For Lord and Land

For Lord and Land
By: Delilah deSora
Part 3
Chapter 4

**

The fires of insanity burn hot but they build slow. By the time you even realize they are there it is too late, you\'re trapped in the inferno.

-Ardel Aidan-

**

Sibley peered through his hair at the figure approaching his cell. He grimaced and forced himself up into a sitting position, careful to appear unfazed while inside he was trembling from fear and exhaustion. He couldn’t sleep for the constant sounds of those imprisoned about him and he couldn’t eat for disgust of the food they brought him.

But worse were the visions.

There were so many in tplacplace. Visions of ends and deeds he didn’t want to contemplate. Visions with faces he didn’t even recognize. It was this place. It was seeped in years upon years of pain, anger, anrrowrrow. There were innocents and evil alike. Fathers, sons, mothers, and people whom the world did not wish to associate with. So many things. He could barely close his eyes before their futures were upon them. It made sleep impossible and waking even harder. He was grateful for the solid wood walls on either side of him, blocking his view of those imprisoned around him. To see the faces of those who still lived would haunt him.

A figure strode to his cell and paused, violet eyes peering in at him. Sibley recognized the man and grimaced, turning his face away from the Ventaen. There was a distinct clank as the man’s hand slid from the bar, a ring on his hand scrapping harshly against the metal as he moved on. Through his hair Sibley saw the woman behind him gently reach out to touch the bars, only to pull back as though they burnt her.

Probably searching for their own people among the prisoners, Sibley mused. If their crimes weren’t too great they might even be allowed to go home to face what was left of Ventae’s justice. He hoped the man found some. Nobody deserved to die in a foreign land. Not like this.

He sighed and reached up, ghosting his fingers over the worn sandstone of the wall at his back. He longed to go home. He longed to hear the ocean and feel the breeze against his face. Grimacing at a sudden flash of pain and fear from centuries ago he forced his hand away from the wall. He folded his hands in his lap and froze as a familiar voice drifted down the hall, beyond his view. After a moment a figure moved past the barred doorway and peered in at him. There was a murmured command and the door opened, allowing the red haired man to slip inside.

He sat in silence as the Emperor studied him.

Behind him a knight shifted from foot to foot, obviously uncomfortable with having his charge in such a place. The Emperor ignored him, his entire attention focused on one thing. Sibley raised his chin, meeting the gaze evenly as he he had done everyday that the man came to torment him. Finally the Emperor turned his face to the side, breaking the gaze.

“You’re fault,” the man murmured to himself, reaching out and dragging Sibley to his feet. The Aquilaen hissed and pressed himself back against the wall. After a moment the Emperor blinked and Sibley found himself fixed with a firm glare. “You should have staid in Aquilae.”

Sibley shook his head. “No,” he countered, “I should have come sooner.”

The Emperor sneered and Sibley turned his face away as the smaller man pressed against him. He winced as a hand slid into his robe, clawing at his skin.

“Stop it!” He demanded, slouching down to escape the touch.

The Emperor sniffed and hot breath blew across his cheek. “I should think you were used to this,” he murmured, his hand resuming its journey down the soft stomach, “you’re too pretty not to.”

A trail of heat seemed to burn into his skin as the chain about his waist was loosened and Sibley struggled against the touch, earning a cruel laugh from the other man.

“You can’t stop me,” The Emperor hissed, pressing closer and catching the pointed chin in his free hand, forcing Sibley’s face up, “nobody can.”

Sibley snarled into the kiss and he made to bite but the Emperor pulled back before he could strike. “Is that all he is to you too? Just another pretty body?” He demanded.

Green eyes stared at him in surprise for a moment before he was suddenly released and the Emperor moved away from him. The man seethed and paced before the barred door as though he were the one caged. “You’re making him miserable!” The man railed and Sibley sat silently as the man flung the cell door closed behind him as he stormed through it, “He thinks of you constantly! It is eating at him!”

