Stormwolf
Prince Blair, son of King Rowan, king of the Elves, pulled rein on his roan gelding halting the animal in the middle of the road. Behind him his small entourage consisting of his Captain of the Guards, Simon, a healer by the name of Rafe, and a few guards selected by Simon all totaling six in number, halted their mounts awaiting their prince’s command.
“Simon, there is a fire ahead, and men. What is it they are doing?” Blair asked, cautious because of the lateness of the hour.
Simon pulled a spy glass from his saddlebags and placed it to his right eye. He growled in disgust as he snapped the spy glass back. “Three elves, drunk it appears, my prince. They have what appears to be a man animal tied to a horse. It looks as if they intend to hang the beast.
Prince Blair looked at Simon in shock, “Why on earth would they do that?”
Simon shrugged. Hangings were reserved for Elves, trolls, and dwarves usually for the crimes of murder, and horse thieving. Man animals were considered just that, beasts not fit to be hanged, and usually not hunted unless the beast was stealing from farmhouses.
“I have no idea, my prince.”
“Then let us find out.” Prince Blair nudged his horse into a full trot pulling the hood of his cloak over his head to cover his face and hair. Among elves the length of ones hair denoted ones rank. Simon’s shaved head with only a braided length of hair coming from the very back and falling down just past his shoulders told anyone that Simon was in the service of a lord, and was of high rank. The other men save Rafe also wore their hair like that, the length of the braid telling another elf of their rank. Rafe’s hair was unshaven and fell past his collar. A single braid above his pointed left ear falling beside his elvish face said that he was a healer. One to be respected because of his skills.
Prince Blair had the longest hair of any of them. His curly chestnut locks fell down past his waist, and wore no braids, or decorations to hold the hair back. Such would be improper for a prince.
The hood hid his hair so that the drunken elves would not know his rank. And hid his face so that they would not see his youthfulness.
The drunken elves stopped their laughter as the seven horsemen trotted into their makeshift camp. One of the three elves held the head of the horse where a man animal sat its front paws tied behind its back, its neck encircled by a hangman’s noose that hung from the branches of the tree above them.
Prince Blair allowed Simon to talk to the strangers while he studied the man animal.
“Who be you who come to our camp uninvited.”
“Soldiers returning to our master’s castle. Curious soldiers.” Simon answered his hands in plain sight.
The drunken elves looked at each other in concern. Then the one who had first spoken said, “Curious. As to what do you be curious about?”
“Why you would kill this man animal with more dignity than it would deserve?” Simon said. “It is a beast, why not have you then put an arrow in its heart, or sliced its throat with your knife.”
The men had no answer until finally the apparent leader spoke again, “This beast raided my barn and tried to steal some of my grain. It tore open one of my sacks before we could stop it. I didna want to waste an arrow on it.”
Blair studied the beast, noticing the bruises on its face, and torso. They had not killed the beast yet because they had made sport of it. Blair sneered in disgust. Then he noticed the beast’s left hind leg. Blood and puss oozed from a wound that made Blair angry. The wound had obviously been made by a steel trap, an item that Prince Blair had declared unlawful to use. He had believed it to be too cruel especially since his friend, Finn, had stepped into one of the traps accidently. Finn had not been found until several hours later after a search. Finn had died from blood loss not more than a few minutes after being found.
Blair spoke up, “I will give you the price of the grain that was ruined, and two copper pence for the beast.”
The leader of the drunk elves looked at the Prince, “And why would ye do that.”
“Because I can.” Was Blair’s answer.
The drunk farmer looked at the surrounding soldiers who seemed intent on making sure that the young elf got what he wanted. Then the leader spoke, “Fine then.”
Prince Blair turned to Simon, “What is the price of grain around here?”
“Five pence a sack.” Simon refrained from saying my prince since it was obvious that the prince was hiding his identity.
“Fine then, seven pence.” Blair reached into his purse and pulled out seven copper pence. He tossed it to the leader who only managed to catch one of the copper coins.
“Cut the beast down.” Blair said and one of Simon’s soldiers moved to obey. The soldier, Henri, guided his horse beside the old pinto mare that the beast was tied to, and undid the noose from around the beast’s neck who remained passive and calm much to Henri’s surprise. Henri then used his knife from his boot to cut the ropes binding the beast front paws behind its back. He then pulled the beast over onto his own gray gelding’s withers. The beast’s cheek resting against the gelding’s shoulder arms hanging down beside its head. Henri wrinkled his nose, the man animal’s stink reaching him, but he placed a hand on the beast’s back to steady it into place, and walked his horse back to the prince’s contingent, surprised at the man animal’s passiveness.
