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but the silhouetted figure never turned around.
Reaching out his hand Kev gently touched the smooth
back that tensed suddenly, "I love you."
The Dark Lord finally turned around, his face wet from
tears. A cool coverlet was pulled over Kev's sweaty form
and he tingled as the back of the Dark Lord's hand caressed
his face. "Go to sleep."
Danny waited until the breathing behind him steadied
into a smooth even pattern. Fresh tears were leaking down
his face has he rose and walked toward the wide window.
Staring down into the dawn's early light, the fairground was
filled with makeshift houses of those who looked to him for
protection. He bit back a groan. He awoke to find the
warmth of a body next to him and he had done what all those
masters back in the red silk rooms had done to him. His
privates were tender and protesting the misuse but Kev....the
pain of that rape would be with him for days. How did he get
up here?
{You need a companion, my Chosen. You have learned
the art of men and have been conditioned to indulge, not
abstain.}
"You lead him here."
{It was a place he wanted to be. Even Galibraith would
not have wanted you to suffer so. Your loyalty does honour
to his memory but your body burns for any man's touch. You
cannot fight, if you cannot rest. He is your companion and he
is my Shield for you.}
175 Derekica Snake
The Darkness drifted away from his inner mind. Slowly
people were starting to move around. Smoke rose up from
the chimney of Edan's forge. Danny whipped the tears from
his eyes then felt for the silver tear from the fine chain around
his neck. It pulsed heavily in his hand. Tal was still alive,
but he was so far away now, that spirit walking couldn't be
done safely. Turning away from the new light, he stood at the
side of the bed staring at the long hair spread across the
pillow. Even after being sated, he could feel himself start to
stir.
Kev was beautiful, even in sleep. And he would be so
sore. He knew what to do to make the pain more bearable.
The touch of healing darkness was enough to bring the red
flush from the sun down into a warm browning of the skin
and settle Kev into a full sleep. Danny returned to the
window to stare out across the misty land, the weight of his
actions hard in his chest, but his body earned for sleep - to
climb in beside that warm body and just rest like it used to
three weeks ago.
Danny forced himself to dress and headed over to the
large desk against the far wall. A simple gesture brought a
small ball of illumination to his hand at set the candles to
flame when he past it by. A large map lay spread out across
the desk's surface, it was complete but Tal had taken
enjoyment in adding fantastical creatures - or so Danny had
thought at the time - in the river that bounded the north
eastern section of the Dominion. Writing was something that
had eluded him, even in the red silk rooms when the masters
wanted poetry and song. It was just marks on parchment, and
The Black Tower 176
it still was. Tal had sat hunched over the wide sheet with a
goose feather sharpened to a point and a bottle of ink. When
he was done the marks were all over. Danny let his fingers
linger on the black sphere and the scratches underneath it.
Tal had said that it spelt the Black Tower. From the black
sphere, Danny could make out the rest of the Dominion - the
forests along the north western marshes, the foothills behind
the Tower to the high craig of stone that circled across the
back. Everything was there on the map.
Danny eased himself on the high stool and stared at the
marks. The armies of the Riders couldn't attack from behind
because of the escarpment. They would have a hard time
getting through the marshes, but they could make it.
Something would have to done there. The mist in the river
was still hanging like a cloud to confuse and then the high
banks the horses would have to climb. A knock sounded on
the outside of the chamber door. Danny jumped up from the
stool, his mind a whirl. So many things to be done and there
was no telling how much time they would have and the
wizards with the Riders would be able to detect any dark
magicks. Trenches to be dug, stakes to be sharpened.
The bar fell back and the door swung open, "Milord, I
brought..." The woman's voice faded as she spied the tousled
hair in the bed.
She curstied quickly, "I'm sorry, milord. I only brought
enough for one."
"I'll take some apple cider."
177 Derekica Snake
"That is not a proper way to break your fast, Dark Lord.
I'll leave this tray and bring another." She glanced back over
at the bed then hurried out.
Danny shook Kev's exposed shoulder. Warm golden
eyes looked up at him from their sleep, "Milord."
"Danny...we past the Milord stage before daybreak. You
can write?"
Kev nodded trying to shake the cobwebs from his head.
"Tal said that he was from the south, further than here, is
the writing the same?"
"No...different languages depends on what kingdom."
"Can you read this?" Danny hurried back to the table.
Kev pulled on his long tunic and padded to the table to
stare down at a intricate map, "The Commander drew this?
It's...so magnificent. He was illuminating it?"
"Illuminating it?"
"Drawing, painting, adding gold."
"Tal would work on it at nights in the winter months."
"He has everyone's holdings marked here."
Danny watched as Kev read off the words, nodding in
agreement. "I need you to write down instructions on what
should be done in each area."
The next time the woman came back, Danny and Kev
were at the writing desk, the blonde lord pointing to areas and
listing off instructions. The long dark hair of his lover hung
forward as the goose quill scratched on parchment. "Thank
you, Arlissa." Danny smiled at her then turned his attention
back to the map and the writer.
The Black Tower 178
Arlissa bowed with a slight bend of the knee then turned
and hurried back down the circular stone stairs. Several
women stood in the kitchens, crowded around the door as she
made her way inside. "Well who is it?"
"That strange one...he just started here a couple of days
ago. Ken?"
Mati shook her head, "Kev. He's a beaut...got golden
eyes."
"I thought he would have gone after Ona." Arliss headed
back to the grinding wheel to make the flour needed for the
noon meal.
Mati nodded, "You only have to look at Talos to see who
his father is."
Lindaa shook her head, "You weren't from Espy's place,
were you. They were bred together, just like horses. Besides,
she married to that metalworker...Edan."
Arliss's eyes got wide, "HE was a breeder?"
"Everyone here has been a slave. I thought you knew
that." Lindaa stopped, "Everyone except the poor
commander. He used to own him, got him out of a rent
house, so I heard. But you didn't hear that from me?"
Arliss glanced toward the door, "He was a rent slave?"
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