Chapter 12: First Day Living in the Hold


Being worth about two thousand and three hundred loaves of fancy bread has its perks. Not many, but some.

The rest of my day ensued thusly: Getting my belly filled with food straight from the food trolley, having help writing a message meant for a trademaster, and then followed by what could arguably be the most cleanest bed I had ever slept in, even if it was just a bed sheet and a pillow on the ground. I could probably convince Arrinoka to move my bedding arrangement to a chair later, but that perhaps would be for another time. That, and it would be a day or two before a reply letter was sent back to Arrinoka. No worries, however. Nothing to stress over.

After eating some food, getting help writing a letter to someone, and then having some needed rest, I began my new life within the halls of the fortress of Arisota's Hold.

However, when I woke up, I found that Arrinoka Arisota had busied himself with other matters during my sleep, and that he asked his servant, Teecam or Camtee if my memory is correct, to check up on me while he was away. Bless her soul.

This was when I realized how envious I had become of Arrinoka. And not just him, but every human within Arisota's Hold and outside it too. Humankind tends to be diurnal creatures, unless their job professions require them to sleep in more nocturnal rhythms, but are often required to sleep in six-to-eight hour periods every day. When Arrinoka returned after a few hours, explaining that certain duties required his attention with a hand-wave, he had dinner prepared and brought to his room. He explained later in the meal that since I'm technically his pet, much to my chagrin, I'm to be housebroken and trained so that I can adjust properly to living inside the fort of Arisota's Hold. After the meal and the explanation, Arrinoka prepared himself for sleep and slept in his grandiose royal bed. I was able to get another hour of sleep once Arrinoka dozed off, but I was reminded of my cathemeral sleeping pattern, solidifying my envy of humanity even more. Who would have known my first night inside of a fortress, carved from the side of a mountain, would be a boring highlight of my life as a yinglet?

Thankfully, the Fortmaster was forgiving of my restlessness. Actually, he was quite ornery when I woke him up from my constant sighs in the night, but he gave me some parchments with a feather and inkwell to distract myself with. I could have busied myself with some reading material from the books in his study, but he flatly said no to that. Hm. Probably had some secret information or some unusual blackmail stashed somewhere in there. I suppose that means I won't be snooping in his study anytime soon. Probably nothing to investigate into. Maybe.

At least the morning came quick enough. Having an activity to prevent me from idling myself with boredom is preferable to nothing. By the way, I turned one of the parchments into a crudely-made paper airplane with a drawing of a bird on it.

With the arrival of morning came new challenges. The challenges were simple, but hard. They involved learning the names of people I haven't had the chance to meet yesterday, and learning which areas in the fort were safe, dangerous, or restricted to people of my... well... yinglet-ness. Understandable. Even I wouldn't want a scav going through my room and pawing at my possessions.

Anyway, remember Borafous? Apparently, he came here on vacation. He left the outer territory temporarily so that he could visit his daughter, whom was residing inside of the fortress in Arisota's Hold. And I just so happen to chance upon her while I was being given a tour to most of the Fortmaster's fort, listening to a couple of Arrinoka's ramblings as we walked.


"The servant quarters are certainly drab, but they house the maids, cooks, janitors and other staff that help keep my fort manageable and tidy." Arrinoka said as he showed me into a small room filled with beds with a chest on the foot of each, with the exception of the wooden double-bunk beds on the sides of the wall. Seems to be able to comfortably house at least forty servants at a time. Arrinoka pointed at a different door. "The butler in charge of managing the servant staff has his own room there, but I don't think he would appreciate us barging into his private quarters."

"Yeah, it's not fun when someone is watching you getting dressed. Very distracting and uncomfortable." I replied as I saw Teecam(?) duck into the room to fetch what looked like a hair clip before bowing to us and leaving.

"Yinglets don't seem to have a lot of privacy among their own numbers, I take it?" Arrinoka commented.

I sighed. "Not really! Or at least zhe dumb ones in zhe general male population. Zhey have a hard time grasping zhe concept of privacy."

"I see." Arrinoka added with a short nod.

I turned to him as I cocked my head. "Zhough zhat does make me want to ask somezhing. Where would you have to go in order to have lots of privacy in zhis hold? I've passed by so many people in just a half hour of zhis tour you've given me and I still don't know where your fort begins or ends!"

Arrinoka chuckled. "Well, you have seen the front gates of the fort yesterday. That would be where the start of my fort aught to... well... start."