As the drunken elves searched for the coins, Blair led his group away from the fire and back onto the road.
“We will ride for a few more candlemarks before we stop for camp to give us distance from the farmers.” Blair said, and Simon nodded.
They rode a swift gallop for a few candlemarks, then Blair halted them. Full darkness had descended, and Blair felt it wise to make camp.
They camped by a stream, Henri and another guard built a nice size fire, while two others fished in the stream. Henri had laid the man animal beside the fire tying a rope around the beast’s neck and tying the other end to a tree. Rafe and Blair knelt down beside the man animal. Rafe pulled a knife from his belt and used it to cut away the ragged, dirty animal skins that made up the man animal’s clothes. The man animal did not fight them. It had lost consciousness a few minutes after leaving the camp of the farmers.
When they had stripped the beast, Rafe was careful to touch the man animal seeing the lice and fleas that infested the animal’s fur. Instead he checked the infected wound that had maggots crawling and eating the decayed flesh.
“I thought man animals kept their fur cleaner than this.” Blair said.
“Normally they do my prince, but this beast has been wounded. It was lucky if it could walk. More interested in trying to find food because it couldn’t hunt, rather than in trying to keep clean, I’d bet.” Rafe used a clean cloth soaked in wine to clean away the maggots from the wound.
“Can you heal it?” Blair asked.
“Yes, if my prince wishes it.”
“I do.” Blair answered
Rafe nodded and finished cleaning the wound of maggots, then placed a hand over the injury and closed his eyes concentrating. Healing energy moved from his hand glowing a healthy green to the wound. Rotted tissue fell away from the wound. Healthy tissue began to grow, and when Rafe removed his hand, scar tissue showed where the wound had once been. Rafe panted in exhaustion, and Blair called for food and water to be brought to the healer.
“The beast must be cleaned up, my prince.” Rafe said as Henri led the exhausted healer to the fire where several fish were being cooked over the flames.
“I will see to it.” Blair said. Rafe nodded and allowed Henri to give him food and drink.
Blair turned to the man animal. The beast was still unconscious, but the fever from the infection was gone, and the beast would live.
Blair called upon his own powers, and moved his hand over the beast’s body about an inch from touching the skin. The power flowed over the animal’s body burning away the fleas, lice, and ticks that had accumulated along with the dirt, waste, and blood. Using a knife he peeled away the last of the fur hide clothes to reveal that the beast was male. He hand moved over the genitalia his power cleaning the area as well. When he was done, Blair sat back on his heels and looked the beast over making sure he had burned away all the parasites.
“Tomorrow, Simon,” He said to the Captain who came to sit beside him, “The beast shall be properly bathed, and I want all his heavy fur shaved and treated so that he will not collect parasites again.”
“As you wish, my prince.” Simon said. He looked at the human, “The rope should hold it tonight, but we shall have to devise a better way later.”
Blair nodded in agreement, then accepted the food Simon had brought.
A candlemark later the animal stirred, and Simon filled a bowl with water for the animal to drink. Which it did, rather thirstily. Simon then made a grain mash for the beast to eat. Rafe had said to start with such meals since the beast had obviously gone sometime without food, and to feed the beast slowly.
“How?” Simon asked the young healer.
“This way.” Rafe said dipping his finger into the bowl of grain mash. He placed his fingers against the animal’s mouth. The beast sucked on Rafe’s fingers cleaning them of the grain mash. It did not bite Rafe, who immediately scooped more of the grain mash onto his two fingers and repeated the process.
“Eeww.” Simon said. Rafe laughed as Simon’s expression.
“I will do it.” Rafe said.
“No.” Blair said. “He is mine. He needs to learn where his food comes from. I will feed him.”
Rafe looked at the prince. That was the first time that any of the group had referred to the beast as a he rather than an it. Simon handed over the bowl to the prince who face brooked no argument.
The beast watched Blair with its icy blue eyes as the prince settled down beside the beast who was lying on his belly. Blair dipped two fingers into the mash as Rafe had done, and placed them against the human’s mouth. The human sucked on the fingers cleaning off every last drop of the grain mash. Blair smiled, and continued. Rafe had urged him to slow done dome more to which he did.
It took over a candlemark to finish the bowl of grain mash, but the human had not thrown the grain mash back up. Which Rafe took as a good sign.
When the bowl was finished, Blair borrowed a straight razor from Simon and using the rope led the beast to the stream. The human followed placidly.
