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This is story was written and accepted for Pawradiso in 2019. I have no clue when and if the anthology will ever be published, so I wanted to share the story here regardless of that. It's been long enough. I hope you'll enjoy it!

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Silver Angel

“Escape successful,” Adel muttered to himself as the fennec climbed out of the secret passageway and into an old barn behind a shabby old house. The passage had been commissioned decennia ago by the sultan and queen of that time, who wished to secure ways for them to escape the palace in case of an emergency. Up to this day, nobody is sure if all of the passages have been found. Adel had certainly never met anyone else in his personal passage. It led from the back of his wardrobe all the way to where he was standing now, just outside of the capital city’s inner ring, where the houses weren’t all they used to be, as those with money sought to live as close to the palace as possible, like moths drawn to a flame.

He dusted off his azure dress and made sure his veil properly covered the lower half of his face. He walked through the house and out the front door with the use of his key, and left the house behind on his way to the inner city gates. He smiled brightly behind his veil as he walked up to the guards posted there. There were only two guards posted out of the six guards available for that position. His favourite two were there today, checking people’s papers before letting them into the city’s heart, where many would lose their money on the market, their wits in the bars, or their hearts in the brothels.

“Lailah, so good to see you again! You look especially lovely tonight!” Ali, a young lion, said as Adel approached the huge wooden gate. He had a habit of flirting that Adel quite enjoyed. After all, there was something endlessly amusing about being flirted with by a guard, who would otherwise never have dared to flirt with the sultan’s third son. The urge to reveal himself to the lion was present every time he headed out into the city, but he knew he couldn’t blow his cover, for his father would make sure he would never leave the palace again, unless it was for official matters.

‘Lailah’ bowed her head to the lion and giggled before turning to Saif, an elephant who made everyone around feel small. “Papers, please,” he said, his voice as low as the sound he created simply by walking.

The fennec showed him the papers and smiled as he bowed his head in respect as well.

“Seems to be in order. Go on in,” he said as he waved her along.

Of course the papers were in order. He hadn’t paid the sultan’s master scribe for nothing. Adel had claimed it was for a friend of his, but the scribe was not in the habit of asking questions anyway. Why did he choose to wear the guise of a woman? Honestly, it was because he felt more at home wearing the clothing originally meant for women. Another reason was that nobody expected the upstanding prince to do something as ridiculous as walking around like this.

Adel walked straight up to the first baker he came across and bought some fresh bread. “And an extra date bun for the lovely lady,” the elderly camel said before waving him off and turning to the next customer. The prince giggled and took a bite of the bun while walking through the market street, the smell of various foodstuffs filling his nostrils and making his mouth water. He headed over to one of the large fountains, knowing he would find musicians there. Adel could listen to the court musicians whenever he wanted of course, but there was something raw and natural about the city’s musicians. They came from all over the world to try to earn money with their songs, bringing unknown instruments and new sounds with them. He listened to a charming rat playing something he knew to be a lute. The man’s fingers raced across the instrument one song, while caressing the strings like an old lover the next. Saying he made love to his instrument would be weird, but it was what it felt like. The prince reached into his satchel and pulled out some coins, which he tossed into the rat’s upturned hat. The man winked at him and grinned in a devilishly charming way, before turning his attention back to his lute.

The night went on for a while, but Adel knew it was time to go home after he had been grabbed by the second drunk. They had been looking for a lovely girl to spend the night with, but the prince was pretty sure he would not be able to accommodate their desires. He was ten minutes away from the city gate when he heard panting and footsteps coming from the alley on his left. The next thing he knew, he was knocked off his feet, a woman’s scream filling his large ears and echoing in his head. Next thing he knew, he was pinned to the warm stones of the road by her weight.

He was freed when she moved off of him, which gave him the opportunity to get up and get a good look at his assailant. His eyes fell on a most beautiful silver-coloured cat woman, dressed in nothing but sheets. As his eyes automatically moved to her bosom, he spotted a tiny silver pendant dangling from her neck. “Are you all right, miss?” he asked, making sure to use his higher voice. He had been practising on it for months, before he’d been able to produce a voice not unlike a woman’s.

