The Unsuitable Slave. (NC-17) Part 20/34

[anniespinkhouse]

Something doused the fires, pulled him up through a racing, dizzy confusion of color and noise until he reached the cold ground and lay there aching, soggy and cramped. Hell had been more comfortable.

He wondered if he still had eyes. The sockets burned and itched as if they had been ripped from him. He forced an eyelid open experimentally.

“Child.”

His hearing remained.

“Child. I need you to answer me carefully.”

Deep brown eyes stared down at him in a serious face with set lips and deep brows under a shock of untidy brown hair.  It confirmed that at least one of his eyes stayed in place, assuming he was alive.

“Nod if you can understand me.”

Jared swallowed and his brain asked his head to move but it wouldn’t. He opened his eyes, both eyes, wide and blinked them in a slow and deliberate movement.

“Good Boy.”

He blinked again, the same deliberation.

“You were supposed to protect your Master, keep him safe in his recovery and you failed, you should have told us of his intentions. The King has offered a choice. You can choose to die here. We will stop with this treatment, let you go. You can close your eyes and never feel again. There is no shame in it Child.”

Jared thought his breath would not return, that the decision would be made without further input from Ethan or Joshua.  He hadn’t earned this, Jensen didn’t deserve this.

“Let me finish. Breathe. Are you still listening?”

There was the icy slap of water being dumped unceremoniously over him. He gasped breath inward over the arid spaces of his lungs. The sudden pain was piercing sharp and he struggled to exhale with slow care.

“…or you can be the slave you are supposed to be. Prince Jensen is missing, you will be in Joshua’s care and there will be no concessions or leniency for errors in behavior. The decision of whether to return you to Jensen if he returns is Joshua’s alone. Make no mistake, he grieves for his brother and is angry at your betrayal. We have no time to spare attention to you. There is paste remaining and we will not hesitate to repeat this exercise, without reprieve, in the event that you do not co-operate. Any small mercy is for the benefit of Jensen, if he should live, not for you.”

Jared wanted to roll over, push himself up and punch Ethan. He wanted to give a sarcastic reply and taunt them in to carrying out his swift end but he couldn’t so much as raise his head in protest and besides, he had made this decision the day Jensen left, his heart refused him an option. He would wait for his Master.

***

Ethan left him on the floor, to be tended by the bitter Physician. Jared was forced to recall all the reasons why one should never make cutting remarks to another, however well deserved. The man was instructed to cure the young slave but he had no obligation to be gentle. Jared's mouth was jammed open with a metal ‘0’ and a tube forced into his throat with rapid, scraping carelessness until he felt a steady drip against his cramping stomach. Unfamiliar slaves hauled him up and dumped him on a short table from which his legs dangled. They clipped his wrist cuffs over his head and his ankle cuffs to chains and attached them to a pulley above the table, spread him wide and vulnerable in a repeat of his previous visit to the Physician.

He found enough voice to give a low pitched whine when oily fingers probed at the tight rose of his asshole. They forced in and stretched at the ring of muscle, too quickly. His hand suddenly found movement. It clenched and banged against the surface of the table. The pain reminded him of the damage he had inflicted on himself. The Physician laughed and pushed the muscle open more forcefully before reaching behind himself to tighten the ankle chains until Jared’s ass was dragged upward in the air, toward the ceiling and he was resting mostly on his shoulders. A cold metal nozzle was forced through the clenching, resistant muscle and he found himself forming a muffled scream. He wasn’t expecting what followed. The flood of cold, soapy liquid into his hot anal channel was intrusive and uncomfortable. The swell of his bowels and distension of his lower belly was a whole new pain and humiliation. He felt the removal of the nozzle and the insertion of a large round ended plug and then he was left in this crude position while the physician bustled in and out of the room and whistled a happy tune.

