by L Ward
“Customs really will hate that,” Evan grinned. “I love it.”
“You’re welcome to pitch some new ideas, son.”
“What about a bong made of something else entirely?”
“Like what?”
“You could forge crystal, or gems to attract a higher class of buyers, or what about something crazier like how spellbound clothing is made from elements, you could make one out of water so when you bubble it the entire thing cools the smoke?” said Evan.
Everyone at the table looked at him.
“Now that’s a genius idea. What would I ever do without you, Ev?” said Alexander, patting him lovingly on the back. “How about we draw up some sketches this afternoon?”
“Yeah, ‘course!”
Nath smiled into his tea.
The golden afternoon disappeared in a haze of grey and jade clouds. Evan hadn’t realised how long they’d been designing for until a servant called them to dinner. Kalani had been in and out complaining of feeling sick and tired. Nath spellogrammed to say the dragons had been dispatched, and with luck from the gods they would lay Edinburgh under crown siege.
Dinner was a double-edge sword, lovely but sad. His parents were brimming with tears when it was time to say good-bye.
“Take care of yourself and Nathaniel,” said his father as they hugged a thousand feelings. “Write if you can, we’re all worried about you.”
Evan held his breath trying to regain composure. His hands were shaking and he drew back to hug Ian and his mother. “I’ll be fine, guys, I promise.”
She hugged him so tightly he could hardly breathe.
“Good luck,” Kalani smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m always rooting for you.”
“Focus on yourself, K, and stay awesome,” he drew back, smiled and watched his family leave the parlour. Now they were gone it felt all the more real.
A somber mood engulfed the palace and fear snaked its way through his body. Tomorrow morning they’d be leaving and he had no idea what would become of them.
“We should rest,” said Nath, squeezing his hand and offering a reassuring smile
But Evan struggled to sleep, his mind went over the same thoughts and fears over and over again. Each time he drifted off he was roused a while later sweating or falling in his dreams.
Nath didn't sleep well either, and when it was time to get up, Evan dragged himself from their comfortable bed and put on his new traveling clothes. Nath helped him tighten the dragonhide protecting his chest, elbows and knees. Evan’s new boots were the nicest he’d ever worn, they felt like slippers and laced almost to his knees.
“You’re sexy,” said Nath, basking in Evan’s warmth.
He looked down at the deep purple hide and laughed. “Don’t know how when I’ve only had a few hours of sleep.”
∞∞∞
The gardens were chilly and grey. The sun was barely grazing the horizon, oozing with golden blood. Anxiety drew Evan’s breath as they approached the enormous gemstone horses, saddled and ready. The gates were wide open and huge soldiers dressed in dense dragon armour, armed to the teeth mounted around them.
Nath led him to where Gerard, Will and General Magdalena Rothschild mounted their beasts. “You’ll ride with me,” he smiled, pulled himself into the saddle and extended a hand.
Evan climbed up beside him, ignoring Will’s superior smirk. Well, he wasn’t the one who got to bury his crotch in Nath’s ass all day.
And then they were moving. The air rippled past them like pebbles in a pond as they were cloaked in magic and disappeared along the forest trail.
“It’s safest to travel this way. Portals are out of the question, as are runes and anything that could be subject to interference,” said Nath. “Carriages are… not a wise choice… and this is unexpected, even if it does take longer.”
It was oddly pleasant strolling through the frostbitten forest, singing with birdsong and dripping with sunlight; the pastel sky was smudged by charcoal thumbs.
“The warlocks are held up in Edinburgh; the dragons are circling while they deliberate. News should reach us within the next day, or whenever they come to a decision,” said Gerard, riding alongside them.
“So they’re held hostage?” asked Nath.
“Yeah, it’s progressing as planned,” said Gerard.
“Hopefully it continues that way,” said Nath, gazing up through the silver-lined branches.
“We’ve had some more news,” Gerard continued, voice hardening. “The ambassador of Nepal has been found. He’s currently being held hostage by dark warlocks in a fortress deep in the Indian Ocean. Travel would be virtually impossible with the storms covering most of the area.”
“It’d be foolish to attack now. Have they made any demands?” asked Nath.
Gerard shook his head. “They merely said they have the ambassador and sent a photograph of him in a cell.”
Nath nodded slowly, eyes cloudy with thought. “I think it best we allow them the space to negotiate first. They’ve held him for weeks and they’d be foolish to kill him when he could fetch a high prize. Has there been news from the Emperor?”
“Not yet, but it’ll likely arrive soon. Without doubt they’re holding meetings.”
Evan enjoyed listening to the conversation and watching the forest go by. Golden bunnies skipped along the grass verges bordering a plain; the world was coated in bluish frost and smelled of enchantment and winter’s breath. It was weird being flanked by armed soldiers like this, guards he was used to, but these people were war vessels; hardened like they’d seen things.
They pulled over for lunch. Evan was more than happy to eat fancy sandwiches, fruit and drink bitter shandy under the cool March sun. He spotted an older gentleman soldier massaging his left hip and approached with a smile. “Are you injured?”
The man looked up, surprised. “Tripped down the stairs the other night, my wife put a cold pack on but it’s still playing up,” he replied, obviously in pain.
