Feyrahl, FurAffinity Edition
Not Without Recourse, Ch 2.3
Silas led the way, as the three of them rode away from the palace onto what the Fox had called 'the southern road. Cecil kept his Heglis near Kenzie's, constantly scanning the surrounding area, even as he continued to monitor her as well. Despite how cautious and observant he was, Kenzie couldn't help but think that he somehow felt more at ease. After they'd traveled for a handful of minutes, she went as far as to call him out on it. "You really don't like being cooped up in the castle, do you, Cecil?"
The Ferret's ears swiveled toward her even as he kept his focus on their surroundings. "I did not grow up among the nobility. While I am grateful for the role the Emperor bestowed upon me, I feel out of place there."
She remained quiet long enough that he looked to her, at which point she offered him a warm smile. "In that case, I'm glad that we got a chance to get you out of the castle for a little while."
Cecil quickly looked away and Kenzie was sure she saw the furless sections of the insides of his ears redden slightly. He wriggled his nose, whiskers twitching and he reached up to rub the back of his neck. Looking back to her he stated "I go where you go, Mistre--" he froze at the faintest furrow of her brow, and he corrected himself. "Ah... MacKenzie."
Although she much more preferred to be called 'Kenzie', the Human woman was willing to accept her little victories; she had faith that he'd get there at some point. Smoothly changing the topic, Kenzie hoped he would relax a little. "So, Cecil... do you spend much time out in the wilds like this?"
The Ferret cleared his throat, speaking toward her over his shoulder as he continued to watch the landscape; she presumed he was looking for potential threats. "Honestly? Rarely. My work keeps me busy in the castle and occasionally running errands as needed for the Emperor in the city."
She was only half surprised to hear that. "And what about during your time off?"
A flick from the Ferret's tail and the way the fur on it puffed out, suggested that the topic of discussion went to a sore spot. He was quiet long enough that she was about to presume that, as a sworn servant to the family, he didn't GET any time off? Just as she was about to settle on that thought, he finally spoke. "I... ah... have other obligations to tend to when I am not on duty."
That admission concerned her. "But... you've been guarding me around the clock... for weeks. When was the last time you--?"
He interjected smoothly in a way that made her realize, he was trying to absolve her of her concern over the amount of time he spent with her. "I was last relieved three days before you arrived."
It didn't help her sense of fault. "You've worked straight through ever since I got here? Is that NORMAL?"
Cecil glanced back to her, blinked once, and offer a succinct singular nod. "I do as I am directed by the Emperor's house. It is my role, and I serve faithfully."
Kenzie didn't have a simple answer with which to reply, but her mind was awash with numerous arguments as to why the Ferret shouldn't have had to have worked a 20-ish day work week without time off. In the end, she reasoned the obvious one: there are no worker's rights movements in Feyrahl and those in charge felt no reason to offer up a five day work week. Sighing, she ruminated over her frustrations about Cecil being overworked for a short time, before a new thought came to mind. "Cecil... you're assigned to me as my bodyguard, which means you join me wherever I go... right?"
The Ferret looked to her and offered another simple inclination of his head. "Yes, MacKenzie. The Emperor has decided that my assigned duty is to keep you safe, and that is what I shall do."
She began connecting the dots. "So... if I were to go into town, you'd go with me?"
Cecil flicked one of his circular ears. "Correct. I am out here with you heading into the forest, and that is much further from the palace than the city surrounding it."
Kenzie committed herself to seeing if she found a workaround. "So... if I wanted to go run errands or whatever in town, you'd come with me."
The Ferret moved his Heglis nearer to hers as he looked at her with an appraising stare. "Define 'whatever', please."
At first she wondered if it was a translation issue in his magic, until she noticed the faint twitch to his whiskers; she'd learned in the time they'd been together that it was a sign that he was reading into something she'd said-- usually correctly. Dropping all pretenses, she came clean. "If I spend my time in town you could come with. I might have some errands and you'd be with me for those... but, if YOU have errands, there aren't any rules suggesting that I couldn't go where YOU need to go, since we'd both be together and you could protect me, and do whatever you needed to do at the same time."
Cecil's scowl was half-hearted-- it didn't reach his eyes, which gleamed faintly in what could have been... humor? The Ferret opened his muzzle to respond, but a call from Silas cut him off. "Ah! The turn off to the forest is up ahead. We are making good time... presuming the two of you would care to speed up marginally?"
