Chapter 4
Jarrox was glad that Prince Raddyth had ordered him to conjure a set of pells so that he would have something to whack besides the human wizard. He sat on his bed and tried to read a book, only occasionally flinching as a particularly hard hit made a loud sound that joined with the prince’s heavy breathing and snarls into a sound of pure rage. Although he knew he was safe from that sword, Jarrox still didn’t like being this close to an angry prince with a deadly blade in his hand. What if Raddyth forgot what Lavisnare had said in his fury? Not that he couldn’t protect himself if he were attacked, but if the human prince did it fast enough he might not be able to cast a spell in time. And even if he didn’t attack, Raddyth’s anger was still hard to live with. Wizards by nature were not overly emotional beings – they couldn’t afford to be. Heavy emotions wrecked spells and interfered with casting them. So he wasn’t used to this heavy, menacing atmosphere, and it was getting on his nerves quite a bit.
He turned the page of the book on empirical magic that he was reading. He couldn’t have said just what the last few pages were about, since he was staring blankly down at them while his senses were attuned to the angry young man beating the hell out of the pells nearby. To divert his attention from the prince, Jarrox tried to think of something else.
His thoughts turned to the mer man who’d been here earlier, the one who would teach them to fight underwater. Garajnare. The one who’d teased him about his blushing. Jarrox sighed and slid his fingers down the page of the book, wondering about his reaction to that mer man. Not the nervousness, of course; the creature was huge and had a set of teeth a shark would envy. But the other reaction, the odd twisting in his stomach and the weird heat that had radiated through his limbs when the mer man had looked at him. He had no frame of reference for these feelings, since he’d never experienced them before this. What could they be? Was he sickening for something? He didn’t want to ask Prince Raddyth, who was far too ill-tempered and angry to be a good confidante. But there was no one else to ask, since these mer people weren’t human and probably didn’t have the same reactions to various stimuli. Maybe he could find the answers in a book?
That was a good idea. Jarrox began to conjured books about human anatomy and health, letting a small pile grow beside him. Surely one of these tomes contained the answer to his question? He picked up the top one and began to read it intently, so interested that he forgot about Prince Raddyth and his temper tantrums at last.
Raddyth snarled as he demolished the pells methodically with his sword. Damn that Lavisnare! Who the hell did that giant talking fish think he was?! He imagined that the pells was Lavisnare, and took great satisfaction in ripping it apart. If only he could do the same to the real thing! He’d cut that fish man into tiny pieces and let the sea creatures feast on his carcass! But unfortunately, he could not do that. His father wanted this trade deal, and had ordered his son to go as a hostage and to make it happen at all costs. It surely wouldn’t go through if he gave in to his urges and slaughtered the Crown Prince of the mer people. He lifted his lip in silent snarl as he pummeled the pells, working out his anger on it.
Part of this whole thing had to do with the fact that he didn’t want to be here at all. But he had no choice – his father had made his wish to marry contingent on this trade deal, and his role as a hostage to the mer folk. He was worried that his potential future consort would be snapped up by someone else by the time he returned – the boy was much in demand, as he was quite beautiful and a sensual creature to boot. Raddyth wanted him, wanted him very badly. But there were other suitors for his slender hand, including others who were more wealthy and better-looking than he – and some who had better prospects, as well. Why should the boy settle for being consort to a third son when he could be the consort to a King? Curse his wretched father for putting him in this position! Saddling him with that arrogant mer prince for the Gods only knew how long, while an endless stream of suitors flowed into the Duchy of Lianvu and vied for the hand and heart of the exquisite second son of the ruling Lord.
Raddyth growled and cut a large chunk off the pells. He hated his father, Lavisnare, and everyone standing in his way right now with a passion. Had they no hearts?! Didn’t they understand true love?! If he lost Samathar because of this, he was going to make someone pay no matter what it took. And the someone he wanted to make pay the most(besides his father, who he couldn’t touch) was that wretched mer prince who talked so condescendingly to him, and obviously thought him as amusing as a performing dog. Raddyth impaled the pells, running it through with his sword. And hopefully, perhaps one day soon, he could do the same for Lavisnare.
Lavisnare swam into his quarters and found his latest bed warmer waiting there for him. Felisnare had curled his slim body into one of the smooth stone recesses that his folk used for chairs, and he smiled seductively as Lavisnare entered his quarters. “Greetings, Your Highness,” he purred.
“Greetings, Felis. How was your day?” Lavisnare asked.
A laugh. “It was quite good. I slept in until noon, then I went to the artisans to get a new trinket. Do you like it?” he held up his wrist so that the mer prince could see the jewel-encrusted cuff he was sporting.
Lavisnare shook his head. “I’d like it better if I didn’t know that it was my gold going to pay for it,” he remarked dryly.
Felisnare pouted at him. “Oh, come now, My Prince,” he said as he flowed out of the seat and swam in a slow, seductive manner toward Lavisnare. “Aren’t I worth it?”
Lavisnare pretended to consider this question for a moment, which made Felisnare huff and bare his teeth a little as he threw his arms around Lavisnare’s neck. “Let me show you yet again why I’m worth it,” he said softly, and then proceeded to do just that.
