Son of the SunList of players so far -Lij, the Pharaoh Knefer-Lijedefer- Elijah Sen-Adom, the harpist - Dominic Neferura-Ulive, Lij's wife and sister - Liv Menkh, Chief Advisor - Viggo Pen-Nekeb, A eunuch; body slave to Lij - Sean Astin Seti-Hop, a physician - Ian Mckellan Nefer-Aru, Lij's mother - Cate Blanchett Merit-Aton, Liv's mother - Miranda Otto Setep-Aton another royal physician - Chris Lee Orem, a eunuch, Liv's lover - Orli Captains of the Guard, Zeser-Amon - Sean Bean and His brother, Ankh-Aton - David Wenham Imhotep, the Royal architect - Billy Menep-Atifer-Ankh-Ra - Lij's Granny - An old woman with heart. Several friends, aquaintances and folks who merit mentioning, but no names, please! Part 6 - The Sticking Place In the four months they had known each other there had been much pleasure for the king in the simple things they did together - swimming in the river, guarded by Nubians ready to leap into the water and rescue him if Pharaoh so much as scraped his foot on a rock. Spear throwing, and archery were also favourites, Dom proving an adept pupil at both. But there was one area in which Dom fell short. The whip. When Lij showed him how to flick a chick pea off someone's outstretched palm without touching their skin, Dom remembered, only too well, the feel of the whip on his own back, and the days it took before the agony of the nerve endings slowed to a pain, then a dull ache, then vanished. No, Dom would never prove to have any talent with the whip. However, he could admire Lij's artistry. He made it look so easy, and Dom, to his great astonishment, found the sight of the king with the whip in his hand surprisingly erotic. * One night, a week later, as he entered the king's apartments, he found the king in a quandry. One of his concubines had been found with child. As Lij knew for a fact he had not lain with her for over half a year, he knew the child could not be his. Liv, in charge of all Pharaoh's women, was determined to keep the matter secret. Apart from three other concubines, who had been sworn to secrecy on pain of death, only she, Lij, Orem and Menhk knew of it. Liv had ordered she be whipped - not executed, as she should have been. No lesser punishment could be given. "Great One", Menkh had offered, on bended knee, in the solitude of the king's apartments, "you will lose face with your women if you do not act, now. She must be whipped - and hard." "I cannot believe my standing with them is very high these days, cousin. I have not been with any of them since..." He thought of Dom, then dragged his mind back to present concerns. Lij tried to remember the girl, and conjured up a vague recollection of dark, curled hair and violet blue eyes. And fragility. She was very tiny. Gods, would she survive a whipping by the Nubians? This new concern for those under his charge irked him, somewhat. He blamed Dom, although he could not understand why. He told him so, as he lay under the king, being pounded into the marble floor of the balcony. "I cared little for the feelings of others before you came here!" he panted, thrusting hard and frantic into Dom's receptive body. Dom tried to smile, but his climax was upon him, and he groaned loudly, reaching up to Lij's mouth for a kiss. Lij, thrust over the edge of reason by Dom's tongue, sighed into his mouth, and shivered to completion. When they lay side by side in the quiet after the storm, Dom remarked, suddenly, "Lord - why do you not whip her yourself? You know you could do it without hurting her over much. True, you must let some strokes land, but...?" Dom's eyes met the shining blue ones staring across at him. "It might work", the king breathed. "I have no desire to punish a woman doomed to a life of celibacy because I do not desire her. And she might lose the child if the Nubians get at her. I have had enough..." Lij stopped, remembering poor Nefer-Keder and the dead baby. She, too, was his cousin, so he had been honour bound to view the corpse...and before the priests had worked on her, too. Gods, never again! Setep-Aton's hatred of him, so apparent on that first day, seemed to have abated, and nowadays he looked upon Pharaoh with a more benevolent eye. Still, Lij felt uneasy in his presence. He didn't know why. He put it down to the stark fact that he had killed the man's son, and that was not in dispute. It was his order that had brought the man to his death - no other's. Knefer-Lijedefer was glad, therefore, that the physician attending the whipping would be his old friend Seti-Hop. Liv had told him that all his women and men would be present, as a warning to any others likely to fall under the king's displeasure. When he arrived at his wife's apartments, he saw, to his dismay, that Dom was also present. Of course Liv would have demanded that he came. Liv loved her brother, fiercely, and was very protective of his interests. Dom, too, must be shown the price of infidelity. Not that Lij had the slightest doubt concerning Dom's faithfulness. In their early days together discreet enquiries had shown that Dom desired no other. A black eye on one man, and a split lip on another attested to the truthfulness of this matter. Lij glanced over at him, standing beside Orem, and gave him a tiny smile. Dom stared back, a