Disclaimer: All non-original characters are property of SEGA or their respective creators.

27. A New Day

"Quickly, Lobo, the horses!" blurted Lupe, "We can still catch—"

"Calm yourself, Moon Wolf," Infinite cut in, "There's no catching that coward."

High above, the winged form of Gordian was rapidly shrinking from view as he ascended, flying northwards into the predawn gloom.

The gray she-wolf looked aghast at the jackal. "My lord, we—"

"Someone has to tell that false queen her days are done," said Infinite coolly, wiping his scimitar's blade on his white silk robe, "Let it be one of her own kind."

Lupe frowned. "My lord, I didn't join you so you could taunt that bat—"

"You joined me so you wouldn't have to eke out an existence poaching your old mistress's sheep," snapped the jackal, "Let us be perfectly clear on that."

Sheathing his scimitar, he looked skywards. Gordian was almost gone.

"Your sneak attack on that encampment was a masterstroke, Moon Wolf. Content yourself with that triumph," he went on, "I have overreached myself in this land once before."

He tapped the faceted ruby in his right eyesocket.

"Consider it a blessing from Ekkletos that I'm here to warn you not to repeat my mistake."

The she-wolf grudgingly sheathed her dagger.

"My lord," Lobo piped up, "Look."

Shouldering his war-hammer, the brown wolf pointed towards the low stone wall encircling the longhouse's yard. Infinite and Lupe turned to see a small head peeping over the top of the wall, glancing about frantically.

"A cub?" said Lupe.

"Sonara works quickly, I see," said Infinite, starting across the yard.

"Have you seen my mama?" the cub called out as the trio approached, "The warrior with the big ears said she'd be here."

"Who are you, little wolf?" asked Infinite, stooping to the youngster's eye-level.

The cub hesitated, dazzled by the ruby eye.

Vaulting over the barrier, Lupe lifted the dumbstruck child up onto the wall.

"Answer him, little one," she said softly, "He won't hurt you."

"Y-Yoncy," squeaked the cub.

"This mother of yours. She's expecting a cub, yes?" asked Infinite, still stooping.

The cub nodded. "Th-they came and took her away after the last full moon. Papa told me to come look for her. That warrior with the big ears…she said we can go anywhere we like now."

Infinite grinned. "You can at that."

"Should I take him, my lord?" asked Lobo.

"Do," replied the jackal, straightening up, "While you're there, tell Tsunami to keep his sword off that last bat. She's not to be squandered."

"I shall, my lord," said the brown wolf, helping Yoncy hop down off the wall.

"Squandered how, my lord?" asked Lupe, climbing back into the yard.

Infinite waited until Lobo and the cub had disappeared inside the longhouse.

"Think about it, Moon Wolf. A generation of your kind has grown up in this land under the illusion these bats are somehow untouchable. Seeing one die by a wolf's hand should disabuse them of that notion, no?"

Lupe grimaced. "If you think it will help, my lord, I'll be ready."

"I didn't doubt it, but I had a different wolf in mind."

He looked to the longhouse.

"There is a courageous cub in there who was fully prepared to cut that coward's throat, well before Ekkletos delivered you to me. She deserves another chance at revenge."

Just then, a loud yip broke the surrounding silence. Lupe looked to the west, ears erect.

A teal fennec was approaching across the plain astride a bay horse. The heads of two bats — Gordian's overseers Galba and Otho — hung from its saddle. A huddled mass of wolves shuffled along behind the rider in quiet confusion.

"Sonara has brought you your pack, Moon Wolf," said Infinite, folding his arms across his bronze breastplate, "Go to them."

жЖж

"Can't you come too, Ma?"

Amaranth peered down at the albino hedgehog in her arms.

"Please?" added Silver meekly, "Just this once?"

The cerise hedgehog smiled warmly. "I'll be here when you get back."

"But Ma…" whined the ten-year-old, resting his chin on her gravid belly.

"This fence won't weave itself, Silver."

Silver curled his lip, eyeing the pile of long sticks his mother and Xhade were slowly turning into a wicker fence for the roundhouse's yard.

"But it's only a little way…you've got all day—"

"Silver?" Shadow cut in, coming over, "Our master's waiting."

