“Master, there is an important missive from Rurik. I personally had to deliver it because your guards are idiots and Ackthar decided it wasn’t important,” Ashiyn said as he studied the woman. Usually, Rhadamanthus had his favorites. This was a new servant Ashiyn had never seen before. He did not understand why the women always looked horrified that he watched. It was certainly not the first time he had seen his Master take a woman.
Rhadamanthus finished with the woman and casually threw her to the floor. He growled as he fastened his pants and stormed over to grab the missive out of Ashiyn’s hand. “Did you deal with Ackthar?”
“I only broke his arm. I assumed you would like to finish his punishment appropriately,” Ashiyn said. He kept his eyes on the naked woman as she got up and fled the room. Rhadamanthus had already torn open the message, so he didn’t see Ashiyn leering. Ashiyn lowered his gaze to the ground as he sensed Rhadamanthus looking his way and patiently waited to be dismissed.
“Who brought the missive?” Rhadamanthus asked, his black eyes narrowed.
Ashiyn froze. He did not understand Rhadamanthus’s sudden mood change, but he knew it was dangerous. He forced himself to shrug. “One of his acolytes. Some boy. I don’t know really, I wasn’t paying attention to the servant to be honest.”
Rhadamanthus threw the scroll onto the table then grabbed Ashiyn’s chin and made Ashiyn look into his eyes. “You stay away from Rurik and Rurik’s boys. Unless you want them to use you like I just used that woman.”
Ashiyn scowled but managed not to flinch. His mind whirled though. He barely understood what was going on with the woman the thought that two males could simulate it was too much for his young mind.
Rhadamanthus growled and let Ashiyn go. “My brother is sick. He has perverse tastes. He enjoys young boys instead of women. I will kill him if he ever touches you, but be wary. He might be foolish enough to try one day. And he passes his sickness to all those boys. Stay away from them lest you catch it as well.”
Ashiyn shuddered and dropped his gaze to the floor. He was confused but he dared not ask anything more for clarification.
“Are you still standing there? You have training to do, boy. Get to it,” Rhadamanthus snarled as he snatched up the scroll again.
Ashiyn turned and bolted from the room, not willing to suffer another death to his Master’s rage today.
CHAPTER TWO
Ashiyn tore the man’s heart out of his chest and stood there with the still beating organ in his hand. When he looked up from it, he saw Soryn standing in the doorway. Ashiyn had almost forgotten the other boy. It had been four years since he’d met Soryn. Oddly, the look on the other boy’s face was confusion, not horror. Ashiyn dropped the organ to the floor casually, then grabbed a cloth off a nearby table to wipe away the blood and gore from his hand. “Soryn, was it not?”
Soryn lowered his gaze respectfully. “Yes, Prince. I am humbled you remember.”
Ashiyn could sense the other boy wanted to ask something, so he raised a brow questioningly. “What do you want to ask?”
“You just tore that man’s heart out with your bare hand. What did he do?” Soryn asked. Again his tone held more curiosity than the usual horror Ashiyn was accustomed to drawing with his torturous antics.
Ashiyn shrugged. “I think my Master simply desired the man’s wife. He was in the way. Now she will submit to Rhadamanthus, as she should.”
Soryn did cringe and look horrified at that. “What?”
Ashiyn threw the bloody rag on the table and leaned against it, rattling the array of metal weapons laid out there. “The fact that I murdered him doesn’t bother you? Just the motive behind it disturbs you?”
“What if she loved her husband? She shouldn’t be forced to…” Soryn started to say, then looked at the ground. “Sorry, Prince. Not my place to question. You had requested I return when I would not be missed. This was the earliest I could manage. My Master does not leave me unattended often.”
Ashiyn narrowed his eyes. Too vividly he remembered Rhadamanthus’s claims about Rurik’s sickness. He walked closer to Soryn, circling him. “You are one of your Master’s favorites?”
Soryn turned pale and looked a little ill. “Yes. I am my Master’s favorite of all.”
