by Tinnean
And that quickly, Torbald Terhazien went from having one powerful son to two. His firstborn would be shield bearer, and his second was the consort of the daemon, the second-most powerful man in the empire of Narsyk.
“I look forward to having you at my side,” Jaron told Valian. “A Ko-Tai cannot rule without his brother… without his Daemon.”
“I belong as much to Arterus as to you,” he said honestly. “We both know this.”
“And because of this, after all that has come between us, I would still hear him. Only,” he emphasized, “for you.”
“Thank you,” Valian said, hand over his heart.
“He and I….” Jaron tipped his head. “Well you know our legacy.”
“I will be home soon,” Valian assured him, the tears rolling down his cheeks as he clutched Gareth’s hand. “And we will all speak together.”
“I will hold dear the kingdom of Rieyn for its shelter of you.” His eyes darkened suddenly. “For well you know the outcome had you been lost to me.”
“I do know.” He nodded. “Your rage, like your brother’s, is a horror.”
Jaron’s smile was cold for the moment before he bowed. “I await you with open arms.”
The portal did not close as it had opened; it shut with a thunderclap of booming sound and was simply gone. The gasps and murmurs filled the hall as Cerus stepped forward to offer the delegation of Narsyk quarters within the castle.
Cerus gestured for Eculis Pol to come forward to guide the men and women of Narsyk to their chambers so they might rest before the coming revels. There was much to discuss with the hyson and the newly discovered daemon. But before they could take their leave of him, Valian stepped forward and bowed low to Cerus Tapal.
He looked at the man, at the daemon, at a man he might have never seen, merely a consul, important only to a prefect but never to an archlord. Valian had fooled them all, and Cerus was much more than grateful. For had he not been among the living, Cerus wondered what the Ko-Tai of Narsyk would have had planned for them. Crystal clear had been his message. His brother was precious to him.
“I would ask your permission for us to not retire in seclusion as I would have one of your nobility accompany us, great archlord.”
“You would have Gareth Terhazien attend you?” the archlord asked knowingly.
“I would, my lord.”
“And you shall have him.” Cerus smiled warmly, thrilled at the outcome of the day. The son of one of his most trusted barons would accompany the daemon and be a champion in Narsyk for Rieyn. He could not have been more pleased.
Valian smiled softly at him and turned toward the door, tugging Gareth after him, their hands, the archlord finally noticed, clasped tightly.
Gareth let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding and then covered Daemon’s hand with his as he allowed himself to be drawn into step beside him.
“Ostyn Tan,” Valian called out, “will you attend me or no?”
He would have rolled his eyes if they were alone, but protocol had been drilled into him, and too much emotion had already been spilled on the floor of the great hall. In time he would have to explain to Valian all that decorum demanded. On the other hand, the surge of happiness he felt at being ordered about had been desperately missed.
Everyone saw the enormous smile on the face of the Hyson of Narsyk as he jogged after the man he had searched for since the day they had been parted in the woods of Ebi ten years before.
Nine
THE CONTINGENT from Narsyk was allowed to take refuge on the lead ship still anchored in the Bay of Creon. Ostyn Tan had gently argued that the archlord could not guarantee the safety of the daemon, and to allow anything to happen to the brother of the Ko-Tai was simply foolish. The archlord could find no fault with the hyson’s logic and so gave the delegation safe passage from the castle. He hated to have them out of his sight, as he had so many more questions, but there was simply no diplomatic recourse open to him. With permission granted to leave, soldiers from Narsyk came ashore and escorted the daemon, the hyson, and the scion back to the ships. It was there in the following days that the powers of Rieyn arrived to see them off.
The mist rolled in as the procession moved slowly toward the dock. The stairs they descended seemed endless as they dropped from the main road down to the harbor. Eons-old trees and thick brush framed both sides of the path, and the stairs went down, stopped for a plateau before descending once more. Cerus led the way, with his lady and his consort flanking him. Behind him came Ram and Mycah and Ehron, followed by the barons and their families. The streets had been cleared for the departure, as Cerus wanted no surprises. He wanted the delegation of Narsyk off his shore without any mishap.
