In the last several days he'd been attacked by a Cherufe, lost a finger, killed a man, been psychologically torn apart by the Dreamstalker's nightmares, and Altan wanted a drink.
       Keld was a small town, it's low stony huts and sooty windows giving it a gloom, monotone look. Seated just at the border of the Volcanic reigon, where dry cracked earth bled into a grassy savannah, the people were strikingly cheery and elated to have new visitors. As The Prince explained, Keld was built at a time when it's heart sat a comfortable trek into the savannah, the volcanic wasteland a distant worry. Over time, the desolate wasteland began to slowly creep into the dry grassy land, destroying farmland and resources. Tergaron, a small village to the Southeast, had already been abandoned, as had Bullmar. One day Keld would undoubtedly share the same fate. Still, the people here prided themselves on staying, displaying a stubborn resilience that became a breeding ground for pride and patriotism. The people of Keld continued to survive, despite dwindling resources and infrequent trade or communication with neighbouring settlements.
      "Please?"
       "No."
       "Just one?"
       "No!"
       "I thought we were trying to avoid civilization. So why did you bring us here instead of going around like normal? Spill."
       "..."
        Altan groaned, shifting restlessly on Knax's back. "Come on, Goldilocke, you must have had some reason. I'm not stupid. If we're going to be here can't we at least go get a drink? Look, I see the inn right over there. You can do your weird... shadowy eye thing to disguise yourself again." He pushed.
        The Prince sighed, long and heavy. "There's... no need."
       "What do you mean?"
       The Princes eyes shifted wearily towards the tavern. "This place has no official face, and is so remote and desolate that Centurion has more or less completely ignored its existence. However, most people here tend to regard the barkeep, Kauri, as a defacto leader. Kauri... was one of my late father's best friends. He is trustworthy, as are the people of Keld, who make their hatred of Centurion and Xorvad well known." The Prince nodded his head towards pickets mounted with the battered, bloody armour pieces of many Black Guard. "He will happily shelter us for the night."
       In an attempt to preserve this fragile miracle, Altan stifled the wide grin behind a mask of reserved acceptance. "Hm, yes."
       The Prince quirked an eyebrow at him, but said nothing, and steered Knax towards the tavern.
As they moved causally through the ashy streets The Prince sat high and regal on Knax. Commoners moving about their regular days took quick notice of the odd trio, and they stopped, staring openly at them. Their eyes would pass quickly over Altan, and then, landing on The Prince, the growing crowds began to murmur excitedly.
"Look a fennecainx!"
"Forget the fennecainx, look who's riding it!"
"Is that Prince Griffin?"
"It couldn't be- it is!"
"But who's that riding behind him?"
"Does it matter? Look! The Prince is alive! And he's here!"
"Quick, someone go get Kauri."
"Prince... Prince... Prince..."
A cracked, ashy sign swung creakily above the tavern door. 'The Dancing Wildebeest". Eyes bore into their backs as the pair rode quietly through the dusty crowd. All the attention was making Altan squirm. They'd spent so long up until this point clinging to shadows and dodging recognition that such unbridled awe was unnerving. A few paces from the front entrance, The Prince slid off of Knax, adjusting the cloak around his shoulders. As he turned towards the entry, the large double doors suddenly burst open, their rusty hinges squealing as the ancient wood swung and slammed against its posts. A burly man with striking amber eyes, equally belly and brawn, surged through the doors with a chortle.
Excitement flashed in his eyes, and glee shone on his face as he thundered forward, clasping The Prince's shoulders in a meaty grip. "So it's true! Griffin, my boy, you're alive! You're alive! Oh, what a joy- an unparalleled joy! Everyone, rejoice, for hope is not lost! Our Prince has returned!"
An eruption of cheers startled Altan from his seat as the people, having circled them, began hollering and clapping.
        "And MY!" The man exclaimed, hands on hips, gazing at Knax. He whistled, "Isn't that a gorgeous beast?"
The Prince smiled- albeit reserved- a genuine smile. "Kauri. You look well, my friend. How goes things? I hope Centurions lackeys have not been creating too much of a disturbance?"
Kauri chuckled, all hearty and warm, though a streak of sadness crossed his jolly face. His voice dropped, enough to shield his words from the clamouring crowd. "Trade seems fewer and far between, especially since word is that Centurion may be looking to finally stick his fingers into Keld. Little commerce has this old hunk of wood struggling to keep its barrels wet, these days."
"I see."
"But no matter!" Kauri shouted, slinging a thick arm around The Princes shoulders. "For tonight is a night to celebrate! Come, let us drink on the house tonight, old friend. And uh, you... servant boy." Kauri turned to Altan with a somewhat unsure expression, and Altan internally fumed at the assignment but said nothing. "There is a stable just around the side here.  You may take the Prince's fennecainx there to be cared for by my daughters- Elena and Sophie."
With that Kauri, The Prince, and a swarm of bustling villagers swept through the doors of The Dancing Wildebeest.
