Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 2

by Barbara G. Tarn

  King Vijay pursed his lips, thoughtful. Kareena beamed, Prince Vivek looked satisfied, Prince Vasant only curious of the outcome. Harish kept staring at his feet, but his fingers were restless.

  "If you never knew you had a twin, how can you be so sure this is your brother?" King Vijay asked. "Physical resemblance is not proof enough in my opinion. I hear the king of Rajendra has lookalikes and the king of Akkora made sure to locate all the men who even vaguely resembled him."

  Rohit moved one step closer to Harish and grabbed his wrist, showing the malformed hand.

  "My father told me of my lost twin's deformity," he said. "Although I have no conscious memories, I've always known there was more to me. This is my long-lost twin, and I have no doubt about his identity."

  He heard Harish gasp and finally met his eyes. The twin looked scared.

  "Don't you realize we look the same?" he asked him.

  Harish shook his head. "I don't know. I have never had a mirror."

  "Oh. We are twins," Rohit explained to him. "Your name is Rahul."

  "No, I'm Harish."

  "That's the name you were given after your were stolen from the Amrendran palace as a baby. Your real name is Rahul of Amrendra."

  His twin frowned, trying to grasp everything, and then glanced at King Vijay. "So I'm free?" he asked, hopeful.

  Rohit grinned. "Yes. I've come to take you home."

  "And Kartik, too?"

  "Uh... who is Kartik?"

  "His lover," King Vijay spat with contempt.

  "My savior," Rahul corrected frantically. "Can he come, too?"

  "Of course," Rohit said after a brief hesitation. They'd sort it out with their father. His twin's relief was overwhelming – he could feel it like his own.

  ***

  Kartik was released and taken to the great hall by silent guards. He didn't dare ask them, but he hoped Harish had found a way out of King Vijay's room.

  Harish brightened when he saw him, and Kartik felt tattered and dirty noticing how the jester looked more and more like a prince. Harish wasn't wearing a turban, but his elegant clothes were slightly different from the other courtiers. And next to him stood his perfect lookalike, with shorter hair and a look of nobility that showed he was a true prince – and Harish's identical twin.

  Kartik bowed at both, a little puzzled by the resemblance, and apologized for his poor state.

  "You shall bathe in Amrendra," Harish's twin said. "I need to take Rahul back as soon as possible."

  Kartik looked at Harish. "Rahul – would that be you?"

  "Yes." Harish nodded with an embarrassed smile. "I'm not a jester any more. They tell me I'm really Prince Rahul of Amrendra – and this is my twin brother Rohit."

  Startled, Kartik bowed again, more deeply, at both. He followed them to the courtyard, still incredulous at Harish's new status. The former jester let his twin do the talking with King Vijay.

  Then Harish took Kartik's hand and guided him to the royal wagon. It was filled with plush cushions and other commodities. They sat together in a corner and Harish nestled against him like he used to, uncaring of his silken clothes against Kartik's dirty and tattered tunic.

  "What will your brother think of us?" Kartik asked, his heart swelling with gratitude at the obvious display of affection in spite of his sorry state.

  "I don't care." Harish shrugged. "He's kind, but he's still a stranger. I don't care what he thinks of me."

  "But he saved you from King Vijay... I still can't believe how identical the two of you are."

  "Are we, really?" Harish asked, worried.

  "Hopefully they'll provide you with a mirror and you'll be able to see for yourself." Kartik chuckled. "A prince... oh, my, that's a long way from being a jester!"

  "And I still want you by my side," Harish declared with renewed trust. "As a councilor, a bodyguard... but mostly in my bed."

  "As you wish, your highness," Kartik teased. He really, really wanted to kiss Harish, but didn't dare. He was dirty and unshaven and King Vijay had hurt his beloved and...

  Suddenly Harish kissed him, ignoring his beard. The wagon started moving and when Harish let him go, Kartik realized Prince Rohit was sitting in front of them with an amused smile on his face.

  "I'm sorry, my lord, I didn't mean to..."

  "I believe it was Rahul who started the kiss," Rohit replied, glancing at his twin. "He obviously trusts you more than he trusts me, so I guess I'll have to welcome you to the family on behalf of our father the king."

