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�Jesterfooling� is what they called it. Mating with a jester, in public, and while the jester is clothed in its motley, is called jesterfooling. It sounded funny the first couple of times Anjel said it, but it was a common word in the dragons� world, so the more she heard it, the more sense it made.
She didn�t mind being associated with that act. Fool was a very interesting character, and she hoped they crossed paths again. When she expressed this to Anjel, however, his reaction made her wishes suffer somewhat.
�You don�t want to associate yourself with fools, my rose,� he said that night, his scaled muzzle nosing into her headfur. �It is not looked happily upon, unless you yourself were a fool.�
�I�m a slave,� she reasoned. �Why should I worry what the other dragons think of me?�
Anjel only huffed a slither of pink flame, and didn�t say another word.
Weeks went by in relative silence; Akio accompanied Falqon on his many tasks, but he never used her the way he used Nigh. Anjel appeared to her almost nightly. Most nights, he merely wanted to lie with her by the fire and talk. Sometimes he wouldn�t even answer her questions and they lied in silence. And other nights, the white dragon arrived ready to mate. These nights confused Akio the most, because as willing as his body obviously was, Anjel would hardly allow her to touch him. He refused to mate with her.
One night, in particular, Akio was already sleeping when she felt his warm scaled body snuggling close to hers. She turned and nuzzled into his chest, murring as his talon rubbed her ears lovingly. Within only minutes of snuggling, Anjel was completely aroused. Akio moved her paw between them, running her pawpads against the sensitive skin. He gasped and pushed her away.
�Why can�t I touch you, Master?� Akio asked, sitting up before the lounging dragon.
For a while, Anjel only avoided her gaze in silence. He sighed, looking up to her. �Because you are a wolf, and I am a Ghost.�
He left after saying that, and Akio had a hard time getting to sleep that night.
It was days before Akio saw him again. She was in court with Falqon, and to her surprise, the Lord dragon summoned Messenger Anjel. He came in, dressed in cotton breeches and leather boots black as sin, and kneeled on the sandstone floor before them.
�Anjel,� Falqon said, a smile twitching at the base of his muzzle. �It has come to my attention that you have volunteered to take the firegryph north.�
The white dragon raised his gaze, purposely avoiding Akio�s. �Yes, m�lord,� he replied, �My home territories lie to the far north, just east of our destination.�
�And do you intend on visiting our enemies?� Falqon�s voice harbored an unspoken question, which all the creatures present could hear. Are you a traitor?
Anjel winced. �I� was hoping that perhaps I have paid my dues with the Geart tribe, and� I would like to return to my home.� He was studying the floor, his foretalons wringing nervously.
But Falqon smiled. �Of course, Anjel. Rise, messenger.� The golden dragon stood, walking down the small flight of stairs to join his kneeling subject on the floor. Anjel straightened, a gracious smile barely hidden in his countenance. Falqon rested a paw on the smaller dragon�s shoulder, his piercing red eyes holding steady. �Once the firegryph is taken to the City of the Tower, consider yourself a free dragon, my friend.�
Anjel closed his eyes, bowing his sinuous neck in respect. �Thank you, my Lord� my friend.�
�And as one free dragon to another, I believe your journey would be much easier for you if Agape went, as well.� He turned, catching Akio�s startled gasp. She rose without call, and descended the stair. She knelt at the golden dragon�s feet, kissing the leather boots with a relish she didn�t know she had. Anjel laughed.
�I think she will enjoy this journey as well,� he said. �I thank you once more, friend, for all you have done for me. I will carry your kindness home.�
Akio looked up just in time to see the dragons embrace one another. Her ears pricked at a whispered word, one that sounded disturbingly like brother.
Anjel�s cavern was exactly the way she remembered it. When they landed safely past the illusion mountainside, Akio jumped from his back and ran excitedly to the far back, where her pillows still lied, unmoved. She flopped down on them unceremoniously.
The dragon�s hearty chuckle filled the cave, and Akio watched as the room brightened slowly with his pale purple glow. He walked into the back room, a talon busy untying his breeches as he lit torches along the walls. He allowed the cloth to slide past his knees and stepped out of it, leaving them on the floor. Anjel finally made his rounds, and the cove shimmered beautifully. He knelt at Akio�s side, running his talon through her headfur. She murred affectionately.
�Get plenty of sleep, my pet,� he said softly. �Tomorrow we set out on a journey that may very well drain you, soul and bone.�
�Yes, my Master.� Her tail swept across the backs of her legs unwittingly. Akio watched as her new master rose and walked to the huge pile of pillows and stretched out on them. She was about to rest her head and sleep when he patted the pillows at his side.
