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"The Crown"

by Calypso

CHAPTER THREE

As soon as they exited the hall and were back inside the labyrinth of corridors, General Daliah began to address the cougar behind her, not bothering to look back. "Your new status as slave requires that you walk behind those you serve at all times. Never look anyone in the face unless he or she requests it. Never make a sound unless you are told. If you attempt to attack anyone while following behind, I assure you, you will lose your life as quickly as you can bat an eye." As she rushed along, it sounded as though Daliah was familiar with giving these kinds of orders. "You are to do whatever you are told, without exception, without excuse, without compromise. If the Prince should ask that you throw yourself from the highest tower, you will do it. Do I make myself absolutely plain?"

Yang-Wo paused, then said, "Yes," quietly, grinding his teeth, tears rolling down his cheeks. He felt beyond ashamed.

"You will address me as Lady and all men as Lord, or you will pay with your head, boy!" she snarled, though she still did not turn around. Clearly she was in a hurry to pass Yang-Wo off, and found it contemptible to lead him anywhere, much less be forced to communicate with him.

"Yes, Lady Daliah," Yang-Wo said, crying further. He was breaking down fast, miserable again, and he didn't know what to do.

They climbed several flights of stairs in a very opulent wing, the walls decorated with beautiful art and tapestries, lit with plated sconces and shining chandeliers, the floor covered in rich carpets. Yang-Wo could tell that they were certainly in the quarters of royals, and he dreaded being shown to where he would now serve as a slave to the Prince. His whore, the cougar thought. I have to be his whore.

He sobbed out loud, and General Daliah stopped walking abruptly, the cougar nearly bumping into her. She spun and slapped him in the face so hard that he was thrown to the floor.

"Did I give you permission to weep, slave?" she thundered.

Yang-Wo nearly got up and ran. Every instinct he had told him to flee, to get away from this horrible place. But he didn't.

"No, Lady Daliah," he said, trying his best to stem the flow of tears.

"Then why do you cry like a whimpering babe, you pathetic excuse for a man?" she asked, though expected no answer. "Get up immediately!"

"Yes, Lady," Yang-Wo said with obedience, standing as fast as he could. They should have just sent me back to my prison cell, he thought, at least that would be dignified. He remembered what she said about not looking at her, and kept his head down.

"Now follow, we're nearly there," she said, and without another word carried on down the corridor. After only a few more paces, she came to a set of beautiful double-doors, which she threw open.

The doors led into a great room filled with people. There were men and women of all races: foxes, horses, leopards, tigers, lions, and even one dragon. They were lounging on great cushions, reading large tomes, singing, playing musical instruments, talking, laughing. The room was lit with tons of torches, and it was fragrant and lovely, with silk and finery everywhere. In the center was a great fountain, where some of the young ladies sat combing their hair and chatting.

All of the men and women turned at the sound of the doors, and they stood and bowed, saying in unison, "Good evening, Lady Daliah." They then kept their eyes on the floor.

"Get this one cleaned properly and dressed. Make sure he's ready to serve immediately, as I'm sure the Prince will want to play with his new toy." With that order, she stormed out, slamming the doors behind her, and leaving Yang-Wo standing alone, maybe thirty men and women lifting their heads to look at him.

All of them were barely wearing anything, and all of them were extremely beautiful, Yang-Wo noticed. They all wore only a thong draped with a bit of decorative fabric, the women also wearing a brassiere.

Most went back to their conversations and activities. From Yang-Wo's left approached a stallion and a fennec woman, both of whom looked striking and wondrous and intimidating and heartbreaking to the young Prince.

The stallion stood well over six feet tall, his chestnut and white coat gleaming in the warm firelight, his long white mane braided and slung over one shoulder. His build was strong and sculpted, and his face was gloriously crafted, as if carved from stone, his eyes pale blue. He was smiling, which helped Yang-Wo a little. This was the first genuine smile he'd seen since being captured.

The woman was petite, but her proportions were mostly set in her long, lean legs. She had shapely hips and rounded, pert breasts that were set off beautifully by her amazingly flat stomach. Her face was dominated by her large, dark eyes, which were fringed by thick, dark lashes, made all the more prominent by her near-white fur and shining auburn hair. In Yang-Wo's mind, she was the definition of exotic.

