Author's Notes: Another Commission

Lady Treleis lingered in the drawing room. A snifter of brandy rested in the palm of her scaled hand. It was already evening, but she didn't bother with candles, her sight was keen enough not to need them, and besides, the stars shone through the windows. Her eyes studied them, and slowly, she lifted the snifter to her nose and enjoyed it's bouquet before taking a sip.

Lady Delo would be arriving tomorrow. Another visit. The sixth in as many months. Lady Treleis tipped her head back, slowly changing her gaze as the brandy flowed over her tongue. She closed her eyes, enjoying the taste as well as the sensation. her lips curled into a grin and she swallowed.

She reopened her eyes and looked into the yard of her palatial estate. There was light from within the stables, young Charles was busy cleaning before her nightly visit. She would wait until he left before visiting, of course. It would be unseemly to have help around when she went for a midnight ride.

She waited patiently. Lady Delo did so enjoy visiting. Sometimes she stayed for upward of a week before returning to her estate. Sometimes she accompanied her on the way back. They... enjoyed each other's company. Perhaps, Lady Treleis decided, it would be best if she showed her friend just how much she meant to her?

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Young Charles yawned and scratched his side. His bushy tail flicked back and forth as he headed to the stables for his morning work. He'd have to remind Frederick that he needed to pick up more oats when he next went to town, maybe a bit more oil for the saddles. He opened the door to the stable and found himself staring at Lady Treleis standing, bare, in front of Herald.

Immediately, he lowered his gaze, removing his cap and holding it in his hands, "I-I'm sorry ma'am, I didn't know you were in here."

Lady Treleis stroked the horses's cheek, not bothering to look in his direction, "You've been taking very good care of him." She mentioned, distractedly, and young Charles managed to sputter out a thanks. "I've had him for seven years, I believe."

Lady Treleis caught the note of pride in his voice and favored him with a glance, "And he has sired foals?"

Lady Treleis turned back to the Clydesdale, looking into its deep, unknowing eyes. "That will do then. I would hate to loose his line."

"Ma'am?" Lady Treleis turned to leave, and young Charles dipped his head quickly, watching her feet and tail as they passed her by.

Young Charles turned, mouth opened to speak, but Lady Treleis had already taken wing.

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Yssabele set breakfast on the table. Lady Treleis smiled at her and nodded, dismissing her for the moment. The young maid stepped away, remaining against the wall while the mistress of the house ate her lavish breakfast. Bacon, eggs, sausage, porridge, toast and jellies and butter, steak in gravy, griddlecakes... Yssabele felt her mouth watering and looked down at the floor.

Lady Treleis chewed thoughtfully, devouring the meal set before her with little thought. It was delicious, of course, but her mind was focused on other things. She never made these sorts of decisions lightly. Herald was still young, only seven years, with a great many years to breed before him. Or not.

Lady Treleis punctured a sausage with a fork and examined it. "Yssabele, go to the kitchen and dismiss the cooks for the morning."

"No. Lady Delo will be arriving later today. I desire to show her how much I appreciate her company by preparing our meal personally."

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The kitchen was empty when she arrived. The cooks, of which only two had been with her long enough to remember the last time she had prepared a meal herself, had left a number of herbs and spices at the ready. The oven was still warm, and a pile of logs lay in the hearth. Lady Treleis smiled to herself and made a note to thank them later.

The knock came a moment later, and Lady Treleis felt her lip curl into a smile as she saw Herald's fine form through the kitchen window. Young Charles lingered at the door, peering through warily, immediately avoiding her eyes when he spotted her. Lady Treleis opened the door and smiled at his hunched form, "Thank you Charles, you can return to you other duties."

"Yes ma'am." He handed her the reins and stood aside, becoming invisible to her as she lead the horse through the doorway. A moment later, the door was closed behind them and he was gone.

Lady Treleis didn't care to notice. Herald took her entire view. Young Charles had done a fine job of brushing him. He looked perfect, reminding her of some of the nights she had spent with him. He stood, placid and waiting, but this was not to be one of her normal visits.