I groaned. "When you put it like zhat, yeah. Zhat's zhe entrance into your fort." I pointedly said. I then shook my head. "But zhis is a big fort! And no self-respecting fortress wouldn't be a proper fortress wizhout having a quiet place to help clear your zhoughts. Not to mention a backdoor, or secret tunnel, or escape plan if zhere was some sort of emergency happening."

Arrinoka blinked at me in surprise. He then looked up and scratched his chin in thought. "Hm. Well, there is the dungeons in the lower levels of my fort. But those are more reserved for prisoners and criminals." He then leaned down to my ear and whispered. "And between you and me, knowledge to the locations of the hidden passages are not to be shared to the public peasantry. I wouldn't want cutthroat thieves making their way to my parlor during a ceremony, when everyone's defenses are lax."

I quickly discovered that Arrinoka can change tones at the drop of a hat. I nodded and covered my mouth with my hands. "My lips are sealed on zhe matter."

"Very good." Arrinoka said before patting my head gently and returning to his standing posture. "So! Would you like to visit the dungeons or are you satisfied with the tour?"

Though the idea of exploring the dungeon of a fort was certainly exciting, it was the absolute last thing I wanted to do. I still don't know if I can trust Arrinoka, and there was the matter of visiting the Trademaster's abode and meeting his grounded daughter. Speaking of which. "Actually, I wanted to wait till I talked wizh Trademaster Lecknart and his daughter, Jerrla Lecknart. I want to know if Jerrla and her dog is doing alright."

Arrinoka gave me a reassuring smile. "They will deliver us a response message within the day. I trust in my messengers, Roy, and you should too."

I looked down at my feet and sighed. "Very well. I'll try and be more patient."

"THERE YOU ARE!" A feminine voice shouted at us. Arrinoka and I turned to the source to find a finely dressed lady waltzing towards us, with aggravation in each step and an annoyed scowl wrinkling her face. She wore a bright green dress with pale gray accents, with white feathers shooting out of the collar of a tight blouse, with sleeves that also had white feathers shooting out from the wrists. The end of her dress was absolutely covered in white long feathers that grazed slightly against the ground. She had steel gray eyes, brownish-red hair, pale-tan skin, and a beauty mark on her left cheek.

Arrinoka bowed deeply to the approaching lady. "Ah! Dear lady Kilani! Pleasure to see you in the late morning!"

She stopped with a huff in front of Arrinoka and myself. "There is an important party happening in five days and I want to ensure that all preparations and decorations are ready before our guests arrive. I want to know why you were not present in the dance practice."

"Party?" I parroted.

Arrinoka nodded and sighed. "Ah. You wouldn't know. There are delegates from Kalleg Darr that would be arriving at our fort at some point in the future. It's in an effort to foster good relations with us, and ensure that our trade agreement remains beneficial for both parties. Once the party guests feel satisfied of our patronage, they will give the leaders back at their empire their approval, which we need so they can continue delivering essential assets and materials to our fort."

I looked down at the ground in thought for a few seconds. Ah. So that's how it is. "So zhese people from Kalleg Darr deliver weapons, armor, men and ozher supplies to zhis fort in order to defend zhe zouzhern territories. I take it it's to protect everyone under zhis fort's control, and to fend off any rallied warbands zhat were sent by zhe tribes from zhe Souzhlands. Would zhey really want to take zhose territories as zheir own, or raid and pillage zhe farm crops and livestock?"

"They certainly would on both accounts, given the chance." Arrinoka replied. "Unfortunately, the more boisterous of the tribal warriors also abduct women to take back to their tribes, but this happens somewhat rarely. It used to be that the southern tribals warred against each other on a frequent basis, but the expansion of humanity's more civilized cultures pressured them to unify."

"Am I being ignored?" Lady Kilani worded out sharply.

Arrinoka's attention quickly snapped to the lady. "Oh heavens no! I apologize, my lady. Forgive my rudeness."

Oh, shit, right, the aristocratic woman that was looking for Arrinoka for some reason. I began bowing low to her. "A zhousand pardons, miss. I hope I hadn't incurred your ire when I interrupted your audience wizh Fortmaster Arrinoka. I meagerly hope you would forgive me of my overstep and see zhat I had no intention of drawing focus off of your concerns."

Kilani looked down at me with a raised eyebrow. He then looked at Arrinoka. "Is this one of your new pets, Arri?"

