Chapter Seven:
Pearls before Swine
A group of eight servants managed to squeeze themselves into the room, luckily each of them were small, young bunnies, only a few was larger than the captain. Small in stature, maybe, but very thorough with their work and all organized in working together. Four of them carried the food in a large cauldron. Immediately, they started spooning some into bowls for the group. Another stepped in with several metal buckets stacking them near the hearth before working to build a fire. The last three carried in a large wooden water basin, setting it in the corner of the room.
Once the fire was going, the one who built it warmed buckets of water to fill the bathing basin. Two of the servant bunnies, a brown and white spotted lop-eared bunny and a solid gray rabbit, unfolded the dividing screen for some privacy. The small group watched the servant work while they enjoyed their stew. The large meaty chunks were soft and paired well with the fresh veggies floating in the thick broth. A few crusts of bread were the perfect addition to cleaning out the bowls.
After everyone had eaten their fill, Aza was the first to be bathed. Gideon could hear her fussing and grumbling at the roaming hands that worked to clean her ever crevice. A soft voice, cooed to her, explaining that they were very good at what they did. Aza had a few more spiteful words to utter, but afterward, she simmered down and accepted the grooming. Once she was out of the tub she hurried from behind the divider giving everyone a full glimpse of her nakedness. There were scars covering her body, bare patches weaving throughout her fur. The small mounds of her breasts were peaked with tightly turned, large dark nipples. There were two other sets, smaller in size, that lay underneath. Just like her other world counterpart, Aza's pseudo-penis was drawn tight against the chill in the room.
"Well, I'll be. It's true what they say about hyena females. That's something to log in my book of songs to sing later." Nicholas kept his eyes locked on the small dark-skinned growth.
"If you so much as utter one word, I shall cleave you in half." Aza glared.
"Hyena maiden captured my heart..." He began.
"Stop it." Aza hissed.
Finn fell back on the bed, letting out a high-pitched laugh. The sound caused Aza to clench her fists so tightly her hands shook with rage. Even Benjamin was forced to stifle his laugh. Gideon stayed quiet, watching Aza cover herself away. It amazed him, how much his Aza mirrored this one. It caused a homesick feeling to swirl in his tummy.
"Oh, what web she weave to tangle." Nicholas let out a beautiful high tone, strumming in pitch with his voice.
Aza lurched towards him. Gideon was quick to wrap his arms around her midsection feeling her naked, wet body tightly against him. One boob pressed again his cheek, her hardened nipple poking him. Gideon's face ignited into an inferno. So burning hot with a blush that helped him keep his composure against the teasing lyrics the Bard sang.
"Broke my heart when I saw her dangle..." The fox let his voice slip to a deep rumbling tone, holding it.
"That's enough!" Aza was clearly angry, a bright red blush piercing the tan fur on her cheeks.
"Easy." Gideon uttered through a hitching chuckle. "He's just playing, don't let him get to you."
"I..." Aza let out a growl and relaxed in the baker's grip. "You must sleep sometime, Bard."
"Excuse me." The mousy lop-eared bunny whispered. "I'm ready for the next one."
Finn slid from the bed to the floor. "Alright, I'm looking forward to your magic hands cleaning all my filth off."
"I must remind you, this is not that kind of bath, sir." The lop-eared lead him behind the screen.
"You say that now, that'll all change, just you wait." Finn snickered.
A pair of bunnies stepped up and spirited Aza to the other corner of the room. They worked to dress her in a beige tunic and brown pants. It was a plain looking outfit that matched the color of her fur a little too well. It wasn't an attractive look, but Gideon knew he shouldn't complain. They were free clothes after all and he would, at least, have a shirt again.
A few minutes passed and Finn stepped out from behind the screen. With a towel covering his modesty. The lop-eared following behind. Her cheeks flushed bright red and a coy smile hung from her lips.
Finn looked back at her and touched her chin affectionately. "See, told you."
"I, am going to need to lay down for a while." She said reaching up and rubbed the cheek he'd touched.
Without another word, the lop-eared walked to the door, knocking on it. A moment later the door opened and she disappeared through it. Everyone turned to glare at the small fox. He gave a sly smirk before walking over to the dressers in the corner.
A dark furred rabbit cleared his throat. "We should hurry, I would hate to disappoint the captain by failing in this task."
The bunny was handsome and tall by bunny standards and Gideon, who had just recovered from the blush that assaulted him earlier was starting to feel the burn again. The pudgy baker-fox got up from the wooden chair a little more eager than he meant too. The rabbit gave a warm smile and nodded him back behind the screen. A smaller male with cream colored fur was waiting back there with a brush and a bottle of scented oil.
The dark male reached down gripping the band of Gideon's pants giving them a firm jerk. The gesture caused a tingle deep inside the pudgy fox. A puzzled look washed over the young male's face. He knelt down in front of the baker for a better look. The gesture made the blush grow even brighter on Gideon's face.
"These are curious trousers," He mused running his fingers along the denim.
"Would..." Gideon huffed. "Would you like me to help you with that?"
"Please,"
Gideon unbuttoned his jeans pushing them down so the pooled around his ankles. He was left standing in a pair of heart-shaped boxers. Again a confused look came to the young male's face. The rabbit played with the elastic band on the shorts before pulling them down.
