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The Envoy

By XP Author

General Seji Hu pressed his seal into the wax upon the letter. It left the imprint of a great tree in the dark blue wax, the symbol for the Republic of Jyn. The armor-clad rabbit looked up. "There you are." He pushed the letter across the makeshift table.

The mouse across the table picked up the letter, giving him a polite nod. "Thank you, General." She let out a soft sigh. "Let us hope the Duke is amiable. I would hate to see another beautiful city destroyed from this war."

Seji nodded. "I would also like to avoid unnecessary bloodshed if possible. I wish you the best of luck. May the wise voice of Deleth speak through you, so we do not need rely on the claws of Ket."

She smiled as she gave him a shallow bow before leaving. She appreciated his words, even if she was sure he did not have the same faith as her. Not that she expected him to. Lela Fa had been raised by the church, studying the ways of the godly Court. She had only just turned 20 and finished her training to be a missionary when the war with the kingdom of Vesta started three years ago. She had answered the call, not as a soldier, but as a diplomat.

For the last two years she had traveled with General Hu and his army of over 50,000 soldiers. One of many such armies marching through Vesta. Thus far, she had managed to convince several small towns to throw down their arms and surrender, some even welcoming them as liberators. She had even met with a rebel group fed up with the feudal royalty oppressing them, and though they had not joined with the army, they had at least agreed to work with them in future operations. Unfortunately, not all were so welcoming of an invading army, and she had seen far more death than she would have liked, on all sides of the conflict.

As she stepped out of the general's war tent, she turned to look at the city in the distance. Miorna was a true city, boasting walls some 30 feet tall and quite thick. Guard towers were spread evenly across the top, and even from this far away, she could see the movement of soldiers between the towers, reading defenses for a siege. This was to be the first large city she had entered as an envoy. She hoped she was up to the task.

Four tall squirrels approached her, each wearing ornate gowns of blue, the color of Jyn. They looked to be about the same age, maybe 19. Even only a few years younger and a foot taller than her, she felt they looked like children. They each bowed to her, saying no words, for they were effectively mute. These were Delethite acolytes from the church. Deleth was the god of speech and creation, and the Delethites held the view that any words they spoke would only be corruptions or lesser versions of his own wisdom, and thus swore vows of silence. They would be her escort, carrying the gifts she had to offer to the duke for her.

Lela returned the bow to them. "All is prepared then?" One of the men nodded. "Very well." She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Let us depart." She stepped past the four, her own silken dress fluttering behind her. As the envoy, her dress was more ornate, of a dark blue, but with green accents and billowing additions that fluttered behind her like grass in the wind. It gave the appearance that she was almost made of water. Fitting, as Miorna was a port city, and a very important one for Jyn to take control of. It sat upon the edge of the Reegan Sea. Across the sea was the royal capital of Nonset, ruled by the house of Trevier, the monarchs of the kingdom of Vesta.

The five of them moved through the camp, post soldiers readying battlements or patrolling. Many soldiers gave them a salute as they passed, or gave a slight bow of their head. Instead of acknowledging them as she normally would, Lela kept her head high and eyes forward, a look of calm determination upon her face. They stepped out of the camp and down the paved road that led to the city wall's main gate. High above, she saw Vestan soldiers watching, and knew more than a few bows were being aimed at them. She did not flinch, and to their credit, neither did her escorts.

As she got to the main gate, a solder in slightly nicer armor than the rest stepped out, a spear in his hand. He held the spear up, but not pointed at her, instead across her path to bar her movement. "Halt! State your business approaching the city!" Of course he knew the answer. This was the game of war, where protocol must be followed and words must be said in the appropriate ways.

She played her part. "I am Lela Fa, envoy for General Seji Hu of the Republic of Jyn. I have come to speak with Duke Toma Dalan VIII on his behalf." She motioned to her escorts, each holding an armload of something to give. "I have gifts to offer to him." She then held out the letter she had just gotten. "And a letter for the Duke from the General."

