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So objects can contain their own magic. He wonders how such a thing is done. If he had an army could he use magic to imbue their swords with great power?

The same is true of the collar. And the cuffs. Perfectly smooth, with no sign of any hinge or split. They need magic to work and are spelled only to work for Perl.

But Kerik wonders if he can change that. He tries willing them to open the way Perl instructed, just imagining what he wants to happen, but it does not work. He tries again, holding the thought in his head. The cuffs and collar are spelled to open and close for Perl, but he wants them to open and close for him.

It takes three attempts to open the first cuff, stroking it and concentrating. But then with a sharp rush of pleasure along Kerik’s spine, it does as he wishes and he removes it easily, before replacing it around his wrist, smoothing it closed. Then just to be sure that he can, he takes it off again. This time it springs open more quickly, as if once he has connected himself to it, it is easier to make it do as he wills. He does the same with the second cuff, satisfying himself by taking them on and off until he feels quite dizzy and exhausted from it. He puts one silver cuff back on his wrist, followed by its pair and then lifts the collar, opens it with his will and puts it around his neck.

It’s high front is uncomfortable instantly, forcing his chin up. It takes a little adjustment to get the divot in the right place. Once that is done it is almost bearable. But not being able to move or lower his head is too encumbering for dressing, so he takes it off again and sets it on the table.

The clasps seem to have no magic at all, in mechanics, they are identical to similar items Kerik has seen in pillow houses, although the design and heavy encrustation of jewels is far finer than anything Kerik has encountered on a pleasure toy.

He opens one and then gingerly snaps it onto his nipple. The sharp pinch makes him have to swallow a cry, but only for a moment. The pain fades fast and the only effect of the clasp is to make him feel very aware of his teats. It is a little arousing he supposes, as he attaches the second one, but Kerik would far rather see someone else wearing these items. Squirming and gasping as Kerik snapped these cruel toys in place, then licked over the tormented flesh to elicit cries of twisted pleasure and begging for him to stop.

It’s a pleasant thought.

Kerik looks at his wrist cuffs. Spelled to him now. He’s a little aroused by the idea of those too. He likes being the one in control of such cuffs. Like the clasps, he’d like to be the one placing such items on another.

On Perl, he thinks, quite suddenly. And that is a strange thought. Why Perl? He’s not attracted to Perl. The creature is like a man carved of ice.

But Kerik has always liked a test. Liked the fight. It would feel like a triumph to melt that ice.

He stops that thought. Finds himself inspecting it. He has never seen so much as a glimpse of Perl’s body. No part of his skin except his face. Although the outfit he wears makes the shape of it quite clear. But there is nothing about the shape of that body which ought to be unduly distracting. Perl is taller than Kerik by half a head and slender as a reed. His long thighs wrapped in those tight leather breeches might be a little enticing, and his face quite handsome in its cold sternness, but Kerik has seen comelier men.

Kerik pushes his thoughts of Perl aside and tries to concentrate on the immediate.

At that moment, Perl emerges from the dressing room.

Kerik was expecting some grand formal outfit. But Perl seems to be wearing the same clothing he wore before. Kerik looks him up and down and it is only when he looks to Perl’s face that he sees Perl is gazing at him with his pale mouth slightly open.

Kerik sees Perl swallow. He wonders why, before he realises he is naked. Naked excepting the jewels on his teats and the glittering cage around his cock. He grins at Perl and swings his hips, posing a little before he says. “You’ve not changed your clothing.”

Perl waves a hand down at himself. “Incorrect.”

It’s then that Kerik notices what protrudes from between Perl’s legs.

“Oh that is,” Kerik has to bite back his laughter so he can speak. “Those were fashionable at the Rose Court for a time.”

At the meeting of Perl’s thighs is a jewelled codpiece, black like the rest of his outfit and covered in silver studs. Perl swallows. “So the symbolism of it is not lost on you?”

“No. Will every fae be wearing such a thing?”

Perl nods. “Most fae that prefer a masculine presentation will wear one of these for a formal occasion, yes.”

“Then I can only hope my Master chooses to blindfold me for the evening.”

Perl’s face changes. Kerik thinks he almost laughs. He looks at Kerik’s wrists. Then to the collar on the table. “You’ve tried putting on the collar,” he says, nose wrinkling as if he is detecting magic in the air by smell. He lets his gaze move up and down Kerik’s body, but this time not through lust, more of a curious inspection. “And you’ve taken those cuffs from your wrists and put them back on. They were spelled to me. You’ve used magic again.”

“Yes. By thinking about what I want to happen until it happens. Is that how magic works? Surely it cannot be so simple.”

“Oh, magic is not simple at all. Far from it. Most of the fae you see here at court are considered full grown, that means they are over a hundred years old and have spent a century or more learning magic. There are many rules. Many complications. But at first, yes, one simply uses one’s will. The complications come when there are many wills all trying to control things with magic. But this is the place everyone starts.”

“So everything I will comes true?”

“No. Not at first and then, not unless you intend it to and work hard to control it. You’ll learn to control it and decide when you use it. But at first it will simply take the form of a manifestation of your desires, the energy of your thoughts transmuting into the energy of matter.”

“You say the word ‘simply’ then say a sentence like that.”

Perl crosses the room. “Like every fae, I studied magic for the first hundred years of my life. Our lives are long because magic can only be acquired safely if it is acquired slowly. So things can be complicated for mortals who wish to do it. Do not rush your power. It is never pleasant. And, now you have awoken this in yourself you will need to be careful. No one can see you performing magic outside of this chamber. No one here can know of your power.”