"Hello," the stallion greeted simply. He nodded his head, almost as if he knew that touching Yang-Wo would be a mistake. "My name is Adam." His voice was melodic and lulling. The cougar imagined he'd be a great storyteller. "What is your name?"

"I..." Yang-Wo began, his chest tight. His normal line to a foreigner would be, 'I am Yang-Wo, Prince of Beldai,' but it seemed hardly appropriate. "I am Yang-Wo," he said simply.

"I am Melanie," said the fennec woman, and she also gave Yang-Wo a comforting-though dazzling-smile. "You must be the Crown Prince of Beldai."

Yang-Wo's heart burned. "Yes," he said simply. Of course they would know, Beldai was the only nation made up of cougars.

"I hail from Vicktenburg, where I was a Prince. My brother was King," said Adam, his accent a bit more apparent now. Even his accent had a soothing quality to it. The horse very slowly reached out a paw, allowing Yang-Wo to see it, before comfortingly patting the cougar's shoulder.

"I was Duchess of Von Selen," said Melanie, also placing a paw on the cougar's opposite shoulder. "We know your pain. Please, embrace your emotions now that you are here. We are like family here." She had the sweetest demeanor of any woman Yang-Wo had ever met, and before he knew it, he was hugging her tightly, and he was crying on her shoulder, the flowery smell of her beautiful auburn locks giving him some comfort as he shivered and shook against her, pouring his heart out into her embrace.

Melanie didn't hesitate to grasp Yang-Wo tightly, shushing him softly, not because she wanted him to be quiet, but to comfort and soothe him. She rocked him a little, as a mother would a child, and pet his dirty hair, and rubbed his aching back, and nuzzled his neck, mumbling comforts such as, "It is alright, just let go..."

Adam stood behind Yang-Wo and kept his paw on the cougar's back, letting him know with his touch that he was there for him. After a few minutes, Melanie pulled Yang-Wo back and kissed his cheek, and Adam turned the cougar around and fiercely embraced him in his strong arms, holding the slender Prince against his chiseled equine body, giving the cat a whole different kind of comfort.

Yang-Wo's crying slowed as he rested his face against the horse's chest, and he nuzzled Adam gratefully, gripping him tightly. He understood what the two of them were doing, and he was so thankful they were there to console him. Having a man and a woman was the best comfort, because it was almost like having a mother and father, or a sister and brother, or anyone else a person like Yang-Wo had lost.

When the cougar finally pulled back and looked up at Adam, the horse was smiling down at him, and he kissed Yang-Wo on the cheek just as Melanie had done. "See, Yang-Wo? We are here for you, beautiful one," he said, and Yang-Wo flushed.

"I'm not beautiful..." he tried to say as humbly as possible, but it came out sounding pitiful and self-loathing.

"You would not be here if you were not," said Melanie, not a hint of flattery in her voice. "Prince Xeneth is very particular about those admitted to his harem. Come, let us show you to the attendants, who will cleanse you and clothe you."

And so they did. Adam and Melanie guided Yang-Wo through the room, and every face that looked up as he passed smiled at him, had a kind expression for him. And every face was lovely.

They passed through a doorway at the back of the room, which led them down a short corridor. They passed open doorways to the right and the left that led to rooms with cushioned beds-the dormitories of the harem-and at the end of the hall was a large archway that led to another very open room. Here, there were several black wolves, all of whom were servants judging by their clothes and demeanor, and a few of the slaves, who were being washed and brushed and dressed. This was the bathhouse, and the baths were giant pools of steaming, scented water, more reminiscent of natural hot springs than something constructed.

Yang-Wo barely had a moment to look around before he was introduced to a servant, a rather plain wolf boy with untidy, short black hair and warm brown eyes.

"Hello," the wolf boy said somewhat shyly, "You must be Yang-Wo of Beldai. I am Lang, and I shall groom you for the Prince."

Melanie rubbed Yang-Wo's back, for the cougar had not raised his eyes to look at the wolf in the face. "It is alright, Yang-Wo, the servants of the harem are not considered superiors. You may look at Lang."

