A King's Ransom

by Lia Black

  "Yes. Crystals. Whatever you've got. I have the coin," Kaidos told the woman.

  "Well, seeing as how you brought your own girl, I suppose I can give you a bit of a discount," Rose chided softly.

  Veyl winced again as he was carried up a set of stairs. His head seemed like it was full of water and every step made it slosh around in his skull. He curled closer against Kaidos, and thought he felt a gentle squeeze in reply.

  "I'll put you in one of the empty rooms. If your lady friend pulls through, think she might want a job? She looks like a pretty one."

  Pulls through? Veyl wondered just how bad he looked, and then suddenly didn't care.

  Kaidos chuckled. "No Rose, but thank you for the offer."

  "Hm. Well, suit yourself."

  The woman's shoes clacked down the wooden floor and Kaidos carried Veyl into a dark room. It smelled stale from disuse, but it was free of that horrible floral reek. The Silver Tree Manor always smelled soothing, thanks to some of Veyl's incense blends; and the residents there were meticulously clean, even insisting that the patrons were washed--inside and out--before partaking of the companions' charms.

  Veyl felt himself laid gently on a soft bed and Kaidos began to remove his clothing, being especially mindful of his injured hand.

  "I can't believe you brought me to a whorehouse," Veyl mumbled. His tongue felt heavy in his mouth and his throat was dry.

  "I thought it was better than the tavern or gambling hall." Kaidos' voice held the hint of a smile as well as concern, and Veyl found it oddly soothing.

  There were things that Veyl wanted to say, but it seemed like too much effort to push the thoughts from his brain through his lips. He felt a cool breeze and smelled the rain outside as Kaidos opened a window, then Veyl's body was covered by a warm blanket.

  A knock sounded on the door and Kaidos answered it, speaking with at least one woman--younger sounding than the madam. Veyl heard a soft tittering whisper, then a gasp.

  "She's beautiful!"

  "Ain't got no tits though," another woman commented.

  Kaidos chuckled. Although he couldn't make out the words, Veyl had the feeling from the tone that Kaidos was trying to kindly send the women on their way. The door closed and he heard Kaidos returning to the bed. He slowly pulled down the covers, his face a mask of concentration as he gave Veyl a cursory examination with his eyes.

  "Friends of yours?" Veyl rasped.

  "I spent a lot of time here as a child--waiting for my father. Rose was like a mother to me."

  "You had no mother?"

  "No. I mean, I didn't sprout from a dung-pile, contrary to some opinions, but I never knew her."

  Veyl flinched initially at the sensation of the warm, wet cloth dabbing gently at a few cuts and bruises on his chest. When Kaidos did the same on his hand, it felt like he was rubbing it with broken glass. Veyl hissed and jerked back, wincing as every joint felt tight and achy.

  "Sorry--let me get some remedies burning."

  Veyl barely registered the rare apology. He could feel the tears running from his eyes as the cool air met his face. The wetness felt good against his hot skin at first, but when the tear tracks began to dry to salt, his skin became itchy.

  His mind soon shifted, however, to the sensation of his swollen hand being submerged in warm water. The water stung a little, but Veyl knew it was infused with healing herbs meant to draw out toxins. He could smell the spearmint and comfrey...He sighed, as a cool cloth was pressed to his forehead and the sticky, drying tears were wiped from his temples.

  Soon the room smelled like cinnamon and amber, like noonflower petals and juniper, like citrus with a hint of blood. It was a comforting smell, the latter coming from the intoxicating crystals as they were burned with the healing herbs. He was aware of Kaidos going to the window occasionally to breathe in fresh air so that he could continue to work on Veyl's injuries.

  Veyl looked through his thick lashes at the man who tended him now. Young, ferociously handsome, but with eyes that sometimes appeared as though they had seen too much. Eyes that reminded him of his own.

  Veyl sighed and let his lids slide shut. "Sing to me, Kaidos…"

  The soft dabbing of the cloth stopped for a moment.

  "What?"

  "Sing to me," Veyl mumbled.

  The cloth returned, wiping the moisture from his upper lip. "I don't sing."

  "Then I'll sing to you."

