Nevin struggled with the needs of his heart and requirements of his conscience. He had been in love with Isranon for seven years and kept it secret. It was wrong for the mentor to fall in love with the studenteven when he was no longer one. Nevin had taught Isranon everything from the time he was eight until Mephistis came and stole Isranon away from him at fourteen.
"I should have killed Mephistis."
"Nevin?"
He started from his thoughts, realizing he had both spoken aloud and reached the tents. Looking down at Anksha, Nevin smiled with a faint turn of his lips. Your husband needs you. He's very sad right now."
Anksha wiped the blood from her feeding off her lips and darted past him. Nevin kept on walking.
Gordain appeared abruptly at Nevin's side. Is something wrong?"
Nevin's head lowered and he paused. II'm lonely."
Gordain stepped close to Nevin, his hand went to the older wolf's crotch and rubbed the hardened spear. Come to my tent and I'll make you less lonely."
Nevin nodded. I'd like that."
They walked off together.
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CHAPTER EIGHT
COMFORT AND TREACHERY
Two days after Jun administered the beating to Stygean, Isranon put the boy to work copying documents and maps under his supervision. He tried to make caution a watchword around the youth, always removing the journals of the Mage-Master Josiah Abelard to a chest before Stygean arrived to do his copying so that he would not come into contact with them.
Josiah had been Isranon's friend in life, and his ghostly mentor after death. His soul had been allowed to return to the wheel when Isranon agreed to take Josiah's sins upon himself, expiating them on the Mage Master's behalf before their liege-god, Kalirion, Sun-Lord. Isranon had forsaken all hope of a long life, of seeing his children grown, and embraced the prediction of his early death, which Kalirion said would be the ultimate price of his sacrifice on Josiah's behalf.
Isranon stood over Stygean, watching the boy work. You have a deft hand."
Stygean looked up, his eyes watering. Thank you."
"Still hurting? Isranon felt a tremor of concern that Jun had beaten the boy more severely than he had expected when he walked off rather than observe it.
Stygean dropped his head and bit his lower lip.
"You are, aren't you? The image of Corbienne danced at the edges of his mind, provoking a sense of guilt and worry. I'll risk everything I have if that's what it takes to stop you from becoming another Corbienne. I don't want to kill you.
Stygean nodded.
Isranon looked away, searching for words as if they might be written on the ceiling of the tent and could be read there. He knew that he could not afford to seem ambivalenteven though that was how he feltbecause discipline had to be maintained, yet at the same time he wanted desperately to reach Stygean and turn him around. His early kindnesses toward Stygean had never brought a response from the boy. Please don't become another Corbienne.
"I regret that I had to allow Jun to punish you. However, orders must be obeyed, rules must be followed. You broke the rules and so you were punished."
Stygean nodded again.
Isranon exhaled heavily and decided to take a chance. I am excusing you from the rest of your chores. You come to me and only to me for the time being. I will inform Haig. Gather your stuff and go to Randilyn. Tell her I said to treat your back and give you something for the pain and discomfort."
Stygean rewarded Isranon with a look of gratitude, gathered his things, and started to walk out.
"Wait a minute."
Stygean stopped and turned, holding himself stiffly because of his sore back. Yes?"
"You father tells me you used to work out with him in the salle. When your back heals, I intend to have Nevin train you in blades."
"Truly? Stygean brightened.
"I said it. Nevin trained me into a blademaster."
Stygean glanced at Isranon's empty belt. You don't carry one."
"I don't need a sword, but I still practice with Nevin."
"Thank you."
"Now get off to Randilyn."
Stygean gave a quick nod and left the tent.
Isranon retrieved one of Josiah's journals on magic and tried to concentrate on the pages. He missed Josiah. Reading his journals, Isranon could almost hear his voice saying the words on the page. The books were no substitute for his mentor, and learning on his own without having Josiah around to answer questions made it more difficult, but Isranon managed. Although he knew the mon was happier now, he frequently wished the ghost was still hovering about him.
