Notes: This is my first Qui/Obi story, after months of lurking
on this list!! Not betaed, but I did read over it and run it
through my spellchecker!!
Summary: During the period known as the Hundred Kingdoms, a
wizard is taken hostage by a desperate Lord.
Archive: Yes, please, whoever wants it!! Just let me know
where!!
Feedback: lokemele@cchono.com
"The snow's getting heavier, Dom Kyro," the leader of his
escort said.
"Hmm, yes," Kyro-Gwynn Alliard, Underkeeper at Neskaya Tower,
looked thoughtfully through the swirling flakes as if he could
see well beyond them -- which was, in fact, the case. "We're
nearing a castle; perhaps we can shelter there for the night,
or however long this storm lasts."
"Very good, vai dom," the leader replied, "unless our host
takes it into his head to detain us, or refuses us shelter
altogether."
"We can but try," the laranzu told him.
They continued on and soon came to the castle. The corridom
granted them entrance in the name of his master, Benjamin
Delleray. Kyro-Gwynn and his escort shook off the snow which
thickly covered them, and moved to the large fireplace in the
main hall to warm themselves.
"Where are you bound?" asked the corridom, noting Kyro-Gwynn's
nearly waist length light brown hair.
"We're returning to Neskaya Tower," Kyro-Gwynn said.
"You're a laranzu?" The corridom was shocked -- most of the
vai leroni were either blonde or redheads.
Before anymore could be said, an inner door was thrown open
and a young man stormed into the hall. It was easy to tell he
was the master of the castle, from both his arrogant bearing
and his gingery hair.
"Damn that ridiculous Tyall to Zandru's coldest hell!" he
fumed, ignoring both his guests and the customs of hospitality.
"Do you know what he wants to cement our alliance?"
The corridom cleared his throat and nodded toward Kyro-Gwynn,
indicating his master's lack of courtesy. Their host then made
the bare minimum of greetings and offerings, rushing through
the ceremonies and dragging the luckless corridom off for
further discussions.
Other servants showed Kyro-Gwynn and his escort to rooms. The
one who escorted Kyro-Gwynn was very talkative. "Don't worry
about Benjy -- since the old dom died a half-year ago, he's
been hard-pressed to hold things together, with so many other
lords eyeing his lands." He assumed the old woman had once been
the young lord's nurse.
She halted in front of a door and opened it. "Here's your
room, vai laranzu. Ah, the fire's burning nicely. You can rest
and refresh yourself -- I'll be by in an hour to take you down
to supper." She closed the door and left.
Kyro-Gwynn sat by the fire and pulled off his boots and
stockings, holding his bare feet to the fire to warm and dry
them. After they were warm and dry he put on dry socks and low
felt house boots. The snow hadn't soaked through to his other
clothing so he left them on.
He sat by the fire and thought about his young host and what
had been said about him. If it were true, the young lord was in
a very precarious position -- and by being here, so was he.
He was drawn from his reverie by a knock on the door. It was
the old woman, returned to lead him to supper.
The fare was simple but filling -- it was the atmosphere that
garnered the majority of Kyro-Gwynn's attention. Benjamin was
surly the entire meal, casting an occasional glance
Kyro-Gwynn's direction. His sisters -- there were four -- ate
with downcast eyes and little appetite. The only people who
were enjoying the meal were his escort and a few of the lesser
servants, who didn't need to worry over the dom's mood.
Kyro-Gwynn surreptitiously watched his host. 'He's a handsome
fellow -- or he would be if he ever smiled,' the older man
thought. 'He shouldn't have a problem getting himself a wife.'
Now why should the idea of some young lord bedding a bride
bother him so much? He was doubly forbidden from pursuing him.
While ombredin bonds were well enough for lads too young to
wed, it was strongly discouraged when a man reached
marriageable age. There was also the matter of age -- it was
taboo for the young man to even see him nude, let alone lie
with him.
Benjamin watched his guest, his mind running along similar
lines. 'He'd make a valuable ally -- not only a laranzu, but a
member of one of the Seven, the oldest ruling families on
Darkover. Now which of my sisters should I offer him? Perhaps I
should let him choose for himself.' He was as aware of custom
as his guest, but the idea of offering himself to the tall,
broad-shouldered laranzu simply wouldn't leave his mind.
