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Author's Note: Comments and feedback are appreciated. I would like to thank Mike for helping me by editing these chapters starting with 11.
- Robert - robertx5sf@yahoo.com
This is a work of fiction. All characters portrayed in this story are fictional and not representative of anyone living or dead. (c) 2012 by robertx5sf@yahoo.com, all rights reserved, may not be reproduced in any form without the author's consent, with exception of the license granted to Nifty.org per Nifty's terms of use.
The Squires of Telisan Keep - 15
RYNIL
Rynil stood outside the keep waiting for Mikel to arrive so they could start their work duty. He felt a sense of relief to be getting back to a normal routine after the attack eight days ago and the subsequent events it set in motion. He waved to Mikel when he saw the wizard's apprentice exit the keep. Rynil had already been to the Quartermasters and picked up the buckets, brushes, soap and rags they would need. He noticed that Mikel did not have the magical water pitcher they had used in the past. "We going to have to haul the water up today?" he asked when Mikel arrived.
Mikel smiled, "Nope. I got something better planned. Let's go." Before Rynil could question him further, Mikel was off to the first latrine, leaving Rynil to grab the buckets and chase after him.
When he got to the first latrine, Rynil found Mikel standing in the center of the small room. "'K you can't let anyone know about this," said Mikel. "I don't think Lord Velarik would approve of us taking this shortcut to get our work done." Mikel then began to cast a spell. Rynil thought it looked and sounded similar to the cantrip that Mikel used to cleanup the two of them before. A moment later, the latrine was spotless. The spell complete, Mikel turned and smiled at Rynil. "I could probably get all these latrines done in ten minutes but then people might suspect I was using magic."
Rynil was impressed. "Wow! You are really making progress in your studies," he said. The compliment from Rynil caused Mikel to blush. Rynil agreed with his friend's assessment, "You are right. We should hang out here for a bit then go to the next one, so no one suspects you are using magic to do our work." The boys sat down next to each other. Though there was enough space in the room that they could have kept some distance between them, Rynil made sure to sit close enough to Mikel that their legs could touch. There were a few moments of awkward silence.
"So the memorial service for Sir Alred and Sir Alek was good," said Mikel. "It was the first time I've attended one. I noticed you were attending to Lord Velarik during the service, are you Squiring for him now?"
"Yes. That was what he wanted to see me about when I left Sir Valen's tower last week. While Sir Luken is recovering, Lord Velarik is taking over my training and education," answered Rynil.
"What about Sir Luken's Page, umm, Karl?" asked Mikel. "I didn't see him at the ceremony. I remember you mentioning that he and Sir Alek were close, so it kind of surprised me that he wasn't there."
Rynil frowned. "He refused to attend the service saying he needed to care for Sir Luken. We had a bit of a fight about it. I am really starting to become concerned about him. He goes from moping about not talking to anyone to being really angry. He barely talks to me and sometimes the way he looks at me I think he hates me," said Rynil.
"Maybe he should speak to the Brother Yoris," suggested Mikel.
"I suggested it to him and he got upset. He blames the priest for what happened. Mekrin told him about how Brother Yoris knew Sir Alek was going to die. I am starting to worry that Karl might be vulnerable to being used by a demon," said Rynil.
"Huh?" replied Mikel with a questioning look at Rynil.
"Well there are two ways a demon can possess someone. One way is with a totem, like the mask on your friend Wilrik. The second is through making a deal with a demon, giving it access to your mind in exchange for something, usually power. I know there is a demon after you and it has its eye on Telisan. I am afraid that if a demon offered Karl the power to get revenge for Sir Alek that he might be tempted to do something stupid. Demons like to confuse and trick people." said Rynil.
"Where have you learned so much about demons?" asked Mikel, his surprise at Rynil's knowledge of demons evident.
"What? You think all us Squires and Knights are dumb brutes who do not know anything more than how to swing a sword," said Rynil, feigning offense.
"No, just, umm," sputtered Mikel.
Rynil smiled at Mikel and laughed. "I am just teasing you. When Lord Velarik took over my training, he gave me a book about demons to study. He said I needed to know more about what I faced. While Karl has been sleeping on a pad in Sir Luken's room, I know he has been having nightmares and I think it might be the demon trying to tempt him."
"But why would a demon offer Karl a chance at revenge when it was a demon that was responsible for the attack that killed Sir Alek?" wondered Mikel. "You should talk to Sir Valen about Karl. That reminds me, Sir Valen wanted me to ask you if you can come by the tower tomorrow. He has finished with your sword and wants to get it back to you."
