Neko-laus 3: A tale of two kings

Chapter Two
Shawelle

I had a bitch of a headache that just wouldn’t go away. I finally gave into Baret’s suggestion of a warm bath then remembered that this place didn’t have the modern plumbing indulgences I had taken for granted so quickly when I got to the Shambles. Normally I would have just put the breaks on everything when the big wooden tube was rolled in but Mom’s words echoed through my head.

Acceptance.

This was how it was out here in the Wild. I never used to question it growing up. So I sat on my bed for a bit then laid down with the crook of my elbow over my nose to block out some of the light and noise around me. I’ve discovered to pick my battles and if I pick the right ones the others seem to fall into my favor. After the large round tub was filled all the bath attendants who had been more than willing to lay down so I could walk all over them were dismissed. That was new.

I sat up and found the room empty except for Baret and myself. “Your Highness, once I assist you undressing I will leave you to your soak.”

“I can undress myself, Baret. It’s not like I’m wearing something fancy that needs two people to get me out of. If you want to help me out, get me a beer.”

“The palace stores has wine and stronger spirits.”

“Beer’s fine. I might not look it but I’m a nasty drunk. I just want something to dull the pain. How the hell did my Mother do this day after day?”

“Lady Witch is an extraordinary woman, Your Highness.”

“In private, you can call me Nicholas, you know.”

“No I can’t, Your Highness.”

I accepted that I wasn’t going to get Baret to call me Nicholas and gave up on trying to brow beat him into submission. Hands pulled at the dark green leather vest I was wearing. I started slightly as I glanced over at the salt and pepper hair. I must have drifted off slightly. I’ve been having this headaches and I’m exhausted by the end of the day. Half of the time I crawl into bed right after dinner and sleep until I’m woken in the morning or Mags rolls over onto my hair.

“I will get your drink once you are in the tub, Your Highness.”

The human step ladder had been replaced with a wooden step stool. I climbed in relishing the heat of the water against my naked legs. It took a few moments to acclimatize my nethers to the warmth but once that was done I sank back submerging myself to my shoulders. The soft scent of that first floral bath oil wafted up and surrounded me. Leaning back I rested my neck on the lip.

My brain was aching. I was tired mentally but the fact that I was tired physically from just thinking so much was a new one to me. I was more of an action kind of guy. I think it. I do it. This attempt at planning and maneuvering wasn’t working for me. Hands began to massage my scalp. Oh yeah that felt good.

“It’s a little cramped but there’s room for two.”

“I think if I did try to get in there we would get stuck.” Mags voice was low.

“I’ve been in tighter places.” I let my lips quirk up. “Not more than three days ago if I remember right.”

“Don’t be crass.” I got a kiss to my forehead. “Do you still have that headache?”

“No, this is a brand new one.”

“How’s this?” Mags fingers began caressing my temples.

I sank a little deeper in the warm water and moaned.

“I’m worried about you Nicky. You’ve had a headache every night for the past week and a half.”

“It’s just too much reading. I really didn’t have to do it much up there on the ship because I can’t read Empire and I was too busy running around in the Shambles. Speaking of running around, what the hell was going on in the courtyard?”

“You heard that?”

“Who didn’t hear that? What did you do to set Skore off like that?”

Mags let loose a big sigh. “I was supposed to light a candle. A single candle. I set the back wall of the school on fire. The berating in the courtyard was nothing compared to the language he used when it actually happened.”

“Sorry to hear that Mags. Are you getting better?”

I heard another big sigh. I pushed myself up off the rim turning around to see my blond Tiger standing there with a big dejected expression on his face. “Get the hell in here.”

I watched as Mags stripped off. Sure enough there was a bruise high on his shoulder were the bucket had hit him. I couldn’t help him with his lessons but at least this was something I could work on. He needed to learn how to catch and he needed to learn how to defend himself without magic. Wendy needed that too. I moved over to the far side of the tub as Mags climbed the stairs.

Well hello. Someone was happy to see me and right at eye level too.

