Mac Tire � Son of the EarthPart 32 - I Am HomeThe early summer evenings were still cool enough to warrant the lighting of a fire that was not necessary by day. Dom brought his lover a goblet of mulled wine, spicy and sustaining, and a few of the sweetmeats the head cook had discovered that Lij enjoyed. Now that Ede was gone the whole keep had a feeling of lightness and gaiety about it, and for the first time since they had all been driven here by Ede's vaunting ambition, there were no servants with whipped backs or creeping along the corridors with a cowed demeanor. The residents of the castle keep had learned in horror that the Egyptian king been held prisoner and tortured by the bitch Ede. Reparation must be made, for hospitality to a stranger was a law written in stone, the breaking of which brought retribution on the poorest head. The man in question was lying on several thick warm furs before the fire staring into the flames, and thinking of home, his children - all that he loved there, and missed. He had stopped trying to make sense of what had happened to him - of Ede and her perverse cruelty, and, ultimately, of her death. Lij knew if the positions had been reversed, and it was Dom who had been chained up in the dungeons, he would have broken her neck whether it was within the law for him to do it, or not. And had he been privy to her thoughts, he would, he laughed inwardly, have killed her long ago. As Dom was the ultimate law in the land, he was both the bestower of death and life, and he had returned life to his love. Lij smiled. He would reward Dom for this gift - he had, after watching him in that dungeon, already decided how this was to be accomplished. But it would be more than a reward, it would be his innermost feelings about Dom shown in a deed that would have had his Egyptian court in an uproar. No such constraints existed there. He was his own master; he could do as he pleased. Dom put the heavy Bithyan glass on the floor by Lij's side and sat in the chair at his lover's feet staring down at him. "Ninus had a revealing tale to tell, did he not?" Dom said softly, unwilling to break Lij's contemplative mood. "We shall have something to say to Menkh when we return. His spy, indeed." Lij looked up; the mood was leaving him, and he smiled at Dom, and nibbled a honey coated nut. "I expect the message he told us Menkh had given concerning him was lost in the shipwreck. After all, there was nothing that was saved in which a message could be concealed..." Dom started. "Yes there was, Lij - I have just remembered something..." Dom went over to the large chest against the wall that held Lij's clothing, and began rummaging amongst its contents. "I'm sure I saw it here when I was looking for your...ah!... here it is!" He held aloft in triumphant pleasure the heavy leather purse Menkh had secretly given to Pen-Nekeb before they left Egypt. "I remember we could not open it. I wonder if we can, now?" Dom struggled to pull the ring off the leather pouch, then giving up in exasperation, slit the bag across the bottom with his knife. Jewels of every colour, size and description tumbled out onto the furs, together with a piece of rolled papyrus, tied shut with a strip of reed. Lij unrolled the document and read it aloud. "The captain is a friend, Great One. Do not hesitate to trust him. He knows who you are and where you are bound. Your life is safe in his hands. His real name is Khyem, and he is a Hyksosian whom I employ as an intelligencer, as well as being a renowned sea master under one of his many names - Ninus. He visits many interesting places and brings news of enemies and friends that is of great use to us. As for these baubles - they might buy you a better passage home than you had expected, should you need extra funds. I trust Nekeb to take care of them, you will only lose them. I am sure it will not be long before he opens this to find out what it contains. He always was a fine snooper himself. Tell him I said so - it will make him laugh. Fare well, and return to us who love you, soon. Your loving servant, cousin, and friend, Menkh." Lij looked up, his eyes bright with unshed tears. "I miss him, Dom. I miss them all. I miss my poor friend, Nekeb...." Dom reached out and touched Lij's hand. "So do I, my love." Lij sat for a few moments in quiet reflection, then scooped the gems up and wrapped them in a linen square he had placed nearby. "I shall give these to Orla to play with. She will find them interesting." Dom gazed indulgently at his life's partner. "They are worth a king's ransom, a stor. Better give some of them to Cormac to put into his crown for the ceremony next week. As you know he has a liking for jewels, and the rest we take back with us, Lij. Who knows what we shall need on the journey home?" Lij nodded. "You are very wise, my Dom. It shall be as you say." "I think the point Ninus made about starting a written history has much taken Cormac's fancy," Dom said, pulling a fur straight so that it did not wrinkle under Lij's back. "It is true what he says - if all the seanachie died during battle or of plague there would be no one to recall a history that has