Image is a placeholder. Just a little weapon design I came up with. I really hope to get more story-related art posted at some point.

I stayed up late to finish this chapter up--once I'm on a roll like this I just HAVE to see it through. And this one is...interesting. Enjoy!

Characters © me

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CHAPTER 4
Secrets

“…and that’s the last of it,” Laura sighed as she hefted a cask of flour onto the supply wagon. She looked over to Allen, only to see the old wolf striking a match on his pant leg to light a cigarette. He took a long drag and exhaled through his nose.

“Very well then,” he replied finally, flicking some of the ashes off the end of his cigarette. “Let’s head back to the cabin.”

Laura looked confused. “Didn’t your boss say to have some clothes fitted for me?” she reminded him.

“Ah yes, of course. My apologies—my memory must be slipping from me. I’m not getting any younger.”

Laura giggled. “You’re not fooling me with that ‘old wolf’ act. I know of you, Allen Lockton,” she countered. “You’re one of the wisest knights in the citadel. Your memory and intellect are anything but faulty.”

Allen smiled, his teeth a shining white despite his smoking. “You flatter me, my good lady,” he replied with a polite nod. “Can you ride, Miss Steelpaw?”

Laura nodded. “My father taught me. Why?”

“It’s your turn to ride old Ebony, here.” Allen patted the mare’s neck. He noticed the woman’s look of uncertainty. “Don’t you worry, she’s a real sweetheart. And I’ll be fine walking.”

Laura mounted the horse and skillfully guided her across the market square. Soon she caught a whiff of tanned leather, and it got stronger as she went on, the old wolf leisurely walking alongside the mare. A few moments later, she spotted the source of the strong aroma.

“This is where we get our guild coats,” Allen explained, pointing ahead to the tanner’s shop. He motioned to the shop right next to it. “And that’s the tailor. She’ll get a few shirts fitted for you in no time at all.”

Laura halted the horse and hopped off as Allen strode ahead toward the tanner. Someone met him at the entrance—she could only assume it was the shop’s owner. An arctic fox, by the color of their fur. They smiled as Allen approached, jumping up and wrapping their arms around his shoulders and pressing their muzzle against his. He hastily pushed them away and turned back to Laura as if to see whether she had witnessed the display. Laura approached them.

“Miss Steelpaw…” Allen started, but at that point the fox stepped around him, and Laura got a better look at her. She quickly realized that the features were all wrong. The fox that had just kissed Allen wasn’t a woman…he was a man.

Laura suddenly felt very awkward. Allen hadn’t struck her as the type to prefer men, not by a longshot. But she did her best to act as though it didn’t happen. “Um…I’m here to be fitted for a coat…and trousers,” she mumbled.

The fox cleared his throat and nodded. “Y-yes, of course. Right this way, miss,” he replied, motioning for her to step inside but not making eye contact. Allen suddenly felt the urge to light up another cigarette, and he stepped away from the shop to do just that.

The smell of leather was nearly overwhelming to Laura’s sensitive canine nose. Belt straps of all lengths, widths, and shades of brown adorned one portion of the wall; cured leather of varying weights were stacked along another wall; shelves were filled with the soft pelts of deer, raccoons, and other small game animals. In the very back of the shop was a rack where hides could be stretched for curing and tanning, and in the center was a massive work table with racks filled with tools and knives of all shapes and sizes.

“So,” the fox stated loudly, trying to break the silence, “What kind of coat are you looking for? Warm weather, something casual, or maybe something a little dressier?”

Laura ran her fingers through a soft albino deerskin. “Actually, I’m looking for a guild coat and trousers,” she replied simply.

“Which one?”

“The Sword and Shield.”

“Ah, I see. It’s been too long since I fitted a coat for one of their members. Stand over here, please—arms out.” The fox walked over to his desk and grabbed what looked to Laura to be a roll of tape, but as he brought it over she noticed the marks and numbers all along the strip. “Guild uniforms are supposed to be snug and form-fitting, so I’m going to have to do a lot of measuring. It may make you uncomfortable, but it has to be done.”

Laura nodded. When he put one hand between her legs to wrap the tape around her thigh, she started up a conversation with him to try and distract herself. “So…you said you haven’t fitted someone for the Sword and Shield in a while. Why is that?” she asked.

The fox chuckled. “Others have tried to join, but the guild leader is a rough one,” he replied. “He puts himself and his members through a murderous training regimen. I’d rather not take part in it.” A mischievous smirk spread across his muzzle. “That Flynt is one gorgeous wolf, though. I never could get him to look my way.”

Laura scoffed. “Yes, well…’gorgeous’ isn’t a word I’d use to describe him,” she muttered. “’Arrogant ass’ seems to fit him better.”

The fox laughed as he stood and rolled up the measuring tape. “Well, he can be rude at times, but the man isn’t arrogant,” he replied, clearing out a space on the table and then placing a large section of leather on the table. He began drawing on the flesh side of the leather with a stick of charcoal. “It’s not really his fault for being that way, either. The poor guy’s had it pretty rough.”

Laura stepped over to examine some of the belt straps. “What do you mean?” she asked.

She was answered by a voice deeper that the fox’s. “Flynt’s past is a painful one,” Allen said. “I was there the day his mother was murdered.”

Laura turned around to face him. “…Murdered?” she echoed in shock. “I never heard about—“

“Yes, it’s precious little you nobles seem to know about us commoners. But I won’t hold that against you.”

“…What exactly happened?”

“Flynt wished that I not give the details to anyone, and I’ll not betray his trust. I will say that a bandit gang was behind it—they wiped out nearly all of the Greystone family. Flynt and his father are the only ones left.”

Laura suddenly felt sick to her stomach, regretting everything she’d done earlier. “How does he keep going? All that pain…how does he deal with it?” she asked.

Allen sighed. “I cannot claim to know how he does it, Miss Steelpaw. But I DO know that it is his past that drove him—that still drives him—to be the man he is now. He wants to ensure that nobody has to experience the same pain.”

“Okay,” the fox announced. “I have all the lines made out, but it’s going to take a little while for me to put it all together.” He paused, then snapped his fingers. “Ah…where are my manners? My name is Nathaniel Graceblade. It’s a pleasure to work for you, Miss Steelpaw.”

Laura smiled. “Just ‘Laura’ is fine. And the pleasure is mine,” she replied. “Though I have to ask: does Flynt know about…this?”

Nathaniel blushed slightly. “I’m sorry about earlier, Allie,” he said quietly, “it’s just…I haven’t seen you in so long, and…”

Allen cleared his throat nervously. “It’s fine,” he consoled the fox before turning to Laura. “No, he does not know of our relationship. We’ve managed to keep it a secret for the past few years,” he said. “Everyone else at the guild knows of my…preferences. I’ve been one of his closest friends for years, and I’d rather not risk that friendship.”

Laura was silent for a long moment, watching Nathaniel work the leather with such ease and skill, like it was as natural to him as blinking. “Allen?”

“Yes?”

“…Don’t worry about it.” Laura walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. “Your secret’s safe with me. Flynt won’t know if you don’t want him to.”