Slaves placed a tub beneath the end of the table, the plug was released and the ankle chains loosened. He had no control over his body to prevent the bruising fall of his legs against the end of the table and the revolting release of foul water from his bowels. A tear found its way from his left eye and trickled down his cheek. He heard the banging of the door as the Physician left the room and saw one of the slaves take a furtive look behind him, checking for the man’s absence. The soft pad of a finger collected the round drop from his face and the slave spoke sympathetically, “Tears are a good sign Child. The procedure is uncomfortable but necessary. We'll repeat it several times to flush all the poison from you. It’s an unpleasant procedure so he won’t bother to disturb us much.” There was a noise outside the door and the unfamiliar slave glanced about again. “Can’t talk to you.” Jared managed the faintest movement of his head in acknowledgement.

They repeated the procedure twice more before releasing him to lie on the floor again. The throat feed was left in, dripping life back to him.

When all poison had been chased from his ravaged body, the tube was snatched out, he was washed, given a new collar in basic brown leather and brought to the King’s chambers. Ethan settled him into a large cage on a thin mattress. He set a warm blanket on him and tucked it under his chin. The small man placed a closed lip kiss on his cheek, stroked his hair and spoke softly to him “Rest now.”

***

He was shaken awake by Genevieve, she was petite and extraordinarily pretty with deep brown eyes, thick dark hair and a sweet smile. “You have to arise, we have plenty to do and you do not want to give Master more reason to be angry with you.”

He felt so very weary, he ached all over, his bandaged hand throbbed with dull pain and he could not find a care. He stared blankly at the girl and she pulled again on his arm through the bars of the cage. “Please. Master has many pressures today and he tasked me with this.” She looked apprehensively about her as if she expected the King's presence any moment.

Jared crept sluggishly from his blanket and crawled to the open door of his cage. He paused at the edge “Is it alright, can I come out?”

“If it has been opened of course you can, Silly.” She frowned and shook her head at him.

He ducked through the opening and kneeled on the floor beside her. He clutched at his sore head and struggled to his feet with a yawn.

“You need to look lively, Child”

“I don’t feel lively.”

“Do you think that matters? Try a splash of cold water but you have to be cheerful and compliant.”

He gave a sarcastic shrug “What more can be done to me?”

“The King seemed to think you knew the answer to that.”  She was giving him a steady gaze. “You had a bad day, this day can only be better.”

Jared thought she must be an expert in understatement but she didn’t appear to be mocking or cruel so he gave her the fake smile that Alona had taught him and asked if it was appropriate to use the bathing room.

Genevieve's manners were as correct and gentle as Alona and whenever she spoke of Joshua, her Master, there was the hint of a smile that spoke of sweet secrets. Jared was confined to the apartment to lay fires, clean and sweep while she hurried back and forth with various items and messages. The King swept past him in cold silence, not a glance in his direction but for Genevieve he stopped and exchanged a smile, brief kisses and affectionate touches, and, in those moments he missed Jensen with an intensity that mimicked physical pain.

He was collected by Ethan after breakfast and taken to the Great Hall. A crowd of servants and slaves busied themselves over an enormous and lavishly decorated banqueting table. Ethan stayed to direct the work and Jared was set the task of polishing and laying silver cutlery to precise measurements. He was about a third of the way up the table when he first had to stop and steady himself against the shining wood of a chair. He continued after a brief respite but as he stopped for a second time he felt Ethan’s arm around his waist. The Prince’s friend took the silverware from his hand and passed it to another. “You are obliged to tell when you are unwell, Child.”

“I am just tired, Master.”

Ethan rubbed his arm, “You remember your manners even after Jensen broke you from them. Well done. You are pale and exhausted and that will not do for this evening. Come on.” Ethan returned him to the mattress within the cage but he didn’t shut the door. “Sleep a while. Gen will wake you when it is time to get ready.”

He had seen the preparations, he did not need to be told what he was to be woken for, he was just too tired to fret about it. He was asleep the moment he lay his head down.

