"We'll be at the Johnsburg Plantation by this evening."

Azee looked up sharply, ears twitching. "Huh?"

Luke glanced over as he tossed his rolled-up tent into the back of the cart. "I said, we'll be at the Johnsburg Plantation by this evening. We may even make it there for supper if you hurry and get packed up."

A sour glare crossed Azee's face as she tossed a few more handfuls of dirt onto the smouldering coals of the morning fire. "I'm working on it."

Before long, Azee was sat in the back of the cart, wrapped in a canvas sheet to protect her from the rain. She pulled her knees up under her chin, watching wearily as mile after mile rolled past her. The chain attached to her collar jingled with each bump in the road. Despite her best efforts, the sound burrowed into Azee's head each time it rang out.

Between the driving rain, the chilly winds from the north, and the heavy air of silence between Azee and Luke, the last three days of the journey had been utterly miserable. Neither Luke nor Azee had spoken more than a dozen words to one another since the night when Azee had asked about Chara.

'You've travelled Lord-knows-how-far to rescue a sister who had already given up on you.'

Azee sighed heavily as Luke's words flitted across her mind yet again.

'There's no way that's true... He may believe it's true, but that doesn't mean it is.'

And yet there hadn't been any sign that he was lying, no sign that he was speaking anything other than the truth. Surely there would be something, some kind of evidence of delusion...

But what did she truly know of the link between them? Eloise had told her it made Luke unable to resist her commands and would tell her if he was lying. But just how far did that connection go? How accurate was it? In truth, she had no idea. Without Eloise around to ask, it was impossible to know.

A loud crackle of thunder rolled across the sky, startling Azee momentarily.

Was there a way to test the link? Maybe if she asked Luke a question, something she knew the answer to but he didn't? Azee racked her brain, but the constant jangling of the chain around her neck made it hard to think, and the cold rain wasn't helping much either.

Azee barely noticed as the thick forest around the road began to thin, the trees no longer a nearly impenetrable ceiling above. Huge oaks and beeches were replaced by birches and cedars, with thick hedges of berry bushes and vines beside the road. The route also grew less bumpy with each passing mile, turning from a rough track into a well-trodden road. Soon, the forest was broken up by the odd farm or cottage, just barely visible through the trees. As the number of houses increased, so did the number of carts and riders passing by in the other direction.

'I know he's been resisting the rune as much as he can.... He probably figures he can burn it out. How long will it last? Will it get weaker? What'll happen if it burns out?' With a soft whine, Azee closed her eyes. 'I wish Eloise was still here...'

Azee was shaken from her thoughts as the cart slowed and stopped in the middle of the road.

"What's wrong?" Azee asked. When Luke didn't answer, she turned around. A few feet before the cart, a farmer hurriedly drove a large herd of bahfloofs across the road from one field to another. Up ahead, just visible through the rain, was a town, no larger than Lillyvale.

"We're going to stop," Luke announced, returning a tip of his hat as the farmer finished driving the herd across the road.

"Why?"

The cart started rolling again as Luke spoke, still not turning around. "Because Arthur needs a rest, and so do I."

"I thought we were going to arrive by tonight?"

"We will."

"So why stop?"

Luke didn't answer.

"Luke, why-"

"I need to stop." Luke's voice was sharp and full of irritation. "I'm tired of shitting in the woods and eating food that is covered in mud. So either order me to continue or be quiet."

A powerful surge of anger rose in Azee, but she refused to take the bait. With a sullen sniff, she crossed her arms and turned back around.

The cart shook far less as the road turned from the hardened track into paved cobblestone. Rolling through a small market, Azee watched the town's people, humans and pelts both, dart from shelter to shelter to avoid the rain still pouring down. There was not nearly the sense of frantic urgency as there had been in the city. For a time Azee was reminded of Lillyvale. Though she had never considered Lillyvale to be home, there had been a sense of familiarity there whose absence she suddenly felt quite keenly.

Coming to a stop outside a large saloon at the intersection of the two largest roads in town, Luke hopped down from the cart and swiftly tied the hound to a hitching post near the entrance. Stepping back to the rear of the cart, he undid the chain from Azee's collar and swung the largest of the satchels over his shoulder.

