It was stifling. Ferro removed his helmet finally. He reasoned that there was a larger risk from heat exhaustion than enemy attack here, and besides... the sweat kept running into his eyes, and he couldn't clear it away with the helmet on.

The shining metal scalded his fingers as he lifted it, and he held it under his arm. The roar of the city, unmuffled, meeting his ears as he glanced around at the bustle. He saw many strange creatures that he'd never seen in his homeland, carrying strange fruits and unknown products in warm-colored jars. It was all very fascinating, and he'd have given it more attention if he didn't feel as if here were dying under the weight of all this armor in this oppressive heat.

He asked a guard that he found patrolling one of the many open markets if he could escort Ferro to the palace of the local prince. His mastery of the Egyptian language was feeble to say the least, but he managed to get his point across with the help of some official-looking documents, and the guard lead him on through winding streets that seemed to get less and less windy until the base of a hill. At the top, there it was: a massive looming sandstone palace.

Ferro groaned and trudged up the hill slowly after the guard, who was clearly more used to the Sinai heat, and wore lighter armor besides. At the gate, the guard spoke, so quickly that Ferro wasn't able to understand more than an odd word or two, to one of the palace guards, but they unlocked the gate and let him in. One guard was assigned to him, and smiled, saying to Ferro in his own language,

"Good afternoon, Sir. We've been expecting you." said the escort, "I hope your trip was a pleasant one...?"

"H-hot..." Ferro gasped and his vision faltered. He really needed water.

The escort steadied him, and nodded. "Ah yes... you must be tired and thirsty. Let me lead you to the room we've set aside for you to freshen up. The prince will see you in two hours." he said as the guided the large equine warrior up a flight of stairs and to a room. Ferro was amazed at the luxury of the place... and it had a large bath in it, already filled... and Ferro smiled at the sight of it.

The escort followed Ferro's gaze and smiled. "Yes - take your time, but not too much time! Remember: Two Hours." and then left, shutting the door behind him. First, Ferro found a large ceramic pitcher on a table filled with fresh clear water, and filled the cup next to it, then drained it in one gulp. He did this again.. and again.. and again... until the pitcher was almost empty, sighing contentedly as he felt the weariness lift slightly from his muscles. Then he stripped off the heavy armor and piled it next to the bath before climbing in. He moaned and sank into the warm scented water until only his head was exposed... and fell asleep.

He awakened to the sound of fists on wood. "Ferro? Are you in there? You were supposed to--" the voice said. Ferro startled. He couldn't believe he'd fallen asleep! Had the time passed already? He grabbed a linen towel from a bench and quickly dried off before answering the door.

"The Prince has been waiting for you for half an hour. What were you doing in there?"

"I'm sorry I fell asleep." Ferro said honestly.

The escort sighed. "Well... no matter. Come along, lets not keep him waiting any longer."

"Can't I get dressed?" Ferro asked, gesturing towards his armor.

The escort moaned and shook his head, having heard how long it takes to dress a knight. "No. He's waited long enough. He's a busy fox. You'll just have to go as you are."

Ferro took the document scrolls from the holder on the belt of his uniform and followed the escort, ass-naked. He suspected that nudity might not be so uncommon in a place like this, where the heat is always sweltering.

They came to a set of tall wooden doors and the escort opened it, then ushered the stallion through, and closed the door behind him. Ferro saw a room... not so much of a throne room, as a viewing area, with a large balcony overlooking the city, with a huge throne made of a single cut block of sandstone. On it, was perched an unusual creature... he was like a fox, but smaller, with large ears and a lighter color - like the color of this desert's sand, along his back. And he was... beautiful. Ferro gasped, looking at him... he'd never seen a male so lovely, with his slight, effeminate frame, shining healthy fur - clearly a product of a good diet and a life of pampered luxury... and the delicate elaborate eye-makeup - something only females of his land did, but here seemed to be a fashion of both genders. Ferro wasn't typically attracted to males, but this one was different... or perhaps it was simply the months-long voyage on a ship with a sweaty all-male crew... but he felt himself responding.

The prince... Emir Jaspian, Ferro knew the name was, noticed. His eyes flicked down, somewhat contemptuously... But rather than revulsion or disgust or politely ignoring this.. "compliment", Jaspian turned to the captain of his guard and said, "Please leave us. We have matters of state to discuss." And the guards left through another passage in the wall to one side, hidden behind a wall draping.

The fox boy waited for a few moments after the footsteps of the guards hand long faded, before saying "You made me wait, and you didn't even come before me appropriately attired. Shame on you." he said, getting up from that large solid throne, moving so lightly and gracefully, gliding slowly over to where Ferro was standing. "You owe me..." he said, his voice high and musical. He stood less than a arm's reach away for the burly stallion, grinning mischievously up at him with perfect white noble teeth. Then he looked down, "At least you had the manners to salute" he said, reaching out, he squeezed Ferro's thick stallion shaft - not asking, just doing. Ferro groaned, and responded in a hoarse whisper, feeling his dick throbbing in those small effeminate hands with their soft pawpads and silky fur on his naked black dickflesh. "Don't do that."

"Or what?" the fennec prince challenged, his other paw now stroking down the long thick pole of stallion meat.

"Or..." Ferro responded, a little moan escaping his lips, "... Or I'm gonna bend you over that throne over there and fuck your foppish little royal butt until you can't walk straight."

Jaspian grinned a mocking challenge, "Do your worst" >:)