The cat took hold of his paws while she was on her knees, whimpering. It bothered Adel that they were about the same size like that, the fennec just barely being taller. “Please! Please, help me! I’m begging you!” she pleaded while squeezing his delicate paws.

“Are you running from someone? Did someone hurt you? Why are you almost naked?”

“Please! Hide me somewhere and I will explain!” she promised as she got up, the fennec’s head level with her bosom.

He swallowed once before nodding. “Follow me,” he said as he hoisted up his dress and looked around. The fastest way to his hideout would be along the main road and through the gates, but he couldn’t possibly bring her along with her wearing only bed sheets. He bit his lip before taking your paw and pulling you into an alley. “We’re going to have to go around the market. I’m…Lailah. What is your name?”

“Danya.”

She followed without question as the two ran from one unlit alley to another, tracing a crescent as they went around the busiest parts of the city. It wouldn’t calm down until late in the night, and the girl didn’t seem to have that much time. They had to hide from some drunks a few times, but they managed to slip away unseen. They rounded a corner and were blocked by a large bear sporting a guard uniform. He turned his head as the fennec literally ran into him.

“Hmm? What is going on here?” he rumbled as his body followed his head, golden hoops dangling from his ears. “Explain yourselves,” he said as he looked at the fennec, before turning his eyes on the scantly-clad cat. The man licked his lips and grinned. “Well, well, well... What do we have here?” he asked as he moved closer to her.

“She is being followed and needs help! Can you get us through the gates without anyone seeing her?” Adel asked, his voice trailing off as the guard moved past him and to the cat. “Sir?”

Danya recoiled in horror as the brown bear tried to lay his paws on her and bumped against the wall behind her. “Please… No…” she begged as tears welled up in her eyes. She screamed as the sheets were torn away from her body, leaving her naked in the dark alley.

“NO! STOP! HELP!” Adel screamed as he launched himself at the bear, attempting to pull him away from her. He was far lighter and smaller than the man though. “SOMEONE HELP!” Unfortunately, the music and hundreds of chattering people in the market kept his voice from being heard. “You can’t do this! You are a city guard!”

The bear sighed and grabbed the cat’s neck with one paw, his fingers circling all around, before turning to the fennec. “Fuck off, fox. You will be next. Wait your turn,” he growled as he turned back to his catch and pulled down his trousers.

The disguised prince screamed again and launched himself at the bear, kicking his leg to get him to stumble. Instead, the bear raised his leg and kicked back powerfully, sending the young man sprawling and whimpering as he hit his head on the floor. The world went black. He blinked repeatedly to try to clear his vision. He gasped as he noticed the man’s hips rocking back and forth, while the silver feline’s face was pressed up against the wall, her arms held behind her back. She was crying.

“Fuck, you are tight, girl! Are you a virgin or something? Hahaha! I bet you secretly love this. I’m going to keep fucking you until you beg me not to stop!” the guard promised. He released one of her arms to pull on the fur on her head. Despite her arm being free, Danya did not resist. There was no point.

He was about to lick the poor girls neck when he yelped out in pain and crumpled to the floor, letting go of the girl and cupping his bruised testicles. “I’ll…get you…for this…” he hissed through his teeth.

“I highly doubt that,” Adel said before wrapping the girl in the bedsheets again and taking her paw. “Run,” he said before leading her through more alleys, hoisting up his dress with one paw. Not even the guards could be trusted. That didn’t go for Saif and Ali of course. Those two were honourable men Adel knew would never do anything as horrifying as that bear. He found that his feet had led them to the front gate.

The lion turned around at the sight of Adel’s azure dress and smiled. “Miss Lailah! Time to go home already?” he asked before his eyes moved onto Danya. “Miss? Are you all right?”

“No time to explain, Ali. I’m sorry. If a brown bear comes looking for us, we were never here,” the fennec spoke to the guard in hushed tones. “I will make it up to you later, I promise,” he said before placing a paw on the lion’s chest.

The man pushed out his chest and smiled at that promise. “I have never seen you, and neither has Saif,” he said before looking at the cat again, his brow moving into a frown. “Hurry now, before more people show up,” he said, ushering them along.

