Love and the Stubborn

by Xenia Melzer

  “Forget it. That silver tongue of yours isn’t going to save you this time. I only healed you enough so you can endure the transport. Your fate is death in the mines.”

  With that, Noemi got up and left the cell.

  Casto stared at the closed door for a long time, unsure about what to feel. He was angry, desperate, and surprised.

  Into that chaos stumbled Lys, relieved that his brother was still alive. After he had made sure Casto was more or less all right, he let his anger out. Casto submitted to the emotion without hesitation. His situation didn’t allow for insecurities. If he wanted to survive, he had to focus on the basics, and unbridled anger had always been his best ally.

  “I’ll be taken to the mines tomorrow. It would be good if we could escape before that happens.”

  Lys showed his brother a picture of the stall that was his prison. Casto cursed loudly. Without the stallion, he had no chance to escape. He pondered several possibilities, but none of them was remotely viable. Finally he gave up.

  “We have to take a different route. Can you call a storm that stops the transport? Or at least delays it? I’m going to try to escape on my way to the mines. If you aren’t free till then, I’ll get you, and then we turn our backs on this cursed place forever.”

  Lysistratos wasn’t happy about that plan, but he couldn’t come up with an alternative, and so he started calling a murderous thunderstorm.

  That very night the first gusts invaded the Valley like hungry predators. They ruffled the trees until their crowns bowed to them, and everything that wasn’t meticulously secured was swept away. And yet those winds were mere harbingers of the powers Lys had unleashed on the Valley to save his brother’s life. On that day, the sun did not brighten the Valley for even a minute, and dark clouds mounted along the steep mountain walls to crash down on the Valley and its inhabitants like waves on a stormy sea. In his cell, Casto didn’t notice much of the chaos. Only now and then did a muffled thumping reach his ears when something heavy was hurled against an obstacle. Eventually an overseer arrived and brought him some bread and water along with the bloodied and torn clothes he’d been wearing when the Barbarian had betrayed him so brutally.

  The man shot Casto glares full of hatred but didn’t say a word. He obviously had orders not to talk to his prisoner.

  Casto couldn’t care less. Along his connection with Lys, he could feel the storm’s raging deep in his bones. The raw force was like a balm for his wounded soul, and it fed his anger about the unjust treatment he’d endured. Casto hadn’t survived for so long to be defeated by a mere Barbarian. He would escape. He and Lys would be reunited, and then the Angel of Death would be nothing but an unpleasant memory, a reminder to never give in to temptation again. He could only rely on himself and Lys. Nobody else was worthy of his trust.

  For four days and nights, the storm raged through the Valley before it started to lose its power. Even Lys couldn’t ignore the laws of the Holy Mothers forever. But those four days had been enough to give Casto new hope. He was still weak, although his wounds had healed so far that they seemed to be weeks old, not days. He felt strong enough to face his future.

  It was early morning when the overseer took him upstairs. A coarse man grabbed him and chained him to four other men on a heavy oxcart. Renaldo was nowhere to be seen; the whole Valley seemed to have died out.

  The overseer shot Casto a poisonous glance before he turned to the coarse man. “Don’t forget, this piece of trash goes into the mines. You won’t sell him, no matter what you’re offered. The Angel of Death has been crystal clear in this regard. Should he find out that you went behind his back, you’ll wish your grandparents had never been born. You’ll curse the day on which your mother conceived you, and you will—for an unpleasantly long time—beg for the privilege to die. Do you understand?”

  During that speech, all color drained from the coarse man’s face. “Of course. Please tell Lord Renaldo that everything will happen according to his wishes.”

  “He assumes that. Now go—scram! In this weather it’ll take you extra time to get to the mines.”

  The cart started to move slowly. With an empty gaze, Casto stared through the slush at the place that had become his home for the last few years. But even that sanctuary, which had almost made him forget what it was like to grow up in hell, had now been taken from him. He would never be able to think about the hills, the dark forests, or the steep mountains without being reminded of the betrayal he’d had to endure. This haven, too, had been taken from him.