At the stream, Blair guided the animal into the water, and used a bar of strong soap to scrub the animal who stood still as the prince bathed him. Blair then used the straight razor to shave the fur from the animal’s face, and groin. Using a knife he cut the animal’s hair to the beast’s scalp, then scrubbed the area again thoroughly with the soap. When that was done, Blair rubbed a special oil on the beast’s face and groin that prevented the fur from growing back. Blair didn’t want to have to shave the beast’s fur every day. The fur would only attract parasites. Another oil prevented the beast’s hair on the top of its head from growing any longer. When that was done he led the animal out of the stream, used a large cloth to dry the beast’s body, then led him over to the saddled and bridled horses.
The others except Simon were already mounted and ready. Blair mounted his horse, then Simon picked up the beast and slung it across the horse’s withers. The human struggled to get upright, sense slowly coming back to the human, but Blair placed a firm hand on the human’s back. Blair kicked his horse into a gentle trot, and they continued down the road toward Castle Wyvern, Simon’s home.
Castle Wyvern was a well built stronghold made of heavy granite brought down from the mountains by slaves and built by dwarves the world’s best architects and designers. Simon’s three times great grandfather had spent quite a lot of money on the building of the castle. Luckily, the land that Simon’s family had settled and purchased from the King had a large vein of gold. Slaves had been used to mine the gold before slavery had been abolished by Blair’s grandfather.
Simon’s oldest son, Darryl, was running the household of Castle Wyvern along with the help of Simon’s wife, Joan while Simon was serving King Rowan. Simon was looking forward to seeing his wife and children again.
The group rode through the village that was overshadowed by castle Wyvern. The elves living there were mostly peasants and farmers tending crop and herding sheep and goats. Tenants who paid a tax to their lord for the right to live and work upon the lord’s land and in return received the protection of Simon’s soldiers. The peasants greeted Simon as he rode past, none recognizing Blair since he had pushed his hood back over his head.
The portcullis and the drawbridge to the castle were open with guards stationed at the entrance, and one stationed at the winch for the portcullis armed with an axe, just in case. The guards immediately recognized their lord, and hailed him as he came through. Simon greeted them with a raised hand and a smile as they rode beneath the portcullis, the iron spikes hanging ominously above them. On the other side of the entrance was a courtyard with a fountain in the middle, a rearing horse statue in the middle. The main house doors opened and Simon’s wife, Joan, and their children walked out of the doors and down the steps to greet them. Simon took his wife into his arms after having leaped from the saddle and kissed her thoroughly. When he let her go, he gathered his four children together and hugged them.
Blair smiled as he watched Simon greet his family. He absently patted the man animal that lay slung over the withers of his mount, then turned his head to Henri. “Take the man animal, Sgt.” He ordered, and the elf obeyed. Henri lifted the man animal easily from the horse, and slung him over his own shoulders. The beast did struggle allowing himself to be manhandled. Blair wondered if the beast would continue to remain docile once his injury no longer sapped his strength. Blair shrugged away the thought, a problem for another time, and dismounted keeping the hood of his cloak up. No need to announce his presence just yet. Henri followed Blair as they followed Simon into the house. Joan gave the man animal a dubious look, but said nothing. If her husband wished the man animal to be brought into his home she would not argue.
Once inside, their children began to ask their father questions. Simon answered what he could. Yes, he had been serving the prince, yes, he had killed many ogres, no, he didn’t destroy any castles; Simon took the questioning good naturedly, glad to be with his children and wife after several months separation.
“Henri, place the man animal in one of the dungeon cells.” Joan said figuring it was as good a place as any.
“No.” Blair said removing his hood. “I shall keep my pet with me.”
Joan stared at the young man for a second before she curtseyed properly to her prince. Her children copied her, bowing and curtseying to their prince.
“You may rise. There is no need for formality in your home.” Blair said.
They did so, their shock at seeing the prince there in their home stilling their tongues.
“Henri, take the man animal to the large guestroom on the fourth floor. Then have the blacksmith make up a collar for the beast.” Simon said. Henri nodded and began to walk up the stairs the man animal still over his shoulders.
“If my prince wishes, I shall give him a tour of our home.” Simon said, and Blair nodded. Darryl, Simon’s oldest son, volunteered to go with them. Simon’s two daughters went to with their mother, while Simon’s youngest child and second son was taken to the nursery by his nanny.
Jim, once Captain of the Outriders for the Snow Mountain pack, allowed himself to be carried on the shoulders of the big dark skinned elf. Oh how the mighty have fallen, Jim thought bitterly. As one of the enhanced humans, sometimes called sentinels, Jim had always known that he would be one of the Outriders. He had been trained for that from the moment his abilities had been identified. The Outriders were group of scouts that though part of the pack lived outside the pack, scouting ahead, and always on guard for danger that would threaten the pack. Jim had eventually been made Captain of the Outriders and had enjoyed the freedom such a position held. He had had his own harem, which he had fought long and hard to win from other males, and an honored position: second only to the pack leader, the Alpha.
