Remy drew back with a growl. "Come!" He barked. The door opened and a guard stepped in. "Pardon M'lord, but Councillor Escalada wishes to speak with you. He insists his business is urgent."

I looked from the guard to Remy, watching a black look cross his features and then vanish just as quickly. "Show him in." He ordered with a dismissive wave.

As the guard shut the door quietly to go escort the Councillor in, Remy threw his napkin onto the table muttering something under his breath. I continued to watch him, curious. He seemed to have forgotten me for the moment as he rose from the table, tying his robe tighter around his waist. Now he was Remy Lebeau, patriarch and politician. A seriousness had descended on his face.

There was a brief staccato rap at the door, then a tall, proud man entered as Remy crossed the room. "Frederico!" He cried, clasping the man on the shoulders and pulling him into a warm embrace. The Councillor returned his affection stiffly, appearing only to suffer the embrace has his duty required. Then he stepped back with a thin smile.

Councillor Frederico Escalada was a broad shouldered powerfully built man in his 40's, bald with a thin raven mustache. His lips were as thin as the mustache and his chin was sharply angled and lifted in mild distain. He had dark eyes set deep in his head, giving him a sinister look. His nose was aristocratic and slender. Olive complected, he wore a stark white jacket and
pants, reminiscent of military, but with no trimming or insignia to signify his rank. It seemed to deepen the color of his skin, giving him a darker look that intimidated. The way he carried himself with a haughtiness that showed only a cursory respect for Remy's office magnified that intimidation.

When he spoke, his voice was low but commanding, easily carrying out over the room. "I am sorry to disturb you at this late hour M'lord." His tone said otherwise. "But I've been with Ambassador Moliere for nearly the entire day. He and his advisors insist that you have an answer for him in the morning."

"De Marcuso treaty?" Remy inquired.

The Coucillor nodded. "I have tried to explain to them that you have been out of the country this past week. But they clearly do not care."

With his back to me,  I couldn't see Remy's face. But the way he straightened as if to tower over the slightly taller man reflected his anger at Moliere's audacity. "Dey have little right to insist on m'immediate attention in this matter. And little less to negotiate wit'. Tell Moliere dat I will have an answer by tomorrow evening at de earliest. If he's not satisfied by dat, den he may leave and we'll negotiate later on de battlefield. Dey can take deir chances wit' my men already stationed in deir country."

One corner of Escalada's mouth twitched upward. "Very good, M'lord. This ambassador seems to think above his station. Perhaps a threat backed up by force is the only way to handle him and his people."

"D'ccord." Remy put his hand out to receive the papers Escalada held. "I'll look dese over tonight." He sighed. "I'd rather not go to war over a few trifling demands dey might make. Hopefully somet'ing can be arranged."

The Councillor brightened and something of a genuine smile grew on his face and in his eyes. "You know you have the full backing of the Council on anything you decide."

"I know, Frederico. And I t'ank you for dat. I'll have dese read by de afternoon."

Escalada placed a supportive hand on Remy's shoulder. "Don't tire yourself M'lord. You've had a long week. With the Vincenti giving you trouble, you've probably had little rest." Strange to see this man grin, but suddenly he did. "And with your ridiculous rule of taking no slaves with you on your trips, no one to warm your bed and relieve the stress. I wouldn't expect the Vincenti's
to offer a pleasure slave."

I heard Remy snort as I listened intently to their conversation. I kept my head bowed submissively, all the while locking into my memory the information they gave out freely. Moliere, Marcuso treaty, Vincenti, Frederico Escalada, the council. All this knowledge might be put to use at some later date.

Out of my periphery I saw Remy turn a little toward me smiling. "Dis is true. But I've had good reason not to take a slave wit' me dis time."

The Councillor turned a piercing eye in my direction, noticing me for the first time. He arched an eyebrow. "Ah. The rumors are true." He affirmed. "The brother?"

Remy nodded. "I wanted to keep him to m'self a bit longer before the courtiers began pleading for a look."

"Well then, I am truly sorry for disturbing you." I could feel his curious hard gaze on me. An embarrassing flush crept up my skin when he asked, "Is he a virgin?"

Remy clucked and shook a finger at the man's directness. All the same he smiled saying, "Oui. He's been in training for de week. Made it difficult doing business wit' de Vincenti's knowing all de while he was here being prepared for me. But den anticipation is half de fun, non?"

The Councillor laughed. "You have the patience of a saint M'lord." He made a curt gesture in my direction with his hand. "May I?"

Remy stepped back and turned waving his own hand. "But of course, mon ami. Den you can explain to de ot'er councillors why I won' be in attendance dis week." Escalada snorted and the two men walked toward me.

"Stand up, Scott." My master ordered.