lasted in this land since the dawn of time. My brother said he will begin it in the morning, the night is no time for writing." Lij leaned back on the furs pulling a cushion under his head as he did so, and smiled at the proud way Dom said "my brother". They were much alike, these two men. Lij could see why he had been drawn to Cormac, for much of Dom existed in him, too. "I am tired, Dom. I think I shall soon go to bed." Dom reached over and picked up a small stone bottle that Gronya had provided and which was warming in the hearth. "I will smooth the oil in now, if that is the case." Lij grinned. "Yes, we do not need to have any more on the bed linen. The laundresses must think we do nothing else but mate like rabbits in spring." Dom smiled gently. "If only they knew what the oil was for..." Lij snorted. "Well, I am sure they must guess...no, why should they? No-one who knew what had happened to me would tell of it...come! Sit behind me and smooth away!" Dom removed his clothing and pulling the lawn gown up his partner's body, sat behind him, Lij's back resting on Dom's chest. Dom unstopped the oil and pouring some into his hands, worked it in so that he could better anoint Lij's injured penis. Lij leaned his head into the side of Dom's neck. "This is very comfortable, Dom. Do your worst!" Dom picked up Lij's penis, soft and heavy in his hand, and gently began stroking the oil in, travelling gently around the tip - now without its hood for the first time, and tender - being careful not to press too hard. "It seems so much better, now, Lij. There is hardly any redness left." Lij sighed in contentment and kissed Dom's neck. "I love you, onam cora, have I told you this of late?" Dom kissed the top of Lij's head. "Every day, a hashkeh, as I have told you. No moment is wasted in which we express our love for each other, Lij." Dom's hands continued their work. The skin glistened between his hands and Dom longed for the day when the soft flesh firmed out, and became hard, and entered his body as he longed for it to do. But he would await Lij's pleasure, never mentioning his own need - give Lij time to recover both in body and mind. Lij sighed again, and to Dom's delight he found the soft mass resting in his hand was thickening. Swallowing his emotion he continued stroking until Lij's cock was hard and hot. "Dom..." Lij murmured. "Kiss me, my love." Dom bent his head forward and captured Lij's lips with his own. He shivered as the familiar taste of his lover made his own cock engorge, and Dom twisted Lij round so that their bodies were facing each other. Lij's mouth opened and the familiar heat which never ceased to amaze Dom exploded on his tongue. "Lij!" he moaned, as the soft lips followed a trail over his face and then back to his mouth, sucking in his lips, and making him shiver. He grasped Lij's lithe form in both hands and laid him down on the fur. "Lij, I need you so! Can you?..will you?..." Lij nodded. "I have been thinking of nothing else for several minutes, Dom..." There were very few coherent words between them after this, other than muttered endearments and moans of delight. Dom's hands, never tiring of exploring Lij's beautiful body, travelled over his lover's flesh as if feeding off its softness. Lij's small but agile fingers relearned the hard muscles and toned sinews of Dom's athletic form. "Gods, Lij..." Dom murmured. "Dom...Dom..."came the fervent reply. Lij looked down at Dom's cock, which was twitching now in its need for release. "Lij...please...do not...leave me...like this...I need you..." The words were punctuated by desperate kisses on any part of his lover that he could reach and Lij laughed with delight as he pushed Dom down into the soft fur, and straddled him. "Now? As Lij thrust himself into Dom's body both men gave a moan of delight. There was no other that could compare with this. No-one that would ever satisfy or tempt as they did each other. Lij had a fleeting memory of Cormac writhing beneath him, and realised with sorrow that his former lover was only a form of release for him, was only affection and liking - for this was love, this was desire, this was completion. Lij gazed down on Dom, rapt as he was in the moment of ecstasy and his heart swelled with joy. Dom looking up at Lij's face, the sweat gathered on his brow, the lips shining and damp and quivering with his climax, knew that whatever else happened, love would last for ever. Sickness, disaster, and the ageing of flesh comes to all - but love never faded. Love was a constant thing, as it was at this moment between them. Lij cried out in joy as he came, and Dom, his eyes shut tight against the unbearable light of his partners face, opened them to see the brightness that shone from it as the tremors wracked them. "Lij! A hashkeh!"Dom murmured as Lij's lips met his. Lij's arms twined about Dom's neck as he whispered "My love! My life!" * Cormac had begun his history the next morning, and promised an hour a day at the task. Orla helped him, for she had a very good memory, and the seanachie who was reciting the countries doings smiled at her with approval. In the middle of this labour Dom and