A Biography of a Human

Chapter Thirty-Three:

“Into the Harem"

“If we look at the world around us, It's divided. The two forces, ethereal Heaven above and physical Earth below with the horizon dividing these two realms into upper and lower; this is the natural order of things. Formless Heaven came first in the universe and from it was born the physical Earth. It is thus that Heaven supersedes Earth as the cosmic power from which destiny is woven from its threads. Even the Gods act in its will, the will of Heaven!"

…

“The Alpha's Den should be a reflection of this correct and proper ordering of the universe. It should be seen as two parts, the Outer Den, ruled by the Alpha who commands the hunters of the pack and the Inner Den, headed by the Alpha's Mate who weens the Alpha's young and commands the fellow Mates of the pack; just as the Alpha commands the pack's hunters. This is proper order and is a reflection of the cosmic forces and the Gods, and therefore the correct way of things."

-Rites of the Pack

Seeing that tod fox before me, there was no doubt in my own mind that it was anyone other than Elyk! Fully grown and now an adult, his visage worn from many hard years spent enduring on his own. It sent a jolt of disbelief thought my body, I rubbed my eyes thinking at first that might be some mind game.

I wanted to weep, I wanted to scream, but I could not. Clutching my stomach I could only just stare at him as his sun-burnt orange eyes focused on me as well. Those eyes, they contained a mural of shock, seeing me as I was now.

The fox bounded forward and I was steadfast within his tight embrace, he gave out low whimpers as he hugged me. I reciprocated after a moment of sitting there doing nothing. I felt so taken aback and a sense of feeling like I was mad at him, being so late, slowly creeped into my mind and laid low.

It felt like it would have been much better if he was here for me when I was at my worst, but that was no fault of his own.

We talked and exchanged what had happened to us. He had known about Gernan's death beforehand, he found out when he made it into the city and had overheard some petty wolf mandarins speaking about how it was a pity that just as he was going to resume his former position he was struck down by fate.

“When I heard that, my first thought was you! I didn't stop running until I got here, I was truly fearing the worst for you…" he spoke from his seat, which I had offered him. He was still quite out of breath and was panting heavily from his mad dash to the manor.

“You thought I might have taken my own life?" I mused aloud solemnly as I cast down my eyes. “You know me well, dear Elyk…." he looked to the side, his tail twitching nervously as if caught.

“I know how Gernan was for you, he was all you had and with me not here for you, I was afraid you might take that jump," I wanted to away from this subject, so I asked about Iahel and Harold, hoping I would not get anymore bad news from Elyk.

“Mother? She is well, same with Harold, we all have been enduring. It's not been easy but we have survived the best we can," the fox mused, telling me of how they made it these seven years.

“We managed to get a plot of land from the central government in which Harold, using his green thumb, tilled some crops which we would pay to the officials annually as tax as well as give us some food. Mother meanwhile, used her talent for needlework to earns some extra claws on the side to have for provisions."

“I see the Alphate's land allotment system worked for you. Though I thought it was only for wolf citizens."

“Well, wolves get a bigger share of land but as long as we are a citizen we get some meager land to use. Since I was born here, I am legally able to gain a plot of land like everyone else. Small though it was, it helped a lot in these years"

“Spot?" at first my utterance of that nickname for that one canine servant mystified him. “Aran! The laundry dog!" I pressed further, which finally lit a spark of awareness in his eyes.

“Oh, the mutt, the one with the spot around his eye, right?" I nodded my head and he spoke once more, telling me of what had happened to him in a tone that did not spark any fear that any ill had befallen him.

Though the sound of what was said concerned me at first since it felt like it was going to be something bad.

“-he ended up wooing some a local Baron's sole daughter and thus heir. Much to her father's great, and I mean, great annoyance!" he continued on with his story. “Before long she went into heat and he could not control himself and they, well…"

“Fucked," I finished bluntly for him as he just gave a nod in response and went on.

“As you know about heat and mating during it, it means a litter for sure!" this is where my concern was growing, I feared a bad end for that dear, sweet dog Aran. “Daddy Baron was livid! Livid, I tell you! He whipped up his whole clan, ready to lynch the poor mutt, but he got away and was hiding with us so he was spared that!"

