Disclaimer: Not true, never happened, not endorsed by AFI or affiliates, may cause rash, itchy eyes, numbness, inflamation of the intestines and may impair bowel movements. Any further reading and/or clicking is at your expense and should be done with extreme caution.
The Story:
Davey took a deep breath just as another pitcher full of cold water was poured over his head. He blew water out of his mouth, spraying droplets every which way. He blinked past the water running down his face and blushed sheepishly at the two handmaidens, both whom he had unknowingly sprayed.
�Sorry!� he told them. They, however, ignored this and the water. As Davey sat in the iron tub, one began scrubbing his chest and shoulders with perfumed sea salts while the other washed his hair with a slick, sudsing liquid.
Davey�s blush did not go away. It was pink when they first stripped him. Now it was red and burning across both cheeks. He had never been naked in front of women before, not except his own dear mother. He tried once more to bring up his legs so that he could at least cover his indecent place but they pushed his legs down and scrubbed his stomach, knees and everywhere in between.
�How�s it going back there?� Lord Hunter asked from beyond the curtain surrounding the tub.
�Uhm. . .� Davey said, seeing as the two young ladies weren�t about to answer, too intent on their scrubbing. �Well. . . ack! Whoa! Pthooot!� The first had been from both girls suddenly yanking him into an unsteady standing position. The second was their hands holding the wash rags as they went to places only Lord Hunter had ever been before. The last was their attempt to silence him by pouring another pitcher of ice cold water over his head.
Hunter stood before the wardrobe and pushed things about. �Junk, junk, trash, junk,� he muttered softly. �What the hell does she do with all this trash?� He swept more of Armenia�s clothes aside and rummaged deeply once more. Most of her garments were dresses but a few were pantsuits she used on the rare occasions she went horseback riding with her group of snobbish princess friends. The only thing was that none of them seemed right for a ball.
Plenty of these garments were of nice styles and bold enough fabric, but nothing came close enough to resemble anything so fine, so elegant as some of the gowns hanging alongside. He sighed desperately. There had to be SOMETHING here!
Hunter turned his head to see how the bathing was going. Davey was now standing and was being rinsed off. Good. They were making good time. Hunter turned back, his hands still moving. He stopped suddenly and pushed back the last garment he had just moved aside. He looked it up and down, then pulled it out, hoping the bottom didn�t end in a skirt. It didn�t.
He grinned happily. Perfect! He nearly tore off the hanger and draped the outfit over his arm. Next, he strolled over and picked up a pair of Armenia�s boots. These were plain black and didn�t look like they had been used much. Of course, that could be because Armenia sent away for clothes every other day almost.
Hunter whistled happily and walked around the other side of the curtain. He stopped and let his whistling die out. The two girls had Davey out of the tub and were now drying him off with plush towels embroidered with Armenia�s monogram at the corners. The sight of his Davey, naked and being handled with not-so-gentle hands. . . oh, the ache was beginning to form. . .
Davey glanced to the side and saw that familiar glazed look in Hunter�s eyes. He grunted faintly, amused. Of all the places and times. . .
The girl who had been drying his hair stopped and pulled back. The other girl, done as well, moved back to await further instruction. All three looked at Hunter. He made no move but continued staring at his consort, bare and blushing before him.
One of the girls cleared her throat. Hunter startled and tore his gaze away. �Uh. . . yes, yes, good job. Uhm. . . here.� He gestured with the garment. The girls gladly took this and the boots. If they were surprised with the lack of undergarments, they said nothing. It was strange enough that their Lady�s husband had taken them away from the party, knowing they were Armenia�s personal servants. Even stranger that they were commanded to not only bathe the royal consort but to dress him as well. And with the Lady�s own garments!
Whether they knew why they had to do this or not, they soon realized he was to be made presentable at the events down stairs. They dusted him with a light perfume powder before yanking the garments over his head. One girl then began putting the boots on him, though they were just slightly too small for him around the calves due to his muscle, while the other began attacking his hair with a brush. When she made to tie it up out of the way, Hunter stopped her.