When finally the last step was taken, Cerus led the royalty of Rieyn out onto the docks and looked out over the Bay of Creon. Everyone had fanned out to the side of him and created a vast circle. They all waited silently and were soon rewarded with the appearance of the daemon of Narsyk. Ehron Terhazien, standing silently beside Ram, realized how different his friend appeared now. He was no longer simply allowed to attend them without guards. Forty men walked by before Ostyn appeared, followed by Irachis Qhan and finally Valian and Gareth. The son of the Baron of Kasan brought forth the daemon to the archlord. He stepped forward and bowed low. When he straightened, he offered the older man his hand. Cerus grasped it tight before bowing low, returning the deep show of respect.
“I will carry your hope of peace to the emperor, great archlord,” Valian assured Cerus.
“See that you do, my Daemon,” he said sincerely, smiling at him ever so slightly. “I would have the giant of Narsyk ever be a friend of Rieyn and never a foe.”
“May Hatsu grant you peace,” Valian smiled at him, stepping back
The consort and the lady both bowed to the daemon, who inclined his head before straightening to look once more at the archlord.
“Come!” Cerus announced to the assembled masses. “Let us bid our friends farewell as they embark on their journey across the sea.”
Everyone rushed together to hug and bestow prayers for safe travel.
Valian moved quickly around several that barred his path until he stood before the men of the house of Terhazien. Ehron looked down at his former consul, still overcome to see the gold eyes staring back at him.
“From this moment forward, I will miss having you at my side.”
Valian couldn’t speak; he only leaned forward into the Shield Bearer of Rieyn.
“All that I am, you have made me, rat-catcher, and it seems still that you would watch over me even from across the sea.”
Valian turned his head so that his cheek was pressed against Ehron’s chest. He didn’t lift his arms, only stayed still as Ehron hugged him tight.
“My brother belongs to you now; keep him close to your heart.”
The wind was steady and cold as it whipped around them, and all eyes watched Valian’s pale gray cloak envelope Ehron.
Gareth was hugged tight by both his parents and then his sister before he thanked his father again for allowing Penn to accompany him. The man had never been anything more than Gareth’s companion and so would continue to do what he did best. Odessa was openly sobbing as she kissed and hugged first Gareth and then Penn H’rah. Torbald had to drop his hand from Gareth’s shoulder to gather his wife in his arms.
The crowd parted then for Ostyn Tan. His black garments were a stark contrast with his white-blond hair and pale-blue eyes. An enormous bow was strapped across his back, and a sword hung at his waist. He looked outfitted more for battle than a sea voyage. It was clearly evident that he was taking his leave and that the daemon and his consort were to accompany him.
“I will count every rise and set until I bide with you again, Valian Shar,” Ehron told his friend. “You will always have my heart.”
“And you mine, my lord,” he said, taking a step back and bowing low.
Ehron sighed, grabbed Gareth fast, hugged him tight and hard,
and then shoved him away from him. “I wish you both great joy. Know that you are always welcome wherever I am.”
“And you with me, Ehron Terhazien.” Valian smiled brightly, reaching for Gareth’s hand before he took a deep breath.
Everyone watched as they walked side by side into the fog with Penn and then Ostyn Tan following behind. Hours later, the ship finally cleared the bay, and both Gareth and his friend stood in awe on the deck staring out across the waves.
Were they not there to bear witness to the spectacle for themselves, they would not have believed. As far as either man could see, there were ships. Just beyond the Bay of Creon, no less than three miles from the coast of Rieyn, was an armada of corsairs. Gareth turned to face Ostyn Tan, the Hyson of Narsyk.
“What is the meaning of this, my lord?”
