Braving the Storm

by Xenia Melzer

  Now Kalad guided the young man toward one of the lounges. Daran knelt between his owner’s spread legs and started licking his penis hungrily while Aegid stepped forward, his own impressive erection standing up like a terrifying weapon. His big hands parted Daran’s backside, and he entered in one graceful thrust.

  Sic realized he had held his breath in fearful anticipation. Full of awe, he watched as Daran took his master into his body, not in pain but with a content whimper, as if this was all he had ever wished for. Given the size of Aegid, Sic had assumed he would hurt the slave, but Daran only showed lust, not pain.

  The warriors poured their essence into the willing body of their slave; then they changed places and everything started anew. After they had found their relief a second time, Kalad pulled Daran up, and his hand closed heavily around the young man’s hardness.

  “Which one of us shall make you come, slave?”

  Daran whimpered lustfully, his answer hardly audible. “I’m yours. It’s not my place to decide.”

  Satisfied with this answer, Kalad shoved his tongue into Daran’s ear.

  “Good boy.”

  Aegid grabbed the young man’s face with both hands and started kissing him passionately while Kalad entered him at the same time. He took him with hard thrusts that would have forced Daran to his knees had it not been for Aegid holding him upright. The desert warriors made their slave orgasm twice. Then Aegid sat down on the lounge again, dragged Daran with him, and held him down. Kalad turned to Sic.

  “Did you like it?”

  The smith nodded with big eyes. He was so fascinated and aroused, he was unable to speak. Kalad grinned knowingly.

  “Then come. Take off your trousers.”

  Shivering with excitement, Sic obeyed. His hands were trembling. With an encouraging smile, Kalad took his hand and led him to the kneeling Daran. His fingertips skimmed over the trembling cheeks that were presented so boldly. With two fingers, Kalad slid into the slave, who started groaning.

  “As you can see, the boy wants it badly. He can’t wait to serve you, isn’t that right, little thief?”

  “Master, please take me.”

  Daran’s voice was choked, his anus twitching excitedly. Again Sic had the feeling that he was making a mistake, that Daran didn’t want him, but he shook it off. The slave had given his consent, and his owners had offered him so generously; why should he reject their kindness?

  Hesitantly, he placed his hands on the young man’s hips. Kalad was standing right next to him, cheering him on.

  “Very good. Now enter him. Daran is very tight, so you’ll have to use some force, but rest assured, you’re not hurting him. You’ve seen how he’s taken Aegid in without any problems.”

  Sic nodded, gathered all his courage, and thrust.

  It was exquisite, tight and wet and wonderful. Daran’s muscles contracted rhythmically around him, holding him like a velvet fist, waiting for something Sic didn’t understand.

  Kalad’s hand fell down heavily on Daran’s left cheek, leaving a red mark on the soft skin. His voice was sharp.

  “Pull yourself together, slave. This is for Sic, not for you.”

  A groan escaped Daran’s throat, and his entire body seemed to tighten; then the twitching stopped and he relaxed. Kalad stroked the slave’s back as if he were a dog.

  “Very good, little thief.”

  He turned to Sic.

  “He’s all yours. Take him in your own time, the way it feels good for you. He’s already had his fun, so don’t feel bad for him.”

  Gratefully Sic nodded toward his brother-in-arms before he concentrated on the young man in front of him. The physical feeling was magnificent. Sic had never felt so alive before. Taking Daran was like drinking very old wine; it left one slightly tipsy and completely relaxed.

  If it hadn’t been for the nagging feeling in the back of his head that he was making a terrible mistake, Sic would have labeled this moment as one of the best in his entire life.

  Aegid and Kalad left him hours later. Hours during which they had taken Daran again and again, hours during which they had showed Sic what a skilled lover could do to a willing partner. When they left, Aegid was carrying the exhausted Daran in his arms.

  Sic was worried about the young man. “Is he all right?”

  Kalad grinned saucily.

