He saw Kerrien gulp as the brown eyes went down and then back up his naked chest. "What?"
"We're hired or not?" Rithvik handed him the tunic.
Kerrien grabbed the cloth and threw it on his travel bag, regaining control.
"They might give us a bounty hunter job. That's what the hunt means," he said quickly, avoiding looking at Rithvik.
"Oh, so like the job that took you to Ker Eziel." Rithvik felt amused by Kerrien's obvious embarrassment. "What if we find another sleeping prince?"
"You get to kiss him and live happily ever after," Kerrien replied promptly. "And that should free me of my obligations to you."
Rithvik's smile vanished. "You really want to get rid of me," he whispered, fidgeting with the string that kept his pants up. "Is it because of Braedick?"
Kerrien narrowed his eyes as he stared at him. Rithvik was too curious by now to shut up.
"I mean, who is he? You said you're a loner, but apparently you have someone, no? Is he important for you? Do you love him? Like, really love him, is that why you don't want to be with me?"
Kerrien looked away and sighed. "It's complicated," he muttered. "Let's get some sleep, shall we?" He took off his tunic and sat on the double bed.
Rithvik tried to ignore the scarred chest. Kerrien was a great sight when half-naked.
"When did you find out you liked men?" Rithvik inquired.
"Pretty early." Kerrien shrugged. "But it was forbidden, so I kept it to myself – until I left and found more open-minded people."
"It wasn't forbidden at Ker Eziel, but I was the king's son and only heir..." Rithvik mused.
"I guess things are different for noblemen," Kerrien grumbled, lying down to sleep. "Or princes."
"Which doesn't mean they're easier," Rithvik replied. "I had my duties and other people's expectations..."
"And you got rid of them," Kerrien replied. "Using magic."
"So? It was common at the time."
"It's not anymore. And in spite of what Veralie says, I think you still have some."
"Is this why you're so wary of me?" Rithvik frowned. "I'd never hurt you!"
He went to lie next to Kerrien, a little worried.
"I was in love, Kerrien," he said. "At my father's castle, I mean. But it was unrequited. My sword-master was gorgeous, but he was married and I never dared tell him. My bodyguard was also very handsome, and I hoped that he'd obey me if I asked him..."
He sighed, staring ahead seeing only the past, the life in the castle he had lost and wasn't really missing – especially not when he lay next to Kerrien.
"But he refused to do your bidding," Kerrien said flatly.
"Yes!" Rithvik brightened. "You understand me so well! I think we're made for each other, if only you..."
"No." Low but threatening. "Stop this nonsense, Rithvik. Good night."
Kerrien rolled on his side and gave his back to Rithvik, blowing out the candle in the process.
Rithvik sighed in the darkness. He had hoped that by opening up he'd push Kerrien to confide in him, but had failed. He wished he could curl up against Kerrien's warmth, but opted for not doing it. He must find out who Braedick was first.
It's complicated. So is our relationship, Kerrien. Complicated. But I love you every day a little more and I wish I could nestle against you and kiss you and...
He rolled to the side, one arm under his head as pillow, the other hand going to his groin to touch and caress. He could almost imagine it was Kerrien doing it. Almost. Very unsatisfactory. But then finally sleep won him.
3. Beautiful Hunter
Kerrien was familiar by now with Captain Theodenzo's small office. He'd worked for the Cinnae militia for almost a year, although it felt like a lifetime ago. There was another captain back then, and Theodenzo was still only a lieutenant.
Kerrien shouldn't have brought Rithvik to a town where he was so well known, but he'd really hoped Veralie could help him get rid of the prince.
He'd heard Rithvik masturbate before falling asleep and had strange dreams afterward, but they were already forgotten in plain daylight. Time to go back to work – or on the road, since the captain had hinted at another kind of job.
"Since we can't really pay you much as town militia, I have other errands for you and your assistant," Captain Theodenzo said. "Whatever you find you can keep. We managed to get rid of Aelud the thief and his gang, but we never found their hideout... And there's still one of them free. He's the watchman of his leader's riches, and he's slowly selling them. Find him, get rid of him and take what you want. I think the son of a bitch even has some magic artifacts in his collection."
