The Duke of Tremont II - Bloodspell

Chapter 34
 

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Brian opened his eyes and shifted a bit, immediately regretting the decision, since the slight movement caused shooting pain through his shoulder and legs. He stilled himself, and took a moment to look around. He realized that he was back in the tent that he and Jonathan shared, and that it must be night time since the only light in the room was coming from an oil lamp set on a small table next to his cot.

He moved his left hand and something tickled him. He shifted again very slowly and looked down to see Justin sitting on the floor, asleep, his arms and head resting on the edge of Brian's cot. He smiled a bit at his lover's devotion and began to card his hand through Justin's soft blond locks.

It wasn't long before the young man stirred. He sat up and rubbed his eyes sleepily, making him look much younger than his twenty-one years. "Brian? You're awake?"

"I think so." He tried to move again and groaned when his right shoulder pulled. "God, that hurts."

"You should try to stay still, My Lord. Daphne says not to move too much until she and Kelton come back in the morning to do another healing." Justin ran a gentle hand through Brian's hair.

"Another healing?" Brian looked into Justin's eyes.

Justin nodded and sat back, stretching his legs out in front of him. He met Brian's gaze. "Do you remember the meldling?"

"Yes, I ran into the clearing and it grabbed me before I even knew what was happening. I thought I was dead."

Justin shuddered a bit at the thought of Brian trapped in the meldlings powerful claws.
"Kipton blasted the creature..." he paused to gauge Brian's reaction to that fact, but Brian simply nodded for him to continue. "Then I caught you in the air and brought you
down. Your artery was hit but Daphne and Kelton were able to heal it, and your other major wounds. They did as much as they could until they used up their energy. They'll come back in the morning and work on you again."

"I feel so weak."

"You lost a lot of blood. There's nothing they can do about that. It takes time. Remember when I was stabbed? I was so weak I could barely stand for a week."

"I remember," Brian replied somberly, doubting that he would ever be able to erase the horrible image of Justin, with Duchess Claire's dagger protruding from his back, sliding slowly to the ground right in front of him.

An awkward silence fell upon the men as they both recalled the reason for Brian's headlong bolt into the meldling attack. Neither was certain what to say next.

"Justin, I..." Brian started.

"Brian..." Justin started.

"Go ahead," the both said together, and then laughed.

"Oh, God, don't make me laugh. Hurts too much," Brian finally gasped out.
Justin climbed to his knees and scooted closer to Brian. He took Brian's face in both hands and leaned down, placing a firm, but gentle kiss on his lips. "I'm sorry," he whispered when he pulled back. He looked into his lover's eyes. "I'm not sorry I came here, but I'm sorry I lied." He kissed Brian again. "And I'm very sorry you got hurt."

Brian lifted his left hand and stroked Justin's hair. "I don't make it very easy for you to be your own man sometimes, do I?"

Justin smiled softly. "I know it's because you love me and want to protect me."

"I was truly frightened for your safety, Justin. That is the only reason I didn't want you to come."

"And now look who is lying wounded," Justin retorted with a small smile.

"Brat." Brian smiled. "Come here, I've missed you." Brian pulled Justin down to him and tried to scoot over, wincing at the movement.

"Brian, no. There's no room for me. I'll hurt you."

"Please? I'll be fine."

Justin tentatively lay on his side next to Brian, being careful not to jar his lover. He draped a careful arm across Brian's stomach covering Brian's hands that already rested there. "Is this all right?" he asked.

Brian nodded. "Perfect. Hmm, feels good to be in your arms again." His eyes began to droop closed. "So tired." He intertwined his fingers with Justin's and drifted off to sleep again.

"I know how you feel," Justin whispered into Brian's ear. He kissed Brian's temple and then tried to settle in to get some much needed sleep.

 

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The early hours of dawn saw the camps of Kings Jonathan and Tristan bustling with activity. Kipton predicted that Duke James and his army would be upon them some time that day and there was much to be done.

Not wanting to disturb Brian, or an exhausted Justin either, for that matter, Jonathan, his advisors and generals took themselves to King Tristan's quarters for a last minute strategy session.

"Will he attack immediately without warning like yesterday, or will he follow the parley protocols this time?" Jonathan asked Kipton, who had been brought in to lend his advice.

"Oh, he will parley with you and never admit that yesterday was his doing at all," Kipton replied. "The man is a pathological liar, Highness. The unfortunate part is that I think that sometimes he believes his own lies."

"Will there be more of those creatures?" Hunter asked.

Kipton nodded solemnly. "Yes, we created quite a few of them, I'm afraid."

"How do we fight against that?" asked one of Pennington's generals.

"With magic," came a voice from the doorway.

"Justin!" Tim exclaimed.

Justin stepped into the room. "I thought you might need me, Highness." He nodded to Jonathan.

"I'm glad you're here," answered the king. "How does my brother fare?"

"Daphne and Kelton are with him now, and judging from the amount of cussing, I'd say he'll be up and about in no time."