Very gingerly, she lifted the razor to him. His hair, freshly brushed was cut away. She was careful, precise. No nicks would mar his frame. He remained still, looking at her with emotionless eyes. She smiled at him, patting his flank for being a good boy. He stood there, eventually rendered naked before her as she had spent so many nights naked with him.

Next, with a bit of a smirk, she lifted the baster. It was not the first time she had placed something inside him, and he never liked it, but there was little she could do, he needed to be... cleaned before being prepared. He jerked as she eased it into him, and she laid a hand over his shoulders, holding him as her jerked with disapproval. A moment later, it was over, and she soothed him quietly.

A bit of rosemary. That was the first her she grabbed. She grabbed a claw-full and began to rub him. The horse didn't move, the odd brush rubbing against him followed by oil, the scent pleasing him. Lady Treleis smiled, leaned in and kissed his brow. He whinnied, shook his brow, and went still again as she patted his head.

The other spices, a finely ground mustard, along with thyme were rubbed over his sides. More oil held them to his body, and he stood before her glistening. Lady Treleis took special care on his underside, exploring him a final time. She would miss their time together. It would be years before his foal was ready for her, but in the meantime there would be Lady Delo to keep her company.

The scent of the herbs she had rubbed into him lingered in the air around him. She leaned in and took a deep breath, resting one of her hands on his flank. The spit was sitting on the table next to him, glinting. With a sigh of resignation she reached over and picked it up. Her motions were quick, her tail restraining him while she moved the spit into place. He was as passive as a gelding, not unused to having her tail lingering around his shoulders and neck.

The spit rested against his skin, his tail rising and falling over it. Lady Treleis closed her eyes, braced herself, and pushed. Herald jerked frantically, a desperate whinny escaping from his mouth. Even with her strength, Lady Treleis barely held on. His feet were clopping against the floor, trying to advance against her, but her taloned toes dug in, carving grooves into the floorboards.

Gritting her teeth with effort, she turned the spit, guiding it further inside of him. Herald was screaming, panicking, trying to bowl her over, but she held, and methodically drove the spit further and further into him. She spun with each thrust, an old trick she had learned to steady the spit. Herald's movements began to slow, and Lady Treleis let her body relax a fraction, listening to the horses labored breathing.

She leaned back looking the horse in the eyes. They lacked the emotions she wished to see. She had expected, wanted, him to look at her with teary eyes of betrayal, a lingering sadness, a hint of anger, anything really, but there was nothing. She closed her eyes again, sagged against him and guided his head down before twisting again. The last few turns she guided carefully. His body was almost slack at this point. She guided his head up and opened his mouth, and with a final twist she could see the point of the spit.

She sighed, lifting him with a grunt of exertion, taking three wobbly steps before placing the spit onto the brackets. She sighed, backing away and relaxed. There was a judder, but then Herald was still once more. She looked at herself, grabbed a towel and wiped the oils from her scales. They glistened, but she was not the one to be cooked. There was twine sitting next to matches, and once again she reminded herself to thank her kitchen staff. She bound his legs tying them to his body and then set the fire.

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Yssabele worked to slice through Herald's shoulder, suppressing a shiver. Oh, Lady Treleis had prepared him well, and everyone, cooking staff included, had been impressed. It had taken three servers to place the silver platter on the table. And then Lady Treleis dismissed them, and everyone else in the room besides her. Carefully, she placed the horsemeat onto Lady Delo's porcelain plate and retreated.

There was little conversation over dinner. While this might be odd to some, neither of the fine ladies minded. They had spoken for a while before dinner, and would resume afterwards. Predatory hunger left little wiggle room in that regard. Lady Treleis finished the fine slice of meat that been on her plate and Yssabele hurried over once more. "Try for a long stretch of flank, will you?" The serving girl nodded quickly, picking up a knife and beginning to carve.

Lady Delo tipped her head back and swallowed luxuriously. It was pleasing to see that her guest was so thoroughly enjoying her meal. Yssabele was still busy cutting though, and from the look of it, the young gazelle girl lacked the strength to cut the meat steadily. There was a pause as Yssabele struggled, and both hostess and guest locked eyes. A mutual smile formed.