  “Of course. He’ll be a little sore tomorrow, but we’ll let him sleep in so he can recover. Everything’s fine, little thief, isn’t it?”

  Tired, Daran lifted his head, and his brown eyes lit up.

  “Of course, Master.” He turned to Sic. “Lord Sic. I wish you a good night.”

  Sic gulped. What he had seen in Daran’s eyes sent shudders down his spine. The thief had most definitely not wanted this. And he, Sic, had taken him against his will, although he had sensed the truth right from the start. Quickly he glanced away.

  “I wish you a good night as well, Daran. And thank you for your kindness.”

  The desert brothers left Sic’s chambers with their tired slave.

  2. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

  RESTLESS, SIC tossed around in his bed, threw aside the fur he had used for a blanket, only to grab it again a short time later. For more than two hours he had been trying in vain to find sleep, but whenever he closed his eyes, he was confronted with Daran’s smooth features and the reproach in his dark eyes. He had made a terrible mistake; there was no way around it. In hindsight, he should have known from the start. The entire situation had been beyond bizarre. For one, why would the desert brothers even think about sharing their precious thief with somebody else? Until now, anybody who had so much as stared at the young man for too long had been subjected to their glares and open displays of displeasure. And Daran—he was so completely theirs. How could he ever agree to get involved with somebody else? Sic doubted that what had happened the previous night had just been an act of kindness toward him. Something much more complicated was going on, and such was his luck that he had been sucked into it.

  Annoyed, he sat up. There was no way he would be able to find sleep, so he might as well start working again. The sketches for the dagger meant for Casto were still on the drawing board, since he hadn’t found out how to pleat the steel to get the pattern he was aiming for yet. He stared at the drafts with an empty gaze, his thoughts digressing, returning to Daran and the previous night, which somehow had made things even worse than before. Sic regretted deeply not having sent the desert brothers and their slave away when he had the chance.

  The sun was already high in the sky when Sic finally decided to take action. He gathered a present that he hoped would show Daran clearly how sorry he was for what had happened. Then he went to the chambers of the desert brothers. His knock was answered by Daran, who looked bleary, as if he had just gotten up. Nevertheless, he greeted Sic demurely.

  “Lord Sic, good morning. What can I do for you?”

  The smith swallowed hard.

  “May I bother you for a moment? I’d like to talk to you.”

  Wordlessly, Daran stepped aside. He closed the door and stood expectantly in front of Sic, still avoiding his gaze.

  “I’m sorry about yesterday, Daran. I was an idiot.”

  “I don’t understand, Master.”

  At the sight of Daran, who looked so guilt-ridden himself, Sic wished, not for the first time in his life, that he could turn back time. As gently as he could, he said what he had to say, hoping to do the right thing at least now.

  “I know you didn’t want me. I could sense it. And yet I took you, and I regret it deeply. I had no right to do so. This is for you.”

  He offered the flat package to the thief.

  “It’s not meant as a bribe. What I’ve done can’t be compensated with material goods, I know that all too well myself. But it should remind you that I owe you. Whatever you need, you only have to tell me, and you can be sure I’ll do anything to help you. And should you decide to charge me for my despicable behavior, I’ll understand.” />
  Speechless, Daran stared at the last Emeris. He didn’t know what he had expected, but surely not this. His voice cracked when he answered.

  “Lord, it wasn’t your fault. If anything, it was mine. I agreed to sleep with you. There was no way you could have known.”

  “But I did, Daran. I saw it in your eyes. I’m so sorry.”

  Tentatively the young man stepped forward and placed a hand on Sic’s arm.

  “Master, it really is fine. You didn’t hurt me, I even had my fun. Nobody has come to harm.”

  Sadly, Sic took the thief’s hand in his.

  “No, Daran. You have come to harm. Why did you give your consent?”

  Blushing, Daran looked down. “My masters really wanted to help you. And I don’t want to disappoint them, which is why I acquiesced to their wish. It was my own decision.”

  “Do they know about the sacrifice you’ve made?”

