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Feyrahl, FurAffinity Edition

Not Without Recourse, Ch 2.2

Kenzie was honestly surprised at how quickly the plan came together, after she expressed her interest to Victor about wanting to learn more about the animals of Feyrahl. Before she knew it, the Raccoon had patched together a rather cohesive plan involving having her shadow Silas in the forests so he could show her around and make sure she didn't get into trouble. Even though Silas' presence meant that she'd have protection of a sort, Cecil refused to wait at the castle, asserting that his role as a bodyguard meant that he would also protect her in the forest. If Silas had any objections he didn't say a word.

The specifics of the situation involving her 'apprenticeship' were not fully conveyed to her, so she was caught unaware by the Fox's surprise visit at dawn the next day. She was half awake due to the pointed discussion going on outside her door before there was a knock. It was Cecil's voice who called out. "Lady Fuller... are you decent? High Ranger Silas Longfield is here to collect you for today's journey into the king's forest."

Despite Kenzie being in bed and clothed in a nightgown, she decided to flex her position as a 'pristine woman' to her advantage and secure a little more time without someone barging in. "I am awake. Please let Sir Longfield know that I shall be out shortly."

She was surprised when she heard the Fox speak. "Not to be disrespectful, MacKenzie, but I must be on the road before dawn. Please do not dawdle."

Kenzie realized after the fact, that she should have known that Silas would be eager to depart; he was a no-nonsense kind of man who, as she recalled, was one of the prime drivers in them moving quickly from the shore to the capital when she'd first arrived. "I am just getting dressed, Sir Longfield! I won't be long!"

She did as promised, quickly getting dressed in the most rugged-looking clothing available that had been provided to her. Despite the medieval nature of society, she was relieved to see that there were trousers available; she hated to think what it might have been like traveling with the Ranger through the forest adorned in a gown or dress. She also secured a fine-looking pair of boots, thankful that, unlike her last trip, she would have something on her feet that offered more comfort and protection than socks.

As Kenzie secured her hair as the last step to prepare to go she heard the sound of quiet discussion going on outside her room; Cecil was doing the majority of the talking. While she couldn't make out all of it, she could distinctly hear that the Ferret was upset about something the Fox had proposed. Rather than eavesdrop, the Human woman finished with tying her hair back and moved to open the door, just in time for Cecil to be interrupted, which he did with the usual stumbling of someone not good with social interaction. "--which is why I'll be along to see to her safety, Longfiend, and-- oh! Lady Fuller. Good morning!"

Silas was quick to step in, smoothly picking up the dialogue in a way that seemed designed to limit the Ferret's embarrassment. "Sir Cecil was explaining that he was joining us to keep an eye out for naer-do-wells, so that I could focus instead on protecting the party from the wilds... to each their speciality."

The Fox offered a courtly bow, as smooth as his disarming charm; Kenzie also didn't miss the way the translation magic had him say 'specialty' with five syllables. Although she didn't know much about the Ranger, she had come to understand that he wasn't attempting to impress-- he was just like that, and his proper, debonair demeanor enticed almost all of the women of the court. If he was purposefully fishing, all signs pointed to him toying with them; he never bothered to set the hook, let alone practice a 'catch and release' policy.

Absently wondering where the fishing analogy came from to mind, she didn't notice that Silas was standing there awaiting a response from her, until Cecil cleared his throat. Kenzie cleared her own, fighting back a faith blush at feeling self-conscious. "That sounds perfectly fine to me... I'm pretty sure we'd already agreed that he'd be coming along."

The Ferret nodded his head. "As Sir Longfield says, Lady Fuller, between the two of us, you'll be safe from threats both wild and malicious."

Kenzie smiled at her body guard. "Thank you, Cecil. I know I can depend on you."

Silas finally rose from his half-bow, gesturing to the hall. "I had the stable master prepare three mounts for us this morning. Single riders help our steeds travel further faster than doubling up."

The Ferret glanced toward Kenzie with a concerned look. "Are you a decent rider, Lady Fuller? If not, perhaps we--"

The Fox interjected. "MacKenzie and I shared a heglis on the way back from the coast when she first arrived. I have full confidence that she'll be capable of handling one on her own for a simple foray into the king's woods."

The woman paused at the word she didn't recognize; the translation magic didn't turn it into something she understood so she figured it must have been a word for which there was no translation. She took a guess. "A 'heglis'... is that one of those big lizards that we rode on?"

Silas nodded. "It is indeed. As I said, the stable keeper will have three ready for us."

As Kenzie left her room and closed the door Silas took up a place in the hall ahead of her and Cecil, assumed his usual place to the side and slightly behind her. The Fox wasted no time heading off toward the stairs, setting a quick pace. As she moved to follow, Cecil kept pace with her, his voice quiet, but audible. "Leaving the castle increases the possible risk to you, MacKenzie, and leaving town makes it even worse. Are you sure following a High Ranger out into the woods is something you must do?"