�No! No,� he said, making the two stop. �Just. . . er, kinda leave it down. To show it off.� the girl nodded quickly and reached for a bottle of oil on the dressing table. She coated her hands and ran it through Davey�s hair, leaving the brush alone. Soon, his hair was in soft waves that ended in loose ringlets of dark, shiny black.
�Perfect.� Hunter said, then paused, seeing the girls weren�t done. One grabbed a small tin and began smearing a clear paste on the cook�s lips, making them shine, while the other. . .
�Ow! Ow!� Davey cried out, pulling back and rubbing his cheeks, hurt. �What was that for?�
Hunter frowned. �Yes, what was that for?�
The girl looked at them as if they might be mad. �For blush, my Lord. Pinch the cheeks long enough and they glow.�
Hunter looked about on the table. �Look, here, can�t you use some of this stuff? It�s pink. . .�
The other girl gave a snort and Hunter saw they were both smiling. �My Lord,� the first girl said gently, �that is not for cheeks. That is for. . . for the bosom.�
Hunter put the tiny brush down. Oh. He hadn�t known that. �But can�t you use it for. . .? No, I guess not.� he looked around, then looked back at Davey. An idea flashed in his mind. �Hey, Davey, remember last night, when. . . with the. . .� But he didn�t need to go further. Davey�s reaction was immediate. Wide-eyed, he blushed fiercely and put a hand to his mouth as if to hide his embarrassment. The two girls looked at him with interest but didn�t inquire further.
The last thing they did, a surprise to Hunter, who never noticed these things females did to look they way they did, was to line Davey�s eyes with a fine brush dipped in black liquid. He�d asked if it was ink and the girls had said no. Since they did not offer what the main ingredient was, Hunter presumed this was one ladies� secret that wouldn�t be shared with him. When they were done, his consort now took on a dark, seductive look without having to sacrifice his innocent nature. Tempting, very tempting not to ravage him right there.
�That�ll work.� The first girl nodded to Hunter as they stepped away from their masterpiece. He grinned and pulled Davey away from them and toward Armenia�s second dresser. As Davey stumbled along, trying to get used to the boots, he peered around the room.
So, it was true then. Lady Armenia glared haughtily down at him from over a dozen portraits. She was so in love with herself she had this whole room only for her beautification needs. Davey spied himself in one of the many mirrors scattered about the room. He looked. . . not like himself.
The outfit was a simple dark, rich purple that shimmered and shined as he moved. The hems were lined in thin silver piping with a slightly high collar to flaunt his neck elegantly. The sleeves were short to reveal muscular arms, though also showing several burn marks from years working around a stove. Davey winced at this and looked further, trying to see if he could see any other problems. But before he could, Hunter came back and stood in front of him, obscuring his view.
�This one works great.� Hunter muttered, breath tickling his ear as he reached around to secure the clasp of a necklace. When he pulled back, Davey looked down and gasped. It was pure, shining silver with three large stones of purple to match his clothes. He turned and saw many other pieces of jewelry scattered about the drawer of the dresser.
�Armenia�s got plenty to share.� Hunter grinned wryly, then took up Davey�s hand again. This time, he pulled him out of the room and began taking him down to the ball.
�You�ll be seeing my father again, and a lot of other people.� Hunter said, occasionally glancing at Davey. �It�s just because you�re my consort and they�ll expect to give you a few look-overs. See what they�re missing out on.� he winked slyly.
Davey smiled faintly. �Yes, My Lord.� He paused, trying to keep his feet at Hunter�s pace, �Uh, my Lord? Has. . .?�
Hunter nodded, expression grim. �Yeah, Adam�s here. So�s Jade. Tried to. . .� he shook his head. No need to upset Davey. �Well, he�s here. And he was asking for you, too. Think he might want to see you. Either way, the two of you can talk awhile after my father meets you again.� He grew quiet and started walking slow. Davey looked up and realized they had entered the Hall.
