One: Troubling Progress

There was always a kingdom in trouble from invasion when Engin Empire generals were visiting the Emperor's Court. It was something that was always whispered amongst the eunuchs and of course, beings with good ears always picked things up. It was always a point of discussion within the top levels of the harem building where the princes of vassal states were hostages under an 'education program', the situation was important. As always though, the youngsters were scared of getting taught and so the two eldest boys, practically adults now, were listening in to the usual gossip of Arash and Behnam around the hallways and were quick to report it back. However, this time they were lucky that their polecat tutor Sabri was willing to let them have a chance to talk it over.

"Just typical... they've only gone and pissed off the worst country... once you start removing animals for the Hohen Empire, they tend to retaliate badly!" Viorel snarled as he curled his lips and settled down into the steppe polecat's class as his companion Izem settled beside him and scratched at his mane. The big black-maned lion was not used to understanding the affairs of the mountain dwellers on the other side of the Empire's northern sea, save for the wolf Viorel himself, but he had not liked the look of it either. He was shaking his head as the polecat requested for more information and Viorel snarled. "They've kidnapped the young Duke Ortrum and his sister Frauke, their Mountain Ibex from a country further north than mine and seriously problematic!"

"Duke Ortrum? Oh dear... he was supposed to be on his way to the empire's eastern neighbour to marry his sister off. I'm aware the Engin do not like that neighbour since they rebelled and took back territory but... could this be the sign of a new war?" The polecat pondered softly, shaking his yellowed fur and rubbed softly at the soft brown band over his eyes, giving a groan. Sabri had been working very hard to teach these youngsters in preparation for becoming good vassals and allies for the empire, brainwashed to know what was good for them... but this was troublesome! This broke some of the ideas of how vassals and enemies were treated, especially when the Hohen Empire had been at a steady stand-off or neutral position to the Engin. "Do we have any idea what he hopes to do?"

"Not sure... its quite likely it's just a move for money or maybe to get the Hohen to put pressure on the Lerr Empire to give back lands they took, perhaps?" Izem suggested, the young lion stroking at his black mane in thought as he considered the situation carefully. His homeland was once a thriving kingdom of its own, the furthest lion kingdom to the north and it had been an old ally to Engin until the current emperor's grandfather had demanded conquest. His kingdom had become a vassal state, paying taxes and obeying the emperor but it had come at the cost of their harvests and food supplies being divided up as well as their goods... he knew from being a neighbour why another might want to break free and why that land might want to be taken back. "It's odd though... there was a strange sort of silence about it until now..."

"Yeah... how did you guys find out about this anyway?" One of the other younger princes questioned in fascination as the two bigger animals looked to them and then gave a grumbles. They mentioned the eunuchs had been preparing the sister for the 'emperor's inspection', which made all present shudder. No matter the youth of these boys from varying tribes and races, everyone learnt quickly when trapped in the golden cage of the harem that the emperor's inspection was something unpleasant in which he tested the virginity of the chosen concubines as well as his own interest in having sex with them.

If he did not like the enough to stay erect of ejaculate... they were given to someone else, generally the mad prince! If this would be the fate of that poor female, then there would be real hell from the Hohen Kingdom and the Duke might demand blood in recompense! It was enough to make them all shiver and grimace at the thought of a war that could force their families to fight too and risk their lives if there was any form of treachery.

But... as he was inclined to always think over these matters with great care, Sabri gave a soft sound of fascination before then looking towards the wolf and the lion with a grin. He insisted the rest of the boys rest and then he led the two eighteen-year-olds out with him to another area of the many walls and halls of the palace. He reached an area that was free of eunuchs and then gently steered them to a blank wall that looked rather bland without a tapestry upon it. Here, he polecat gently grasped a strange metal ornament on the curtain rail beside this section and it slowly creaked open enough that both youngsters gasped and the cunning of the polecat as he beamed.

