Kailin's Keeper

OooO Detour OooO

Standing just inside the bedroom door, Kailin struggled not to squirm under Lukin’s dark and assessing look. His submissive drive tugged at him, filling his stomach with a cold weight, making his skin itch like it had been burned. He had displeased a dominant. His dominant. And now his own body was making him pay.

In the dim light from the bedside lamp, Kailin saw a muscle tick along Lukin’s stubble-shadowed jaw.

Displeased was probably putting it lightly. “Lukin…”

“Kailin, I don’t want to do this now.”

“Lukin, please… I can’t sleep.”

Their eyes locked in a brief, silent exchange.

Lukin was the first to break contact, sighing. “Fine. Sit,” the commander ordered tersely. Kailin took a step towards the bed and Lukin’s arm came up, pointing to a chair against the wall. “Over there.”

Bare feet cold against the wood floor, Kailin padded over to the chair. He sat and pulled his feet up, hugging his knees up to his chest. In this self-protective position, he looked younger than his 22 years.

“Well?” Lukin barked, making no effort to put Kailin at ease.

“I…I want to apologize.”

Outwardly, Lukin showed no response to Kailin’s admission. “For what exactly?”

For a moment, Kailin wavered. He knew what he wanted to say, but forcing those words out would be difficult for him. The blond prince let out a breath, forcing his pride down, “Firstly, for blowing up at you.” He lifted his eyes to Lukin’s hoping to see some sort of response. Lukin just stared back at him distantly, so Kailin dropped his gaze and continued his explanation, “Logically, I know you didn’t choose this anymore than I did, and that you’re a victim of my father’s machinations as much as I am, but I lashed out at you anyway.”

When Kailin stopped speaking and fidgeted on the chair, Lukin prompted, “And secondly?”

“Secondly, I know I shouldn’t have left the capital. I ran away, which I know is cowardly and caused you and my brothers a lot of trouble. I am sorry for that, too.”

“I almost tore Araz’s head off when I figured out what he and Axial had done.”

Kailin’s chin snapped up at this. He knew how close Lukin and Araz were; rek, Araz was basically Lukin’s only friend. He hated that he may have caused animosity between them. “I’m sorry! You shouldn’t blame Araz or Axial though. I didn’t leave them much choice. I threated to go off on my own if they didn’t help.”

“You put yourself in dangerous.”

“I wasn’t! I can – ” Kailin trailed off his argument, seeing Lukin’s furious expression. He hung his head while lowering his eyes submissively, “I’m sorry.”

“Why did you feel you had to run?”

“I…You told me about the bonding promise my father had made. And then all of a sudden you’re talking like we’re going to go through with it. Like I didn’t have a say in it, just because my father tells you so.” Kailin warmed to the subject, blue eyes flashing with fervour. His tone became more assertive as well, as he added, “Despite what you and Father apparently believe, I am able to make my own choices. I choose not to be bonded.”

“Why?” Lukin demanded.

Kailin was unprepared for the no-nonsense question. “Why don’t I want to bond?”

“Yes. Why?”

Kailin took a moment to formulate his answer. “Because I don’t want to be treated like a toy or a servant. I want to be respected as a person.”

“I would never want you for my bondmate if I didn’t respect you,” Lukin countered. “And, I have never treated you like servant. Nor would I ever.”

“But you would have me under your control.”

It wasn’t a question and Lukin didn’t attempt to deny it. “Yes. Because I’m dominant, Kailin. It’s my drive to need to control and protect you.” Lukin gave him a stern look, “Especially something as basic as knowing where you are. Do you have any idea what it felt like when I realized you had run off? How angry I was?” Though he said angry, terrified would have been an equally accurate description.

“I really am sorry for running.” Kailin pleaded softly, “Is there any way I can make amends?”

“Kailin…”

“Lukin, c’mon. My drive is prickling like crazy. Yours must be, too. There must be some way to… pacify it.”

A dark brow arched pointedly, “Yes. A bond.”

With a sigh, Kailin amended, “Besides bonding, of course.”

A flicker of something indiscernible passed over Lukin’s face. “No.”

“What is it?” Kailin demanded.

