Slave of My Heart: Interlude


Slave of My Heart

Part 3: Interlude

Author's Notes:  I realized when introducing the Crown Prince in
this section that there were some discrepancies in the ages
mentioned in the first section, so I have adjusted them and will
be modifying the first part accordingly.  For those keeping
track, these are the ages of the characters: Fox - 18; Samantha -
14; Lord Walter -32; King Jeffrey - 22/23 (as of birthday in this
section); Queen Diana - 24; Prince John, Duke of Gibson -7;
Scully -24. Other significant dates: King John died 12 years ago
when Jeffrey was 10, Scully was 12, Walter 20, and Fox was 6.
Lord Walter was married at 17, a widower at 27.  King Jeffrey was
crowned at 11, married at 14 and a father at 15 (life in the fast
lane!).  King John married Walter's mother at 17 (she was 15), a
father at 20, widower at 27, remarried and father at 28, dead at
40.  Everyone on the same page now?

Chapter One

Fox

It was a crisp autumn day and the leaves were already turning to
flame when Lord Walter fulfilled his promise to take me up the
hillside and show me Beauforte. Two weeks had passed since my
misadventure in the village and I was eager to get away from the
castle for a short while.  We rode out at a steady pace, Captain
Scully alert as always to any danger with the rest of the guard
arrayed before and behind us. Lord Walter was in an especially
good mood this morning, taking the time to point out the features
of the land as we crossed the open meadow and started up the
narrow mountain path leading to one of the watchtowers guarding
the land. The guards we had with us would be relieving the
current ones on duty, living here on top of the mountain for the
next month as they kept watch for any dangers, be they man-made
or natural. A large signal-fire lay at the ready, a beacon that
could be seen from the castle or the village. Two other
watchtowers protected the far western and southern borders of his
land, evidence of Lord Walter’s vigilance.

Halfway up the mountain path, Lord Walter halted his horse and
dismounted. "We’ll wait for you here, Captain Scully."

Scully nodded, for once not worried about Lord Walter’s safety –
after all, anyone coming up the path would be easily heard or
seen. She and the guards continued up the path while I dismounted
and tied up both of our horses, grabbed my cloak from the saddle,
and looked around for Lord Walter.

"This way, Fox."

I followed his voice through a gap in the tangle of low brush and
found him standing on a little knoll of ground that looked out
over the valley below. He spread my cloak on the ground and sat
down on it, and I settled down in the V formed by his legs. He
pulled me back against his chest, resting his chin on my
shoulder, and wrapped his cloak around both of us.

"There," he murmured against my ear, pointing down the hill.
"Beauforte."

I looked where he pointed and caught my breath. It was indeed a
beautiful sight I saw before me. What had seemed to be, close up,
gray walls without much interest looked completely different from
a distance. The gray seemed to turn to silver against the brown
and green of the fields around it and the blue of the bay behind
it.

"It’s beautiful," I said softly.

I felt Lord Walter’s pleasure in my answer as he hugged me. "I
think so, too."

We sat there in peaceful contentment, looking down through the
red and gold leaves at the castle. I idly watched the small
figures moving about the fields and roads, looking like toys
against the wide vista stretching before us.

"It’s so peaceful up here," I said, leaning back against the warm
chest behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist and his cloak
around the two of us. It was very cozy to sit like this, warm
like two woodland animals in their nest, and I felt snug and safe
and sleepy. I let my eyes drift half-shut, just drifting through
the lazy afternoon.

Suddenly, I felt Lord Walter stiffen behind me.

"What’s wrong?" I asked softly, not opening my eyes.

"A royal messenger," he said shortly. "Lately that seems to mean
trouble."

I felt a chill run up my spine and shivered. "What kind of
trouble?"

A breath of a sigh in my hair. "I have no idea, my Fox. But I
won’t let anything happen to you. I swear it on my honor."

A brief kiss on my head, too brief and too light for the sudden
overwhelming need I felt for reassurance. I snuggled back closer,
letting my body rub provocatively against his as I shifted in
place. A soft chuckle and a nip on the part of my neck exposed
above his cloak greeted this effort on my part.

"My sweet pleasure slave. How much you have learned in such a
short time."

"I’m ready for more lessons, Master," I murmured, turning
slightly to nuzzle at his neck.

"Brat. Now is not the time nor the place for these games."

"Why not? It’ll be an hour before Scully comes back this way and
we are totally private here. Let me help you take your mind off
your worries." I continued my assault on his neck, greatly
encouraged by his hesitation.

"Beautiful brat," he said with a sigh. "I have no one to blame
but myself, I suppose – I have taught you too well."

I pouted, well aware by now that he found this irresistible. He
groaned at that and pulled me around and into his lap, crushing
me against his chest as he devoured my mouth. I wrapped my arms
around him under the cloak, surrendering myself willingly to the
man who owned me body and soul – and heart as well. And if he
didn’t know that last – well, I was certainly free to bestow my
heart where I willed.

He released my lips to continue down my throat and I rocked my
body in his lap, seeking further closeness. Steel arms pinned me,
holding me still.

"Stop – Fox – if you don’t stop now I will surely take you right
here."

"Take me, then. I want you to."

"No." Lord Walter pulled back, keeping his arms around me but
stopping those devastating kisses. "We have nothing to ease the
way and I will not hurt you."

"I don’t mind – "

"I do. You belong to me and I will not have you hurt."

I wanted to bang my head against a tree in frustration. “But I
want you so badly!”

“And I want you.”  Lord Walter began kissing me again, gently,
teasing me.  “But wanting will keep.”

I ground my teeth in frustration.  “Master, please!”

“Have you never indulged in just kissing and touching without
culminating the act?” His lips were butterfly light, moving
across my face.

Remembering my few furtive tumbles with willing girls before I
met Lord Walter, I sighed.  “My experience has been somewhat
limited.”

“Then I shall teach you this as well.”  Lord Walter kissed me
briefly.  His hands slowly caressed my back and I felt the heat
through the thick wool shirt I wore. “There can be great pleasure
in just kissing and caressing, building the pleasure slowly,
knowing that soon, very soon, it will become more but that, for
now, this is all you want.”  One hand slid along the back of my
head, holding me still as his mouth slowly descended.  “What’s
more, you can do this in public.”

Public was good, I thought dazedly as my mouth was slowly
explored.  The idea of sitting in Lord Walter’s lap or at his
feet at table while he caressed me thus was highly intoxicating. 
And the notion of being able to do this to him in public was
arousing as well.

“I think – I understand – Master,” I managed to say finally.

Lord Walter chuckled.  “You like this lesson, then?”

“I like all your lessons.”  Since he had stopped, I dove in and
began kissing and caressing him.

He raised an eyebrow.  “Even the ones delivered with my belt?”

“Even those.”  I kissed his throat, licking it with slow, erotic
flicks of my tongue.  “You do that to show that you care about
me, not to be cruel.”

“You are very wise, my fox cub.  And that I did not teach you.
That comes from having eyes that see clearly into other people’s
hearts.”

I could feel myself blushing and buried my face in his shoulder. 
“You overrate me, my master.  I am unworthy of such praise.”

“I think that I shall be the judge of that.”

His arms tightened around me and he pressed a gentle kiss on my
hair.  I let myself relax in the comfort of those arms, just
enjoying the day and his presence.  My body’s urges had subsided
somewhat and I found that I was content to spend time with him
like this, just holding one another and being close. It was a
novel experience.  When I rested in his arms like this it was
after he had taken me and, while I cherished the affection that
he showed me afterward, this was a moment I knew that I would
treasure forever.  To be held thus for the simple joy of being
close was somehow more intimate than all the times that he had
possessed my body, making me feel like his lover instead of just
his bedmate.  Not that I would ever forget which was my true
place in his life; still, I hurt no one by indulging myself in
the illusion of being his beloved.

It was with a regretful sigh that I heard the returning riders
and pushed myself off his lap, rising to my feet and giving him a
hand up.  We were mounted by the time Captain Scully and her
troop reached us and Lord Walter quickly moved to the front of
the soldiers beside her. I hung back in the middle, aware that I
had no business listening to whatever discussion they were
having, and realized that I had been wrong in thinking I hurt no
one.  I hurt myself by my foolish indulgence.  I would do well to
remember my true place and not yearn for what could never be
mine.

We rode quickly back to the castle and, as we entered the
courtyard, Lamana and William came down the stairs with news of
the messenger.  Lord Walter went off to see the messenger with
William while Lamana and Scully set about assigning leave
rotation and assignments to the returning men.  I slowly made my
way to the library, settling down on the rug before the fire and
opening one of my history books to begin studying.  But, although
history was one of my favorite subjects, it held little interest
for me at the moment.  Instead, I found myself staring into the
fire and remembering that afternoon two weeks earlier when Lord
Walter had made love to me here, had held me afterward and read
love poems aloud.  It had felt like the whole world had narrowed
down to just the two of us, just as it had this afternoon, and I
found myself yearning for that again with all my heart and soul.

It was some time later that I heard the door behind me open and I
quickly brushed away my tears at the familiar footsteps.

“Fox? Ah, there you are!  Hard at your studies I see.”

“Yes, Master.”

I heard him settle into his chair.  “Good. While we are in town,
I will arrange for you to be tested and a new lesson plan drawn
up.”

“In town, Master?” I asked, my interest perking up at that.  It
had been four months since we had left the City, five months
since I had seen my friends, and I wondered if they would have
any news for me about my sister.

“Yes. That is why the messenger was here. I was planning to
return to town next week for my brother’s birthday but I had
intended to leave you here in Captain Scully’s protection.
However, my brother has requested that I bring you with me.  As
he put it, he is interested in seeing the creature that has so
enchanted both his favorite courtier and his brother.”

“Me, Master?” I asked, turning to look at him in alarm.  “The
King wants to see me?”

“Yes.” Dark eyes studied my face as if searching for something.
“It appears that you will have a wider audience to display your
charms for, my cub.”

I didn’t like the sound of that, either the thought of being
stared at by strangers or the sharp tone in Lord Walter’s voice. 
“I’d rather stay here, Master.”

Lord Walter sighed.  “And I would rather you were safely behind
these walls as well, although my heart is glad that we will not
be apart.  But we have little choice in this matter.”  His eyes
were on my face again.  “I will be occupied with business and you
will have considerable time on your hands. Perhaps I should be
less concerned for your safety and more for your virtue. You are
a beautiful young man, Fox, and there will be those who will seek
you for their beds.”

My eyes widened in horror and, without stopping to think, I
crawled across the floor to embrace his legs.  “Please, Master!
I don’t want anyone but you – don’t send me to anyone else!”

His voice was gentle but there was a darkness in his eyes that
frightened me.  “I promised you that I would not, but I speak
instead of them enticing you behind my back.  The Court is full
of good-looking men and women, younger and more attractive than
myself.”

“There is no one more handsome, Master,” I declared, alarmed at
the strangeness in his eyes.  “I belong to you and no one else,
and I would die before I let another touch me!”

Desperate to prove my adoration, I dropped to my belly on the
floor and kissed his boots as I had done that first day. All my
hopeless love was lavished on those boots as I covered each inch
with kisses mingled with tears.  And then I moved upward,
pressing more kisses along the inside of his calves, feeling the
strength of those legs through the cloth, and upward till my
hands were holding his knees.  I heard a faint groan but ignored
it as I pushed his legs apart and moved between his knees,
concentrating on his thighs.  As my cheek brushed against his
groin, I could feel the swelling member within and smell the musk
of his arousal, and it was too much to ignore. I turned my head
and sucked at his cock through the thick material, lavishing all
my attention on that mound of flesh, and I heard a gasp of
pleasure.

