The Gelding

by Shelby Stone

  Chapter Seven

  The next morning Keera awoke before Seljuk. They were in a guest room at Nodrahh's home. Though the surroundings were still strange to her, she felt no fear. Seljuk was still deep in sleep, his left arm thrown over his head. His coarse black hair was strewn wildly over the pillowcase. Keera pulled the covers over his nude form, though he appeared comfortable enough.

  They had walked back from the ceremony the night before with Nodrahh. He told them he had coupled with a Rough woman, though Keera and Seljuk were too busy themselves to notice it. She was from another clan and had left after the ceremony with her own crowd of relatives. Nodrahh said he would like to see her again in the future. Aside from that, they talked little. Seljuk appeared contemplative and Keera was just plain tired. She was not used to much physical activity and the post-comet events had taken a lot of her energy, both mentally and physically. They entered the house quietly, and said a quick good night.

  Keera was glad; she didn't have much to tell Nodrahh. She wondered if he was curious about Suh-Rah and how her life had turned out though he didn't broach the subject. Perhaps he would in the future.

  Keera rose to look out the window at daybreak. Birds were singing outside in Nodrahh's yard and she could smell real flowers underneath their open window. As she was looking at them, she heard Seljuk stir.

  She turned to look at him. He had flipped over and was hugging the pillow. She suspected he had gotten overheated because he had kicked off the covers while she was bird gazing. She enjoyed looking at him in his naked state. His skin, especially his legs and knees were still dirty from the outdoor sex the evening before. Keera had to admit, she was just as dirty as him. But they were both too tired to think of bathing before bed. It would be more fun to wash outside in the large wooden tub that Nodrahh had between the house and his garden. She thought she would go out and start running a hot tub of soapy water to wash in.

  She left the bedroom and looked down the hallway of the large house. Nodrahh's housekeeper did not appear to sleep there, because the house was empty when they returned the night before. Nodrahh's room was down the hall from where she and Seljuk had slept. Keera tiptoed down the hall, investigating for towels, soap and brushes. She thought by chance she might find some in the bathroom, perhaps put up in a closet. Nodrahh's door was open, and she saw him, just as naked as Seljuk, still asleep.

  They were vulnerable with her moving around freely, she suddenly realized. She could have easily assaulted them, if she chose to do so. Then she remembered how Seljuk kept his knife in his bed at all times and realized that Nodrahh probably did the same. She gave a little shiver and kept on walking. She chided herself and realized that she had to stop thinking in such a simple childish way.

  Though the house was large, it was laid out in a round simple pattern. The great room where she had first met Nodrahh was centrally located. Other adjoining rooms fanned out from the center, as pieces of a cut pie. The sole bathroom was huge, with hot and cold running water, a large shower, and even a large sunken tub. She had to admit, it looked like Nodrahh enjoyed his creature comforts more than Seljuk. Perhaps Seljuk visited Nodrahh to get a taste of the better things of life.

  She found where the soaps and other bath items were stored. She picked out the biggest towels she could find, and then a washcloth. There was a long handled bath brush hanging on a nail. She grabbed it and set it on the floor. A white plastic drink pitcher looked useful for rinsing. Next she rummaged among all the grooming items on the shelves and found some bar soap and liquid soap. In the back of the closet was a large plastic bucket, which she took to carry all her items.

  She crept down the hallway and quietly opened a back door to the yard. The wooden tub was on a platform—the design could almost be called a gazebo, though it was cruder in build—about three feet off the ground. Keera had to climb four steps to get up to it. The boards had been sanded to a glassy smoothness, so she was able to walk barefoot on it. There was a rail around the entire border and a thatched roof graced the top.

  She put a rubber stopper in the drain, and turned on the faucets to see if water was running to it. Gushing water, hot and cold, flowed quickly out. She took some of the liquid soap and squirted it under the stream to foam up the water. While the tub was filling, she took the towels and draped them over the rail. When the tub was almost full, she turned off the taps and went back to the house to get Seljuk.

