Mac Tire � Son of the EarthPart 24 - Second BestDom closed his eyes, and allowed Ede's hands to roam over his flesh. If he closed his eyes, he reasoned, he could think those hands were Lij's. But Ede's hands were large and soft and gentle whereas Lij's hands were tiny, hard and urgent. Ede took him in her mouth, and he rose at her ministrations. He was only human after all. To save his Lij, there was no sacrifice big enough...even the sacrifice of losing Lij's love. His Lij must live. Dom felt Ede's breath quicken as she lowered herself onto his hardened cock. He marvelled that his body responded but his heart was not part of this. He could do it if all it involved was rutting . "Put your hands on me, Seaneen!" came the urgent gasp from above him as Ede rose and fell upon his body. He obliged her. It was little enough to do to keep her happy...and Lij alive. As she writhed and screamed his name in her ecstasy, his mind held in place a picture of Lij kneeling by the Great River at home, praying to the Nile gods to favour the land. Lij rose and turned to him, his hand outstretched, and as Dom came inside Ede it was Lij's face he saw, even if he was wise enough to keep the name from his lips. Ede snuggled into Dom's side. "There's a good boy!" she murmured into his neck. If she wants a performing dog, then that is what the bitch will get! Dom thought, as he tried to empty his mind of what had just passed between them. Then, to his great surprise, he fell asleep. * Cormac gasped as Lij kissed him. He opened his mouth to speak, and Lij's tongue invaded it. "Oh!" he managed as Lij tweaked a nipple. "Do you not like that? We shall learn together what you like." Lij murmured, kissing the side of Cormac's neck until the lad was a quivering mass. "Um, Lij...I...I have not...I am...I do not know what to do to please you!" was the low- voiced confession. Lij stopped to look his friend in the face. "Have you never lain with a man, Cormac?" The young man shook his head. "No, not with a man. I never wanted to until I saw you. But you will help me. I want you, Lij. Show me what I should do." Lij sighed. He would be gentle with his friend and lover. He felt protective of his youth and inexperience. Lij decided that this first time would be for Cormac - all for Cormac. His mind raced down the corridors of the keep and stopped outside Dom's door. He impatiently thrust the thoughts away. Dom had made his choice, and he was bound by the consequences of that choice. He was Ede's spouse now. Lij turned his attention to the young man writhing under him. He kissed and licked his way down Cormac's body and took the lad's cock into his mouth. His heart skipped a beat, for it was not Dom - the taste was not Dom. Dom had been the first man he had ever kissed...the only man he had ever kissed, except the dying Nekeb, until now. Dom's, the only cock he had ever had in his mouth. Dom - all he had ever desired or needed over the past nine years. And Cormac tasted of himself. Lij felt the tears gather again as his tongue and lips worked their will on the trembling man, and when he came in Lij's mouth, he could not bring himself to swallow, but discreetly spat out the liquid onto the sheet and wiped his mouth. Cormac was overcome. He sobbed into his arms folded across his face, and Lij gently took him in his embrace and cherished him. When Cormac had recovered, he asked shyly if Lij would mind if he did the same for him. Lij nodded, remembering the first time Dom's mouth had encircled him. Cormac was untutored in the arts of love, but Lij softened as the eager face lowered to his groin and he was taken in. No, it was not Dom, but he came all the same. His body responded. Lij realised with a start that he would not be continually thinking of Dom as he held Cormac, for the Dom in his heart was as the sun and Cormac was a tiny star shining in a dark corner by comparison. Lij breathed a sigh of relief. He would love Dom forever - but this...this boy...he would have him, and cherish him. He was used to having someone in his bed who loved him above all others. Now he had Cormac and the boy would be a solace to him. They rested quietly in each others arms. There was plenty of time for more even though it would never be the same� * Brian had brought the shoes to Orla, who squealed with delight when she saw them. They were made of soft brown leather, and fastened with small buckles Gronya had given Brian off an old pair of her own shoes. "There!" said the guard, as he stood back to inspect his handiwork, and Orla waggled her feet around in approval. "I shall make you another pair for indoors, my dear. You shall have them soon." Orla invited the man closer for a kiss and he blushed as he bent for her embrace. She looked at him carefully, and then sighed. I can trust no one but Lij! "Do you know where Lij is, Brian? I need to sp...see him. I miss him, I do, so." Brian shook his head. "No, little maid. I do not know where he may be." Orla's sense of disappointment grew. If she could not tell Lij what she had heard, she would tell no-one. She knew Ede only too well. Silence was best at times like these. As Brian and Gronya left the room, they were beckoned into another by a harassed Ultan. He wasted no time coming to the point. "Brian reports that Ede is searching for Orla. Neeve says she is in a right fury because she is missing. No-one apparently brews her tisane to her liking...only Orla. Gronya..." he said to the frowning