“What is what?”

“You. You just thought of something didn’t you?”

“No. It was a ridiculous idea.”

“Come on. Tell me. What can I do to make amends for running off?”

“It’s nothing, Kailin.” Lukin spoke between gritted teeth.

“Lukin, just tell me. Neither one of us are getting any sleep tonight unless you do.”

“It’s nothing, Kailin. Leave it alone.”

“Tell me!” Kailin insisted, impatiently.

“I could bind you.”

Kailin felt his breath catch in his throat.

Reading Kailin’s stunned expression, Lukin snapped defensively, “I told you to let it go.”

It wasn’t uncommon for dominant bondmates to bind their submissives: as a punishment, or as part of sexplay, or as a regularly reoccurring expression of their drives. Even the bonding bracelets worn by submissives were a symbol depicting the practice. But it was taboo among unbonded couples.

“Can’t you give me a time out, or send me to bed without dessert?” Kailin tried to play it off, referring to the punishments Lukin used to give him as his keeper. Inside, it felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest.

“It’s not a punishment. You asked what we could do to appease the drives.” Lukin had been on edge since their fight. His drive was wound painfully tight. The dominance mixed with anger and fear and doubt. If he could just assert some of that authority the drive would settle. And so would Kailin’s for that matter.

“We’re not… I’ve never...” Kailin waivered and Lukin just stared him down. “What if someone found out?”

“No one would find out here, now would they?”

Kailin shivered at his stern tone. “If we do…that, you’ll forgive me?”

“I’m not bargaining with you. My forgiveness isn’t contingent on this.”

Kailin swallowed, his throat oddly dry. Butterflies fluttered in his stomach. “Okay. We can. If you want.”

“Try to control your enthusiasm,” Lukin deadpanned.

“Lukin, give me a break. I don’t exactly know what to say when a dominant offers to tie me up.”

“It’s easy. You say ‘yes’ if you want to. You say ‘no’ if you don’t.”

Kailin wet his lips, looking down and then looking up at Lukin once his decision was made. His voice was quiet, but steady, “Yes. Then, I say yes.”

Lukin pushed the covers down on the bed and got up. He was bare-chested, but Kailin was relieved to find the commander had a pair of bronze-coloured pants on. “I’ll need to find some rope. You’ll wait right here for me.” He had no intention of giving the young prince time to change his mind.

Kailin nodded. His nerves were building by the second.

Luckily, Lukin didn’t take long; disappearing into the hallway and coming back within minutes with several lengths of leather. He had boots on that he kicked off at the door. They were flecked with mud and hay. Lukin must have got the leather from the trudgers’ reins, Kailin quickly realized.

“Move to the bed.” Lukin directed firmly.

Kailin stood and walked over to the bed, strangely uncoordinated, almost tripping over his feet. He sat on the edge of the mattress. Lukin moved closer, sliding the leather between his fingers, checking of any rough sections or imperfections that might scrape the skin.

Kailin watched him, his luminous aquamarine eyes following even the smallest movement.

Lukin stopped in front of him, crouching low so they were on eye level. “Are you sure about this, Kailin?”

No. Not at all. But he wasn’t going to let that stop him. Kailin nodded, “Yes.”

Lukin took a slow, steadying breath.

Though he had known it wasn’t right, Lukin had fantasized about this too many times to count over the last few years. The intimacy of binding had never appealed to him with any other submissives he had been with. But with Kailin, the heady sense of power and dominance was indescribable. And he hadn’t even started yet.

Lukin took one length of leather ribbon in his hands. “Give me your right hand.”

Kailin looked at him and then trustingly stretched out his arm offering his hand up, fingers trembling almost imperceptibly.

Lukin delicately wound the rope snug around Kailin’s wrist, tying it into a bowline knot. He pulled the leather, testing to make sure the knot wouldn’t slip tighter and cut off circulation. It didn’t.

“Other hand.”

Kailin held the other hand out. Lukin took a second strap of leather and repeated the process; looping it over Kailin’s wrist, pulling it secure, tying it off, and checking his knot.

“How does that feel?”

