Geraden sat with Todd for a little more than an hour, talking about small, safe things and running his paw over the Ferret's back. Todd slowly lost the tremble in his voice, coming down from the long, difficult day.

"I don't know what to do... or think.  About Arvetis," he said lowly, after a long break in the conversation.  Geraden took in a breath through his nose and nodded.

"It's difficult. I know that, and so does he. Nobody expects you to do or say anything you're not comfortable with. If you can't accept him, we'll accommodate you."

That caused Todd to pin his short ears back. "It sounds so clinical, when you say it like that. He's your husband."

"Yes, he is. And you're important here, too. Arvetis has a place to go if staying in the upper warren would cause problems. It wouldn't be the first time. He's separated himself from the rest of the warren before."

Todd swallowed. "Oh, God, Geraden. You don't mean..."

"I mean the place where he spent nearly seventy years, yes. Don't look at me like that, it was his idea. He'd only have to interact with those who already know and accept him."

Todd looked down at his paws, propping himself up against the back of the crib. He thought about the Wolf sitting in front of the Tiger statue in the courtyard, in the rain, explaining his claustrophobia.  Seventy years in a cage in the basement of a Rabbit warren, with only two high, barred windows showing the sun. Not even that, if he was still in there when the outer warren was built.

"I'm not-" but before he could finish his sentence, the door to the room opened.  Lisa stepped in, closing the door softly, her pink onesie flecked with grey Wolf fur on one side. She looked over at Todd and Geraden, smiling. "Hi, guys."  She walked over and sat on the crib next to Todd.

Geraden reached down and gently brushed fur off her side. "You... talked to Arvetis?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral.

"Yeah. He's having a rough night, but I think he'll be okay." Todd cast his eyes away from her, frowning.

"I'd better go check on him," Geraden said.  "You'll give some thought to what we talked about, Todd?" The Ferret nodded, still averting his gaze from both of them.  Geraden stood. "Let's not forget that there's good news to share, as well." 

Lisa blushed a little, fidgeting with the engagement ring on her finger. "Are you still planning to have a feast night?"

"Absolutely! We need to announce the happy news." Geraden smiled, and Todd looked up at Lisa, taking her paws into his.  "But we'll take care of that in the morning, all right?"  Lisa nodded, pulling her legs up into the crib and yawning wide.  Geraden leaned forward, kissed the top of her head, and left.

Lisa and Todd lay in silence for a while, holding paws on the crib.  After a few minutes, Todd brushed some more Wolf fur off of her onesie.  "So... you're just okay with it? What we know about Arvetis, now?"

Lisa closed her eyes and sighed.  "I don't know, Todd.  I don't think I'm at my best to talk about it right now, but... you have to understand, he's been my friend for years. My good friend. Whoever he is, that's still true. Whoever he was before, that's who he is now."

Todd nodded, looking away. "I get that. But it's still pretty fucked up, isn't it?"

"Yeah.  It's fucked up."

"I get that people change. But isn't there a limit? Can't you be so evil that it doesn't matter what you do after that? And if so, who would fit that description if not Arvetis?"

Lisa folded her ears back.  "He isn't evil, Todd. I don't know what he was, but right now he's not evil. And tonight, he's deciding what things he should bring with him if he has to move into-- into the basement. If you can make a decision about that tomorrow, please do. It's weighing very heavily on him."

Todd sighed.  "Yeah, I know. I will hon, I promise.  I can't promise how I'm going to decide, but I will decide."

Todd's sleep that night was blessedly dreamless.


***


Early the next morning, Todd slipped out of the bedroom, wearing only his soggy nighttime diaper. He knew he needed a change, but he needed coffee first. And somehow, wearing a wet diaper around no longer bothered him  at least, not in the confines of these walls. 

He'd slept badly, kept awake by the questions rolling around in his head. He needed more information. He rubbed his face and set off for the small kitchen, taking the now-familiar path through the winding warren. As he approached the kitchen, the door opened, and Arvetis padded out, also wearing only a sodden diaper and holding a steaming cup of tea.  Todd froze, stopping for a moment in the hallway.  Arvetis looked up, his ears pinning themselves back against his head and his tail curling around his thigh. "Good morning," he said softly, holding the kitchen door open.  Todd started to move again, awkwardly, passing through the door without acknowledging the Wolf. For a moment, he was relieved when the door swung closed. Then, he noticed his company in the kitchen  Elyssa stood by the toaster, waiting for it to spring.

"Todd," she said flatly.

"Elyssa. Good morning."

"Is it true?"

That question had been asked so many times in the past couple of days that at first Todd had no idea what she was referring to.  "What?"

