Apprenticed to Pleasure

by Brandon Fox

  Thane’s fists clenched. “Nobody is safe until we’re rid of the zamindar and his cronies.” He looked at Ander, determination filling his eyes. “All the more reason for you to join us. Alone, you’ve got no chance to help Lady Tayanita against the seraskier.”

  “You’re probably right. But I’ve got to at least try. She’s saved my neck more than once.”

  Thane nodded and resumed walking. “We’ll stop a little further along. I’ve got a surprise for you.” The clouds were parting, and morning sun warmed their backs. Before long the trail passed near a cabin nestled among the trees. Thane paused and cocked his head as if listening to something. All Ander could hear was the cascading stream and the faint whisper of wind through branches.

  “Magic is in the air,” Thane said. He rubbed his crotch. “Can you feel it? Somebody’s practicing the art in there.”

  Standing still, he searched his body for sensation. In a few seconds, he felt tingling in his groin. “It feels like what I felt when Sorel and Nicolai were doing magic in the cave. But not as strong.”

  “Let’s take a look.”

  “But… is it all right? They won’t mind?”

  Thane shook his head. “Not as long as we don’t distract them. It’s good practice. Sometimes it’s necessary to use the art with others in attendance. You need their help. You can’t be shy about it.”

  The news came as a surprise, but Ander could see the sense in it. It fit with the way the mages called sex an art. He followed Thane the short distance into the forest and peered through a window that had been opened for ventilation.

  The cabin’s interior was a single room, unfurnished except for a brazier filled with glowing coals and a large cushion made of red leather. Two young men lay entwined on the cushion, a handsome short-haired youth with nut-brown hair and another with tousled blond curls. Black cloth strips circling their heads covered their eyes. A faint red glow surrounded them. Their hands moved slowly over each other’s bodies with feathery touches. They were lying head to toe, and each had the other’s rigid cock pressed against his smooth cheek.

  “Why are they blindfolded?” Ander whispered.

  “To focus concentration on touch. It’s a basic exercise.”

  Ander was fascinated. The lovers’ single-minded intensity was impressive and arousing. “Their minds are reaching into the kei, like it says in the gramarye curiosa? That’s what the red glow means?”

  “The word ‘reaching’ isn’t quite right,” Thane answered, stepping back from the window. He drew Ander away and led him back to the trail. “We still don’t know exactly what the kei is. Maybe we never will. But I’m sure we’re part of it. It’s not something separate that we just make contact with. I believe we help create it or add to it.”

  “And two people can create more of it than one?”

  “Exactly. Like Nicolai and Sorel. Sorel is intense, totally immersed in the senses. Nicolai is gentle and restrained. Together, they create something more potent than either of them alone. They complement each other.”

  Ander could believe it, remembering how incredible it had felt to be with Nicolai and Sorel. His erection pulsed at the thought, rubbing pleasurably against his soft leather pants. He took a deep breath, feeling alive and very fortunate. “I understand what you mean about them. I couldn’t believe what I felt when I saw them making love. It was like fireworks.”

  Thane nodded solemnly. “They’re a perfect match. And two of my best friends. I hope they don’t get into trouble in Fochelis.” The concern in his voice was sincere.

  They arrived at the hill’s summit, where a circular stone building occupied the middle of a small clearing. Columns supported a domed roof that glowed with milky translucence. The structure was high enough to provide a view over the treetops. A vista spread before them, sun breaks painting the landscape with bold strokes.

  They sat on one of the stone benches that circled the building. Thane stared to the east, his expression unreadable. Sun glinted off his hair, and his eyes narrowed to slits against the brightness. At last he took a deep breath and leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees.

  “Hate is a sickness,” he said softly. “I try to guard against it, fight when it comes after me. But it’s hard. Coming here sometimes helps. It’s a reminder of those we’ve lost. And how they’d want us to live.”

  “Is that what this building is? A monument?”