The nap was refreshing and he was woken by Genevieve bearing sweet honey drink and a substantial soup. “You need your strength. You must bathe and prepare carefully, then you will report to Master in his study.”

***

However hard he scrubbed, whatever oil he applied there was no hiding the blooming bruises of yesterday’s experiences from his skin. He washed and styled his hair so it shone and he filed the mess he had made of his nails, nevertheless, he was nobody’s example of a perfect Court slave. He hoped his best efforts were sufficient, straightened his shoulders, dropped his eyes and kneeled before King Joshua in submissive silence.

Soft fingers stroked the blue sheen on his face and traced over the multi-colour marks left by the end of the Physician’s table. “Oh Child! What damage has been done? What would Jensen think to see you now?” The question was not asked in a way that required answer.  “No mind. You are, in any case, beautiful. We shall tell that you received the marks in defense of your Master, which is not untrue.”

A hand cupped the slave’s chin and raised his head while the leather collar was released. “I have something for your presentation. I know that Jensen will like it on you. I chose to his taste.”  He held a shining metal collar with a dark green velvet lining and a solid loop at the front. He smoothed Jared’s hair from his neck and fastened it before reaching into another box for a decorated silver tag. He showed it to Jensen’s slave. The Royal Crest was engraved upon it, beside the interwoven JRA, his Master’s initials. Joshua snapped it to the ring and added a beautifully woven leather braided leash which he held loosely in his hand as he admired the new look.

There was the sound of rushing, heavy footsteps in the corridor and frenzied rapping at the King’s door. Joshua tugged on Jared’s leash and had him kneel beside him as if at rest. “Be relaxed and decorative.” he commanded.

A General of the King’s forces strode in with a hurried bow. “Your Majesty, Envoy Woolvett of the Federated States has arrived. He is demanding an immediate audience.”

The King’s brows knitted heavily. “The States have no invitation. What involvement would they want in all this?”

“He claims that he attends as a potential ally, that he may be of more value than any of your invited guests. He asks to be seen and he is here.” The last part was hissed with a heavy glance by the General to the corridor outside the room.

“Why would you let him come to my Chambers?”

“He refused to be left standing and in the circumstances I did not think it polite to have him struck down.”

Joshua tutted and drew noisy breath, as if in deep thought, he reached a hand to Jared’s head and unconsciously stroked through his hair. “Send him in alone, post sentries at the door.”

***

Jared dared not raise his eyes as the King greeted his guest but he was alert for movements of hand and served drinks efficiently without spilling a drop or drawing attention to himself in any way. He was surprised to feel a warm hand stroke his back and a murmur of “Good Boy” as he placed himself back at Joshua’s side.

“Envoy Gordon Woolvett, this is a surprise. What would bring you here at such a time?” The King boomed in an over-enthusiastic manner and shook the man’s hand firmly.

The Envoy was not a large man or even old and sage. He was of mid age and mid height with middle-blonde hair and a cocky attitude. He spoke cheerfully “My Government send their condolences for the passing of your father and are curious to know the new King. We feel that it would be foolish to pass you over as a copy of your father’s rule.”

“What a peculiar time to make such an undertaking, you must know that there are risks in traveling here and that this status may not last?”

“Of course. Our sources put the Queen’s army within a week of this place and note that the Earl of Ford has raised his largest and best equipped army yet. He aims to meet with Morgan’s troops in two days and then it will be all over for you.” The Envoy paused, “Unless you have a suitable trick up your sleeve or a new ally at your side.”

“Why would you ally with us Envoy? We have nothing to offer to you, I believe we have had this conversation several times over the years.”

“I did not say we would. You must be aware that our laws will not allow full trade and alliances with nations that have human trade practices. Perhaps we had hopes, but I see all your guests favor your own trading traditions. You do know that you do not have enough for them? They are shallow and will take whatever gifts you have to offer but they will watch as you are crushed and buy bargain pieces of you in the aftermath.”

