Page 53

But Perl does think of it. And he lets himself entertain the most foolish of dreams. Dreams that perhaps one day, when his duty is done, when his old mistakes are forgiven, when Ur-Durik is defeated and they are far from here.

Perhaps then he will kneel before Kerik. He will wear a suppressor and will let Kerik use his strength to subdue him, take him, use him.

As they go about their business in Vylenor — Perl attending court and Kerik walking behind him in hip cloth and collar — Perl can feel a crackle of tension between them. Kerik is still angry about Perl’s rejection. He hides it, but it is still there, a low simmer. Kerik Darekul, Perl thinks, is very good at hiding things.

The fae of the Ice Court delight in seeing Perl in the halls of Vylenor with Kerik behind him. Many of them laugh and make bird-like chirruping sounds.

Perl isn’t sure what it is about the nineteenth or twentieth sniggering fae who makes a bird sound at Kerik, but Perl doesn’t even think when it happens. He finds himself spinning around and shooting a charge of magic right at her. It sends her flying backwards, landing heavily against the wall on the other side of the hall.

Kerik looks at Perl in shock. “What was that? You didn’t have to do that, I can defend myself.”

Perl shakes his head. “No you can’t. Not here.”

Kerik looks at Perl cockily. Across the room Perl can see a crowd of fae helping the fallen courtier to her feet. “Teach me that spell then. I’d like to be able to do that.”

“Even if I taught you, you could not do that here. You must allow me to do it on your behalf.”

Kerik puts his hands on his bare hips. Full of proud fury. “Why?”

Perl rolls his eyes. “You know why…” Perl begins, his voice drying as Exeinil glides over. Perl’s heart sinks.

Across the hall the fae courtier is on her feet but she clutches a hand to her face.

Exeinil looks to her then back to Perl. “Oh, Perlash,” she says, all sweet dismay. “Ermai was a pretty one. I’ve been saying I ought to make a law that it’s a crime to use those spells on pretty ones above the neck. “

“She was mocking my thrall,” Perl says. “An insult to me.”

Exeinil sighs. “I suppose it is sweet to see you like this. So devoted. I am happy that you have found someone who is truly able to show you how you can be.” She looks to Kerik. “You must be a very fine thrall indeed. A rarity among mortals.”

Kerik nods and says, sweetly, “Thank you, your majesty.”

Exeinil claps her hands and looks at Kerik as if she finds him quite charming. Perl supposes that he is. Or he can be. Or he knows when to use his charm to bewitch someone.

Exeinil claps her hands. “So, as your blood is up defending your thrall, Perlash, why not let yourself take some pleasure. Let me see the two of you together. Command it to pleasure you on its knees.”

Perl’s heart sinks even lower. “Grand Majesty, I would prefer not to”

Kerik is close to Perl, close enough that Perl can hear him when he murmurs. “Just do it. Tell me to do it.”

“No,” Perl says quietly. Then louder, addressing Exeinil, “What I do with my thrall is my own choice. I prefer not to show him off in public while his obedience is under a test. I would not wish all the fae here to see just how skilled he is with that pretty mouth. They may try to sabotage him in order to get the chance to claim him for themselves.”

This answer clearly pleases Exeinil who smiles indulgently at Perl, then reaches out and strokes his braid. “My covetous one. You know there were many who thought I should not take you as my ward after your siring was so repellent, but when I see you like this, I am so happy I defied my vile sister to keep you.”

“Yes, Grand Majesty,” Perl says, feeling an old pain twist around his heart. Exeinil has not mentioned the sacrifice she made for him until this moment. He had been hoping she would not, but he knew that was a foolish hope.

He dreads the thought she will say more about his siring, his parentage, what it brought to all of them. He needs to get away from this hall as soon as he can. He lifts his chin and says, “But now you have made me think of it, I will take my thrall back to my chambers as I have a thirst for how this mortal sucks me.”

Exeinil laughs “Oh, be off with you then. Go enjoy your mortal thrall. But you have given me my own thirst to see you commanding it. We will set the next test for tomorrow.”

As Perl drags Kerik down the corridor back to his chamber, Kerik says, “You don’t have to come up with so many schemes and excuses. Surely it's easier if I simply suck you. I am perfectly capable of getting on my knees and letting you use me.”

As they reach the chamber and Perl opens the door, he says, “It’s not what I want.” He bundles Kerik inside.

“No. It isn’t.” Kerik smirks as he sits himself on Perl’s bed. “You’d rather be on your knees. I remember your face when you knelt. You think you can hide what you are. What you want. You can’t.”

Perl swallows. Kerik has not brought up that shameful event before now and he was hoping he would not do so. Another foolish hope. There are too many shameful things in Vylenor he tries to ignore. “You wanted to learn magic,” he says. Diverting Kerik in the simplest way he knows.

“Now?” Kerik’s face lights with pure excitement. It’s really too delightful. “Will you teach me what you did to that faerie in the Ice Hall?”