“I’d say she’d go to the main Thasali base,” Amyar said. “It’s the most secure facility in Tanshar, as far as Thasali are concerned.”
“And she or her spies can keep an eye on the general more easily by going there,” Siddik added.
Ingus shook his head. “I don’t think so. The Corceus had a home here in the mountains. Remember? Their summer palace, they called it. It’s just a big country house. Thasali haven’t used it much since Tanshar became one of their territories, but I know that a lot of work has been done there recently. I’ve talked to some of the workers. They must have been working for a good reason.”
“Would they have Tansharians working there?” Rouden asked.
“Some. They had to swear oaths of allegiance to Thasali, but I had no problem getting them to talk to me.” Ingus tapped Amyar on the arm and pointed at a bottle of wine in the corner of the table.
Amyar looked confused. Ingus pointed once more to the bottle, and Amyar handed it to him. “About this work you said they were doing?”
As Ingus poured some wine into his cup, he said, “Security. Lots of security. Someone wanted it to be a very secure place for a Thasali to retreat to if needed. If the Matriarch is in Tanshar, my bet is that she’s at that house. I’d go there before going to the base.” He turned to Amyar. “And it’ll probably be safer there for you than anywhere.”
“I know where it is,” Rouden said. “We have to get there soon.”
“No!” Amyar grabbed Rouden’s arm. “I don’t want to take the chance that you’ll get hurt or worse if you come with me. You’ve already done so much.”
Rouden put his hand on top of Amyar’s hand. “I understand how you feel, but I’d never forgive myself if something should happen to you on your way there. You don’t know Tanshar. I do.”
“All right. Should we leave immediately?” Amyar asked.
Siddik said, “You should probably wait until lamplight after the first sun has set.”
“Agreed,” Ingus chimed in. “The summer home is located in a region where sympathy for the rebels is on the light side. Rouden may have more trouble there than the prince. You will be safer together.”
Chapter Thirteen
Getting some rest
Rouden led the prince to his sister’s unused bedroom. There was only one bed, and it was barely big enough for two. It would have to do.
They readied themselves for sleep, then stood on either side of the bed.
Rouden remembered Amyar’s words when he had revealed his feelings earlier. He wasn’t sure he wanted to do the same. Rouden had been a harem boy, and the best he could have hoped for if he had stayed was to become some royal’s exclusive consort. Since he had left he had hoped for a relationship of equals.
He’d started dating Mattix soon after his return to Tanshar. That relationship burned out almost as quickly and intensely as it had begun. Mattix couldn’t stop asking for “the favors and skills of a harem boy,” as he often put it. He never really saw Rouden as Rouden. Yes, the harem was a part of him and always would be, even if he had the harem mark on his wrist removed, but he was also Tanshar. Its waters ran through his veins. He wanted a man who could see all of him, who wanted all of him.
As he stared at Amyar across the bed, he saw a glimmer, or maybe it was just hope, that Amyar would be that man.
“About what your father said earlier, about how I responded...” said Amyar. His green eyes glinted in the fading light. He was looking disheveled in a way that only a man who had never skipped a bath a day in his life or worn the same outfit twice could look. He was a foreigner in a foreign land in so many ways.
“I know,” said Rouden.
That night those were all the words they needed.
He patted the bed, signaling that it was time for rest.
The prince disrobed. The rebel shirt and trousers fell to the floor. Amyar had a long scratch on his right forearm, most likely the result of their crawl through the access tunnel. He had a large bruise at his ribs. It looked like it was old and healing. Rouden suspected that wound was from when he had first been kidnapped.
Amyar stood there naked. He was truly not a soft, flabby royal. There was a beautiful line that ran from the notch in his neck, through his defined pecs, down his abs to his cock. He was not super muscular like Mattix. Rather, all his muscles were lean and strong.
Then it was Rouden’s turn. He, too, removed his clothes. He hoped Amyar like what he saw.
Rouden signaled Amyar to lay down on the bed. The corners of the prince’s mouth turned upward. He laid down on his back on one half of the bed. Rouden signaled him to move to the center. He did.