"Come," He commanded, stepping back from the cart and gesturing for Azee to follow. Suppressing an indignant growl, Azee obeyed.

As she hopped down from the cart, Azee couldn't help but notice the Order chapter house across the street. A pair of Order agents stood outside the front entrance smoking, the red on their vests matching the paint on the building behind them. Azee's ears pressed against her head as she caught sight of a pair of felines hanging from the gallows beside the chapter house. A sign bearing the word 'rebel' hung around the neck of both felines.

As Lapproachedards the saloon entrance, he pulled a coin out of his pocket and flipped it to a nearby slave working to sweep the front steps.

"Make sure the hound is fed and watered," he ordered. "And see to it that none of our things go missing. Understood?"

The slave looked in wonder down at the coin in her hand. "Y-yes sir! Th-thank you!"

Azee felt a sharp sting of anger as the slave stared at her, a jealous look in her eyes that seemed to say: "What a kind master you have". Azee resisted the urge to snort and grumble.

The saloon's interior was much the same as the Old Crow back in Lillyvale, if a little less run down. The smell of old beer and cigarettes filled the air, and the ground beneath Azee's feet was slightly sticky. Only a few of the tables were occupied, while a handful of militia troopers stood at the bar.

"Gonna have to chain your pelt." The barkeep called out, gesturing at Azee with a wizened old hand. "And we ain't serve them nothin' but bread and water, got it?"

Luke only nodded and led Azee over to an iron post driven into the stone where two other pelt slaves already sat.

"We'll get out of here soon," Luke said, attaching a chain to Azee's collar. "So behave yourself."

It took considerable effort for Azee not to growl as she glared at Luke.

Checking to make sure the chain was secured, Luke got back to his feet and strode over to the bar. Tapping on the worn wood counter, he called out to the old barkeep. "Is there a john in this place?"

"It's fer payin' sort only." the woman replied, looking up from washing a glass with an old tattered rag.

"Fine, one double whiskey and an ale."

"See yer money first."

Luke pulled out a few small coins and dropped them on the counter.

"Well, what do yeh know, exact change." The woman swiftly swept the coins off the counter before placing a key in front of Luke. "Just out back."

***

As Luke strode out the back door of the bar, Azee let out a sigh and settled with her back against the wall. The other two slaves, one a vulpine and the other a lutrine/canine mix, glanced at her briefly, before turning back to stare at the ground.

Keeping her voice as quiet as she could, Azee glanced at the vulpine. "So... what's this miserable place called? The town I mean."

"Bordenwood," The vulpine replied, his voice barely above a mutter. "You're not from around here?"

"No, passing through with.... With my master."

"Be cautious here." The Lutrine/Canine muttered as he carved a line into a floorboard with one of his claws. "The Du'Quelle gang attacked a slave auction less than a fortnight ago. The Order and the militia have been on alert since. Anyone so much as twitches the wrong way, the Order pounces on them."

"Du'Quelle?"

"Don't say that name out loud," the vulpine hissed. "Not unless you want to join those two rebels outside the Chapter house."

The other slave shook his head slowly. "They're a band of lunatics that showed up a few seasons back. They've attacked the Order, burned down caravans, even destroyed a couple of farms out near Eastbrooke."

"So they're fighting for freedom," Azee whispered back. "Sounds like they are heroes to me."

Both pelts shot her a frightened look before shifting away from her.

"They just go around making trouble for the humans, breaking things, and making life harder for us," The vulpine slave whispered, glancing over at the bar and ensuring no one was listening to them talk.

"He's right," the lutrine mix added. "Fighting back is just a good way to get yourself strung up."

"Besides, they say Du'Quelle eats pelts that don't obey him, then wears their fur!"

"But-"

"Fighting if you're going to lose just makes it harder for everyone else." The vulpine hissed, turning away from Azee. "Now don't talk to us; we don't want any trouble."

"You might be moving through, but we have to live here."