"Pops told me to arrange another feast night. In honor of your... re-bretrothal."

"Oh... Yeah."  Todd rubbed the back of his neck. "Lisa and I are gonna try and make another go of it."

Elyssa stirred her tea more than any tea could possibly need to be stirred, the spoon scraping on the sides of the mug over and over.  Finally, she stood up and walked out of the kitchen.  "Congratulations," she said as she passed through the door. It sounded like a curse.

Todd sighed heavily, padding over to the coffee machine.  "Thanks..." he mumbled to the blank wall in front of him. He put the coffee pot under the spout and hit the button. As soon as he did, he heard a yelp and snarl from just outside the kitchen  it sounded like a canine about to bite. Without thinking, he ran to the door and flung it open.

Arvetis stood in the hallway in front of Elyssa.  His fur was standing on end, and a broken mug rested at his feet. His arm was wet and steaming, and he clutched it with his other paw. "You burned me, you--" he cut himself off, but the snarl in his voice said everything he was holding back.

"Arvy-pops! I'm sorry, I didn't see you!"

"Go get me some lotion!  Fuck!" He turned toward the kitchen and saw Todd in the doorway. As soon as he did, his fur smoothed itself. Todd saw him wince as he realized his ugly words had a witness. "Er.  I mean..."

Todd closed the kitchen door.


***


Lisa woke to an empty crib and no warm spot next to her.  Todd must have been up for a while.  She sat up and yawned, then stood and opened her wardrobe.  She took out a little pink skirt and white blouse, slipping them on, then headed out to hunt down breakfast and her mate.  She nearly ran into a streak of white fur as it ran down the hallway.

"Feast tonight!" Night called as he ran down the hallway, the Arctic fox hurrying around a corner.  Lisa smiled.  "Thanks!" she called after him, and headed for the kitchen.

Inside, Todd and Geraden sat at the little table, both staring at their paws around cups of coffee. "Hey, boys.  Why so glum? Where's Arvy?"

Both of them remained silent for a moment.  Then, Geraden spoke. "He's moved.  Downstairs."

Lisa immediately glared daggers at her mate. "Todd!"

"Lisa, I can't argue about this right now," Todd said hoarsely. "He did it on his own. I didn't object, but I also didn't tell him to go."

"It's for the best," Geraden said. "Tensions are high right now, and he needs some time away from others. It's only going to be for a few days, I think."

Lisa folded her ears back and took a seat between them. "But... he's going to miss the feast. Can I visit him, at least?"

Geraden nodded. "Yes, I think that would be a good idea. Give him some time to settle in, then come down through the Chapel entrance. He needs his friends around. We aren't locking him in or anything; it's just a room that he's familiar with, well away from the hustle and bustle of the warren."

"Geraden," Todd said. "That might technically be true, but you know it's a lie at heart." Lisa blinked, surprised at the accusation. "What?"

"I saw his first life. It's a prison, and he was a prisoner. Maybe he needs to be there right now, but we're not doing ourselves any favors with deceit."

Geraden sighed and leaned back in his chair. "He still is, technically."

"What?" Lisa repeated, this time to Geraden.

"A prisoner. Of the warren, I mean. The Tigers and I haven't restricted him to the cell  not since he was reborn. But he's only ever left the warren on Order business, and always with a strict due date for his return.  Which, I am happy to say, he has always kept. I would probably be forgiving if he slipped, but I'm not sure the Tigers would be."

Lisa and Todd sat in awkward silence, the Mouse's ears drooping behind her head.  "I'm sorry I set all this off," Todd said.  "I understand that you both love him. Maybe in a few days..."

Geraden forced a smile and squeezed Todd's paw. "Don't worry, he's all right. Lisa, you can visit him this morning if he's up for it, and I'll spend tonight down there with him."

Lisa smiled at Geraden's conciliatory words, but Todd only looked down at the table. He knew the uncompromising bars and relentless grey of that room, and he knew Geraden was putting on a sweet front for Lisa.  "Geraden," he said, hoping to change the subject. "Do you have a library here?  Or an archive? I want to read up on some things." 

Geraden nodded. "That's a good idea, Todd.  I can show you where it is. We have a lot of materials relevant to your situation. Including the translated texts from the Phuto Fortress scrolls, if you're interested."

Todd perked his ears.  "That is interesting.  But I think I'm more concerned with whatever you have about Arvetis himself, right now. Also, about witnesses and the Order.  I want to know what I'm getting into." He glanced at Lisa.  "If I'm getting into it." 

