She was funny, he concluded. A humor that was different than most of those he had meant, but no less comfortable, as his chuckle rumbled through his chest. I think that is an astute assessment you’ve made, he agreed in kind, casting a rueful glance toward the red-coated petals that were scattered before them.

And then a brow would rise comfortably across his features, an ear flicking dismissively atop his crown as he bore down a skeptical gaze toward her own amber eyes. A momentary hum of contemplation reverberated between closed lips as the woman feigned a sort of shock at his words.

For just a moment, he believed her.

Were it not for the corner of her mouth twisting into the curvature of a smile, perhaps her act would’ve stayed believable. But as her next string of words came forth, Raelan leaned into the banter she choreographed with the ease of someone used to wordplay.

Oh, absolutely. In fact, I think you are obligated to receive a title for your craft, he said with a quiet note of amusement, after all this dedication you have put forward in tracking a ghost.

He thought on it for a moment. Kiva the Stalker? He offered in jest, No…that would be too on the nose, I think. And then, Kiva of the Shadows, the Follower of Pawsteps. It sounded royal to his ears, like some decree and title given by a King.

His laughter came next, a hearty chuckle as his ears rotated once more atop his skull in idle amusement. Your inquiry has been formally noted, he said with a dip of his chin. I will bring it up to the council to ensure your habits are far less difficult to maintain. As if there was a council in the first place.

The Commander shrugged. Although a ghost should be difficult to track, I am amazed that you’ve made it this far at all. He joked, Congratulations are in order for finding me after all this time.

His tail shifted into an idle wag as her words came out in that familiar truth he was beginning to appreciate from the woman. He wouldn’t necessarily call himself fancy by any means; he merely was a man of honor and oath, with a track record that could hopefully prove it. But alas, he would not dispel the words that had come from her lips. It seemed fruitless in that moment.

Raelan is fine, he reassured her. Here, I’ve come to learn that titles are not as common as I had once known in my old world.

But when her own list of names came next: messenger, trespasser, wedding crasher, and stalker, his expression seemed to go through a subtle shift, carried on the emotional rollercoaster of her titles. From where they started out as normal… they soon took an exceptionally downward trend.

You’ve got a lot of credentials there, He joked through a rumbled baritone. Some I find myself all the more interested in exploring. He knew of her stalking, he being the source of her playful obsession; the wedding was just around the corner, but the ambassador was interesting, the trespasser even more so.

He filed that thought away for now, hoping to circle back to it in a moment.

It is a pleasure to formally meet you, Kiva Gaudius, former messenger and ambassador of Wind Haven.

And as her words coasted through the brief summer wind, Raelan’s mind churned over the meaning behind her words. Diplomatic, yes, but on brand? He was not sure whether he was being insulted or complimented, although with her it was likely both.

On brand? He said with a modicum of surprise. It was his turn to feign a sort of shock and outrage. But she continued before he could say another word. Blunt, nosy, she said, deeply incapable of keeping thoughts inside her own head. She had said it first; it hadn’t been him! But beyond the ghost of a smile that remained curled at the edge of his lips, Raelan gave nothing away.

You wound me. To think my stalker would believe I would think such things of them, he tutted despondently, a tsk of his tongue clicking in mock disappointment.

It felt good to laugh like this, to joke and banter, without the weight of the world residing atop his shoulders. For however brief it would be, Raelan found himself enjoying the moment.

I am, He admitted with a dip of his chin. As is my Queen and many others, he explained as the merriment of the moment began to slip on by. If you are asking me if you could come along, you needn’t have to be coy about it, Miss Kiva.

His muzzle motioned for the path that lay behind him, to where the scents of many wolves continued to migrate into the forest to their east.

As long as you do not bite or poison or stalk another unassuming man without reason, he started, playful once again even if his tone seemed to hold no room for amusement, You may come along as a member of Eastrenhold, should anybody ask where you had come from.

Despite her alleged accolades, some of which were more positive than most, Raelan did not consider her a threat. If anything, she was merely honest—more so than most. Though I would expect your best behavior, he clarified, I have hope of acquiring an alliance out here.

The Commander began to turn on his heels and started the walk back toward the caravan of moving bodies all headed in the direction of the Emperor’s wedding. You coming? He called back out to the woman, I will tell you more about them as we walk.

After all, it would be a terribly bad look if he were to be late to the wedding of a Southern Emperor.