As Anton emerged from the portal he was greeted with the all too familiar sound of someone groaning in pain. For him the head ache associated with the portals was now a nuisance, except for Frindal and its increased severity, but for others it was quite the experience.

Zuhura stood a few paces away from the portal, both of her hands gripped the side of her head as she leant forward, furiously rubbing her temples in an attempt to dispel the pain. Two human Atros soldiers stood at her side. They were not trying to comfort her, only catch her should she fall.

“It gets easier each time you do it.” Anton said. He scrunched his eyes tight to force away the pain. “But I will grant you that Frindal is especially bad.”

“I’ve never felt something so awful.” Zuhura coughed and stood upright. “Never before...”

“Then you’re doing pretty well.” Cetina smiled. “If this is the worst thing you’ve experienced it means that you haven’t fought before, at least with your life on the line.”

“Combat is not for women...In Frindal or the Nomad Tribes.” Zuhura rubbed her eyes. “But it seems that things are different here.”

Behind the two guards near Zuhura stood another four Human guards. Two were women, though the only way to tell was by their face.

“Excuse me, Anton.” One of the guards at the wall spoke up. “But what are you wearing?”

“Ah. This?” Anton raised his arm. “This is Frindal...Rather Nomad Tribesmen dress. We couldn’t go through the desert with our usual clothes. Not unless we wanted to have everything polluted with sand and cooked alive inside our armour.”

Cetina smirked. “That’s certainly a good thing. I’m glad we didn’t find out the hard way.”

“...Right.” The guard pushed the door open slightly. “I’ve been told that Lady Verona and Lady Kal-”

He must be from Qaiviel.

“Have the...Umm...Rat people?”

“The Hamtaros.”

“The Hamtaros.” The man nodded. “Yes. They are in a small courtyard directly south. At least that’s what I’ve been told to tell you.”

“They’re a bit lightly dressed for the cold.” Anton held his chin. “Too small as well. I know that Verona and Kal will have brought them inside somewhere if it’s too much for them.”

“And...Her?” The guard pointed at Zuhura with his spear. His movement gave no hint of malice, but it could easily be with a simple instruction.

“She’s with us.” Anton moved towards the door. “She needs to know what it is we’re doing here. Otherwise she’d probably stumble in here. And then...What would you do then? If that happened, and we weren’t here?”

“We’d try and take her prisoner.” The guard planted the butt of his spear into the ground. “But if that wasn’t possible we’d have to attack. Those are your orders regarding the portals. Correct?”

“Indeed they are.” As Anton walked towards the door a different guard pushed it open. “But we’ve been lucky so far.”

“Come on, Zuhura.” Cetina gently held her shoulder and ushered her forward. “We really do need to get this done so we can head back.”

“Why is it so cold?” Zuhura pulled her brightly and immaculately woven shawl tighter around her neck. “It’s daylight and yet it’s like the middle of the night.”

“The deserts do get cold during the night.” Anton softly spoke. “But it gets even colder here.”

Zuhura did not appear to believe him, until she stepped outside. Snow gently floated down from a thick, cloudy sky. It had been snowing for a little while for a few inches lay on everything with a rough pathway carved by the few people walking along the road.

“W….” Zuhura stood stunned by the sight of so much white. “What is this?” She leant down and scooped up a fistful of snow. “It’s cold.”

“Snow,” Anton said calmly. “Frozen water that falls from the sky like, well, rain. I don’t know how often it rains in Frindal, but...”

Zuhura rubbed the wet snow between her fingers, watching the cold water run and soak into the cloth covering her fingers.

“Anton!” A voice called out. Rasha stood to the side of the doorway, leaning against the wall with her halberd in the crook of her arm. “They told me to wait for you, that you were coming back today. I thought you wouldn’t be coming back for a while.”

As Rasha’s legs were so much longer than his she quickly closed the gap. She stopped a foot from him and smiled warmly.

“Are you returning for the whole day...” Rasha finally noticed Zuhura, Zuhura was still transfixed by the concept of snow. She leant close to his ear. “Who’s she?”

Zuhura realised that she was acting a little oddly. She turned back to Anton and recoiled a step. Her eyes were wide with surprise and fear as she stared at Rasha.

