Volle Read Online Free PDF Page A

innocent you are. There is always a way.”
    “Well, maybe not in Tephos.” Reese’s expression became more serious.
    “What do you mean?”
    “You know they’re mostly Panbestian Orthodox, right?”
    Volle nodded. “Of course. You’ve already teased me about being lumped in with wolves and coyotes under the god “Canis.” What does that have to do with anything?”
    “The Orthodox Church frowns on recreational sex, but they don’t really bother the straight couples because they can’t prove they’re not trying to have cubs. But the same-sex couples are…shall we say, discouraged.”
    Volle stared at him. “Really? But that’s…they can’t do that.”
    Reese shrugged, and the hint of a smile played around the corners of his muzzle. “I’m sure there are places where it goes on. But those would be seedy, grimy joints frequented by dangerous lowlifes. Not suitable for a peer of the realm.”
    “But…that wasn’t mentioned in any of the texts.”
    “Did they say that it wasn’t true?”
    “No.” Volle stared glumly down at his paws. So his little adventure in the pub would be the last of its kind for quite some time.
    “Your paws will be good friends, yes,” Reese said, and Volle shot him a dirty look. “Unless you decide to try out ladies.”
    Seir swung down into the carriage and closed the door behind her. She saw Volle’s expression and looked over at Reese. “What?”
    “I was telling him about the Panbestian Orthodox Church’s attitude toward some of his favorite activities.”
    “Ah, yes.” Seir sat beside Volle and patted his knee. “You wouldn’t have had time for such distractions anyway.”
    “I’d have made time.” Volle managed a smile. “I made time at the Academy.”
    Seir shook her head, and grinned. “You probably would have, at that.” She lifted his arms, checking the fur all over. “You look good. I like the white patches. Nice touch.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Reese, you checked all the other areas?”
    “Not as closely as he’d have liked me to, but yeah.”
    Volle snorted. “You don’t trust me? I know how to cover that area.”
    Seir chuckled. “I know you do, but a second pair of eyes is always better. So get your shirt on. We’ll be there in another hour. Everybody have their paperwork?”
    Reese studied his. “I am Marik, returning home to Tephos after selling my wares to the peasants in southern Ferrenis. Why aren’t you the merchant and us your assistants?”
    “This is Tephos. Females are treated somewhat differently here. Even me being an assistant might be a stretch if you were married. As it is, they’ll probably assume we’re sleeping together.”
    Reese put on a look of mock indignance. “They’ll think I can’t do better?”
    Seir swatted at him. “You don’t have to do anything, just don’t contradict them if they make assumptions. Volle, you have your papers? They’re huge on papers.”
    Volle waved his papers desultorily. Seir nodded. “And Reese, we were selling in southern Ferrenis because…”
    Reese shrugged, transforming something in his expression. “That is where the money is. I bring the money home to my motherland, at least.”
    “Excellent. We’ll have no troubles.”
    And they did not. The Ferrenian guard, a bored-looking marmot, asked Reese a couple questions, barely glancing at Volle and Seir before waving them across the bridge. On the other side, the Tephossian guard, an equally bored-looking weasel, glanced at all three papers, then waved them through without a single question.
    They pulled into the stable at the inn, where Reese ordered the stable boy, a young badger, to look after their horses. He made a big deal of breathing in the air and bellowing, “Ah, Tephos! I am home!” His overacting was so amusing that even in his black mood, Volle couldn’t keep from smiling.
    The pub was empty save for a dirty goat with matted fur sitting at the bar. He didn’t move when they entered, even when Reese called out