Rhilshen?s kennel master was a solidly built and taciturn man named Torn. He had been appointed a full generation prior, while the High Priestess had been the concubine of a brooding Storm Paladin named Luekas. Said Storm Paladin had brought with him to the fortress a whole pack of joyful, slobbering, and rather exotic hounds which necessitated much care and kept the young kennel master happily busy.
Luekas had eventually departed Rhilshen, and his hounds went with him. For some time after that Torn had made a number of ultimately futile attempts to spark Alysia?s interest in his work, even going so far as trying to add various feline creatures to his kennels. Shortly before the Lady Skye had been exiled, he?d given up all together and started seeking job satisfaction in the bottom of beer mugs in the Central Province?s seedier taverns.
It was in one of these taverns, The Bloody Crow, that he was approached by Rhilshen?s Master of Assassins, Javan Skye.
?Get up, Torn. I have a job for you.? Javan grabbed the kennel master?s shoulder and lifted him away from the table he?d been drowsing at.
?Whuzzat,? mumbled Torn. ?Ah, ish you. Gerroff me, man, ?m bushy drinkin? to th? well... well... whuzzit... health o? th? Emp?ressh. An? Dthren. . . dth.. th? Guardian.? He struggled to reach for his empty mug, grasped a grimy wooden bowl instead, and raised it to demonstrate his toast for the recently returned Emperess of Rhilshen. ?Ssho... what d?ye wan???
?Hell hounds,? replied Javan, letting the man thud back onto his bench.
Torn nearly toppled over, but righted himself and stared owlishly at the black-clad vampire. ?Yer mad,? he gasped. He saw, perched on Javan?s shoulder, an enormous rat with long black fur and beady, bright red eyes.
?Maybe. You wouldn?t be the first to call me that. Get a litter of the pups, talk to the Lady Frost if you can?t find a reputable supplier. They?ll have to be blood bonded, then start training them. I need one to accompany Alysia at all times, two or three for her home in Rhy?din, and four for the Fortress.?
The kennel master gaped at Javan. He was certain that the Lady Skye would never take a hellhound for a pet. She had an affinity for felines and had always maintained she couldn?t tolerate barking creatures. He tried to explain this to the Master of Assassins, but his tongue felt like it was three sizes too big for his mouth and covered with fur besides.
?And find one of the pages who likes dogs and teach him everything you know.?
Torn managed to blurt out, ?Gggh.?
?And sober the Hell up. If I find you in a tavern again when you?re supposed to be working for the Emperess, I?ll kill you.?
Luekas had eventually departed Rhilshen, and his hounds went with him. For some time after that Torn had made a number of ultimately futile attempts to spark Alysia?s interest in his work, even going so far as trying to add various feline creatures to his kennels. Shortly before the Lady Skye had been exiled, he?d given up all together and started seeking job satisfaction in the bottom of beer mugs in the Central Province?s seedier taverns.
It was in one of these taverns, The Bloody Crow, that he was approached by Rhilshen?s Master of Assassins, Javan Skye.
?Get up, Torn. I have a job for you.? Javan grabbed the kennel master?s shoulder and lifted him away from the table he?d been drowsing at.
?Whuzzat,? mumbled Torn. ?Ah, ish you. Gerroff me, man, ?m bushy drinkin? to th? well... well... whuzzit... health o? th? Emp?ressh. An? Dthren. . . dth.. th? Guardian.? He struggled to reach for his empty mug, grasped a grimy wooden bowl instead, and raised it to demonstrate his toast for the recently returned Emperess of Rhilshen. ?Ssho... what d?ye wan???
?Hell hounds,? replied Javan, letting the man thud back onto his bench.
Torn nearly toppled over, but righted himself and stared owlishly at the black-clad vampire. ?Yer mad,? he gasped. He saw, perched on Javan?s shoulder, an enormous rat with long black fur and beady, bright red eyes.
?Maybe. You wouldn?t be the first to call me that. Get a litter of the pups, talk to the Lady Frost if you can?t find a reputable supplier. They?ll have to be blood bonded, then start training them. I need one to accompany Alysia at all times, two or three for her home in Rhy?din, and four for the Fortress.?
The kennel master gaped at Javan. He was certain that the Lady Skye would never take a hellhound for a pet. She had an affinity for felines and had always maintained she couldn?t tolerate barking creatures. He tried to explain this to the Master of Assassins, but his tongue felt like it was three sizes too big for his mouth and covered with fur besides.
?And find one of the pages who likes dogs and teach him everything you know.?
Torn managed to blurt out, ?Gggh.?
?And sober the Hell up. If I find you in a tavern again when you?re supposed to be working for the Emperess, I?ll kill you.?