Chapter Two.
 
 

Xahar opened the door when someone knocked the next morning, back in his leathers for safety.  "Good morning, Master Mage."

"Good morning, young man.  I have to run to the village for some herbs we can't get to grow.  Would you and your guards like to accompany me?"

"If you'd like.  Are we riding?"

"I don't have a horse," he admitted.

"Then maybe my two guards can double up."

"Boss, I love you but my horse can't hold Ballor and I'm not giving my horse to anyone.  She's about all I own in the world."

"There are horses outside," Ballor admitted.  "Are they communal?"

"There are?" the mage asked.  "We don't own horses.  I'll meet you down there after I figure out where they came from."  He walked off, going to ask someone.  He walked into the head office, looking confused.  "Why do we have horses?"

"They were pulling the self-propelled carriage while it was broken. Didn't the Duke take them back when he picked it up?" she asked.

"Apparently not.  Those two guards said there were horses still here beyond theirs.  Can I borrow one for the trek to the village?"

"I don't mind.  Go ahead.  Bring it back able to be sold."  He nodded and shrugged, walking out and heading to the courtyard.  He looked at the horses, pointing at one and waving in front of him.  It didn't come and he looked even more confused.  "Here, now, horse."

"Um, let me," Liset offered, going to saddle the beast and bring it for him.  Apparently this mage had no personal experience with horses and how they acted.  Or at least non-charmed ones who obeyed every command like a dog.  She walked the horse out, standing it in front of the mage.  "Need a leg up?"

"No, I should be fine," he admitted, concentrating very hard so his face scrunched up.  He floated up a few inches and stepped into the stirrup, mounting the horse the normal way. "Thank you, miss."

"Liset," she offered, going to get on her horse.  "Just in case you need to yell it if we're attacked.  That's Ballor."

"Ah.  Very strong from what I've heard," he praised.  "I hear he gets taken often?"

"Too often," Ballor said grimly.  He patted his axe.  "Don't worry, we'll stop anyone from coming for him again.  Or for you, sir.  It's only polite."

"Thank you, both," he agreed graciously.  "I certainly hope I don't attract attention the way Xahar does.  He's very pretty and looks very good while dancing.  Those are actually to train you to fight?"  Xahar nodded, smiling happily.  "Then you can use your sword?"

"I have many times in the past," he admitted.  "I just got tired of not sleeping at night whenever I wasn't at home.  Ballor and Liset solve that."

"When we're actually at the main house, there's the library and other things for us to do," Liset added.  "It's just safer if he isn't left alone.  We had to stop one of the cooks from stealing him for her daughter."

"Or either of her sons," Ballor said dryly.  "Now we have an older man cooking and he doesn't like Xahar or dancing so it's much safer now.  Him and the housekeeper are both confirmed to be together and happily so.  That way we don't have to track them down and fire them too."

"I didn't mind her trying to steal me, it was the food poisoning she gave us all in retaliation for you two taking me back that I minded."  Xahar gave them a long stare.  "Let's behave, kids.  Act your ages instead of mine."

"How old are you?" the mage asked.

"Nearly twenty-four summers old," Xahar told him. He pulled some of his hair around to play with.  "Let's see, I learned to dance at the age of fifteen summers?  Or maybe sixteen summers," he admitted, letting go of his hair.  He flipped it back behind his shoulder.  He had left it down this morning, only clipped at the base of his skull so it wouldn't be in his eyes later.  It was gently curling down his back and flowing behind him since it was a bit below his seat when it was loose.  His horse would occasionally twitch when it moved on his flank but he was mostly used to it.  Usually when he was traveling he kept it braided for convenience and safety.  There was nothing kidnapers liked more than to grab you by your pretty hair.  He had been growing it since he was fourteen summers old, at his manhood ceremony, so he was fairly proud of it.  He looked ahead as they came out of the forest near the village, smiling at the nearby people in the fields.  "Hello."

"Boss," Ballor yelled back.  "Catch up."

"Coming."  He kicked his horse and it trotted ahead, him posting like the professional he was.  He spent at least three months a year in the saddle so he had to be a good rider.  He caught up and grinned at Ballor.  "You thought I was that far behind?"

