Chapter 75, In Blood and Glory Arc.

I wanted to swear. A lot. My golden tail was gently boffing me between the ears to remind me not to, but still, I really wanted to swear.

And find Hermes. Who else could have done this? I wanted to find Him, tie Him up, and give him a wedgie that Odin Himself would invite me to His mead hall to tell tales of. Then, while Hermes was thus occupied, hang Him off the lightning rod on top of Babel.

"Does she usually glow like that?" Garon asked, sounding a little worried.

"Only when she is very angry." Mikoto said. "It is something we rarely see."

"Lilly thinks Lady Kodori needs a hug."

"Ko-san..." Haruhime gave me a hug, and I felt my anger fizzle out.

"Haruhime-chan gives good hugs." Asuka said, "But... What are we going to do?"

"Well." Marius started, and I opened my eyes again to look at him, and wrapped Haruhime up in my tails. "We have a few options, I think." He said, "If my Captain would permit?"

"Let's see how much you've learned." I said wearily, putting a hand on my belly, "And if you have any food?"

Garon nodded, giving me a knowing smile, while Marius continued, "With just who we have here. We could probably walk into the palace and take over. I'd rather not, simply because a stray arrow could mean much more than an annoyance." Haruhime and I nodded, "We could, well... Some of us could, blend in with the locals, and find out where this other God is. It's probably Hermes, but if it isn't then... And find Ares."

"We haven't seen Him. Or any pillars of light signalling a return." Garon said as he entered the room again with most of a loaf of bread. "It's not the best you'll ever have, but, I've learned to use the forge for more than metal."

"Old man... That's sacrilege!" Welf said, shocked.

"Boy, if I don't eat something other than army rations once in a while, I'll forget how to swing a hammer."

Marius continued as Haruhime and I shared the bread, trying not to make too much noise as we gnawed the very crunchy outer crust. "A third idea... Master Garon. Aside from you, and the Constable, who else is with you?"

"You're sharp. Yes, we have a small... movement, I suppose. In opposition of the King. Since the army are all adventurers, it's not a very big group, but we have a few people." Garon replied, "What did you have in mind?"

"Well... We need information. I would rather avoid open conflict, even with Lady Kodori and Lady Haruhime tucked away safe..."

"We're pregnant, not invalid." I said.

"True, but, you alone, even as you are, could probably flatten the city. If I am going to rule, I'd rather it be over Rakia, not Rubble." Marius smiled, "How well guarded is the palace?"

"As well as it usually is I suppose. I don't get out much, as you can see. But your father has become a little more paranoid recently." Garon replied.

"And the Queen, my mother?" Marius asked, actually sounding hopeful.

"Also not seen for a time. But well, last she was."

"Very well..." Marius rubbed a hand through his hair. "Here's what I propose."

The next morning, Haruhime Lilly and I were hiding in Garon's workshop. We were actually helping him work too, but for the most part, being non-human in a human supremacist country would draw far too many eyes. Mikoto, Asuka, Marius and even Takemikazuchi were out in the city, dressed in either spare armour or civilian clothing. Asuka and Mikoto had to wrap up their hair, as black hair was uncommon here, while Marius and Takemikazuchi were in borrowed armour. If nothing went wrong, they would return by lunch.

"Lilly understands why Welf does so much sharpening. But it's not as easy as it looks."

Speaking of our smith, he also went out in borrowed armour, to visit his father. Mostly to tell him what was going on, and also, maybe, say sorry for beating him up so bad all those months ago.

Yeah, who was I kidding?

"I'm not allowed to sharpen stuff." I said, "Except maybe arrow heads."

"Ko-san? Is this okay?" Haruhime held up a blade carefully, "I did it just how Welf-san showed me."

"Actually, not bad at all." I said, examining the edge without touching it, and the blade itself too. Garon must have really hated his job... It was probably the best cheap sword I'd ever seen... But it wouldn't hold up a month in the dungeon, even against goblins.

"Not bad Goldy." Garon said as he entered from the 'store front' area, "And I know that look Fox." He sighed, "We don't have all those fancy metals you guys have in Orario. I do the best with what I got. And I don't got much."

