Date: Wed, 03 May 2006 21:56:42 +0000 From: Guy Cornelius Subject: Mages of Cornelia 9 Disclaimer: Ok, so all the usual stuff applies. If you are too young or this isn't allowed in the area where you live then you really shouldn't be reading this but if we are honest, is anybody really going to know? I mean, I wont tell them if you wont. Ok, good, glad we got that sorted out, now, enjoy. Oh, and one other thing. For those of you who have been following this from the beginning then I am very sorry this chapter took so long, but hopefully you will enjoy it and forget all about that! Anyway, the story... Chapter 9 "No...no I didn't. There are other ways...other methods. I shouldn't have done it like that." Jake was distraught. Now that his rage had passed and he realised what he had done, he could barely look Rynor in the eye. He knew what he wanted to know but he had just killed two men in the most brutal ways he could think of. They suffered for a long time at his hands. "Shh, Jake, listen to me. You needed to find out who did this and at the time the only possible way was the one presented to you. You aren't a bad person for it. You couldn't let Dominic die in vain now could you?" Just then Jake broke down, tears streaming from his eyes. His knees went weak but just before he fell Rynor grabbed him and held him close, pressing their bodies together and letting Jake cry into the crook of his neck. After a while Jakes tears dried up and the results of his efforts became apparent. "Come on, let's get you home and in the bath. You need to relax and get cleaned up." Rynor lead Jake home slowly but surely and ran him a bath as soon as he got there. "There you go, get yourself in there and get cleaned up. If you need anything, give me a shout" said Rynor as he turned to leave. As he was passing out the door he looked back over his shoulder and saw that Jake was just staring vacantly into space, not moving a muscle. "Jake? Jake, get in the bath" but he didn't move, he just kept staring. Rynor realised Jake was going to need his help so he moved back into the room and stood in front of Jake. "Jake, can you lift your arms up for me?" asked Rynor in the most lilting voice he could muster. Jake looked up at him vacantly and Rynor thought he wasn't going to do it but after a minute he raised them up above his head. Rynor reached down and took hold of the bottom of Jakes tunic and slowly lifted it up over his head and arms, adoring his body as he did so, wanting him so much, but at the same time knowing that he can't have him. He hung the tunic up on the door and took Jakes hand, which had now returned to his side. "Right Jake, would you step into the bath for me?" He put his other hand on the small of his back, just above his beautiful bubble butt, and pushed gently, hoping to coax Jake into the bath, thus remove his lethargy. The pressure provided by his hand and the gentle instructions from Rynor were enough to get Jake into the bath but once in he just sat there looking at his body under the water. "Jake, can you wash yourself for me? You have gone through a lot today and we need to get you cleaned off" but still Jake didn't move. Rynor tried splashing him a little but Jake just closed his eyes and ignored it. Rynor sighed and stood up, debating whether to stay and keep an eye on Jake or go and cook some food but just then Jake looked up into his eyes and the thought of leaving seemed wrong. Instead he took of his own tunic and hung it over Jakes on the door and climbed down into the bath with him. It was a bath big enough for three so they had plenty of space but Rynor chose to sit directly in front of Jake so he could wash him. He reached for the soap, lathered it up and placed his hands on Jakes shoulders. He marvelled once more at Jakes perfect body and then set to work, running his hands down his chest and under his arms, down his stomach to the water-line and then back up to do the rest of his arms and hands. "Jake, I need you to stand up so I can wash the rest of you, ok?" This, however, seemed to spark something in Jake because he looked into Rynor's eyes and looked as though he was only just recognising where he was. "No, its ok. Thank you, I can manage the rest." Rynor's heart fell but he tried not to let it show. He didn't want Jake to know his feelings just yet, it wasn't appropriate. Jake looked up quickly but didn't say anything. He looked a little confused but lowered his eyes and reached for the soap again. Rynor felt he was violating Jakes privacy by staying so quickly stood up and got out of the bath and muttered that he would go and cook some food. He went downstairs without even grabbing a towel and sat at the kitchen table. Jake watched Rynor go and couldn't understand this feeling of disappointment, it was like it wasn't his but how could that be? He finished washing himself off and got out of the bath, drying himself with a towel. He retrieved his tunic from the door and was about to put it on when he noticed a large blood stain just above the waistline. He knew exactly where it came from and exactly what had caused it to be there and he fought to remove the image of what he had done from his mind but it wouldn't shift. All he could see were the two suspended figure, bloodied and broken before him. He wept once again but before