Casting my eyes briefly upward, I saw that Lord Walter had
slumped back into his chair, his head thrown back and his eyes
closed, and I felt a surge of elation run through my body.  I was
doing this to him, pleasuring him as he had pleasured me, and the
sense of power was heady indeed.  My hands went to his waist,
pushing his tunic up over his belt to give me access to the ties
on his breeches.  In a moment, his member was free and the sweet
heaviness of it lay in my hands, ready for my worship. And
worship it I did, laving every inch with my tongue, teasing with
little nips, doing everything but what he needed and what he was
now begging me to do.  The sound of his hoarse voice begging me
to suck him was intoxicating and I slid the thick cock into my
mouth, taking it deeper than I had ever managed to do before
this.  I could feel his involuntary thrust upward and pinned his
hips with my hands, determined to make this last as long as
possible.  He swore and wriggled beneath me but I ignored that,
listening to his body instead of his words, and his body demanded
that I delay gratification as long as possible.

He was crying out now, close to fulfillment, and I released his
cock from my mouth, squeezing firmly to stop the impending climax
as he had done to me so many times. He swore again, weakly, then
stopped as I rose to my feet and casually stripped off my
clothing until I stood naked before him.

"Fox…"

His voice was a low moan, desperate with his need.  He was
sprawled in his great chair, still mostly clothed except for his
splendid shaft thrusting upward from his opened breeches, a
picture of wantonness. I smiled back at him wickedly and turned
back to the library shelves where I kept a small pot of oil for
tending the leather on some of the old books.  Coating my fingers
thoroughly, I spread my legs and bent forward slightly, giving
Lord Walter the best view while I prepared myself for his usage.
I couldn't help groaning in pleasure at the feeling as I fucked
myself on my own fingers and, glancing over my shoulder at Lord
Walter, I could see that he was mesmerized by the sight. He was
breathing erratically now and his cock looked hard enough to
hammer pegs.  I grinned at that thought and withdrew my fingers,
moving closer to the man who owned me and who looked as if he
would like to eat me alive.  Quickly, I covered his cock with the
oil then climbed into his lap and carefully sank down onto the
hard shaft.

At the feeling of his thick cock filling my body, I abandoned any
thought of prolonging this pleasuring.  Settling my knees to
either side of his thighs, I lifted myself up and thrust back
down, letting my eyes close while I sought the fulfillment I
needed.  I felt his hands on my body, one hand on my hip to
steady my thrusting but not controlling it.  More joy flooded my
heart as I realized that he could have taken control but was
allowing me to continue, and I thrust harder as I moved my hips
to bring the sweet pressure where I needed it the most. I heard
his gasp and then a wordless cry as his hips rocked upwards
toward mine, and all sense deserted me.  I pushed downward, hard,
and felt the brush over my sensitive inner nub. That was all it
took.  The shuddering spasms claimed my body and I cried out in
ecstasy even as I felt the hot warmth from Lord Walter's
completion flooding me.  I collapsed against him, exhausted, and
felt warm arms wrap around me as soft kisses were pressed against
my hair.  Well contented, I snuggled in closer and felt the throb
of the cock I still held within my body.

"Enough."  My master's deep voice nearly purred in my ears, and I
was relieved to hear humor as well as satisfaction in it. "I
believe you, my heart.  And I will keep you safely with me for as
long as I can."

"Good," I murmured, feeling myself getting sleepy after my
exertions. "Because if you should have any more doubts, I'm
certain that I can assuage them - after a short rest."

He chuckled and I relished the rumbling feeling against my cheek.
"I have no doubt of that, little fire-eater.  No doubt at all."

Chapter Two

Walter

We approached the city from the southern gate late in the
afternoon on the second day after leaving Beauforte.  Captain
Scully and a troop of seasoned fighters accompanied us, leaving
Lieutenant Lamana to guard Beauforte with the rest of my
soldiers.  Unlike our trip from the city four months earlier, I
had decided that we would keep pace with our baggage caravan
instead of riding ahead. Following the previous attack on the
baggage wain, I wasn't taking any chances and wasn't about to
exhaust my men riding straight through when they might be called
upon to defend us from ambush. Also, I had to admit that I was in
no hurry to reach the city.  After the idyll of the past four
months alone with my Fox, I was reluctant to share him with
others.  If I had been going to Reggie's, I would have been
easier at heart but, at my brother's orders, we would be staying
at the royal palace.  Right in the midst of all those
sophisticated courtiers and beautiful women.  Right in Sir John's
lair.

We passed the night at an inn and I lay awake for hours holding
Fox in my arms and watching him sleep.  I told myself that I was
starting at shadows, like a frightened child, but my heart was
heavy with dread.  I had not inherited my mother's Gift, but
there had been times before a battle when I had felt a certain
sense of either success or doom and I had been right more often
than wrong.  What I sensed now wasn't immediate danger but rather
a sense of standing on a path that would lead towards great
changes - for good or ill I could not tell.

As we rode under the gates into the City, I felt a presence at my
side and turned with a smile to look at my slave's face. Despite
his earlier dread, I could sense his excitement at returning to
the place where he had spent all his life.  The streets were
bustling with merchants and townsfolk about their business, and I
watched him drink in the sights eagerly.

"Glad to be back, my Fox?"

"I'd forgotten this," Fox said with a slight smile.  "The bustle,
the noise, the people - the smell."

I chuckled at that.  "I expect that you'll have plenty of time to
refamiliarize yourself with the city over the next two weeks."  I
felt Captain Scully draw up on my other side as we drew near the
royal enclosure and turned to look at her inquiringly.

"Lord Walter, what are your orders?"

"Set up rotations of two guards on our rooms, day and night. In
addition, I want you and another guard with Fox at all times -
you'll both be sleeping in my chambers during the night as well.
While not on duty, the others will stay at the barracks - and
caution them to stay out of trouble."

Captain Scully nodded and wheeled around to issue orders, no
doubt already having the rotation schedule planned in her mind
before I finished speaking.  I knew that Fox had heard me when I
turned and found a questioning look on his face.

"Expecting trouble, Master?"

"Anticipating it more than expecting it.  And you will obey my
orders, Fox," I added sternly.  "You do not take a step outside
our rooms without myself or Scully.  Am I understood?"

I saw the mulish tightening of the young slave's mouth and his
eyes met mine defiantly but I refused to look away. Finally, he
sighed and dropped his own eyes.  "Yes, Master."

I reached over to lay one hand on his, squeezing it.  "Fox, I
know you don't like it, but it's for your own protection.  Sir
John doesn't give up easily, and I'm sure that your inclusion in
this trip was his plan."

Fox shivered but nodded silently and I sighed, withdrawing my
hand, leaving the boy to sulk in peace.  There would be plenty of
time to coax him out of this mood later when we were alone.

We rode into the castle courtyard and stable boys ran to take our
horses as we dismounted. The Chamberlain hurried out to greet me
and lead me to my chambers while servants saw to the unloading of
our baggage. Fox pulled the hood of his cloak up to shield his
face as he followed in my wake and Scully plus three of her men
fell into place behind him.

"His Majesty said to tell you that you've been assigned your old
rooms from when you were Regent," the Chamberlain said as we
walked.  "He thought you would be most comfortable there."

"Be sure to thank my brother," I said, grateful for my brother's
sensitivity in not assigning me to the rooms I had shared with my
late wife.  I had hated those chambers for the very reason that
Sharon had loved them - in the newer palace section, they were
too opulent and too near the main court.  My old rooms in the
original section of the castle were much more to my taste and
would allow me to come and go with greater freedom.

"His Majesty hopes that you will be able to join him for dinner
tonight."

I sighed and shook my head.  "Thank him for his kind invitation,
but we've been traveling for two days and I am longing for a
simple hot meal and my bed."

"Of course.  I will arrange it.  You will be present at Court
tomorrow, Lord Walter?"

I repressed another sigh knowing that this could not be avoided. 
"Of course."

We arrived at my chambers and, after the Chamberlain ascertained
that everything was in readiness for me, he left us to arrange
for a simple supper to be sent up. I walked through the rooms -
the outer room, the small bedchamber where Scully would sleep,
and the master bedchamber - and saw that they had been well
prepared for our arrival.  A fire in the outer room blazed
merrily, taking the chill off the rooms.  Servants carried in our
belongings and I directed their disposal, watching out of the
corner of my eye as Fox set about unpacking my belongings and
setting the bedchamber to rights.  He appeared to have gotten
over his sulk for which I was heartily glad; I was looking
forward to a good night's sleep and had no desire to either coax
or beat him out of a sullen mood.

Kitchen servants appeared with a simple repast and I ate heartily
although I noticed with concern that Fox barely touched anything.
Perhaps there was something troubling him and not just a mood, I
thought, and determined to get to the bottom of it before long.
We finished our meals and I retired to my bedchamber with Fox
while Scully settled the guard for the night.

Fox was silent as he helped me out of my clothing and into a
nightshirt, then shed his own clothes and presented the strap to
me.  I raised my eyebrows at this – we had discontinued nightly
punishment as it had been a long time since I had needed to
administer daily correction. His recent punishments had only
followed singular if spectacular acts of disobedience, like the
trip to the village.

"What's this, my Fox?  For what do you believe you deserve
punishment?"

"For arguing with you," Fox said quietly.  "I know that you only
have my safety in mind, and I shouldn't have questioned your
orders that I must have a guard."

I captured his chin and kissed his lips gently, startling him.
"Fox, you didn't argue with me, and I am not going to strap you
for a momentary defiance quickly corrected.  However, I will
punish you - and severely - if I ever find that you disobeyed my
orders about this."

He looked relieved and I drew him onto my lap, kissing him
gently.  "You have been upset all evening, but surely it was not
this that was bothering you."  He buried his face in my shoulder,
muttering something that I couldn't hear.  "Speak up, Fox."

"I – it's nothing.  I'm being foolish."

I sighed and stroked his back, sensing that I would get nothing
further from him. And, in truth, what could I say? My own vague
forebodings were disturbing my peace and I knew it must be worse
for him, back here where his life had changed so dramatically.

"It's been a long day and we're both tired, making it easy to
jump at shadows. Let's go to bed."

Chapter Three

Fox

I woke to a strange sense of disorientation, staring at an
unfamiliar ceiling, and for a moment panic set in.  I sat up in
the bed, looking around me wildly, then relaxed as I recognized
the body in bed next to me.  Lord Walter was lying on his side
turned toward me and, as my heartbeat settled back down, I was
tempted to lie back down next to him.  But then the noise that
had awakened me repeated, a soft tapping on the door.  I slid
carefully out of bed, quickly throwing on my tunic, and went to
the door.

Scully stood on the other side.  "Breakfast is here and his
lordship wanted to be woken by the eighth hour."

I nodded. "I'll wake him.  Is there warm water for washing?"

She nodded and handed me a pitcher of hot water.  Closing the
door, I set the pitcher down on the washstand and went back to
the bed to gently shake his lordship.

"Time to wake up, Master."

A hand reached out and yanked me onto the bed on top of him and
Lord Walter smiled up at me.  "Morning, my Fox." He kissed me as
his hands slid down to cup my bare ass under the tunic. "And what
a fine way to wake up."

I gasped under the intensity of his kiss and, as his hands
pressed my groin tightly against his, let out a squeak of
protest.  "Master!  Captain Scully and her men – they're on the
other side of that wall!  They're waiting on us for breakfast!"

"Then they'll just have to wait."  He shifted me slightly,
pulling free the sheet between us, then resettled my body against
his.  His hands ran along my back, caressing and pressing me
against him in counterpoint to his thrusting.  He was already
half-hard with his morning erection, and the feel of our groins
rubbing together ignited my own arousal.  I began rocking against
him of my own volition, kissing him hungrily, and it didn't take
long before I was crying out and coming against him.  He wasn't
long behind me, gasping my name as his climax shook him, and then
pulled me closer as we caught our breath.

"And that is an even better way to wake up, my cub," he said with
a grin, kissing me again.  "Morning."