The King’s hand carded nervously through Jared’s hair and Woolvett followed the action with his gaze. “What happened to the sweet girl that you had?”

Joshua startled as he realized his action “Gen remains with me. I treasure her presence. The boy is my brother’s property. I am caring for him while Jensen travels. You understand we are at war.”

The Envoy sounded incredulous in his reply, “Prince Jensen took a slave?” He took several steps and bent to peer at Jared. Jared bowed his head further, hid his face behind his flowing hair but Woolvett pushed the dark curtain aside and lifted his face. Jared thought he saw shock flit across his features but it was soon schooled. “Is he Realm?”

“Yes. My brother took him as an injured soldier, in the Borderlands. It means he has scars and a poor knowledge of his place, but you know my brother.” Joshua chuckled fondly.

“I thought I did but this is unexpected.”

“It was unexpected for everybody but he is a sweet addition. He is somewhat hesitant, but a diamond in the rough.”

The Envoy clicked a heavy ring against his glass as he imbibed his drink. He set it down and Jared refilled it without instruction. “Sometimes it can be hard to judge the full value of what you have,” Woolvett tested, but the King did not react to the comment. He took a drink from the refreshed glass. “There has been a change in your attitude Your Majesty.”

“In what way?”

“You refer to the boy as a person, a he. Is there to be a change in the treatment of slaves?”

The King bristled, “We treat our slaves in an exemplary manner. It is Jensen’s wish to use this form of address. In his usual rebellious manner he has put it into being and I follow suit because it is unfair to confuse the lad. That is all.”

Jared had to bite at his cheek to prevent an unsuitable outburst. If Joshua wanted to demonstrate continuity then he would not be having him presented this evening.

“It’s a pity,” spoke the Envoy quietly. He glanced at Jared, his eyes kept returning to stare at him and he licked his lips.

The King did not miss the stare, he placed a steadying hand on Jared’s shoulder. “You did not come here to discuss our slave Gordon. There are many who may baulk at your presence this evening so perhaps you can elaborate on the reason for your visit.”

“I will summarize dear Joshua. My Government are not comfortable with your trading associations. We do not ally with slavers, however, we have other issues with the Realm and you are at least, a quiet and unaggressive neighbor. I cannot make promises at this very moment but I should like to stay and be involved in your negotiations this evening and I will attempt to be inoffensive to your other visitors. At the very least I expect to be able to offer some sanctuary for your Lord’s and their pets in the event of your defeat.” He grinned at the King over his glass and eyed Jared once more.

Joshua sighed. “You are welcome Gordon. I shall ensure that there is a place for you. Perhaps you should like the comfort of a familiar slave to serve you? I can arrange for this one to be by your side. It appears that Prince Jensen shall not be back in time for dinner and we would not want the boy to feel redundant.”

The Envoy moved a hand to stroke Jared’s hair and face. “It would be much appreciated. Thank you, Your Majesty.” He gave a bright smile and a bow as he left the King’s presence.

***

Genevieve left with her Master and Ethan slipped into the apartment with a tight lipped soldier and a set of cuffs. Jared couldn’t pretend he hadn’t been expecting it with burgeoning dread. Once he was restrained they tipped his head to ensure that he would drink the tincture that they brought. “It will help to calm you.”

All Jared could see was a bitter paste that had been used a day before.  He twisted his head and fought the reflex to swallow as his nose was held closed. There was the whistle of a cane through the air and he felt the sharp burn of a lash to the sole of his feet. He gasped in pained surprise and sweet fluid drained into his throat, forcing him to swallow whatever poison they had chosen to give him this time.

“This can get so much worse Child. I thought you understood your choice. Now settle.” Ethan was businesslike, no anger or passion in his voice.

