Passion of the Different

by Daniel A Roberts

  He was doused with two tubs of rinse water and they led him out, hand dried him with quick efficient pats and then a richly adorned 'one size fits all' robe was dropped over his head. It was the same color blue as his eyes with a silver threaded outline. A dark green velvet belt with a solid gold buckle went around his waist and was clicked into place. His feet had a large pair of slippers waiting for them and he almost sighed over how good they felt as he put them on. Lavish was an understatement.

  "Open your mouth, please," one of the shapely female servants asked kindly as she reached up to his face with a small device in her hand. He hesitated and she clarified for him, "I'll be punished for failure. This will only freshen your breath."

  The small puff she squirted filled his mouth and sinuses with a bright mint flavor without making him sneeze or cough. Delicate yet powerful, the stuff actually made him feel refreshed. His mind raced. He knew he impressed upon Darya she needed to earn his affection, but didn't expect her to go this far and this quickly.

  After a fast inspection the servants glanced at each other and nodded. Without explanation or word to him, they prodded him along gently down another corridor and around several turns. His destination grew familiar as they exited into the outdoor garden where Queen Darya enjoyed having her breakfast served.

  The queen greeted him from the table with a dazzling smile, wearing a richly adorned light blue tank top and shorts that matched his robe. Her neck sparkled with a triple layered diamond choker and there was an empty chair close to her, complete with two steaming plates of various breakfast vegetables. Her blue streaked auburn hair had short braids dangling on the sides and the rest fell with a shimmering gloss around her delicate shoulders.

  Her genuine warmth at seeing him reached her eyes and this bothered him, though he wouldn't let that show on his face as he returned a friendly grin. She was charismatic and absolutely stunning when she chose to be, letting her natural beauty shine through a layer of kindness. It may be false kindness but it still had an effect. If the situation had been any different and he had never met Myra, he could have been easily swayed by this siren right here and now. Remembering the pit of evil that dwelt within her helped his own resistance against those naturally powerful charms.

  "May I join my queen for breakfast?" he warmly asked, using his best formal tone of respect.

  "Please do," Darya's bold soprano replied, returning the formality without hesitation. In fact, she seemed extremely pleased with his display of manners. Ryan took the seat next to her and she made a satisfied shooing motion with her hand. The bundle of anxious servants flowed to the exit and quickly vanished.

  Without waiting another moment, Darya rose and stepped close to him. She gazed down with hungry dark eyes and that fabulous mini-fanged smile on perfect lips, reached out her hand and gently tilted his chin up. He knew what was coming and he mustered his strength of will to endure a moment such as this. He couldn't refuse, flinch or show one iota of rejection for this level of personal involvement with her. Playing hard to get was done, now he had to shift gears and give her a measure of acceptance.

  As much as he loathed her, the kiss she delivered was done with more passion than mere lust. Suave lips that tasted of strawberries slowly danced with his own, her tongue only taking the smallest polite taste. She withdrew from his mouth with a slight suckling of his bottom lip. Yes, she knew how to kiss a man and stir up his body chemistry.

  She sat back down and regarded his face for a reaction. Flatter her, he told himself, but not on a sexual level. Set the limits now while it's still early enough to not seem like a rejection. "That was a beautiful gift," he told her, a well pleased sound of satisfaction in his deep baritone. "It's a remarkable way to start our courtship, though unusual with my people. In regard to both our cultures, I gladly accept this new beginning between us." His spin factory had churned out a list of fake requirements while in prison, he didn't mind modifying it as her actions fit the occasion. "Please don't refuse what I must do for you now, it's important for what you want of me."

  "What's that, handsome?" she asked, pleased with his remarks. She reached for her fork. His hand gently went over and picked it up before she could.

  "You must eat every bite I give you," he happily explained, packing as much sincerity into the fib as he could. "To show me that you'll grow strong and healthy and be a fit mother."