"Oh come on... I know you can do better." I said.

"Sure, but it would take time I don't have. I have to have at least six of those done in a day. A day! With no apprentices! They hold up to hard training, and to them, that's enough." He grumbled, "I almost feel like I'm on vacation with you three in here, even if you're just a little better than a random scrub off the street."

I raised an eyebrow, "Random scrub huh?"

"Ko-san..." Haruhime sighed, tugging my sleeve.

"That's right. Spend all the time making stuff, but no weapons? Why not?"

"Well, I'm cursed." I said, "And, like your grandson, I'd rather not give something to someone I wouldn't trust myself. So, I do armour, not weapons. But..."

"Ko-san... You don't have your hand cream." Lilly giggled as Haruhime pouted at me.

She knew me well. It felt like Garon had poked at my pride as a smith. I usually didn't rile to things like that. But, like Welf, I felt like I could really respect this man, and I wanted to earn his respect in kind.

"You gonna show me something new? Or are you just going to bend armour into shape all morning?" Garon teased.

"If you find me some fine sand, and a small list of simple things, I will show you what I've learned under Welf's schooling." I found a scrap of paper on a workbench, and scribbled down a few things, "And a mortal and pestle."

He took the list and squinted at it. "You can't use this stuff for smithing..."

I rolled up my sleeves, letting Haruhime tie them in place, then reached with my bare hand into the furnace to pick up the block of metal Garon had heating up, "Less talk, old man, and give me that hammer."

"You teased her, didn't you." Welf said as he entered the workshop, still half dressed in Rakia soldier armour.

"I regret nothing." Garon said, his voice slightly awestruck. "I'll have to replace a couple of my hammer handles, but..."

Around me, still cooling, were a half dozen sword blanks. Basically bars of hammered steel, waiting for final form. This was as far as I was comfortable with weapon making. Any further, and a simple scratch on my arm or hand would dissolve the metal in to dust. I'd done this a few times for Welf. I knew how he liked his metal, so when he was in a rush, he'd just tell me 'make me a bar of steel about this long', and I'd do it.

"Hammer handles? Okay." I said, reaching into the forge to pull out a bar of steel and snapping it in half like candy. "I'll just make it out of this, and you'll never need to replace it again."

"Ko-san... Your shirt is on fire again." Haruhime swatted at me with a damp cloth to put out what might have been the fourth little fire I'd started on myself. "At least you still have your eyebrows and hair..."

"Thank you, love." I replied, my tails brushing against her as I used my hands to twist one end of the glowing metal into a handle, and crushing the other end so it would fit into the hammer head. "So any news Welf?" I asked.

"Well, father is still an idiot. But he's been keeping an ear out. Most of the soldiers he outfits are wondering what the rush is. The king keeps saying 'war war war', but isn't saying how they might win. Or how badly the last one went."

"And with all the old soldiers out in the fields, or buried in them..." I trailed off, "You don't use lead in the aqueducts, do you?" I asked Garon, "Or for metal wine cups?"

"Not since the last mad king." Garon said, "About... two hundred years ago?"

"Always wondered." Welf commented, "I mean, what's the problem?"

"Like gold, lead is soft. You know that. But, when it gets into the body, it's like a poison, goes to the head, but slowly." I explained, forming the last of the hammer handle, and checking it for balance, then cooling it in the water trough. "It doesn't rust, it's cheap and plentiful too, but very bad for you over time."

"Heh, you did say she was smart." Garon chuckled, "We're still waiting for the others to return."

"Shouldn't be much longer." Welf said, "Unless something bad happened."

"Lilly thinks you shouldn't jinx it."

A short time later, Asuka was the first to return, looking a little worried, but otherwise fine. Takemikazuchi was next, his calm smile missing from his face. Then Marius, looking about as angry as I'd ever seen him.

"Where's Mikoto?" I asked, carefully handing Garon a sword blank and finding a rag to wipe the metal slag from my hands.