"No, I think your horse is feeling old and lazy," he noted dryly, looking at the old mare he rode.  "I think it's time for her to retire, boss. She's fairly old and tired.  You've had her since you got back from when you learned to dance."

"Before then.  She was a retired warmare.  She was my going away present."

"Boss, she's got to be ancient.  Why don't you start looking for a new one now, while she can enjoy her retirement back at home?" Liset suggested.  "I'll help you look.  I saw this great stallion back at home.  A bay, very pretty with your coloring."

"I like my horse for more than her coloring," he said patiently.  "I'll start looking but I'm going to be picky.   My horse has to be able to travel all the time since we do, has to be able to pull a small carriage or cart at times, and has to be well trained.  I asked for a warmare on purpose, guys.  She's saved me in the past."

"We'll start looking," Liset promised, patting him on the arm.  She looked behind them as villagers started to follow, glancing at Ballor, who groaned and shook his head.  "Um, boss," she said quietly.

"They're not armed," he said gently.  "I'm sure they're just basking in our magnificence.  After I look very good between you two."

Ballor laughed and reached over to swat him.  "You're horrible, Xahar."

"I try," he admitted smugly.  He stopped his horse and turned in his saddle, smiling at the man in the lead.  "Is there a problem or are we having an impromptu parade?"

"We always come in to watch the wizards.  Don't want another accident, do we?" he asked dryly.

"It's a good thing I'm not a wizard, huh?" he asked with a grin.  The man stared at him.  "I'm not.  I'm a fighter and a dancer."

"Dancer?  Like one of those little wenches at the bigger taverns?" one of the women in the group asked.

"No, I dance in the tradition of the Nufaria.  I was trained by them."

"Aren't they those light little boys who leap and spin while they fight?" the lead guy asked bitterly.  Xahar nodded, grinning at him.  "You don't look that tiny, boy."

"Yes, but I usually just dance.  I only fight when I'm forced to protect myself," he said sweetly.  He kicked his mare into movement, following his comrades.  "Guys, can we look at the pretty things?  I need new pretty things.  Maybe I'll even find some new fabric for some new clothes.  I need some new clothes.  My green ones have another hole and my red ones are getting too tight again."

"Ate too much?" Liset teased.

"No!  It's not in those areas."  He swatted at her.  "I'm building more thigh muscles. That's why my blue ones are too tight already."  He saw the market. "We're heading there?" he asked.  The mage nodded, peeling away to go to a small hut on the edge of the town.  "Guys, I'm going there.  One of you guard him."  He made his mare go a bit faster, getting there while still smiling.  He got down and walked his horse through the small market, peering at everything before turning and coming back to pick up the things he had liked.  He did find some fabric, but it was more for stuff to practice in than for performances.  He found a new vial of oil he liked the smell of.  He found a few pieces of fruit for later because Liset and Ballor were always on him to eat more fruit and less meat, even though he was usually starving by dinner.  He went to the scroll stall last.  It didn't have a good selection but it had to have stuff he hadn't seen and he needed stuff that wasn't Ballor's to read.  Ballor could trade some of his stuff for some new things, but he needed a few of his own.  He heard Ballor walk up behind him and grinned at him.  "You can get your own."  He paid for his and handed over some fruit, then walked off nibbling on a piece of his own.  He found a nice fountain and sat down there to wait on the others while he started on his first scroll.

"You a mage or a scholar, boy?" one older man asked.

Xahar looked at him and shook his head. "Traveling entertainer.  I'm on a special assignment with the mage's school for a few weeks."  He rolled up his scroll.  "He came in to get some herbs and do some minor shopping so I followed along."

"That pretty woman your wife?" a young man called.

"My guard, she's not married.  You'd have to talk to her about that," he admitted, shaking his head.  "I don't envy you trying though," he said sweetly. "Liset?"  She looked over.  "This nice man here wanted to know if you were my wife."