When the cougar raised his head, he saw the wolf was young, probably a year or two younger than himself, and he was tall and thin, wearing nondescript gray breeches and a white shirt, his sleeves rolled back. He had the look of someone who worked with his paws, and he had a nice smile that made the cougar feel like he might actually be able to bear a night in the harem without another emotional breakdown.

Adam reached his paw around Yang-Wo's shoulder and pulled him against his side, rubbing his arm consolingly. "Would you like us to stay with you while Lang grooms you?" he asked the cougar. Normally, Yang-Wo would never have been comfortable with so much physical contact with strangers. However, with how distraught and distressed he was over the loss of his nation and the imprisonment of his parents, plus his worries about his people, his friends, his loved ones...the Prince didn't think he could get enough hugs and comfort, at this point.

"I would appreciate that," he said gratefully, smiling up at the horse. He had the distinct feeling that he and Adam would end up as great friends.

Within minutes, Yang-Wo was seated in one of the baths, and Lang was behind him, scrubbing the cougar's hair with sweet-smelling soaps, his touch very soothing and relaxing. The cat still felt very much in shock, and he knew he would be desperately crying again sometime soon. But for now, it was nice to indulge in the simple act of getting clean, especially having a servant do it for him. He felt royal again, having someone of inferior status around, and it made him comfortable.

"As I was saying," continued Melanie, who was seated at the edge of the bath, her feet in the water. She had just been explaining what being part of the harem meant for Yang-Wo. "Prince Xeneth is not difficult to serve. He does not ask for impossible tasks, and most of what you'll be doing will simply be making him comfortable and entertaining him. However, he is a bit unfeeling, so do not feel as though he does not like you. He likes all of his slaves, he just isn't good at expressing it." The way Melanie described the Prince was almost as if she were describing a friend or lover, and it made Yang-Wo wonder just how long she'd been serving him.

The cougar tensed up as a thought crossed his mind. "Melanie, Adam..." he said softly, pushing back his fears, "all of the wolves, even yourselves, call this the Prince's harem. Does that mean...that...that..." he stumbled over his last sentence, not sure how to finish. "That I'll be expected to...pleasure the Prince?" He flushed deeply, thankful his eyes were closed.

There was a pause, and then Adam answered. "Yang-Wo, you will be expected to do whatever the Prince asks of you, no matter what. If he desires you, and wants your body, he will have it." Adam's tone was gentle, and it sounded as if the stallion had expected the question, and had come to terms with being the bearer of bad news. "However," he added, seeing Yang-Wo's face crumple, "I will say that it is a rarity for the Prince to ask for such a thing of any of us. There are around thirty of us here, and only a pawful of us has ever been intimate with the Prince. Even those of us who have experienced such a thing have only done so maybe once or twice."

Yang-Wo allowed this knowledge to permeate his brain. He was expected to do anything the Prince asked, and that included the sexual, but the Prince rarely asked for it. He supposed that this was the best outcome he could hope for. "Have you two had to do this for him?" he asked bluntly.

"I have twice," said Melanie softly. "It certainly was not an experience that I think of as negative."

"I was asked to service the Prince orally once," Adam added. "I am of the same mind as Melanie. It was not unpleasant. It's just..." he trailed, as if searching for the words.

"Just?" Yang-Wo prompted, his eyes opening. He was blushing still. He had never really had a conversation about sex before, and it embarrassed him terribly.

"I think I know what you're about to say, Adam," Melanie said. Her large ears lowered a little, as if emphasizing her serious mood. "The Prince is skilled in his bed, so all of the physical sensations are wonderful. But his eyes...his emotions. He lacks any feeling, so if you are to look at him during, or talk to him after, it's almost as though he's...sad. He seems..."

"Unfulfilled," Adam completed, a little frown on his handsome muzzle.

"Exactly," agreed Melanie. "Prince Xeneth has a bit of a sadness around him all of the time, which he masks with indifference. But it's very obvious in one of these encounters particularly."

The cougar didn't know what to think about that. All he hoped was that he was included in the larger group of slaves who never were asked to touch the Prince in such a way. Listening to orders from the Ulcouri royal family was painstaking enough; losing his innocence to one of them would tear the cougar apart.

"You seem concerned about this more than most," Adam added sagely, cutting right to the quick. "Is there a reason?"