“Thank you, Ali. I owe you,” Adel said before running through the gate with Danya. They ran all the way to Adel’s hideout, where he slammed the door shut and locked it. Nobody should be able to find them there. Not even Ali knew where Lailah lived. “We’re safe now.”

Danya dropped down to her knees and started crying, hiding her face with her paws. “Thank you… Thank you, thank you, thank you…” she sobbed. She fingered the silver pendant around her neck and slowly calmed down again. “I…I don’t know how to repay you.”

“You don’t have to. You were in dire need of help, and I already screwed up by taking a route that took us to that disgusting bear. I hope you can accept my deepest apologies.”

“That was not your fault! Don’t even dare think that!” the cat spoke up, looking distressed. “You saved me there. So thank you. I just fear he will get away with it. Men always get away with it,” she said before biting her lip and looking away.

Anger bubbled up inside of the young prince, and his paws were clenched to fists. “Not this time. I will see it done,” he said, stating is as a promise.

“How? We don’t have the power to go up against him.”

Yes, he did. “I…I have a friend in the palace who may be able to do something. I will talk to him,” Adel said. He felt bad about lying, but he couldn’t possibly tell her the truth. There was no telling what she would do with the information.

A loud bell tolled in the distance, its soundwaves flowing out towards the outer edges of the city. The bell tower was high enough to expose even the furthest reaches of the capital to its sound. Adel’s ears perked up and swivelled to the sound’s origin. “I have to go,” he said.

“As soon as I leave, lock the doors and don’t go outside. I will come back tomorrow with food, drink, and something for you to wear,” he said before moving to the backdoor. “Stay safe, Danya,” he added, looking over his shoulder.

The silver tabby nodded. “Thank you, Lailah. I will.”

Adel nodded before leaving the house, waiting outside until he heard the click of the locking mechanism.

?????

“Time for justice,” Adel said as he seated himself at his wooden desk. He opened a drawer and took out some ink, paper, and his favourite heron quill. He had learned the bear’s name through some simple inquiries made by her personal servant, Nazir. After the tall caracal had helped the fennec out of his dress, and had presented him with one of his regular outfits, an emerald green robe with gold details, he had been sent to captain of the watch, Hassan, to get that bear’s name. “I will make sure you will never work in this city again, Sameer,” the prince muttered as he wrote an official royal decree to have the man fired and banned from the city. He rolled up the paper an sealed it with his personal wax seal.

“Nazir, could you deliver this to Hassan for me?” he asked as he stood up and walked over to the desert cat.

“Of course, My Prince. I will be as fast as the sand storms of the great desert,” he spoke as he accepted the document with both paws while bowing his head.

“Thank you. Off you go,” Adel said while smiling. He had repeatedly told his servant there was no need to be all stiff and formal around him, but the caracal had been taught otherwise and chose to stick to his habits, lest he’d accidentally act formal towards other members of the royal family. The fennec had given up trying to change his mind on the matter.

A few minutes after Nazir left, his mother entered. Jameela, the queen, wore a stunning fuscia dress, adorned with sparkling gems that only enhanced her natural radiance. Beautiful simply wasn’t a word strong enough to describe this woman. She had taught Adel all he knew about justice and kindness. “Good evening, Adel,” she said, smiling with the radiance of a hundred suns.

“Good evening, mother. What brings you to my room tonight?” he asked as he walked up to her and embraced her.

“Oh, nothing. Nothing except this,” she said as she revealed a package from behind her back. “I figured you could use a new dress, and I don’t believe you have this colour yet,” she said.

Adel hugged her even tighter and accepted the wrapped bundle of cloth. “Thank you, mother! You truly are the best!” he said.

She giggled at that and waved him away. “I know, I know. Open it, you little charmer,” she said as she sat down on the sofa in his room, paws folded in her lap while she looked at her boy expectantly.

He didn’t need to be told twice and he unwrapped his present within seconds, revealing a bejewelled ruby dress, decorated with stones of the same name. “Mother, it is beautiful. Thank you so much,” Adel said while admiring the softness of the fabric and the clarity of the gems used.

“Red is the colour of seduction, dear. Perhaps it will help when you finally decide to make your move on that handsome lion guard at the gate. What was his name again? Ali?”

“Mother!” the prince protested while gripping the dress tightly in his paws, the inside of his ears turning red. “H…how did you know?” he stammered.