The rat leaned closer to look at the letter, seeing the official seal upon it. He frowned, but lowered his spear. "Very well." Turning to look at the others guarding the gate, he barked orders. "Open the gate for the envoy of Jyn. Tell a squad of soldiers to escort them directly to the palace. And send a messenger to tell his highness that they are coming." There was a call of affirmation from the soldiers. With the sound of great, wooden gears, the massive iron gate started to rise, stopping only a few feet off of the ground, enough to allow someone to walk under without ducking. The knight turned back to her. "Please step inside and follow the soldiers. If you or your escort try to lose them, you will be considered subversive elements and hunted down."

Lela smiled at him. "Yes, thank you... Captain?" He nodded. "I understand the rules. I am here to try and avoid the fighting, not instigate it."

"Just doing my job, ma'am." His demeanor still softened just slightly. He stepped back away from her. A moment later, no less than ten soldiers in light armor stepped out, all wielding spears. They looked to the rat, and not her. "You men are to escort the lady Lela Fa and her entourage to the palace. Straight there, no sightseeing. Understood?" They all replied with a 'Yes, Sir' in unison. He nodded, then looked to her. "Very well. Go with them. And... best of luck." She caught a note in of hope in his voice. He was also not looking forward to fighting a war, it seemed.

As Lela and her escorts walked through the streets, people hastily got out of their way. Most stood on the sides of the paved roads, staring at the five ornately dressed people. The city itself was rather large. The roads were flat and slightly curved, houses, shops, and churches lining along them, getting bigger and more decorative as they got closer to the palace. The road started an incline toward the palace itself. It was more of a stone manor house than a full palace, but no less impressive for it. Columns and arches decorated the front, a balcony at the top for the Duke to speak out at any gathered crowds. The roof was a well engineered dome design, it and the walls of white marble. All of it were examples of classic Vestan architecture on full display.

The soldiers all stopped at the front of the palace, moving to stand between it and her group. One of the soldiers, a feline that likely was the company leader, spoke to her. "Wait here." He turned and entered the palace, vanishing behind the ornate doorway. It gave Lela the chance to turn and look out over Miorna. From the elevated road, she was able to spot the port. It was massive, much larger than any she had seen, with mighty cranes of wood and rope for moving large amounts of cargo. The Reegan Sea was beyond, the late morning sun shining off of its surface. The spots that were not occupied by ships, at least.

While she had yet to travel more than a short distance by boat, she recognized a tool of war when she saw one now. Mighty vessels of solid wood, many canons along the edges, soldiers milling about their decks, and large sails in the Vestan golds and reds. No merchant vessel would fly their colors so boisterously. General Hu was correct that an attack by water would be crushed in an instant. If it came to a siege, those ships would make taking the port exceedingly difficult even by land. They could likely bombard the edges of the city, and if their cannons were powerful enough, possibly further into the city. It was not impossible to imagine they would rather the city burn than fall into the hands of the enemy. She had seen it before.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the doors opened again. She turned to see the soldier walk out, accompanied by new soldiers. These were all rats, dressed in thick, leather armor, well tailored to fit against their muscular bodies. The armors were dyed a dark red with yellow accents, each baring a yellow cape, a red honeycomb-like design emblazoned upon them in the center, the symbol of Vesta. She guessed they were the personal royal guard of the Duke himself. One of the rats, his fur such a dark brown it looked like packed clay, stepped forward. "His Highness, The Duke, will see you. Follow us." Before she could do more than nod, he turned and walked back inside, followed by the other royal guard.

Lela and her escort followed. The inside of the palace was as ornate as she had imagined it would be. A carpet of deep red lay on the floor from the entrance to a large set of stairs. She was not able to admire the art on the walls as she followed up those stairs and down a short hallway to another set of doors. Two of the guards pushed the doors open, the guard entering, Lela still following behind. The room she found herself in was obviously the audience chamber. Large enough for two dozen to comfortably stand, it had little in the way of furniture, save a single, ornate seat.

Sitting upon that seat, looking bored, was Duke Toma Dalan VIII. Of average height, and well-fed girth, the badger wore the fine raiment of nobility, dyed yellow with red accents, and gold flare. Despite the slightly rotund physique, he still had the commanding presence fitting his station. His black and grey fur was well groomed, his short black hair equally groomed and fashioned. His brown eyes were so dark, they looked almost black. Even with his lazy, bored posture, there was a sharpness to his piercing gaze that almost sent a shiver down Lela's spine. But she kept her composure, and thankfully, so did the squirrels at her side.