Both of them wanted it, it seemed only fitting that as predators they took what they could. "Yssabele, you can step back, we won't be needing you to carve our meal anymore." The young serving girl's eyes widened and she took a frantic step back, apologizing profusely, but neither of them cared. Already, both were standing, stalking towards the horse.

Both hovered over it. The scent of cooked meat, herbs and spices lingered in the air, skin and fat making them both drool. Again their eyes met, and Lady Treleis spoke the first words since the platter had been put before them, "Guests first."

Lady Delo wasted not a second, darting down and biting into the horse's flank, ripping a hunk of flesh away. She grabbed it, wrenching it apart with her powerful maw, flesh and sinew shredding between her teeth. And then Lady Treleis could stand no more, and she gathered her own mouthful. Succulent, tender, she shredded the meat, catching every bit she could in her mouth.

Lady Delo bit down again, and Herald's body lurched to one side as a crack filled the air. Hands were placed on the horses side, and Lady Delo wrenched back, part of the horse's rib visible beyond her lip. And then everything became game. Both were biting chewing, swallowing, their true predatory instincts coming to be shown. Bits of cooked meat fell onto the plate, the roast rocking back and forth as two voracious predators ripped at it.

Cracks and laughter filled the air, and Yssabele shrunk, watching the scene from her corner, shivering as they fought over the neck. Already so much of their meal was gone. They were just devouring every inch of him, meat, sinew, bone and all. Yssabele closed her eyes and tried to block out the sounds she was hearing.

Teeth snapped, and in a feral moment they stared at each other, they had both sunk their teeth into the last hunk of rump. They twisted, looking at each other warily, eyes full of pride and hunger. The muscle was ripped and torn as both twisted their head to dislodge the other. Their hands were placed on each other, scratching, pushing, clawing. Their dresses were ruined, shredded beneath taloned claws, leaving their chests bare.

It was settled in a final jerk, the hunk of meat could stand no more. The flesh that Lady Delo had gripped was torn asunder, and Lady Treleis took a moment to savor her victory. Lady Delo watched enviously as the meat slithered down her rival's throat, and flinched as she threw back her head and roared triumphantly.

And then dinner was over. Herald was gone, no more than a few shreds of meat and uneaten bone on a platter, but hunger lingered in the air above the empty platter. Eyes met once more, tongues moved over lips, and the two predators began to slowly move around the table. Their clothes were falling off of them, their dresses reduced to rags in the flurry of movement. The cloth that remained over their stomach held taut over their stuffed stomachs.

They found their seats, staring at each other. Lady Treleis had a Cheshire cat grin as she rubbed her stomach. "Shall we retire to my room?" She asked politely, but savored the moment of control.

Lady Delo dipped her head demurely, "Do you not have a bed prepared for me?"

"But of course I do," Lady Treleis dipper her head, enjoying the game, "It just so happens to be mine."
Lady Delo looked at her, smiling, then turned her heads slightly. Lady Treleis followed her gaze, finding the young serving girl in the corner. She looked back at Lady Delo and watched her carefully lick her lips. Apparently, not every bit of hunger was reserved for her. "Yssabele?"

The servant girl nearly jumped, looking up frantically before forcing herself to look calm, "Yes mistress?" She asked, barely a quaver in her voice.

"Lady Delo and I are going to retire to my bedroom." She smiled mischievously, placing her head on her hand, "I would have you come as well."

The color seemed to drain away from Yssabele's fur, "M-me mistress?" She stumbled over her words.

"Oh yes." Lady Delo spoke up, barely holding back a feral rumble, "I think that we must insist."

Yssabele swallowed the hard knot that formed in her throat, "W-whatever for, mistress?"

Lady Treleis rose from her seat, drawing her scaled hand across her stomach, "Oh, I'm sure I can think of some reason."

Author's Notes: This is, if I remember correctly, only my second story involving furries. I hope you found it interesting.

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