Braving the Storm

by Xenia Melzer

  “I know, brother. I know. I share your worries. So we leave him be for now.”

  Renaldo took another deep sip from the excellent wine. Things were progressing fast, and he was not sure whether he should desire or dread the speed with which they were moving toward the end. To get his mind off such gloomy thoughts, he turned back to the most pleasant topic at the moment.

  “Daran is planning something interesting for the wedding, or so Casto has told me. I think we can look forward to another gripping ceremony.”

  The grin the divine brothers shared now was tinged with unbridled joy. Seeing their oldest companions finally claiming the reward for their loyalty made the gods of war happy.

  “TELL ME again who had this stupid idea?”

  Daran spoke the words between labored intakes of breath while Frankus calmly tattooed him with a needle made of blue steel and a green ink he had concocted just for this occasion. Casto only smiled at him, full of malicious joy, while Sic used a wet towel to wipe the sweat from Daran’s face.

  “It’s fine, Daran. This is one of the worst places, and I’m almost done there.”

  Frankus sounded a little absentminded. He was concentrating on the pattern he had to inject into Daran’s skin.

  The Echend’dim groaned. “You’ve said so before. Twice, if I recall correctly. Damn, this really hurts!”

  “Of course it does. But look at it this way. It’s meant to be a proof of your undying love for Kalad and Aegid. If you didn’t feel any pain obtaining it, it would be meaningless, am I right?”

  There was a hint of sadism in Frankus’s voice, proof that he enjoyed torturing Daran at least a little bit. Now he looked imperiously at Casto.

  “I need more ink, Your Majesty.”

  Casto rolled his eyes and shot Frankus a warning glance but did his bidding nevertheless. They had been holed up in this little cave deep in the southern part of the forest for two days now. Although the four of them would have preferred leaving the Valley to find an inn where they could stay for the next three days, they had finally settled for this cold, damp place inside the Valley instead. Convincing Renaldo, Kalad, and Aegid to let them leave had proven impossible. Casto’s initial reasoning—that Daran wanted to spend the days before the wedding with his friends in order to get a clear head for the ceremony—had met with a surprising amount of understanding from the three warriors. It was the “not staying in reach” part that had almost turned into a catastrophe. Sic had finally managed to negotiate this compromise, since Casto had refused to talk to Renaldo anymore—or Aegid and Kalad, for that matter. Since the desert brothers were notoriously nosy, they couldn’t stay in one of the houses of the mercenaries, or even the sheds that were scattered around the Valley. At first they had made jokes about this being a great adventure out in the “wild,” but now, Casto was convinced he would never feel warm for the rest of his life. Winter was upon the Valley, with all the drawbacks it always brought. There was simply not enough firewood in the world to get the cave warm.

  He retrieved another bottle of ink from Frankus’s saddlebags, glad they would be going back to the comfort and warmth of brick-built rooms tomorrow. Until then, Daran still had some pain to endure. Even Casto had to admit that the image Sic had designed was stunning, the only problem being its size. It was a tree with three roots whose tips started at the highest points of Daran’s hipbones and right above his penis, meeting about two fingers under his navel, where they intertwined into a trunk that spread into a tree crown at the tip of his breastbone and reached as far as half a hand below his collarbone. As beautiful as the tattoo was, getting it was agony. Listening to Daran’s pained intakes of breath and hissed curses when Frankus hit an extra-sensitive patch of skin had made Casto grateful for the probably more brutal but a lot quicker sting of the branding iron.

  The only thing he truly enjoyed were their evenings together. Sitting around the fire with men he had come to call friends was a novel experience for Casto, as well as the conversations they had. Being this intimate in a nonsexual way with anybody besides the Barbarian made Casto nervous and wary and, at the same time, thrilled. He was still careful about what he revealed to the others; nevertheless, he reveled in their trust. The part of him that still thought like an Ummanian politician marveled at how easily Sic, Daran, and Frankus revealed information that could be used against them at any time, until he suddenly realized this was another, subtle way of strengthening their relationship. Since they all knew something secret about the others, they were in the same boat.

