Chapter 6 - Meeting the aunt

I opened the door revealing five tribe members and my aunt sitting around a table. "Umm ... hello aunty ... I am back?" I said full of hesitation. The next thing I knew was that I was in a tight bear hug from her. "Mi-mi!" she screamed my nickname while hugging me closely. I stunned for a moment then hugged back and suddenly tears started to flow.

"I missed you aunty. I missed you all so much!" we were talking in tongue of the tribes so the poor captain had no idea what we was being said. "How is everybody? Did the other of my track made it home? How is momma and my sisters?" aunty smiled then answered each of my question in order. I looked her up and down for a moment she was still the tall lean figure I remembered. Definitely not a warrior but still strong like all tribespeople. Her cat ears were erected in happiness and I could clear see her tail below her large skirt. We sat down and started to exchange about everything that happened the last 8 years.

It seemed that my family never lost hope because I was spotted being carried off in the distance. And slaves were no so uncommon to think that I was hold in some dirty bastards cellar. Apparently, there had been some groups actively searching for me but after two years they reduced in intensity. My tribe however was doing ok because those groups did do a lot of trading during their search.

While we talked the other tribe members offered the captain a chair and the servant brought us a lavish meal. Way more lavish then anything Marie could sneak into my cell during all that time. I did dine and eat while telling my aunt and the others all about what happened. And about what I learned and what the Royal family did said about the dukes punishment.

She explained to me that they were here mostly to get me out not to start a third war. There hasn't been any mayor provocation. And the way in which the king and queen planed to handle the situation would diminish the anger of the tribes most likely. While we were talking two servants entered the room and asked if they could take my measurement quickly.

When I returned from that I noticed that per our tradition the captain was fully included at the dinner table. Two of the younger tribe members had even started a deep conversation with her. They were clearly here to protect the elder so the high politics of the tribe didnt bother them to much although I could notice that they never really relaxed.

After a while there were some soft knocking at the door. "Yes?" my aunt jelled out again. She was the head of the delegation simple because she was the most experienced with this city. "Umm I am sorry if we interrupt but I am " I smiled when I recognized Marie. "Please come in Marie." I said loud enough to be heard. Marie opened carefully the door revealing her and Johanna as well as another servant.

I waved them in. "Aunty these are the two I told you about that I have to thank for being still sane and healthy after this ordeal. My guardian and Friend Johanna and my Teacher and close friend Marie." I explained and gave both a big hug. "Marie, Johanna meet my aunt Ihara Kadrim De Juras at the moment the ambassador of the tribes to this city."

Both were unsure how to act, but my aunt just stood up and gave each one a big bear hug welcoming them like family. "Thank you so much for taking care of our jewel." I blushed slightly. "Now come! Sit let us eat and drink and celebrate her return." She pointed to the large table where there were still some new dishes of Food left. Marie bit her lips then nodded following the invitation and Johanna did the same moving with her stiff leg towards the table.

I noticed that Maries collar is gone. "I see you got rid of the collar?" she smiled big. "Yes! I am finally free again. And will be compensated for the last 5 years of involuntary service. Let me tell you the Lieutenant is scary. He is so big, jet I hardly noticed at all that he was following me until the stupid guard tried to block me." She paused to take a bite from a big chicken wing.

"Then they took him down and away somewhere. I was left with one of them until they returned to me and we went to some minister who gave them the order to arrest me once he saw me. Instead they arrested him. They were wearing normal guard uniforms and were amazed how easy it was to get to know who is part of the plot, because we started to develop a whole baiting routine." She shook her head clearly in amazement.

"And well we repeated that until half the ministry was arrested for trying to send a slave to prison. You would assume that the commotion would alert them but the rooms are way to loud for that. Especially after we started to take some away the others were swamped with work." She chuckled. "There will be huge corruption trails later on. Almost all of the mayor noble houses are involved in some way or other. They are moving silently and quickly to arrest everybody else connected before they can form any kind of resistance."

"I am surprised it is only a day not a week if it goes this deep." A nod answered me. "The king wants you sorted quickly so that at least one noble house will be supporting him in all this." As much as I tried, I couldnt stop my laughter. From prisoner to Duke in a few days hm? I looked at Johanna. "What did you do during all this?" I asked with amusement.

"The king and queen where very interested in what I knew about you, so they mostly asked me about that. I learned that when you first went missing your companions went to the city guards too and requested their assistance. And the then King the father of the current one asked all his closed servants under oath if they had any idea where you were since he was afraid of it sparking another war."