If Yang-Wo had been blushing before, it was nothing to how he looked now, and he realized that he was just about to reveal something personal in front of a servant, which embarrassed him all the more. "I have never...been with someone in such a way," he said tactfully.

There was another deep silence while Lang scrubbed at Yang-Wo's body, the wolf boy hardly paying attention to anything but his job.

"Well, we might be able to help. I assume that to get here, the Queen asked Xeneth what his opinion was of you," Melanie said, petting her own very fluffy tail.

"Yes, precisely," Yang-Wo replied, looking into her mysterious dark eyes.

"We have been here longer than most. From what we've heard from the others, what the Prince says about you can give you a better idea if he does have interest in you physically," she explained. "For instance, I have been with the Prince twice, and when he judged me, he said I was 'pretty,' more of a compliment. However, he asked for a one-sided experience with Adam, and when he judged Adam...what was it he said?"

"Prince Xeneth said I was 'strong,' a more impersonal statement," Adam replied, sliding his long braid behind him, his chest and face a bit damp from the heat and humidity of the room.

"So, what was it the Prince said about you?" Melanie asked curiously. She had a small smile, but it faded as she gauged Yang-Wo's reaction. His face looked blank and a bit scared.

"He said I was...'lovely'..." replied Yang-Wo slowly, as if trying to believe the words himself. If his assessment was accurate, then Xeneth had a higher opinion of Yang-Wo than he did even of Melanie.

Melanie said, "Oh..." as if she felt she had to say at least something, and she exchanged a significant look with Adam, who looked a little worried.

The three of them did not speak again for several minutes, by which time Lang asked Yang-Wo to scrub his face. The cougar was grateful for something to distract him, and he reveled in this last bit of preening. Then, he was helped out of the bath by Lang, who directed him to the far wall, where there were chains with handles hanging from the ceiling. Yang-Wo was asked to stand on a metal grate and pull a chain, and a rush of clean, hot water flooded over him, rinsing away the soaps.

Then, Lang was there to dry the cougar off and to begin brushing his fur and his hair, the cougar's lithe, taut body smelling clean and sweet. He was asked to seat himself on a stool, where Lang began the arduous process of untangling and managing Yang-Wo's long, platinum locks.

"Yang-Wo," said Melanie finally. "I think that despite the circumstances, you will come to enjoy your time here. Most of your time will be spent in the harem with the other slaves, or just tending to Prince Xeneth's needs. It's certainly a better fate than being locked in the dungeons."

Yang-Wo thought of his parents, and he winced. "My parents are prisoners..." he mumbled.

"We assumed so," Adam replied. "It is rare for the Ulcouri to kill prisoners of war, most especially royalty. You'll find they have a very high value on life, and they don't like to waste it."

"The only one who really seemed to want me dead was that Glaysia girl," Yang-Wo said, a sneer coming over his face as he thought of the Princess.

"Beware of Princess Glaysia," Adam warned seriously, staring Yang-Wo directly into the eye. "She may seem like she respects the Queen's authority, but she does so to maintain her position. She is the Queen's stepdaughter, and she has a vicious, terrible Spirit that she directs at any and all that are subject to her. She loathes foreigners, and is disgusted by Prince Xeneth's harem. If she catches you put one toe out of line, you may lose your life over it." The horse looked tense and drawn as he spoke of Princess Glaysia, and Yang-Wo imagined that Adam may have had to witness Glaysia's cruelty first-paw.

It felt as though it'd been days by the time Yang-Wo was fully cleaned and ready for the Prince. He was fitted with his own thong, which exposed nearly every part of him, just as the rest of the harem was dressed. He felt humiliated and abused, but he at least comforted himself with the knowledge that he was surrounded by royals from other lands, and they all had to endure the same treatment as he did.

Lang had braided Yang-Wo's long hair much as Adam's was braided, which allowed the cougar to drape it over one shoulder. His fur shone and gleamed, and his muscles had relaxed from the invigorating bath, giving him a peaceful and healthy appearance.

However, all of that changed the moment he was summoned.

Yang-Wo had just seated himself by the fountain with his new friends, who were chatting with him animatedly about their homelands, when the double doors swung open, and a snooty looking servant barged in, a middle-aged wolf man with brown hair and spectacles.