Mentally shaking off the idea, he resolved to keep him here
until he agreed to an alliance.
The meal finally ended and Kyro-Gywnn returned to his room for
the night. He could hear the hiss of snow blowing against his
window and didn't need to open the shutters to know the storm
which drove them here continued unabated. He changed into
bedclothes and lay down, but before he slept he pulled out his
starstone and gazed deeply into its depths, concentrating on
the person he knew would be working the relays this night.
Making contact, he quickly told them where he was and asked if
they knew if the storm would abate quickly. He was told there
were too many futures surrounding him at the moment --'Tread
warily, for what you decide in the next few days will determine
many futures,' he was warned. Not exactly what he needed to
hear for a good night's sleep.
Indeed, his sleep was restless, with sensory impressions --
but no images -- of a man in his arms. Not one of the lovers
he'd occasionally taken during his years in the tower, but a
stranger to whom he'd given his heart. He awoke more than once
to find himself covered with his own seed, his heart pounding.
He hadn't experienced that since his adolescence and had to
wonder why, and why now.
Kyro-Gywnn was awakened in the morning by a knock on his door
and the appearance of a servant with hot water for washing. He
was told he could have breakfast in his room or join the rest
of the household in the dining hall. He opted for the latter,
and went down to the hall after his morning ablutions were
completed.
During breakfast he learned the storm continued and it was
said by one old granny would was known to have Sight it would
go on for several more days. After breakfast he was called into
the dom's study. Benjamin sat behind an ancient carved desk and
offered his guest a hot drink before beginning. "What position
do you hold at Neskaya Tower?" "I am an Underkeeper,"
Kyro-Gywnn replied. "I am laranzu to the Third Circle."
'Powerful, then, if he works as Keeper,' Benjamin thought. "I
have a proposition for you. My father's leronis died with him."
His eyes closed in momentary grief, then reopened. "I find
myself in need of another, and am willing to give you one of my
sisters in marriage if you will ally yourself with my house."
A single raised eyebrow indicated Kyro-Gwynn's answer. "Why
would I wish an alliance with you? I am pledged to the tower,
in any case, and very happy there."
"I would make you and your sons my heirs, after my first-born
son."
"Is that what Tyall wanted, in addition to one of your
sisters?"
"He offered me a leronis to wife in the bargain."
"Why didn't you accept? A wife with a donas would be an asset;
she might pass it along to her sons."
"If I knew I could trust her to be a wife, and not some spy
for her kinsman!" 'I wouldn't dare trust a leronis as wife. She
would quickly discover my secret and resent me for it. Better
to wed one head-blind, even though laying with such a one feels
like a perversion, like being with a dumb beast.' What he
really wanted he dared not even think about with the laranzu so
near. He had to put such desires aside and think of the good of
his people, as he would have to wed a woman he could never love
to father sons.
It was as if Kyro-Gwynn had indeed read his mind. "You'll need
to wed sooner or later to father legitimate sons, unless you
intend to name a nedestro your heir."
"I haven't even that option; no woman I've ever been with has
produced a child she could honestly call mine."
"You're young yet; you still have time to marry and produce an
heir. There are doubtless many possible brides in the area, and
wedding to cement an alliance would be the best thing under the
circumstances."
"If you were my ally you could help greatly in my choice of
bride. Surely one of my sisters would prove suitable, and my
offer of making you and yours my heirs is far more than you
could have hoped for otherwise." Of all the ruling families the
Alliards were unique in that inheritance passed through the
female line rather than the male; even if Kyro-Gwynn had been
first-born he stood to inherit nothing.
"I shall have to give the matter some thought, and as I cannot
leave until the weather clears it would seem we have some time
to consider and debate the merits of your proposal."
"Be sure I will do all I can to persuade you to my side."
Kyro-Gwynn wished it were so, but doubted the young lord would
promise the one thing that might convince him to stay.