Kailin tentatively circled his wrists, the leather pulled; his prick responded with an unexpected pulse against the seam of his cotton sleep pants, bringing flags of colour to Kailin’s cheeks. “S’okay.”

With a nod, Lukin directed, “Lie back.”

Kailin shifted, lowering himself back on the pillows. They smelled like Lukin – a rich, earthy, sage scent – very familiar. Despite the situation, he felt himself start to relax.

Working deftly, Lukin laced the ties together so Kailin’s wrists were held together, and then he pulled Kailin’s arms up over his head, tying a hitch in the ropes and lopping them around an ornate curved hook in the headboard.

All headboards in Arathrian were of the same coiled design, Kailin had thought it was just a style preference, but now he realized there was a much more utilitarian purpose to the shape.

Kailin shivered lightly, the new position was restrictive and left his body complete exposed and vulnerable.

Lukin moved down on the bed with a third length of rope. He pushed up the bottoms of Kailin’s pant legs and then went to work tying Kailin’s ankles as he had the wrists.

“Straighten your legs.”

Kailin did as he was told, the inseam of his pants dug uncomfortably into his half-erect cock. He squirmed but didn’t say anything.

Lukin hooked the bindings to a curl in the footboard identical to the one in the headboard. Kailin panicked for a brief moment, jerking at the bindings. The headboard rattled against the wall.

His former keeper stood up, watching him with smouldering eyes. “Settle.”

“Lukin…” Kailin’s voice came out uncertain.

The commander’s hands reached down, sliding over Kailin’s bound arms and then over his sides and taut stomach. His voice was hushed as he directed, “Shh…settle for me.”

Releasing a long, shuttering breath, Kailin stopped fighting it, sinking into the bed and the bindings. This was Lukin, he was safe, he didn’t need to worry; he didn’t need to do anything but submit. And something about that felt incredibly right.

Though it wasn’t that long ago he had been finding it impossible to sleep, Kailin found himself suddenly yawning, eye lids incredibly heavy.

Lukin’s short nails dug into the palm of his hands as he looked down on Kailin. He had known binding the young prince would be pleasurable, but he Burning Suns hadn’t counted on the intense feelings of satisfaction and desire spreading through him. There was no way Kailin could run away like this. No, the boy would have to stay right where he was, under Lukin’s control, until Lukin felt like releasing him.

The power felt rich and strong and thumped through him like blood. He was aroused, painfully so, but even that was secondary to the hum of his drive as he watched and felt Kailin relax and give it up to him.

The silence in the room was smooth and still. Kailin felt the warm weight of the blankets being pulled up around his shoulders. There was just enough give in the length of the bindings that he could roll onto his side into a more comfortable position for sleeping, arms resting up on the pillow by his head, held by the leather.

After a moment, Kailin felt the mattress dip, Lukin rolling to his side behind him. Reverent fingers slid against his lower back where his shirt had ridden up to expose some bare skin.

Kailin made a soft, sleepy hum of appreciation, mind foggy.

“Would it be so terrible?”

“Hmm?” Kailin tried to focus. He shifted, the ropes tugging his wrists snuggly.

Lukin clarified his question, “You said early that if we bonded you would be under my control. Would it be so terrible to have me in control?”

Kailin knew it couldn’t be any other way. Control would always be a huge issue for Lukin, as it would be for any dominant. How could Lukin be anything but what he was?

The question remained: would it be so terrible?

He felt the brush of Lukin’s fingers against the small of his back, Lukin’s breath warm against the nape of his neck, the leather straps holding him securely, feeding his submissive drive.

No, it might not be terrible at all.

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“Kailin, wake up.”

Kailin cracked an eye open. Lukin stood beside the bed, still bare-chested. Soft, violet dawn light filtered through the window, haloing his cropped black hair.

It was morning already, Kailin realized. Burning Suns, he didn’t think he had slept that deeply in…well, ever.

The blond prince sighed, stirring and stretching. When he moved he realized the ties on his wrists had been unhooked from the headboard, the lengths of the leather trailed across the pillow. He murmured a “G’morning,” his voice rough from sleep.

Gentle fingers brushed an errant lock of hair off Kailin’s forehead and then disappeared. “I’ve let you sleep in, but breakfast is ready, so you need to get up now.”