He sighed and realized that his fangs had come down. His throat and the back of his tongue crawledthe craving for blood had returned sooner than Isranon had expected. Amiri could not explain why his appetite had grown so large, both for blood and food. He stepped outside the tent where a small nibari child sat. They had begun to use the nibari children as message runners.
"Ask Nainee to send me three nibari."
"Male or female? Light meat or dark?"
"Don't speak of yourself as meat. Nibari are not meat."
The boy looked confused.
"Never mind. Just tell her. She knows my preferences."
Nainee brought him three blondes, all of good Black Cliff stock with long biteable necks, high breasts, and tight rounded bottoms. Isranon licked his fangs. He had still not worked his way through all of the nibari in the huge herd he had gained from his enemies in Ocealay when he defeated Liuthan's coup and rescued the city-state.
As each of the three assumed first position before Isranon, Nainee introduced them: Ila, Mardra, and Zeona.
Isranon ordered them all into his big bed and sent Nainee away. Haig owned Nainee, and although the Lemyari sometimes shared her with Isranon, he would never presume on Haig's friendship by tasting Nainee without his permission. Feeding always aroused him, and ever since he got his fangs at eleven, Isranon had coupled with the nibari as he fed upon them. Anksha had known that was his custom before he married her, and so she never complained about it. Like all the nibari from Liuthan's herds, these three had been fully trained in all twenty-six forms of submission. The twenty-sixth position was the only one that Isranon would never ask them to assume: that was the position they took on a sa'necari altar where they were killed at the moment of orgasm in the rite of mortgiefan. All sa'necari-owned nibari died that way. They were not allowed to grow old.
He renewed his warming spell on the tent as he watched the three undress, caressing each shapely body with his eyes. Isranon removed his clothes and climbed onto the huge bed with them. They giggled at him, a nervous sound that made him smile.
"Third position, Zeona."
She smiled back at him, laid down on her back, and drew her heels up to her bottom, opening herself wide to him.
"What about me? Ila made a moue at him.
Isranon's fangs came down all the way at Ila's eagerness. Nibari always became delightfully wet and welcoming between their legs when they knew they were about to be bitten, so no preliminaries were required. He lifted Zeona's buttocks up and slipped his cock inside her. She moaned as he entered. Isranon liked the sounds they made.
Mardra ran her hands over his back and Ila stroked his chest.
"Ila, fourth position across Zeona."
Ila winked at Mardra and went to her hands and knees across Zeona, their breasts brushing together. Isranon licked Ila's neck as he began to thrust in and out of Zeona. Ila tensed for an instant as Isranon's fangs pierced her neck, relaxing as he began to suck the blood out of her. He grunted, shoved, and sucked until he felt Ila weaken. His seed pumped into Zeona as he licked the wound closed in Ila's neck. Isranon pushed Ila over on her back and took her next with the nearly insatiable arousal of a sa'necari while feeding on Mardra. Finally, he mounted Mardra and fed upon Zeona.
Anksha trotted into the tent and tilted her head, watching her husband feeding and fucking. All the forced soph
istication dropped from her manner, and Anksha went to her hands and knees. She crept to the edge of the bed where she could investigate it better like a curious cat, her tail uncurled and the tip twitched. Anksha studied Isranon's cock sliding in and out of Mardra. Are you putting babies in them too?"
The nibari giggled.
Isranon blinked, paused, and nearly lost his erection. They're not in season."
Anksha sniffed each nibari and patted Zeona's bottom. She is."
Nibari had a ninety-day cycle, unlike true humans, and Isranon had not considered the possibility that Nainee would bring him a nibari that had gone into season. He started to pull out of Mardra and roll onto his side. Anksha stopped him.
"Keep going. I want to watch."
Isranon gave a tiny nod and finished with Mardra. It had never occurred to him that Anksha might have a voyeuristic streak.
"Now that one. Anksha patted Zeona's buttocks. Make a baby."
Isranon flushed. I think we should talk about this first."
Zeona giggled. He's already had me."