"You'll need to find out the situation if you can... if you follow this passage around it will take you to Princess Hira's apartments. Her grandfather, the emperor, is very fond of her and goes there often to see her and talk to her. She collects information for those who want it and will know exactly what is happening. We need to know the situation to gauge our fates, so I'm counting on you both." Sabri stated and the pair were staring at him in surprise to think he would know such secrets of the palace. Plus, Princess Hira was a member of the palace completely off-limits to anyone, especially as there was word her grandfather was waiting for the most righteous male in the kingdom to marry her off too, especially as she was practically his preferred heir, but the polecat gave them a stark warning. "The passage is dark and the light comes from the grating seen in the various rooms to keep them with clean air. Do not look into any room beyond the first, which is hers! Also, do not be surprised by anything you learn or see and do not react, only she will let you into her room and it's also best to stay quiet if she has company."

"To be honest... Viorel has managed to survive thus far after everything he's said and done... I think we'll survive." The lion chuckled softly as the wolf gave him a narrow glare and then curled his lip, though the lion just chuckled and slammed a big paw to the wolf's shoulder. Sabri pulled the door too and let them inside, they stepped down the passage and heard it close with a firm click... he hadn't told them how to get back! The princes rolled their eyes but then followed the grey light of the thin passage down a slop until they were walking in a narrow gap that felt like it was between the walls of the palace completely! This might be fine for a weasel but for a wolf and lion, it took effort!

"This is not exactly easy..." Viorel snarled but Izem quickly clamped a paw around the wolf's muzzle, keeping him quiet when his voice had echoed around the cavity. They were both soon listening in very carefully to the sounds of footsteps, the scent of perfume and distant laughter from the rooms. They followed the scents as carefully as possible to the area where there was a thin, long grate enough for them to stick their noses to and their eyes and stare into a room of turquoise and green. It was a beautiful room and they had direct view from a grate in the wall of the princess' bed where she was sitting comfortably with a sigh. Viorel opened his muzzle, about to speak when there was a knock to her door and the lion smothered him again.

"Princess... your Emperor has come to see you." A eunuch grunted, opening the door and letting in the great goat himself. Some titled him a wild goat, others a kind of ibex with his body a mix of grey, sandy brown with black and a long beard down to his chest. Generally the great sahib wore thick red robes that billowed out to keep him cool and give him presence, but today he was wearing something thin and black. His great coiling horns, the crown of this sultan, were wrapped in golden fabric with not an inch showing and the two predators paled as they recalled this was the clothing of a billy aiming to breed. But why come to see his granddaughter first?

It was well-known that the master's most beloved son, Emir, had been tipped to rule next as he was not only the same species of wild goat as his site, but had produced two sons and a daughter already. Emir had been a mighty general and he had only had the one wife and been very in love with her, his three children had been hosts like him unlike his wife, but despite thoughts that his oldest son Suleiman would be the grandfather's favourite, his eyes had been drawn to Hira. She had always smiled, been sweet and even now she was his great treasure that would likely marry a king who could keep her in the luxury and power her influential gossip gave her... but there were dark rumours too.

As the predators watched the hind bow to her grandfather and greet him with a smile, the rumours came to mind. Hira was eighteen like them, but when her father and eldest brother had been killed in war, her brother had been taken as the master's son but she was not held his daughter. Hira had a delicate face, pale sandy fur with a pronounced white underbelly like most females, but she'd produced a larger bosom than most quite young and rumour amongst the males was that from thirteen she'd held a very sexual aura...hence she'd been locked away. But rumour has it that at thirteen she'd had big breasts because she'd already been pregnant to someone... the darkest of rumours held her brother the culprit, but the most common was the Sultan himself! It made them both shiver and recall the request not to act as the great leader spoke.

"Dearest Child, there has been a very serious situation that must be dealt with in this empire and... as always... I have come to tell the harsh truth of the solution to the wisest one I know." Hilal spoke as he sat down upon the bed and the ewe lounged onto his knee with a smile upon her face. She was clearly honoured and both Izem and Viorel could not believe their luck as the great sultan spoke. He shooed out the eunuch and the door closed firmly as he stroked his granddaughter's pale chin. "As you know, the last thirteen generations of sultan gave been the wild goat that have always roamed this land after purging the wolf barbarians of the past. We have always had unity and peace amongst prey for this... but now there exist no suitable heirs of my kind to take my place. You already know your brother is frail and crippled, but how your uncle is also unsuitable..."