Kenzie slowed for half a step so that Cecil almost drew even with her, and she reached out to gently encircle his wrist with her hand as she turned to regard him. "Cecil... I can't just sit in the palace and be useless. I've never sat still doing nothing, and if I'm going to use what I've been learning in university to its best effect while I'm here, I need to learn more about the life of Feyrahl. I think the woodlands are the best place to do that."

Cecil's expression still gave her a sense of his unease, but he did not object further. His determination, however, was even more evident. "As you wish."

Silas lingered at the top of the stairs, calling over his shoulder. "The two of you are lagging behind already... not a good sign if I am to complete my duties in a timely manner today. Please do make an attempt to keep up; the Commander requested that I have Lady Fuller back to the palace before nightfall."

The Ferret grunted. "My apologies. Back before nightfall is indeed a good prospect."

The Fox nevertheless waited for them to catch up before lowering his voice, a hint of a smirk quirking the edge of his lips as he regarded MacKenzie's bodyguard. "Although you tactfully lowered your voice, Sir Cecil, you were not quite muted enough for me to miss you using your ward's first name. Be mindful, lest anyone else overhearing your casual dialogue begin to make presumptions."

Kenzie felt immediately embarrassed for Cecil, mostly because of the way the Ferret immediately seemed to shut down, covering his muzzle with his paws. She reached out and grabbed Silas by the sleeve before he could head down the stairs. "He's allowed to call me by my first name. I also noticed that you've done the same. Why do YOU do it and then turn around and call him out for the same thing?"

Silas slid his fingers into hers and gently detached her grip from his clothing, then leaned forward and kissed the back of her hand. "Please do not take offense, MacKenzie... but it is both a matter of respect and expectation. As a High Ranger I have certain privileges when it comes to forms of address and mean neither slight nor overt familiarity."

Cecil cleared his throat, face returning to a neutral expression. "He is correct, Lady Fuller. I overstepped my station. Please accept my apology."

Kenzie quickly turned to address the Ferret but Silas interjected, his voice soft and quiet. "Once we are out of the city you can call one another whatever you wish but, please, for your sake and his, respect social decorum-- more for his benefit than your own, I assure you, LADY FULLER."

The rest of the trip through the castle and out to the stables was awkward for her and she kept silent the entire time, mind awash with too many negative thoughts for her to call it a good morning but she resolved to change her way of thinking and try to have a more positive day. The stable keeper, a tall, broad-shouldered, well-muscled stallion with a thick, unkempt mane awaited them. He had his mane pulled out of his eyes and secured with a ponytail (the humor of the term was not lost to her), allowing her to see his cocoa-colored eyes. As promised, he had three of the large, squat riding lizards-- Heglis... Heglisses? Hegli?

That question, ended Kenzie's self-ordered silence. "Silas... is 'Heglis' singular, plural, or both?"

The Fox checked the barding on each of the mounts before distributing them to the party. "Heglis is singular, Lady Fuller. Plural is Heglises."

Cecil nodded. "Right. Multiple ones are Heglises."

Kenzie fought back a smirk when she realized that the two different translated accents changed the word-- 'Hegliseez' for Silas and 'Heglisiz' for Cecil. She really wasn't sure exactly how the magic worked, but it was a strange idiosyncrasy that that she noticed. "Got it. Heglis is singular. So... shall we?"

Her invitation was all her companions required. Both Cecil and Silas moved to help her into her saddle; as with before, there was no stirrup and the extra assistance was helpful. She was sure to thank them once she was in position and, as they each got into their own saddles, Kenzie took a moment to re-familiarize herself with the bridle in her grasp. She remembered that the Heglis controlled like a horse, and she HAD been horse riding... years prior. Thankfully, Silas' faith in her seemed to be well founded, or at least the lizard was well trained and responded well enough that she may as well have been a skilled rider.

Silas moved his mount with practiced ease toward the gate then slowed. "Be mindful as we pass through the city... the last thing we want is to endanger any of the pedestrians on the walkways."

The Fox's warning turned out to be unnecessary as most of the people out early in the morning were just as careful about staying out of their way. Kenzie was pleased about the slower pace anyway, since it gave her a chance to once again get used to the strange lateral movement of the lizard's torso as it moved. By the time they reached the outskirts of the city, she felt much more comfortable, and was finally able to smile.

Silas slowed once they were outside the walls, circling around so he and his mount could face Kenzie and Cecil, bringing the group to the stop. "If we make good time on the southern road then we will not be as rushed in the woods. Call out if I draw too far ahead."

Cecil nodded. "Understood."

Kenzie also confirmed. "Got it."

The Fox nodded to them in turn. "Cecil. MacKenzie." and, as he about-faced, he kicked his steed into movement, but not before adding "Now that we're out of the city, feel free to call each other whatever you please."

She had a feeling it was a good-natured jab or, at least, she chose to think of it that way.