"Interesting. You have a small set of trousers under your trousers. What a strange land you must come from." The rabbit looked up at Gideon with his dark brown eyes.
"You don't know the half of it, buddy," Gideon smirked, as the smaller male rabbit helped him into the tub.
"Just relax, we're just going to make you feel good." The dark male said dumping some of the warm water over his pudgy body.
"I've no doubts there." Gideon rested his feet on the lip of the wooden basin before he closed his eyes.
The dark rabbit had been true to his word, Gideon felt so clean and refreshed. Nothing scandalous happened behind the screen. It was simply a bath but the pair of rabbits had taken to massaging the oils into his fur. Any tight muscle in his body was relaxed. The baker-fox was so relaxed that he stumbled out from behind the screen. Brother Benjamin was all too eager to take his place once the two young males came on duty.
Gideon moved over to the dressers, the two females were already starting to choose whatever size shirt that would fit him. A burgundy tunic, that was actually a little too large for him. He stepped down into a pair of baggy, gray trousers, tucking in the hem of his shirt before one of the bunnies worked to tie the string at the front of the pants. Despite the coarse fabric, the outfit was surprisingly comfortable. Aza, however, didn't agree. Gideon had been watching her tug at her sleeves the whole time he'd been getting dressed. When he moved over to stand with her. She glared at him, her golden eyes looked haggard.
"I hate this." Aza grunted tugging hard on her shirt sleeves. "I don't know how anyone can dress up like this, I feel like a jester."
"Gotta be honest, I was kinda wondering the same thing," Gideon smirked up at her.
Gideon turned, gripping one of her shirt sleeves. With a hard pull, he was able to rip the sleeve off at the crudely sewn hem. Aza watched, a wave of relief coming to her face as she felt the fabric fall away. Once it was gone, the pudgy fox moved to the other sleeve, giving it the same treatment. Aza squished his face with her coarse hands. She smiled, it's a stern straight-lipped look. There was an affection behind it that Gideon had never seen before. It was sweet enough to make him smile in return. Aza was all too eager to return the favor. Giving the baker's sleeves a firm pull.
"Barbarians." Nicholas uttered, watching as they destroyed their shirts. "You should have enjoyed it for at least a little while longer. I'm fairly certain our next makeovers won't be as pleasant."
"How so?" Gideon cocked his head.
"They're gonna execute us. Probably in the morning, unless they're total dicks and decide to throw us in jail and torture us to see if we know anything." Finn explained, adjusting to fit back in his original outfit. The dressers didn't have anything small enough to fit the tiny fox.
"I'm certain that it won't come to that. We just need to have faith that the king is a reasonable mammal." Benjamin stepped out from behind the screen, shyly covering himself away from prying eyes.
"I'm all fine with you believing in your god or goddess, or whatever you believe in and that through your faith you're gonna be saved. But I'd personally like to have a back-up plan if this all goes south in a hurry." Gideon whispered, crossing his arms.
"Who is this that stand before me. Those are not the words of the baker fox I once knew." Aza rested a strong hand on his shoulder.
"Nope, still a baker-fox, but I ain't gonna be baking much of anything if I'm dead." Gideon gave her a coy smile.
"Don't you two worry your pretty little heads. I have a plan already worked out." Nicholas had a smug look on his face.
"Care to share it with the rest of us, Bard?" Aza grunted.
"Nah, it's a need to know basis and you don't need to know, right now." Nicholas used his claw to pick a piece of meat from between his teeth.
"Of all the-" Aza was interrupted by the door opening.
Captain Hopps stepped into the room with Buja behind her. There was a stern look on her face. Everyone had been bathed as per Bellwether's orders. That is except for Nicholas, who was still clad in his Bard's attire. An angry look came to the bunny's face as she glared at the young dark male.
"Why isn't he prepped and ready?" Judy spoke through gritted teeth.
"Lucia got sick and needed to leave, thus we fell behind. I'm terribly sorry for my failings." The rabbit uttered, his ears falling back against his head.
"It can't be helped," Judy pursed her lips. "Report to the scullery, you'll have a week's worth of duties to attend to, there."
"No, don't do that to him. Why don't you just go outside and come back in a few minutes? Then I'll be nice and squeaky clean. Then, nothing bad has to happen to this beautiful example of rabbithood." Nick chided the captain, his smile so wide it showed all of his teeth.
"I gave him an order and he failed to follow it. He shall be punished as will the others." Judy snapped.
"Oh, I think I get it. You're just jealous because he's more attractive than you." Nicholas bit his bottom lip, waiting to see her reaction.
Judy drew her sword in blinding speed, digging the tip of the blade in the fox's throat. "One more word and I will kill you."
Nicholas didn't lose his cool nature. "Are you done? There's nothing you can do to me, lap dog. Any harm that comes to me and you'll never get your precious stone back. So," Nicholas leaned back, pushing the sword away from his throat. "If we're finally ready to get the party started, I'm getting tired of waiting around."
"Enjoy this while you can, fox. Soon you'll be useless to the king and then...I'll have my way with you." Judy growled at him.
Nicholas' eyes went wide and his smirk faded for only a second. Judy's face shifting from its stern demeanor to a look of surprise when she realized her own phrasing. Quickly she walked to the door, avoiding any further teasing from the Bard.