The Trials of Alar

16

It was late morning when the party from Kentros was finally assembled and ready to leave. It had been an unhurried morning for everyone, and a welcome change from the past few days. But now the squirrels of King Fagan’s company were rested, recovered, and full from another small but hardy breakfast. They were more than ready to go home.

King Fagan himself stood before the great door to the palace along with a few others, bidding goodbye to King Basil and Queen Helen before taking to their mounts.

“Well now, what an interesting visit it’s been,” concluded the little red squirrel. “But we did what we set out to do, and that’s what matters I reckon.”

“Indeed,” spoke Basil. “I am sorry that your time in Corallia has not been free of troubles. I pray that your next visit may be less contested, now that the threat has been removed.”

“Aye. ‘Tis truly a lovely land you’ve got here. I should be only too happy to see it again someday now that peace is at last upon us. And of course, the doors of the palace in Parras will ever be open to you and yours.” They shook paws and embraced in a dignified, kingly manner. “Farewell, King Basil. And to you as well, fair queen.”

“Until we meet again, King Fagan,” said Helen in as warm a tone as she could muster.

With that, Fagan turned and made to leave, patting Alar on the shoulder as he passed. “Your turn, mate.”

So, Alar stepped up and bowed before the sovereigns, paw once more on the hilt of his beloved Flametongue.

“Your Majesties.”

“Rise, good sir,” said the king. “Good, brave squirrel, to whom we owe so much. What can we ever do to repay you?”

“Your Majesty is too kind,” said Alar, his humble nature coming to the fore. “But actually, my husband and I would ask a small favor.”

“Name it and it is yours.”

“Well sire, we were wondering if we might adopt this young orphaned squirrel here, whom I encountered in the woods on the way to Boarra. He’s been a great help to me on my road, and, well…we’ve grown rather fond of the kit.”

“So I see.” Basil actually cracked a smile on beholding Adam with the young squirrel seated upon his shoulder. “And it appears the feeling is mutual. Can you ensure that he will be raised with all the care and love that he will need?”

“Oh yes, without a doubt, Your Majesty,” replied Adam. “Red Fields is a well-stocked and bountiful estate.”

“Then I can ask no more. The child is yours.”

“Hooray! Tuck got two papas now!” exclaimed the excited kit to the amusement of all.

“Thank you, sire,” said Alar as he and Adam bowed one last time. “And goodbye.”

“Farewell, Alar and Adam of Red Fields. May you, too, prosper in these days of peace.”

And so the company left the palace grounds, and indeed the whole city of Boarra behind. They journeyed back along the same road they had used in coming, traveling through woodlands, plains, and eventually the Ondega Mountains. Their crossing proved mercifully uneventful this time, save for a little rain, and they arrived safely on the other side a day and a half later. Upon touching the familiar ground of Kentros, they felt an immense sense of relief, as though their troubles were finally over and nothing more could possibly go wrong ever again.

Tucker took the whole thing in with a sense of wonder and excitement that both amused and inspired his new foster parents. He had never been truly rooted in one place or another back in Corallia. Here on the other side of the mountains, things were similar in many ways, but there were also many sights new and wondrous to his young eyes. And it was all his to explore, as he was reminded over and over by Alar.

“When we get back home, there’ll be a lot of work to do,” he assured him. “But there’ll be lots of time for other things too. We can walk in the woods, pick berries in the summer, and spend nights out in the fields with all the heavens above us. Does that sound good, mate?”

“Yes yes! Alla time wiv my dads!” replied Tucker eagerly, snuggling up against Alar’s chest as the warrior buck held him close.

Adam watched these interactions with pure delight. He had once said what a fine father Alar would make, and here was all the proof he needed right before his eyes. And as they lay down in their tent to say their prayers that night, he thanked Skiouros for making him the happiest squirrel in the world.

Thus it was that a week of steady travel brought them back to the gates of Parras, and on to the palace therein. It was a heartwarming sight to see Fagan and Ambrosia reunited, and at last the company felt sure that all was right with the world. They were invited to partake of yet another celebratory feast, equally grand, but with all the familiar tastes of home. Throughout the meal, Queen Ambrosia listened as Fagan, Alar, Adam, and Trellon regaled her with their tale of adventure, and she was positively taken with Tucker, who found himself spoiled by all the attention given him by her and her ladies. And nor did he shy away from it.

