Neko-laus 3: A tale of two kings

Chapter 18: Concubinius

Mags looked he was going to be sick, or throw up or maybe throw up and then be sick.  I held the simple candle pillar in my hands balancing it before me.  The rest of the hastily assembled Shambles gangs ranged out behind him watching our little drama without realizing how traumatic it truly was. 

“Light the candle, King Tiger.”  I looked into Mags blue eyes and saw...fear. 

My feet wanted to rush over to him and offer up my unwavering support but I saw the crowd of people behind him.  This little show of magic was key to the rest of the Shambles helping out.  This affecting the RIPpers and Grim because as far as rest of the gangs knew, I was still a RIPper lieutenant and Mags had been glued to my ass as only a mate would be during the time the Color meeting was on.

Grant moved beside him but A caught his arm then shook her head.  He looked down at her truly puzzled. “But I can do it.”

“It’s not your place.”

“Nicky, put it down on the table.” Mags asked quietly.

I could have.  To be honest I was close to pissing myself with fear because the last time he tried this he set the school on fire.  If he messed up, it would be me running around in flambé.  Then again, I trusted him.  I trusted him not to kill me.  I dragged those red chips out of him.  The river of light destroyed them.  What was left was his now, or mostly his.  He was strong enough to control it.  He was proud enough to force it to his will.  He was a fucking menace after all...and I trusted him.

“Light the candle, my love.”

Prior to this ass clenching event, the rest of the morning and early afternoon moved pretty damn swift except for those two hours the Doc had me in his clutches with an IV stuck in the back of my hand.  Unlike before, the white coat actually acknowledged that I was a breathing being with a working mind.  He spoke to me, explaining what he was going to do before doing it.  I would like to think that he had grown as a person but it was probably more the amount of sharp pointy objects Kravan relieved me of before I climbed up into the designated chair.  I winced but refrained from punching out his lights when he stuck the IV in.  Just concentrating on breathing was good enough to keep from panicking. 

“While you’re here...”

“How long is this going to take?”

“It should be no more than an hour.  I’m giving you two solutions.  Once the first one is done, I just clip the next bag in place.  We use the same needle.  Can you handle it, Mark IV?”

“You’ve been reading.”

“Of course.  I need to know everything I can about the patients that I am treating.  Considering you were on the flag ship, I had expected a full medical history on you.”

“I was even more charming on board.”

“Ah...with your permission I would like to run those tests I mentioned to see if that abnormal behaviour was indeed a seizure or something else.  I did tell you that I had not seen that amount of chip leakage in a person...well a live person before.  I was assuming there would be major motor core damage from Reaper assures me that you performed your normal routine flawlessly, if but a little weak.”

I just nodded.

“Considering what Reaper finds so valuable about you is your ability to manipulate energy, I’m surprised that the Vestibular implant is still functioning.  I thought I would have had to extract that as well but it’s still working within normal parameters.  Was your vision affected with vertigo?”

Was my eyes with what?  “I couldn’t walk.”

“Ah.  That implant works on the planet surface as well.  It will improve your balance and it maybe helping now with the scarring left behind by the chip.  If you truly want to remove it, once we have the medical pod I can prep you for surgery...”

“If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.”

“It will need to be checked every five years.  The half life of the battery should be thirty years but like every man made machine, it needs maintenance.”

“Now, I’m going to take some blood to run those tests and I also want to take a swab of your cheek.  You’ve effectively erased yourself and King Tiger and Tiger from the active service list but it never hurts to check the database to see if everything is as inactive as it should be.”

“Meaning?”

“All of you are specialized and forces of extreme power, weapons of the Empire.  Sometimes they want to keep track of their weapons with more than just a Citizen chip.  This way, I can call up your records and check things out without having to get invasive.  Meaning, cutting you open.”

“Oh, my all means the less invasive the better.”

“King Tiger said you had a sense of humor.  Frankly I didn’t believe him.”

“I’m the most humorous person I know.”  I replied tongue in cheek trying to ignore the constant ache in the back of my hand.

“So I would like you to really consider restoration.”

“How invasive is it?”

“Two probes would be attached here and here then you would be drawn into a tube.  Those probes will begin to bombard you with…” The doc touched his temple one after the other.

“Doc…”

“Yes?”

“Is it going to hurt worse than this?”

“Yes, very much.”

“But at the end, I wouldn’t have a desire to stab every white coat I see.”