Geraden nodded. "Entirely reasonable.  Come on, I'll show you.  Don't be late for the feast, though.  It's still on for tonight! I don't want us to forget the joy we're celebrating, despite all of this... unpleasantness."


***


Lisa poked her nose into the chamber, following the soft, familiar voices. In the light of two gas lamps on the walls, she saw high metal bars built into the stone itself, forming a wide cell along one wall.  The door of the cell stood open, and inside Arvetis and Brutus sat at a little wooden table.  A large bed occupied one side of the cell  Lisa recognized it as the queen-size bed from Arvetis's and Geraden's room. "Hey, guys," she squeaked, stepping fully into the dim room. "I just wanted to check on Arvy. Is now a good time?"

Arvetis looked up and smiled, though it looked like a ragged and worn smile, close to its limit. "Of course, Lisa.  Come in, have a seat."

As Lisa padded into the cell, she saw the table between Brutus and Arvetis. There was a game of Trivial Pursuit set up, both players with half-full pies. Lisa grinned. "I'd ask to join you, but I think it would be a little bit unfair.  Aren't you the answer to about half of these questions, yourself?"

Arvetis blushed and dipped his nose.  "Well... we've got Cards Against Sentience. But I'm the answer to half of those questions, too."

Lisa laughed. "And mecha-you!" She walked to Arvetis's side and leaned over, hugging the old Wolf around his shoulders. He felt very frail.  "I'm gonna talk to Todd.  I think we can get him to come around."

"It isn't just Todd," Arvetis said. "I've been... difficult to some people, and I'm not proud of that. A few days without showing my face will do everyone some good, I think. Plus, we need Todd to make the right decision about his position here, and I think I'm a little bit scary to him right now. I'm sorry that I'll miss your feast announcement, Lisa. I'll make it up to you."

Lisa sighed, the little wrinkle forming at the bridge of her nose. "Arvy, you're a good person.  I believe that, no matter what you might have been in the past."

Arvetis gave that weary smile again, taking her paw in his and squeezing it.  "Thank you for visiting me, Lisa.  I have kind friends."


***


Todd spent most of that day with his nose pressed into old books, surrounded by high wooden bookcases in the warren library, researching like he never had before. Two subjects captured his interest particularly: the actions of Arvetis Agathos and the legacy of Philosparganon. He sorted books and articles about both of those subjects into two piles, reading and taking notes in his own set of spiral-bound notebooks.  The two subjects could not have been more different.

One pile showed Arvetis abdicating protection of the tens of thousands of Prey who were technically his subjects, condemning them as inmates of work camps and meat farms, and ordering the slaughter of any who resisted. The other held stories of Philosparganon and his legion of workers helping Prey communities out of poverty or bringing down predator-supremacist splinter groups. As he kept reading through the day, a clear trend began to emerge.  One pile was much larger than the other. Philosparganon couldn't keep up with Arvetis; he just didn't have enough time. The dead spread out under Arvetis Agathos like a tapestry of damnation.


***


"Geraden will be right back," Raakhi purred to Lisa, running a warm paw down the Mouse's back and making her Prey fur stand on end for a moment. "He is taking food to his husband." She filled the Mouse's glass with her exquisite wine, then moved on down the oval table. Lisa glanced up to Todd next to her, who stared implacably at his plate, moving his food around with his fork and frowning.

A moment later, Geraden strode back into the dining hall and took his seat across from Lisa, smiling.  He took his glass of Raakhi's wine and tapped it with his fork, producing a high ringing tone. The few dozen voices in the feast hall fell to a murmur as everyone looked to the Rabbit.

"I know everybody is hungry," Geraden said, his voice shaky with age but still clear and confident. "But there is happy news to announce before we begin our feast. As we all know, Corwin Hall is where love starts over.'  We've all read the words, and most of us are here because of them.  Lisa and Todd Parks have embodied that slogan today.  Lisa, do you have something to say?" 

Lisa stood up, still only about shoulder- height to most of the seated Sentients. She held Todd's paw up and shouted, in a voice much larger than her frame, "I'm gonna re-marry this Ferret!" Todd blinked and felt his cheeks warm, cracking a smile and finally looking up from his plate.

"One month from now," Geraden announced as Lisa sat back down, "I will confirm their marriage in the Corwin Hall Chapel, and everyone here is invited to attend."

Lisa's face was only slightly less red than Todd's as the dining hall erupted into applause. A few whistles from the incontinents' table backed up the cheers. "Thank you!  I love you, Todd."  She leaned in toward him, and they shared a very public kiss over the feast. Todd perked up quite a bit after that, eating his food rather than playing with it. He kept finding himself looking over at Lisa and smiling.