  “It was once a shrine to some local deity, built long before Tolmin acquired the estate. Now it’s dedicated to comrades we’ve lost to the zamindar. It’s a powerful place, if you knew them.” His young face was strained, as if fighting tears.

  Ander sensed this was a very important place. They wouldn’t have come here if it wasn’t. Thane was trying to show him something personal, a thing too hard to speak of. “Can we look inside?”

  “You go. I’m not ready for it this morning.” He pointed to a trail on the far side of the clearing. “There’s something else I want to show you. Meet me over there when you’re done.” He slipped off the bench and was gone.

  Ander stood, watching Thane’s back as he crossed the clearing, then turned to the monument. A bronze door embossed with hieroglyphs of some sort faced the rising sun. He gripped a large ring attached to the door and pulled. It swung open easily, balanced by hidden counterweights.

  Dusky light fell from clerestory windows and bathed the chamber in rosy hues. When he stepped inside, he saw marble walls curving around him, bearing panels with names carved into them. He went to the first panel and examined it. The name heading the list was Lucian Adera. There were no comments or words of comfort, nothing to set it apart from the other names. He looked around the chamber and absently let his fingers graze over the cool stone.

  A muffled thud caused by the door swinging shut made him jump. He spun around, his heart racing. He was still alone. Strong wind might have moved the counterbalanced door, but there had been no wind outside. His hackles rose as he peered around the empty chamber.

  He cautiously moved to the exit, all his senses straining, then put his hand on the door and started to push it open.

  “Wait.”

  The word was whispered in the back of his mind, almost inaudible. But he instantly knew it wasn’t his own thought. His breath caught and his body went rigid, though the voice hadn’t been threatening. Curiosity sparked to life.

  “Is somebody here? Thane?”

  The room’s rosy light started to thicken. In a few seconds it coalesced into a wavering sphere in the center of the chamber. He stared at it, ready to bolt at the first sign of danger. The sphere dissolved and revealed a nearly transparent figure.

  At first Ander thought the nude figure’s face was a reflection, some trick of the light. Then he noticed the apparition’s slanted eyes and long black hair braided in a ponytail. He stepped back, heart pounding.

  “Don’t be frightened. I won’t harm you.” The voice was a feathery whisper in his mind. The wraith seemed wistful. “I can barely talk to you. I seek your help.”

  “What are you?” Ander asked, his voice tight. He stepped away, his back against the door. “What do you want from me?”

  The apparition closed his eyes. When they opened again, they sparkled like blue sapphires. “I’m an echo. A ripple in the kei that hasn’t completely faded away. I’m all that remains of someone who loved Thane with all his heart.”

  Ander’s eyes widened. “Lucian?”

  “Yes, but only the part woven into the web of the kei through the art. The part that still suffers because of my beloved’s pain.”

  In a rush, fear turned to empathy. “Thane’s grief. I’ve felt it. But why don’t you talk to him instead of me?”

  “Losing me once almost killed him. He won’t be able to bear it if he thinks he can regain me and then learns it’s impossible. He’s alive and has a vital task to complete. And I yearn for him to find happiness again. I’ve chosen you to ask for help.”

  “Why me? I haven’t proven I can ma
ster the art.”

  The figure wavered, nearly disappearing. Shafts of light from the windows cut through it like knives.

  “You have the ability,” Lucian whispered. “And I can help you. I chose you because we’re alike in many ways. Thane has already noticed it.”

  Ander gulped. “I… I’ll try. I care for him. More than I can explain or even understand. What do you want me to do?”

  “Be his friend. Join him on his journey. And protect him if you can.”

  “Protect him? From what? I’m not much of a fighter, and I’m certainly no mage.”

  “No. You’re a lover. That’s what he needs. Protect him from anger and grief. Those are his greatest enemies.”

  “But what about the zamindar? He has a device—”

  “Have courage and trust your friends. I cannot sustain this form any longer. Remember, Thane must never know of me. Farewell.” The figure pulsed once with soft, golden light before vanishing.

