The Tale of Alar E-Book

R. J. Firetail

• Herausgeber: Red Drake Books
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

All his life Alar has dreamed of a better place for himself and his boyfriend, far away from the dirty old slum of their youth. When the king's daughter is kidnapped by an evil wizard, he at last gets his chance to realize that dream by joining in the quest to save her and claim the vast reward offered. But the outside world is a bigger, more complicated place than the young squirrel could have ever imagined. And in between making new friends and battling ferocious monsters, he discovers that the world of the heart is more complicated still.

Leseprobe

The Tale

of Alar

R. J. Firetail

Dedication

For Toa,

the Adam in my life.

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Text Copyright © 2024 by R. J. Firetail

Cover Art Copyright © 2024 by Sara “Caribou” Miles

Published by Red Drake Books,

an imprint of Ash Tree Media

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Visit ashtreemedia.com

Contents

Prologue

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Epilogue

About the Author

Prologue

G

one!” exclaimed King Ambrose, his great red tail brush standing on end. “What do you mean, gone?”

“I mean that your daughter, the fair Princess Ambrosia, is not to be found, sire,” replied his attendant. “She has simply vanished. All we found was this letter, which was left on her bed. It is addressed to Your Majesty.”

The squirrel king snatched it away from the servant’s trembling paw and broke the seal, then dashed over to the window and read it through. His whole frame sagged as he read until he seemed bent double with age. When he had finished, he passed the letter back to the attendant with weak paws.

“It seems that poor beggar we were kind enough to take in last night was none other than that cad of a dark wizard.”

“Not Magus, surely?” gasped the attendant.

Ambrose nodded wearily. “The very same.”

“Good lord! He says he’s kidnapped the princess!”

“Indeed.”

“But what shall we do, sire? If we do not pay his requested ransom within two months, he says here he shall transform her into a monster and make the entire kingdom suffer!” He gave the letter back to the king. “Can that really be done, sire? Even by a wizard as powerful as Magus?”

“I do not doubt that it can, Jacob. Skilled practitioners of black magic are capable of abominable acts beyond the comprehension of most. The only real question is why he should give us so long to reply. Patience is not one of Magus’s better known virtues, as I recall. But regardless, we cannot simply let him have his demands unchallenged. What would the people say?”

“I should think they’d be most distraught, sire. But if you asked it of them, they would no doubt pay the ransom for the dear princess. They do love her so.”

“No more than I, dear Jacob. But that would be giving him exactly what he wants, don’t you see? And when once you give in to the likes of Magus, they never stop hounding you. Soon others will perceive your weakness and come from miles around to see what they can get out of you until there is nothing left but bones for the scavengers to pick over.” He paused, sighed, then shook his head firmly. “Nay, not I. This is what I shall do. Send word throughout the land: I hereby ask the best and bravest warriors of Kentros to come to my court at noon on the last day of this month to fulfill for me a quest, for which I shall offer a great reward.”

“As you say, my lord. But won’t Magus take that as a sign of defiance?”

“What difference would it make? He has already revealed that he cannot act on his threat for two months.”

“Right you are, sire.”

Jacob bowed and scurried away. King Ambrose leaned against the wall, glanced at the message, then crumpled it in his paw. He shook his fist at the window looking out over his beloved city and the lands beyond.

“A curse upon you, Magus! This time you have gone one step too far. But by Skiouros I will not rest until justice is served or my kingdom left in utter ruin.”

1

A

lar, my lad! Come have a look at this!”

The bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young apprentice wiped his sooty paws on his blacksmith’s tabard and hurried over.

“What is it, father?” he asked.

“It appears the king is looking for fighters.” Ruskin the red squirrel gave his apprentice the poster and paused to let Alar read it. The youth followed along carefully with his paw, sounding out each syllable in his head as he slowly worked through the entire notice.

“What do you think of that?” asked Ruskin when he had finished.