She snorted and walked over, looking the farmer over.  "No, not his wife.  His bodyguard.  Occasionally his laundry girl, but not his wife.  I'd never put up with him in bed."  The crowd laughed.  "Besides, I spent way too long firming my stomach and arm muscles for combat to ever let them go soft for a child to nap on.  Some year, perhaps, and I'll keep you in mind if that time comes, but not for a very long time."  She looked at her boss.  "Scrolls?"

"Ballor's trading his I think."

"Good!  We could use some new scrolls."  She went to help him, just to make sure he didn't get another romance story.  She had dealt with pirates, she didn't want to read about them and their victims. "No romances," she reminded him.

"No, nothing sappy.  I left those at home," he said patiently.  "Who has the mage?"

"He's having tea with the herbalist while they talk plants.  He said it's going to be a while."

They both glanced at their boss, who was showing off his sword, and groaned.  "Boss!" they yelled in unison.  He looked up and grinned, and the town guard came over to admire his blade and test him. They paid for what they wanted, Liset decided to get a few based on their summary slips too, and went to watch their boss work.  Even the mage was there with his woman.  The guard was starting to sweat but their boss was still grinning and teasing him like they were sitting and chatting at an inn.  Xahar spun and disarmed him, ending up in the guy's arms, but with his sword in an indelicate spot, still smirking at him.  They watched as the guard slowly went from stunned that he was holding Xahar, to laughing about his skills.  They relaxed their guard, smiling at another crisis averted.

"See, I'm fun, functional, and decorative," he teased the guard, who let out another laugh and let him go. "You doubted that my style could win," he teased.

"I know better now, Xahar."

"You're that dancer!" one woman shouted.

"Dance for us," a few younger women called.  "We haven't seen any."

"They're not fit for proper young women to watch," Ballor told one.  "These dances are a bit arousing."

"Just a bit," the mage said dryly.  "Made some us remember why we married each other last night."

Xahar grinned at him.  "I guess only another crafter could understand when you didn't come out of your workshop for weeks in advance."  The mage sighed and nodded.  "Did you have fun?"

"Not really.  She nagged me all night."  He shrugged and went back to the herbalist.  "If you do, I'd be ready to defend yourself.  There were some barbarians around earlier this week."

"They're still here," one of the farmers admitted.  "They're in my barn.  One's injured."

"Well, technically I'm on contract with the mage's school," he admitted.  "But I could stop by and do one before you leave if you'd like," he offered.  "We'll be up there for a few weeks and can easily pass by to spend the day here on the way home."

"That would give time for the barbarians to go on," Ballor admitted.  "I don't want to have to fight one, boss."

"Me either," he said patiently.

Liset snorted.  "Admit it, boss, you want to be carried off again."

"Um, no," he said gently.  "I'm tired of being carried off over someone's saddle. I much prefer riding my own horse."  He looked around at the disappointed faces.  Then he looked at his guards, who sighed and nodded.  "Fine, one of the short ones.  We'll do a longer set on the way home."  The crowd cheered and he looked at where he was, getting up to hand Ballor his things, and his sword.  Then he moved back.  "I'll need some space.  I'll do one of the more energetic ones."

"There's more than one?"

"There's six different storylines in the ones I was taught.  It starts out with the young man being free, finding love, being courted, then leaving home to start his training as a warrior.  Then it moves to when the warriors were captured and turned into slaves and his further training from there, both as a passion slave and as a fighter for his new owners.  Then they move onto him breaking free, him heading home.  Him having to find new love, then the final one is him training others in the dance."  He smiled at them.  "I love that last set but it's more for a chorus than a single dancer.  I'll do one of the earliest ones, when he was still a young man and at home.  So I'll need a lot of room."  He calmed himself, pulling the music he had heard so long ago out of his mind to bring the dance forward.  He didn't do this one very often.  He needed to be much more limber and he was getting older.  But he was well warmed up and it would be fine.  He held his first breath and stepped into the pattern, weaving and leaping, turning and dancing.  He even picked a helper out of the crowd to play his blushing 'bride' and the guard did blush quite well.  He ended it where the young man would have went to the temple to get them married, it was a traditional stopping point and the one after that was a bit more risque, something he didn't want to do in public with children watching.  He stopped and calmed himself again, looking at them.

