"He's here, my lady!" the elder guard said. Carino knew their faces, but not their names.
They dragged him outside, tied his hands behind his back and put him on a horse.
"I'm sorry, Carino!" Talina screamed.
"Shut up, foreign bitch!" Erika snapped. "You've just lost all rights to set foot in the Queendom of Maadre ever again! Go back to where you belong and forget about coming back here!"
Carino wailed in frustration, so they gagged him. The guards put him onto the river barge and headed back for Maadre. He struggled in vain, trying to free himself, until Erika knocked him unconscious.
***
Bono went to the palace, summoned by Erika. The captain of the Queen's Guard had just come back from a mission and wished to relax in his arms.
He didn't question her as he made love to her, but when they were cuddling after the act, she was the one who felt the need to talk.
"We brought the Queen's son back," she announced with a sigh.
Bono's heart missed a beat.
"Carino?" he asked. The young man had run away a month earlier and a part of him had hoped he'd never get caught.
"Yes. Vilma came to tell the Queen he'd used the Fall Festival to run away and the first thing they did was sending me out to discover if former ambassador Talina was or had been in town. She's a Tattooed woman who still has friends here."
"I know, Carino mentioned her to me," Bono said, thoughtful. "She was still ambassador when he last saw her."
"Well, she was, until five years ago. Anyway, once we discovered she was indeed in town for the Festival but had left the day Carino vanished, the Queen sent us to Danae to wait for her. We went downriver with the barge and she was traveling by land, so we reached the harbor in Danae long before her. Her ship was still there, so we only had to wait for her to show up."
"And Carino was with her?"
"Yes. She was expelled from the country and we brought him back."
"When?" he asked puzzled. Carino hadn't come back to the Public House.
"Two days ago. He's still here. He was punished and Vilma doesn't want him back. She says he's useless."
"Well, he is a little rebellious, but..."
"Honey, he's crazy. He screamed at his mother that he hated her. He swore he'd never touch a woman again. He was whipped, but we had to drug him to make him hard."
Bono gulped his sorrow. Carino must have lost it.
"Bono." Erika stared at him. "He said he loves you. And wants only you."
Bono cleared his throat but couldn't speak.
"The Queen was mad at him. She couldn't believe her son preferred men. She... hurt him, Bono. I thought she'd kill him in her fury."
"Did she?" he whispered.
"No, but he's still recovering from the punishment. And since Vilma doesn't want him back, the Queen might keep him here, now that Talina is gone. I don't know, maybe she wants to reeducate him herself. But if he's as stubborn as her..."
"She'll break him or kill him," he finished sourly. "I wish I could help him."
Erika pulled away to look him in the eyes.
"Bono, you're the most loved Public Man of Maadre," she said. "Even the Queen is fond of you. If anyone can do anything for Carino, it's you."
He frowned in worry.
"But he declared his love for me! How can I claim him?"
"We all know you're the best." Erika smiled. "He can't corrupt you, but maybe you can teach him some manners."
"I've tried for ten yeas and failed," he grumbled.
"I'm sure you can talk the Queen into leaving him alone..."
***
"I beg your forgiveness, your majesty, for I have failed you." Bono was prostrated in front of the Queen, touching the floor with his forehead.
"In what have you failed me?" Shawanna sounded surprised.
"Lady Vilma had entrusted me with your son's education." He pulled up, but remained on his knees, keeping his eyes low. "I failed to understand him and somehow pushed him to try to run away..."
"You can't be held responsible for my son's screwed mind," she said, thoughtful. "I know you did your best. But Carino is rebellious and too stubborn for his own good!"
"May I have a second chance, your majesty? I would like to try a different approach..."
He felt her blue eyes on him. He'd soon be thirty, they weren't expecting him to keep breeding for much longer. His status allowed him to make some requests, and his dutiful service probably entitled him to ask a favor or two.
"Vilma speaks so highly of you, I was thinking of transferring you to my Apartment," the Queen said. "And since she doesn't want to bother with Carino's tantrums anymore, maybe I could... I'd make him your personal servant, trusting you to make a real man out of him, so that in a year or two he'll be able to perform at least the Rites in the palace. Sereno will take his place at Vilma's, he's much nicer than Carino."
Bono nodded, but didn't dare looking up. Carino's younger brother was making a name for himself in the palace, and Vilma would be very happy to have him instead of aging Bono.