  "What?" she suddenly asked, surprise robbing the sweetness from her tone. He approached her mouth with a scoop of spiced mashed potatoes from her plate and weaved the fork gently back and forth.

  "Open up that gorgeous mouth and trust me, my queen," he happily nudged her with a sincere tone. "I must feed you a breakfast today, a lunch tomorrow and a dinner the following day. Allowing me to serve you in this manner is necessary. It shows you're willing to accept me on more than one level. Understand? This is more than a courtship requirement for my people. It's a level of intimacy for us, where trust and love mingle. Allow me to nourish you, my dear."

  After giving him a wide-eyed blank look, she opened her mouth and he fed her the fork of spiced mashed potatoes. He glowed at her with his best happy face, truly starting to enjoy himself as he set his plans into motion. Too bad he already spilled his prepared requirements to her ears for this part. It dawned on him that if he could have over fed her at least twice a day, he could pack some fat on her too perfect body. Maybe his twisted logic could find another way to do just that over time. Then he shook it off internally as he gave her another bite, her eyes large and exploring his happy features as he pretended to love feeding her. Go too far, she will see the bullshit for what it is and everything goes to hell. No, stick to the original plan and if all goes well, Ryan and his pregnant wife will be free and back home where they belong well before the start of next winter.

  Chapter Twenty Four - The Event

  While Ryan was given a large amount of freedom in the castle, there was always an armed guard within sight when he wasn't with Darya. Going into the city without express permission was forbidden. The armored fellow would point to a tapestry that hid a balcony every once and awhile to remind him of the listeners the queen employed. Such places were common throughout the large castle and privacy didn't exist. It was almost time for part two of his crazy quest for Darya to earn her pregnancy and he had to see just how far he could push her on this one. It would be within her power to grant the next phase, but she might be resistant. He had prepared arguments and counter points in his mind just in case the sexy queen of darkness proved overly stubborn.

  He was more than sure though, after watching her sit through three bewildered feedings by his hand that she would do as asked. He told her she made a great accomplishment with him, and how much it made him happy. She glowed back when she had to, added happy expressions to her evil face only when expected. If she truly felt anything genuine for him, he didn't know nor did he care. What mattered is that she would fall for his trap and she was nearly there.

  Later that afternoon he approached the lone guard. "I need to talk with a royal servant," and the nonspeaking fellow nodded, then glanced up at the hidden balconies and the listeners again. Darya was off tending to her war room and various generals which he wasn't allowed to join. That was both good and bad. It was bad because he knew they were discussing the eventual invasion of his adopted homeland. The good part was she wasn't around to countermand anything he requested, and he was to be granted anything within the rules they set up for him.

  An orange robed fellow with blood red hair arrived in short order with a waxed tablet and stylus, the preferred manner in which official requests were received and recorded. He didn't bother asking anything, just cocked his head and waited for Ryan to speak.

  "Does your realm have eight foot long darkwood fence posts?" he asked the little guy, who nodded after a moment's thought. "I'll need four of them in the castle courtyard tomorrow morning. The large main courtyard by the front gate, please," and as he continued with his shopping list and description
s, the stylus darted back and forth on the wax tablet, recording every little detail in the flowing script Ryan couldn't read. After about ten minutes of talking and giving detailed instructions, he crossed his large arms and waited for any sign of refusal from the servant.

  "I'll have everything in place tomorrow morning," his thin tenor promised. "Highly unusual, but orders are orders, my prince." Then the little fellow bustled off to do the tasks.

  Ryan's eyebrows climbed his forehead in surprise. "My prince?" he asked the always present but silent guard. He shrugged and the armor lightly clanked. He couldn't care less who Ryan was, which showed the true level of such a worthless title.

  It was after dinner in the common room where Darya gratefully fed herself that he sprang the next goal on his darling evil queen. "Tomorrow morning after breakfast, there's an event I have planned for us," he explained merrily. "It's the next step for us in our courtship, so I thought you might be happy to know about it, my queen."