*****************
Hunter, with Davey on his arm, walked slowly and elegantly through the crowds. Where he went, Davey noticed, people either gave him slight bows with their heads or slight nods. However, their eyes lingered on Davey and stayed fixed on him even after he walked past.
�Look forward,� Hunter muttered out the side of his mouth. Immediately Davey did as he said. �And straighten your back. Don�t look any of them in the eyes. Move. . . move like how you were when you stripped for me that one night, remember?�
Davey did. He moved just as slowly as Hunter, though now with a seductive grace to his hips that made heads turn. But by doing this, Davey began to blush fiercer than he had when he saw the stares and had to turn his head down slightly, the curtain of black cascading to cover most of his face.
Hunter sneaked a glance over at him and decided this wasn�t a bad look. Not bad at all. Made Davey appear mysterious and alluring. Mouth watering too, Hunter nearly grinned. However, his guard came up again when he spotted his father through the crowd, beckoning him closer.
�Ah! Hunter!� King Dioden called out. The rest of the people standing in the way quickly moved, giving them all a clear view. And as he knew they would, all eyes turned to Davey and stayed glued to him.
King Dioden stood beside a young girl no older than twenty, bright copper hair pleated down to her lower back. Beside her and apparently the one who had been engaging the king in talk was Armenia. Beside her was Nim, still wearing his dusty riding clothes. It seemed he had just arrived.
Armenia glanced at Davey once, then turned to see King Dioden�s expression. But she stopped and snapped her head around again. Her eyes went first to the necklace, then the clothes and boots. Her eyes narrowed and her lips pressed tightly together in anger. Her things. . .
Hunter forced himself not to smile and looked at his father instead. The old man was nearly at the drooling point. The only thing, Hunter was sure, that saved him from embarrassment was when he brought his glass up to his lips to take a drink. Hunter was sure he was also washing down the excess saliva.
�My King,� Hunter said dutifully, giving a small bow. Davey followed him into it so that they made one refined and courtly movement. But when he straightened, Davey lifted his head to peer about. When he caught sight of the look King Dioden was giving him, so like the one his son gave Davey often, his cheeks burned again and he averted his gaze.
�Ha Ha!� the king cried out in delight. �Didn�t I tell you, Anne! Lookit �im! A shy little thing, isn�t he?�
�Indeed, your majesty,� the young lady beside him smiled faintly. �Very beautiful, as you�ve said, my Lord. Very beautiful indeed.�
Davey cringed slightly and tried moving behind Hunter but found he couldn�t. Hunter�s other hand came around to steady him and urge him forward again. �It�s okay,� he whispered softly, �I�m here. They�re not going to hurt you.� He moved his arm around Davey�s waist and clamped onto his hip. Davey had no choice. He couldn�t move.
King Dioden saw this and decided to take the liberty to see Davey�s face once more. �Come, come, show us that face again!� he said and reached over. He put his hand under Davey�s chin and lifted. His hair parted to either side and revealed his face to the others. His beauty, as they had made mention of earlier, was mostly his hair. The darkness and the length, which no other man ever really left that long. Now that they were getting a good look of his face, he was almost certain they�d want him to lower his head again.
Davey looked from one to another, noting expressions and attitudes. King Dioden: eager lust and shining adoration. His consort Anne: admiration and a twinge of jealousy. Lady Armenia: silent but deadly glaring. Nim. . . . Davey paused. Nim. He hadn�t known Nim would be here. When did he get back? Did he know. . .?
As a matter of fact, it looked like the head of security was having trouble understanding exactly why the head cook was on his Lord�s arm. He looked from Hunter to Armenia, then to the King and his companion. He gave the appearance of badly wanting to know, but stayed quiet.
