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Here is Chapter three, not quite in the day or two I wanted but not 9 months after the last chapter either, So I'd say thats a moral victory at the least. I hope everything comes across well to you, the reader. Enjoy.

"I'd love to Tal'Keelis" Veira spoke clearly but softly to me as I then held out my hand to her. I took it gave a bow to Silas and Ananias and left with Veira in tow, not wanted to either face the displeasure of Ananias or the cunning of Silas any longer. Yet at this point I had not really considered where I was to go. I had just assumed the battle would be in letting me go with her now. Now however, it seemed that even the plans I had laid to escape would come to naught. I will actually have to make sure to expose her true faults to be able to honestly say she is "unacceptable". Unacceptable that is the word in the agreement I shouldn't have gone along with. Its bar is far too low and easy to accidentally go over.

I led her back through the town square intending to head to the park on the hill in the south east of town. There were no houses beyond it, only the guard wall and a tower. At midday in late spring almost everyone would be about their business, the season of work and trade being in full swing now. I would surely be able to find a place to peacefully talk one on one with her there, devoid of prying eyes and ears.

A took note of the hand I was holding for the first time in the minutes that have past since we left the town hall. I was grasping it closely and securely while she returned it softly just barely enough force for one to call it holding hands instead of me holding her hand. Her fur was extremely soft and fine as was her skin I looked at her at for the first time meeting her eyes which were staring at me all along as I had hurried us through the major trade district. Catching my eyes she bashfully looked away.

"Do you fancy any kind of shops Veira" I said cheerfully as we entered the main town square hand in hand. "Green Briar has wares of all sorts from the Southern Kingdom to the northeast Wilds, there are even Charing goods in a dew of the shops."

"I'm sorry Master, I'm not sure which shops I should like yet" Veira said with a smile keeping her eyes on the ground.

"Like whichever ones you do. I can show you anything the town has to offer and know almost all the merchants here" I said becoming a bit puzzled with her answer before I remembered the words my father spoke to me yesterday about her being trained to become what her mate wishes. My smile quickly fell upon realizing this. May as well start in earnest with the questioning of her I thought, since it was unlikely that she wanted to go shopping.

"Why do you always avert your eyes from others?" I spoke softly to her. "I am sorry Master but I was told not to look upon males so" she spoke softly again. Perhaps I am worrying about nothing, if answers like these are all she has, she is very unacceptable to nearly any man in Green Briar. Any self respecting man would wish a independent and strong woman by his side. The soft spoken and submissive women are for southern courts, not meant for the labor and work the Wilds require of us.

"Well, what sort of things do you enjoy most Veira? I am a merchant's son but I enjoy traveling and in seeing the different places of the wilds. The vast plain,s the sudden canyons and deep ravines, the snow topped jagged mountains the slow meandering rivers and the swift streams. The deep forests and their meadow groves. The markings and ruins of our ancestors and the stories that all these lands hold. The colors of the morn and eve and the shapes of the shadows as the sun chases the moon across the sky to form our days. Those are the things that I enjoy." I said as I waved and weaved my free hand in front of us trying to paint the pictures of the places I've seen.

'To speak of the land's beauty so poetically Master, the Wilds must truly hold your heart." Veira replied in her soft kind voice.

"I'd hardly call that poetry Veira, it is merely what I have seen and how the land is. You did not answer my question still, what do you like Veira?"

"I enjoy pleasing others Master." She said without changing expression at all, a rehearsed reply. Reminding me that I was not talking to an ordinary person but rather one in bondage. I have best start with a harder line of questioning her so I can free myself from this mess. The type of answers I will get are just going to be rehearsed emotionless lines.

"So you only enjoy pleasing other Veira, you have no personal likes?

"Yes Master."

"And why do you call me master now, Veira. When we left you called me by name but now it is master?"

"I'm sorry" came her reply " I should not of spoke such before, yet it seemed as if grandfather wished me to speak such then. Yet you are to be my husband and Master so I should have spoken with more respect. Please give me your forgiveness in this matter I promise I shall not make this error again master."

"No," I said firmly " I would rather you call me by my name instead of master. I am Tal'Keelis Alos of Green Briar and I am no ones master nor do I wish to be anyone's.