Altan sat there, bewildered, for a good long minute as loud festivities began inside. Although on one hand it was probably a good thing they didn't see him as a human and, instead, a mere 'servant boy' to The Prince, Altan couldn't help the spark of annoyance the assumption wrought. With his disheveled hair that had grown out some, patchy stubble coming in, and dirty, torn clothes Altan probably looked the part. Beneath him, Knax whined, and Altan smothered the thought for the moment.
"Come on, girl. Let's get you taken care of." He ran his fingers through her fur. "You've done such a good job, yes you have. You deserve a break."
He slid gently off Knax and led her around the bustling tavern, stroking her snout the whole way. Then, as he rounded the corner and the old wooden stable came into view, Altan paused in amazement once again. There, amongst strange cattle and emu-like creatures, being groomed and tended to by two young girls, was another fennecainx!
      The majestic creature was curled on the cracked stony ground, and even then was clearly much larger than Knax. Muscles rippled under its dusty brown fur as it shifted, sending little sparks of vibrant red flames dancing through the air. Although it was slightly different than Knax, with only one tail, short fur, and two sets of eyes, it was undoubtedly a fennecainx. It peered at Altan and Knax intelligently through ruby red eyes. Knax's tails began to wag and she let out a soft woof that drew the girls' attention.
"Hi." Said the older one, who Altan noticed had brilliant amber eyes like Kauri. Her gaze shifted brightly to Knax. "Wow, I haven't seen another fennecainx before! What kind of double does yours have?"
Altan gawked for a moment. Clearing this throat, he said "Um, hey. Sorry, what does double mean?"
The girl, she looked to be in her mid-teens, propped a hand on her hip and tilted her head at him incredulously. "Double. You know... the thing that makes fennecainx so cool? One of their body parts is always doubled. Agni here has two sets of eyes." She gestured to the sleek black fennecainx behind her, which blinked up at Altan as if to emphasize the statement. "And yours- oh! I see, she has two tails. Cool."
"Oh, yeah."
"Who're you anyways? Seems strange to me you've got a whole fennecainx followin' you around but don't know nothing about it." The girl stared at him curiously.
"Im Altan, and this is Knax. I'm...," Altan sighed, "the Prince's servant boy. The innkeeper Kauri told me I could bring Knax here to be taken care of."
"Ohh, okay! That makes sense, servant boys aren't really well educated around these parts. I'm Elena, Kauri is my dad. And this is Sophie, my little sister. Soph, come say hi to the servant boy."
Throughout the greeting Sophie had hidden shyly away behind Agni, clutching at his fur and peering over his protective shoulder with big, brown eyes. She did not quite resemble her older sister and father, with her dull brown eyes and slim-set shoulders. Altan thought maybe she shared a different mother or perhaps was adopted. Sophie glanced reluctantly between Altan and her sister, seeming to withdraw further behind Agni.
Elena huffed, puffing out her cheeks dramatically. "Oh, come on Soph, you need to stop being so shy. And look, this nice man is taking care of Prince Griffin's fennecainx! Don't you want to come meet Knax?"
Sophie's wide eyes locked eagerly onto Knax, and for a moment, Altan was sure she was going to approach to see this fancy royal fennecainx. But then, after a beat of consideration, the little girl turned and scurried away behind the stable and towards the tavern. Agni, shifting, stretched and yawned before padding after her. Elena pouted.
"Aw, I'm sorry. Sophie usually loves animals so I was sure that would get her to come say hello but-"
Altan waved his hand dismissively. "It's okay, really. But anyways, I really better get back inside before Goldi- I mean... the Prince wonders where I am. Thank you for looking after Knax."
"Of course, mister Altan! I'll take the best care of her, don't you worry." She beamed up at Altan, staggeringly cheery despite her sooty old clothes, knotted dusty hair, and scraped elbows and knees.
Altan gave a little nod to Elena, pet Knax lovingly on the snout then turned on his heel, eager to capitalize on the celebratory drinks inside. "See you."
"Oh, and, mister?"
Altan paused and looked back over his shoulder. "Yes?"
Elena suddenly found the ground to be quite intriguing and, somewhat sheepishly, said "I know it's not really my place but... Well, my dad seems all happy and not worried a bit about everything going on. But, the truth is, he's been really havin' a hard time lately trying to keep his tavern open. People don't really pass by Keld all that often, and now that the Black Guard keep trying to come here it's been even worse. He tries to look happy because everybody else here looks ups to him and depends on him, but I know better.
"So, please, mister, I know you and Prince Griffin probably don't have a lot right now but if you could help my dad out somehow, I'd be really thankful. We could really use just a little bit of money, but if you don't have much, maybe you can ask Prince Griffin if he will use some magic to help fix the buildings some before you leave. I hear he is very good at magic. I just want my sister to have a good life, and I want my dad to be happy again."
Altan stared at the young girl who, having found her confidence, was now facing him directly. Pursing his lips, he nodded. "I'll try."