“Then let me go to him.” Sibley pleaded softly, unfazed by the sudden change in demeanor. He was fast growing used to the Emperor\'s erratic behavior.

The Emperor froze and stared at him with wide eyes that suddenly turned suspicious. “No. You want to take him away from me! He’s mine!”

Sibley rose, anger flashing through him as he grasped the bars of his cell. “He doesn’t belong to you! He doesn’t belong to anyone!” He shouted.

The Emperor backed away a pace and the knight came forward but Sibley didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on a point beyond them.

“We’re going away,” the red haired man hissed, “To Velin, where we both will forget you.”

When no answer was forthcoming the Emperor tsked in irritation and stormed away. Sibley watched him go before slowly releasing the bars he had grasped and stumbling backwards. A soft laugh reached his lips and he fell back against the hard ground, his mind a turmoil of visions that had suddenly crystallized with the remembrance of the sound of a ring clinking against metal bars.

“The bird will drag the dragon down.” He whispered, meeting the knight’s stunned brown gaze. “And we will all be free.”

As the scribe laughed Errol turned and stared at his Emperor, the words sending a shiver down his spine.

**

Dante stepped down into his pool, sighing in pleasure as the water welcomed him. It washed away the sweat and cleansed his skin of over a week’s worth of illness and being confined to bed. Pushing off the bottom he propelled himself over the sudden sharp slope as the bottom slid away, giving him two floors worth of swimming room. He caught an undertow towards the waterfall and let it drag him under the deluge of water. It slapped against his muscles and he groaned as it worked out the knots in his back.

Giving up the fight to stay afloat he drifted towards the bottom of the pool, making lazy circles on his trip to the bottom. His ears popped as the pressure changed and he frowned, peering towards the side of his pool as he settled on the rocky bottom among a forest of ferns. The water transmitted a series of knocks, like those of a hammer from just beyond. He wondered what was being built. As far as he could tell on the other side of his wall lay the outdoors.

Perhaps Ardel was having a new wing added? But why put it on the backside of the Emperor’s wing?

He shrugged and chased it from his mind. It really didn’t matter. A fern palm brushed against his leg and he kicked at it absently. Sunlight filtered down from above and he watched it play over his realm. This was really the only place where he could relax. There was no constant streams of servants or fear of a sudden visit from Dorjan. There was nothing to hide from. Nothing to pay attention to.

There was just himself, the water, . . .

. . . and Ardel who was peering over the edge of the pool at him.

With a sigh he righted himself and kicked off the floor, letting the water carry him upwards. He exhaled just below the surface, chasing the water from his lungs. Breaking through the water’s edge he wrung the water from his hair and moved to the side where Ardel was waiting for him.

Long fingers caught the side of his face and he murmured in surprise as Ardel leaned across the edge of the pool to kiss him. Heat poured through him and he moved closer to his charge, wondering what had kindled the dragon’s blood within him.

Then again, he mused as Ardel’s fingers buried themselves in his hair and pulled him closer, he had been sick. Perhaps it was nothing more than a lapse of time.

“Out!” Ardel growled against his lips and tugging at his hair.

Dante smiled and reached out, easily snatching the man from the edge and dragging him into the pool. He had to duck as Ardel flailed wildly, nearly dragging them both down in his panic. Clasping the man firmly to his chest he murmured nonsense until Ardel stilled, his chest heaving like a frightened rabbit’s.

“There you go.” Dante whispered, letting one arm slid down to Ardel’s waist and using he other one to steady himself in the water.

Ardel’s fingernails dug painfully into his forearm. “Let me out!” He demanded.

Dante shook his head and began working on the ties that held Ardel’s shirt closed. “Let’s have some fun.” He said.

Ardel kicked, slightly to show his displeasure. “Fun is for solid ground.” He protested.

Dante succeeded in dragging the water-laden shirt off of his lover and let it float away as he turned his attention to the pale shoulders that had been revealed. “Relax.” He murmured against the soft skin, punctuating his words with a small nip, “I’ll hold you.”