The tincture didn’t take long to take hold, there was a pleasant buzz starting to cloak his mind into a blank space as fingers slipped a generous quantity of balm into his still sore and sensitive puckered hole and worked him open until three fingers pushed and scissored. More balm was dripped into the opening and he squirmed with the revolting squelch that it provoked. It was no more erotic than the Physician but at least Ethan was taking care in the process. The small man mumbled reassurance as he worked but he was starting to breathe heavy and Jared could hear his arousal. Finally an ass plug was worked into him and Ethan reached to stroke the slave’s cock as he angled the plug to brush the prostate.  The slave’s member swelled and stiffened in defiance of his own will.

“You keep this in. Only your master or someone you are asked to serve can remove it. Understand?” Ethan jostled the plug and Jared’s hips arched forwards, grinding against air. “Understand?”

“Yes, Master.”  He was grateful that Chad had introduced him to the item and he had taken time to get used to it in private.

“Good Boy. Just one more thing…” Ethan had his tongue between his teeth in concentration and in a bid to hide his own arousal.

No, no, no thought Jared. Even through the floating drug-haze he knew he couldn’t go through the agony of having his cock plugged. He whined and struggled against his ties. Ethan held up solid twin metal rings and he calmed, that wasn’t so bad. Jensen had used it on him once, it created a frustration and sweet desperation but for the most part it was bearable. He closed his eyes and pictured Jensen. He remembered his teasing fingers and glinting green eyes as he played with his balls, rolled them and licked a stripe from the base of his cock to the purple swollen tip. He recalled the rush of sensation as his Master crawled atop of him and gave a wicked smile while he grasped his erection and slid the ring to the base, pulled his balls through and dared him to taunt his Master, then forbade his orgasm before sliding the engorged flesh between the full pout of his lips, ripping moans and pleas and sex-spawned babble from his slave.

His cock twitched as the rings were pulled firmly into place. “Beautiful! You need no decoration,” exclaimed Ethan. “Now, whatever happens, however you are used, this will help but you know that you are not allowed to take your own pleasure. If you are tempted, think of Dragonweed and Witches’ Wyrt because that is what it will earn you if you come.”

Jared understood the threat even through the induced calm of his body. He shivered but he couldn’t imagine taking any pleasure in the evening’s activities.

Ethan released the restraints and re-clipped his leash, “Time to go.” He gave a final comb to the soft, styled hair before leading him into the hallway.

***

Ethan kept the leash pulled tight while he waited for a cue. He tugged at it and Jared followed, stepping at the precise distance required. He was apprehensive, scared even, but the message didn’t seem to travel from his brain to his body. He was outwardly relaxed and confident, watching himself from afar.

There were slaves kneeled by their owners throughout the room, most naked but others dressed in short silk shifts. Joshua was speaking to a crowd of Lords, Ladies and Ambassadors, it appeared that he was coming to the end of an address. Jared could hear the words as he was led toward the doors that separated the ante-room from the Great Hall.

“…Ethan has had the household busy preparing this magnificent feast.  There has been far too much doom and gloom in our talks so we have taken the opportunity to present the newest addition to our Court. Prince Jensen has taken a delightful young slave and since my brother is away, what with war and all that…” there was a nervous laugh from the guests, “it is my honor to present it to you, in its first service. Jensen has already taken his pleasure.  You know my brother, he never could wait! The boy, being Jensen’s did not arrive pre-trained so it is still a little shy but that does not mean you have to be.” There was more laughter and the murmur of low gossip in the room. Jared kept his eyes to the floor, relieved that he didn’t have to see the stares that would be directed at the new slave, standing naked and leashed. The door to the Great Hall was pulled open and the sumptuously decorated banqueting tables were revealed.

“Enjoy our hospitality,” The King completed and made a gesture to Ethan.