Then tragedy had struck. While out hunting, Jim had inadvertently stepped into one of the elf traps. He had spent several hours in the trap before one of his scouts had managed to find him and free him. The healer had done all she could, but the ankle was badly damaged. Then to make matters worse, Taron, one of his scouts had taken the advantage and challenged Jim for his position.
Weak, fevered, and hurting Jim had fought, but lost. Taron hadn’t killed him, though, however much Jim had wished he had. Instead Jim had been thrown out of the pack because he was a liability. He couldn’t hunt, he could barely walk, and he would draw ogres and predators to the pack.
The healer had left him with some instructions for the care of his wound, but Jim had been unable to take care of himself. Hunting was impossible, he couldn’t even run, and Jim had finally turned thief, sneaking into elf barns and pens to find food only to be caught and beaten. Then just when death seemed imminent, another elf had saved him. Why, Jim didn’t know, but he found himself actually wanting to live. Though he had wished for death many times since Taron had won, when finally faced with it he found he preferred to live. And now the once Captain of Outriders was reduced to a mere pet for a young elf.
The dark skinned elf took Jim through a door into a room. Though Jim did not have names for all the things he saw, he was amazed at the sight of them. Jim was laid upon a bearskin rug, and a rope looped around his neck was tied to an iron ring embedded in the stone floor. Another elf entered the room and started a fire in the hearth, and changed the bedding on the large canopied bed. The elf servant then laid a spell over the bed to keep lice and other parasites away, and began cleaning the room ignoring Jim as he lay on the bearskin and watched. Jim fiddled with the rope that was around his neck finding a complicated knot that he knew he could untie given time. Instead, he ignored the rope and curled up on the bearskin trying to draw in heat from the fire. He shivered a bit, hoping the room’s chill would soon dissipate. He was surprised when the servant placed a fur blanket over his nude body. He looked at the Elf, and saw the compassion in the blue green eyes, then watched as the servant went back to work.
Strange, Jim thought to himself snuggling beneath the blanket. The invading warmth soon drew Jim into a deep sleep.
Blair walked into his room that Simon’s servant showed him to. He noticed right away the human asleep beneath a fur blanket. Simon’s smith had promised he’d have a good sturdy collar made for the human by tomorrow, and Blair was grateful knowing that humans were clever enough to untie knots. Shutting the door behind him, Blair moved through the room heading toward the copper bath. Simon had had an architect design pipes and heaters in the castle so that each bedroom had plumbing for hot baths. Blair pumped the water into his bathtub making sure it was the right temperature. He had dismissed a servant because he detested being dressed and undressed by a servant, as well as being bathed by one. And he wanted to enjoy the hot bath. He had not had one for a few months, having been on the road forced to take cold baths in streams, rivers, and even once under a waterfall.
When the tub was filled and the water just right, Blair slipped out of his dirty boots, stockings, breeches and doublet. He slipped into the luxuriously hot water slowly enjoying the heat. When he was seated all the way in, he picked up a linen washcloth, and rubbed some of the homemade soap into the cloth.
A noise had him lifting his head to look in the animal’s direction. The human was awake and sitting up staring at Blair. Blair only smiled noting that the rope was still around the beast’s neck. The human yawned sleepily, and blinked at Blair. Blair used the washcloth to clean of the road grime, and dust he had accumulated glad for the spells that kept away parasites. He leaned back in the tub and wet his hair, then scrubbed it with the soap until it was clean. When he was clean, Blair popped the cork, and drained the water, then refilled the tub with hot water, and soaked.
Jim watched the elf bath, seeing the pleasure on the young elf’s face from the hot water. He knew the water was hot from the steam floating up around the elf’s face, and wondered what it was like. His mates had always bathed him in the cold water of rivers and streams, each one vying for the right to wash his manhood. When the elf stepped out of the tub, he noticed the elf’s manhood, and was shocked by its shiny head. He had been mutilated! Jim thought in horror. Wondering what type of accident would cause such a thing, he watched the young elf get dressed in a soft silk nightshirt then crawl into the big bed with its silk sheets and down filled pillows and comforter. Yawning again, Jim snuggled back underneath the fur blanket, and closed his eyes. He caught, and listened to the elf’s steady heartbeat and for some reason found the soft sound comforting. He fell asleep to the slow, steady beat.
