"Arabian Nights"
Part 13
by Beryll
The soft sounds of late evening filled the palace when Karl returned to it several hours later than the prince. The endless whispers of a place with breathing people, the soft laughter of the servants that had finished with theirs days work and now went about their own business, the singing of birds that slept through the hot days and filled the nights with their harmonies, the regular calls of guards letting each other know that everything was as it should be.
Years of training would have allowed Karl to detect any disturbance to this sound-scape but there was none. The palace was peaceful as it had not been for a long time. The immediate fear for the well-being of the Caliph's children had past for now. No attempt at them had been made since the Caliph had named prince Viggo his son. Whoever was behind the attempts clearly needed time to adjust and conceive of new strategies.
Karl was grateful for the respite but on this evening, as he passed the gates and nodded greetings to the two men standing guard, a strange uneasiness would not leave him.
Business in the city had kept him longer then he had expected. There always were things to take care of and he was well known for his patience with all the little grievances with the worries of the citizens of Aqaba.
With a small smile he thought back on his conservation with the poor merchant, who had been near scared to death by the sudden appearance of prince Viggo, demanding his slave be released. Karl had been as surprised at Viggo's action as the merchant. Never would it have occurred to him to intervene in a manner such as this.
But Viggo had saved the little street-kitten from loosing his hand and Karl felt surprisingly grateful for this. But it was also the rout of his uneasiness. He was sure, that Viggo would not hurt the boy. Should be sure. Should not even waste a thought on the little minx. But still his thoughts kept returning to the terror on Orlando's face, when the merchant had raised his blade to cut off the offending hand.
He had watched the boy grow up from a scrawny, dirty child to a quite handsome dirty young man. And until this afternoon he had not even realized that he had always kept more than one eye on his well-being.
Occasions came back to him now, that he had all but forgotten. Times when he had just conveniently stood in the way of people chasing the boy, allowing him to escape. Times when Orlando had still been small, when Karl had stopped him from stealing from those who would have caught him right away and instead tossed him a coin so he could quench his hunger.
And one incident, only half a year ago. When he had overheard two slave-traders discuss catching the lithe youth to 'put him to better use'. They had left Aqaba the next morning after receiving a polite but very strict order from the city guard to do so. The little thief had never even learned of the danger he had been in.
And now he had ended up being a slave after all. Although Karl was not quite sure Orlando had realized that yet. The boy had looked completely dazed at the attention of the prince and even as Karl thought this he felt that twinge of unease again. Could it be that he was jealous of the prince? Improbable. But not altogether impossible.
He stopped in front of his own chambers and brushed some of his braids from his face. Time to face a different problem. And one much more threatening.
Karl had sent the clothing he had bought for his own 'new slave' ahead to his quarters, when he had realized that he would not be back in time to greet Sean when the man woke up. Still now he hoped against hope that the warrior would still be asleep, sparing him this confrontation when he was already confused with his own feelings.
He opened the door and silently stepped inside. When had been the last time he had sneaked into his own quarters? A long time ago for sure.
One look was enough to show him that the low divan where Sean had be sleeping when Karl left with the prince was now empty. For a long moment Karl feared that his unwilling guest may have done something foolish, but then he heard the pearls of the curtain separating his rooms from the balcony rattle softly and Sean came back into the room.
He had put on the clothes that Viggo had advised Karl to buy and again the Captain of the guard felt a shiver run through his body and heat gathering. Karl would have purchased the flowing clothes he favored himself but Viggo had told him he would never get a warrior like Sean into these kind of attire. Instead they had bought tight leggings of soft leather with matching boots and a cream colored long-sleeved shirt.
Viggo had been right. These clothes even enhanced the exotic beauty of the man and every thought of Orlando suddenly fled Karl's mind, presented with the problem of keeping his hands off this exceptional specimen of man that was so tantalizingly available.
'He is my slave, I paid good money for him. Why not use him?' a sneaky little voice whispered inside of his head but Karl ruthlessly shoved it down to the depth from where it had come.
Thankfully his guest had only just now noticed him and not observed the flash of longing in his eyes. Still he studied Karl with a healthy dose of distrust.
"Are you feeling better?" Karl asked politely, forcing any betraying emotion out of his voice. He had made sure that Sean's wounds and sunburns had been cared for while he was gone.
"As to be expected." Sean answered. "It will take a while but my wounds will heal."
Yes, but what of your other wounds, Karl thought. What of the things surely forced on a man as beautiful as you? What of your pride? But he kept his tongue. That was not for him to care for, but for the prince.
But there things that needed to be addressed now. "I am sorry that you will have to stay with me a while." Karl started carefully, watching for signs of anger on the other warriors face. He was not disappointed as Sean's brows drew together almost instantly but he listened.
"We are a people of many social rules that may seem strange to you till you have gotten used to them more. To give you to the prince now would shame both me and him and to set you free would be seen as weakness. We just have to wait a while. But till then we all have to pretend that you are indeed my slave when strangers are present."
A harsh laugh was the answer from Sean. "And surely sorry you are for it." he said, anger in his voice. "I clearly recall your words. 'Ride this mare till it has learned it's place'?"
Karl cursed himself for his bantering with the other buyers at the slave market. But he was expected to behave like it. "That was for show." he tried to explain. "I certainly don't intent to do anything like that."
"Is that so?" Sean stepped closer to him and Karl felt all to revealing heat rise in his body and to his face. And this time it did not escape Sean's notice either. "And what about that kiss?" he hissed. "Was that for show as well?"
Karl found himself almost nose to nose with the other man and fought the urge to grab him again with all his will. He searched for an answer... any answer but this tongue suddenly seemed stuck in his mouth. He saw all the pain and humiliation of captivity reflect in Sean's eyes and did the only save thing. He spun on his heel and fled his own quarters.