  Ander stood motionless, hardly breathing, searching with his senses and his mind for any trace of Lucian’s presence. But the chamber was empty and cold. He turned and pushed the door open.

  Dazzling sunlight had broken through the clouds. Thane waited at the edge of the forest with his face turned to the sun. Ander trotted across the clearing and joined him. The mage met him with a searching gaze.

  Ander put a hand on his shoulder. “I see why it’s a special place. Thank you for letting me see it.”

  Thane nodded and wiped at his eyes, visibly pulling himself together, then gave Ander a faltering smile. “Let me show you something else. I wouldn’t usually show this to anyone who isn’t an initiate. But I want you to see it.”

  He turned and led the way down another path. It twisted around boulders and descended steeply. Before long Ander heard the sound of falling water. They rounded one more turn in the trail and were confronted by a cliff. Water thundered from a narrow gap high in the gray wall, arching out before crashing into a pool beneath them. A narrow path traversed the face of the cliff before disappearing behind the waterfall.

  “This way.” Thane scrambled down the path with casual disregard for the precipitous drop. Ander followed more carefully, wary of the loose rock underfoot. Mist from the waterfall made the rocks slippery. The path led behind a wide curtain of water. Spray from the waterfall billowed around them.

  “We’re almost there,” Thane shouted over the din. He slowed, watching his footing as they moved behind the waterfall and the light faded. After a few more yards, a carved portal opened on their left. Thane stepped into it, guiding Ander with an outstretched hand.

  “Is this a cave?” Ander asked. “I don’t much like caves.”

  Thane nodded, barely visible in the dim light. “Sorel told me about your cave experience. He was impressed by your inquisitiveness.”

  “Huh. Nicolai seemed to think I was just horny.”

  “Oh, Sorel thought that too. But he recognized your curiosity. That’s why I wanted to show you this.”

  Ander looked around, trying to make out the cavern’s features. “I don’t see anything. It’s too dark.”

  “I’ll take care of that. Hold my hand. This is easier for two.”

  Ander felt Thane’s warm hand and returned the strong clasp. A pulsing sensation flowed between them.

  Tiny points of red light began to glow around the cavern’s circumference. In moments the chamber was softly illuminated. Swirling mists, captured in glass flasks set into niches around the walls, sparkled with motes of bright light. The stone walls, which must have been almost white under natural light, luminesced faintly. Shapes Ander had taken for boulders were revealed to be piles of leather cushions and stacks of supplies. Another passage opened at the back of the chamber, and when he turned around he saw a thick door that could swing shut to block the main entrance.

  “What is this? Some kind of fastness?”

  “It’s that and more. This is a nexus in the kei. A place where water, air, and earth are joined.” Thane pointed at the containers of radiant mist spaced around the room. “We’ve added fire, the spark of life. We’re able to do powerful magic here. Tap into forces far greater than ourselves.”

  Ander looked around, feeling the aura of power in the chamber. The rock seemed to vibrate with a low rumble. He felt as if something mighty lurked behind him, barely out of sight.

  “Why are you showing me this?”

  Thane hesitated, looking down. After taking several deep breaths, he lifted his eyes and met Ander’s gaze.

  “When we made love yesterday, I felt something I didn’t understand. I’m not ready to talk about it. Except to say you feel different to me. Like… something I haven’t felt in a long time. This place can magnify feelings, increase awareness. I wanted to see what happened when you came here.”

  “Could you sense something?”

  Thane’s intensity returned, coupled with a searching stare filled with confusion. “Yes.” The whispered reply was nearly inaudible. Ander waited for him to continue, but he stood mute. Finally Ander broke the silence.

  “I think I felt something too. But I’m not sure. I suppose it wasn’t the kei, since I haven’t learned to perceive it.”

  Thane shook himself. With a quick chop of his hand, he plunged the room back into darkness. “And that’s my fault. Let’s go back to the castle. We should try again. And this time I won’t be surprised.”

