Time & Reign

Chapter 5

When Selav had finished, he cut the rope that held Noku, and let him fall to the floor.
“Take him back to his room on your way.” He told the guard.
“To Ketheran’s room?” the guard asked.
“No, back to the Itin room.” Selav replied. The guard picked up Noku, and carried him down.
Noku entered his old room, and remembered how cold it was there too, he also noticed that Wren-lav was missing.

The next morning Ketheran sent for Noku, upset that he hadn’t returned immediately from Selav’s room. Noku came in quietly, and stayed by the door.
“Noku, why didn’t you return last night as I told you to?” Ketheran asked.
“I was hurt master, they brought me back to the Itin room.”
“Captain Selav can be rough, but still that is no excuse. You should have come back here. I would have taken care of you. And where is your flute? I wanted you to play for me today. I have given you too much freedom lately. Last night you spoke back to me, and now you come and go as you please? I have only punished you once before, … I don’t want to do this, but you’ll have to learn your place.” Ketheran motioned for Noku to lay across his lap. Noku nervously crossed the room, and lay across Ketheran’s thighs.
“My god, Noku, what happened to you?!” Ketheran exclaimed when he saw the welts and bruises that striped Noku’s backside. Ketheran placed Noku back to the floor, and put his hands on his shoulders. “Noku, I want you to tell me exactly what happened last night.”
Noku tried to explain, but he could only begin to cry. Ketheran picked Noku up and carried him over to the bed. He held him tight in his arms as he cried. “I’m sorry Noku, I’m so sorry.” Ketheran repeated over and over. When Noku began to calm, Ketheran asked, “Can you tell me now?”
“H-he tied me up,” sobbed Noku, “he whipped me,… then he put his thing in me, but it had metal on it and it cut me. Then he left and came back with somebody else and he hurt me too. Then Master Selav hurt me with my flute and broke it.” Noku began to cry heavily again.
“Noku, when Selav returned, was he drunk?”
“I think so master.” Noku said through his tears.
“That lying snake!” Ketheran growled, and punched the wall behind him. Noku jumped. “I didn’t mean to scare you, Noku.” Ketheran said, stroking Noku’s hair. “I met Selav for wine with some other guards. He told me that you were asleep in his bed, and that he’d wake you and send you back when he returned.”
“He said you told him that I cry a lot, and that it shouldn’t stop him from hurting me.” Noku sobbed.
Ketheran picked up Noku’s chin, and looked him directly in the eyes. “Noku, listen to me very carefully, I never said that. I never told Selav he could hurt you, I never told him he could do this to you.”
“I believe you, master.” Noku said, and rested his head on Ketheran’s chest as he held him.
“Noku, you said there was another guard with Selav when he came back. What was his name?”
“I don’t know, master.”
“What did he look like?”
“He had short black hair, and a long beard.”
“Airen.” Ketheran whispered. “Noku, stay here in bed. I’m going to go have a talk with Selav.”
“No master! Please don’t tell him that I told you!” Noku begged.
“You don’t have to worry Noku, I will make sure that Selav never touches you again.”