  Daran shook his head. “No. All I want is to obey them, to please them. Don’t fret it, Lord. Everything’s fine.”

  “You’re very generous, Daran. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  The young man smiled crookedly.

  “As I said, it was my decision. If there’s anything to forgive, I’ve done so.”

  Sic regarded the thief for a long time, pondering all the strange and utterly crazy things love made people do. Then he kissed Daran’s hand.

  “I’m your friend, Daran. Now even more than before last night. You can rely on me. And don’t worry, it’s never a mistake to love. And whom we love—well, that’s not up to us to decide.”

  “You’re a wise man, Lord Sic. I thank you for the present. Although it really wasn’t necessary.”

  Thinking he had at least expressed his regret in a befitting manner, Sic left Daran. At first he thought he would return to his smithy, but his feet kept wandering aimlessly through the Valley while his thoughts raced in his head.

  Even though Daran had been so generous to take on most of the blame, it didn’t change the fact that he had ignored the thief’s needs in favor of satisfying his own. He had been an Emeris for only a short time, but it seemed as if he had already lost all empathy for those who’d outranked him not so long ago. Sic was disgusted with himself. He knew all too well what it felt like to be forced, to be a prisoner to circumstances. The ugly truth was that he had known exactly what he had been doing, justifying it by thinking it was his right. Because wasn’t he an Emeris, some kind of demigod, if the prophecies were true? What did he care about the will of a slave, who had even given his consent?

  It was despicable to think along such lines.

  A steady hammering pried him from his musings. He was standing in front of Noran’s smithy, which had been his home for more than eight years. As aimless and tumultuous as his mind might be, his body knew where it belonged. The hammering stopped. Sic became aware that he was being eyeballed by everybody present, starting with the youngest apprentice up to the seasoned fellows. It was too much. He started to turn away, to leave this place where nobody had ever been his friend, where he had experienced only envy and hatred. At the same moment, the door to Noran’s private rooms smashed open and the master stormed out with a thunderous expression on his face.

  Without thinking Sic knelt down, since he knew that mood only too well. Noran was close to a formidable rampage. His dark voice reverberated through the smithy.

  “You damn bunch! Get on your knees and show Sic the respect due to an Emeris. When you’re done, leave. I’ll deal with your lack of manners tomorrow.”

  It was a bizarre situation, each smith honoring Sic while he got up again. He was relieved Noran wasn’t angry about him, although he didn’t know how to behave.

  When the last fellow had left, they stood in front of each other in silence, the quiet between them spreading like blood from the corpse of a freshly killed enemy. Noran finally managed to speak.

  “I’m very pleased to see you, Sic. Is there anything I can do for you?”

  Sic looked up. The words coming from his former master enlightened him as to what he wanted.

  “Would you allow me to watch you while you work, Master? Just like old times?”

  The smith’s features softened.

  “I’d be happy to, Sic.”

  Relieved, Sic followed Noran into the familiar gloom. The sound from the smithy, the soft rustling of the coals in the forge, the tingling when steel brushed against steel, the glugging of water in the big buckets used for cooling—all this was like a soothing embrace. He felt a deep calm rising inside him, one he hadn’t known since his betrayal. Not even the anvil to which he had been chained during the last eight months could disturb the peace he felt.

  He was finally home.

  With a satisfied sigh, he sat down on the spot where he had used to watch his master after he had fulfilled all his duties.

  Noran was working on a sword, and Sic admired the virtuosity with which the smith created a lethal, elegant weapon from a crude lump of metal. The master’s exuberant strength was like an exquisite piece of art that Sic would never grow tired of looking at.

  The sun had already set when Noran finished his work. Sic got up, insecure. The hush that had been soothing until now was about to tip to the opposite once more. Again it was Noran who took the initiative.

  “Are you feeling unwell, Sic? You look haunted.”

  For a moment the young man hesitated, then decided to admit his disgrace.

