BORN OF HEROES

— by Jeff Karamales

Chapter 63
 

“Now I know why daddy wanted his own castle,” Cerise said as she reclined in the steaming bath, little more than her chin, nose and ears above the surface of the fragrant, steaming water, one of the servants that had been assigned to the couple washed her ebony hair. “I don’t think I’ll be able to make lunch. Give my regards to Kessus and Arya.”

  Elias mumbled something from where he lay on a padded table, another attendant giving the white fox a full massage, something he really hadn’t had professionally since his therapy and recovery after the Scimitar incident.

  “What was that?” the black vixen inquired with a grin, her eyes closed in bliss.

  They had been reluctant to allow the servants to see them in the nude, then to allow the services that they were trained for, but the calm demeanor of the staff and insistence that the Marquis wished them to be well taken care of had quelled the couple’s protestations.

  “I said I don’t think I’ll make it either,” Elias said a little more clearly before sighing as muscles that had been knotted for far too long were released under the ministrations of the female jackal that tended to him. “In fact, I don’t think I can get off the table. My bones seem to have vanished.”

  After a while they traded positions, Elias soaking in the bath while the Pomeranian attendant assigned to Cerise first gave her a manicure and pedicure before also performing a massage. When the pampering session was done the couple was expertly hustled into the main room of their suite where clothes had been laid out for them.

  Elias’ outfit was a light, billowy tunic of silk in stark white followed by a pearl grey doublet and loose trousers of the same shade. While a fairly simple garment, the embroidery of silver thread with small accents in seed pearls made it look far too elegant for the fox’s normal tastes. A pair of suede soft boots in black finished the ensemble.

  “You’ll not be forgetting this, Master Tivnan,” one of the other servants, a small fennec male in the house livery said holding out Elias’ pistol and rig. “Normally only the house guards and Arms Masters are allowed to carry weapons, though the Marquis has left firm instructions that you and your crew are permitted weapons as well. It’s truly a sign of the trust and regard His Grace holds you in.”

  That caught the white fox by surprise. “The Marquis said that?” he asked accepting the seven millimeter pistol. The doublet came off and he slipped on his shoulder holster, securing the firearm before letting the attendant help him put the doublet back on. “To be honest, with everything that I’ve been through in the past two years I do feel better being armed.”

  “That was what His Grace said, Sir,” the fennec informed his charge with a smile. “I was onboard the Marquis’ ship during operation Hammer Blow, Sir. I was able to glean certain stories of your exploits, and if you forgive me for saying so, I can understand your reasons.”

  Once dressed, the smaller male looked at Elias with a critical eye before nodding in satisfaction. The attendant stepped to a small box made of rich jewel-wood, a local lumber from trees that grew in all the colors of the rainbow and sparkled brilliantly when properly polished. The box would have fetched an impressive price on any other world, even more so due to the intricate carving that adorned the surface of the lid. The fennec lifted a heavy chain out of the velvet lined interior and settled it over Elias’ neck, adjusting the way it hung.

  “What’s this? It’s heavy,” Elias said looking at the medallion with the crest of the Marquis on it. While polished it shown with all the colors of the rainbow. “Is this platinum?”

  “It’s the symbol of the Marquis’ House, Sir. It’s to let others know that you’re in favor with his grace and a sign that while not related to the bloodline, he considers you a member of his household. As for the metal, it’s iridium, Sir. The master crafters often use the application of fire to get the metal to change colors like you see on yours.”

  Elias would have asked more but he was distracted by the entrance of his wife.

  Cerise was dressed in a lavender gown of iridescent shimmer-silk, the patterns that had been permanently bleached into her fur colored a matching shade. The cut of the gown left her shoulders bare, enhancing the dyed patters most attractively. Her hair was caught in a silver circlet, the center of which had a small lozenge with the same device as Elias’ medallion, also made out of iridium. Her forearms were clad in the same material as the dress, though instead of being complete gloves, fine silver maille affixed to the cuff covered the back of her hand in a triangle that was connected to a ring that went on her middle finger.