“Hello.” Rasha waved weakly. “My name is Rasha.”

“You’re...” Zuhura blinked.

“Yes. I am a Beast-kin.” Rasha stood fully upright and slightly puffed out her chest. Zuhura’s hands drew close to her own chest as she realised just how tall and wide Rasha really was. “I’m one of Anton’s bodyguards. And Cetina is my boss.”

Cetina smiled as Zuhura’s concern transformed to a frown.

“I...” Zuhura checked along the snow covered road. Though there were not many travelling, there were Humans and Beast-kin walking together. “I see why Anton was so interested in the Hamtaro’s.”

Rasha laughed. “Anton does have an interest in the Beast-kin.” She patted his shoulder. “He cares for us regardless of what we are before he even knew us. No one else can say that.”

“Maybe now some others do.” Anton smiled. “But someone has to take the first step. It was either me or Verona. So...”

Rasha grimaced. “Definitely better that it’s you. Verona can be a bit...Overwhelming.” Rasha closed her eyes and shook her head. “I’m just glad she doesn’t have as much energy as you do.”

Zuhura raised a black brow but did not ask what she meant.

“Speaking of Verona.” Anton clapped his hands. “Do you know where she is?”

Rasha pointed with her halberd towards the south. “She told me to wait here for you. I’ll show you the way.”

Rasha confidently strode through the snow next to Anton, Cetina and Zuhura fell in behind. Rasha spared a glance back, her eyes flicked between Zuhura and Cetina, before leaning down to Anton.

“Why are you all wearing those clothes?”

---[]---

Rasha led them to a secluded area, away from the main thoroughfares. The people that were working nearby were muttering to one another in hushed whispers. Even in a city as strange as Atros the Hamtaro’s would turn heads, hundreds of large clothed mice trudging through the snow was not an everyday sight. Zuhura had remained silent during their short journey. She walked silently and absorbed the sights of Atros. She watched the Humans and Beast-kin working and talking with each other like they weren’t different species, the few Dark Elves in their large black cloaks and the Dwarves, their stocky legs cleaving a path through the snow as they pointed to buildings and discussed the day’s work.

“There in…” Rasha stopped as they neared a partially secluded courtyard. “Oh. They must have gone inside." Rasha said softly. She brushed the snow from her shoulders. "Too cold for...Ah, there they are."

Rasha pointed to a Beastkin guard waving them over. He was a Canine with a particularly thick brown coat, ideal for winter snows.

I wonder how he handled Seocuria? Probably spent most of his time by the coast, where it was cooler.

"How large is this city?" Zuhura asked. "It appears to be formed by concentric circles."

"Pretty big," Rasha replied. "Nowhere near as big as Danafra...I haven’t seen any other cities really, but it is the only place where Beastkin can be truly free."

Zuhura slowly nodded and continued to observe everything she could.

As they approached Anton could hear voices coming from inside the large building. They were muffled by the door but it was nothing short of a continuous drone. If the building contained all eight hundred Hamtaro’s then it would not be surprising.

The moment the guards opened the door Anton was struck by the amount of noise. Nearly every single Hamtaro was speaking, chittering really, to their neighbours. It was impossible to determine what they were saying as they spoke in the squeaks of their tongue. They squeaked louder as the cold wind followed Anton, pulled what little clothes they had tight and moved away from the door, glancing at him with their small brown eyes. Awe and respect filled their little faces, at least that’s what Anton felt it was. Midas had definitely spoken to them of what their new home was to be like.

“Over here!” Verona cried out. She stood at the far side of the room, surrounded by nervous and excitable Hamtaro’s. To her side stood Kal, Eider and her bodyguards and, surprisingly, Irso. The Hamtaro’s gave Irso a wide berth, as well as Eider but probably for two very different reasons.

I wonder if the Hamtaro’s have some kind of racial memory. Snakes eat mice, after all.

“Hello,” Anton spoke softly as he slowly entered. “Could you please move a little? I don’t want to stand on any of you.”

The Hamtaro’s obeyed and cleared a vague path. The moment they had passed it closed again. Anton found it very odd they behaved like water around a stone.