One of the rats spoke in a loud, booming voice. "The Envoy Lela Fa of the Republic of Jyn, and her escort." She gave a deep bow to him, the four acolytes doing the same.

Toma gave a lazy nod. "Well, Envoy Lela Fa. State your business."

She returned the nod. "I am here to negotiate terms with your majesty on behalf of General Seji Hu. He, and all of Jyn, wish to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and devastation." She motioned to the side. "I also bring gifts, signs of what Miorna could gain should you surrender peacefully and join with the republic." She motioned to one side, the acolytes stepping forward and holding out what they carried. "From the southern provinces, fine silks." She motioned to the other side, the other two moving forward and opening leather bags. "From the eastern provinces, silver."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Fancy clothes and shiny metals. We have plenty of both thanks to the many merchants that come through our port. What benefit would Miorna gain from betraying her ancestral home?"

She pulled out the sealed letter. "I also bring, from General Hu himself, an offer of friendship." She handed the letter over, and he opened it to read. "We would wish to avoid an assault on the city, which would be quite costly for both sides. Even should you withstand, the city would be ravaged by war. However, if you were to surrender, or if you prefer, form an alliance with Jyn, then Miorna would not only gain the trade routes from our many provinces, but with access to the Reegan Sea, it would become the center of trade throughout the region, more than it already is." She offered a smile. "With you still sitting atop as the governor of this new province."

Toma nodded slowly. "An enticing offer. But I feel your words are honeyed, your tongue dipped in silver. What guarantee would I have of remaining at the top?" She did not have an answer to that. "None. I thought not." He crumpled the letter and threw it to the side. "I am not stupid, little girl. I know of the rebellions you have allied yourself with. They would see any with even a drop of royal blood spill it upon the dirt. Those you call allies would sooner see me swinging from my balcony than accept me ruling a whole province." He huffed. "And your flaunted republic would have me denounce my own nobility for this honor, as you call it, correct?"

She nodded, though could tell this would not go well. "That is correct, sir. There are no nobility within the republic. We believe that those from any station in life, if proven true of skill, could serve time in civil service."

The badger scoffed. "So not only would you have me give up my gods given title, but have me work with lessers, treat those that aught be beneath me as equals, or even as betters?" He shook his head. "No, that is not an honor. That is disgrace. It is an insult to myself and all the nobility of Vesta, and to the gods themselves."

She felt a pang of anger at his insinuation that she and her country had insulted the gods, both that she had dedicated herself to. Yet more, she felt sorrow at what was to come of his stubborn attitude. "Please, sir. I beseech you. Do not so lightly throw away this offer of peace. General Hu is no man to be treated lightly. His army has been victorious on many fronts, and he has won a great many battles. And he has with him no less than 50,000 men and women of Jyn, all veterans of many battles themselves, with many thousands more ready to heed the call if it comes. If you choose war, Miorna will fall, and it will be ruined for it. I would wish no ill fate upon such a glorious city and its people!"

"FALL!?" The man slammed his fist against the arm of his chair. "You dare think our walls would fall to your army of peasants and savages!?" She flinched at the sudden forcefulness of his words. "You deliver one insult after another, and call it an offering of peace and friendship? You walk in with trinkets as gifts. You ask me to betray my very station on the threat of war? I am a true son of Vesta, as are all the soldiers under my command. They will defend their home to the last! As will I!" He pointed directly at her. "You will have your war, little mouse!"

Her shoulders drooped, her ears falling. "Very well. I am saddened to hear this. I shall return to General Hu and tell him your response." She bowed to him, but as she moved to stand, two pairs of hands suddenly grabbed her arms. She looked to see the royal guard holding her. More had grabbed the men at her sides. "What is this!? Unhand me! I am an official envoy!"

Toma sneered at her. "You are an invader in my city, from a land that has just declared war."

She stared at him in disbelief. "Have you no honor!? Is the nobility so lacking in grace that they would break the most basic of etiquette?" Assaulting an official envoy was against the rules of conduct between nations, even those at war. Only the lowest of the low captured official messengers and diplomats to prove a point. "The General will not take this act lightly!"