"I am aware that the policy for females kept in the harem means there must be pregnancies .. if you are to tell me that my mother is to enter your harem, that I accept. But I heard word that my dearest master had kidnapped a northerner for this..." Hira was as smart and clever in her words as both the sultan and Sabri knew. The predators took in deep breaths of anticipation, she did not even know they were there and yet she was doing the job for them... but even they could sense something is wrong.

"Ah... a different plan to make your mad uncle useful... she will be given to him and I will offer to marry him as the brother will be... dealt with unless he's more useful." Hilal stated calmly and she made a sound of surprise to please him before praising his cunning. But then Hilal's hard hooves stroked about her thighs and Hira looked aside. She looked sick and straight towards the predators though she did not see them. Both were worried and Izem had to smother Viorel's mouth to stop him from saying anything that would get them killed, but the emperor gave a chuckle. "As for the other issue, I have written into law that this dynastic crisis is now that great that incest is no longer something the sultan can commit. As of dawn tomorrow, all females in the harem... whether sister, daughter or granddaughter... from eighteen they are my bride until I die."

"What!" Hira gasped in horror, about to pull herself from the bed but for her grandfather squeezing her tightly and pushing her against him. The exclamation was echoed by the smothered muzzle of the wolf and even the lion looked about to scream as he thought to leave too. They had their information now, they should go and Izem tugged Viorel to follow him, but the wolf was staring as the emperor she'd the robe. He was showing no clothes beneath but an already erect phallus that like most of his kind was very long! But as he stripped his granddaughter her words cut into the wolf. "No... Please, I'm like your daughter... please don't do this to me again...."

Viorel's eyes widened and his mind slid back to his first month here, only eight when he'd been raped by his first teacher here under Hilal's order and then a year later being pulled into a side room where Hilal had watched and ordered one of his generals to rape him... rewarding a great general with his perverse desire to dominate a predator. He could hardly move and the lion, older when he'd undergone the same as all vassal princes had, was frozen in shock too.

Before them, the sobbing gasping for had been forced to kneel and let her grandfather's cock slide between her thighs and rub up between the lips of her pussy. His hooves had grasped her breasts, pinching her large pink tests to make her gag and gasp in shock. She could not move as the weight of the fat old beast's body pushed into her back. She whimpered and swallowed her sobs as the old goat massaged her bosom, stretched and squeezed her nipples as she tried not to scream and he seemed to get thicker with her fear.

His phallus began to swell and dampen, its burning form rubbing between her lips and pressing her clitoris. The two sensitive organs touched and tingled, swelling and sending messages of pleasure that made Hira gag for the treachery of her body. The phallus got darker and rubbed with her grandfather matching his massages to his hips and with his steady grinding motions, a horrid musk filled the air. The vile more ammonia filled scent of the old buck's passion was starting to make the vomit rise in her throat as the old goat gave a sweaty groan and the licked her neck as he rubbed himself between the lips that began to stain him with growing preparation.

"Do you remember when you used to ride on my lap and I taught you to let this rub at you? Even now your body still welcomes it... do you remember when I taught you to kick your own nipples and then put them to my mouth? They still strain out and get hard just with simple squeezes." The vile old king groaned, his balls clenching, the smell getting stronger as he rubbed himself between her lips more. Precum was bubbling out of the tip of his cock and the predators could not believe he was getting off on the memory of abusing this poor child and they were too afraid to turn away. "Do you remember how much you bled..."

"Please... grandfather... I can't..." Hira whimpered as he squeezed her nipples tightly and she bleated in pain. The eunuchs would not come in to rescue her, she was on her own and yet Hilal began to slap himself against her. The memory of her rape and tears just as arousing as this whimper as he began to rub more briskly and madly, grunting and looking like he must be about to stuff it into the shivering, year filled female's body. Viorel could not allow it!

He pulled out a slingshot from his robes and a small stone, he knew only one way to save her and that was to make it end. He aimed the shot and released, the small stone hit the bottom of the phallus and fell amongst the folds of the bed linen. The sudden hit caused a spurt of weak looking cum upon the sheets and a groan of pain from the goat. Hilal let go of Hira, groaning that he'd pulled himself and quickly pulling his clothes back on and leaving with a lump. Hira felt the stone near her knee and looked to the grate, but Izem had dragged him out already.