When the morning sun peeked its way through the curtain covering the large windows of the room, Blair opened his eyes and yawned. Sleepily, he crawled out of bed, then yawned and stretched some more before heading for the chamber pot. When he was done, Blair looked over at the still sleeping human and realized the beast was not housetrained. Wondering if he could train the beast to use the chamber pot, Blair went over to the oak wardrobe and opened it to find the clothes he had brought already cleaned and stored within. He pulled out a silk white shirt, black leather breeches, and woolen stockings and proceeded to dress himself. A black leather vest completed the ensemble, and Blair used a brush to tame the curls of his long hair. By the time he was done, Blair saw that the beast was awake, and looking at him. Blair smiled at the beast, and then decided that housetraining would have to wait until he consulted with someone who might know how to train a human. Not wanting an accident, Blair walked over to the beast who flinched away afraid he was to be beaten. Blair made soothing noises as reached over and untied the rope. The beast perhaps reading his intentions slowly got to his feet, and though there was a strong limp, the human seemed able to walk. Blair left the chambers with the human at his heels. A servant offered to walk the beast, but Blair declined saying he could do with the exercise himself. When Blair was outside he let the human decide where to go keeping a tight hold on the rope just in case the human decided to make a run for it.
Jim wasn’t sure why the elf had brought him outside, but once there he realized that his body needed to relieve itself. The elf seemed content to allow Jim to walk around, so the sentinel found a likely looking tree. He pissed, then shook wishing he could tuck his manhood back into some clothes. The air was cool, but not cold, and Jim was able to acclimate himself to the temperature but it still felt strange to walk around nude.
When he was done, he stood and waited wondering what the elf was planning when another elf walked over. Jim recognized him as the Healer elf, the one that had used elf magic to heal his ankle. The two elves spoke to each other in a friendly tone, though Jim could tell by posture that the young elf holding the rope was a leader of sorts. The elf, Jim wondered if he should think of him as master now, nodded then took off walking. Jim limped after him, but the elf did not walk too fast and even slowed once to accommodate Jim’s injury. The went inside another building where yet another elf waited for them. This elf was big, and heavily muscled. He smelled of sweat, and fire, and other things Jim did not recognize. The elf led him forward and the bigger elf stepped closer to Jim eyeing him. He took out a piece of rope with small knots in it and wound it around Jim’s throat above the rope already there, then unwrapped it nodding to himself. The muscled elf spoke to the young elf who nodded. The big elf then went over to something that smelled of fire and came back with a shiny object.
Blair could tell that the animal was nervous, and reached over to lightly pet his human’s short hair. The beast flinched at the first ouch, but calmed when he found no harm was done. Blair smiled at that. Hale, Simon’s blacksmith, came back over with a metal collar. The object looked light weight, and sturdy. It was not thick nor wide which Blair thought was good. The human flinched away however when Hale tried to place the collar around his neck. Blair gave a slight tug on the rope and said, “No,” in a commanding voice. The beast looked at him not understanding the words but he stood still when Hale attempted to place the collar a second time. The collar locked in place, and Hale handed Blair the key. Humans were clever enough to untie knots but did understand the complexities of locking mechanisms and Blair knew his human was secure. He took a rope leash with a metal snap on the end from the smith, and snapped the leash onto the small ring built on the collar for just that purpose. When that was done, Blair untied the rope from around the human’s neck and handed it over to Hale. With a thank you to Hale, and a pat to the human’s head, Blair left the smith’s shop with the human limping to follow.
Once back at the castle, Blair took the human back up to his room, and used a snap hook on the other end of the leash to attach to the iron ring securing the animal. He watched as the clever human hands moved over the snap hook unable to figure out how to unhook it. Metal, especially worked metal, was not something humans used. The most complicated think humans could make where stone heads for their spears, and woven baskets of grass. Smiling, Blair left the room to see about food for himself and his pet.
Simon found Blair in the kitchen and they conversed while servant fixed Blair a breakfast of honey cakes, and oatmeal with honey and milk. The servant fixed some for Simon as well, and the two of them ate in the kitchen out of the cook’s and her helpers’ way. They spoke of politics, and the ongoing battles between the elves and the ogres. Then Simon asked, “I saw you outside with it today. Are you not going to housetrain the beast?”
“I want to, but am unsure how to do so.” Blair said.
