Twilight of Ivory

Hello everyone, for people who read the teaser, the real chapter five is probably confusing because it deviates from the teaser. That's because I mulled it over and decided to revamp it. But here is the original chapter five, which is a little juicier and melodramatic, but it's 2000+ words and I'm sure many of you are exasperated with me for promising chapters that never came on time. I thoroughly apologize. So, here's some more stuff, and this is sort of like "fanfiction" because it never happens in canon. It's like an outtake scene. Unedited. Also, I wrote this first, so there are some similarities and even a direct quote that is seen in "Resolutions".

REPEAT FOR PEOPLE SKIPPING TO THE GOODS: THIS CHAPTER DOES NOT HAPPEN IN THE REAL STORYLINE.

Thanks for reading! Your reviews really make me want to update. The one about "dwindling sanity" made me laugh and made me write more, but then I never actually finished it until I got the most recent review, number 67. You are all great. Thanks guys.

They rode all day and stopped early on in the evening. They were near the border, and the captains and the Seur Lieutenant Colonel had to meet for crossing instructions. That was all Naru heard of Eulovanic that day. The lord never actually showed his face, although he did secure a sturdy roan horse for Naru to ride, with strict instructions to Prith on making sure he rode safely.

When the call for the captains to ride to the column front came, Prith passed the responsibility onto Djahn, who helped Naru dismount.

"Thanks." Naru wiped his dry, dusty hands on his shirt, and his thighs ached from hours in the saddle. He hadn't ridden a horse in a long, long time.

"Sure. Help me set up the tent?"

"Okay."

They took the packs off of the horse and began assembling the tent, untying canvas sheets and fitting poles together to make a frame. Unlike Prith, who talked incessantly, Djahn worked in companionable silence. As Naru went through the motions, he started thinking.

They were nearing the border. Once they were in the capital city, Eulovanic would make him bond, and then he would try to… get Naru to carry.

Naru didn't even know Eulovanic.

He couldn't do it. He had to do something, had to think up some plan of action to get out of Isormine hands. Maybe the spell would break once they were bonded? Could he run as soon as the ceremony was over? He could try—he had heard that the capital city was huge, once he made it into the crowds in the city streets, they'd probably never find him—and even if they sent guards after him or threatened him or forced him to try and escape by crawling on his hands and knees while that lasso pulled at his feet, he still had to try, he would never forgive himself if he didn't at least—

"Argh!"

He had felt the lasso slithering and constricting around his ankles for awhile now, but apparently the spell had had enough. With a rough jerk, his feet were swept out from under him, and Naru landed on his tailbone. He winced.

"Whoa there, Naru, invisible ice?" Djahn offered him a hand and heaved him to his feet. Naru's eyes were fixed on the ground, and his lip curled in frustration.

"I hate this," Naru grunted. "It makes me sick."

Djahn seemed to sense the heaviness of the situation. After a moment, he patted him on the shoulder.

"Why don't you go wash your face in the river over there?" he said. "Cool off a bit. I'll finish putting this thing up." Naru looked at him uncertainly, immediately regretting his muttered outburst. Djahn just gave him a push. "Go on."

The river in question was shallow and warm, winding away to the east from the mountains in the west Aryaun range. Naru splashed his face, trying not to look at the men who had already stripped and were bathing in the deeper waters, although he couldn't prevent himself from catching a glimpse of broad shoulders, and large hands, and muscles shifting sleekly in their backs—

He turned away deliberately gazed at the horizon. The mountains, Aryau, home…Jeremiah, Jared, all the children…

A pinching feeling at his feet. It was no use. Naru exhaled and turned his back on the river.

He walked quickly back to camp. To his surprise, Djahn had finished erecting the tent already, and he was lounging near its opening, looking up at the sky, something wooden against his mouth.

Naru only realized it was a flute when the music began playing.

"I'm a devil with a flute," Naru said, his hands itching already.

"Yeah?" Djahn wiped the blow hole with his sleeve. "Who taught you?"

"My ma." Naru suddenly grinned, a little sheepishly, upon remembering. "Actually, when I was six I broke hers by accident."

"You broke it?"

"Yeah. I slipped on some ice and bashed it into the wall. She was real pissed."

"Tan your hide?"

