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Forging Rust

by Reserved Rodent

co-authored with AJH

Chapter Sixteen

We all have our burdens to bear

Lord Chase looked over at his Squire, noting from the flick of his ears and the somewhat unfocused look in his eyes that the young rat was getting tired of hearing about map reading. The lynx smiled softly and pulled a map from the bottom of the pile to the top, spreading it out and weighing down the corners with a thin dagger and an empty cup.

"Come, look at this, and give me your opinion." the feline's tail absently wrapped around the rat's nearest ankle as the Squire stood and rolled his shoulders before looking the map over with more attention, brows furrowing.

The rat's furless tail rubbed back at the Knight's. "If I'm processing everything you've told me and reading this right - and please tell me if I'm misreading this," Rust pointed on the map. "We are here, and over... there is where our latest intelligence suggests the barbarians are."

The lynx nodded gently, his tail slowly moving up to rub the rat's thighs. "You've got a scout unit of ten Knights, Squires, horses and wagons. How do you scout ahead?"

Rust shook his head and frowned, looking up at his lord. "Why the wagons and horses, sir? Horses aren't as big of an issue, but in the mountains, the wagons limit movement to a degree." The Squire tapped three small rivers that lay between the two camps. "There's only so many places to get across these. I guarantee they're watched in a best-case scenario, ruining our element of stealth. I image some if not all of those places have active ambushes lying in wait that would make short work of any scouting units that small. It's what I'd do."

The feline laughed softly, his tail now stroking the rodent's crotch lightly. "Good boy. We're not taking wagons. Continue."

The Squire managed to keep from moaning and stifled his desire to pant as the Knight's agile tail curled under his bulge. "They're not forced to come at us from one location like they were before, having only their guarded pass to advance from. They've had control of this valley for most of the season, so have to know it better than our current maps. Until we gain more control and knowledge of their numbers and movements, we will want to avoid the roads as much as possible. The main trails as well. I can see the areas where it looks like horses might have difficulty with steep climbs, but it's hard to tell where you have the broken rocks that slow such mounts down to the speed of a fully armored Knight using his own paws or worse. Deer and goats on the hidden trails can handle much that would break a leg on a fully armored war horse. I wouldn't use fully armored horses on a scout mission, but even lightly or unarmored horses can have issues when pushed over unknown, uneven terrain."

Rust looked up from the map, paws now holding and petting the Knight's thin tail to keep it from wandering.

"So you're proposing we go in on foot?"

"Not entirely. There's too much ground to cover. That said, to get in a few of the best positions to overlook the locations that I think we'd want to see, I think it's going to take some hiking. I'm trying to find somewhere close enough to the cliffs here," the Squire tapped the map near where enemy forces were noted, "where we could get a good look at the layout of their forces and fortifications through a spyglass. Also, this clearing over here. It's too defensible of a position on that hill, with too good a line of sight to assume there's no enemy presence there just because we know there's a large presence in the other location."

Lord Chase nodded gently. "Sound analysis. I will present your plan to the council during the next planning meeting. I assume your scouting mission will be approved in the next few days." The feline took a sip of his tea and sat back in his chair, crossing his ankles. "I'm sure they'll be as impressed by your plan as I am."

The rat's ears blushed as he let go of his master's tail. A smile still rose as he processed the compliment as well as the honor of having his thoughts on where to scout turned into a full plan of action. "Thank you, sir. I just... treated it similar to looking for food and shelter in the city. I mean the map back then was in my head, and getting caught by the watch - while bad - would not result in horrible, bloody death by barbarian, but... similar concepts."

Chase patted his lap, leaning back in his chair once again. "Come here." His voice was soft and welcoming.

Ears tilted at a slight angle, the Squire approached and climbed onto the larger male's lap, a nervous grin on his face. He wiggled to get comfortable, his long legs tucked astride the feline's powerful limbs. He rested his paws on the Knight's shoulders.

The lynx smiled softly. "Tell me about those times - surviving in the city."

Rust's ears slowly bent back flat and he shook his head slightly. "They were hard, hungry times."