Mags turned around and eased himself back against me. There wasn’t even a little hint of a burn in my tattoo which meant if he wasn’t his usual horny self he was troubled. I opened my legs and he slipped back until his broad back was resting against my chest. His head settled against the crook of my neck. I wrapped my arms around him pulling him tighter and we sat that way just listening to each other breathe. Up close, that bruise was going to get a little bigger and darker before it started to clear up.

“I take it things aren’t going well.”

“I can level city blocks. I can wipe out entire forests. You were with me when I flattened that central building…why can’t I light a candle?”

This wasn’t a rhetorical question. I could feel Mags straining and I wished I could give him the answers he desperately wanted. But I couldn’t. I wasn’t a mage. I didn’t have the answers he needed. “You are your mother’s son.”

“Huh? I told you she sold me to the Empire.”

“And the Empire suckled you to her teat. She taught you to be a killer. She taught you to be a destroyer. She taught you this because she knew in the end that leaving you untrained, without control, she could get rid of you.” I could feel the tension returning to his shoulders. “You are now taking baby steps when you are used to leaping forward. This is what is pissing you off so much. You are not accustomed to failure.”

“Failure sucks.”

That was just enough out of character for my blond tiger that I broke out laughing. I tempered my humor with a tighter hug and my wrapping my legs over his hips. I was forgiven my little out burst because his hands began to stroke my shins. Still no action in the tattoo but my own little Neko was starting to purr up a storm.

“I don’t like this.”

“Don’t like what? My cock drilling a groove in your spine.”

I felt his cheek press up into my jaw line as he smiled. “No, that I don’t mind it’s the rest of this.”

“You’re going to have to define ‘this’.”

“I don’t know who I am. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing. If I had…something to work toward maybe I wouldn’t be failing at everything. It’s embarrassing to be losing to Grant. I have always been so many grades above him.”

I couldn’t do anything but hold him close to me. The warmth and scent of the water eventually pulled the tension out of him. This was a homecoming for me. I was walking into a place that was somewhat foreign but I knew the ground rules. This was a totally unknown element for both of my Tigers but it was only the lesser tiger who was flourishing. My Mags had been raised in captivity. He thought he had been free but his whole existence had been regulated probably from the day his so called mother sold him off. He has given everything he ever desired to keep him from realizing that they told him what to eat, when to sleep and what to kill. Freedom was daunting. It was tempting to step in and start telling him what to do, and the sad thing was that he would willingly do it.

“Your Highness…”

Shit, that scared me. I turned my head to find Baret setting a tray down on the side table by the bed. Another man set a pitcher and two mugs then bowed backing out of the room. “Witch Magnus did not eat.”

I glanced down and saw Mag’s eyes were closed. He was sleeping. I gave Baret a thumbs up then pressed my finger across my lips. Baret nodded, bowed his head and pulled the door behind him when he left. Since we got here there wasn’t really any ‘us’ time. Our sex was frantic and hurried as if there was something wrong with our emotional desires. Which was just bullshit. Forget how the hell this all started, we were tangled just like that damned golden twisted vine crown they were trying to shove on my head. Where he went so did I. Was he taking his meds? Did he still need to? Regardless of how tired or frustrated my Mags was, he got up the next morning shared some breakfast and went off to see Master Skore. He was working hard.

What the hell was I doing? I was never raised as a Prince. I can’t recall anything about my Father being a prince but now that I really think about it, the man who killed my father was the King therefore Father was a prince by default. Which left me next in line for succession once the King was dead, especially if there were no heirs.

I never thought of this complication.

If the truth be known, I never thought of anything other than getting Mags here to Mom and have her teach him control so we wouldn’t die. What were we supposed to do after this? Go back to the Shambles? That would be suicide. I didn’t see too many blondes on the ship and I sure as hell didn’t see any blond border guards. They would stand out to much and all it would take was one call to the right department and the Shambles would be ripped apart looking for them. Once they discovered that their King Tiger wasn’t going to implode then where would their eyes turn? Here. This place. This forest. This Wilderness that was home to so many.