"Now you know why people take him," Liset said dryly.

"I can see that," the fabric merchant agreed, licking his lips.  He walked over and placed a few coins in front of him.  "A tip," he said grandly, backing away.

"Not necessary, really," Xahar protested, but not too hard.  He was an entertainer after all.  A few more coins were thrown and most everyone walked off talking about it.

An older woman stepped forward.  "Do some of the more naughty ones the next time you come in to dance.  It'll start a good bit of gossip going.  I've seen one of your dance troops in the past and they were doing one from the second series, when he was in training."  She pinched him on the cheek.  "I'd steal you but you'd kill me when I bedded you."  She walked off, leaving him grinning and blushing a bit.

Ballor stopped two women from plotting to take him by coughing and glaring, they pouted but stomped off to make their plans in private.  Liset glared at one of the merchants, who quickly went back to his scroll stall.  They looked at their boss, who was sitting on the edge of the fountain, getting a drink in his cupped hands.  They came over to pick up the coins and present them to him, then led him back to his horse.  "You don't do that one much," Liset offered.

"I'm not as young as I should be to do that.  He would have been about the same age I was when I was stolen when he was doing that part. That's for a much younger man."  He gave her a hug.  "Did you like it? I had to improvise one move when my back wouldn't stretch quite far enough."

"I did," she admitted. "You looked carefree and happy."  She glanced back at Ballor, who was tying the bags onto the back of the saddles.  "Are we done?"

"I'd hope so.  He's still got to perform this afternoon in the gardens," Ballor admitted.  "Master Mage?"  He came out of the herbalist's shop.  "Are you done or did you need more time?"

"I was waiting on you three," he admitted with a genial smile.  "Are you done?"

Xahar wiped off his face.  "I'll do more when we pass back by here on the way out."

"That's fine.  I'm sure the villagers could use the entertainment.  It's not often they get a dancer of your quality around here."  He walked out and floated himself back onto his horse, following them back up the trail, making sure they could get back in the school.  He watched as the boy wandered off to change clothes, shaking his head.  "No wonder people try to steal him.  Even the simple and joyous dances are inflaming."  He let the horse go once he had it fully undone, watching as it trotted off to nibble on some grass.  Then he went back to his workshop.  He really did have to do some work on that new weapon of his.

Xahar came out to the gardens, tying his pants back into place.  "Sorry.  The villagers wanted a taste.  I promised to go back after I was done here," he admitted.

"That's fine," the mage who had requested his presence admitted. "You don't mind if we sit over here, do you?"

Xahar looked at the clearing.  "No, it's more than enough room.  What had been sitting here?"

"A self-propelled magic carriage," one of the younger mages offered.  "The Duke needed it badly with a wedding, a coronation, and a birth in the next six weeks.  It was a rush job."

"Interesting."  He patted the catapult that was on the edge of the clearing.  "You are very old," he said, looking at the wood.  "And need new gears."

"It's an older machine we found in the tower when we took it over.  Do you have anything about the main character being in a garden?"

"I do, but it's when he's still enslaved and he finds his passionate role with a new mistress. Liset?"

"I'm not a prop, boss."

"You are today, all you have to do is sit there and blush."  He pointed at a spot on the ground.  "Sit there please."  She sighed but sat down where he had wanted, putting her sword behind her and out of the way, but within reach in case something happened. Ballor handed him his CD player, already loaded with the appropriate disc, and he turned it on, setting it behind her sword.  Just in case.  He started off, reveling in the joy of the gardens he could see in his head, and the beauty that was hidden among them.

Ballor coughed and blushed, turning around so he didn't have to watch.  Their boss wasn't picky about who he bedded and he was making Liset sweat badly.  Too bad, he could almost grow to like her. At one point she slapped Xahar, making him turn around and chuckle, it hadn't even phased their boss but she wasn't going to be taken in by him apparently.  That meant he had some chance at making her his.  Xahar ended, this time panting a bit harder, and he clapped.  It was a great performance he was sure.  The mages started at him.  "What?  I haven't seen that one in months.  Not that I can watch all of it."