sympathetic look on his face. He knew Lij did not relish this task. But...who, if not him? Some ruffian who would flay the skin off her back, and leave her dead? No, it was better this way. Seti-Hop advanced to his side. "Great One", he said, for the king's ear alone, "I have given her as much poppy juice as she and the unborn can stand. They should both survive it - you have many talents, Lord, and the whip is one of them." The old man walked away. So he's guessed, Lij thought. I wonder how many others have...? Judging by the frightened expressions on several faces in the assembled crowd, not many were privy to the plan. Good! "Bring her in!" Lij demanded. He picked the whip up from the table where it lay, and stood with it coiled in his fist, as the errant woman was brought forward, stripped to the waist, one slave holding on to each of her arms as she walked forward, as if in a dream. Her eyes looked blank and heavy, and her face showed no emotion. Menkh read out her punishment. Lij's head shot round as he heard his advisor say "...fifteen strokes of the whip, in punishment for her sins against the Lord of The Earth." Fifteen! thought Lij, aghast. Ten would have been far too many, but fifteen? Lij saw a puzzled look on his wife's face, but it was too late to alter the edict, now. He signaled to the slaves to bind her to the pillar, which they did, swiftly. Lij stood back and surveyed the area he had to work on. He must make the first few strokes land, hard. She had to be marked to hide the times when the whip would not touch her. She had a tiny figure. There was not much space on her back. Fifteen strokes would kill her, he was sure. Or the baby. He desired neither death. Unable to show hesitation, he indicated to those closest to stand well back from the whip's bite, and raised the whip. It whistled through the air, and landed right across the centre of her back. The girl screamed, naturally. He aimed the next blow two digits width above the last, and it landed, perfectly. She screamed, again. Five times he did this, spacing his blows so that none overlapped the other. At the sixth blow, the girl fainted. Good! No one would know, now, that the blows were not connecting. Five were aimed not to touch her, and they didn't. One more landed, then the last three did not. Her back was suitably bloodied, if not *quite*enough for the discerning eye. But there were no discerning eyes present. The girl was quickly wrapped in a sheet, and carried out. Seti-Hop followed, aiming a glance of approval at his king as he left. Lij looked over at Dom, who had a most peculiar expression on his amicable countenance. Lij wondered what it meant. "Well done, Lord!", said Liv, coming towards him in a cloud of expensive perfume. She waited for the room to clear of all but Orem and Dom, and asked, puzzled, "but why did you order the extra lashes, Lij, when you...?" "I order them?" Lij interrupted in astonishment. "I? No, my sweet, it was not me...I thought it was you. I did not feel I could countermand your order. She is, after all, your woman." "No, brother, it was not me. I shall look into it. Someone has been interfering. I will get to the bottom of it, do not fear." Lij was tired after his exertions - both physically and emotionally. It had been difficult to aim the whip so that it did not touch her, when it had to be close enough for it not to be apparent that he was doing this. "Come, my Lord", Dom said, moving to his side. "I will play for you, and you shall rest, awhile." Lij looked gratefully at his lover. Yes, he was the restful place, his Dom. They left the room together. Orem smiled at Liv. "Dinner first," she said, interpreting his gaze. He shrugged his shoulders. There were roast quail, tonight, fresh and succulent, and he loved quail. He followed her to the table. In the king's apartments, dinner was held back for one hour. No-one asked why, but Nekeb, with his eye on the bed chamber door, knew exactly why this was. He was, however, running out of body parts - therefore, he held his peace. * They had eaten a hasty dinner and returned to bed. The look that had so intrigued Lij had gone from Dom's face, and the king was too tired to pursue the matter, now. He lay on the bed, too weary for speech, and Dom brought the harp, and played sweet tunes until his Lord was sleeping. Dom played on, not wanting Lij to wake when the music stopped. He looked at Lij�s face, fathoms deep in sleep. The fair, unblemished skin shone in the lamplight as if it were dusted with gold. The lashes, covering the mysterious blue eyes, lay on his cheek, long and thick. His mouth, devoid in sleep of that imperious curve, was sweet and moist. He looks like a sculpture Dom thought, not for the first time. The finely muscled body lay on its back, the nipples roseate, the hair curling and fine in the groin. His hands and feet were dainty, yet strong. He was a mass of contradictions, and a vision of beauty. Anyone would desire him, even if he was a slave, like... ...like himself. Dom could never forget that he was a slave in this land, albeit a slave with an impressive title. Dom smiled to himself. Satisfied that Lij would not wake up, now, if he stopped playing, Dom put down the harp, kissed the moist lips gently, so