"I will ask Lord Velarik if I can miss one of my afternoon weapon sessions. I think it is important to have my sword back and speak with Sir Valen about Karl. I believe Karl is a good kid but demons like to trick and confuse people. It would not be hard for it to get Karl believing that Brother Yoris, Acolyte Stefan, you or I was the one that was really responsible for Sir Alek's death. It would not be true but demons rarely deal in truth," explained Rynil.
"Well, you know more about demons than I do now," said Mikel. "When I asked about the demon, Sir Valen told me he wanted me to focus on learning more about magic and my own abilities before I start worrying about demons."
"If your improved cleaning spell thing is any indication you are getting better quickly," said Rynil, knowing it would make Mikel blush and get self-conscious again. After having always been the one to pull away and keep some distance between the two of them in the past, Rynil was enjoying being the aggressor for a change. He placed his hand on Mikel's lower thigh. "The more I learn about demons the more I think that the demon that is after you was responsible for my dream. He has been sending it to make me afraid, make me doubt myself, and keep me away from you," said Rynil.
The two boys stared into each other's eyes for a moment then leaned into each other, their lips meeting in a tentative inexperienced kiss. A few seconds later, they heard footsteps on the stairs up to the latrine. They hastily broke the kiss, "We should get to the next one," suggested Mikel. Rynil just nodded, stood up and went to grab the buckets. Mikel noticed the front of Rynil's hose was tented, just like his own.
AYMIL
SMACK. "ARGH!" Aymil screamed in pain when the wooden paddle slammed across his naked butt. Tears ran down his cheeks and he squirmed in the lap of the middle-aged merchant that was wielding the paddle. "Please Uncle, no more! I'm sorry, I won't ever disrespect you again!" he said between sobs. He made sure he was projecting pain and fear to the client. Aymil could read the man's thoughts and knew he was enjoying the fantasy of punishing his wife's nephew. The client's wife was from a wealthy family and the merchant, whose jewelry shop had been struggling, had agreed to take the boy as his apprentice in exchange for a loan from his in-laws at a favorable rate. The boy knew his uncle-in-law was in debt to his father and therefore he treated the master jeweler as if he was his servant.
"Your pleading isn't going to reduce your punishment," said the client as he raised the paddle again and delivered another strong blow across Aymil's ass which caused the boy to scream in pain again as a large angry red welt started to develop where the blow had landed. Despite the distraction of being paddled, Aymil could sense the presence of the hostess approaching the door to the room. From her emotional state, he could tell that she was annoyed, that usually meant that Yaben needed him. Aymil knew it was time to rush this session to a quick conclusion.
"Please Uncle, no more, I'll be respectful. I'll even do anything you want!" sobbed Aymil as he started playing to the client's lust while also making him feel a bit of pity. Next, he stoked the man's desire for a blow job and instantly felt the man's cock harden and poke against his stomach.
"Suck my cock boy," ordered the jeweler, even though when he had started the session he had planned to spank the boy a lot more and then roughly fuck the boy's red ass. Aymil slid off the man's lap, wrapped his hand around the now erect dick and gave it a quick lick. Knowing he had to wrap this up, Aymil influenced the client's mind, causing the pleasure he received from the one lick to be enough to trigger the man's orgasm. Just then there was a knock at the door.
"Sorry to disturb you, but Master Yaben needs to speak with Aymil," said the hostess through the door.
Aymil stroked the man's thighs as he manipulated the man's emotions so that he was feeling both content and generous. "I'm sorry we have to end this so soon. I'm sure Master Yaben will make amends for interrupting, if that is what you want," offered Aymil.
"No, no, that's fine. Although, perhaps we can just add some time to my visit next week?" offered the client.
"I'm sure that can be arranged," said Aymil. He then stood up and hugged the man. He gave him a quick kiss on the cheek then left the room.