“What’s this then?” Verona mockingly joked. “You haven’t even left for a whole day and you’ve picked up...How many was it, Kal?”

“Eight hundred and twenty-two.” Kal smiled at Anton. “Including their leader.”

She motioned to Midas, standing proud on a stool beside them. Unlike the other Hamtaro’s he wore a full set of clothes, to his side lay his weapons and armour, neatly stacked.

“I’ve missed you too.” Anton pulled them both into a hug. He wanted to squeeze them tight, even though it had only been a few hours he didn’t like to be separated for long, but he was mindful of the babies growing in their bellies.

"It hasn't been a day and I'm already missing rubbing these bellies."

"Stop it." Kal gently swatted his hand away as she rolled her eyes, Verona did not and held Anton's hand on her stomach. "You are such...A strange man."

"Not that strange." Anton laughed.

Verona squeezed his hand. "You're going to have to tell us later why you're dressed like that. But, who is this?"

Verona nodded to Zuhura, silently standing behind Anton and studying the Beastkin. Anton still had no idea if the Feral’s were in any way similar but she continued to regard them with a near scientific fascination. Particular attention fell on Irso and her surprisingly human form. And her teeth.

I must ask if Zac's alright with them. Play biting might be a little too much.

Anton succinctly explained what had occurred, both regarding Zuhura and Midas. While most simply listened one in particular, one with silver hair, smiled inanely when she heard Zuhura was in Anton's service.

"I think-"

Anton and Kal clamped their hands over Verona's mouth. She did not resist nor bite them, only raising a silver brow.

"Fine," Verona grumbled after they removed their hands. "I'll behave myself." A sly smile crept over her lips. "For now at least."

"That will have to do." Anton smiled and squeezed her cheek. "Most behaved you've been in a while."

Verona stuck out her tongue.

"I've never heard of Beastkin like them before." Eider leant down so her eyes were level with Midas. "But they are certainly...Different to us."

"We were only created recently." Midas instinctively reached for a sword on his hip, which he currently lacked. He glanced back to his neat stack of weapons and stopped himself for reaching for the thin blade. "What does your kind eat?"

Eider tilted her head. "What most people eat? Meat, bread, vegetables and fruit. It is a little difficult with my teeth but..." Eider licked at the air. "Oh! No, I don't eat things whole like an actual snake. No. I'm a Cobra Beastkin."

Eider almost smiled. "I guess you could say I'm a little bit like you. My kind is new as well. Although all of the Lamias in Seocuria were killed to create us."

Midas did not reply, his small mouse mouth curled up in annoyance.

"Might as well get the next part over with." Anton loudly clapped his hands. "Everyone! Can I have your attention please?"

---[]---

The Hamtaro’s were exceedingly quiet while Anton spoke. He explained who they were and what they, as a city, wanted to do. As expected they were more than dubious of his claims but since Midas appeared to be going along with Anton's plans they readily agreed.

"You've successfully freed one type of Beastkin," Midas said softly. "But what will we be doing?" Midas looked to the group of elder Hamtaro’s. "We should all be contributing to...This. In our own ways."

"Certainly." Anton smiled. "But I do not wish to force you to do something that you simply cannot do. But...I think your smaller size will be an advantage we can use."

"Smaller?" Midas asked dryly. "Not just small?"

"I wanted to put it delicately," Anton said softly. Midas gently shook his head. "But it is true. You can move and crawl through spaces that we could never dream of. Not to mention your fingers are so much more delicate than ours. You could easily sift through things that we would be too clumsy to do properly."

"And what of our fur?" Midas scratched his neck and pulled out more than a few strands of hair. "We do shed a decent amount of fur."

Anton nodded to the Beastkin with fur. "We're used to it. It's not actually that bad, once you even realise it's there.”

Rasha and Kal shared a silent glance. They had limbs covered in thick fur, and Anton knew there was quite a bit left to bundle in and gather in oft-visited corners. It was hard to deny where dark aqua or blue fur came from.

“And defence?” Midas nodded to Irso. “The Drakeling says that your city, Atros, has been attacked before. It is likely that it will happen again.”

