Sable sighed as the sky grew warmer with the coming dawn. Inside the castle slowly turned brighter in the morning twilight, his own features becoming more visible in the growing light. He wasn’t an old wolf, not by any stretch of the meaning, yet this morning he looked well passed his years. His sigh carried with a feeling mixed with contentment, relief, a small amount of worry, and perhaps maybe just a smidge of guilt. His body felt just a bit lighter as a modicum of worry left with that breath.

As captain, it was his responsibility to run his squad in line with the rules and guidelines of the guards. Having someone muck it all up was unacceptable. Humans had no place here in the first place, they never did. He told himself.

Standing in the mostly empty throne room, his eyes wandered about, taking in the sight of a waking castle. A few of the Solar guards had begun to come out, readying for their morning patrols and duties. A couple of their captains saw him, nodding in respect and recognition. A few of the Solar Guard had already lined up in the room, much like the Lunar Guard had hours early. Of course, in much greater numbers. It was a subtle thing, but one that added to the burden he carried. There were so few Lunar Guard, any misstep would be amplified on them, on him.

His eyes darted around between all the guard present, starting, glaring and observing. Though, he wasn’t looking over the Solar guard as a whole. No, his focus was more specific, looking for his own, or rather, one member who thankfully was no longer there. Sable’s heart had raced throughout the evening as adrenaline fuel fear pumped through him. He had hoped and half expected the human to just walk away when he told him there would be no orders. The wolf knew humans to be greedy and lazy like that. So, when Neal seemingly refused to leave and continued to stand at attention throughout most of the night, he of course grew worried that his gambit wouldn’t work.

It was true he had no authority to dismiss the recruit. All he could do was encourage him to move on. Though he had fears and doubts his own command would approve. Technically Sable reported to a 2nd Captain, but in truth that was a formality. Most of the castle Lunar Guard went straight through their general, Torrent. Who had his own views on such matters. The general was a strange one, often taking a hands off approach, until he didn’t. When he didn’t, you were nothing more than a pawn to him. A piece to move and be moved by him.

Which is what made things even more strange about the human recruit. Sable was sure General Torrent was even more anti-human than he was. If the general had wanted, Neal would never have even stepped foot in the castle. The captain couldn’t even begin to understand the machinations in that old bat’s mind. A shake of his head, he rejected his own thoughts. He wasn’t anti-human. It was just, they had no place here, no place in Illania. Everyone knew that, it was just a fact of their dark nature. They belonged in the deep south, in the forbidden juggles with the Ahuizotls.

The wolf took another beath and nodded to himself at the human’s absence. A bitter sweet acceptance. Losing a squad member like this would look bad on his review, if Neal did truly leave the Guard. It would probably slow his own advancement a bit, which he thought would be a reasonable penance. Yes, he forced a smile this was best for everyone. Even the human, though of course they would never understand that. How could they? They were one of the darkest and most evil races in Illania. Barely above those damn Ahuizotls. Why General Torrent put the human under him, he’d never fully understand.

In the distance the 6AM bells tolled, and a captain the Solar guard shouted “Attention!” right as Queen Luminis entered. Even if he served the Luna, even Sable couldn’t help but bow slightly at the Queen’s radaiance as she entered, smiling at everyone like she always did. It was different from the princess. Warm and bright, compared to Luna’s cool and pale smile.

The morning and evening shifts had formally changed over. It was time for him to leave. It was now an early Tuesday morning. Normally, he’d go home, sit in front of his kitchen window with a glass of wine and stare out at the bustling world, before turning into bed. But today, he felt like doing something else. It had been a while since he’d been to the sleeping pig. Not since he noticed the human spending a bit too much time there.

His mind continued to trouble him as he wandered the streets to the pub. Around him, the various citizenry went about their morning activities. Most ignored him, a few noticed him, fewer still seemed to nod at his uniform. Unlike the Solar, High and even Common guard, the Lunar Guard was always seen with ambivalence. A joke of a branch, created to placate the princess. At least that’s what most others thought.

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Not sable though, no. Of course, he had thoughts too but he refused to let them intrude and ruminate. He was proud of where he was of what he had accomplished. It was why he couldn’t tolerate anyone standing in the way of him and his unit.