"What kinds of artifacts?" Kerrien asked. "And what else has he taken?"
"Coins of all sizes and materials, gems, precious fabrics, weapons... they attacked the caravans of traders that came from the coast and once or twice even attacked the miners and stole their opals. If you find any opals in the loot, those belong to the town. The rest you can keep."
"Sounds good." Kerrien nodded. "Where did you capture them, and where is their hideout, supposedly?"
"Somewhere in the lower slopes of the mountains. We tried to follow the survivor, but he outsmarted us. There must be a cave, but the access is probably hidden or well-defended by that single watchman. He's an excellent archer." The captain went over to a quiver of arrows of different shapes that hung from his shelf of leather-bound reports and picked one. "Here, that's his mark. He makes his own arrows."
Kerrien took the arrow and observed it closely. Rithvik watched, but kept his mouth shut.
"This is a mercenary weapon," Kerrien said, giving the arrow back to the captain. "Where did Aelud's men come from?"
"All over the place, unfortunately. That's why I need you."
Kerrien nodded, determined. He knew the owner of those arrows. He could overcome him on his own. But he could use the "easy" job to train Rithvik.
Soon he was headed for the town gates with Rithvik.
"Do I get a sword, or at least a bow, or not?" Rithvik asked, frowning. The militia hadn't hired them officially, therefore they hadn't given him any weapons.
"Can you use a bow?" Kerrien asked without turning to look at him.
"I'm better with the sword, but..."
Kerrien stopped, took off his sword-belt, put it around Rithvik's waist and resumed walking.
"When we find the loot, I'll let you buy weapons, clothes and whatever you want," Kerrien said. "For now we'll have to split mine."
"Thank you!" Rithvik grinned. "Do you want to give me some of your luggage as well, since I don't have any?"
Kerrien glared at him. "Carry my sword and shut up."
Rithvik shrugged and happily complied.
Kerrien had left his clothes at the Heroic Wizard, but carried weapons and some provisions for the trip. He had a dagger, a knife, and bow and quiver.
"If the loot is rich, I'll buy us horses," Kerrien said as they entered the forest that covered the lower slopes of the mountains. "I assume you can ride?"
"I'm an excellent horseman!" Rithvik enthused. "We'll move faster with horses! I had a war stallion at my father's castle, but I never really used him, since we were at peace... I usually went hunting with a gelding."
"War stallions are expensive and mostly useless for us. Unless we join a company of mercenaries, that is. I don't think you want that, though, do you?" Kerrien glanced at him.
"Uh, no, I'm not too keen on wars. But I like your way of living. The adventure, the hunt for people or goods or..."
"Starving between jobs, not having a permanent roof over our heads..." Kerrien said sourly. Losing friends... lovers... to this endless wandering...
There he was, conflicted and confused. He was almost certain Rithvik wanted to know more about Braedick, but he wasn't going to discuss that. Maybe he should go back after all. With Rithvik. Or maybe not.
The captain of the town militia had given them an idea of where to look. They'd have to sleep in the forest, whi
ch wasn't too dangerous in spring. At least there weren't packs of hungry wolves around like in winter. As long as they didn't bother bears and boars, they'd be fine. They could hunt and eat hares, although their fire could give away their position to the watchman.
"I think it's actually a good thing," Kerrien said that night as they set camp in a clearing. "If he comes looking for us, we can force him to tell us where he hides the loot."
"Does he know you?" Rithvik asked.
"I think so... Remember that familiar-looking mercenary who sold Aelaora's bracers to Daira?"
"Glad he didn't give them to Dylira, or I'd have lost that duel," Rithvik commented.
"I think that's the man we're looking for. He was reselling some of the loot. Druxarlo is his name, and he used to be a mercenary, fighting for another commander. We met once or twice during the past fifteen years, sometimes on opposite fronts, and..." Kerrien looked up and grinned. "A very flirtatious man, from what I remember."
"You mean he tried to make a pass at you?" Rithvik asked, outraged.