“It sounds very exciting. I’d like nothing more than to prove my skill in such a worthy cause.”

“And so?”

“So what?”

“Are you going to?”

Alar’s vibrant blue eyes widened. “You mean it?”

“When did I ever say something I didn’t mean?”

“As I recall, just this morning...”

“All right, you young rascal, point taken.” Ruskin gave him a playful cuff over the ear. “But this time I really do.”

“Great! But will you be able to manage the forge without me?”

Ruskin chuckled. “I managed without you for most of my life, lad. I think I can do so again. Not to say you haven’t been a magnificent help to me these last sixteen years. But I think the time has come for you to move on to greater things.” He paused. “In fact, I think I’ll let you have the rest of the day off to practice and prepare for your journey to the capital, if you’d like. Starting this very moment.”

“Really? Oh, thank you!”

He embraced the burly old squirrel—the one who had taken in a poor orphaned kit, raised him as his own, and taught him a trade to boot. Then, with a spring in his step, Alar threw off his tabard and made for the door, buckling on his sword belt as he went.

“Where are you off to?” asked Ruskin.

“To tell Adam. Then get some practice before supper, like you said. See you later, dad!”

“See you later, Alar.”

Alar stepped out into the street, looking both ways as he did. It always paid to be cautious in this part of town, though no one much bothered him anymore, especially when he carried a sword like today. He was a solidly built squirrel, and as the scratches on his muzzle attested, he was no stranger to a fight. He had gotten into countless scraps throughout his youth. Some he had won; some he had lost. But with each fight he had grown savvier, and eventually won far more than he lost.

He kept his gaze sweeping from left to right as he walked, not only to keep alert for danger, but also to take in the comfortable familiarity of his neighborhood. Despite its rough exterior, there was a subtle charm embedded deeply within it that shone like a gem in need of burnishing to those who bothered to look. From the ragged little urchins playing around in the uneven cobblestone streets to the smiles of people he knew in their vendor stalls, the community here was incredibly strong. Deep down everyone knew that, whatever their quarrels with one another might be at times, if ever threatened from the outside, they would band together in a heartbeat to see their homes and families safe.

Yet, even as he passed the most disreputable alley in the city, the one marked by the constant presence of squirrel does in garish dresses and dozing drunkards, Alar sighed with contentment at this new spark of hope that spurred him onward. He had walked these streets since his infancy, and until this evening had thought he might just walk them until the end of his days. But now at last he would be able to go beyond. To see the wide world as he had always dreamed of doing. And what was more, he would be able to do so in service of his country! He could think of nothing nobler than that.

Alar turned a corner and proceeded down the next street toward an area where the houses began to look a bit nicer. He stopped just shy of this and turned down a narrow alley between two storefronts. At the end of the alley behind the tailor’s, he came to a little shack. He stepped up to the door, did his best to smooth down the tousled patches of his fur, then struck the solid wood four times in rapid succession: his signature knock. The answer was prompt, as another young buck, slightly shorter and of slighter build, opened the door.

“Alar!” he exclaimed, his formerly sullen expression lightening into a broad smile.

“Evening, Adam!” responded Alar. “I hoped you’d be in.”

“Just. Only finished at the shop a little while ago. Come in!”

Alar stepped inside and Adam closed the door. The two kissed lightly and Alar glanced around at the cramped but tidy one-room interior.

“The place is looking good. Have you been sprucing it up?”

“Oh, a bit,” Adam sighed.

“Something wrong, mate?” Alar asked, concern etched on his features.

“Nothing more than usual.” He paused. “Grant came by the store today.”

“He did? What for?” Alar’s tail went rigid at the mention of his old rival’s name.

“Oh, nothing too bad. Just boasted about going on some sort of quest. Said how he’d miss our fun times together and all that. As if I could ever miss that asshole and his endless taunting. Good riddance, I say. I hope he was telling the truth, and that he never comes back.”

“Oh, I think he was telling the truth.”