“That is part of the appeal for myself.  When Reaper gets the pod installed, there will be a number of volunteers coming with me to inspect the facility.  They are no so quick to react and I fear for their safety because of your conditioned response.”

“Sooner the better then.”

“Drawing blood now.  This will ensure that your...uh, episode wasn’t a seizure.”

I tensed up but didn’t feel the need to draw blades on the white coat.  He didn’t make any sudden movements and he detailed what he was going to do before he did it. I skipped out of the room sooner than  expected.  Grim was still negotiating over the communicator so I moved off to find the Queen of the Burra.  A.  Ah’low-less?  A-lolice?  How the hell do I say my wife’s name?

I got to the makeshift stables.  The unique odour that hung in the air was pure burra.  I was about to round the corner when I heard a deep throated moan followed by a woman’s fully predatory laugh.  I slipped my back against the wall and strained my ears.

“You like that, love?”

Grant’s voice was deep and  lazy. “You want me to string words together right now?”

“It’s nice to hear that one’s efforts are appreciated.”

“Oh, it is appreciated, very muchly.” 

There were knickers and rustling of straw followed by a very feminine sigh. “Love?  What’s wrong?”

“A’lois.”

“Grant?”

“No matter how much I crave this. This isn’t right.”

“I’m not to your liking?”

“No..oh gods no, A’lois.  You are every man’s dream.”

“But not yours.”

“Damn it.  I’m not trying to ... that’s not want I want to say.  This isn’t how I want you to feel.  Come here.”  More rustling of straw.  “Where I grew up, a woman was the possession of the male who was strong enough to keep her.  She was private property.  She was cherished property.  I have seen enough the worlds to know that way of thinking is not the only way but the ways of my youth are more ingrained that I realized. You are a Queen.  Neko is your King and Arthur is his sword.”

“In more ways than one...”  Laughter broke out and the little bit of anger that was welling inside me just flittered away like a loathsome insect.

“That’s another thing I like about you...you make me laugh.”

“There has not been much laughter in your lives, my Love.  You can tell from the coldness that comes to your eye.  The burdens you carry as a blackshirt, you can cast them aside.  Just like this little piece of leather that you use to hide behind.”

“A’lois...no, give it back.  Don’t touch my scars.”

“They are part of you.  They have shaped you, but they are not you.  Wear them as a symbol of survival.  Don’t let them wear you as a sign of shame.  If it bothers you so much, when King Nicholas and Lord Reaper come back with this medical pod, get the doctor to fix your eye.  It doesn’t matter to me, I like your colors.”

There was another softer sound.  I frowned for a moment until I heard a loud and soft moan.  They were getting down to the nitty gritty again.

“A’lois.”

“My Love?”

“Why am I your concubinuis?

“In the far reaches of the north there are tribes that lack males. His only duty is to breed.  He is village property to be shared amongst all fertile females until captured by another village in a raid.  He is cherished property but he is not exclusive.  I don’t think they meant to do that to you but the court was trying to turn you into a witch breeder.”

“You felt sorry for me?”

“I took one look at you and I wanted to slap those children out of the way so I could get you in my arms... have you between my legs, just like right now.  I am selfish.” 

“No...”

“My father’s nickname for me is his little red wolf.  There is not much that I want but when I do see something, I hunt it down until it’s mine.  I am second Queen in the kingdom of Shangrilla and I can tell you without any doubts that my King will never lay in my bed.  This was a political marriage and I knew this coming in.   I thought in time, I would find myself a lover to warm my covers but I never expected to find someone like you.  Brave.  Strong.  Handsome and powerful.  The Witch Queen was stupid to have tossed you out of his bed but if you are willing, is you are wanting, I will trap you in mine.  I would be honoured to bear golden haired babes be they witches or not.”

“Nnnggghh.”

“I call you concubinius because you are the husband I choose for myself.  We won’t hide in the shadows and our babies would still be called princes and princesses.”

“A...you’re killing me.”

“You want me to stop?”

“I could die in your arms with a smile on my face.”

“Flattery will get you this.”

“AAaahahhhh.”

Okay, enough of that. I moved away from the door to the stables a little hard and a little conflicted.  No I wasn’t going to jump into A’s bed and I didn’t begrudge her finding comfort with someone but Wendy... I mean Grant?  What the hell am I thinking?  What was I feeling?  Grant and Mags were done long before I came on the scene.  Mags had carved him out.  Grant was the one hanging on to an old love but not under the little red wolf’s feminine onslaught.  I sincerely doubt much would get in the way of... Alee... Aly... Alice... damn it.  Besides, if Grant made her smile -- concubinuis away.  Besides, I knew my wife had things well in hand.  Hahahaha.