he let the sobbing take over he crept out of the bathroom, down the stairs and out of the house. How could he live with himself after what he had done? How was he any better than Angelique after what he had put those men through? Is that the way he would rule if he did ever ascend to the throne? He wasn't prepared to find out. He knew in his heart that he could no longer face Rynor with the shame and hatred that he must he for him so he ran. He ran out of town and into the woods and didn't look back. He stumbled a few times, grazing his shin and his elbow. His face was cut as he ran through the trees and was hit by young branches but he kept running. Eventually he became tired and collapsed by a tree and it was only then that he noticed he was still naked but he didn't care, nothing mattered any more. All he wanted was to curl up into a ball and die but all he managed was to eventually fall into a light and uneasy slumber. Farel and Jared were brothers. Farel, the older, had been working in the slave trade with his younger brother for many years now but things weren't going so well at the moment. The market had slumped. Any healthy young men and women were either in hiding or had been conscripted into Angelique's services. It was because of this lull in trade that these two misfits could be found living in a small, sparsely furnished hut on the far side of the forest from the rest of the town. They wore scruffy clothes and ate well only occasionally, living off bread and stew made from whatever they could find in the forest. Farel was quite tall and well built but had an extremely unappealing face. His nose had been broken so many times it looked more like a piece of ginger root than a nose. His long, dark hair was so dirty and greasy that he could almost stand it on end and it would stay there and he hadn't shaved in a while so he had a short yet scruffy beard hanging off his face. Jared, however was short, dumpy and unbelievably stupid. He could have been good looking once upon a time but when life had been good to them he ate rather too much and moved around rather too little resulting in more off a ball than a human being. As was usual practise for these two, they were out walking in the forest looking for food or anything else that they could make a use out of. "Jared, later I need you to go into town." "What for brother? To buy some nice food?" "Don't be an idiot Jared, we haven't been able to buy nice food for over a year. What makes you think we can do it now? No, I need you to see if there are any decent specimens around. We have to sell something soon or we are going to starve." "Oh, I see. Male of female?" "Either, it really doesn't matter. Don't go pulling a stunt like you did back at Nolun though. I am in no shape to go busting you out of prison again!" "That wasn't my fault Farel. It would have worked if that chicken had just done as it was told," whined Jared. Farel groaned but refrained from lashing out at his brother. "I don't care Jared, just look this time. If you see any decent specimens just come and find..." "Oh look brother, a man." "What? Don't interrupt me with more of your drivel!" "No, brother, look. Over there by that tree." Jared point directly at Jake lying at the base of the tree, fast asleep. Farel looked to where his brother was pointing and lo and behold, there was a man lying naked at the base of a tree. He couldn't tell from this distance but he looked to be extremely handsome and rather muscular. "Maybe we should..." "Quiet," hissed Farel, "you might wake him up." Farel crept up to Jake and removed his knife from his belt. Holding it by the blade, he crouched down and struck Jake over the head with the handle, knocking him unconscious. "What did you do that for?" "Well we can't examine him is he is only asleep. He could have woken up at any second." "Oh" "Wow, look at the size of him. He would go down a treat on a Jaarvean cruiser." "He isn't that big, he looks kinda short actually." "You idiot. I meant look at what he has between his legs! Jaarvean cruisers are pleasure cruisers! Flying brothels..." Farel looked up at his brother and saw nothing but confusion. He looked down at the mans face, examining the contours and then lowering his eyes to his chest, drinking in the sight before him. Finally he let his eyes fall again on the beautiful penis between his legs and his own loins stirred. Not wanting to let his brother see this, he snapped at him to help him pick him up. They lifted him up and Jared was about to put him over his shoulder as he usually did when Farel stopped him. "No, er, it must be my turn to carry. I will take this one." Jared wasn't about to complain, he wasn't the strongest of people and he was pleased not to have to carry this one. So, he handed Jake over to Farel and set off towards home. Farel put Jake over his shoulder in the customary fashion and brought his hand up to rest on Jakes butt, enjoying the sensation of the soft, young flesh. Back in the village, Rynor had finished preparing the food and sat down at the table to wait for Jake. He couldn't bear seeing him this way. There had to be something he could do to make him see that what he did was necessary. One act of vengeance doesn't turn you into a tyrant...does it? Maybe if he told him about his old life, about what he