Anksha grinned, flashing her fangs that she could not sheathe completely like the vampires and sa'necari. You go to Amiri. If you don't have a baby inside, come back tomorrow."
"Anksha! Isranon's flush darkened his cheeks. I'm not a horse or a dog."
Anksha wilted. I just want lots of Isranons."
Isranon ushered the nibari out and gathered his wife into his arms, wondering whyif she had wanted this all alongAnksha had not forced him into the role of stud while he was still her blood-slave. It would not be a good idea for me to simply start trying to make lots of offspring."
"Why not?"
"Well, there's a matter of inheritances. He opened Anksha's smock and rubbed her puffy belly. Timadi will be my legitimate heir. The others would all be bastards."
"So?"
Isranon remembered that his father had not married his mother until it became apparent that Isranon had been born sa'necari. On the other hand, he had married Anksha as soon as he knew she had become pregnant by him. Yet, Timadi could not possibly be sa'necari. The child that Anksha carried was clearly a demon-eater. Sa'necari never married their non-sa'necari lovers unless they had produced a sa'necari child, because sa'necari genes were recessive and not dominant except when both parents were sa'necari. Anksha, if they turned out to be sa'necari, they would quarrel over inheritances."
And I will not be here to raise them.
"I can handle it."
A small, uncertain smile touched Isranon's lips. I'm sure you can. Why is it so important to you?"
"I'm afraid I'm going to lose you."
His arms tightened around her. You're not going to lose me. Yet.
"Yes, I am. Anksha pushed away from him and fled.
Isranon started to go after her and then decided not to. He stretched out on his bed, trying to remember who he had shared Kalirion's prophecy with. Nans was one. He felt certain that she would not have told Anksha. Was there anyone else?
* * * *
Anksha found Nainee in the tent she shared with Haig. Trained as a hostess, the elegant nibari had an out-going nature that matched her training. She sat with her bodice open, holding her infant to her breast while he suckled.
"I want lots of Isranons."
Nainee looked startled. What do you mean?"
Anksha pressed her lips together, considering her words and struggling to set aside the comfortable childhood patois that she frequently retreated into. It would be nice to have lots and lots of them. Dawnhand only had four children. Waejonan killed his daughters. His son had only a single child."
"I know the legend."
"History. Anksha corrected her. I was there. Waejonan raped each of his little girls before he sent them to the military brothels. I was very little then. She held her hand out, indicating the height of a five-year-old child. I went after Waejonan, but I wasn't big enough to stop him. He and his soldiers.... Anksha shivered, a single tear running down her face. She had repressed the memories for centuries until Isranon awakened them months ago. They raped and beat me ... tossed me on the garbage heap to die."
Nainee went cold at the images, returned her son to his cradle, and gathered Anksha into her arms. I didn't know. I'm sorry it happened."
Anksha sniffled and rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes. Is okay. I grew up and I killed him. She sucked in a breath to steady herself. So I want lots and lots of Isranons. Too many for the enemy to find and kill them all."
"And how do you propose to do that?"
"Nibari. I need your help."
"Tell me what to do."
"Send Isranon mostly, and if possible only, nibari that are in season."
Nainee chuckled. You have yourself a conspirator. Choose out some nibari of good bloodlines and when they come into season, convince him to play a bedroom game with say, three of you; trick him into seeding them. Then you'll get your Isranons."
"Sounds good."
"And, let Haig and I help you. When we get to Ildyrsetts, we could hold a small, private orgy, with just the Lemyari, a bunch of ripe nibari, you, and Isranon."
"Sneaky. Anksha grinned.
* * * *
Seeing Luck and Travis walking toward him, Stygean ducked his head as he walked past them heading toward Randilyn's tent to have his back tended.
Luck nodded at the boy. Isranon seems to have taken a liking to that one."
Travis glanced to see which one Luck meant and shook his head. If he hurts Isranon, I'll cut his throat. Travis stiffened and then shook his head. Never thought I'd say that about a kid. But after what happened with Corbienne"
Stygean flinched when he heard Travis threaten his life, but kept on walking. Everyone hated him here. Everyone wanted to kill him. Everyoneexceptexcept, maybe Randilyn. She always seemed so kind.