The corner of her mouth turned up into a smug smile when she said: “A mother makes it her business to know everything there is to know about her children.”

“Do you…also know about the woman I saved today?” he asked as he lay the dress down on his bed and stepped closer to her.

Her ears perked up and her eyes widened somewhat. “No, I do not, but you will remedy that, won’t you?” she asked as she patted the spot next to her.

Adel nodded and sat down next to her, calming himself before telling her what had transpired that evening. His mother had always been supportive of his…hobby, and knew he roamed the city wearing the dresses she provided, so there was no reason to leave out even the smallest detail.

The queen listened attentively, asking minor questions from time to time to get a better idea of the situation. She brought her paw to her muzzle and lowered her ears when her son explained what the guard had done. “That is unacceptable. We must put a stop to him immediately,” she said.

“I have written a letter to Hassan already. Nazir is delivering it right this moment.”

“Good. We’ll have to wait and see what Hassan does. He will likely go to your father for advice, so you won’t get an answer until the morning,” she said.

“Mother, could you do me a favour and procure a dress for Danya? Something simple perhaps, so she won’t stand out too much?” He couldn’t possibly dress her up as a noblewoman. Besides, he had no clue what her background was. He’d have to ask her in the morning.

“Of course, my dear. I will go to Bakr right away to place the order. He will dislike me a little for taking away his precious hours of sleep, but it can’t be helped in this case,” she said while walking up to him. “Try to get some sleep, Adel. It has been a rough night,” she said before kissing his forehead, after which she crossed the room to the door. “Sweet dreams,” she said before leaving, closing the door behind her.

“Good night,” he said, sighing after the door had been closed. His mother was right. There was nothing more for him to do except wait. In de morning, he will go to his father before going to Danya with food and a dress. He wished to help the girl as much as possible. He may not know her, but he was one of his people. It was his sworn duty to help her. He took off his robe and stood in front of the mirror. He looked at his flat chest and sheath before sighing, running his paws over his underdeveloped pecs. What would his life have been like if he were born a girl? It was a thought that regularly popped up in his mind.

He shook his head and lay down in his bed, pulling the green silk over his lower body and resting his head on his soft pillow. He felt terrible for being this comfortable while Danya was sleeping on the floor. He never had a bed installed in the old house, not seeing the point as he never slept there anyway. He regretted that decision now. Worry robbed him of his sleep for another hour or two, until he finally drifted off on the sands of the dream world.

?????

“What do you mean you need proof?!”

The sultan sighed as he put down his chicken and looked at his son. “Adel, please. I can’t just fire one of our guards on the spot because of hearsay. Unless the girl goes to Hassan and makes a proper statement, it would seem wrong to dismiss a man, especially when it involves being exiled from the city,” he explained calmly before picking up his chicken again and taking a bite.

“Father, you can’t be serious!”

His other brothers were looking at him stoically while eating breakfast, while the queen seemed troubled. She had expected this would happen.

“I am. Unless you were there and saw it with your own eyes, I can’t do anything with your letter. What if the girl secretly fancies the man and he turned her down, which led her to take revenge in this way? It has happened before,” Malek spoke.

“That is not what happened!” the fennec screamed while standing up and slamming the table.

“Adel…” his mother said softly, pleading with her eyes for him to remain calm.

“Were you there?” his oldest brother, Abdullah, asked.

“Well…” Adel began before biting his lip. He couldn’t tell them. He’d lose his freedom if he did. “No, but-“

“Then that’s that. Get the girl to make a statement, and we’ll talk,” Malek said before resuming breakfast.

With ears, shoulders, and tail down, the third prince left the table without another word. He had lost this fight, but that didn’t mean he had lost the war. He went back up to his room and had Nazir go down to the kitchens to fetch two meals, one for himself, and one for Danya. He put on his new dress and veil folded the dress his mother had delivered before breakfast. It was a plain dress of a faded green colour that would look beautiful on the silver cat, while also being inconspicuous enough. Bakr must have hated making this dress, as he was prone to a more extravagant style, but he had done a great job nonetheless.