The Knight tilted his head slightly, resting one paw on the rodent's lower back. "...then I won't ask. We all have our burdens to bear."

"It's... I want to tell you..." Rust snuggled against the lynx's broad chest. "I'm just... not sure I'm ready to talk about it in detail with anyone yet."

Chase nodded gently, then tapped a claw under the rat's jaw. "Is it something that is a threat to me or the Brotherhood?"

The rodent shook his head. "Nothing we did mattered in the big picture. There's some thugs and thieves who probably want a piece of my hide... but I'm not the starved street rat anymore, so I'm not even sure they're a threat to me..."

The feline retracted the claw, stroking with his soft paw pad. "Then you tell me when you're ready, my Squire. You're in the Brotherhood now - we're here for you."

"Thank you for understanding, my Lord. I... am still adjusting to the change. It's starting to sink in. You've helped me so much."

The lynx stroked the rat's jaw line. "I saw the nobility in you, despite how I found you. I'm happy to be the one to make you into the Knight you will become."

Rust's ears blushed and the tip of his tail twitched. "You were willing to give me a chance to work hard for something more than I ever expected." The Squire raised a paw to rub the Knight's chest. He could feel the thick scar tissue even through the feline's jerkin.

The Lynx smiled softly, head leaning down. "And so far, you're doing very well."

"Thank you. I still feel like I'm catching up to the youngest Squires at times. I'm having to ask questions all the time that other Squires don't."

The lynx chuckled and ruffled the rat's ears. "You've got a battle-worn ear to show you've got more experience than a lot of the Squires. Never be afraid to ask a question of me or any Knight. We respect that more than Squires who think they know everything."

"I know I'm free to ask, sir. I just usually try and figure out a good time for the tricky ones. I have one of those, well, maybe two, though I don't think the first is tricky. But it may be."

Lord Chase rested two of his fingers under the rat's chin and gently lifted his head up to look him in the eyes. "Ask."

"Yes sir. I wasn't sure if they were appropriate for cuddling time, but the map on top of the table you had me look at..." Rust nodded that direction, "How up to date are the barbarian placements? Does our current intelligence include anything from the savage I caught? I didn't know what was going to happen to him in the camp, and figured I should find that out too, since I'm kind of responsible for him being here."

The lynx smiled softly. "None of those are troubling questions. The information on the map is based on the latest scouting reports. Small teams were sent almost as soon as we won the fight at the pass. They've been scouting and reporting back as they can. Your prisoner has not supplied any intelligence yet. He was secured and given an examination of his condition and wounds, patched up and allowed to recover. I've been told he was out for most of the night. He is being well cared for, fed properly, but is in a cage in a guarded tent. He had nothing to say to the Knight who was sent to question him after he awoke, so he's being left in isolation to see if he will be more talkative the next time he's questioned. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't - but we try to give prisoners a chance to talk without resorting to... less palatable means."

Rust frowned, ears folded back. "I... don't like the idea of hurting someone for information."

"Even if that information saves the life of one of your fellows?"

Rust remained silent, brows furrowed in thought, the tip of his tail lashing back and forth. After several seconds, he shook his head. "No. Just as you said I needed to honor the lives of the fallen by continuing to fight, I need to honor those who have died with choosing to live right. I would not want any of us who were captured to be tortured, so I should not torture the enemy when I capture them."

The battle-hardened Knight gave his Squire a long, searching look. After a few moments, the rat started to squirm under the stare. Chase opened his mouth as if to say something, then shut it.

"Look," Rust muttered, sliding off the lynx's lap and beginning to pace up and down the length of the table. "The slave trader who you bought me from lashed me with his whip more times than I can count. He gave me barely enough food to survive. He..." A shiver ran down the rodent's spine. "I know that worse pain and torture than what I experienced can be inflicted. Our torturers probably would prefer the prisoner wasn't able to walk, let alone fight afterwards, so they won't be careful not to do permanent damage to the merchandise. That said, I know how much hate I still have for that fat, pompous raccoon. If I saw him even now, I can't say I wouldn't kill him. To me, more hatred is what you create using pain against a prisoner. Sure, eventually you might break them, but... how much better of a response did you get from me when you showed me respect and kindness?"