Ardel bowed his head and stopped struggling. Dante turned him in his arms and smiled as his lover wrapped his arms around his neck, clinging tightly. He captured the pursed lips with his own, urging them open so that he could sample the warm mouth. Ardel’s arms tightened, pulling them tighter ther.her.

He felt Ardel’s power flicker over him almost desperately and Dante found himself being forced back to shallower waters lest the sheer intensity of the power cause him to forget himself and drag them both under. His feet touched the bottom and he reached behind him, flailing about until his hand caught the side of the pool. Turning towards it he backed his lover up until Ardel rested against it.

The red haired man suddenly realized he could stand on his own and Dante chuckled for it seemed to restore his lover’s confidence. He suddenly found his mouth being ravaged. Ardel’s tongue flickered into his mouth, making his lower body tighten. He caught the narrow hips and leaned over his lover, bowing Ardel back against the side. Ardel’s mouth broke away from his and he lowered his head to taste pale nipples made tight by the cold water surrounding them.

Ardel cried out softly, writing against him. Dante watched as a pale hand slid down to tease the taunt stomach before, long fingers running over the carefully crafted muscles. Ardel’s breath began to hitch and he pulled back to blow across the red flesh, earning a keen as Ardel flung his head back. He closed his mouth about the bared neck, feeling the erratic beat of his lover’s heart under his tongue. Closing his eyes he let Ardel’s heat flow over him, bringing with it a warmth that his own power did not allow him to possess.

The need to have that heat surrounding him became overpowering and he pulled back. Ardel watched him through lowered lashes, clinging to the side as he manipulated the wet pants from his lover’s hips. He flung them aside and promptly forgot they ever existed as his world narrowed, leaving nothing but his need for the man before him.

Ardel’s arms greeted him on his return and he reached between them, brushing his fingers over Ardel\'s hot flesh. Nails dug into his back and he hissed, closing his eyes against the surge of lust the action produced. Ardel ground against him and he let his head fall back, exhaling heavily. A hot mouth closed about one of his nipples and he shuddered, his knees giving out as Ardel teased it mercilessly. Sharp teeth nipped and tugged only to release the tormented flesh so that Ardel’s tongue could flicker over it, sending sharp sparks of pleasure to course through him.

Unable to contain himself any longer he caught the back of his lover’s knee, forcing Ardel to lay against the side of the pool as he draped the leg over his shoulder and leaned into his lover. Catching Ardel’s arousal in his hand and stroking it firmly he worked his way into the smaller body, only stopping when he could bury himself no farther.

Glorious heat suffused into his body as the dragon’s fire licked at his very soul. He pulled out only to push back in hungrily, forcing Ardel to arch and give up more of his power. He moved quickly, feeding the flames in his lover until Ardel was writhing underneath him, nearly screaming for release from the fire in his blood.

Dante’s hand was slick with Ardel’s precum as he worked his lover mercilessly, water cascading over the pale form as he moved against his lover, desperate for more that heat. Ardel suddenly arched, his muscles tensing as he was pushed over the edge. Dante growled at the sudden pressure and thrust for the last time, the sheer strength of the movement driving him partially up onto the side of the pool. He cried out hoarsely as he felt his own power rush up into him and through his release crash over the man beneath him.

Ardel cried out sharply his body tensing again as the leviathan’s power slammed into him, washing the dragon’s fire from his veins and banking the angry flames that had been licking at him. He collapsed against the wet floor, trembling from the exertion. He hadn’t realized until now just how hotly the fires had burned and their disappearance left him weak and satisfyingly empty.

Reaching down he ran his fingers through his lover’s black hair. Dante murmured something and kissed his fingers before burying his face against Ardel\'s side. Ardel smiled gently, shifting until he could curl about his lover.

\"I love you.\" He whispered, kissing the dark head.

Dante\'s lips brushed against his stomach and Ardel sighed, contenting himself with the gesture as both of them dozed in the warm sunlight shining down through the skylight. There was much to do before tomorrow but for now he was content to just let the world go on without him.