�Not bad,� King Dioden said at last, voice rather thicker than before, �not bad. Hunter, son, I think you�ve just made nearly all the women at your own ball half mad with jealousy.�
�Thank you, my King.� Hunter gave a submissive bow of his head. He looked up and around. �Where�s Jade? I thought he would-?�
�Jade?� King Dioden suddenly bristled. �What is HE doing here? Hunter, did you invite that. . . that. . .�
�Oh, go on, father,� a voice said to Davey�s right. Nim and Armenia moved aside to reveal Jade strolling casually forward, hand holding Adam�s up to his shoulder as he led him forward. �Tell these good people what I really am. Chances are, they�ve heard it all. And before you can round on poor Hunter there, I invited myself.�
It was true, King Dioden had rounded on Hunter and was slowly turning a dark crimson in anger. But at Jade�s words, he looked at Hunter carefully in the eyes. �Is this true, Hunter? Did you invite this. . . this abomination?�
Hunter, Davey decided, earned more credit tonight than in anything else he had ever done to earn the throne and kingship. �No, my King,� Hunter straightened as he met his father�s eye, �I told Jade to join us. He was already in my lands before the ball and I asked for him and his friends to join us. I saw no harm.� At his words, Jade�s grip tightened on Adam�s hand and Armenia sucked in a hissing breath.
But King Dioden ignored them. �No harm? No harm? Hunter, son, I think I need to hear your reasoning before I call you daft. How exactly is letting this monster into your home not dangerous?� The king�s voice was low and steady, the calm before the storm.
Hunter didn�t flinch. His hold on Davey was warm and secure, but didn�t tighten. This relieved Davey. It meant that Hunter knew what he was doing. He wasn�t blundering, as his wife and brother thought he was.
�Oh, Jade�s dangerous,� Hunter assured them, �but this is my ball. This is my home. Jade isn�t stupid. Far from it. He knew that by returning here, I have every right to throw him in a cell. That�s why I�ve made it very clear that he is to be on his best behavior. Or else the first sign of mutiny and he gets locked away.�
King Dioden didn�t seem to trust this, even less was Jade. He laughed, good and hard. �You? Capture the man who has escaped more bounty hunters and assassins than you�ve got hairs on your head? Baby brother, surely you�re joking!� He brought up Adam�s hand to chortle into it, eyes glistening at Hunter.
But Hunter smiled as well. He raised a hand and beckoned someone over from past Adam and Jade. As the people came over, Davey�s eyes caught Adam�s. That calm coolness rushed over him briefly, then it was gone.
�Jade,� Hunter said with a faint smirk, �I believe you�ve met Tim and Lars? In Honduras, I believe was the last time the three of you met up. That true?�
Jade whirled to watched the two approaching men with something no shorter than alarmed panic. Both men were dressed in black, nondescript suits that could have been at home on the saddle or at a regal event. Davey guessed they wore these clothes on a regular basis, incase the need to dress up arose unexpectedly.
The shorter of the two seemed to be the leader. He smiled with good humor, but the twinkle in his eyes was dark and ready for action; a cat ready to pounce. �Hullo there, Jade! Fancy meeting you here! Ain�t that right, Lars?� The man behind him simply smiled.
Jade swallowed thickly. �Coincidence? No,� surprisingly, he turned to smile at Hunter, �my baby brother seems to have a few cards up his sleeves. You planned this? Bounty hunters to babysit me?� He waved vaguely at Tim and his friend. The two didn�t take offense but continued to smile darkly at Jade.
�But of course!� Hunter grinned boyishly. �Had to make sure everything was perfect for the ball, didn�t I?�
King Dioden eyed Tim and Lars closely, sizing them up physically, then saw their effects on his son, Jade. Davey thought he seemed pleased with the situation. �Well, Hunter,� the king beamed at him, �seems like you�ve got everything under control. Hmm, what say you we get us something to eat? I�m deadly curious to see what our cook has conjured for us this evening.� He put his arm around Hunter�s shoulders and began leading him away.
Anne simpered. �Oh, glad he�s getting on with his son. Lady Armenia, is that Lord and Lady Greensboro I see over there? She owes me a new loom, I say. Time she paid up.� It was apparent Anne was a very social consort and succeeded in leading Armenia away, though not before Davey�s rival could throw another glare at her borrowed things.
Jade turned and began talking low to Tim and Lars very anxiously, which left Davey, Adam and, unfortunately, Nim. The latter hurried to Davey�s side and grasped his forearm tightly.