Rouden lowered his lips to Amyar’s and kissed him. The prince’s lips were delicate and warm. It was quick, just a gentle peck. Still standing, Rouden pulled away for a moment. Amyar pulled him back. This time the kiss was longer, harder.
The princes and other royalty Rouden had slept with before had smelled of perfume and luxury. The odor of royalty was still on Amyar, but it was fading. He was starting to smell like the water and soil of Tanshar. Rouden pulled away once more. He touched his hand to Amyar’s lips. The prince kissed it. Rouden ran his hand over Amyar’s chin. The stubble was uneven and rough. He ran his finger down Amyar’s chest. The skin was so soft.
He floated his hand over Amyar’s bruise. The spot emanated some heat. It was healing. Rouden’s finger continued its journey and stopped just short of Amyar’s crotch. While the hair on Amyar’s head was a dark blond, the hair that surrounded his growing cock was pale with a hint of ginger.
Rouden’s gaze returned to Amyar’s face with the dimpled chin and the green eyes flecked with gold, and he could no longer hold himself back. He got on the bed and held that handsome face in his hands.
They kissed with abandon. Amyar’s lips parted. Rouden’s did the same. Amyar’s flesh felt so good to Rouden.
Darkness fell, and at that moment they were neither prince nor harem boy, rebel nor hostage. They were just two men who wanted to be together, who wanted to give each other pleasure.
Rouden kept kissing Amyar, pushing his tongue into the prince’s mouth. He ran his hand down Amyar’s flesh. Rouden pulled away from Amyar’s lips.
The prince exhaled softly but joyously. Rouden traced the lines of Amyar’s muscles until he reached his cock. It was almost fully hard. Rouden wrapped his hand around Amyar’s shaft. The tip was wet with early cum.
He kissed one of Amyar’s pink nipples and then the other. Rouden looked up at Amyar. His smile got bigger. He relaxed into the bed.
This was one of the things Rouden had liked about being a harem boy—giving someone joy, helping them let go, sending them to bliss.
Rouden landed gentle kisses on the bruise on Amyar’s abdomen and the scratch on his arm. Then he approached Amyar’s crotch. The sweet smell of sweat and sex hit Rouden’s nose. He inhaled deeply. He ran his tongue from the tip of Amyar’s cock to the base of its shaft. Amyar cooed blissfully. He dug his hands into Rouden’s hair, but Rouden brushed them away. He wanted to suck Amyar’s cock. He hungered for it. He did not want to be pushed.
Rouden nuzzled his nose into Amyar’s balls. It always amazed him how soft royal skin could be, even there.
More cooing from Amyar. More deep breaths.
Rouden returned his attention to the tip of Amyar’s cock. Rouden circled it with his tongue. Then it was time. He opened his mouth and took as much of Amyar’s cock in as he could. Amyar started to grunt.
He’d heard royals make sounds. This was different. It was guttural, raw, and fresh. Rouden continued to move his mouth up and down Amyar’s cock. Amyar’s body started to shake.
Rouden pulled his mouth away just as Amyar was starting to come. The grunting got louder. His seed landed on Rouden’s chest. Rouden placed his hand on it and rubbed it into his skin. It felt good to have a little bit of Amyar seep into him.
Rouden rolled onto his back. Amyar looked like he felt at peace and safe, possibl
y for the first time in several days. His eyes turned to Rouden’s erect cock. Amyar landed soft kisses along the shaft. His lips parted. He took Rouden’s cock into his mouth. He was hungry and sucked quickly. Rouden signaled him to slow down, and he did.
Amyar slowed to a languid pace. At one point his lips curled around the very tip of Rouden’s penis. He tickled the tip with his tongue. It was a technique Rouden had almost forgotten. Then Amyar returned to sucking Rouden’s whole cock. His tongue didn’t miss an inch, and Rouden felt an orgasm build within him. The waves of pleasure kept growing until Rouden was ready to explode, and he did.
Amyar lay down next to Rouden as he wiped the cum from the sides of his mouth. He snuggled into Rouden’s embrace and fell asleep. Amyar quickly followed into slumber.
