Time & Reign

Chapter 6

Ketheran knocked hard on Selav’s door. It opened slightly, and Selav leaned out. “I’m rather busy right now Ketheran, can you come back later?”
“Too busy for old friends?” Ketheran said. He pushed his way into the room, and immediately noticed the dried puddle of blood on the floor.
“Selav, there’s blood on your floor.”
“Yes, I was just getting to cleaning that.” Selav replied with a smirk. “How is your pet this morning?”
“Not well, Selav.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. We had fun with him last night.”
“A little too much fun.” Ketheran said in the direction of the blood on the floor. “There was no reason for that Selav.”
“You’ve grown soft Ketheran, you of all people know that it is our right to do as we please with the Itins.”
“It is our right to use them for our pleasure, not to torture them.” Ketheran said, becoming even more angry.
“And it was my pleasure to torture to him.” Selav laughed. He poured a glass of wine offered it to Ketheran. Ketheran slapped it away. The glass flew back and hit Selav in the temple, drawing a thin stream of his blood.
Selav wiped his forehead in disbelief. “Is this the same Captain, the same friend, who has killed more Itin, shot more arrows into their hearts and split more of their throats wide then any other Targovian guard?”
“That was different, that was in battle. This was in my home, done to someone that I take care of!” Ketheran shouted.
“You can’t be serious…”
“… and to involve Airen. He would have made a fine captain…”
“Airen has a mind of his own.” Selav argued.
“And now it has been poisoned by yours.” Ketheran returned. Selav struck him across the face with closed fist. Ketheran countered with a blow to the throat. Selav gasped for air, and backed away, then drew a knife from the back of his belt. “You want to fight then?” he asked. “All this, and over what? An Itin!” he said circling Ketheran. “For too long, you’ve basked in your own shadow Ketheran. And what would your legend become if everyone knew that you drew Targovian blood over the bruises on an Itin?”
Ketheran lunged forward and grabbed Selav by the wrists. He wrestled him to the floor and held him pinned beneath him. Ketheran raised his knee and dropped it hard on Selav’s groin. He looked down at his once friend and fellow captain. Selav’s eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. That’s when Ketheran felt something warm running down his wrist.
Selav had fallen onto his knife, the hilt lay against Ketheran’s wrist, the blade was buried deep into his throat. Ketheran jumped up and kicked Selav in the side. “Selav, Selav!” he repeated, but there was no response. Ketheran wiped the blood from his hand on the curtain that hung over the window. He dragged Selav’s body under the bed, and left the room.

The hallways were empty. He returned to his room in a panic, and began packing. He took a satchel of arrows, and put on his sword. Ketheran tossed a cloak to Noku who sat up nervously in bed. “Put this on, and wear the hood over your eyes.” He said. “We’re lucky it’s raining, not many will be outside.” Ketheran put on another cloak, and threw a few loaves of bread into a bag.
“Master, what’s happening?” Noku asked.
“We have to leave Targov Hall, Noku.”
Noku wrapped himself in the cloak and pulled the hood down as he was told. “Master, I’m scared.” Noku whimpered.
Ketheran bent down, and adjusted the cloak for Noku, it hung on him like drape. “Selav is dead Noku, its not safe for either of us here anymore.”

They walked quickly down the halls to the stables together, careful to not make eye contact with any of the guards they passed.
Ketheran saddled his horse, and lead him out into the street with Noku behind him. They headed towards the city gates. The rain poured heavily down, the narrow streets were flooding, and Noku struggled to keep up.
“Master, I’ve never ridden a ….”
“We’re not going to ride him. When we get to Bentlock fields I’m going to let him go. Now keep quiet Noku.”
Noku obeyed, and followed his master in silence until they reached the edge of the city.
As they approached the gate, they were stopped by a guard.
“What is your business outside of the city walls?” the guard asked.
Ketheran kept his hood down, his eyes to the ground. “I am to take this horse and stable attendant to Captain Hensu in the village of Foln.” Ketheran answered.
“Who is sending you?” the guard asked, still not satisfied.
“They are gifts from Targov Hall. Look for yourself, the saddle bears the seal of a captain’s horse.”
The guard looked at the emblazoned leather, “Let them through.” He called to the guards ahead.