The ten-year-old turned his head. "Pa, can't you ask your master to let Ma—"

"Would you ask Rufus for favors, son?" said Shadow sternly, "Does that sound like something a slave does?"

"I…guess not," mumbled Silver, looking down.

"Then stop making unreasonable requests," said the black hedgehog, holding out his hand, "We should leave before the sun gets any higher."

"Bye, Ma," sighed Silver, rubbing his mother's belly.

Amaranth stooped to kiss his forehead. "Be good, sweet boy."

"Ma," groaned Silver, "How many times do I have to say not to call me that?"

"Always once more," chuckled Shadow, taking the boy's hand.

Together, the three hedgehogs walked across the unfenced yard to where Knuxahuatl stood waiting.

"Sorry for the delay, master," said Amaranth.

The echidna waved away her apology, but not before she'd curtsied.

"You can take the hedgehog out of the castle," muttered Shadow as she straightened up.

Amaranth nudged him gently. "Blame my mother's rigorous training."

With that, she waved as her husband and son started up the path behind Knuxahuatl.

"What's it like, Pa?" asked Silver, "Living in a castle, I mean."

Shadow cast a glance over his shoulder, suddenly wishing Amaranth had come with them after all. They could give very different answers to that question.

Growing up in Erinia's fertile southlands close to the Agnian border, Amaranth had lived in opulence at Montrose Castle. Though she hardly travelled due to her father Count Phlox's infirmity, a phalanx of tutors and playmates — and the occasional feline visitor — had kept life interesting.

In the northern bastion of Penrith Castle, his own family had lived on more modest means. Between their father Baron Mephiles' costly private army and his ban on them playing with the serfs' children, he and Ashura only had each other and Marigold, their mother's kindly lady-in-waiting, for company.

"It…varied, son," said Shadow eventually.

"Ma makes them all sound so big," said Silver, "Did you ever get lost in them, Pa?"

Shadow suppressed a smile. On the contrary, he and Ashura had known every nook and cranny of their fortified home. Their extensive exploring had proven very handy when it came to hiding from Marigold's lessons.

"They're no place to grow up in," he said.

"I just wish I could see one, Pa," said Silver, "I guess I'll never be able to, though."

Shadow almost winced. In their earliest days in Dalriada, he and Amaranth had talked about smuggling the infant Silver back to Erinia, to live with his maternal grandparents. The idea was soon forgotten. It hadn't felt selfish at the time, but now?

Just then, he felt Silver's arm around his waist. He looked down to find the ten-year-old pressing his face into his black fur.

"It's alright," murmured Shadow, putting his arm around the boy.

They were passing by the burned-out remains of the hedgehogs' old roundhouse. A grief-stricken warrior named Bramble had torched it, after Amaranth dared to bury an executed wolf. Queen Rouge had executed Bramble for her efforts.

"Can't we walk a different way, Pa?"

"There isn't one, son."

Shadow kept his head down as they walked on, avoiding the curious glances of wolves working in their former neighbors' yards. Most of these slaves would've watched him and Amaranth walk this way countless times in full battle dress. Now, there was only his broadsword's hilt, swaying on a chain around his neck.

Before long, he smelt the smoke chuffing from the smithy's chimney. He stopped and knelt down to give Silver a proper hug.

"I don't suppose I need to tell you to be a good boy," he murmured.

"You can if you like, Pa…I don't mind."

"Well then, be good, and maybe we'll talk to your mother about that other name tonight."

Silver drew back to look Shadow in the eye. "Really, Pa?"

"Shadow?" murmured Knuxahuatl.

The black hedgehog glanced up. The skunk Rufus had appeared in the smithy's yard. He was peering at them over the fence.

"Go on, son. Your master's waiting."

Standing up, Shadow wistfully watched Silver plod off down the path and through the smithy yard's wicker gate. Thereafter, he followed Knuxahuatl in silence, lifting his gaze no higher than the echidna's feet.

"Here we are."

Shadow looked up. They were at the gate to Dalriada's stables.

"Why here, master?"

Knuxahuatl took a deep breath.

"I don't want you to think Xhade and I don't appreciate your people's reasons for not riding horses. However, when I said you'd ride out of here with us someday, I didn't mean on the back of someone else's horse. Or a chariot."

Shadow blinked. "Forgive me, master, but why?"