The man's sneer grew more vile. "Oh, I'm counting on it. But you will still be delivering my message to him." He snapped his fingers. Her blood ran cold as she heard the sound of blades being drawn from scabbards. Then the wet squelch as steel cut flesh. She turned to see the tip of a sword poking through the chest of one of the squirrels. It was drawn free quickly, his body slumping to the floor. Another was slashed across his back, opening a fatal gash. All four of the acolytes were cut down before her. To their credit, even in the agony they experienced in these last moments, not a one of them made a sound louder than a grunt, never breaking their vow of silence.

Tears filled her eyes as she watched all four of the young men fall dead to the floor one by one. She turned her gaze to the duke, fury in her eyes. "You will pay for this, Toma. I swear by the Court that you will pay." She lifted her chin high, exposing her neck, ready to taste the steel she knew was coming.

Yet it did not come. "Oh, so ready to die. No, that is not your fate yet, little one." He nodded to his guards. A half dozen hands suddenly gripped at her ornate dress. With tugging in many directions, the light silks were torn open, ripped away from her with violent force. She yelped as she was left exposed to him and the rats holding the tatters of her clothing. She was a head shorter than even the Duke, who himself was a head shorter than his guard. Her body was covered in soft, white fur, her figure supple and slender, her breasts small upon her chest. A booted foot slammed against the back of her leg, sending her to her knees, a hand gripping her hair to keep her head down.

The duke stood from his chair, giving a dismissive wave to the guards. "Take her to the dungeon. You may do with her as you wish. Have fun. But do not kill her." He sneered once more. "I have plans for her tomorrow morning." He motioned to the bodies. "As for them... have soldiers bring them to the southern gate wall and leave them atop it. Let the wild crows and buzzards have their feast until tomorrow." With that, he left the room, and the sobbing, terrified mouse.

* * *

Lela stumbled and fell as she was shoved, collapsing to a heap on the cold stone floor. Her arms were sore where the men had gripped her tightly while dragging her. She was sure it would bruise soon. The dungeon was a single, large room in the palace, somewhere underground. There were no features upon the stone walls, and nothing inside the empty room, only a single door that had slammed shut. Two of the guards had followed her in, telling the rest to wait outside for their turn.

A hand gripped her thin tail, tugging it painfully and yanking her rear up, making her grit her teeth. She refused to cry out. "Well, cute little slit you got here, Jyn whore. Do you sate your soldiers with this?"

The other rat was already half-way through pulling his trousers open as he laughed. "No, little sweet talker like this? She's one of those pure types. Gives all 'em savages out there blueballs. Those that aren't bunging each other at least." He dropped the trousers and revealed his shaft, semi-hard. Reaching down, he gripped her hair and yanked her head up, only to smack her face with his semi-flacid dick. "How about you put that sweet talking mouth to good use, eh?"

She kept her mouth clamped shut, just glaring at him, even with tears still in her eyes. When the man behind her yanked her tail harder, she involuntarily cried out, only for the cock to suddenly be shoved into her mouth the moment she did. She flinched away from it, but he had a tight grip on her hair. "Now, take it like a good little slut. And if I feel those teeth, I'll break them out one by one!"

Lela squeezed her eyes shut, grunting and whining as he started to thrust into her mouth. Those eyes snapped back open when she felt something prod at her sex. She shook her head, or tried to at least, as the man behind her lined himself up. He suddenly shoved forward, ramming the entirety of his cock into her, ripping through her hymen in the process. "Well, look at that, you were right. Bitch _is_a virgin!" He slapped his hands on either side of her hips and started to thrust. "Well, was, anyway." He laughed as he started to fuck her, though she got no pleasure from it.

The two men started up an alternating pattern, one thrusting while the other pulled out, rocking her body back and forth between them. They both laughed at her as she whimpered and whined. The one behind her smacked her ass, hard enough that it made her flinch, a red mark showing through the white fur. "This is one tight cunt." He grunted as he started to pick the pace up. "C'mon, you're some kinda devout of the Court, right? Shouldn't you be thanking... what was it... Biana or whatever?" Bianis is who he meant, queen of the Court, and goddess of life. Though who he should mean is Zanduchi, the balance god of death, fertility, and the hunt. Not that she could, or even would correct the idiot.