Thus the Public Man moved to the palace and into the Queen's Apartment, where he had his own room. He lost the freedom to wander in the city on his free day, but he wasn't going to miss it. The Apartment was big, with an inner courtyard and a garden where he could breathe some fresh air without wearing the Modesty Cloth. There was a small canteen for the Queen's men and a big bath chamber with two pools, one of cold water and the other thermal, with a sweat-room next to it.
His bed was much bigger than the cot he'd slept in at Vilma's, with curtains to keep the light out. He had a chest for his clothes and a little outhouse on the balcony that hung over a stream running behind the palace. The soft carpet on the floor was a luxury he never expected to find.
When the Queen summoned him, he went to her, determined to thank her for what she'd done for him – and ask when Carino would join him. Shawanna smiled and assured him that as soon as the palace Healer allowed Carino to get up, he'd report to Bono.
Bono thanked her profusely in the best way he could think of, hoping the Queen wasn't past childbearing age and she'd have a reminder of his gratitude. He knew he'd be put to death and buried with her when her time came, but he was sure he still had many years to spend in the Apartment.
Then he went back to his new room and fell asleep in his new soft bed, looking forward to see Carino again.
***
Carino rose from the cot with his back still painted by the whip. His fever was down, so the Healer told him to report to his new post. He'd been assigned to a man of the Queen's Apartment.
Carino didn't say a word, drowning in his own sorrow. He wondered why they hadn't killed him after whipping and abusing him. The only consolation was that his mother's Apartment was on the highest floors and he could attempt to jump to his death from one of the balconies and put an end to his misery.
He reported to the Head of the Apartment, a bulky man who was also head of security in a place where the Queen was the only woman allowed.
"Last door of the corridor." The man pointed hm grumpily. "The newcomer is too spoiled already."
Carino ignored the comment. He didn't have to wait for his healthy mother's death to end his existence.
He dragged his feet to the door and knocked.
"Come in!"
He entered, closed the door and stood still, staring at the tiled floor and waiting for orders. He wasn't going to try to be friendly with his mother's latest flavor...
"Carino!"
Startled, Carino found himself in Bono's arms. Incredulous, he dared looking at his beloved's grin, and Bono chuckled, nodding.
"Yes, it's me! You're my personal servant now. The Queen gave me a second chance."
Carino panted, but his voice didn't come out. His mother had heard him scream his love for Bono, why had she allowed this?
Bono smiled and tousled his hair.
"I think your mother loves you," he said tenderly. "Now, if I allo
w you to do a few things, will you obey me and do your duty?"
"Like what?" Carino's voice came out strangled. His heart was in his throat while his lower body was pressed against Bono's.
"Like being your lover if you stop refusing women."
Carino's eyes widened in wonder.
"You'd do that?" he whispered.
Bono nodded, flooding him with his blue stare. And for the first time since he'd know him, it was Bono who initiated the kiss.
Carino lost himself in Bono's mouth, thinking he might not have to jump off a balcony after all.
***
About the Author
Barbara G.Tarn had an intense life in the Middle Ages that stuck to her through the centuries. She prefers swords to guns, long gowns to mini-skirts, and even though she buried the warrior woman, she deplores the death of knights in shining chainmail. She likes to think her condo apartment is a medieval castle, unfortunately lacking a dungeon to throw noisy neighbors and naughty colleagues in. Also known as the Lady with the Unicorns, these days she prefers to add a touch of fantasy to all her stories, past and present – when she’s not wandering on her fantasy world of Silvery Earth or in her science fantasy Star Minds Universe. She dabbles into historical fantasy with her Vampires Through the Centuries series and has started post-apocalyptic/steampunk series called Future Earth Chronicles. She’s a writer, sometimes artist, mostly a world-creator and story-teller. Two of her stories received an Honorable Mention at the Writers of the Future contest and one was published in Pulphouse Magazine #5 (March 2019). She writes, draws, ignores her day job and blogs at: http://creativebarbwire.wordpress.com.
For more info on the series or other titles go to Unicorn Productions.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review on your retailer of choice, thank you.
Did you love Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 2? Then you should read Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 3 by Barbara G.Tarn!
"Water Creatures"
Leonard is a merchant's son who will shipwreck and meet sea monsters, merfolks and Water's children.
"Saif's Story"
The complete story of how street boy Rohit became an assassin at the school of southerners Talwar and Khanda. Saif becomes an assassin and a man at the same time in the years following the death of the last king of Gajendra.