With another deep yawn, Kailin rubbed his eyes. He pulled himself up to sitting, pushing the covers off and swinging his legs around to sit on the edge of the mattress. Flushed from sleep, hair sticking up in all directions, he held his wrists out.

Lukin dropped to one knee in front of him and gently untied each knot. Thumbs brushed soft circles over the inner wrist where the knots had been positioned. Wrists done, Lukin reached down and untied the lengths of rope on each ankle, too, before straightening.

In three strides, he walked over to a travel satchel by the door and rifled through it, finally pulling out a shirt.

“Wear this.” With the order, a long-sleeved shirt sailed across the room at Kailin. Because it was Lukin’s, it would hang off the younger man’s more slender frame.

Still muddled from sleep, Kailin looked at it, confused. He had his own clothes upstairs.

Lukin hinted, “I have no problem with you making that sort of declaration in front of the men. But I think you’d rather not.”

Kailin looked up, clutching the shirt with both hands. “Huh?”

“If you’re going to wear your own shirt, you might as well just announce to them all that you let me bind you last night.” Lukin explained, nodding down at Kailin’s hands.

The prince glanced down. A rosy blush spread under his light gold skin. There, on his wrists, were pink, lightly chafed marks encircling his wrists. There was no way the men could miss it if he wore his own shirt today.

Standing up from that bed, Kailin tugged Lukin’s shirt on over top his own. The sleeves hung down, covering his wrists and part of his hands. If he walked out like this, the men would think they had slept together, but at least they wouldn’t know they had done something much more intimate.

“Uh…thanks.”

Lukin merely nodded.

“Are we…ah…going to talk about what happened?” Kailin asked, fiddling with the too-long cuffs. In the light of day, he was feeling awkward about what they had shared.

“Not now. Not if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t think I want to. Not right now anyway.”

Lukin nodded. “I figured. Do you need to use the washroom before you eat?”

“Yeah.”

“Go use the one off the upstairs bedroom, it’s private. Then come down and join us for the meal.”

“Axial?” He was nervous about running into his brother after what he had done last night. Axial would probably be able to tell what had occurred by reading his face.

“On his way back to Arathria already. One of the men went with him.” Lukin’s hand patted him on the back lightly, steering him towards the door. “Go on, or you’ll miss the food.”

With a nod Kailin, left the bedroom.

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Lukin and his men were already sitting down at the kitchen table to eat when Kailin wandered down 10 minutes later. Someone had cooked up a dozen eggs and a stringy, charred meat. A slab of durpas sat in the center of the table and the men torn into it with their hands, breaking off chunks.

Preoccupied with thoughts about last night’s binding, Kailin came to table and walked to the empty spot beside Lukin. He started to slip down onto his knees. Startled, Lukin reached out and caught Kailin’s elbow, clearing his throat. Kailin blushed and twisted slightly to sink down into the chair instead. It wasn’t a formal environment, so Kailin kneeling on the floor would have raised some eyebrows, thank the Suns Lukin had stopped him.

He glanced around to check if anyone had noticed his faux pas. Everyone seemed to be concentrating on their food. Including Captain Zaks V’Ox who was seated on the other side of him and currently shoveling food into his massive body.

As Kailin watched, the captain paused to take a swig from a canteen, a simple, silver chain hung from his wrist, visible as he lifted the drinking flask.

Kailin blinked, well that was new. He hadn’t even known Zaks was submissive, not that it was his business really.

Kailin cleared his throat lightly, Zaks looked over at him. Expression set in its usual, grim, professional lines.

Kailin glanced down at the silver cuffs with a nod. “Congratulations.”

A crooked smile lifted the corner of Zaks’ mouth, curving the scar that ran down his cheek. “Thank you, Your Excellency.”

“I didn’t know you had taken a bondmate.”

The soldier grunted in agreement, “Graven and I never advertised our relationship openly. The ceremony took place while you were on your trip.”

Kailin’s mind turned over this piece of information. “Graven C’Oa?”

“Mm.” Zaks made a low rumble of agreement.