“What happened next!?" I eagerly asked. The tod swirled his bright, orange eyes around, taking his time telling me this tale and leaving me hanging. “Don't know how she did it, but the wolf girl managed to calm her father down enough and he begrudgingly allowed them to join in mate-ship."

“Are you serious!?"

“Oh yeah! In fact, this worked out quite well for him since it meant his daughter's pups could keep the clan name after birth. As the only other contender to wed her to was a Count and thus of higher rank than her, she would have to take his clan name."

“Ah yes, wolf nobility, preferring to keep their clan's names intact by wedding their head scions to lower ranking wolves."

Elyk nodded back and responded, “Yep, it all worked out in the end and he is pretty much set for life now…but…"

“But, what!?"

“The poor dog and his new wolf mate have to live with daddy Baron! In the old clan manor along with the rest of his in-laws!" I snickered at that mental image of the poor laundry dog being berated by his father in-law but it brought up a question for me.

“So what has this Baron's clan done to warrant their title in the first place? I mean, before the Imperial Alphate there was no such things as those noble titles and even now they are so rare, being more or less a fancy title and with a gift of farmland to get income from than anything else!"

“Xander, you are always so inquisitive aren't you? You have not changed a bit, always asking bizarre questions like this, baldy!" the last comment being a remark about my stubble-covered head, which was not needed.

“Shut your trap! Now answer the question, Elyk!" the fox, of course, rolled his eyes at me which I ignored as it was typical Elyk.

“I can't remember exactly! I can't be expected to know every clan's claim to prominence, Xander!" he bemoaned but continued finally. “I know for sure it had to do with the rise of the Kutlar Alphate and unification, that's where most of the ennobled clans come from, you should know that!"

“It's been seven years, Elyk! Seven years in the hot deserts and jungles! How do you expect me to retain everything and after I just dealt with the passing of dear Gernan!"

Elyk immediately cast down his eyes as he realized his offense, “Sorry, I forgot. I just felt like it was like the good old days for a moment."

I got up, walked over to him and placed my hand on his shoulder, “Elyk, it's not your fault, I was just saying that things have been very rough for me, I still have yet to hear if my two sisters are still alive," I referred to Gernan's daughters as such since they were my sisters both legally and in my mind.

Elyk's foxy eyes widened with confusion and then it hit him, “He adopted you!?"

I merely nodded my head, “Yes and that means Rena and Neith are now my sisters."

“I know they are alive, Ulric gave me reports on them. Every once and while he would have them checked up on and last they were both heard from was last year. I figure they are on their way back as we speak."

“Oh, before I forget. Gernan left you and everyone else provisions in his will, I have saved the claws in the storerooms by the garden, you and your mother are welcome to reside here if you wish, having you in the capital would be much comfort to me even though I feel I will not get much time to share it with you in person, considering where I will be going…" I had felt more sure about what I was going to do now than ever.

By this time, Yosef returned to the room bearing two goblets of water. This was the first time Elyk saw the human and I could read the fox's mind debating what to ask about first: my vague statement about leaving or who this human was. It was the former that was chosen.

“What are you talking about 'where you will be going' don't tell me you are going off somewhere dangerous again!?" funny he mentioned dangerous since that's exactly how one could put the Alpha's Harem, even though I had no idea just how dangerous it could be at the time. After all, I would have my patron and sponsor, the Alpha's Mate herself!

I finally spat it out, wishing to get this awkward moment done with already. I knew full well how my childhood friend would react to what I was about to say.

“I am going to be a Human Talent in Ulric's Harem…" I could not even bear to look him in the eyes when I uttered this! I was terrified and a bit shamed, feeling like I was betraying him or some sort of ill deed.

The reaction was swift, the clatter of the silver goblet dropping upon the wood floor and the gushing forth of its contents!

“NO! NO!" he shrieked in a very shrill, foxish manner which stung my ears with pain, both physical and emotional.

“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?" I finally looked up at the fox's face, it conveyed deep mortification at what I had made clear to him. His eyes darted around the room and he caught sight of that tray mounted with the vestments of my future Harem life and it hit him that this was not a joke either.

Yosef, fearing I was about to be attacked by this strange fox, who was now looking feral, jumped in front of me hands outspread as to shield me from any strikes.

“Brothers! Sisters! Come quickly!" Yosef bellowed out loudly as the room filled with my fellow monks, who were just in the next room. “Restrain this wild fox! He has gone insane!" he commanded as the others lions and other exotic species began to encroach on the fox.

