The Duke of Tremont II - Bloodspell

Chapter 16

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After feasting on the spoils Justin had pilched from Deb's kitchen Brian and Blake decided they should all get some sleep. They had all been traveling under shield spells to avoid detection. Justin, Brian and Blake had all been shouldering the burden of powering these spells, but even sharing the load had taken a toll on them.

They decided that the next day or two would be spent scouting the area to get a lie of the area and see if they could find out where exactly this army that Duke James was building was located.

Brian voiced his concern about how the delay would affect Jonathan and Tristan, but Blake was able to convince him that a few more days wouldn't hurt, and it was better for them to go into this situation with James and Kipton as prepared as possible.

Thankfully there were enough beds to go around, with Timothy and Blake sharing in the bachelor's bunk room, Ben and Michael in another room, and Brian and Justin taking Blake's father's quarters at the young mage's insistence.

The furniture had been covered, so dust was minimal, but there was no bedding, so they used their bed rolls, happy just to have something more comfortable than the ground to sleep on.

Brian and Justin said their goodnights to the others and made their way to their room. The small oil lamp they carried cast shadows across the various animal trophy heads mounted on the walls of the large chamber. Justin shuddered. "I never was much for the hunt. I hope sleeping here doesn't give me nightmares."

"Perhaps, I can find a way to distract you," Brian murmured as he kissed the back of Justin's neck.

Justin put down the lamp on a small table and turned around in Brian's arms. "Well, I suppose if anything can distract me from those gruesome things it would be you." He drew Brian in for a kiss.

They spent several moments reveling in their intimacy with tender kisses and wandering hands, until their need became too great and they had to have more.

Brian's eyes popped open when he felt a cool rush of air against his body. He looked down to find that every stitch of his and Justin's clothing had suddenly been removed. He chuckled and kissed Justin's neck and the spot behind his ear that drove him crazy. "I see that Dryden did show you that trick," he whispered in Justin's ear, causing this lover to shiver with delight.

"I thought it might please you," Justin whispered back, stroking the fine hairs at Brian's neckline and thrusting his cock against Brian's hip.

Brian walked Justin backward to the bed and proceeded to show him just how pleased he was.

 

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Daphne and Kelton strolled along the low balcony that looked over the queen's extensive gardens. They had just finished eating dinner in the great hall, where they had shared a relaxed and comfortable conversation.

Normally, it would be unseemly for a young unmarried lady to be alone with a bachelor, but Daphne's position as a healer and also a witch, afforded her a bit more freedom. She had always been a bit unconventional and had never really cared about the proprieties of society anyway.

She moved over to the edge of the balcony and leaned forward against the railing, resting her arms on the cool stone as she stared into the starry summer night.

Kelton followed her and took up a similar pose next to her. "So, you must be horribly worried for your friend Justin," he started out hesitantly, picking up a conversation they had only started at dinner, about her adventures since she left Lofton, when Daphne had stood quickly and asked him to walk with her.

"Of course I am," she replied without taking her eyes off the stars. "I love him more than anything."

"Oh." Kelton seemed to droop a bit. They had talked about a lot of different things at dinner, and Daphne's end of the conversation was full of stories of this Justin person. He was having a difficult time reading her. She had seemed interested in him at first, and he definitely wanted to get to know her better. She had leaned in close at dinner and had even let their hands brush a few times, but all she could talk about was Justin. Since they had come outside she had kept her distance.

Suddenly Daphne turned to him. "Kelton, do you like women?"

He stood up straight in surprise to the seemingly off the wall question. "Well, of course…uh…women are very nice."

Daphne blew a stray curl out of her eyes in frustration. "No, I mean do you like them, like them? I mean as a wife, or a lover?"

"Well, yes, of course. I want to get married some day."

"To a woman?"

"Yes! Who else? Daphne, what are you getting at?"

"I'm asking you if you are fey, and if not, do you find me attractive?" she replied bluntly.

"Fey?" Kelton asked with shock in his voice. "Why on earth would you think that?"

"All right, I'm assuming you're not, judging by your reaction, so please answer my other question."

"Of course I find you attractive! I think you're beautiful, but why do you care what I think? It sounds as though your heart already belongs to Justin."

Daphne studied the slightly dejected look on Kelton's face and began to laugh. When she got herself under control again she finally spoke. "Kelton, how long have you been here at the palace in Sylvania?"

"Only for a few months, I came straight from the healing school. Why do you ask?"

"Well, that explains it," she gasped, trying to stifle her laughter again. "You know of Duke Brian, the king's brother?"

"Yes, I've heard of him, but I've never laid eyes on him."

"What have you heard?"

"Just that he is the Duke of Tremont, and is married with a young son, but also that it is a marriage in name only that was forced upon him by his father. I have heard rumors that he is fey and has a male lover who is Justin of West…" he trailed off and stared at Daphne, who simply smiled back. "Oh…I see…so your Justin…is…"

Daphne nodded. "Yes, that is my Justin, although really we should consider him Brian's Justin. He is more like my brother, Kelton, certainly nothing more, for he is utterly devoted to Brian."

Kelton smiled widely and pulled Daphne into his arms. "That is wonderful!" he exclaimed as he brought her even closer to him and proceeded to kiss her soundly.
 