"Morning, Master," I murmured, content for the moment to lay here
in his arms.  "There is hot water for washing.  Well, it was hot
a few minutes ago."

He chuckled.  "If it has gone cold, we will send for more. A hot
Fox is infinitely more pleasurable to me than hot water."

I flushed in embarrassment and slid out of his lax embrace, going
to the washstand to pour warm water into the basin. Wetting a
washcloth, I took it and a towel over to Lord Walter, carefully
cleaning off the results of our lovemaking.  Then I helped him
into his chamber robe and drew on a pair of leggings.

"Well, Fox, I believe that I am ready for my breakfast.  I'm
starving – what about you."

In my mind, I could see Scully and the three guards sitting in
the outer room and I knew that they had heard us in bed together.
Neither of us had thought to muffle our cries of completion, so
they could have had little doubt about what was keeping us from
our breakfast.  The thought made my stomach knot.

"I – um – I'm not very hungry.  I'll just tidy up in here."

Lord Walter frowned.  "Fox, you hardly touched your dinner last
night and I can hear your stomach growling from here.  What is
the matter with you?"

I could feel my face growing flushed as I hissed, "I can't face
them!  They heard everything that we did in here!"

Lord Walter looked at me in amusement.  "They already knew you
were sharing my bed, Fox."

"Knowing it and hearing it are two different things," I pointed
out. "I am not going out there."

I could see the storm building on my master's face and knew that
I had pushed his patience too far.  "In another minute, they are
going to hear the sound of my hand on your bare backside," Lord
Walter said warningly.  "Now get your ass out that door and if I
so much as suspect I see a pout on your face during breakfast, I
will turn you over my knee in front of them."

My face flamed even more and I hastily moved towards the other
room, scooting sideways in the doorway to avoid the swat he aimed
at my backside.  Scully was not there but the three guards were
sitting at the table, occupied with their meal. They rose at his
lordship's entrance and then returned to their meal, quietly
discussing matters of arms and off-duty activities.   I
immediately felt foolish about the way I had acted. These were
soldiers, trained to defend his lordship and his lordship's
property, and if they had any thoughts about Lord Walter's sexual
activities, they would hardly express those thoughts in his
presence.

Quickly, I fetched hot porridge and cider from the hearth for
Lord Walter, brushing my hand over his in apology.  I was
grateful when he caught my hand in his and pressed a brief kiss
on it.  I got my own breakfast and settled down on the floor by
his feet, realizing suddenly that I was famished.  I was on my
third bowl of porridge when Scully re-entered the room, and I
wondered where she had been this morning.  The answer turned out
to be simple enough.

"Captain, are the men settled in?" Lord Walter asked.

Scully nodded, warming her hands in front of the fire.  It was
nearing mid-winter and the mornings were becoming chillier. "Yes,
and your horses are well-tended." She turned back towards Lord
Walter. "Orders for the day, Lord Walter?"

Lord Walter sighed.  "None. We have to attend Court and that will
occupy most of our day."  That thought was enough to destroy what
remained of my appetite and I set down my bowl, suddenly wishing
that I hadn't been so greedy about breaking my fast. "We'll need
to bathe first. I assume that a page or maid has been assigned to
our rooms?"

Scully shrugged and glanced over at me, and it wasn't hard to
interpret that look. In the ordinary way of things, I would have
been responsible for making sure that such things as food and
bathing water were sent up just like at home, but we three knew
that Lord Walter wasn't going to have me wandering about the
castle alone.  Not with the threat from Sir John.

"The Lord Chamberlain was unaware that you wouldn't have servants
to attend your chambers, but he is seeing to the matter.  He
promised to have a tub and hot water brought up within the hour."

Lord Walter smiled.  "You are a treasure, Captain Scully. Since
we won't be leaving the Court today, you may give your men
liberty as you see fit.  One guard on our rooms should suffice
and we won't need a personal guard in Court. You should take the
day and visit with your Sisters at the Shrine."

"I'll arrange liberty for the men, sir, but I will be
accompanying you to Court."

My master chuckled and shook his head but didn't bother arguing
with her. "You are stubborn, Scully."

"I learned from the best, Lord Walter," she said dryly.

Within a short time, several sturdy men arrived lugging a bathing
tub and buckets of hot water.  As I directed the setup in the
bedchamber and fiddled with the water to get it to the right
temperature, I realized that the bathing pool at Beauforte had
spoiled me. And yet, as I knelt on the floor and vigorously
scrubbed my master clean, I enjoyed this opportunity to devote my
attention to Lord Walter without the distraction of him washing
me at the same time.  I carefully shaved his face and then washed
his body, taking my time over the job until he declared
laughingly that he had lost at least two layers of skin from the
washing.  I devoted equal attention to drying him thoroughly,
worshipping his firm body and wishing that we could just stay
snugly in these rooms today, but finally he dismissed me to get
my own bath.

I hurried through my ablution, not wishing to keep his lordship
waiting, and was done before he had finished dressing. He was
wearing finer garments than usual, in the current style of the
Court rather than the country-style clothing of tunic and loose
breeches that he preferred.  His fitted green hosen, now laced
tightly at ankle and groin, had been tailored to mold to his
lower body.  I could hardly take my eyes off the generous mound
so well displayed and knew he had seen the avid look in my eyes
when he chuckled softly.

"What a sweet slut you are, my cub," he murmured, caressing my
face as I knelt before him.  "Behave yourself and I promise you
will have your reward later."

I flushed, rising to help him don a shirt made of finest white
silk and tied the gathered neckline at the front, tucking the
laces inside before lifting the heavy robe he had chosen to wear
overall, in the style that the older men of the Court affected.
I laced up the dark green velvet garment that hung to the floor
with a discreet slit up the front for easier movement. The final
touches were put into place: the belt with dress sword fastened
about his waist, the soft shoes slipped onto his feet, and the
heavy chain of state fastened about his neck.  As I stood back to
make certain that everything was in place, I admired the picture
of elegant strength he presented, although I also thought it was
a pity that none would see the magnificent body hidden behind the
heavy robe.  And yet it was a source of secret pleasure to know
that I was one of the few permitted to look upon it.

"You look magnificent, Master," I murmured.  "There won't be
anyone to compare with you."

He laughed at that and reached out to tousle my hair.  "You are
decidedly prejudiced, my cub.  I am a drab among peacocks here,
and I am content to be so. And speaking of peacocks, it is time
to get you dressed."

In short order, I was dressed similarly to my master except with
the short tunic affected by the younger men of Court.  So short,
in fact, that it barely covered my ass and, with my hosen laced
tightly to emphasize my body both in front and behind, I felt
myself blushing at being so exposed.  Lord Walter paid no
attention to my embarrassment, trimming my hair and brushing it
back behind my ears where the unaccustomed length of it brushed
against my neck.  I could feel his eyes critically studying me
and then he turned back to his open strongbox and looked through
its contents.

"Take out your earring."

I removed the small golden hoop he had placed in my ear a few
months earlier, puzzled, then I gasped as I saw the small emerald
in his hand. "Master!  You shouldn't," I protested.

"And why not?" he asked, setting the earring in place.  "It goes
very well with that tunic."

"It's too fine for a slave to wear."

"I shall be the judge of that."

He stepped back and I could feel the approval in his eyes as he
looked me over. "You are beautiful, my cub."

I flushed. "Now it is my master who is prejudiced in my favor."

"I don't think so," Lord Walter said, and suddenly I was being
held tightly in his arms as he said, a trifle hoarsely, "Whom do
you belong to, Fox?"

"You, my master," I murmured, unable to pull my eyes away from
his and feeling my breath coming short.  And then I was unable to
breathe at all as he kissed me with a ruthless passion until I
felt that I would faint from the blissful intensity. And then he
released me, his tongue gently soothing my lips as we parted, and
I swayed weakly in his arms.

"Good," he said softly.  "See that you do not forget that."

Little chance of that, I thought to myself, still feeling the
phantom pressure of his mouth upon mine.  And then he was kissing
me again, and the world went away.

Walter

He was beautiful, the green velvet tunic flowing with his every
move.  The emerald earring caught the light, shining brightly in
his earlobe, but not nearly as bright as his eyes. I smiled. "You
are beautiful, my cub."

His eyes sparkled and I pulled him close to claim him with a
kiss.  He melted into my arms, returning my kisses eagerly,
breathlessly vowing not to forget that he belonged to me. I
kissed him again and bent my head to nip his neck just above the
collar of his under-tunic, then released him and smiled in
satisfaction. Even better, for now his skin was flushed and his
eyes lit with passion. No one would be able to take his or her
eyes off him.

"Follow me closely, my Fox, and remember your manners."

His eyes met mine and he flushed.  Here at Court there would be
less tolerance for an ill-behaved slave and, should he offend the
wrong person, I might be required to publicly punish him. There
was a slight diminishing in the glow on his face and a hint of
fear in his eyes before he dropped them to stare at the floor.

"Yes, Master."

Captain Scully was waiting in the outer room wearing her
ceremonial Amazon armor and she fell in behind Fox in our little
procession through the castle to the main part of the palace.  I
paused on entering the throne room and looked around, spotting my
old friend Reginald across the room, and started making my way
towards him while Scully took position against the wall where she
could keep an eye on us and the room.

Our passage through the room was everything I could have wanted.
The nobles turned and bowed as I passed then, as they began to
straighten, froze and stared. I suppressed a smile and walked on,
pausing to talk to an occasional friend, aware that my beautiful
shadow moved and paused in rhythm with me, as if an invisible
chain connected us.

"Hello, Reggie."

Sir Reginald turned with a smile. "Walter! By the Gods, it's good
to see you! I was beginning to think that you were immured in
Beauforte forever." His eyes suddenly widened. "And now I know
why."  His voice was almost breathless with wonder. "Walter, I've
never felt an inclination for the Greek pleasures but your Fox
could make me a convert."

I turned to look at Fox as if surprised to find him behind me. He
stood as I had taught him, straight and tall, head up and eyes
straight ahead but distant. With the signs of passion still
visible in his eyes and on his lips and neck, he looked
delectable enough to tempt a God. Fox's eyes meet mine briefly
and I let my eyes tell him how proud I was of him. He blinked,
smiled slightly, and almost seemed to glow.

"Yes, he did clean up rather nicely, didn't he?"

Reggie chuckled. "You can't fool me, old man. You're as proud as
a young knight who's just won his spurs. And you have every right
to be." Then he shook his head. "But you're playing a dangerous
game, Walter. John is even more in favor - the King has made him
the Earl of Spender - and he will not take kindly to having the
boy flaunted like this."

I shrugged. "I was ordered to attend Court and bring the boy.
Hiding him would serve no purpose, especially if John intends to
obtain him by trickery or theft. Now there isn't a single person
in this Court who won't remember the boy and remember to whom he
belongs."

"Clever, Walter," Reggie said. "But don't underestimate John."

"I never underestimate my enemies."

I had seen Sir John, now the Earl of Spender, approaching
accompanied by his own shadow and spoke deliberately.  I could
see the amusement on Spender's face as he stopped beside us and
drew upon his tobacco stick again.

"And are we enemies, Lord Walter?"

I met his eyes coolly. "That remains to be seen, Lord Spender."

He looked away first, his eyes landing on Fox and he raised an
eyebrow. "Excellent work, Lord Walter. I would hardly recognize
the boy. You permit?" he asked, taking a step towards the slave,
and I could see his hand moving involuntarily towards him.

"You can look but I don't allow anyone other than myself to touch
Fox."

His hand halted and dropped to his side. "Very wise, I am sure.
These slave boys are notoriously lax in their loyalties and will
respond to anyone."

If he wanted to anger me into allowing him to take liberties, he
had missed his mark. "Perhaps, but Fox is rather special in that
regard as well. I imagine that he would fight tooth and nail to
protect his virtue and his master's honor. Is that not so, Fox?"

