thaumaturgy
#1
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The savage in man is never
quite eradicated

Word Count »

Careful consideration had led him to this point. He disliked the idea of having this living trail of theft within the clan, and so had gathered up the stolen horses without a word to anyone else. He looped a long rope around the halter on the white mare, and gathering up the saddle left by Selena, tacked the bay horse. The ride towards Salsola was long and lonely, but he took the time to smoke a clove cigarette and consider what he was doing. While he was certain this might not be as simple as he imagined, it would save him time—and potentially save Inferni bloodshed if the AniWaya’s ever ventured north.

It took only a few hours to finally reach the river. Ezekiel smiled thinly. He admired Sirius in the way he might admire an equal, a rival; the hybrid was tactical and he was crafty. If Ezekiel had not been given the Waste, he might have come here. Salsola was private and out of the way. It took him several minutes of travel to find a shallow area to cross, though the horses were tall enough that the water barely reached above their hocks.

Ezekiel subconsciously stiffened as he arrived at the border. Salsola’s scent was heavy like Sirius’ musk and the masculine need to dominate within him balked at the challenge. Yet this needed done. A loud yapping howl came from his throat, demanding the presence of the king.

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#2
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Word Count » 3+


Winter was coming. He could feel it, rising with a platonic and deadly grace from the mountains. It would reach Salsola sooner than it reached the Southern packs, but his people were tough and hardy, and the wild landscape would welcome the oncoming freeze.


After many moons in the saddle, he rode with ease - Not yet will the skill required to master a beast bareback, but with skill regardless. The silvery mare was a moonlit wraith in the pale glow of the chilly day, and small furls of steam rose in elegant spirals from her maw. He wore the bearcoat, its thick weight comfortable and dense. His pelt was thickening, too, although the bitter winter this far North would, in the height of its strength, be able to penetrate even that. As always, twin daggers were strapped to one thigh by well-tanned deer intestines. As the cloak shifted about him like great, dark wings, they revealed their blades like glinting fangs.


The call was unexpected. With a sharp hiss, he urged to mare to a canter. She was steady-footed; not quite as sure as the black stallion had been, but canny and quick regardless. Leaning into the tumultuous flow of her silver mane, the Thistle King rode west to the border, and to the man who waited for him there.


He pulled the horse to a sharp halt once in view, and she snorted, prancing pretty and rolling her eyes nervously at the scents of the foreign beasts. The monarch calmed her with a firm hand, his olive eyes ravenously surveying the figure on horseback that lingered at his border. "Ezekiel," Came the deep purr, and he walked Luna forward, her silver hooves chiming on the odd pebble. They were very near to the river, that which marked entrance to Salsola. Ezekiel had been bold to cross it, but Sirius knew him to be a smart man, and this did not seem like a challenge. Narrowed pupils eyed him suspiciously taking in the two horses, neither of which was the impressive golden mount he remembered. "Did you miss me, then?" That familiar, deadly smile curved at black lips. Although his rival in many ways, there was a strange level of respect between the two men. Sirius, however, was unable to resist the pleasure of teasing his solemn, golden-furred counterpart.


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#3
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The savage in man is never
quite eradicated

Word Count »

Moments passed as the hybrid and his mount waited. He wore nothing and felt the twinge of the encroaching cold well—he reviled in it. His pelt was thick enough to keep the winter at bay. While his wolverine quiver provided some protection, it was hardly as impressive as the bear-cloaked rider approaching. Ezekiel admired his fair mount, but he too wondered about the stallion unseen. Amber eyes appraised the mare before lifting to Sirius. Unlike the man’s subordinates, Ezekiel did not fear to look him in the eye. They had established the give-and-take dominance between them.

A coy smile crossed his face, and while he dipped his head slightly out of respect for the man’s territory, he remained straight-backed and dismounted with ease. Again there were subtle displays. Sirius would understand. They understood each other well enough by now. “I have a proposition for you, Sirius,” the blonde explained, red hand pulling the reigns of the horse towards him.

“Inferni…acquired these horses not long ago. They aren’t what I’m after. I have no use for skinny things like these,” he admitted with a snort. “Salsola knows horses. You can surely find me something better than these.” The bulging lump within his bag echoed his refusal to take no for an answer. Behind him, the horses snorted and shifted uneasily. Ezekiel ignored them, focused on Sirius alone.

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#4
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Word Count » 3+


There was a banter between them, more physical than verbal. Little things, like a clashing of eyes and a straightening of shoulders, that Sirius read as well as any words. Ezekiel was being respectful, but not submissive. He wanted something, and whatever it was that he wanted, Sirius was key to getting it.


After the golden male dismounted, he did likewise. The heavy bear hide shifted and swirled about his tall, lanky form, the plush fur rustling and whispering against itself. The garment was no good for hunting in, but it was useful nonetheless. The Northern King would fare a worse chill than the that which would reach Ezekiel's land - He would be buffeted by ocean and mountain wind. The coat would, indeed, prove its usefulness, and he had Larkspur to thank for such an item.