"You captured an enemy, not a potential Squire." The feline's voice was curt and cold.

"Why did they attack our lands? This wasn't on my list of questions, but it probably should have been and is now. What makes that stoat - in a cage like I've been in - any different than me?"

The lynx leaned forward in he chair, pressing a finger into the map to make a point."You didn't invade his lands and kill off civilians who couldn't defend themselves."

"So why did his people decide to do that? What would drive them to attack across the border? I was under the impression that until this attack happened it was a pretty peaceful accord here. What changed?"

Lord Chase leaned back in his chair, the claws on his right paw slowly rolling a tapping rhythm on the armrest. After a moment, he spoke in a soft, but stern, voice. "Mercenaries were hired to wear Brotherhood insignia and burn several settlements across the border. We believe the individual who did this was Vander, a fallen Knight who would see the Brotherhood destroyed. Now you're privy to information most of the Brotherhood do not yet know."

The rodent was silent for a moment, despite his continued pacing. He looked to the Knight after a moment. "Do you have proof of this? Have attempts been made to clear the Brotherhood's name?"

The lynx smirked. "They've violently refused to meet for talks. Your prisoner - the stoat scout that you subdued and kept alive while thwarting and surviving an ambush against the caravan - is the first prisoner we've had to have the chance to speak with. In all honesty, with as bloody as things have been since the invasion started, I suspect you're the only one who tried to capture a prisoner. Unfortunately, so far all he's done is curse us in his native tongue."

"Can I speak with him? Since I was the one who captured him?"

"I believe that can be arranged, but it will likely be no sooner than tomorrow afternoon."

"Will he be tortured before then?"

"That shouldn't have started yet. I'll make sure it doesn't before you get a chance to speak with him."

"Thank you." The rat stopped pacing, looking at the map on the table.

Lord Chase patted his lap, speaking in a conciliatory tone. "Why don't you come back over and ask me that troubling question you keep claiming to have."

After a moment, Rust chuckled and padded over to sit on the offered lap again. "I've been trying to figure out how to phrase the question honorably."

The lynx grinned and nibbled the rat's undamaged ear. "That's already troubling."

"I'm not even sure if I should be concerned or not, but I don't want to bring shame or dishonor on your house, so figure I should clarify expectations."

Lord Chase didn't say anything, teeth lightly playing with the rodent's flicking ear.

"There's a lot of males - mostly Squires, but a few Knights - who have suggested that they would like to spend time being intimate with me. Is this normal? Is there something I'm doing that is causing this? Is it wrong that I'm interested in more than one of the offers? I don't like the idea of being disloyal to you, my lord. And I worry that I am unknowingly doing something wrong that gets this kind of attention and would upset you."

The lynx chuckled, a big paw squeezing the rat's thigh. "As long as I get the attention I need, when I need it, you're free to enjoy your time with whoever you want. Just not on my territory."

Rust nodded. "Thank you. I'm just... not used to all of the interest, I guess."

The Knight smiled softly. "It's worth saying, that you can say no - you don't have to go with everyone who bats an eyelid. Wouldn't want to appear a 'slut', would you?" A light chuckle escaped the feline.

"I know," Rust admitted, snuggling again against the lynx's chest. "I've said, 'no,' to a few. I've not rushed to take advantage of having won a shot at Squire Nix's ass in the duel. That actually wasn't the point of that for me."

Chase nodded gently, and then cupped his Squire's jaw and looked into the smaller male's eyes silently.

The rat looked back, quiet and calm.

The lynx leaned in, gently kissing the rodent, tongue gently probing the smaller male's lips.

Rust's lips parted, letting the feline's rough muscle in as he kissed back.

The larger male growled, low and soft, as he leaned back. "You're a fine Squire and a great lover."

The Squire's ears reddened as he smiled. "Thank you, sir, I'm pleased to hear it. I love serving you."

Chase's head tilted to his mattress, and a sly smile played about his lips as a soft, lusty growl rumbled from his throat. "Show me."