“Enough!" I commanded with a roar, channeling the same power that Aha'hor embodied in his voice when raised. Perhaps I had unknowingly learned something while on the lap of that powerful feline, as it seemed like here and now in an instant everyone froze like prey upon hearing the cry of hits apex predator! Even the lion monks went still!

The effect that my shout had took me aback myself, for I did not know I had that in me at the time. All eyes were wide and still, now upon me looking for what I would say next.

Taking a short breath and casting my eyes shut for a moment, I gazed around, locking sight with each figure in the room and spoke calmly within a room so silent that the moon's movement across the heavens would be the only sound if it could be heard. “Leave…all of you leave."

“This is between me the fox, Elyk," not a single answer back was spoken, all my monk sisters and brothers bowed with the same silence and slowly in a mass, slithered out of the room. Turning to Yosef, who was the only one left aside from me and my foxen childhood friend in the room.

“You as well, Yosef," for a moment he flicked his head to mine, his face clenched and about to issue out an objection to leaving me alone with Elyk.

I stared at him, giving a message within my countenance without a single word from my mouth being spoken. Instantly, he understood and nodded his head and he left the room, leaving only me and Elyk.

By this time his shocked rage had subsided from almost being mobbed by a group of foreign chimera dressed in monkish habits. Something frightful like that has a tendency to leave one forgoing their previous mindset. He only looked down and was wringing his paws nervously but from the twitch of his tail I could glean an underlying irateness still within him

Pacing closer to him and stopping just in front of his slightly taller visage, I spoke first. A lowly whisper, “I know what you are thinking, Elyk…"

“That you are insane! Mad! Reckless!" he finished for me, looking up to face me at last before he broke away and started pacing rather frantically. It reminded me so much of departed Pantaleon when he was awaiting the news of the genders of the Alpha's first litter. That day the Alphate welcomed a Crown Prince.

Who was now Imperial Alpha….

And whose Harem I had made up my mind to join….

“What else do I have to live for, Elyk!?"

“Anything but that! How did you even get to this point!?" I did not wish to recount the entire course that lead up to this with the Imperial Mate's visit and so on.

“It's a long story! All that matters is that I am here and I am doing it!" the fox stopped pacing and whirled around to face me, his eyes flashing with a dire sense of panic and gloom, “WHY!? WHY!? WHY!?" he shouted, shaking his dark-fisted paws in a gesture of growing desperation as if he was only a moment away from grabbing hold of me to shake this idea from my head.

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, seeking to regain a sense of calm and drawing from the lessons of Muni in restoring tranquility to a mind “Xander, be of calm mind and excise passion, it does not benefit here! I do not want to say something I will regret…" I spoke within the confines of my mind in my moment of mediation…then a voice emerged from the single thought word of 'regret,' the voice of Gernan.

“Do not become filled with regret," was that which I remembered and was now countering the previous one, so that I was left feeling as if I was treading upon a tight rope!

“Do not become indecisive! I must speak from my mind!" this was the final echo and the one which shattered my calm resolve, it fell from me like the wilting petals of a flower. Reopening my eyes, which were blurred with my flowing warm tears, I felt myself falling down on my knees and sobbing pitifully.

“Elyk! This is my only way forward! It's this or wilting away here in perpetual mourning! To be forgotten to the world at large with only the passing of time being my sole occupation!"

“Xander! Don't say such things! I am here for you!"

“But not in the way I want!" I gushed out without even thinking! I had just exhumed something which I had buried many years ago and spat it right into Elyk's face! My long-dead desire to be loved by him.

“What do you mean by that?" his tone was that of confused questioning and looking up to him, I saw him sniff something in the air. Were my pheromones emerging, could he smell my long-suppressed sadness at having lost my chance with him? If so, he did not want to believe it in the same way someone might not want to believe their eyes. Then I explained it clear, everything!

“I wanted to be yours, Elyk! I desired such since long ago! Then when I got you those tales of Reynard you said that you did not fancy humans!" the shock upon that fox's face at these strings of words coming out was a mixture of immense mortification, though not in a way that was hostile to me or what I had said. More like the shock of this coming to light and being so that he was more focused.

