The docks of Ardmore bustled with islander sailors servicing the many ships visitng their ports. The sights and sounds were familiar, and a wistful smile graced Ash’s lips as he wondered how disappointed his childhood self would be. To think,a quest for knighthood would lead him to nostalgically enjoy the sound of dockworkers and the smell of the sea. Reflexively, he gave Khukri a gentle pet. In fairness, there were plenty of new things he enjoyed too.

Though the atmosphere felt similar, Ash was quick to console himself that Ardmore was plenty different from Eriskay. His home island was further west in the Firebloom Ocean, surrounded by cliffs that made only a single port accessible. Ardmore, on the other hand, was one of the closest islands to Isle Point, with a shipyard and three ports. Well, technically, two public ports and a private dock at the governor's mansion, but the point remained. Of the northern isles, Ardmore’s people were furthest from being ‘islanders’.

“Do we really need to drag her into this?” Ash asked, withdrawing his hand as they sauntered up the dock toward The Ambition.

“Miyoko is your property,” Khukri reminded him, dismissing the objection. “Your problems are her problems, and it’s her duty to help you solve them.” Then she sighed, glancing away. “Even if it’s a bad idea.”

Some part of him agreed; it wasn’t the safest option, but this book could be the key to understanding what he was and what he was supposed to do. Khukri agreed to go along with any stupid idea he had and protected him from the consequences without ridicule, so if ‘bad idea’ was the least of her criticisms, he’d take it.

“Okay,” Ash relented, gesturing for her to go on ahead. “Bring her to my quarters.”

“Yes, Master.”

After she left, Ash basked in the strange nostalgia. Perhaps he enjoyed the familiar sight so much precisely because he’d changed? In one season, the island docks transitioned from the boundary of his world to a place he chose to visit.

Satisfied, Ash boarded The Ambition and entered his cabin. For a heartbeat, his breath caught. Khukri had indeed brought Miyoko to his quarters as asked, then proceeded to strip the girl naked and leave her kneeling next to his bed. Beside her, Khukri knelt attentively, holding both their clothes in folded piles. Again, this felt like behaviour he should correct, but his softness had led to betrayal twice. Was it really wise to undermine the one girl actually willing to help him? With a resigned sigh, Ash sat on the bed.

“Miyoko,” Ash started, trying to project an aura of confidence. “In two days we’re going to attend a party at the governor's… er, governess’s mansion. Our goal is to snag a library card, and I need your help.”

“Of course, Master,” Miyoko said, lowering her head.

Another moment of silence passed as Ash glanced at Khukri with a small smile. This was going far smoother than he’d expected. “Obviously, we shouldn’t put Sean in danger, so I’m setting aside money for a small crew to sail The Ambition back to Isle Point if the worst happens.”

One of Miyoko’s ears twitched up, followed by a confused eyebrow. “How wrong, exactly, could asking for a library card go?”

“He never said we were asking,” Khukri clarified.

“What?” Miyoko asked, eyes widening as they snapped back to Ash.

Ah, that explained the attitude. Ash shrugged sheepishly. “I understand stealing isn’t exactly the most knightly of behaviours. In my defence, Governess Robyn stole... everything from Governor Ruari, like, three months ago. So, I’m thinking, morally speaking, it’s at least in some kind of grey area.”

Miyoko blinked, jaw opening slightly. “You’re breaking into The Governess’s mansion… to steal her library card?”

Khukri let out a low growl.

With a frustrated sigh, Miyoko turned an irritated glare on Khukri. “I keep telling you, I’m not a dog! I don’t know what that means!”

Strange, that signal came across crystal clear to him. “She’s annoyed you didn’t include yourself,” he explained. “We're breaking into The Governess’s mansion, together, to... recover Governor Ruari’s library card. If he’s alive, we’ll give it back.”

The rabbit’s mouth hung open. “Okay, one, bullshit. You’re guessing what’s bothering her and using that to interpret a meaningless noise. And two, how could you possibly know where the old governor’s library card is?”

“The islands have always been a bit... territorial,” Ash explained. “Apparently, our first meeting with mainlanders was in the middle of a war between The Crown and the Othelan Republic, and both of them thought our islands were enemy naval bases. Anyway, in order to help Ruari fit in with the islanders, he commissioned a custom boat that was a mix between the islanders’ catamarans and a Tythic sloop.”