"I'm sorry, master Tal'Keelis. In both that I had not thought to your preference of name and to the fact that my father instructed me to call all potential husbands master until I am married. Because we are not yet wed I still have need to address you as master until that time comes." Veira spoke in what was quickly becoming an annoying habit of hers to use a soft emotionless voice and downcast eyes to respond to my question. But it is now clear to me that despite what I may wish her to say or do shes feels bound to her father for now. I need to see what commands he has given her, as they could be passed off as orders and thus not a fault of her own and what things she truly thinks of herself.

"You are at the command of your father in addressing me?" I asked having stopped by a cafe with a few diners taking a lunch break. It was located on the corner of the cobbled road I had led Veira down towards the park, the first or last place to eat depending on which way you were travelling along this particular road. A simple shop really, a dozen small tables set upon a low rising platform marking the cafe's boundaries. The tables and stools were made of wood, hewn fairly smoothly and set before a small open building that was the kitchen. It was an average cafe that just happened to have a rather good chef. Meals were served at a fair price and there were few better places to dine in town. I was sorely decrying my decision not to grab something to eat before I left at noon. Even more so because of how spent I still was from last night activities.

"I am, master Tal'Keelis" She simply replied.

"Alright I shall overlook that then. I have also noticed that you have addressed me as your potential husband and speak of being wed; these terms are human ones not Gre'nahk. Why are you using them? I have used the Gre'nahk terms during the entire discussion with your father and grandfather." I questioned her further while taking a seat on a wood stool of the cafe, beckoning her to do the same.

"I'm sorry, if my speech offends you master Tal'Keelis. I have been raised to be the wife of a human and instructed that while within human lands to use their words and honor their customs"

Yes, this will be a long day indeed. I grimaced a bit at my prospects of spending the rest of the day with her and having to hear "I'm sorry", and "master" for every other word that passes beyond her thin pink lips. Yet I am obligated to do this and of greater importance, I must ready a course of words to counter any notions that she is "acceptable" to me.

The cafe owner came out and I quickly gave him an order for a pair of simple dishes of fried noodles, with vegetables prepared in the same way. The quickly thinking to my companion for the day and her likely diet switched it meat instead and orders noodles with fried and salted venison. A heavier meal that I really wanted but I didn't wish to make her eat something ill suited to her diet, it is becoming clear that my disdain for her and her actions were just the result of her training and it was then her father who should I should bear my anger against.

"Sooo," I continued questioning her while the food I ordered was being prepared. " Lets try some other questions. Since I feel those related to this whole event will only result in you saying something about your father's instructions."

Despite my desire to steer the conversation in a different direction I couldn't think of anything but the present situation. With my thoughts so occupied with the agreement, it was limiting my routes I could take to prove she was not "acceptable" as a wife to me. So I guess then I will have to try her honesty and openness with this: herself and her life. "What is you desire in this Veira?" I asked simply. " I'm sure you can tell that I am not in favor of the marriage and would rather have this whole thing fall apart, your grandfather saw that clearly. So what is it that you want?"

"Master Tal'Keelis, I understand you are hesitant because I am not of your race and I cannot bear your children, but I would do my best to be a good wife to you." Veira replied to me with a small almost distant smile, her ears rising for a second before falling against her head again. Not what I asked her but a different expression is a start I guess. That smile is like that of one who is envisioning something far away, I wonder what she is actually thinking of.

"I'm sure that is what you were trained for Veira, but that is not what I was asking you. I asked for your desire, what is behind that faint smile of yours, what shape does you heart take, what are your eyes truly upon?" I asked making sure to catch her eyes as I posed my questions.

"I'm sorry master Tal'Keelis, but I was not trained to follow such complicated language, so please forgive me if my answer does not suit you, but my desire is to help my clan and my future husband in whatever small way I am able to." She said her eyes staying just below mine and her lips showing a peaceful smile as she said this. Yet it is a lie. Her smile now and the one she showed a minute ago are far from the same while the question was the same. So she is holding back her true feelings by her training or by will.