Kailin felt a little shock of surprise. Graven C’Oa was even younger than Kailin. He had started apprenticing as a steward in the royal tower about a year ago. Baby-faced and soft spoken, Graven didn’t strike Kailin as the type of dominant who would be able to handle a submissive like Zaks. The captain came off as completely intimidating: rough-and-ready and warrior-strong. It just went to show one could never tell about people’s drives.

“Perhaps congratulations are due to you as well,” Zaks’ gravelly voice intoned.

Kailin looked over questioning.

Zak’s eyes flickered down. Kailin looked, and flushed with mortification. He had pushed the too-long shirt sleeves back without thinking; the red lines peeked out from under the shirt cuffs. He quickly tugged the sleeves down again, glancing around the table. “Oh…I…we…we didn’t…”

“Relax.” Zaks murmured, sounding almost amused, “No one else noticed and I’m not going to say anything.”

“Uh, thanks…”

Lukin interrupted, setting plate piled with food down on the table in front of Kailin with a bang. “Eat, Excellency.”

Dutifully, Kailin picked up his fork and speared the pile of congealing eggs. As he ate, he concentrated on his plate, too embarrassed to look back over at Zaks.

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After serving Kailin, Lukin prepared his own plate of food. Unfortunately though, everything he put in his mouth tasted like woodchips. He put his fork and knife down after choking down a full portion of meat and eggs and reached into the center of the table to break a hunk of durpas off the loaf.

As he ate with his right hand, he slid his left hand along the back of Kailin’s chair with feigned nonchalance.

He had thought binding Kailin last night would have calmed his instincts. But, it had had only agitated them. He and Kailin knew what had happened last night, but no one else did – that fact bothered him. He wanted everyone to know he had formally staked his claim on the submissive prince. He wanted to be legally and publically bonded. The bonding licence he had tucked away was burning a hole in his pocket.

He had even been jealous when he had seen Kailin talk to Zaks. Which was ridiculous because he knew Zaks was loyal to him and had no intentions towards Kailin.

Rek, the man was newly bonded.

He had heard about Graven C’Oa through word of mouth before their initial meeting. He hadn’t understood how a green, 19-year-old apprentice (often heard described as ‘plain’ and ‘harmless’) could think he had a chance of being an adequate dominant for Lukin’s prized captain.

He had figured it out the moment Graven had walked into his office. His young age, slim build, and unassuming appearance hid something powerful. Lukin wouldn’t be underestimating him like others apparently did.

Still, despite knowing Zaks was devoted to his dominant, he didn’t like how close he was sitting to Kailin and how Kailin would glance between bites of food.

The bonding couldn’t take place soon enough. He debated stopping somewhere on the way to the capital. A quickie ceremony, all they would need is the licence (currently on his person) and an official (who could be anyone working for the Arathrian state). But he knew Araz wanted it to take place with family around, and he couldn’t take that experience away from Kailin either.

Kailin turned slightly towards away from Lukin, towards Zaks. He looked like he was going to try and engage the solider in another conversation.

Lukin put that to a quick halt. “Captain V’Ox.”

Zaks turned towards him, coming to attention, “Commander?”

“I want to start back to Arathria within the hour,” Lukin instructed. “You’ll ready the trudgers.”

Zaks nodded curtly, “Aye, Sir.” Towering over the table, he rose from his chair. He grabbed a piece of durpas and shoved some more meat in it like a makeshift sandwich. Then he left the kitchen, disappearing outside to do Lukin’s bidding.

With a frown, Kailin turned back to Lukin, “Do we have to go back so soon? We just got here.”

Dark brown eyes glowered.

Kailin sighed, “Okay, okay. I’ll go pack.”

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The morning trek was uneventful, though Kailin struggled to keep up. Lukin maintained a much more brutal pace than Axial had the day before, and the aches and pain from the ride north were compacted by getting right back on the trudger 12 hours later.

By the time the suns were high in the sky Kailin was blistering in the heat – sweaty, sore, and begging for a break.

Lukin turned a deaf ear to his pleas, only stopping once around noon to have a quick lunch on the side of the trail. Kailin ate little, opting to use the time to walk around and try to straighten his legs and stretch his back.