As the meal was winding down, Fagan leaned over to tell his wife something in a quiet whisper. She assumed a very serious air at once and nodded, then turned to Alar and Adam.

“Might I have a word with you two in private?”

“Of course,” said Alar. He turned to Tucker. “Now you behave yourself, all right Tuck?”

“Yes, papa.”

“Good lad.”

The three then rose from their seats. Their departure to a small side chamber did not go unnoticed, but Fagan played his part well by engaging others at the table with one of his exaggerated tales from “the good ole days.” As soon as Ambrosia was alone with the two bucks, she sighed.

“I understand that you’ve agreed to the little…idea that Fagan and I came up with.”

Alar nodded. “We have.”

“I am most grateful. I wish there were some other way, but…”

“We understand, Ambrosia,” said Adam. “But we want to help you whatever it takes.”

“When do you want to…” Alar hesitated. “Get it done?”

“As soon as possible. But you’re tired after your long travels, and no doubt drowsy after all that food. You should rest yourselves first. I’ll send word to you this evening as to where and when. It’ll have to be done with the utmost discretion, of course.”

“Of course.”

“Speaking of which, we’d best get back now. The guests may begin to wonder.”

So, they resumed their places. Some asked with their eyes where they had been, but no one volunteered an answer. And most were so sated with food by now that their curiosity soon faded. Afterward they all retired to rest for the afternoon, though the knowledge of the one duty they had left to perform kept Adam and Alar preoccupied. Fortunately they had Tuck to distract them for a little while until even his endless energy ran out, at which point they tucked him in for a nap. They then settled into a light doze for a while. They were not long asleep when there came a knock at the door. Adam was up and answered it in a flash.

“A letter from Her Majesty the Queen,” said the servant, holding out an envelope.

“Thank you,” said Adam, taking it. The servant bowed, turned sharply on his heel, and promptly disappeared. Adam closed the door and returned to Alar with the envelope. They had it open in a heartbeat and Adam read it in a quiet voice:

“At the Golden Crown Tavern two hours from hence. Say you are running an errand for Fagan and shan’t be back until morning. Go to the tavern keeper and ask for the room hired on behalf of Tibbar. Await my arrival there. Burn this once read.”

“It’s a bit unseasonable for a fire, but we’ll try,” said Alar.

And so, they managed to get a small fire going in the hearth and burn the note. Adam then extinguished it and, to be extra thorough, collected the ashes into a cup and tossed them out the window. They then proceeded to idle away their remaining time playing with Tucker, taking a turn through the garden, and in Alar’s case, checking on the horses. When the appointed time came, they left Tucker in the care of a pair of maids who had been sent specifically by the queen “So you might fulfill your errand for the king.”

With Tucker in safe paws and their cover story in place, they left the palace and made for what many considered the seedier side of town. The Golden Crown was in fact the very tavern Alar had stayed in during his first night in Parras all those years ago, and it certainly hadn’t improved with time. The paint on the gray wooden sign was cracked and half legible, the building itself sagged, the door was a bit loose on the hinges, and the stable amounted to a little roof extending out from the building that left most horses’ rear ends exposed. One would hardly know it was in business at all were it not for the bright light pouring out from the windows and the raucous noise emanating from within.

“Odd choice for the queen,” remarked Adam as they approached the door. “You’d think she could settle for something a little nicer.”

“She had to pick someplace where no one would ask too many questions. One night stands are fairly common here, and just about anything else you can think of besides.”

They opened the door, and their noses were instantly assaulted by all kinds of smells—some pleasant; most less so. The sights that met their eyes were not much better. All kinds of squirrels mingled together over drinks and plates of greasy, homely food. Some were clearly there just to drink themselves numb, while others were interested in more substantial kinds of fulfillment.

“Stick close and watch your pockets, mate,” said Alar as they made their way to the counter. “This place is worse than the inn back in Telos.”

“Can I help you lads?” asked the tavern keeper, a battered fox squirrel with an eye patch, a tail missing half its fur, and a substantial midriff.

“We’re here to claim a room reserved under the name Tibbar,” said Alar.

