A different kind of Knight

Chapter 29

He tried but failed to pry off the hand that stubbornly held onto him with an unwavering iron grip. He looked around the entire tavern, seeking for someone to help him out. Yet, everyone that he looked at averted away from him. And when his gaze met Luke's, he only saw a false pity of sorts. This is the decision of the people. Luke couldn't challenge the choice that the masses wanted for he was raised to be a potential ruler and not as a ruthless tyrant. The girl also looked away from the goat. It seems that everyone is in silent agreement to damn him to his fate. "S-Surely you jest?! I am one of your kind!" The goat pleads tearfully to the father. "You, Human, there is a Legiones guard house right around the corner, by now they should've been aware of the noise. Check the streets." The ram turned his face towards Luke as he nodded towards the door. Luke complies and he pulls the door inwards, giving just enough space for his head to stick out. The hot rays of the sun stung his skin as he looked left and right. Sure enough, there were two predators. Both are grey furred wolves wearing incredibly ornate golden armor with billowing cloths of total crimson that moved gracefully in the wind. Both had their faces soured as they trudged through the mud. "Two. Two are walking towards us right now. A minute before arrival by my estimates." His right hand forcefully pulled itself away from the little girl's grip as it unlatches the laspistol holster. Everyone inside began to look around fearfully. Some began to whisper in hushed tones while others hastily stood up and retreated to their rooms upstairs. Even the little girl herself began to fidget. "Pa! Please!" His daughter pleads to just simply forgive the perverted goat. She grabbed onto his shirt's sleeve and began to tug at it. "No! Not until he says what I want to hear!" The ram growls behind gritted teeth. Luke's right hand shifted to wrap around the handle of the laspistol. His finger rests on the trigger. "Thirty seconds." He announces to the ram as he retreats back inside and closes the door shut. The goat began to cry. "What do you want me to say!? What is it!?" The aging goat begs for a hint. "SAY. IT." His grip tightens around the goat's wrist, showing that he isn't letting go even as the predatorial Guardsmen approached. Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two... 

"Alright! I'm SORRY!" He lets go of the goat's wrists, letting him drop back down to his seat. *Bang!* The oaken door was kicked open. Two soldiers strode in as everyone held a fearful gaze towards the uninvited guests. Luke pulled the girl as he sidestepped out of their way. *Clack. Clack. Clack.* Two pairs of paws trudged through the tavern as they approached the ram, leaving visible mud prints on the floor carelessly. "My. Are you the one causing so much noise to bother us? Hm?" One of them teased as a paw went up to caress the father's chin. If he lies, he will damn everyone inside to these two. "Er. Yes. It was me, your Holiness." The once strong-armed and resilient ram was now reduced to something akin to a timid child caught in the act of wrongdoing. Though, what punishments await him may be worse than his death. The other wolf went around the back of the ram. A sly smile crept upon the one that's in front of him. "Ah. Eyes here." The wolf teased as he softly held onto the ram's chin when he tried to look at the other wolf. "Now, what is your plea?" The wolf questioned the ram as he flashed his teeth at him. If it were not for the ram's fur, the nervous sweating would've been a whole lot more obvious. "None, your Holiness. I take responsibility for all my misdeeds and sins." The ram gave his statement as he looked up to the ceiling to show his neck.

Exposing your neck is a sign of humility. Or suicide, it really depends on what they wanted to do to you. To show one's neck to a predator means that you are more than willing to give your life to them. Right now, the wolf is salivating, licking his teeth as he eyed the neck of the ram. "Why thank you. But no thanks, we just recently ate. However, I do think we are in dire need of cleaning. After all, our paws are caked in mud and filth because of your actions." The wolf said to the ram as he motioned with his hand to the partner who was behind the ram. "Si, signore." He complied as he raised his truncheon, and swung it down behind the knees of the ram. "Hrngh!" He grunted without opening his mouth as he tried to bear the pain and put a tough face on as he fell to his knees onto the floor. The daughter only covered her face as she turned to look away from the sight. Her quivering lips silently said prayers after prayers, begging to her deities to spare her father. The wolf grabbed an empty bar stool and sat himself down. He presented his muddy paws to the snout asks of the ram. "Clean it." The ram nodded no as he stared at the muddy paws that are millimeters close to his face. "Secundo constabulario!" The wolf in the back had his attention caught when his supervisor called his rank. He looked up and prepared to receive orders from his superior. "Si?" (Yes?) His response was insultingly casual as he leaned on one foot, radiating an aura of laziness as he limply held onto the truncheon. He was probably wanting his superior to just simply get it over with. The wolf was slightly agitated by the actions of his subordinate but he kept his cool composure as he took a deep breath and gave him the order. "Ledo eum. Placere, mi amore frater." (Hit him. Please, my lovely brother.) It was clear that he did not mean it sincerely since the way it was said was more of an insult. "Utro?" (Where?) He did not appreciate the sarcasm being thrown his way so he obviously began to fool with his higher-ranking brethren. "In cranio placet. Mi is amore frater." (On the skull, please. My lovely brother." He forcefully said it with a sweet tone as he bared his teeth in a gritted smile, tapping the top of his own head twice. "Quam fortis?" (How strong?) His commander's frustration was becoming more evident as he silently gripped the crimson cloth, having it bunched up under his paws. He stood up and walked over to him. Suddenly snatching the wooden truncheon from his grip. "FRATER! Mi amore frater! Quis do multi requiro!" (BROTHER! My lovely brother! Why ask so many questions!) He growled as his bulging eyes stared into his kin's. "When I tell you to do something." He raised the truncheon truncheon up high. 