A minute or two past by in silence as I tried to figure out whether she is answering the way she is because she was trained to, or fears reprisal against her, or if it is her own free will. The easy choice would be to say it is training, as all she had said thus far indicate she is acting faithfully on orders. Yet, it is clear her facade is not perfect and there may yet be something of value underneath this hollow doll that I am talking to.

While deep in my thoughts our food came, I paid absently mindedly and turned my focus again to Veira, who seemed to be a bit taken back that a meal was set before her. She must not of fully understood that I was ordering for us both before. I couldn't help but smile a bit to see her caught off guard.

"The noodles here are excellent Veira, I'm unsure of exactly how much grains and vegetables Gre'nahk eat but I'm sure the meat at least you should find to be palatable." I decided to make small talk and see if I could get her to relax and open up a bit.

"I'm sorry master, I was not expecting to receive a meal until this evening. You have bought this for me?" She asked raising her eyes slightly and her ears turing forward instead of laying flat to her head in a submissive manner. She is actually interested my action and response. Thats a start I can at least work with.

"Don't feel compelled on my account to eat it Veira, I ordered it because I have yet to eat today and it would be rude of me to not offer you something while I dine. It is a bit heavier than I would've liked but I figured you would prefer meat over vegetables." I spoke honestly

"Thank you, master Tal'Keelis, I humbly accept your gift." By the time she had said that I was already well into my plate, despite finding myself suddenly hungry, I wished to avoid any awkwardness over have Veira wait until I started eating to do so herself.

The noodles were hard baked then fried in a crisp light oil that gave them a soft but firm outer texture with a bit of crispy crunch inside, seasoned lightly with rosemary and topped with thick slices of venison fried in the same oil. It was a rather ordinary meal for a merchant and one that might be considered a treat for a laborer. To my pocket book it was cheap filling and good, nothing to make a fuss over. Yet the way she ate it restrained while at the same time failing to hid her eagerness, raised more question in my mind.

I should infer from how she is acting and what she has said that she is feed a light morning meal and another in the evening. She likely has been feed less until the past day or two to make her appear more lithe than she already was. I don't doubt that a closer examination under her robes would reveal her to be malnourished. Not fed enough in order to preserve her perfect figure for this agreement, but also it is unlikely that she has access to her own food. Food is one commodity that the Wilds provides its people in plenty, there is little excuse for not having enough even if it is coarse food. Hmm, if she cannot eat when she wants it likely means she was raised in a way where she was cloistered away from everyone else and had everything brought to her. That is a question I should ask later, I don't want to spoil the light mood I have going now. This is a lot of supposition on my part but right now I have little choice but to take the smallest pieces of information in front of me and help me win my way out of this.

Watching her slowly take small bits while her eyes seemed to be devouring the plate whole changed how I saw her. Pity is the word that came to mind now, she was not just a doll that was molded to obey. She was a girl who was likely beaten into that mold and carefully tended so that she became the mold she was made into itself. A sad fate for a Wilder and not one that I would willing become a partner to.

I waited patiently until she had finished, before standing to leave. "Thank you for your generosity and kindness master Tal'Keelis" she said with a deep bow to me. I noticed now for the first time that quite a few people had gathered around us trying to make themselves look busy or making small talk with another yet, I could feel the gaze of them all upon us. They were here to watch me and my actions. They all had different motives I'm sure but none of them really mattered to me, i'm sure I would be disappointing almost all of them shortly.

"Shall we go?" I asked veira while extending her my hand again. I want to get away from these people and without excuses they won't follow us.

We left and headed further south to the park. The sounds of people's voices and the markets slowly fading away as we moved down the small gray cobbled street into a residential area. Small crudely hewn two room homes with a small yards lined the street in this area. Some had a few livestock whose clucks and grunts were the only sound breaking up the sound of our feet softly padding along. I had not spoken to her since we left the cafe several minutes ago. My rage slowly building inside over this girl's fate binding my tongue from pleasantries.

Despite myself I said to her bluntly. " Veira, I have no intention of marrying you, the way you must have been treating growing up and the way female Gre'nahk are treated in general disgusts me. Why the other races of the Wilds deal with your kind as equals is beyond me. Your kind is more fitted to be ruled by the Hawk than free upon the Wilds. But I understand that you have had no say in the matter. I will see this agreement fail and I think I can help you escape and start a better life however. You have been forced into this far worse than I and deserve a chance to choose your own path. So here is what I suggest we do." I was stopped from continuing by a tug on my hand, I was too busy speaking to notice that Veira had stopped walking down the gray cobbled road with me.