�What is a kitchen wench,� he whispered for Davey�s ears alone, �doing at a formal ball? Shouldn�t you be. . . COOKING?�
Davey fought off the whimper trying to escape his throat. His eyes focused on the stubble of Nim�s chin and forced his heart to stop pounding erratically. �I. . . was asked to come.� he said quietly.
�You were asked?� Nim�s eyes widened. �By who? The king? Or Lord Hunter?�
�Lord Hunter, on order of the King.� A voice cut in, not bothering to keep a low tone. Davey looked down and saw Adam forcefully pull Nim�s hand off his arm. �I believe Davey is currently a guest of the King, himself.�
�And who are you?� Nim demanded, eyes narrowing suspiciously. . . that is, until he saw the religious markers, then he snapped his mouth shut.
�Adam.� He said, straightening. �Of the third order, second branch of. . .� He paused, looking thoughtful. �No, wait. I think I would be Father now. You can call me Father Adam. I think Jade closed the ranks for me. I shall have to thank him.� He gave Nim a curt nod of dismissal, then began leading Davey gently away.
They stopped at a long table where Adam gave the server a drink. �How are you?� Adam asked gently.
Davey, nearly on the brink of hyperventilating, gulped at the punch frantically. After a minute, he nodded. �Good, good. Thank you, Adam. Oh. . . I think Nim was about to murder me!�
Adam eyed the dark-haired man closely. He was a doll, Adam decided, a good, serviceable doll painted up to play a role he wasn�t quite ready for. �No, I seriously doubt he�ll try to hurt you here, Davey.� Adam sipped his own drink. �You�re the King�s guest, so you�re protected here. Does. . . does Nim have something against you?�
Davey dared a glance backward and was relieved to see Nim gone elsewhere. He sighed. �Nim. . . he. . . he knew my mother. Grew up with her. He�s been sort of a surrogate father for me while growing up. Ever since. . . ever since I came to work here, he�s been looking out for me, you know, making sure that I don�t get into trouble.�
Adam peered sideways at him. �So where was he when you were made consort?�
Davey turned wide eyes at his friend. Adam almost laughed when he saw those large brown eyes blink. Mercifully, he kept it in. �Well,� Davey said slowly, now looking away, �that. . . that was sort of. . .�
�Inevitable?�
�Yeah.� Davey said quietly. He took another drink. �But, Nim, he�s really a good guy. Just. . . well, he won�t take kindly to know I�m. . . with. . .�
�Another man?� Adam asked, �Or with his Lord?�
�Both.� Davey whispered.
*************************
Nim watched the two walk away. He didn�t trust the server�s excuse, but he had more sense than to contradict a man of the holy order. Davey�s presence here could be dealt with after the ball was over.
He turned and began making his way over to his Lord. The reason why Nim hadn�t freshened up before coming to the ball was because of the fresh bit of news to land on his plate. According to his underground sources, there was a secret assassination plot against Hunter. The trouble was, the party, though currently unknown, happened to be in his Lord�s own inner circle.
He needed to get to Hunter�s side and stay there as much as he could. Or at least let Hunter know he was in danger. Maybe then he would allow Nim to set up a mobile guard, discreet but able to come to their Lord�s defense if needed.
Nim was ten feet away from Hunter�s back when he was interrupted.
�Nim, walk with me.� Lady Armenia ordered as she linked her arm with her husband�s head of security and began leading him away.
Nim had no choice but to follow. �As my Lady commands.�
When they were directly in the middle of the section marked off as the dance floor, Armenia posed as if for a dance. Nim graciously began to lead, suddenly curious as to what the devil was up to, and why a dance was necessary.
�We have to look like a dance is all we�re doing.� Armenia explained to his unasked question. �Keep your expression blank, Nim. I�m going to tell you something that might alarm you.�
Nim doubted that. Unless the Lady was confessing her undying love for him, nothing could surprise him at this point.
