SECRET OF THE TURTLE MEN, CHAPTER 16
"The Secret Trade"
By Tommyhawk1@AOL.COM
Pavel spent quite some time resting with Jethro and Pelen in the main chamber. From time to time, Djinni would enter their room, like gigantic wasps in searching flight, select some of the occupants by some unobvious manner, and take them away. As they were always in groups of three, the purpose was easy to guess.
Pavel saw what Jethro meant about the human prisoners here. No protest or evasions arose over this treatment, either at being chosen or having their games interrupted. Jethro was right, these men had all given up. He didn't blame them; their plight seemed hopeless.
He was surprised by a small group of men, who seemed to be neither Arabic nor Connobaran, they were eating what appeared to be proper food.
"How did they get that food?" He asked one of his "subjects."
"Oh, Sultan, we would give you food if we had anything to trade for it." the man replied. "We are without anything but the clothes on our bodies, but if you wish it, we will go and attempt to barter them for some of their food."
"No, no, of course not." Pavel said.
"You are generous, Oh, Sultan." the man replied.
Jethro chuckled. "A man could get used to such treatment, eh, Pavel?"
Pavel laid a hand on the arm of the Arab man, who would have replied angrily. "I only wished to know how they obtained it." he said gently.
"They have traded for it, and traded abominably." the man replied. "They gave their bodies to those who bring trade items to the Djinni."
"There are men who travel from here to outside of this valley?" Jethro leaned forward.
"I suspected as much." Pavel said. He gestured about them. "Where else would they get all these things?"
"The Djinni do see to our comfort somewhat." the Arab man said. "If we ask for a thing from the Sultan who owns us, sometimes they will agree and provide it, especially if they are pleased with us. But...."
"I recognize one of those men! He's from my valley!" Pavel burst out angrily.
Some are of your people." the Arab man agreed. "But there are also some who are of my people as well, and some who are strangers to me. There are many who would trade their bodies to obtain proper food, and every man must have clothing to wear to cover his nakedness, and there are other things a man needs to live. There is no other way to obtain it, than through these bandits."
"These bandits, what do they do, get flown in by the Djinni?" Pavel queried.
"I know not." the Arab man said. "My sovereign, do not think of dealing with these men. They are dishonorable creatures who would slit your throat, and I am without even a knife to help defend you."
"When will they be coming by again?" Pavel asked. "These...these bandit scum who trade with our enemies?" A few words like an offended Sultan seemed to be called for, and the Arab men with him seemed to take heart from the fire he put into these words.
"They will come as they do, every day, but they don't always come to these quarters." Jassem interposed gently. "Sometimes they stay the night and then they will barter with us. All we have to barter with them is sex, which they will take when the night-wind lets in the pink mist. To trade my body for the sake of a few oranges...no, I will not do that. The food they give us is not that bad; I will get used to it."
"But how would you barter with them?" Pelen asked Pavel. "You gave that Angel all your jewels."
"Yes, but those jewels were only a minuscule fraction of the treasury of Medina Jadeed. Those jewels I gave away were only some, uh, traveling money." Pavel said. "And the bandits would only collect if they could deliver us safely back to Medina Jadeed, and from there, I could bring help to rescue all of you."
"We are not worthy of such effort from you." the Arab man protested.
These men wouldn't accept the simple philosophy he had grown up with in Facilitata, to help others as they need it, in exchange for help when he needed it, so Pavel said, "You are my people. The duties of a king run both ways. If my people are not safe, I am not safe."
"A leader must also not raise false hopes. You forget the Djinni's numbers." Jethro pointed out. "How many men would have to die just to rescue this handful of men?"
"It is the reason help never comes." Jassem agreed. "Attempts were made at first, when we learned of the Djinni many years ago. They would drop rocks on our heads and we could not even reach them with our arrows in return. Many brave men died in those battles and none were rescued. It would be futile."
