Page 48

Harok turns around and stares blankly at Tobi.

“Things would be easier if we could speak to each other and you weren’t such an angry beast,” Tobi says, a little more calmly.

“Beast?” Harok says.

“Yes, beast,” says Tobi. “Animal. Boar. Daedon.”

“Daedon?” Harok replies, throatily. “Irgorye, daedon?”

“Daedon?” Tobi remarks in surprise. “You know that word?“

“Daedon,” Harok says again. He makes a snorting noise like a pig.

“Yes. I think it is a kind of pig. You are being a daedon.”

“Daedon,” Harok says, ”Irgorye ei ai daedon.”

“Sho,” Tobi says back. He points at Harok. “Daedon.”

“Ei, Suskara,” and then a torrent of Ambolk and, finally, with a long heavy sigh, “Tamello.”

“What about Tamello?” Tobi says. He feels sour, suddenly. His blood is still high, but he hopes he didn’t misunderstand Harok earlier when he thought Harok told him Tamello was recovering. “Tamello ga?” Tobi says.

“Sho,” Harok nods. “Tamello ga.” He pauses, thinking. He says something in Ambolk then, “Irgo ei Tamello.” And then something else in Ambolk.

Ei? Ei means no. What does Irgo no Tamello something mean?

Tobi can only think of one thing it could mean.

“You mean you won’t ride him again?” Tobi says.

Harok looks at Tobi and says again, “Irgo ei Tamello aranion.”

“So,” Tobi mimes riding, swaying as if he is on horseback. “Aranion?” He points at Harok, then mimes the riding again, “Tamello. Ei.”

Harok nods, “Sho, Suskara.” He follows that with more Ambolk, which Tobi assumes is Harok explaining further that he will not ride Tamello again. His voice sounds heavy and sad. As he speaks, Harok crosses from the window and comes to sit beside Tobi, still naked on the bed. Harok’s black leather breeches creak. He takes hold of Tobi’s injured hand again.

Harok nods, then lifts Tobi’s wrist and kisses it.

“I’m sorry about Tamello,” Tobi says. Wondering if Harok somehow blames him for Tamello being injured.

Harok looks at him. “Sho,” he says, “Priss.” he kisses Tobi’s wrist again

Tobi sighs. He thinks Harok is trying to make peace. “Sho,” he says heavily. “Priss, daedon.”

Harok nods with a small smile. Tobi supposes this is the best they can do. Harok lost his temper. He was upset about Tamello being too injured to be ridden again. And now he is trying to explain without any words to do so.

Tobi reaches out and touches Harok’s face.

Harok puts his hand on Tobi’s chest. “Kushir Suskara,” he says, then places his hand to his own body. “Irgorye Harok.”

Harok slides his hand up over Tobi’s shoulder and traces a finger down Tobi’s spine. The light touch makes Tobi hiss with pleasure and hiss again when Harok reaches his ass and traces that finger over his hole. “Kush,” Harok says softly.

“Yes, I know that,” Tobi says. “I know kush. Sho. Kush.”

Harok makes a soft sound. With his other hand he takes Tobi’s wrist. Tobi winces. His wrist is still tender, but he doesn’t complain as Harok moves it until Tobi is touching Harok’s cock, through his breeches, “Dek,” Harok says. Is this an Ambolk lesson or a reminder about what Tobi is for?

“Sho,” Tobi says. “Dek. I know that one too.” He touches Harok on the chin. “Irgorye. Daedon.”