Soon, Lisa and Todd had moved on to desserts and side dishes along with the rest of the diners. Todd's eyes kept flicking toward the empty seat across the table from him, next to Geraden. It was where Arvetis had sat during their first feast night.  It wasn't the only empty seat, though   another stood toward the far end of the table, where Elyssa had been.  She had told Geraden that she was tired after another day of planning and logistics for the feast night, and taken an early bedtime in her quarters.

Todd took a bite of rabbit with ginger, savoring the rare flavor but still unable to enjoy it entirely without reservation.  He caught Geraden's attention with his eyes and asked "Is he... you know, all right?" He glanced at the empty seat across from him.

Geraden smiled.  "Todd, please don't worry yourself.  Arvetis is fine." 

Todd nodded. "Okay. Thanks, I know this isn't easy for anyone."

"He asked me to give you something. In congratulations, and as an apology for missing your feast." Geraden reached into his robe and came out with a hunk of yellow-gold metal.  At first, Todd couldn't parse the shape. Then he made out two eartips, the eye-holes, and the long bridge of the nose.

"Oh, My God.  Geraden, is that..."

"Yes, the original."  He held the mask out.

"I can't accept that!"  Despite his words, though, he reached out and took it into his paws. He gently ran a fingerpad along the edge of Philosparganon's mask, feeling the rough edge of the cold-forged metal. It was smaller and slimmer than he had imagined it.

"Please take it. Your love of history is obvious, and Arvetis knows it will make you happy."

Indeed, the Ferret could hardly contain his smile as he turned the mask over, examining the inside, and found tiny letters inscribed along the edge.  They were in the ancient Lupine alphabet, which Todd could not read. "What does it say?"

Geraden lowered his voice, as if he was imparting a secret. "Until I have given to the world the love I have received."

Todd regarded the mask with deferential awe. "I never read about an inscription. How many people know there was an inscription?"

"Including you and me?  Three."

Todd grinned.


***


The rest of the feast passed almost without disturbance.  The only thing that worried both Lisa and Todd was when Geraden didn't come back after stepping out, "just for a moment," he said, to check on his granddaughter. After most of the guests had dispersed, the Mouse and Ferret held each others' paws and headed for Geraden's quarters, knowing something must be amiss.

"Gerry?" Lisa called.  Is everything okay?" She knocked on his door.

A long pause left Lisa and Todd standing outside the Rabbit's door awkwardly, like little children.

"Can you come in?" Geraden's voice finally came from behind the oak door, low and clutched. Lisa's ears stood up at Geraden's haggard tone, and she opened the door.

Geraden stood where his bed used to be, his back up against the corner of the room, holding a small sheet of hand-written paper.  Lisa immediately stepped forward.  "Hey, Gerry, what is it?"

Geraden held out the paper, surrendering it to Lisa.  She read it to Todd, her whiskers spread.

"Pops.  Love you. I'm sorry to do this by note, but I don't want to cause a scene during Lisa's announcement. I'm going to spend some time away from the warren. I don't have my head on straight, and I'm hurting some people around me. I don't like that. Please understand.  I'm staying with my friends in Westriver  you know who they are, Pops. I'll be back. Give Arvy my love.  Elyssa."

Lisa handed the note back. "Oh, Gerry." 

Geraden wiped his paw across his cheek and sniffed, his twitchy nose clogged. "I just..."

The Mouse leaned forward and hugged Geraden.  Todd stood to the side, fidgeting with his paws.  "Hey," Lisa said.  "She's fine, she's got friends to stay with, right?  Maybe it's for the best." Geraden nodded, still wiping his cheeks. "I just wish she'd said something.  Notes... why would she do that?"  Lisa sighed.  "It's hard to say things like this in person," she said, glancing at Todd.  "It can hurt people."

Geraden took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.  "Yes.  You're right, hon. Everything's all right. I know the people she's staying with, and I'll send someone to make sure she's okay.  But... maybe visiting Arvy again tonight isn't the best idea.  I'm not sure how he's going to take this."

Todd let out a little breath, remembering the hallway exchange between Arvetis and Elyssa that morning. The Wolf was going to take this hard. He said nothing, though, his mind flickering back to the old photographs of the field of skulls at Westriver.


***


As Todd climbed into bed next to Lisa that night, he was frozen by a sound that reached into the scruff of his neck and plucked his nerves like a knife through piano wires. It started low and long, coming from outside the bedroom door, echoing down the stone hallways of the warren, then rose in pitch and volume. Todd thought for a moment it must be a ghost, before the sound began to trail off and became recognizable, despite the distortion of echoes. It was a howl.