Arrinoka chuckled and smiled. "Yes indeed. Acquired him from an auction only yesterday. And had him registered in my name on the same day too. His name is Roy." He bent down to me. "Roy, this is Lady Kilani Bel DaggerKnuckle. Daughter of the Outerguard Captain."

"Bel DaggerKnuckle? Huh!" I exclaimed in surprise. "I met your fazher only yesterday, but had I known zhat I would see his daughter, I would have dressed up for zhe occasion! And I didn't know he had such a gorgeous daughter in Arisota's Hold too!" I bowed again. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Despite zhe circumstances."

Kilani paused. Blinked. Tilted her head. And then hummed in what might be a half-impressed and half-amused sound. "Hm. Awfully well-spoken for a neon-yellow scav." She then quickly shook her head and turned back to Arrinoka. "Well-spoken scavs aside, I still need your input on the decorations and dance practices. Lest I accuse you for besmirching your duties."

Arrinoka sighed and gestured a surrendering hand to Kilani. "Very well Kilani. Very well." Arrinoka then turned to me. "Roy. Would you like to join us in the meeting hall, or would you return to my quarters and amuse yourself till I send someone to collect you?"

"I zhink I would like to come wizh, if it isn't too much trouble." I replied. "Honestly, learning about zhe political zheater surrounding Arisota's Hold is getting interesting. Zhat, and I zhink zhe seamstress we visited during our tour is along zhe way, so uh, we visit zhe meeting hall, zhen make a detour to zhe seamstress to see if she has finished sewing some new clozhes for me. Does zhat sound good?"

"Sounds adequate. Let us be off then. After you." Arrinoka said, proffering a hand for Kilani to take.

Kilani stared at me and uttered "Strange." quietly before taking Arrinoka's hand and leading him to the meeting hall, with me following behind. I guess she's not used to someone who is a human-turned-yinglet. Or she is unused to a polite yinglet. Or she was made aware that I was naked and that I am rectifying that issue. Either way, we pressed on.

It didn't take long to enter the meeting hall. It was a fairly wide room, which was primarily designed to hold a council to determine the future of Arisota's Hold. However, the room was slowly being modified to appear festive and lively. Ribbons, bows, and streamers of green, gold, black and red decorated the hall, while two banners hung near the center. One of them I easily recognized as the banner of Arisota's Hold, with its white background, brown mountain, black fortress and yellow stars and crown. Odd, considering that Arrinoka's attire normally had a color scheme that was green, gold, black and red.

The flag for the Glorious Empire of Kalleg Darr was most strange. It had a black background, and had a man with white pupil-less eyes, an enormous beard, mustache, and hat that was all red, with two silver hammers pointing directly left and right behind the face, with some kind of green and gold vine circling the face and chaining onto the hammers. Hm. Questions for later.

"Wow. Zhis place looks even more decorated zhan last time I was here." I said aloud. I wonder how Kilani feels about some confetti balls?

"Lord Arisota's servants can certainly push themselves to meet many needs and demands." Kilani said with indifference as she watched the bustling servants in a hawk-like manner.

Arrinoka shook his head with a sigh. "Just don't run them ragged too much, Lady Kilani. The stamina of hired servants can only go so far."

She didn't turn to face Arrinoka, She instead continued to focus on the event planners. "Achieving perfection is an art form, Arri. It's impossible to achieve, but we still reach for it regardless." Her head snapped to one of the servants and she pointed to them. "You there. Tomil Grans. Are you in charge of setting the tables?"

One of the servants turned to face lady Kilani. "Yes mam, but we have only a few errand runners that are bringing the tables up from storage. The others we weren't able to enlist were sent on other important assignments on behalf of the nobles, trademasters and guildmasters."

Kilani pinched the top bridge of her nose. "Of course. Anytime a representative from Kalleg Darr comes here, those snobs always covet the errand runners and messengers." She then shooed away the servant. "Fine then, Tomil. Go about your business. But be snappy!"

"Yes mam!" Tomil the servant said and hurried off.

I watched the servant scurry away before I made my observation aloud. "I take it zhese representatives of Kalleg Darr are not just your weapon suppliers, but also your patrons in ozher ways."

Kilani sighed and turned to face me. "Any layman living outside the fort knows that."

"Yes, but you act as zhough zhese people coming here are just more zhan just mere benefactors." I tilted my head in curiosity. "I want to be bold and guess you have family coming from zhere. Or perhaps someone you might have a crush on. Kinda explains why you want zhis party to be perfect."

