Date: Wed, 28 Aug 2019 03:16:16 +0000 (UTC)
From: Chaos Wolf <chaoswolf04@yahoo.com>
Subject: A Bullish Heart 2

Disclaimer: The following is a story of a homosexual nature and is sexually
explicit. Please do not read if you are a minor or if it is illegal where
you live to do so. Remember to think smart to play smart. Use protection.
Today's story is a continuation of A Bullish Heart, the story of Eduardo
Castillo a human and Xenophon yios Calix a minotaur. Now that Ed is a
captive, how will they treat him? Was Xen's dream about him just a one time
thing? If this sounds like something you wish to read, be my guest and
read. If it is not, go back and look for another story to read.

Help the Nifty Archive continue to provide a home for erotic
fiction. Consider donating by going to
http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html. Thank you.

=====

A Bullish Heart 2

It was nearly midday when we returned to Simeon, our hometown. It was not
the largest city in the Republic and it was not our capital city. However,
its influence was strong since it was our nation's chief port.

Our coastal outposts were simply that. They were outposts and nothing
more. A traveler can seek lodging if he finds himself near one, but he is a
fool if he expects the same service as he might get at an inn. You will
dine with the soldiers and eat the same meal as they. You will wake when
they wake. You will find no special treatment here. It does not matter if
you are a nobleman or a priest or even a five year old boy. Years ago, my
brother and I stayed with Father at an outpost for three days when he was
there on business.

The actual city boundaries included the wharf where fishmongers, sailors,
and goods from other lands were on full display. Products from upstream
would travel down Xerxes's Whip, the river near the city, to be offloaded
to begin their journey across the waters. Whenever I had the day off, I
would sit by for hours watching vessels travel along the river or at the
harbor.

Our patrol entered through the western gate. There would be no hiding the
human or pretending that he wasn't there. The people had the right to know
he existed. "For good or for ill" my brother Altair said. A gatekeeper took
note of our arrival and after a quizzical glance at our captive, cleared us
for entry.

At this time of the day, the marketplace was noisy and the crowd
thick. Once a couple heads turned our way, that all changed. The bustle
turned to grave silence and playful children froze or took refuge behind
their parents as all eyes locked onto our passenger. A living human was
among our people for the first time in generations. Some were curious,
others fearful. Few were the hateful. As we passed, the crowd returned to a
mockery of normalcy. My ears heard faint murmurs about the human.

After the market, we entered the main plaza and past the fountain. Atop was
the genuflecting statue of Lord Aldebaran. His contemplative visage clashed
sharply with the uneasiness of bystanders. We headed left and down the road
that would take us to the inner wall. Another gatekeeper awaited us which
led to another awkward inspection. The gate raised and we were permitted to
enter.

We headed immediately to the stockade. The sooner we secured our captive,
the sooner we could report to our father. When we entered, the startled
guards quickly ended their card game. A cheek on Altair's face twitched in
annoyance. When was the last time anyone had been confined there? Stockade
duty was low profile and confinement here was seldom used. "Where is
Father?" One of the men said, "Teaching the novices." It wasn't usual but
was not unheard of. Although any of his lieutenants normally taught the
lessons to the cadets, especially the novices, there were certain lessons
that our father relished imparting himself.

We found Titus yios Calix with the cadets under the canopy. On the table,
he displayed several varieties of berries and mushrooms. We were not
surprised that he chose this lesson. If one was out in the wilderness with
no provisions, what sustenance would be sought out? There was no enemy more
deadly than hunger or thirst. He spotted us and called the cadets to take a
break. "Report." Altair assumed a formal stance and said, "Our patrol went
without incidence, but we found a human." The face of Titus yios Calix grew
firm, troubled. He turned to the cadets, "Class dismissed." The youngsters
got up and headed back to the dorm

In Father's office, my brother and I stood next to each other as he began
to relate our journey. He held up his hand and said, "You can tell me
later. Tell me about the human first." My brother reoriented his thoughts
and passed the responsibility to me, "It was Xenophon who spotted him
first." Father looked to me, equally at attention. "A mosquito flew into my
face and I swatted him away. When I focused my eyes, I saw the human from a
distance. I alerted Subcommander Altair and the others to his presence."
Father listened to every word and made no attempts to interrupt me as I
told him everything I said from the time we found the human. I reached the
events of this morning and he tensed up, expecting the worst. "What
happened Xenophon?" I said with worried voice, "Cyrus was choking,
dying. The human saved his life." How was this done? I said, "He came
behind him and wrapped his arms around him. The human squeezed Cyrus until
the food came out." His face was still stony, "Weapons? What did he have on
him?"