did before, he would see that a person can change...but no, how could he ever tell Jake what he had done, it would break his heart. Right now all Jake needed to know was the he was a devoted servant of his and that he would do anything to help him, no matter what that required. If Jake knew about `Ravnar' that would be it. Besides, those days were over, he was Rynor now. "Jake, the foods ready." Maybe he needed a break from the training. Maybe a bit of time off would help to clear his head. Besides, soon they were going to have to think about the next stage in the strategy. They needed to infiltrate her regime so that they could find a weakness in her defences, both physical and magical. "Jake, come on, its getting cold." Well, we needn't think about that now, it was going to be hard enough without Dominic's help so getting Jake back to his old self was vital, besides, in this state he definitely couldn't rule the country even if they did manage to get him onto the throne. "Jake? What is taking so long?" called Rynor. He got up from the table and headed to the bottom of the stairs. He stood and listened for a moment then ascended the stairs, his concern growing. "Jake? Are you still in the bath? You must look like a prune by now!" Rynor reached the bathroom and found it empty. Panicking he rushed into the bedroom but that was empty too. "JAKE???" Rynor grabbed a tunic, realising he still hadn't put his on after the bath, and rushed out of the house. He ran all around the village searching for Jake he was nowhere to be seen. He came to the centre of the village and sat on a bench, his head in his hands. "Oh Jake, where are you? Why did you run away?" He sat there for what felt like days but was only really a few hours and a feeling of lethargy washed over him. "Dominic, help me! What am I supposed to do! If I don't find him he could get hurt and we will be stuck with Angelique for good. But how am I supposed to find him. He could be anywhere, how the hell am I supposed to find him!" Farel and Jared arrived back at their hut in the early evening and Jake was chained up in an animal shelter just outside. Luckily there weren't any animals currently using it but he was still unconscious from Farels blow so he was completely unaware of his surroundings. Inside the hut Farel and Jared where discussing how much money they should ask for him and who would be the best people to offer him to. "Don't but such an imbecile Jared! What the bloody hell would the people of Arrila want with him?" "Well I thought you said we were going to sell him into the sex trade." "We are but I don't think a planet of lesbians are likely to be interested do you?" yelled Farel. "Alright, alright, calm down!" Jared shouted back, "why are you always so mean to me. I am just trying to help." "Well don't. Last time you `tried to help' the biggest pay day of our lives was swallowed by a chicken and then blown up when it ran onto a FUCKING MINE!" All the shouting coming from the hut had roused Jake from his comatose state and for a while he simply lay where he was, desperately trying to clear his throbbing head. A few minutes later he realised that he did not recognise where he was but worse than that, he was chained up and he had a gag in his mouth. He tried shouting for help but as he expected, the gag made that rather difficult. He soon gave up with that and instead tried to get out of his chains but they were too thick for him to break and too tight around his wrists for him to wriggle out of. For a second a feeling of pure fear washed over him but then his despondency returned and he simply slumped back onto his side and wept. A few hours later he woke up to find a piece of bread placed just in front of his hands and a large numb patch down his entire left side. He tried to sit up but unfortunately the numb patch and the chains merely resulted in a minor struggle, a strangled yelp and a bundle of limbs back on the floor where they had started. He tried again, hoping the movement might have renewed some feeling but it had a similar effect as before so he gave up on that idea. It was after that that he realised how hungry he was so he ate the stale and slightly mouldy bread provided to him by some unknown captor and pondered for a little while. A little while later, Jake heard a creaking from the house. The front door was opening and a man, Farel, was walking towards him. He walked with the kind of self-assured swagger that just makes you wish a person would trip over and it was no different now. He walked right up to the shack where Jake was chained up, so close that all he could see was from his waist downwards. Suddenly, the mans boot lashed out and caught Jake in the ribs. "Are you awake boy? Do you know what we are going to do to you? We are going to sell you into the sex trade. You are going to be sold to rich, lonely people and you are going to have to have sex all day and all night. Aren't you lucky?" This last comment was dripping with such sarcasm that Jake felt such hatred boil in him but he did not move. He did not even acknowledge the presence of the man before him. Farel kicked him again, this time hitting him in the face. Jake growled in pain and heard Farel laughing. He reached inside himself for the strongest spell he could muster but could not bring himself