"Birdsong" and "Princess Sapphire"
At the time of the Enlightened Emperor, Vario XII, a group of people form a team of so-called mercenaries. Maxian is a Human wizard apprentice who meets a young Genn, a member of the fabled Magical Races. Ludwig needs some "me" time away from his housemates and on the way home, he saves Princess Sapphire from a sorcerer's tower.
"The Initiation of Jonik IV"
Ashort story by Angelica de Winter about the late king, last of the Gyllymer dynasty, where she imagined he preferred male lovers.
A collection of short stories and novellas of Silvery Earth.
Read more at Barbara G.Tarn’s site.
Also by Barbara G.Tarn
Future Earth Chronicles
Brainwaves (Future Earth Chronicles Book 1)
Wanderlust (Future Earth Chronicles Book 2)
Across Continents (Future Earth Chronicles Book 3)
Himalayas (Future Earth Chronicles Book 4)
Airships (Future Earth Chronicles Book 5)
Silvery Earth
Books of the Immortals - Air
Books of the Immortals - Earth
Books of the Immortals - Ether
Books of the Immortals - Fire
Books of the Immortals - Water
Chronicles of the Varian Empire - Volume 1
Chronicles of the Varian Empire - Volume 2
Chronicles of the Varian Empire - Volume 3
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth
Amazon Spring
Amazon Summer
Books of the Immortals
The Hooded Man
Kilig & Hakeem
Saif & Kilig
Kilig the Sword
The Young King
Firebird
Beautiful
Amazon Fall
The Path of Water (Quests Book 1)
The Path of Fire (Quests Book 2)
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 1
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 2
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 2
Fairy Tales Revisited on Silvery Earth
Tales of the Queendom of Maadre
More Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition)
Tales of the Southern Kingdoms (One Volume Edition)
The Path of Air (Quests Book 3)
Quests Volume One: The Paths of Water and Air
The Path of Earth (Quests Book 4)
Quests Volume Two: The Paths of Fire and Earth
Talwar and Khanda - Assassins in Love
Saif's Story
Honorable Assassins
Axelle, Wanderer (Silvery Earth Heroines)
The Complete Chronicles of the Varian Empire Box Set
Assassins Guild of Silvery Earth Box Set
Fall of the Southern Kingdoms
Angelica, Scholar (Silvery Earth Heroines)
Two Stories of the Varian Empire
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 3
The Sun Sword (Legends of the Moren Empire Volume 1)
Quests Box Set
Star Minds Italiano
Angelo Tecnologico (Star Minds #1)
Mercanti di Schiavi (Star Minds #3)
Star Minds - la trilogia
Stella Cadente
Legame Mentale (Star Minds #2)
Star Minds Frammenti - Donne
Star Minds Frammenti
Star Minds Universe
Star Minds - The Trilogy
Star Minds Snippets
Star Minds Next Generation
Star Minds Next Generation Diaries
Star Minds Chasing Stardom
Star Minds Interregnum
Star Minds Third Generation Snippets
Star Minds Starter
Adventurer (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Pilot (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Hacker (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Thief (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Mercenary (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Freelance (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Star Minds Lone Wolves Shorts
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 1-5
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 6-10
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 11-15
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 16-20
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 21-25
Star Minds Lone Wolves Team - Missions 26-29
Rogue (Star Minds Lone Wolves)
Terra d'Argento in italiano
Amori Maschili a Terra d'Argento
L'eredità di Saif
Smeraldo e Kyrio
Il giovane re
Saif e Kilig
Vampires Through the Centuries
Charioteer of Buddha
Indestructible
Kaylyn the Sister-in-Darkness
Kristine the Youngest
Norman Blood
Rajveer the Vampire
Shashank the Fledgling
Vampires Through the Centuries Novellas
Standalone
Johnny & Marian
Six Months and Other Love Stories
Best of Friends
Ciaran & Harith
Happiness is...
Choices, Changes and Other Stories
Pat & Babs
Body Switches
Yash and Ryo Lost in the Milky Way
Today People
Soul Thieves
The Fern and The
Cross
Otherside
Joint Operations
Relationships (5 Short Stories of Love and Friendship)
Mumbai Dreams
Watch for more at Barbara G.Tarn’s site.
Male Lovers of Silvery Earth Volume 2 Page 20
