In Rhen I rest and trust, today, tomorrow, always.
TODAY TOMORROW ALWAYS!”
The chant ended, leaving the ravine ringing in the silence, while ahead of them, at the end of the ravine, the Throne of Seven Foxes came into view in the moonlight. It was a fifty-foot-high rock jutting out of the wall of the ravine. It resembled a giant fox looking over its shoulder, with a magnificent tail wrapped around its feet. Naturally occurring in the rock, and situated around the fox, were seven clear indentations that resembled high-backed chairs. One was at the very top, above the ears, two were on either side of the face, two on either side of the shoulders, and two on either side of the tail.
The five members of the Vvyndicate were already in place in the ‘thrones.’ A masked and hoodedfoxensat at the very top, whose identity was not shared with ordinaryfoxen. The thrones on either side of the face were empty, while Ava Alice Van Crimson and Kitsune Kitty Van Crimson sat at theshoulders and Slinger Van Crimson and Rosenvelt Van Boeson sat at the tail.
Behind Sage the others gathered in a still group, while Sage continued forward. She placed her offering at the foot of the fox and said, “I offer the best I have to Rhen, that she may guide me and that I may remember to listen today, tomorrow, always.”
She lowered her hood, bowed her head and waited.
“Step back,” Ava Alice said.
“Into the circle,” Kitsune Kitty said.
Sage held her thoughts carefully neutral because AA and KK could read minds when they were together. She took seven steps backwards, which positioned her inside a natural, circular depression. She bowed her head, clasped her hands, and waited to be addressed.
After a moment, thick muttering started from thefoxenbehind her, and she looked at the Throne of Seven Foxes to see what was up. AA and KK were each in their ‘throne’, facing the other, gesticulating, nodding, laughing—obviously deep in an intricateruhiconversation that included only the two of them, while the other Vvyndicate members looked on.
The maskedfoxensitting at the top ‘throne’ was hard to read. He or she wore a fox suit similar to what Sage was wearing, but without the human face and belly showing through, and Sage could find no eyeholes. Sage never thought about or discussed who this person might be, because to do so was to weaken the Vvyndicate, andfoxenas well. The two ‘thrones’ at the fox’s face were empty, and Sage took a moment to silently pray to Rhen for their filling, because filling them would strengthen the Vvyndicate, andfoxenas well.
The two ‘thrones’ at the fox’s shoulders were where Ava Alice and Kitsune Kitty sat. They were Sage’s age and had been the firstfoxenCitlali born in fifty years, and the first femalefoxenCitlali ever, so they’d been coddled and fawned over. They both wore black gowns with black gloves and veils and bare feet. They both had red hair they could grow out at will. The only way to tell them apart was because Kitsune Kitty wore cat ears in her hair—bright pink ones today.
The two ‘thrones’ at the fox’s tail were filled by Slinger Van Crimson on the left and Rosenvelt Van Boeson on the right. Slinger was in his 80s, still looking tall and strong with thick red hair, beard, and mustache. No one knew Rosenvelt’s age, but it was at least 80. He was clean-shaven, and didn’t look frail, but was slimmer and slighter than Slinger, as were most of the Van Boeson’s. He had thinning brown hair and a plain, kindly expression. Both Slinger and Rosenvelt wore simple dark suits.
Slinger stared openly and disapprovingly at AA and KK, while Rosenvelt only watched Sage. Sage met his eyes, and they shared a smile. It bolstered Sage and made her feel like she had an ally on the Vvyndicate. There were no Citlali in her family, and so they had no representation on the Vvyndicate, but the council still was sworn to protect them like allfoxen.
Ava Alice and Kitsune Kitty, finally done with their conversation, turned their attention to Sage as one, and they both gave her smarmy looks.
“State your business,” Ava Alice called out loudly.
Sage blinked. She’d expected this to go differently. “I ah, would like to request recurring Vvyndicate escort and protection for my daughter Paisley White, while she goes to visit her grandmother, Paige White, near Chicago every month.”
“While you’re in treatment,” Kitsune Kitty said.
Sage blinked and said nothing.
“Why don’t you just get a hysterectomy?” Ava Alice said.
Kitsune Kitty looked at her and they both laughed.
“Snip, snip,” Kitsune Kitty said, her expression cruel.
Sage’s mouth fell open. This was a sacred ritual—and they were mocking her? She looked at the other members. Slinger looked interested in hearing her answer, while Rosenvelt seemed pained.
Sage wanted more young, but that was none of their business!
Rosenvelt spoke. “Perhaps a better question would be, ‘How long do you see this protection recurring for’?”
Sage hadn’t thought about that. “A year,” she blurted out, thinking she could renegotiate at the end of it.
“So, the Vvyndicate should do for you,” Ava Alice said.
“Even if you won't do for the Vvyndicate.” Kitsune Kitty said.
Sage clasped her hands in front of herself and dropped her eyes.
“I’m willing—”