�My husband�s consort is trying to get him killed.� She whispered, eyes trying to convey the seriousness of her plea. �Nim, you must protect him!�
The only sign he gave that he heard her was the brief tightening of his fingers on her waist and hand. �Lady, tell me what you know. And tell me, who is this consort?�
Lady Armenia wanted to squeal in joy. So Nim HADN�T heard? Double joy, double joy! But she stayed true to the character she was playing. Her lips thinned and her skin paled a shade or two. �You. . . don�t know? The. . . the scandal. . . I thought someone told you!�
�My Lady, I was not privy to such knowledge.� His spine might have stiffened straighter a notch or two.
Armenia wanted to curl into a grin and sharpen her claws. �Davey, the server, Nim. Davey is Lord Hunter�s consort, my husband�s lover.� She watched with pleasure as dark storm clouds consumed his eyes. His grip on her was bruising, but she was too happy to make him stop.
�Davey,� Nim whispered in disbelief, �Hunter�s. . . consort? His. . . lover? Little Davey?�
�Not so little, as Hunter is quite fond of boasting,� Armenia allowed a little of her resentment to leak out. �As is the King. It�s his father�s will to see his son�s consort again that Davey�s even here. And with my clothes, no less!�
Nim stopped staring at Davey and shook his head. He looked at Armenia with surprise and relaxed his death grip. �My Lady, please, forgive me. You have a terrible misfortune to learn of your husband�s choice of bed mates.� He paused, but only briefly, �But, my Lady, why do you think Davey would try to kill Hunter? I�ve known the man since he was but a lad! He�d never hurt a fly.�
Armenia noted Nim�s continued glance and sneer of disgust faintly tracing his lips as he continued to search out Davey as they danced. Already her seed of suspicion was growing. �Oh, no doubt, Nim, no doubt. You of all people are a better judge of character than anyone else alive. But, what if Davey were doing it without knowing? Twice, I�ve come upon Davey speaking very closely with Jade, Hunter�s brother. I�d like to think this was all just a coincidence, really, but. . . Nim, I�m worried.�
Nim frowned. �At what, my Lady? Davey is. . . Lord Hunter�s. . . consort. Jade wouldn�t. . .�
�Wouldn�t he?� Armenia pleaded. �Wouldn�t he try to go for what he can�t have? That holy man with him? He couldn�t have him so he took out each one of his order until there was no one left to oppose him. Wouldn�t he do the same for Davey? If he really wanted him?�
And Nim, as she knew, turned to look over at the server. He glanced around and finally spotted Jade not too far away, eyes glued to the cook. His eyes narrowed as he began summing up Jade�s manner. Yes, he did in fact look like he was quite interested in the cook. But. . . Davey. . .
Nim turned back to Armenia. �I see his interest in Davey, but have you any proof, my Lady? Proof could mean a lot at this point. Catching it before anything bad could happen.�
Armenia sighed. �No, not yet. Just. . . well, snatches of conversation before they knew I was there. Just key words that made me think they weren�t talking about food. And, Nim, a maid stationed near the North Tower tells me Davey goes everyday and spends hours there. Now, he says he�s there to speak with that holy man, but what if that was just a cover while he and Jade. . . got together under Hunter�s very nose?�
Nim�s brow knotted in thought. �Does he go with someone, or by himself?�
�Alone, always alone.� Armenia turned worried eyes to her husband. �Nim, I don�t think I�m ready to be a widow yet. I don�t think I�d have any purpose if I should lose my husband so early.�
Nim, as any chivalrous man behaved at the time, gave Lady Armenia a reassuring pat. �Don�t worry, My Lady. I shall see to it that your husband leads a long and prosperous life.�
�Oh, thank the heavens for you, Nim, thank the heavens!� Armenia leaned into him briefly before they parted at the end of the dance. She walked slowly away, not bothering to glance at Nim or else he�d see her broad, gloating smile. Time to find that cousin of hers.
***************************
�I�ve. . . never seen the circus.� Adam admitted as they walked past the tightrope performers. There was one person attempting to balance across the rope holding a long pole while balancing two other performers on his shoulders.