  Veyl began to murmur the light melody of a song he'd learned from his childhood. Something Ahrn told him was a song of Veyl's "people". When he first discovered the truth of his blood, he did everything he could to try to learn about the elves…because he thought it would ultimately help him learn about himself. Unfortunately, everything he'd read had been written by humans, who saw elves as aloof or savage. They were called territorial, fighting to the death to protect land to which their people had laid claim. From what Veyl could tell he shared nothing of this side of his lineage…but they certainly did have some beautiful songs…

  As Veyl whispered the words, the voice in his head was a child's—his voice—singing in the Silver Tree to entertain the clients, with Ahrn looking on, watching like a proud father.

  Veyl's voice cracked and his song faded into sobs. His whole life he'd only wanted to be loved by the one whom he loved the most, and when that hadn't worked, he'd simply wanted to be loved enough to be missed when he was gone. Suddenly it all seemed so empty and sad. The happy, bright-eyed child he'd been had grown up too quickly into a miserable and jaded adult. Where had all of those years gone?

  Veyl thought he'd felt someone stroking him gently, caressing his hair and face, and rubbing his chest in small circles, in a manner meant to soothe.

  He was exhausted, his crying had worn him out just as the song in his head lulled him to sleep. He felt the press of warm lips on his forehead as Ahrn kissed him goodnight.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  The Kitten's Tale

  It had been nearly thirty-five hours that Veyl had been drifting between wakefulness and a heavy, fevered sleep. In that time, Kaidos had tended to his wounds, being especially concerned about his hand. The first several hours, Veyl's temperature had been alarmingly high, and Kaidos worried that Veyl might not come out of it. Fortunately the tinctures had drawn out the infection, and beneath the swelling there were no broken bones. Kaidos believed part of what kept his fever and sleep so steady was Veyl's own body mending itself as the infection was drawn out of him.

  Veyl was his responsibility, and he found that caring for him was not a burden. Touching Veyl to comfort and soothe him, treating his wounds; these were things that felt strangely intimate. Kaidos' actions had gone beyond those of tending to a valuable item. He found himself beginning to care about what happened to Veyl as a person, not as property. He'd begun to enjoy Veyl's company—despite how quarrelsome and precarious his moods were at times. But then Kaidos knew he was no joy to be around either.

  For the first time, Kaidos understood that after spending his adult life mostly alone, he'd actually been a little lonely. He'd thought that the solution to those times was a quick and often anonymous roll in the sheets. Had he truly believed that now, he would have left someone else to tend to Veyl's fever while he spent his time sampling the brothel's many charms.

  He'd been here before, enjoying the girls--often several at a time--for free. The women liked him, and made him feel genuinely appealing with their smiles. Those familiar and not so familiar faces had appeared at the door, offering to take care of any needs he might have as they cast jealous gazes upon the sleeping beauty in the bed. Kaidos had turned them all down with surprising ease. He enjoyed the scathing looks the girls had been sending towards Veyl. They believed Veyl was a woman, and that this beguiling young siren belonged to him.

  Unfortunately, Veyl didn't belong to him, and he never would.

  Kaidos was shaving when Veyl finally began to stir on the bed. He turned his head slightly to look at Veyl as he realized the man wa
s crying. It disturbed him deeply, as it was the mewl of a broken child, and he abandoned his whiskers to rush to the bed, gathering Veyl into his arms without hesitation.

  This wasn't the first time Veyl had cried. His fever and the drugging smoke must have given him hallucinations and dreams. Veyl hadn't cried out any words, he'd only moaned and thrashed as tears streamed down his temples, wetting his sweat-slicked golden hair.

  Kaidos used one hand to put the lid over the censer to snuff out the intoxicating vapors. He'd never really enjoyed the stuff, and the memories it brought back were not often good, but Veyl had needed it to dull the pain and numb his mind while his body healed. He hoped he wouldn't have to relight it, but if Veyl needed it, he would do just that.

  Kaidos stared down into Veyl's pretty face, now drawn and pale in comparison to what it had first been. Yet Veyl was no less lovely; if anything, Kaidos had been finding him more so the longer they spent together. He wondered if it was familiarity, or if he'd simply not allowed himself to notice as much before. Kaidos kissed Veyl's forehead, still cradling his body in his strong arms.