Clearing his throat, Kenzie's bodyguard motioned with his head to the Ranger. "After you... I will maintain vigil from behind. Ranger Silas will do a fine job of detecting any potential threats from the front."
Waiting until her back was to him so she could roll her eyes, Kenzie urged her Heglis forward, maintaining a faster pace until she pulled up evenly with their guide. "What did the Emperor tell you about my plans today?"
Silas maintained his forward focus, one ear turning to regard her as he responded without even rotating his head in her direction. "Nothing."
The simple dismissal of any and all knowledge on his part disrupted Kenzie's prepared statement. She tried again. "But... he told you that I'd be accompanying you... right?"
The Fox remained completely unreadable, keeping his reply equally as unhelpful. "No. Commander Victor did."
Sighing, Kenzie tried again, wondering if the Fox was actually getting a rise out of making her work for the information. "Then what did the COMMANDER tell you about me joining you today exactly?"
The faintest flicker at the end of Silas' tail almost looked like a wag; she was a little more certain that he was enjoying getting a rise out of her. "He said that you wanted to learn more about the animals of Feyrahl, and that you believed having this opportunity would aid in your studies as a healer."
Kenzie nodded, thankful that the information was successfully relayed. "Good. Thank you. I'm glad that you agreed to be our guide."
The faintest hint of a smirk appeared on the Fox's muzzle. "I had no choice in the matter, Kenzie. It was an order."
The Human woman paused indignantly, until she realized something. "You... called me Kenzie."
He flicked an ear, his smirk remaining. "I hadn't noticed."
There was something undeniably charming about the Fox but it often felt like he was actively trying to be difficult. Pushing past that, Kenzie tried again. "Well, be that as it may, I'm glad that you're here with us. I am hoping that understanding the animals of Feyrahl better will improve my ability to help."
One of Silas' eyebrows raised, as did both of his ears. His tail flicked. "I hardly think that will be the case. Few healers I know can bring back the dead, and I witnessed your art with my own eyes when you brought the Commander back. How you can improve on that, I would be unable to surmise."
Kenzie was about to try and explain that she hadn't actually worked a miracle to revive Victor but the Fox brought his mount to a halt the very next moment. Instead of explaining, she switched to a question instead. "What is it?"
Cecil, who had pulled his own mount up to the other side of Kenzie had his nose up in the air. Both of her companions answered at the same time. "Blood."
It was Silas who clarified. "Not a Feyrahlian... a Meilis, or perhaps a Raclis."
Kenzie understood that the words didn't translate which, at that point she realized meant only one thing. "Feyrahl animals?"
Rather than answer, the Fox shoved the reins of his steed into her hands. "Stay here."
Before she could raise an objection, he slid off of his Heglis and, without making a sound, stalked off into the undergrowth. She saw one of his paws making arcane gestures and, as she observed, he reached out and it looked like he folded reality over himself like a child jumping under a blanket... and he was gone.
On the other side of her Cecil spoke quietly. "He knows these forest better than any other. There is likely a wounded beast out there and injured wild animals can be more dangerous than otherwise."
A number of thoughts entered Kenzie's mind at those words and numerous scenarios began to manifest among those thoughts, but her brain didn't have to wait that long to imagine, as Silas reappeared, a bow in one hand, arrow knocked, but the string was not drawn. "Well, Kenzie, it appears you'll have a chance to practice your knowledge after all. Poachers have been hard at work. Unfortunate for the poor creature, but fortunate for me; I wish to see you practice your craft again."
Kenzie wasn't sure why such a casual statement, suggesting disregard for an animal's welfare, made her smile, but it did. The Fox was apparently just frustrating like that.
Silas on the other hand does love to tease...
Silas does seem to have a perchance for idle ribbing-- hopefully it is harmless and without malicious intent.
The idea isn't all that bad, she can get to know the surrounding city better and help Cecil do some of the things he probably needs to do. Would bringing Kenzie where he wants to go be a good idea? Not so much for the danger but, again, due to courtly gossip. An invitee of the Emperor hanging wherever the Blackguard wanted to go? They better be careful if they think of going with that plan. It's not a bad idea and we might learn a little more about Cecil with this.
All in all, I'd like to think that the days that Cecil has spent with Kenzie have been good for the most part, and maybe even an improvement to other duties that he might've had earlier. The guest seems interested in him in a genuine way.
And, Kenzie, please, the Fox is no "frustrating" like that, he is interesting like that! He's sly, I'm sure there is a lot she could learn with him in general, even beyond his ranger job.
She definitely gets along better with her bodyguard. lol