Chapter Fourteen
Finding the Matriarch
Rouden woke before Amyar, who he was glad to see appeared to be experiencing a deep sleep. He carefully got off of the bed and stared at the man for a moment. For all the talk of royals being special or somehow extra blessed, Amyar looked beautiful but almost boring. His chest heaved up and down with every breath. His hair, once cut so sharply, was tousled and splayed on the pillow.
Rouden crept out of his sister’s bedroom and walked to the sitting area where his father and brother were already eating breakfast. Neither of the suns was up yet. Rouden looked down at the table before sitting down.
“More bread and beans,” he said. “Amyar will be thoroughly sick of bread and beans when all this is over.”
Ingus shrugged. “Might do him good. Learn how his subjects live.”
Siddik pushed the loaf of bread and pot of beans toward Rouden. “He should be happy we don’t feed him fuffer mash.”
Rouden wrinkled his nose in disgust. He’d never liked the simple yet filling dish made up of gilla grain mashed to a pulp in water, but he knew it was cheap and plentiful. For some people, that was all they ate. He tore off a chunk of bread, bit into it and chewed. The bread was good.
“If we gave him fuffer mash, he’d reconsider his attachment to you so fast, Rouden.” Ingus laughed, although his face quickly turned serious.
While yesterday Rouden’s family had been cordial, today they were far more obviously concerned about the choices he had been making.
His father leaned in close and lowered his voice. “What’s gotten into you, son? You had a bad time with Mattix, but bunking with a Thasali? What happened to your pledge to destroy all Thasali influence in Tanshar? Is he really worth it?”
Rouden bristled. The tattoo on his wrist started to itch. “I will keep my pledge. I am still Tanshar.”
“How?” asked Siddik. “You think Wyke and Alban will have you back after this stunt?”
Rouden didn’t answer. He picked up a wooden spoon and began scooping some beans onto a plate. The sound of the wooden spoon hitting the bowl was loud in the silence. He clenched and unclenched his jaw, thinking how he could reply. Things had moved so quickly. He hadn’t had time to think.
The most important question, though, the one that scared him more than any other. Was Amyar worth it? Right now, sitting in his family home, he wasn’t sure how he’d answer that question.
“They won’t have him back,” Ingus said, flatly.
Ingus’s reply jolted Rouden out of his thoughts.
“He’d only just managed to convince that he wasn’t a Thasali tool after he left the harem,” Ingus continued. “They’ll never forgive him for this.”
“Hadn’t thought of that, had you, son?”
Rouden washed down some beans and a bit of bread with a swig of wine. “I’ve never been unsure of my loyalty to Tanshar.”
Siddik guffawed and shook his head. “I feel sorry for you, son. Keep going down this road with the prince and you’ll be a man without a country.”
Rouden scratched at his tattoo. The itch turned into a burning sensation.
“I’d rather Tanshar come by its independence with those who are true to the cause.” Rouden turned to Ingus. “You say Wyke and Alban won’t have me back. All right. I no longer trust them.”
Ingus ran his hand over his scalp. He narrowed his eyes, “What are you saying? What do you know?”
“I’m saying that I don’t think that Wyke and Alban are acting in the best interests of our people anymore.”
“What makes you say that?” asked Siddik.
Rouden realized he had nothing more concrete than a gut feeling to offer them. “The plan to kill Amyar made no sense.”
Ingus looked skeptical. “They were planning to kill him?”
“Wyke said that?” Siddik asked.
“Yes. He and Alban said it.”
Ingus and Siddik went silent. Rouden kept eating. He wished he were back in bed with Amyar. He knew if he did get back into bed with him, he’d never want to leave. He was falling hard for him. He’d never met anyone quite like him, but they had to go and soon.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” Siddik said.
“What doesn’t make any sense?” Amyar stood, yawning, at the threshold between the kitchen and the back of the house.
Rouden smiled at him. His hair was askew. He needed a real shave, but his green eyes still shone. His smile was infectious.
Ingus said, “They wanted to kill you. That doesn’t make any sense. What would they gain?”