�You will rest by me,� the dragon rumbled softly. �It grows quite chilly at night.�
Morning arrived with the song of mountain birds and Anjel�s low humming. Akio found him crouched near the entrance to the cavern, tending to one of several leather bags. �Plenty of food,� he muttered between verses, �and water will be simple to replenish if we follow the Ori River��
The wolf walked slowly towards him, her nose picking up on all the new scents of objects inside the bags. Anjel looked up, smiling gently to her. �Are you prepared?... of course, what would you need to bring? Well, we�d better get going.� He stood, stretching majestically. �Did you sleep well?�
�Yes, my Master,� she replied, bowing her head slightly in respect. �You kept me very warm all through the night.�
He smiled again. �Good,� he churred. �We�ll be meeting the caravan just north of here. Are you ready?�
The caravan consisted of Glyph, Anjel, Akio and the two canvas-covered litters carried by furred slaves. The firebird gryphon was chained�talon, paw and wing�to one of the litters. The other carried sandsilk pillows, precious gems and Trick the fool as gifts to the city that was their destination. Akio sniffed when she saw the calico, and wished silently that her jester would be coming on the trip as well. It seemed that her hopes were carried on wings, for the black fox appeared just as the procession was leaving, with word that Lord Tyrran had granted him permission to return to the City of Fools.
Anjel was busy keeping the convoy in order and arguing with Glyph to notice Akio�s infatuation with Fool. The jester hadn�t noticed her yet; in fact, he was sitting on the litter with Trick, sharing jokes with the mute feline. Akio cursed herself for feeling so jealous, and tried concentrating on the scenery.
The Moonpower plains spread out before them, the once daunting range of the Geart territories fading behind them. Akio smelled water to the north, and she knew that they would come to the river soon. She didn�t know too much about the tribes around the mountains.
They came to the Ori river, and continued following it north. Akio hanged near the tail of the convoy for most of the journey, watching Anjel argue with Glyph. From Anjel�s expression, she could tell that it wasn�t a friendly argument.
Angered, the white dragon fell back in the procession. When he was at Akio�s side, he lowered his head. �We�ll be stopping a few miles north, just before the sun sets, to rest for the night.� He was silent for a while. �You�ll be sleeping with the other slaves, for your safety and mine.� Before Akio could comment, his long strides carried him a few steps behind Glyph. He remained silent until camp.
All of the other furred slaves were male. Most of them�those who weren�t already asleep�eyed Akio dangerously. She wondered how this was for her safety. Not one of them was tied or cuffed in any way, to prevent escape. Akio could sense that this would be a long night.
She curled up in a corner designated for the slaves. She wished for at least Trick�s warmth. The grass was wet with the night�s mist, and a breeze came up from the river that sent chills down her spine. Whimpering, she pulled her form together.
�I thought I smelled you, Nightshade�s Promise of Agape.�
Akio turned, blinking in the dim light. The blackness itself moved, burning eyes floating. She blinked again and made out the form of a wolf, smiling. He was wearing a loincloth, but his paw was under it. �Who..?�
The wolf�s grin widened. His paws disappeared behind his back and he untied the loincloth, allowing it to float to his paws. The slick pink head of his organ pressed against the opening of his sheath, a shock against his dark coat. The wolf kneeled, pulling her head forward, towards his crotch. �Don�t you remember, Agape? I lost that game because of you. They put me in the closet for a day and a night.� He pulled her closer, and her nose rubbed against his sheath. �I think I deserve a kiss.�
She managed to crack open her jaws, her pink tongue slipping out for a quick, uninterested lick. �B� Burning Heart Forgotten?� she asked, trying to pull her head back for a better look at the cocky lupine.
�Glad you remember,� he snarled unconvincingly, shoving her head back towards his crotch. The organ was sliding out slowly. �I�ve had a long day. You can do better than that.�
Akio whined, her ears pressing back. If she opened her mouth to speak, it would be muffled by fur. A very small part of her wanted to do this�was turned on by Burn�s forcefulness. It was this part that opened her jaws and stuck out her tongue, almost roughly lapping at his furred balls. She felt his grip tighten, and his organ pushed farther past her nose. He yanked her up, pressing her muzzle against the throbbing pink shaft. �Suck it,� he said, �and maybe if you�re a good girl I�ll fuck you when you�re done.�
�And I�ll have a go when he�s done with ya,� a rough voice sounded from behind Burn. The black wolf snarled, looking back.
�She�s my bitch; go stick it in the pussycat.�
The foreign voice growled something, but did not raise another protest.
Akio jerked her head back, suddenly filled with the will to escape. She belonged to Anjel now, not this dirty wolf. Burn�s paw slipped and he faltered after her, growling, �Where do you think you�re going?� Akio scrambled on her hands and knees, and just as she climbed to her feetpaws to dash away she felt paws on her ankles and suddenly the ground was coming up at her.
Digging her claws into the earth, whimpering, Akio struggled to escape.
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