"You never had a kid with fangs to consider, Travis."
"Yeah."
"You missing Iuf?"
Stygean's eyes slewed around, and he walked slower and slower; listening as long as he could to what they were saying, expecting another threat, and wondering if Luck wanted to kill him also.
Travis mouth tightened. It shook me up, Luck ... finding him like that. Her fangs in his throat ... and him turning blue."
"I feel his loss like a blade in the gut. Luck squeezed Travis shoulder. Look, I picked up a couple of bottles of cheap whiskey at that last town. You want to help me kill a bottle?"
"Sure do."
Their voices faded into the distance, and Stygean breathed a sigh of relief. He reached the medical tent and poked his head inside. Randilyn?"
Randilyn sat at a small table near the left side of the substantial tent, grinding dried herbs to powder with a mortar and pestle. She glanced at him and smiled. What do you need, Stygean?"
He sucked in a breath. Isranon said to have you treat my back."
She set her work aside and reversed a chair for him. Take your shirt and tunic off. Then straddle the chair so I can have a look at it."
Stygean went inside and noticed how much warmer it was in the tent than outside as he gingerly removed his tunic and shirt. He straddled the chair and propped his arms on the back. It's warm in here."
Randilyn smiled and indicated a brazier. Dawnreturning made us some hot stones. Say a special word and they heat up."
"He's sa'necari. Stygean squirmed inwardly at all the strange abilities that Isranon demonstrated. It tilted his sense of reality and threw everything he had been taught out of kilter.
"Yes, Randilyn murmured distractedly. She looked over Stygean's back, frowning. Some of the long tears had a yellowish film over them and looked swollen with pus. Have they been feeding you?"
"Nibari? No. Jun didn't want me healed by blood until he was satisfied I had suffered enough."
"Were those Jun's exact words? Randilyn opened a small chest and started laying her tools, ointments, and medicines out on the table.
Stygean licked his lips. Pretty close."
> "What did he say exactly?"
"He said, you're going to fucking hurt until I decide you've had enough.
Randilyn's lips tightened. Sounds like Jun. She picked up a small scalpel. A century ago, an ancient medical tome had been discovered in some underground ruins by a group of dwarves in Iradrim. It was printed on some kind of slick material that no one could identify. They copied it and sold the copies to the sylvans and the Creeyans for a king's ransom in gold. All of them were struggling to translate the text, and reproduce the various medical tools shown in those pages. The scalpel was one of those discoveries. The closest anyone had yet come to reproducing the hollow needle that injected medicine and could be used for blood transfusions was a young Nerien healer, named Taun, in Rowanhart. Instead of using a needle, Taun had used a sterilized viper fang. Randilyn's master, Amiri, had managed to get a look at the hollow fang and the book, scanning both into a memory crystal. When Randilyn was not busy with other things, she was slowly copying off the images from the crystal.
Randilyn looked his back over a second time. This is going to hurt. I need to lance some of them and get the pus out. Then I'll put a drawing salve on it. You should have said something to me. I didn't know they weren't letting you heal."
Stygean heard the warmth and concern in Randilyn's voice and it comforted him. I will next time."
"Well, I hope there won't be a next time. You come straight to me if someone hurts you."
"I will. I promise."
Stygean tried monfully not to flinch as she worked on his back. It seemed like forever before she cleaned his wounds with an astringent solution and then smeared the salve on them. She wrapped his injuries in gauze and poured him a measure of willow bark juice that he drank.
Randilyn hugged Stygean gently. You remind me of the boy I always dreamed of having."
"Can't you have one? Stygean asked.
Randilyn gave a sad laugh. No. Ymraude nibari are chosen, not bred. She shook herself and winked at him. Do you have a favorite nibari?"
Janrae Frank Dark - [Dark Brothers of the Light 08] - Blood Hope Page 10