Altair spoke, "I searched him thoroughly and found none. We also searched
the area where we found him and found no trace of comrades." He nodded and
asked me if I had chronicled what had happened. Not this morning's events,
but everything else. I handed it over and he banged on the gong with his
other hand not wasting a moment. One of his aides came in and stood with us
while Father read my scroll. He seemed pleased with my report. He took out
a pen and marked a section of it, "I want the description of the human and
his colors copied and distributed to all of our outposts." After she left,
our father was frank with us as he bang on the gong again. "The night after
tomorrow is the Lady Carmina's betrothal ceremony. Security is high enough
as it is without the appearance of some wayward human." A lieutenant came
in and Father said, "I was security doubled here. Use the cadets if you
have to. Start with the senior cadets and work your way down from there. I
want city security doubled also. Dismissed." The lieutenant saluted and
left us alone.

Altair said, "Although no weapons were found, I did confiscate these." He
placed the bag upon the table and shook the contents out. Our father picked
up the keys which were unremarkable except their size and the attached
charm which displayed a yellow mouse with red cheeks. He placed these to
the side and picked up the folding pouch and spent more time inspecting
this. He pulled out slips of green paper and looked at them intently. We
had heard of paper money, but had never seen any before. I picked up one of
the pieces and looked it over. One side depicted a human male with a narrow
face and beard. On the back was a shrine. The other pieces of paper were
similar, but they featured different men and different buildings. There
were cards also. After Father looked at them, he put them to the side and I
picked one up. This one was made of strange sleek material. Not paper and
not metal either. It had the human's face on it and was accompanied by a
different emblem and strange writing. I was mesmerized by it and half heard
my father exclaim, "What is this?"

I looked up and he held what I had thought was a hymnal. Altair said,
"Unknown." I stepped forward, "It makes music." Father shook it and asked
how it worked. I took it and pressed on it with my fingers like the human
did, but there was no singing. I looked up in confusion. Father stood up
and said, "Where is this human now?" Altair said, "We have placed him in
the stockade." He exited the room and we followed him across the courtyard.

We entered the stockade and found the guards attentive this time. Titus
yios Calix looked up upon the human and for the first time that we could
readily recall, he was stunned. There was the human looking glum as he sat
on the cot. However, when I came into view, he seemed less so. Father
stormed up to the bars and held up the thing commanding the human to tell
him what it did. The human remained blank.

I asked, "May I try Father?" There was nothing to lose so he nodded his
assent and I stepped forward. So far, the human seemed harmless and the
only serious action he had undertaken so far was to save the life of one of
our own. I wanted to believe that he meant us no harm and that if we
treated him cordially, he would be more receptive. The human stood up and
looked at me from behind the bars. We were less than an arm's length
away. I pointed at myself, "Xenophon. Xenophon." I then pointed at "Altair"
and "Titus". I repeated their names the same way and the human pointed at
himself, "Eduardo." I mouthed the unfamiliar word taking a gamble that he
understood that names were being given. I pointed at the object and then
took out my lyre out of its sling as I had not yet returned it to my
room. It was a fine instrument, one engraved with our family crest. How did
that song go? I held and plucked the strings. I sang the unknown words, as
many as I could remember. Eduardo said, "Duran Duran". I didn't know it
meant. Was Duran Duran the name of his homeland? Clan? Diety?" He appeared
eager as my father gave the tiny tablet to him. He stood closely to us and
we looked attentively as his fingers tapped the circles that appeared on
the smooth tablet. Small icons then appeared and his index finger slid
across the surface until he seemingly found what he was looking for. He
pressed the icon and after a couple more taps, that same song filled the
stockade. The guards sharply turned their startled heads and Father held up
his hand to pacify them. They sat back down and he harrumphed, "Makes music
indeed."

Eduardo pressed a button and the music stopped. His eyes surveyed the
surface and he selected another logo. He held up the thing in front of his
face and moved it slightly. What was he up to? He showed is the results of
his action. He turned it around and showed us. He had captured our
faces. He showed us more of them called "photo" and ones that moved called
"video". The less and less that we understood about who he was and where he
came from, the more and more that we understood that this was not any human
from any land that we knew of.