to use it. For what seemed like hours more Farel lashed out at Jake, covering him with bruises and cuts. Jakes anger grew and grew until eventually, unbeknownst to Farel, something changed inside him. He could feel it boiling up inside of him like lava and his vision went red. He clamped his eyes shut in an attempt to make it stop when all of a sudden the pain became unbearable. He screamed out with such raw anger that Farel quickly turned and fled back into the house and then, as abruptly as it had started, the pain stopped. It was like a switched had been flicked back off in his mind. He opened his eyes and his vision had returned to normal and when he looked down at his hands and feet he noticed his chains were no longer attached. Seconds later, a stabbing pain coursed up his spine and he passed out. Rynor woke on the bench cold and stiff. He rubbed his eyes and stretched his back before running back to the house. Once there, he grabbed some food, a little water and both his and Jakes swords before heading back out into the village. As he was entering the outskirts of the woods, he felt a dull ache in his head but ignored it and carried on. He didn't know why but something told him to head north, head to the centre of the woods. Some hours later he came upon a tree in a clearing. He did not know why, but he knew Jake had been there, had slept beneath its branches. He searched around the base and before long he found tracks, human tracks. He grabbed some bread from the supplies he had bought with him and ate it quickly. As soon as he was done he followed the tracks. They headed west, deeper into the woods. The spoor was young and easy to follow but this was no longer all he was following. As he continued to travel, something in his mind was growing. It was like a presence right at the front of his mind. He had no idea what it was, but at the same time, he knew it was Jake. With every step he took, this presence, this essence that was his feelings for Jake grew. For over two years now he had denied his feelings but he couldn't do it any more. If he lost Jake...no, he wasn't going to think like that. That wasn't going to happen. "Please hold on Jake, I'm coming, please..." As Jake woke up, he was aware of the words `I'm coming, please' ringing around his head. He also discovered that he large erection resting on his stomach and blushed as he figured he had been dreaming about Rynor. His erection quickly subsided as the cold evening air caressed his naked body and he shivered quite violently. He knew he could escape now, he wasn't chained up any more after all but what would be the point, he could never go back to Rynor now. Despondent but resolute he simply sat and waited for the man in the house. Rynor was close, he knew he was close. The throbbing at the front of his mind was so intense that it was almost painful. Suddenly he knew where he was, he knew exactly where Jake was and exactly who had him. "I'll kill `em. I'll fucking kill `em." He was no longer looking at the spoor he was following or even paying attention to the presence in his mind. He had been to this part of the woods before. This was where Jared and Farel used to live but he had been sent to arrest them years ago. Maybe someone else had taken over. Paying little attention to his surroundings he headed straight to the spot where their house used to be. As he arrived at the clearing he saw a small shack in the garden and instantly knew that that was where Jake was being held. He crept over, trying not to be seen from the house and waited behind the shack for a few seconds. "Jake?" "Rynor? What are you doing here?" "What do you think I am doing here, I came to get you!" "You shouldn't have bothered, I'm not worth it." These words stabbed at Rynor like a sword. He crept round to the front of the shack and almost burst into tears as he saw him. "Oh Jake, what have they done to you?" He reached out and tentatively brushed his finger tips across Jakes cheek. Jake smiled but pulled away. "Jake, what's wrong?" asked Rynor. "What's the point Rynor? I can't go back no. I am no better than her. How can I justify overthrowing one tyrant only so they can be replaced by another? What I did in the woods to those men was unforgivable. I'm not fit to be a King. But more importantly, how can..." Jake started sobbing, his body shaking violently. Rynor took his face in his hands, looking Jake deep in the eye as he rubbed his cheeks with his thumbs. "How can what Jake?" Jake took a minute to compose himself before saying "How can you ever love me?" "Oh Jake." Now Rynor started sobbing. He couldn't say the words he wanted to say so instead he placed his lips over Jakes, gently, lovingly. He lingered there for a few seconds before pulling away and looking back into Jakes eyes. "I have always loved you, I always will love you. What you did was necessary. We needed to make sure that is was Angelique who sent those men after you and that was the only way it could be achieved at the time. But now you know, now you know not to do it again. That's what makes you different. You did it and you have recognised that it is something never to do again so please, please come home." He finished talking and he was still staring straight into Jakes eyes but seconds later Jake leant in and kissed Rynor but