"You forget I have one other weapon." Pavel said. "The Ifriti. If we three can get out of here, maybe we can stop this traffic in human slaves once and for all."
"Would the Ifriti help us?" the Arab man asked, eyes wide.
"The Ifriti need human help." Pavel said. "They bargained with me to trade service for service, flight over the mountains in exchange for care for their eggs. They could make the deal with the...with my people as easily as with the lands to the east. They treated me well as they could while I was with them, and I was given the choice to stay or leave. I think they can be trusted to keep their word. But their numbers are few and their valley is small."
"Still, a Djinni with a rock in his hands isn't in a good position to fight, is he?" Jethro said, and grinned.
"Let us think of how best to plan for the raid while we wait for the villains to show themselves once more." And so they conspired and planned and strategized for the rest of the day.
Pavel's part in it ended when an Arab man mentioned Mahmoud as "your husband" to Pavel. Soon after this, Pavel noticed that Pelen was fighting back tears and gestured him apart.
"Pelen, what is wrong?" he asked.
"You are married already." Pelen said, still not sobbing, though a lonely tear slipped down one lovely cheek. "I did not know this. You did not tell me."
"Uh, yeah, I guess I am." Pavel said. "But Pelen...."
"Then you cannot marry me. I know these men take more than one mate, but we of the Turtle Men do not." Pelen bit his lips.
Pavel thought hard and fast. "Pelen, let me ask you, do the Turtle Men recognize a marriage brought about by force?"
"No, of course not." Pelen said.
"I was forced to marry Mahmoud." Pavel said and he told the entire story. "So you tell me whether or not I am married under Turtle law."
"You...you must get a divorce." Pelen said. "It would be easily granted, I think."
"If I had, Mahmoud would have lost his kingdom, and then when I left, bloodshed would have followed. So instead of divorcing him, I have left Medina Jadeed with Mahmoud as my vizier, and didn't plan to return at all. Now, I only go back to get help for all of us. Pelen," Pavel put his hand on Pelen's cheek and gently wiped away that errant tear with his index finger's edge, "tell me what I have to do."
"You need not do anything." Pelen said. "You cannot marry me, that is all."
"I understand." Pavel said. "But I'm still your friend, right?"
"Yes." Pelen agreed. "Always."
"Then take my hand in friendship once more at least." Pavel reached out and took Pelen's hand.
Pelen took it, then rushed forward and embraced Pavel hard and the tears now fell fast on Pavel's shoulder, and Pavel stood there and held him while he cried himself out and was silent, and held him still for a long time after, until Pelen himself pulled away and, dry-eyed and composed once more, went back to rejoin their comrades. Pavel looked after the lithe body as it walked away from him. Such a beautiful man! And the gentle heart attached to it.... Never able to marry Pelen. No doubt about it; he was disappointed!
The "bandits" arrived later that same day. Their leader reminded Pavel of Mahmoud at their first meeting, save that this man was of Caucasian ancestry, with light brown hair and a complexion somewhat sunburned but fair. He strode in with the self-assured arrogance of a leader of the world. His chest was bared by the buttonless open-fronted white shirt he wore jauntily, merely tucked into a broad red sash from which his sword also hung, glittering with silver fire, his face was clean and handsome, his eyebrows were much darker brown and very heavy, his eyes sunken somewhat, he grinned like a conqueror, and several men of this chamber kowtowed to him eagerly.
"Ho, subjects of the Djinni Queens, we come to stay the night, and we bring gifts! Come and present yourselves, so that I may take my choice. I have a large basket filled with the finest goods from Medina Jadeed's markets, oranges, pears, bread baked in the oven, and a fully-cooked leg of roasted lamb. Come, join with me and you shall eat like a king for days afterward."
Then he frowned. "Why do none of the Arabs come forward this night? I bring the foods from your own people!"
"You may take your pleasure with those that would consort with dogs!" one of the Arab men said in a voice filled with fire.