"You are strangely perceptive, scav." Kilani said, looking down at me with crossed arms. "I think I see why Arrinoka would be so infatuated with you."

I paused before I shyly looked away. "Oh. Well uh. Zh-zhank you."

Arrinoka subtly crept up to Kilani. "So does this mean you're expecting Vorn to arrive?"

Kilani blushed and stared daggers at Arrinoka. "Arri, I swear to my house that if something happens during the party, I'm going to personally rip your favorite hat in half. Only afterwards will I forgive you then."

Arrinoka chuckled and clapped his hands together once. "Ho ho ho ho ho-okay! Since I like my hats, I think it's time for a change of topic! So what is the reason you brought us here?"

Kilani huffed and slowly twirled once. "I had this dress restitched to fit me more comfortably. You have a better eye for this sort of thing than your tailors or seamstresses, so tell me if anything seems off to you."

Arrinoka sighed, pausing for a second before glancing over Kilani's party dress and giving his judgement. "Honestly, you look fine. Though some of the feathers might need to be clipped if you plan to dance with Vorn during the party." He then turned to me. "Roy. Might you have any constructive criticisms for her attire?"

"Wuh-me?" I asked back, blinking in surprise.

"Yes. Do you think there is something she could add or subtract to her current ensemble?" Arrinoka asked.

I looked up at Kilani. She looked back down at me with mounting curiosity. Kind of a strange feeling, being looked at like this. It was only minutes ago that she couldn't care to look at me since she was more focused on her own plans, though her genuine surprise upon discovering my polite manners and heightened intelligence well above the yinglet standards was well founded. Hmm. I suppose I can give this a shot?

I sighed and looked down. "I'm afraid you must forgive me, lady Kilani. I am not familiar wizh zhe fashions and traditions between zhis hold and Kalleg Darr." I then looked up with a shrug. "All I can offer is tell you some of zhe traditions of yinglet fashion trends. Light blue colors, for example, are usually used as an indicator for fertility. Zhe reed of carnal beckoning, in fact, is a type of plant often worn by female yinglets to indicate zhat zhey are... eh... um... willing to be partnered by a virile mate." I then gestured to Kilani. "But if you don't want to dress yourself wizh blue plants, zhen you could use turquoise gemstones as an alternative, which are light blue in color. Zhings like earrings, necklaces, rings, bracelets, broaches, hair clips, or dress clips studded wizh turquoise might look good on you. Perhaps even on zhe blouse, if I may be bold to suggest?"

Kilani paused before smiling at me. "Turquoise gemstones, you say? Hm. A rather simple suggestion, but still appreciable." She turned to Arrinoka. "Perhaps I can find some turquoise jewelry in this hold?"

Arrinoka sighed. "I doubt my late mother, gods rest her soul, has anything resembling that. You'd have more luck in the marketplace than in my family's personal treasury."

"Mm. I think I shall visit there and see what I can find. The dance practice can wait." She then turned to me with a kind smile. "And as for you, Roy. Thank you for the suggestion." She then reached down to my head and-


Five tactile feelers softly glided across a golden field of wheat, the tips passing through the short lines of bright amber and teasing the perspiring soil they were rooted to. This action, however, didn't proceed without notice. Electric wires beneath this land sensed this disturbance. They sent signals elsewhere, as a lightning bolt of information, deeper into this ground.

Beneath, a mass of solid thought and memory felt information tickle its senses. It ate, absorbed, and delighted in the euphoria. A thunderstorm of activity played inside and around itself, making its cry known, letting all connected to it to know of its jubilation. Announcing delight, the lands beyond the dome reacted appropriately. The blond grasses jutted out from the furrowed roots they were buried in, a quake through calcium-strengthened structures, and a fluttering of two light-drinking spheres were all things that was effected as the five probing probes probed the surface of the small flaxen-covered mountain.

It was though this unexpected heaven felt by the encephalon sequestered within its home of dandelion vibrancy betrayed itself. Caves, filled with wind, compressed and pushed out their payloads past rigid plates, and then pushed further beyond, past rows of red hills and a rank of solid stone horses. It was here that a torrential gust of sonic-powered force bellowed its arrival.

A goddess beamed down her praise, beaming her glittering blessings. It was at this point when her presence left this domain that reality and consciousness returned to normalcy.


"Weh~."

What.

Once Kilani finished patting my head, she curtsied to us both while saying "Farewell." She then took her leave and left for the marketplace.

