"Arabian Nights"
Part 10
by Beryll
Karl's eyes were still on the dark haired head of Orlando disappearing among the people crowding the market, when he more felt than saw Viggo move abruptly in the direction of the slave block. His hand shot out instinctively to hold the prince back but met unanticipated resistance.
There was deep pain in the stormy eyes of Viggo, when they met Karl's. Pain that had not been there a moment ago and his smile had likewise disappeared.
"What is it?" Karl asked gently but didn't let go of the others arm. He must keep all danger away from his prince, even if it meant holding him back forcefully from a potentially harmful situation. And just walking into the crowd surrounding the slave block certainly qualified as such.
Viggo's eyes turned back to the stage and Karl followed his gaze to the slave being presented to the potential buyers. He was naked except for a dirty loincloth. He may have been worth quite some money initially, but whoever had owned him before he came to the block had taken a lot out of his hide. Karl did not shy from punishing disobedient slaves, but the mark of the whip were not the only evidence of the harsh treatment he had received. There were cuts and burn-mark and barely healed deeper wounds that bore witness to the cruelty of his previous owner.
Still he held his head high, snarling at the two guards who kept him in his kneeling position. Clearly, he was battered but not broken. His exotic pale skin - though almost as badly sunburned as Viggo's had been when Karl had found him - his fair blonde hair and startling green eyes, all that still showed enough beauty to make him sellable.
Although Karl was fairly certain that his next master would make sure he was either completely broken or killed. He knew both men who were bidding for him. Both liked their bed slaves angry and difficult to tame. Some survived and were resold as well trained pleasure toys, most died.
It must be difficult for Viggo to adjust to the idea of humans being sold like cattle, as this was not custom in his home country. But he would have to get used to the idea.
But the princes next words surprised him again. "I know this man." he said. "Do you remember the friend of childhood days I told you about? It is him."
Karl looked at the slave again and tried to find in him the image Viggo had conjured for him. The image of a proud warrior, serving his friend and liege with his sword and wits and heart. Much as he himself tried to serve Viggo now. It came easily. The way the man squared his shoulders against the hold of his captors, how he glared at the crowd, daring them to actually buy him, intimidating most of them with his sheer ferocity. All that spoke of a man not used to kneeling to anybody unless he chose to do so. And Karl's own warrior's heart went out to him, resonating with the outrage of a good man brought low like this.
"I have to help him, Karl." Viggo brought him out of his thoughts. "Had you not found me, that could be me up there. I have to buy him free. I can't allow..."
"No, Princeling." Karl stopped him with an upraised hand. Viggo started to protest but Karl continued quickly. "You can not go there, showing everybody how much you care about this man. It will make you vulnerable to anybody who might notice your closeness. And it will just drive up the price. I will go and buy him for you. That will not raise suspicion. You go home. I will bring him to you."
Viggo tensed for a moment as if preparing to argue, but then
he nodded stiffly. "Your advise is sound."
He agreed. "But please make sure he does not come to further harm."
"I will, my prince." Karl bowed deeply and watched for a moment as Viggo retreated with his guards. Only two of them stayed with Karl. The bidding was slowing down already, both potential buyers now weighing carefully if the slave was worth their next bid.
Karl turned around and strode towards the stage, calling out a bid topping the present one by just a little. It wouldn't do to show too much interest. It was not the first time he bought a handsome warrior to serve him in bed, so none of the spectators were overly surprised. Only he tended to free the slaves he bought sooner or later and give them a place in the guard of the Caliph. Some of his most loyal men had come into the Caliph's service like this.
The slave could not know that of course, so Karl almost recoiled from the hatred suddenly directed at him, when the man's eyes fixed on him. Maybe it was a good thing he was not buying this one for himself. There was a good chance he would kill his next master. Although that hopefully did not apply for Viggo.
And then maybe... Karl was now standing right in front of the stage and had a much better view of the slave. From afar he had only been able to guess, but now up close he was able to marvel at the firm muscles and well proportioned limbs of this friend of his prince. What would it feel like to run fingers through that fair hair? To caress the pale skin that showed as many scars of past battles as his own? What would these emerald eyes look like when they were blazing with a different passion.
Heat started to build in Karl's groin and it must have shown
in his eyes, for the slave's eyes suddenly
showed just a hint of fear quickly suppressed. And then he actually spat in
Karl's direction.
His futile action of defiance was greeted with laughter from the spectators and a hard cuff to his head from one of the guards holding him down.
"It would seem you are not to his liking, Captain!" one of the two other bidders called, half laughing himself. "Would you like me to lend him to you when he is sufficiently broken in?"
It took Karl all strength of his will not to hit the other man straight in the face. How dare he treat another warrior like this? But he kept his calm.
"I would rather ride this mare myself until it has learned it's place!" He answered just as cheerful and was answered by more laughter and another killing stare by the slave.
The bidding went on for a little while, friendly insults being traded between the three men interested, but in the end it of course became clear, that the two others were not willing to pay as much as Karl was.
To gain this man for the prince, Karl would have gone a lot higher in his bidding, but even to gain this slave for his own bed - had this been possible - he would have paid quite a bit more. The longer he watched him, the more his interest in the man sparked. Maybe there would be time to explore possibilities, when they were safely back in the palace without prying ears. Maybe the man would be more inclined when he realized that he had not been bought, but saved.
But first they had to get there.
"Would you like to keep the chains?" the woman conducting the auction asked him when he handed her the money.
Her two guards were standing behind her, holding the slave. His hands were bound tightly behind his back and there was a longer chain connecting his ankles, making it impossible for him to run. And there was bloody murder in his eyes.
"Most certainly." Karl replied to the woman's question. "I want to enjoy him, not have to kill him in the street." He handed her some extra coins for the chains and she bowed deeply, gesturing for the guards to turn the slave over to the two men accompanying Karl.
"You will not enjoy owning me," the slave hissed when he passed Karl. "I will kill you."
His voice was raw with physical and emotional pain but still it was so sexy it went right to Karl's cock. Without thinking, he grabbed the slave by his hair, pulled him close and kissed him violently.
Only when his wits resurfaced did he realize, what he had done. He let go of the man as if he had burned his hand on his hair and for a long moment they stared at each other, one full of hatred, the other filled with regret.
Then Karl spun on his heel and made his way back to the palace, trusting his men to drag the slave along. He had a feeling that he would come to pay for taking that kiss sooner or later. But damn him, it still tasted sweet on his lips and he dearly hoped it would not remain the only one.
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 11