The Devil Within
by
Della Ann Boynton
The Devil Within, The Angel Within, and all
characters therein, are copyrighted by Bon Publishing co. and Della Boynton.
Any unauthorized copying and distributing for profit will be prosecuted, and
yes, I do have a lawyer. Not for profit fanfiction is encouraged, however. ^_^
warnings:Male/male sex, graphic, language, violence, attempted NCS
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The Devil Within
by
Kracken
Stuff I legally have to say:
The Devil's Own, The Angel Within, and all characters therein, are copyrighted
by Bon Publishing co. and Kracken. Any unauthorized copying and distributing
for profit will be prosecuted, and yes, I do have a lawyer. Not for profit fanfiction
is encouraged, however. ^_^
warnings:Male/male sex, graphic, language, violence, attempted NCS
Now, on with the story, sorry...
Sequel to The Angel Within
Chapter Four
They were led to a suite of rooms decorated with opulent furniture, carpets, and draperies. Than smiled at Sunnie's wide eyes. "Depending on the Chi'n'Chi's business, you might be here a few hours or a few days." He turned to the guard. "Send us some servants. My lord will want refreshments and entertainments."
"Well..., " Sunnie faltered nervously when they both looked at him expectantly. "I think I am hungry, but.... I don't want to offend..." He faltered again.
"My lord?" Than prompted. "Anything you wish will be commanded."
"Please, no entertainment," Sunnie said in a small voice.
Than took that well. He nodded, "As you wish. Perhaps later, when you are rested?"
Sunnie nodded, though he was sure that he wasn't going to change his mind.
"I will take up a guard position outside your door," Than told him. "If you need anything, please inform me, my Lord."
Sunnie watched Than and the guard go. When the ornate door closed and he was left in a suit that was richer than anything he had ever imagined, he felt panicky. He was in far over his head. He felt in danger and a danger to relations with the Chi'n'Chi. One voice inside of him told him to run, to find Jhai on his own. Another told him to stay and face his mistake with responsibility.
Sunnie sat on an ornate couch stiffly, afraid to touch anything. After an hour passed, his back ached and he was forced to give up his nervous position, his hope that the Chi'n'Chi would finish his business soon and see him quickly, fading. He explored the suit of rooms with wide eyes. There was a bed, that was wide enough to hold five people, decked out in finely woven red blankets and golden pillows. A pool of water, looked like a clear, crystal goblet set in white marble. The lip looked rimmed with gold and it bubbled and steamed. The carpets were thick and soft and had broad, strong patterns. The furniture was all heavy wood, dark and solid, with leather cushions. It looked very masculine and reminded Sunnie Of Scott Rohan's apartment. It made him shiver and brought to mind things he wished he could forget.
Sunnie ended up at a window, looking down at the city, ancient and barbaric. He tried to imagine his refined, gentle lover walking those streets and Sunnie felt a wave of need to find him, to make sure that he was all right, and to protect him. That need didn't take into account his own weakness, his own need for protection. Rejected from his clan, Jhai was all the family Sunnie would ever have. They were married, as much as two men could be, in law, and there was a firm sense that they were joined forever. He needed Jhai's warm, firm hands holding him close. He needed to breathe in Jhai's spicy cologne and his own heady scent. He needed to hear his soft voice murmuring endearments into his ear. He needed that other half of himself and wondered if Jhai was feeling the same pain of separation.
"My Lord?"
Sunnie turned at Than's voice and felt heat scald his face, not sure how long he had been standing at the window, but very aware that his deprived body was reacting to his thoughts of Jhai. He pulled at his clothes, trying to hide it as he stammered, "Is-w-will the Chi'n'Chi see me now?"
"I'm sorry, but, no, my Lord," Than replied, keeping his eyes tactfully on Sunnie's amber eyes. "He hopes that you will forgive his absence and stay the night as his most honored guest."
"I..." Sunnie's disappointment and embarrassment were as good as a dash of cold water. His body decent again, he sat down heavily and asked, already knowing the answer, but desperate enough to try anyway, "Perhaps someone can take me to Rhani Jhai, so that the Chi'n'Chi won't need to be bothered?"