Lij appeared with the jewels, and Cormac was delighted to choose an emerald the size of a pigeons egg, and two adamant stones for his crown. "Look, Dom! The colour is the same as the grass on the heath!" Cormac held the stone aloft and the sun glinted on it, bright and pure. Lij said "I remember I had a gem very much like that given me by the Hurrian king..." he stopped dead as he said it, remembering with horror where he had last seen it - on Ede's chest the day they first met her. Abibal must have obtained it somehow from the shipwreck and given it to her. "Lij?" Dom bent over his love who was sitting in the chair the gems spread out before him on the table where Cormac had been writing. "It is well, Dom. A touch of cramp in my leg, that is all." Dom sighed with relief. Lij had gone very pale. He was recovering well, and had been very happy at Cass and Brian's bonding ceremony two days before. Cormac, having been voted into his kingship that morning by the Feis, rewarded them for their loyalty and service with a house on the heath. It was a big house, quite close to the keep. They could retire there in their off duty hours. Orla glared at Lij. "Is no-one going to notice my new gown, then? Ayveen had it especially made for the crowning, but I thought I'd try it out first. Is it not beautiful?" Dom and Lij examined the dark blue velvet gown with interest and Lij chose some bright sapphires and adamants to be put into a necklace for her to wear at the ceremony the following week. Then the couple went down the hill to see Dom's foundlings in Ultan's house. The baby was thriving, and the man was responding to the old healers instructions, received from an earnest Dom, that were helping to eradicate his speech impediment. Dom and Lij had asked Orla if she would come with them to Egypt when they left. Her brow furrowed in concentration. "Will I have to share a room with Titi?" she asked seriously. Lij giggled, and Dom said, grinning. "The palace we live in most of the year is so big that Tara would fit into its kitchens, Orla, " he said, laughing as her eyes widened in shock. "You shall have a suite of rooms as befits the daughter of kings." Orla smiled. "And cats? There are cats?" "There are cats everywhere, my dear - and other animals. Remember I told you?" Lij ruffled the girl's hair affectionately. "I do. I have grown fond of Cormac - but I love you, Lij - and you, Da, of course," she added quickly. "I will come. I will, so." Dom and Lij looked at each other over their daughter's head. No-one there would know her history, except their close family. She would be a great princess, mother of princes, daughter of a god. Life was good. * The day of Cormac's crowning had come. With great ceremony and dignity he accepted the responsibility of the kingdom from Dom's hands, with a smile and a kingly kiss. The minor kings had seen how he has managed affairs when Dom was caring for his injured partner, and even Meath, the dourest of old men, had been hard put to find a censoring word against his new king - but he found one, nevertheless. "He's too thin!" he mumbled. "Kings should be fat and well covered, not look like a scrawny hen only fit for the boiling." Connaught clapped him on the shoulder. "He will fill out, never fear!" he chuckled. Then the steward of the Hall called for silence. The king was speaking. As Cormac spoke of his desires for the kingdom, Dom looked around him from the chair at Cormac's side. His brother had insisted that both Dom and Lij share the dais with him, as befitted kings, and they reluctantly agreed. But Lij had excused himself from the ceremony only a few minutes ago, and Dom was anxiously watching for his partner's return. Cormac finished his speech and patted Dom on the arm. "He will be back soon, brother.." Suddenly the doors opened and the herald came in, an expression of astonishment on his amiable face. "Lord king, the Prince of Galway comes to offer his allegiance to you before the Feis." Dom's brow furrowed. Galway? He did not recollect a prince of that name... "Let him enter," the new king grinned at his puzzled brother, watching Dom's face as Lij entered the door. He was dressed in black leather, a simple silver band adorning his head, his hair plaited Irish fashion, the braids hanging down his back and over his chest to the hip. He wore black leather boots that rose to the thigh, and a remarkable sword of a new metal called steel, which every warrior there envied, hung loosely buckled around his waist. He approached the thrones and bowed politely as one king to another. Both Dom and Cormac had risen and returned the courtesy then sat again. Dom realised he was staring at Lij with his mouth open, so he closed it quickly, as his love was speaking. "I come here, Cormac of Monaghan, to offer you my allegiance and my respect. However, I am Egypt, pharaoh and god, and I kneel before no king. My fealty, therefore, I cannot offer you. Will you accept my friendship and my regard in its place?" Cormac smiled, as he looked around at the gathered nobles. "I accept gladly. It is only right, for you are king of a country far larger than this small island, and your