“Just show him. Make sure he can see you when you use the chamber pot. Praise him when he does it, and scold him when he messes on the floor. If you wish to cuff him that is for you to say, but I would not suggest it. You will lose his trust that way. “
“A good idea, Simon. I never thought of it. And you are right, no need to strike him in any way. Tone of voice works best.” Blair said as he took the bowl of oatmeal with honey, milk and fruit mashed into it from the cook. Simon went with him when Blair went back upstairs to feed his pet. Inside the room, he found the human playing with the snap and the ring, but had not managed to unhook it. Blair smiled, and walked over placing the bowl on the floor. The beast was healthy and aware enough to feed himself, so Blair just went to one of his couches and sat down. Simon seated himself on a couch and the two of them continued to talk. At one point Simon had a game of Chess brought for them to play. Every so often he would look at his pet to see that the human was dipping his fingers into the bowl and eating the oatmeal from his dripping fingers. Making a mental note to make sure the food was not too hot, Blair sent his concentration back on the game though he was clearly losing. Blair was good player, but Simon was master player both on the board and on the field.
Though Blair managed to win a few games, Simon walked away with the most wins for the day. A servant called them to lunch, and Blair followed Simon out of his rooms and downstairs to the dining hall. Lunch was ordinary, roasted beef, homemade bread, cheese, and a vegetable soup but a fine wine from Simon’s own cellars was served with the meal, and after weeks of road faire, the meal was quite tasty to the young elf prince. Simon’s family, of course, joined them at the table along with Henri, Simon’s second, and the Healer Rafe. The meal was consumed in short order, the servants cleaning up after them while Simon and Henri took the elf prince into Simon’s quarters to discuss the growing problem of the Ogres. Blair had a servant take scraps of the lunch meal to his pet while he went with Simon.
Inside Simon’s study, a fire was already burning in the hearth, and Simon took down a wooden box from his mantel. Inside was his pipe and a tobacco pouch which he opened taking out a pinch to place in the bowl of his pipe. A gesture with his finger and the tobacco was lit. Simon happily puffed away on his pipe offering the pouch to Henri who took it graciously and filled his own pipe which he produced form a coat pocket. Blair declined. He did not smoke the pipe. The tobacco was grown there on Simon’s land, and harvested by his tenants.
As they sat in comfortable chairs around the fire they discussed their options. The Ogres army was between them and the capital city of Cascade. They had been traveling from Buxton to Cascade after having been on a diplomatic mission across the trade sea with the King of Syri Li, an island country. On their way to Cascade from Buxton that had come upon the Ogre army and barely managed to escape with their lives. Moving south, they had decided, reluctantly on Blair’s par tot be sure, to go to Simon’s home which was far enough south that the Ogre army had not yet penetrated, and Simon was sure that he could raise an army to safely escort the prince back home. Already, Simon had sent messengers to his closest neighbors. The letters contained the seal of the prince, an impression of the ring Blair wore in wax. The messenger had been told that the message must be destroyed if they are in danger of capture. The ogres must never know that Prince Blair was housed in the fortress of Castle Wyvern. His life depended upon that.
They discussed their options for a few hours. It would be a few days before a message returned from even Simon’s closest neighbor, Lord Wilfren of Storr Keep. Blair ended the discussion by saying that he trusted Simon to come up with the best solution, and that he himself was tired of sitting.
“I will take my pet for a walk in the garden. If anything changes, have a servant come find me.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Simon said standing up as the prince stood Henri following suit. Blair smiled and left the study heading up to his rooms.
When the young elf left the room, Jim had awakened and after fiddling with the rope and the collar that held him secure, Jim sat down and thought. He knew he needed to make a decision, and the earlier it was made, the better off. Jim knew that he could never again become a member of any human pack. Though the wound was healed, the limp would bar him from entry into a pack. He would only be viewed as a liability, and would be lucky if he wasn’t killed outright by a pack leader. Living alone in the wilderness was an option, but Jim was human. Lone humans, even sentinels, rarely survived. They were easy prey to Ogres, trolls and even elves. And again the limp would hamper his ability to run, and hunt.
The other choice was frightening in of itself. He could remain with the elf, accepting the collar and leash, accepting the elf as his master. The scary part was he never knew what would happen next. The elf could come into the room and begin to beat him until he died. Or just shoot him with an arrow, or any number of things. Jim had his doubts. The elf seemed kind, and he didn’t think the elf would go to all the trouble of healing him, just to kill him. And he seemed angry at the wounds inflicted by the other elves. The fact that he was tentively trusting the elf frightened Jim most of all.
I am a sentinel, Jim thought, I protect. His thoughts were interrupted when another elf came into the room carrying a tray that smelled good. A bowl of the vegetable soup and pieces of bread broken and crumbled into the soup was set before the human, and the servant smiled and left the room.
Jim’s sensitive nose took in the wonderful smell making his mouth water. He had never smelled such a thing as what was before him. Dipping his finger into the warm mash, he licked some from his finger, and closed his eyes in pleasure at the taste. Thrusting his finger into his mouth he sucked off all of the mash, then redipped his finger. A water bowl filled with cool water had been placed near him, and Jim took a few drinks while he slowly ate the vegetable soup and bread savoring every bite.