"The Prince requires three of you this evening. He would like Yang-Wo, Chessia, and Velnuro," the upper-class servant commanded. "And he does not want to be kept waiting, so make haste!"

A spindly rabbit girl with long, floppy ears and a beautiful violet dragon man rose immediately and marched to the door, keeping their eyes downcast. Yang-Wo gave his friends a pitiful look, but they hoisted him up by the arms and pushed him forward, whispering, "Do every single thing you're asked, and don't hesitate!"

Yang-Wo kept his eyes down as he walked forward, stumbling a couple of times, embarrassment written all over his face. He felt as though every slave in the room was staring at his nearly naked body, and he felt extremely self-conscious, not to mention scared and abhorred by the idea of serving the Prince of Zanat-Ven.

The doors slammed immediately behind Yang-Wo, and he followed behind Velnuro and Chessia as they were led by the haughty servant man.

"The Prince is retiring to his quarters for the evening, and would like amusement and relaxation," the servant said tersely. "Do not disappoint him, or it'll be back to the dungeons with you." Yang-Wo could tell he would not care much for this man.

The wolf led them up a grandiose flight of stairs, one that clearly led to a very important place, and to a set of gorgeous doors that were made of the darkest and shiniest of woods, gleaming with gold plating and beautiful jewels. Yang-Wo wasn't able to get a good look at much, of course, because his eyes were on the floor, but he felt that the palace's opulence exceeded that of his citadel in Beldai, which made him feel as though the Ulcouri were a lavish and extravagant people.

The guards at the doors saw the servant and slaves coming, and they swung the doors open, admitting the party inside. Out of Yang-Wo's peripheral vision, he could see everything gleamed with precious metals and jewels and rare woods and lush fabrics, and all was bathed in beautiful candlelight from several chandeliers and sconces. His heart rate quickened as he realized the apathetic Prince he'd met only a couple of hours before was lounging directly ahead of him.

"May I present your slaves for the evening, Sire," said Snooty Servant, bowing deeply.

"Thank you, Melnamourn," Xeneth breathed out, as if it caused him effort. Clearly the daily niceties were not his favorite activity.

"Is there anything else I can do for His Highness?" Melnamourn asked obsequiously, as if there were nothing more that he'd love than to do something else to get in the Prince's favor. Not only was the man pretentious, he was a suck-up.

"That is all," the Prince replied with finality.

Without another word, Melnamourn bowed to the Prince and exited the way he'd come, the doors swinging shut behind him, courtesy of the guards.

Chessia and Velnuro took a couple steps forward and stood side by side, their eyes remaining on the floor. Yang-Wo caught what they were doing just in time and placed himself next to Velnuro quickly, his paws behind his back, eyes on the footboard of an amazing bed.

"Chessia, assist me in disrobing," Prince Xeneth ordered. The floppy-eared rabbit girl rushed forward and immediately began to help the Prince out of his clothes expertly, without looking at him in the slightest. It was a feat that seemed impossible to Yang-Wo, and one he hoped he was never asked to perform. At this point, he was thankful that his duty as a slave was to look down always, because seeing the Prince naked would just be even more awkward and embarrassing.

In moments, Chessia was folding Xeneth's clothes and placing them in a wicker basket in the far corner, likely to be washed later. Xeneth, Yang-Wo supposed, was lying back on his bed, observing his other slaves before giving his next order.

"Velnuro, massage me," the wolf said concisely. "Yang-Wo, sing to me while I relax and receive my massage."

Yang-Wo's mouth fell open in surprise, and he blinked several times. Sing? he thought, flabbergasted. Sing what?

After a moment, the cougar asked, "What song would you like me to sing, Your Highness?"

Velnuro had already climbed atop the bed and begun massaging the Prince, which Yang-Wo could not see very well at all, his eyes remaining continually downcast.

"I suppose that when I asked you to sing, your limited mind translated that simple task into, 'Ask the Prince stupid, pointless questions and waste his precious time.' You may go back to the dungeons and roll in your own filth if you prefer." The Prince said this so languidly, without a bite to his words at all, and yet they stung Yang-Wo like the crack of a whip, hurting him and angering him and making him want to cry. He simply stood stunned for a minute or two while the Prince received his massage.