Azee blinked in surprise, before letting out a heavy sigh and shifting away. Her mind turned over and over as she rested her head against the wall. At some point, Luke returned and took a seat at the bar, and started on his drink.

'Would I have said the same thing as them when Chara asked me?' Azee wondered as she watched Luke. Her eyes narrowed as she watched him down his drink before ordering another and striking up a conversation with a few of the militia members sitting at the bar.

'No... No, I would have sided with her. There's no way I'd have chosen Luke.'

But no matter how many times she repeated it to herself, the words felt hollow.

'You've travelled Lord-knows-how-far to rescue a sister who had already given up on you.'

"Shut up..." Azee whimpered softly to herself, squeezing her eyes shut as she relaxed against the wall.

***

It took nearly an hour before Luke and Azee reluctantly left the dry warmth of the saloon and continued on their way. Even Arthur the hound made his displeasure known with a low grumble at the prospect of venturing out into the rain once more. In that time, the rain seemed to have developed a whole new level of determination to drench everything beneath the sullen sky, great sheets pouring down upon cold bursts of howling wind. Rushing torrents of water filled the ditches alongside the road, and even the largest of trees provided little cover.

"Lord's bones," Luke grumbled as the cart passed through the outskirts of Bordenwood, the streets of the town replaced by endless fields of cotton, indigo, and sugar cane. Taking a moment to shake the water off his hat, he cursed again. "This keeps up, we're liable to drown before we reach Eddie's place."

"What a shame that would be," Azee shivered a little as the water soaked through the canvas sheet she covered with seemingly without effort.

"You know, we don't have to do this."

Azee raised her head. "Huh?"

"We could turn around right now and go home. If we took the main roads, another train or two, we could be home before season's end."

"We're not turning around," Azee barked in reply. "We're finding my sister."

"Right, right, how could I forget."

Azee shifted, to look at Luke. "And what if we did turn around? What then? Everything would go back to normal? I told you, Luke, that's never happening."

"So what happens if we do find her?" Luke glanced over his shoulder. "What then?"

Azee fell silent for a moment.

"What? What's your plan?" Luke pressed. "Head for the border? Try and make it to Nadiria or one of the other border nations? Or, while we're dreaming, why not head north, try and paddle across the Vein to Graize."

"We'll figure something out." Azee shot back. "And it won't involve you."

"So even if Chara is still alive, a big if I might add, considering her attitude-"

"She's alive!" Azee barked, baring her teeth, her hackles raised. "Or, at the very least, you had better hope she is still alive!"

"Or what Azee? You'll kill me?" Luke let out a bark of laughter. "I mean, why not? Get rid of me! After all, you've done such a good job on your own."

"Shut up," Azee growled.

"Let's see, what have you done on your own? Well, since you bashed me on the head with a pan you got taken in by a crazy lady, almost got yourself hanged by two Order agents, crawled into bed with the first pelt you laid eyes on, damn near got yourself killed again on the train, and drank yourself into a such a stupor that I had to carry you home. Face it Azee, if it weren't for me, this little trip of yours would have ended in your death a dozen times over."

Azee bristled at Luke's words, her lips curling back from her teeth.

"You need me Azee. Without me, you'd get yourself killed in a day, maybe two if you were lucky."

With a low snarl, Azee turned back towards the rear of the cart. "Just shut up and leave me alone."

***

By the time the lights of the Johnsburg Plantation came into view, the gloomy light of day had been replaced by the inky blackness of a night. The rain continued to pour down while a thick layer of cloud blotted out any hint of the moons or the stars.

As the cart bumped up a narrow, winding road, the occasional flash of lightning gave Azee brief glances of the plantation ahead. The main house stood on the top of a hill overlooking a small lake, surrounded on all sides by a row of huge willow trees and bramble bushes. A half dozen barns, even larger than the main house, were nestled amongst a stand of trees and surrounded by a high wall.

A trio of guards stood at the front gate, huddled around a small fire they'd managed to start beneath a hastily erected wooden shelter. All three leaped to their feet and raised their weapons as the cart approached.

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The lead guard, an older man with long, curly grey hair and a thick military coat hanging from his shoulders, stepped forward. "Oi! What in the blazes you think you doing? This here is private property, and we ain't a hostel, so git a move on."