The rabbit watched him intently, leaning forward. “Uh huh, and twenty years later... the library card... ”

“It’s on the boat.” Ash sat back, glaring. “In a secret compartment under the bed.”

“We sailed by the mansion’s docks,” Khukri reluctantly admitted. “The boat’s still there.”

“We know Ruari didn’t take the card, because if he got to the boat after the coup, he would’ve used it to escape,” Ash reasoned. “And we know Governess Robyn didn’t take it, because she wouldn’t have known about the hidden compartments.”

“You still didn’t... hold on-” Miyoko twitched, then looked him in the eye. “Why would a man being hunted take a ship custom built to identify him, instead of literally any other ship?”

Khukri turned her head slightly, growling again. This one was a warning for Miyoko to watch her attitude. “Khukri, stop it.” Ash chided, “That’s a reasonable question.”

Once Khukri settled, Ash’s attention returned to Miyoko. “I cannot stress to you how awesome this ship is. Rian, one of the carpenters who worked on the project, had his family send in designer timber from the mainland. The stuff rejected for minor defects was enough to build an aibax barn and a two bedroom home. They even shipped in Othelan tech, and the Crown labeled it a class one weapons violation to use without a degree in sailing.” He paused, giving her a moment to soak that in. “If he got to it first, he wouldn’t have been caught.”

Miyoko’s jaw dropped. “Oh my god, you’re an idiot...”

The wolf whipped around, arm raised to deliver a strike he’d seen dozens of times, issuing a snarl not of displeasure, but intent.

Ash slipped between the two, easily knocking the startled wolf’s blow aside. Khukri’s eyes went wild with fury as her lips pulled back and her snarl turned vicious. A challenge. Khukri loved him, and she didn’t mean to get so worked up. She was a good girl, but he knew what happened when she lost control. He swallowed, flashes of Via’s mutilated corpse crossing his memory as the taste of blood filled his mouth. "Bad girl!" He cracked the side of her face with a backhand that knocked her off-balance for a moment… but only a moment.

Khukri breathed heavily, eyes flaring as her entire body trembled. “I’m sorry…” she said, gently touching her cheek. “I’m sorry! I- I didn’t mean to be bad! I- I- I… You don’t need to—”

By now, Ash was familiar with just about every expression his love could make, from adorable to terrifying. This look, however, he’d only seen once, right after he’d fought her old pack and forced her to decide if her next target was Via, or Ash himself. Khukri tucked her tail between her legs and fell to her knees, trembling hands on the floor. As badly as guilt twisted in his gut, people’s lives depended on de-escalating the situation.

“Khukri! Cage! Now!” he yelled, pointing to the cabin door. She was a good girl, deep down, she really was. She just needed help. Those instincts, those decades of mistreatment and violence, weren’t going to vanish just because he loved her.

The poor girl flinched, but scrambled to her feet and rushed out the door.

“She’s not…” Ash started, then looked down. His hand still stung from the strike. “I’m not…” unfortunately, the longer he stared, the harder it was to speak.

It was Miyoko, shifting uncomfortably on her knees, who finally broke the silence. “Can I… sit on the bed? Maybe cover myself?” After receiving a nod, she found a comfortable spot and pulled the thin blanket around her torso. “Thanks… uh, Master. Sorry I called you an idiot.”

“It’s okay.” Right, there was a problem to solve, and his dad always said to handle one at a time. Khukri would be fine. He’d give her a couple hours to cool off, then smooth things out. He’d taken worse hits while sparring, and if she needed to let off steam she could take it out on him in training. “I get that my knowledge is a bit... lacking. That’s why I need your help.”

“I’m a sex slave,” Miyoko reminded him, crossing her arms to secure the blanket. “Stealing from Tythic royalty isn’t exactly what you bought me for.”

Ash’s response was firm. “Khukri says you can… and I trust her,” he sighed, sitting on the bed, battling discomfort as he looked into her eyes. Regardless of reason or status, he’d put these girls at his mercy, and the least they deserved was to be seen. “Can you give me three years?”

“What?”

“Three years,” Ash repeated. “You don’t want to be my slave? Yeah, I get it. I wouldn’t want to be my slave either, but right now, I need you.” This was more to make himself feel better, he knew, but he couldn’t imagine Miyoko would complain. “End of hunting season, three years from now. I’ll sign your papers, put you wherever you want, and hand you ten thousand florins to start a new life. Can you give me three years?”