Just as Prince Xeneth opened his mouth to order Yang-Wo out of his sight for good, the cougar began to sing. Yang-Wo had chosen a very sorrowful song from his country, one that was actually written for the loss of his ancestor, Kevna. He sang the notes from his heart, feeling the pain behind them as he never had, and he felt tears run down his face, his eyes remaining closed for the entire song. As most that were skilled with air, Yang-Wo was an exceptional singer, given that he could manipulate the currents of air in and out of his body so effortlessly.

When the song ended, there was a palpable silence in the room. The large dragon hadn't been careless enough to stop his massaging efforts, but he certainly was doing them a bit more distractedly. Chessia simply stood staring at Yang-Wo; she had been standing in the corner looking at the floor, waiting for her next order, but now she looked at her fellow slave in awe.

"Stop," Xeneth quietly ordered Velnuro, who immediately got up and stood next to the bed with his head down. The sound of the Prince's voice startled Chessia, who returned her gaze to the floor.

Yang-Wo could sense that Prince Xeneth was sitting up, was moving toward him, but he kept his eyes shut. The flow of tears had ebbed, but had left a wet trail in the fur of his face, and now that he'd done what he was told, he just wanted to go back to the harem and get away from the awful Prince.

Yang-Wo heard Xeneth crawl across the massive bed, heard the sheets rustle and the mattress give as the wolf got up. He heard the steps on the stone floor, felt the wolf's Spirit and presence as he walked closer, and yet he did not open his eyes. Yang-Wo trembled as Xeneth stood right in front of him.

"Open your eyes...please," Xeneth said gently.

After about a moment, Yang-Wo did as he was told, keeping his eyes as low as he possibly could. Unfortunately, the wolf was so close that no matter how low he looked, Xeneth's naked body was predominantly what he saw. He flushed deeply, feeling very embarrassed once again.

"Look at me," Xeneth said, though it rang more of a request than an order.

Yang-Wo lifted his head and his eyes to look into the wolf's, and he then realized just how close they actually were. Xeneth was standing within inches of the cougar, and his rich scent and formidable form were dominating Yang-Wo's senses. On top of the wolf's overwhelming presence and uncomfortable proximity, his striking eyes were paralyzing the cougar with wonder and amazement.

Xeneth was several inches taller than Yang-Wo, as well as being broader of shoulder and overall bulkier. He had a muscled form that seemed natural, as if the wolf didn't have to exert himself to have it. His face, normally an expressionless void, twitched as his and the cougar's eyes met; his mouth flickered a little, and Yang-Wo was convinced he'd seen a hint of a smile.

They stood there staring into each other's eyes for a long, long time, at least as far as staring into someone's eyes goes. Xeneth, after several tense moments, lifted one of his massive paws and placed it against the cougar's cheek, using his thumb to wipe the stream of tears that had soaked into the fur. The gesture was so unexpected and intimate that Yang-Wo merely blinked several times, as if his brain could not process such surprise.

Finally, Prince Xeneth turned away from Yang-Wo. "Velnuro, continue," he said, climbing onto his bed once more, Velnuro following him, the other two simply standing and staring at the floor.

The Prince did not request anything else of Yang-Wo or Chessia, except to leave about a half-hour later, Velnuro leaving along with them. Yang-Wo was happy to be out of the man's company, yet unsure of how to feel about their brief interaction.

The castle was eerily quiet, and Yang-Wo supposed that it must be past midnight already. Snooty Servant, or rather, Melnamourn, was waiting to escort them back to the harem, and Yang-Wo immediately cast his eyes downward and put his paws behind his back, following wordlessly as the haughty man led him.

Melnamourn threw open the doors to the harem without preamble and slammed them behind the enslaved Prince just as unceremoniously, clearly irritated with having to deal with someone so beneath him.

It looked as though many of the slaves had retired for the evening, given the relative emptiness of the harem front room, but Adam and Melanie remained, gesturing Yang-Wo over to tell them about his first evening with Prince Xeneth.

And so he told them, leaving the three of them to wonder why the Prince who never smiled had nearly done so at his slave.