They discussed it over lunch, where Kyro-Gwynn was formally
introduced to Benjamin's sisters -- Dorilys, 20; Shaya, 18;
Callista, 16; and Gisela, who at 14 was considered too young by
both Benjamin and Kyro-Gwynn. Dorilys was somewhat misnamed, as
her hair was a blazing red instead of the blonde it should have
been. She had a strong donas, and had been tower-trained, but
her father had called her home after she'd completed the
minimum necessary to control her laran. Tall and slender, she
would have made a Hastur a good wife. No, Kyro-Gwynn decided,
his host should save her for an alliance with his neighbors, if
one could be made.
Shaya's hair was red as well, but it was a dark wine color. As
tall as her sister, she seemed to lack any laran, and doubtless
wouldn't be considered a good marriage prospect. He debated the
possibility of wedding her to keep her from growing into a
bitter old woman, and placed it in the back of his mind to
think on later.
Callista had enough Laran to be trained in a tower, but her
gift wasn't especially strong. Tiny and slender with
reddish-blonde hair, she barely looked as old as her sister
Gisela, and strangers often mistook the girls for twins, much
to her annoyance. The laranzu decided she was too small to
safely bear his children.
If he had to wed one of the sisters, it would be Shaya, but
he'd prefer to return to the tower. Actually he'd prefer to bed
his host, but that wasn't really a feasible possibility. He
fervently hoped the storm would end soon, before Benjamin
discovered what he truly wanted.
The next morning dawned bright and clear, and brought with it
a surprise -- an army camped practically at their door step. It
was easily identified as Tyall's, with a scattering of Storn
banners mixed in. A small party of riders broke from the ranks
and rode forward to the gates. Benjamin recognized Tyall, and
supposed the other man was a Storn, though he doubted it was
the Storn of Storn himself -- probably a younger son trying to
make a name and place for himself. He wondered if Kyro-Gwynn
had ever entertained ambitions like the young blond lording
below. He listened as his once-potential ally spoke.
"Hello the castle! I want to speak to Delleray; I have an
offer for him!"
"Say your piece! I'm listening!"
"I'll allow you and any loyal followers safe passage if you
surrender the castle and your sisters to me and my allies!"
"Unacceptable!" He turned from the battlements and bespoke his
warleader. "How long can we hold against them?"
"It depends on how many leroni he has and what weapons they
can throw at us, vai dom," the man replied. There was not much
hope in his voice.
Benjamin turned to Kyro-Gwynn. "It's not likely he'll believe
you're merely sheltering here from the storm. It seems we're
allied whether we like it or not."
"It would seem so," Kyro-Gwynn agreed. "I'll need to gather
everyone who has a scrap of laran in one of the upper chambers,
well away from others. Depending on what we have we'll defend
first and attack if we have any means of doing so. Will you be
joining the circle?"
A typical question -- and impossible to answer. By rights he
should join the circle; his laran was even stronger than his
sisters'. He knew if he did, however, he left himself
vulnerable to the circle's Keeper; Kyro-Gwynn could look into
his mind and discover his darkest secrets. Still, it was his
duty as vai dom and master of the castle, and he would do his
duty to his folk irregardless of possible consequences. "I
will; we will gather in the chamber my mo -- father's leronis
always used for her workings." He strode away and Kyro-Gwynn
followed, reviewing in his mind how many workers he would need
for which defenses he could raise, and what weapons he could
call forth if he had any extra energy.
Within the hour all who had laran were assembled in the
chamber: Kyro- Gwynn, Benjamin, Dorilys, Callista, and a
handful of others, most of whom had worked with the former
leronis. They settled themselves around Kyro- Gwynn in a rough
circle, prepared to open their minds to this new Keeper.
The laranzu began by removing the center chair and replacing
it with a larger, sturdier one. He settled himself and asked if
there was anyone present who could monitor the circle. Callista
volunteered, saying her laran wasn't good for much else.
Kyro-Gwynn pulled his starstone from its bag and focused on it
to begin. His mind reached for Benjamin's --- --- and was
nearly overwhelmed by his strength and determination, and
something else which was hidden too quickly for him to see.