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Jarrox was glad that Prince Raddyth had ordered him to conjure a set of pells so that he would have something to whack besides the human wizard. He sat on his bed and tried to read a book, only occasionally flinching as a particularly hard hit made a loud sound that joined with the prince’s heavy breathing and snarls into a sound of pure rage. Although he knew he was safe from that sword, Jarrox still didn’t like being this close to an angry prince with a deadly blade in his hand. What if Raddyth forgot what Lavisnare had said in his fury? Not that he couldn’t protect himself if he were attacked, but if the human prince did it fast enough he might not be able to cast a spell in time. And even if he didn’t attack, Raddyth’s anger was still hard to live with. Wizards by nature were not overly emotional beings – they couldn’t afford to be. Heavy emotions wrecked spells and interfered with casting them. So he wasn’t used to this heavy, menacing atmosphere, and it was getting on his nerves quite a bit.
He turned the page of the book on empirical magic that he was reading. He couldn’t have said just what the last few pages were about, since he was staring blankly down at them while his senses were attuned to the angry young man beating the hell out of the pells nearby. To divert his attention from the prince, Jarrox tried to think of something else.
His thoughts turned to the mer man who’d been here earlier, the one who would teach them to fight underwater. Garajnare. The one who’d teased him about his blushing. Jarrox sighed and slid his fingers down the page of the book, wondering about his reaction to that mer man. Not the nervousness, of course; the creature was huge and had a set of teeth a shark would envy. But the other reaction, the odd twisting in his stomach and the weird heat that had radiated through his limbs when the mer man had looked at him. He had no frame of reference for these feelings, since he’d never experienced them before this. What could they be? Was he sickening for something? He didn’t want to ask Prince Raddyth, who was far too ill-tempered and angry to be a good confidante. But there was no one else to ask, since these mer people weren’t human and probably didn’t have the same reactions to various stimuli. Maybe he could find the answers in a book?
That was a good idea. Jarrox began to conjured books about human anatomy and health, letting a small pile grow beside him. Surely one of these tomes contained the answer to his question? He picked up the top one and began to read it intently, so interested that he forgot about Prince Raddyth and his temper tantrums at last.
Raddyth snarled as he demolished the pells methodically with his sword. Damn that Lavisnare! Who the hell did that giant talking fish think he was?! He imagined that the pells was Lavisnare, and took great satisfaction in ripping it apart. If only he could do the same to the real thing! He’d cut that fish man into tiny pieces and let the sea creatures feast on his carcass! But unfortunately, he could not do that. His father wanted this trade deal, and had ordered his son to go as a hostage and to make it happen at all costs. It surely wouldn’t go through if he gave in to his urges and slaughtered the Crown Prince of the mer people. He lifted his lip in silent snarl as he pummeled the pells, working out his anger on it.
Part of this whole thing had to do with the fact that he didn’t want to be here at all. But he had no choice – his father had made his wish to marry contingent on this trade deal, and his role as a hostage to the mer folk. He was worried that his potential future consort would be snapped up by someone else by the time he returned – the boy was much in demand, as he was quite beautiful and a sensual creature to boot. Raddyth wanted him, wanted him very badly. But there were other suitors for his slender hand, including others who were more wealthy and better-looking than he – and some who had better prospects, as well. Why should the boy settle for being consort to a third son when he could be the consort to a King? Curse his wretched father for putting him in this position! Saddling him with that arrogant mer prince for the Gods only knew how long, while an endless stream of suitors flowed into the Duchy of Lianvu and vied for the hand and heart of the exquisite second son of the ruling Lord.
Raddyth growled and cut a large chunk off the pells. He hated his father, Lavisnare, and everyone standing in his way right now with a passion. Had they no hearts?! Didn’t they understand true love?! If he lost Samathar because of this, he was going to make someone pay no matter what it took. And the someone he wanted to make pay the most(besides his father, who he couldn’t touch) was that wretched mer prince who talked so condescendingly to him, and obviously thought him as amusing as a performing dog. Raddyth impaled the pells, running it through with his sword. And hopefully, perhaps one day soon, he could do the same for Lavisnare.
Lavisnare swam into his quarters and found his latest bed warmer waiting there for him. Felisnare had curled his slim body into one of the smooth stone recesses that his folk used for chairs, and he smiled seductively as Lavisnare entered his quarters. “Greetings, Your Highness,” he purred.
“Greetings, Felis. How was your day?” Lavisnare asked.
A laugh. “It was quite good. I slept in until noon, then I went to the artisans to get a new trinket. Do you like it?” he held up his wrist so that the mer prince could see the jewel-encrusted cuff he was sporting.
Lavisnare shook his head. “I’d like it better if I didn’t know that it was my gold going to pay for it,” he remarked dryly.
Felisnare pouted at him. “Oh, come now, My Prince,” he said as he flowed out of the seat and swam in a slow, seductive manner toward Lavisnare. “Aren’t I worth it?”
Lavisnare pretended to consider this question for a moment, which made Felisnare huff and bare his teeth a little as he threw his arms around Lavisnare’s neck. “Let me show you yet again why I’m worth it,” he said softly, and then proceeded to do just that.
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