The Duke of Tremont II - Bloodspell

Chapter 5

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Blake, Andrew and Prince Tristan rode quietly along the dark forest path with Blake’s bright golden mage light bouncing just above their heads to light the way.

“Uncle Blake, how much further?” Tristan asked over his shoulder from his saddle.

“Oh, another few days until Sylvania if my calculations are correct,” Blake replied.

Tristan simply grunted in reply and Blake frowned a bit, spurring his horse forward to move next to his nephew. “Are you feeling all right?” He asked his nephew, reaching out a hand to feel the boy’s forehead.

“I’m a little dizzy and kind of cold,” Tristan met his uncle’s eyes. “It’s father’s illness isn’t it? I’m getting worse.”

Blake bit his lip and nodded. There was no point in lying to the boy now. “Drew!” he called out to the knight who had been leading their party.

Drew doubled back. “What is it?” He peered at both men with concern.

“We must stop. I have to do another healing for Tristan.”

Drew’s brows knit together. “So soon? You just did one yesterday.”

Blake nodded. “He’s running a fever.”

Drew quickly dismounted and moved over to help Tristan down. “I’m scared, Drew,” Tristan spoke softly to the man who had protected him since he could remember. “I don’t want to die,” he lamented as Drew carried him to where his uncle was laying out his blankets.

“Blake will help you, Tris,” Drew spoke with confidence he didn’t quite feel. He loved his charge greatly and it broke his heart to think of losing him, not to mention his homeland losing the great king he knew Tristan could be.

“What if he can’t?”

“He’ll do his best, son. We both will.” He lay the young man down gently and went to gather wood for a small fire so Blake could heat his herbs for a potion.

 

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Dawn came all too soon for the duke’s party. Justin and Brian had indeed found a suitable clearing to camp in the afternoon before, despite their impromptu tryst, and the exhausted riders had all fallen into their bed rolls as soon as dinner had been served and cleaned up.

The morning sun shone in Justin’s eyes and he yawned, rolling closer to Brian’s warm body. He smiled as he thought about the previous day’s seduction, and how Brian had taken that lesson to heart, pointedly moving their bed roll away from the others last night, continuing what Justin had started atop Brian’s steed.

“You’re looking quite pleased with yourself.” Brian’s husky morning voice sent a shiver down Justin’s spine.

“Last night was wonderful,” Justin replied as he traced a lazy circle on Brian’s bare chest. “Thank you.”

“You never have to thank me for loving you, Sunshine,” Brian answered as he wrapped both arms around Justin’s torso. “I’m sorry I’ve been distant.”

“I told you yesterday, it’s all right. You have a lot on your mind.”

“The closer we get to Sylvania, the stronger my feelings are that something is amiss.” He moved his hand up and ran it absently through Justin’s blonde hair.

“I know, I can feel it within you. You had another nightmare last night.”

“Aye, it was the same one. I think my brother is slipping away from us.” Brian’s voice broke and Justin moved up his body to pull him into a comforting embrace. Brian buried his face in Justin’s neck and let his lover’s peaceful presence wash over him for a moment.

Finally Brian cleared his throat and pulled away. “Thank you, Justin,” he whispered softly into Justin’s ear.

“You never have to thank me for loving you.” Justin smiled as he repeated Brian’s words back to him.

Brian returned the smile and kissed Justin tenderly on the lips. He then groaned and rolled away. “As much as I would enjoy laying here with you all day we need to rouse the others and get on the road.” He threw aside their cover and reached for his pants. He turned back and pointed at Justin. “And you are riding your own horse today.”

Justin feigned a pout. “If you say so, my lord.” He crawled out of bed to retrieve his own trousers, but Brian stopped him.

“Oh, I do say so.” Brian dug into Justin’s pack and pulled out an older pair of pants that were not particularly flattering. He thrust them at Justin. “Here, wear these. If you lace yourself back into those other things I cannot be responsible for my actions and we’ll never get to Sylvania.”

Justin laughed heartily as he took the pants in question and shook them out. Brian tried to stifle a smile, but burst into laughter as well when Justin stood and pulled up the offending garment, that rather baggily hid Brian’s favorite asset of his.

As they went about their morning chores they both chuckled at the private joke whenever their eyes met. The others simply smiled and rolled their eyes at the couple‘s antics, happy to see Brian so animated.

 

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Soon enough they were on the road again and the riders’ lively mood from the morning slowly drained from them as the oppressive heat of the afternoon sun bore down on them. The area they currently rode through had once been a beautiful green meadow surrounded by dense forest, but had turned brown and dusty with the lack of rain.

Justin especially was flagging, having been kept up through much of the night by Brian’s ardor.

“Justin!” Daphne rode up next to her friend and laughed when he jerked in his saddle. “You’re going to lose your seat and embarrass yourself.”

“I can’t help it,” he almost whined. “I’m so tired and it’s too hot.”

Daphne opened her personal water jug and poured some of the liquid onto a scarf. “Here tie this around your neck, it will help keep you cool.”

Justin took the scarf and his eyes opened with surprise. “Daphne, it’s really cold! How did you do that?”

The young woman nudged her horse closer to Justin, placing a finger to her lips as her eyes darted to the others. “Shhh, not so loud. I placed a cooling charm on my water, but don’t say anything to the others.”

Justin gaped at his friend. “I know Mel was teaching you some of her craft, but I didn’t know you could do things like this. Why can’t I tell anyone? It’s amazing!”

“I just don’t want everyone to know. There are a lot of people who are still not comfortable with the idea of me being a witch.”

“I don’t think that applies to anyone here, Daph. You’re safe with us.”

“I know, but, well, some fears die hard and Mel says it’s best not to flaunt ourselves.”