The scars across his heart shifted as the dark man crossed his arms, one hand loosely holding the black leather reigns of the now-docile silver mare. A brow rose skeptically, narrowed pupils following the words of the other man and scanning the beasts he had brought. The bay was handsome enough, but built for flatlands. The mare, lean but for where she bulged with pregnancy, offered a similar value. He watched with predatory eyes as they bumped and jostled one another, made nervous by the electricity that fuelled the air when the two rivals were close.


A thoughtful purr growled out from his throat. "You want them exchanged for heavier beasts, then?" Larkspur knew horseflesh far better than any other man that Sirius had met, and his abilities in trading were... Well, heightened, one might say, due to his talents in intimidation and being generally huge. It would not be overly difficult for the D'Angelo man to trade the horses for better stock. Nor was it surprising that Ezekiel had chosen to come to him with this task - Salsola dominated the trading pass through to Freetown, and it would have been perilous to try and sneak past their watch. Shifting his own weight, the monarch lifted one hand to stroke pensively at the dark beard-tuft on the end of his chin. "What gain is there for me, Gabrielson?" The words were direct - As much as he loved toying with the other male, the businessman within Sirius was as keen as the blades he hoarded.


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#5
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The savage in man is never
quite eradicated

Word Count »

There was something too similar about them, and it set the two great predators at odds. While they could exist in the same world, they could not share territory. One would destroy the other. While not enemies, and certainly they both had little to gain from such a thing, there was an undercurrent of hostility. Sirius was like the ocean, rippling, still, deep and treacherous. Ezekiel was a storm, and it showed within his eyes. Yet he was contained yet, his face still and his intentions unwavering.

Without hesitating, the Aquila dropped his hand into the cross-painted bag on his side. While he carried many things within, a single supple leather pouch was what he grappled. Ezekiel swung his arm and one short, sharp arch took the bag through the air and towards Sirius. Within there was a collection of jewels gathered from the Mansion. It had surprised Zeke to find so many, but there were traces of women within the building. He had begun to suspect that the man of the house was not quite what he seemed…not when he had found bones in the basement.

“I want two horses,” Ezekiel said evenly. “At least one mare. Think Salsola can handle that?” A challenge, as subtle and sly as it was. He smiled crookedly, white-blonde hair tousled in the cold wind.

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#6
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Word Count » 3+


Narrowed pupils slid over the other's golden pelt, hiding a ravenous pleasure at the sight of the other male. It was not so much a sexual attraction as it was a glee at the opportunity to once again face the only other man he considered an equal. While extremely few pervaded the spiny outer defenses of Sirius' trust, it was another thing entirely to be accepted within the inner circle of those privileged folk that he deemed rivals - Currently, only one such foe existed, and he stood across from the Thistle King now.


The slick movement of an arm tossing the small leather back was easily predicted, and clawed fingers hungrily snatched the weighted pouch from its perilous mid-air flight. It was heavy enough, and made a satisfyingly fat jingle as it slouched into his waiting palm. Without removing his gaze from Ezekiel, the Northern monarch weighed it a moment in his open hand, one large coyote ear dipped to hear the pleasant tinkle of jewel on gold within.


He did not insult the other male by opening the bag and surveying the contents. Such a thing was heavily disrespectful between merchants, and although Sirius did not trust Ezekiel as far as he could throw him, in such a monetary situation he did not doubt that the payment was sufficient. The golden prodigal son was many things, but the Hunter did not peg him for a shortchanger.


The proposal was considered at length, the only sound to break such thoughtful silence being the gentle clanking and chiming from within the supple leather pouch. Finally, and somewhat suddenly, black lips peeled back to reveal sharp yellow. Olive eyes glinted wickedly a moment before concealing themselves to a businesslike briskness once more. "It will be done. Return here, two seven-days from now, to this spot, at this time. Your delivery will be waiting with a dear subject of mine," The pouch of payment was slipped under the heavy bearcoat, stored away in some secret pocket within. One elegant but deadly hand then reached for the slack reins of the two lanky beasts Ezekiel had tethered. The other, that which had dipped into his pocket, returned now with something glittering in palm. It was a small and dulled golden broach in the shape of a peacock, with tiny little gems of sapphire and emerald dotting out the bird's splendid plumage. "A precaution, of course. Have whoever comes to collect the horses bring this. My man will not hand the beasts over until it has been shown and returned, to prevent any would-be thieves from a poor impersonation." If the broach wasn't shown, then it was highly likely that Larkspur, he who Sirius would probably entrust the horses to, would kill the man that Ezekiel sent (unless it was the Aquila himself). One could not be too careful with trespassers.


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