"She stayed behind." Asuka started holding up a hand to stall our sudden alarm, "No no, nothing bad. She found a good place to hide near the palace, and told me she was going to hide there until evening."

"Lilly wonders why though?"

"Did she hide near a red brick shed? Between the palace and the gardens..."

"In the bell tower near that." Asuka finished, making Marius chuckle.

"I used to hide there all the time before I received Falna." Marius said, "So long as she covers her ears when the bell rings, she should be safe there. If she were one to drink, I'd buy her one."

"Oh... She's scouting." Welf grinned, "She hit me last time I called her a ninja, but she really is good at it."

Takemikazuchi's smile returned for a moment, "She has always been talented." He said, "I found little out in the city. People are worried. Those too young or old for the army are wondering if their fathers or sons will return."

"Much the same for me." Asuka said, "I couldn't really talk to many people... The market square is almost barren... The King has been 'appropriating' goods, so prices are high. People are starving out in the streets, at least, the streets that aren't patrolled."

"Begging was made illegal in public. But, the patrols stay off some streets just to allow those people to beg. If a person walks those streets, they usually walk out a little lighter of coin, willing or not."

"You have a big job ahead of you." Garon said, "When you ascend the throne."

"Well... The old man told me more or less the same. A few of the old guard are still in the city, like the Constable. 'Places of honour' they call it." Welf grimaced, "But, they are almost all behind a desk someplace, out of sight. They are however, still holding hope for you." He looked at Marius.

"Well then..." Garon scratched his beard, putting down a freshly sharpened sword, "Someone want to put a handle on that?" Welf took the blade, giving it a critical look, then went about putting a handle on it. "When the Constable comes by to pick up today's work, what should we tell him?"

We all looked at Marius, who blinked. "Well... I know what you feel like now, Lady Kodori."

"Being the captain is almost as hard as being the big sister." I said with a grin, putting a few things into the mortal and pestle Garon had gotten me.

"Well. I will guess, by Ma'am Mikoto's actions, she will be back around third bell. If she isn't, we will head to the palace to find her."

"And if she is back?" Haruhime asked, handing me a few more things to mix in.

"Regardless of her return, we will tell the Constable to notify the others he knows, that I am back, and intend to confront my father. If we must rescue Ma'am Mikoto, it will be... undiplomatic. If we don't, then I will find someone with the King's ear, and have them deliver my message."

"What about Ares?" Welf asked, "I mean... You're still bound to Takemikazuchi Familia. Not a bad thing, but part of the promise was to switch you back again, right?"

"Let's hope He can be found. If my father won't listen to anyone, then Ares might be the only one able to get through to him."

The Constable came and went with very little spoken. Simply, "Smith! Your work for the day is due." The rest of us waited very very quietly as Garon came back to the workshop, picked up the bundle of a half dozen finished swords, and returned to the front room.

"Here you go." Garon said. "Try not to break them all at once."

"You know how enthusiastic the new troops can be. I'll let them know to be careful."

"You do that." Garon grunted, followed by the sound of three pairs of boots marching away, then a closing door. He returned to the workshop a moment later, "Right, message sent. Let's hope he gets a moment to send it."

We all sighed quietly, "He had an escort then?" Asuka asked.

"Yes. He does only have one hand." The elder smith sat down heavily, "Lost it to rot. Something I'm sure you folks have never had to worry about."

"Early on Bell and I had to worry about it. Being too poor to be able to use potions without really good reason." I said, "I was also prone to getting bitten... A lot."

Haruhime giggled quietly, taking my hands and nodding her approval, "It was actually something we brought supplies for."

"You mentioned that. What did you all bring with you, anyhow?" Garon asked.

"Well..." Marius smiled, "Since they had an expert..."

"Two of them." Welf chimed in, bumping fists with Marius.

"To ask what Rakia needed," Marius continued, "Those wagons are loaded with simple cures, as well as seeds we can use to grow the ingredients. There are books with the knowledge to help our farms produce more reliably, as well as seeds for new things we can grow. Like potatoes."

"The second most boring thing you can eat." Garon said.