"Veira?" I asked questioning her, looking for an explanation.

"I'm sorry master Tal'Keelis to interrupt you, but I think you are misunderstanding me. So please forgive my words if they seem harsh or for they are not intended that way, I must just surely make this clear. I wish to help my clan. I am proud to be able serve as a vessel to accomplish the peace between two towns like my great-great-grandmother. I am simple in my desires and the notions you have of freedom don't mean anything to me for I am already freely choosing how to live my life. Master Tal'Keelis you are saying that I am somehow captive or in need of freedom, but it is not so, this is my choice surely you have meet free Gre'nahk females, they are few because few choose that path as it hurts the whole while providing little to the individual of worth. You are a kind and noble man and I'm sure you will make a good mate as grandfather says. At this time these thoughts of yours are exceeding your bounds. Further, you are saying this as you can best judge the course my life should take after being with me but a few hours? Is that not a pompous assumption on your part? That you should understand me and knows what's best for me in a few hours compared to my father and grandfather which have supported and guided me my whole life?" Veira spoke raising her voice a little and for the first time brought her eyes to meet mine on her own. They were not harsh eyes as one would expect with such a speech however, though it is plain that was the effect she was trying to make. But, rather they were the half sad eyes of one consigned to their fate.

I closed my own for a moment and took a slow deep breath. She is of course right, I know little about her and am trying to play the hero to the villains I make of her own family. ......Still..... Her body language and words don't match again. She wasn't trained for such encounters I guess. Her ears are up and forward, eyes looking straight into mine she had even drawn her shoulders up to look taller. Yet her eyes betrayed it all to be a lie. It is a merchants talent to be able to judge people so, making a living based upon how well we can read another. I have learned the tells from my father well enough to easily see through her charade. She would fool most with this display to be sure, but I am not swayed to believe her. Only moved to let her be with her choice.

Yes I can see it now, that she is determined to play the doll to the end of this charade. But I have clearly seen beyond her facade now to know there is another person below it, what kind of person I can't be sure, but I know all this blind obedience is an act. I can't save what refuses to be saved and perhaps its just my imagination that I would even have the power to do so in the first place. For the rest of this day however I will just enjoy it because I understand something clearly now that I will not be able to hide: that she would be an acceptable wife. The mask that she wears is one her grandfather order her to put on, if I became her husband she would discard it and wear whatever mask I desired behind both is still a good soul imprisoned within some devious trap. Just like my damned father said she'll do whatever to please the one that controls her. As much as I hate to admit it

So my action then must be to flee this town,my home. If I stay here I would be bound to her. Well more accurately she would be bound to me but she would be a millstone to my ideals and that is something I cannot accept. This town gave them to me and yet here she is asking me to abandon them. I think I have learned too well the lessons of the Wilds already: above family, friends and home, to yourself you must first be true. This may be my last free day in my hometown.

"It is my turn to say I am sorry then Veira, I have disrespected you and diminished your standing, I shall no more of sure things rather let us just enjoy the part of this day that is left.

She smiled and nodded as I extended my hand once again and led her to the park where we continued with lighter talk of the weather, harvest differences between our two people and such idle pleasantries that had no particular meaning.

"Oh look who we have here, its Tal and the Gre'nahk Princess." An all too familiar voice said from behind us.

"Hi, Karen, I didn't think you'd be about at this hour much less strolling through town" I said with a smile to my friend.

"We women of the Wilds are hearty folk even if you tried your best to put me out of commission for a day day Tal, but Luciene decided to give me to day off anyway so I thought I'd see if any new and exciting goods had come into town." She said quickly closing the distance between us with only a slightly awkward step. She was lying obviously though from the decor in her room, it was clear that she had no interest or coin to be concerned with the goods that were coming into town.

"Actually speaking of which," She grinned mischievously as she faced me. "You seem to have found the goods I'm most interested that have recently come to town." Now that was surprising, and I doubt I contained my shock that she was infact looking for Veira who was still holding hands with me.

