Wand-Losing & Other Things You Shouldn't Be Doing

by Gabbo De la Parra

  “So sorry, Byron. I was showing the mechanism to my…” Max dithered for a moment. He wanted to use a deeply meaningful word, but he wasn’t sure if he had that right yet. “…to the ambassador.”

  Rezzu smiled, noticing his quick bout of discomfort. “We’ll find an appropriate term for each other soon enough.”

  “Oh, don’t mind me, sir. I’m just a whiny old nag.”

  Max inclined his head, acknowledging Rezzu’s comment and called to Byron, “Oh stop it, you have many years ahead of you. Now please take us to Master Esaw’s.”

  “Lost another wand, Governor?”

  “No,” Max offered easily, “We’re getting one for the ambassador.”

  “I guess we can do magic in front of them now then…”

  “Indeed. And we don’t want to be late for our appointment.”

  “I’ll get you there in a jiffy, m’lord.”

  “Thank you,” Max rolled his eyes, out of Rezzu’s sight, as he entered the carriage behind those broad shoulders.

  They sat, facing each other, and Rezzu said the following words with a seriousness Max had only seen during their first encounter, “Did it ever occur to you that you keep losing your wand because you don’t really need one? Why force yourself to use something external when your own body is the perfect conductor?”

  That was something to consider. None of them said another word until they arrived at their destination.

  The thin, smiling wandmaster greeted them outside his shop with open arms, his multi-lensed spectacles on top of his graying head. “It’s a pleasure to see you again, Lord Governor, please come in, come in.” The bow of his navy blue ribbon was bigger than usual, and Max had to suppress childish urge to giggle imagining it flying away— pulling tiny Master Esaw to the sky with silk flappy wings.

  They went straight to the back where the master put the wands together. “So what did you bring from the elusive other half?” the steady voice asked without preamble, eyeing Rezzu as if seeing him for the first time and truly appreciating his beauty.

  Max cleared his throat, but it was Rezzu who answered after stopping him with a raised a hand. He pulled several hairs from the top of his head. “If you need more just let me know.”

  “Oh, magnificent,” cooed Esaw. “This is more than enough, Ambassador.” He proffered a slim glass vial, and Rezzu deposited his hairs in it. “So luminescent,” marveled the wandmaker, bringing his spectacles down and adjusting lenses to examine the hairs more deeply. He closed the tube with a cork and rummaged through several boxes, drawing three unfinished wands from different shelves.

  “This is exciting.” Rezzu reminded Max of a little boy learning how his favorite candy was made.

  The three wands were placed on a table. Max had been through this process before, so he focused on not calling one wand but on letting the magic flow freely to allow one to rise on its own to him. With Rezzu’s expectant eyes on him, he slowly waved his hand over the open cylinders; he let the happiness rushing through his veins after being in Rezzu’s arms to be the summoner of his next wand, the last one he would ever use, if the idea fluttering in his head came to fruition. However, it wasn’t the time to diverge to future plans, he needed his essence calling out to the magic.

  One or two standard minutes passed, and the left one levitated gracefully toward his hand. Max gave it to Master Esaw.

  “How interesting?” Commented the old man as he inspected it.

  “Something wrong?”

  “No, not really. It’s Alettan silver, though. The magic had never chosen this material for you before. It had always fluctuated between a three-colored gold alloy and rose iron. Something must have changed in you recently.”

  The fire was not only on his cheeks. His entire body was ablaze. How undiplomatic of him to be embarrassed in this moment, and the twinkle in Rezzu’s solar eyes didn’t help a bit.

  “Very well, m’lords. Please make yourselves comfortable in the waiting room. The next phase is not for mortal eyes…” Master Essaw chuckled cheekily. His wife materialized as if she had been just waiting for this moment all along. “Please follow me, Lord Governor, Lord Ambassador.”

  “Alettan silver, huh?” Rezzu almost singsonged, and pushed Max with his shoulder.

  “How odd, right?”

  “Yeah, I wonder what has changed…”

  Rezzu’s fake air of wishful trepidation was absolutely annoying.

  And Max loved every second of it.

  ****

  13. BLOSSOMS

  Midnight orchids bloomed in Rezzu’s hair. He snickered, “Really, flowers?”