“I am a prince.” Amyar sat down in the chair and flipped his hair back while holding his head high. It was a royal motion Rouden had seen many times. It reminded him who Amyar was.
“No disrespect, Amyar, but you’re the youngest son,” Siddik said. “Killing you wouldn’t get them much, if anything.”
Rouden put his hand on Amyar’s knee and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Amyar glanced at Rouden before giving Siddik his attention. “You are right, sir. On my own, I don’t make much of a difference, but perhaps they wagered that my mother is fond of me and that it would make a difference to her.”
Siddik said, with some surprise, “You doubt your mother’s feelings for you?”
“Sometimes I do,” Amyar said, shrugging. “I did come along last. She does have an empire to run.”
“They really thought they could use your death to bring the Matriarch to heel?” Ingus sounded incredulous.
“I wondered the same thing, Gus,” said Rouden.
“Madness. Incompetent.” Siddik finished the last bit of beans on his plate and wiped his hand across his mouth.
“We should leave while it’s still dark,” Rouden said to Amyar. “Time to get ready to go.”
*~*~*
The plan was that Ingus would accompany Rouden and Amyar halfway to the Thasali country palace. Ingus would then break off and rejoin his militia unit. The rebel clothes Rouden had stolen for Amyar would be left behind and burned. Amyar would wear clothes given to him by Siddik.
The three men kept talking to a minimum as they hiked away from Rouden’s family home. He wondered if he would ever see it again.
Rouden had proposed that they travel at least part of the way to the Thasali house via the extensive network of tunnels that laced the mountains, but Ingus vetoed that idea. He said that the rebels would be patrolling and hiding in those.
You don’t want to run into your buddies down there, not when you’re with the prince, Ingus had said as they gathered supplies.
So they tramped through the forest. It was still dark. Without any light from the two suns, it was cold, too. Amyar stumbled occasionally, but he did a good job at keeping up with the rapid pace set by Ingus.
Rouden remembered the stories his parents, uncles, and aunts had told him of life during the time of the transition from Corceus to Thasali rule. They had been children and spoke of going to the country palace when it lay empty and unguarded and wanting for new occupants. One of Rouden’s uncles had broken one of the windows and got inside before letting in his brothers, sisters, and friends. They explored the large house that they’d only seen from a distance. They spoke
of the high ceilings and how their voices echoed as they shouted and screamed. One of Rouden’s aunts remembered the day when Thasali first came up the mountain to the house. She had gone to the house to play with some of her friends. At first, they watched in wonder and disbelief when one of them first caught sight of Thasali soldiers marching up the grand drive to the house. The sound of the front doors being opened prompted them to run. They never went inside the house again. From then on, they watched from up in the nearby elodie trees they climbed as Thasali moved in.
Ingus suddenly stopped. He signaled to Rouden and Amyar that they should take cover. Peering through the leaves of some bushes, Rouden saw three figures approach his brother. He could only see them in silhouette, but from their outlines he guessed they were rebels. He strained to hear what they were saying.
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m on my way to my friends. You know Thasali have invaded, right?” Ingus said.
“Sure we know,” one of the figures said.
“What brings you all the way up here?” said Ingus.
In the darkness, Rouden strained to see. One of the men had a long beard. Rouden could feel how tense Amyar was crouching beside him. He sought to calm him by putting his hand on his shoulder. Amyar started to shake.
“Just a sweep to see if we can find the prince,” said the rebel with the beard.
“Prince?” Ingus asked.
Rouden admired his younger brother’s ability to act dumb and bland in this situation, especially knowing that the prince was so near.
“You haven’t heard?” The bearded rebel asked, disbelieving. “Where have you been?”
Ingus shrugged. “My brief was to find out what I can about the invasion. That’s taken all my time.”
The rebel said, “Well, take your blinders off. One of the Thasali princes has gone missing.”
“What’s that to do with us?” Ingus asked, now sounding impatient.
The smallest of the three rebels spoke up this time. “We were the ones who took him. To use as ransom bait, you know. Then, he disappeared from one of the safe houses.”
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