Adam’s tail curled into a delicate question mark, as it always did before he asked one. “What makes you say that?”

“Well, because as it happens, I’m here for a very similar reason.”

And so, he explained the king’s call for volunteers to fight the dark wizard Magus and rescue his daughter, as well as the great reward to be had. Adam listened all the way through, the excitement slowly fading from his expression.

“That does sound a lot like what he was on about.” Adam frowned. “And you intend to go too, I take it?”

“Of course! It’s just the chance we’ve been waiting for. With the reward the king’s offering, we can finally afford to marry, buy a nice little farmhouse in the country, and be together forever like we’ve always dreamed of. We could finally break free of these dirty streets and start over somewhere better. Besides, I’m sure Grant and I wouldn’t be the only ones going. We’d have companions to help us along the way, and between us we should be able to bring back the king’s daughter in no time at all.”

“And kill a dark wizard?” spoke Adam doubtfully.

“I guess so, yeah.” He paused, sensing his friend’s agitation. “What’s wrong, mate?” He took Adam’s delicate, carefully manicured paws in his own rough, soot-stained paws and earnestly regarded his boyfriend.

“Well, it’s just...It sounds so dangerous.”

Alar shrugged. “Life can be dangerous. But things can get pretty boring without a little excitement now and again.”

“I know. And I know you’re a true master of the blade, Alar. But I don’t know if even you could face down a wizard the likes of Magus. Mages have powers that can render even the mightiest arm useless from what I’ve heard.”

Alar was at once surprised and just a little annoyed. He had expected Adam to be thrilled at the news, and yet here he was apparently trying to dissuade him from going.

“What would you have me do, then?” he asked curtly.

“Don’t go, Alar. Please.”

“All right, s’pose I don’t. What then? Sit around here twiddling my paws ‘til we’re old and gray?”

“I didn’t say...”

But Alar was on a tear, and would not be so easily silenced.

“Life’s been fucking us over since day one, Adam. In more ways than one. Here’s our one chance to turn the tables, and you don’t want me to take it!”

“I...I don’t know,” said Adam, turning away to hide his forming tears. Alar immediately regretted his outburst and softened toward him.

“I’m sorry, Adam. I didn’t mean...”

“It’s not that,” said Adam. “It’s the thought that you might get hurt or...or worse. You’re all I have to keep me going in this life. And I just...I just...” Adam’s composure failed him, and he flung his arms around Alar. “I just couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”

“Oh, Adam.” Alar embraced him tightly and swayed gently from side to side. “Don’t cry, mate.”

“But...You’re going. I know there’s nothing I can say to dissuade you. And...I may never see you again.”

He broke into full sobs and Alar sighed.

“It’s the only way we’ll ever be able to live how we want. We can finally leave this shit hole of a city and never have to look back. Just you and me with no worries and nothing to hide from the world. And I promise I’ll return. By the will of Skiouros and the strength of my paws, I swear I’ll come back.” Seeing his words were no consolation to the sobbing Adam, he sighed again. “But if you really don’t want me to go, then I won’t. We’ll find another way to make our dream come true.”

Adam sniffed. “Really?”

Alar looked his companion in the eyes and wiped away a rogue tear sliding down his cheek. “Really.”

“Oh...but I wouldn’t want to hold you back from your dreams either.”

Alar shrugged. “It wouldn’t be holding me back. We’d just have to wait a little longer, that’s all. Your apprenticeship is nearly complete. So is mine. We could always strike up our own trades and earn the money that way.”

“We could. Assuming there’s still a kingdom left after Magus gets done with it.”

Alar sighed and shook his head. “There’s no guarantee my going would make a difference one way or the other there, like you said. But I’ll tell you what. You think on it. We’ll go for a swim tomorrow and decide where to go from there. All right?”

Adam nodded slowly. “All right.”