"No, not at me, he likes blue or green eyes," Kerrien answered, amused. A plan was forming in his head. "And yes, he likes young men."
"What are you saying?" Rithvik glared at him.
"I'm saying you could approach him, and he'd probably take you to his hideout. I'd follow you both, and stop him before he does something to you you might regret..."
"You mean you'll stop him before he lays his hands on me, I hope!"
"Well, he's quite handsome himself, maybe I'll let him kiss you, just in case..."
"You're trying to get rid of me again!" Rithvik almost screamed. "Why? You still think you stumbled upon me by chance? We're meant to be, Kerrien!"
Kerrien put his hand over Rithvik's mouth.
"Hush, Rithvik. We don't want to alarm him. Although, if he hears us fight, it's going to make things easier..."
Rithvik tried to say something behind Kerrien's hand, but it didn't come out very well. He grabbed Kerrien's wrist and shook off the hand.
"I'm not doing what you ask me to do," he repeated in a threatening whisper. "Forget it!"
Kerrien pulled back and smiled. "We'll see."
***
Rithvik held his breath when Kerrien took him in his arms the morning after.
"You want to work with me?" Kerrien asked in his sweetest tone.
Rithvik could only nod, pressed against Kerrien's lower body.
"Then you do what I tell you," Kerrien continued, flashing a smile at him. "Now you go ahead alone, and if you meet Druxarlo..."
Rithvik opened his mouth to protest even though he had trouble breathing, but Kerrien put one finger on his lips.
"You don't have to do anything specific. Just convince him to take you to his hideout," Kerrien said. "If you manage without his touching you, good for you."
Rithvik sighed. "What do I get if I succeed?" he whispered, staring at Kerrien with eyes full of hope.
"Money to buy yourself a new wardrobe, sword, horse and whatever you can think of."
"And from you?"
"Rithvik..." Kerrien chided. "That's all you'll get from me."
A quick peck on the cheek and the mercenary let go of the former prince. Rithvik almost collapsed to his feet with a moan when Kerrien stepped back.
"We'll have to work on the reward system," he grumbled, glaring at Kerrien who chuckled.
"How about what I'll do to you if you fail?" the mercenary suggested with a wicked grin.
"What?"
"Keep you at arm's length for the rest of your life and find someone who rids me of your presence..."
"You wouldn't!"
"I will." Kerrien smiled. "So you better not fail. Now, do you prefer to go unarmed or would you rather keep my sword for the meeting?"
"What am I going to tell him?" Rithvik whined.
"That you got lost in the forest?" Kerrien suggested. "That you fought with your lover and ran away and got lost?"
Rithvik looked daggers at him and stormed off without taking the sword.
Kerrien chuckled and started following him from a distance.
He saw movement, but Rithvik was too lost in thought to notice, so the voice startled him.
"Where are you going, handsome?"
Rithvik stopped, looking around in the undergrowth.
Kerrien hid behind an aspen and waited. He glanced at Rithvik's back and saw Druxarlo coming out from behind a large oak tree. Kerrien scoffed. Druxarlo hadn't changed. Haven't seen him in almost ten years, but there he is, flirtatious as ever with a gorgeous young man...
The former mercenary had medium length brown-black hair and yellow eyes. He was charismatic and was very agile. Strange that he hadn't taken the lead of Aelud's men.
And he wore a sword, which made Rithvik look for his own weapon's handle only to grab air.
"Don't worry, I won't rob you," Druxarlo continued with a smile. "You don't seem to own much anyway."
"True... I don't own anything but myself," Rithvik answered, gaining some confidence while Druxarlo circled around him, looking at him from head to toe.
Kerrien stealthily moved closer to see and hear better. Druxarlo was too taken by Rithvik to notice.
"So where are you headed?" Druxarlo stopped in front of Rithvik with a gleam of lust in his yellow eyes.
"Actually, I think I'm lost," Rithvik looked around, hoping to get a glimpse of Kerrien. "I must admit I wandered without looking where I was going and now... I have no idea of where I am."