"My life, my body, my soul are yours, Master, and yours alone,"
Fox replied in quiet but clear tones.

"Impressive." Spender's eyes flared with displeasure and I
watched him light another tobacco stick in an attempt to regain
his composure. "His Majesty has been anxiously awaiting your
arrival."

"Then I won't keep him waiting any longer."  Inclining my head to
Spender, I took Reggie's arm and moved away with my shadow
following.

"First blood to you, Walter, but beware. That man is more
dangerous for being wounded."

I nodded in agreement but, before I could say more, I heard a
voice cry out over the crowd.

"Walter!"

I turned with a smile to see the ripple through the crowd that
presaged the approach of the King.  I bowed and felt myself
pulled up and into a warm embrace.

"Brother!  It's good to see you again!"

I pushed back slightly to smile into my half-brother's face.
Slighter in build than me, he took after his mother's bloodline
in appearance rather than our father.  His manner, however, was
so like our kingly father that it still had the power to take my
breath away - I had never been able to manage that slightly
arrogant attitude of both expecting worship and, at the same
time, ignoring it. Jeffrey, like our father, was born to the art
of kingmanship.

"You look well, Majesty.  Life must be agreeing with you."

Jeffrey shrugged and said, with all the pompous humor he could
manage.  "We enjoy our excellent health although we have been
tediously bored without you.  No one else lets us win at chess
with quite the skill that you do, Walter."

I laughed at that and shook my head.  "It takes no skill on my
part to lose to you, brother.  Now, place us both on a
battlefield and it is a different story." The King laughed at
that. "Speaking of chess, I hear that my nephew is becoming quite
skilled at the game."

A shadow seemed to cross his face.  'Yes, well, we'll speak of
that later."  Then he smiled at me, dropping the royal pose, and
I saw a trace of my mischievous younger brother.  "For now, I'm
eager to see this new treasure of yours that has Earl Spender
nearly crazed with jealousy."

I nodded. "Fox, attend me."  I knew without looking that Fox had
gone to his knees to the right and slightly behind me at the
King's approach, and I felt him rise gracefully and stand beside
me but I didn't turn to look at him. My eyes were on my brother's
face, watching it for a sign of what had prompted him to order me
to bring my slave here before him.  I saw his eyes widen in
surprise and then narrow slightly, appraising the young man
standing quietly before him.  There was a faint hint of some
unhappiness there and then it was gone before I could name it.

The King shrugged as he studied my slave.  "I must confess,
Walter, that I fail to see the appeal."

There was a soft, deep laugh from behind him and again the Court
was in motion as the Queen moved forward to stand beside her
royal spouse. "You fail to do the boy justice, my love."

A flash of irritation crossed my brother's face and all my
instincts for danger went on alert.  There was trouble here, so
thick that one could almost taste it and, as I saw the Queen's
eyes avidly drinking in my slave's face and form, I believed I
knew what it was.  Although the marriage between my brother and
his queen had not been a love match, Jeffrey was hardly the man
to enjoy being cuckolded within his own house.

With a detachment that may have fooled anyone but me the King
said, "Oh, I'll grant you that he's pretty enough to look at,
Diana, but pretty slave boys can be had anywhere."

"But look at those expressive eyes and that pensive look! Not
quite as exotically pretty as your Alexei, Lord Spender, but
quite unique."

The last remark was addressed to Earl Spender as he joined our
little group, and he bowed gallantly to the Queen.  "I believe
that Lord Walter is already aware of the - admiration I hold for
his slave. And your Majesty is most gracious in regard to my
slave.  I have grown rather bored with him and would gladly give
him to your Majesty, should you deign to accept so trifling a
gift."

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a flash in the eyes of
Spender's dark shadow, and I thought that he had made a grave
error in slighting the slave publicly. Neither Spender nor Diana
seemed to notice; she laughed and tapped his chest playfully with
her fan.

"Very prettily done, Lord Spender.  What say you, Lord Walter?
Will you not equal Lord Spender in manners and offer me the gift
of your slave?"

I stiffened, wary of the trap that was laid out before me.
"Unlike Lord Spender, I have not grown tired of my slave and do
not anticipate ever giving him up."

Diana was not pleased with my answer and I saw her eyes flash.
"That was not so prettily done, Lord Walter," she said tightly.
"But then, I can hardly expect Court manners from one with your
upbringing, can I?"

I could see anger building on my brother's face.  There was
little love lost between my sister-in-law and me - she was well-
aware that I had opposed their marriage, favoring an alliance
with the Spanish Infanta instead, but she had never been so brash
as to clash with me in public. In an attempt to diffuse the
tension, I smiled coolly and said, "I'm afraid that Her Majesty
is right - I am more comfortable on the battlefield than I am in
the ballroom, a fact I hope that all will remember when the
dancing begins later."

I heard a relieved chuckle form my brother.  "Truer words have
never been spoken, Walter.  You have two left feet."

"Yes, I do recall Lady Sharon complaining about the state of her
shoes after partnering with you on the dance floor," the Queen
said mockingly. "I wouldn't doubt that sore feet were at the root
of her – accident."

My breath caught at this unexpected jab and there was an audible
gasp from those near enough to overhear.  Dimly, I heard Jeffrey
hiss, "You forget yourself, Madam!"  Out loud he said as he
summoned her Ladies-in-Waiting with an imperious wave, "Her
Majesty is fatigued and will be retiring to her rooms."

Her eyes met his with a glare but she could do little but curtsey
to him and retire. Jeffrey watched her retreat with an odd look
on his face, then turned to me and forced a smile, linking arms
with me. "Walter, you must come and give me your opinion on my
new roses.  I have a new Gallica that will take your breath
away."

I smiled at him, recognizing his actions as meant to convey to
the Court that I was still in the King's favor, and let him guide
me towards the terrace.  "And what would an old warhorse like me
know about roses?"

"Don't try to play the uncultured warrior with me, brother. I
happen to know that you have the largest private library and that
our father prided himself on your education."  His voice was
slightly overloud as we walked slowly towards the large doors
leading to the gardens, intending to carry through the crowd
around us and offset the damage from the Queen's slurs. "And I
have seen your own gardens as well.  Tell me, what fertilizer do
you prefer?  My gardener says horse manure but I have my doubts."

"Among many experts, the manure from large cats is said to be
best."

"You hear that?" the King said, turning slightly to his
secretary. "I must have several large cats. What kind, Walter?"

I looked at him with as bland an expression as I could manage.
"Lions are said to be the best, although tigers might do as
well."

I tried not to laugh at his expression as he paused and then,
with kingly aplomb, he said to his secretary, "In that case, one
large cat should be more than sufficient."

I had to laugh at that and allowed him to draw me outside.

Fox

The evening meal went better than I could have anticipated,
especially as the absence of the Queen and several of her Ladies-
in-Waiting meant that dancing was cast aside in favor of other
amusements.  Lord Walter sat at the King's right hand and
appeared to be enjoying himself highly as he laughed at the
pantomimes and juggling with all the enjoyment of a young boy. I
stood along the wall behind him, as did the squires, pages and
slaves attending their masters, watching for his slightest need.

Earl Spender's slave stood a few feet to my left as his master
was seated to the King's left, and I could feel his eyes on me
from time to time.  Once I glanced over at him and met those
enigmatic green eyes, and the intensity of his gaze made me
flush.  I felt as if he had deliberately run his hand over my
body and was glad for the large presence of the King's eldest
squire between us.  I focused my attention on my master's large
and muscular back, longing to have his arms wrapped around me
again, to feel safe from the avid hunger displayed on so many
faces as they covertly studied me.

Lord Walter paused in his eating as if he felt my eyes on his
back and raised his finger to signal for my attention.  In an
instant, I was kneeling at his side awaiting his orders.  To my
surprise, he held a tidbit of choice meat to my lips and I opened
my mouth, flushing slightly.  Although it was customary for him
to feed me like this at home, at public banquets it was more
common for those attending their lords to get what sustenance
they could following their masters' meals.  For Lord Walter to do
this in public was an open declaration of my place as his
favorite and a warning to others that trifling with me would be
dangerous.  While I appreciated the security of the gesture, I
was also embarrassed to be fed like this, as if I were a small
child or a pet.

"You'll spoil him, Walter," the King said, his voice a little
harsh with disapproval.

Lord Walter only smiled and cut more meat to feed to me. "And
what joy is there to life if we cannot indulge such pretty
creatures?"

Earl Spender leaned back in his chair, lighting another one of
those damnable tobacco sticks.  "I agree with his Majesty.
Indulgence only makes slaves rebellious -especially high-spirited
ones like this. Take a whip to him until you break his pride and
you'll have a more obedient slave."

Lord Walter must have sensed my stiffening for he gently ruffled
my hair. "Ah, but why damage such beauty when a little kindness
and a firm hand can accomplish the same?"

His voice was hypnotic and, although I could fee the embarrassed
flush on my face, I turned my head to nuzzle his hand.

"Very pretty," the King said coolly.  "Now do you suppose that we
could find some other subject to discuss? I find that I am
heartily bored of this one."

"Certainly," Lord Walter said, bestowing a last caress before
sending me back to my place.  I was reluctant to rise for his
attention had aroused my traitorous body, but managed to rise and
return to my place without totally embarrassing myself.

As I took my place along the wall, a dark voice hissed, "Pretty
pet."  I flushed and bit my lip but avoided looking over at
Spender's slave.  The King's squire ordered him to shut up and,
although he obeyed, I could feel his smoldering eyes on my face
throughout the rest of the meal.

At the end of the meal after the nobles had washed their hands
with scented water, we were sent off to the kitchens with the
basins, bowls and plates.  I cast an anxious look towards Lord
Walter but he didn't appear to see, so I decided to move quickly
and return to his protection as soon as I could.

It almost worked.  I hurriedly deposited my load and scurried out
the door, back along the corridor towards the main hall. I was
almost there when an arm reached out and grabbed me, pulling me
into a side corridor.

"Well, well, well.  If it isn't Lord Walter's pretty plaything."

Alexei's body pressed me into the wall, my hands pinned behind my
body.   I heaved at him but he was planted firmly and I couldn't
budge him.

"Let me go!" I snapped, turning my head and trying to bite him.

"Oh, the pet has teeth!" he laughed, easily avoiding my teeth.
"Do you bite your master? Or do you just lie down and spread your
legs when he snaps his fingers?"

I glared at him.  "You don't know anything about it!"

"Oh, don't I?" he said with a bitter laugh.  "Let me give you a
bit of advice, pretty pet.  Let him touch your body, let him have
you anyway he wants, but don't let him touch your heart.  Because
one day you'll be of no use to him and he'll toss you aside like
a broken toy."

My eyes widened as I heard my own fears voiced out loud and then
I remembered the scene with the Queen.   "Alexei," I said
tentatively.  "I'm sorry."

Alexei glared at me, those green eyes intense with anger. "Don't
waste your feelings on me.  Save it for yourself, for the day
when he throws you away."  He leaned forward and kissed me, hard
and fast then, almost before I could register the shock and
surprise, he let me go and disappeared.

I stood there for a long moment, stunned and trying to catch my
breath, before I heard a familiar voice.

"Fox?"  I blinked hard and saw Lord Walter coming along the
corridor, a concerned look on his face.  "You were so long - I
was worried - "

I threw myself against him, desperate to feel his arms around me,
to hear his voice drowning out Alexei's ominous words, words I
knew in my own heart to be true. Not now, though, not yet.  My
master still wanted me, still desired me, and I would live for
each moment I had with him.

I could feel his surprise.  "Fox? What happened?  Are you -did
someone try to hurt you?"

I buried my face between his shirt and robe.  "Please - can we go
back to our rooms?  Please?"

His arms went around me, protecting and sheltering me, and I
wanted to stay wrapped in them forever.  "Of course, my cub," he
said softly in my ear.  "Come, let's go to bed."




