"You let them escape?" The general turned on a soldier from Master's party who, judging by the impressive plume in his helmet, was supposed to have been in charge.
"Let's get you inside," Kai said to Master, his tone surprisingly gentle. We left the troops to argue blame amongst themselves and entered the house.
҉҉҉
Once more we summoned water for a hot bath, and for the second time in as many weeks, Kai and I washed him clean. The wound on his arm was long but not deep, and he winced only a little as I daubed it with antiseptic and bound it up. Relief had loosened Kai's tongue, and he scolded Master thoroughly as he scrubbed his back, berating him for travelling such a dangerous road in the dark, with so few men to protect him. Perhaps acknowledging the truth of Kai's words, Master had remained silent, letting himself be rebuked. Sitting in the big copper bath with his knees drawn up and a doleful expression on his face, he looked considerably younger than his thirty-seven years.
"Enough," I said at last to Kai, handing him the brush to tend Master's hair while I trimmed his toenails. A fire crackled merrily in the grate, and his chamber was warm and cosy.
Kai took the brush, grumbling under his breath, but I caught Master's eye, and we shared a small smile at his behaviour. He was acting like an impudent brat, but it was only because he cared. He had been as scared as I while Master was missing.
I also acknowledged to myself the truth of Kai's words. The Pass was the only way inland from Otiz through the mountains which ringed the horizon, and the brigands who preyed on unwary travellers had become the stuff of legend. People said there were whole communities up there, men and women who were born and died in the mountains without ever coming down, who hoarded the gold coins and jewels of those they ambushed in great caverns filled with treasure, the worth of which they barely began to understand. Not even the army dared go into the mountains to challenge them, and any party wishing to cross the Pass was advised to take as many armed men as they could afford to protect them.
"I won't do it again," Master said at last, when the silence between us had grown from tense and angry to comfortable, the rhythmic action of brushing his hair having calmed Kai's temper.
I looked at him in surprise. While every word Kai might have spoken was the truth, I hadn't expected Master to acknowledge that fact.
"Good," Kai growled, but his tone was more grudging than annoyed.
I suppressed a smirk, but not before both of them had seen it.
"You think this is funny?" Kai asked, his temper flaring again.
"Don't snap at Tam," Master said firmly. "We've all had something of a shock today. Let's not quarrel amongst ourselves. Come here." He turned in his chair, took Kai's hand, and pulled him in front of him. "Thank you for caring enough to be angry with me."
Kai squirmed, his discomfort apparent. "Well you were an idiot."
Master threw back his head and laughed. "I was," he admitted. "I thought we could make it back before sunset. I won't make that mistake again."
"What were you even doing out there?"
"It doesn't matter what I was doing. You don't need to worry about it."
"But we do!" Kai said hotly. "Every time you go out, we're worried sick until you return. Twice now you've come back injured. What if you'd been killed?"
"Kai, I can't stay in the house forever."
"But that's what you're making us do."
Master frowned. "What would you have of me, Kai?"
"Let me come with you."
I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
"I can protect you," he continued. "I've been training hard-you know I have. I'm as good a fighter as any of the guards."
"Yes you are." Master smiled. "But what would Tam do all day if you and I went out together?"
Kai hesitated, looking at me. I hung my head, misery welling at the choice I felt I had to make. "I'll be all right," I said thickly. "Kai's right, he'd be a great bodyguard. You should take him with you when you go out."
"No, Tammy." Master shook his head. "I've enough on my mind already without being worried for Kai if he was with me. While you're here I know you're safe, and that's the most important thing. Besides," he smirked, "I don't think the soldiers would appreciate being usurped by a slave."
"That's not all I am," Kai growled.
"Of course it isn't." Master took Kai's hand in both of his, rubbing with his thumbs. "There's a reason they warned me you were dangerous, Kai. They know how strong you are. But you're obviously Granthian, and right now I can't afford to be seen with you in public. The people are scared, and the sight of you will only scare them more. Do you understand?"
Grudgingly, he nodded.
"One day," Master promised. "When all of this is over, when the army has left and the people feel safe in their homes again, I'll consider making you my personal bodyguard. Would you like that?"
Kai nodded vigorously and pride welled in my breast. Kai would be the perfect bodyguard, I knew: driven not by promise of monetary reward, but an honest desire to keep Master safe. Nobody wishing him ill would be able to get near with Kai at his side.
Master rubbed his thumb over Kai's knuckles, then raised his hand to his lips and kissed it. Kai stood stock still, and I watched with interest to see if he'd break his self-imposed restraint and respond. Slowly, giving Kai every opportunity to move or tell him to stop, Master touched Kai's flank. Kai jumped a little at the contact, but more I suspected from nerves than any feeling of revulsion. He was attracted to Master, I knew he was. He only needed to overcome the voice in the back of his mind telling him it was wrong.
Slowly, almost reverently, Master stroked his fingertips down the firm flesh of Kai's torso. He stopped before reaching the top of his loincloth, but that simple touch was enough to bring Kai's flesh out in delicious-looking goose bumps. I held my breath, not daring do anything which might break the spell.
Master clasped the back of Kai's thigh and jerked him closer, close enough to lay his lips against the trembling expanse of Kai's belly. A choked noise escaped, but Kai rested his hand on Master's shoulder for balance and showed no indication of wanting to stop. Indeed, his loincloth seemed a little tighter than it had only a moment earlier, and my mouth went dry at the thought of his plump cock swelling in anticipation.
"I won't force you," Master said, his lips still pressed to Kai's stomach. "I want you, Kai, but only if you want me. If not, take Tammy and leave now. I won't punish you."
Kai looked uncertain, and I watched avidly, hardly daring to hope. Master looked longingly at him, so vulnerable it hurt to see. After what felt like the longest moment in my life, Kai lifted his hand from Master's shoulder and tucked his hair behind his ear.
"Don't stop," he whispered huskily.
It was the only incentive Master needed. Holding Kai around his waist to balance him, he palmed his stomach, running his hand up over Kai's chest, crossing his nipples, which hardened instantly. Kai squirmed as Master teased them, plucking and twisting alternately at the small nubs. Kai loved having his nipples played with, and Master took shameless advantage the moment he discovered that fact for himself.
Kai jumped as I knelt upright and ran my hand up his leg, scratching my nails through the hairs of his calf, up to the sensitive skin behind his knee. Master slid his hand lower, down Kai's sternum, over his stomach and past the top of his loincloth. He pressed the heel of his palm into the bulge he found there, hefting Kai's weighty cock until its outline stood proud amid the folds of material. I loosened the knot at his hip and together we undressed him, and I smiled to see he was already more than half-erect.
Master took Kai in hand, sliding his foreskin up and down as he gently pumped his length. I shuffled forward on my knees, kissing my way over Kai's hipbone, inhaling the musky scent of arousal pouring off him as he grew harder and harder at our attention. Master held out Kai's cock, and I mouthed the shaft, licking my way along the soft, velvety skin to the flushed head.
I worked in tandem with Master, sucking the head of Kai's sex as he jerked the length. Kai whimpered through gritted teeth, the muscles in his thighs so tense, his legs were trembling. Master shifted in his chair, clearly affected by the experience, and I groped blindly between his legs until I'd pushed the towel aside, exposed his cock and commenced stroking him.
Master buried his hand in my hair, hauling me off Kai and into a bruising, biting kiss, then pulled my head back and allowed Kai to plunder my mouth. Being caught between them was a heady experience, the sight of Master touching Kai-of Kai permitting himself to be touched-so arousing I couldn't find it within myself to be jealous of either of them.