Ashiyn came up close behind the other boy, noticing Soryn trembling. He scowled. “Are the rumors true about what he does to his servants?”
Soryn shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t know what rumors you could have heard, my lord.”
Ashiyn backed away from the other boy, wary. “My Master says Rurik is sick. Perverse with his acolytes.”
All of the color drained from Soryn’s face, but he raised his chin and looked at Ashiyn. “We both have our burdens to bear, my lord. Your Master is no kinder to you.”
Ashiyn bristled at that. “My Master would never touch me in that way though. My Master has women as one should.”
“Should they? Who said? Your Master?” Soryn snorted. “Just because that is what he prefers does not mean that is the only way.”
Ashiyn scowled. “So you do share your Master’s sickness!”
Soryn rolled his eyes as he walked closer. “It’s not a sickness, my lord. It’s no different than desiring a woman. My Master is…perverse, perhaps. But that doesn’t mean all who enjoy such things share his sickness.”
Ashiyn tilted his head as Soryn came closer. He could sense the other boy’s arousal with his magic, and it made him raise a brow again. “You find me attractive? Why? I would sooner rip out your heart than take you any other way.”
“Could you at least try to take me the other way first?” Soryn whispered as he leaned in close. “You can do as you like afterward.”
Ashiyn did not have time to react. He barely had time to register what had happened when Soryn flew to the floor. The giant blur of the monster before him was almost too fast. Ashiyn growled and grabbed Rhadamanthus’s arm before his Master could land a killing blow. “No! Stop!”
“You dare?” Rhadamanthus roared and flung Ashiyn like a ragdoll onto the table full of weapons.
Ashiyn landed hard and his body paid for it. Several of the weapons left their marks and drew blood. Still, he slid off the table and faced Rhadamanthus again. All he could see was Soryn lying there with a bloodied nose, absolute terror on his face. Ashiyn didn’t like Rhadamanthus taking away things he was interested in, and he knew the monster would kill Soryn. “He didn’t do anything!”
“He was going to! He is a perverse little worm just like his Master,” Rhadamanthus growled and kicked Soryn, making Soryn cry out. Ashiyn could hear the bones snap and he winced. “No. It was my fault. I was curious if you were right. Punish me instead.”
Soryn glanced at Ashiyn with a mix of terror and horror and shook his head.
Rhadamanthus ignored Ashiyn, and reached to grab Soryn, instead Ashiyn was there in front of him and smacked Rhadamanthus across the face with the flat of his blade. “I said punish me instead.”
Rhadamanthus stood back, stunned for a moment, his long black talons tracing over where the blade had struck him. “You will die for that, boy. I will teach you not to defy me.”
“Run,” Ashiyn hissed to Soryn as he backed up toward the other boy. “Hurry, or he’ll kill us both.”
Soryn scrambled to his feet and, clutching his ribs, scurried for the doorway. Ashiyn kept up his defiance until he saw Soryn disappear around the doorframe. Then he dropped his blade and let Rhadamanthus grab him. It took quite a while for his Master to exhaust his rage and, as Ashiyn finally crumpled and darkness swam at the edge of his vision signaling death was close, he saw Soryn still there in the doorway. The other boy had watched the entire thing. Ashiyn let out one last growl before the darkness took him.
CHAPTER THREE
Ashiyn strode toward the entrance of the castle when he heard the defiant scream of an animal. It did not sound anything like the bellowing of the massive bulls his Master’s race rode. He glanced back at the bull he had just left wi
th the servant, and it stood there docile and quiet. The scream came again and lured Ashiyn toward the courtyard. There within the dusty courtyard a giant four-legged creature lunged and threw itself around one of the guards. Ashiyn had never seen anything like it. The animal’s silver coat glistened with sweat and foam, and its almond-shaped eyes bulged and were ringed with white. Nostrils flared wide and powerful legs flung hooves in fury at the man at the end of the rope.