A small snort came from the girl as she raised an eyebrow. “So, I be your good little toy, and in three years, when I still have no leverage, you’ll just… let me go?”

He gave a solemn nod. “You have my word.”

Miyoko rolled her eyes and shook her head with a soft sigh. “I mean, why ask? If I planned on escaping, I’d just pretend I believed you.”

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“Khukri’s a good… person, but she needs practice interacting with people who aren’t me.” Ash said, releasing tension he’d been holding since his knuckles connected with Khukri’s face. “I’m honour-bound to protect you, but I’m not muzzling my girlfriend. People treating her like she’s crazy is what made her this way.”

There was a long pause before Miyoko shrugged and offered a hand. “Honour-bound huh? Alright, three years.” After he accepted the handshake, she smirked. “You know, ten grand plus my sale price comes to about seventy thousand a year, the salary for those high-class whores the executives keep on retainer.”

Ash winced. “I didn’t mean to imply—”

Another, louder snort filled the cabin. “Are you seriously worried your sex slave might think you’re calling her a whore?” Miyoko broke down into a fit of chuckles so infectious Ash couldn’t help but smile. Miyoko threw the sheet aside and slipped a hand between her legs, teasing her lips with a seductive smile. “Okay, Master… You wanna try out your obedient little bunny toy?”

“Miyoko… focus,” Ash chided. “We’re going to a royal party in two days and I don’t have anything to wear.”

Her eyes barely moved as her legs slid back together. “What?”

“I don’t have a fancy dress… look,” Ash lifted his shirt, revealing his lumpy sailor chest. “I look ridiculous! They don’t even make ones that fit me!”

Miyoko let out a long sigh, eyes suddenly very focused as they took him in. “Oh hell, you need a trim, too. How am I supposed to groom you? Khukri doesn’t even let me near the cutlery! She’s going to be up my ass the entire time… can you do your own makeup?”

Ash let his shirt flop back over his chest, then silently motioned to his face.

“Fuck.” Miyoko hopped off the bed and grabbed her pants. “Sean! Get your shit! We have a job!”

* * *

A cool breeze rolled over Ardmore, rustling the palm leaves and tall bushes surrounding the governess’s mansion. A brilliant half moon accompanied the stars, slicing through the thin blanket of clouds above as Ash and his two slaves made their way down the dirt road.

Islanders watched from thatch roof huts with disdain as he passed, briefly visible in the flickering light from torches along the road. Those stares stopped once they passed the iron gates at the governess’s perimeter, replaced by the curiosity of halberd toting guards in leather armour and guests in garments of fine silk.

Together, his group made quite the impression. Considering what they were here to do, that wasn’t ideal, but there was no way he was getting into this party unnoticed. Miyoko wore a simple blue shirt and loose black pants, proudly flaunting a thin black case. It was fine enough garb for a servant, though amongst the hundreds of deer, her race still made her an oddity.

Khukri’s attire remained largely unchanged. Her scale armour was expensive enough to show he had money, and bringing a bodyguard alongside a personal attendant was reasonable for someone of status. Essentially, all she needed was a good polish.

The biggest change, and the most absurd, was Ash himself. He’d taken Via’s cloak and detached the hood to hide his marking behind a shimmering cape of black scales. The top, which Sean worked on up to the last minute, was nothing more than cotton sheets dotted with shiny stones, split into fabric strips that wrapped around him and left his midriff exposed. The lower half was an embroidered, layered dress that dipped low enough no one would see his wolven feet or Via’s footguards. Sean’s embroidery thread was a multitude of colours, depicting symbols that ‘looked tribal.’

Any islander could tell the symbols were meaningless nonsense, but as luck would have it, Governess Robyn hadn’t invited any islanders to point that out. There were a few whitetails present, but the vast majority, even of the serving staff, were caribou from down south.

As Miyoko predicted, Khukri was, in fact, not happy to have Ash immobilized while someone worked on his fur and makeup. She even drew her weapon when gemstone clips were connected to Ash’s ears. All in all, Ash commended their efforts, and could do little more than pray everyone at the party was too polite to point out his obvious faults.

Ash did his best not to cringe as they passed the ball’s attendees. Other men looked like they belonged at an event like this, with light dresses of silk and velvet that complimented their dainty figures and soft fur. The women looked harder, with vividly coloured suits occasionally accented with ornamental silver pins.