  “I’m desperate, Master. I’ve done somebody an injustice and don’t know how to make up for it.”

  “First of all, you don’t have to call me ‘master’ anymore, Sic. We are equals now. And second, you did an injustice? I don’t think so, Sic. You’re not capable of such things.”

  Intently Sic examined his fingertips. He didn’t react to Noran’s announcement about them being equals—at the moment, he had more pressing problems.

  “I was capable. I’ve taken Daran, the slave of Aegid and Kalad, against his will.”

  Sic felt Noran’s stare burning holes into his nape. The master’s voice was raw.

  “I don’t believe you. You would never do something like that! Tell me what happened.”

  Sic took a deep breath. “I had asked the brothers for help. They wanted to show me how physical contact with somebody else can be fun.”

  When he saw the pain in Noran’s eyes, he regretted his choice of words immediately. He had never thought he would be able to cause another being such agony.

  “Please forgive me, Master. I didn’t mean to—”

  But Noran stopped him with his hand held high.

  “It’s okay, Sic. This is my sin, and it’s only just that I’m reminded of my mistakes on a regular basis. The two wanted to help you?”

  “Yes. Kalad had brought me Daran, but I didn’t know what to do and sent him back. Later, both of them came to me again and showed me how to handle him. Which was odd, since they’re usually so jealous about anybody who has contact with Daran.”

  “This doesn’t sound as if Daran was opposed to it.”

  “He wasn’t. At least, he said he wasn’t. But I’d seen it in his eyes, how much he resented me, although his mouth told a different story. And yet I took him, because I thought it was my right. Because I wanted it.”

  “As far as I can tell, the fault lies with Kalad and Aegid. He’s their slave. They should know when something is amiss.”

  Sic shook his head. Noran was missing the point here.

  “It doesn’t change my responsibility. Do you know what the worst part was? It wasn’t even fun. My urges were satisfied and it felt good, yes, but there were no emotions, no bond. All I could think of was you, Master.”

  Noran made a croaking sound.

  “Sic, I’m so terribly sorry. I would give my right arm, even my life to undo the terrible crimes I committed against you. I regret deeply how my sin is still haunting you.”

  The master smith’s reaction gave Sic the courage to keep on talking
, to bare his soul a little more to the man who was both his nightmare and his savior.

  “It is indeed haunting me, your sin. But that’s not what I was thinking about while I was with Daran. I was fantasizing about what could have been between us, what I had been wishing for so eagerly. I had the feeling I was betraying you—us—all over again.”

  “Sic, you can’t be serious, not after everything I’ve done to you. And I assure you, you can’t betray me, because for that to happen, I’d have to have a right over you, which I don’t. I thank the Mothers on my knees for the smallest place you may offer me in your life, but if you throw me out, you don’t have to justify yourself. Not to me, certainly.”

  His master’s voice sounded so desperate, Sic felt himself moved and encouraged to share the confusion of his feelings with the person who had caused them.

  “Master. You’re my world. You’ve been the center of my life from the day you saved me from Dalwon’s grasp. Everything I do is intended to please you. Even when you punished me so cruelly, I was still hoping to gain your forgiveness. As much as I may resent it, nothing will ever change that. I’ll always be yours. And now I don’t know what to do, and it’s eating me up inside.”

  Speechless, Noran stared at the love of his life. He would have never dared to hope to hear such promising words from the young man. Overwhelmed by this unexpected, completely undeserved mercy, he sank to his knees. When he tried to take Sic’s hands in his own, his former slave made a hasty step back, his body suddenly tense. Noran lowered his hands, desperate to convey his feelings to him.

  “I swear on everything dear to me, Sic, you’ll never regret this. I will never hurt you again or do anything you don’t want. From now on, I’m going to treat you like the precious treasure you are, I promise.”

  Taken aback by this outburst, Sic retreated even further. This felt somehow right; he wasn’t uncomfortable, just very anxious, for it was happening so fast. If he wanted this to work, they had to slow down the pace.