Out in the hallway, Dashana, the hostess, handed him a towel, their hands briefly touching as Aymil took the towel. He wiped off the mixture of cum and sweat that covered his face and chest. Dashana was Delnatorean. The Delnatoreans had once built a mighty empire that ruled the southlands. A hundred years ago their empire had collapsed almost overnight as a riot in Delnator, the capital, had claimed the life of the Emperor and his heirs. With no obvious successor, several of the Governors of the inner provinces had declared themselves Emperor. The outer provinces had declared their independence when the Imperial troops had been recalled by the leaders of the various factions striving for control of the capital. The inner and outer provinces had warred with each other in shifting alliances for over thirty years before, by mutual agreement, they had declared the Empire dissolved and the provinces officially became independent kingdoms. Astavala had been the western most province of the Delnatorean Empire. Further west was the Endless Sea of Sand; a great desert that Aymil had been told did actually end when it met the ocean many hundreds of miles to the west.
"Master Yaben wants to see you in his office. He has a rich new client for you to meet," said the ebony skinned woman.
Aymil smiled at the woman. He refrained from telling her that he knew that already. He had read her mind when their hands touched. Aymil had always had the ability to sense peoples' feelings. When he was a small child, he found that he could make people feel whatever emotions he wanted. When he was ten, he discovered that he could do more than just sense and manipulate their feelings, if he had physical contact he could also read their thoughts. His abilities, which only Master Yaben knew the truth about, made him very popular with the clientele, since they all left their sessions with him having experienced the heights of ecstasy, their every desire fulfilled, or at least they felt as if they had.
By the time he reached Master Yaben's office, the welts on Aymil's ass had healed and his skin had lost its red hue. Besides his mental powers, Aymil's body would heal extremely quickly, when he wished it. As was his custom, Aymil gave the room a quick scan before entering. He sensed the greed coming from Master Yaben and the wariness mixed with boredom coming from the two Delnatoreans that served as the eunuch's bodyguards, but those three were the only ones he sensed in the room. 'The rich client must have left already,' he thought to himself as he opened the door. Aymil froze in the middle of the doorway for there, sitting in a chair across from Master Yaben's was a handsome young man dressed in fine clothes in the northern style. The man had shoulder length brown hair and bright blue eyes. Aymil could not sense a single emotion from this stranger. The emotionless man turned to Aymil, smiled then gave him a quick wink.
"Enter boy and close door, stop wasting guest's time," ordered Master Yaben in a clipped and heavily accented version of the northern tongue. Aymil knew that Master Yaben could speak the northerners' language flawlessly and with no accent if he wished, for he had personally taught Aymil to do the same.
"Yes sir," replied Aymil in the same language. He quickly stepped into the room and closed the door. He then took up position slightly behind the manager of the brothel, trying to keep his distance from this strange new client.
"So, he speaks the King's tongue, excellent. Yaben, I believe you have finally brought me the right boy, after several false ones," said the stranger.
"He be with guest, many good boys I bring, you too picky," said Master Yaben smiling. Aymil noticed a sizable stack of gold coins on the table in front of Master Yaben. No wonder Master Yaben had paraded other boys in here, this man had stupidly been paying to see more boys, and so he would be shown as many boys as Master Yaben felt he could get away with before calling for Aymil. Judging by the number of coins he had likely paid to see every boy in the brothel.
Aymil did not like that he could not read this man's emotions. He was not used to being without the use of his special sense and the fact that this man seemed to be looking for him was more cause for concern. He knew though that he was in no real danger, he would just manipulate Master Yaben to turn the man away. He reached out with his power towards Master Yaben, intent on suppressing the eunuch's greed and stoking a fear that this man might mean to harm his most valuable boy. The brown haired man's eyes darted towards Aymil and he clenched his fist quickly. Aymil felt a mental jolt as some type of barrier suddenly blocked his powers. The boy was now alone with his own thoughts and feelings as he tried and failed to sense the mind of anyone else in the room.
Panicking, Aymil forgot his place in the hierarchy of the brothel, "Master Yaben, I don't want to go with this man." The eunuch turned towards Aymil, surprised at the boy's sudden refusal. Aymil had never complained or protested to him before. While Aymil's mental powers were blocked, he could see the concern on his master's face. Then Aymil saw the stranger flick his hand and silently mouth something. The look of concern on Master Yaben's face vanished.
"Yaben, do not worry. I mean the boy no harm and will not damage him in anyway," said the man. He then pulled out a small gold bar and placed it on the table.
Master Yaben glanced down at the gold bar, enough to purchase the beautiful young boy slave outright. He looked over at one of the guards by the door and snapped his fingers. The guard opened the door and standing outside was the pretty black hostess. "Yes, yes, Aymil you go with Master Dathil," he said as he reached back, put his arm around Aymil and pushed him towards the northerner. "He is yours for rest of day and night. Dashana will show you to a room," he said to the man.