  And it had been by the hand of the Barbarian.

  Casto wondered what the chances were to be so cruelly betrayed twice by those he loved the most. Fate was indeed a vicious mistress who delighted in his misery.

  Only his brother’s presence managed to lift his spirits a bit, but he didn’t know how long their connection would last when he was taken farther away. They’d already spoken about every eventuality should that happen, but Casto was horrified by the thought of being alone.

  FROM THE window in his chambers, Renaldo watched with shadowed eyes as the first person he had ever truly loved was transported to the mines. When he laid eyes on the familiar figure being loaded into the cart, everything inside him tensed. He felt as if his whole body had turned to stone, a hard, cold mass unable to show the slightest emotion.

  Casto had betrayed and used him. Those beautiful blue eyes, the generous, sensual mouth, the willing, well-shaped body had deceived him. He felt bile rising in his mouth when he realized that a slave, a child, had played with him.

  But Casto would pay dearly. He would die a miserable, dishonorable death in the mines, executed by the will of the man he had so shamelessly deceived. Then all the world would know not to challenge the Angel of Death, the lord of the eternal fire. He was a god, destined to rule over this world. Casto was nothing more than a disobedient servant, a nobody who had attracted his master’s wrath and would now pay the price for it.

  Trembling, Renaldo slung one arm around his waist. With his eyes closed, he braced himself against the pain that for days had washed over him in waves. He only hoped the agony would cleanse him, taking with it the despair of Casto’s betrayal and leaving him purified.

  4. The Mines

  ON THE third day on the road, Casto lost his connection to Lys. It came as a shock even though he’d known it was inevitable. One moment his brother was still in his thoughts, albeit weakly, the next he was gone, leaving an emptiness that forced a pained whimper from Casto’s throat.

  “Shut your damn mouth!”

  Elk, the man escorting the prisoners to the mines, was in a bad mood. The overseer’s threat hadn’t left him unfazed, especially since that guy seemed to have read Elk’s mind. When Elk had seen Casto’s well-shaped body, he’d started to estimate how much he could get for him on the slave market. But not even he was greedy enough to challenge the Angel of Death’s wrath. Instead he made his prisoners pay for his bad temper.

  Casto was too caught up in his own pain to spare Elk more than a glance. He concentrated on the task before him: his escape and reunion with Lys. It would be best if he managed to flee before they arrived at the mines, but the prospects looked rather glum. Not only was the chain around his wrist secured by a complex lock, they were also moving through mostly open terrain that made it hard to find cover. Even if he hadn’t been weakened by his wounds, Casto would have thought twice about taking such a risk.

  As much as he resented it, he had to let himself be transported into the mines.

  IT WAS a cold, foggy morning when they finally reached their destination. The mines were situated above a pitiful little town where small huts huddled like a flock of frightened sheep under the shadow of the mighty mountains that nurtured the precious blue steel in their depths.

  A gigantic wooden gate secured the entrance to the mines and opened into a compound of about four hundred paces in diameter, where the barracks for the guards, a small smithy, and a bigger, almost-grand house were situat
ed. Between the barracks and the house, a black hole, like the ghastly jaw of some monster, ripped into the flank of the mountain—the entrance to the mines.

  Whoever entered that dark world never returned.

  Casto only had to look at the void to know that he had to stay on the surface at any cost. With half-closed eyes he scanned his surroundings and assessed the guards who were now approaching to receive the new slaves. Casto always felt contempt for those who used their looks as a weapon; that seemed an unfair practice, but now he had no choice. He was too weak to fight, too exhausted to run. He inhaled deeply before he looked up, ready to play a role as he had been forced to do so often in the past.

  The leader of the guards was his target. With the infallible instincts he’d had to hone during his childhood, Casto knew this man was his chance. He regarded the soldier with a soulful look, which he spiced up with a hint of fear.