"Ah!" Marius sounded a little more excited now, "We also have onion bulbs to plant. And seeds for spices. As well as more books to tell us how to treat the soil so they will grow. As well as plans for something called... A..." He looked to me.

"A green house." I said, "Basically, a building you can grow what ever you want in, year round, provided you pay attention to conditions inside." I grinned, "And a way to make the glass you will need for the walls."

"A glass house? Really?" Garon frowned.

"Yes. The knowledge we needed to make Rakia prosper is freely available in Orario." Marius picked up again, "I simply needed to ask. With at least five years to adjust, we could have entire fields of crops we never thought possible, orchards too. People would be well fed. All the people. And we could actually have excess to trade to other countries! Imagine, Rakia prospering."

"I'm honestly a little more excited about the food." Garon admitted, grinning through his beard, "What about Ares? Do you think He will step away from trying to make war with everything?"

"If He doesn't." Marius said seriously, "I will return to Takemikazuchi Familia." He looked to Takemikazuchi Himeself.

"While I am a god of war, I have my place in Orario." He smiled, "But, I would be happy to either help you myself, or find one who will. Perhaps Lady Astraea?" He looked to me, "Do you think she might enjoy this sort of thing?"

"I'm sure She would enjoy getting involved with people again. Though, lets not surprise Her with it." I replied, "Let's hope Ares sees reason. Maybe you and Him could talk about the joys of raising orphans?"

"That was third bell." Asuka said, nibbling on some of that super hard yet quite filling bread. Garon had grumbled about how much we were eating, but he knew it was for a good cause. "Do we go looking for her?"

Marius thought for a moment, "Not yet. It takes about twenty minutes to walk from here to the palace." He did however, pick up his borrowed sword and tested the edge.

I was carefully rubbing Haruhime's shoulders, smiling. Marius would prove a very capable planner. All those games of chess with Lilly were paying off too.

Haruhime and I had switched places, her delicate hands applying just enough pressure to work out some of the new kinds of stiffness the extra weight of pregnancy provided, when Mikoto entered the workshop.

Except, she wasn't alone. Over her shoulder, facing towards us, was a butt.

Well, it was the first thing I noticed at least. Said butt was attached to a pair of well toned legs and dressed in a pair of simple rough cloth pants that went just past the knees. Carefully, Mikoto put the person down on a bench, and took the cloth she had used earlier to hide her black hair from the general public off the person's head.

Short, dressed in rough uncoloured cloth, the person was a young girl, maybe twelve to fifteen, with pointed ears like Eina's, light brown hair, and frightened green eyes. Just on the edge of a growth spurt, or perhaps simply underfed, she was kind of scrawny, but looked healthy enough. The most notable feature however, was the simple iron collar around her neck.

"Sorry I'm late. Mikoto said, bowing to everyone after putting the girl down. "But it took a little time to find someone Lilly's size."

"Lilly doesn't like the sound of this."

I caught on instantly, and Marius's face lit up a little a moment later, "I stayed hidden, making note of patrols and the like from the bell tower." Mikoto explained, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder. The girl was shaking like a leaf at this point, but Mikoto's hand seemed to calm her just a tiny bit. She was completely silent, save for a little bit of teeth chattering. "I spotted several servants, like this one, through the windows, wandering the halls."

"Lilly really is going to pout now." Haruhime stopped my back rub, and went to comfort Lilly.

"At the sound of the bell, I saw her leaving a room, and brought her back with me. No one should miss her until morning, I think. I also took note of various rooms, and know where the servants sleep and eat." Mikoto knelt down in front of the half elf girl. "Worry not. We will not harm you."

"Ma'am Mikoto..." Marius started, then shook his head and moved to kneel down next to the samurai woman, "Here..." He gently took the girl's chin, "Please open your mouth."

Mikoto looked like she was going to be sick, as she turned away from what she saw.

"It is common here, that half breeds, orphans especially, are treated like this." Garon growled. "She's lucky they didn't clip her ears too."

I felt my stomach turn a little, but I had honestly kind of expected it. "Just another thing to fix, Marius."