He was disappointed when the last of it was licked off the bowl by his tongue. He felt like a child who had found a honeycomb filled with honey and no bees.
Licking the remenants of his fingers, Jim than drank the last of the water from his bowl. A full stomach made him sleepy, but his body was telling him that another need had to be cared for. Looking around, Jim saw that their were no trees, no plants, and wondered where he could relieve himself. Afraid to make a mess but unsure if he could hold it for much longer, Jim opened his senses hoping they could tell him a safe place to relieve himself. His sense of smell caught the faint odor of elf waste, and he followed it to a large rounded object. Inside the object he could smell elf waste but found none inside. Curious, Jim upended the object and peered inside. At that moment the door opened and Blair walked in. He stared at the sentinel who was rolling the empty chamber pot back and forth on its side. He couldn’t help it, and Blair burst out laughing at the sight.
The sentinel looked at the laughing elf, then back at the object.
Blair figured out that the sentinel needed to relieve himself, and was grateful that the human had not relieved himself on the floor. Walking over, Blair righted the chamber pot. The human had moved out of the way when Blair had walked up, cowering a bit. Wondering if the human would ever get over his fear of being beaten, Blair patted the sentinel head soothingly while talking in a low voice. When he was sure the human was calm, Blair unhooked the leash from the ring on the floor, and the sentinel moved to his feet following Blair as he left the room holding the leash.
Once outside, Blair allowed Jim to dictate the course they used. He followed as the sentinel found a tree to piss against, and even waited while the human squatted.
Jim had felt some embarrassment had having to squat to do his business in front of the elf, but he was unable to do otherwise. They walked around in the garden some more enjoying the fresh air. Jim followed the elf, limping behind him. They met up with a few more elves, some Jim recognized from his travels with the elf’s group, and some he learned the scent of to identify later.
Finally they returned to the room where Blair snapped the hook back onto the metal ring in the floor. He then himself went to the chamber pot. He stood where the human could see him. Unbuttoning his pants and pulled them down, Blair took his manhood in hand and pissed into the chamber pot. The human watched him, held tilted to the side slightly in a curious gesture. When he was done pissing, Blair seated himself on the pot to finish his business making sure the sentinel could see exactly what he was doing. Feeling slightly strange, but hoping it would work, Blair finished his business, then pulled his pants back up and snapping them into place. The human crawled forward and sniffed the chamber pot, then looked inside to confirm what his nose was telling him. Blair watched to make sure the human didn’t knock the chamber pot over. But the human did not touch it, and after investigating it, the human went back to his pallet on the floor and looked at Blair. Blair smiled at the human, then walked over seating himself beside the human. He reached out and placed his hand on the human’s head, and stroked the soft short fur on his head. The human seemed to like it, since he leaned into the touch slightly. Blair petted the human down its broad back to the top of its buttocks and started over again at the head. The human laid down beside Blair giving the elf access to its body. Blair stroked the human’s head, and neck, then moved his hand down the hairless chest to the human’s belly which he rubbed to the pleasure and delight of the human. Avoiding the human’s manhood, Blair rubbed down the human’s thighs and calves, back up to and over the curve of the buttocks up the back to the neck, then back down again. He continued to pet the human, making sure to touch every inch of the animal’s hide except for the slack genitalia. The human allowed the touch, and made a strange growling purring noise in his throat.
He was interrupted by a servant announcing dinner. Looking back at the human, Blair noticed the steady breathing, and realized the human had fallen asleep. Smiling, Blair gave one last pat, then left the room to go to dinner.
Dinner was more fancier than lunch had been. It consisted of venison, buttered corn on the cob, peas, and carrots, homemade bread, a barley and vegetable stew with chunks of the venison, and for dessert, a blackberry cobbler with cream. While they ate, outside a storm began to brew and halfway through the meal lightning lit up the room and thunder deafened the hall. Servants rushed to close the storm windows, and to light candles throughout the rooms. Fires were stoked, and more wood added throughout the castle.
When dinner was done, a servant carrying a candle guided Blair back to his rooms. Inside the room, he saw the human huddled beneath his blanket. Lightning lit the room, and thunder sounded and the beast cried out in fear and in pain. Worried Blair went immediately to the animal’s side, and pulled back the blanket to reveal the beast lying on his side hands pressed over his ears, eyes wide and frightened. The beast flinched when the thunder sounded again, and Blair rubbed his hand over the animal’s head soothingly. He understood immediately what he was seeing.