  The guard’s green eyes widened and his tongue darted nervously across his lips, a sure sign that Casto had already hooked him. Casto was ready to proceed when a tall pale man dashed out of the grand house, his clothes fluttering behind him like a flock of hysterical hens.

  “Stop! Lord Golob wishes to talk to one of the prisoners personally.”

  Casto saw his victim’s eyes harden.

  “Which one?”

  The tall man pointed at Casto. “That one!” A derisive smile played around his lips. “You should’ve known! He prefers them young and blond.”

  The guard turned away, but not without shooting Casto a last, regretful look. “You heard the scribbler. Untie Blondie and take him to Golob.”

  Slightly unsure about this turn of events, Casto followed the tall man into the house and into a splendid room that contained a huge desk, two lounges covered in silk, heavy brocade curtains, sumptuous carpets, and all kinds of useless trumpery. The whole room was so flamboyant it was easy to overlook the unimpressive man behind the desk. But Casto ignored the distastefully displayed riches and concentrated on the fat man.

  He knew this kind of human all too well. Even if the man’s taste concerning his surroundings hadn’t already told Casto everything about his personality, it would be enough to take one look into his face, ruled by small beady eyes and thick meaty lips, to realize that the man was a tyrant who reveled in others’ weakness.

  Casto hurried to lower his gaze—nobody would notice his smile. Manipulating that kind of man was easy, and he’d done it before. Even though he hated debasing himself, he was willing to do it for his freedom.

  The guard hit him hard between the shoulder blades. “Come on! Kneel to the Master of the Mines!”

  Casto obeyed immediately. He bowed so deeply he almost touched the ground with his forehead, his hands held flat at his side.

  The fat one’s voice was hoarse, as if he had just recovered from some illness. “That’s all. Leave us alone.”

  The two men made haste to leave the room, which meant that this joke of a man commanded more power than Casto initially thought. He could hear Golob leaving his chair and approaching him.

  “Get up so I can have a look at you!”

  Casto’s jaw tensed. It took all his self-control not to punch the presumptuous cretin. Instead he got up obediently, his gaze still lowered.

  Golob circled him like a horse trader would a new steed. His fat fingers wandered over Casto’s muscular biceps in admiration. “Look at me!”

  The young man raised his gaze, and Golob was blinded by two soulful eyes swimming in tears.

  “Please, noble lord. Don’t hurt me. I’ll do everything you want, I promise. I’m a good slave.”

  With glee, Golob patted the cheek of the dainty morsel who had been swept into his arms by some friendly deity. He enjoyed it when others cowered in fear before him, when they acknowledged his power.

  The youth in front of him was trembling, a fact that increased the cruelty in the Master of the Mines. “How do you know whether you’re good or bad? You’re a mere slave. And I’m sure there’s a reason for you being here.” While saying that, he took the bloodied shirt from Casto’s shoulders. “You’ve been beaten up quite badly. You have bruises all over your body. Few do this for the sheer fun of it. Do you want to tell me what happened?”

  The young man started to sob. “It was my fault. My master is—was a powerful barbarian leader. He was very strict, but I always tried my best to please him. He wanted—” A snivel interrupted the sentence before the blond managed to carry on. “He wanted me to serve him in bed. But I had never done that before. I was afraid, and I begged him not to hurt me. He was so angry because I wasn’t doing it right….”

  Now the youth sank to his knees crying, his hands extended to Golob in a pleading gesture as if he hoped to find forgiveness for his sins from him. “I wanted to be obedient, really. It was so fast. It hurt so much.”

  The complete defenselessness of his prisoner, combined with his beauty, touched the darkest side of Golob’s character. With the instincts of a predator, he recognized the unique chance to get himself a perfect toy. Once he was done with the boy, he would belong to him completely. Such a prize made the game he intended to play all the more alluring. Gently, Golob caressed the blond locks.

  “It’s fine. I believe you. I do know how coarse those barbarians can be. But you’re lucky. You’re with me now. I promise, everything will be fine.”