When Nazir returned, he asked the caracal to close the dress in the back, before he exited the palace through his wardrobe, carrying the food and the dress in his arms. He walked through the familiar passage as it led down and out of the palace, going underground for a while as well, as could be noticed by the drop in temperature. The passage was old and narrow, anything bigger than a full-grown fennec would have had to bend over in order to use it.

At the end of the tunnel was a set of stone stairs leading up to a wooden hatch. He threw it open and climbed out, reaching up to place the dress and plates on the floor next to hatch first. Adel closed the hatch and walked out of the old shed and towards the house. He reached for the door, but was halted by the sound of voices coming from within. He frowned and put his large ear to the door.

“Danya, please! Leave with me. We can start a new life together away from this place. We both have bad memories here now,” a male voice spoke.

“Niki, I don’t want to go. Please, just go. I’m…I’m waiting for a friend,” the silver cat spoke.

Adel bit his lip and moved his paw to the door handle, wondering how the man had managed to come in without Danya unlocking the door herself. He peered through the crack next to the door and saw it was no longer locked. She had ignored his words and had a man inside because of it, the fool.

He mustered enough courage to turn the handle and open the door. He stepped inside, taking in the sight of Danya with the sheets around her, and a pitch-black male cat standing in the middle of the room. He was wearing a set of expensive-looking robes, but the fennec did not recognize him. Who was this man? “Uhm…am I interrupting something?” he asked, making sure to turn up the pitch to make his voice sound feminine. Of course he was interrupting whatever was going on, but he was confident it was a good thing he did.

“Who are you?” the black cat demanded as he drew a dagger and held it up threateningly. “Are you the one keeping her captive here?”

“Niki, nobody is keeping me captive! She saved me!”

The fox backed up against the backdoor, which he had closed behind him, and stared at the sharp knife. He had never learned to defend himself in a knife fight. He had always skipped those classes in favour of art and music. If the cat decided to attack him, he’d be done for.

“P…please! I mean no harm! I brought food and clothing!” he whimpered as he cowered.

“Lies! You are trying to take her away from me! Don’t think I don’t see what you are doing, bribing her with clothing and food in order to make her dependant on you. Next thing you know, you’ll demand her to share the bed with you,” he snarled.

Danya hissed and, despite him having a dagger in his paw, slapped him hard across the face. “How dare you! She has been nothing but good to me!”

Niki’s face was frozen in pure shock, even as he righted himself again and touched his cheek before looking at his paw. “You…you hit me?” he asked.

“Go! I won’t want to start a life with you.”

“But…I saved you!”

“From the mess you put me in yourself! I would still have been a proper servant if not for you! Sure, my master was a prick, but at least I was free!” she screamed at him, tears welling up in her eyes.

The black cat turned to Adel and growled as he trembled all over. “This is your fault. You put her up to this,” he said with a deadly calm before moving on the undercover prince. Danya tried to throw herself in front of him, but he pushed her away with ease. “Don’t, Danya. We will be together as soon as this obstacle is out of our way,” he said before drawing his arm back, ready to attack.

Adel squeezed his eyes shut, waiting for the blow. A blow that never came. When he carefully opened his eyes, after hearing someone fall to the floor, combined with grunting, Niki was on the ground, held there by someone well-known to him. “Hind!” he said. “What are you doing here?”

“The queen had me follow you, in case something would happen to you,” the grey rat spoke from behind a mask that obscured all but her eyes. She had a poison-coated dagger against the cat’s throat. “Shall I dispose of this cat?”

“Stop! Please! There is no need for this!” Danya pleaded as she stepped closer to Niki. “He…he means well, I think.”

“He tried to attack with deadly force. I don’t see why he shouldn’t be punished,” Hind spoke with a sadistic edge to her tongue. Whenever Niki struggled, she tightened her grip and bent the arm behind his back more, threatening to break it.

Adel took in the situation. Hind was clearly in control of Niki now, and he was no longer holding his knife, having been disarmed by the rat. Danya looked both relieved and troubled, and she clearly did not want to see the cat harmed. There was only one thing to do to make sure Niki would no longer be a problem. “Hind, I want you to knock him out cold and tie him up, before taking him to jail. A few days in there might clear his head enough for him to come to his senses.”