this was a kiss unlike the two of them had shared before. This kiss was full of their love for each other. They kissed deeper and longer and they would have kissed forever but Jake suddenly became aware of his nakedness when his penis began to grow. They both looked down and for the first time in two years Jake was embarrassed to be naked in front of Rynor. He blushed and tried to cover himself up with his hands but Rynor placed his hands on his chest and said `Don't' before kissing him again. Jake took his hands from over his crotch and placed one on the back of Rynor's head and the other on his back. They sat there kissing for many minutes until Rynor heard someone open the front door of the house and shout something back to someone inside. He let his hand drift down Jakes body and gave his cock a quick squeeze before rushing out to behind the shack. "Jake, can you hear me?" "Yes." "I know you don't want to kill these people but we have to make sure they never do something like this again. If they are who I think they are then they do not deserve to live but you have to decide what to do now. They have to be stopped." "I can't. No more killing. What if I just scared them?" "That could work but only if you use your magic. You have to really scare them, make them think that you are letting them live." "But I am" Jake pointed out. "That's not the point. Quick, he is coming over, what are you going to do?" "I don't know. I will just have to see what happens." By now Farel was almost at the shack so Jake decided to make this meeting on his terms. He moved to the front of the shack and stepped out into the cool night air. Farel's step faltered but he kept coming. "So, thought we would escape did we?" he asked when he was close enough to Jake. "Do not flatter yourself that you have kept me here against my will. I could have left the moment I first woke up." "Oh yes, and how were you thinking of doing that?" asked Farel but he did not wait for an answer. He quickly stepped in and punched Jake on the jaw. Jakes anger flared but he restrained himself. He merely looked Farel in the eye and said: "There is a lot you don't know about me," he said. "Oh yes. And what might that be?" asked Farel, again not waiting for the answer and punching Jake in the stomach this time. When Jake had recovered from the blow he looked again into Farel's eyes but did not say anything. He could feel the lava inside him and his vision was tinged pink. "Just as I thought," said Farel, "all brain, no balls." As he said this his hand shot out and grabbed Jakes balls, squeezing tightly. Jake roared in pain but not because of Farels rough grip on his balls. He once again felt the shot of pain fly up his spine and his vision turned red but this time he did not try to stop it. He let the pain surround his skull and suddenly it was gone. Farel screamed and fell to the ground quivering. Jake, highly confused at this, looked down at his body and saw it was shrouded in fire. He smiled and looked at Farel. "Power," said Jake, but it was not his voice that passed his lips but a deep, booming voice. Again he smiled and carried on. "Power greater than you can possibly imagine is at my command at the click of a finger." Farel flinched as Jake clicked his fingers and the flames around him flared up. "Go. Take your companion with you and leave this land but know this, I will see you always. I will know your actions no matter where you run to and if I ever see something to my dissatisfaction I will hunt you down and I will show you no mercy." Farel didn't move so Jake took a step towards him. This was all the encouragement Farel needed. He shot up and off towards the house, yelling for Jared to get out and run. A few seconds later Jared came to the door of the house and looked out. He saw Farel running towards him and behind him, a man shrouded in fire. Within seconds the two were gone, consumed by the woods. Jake turned back to the shack and saw Rynor staring at him. His heart sank as he saw this, expecting him to run off petrified but it was quite the opposite. Rynor slowly walked towards Jake and stopped about two paces away. He stretched his arm out in front of his and gently reaches out towards the flames. Satisfied that they weren't going to burn him he took the two paces to Jake and pulled him forward with a hand behind his neck. With their bodies in full contact Rynor kissed Jake long and deep while his hands strayed up and down his back. Jake, who had become very tense during the confrontation, relaxed into Rynor's arms and put his hands on the back of his head, pulling his mouth closer to his. Neither of them could tell but the flames surrounding Jake were slowly turning blue and as Rynor slipped his hand in between them and down onto Jakes cock, they disappeared completely but they were now far too engrossed in each other to notice. Jake ripped the tunic from Rynor's body and pushed him down to the ground. He stood over him for a few seconds, his erection waving around in the breeze, and then lay down on top of him smiling. OK, so I hope you enjoyed this one, and as always, I would really appreciate your feedback at magesofcornelia@hotmail.co.uk. After all, if you hate it you really need to tell me so that I can make it better (and if you like it then its always nice to be told!).