Eduardo pressed another button and the screen went dark. He pointed at the
artifact and called it "cell". He passed it back to Father who put it back
in the sack along with his other belongings. He unlocked the cell door and
stepped inside. He stood in front of Eduardo and studied him. Was he friend
or was he foe? He looked into his eyes and touched his arms and hands. He
spoke to the human even though the words would be incomprehensible, "I
thank you for the life of Cyrus, but you are still human. I must think of
the people before I think of your freedom." He then turned around fiercely
and left. Altair and I followed.

The following day was uneventful except for the plague of curiosity that
made its way through the castle. It became so bad that Father restricted
access to the stockade. Guards were accepted, the Lady's counselors were
allowed, and even Lady Carmina herself. I was given special permission only
because Eduardo seemed more responsive to my presence.

That special day arrived and curiosity stepped aside for duty. Everyone was
busy preparing for the evening festivities. I had been put in charge of
sitting arrangements. It was a task that some deemed too big for my hands,
but Father believed I could do it. I had been given a list of guests and
all I had to do was place them. I had protocol and tradition all wrapped
inside my head. I just needed to bring them out and a few days before I set
out with my brother, I wrote out who would sit where. The placement at the
main table was easy. The Lady would be in the middle, then Father to the
left and Mother. The other counselors would also be seated with her. Other
tables were trickier, but I managed.

"Come in." There was our Lady in her study. She looked at me, "Afternoon
Xen. Have you finished your chart?" I bowed and answered, "Yes milady." I
laid it on the table and she traced the boxes with a finger looking the
names over. Of my placements, she only made a couple alterations. I was
confused and she told me not to fret. I had made no mistake. These changes
were made because the people at the table didn't much care for each
other. It was something that I was not aware of, but was careful to
remember. Then why did she move me and Altair to the main table. She slyly
smiled, "You'll see. I would hate to spoil the surprise."

Earlier this afternoon, I reviewed the seating chart one more time and once
I was satisfied with the outcome, I handed it to the majordomo to oversee
the arrangements. It was time to take my bath.

The castle has its own bath which was separate from the public bath in the
city, but fed from the same source. I headed down the hall on ground level
and because I was male, I entered through the curtain on the left as
opposed to the one on the right.

The attendants were busy today, more than usual. Everyone was eager to find
out who Lady Carmina had chosen as her betrothed. We had long waited for
her choice and she had announced that she was ready. I took off my clothes
and placed them in our family's box before I waded into the pool of hot
spring water. I wasn't alone there. Older men talked about the prior
suitors and discussed why they were possibly dismissed. With all the
eligible nobles in the province and elsewhere passed over, who else was
left? There were also boys younger than myself. The betrothal banquet
sounded boring to them. The tale of the strange human enraptured their
imaginations. "Maybe he has magic powers." "If he had magic powers, why is
he still in the stockade?"

Was it magic? I refused to believe in nonsense, but that was the only
answer. In childhood, we are told fantastic stories. Yet we grow up and
reality takes hold. There was nothing magical about that thing called
cell. It was simply a knowledge that we lacked and couldn't even begin to
guess as to its craftsmanship. How then was I to account for his appearance
in our homeland? As I reclined in the warm water, I closed my eyes and
imagined our territory. It would be impossible for anyone to breach our
shores and come this far without notice. Then there was the lack of
supplies or weaponry. Yes, his frame and musculature suggested a
fighter. However, his disposition was in deep contrast unless it was a
ploy. That was unlikely. I would have to believe that my father, a seasoned
warrior, could be tricked.

I exited the pool and was guided by another attendant to the next phase of
grooming. I stood as they dried off my fur and applied fragrances. I took a
loincloth and wrapped it around my genitals. I sat down and he applied a
salve to my horns. He then started to buff them to make them sleek and
attractive.

After the grooming, it came time to get dressed. They had laid out my
clothes for me and helped me dress. My rarely used pants were a little
tight and my sash kept falling off. The attendants made note to have the
tailor visit me as I fastened my family brooch to the sash. Altair had
dressed and left long ago. Father also. I escorted my mother to the Great
Hall. She asked if I was nervous. "No Mother. I'm not. I've known that
today would come." I placed my arm inside hers and entered the Hall and we
were announced. "Madam Naomi kori Calix with son Xenophon." I helped Mother
into her chair and sat down next to my brother.