"No offworlder moves about on Kevare without the Chi'n'Chi's permission. The penalty is death," Than replied apologetically. "I was ordered to follow all of your orders, my Lord, but I am the Chi'n'Chi's man first. I would, myself, carry out the sentence."
Sunnie felt himself go pale, seeing the sudden hard edge to the man's eyes. He meant what he said and he would do it without hesitation, that look told him. Sunnie had faced a killer before, but a second time didn't make him any braver.
"I'll- I'll wait here for the Chi'n'Chi's permission," he said in a very small voice.
"Wise," than replied. "I've ordered food for your dinner; things offworlders enjoy. I hope that it doesn't offend. The servants that come with it are at your disposal. There is a room at the back where they can retire and give you privacy until you have orders for them."
"But, I don't want-" Sunnie began.
"The Chi'n'Chi is doing you a great honor," Than cut him off. "Servants, a fine room, guards.... please do not offend the Chi'n'Chi by refusing his hospitality." and his hand went to his sword hilt.
Sunnie shrunk into himself. "I- I thank you and the Chi'n'Chi and I-I accept."
"Good," Than said and his eyes couldn't help sweeping over Sunnie as he turned to leave. "I think you have need of the servants. They can ease your desires as well as serve your dinner."
Sunnie's hands covered his face and he didn't watch Than leave. He couldn't come out from behind them even after he was gone, shame making his heart hammer in his chest. When he heard the door open again, and something being wheeled in, he knew he had to face his new servants. He forced himself to lower his hands.
One servant was a girl and the other was a boy. They were very young and very beautiful. Both were dressed in long robes that were heavily embroidered; the boy in dark blue and purple and the girl in pink and white. Her hair was jet black and fashioned in long braids entwined with pink flowers. The boy had dark brownish-red hair and it was done in smaller braids and tied with purple crystal and golden beads. Neither of them wore clan disks. As the boy and the girl bowed, the boys braids tinkled as they brushed together. His blue eyes sparkled as he appraised Sunnie, while the girl kept her eyes modestly down.
"I am Kir. This is Lor," the boy announced. "We are entirely at your service, my Lord."
No titles, no family. Sunnie struggled to find the right words that would get him out of a situation that he wasn't too naive to understand. Kir smiled and took Sunnie's silence in stride as he began laying out the meal on a low table.
"If my Lord wishes anything else, I will get it for you," Lor said in a soft, melodic voice, eyes still downcast. "If anything displeases, my Lord, I will take it away."
Kir was more blunt. He leaned close as he set out a table service in front of Sunnie. He smelled like cinnamon and a slight musk. His slim neck looked delicate and silky as he displayed it to advantage, letting his braids slide away from it as he cocked his head and looked right into Sunnie's eyes. "I am well versed in many bedroom games, My Lord. I am very experienced in what pleasures a Lord."
Sunnie knew that males having relationships with other males was not completely accepted by the Kevarians. It wasn't a polite topic of any conversation. That boy's offer, so boldly given, told Sunnie that his sexual preferences were being particularly catered to. He doubted such an offer was made to every guest.
He couldn't refuse, Than had made that very clear, but he could send them both, especially the young girl he couldn't even bring himself to look at, to the back room that Than had told him about. "I want to eat alone," he managed to get out. "If you would both give me... privacy... and wait for me to call you..."
The boy was too young to keep the slight frown of disappointment off his face. The girl, maybe thinking that she had lost to Sunnie's preference from the start, was smirking at his failure.
"As my Lord wishes," the boy said with stiff correctness, but then couldn't help trying one more time. He softened and suddenly looked extremely sensual. "I will await my Lord's every command."
He and the girl retreated to the back room then, and Sunnie couldn't help the sickness that gripped him as he thought about how very young they were. It was a crime, he thought, pure and simple, and he couldn't help feeling anger mixing with his nausea at the very idea that there must be some Kevarians who took advantage of what they offered.
Sunnie couldn't eat. He was far too upset. He stood and paced to the window again. Night was falling and street lights were beginning to be lit. He wanted to be with Jhai more than anything else just then and he leaned his forehead against the chilled glass pane and whispered a prayer that they would be together again soon.