“It has.” Anton slowly nodded. “But we have come far since then. Nothing has breached the outer walls in some time, and we have some magical defences surrounding the city. Regardless, I ask that every Hamtaro learns how to defend themselves with basic weapons and armour. You won’t be fighting beyond the city walls unless you volunteer but everyone, and I mean everyone, must be able to fight. No one must cower when our cities existence is at stake.”

Midas blinked once at Anton. He leapt down from his chair and mingled amongst his kind. They chittered in their language but it quickly came apparent they would not be finished anytime soon.

“Zuhura?” Verona stepped forward. “Why are you still wearing your headscarf?”

She nodded to Anton and Cetina. “They’ve removed theirs…”

Anton gently patted Verona’s shoulder. “It’s up to her. Actually, I think the cloth is rather catching. You should see Mezot and Axia’s. They look really good. You might be able to use it as the lining of your feather cloaks.”

Verona made an impressed sound. She stepped around Anton and motioned for Zuhura to raise her hand. Zuhura said nothing as Verona ran the cloth between her fingers.

“This...This is really good.” Verona smiled. “I would like some of this.”

“It would not be expensive to buy.” Zuhura kept her eyes on Verona. “Helping Temur’s son would allow us to purchase as much material as you would like. Selling this cloth is one of the primary ways the Nomad Tribes earn money. Perhaps the most important product for their economy, especially since it is very expensive overseas.”

“I see…” Verona smiled at Anton. “Definitely buy as much as you can. This looks incredible. All the pretty colours you can find. But...Zuhura?”

“Yes?”

“We…” Verona glanced at Anton. “We aren’t in Frindal anymore. Is there a reason why you don’t want to? If there is then just tell me.” Verona smiled. “Anton says I'm not the most subtle woman.”

“That’s the understatement of the century,” Anton said softly.

Zuhura looked at Anton. “The Sana Vākaras are fanatical about order. And normally one would not remove it unless you were in your home, where the wind and sand would not find you. Only when you are surrounded by your close friends and family. But I believe that this place is safe…”

Zuhura loosened and pulled back her headscarf. Her dark brown hair was held tight in a bun at the back of her head by a series of golden strings and pins. Two small golden earrings hung from her ears, with a small white gem hanging beneath. Zuhura adjusted her headscarf so it rested around her neck as an actual scarf and scratched the nape of the neck.

“I don’t often remove it.” Zuhura inspected the edge, where some tiny frays had begun to emerge. “When I was in Sultan Hazm’s service I slept in the same room with the other servants. They did not remove theirs until they were about to go to bed.”

“How much sand?” Kal asked. She scrunched her eyes tight. “How much sand is there in Frindal?”

Zuhura smiled. “More than you can imagine.”

Kal scratched her fur covered forearms. “I suppose I wouldn’t like that much.”

“But…” Zuhura frowned. “I feel a little exposed right now.”

Verona fought back the urge to say something and merely smiled instead.

Zuhura’s frown faded. “Despite that it does feel nice to be able to remove it. Though I shall be wearing it again once I am outside. I am not used to such cold during the day.”

The chittering of the Hamtaro’s began to dim. Midas returned and quietly clambered back onto his stool.

“We will help you, Anton.” Midas folded his arms. “You helped us...When you, honestly, had no reason to. We shall repay the favour. So long as we are looked after in return.”

“I am very glad to hear that.” Anton looked to Eider. “Do we have somewhere for them to rest and gather their strength. And make sure they get as much food as they want. We won’t even start to speak of work until tomorrow.”

“Yeah.” Eider smiled, much to Midas’s concern. “I mean, yes. We do.” She waved high until she had the Hamtaro’s attention. “If you would all follow me please, we have somewhere for you all to live. It’s only temporary accommodation but it will do for now.”

They looked to Midas who gave them a nod. Immediately their attitude changed and they followed Eider, her bodyguards and Irso. Irso received a wide berth from the mice, she was quite an intimidating person at the best of times, not from size, like Rasha, but from the anger and ferocity that bubbled away behind her face, ready to burst through at a moment’s notice.

“Midas.” Anton began. “I would like to speak with you and your Elders about something. Nothing serious, but I would like to have a few answers.”