“Don’t wander, Your Excellency.”

For a second, Kailin thought it was Lukin who had chastised him. But when he looked over, it was Zaks holding standing on the side of the trail, scowling with censure.

“I won’t go far, Captain.” He wouldn’t either. Not with the memory of the longfangs in the area so fresh in his memory.

Lukin had heard the exchange and he manoeuvred his trudger over to the side of the path beside Zaks. The two huge men stood side-by-side, twin pillars of disapproval.

Great, two of them, Kailin thought. He didn’t stand a chance. “Fine, fine, fine.” He started back towards them, trying not to walk obviously bow-legged.

“Are you ready to continue on?” Lukin asked, leading Kailin’s trudger over to him by the reins. Kailin found his heart beating a little faster seeing those adept, strong fingers wrapped around the leather straps. He couldn’t help but remember the feel of the leather around his wrists and ankles. Tying him. Binding him. Controlling him.

His eyes flickered up to Lukin’s. There was a telling gleam in those dark brown eyes. Lukin knew what he was thinking about. Boldly, Kailin reached for the reins, shivering lightly as the leather slid between his hand and Lukin’s.

Kailin smiled tentatively. He wondered how long their strange truce would last.

Probably until the subject of bonding was brought up again.

“Do you need a leg up?” Lukin asked, his voice husky and low.

Kailin shook his head, knowing they were standing too close. “No. I can mount myself.”

“And here I thought you would need me for that.” Lukin’s voice was pitched suggestively.

Kailin snorted at the not-so-veiled reference to claiming. “Knock it off, Lukin.”

With a quick, heated look, Lukin turned back to his own equine, grabbing the mane and hefting himself up.

Kailin followed suit, wincing as his tender arse settled in the saddle once again.

They were only travelling for an hour or so when Kailin began to get the feeling something was amiss.

Lukin and Zaks rode next to each other ahead of Kailin and the two guards; their air seemed to get more forbidding as each mile passed. He could see them pointing out features on the trail to each other. Fresh dunes encroaching on the path, flattened shrubs, a few dead birds. He rode a little closer, hoping to catch some of their conversation.

“I don’t like this, Sir.” Zaks’ voice carried, low and grave. The captain ran a hand through the long center strip of hair on his head. He was sweating in the heat, but despite that he still had his heavy uniform jacket in place. The other guards had already discarded theirs.

“I don’t either.” Lukin agreed, expression just as grim. “This is same road I travelled yesterday. There’s not a single track on it now.”

“What do you think?” Zaks inquired, steering his trudger around a crest of sand lying across the path. “Wind storm?”

“Yes. A big one,” Lukin pronounced. “Recently too, I can still taste the dust in the air. We’re lucky the route is still visible.”

Kailin stayed quiet and dropped back a little, he knew how destructive sandstorms could be out here. They were very lucky they hadn’t been caught in it.

He reconsidered his opinion on their luck when they reached the canyon. On their way north, the gorge had been spanned by a suspension bridge. Now, the only evidence that remained were pillars on opposite sides of the ravine which had been used to secure the crossing.

Out of ear shot of the others, Lukin swore, “Rek! The sand storm must have come through here and blown it out.”

Zaks brought his trudger up alongside his commander. Grimly, he surveyed the damage, peering down over the massive drop off. “There’s another crossing to the east, but it will add two or three days to our journey.”

Lukin steered his trudger back from the cliff. “It’s not as if we have much choice.”

“Aye, sir.”

Lukin looked around to make sure no one was listening in. His expression stayed neutral as he asked, “How is our water situation?”

Zaks looked at him, meeting his gaze head on. His answer was blunt, “We only brought enough for 24 hours. The trip was only supposed to take 15. We’ll run out this time tomorrow.”

“That’s what I thought.” Lukin’s jaw set. “I was hoping I was wrong.”

“There are springs out here, Sir. We’ll just have to make sure we find one.”

“Lead on, Captain. We’ll start looking for camp in a few hours. I don’t want to be travelling on unfamiliar roads at night.”

“Yes, Sir.”