"You're close to my shelter," the other said, one hand on the hilt of his sword, the other wandering very close to Rithvik's body. "Would you like to visit it? I have lots of interesting things, including magic artifacts... you move as if you're used to a sword by your side."
"I am, but it was stolen."
"Well, I have a glaive, forged by a forgotten hand that creates solid walls of light... It has been linked to the assassinations of several rulers."
"Really?" Rithvik's interest perked up at the mention of a glaive, that was more from his era than the much longer swords in use now. "Do you know any names? Of the rulers, I mean? Like, how old it is?"
"Oh, it must be centuries old." Druxarlo put one arm around his shoulder and started leading him through the forest. "It was first used in a place called Ker Eziel..."
"Wait, it's made at least partially of bone and the haft is made of oak?" Rithvik stopped to look at the outlawed mercenary, surprised.
"Yes! How do you know?" Druxarlo marveled.
"I really need to see that glaive." Rithvik frowned and resumed walking.
Kerrien kept following them, pondering Rithvik's reaction. The prince had recognized the glaive... Did that mean he was used to magic weapons?
"I also have a war axe, forged by a great villain and emblazoned with a crest," Druxarlo continued. "The grip is twined with bronze wire. It gives the owner perfect dark-vision..."
I'll have to check the artifacts carefully before keeping any, Kerrien thought, cursing under his breath. Maybe there was even some charm that could rid him of Rithvik. He should ask Veralie for advice on anything he found.
He kept following the other two in silence.
They reached the entrance of a cave that was hidden by a stone that could be moved by a complex mechanism.
"Looks like the entrance of a dwarf's cave," Rithvik said, puzzled.
"It probably was, but we've been using it for seven years and haven't explored all the tunnels yet," Druxarlo replied. "There might still be dwarves deep underground, but they never come this way. What?"
Rithvik had stopped in the entrance. "We?" he asked warily.
"Ah, yes, well, there was a bunch of us, but now it's only me," Druxarlo answered with a shrug, signaling him to enter the well-lit tunnel. "It's very lonely sometimes."
Rithvik hesitated, then followed him.
Kerrien squeezed in before the stone closed the tunnel and he stopped in a dark corner to glance into a cavern. It had a few stone
buildings, or rather, walls that divided the corners of the cave into sort of rooms, probably to give some privacy to the occupants.
"We built those," Druxarlo explained.
"I can tell it's not dwarves' doing," Rithvik retorted, looking around with distaste. "They don't ruin caves with useless walls."
"They have labyrinths of tunnels connecting to their underground towns and we haven't managed to explore them all," Druxarlo apologized. "And we like some privacy in our quarters. Are you hungry, or just eager to see the treasure room?" he asked, pulling Rithvik closer.
"I'd love to see that glaive you mentioned," Rithvik replied, trying to keep the other man at bay without being rude.
"And what will you do to deserve it?" Druxarlo insisted with a wicked smile.
Rithvik freed himself of Druxarlo's embrace and looked around the cave. There were five tunnels all around it, and only two had torches to light the way.
"No, the way to the treasure room is not lit," Druxarlo said, crossing his arms over his chest and staring mockingly at Rithvik.
"So what's down there?" Rithvik pointed at the other lit tunnel.
"My bedroom. Well, it was our leader's, but since he's no more, I moved there. Would you like to see it?"
"Do you go to sleep with your sword?" Rithvik asked.
Smart prince, Kerrien thought.
The other man scoffed and headed for the bedroom. Rithvik hesitated and went to glance into the tunnel he'd come through. He sighed in relief at the sight of Kerrien who signaled him to be quiet. He nodded and went after Druxarlo.
Again Kerrien followed him, but stopped in a niche by the "bedroom" entrance.
The outlawed mercenary had taken off his sword belt, and he turned around when Rithvik entered the windowless room furnished with a big mattress and a chest for clothes. Not much else around, but the cave was shaped like an alcove. That might be the work of dwarves, who might have used it as a warehouse for small artifacts. It didn't feel cool enough to keep food in, even though it was colder than the spring air of the forest.
Fairy Tales Revisited on Silvery Earth Page 18