"Tal, you're forgetting your manners." She said with a fake pout on her face. "I'm sorry Karen, my mind is occupied elsewhere." I said "In her panties already Tal? Naughty boy, I'd think you'd be OK for a few more hours at least. Do Gre'nahk even wear panties?" Karen said with a large smile on her face, obviously she was trying to embarrass me a bit, but still. This is not how I wanted my time to be spent with Veira. I should have chained Karen to the bed before I left this morning I thought. But instead I said " Veira this is my close friend Karen, Karen this is Veira of the Shifting Sands clan."

"I pleasure to met you Veira." Karen said cheerfully, so at least it seemed like she wasn't mad at me for anything, just curious about the Gre'nahk. "So do Gre'nahk wear panties? How do you manage it with that tail, which by the way is really long. Its almost the length of 10 river coons." She said continuing on. By the spirits Karen I'm glad you didn't say this in front of Ananias comparing a Gre'nahk;s tail to a filthy muck eating scavenger.. But it seems like she was trying to get a rise out of Veira so instead of reprimanding her I said nothing and observed, I am after all no longer seeking to save her.

"Thank you mistress Karen my tail is said to be the longest among all the Gre'nahk and we do wear panties there is just a strap that goes over the tail other than that I don't think there is a difference." Veira said in her quiet and clear voice without a hint of embarrassment, Karen won't be getting the fun she wants out of her it seems.

"Oh, is that so, it makes sense I guess a girl has to have her panties after all, so you said there was no other differences besides the strap that goes over your tail? Does that also mean there aren't any other differences between what's in your panties and what's in mine?" Karen kept the attack up but Veira didn't rise at all to the bait.

'I'm not sure mistress Karen, I have never seen a human woman nude before, but I think I am normal from what I have seen of other Gre'nahk."

"Hear that Tal, she doesn't know what she really has in her panties, you had best check them for her before you sign the marriage papers or you'll come to find she has a fat cock hidden in there on your wedding night." Ok thats going a bit far with this. At least since Karen decided to start teasing me as well. Making me question if Veira is a girl, with the way Karen is speaking I should be questioning her about her femininity.

"Karen, please its not the time for this. She is a female and theres nothing suspicious about her in that regard." I said trying to end that conversation.

"I'm just teasing you both Tal, they can't make fake breasts like the pair that she has, I bet if they weren't covered in fur they'd be as good as mine. And speaking of being as good as me you'll have to tell me how she is in bed later or maybe I can join in sometime too." I was rendered speechless by Karen's continuing talk of sexual things. It seemed almost like she really was trying to break this arrangement. Was she trying to help me by making Veira uncomfortable? Because she was failing at that. The girl seemed to have no modesty or self decency to insult. Through this whole conversation her demeanor had not changed at all.

"Oh yeah. Speaking of bed, you can smell it can't you Veira?" His scent on me, and perhaps more than just that? I only had time for a quick wash this morning and even if I did more I'm sure some of his scent would still be on for the rest of the day somehow." Karen smiled and bent down with her hands behind her back and grinning like a tomboy (who was obviously having too much fun) so she could meet Veira's eyes which were once again fixed on the ground. It definitely seemed that Karen was trying to end this arrangement by making myself seem unfit to be Green Briar's pawn in the agreement.

"I don't understand what you are trying to say mistress Karen. Master Tal'Keelis introduced you as his close friend and I know humans are not chaste before they find a mate. Because of such it would seem natural for me to find his scent upon you, besides he has had your scent upon him since we first meet with my father and grandfather." Veira said without raising to Karen's challenge.

Shit, I thought I had forgotten to bathe properly so the whole time at the meeting they knew I had been with a human last night. Funny enough since they made no mention of it. So they must of either been informed by my father and prepared themselves or really not cared as Veira seemed to suggest. But still a mistake like that could hinder my overall chances of making this deal fail.

"You're not very much fun princess you know that?" Karen said scrunching her nose with a bit of annoyance. "The Gre'nahk sure do things differently than the rest of the Wilds huh Tal?

