The Prisoner's Release and Other Stories (38 page)

“
I think so too.” Streak smiled as they got up and retrieved their clothes. “It was really nice, though.”

“
They certainly know how to treat nobility well here,” Volle said.

The wolf nodded. “I guess you’d know.”

“
Yeah.” Volle thought about the accommodations in the palace in Divalia, and sighed. “Best enjoy it while we can, I suppose.” He cast a wistful glance back at the sluices that carried the heated water down into the tubs. “Maybe we’ll take another bath tomorrow.”

Streak laughed as they climbed the stairs to the second floor. “Two water baths in two days? I never had two in a month before.”

“
Neither did I before I went to Ferrenis.”

“
You’re not a Lord? I thought since we were staying here...”

Volle laughed. “Canis, no.” He paused. “I suppose I should get used to calling on Fox again.”

“
Fox?” Streak’s ears flicked. “Oh, right. Seir said, the church here has twenty-two houses, not six. So we’re not in the same House, here?”

Volle paused. They had reached the second floor hallway, and he turned to look up at the wolf. “I hadn’t thought of that, but no. It doesn’t matter, though. We don’t separate the Houses at services here. They just all attend together. So we can still sit together.”

“
That’s good. And Gaiaday is…in three days, right? Seir said the week is different here.”

“
Just think of it as the way the week would be when a Felid is on the throne, in Tephos. Because it’s always cougars here.”

Streak paused and thought about that. “Oh, yeah…that makes sense.”

They disrobed and got into bed, and although Volle felt some stirrings of interest return as his damp rump pressed back into the wolf’s sheath, Streak just curled an arm over the fox and rested his muzzle in the crook of his neck, breathing steadily. Volle was tired enough not to press the issue; much like the other nights, he fell easily asleep.

The sun woke him gradually, and the smooth sheets and white ceiling pulled him back to Divalia for a few groggy moments. He’d dreamed often enough of being back in his Lord’s bed only to wake up naked in a cold stone prison, and that fear prickled his fur before he came fully enough awake to realize that the luxury was real.

The white wolf next to him was very real too, and still asleep. Volle ran a paw over the fluffy white chest and down the stomach, hesitating before moving back up. He kept pushing his fingers through the soft white chest fur until Streak blinked awake. He yawned and smiled. “Morning.”

“
Hi.” Volle kissed his ears.

The wolf reached around to hug him. “You have to go to the palace today.”

Volle slid a paw down the wolf’s back, pressed against him. “Probably not for a little while.”

Streak nuzzled him and smiled. “Hold that thought. I need to use the necessary. I’ll be right back.”

Volle watched as the wolf slid out of bed and into a pair of trousers, and disappeared out the door. He leaned back in bed and stared up at the ceiling.

“
You need to be up in the palace at noon,” Seir said from just inside the door, making Volle jump and almost fall out of bed.

“
I what? When did you come in?” He sat up, holding the sheet to his chest.

“
When your wolf left. What, you think I was here all night watching?”

He chuckled. “I know you weren’t. Noon? Do I have anything to wear?”

She tossed a pouch onto the chest of drawers. It clinked as it landed. “Go to the High Market and get yourself a nice outfit. You have about an hour and a half, then you’ll have to come back here and dress and a carriage will be waiting to take you up there.”

“
An hour and a half?”

“
There’s a fox from the Academy downstairs who will take you to the clothing stalls. You should have plenty of time. The High Market’s only ten minutes walk from here.”

“
All right. Thanks, Seir.” She smiled at him and started to leave. “Hey. I guess if they want me to dress up nice, I’m not going to be tossed back in prison.” The mouse rolled her eyes and walked out.

Volle chuckled, rolled out of bed, and pulled his clothes on. When Streak returned and tilted his muzzle at the fully dressed fox, he handed the wolf his shirt. “Come on,” he said. “We’re going shopping.”

The grey fox in the lobby introduced himself as Kevar, brushing muzzles with both of them before hurrying them out of the inn and onto the street. “I’m led to understand that neither of you have been to the High Market?”