They giggled and went back to their designs while Xahar sat down on the ground and rubbed his cheek.  "You're mean to me, Liset."

"You're the one who tried to steal a kiss."

"It's part of the dance," he offered with a grin.

"It's still not in my contract, boss. Next time, use Ballor."  She picked up her sword and stood up smoothly, putting it back in the scabbard.  "We done?"  He nodded.  "Good.  I'm going to see what scrolls you bought."  She wandered off, letting him handle his CD player and himself.  The mages were caught up in their designs.

"Should I do more?" Xahar asked.

"Not at this moment, but leave the music playing please," one of them ordered, absently waving a hand before going back to his drawing, never looking up from the picture.

"Sure."  He looked at Ballor, who tossed over a scroll with a smirk and walked off.  Xahar sat down next to the player, putting it on repeat so he could read to it as well.  He wiped off his forehead and yawned, popping his neck.  He really needed to stretch and practice more often.  He was feeling old and cranky again.  He got lost in the scroll, only looking up at the quiet cough of one of the mages.  "Need me again?"

"Please," one of the females said.  "Something vaguely sexual this time?  I have to design some claiming jewelry for a new King and I'm totally stumped."

"If you wish.  I've designed a few of my own based on the outtakes not in the main story lines, or there are a few of the traditional ones that have sexual innuendos built in.  Whichever you would prefer."

"Either's fine, just make it something that makes me hot and makes me want to claim one of the old ones."  She smiled. "If possible."

"Ah, a challenge, I love a challenge," he said brightly, rolling up his scroll and putting it aside.  He stood up and moved to the center of the grass, then took off his shoes and tossed them aside.  "I really should change music but this is good enough."  He sighed and tipped his head back, starting off with a small pelvic thrust, into a twirl as if he was being turned around on a platform.  That moved into a small shiver and then into a 'struggle' scene, which was most arousing in his mind.  By the time he finished that one it was nearly dinner and she was drooling, as were most of the men.  He bowed to her with a small smile.  "Did you need more?  There's another hour if I need to use it."

"No, that was fine," she whispered, staring at him.  "Are you normal?"  He nodded. "You're sure?  Not one of the Lower Element's beasts sent to tempt?"  He chuckled and shook his head.  "Now I know why people steal you."  She got up and went inside, going up to her workshop.  She had all the inspiration she'd need for the next year or so.  The others got up to follow in groups.

Xahar gathered his shoes and his CD player, tucking his scroll inside one of his shoes on the way inside after all the mages had left.  He had done very well giving inspiration, which was why he was here.  "Maybe I should talk to the mages near the house, see if they need inspiration too."

"Boss, if you do, I'm hiring you a full unit of guards," Ballor said as he joined him with their tray of dinner.  "Go well?"

"One of them needed inspiration for claiming jewelry," he said with a bright smile.  "I gave her some from the training dances."  He stole a piece of meat and headed up the stairs.

"Did you have to?" he whined, following him.  He put the food down, which woke Liset, and stared at their boss, who was going to clean up.  "He did some of the training dances."

"He's fine?"

"So far.  Someone need inspiration for claiming pieces."

"I'm sure they got some," she admitted, coming over to nibble until their boss came out.  "Is he due in after dinner again?"

"No, because the cook said no one was making it to dinner tonight.  If they do decide to gather and want him, they'll send for him."  He glanced in the bathing area, then groaned and shook his head.  "He did one of the claiming ones," he moaned pitifully.  "After the one he did with you.  We're going to have to fight our way out of here."

"I doubt it," Xahar called as he came out from behind the curtain. "You're paranoid, Ballor.  No one here will harm me.  Worry about the village and those barbarians.  I don't wish to be stolen by someone smelly this month."

"Hopefully they bathe and wash their clothes," Liset offered.  "If not, it'll make them easier to track when they do steal you."

"When was the last time one of his employers didn't try to steal him?" Ballor asked.

"The thing with the raid," Liset said promptly.  It hadn't been that long ago. "The time before that as well.  I wouldn't worry, they'll try to keep him here."