Blushing harder, Rust slid off the Knight's lap and padded slowly towards the bed, hips swaying as he slowly pulled his shirt off over his head.

Purring lowly, the lynx rose to his footpads and followed, pulling his own jerkin off.

The rat dropped his shirt at his side, pausing before the bed to unfasten his belt and bent over as he slowly lowered them, revealing he wore nothing underneath today..

The lynx undid his belt and tossed it aside as he padded closer. His pants dropped to his footpads, leaving him with only his loincloth.

Rust slowly crawled up onto the bunk, tail raised high to reveal his tight, pink pucker as he got on all fours. He shook with excitement, hi musk flaring at the thought of his master inside him once again.

The feline's own musk smelled strongly of sex as he stood by the bed, growling and rubbing his belly. "Help me get ready, Squire..."

The rat turned around on the bed and leaned out, pushing his nose under the loincloth and sniffing heavily of the thick, masculine scents there. The rodent's tongue licked at the feline's fat, furry balls while his paws removed the loincloth and tossed it aside.

Chase groaned as the wet tongue stroked his orbs. He reached out and rested a paw on the gray-furred ears, stroking gently. "F... fuck yes..."

Rust gently sucked on first one, then both of the larger male's orbs into his warm maw. The Knight's pride was rapidly growing out of his sheath, slick with fluids and dripping pre. Moaning, the rodent released the furry balls and wrapped his tongue around the lynx's thick shaft, while the feline's oddly long tail reached out to curl around the smaller male's package. The musk of both horny males grew stronger in the air of the tent as the Squire took the lynx's hard shaft into his muzzle and down his throat.

The rat could feel the barbs gently tickling his maw, and then his throat, as the Knight's member swelled to its full and not-inconsiderable length. He groaned softly, happy, desperately.

Chase rumbled lowly, took the rat's head in his paws and gently rocked his hips, sliding his stiff shaft in and out of the tight muzzle.

Rust allowed the dominant feline to set the pace as his muzzle was filled over and over with thick, veined cock, but reached up with a paw to play with the dangling balls as they swung back and forth. The rodent's tongue wrapped around the slick shaft, rubbing the barbs to increase the Knight's grunts.

After a few minutes the lynx pushed the rat off his member. Rust gasped at the sudden move, wondering for a second if he had hurt the Knight. But then, the feline pushed the rodent hard, sending him sprawling on to his back. The smaller male's cock was hard as a rock, dripping - and right before the predator's face as he knelt between the gray-furred, dangling legs.

Snarling, the Knight started giving his Squire head, taking the rodent's cock into his maw over and over, growling around it. The lynx's musk grew even thicker in the tent, smelling powerful - almost feral.

"Mmnnfffuck" Rust groaned, his paws petting the lynx's ears, caressing the larger male instead of guiding the feline's efforts. With the feline's musk stinking of a feral need to dominate his partner, the Squire knew that to try to force the large male to do anything would be a mistake. The rat's tail moved up to curl around the Knight's barbed shaft.

With a growl, Chase rose off the Squire's cock, drooling pre from the corner of his maw. He pounced atop the smaller male and kissed him hard. They ground their cocks together, pre and sweat running down their bodies.

Rust's paws ran up and down the lynx's back, claws scraping the hide under the fur roughly, leaving red lines in the skin. His musk was thicker than ever, his body quaking.

Arching his back with a soft, dominant rumble, Chase pulled back and rolled his Squire over roughly, pinning the rat's paws behind his back. The Squire's surprised squeak drove the Knight into a frenzy of desire. He pinned the rodent's wrists with one of his paws and slid his slick length between the gray-furred cheeks, leaking pre.

Rust gave a desperate squeak. "Mmmmnnnfff.. yes!" He squeezed his cheeks against the slick, barbed cock between them.

The lynx reached down, curling his free paw around the rat's ears, and pressed his Squire's muzzle into the musky mattress.

Rust could smell his master on the mattress - his body, his sweat - and found himself bucking under the feline as the larger male pinned him down, The Squire whined needfully.

With a snarl, the feline pressed his barbed tip into the rat's tight pucker. Chase growled and wiggled his hips, grinding deep, the barbs on his tip scratching the rodent's tunnel.

