Serving Lant Agriche

Chapter 9 - Seeing Who's Master

"Master Dion, the toy is ready for you," a footman bowed his head.

 

Dion glanced at the footman with his red eyes before strapping on steel-plated gauntlets and shin guards. He opened and closed his fist to test how stiff his leather glove was before slipping brass knuckles over it. After some consideration, he also stuffed a handkerchief in his boot.

 

He didn't mind playing with the toy—it was more exercise than training his father's fierce bloodhounds—but found the drool from Wally's mouth disgusting.

 

"My Lord also requires you to disguise yourself," the footman said. A bundle of clothes was draped over his arms.

 

Dion accepted a black cloak and donned it over his shoulders. He slipped the flat cap over his head and tucked in his hair.

He was preparing for his first journey alone outside of the Agriche mansion and looked the quintessential messenger boy.

Dion jerked his head, showing that he was ready to depart.

He followed the footman to the dungeons where Wally was waiting for him. The cage had been removed. Instead, the half-breed had a black metal collar around its human neck. A long metal chain connected the collar to the wall.

Wally snarled as Dion approached him, but bent its head to acknowledge the alpha. Its ear was still bleeding where Dion had hammered a two-inch nail in its earhole. It had been one of Dion's methods to quiet Wally and get the beast back into its cage.

Dion pulled on the metal leash until one end broke off from the wall. He wrapped the chain around his fist and tugged at Wally to follow him. Wally walked on its two goat-hoofed legs, its scraggly head rising two hands above Dion. Its black canine forearms dangled in the air as it walked.

The footman swallowed as the beast passed by him, but otherwise followed Dion and the toy quietly.

The night air was slightly frosty in the fall. Dion's breath spurted a white cloud from his mouth before dissipating.

He looked back at the footman who had accompanied them to the forest outskirts. The servant had a slender build with dark-brown hair and freckles. Dion recalled that the footman was tasked with serving his supper on Thursdays.

"I know what's expected of me, Master Dion," the footman said. His eyes were scrunched together as if he were trying not to cry. He pulled out a pill from his pocket.

Dion did not move as the footman committed suicide.

When the footman laid completely still, Dion focused magic in his palm and pressed his hand against the chain near Wally's collar. The chain snapped and Wally yelped as part of the metal melted into its skin. The toy kicked away from Dion, no longer tethered, and bounded freely over the grassy clearing.

It stopped short in front of Dion and bowed its head, leaving a shadow over the boy. Dion had trained it well in the last two days. The toy had learned basic commands more quickly than the average canine. Saliva dripped from its mouth and its eyes darted to the body strewn on the ground.

"Eat," Dion said. He ran away from the carnage at full speed as Wally hurled itself at the human carcass, ripping apart livery and flesh with its teeth and claws. He did not want to wait for Wally to finish eating before starting his journey.

Dion lengthened his stride after he passed the mansion gates and heard Wally land after bounding over a four storey wall.

When Wally had almost reached him, Dion turned around and slammed his brass knuckles against Wally's nose. The impact against cartilage made a resounding crunch.

Wally's body was hurled to the side. It rolled twice over before staggering to its feet on its hind legs. It stood straight on its two legs, looking scarred and more grotesque than the Minotaur since Wally's battered head was human.

When the toy opened its mouth, the footman's pink innards fell in little pieces from its lips. Its tongue lolled out and laid limp against its chin.

Dion's knack for reading people was not as developed as his father's, but he had inherited the innate ability to subjugate the weak. Wally's head slunk from side to side, its chin almost touching its chest as it followed the boy.

It did not matter if Dion was half its size.

Its centre of mass was low as it focused the majority of its weight on its canine forearms than its longer hind legs.

It broke into a sprint on all fours after its master.