Karl let his feet carry him where they would. His thoughts kept returning to the warrior who would be sharing his quarters for at least the next weeks and he fairly despaired at that idea. How was he going to manage to preserve both their honor when his fingers were itching even now to touch where they were unwanted?
He was not really surprised when he found himself in front of the entrance to the prince's chambers.
He nodded to the two men guarding the entrance and entered. It did not even occur to him to ask if prince Viggo was home. His eyes searched the small courtyard with the fountain but found it undisturbed and silent. Maybe the prince was already asleep? But even then it would not hurt to check on him. Karl knew he would rest easier when he had seen with his own eyes that the prince was fine.
He quietly slipped through the curtain closing the prince's private rooms off from the courtyard. Only when he saw the slim, sleeping figure, half buried under a heap of pillows did he realize why he had really walked in here.
The street kitten lay on the divan, his lean, dirty limbs curled against his body, one pillow possessively clutched against his chest, a happy smile on his beautiful lips even in sleep. And he was all alone.
Karl frowned slightly when he noticed that the kitten wore only his ripped and dirty tunic, his pants discarded and lying next to the divan. Again jealously stirred in his heart.
Then he shook his head, a bemused smile appearing in his lips. He would really have to stop envying the prince of his lovers. He had no right to. Prince Viggo had saved Orlando from loosing his hand and he had every right to claim a reward for that. And Karl would not allow his desire to interfere with his loyalty to the prince.
Still he felt the urge to make sure that the boy was all right. He sat down on the divan next to the sleeping thief and gently stroked one small dirty foot, poking out from under another pillow. The toes wriggled slightly in response and moments later sleepy brown eyes opened to gaze at him uncomprehending.
But then the quick mind returned and Orlando quickly scrambled backward. "I didn't touch anything, I swear!" he proclaimed, still clutching the pillow, his eyes darting around the room searching for a route of escape.
Karl smiled. If there was any proof needed that the boy was well this was it.
"Had I not found you asleep, I would doubt that." he said. "But as it is I am inclined to for once believe that."
Orlando eyed him suspiciously but relaxed slightly. Then his eyes searched the room anew. "Where is the prince?" he asked curiously.
Karl shrugged. "I don't know. I came by to talk to him and found you." Again his hand sneaked out, softly caressing that dirty foot. "Are you okay?"
"I... uhm..." Heat rose into the youth face and he clutched the pillow even tighter. He looked at Karl with something close to panic. "They would have cut off my hand, wouldn't they?"
Karl nodded and very suddenly found his arms full of the trembling form of one sobbing street kitten. "Oh Karl," the boy managed to get out between sobs, "I was so scared."
The Captain looked at him with a bit of healthy suspicion to make sure we was not just putting on a show, but the tears making clean streaks in his dirty face and the arms wrapped tightly around Karl, begging for comfort were to tense to be pretense.
He stroked the back of the young man and murmured soothing words, till Orlando quieted down a bit. Still the kitten clung to him like he had held on to the pillow before.
"Don't worry, little one." Karl whispered softly. "You're safe now." At least from that merchant, he added in his thoughts, I can not say how safe you are from me if you keep on clinging to me like that.
He tried to push the boy away a bit to help him regain his composure but was surprised again, when Orlando tilted his sweet face upward to him in the cutest way he had ever seen and then slowly let his eyes drift shut and his lips closer to Karl's. There was really nothing else Karl could have done but kiss him. So he did.
The lips he tasted were as sweet as he would have expected them to be and when he tentatively pushed against them with his tongue they parted willingly, allowing him access to an even sweeter mouth. A mouth to sink into loosing all coherence of thought.
He felt the boys hands rise to his chest and for a moment he was sure Orlando would push him away but instead those hands started to seek a way under his own tunic, tugging here, sneaking there with all the skill of an experienced pick-pocket. The little minx!
Karl smiled into their kiss, raising a hand to the boys cheek, caressing him. He was about to gently push the boy back to the divan, when a soft coughing caught both their attention and they broke apart, to see who was intruding.
Orlando immediately flushed crimson and scrambled back on the divan while Karl jumped away from him almost falling over his own feet when he noticed prince Viggo leaning against the arc from the courtyard.
Only the wry smile on the lips of the prince kept him from falling to his knees immediately. "Far be it from my mind to interrupt the two of you," he said, "but I would like a word with you in private, Captain."
Cold dread clenched his heart but Karl nodded. How could he betray his prince like this?
Viggo turned to Orlando, smiling at the paled boy. "Go outside. there is a girl waiting for you who will show you to where you can wash and put on other clothes. I will expect you back here in half an hour."
Karl had seen the thief make many escapes before but none had been as fast as this one. Wish he could just have followed him. As it was he faced his Lord, waiting for a verdict on his crime.
"Karl, would you stop looking like you committed a murder?" Viggo said to his surprise. "I am not angry with you or the boy."
The Captain of the guard gapped at him open-mouthed. "But... I..."
The prince shook his head, finally stepping into the room. "I have seen how close the boy is to your heart. Do you really expect me to be angry when you follow that heart, that has saved my life as well?" He grabbed Karl's shoulder squeezing tightly. "I consider you my friend and I hope you will see me as this as well. You have guarded my back ever since I awoke in this palace and I trust you completely. I would not that this boy, however cute, comes between our friendship."
Viggo turned his head to look at the doorway through which Orlando had disappeared. "Though I have to say he is something." he added with a decidedly dirty grin. "I think he will be a handful for the both of us even if we share, don't you think?"
A relieved laugh escaped Karl. No outcome of this conversation he could have envisioned could have been as good as this one. "I must agree, Princeling." he said, accepting the warrior's handshake of his Lord. "He will be more than enough trouble for both of us to deal with."
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll
go to PART 14