"Because there's a home for you and your family — no, your clan — in Arkadia," said the echidna, placing a hand on his slave's bare shoulder, "We're not making you dress this way for our amusement. We just want you to be used to it, so you'll be comfortable there."

The hedgehog's shoulders sagged. "I understand, master."

"Wait here. This won't take long."

Shadow bowed his head.

No sooner had the stable door closed behind Knuxahuatl than dread overcame the hedgehog. He'd heard what Princess Blaze's battleaxe had done to his chariot, but he didn't know what had become of his horses. Surely the queen wouldn't just dispose of them…would she?

Those bay mares were brave, imposing beasts. They would serve any rider well in battle. A seasoned rider, that is. Not some petrified Erinian who'd never ridden so much as a hobby-horse.

Heart in mouth, he watched Knuxahuatl emerge from the stable, leading a jet-black stallion. Stout-bodied and stumpy-legged, it was practically a pony. His pulse eased a little.

"Here," said the echidna, offering Shadow the stallion's lead-rope.

The hedgehog hesitated. "Do you know what became of my horses, master?"

"Khan claimed them, I think, but I wouldn't risk putting you on one of them," said Knuxahuatl, pressing the rope into his slave's hand, "You'll be fine with Omega here."

"Omega?" said Shadow, trying to keep his hand from shaking.

The stallion whinnied.

жЖж

Parchment rustled beneath the foxes as they writhed about on a bed of unfurled scrolls. Half-blinded by the dawn sunlight pouring through the bedchamber's windows, Zoë's eyelids fluttered as she groped about for something to hold onto. Everything in reach would just rip.

In desperation, she seized fistfuls of the white fur on Miles's chest. He didn't let up. For the first time in two days, she wished he would. She wanted this to last.

Never mind how many times they'd been like this since their return to Cilgarren. She had no way of knowing when the next time might be. Unless…

"Mi…les?" she breathed between labored sighs, "M-Mi…les?"

Just then, her back arched. The rustling beneath them grew louder.

Zoë gave up. At the rate he was going, she'd have time to ask afterwards.

жЖж

"This is so unjust," muttered Styx, slouching forward over the balcony's railing, "I still can't believe they agreed to it."

Standing beside her, Morain cocked a brow. "Didn't you say they were ready to agree to anything?"

"They were," said the badger, "But why'd he have to foist this on them?"

They were looking down on Sonic and Bunnestra, loading supplies onto a wagon outside Cilgarren Castle's stables. Ashura was onboard the wagon, tying the boxes and barrels down with rope. They contained preserved food, fresh water, horse fodder: everything they would need to trek through Agnia without stopping to resupply.

Styx's gaze kept straying across the stable yard to where a certain brown bobcat was saddling her horse. Like the wagon, she was there at King Furlong's insistence.

"Is this his way of taking it out on them?" the badger mused.

According to Morain, the king's change of heart about writing to Sonic's father had been Queen Rosemary's doing. Supposedly, she'd threatened to go and fetch Fiona back from Lethra herself. She was even prepared to bring his mother-in-law Yojana back with her.

"Surely the quickest way through Agnia is with an Agnian guide," said Morain.

"But why does it have to be that Agnian?" grumbled Styx.

"Would you have preferred Ambassador Ghazal?" said the vixen.

The badger eyed the plump bobcat, Tiara's father, standing with King Furlong in a corner of the yard.

"I would've preferred we took our chances."

"Then why not just stay?"

Styx scoffed. "And do what? Let you get me thrown out of every tavern in town?"

"You could always just ask for Fiona's brooch back."

"No, I can't. If something goes snap on that wagon and I'm not there, there's only room for one hedgehog on the back of Bunnie's horse."

She cast yet another glance at Tiara.

"I couldn't do that to Ashura. She's been—"

Just then, the stable yard's gate flew open. Miles stepped through them, clad in a suit of iron armor, with a sword and shield slung over his back. Zoë held his gauntleted left hand.

Lifting the visor of his red-plumed helmet, he scanned the yard. His gaze settled on Tiara.

"What's she doing here?"

"Never mind her," said King Furlong, marching towards them, "What in Cosmo's name are you doing dressed like that?"

"What does it look like, Pa?" said Miles, "We're going with them."

"To the city gates?"

"To Agnia," said the prince, lowering his visor.