As the two started to pick their pace up, their synchronized thrusting gave way to a more choatic push and pull. Both men started to grunt and pant. The cock in her mouth started to throb and twitch. Its owner grabbed her by the ears and started to ram himself into her mouth, slamming her nose against his crotch so hard she feared it might break. He was not large enough to fully choke her, but she did still gag several times as he struck close to the back of her throat. With a hard thrust and a loud groan, his cock jerked and throbbed, then finally started to spit and spray his cum. She again gagged, but he gripped her ears tighter. "Drink it all, Jyn whore!" She tried to swallow, but it was too much, bubbling up into her sinuses and drooling out of her mouth as he spat shot after shot into her.

The one ramming into her sex came not long after, slamming himself forward and letting out a satisfied cry as he sprayed his load deep into her. She felt the awful sticky, hot warmth splash inside of her. She prayed to whichever god would listen that this was not a fruitful union, though he emptied so much of his balls into her, that it was almost a certainty. Rats and mice were close enough that it was very common. While he was still pouring himself into her, the man in front pulled back, letting her head go at the same time. She fell forward, almost smacking her face against the stone floor as she slumped, coughing and hacking, spitting up gobs of cum between gasps for air.

The one behind pulled out when he was finished, spitting a few more shots onto her rear before shoving her to the side, letting her slump fully to the floor. She felt his seed slowly ooze out of her sex to drool onto the floor in a small pool. "Eh. Not too bad for a foreign slut." He sniffed. "Still better than you deserve." He started to dress himself again, watching as she just lay there, sobbing between gasping breaths. "What's the matter? Not happy?" He gave her belly a swift kick with his booted foot, nearly knocking the wind from her once more. "Our seed not good enough for you Jyn savages?" He kicked her again, harder this time.

When he wound up for another kick, this time aimed at her head, the other rat stepped in. "Easy, Rikka. Remember, the duke said not to kill her."

Rikka grunted. "Right." He just stepped on her face instead, grinding it against the ground and leaving a dirty bootprint upon her cheek. "Besides, the other boys need a go at her, too." He laughed as he walked away, the door opening for him. "Alright, who's next!?" She started to sob once more as she heard more laughter, and another two stepped in. This was worse than any nightmare, and it would only get worse from here.

* * *

Morning eventually came, though there was little reprieve for Lela. She had gotten next to no rest. Through the whole day and most of the night, she had been subject to an ever marching chain of abuse. Soldier after soldier came to visit her, all using her, none caring how many had used her before. Her pussy was raw and swollen, her ass gaped and caked in cum and blood. Her mouth was used repeatedly, her jaw sore beyond aching. Her fur was matted from the seed of dozens of soldiers, dirt sticking to what had been a shining white coat, her body covered in bruises and cuts and bite marks. Even her ornately braided hair was now a mess of matted strands and tangles.

When the dawn came, more soldiers came with it. But this time, not to abuse her further. They grabbed her by the arms, dragging her up to her feet, or trying to. She was so weak from the constant use and lack of rest that she could barely stand, let alone walk. So they simply resorted to dragging her. She was dragged out of the dungeon, out of the palace, and through the city streets. All those that once watched with awe the previous day now looked in horror or disgust, but most commonly, hatred. Not for the soldiers or what they did, but for her.

She was taken to the tops of the walls, dragged along through tower after tower, until she reached the final destination. She was dropped to the floor, beside something awful. She looked up, only to see that it was the bodies of the four acolytes she had come with, much of their flesh picked at by scavenger birds. For the first time, she was almost glad her nose was not working, knowing how foul the stench would be from the rotting, exposed flesh and entrails. She did not even have tears left to shed for them, or the energy to feel more than a dull mournful sorrow.

She was dimly aware of movement nearby. Suddenly, a hand gripped her hair and yanked her head up, her fatigued gaze blearily looking up at the duke. Toma turned his nose up, more at her than the grotesque pile beside her. "Disgusting savage." He let her head go and walked away several paces. He looked out at the army spread on the other side. Someone over there would have seen him by now, and spread word that the leader of the city stood in view. "Prepare them." He commanded his soldiers. It would take a few minutes. Long enough, he hoped, for the general himself to be among his audience.