"Be sure to bring some bodyguards with you!" Arrinoka shouted before Kilani was out of earshot. She nodded back to Arrinoka before escaping the meeting hall completely. Arrinoka sighed. "She has fire in her heart and in her step. She is certainly Borafous' daughter."

"Uh... Y-yeah." I rubbed my ears and face in confusion. What in the fek did I just experience? It was like I was on another world. Or that my instincts and emotions had wrested themselves out of my control and frolicked. Is this what it feels like to be given affection after being touch-starved for such a long time? Well whatever that was, it's gone now. Oh, and it looks like Kilani is making her escape. Ah well. Hate to say goodbye, love to see her go, and all that jazz.

"Alright then." Arrinoka said as he patted my back. "Let's see if the seamstress has completed a set of clothes for you."

Just then, we were interrupted by a new voice. "Lord Arisota. A message from Trademaster Lecknart has been sent and delivered for you perusal." We turned around to see a messenger, dressed in jogging clothes colored with the green gold black and red of Arisota's Hold's traditional national colors. He also had a rolled up scroll of parchment in his hands.

Lecknart turned to the messenger and relaxed his hands behind his back. "Very well. Read the message to us please."

The messenger nodded before opening the scroll and reading aloud its contents. "To the Fortmaster of Arisota's Hold, and to my dear friend, Lord Arrinoka Arisota, I write to you in response to your last message.

"It has been only a few days that my daughter has ventured forth recklessly with one of my family's pets, but Jerrla and Duchess has finally returned to me. I hope that this news assuaged your concern over my family's unfortunate drama. Though embarrassing for me to share, I am relieved that this stint in our future bloodlines have not become further complicated. To think that the farmer named Mr Dannolt Climp had been responsible of her safe return! Alas, I have granted him a small reward for the safe return of my dear daughter.

"Furthermore, I had not known that you have taken a yinglet as a pet. You must have had a lot of explaining to do with the Exotic Animals Registry Guild when you said you wish for ownership of the thing. Could this mean that the policy for certain animal bounties are to be lifted soon? I might not speak for everyone in your hold, but I would imagine the commoner and peasant classes would be irked if they knew this information. To live among scavs is not something they would be eager for, after all. Thus it came as a surprise for you to ask me of any advice regarding the raising and keeping of a yinglet pet. Though I can understand lending information to help inform a fellow pet owner, knowledge pertaining to the caring for yinglets is, unfortunately, not a strong specialty of mine.

"But during my time of traveling, I have learned much from several other people across our world. Ranging from lowly beggars to mercenary kings, from man and sentient beast capable of understandable languages. I have learned much, yet my knowledge of yinglet care is unfortunately lacking. However, as your friend, I will strive to provide anything you might need. I shall graciously invite you to my home tomorrow for the purposes of regaling old tales of our pasts, but also to teach you of what I know of the yinglet species and how you might care for one as a companion. If you should bring your pet along, then I will ensure my hill-dogs do not hunt down your new pet and gore him to bloody shreds and wet bits. Bear in mind that my daughter is still under disciplinary action at the moment. I may be coerced into letting her play with your pet for the time you are at my tradehouse, but she will have to return to her punishment upon your leave.

"With humble regards, Trademaster of the Lecknart House, Lord Zackis Lecknart."

"P.S. Bring booze. That is the end of this message, my lord." The messenger finished.

Arrinoka nodded and shooed the messenger away. "Thank you. You may leave us be."

I could feel blood draining from my face. Oh fek. This trademaster says he has hill-dogs in his home. Oh I am suddenly not feeling comfortable about visiting his house. But then again he did say he's going to keep his pets in a different room. That shouldn't be too much of an issue. I guess. Still though, hearing the words 'gore him to bloody shreds and wet bits' gave me a pang of terror. Is this some kind of karma? Had Kilani's head-pat cursed my soul? "Um... Did Zackis mention somezhing about me being gored by his hill-dogs?" I tentatively asked.

Arrinoka looked down at me and chuckled. "Oh there is absolutely nothing to fear, Roy! You'll be completely fine. Trust me on this. Zackis and I go way back, so you have nothing to worry about."

Fine. I'll trust you. On this matter, at least. I sigh a defeated sigh. "Shall we abscond to zhe seamstress now?"

Arrinoka smiled. "But of course. Lead the way."

Great. So uh... Do I take a left here or go straight?


A/N: Gonna proofread this later. Holidays are emotionally draining.

:EDIT: Proofread complete.