wealth, I understand, cannot be counted. Your friendship and your allegiance we accept." There was a murmur of approval from the minor kings. It was always good to have great kings as allies, never mind how far away they may be. But Lij had not finished. He looked at Dom. "I have a gift I would offer you, Sean-Adomnan, if you will accept it." His eyes burned into Dom's soul and Dom felt his heart leap within him. This beautiful creature was his! Any gift of Lij's giving would be precious to him. "I will accept it," said Dom clearly, as he left the dais to stand in front of his beloved. He held out his hand to receive the gift. He supposed it was a ring or some such jewel made from the hoard that Menkh had given them - but Lij took both his hands in the grasp of fealty and knelt at Dom's feet. Dom was about to protest when he looked into Lij's eyes and saw the love for him shining there. He held his peace. "I, Knefer-Lijedefer do become thy liege man of life and limb and of earthly worship; and faith and truth I will bear unto thee, to live and to die against all manner of folks who may seek thy life. To be with thee in joy and sorrow, in times of plenty and in times of need. To hold thy life as sacred as I hold my own, and to love and protect those whom thou lovest. And I will share my throne with thee as an equal. A king of kings shalt thou become, for my most beloved Great Royal Spouse shall be King of Egypt to rule and reign beside me, and no-one in the land will be preferred by me before thee. All this do I swear." Dom stared down at his love glowing up at him with adoring eyes. "Lij...you cannot..." he whispered, distraught. "Too late, Payankhi of Thebes, " murmured Lij as he rose gracefully to his feet, with Dom's trembling hands between his still. "It is so written. We shall rule together, you and I, for I have seen in latter days how great a king you are." Lij nodded his head as Cormac's new secretary who had written down the edict now brought it to Lij with a low bow, waving it before him to help the ink dry. Lij signed it and sealed it with wax on a small table a servant had brought, and Lij handed the document to his spouse. "That was also a ceremony of marriage, Dom. We are one soul again, onam cora..." Heedless of any scandalised eyes that may have been watching them, Dom gathered Lij into his arms and kissed him. If Cormac felt any distress at the embrace, he hid it well, as befitted a king. * They all stood on the shore. Dom and Lij, Cormac , Ayveen and Orla, Gronya and the host of lords and it must be said, lesser men who came to say goodbye to the former Ard-Ri. They had said their farewells to Cassawn and Brian at the keep, and given each man some of the jewels as a keepsake. "Be faithful to the king and love each other until death, as will Lij and I," Dom said as they left the keep for the long journey to the shore. "We will, never fear it," Cass said, his face pale with emotion. "Fare well, my king." There was a wind blowing inward from the sea. Cormac drew his blue cloak about him. He had given the dawlee instructions that he was to be buried in this cloak, be it never so threadbare by then. Egypt had given it to him - that was enough reason - every one knew it. "Morne sends his regards to you both. He would have come but he is tending an old man of whom he has become fond. I have hopes for him at last," said Ayveen smiling at the group awaiting the boat to come from Ninus' ship. They could see the small boat making its way through the surf towards them, and so took their leave of the three women and the king. Cormac smiled at Lij. "Farewell, Egypt," he said, holding Lij in a warm embrace. "The gods be with you, my brothers," - this to both Dom and Lij who both embraced him fervently for the last time. "You will come to us? You promised!" Dom said thickly. So soon - I leave him so soon - my brother! he thought, sadly. Only the thought of having Lij at his side, and Orla holding his hand, sustained him. Suddenly, just as the crew dragged the boat onto the sand, Orla raised her head. "Look, Da - Lij! There is a black dog watching us further up the beach. See how he stands and stares." The small group looked at the hound, which was big and black and had long pointed ears. Lij smiled. "That is no dog, daughter - that is Anubis, coming to see us board. No doubt he will also be waiting for us on the other side. You must watch out for him." Orla's eyes grew large with horror. "I will not! I shall shut my eyes to his blackness!" Lij soothed her gently, his hand on her shoulder. "He has become our friend, little one. He is no longer the harbinger of death to me - but of life. Without his visit to Dom..." His voice tailed away as the Jackal gave one loud howl of farewell, and galloped fast as the wind into the mist. * They watched the group waving from the strand until they turned away and headed up the beach. Orla stood between her parents and held each man's hand tightly. "It'll be an adventure, Egypt will." she said happily. "And there will be the cats..." The two men smiled down at her. Cats...and a beloved family. ....to be continued in Part Three. Son of Set. |