The rat nodded and reached into one of her pouches, taking out a needle and jabbing it into the cat’s neck. He struggled and hissed for a moment before going fully limp.

“Is he…dead?” Danya asked, trembling on her feet.

“Merely unconscious,” Hind said as she stood up and picked him up, throwing him over her shoulder. The woman was surprisingly strong. It must be a result of the decade-long training she had endured to become a royal assassin. She was one of the best. “Until we meet again, Your Highness,” she said with a nod before leaving the house, leaving Adel alone with the silver cat.

“Your…Highness?” Danya asked as she walked up to Adel.

“I eh…I guess I have some explaining to do. Here, I think you should get dressed first. We can talk over a good meal.”

?????

It took quite a bit of convincing for Danya to believe Adel’s words, but when he led her back to the castle, where he was greeted by Nazir. The caracal was as stoic as ever and didn’t even act surprised when his prince brought the girl into his chambers.

“Should I get your mother and arrange an audience with the sultan, My Prince?” he asked, paws behind his back and standing so straight one might suspect he had a stick up his butt. Adel knew differently though, and was more than aware what the caracal could be like after a drop of alcohol.

“Yes, please. Tell him it is of the utmost importance,” the fennec said with a nod.

Danya stared at the both of them and watched the caracal leave. “You…you were telling the truth. You really are prince Adel,” she said before throwing herself onto her knees at his feet and bowing deeply.

He giggled and knelt down, took her paws in his, and stood back up, pulling her up. She had to move with him though, for he was simply not strong enough to pick her up all by himself. “Please, stand. I consider you a friend. I will not allow my friends to bow before me,” he said, smiling brightly.

His smile was infectious and the silver tabby couldn’t help but mirror his expression. “Thank you. For…well…everything. I don’t know if talking to the sultan will do any good, but I appreciate your effort.”

“It is the right thing to do. I would not be able to live with myself if I let this go unpunished. If I do not do what is just, then I might as well not be a prince.”

She walked around the room, her cushioned feet soundless on his expensive carpet, as she took in the riches around her. She had worked for a nobleman before, but his house was nothing compared to Adel’s. Gold was more abundant here than any other metal in existence, and it was all polished to perfection. She touched the green silk curtains, as well as the green silk sheets, wondering what it would feel like to sleep in a bed like this.

The fennec took a seat on his sofa and watched her with mild amusement as she explored his quarters. “What do you think?”

“I am filled with envy and wonder, Lailah. I mean, Prince Adel.”

“Either is fine, Danya,” he said, using his feminine voice for her. After all, that was the voice she knew and he was still wearing his dress.

It wasn’t long before Nazir returned with Queen Jameela. Danya immediately threw herself onto the floor at her feet, flattening herself before her. “My Queen.”

“Mother, this is Danya, whom I have told you about,” Adel said as he stood up and walked up to her.

“So you have. Stand, Danya.” The silver girl did as she was told. “Now, look me in the eyes and answer my questions truthfully. Were you raped?”

Tears shot into the cat’s eyes at that vile word and nodded. “Y…yes, My Queen.”

“Was it a guard? A bear?”

“Yes, My Queen.”

“Was Adel there when it happened?”

“Yes, My Queen.”

“And why didn’t Adel stop it?”

Adel was about to protest when Danya spoke up. “He tried to, My Queen. He assaulted the bear, but could not best him. He tried calling for help, but none would hear. If not for him… I… I’d rather not think about it…” she said, turning her face to the prince before uttering her last sentence.

The queen nodded and took Danya’s paws in hers. “I believe you. Now, you must make the sultan believe you. Come.”

The four of them left the prince’s room behind as they walked through the palace. They went down a broad set of stairs and took a right before standing in front of a set of gigantic golden doors, guarded by two rhinos. “We are here to see my husband,” Jameela spoke. The rhinos nodded and opened the doors, revealing a round room of the whitest marble Danya had ever laid eyes on. Huge pillars held up a lapis lazuli ceiling. The pyrite-dotted ceiling resembled a starry evening sky. In the back of the room stood an ornate golden throne, upon which a middle-aged fennec sat. He looked at them with a calm gaze as they approached. He whispered something to the cheetah at his side, after which the tall cat ran off.

“My love, you don’t need to be present for this girl to tell her story. You can leave if you wish.”

