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Rose and Kyrre: The Third Test (Inquisition) Continues
part 5

Before Estefan's goons had more of a chance to unnerve Rose, Dragon, and Kyrre, the Council called for a break.

Lunch was served to Rose, Kyrre, Dragon and the Council. The others had to leave to eat, while Princess Rose revelled in her first "Royal" meal. Roasted fowl and deer cooked and then served on metal rods were brought around, meat off of it carved into the bowls of any who wanted to try it. Vegetables were on smaller scewers, which were handed over upon request. Rose tried some roasted duck, deer, and some pheasant, as well as strands of fresh (not cooked) berries and some kind of small green leafy vegetables.

Kyrre watched Rose out of the corner of his eye, taking small portions of whatever she accepted, and smelled and tried them first. He didn't trust everyone explicitly. But he also took some roasted hog and squash. He also watched Dragon, and tried not to laugh. Something about the way she eyed the food gave him the impression she trusted it even less than he did.

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Control

Instructions had been issued. The collars were working brilliantly. And it was all timed perfectly, as well.

Dai and Wolf walked into the main clearing of Green Shade just as the crowd was emptying into it from the stadium. The Guard watched quietly, knowing them as being with Dragon, who was Princess Rose's personal guest.

Grimacing as if they were trying to bite their tongues, Dai and Wolf walked right up to a line of colorful kitsunes. The line stopped before them, and tension wafted into the clearing. The Guards closed in around the perimeter, ready to move at a moment's notice.

Then Estefan stepped through the line of his loyal kitsunes, and four things happened all at once.

Estefan used his Earth-based foxfire to subtly shift the ground under Dai and Wolf's feet, so that it looked like they were jumping forward. The collars around Dai and Wolf's necks shocked them enough to hurt, and their faces scrunched up into snarls. The colorful kitsunes- except for Estefan- cowered and dropped to the ground, seemingly intimidated by the supposed attack. But first, this all happened the moment the Guard demanded that the two foreigners keep peace in the name of the Council of Green Shade.

Estefan jumped out of the way as Dai and Wolf landed. But now Dai and Wolf were beyond thinking. The pain and the compulsions were more than they could handle, the electrocutions partly responsible for hot-wiring their brains.

Dai shouted, "Princess Rose will not tolerate your continued existence!" as she had been told.

Wolf snarled, and started stalking Estefan. He did not wait for Dai, but leapt at the kitsune. Estefan ran, but Wolf caught his leg and brought him down. Dai rushed over, and caught ahold of the kitsunes arms, pinning him to the ground.

Before they could do anything else, though, Dai and Wolf were being pulled off into the air by dozens of hands. The Guard had reacted as quickly as they could, and were not about to allow Princess Rose's friends to asassinate Duke Estefan on their watch.

Moments later, the crowd wanting to press them but still in shock, the Guard carried Dai and Wolf back to the stadium, and Estefan followed, looking more than a little disturbed. More of the Guard kept the regular kitsunes out of the stadium for now, as they made the short trip to the dias.