Jun dropped his cloak, unbuckled his sword belt, and laid his weapons within easy reach. Nolly's eyes traced his tall, angular body as Jun removed his clothing, lingering on his long rod in a nest of curling brown thatch. He knelt in front of her, brushing his fingers through her fair hair and feeling her trepidation. I'll be gentle. You'll feel much better when I'm finished."
Nolly quivered under his touch, watching his cock straighten as it hardened, and wondering how he could get all of that inside her without hurting her. Yes, I know."
"Good. Jun took her hands and stroked her fingers through the thick curling hair on his chest. Touch me. Feel me. Do not fear me."
Nolly stroked him timidly when he released her hands. Her fingers went gradually lower until they were tangled in the thatch around his member. She dug through his crotch hairs with a shy tentativeness that suggested she wished to touch the pale lance standing forth from the dark hair, but hadn't yet the courage.
Jun mouthed her neck, biting along it gently without yet breaking the tender skin. She trembled; and Jun tasted her fear. It made him hot, hard, and eager. Jun ran his hands up and down her body, soothing her. He took hold of her hair firmly to keep her from flinching when the time came, while his other hand thumbed her nipple. Nolly moaned beneath his skilled fingers. His fangs went in smoothly, barely eliciting a whimper from her, and he drank. Jun could feel Nolly relaxing as he drew the excess fluids from her body and relieved her Blood-Bloat. He was masterful, if not as tender as Haig who had a reputation for making his nibari very happy when he fed upon and lay with them. Jun swept through her mind with images of flowers and the scent of jasmine. He set sways within her mind to make her eager for him. The sways would fade in time, but by then Nolly would have lost her nervousness.
She went weak against him, smiling dazedly. He emerged from her, deliberately leaving a huge, conspicuous bruise with two small holes while being careful not to scar her, and licked the wound to close it. That bruise would linger long enough for all to know she had been blooded.
Nolly gave him a stunned smile as she fingered the bruise. I'll wear it proudly, Jun."
Jun kissed her forehead and then her lips. I know you will."
The final step of the blooding was to remove the hymen and end her virginity. Jun fingered her vagina, finding that it was small and tight; while he was large and thick. The nibari always were at this age. He would need to be careful not to tear more than her hymen.
Jun pushed her to the ground, murmuring, Third position."
Nolly lay quietly, with her legs opened in readiness for him. Her breath caught a bit and then came out in a nervous sigh as Jun spread his bulk atop her. He rested on one elbow so that he had a free hand to comfort her with.
Yes, Nainee trained her well . Nolly knew what he would do and was prepared to receive him. He entered her as gently as he could, yet she cried out when her hymen tore and lay very still as if afraid to move or react to him. Jun stroked her face as he continued to thrust methodically, opening her up more and more until he had torn it all away. Her warm, wet, tightness clutching at his member was very satisfying. Then he went deeper and harder.
"Put your legs around me. Grasp me."
She crossed her legs over his buttocks. Jun saw tears in her eyes and worried that he was hurting her.
"Put your fingers on the base of my cock and feel me move."
Nolly obeyed, but it remained a passionless coupling. That would change in time, with training. Jun smiled and kissed her. Yes, Nolly would be one of the better nibari. He would come back to her often. She would learn to trust him and then the passion would come. He reared back and shoved in all the way as his dead seed spilled inside her. She whimpered. And that was when Jun saw the figure, watching in the shadows, a slender half-grown boy. He suspected that it was Stygean.
"Damn it! Jun cursed as he rolled off her and pulled his pants on.
Nolly trembled. Did I do it wrong?"
Jun hugged her briefly. Not you, Nolly. Someone was watching us. Get your clothes on and get back to camp."
Nolly obeyed and Jun walked behind her as far as the place he had seen the figure. He knelt and ran his hand over the ground, looking for signs of who it had been and came up with nothing. He felt tempted to come back with one of the lycans and have them sniff around for a scent, but the odds were that all of the children had passed through here and the scent would be confused. Instead, he headed off to inform Haig.