  The trip up the narrow trail from the fastness was easier than the trip down. They soon reached the lip of the ravine and then crossed the clearing where the memorial kept vigil. They walked swiftly; Ander suspected Thane shared his eagerness for renewing their intimacy.

  As they approached the cabin they had passed on the hike up, they saw the door standing open. The two youths they had seen practicing the art barreled out of the small structure.

  “There you are!” The one with blond curls grabbed Thane by the arm. “Shan came by. He’s going up the ravine and telling everyone to look for you.”

  “What is it, Skorri? Another seeker spell?”

  “No,” the other replied. “Sorel and Nicolai are back. They’re waiting in the workroom, and they want to talk with you. Now. They found something in Fochelis.”

  Thane thumped Ander on the back. “Come on!” He started running down the trail at full speed. Ander followed, his test forgotten.

  Chapter 13

  ANDER was gasping for breath by the time they reached the castle. They raced to the tower and sprinted up the stairs two at a time. Nicolai and Sorel were sprawled on a leather cushion in the workroom, dirty and exhausted. Half a dozen other initiates stood nearby.

  “Skorri said you have news,” Thane said. “What happened?”

  Katy scowled. “They won’t say. All they’ll do is eat and ask where you are.” She wrinkled her nose. “They rode all night and wouldn’t even take the time to wash before coming up here to wait for you.”

  Nicolai rose stiffly to his feet. The smell of sweat and horse hung heavy around him. “We should speak in private.”

  A frown crossed Thane’s face, but he turned to the initiates. “Please excuse us. I’m sure there’s a reason for what they ask.”

  “Ander should stay,” Sorel said as he rose wearily to his feet. “Some of this concerns him.”

  Thane closed the door as soon as everyone else had left the workroom. “All right. What’s this all about?”

  Nicolai and Sorel, both leaning against the granite pool, glanced at each other. “You tell him,” Sorel said. “I’m too saddle sore to think straight.”

  Nicolai wiped a hand across his forehead, leaving a dirt smear, and then nodded. “Something important is about to happen in Fochelis. The city is swarming with soldiers. Streets are being swept, buildings painted. Entertainers are being hired and banquets held. Vintners are bringing out their best bottles, farmers are slaughtering their fatted calves. And the kei feels like a web swarming with poisonous spiders. Sorcerers are everywhere.”

 
“You entered the kei?” Thane asked sharply.

  “We had to find out what was going on,” Sorel replied. “We only listened. I don’t think we were noticed.”

  Thane’s eyes narrowed to slits. His unhappiness at the risk they had taken was plain. “What did you learn?”

  “We think the zamindar himself is coming to Fochelis,” Nicolai said. “And it’s because of that device we saw in the basilica’s crypt. We could feel it operating the whole time we were in the city. It was like you said. It sucks anima from anything it can reach. Sorel and I have been calling it the leech, the name you first gave it.”

  Sorel picked up the story. “I’m guessing the zamindar hopes to use it to rejuvenate himself. But it’s an obscene imitation of the way the art rejuvenates us. He’s going to feed on the lives of others instead of generating his own anima.”

  Thane looked shaken. “He found a path to immortality?”

  Sorel shrugged. “That’s our best guess. Or maybe it’s a weapon. Whatever it is, it looks like he wants to be there when they’re ready to use the stored anima.”

  Ander joined them at the pool, leaning on its broad rim. “What does this have to do with me? You said there’s a reason I should stay.”

  Nicolai and Sorel exchanged another glance. Both looked worried. Then Sorel sighed and put an arm around Ander’s shoulders. “We wondered where they were getting victims to drain for anima, until we saw a military caravan in the street. They’re bringing in prisoners from all over the kingdom. We saw wagons bringing prisoners from Pella.”

  Ander stiffened. “Lady Tayanita! She wasn’t a prisoner, was she?”

  Sorel’s grimace was more eloquent than words.