Adrian stared at the small bundle of black fur at Captain Barkley's heels. His hair was ruffled a bit, but it seemed to be more about the slight rain that had started that morning than anything else. The creature didn't seem angry or offended, at least, just slightly wet and maybe a little bewildered. Even as Adrian watched the animal stand and shake, paws lifting off the ground slightly as it tried to get the water from its coat.

"What is that?" Adrian finally asked.

"A lapdog, sir," the captain said as he used a towel to pat dry his own head.

"I can see that," the noble said slowly as he took the strip of leather. It was worn, and slick from the misty rain. "What I don't know is why he’s here."

Barkley untied the leash from his belt and tossed the end out to Adrian with one hand while the other rubbed the towel down that gray beard. "I hired him."

“You’re also an air mage using a towel to dry off,” Adrian said dryly as he caught the leather. “Come on, Barks, stop teasing me and get to the point. He doesn’t look like any of the kennel dogs, and we don’t have any mages who’d put on a collar after shifting.”

“One or two of them might if you’re the one with the leash,” Barkley said with an eye wiggle.

Adrian gagged.

"He'll help you blend in with everyone else on the street," Barkley laughed a bit as he tossed the towel against the wall. One of the servants would get it later when the room was cleaned, but the dog seemed curious about it. The small black nose was twitching in the direction of the wet cloth, and even the small steps toward Adrian had slowed. At least he now knew the animal was male. "He can raise an alarm if trouble happens, and is less obvious than a guard dog. I hired him from the public services so he won’t be recognized as a threat. Since you left the kennels have only been raising hunting dogs."

Adrian gave his captain the most unimpressed look he could muster and dropped the leash for the dog to drag around. While the creature trotted over to the towel to rub himself dry, Adrian crossed his arms and leaned back to stare down his old friend and fellow soldier. "It’s taken me a week to get this meeting scheduled. Half the rats know about it anyway! Blending in is useless. I agreed not to attract extra attention; I didn’t agree to look like some bum on the street," Adrian said in a dry tone. He twitched his fingers and the hearth blazed to life. The dog startled, claws sliding on wood, entire body poised to run as he stared at the fireplace wide-eyed. "You know I don't fit in with the rest of the world." Adrian rubbed his arms at the serious turn the conversation had taken.

"Which is why I wanted guards to be assigned to you to join you. You’re the first fire mage in a century who can wield flames without a spell. And you’re the lord of the city. You should be protected."

Adrian shook his head, walking over to the fire to sit in one of the wing-back chairs he preferred. "No, Barkley. Lord or not, I go in alone. We'll spook the idiot if you go in with your hackles raised."

"Then take the dog."

The dog sat between them, ears twitching. It didn't seem to mind their argument. If anything he seemed more interested in the warm flames Adrian had started.

"It’s too early for this nonsense. The dog stays here," Adrian said. "A warm meal, a nap, and a few pets from the staff should more than make up for his disappointment in not licking my boots." Though so far the creature was more captivated by Adrian’s flames than his person.

Barkley reached down and grabbed the trailing leather, tugging on it a little too hard and making the dog yelp as it staggered forward to relieve the pressure. "You shouldn't be so rough on him," Adrian growled. "Not when you're angry at me."

"Yes, I'm angry at you," Barkley grumbled as he stalked forward and dropped the leash in Adrian's lap. The dog ducked behind Adrian's boots and laid down, half under the chair, and sent an angry look at the ex-soldier-turned-guard. "You are going out into the streets and won't let any guards close. You're our commander, and leaving your back open goes against everything your men have learned. Against everything you taught them."

"My men know I can protect myself. I'm not a child to be locked up in a tower every time a monster knocks at the gate. I'm a mage."

Adrian kept his focus on the captain. The furrow between Barkley’s brows was a sign of frustration, not confusion. Years of knowing each other had taught Adrian that. It also told him that the tight shoulders and stiff posture meant Barkley was going to keep pressing until his friend got his way. He was dressed in the standard street patrol uniform, leaving behind the armor and heavy weapons they usually reserved for show and ceremony. Barkley was going to be stalking Adrian, keeping as close as he thought his lord would allow. Adrian breathed out hard through his nose in lieu of a sigh and frowned down at the dog behind his legs. "You can't believe this little guy can do anything useful."

"He's being paid not to listen, and to just sit with you," Barkley explained. His stance relaxed slightly as he sensed the noble giving in. "He also understands that if anything about this meeting gets out he'll be executed." Adrian didn't flinch from the treat, though the dog did lower his head down to the floor and cover his nose with a single paw.

Well, execution was something to be afraid of. It wasn't a light sentence.

"He's small, unobtrusive, and can slip his collar if needed. Give him a signal and he'll run to me. I'll have the guards arresting everyone in a five-block radius." Barkley was thorough. He'd probably have the order issued as soon as he saw a black bundle of furry fear running toward him.

Well, the dog was rather content to sit behind his feet and stay out of the way. And a wide yawn revealed several very sharp (and slightly yellowed, ugh, he needed a cleaning) teeth. "Does he have a name?" Adrian finally asked.

The captain sat on the edge of the other chair, relaxing now that he was sure his lord would give in to the request. "I didn't ask."

Adrian felt his temple throb. He couldn't just go walking around with a lapdog and not have something to call it. Giving him a different name was a bit rude but he didn’t have another choice.

The dog was black, with pointed ears and a snout that reminded Adrian more of wild jackals than house pets. There was a slight resemblance to one of the old god's favored hounds, almost a god himself, and a noble's dog would have a noble name. "Anubis, then," Adrian decided. He tapped the dog on the top of the head, drawing an interested gaze up. "You will wear your collar but not your leash, and if I tap your nose you will find the captain. For now, I’ll call you Anubis."

The animal gave some sort of yip-squeak and wagged its tail. "Okay, wiggle-tail, calm down. You're just going to sit in my lap and look pretty. Nothing's going to happen."

The captain snorted. "I think he's just saying yes, sir," the older man commented.

Adrian hummed in response, untying the leash from the collar and tossing the offensive leather toward the towel. Maybe when it was dry it wouldn't leave behind a feeling of slime on his hands.

The captain knelt and grabbed the dog's nose, making sure Anubis was looking at him. "You don't run off and you don't cause trouble. I can still have you neutered if I need to."

Adrian stood at that, forcing Barkley to back away from the animal. The tail had tucked as the warning was delivered, and Adrian didn't blame him. While he didn't have anything against curbing stray breeding, the fur-covered lump on the floor was a mage turned into a dog and not some homeless cur.

When Adrian walked to the door, Anubis stayed huddled under the captain's stern gaze. He looked a bit like a scared mouse, ears flat and tail tight to his body. Adrian didn't have time to waste on his captain being an overprotective bear, so he shook his head and turned from the room. He gave an absent tap to his thigh as he moved, wondering if he could put one of those magic blades in his cloak or if that would just make Barkley smug. The dog shot up like it was a command and trailed at Adrian's heel like one of the trained hounds from the kennel.

That was something. He wasn't sure what, but it was something.