woman, "you must take her to your cottage in the wood, Dom says. Lij has a fondness for the child and Dom would protect her...well, you understand, I know. I will send six men with you. I wish I could send Brian or Cassawn, but they would be missed. Go now - as soon as it may be accomplished!" Within the hour the small cavalcade left Tara and headed for Gronya's woodland retreat. * When Lij and Cormac were roused by the servants bringing food and hot water, Lij was in no way disconcerted that the servants had found him in Cormac's bed. It did not matter to him what the servants - or indeed, anyone else - said of it. He was, after all, a free man, now. Free to choose for himself. Cormac was of course not his first choice. But as Dom had spent the night in bed with his wife, Lij had felt no compunction in staying with his chosen partner. After breakfast Lij borrowed one of Cormac's woollen robes to wear. It was too long so he hitched it up under the belt Cormac handed him, and they went together to his room. Lij found Cass waiting there. He stood as the two men entered. "The Lady Ede came in before they left for the Hall, Lij. She has asked that you remove from this room, which is traditionally given to the queen." Lij nodded. "I will gladly move elsewhere. Where do they propose I go?" He sat down, and Cormac sat beside him and reached for his hand. Cass saw the movement but wisely gave nothing away on his face. So that is how the land lies, is it? he thought. At least it is better than Lij moping alone. I wonder what Dom thinks of it? "The lady said she will send you a new servant shortly, who will show you to your new apartment. The man is meant to replace Nekeb." Lij shrugged. "So be it." Cass thought it wise not to mention the crown he had brought back from Nekeb's grave. Dom had removed it and taken it into his own quarters, ordering Cass to say nothing of it to Lij as yet. He was not going to question the Ard-Ri, whose face had seemed to be carved in stone, so cold and forbidding was the expression on it when he entered the room to find Lij no longer there. He just replied that he did not know where Lij had gone when Dom had asked him. Ede, entering behind her husband remarked that Egypt had spent the night in Cormac's room. Dom's expression became, if anything, harsher. "Invite him to attend us in the hall when he appears," said Dom, leaving the room. He held the door open for his wife who smiled at him gently before leaving. Lij changed his robe for another one of a more suitable length. Cass smiled as Lij pulled off the one he was wearing which was manifestly too long for him. Cormac looked at his new partner with glowing eyes as Lij changed his clothing. He was unconcerned at being naked - it was nothing new to him. Being naked was as natural as being clothed, but he could not help but blush a little when he saw the adoration in Cormac's eyes as he gazed at his naked body. There was a knock at the door and when Cass opened it, he found the dark haired Phoenician standing there. "I think it is your new body servant, my lord," Cass said, the corners of his mouth turned down. But he allowed the man to enter. He was tall and handsome and his black hair hung below his waist in ringlets. Lij nodded as the man rose after prostrating himself. "I am yours to command, Great Egypt," the man lisped in Lij's native tongue. Lij frowned. "Speak so that my companions may understand you. It is rude to do otherwise. When we are alone you may speak to me in my mother tongue. I miss doing so, I must admit." The man bowed low. "It shall be as you say, Great One." "And stop bowing at me, man. I'm sure the Lady Ede has sent you here for her own purposes, but you need not lard me with praises here. My lord will be sufficient." "Yes, my lord." The man stifled an impulse to bow, so great it was. Cormac stared at Lij. So this is how a king should behave, he thought, gleefully. Lij looked down his nose at the man, and the servant picked up the discarded robe. "I shall have this returned to your rooms, Lord Cormac," the man bowed in his direction. Lij took Cormac's hand. "Come, we should go to the Hall. The king awaits us, and we should pay him our respects, however tardy they may be." Lij smiled at Cass and, ignoring Porphyry, went to leave the room, indicating that Cass should join them. Suddenly he turned. "Is it your real name? Porphyry?" The man nodded. "Yes, my lord. My father was overseer of the mine, but is a common enough name at home, besides that fact." Lij frowned. "It is a ridiculous thing for a man to be named after a vase," he stated baldly as they left. The man bowed low to the empty air. "As you wish, Great Egypt," he murmured quietly. The doors to the Great Hall were shut. The three men paused outside them. Both Cass and Cormac cast an anxious eye at Lij, but were reassured that he seemed composed. Neither of them realised that being a king entailed a great deal of acting, and that Lij was very skilled at his art, having honed his talents over the years. So neither man realised that Lij was quaking inside. That his stomach was churning, that he was sweating. He seemed composed and serene. He nodded to the guards who opened the doors, and slowly they walked in - Cormac falling behind Lij to walk beside Cass. Little did his new mate realize that Lij had not even noticed that he had moved from his side. His gaze and his attention were riveted upon Dom, who sat enthroned, crowned with a simple