  Kartik nodded, speechless. Harish chuckled and squeezed him.

  "You'll see how good-looking he is when he's not locked into a cell," he told his twin. "But don't you dare steal him from me!"

  "I'm married and not interested in men," Rohit retorted. "And I sure hope you'll stay away from my wife when we get home."

  "I'm not interested in women," Harish informed him with a satisfied smile. Then he lost himself in Kartik's eyes.

  Author's note: if you'd like to read the whole story of Harish and Kartik, you can find it either as single e-book (Amrendra) or included in More Tales of the Southern Kingdoms – One Volume Edition available as e-book and in print.

  The King-God of Arquon

  "All hail the King God! Long live Suresh III!"

  Suresh listened to the chants, covered from head to toe in dark silk. His subjects weren't allowed to gaze upon his face, but they worshiped him once a week in Zarquon's main temple.

  He sat perfectly still on his uncomfortable stone seat – not even a pillow to ease his back and buttocks – and waited for the high priest to end the ceremony.

  If only they knew how lonely and powerless do I feel behind my mask... Suresh felt even more trapped after his coronation. The relative freedom he'd had as a prince was completely gone. Now he couldn't show his face in public, couldn't go unattended anywhere except to the Queen's room or the Concubines Garden, and was closely watched at all times by servants and advisers, except when he retired to his private sanctum to sleep.

  His parents were dead, his sisters married off, his brother sent into priesthood and his wife still felt like a stranger, over a year after the wedding – and not only because she hadn't given birth yet. Suresh must admit he didn't like sleeping with her, but dutifully visited her apartment twice a week. He was supposed to spend his other nights in the Concubines Garden, but he didn't have any concubines yet. The leftovers from his father were too old – although one of them had seen to his sexual education a few years earlier – and none of his wife's ladies-in-waiting had yet caught his eye.

  A final hymn released him from the stone seat, and he dutifully went back to the palace in his closed carriage. The day was so hot that during the short trip Suresh sweated profusely under his silken coverings. His semi-god status meant he lived far removed from the reality of his own people. The palace itself didn't have defensive walls around it, but it was separated from the town of Zarquon by a flat plain and a river.

  Plain walls enclosed the space, with pointed arches on the main doors and most windows. Thankfully, columns and turrets made the overall shape less square, and glazed or painted tiles gave some color to the white stones. The carriage stopped in an inner courtyard and he got out.

  Since he couldn't see well through the black silk, a servant led him to his room to change for the council session. Luckily he didn't have to cover his face in the palace itself.

  He exchanged the silk for his bejeweled turban and went to the meeting, sitting on the low cushioned throne to hear the state matters of the day. First came the news from abroad: Karan of Akkora had appointed his brother Yash governor of his northern province, Leland; Roshan of Rajendra had crushed the rebellion of his general, but had been wounded in battle; Vivek of Lakeshi sent his greetings to both him and Queen Anjali, his sister.

  Suresh struggled to keep his face impassible when he heard King Vivek's letter. His marriage to Anjali of Lakeshi must mean a lot to King Vivek if he wrote directly to him instead of addressin
g his sister privately. Not that Suresh couldn't read between the lines. His heart beat faster in the hope there was also a private message for him.

  "The rest is for your eyes only," the Chief Adviser deposited a sealed parchment in front of him.

  Suresh wished he could snatch it and read it immediately, but nodded and tried to ignore it.

  "Anything else?" he asked.

  "Queen Ashrita of Gajendra has given birth to the heir..."

  Administrative matters took the rest of the morning, then he had a quick lunch with Anjali who was brooding.

  "Didn't your brother write to you as well?" Suresh asked, a little nervous. Vivek's letter was still in his pocket, unopened.

  "Yes," she snapped. "Jaya is pregnant. Ashrita had delivered. Laxmi has given Rohit his twin heirs. Why can't you get me pregnant?"

  "Why do you keep miscarrying my seed?" he retorted. "You can't have a god's child?"

  She scoffed. "You're not a god, Suresh, you're a man. Or you should be. Your father had twenty concubines, and you have none. You are... awkward in bed, as if you don't belong. Or you don't like me."

