah didn't want to deal with the issue anymore. There'd been too much drama and he just wanted the day to be over.

"With all due respect, Roland, my lord, I... ... ... I do not wish to answer that question right now." With that, Roland lowered his head in sadness and nodded in understanding. Dubois felt the guilt and doubt building up in him and felt the best thing to do was to leave his lord in peace. He stood up straight and said, "By your leave, my lord, I will go inform Rishi on what's been decided."

Without looking up at him, Roland nodded, giving the cheetah permission and leaving his heart to sink more. Dubois stood at attention and saluted his lord, feeling their friendship fading away. He turned and headed for the door. As he left, Roland lifted his head and watched as the spotted feline moved further and further away. With desperation building up in him, he called out to the young guard, "Dubois, hold on!"

Before he reached the door, the cheetah turned and watched as Roland quickly padded over to him. He stopped and looked down at the cheetah with sympathetic eyes as he placed both paws on the guard's shoulders. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I've not been myself and I really needed someone to hand me the attitude check that I sorely needed. I understand your feelings and if you feel some moral objection to this, then you can leave and I will do my best to get you reassigned. But please understand, I don't want to lose you either. We've known each other long enough that I want to hold onto what we have. If that's gone, then a part of me is lost too."

Dubois felt a mixture of emotions, but his love for the cougar was not entirely lost. As the scent of the puma invaded his nostrils and the look in his eyes gazed into his own, the cheetah felt just as he did the first time they met. "I know. I don't want to lose you either."

Roland placed a paw on Dubois' chin and stroked it tenderly. "And I need guards willing to do what you did. Most people wouldn't have the courage to challenge me like that, but you did. Even lords, princes, and kings need to be kept in their place. If they're not, they become tyrants and society under them collapses. I need you here to keep me in my place, Dubois. And I promise, next time, I will control my temper."

Dubois stared into his eyes, sparkling and glistening as more tears were ready to fall. The cheetah smiled and chuckled lightly. "I can do that, Roland. Just... give me some time to think."

Roland nodded and patted the cheetah on the stomach playfully. "Now, go inform Rishi about his options." Dubois was about to bow and turn away as Roland thought of something else to say, a sad look on his face. "Oh, and... inform him that... he doesn't have to worry about this week's tribute. I'll consider it paid for."

Dubois bowed and left the cougar lord and his fellow guards. The evening was not finished yet, though, and they had a long night of discussion, changes, and decision making ahead of them. The cheetah would have to decide soon if he intended to continue to serve under the high lord if Rishi were to stay and act as consort for the puma. Dubois now felt a new level of responsibility in regards to his duties to the lord, if nothing else, to act as a moral compass for his lordship. On another level, though, he was beginning to feel another wave of responsibility towards Rishi himself, acting for the best interest of the mouse in a way the rodent couldn't act on his own.

Giving Rishi the option to leave was certainly the right choice and reinstating his weekly tribute would certainly return things to a state of normalcy for the mouse. But Dubois still felt a strong dissension towards Roland's choice not to release Rishi completely from their deal. The mouse was strongly opposed to it and was now able to honor their services by means other than sex. Keeping him indebted to them like this was selfish and held no honor, but there was little the cheetah could do at this point. It was equivalent to sweeping the whole incident two months ago under the rug. For now, Rishi will have to put up with the Royal Court's musky scent a while longer until he's saved up enough money to move himself and his family out of Darreen. The day was still long and the issue was not resolved, but at least the hard part was over.

******

Dubois arrived at Rishi's house twenty minutes later, accompanied by two soldiers, including Tony. He dismounted his horse and approached the front door to the small, residential dwelling and paused as he took a deep breath. He knocked on the door a couple times and waited, his heart beating fast and nervously in his chest. After a moment, the door opened a crack and peering through were the eyes of a gray-furred mouse.

Dubois smiled at the woman. "Mrs. Winslow."

Samantha's face contorted into pained frustration. "We've done nothing wrong. We've done everything you wanted. My husband is being destroyed little by little. Why can't you just leave us alone?!"

Dubois held up his paws defensively. "Wai- No, no, Mrs. Winslow. You're not in trouble and neither is Rishi. We're not here to take you or anyone away and we're not here to hurt anyone. I'm here because I have some news for Rishi and I'd like to discuss it with him. If it's alright with you, I'd like to deliver it to him." Sam, looking over the cheetah suspiciously, opened the door a little more and looked passed him to the soldiers by the fence. Dubois, acknowledging their presence, continued, "Don't worry. They will not enter your home and neither will I without your permission. I have an update that Rishi needs to hear and it's something I think you'll want to hear too. So, please, with your permission, may I come in?"

Sam stared back at Dubois with cold, uncaring eyes and whether out of fear or an unwillingness to argue, she held the door open and stepped aside, allowing the royal guard entrance. "Thank you," he said crossing the threshold into the mice's home. Tessa and Dex were sitting on the couch, staring back at the cheetah with terror in their eyes. Dubois tried to return a friendly smile, but the two small children just sat there with mistrust and fear of the feline predator. Dubois felt his heart sink, knowing how feared his people were by the people of Darreen, but even more so by this unlucky family.

Sam shut the door and led Dubois to the bedroom. "My husband's in here."

Dubois followed after and when he got to the room he saw Rishi lying in bed, a large blanket covering him. Rishi looked back at the cheetah as he came into the room, a sickly look on his face that made Dubois' hair stand on end. Sam stood at the doorway as the cheetah stepped forward, looking down at the depressed rodent lying like a man on his deathbed. Dubois sat down on the bed next to the disgruntled mouse. His mere presence was enough to make Rishi's eyes begin to tear up.

"He's not gonna let me go, is he?" he asked of the feline.

Dubois looked back with a discouraging expression. "The bad news is... no, he's not gonna give you up so easily." Rishi began to cry again, but Dubois continued swiftly. "The good news is... that he's ended your punishment and has reinstated your original deal. From now on, you only owe him your services as a weekly tribute." Rishi's face lit up at the news, though it still looked sad and hopeless. Sam was unmoved. "He also wanted me to tell you that no matter what happens, your family is safe. No harm will come to them regardless of the decision you make."

At that, Rishi's face lit up with hope and vigor. "Really?" Dubois nodded and Rishi sighed with relief for once. Sam was still unhappy with the cheetah's proclamation.

"And there's something else. You and your family are no longer bound to this land. You can leave now whenever you want." That was enough to spark Sam's interest, her expression showing that her mind was already made up. "If what Lord Allon asks is truly too much for you to handle, you can pack up and leave. Understand, though, that that means you will be on your own. If you want safe passage, you'll have to pay your own way, but you can leave. If you choose to wait a few months or a year, then you can leave in a few months or a year. Do you understand?"

Rishi nodded his head vigorously. Tears began to flow again, but this time they were tears of happiness. The mouse uncovered himself and grabbed the cheetah's paw, holding it in his own as he leaned forward and bowed to the guard.

"Thank you, Sir Dubois," he said. "Thank you for doing this for me and my family."

Dubois smiled and patted the mouse's back. "You're welcome, Rishi. And don't worry about this week's tribute. You've more than paid for it."

Rishi let out an uncontrolled stutter of satisfaction, continuing to hold the feline's paw as he buried his face in it. While the two shared a tender moment, Sam continued to stand in the doorway to her bedroom as she watched her husband bow his head to one of the guards to the man that kept them all prisoner. Her expression did nothing to hide her disgust with the scene or the anger that built up in her. For Sam, the news the royal guard delivered was anything but good and the overall issue was far from over.