Ketheran and Noku had passed unnoticed through the city, but Ketheran’s mind was still burdened by fear. When they reached Bentlock fields, just outside of the city walls, he pointed to a hill just in the distance.
“Once we get beyond that rise, Noku, I’m going to let the horse free in the direction of Foln. With any luck, once I’m found out, they’ll think that’s where we’re going.”
“Where are we going, master?”
“For tonight, we have to make it as far as Tengol village. Last I heard it was abandoned during the raids. We should be able to find shelter there. After that, I do not know.”
When they reached the other side of the hill, Ketheran released his horse in the direction of Foln. They began walking west, towards Tengol.
It was well into the night by the time they reached the abandoned village, both were covered in mud from the drenched fields.
Ketheran lead Noku into a small shack used to store wood and hay.
“The wood is still dry. We should be able to make a fire here.” Ketheran said as he began to pile the wood into the center of small rundown room.
”Master, why don’t we stay in one of the houses. The walls here are falling.” Noku asked.
“Because it is disrespectful to the dead to stay in their former home.” Ketheran answered. He removed his sword and bow, and laid them on the ground next to the arrows and bag of bread. He undressed and placed his muddy clothes over the wood pile to dry, Noku did the same. They both naked on the dirt packed ground. Ketheran took a piece of bread from the bag and broke it in half.
“It’s a little wet, but still good.” He said tossing a half to Noku. Noku took the bread and devoured it. When he finished, he crawled over to his master’s arms and leaned against his chest.
“Thank you master.” He said.
“You’ll get sick of the bread soon enough. I haven’t figured out what we’re going to do for food yet.” Ketheran answered.
“No master, I mean thank you for defending me.”
“Listen Noku, Selav is dead because he was a brutal man, and training his guards to be just as brutal. Targovia needs good warriors, not sadists.”
Noku ignored Ketheran’s answer and reached between his legs. He picked up Ketheran’s member and began to gently stroke him. Ketheran closed his eyes and sighed. Noku knelt between his legs and took Ketheran into his mouth. He did everything just the way his master taught him, pushed back the skin and used his tongue. When Ketheran became fully hard, Noku turned around on all fours and spread himself.
Ketheran looked sadly at Noku’s opening, still raw and ravaged from the night before. “You’re hard now master.” Noku said, surprised that Ketheran hadn’t entered yet.
“Not tonight Noku. You may finish the way you started.”
Noku returned to sucking, until he felt Ketheran’s warm essence run down his throat, then crawled back into his arms. Even though both of their lives were in danger, Noku had never felt as safe before.
“Master, do you think we will escape?” Noku asked.
Ketheran didn’t answer Noku’s question. He rested his chin on Noku’s head and said, “We will have to pass through Curovon Forest to get far enough away.”
“Why can’t we go in the other direction?”
“Its all water in the opposite direction.”
“I can swim.” Noku said. “I can teach you and maybe…”
“Its an ocean Noku.” Ketheran said quietly. He reached between Noku’s legs, and began to tug him softly. Noku moaned and pressed himself harder against Ketheran’s chest.
Ketheran looked down at him. “Noku, what will you do if we meet other Itins in Curovon Forest?”
Noku only continued to moan.
“Noku, I will need your help to get through.” Ketheran said.
“I will tell them that you are the one who took me out of Targov Hall, and that you killed the man who hurt me.”
Ketheran kissed the top of Noku’s head. It was the first time that his master had kissed him, and Noku spilled his hot climax onto the dirt packed floor. Ketheran laid back with Noku in his arms, and they both fell into a worried sleep.