The feast was remarkable: rolls of garlic bread, sliced melon, freshly
caught trout and stuffed crabs with flagons of wine and mead brewed from
the Lady's own grove of honeycombs. Speculation as to who the Lady would
select had followed. She smiled at the festive guests and then at me before
turning her attention to Altair who smiled back. After most had finished
eating, Father stood up and called for order. It was time.

"Honored guests, we come today to celebrate our beloved Lady Carmina and
the man who will join with her. Milady, I have watched you grow from child
to a shrewd young woman as I and my fellow advisors have each guided you as
best as to our abilities. Tonight, it is my privilege to announce that our
Lady has made her choice as to who she will join in matrimony. Milady?"

The Lady Carmina stood up and said with a hint of mirth to her voice, "I
thank you all for being here. I wasn't sure how long the two of us could
keep it a secret and he thought that now was the right time. I choose
Altair, son of Titus and Naomi, to be my husband."

The mead stung my throat. Did I hear that right? I watched as my brother
and father stood up and switched seats. To incredulous ears, my brother
said "Three months hence, join us again when we are joined in matrimony."
My brother and his new fiancée joined hands to the applause of all in
attendance.

How could I have not known? Altair later told me that they wanted to keep
it a secret to all except the counselors which included Father. "Are you
mad at me Xen?" I couldn't be angry. How could I? I was just confused about
the selection. "True, nobles are wedded to nobles. That is the way it
works. However, she found none to be suitable so she put my name forward as
a suitor. Father and the other counselors approved of the selection the
week before we left."

That night, I dreamed of my own beloved. It was Eduardo again and I was
helpless in ejecting him from my dreams. I had felt attraction to other
men, but this was different. I wanted to be with him and to share a bed and
a life with him. A week later, Father announced to the court that he had
made a decision regarding Eduardo and I knew that I could no longer dream
of happiness. "I am sorry that this distresses you my son, but my decision
has been made." I did not understand. He had not taken up arms against us
during the few moments that we had let him out for some air. "It is not he
physically endangers us, but he brings strange knowledge with him. That is
just as dangerous." He ordered Eduardo cleaned up and presented to the lady
for judgment.

=====

After the humiliation of being carted around and gawked at by curious
onlookers, I had been put inside a lonely cell. What was going to happen to
me? Despair set in. The two males that I had shared the bathroom break with
last night had left and were soon accompanied by an older male with similar
fur coloring. The older one spoke harshly to me while holding up my cell
phone. The kinder one spoke with him softly and turned back to
me. "Xenophon. Xenophon" as he gestured at himself. He then pointed out the
patrol's leader as "Altair" and the older male as "Titus". I finally had
names and it was preferable to referring them The Young One and The
Leader. I repeated their names and then introduced myself.

Xenophon pointed to the cell in Titus' hand and took out his lyre. His
fingers caressed the strings. The notes started to fall into place
especially when he started to sing. I got close to the bars and held up my
hands. "It's Ordinary World by Duran Duran." I tilted the phone to show
them what I was doing. I turned it on and went to my music playlist. Titus
snorted in mild derision as he spoke with the others.

I pressed a button to stop the music and when I went to the main menu, I
saw the icon next to it. I didn't know if I would ever get home but I
wanted something to remember them by so I thought to take a picture. A
voice told me that it might freak them out, but desire got in the way. I
held it up and centered the frame on Xenophon and took a few pictures. I
showed them their pictures and I showed them several of mine including a
couple of videos. One of which was a clip from one of my baseball games. I
wanted to show them that I wasn't from around here. Hopefully they would
understand that I wasn't a threat to them.

I didn't want to drain the power so I turned off the phone. "Cell. This is
a cell phone." I handed it back to Titus who stood in front of me. He got
in the cell with me and bent his head forward and looked into my eyes he
felt my arms and hands. He spoke and the words sounded like an apology. He
then left with the other two.

In the days that followed, I remained confined except for moments when they
took me outside for some air or to use the bathroom. Each day was the same
dull day. The guards would wake me up so that I could use the
restroom. They would then feed me what they were having. This was followed
by the gulf of time until early afternoon when they left me out again
before returning me for the rest of the day until the evening. I would be
fed again and then permitted to go until I was promptly returned to my
confinement for the night.

Sleep was uneasy most days. I kept thinking of home. Surely my parents were
in fathomless panic over my unexplained disappearance. I then thought of
Barry. Where was he? What happened to him? Eventually, my mind would grow
tire of the questions and my eyes would close.