"Good evening. I'm here to see Eddie Johnsburg," Luke called out, lowering his rain hood so the guards could get a look at his face.

"Oh yeah? And just who in damnation you think you are boy?" One of the other guards demanded, raising a lantern hanging from the barrel of his rifle and peering suspiciously up at Luke. "Ain't got no appointment I reckon."

With no small amount of indignation, Luke straightened in his seat. "My name is Luke Windhill. I've come a long way to see my old friend."

"Windhill?" The lead guard stepped forward. After a moment, his eyes widened and he lowered his rifle. "Well toss me into a pot and call me a fool stew, is that really you, Master Windhill?"

"Yes sir it is." Luke nodded his head. "Pleasure to see you again Oscar."

"Well shit, you remember me, now ain't that just a damn sweet thing." Oscar chuckled, waving at his comrades. "Get that gate open, lads. We got ourselves some real special company."

As the other two guards ran to unlock and open the gate, Oscar slung his rifle over his back and hopped up on the side of the cart. "Sorry about the rather rude greetin' Mister Windhill, but Master Johnsburg didn't mention you was paying a visit."

"It's something of a... surprise," Luke replied, giving a gentle tug on the reins as the gate swung open. With an audible sigh, Arthur began walking again, pulling the cart through the gate and onto the white gravel drive that led to the main house.

"So what in damnation you doing out in this rain? And in the middle of the night? Meaning no offence master Windhill, but it's askin' fer trouble. We've had trouble with raiders and the like recently."

"Yeah, some militia boys were talking about it in town." Luke nodded, glancing around as he noted a pair of guards on patrol along the drive. "DuQuelle?"

"That's what they're sayin. Couple of boys flying his banner attacked the Lorain plantation 'bout mid-last season, and then just eight days ago they made a right royal mess of an auction in Vennachre. Killed some dozen folk and made off with bout twenty pelts."

Luke frowned. "I thought the Order had reported him killed three years ago."

"The man's a bloody roach. Don't seem to matter how hard you stomp on him, the bastard just keeps on comin' back." Oscar shook his head.

"Suppose it's a good thing I'm travelling low profile then."

"I was about to say..." Oscar looked over the cart with a raised eyebrow. "I was worried that perhaps yer' family had fallen on some hard times."

"No more so than anyone else these days." Luke shook his head. "Nah, I was thinking about opening up another plantation, so I figured I'd take a tour of the country. I realised a few days back that I was within two day's ride of this place, so I decided to pay a visit."

"Well, yer always welcome here Master Windhill, ain't no doubt about that."

As Oscar and Luke spoke, Azee stayed quiet as she huddled up under her tarp. The branches of the vast willows flanking the path swayed and danced in the pale light of Oscar's lantern, sending a chill up Azee's spine as they appeared to her like thousands of long fingers waving in the dark.

Moments later, the cart pulled to a stop at the front door of the main house, a huge edifice of white brick and tall windows, illuminated by flickering candlelight. A row of ostentatious pillars lined the front and sides of the house, many of them covered in twisting and flowering wisteria vines. The light of the lamps danced among great sheets of water that poured off the rounded balcony over the front door.

No sooner had the cart stopped at the foot of a set of white marble stairs, than the large oaken front door swung open. A trio of slaves emerged from the house and meanderingly attended to the cart. One of them took hold of Arthur's reins, while another set up a block for Luke to step down upon.

Azee leaned forward as one of the slaves set about grabbing hold of their luggage, hoping to catch his eye. The slave didn't seem to notice her as he moved, as if in a daze, fumbling with the bags.

"Are you alright?" Azee asked, reaching out and grabbing hold of the slave's wrist. The slave paused and looked up slowly as if recognising her presence only gradually.

A sense of cold fear ran up the back of her neck as Azee met the slave's eyes and saw no spark of life, no emotion or feeling, just dull placidity. She recognised the rune mounted to the slave's collar. It was a powerful suppression rune, far more potent than anything Luke allowed on his ranch. Though she had never been subjected to such a rune herself, Azee had seen what they were capable of doing; leaving their victims in a state of utter mindlessness, unable to do anything but the simplest of tasks.