The guests filed past Jared, many took a wide berth and kept walking but for each that approached he was made to bow in perfect submission with his head touching the floor. Some leered and touched him, others commented on his physique, many on his lack of decoration. None spoke to him. One or two had him turn around and they felt the curve of his spine and the globes of his ass, separated them and casually pulled or pushed at the base of the butt-plug, and, while his body was sublimely relaxed about the touch, Jared was grateful that he faced the wall in those moments, so he could hide his glistening eyes.

Once he had been thoroughly examined and humiliated Ethan passed his leash to Envoy Woolvett. The Envoy looked confused “What am I supposed to do now? I’ve never had a slave to command.” Ethan bowed a little and gave a friendly smile, “Child will mostly know what to do on his own, other than that you can speak to him. He responds well to that.”

Each chair had a cushion placed beside it. Slaves dragged the chairs back and settled their owners in comfort, served a drink and then kneeled by their side ready to serve each course and attend to details. Jared noticed that the King sat without a slave, Genevieve and Alona were assigned to serve lone ambassadors, much as he had been. A subdued and wan Chad kneeled by an equally pale and worn Lady Victoria and Ethan was not at the table, because, for all his loyalty and friendship he was not born to nobility. He was the servant that organized his friends’ banquets but would never be invited. Jared thought that it must be intensely hurtful to the small man. He pulled his attention back to Envoy Woolvett, made him comfortable and kneeled dutifully beside him.

***

Jared made it through the first course without error or spill and breathed out. He peeked about the room, careful not to be seen. The guests chatted, nobody took any notice of slaves aside from a brief touch or chastisement. He startled when he felt a solid grasp on his shoulder and Envoy Woolvett passed a piece of sugared sesame bread under the table. Jared recalled his training, he took it lightly in soft lips, sucked gently on the man’s fingertips and then kissed them and said “”Thank you, Sir.”  Woolvett pulled his hand back in  hurried alarm and Jared panicked. He had made the man feel uncomfortable and needed to make amends, he pressed his head to the ground by the man and begged his forgiveness.

“No, no. Up! Get up!” The Envoy hissed at him.

He scrabbled to regain his position, mortified that he was a source of distraction to his Guest. He wasn’t sure if he had said as much, out loud, because his body and brain were floating in different directions and Woolvett answered with a whisper, “Nobody wants to talk to me so feel free to distract me, just lay off sucking my fingers.” The Envoy looked across at a Northern Ambassador with his whip-marked slave who was mouthing at his master’s crotch under the table and added “In fact do not suck at anything, Child!”

It took thoughts of Dragonweed and Witches’ Wyrt to suppress his giggles and the Envoy surreptitiously passed him another piece of bread. When he had finished chewing a giggle escaped him anyway. Envoy Woolvett’s hand reached to his chin and tipped it to look into the slave’s glazed eyes and he spoke with sadness, “Oh Child! What did they drug you with?”

Jared didn’t reply, he didn’t know the answer.

Envoy Woolvett attempted a conversation with the frightening leather clad lady to one side of him, the thin snooty fellow on the other and the sexually active Northerner opposite him. When the discussions faltered and they turned away from him he gave up and started to whisper an amusing commentary on the evening’s proceedings, directed at the slave by his side. Jared was bold enough to reply with witty rejoinder to some of his remarks, creating muffled laughter in his Guest. The Envoy shared each course with him and had him sip at his wine. It all felt oddly clandestine and at some point in the proceedings he decided that he liked Envoy Woolvett and he was actually having fun.

***

There was a ridiculous number of small courses and entertainment between each. It seemed that the King was not going to have much of a meal. At each course he met with another of his guests and took them to a separate table. As the evening progressed King Joshua’s face became ever more haggard, his hospitality more strained.

At some point the Ladies said goodnight and departed, some of the men took the opportunity to leave with them, citing long journeys and busy schedules as excuse. Mackenzie commanded her slave to stay and entertain the remaining guests and the other Ladies of the Kingdom followed her example. The remaining guests scattered to drink and take entertainment in the ante-room.