I was in the locker room. All our baseball equipment was put up and I was
showing a visitor around after the game. His voice and face were hazy yet I
was comfortable with him by my side. He looked around and saw that the rest
of the team was gone. He leaned in and whispered that he wanted me to show
him the shower. Soon thereafter, warm water cascaded over us and I lathered
him up. His body was peculiarly fuzzy, the color of sand. My hands caressed
the globes of his cheeks and brushed against a ropey appendage which rested
at the base of his spine. My hands traveled up and across the side of his
face. Upward and onward. My hand touched a smooth surface and it glided
along its surface which ended in a point. It was a horn. The face of
Xenophon came info focus as he held up a piece of soap, "May I bathe you
now?"

To pass the time during the day, I would watch the guards play cards or I
would look out the window to gaze upon the courtyard to watch them
exercise. That piqued my interest more than the cards. All wore no sandals
and the males among them were bare-chested wearing just their kilts. Their
movements were vaguely similar to Tai Chi. They way they moved was
mesmerizing. I took off my tee and folded it across my letterman jacket
that had served as my pillow. I looked outside and tried copying their
stances as best as I could. It wasn't ideal, but I just couldn't sit all
day and do nothing.

Another break in the monotony came in the form of visitors. Some were
adults in distinguished garb and one time Altair brought in a stately
female that he introduced as "Carmina". The way she moved and the way the
others treated her, she could only be someone very important. She was
probably the most important person here. I said, "Good afternoon Carmina."
I placed my hand over my heart and bent my head slightly as a sign of
respect, copying their reaction to her presence. She spoke excitedly with
Altair and they soon left.

How long would I be confined here? I hadn't bathed in days, not
really. They would just put a basin of water in front of me so I could wash
my face. That was the limit of bathing until one day Altair came for me.

He told the guards to open the cell and he motioned for me to follow. We
entered the castle. My eyes wandered around to check out the fresh
surroundings. Altair was quiet. Was that a good thing or was it bad? What
could he say to me that I would understand? What could I say? I was
beginning to understand a minute word here and one over there, but miles
away from being able to speak meaningfully.

We came upon a pair of curtains. I half expected Monty Hall to be here so
he could ask if I wanted the first curtain or the second. He walked in and
left me outside, unsure if I was to follow. His head peeked out and he
sounded annoyed. He took my hands and pulled me in.

It took me a sparse second to realize that I was in a bathhouse. Males in
varying degrees of undress were about, but most were naked. Please don't
look down. Please don't look down. Altair guided me and pointed at a box
"Calix" before he started to take off his clothes until he was in his
birthday suit. He then reached for my shirt and I said politely, "I've got
this." If anyone was going to take off my clothing, it was going to be
me. I breathed deeply as I pulled off my tee and unzipped my jeans. I
placed my stuff in the box also. He waited for me and he lead me along to
the pool of water to soak.

This felt wonderful and I let my mind go blank as I felt content for the
first time in days. There were others in the pool and the curious tried to
get close, but Altair shooed them away. Confident that we wouldn't be
bothered anymore, he leaned back and started to hum. He looked at me and
stepped out. I followed him to another chamber where other males were being
dried off and cleaned up. He had no problems with the attention that the
men showed him as they combed his hair and shined his horns. I had no
serious problem, except for just one. That was the one between my legs. It
started to lengthen and arc upward. The men looked at each other and I
wasn't wholly certain who was more embarrassed. Was it me for popping a
boner, Altair for being a witness to my arousal, or the two attendants who
turned me on? They did their best to remain focused on their task as they
applied perfume to my skin.

Altair spoke with them and I needed no translator to tell me that it was an
apology. I was brought back to the changing room where fresh garments
waited. He pointed at me and then at his eyes. He took the large strip of
cloth and he tried it around his middle over his manhood. He pointed at the
cloth atop of the other stack. Here goes. I took it and wrapped it around
myself. I finished and faced his scrutiny. He looked my handiwork over and
he gave the wrapping a mild tug. He nodded approvingly. I looked down. It
was like I was wearing briefs, but made from a single piece of cloth, not a
collective stitched together.

The rest of the clothing was less complicated. There was a kilt to put
around my middle and a tunic to drape over my head. He then looked at my
feet, and I his. Altair placed his feet in his sandals, but they were made
for cloven feet. I had five digits but I was able to space my toes
adequately to fit. Finished getting dressed, we left. What about my clothes
though? When we came back, they were gone.

