Welcome to Valhalla: Faction Sultantes

Made for me by the awe-inspiring covardappy :iconcovardappy:

Chaman ibn Nikbin, the headmistress of the danceress guild of Tehuioy, had ordered the gentle Tanaz ibn Ardach to watch over the human Manfred and encourage him to share his education with her. And through her, with all other fennekim of Tehuioy.
Tanaz found the boy a fountain of knowledge, yet far calmer than the males of her own kind - something she really appreciated.

The boy found her interesting, too:
For one, she was a girl that was really interested in mechanics, physics and chemistry. Her questions were precise and she was a fast learner, oftentimes catching him when he skipped over a detail he didn't knew about, eager to then explore with him what that might be.
Then, she was some sort of royalty, or a moviestar, of her people. Yet she was polite, demure even at times, and had no airs about her.
And, too, she didn't mind that he was of stunted growth. For her, he still was tall, just the right size for a fennekim.

After a while, she approached him, asking him to help a sisters brother with a project inspired by the knowledge the human children had brought along.
For, the courtship weeks were approaching, and only those males who actively participated in them and impressed - with whatever they presented - the fenwas of the town could hope to win a bride.
The fennekim in question wanted to create a manned kite, for survey, scouting. And as a first step to fly under the limitless skies of their world.

And so, Manfred von Feldstein, self declared bookworm and teacher of big eared fox ladies, went to help the eager fennekim bachelor.

Finally, the courtship weeks arrived, and Manfred helped the fennekim carry the kite into the big plaza in front ot the town-eldest palace. 
He assembled it whilst the fennekim explained what he wanted to showcase, what the hurdles had been and how they had surpassed them.

Then, it was time. The lithe fennekim boarded the kite, and Manfred put his larger weight into the pulley that catapulted the kit up over the height of the walls and into the evening breeze, where the kite caught the wind and proudly blazed in the setting sun. From behind the silks that cordoned off the fenwas sitting behind them from the males performing, yips and barks, coos and purrrs could be heard. Upon the signal from the kite pilot, Manfred pulled him down again, the kite gently swooping down once in the wind shadow of the towns walls.
There was applause, and whilst the fennekim bowed in glee, already dreaming to soon meet his future wife... or maybe even several? ...  Manfred disassembled the kite and launcher, and jsut before their time was up, they left the plaza.

Only when the lil fennekim wished him luck, too, and the city guards gently brought him back to his dorm and told his to stay there until either a fenwa picked him up or the courtship weeks were over, did Manfred realize that he made himself an eligible bachelor in the eyes of the fennekim society.
Still more boy than man, he was worried, and hopeful, and worried again.
At home he had been his families shame for being a dwarf, though his father had always been proud for him and his bright mind.

But here?
How often had Tanaz stuffed her snout down his shirt, even though it had been in cheerful play? Did that have any meaning?

Who would...?

That evening, the headmistresses of the towns guilds presided, as every evening durign courtship weeks, over the arena of matrimony.

Manfreds name was called out, and Tanaz boldly stepped forward and onto the sands.
He would be hers and his life would be good and happy, she'd make sure of that! And, too, his love for her would entice him to become an even better teacher.
How often had he caressed her behind her ears or under her chin? 
She was sure of his affection for her!
But then, two older fenwas stepped into the arena, one of the fishers guild, one a mistress of the carpenters guild. Both stronger than Tanaz, taller, and both danceresses of renown.
The torches reflected off their dagger and club, and for a moment Tanaz felt her long needle to be rather small and short and puny...