  Because this was the last evening before the wedding, the topic was of course Daran’s relationship with the desert brothers.

  “You tamed them pretty well.” Frankus patted Daran on the shoulder. He was pleased with the outcome of his hard work. The tattoo looked absolutely fabulous, and the dark green ink was the perfect contrast to Daran’s light skin color.

  The Echend’dim grinned back at him. Now that the pain of tattooing was over, Daran could finally relax. “I wouldn’t say I tamed them.” A shudder ran through his body. “They’re truly savage.”

  Frankus laughed. “Oh, I wasn’t talking about their sexual—well, let’s call it preferences for lack of a more befitting term. I meant their sudden fidelity. It’s even more astounding than Lord Renaldo’s change of heart after he met Casto.”

  Daran’s features displayed his curiosity. “How were they back then? They don’t tell me a lot about the time before we met.”

  “Yes, tell us! I’m dying to know what kind of men they were.” Casto sounded almost as eager as he looked. Only Sic, who had known the desert brothers for almost ten years, held back.

  Frankus took a sip from his hot tea and stared musingly into the flames.

  “You just want to know because you’re going to use it against them.” The accusation was made in a light tone. Still, Casto looked a tiny bit contrite.

  “And if so?”

  Frankus grinned. He liked teasing Casto. “I fully approve. They do deserve it.”

  “Hey, you’re talking about my future husbands here!” Daran was by far not as indignant as he tried to sound, and it showed on his face, so Frankus ignored the reprimand.

  “It’s hard to choose the best story from such a vast treasure chest. Of course, there are all those lovely rumors about their trysts with Lady Hulda, but that was before she met Lord Wolfstan, and that was long before I was born. As you may know, they used to change their partners quite often, due to reasons only they know.”

  Daran closed his eyes. He knew exactly why Kalad and Aegid had done this, and he still felt his heart constrict with pity when he thought about it. Not wanting to spoil this evening with sad thoughts, Daran focused on Frankus again.

  “So many partners do provide quite a lot of stories, but the best one, I think, happened two or three years before Casto came to the Valley. There had been a minor campaign against Ta’li’en, a city on the western border of the Plains.”

  Casto furrowed his brow. “Isn’t that the city of whores? It’s famous for its courtesans.”

  “Indeed it is. You’re well informed, Your Majesty.” Frankus looked pointedly at Casto, who was not fazed in the least.

  “Knowledge is the key to power. Always.” The short sentence made Sic and Daran shudder, for it showed once again how differently Casto had been raised compared to them.

  Frankus ended the slightly awkward silence by resuming his story.

  “Ta’li’en’s main merchandise are the whores who are trained by the five main houses. Once their education is completed, they are sold to the biggest brothels all over the continent, as well as to private households. A whore trained in Ta’li’en is an exclusive and expensive item, perfectly versed in every matter concerning the bed. When Lord Canubis appeared with his army, the city elders opened the gates for him, knowing they had no chance. Since the contract was about getting a certain type of whore for a very greedy and rich customer, the Wolf of War accepted their offer. He told the elders what he
wanted, and they gave him the requested females without making a fuss. The contract was fulfilled, but it had all been kind of anticlimactic. So when the leaders of the city invited the Pack to a night of fun, they did not say no.

  “It was during that feast that Kalad and Aegid met the Doll.”

  Frankus paused for a moment, took another sip from his tea, and enjoyed the anticipation coming from his audience.

  “The Doll was really special. She, or he, was a hermaphrodite, male and female at the same time. Of course the desert brothers were fascinated, like everybody else in the Pack. The Doll chose them for the night, and they somehow managed to convince him to come with them. He wouldn’t accompany them to the Valley, but he agreed to stay with Aegid and Kalad until they reached the Umman River. From there he would go back to Ta’li’en to claim the more than generous amount of money they had deposited for him there.”

  “So far this doesn’t sound outrageous. Just Aegid and Kalad being their usual selves.” Casto wasn’t impressed by the story so far, except for the hermaphrodite part, which had woken his curiosity.