Pavel smiled. No doubt about it, he had revived the fighting spirit of this proud warrior people. None of them went to the bandit leader, though several were licking their lips and biting back the temptation furiously. Having sampled their regular fare, Pavel understood.
"Is this the reception I get from you, Ismael?" the bandit leader said in mock offense to the man. "You were not so proud the last time I came this way, you offered your body along with three others. Are you angry that I chose another that day?" When Ismael didn't respond, he looked at the cluster of dark-skinned proud men closely. "You all stand there as if...." And then his eyes, questing about, found Pavel, obviously recognized him at once. "Well, what is this? The new Sultan of Medina Jadeed? The fair-skinned concubine who confounded the powerful Mahmoud and turned him into a simple house-husband? You are the Sultan Al-Fajr?"
"I am." Pavel said.
The man's response was to laugh uproariously, and the five men with him laughed as well. "So, how the mighty have fallen! From the harem of Mahmoud to his throne, and now back into a harem once more." The man laughed some more, and then of a sudden grew thoughtful. "Tell me, O most powerful and great Sultan, before whom the stars bow and whom the winds obey, the Lord of the world upon which you tread, would you be interested in this basket of food in exchange for having my commoner cock stuck up your royal ass for one night?"
"I would deal with you, if your word is good." Pavel agreed.
"Then here is the basket." the man said. "Examine the goods, but be quick about it, for the pink mist will soon enter and bathe all of us, and you will not be so haughty then."
"Not for the basket." Pavel said. "For my escape, myself and my friends." Pavel indicated Jethro and Pelen. "Take us back to Medina Jadeed and I will reach deep into the treasury there to repay you."
The man stared, then laughed. "So the mighty lord of earth and sky must humble himself to deal with me. I'm surprised you don't stamp your foot and make the ground itself deliver you there."
"My offer grows smaller the longer you laugh." Pavel said, trying to be the Sultan he wasn't and never would be. A stern countenance, a proud lift of the chin, act like a king even if he wasn't!
"Then let us bargain openly." the man said. "The Djinni will not part with their human captives for anything but more captives. Whom of your people should I drag here to redeem you?"
"None of them." Pavel said sternly. "Bring anyone here against his will and I will punish you severely when I do escape."
The man wasn't the least frightened by this. "Well, I have other resources." he said. "The Queens are sensible creatures. They'll sell their own children for meat if I offered the right price."
"Efram?" one of the men asked the bandit leader.
"Huh? Oh, certainly, go ahead and take your choices now." He gestured and his men spread out with their own smaller offerings to the men who waited eagerly, more than willing after their long captivity to embrace a scoundrel in exchange for food, or clean new clothing, which was what they were being offered.
The man came closer and Pavel admitted that had this body been attached to a decent human being, he would be more than glad to embrace him. His chest was broad and strong, his body gave off a faint scent of soap and clean water, and Pavel was painfully reminded of how long it had been since he had properly bathed. Days ago, back in the Angel city, and he had been sweating a great deal since then. The man's hips were narrow and tight, thrust inside a black pair of pants that clung to those strong thighs tenaciously, enhancing rather than obscuring his masculinity with a proud bulge at his groin. The high boots were black-stained leather, that Pavel had never seen before save in the books from off the old ships. "Where are you from?" He asked the man. "Not Facilitata, nor Connobar, nor the Turtle Valley, nor the Arab plains. Who are you?"
"There are more valleys of men here than the four you named." the man said. "I come from a small mountain valley north of here, and near Connobar. The life is rough, but we are stronger for that. You should come see it with me one day."
"No, take me to Medina Jadeed." he said. "Myself and my three friends."
"Why not all your subjects, O Sultan?" Efram mocked him.
"I intend to come back for them." Pavel explained. "With numbers enough to rescue all of them."
"Well, I know how to get you and your friends free of the Djinni. But what are you offering me in exchange?"
"Treasure. Jewels, as many as it takes."