So we had to stay here. If we had to stay here…

I looked over to the crown sitting on the bedside table. The torch light cast shadows across it almost like fire dancing on the gleaming metal. We had to stay here so I had to pick that up and wear it. Acceptance. The warmth of the water had faded but the heat from the body pressed against me made me want to stay right where we were. Acceptance.

Well crap. I was going to have to tell my jealous tiger that I was going to have to marry.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Mags snapped awake and splashed water over the side of the tub. My own heart was racing a mile a minute. The door to the bedroom slammed open and Baret rushed in. “Your Highness, the kingdom is under attack. The Lady Witch is gathering everyone in the Great Hall.”

“What?” Mags was blinking as he got his feet under him.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“You know as much as I do. Up. You’re still sitting on me.” I slapped Mags wet rounded ass as he wiggled it in my face. “Go, go, go.”

Baret had already laid out clothes on the bed by the time both of us climbed out of the tub. I tossed Mags my towel then hoofed over to the bed to try and get dressed. Baret attacked me with a shirt wiping me down quickly then shoved me back on the bed. He dressed me faster than I could dress myself, which was a feat within itself. Mags was still pulling underwear on when Baret pulled my tall boots up my calves.

“Help him out.” I waved at Mags then slid over to the wall and began pulling my claws on. I slipped into my harness and buckled it closed. It was loose. Damn. I pulled on the side strap to make it snug. Reaching up behind me I felt for the hilts. Perfect. I draped the bandoliers over my shoulders then reached for my wrist brasiers. I jerked slightly when Baret caught the back of my hair and gathered it up in a string of leather.

Mags was pulling on his boots by the time Baret pronounced me presentable.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Get Wendell there as well.” I ordered slipping a dagger into the wrist sheath after a quick inspection

“But the Lady never…”

I pointed at Mags. “They come as a matched set and they come with me.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I will assist Witch Wendell’s preparations and bring him to you.”

Mags stood up now fully awake and eager. He was a dog of war – a tiger of war - and this was his element. After all I’ve done, I was still a cub compared to him.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Your Highness. That sounds strange. I like Neko-laus better.”

“So do I but we got to get to something that’s got to get done.”

Mags took two stepped forward and caught me off guard. His whole body pressed against me as we rocked the dresser by the wall. The back of his hand slipped around my neck and urged me forward as he leaned over. Our kiss was sweet. It was chaste. It made my heart ache deep in my chest. “We walk on the battlefield together. We walk off together. Make that oath to me, Your Highness.”

“I’m not dying tonight, and neither are you, King Tiger.”

“Good enough.” I stared up into those blue eyes as he looked down at me as if he were burning the features of my face into his mind’s eye.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

We jogged down the corridors until we came into the Great Hall. The whole of it was filled with the Head Warriors of different groups all gathered in front of the Lady Witch. Mom rose to her feet when we came into the room. What ever conversation that was going on died and the room divided down the center aisle leaving a clear path up to the dais at the head of the room.

The ringing of the claxon ceased when I stepped fully into the room.

“Prince Nicholas, we have a situation.” Mom called from the front of the room. Mags stayed on my shoulder as I lead the way up to the front. “The eastern villages have been attacked by the King of Shawelle. All reports indicate that all the men and boys were slaughtered. The women and children were taken into slavery. Those villages that were the first to fall have now been taken over by Shawellen invaders. The Sawellen forces are advancing.”

A large map was brought forward and laid out of the floor before the dais. Mom pointed towards the lands under question. All the areas that were along the border of the invading kingdom were now marked in red. I frowned as I looked at the map. “Where are they now?”

An older man with jet black hair with one long white streak in it starting at him temple stepped forward. He was grimy with dirt and stank with old sweat. He pointed down to the midway point from the border to the palace.

“Why didn’t you send someone out to stop them before they got this far inland?”

“We did, my Prince. However, we are warriors and hunters. Shawellen has a standing professional army. Those we did send were slaughtered. Ultras here was the only one who returned.” Another advisor added.