The others chuckled. "Ahh, no wonder you decided to take a break," Jonathan laughed.

"Indeed," Justin replied with a twinkle in his eye. He quickly turned his attention back to the previous subject. "Now, as I was saying before, we will fight the meldlings with magic."

"But there are so many." One of the mages from Maynor spoke up. "I don't think we have that many spells built up."

Justin looked to Blake, who smiled at him. "Lord Justin is an adept, Lakin. He doesn't need to store up the offensive spells like we do."

"But still, he is just one man."

"I can help as well," Kipton added. He looked to Tristan and Jonathan. "If I am allowed, that is."

The two kings looked at each other. "Well, he did save Duke Brian," Tristan spoke first.

"Justin?" Jonathan looked to his brother-in-law.

"He's proven himself," Justin replied. "And we're going to need his help."

"All right then," Jonathan nodded. "That settles that. So, Kipton, Blake," Jonathan continued. "Tell us what we can expect from the other mages Duke James has employed."

"Yes, so, Duke James does not have any other adepts…" Kipton began, and they all settled in to learn more about their enemy.

 

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Daphne and Kelton sat back and their healing aura disappeared. Brian took a deep breath and opened his eyes. "God, that's so much better." He looked up at the two of them.

"Thank you both."

Brian moved to sit up and Daphne reached out to him. "Careful, Brian, you'll still be weak from the blood loss. We can't heal that."

Brian swung his legs over the side of the cot. "I can't really afford to lie here when we're on the brink of war."

"Surely you're not planning on fighting?" Daphne stared at her best friend's lover. "That is madness, Brian. Even for you."

Brian raised an eyebrow at her, refusing to respond. Instead he turned his attention to Kelton. "So, Kelton, were you in on this charade with Justin and Daphne, or were you as much in the dark as I was?"

"Oh, you fight dirty, My Lord," Daphne grumbled under her breath.

Kelton smiled serenely at the curious Duke, knowing full well the man was trying to dodge Daphne's fretful hovering. "Oh, I was in the dark, My Lord. I was quite irritated to find out that she was here."

"But you seem to have forgiven her," Brian smirked. "Judging from the look of you both this morning."

"Brian!" Daphne blushed.

"Of course I forgave her, for she has paid a heavy price for her insubordination," Kelton replied with a twinkle in his eye.

"Kelton!" Daphne covered her face with her hands.

"Oh?" Brian eyed the young healer. "And what price would that be?"

Kelton reached over and pulled one of Daphne's hands off her face and held it tightly in his own. "She has agreed to become my wife." He looked to Brian. "If you agree, that is, My Lord."

"If he agrees?" Daphne looked incensed. "The only one who needs to agree is me! It's my life!"

Kelton placed a finger to her lips. "I know it is, but contrary to my behavior of late in regards to your virtue, I am an honorable man. Since you have no surviving male relatives and you live in Duke Brian's house, the honorable thing to do is to ask him for your hand."

Daphne snorted, but Brian shushed her. "He is utterly correct, Daphne, and you would do well to remember propriety at least some of the time." He smiled to soften the blow of his serious words. "At any rate I appreciate your asking, Kelton; it says much of your character."

Kelton bowed his head. "Thank you, My Lord."

Brian did not speak for quite some time until Daphne could no longer stand it. "Well?"

"Well what?" Brian asked innocently.

"What say you to Kelton, of course?!" Daphne cried.

Brian raised an eyebrow. "I thought it didn't matter what I thought."

"Brian, please," Daphne pleaded.

Brian held out his hand to Daphne and she took it. He pulled her close to him until she kneeled in front of where he still sat on the edge of his cot. "Do you love him?" Brian looked into her eyes.

"Yes," Daphne nodded.

"And you'll take care of her?" Brian turned his attention to Kelton.

"Always, My Lord," Kelton answered sincerely.

"Then I'll happily give my blessing."

"Oh, Brian, thank you!" Daphne threw herself into Brian's arms. Brian fell back onto the cot, still a bit weak from his ordeal, and Daphne remained on top of him, hugging him tightly.

Just then Justin opened the flap of the tent. He took in the sight before him and turned a questioning gaze to Kelton. "Did I miss something?" he asked the healer.

"Justin!" Daphne launched herself off of Brian and into Justin's arms, almost knocking him over as well.

"What on earth is going on?" Justin asked as he spit out a mouthful of Daphne's hair.

Brian tiredly pulled himself into a sitting position. "Sunshine, meet the newest member of our family." He gestured toward Kelton.

Justin smiled widely and pushed Daphne away so she was at arm's length. "He finally asked?"

Daphne could only nod and Justin thrust a hand out to Kelton, who reached out and shook it. "Well, it's about time!"

Before Kelton could reply, a cry was heard outside the tent and throughout the camp.

“The Maynoran army approaches!" Horns began to sound. "Prepare for parley! The Maynorans are here!"

 

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