"That boy was watching me! Jun burst into Haig's tent without announcing himself and stopped, looking abashed. Nainee had her bodice down and Haig was licking her breasts. It seems to be a night for these things, Jun stammered.
Nainee laughed, worsening Jun's embarrassment, and pulled her bodice up.
"What are you talking about, Jun? Haig straightened and wiped a smear of Nainee's blood from his lips.
"I blooded Nolly tonight. In a thicket as we finished with the water carrying. I had shot my wadexcuse my language, Nainee. Anyway, I was still between Nolly's legs. You trained her well, Nainee, by the way. And there he was, standing in the shadows watching it all."
"You got a good look at him?"
"No, he ran as soon as he knew he had been seen. But I'm certain that it was Stygean. That little death-eater is always creeping around, going places he shouldn't be."
Haig sighed, closed his trousers, and stood up. I'll speak to Isranon."
"I'll go to Nolly in case she needs something, Nainee said. A nibari's first blooding can be a difficult experience. My first master was sa'necari and not gentle."
* * * *
Isranon missed Dane, who had left the morning after the destruction at Linder's Meadow, and wished his old friend had agreed to come with them. Yet he also understood that they all had to fight the war with Galee in their own ways. He glanced up from the book he was reading, as Haig entered the tent with Jun. Isranon, we need to talk about the boys."
He did not need to ask which boys. What did they do?"
"They were supposed to go back to their tent. Instead, Jun discovered that one of them was apparently stalking him while he blooded Nolly."
"Which one? Tension threaded Isranon. Amiri and Nevin had pressured him into making laws to apply to everyone in campespecially the hemovoresor else Amiri would have killed both boys out of hand as too dangerous to let live. He had left the discipline of the human soldiers to Nans Gryphonheart, while hoping he would never be forced to apply them to Jingen and Stygean.
Jun took a seat and leaned his elbows on the table. He was in the shadows. I couldn't see his face, but I know it was Stygean."
"How do you know it was Stygean?"
Jun's face flushed with anger. Because he's been stalking Nolly."
"Did she tell you that? Isranon strove to remain calm, trapped between anger at this disobedience, and a reluctance to punish the boys when he was trying so hard to teach them a different path.
"We've all seen it, Isranon. Jun, Corbienne, Garin, Keahi, Travis, and myself. All of us."
Isranon got to his feet, leaning on Warrior: his legs were bothering him again. Let's talk to both boys."
* * * *
Stygean huddled under his blanket with one of the books Isranon had given him as a birthday present. It was a pressed book, one of those they had started to manufacture in Iradrim and Creeya. The dwarven technology had not yet spread to all the realms, but people claimed it would. Stygean paused periodically to examine the bindings, looking for flaws in the workmonship without finding any. Dawnreturning had confiscated all the books in the libraries of the conquered in Ocealay, including his father's. The book had been packed up, globed, and now resided in one of the wagons. Stygean thought with longing of his father's library, and how he used to curl up there in a chair to read. Resentment flared, stifling the need to cry for his losses: home, security, and a pleasant life.
He heard angry voices heading for the tent he shared with Jingen, and rolled onto his side, carefully placing the book in his
pack for safekeeping.
"Stygean! Haig shouted from outside the tent.
Stygean blinked, wondering what he had done, for he had been on his best behavior for several days. Emerging from the tent, he found Haig, Jun, Isranon and Anksha standing outside. He stiffened, trying not to look at Anksha the Beast. She frightened him and he hated her. What is it?"
Jun stepped forward. You did not return to your tent as you were ordered. You snuck back to watch me blood Nolly. I saw you."
Stygean sucked air. It wasn't me."
"Where have you been then?"
"In my tent reading."
"Is Jingen in there? Isranon reached for the tent flap.
Stygean shook his head. No. But, there's no harm in watching. We've seen it all before. We've seen the rites performed."
A scowl flickered across Isranon's face more at the mention of the rites than at Jingen being absent, and turned to Haig. Find Jingen."
The Lemyari left.
"Filthy sa'necari, Anksha growled, descending into her patois, the tips of her long black hair lifting and dancing as if caught in a static charge. Always sneaking around looking for trouble."