Chapter Four

Fox

The next morning, I found myself humming as I moved around our
bedchamber, pouring water for Lord Walter to wash and shave with,
fetching clothes from the wardrobe, straightening up the
bedcovers.  I felt pleasantly sated after having been thoroughly
seduced and pleasured from head to toe, and I didn't even mind
the soft chuckle from his lordship or the smothered smile from
Captain Scully at the stupid grin on my face when we joined the
others in the main room.  I fetched our breakfasts and leaned
contentedly against Lord Walter's legs.  I was happy and content,
and I didn't care what the far-off future held as long as the
present contained my master.

"Orders for the day, Lord Walter?" Scully asked.

"My brother wants to spend some time with me today discussing
matters of state," Lord Walter said, glancing down at me with a
smile.  "Do you plan to spend the day curled up by the fire with
your books, my cub?"

I hesitated, wondering if I dared voice my wishes, then said,
"Actually – if you wouldn't mind – I'd like to visit with some
friends.  With Captain Scully as escort, of course."

"Friends, Fox?"

I nodded as I looked up at him, trying to interpret the look on
his face. "From University.  It's been five months since I've
seen them – I'm sure that they must think I'm dead, and I don't
want them to worry any longer. Just – just a short visit?"

Lord Walter smiled and reached down to ruffle my hair.
"Certainly, my Fox.  And take as long as you want – just be back
before dark.  The City streets are no place for a lad like you to
be after dark – even with Captain Scully's protection."

I moved up on my knees, pressing a soft kiss against his cheek.
"Thank you, Master.  I'll be careful."

I hurriedly finished dressing, pulling on my boots and fastening
on my cloak.  Scully was waiting for me with the other guard
assigned to my protection, and we quickly made our way out of the
castle. As Scully turned towards the bridge that led across the
river to the University, I stopped her and gestured towards the
main part of town.

"This way."

Scully looked at me suspiciously.  "Milord Fox, you told Lord
Walter that these were friends from University."

"I said that I met them when I was there, not that they were
students." At her frown, I said, "It's all right.  I promise that
I'm not doing anything dangerous."

Scully sighed but followed me as I wound my way through the main
streets and down a smaller side street, stopping at a small
bookshop.  I opened the door and she glanced inside at the small
interior then turned to the other guard.

"Wait here."

I went inside and smiled at the clerk.  He actually was an
acquaintance of mine from University and had introduced me to his
uncle, who had recognized a kindred soul.  Thus had started one
of the few friendships I had had during my short life prior to
coming into Lord Walter's service.

“Hello, Max.  Are the brothers in?”  Max's eyes widened as he
recognized me, then he glanced nervously at Scully.  “It’s all
right.  She’s okay – she’s my protection.”

Max nodded and locked the front door before leading us toward the
back of the shop. I could see the suspicion on Scully’s face and
her hand rested on the short sword on her belt but I smiled at
her reassuringly as we followed the young clerk.  Young, I
thought with a self-mocking smile.  Max was only a year younger
than me – odd that I felt so much older than him.   He opened the
hidden cupboard and I led the way down the narrow steps, Scully
at my heels as she muttered oaths under her breath.  I knew that
I was going to hear about this later and that Lord Walter might
take a dim view of this excursion but at the moment I didn’t
care.

“Uncle Melvin – look who’s here.”

Several brown-garbed men were working at a long table,
painstakingly copying documents, and they all looked up at the
boy’s words.  The older man he had addressed looked up
impatiently and then his mouth fell open in surprise.

“Moldy?”

I grinned. “Miss me?”

Before I could say another word, Brother Frohike had thrown down
his pen and crossed the room to pull me into a tight hug. I
protested laughingly, “Easy, Frohike!  If you damage me, Captain
Scully’ll have to break you.”

Brother Frohike didn’t pay any attention.  He pulled back enough
to take my face in his hands, searching it as if to reassure
himself.  “Fox,” he said in a choked voice. “We thought you were
dead.”

I was touched – the short monk was usually terse and unemotional
about anything except one of his causes. “I’m sorry. There wasn’t
any way to let you know – “

“Well, look at this,” drawled a voice behind me. “Guess that
saying about bad coins always turning up was true.”

Frohike released me and I turned to grin at the blond monk. “Hey,
Brother Langley.  Guess you didn’t get rid of me after all.”  I
looked past him towards a bearded monk regarding me solemnly.
“Hi, Brother Byers.”

Brother Byers’ eyes were fixed on my face as he said quietly, “We
heard that your family was taken by Earl Spender’s men.  Our
sources told us what happened to your family – “

“Samantha,” I interrupted, hope firing up in my heart.  “Do you
know where she is?”

Langley shook his head, sitting on the edge of the worktable.
“No, just that she’s not in Town.  She doesn’t seem to be on
Spender’s estate or that of any of his cronies.”

“You’re sure of that?”

“Yes,” Frohike said shortly.  “We’ve been over all of them,
looking for you.”

The older man dropped into a chair and I saw that he looked older
and more tired than I remembered.  I felt guilty at causing so
much pain to my friends and looked over at Byers questioningly.
He was the quiet, steady one of the three, rarely letting
anything ruffle his tranquility, a peace that had been hard-won. 
According to Frohike, Byers had taken the cowl and tonsure upon
the disappearance and presumed death of his bethrothed just
before their wedding. Grief-striken, he had joined a local
monastery, intending to devote the rest of his life to prayer and
gardening, but it seemed that the Gods had had other ideas.  And
so Brother Byers had come into the orbit of Brother Frohike and
the rest was history.

Brother Byers said quietly, “We traced you into the prison and to
the slave pens and then the trail - ended."

I looked at him, puzzled.  “But surely there was a record of my
sale – I saw Lord Walter sign the papers and Sir Reginald
witnessed them.”

The three men exchanged a look.  “The merchant who received you
was killed in a fire four months ago and all his records
destroyed.”

I felt suddenly weak and sat down.  Sir John - Spender -appeared
to have gone to a great deal of trouble to make me "disappear"
and now I was here in the same city with him.  I was suddenly
glad for the Amazon captain shadowing me. “Shit.”

“Fox,” Frohike said urgently, “we’ve got a safe place lined up
for you.  I swear that bastard won’t be able to get his hands on
you.  Just say the word and it’s done.”

“I might have something to say about that.” Scully stepped out of
the shadows, placing herself at my back. I saw the monks’ eyes
widen at the sight of her and had to grin.

“Who the hell are you?” Frohike asked, obviously dazed by the
sight of the tall redheaded warrior.

“Sorry,” I said.  “Brothers, this is Captain Scully, head of Lord
Walter’s garrison.  Scully, this is Brother Frohike, Brother
Langley, and Brother Byers.”

Scully studied the three men then turned with a frown. “Priests? 
Lord Walter will not be pleased about this.”

“They aren’t priests.  They are members of the Brotherhood of the
Single Arrow.”

“The what?”

Langley studied Scully. "Do you remember the late king's death?"

She blinked as if not quite comprehending what this was about
while I grinned and sat back, preparing to enjoy the show. "Of
course.  I was twelve and here in Town, training at the Shrine of
Artemis.  He was killed by a stray arrow while out hunting."

"Or so they would have us believe," Langley said darkly.

Scully crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.  "And you're
telling me that's not what happened. "

"I had a drink in a pub with a man who claimed to be one of
several assassins hired to kill the king," Langley said.  "If it
was an accident, if there was only one arrow, then why wasn't his
body placed on display like his father's?"

"Why would anyone want to kill King John?  He was a good and just
man."

Byers spoke up.  "They killed him so that they could take power."

"Who are 'they'?"

"Nobody knows for certain," Frohike said heavily.  "Spender is
one of them but there are others, many others."  He glanced over
at me and I could see him hesitate before he added, "Fox's father
was involved with them, but we don't know if he was a willing
member or not.  They had him killed to hide the truth."

"The High Priest is more than likely involved, as well as others
throughout the Temple and government," Langley added.

"The government?" Captain Scully made a rude noise.  "They can
hardly agree about settling border disputes between the barons.
How could they possibly manage such a conspiracy?"

Frohike looked over at me with a grin.  "She's hard to convince,
isn't she?"

Brother Byers moved forward.  "We're not talking about the House
of Lords, only concerned with their bellies and laying the
servant girls.  We're talking about a shadow group, working
behind the scenes for their own purposes."

"But what could they possibly gain?"

"King Jeffrey was only a boy then.  If the Lord Protector hadn't
been able to pull together the most influential of the nobles and
convince them to support his brother, the land would have been
plunged into chaos and open to any invader."

Scully made a disbelieving sound.  "Invaders?  This island has
withstood invaders for hundreds of years - it will never fall to
an invading enemy."

"Isn't that what Harold's men said before the Conqueror landed?"
Langley pointed out.

"You said that people in the Temple and the government were
involved.  Granted, there is no love lost between the Sisterhood
and the Temple, but I find it hard to believe that they would
plot against the king - against their own people."

"I didn't believe it, either," Brother Byers said.  "But I've
seen evidence that some of the Temple priests are involved.
That's how I met my brothers here."

"You're in the Church yourselves -"

"Not anymore," Frohike said.  "We left the Temple and formed our
own Brotherhood when we first learned the truth."  He gestured
towards the other monks who had continued to copy, ignoring us.
"We are dedicated to learning the truth and bringing it to the
people."

"You speak of 'them' plotting against the people - what do you
mean?"

"We are being prepared," Byers said.  At Scully's incredulous
look he said, "Have you got a guild piece?" Scully gave me a look
and I shrugged so she pulled a coin out of her pouch.

"A common coin, one that anyone of moderate means might possess."
He held it up to the light and tapped it. "Do you hear that?  See
that shadow?"  He laid the coin on the table and, grabbing a
hammer and chisel from the bench behind him, split the coin into
two halves.  He held it up for her to see. "Hollow."

"There are any number of reasons why that could be there.  A flaw
in the pressing of the coins, an air bubble left behind in the
molding - "

"A place to conceal substances which are then absorbed into the
skin of those who handle the coin.  Drugs to make us susceptible
to their control, either through poisoning or influencing our
behavior."

"You are out of your minds.  Milord Fox, where did you find these
- these lunatics?" Scully turned towards me with a scowl.

I grinned. "Actually, they found me."

Frohike nodded.  "Sitting on the floor of the University library
amidst a stack of moldy old books that no one had looked at in
years.  Hence the nickname of 'Moldy' we gave him.  My nephew -
you met him in the shop above - introduced us."

"The brothers were helpful in getting me access to some -unusual
Temple documents," I added with a grin.

"What - you believe in all this conspiracy nonsense, too?"

"Actually, I was trying to find out about a ghost that supposedly
haunts the Temple," I confessed.

"A ghost."  Scully stared at me as if I was crazy.

"Turned out to be a young initiate sneaking out to meet his
lover."  I shrugged philosophically.  "Which doesn't disprove the
existence of ghosts, just not that particular one."

Scully drew a deep breath and looked like she had found herself
unexpectedly in a house for the insane.  I knew the feeling - I
had worn it for a time upon first meeting the good Brothers.
"Okay.  Let's just assume for a moment that I believe you.  All
of this with King John happened twelve years ago. Why kill Milord
Fox's father now?"

Byers shook his head.  "Just because they failed the first time
doesn't mean that they won't try again. King Jeffrey has only one
heir and it is said that he and the Queen no longer share a bed
so there will be no more legitimate heirs.  If he were to die  -
"

"The Prince is young and reported to be in delicate health,"
Scully said slowly.

Brother Frohike nodded.  "The only other blood heir is Lord
Walter.  He was disqualified by the High Priest because of his
illegitimate birth, but there are many who would support him
without the Temple's approval."

I stood, glowering at Frohike.  "Just what are you implying? They
would have made him king before - without Temple approval -but he
turned it down and made them take his brother."