Wystan turned from the monitor and snorted at his taller companion. The older man was glaring at the image of Sunnie. "I thought you said he was a pervert?" Wystan said derisively. "If he was, he wouldn't have been able to ignore Kir's charms."
The man sneered. "He likes men, not children, fool."
Wyston raised a disdainful eyebrow. "As if I could find a man to bed golden hair there. We Kevarians aren't like offworlders. Kevarian men would cut their throats before becoming bed servants. A child's honor, can be excused."
The man looked disgusted. "Children..."
Wyston shrugged. "The Chi'n'Chi ordered that his honored guest have everything to make him comfortable. His guard saw his need and that was the only solution I could offer to ease his... discomfort."
"The girl?"
"In case we mistook his preferences. The Chi'n'Chi might kill me for offending him," Wyston explained tersely.
The man sneered. "Seems you managed to offend him anyway. Offworlders have very strong feelings against child prostitution."
"But not murder and savaging worlds, it would seem," Wyston shot back. He strode away from the view screen, unstoppered a crystal bottle and poured the contents into two goblets. Handing one to the man, he said, "I want a bit more for my trouble."
The man scowled. "What?"
Wyston turned and motioned with his bottle vaguely towards the view screen. "I want him, this Sunnie."
The man grunted. "I can see who the pervert is here." He shrugged. "After we're done with him, why not? He's nothing to me, just Rohan's whore." he took a sip of his drink. "Some of my partners might be disappointed though. They had some fun with him in the past. They wanted the chance again."
"And, once again, who is the pervert here?" Wyston asked archly.
"Not me,"The man replied."I want to mine this world out and then sell the rest to interested parties. All the rest of you Kevarians can get out of my way and screw goats if you want to."
"Goats?" Wyston looked puzzled.
"Forget it!" The man snarled and slammed down his goblet on the table next to the decanter. He stabbed a pudgy finger at Wyston. "You keep that Dr. going around in circles and then send him home, non the wiser. Take his golden bed boy to him. That will keep him even more occupied. Once I have everything and everyone in position... " He slapped his hands together. "It won't matter who the hell sees what we're doing. It will be too late."
Wyston grinned, raised his glass in salute, and swallowed his drink down.
--------------------------------------------------
"Your escort is here, Lord."
"You are leaving so soon?" Lor was disappointed. Her pretty face pouted as she gracefully poured fruit juice into a chilled cup for Sunnie. Her royal blue robe was belted loosely and her small frame kept showing skin with every motion she made.
Sunnie, seated at a small breakfast table by a large window, had been keeping his eyes everywhere but on her, stomach roiling with nervousness and shame. The appearance of Than gave him the excuse he needed to stand and escape.
"Stupid whore, he flees from your ugliness," Kir growled behind him. He had been cutting fruit and slices of sausages for Sunnie's plate, dressed in a white robe so transparent the boy had seemed nearly nude. Their rivalry had not dimmed despite Sunnie's clear disinterest and distress.
"It is your gawky body and farm bred manners he flees from, oaf!" Lor retorted.
"Old hag!"
"Old? Who is old? Is that your voice changing? Perhaps it is your age he runs from?"
"I bloom, you wither."
Sunnie tried to close his ears to it. Than saw his distress and snapped at the two, "Your service is over here. Go."
They fell silent and then Sunnie heard them retreating towards the back room.
Than snarled, "Where are you going?"
Kir replied arrogantly. "Lord Sunnie has told us to await his pleasure."
"You will be waiting long," Than replied. "Lord Sunnie will be leaving this place."
"Leaving?" Sunnie asked hopefully. "Has the Chi'n'Chi returned to see me now?"
Than wasn't a fool. As he looked into Sunnie's innocent face, he swallowed hard, knowing that he had to follow his orders whether for good or ill to this young man before him. He knew how Sunnie would interpret those orders, but Than knew their true intent. He knew Wystan, who had given them, well enough to know that he never did anyone favors. He could only hope that his scheming might incur the wrath of the Chi'n'Chi, but that wasn't certain. The Chi'n'Chi had his own schemes concerning Sunnie. If they meshed with Wystan's, then Sunnie was doomed.
"I've been given orders to escort you to Dr. Jhai."