The snickering behind his back was kept to a minimum, and for once, Ash was happy he didn’t have Khukri’s amazing senses. The last thing he needed right now was the distracting hum of petty gossip deriding his appearance. He supposed his dress was perfect for him, a plain worker’s material like cotton pretending to be something it wasn’t.

Ash approached the guards at the door with a small bow. “Greetings, my ladies. I am Ashling of Eriskay, and I have come to pay tribute to our illustrious new governess.”

If the women found his appearance amusing, they kept it behind a veneer of professionalism. “Do you have an invitation?”

“I’m afraid the governess doesn’t know I exist, but I wanted to offer my tribute publicly, so my lady’s guests all know the great respect Eriskay has for her office. I represent the interests of the Direwood Syndicate, and I look forward to working with our noble hostess during the next hunting season. If the lady has no interest in seeing me, I will, of course, apologise and remove myself from her estate.”

Miyoko’s eyes widened in alarm as soon as he mentioned the Direwood Syndicate, but now that the act was underway, he didn’t have time to address whatever concerns she had.

The woman raised a suspicious eye. “You’re a member of the Direwood Syndicate? I don’t suppose you’d mind showing the governess your papers?”

With a courteous bow, Ash withdrew his leather folder from a bag beneath his cape and handed it over. After a few awkward minutes of waiting, the guard returned and handed the papers back. “The governess has agreed to meet… though I pray you watch your manners, Sir.”

With the door guards out of the way, Ash strode into the well-lit building. Most of it was constructed from wood, though the central ballroom was one of sanded stone, watched through windows by guests on the second floor. No expense had been spared to make the cavernous room as appealing as possible. Brightly dyed, multicolored carpets covered the underfoot stonework, and similar massive curtains draped from the ceiling above. Guests were everywhere, maintaining pleasant conversations while men in rather revealing outfits drifted past with glass carafes and refilled their cups. Along the walls, men in aprons wearing blacksmith’s gloves stood over flaming pits, cooking vegetables in pans of sizzling oil before transferring them to trays for the servers.

“What were you thinking?” Miyoko hissed in a tone that got her a reproachful glare from Khukri. “I know they probably don’t know what proper paperwork looks like, but what would you have done if they figured out those were forged?”

“Don’t be stupid,” Ash hissed back. “Those aren’t forged papers. I’m a member of the Direwood Syndicate.”

That answer only seemed to make the bunny’s whispers more frantic. “What? You could lose your company doing this!”

“Oh no,” Ash said with a smirk. “Not my company, anything but that.” He hesitated, then playfully nudged her with his elbow. “Relax. Everything’s going great. I figured we’d have a better chance getting in this way since members of the Direwood Syndicate helped fund the coup.”

Miyoko’s voice dropped to barely audible. “The Direwood Syndicate did what?”

Oh, that’s right. Ash was so used to being the one in the dark that he forgot, in some circles things obvious to him might be considered secrets. “Never mind,” he mumbled, waving her off as one of Robyn’s guards signalled him.

The Governess drank in the attention, wearing a gleaming steel breastplate and leather pants tucked into a set of heavy hoofguards. A red cape fluttered around the claymore on her back as she approached, then shifted as she stood straighter, looking down on Ash. Instinctively, he curled smaller beneath her gaze.

She smiled, extending a hand. “Hello there, Cutie. I’m Governess Robyn.”

“Greetings, Governess,” Ash said, gently squeezing the woman’s hand with both of his. “I am Ashling, of the Direwood Syndicate.”

Her hand fell as she gave a small scoff. “So I’ve heard. You’re interested in using my ports to bring the Othelan’s culture to our shores.”

“Pardon, M’lady,” Ash said, raising his head. “I’ve never been to Othelan myself, though I’ve met many from there in my time at the Direwood. I was concerned that our former queen wished to roll over and give the Direwood’s bounty to the dogs, so I’d hoped to change that.”

With a gesture, Ash summoned Miyoko forward and to a kneel, raising the case above her head. After unfastening the latches, he stepped back for Robyn. Inside, four long gleaming mist wraith claws lay in a field of cotton.