  With eyes wet from tears, the young man looked up. “You’re so generous, noble lord. I promise I won’t disappoint you!”

  “I don’t doubt that…. What was your name again?”

  “Whatever you deem fit, Master.”

  Golob froze, and for a moment Casto was afraid he’d overdone it, but then a strange light shone in the creep’s eyes.

  “If that’s the case, then I’ll find a suitable name for you, my beauty. You’ve had a long journey. I’ll send for a healer to look after you. Then you’ll have a good meal and get some rest.”

  “Master! I cannot accept that. I want to serve you!”

  “You can serve me more than enough once you’re rested. You have to regain your strength, because the things I’m going to ask of you require stamina.”

  The young man’s cheeks reddened, his breath sped up.

  “I don’t wish to disappoint you, lord. You only have to tell me what to do, and I’ll happily bow to your will.”

  “Oh, you will, my beautiful one, you will. I’m going to form you the way I prefer, train you to be mine. As long as you’re obedient, you’ll have a good life here.” A cruel smile played around Golob’s small lips. “And when you anger me, your life ends down in the belly of the mountains. Pretty as you are, they’ll give you a warm welcome down there.”

  “I’ll be good, lord. Definitely. I’m a good slave.”

  Fat, distastefully ringed hands patted Casto’s cheeks patronizingly. “I know, my beautiful one, I know.”

  Golob called for a servant, who led Casto first to the bathroom and then to a small chamber adjacent to that of his new master. He was served a rich meal, and a healer from the nearby town came to look after his wounds, which had already healed very well but were still taking their toll.

  After the healer left, Golob came by again. He was satisfied. “According to that charlatan, you’ll be right as rain in no time at all. Rest tomorrow, and then we start with your training.”

  “You’re truly generous, Master. I thank you.”

  “Don’t mention it. I’m sure you can’t wait to repay my kindness.”

  “I’m looking forward to it, Master.”

  “Me too.” Golob’s eyes wandered suggestively over Casto’s body. “It’s going to be a feast. Sleep well, my beautiful one.”

  Casto bowed low and stayed in that position until Golob had left the room. Only then did he allow himself to clench his fists in anger. He would have loved to kill, or at least beat up, that slimy pig right on the spot, but he had to wait. He had bought himself an entire day, and he intended to put it to good use.

 
He had to gather his strength, because one thing was for sure, he would never belong to such an obnoxious man as Golob. Never. He was solely the property of Renaldo; nobody else had the right to touch him—

  Casto froze. The Barbarian too, no longer had the right to touch him. He’d given up that privilege when he had betrayed Casto.

  Reluctantly, Casto shook his head. It was high time he and Lys went their own way again. While he was thinking about where he and his brother could go once this whole situation was done with, a persistent voice kept telling him that he only wanted to escape from the mines to return to Renaldo. He still didn’t know what he’d done wrong, but he would do everything to atone for his sins so long as his master would take him back again.

  Appalled by his thoughts, Casto hit the pillow with all his might. It couldn’t be that he even wanted to look at the Barbarian after everything that had happened. The man had betrayed him, beaten him without reason at a time when Casto had started to trust him. That Casto had managed to land some good punches himself didn’t matter. Renaldo simply had no right to start a fight without proper warning and a very good reason.

  Casto would never return to Renaldo’s side.

  CASTO USED the entire next day to regenerate. He ate as much as he could, slept late, and got acquainted with his surroundings in an unobtrusive way. He was already allowed to move freely inside the house, and from his room he could see the front courtyard and the entrance to the mines. The huge gate was closed early in the evening but stayed open throughout the day. The guards concentrated on the entrance to the mines, which would make it easy to slip through the gate. Casto only had to wait for the guard to change, and then he could sneak out without attracting attention. The only risk was the small road back into the town. It was wide open, and should he be spotted there, it would take a great deal of luck to survive. As soon as he reached the town, though, he would be safe. It shouldn’t pose any problem at all to steal a horse that could carry him back to the Valley.