Davey watched with awe, then looked at Adam with an equal expression. �Me too!� he exclaimed, then grabbed his hand and dragged him further on. �Oh, I�ve only HEARD of half these things! Do you really think that woman is half snake? Oh, but of course she is! Look at that tail! Ooh! And that fire eater! A FIRE eater! Imagine what his tongue must feel! Oh, I hope Hunter sees that!�
He�s like a little kid, Adam thought. Who on earth would ever try to hurt this guy?
But he knew who would. The very man who was watching them both closely this very minute. The man who continued to follow them around the room of odd spectacles. Jade.
Adam glanced up and saw his captor now only feet away, a familiar glint to his eyes and the brief flicker of his tongue over his lips. He wouldn�t dare, Adam thought, not here, not in front of the kingdom�s entire nobility.
But Jade continued to walk forward, making Adam nervous by the second. �Come on, what�s over there?� He pulled on Davey�s hand and led him away. Where they were going, he wasn�t sure. Trustingly, Davey happily followed and spotted something on the way.
�Oh, Adam! Look! A white tiger!� Adam looked where DAvey was pointing and watched the tiger pace around the inside of his gold trimmed cage. A jewel studded color circled his neck and the leash tethering him to the bars was made of strong silk. Adam felt briefly jealous. . . then felt the need to hit himself for being jealous over collars.
�Do you think. . .?� Davey began, but his thought was lost as the tiger�s handler jumped on top of a stool.
�Come one, come all!� the man with the large mustache crowed into the crowd, �see the white terror of a thousand lands! The menace of the wild! Man killer of distant jungles never seen by the naked eye in broad daylight! I give you, ladies and gentlemen, Sharp Fang! Wildest, most vicious animal you will ever see alive!�
The little man unfurled a whip and sent several loud and somewhat outlandishly displayed cracks into the cage. The tiger took the hits and roared fiercely back. Adam frowned and looked around. Ah, that was why!
Lord Hunter and King Dioden stood not two feet from them. The King was watching the tiger fearfully, but Hunter was actually watching Davey closely. The cook, though closer to hunter than Adam, was watching the little man whip the tiger in shock and horror.
Adam felt a small twinge at the back of his mind. He turned and looked at Jade, who stood just on the other side of the audience ring. They met eyes and something clicked in his mind. No. . . wait, the click wasn�t in his mind. . .
A female shriek from within the crowd brought Adam�s and Jade�s attentions forward again. Perhaps the little man had whipped the poor beast one too many times, or he underestimated the strength of the cage. Either way, the white tiger had had enough. The door of the cage must have been the click Adam heard because it now hung crookedly on its last hinge. And the tiger was now making his way out.
Sounds of alarm, yelling and screaming, brought to Adam�s mind of that horrible day his entire brotherhood was slaughtered. Panic overtook him and he spied Jade. Jade, death incarnate.
He looked behind him and saw he wasn�t the only one to freeze. Davey was watching, eyes vacant and mouth open in shock as the tiger began to move about, heedless of the little man with the mustache cracking his whip anxiously. Someone had pulled the King back to safety, he saw. But there was Lord Hunter, standing next to Davey.
Hunter looked up and met the cold glacier gaze of Adam. The holy man watched the lord�s eyes widen as he then looked at Davey. His Davey, just as close to the tiger as he himself was.
�Davey!� Hunter cried out and began to reach over to pull his lover back from the tiger�s area. But his hand stopped in midair. Someone was pulling him back.
�My Lord!� Nim, not at all surprisingly strong, pulled Hunter back and began driving him to follow the scampering crowd of nobles. Hunter fought frantically, but he knew he wouldn�t be free of Nim in time to rescue Davey. The tiger would have him by then.
*****************************
Davey watched the events unfold through vacant eyes and a strange detachment. He knew he was in danger, heard his Lord call to him, but he just couldn�t quite bring himself to take his eyes off the large, rotating circles of amber of the white tiger. They almost seemed. . . intelligent.