The King sought out Envoy Woolvett and invited him to his table in the now, almost-deserted, Hall. Ethan returned to collect Jared. “There are Guests awaiting your service.”

***

The coarse language and raw stench of sex pervaded the ante room. The candlelight was dim but he could make out the shapes of slaves being fucked in every orifice, over every surface, across tables and chairs, on the floor and even against the cold walls. Wall sex, that’s my favorite when I’m with Jensen added Jared’s drug-high mind unhelpfully, but none of these men were Jensen and he didn’t want to allow them in, to use him in ways that only his Master should.

His body kept moving, relaxed and unresisting it followed Ethan and kneeled before the small crowd of men. Ignorant of his mind his fingers reached to the buckle of the man before him and released his full and hard cock, took it in his mouth and worked his tongue around it, bobbing his head up and down over its length. His ears heard the lewd comments and understood the descriptions of the acts that the men in the room planned to perform with him but he continued making the man moan and grunt while strong hands gripped at his head and urged him on. He felt the ache of his lips, smelled the strong musk that was all wrong but he sucked his cheeks in and let him blow his load in his mouth and over his face then push him away like a broken toy and let another take his place.

He was a good little cocksucker, this much he had learned from the first three guests but number four was going to “fuck him raw” over the arm of the chair that he roughly pushed him onto to. A hand reached to push and pull at the plug in his hole, to remove it brutally while onlookers laughed. He squirmed but could not move away. In defiance of his obedient body, a tear slipped through his eyelashes and over his cheek. His self pity was interrupted by a pained screech uttered, then rapidly bitten back by whatever slave had been hurt. The sound was so out of place among the moans and screams of pleasure that it was obviously not the result of an erotic game. The man who was readying to defile him straightened and peered across the dimly lit room. A second screech followed with a restrained sob and the man hauled Jared back up from the chair and set him to kneel and wait. The entire room seemed to stop with the exception of a few couples. Too far gone to cease, they continued to pant and moan in the ecstasy of orgasm.

Jared followed everyone’s gaze to where the King was leaving Envoy Woolvett’s side and cutting through the crowd, then snatching Genevieve from the clutches of a large, crimson-faced and sweaty Ambassador. There was another disturbance from the hallway and, suddenly, everybody was looking between the furious green eyes of their Monarch and the battle-ragged form of his brother who summed up the scene in a moment, pulled his dagger from his belt and took the room in five strides to be beside Joshua.

Sentries arrived quickly to escort the Ambassador away. They held the King and his sibling back, reminding them of the political ramifications of attacking the man.

Ethan carried Genevieve away, lamps were brought in to brighten the room and King Joshua stood to speak to the room. Jared thought he looked old and defeated. The King began a polite speech and stopped to rub at his furrowed brow. He looked back at Envoy Woolvett and shrugged. “You know what, it is late and this Kingdom has a war to win. It has become clear to me that, with the exception of one Nation, nobody here holds an interest in allying with us without unreasonable demand. My Lords should retire to rest for the fight ahead. The rest of you should make preparations to leave as soon as possible lest you get caught in bad blood. Our slaves have done too many favors already.”

You could have heard a pin drop in the thick silence that followed. Jared saw Woolvett smirk and nod while others scowled and pouted but the room cleared rapidly around two green eyed brothers who held each other in a close embrace.

Jensen is safe, Jensen is here, Jensen came back. Jared’s heart felt as is it could burst with emotion.

Jensen pulled back from his brother, patted him on the back and promised to explain himself. In inimitable Jensen-style he noted the banqueting table “Oh there had better be steak and ribs left over for me Josh!”

It was then that Jared felt his Master’s gaze find him. He could not conceive the speed with which Jensen came to be on his knees beside him, an arm around his waist,  looking into the pin-pupil eyes on his come splattered face.

“What did you do? What in Hell’s Moons did you do?”

He realized then, he had done everything that his Master had begged him not to.
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