“Great!” They hugged again. Alar felt a brief pang of sadness that he could so easily feel his lover’s ribs beneath his fur. How underfed they had both been in their upbringing! He vowed to himself that if he did go on this quest and emerge victorious, neither he nor Adam would ever go hungry again. “S’pose I’d better be getting back now. I promised Rus I’d get some practice in before supper.” He paused. “Will you be all right now?”

Adam sniffed and wiped his eyes. “I’ll be fine, yeah.”

“Good.” They kissed once more. “I love you, you know.”

“So I’ve heard,” said Adam with an attempt at a smile. “And I love you too, Alar.”

Alar stepped out and closed the door, then sighed softly. His tail hanging slightly lower but his resolution still firm, he stalked off to fulfill his remaining duties for the day.

2

H

a! Take that! And up. Back. Thrust.”

Alar was a virtual fireball of red and white fur as he leapt and twirled about the practice yard out back of the forge. He moved with unparalleled grace, each step carefully measured down to the inch. His grip on his sword hilt was sweaty but firm, and each strike at the practice dummy was as neat as could be. Finally, he leapt back to his starting position, panting with the exertion but smiling with satisfaction.

“By your leave, sir,” he said, bowing elaborately to the dummy. He then walked over to a little side table and wiped off his sword with a rag.

“Oy, faggot!”

Alar closed his eyes and sighed. He summoned all his patience, then whirled around to face the unwelcome interloper with a cordial smile.

“Good morning, Grant,” he said.

“Aye, so it is,” replied the squirrel, who was Alar’s equal in stature and age, though with a permanent smirk adorning his features. A small but prominent scar marred his face just beside the right eye: a gift from Alar during one of their more vicious childhood scraps. He leaned on the wooden fence dividing the practice yard from the next street, leering at Alar with his most insufferable smirk yet. “The morning of my departure.”

“Oh really? Hope you have a nice trip.”

“What, ain’t you interested where I’m going?”

“You’re answering the call of the king to all great warriors in Kentros to take up his quest, I imagine.”

“Aye, that’s right. So you do know about it. Reckon you’ll be going too, huh?”

“Maybe. Haven’t decided yet.”

“Haven’t decided! Huh. I’d have thought you with all your fancy blade swinging would go for it without fail. What’s a matter, can’t live without your precious little princess to suck you off for a few weeks?”

Alar shrugged. “Least I don’t have to buy my blowjobs like some.”

Grant ignored the pointed remark and only broadened his smirk. “Ha! So that is it. Well, fine. You stay here and fondle your little girly boy. Me, I’m going on that quest, and I ain’t ever coming back to this dump. So long, wuss!”

With that, Grant left. Alar held his paw up in a gesture of parting until Grant turned his back, at which point, still smiling, he switched to a much ruder gesture. When Grant was gone completely, he let out a deep sigh and sheathed his blade. One more second of taunting from that squirrel and he might well have pounced.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t help feeling just a tiny bit envious of Grant. His childhood rival would be leaving this aimless existence behind, answering the king’s call, and maybe even reaping that grand reward when all was said and done. Meanwhile he would be stuck here, living the same old dull routine day in and day out, waiting for another chance that would probably never come around.

He clicked his tongue for lack of anything else to say, then mopped his brow with the rag and slipped his tatty, oversized tunic back on. Its edges were ragged, it had several holes in it, and the whole thing was stained with soot, but it was the only one he had. The same went for his shorts. What he wouldn’t give for a fresh, clean pair! But neither he nor Ruskin had the money, and whatever spare pennies he found or saved up almost always went toward staving off the hunger that constantly gnawed at them both. Say what one would about Grant, but at least his father wasn’t riddled with debt. Not that he was a pleasant fellow to be around either.

Like father, like son, mused Alar, grabbing his sword belt.

He ran back to the house to put his gear away, then re-emerged onto the street and headed over to the western end of town. He always liked going this way. It was the main route out of the city from his quarter, and he often imagined himself walking on down the street, right past the gate, and on farther still without stopping or looking back. How wonderful it would be to actually do that someday! Though, if he were to head to the capital, it would be via the north gate.