  Frankus shot him a scathing look. “That’s because you’re not letting me finish my story. The good part comes now. No need to say that they fucked the poor creature raw every night, so he had to travel in a carriage during the day. On the fifth night, the Doll vanished, taking with him everything valuable he could get his hands on, and that was quite a lot. The wolves didn’t stop him since he was a free man, and once they realized that he had stolen from Aegid and Kalad, he had already covered his trail by smashing a bottle of Nerula perfume. Outraged, Aegid and Kalad rode back to Ta’li’en, to either catch the Doll or at least reclaim their money, but neither was there. The Doll had managed to deceive them completely. Even his soreness had been an act. The entire winter, they stayed away from whores and brothels and concentrated on slaves alone. It was almost heartbreaking to see them struggle so bravely to regain their courage.” Frankus tried in vain to suppress a chuckle. “Then they met you, Daran, and I have to admit, I find it highly amusing how monogamous they have become.”

  “You are a wicked man, Frankus!” Casto was holding his sides. Whenever he pictured the faces of the desert brothers when they had found out they had been tricked, he felt laughter welling up inside.

  Daran shot his trainer a nasty look before he turned to Frankus. “And they never found the Doll?”

  “No, they did not. But they received a letter the following spring, thanking them for their generosity by helping a ‘poor double-faced creature’ to find freedom. Strangely enough, that seemed to help them to find closure, because after that, they returned to their old ways.”

  “Kalad and Aegid are good men, Daran. I don’t think Frankus meant to belittle them.” Sic spoke in a soothing tone. Because of their connection, he could feel Daran’s distress more intensely than the other two men.

  The Echend’dim smiled at him gratefully. “Thank you, Sic. It’s very nice of you to say so. I’m aware of their many faults. And to be frank, I love them because of it, not despite.”

  “Blah! You do know how nauseating that sounds, don’t you, Daran? Sometimes I get the impression that they brainwashed you. Or, to be more precise, fucked you senseless.”

  Daran reacted to Casto’s banter with a saccharine smile. He knew how to get back at the king. “Just because my relationship with Aegid and Kalad is so healthy compared to the complicated mess you have with Lord Renaldo doesn’t mean I was brainwashed. I hate to tell you this, Casto, but the weird one is you.”

  Casto put his hand on his chest in feigned consternation. “An insult! How dare you! Sic, Frankus, did you hear that?”

  The two men grinned broadly. It was Sic who answered.

  “We did. And he’s so right, there’s nothing we can add.”

  “So, you too? I think I’d better ride home right now. Obviously there’s no place for me here.”

  “Do as you please, Your Majesty. If you leave now, there’s more of the honey cake for us.”

  Frankus had started to unwrap a parcel with four generous slices of the delicious sweet. The rich scent filled the air and made the men’s mouths water. Casto, who was already standing, sat down again.

  “On second thought, I don’t think I’m as deeply insulted as I should be. For the sake of this wonderful cake, I’m willing to forgive you all.”

  “You’re so generous, it almost makes me cry.” Daran bowed slightly in Casto’s direction. Frankus handed out the slices of cake, and when they all had their share, Daran addressed his friends in a more serious tone.

  “Thank you. Thank you for what you’ve done for me, and thank you for being the way you are. I never had real friends before, but if the loneliness I had to endure is the price for meeting you, I’d gladly suffer it again.”

  “Damn it, Daran. You almost made me cry!” Casto glared at the Echend’dim in an attempt to hide how deeply he was moved by his words. He, Sic, and Daran had all experienced the desolation of a lonely, wasted childhood spent in constant grief. It was a bond that connected them on a deep, semiconscious level. To get over his embarrassment, Casto took a bite of the cake. The others followed his example, each of them contemplating similar thoughts and coming to the same conclusion—that they were indeed lucky to have obtained such great friends.