"They are an important part of the Wild's strength Karen and an especially good trading partner for Green Briar. As such and with all things we should have tolerance and allow others the nuances of their own race." I said trying to be even handed with the treatment of the Gre'nahk. In truth of course it bothered me greatly but thats not something I can talk about with Karen right now. Any words that make it seem like I will not go through with the agreement at this point would hurt my chances to escape. Karen's curious attitude and appearance here suggests that she doesn't want the agreement to work, but with her tendency to speak too much I can confide in her my plan if I wished to.

"Spoken like Ma-sul himself, Tal. Are you aiming to become the town elder so soon Tal? I mean you don't even have your father's seat. And without Ma-sul, you'd lose every vote in the council as long as those other greedy windbags have their seats." Karen said with her mischievous smile while casually strolling behind Veira to examine her further.

"I'm not aiming for any position Karen, I'm just trying to make the best choices I can with the options set in front of me." I think my voice was started to show my agitation, my patience does have limits and speaking with Veira had drained most of it already."

Strange that Karen would know how the council is split and Ma-sul votes with my father to break the tie in almost all things. That is something that not even I should know, but my father had confided in me after one vote where Ma-sul had opposed him in some property rights dispute or some other equally foolish thing. I guess she could have taken a council member as a client and uncovered that secret as she uncovered herself.

I was jarred out of my thoughts when I heard a rather high pitched "Mistress Karen! What are you doing to me?" Karen had taken the opportunity of my spacing out to come up behind Veira and now had her firmly in her grasp, groping her breasts over her robes.

"As Tal's friend It is my solemn duty to inspect you to make sure you are suitable for him. After all you scared poor little Tal when you said that you had a big fat cock in your panties. So I have to check to make sure that its at least smaller than Tal's otherwise he'd really get embarrassed that his wife has a bigger cock than he does." At this point Karen had the three buttons of her robes undone and was going after the sash that held it together clearly trying to strip her down. Veira was struggling but had absolutely no strength in her slender figure, Karen easily overpowering her. If Silas or Ananias saw this......

I acted without thinking, quickly grabbing Karen's hand that she had wrapped around Veira's chest, the other already had made it down to her panties(which happened to be red with gold lace) as Veira struggled to keep her robes shut. I twisted Karen's hand behind her back the surprise stopping her from focusing on Veira and switching to me. AS soon as I had her hand behind her back she rolled to the side and tried to sweep my legs from under me. I had to release her to jump back or risk being knocked down.

I looked at her with a fierce expression appalled at her actions, she could be a bit crude but this was all way too far. "Hahahaha" Karen was sitting on the ground laughing at me. " You don't have to look at me all scary like Tal, it was just a bit o fun with her. Were both girls so its alright ya know?"

"Karen, it hardly looks like that was alright, Veira was obviously uncomfortable with the whole thing. You should've just stopped after you copped a feel. Spirits Karen if her father saw that he'd raise hell and it would endanger relations between towns not to mention shes in my care so I'd be MY head he'd want..........I didn't know you were into girls either." I quickly said with an exasperated tone, just wanting Karen to leave at this point so i could take Veira back and end this day.

"Hehe, you mad face is cute Tal." Karen said still sitting on the ground where she ended up after her failed leg sweep. "It woulda been alright Tal, I coulda made up some little lie if anyone saw. And i'm not into girls Tal.......much. You're far too tense Tal just relax about this whole thing, things will work out for the best. I just wanted to loosen you up a bit, well that and try to get princess to show some real emotion, looks like my mission is accomplished here. Help me up? Karen said with her normal smile, holding out her hand to me. She was right that the whole incident with her finding Veira and I and made me relax some so I guess I couldn't really blame her for trying to help me and seeing that Veira seemed to be actually afraid of her body being seen was a nice bonus.

I reached out and grabbing Karen's hand pulling her up. As she suddenly sprung up on her own and into a kiss. I was shocked for a second as her tongue invaded my mouth before I pushed her back and looked away. I really don't understand Karen at all.

