Volle (2 page)

“…the team already in place. Seir, you know Tella and Sherr already. There’s also a rat who’s coming home, name of Jenner. Reese, you’re his replacement. Derrik is coming home as well—he’s our expert on the palace, so he’ll stay for the first few weeks while you get settled, Volle. Don’t be seen with him, though. We think he may be compromised. They won’t do anything about him as long as he stays away from the palace, but if you were seen with him it would end the operation. There are a couple safe places to meet; make sure you stick to them.

“Clothing will be handled by Madame Ferich here. You will bring nothing Ferrenian with you. Volle, that includes that pendant you wear.”

“This?” Volle’s paw went to his throat. “My mother…”

“We’ll keep it safe.” Madame Ferich spoke for the first time. “In Tephos, you might be asked to explain it.”

“The less you have to explain, the better.” Duke Avery growled. “I cannot overstate the importance of this mission. Our last contact in the Tephos palace was exposed six months ago and had only been a servant. She didn’t learn anything useful, but the rumors she brought back indicate that there is a very serious threat against our country in the works. This is not a training exercise or a child’s game. If you are caught you may delay our response to their plans and cause irreparable harm to your country.”

“And you might be killed,” Madame Ferich added.

“Yes, that too.” The Duke waved a paw dismissively. “Any other questions, any of you?”

Seir spoke up. “How much am I taking back for our funding?”

“See the Exchequer for that. He’ll give you a couple hundred gold pieces. That should be enough to last you through the year.” When nobody else spoke up, the wolf turned to the Prince. “Your Highness, is there anything you would like to add or ask?”

The Prince stood, and smiled. “Good luck to all of you. You are performing an inestimable service to my family and to the country.”

Volle stood and bowed in return, as the others did. Was it his imagination, or did the prince’s gaze linger on him, and his smile widen slightly? He must be imagining. The prince wouldn’t be flirting in a meeting like this. Just the thought aroused him further, so he was quite glad when the Prince left the room, even though the arousal didn’t follow immediately.

“All right, then. You leave tomorrow morning at first light. The carriage will take you from the back of the castle. As his Highness said, good luck.” The Duke grasped each of their paws as they walked out the door, shaking it firmly, but when he took Volle’s, he held it tightly and didn’t let go.

“If you screw this up,” he whispered close to Volle’s ear, “I will personally shove your tail so far up your ass you will be coughing up fur. And then I’ll bite your balls off.” He showed his imposing fangs in a mirthless grin. “And don’t think I don’t mean it.” He drew his muzzle back.

“Yes, sir.” Volle would be annoyed later, but at the moment the Duke really looked as though he’d like nothing better than a mouthful of fox, and not in the way Volle usually liked to think of it. He flattened his ears back and slipped his paw out of the wolf’s viselike grip.

Outside the room, Madame Ferich took his paw and smiled up at him. “Do not worry,” she said softly. “You are smart and capable. You will do fine. Just try to keep him inside some of the time, okay?” She inclined her muzzle towards Volle’s sheath.

“I will, Madame,” he said, though he was still too apprehensive to return her smile, and lowered his muzzle to touch his nose to hers.

“I’ll bring your clothes by later,” she said. “Go on and learn your history now.”

Seir had taken all his papers, so Volle followed her down the stairs, with Reese close behind. They remained quiet all the way back to the room Volle and Reese shared, where Seir closed the door behind them and sat on Volle’s bed.

“That went better than I expected,” Volle said, more lightly than he felt.

Reese chuckled, but Seir gave him a severe look. “This isn’t going to be easy, Volle. You have a lot to learn and remember.”

“I can manage it, Seir. Let me see that stuff.” He took the papers from her and shuffled through them. “Wow. There is a lot. But I know a lot of this already. History of Tephos, geography…”

“We’ll have time,” Seir said. “We wouldn’t be leaving now if I weren’t confident that you could do it. Or at least, pretty confident. We’ll have a good team there backing us up. Reese, you’ve got some stuff to learn too. Maps of the city and the palace, important locations, and drop points.”