“Ahh, yeah. Go on up. Last one on the right. Got a nice view and everything. Here’s the key.” He tossed it to Alar and winked. “Have fun, lads.”

Alar thanked him and headed up with Adam very close behind. They came to the last room on the right and fitted the ancient key to the rusty hole. By some miracle it worked and the door opened for them. The room was quite small, little more than a bed with a strip of space to open the door. There wasn’t much room to store any travelling gear, but considering most who came here were locals with a different purpose in mind, that wasn’t really an issue. The “view” was merely a dirty window above the bed overlooking the next building’s roof, over which Adam imagined several guests in this room had had to make an ignominious flight over the years.

“Well, we’re here,” he sighed. “What do we do now?”

“Just wait, like the queen instructed,” said Alar, sitting on the rather hard bed that had barely any spring left.

So, wait they did, but they were not kept long. It was a matter of five minutes at most before the door opened and a slender figure in a tatty sackcloth cloak entered. As soon as the door was closed, Queen Ambrosia lowered her hood.

“Oh good, you’re here,” she said. “I didn’t fancy waiting here by myself for too long.”

“Are you alone, then?” asked Alar with concern.

“No. I brought Trellon along as escort. He is both loyal and discreet, as you have seen. He will tell no one of our meeting here.”

“Does he know why you’re here, then?” asked Adam.

“I have not directly told him, but I suspect so. He understands the situation better than most at court.”

There was an awkward pause as they each tried to think of something more to say, but couldn’t. At last the queen sighed and shrugged. “Well, shall we get on with it, then?”

The two bucks exchanged glances, then Alar nodded. “Might as well.”

And so, the queen discarded her cloak.

“Do…Do you want us to look away?” offered Adam.

“There’s not much point in that, I don’t think,” replied Ambrosia, smiling at the notion. “Unless we’re going to do the whole thing with our eyes closed.”

So, the males likewise began to undress. They discarded first their sword belts, then their vests and tunics, and finally their short trousers and undershorts, all of which they tossed into a single pile in the corner. The queen was a little more meticulous in the way she undressed, having been conditioned by a lifetime of practice. But at last she was down to her own undergarments, which she removed deliberately and placed in a much neater pile beside theirs. She sighed, and they again stood there awkwardly, not quite certain how to proceed. Alar and Adam tried not to stare too much, though even they could not deny that she was a very well formed doe. Fagan was indeed blessed to have such a queen.

Once more, Ambrosia took charge to move things along:

“Alar, why don’t you lie down for a start.”

He did so, settling on his back with his tail brush under him.

“All right. Now I’ll begin. Adam, you stick close by him and jump in whenever you think best.”

Adam nodded and stood awkwardly beside the head of the bed while Ambrosia gracefully climbed onto the other end. Alar had not realized before just how nervous he was about the whole ordeal, but now for the first time in his life found himself actually trembling. His fur was half matted with sweat, and he could not for the life of him keep one leg from visibly shaking.

Come on, damn it! he told himself. Pull yourself together! What will Ambrosia think?

But try as he might, he remained trembling, and Ambrosia had to place a paw on his knee just to steady it. Finally Adam, sensing his mate’s distress, placed a comforting paw on his shoulder. Alar reached up to grab it with his own paw, and immediately felt reassured. Looking up into those bright, loving eyes and that warm smile, Alar put his final doubts to rest and stopped trembling. He nodded toward Ambrosia, who had hesitated to proceed further.

“Go ahead, Ambrosia,” he said. “I’m ready.”

And so she began. Her touch was fine and delicate against his sheath, yet very precise. She knew just where to apply pressure and where to apply a softer touch. She knew when to begin applying her tongue and when to use paws only. Alar closed his eyes and tried to focus on Adam’s scent, imagining him as the one working him over. Thus, between Ambrosia’s experienced touch and the closeness of Adam’s musk, Alar was able to overcome Ambrosia’s overwhelmingly feminine scent and achieve the arousal they so desired.

Ambrosia continued stroking and licking to get him even firmer, then made her move. She clambered over Alar so that she could straddle him with her back to him: a very clever ploy on her part so that her tail would obscure her obviously female form to his eyes. But it availed little. She was in full heat now, and that powerful female smell was flooding his nostrils no matter which way he turned. He began to lose a little arousal.

