Disclaimer: This work is fiction, featuring a same-sex relationship between two consenting adult males. If you are under the age of 18, or if it is illegal to view/read this in the city/state/country in which you live, please do not continue reading. The characters, locations and plots contained herein are strictly fictional, and no relationship to any actual person, place or thing is implied or intended. This work is from my imagination, and no one may re-use/reproduce/re-post it without my consent. Feedback is welcome at pon_farr07@yahoo.com.
Going for Bronze
I had spent two months trying to find the entrance to the dragon's lair. Two months sailing around that damn island, diving from the ship to find an underwater cave that could lead to the entrance. In case you don't know, bronze dragons have only one way in and out of their lairs. It's an ocean cave with a tunnel usually long enough that only a dragon can survive swimming through. Humans do not have the lung capacity. Anyway, this tunnel leads to a lair, which is usually inside of a volcano. I knew that bronze lived on the island I had been circling because I had followed him from the port city of Nwansk. Unfortunately, I had not been close enough when he had dived below the ocean surface to find his cave. Until now.
"Ok, I'm ready for you to cast the spell." I turned to the mage I had brought with me. His name is Mervlyn--do NOT ask, trust me!--and he came highly recommended. He dug some things out of the satchel slung over his shoulder, bade me drink a nasty black liquid that had the consistency of pitch, and started mumbling something that could have been a recipe for biscuits for all I knew. Within a few seconds, he finished his recitation, and I threw up all over the deck. (The swabs are going to be mad as hell for that, let me tell you.) Nevertheless, it seemed to do the trick, because Mervlyn nodded his head, I jumped in the ocean, and when I sucked in water, I did not drown. Lucky for the mage, let me tell you.
As I dived down, down toward the ocean floor and cave, I sent a silent prayer to my sister, Genev, who at this very moment lay dying of some unknown malady. It was for her that I sought out the dragon. I hope that it would have some concoction or potion or spell that would help me heal her. I knew there were myths and legends that surrounded dragons, and though I had heard one or two that concerned healing, I did not know for sure that the bronze would be able or even willing to help me. However, I knew that I had nothing to lose because Genev was as good as dead either way. Unless the dragon could pull something off.
It took me almost ten minutes to reach the cave. At first I thought I had made a mistake, but once I saw past the coral and boulders that obstructed the entrance, I quickly made my way inside and started the long, three-mile swim toward the dragon's lair. The swim did not take as long as I thought it would, what with the currents pushing along behind me. In almost no time, I saw light ahead, and I pushed onward, feeling closer and closer to the end of my ordeal. As my head burst from the water, searing heat pummeled into me, and if I had been breathing, I know that my lungs would have nearly burst into flames. I guess the lava was closer to the entrance than I had imagined it would be.
As I stepped from the water, my skin dried almost instantly. I knew that had I been wearing clothes, they would be as dry. Attempting to push aside the temporary discomfort, I made my way onward and upward, following the massive tunnel toward what should be the bronze's lair. I checked the bag of pearls that I had strapped to my hip and felt relief knowing that I had not lost them. Pearls are a favorite of bronze dragons. Favorite treasure. Favorite snack. I guessed either way I should be set to pay the dragon for its services.
Ahead, the tunnel began to widen slightly, and then suddenly it opened into a massive chamber that could have held an armada. Piles and piles of pearls, gold coins, and glistening coral stretched as far as the eye could see. The only thing I did not see was the dragon. I cursed softly and started into the chamber. The dragon's treasure cascaded away from me as I slogged through it, up one mound and down the next. I made enough noise that if the beast was home, it would know someone was here.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
I suppressed a scream, and frantically looked all around me. "Show yourself, dragon. I mean you no harm."
Laughter reverberated through the chamber, and only then did I realize that the voice and laughter were human, not dragon. Although I had never heard a dragon speak or laugh before, so maybe I was wrong. My hunch quickly proved out as a man popped his head above a pile of gold coins. He continued laughing, wiping mirth-induced tears from his eyes. He walked toward me.
"What's so damned funny?" I wanted to know.
"You, you daft moron. `I mean you no harm.'" He tripped over a rather large piece of coral when a new laughing fit seized him, but instead of being angry, he only laughed harder because of it. "Like a dragon is going to be afraid of you. You ever seen a dragon, boy?"