"Maybe they'll send me back to that place with the CD's so I can pick up some more," Xahar said fondly, coming out in a loose robe from his bag.  "I could use some new music to create to."  He flopped down, then got up to get some dinner and bring it back to his sleeping pad and his scroll.

Liset and Ballor shared a look.  Sometimes their boss worried about the wrong things in their lives.  Then again, he was an entertainer, not a true fighter.  That's why he had them.  Liset dished out the food for them and handed over one of the bowls, going to sit down and read as well.  There wasn't anything else to do unless she wanted to go do Xahar's laundry for him again.  It was nice he could only use cold water on his clothes, but she didn't feel like being that wrinkled tonight. Ballor coughed so she looked over at him, then at the doorway, where smoke was starting to pour through.  "Boss?" she asked quietly.

He looked over and got up, opening the door to look in the hallway.  He saw a large head coming through the window at the top.  "Hello."

"Greetings, human.  Are the mages not at home?"

"They're working.  Let me get someone."  He walked out and down the stairs, going to stop one of the apprentices.  "There's a dragon on top of the tower?"

"There is?"  Xahar nodded. "I'll tell the Head of our order immediately.  Thank you, sir."  He walked off, only letting his hand brush Xahar's thigh on the way past.

Xahar shook his head, heading back up there.  "I told one of the young ones and he's telling the Head now," he offered.  "Do you have a name you share?"

"I'm Goldenflight.  I'm King of the Thanorsis mountains and the dragon enclave there."

"I've heard of one of you.  Rivetna?"  The dragon beamed.  "I met her squire a few years back.  He bragged about her and your mountains for hours before going to find his mate again."

"I remember him.  A foolish human but fairly adept and skillful in what he was used for."  The dragon smiled at the woman coming up the stairs.  "Greetings, Helmish."

"Greetings, Goldenflight.  Did you break something else?"  She smiled at Xahar.  "This is Xahar, we have him in for inspiration.  That's why everyone is working at the moment and no one greeted you."

"I've heard of him and his dancing from some of the humans who do our menial labor.  They say he's quite invigorating and arousing."  Xahar blushed a bit.  "I would like to watch sometime if you do one outside."

"Probably in the next few days," he admitted.

"That's fine."  He withdrew his head to hand in a pendant, then pulled his arm back and put his head back inside.  "It broke, again," he sighed. "My daughter is so clumsy."

"She's at that awkward age," Helmish offered.  "Come down to my office and I'll call Paratrice up to fix it."  She smiled at Xahar before walking past him.  "We don't do much in the mornings so you could sleep in," she offered.

"I should get up and practice or stretch.  I'm feeling old again," he sighed. "The flower of my youth is starting to fade and my muscles are not as limber anymore."

The dragon snorted. "Not from what I hear," he noted dryly.  "It's probably only a momentary ache or the need for a good bedpartner."  He withdrew his head again and disappeared.

Xahar went into their room and shut the door, looking at his bodyguards. "He came to have a pendant fixed."

Ballor looked at Liset.  "Dragons now."

"Not elves," she admitted.

"I loathe elves," Xahar reassured them.  "I loathe elves and they loathe me so there's no chance of them stealing me, only trying to kill me."

"Why?" Ballor asked.

"My father was one of the great Knights in the last Elf war.  He's the one who felled the stone monument and made half of them give up.  He apparently got drunk and tried to ride through it, thought it was jousting him."

Liset shook her head.  "At least you come by your troublesome streak naturally," she noted, going back to her bed and her dinner.  "If the dragon tries to steal you, it's in the contract, boss.  Don't worry about it."

"I'm sure I remembered to put it in there," he agreed, laying down on his own sleeping pad.  "I've been taken by them before.  Usually they're very polite and pleasant to me.  They just want me to decorate up the place a bit."

Ballor groaned and went into the cleaning chamber to pout in private.  "Dragons now?" he complained to the wall and the mirror.  "I don't want to have to fight him.  Please, don't let me fight him?" he asked, looking up.  "I don't know which warrior's god you are, but please?  Just this once?"
 
 

To Index

To Chapter Three