gold band, beside his new wife. Dom made as if to rise but Ede clamped her hand on his arm and hissed, "You will not! Who is king here?" He remained seated. Lij bowed before the throne - the greeting of one king to another. "You should kneel and swear fealty to your king," said the silken voice from beside Dom's throne. Lij looked up into steely eyes. "I am Egypt." he said firmly, meeting Ede�s frown. "I swear fealty to no-one. I am god, and owe my allegiance to no earthly man. Pray excuse me, Ard-Ri," he continued shifting his gaze from Ede to Dom at last. Dom looked angry, but Lij could not determine why. "You are excused this act," Dom loudly proclaimed so that the gathering of lords and kinglings could hear clearly, "as you are not of this land nor of these peoples." Cormac came forward and knelt by Lij's side. "I wish to swear. I beg you will forgive me for not being here to do so yesterday, but I was urgently occupied elsewhere." Dom's face softened. "For that I thank you, son of Ede." He looked carefully down at Lij. "You are well, now, Egypt?" Lij nodded. "I am well, Ard-Ri. Thank you for your interest." Dom's eyes flashed. "My interest?..." He pulled himself together with an effort. Cormac still knelt at his feet. "You may swear the oath," Dom spoke clearly, fixing Cormac with his eyes as the lad stared up into his. "I, Cormac, son of Ede, do become your liege man of life and limb and of earthly worship..." Lij heard no more. He was focused upon his former spouse completely. He saw the firm purpose in Dom's face, the intent to do good, and the sacrifices he had made to this end all written for all who could interpret them to see. Although Lij did not understand why Dom had done this thing, he did understand that it came with a price. And the price was him. Lij was glad Ede was sitting beside her husband and could not see the look that came over Dom's face as he looked into Lij's eyes. For Dom was giving Lij the look that he had tried to give him the previous morning as he told Lij of his forthcoming wedding to Ede... and his face was full of love. As Dom allowed Cormac to kiss his hand, Lij wished that those were his lips pressed so firmly on Dom's fingers. He sent the thought away. By the time Cormac had risen to his feet, Dom�s look of love had gone, and Lij was left staring, at the High-King of Erin. He spoke loudly for all the gathered nobles to hear. "I offer you, Sean-Adomnan, and your Lady Wife my congratulations upon your crowning and upon your marriage. I pray you may grace your throne for many years and govern the peoples wisely and fairly as you did your princedoms in Egypt. As the smallest of them was bigger than your whole kingdom here, you should find it a task for which you have already gained admirable experience. May the gods bless your union and your life together. As ours was blessed he thought, as Dom's eyes shimmered with tears. Lij felt Cormac's hand tentatively grasp his, and realised he was trembling, and that his partner could feel it. "I beg you will excuse me, now, my Lord. I must make preparations to remove to my new quarters and to prepare to leave these lands. A soon as the trader comes from Phoenicia, Cormac and I will leave for Egypt." Dom's face grew, if possible, even paler, but he said nothing. It was Ede who erupted. This was not part of her plan. "You cannot take my son from me! He is mine! I forbid you to do so!" She went to rise, but it was Dom who stayed her as she had stayed him, by pressing her arm to the chair. She remembered where she was. "I am a man, now, lady, well past the Age of Choice. I can do as I will, and I choose Egypt for my partner. And I will go with him wherever he goes." Cormac glared at his mother with fury. All his life he had done as she wished, but now he realised the time had come when he could choose for himself. Dom nodded his assent. "It is well. I applaud your choice," he said in a thin, cool voice. Lij was furious. How dare Dom condescend to Lij's new partner in such a manner? Lij reached up his hand and caressed the side of Cormac's face with a gentle hand. "Come, my love," he whispered to Cormac for Dom's ears alone. The two men bowed to the thrones and left the room. Outside the doors, Cormac breathed a sigh of relief. "Phew! Well, that went better than I had hoped," he said on a hesitant laugh, for Lij seemed, for some reason, incandescent with rage. Cormac put his hand on Lij's shoulder. "Have I displeased you in some way, my lord?" Lij controlled himself with an effort. "You? Cormac, you are a calm oasis in a world gone mad. How could you displease me?" Cormac blushed. "I do not know what an oasis is, but it is my desire to please you in every way, Lij. I am yours, body and soul, if you will take me." Lij smiled at the anxious man as they made their way along the empty corridors. "I will take you. Come, let us go back to bed and you shall discover delights there beyond your dreams. To lie with a man is nothing like lying with women. Will you let me lie with you in this way? Show you what will best satisfy me - and allow me to find what satisfies you?" Cormac nodded. He licked his lips tentatively, his cock rising at the thought of Lij entering his body. "Yes, if you please." It was perhaps well that Cormac was not looking at Lij, for his face still bore an angry yet determined look. "Oh, it pleases me. It pleases me very much!" said Lij as they entered Cormac's room and bolted the door behind them. |