Altair showed me through a door and there sitting in the wonderfully carved
oaken chair was Carmina. We were not alone. There was Titus, the
distinguished who visited me during my imprisonment, and the guards that
were on patrol that fateful day as well and those I had seen come and go
during my stay.

Everyone gave passionate testimony and she listed to them all. Last of all
was Titus. She spoke clearly and firmly. She said my name and other words
as she held up a hand with open palm facing up, fingers against each
other. I was uncertain what that meant. Everyone left and I was soon joined
by Xenophon. He spoke with Titus and Altair and looked at me. He seemed sad
but there was acceptance in his eyes.

The gathering headed outside where there was a great pyre. Once we got into
position, Carmina raised a hand and servants opened a pair of
doors. Pallbearers came out and approached the platform bearing a stretcher
with a body. It was an effigy made of cornstalks and it was wearing my
clothes. After a second of confusion, I realized that they were going to
burn my things. I started to move but Titus held his hand on my shoulder
and he spoke to me. Although the words were incomprehensible, I understood
the consoling tone in his voice. She spoke to the crowd earnestly. My name
was mentioned a few times. Then torches were lit and the pyre was set
ablaze. As the acrid scent emanated from the flames, the throng sang.

The dirge continued seemingly forever as the flames and smoke ascended to
the heavens. With the ceremony concluded, everyone went their own way. I
was not left alone though. There was Titus, Altair, Xenophon, Carmina and
another female in the end. We headed inside and I was shown to a room
flanked by two guards. Opening the door, we went inside. There was a bed,
table with chair, and dresser. Carmina spoke with me with hope in her
voice. They left me alone, last was Xenophon who smiled before he closed
the door. Exhausted, I collapsed on the bed and was soon asleep.

=====

Father's decision had been meticulously made. Was this Eduardo someone that
had to be spared? Still his brain rebelled against his heart. Humans were
the enemy. This is what he had been taught. Although they had been defeated
and banished back to their homeland, they were still the enemy. There must
be no hesitation. Why then did he feel differently about this one? He saw
Eduardo daily and listened to the guards and to his peers. With each
passing day, it was harder and harder to justify an execution. His life
would not be taken, but there would be a sacrifice. For a life to continue,
a life must be surrendered.

In front of the Lady Carmina, all spoke. They didn't know anything about
Eduardo or where he came from, but they could see that he was a youth with
a kindred flame dwelling inside. Returning him to his own kind was futile
as the Republic had no formal relations with any of the human nations and
with the only other option rendered inconceivable, it was decided that he
would live with us and learn our ways.

To that end, our Lady summoned Ovid. He was middle aged with slightly
graying hair and a faint scar across his face earned from his rambunctious
youth. He was our court physician and one of the finest minds in our
state. The first goal that she set before him was to teach him our
speech. She looked to my assistance when not occupied with my existing
duties. She believed that I was very suited for the task because I knew
about much about diction. I would be a poor scribe if I didn't know both
dialects.

Each morning, I would go to Eduardo's room with Ovid and we began the
lessons. Eduardo was no fool and appears to know why we were there. Without
common words to start with, the work was hard. Many times, we had to take
breaks to clear our heads. However, Eduardo pleaded and placed his fingers
on his mouth. He wanted to know. It was a matter of survival. Ovid was a
patient instructor and occasionally acquiesced to the human's request for a
bit more time.

We would teach him the words of foodstuffs during breakfast. There was a
potato. Here is an egg. This is tea. His words were a little off at the
beginning, "I name me Eduardo". It was a start.

During the evening after the lessons, I regularly took him home to share
dinner with me and my parents before he was returned to his room. Of
Altair, we saw him less as his impending marriage came one day closer.
"Thank you greatly" as we handed him his plate. We deliberately chose to
start with the formal dialect before teaching him the casual. I enjoyed
being with him, but perhaps too much. The Eduardo dreams became more than
just touching.

The human would undo my loincloth and feel my shaft and bollocks. I
stiffened in his hands as his mouth enveloped my manhood. He looked at me
with happy brown eyes while his head moved up and down, while his tongue
swirled around. I had no idea that this was possible. I resisted against
his attention, but it was futile. His throat contorted as he drank my man's
milk. I then dreamed that it was me between his legs and I decided that I
enough. I had to find some way to escape the disturbing pleasure dreams.