“Then why didn’t witches go?” I turned and looked at Mom.

“I was Regent only until the true heir to the Throne appeared.” She clasped her hands together and took a deliberate step to the left off the dais.

“You saying it’s my fault?”

“You are the Crown Prince.”

My heart sank to the bottom of my chest. Acceptance was hard. I closed my eyes for a moment then took that step up onto the raised level. “When did this start?”

“The moment it became known that there was a Crown Prince.”

Mags spoke quietly but his voice seemed to ring out in the hall. “Then this is a deliberate challenge to your authority.”

“Yeah.” I stared down at the map wondering how accurate it was. I noticed faint trails of color through it like meandering lines under the text and illustrations. Taking a closer gander at the location of the palace I saw a pale blue line running through it. Whoever had originally made this map was either a Latent or had a Latent helping them. There was a golden power line running almost in a straight line from the palace towards the Kingdom of Shawelle.

Mom’s voice was strong and clear as she called out to me. “Prince Nicholas, what are you going to do?”

Did she know what I had to do? Did she have an inkling of what needed to be done? I think so. When I took over the Skullz the rest of the gangs in the territory equated new leadership with weakness. They had to be shown the error of their ways in the language that they understood. Back there in the Shambles, the currency of understanding was blood and blades. I sent out enough messages that we had an unprecedented year of peace. So what currency of understanding was it here?

Magic.

Blood and blades and Magic.

“Firestorm.”

I heard Mags snap to attention in front of me. I straightened and stood tall casting my gaze out across the assembly of men. From what I remembered, the man who killed my father, had a standing army but from the looks of the men here it seems that it had fallen by the way side.

“The kingdom of Shawelle has extended an invitation to play. Unfortunately he has come to our house and is breaking all our things. He has to been shown the error of his ways in a decisive manner.”

“We are with you my Prince! Our men are ready to follow you into battle.”

Wendy came running into the Great Hall still struggling into his shirt. His foot steps faltered until he saw Mags waving him forward.

“Thank you but I don’t need you.” There was a large out cry. “You have already said that they have killed off the men and have carted the women and children away. You would be throwing your lives away for empty buildings. Besides, the King of Shawelle is disrespecting my Mother and showing little regard for me. This is a personal attack.”

I turned to Mags. “Tell me you can set a firestorm across that region and send it back to the border.”

“Half the distance.”

“If I boost you?”

“Maybe three quarters.”

Wendy leaned in and looked down at the map. “Give me the outer edge and I’ll send it as far as it would go. I probably couldn’t get half the distance.”

“Straight up the middle, I could get it back to the border.”

I looked Mags straight in the eye. “You on your meds?”

“Yes. Master Skore knows about them.”

I clapped my hands together to get everyone’s attention. “This is more than just an invasion. If we can’t show the rest of the kingdoms that we are strong and able to defense ourselves it will be just wave after wave of attacks.”

“Which is why you need the rest of the warriors and hunters?”

“I’m taking King Tiger Magnus and Tiger Wendell with me.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s all. If we can’t repel these bastards, we don’t deserve to have a kingdom.” I returned then stepped off the dais making our way back down the aisle. Mags and Wendy fell into step behind me. Mom followed up the rear.

“Your Highness, I can lead you back to the…” The sole survivor looked like death warmed over.

“What’s your name again?”

“Ultras.”

“You’ve given us the information we needed. Get something to eat. Take a bath. Drink some beer. There’s some in my quarters.”

“Your Highness.” He dropped down to one knee and lowered his head.

“Thanks.” I turned and headed out of the Hall a little embarrassed with the show of loyalty.

“What’s going on? That Groom of yours woke me up and said get to the Hall.” Wendy ran a hand through his hair which only accentuated that he had his eye patch back on.

I thought I was going to have to summarize quickly but Mags beat me too it. “We are going to kill them all Grant but this time we are doing it for our own country. Need any more explanation?”

“Good to go, King Tiger.” Wendy returned easily then broke out into a yawn.

You can take the Tiger out of the Empire…

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enjoy the blizzard