Sunnie's face filled with joy. It awed Than. Amber eyes and glowing curls were out shown by Sunnie's brilliant smile as he reached out and touched Than, looking as if he could hardly believe it. "I can?" Sunnie asked him breathlessly. "I can see Rhani?"
Than wasn't a man who liked boys or men, but, at that moment, he found himself envying Jhai this living piece of the sun. "Yes," Than replied, regaining his composure. "It will take some days and we must hurry if we are to catch up to him."
Sunnie scrambled to put on his boots and his coat. When he was ready, Than led him from his rooms and down through the building to the stables. Shaggy beasts with sturdy legs chewed on cud as men moved around them to buckle harnesses and packs. Than wasn't pleased.
"You there, why are you not yet prepared?" Than shouted at a black clad figure in a thick coat.
It was a woman. She turned, long, black braids swinging and small bells tinkling in the midst of braided leather cords. She was short, swarthy, and looked as if she could pick one of the beasts up over her strong shoulders."I'm ready, but those men don't have a captain," she told Than. "I don't have any authority to order them."
"Get those beasts loaded!" Than shouted at the men and said to Sunnie, as he strode towards them, "Be at your ease, Lord, while I deal with them."
Sunnie nodded nervously and stepped aside. The woman looked him curiously up and down and then nodded in greeting. "I am Gerta, Lord. I am your supplier and cook for this journey."
"Thank you," Sunnie replied automatically and she blinked at him in surprise as if she wasn't used to people being polite to her.
Quirking a dark eyebrow she asked, "I packed for a large entourage, Lord, but..." she looked around as if they might suddenly appear. "Will they be joining us shortly?"
Sunnie ducked his head shyly. "There isn't anyone else."
"Truly?" It was clear that she wanted to question the reason for that, but she refrained and said instead, "Well, we shall not want, Lord, for provisions then. I am at your command."
"He did not ask for you, lowborn," Kir's voice said derisively as he and Lor came through a door.
"Nor did he ask for you, pandar face," Lor retorted acidly.
Their finery was gone, replaced by riding leathers, but their jewelry and hair ornaments were still present. They both bowed to Sunnie.
"We are here to attend you, Lord," they both chimed.
Gerta's eyes went wide. "You're..." she cut off what she had been about to say and then bowed to Sunnie as well. "Shall they ride or have a carry box?"
"We can ride," Lor said with a lifted, arrogant chin. "The stable man is bringing our beasts momentarily."
"I..." The last thing that Sunnie wanted was to bring the two children along on his journey. What would Jhai say to him when he realized what they were? Sunnie turned a deep, shamefaced red.
Than left off ordering the men and rejoined them. He looked Lor and Kir over with distaste, but then looked resigned. "You will need servants, Lord, to proclaim your status. I can provide more..." He hunted for the right word, "conventional ones, if you wish, but that may take more time."
Sunnie protested almost at once, "No, please! I want to reach Dr. Jhai as soon as possible."
Than glared at the two children. "You will show decorum and manners at all times if you are determined to serve the Lord," he warned, "otherwise, I will tie you both in a burlap bag and drown you."
Lor's eyes widened in alarm along with Sunnie's, but Kir didn't look impressed by the threat. When the stableman brought their beasts, they turned to tend to them.
"I suppose he will need you to clean up after his animals," Kir said to Lor with a long suffering sigh.
"It is more likely that he will set you to cleaning mud from the men's boots," Lor sniffed back.
Sunnie looked after them and then asked Than in anguish, "Why do they want to come with me?"
Than began to answer but Greta replied, shaking her head sadly, "They only have their youth and beauty, Lord. Once they are too old for interest, they won't have a place here. They seek their fortune where they may and they see a chance to find it with the favored of the Chi'n'Chi."
"But I don't..." Sunnie aborted a move to cover his face with his hands. He knotted them together instead to still them. "They don't interest me... I don't have any fortune to give them."
"Status is fortune, Lord," Greta explained. "A Lord's servant is a much better title to have than a Lord's whore."
Than grunted, "They presume too much." He glared at the woman. "You presume too much as well, cook."
"It is for my Lord to turn us out," Greta replied and bowed to Sunnie.
