"Arabian Nights"
Part 40
by Beryll

 

"Captain, a word with you, if you please." With a wave of his hand Prince Viggo commanded the two guardsmen present in Karl's office to leave.

Any other day he might have waited till Captain Karl had concluded his business with them but not today. After everything that had happened in the few hours that had passed since sunrise he had used up his patience.

The two men hurried outside, closing the door behind them, sensing the foul mood of their Prince.

Karl looked more surprised than worried which in turn puzzled Viggo.

After all the Captain of the guard had sent him a notice that he was busy with his ill slave and now Viggo found him in his office with Sean nowhere in sight.

Warring emotions fought for an upper hand in Viggo. Anger at the fact that Karl hadn't been present when he could have used his advise on how to deal with Dominic, relief that he did not find Karl with Sean, witnessing their closeness, anger at the intense jealousy he felt, relief that Sean probably was better if Karl deemed it reasonable to leave him alone.

Some of his emotions must have been showing on his face as Karl now looked more worried.

"My Prince, what can I do for you?" he asked warily.

"Where is Sean?" Viggo asked more bluntly then he had intended.

"He went to look for you, my Lord, to talk to you." Karl answered.

Immediately Viggo felt foolish at his own jealousy and anger. When he had gone to Karl's quarters and had found neither Karl nor Sean he had just stopped thinking.

"Oh." he said, slowly sitting down opposite Karl's desk, trying to regain some decorum.

Karl smiled, understanding gentling his eyes. He got up and retrieved an earthen bottle and two cups from a shelf nearby, then poured both of them some of the strong liqueur.

"I apologize for not coming this morning," he said, "but I believed you would be fully capable of handling the situation on your own. How did the interrogation turn out?"

Viggo took a small sip of the spicy smelling liquid, enjoying the feeling of it spreading to his stomach with searing heat and calming his nerves.

"He didn't know anything truly usable. But he knows the voice of the man who gave him the assignment. So I decided to keep him alive. He also seems to be a friend of Orlando. Dominic is his name. Do you know him?"

Karl nodded. "Yes, I have seen them together. Not as softpawed a cat as our Orlando. This Dominic has claws to reckon with."

"So I learned." Viggo commented ruefully. "It was a close thing tonight."

"I have already started investigation how he got in. It's rather strange, actually, the guards at your door were wide awake and didn't see him so he must have slipped in through the windows of your sleeping chamber. I talked to the guards in the gardens who can observe that wall and they all say they didn't see a thing either. I would like to have a word with the boy, if you don't mind."

"He is in my quarters," Viggo said, "feel free to question him but don't hurt him please."

"In your quarters?!" Karl stared at him in shock. "Your highness?!"

Viggo sighed softly, taking another sip from his cup. "I have taken him in." He held up a hand to stop Karl's next words. "I know, foolish. But Orlando begged for his life and the boy swore he would behave."

Karl snorted. "Don't believe a word he says, Prince. He is a lying, thieving bitch. He may have a pretty face but he will bite the hand that feeds him."

"Be that as it may, for now he is under my protection, Captain." Viggo stated firmly and kept his eyes on Karl till the warrior bowed.

"As you wish, my Prince."

"Now, what is it with Sean? Why did you say he was ill?"

Karl looked down at his hands. "My Prince, I don't think it is for me to tell you. He wants to talk to you himself, to explain."

Anxious Viggo leaned forward. "Karl, please tell me. I worry about him more than I can say. He is the only thing of my former home I still have. He has followed me through all of Europe and across the sea to find me. Such loyalty is not found easily. Had he never followed me he would have been safe. Whatever happened to him, I carry half of the blame and I cannot bear the thought that he hated me for it."

Karl shook his head vehemently. "Never believe that, Prince, he loves you dearly. He has suffered greatly and has come terribly close to breaking. His pride is broken and he believes that his honor is as well."