Midas jumped down from the stools and quickly picked out the eldest of the Hamtaro’s, those that were lagging behind. Verona and Kal tapped his shoulder and pointed to the side of the building, a doorway to a secluded room. Anton moved to a side room with his immediate companions, Midas and the Elder Hamtaro’s. The others followed Eider towards the accommodation, though they would be running through the snow while everyone else walked.

“I want to know more about how you were created.” Anton took a seat. He offered one for the Hamtaro’s. Midas jumped onto the chair and then the table, the Elders did not even attempt the jump and remained standing on the floor. “We can get you something comfortable to sit on…”

Building little pieces of furniture might be a fun thing for us.

“Actually,” An Elder placed an arthritic hand on his behind. “It is rather difficult for me to keep standing.”

“Let me help you.”

Anton knelt before him and chanted a delayed healing prayer. Though it would take several days for him to be fully healed he had an immediate reaction. His hands looked less gnarled and creased. He smiled as Anton performed the same magic to the other Elders.

“So easy…” Midas folded his arms. “I’m surprised the Sultan did not try and keep you, to work for him. Your presence alone would grant him considerable wealth.”

“I have other magics.” Anton took his seat. Verona and Kal took a larger chair behind while Cetina and Rasha stood to his side. “Even in Frindal I could easily destroy a good portion of the city while setting the rest ablaze in an inferno. Then there’s Mezot and Axia. Mezot’s quite powerful herself. Axia’s not too bad either.”

Midas said nothing. He searched for something to sit on but decided on the table. Rasha offered to help the Elders up to the table, a few accepted but most decided just to sit on the floor with their backs to the wall.

“What can you tell me?” Anton asked again. “We didn’t get much of a chance to ask, since we were rather pressed for time.”

“None of us were alive when it happened.” One of the Elders, perhaps the oldest with the greyest fur and most stooped back began to speak. “We do not live as long as you humans, but I do remember my father telling me what happened.”

"It was a Sorcerer, at least that's what he told me." The Elder shifted his rear. "A useless one at that. He had no skill or knowledge, just combining things to see what happened, in the most gruesome ways imaginable."

"Less of a mad sorcerer and just mad." Anton mused. "Anyone can just put things together and see what happens."

The Elder nodded. "My father remembered his life before he was transformed, before he became one of us. He was a young Frindal boy, stolen from his family." The Elder frowned his small mouse brows. "Or he could have been sold. He was very young, as he himself told me, so he could have misremembered. But he was taken somewhere underground, somewhere near the coast he said, and that's where he was made into...This."

"Did he recall how it actually happened?"

The Elder shrugged lightly. "They were taken one by one into a special room, strapped down to a metal table and had strange blue and yellow liquid put into them."

I doubt that's the meteorite metal Ikel used, nor does it sound like it has anything to do with that portal.

"That's...Not really all that much to go on." Anton said.

"Was there anything odd about those chemicals?" Kal asked. "Did they have a particular odour, the container they were in? Anything about the room?"

The Elder's eyebrows furrowed for a moment. "There is something he said. There was an insignia in one of the containers the blue liquid came from. I don't know about the yellow...Do you have something I can draw on? It'll be easier to show you."

Cetina left the room and returned with a scrappy piece of paper and a wrapped piece of charcoal. The Elder graciously accepted it and began to draw. He asked two of the Elders to hold the edges as he required both hands to properly draw. Everyone watched in silence, but Anton's heart began to drop when he saw the symbol even partially completed. The insignia was not of the Frindal Emirate nor any currently existing group. It was rather simple, a sword resting vertically on top of a shield. The United Empire.

"Is this what he saw?" Anton tapped the paper. "Are you sure of it?"

"You recognize this?" Midas asked.

"I do." Anton leant back and looked at Cetina. "The United Empire. Their insignia."

"It is, isn't it?"

Rasha leant forward. "Looks just like the stuff they found in that vault. On those pieces of paper money."

"It wasn't Frindal but this United Empire?" Midas took a calming breath. "Where are they? Are you at war with them?"

"The United Empire had been gone for hundreds of winters," Verona said softly. "Hundreds upon hundreds. Not even our Dwarves were alive when they were."

"Your sorcerer must have found a cache of research supplies." Anton began. "Probably research into how the Beastkin were created."