With great effort, the slave finally got hold of the bags and lifted them out of the back, stumbling about as if he were drunk.

Stepping down from the cart, Luke walked around to the back.

"Do you see the collars the slaves are wearing?" Azee demanded, her voice barely above a whisper, as Luke set about releasing the chain from her collar. "They're mindless!"

"I suppose Eddie likes to keep his slaves under tight control."

"It's cruel!"

"It's not my decision." Luke tossed the chain aside and offered a hand to help Azee down off the cart. As she hopped down, Luke pulled her close, his voice a harsh whisper. "Remember, we're guests here, so behave yourself."

"You don't need to keep telling me that, I-"

"Luke!"

Both Azee and Luke looked up as a young man in an immaculate white suit appeared at the door. The man was tall and thin, with dark skin and a head of curly black hair. A few curls hung casually over his narrow, pale brown eyes. He had an air of casual authority about him, and he moved with a sort of oily grace that made the hairs on the back of Azee's neck stand up.

Behind him was a very tall canine woman, with fur that was pure cotton white in patches, and pitch black in others. She looked down at Azee and Luke with curiosity, tinged with a hint of distaste.

Luke stepped forward and extended a hand with a smile. "Eddie, what a pleasure to see you again."

Eddie smiled in return, gripping Luke's hand with both of his own. "Far too long my friend, far too long. What in the Lord's name are you doing out in this dreadful weather? Please come in."

"What do you want us to do with the pelt?" Oscar asked, nodding at Azee. "We got space out in the barns."

"No," Luke said quickly, shaking his head. "Azee is my personal attendant. If it's not too much trouble, I don't want her sleeping in some barn."

"Well, you heard the man." Eddie turned to the slave standing behind him. "Set her up in one of the guest rooms."

"In the main house, sir?" The woman asked, glancing down at Azee with open disdain.

"Yes yes, of course." Eddie grinned at Luke and clapped him on the back as they started up the stairs. "Now come, I have some rather excellent twenty-year-old brandy that I've been enjoying, much better than whatever swill you can get in that wretched swamp."

"Sounds delightful. Could use a drink to warm up."

"That's the spirit."

Azee watched as Luke and Eddie disappeared into the house.

With a sigh of annoyance, the large canine woman stepped forward and gestured for Azee to follow her. "Well come on, let's get you cleaned up. Don't want you stinking up the house smelling like a wet dog."

Azee blinked in surprise and sniffed herself. "I uh... okay."

"I wasn't asking, I was telling." The canine woman stepped forward and seized hold of Azee's wrist and began dragging her towards the side of the house. "Now come on."

"Wait no, I-"

"Don't you go talking back to me now! I ain't letting you near the front of the house till we got you cleaned up."

***

Luke sighed as he sat down in a large, comfy armchair in front of a roaring fire. His travelling clothes had been replaced with a spare suit, and he had finally had a chance to brush his hair, shave, and clean himself up. For the first time in what seemed like years, he felt like himself again.

"Where's Azee?" He asked, glancing up as Eddie stepped into the room, carrying a small, ornate bottle.

"That slave you brought in? Your 'attendant'? Gini's seeing to her." Eddie shrugged as he pulled two crystal glasses off a nearby shelf. "Can't have her stinking up the place."

"Fair." Luke looked down at his suit. "Thanks again. The road has been... a little hard on my wardrobe."

"Ain't no great deal, you are most welcome to it."

"Either way, I appreciate your hospitality, especially on such short notice."

"Well, it ain't every day that I get to host a Windhill. Though I can see why you'd be eager to get out of the mosquito-infested swamp," Eddie quipped as he handed Luke a half-full glass of pale amber liquid."When are you going to wise up and move to a more civilised part of the country."

"Flinton Valley suits me just fine," Luke replied, taking the glass and sniffing the contents. "It's quiet, out of the way."

"In a word, boring."

"Boring is good," Luke shrugged. "Boring means no raiders, rebels, or anything else unsavoury. And it keeps the Order from sticking its nose into my business."