I headed back to the main hall fully expecting a big dose of no show from the rival gangs along the border between the Shambles and the City.  There was a history of lack of cooperation between us and that played to the guard’s favour.  Imagine by surprise when I walked in and saw the place absolutely teeming with gang colors.  I knew the Old Man was a talker but damn, I didn’t know he would be that good.

I got some nods from members I’d allied with a couple of times when it was just me and the Skullz and a hell of a lot more snarls and glares from the time I stood among the RIPper lieutenants.  Still, I got respect and the fact that they still gave it to me after my year of absence showed I had been a bad ass.  Hell I was still a bad ass... speaking of ass.  Where the hell was he?

“Nicky!”  I automatically caught the object flying at my head.  It was a thick pillar candle.  The crowd in the center separated showing the leaders gathered around Grim.  What the hell did he want me to do with this?

Grim stepped forward gesturing towards me. “You know what Nicky can do.  Some of you have benefited from his talents in the past. Do you need to see a demonstration of that again?”

The leader of the Keepers spoke up. “The only one in question here is that mage you’re putting a lot of stock into.  Hell even the worst of them can blow up shit but that usually means men too.”

A younger man I’d never seen before wearing the Sulfurs puke green colors of leader shook his head. “Pinpoint accuracy, Reaper.  If he can’t demonstrate that, we are not running with your operation.  It would be beneficial to have a medical pod hidden in the Shambles that offered fair and equal access but losing all my boys is not worth it.  After we have the pod, the border guard will be out in force and while they’re pretty much useless they can kill a lot of civilians.  Since its military, I don’t doubt they will let it disappear without a fight even if is considered obsolete.”

Which lead to me standing there before the whole assembly with a pillar candle balanced evenly on my palms about chest level.  Do it, Mags.  Do it now!

The flame burst into being on the pillar then blasted skyward.  I barely was able to jerk back head back out of the way.   The scent of burning hair made my stomach clench.  My bangs.  He singed my bangs...but he didn’t blow me to kingdom come.  I forced myself not to turn around and see if the wall was burning behind me. Blinking, my eyelashes seemed brittle and dry; I let my eyes drink him in. I couldn’t detect any hints of red power glyphs under his skin that so marked him as King Tiger.  In fact the way he was standing there was all confidence and swagger that had just made me hate him in the beginning, but that was all the attitude of the number one killing machine for the Empire except...those sky blue eyes searched out my own with a worry that made me want to hug him hard in my arms.  

Fuck it.  Why the hell not?  I blew out the candle.

“So he has the skill but no one has seen this mage before in the Shambles.  Where did he come from?  Who vouches for him?”

I didn’t care who watched.  I didn’t care if I was damaging my rep.  My Mags was in control.  I didn’t have to worry about him losing it and turning the both of us into little charcoal briquettes.  Mags eyes widened as I approached as if I had anything to bitch at him about.  Hair grew back... eventually.  Catching Mags around the back of the neck, his golden hair was hidden up under a RIPpers black and grey bandana I pulled him face down to me and proceeded to kiss all the pride, relief and love I felt for him at this moment.  We were free.  We were so fucking free of the Empire.

“Uh, I guess it would be safe to say that Nicky vouches for Arthur.”  Grim’s voice broke through my rapidly expanding sexual haze.

“Huh?”  Mags rubbed his nose along me until someone grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me away like a kitten off a toy mouse.  Kravan pushed Mags back a couple of steps then set me down in front of Grim. 

“Arthur’s been accepted by the alliance.”  Grim shook his head.  “I know you’ve been down for the count for a while Nicky but debts must be paid before pleasure.”  Kravan dropped me back down on my heels.

Grim turned to the assembled gangs.  “We’re wasting time people.  Break into your groups.  Team leader synchronize time pieces with central command here.  We do this by the numbers casualties will be light and even if we do have them, we will have a hospital to take care of our people.  Move out!”

Mags touched his forehead in an ingrained salute then turned on his heel and marched out with the crews that were going to be creating a huge frickin diversion.  My heart grew cold for a second as I watched his shoulders blend in with the crowd.  I’d see him again.  We didn’t come this far to be separated now.

Grim tapped me on the chest with the back of his fist.  “Armor up, your highness.”

I gave Grim my best feral grin then turned on my heel to get ready for a night of hellish excitement.