  She was surprised to find him still sleeping. She was careful not to startle him in his sleep, so she wiggled his toes until he opened his eyes. When he focused them on her face, he smiled. Keera smiled at him and nodded her head towards the window.

  "Come outside with me, I'll wash your back this morning. It looks like you need a scrubbing."

  Soon the two of them were outside by the tub. Seljuk got in and shut his eyes in relaxation. He leaned his head back on the edge of the tub, his tips of his black hair dipping into the frothy suds.

  Keera soaped up the bath brush with the hard soap and began to scrub Seljuk's back. She took her hand and pushed him forward a bit, so she could get the brush between the tub and his back. He gladly obliged. As she scrubbed, she ran the bristles over the long white scar she had seen the previous day. She set her brush down and ran her fingers over the scar.

  Seljuk relaxed and flexed his shoulders. Keera felt his massive muscles move and tense under her fingertips.

  "How did you get this? In a battle?” she asked him softly.

  "No, Seljuk got it from bull. In rodeo."

  "Rodeo? The Roughs have rodeos?"

  He moved towards the middle of the tub and turned to face her. “Yes, every summer. Roughs get together when they bring the cattle and horse herds in for butchering. Have bronco contests, bulldogging, steer roping. Like real cowboys.” He laughed at the memories.

  Touching his leg so he would stick it out, Keera busily went to work, scrubbing his calf and foot.

  "One year, Nodrahh made Seljuk bet he could wrestle steer to the ground faster. So Seljuk had to prove him wrong."

  "Did the steers have horns?"

  "Some had short horns, some long and sharp.” Seljuk grunted as if remembering the event. “Nodrahh and I were on horses. Come out of chutes. Steers race ahead. I jumped off my horse and wrestled my steer down first."

  "So you won?” Keera asked.

  Seljuk switched legs so she could scrub the other one. “Won? Yes. Faster time than Nodrahh.” At this, he smiled. “Won one hundred dollars."

  "That's good."

  "Yes, but then steer jump up when Seljuk back turned. Jab horn in shoulder. Blood everywhere, deep puncture. Nodrahh had already tied his steer's legs. He jump up to wrestle my steer. Or Seljuk would be dead today."

  Keera could not think of anything that Seljuk might be scared of. He seemed so strong and invincible to her.

  "So that how Seljuk get scar. Satisfied?"

  "Yes, I'm satisfied. Do you want me to wash your hair? I have plenty of this soap left."

  Keera noticed little bits of grass and moss deep in his hair, close to his scalp. She could have combed them out, but a thorough shampoo would do a better job.

  "Only if kiss Seljuk. Did not kiss this morning."

  Truthfully, Keera did not think of kissing him. Though Seljuk was obviously involved in helping her from the comet disaster, she was not sure what their relationship truly was. He appeared to like her; he certainly wanted to have sex with her enough. She was not really a prisoner, though she was taken to a far off place with him. She had to rely on him for security and now his brother was providing shelter and food.

  "Come closer,” Seljuk said.

  She had to lean forward because he was in the center of the huge tub. Before she knew it, he had grabbed both her wrists and slid her quickly into the tub. It surprised her and she ended up face down on his hairy chest. Her clothing was soaked and she spluttered with a face full of water.

  "Better to kiss when all wet.” Seljuk held her close to him and
gently kissed her. She could feel his wet hair on his cheeks, like warm wet ropes. She had never tasted anything so delicious early in the morning. She eagerly kissed him back, darting her tongue between his teeth.

  She surprised herself by being aggressive with him. She grabbed for the plastic pitcher, now slowly sinking in the tub. She thought she would wash his long hair. She poured the pitcher of water over his head and was delighted when he laughed at her. His hair was so coarse, at first the water just ran right off. She then realized it would take her another pitcher or two to really soak it. When she had it soaked enough, she reached out of the tub and got the bottle of liquid soap to lather his head up. Since his hair was so long, she filled her palm with a good amount of soap. As she began rubbing it in, she massaged his scalp at the same time.