  “You look beautiful!” Elias whispered with his eyes wide and his voice an awed whisper.

  Cerise smiled and performed a slow pirouette, her arms held out so her mate could admire her. “I know it’s silly, but I feel like a princess from a storybook!” she giggled.

  “You look like a princess from a storybook!”

  Elias held out his arm for his wife and together they followed the fennec attendant through the maze of hallways to a small antechamber where the rest of the crew was waiting, all of them in different, but no less stunning, outfits of their own.

  “I think Lena wants to move here with her own retinue of attendants,” Randy said with a grin as he stood with both the doe and Sabine on his arms. “The Marquis is spoiling the daylights out of my bunny and squirrel.”

  “I don’t think I’d go as far as moving here. It would mean giving up flying. But I will let you tend to Sabine and I when it comes to bath time,” Lena said with a dreamy smile, the expression mirrored on Sabine’s face.

  While the males were all in different variations of the tunic and doublet that Elias wore, Lena was given a dress that was similar to Cerise’s, though hers was in a deep sapphire blue and Sabine’s was in a rich forest green. Sonja wore a low cut gown of burgundy, and Odette’s more modest gown was in deep purple while Keena pulled off a black and burgundy silk ensemble. What was completely surprising was Pala who was also present in a soft pink dress that was completed with a wreath of tiny pink roses on her head.

“Isn’t this a little fancy for lunch?” Olin asked as he adjusted the collar of his tunic with a finger. “It seems awfully dressy for just eating with the Marquis.”

  Elias shrugged. “I’m not up to par with Tanthean traditions, though I do know that they have the ability of taking the most simple things and turning them into quite the show.”

  “Well, I think you boys should dress up more often,” Sonja said taking Olin’s hand in hers to calm his fidgeting.

  “You’ve got that right!” Keena gushed looking at her tiger husband with a grin.

  Before anyone else could say anything a uniformed coyote with tan and dark grey fur entered the alcove. “Ah, good! You’re all here. Now, when your names are called, step out through the curtain, pause for a slow count of five before you continue into the ballroom. Once there you-”

  “Ballroom?” Baxter asked, a sick looking expression settling on his black and white face. “What ballroom?”

  “Why, for the reception, of course,” the liveried coyote said matter-of-fact. “It’s the only chamber large enough for this kind of gathering. Now, there will be some individuals that will try to corner you, such as Baron Orser, possibly even Countess Melissandra. Whatever happens, don’t let them pressure you into any promises.”

  “Who?” Elias asked with a scowl. “We have no idea who those people are. What exactly is going on here?”

  Just as the coyote was about to clarify, the sound of trumpets sang out followed by a sharp rapping noise. He shook his head frantically. “No time! Just smile, talk only to the Marquis and Marquise until we sit down for luncheon!”

  A loud voice from the other side of the curtain that separated the alcove from the room beyond bellowed out.

  “Introducing Master Randal Mercks accompanied by Ladies Lena Vanir and Sabine Lansing!”

  Randy and the two females were pushed forward by the attendant, the wolf muttering a scathing epithet prior to exiting the alcove at the shove. The others were called forward as well, eventually leaving Elias and Cerise with the attendant who gave the pair final instructions.

  “When you exit and after your pause, proceed directly to the Marquis and kneel so that he may properly knight you, but for the Maker’s sake, don’t rush!” the coyote whispered fervently

  “Major Elias Tivnan and his wife, Lady Cerise Tivnan!”

  The coyote received a hard look from Elias, but Cerise prevented him from venting his spleen on the attendant, tugging at his arm insistently and whispered quickly to her husband. “There’s no help for it now, Lover. I think the Marquis really wants to honor you and to have kept this as a surprise. Just go with it.”