I rose stifly to my feet. The sharp sting of pain from kneeling in one position for so long had hardly begun to lessen in intensity. I curled my toes gingerly into the rug and looked at the two men warily. They had stopped just at the end of the couch.

"Come over here, petit." Remy crooked a finger at me.

With a great deal of trepidation and discomfort from my needling calves, I made my way slowly around the couch to the two men. Councillor Escalada's question left me apprehensive. What was Remy giving permission for? Was I expect to pleasure this man in some way?

As I stood there waiting and wondering in a stony silence, Escalada placed an appraising hand on my left arm saying, "Ah, he's fine, Remy. A real piece of work." He held my gaze as if looking for something. "And still not quite tamed. Make sure you don't break all the wildness out of him."

Remy stood to my right smiling with pride. He raised a hand and place a finger between my shoulder blades, letting it drift leisurely down my spine. "Of course not. I appreciate a little spirit." My lips curled slightly in anger and humiliation. They were discussing me like an animal. I was disgusted by their talk. And slightly aroused, which further intensified my rage. I wanted to lash out, but with Remy and the guards so near I'd probably just get Alex punished for my outburst. So instead I drew inward, trying to ignore them. My eyes moved upward and to the left to look over the Councillor's shoulder, focusing on the door.

"You have a keen eye." He praised as his left hand came up to stroke my cheek and push a lock of hair out of my eye. He did not mention the fact that I looked away and not down submissively as I most likely was suppose to do. But then he liked the 'wildness' in me.

"Merci."

I twitched a bit under Escalada's touch. His hand ran along my jaw and then he placed his thumb between my lips to tease my bottom lip down. Immediately, I ground my teeth together as he stepped closer and turned my furious eyes back on him. I wasn't going to suck his fingers, no matter what.

But his fingers only pried open my lips, checking the teeth and gums, assessing me with a trained eye as one would examine a stallion he intended to purchase. When he was satisfied by what he'd seen he dropped his hand to my shoulder feeling the muscle and bone structure. I was sorely tempted to step back from this demeaning inspection, but Remy had placed a warning hand at the curve of my spine.

I endured his kneading and fondling as stoically as I could. My eyes blazed in anger, but I tried to keep my face passive and my hands loose at my sides. It was all I could do not to violently push him away from me. I wanted to take a swing at him and nearly did when he lifted my cock for closer examination. Instead I jumped, falling back against Remy's steadying hand.

Escalada had been speaking to Remy as he fondled me, pinching my nipples to harden them, running a finger around my navel, raking his nails through the hair at my groin. Concentrating so hard on not lashing out, I didn't hear what he'd been saying. But as he stroked me erect I looked into his cruel eyes and his words jolted me.

"Good stock. Very responsive." I snarled. For a moment he mocked me with his look. But then he turned his gaze on my hardening shaft. One hand ran up and down along the sensitive underside, while his other hand grasped my ball sack, massaging the testicles gently between his fingers. I could feel the embarrassing flush of humiliation and arousal further reddening my face. "You really should breed him, M'lord. His children would fetch an excellent price on the market."

Escalada looked over my shoulder at Remy as his hand continued caressing me. As much as I tried to ignore the sensations, my body responded to his touch. I was very close to climaxing.

"You know my interest in breeding. I can see he'd make a marvelous stud. It's my talent. I have an eye for these things. I've produced many excellent slaves at my ranch."

"I've considered it, mon ami." Remy said thoughtfully. I gasped from the warmth of his breath on my ear. I hadn't realized he'd come so near. My hips involuntarily began to thrust as the councillor now fisted my prick. But as a small drop of pre-cum oozed from the head of my angry swollen cock, Escalada pinched hard on a spot just below my sack. I cursed and pulled away ignoring Remy's hand. Before I could get further back, however, Remy grabbed my arm, digging his fingers painfully into my flesh to hold me in place. The councillor chuckled.

"Very responsive."

Remy smiled. "If you ever wish to breed him," Escalada continued arrogantly, "let me know. I have several mares that I'm certain would take to him. Their pedigree is impeccable."

Nodding to the councillor and releasing his grip on my arm, Remy said, "I'll be certain to seek your advice should I ever decide to breed him or his brot'er."

"Ah yes. The blond." Escalada replied. "How could I forget him. He's quite striking. But then I prefer blonds."

Remy laughed. "How I remember, Frederico." He took the Councillor's arm then, guiding him to the door. "But I'm not ready to share my brot'ers right now. I've yet to fully enjoy Scott." I'd stepped back toward the end of the couch when he said this. Looking up at the back of his head I threw him a furious look. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to go over de documents in private."

"Certainly M'lord." Escalada gave a quick leering glance in my direction before bidding Remy goodnight and stepping out into the hallway. I breathed a quick angry sigh of relief as the door shut.