  "Our marriage is a political alliance, not a love match," he reminded her.

  "But have you ever been in love?" she insisted. "Did you have a lover, like Prem of Gajendra did, before meeting me?"

  Suresh pondered. It felt like a lifetime ago – his life as prince heir, with no friends and servants constantly gushing over him. No, he hadn't taken his wet-nurse's daughter as a lover like Prem had done. No, he'd never felt his heart flutter until Vivek – Anjali's brother – had stopped in Zarquon and dazzled him with his smile. Sort of.

  "No," he said at last, shrugging away the thought of his brother-in-law.

  Anjali shook her head, irritated. "When you realize you're not a semi-god, but a man, it will be too late," she muttered, glaring at him.

  I'm aware of who I am. But I can't share my real self with anyone. Which was what made him feel so worthless, in spite of the power bestowed on him.

  A theoretic power, since the council actually ruled the country and the priests led the religion. I'm just a puppet, here to sit on a stone seat or a cushioned throne, prisoner of my own duties.

  In the afternoon he exercised with his sword teacher, sat with some philosophers and finally managed to retire in a corner of the royal library to read Vivek's letter.

  Dear Suresh

  I hope this letter finds you healthy and happy. If only we weren't locked in our kingly duties, we could meet on the border for a tiger hunt without the wives. Just imagine, you and me in the jungle, hunting our prey – and then celebrating on its skin. You know you're my favorite brother-in-law, don't you? I hope you haven't forgotten what we had. I often think about it and wish we could do it again. Anjali is mad at you, but if you want, I'll come over and help you impregnate her. After all, I know how to make you hard better than her, don't I?

  Suresh stiffened a chuckle. He couldn't forget what they had. Vivek being a prince, he'd been introduced to him as soon as he'd reached the royal palace outside of Zarquon. Suresh was supposed to show him around before introducing him to his sisters, but since he was very shy, Vivek had quickly taken the lead, suggesting a mock duel under the sun and then relaxing in the pool of the bath chamber afterward.

  Thus Suresh had found himself naked in the water with the other prince who had started touching him in ways nobody had ever dared.

  "You are so sweet," Vivek had whispered before kissing him, his hand roaming between Suresh's legs.

  Aroused by Vivek's caresses, cuddled by the warm water of the pool, Suresh had allowed the other prince to impale him, spreading his own seed in the water. The forbidden pleasure had left him dreamy for the rest of Vivek's stay, who had winked at him upon departure.

  Hence Suresh had looked forward to go to the Lakeshian court – to see Vivek again, more than to meet his sisters. Just because he'd ended up marrying Anjali didn't mean he'd forgotten Vivek. He started wondering what his wicked brother-in-law would do to make him impregnate Anjali. The simple thought of Vivek's hands and lips on him made him shiver with pleasure.

  It was a doomed relationship, of course. They'd had four intense sex sessions – three in Arquon and one more in Lakeshi – then they'd had to part. Suresh had tried to enjoy women again, going back to the expert who had trained him, so he'd be able to please his bride, but he couldn't stop thinking Anjali was just Vivek's sister, not him.

  His poor wife had even asked one of her ladies-in-waiting, Vidya, to train him better, but even a younger woman couldn't arouse him as much as Vivek's caresses.

  Suresh sighed, rolling the parchment and hiding it in his pocket again.

  At dinner, Anjali suggested he take Vidya as concubine and exercise his skills with her since he wasn't going to the queen's bed. Vidya was a skilled courtesan, even Suresh could tell, but he had no intention of spending more nights out of his own room. But to keep the peace, he agreed and told Vidya to go to the Concubines Garden and wait for him.

  Then he finally retired to sleep. He put Vivek's letter in an ivory casket with the others, deciding he'd write his reply in the morning.

  He took off his turban and went to the balcony to watch the sunset, then to the bedroom to undress.

  "Need help?" Rishi emerged from the growing shadows with a grin.

  "You're my bodyguard, not my servant," he replied, amused.

  "Really?" Rishi teased, offering the night caftan.

  Suresh took it and threw it away.

  "I'm supposed to go to the Concubines Garden tonight, but I don't feel like it," he said defiantly, stepping forward. "Undress me."

