{"id":287,"date":"2012-02-01T15:41:23","date_gmt":"2012-02-01T19:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/?p=287"},"modified":"2012-02-02T10:02:06","modified_gmt":"2012-02-02T14:02:06","slug":"preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/one-shot\/preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was supposed to be a routine day. No doubt it would have had some significant developments to deal with, but they would have been normal<\/em> developments.<\/p>\n

Having the expected \u201ccourier\u201d from Northridge Fields turn out to be none other than Damion Northridge himself upset that routine in a hurry.<\/p>\n

Servants bustled around, dusting, washing, mopping, in general tidying in a great hurry. The kitchen staff were called in early and immediately launched into frenzied activity. The butler took stock of available options and assembled a platter of refreshments and wine, which he personally bore at the Mistress’s side as the Northridge carriage came to a halt at the front portico.<\/p>\n

Northridge had inherited young, and still cultivated the appearance of youth. He was a short, slender, dark-skinned man, mahogany hair running loose down his back; some suspected he used cosmetics to look younger, but if he did they were subtly applied. Hanging on the arm of his hulking bodyguard, he looked like a frightened child, not the savvy businessman who’d turned his farm from a small local supplier to the source of some of the most-coveted bloodstock in the land.<\/p>\n

Mistress Arietta Downing bowed, stepping forward to offer her hand. \u201cMaster Northridge, this is an unexpected pleasure! What brings you to see us today?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll business, I’m afraid, Milady Downing.\u201d Northridge released his bodyguard and took her hand instead, lifting it to brush a kiss over its back, then turning to walk beside her. His other hand patted his breast pocket. \u201cI’ve my farm’s side of our bargain here; I thought I might get a look at your studs before I make the final decision on which I want from yours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut of course, we’ll go right there.\u201d Refreshments in tow, the grey-haired woman led her guest away from the house and toward the barn.<\/p>\n

Neither of them believed in just sitting back and letting the staff make the important decisions; as they passed specimens in their enclosures, they exchanged remark about how the scale pattern of one might look with horns like one of Northridge’s, or how this fire-breather could benefit from that nimble frame.<\/p>\n

At one stall, Northridge paused, tapping his lips. \u201cWhat about this one?\u201d he asked. \u201cIs he healthy?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, yes,\u201d Downing replied, tilting her head. \u201cBut he didn’t seem to be what you were after from your letters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cInspiration, Milady. Have him brought here; I want a closer look.\u201d<\/p>\n

Handlers moved into the paddock, coaxing the beast closer with a few hard-boiled eggs and leashing him. For Northridge’s inspection, they had the drake stretch out in profile, and sit on his haunches, and bring his head down for a closer look at his horns, teeth, and eyes. They tugged one of the iridescent wings to its impressive, if still not useful, extension.<\/p>\n

Northridge sipped his wine, then set the glass on its tray and nodded. \u201cHe’ll do,\u201d he declared, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a glass vial of thick, white fluid. \u201cIf you can have a sample collected, I’ll be on my way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, but won’t you stay for a meal, Master Northridge?\u201d<\/p>\n

The man laughed. \u201cI’m sure I couldn’t refuse such earnest hospitality.\u201d He gestured toward the drake in his enclosure. \u201cBut do carry on; I’d like to see their procedure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Somewhat nonplussed, Downing lifted her eyebrows fractionally. But all she said was, \u201cOf course, Master Northridge. A pleasure to do business with you as always.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A livestock breeder comes to view his potential acquisitions in person, rather than leaving it up to his subordinates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[84],"class_list":["post-287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-one-shot","tag-flash"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=287"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":288,"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/287\/revisions\/288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/furry-tales.net\/shurhaian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}