“I’ve got most of the maps already. I’ll look at the rest of the stuff on the trip.”

“Right.” Seir nodded approvingly. “Now pack up and get some sleep, you two. We leave at first light.”

Chapter 2

Volle found it hard to get to sleep. He tossed and turned, while Reese lay silent in the other bed. Finally he lay back on his back and closed his eyes, hoping that would do it.

A familiar scent wafted to his nose. He blinked, and opened his eyes. Prince Gennic stood over him, wearing a robe tied around his waist.

Volle tried to sit up, but the prince shook his head and put a finger to his muzzle, smiling. “I would not normally intrude,” he whispered, “but I felt I had to say goodbye to such a handsome fox personally.” He untied the robe and shrugged it off his shoulders, revealing nothing but his clean, sleek fur underneath.

Volle stared at the prince’s stocky form. He could see the rippling of muscle under the tawny fur of the prince’s arms, and the slow rise and fall of his broad chest and slender stomach, bright white in the moonlight.

“Let’s see how you greet your prince,” the cougar purred, sliding the sheets slowly down. Volle, helpless to resist, watched as the prince uncovered his nakedness.

“Excellent. I like that in a subject.” The prince smiled at him and rested a broad paw on the fox’s sheath. Volle moaned with the sensations. “I think this will be quite enjoyable.”

Then the prince was astride him, powerful legs squeezing his sides. The moonlight lit his stomach and stiff length, but his muzzle was hidden in shadow. “Now,” he breathed softly, “let us enjoy the night.”

He moved his hips and Volle moaned again, resting his paw on the prince’s legs. The prince leaned over and held his shoulder with one paw. Heat radiated from his paw pads.

“Volle.” He heard Reese’s voice from the other bed.

The prince’s rear was warm too. Volle squeezed the thickly muscled leg with his paw and moaned, “Not now, Reese.”

“Volle.” Reese’s voice was more insistent. The prince was gripping his shoulder tightly, shaking him as he moved back and forth.

“No,” Volle moaned, and slowly became aware that he was sitting back in the corner of the carriage. Reese was leaning over him, shaking him by the shoulder.

“Volle, you’re dreaming. Wake up.”

Volle opened his eyes. Sunlight, streaming into the carriage, explained the warmth on his shoulder and lap. He looked at Seir, who wore a familiar smirk, and Reese, who was just grinning. “Dammit,” he muttered, “why couldn’t you just let me sleep?”

“Your moaning was getting annoying,” Reese said, and sat back down. He glanced at Volle’s trousers. “You know, it’s going to be another week or so on the road. If you keep having these dreams, you’re going to pay for your own room at the inns.”

Volle sat up and yawned. “If you’d get over your thing with girls, maybe we could share my dreams as well as a room.” He winked at the hare.

“Ha. Dream on. Anyway, you’re not my type. I prefer someone who can think about something other than sex once in a while.”

“I’m not thinking about it now.” Reese looked steadily at Volle until the fox grinned. “Okay, I’m lying, I was.” He enjoyed the byplay with the hare, even though Reese thought his sex drive was dangerous and self-indulgent. Volle had never been able to make him see that it wasn’t just the physical that he was after. So he played the game with Reese and tried not to make too big a deal out of his sex life.

Reese rolled his eyes, and Seir chuckled softly. “Here, read some of your papers. That’ll take your mind off sex.” She handed over a few of the sheets.

“More studying? I thought I was done with that.” Volle groaned, but good-naturedly, and he took the sheets.

The carriage was still moving smoothly over the road, so Volle had little trouble reading the papers. They detailed the Vinton family holdings, a small estate in a mountainous valley. It was one of the three smallest holdings in the country (“size isn’t everything,” Reese remarked when Volle told him), and produced mainly wheat and other grains. Because it was small and remote, the passing of the Vinton family line had been of little consequence. The castle was inhabited by the Governor, who took the place of the lord in matters of internal law, economic trade, and political dealings with the capital.