“Such luck.” Blair said to himself. “An enhanced human. Very rare. You are a rare find, my pet. I shall most assuredly be keeping you.” Blair continued to pet the beast as he talked, his voice pitched soothingly. He continued to pet the beast until the sound of the thunder no longer hurt the animal, nor the lightning frighten him.
A servant brought up some of the stew and some bread for the beast. Blair took the bowl and placed it in front of the human. He fed him, allowing the human to suck the stew from his fingers. While the human fed, Blair petted him smiling and talking nonsense words in a soothing tone.
When he was done, Blair decided that the human needed a bath. He went and filled the tub with warm water, then walked back over to the beast to unhook the leash from the ring. He led the human over to the tub, and guided him into it.
The human was reluctant at first, and Blair used his commanding voice to order the enhanced human into the tub, using hands to guide him. Once the human was seated in the tub, Blair used soap and a wash cloth to clean the human’s body thoroughly. The human remained silent and still under his ministrations. When he was done, he helped the human step out of the tub and dried the animal’s body off. He then led the beast back to its pallet, then rechained him to the floor. With one last pat, Blair bathed himself and readied himself for bed.
Outside the storm began to dissipate and the thunder and lightning became distant.
Blair crawled into his warm bed, and pulled the covers up over him. He blew out the candles leaving only the fire in the hearth for light. Snuggling into his pillow, Blair closed his eyes, and drifted to sleep. On the pallet the human fell asleep with the steady beat of an elf’s heart in his ears.
Jim was awakened by a strange noise. Years of experience had Jim lying peacefully on his blanket feigning sleep while his sense searched for the source of the sound that had awakened him. Scent told him an unfamiliar elf was in the room. He opened his eyes, thinking it was one of the servants there to tend to the fire. Instead he saw a an elf walking slowly and stealthily toward the bed that the young elf was asleep in. His eyes caught he glint of the sharp knife that the elf held in his hands, and Jim knew that the elf was in danger. Then he asked himself why he cared.
I am a sentinel, He said to himself, I protect. But there is no pack to protect anymore. They threw me out. Then Jim’s eyes caught the face fo the young elf, peacefully asleep and unaware of his danger. Then the words rang in his head, I can protect HIM, my MASTER. And with that Jim sat up and yelled in his language knowing the elf would not understand put perhaps would awaken to fight. “Master! Wake up, danger!!!” He shouted and continued to shout at the top of his lungs while he struggled at the end of his leash to get to his master.
Blair woke up at the sound not knowing at first what it was. He saw immediately the elf with the dagger near his bed. The elf had his back turned to him looking over at the human who was trying to get free. The human who was barking and growling furiously.
“Put down your weapon, you are caught.” Blair ordered the assassin.
“Not before you are dead.” The elf assassin turned to the prince then lunged at him.
Blair, trained by some of the best elf fighters, grabbed the wrist holding the dagger and turned it and his body making the wrist snap. The assassin cried out in pain.
The barking from the human had awakened the rest of the castle, and two guards along with Simon burst into Blair room’s and the assassin was taken into custody.
“Your Highness, are you alright?” Simon asked concerned.
“I am unharmed.” Blair said. “Though I would surely be dead if my pet had not awakened me in time.” Blair walked over to the human who had calmed once the calvary had arrived. The beast was on its knees and looking at Blair. Blair saw the devotion in the bright blue eyes. And when he reached out the beast lowered its head and pressed it beneath the elf’s hand. A gesture of submission and acceptance. Blair took it for what it was, and patted the human’s head. “You saved me. You are my guardian, my sentinel, and you shall always belong to me. My Sentinel.” Blair named him petting the human’s short hair and smiling as he did so. Reaching beneath the human’s chin, Blair unsnapped the leash from Jim’s collar knowing somehow that the human had made his choice and would not try to run away. Rubbing the human’s neck below the collar, Blair ended with a pat on Sentinel’s back, then turned to Simon who was smiling at him.
“I want to know who the assassin was working for, Simon, then I want him to hang from the trees leaving his body for the crows and ravens like the traitor he is.” Blair ordered. Simon bowed acknowledging the order. “And have a treat sent up for Sentinel. He deserves it.”
“As Your Majesty wishes.” Simon says bowing again and leaving the room to see to the orders being carried out. Everyone else left the room, and Blair gave one last pat to his pet, then went back to his bed. From his bed he watched Sentinel lie down on his pallet and smiled. Yawning, Blair thought about the next day. There was still much to do. Sentinel needed more training, and an army needed building so that Blair could join his father in Cascade. But for the night, Blair knew he was safe for his Sentinel was on guard.