“I can fix it if you like,” said Evan.
“Oh, how kind of you, Your Grace,” he said, taken aback. Evan sat beside him, rested his palm over the man’s hip and in less than ten seconds withdrew it and smiled. The man stood up, face washing with surprise. “It feels brand-new! Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“No problem.”
“I’m Officer Callum.”
Evan felt eyes on him; from the corner of his eye he could see Will watching, gaze sharp. A surge or bravery took hold of him and he stood up abruptly. “If anyone has any sort of injury or pain don’t hesitate to ask and I’ll heal you,” his eyes swept the gathering and for the first time he felt truly comfortable in his position. Healing was easier than breathing, this was his element and no amount of vicious glares from Will would change that.
∞∞∞
They rode throughout the afternoon, the forest giving way to dappled countryside and the promise of a coming spring. Dusk fell and the temperature dropped; the horizon became a violent shade of murder and the moon came out to play.
Evan was exhausted, he buried his cheek in Nath’s fur cloak and listened to the gentle lullaby of his voice as he talked with their comrades. The swaying of the horse and the warmth of his husband relaxed him.
“Your Consort is falling asleep,” Will’s voice penetrated his dreams but Evan was too tired to open his eyes.
“We’re almost at the camp,” said Nath.
Some time later they came to a halt in a forest. Evan looked up when he felt the cold barrier caress his skin as the campsite came to life before them. Tents were propped and horses were being led to water as soldiers dismounted. The smell of cooked food made his mouth water. Nath helped him down and his legs felt like jelly.
They were served immediately and Evan devoured the fish and rice with a delicious wine sauce and chopped vegetables.
Soldiers passed up and down the campsite fulfilling tasks, eating or taking rest.
“Early start again in the mornin
g, these routes are longer but we’re completely masked,” said Gerard as they sat about the camp fire outside the royal tent. “There’ve been reports of dense fogs close to the border and snow is still falling in some areas. We might need to camp up for a day or two if it continues.”
“Understandably inconvenient,” said Nath, “the path less travelled and all.”
Evan was falling asleep in his tea mug. He was so warm and his body begged for sleep. Now he was here the sheer panic of last night had gone. This wasn’t so bad, even if they hadn’t faced danger yet.
“Why don’t we get some rest?” Nath whispered in his ear.
The night guards took their posts. The charms would conceal their location from enemies and for that they could rest easy.
On the outside it looked like any other brown tent, inside was fit for a king. A large hammock lined with plush bedding hung in the centre with piles of fresh laundry, basins of hot water and toiletries were set out. Evan admired the wooden floor and the smoke-free fire pit making it incredibly toasty. He stripped off, washed up and collapsed into the hammock, asleep before his head hit the pillow.
Chapter 6
The forest was misty at dawn, dense fog billowed around the campsite making movement impossible. Evan wasn’t too upset when Nath told him he could relax a while because it was too difficult to navigate.
He spent the morning writing correspondence and healing a few bruises. Really, it was the least he could do for these people. Yearning to stretch his legs, he took a walk around the camp, and beyond the back row of tents he caught sight of something curious.
Gerard was crouching over something in the grass, speaking in a voice so venomous it sent chills down Evan’s spine. Whatever this was he was sure Gerard wouldn’t want him to see, so he pressed to the side of a tent and watched.
Try as he might he couldn’t hear what was being said, but there was a second voice, much quieter and the shape on the ground stood up. Will was bent over clutching his side, Gerard’s finger millimeters from his nose, face slashed with fury. The tension smelled of smoky logs and embers crackled all around them.
“Evan?” Nath called.
Gerard and Will froze but Evan slipped away before they spotted him.
“The fog has cleared, we’ll be leaving in five minutes,” said Nath as he arrived back at the main fire. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Just seen Gerard and Will arguing.”
Nath frowned. “Lord knows what Will’s done this time.”
Evan wasn’t sure if he should say something. It didn’t look like one of their many petty arguments he’d grown accustomed to, but then again it was Will and he somehow always fucked everything up.
∞∞∞
It was mid-afternoon by the time they set out with only a couple hours of daylight left. It was much colder today and Evan was thankful to snuggle into the furs on Nath’s back again.
Throughout the journey Will had been nasty as hell, snapping at anyone but Nath who tried to talk to him, and constantly crackling with anger.
They reached camp at nightfall, the temperature plummeted and Evan actually felt grateful when Will ignited the main campfire with his magic, bathing them in warmth. In the light of the fire, he looked pale.
“They’re still in deliberation,” said Gerard as they ate delicious roast chicken, potatoes, vegetables and aromatic gravy.
Evan’s taste buds were in Heaven.
“It’s been more than a day. I think we should apply a little pressure,” said Nath. “Warn them that they have twenty-four hours to respond or the dragons will attack.”
“They’re trying to stall while they prepare for war,” Gerard replied. “If we can reclaim the chairman and regain control of the city we can force these abominations out.”
“The sooner we put an end to their bloodlust the better,” said Nath.
There was a pause. “There are a number of Dead Country werewolves and their allies professing you as their truest king.”