Elyk collapsed onto the hardwood floor, eyes ablaze with confused awe mixed with a fast-growing anguish! He could barely utter forth words of any form, stutters and stammers of gurgles and groans until words finally spoke clearly out of his quivering muzzle of orange and soot fur.

“I…I…I never knew…that you felt that way…about me…"

“Now you know why I am taking this! Why I am doing this! I want to be happy! Gernan would want me to!" I said as I sat down and wept a bit myself.

“Ulric loves me…that's why I must go! I see two paths before me, one with me in the arms of a person who loves me and the other one in which I become but a blossomed flower locked away in a dark corner of the room, untouched by the light!" I paused, sighing deeply, collecting my thoughts and emotions.

“Elyk, I want the light! I just can't surrender to the darkness of obscurity!" I beckoned forth to the still-stunned fox who was recovering from the blow of information I had hit him with beforehand. He looked up at me, I saw his eyes, they were dashed with a sense of resignation. He knew the truth and he knew what I had to do, but still, within him I knew he felt fear over what exactly I was about to embark on.

“Do you know? That once you pass the threshold between the outer word and that of the inner world of the Harem, there is no turning back? No second chances! No do overs! You will be forever entwined with it as long as you draw breath from your lungs!" I closed my eyes hearing those words of his. They were full of an undeniable icy truth that stung.

It was truth! Once my sedan passed the gates into the Harem I was eternally chained to it! It was madness, I was now finally free! A free human and now I was committed to taking up a collar once more! But not one hewed from cold iron but one of silk ribbons and gold filaments….

Another collar and one which I was going to place upon my own self! But there was one difference about this new station.

This was a collar that could be worn upon the head…

A crown...

Ulric's face full of love flashed in my mind! If I had any doubt growing within me due to Elyk's sharp truths, that face dashed them and filled me with resolve in knowing what I wanted to do. What I needed to do!

This is different! Yes! I was putting myself back into chains, but this was my own decision! And one born out of my love for Ulric!

“Elyk! I know full well what being in the Harem means…" I paused before finishing curtly, “and I am doing it!"

“I still don't think you know what you're saying!" I rolled my eyes, allowing him to protest more. “The only way you can leave the palace is in a coffin!"

“Xander, you're going to doom yourself!"

“You don't understand! This is my path!"

“You want to avenge Gernan, don't you!?" he replied, unearthing a subconscious thought I had buried in my head. That was another truth and one which left me at a loss for words. “Admit it! You also want to take down that Jao!"

“YES! YES! You got me! But its more than that, Ulric needs me!"

“I need to protect him from Jao! Jao is not done with his games and I need to be there to make sure I don't lose another to that bastard like I did Gernan!" I was losing my breath and was unable to speak from the lack of air after this furious string of words.

“I cannot live with myself if I lose another! Please, Elyk! Let me make my own choice! Let me be in control of my life for once! Let me be master of my own fate!" I was now fully sobbing and heaving with deep gulps of air clawing out, desperate for any way to get out of this and to have Elyk stop stabbing me with guilt and fear no matter how much truth they held.

“You're right…this is your choice but I'm scared for you! I may not want you in the way you desire but you are my brother! My human little brother, and I care for you!" he gave a forlorn sigh and looked down. “If you want to do this, I can't stop you…"

Unable to bear it any longer, I shuffled over to his form on my knees and embraced him tightly, unable to keep back tears which were now bursting over the rims of my puffy, red eyes.

“Elyk, I love you! I just feel this is where I must go to fulfill whatever the heavens have in store for me! If I die, I die! I just feel this is my only way forward!"

I was to leave that night and I had to pull away from the embrace of Elyk despite my wish to stay with him, I had to go. I had been putting off my decision for much too long and I couldn't hold it back anymore. The covered sedan and its young ursine bearers had been here for many days, weeks even and their presence along with the sight of the items for use in the Harem greeted me every day since they were left for me.

Feeling shameful, I pulled away from the fox and told him that I was planning to leave this very night. I fully expected him to devolve into a rage, arguing with me all over again and was thus bracing myself to act again as an apologist to my decision, something which I felt I did not have the will do again. I was already too drained and I might have actually changed my mind and stayed.

How the world would have been forever different if that occurred! But Elyk did not raise a single objection further, he only looked downtrodden with a grim acceptance blazing within his eyes and a curt nod of his head signaled his words of reluctant approval.