Letting out a muffled squeak, Rust spread his legs wider and pressed back to get the long, thick shaft further in.

Halfway in, the Knight paused, wiggling his hips slightly. He leaned in and growled into the rodent's ears, letting the prey-beast know the predator had him at his mercy. Rust merely whimpered in response. The feline released his wrists, and Rust instinctively grabbed the mattressby his head, claws digging in. "MMMMF!"

The Lynx rammed the rest of his cock inside his helpless, horny Squire with a single, hard thrust, both paws keeping his Squire's muzzle pinned.

Fists pounding the mattress, Rust screamed around a mouthful of bedding. His tail wrapped tightly around the bigger male's chest and squeezed.

Snarling, Chase kept the rat's muzzle pinned. The feline pulled his hips back, so that only the tip of his shaft remained in the tight, flexing hole. The rodent's scent filled the lynx's nose with his arousal. The shaft rammed harder than before back into the tight interior of the Squire, hitting every soft, sensitive spot.

Rust howled and squeaked, drooling and clenching his teeth to avoid biting his own tongue.

Chase growled and started breeding the rat, his hips rising and falling as he took the smaller male firmly. "Oh... yeaaaah..."

The squire shook and groaned, trying to press back up into the thrusts, but securely pinned by the large feline.

With a low rumble, the Knight pulled the squirming rodent up, wrapping his large paws around Rust and holding the rat tight against his scarred chest. Chase sped up his thrusts, making the Squire's cock swing wildly, trails of pre splattering over the bed.

The rat groaned, unable to vocalize more than grunt and squeak as he was held and pounded deep. He worked hard to start rhythmically squeezing the shaft as it slid in and out.

Feeling his barbs bending under the increased pressure, the feline sped up further, gripping his partner's shoulders and bending the rodent forward to ram up into him rapidly. His length further swelled as he fucked Rust and howled.

Prostate ravaged, Rust came hard, spraying several long shots over the bed and filling the air with the scent of rat seed.

As the lynx caught the scent, he growled and dropped the rat back to all fours, fucking him hard and fast, causing the whole bed to shake. Chase's eyes rolled back into his skull, "NNGGGHHHH FUCK!"

Rust held on as best as he could, paws gripping the mattress and muscles struggling to support the weight of the larger male on his back. He couldn't believe the strength of the feline's thrusts, and only a rattling desperate cry escaped his maw.

The sex was more like feral rutting - the feline pressing the rodent's head down while pulling up on his tail, slamming in repeatedly and howling, his long furry tail lashing back and forth.

Through it all, Rust managed to slide the tip of his tail through the cum-covered sheets under him to rub at the felines puckered tail hole.

Feeling the wet tip back there, Chase spanked his Squire's ass hard, earning him a pained yelp. "Yes!"

The tail tip pushed into the feline and slid deep enough to ram into his prostate.

"Aaaah!" Chase howled, cumming hard, filling Rust and getting coated in the backwash. The feline thrust several times past his orgasm, ramming the mess in.

Rust's belly bulged under the assault, warmth spreading through him.

A moment later, the Knight pulled his Squire up to his chest, supporting the smaller male. Both panted heavily. "Are... you... okay?"

Cum dripped from the rodent's nose as he nodded, smacking his lips a few times. Rust's long tongue darted out to lick his nose clean of his own seed. "Um... No... 'Okay' doesn't begin to cover how I am... I'm not sure 'superb' would cover it. I've been... fantastically well bred, sir."

Chase chuckled softly. "Mmhh... I fucking needed this... thank you."

"You're welcome, sir." The rat snuggled against his lord's chest, felling the Knight's length throbbing deep inside him. He rested a paw on his swollen belly, feeling its fullness. "I was happy to help you in this way."

The Knight nuzzled his Squire's ears, then rubbed the rat's cock with his paw before licking it clean. "Mmmm... You taste so good." Chase held the smaller male close. "I'm going to miss you when you ascend."

In the darkness of the tent, speared by his master's hard cock, dripping with cum and sweat, Rust's brows furrowed at the feline's words.