Ostyn Tan strode forward and stood between the two men. “There are two banners, my lord, that of the Ko-Tai and that of the daemon.”
Gareth stared as the two separate banners were brought forth. They were unfurled, and he saw the black banner with the head of the raptor done in scarlet. The other was green with no trace of any other decoration.
“They mean to invade Rieyn,” Penn whispered nervously, his hand heavy on Gareth’s shoulder. “We must return to shore at once and warn the state.”
Turning, Gareth saw Valian holding onto the rigging, leaning out into the wind, head back eyes closed, and was filled with too much peace to consider anything else. “You speak of banners, Hyson.”
“I do.” Ostyn smiled knowingly, appreciating Gareth’s lack of alarm. “I raise now the banner of the daemon and in so doing turn the wolf from your door.”
Gareth understood at once. “If the daemon was not found with us, then the black banner would have been raised and our city would have been sacked.”
Ostyn nodded even as he signaled the men to raise the green.
It was not until that very instant that Gareth truly understood who Valian was, his rank, his title, and what he meant to so many… to the man able to grant life or bring death. The Empire of Narsyk was too vast to ever hope to fight and win against, but one man masquerading as a consul, disguised under a black robe, had saved them all.
“The black banner is the mark of the Ko-Tai. If his banner were raised, he himself would be here in a cycle to bring Rieyn under the yoke of Narsyk. You must believe me when I tell you this.”
Gareth did not doubt the word of Ostyn Tan.
“In finding Valian, we have triumphed and reach now toward Rieyn with an open hand of friendship and trade.” As he spoke the last, the banner of the daemon was raised on the main mast. When the colors of the daemon were flown, Gareth and Penn were treated to another spectacle. One after another, ship after ship raised the flag of the daemon until every corsair flew the same green banner of the brother of the Emperor of Narsyk. It was a wave of color that swept the fleet and left Gareth breathless with the synchronicity of the action.
“Truly, Ostyn Tan, the might of your country is something I dread.”
“Fear not.” He smiled, clapping Gareth on the back. “For the power of the realm lies in the emperor, and Jaron Siu is a good man, fair and loyal to friends. More to the point, his actions are soon to be guided and counseled”—he turned and pointed at Valian—“by that man. And he, we both know, was made kind and honest and true.”
He watched as Valian waved to men on other ships, and saw too the returned gesture. The low sound of thunder startled him until he realized he was hearing voices in song, a wall of sound that reached the corsair.
“What is that they chant?” He asked Ostyn.
“The song of Cheron, he who was the first Daemon,” Ostyn chuckled. “You cannot know the happiness of my country Gareth. We will be mobbed in the streets.”
As Gareth stared at the man he would soon bind his life to, the fear that had been choking him moments before left him. With Valian as the guardian of Rieyn, what worry could he have?
THAT EVENING as he lay on tangled sheets, enjoying the freedom of everyone on the ship knowing that he slept in Valian’s cabin and in his bed, Gareth had his lover howling with laughter as he recounted Penn’s questions to him from earlier in the day. His friend had pressed Gareth to understand how a man, instead of a woman, could steal his heart.
“He was seeking answers, and you were a proper ass to him.”
Gareth knew better. Penn wanted to know about mechanics, and Gareth had been honest—and vivid—in his detail.
Valian rubbed the tears from his eyes. His new mate was wicked and mean, and it was, in his estimation, just another reason why he adored the man.
Gareth wasn’t listening anymore, interested instead in the feel of Valian’s skin sliding over his. “Pour me some water, dreg.”
Valian smiled as he rose over Gareth, straddling his hips as he reached for the pitcher and glass.
Gareth was rough when he grabbed hold of the smaller man’s thighs, yanking him forward, shifting him momentarily off balance as his hand slid over the side of the bed to retrieve the small crystal pitcher of oil. He passed it to Valian.
“This will not quench your thirst, my lord.”