“I promise I will write to you! I promise!" I parted with those words. I called back Yosef and he escorted me and the tray of my new garb to my room to get ready. I stripped myself of my monkish habit which fell wayward at my feet. It was a transformation akin to that of the butterfly, my plain habit being like the chrysalis discarded and my new bright garb being my full wings set for flight into an uncertain future.

It did not take long as within a few moments the floor-length skirt was hoisted up to my bare pectorals and Yosef secured it to my body with a fine embroidered band tied under my arms. Lastly, my still-cropped head was crowned by a small head-cloth of matching color to the rest of the ensemble.

Thus I was ready and accompanied by Yosef, I withdrew from my bedroom knowing never again I would rest in its bed again.

Leaving the main entrance, my bare shoulders shivered with the chilly breeze. I found myself saying a curse at the impracticality of what I was wearing in such weather. Having the whole of my arms and shoulders uncovered like this was not for evening excursions. Perceptive as always, Yosef quickly threw a simple shawl over my exposed skin, giving it the warmth which it desired.

Behind, I heard light steps, their owner I knew well. Elyk was to see me off. Part of me wished he would just stay within the walls of the manor so I would not have to endure the shame of having to see him as I was leaving, but…I also wanted to see him.

I was feeling evermore mixed but my heart told me to press on and I did. I descended down the stone steps into the courtyard where the waiting emasculated ursines waited for me by the carrypoles of the small enclosed palanquin.

Waiting no longer. I shuffled quietly to it and with Yosef's hand climbed into its cramped space with had just enough room for me to sit within in a constant kneeling position with a pillow for my comfort provided for me.

“UP!" the odd feminine voice of an ursine eunuch called out in the darkness and immediately I was hoisted skyward. The swift movement of it caused a momentary unbalance and I feared I would fall faceward into one of the poles of the pavilion. The image of me having a nosebleed and soiling the fine cloth I was wearing was in mind, so I caught myself roughly before I could even make impact against one of them.

“Turn!" the voice followed as the motion of turning became apparent. “Open the door! Open the door!" the voice further commanded, which rallied two young ursines to rush forward and to open the outer gate of the manor wide open onto the deserted avenues of the city ward.

It was all hitting me now and I felt fear growing, “Yosef! Yosef! Are you there!?" I whimpered lowly but with enough panic in my voice to elicit a quick response from the darkness beside my vehicle.

“Yes! Yes, don't worry I'm here!" immediately, I was relieved for I feared I was alone.

The darkness of the night was expansive, for it was a night of the closed eye of Canis. The only light was a paper lantern of glowing crimson hung upon a pole held aloft by a formal ursine who tread just head of us.

“Right turn! Forward!" the voice went on as I was carried over the gate's threshold and then turned to face parallel the wide streets and begun on our way to that destination that was the Imperial Palace of the Alpha.

The Great Den…

A swelling feeling came into me, the words of Elyk beckoned forth from recent memory about the fact I was about to enter into something I could not back out of. Fear of never seeing him again filled me, I needed to see him one last time no matter how fleeting it was.

I leaned to the side and pulled back one of the fabric drapes of my enclosed carriage, putting my head out into the night and craned my neck to the back where I came from. Standing there by the entrance to my old home was the darkened figure of a fox.

I wished to cry out but my voice was absent, I wanted to reach out my arm and wave but my body was frozen at the sight of him just standing there alone in the darkness. As if he tapped into my my thoughts I saw the silhouette of Elyk outstretch his arm and wave.

That sight was something bittersweet to me, it hurt me but made me feel closure. I had no idea if I would be able to see him again at this point. I was just a human talent, rank five on the hierarchy. I did not have the status to even invite others for visits into the Harem like Gao'ao could do with her parents.

“Will I ever even reach a position to be allowed to invite him?" I thought to myself after pulling myself back within after the sight of the fox vanished in the night.

“Yosef! Are you still there!?" I panicked a bit, fearing he was no longer coming with me. Yet again I was assured by his familiar voice but still scared, I reached out into the darkness and asked him to hold my hand.

Maybe I was afraid I was making up his entire presence and I was needing proof that he was really there. I cannot fully remember the exact details of that tense moment as our small train moved silently and swiftly through the devoid roads of the Capital during this summer's night.