"Indeed." He let the girl's chin go, and instead put his hands on her tiny shoulders, "Girl. Do you know who I am?" He very gently gave her a little shake to get her to focus on his face.

She looked at him, blinked, then hesitantly shook her head, then stopped, unsure, then shook her head again.

"I am Marius, first born Prince of Rakia. These are my friends. Asuka, Lilly, Kodori, Haruhime, Garon, Welf, and Mikoto who rescued you." He then pointed to Takemikazuchi, "That is Lord Takemikazuchi, one of the most kind hearted Gods in the world." He looked back to her, and the girl focused on his face again. "I need your help with something. In exchange for your help, I offer you freedom. Not just you, but all of the ones like you." He shuffled back a little, and extended a big hand, "Will you help me?"

She looked at the big hand, and instead of taking it, she jumped at him and wrapped her arms around him as best she could.

"Lilly feels bad about hating this."

"You're still the best supporter." I said, watching Marius push the girl away gently and pat her head.

"Now." Marius said, "Go with Lilly, and do as she asks. Then, come back here, and we'll get you some food."

While the girl and Lilly went into the next room, Mikoto elaborated on what she had found out. First, she said quite plainly, that the queen was alive, but had been locked in her room. She knew it was the queen's room, after very quickly asking the girl before escaping back to the workshop. Guard patrols were thorough, but regular. There was just enough time to slip between patrols if timed right too.

She had not seen Ares, or anyone else she recognized, and she could get no where near the main gates, closest to the throne room.

"To avoid capture, I took no risks, yet brought back so little information." She said, eyes downcast.

"No, you did well." Marius said, "I am glad my mother lives. And the patrols are actually a little lighter than when I was here last, if only just." He pondered, "Though... I am not sure how long our absence in Constable's care will go without notice."

"Might be best to move tonight?" I asked.

"We could..." Marius frowned.

"Lilly thinks it itches." We all turned to look towards Lilly's voice, and spotted two of the half elf girl. One in the rough cloth shirt and pants, the other wearing Lilly's robe. The iron collar was still on the slave girl however. "The collar has no lock... So Lilly couldn't take it."

Garon knelt next to the girl, making her hide behind Lilly. "Come here girl..." He said, his voice kind, "Hm. Simple enough." he looked to Welf, "Number four chisel, and the little sledge there."

The girl whimpered very quietly, the first noise she had made, but co-operated as Garon got her up on a stool, and bowed her head over the anvil, "Clench your teeth, and cover your ears." Welf said to her, holding the collar and chisel steady, then nodding up to Garon when she put her fingertips into her ears. A single strike was all it took, and with Welf's strength, he easily bent the collar open wide enough for the girl to slip out of it. "There, feel better?" He ruffled her hair, grimacing, "Old man, you got a wash basin?"

"Thanks to my work being so important," He said 'important' with enough sarcasm I could almost imagine it dripping all over the floor, "I have my own little well too. I'll get it ready while you guys plan."

"Lilly thinks this collar would look better in silver." She said, tilting her chin up so Welf could bend the collar around her neck and use a bit of wire to close it.

"Ma'am Lilly." Marius started, "Go with Mikoto, and deliver a letter for me." Marius sat down, finding a bit of paper and scribbling hastily, "We will wait until almost sunrise, before we head to the palace."

"Right through the front gate?" Asuka asked, her knuckles popping as she clenched her fists.

"Not quite. I was thinking of a side door." He said, looking at Haruhime and I, "Could I bother you two for a pair of foxes?"

I looked at the half elf girl, "Do you like animals? Cats? Dogs?" She hesitated, but nodded slowly. "Hold out your hands." She did, and I placed one of my tails over them. With a deep breath, I pushed a little of my magic out, and slid my tail over her palms, leaving behind a gold edged black fox.

"Ko-san is much better at that than I am." Haruhime said, brushing a tail over Mikoto, leaving a black edged gold fox perched on her shoulder.

"There." I said, patting the girl's head as my little fox sat in her hands, "What did you have in mind?" I looked up to Marius, feeling the girl timidly pat the mini-fox's ears.