He saw many of the soldiers below gathering. It would be enough. He nodded. "Do it." With a series of grunts, the soldiers hefted and threw the bodies of the four acolytes over the edge of the wall. Instead of plummeting to the ground below, ropes had been tied about their necks. Each were caught and dangled by them. Though one poor man had been pecked at so badly that gravity still tore at him, his waist splitting, legs continuing to the ground and dragging his innards with them in a grizzly display.

But the duke was not yet done. He snapped, pointing to her. "Get on your knees, envoy. It is time for you to give your general my answer." Though she had no power to do it on her own, many hands dragged her upright, until she was left on her knees. Her arms lay limp at her sides, her half-lidded gaze staring out at the field and the many soldiers out there. Though her vision was so blurry, she could not make much of it out. She felt tears stinging at her eyes all the same. So many of those people out there she knew personally, many she considered close friends. And many of them would die soon due to the fat badger's pride and greed.

She did not have to feel such sadness for much longer. With a nod from the duke, one of the royal guard swung a heavy blade with great power and speed. It struck the back of her neck, cutting through the tired, dirty flesh. It continued, cracking through her spine and removing what little feeling she had left in her body. Finally, it carved through her throat, exiting the other side entirely. Her world tumbled dizzyingly, until pain exploded against her nose. Not nearly as bad as the burning pain in her neck, and the cold numbness below that. A hand once more gripped her hair, lifting her up, and held her high.

With no control over her movement, she slowly turned in the man's grip. Eventually, she got a view of her body, slumping over as blood gushed and sprayed out of the stump of her neck. It barely moved after that, simple twitching and shivering as her life flowed freely out onto the stones. She was almost thankful for it, her torment finally over. Yet the worst for those below was yet to come. Her life finally faded with this sorrow still deep within her soul. Her head was cast over the side of the wall. Her body kicked off the edge to follow a moment later.

* * *

General Seji Hu kept his eyes closed. He had seen death many times over his long military career. He had seen friends and allies die brutal deaths, had killed enemies in equally brutal fashion. But this... this was a level of brutality and savagery he had never seen.

The body of Lela lay before him, her head set close to her neck. She was covered in a silken cloth, but blood still seeped through it. The remains of two of the acolytes had also been recovered, yet the rest still dangled from the walls as a taunt. As the general said a silent prayer to the fallen envoy, one of his commanders spoke up. "They call us savages, but do this? What kind of people would do this to a diplomat?"

"Truly evil men." The rabbit stood, looking up at the walls of the city. "I must thank the duke for this gift."

The man beside him flinched, giving him an incredulous look. "Gift!?"

Seji nodded. "Yes. He has given us a look at the true barbarism the nobles are capable of. The depths of depravity his people are willing to accept." He picked up his helmet and slid it over his head. "It is now with a clear heart that I know our cause is just." He motioned. "Tell the men to ready the siege engines. Today, we go to war."

The general was not wrong. Nor was Lela. The battle of Miorna was the bloodiest of all those fought in the war. It raged for months. Eventually, with reinforcements and fresh troops, the army of Jyn was able to destroy a portion of the city's walls. The army poured in through the opening, only for fierce fighting to break out in the streets. Civilians joined in the fighting on both sides, and order was lost. As Lela had once theorized, the ships in the harbor did eventually open fire upon their own city, destroying enemies and allies alike, and arguably doing more devastation than Jyn ever could.

By the end, after 4 brutal months of fighting, a daring attack by rebels came. Using small fishing boats loaded with explosives, they managed to sneak close to the warships and detonate them, sinking more than half the fleet before any knew what was happening. It was the tipping point Jyn needed, and soon, only a fraction of the fleet managed to escape. The duke had also fled the city once the wall had fallen, though was on one of the ships that had sank during the rebel's attack. His body was never recovered.

In the end, over 120,000 soldiers from both sides, and an estimated 65,000 civilians lost their lives at the battle of Miorna and the small skirmishes that followed. But, with the battle won and the port taken, it was the first nail in Vesta's coffin. It would not be for another three years that the entirety of the royal family would lose their lives, publicly executed in the capital city. All, save one young princess, secreted away by the church of Zanduchi, in the hope she might eventually reclaim her kingdom.

But that is a story for another day.

* * *