  “I’d have you know those are very masculine flowers, dark and sensual.”

  Two standard days ago, Max had conjured a giant mirror above the massive bed from somewhere else in the palace. Rezzu saw his reflection, and the deep purple orchids sprinkled about his widespread hair reminded him of blossoms floating over a lake.

  “You shouldn’t have done that. They might have cheered someone else in whatever garden you plucked them from.” Rezzu shook his head without heat.

  “They’d have ended up in some forgotten vase anyway. And they are cheering me up.”

  Rezzu had learned that things weren’t created out of thin air; you needed to know where they were to bring them up. He thought of something his father had given him on his twentieth birthday, and that, luckily for him, wasn’t all the way back on Mireeh. He stretched his hand and took his wand, giving it a flick.

  “Sweet ’verse, Rezzu, this is magnificent!” Max tilted his torso backward to appreciate the burgundy corundum crystals necklace Rezzu had placed on him. The movement made his naked bottom rub deliciously over Rezzu’s rapidly interested cock.

  The minute gems encased in the dense gold of Vartian, one of the twenty-seven moons of Mireeh, contrasted beautifully with the brass of Max’s neck and his perfect, tanned skin. They smiled at each other in the mirror.

  “I give you flowers, and you give me jewelry.”

  “Flowers are nature’s most perfect jewels. They are so special they don’t even last forever; thus you enjoy them more because they are finite. They become the essence of a special moment.”

  “If I’d know you had such a poetic vein, I’d have fallen quicker.” Max whispered, covering Rezzu’s chest with his own and kissing him; the weight of the necklace over Rezzu’s Adam’s apple fathered goose bumps.

  “No, you wouldn’t. Diplomats are egotistical, hardcore narcissists,” Rezzu ventured full of mirth.

  “Oh, I’m gonna show you how egotistical I can be.” The arched eyebrow signaled the start of a challenge.

  “Are you now? Ohhh…” Pearly teeth latched on Rezzu’s nipple as the warm pleasure of Max’s robotic hand trailed down his flank, over his hip and grasped both cocks in a metallic cocoon.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “So damn selfish…” Rezzu sighed while Max changed position to stretch his body along Rezzu’s without stopping the rhythmic stroking of their united shafts.

  Max let the nipple rest for a heartbeat. “Yeah, it’s not even funny. I know…” He didn’t return to the swollen nub though. He changed course and traced Rezzu’s abs with his tongue, releasing their now hard-as-steel-columns cocks.

  “More selfishness, please.”

  Four licks. “Is that an order?”

  “Ahhh, I don’t think I’m capable of ordering you around.” Rezzu squirmed.

  His cock head was swallowed for only an instant, a swirling tongue making him see stars. “Glad you’re aware of your limitations.” This time his cock was devoured completely; Max’s lips grazed Rezzu’s balls. A happy hum vibrated through his manhood. A hot throat closed around his glans.

  Rezzu was getting ready to emit another incongruent quip when a brass finger found his hole. He hissed encouragingly, “Egoist.”

  Emerging again from the deep fellation, Max summarized, “I wish I could bottle the way you taste.” He licked his inflamed lips.

  It was
n’t the words but the joyful tone that made Rezzu tremble, each body part turning ablaze, each cell surging toward a drowning climax. He wanted to fight. He needed this to last longer, but in little time Max had learned how to play him, discovered the complicated password to break him— to make him scream and writhe.

  Max moved in that easy and quick way of his (that always left Rezzu breathless) and sat on his haunches; he pulled Rezzu to his lap by the hip and grabbed his cock, the invading finger unstoppable. Hand and digit became a well-oiled machine, pumping and stroking, piercing and twisting.

  Dark orchids rose and started to swirl in an incomprehensible pattern amid his drifting hair while his body tossed helplessly. The million horses galloping to his center collided, and his orgasm gushed free, violent and perfect, accompanied by a long, strained howl in the form of Max’s name.

  Long seconds later, his breathing decided to come back, and Rezzu opened his eyes. Max licked each one of his fingers, sending chills down Rezzu’s spine. The apologetic grin was unconvincing. “I was supposed to use that as lubricant… Well, here’s more.” He scooped the semen along Rezzu’s torso, and flesh replaced brass, wrenching a hissing moan from him. “I’m going to fuck you so hard, the constellations will guide you home.” Max commented happily as fingers coated Rezzu’s insides, hungrily preparing him.