He met my eyes directly.  "Maybe he changed his mind.  Or maybe
this was part of the plan from the start - Caesar turned down the
crown twice before accepting it."

"He hates Spender!  It doesn't make any sense - "

"I don't think he's working with Spender but there could be more
than one force at work.  What are the odds that the son of one of
Spender's men - you - would just happen to be offered for auction
on the same day that Lord Walter - who doesn't go to slave
auctions - just happened to be there?  And then the slaver and
the records are destroyed? Too many coincidences, Fox."

"I don't want to hear this," I growled, turning my back on him.

A hand on my shoulder swung me back around.  "Why?  You've never
been one to turn your back on the truth before - why now? Because
you honestly believe that he is innocent? Or because you like
him?"

I glared at him.  "You don't know anything about the matter!"

"Then tell me!  Explain it to me so I understand what makes a
slave-clerk so loyal to his owner! Unless - " His eyes narrowed.
"It's well known that Lord Walter's marriage to Lady Sharon was a
sham, that his preferences lay elsewhere. Is that it, Fox?  He
took you to his bed, made you his catamite?"  I flushed at that,
speechless in the face of his incredulous anger.  "Is that the
price of your search for the Truth? Because if it is, he must be
one hell of a good fuck!"

I struck out at him, blindly, and heard my voice shaking.
"Bastard!  You don't know Walter - he's not like that -"  But in
my mind a seed of suspicion had been planted and I began to doubt
Lord Walter's motivations.  My stomach heaved and I turned away,
blindly. "Gods, I'm going to be sick."

It was Byers who wrapped an arm around me and guided me to the
washroom, held my head while I was sick, then washed my face.  I
rinsed my mouth and then looked at him desperately.

"He's not like that, Byers.  He's - he's kind, and he cares about
me."

Byers reached out and stroked my hair briefly.  "I hope so, my
boy.  I truly do."

Brother Langley appeared in the doorway, concern on his thin
face.  "You okay, Moldy?  Because your Amazon out here is likely
to tear Frohike apart if you aren't."

Alarmed, I headed back to the main room on shaky legs and found
that Scully had Brother Frohike pinned against the wall by the
throat.  She glanced at me briefly before looking back at
Frohike. "You wish me to avenge you, Milord Fox?  Speak the word
and I will crush his throat."

"No," I said quickly.  "Please.  Frohike didn't mean to upset me,
he just gets rather passionate about his causes.  Let him go."

Scully nodded and stared Frohike in the face for a moment longer.
"Lord Walter took me into his household when I was a small child
of seven and gave me to honorable and loving foster parents.  He
taught me arms from the time I was small and paid the dowry to
the Shrine of Artemis in my name.  He took me into his own guard
and made me his Captain when I had proved myself. No other would
have done as much for me.  His care for Milord Fox has been
tender and loving.  I will not hear you blacken his name, and I
will not see you upset Milord Fox."  She shook him, like a
terrier shakes a rat.  "Understand?"

Frohike gasped.  "I understand. Please, put me down."

She nodded and released him, letting him fall the remaining six
inches to the ground. "We are leaving, Milord."

I nodded and followed her to the foot of the stairs, then turned
back and said, quietly, "Yes, he took me into his house. Yes, I
am his bedwarmer, his catamite.  But he had been kind to me and
honest.  I - I love him.  I know that's not enough to change your
minds, and I'll stay away from here if you want me to - "

Frohike slowly came to stand before me, rubbing his throat.
"You're always welcome here, Moldy, and I honestly hope that you
are right - for your sake.  If you ever need anything, you have
only to ask."  I nodded and was relieved when he hugged me
tightly. "You're probably right - you are so much trouble that no
one who didn't love you would put up with you."

I flushed and hugged him back, then bid farewell to the others,
receiving assurances that they would continue searching for
Samantha.  And so, with a somewhat lighter heart, I returned to
the castle and attempted to forget the seeds of doubt that had
been planted.

Walter

Jeffrey was standing in front of the fireplace in his private
Sanctum, a brooding look on his face.  For a moment, he looked so
like the father I remembered as a child that my heart nearly
stopped.  Then he heard me and lifted his head, smiling, and the
spell was broken.

"Walter!" he called out, gesturing towards the table where a
chessboard was set out. "As you can see, I'm ready for you."

I laughed and shook my head.  "Ah, I can see you want your
satisfaction early.  Very well, Jeffrey - your victim is ready."

As we set up our pieces and made our opening moves, Jeffrey said
casually, "I see you are without your shadow today."

I made a move, looking at him briefly.  "Yes. I thought that you
would prefer us to be alone."

Jeffrey nodded, looking both pleased and wistful.  "I see you so
seldom these days.  Since the accident you have been in Town
infrequently, and now even less."

"Harvest time requires a lot of my attention."

"As does your pretty slave boy."

I could not mistake the jealous tone in his voice and I frowned. 
"Surely business of the Court has kept you so occupied that you
have hardly had time to miss me."

Jeffrey snorted.  "You know as well as I that the government
practically runs itself.  All I am required to do is listen, try
not to look bored, and sign my name to the multitude of documents
that require it."

"Be careful not to leave everything in the hands of clerks and
politicians," I warned him.

He made a face.  "Yes, big brother, but you have no need to
worry.  Spender keeps a close eye on things for me."

"That does not reassure me," I said dryly.

Jeffrey frowned.  "I know that you don't like him, Walter, though
I don't know why.  He's been good to me, almost like a father.
He's been here when I needed someone."

I reached over to touch his hand, saying sincerely, "I am sorry I
haven't been here for you, Jeffie.  What is troubling you?
Something wrong with my nephew?"

He nodded, looking troubled.  "Johnny's health hadn't been what
it should be these past few months.  His last tutor found it
impossible to handle him. Spender found him a new one but now
he's become withdrawn and distant, distrustful, although the
tutor seems to be an exemplary man.  I've tried talking with him
but - " He shuddered.  "He stares at me with those big eyes of
his and it's like he can see right through me."

"How is he with his mother?"

Jeffrey snorted.  "Diana has no time for him. She's too busy with
her own little court and her clothes and her -paramours."

I raised an eyebrow at the bitterness of his voice.  "I didn't
think that you cared where she bestowed her - affections, as long
as she didn't foist a false heir on you and she was discreet."

"That's the problem - she isn't discreet.  It's an open secret
that her bed is always occupied.  And she doesn't care what she
takes between her legs - nobleman, commoner, slave - as long as
it has a penis.  Rumor has it that she's been through nearly all
the men of the Court - married or not - and all the prettier
slave-boys and now is working her way through the guard."  He
eyed me with mock amusement.  "And you'd best keep a watchful eye
on your boy.  Once she fastens her eye on someone, she doesn't
give up till she has him."

"I'll be careful.  Although I would think that young Alexei would
be enough to hold her interest for awhile."  Jeffrey flushed at
that and I smiled.  "Or perhaps that slave has found himself in
another bed?"

Jeffrey stood, roughly pushing his chair back, and walked over to
a side table where a pitcher of wine sat.  As he filled a goblet,
he said quietly, "You were lucky, Walter.  Father loved your
mother and was faithful to her. His marriage to my mother was for
political expedience and he felt no such obligation to her.  Oh,
he was discreet and always treated her with respect, but after
the last miscarriage left her crippled, he never visited her bed
again."

I stared at him, appalled.  "You were six - how could you
possibly know that?"

Jeffrey shrugged.  "Children see more than you think.  And I saw
how it wounded her spirit each time a new favorite from among her
ladies or lords found their way into Father's bed. When I married
Diana, I swore that I would never put her through that."

"You were a boy, Jeffrey - barely fourteen when the Barons sealed
the alliance. No one would hold you to such a vow, especially
when the other party is unfaithful in return."

He returned to stand beside the table, looking down at me with a
mock incredulous look.  "You were married for ten years, Walter,
and never broke your vows.  Are you advising me break mine merely
because my wife cannot be faithful?"

I sighed. "Of course not.  But -Jeffie, I want you to be happy.
Just be careful if you play with that one. Alexei is more
dangerous than he looks."

"You should talk."

I looked up at him, puzzled.  "What do you mean?"

"You have taken the son of a known traitor into you house, into
your bed - into your heart.  Don't deny it - I can see it on your
face."

"Just because his father was a traitor doesn't mean that he is
one."

Jeffrey sat down in his seat and leaned forward.  "And you think
that it was just a coincidence that he was there in the slave
market on the day that your friend Reginald talked you into going
to the market?  A boy who looks like he does, just the kind that
you would be attracted to?"

I shook my head.  "No.  You don't know Fox.  He's honest and
incapable of deception."

"Perhaps - although many a pretty face has hidden an equally
clever mind. Nothing would be easier than for such a boy to worm
his way into your affections and then to slowly begin to spread
his poison, to taint your mind."

I continued to shake my head but in my heart a seed of doubt had
been planted.  The boy had wound me around his finger like no one
had ever done before, until I was so enthralled that I would do
just about anything for him, believe anything he told me.

"Very well - I won't try to convince you further.  Just be
careful, Walter, and don't trust overly much."  He smiled at me
crookedly.  "In the meantime, talk with me for a while and take
my mind off my troubles.  Play with me and let me win."

I nodded, forcing a smile on my face, and proceeded to lose the
game to Jeffrey although I managed to draw it out enough to make
it a challenge for him.  And in my heart, I tried to forget the
seeds of doubt that had been planted.

Chapter Five

Fox

The rest of our visit in Town passed uneventfully enough, and I
was careful to stay out of the way of both Queen Diana and Earl
Spender.  I wasn't so successful at avoiding Alexei as we were
often sent about the same tasks, but Scully always shadowed me
after I had privately confided to her what had occurred so he
took no more liberties with me.

As the week drew to an end, I became more anxious to return home.
Lord Walter seemed distant and troubled although he didn't speak
of what was bothering him, not even to Scully.  And I couldn't
completely banish Frohike's words, no matter how hard I tried.
It seemed as though each of us had raised a wall keeping the
other out, watching each other with questioning eyes.  And,
though I still slept in Lord Walter's bed and he wrapped an arm
securely around me before we went to sleep, he didn't touch me in
any other manner.  After nearly daily intercourse over the past
month, neither of us was accustomed to this sudden abstinence so
by the end of a week both of us were frustrated and our tempers
were short.

On this fateful afternoon about three days before we were
scheduled to return home, Scully had decided that she couldn't
put off her required visit to the Shrine any longer but Lord
Walter was also tied up with a meeting of the Barons of the land.
Since she seemed to feel that she was personally responsible for
my safety, she decided that I should come along with her.  I
readily agreed - except for another short visit to the Brothers
two days earlier, I had not left the castle and was anxious to
get away for a while.  So right after lunch, Scully, one of the
guards, and I made our way out of the castle and across Town to
the Shrine of Artemis.  We entered the public part of the Shrine
and Scully led the way to a small vestibule. It was a cozy little
room with a fire burning in the brazier in the middle and benches
along the sides.  We hadn't been there more than a minute before
a young woman entered and warmly embraced Scully.

"Sister Scully!  It has been a long time.  Our Mother will be
pleased to see you."

"And I will be happy to see our Mother as well."  At the curious
look the other Amazon gave us, Scully explained who I was, then
turned to me.  "Milord Fox, no man may enter further without the
Will of the Goddess, so you will need to remain here.  I will not
be long."  Fixing me with a stern look, she said, "Do not leave
these premises for any reason whatsoever, or I swear I will take
the flat of my sword to your backside."

I flushed and the other Amazon laughed softly.  "You speak to him
as if you expect trouble, Sister."

"Always," Scully said with a sigh.  "Trouble follows him wherever
he goes."  She turned to the guard and said, equally sternly,
"Martin, I shall hold you personally responsible if he comes to
harm."

Martin swallowed hard.  "Yes, Captain."