“Here,” said Adam. “I think it’s time I did my bit.”

So, without further ado, he clambered up and straddled Alar’s chest, his semi-erect member dangling enticingly before Alar’s muzzle.

“Here you go, hon. Just focus on me.”

It worked. With Adam’s musk so close, even Ambrosia’s powerful aroma was almost unnoticeable. He was instantly back to full arousal. He grasped Adam’s thighs and with guidance from Adam’s paw, received his mate’s full measure in his muzzle. That warm, familiar sensation of moving up and down along his length, doing his utmost to pleasure the one he loved was all he needed to blot out everything else and put his mind at ease. He could feel as Ambrosia slid onto his maleness, of course. It was not wholly unlike when Adam did so, and it felt just as good when she began to slide her body up and down upon him. Still, his attention was primarily on Adam, the light moans of pleasure he made, and how he could keep them going.

This awkward arrangement worked surprisingly well for several minutes to the delight of all involved. But soon Ambrosia’s rhythmic motions and the soft, pleasurable moans from Adam took their toll on Alar. He grunted as he felt that wonderful sensation approach, and he began sucking Adam with the intent to finish. The latter gasped, then moaned out loud as he neared the end. Alar’s head began to swim and he grunted even louder as he reached his climax.

It could not have been better timed, for even as he felt his loins tighten, Adam’s load burst into his mouth with that familiar runny warmth and bittersweet flavor he loved so well. The room resounded with the sound of the two bucks’ pleasure, and even Ambrosia could not keep entirely silent as the ecstasy of the moment pulsed through her body. Their orgasm seemed to go on and on, and yet soon reached its blissful end. Alar’s member grew tender to the touch, and Ambrosia, sensing as much, quickly slowed to a halt. Alar swallowed the last of Adam’s seed before pulling his muzzle away, letting his head fall back onto the pillow and uttering a satisfied, “Ahh, fuck.”

His body was soaked in sweat and his chest heaving. They were all breathing hard after their exertions. Alar exchanged looks of pure love with Adam, who bent over to bathe his lips in kisses, then rose and began gently massaging his chest with his paws. Ambrosia at last slid off of Alar and twisted around to address him.

“Well now, that’s that,” she said. “Between you and me, I confess, I’ve always been curious what a rollick would be like with you, Alar. It was well worth the wait.” She placed a paw gently on Adam’s shoulder and smiled. “You’re very fortunate to have such a mate.”

“I know,” said Adam, curling his tail modestly.

“Do you think it worked?” asked Alar, propping himself up a little on his elbows.

“It’s impossible to tell so soon,” said Ambrosia, placing a paw on her stomach. “But I think so. In which case, I can’t thank you enough. And you, Adam. You’ve done a great service to Kentros, and to me. And you will be rewarded accordingly.”

“We ask no reward for services to friends and country,” said Alar.

“Nevertheless, you shall receive one,” said Ambrosia. And as she was their queen, they could do nothing but bow their heads respectfully. She stood up, wiping the excess semen from between her legs, then began to dress. “You two can stay here for the night, since the room’s already been hired. Unless you’d rather have better?”

“No, this is fine,” Alar assured her. “I’ve stayed in worse.”

Adam nodded his tacit agreement.

“Very well. Come back to the palace tomorrow morning. Declare your mission for the king successful if anyone should ask. You can collect Tucker and your belongings, then be on your way as early or as late as you’d like.”

“Thanks, Ambrosia. We’ll do that.”

“No, thank you,” she said, slipping on her ragged cloak and fastening the brooch. “And good night, my friends. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight, Your Majesty,” said Adam, and the two bucks dipped their heads out of respect. Ambrosia smiled again, raised her hood, then stepped out with nary a sound. Thus, the two were once again alone. They smiled softly at one another, and Adam resumed brushing Alar’s chest fur.

“So, had enough adventuring for now?” asked Alar.

“Enough for a lifetime,” replied Adam. “I can’t wait to get back home.”

“Aye. Home sweet home. Just you, me, and our son.”

They kissed again, then snuggled up close, and within mere minutes, were fast asleep.