"But they all, including the duke said that they had no knowledge of your whereabout, so this was reported back. Then there is so much more. Every single caravan that came through from the tribe requested if there was an update. For 8 years. And he managed to block it all. Some of the major court scribes are involved. They are married to some of his relatives so that might be the connection we will see who talks first."

"They found the requests together with a lot other shady stuff in a now not so secreted compartment in his office. So he is pretty much done for." She chuckled a bit. "But I know that I cant return to the prison, so for now I and Marie where assigned by the royal as advisors directly to you ... if you will accept us. But the queen will talk to you about the details more tomorrow."

I nodded, I loved that my people never stopped searching for me. I wasnt angry that they had not found me in that prison. It was simply to big and to far away from everything to be surveyed from afar. And its not a surprise that none of my friends managed to meet any of traders from the tribes. The city is one of the biggest trading hub on this side of the ocean.

Everyday there were tousends of visitors from all over the known world. But most caravans from the tribes dont reach to the we only guide them through the dangerous territory of the desert or the high mountains and let them continue on their own afterwards. There might be traders that are from the tribes, but they usually use human salespeople because that brings more profit. So it might be quite hard to actually meet someone from the tribes in the city. I sighed and noticed how my thoughts where drifting away from the conversation.

"I think its time for me to go to sleep. Additionally, there was talk about a bath ... I would very much like to take one now." I exclaimed after noticing how tired I had become. "So forgive me aunty but I really need that now." She chuckled to me and gave me a hug then waved to the captain who sat at our table. "Would you be so kind and show her the way dear captain." She really knew how to be an ambassador for a human city.

Everything beyond this was kind of a in a haze because raising from my chair I could feel all then energy leaving me. I do remember vaguely being guided to a beautiful bath that was bigger and more elegant then most public baths. And I think I was joined there by Joahnna and Marie before being guided to a big elegant room that was clearly way to big for one person alone with a giant bed in the center in which I just did drop in and fall asleep automatically.

I think it was mostly because for the first time in ages I had not to fear that tomorrow I will be guided to the gallows or just starved. My dreams that night were pleasant full of emotions but I didnt remember much of the content. I didnt wake quickly, but slowly got more and more aware that the cloud that I was lying on top was not a cloud but a solid object. It was a strange feeling but once I started to think about it my mind started to picture it all together and I opened my eyes wide to look around.

The room that I was in was really to wide for a single person. A bright light did shine through the large windows on the nice cold marble floor. A round decorated Carpet was laying below the bed, creating a floating island with the bed in the center the center. The warm sunlight did shine through giant two winged doors that guided to a balcony which overlooked a garden as far as I could tell from my bed.

When I rose I could see a desk that was standing proudly in front of a small library of books that upon closer inspection where mostly novels and journals. Stories of faraway places and such but nothing that would keep me in this room for long. On the opposite side of the room there was a area with pillows and a low table clearly meant to spend relaxing.

Next to it I found a set of cloth a skirt and a nice shirt on a dressing table right Infront of a large mirror. I hesitated but then for the first time since ages I took a view of myself in a mirror. I looked at the tall stranger in the reflection. I was a lot slimmer then I used to be. But I did have well defined muscles that showed under my soft furred skin.

My mostly human looking face was paler, but I still sported the same smirk. My long hair really needed the attention of a talented barber, but it was mostly ok. The bath yesterday did a small miracle for my fur and skin. Between my legs was my junk but I didnt pay to much attention to it. In general, I could still see myself in the reflection. All parts consider it was still only me.

I turned to the cloth that where neatly arranged next to the mirror. Next to it was a open closet indicating that I had more that I could choose. It was a long thin skirt, with a tailhole some soft wrapping for underwear and slim top as well as jewelry that was to be put on neck and arms. Next to it was a belt with a traditional dagger of my tribe.

I bet that mine was sold to the black-market ages ago. They fetch quite a high price. I shook my head. First, they try to kill us or sell us. And when they cant do that, they will sale our craft and cloth? I smiled thinking about it. In a way it was progress. I got fully dressed enjoying the feeling of the new comfortable clothing on my skin.

When I stepped out of the room into the next to be greeted with Elaina sitting next to my door reading a report as well as a sleeping Johanna in an bed to the side. The room was much smaller but still way bigger then some houses. It was still extremely decorated, and the bed was half hidden away so it was most likely either for a maid or mistress. I shook my head a bit and smiled to Elaina "Good morning milady Siderim. I hope you had a good night sleep."

I chuckled. "Good morning, it was comfortable even though I dont exactly remember going to bed." She smiled back to me. "You almost fell asleep in the bath milady. We wrapped you in a towel and guided you to bed. Dont worry Marie made certain your modesty was protected." She said with amusement in her voice.