It was past city curfew, no one was allowed to go out onto the streets past a certain hour of the night. Wandering patrols kept watch and were ready to shoot down anyone who did not pay heed to the first and second warning shot of their crossbows. Thus the red lantern was a signal to those that we were on orders from the highest mandate.

Soon my eyes grew adjusted to the darkness and all around was a darkened blue hue. I finally saw Yosef keeping pace beside the sedan, that made the fear of him not being here with me firmly put down and a semblance of stability returned to my mind. My breathing slowed and my heart calmed its drumbeat, I now looked ahead, ready to face my new future straight on as the city rolled passed.

The swiftness and speed which I was being ushered was a small step down from that of being frenzied. The ursine pallbearers sprinted as if they were unburdened by anything. It was no wonder why they were seen as the ideal fit for such an occupation as keepers of the Harem and the Alpha's dwelling! Focusing on them at this moment made me think of Dillian, I knew I would see him again sooner or later now considering where I was going.

The only time there was to pause to our procession was getting by the gates that marked the wards. It was nothing much, just a brief stop and check, one of the free ursine's would show a badge of authority and moments later the sub-city gate would swing open and the swift pace would return in force.

It was not long before I knew the approach to the palace city was upon us. Hints of this were clear: roads became so wide they became more or less plazas in scope! The lines of ornamental trees present lining these avenues also showed the importance we were drawing close to with every passing moment of time.

Soon that monumental gate, the main axial entrance to the city-sized palace came in view from my quick-moving vantage. Seeing it again brought me back to the last time I gazed upon its outstretched edifice, the moment just before the unjust disgrace of late Gernan.

I only barely caught sight of the Howling Rock which zipped past me in a blur. More memories of Gernan filled my mind with regard to that particular object. Pantaleon was there as well in this memory. Gernan was back from court and I? I was around eight, I think?

“I cannot believe it! I swear Jao must have paid that wolf!"

“Master? What happened?" Pantaleon responded with concern as the worn-out Gernan undid and pulled off his informal court head-wrap, tossing the wrinkled black cloth in the corner of the room. “Some fool of an Omega mounted the howling stone and aired their complaints about me!"

“I am sure it's nothing, just an attempt get on your nerves," the fox assured as Gernan just leaned back in his seat and sighed.

“That may be true, my friend, but no doubt this will get the staff of the Grand Auditor to perform an audit on my character…" huffing disappointingly, he furthered. “They won't find anything of course, but the hassle of it...!"

“Looks like I should get your financial documents ready to be examined then. I take he accused you of being bribed?" the wolf lit up and laughed.

“This is why you are the best! Only you would be able guess to guess correctly things such as that!" Gernan reached out and grasped the fox's paw in a friendly manner. Holding it for a while when Pantaleon spoke up again.

“I hope Jao gave that wolf a decent reward for what he just did! You know what the law says about false accusations!"

Gernan replied on key without a moment's pause, “The person who bears false accusations shall suffer the penalty for the crime that was falsely put forth"

“Good to see your education hasn't faltered!"

“Father made me memorize the accused text before I even was ten years of age!"

….

Soon my memories of bygone times were interrupted by the movement stopping. Looking up, I saw we were outside a gate. A very minor and small one, but still an impressive gate that would not be out of place on a fortress. I guessed rightfully that it was one of the side-gates of the palace complex's wall.

I wished to look up and see the nameplate perched from the roof of the gatehouse, but it was much too dark and I only just saw its frame within the darkness, its engraved characters were blended in with the shadows around it.

One of the ursines was speaking with the head guardswolf at the front. Only one leaf of one of the side portals of the multi-doored gate was opened for us and I was carried through thus now in the palace proper, but not the Harem. All of which I found myself being carried past was the Outer Palace, the place were high government is conducted. The major audience halls placed on the central axis and the inner offices of the Prime Gamma and Prime Delta.

I only focused on the forward down the long, parallel paved road that vanished far in the darkness ahead. A darkness that was so silent, only the shuffling steps of our group being about were the only sounds audible to me.

How clandestine this whole affair was! It was all unofficial, only a handful of others even knew about this even being planned. No doubt that wouldn't be for long. The moment the sun rises, word would get out via those stationed guards that will write up an account of things that went on during their duty. It will be a mere footnote but I knew it would end up rising some ears and no doubt would Titus inquire about the late night admittance.