Suppressing his own feelings, he swiftly matched resonances and
brought that brilliant mind into synch with his own. The others
were matched one by one, joining the group together as a single
mind with Kyro-Gwynn controlling their energies.
The Keeper sensed another group gathering to strike and
quickly erected defenses around the castle. He gauged the
strength of the other group as they struck and was surprised to
discover it was less than his own; he could launch a return
strike that would probably kill the weaker members and severely
disable the rest. After a few test strikes to learn the best
way to deliver the blow, he launched the killing strike and
watched as it hit home.
The effect was as devastating as he'd predicted; 3/4 of the
attacking leroni were killed outright, and the survivors would
be a long time recovering, if they ever did. No longer needing
to defend, he launched an attack of his own against the army
outside their gates; he simply placed the thought of fear into
the minds of man and beast, and watched as they retreated in
disarray, leaving weapons, armor, and other supplies behind.
Leaving the scattered remnants of the attacking force to more
mundane defenders, he began releasing the minds of the others
one by one until only Benjamin's remained. It felt so good to
be joined with him like this, like finding a part of himself he
hadn't known he was missing.
Yes came an answer from the mind remaining so close to
his own, not wishing to part. To Zandru's coldest hell with
custom -- I want you!
I desire you as well, Kyro-Gwynn sent into Benjamin's
mind, but you are too young to bind yourself to me, and
you'll need heirs.
Do not say that, bredu. He used the intimate
inflection. They say 'Bare is back without brother'. Will
you not cover my back?
I cannot. He thrust Benjamin from his mind as swiftly
as he could without doing damage, though not without pain, and
dashed from the room.
Kyro-Gwynn fled the room, running half-blindly through the
corridors until he found his rooms and locked himself in,
adding a warding spell only he could release. What in the name
of all the gods was he thinking to allow his desires to escape
his mind like that?
You were allowing yourself some honest human feelings.
It took him a moment to realize the thought wasn't his own,
but Benjamin's.
"HOW DARE YOU!?" he verbally and mentally shrieked.
"GET OUT OF MY MIND THIS INSTANT!!" He slammed down his
shields, locking his mind as firmly as his door.
He collapsed on the bed and wept, sitting with his head in his
hands and his elbows on his knees He hadn't lost control that
badly in decades -- not since he'd completed his training as a
Keeper. He needed to return to the tower -- but how could he
get past his host without another confrontation?
Benjamin opened his eyes to see his sister Dorilys leaning
over him.
"What were you thinking," she asked, "goading a laranzu like
that? He'd be well within his rights to have killed you!"
He'd never had any secrets from his sister. "Our minds were so
close; I -- offered myself to him, in gratitude for his aid."
"Impulsive as always," she sighed. "I suppose he castigated
you thoroughly for having such feelings at your age."
"Not at first," he said. "He -- said he desired me, too, but
would not allow me to bind myself to him, saying I must marry
and have sons."
"You would do well to take such advice," his sister replied,
"and as it happens you now have the means within your grasp to
do so."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"While you were attempting to get yourself killed annoying our
guest," she said, "I was checking with your warleader. Tyall
and his Storn ally were both found dead on the field, from the
strike launched by our circle. Among the wounded left behind
were their leroni -- or what survived of them. Two of them are
young women -- Tyall's kinswoman and what we might assume is a
daughter of the House of Storn. They're both badly damaged --
likely as not they'll be permanently head-blind -- but they can
still bear laran-gifted sons."
"Could you --" He swallowed and began again, "could you ask
the laranzu to have a look at them? Tell him he has my word of
honor I'll not disturb him or bother him further."
She nodded and left to ask their guest for his assistance once
more.
Kyro-Gwynn lifted his head as a knock sounded on his door.
"Who is it?"
"Begging your pardon, vai laranzu," Dorilys said through the
door, "But we've found some wounded leroni on the battlefield
and wish your help for them. My brother has given his word of
honor you won't be bothered again. Will you come?"
"Give me a moment," he replied, "and I'll be right out." He
splashed some water on his face to conceal he'd been crying and
pulled some things from his saddlebags, then opened the door
and followed Dorilys to where the injured leroni had been
placed.