as not to wake him, and snuggled into his lover's side. Lij turned in his sleep, and gathered Dom to him. Wrapped in each others arms, they both slept until dawn. *** In Menhk's bed, there was no sleep. His wife moaned as he took her nipple in his mouth, and teased it. His hands, roaming over her flesh, made goosebumps rise in their path. She reached down between them to smoothe her hands over his shaft. She sighed. there was much pleasure to be had in the marriage bed. And the products of this love, six children in seven years. And she'd only borne Liv to Thothmes, her Lord, before his death and her subsequent marriage to Menkh, her beloved Menkh, Thothmes' nephew... ...Merit - Aton then had a thought so innovative it made her forget her husband's teasing mouth for a moment. She filed it away for later, determining to question Liv fully the next day. Later, when he came inside her, and every muscled spasmed in delight, she was sure she'd found the root of Liv's problem. Tomorrow, she thought, as her lord cried out. Tomorrow, she exulted, as she came. *** Merit-Aton went alone to see her daughter. On this occasion she did not require Lij's mother breathing down her neck. This was private - and very personal, and Merit knew Liv would not give an honest answer, the answer she expected, if Nefer-Aru was there. Liv dismissed her servants, and sat down, looking at her mother with interest. She seemed nervous. What could be the problem? Merit-Aton got straight to the point, as she always did. "Liv, do you have pleasure in the marriage bed?" Liv thought about it. "It pleases me that Lij and I might have a child. He..." "No, no, daughter, that is not what I meant. Does Lij fulfil you? Do you come to climax with him? Does he excite you, Liv?" Liv shook her head, sadly. "No, mother. I love him dearly, but our interests lie elsewhere, as you know. I feel warm and comfortable when he is inside me, but that is all. Why, mother, what do you mean?" Merit shifted on her seat, and clasped her hands together. "Could it be, my love, that you have not conceived because the mouth of your womb does not open for him? Because the pulsing feeling one gets when fulfilled in this way is missing?" Liv stared at her mother in astonishment. "I had truly never thought of it, mother. Do you really think it might make a difference? And how could?... let me think about it. I will consult with Seti-Hop. Maybe..." Merit left her daughter, satisfied that she would think of something. Liv was a clever girl. She would find a solution, if anyone could. *** Seti-Hop listened to his queen with interest. It was a novel idea. Who was to say she was not right? Only the gods knew the secrets of procreation. "It may be, Great Lady. I do not know. It might be...but how will you find a way...? I will leave it in your hands, Lady. The daughter of Isis will find a way." Liv went to the temple, and knelt before the statue of the goddess. "Lady", she prayed, earnestly. "Give me a sign!" She knelt there for a few minutes, and left to dress for a court function to be held shortly. Some visiting dignitary that Lij was cultivating...again. Oh, well - such were the burdens of kingship... Liv turned the corner of the corridor to her apartments, and there, standing staring at a wall painting, stood her Orem and Dom. Orem was laughing at the great size of the king in the picture in relation to his tiny queen, when, in reality, he was several digits shorter than her. Liv stopped dead in her tracks. Here was the answer! But will Lij agree? she thought, as she continued to her rooms. She would speak to him tonight. He promised he would leave Dom and come to her, tonight. There was a dynasty at stake, here, if Lij died without proper issue. It was a sacrifice he had decided was necessary. One night a week, he would go to his wife, and try to kindle her. And after Dom had entered his life, every time he lay with her, his thoughts strayed to Dom. Always Dom. *** Lij sat there with his mouth open like a landed fish. He was interested in what Liv had said, but...Orem and Dom with them in the marriage bed? Stimulating them so that Liv could conceive? He was not sure. "It is delicate, my dear. I ...". Lij stopped, embarrassed. He had never countenanced having more than one person at a time in his bed. Would he be able to perform with Dom and Orem watching his every move? He voiced his concerns to his wife. "Yes, but Lij - we never do anything but get straight to the point, do we? There is nothing like that in it for us, is there? - it is just the performance of our duty. Please can we try?" There were tears in her eyes. He realised how much she wanted this child. For her sake he would try. He smiled to himself as he thought about explaining the situation to Dom. Orem had already been told, and was willing. Willing! He has no choice, Lij thought, as they waited for Dom to arrive. Neither did Dom - but Lij would not force him if he did not wish to participate. Dom nodded slowly. He could see how much it had taken Lij to broach the subject. In some things the king was still very shy. Liv had wisely left them alone to discuss the matter. "Do you think it will work, Lord?" Dom asked, earnestly. The blue in Lij's eyes deepened as he looked at his lover. Dom