  4. VOWS FOR ETERNITY

  THE FOLLOWING morning, the four of them rode back to the center of the Valley as quickly as possible. Frankus took Daran with him to prepare him for the wedding. Sic and Casto returned to their own chambers to get some rest before the ceremony started.

  Renaldo greeted his mate with a deep kiss when he entered the room. “Welcome back, my own. Is everything all right?”

  Casto snuggled closer to Renaldo, glad for the heat his mate radiated.

  “Everything’s fine. I’m just miserably cold. Sleeping in a cave at this time of the year is a bad idea.”

  Renaldo chuckled while he pulled Casto closer. “I don’t understand it. I mean, you can tap into my fire, and yet you’re still unable to withstand the chill.”

  “I know. It’s strange. To be frank, I’m too tired to think about this mystery right now. Please help me undress and get me into the hot water. Perhaps I’ll regain some feeling in my toes then.”

  “Your wish is my command.” A saucy smile appeared on Renaldo’s lips. “If you’re a good boy, I’ll warm up more than just your toes.”

  Casto winced. “Sounds tempting. Unfortunately it’ll have to wait until after the ceremony. If we start now, there’s no way we’ll be in time for the wedding, and you’re an integral part of it.”

  Renaldo nibbled Casto’s nape. “Fine. After the ceremony. You won’t be able to escape me then.”

  “I’ll take you at your word, Barbarian.”

  WHEN SIC entered the main hall, it was already bursting with people. Together with Noran, he approached the table where the other Emeris were waiting. Even Cornelia was there, standing next to her brother. She greeted Sic with a wistful smile on her lips, and he felt his heart constrict when he imagined how hard this had to be for her. Then the great doors opened once again, and Canubis, Renaldo, Kalad, and Aegid entered. All four of them looked stunning in their black, blue, and green tunics, with their ceremonial swords around their hips. There was a special connection between those two pairs of brothers who had known each other for more than eight hundred years, and on this special day, it showed clearly. The men radiated superiority, a certain lethal arrogance, and a closeness born of centuries of trust. They approached the table, turned around in front of it, and aimed their gazes back to the door where Daran had taken position.

  Sic had to admit the former thief had never looked more alluring. His long black hair flowed freely down his shoulders, and his expressive brown eyes were highlighted by black kohl and full of love for the two men he was about to marry. Like Kalad and Aegid, Daran wore a dark green tunic and a ceremonial sword with an emerald at the back of the handle. He also had a cloak slung
around his shoulders that was dyed dark blue on the inside and black on the outside, with the rune of the Mothers embroidered on the back. It was a gift from Canubis and Renaldo to their first Echend’dim. Lukan, who was standing left of the four men, wore the same. Behind Daran, Casto had taken position. Since Aegid and Kalad had been the ones to bring him to Renaldo on his wedding day, he had gladly accepted when they had asked him to do the same for Daran. Casto whispered something into Daran’s ear before he hurried to take his place next to Noemi. All eyes were now glued on the Echend’dim, who stuck out his chin proudly and walked up to his waiting lovers. Kalad and Aegid took Daran between them before they turned to Canubis and Renaldo. When he saw them standing there, Sic couldn’t help but feel envious. Even though the desert brothers were insatiable in bed, they still had managed to build a healthy, mature relationship with Daran. A relationship that was grounded in trust and love and didn’t need games for dominance, because the three men felt mutual respect. It stood in stark contrast to the unpredictable, wild, and violent connection Renaldo and Casto shared, and it made Sic’s relationship with Noran look like a bad joke. Sic knew he had to be patient, that the love between him and Noran needed a lot of time and nourishing to become the dependable pillar of trust he wanted it to be. Still, he felt a pang of jealousy when he thought that Daran had obtained seemingly without effort what was still out of reach for him. Having such unseemly feelings on the day of his friend’s wedding added a good deal of guilt to the contradicting emotions in his heart.

  At that moment, Sic felt Noran’s hand engulf his own. The reassuring pressure helped him to gain his focus again. Determined not to let anything ruin this day, he concentrated on his joy about the union that Daran and the desert brothers were about to enter into.