  Keera rubbed the soap in carefully, trying to avoid any drips that would go into his eyes. She began at the top of his head and worked her way down with the pads of her fingers. Her mother used to wash her hair like this when she was younger and she remembered the sensations well. She wished to recreate it for Seljuk. Her fingers worked in a circular motion, alternately kneading and separating the long strands of hair. As she moved his soapy locks aside, she felt a ridge behind his right ear. It felt strange, another raised scar. She bent closer to peer at it and see what had made it. The skin on top of the scar was tough and dark, as it had been cut a long time ago. She wondered what could have possibly made it.

  "Nodrahh cut me."

  Keera gasped.

  "Cut you? What for? Were you fighting?"

  "No, Nodrahh cut out microchip from behind my ear. Then I cut out chip from his ear.” Seljuk rubbed behind his ear thoughtfully. “Not think about it for many years. Another thing Keera need know."

  "But why? Didn't it hurt?"

  "Rough men all want to fuck. Microchip stops them. Controls hardness of cock. FemGov would send shock to young man when he started to get hard cock. Like electric fence. Soon young man stop having erection. Want sex but scared. Pain of knife nothing like not having sex with woman. Cut heal up."

  So the microchip story, as she was taught, was not entirely true.

  Keera began pouring warm water over Seljuk. “Close your eyes so it won't sting."

  He closed his eyes.

  "So all the Rough men really have sex any time they want? The microchips don't really work?"

  "Can not work when men cut them out."

  "Humph,” was all Keera could think to say. She almost had all the soap rinsed out of Seljuk's hair. “What about the breeding warehouses they taught us about in school?"

  By now Seljuk rose out of the tub, water running down his sides. “FemGov lie about that too. Better for Sky City people to believe Roughs are weak and small in numbers. Women breed all they want to. Have birth control like other women in Sky City.” He pulled Keera close to him and rubbed his cock against her thigh. “Warm water give Seljuk hard cock. Want inside Keera's pussy before breakfast. Go in house."

  Keera began stripping off her wet clothing. “No, I want to rut out here. In the air. In the water.” She took Seljuk's cock in her hand and pulled him over to the side of the tub. She placed her clothing on the edge of the tub and leaned on it. She turned so Seljuk was looking at her sweet ass. “Fuck me now. From the back.” She spread her legs apart a bit and waited until Seljuk touched her outer pussy lips with his cock.

  "Aaah,” was all she could say as he entered her.

  * * * *

  The next day, they rode back to Seljuk's camp in the rickshaw. If someone had asked her, she would have told them she became a woman in the last few days. But it was more than the sex, it was the knowledge. All the FemGov education she had been fed was mostly lies. What she thought was truth was not. The lies were truth. It angered her and confused her at the same time.

  Their return ride seemed faster to her, perhaps because she was more familiar with the landmarks now and not so startled to see the strange sights, the animals and the croplands. She felt somehow older and wiser.

  When they got back to the camp, Seljuk helped her out of the rickshaw. He sent the driver on his way to the outskirts of the camp.

  Seljuk called one of the Rough women to fetch them food and drink. As they were sitting in his tent, eating and relaxing, a runner came up to the front flap of the tent, panting in his exertion.

  He waited until Seljuk gave him permission to speak.

  "Emergency crews have been working hard in Sky City while you were gone. Have most of destruction and fires under control. Some Roughs feel they may start searching the countryside soon for Keera. We thought you should know."

  Keera heard what the runner said. Seljuk could have spoken to him outside the tent, but he let the Rough speak freely. At first her heart leaped. A chance to get back to her family! To life in clean Sky City! But she knew in her heart that she liked being with Seljuk. Staying with him would be dangerous. Now she felt torn between the two choices.

  They spent the rest of the day in awkward silence. Seljuk knew this was Keera's chance to return to her old life. Keera knew it was Seljuk's chance to force her to stay. She didn't know if he would or not, but it was a good possibility.

  "Keera want to leave?” He finally asked her.

  "Yes.” There was no more to be said. She wished to return to her people, her former way of life.