The young man stood up and put his hand in the middle of Aymil's back. He then guided the boy towards the door where Dashana waited. Aymil struggled to keep his fear in check. He was so used to manipulating the people around him that this new found sense of powerlessness left him unable to control his own emotions. He tried to reach out towards Dashana but was still blocked by whatever barrier Dathil had conjured.
The door closed behind them as Dathil pushed him down the hallway, Aymil tried to use the physical connection to read the man's thoughts. The barrier was still there but, physical contact between two produced a weak point in it. Aymil focused on that connection and pushed. He briefly sensed two sets of thoughts and emotions, one stronger and on top and one weaker, buried beneath the other; then the barrier strengthened and pushed Aymil from the man's mind.
The strange man chuckled. "Now now, it is crowded enough in here already, no need for you to join the party," he said. Dashana turned around and looked back questioningly, wondering if perhaps the man was talking to her.
Down the hallway a door opened and Aymil saw his previous client, the jeweler, step into the hallway. The merchant looked towards them, his eyes glowing red in the dim light of the hallway. Aymil watched as the man raised his hand and fire poured out of it towards them. The flames engulfed Dashana and Aymil could smell the scent of burning hair and flesh. Expecting to be caught in the flames as well, Aymil threw his arms up over his face in a futile effort to protect himself, but the flames did not reach him. Next to him, the notherner stood, both arms extended, in front of his hands was a shimmering translucent field of bluish energy blocking the progress of the flames. The entire hallway in front of Aymil was covered in the blue field and red fires. For a brief second Aymil felt Dashana's terror and pain as she died. The barrier blocking his powers was gone.
A second later, the flames died out. The jeweler was standing just on the other side of the smoldering remains of the hostess. Aymil could sense two minds within both the jeweler and the stranger. In the jeweler the primary mind was feeling a mix of anger, hatred, and fear while the secondary mind in the background felt horror, regret, and a lingering sense of desire. In the notherner, the primary mind was feeling sadness and guilt, while the mind in the background was revolted and sad.
"You cannot keep hiding forever Durren," said the jeweler with the glowing red eyes.
"Hiding forever is not my plan," replied the man. He then turned and looked down at Aymil, "Aymil, I need your help to defeat the creature that possesses that man but, we cannot do it today. If you will help me and not die here, grab my arm."
Aymil looked into the man's blue eyes and beneath the guilt and the sadness he detected two more emotions buried deep, hope and love. He reached out and grabbed a hold of the man's arm. As soon as his hand made contact, the world vanished and his stomach was in his throat as the man teleported them out of the brothel hallway.
When the world came back into focus, the two of them were standing in the living room of a small cottage. Sitting in a chair by the fireplace was a lean gray haired woman dressed in worn hunting leathers. She looked up from the book she was reading and studied the new arrivals for a second. She then got up and bowed. Aymil noticed there was a stylized owl embroidered onto the front of her leather tunic. "Welcome back Durren and welcome to my home child," she said.
"Marsella, this is Aymil. Aymil, this is Marsella," said the man.
Aymil noticed that he was no longer able to sense the man's mind but, he could read the emotions of the old woman. While her outward appearance was unchanged, Aymil could tell that she was very happy. It reminded him of the few times he had been present when Master Yaben had allowed one of the pretty slave girls to give birth to a child.
"Marsella, I am afraid you must flee with Wilrik and this child. Nazrepon is able to track my movements. I should have known that when I removed the mask from Wilrik it would have left a mark upon me. Naz was able to find me in Astavala. While I know you can hide the boys from him, he will be able to find this place through me and you won't be safe," said the notherner who Aymil now suspected was actually named Durren and not Dathil.
"I will keep them safe from the demon. Will you find me or shall I hunt for you when it is time?" asked the woman.
Durren looked at Aymil before answering, "I suspect he will be able to summon me if he has need of me. For now, I am going to Selarn. Naz will not dare come after me there. Also, the War Mages should be able to help purge whatever taint that Naz is using to track me. There are wizards there that are masters of rituals, the one area of magic in which I have always fallen short." While Aymil could not read Durren, he could tell from the sadness it caused in Marsella that she knew the understatement of that comment. "Until next time," said Durren and then he was gone.
Aymil found himself standing in the living room of a women he did not know, most likely half a world away from where he had woken up in the morning and just then it suddenly dawned on him that he was still wearing nothing but a see through robe.