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Lita stood in front of the mirror, examining the piercings she had just received. Behind the red vixen, Acenith drew her a hot bath, adding sweet smelling salts to the steaming water.

"The bath is ready, princess," the jackal said, running her ebon fingers through the water.

Lita didn't say anything. Her mind was focused on the reflection before her.

"Is everything alright, princess?" Acenith asked.

Lita turned to face the jackal.

"Do you think... do you think he'll like them?" she asked, gesturing to the studs and rings that adorned her face.

"Of course he will," Acenith assured her. "The prince should count himself lucky that he's receiving such a beautiful bride."

Lita sighed, still eying the silver studs in her snout and the gold rings in her eyebrows and ears, and then finished disrobing. They had pierced her nipples and clitoris as well; Those were the most tender and she winced in pain every time something brushed up against them.

The fox kicked the gold silks she had worn across the ornate tile floor and walked over to the bath. She stepped in slowly at first, adjusting to the hot water, and then slid in, the water resting at chest level. She was silent for awhile as Acenith poured sweet smelling water over her snowy white hair.

"Acenith," Lita finally spoke, quietly.

"Yes, princess?"

"Are you from Koroth?"

The jackal smiled.

"Yes. My family left when I was a child."

"Were you younger than me?"

"A little younger. I was fourteen when my family came to Harashk."

"Do you remember it?"

"Oh yes, very much."

The jackal lathered her hair with soap that smelled of fresh flowers.

"What's it like?"

"Dry, mostly. The Black Desert runs through the northern half of the kingdom. But you will live in the south in the capitol. It's much greener there."

"What part did you live in?"

"In between," she said, rinsing the soap out of Lita's hair. "My family lived along the banks of the Kia River, near Jeapool."

"Was it nice?"

"So many questions today, princess," Acenith noted. "Why is that?"

"I'm just curious," she shrugged.

"Curious? Or nervous?"

Lita said nothing, looking down at the water.

"Yes, it was very nice," the jackal continued. "My father and mother were merchants, selling pottery at the market. My older sister worked in one of the brothels in Jeapool."

"A brothel?"

"Working in a brothel in Koroth is very different from working in a brothel in Harashk. To work in a Korothian brothel means you pay honors to Ada, the jackal goddess of worldly delights and you receive all the respect and dignity that comes along with it. Seeking pleasure and satisfaction is the foundation of our culture. The indulgence of the senses is a gift from the gods. To refrain from it is to refrain from them."

"Did your sister come with your family to Harashk?"

"No," Acenith sighed. "She stayed in Jeapool. The security and opportunities of the brothel was too much to give up.... But I do miss her though. Apart of me wishes that I stayed with her."

"But if you did you wouldn't be working here in the Imperial Palace."

"Yes," Acenith smiled, pouring soap over the vixen's back. "Your family has been good to me and I have more riches than I ever could have attained in any brothel in Koroth. But parting from home and family, everything your familiar with is hard and filled with uncertainty. But I'm sure you know that already."

Lita furrowed her brow, feeling the slight sting of the gold rings there.

"I've never met this prince before," Lita said, quietly. "I barely even know how to pronounce his name; Prince Aka--Aka'ly--ly--."

"Prince Aka'lykan Al Shurigh," Acenith said with ease.

"How will I be able to rule over these people if I can't even say my husband's name right?"

"Familiarity comes with experience. I remember how long it took you to learn how to curtsey to all the high reynards and noble vixens of the court. But now you do it elegantly and gracefully"

"But will they even give me time to learn? Do you think they'll even accept a fox as their queen?"

"Foxes have been kings and queens of Koroth before. So have wolves and even a few coyotes. And besides, you won't be queen for awhile. Aka'lykan's father is still in good health and won't pass from this world to the next for many years to come. In that time you'll pick up on everything you'll need to know and they won't care if you're a fox or a jackal, you'll be a daughter of Koroth and they will know you as such."

Lita smiled at that.

After her bath, Lita sat in a chair facing the window while Acenith brushed her crimson fur with a pumice stone, shedding off all the loose fur. Outside came the flash and boom of fireworks, launching from the shores of each of the three rivers of High Trinity. In the streets below there came the chatter of happy people enjoying the festivities; The emperor had proclaimed that all beers, liquors, and wines be free from dusk until dawn throughout the empire in honor of his youngest daughter's wedding.

"Acenith," Lita started, slowly, while the jackal began to coil her white hair into dreadlocks. "Do you think father would permit you to come with me?"

Acenith paused.

"Why?"

"I'm still going to need a serving girl when I'm in Koroth."

"They have many fine servants in the Sun Hall."

"But they aren't you," she said, turning to face her.

Acenith grinned, flattered.

"I assume he would. Your sisters and brothers are already well taken care of... And it would be good to know that somebody he trusts is looking after his youngest child."

A silver fox brought a white silk dress and gold armlets and anklets to the bathroom which Acenith received and helped put on. Lita then returned to the mirror, spinning about, inspecting every inch of herself.

From outside came the low roar of a plane coming to land at the airstrip beside the palace. The bells in the high towers began to tole, signifying that the Korothi King, his son, and their entourage had arrived.

"That's them," Acenith said, poking her head out the window. Lita took a deep breath, feeling a little anxious.

"How do I look?"

"Like a queen."