An awkward silence ensued. This was bad.
“They’re nothing to do with me,” Nath said coldly.
“The media is running with the stories, outraged that the King himself would betray his nation and his father so badly,” Gerard continued unflinchingly.
“I’ve done nothing of the sort,” said Nath with a sigh.
“They’re even debating whether you’ve turned your Consort. Made him one of your kind,” his eyes darted momentarily to Evan.
“Of all the ridiculous things I’ve heard…” Nath shook his head. “And they are not my kind.”
“Others don’t share that opinion,” said Gerard.
“They’re entitled to believe what they like. If they choose to ignore the truth then so be it,” he said mildly. “Have there been any further updates?”
Gerard shook his head. “No, Your Majesty.”
After dinner Evan washed up and threw on a loose shirt tucked into brown traveling trousers and his boots. He excused himself; Nath was talking border crossings with Officer Fischer, the tall warrior woman and Gerard, and his input wasn’t needed. He composed a short spellogram to his family assuring them he was okay and enjoying the scenery, and dipped it in Transparence, a pearlescent liquid which temporarily cloaked fabricated objects, including paper. He released it into the sky but no sparks would be visible until it reached its destination. They couldn’t risk being seen.
Outside, Nath sat about the fire drinking and listening to soldiers telling jokes. It was a pleasant evening, sky awash with ebony and stars glittering through the trees. He spotted Will leaning against a post a way off, hand on his side looking agitated. If he kept going at this rate he’d end up banished from the palace. Evan crossed his fingers in hope. He caught Evan’s eye and stared, straightening from his bent position.
Evan averted his eyes and slid onto the sliced log beside Nath. The night was wonderful and tingled with magic.
“You smell fresh,” Nath caught his chin and kissed his lips.
“So do you,” Evan grinned, heart fluttering.
Nath slipped his palm into Evan’s with a side of gorgeous smiles. His stars glistened about the camp and soldier’s laughed and flitted about completing late-night chores. One of the soldier women was roasting shoe-sized marshmallows in a rainbow of colours over the bonfire and passing them round. The atmosphere hummed with relaxation, many of the procession had already retired.
Nath took him by surprise and kissed the marshmallow sugar from his lips. “I can think of a better place for these lips…” he whispered.
“You wanna try out that hammock?” said Evan.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Nath laughed and followed him into the tent.
It was cosy, and kissing his way up Nath’s throat sent tendrils of fire through his belly. His noises were soft and making Evan crazy. “Do you think anyone can hear us?” He whispered, sliding under the covers behind him.
“Not if we’re quiet,” he smiled. The tents couldn’t be muted, it was too risky. A small laugh escaped Nath’s lips. “It doesn’t matter if they do, they can’t say anything anyway.”
Evan grinned. He liked that.
Chapter 7
Will.
Moving the hammock was easy, the difficult part was not making a sound pressing it against the canvas. Will buried himself beneath the covers and listened. A couple beats passed and there it was again, soft sounds from the tent next door; he knew what that meant. A right pretty picture he held in his mind’s eye of what was happening in Nath’s tent.
There it was again, another tiny sound.
“Why did ya move the hammock?” his father’s voice interrupted the daydream and he froze, pretending to sleep.
Sweetness echoed from next door and the room went very still.
Gerard’s gaze was penetrating, boring through the layer of blankets right into Will’s skull. He felt it, the burning pain in his head and tried to push back. Gerard lifted the cover, leaned down so his lips brushed
his ear and said, “I thought you’d get these disgusting thoughts out of your head now you can’t have him. We’re gonna talk about this in the morning, boy.” He drew back and crossed to his own hammock.
Will's lungs were searing and he realised he hadn’t taken a breath in some time. He tried to ignore his father, shuffling around and extinguishing the light, and focus on the tiny sounds echoing from next door.
He lay awake for a long time after the noises ceased and Gerard’s snores rumbled the tent, thinking of all the chances he’d been given, and all the things that’d gone wrong; the disgusting unfairness that’d ruined his life.
In no time at all a rush of icy water hit his face and he woke to Gerard looming over him. “Fucking hell!”
“Up. Now.”
“Why do that?!”
“Get dressed and we’ll have that talk,” said Gerard, heading for the door. “You’ve got less than five.”
Will made haste washing and pulling on his trousers; strapping the dragonhide around his legs. He’d only just got his shirt over his head when Gerard came charging back in and shoved him so hard he fell back onto the hammock.
“I really thought after Nathaniel married you’d stop with all the gay stuff,” he said quietly. “You’ve lost the crown, disgraced your family and created a bastard. When will the games end with you?”
Will swallowed, rage darkening his face. The brazier warming the tent began to rise, turning a violent shade of green.
“I’m disappointed, Will. I expected better from you,” he turned and left the tent. The flap remained open and outside Nath and Evan strolled by, faces full of laughter.
He lay on the bed staring at the ceiling, rage burning an inferno in his belly.
Chapter 8
“They’re amazing I’ve only ever seen photos,” said Evan gazing breathlessly at a pair of rare wild phoenix’s that’d tailed them some way through a magical woodland. Progress had been slow given their winding routes through the hills, hampered by misting rain.