  Rishi crossed his arms on his chest, with a gleaming tease in his black eyes.

  "If I'm your bodyguard, I will not undress you," he declared.

  Rishi was slightly taller than Suresh and one of their playful wrestling matches had turned into a striptease followed by a wild sex marathon. They'd been lovers since, unbeknownst to everyone.

  "Do I need to pin you to the ground?" Suresh threatened playfully.

  "It's easier if I pin you to the bed," Rishi replied before attacking.

  Laughing, Suresh allowed the older man to throw him on the bed and shower him with kisses. Rishi knew where to put his hands and mouth as well as Vivek, and Suresh was glad he'd found a substitute for his brother-in-law. He moaned with pleasure in his lover's arms, and the Concubines Garden was completely forgotten.

  ***

  "He didn't visit?" Anjali insisted bluntly. She lay on the carpet and pillows of the Concubines Garden apartment with her lady-in-waiting.

  "No, my lady," Vidya answered. They'd grown up together and were more friends than a queen and her lady-in-waiting. It had been Vidya's idea to try to arouse Suresh's interest, but she had failed. And then Anjali had suggested she became a concubine, but Suresh hadn't visited her.

  "Where does he spend his nights if not with me, you or any other woman?" Anjali wondered, frustrated.

  "I heard he doesn't leave his room," Vidya said.

  "So, what does he do, pleasure himself all night?" Anjali snorted.

  "You should know better, my lady," Vidya chided. "You are a princess of Lakeshi, after all."

  Anjali stared at her, horrified.

  "You mean.. he might have a man? But who? Nobody can enter his sanctum during the night!"

  "True." Vidya paused and looked her in the eyes. "Except his personal bodyguard."

  "His... what? You think he's screwing that... man?" Anjali protested.

  "From what I have observed since we moved here, the opposite is probably the case," Vidya replied, amused.

  "Vidya!" Anjali screamed, shocked. Vidya raised her eyebrows and didn't say anything. Anjali lowered her voice. "You think the king-god of Arquon enjoys having... things... up his ass?"

  Vidya slowly nodded. "I probed him – he got hard immediately. Want me to show you how to do it?"

  "No! Gods! As if a father and brother weren't enough!
Damn him, this can't be true!"

  "I believe the queen is the only person who can have unannounced access to the king's bedroom," Vidya said, thoughtful. "You should pay him a surprise visit – and then you'd know for sure if I guessed right."

  Anjali chewed her lower lip, frowning. The thought of finding her husband in bed with another man wasn't very appealing. But if she had the certainty, she could divorce him. She might have to marry his brother and he'd be dethroned, but it would serve him right.

  Anjali straightened her back and rose from the carpet with a determined expression. She rushed out of the Garden, then sauntered regally to the king's private sanctum.

  "Is the king awake?" she asked the guards. It was quite early in the morning, and there were still a couple of hours before his first meeting of the day. His personal servants hadn't arrived at his door yet – although usually Rishi, the bodyguard, came out to announce the king was ready to get out of bed.

  "I don't think so, your majesty," one of the guards answered, staring straight ahead.

  Anjali raised her chin. "Let me in, I wish to speak with him in private."

  The other guard opened the door for her without looking at her. She slid inside and heard the door soft thud. She looked at the antechamber, flooded with sunlight. Rishi was supposed to sleep there, on the carpet, but he was nowhere to be seen.

  Anjali clenched her teeth and her fists, and marched to the bedroom.

  Like Vidya suspected, Suresh was in bed with his bodyguard. Both were naked and Rishi had his arms wrapped around the king, embracing him from behind.

  Anjali stopped by the bed and stared at them. She wanted to scream. And then one of her fists opened and she slapped her husband, startling him awake.

  "Anjali!" he protested, massaging his stinging cheek as Rishi retreated to the other side of the bed.

  "I should have known!" she exploded, hitting him with both hands in succession. "You're a bastard, just like my brother!"

  "Anjali, stop!" He managed to grab her wrists and hold her. He pulled her down, seated on the bed, and tried to hug her, but she slapped him again. Tears filled her eyes as he managed to keep her still.

  "Will you calm down?" he ordered. "Do you want Rishi to restrain you?"