Sunnie didn't know what to say or what to think. He finally replied, "I just want to go to Dr. Jhai. I don't understand any of this." He looked pleadingly at Than.
Than sighed, bowed low to Sunnie, and then snapped at Greta. "You heard the Lord. I am in command. Prepare to leave."
She nodded and turned to check on their packs. Than addressed Sunnie then, reassuring him, "Put all of these troublesome people from your thoughts, Lord. I will attend to everything."
Sunnie was relieved. "Thank you."
Though Sunnie was not a child, Than suddenly felt as if he had taken charge of one. Any other Lord would have had the children and the cook taken out and slain for their presumption, but they knew that he was weak, saw his innocence, and took advantage. They didn't understand that Sunnie wasn't being favored, that Wystan had set the journey into motion, and that his plan might include killing them all.
The trail was rough, almost not a trail at all. The animals walked it single
file, heads down as if they were sleeping, following the tail of the animal
ahead of them. The lead animal was guided by Greta and she looked very fierce
and no nonsense as she kept an eye on everything that went on up and down the
line.
Sunnie looked back at the city disappearing quickly behind tumbled stones, stands
of trees, and a persistent, lowering, blue mist. The city hadn't really felt
safe, but it was better than an unknown trail and his odd companions.
The men that were supposed to guard them kept staring at Sunnie. When one met his eyes, the man smiled and it gave Sunnie a chill. It reminded him of Scott Rohan's predatory smiles and that wasn't a memory that he wanted to experience again.
"Be on your guard, Lord," Than warned him as he turned and leaned back in his saddle to look at Sunnie. "These men... I don't trust them."
Sunnie's trepidation grew. "That one..." He pointed to the heavy set man with the crew cut and the scar over his nose. "He doesn't look like the others."
Than nodded. "Some men will shave their heads after some grief, but his hair style would be odd even then."
"Soldiers cut their hair like that," Sunnie told him.
"Not our soldiers," Than replied with a shake of his head.
"Ours do," Sunnie amended.
"Offworlder?" Than frowned sharply.
Than didn't say what Sunnie already knew. Without the Chi'n'Chi's permission to leave Kevare's port, any offworlder would be instantly killed.
"He... looks familiar," Sunnie struggled. Something about the man's hard jaw, the crook in his nose, pricked buried memory. Sunnie was still far more trusting than was wise, but he knew that he didn't like this man, that something about him made him very afraid. "Is there a way to... to send that man back?" Sunnie asked.
Than sighed. How to explain how little control he actually had over their fate? "He is Wystan's man. To return him would be to insult his gift. We can't." He touched the sword at his side. "I will guard you, Lord. I promise you that. "
There was a sudden thump on the beast that Sunnie rode and small arms locked around his waist. Kir bent to look into Sunnie's face. "The female is tiresome, Lord," he said. "We should put her in a sack and drown her."
Than gritted his teeth and snapped, "Your insolence needs correcting boy."
Kir glared back as he preferred Sunnie a thick cloak. "The wind is cold, guard. I've come to give the Lord his cloak. I am his servant, after all."
Than grunted, irritated all the same. "Announce your approach in the future or I might gut you accidentally."
Kir grinned. "You are old, guard, and I am nimble, in and out of bed."
"Insolence!" Than thundered, and Kir ducked behind Sunnie's body for protection.
"Your guard tries to keep me from my duty, Lord," Kir complained.
Sunnie took a steadying breath and then decided that he couldn't remain passive forever or this child would end up in his bed whether he wanted it or not. "Go back," he managed. "I don't want you here... just now." He winced inwardly, but it was the best he could do.
"Lord?" Kir closed small hands on his sleeves. When Sunnie didn't back down, he nodded contritely and slid to the ground.
When Kir climbed back onto his own animal, Lor, riding behind him, called derisively, "Hah! I told you! He sickens at the sight of you."
"No," Kir shot back, "He told me to come back and cover your face. The sight of it makes him long to join his ancestors and be free of it."
They shot insults back and forth and then quieted. Sunnie's mind wasn't on them, though, it was on the man with the scar. He had watched Kir return to his animal and his tongue had licked his lips briefly in a clear lear.