"They were created from that portal," Verona said softly. "Not some brightly coloured goop."

Rasha tapped her hoof as she looked at Verona, raising a red brow. She did not yet know how the Beastkin were created.

"So..." Midas looked at the Elders. "We're the result of some long-dead Empire's meddling?"

"Yes," Anton said flatly. "But it was that sorcerer who injected it into your parents. Do you know his name? If he's still alive we might be able to track him down and have a nice talk."

"No one knows his name." The Elder clicked his tongue. "No one had any names, not even those that helped him."

"That old man in Frindal seemed to know who it was." Cetina tapped Anton's shoulder. "We could return to the Arena and find out more."

"He will probably be gone by now. He wanted to see Midas fall so the last of the Hamtaro’s would be killed, since most of you aren't good fighters... But we'll see if we have time."

Anton looked behind Rasha to Zuhura, standing near the door in complete silence.

If you are going to inform on us...Let’s just hope you aren't.

"Zuhura, how much longer before the Nomads leave?"

"It should not be much longer," Zuhura spoke calmly, like she was not in an alien city. "Soon the sun will begin to set but they will not wait for that before they begin to disassemble the camp. If they do not they will not be able to travel far."

Kal held his arm. "You not being there isn't going to be a problem?"

"Shouldn't." Anton squeezed hers back. "We're honoured guests of one of the Elders, the Nomad Tribal Elders, not...Anyway, we'd probably get in the way even if we tried to help."

Zuhura nodded. "The tents and awnings need to be packed in a very specific order and manner. It is second nature for a Nomad but to an outsider..." Zuhura's lips twitched. "You would likely just be a nuisance and erode some of the good will earned from Anton healing that boy."

"That gives us some extra time then." Anton said. He slowly rubbed his beard. “But, speaking of boys, how often can your kind reproduce?”

Midas frowned. “Why...Why do you wish to know?”

“I’ll be frank. I am concerned that you might overpopulate, having dozens of children each time and putting a strain on our city and economy. I want the Hamtaro’s to thrive, but not so much that it becomes an issue.”

The oldest Elder raised his hand. “We understand. While we were held by the Frindal’s they made sure we did not have many children, by feeding us this plant...I don’t know what it was, but the women could not get pregnant.”

Midas almost looked embarrassed and looked away. Anton did not expect someone who fought for his very life every day to be embarrassed by such talk.

Then again, if you were only fighting and training, you wouldn’t have much time for any sort of intimacy. Perhaps he’s not used to intimacy being spoken about in such clinical terms.

“I do not mean that you cannot exceed your current numbers. Far from it. But I don’t want there to be tens of thousands of Hamtaro’s before summer.”

The Elder smiled again. “It will be an interesting talk but it is one we will have. And they will help Atros. It only takes them two winters before they become adults.”

“This...How long do Hamtaro’s live for?” Anton asked.

“I am thirty-two winters old.” The Elder said. “And I am the oldest. Compared to humans and the other races our lives must seem very short.”

“Midas?”

“Eight.” Midas ran a hand through his whiskers. “At least that’s what I think I am. It doesn’t really matter to me how old I am.”

“You should have already found a nice partner by now.” One of the Elder females said snidely to Midas. “It’s been too long-”

“I have been fighting every day so our kind doesn’t get eradicated,” Midas spoke harshly but something about his face that spoke more of embarrassment than anger. “I haven’t had the strength or time to speak with...Anyway, really.”

“Well, now you’ll have time.” Anton smiled.

“...I don’t know.”

“You’ll be fine.” Verona patted his head. Midas’s eyes narrowed as he swatted her hands away. “You’re the saviour of your entire race. You might not have noticed but a lot of women were looking at you.”

“Really…”

“Yep.” Verona smiled. “And most women aren’t that bad. Sometimes you just need to grab them and tell them how you feel.”

Kal and Anton shared a look. Verona deliberately didn’t notice and continued to smile until Midas began to nod.

“Perhaps...But I am a fighter first.”

“If the others become half as good as you then we have nothing to fear. You took down an Ogre by yourself.”

“Only after they fought each other.” Midas shrugged. “It was the only way I could have won.”