  "Seljuk get you escort tomorrow."

  * * * *

  The next day dawned too early, it seemed, for both of them. Keera bundled up some clothing and a jug of drinking water for the trip. The rickshaw arrived on time and a Rough escort was provided. Keera felt that if he were handpicked by Seljuk, she would be safe enough with him. He was certainly large enough looking and had to be strong also from the massive size of his biceps. Suddenly it was time to leave. She felt awkward. Seljuk helped her into the rickshaw. Being a huge man, the escort almost filled the small vehicle. Keera wedged in next to him.

  She felt emotionally fragile. So much had happened recently, and she hoped she was making the right choices. She felt duty-bound to return to her home, yet the physical attraction between her and Seljuk was undeniable.

  "Should only take you two hours. No more. Be careful when you get close to wall.” He eyed Keera as if to see if she would change her mind. She stared silently ahead.

  He continued to the driver, “Let Keera out about half a mile from the wall. There is a stand of oak trees. You can hide from there. Keep eye on her as she walks to wall. Should be safe for everyone."

  The escort nodded in silence. The runner began to pull away. Seljuk silently returned to his tent. The silence was deafening. He didn't realize how much Keera's presence had filled his tent and his life. Time dragged by. He went and sat numbly on his bed. Never had he felt so alone in his life. He felt a strange wet sensation on his cheek. Nothing he had ever experienced before was like this. As a habit, he felt his scalp to see if he was bleeding from some wound. He had been cut in fights and wrestling before, and knew the sensation of blood in his eyes. But there was no blood there. He rubbed his cheek and looked at his hand. It was water. He touched his tongue to it and it was salty.

  Just then, the flap of his tent was thrown open. Keera rushed in with her bundle of clothes. She flung them on the dirt floor and jumped on the bed to hug Seljuk.

  "Woman back!” Seljuk smiled. He hugged Keera and they tumbled around on his fur coverlet.

  "I couldn't leave you. I just couldn't,” she gasped among kisses. “My life was no good before. I just needed someone to tell me the truth. To tell what FemGov was really doing to me, to everyone. I hate SkyCity. I want to stay here with you.” She pulled her face away from Seljuk's. His tears wet her cheeks. She wiped them with the back of her hand. “Seljuk miss Keera, too."

  "Yes. Seljuk's face wet."

  "You're crying. Those are tears."

  "What are tears? Roughs cannot do this."

  "Tears can be sad or happy. These are happy tears.” Keera kissed his cheeks. “I neve
r want to leave you. I love you."

  "Seljuk want you. Not know if this is love or not. Never love before. But want Keera to stay forever. Be his queen."

  They embraced tightly.

  "Let my family think me dead. That would be the best way.” Seljuk liked the feeling of her being back in his arms. “There has been so much death and fire that I feel they will think I am dead in the Pleasure Palace."

  "Seljuk not tell Keera before. But Nodrahh had plan to take control if disaster ever happens. And now it has happened. He thought it difficult to overrun Sky City with small number of Roughs. But now with many dead, he feels is possible."

  He held Keera at arms’ length and studied her face. “Nodrahh want to set up new council. Nodrahh and Seljuk to rule. We will group together with strong clans. Rule everything, all the areas. Even Sky City. Can take over. We know how everything works. There is still so much we never told you. If you stay, you will rule also."

  "Yes, I will stay. This is where I belong. I made the rickshaw turn back. I couldn't stand the thought of you being here alone with no one. I want to stay. Have your children. Yes, we will rule. The next government will be ours."

  ~ End ~

  About Shelby Stone

  Shelby Stone never seriously considered writing as a career until she won a library writing contest in 2001. After realizing that “hey maybe I can write a whole book!", she sat down and typed up an entire full length contemporary romance. It took a year, and she now says it was a great learning experience. At the same time she was writing that book during the day, she was reading books on the craft of writing in the evening. Her new dream of becoming a published author came true, but she soon discovered that the work was just beginning. Writing is a job, and she takes it very seriously.