"I want him gone," Sunnie whispered and felt a trembling in his gut. "I want to be with Jhai. I want to be back home. In all of this, I have been worse than a fool. What will Jhai think of me?"
"That you are your own man and not someone like Kir," Than replied. "Who is this Rhani Jhai to order you, the favored of the Chi'n'Chi, to do anything that you don't wish? Who is he to say whether you go or stay?"
"I was stupid, childish, foolish...," Sunnie replied. "I had no self control. It was weakness that sent me following Rhani."
"Ah," Than grunted. "You seek him for protection."
"No... yes...," Sunnie trailed off, trying to understand himself, and then admitted, "He protects me from bad memories, from being alone."
Than shook his head. "You confuse me. Men here are not raised to consider such things when they act. We act to be men."
"I act with my heart," Sunnie sighed. "And that is the problem."
Greta rode back to them, her beast tackling the rocky, narrow trail expertly. "The mist is crystalizing. We'll see some ice come nightfall. That will be hard on the beast's footpads. We'll have to stop."
Than ground his teeth together. "If this lasts..."
"You chose a poor season to travel in," Greta retorted. "The weather is not under my control."
"There's an inn a few miles up the road, but that will make a pathetic first day's effort," Than complained, "and I don't think it would be wise to mingle with common folk. Too many eyes and ears can be dangerous."
"Agreed," Greta replied. "There are some huts, bare bones, but a good fire will see us through the night."
Than thought that through and rejected it. "Some stones to break the wind will be better."
Greta raised an eyebrow, "Better?" She wasn't stupid. She glanced at the soldiers, her eyes lingering on the man with the crewcut and scar. "We bring enough of our own trouble with us. I agree that we don't need to attract any more."
Greta thought and then gave a curt nod. Her eyes went to Sunnie. "With your permission, Lord, I know of a place, out of the way. An old hunter's lean to."
"All right," Sunnie replied, huddling into his cloak. He didn't want to stay out in the cold, but he had been raised not to complain and to do what was necessary.
Greta nodded curtly and then rode back up ahead to tell the men.
It was nothing more than boards propped up against a wall of rock with an area walled by rock for a makeshift corral. The men penned the beasts and Sunnie stayed back while their packs were put into the shelter first and bedrolls were spread out. Greta, surprisingly, made a small prayer at the entrance and gave a bow at the end of it. Everyone bowed in response and Sunnie automatically made the sign of his God. Then everyone began to go in and find their place to sleep.
The men stayed together. Greta took up a position near the entrance. The children bickered and fussed as they made beds for Sunnie and themselves close together. Than snorted at Sunnie's obvious discomfort with that arrangement and made his own bed near the door with Greta.
The wind and the chill was cut by a blanket tossed over the entrance and a small pit fire coaxed into life at their center. It stunk and made Sunnie's eyes water. He shivered as he dared to sit down, feeling the cold keenly despite everything.
"You should put on this shirt, Lord," Kir urged him as he pulled a thick, green shirt out of one of their packs. "It will make you warmer."
Kir settled on one side of Sunnie, eyes wide and expectant, and Lor settled on the other, just as eager to see Sunnie take his clothes off to put on the shirt. Sunnie blushed, drew his knees up in a huddle, and covered his face with the shirt. He couldn't take any more. He wanted to cry and he knew that would be a very bad thing.
"What's wrong, Lord?" Lor asked in confusion.
Kir sighed and said, "You are a very good man, Lord, and you truly do not want us, do you?"
Lor gasped, but Kir ignored her as Sunnie shook his head, refusing to look at them.
"That is all right," Kir continued. "If you will still have us, we will be your servants, truly, and not try to be anything more."
Lor didn't say anything for a long moment, clearly not sure about that decision, but then she slowly said, "I've never been just a servant, Lord, but I shall be just that, if it is your wish?"
"It is," Sunnie breathed.
"Then it is settled," Kir said firmly. "Shall we go heat water for you to bathe in and make tea if you wish it?"
Sunnie nodded in the shirt, but Lor reached out and slowly, timidly, pulled it away. She looked into Sunnie's reddened eyes and smiled. "You are a very good man, Lord. We are honored to serve you."