  By now, Rezzu was used to the magic taking care of his exhaustion. His body was alert and ready, raring to go again; this time expanded and full thanks to Max’s cock.

  A wicked grin coincided with the first nudge, and it became wider as Max inched his way in, using Rezzu’s hips as levers, turning him into a squirming mass of delight, fluid and bright. Pubic hair grazed his hole; Rezzu squeezed, and Max groaned, tilting his head backward, the metal of his neck exploding with blinding rays. He pulled out a little and slid back inside, and with each following heartbeat the speed and the force increased until it was just drilling and rocking, pleasure and sparks.

  Rezzu’s primal-self surged, eager to join the fracas, and he pushed, wanting to receive more, to take more. With his legs circled firmly around Max’s waist, Rezzu did a defensive maneuver and turned the governor around in three quick movements. Max ended up on his back with Rezzu riding ferociously. Max let out a string of profanities and finished with, “I thought I was the one doing the fucking.”

  And I was letting you.

  But that thing that was all animal (all starving instinct) thought otherwise, and Rezzu dismounted and moved forward, shoving his rocky, dripping cock into Max’s mouth. He saw the green skies roll back. His own eyes wanting to do the same, but they stayed glued to the image, mesmerized by the raw beauty of Max’s cheeks hollowing to suck (tasting him, welcoming him). He guided his cock with one hand and stroked the one behind using the other. He would return to it soon because the tide grew, and that explosion was meant to happen with him impaled, each jet conquering him.

  Max pouted as Rezzu’s cock left his mouth, but the pout became a pleasure “O” as Rezzu easily glided down his incandescent shaft. Two rolls, one squeeze… “OHHH REZZU.”

  “Fuck yesssss!” Thick ropes flew into Rezzu, out of Rezzu, and they rose and swirled, holding fast onto each other, laughing and letting the magic have its way with them.

  As they descended, crushing orchids and still chuckling, Unos entered the bedroom and announced, “Max, Deas is here to see you.”

  “Seems like I’m finally meeting your best friend in person.”

  “Good thing you already learned how to braid your hair magically ’cause you’re a mess.”

  “It’s all your fault, you selfish ass.”

  “My ass wasn’t even in this battle.”

  “And I’m going to take care of that.” Rezzu swatted Max’s chin with his close fist softly. “Trust me.”

  “We can tell Deas to come back.”

  “No.” Rezzu tapped his finger over the silvery blue light between Max’s pecs, encircled in a brass grommet. “Friend first, ass-mauling after.”

  Max scrunched his face and crossed his arms in a perfect imitation of a five-year-old denied candy. “You’re no fun.”

  Pushing Max out of the bed, Rezzu spanked him. “I’ll give you lots of fun later.”

  “Yay.”

  ****

  14. HOPE

  They entered the sitting room arm in arm and laughing.

  “Oh.” Deas’s disapproval face surged so fast and retreated at the same speed, it left Max dizzy. He moved to his feet slowly and inclined his head. “Governor, Ambassador.”

  Max disentangled from Rezzu and hugged his friend, whispering in his ear, “You need to stop that, you bitch.”

  Their embrace became stiff. “I don’t like him.” Deas stated between his teeth.

  “I’m going to beat you to a pulp.” Max pushed Deas at arm’s distance, without releasing him. “He makes me happy. Be fucking happy for me.” He growled.

  Deas seemed deflated for a moment, then filled up again. “I don’t approve.”

  “Blasting meteors! Do you hear yourself? Give me just one reason why this is so hard for you.”

  “Ahem,” Rezzu cleared his throat. “May I intervene, Max?”

  With a nod, Max let go of Deas, who stood frozen but wasn’t trying to disguise his discomfort. He could have been a good diplomat, because, when he wanted to, he could fake it like the best of them. That wasn’t the case now though.

  “I’ve seen this before. I’ve seen it in my sister’s face and in others when they think someone they love is making a mistake.” Rezzu walked slowly toward Deas, a rescuer approaching a skittish, beaten animal. He took Deas hands in both of his, looking into those deep, blue eyes. “I promise you I’ll give the last drop of my blood to make Lairdimax Trean Maitheas the happiest man in the known universe. This is my solemn vow, please accept it.”