"Nah, but she wouldn't feed me or my pa that night." Naru smiled briefly, rubbing the back of his neck. "But if I was her, I probably would've beaten me up. It was a real good flute. She bought it from a craftsman over in the next town and everything."

"Good parents," Djahn commented. "My pater would've hung me out on a cliff."

"Yeah. I miss 'em." Djahn noticed that Naru's voice had a very careful amount of inflection in it, but soon he just looked impatient. He held out his hand. "Hey, you going to let me at it anytime soon?"

"Fine, fine." Djahn handed it over. "I do kind of want to see you blow."

"Suck me," Naru said, but there was very little venom in his voice. In fact, he sounded quite pleasant, and he was already absorbed in finding a place-hold for his fingers and lips.

He started playing a feel warm-up notes, a simple, cheerful tune, but soon he sped things up. The music went round and round, loud and fast, he was out of breath but exhilarated; he began to hop, to jig, to dance in the middle of a suddenly large circle of men and soldiers, clapping and jeering and cheering. His face was flushed red with excitement and happiness and melody.

And then something occurred to him. It probably wouldn't have if he hadn't been dancing and playing the flute, but it did, and at that time it seemed like a good idea.

Eulovanic heard the sounds of music, clapping, and general joviality coming from the other end of the campsite. He had been donning his clothes when the sounds began, and he decided to go find the source of them, buttoning his shirt as he ducked out of his tent and went.

The scene he came upon was surprising but not necessarily unpleasant. Naru was in the middle of a group of soldiers, dancing a funny little hop-jig, his face sweaty but happy, his eyes half-closed, his mouth pressed to a flute and playing out a loud, lively melody.

He had many talents. Eulovanic felt a vague approval.

The last few notes of the song tapered off. Naru straightened up and looked around at the men in the circle, his eyes bright. He had such a slight figure.

And then the words that no one expected:

"Does anyone want to take my virginity?"

Eulovanic didn't know whether to spit blood or have a nosebleed.



Eulovanic heard something ridiculous about "conducting interviews" before he had enough and strode his way into the circle. A hush settled around him as the soldiers that saw his face suddenly shut up, but the boy's back was to him, and he just kept on talking.

"I kind of want to do it tonight—"

Eulovanic turned the boy around by the shoulder, his grip digging into the boy's skin, and backhanded him full across the face. Not hard, just enough to get his point across. The boy looked stunned.

"Your lewd propositions are an embarrassment." Eulovanic's voice was cold. He turned to his men. "The rest of you shouldn't encourage him."

Eulovanic dragged Naru away, past the crowds, by the river and towards his tent, but before he got there Naru threw a punch at him. The blow glanced off of Eulovanic's cheek, and Eulovanic scowled darkly and tossed the boy to the ground. They tussled for awhile, but soon it ended with Eulovanic on top of Naru, pinning his forearms into the ground.

"You have talent, but little real experience," Eulovanic said into Naru's ear. He took several deep breaths and then said, "I'm quite angry, Iventhal."

"You didn't have to hit me in front of all of them." He sounded angry too.

"You were out of line and speaking like a common prostitute. Have you no pride as a daire?"

"Of course I do! That wasn't about me being darra." He struggled in Eulovanic's grip. The latter realized that he might be hurting him and so released him. Naru rolled around, rubbing his arms. They both got to their feet.

"You know," Naru said accusingly, looking Eulovanic straight in the eyes. Even his officers had trouble doing that sometimes. "The thing darra fear and hate most is to be reduced to their breeding capabilities."

Eulovanic returned his gaze evenly. "I won't deny that I want a child from you."

"Yeah, you made that kind of clear."

"Then why would you proposition yourself to others?" Eulovanic couldn’t help letting a bit of his annoyance creep into his voice.

Naru's lips pursed, as if he knew the answer but wasn't sure he wanted to say it. "Well," he said, almost a little defiantly, "I want the first time to be special."

Eulovanic was silent for a moment. He didn't really understand how this boy thought. Special? What was so special about picking a random, sex-deprived soldier from the masses and bedding them?

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I'll be having you for your first time. It would be…" He made up an excuse. "...unseemly if you were inadvertently impregnated by another." Actually, that was a very valid excuse.