  "Oh my," Darya interjected with a half amused grin, unsure what to expect next. "Are you certain such an event, whatever it is you have in mind, is necessary?"

  He grew solemn, almost saddened. "Dear me, yes," he explained gently, instantly looking worried. "It's important for us both, dear. Look, before we get involved physically we have to get involved up here." He tapped his forehead. "Mentally we must be prepared for each other. If not, I won't be able to do what's necessary. I won't be able to give you a child."

  "Your wife did this event of yours?" Darya asked darkly, suspicion leaking into her strong soprano. "She did these without question?"

  "She questioned them alright," he replied, pretending to remember out loud with a small dose of amusement. "Once Myra realized it was important to me, it became important to her. How else do you think she got pregnant? It doesn't work any other way with my people. I can't change that anymore than I can change how I look."

  "I see," Darya replied, then nodded in reluctant acceptance. "If she did this event, then so can I. What is it?"

  "Gather two of your strongest men and two of your fastest girls," Ryan told her, renewed hope riding his tone like a wild horse. "Send them to the main courtyard out in front of the castle. You and I both will go with as many guards as you wish. In fact, invite as many people as you can. The whole castle if possible, to watch from the walls and balconies. The rest will be a nice surprise, my darling queen."

  Her beautiful dark eyes searched the eager expression on his face and he radiated dependence upon her acceptance. Then the edges of her mouth curled upwards into a tight smile. "Alright, you will have your event. After breakfast as you wish it." Ryan swelled with false pride.

  The next morning there were several guards waiting outside of his bedchamber. He was stationed only one door down from Queen Darya's own luxurious suite in case he suddenly developed the desire to forgo his 'required' courtship. Usually there was only one guard and a servant, so the leader of the armed unit explained what was going on.

  "The queen visited the main courtyard early to see what you had there, she is demanding you both be served at that location instead of the garden. She is perplexed and needs an explanation while you both have breakfast, my prince." He gave a formal Sanego salute, clenched fist thrust forward and slightly upward.

  "Lead on," Ryan calmly ordered, trying his best to remain passive and calm.

  The mixed crowd of pale people was extensive as they surrounded the main courtyard. The area itself wasn't small, a good fifty foot across its circular radius normally housed several vendors to the small castle population. Not today, not now. The area was cleared out and an eight foot wide track was roped off all the way around, making a slightly smaller circle within the larger area. Ryan took notice of the four darkwood posts in the center, a little lower than his waist and stretched out horizontally between two sets of stacked bricks. Perfect, they followed his instructions to the letter.

  Two nervous looking women and two proud looking men sauntered near the front gate. Ryan knew what they waited for, though Darya was clueless by the expression on her sharp features. She sat near the east entrance at a smaller table with a large platter of finger foods. Hand picked and breaded vegetables fried in some type of peanut oil. He tried not to shudder as he approached her with a large smile.

  "What is all of this?" she demanded of him when he sat in the seat next to her. Knowing it was placed there for him, he didn't dare not join her as expected.

  "For us," he replied expansively. "Our courtship continues after breakfast as you promised, my queen. We're almost done with it after today, one last ritual left." He picked up a fried stalk of greens and crunched into it. His eyes dazzled with happiness and she sighed, clearly not understanding what was about to happen, yet too proud to say so.

  "Almost done?" she said to him suddenly, head cocked to one side and looking cute as ever. He was glad she dressed in her green silk halter top blouse and shorts. Her feet were adorned with comfortable leather slippers. She crossed her shapely legs and looked impatient and hopeful at the same time. "One more thing after this and you'll finally give me what I desire of you?"

  "Absolutely," he proudly announced. "If you like, I can start things off while you eat, my queen. I'm looking forward to doing this properly. For us, for you." For a moment he thought he played the vanity card a little too much as she stared at him.