"True, but you still live in a swamp. I mean, good Lord man, how do you stand the bugs?"

"You drink lots of lemon juice. Besides, after a while you get used to them." Luke took a sip from his glass.

"And how's the family? Still living in Legacy?"

Luke nodded. "They seem happiest there."

"Not according to the rumours I've heard. Aw well, suppose it leaves you to enjoy your own little kingdom. Hot and sticky as it may be."

Luke chuckled a little. "It is that I'll grant you." As he took another sip he frowned. "I still don't understand how you can stand this stuff."

"I suppose I have a more refined palette," Eddie said, grinning slyly as he took a sip.

Luke smiled and raised his glass. "A possibility I will not deny you sir."

The two men clinked their glasses and each took a drink.

"So, what brings you out this far?" Eddie asked as he tossed another log into the fire.

"I wanted to get away for a time." Luke examined the liquid in his glass as he spun it around in his hand. "I've been thinking about expanding, getting into indigo perhaps. Snyder can take care of things on the Ranch while I'm away, and it's been years since I set foot out of Flinton Valley. So I figured I'd take a private tour of the country, get some leads on where to settle in next, before the war starts."

Eddie raised an eyebrow. "You think there will be a war?"

Luke glanced over. "You don't? Seems to be all anyone is talking about. Most folks seem to think it'll start up any day now"

"Well, when it comes to the rabble in this country, if sense was water we wouldn't have enough to drown a pelt." Eddie took a sip of his drink. "Graize is foolish, no doubts there, but they gotta know there is no way for them to take all of Halcyon. Even if they were to take Second Hope, they'd still be bottlenecked on this side of the Vein."

"True."

"Besides, what exactly is it that folks think we'll be fighting over? The Feddies aren't going to start a war over pelts, no matter how much they bray about abolition."

"It does seem unlikely," Luke admitted. "But they might still cut off our access to the gate."

"Ah, let them have it. We got more than enough pelts to maintain a population an' then some. Besides, from what I hear, the mines at Elliswatch are booming, up to their necks in catalyst crystal. If even half the rumours are true, we never need to set foot on Plane Secundus again."

"Still... seems a shame to just let the Federation have the gate."

"Even if they did close off access to the gate, they'd still have to deal with our forces on the other side. It just isn't worth it, not to them and not to us." Eddie leaned back in his chair, folding his fingers in his lap. "It's all about taxes my friend. The Order and the Militia want more money, so they come up with this 'war' nonsense to scare the ignorant and the foolish."

"You might be right." Luke nodded. "But what if you are wrong? What if Graize does make a move?"

"Then we show them why we are the Lord's chosen." Eddie raised his glass again. "To the Lord's chosen."

Luke clinked his glass against Eddie's. "To the Lord's chosen."

***

Azee shivered as she sat in a large tin basin in the middle of a basement washing room. The air around her was damp and cold, and the water she sat in was freezing and smelled strongly of soap. The room was illuminated by a single candle, its flickering light making the shadows dance and twist eerily around the various sheets and clothes hanging all around her. All things considered, if Azee had had a choice, she would have preferred to stay out in the rain.

Azee let out a surprised yelp as a bucket of cold water was dropped over her head. Before she could move, the large canine from before seized hold of her and plunged her face-first into the soapy water. After a few moments, the woman hauled a wheezing and sputtering Azee back up. Before Azee could say anything, the canine woman began roughly going at her with a towel.

"Just hold still!" the woman commanded as she pushed and tugged at Azee's hair. "You're utterly filthy and you smell disgusting. Ain't no way am I letting you sleep on sheets I cleaned just the other day lookin' and smellin' like this! Mhmmm, you don't get to sleep in this here house if you smell like a road whore."

"I- OW!" Azee yelped. It felt to her as if the woman were tearing out chunks of her hair and fur. She tried to rub the soap out of her eyes, but the woman slapped the back of her hands with the handle of a large brush.

"Don't go rubbing your dang eyes, you'll just make it worse. And you watch yourself, I see so much as one tooth aimed in my direction and I'll tan yer hide within an inch of your damn life."