“I would like to see how you fight,” Rasha said. “You have a little sword but look like you’re really nimble.”

Midas smirked. “I am nimble. And I could probably take on most of your Human and Beast-kin soldiers and win.”

“Perhaps a demonstration then.” Anton offered. “Since we have a little time to ourselves. Elders, do you think any of the remaining Hamtaro’s are capable of fighting? I understand that many were forced to fight...Only Midas made it through.”

Midas cast his head down and began to mutter under his breath.

“Perhaps there might be some.” The Elders shared a look. “But they would be women, children and the elderly that can still move properly...Everyone else...”

“If they’re willing it might be a good idea just to start something. Even if it’s just swinging a sword and doing some laps.”

“I thought you said you didn’t want them doing anything today,” Kal said, Cetina slowly nodded.

“Only if they want to. Conveying that without it sounding like it’s a threat or an order can be difficult.” Anton frowned. “Especially if it’s someone like me.”

“Not something that I have to worry about.” Midas hopped down from the table. “I think I’ll try and find…Where did the others go?”

“They’ll be back shortly,” Rasha said. “It’s not safe for someone as small as you to be out in the snow. You’ll freeze very quickly.”

“I’d only heard of this snow.” Midas folded his arms and looked towards the entrance. “Never thought I’d actually see it.”

“Perhaps it is for the best that you all just get some rest.” Anton smiled. “One day isn’t going to hurt you. Far from it. Probably the first proper night’s sleep you’ve had in some time.”

“That...That it will be.” Midas slowly shook his head, holding back a smile. “That it will.”

“If you and the Elders want to wait in the other room we’ll have you sent to your new homes shortly.” Anton gave Rasha a quick nod. “There’s still one more thing that we need to do.”

Midas turned his small, brown eyes to Zuhura. He had some inkling of what the potential problem might be but chose to stay silent. It wasn’t his problem.

Anton waited until the Elders and Midas had left, Rasha offered them a thick blanket to wrap themselves. Now that everyone had left the room wouldn’t be so warm and their small bodies might not handle the cold so well.

“Zuhura?” Anton placed his hand on the drawing. “I think you can understand why word of this place cannot reach the outside world. Especially Seocuria. Right now they are not looking for us but very soon they will be. And every scrap of information, every potential rumour will be investigated. No matter how obscure.”

Zuhura tensed. Her lips pulled back but she held her ground.

“I understand.” Zuhura took a short breath, her nostrils flared slightly. “I will not speak a word of what happened here.”

“Not now, no.” Anton stood up. “But after we’re done in Frindal, with the Feral Beast-kin, I will do as Hazm said and release you from my service. Essentially I’ll let you do whatever you want. But that would mean that there’s someone with knowledge of this place that I don’t know if I can trust.”

Zuhura said nothing. Anton wasn’t sure if she was trying to formulate a response that wouldn’t see her immediately killed or imprisoned in Atros.

“I think you’re scaring her,” Verona said softly.

“Thankfully, I have a way to determine if you will.” As Anton approached Zuhura pulled her arms close to her body. He knew she had a blade on her somewhere. “Nothing too serious. Just a bit of magic.”

Anton reached out and touched her shoulder with one finger and chanted a truth prayer.

“What is that?” Zuhura asked. “I don’t feel any different.”

“Not yet. But, is your name Zuhura?”

“Yes.” Zuhura frowned. The prayer compelled everyone to tell the truth, even if it was something one would give freely.

“Would you tell anyone of what you saw here today?”

“No.” Zuhura frowned once again.

“Is there anything that could change your mind?

“Yes.” Zuhura winced. “If...If I was without money and someone offered it. I think I would.”

“That’s understandable.” Anton softly said. “Now, if you were to stay in Frindal and paid a stipend would you tell anyone?”

“No.”

“I think that settles it.” Anton removed his hand and smiled. “I don’t think that anyone would believe you anyway. A city with Beast-kin and Humans living side by side?”

“It…” Zuhura glanced between Verona and Kal. “It is.”

“I had a good feeling about you.” Verona skipped happily to Zuhura’s side. “I don’t think you’re a bad person. Now, you are from Frindal. Correct?”