We both watched Scully follow the other Amazon into the main part
of the Shrine and then turned to look at each other.  There was a
pleading look on the young soldier's face and I grinned at him.
"Don't worry - I'll behave. She scares me too much."

"She should," Martin said fervently.  "I've seen her take the
skin off a man's back with a whip once." He looked back at me a
little shyly. "Milord Fox?"

"I'm not a lord," I said quietly.  "I'm a slave."

He shook his head.  "The Captain and the Lieutenant call you
that, and so do some of the men.  Because of what you did for
Lamana.  That took courage and we don't forget that."

I flushed, embarrassed, and shrugged.  "It was my fault - he
shouldn't have been punished at all."

After that there seemed to be nothing left to say, so we made
ourselves comfortable on the benches.  I pulled a book that the
Brothers had lent me out of my pouch and settled down to read,
getting lost in the tale.

The scream was so sudden and startling that I was roughly jerked
out of my book and I found myself looking around, bewildered,
wondering if I had imagined it. Then another scream and a boyish
voice yelling, "Let me go!  I won't go with you!" followed by
cries for help told me that this was all too real. Without
pausing to think, I raced out of the Shrine and found a large man
attempting to manhandle a boy on the street outside. The boy was
struggling mightily and I paused for a moment, uncertain if this
was a father and his recalcitrant son or an attempted abduction
of some sort.  Besides, the large man was armed and I most
definitely was not.

The large man drew back his hand and boxed the boy soundly on the
ear.  "Shut up, brat!  They aren't paying me enough for this job
to put up with your lip."

That decided me, and I threw myself into the fray, punching the
kidnapper in the face and knocking him to the ground -mostly
because I caught him by surprise. Grabbing the boy by the arm, I
hustled him up the steps of the Shrine and into the vestibule
before his attacker could recover and launch a counter-attack.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the dumbfounded look on the
face of my guard as I raced past him just as he was coming out
after me but I figured explanations could wait.  Right now, it
was more important to get the boy to safety.

Once in the vestibule, I turned to the boy and asked him,
urgently, "Are you hurt?"

Wordlessly, the boy shook his head and I looked him over quickly,
ascertaining that there were no apparent injuries.  The boy was
obviously of noble birth as his clothing was of fine cloth,
although considerably dirty and a little torn at present. Large
eyes studied me with silent curiosity, both traits unusual in a
child that I judged to be six or seven at most. Probably scared
out of his wits, the little mite, I thought sympathetically, and
dropped to one knee beside him.

"You'll be safe here.  Your parents - do they know where you
are?"  The boy shook his head.  "Do you know where you live?
Would you be able to take us there?"  The boy nodded and I sighed
in relief.  "Good.  Then as soon as Captain Scully gets back,
we'll make sure that you get home safely."

"Master Rupert will have called the guards," the boy said
clearly, speaking for the first time.  "They'll arrest you."

"Arrest me?" I said indignantly.  "I was rescuing you from that
monster - "

"That's my tutor."

The bottom fell out of my stomach.  "Your tutor?"  I asked,
feeling stupid, and glanced over at Martin.  The sickly look on
his face made me suddenly suspicious.  "Do you have a name?"

The boy shrugged, an oddly adult gesture.  "I have many names.
My favorite is Gibson."

The sick feeling in my stomach intensified.  "As in Prince John,
Duke of Gibson?  Oh, shit!"

The Crown Prince nodded, looking at me with that oddly adult-like
curiosity again. "You're my uncle's slave, aren't you? I've seen
you around the castle."  As I nodded numbly in response, he said,
"My mother talks about you a lot.  She likes you and wants to bed
you."

I knew I was gaping at such words coming out of the young boy's
mouth and flushed. "How can you possibly know that?"

He shrugged again.  "I can tell by the way people look at each
other, and adults never notice children."

"Milord Fox," Martin said with a strangled voice.  "The Royal
Guards are coming."

"Oh, shit!" I ran to the window and looked out anxiously. "What
are the odds that they are on parade and not heading here?"  As
they stopped out front I sighed.  "So much for that hope."

A loud voice rang out, demanding that the Crown Prince be
released, and I drew a deep breath.  "We'd better face them now
before this gets worse."

As we left the vestibule for the front steps, I saw an imposing
looking woman come sweeping out of the inner chambers with Scully
and the Amazons I had seen earlier.  From the looks on their
faces, I knew that it had gotten worse.  Sending up prayers to
every god I knew, I followed them with the prince.

"What is the meaning of this?" the older woman demanded. "We do
not have any prince in our Shrine."

The man I had punched suddenly sighted us and pointed. "There he
is!  There's the scoundrel who hit me and kidnapped the prince!"

Everyone turned and looked at us.  No, Scully glared at me. I
swallowed hard.  "I - I can explain," I said feebly.

Scully stalked over to me, her teeth gritted together.  "I
thought I told you to stay inside.  Did you not hear me tell you
that?" She turned to the soldier. "Did you not hear me tell him
to stay inside - and for you to watch him?"

Martin paled in the face of her ire.  "He - was hitting the boy. 
Milord Fox thought he was - rescuing the boy.  I mean, the
Prince."

The Prince's tutor started blustering, but the older woman held
up an imperious hand and everyone silenced before her.  She
looked over the guards and Master Rupert, over the Prince and me,
then gestured for the Prince to come forward.  He did quickly and
I didn't blame him - the woman had a way of looking at you that
made you want to beg for mercy.  The Mother-Abbess cast a look
over his dirtied clothing and then gently took the Prince's chin
in her hand, turning his face to examine the reddened ear.

"This boy has been struck repeatedly."  Her voice was mild but
the look she aimed towards the tutor made him blanch.

"He fell!  I never touched him!"

The Mother-Abbess turned back to the Prince.  "Is this true? Did
you fall?"

The Prince looked at her gravely.  "Yes - after Master Rupert hit
me the first time."

"The first time?  He hit you more than once?"  The Mother-Abbess
turned towards me and I swallowed hard.  "And you witnessed
this?"

I nodded numbly.  "Not - not the first one. I heard him scream,
and I ran outside. I thought - I thought that he was being
kidnapped.  That man - " I pointed towards the tutor, "said he
wasn't paid enough to take the boy's lip.  Then he boxed his
ear."

The Mother-Abbess smiled and nodded once, and I felt as if a
benediction of sorts had been bestowed.  The she turned back to
the other Amazon.  "Call out the House Guard for escort duty for
our Sister and her charges."

The Captain of the Royal Guards drew himself up.  "We will take
charge of His Highness - and the slave as well."

"I'm sure you will," The Mother-Abbess said dryly.  "And we'll
make sure that they arrive home safely and that their story is
heard."

A dozen Amazon guards appeared on her words and she turned to
their Captain. "See that His Highness and Fox are escorted into
the presence of the King and that their story is heard, then
return here and report."  The Captain saluted her and ranged her
guard in a protective array in which the Prince, Scully, our
guardsman, and I were secured in the middle, while the Royal
Guards trailed behind us.  In this strange procession, we headed
towards the palace.

As we walked, I suddenly felt a small hand slip into mine.
Surprised, I looked down at the prince.

"I never told you 'thank you'," he said quietly.

"It was an honor to serve, Prince John."

He looked up at me wistfully.  "Do you think you could call me
Gibson?  I like it better.   When people call me 'John', they're
always comparing me to my grandfather."

"Your grandfather was a good man and a good king.  You should be
honored to be compared to him."

"Not when it's always an unfavorable comparison," he sighed.

I knew full well the sting of never being able to measure up.
Squeezing his hand, I said reassuringly, "That won't always be
the case - Gibson.  Someday you'll grow up and become a great and
wise king yourself."

He smiled up at me in delight, the first little-boy gesture I had
seen so far. "Sometimes my father lets me visit my uncle at
Beauforte.  Maybe this spring, when the weather turns warm?"

"I think Lord Walter would enjoy that immensely, Gibson."  I
smiled at him.  "And so would I."

I had expected the prince to release my hand as we entered the
castle grounds but instead Prince Gibson tightened his hold. I
squeezed his hand reassuringly as our escort marched us straight
through the courtyard and into the main castle.  Behind us, I
could hear the Captain of the Royal Guards dismissing all but his
Lieutenant before following us.  Down the corridor we marched,
flanked on all sides by our Amazon protectors, right into the
Council Room where the meeting of the Barons was taking place.
For a moment, there was a sea of faces around us - the King
looking startled, Earl Spender angry - then I saw Lord Walter and
the look of cold fury on his face made my knees go weak.

"What is the meaning of this?" Earl Spender demanded.  "How dare
you burst in upon His Majesty like this? And what is His Royal
Highness doing with you?"

The Captain of the Amazon House Guards ignored Earl Spender,
saluting the King instead.  "Your Majesty, the Mother-Abbess of
the Shrine of Artemis sends her most reverent greetings, her
warmest blessings, and her deepest apologies for intruding in
such a manner, but this matter is of the utmost importance."

King Jeffrey sat back in his throne and acknowledged the
greeting.  By Charter and tradition, the Amazons were independent
of the King's rule and no king had ever been foolish enough to
risk their ire, not when their strong fighting skills might be
needed in future.

"What is the situation and how does it involve my son?"

"Outside the steps of our Shrine, His Royal Highness was attacked
by one who should have had his best interests at heart."

At these words, the Prince's tutor strode forward, no doubt
intending to attempt to turn the king's ire off himself and on
someone else - probably me - counting on Spender's aid. Glancing
over at the Earl, I thought that Master Rupert would have been
better off if he had starting running in the other direction.

"Your Majesty, this slave attacked me, struck me to the ground
while the Prince and I were enjoying an educational walk through
the town.  Then he dared to lay hands on the Prince's Person,
attempting to abduct him - "

"Be quiet!" The King's voice filled the room and the man blanched
and cowered back.  I looked at the king in appreciative surprise
- nothing I had seen of him so far had prepared me for this show
of strength.  "Come here, my son."

Prince Gibson moved forward, still clutching at my hand so I was
forced to follow, quickly going to my knees when the young prince
stopped before the king. "Father, Fox didn't attack me. He tried
to save me when Master Rupert struck me.  Fox rescued me."

"Ah, yes, the estimable Fox of whom I have heard so much from so
many in recent days."  The cold irony in the King's voice made me
flush.  "You may release His Highness' hand now, Fox - I doubt
that he will be in need of 'rescue' here." Turning in his seat,
the King said, "Lord Walter, perhaps you could take your young
hero back to your chambers - I imagine he must be fatigued after
such an adventure."

"Of course, Your Majesty.  Come, Fox."

Lord Walter's voice was unemotional and I knew that he was
furious with me for causing such a scene.  I felt small, warm
fingers squeeze mine reassuringly before releasing me, and I rose
to follow my master out of the Hall.  Scully would have
accompanied us but, at that moment, the Captain of the Amazons
called upon her to verify the tale.  I felt her anxious eyes on
my back as I followed Lord Walter and, for the first time in four
months, I felt very, very alone.

Walter

The room guards were sitting at the table playing cards when we
entered and, at a gesture from me, quickly retreated from the
room into the hallway.  No sooner had the door closed behind them
than I turned and grasped Fox by the front of his tunic, slamming
him back against the wall.

"What in the hell do you think you were doing?  Attacking the
Royal Tutor, taking the prince from his custody - which was
granted to him by Royal decree.  Taking him into the Shrine, for
the gods' sake!  Are you completely mad?"

I couldn't ever remember being this angry with Fox and, in truth,
my anger was mixed with equal parts relief and terror. The
thought of what could have happened to him had they believed
Master Rupert's charges, of him being tortured to death for
attempting to harm one of Royal Blood, made my blood run cold. I
was just thankful that the Mother-Abbess had intervened.  And
then an insidious little voice whispered in my brain that perhaps
the tutor had been right, that this had been an attempt on the
prince by Fox. But no, that would mean that Scully and the
Mother-Abbess were involved as well and, no matter how good my
Fox's powers of persuasion, I could not see them extending that
far.