"How about my own weight in jewels?" the man asked semi-seriously.
The treasury was large, but not that large. "Shall we say the weight of your sword instead?" Pavel countered.
The man looked at Pavel and realized Pavel was serious. "Agreed. On one condition."
"What is that?" Pavel said.
"I get you tonight." Efram said. "I always wanted to fuck Mahmoud, standing up there on his balcony so damned proud. Wielding all of that power. Made me want to fuck a genuine Sultan. Now's my chance."
Pavel looked at that cruel face. "And if I refuse?"
"You will today, but there are other days." Efram said. "I'll be back here in two weeks' time and see if you have changed your mind. You won't get a better deal from any of the others."
Two weeks. At least twice more being stuck with one of the "blanks." "Very well, on one condition of my own." Pavel said.
"And what is that?" Efram smiled at the moan of dismay from the Arab men who had silently listened.
Pavel pointed. "Your basket, of course."
Efram smiled and handed it to him. "A small price to pay for a chance to finally get me a piece of royal ass. I'm going to look at you sitting on that throne one day and know that butt has been fucked by me. And I'm going to laugh every time I think about it." And he grinned meanly.
Bearing the basket, which was pleasingly heavy, Pavel turned to the Arab men. "My sovereign, do not do this." one of them begged. "It is beneath you. Please, choose one of us to take your place!"
"You cannot. And this has to be done." Pavel said. He handed the man the basket. "Share this equally among my people. As I said, duty between a king and his subjects runs both ways. Eat, and dream of your freedom once more, for it shall be."
"My Master." the man said with tears in his eyes. "You truly deserve my very life, and it is yours to command."
Pavel said to Jethro and Pelen, "You'd better get some of that for yourselves. It's a long walk back to Medina Jadeed." He then turned back to the bandit. "Do you know of a place here where we can be alone?" he asked Efram.
"You haven't been here long, have you? We have our own quarters waiting just beyond the pit of larvae. Come with me, you luckiest of Sultans." Efram said. Pavel followed him into the room with the "blanks" and Djinni lifted him up and beyond the pit and they were taken to an area beyond, it held a niche, one of several, that inside had a bend in it forming a small hallway, and beyond it a room and in that room, a solitary bed. Pavel stopped when he saw it, then walked to it resolutely. "How do you want me?" He said.
"Resisting me." Efram said. "I want you to fight back as I take off your clothes. I want to take you against your will. You can pretend to struggle, can't you? I don't want a real fight, mind you, just enough to make it interesting."
"Yes." Pavel said. "Yes, I can do that."
"Good." Efram grabbed Pavel from behind and thrust him onto the bed. Pavel's chest hit the bed, wresting an "oomph" out of him and Efram's hands roughly pulled at his waistband.
He must play the part, and play it well. "No, please!" he begged, and squirmed as if to get away.
"Yeah, that's the way." Efram breathed, panting heavily and not from exertion; Pavel could feel the thick cock in his pants, that now pressed against his legs as Efram fell on top of him and pinned him in place.
"No, let me go!" Pavel said firmly. "Let me go!" His arms were grabbed and held behind him, partly by one hand and partly by the weight of Efram's body, it strained Pavel's shoulders. Damn, this guy wasn't being gentle at all! He was heaving like a beast, and Pavel lay still as Efram pulled at his pants and then he felt the dry cock crawling over his buttocks, the skin catching and scraping as it moved along. "No!" He said again, this time in genuine fear. How rough would this man be?
The cock pushed into him and Pavel groaned, first muffling it, then giving it voice; he didn't have to pretend this pain, it was quite real, though not as excruciating as he let it sound.
"Ah, yeah!" Efram grunted. He didn't pause, once his cock was inside Pavel's ass, he began to fuck Pavel roughly, and waves of pain followed each thrust of that cock into him.