Zuhura nodded. “Yes. But I am actually from one of the southern Nomad Tribes. They are related to the Costal Frindal’s but I am not one of them.”

“Oh...But do you know how to use their spices? What each one is and what they go best with?”

“All women from Frindal and the Nomad Tribes must know how to cook before they become an adult.”

Verona’s smile widened. “Well then, you’re going to be coming with us for a little bit. For you see, while Anton was speaking with that Hazm man, Kal and I sent one of Wilford’s sailors into the market to gather some spices.”

“Okay…”

Kal smirked and shook her head. “Always food.”

“Always.” Anton quietly added.

“Ignore them.” Verona dismissively waved her hand. “But I need someone to tell me what is what. Otherwise, I’ll be wasting them.”

“Well...I don’t think that’s a problem.”

“Great.” Verona gently held Zuhura’s elbow. “Can I borrow her for a moment?”

“I guess? But, remember that we’ve only met today. So please don’t go too wild. You understand me?”

“I understand.” Verona winked at Anton, then smiled at Zuhura. “Don’t worry about Anton, I only want you to tell me what we’ve bought and what goes best with what. Oh, and what types of cloth material you have to sell. I want to know everything!”

Zuhura did not budge from Verona’s tugs and held her ground.

“Zuhura? If you would please come with us I would like to have your opinion on what spices go with what food.”

“If that is what you wish.” Zuhura refastened her headscarf. The moment it was back on she appeared a little calmer. “I am in your service until you establish friendly relations with the Lamia’s of the Feral Beast-kin.”

“Great.” Verona lightly pulled on her sleeve again. “It won’t take long, I promise you.”

Zuhura finally relented and allowed Verona to drag her along. Anton doubted Verona would actually take Zuhura anywhere against her will but she was a bit forceful, which was needed sometimes but this was not such a time.

“Is she really trustworthy?” Kal asked softly.

“So far she’s been trustworthy.” Anton flexed his hand with the Glyph marks. “And she did not resist the truth prayer, not that she really could. But we need her to help guide us through the lands and the numerous Nomad Tribes. I think we could manage it by ourselves but we might just make a few enemies on the way. Not to mention I don’t think she can really go back.”

“No?” Rasha asked.

“She’s part of a peace deal between the Frindal’s and one of the Nomad Tribes...But Hazm, one of the Sultan’s, is trying to act magnanimously by using us.” Anton shrugged. “But I don’t care. It doesn’t affect us. But there is one thing that I still want to check.”

Anton entered the next room. The remaining Hamtaro’s waited by the door, nestled tight in the thick cloth, while Verona and Zuhura chatted idly. Verona’s incessant questions and words had relaxed her a little, this wasn’t the Sultan’s residence, everything was far more relaxed and personal.

“We ready to go?” Verona asked. “We don’t know where the Hamtaro’s have to go, and I don’t think we should just be wandering the snows with them in our arms.”

“In a moment. I’ve just thought of something.” Anton looked at Zuhura. “Another question.”

“I have nothing to hide,” Zuhura said calmly.

Anton touched her shoulder again. “Are you the daughter of the Elders of Nomad Tribe that Hazm has an agreement with?”

“Yes.”

“I see…” Anton removed his hand. “For a moment I thought that both of you had tricked each other. I wouldn’t have been too surprised if you had.”

Zuhura smiled. “Hazm has asked me before. I told him the truth but he wasn’t sure.”

“Are you done?” Midas asked. “I wish to find somewhere to sleep and recover.” He flexed his hands. “I wonder what it’s going to feel like tomorrow, knowing that I don’t have to fight.”

“You’ll feel like you’ve never felt before.” Kal smiled at Midas. “No more running, hiding, wondering what’s about to happen to you...You might be a little scared at first, but it gets much easier very quickly.”

Midas slowly nodded. “Very well. Let’s get going then. If you have time, before you return to the lands of sand, I would like to see this city you have in its entirety. I believe that might be able to point out areas that we can help with the defence of your city.”

“I like your enthusiasm.” Anton smiled. “I know an attacker would be quite surprised to see a large mouse stabbing them in the ankles.”

Midas shook his head, the Elders smiled. Obviously, it was something that had crossed their minds before.