  For a heartbeat, Max thought Rezzu would kneel, but he didn’t. That would have been just too much, and he would have had to punch Deas really hard for being obnoxious and forcing Rezzu to do such a thing.

  Looking from Rezzu to Max several times, Deas finally grunted, “All right. I’m going to promise you something too. If I ever see my friend shed just one, hear me well, just one tear that is not from happiness, you’ll know pain.”

  Rezzu assented with a crisp nod and pulled Deas into a crushing hug that left the other flailing to escape his grip. He let go and gave Deas a hard smack on the back. “Good thing Maith likes me. I wouldn’t be able to face two raging fathers.”

  Deas elbowed Rezzu, who folded down— guffawing riotously.

  A dispute resolved with a well-aimed elbow. How typical of their friendship. Max joined in their laughter, and they all sat. “Are you bringing me good news, now that the sour ones are gone?”

  “I am.” Deas sobered up. “In the seven cities people are embracing the fact that we’re descendants of Nova Gaia positively. Even the Nova Gaians among Rezzu’s crew are changing their attitude toward our enhancements and magic. I personally think it is because they’re embarrassed one of their own pushed us to become what we are. Shame is a very powerful incentive to change people’s minds.”

  “Maybe I need to shame your ass into not being such a jerk to my future husband.” Max offered from the corner of his mouth.

  Both men looked as if struck by lightning.

  “Oops. Right. I haven’t asked you yet.” Max snickered. He was the one who went to his knee in front of a flabbergasted Rezzu, conjuring the ring that had been sitting in his vault for the past two weeks, waiting for the right moment. “You said you’ll make me the happiest man in the known universe, so this is the next logical step. Would you marry me Rezzu Ki Muselet?”

  Deas had one hand over his mouth, his eyes liquid. With the other he nudged Rezzu after several heartbeats in silence. “Hey.”

  That seemed to bring Rezzu back from whatever petrified land he had been. He stood up, his head bobbing, and he grabbed Max by the waist, holding him up above him and twirling the
m both and crying, “Yes. Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes!”

  Amid his flying in circles, Max saw Deas dabbing his eyes with a maroon handkerchief.

  Aww, the big, old softie.

  Ten standard days later, Max stood beside Rezzu as a ginormous Colviri vessel alighted over the Yerma Plains. It was a monstrosity, four times bigger than the behemoth that brought his husband-to-be— what seemed a many eons ago occurrence. He was sweating and shivering, and, in other circumstances, he would have thought he was coming down with some exotic disease. Nevertheless, he knew it was pure unadulterated nerves. He, who had been able to thwart the snake pit of his planet’s diplomacy, was a flickering leaf buffeted by a storm at the prospect of meeting Rezzu’s family.

  “Is that an earthquake?” Rezzu chuckled.

  “Shut up. You had my family in your pocket from day one. This isn’t fair.”

  “Ahh, you’ll be fine. They won’t eat you until after the ceremony as the tradition demands.”

  “I’m so telling Deas.”

  Humungous stairs descended, and the Alettan Guard advanced to take their position, creating a corridor toward where Rezzu, Max, and the Welcome Committee (formed by delegations of all the city-states) stood. From the ship, Colviri soldiers marched noisily and merged in the spaces left by the Alettans to mingle in a dual guard of honor. Two imposing men appeared first. They wore Colviri uniforms but didn’t have the three cords denoting military ranks. One had flaming red hair, cascading in soft curls, held back by minute braids over his temples. He had Rezzu’s eyes. Or Rezzu had his, since the redheaded man was clearly older.

  The other man had the white Colviri hair, long and glossy, but there was something about him that was brutal and enticing at the same time, like a fabulous beast who had decided to be nice to you for its own particular reasons. They parted to help a girl with the stairs. She was at least a head shorter than them, still tall by normal human standards. Beautiful and formidable, her resemblance to Rezzu was uncanny. She didn’t wear a uniform but a dress that was layers upon layers of dreamily fluid material, like translucent gauze that delicately moved, swayed by its own ethereal breeze. If she were Alettan, Max would have said she was using magic to create that effect.