It was as bad as they'd feared -- the two young women were
going to be permanently head-blind. The unknown lady of Storn
died in the night, but Tyall's cousin Rohana survived, though
she was slow-minded for the rest of her years. It was through
her that they learned how Tyall's army had surprised the
castle: Magda Storn, the lady who'd died, had been able to
control the weather well enough to hold the storm around the
castle while holding a corridor open for the army's advance.
"What are you going to do about her?" Kyro-Gwynn asked his
host.
"If I don't marry her," Benjamin replied, "someone else will.
At least if I wed her she won't be ill-treated."
Lacking any other Comyn representative, Kyro-Gwynn Alliard
placed the copper bracelets making them di catenas -- forever
bound -- on the arms of Benjamin Delleray and Rohana Tyall
before leaving to return to Neskaya Tower.
It was nearly a year before Kyro-Gwynn left the tower again,
but this time he knew he wouldn't return. All attempts to
forget the young Lord of Delleray were futile, and now he rode
to an uncertain reception. Would Benjamin take him back after
all this time, or would he be scorned and sent away, to make
his way as best he could in a hostile, loveless world?
He approached the gate and heard the guard hailing him, to
which he replied by giving his name and asking if Dom Benjamin
was within. The guard spoke to someone inside, then called down
he had leave to enter as the gate opened. He urged his beast on
inside.
He was greeted by the same corridom as the last time he was
here, and ushered into the hall as his beast was taken to the
stables. The corridom told him the vai dom would be along
shortly while offering him mulled spiced wine. He heard a
familiar tread as he stood warming himself by the fire, and
turned to find Benjamin Delleray confronting him.
"Why are you here?" his host asked. He seemed older and more
confident. Perhaps a bride HAD been what he'd needed.
"I -- gave back my oath to the tower," Kyro-Gwynn replied. "I
could no longer hold myself to it."
"That only explains why you're no longer at Neskaya," Ben
pointed out, "not what you're doing here."
Kyro-Gwynn's nerve failed him then, and he turned back to the
fire. "I thought to see how you were getting along after your
marriage."
"You'll doubtless be pleased to hear there's a possible heir
to my estate on the way," the younger man said. "I've been
tossed out of my own bed by my wife's midwife."
"I doubt you sleep cold."
"You'd be surprised." Ben called a servant over and instructed
him to show the older man to a room. Kyro-Gwynn finished his
wine and followed the man to a room which was in a different
part of the castle from where he'd originally stayed. In fact,
he thought it might be part of the original keep.
He enjoyed getting reacquainted with Ben's sisters over the
evening meal, and learning Dorilys was betrothed to the son of
a neighboring lord. The food was more sumptuous than the last
meal he'd eaten here, and the mood far more relaxed, with an
alliance in the works and an heir on the way. It seemed all was
going well at Castle Delleray.
He was led back to his room and left to prepare for bed. He
read for a short while and then disrobed and slipped between
the covers. Soon after he dropped off to sleep.
He was awakened by someone sliding into the bed beside him. "I
told you you'd be surprised," Ben told him before his mouth was
claimed in a hard, passionate kiss.
Kyro-Gwynn pulled back as soon as his lips were released. "As
I said, you don't sleep cold."
"I had been," Ben replied, "after the midwife threw me out."
"Whatever for? You could surely find any number of willing
companions of either gender. The ladies would especially want
to share your bed, in hopes of getting a second heir."
"Thank you, but I'd prefer to only produce legitimate heirs."
"Not the best way to ensure the continuance of the line."
"If you don't want me here, just say so and I'll leave."
"The gods know how much I've wanted you this past year. The
thought of you invaded my days and nights; it was why I gave
back my oath. I couldn't speak of it earlier because I was
afraid you'd send me away."
"I'll never send you away -- it would be like sending away my
heart."
Ben said no more, preferring to use his lips and tongue on his
bedmate's skin. He kissed, licked and nibbled his way around
Kyro-Gwynn's face, his tongue playing over the broken nose, his
teeth nipping his earlobes, and his lips feasting on his neck
below his neatly trimmed beard.