"Listen I - Ow - I OW!"

"Don't need to hear you talking neither. The only words I wanna hear coming out of your mouth are 'yes ma'am' or 'no ma'am', you got that?"

"I don't know what - ow- what your problem is, but I-"

Azee cried out as she was dunked again.

"Those ain't the words I told you I want to hear." The woman said, hauling a coughing and sputtering Azee out of the water. "Now I can go a lot harder if you don't cooperate. You got that?" The woman tightened her grip on Azee's hair. "Now, you gonna sit still and be a good girl? Or I gotta teach you a lesson?"

It took all of the mental control Azee had not to snarl and bite. "Yes ma'am," she grumbled through gritted teeth.

"That's better." The woman shook her head as she roughly scrubbed Azee's back. "Don't know what your master is thinking, letting a wild thing like you walk around with such a weak control rune. You weren't a guest, I'd whip the skin off your back for speaking to me like that."

'Well I am a guest.' The words flitted across Azee's mind, but she thought better about saying them.

For what felt like a painful eternity, Azee sat as still as she could as the canine woman washed and dried her, before eventually going at her fur with a brush. Finally satisfied, the woman gestured for Azee to follow her.

"All right, with me. And don't you think about touching anything."

"Yes ma'am." Azee grumbled.

Following along behind the large canine woman, Azee climbed a narrow staircase out of the washing room and onto the main floor of the house. As she walked down a long hallway, she was struck by the sheer number of animal trophies that hung from the walls. Every manner of animal, from small birds, to mountain drakes, to hunting cats, to swamp gators, decorated the space. Most were simply heads hanging from polished wood plaques, though several of the more impressive specimens had been stuffed whole and posed.

As she reached the end of the hall, Azee's curiosity at the morbid trophies turned to horror and she froze in mid step. Upon the wall over the doorway, all stuffed like the animals around them, were dozens of pelt heads.

Azee's legs quaked and she felt very much like she was going to be sick as she stared up at the mounted heads, their faces frozen in some defiant or fearsome expression.

"Master Johnsburg likes to remind his servants of the price of disloyalty." The canine woman said, drawing up behind Azee. "The master has no time for those that don't know the order of things. You best remember that."

Azee's stomach turned as she stared in transfixed horror. "How... how can you look at this..."

"Easily, cause I know what this means, it means peace and security."

"This is... evil..."

The canine woman reached out and cuffed Azee around the back of her head. "It's not evil, foolish child."

Azee spun around, raising her hands and bunching them into fists.

"Whatcha going to do, child?" the canine woman demanded, baring her teeth at Azee. "Yeh gonna take a swing at me?"

Azee shook with rage as she glared up at the larger woman. But slowly, she lowered her hands, her breath shivering as she turned away.

"That's right child. If we want peace, which we do, then it has to be enforced. And if this is what it takes to stop the next fool from running, or trying to fight, or making a mess of this place, then so be it."

"And when you end up on this wall?"

"I know the way of things, I respect them, and I respect my master. I ain't like these troublemakers, so I don't fear their fate." With a push, the canine woman set Azee walking again. "Now come on, I have other things to do today than stand around gawking with a foolish child."

***

The rain continued to patter against the library windows as Luke and Eddie continued their conversation. They'd been debating back and forth for some time about the possibility of war, strategy, and the effect it would have on crop prices.

"Here's hoping that the federals get off their fat behinds and actually do something about these damn prices," Eddie grumbled, taking a moment to grab the nearly empty liquor bottle.

"Cotton has gone down another five percent. If It goes much lower I'll have to start thinking about switching to secondary crops. Speaking of prices," Luke nodded in thanks as Eddie reached over to pour him another glass, "I wanted to thank you for helping me solve my... other problem."

"Not a problem, glad it all worked out." Eddie raised his glass. "Still don't know why you didn't just slit the bitch's throat."

"Not my style."

"Mhmm."

"Speaking of, the man you introduced me to, do you remember his name?"

Eddie took a moment, scratching his chin. "It was... Simond I think... Simond Lavell? Laird? Lavier, that was it, Lavier. He's a runesmith out of Ardendale."