I bristled at being called a boy, but his laughter had me down right furious. "Whether I have seen or have not seen a dragon is none of your damned business. I came here to seek the dragon for my own reasons. Reasons that are no concern of an obviously uncouth person such as yourself."
I could tell that the man attempted to rein in his amusement. He quickly pushed himself to his feet and walked the fifteen feet that separated us, all the while attempting to hide the damnable smile that still haunted his face. "Please forgive me. It's been a while since I had ought but the dragon for company. His sense of humor tends to run in a vein that most humans would find off-putting. I meant no harm or disrespect."
He stopped in front of me, and I got a truly good look at him for the first time. And that look was more than enough to take my currently nonexistent breath away. Eyes the color of azure seas, currently filled with glee, stared into my soul and took its measure. His hair, as black as hell itself, cascaded down his back, framing shoulders that should have been on a deckhand, not a scholar. A body that surely God had sculpted from the finest marble in the world, olive and glistening from the heat. I felt my heart beating in response to his beauty, and I had to turn away from him, lest he see that he had excited me to the point of near orgasm. And that just by standing only a few feet away.
"Have you come to rob the dragon?" His eyes continued to bore into me, and I knew that he would know if I lied to him.
"No, as a matter of fact, I brought these as payment for a request that I would make of it." I loosed the thong that held the bundle of pearls to my hip, taking care that my erection remained hidden from the stranger's sight. Opening the bundle, I let him see the pearls--five white and two black.
He whistled softly, "Aye, that would get him excited. If he were here."
Panic rose inside me, and I felt my heart nearly stop beating. "No, no, no. He has to be here. I've been so long finding him. He must be here." Despair dragged me down, and I fell on my knees, clenching dragon treasure in my fists. Great sobs wracked my body as I felt gentle, soft hands grasp my shoulders.
"Now, now. Obviously, a mighty important errand brings you to this place. Come; tell me of your need. Though he is not here at the moment, I can surely assist you to some degree." He kneeled beside me and pulled me to him, laying my head in his lap and running his fingers through my short brown hair as he made soft shushing noises. The way a mother would for a hurt child.
"It's my sister, Genev. She is dying, and I sought out the dragon so that he might heal her, if it's in his power to do so. He is her only hope. Surely now she must die since I have failed to find the dragon." New tears and sobs flowed from me.
"Do not lose hope. Though the dragon is not here, I know that he has a few potions handy that may just help your Genev. I don't think he'll mind if we take them, as long as you leave the pearls in their place."
He stroked my hair, smiling down at me, until I stopped crying. I tried to apologize, but he leaned down, pressing his lips to mine, quieting the words on my lips. My arms reached around his neck, pulling him closer to me as his tongue forced its way into my mouth. He supported my body with his right arm, and his left hand explored my body, finding my erection and gently wrapping his hand around it. As soon as his silky-smooth flesh touched me, my orgasm ripped through my body and covered my face and chest, and his hand. He looked down at me, and then a grin split his face. My whole body turned red with embarrassment.
"Was that because of me?" he asked, still smiling.
I nodded. "Yes. I'm sorry. That has never happened before. You're just so damn gorgeous. I've been hard since I first saw you."
He laughed, wiping my seed from my face and rubbing it into my chest and stomach. "It's okay. I guess I made a good choice this time." That statement puzzled me, but before I could ask, he said, "We had best get to your sister. Every moment could be precious."
I nodded, and we stood, making our way to the nearest wall of the immense cavern. "How is that you came to be here?" I asked as we made our way over more dragon treasure.
"I am a scholar. I study various things, and the dragon lets me come and go as I please. He has vast knowledge that he puts at my disposal, and we keep each other company." He reached the cavern wall before I did and stooped down, grabbing two bottles from a pile of old coins. "Take these," he commanded, bending down to grab two more bottles.
As we made our way back to the watery entrance, I asked, "How are you going to get out? I doubt you can hold your breath that long."
He smiled at me. "I have an amulet that allows me to breathe underwater. On loan from the dragon."
"I see. I am currently under a spell that allows me to go without breathing. Although I have no idea how much longer it will last."
"Then we should probably hurry, I'd wager." He increased his speed, stopping only long enough to grab a satchel near the mouth of the cavern and slip all the potions into it.
"By the way, I don't know your name. Mine is Ruldaan."
"A pleasure, Ruldaan. My name is Kradyn."