“I would rather stay, My Sultan.”

“So be it. Step forth, girls, and tell me what this is about.” He knew exactly what this was about, but he was surprised Adel was not here, as he’d felt so passionately about this girl’s case.

“My Sultan,” Danya said as she knelt before him. Adel followed her example, keeping a straight face. His deception would fail if he let his disguise slip for even a second. His father was no fool. “I have come to report on what has happened to me, encouraged by Prince Adel, who sent a messenger to me, convincing me not to let this story go untold.”

Malek nodded and waved his paw, a sign for her to continue.

“I most grievingly confess that I was raped, Your Highness, by one of your city guards.”

“That is a grand accusation, girl. What is your name?”

“Danya, Your Highness.”

“Danya, how are you so certain it was a city guard?”

“He was wearing the uniform, My Sultan.”

“And did you tell this man to stop?”

“I did, repeatedly, but it was no use. He would not listen.”

“And what species was this man?”

“A bear.”

“Were there any witnesses?” the sultan asked.

The cat nodded and looked at Adel. “One. My friend, Lailah. She helped me get away from the guard before he… Before he could soil me.”

“Lailah, what did you do to stop it?” the fennec asked before looking up as the cheetah returned with Hassan and the bear. “Ah, Hassan, join me please. A case has been brought forth against one of your men. Sameer, you have been accused of raping this girl.”

Sameer wanted to protest, but the sultan held up his paw. I will hear you after the girls have told their story.”

The bear growled and glared at the girls with such hate that Adel would have felt threatened, were he not in his own home.

“Please, continue, Lailah.”

“Thank you, My Sultan,” Adel spoke, putting all of his focus into his voice. Failure was not an option here. “I tried calling for help at first, but the market’s music and the people’s voices must have made it impossible to hear me. I kept telling the guard to stop, calling on his honour, but he seemed to have none,” he said with a pointed look at the bear, who narrowed his eyes in response. “I tried attacking the man, but he overpowered me and knocked me out cold.”

“You attacked a member of the city guard?” Malek asked, frowning slightly.

“To defend my friend, Your Highness. It wasn’t until I…hit a vulnerable spot, that he let go of Danya and we could run.”

The sultan nodded and looking down for a moment, closing his eyes as he ran through the story again. “Sameer, this is the time for you to defend yourself. What say you?”

“I have never seen these girls in my life, My Sultan.”

“Where were you on the night this happened?”

“Doing my rounds, Your Highness.”

“I did not tell you when this happened exactly, Sameer,” the sultan said with a voice laced with poison.

“I am always doing my rounds, Your Majesty. I have been an active member of the guard for two years now, and I have never missed a single patrol.”

“This is true,” Hassan said. “Sameer has been an upstanding guard ever since he was enlisted.”

“Up until now that is. If this is even the first time,” Adel snarled.

“Silence! You have had your time to speak!” the sultan spoke. “If you cannot control yourself, you will be asked to leave.”

Adel’s fists balled up into fists, which shook at his hips.

“Please, My Sultan. I have done nothing wrong. I have a wife and two children at home who depend on me,” the bear pleaded. “Send these crazy women on their way before they make up more stories. Perhaps they will accuse you next.”

The king frowned and looked at the bear before nodding and looking at the girls. “I am sorry. It is your word against his and that of my Captain of the Guard. I promise an official investigation will take place to further ensure Sameer’s good behaviour, but that is all I can do.”

Sameer grinned at the cat and the fennec, already basking in his victory. A victory that was celebrated too soon.

Adel took a few steps closer to his father and looked at his mother, who nodded at him. “I am afraid I cannot allow that, father,” he spoke with his own voice as he looked the sultan in the eye.

“What? That is…Adel’s voice? How can this be?”

“You asked me before if I was there when it happened, and I lied to you then. I will not make that same mistake now.” The prince removed his veil and slid his arms out of the dress’s sleeves. He had purposefully left the back open for this moment. He had hoped it wouldn’t have come to this, but there was no other option left. Not for him. Time seemed to slow down as the ruby dress flowed onto the ground, revealing the sultan’s third son in only his undergarments.

“What do you say now, father? Now that it is their word against mine?”