“
Just once,” Volle said, and Streak looked at him in surprise. He smiled. “I couldn’t afford anything there, and I’m not a thief.”

“
Well,” Kevar said, “the market is most crowded in the morning, but that can’t be helped. Stay close to me. All the best clothing merchants in our price range are in the same area, so we will find you an outfit in no time.” He strode briskly up the street.

Streak had no trouble keeping up with him, but Volle fell behind, his legs still rather weak. Walking up a slope was particularly taxing, and several times the others had to stop and wait for him. “Sorry,” he apologized.

“
Don’t apologize,” Streak growled, looking at Kevar. “You were chained to a wall for six months. You can’t be expected to run up a hill.”

“
I didn’t know,” Kevar said, spreading his paws in apology and lowering his ears. “We can go slower. Let’s cut along this street. It’s level and it will take us parallel to the market. We’ll come up closer to the clothing merchants.”

“
Let’s stop here and rest,” Streak said. He pointed across the street to a bakery. “How about some of those cakes in the window?”

“
Honey cakes,” Volle said. “With spice.”

Kevar looked about to argue, and then just nodded. “All right. We’ve got time.” He took the coin Volle was holding out, and walked over to the bakery.

Volle smiled up at the wolf as he leaned against the wall. “Thanks.”

“
Well, I mean...you can’t walk that fast.” Streak appeared to be struggling with what to say. “Especially without
breakfast.”

Volle took his paw and held it loosely. “You don’t have to explain,” he said. “You’ll like these cakes. I don’t remember having them anywhere in Divalia.”

“
We had honey cakes, but there’s something different...” The white wolf lifted his nose as Kevar returned with the cakes.

“
Cloves,” Volle nodded. “I’ll have to find a place that does spiced lamb pie before we leave. That’s something I missed, too.”

“
I can show you my favorite place for lamb pie,” Kevar said as he handed out the cakes. “Once we’re done shopping.”

Volle bit into the cake, felt it crumble in his mouth, and savored the sweetness and spice. “Show Streak while I’m at the palace, if you’re able to stay that long,” he said. He watched with a smile as the white wolf bit into a cake, his muzzle curving into a smile as he chewed. When the fox took another bite, he savored it as if it were the first time he’d had them, feeling Streak’s enjoyment.

When they’d finished the cakes, they set off at a pace Volle could keep, walking along the street and turning up a gentler hill to the edge of the High Market. “The Low Market is down there,” Volle said to Streak, pointing down the hill to where they could now see bustling merchants, tented stalls, and smell the aroma of meats and fruits. “Mostly food and cheaper products, simpler clothing. High Market is finer goods. Closer to the palace.” His sentences were becoming clipped as he tried to save his breath; even on the gentler slope, he was winded again.

“
Want to wait for a moment?” Kevar said, though he was shifting his weight back and forth and his tail tip was flicking.

“
No. I’m okay.” Volle nodded to Streak, who was looking sternly down at him. “Really. Let’s go on. I’ll rest by the stall.”

Volle’s only visit to the High Market had been years and years ago. He’d forgotten the press of people through the narrow passageways between the stalls, and the jumbled array of smells assaulting him from all sides: the people around him as well as the wares from the stalls. He smelled freshly polished wood, glazed clay, and one particularly rank stall where small lizards scurried around in cages. He watched as a wolf dressed in velvet and dyed buckskin handed one cage to his delighted son, but whether as a pet or snack Volle never learned; they were gone from his sight a moment later as he hurried to keep up with Kevar, dodging cubs who snaked between him and his companions with giddy ease on their own private errands.

The fox led them to a walkway that was entirely festooned with clothing. Shirts, trousers, belts, caps, scarves, and anything else Volle might have wanted, as well as several things he didn’t, were hung from every available hook or line, a kaleidoscope of colors and smells, as each fabric carried its own natural scent and some had been pre-scented. The colors made him briefly dizzy until he steadied himself against Streak. The wolf grinned at him and said, “This is amazing!”