  As with the others, Elias and Cerise were all but shoved into the ballroom. The crowd just past the curtain was in constant motion, each of the individuals in attendance trying to jockey for position and get a look at the fox and his mate or move closer to the front of the crowds on either side. Fortunately the guards that stood on the edge of the carpeted runner kept the crowd from spilling over. At the end of the purple bordered red carpet stood the Marquis, his mate and several functionaries with more house guards behind the high backed chair in polished armor, though throne might have been a better description for the gilt seat.

  Kessus was smiling beatifically as the fox and black furred vixen approached. Much to the Marquis’ credit, the noble didn’t let his smile falter in the slightest with the harsh look that Elias shot him.

  One of the functionaries next to the Marquis made a gesture to the fox. “Please kneel,” the opulently dressed wolf told him in a soft voice.

  Fortunately there was a cushion on the carpeted floor and Elias did as asked, Cerise stepping a little to the side. Kessus accepted a sword from yet another member of the entourage, his livery the same as the one that had told Elias to kneel, in colors of black and red with vibrant gold cloth baldrics that had the device of King Aris and Tanthe on them.

  “By order of His Majesty, King Aris of the Tanthean Throne, Defender of the Realm, I do confer upon Elias Tivnan the title of Knight in honor of his deeds against the Ganlin Legion on behalf of our glorious world and the entire Planetary Alignment for bravery upon the field of battle, and adherence to the codes of chivalry and decency he has demonstrated.” The Marquis touched first the fox’s right shoulder then left before laying the flat of the blade on top of Elias’ head. “Rise, Sir Tivnan, Knight of the Order of Pax Tanthea as decreed by our monarch, King Aris.”

  As he got to his feet, Kessus handed the sword back to the functionary that still held the sheath and retrieved a heavy chain from one of his own attendants and put it over the fox’s head, adding to the one the fox already wore. Kessus also gave Elias an embrace after helping the fox to his feet.

  “Sorry there wasn’t time to warn you,” he whispered. “I only found out about my cousin’s orders an hour ago.”

  As Kessus stepped back he held his arms wide to the rest of the assembled crowd.

  “Friends and honored guests, in the traditions that originated in the mists of our world’s history, let us retire the banquet that has been laid and give honor to this individual in proper fashion!”  Kessus then took his wife’s arm and motioned for Elias and Cerise to follow beside them where they led the rest of the audience to the tables groaning with all manner of dishes and delicacies.

  Once the quartet was seated at a table that was elevated above all the others, the rest of the attendees took their places while a bevy of servants descended on the crowd to dispense wine and other drinks while yet even more began to distribute the food.

  “I really am sorry for the lack of warning,” the Marquis said to Elias and Cerise, sitting on the coyote noble’s right side. “To be honest I was hoping for something a little less…ostentatious. Unfortunately some of the courtiers and toadies love these little get togethers. I swear, far too many of them have nothing else to do than fight for social prestige!”

  The irritation that Elias had been feeling began to dissipate as he realized the knighting hadn’t been planned and the Marquis had been as woefully unprepared for the ceremony as everyone else. “So, now I’m a knight? What does that mean?”

  Kessus shrugged. “To be honest, not as much as it once did. I hate to admit this, but knighthood is passed out for almost everything here on Tanthe. It looks impressive on a resume, though!” the last was added with a chuckle. “One of mine and Aris’ distant ancestors even passed out knighthoods for things such as picking up litter, and there’s the story that he even knighted the pet dog of one of the explorers that landed near the capital when contact was reestablished with other worlds.

  “Of course, said ancestor was also one of the reasons that the Royal house began to seek strangers from other worlds that were genetically comparable to keep the family tree from becoming the family stick. There was a little too much…hmm, concern about ‘familial purity’ and noble blood in those days.”

  Elias had to smile at the shudder that Kessus gave at that bit of information. Just as he was about to ask another question one of the courtiers stood, rapping her wine glass for attention. The female had white fur, though while Elias’ was due to Arctic fox stock in his lineage, the courtier’s was rather dull and the color was from a lack of pigment and her eyes had a distinct pink color to them.