The older man wasn't idle; his hands roamed over his beloved's
flesh, tracing contours and learning those places which made
the other man shiver and moan with pleasure. Down Ben's
well-muscled back, up his sides and across his chest to tease
and fondle his nipples. He rolled his soon-to-be lover over on
his back and began to feast on him in earnest, lips moving down
over chest and belly to the young lord's manhood.
Kyro-Gwynn wrapped one hand around the swollen flesh as the
other cradled the sack below it. He drew back the foreskin and
teasingly licked the precome from the head. Ben cried out as he
was expertly sucked, stroked and fondled to near-madness. The
older man drew back as he released his seed and caught it in
his hand, using it to open and stretch his most intimate
opening.
"Do you understand what I'm about to do?" Kyro asked Ben.
"Have you done this before?"
"Never before," Ben whispered, "but I know what men do when
they lie together, and I want that from you."
"I'll go slowly, then," he said, touching his lover's
mind and finding himself drawn into rapport, "to cause as
little pain as possible."
Kyro positioned himself at Ben's opening and gently pushed
past the ring of muscle, feeling it as if he were being
breached again for the first time himself. There was a little
pain, which he soothed with gentle kisses to Ben's mouth. He
moved slowly, gauging his progress by what he was feeling from
his lover's mind, as he knew Ben was experiencing what he felt
through the rapport they shared.
It was far more intense than anything Kyro had experienced
with any other lover, male or female, and he tried as best he
could to prolong it as much as possible, but Ben was full of
the impatience of youth and eventually prevailed. He felt his
lover drop over the edge of release and swiftly followed,
pumping his seed into his tight channel and howling out as he
felt/heard Ben scream and clench around him, splattering them
both with semen. It was more than their minds could encompass,
and they willingly fell into darkness.
Kyro awoke moments later and pulled himself off his lover,
twining his longer limbs around the still-insensate and
much-beloved body as he drifted off to a well-deserved sleep.
Ben stirred a little while later and snuggled deeper into the
older man's embrace before dropping off as well.
They awoke in the darkness just before dawn and made love once
again before parting. Ben showed his lover the secret passage
leading to the room where Kyro slept, advising him to use
discretion in taking the passages -- some were centuries old
and no longer safe.
"I must go now," Ben said, "before I'm missed." He gave Kyro a
last kiss and slipped away.
They continued to meet semi-clandestinely for the rest of
their lives. Kyro's room was cleaned regularly even after he
was wed to Shaya -- the servants were aware it was used by the
pair, especially if one wife or the other was pregnant.
Everyone thought it was a bit unusual, but no more so than
keeping a barragana or other type of mistress.
Not that either man neglected his wife; Ben sired four sons
and three daughters, and Kyro was father to a similar number of
children. Shaya was well aware of the relationship between her
husband and brother, and accepted it -- both men seemed to
thrive in their closeness, and she had no worries about being
set aside or forced to raise another woman's children. Rohana
knew her husband sometimes slept elsewhere than their bed, but
since he treated her well and gently otherwise she never
complained.
Though Delleray Castle suffered occasional attacks over the
years -- from catmen as well as human rivals -- Kyro-Gwynn led
the defense until Ben's eldest daughter returned from her years
as Keeper of Arlinn. By that time his hair was a snowy fall of
white, and he looked a great deal like the cheiri who'd shared
their blood with his ancestors. His knees and hips were knarled
from the bone-ache that had started to set in, restricting his
movements.
Still, it didn't restrict his activities in bed. He'd long
since moved back into his old room -- with Shaya's full consent
-- and Ben had joined him there, Rohana having passed on from a
fever the year before. This was their room and their bed --
they'd never made love to each other in either bed they'd
shared with a wife.
Kyro-Gwynn looked back on his life and found it had indeed
been a good one -- full of love and children, even if he had
had to endure battles and hardship. He closed his eyes and
snuggled close to his Benjamin -- who in and of himself would
have been more than reward enough.
Ben felt his beloved draw him closer and thanked all the gods
for Tyall's attack all those years ago -- how else would they
ever have found the joy and love they'd shared these past
decades, and would continue to share the rest of their lives.
Archive 