"Mmmm, venison and noodles Tal, you always have liked that cafe. Thats not a bad after sex meal, gotta build your strength back up. After all I got out of your arm hold, you can't have a girl be doing that now can ya?'"Karen was back to having that stupid grin on her face, making mine go back to a bit of a scowl like it was a minute earlier. "Don't look so mean Tal that was the last thing I'm gonna do I swear it. It looks like you've made your choice already so having me here won't do any good." She started walking past me before stopping briefly and saying with her big stupid grin " You're safe by the way Tal, she doesn't actually have a cock down there. You can thank me later for finding out for you." And with that she strolled past me putting a hand up and saying "Later" without even looking back heading back towards the market. I couldn't help but think as I watched her walk away that she really wasn't my kind of girl but she does have a really nice body, watching the sway of her hips as she walked around a corner.....

I suddenly remembered Veira who after being accosted by Karen I had totally forgot about. She was standing in the same stop that she was before her robes rebuttoned and fixed so that nothing seemed out of place.

I was about to apologize for Karen's behavior when she decided to speak first. " Forgive me for speaking first master Tal'Keelis but before you say anything I would think that it is best to not mention this.....ordeal...to my father and grandfather. It would go ill for both of us I believe and since there was no malice in it neither was there any harm done unto me I think it is best to forget it." she said softly looking down her ears back in total submission.

"Thats a rather strange suggestion coming from you Veira." I said calmly. Trying to figure out why she would want to deceive her father and grandfather when thus far she had obeyed them completely. "Why don't you want Silas to know what happened Veira. You are in my care until I return you so the fault lies with me, you should not be punished. I also think that since karen is a female there shouldn't really be a problem with what happened. It might not look that great for me but a bit of displeasure should be the end of it, don't you agree?"I said trying to work out the possible reactions of Silas and Ananias to this little incident. I see no reason to hide anything and face further scrutiny if it should be discovered, which would hinder my still forming escape plans.

"Ah, yes master Tal'Keelis because it was another female they may say nothing about it at all if they were to discern the event. But it is embarrassing to me and I do not wish to be teased. Furthermore I do not believe that I am deviating from my father's and grandfather's will by saying nothing. It is from that I feel I can use my own discretion and remain silent."

"Oh? And which you is it that is deciding to use discretion Veira? The you that is blindly obeying her guardian's will? Or the real you that you are hiding behind the mask you wear?" I couldn't help but push her a bit more after hearing her saying something that appeared to be her own thoughts for the first time.

"I still don't understand these things you say about masks master Tal'Keelis. I am me, that is all there is to me." And with that we were fully back to talking with a doll. Perhaps Karen was right to try and make her uncomfortable enough to show some real emotion. She certainly hides them well. Yet it seems that she has respect for herself and her body beyond the role that she is playing for the tribe. She is an interesting one. It would be fun to put her and Karen together more often. Yet she is going to have to deal with another as her mate because by the morning of the next day I will be gone from this place.

I smiled to myself as I thought of my soon to be freedom from this mess. Watching Veira's fur rustle in the wind as her long golden tail swayed gently and her red sunflower robes rustled as the breeze swept across her had a soothing effect on me. The sun was almost low enough in the sky to touch the city's walls. I closed my eyes for a minute and just felt the wind pass over me to help me clear my mind before taking Veira's hand. Looking into her eyes and giving her a gentle smile I said "Let's head back I don't think there's anything else to talk about."

And there we have and ending point. Trying to write Veira's voice came across as quite the task and was what really slowed me down on this chapter. She's very simple on the outside but a quandary on the inside, combine that with the fact that as an author I am limiting myself to Tal's perspective I had trouble trying to make Veira's personality come to life. I hope you were able to enjoy karen's little encounter with the two. Next chapter will start the real action of the story and things will move a bit quicker. I will try to strike the balance of moving the plot along with including details of the surrounding as well as Tal's thoughts. This chapter because of the dialogue I skipped a bit on Tal's thoughts reasoning that the chapter would drag on too long if I had a paragraph of Tal's thoughts after every spoken sentence. I think that if I fail to properly draw you, the reader into Tal's thinking I will fail making this an enjoyable little story. Thank you for reading feel free to post you comments on anything. ETA on the next chapter will be around 2 weeks. There's also a little smut story I have rolling around in my head that I will get to pretty soon, since Streams won't be seeing any of that for awhile( sorry to disappoint).