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Brian lay on his back with Justin pressed close against his side. "Mmm, that was nice."

"Nice? Is that all you have to say about it? Nice?" Justin asked in mock offense as he began to tickle Brian's ribs.

"Hey!" Brian yelped as he tried to squirm away from Justin. "All right! All right, it was more than nice. It was wonderful…tremendous!" Justin still tickled. "The best ever!" Brian gasped out.

Justin stopped and smiled smugly. "That is an acceptable answer, my lord."

Brian relaxed and turned his head to his lover. "Jus?"

Justin met Brian's gaze, puzzled by the nickname. Brian seldom used affectionate names for him, except for Sunshine, which was not always reserved for times when Brian was being affectionate. "Yes?" he asked.

"I think this new gift you have discovered is wonderful, and I'm happy you are so comfortable using your magic, but you are being careful, right?"

"What do you mean?" Justin rolled on his side and propped himself up on his elbow.

"I mean, are you remembering to shield yourself when you use your spells?" He sat up in the bed. "Blake said that this Kipton person may have set up…what did he call them?" He thought for a moment. "Oh, yes, detection spells…spells that could find where you are through your magic."

"Brian, I am being careful. Shielding is the first thing Dryden taught me, remember? He said I have the strongest shields of any mortal he has ever seen. Eventually you are going to have to start trusting me and viewing me as a man."

Brian reached down and pulled Justin up so they were facing one another. "You know I trust you. You are one of the few people I do trust without reservation. And as far as viewing you as a man, well, you will always be twelve years my junior, nothing will change that, and I suppose I will always feel protective of you. It is in my nature to protect the ones I love, but Justin, I do see you as a man and my equal, and in some things you are even my better." He switched to mind speech. You are my partner in every way.

Brian, you do not know how much it means to hear you say that. His eyes swam with unshed tears.

I know I do not say it enough to you , but I mean it. I love you.

I love you too, Brian. I will be careful, and I will make you proud of me.

I already am. Brian reached up and wiped at a stray tear that had escaped down Justin's cheek.

Justin took Brian's face in his hands and began to place deliberate and gentle kisses all over his face, and soon they were lost in each other again.

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The next morning Blake led the companions into a local village. They were all on foot, having left their horses tied in the woods just outside the village.

"Remember, we are spelled to remain unseen. We are simply here to observe and gather information."

"How does the spell work?" asked Ben.

"It plays a sort of trick on the brain. People can see us, but they don't notice, if that makes any sense." Blake shrugged.

"Yes, it does , actually," Ben replied kindly.

"Good," Brian added. "So don't speak with anyone, and try not to touch anyone or the spell can be broken and then too many questions will be asked."

All at once there was a commotion coming from what looked to be the village square. A mob was gathered and they were cheering and shouting.

"Come on, let's find out what's going on," Justin called as he moved off toward the action.

"Wait!" Brian cried as he followed close behind, the others trailing after him.

They came upon the crowd and immediately saw the cause of all the excitement. A hangman's platform stood in the square and upon it stood a priest, the hangman, and a slight young man, whose arms were tied behind his back.

The hangman pushed the boy unceremoniously to the noose and placed it around the boy's neck as the villagers cheered.

"No! No, please!" cried a woman's voice from the crowd. "Tell my why? Why is my son to be hanged?"

The crowd booed her, but parted to let her through, elated to have even more excitement to the drama unfolding before them. The woman approached, being stopped by the ring of soldiers who were posted around the base of the platform.

"Madame, your son is to be hanged for the crime of being a sodomite!" the priest called down to her. "He was caught in the act with another young man, who we have yet to catch."

"Jamie is fey!" the woman cried, as she desperately searched the other faces of the crowd. People she had known all her life. She wondered how so many could turn on them so quickly. "All of you know that already. Our regular priest, father Oren, knows this! It is not a crime in Maynor to be fey! It never has been! Please let my son go!"

"Well, I am the new priest here, Madame," replied the priest. "And I act under the orders of Duke James of Stockwell, acting regent to the throne. The act of sodomy is now a crime in Maynor."

All of the companions looked to Blake, who took in the scene in horror. "I don't understand. Being fey is not against the law. That woman is right. It is as accepted here as magic. Kipton himself is fey, and Duke James knows it!"

The priest motioned to the hangman who tightened the noose and stepped over to the lever that would drop the floor out from the under the boy.

Justin had been observing the scene in utter horror. The abuse he and Brian had both survived at the hands of their respective families because of whom they loved, bubbled to the surface of his psyche. As he watched the terrified boy and listened to the desperate cries of his mother, his anger grew until, when the hangman reached for the lever he cried out, "No!!!!" and sent a burst of power aimed at the platform.

"Justin!" Brian yelled, but Justin was not listening.

The hangman and the priest went flying from the platform as the rope snapped and the boy fell unharmed.

Brian looked toward Justin, who was now glowing brightly, just as he had that day in the workroom with Dryden. Back at the platform soldiers were flying through the air as well, some of them on fire. "Justin, the boy is fine now!" Brian called. "Stop it!"

Suddenly there was a loud crack of thunder in the air followed by a bright flash of light. Brian was knocked off his feet and it felt as if the wind were sucked out of him. In an instant the flash was gone and Brian's stomach fell, and he thought he might throw up because Justin had disappeared with it.

 

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