“Good evening, Alar!” a voice hailed him from the side.

Alar stopped and faced the speaker with a genuine smile this time.

“Hello, Father Rufus!”

Father Rufus was the local parish priest. He had always been nice to Alar, and everybody else, really, so the young squirrel was never in too great a hurry to stop and talk with him.

“Off to the watering hole, I take it?” spoke the old red squirrel with graying whiskers.

“That’s right. I’m meeting Adam there.”

“Hmm. Sounds lovely on a day like this.” They ambled slowly along the avenue side-by-side for a bit as they continued talking. “How is your foster father doing?”

“Oh, busy as ever. No end of orders. But no end of debts to pay off either.”

“I see. And what of you, young buck? You seem in a good mood, though I dare say all is not as it seems.”

Alar sighed. There was never any hiding one’s true feelings from Father Rufus. “You’re right, Father. Something is troubling me.”

“And what is it, if I may ask?”

They stopped abruptly to let a couple of little urchins chase a ball across the street directly in front of them, then kept walking.

“It’s the king’s call for volunteers,” replied Alar.

“Aah yes, I saw that yesterday. Going, are you?”

“Well, that’s the thing. I’d like to go, of course. Serve the king, earn that reward. But Adam doesn’t want me to. He thinks it’s too dangerous.”

“No doubt it will be. All worthwhile endeavors entail a degree of risk. But ultimately it is for you to decide what you do, Alar. You are the master of your own conscience.”

“I know. And truth be told, I am tempted to go anyway. But I would like to have Adam’s blessing all the same. I’d be doing it for him as much as for the king or myself, after all.”

“You wish to use the proceeds to purchase a country home for the two of you, correct?”

“Some of the proceeds, anyway,” said Alar distractedly as he watched the filthy, wretched little squirrel kittens playing with their ball. His heart ached to see them in such misery, and yet be so oblivious to their own plight at once. It reminded him so much of himself long ago. “Failing that, I’ll get the materials and build it myself.”

“An admirable sentiment indeed. But you know, you need not have mountains of gold and jewels to find the happiness you seek. As I have said before, I would be only too glad to wed the two of you, if such you desired.”

“I know. And I am truly grateful for your understanding, Father. But I do this for myself as well as for my love. It was always my dream to have a place of my own in the country for as far back as I can remember. And that dream has become so much sweeter since Adam chose to share it with me. I can’t wed him without a proper home to go to. It just...wouldn’t feel right.”

“I understand, Alar,” said Father Rufus, placing a paw on his shoulder as they stopped. “As I said before, you must follow your heart. You have a good one. The Spirit resides in you, and will guide your paw to what is right.”

“Thank you, Father.” Alar stopped then looked down the street. “Well, I should be off now. Adam will be waiting.”

“Very well, my son. Have a good swim!”

Alar sped along to the end of the street, turned right, then turned left again. He paused to take in one of the few genuinely nice spots in the slum he called his neighborhood. It was the idea of a city mayor who had reigned before Alar was born. A long pool of water, constantly supplied with a fresh flow from a channel to the nearby river, stretched the length of a boxed-in little courtyard with a neat row of trees planted along the outer wall of the city. The smooth gray stonework, while not as dazzling as it once had been, nevertheless stood out starkly against the rest of the quarter. There were several grassy areas as well where squirrels could doze about or dry off in the sun after a good swim.

Today, of course, the place was packed with residents and their young ones taking advantage of the cool water to combat the scorching heat. Alar hoped there would be a little room for two more somewhere toward the deep end. He felt a touch at his elbow and turned to find Adam beside him.

“Evening, mate,” said the latter.

“Evening, Adam.”

“Shall we?”

“Of course.”