Naru frowned at this declaration. Eulovanic ignored him. Instead he reached forward awkwardly and grasped his shoulder, trying to make his expression look sincere. "I'll make it special for you." Definitely more special than on a pallet in a tent. "In the meantime, behave yourself. Don't disobey me."

When Naru looked up again his eyes were squinted and flinty. He didn't say anything, only pushed Eulovanic's hand away none too gently and began to turn his back on him.

Eulovanic was incensed and more than a little insulted. His pride didn't take well to being refuted when he had just said such sentimental things. He seized Naru around by the shoulders again and shook him hard.

"I understand that you are sixteen years old—"

"Fifteen, you cradle-robber!"

"Sixteen years old," Eulovanic repeated, grinding his teeth together, his eyes boring deep into the boy's face, "but I expect proper conduct and attitude in all things. You may not be accustomed to it, but you are an intelligent human being, and I daresay you learn quickly enough. The development of your rapport with the men was…truly remarkable" Eulovanic's voice was acerbic "but as their commander, and your elder, and the man whose seed you will accept, I expect similar if not greater respect from you. Do I make myself clear?"

Naru hadn't been the one speaking but he was all of a sudden breathing rather heavily. He had refused to break eye contact but in doing so Eulovanic now saw that there was a telltale sheen to his eyes.

"Crystal," he said, his voice cracking on the last syllable.

Eulovanic released him. "Go," he said. Naru turned and walked away at a furious pace, his body language stiff and hostile. Eulovanic watched him until he disappeared back into the camp, and then ran a hand through his hair, looking down at his shirt as his body cooled down. He hadn't lacked for sweat during that confrontation.

He thought that he might have been unnecessarily harsh, but only a little. It rather disturbed him, thinking of his daire laying with someone else besides him, and for his first time, too! As if Eulovanic would let such a thing happen. The only good thing that had come out from that encounter was the knowledge he had now about Naru's sexual experience. He planned to claim him in the traditional sense now. The boy was, fittingly, a virgin.

Eulovanic grimaced suddenly, realizing what he was thinking. He sounded like one of those snotty elder nobles in Court, putting on airs when at night they debauched stable boys and servant girls against cold walls. He covered his eyes with the back of his hand. His behavior was quite possessed, he must correct himself.

Naru was, after all, only fifteen years old.
***

Naru was so hasty in trying to get back to his tent that he didn't even see Prith milling around near the doorway.

"Whoa, boy, whoa. Where are you going in such a hurry?" Prith caught his arm. Naru whirled on him and Prith looked taken aback at his expression. "Naru?"

"Shit, Prith," Naru said, looking around wild-eyed, avoiding Prith's gaze. "He's the most controlling fuck I've ever met. All he does is order me around. The fucker talks to me like he thinks I owe him something--"

"Wait a second, slow down man. You talking about milord?"

"No, I'm talking about my mother, dammit." Naru glared at him. "Fuck me sideways, Prith, 'course I'm talking about him!"

Prith's mouth twitched despite himself. "You've got a hell of a mouth on you, boy," he said, and then clapped him on the shoulder, nodding with his head towards the small washbasin and washcloths in the crook of his arm that Naru hadn't noticed.

"Come on, I waited for you to get back. Let's go wash in the river. You can tell me about it there."

They soaked in the river for awhile, and Naru unloaded his indignation on Prith. When he finished, he was out of breath, and Prith looked musing.

"You know, Naru, you make friends with everyone you meet. I'm sure milord feels it too." Prith smiled at him, clapping him on the back. "Just give it some time, buddy."

Prith's hand was warm and comforting inbetween his shoulder blades. His first Isormine friend. He looked down at his reflection in the water.

"Hey, Prith…you really won't sleep with me?"

Prith methodically splashed water on his face. "Told you, Naru, I like chicks."

"I know, but…"

"It's not just that, either," Prith admitted. "I really respect milord, and it would be betraying him if we did it."

Naru refused to give up yet. "Are you scared of what he'd do if he found out?" he asked.

"Believe me, if I loved you in that way, I'd wouldn't let being scared of him stop me," Prith said sincerely, looking him in the eye, but then his gaze turned mischievous. He started doing the pelvic thrust in the water. "Yeah, like this, baby—"

"Aw, man, cover that up!" Naru shoved him in the shoulder and sent Prith into the water. They were both laughing as the sun set in the distance, the summer dusk casting warm shadows on their faces.