Sunnie sniffled and tried to regain his composure as the two went to get the water. Than quirked a confused eyebrow at him and said, "This world eats people like you whole, Lord, but you have managed to win the loyalty of your servants. That is a very good thing."
Sunnie was still too timid to undress in front of everyone. He slipped outside instead and changed as quickly as possible, feeling the bite of cold keenly. When he turned to go back into the lean to, he found the man with the crooked nose standing and staring at him with an open leer.
"Pretty tattoo," the man said and his voice dripped lust. He licked his lips suggestively and then went to check on the animals.
Sunnie shuddered and pulled at his clothes as if they had suddenly come off without his knowledge. He wrapped his coat tighter about him and crossed his arms over his chest protectively. "I know him," he muttered to the rising wind, but it was all fear and blurry images when he tried to remember the man.... a voice, perhaps... that man's voice saying, 'Hurry up, dammit!' The chill that single sentence caused him was greater than the chill of the wind.
"Lord," Than called from the lean to. "Better get inside."
Sunnie shook himself and hurried to Than, wanting the man's comforting presence.
"He spoke with you?" Than asked, eyes following the crooked nosed man to the beasts.
Sunnie nodded.
"From your look, I assume it was not a good conversation?" Than growled and then in a low tone of voice so that no one could hear but Sunnie,"Lord, you must not allow these men to see your... your offworlder ways. They must not see you as weak, as a Lord not to be respected. Like Lor and Kir, they will take advantage of that. Stay with me. Show nothing of your feelings, and say nothing if you fear that what you say will not be strong."
"I agree," Greta said as she appeared from behind the blanket flap. She was frowning, concerned. "These men already grumble and speak among themselves words they don't wish me to hear. Balcon, the crooked nosed one, he is their leader, it seems. Watch him, young lord."
Sunnie could only nod. He felt a rising tide of panic, though, and wondered if he could keep from screaming to go home.
"Lord, we have your tea," Lor informed him as she appeared at the entrance. "Come, you need to be warm."
Her small hand took hold of Sunnie's sleeve and she urged him back into the lean to. Kir was with their bedrolls, pouring steaming tea into a cup from a pot that looked expensive and very out place there. When Sunnie kneeled, he gracefully handed Sunnie the cup.
Lor leaned close, her beautiful face full of determination as she whispered into Sunnie's ear, "We will protect you, Lord."
Sunnie was moved, but he didn't feel much safer. He tried not to look at the men all around them as he huddled in furs and blankets and sipped his tea with a shaking hand. He could hear Balcon talking and it sent fear rippling along his nerves. He knew that voice and it plucked at half remembered ugly dreams.
"Kir," Sunnie said suddenly, not sure why he needed to say it, but knowing ,without a doubt, that he was suddenly as afraid for Kir as he was for himself. "Stay close," he said quietly. Kir looked at him with wide eyes. "Stay away from Balcon."
"Not I, my Lord?" Lor wondered with puckered brows.
Sunnie looked at her, at a loss, but then, wiser than her years, she nodded, brow smoothing out. "Your Balcon likes boys?" she asked.
Sunnie suddenly curled up, a pain twisting in his gut. That was it and she had stuck a finger into a very deep wound in his soul. Very softly, he began to whisper a prayer. Lor and Kir looked at each other in confusion and then they curled up on either side of Sunnie, for once, quiet.
They spent long days in bitter cold and snow. Balcon and his men were arrogant, and seldom followed orders, but they didn't make any move towards trouble. Greta expressed, several times, her concern and her opinion that they should change guards as soon as it was possible, but Than still wasn't prepared to spurn the gift of his Lord and risk a serious insult that might cost them all their lives.
They rode into a small village towards dusk, the animals footsore and everyone ready to damn safety and anonnimity for a warm place out of the cold. The inn was low, with an earthen roof and the smell of peat fires. Animals stood in a pen, keeping each other warm, and the village was quiet, only the glow through narrow windows showing that anyone live there.
"There's a large party here already," Greta said as she dismounted and told them to wait. She checked a brand on one of the beasts in the pen and then turned to them in surprise. "My lord!" She said excitedly to Sunnie. "Your Lord, Rhani Jhai is here! The snow must have kept them from traveling any farther."