They undressed over by one of the trees. Nobody worried too much about their clothes being taken by someone else while they were swimming. Everybody wore the same thin, ragged tunics and trousers as everyone else for the most part, and no one left anything valuable in their pockets, so there wasn’t much reason to steal from another. And even if someone did see fit to pull such a prank, no one was much bothered by walking home naked if necessary. Indecent exposure laws were essentially nonexistent in a neighborhood where far more indecent activities took place on a regular basis.

As they neared the pool, Alar thought of all the wonderful memories he and Adam had made here over the years. They had come here with their guardians and on their own since they themselves had been mere kittens. This was the place where they had first learned to swim, made their first friends, fallen in love for their first and only time, and in a more secluded corner shared their first kiss. He sighed at the last memory. It was only a couple years ago now, but it seemed like forever. He had wanted to take things a bit further at the time, but Adam had insisted that they should wait until they were properly wedded. Despite his eagerness, he had agreed out of respect for Adam.

“Well, shall we do a few warmup laps first?” suggested Adam as they clambered over the low barrier wall.

“Sure,” agreed Alar.

Adam slid delicately in, but Alar dove in head-first. He darted down to the bottom of the deep end, tapped it with his paw, then performed an underwater somersault and sped back up to the surface. He shook the water out of his eyes and winked at his boyfriend.

“Never one for half-hearted measures, huh?” remarked Adam. “Right, to the far end and back three times?”

“Sure. I’ll race you!”

“You’re on, mate.”

And so, at the count of three, they shot off the wall and made for the opposite side of the pool. The competition was actually rather close, for while Alar was a more powerful squirrel, Adam was lighter and faster in the water. They finished in a near tie with Adam just slightly in the lead. Thereafter they swam and performed various tricks to try and impress each other, then returned to their starting position. When they were finished, they were nearly gasping for breath, but quite pleased with themselves nonetheless. They climbed back over the wall and seated themselves upon it for a moment to catch their breath. Then Alar rose.

“Well, what say we find a nicer spot to dry off, eh?”

Adam nodded and offered his paw, which Alar grabbed to help him up. They sauntered over to a spot away from the main activity of the pool near the trees and seated themselves there. The sky was suffused with the fiery hues of a summer sunset, and Alar sighed contentedly. He was happy here. He was at peace. What need had he of adventure when everything he could possibly desire in this world was right beside him? Adam seemed a little more distracted, though he tried to enjoy the moment as well. Sitting here watching the sun set, just as they had done countless times through the years. Finally, without turning his gaze away from the sky, Adam spoke in a low voice.

“You have my blessing,” he said.

“What?”

“To go on your journey.” He sighed and at last looked Alar in the surprised eyes. “I don’t want to hold you back. It was selfish of me to say you had to stay here when you long for the open road. I was thinking only of what I wanted, and not of you. But you must follow your heart, as you always have. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, Adam!” Alar grabbed his beloved and held him close. “My heart will always belong right here. But I do thank you for your understanding. And I promise I won’t let either of us down.”

“I know you won’t,” said Adam, smiling at last as he pulled away slightly. “You never have.”

Alar could not resist. He kissed his life’s love with sheer delight spreading through his frame, and Adam happily returned the favor, his tail twitching madly. It had ceased to bother them long ago what others thought of their open displays of affection for each other.

“I suppose you’ll want to be heading back so you can prepare,” said Adam as their lips parted.

“I suppose I will,” said Alar as they stood up. “Still a bit damp, but who cares?”

So, they found their clothes, got dressed, and bade each other good night.

“You’ll come and meet me by the gate tomorrow, right? See me off properly?”

“Of course.”

“All right.” Alar paused. “I’ll be thinking of you tonight,” he added with a wink.

“And I of you.”

“Well, ‘til tomorrow then!”

Thus, the two headed for their homes. Alar could barely contain his excitement and practically bounded down the street. There was no question in his mind that he had the most wonderful, understanding boyfriend in the entire world. He would go on his adventure, he would defeat that dark wizard, and he would earn that reward. Nothing and no one on this good earth could stand in his way now!