"No, no!" Pavel sobbed out. He didn't have to be an actor here, this hurt and he only had to exaggerate rather than pretend! But he had to endure it, just this once. Lives depended upon it!
So he groaned and gasped out as Efram rutted on top of him. "Guh, uh, uh, uh!" he grunted as this bandit leader plunge-fucked him, hard, damned hard! "Guh, oh, gah!"
"Yeah, nice piece of ass!" Efram snarled at him. "Lord of the people, they bow and scrape in front of you, and your bodyguards there to make sure we all kneel down, yeah, well, now you're just a piece of fucked butt, aren't you?"
"Oh, please!" Pavel groveled. "Please let me up. Please, it hurts! Oh, ohhh!" God, would this never be over?
As if in response, his head, which he had lifted up, was grabbed by his hair and he was shoved face down into the bedding, Efram's hand pushed his face deep into the mattress.
And now, curse it for the body-stealer that it was, the pink mist entered this room. Pavel felt it not as a faint familiar odor in his nostrils, but as the tingle in his skin that crawled all over him. Oh, no! Not now! Let it be over, first!
His body awakened as the mist touched him. His cock swelled though pressed hard into the mattress, Efram atop him began to fuck him harder than ever, he was now being pounded bodily into this bed, his butt no longer ached him, but was more like an open strip of ravaged land that anyone could plow. And still he was fucked, on and on.
Pavel groaned, now in lust. He couldn't help it, even this violent fuck was enough to drive his body into the realm of desire, he began to give little hunches back against this rough molester, and Efram chuckled. "Now you're getting into it, aren't you, Your Majesty?" he sneered. "Like this man's cock fucking your tight little ass, don't you?"
"Uhh!" Pavel grunted. Efram released his head and he said, "No! Let me go, damn you! I'll have your head for this! I'll cut it off and stick it on a pole for everyone to spit on!"
"Yeah! Yeah!" Efram groaned. THIS excited him. Now he rutted against Pavel with rampant lust, and Pavel's own body, fired by the mist and ground nearly flat by the raunchy beast atop him, rendered him the ultimate betrayal, orgasm crept like a spider up his spine and burrowed into his brain. His body suddenly lit up with raw life, he groaned, his ass clenched on his ravager, and he squirted his juice into the mattress beneath him, and Efram pounded his raw ass harshly once more, and with a roar of sheer animal lechery, he burst his load into Pavel's butt with a fiery burn that ignited his ass and made it sting with its salty coating of jizz.
Pavel, his own climax over, fell sobbing into the cushions, turned it into sobs as if he were crying. Give this bastard his jollies, and maybe he just would stick that head on a pole before he was done! For now, he needed this scoundrel, this evil man, and he would use him as you would a tiger in a cage, with all caution and care.
Efram fell heavily onto him, lay there like a board loaded with stones, his breath heaving onto Pavel's shoulder and blasting his ear with hot steam and noise, huh, huh, huh, huh, huh!
"Yeah, you were great." Efram said after a time. "Got into it, didn't you?" And a rich chuckle pelted Pavel's ear.
"The mist can make a man do anything." Pavel settled for saying.
"Well, blame it if you want to." Efram pulled off of Pavel and stood up, taking off his clothes. "Now get some sleep. I'll want you again well before morning."
Removing his clothes slowly, painfully (his ass burned anew with every movement), Pavel finished and scooted over. Efram crawled in with him and put the covers over them both. Pavel felt Efram's cock pressing against his naked butt as Efram snuggled up to him, put a proprietary hand and arm over him and whispered into his ear. "Yeah, a nice warm body you have, O mighty Sultan Al-Fajr, Lord of the Sky and Earth. I definitely want you again before sunrise. So don't be surprised when my cock shoves itself into you. Better yet, be surprised and angry."
"I won't be. Rather, I will be." Pavel agreed, moaned inside himself. Again? Not again!
If only he were the Lord of the Sky and Earth! He could make morning come more quickly!
END OF CHAPTER 16