“So could you do that to my water?” Justin continued, undaunted.

Daphne laughed. “I wish I could. I’m not very good yet and it was a bit of a struggle just to do my little jug.”

Justin reached out and took Daphne’s hand. “I’m so proud of you. I don’t think I’ve told you that.”

Daphne ducked her head as she blushed a little. “Thank you.” After a moment she raised an eyebrow at her best friend. “So tell me, why are you so tired today? Would it have to do with Brian leading you off into the woods last night?”

Now it was Justin’s turn to blush. “Daphne!”

The two continued to tease each other and drifted further behind the others.

Meanwhile up at the front of the group Michael had spurred forward a bit to visit with Brian. The two had been childhood friends and Michael had served as Brian’s first lieutenant for many years until he moved to Westlake with his husband.

“So how are you, faring, Brian? We’ve not had a chance to talk since you whisked us away on this journey as soon as we stepped foot in Lofton. You and Justin seem to be very…” Michael paused and thought a moment. “Um…happy,” he finished lamely.

Brian laughed heartily at his friend. “Well that is one word for it.” He laughed even harder at Michael’s blush, but his face sobered after a moment. “I am happy, my good friend. Justin makes me so. I’m sorry I have not been more inclined to catch up with you on this trip. How is your life in Westlake?”

Brian was content to listen to Michael ramble on about the goings on of Justin’s old home. He realized how much he had missed his friend’s gentle manner and his ability to distract Brian from his troubles. Of course, Justin was good at distracting him too, but one couldn’t have sex all the time, could one?

Ben, Emmett and Theodore comprised the middle group of riders, and they all seemed to share an easy banter as the party rode on through the afternoon.

A short time later Brian spotted a group of three riders quickly bearing down on them from the opposite direction. He raised his arm to bring everyone to a halt. Better to stop and prepare for the unknown. He adjusted his sword to garner easier access, as did Ben and Michael.

As the group rode closer Brian sucked in a breath when he recognized the lead rider to be his own nephew, Prince Timothy, Jonathan’s second eldest son.

“Uncle Brian!” Tim shouted a bit excitedly when he drew close enough to recognize who was waiting for them on the road. He continued his fast pace, but suddenly his face changed to a look of confusion and then terror as he and the two other riders reined in their horses quite suddenly. They gaped in horror at something that was behind Brian’s party of riders.

Brian felt the cold wash of dread crawl up his back right before he heard an inhuman, blood curdling shriek, Daphne’s frightened scream and then the screech of terrified horses. He turned his mount quickly and was faced with the horrifying sight of Justin, lying on the ground partially trapped underneath his wounded horse and a huge creature that resembled a cross between some type of lizard and a bird of prey hovering over him.

Daphne was sitting on the ground, apparently still in the exact spot that her horse had dumped her when it had spooked and run away. She sat clutching the small knife Brian knew she kept in her boot, but she was not so foolish to think it would do anything to the frightening creature that was, apparently, trying to eat her best friend.

Brian rode toward Justin at breakneck speed, cursing the fact that he and Daphne had lagged so far behind them. Justin’s pain and terror tore through their link, almost making Brian stop short from the sheer power of it. He also felt Justin trying to be brave, which would have made him smile if he hadn’t been so scared.

Ben rode right behind Brian, the others followed a little more slowly, hesitating to actually ride towards the giant creature that was unlike anything they had ever seen before.

Justin could hardly believe what was happening to him. One moment he was talking with Daphne, the next he heard Daphne scream as something hit him hard on the back, knocking him off of Stardust. Then the horse was toppling over on top of him, heaving with fear, as the creature tore into her side with it’s huge talons.

Justin was trapped. He knew his leg was broken, probably badly, and his back felt as if it were on fire where the monster had initially hit. He was trying to be brave and think of what to do, but the pain was beginning to overtake his senses. Somewhere in the back of his brain it occurred to him to push the monster away. It did occur to his rational side that this was a ridiculous notion, but he could not keep the thought at bay. In his mind he saw himself pushing his arms out in front of him, holding the monster away from he and Stardust.

Brian gasped when he felt the link between he and Justin go blank. One quick look at his lover did not relieve his panic, for the boy was laying back with his eyes closed.

“Oh my God!” He heard Ben gasp from behind him.

Brian looked again and was shocked to see the monster screeching in anger as it seemingly threw itself against a wall that none of them could see. It was furious as it tried to reach its prey from all angles.

“Is it you?” Ben asked Brian, knowing of his gifts.

Brian shook his head in awe. The creature screeched again and flew up into the air in frustration. It circled, obviously deciding to find a different target for its meal. It cried out again and began a dive toward Daphne.

“Come, we must distract it!” Brian yelled to Ben as they both rode hard to the young woman’s side.

Before the bird/lizard could complete it’s dive, three strange men rode breakneck into the meadow from the dense woods. One of them stopped short, then sat perfectly still for a moment and raised his arms high above his head. A flash of blinding light came from his hands and flew into the creature’s side. Almost before anyone could blink the animal howled and fell to the ground, most certainly dead.

Brian and the others could only stare at the newcomers as they tried to comprehend what had just happened. The young man who had just single handedly killed a monster with nothing but his bare hands assessed the crowd before him and rightly guessed Brian to be their leader. He moved forward to greet the man.

Brian could still do naught but stare, even forgetting about Justin for a moment as he tried to process this new information. “Who are you?” he asked the approaching man. “How did you do that?”

“I am Mage Master Blake of Maynor.” Blake smile disarmingly and then shrugged. “I find that the best way to kill a magical creature is with magic. Wouldn‘t you agree?”

“Huh.” Is all Brian could muster himself to say.
 

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