"Well..." He said, folding up the bit of paper and handing it to Lilly.

Watching through my little fox's eyes, the little apparition clung to Lilly's shoulder as her and Mikoto ran towards the palace.

We had each gotten a little nap, and set off about an hour before daybreak. Marius, Welf, Takemikazuchi and Asuka were off gathering up the Constable's contacts. Garon, myself and Haruhime were still in the workshop, waiting for our part in the plan. The two foxes were only there for the extra eyes on the way there, and later, to look around for 'person's of interest'. Mikoto was only there to act as a guide for Lilly, and then she was off to join Marius.

"Remember the map?" I whispered in Lilly's pointed ear, "Hm... I almost want to try nibbling this ear."

"Lilly will pout if you do." She replied quietly, "We are almost there?"

Mikoto nodded, pointing just a little further ahead.

I wasn't sure what to expect. Sure, red granite and Marble seemed to be the two themes. However, I wasn't expecting what I saw at all. Well, sort of. The front of the palace seemed to be the standard from back where I was from. Thick pillars supporting a low triangle roof. It was elevated a fair bit too, with a wide red granite staircase leading up to the wide double doors of the entrance. The thing that surprised me however, was the bell tower, looking a little like the Big Ben tower of England, without the clock, and the two towers. With bottoms at the base of the staircase, they were wide, square, and had many small windows. A normal army, from a non-magical day and age, would have a hard time simply walking up to the front doors with towers like that. All manner of archers could be in there. The bases were red granite slabs too, building up to white marble as the towers reached the same elevation of the main building at the top of the steps. It looked good. But in the gloom, with my eyes not quite picking up all the colours, it looked like...

A castle dipped in blood.

"This way." Mikoto called my attention back to the present, "The left tower, just above the red stone."

"Lilly sees the window."

"There is a side entrance, for a kitchen, just around the back." Mikoto said, "You will enter there.

"Lilly better get a back rub later." She said to my little fox.

"We will both give you one." Haruhime's fox replied, hopping from one of Mikoto's shoulders to the other, then to the ground. "We guarantee you will be unable to move after."

"I will join the others. Be careful, Lilly-dono." Mikoto said, stopping at what looked like the last shrub nearest the tower. "You have... A count to thirty before the next patrol."

My little fox ran ahead, around the side of the tower and towards a door. Through my mimic's nose, I could faintly smell baking bread. As I got to the door, I could also hear someone humming quietly inside. Carefully, I pushed my ghostly nose against the gap at the bottom of the door, and sort of... melted my way inside.

To Haruhime, back in my body, I said, "One person. Large. Woman. Baking bread. Back facing door."

Hiding my ghostly fox behind a table leg, I heard the door unlatch, and watched as Lilly entered, looking tired, cold, a little damp, and using her very best puppy eyes. Haruhime's fox joined me under the table, keeping out of sight as we watched a thick pair of legs, clothed in plain uncoloured wool, but much nicer wool than Lilly's simple slave outfit, turn and spot Lilly.

"Oh dear! Where did you come from..." A pause, "Suppose it doesn't matter... told to sleep outside then?" Another pause, "Brutes, all of them." The lady's voice was kind, though a little angry, "I can't give you much... But here, something to start your day." There was a noise, then the sound of crunchy bread being broken, "Make sure no one catches you with that... But if you can help yourself, share with your friends." There was the sound of hair being ruffled, then "Shoo shoo, I still have work to do."

I darted out from under the table as soon as I saw the legs turn back towards the counter, and went ahead of Lilly. More red granite, lit well by small wall braziers, and a few heavy wood doors. Towards the end of the hall to my right, was a set of stairs, and to my left was what looked like a smaller hallway that led in the direction of the main building.

Lilly followed me into the hall, and with a quick left-right look, she spotted me and I led her towards the stairs. I could faintly smell oil, the kind used to coat weapons to keep them from rusting, as well as the pine sap smell coming from the braziers.

"There is probably a weapon store room through one of these doors." I said quietly.

Lilly nodded as I sniffed at one door, and pointed with a paw.