  “I would like to propose a toast to Sir Tivnan!” the already tipsy coyote declared. “A more deserving individual of King Aris’ favor I have yet to meet, especially if he’s as gallant as the stories I’ve heard!” She eyed Elias blearily and with undisguised lust. The coyote had obviously already sampled the offerings from the Marquis’ cellars extensively.

  “To Sir Tivnan!” the crowd responded.

  “You want to watch out for the Countess Melissandra, there,” Kessus warned, his mouth hardly moving as he smiled wanly at the female that called the toast. “If you haven’t been able to tell, there is that distinct lack of branches in her family tree I was talking about earlier. By the Maker, it’s bad enough she and I are both related to Aris, but Meli also has grander aspirations for the throne. Be very careful around her.”

  Elias’ eyebrow raised in alarm as the Countess licked her lips in a very suggestive manner. “Uh…yeah.”

  The Marquis caught the gesture and snorted. “Yes, my friend. She’s interested in you. But then again, Meli will lift her tail for anything. I won’t tell you some of the stories about her as we have this most excellent feast and I’d feel bad about ruining your appetite.”

  “Of course, if she does anything to vex you, feel free to challenge her to a duel,” Arya informed Cerise. “I don’t think anyone would complain too much if Melissandra were put down.” The Marquise shook her head. “She really is quite the embarrassment.”

***

   Dancing followed the meal as was traditional, and after a turn on the floor with both the Marquise and his wife, along with a few of the ladies in attendance, Elias was standing with the Marquis pointedly trying to avoid conversations that involved the operation against the Legion and failing miserably when Countess Melissandra wormed her way into the group.

  “Oh, don’t you boys have anything more interesting to discuss than battles and fighting?” the pale coyote asked, even more intoxicated than she had been before. She latched onto the fox’s arm possessively to steady her unbalanced state, ignoring the warning look from Kessus and the other members of the group. “Now, if you’d all be a bunch of dears, I have a business proposal for our esteemed guest that I’m hoping he’ll find irresistible!”

  From a small knot of females that included Lena and Sabine, Cerise flashed a dangerous and proprietary look at the coyote. The ebony furred vixen walked over, and while she pulled off a rather good imitation of civility, the hostile gleam in her eyes told her husband exactly what her emotional state was.

  “Elias? Shall we go look in on the kits?” Cerise asked sweetly as she drew near.

  The relief in the fox’s eyes was evident and he nodded politely to the Marquis and other males, pointedly ignoring the Countess as he pulled his arm free. “Bless you,” Elias told his mate in a low voice. “The Countess is enough to make my skin itch!”

  “Probably something she picked up while slumming,” Cerise informed her husband. “There’s no shortage of stories about the Countess…or her proclivities. It seems that her appetites are the source of a lot of court gossip. Also, she’s been rather vocal and descriptive about her plans for you.”

  “Oh, no! I am very happily married, thank you!” Elias told his mate firmly. Once they were past the doors of the ballroom, Cerise pulled her fox into a small alcove hidden by a tapestry, latching on to his neck before kissing him soundly. “Wh…what is…”

  Cerise gave him a smoldering look and smiled before nipping at his neck playfully. “My fox,” she said breathlessly before pulling his head to her for another lingering kiss. “We’ll stay here for a few minutes before returning, but I don’t think I should let you go off on your own while that harlot’s about. From what I’ve heard she’s looking for some excuse and willing partner to help in her aspirations of climbing higher on the social ladder at court.”

  Elias settled his arms around his petite mate with a mischievous grin. “So what are we going to do to while away the minutes?”

  “We’ll think of something,” Cerise whispered, looking up with a content smile and heavily lidded eyes.

— NEXT CHAPTER —

Unless otherwise noted, all material © Ted R. Blasingame. All rights reserved.