cast a quizzical glance at his Lord. What innovative thought had arisen in that quick mind to make him jump so, and turn pale? Lij grasped his hand. "I know I could force you, but I want you to be willing. I will not do it, otherwise." Dom grinned. "Yes, my Lord, I am willing. For you, and for Egypt, I will do this thing!" Lij grinned back. "Well, there is no need to be so noble about it, my...Dom. I am not throwing you to the crocodiles, you know." Lij got up and poured out a goblet of wine for them both, and handed one to Dom. Dom stared. Did Lij know what he had just done? Waited on a slave? No, Dom mused, following the man around the room with his eyes. No, he didn't serve a slave - he brought the man who loves him a drink - that's all. The man who loves him above all earthly things. Yes, I do. Liv came back into the room. "Well?" she said, looking at Dom, hopefully. "Yes, Lady", he answered. "Very well!" she said, clapping her hands. "Let us retire." Dom's eyes widened when he saw the size of the queen's bed. Six couples could have slept comfortably in its ample width. Orem was lying on the bed, quite naked. He got up when the three came in, and made as if to kneel. "Not tonight, Orem. We are all working towards the same goal tonight", Lij said smiling at him. He took his kilt off, and then yanked Dom's off, as he seemed to be in a trance - gods, had he never seen a bed before? Lij was interested to note that both Dom and Orem were visibly excited at the prospect before them. Because of this, he too began to swell, and he pulled Dom over to the bed, where they lay down together. Dom kissed Lij gently. He wanted him to know that his heart was with his lover in this. He wound his tongue around the king's and sighed into his mouth. He glanced over Lij's shoulder, and saw that Orem already had his hand between Liv's thighs, as he kissed her deeply, teasing and tickling her there, until she moaned low in her throat. Dom ran his hands over Lij's perfect skin. He pinched his nipples, and nibbled his neck. In return, Lij had taken to nipping the skin along Dom's collar bone. Dom kept a check on his feelings. He wanted to excite Lij so much that he could give his wife what she desired most - a child. If this was the way to get it, he would do his best. He took Lij into his mouth, revelling in the texture and taste of him. Loving the way the shaft twitched between his lips, how Lij's breath hitched as his tongue worked on him. Dom redoubled his efforts. A thin sheen of sweat broke out over Lij's body, as Dom worked on him. He cupped Lij's sac between his hands, marvelling that the seeds of life were contained inside. He ran each perfect oval between his fingers, and Lij began to pant. Gods! Holy Mother, he's ready! Dom thought. Orem raised his head and cast a questioning look at Dom. The queen was making little mewling sounds as Orem caressed her. Dom removed his mouth and nodded. "Lord, it is time", he whispered. Lij took his mouth from the skin he had just reached up to caress and raised lust filled eyes to Dom's, his lips wet and swollen with kissing, his cheeks flushed. Dom had to struggle not to grasp his lover and take him inside himself, the urge for union with him was so strong. He turned Lij towards his wife, and they lay on their sides, facing each other. Lij kissed her gently on her forehead, and moved to enter her. He found Orem's hand easing the way. He felt good inside her. Good because Dom was running his hands over his body, kissing and nipping, licking and squeezing. This was� good. Lij turned his wife onto her back, and began to thrust in and out of her. Orem, lying beside her was kissing her deeply, his hand caressing her. Dom was resting lightly over his back, kissing his shoulders and squeezing his sac tenderly as he did so. Lij felt passion rise in him like the Nile in flood. "Kiss me, my love!" Lij panted through a haze of desire. Dom instinctively knew it was him the king meant. He slid round Lij to lie next to the queen, and captured the desperate questing mouth just as Lij gave four huge thrusts and came inside his wife, who was keening and thrashing wildly under him. Lij kissed his wife, again, and withdrew from her, straight into Dom's arms. He knew full well that the incredible experience was nothing to do with Liv, and everything to do with Dom. He didn't care what Orem and his wife were doing, he took Dom's hard shaft into his hand, and squeezed and smoothed him until he cried his release into the night air. They lay there for a few minutes, until the world returned to its axis, then, without a word Lij and Dom left the other couple wrapped in each others arms, and went to the king's rooms. They said nothing as they covered themselves with the sheet, and nestled into each other. Lij kissed Dom's head, and they sank into sleep, Dom's head on Lij's chest, in perfect peace and accord. *** When morning broke, and Pen-Nekeb appeared with the hot tisane he brought the king and Dom at that hour, the birds were singing outside the window, and various insects were making their presence felt. Lij kissed Dom awake. "Come, my Dom", he said, and Dom marvelled to hear those two words. "Last night we made a king together. This morning, the desert calls us..." |