"Stairs clear." Haruhime's little fox said, before hiding herself next to a marble statue of someone who looked a little like Marius.

Up we went, Lilly's little feet making quiet 'paff paff' noises as she went up the red granite steps. As she reached the first landing, Haruhime and I checked the way up, and the second floor hallway, nodding to Lilly to signal the all clear, before she went up again. As the stone changed from red to white, I could hear, distantly, the sounds of the city waking up. I suppose all cities, no matter where you were, had that kind of... slow build of energy, as the population started to open its eyes for the new day.

Lilly paused at the top of the steps, waited for us to give her the all clear, then got her bearings and stepped into the hallway. Head down, looking downcast, she was playing her part, walking with purpose down the short hallway. The decor was much nicer here. The white marble walls were polished to a near mirror finish. The marble itself was that pristine white with not a single hint of darker stone mixed in. That alone was impressive. There was also the odd tapestry, mostly woven into scenery, but spaced out with the heraldry of Ares, or Rakia. Lilly stopped suddenly at the corner leading to where we were going.

I watched her hands, as she held up two fingers, then touched one finger next to her eyes.

"Two guards." I said to Haruhime, back in my real body.

Haruhime and I nodded to Lilly, and after a quiet breath, she walked around the corner. Meek looking, our supporter was able to walk up to the door, before she was stopped by the guard. Keeping my self low to the ground, I tried not to bump my nose against the wall as I looked around the corner awkwardly. Both were armed with a spear, and were wearing that mass produced roman armour.

"What's this then?" One guard, tall, but with the slender look of a young man, asked looking down at Lilly. "It had better be important."

"Slaves aren't supposed to be up past the second floor unless it is." The second one said, looking much the same as the first, though his hair was a little longer, just visible under the simple helmet.

Lilly didn't look up at them, but took out a bit of paper from her sleeve.

"A message? Give it here." The man ordered, but stopped as Lilly made a quiet noise, and looked up just a tiny bit.

Weaponized puppy eyes. Had to be. The man frowned, looking to the other guard.

"Ah, must have been told to deliver it personally." The other said, "That right?"

Lilly looked back down again, nodding exactly once.

"It's too early in the day for you to be punished, I think." he replied, standing tall again then tapping on the door behind him. "M'lady? Are you awake?"

Faintly, "Suppose I am now, yes."

"You have a message, your eyes only."

"Let them in then."

The first guard knelt, and put a hand on Lilly's shoulder. "You best behave, understood?"

Lilly didn't look up, or move, or even breath. I had a feeling I was going to need to give her a hug later. This was probably a lot like her treatment growing up with Soma Familia.

"Let her be." The other guard said, taking a key from his belt and opening the door, "She probably gets enough rough treatment after hours."

Lilly slowly walked between the two, the guard locking the door behind her. Haruhime and I, back in the shop, held our breath. It all came down to what happened after Marius's mom read the letter.

"Guards?" The voice from inside called out a moment later. "I don't suppose you can help me move something?"

Just around the corner, Haruhime and I made ready to move. I put my hands on her shoulders, back at our bodies, and took a deep breath, feeding her the magic she would need to make her little fox grow.

"Gently love." She said to me, "I can't hold too much magic at once."

As the guard once again put the key into the lock, our two foxes dashed out from around the corner, gaining speed, and size. Just as the second guard entered the room, the two of us were almost the size of horses. And just before the door closed, the two of us slammed into their backs, pressing them into the floor with a clatter of metal and grunts of pain, just as Lilly shut the door behind us with a click.

"My... I thought my son was joking, when he mentioned two foxes. Though, he said women, not actual foxes." Said the woman in front of us, not even blinking as our ghostly fox paws bounced the soldiers heads off the floor one more time to make sure they'd be quiet.

Notes.

This is, I think, the second last chapter. And, I might actually not make the next update in time. Thanksgiving (Canada version) is this weekend, and I actually have people to visit. And a wedding to go to.

But I'll try! Honest!

This also means, the next chapter might be a long one too. :) So look forward to it, one way or another.