  "I--what..." Veyl was slowly regaining full consciousness and he looked around the room sluggishly; his eyes drifting over the modest furnishings as if making certain all was in its place.

  "Veyl, are you in pain?" Kaidos asked him, trying to keep his voice low and soothing, so as not to startle him.

  "Nn...no. Not much." Veyl sat up slowly, pressing his hand to his forehead, and Kaidos felt the loss of his body in his arms. He absently ran his fingers over Veyl's back, lightly resting at the base of his spine and he felt Veyl shiver from the contact, though he did not move away.

  "Can I get you anything?" Kaidos' voice was raspy, and he swallowed to try and to clear his throat.

  "No." Veyl still seemed distracted, perhaps by the remnants of whatever nightmare he'd been having. He looked around the room again, perhaps still trying to make sense of where he was. Finally his eyes rested on a small shelf in the corner near the window. "I...had a kitten once," he said quietly.

  Kaidos cocked his head, uncertain if he'd heard Veyl correctly, but Veyl went on before he could say a word.

  "Black, with one white paw." Veyl held up his uninjured right hand. "I must have been…" his brow creased as he sought a number, "...six years old. I never named him. I think now that it was wrong of me not to."

  "I see." Kaidos was trying to understand whether Veyl had a point to his odd ramblings or if perhaps he was still dreaming.

  "I remember now. I was remembering it when you came to me. I never named him because I was embarrassed that he'd seen me like that. That he'd seen me...being violated by…that man..."

  "Veyl..."

  Veyl's shoulders slumped and he spoke with a hoarse whisper. "It's stupid the things you remember sometimes, isn't it?"

  Kaidos reached for him, but a loud rapping came to the door and one of the girls--Lindree was her name--was outside chattering like a rodent.

  "Sounds urgent," Veyl observed softly, offering a wry, unreadable smile.

  Kaidos stared at Veyl for several moments. The other man's amber eyes were luminous, yet blank as they met his own. Then the rapping came, more insistent, and Kaidos sighed and heaved himself up from where he'd been sitting on the bed, going to answer the door.

  "Oh! Kai, love. Madame Rose wants to see you." Lindree was standing outside with Fi, another girl from the house. They were dressed in what passed as their "day clothes"—slightly more modest dresses, but still with ample cleavage on display. Lindree had her skirt pinned up high, exposing her fleshy calves.

  "Oh, you're right, Lin, he is a tasty one," Fi cooed, grinning gap-toothed at Kaidos.

  Kaidos glanced back over his shoulder into the room. "Can't I see her later?" He didn't want to leave Veyl alone. He wasn't so much worried about him running again, but the thought of leaving him right now made Kaidos uncomfortable.

  "Oh, I see," Lin cooed, trying to peer around his body and into the room,"your pretty lady friend is feeling better."

  "Can you bring some food, please?" Kaidos was working hard to hide his agitation at the two women. It wasn't that they had done anything wrong, he just wanted to get back to Veyl, and felt like something very important had been interrupted.

  Veyl's sultry, though slightly raspy voice called from the bed, "A bath."

  Kaidos gazed at him over his shoulder. "Eat first." Surprisingly, Veyl did not argue. Kaidos counted this as a small victory. "Bring some broth, a bit of meat, whatever there is. Rose knows I'll pay for it." He watched the women turn and scurry off, gossiping and glancing back occasionally before vanishing down the wide staircase. With a sigh, he closed the door and returned to the bed. Veyl was curled onto his side, turning his left hand slowly around as he examined the healing cuts and fading bruises. Those amber eyes met his once more and Kaidos felt an odd flutter against his ribs.

  He stared down at Veyl and Veyl rolled just slightly onto his back, making Kaidos think of a dog exhibiting the slightest hint of submission. The blankets were down around Veyl's slim hips, and had Kaidos been a younger, less disciplined man, he might have taken advantage of what was so subtly being offered up. His gaze unconsciously moved down Veyl's lean torso. Hairless, but a young man's body just the same. Though minimal in comparison to his own, there was muscle beneath the smooth skin. Kaidos licked his lips and dragged his eyes back to Veyl's face. There, almost imperceptible, was a challenge of sorts. Veyl was tempting him, daring him to touch and betray his kindness for lust.