Ashiyn sensed Rhadamanthus come up behind him. “What is that?”
Rhadamanthus made a disgusted noise. “That is a horse. They are flighty, unpredictable creatures that humans like to enslave as mounts. Unreliable. Dangerous. Terrible in battle.” Rhadamanthus trailed off as Ashiyn started away from him. “Where are you going?”
“I want it,” Ashiyn said, as though that explained everything. It did, really. He was Prince, second only to his Master. If it was something Rhadamanthus did not want, Ashiyn had free rein to take it.
“You idiot, boy. That beast will kill you. Will it be worth it? You have work to do!” Rhadamanthus called after him.
Ashiyn ignored him and dropped down into the courtyard. He used his magic to shred the man holding the beast to ribbons, and the confused horse squealed and bolted to the other side of the arena as soon as it was loose. He used his magic to free the horse from the ropes and other confusing contraptions they had strung on it, until the beast stood before him unconfined.
The animal stood across from him, shivering and snorting, its head lowered as though it was trying to decide if Ashiyn was a threat. Ashiyn could see the intelligence in the creature’s eyes. So much smarter than those stupid bulls that his Master insisted they ride. He looked around and saw a bowl of fresh fruit up by his Master. With an outstretched hand he used his magic to yank a piece of it to him then he broke it open. Maybe the horse would like it? He edged closer, offering the horse the fruit. “Come here. My Master says your kind serves humans. I’m human enough, see? I’ll protect you from these creatures. You can trust me.”
The horse’s long ears flicked back and forth at Ashiyn’s voice. Then it stretched its neck as far as it could and sniffed at the fruit. Ashiyn froze, watching the creature, trying to will it to trust him. He was not sure why he wanted the horse so badly, but he wanted it more than he had anything for quite a while. The horse’s velvet lips grabbed the fruit from his hand and munched it noisily.
Perfect. Easily bribed with food. Ashiyn snickered and ran a hand along the steed’s powerful neck. He offered the other half of the fruit and while the animal was busy eating it, he swung up onto its back. The horse snorted and flung its mane but otherwise didn’t protest. Ashiyn used his legs like one did to command the bulls, and the horse trotted forward until Ashiyn stopped it in front of Rhadamanthus. He smirked. “Looks like your guards just don’t have the same touch with the animals that humans do.”
“Maybe the horse just knows I eat his kind in stew,” Rhadamanthus said in disgust, then turned to storm off down the hallway.
The horse snorted and flattened its ears in alarm. Ashiyn stroked its neck soothingly. “Don’t worry. I won’t let him eat you. I think I’ll call you Illusion.”
The horse bobbed its head as though it agreed the name was fitting.
CHAPTER FOUR
Ashiyn wandered from the boring meeting with dignitaries. He was tired of listening to the nobles of the land prattle their allegiance to Rhadamanthus. Like they had a choice. His Master ruled them with a fist of iron. Any who disobeyed were punished with very public torture and death. No one dared to cross Rhadamanthus, or now, even Ashiyn.
“You are quite a bit more powerful and handsome than I expected, young Prince,” a female voice said from the shadows, startling him.
Ashiyn cast a glance over, trying to look as though she’d merely irritated him. It was one of the older noble women who had apparently also grown bored with Rhadamanthus’s meeting. He vaguely remembered that his Master had instructed him to treat the nobles with respect, so he bowed his head slightly to her. “Thank you, Lady…”
“I am Lady Anushka,” she replied, with a curtsy. She appeared to be an older woman, middle aged for a Rizaron, one of his Master’s race. She beckoned him closer with a long black talon. “Perhaps I can have a private audience with you, my lord?”
Curious, Ashiyn followed her into the empty room. He watched, unconcerned, as she closed the door behind them. “What may I help you with, Lady?”
“I see that your Master has taught you a great many things, young Prince. But, I wonder? Have you yet learned to please a woman?” Lady Anushka asked, as she came close to him. Her hand trailed down his abs, left bare by his decorative armor, then down the front of his pants.