I concentrated on my studies. That didn't help. Sparring in the dojo
couldn't clear my mind. I even sought refuge for a few days in the city
monastery and tried to drown out the thoughts from my brain through
meditation and chants. When that didn't even work, I headed home in
defeat. "Are you well Xenophon? Ovid says that Eduardo asked about you
again." I looked away from my brother in shame. I couldn't bear to look at
him. I felt like I failed him and the Lady. "What is wrong? You know that I
love you. You can speak freely."

I looked at him with wet eyes, "Is it wrong to love?" Altair said, "Love is
never wrong. It may take different forms and may even be sneaky like a
thief in the night, but never wrong. Wait. Is this about Eduardo? Do you
have feelings for him?" I wiped the tears from my eyes and admitted my
attraction. Although I didn't give him the full details of the dreams, he
understood their tone.

Ever since I first saw Eduardo, I had felt something. It wasn't just that I
felt, like the others, that his spirit was the same as a minotaur's, it was
that I felt that he was also enamored with males. The words were not easy,
but my brother listened without condemnation. "What am I to do?" His head
descended and he locked his horns with mine, giving them a gentle jostle.
He rose and said, "Tell him the truth because keeping it from him would be
a dishonor. He deserves to know." I knew that and it was painful, but "What
if he rejects me?" Altair said, "I do not believe he will. Truly, I think
he will be agreeable."

I returned to the lessons the next day. Eduardo's eyes glistened with
happiness when he saw me. It had been ten days since I had seen him last
and he seemed different somehow. No one seemed to notice. Maybe it was
because I hadn't seen him in so long. Maybe it was his hair that had grown
out some. Minotaur hair blended into the fur and I was just unused to hair
against bare skin.

Eduardo had made fantastic progress in the weeks since Ovid's lessons which
impressed him immensely. The learning started to also go in the other
direction and our tutor started to learn his language called English which
helped greatly. Evening came and I brought Eduardo home for dinner as I
used to before I fled.

Eduardo had quickly learned who we were beyond just names. He understood
that Altair was my brother, Titus was my father, and Naomi was Mother. He
had also correctly determined that the Lady Carmina was a dignified
noblewoman. Father was equally impressed that he was learning our language
quickly.

As he learned about us, we also learned about him. Duran Duran wasn't the
name of his homeland or clan or even a god. It was simply the name of a
group of musicians from his world and that song Ordinary World was one of
their creations. His true clan name, although he didn't call it such, was
Castillo. He called the pudgy bird a penguin and told us that it was the
mascot of his school. There was more that we wanted to know about him, but
there would be another time.

It came time for him to return, but I asked if he could stay the night.
Father told the escort that he was dismissed for the night and to return in
the morning. Eduardo and I retired to my room. He knelt down and asked
"Tell me about this?" I said, "This is our shrine where we pray to our
ancestors. This is the sigil of the Clan Calix, our house. There in the
middle beneath is Calix himself." He stood up and asked where my brother
was. "Altair is out with friends. He'll be back late. It is time for bed."

I pulled my tunic off and my kilt. I undid the straps of my sandals and
placed them under the desk I shared with my brother. Eduardo took his
clothes off and joined me beneath the sheets. This was it. It was time to
take my brother's advice and see where it took me. As our heads rested
against the pillows, I turned to him. "Eduardo? May I tell you something?"
He looked at me, "Yes?" I said, "I like you." His eyes glistened with
fondness, "I like you also. You are a friend to me." I said, "You are, but
I wish to.. I want to..." Where were the words? They were there, but they
got stuck. He looked at me puzzled and then recognition glimmered in his
eyes. He brought his hand up to the side of my face and leaned forward. His
planted his lips on my snout and started to caress the side of my jaw which
sent shivers throughout my entire body. His hand traveled upward and along
the length of my right horn, "Having horns must be awesome." With sleep
near, he had slipped back into English. "Awesome" was a new word to my
ears, but I understood the admiration in his voice. He place his hand on my
back and pressed his body against mine, placing his arm around my torso.
His eyelids lowered, "Good night Xen" and sleep took hold.

I caressed Eduardo's smooth cheek as he slumbered confident that I had, at
last, found someone who felt as I did. I ran my hands through his hair and
they came into contact with something. There were lumps on either side of
his head.

=====

I would appreciate any comments you may have, but please keep insults or
flames to a minimum. I'll try to respond to everyone, but no promises.
Please mention the title of the story so I know what you are referring
to. You can email me at: chaoswolf04@yahoo.com