  Kaidos refused to take the bait—especially from a man who might have died only a day earlier. To distract himself, Kaidos moved to the window to close it and seal out the chilly afternoon air. He found a few more things to occupy his hands while he worked to keep his wits about him. Veyl's manipulation, even after barely waking, was astounding and perplexing. Kaidos didn't understand why Veyl should need a reason to hate him more than he already must.

  The knock at the door that signaled food had arrived was answered with all haste. Kaidos hadn't eaten very much in the time he'd spent caring for Veyl and his stomach growled at the prospect.

  He took the food-laden tray from Fi, uttering a terse thanks as he brushed them away from the door and closed it, ignoring their muttering protests.

  Veyl was struggling to sit up now, careful not to put any pressure on his hand.

  Kaidos hastily set down the tray across the arms of the overstuffed chair where he'd slept, and moved to help Veyl, pressing pillows into service behind his back.

  "T-thank-you," Veyl said hesitantly, but accepted the assistance.

  Kaidos absently dragged his fingers across Veyl's shoulder as he turned and grabbed a robe left behind to drape over him.

  Veyl pulled his shoulders forward to adjust the garment, creating an enticing hollow above his collarbone and Kaidos forced himself to remember the food.

  Retrieving the tray, Kaidos set it on the bed and picked up the bowl of broth and the spoon. Veyl made to reach for it with his left hand, then frowned, drawing it back.

  "Let me." Kaidos had been feeding him little sips of what he could get into him previously, so he thought it would be no different now. But feeding a man who is mostly unconscious, versus feeding a man who is awake and aware of his effect on another man was something completely different. Consciously or not, the way Veyl's lips pressed against the bowl of the spoon was something Kaidos found difficult to look away from, but he forced his eyes on his own hand guiding the broth to Veyl's mouth.

  "That's enough," Veyl said after what Kaidos thought was too few mouthfuls.

  "Bread? A slice of cheese or apple?" Kaidos offered each item to Veyl who shook his head.

  "Tired," Veyl murmured, almost too quietly to hear.

  Kaidos nodded. The bath would wait then. He made to rise but Veyl's hand on his sleeve stopped him.

  "Stay with me…"

  Kaidos looked at the hand, then at the earnestness of Veyl's face. He swallowed hard and nod
ded. Taking a bite of bread and a sip of water, Kaidos set the tray onto the floor and returned to Veyl. He stood over the bed, staring down, uncertain what to do next. When he turned and began to pull over the chair, Veyl again reached out to him.

  "Close to me," he clarified, and then, "please."

  The words were spoken softly, and Kaidos believed genuinely. After seeing what he had of Veyl's nightmares, he wondered if the man was still afraid to close his eyes. He could relate to such a fear. With a curt nod, he released the arms of the chair and turned back towards Veyl on the bed.

  It was a fairly wide bed—made for two people to lie close but comfortably side-by-side. Although they had shared body-heat since their journey had begun, the prospect of sharing it by matter of choice when it was unnecessary for survival seemed awkward.

  Kaidos sat on the edge of the bed and pulled off his shirt, deciding to keep on his breeches. He struggled with his assessment of the situation. Veyl was still ill and not completely in his right mind. He needed comfort and security. Kaidos wanted to give him that, but worried that Veyl might interpret it as something more…Kaidos worried that he might as well.

  With a heavy sigh, Kaidos lifted the covers and slid into the bed next to Veyl, who curled up against him, pressed against his chest. The motion prompted Kaidos to open his mouth to say something, but the gesture was innocent enough, so he curled a protective arm around Veyl and tried to doze while he slept.

  *~*~*

  Coming out of his fever had left Veyl disoriented for a time, and dream remnants remained like physical scars upon him.

  For most of his recovery, Veyl hadn't dreamt, at least he couldn't remember dreaming. Just flashes of dark and light that marbled together with the blurs of things going on around him. Mostly he'd been kept in a comfortable haze thanks to the drugs Kaidos kept burning at the bedside.When his fever broke, he'd felt himself gently washed, the blankets being carefully arranged to keep him from getting chilled. Veyl understood that it was being done for his comfort and not Kaidos' own pleasure. The last time--the only time--Veyl could remember being so cared for was after his first rape.