Also little sister Nu will no doubt inform her brother when she awakens and hears about what her daughter-in law had organized. I rightfully guessed I would be awoken to meet with her the next day. I shuttered at the thought of her again, reminded of her aura…

It was going to be a mess, I knew it for sure. I wondered if even Ulric knew about this or if this all was a form of surprise by his forlorn mate to show how much she cares for her imperial spouse's well-being? It was all going to be revealed to me soon and I braced myself for the coming days.

“At least I will have Yosef with me," I figured, finding that thought of much comfort to me. The Harem was going to be my place now and I was going to need all the assistance I could get and being on my own would have only set me up to be wholly vulnerable to the powers that be in this whole situation that I was still blissfully unaware I was in.

And now the very entrance to that situation was before me, the gate of the Harem. The Western Paradise Gate, a gate like the other, grand, but not monumental. Portals that were manned by a small troop of guardswolves who did the same as the ones before in letting us in and it was then that I now passed the threshold and into the Harem itself.

And as I was carried over the gate's threshold, I could only think about Elyk's words and I wondered if I had made a grave mistake with this, but there was no turning back for me. Once I heard the door leaf behind me close with a groaning murmur, I knew full-well I had really done it! I was now here and I had to committed to this now.

I felt strange. I could feel the seclusion already and I had just arrived. It was a feeling like I just entered a bubble, one which was shut away and at a distance from the outside. It was claustrophobic, the winding pathways and walls bearing down on me from on all sides were all I could see and feel.

Gazing to my side, I saw that no longer were there wolf guards but there were, in fact, ursines who were acting as them within the walled precinct that was the Alpha's Imperial Harem. For only male humans, female wolves and castrated ursine's were allowed to dwell here past sunset.

What my destination was now that I was here was unknown to me then, but whatever it was, it was the last leg of my journey and I was set on just letting things come what may and then everything stopped. Movement and then a call, a low whisper now that we were in a place where there were others most likely deep within sleep.

“Lower!" then I was lowered, gazing around, I was outside the portal of a compound. A female wolf was waiting there by the open doors of it, she looked like a maid or some sort and like she had just woken up or something. I am not sure but I think one of the eunuchs sprinted ahead of us after I passed through the gates into the open but walled-in seraglio. I can not be sure but that would be the only and most likely explanation for how someone was already here waiting for me.

“Her Highness was not expecting you to chose to come at such a late hour," the she-wolf started, a slight tint of groggy annoyance clear in her voice.

Yosef helped me out from the enclosed palanquin, my legs nearly giving away and I almost fell to the hard-paved ground. Being in a kneeling position had ended up cutting of flow of blood to my legs and now they were asleep.

“Gernan was too kind, never making me kneel on the floor all the time and now its biting me back in the most unexpected way!" I remember thinking to myself as I recovered with the help of Yosef, who supported me as all the blood returned to my legs, causing the awful feeling of pins and needles for a moment of time, which was not long enough if I say so, as that shewolf was now upon me.

“Come, my mistress bids to meet with you," she curtly said before trotting off with me and Yosef, picking up behind her as we claimed the dozen or so steps that lead up the masonry foundation this small gate rested upon. Not the best thing for legs that had just been devoid of life!

Up and then down into the open courtyard before the residence hall of the Imperial Mate herself. It was darkened, aside from one window illuminated from within. I knew then that's where I would be taken to meet with my new benefactor in this equally new life for myself.

“Greetings Imperial Mate! This human gives his greetings!" I did not even get a moment to look at her. When I was ushered into her chamber, I looked down in humility and when I felt I was close enough that I feel upon my knees and recited my lines before I prostrated myself before her.

“Rise," she said curtly and I did as she asked, looking up to finally gaze upon her form seated on the edge of her royal bed wearing only a negligee. The room was dark and only she and a wolf maiden were given light from the nearby lanterns lit only just recently.

“I was not expecting you to make your decision on my offer at such an hour of the night! Nonetheless I am not upset, in fact quite the contrary."

“Forgive me, Imperial Mate! I am stupid!" I recited to her partially, only now having it hit me that she must have been only just a moment ago roused from slumber.

She waved her paw at me, “Shhh! It's nothing, you are here now and that's all that matters."

“I am most pleased you have decided to assist me!" she said and I cocked my head in confusion, casting my eyes around to the darkened recesses of the bedchamber before looking at her, still perplexed by her choice of words.