"Signore!" (Sir!) The other wolf exclaimed in horrified surprise as he raised his arms to protect himself. "Mi apologia signore!" (My apologies sir!) He pleaded as he cowered. "YOU OBEY!" He brought down the wooden baton, as the other Legiones screamed. "SIGNORE! NO!" (SIR! NO!") The wooden rod descends speedily, colliding with the skull of the ram. *THWACK!* The ram collapsed to the floor clutching his head and groaning from the pain. Small streaks of blood seeped between his fingers. He threw back the wooden truncheon back to his shaking wolfkin as he sat himself back in front of the ram. He shoved his muddy paws right into the mouth of the ram that's groaning in pain from his bleeding skull. "Obey. Or else." He growled through his gritted teeth but this time with some composure. The ram looked up, not at his tormentor, but at his daughter. She had her head laid low as she sobbed, muttering silent prayers. As much as he had pride, it is not worth it to leave his daughter all alone in this old world in the name of pride. So he opened his mouth, and began to subject himself to the humiliation. 

Slowly and hesitantly, he began licking mud off from the paws. The Legiones looked around. He saw nothing but fear and submission. Even his underling is now behaving properly too. Satisfied, he decided to pull his paws away from the ram. The ram stopped as the muddy paws vacated from the space in front of his face. He thought it was over as his tongue retreated back into his mouth. "Ah! I didn't say that you're finished!" The wolf teased as he wagged a finger back and forth. "Pardon? Your Holiness?" The ram questioned as his head tilted sideways. "I want you to show me that you love to serve those better than you. You should want to lick the dirt from my feet!" The wolf gleefully explained to the ram what he wanted done. The ram gulped, feeling uneasy with the wolf's demands but he knew what would await him should he not abide. He forced himself to bring his tongue out again. While cringing, he slowly moved towards the dangling, muddy paws wet with his saliva. But just as when he got close enough to do a single lick, it then darted to his left. "You should be licking me with fervor! You should chase it down with kisses like it was the most beautiful prey woman you've ever laid you've laid your eyes upon!" The ram unwillingly redoubled his efforts as the wolf commented on his performance. His tongue began to rapidly chase down the muddy paws as they darted away from him each time he successfully licked the damned pair. Left, right, up, and down. He chased them wherever they went. 

The Legiones lifted up his gaze from the humiliating sight to see if there were who would wish to object to the horrible treatment. All had faces twisted with fear as they cowered under his gaze, some were so fearful of being looked at that they entirely turned away from him. Same as usual. He felt his pride swell as he took deep pleasure that they all feared him. All but one. This one strangely dressed human did not bear the same expression as everyone else. His face was twisted much like everyone else was. But it seems to be like that of a... Predator. Nonsense! Humans are prey! Incapable of doing feats that only a predator should do! He tried to ignore the strange human and return to enjoying the power that he held over these weaklings. But the dagger-like stares from that human had penetrated deep under his skin. Robbing him of the joy of dominating others. The licking from the ram now felt disgusting and unappealing. He kicked the ram in the snout before standing up. "Augh!" The ram grunted in pain as sharp nails sliced his muzzle but it did not bother him in the slightest as he felt relieved that he no longer had to endure as any more of that. He abruptly stood up and walked towards Luke with his underling following in suite. The pair of Legiones began to make their way towards Luke; although he wasn't fazed as they approached. His underling silently followed at a safe distance. The two Legiones walked till the wolf is right up in Luke's face while his partner stayed at a distance. "Why do not fear me?" He asked. Luke said nothing as he stayed silent and continued to glare down at the confrontative Legiones. The Legiones had to look up to this to meet Luke's gaze. But something welled up deep inside him as he stared into those eyes that contained something unknown. The two brown-colored eyes had something behind them. Something that his kind had not seen for two centuries. He does not know what it is, but it made him feel like prey. It feels like he was being suffocated, the entire room feels small as the danger emanated from the human. He punched the human in the gut, wanting to see him fold and submit to him. *Thud!* His fist collided with the flesh of the human's abdomen. But the towering being made no sound or movement as if one wasn't there. As if his existence was nothing to him. A gut feeling told him that if he stayed any longer, something bad might happen to him.