The last of the Vintons had been killed some twenty years ago in a battle. They were red foxes, of course, one of twelve noble fox families in Tephos—but one of only two to hold land and a title. Geri Vinton had been granted the estate by King Telas IV as a reward for valiant service over a lifetime in three different wars. His descendants had held the valley for a hundred and fifty years, against Ferrenians and raiders.

The battle in which the last Vinton had died had been with the neighboring Ferrenian barony. The conflict was not sanctioned by either Tephos or Ferrenis; it was a private matter between the principalities. Volle found only vague references to the origin—some woman, or child, or perhaps herd of cattle, had been stolen from one side to the other, and it sounded as though it were part of a cycle of ever-increasing thefts and raids that inevitably ended in a pitched battle every ten or fifteen years.

He skimmed the geography of the valley—it was really very simple—and then got distracted watching the Kell Lake in the sinking sun’s light, which streaked it with fire and made the red mountains beyond it glow. For the first time, it occurred to him to wonder when he would ever see them again.

They stopped soon after, and he was able to watch the sun set from their window at the pub. While he nursed one tankard of ale, Reese drained three of mead, and was soon in quite a jolly mood. Seir retired early for bed after their meal, and Volle considered joining her, but he wasn’t quite tired enough. Automatically, he’d been scanning the bar for cute young males, before he remembered that he’d be sharing a room with Reese and Seir.

Reese noticed, of course. “Say, that badger over there looks lonely. Maybe you should buy him a drink.” The badger was old and grizzled, and had twice yelled at the ferret who’d brought him his dinner.

“Looks more your type,” Volle said, but Reese ignored him.

“Hey, that wolf’s making eyes at you.” He leaned across the table. “No, really. Look!”

Volle couldn’t help glancing at the wolf, who was a farmer of some sort. His brown fur was pretty enough, and he had some nice muscles on him. He also had a mate at his table, a plain but pleasant-looking bitch who ate in silence.

“I know you like wolves. Maybe his wife would want to watch.” Reese was swaying a little bit, and Volle chuckled finally. He hadn’t realized it until now, but when they went on the job, Reese wouldn’t be able to get drunk any more. Volle himself liked the odd glass of ale or mead, but rarely to excess. He always held out hope that the evening would end in more pleasant circumstances than a drunken stupor.

“Maybe so. Or maybe you could keep her entertained.”

Again, Reese ignored him. “I can just see you goin’ at it with him.” He made a crude pantomime that involved his muzzle and tongue.

Volle grinned, and then noticed that the wolf and his mate
were
looking at them. “Hey, Reese, cut it out.”

“What? Can’t take a little fun? You don’ usually mind attention. Hi!” He waved to the wolf, pointed at Volle, and made a kissy-face, then started licking the air with his tongue. The wolf frowned, and turned back to his mate.

“Reese!” Volle was torn between laughter and anger.

“Come on, tell me you weren’t thinking about it, you horny fox.”

“Not with
him
!” Volle kept his voice low. “I have some standards.”

Reese laughed. “First I’ve heard of that. Remember th-the mangy coyote in the bar at the academy?”

“Reese.” Volle glared at him.

“He wasn’t even a student!”

“All right, finish your mead. I’m going to go to bed.” Volle stood up and stretched, suddenly tired of the conversation. Reese usually didn’t bring up the coyote any more, but he’d obviously had a bit too much to drink. That had been before Volle had learned discretion, one of his first liaisons at the Academy. He still held fond memories of the coyote (though it was true he’d gotten fleas from him), but he’d long since given up trying to explain that to Reese.

“I’m gonna h-have another one.” Reese tried signaling to one of the ferrets, but they were all busy.

Volle watched them scurrying about with drinks, and had an idea. “I’ll send one over with your drink. Don’t fall asleep here.”

“Hey, I can h-handle my mead.”

“I know you can.” He left Reese at the table and intercepted one of the ferrets.

“Hi. My friend would like another tankard of mead.”

“Sure. I’ll get to it in a second.” She had stopped only long enough to get drinks at the bar, and was about to scurry off again.

“Here.” He put a silver piece on her tray. “This is for you and the other barmaids if you’ll do me a little favor.”