Jingen sauntered up with Haig and Luka, Zulaika's nibari.
"Where were you? Isranon frowned at Jingen.
"You were told to return to your tent, Jun growled.
Jingen looked at him with wide, guileless eyes, tinged with hurt feelings. I had permission to visit my mother when I finished my chores. I went there directly. You can ask her. Luka walked me back."
Luka nodded.
"I didn't do it. The promise of punishment in their expressions sent a sick feeling through Stygean. He hadn't done anythingexcept stand up to them. They were bullies, the lot of them. Stygean glanced at Isranon, expecting anger, but finding only a disturbing sadness and resignation in the mage's eyes.
Isranon turned away, walking to a slender beech tree, leaning his shoulder against it and putting his back to the boys. Jun, do what you have to."
Jun cut a switch from the nearest beech tree while Haig forced Stygean's tunic over the boy's head and tossed it on the ground. Stygean twisted and squirmed, his muscles and skin crawling in terrified anticipation of the first blow. Haig grasped the boy's upper arms and held him firmly, exposing his back to Jun.
Iyan raced up to them, his eyes large. No. Stygean wouldn't do it. He saved me. He wouldn't do it. The adults ignored Iyan, so the boy pulled at Isranon's arm. Don't do this."
"He disobeyed orders, Iyan. There's nothing I can do about it."
Iyan heard Stygean scream, spun about and saw the blood welling in long tears on Stygean's back. He scanned the faces and spied Travis standing with a smug look, realized he would get no help there, and so ran to Jun. Please stop. Stygean's my friend."
Travis jerked Iyan off his feet, tucked the boy under his arm and carried him away. Don't fool yourself, Iyan. That little bastard's no one's friend."
"Next time, you'll obey orders. Jun applied the switch to Stygean's back with savage enthusiasm.
Stygean flinched and tears leaped into his eyes. He shrieked and gasped each time the stinging beech wand met his flesh, pain driving the breath from his lungs again and again. His face burned with humiliation. He dimly became aware of the nibari children and adults gathering to watch. He had never been beaten before, so it hurt both his body and his pride. His flesh parted beneath the blows. Blood ran down his back, soaking the top of his pants. He felt dizzy and weak; his legs wanted to buckle as the beating continued for what seemed forever. Despite the pain, Stygean refused to beg Jun to stop. It ceased abruptly and left Stygean waiting in dread and confusion for the next strike. Instead, Haig straightened him up by one arm.
Isranon refused to look him. Take him to his father."
Jun snatched Stygean from Haig, licking the bloody stick as he dragged the stumbling boy across the camp to the black tents of the blood-slaves. Daree, who was on guard at the tents that day, shook her head at Stygean's bloody back as Jun marched him past her.
Disharyl Scathwick, Jingen's mother, stood watching, muttering under her breath when she saw the boy. My, how the mighty are fallen."
His father had a small tent apart from the other blood-slaves, since they did not want the previous leader influencing them and making them hard to handle. No one trusted Liuthan.
Jun shoved Stygean through the tent door before following him inside. Stygean staggered, and stumbled to his knees.
Liuthan, seated upon his cot, glanced at them.
Stygean picked himself up and managed to cross the last few steps to Liuthan, struggling not to weep.
The Withering, which was the fate of all myn taken as blood-slaves by Anksha the beast, had reduced Liuthan's once powerful body to flaccid sagging muscles on a gaunt frame. His rugged features had lost all traces of his previous handsomeness, and become faded and drawn with dark circles under his eyes, deep canyons of suffering etched around his mouth, across his cheeks, and lined his forehead. Liuthan rose from the cot with an effort, and his arms closed around Stygean. His son winced as Liuthan's arms touched his wounds. Liuthan frowned, lifted his arm, and stared at the blood on it.
"Your son misbehaved."
Stygean gave way to tears. I hate you."
Liuthan shifted his grip on his now weeping son, one arm around his neck and the other across his bottom so that he could comfort Stygean without touching the bloody welts. Dawnreturning..."