Ashiyn fought panic. He’d seen Rhadamanthus take many women over the years, but he hadn’t done it himself. And somehow he didn’t think that was what the woman referred to. He had only seen Rhadamanthus with servant women. Would his Master treat a noble woman differently? Ashiyn’s body, on the other hand, responded well to the woman’s expert touch, and it was quite distracting trying to gather his thoughts for an intelligent response.
“That’s what I thought,” She leaned close and whispered in his ear. “How inappropriate of your Master to deny a young man his needs. Come, allow me to teach you, young Prince. You will enjoy it, I promise.”
Ashiyn found himself quite unable to resist her. Not that he wanted to. And he did enjoy all of it quite a lot, at least until Rhadamanthus burst into the room and found them.
Rhadamanthus roared and stormed over to grab Lady Anushka by her long black hair and forcefully dragged her off Ashiyn. “I do not remember giving you permission to touch my Prince, Lady.”
“Surely you’re not keeping him for yourself, my King. Only your brother has such habits, I’m told,” she laughed as she freed herself and adjusted her skirts. “You should have him trained, my lord. He is beautiful and strong and well endowed. Many of the women of the court would be enthralled by him if only you had him taught. Send him to the Seducer to be trained.”
Ashiyn was in such a languid state of relaxed pleasure, he couldn’t be bothered to worry that his Master seemed so upset by the developments. He nearly missed her suggestion until his Master’s dark gaze locked on him. He scrambled up and fixed his clothes at his Master’s displeased look. Great. He would pay for this misadventure later.
Rhadamanthus returned his gaze to the woman, now thoughtful. “How long does that take?”
Lady Anushka shrugged as she started for the door. “Just a year. Surely you could spare him that long? To gain full control of those ladies of the court that don’t find you handsome or charming?”
Rhadamanthus glared at her as she left. Then, once she was gone, he lashed out to grab Ashiyn’s arm and dragged him out of the room and down the hall to his chambers. “Cleanse yourself and prepare. It seems you are quite unable to control your urges now, so I will send you to learn to control them.”
Ashiyn stared at the door as it slammed shut behind Rhadamanthus. Then he did as he was told, wondering what this development could possibly bring.
The next day he was sent away, along with Illusion and enough of his possessions to live comfortably for a year. They rode for nearly a day before a sprawling desert palace came into view on the edge of the harsh black stone that made up Rhadamanthus’s kingdom. The brightly painted buildings, trees, and fountains of water seemed garish to Ashiyn after having grown up in such plain black surroundings.
All around the courtyard young men and women lounged in various states of dress and undress. They watched him with curiosity as he was escorted inside. Ashiyn wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but the man sprawled across a dais in the center of the large room was like nothing he’d seen before. The man wore barely more than a loincloth, but gold and gems covered his body in elaborate jewelry. Long hair the same color as his golden adornments flowed like water around pointed ears were so long, they reminded Ashiyn of insect antennae. The
man’s features were androgynous and ethereal, and he rose to meet them with grace flowing through his lengthy limbs. “Oh, look, my lovelies. The dashing Prince Ashiyn has arrived.”
Ashiyn crossed his arms as everyone in the room stared. His Rizaron escort retreated with haste, leaving him alone in this room of odd creatures. There were men and women of every race lounged about the room, but none were quite as strange as the man before him. “And you are?”
The man laughed, mirth filling his oddly glowing blue eyes. He bowed deeply to Ashiyn with a flourish. “I am Diredin, the Seducer. Trainer of all proper young men and ladies in the ways of…delicacy, shall we say?”
“Why not just say it plainly? I am here to learn to seduce. So let us be on with it,” Ashiyn said, irritated. He was far from home among these strange people, and he wanted nothing more than to be back commanding his armies, riding Illusion, and visiting with Soryn. Now he was so far away from Soryn it would be difficult to use the shadows to travel there.
The Darkest Sword Page 2