Walking through the doors of the sleeping pig, he was worried. Half of him expected to see the human there, getting drunk with the minotaur. But looking around, that did not seem to be the case. Thankfully.

“Morning, Sable!” Lyaeus called from behind the bar.

The sleeping pig was unusually busy that morning. The black wolf smiled; it was a good day for him. He held up a large and well-formed copper coin and sat down at the nearest empty seat. “Lyaeus! A glass of honey mead!”

The heavy elf took the larger copper coin and dropped a single much smaller, and rougher one down in its place.

The wolf grimaced. “I thought mead was 8 pence?”

“Afraid not, new shipment cost more. I think it might even be a full pound next month.” Lyaeus didn’t seem too concerned. Knowing his patrons would pay if they wanted it.

“Is that so, shame.” Sable took his first sip. Ignoring the off notes caused by a poor blooming season and missing spices, he declared it to be “Perfect.”

“Aye.” The fat elf smiled like he always did, “Surprised to see you here. Haven’t been in this past month!”

“Yeah, well. I didn’t like the company that was coming in. But, I had a feeling they wouldn’t be here.” The wolf laughed, but even for him, it felt forced. In truth, he knew he shouldn’t be talking about another Guard member like that, even less his, hopefully soon to be ex-subordinate.

“Oh, you mean the human. Yeah, he was here, really early too, right after I opened. Middle of his shift I would recon. Drank a bunch of Rockale. Had to cut him off about an hour ago.”

“Is that so?” Sable wanted to smile but couldn’t. The wine really was good he kept telling himself, but for some reason, only sour notes seemed to come through. His lips upturned as he almost forced himself to enjoy it. Because he did enjoy it. This was exactly what he wanted. Again, he told himself, pushing away any lingering doubts.

For a few minutes, he sat to himself, sipping and enjoying the less than sweet and alcoholic treat. A shadow pulled up next to him, almost invisible, until a stool, almost intentionally. Teuta sat down next to the captain.

Teuta took a sip of his own drink, a mead, not that different from the captains in the end. Perhaps a little less nuanced and spicy. Sable nodded to his second in command and continued to sip at his glass. The two sat in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes that seemed to last an entire morning.

The awkwardness was finally pierced by seemingly the least like of the two as Teuta spoke, “Captain, sir. If I may that seemed a little harsh tonight.”

Sable had no reaction, no emotion. For a moment, he considered not even responding. He wasn’t quite sure why he did, maybe he needed to be right or at least feel it, “Did it now?”

“I know Neal was, exceedingly late today, and it’s not even the first time. But to abandon him like that-” The dark elf was cut off by sable loudly dropping his glass to the bar top.

“Teuta, it was not just about him being late.” The wolf’s amber eyes glared into the dark eyes of his dark elf companion and he continued, “It’s everything he did. The lateness was just the last straw. I don’t care that the human wants to try and ‘run a marathon’, whatever that is. So long as he does it on his own time, and alone. But that’s not what he was doing. He convinced all of you to disregard my orders, and standing orders of the Guard. It damaged your scores, and I’ll have to answer for that when I submit my report. He wasn’t even present when I explained that too you this evening, was he?” Again, he picked up his glass an took a much larger sip then he expected. He’d need a refill soon.

Did he even want a second one?

“You sure it’s not because he a dark race?” Teuta’s words broke through something.

Sables’ eyes opened wide, taking a quick deep breath he prepared to yell, only to chew it back in the end. “You’re a dark elf, barely above the humans on the scale! Do I treat you any differently?” His words, though quiet, screamed in forceful sternness.

The dark elf looked down and shook his head. “No sir. You don’t.” Which was true. Teuta had never felt unwelcome or put off by the captain. His attitude always seemed fair and his orders well spread out. Though, there was always something lingering in the background of his words, the captain never seemed to let it effect his judgment. At least, not before the human.

“Then, that answers your question, doesn’t it guardsman?” Sable finished his wine.

Usually he’d only have one, but tonight was a good night he told himself. He should have another, he needed another, “Lyaeus! Can I get a second!”

For some reason, he felt like drinking a lot today. No matter how much he would claim otherwise, it was not to celebrate.