Sunnie was off of his animal and into the inn at a stumbling run, Than at his elbow and the children trailing behind in confusion. Strange men stood in alarm, hands going to their weapons, but there was one figure at a table by the fire that was darker than the rest. Sunnie was throwing himself into Rhani's arms before the man was fully aware of who he was.Rhani flailed defensively, but Sunnie had arms wrapped around his waist tightly and he wouldn't let go as they both almost tumbled backwards out of Rhani's chair.
"What?! Sunnie. How did you... Why?!" Jhai spluttered in confusion as he regained both their balances and put the feet of his chair back on the floor firmly. His arms were around a trembling Sunnie then, his face pressed into the golden curls on Sunnie's head.
"Sorry," Sunnie repeated over and over again.
Jhai realized that he wasn't going to get his explanation yet and he looked over Sunnie's back to where Than was standing uncomfortably, the two children peaking out from behind him. "You can explain?" Jhai asked angrily.
Faced with the tattooed, dark skinned son of warriors, Than felt on shaky ground. Here was a man, even if he was from Off World. It was a relief to know that his duty was completed, that Sunnie was delivered successfully, and that, perhaps, this man would keep the childish young man safe now.
"He is the favored of the Chi'n'Chi," Than explained and that was explanation enough for his part in all of it.
Jhai smoothed a hand over Sunnie's curls and then he stood up, drawing Sunnie up with him. "We will retire to my room. Set a guard."
"My Lord," Than responded and went to seek out the captain of Jhai's guard.
"Come, Sunnie," Jhai said and steered Sunnie to a flight of stairs and took him up it to his room. It was small, a fireplace, warm blankets, and furs on floor and bed to keep out the drafts. He sat Sunnie on the bed and simply tried to soothe him.
"Your covering your face again," Jhai said sadly and Sunnie was, hiding behind his fingers because he was crying and completely ashamed.
"You followed me," Jhai guessed, "Calling on your favor from the Chi'n'Chi?" Sunnie nodded miserably. Jhai sighed."I should have known that you weren't ready."
"Rhani?" Sunnie didn't understand the guilt in Jhai's voice.
Jhai bent and pried Sunnie's hands away from his face. His eyes looked into Sunnie's and he said, "Your body is a man's but you are still very much a child. You were traumatized, taken out of a primitive society, and abused. You seemed to be finding your way so well, making friends, and working, that I thought... I thought it would be all right, to leave you for a short time. I should have known that I was the foundation that you were working from. I snatched that out from under you."
"It..." Sunnie's voice trembled as he wiped at his tears and sniffled. "It is your duty. Your job. I'm wrong for interfering. I'm sorry... so sorry!"
Jhai flipped off his shoes and then worked at removing Sunnie's heavy clothes. "You're here. It was wrong for you to follow me after I told you specifically not to, but, as I said, there are reasons I can understand. Now, we have to adjust to this and find a way to explain our... relationship. I'm certain you know that men in love with men are not widely accepted."
"Yes," Sunnie murmured as Jhai's fingers worked at fastenings.
"We need to be careful to not show open affection," Jhai explained. "They are willing to ignore Off worlder eccentricities if we are not blatant about them. But, for now..." Jhai's lips locked onto Sunnie's and he pulled the young man into his arms, naked and warm. "I have missed you!" Jhai exclaimed passionately.
Sunnie choked on a sob as he rediscovered the joy of his tall lover. Lubricant was searched for and found. Hot kisses and caresses were rained onto each other at every point. When Sunnie took control and bent the long legs of Jhai beneath him, when he sank into the man's tight heat, and he moaned and cried out his name as he thrust into him with all of his desperate passion, it was as if the world was right again and balance found. Looking down into Jhai's face, his eyes alight with his pleasure, Sunnie found his manhood, lost the child, and claimed what was his in a violent orgasm that had him crying out.
Afterward, tangled together and slipping into sleep, Jhai kissed Sunnie's forehead and whispered, "You are my world."
And Jhai was his, Sunnie knew, and let his worries go until morning.
Return to Chapter Three
On to Chapter five