Darkness

Darkness

Chapter 24                Hot Cider and the Voyeur



The boy was just finishing up a huge meal, for the ladies filled his plate several times with fresh warm meat, cheese, and stewed apples. They also brought him all the honey, butter, and bread he could eat until he was so stuffed that he found the very idea of moving absolutely unthinkable. So he sat very still in front of the warm hearth, slowly drinking a second large wooden mug of hot mulled Cider that tasted richly of cinnamon and spices. Keylyn felt eyes studying him from the doorway as he drank. He turned suddenly, expecting to see Darkness, but instead he found the tall, austere, handsome servant Cabot, with his conservative short dark brown hair. The older man’s brown smoldering eyes seemed to assess every inch of him. Keylyn forced himself to look away, from both embarrassment and discomfort, for he was quite sure the man knew very well how Darkness had made use of him, even if his body had been mostly concealed by the bed furs. He remembered that Cabot had watched intently, as Darkness casually amused himself with his body, and the man even heard Keylyn’s pathetic tormented responses. What could he say to this man if he asked questions about what went on in the master’s bed?



“Ah! There you are little Keylyn, the Master asked me to check on you and see to anything you need. But I can tell you must be feelings much better, for these dear ladies have obviously fed you well. Take your time drinking that cider, young man, because I will join you here at the table in front of the hearth and take my lunch, if the ladies will be so kind. And. then, boy, I shall take you on a tour of the castle. That is, if you feel up to it and would like to go with me. The master told me to make you feel at home and show you around. ” Cabot sat across the table from the boy, never taking his predatory eyes off of him.



Emilee, the younger sister, smiled almost flirtatiously at the man then said, “Of course Steward Cabot, your lunch will be coming up right away. What would you like to drink with your meal? We have mead,* hard cider, fresh spring water, and of course hot mulled cider which will warm you right up, Sir, if you’re cold, that is. ”

_{*[ type of beer made from honey]}

“I’ll have what the boy is having, fill his mug up again too, for I’d like him to keep me company while I eat. ”

 

“Hot cider it is then, Master Cabot. ” Said the flirtatious Emilee. She then handed the steward his hot cider and poured some more into Keylyn’s mug.



Keylyn, to his dismay, found that Cabot appeared so focused on him that he hardly seemed to have any interest in the pretty little kitchen lady or even the meal she put in front of him. Did Seer’ Reign know his trusted servant had an unnatural interest in his new pet? Was it one of Darkness’ games, an excuse to punish Keylyn if he dared to reciprocate that interest? Or was Keylyn just being overly suspicious? Not really, for he wouldn’t put anything past the dark Wizard, since he was quite capable of just about anything, even murder. The boy decided, right then and there, that he wouldn’t fall for Seer’ Reign’s or the Steward’s games. He would make sure the wizard’s spy had nothing to tell his Master.



While the Steward was eating his lunch, he kept a running conversation going all by himself: “You seemed to be in much better shape physically, than when I last saw you, boy. The Master called me a day and a half after the ritual to bring him some energizing potions and medicines to heal you, when I arrived I found your feverish young body exposed, unconscious, and barely breathing on the master’s bed. The master seemed to be very concerned about your physical condition. He feared that he had drained off too much of your magic, thus leaving you too weak to recover quickly. But, finally, he got the potions and medicines in you, then you slipped into a regular and normal sleep. Now, boy, I am quite overjoyed to see that you look so well and that you are almost completely recovered. I am sure Lord Seer’ Reign will be most pleased when he returns to see that you are doing so well. Also, I see you found the clothing the Master had me acquire for you, that too is most excellent!” The man rattled off in a stream of words, as he continued to stare, rudely, at Keylyn.



“Yes, I am very well, Sir, and I found the clothing. It's much better than running around completely naked for it is much too cold. But, good steward, I'm curious, does the master actually expect me to wear some of that clothing that you purchased as it's so very frilly and obscenely feminine? After all, I am male and not a little girl. ”

“Boy, you are beautiful and exquisite, very much like a pretty little girl. My beloved master has certain particular tastes. Just a little warning, boy ... I suggest you obey his eccentric demands and be his pretty little girl, or anything else he wishes you to be, or you just might feel his considerable wrath. ”

Yeah right! Thought Key. Like he hadn’t already felt Darkness’ terrible wrath already? Or, for the matter, his merciless, perverse lust? It wasn’t as though he had a choice to refuse his dark master's orders. He was now magically bonded to the man by that awful ritual despite his personal wishes. It seemed he had no choice but to obey him, whether he liked it or not.



“Truly, Steward Cabot, I will consider your words. ” Keylyn replied  quietly, concealing his resentment and sarcasm behind a polite brief grin.



“So, boy, are you up to taking a little walk around the Castle? If you tire, just tell me and we will stop immediately then I will escort you back to your chamber to rest. ” Said the steward rising to his feet before slowly moving toward the door.



“Yes, Cabot, I would like to see the castle. I think I will enjoy taking a little walk to stretch my legs. ” Replied Key getting to feet and following him.

"Good, boy, I would be most disappointed if you didn't want to come with me."  Then for emphasize a nervous, impatient Cabot placed a warm hand on the boy's shoulder as if to hurry him from the kitchen.  



Before Keylyn left the kitchen, he paused smiling, politely, thanking the ladies for his meal. They smiled back and the older one, Bess, said laughing, “Come to us any time you are hungry, Young Keylyn, we will be most happy to feed you and help put weight on your all too slender bones. ”