“I thought you wished for me to help Ulric?" meekly musing to her. Her eyes widened in embarrassment as if she was caught revealing something she did not want to.

Which she did, unsurprisingly. Even though it did not factor much into me that time.

“Oh yes, Ulric! I misspoke! I am much too tired to be speaking such things this moment of the night…" she trailed off, followed by a look of mild confusion in her wolven eyes.

“It's Iskander? Right!?" she asked.

I nodded my head humbly back, “Yes, Mistress, but often I am called Xander as well."

The she-wolf then looked in thought to herself for slight moment, likely making sure to retain my name this time by repeating it in her head a few times to make sure of it.

“Oh Yes! Xander! Oh, how tiredness can play tricks on my mind, isn't that right my dear Xander?" she paused before adding to this. “Human Talent Xander, I should call you by now," and then she locked her eyes upon my body and if it were not for her slip-ups I would have felt slightly unnerved and small under such a gaze but I did not.

“My new Harem Brother!" she coolly cooed in a tone of familial kindness before she then turned to her fellow she-wolf and ordered her to have me taken to my lodgings. One of the side buildings attached the inner perimeter of her palatial compound in the rear section of it. Accommodations for her servants, cortege and her pups… pups that had yet to be born to her…

Nothing upset her more than that and the fact that Ulric had just had his second litter born to him by another consort and as of lately was causing her to become raw with stress. The fact that Ulric also shared favor upon a human who was of Jao's own bidding did not help matters when it came to her ego.

I shall speak more about him later when he will make his appearance for the first time in my account…

The two of us were quickly shoved into a small, paneled room with a bed and the necessary accommodations for day-to-day living tucked into the corners or placed upon tables that laid within. Though in the current lack of light they were just shadows.

I just collapsed on the bed, drained from everything including the argument with Elyk, but I felt that the most draining thing of this was the action of choosing this life to begin with. I had no idea where this would leave me. The certainty of all of this was as abundant as Titus's capacity for having fondness for humans.

Being none!

How I managed to drift off to sleep in a state of mind like this, I have no idea. I just closed my eyes and sleep became me. It was the most unpleasant rest I had ever gotten in my life! Even sleep during the long exile was a trifle compared to the sleep I was now getting here and now in this den of schemes, plots, and jealousies…

And how short the slumber felt to me! I closed my eyes and I was awoken again a second later by a voice. One that was not Yosef's or anyone else I knew, but it was familiar to me. It was female and it was Wolven spoken with a human accent.

It was now morning and the figure in the doorway was backed by the morning light as my eyes cleared up and focused to reveal the form of a human woman standing there bearing a tray of folded linen items.

The voice spoke again and this time the words were clear to me, “Talent Iskander, I have brought you your linens on orders from the Imperial Mate. May I be in your presence?" she said humbly. The voice, my initial lack of recognition cleared and a sense of growing familiarity washed over my freshly awoken mind.

Then her face…

I thought I would never see that face again! It was a face that brought me all the way back to that night back on Safehaven when I was taken by force. The comfort I got from her when I was weeping in that shabby boat destined for Lupercal and which all lead up to this very moment here and now.

Maria!

Notes on affairs of the sky over the course of several days.

Ongoing situation of the planets and stars:

Planet of Traveling, Mercury on course to meet with Alpha's Den asterism of the central sky. Moving in a south to north motion from this view on Earth.

Star of the Mate glowed with a very light greenish haze that was seen for some hours.

Mercury has made its pass by the star of the Alpha and has now moved into the asterism of the Harem.

Solar Matters:

During dawn the sun was reddish hued and was unmarred by clouds of ill-omened colors. The harvest will be good this year if nothing comes up further within the bounds of the sky.

Final Remarks:

Concluding this report on the going-ons of the sky, the Grand Astrologer makes the prediction of matters that shall occur in the family regarding the future. Mercury, the planet of movement, signals some possible changes within his Imperial Majesty's Harem. The haze of green that hugged the star of the Mate, green is a bountiful color of spring growth and life, it is in my opinion that her highness's heat this year shall be auspicious and ideal for the birth of a litter! This is the majority view, though one dissenting scholar put forward the view the green is for envy but we all disagree on this proposition which near borders on libel on the part of her gracious highness.