“A gift, M’lady. The mist wraith’s claws are strong, and hold a wicked edge longer than any steel.” According to Miyoko, this was all true, though Robyn likely wouldn’t know enough to catch him in a lie. “The wealthy Othelans favour turning them into shortswords, while the Azurite Samurai favour a longer haft to make a bladed polearm they call a naginata.”

Robyn raised an eyebrow at the claws, then grabbed the hilt of the massive sword on her back, scaring several attendees as she easily raised it aloft with a single hand. “Are those tiny blades really so useful for a dog or rabbit?” She spun the weapon, then set its point at Ash’s feet with a loud clack, holding it easily by the hilt next to Ash’s nose. “Why would a warrior like me need such a thing?”

A practiced, vacant smile graced Ash’s lips. “I grew up in the north, M’lady. I’ve never met a warrior like you. I only know the claws are pretty… and expensive. I’d hoped to offer a bauble as a trophy of your new position.”

A teasing smile graced Robyn’s lips as she slid the weapon onto her back once more. “I suppose a man of the north wouldn’t know much about a warrior’s needs.” She lowered into a small bow. “Your gift is appreciated.” As though on cue, one of her guards stepped forward to take the case. After it was gone, Miyoko stood and silently withdrew. “Still…” Robyn continued. “If the beasts of this Direwood of yours are so ferocious, is it truly a place for a man, given there’s only dogs to protect you?”

“Perhaps the dogs have no true warriors,” Ash said. “That’s why I bought myself a wolf.”

Robyn tilted her head, looking Khukri over for the first time. “This is her?”

“Khukri, here.” Ash snapped his fingers.

Khukri stepped up, obediently lowering her hood and muzzleguard to expose her head.

“Interesting…” Robyn mused, eyes freely roaming the wolf. “Can you get her to…”

Khukri’s lips pulled back, stopping Ash’s breath as she mimicked a snarl and exposed her teeth. The tension was short lived. With a chuckle, Robyn moved closer, examining the wicked points. “She’s done this before. Fascinating. Wolf? They say that before The Schism the world belonged to your people. Can you honestly say your warriors are so mighty when they let cats drive them to the point of extinction?”

“I am mighty,” Khukri said, standing straight. “I couldn’t tell you anything about the others. The dogs are too afraid to let us meet.”

Robyn’s chuckle built to a full laugh. “They would be, wouldn’t they? All their pride of being relatives to the once rulers of the Earth, and the filthy cowards flinch when it looks them in the eye.” The woman stepped back, turning her attention to Ash once more. “And yet, with all that power, she still obeys a man? I’ve heard wolves are notoriously hard to control.”

“The dogs have no true warriors to keep them in line.” Ash smiled derisively. “In the republic, the poor wolves have nothing to truly respect. Luckily, Khukri has plenty of examples.”

“She does now,” Robyn said, waving Khukri away. “Off with you, Wolf. Nothing will hurt your master while he’s under my protection.”

Ash followed Robyn to one of the open windows that overlooked the sea. “I have many guests to attend to, so I’m afraid I can’t spare you much time. I’ll admit, I’m not the biggest fan of your northern lands. It’s too hot, and the people are disrespectful, but I don’t think we’ll have any problems. Will we?”

“No, Ma’am,” Ash said, folding his ears and lowering his head.

A shiver of fear raced down Ash’s back as powerful fingers braced his chin, tilting it to see her smile. “Relax. Caribou aren’t as bad as you whitetails seem to think. All we need is the respect we deserve. I mean, you came with a gift, while these islanders dare demand tribute.”

Ash breathed a sigh of relief and offered a half-smile. “Please don’t judge the islanders too harshly. They’ve always worried Tythic will overstep its authority, and I imagine any ‘tribute’ is simply to show that you respect the autonomy they were promised.”

The woman’s fingers fell away as she lifted an eyebrow. “The islanders don’t believe they’re under my authority?”

“That’s not it,” Ash quickly corrected. “I’m certain the islanders see your rule over Tythic as legitimate, but The Crown gave very favorable terms to take their side in the war. They just want to be sure you’re not trying to take that away.”

“Well,” the woman said, smile returning. “I’ll certainly have to show them what I can do, won’t I?”

“As you say, M’lady,” Ash said with a bow.

“Indeed… as I’ve said. I have many guests. Farewell, islander.”

Ash grinned as the woman walked away. Even he was impressed by how expertly he’d nailed that. With a confident chuckle, he grabbed himself a drink and headed out the back door.