As Zaks started down the less traveled trail, Lukin circled his trudger around and made his way back to Kailin. When he pulled up beside the young prince he explained, “We have to take a detour. How are you doing?”

Kailin looked towards the edge of the canyon dubiously, “I’m okay.”

“Give me your canteen.”

Switching the trudger reins to one hand, Kailin reached back and pulled his canteen from his pack, holding it across the distance between them.

Slowing his pace, Lukin fished his own canteen out. His tightened his thighs over the saddle, to improve his balance, and then he uncapped both canteens. He carefully poured water from his into Kailin’s until the prince’s was full again.

“What are you doing?” Kailin snapped.

Lukin capped them again and passed Kailin’s back to him. “I have lots.”

“Lukin…”

“We’re going to keep going for a few more hours,” Lukin interrupted. “Can you handle that?”

“Yeah. Yes. I can,” Kailin faltered. There was something Lukin wasn’t telling him, but now wasn’t the time to question him.

They rode on.
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The lilac sky was just darkening to mauve when Lukin whistled to his men and slowed his trudger. There was a clearing in the dry savannah grasses ahead. A white rock outcrop rose up from the sand about 20 feet into the air. Some shelter in case the wind picked up again.

Lukin dismounted, announcing, “We stop here for the night.”

Kailin swung his leg over the animal’s wide back to get off and found Lukin already standing there. The commander reached up, holding his hips as he slid off the saddle. Lukin didn’t let go right away, which was probably good, because after ride all day, Kailin’s legs were shaking weakly.

After a minute, Lukin’s hands squeezed lightly, “Good?”

Kailin nodded and Lukin moved away. He pointed to one of the guards. “Check the bags to see what we have to eat. I’m going to see if we can find enough wood in the brush to start a fire. Kailin, stay here. Zaks, watch him.”

Kailin rolled his eyes at the order. He wasn’t a child. He started pulling the packs off the backs of the trudgers, he could at least help ration the food. He crouched down with the pack and rifled through it for supplies. There was some bread, dried fruit and a bar made of some sort of rolled oat. The canteens they had been sipping from all day were almost empty. He gave what he could find to the guard in charge of food.

The second guard tied up the trudgers. The shaggy animals passively grazed on a few sparse tuffs of grass. Zaks used his beefy muscles to haul rocks around to make a pit for the fire.

Before long, Lukin came back an armful of wood. He instructed Kailin, “We have blankets and some bedrolls, if you can find few long sticks while I start the fire, we can try to make a shelter for the night. Don’t walk out of sight. Understand?”

The young prince nodded, too worn out from the ride to even think of arguing. He just wanted to get a shelter together so he could get some sleep.

15 minutes later, he brought some branches back to Lukin. He watched as Lukin drove them into the ground so they formed poles to drape a blanket over.

With Kailin’s help, Lukin tied the blanket and branches together to fashion a small tent. It would be barely big enough for two grown men lie down in, but there wasn’t much else that could be done with their limited supplies.

“Get something to eat and then you can sleep.”

Kailin stumbled to the edge of the fire pit. Zaks, who was crouching by the fire, stoking it with a branch, gave him a portion of food which he ate without a word. After he had eaten and taken an embarrassing trip behind a patch of shrubs to relieve himself, he crawled into the small tent.

His canteen was on his bedroll and he uncapped it to take a sip. It felt heavier than it did before. He squirmed around in the confined space of the tent, craning his neck to search out Lukin’s silhouette against the fire.

His former keeper must be refilling his canteen. It was ridiculous because no one had water to spare, and Kailin intended to tell him just that.

He fell asleep before Lukin made it back to the tent.

He woke up early the next morning, alone in the tent. The impression of Lukin’s body was pressed into the bedroll beside him and a length of leather rein was draped loosely over his wrists.

OooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooO

Yay, I enjoy a good roadtrip, too! A reviewer asked how many chapters this is going to be, and I’m afraid I don’t know yet...still quite a few to go this is about the half-way point…maybe. Your lovely and appreciated reviews definitely help the chapters come faster. Please leave a review if you have the time, let me know what you think about how things are going.
Coming soon: More travelin’, lil more sexy times, and at least one more major bump in the road before they get back to Arathria.