"Turned his back. We have rules. The rules will be obeyed, without exceptions. Then Jun stepped outside to give them time alone.
"I hate them. Stygean moaned. I didn't do anything."
Liuthan helped his boy over to the cot and sat down with him. Don't say that. The old ways are death for you now."
"But I didn't do it. It was Jingen. I'm certain of it."
"Don't protect Jingen. I never trusted his family. I have never trusted him. He's too much like his mother."
Stygean wiped his tears with the back of his hand. You never said..."
"I didn't think you were ready to hear it. The two of you seemed to be friends."
Stygean frowned, changing the subject. I took Farris."
Alarm swept across Liuthan's face. Not in the rites? He tilted Stygean's face up to study his eyes, to see if that first tainted shade of amaranth had entered them.
"No, of course not. I'm not stupid. I mean sexually."
Liuthan listened to him describe his experiences with Farris, how he went to her nightly in hidden places. Then he kissed his son and took his face in his hands. Now listen to me. If they catch you with Farris, it will go far worse than this for you. You must stop it. You must do what they tell you."
"Father.... I am sa'necari."
"It will not matter what you are, if you are dead, Liuthan said sharply. Listen to Dawnreturning. Learn his ways. And, if you can, embrace them."
"Father, I want to kill him, Stygean screamed. He let them do this to me. The price of heresy is death. If I believed I could kill Anksha, I would try so that you would be free. But she is the Beast. And Jun ... I'd like to put a stake through his heart. I want to kill them all. Kill all of them. I want to rite that arrogant nibari, Nainee. They make me take my lessons from her. A nibari teaching a sa'necari! I feel humiliated."
Liuthan listened until the rant had ended and Stygean began first to weep and then to sob brokenly, finally settling into some intermittent hiccupping. Everything you say is true. What is also true is that all those things will get you killed."
Stygean twisted away. I don't care. I am sa'necari."
Liuthan's face reddened. No! Listen to me. Get that out of your head. You are sa'necari. They can never take that away from you. However, to keep the truth of sa'necari alive, you must keep yourself alive."
"Father...."
"Let me finish. Listen to Dawnreturning. Do what he says. Stay alive; keep the promise of your nature alive. My health fails, Stygean. I won't be here much longer for you. Promise me that you will d
o what he tells you, that you'll stay alive."
"I promise, Father. Then Stygean pressed himself into his father's arms, and began crying again.
* * * *
Isranon sat at his table with his head laying on his folded arms amidst the books he had been reading. He devoted every spare hour to studying Josiah's journals and texts, knowing that his life and those of his companions depended upon his learning everything that he could about the arcane; yet he found it difficult to focus. Stygean's screams of pain still echoed in his thoughts.
He had become the first mage-paladin to Kalirion Sun-Lord by taking on Josiah's powers and responsibilities, but the core of it had been his willingness to also shoulder Josiah's sins and expiate them on his dead friend's behalf so that Josiah's soul could rest.
At the sound of someone entering the tent, he stirred and raised his head. I didn't want to do it."
Nevin frowned and ran his hand through his black hair disturbing the patches of gray in his heavy thatch.
"You mean the boy?"
Isranon nodded.
"He deserved it. Maybe you'd have turned out better had I turned you across my knee like I did the others."
Isranon repressed a frown and wondered what had Nevin so grumpy. He frequently wrote it off to the fact that lycan lawgivers not only enforced the law, they taught it to their primarily illiterate people. Nevin had always been quick to tack Isranon's hide to the wall in philosophical discussions. Isranon usually got sucked into such discussions even when they turned into arguments. The Dark Brothers of the Light had been given to endless rounds of debating philosophy when they were not brooding about the nature of things.
"The boy is bad, Isranon. He'll stick a knife in you one day. And I don't trust the other little shite either."
"Jingen?"
"Aye."
"I still did not like having to do that."
"Get used to it. The only thing they understand is strength ... and violence. It's what they were raised to."
Janrae Frank Dark - [Dark Brothers of the Light 08] - Blood Hope Page 8