The water felt soothing as we plunged into it, leaving behind the sweltering heat of the lava-warmed dragon's lair. We fought our way through the current, taking much more time than I had on in the in-bound journey, but presently we found ourselves outside the tunnel. I turned to see that Kradyn remained with me, and started to swim toward the surface when I felt my lungs start to burn and had to suppress my body's urge to take a breath. Panic raced through my mind as I kicked frantically toward the surface. In the back of my mind, I knew I did not have enough breath to make it.
Kradyn must have sensed my urgency and need because shortly I felt his hands under my arms, dragging me upward. My lungs screamed, my mind screamed, and my heart hammered away in my chest, attempting to push what little oxygen I had in my blood to the rest of my body. Blackness pushed in from the perimeter of my vision, and soon it swallowed me.
I awoke on the deck of my ship, coughing, sputtering, and vomiting up massive amounts of seawater. A hard hand battered at my back, forcing me to continue coughing. Rolling over onto my knees, I looked up to see Kradyn frowning down at me.
"Well, that was a bit of fun. All out now?"
I nodded dumbly, attempting to push myself to my feet and get away from the ichor that covered the deck. "Thank you for saving me."
He waved away the words. "Not worth thanking. I only did what anyone would do. Now, we must get you below and have a healer look to you. Make sure all the water is out so that you do not catch sickness."
I called to my first mate and bade him set the ship on course for the port of Nwansk. As he ran to the helm, shouting orders for the sails to be unfurled and to weigh anchor. I turned to Mervlyn, who had been standing mutely by the entire time. "Have you a potion or spell that will be handy in this instance, mage?"
He stared at Kradyn, never saying a word, nor seeming to realize that I had spoken to him. Several attempts later, he finally pried his eyes from the man and looked at me.
"What ever is the matter with you?" I wanted to know.
He glanced back at Kradyn, and then, clearing his throat and visibly pulling himself together, he said, "Forgive me, Ruldaan. I only thought that I knew him from somewhere. I realize now that I was mistaken. The man in question, as I recall, died some ten years ago at the center of a very nasty fireball spell, gone awry."
I looked at Kradyn, who stood smiling at the mage. Not an open smile, but a small, knowing smirk. Something definitely going on there. I would need to be wary, lest these two came to blows. Or worse.
"Now then, as for spells or potions," Mervlyn continued, "I believe that I may have something in my cabin. And, good news, this one shouldn't make you throw up."
I laughed in spite of myself and accepted Kradyn's assistance walking to my cabin at the aft of the main deck. Unlike the rest of the crew, who slept in hammocks strung between beams, I had an actual bed. Not much, mostly just big enough for me to sleep in, although it could hold another when the need for certain releases arose. Kradyn deposited me there, and shortly Mervlyn entered with a vial of bright blue liquid.
"This should be exactly what you need in order to stave off any lingering effects or subsequent illness due to near-drowning." He handed me the vial, which I quickly unstoppered and drank. I had learned never to take the time to smell or contemplate the ingredients in these vile concoctions. "There, now, that should do the trick. That will make you sleep for a time. You relax, and I will ensure that First Mate Biddon has us at Nwansk with proper speed." The mage cast on final furtive glance at Kradyn, and then quickly exited my cabin.
"So, does he know you? I asked, as I slipped beneath the blankets of my bed.
Kradyn smiled down at me, helping me to adjust the blankets and situate myself comfortably in the bed. "It is possible that we know one another."
"That didn't answer my question," I said, suddenly yawning and feeling drowsy.
He chuckled. "It is an answer, nonetheless. The only answer that I can give at this time. You have my word that nothing bad will come of my being on this ship or in the presence of your mage friend."
I forced my drooping eyes to remain open, a feat that took some doing. "Back there...in the cave. When we, well...you know."
A smile lit his entire face. "Ah, you mean when we became better acquainted with one another?" He laughed again.
I felt myself turning red. "Yes, that. It was amazing. You truly are beautiful."
"Thank you, Ruldaan. I am pleased that you think so." He leaned down and kissed me. I was so sleepy now that it took me a few seconds to realize what he was doing and to join in. Nevertheless, I did so passionately, and when he pulled away, the smile that lit his face made his beauty that much more unbearable. "Fear not, we two shall get to know one another quite well."
I smiled and nodded, and then turned toward the bulkhead and let sleep come. As Kradyn exited my cabin, I faintly heard him whisper, "Now to see to a loose end," but sleep claimed me before I could ask what he meant.