Lets call it educational
Art
He was sitting before Augustus, head bowed as he listened attentively to his instructions for the day. "... ensure the shift changes move smoothly today, I don't want to see any of yesterday's fuck-up repeated. If you need to, post one of the bigger slaves at the front doors with one of the men, they know better than to try and run." The direction was taken in with great regard, though he made a point of making his own list of chores as his master spoke. The market had been winding up to full capacity slowly over the past few days, and he'd been tending to a few higher status clientele recently. His sunrise hued master reclined at the back of the cave, where he'd found a hollow within the back wall that gave him an excellent vantage over the rest of the antechamber while remaining mostly cloaked in shadow. If one knew where to look, he wasn't hard to pick out, but most of the attendees never bothered to raise their gaze that high along the back wall. The crimson paint that marked his forehead itched when he thought too much about it, but it was critical to Augustus that he was marked out as a servant not intended for purchase. He wouldn't dream of arguing. Paw steps creeping closer, lacking in the resonating of a heavyset warrior. One of the slaves, perhaps? He hoped there hadn't been an issue already. He dared not take his attention away directly, but he did tip one ear back to track the progress of the wolf approaching from behind. "Sir, there's a pair of very large wolves headed this way, coming from the south, they've called out for escort." a reedy voice called to the attention of his master, and the ebon male flicked his ears in an attempt to curb the curious perk that claimed them immediately. Augustus was frowning when Absinthe lifted his gaze to him, and immediately the smaller man dropped his gaze again. "So why have you returned empty-handed?" the gilded behemoth rumbled dangerously. The scout hesitated audibly, and spoke up carefully. "Well, sir. They're both heavily armed, and one of them has the biggest teeth I've ever seen on a wolf. I wasn't certain it was wise to invite them without your approval." A soft hum of consideration was bit back, the half-blind male stifling any noise that might interrupt Augustus. "Do you know anything about this, Absinthe? I sent you to make friends out there, after all." the low voice of his master spoke up, and only then did he lift his gaze again. He tilted his head to better meet the gaze of the scout, who instantly narrowed his eyes in response. "The one with the fangs, was he all black, with a few white markings on his face and hips?" he enquired demurely, and was met with a curt nod. He tipped his muzzle down in thanks, before turning back to gaze up at his master. "I believe this would be Sirius, Warlord of the Armada- a pack to the southeast. He was quite interested in visiting, and acquiring some slaves for use by his pack. I would readily grant them their escort, so you don't have to send out your warriors." he offered coolly, and fell silent again in submission to Augustus' will. After a beat, the large man grunted dismissively. "Go on then, I'll be watching. You will handle the transactions, see to it that they leave with a good impression and a few of our captives." he said simply. Needing no more direction, the once-prince rose smoothly to his paws and trotted towards the mouth of the cave. Once out in the sunlight, he took a moment to blink against the bright light. It always took him a moment to get his bearings after spending so long in the dimmer light of the caverns, where his bad eye was mostly blind, to the bright light of day where it could pick up more of the shapes around him and thus grant him a better field of view. He loped down the trail that led south, searching for the dark shape of the massive Warlord on the horizon. Thankfully, it didn't take too long before he could see a pair of lupine figures in the distance, circled by a pair of large birds and accompanied by a shape he couldn't quite discern. It wasn't a wolf, at least not one in the best conditions. He slowed his pace once he was within earshot, gearing down from a lope to an easy trot, and then down to a walk as he closed the distance. He brought himself to a stop a few feet from the pair, the equally large male at the Warlord's side was unfamiliar, but there was a familiarity in their body language that left him more at ease. "Good morning, Warlord. Good morning to you as well, sir." he dipped his head politely to both, offering a light smile with his greetings. "Have you come by to browse the market today?" he questioned with a slight tilt of his crown, tail half tucked between his thighs in submission to their status above his own. STEP IN LINE, EVERYTHING WILL BE JUST FINE |