He almost had to shout to make himself heard over the rumble of customers haggling and merchants shouting their wares. Coins clinked from paw to paw in a light counterpoint, and under it all was the shuffle of paws across the stone of the plaza. Volle didn’t even try to speak in response, just nodded and smiled. He’d never done his own shopping, even in Divalia, and he was sure that Divalia didn’t have a market like this one.

Kevar, standing at one of the stalls, motioned them forward. “See anything you like?” Volle scanned the stall, looking over the shirts for something approximating his favorite outfit from Tephos. He spotted a nice yellow shirt and transferred the coins to his other paw so he could point it out to Kevar. A moment after the jingling pouch hit his fingers, a bobcat had appeared at the stall.

“
Good morning, my Lord,” he said solicitously. “Just back from a trip? I have just the thing for your coloration...such lovely red fur, really, it should be offset with a light brown. I happen to have just the thing back here. Brand new, you know, you’ll be the only one wearing it. So distinctive...”

Kevar flicked his ears deliberately. “The Baron knows what he wants,” he said. “Sir?”

Volle overcame his surprise at the mock title to indicate the shirt he had his eye on. “I think the yellow actually would suit me better.”

“
Oh, I do regret to inform you, sir, but that is not one of mine. I do have something in yellow, if you’ll allow me just a moment.” He disappeared, and Volle saw that the yellow shirt was indeed part of another display, smaller than the bobcat’s. A grey fox stood below the shirt, engaged in conversation with a weasel.

“
Sir, if you will...” Volle turned to see the bobcat holding up a yellow shirt, but he didn’t like the lines on it. The one in the fox’s stall had a brown diamond pattern trim and was a brighter yellow. He shook his head.

“
Thank you, but I like that one a little better.” He started to move away, and the bobcat reached for his arm.

“
Sir, may I just point out the craftsmanship in this shirt? It is the finest in all of Ferrenis. Look at the stitching here. The material is provided by Diggin and Melchoit. The buttons are inlaid with mother-of-pearl…”

Kevar tugged Volle away. “The Baron does not have time for this,” he told the bobcat, who looked momentarily annoyed before moving to another customer.

“
Hope you don’t mind me taking the liberty of giving you a title,” Kevar said. “They’ll take you more seriously, and you do carry yourself like a noble.”

“
I wish you could give me a real one,” Volle said, smiling at the merchant as they approached his booth. “Could I see that one?” He pointed up at the yellow shirt.

“
Lovely choice.” The grey fox’s voice rasped hoarsely. “One of my new designs. It suits you admirably.” He took it down and presented it.

Volle fingered the fabric, and offered it to Kevar. The student felt the material and nodded his approval. “Perfect,” Volle said.

“
Five silver, sir,” the grey fox said, taking the shirt back and folding it carefully. “Can I provide anything else?”

“
Trousers,” Kevar said.

“
And, I think, a scarf,” Volle said.

“
You’ll want to visit Tamar for trousers. We coordinate, and he has a nice brown pair with yellow trim that will set off this shirt beautifully. I would recommend a light orange scarf.”

“
Thank you,” Volle said, counting out coins to pay the fox.

“
And if you’re asked about the shirt,” the fox said with a smile, “tell them you got it from Mikka in the High Market.”

“
I will,” Volle said.

“
Baron,” the bobcat from the other stall called, “let my son take you. He knows where Tamar is.” A little bobcat kit sprang up to them eagerly, whiskers twitching.

“
Thank you,” Kevar said, “but I’m familiar with the Market.” Only then, glancing back at the booth, did Volle notice that Mikka’s ears had laid back. They came up again at Kevar’s words.

The kit grabbed Kevar’s arm anyway and said, “This way, this way!”

The grey fox removed the kit’s paw firmly and said, “We know the way, thank you.”

“
Come this way, come this way!” Now there was another kit, a skunk, joining the bobcat. Volle wasn’t quite sure what to do, but fortunately, Kevar did.