The True Confessions of a Nine-Tailed Fox

Chapter 188: The Wrath of the Commissioners of Pestilence

At Steelfang's remark, everyone studiously avoided looking in Sphaera's direction – except for Floridiana. She met the wolf's eyes head on, directed his gaze to the slowest walker in their party, and snorted.

After all, what was the fox demon going to do to her? Bite her? Sphaera wouldn't dare, not with Den, Bobo, and Dusty there to back Floridiana up, and with Lodia's presence as a continual reminder of how the five-tailed fox had nearly wrecked her revered "Lady Piri's" plans.

Steelfang's massive head swung towards his liege lady. He surveyed her from head to toe, his golden eyes lingering on the frayed slippers that she had refused to trade for more practical footgear.

Cornelius draped himself against the wolf's shoulder and gave the fox empress an easy grin. "I'm sure we could find a pair of boots for you in the village, ma'am."

"Boots?!" screeched Sphaera.

"Yes, ma'am. Boots made from sturdy leather. They'll hold up better than that thin silk."

"Leather?!"

A dimple flashed in Cornelius' cheek. It took Floridiana a moment to realize that the deep rumble in Steelfang's chest was a chuckle rather than a growl. Imagine that: a human boy and a demon wolf, sharing a laugh at a five-tailed fox's expense.

Is there a cobbler in the village? Stripey spoke up before Sphaera truly lost her temper. Where would we find new footgear for the empress, if she desires any?

That was a big "if," Floridiana thought. At the same time, Bobo flicked her tongue in a giggle.

"A cobbler?" asked Cornelius blankly, and Floridiana guessed that he'd never heard the word before. Flying Fish Village was so small that it had no need for a dedicated footgear craftsman. Nor did the villagers wear shoes made from animal hides. They braided sandals from plant fibers. "I just meant that we could just poke around in the houses – can you believe they build houses aboveground?! – and find a pair that fits."

Now it was Floridiana's turn to look blank. "Poke around in the houses until you find a pair that fits?"

"We can't jussst sssteal their ssshoes! That would be too mean. We have to pay for them," Bobo protested.

Den, who had been hovering over the cliff edge while they spoke, said in a grim tone, "And we would – except there's no one left to pay. They're all dead."

"ALL DEAD???" shrieked Floridiana, Bobo, Lodia, Dusty, and even Sphaera.

"Steelfang! Did you massacre the villagers?" Floridiana demanded. "We explicitly told you: NO UNNECESSARY BLOODSHED! How could you go and – "

Steelfang's throat and chest rumbled again. This time, it didn't take any thought to recognize it as a growl and not a chuckle. "Who said we killed anyone, mage? They were all dead when we arrived."

"All dead?" cried Bobo. "How? Why?"

Bandits, said the former duck demon bandit. Must have been bandits. Someone ratted them out, and they killed the whole village in revenge.

Den gave Stripey a very disturbed look.

"Actually, we think it was some sort of disease," Cornelius said. "The bodies – they didn't have wounds on them. They had these – these tumors. And – and black spots...."

A chill ran up Floridiana's spine as he described the symptoms. She knew them, had heard them whispered since her earliest childhood, as if their very mention might draw the attention of the Five Commissioners of Pestilence.