Luke's eyes widened. "Ardendale? That's up past Legacy!"

"Yep. He was down checking on the crystal prospecting sites. He was checking out a site in Flinton, so I told him about your little problem." With a slight tilt of his head, Eddie glanced over at Luke. "Why're you interested? Got something else to sell him?"

"I..." Luke paused, before downing the brandy in his glass in a single gulp. "No, not selling, buying."

"Oh Lord... you ain't trying to buy that troublemaker back, are you?" Eddie stared in disbelief as Luke remained silent. "Why, in the name of all ten layers of damnation, would you wanna do a thing like that?!"

"She... has a value that I underappreciated," Luke said at last. "I need to get her back."

"And yeh can't just... buy another? I mean shoot, I got some round here you could buy for a real good price."

"Afraid not."

Eddie whistled through his teeth and leaned back in his chair. "Gotta say, you've come a long way just to get back a pelt troublemaker."

"Like I said, I was due for a vacation anyway."

"Uh huh... or does it perhaps have something to do with that fetching little canine you brought with you."

Luke's eyes narrowed. "No."

A knowing smile crossed Eddie's face. "Ah, I see, it's like that is it?"

Before Luke could speak, the large female canine stepped into the room.

She bowed her head and spoke, "Excuse me for interrupting master, but our guest's... attendant has been shown to her room. I made certain her room is adjacent to yours, Master Windhill, in case you wish to enjoy her this evening."

"Yes... thank you." Luke nodded.

"Is there anything else I might do for you masters?"

As Eddie turned to dismiss his servant, she made a quick hand motion with her hands, a signal only he could recognise.

"Excuse me for a moment, would you?" Eddie nodded in apology to Luke and got to his feet.

The canine stepped back out of the room as Eddie approached her.

"What is it?"

"It's the girl sir, the one Master Windhill brought?"

"Yes, yes, what about her?"

"Well, sir... It's just a hunch but... I don't know that her collar is quite right."

Eddie raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"

"Well, sir, while we was walking down the west wing hall, she caught sight of the troublemakers, the ones up on the wall. She said it was 'evil', an' then turned like she were ready to try and fight with me. Claws and teeth bared and everything."

"Really?"

"Aye, sir. She's far too... free. Something tells me that her collar may not even be working."

For a few moments, Eddie was silent, gently stroking his chin.

"Very well. See to it, will you?"

"As you wish, sir."

Turning back to the library, Eddie returned to his seat, picking up another crystal bottle from the shelf as he went.

"So, where were we... oh yes, your slave." Eddie pulled the cork from the bottle and poured some into Luke's glass and his own. "The way I see it, Luke, you have a problem."

"Oh really?" Luke said, unimpressed.

"Mhmm. You've fallen for the same trap that's been the downfall of far too many of our brethren: you've grown too attached."

"Oh, I have, have I?"

"Yes, you have. I mean look at you, travelling cross country, in the pouring rain, to get back some slave that was, what, this one's lover maybe? Mother? Sister?"

"Sister," Luke admitted after a few moments and taking a drink.

"There you go." Eddie sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Really, it's no surprise, you always did have a heart that was too big for your own good."

Downing the rest of his drink, Luke got to his feet. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night. Thank you for the drinks."

Eddie leaped to his feet, putting his hands on Luke's shoulders. "Now hold on, just wait a moment, alright, I'm trying to help you here."

"Thank you but I-"

"Listen to me, Luke, I've been through this exact same thing."

Luke paused, his gaze meeting Eddie's.

"I can help you, but you gotta listen to me." Eddie urged as he squeezed Luke's shoulders. "Please, Luke, my friend, all else aside, I want to help you here."

For a few moments, Luke simply stood and stared at Eddie, unsure of how to proceed. Finally, with a defeated sigh, he dropped back down into his chair.

"I suppose it would be... rude not to at least hear you out," Luke said at last.

"There you go." Eddie smiled and poured Luke another drink. "Now, just sit back, and listen to your old pal for a moment, alright?"

END OF CHAPTER 40