“Aye, it will,” he assured Valian. “Your scent, your lips, your hair, your skin… all of you calls to me, and I would show you again who your master is.”
Just his words sent sizzling heat over Valian’s skin. He had never known his own desire for a possessive, demanding lover until Gareth. As he coated the man’s throbbing, needy cock in oil, a whimper came up out of him.
“It would seem,” Gareth moaned as Valian lifted up and slowly, the anticipation building in him, “that being my servant pleases you. Kiss me, I want to taste you.”
Valian sank down over the long, hard, thick cock of his lover until every inch was buried inside of him. The moan of pleasure rose up out of him and brought a now familiar ache to Gareth’s heart.
His fluttering eyes, his catch of breath, watching the beads of sweat on the man’s smooth chest, all of it, together coupled with the way he felt when he simply held Valian in his arms, brought the words up from his soul. “You are my heart, Valian Shar.”
Valian saw the love pooled there in the man’s eyes and knew, even without benefit of reaching the shores of Narsyk, that he was already home. Wherever Gareth was, for the rest of his life, would be home.
“Kiss me and seal this bond between us. I would claim what is mine.”
Valian could think of no greater gift than being claimed by the man he loved.
MARY CALMES lives in Lexington, Kentucky, with her husband and two children and loves all the seasons except summer. She graduated from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. Due to the fact that it is English lit and not English grammar, do not ask her to point out a clause for you, as it will so not happen. She loves writing, becoming immersed in the process, and believes without question in happily ever afters, and writes those for each and every one of her characters.
By MARY CALMES
Acrobat
Again
All Kinds of Tied Down
Any Closer
With Cardeno C.: Control
With Poppy Dennison: Creature Feature
Floodgates
Frog
Grand Adventures (Dreamspinner Anthology)
The Guardian
Heart of the Race
Ice Around the Edges
Judgment
Mine
Romanus
The Servant
Steamroller
Still
Three Fates (Multiple Author Anthology)
Timing • After the Sunset
What Can Be
Where You Lead
Wishing on a Blue Star (Dreamspinner Anthology)
Change of Heart
Change of Heart • Trusted Bond • Honored Vow • Crucible of Fate
L’Ange
Old Loyalty, New Love • Fighting Insti
nct
Mangrove Stories
Blue Days • Quiet Nights • Sultry Sunset
A Matter of Time
A Matter of Time: Vol. 1 • A Matter of Time: Vol. 2
Bulletproof • But For You • Parting Shot
The Warder Series
His Hearth • Tooth & Nail • Heart in Hand
Sinnerman • Nexus • Cherish Your Name
Warders Vol. 1 & 2
Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
This is for the usual suspects, who helped me make Bless Us With Content the best it could be: Trish, Tim Mead, Tracy Nagurski, Drew Hunt, Jim, Gail Morse, and Tony. Thanks very much, my friends.
Most especially, this is for Bob, who emptied the dishwasher
and folded the laundry so I could have time to write.
Author’s Notes
Bless Us With Content takes its name from the Robert Burns poem, “A Grace Before Dinner.” Needless to say, the George Stephensons in this work have nothing to do with the George Stephenson who was the first to use a steam engine to pull a passenger train in 1825.
Otter moths and corn borers are insects that feed on hops, and crown gall and downy mildew are bacterial and fungal diseases respectively. A Benjamin is a man’s traveling coat. Ague is another name for malaria.
Using http://www.measuringworth.com/index.html, £10,000 in 1834 would be worth between $672,000 and $1,336,000 today. £2 at that time would be approximately $225 today. A “pony” is £25. A “monkey” is worth £500. Cent per center is a loan shark.
OSBURT LAYTHAM was a favorite of James I. Under His Majesty’s charter, Osburt sailed to the Indies, and on his return with untold wealth, as well as a valued treaty, he was rewarded with first a knighthood and then a baronetcy and the estate he renamed Fayerweather.