  "Please continue," she finally said, then gave him a deliberately slow blink. He couldn't read that type of expression and didn't know if it was good or bad, so he played along as if he was given high approval. She started to eat as he stood and raised his arms to the crowd, a call for silence. Used to years of strict obedience or the death penalty, the whispers and mumbles quickly vanished.

  "Ladies and gentlemen," he orated professionally, wondering just what crazy part of his dark and mysterious memory such a twang originated from. It felt weird talking about himself in the third person, but it couldn't be helped. It simply came out that way. "Today you're going to witness the strength of your queen's chosen man, to prove once and for all that he can provide a worthy prince or princess to carry on her bloodline! Nobility through strength, honor through longevity!"

  Ryan took a deep breath and continued, knowing this next part was going to shock the living crap out of Darya. "The second half of this royal event, you're going to witness the lovely grace and speed of your wonderful queen as she proves her ability to bear a child of immense strength! Fast as the wind, agile as a goddess, her remarkable power to outrun the fastest two women in the realm with a race around this very track you see, not once but twice over is her gift not just to me, but that of her people!"

  The crowd erupted into a bawdy cheer and he turned with his best smile to Darya. She was frozen, still as a statue with her mouth half open and paused in mid chew of her food. If her eyes were opened any larger, he was certain they would have rolled right out of her head and onto the ground. Giving her an approving nod, he turned back to the crowd, half expecting a shout from her to put an end to the entire affair. To his relief she was too shocked to say anything.

  "Now for the strength demonstration as I out perform not one, but two of your realm's strongest men!" Ryan continued, walking out to the middle where the heavy one hundred pound darkwood logs were laid across the bricks. He stripped off his green tunic and handed it to a common girl close to the rope and muttered, "Hold this for a moment, sweetheart." She clutched it while gawking at his muscular build. He gestured to the two men who were there thanks to Ryan's earlier instructions, they shucked off their tunics to display their own muscles.

  Wire like hard straps across thin frames was the best they had, Ryan's own size made them seem weak just by appearances alone. The large man struck a few poses that came to mind without effort and his chest, back and biceps rippled. Never before had any of these people observed such a sight and they all gawked. Their cheers turned thunderous.

  Ryan then held up his hand and the silence was again almost instant. He then
turned and gestured to the two local strong men. "One log!"

  The two guys got on each side and with visible effort and heavy breathing, they lifted one darkwood log and placed it back down. The clapping from the crowd was sparse, spattering from various directions but with no enthusiasm.

  Ryan grabbed a darkwood log with both hands and lifted it high over his head. He shouted in triumph as he turned to show the entire crowd his strength. Then he faced Darya and bent his elbows for a moment, then straightened them again with renewed vigor and another victory shout. He smiled huge and chose very carefully not to pause over long while facing her.

  She still had the serious look of bewildered shock on her features though her body language had changed, looking tense and ready to spring up. Ryan made sure she was watching his back again as he placed the log down, realized that this was probably the first time she had seen him with his shirt off. Good, let it sink in some as to what she had brought down upon herself.

  "Two logs!" Ryan shouted to the crowd. The two men got some rope that was prepared ahead of time per the written instructions. They lashed two logs together tightly. Then they tried to lift the double load, one man on each side. They could barely get them off the bricks before setting them down, their own thin muscles strained so much they looked ready to snap.

  Ryan approached the logs and roared in victory as he lifted them high over his head, making a repeat performance of his earlier display. The people completely lost it. Some in the crowd stopped clapping and raised their fists in the air, mocking his hold on the two strapped darkwood logs, letting out their own shouts of triumph. The big guy noticed Darya's paling expression at his ability to lift so much and the reaction he got from the crowd around him. In the few moments he faced her and had a savage look of effort on his features, he grinned a monster's smile as her hand settled on her upper chest. Those large dark eyes were still glazed but accepting. She must have decided to not interfere with his event after all. Good. He set the logs down with deliberate ease and faced the people again.