She stopped cold, and glanced at the silver piece, then up at Volle. “What? We don’t sleep with the customers.”

He shook his head. “I don’t want that. Just want you to flirt with him and tease him. Get him all worked up.”

Her eyes sparkled, but she raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Oh, I just want to have some fun with him. He’s drunk and he’s been annoying all night.”

She gave him a sultry wink and dropped her voice. “Oh, sir, we’d have done it for free. But we’ll put a little extra into it, to give you your money’s worth.”

“Thanks.” He admired her sultry curves and the sleek sheen of her fur, and the grace with which she threaded her way through the tables, balancing the tankards. But her scent didn’t arouse him at all, and the thought of taking her in his arms stirred no reaction in his sheath. The way Fox made me, he thought, and walked up the stairs and down the hall to their bedroom.

Seir was in bed, but not quite asleep; she turned over as he came in. “Huh. I would’ve expected Reese to be the first one back.”

“He’s still drinking.” Volle stripped his tunic and trousers off, stretched, and crawled into his bed. It was stuffed with hay and lumpy, but not completely uncomfortable. He sighed, and pressed his muzzle into the rough fabric.

“Yes. I hope that’s not a problem as well.” Seir’s tone was more thoughtful than worried.

“I know we’re young, but we’re not stupid.” Volle turned over. It wasn’t enough that he was leaving his home behind for who knows how long, and he was going to bed alone, but Seir had to pick on him all day? Or pick on Reese, which amounted to nearly the same thing: they were too young and undisciplined to succeed as spies, they couldn’t control their desires, they would screw up everything. Yeah, they’d gotten into trouble at the Academy, but that was all small stuff—late for classes or missing at bed check. Well, except for that report he’d lost. And the time Reese had shown up drunk to an inspection.

Seir said his name gently, then again more insistently. He turned over and looked at her.

“If we had serious doubts about you two, you wouldn’t be going. Fox or no fox. I just worry about everything. That’s my job. So get some sleep, okay? Don’t want you dozing off and moaning in the carriage again.”

She was smiling, so Volle smiled back. “Okay, Seir. Good night.”

The next morning, Reese was slow to get up and held his head a lot. He moaned when they walked out into the bright sun, winced when the driver yelled to the horses to giyyap, and closed his eyes with every bounce of the carriage. Volle enjoyed it, though he tried to keep his voice down. He couldn’t resist teasing the hare once they were on the road.

“Trouble sleeping last night, Reese?” The hare just glared at him. “Visions of ferret girls dancing in your head? Or elsewhere?”

“You can laugh, but they were all over me, Volle. Couldn’t get enough. As soon as you left.”

“You didn’t bring one back to the room, did you?” Volle was finding it harder and harder to keep from laughing.

“Uhhh… I don’t think so.” Reese looked genuinely confused. “Did I make some noise? I’m sorry.”

“Oh, we understand, Reese. For someone as irresistible as you are.”

“Oh, shut up.” The hare closed his eyes and held his head miserably, then cracked an eye open. “Wait a minute. How did you know about them? Oh, you didn’t…”

Volle tried to look innocent, but it was difficult when he couldn’t keep the wide grin off his muzzle. Reese slumped back in his seat. “You put them up to it. You bastard.”

“Well, I guess I’m not the only one who thinks about sex.” Volle folded his arms smugly.

“All right, Volle. Enough.” Seir smiled. “Let’s go over some of the things you need to listen for. First of all, the Reysfields. Our negotiations with the Wachsen Lands probably have the Tephossians worried about us attacking, and they may attempt a pre-emptive strike. Now, the officials who would be involved in this are …”

They talked for most of the day about the various people in the palace, and the various issues that King Barris was concerned about. Reese recovered around midday and listened to the discussion, putting in a couple words here and there. By the end of the day, Volle had left most of his homesickness behind. The terrain they were entering was wooded and sparsely populated, and for the next two nights they had to make camp in the woods. The driver of the carriage, an old badger whose name Volle learned was Brock, was also a skilled woodsman; his only concern was that they might meet bandits, but their luck held and they saw none.