Someone, he was sure it was Adam, managed to grab him by the waist and haul him back. But the movement caught the tiger�s attention. It sniffed the air, once, twice, three times to make sure. He reared back on his haunches and turned those amber eyes at Davey. Acknowledgment. He knew who Davey was. He knew what Davey was. Davey, it seemed, was food.
Davey sucked in breath. Adam continued to drag him backward, but Davey knew that wouldn�t matter. The tiger was faster than anything anyone of them had ever seen. Davey knew this beyond a doubt. He was going to die.
Hunter saw the tiger�s reaction, saw him crouch low, eyes on his consort, and knew what the animal was about to do. Even as he heard it begin to snarl, Hunter dodged past Nim and hurried over, half hoping to distract the beast.
�No!� Hunter cried out, running forward. But the tiger only gave him a glance before it continued to stalk Davey.
�Hunter! Your safety!� Nim cried out as he and two other guards managed to haul him back.
�NO!� Hunter cried out desperately as he watched the tiger gather itself. A pause, then it bounded after Davey.
�DOWN!� a great roar to match that of the tiger sounded in the quieting hall. Even the tiger took notice and seemed to hesitate. Jade strode boldly in front of it and began cracking his whip, not to flick lightly about the tiger�s mouth, but to land thick, hurtful slashes that got past the thick fur.
The tiger whined and growled but had to admit Jade�s dominance. It backed up, further and further until it moved back into its cage. There, Jade walked over and shut the door, fastening the handler�s whip as a makeshift tie. It held, and when he stepped away, applause sounded like thunder.
�Hooray for the brave man!�
�Thank goodness for Jade!�
�What a hero!�
Unused to such lauding, Jade walked over to where Adam and Davey sat on the ground. Adam had tripped and took Davey with him. Jade held out a hand to each of them and helped them to their feet. Adam looked down and to the side, ashamed of his slow thinking. But Davey�s eyes shone brightly at Jade, face flushed.
�Th-thank you.� he breathed softly, catching Jade�s attention.
And for nearly three seconds in time, Jade felt there was nothing else in the universe but the lean man in front of him. The one with the brown eyes and the faint smile. If he had to explain that look on Davey�s face, he�d had to say that was rapture, if not down right love.
�Davey!� Hunter�s cry broke the spell. Immediately, Jade stepped back from being plowed by his brother. Hunter broke free of Nim and his guards and rushed to DAvey as fast as he could. �Davey, are you all right? Are you okay?� Hunter looked him over carefully.
�Yes,� Davey cleared his throat and smiled. �Yes, Hunter, I�m all right. Thanks to Jade. He was so. . . brave.� He said this quietly, unaware of the impact his words had on his Lord and lover. Instead, he looked back at Jade
Hunter flinched and looked from Davey to his brother and saw a very unwanted thing present. One he had had been so sure couldn�t possibly happen. No, this was HIS Davey, not Jade�s.
But seeing that look, that expression the two seemed to share, Hunter wasn�t so sure anymore.
****************************
Lady Armenia stepped outside and made her way to where the circus was packing up. The ball wouldn�t end until three more hours, but King Dioden�s anger at the handler�s lack of attention to his own animals made Hunter tell the performers to pack up.
Nim was so sure the tiger had almost attempted to take his lord�s life that he stationed himself at Hunter�s side for the rest of the night. This brought disappointment to both Davey and Jade. Nim�s glaring made the cook uncomfortable as he stood with Hunter�s arm constantly around him, and Jade became annoyed that the cook was hardly paying him attention.
Lady Armenia, however, couldn�t have had it any better. She smiled as she met her distant cousin near the tiger�s cage. He saw her coming and stroked his mustache.
�Did you like Sasha�s performance, Armie? You know, it took only four hours for her to attack the apron you sent us.� He smiled smugly at her.
She matched his expression. �It was, how should I put it? Absolutely beastly!� They shared a laugh, and under the darkness of the night, Armenia paid her confidant handsomely for the involvement of his white tiger. After that, she turned and walked back into the ball, her plan developing exceedingly well.
*****************