Viggo felt the familiar red haze of rage rise in his heart and fought to keep it down. Images dances before his mind's eye of what might have been done to his best friend. He could almost hear the echo of Sean's screams. His voice was raw with emotion when he spoke again.

"I want you do find the man who did this to him, Karl. Find him. Anything Sean has suffered that bastard must suffer tenfold."

Karl nodded. "I will."

They finished their drinks in silence, both pondering the cruel fate of the man they by now both regarded as a friend.

Viggo was ready to get up and go look for Sean, when a polite knock sounded at the door and then the blond looked in. Viggo noted with worry the dark circles under his friend's eyes and the tired lines around his mouth but then his heart leaped in joy as he searched Sean's eyes and there found a sparkle of life that he had missed far too long.

"There you are," Sean said, closing the door behind himself, giving a short nod of greeting to Karl but keeping his attention on Viggo, "you are most elusive this morning, my lord."

"The same could be said about you." Viggo replied to the casual banter, relief showing in his voice. He smiled at Sean, hoping for one of Sean's rare smiles in return.

But the blond warrior's features stayed somber.

"I need to talk to the Prince alone," he said to Karl, "may I borrow your office for a moment?"

"Of course." Karl got up from behind his desk and walked to the door.

With another sting of jealousy Viggo noted how Karl's hand brushed Sean's shoulder reassuringly and the tiny nod of gratitude Sean in turn send Karl. They were so close now. As close as he and Sean had been. Fervently Viggo hoped that things could return to that easy companionship between the two of them.

Before Sean could say anything, Viggo did.

"Sean... I want to apologize. I have not spent as much time with you as I would have wished. I have not been the liege you would have deserved. You... I can guess what must have happened to you and I blame myself for it. Had I not left home you would never have come to this country, would never have been captured..."

Sean blinked at him in open consternation. "My lord...?" he blurted out, utterly surprised at this sudden admission.

Viggo could not face him, his mind again crowded with terrible visions of Sean's fate. He looked down as he continued: "I do not deserve such loyalty as you have offered. I ran away from home. Irresponsibly, uncaring. And I... I'm just sorry..." he ended, quite aware that there really was no way of apologizing.

He looked up startled when Sean knelt in front of him and took both his hands, his face gentle and so much reminding him of the countless times Sean had offered comfort, advise and strength in the past.

"Viggo, none of this is your fault," Sean addressed him intimately like he only rarely did, "you did not tell me to follow you. It was may choice and I have to live with the consequences. Do not blame yourself for the sorrows and pain of all the world. You can not shoulder everyone's pain."

Viggo had heard those exact words from Sean before. More than once. They brought a small smile to his face now.

"You'll never give up on being my guardian, will you?" he asked softly.

Now Sean did grace him with a smile. "Never." he said.

Then he drew a deep breath as if preparing for a fight. "I... what I have endured has robbed me of much," he said slowly, "I will need time to recover... when you... when you kissed me... yesterday... was that really just yesterday?... anyway... you startled me with that, brought back ugly memories... I understand you need me, Viggo, but I ask you, be patient with me..."

Viggo put a gentle finger to Sean's lips.

"I must again ask your forgiveness. I should not have rushed you into that. It will never happen again. Whatever pace you wish, set it. Just know that at the end of the road I am awaiting you eagerly."

For a long moment the two men looked at each other, reading the various emotions in the other's eyes.

Then Sean nodded slowly. "Thank you." he said, then chuckled quietly. "I seem to be saying that a lot lately..." he added more to himself then to Viggo and the prince couldn't help but wonder what he meant.

But he didn't ask. He would somehow manage to not press Sean for information or affection. And he would also manage to keep his jealousy in check. And somehow he would also manage to keep his kittens from scratching each other's eyes out and from killing him. And find the person behind all those assassination attempts. And of course single-handedly stop poverty, hunger and slavery in all the world...

With a low groan he let his head fall back.

 

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Beryll

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