I looked into his face, searching for signs of truth or deceit,
and instead saw fear and, on its heels, his own building anger.
"What was I doing?  I was saving a boy from being beaten in the
streets, that's what I was doing! Beaten at the hands of the man
who - as you say - was entrusted with his protection!"

"You had no way of judging the situation!  For all you knew, the
boy could have run away and could have been being justly punished
for his misbehavior."

"Well, he should have run away!  That man's a monster and he has
no business being in charge of Gibson - the prince!"

The familiarity of that name unaccountably flamed my ire. "Who
gave you leave to address the prince in such a manner?" I
demanded.

"He did!" Fox snapped, his eyes blazing at me.  "He asked me to
call him Gibson - right before he told me that he hoped to spend
some time this spring with you, his uncle.  A man he obviously
adores, but who is more concerned with propriety and legality
than his own nephew's health and well-being!"

Aghast and suddenly ashamed, my temper evaporated and I released
him, backing away. "Fox - I - that's not fair. Of course I'm
concerned about my nephew's health."

He gave me a withering look.  "Well, you couldn't prove it by
your recent words and actions.  Now if you'll excuse me, Master,
I'm exhausted and I'm going to bed."

He had already stormed out of the main room before I realized
what was happening and the slam of the bedroom door galvanized me
into action, reigniting my temper.  I followed after him, intent
on finishing this conversation, when a sharp sound caught my
ears. The sound of a key turning in a lock.

Blood roared in my ears and I pounded on the bedroom door. "Fox,
open the door this minute or I swear I'll blister your ass every
night for a month!"

"No!" came the defiant retort from the other side of the door.
"Not until you apologize!"

"Apolo-" I thought I would have a stroke. The gall of the boy,
telling me to apologize. "I will not apologize, and you will open
this door! Now!"

"No!"

I growled, infuriated, and stormed back out of the chamber, aware
of the startled looks from my men waiting in the hallway. No, I
wasn't giving into the brat but I knew the futility of arguing
through a thick door. And I had knowledge gained from my
childhood, long winter days spent prowling about this older part
of the castle and learning its secrets.  Down the corridor,
around the bend, and through a narrow doorway that had been
unopened for years and that lead to another narrower corridor
paralleling the main one, intended to allow servants - and spies
- to move silently behind the scenes.  Careful of the open steps
to my left that led down to the lowest levels and to the postern
gate, I let my fingers trail along the right wall until I reached
a distinctive set of marks I had set there twenty years before.
I placed my fingers into the depressions and pushed.

The look on Fox's face would have been comical under other
circumstances - he literally gaped at the sight of me coming out
of a bookcase. I didn't give him a moment to utter a sound as I
grabbed him roughly, tucked him under one arm, and proceeded to
wear out the seat of his breeches with my hand. He began
screeching and swearing, dancing on his toes and trying to get
away, while I blistered every inch of his ass. When my hand began
to hurt, I finally stopped, lifting him and tossing him onto the
bed.

"Don’t you ever, ever, lock a door on me, brat!" I snapped.

His face was wet with tears but there was also defiance on it as
he huddled back against the headboard. "Or what? You'll beat me
again? Fuck me to prove you own me?" He pulled off his tunic,
flinging it at me. "Well, go ahead - I can't stop you -but I'll
hate you forever!"

With a snarl, I reached out to grab his arm and dragged him over
to the side of the bed. I would show this insufferable brat who
was the master here. I roughly flipping him over onto his stomach
and ripped off his pants, holding him down with one hand while I
tore open the front of my own breeches. Not that he struggled. He
lay there, quiescent and breathing hard, even when I grabbed his
hips and pulled his ass up, positioning myself behind him.

It was the slight shudder that made me pause on the verge of
plunging myself into the unprepared body before me. A stifled
sob, and my fury evaporated, as well as my arousal.

I let go of him and fled.

Chapter Six

Fox

I didn't move until I heard the door shut behind him, then I
collapsed on the bed and gave way to the shaking that seemed to
be trying to tear my body apart. What in hell had I been
thinking? Locking him out of his own bedroom? Daring him to rape
me? I was lucky that he hadn't -yet - although I hadn't the
slightest idea why he had stopped.

For now.

He would be back. If I were lucky, he'd beat me senseless but
keep me. He seemed to like having me in his bed, at least until
this last week. Maybe he had stopped because he was so disgusted
with me that he couldn't bear to touch me anymore. I caught my
breath on a sob. Maybe he was so angry with me that he would send
me to the barracks. Or sell me.

I clutched my pillow to my chest, feeling as if my heart was
tearing in half. What would be worse, seeing him take another to
his bed or never seeing him again?

Walter

I moved blindly through the corridor, not even knowing my
destination, running from the memory of what I had been about to
do.  Never mind that I owned the boy and had the right to do
whatever I wanted to him.  The fact of the matter was that I
loved him and the thought that I had been willing to hurt one I
loved with every fiber of my being made me nauseas.

"Lord Walter!"  A familiar voice and a strong hand caught my arm.
"What's wrong?  Where's Fox?"

"Our rooms," I managed to gasp.  "Oh god, Scully! What did I do?"

Somehow, I found myself in the deserted courtyard with my head
under the pump, cold water cascading over me, shocking me and
restoring the sense that I seemed to have lost at the sight of
Fox in armed custody.  I pushed away from the pump, sitting down
on the low wall as I attempted to set myself to rights.  I caught
the rough toweling Scully tossed at me and rubbed it over my
head, accepting with the other hand a mug containing some kind of
liquid.  At this moment, I wouldn't have cared if it had been
poison - in fact, I would have cheerfully drained the glass.

"Are you ready to make sense?" Scully asked me quietly.  "Do I
need to summon a Healer or dispose of a body?"

My stomach roiled at that but I managed to control it, shaking my
head.  "Fox is alive and unharmed.  By his own merits, not mine."

Her eyes coolly studied my face as she nodded.  "I was afraid
that you would react badly to that scene in the Hall."

I let out a short, sharp bark of laughter.  "React badly? That’s
an understatement.  I slammed him into the wall and raked him
over the coals for saving the life of my nephew, then I paddled
his ass and nearly raped him out of anger."

Carefully, she said, "It is not uncommon for one to lash out at a
loved one when they emerge unscathed from dire peril.  And Milord
Fox has a positive genius for both getting into such peril and
for inflaming one's anger afterwards."

"The boy is second to none in that," I said wryly.  I glanced
over at her. "I suppose that everything he said is true."

Scully nodded.  "I didn't witness it but one of my men was with
Fox and he says that they heard screaming and cries for help.
They went to assist, and it was only when they were back in the
Shrine that Martin realized who Fox had rescued."

I sighed. "He said I was more interested in appearance and
legality than my own nephew's health."

"Milord Fox's mouth is well known to react before his brain
engages.  Anyone who knows you knows how you feel about Prince
John."

"Gibson," I murmured then looked over at Scully.  "He asked Fox
to call him 'Gibson'."

"The prince seemed quite fond of Fox," she said neutrally. "It
appeared to be mutual."

"He has a good heart - Fox, I mean.  It gets him into trouble,
but he means well."

"You love him, don't you?" Scully asked quietly and, since this
appeared to be an evening for confidences, I nodded.  "I don't
need to tell you that it is dangerous.  Even if Spender doesn't
manage to get his hands on Fox, there's no guarantee he'll stay
with you after he's freed."

"I know," I said with a sigh.  "He doesn't know how I feel -and
I'm not going to tell him so don't say a word. I would rather he
decided to stay on his own, rather than out of obligation to me."
Scully nodded and I rose to my feet again. "Thank you, Scully,
for helping me pull myself back together."

She smiled. "It is an honor to serve. Now I think we'd best go
see what shape your boy is in."

I entered the bedchamber and found it in darkness except for the
single candle by the bed. A slender, pale figure rose from where
he knelt on the floor and slowly approached me. He was naked, the
candlelight gleaming off his skin as he knelt again before me. I
was so entranced by the picture that he presented that it took me
a moment to realize that he was holding up the strap, offering it
to me.

"I had no right to act as I did, Master," he said quietly.
"Please, punish me but don't send me away."

I sent the strap whirling into the corner and swept Fox up and
into my arms. In a moment, I was sitting on the bed, cuddling a
surprised but appreciative Fox on my lap.

"I'm sorry," I murmured against the warm curve of his neck. "You
were right; I did owe you an apology but I was too stiff-necked
to admit that I was wrong."

"No, Master, it was my fault," he said, burying his face tighter
into my shoulder. "You owe me nothing, and I owe you my life, my
obedience, my heart, my body. I will try harder, Master, I swear
it. Please, please don't send me away." Firm, warm lips began
pressing kisses over my neck, my face, as if to sweeten the
words, which were already the sweetest I had ever heard.

"Send you away? I could no more live without you than without my
heart." I lifted his chin so that my mouth could claim his,
kissing him till we were both breathless and aroused.

He dropped his face back into the curve of my shoulder,
murmuring, "You may want to beat me when you hear this.  My - my
friends - the Brothers I told you about - said that you might be
part of a plot to gain the throne for yourself.  That you may
have obtained me to get information on Spender's plans to do the
same.  I told them that you weren't involved, that you couldn't
be, but - "

"But a little corner of your mind kept whispering that it could
be true." I smiled wryly at the surprise on his face.  "My
brother said something similar about you.  I tried to push it
away, but I was afraid that every time I touched you - that you
would be able to sense my doubts."

"And I feared it might be true and that you were tiring of me
since you couldn’t learn anything.  I should have known better
and trusted you more."  He pressed a kiss against my skin, his
mouth moving downward to caress what he could reach of my neck
above my collar.  "I want you so badly, my master.  I need you so
much."

I kissed him again, feeling both his need and his arousal, and
rolled us over onto the bed, pressing his lithe body into the
mattress beneath my clothed body.  I released his mouth and said,
solemnly, "I swear, my Fox, you will never have to fear harm at
my hands while in my bed."

"I know," he said with equal solemnity, then leaned up to kiss me
hard. "Take me, Master.  I need you to ride me long and hard."

I smiled back down at him.  "I think I can manage that, although
you may regret it in the morning."

Fox didn't seem to care about that, eagerly helping divest me of
my clothes before attacking my body with mouth and hands. After a
week of abstinence, we were both ablaze with our need, kissing
and touching as if our physical senses alone could reassure our
doubts.  And perhaps they could.  With every moan Fox uttered,
every whispered plea, every honeyed endearment, I felt the poison
of doubt being lifted from my heart and soul. Thrusting deep
within him, I felt as if we were no longer two separate beings
but instead were one heart, one soul. His pleasure and mine were
inseparable, spiraling upward in an intensity of passion that I
had never known before, until we both burst into flame and fell,
phoenix-like, scorched but reborn into a new life.

We lay, entangled and breathless, for a long time before I could
rouse myself enough to kiss the soft hair under my chin and pull
the blankets up to cover us.  Fox moved slightly, helping to tuck
us under the warmth against the coming night chill, then settled
back down with his head on my chest, his legs entwined with my
own.  His fingers traced shapes on my stomach as I waited
patiently for him to say whatever he was trying to find a way to
voice.

"Master?"

"Yes, my heart?"  I could feel the smile against my chest -it
appeared that he liked me calling him that.

"When do you think we can go home?"

His voice was wistful and I felt an equal wave of longing wash
over me.  Once again, I was on a hill overlooking the castle, a
warm body nestled between my legs, a feeling of tenderness
filling me with contentment.  I tightened my hold on him.

"Tomorrow.  We will head home tomorrow."

He sighed just once, a deep sigh of contentment, and I felt his
body relax as he drifted into sleep.

Yes. We would head home tomorrow. And, the Gods willing, we would
be able to make everything right between us.

End of Part 3