Part Thirteen
Kato had already set his tea brewing and begun to fry up some sausages when Tsuki and Dale came from their room. His pony's packs had already been brought to the door by his Men, along with some bread and cheese, and Kato had also had time to set bread and cheese on the table and bring jam and tableware from the larder. Kato usually kept a lot of preserved foods in his home, even in summer, because he was so often traveling.
Dale and Tsuki took seats at opposite sides of the table. The time they had been gone seemed short for two baths, Kato thought, but then that depended on how well they cleaned and whether they bothered to change out the water or clean the tub after their use. "You seem back soon," Kato remarked. Tsuki and Dale did think him blunt, but Kato knew this was simply his manner; he sometimes observed things about people without trying and that was good for business, but when he did not know something, Kato felt compelled to learn as much as he was able by all means available to him. He was a very curious person.
"Elves are so pure I feel I can bathe in Dale's same bathwater."
Dale laughed.
"This Elf eats the same food that you do."
"Well, I could tell you what I read on Elven nature and immortality in tomes on Dark Art, but it is not proper dining conversation." Kato lit a pipe as Tsuki was saying this. "I could tell you why smoking may not be quite good for your body, for example."
"Smoking is very good for the body," Kato insisted. He swung the pan on the crane out from over the fire and prodded the links with a large fork.
"He let you read about Dark Art?" Dale whispered.
Tsuki nodded, "And necromancy, so I should know what to avoid...though he did not let me read all the tomes."
"You speak of this Wizard often," Kato said, "Were you his apprentice?"
"No. I just lived with him."
"I was not aware that Wizards took on boarders."
Tsuki smiled slightly. "I was his muse." Dale laughed; a good way to put a positive spin on the situation, he thought. Tsuki thought his reply had been true enough, despite the unfortunate ending and beginning of that relationship, he had in-between served as the Wizard's joy and inspiration. "As such, I had some access and allowances that an apprentice would not, and at the same time, lacked some access and instruction that an apprentice would have."
"They you know of magic and Wizardry but are not a member of the order."
"Precisely," Tsuki told Kato. The teapot was put on the table and Tsuki lifted it to pour two cups of tea. He offered the first to Kato, and found the Halfling looking at him strangely. "Pardon. Muse duties included tea service."
"It is a good way to put it," Dale said to Tsuki, though Kato could hear.
"I told you, I was only bothered by those specific aspects, so I do not see why I should not be quite honest about the rest."
"Well, there are some things which we might even be proud of that we keep secret. You know there are things Elves do that they do not often share with those of the other races, unless they know they can trust them."
"Yes. I take your meaning. There are some things that even many Men and Elves would not understand."
Kato laughed. "Do you both realize how transparent your conversation is becoming?"
Dale turned and glared at Kato, "Then if rumors are spread I shall know whose tongue to fry up in a pan."
"Shall we discuss then your strange habit of carrying Orc-style weapons and implements?"
"Only is you really want to discuss why you go through other people's luggage when you think they are asleep or why you must constantly remind us of your many carnal exploits."
Kato calmly sipped his tea. "I do not steal, I am simply very curious, and I have many healthy appetites, which I indulge whenever safe, to avoid them becoming vices which can be used against me."
"Well, in that case, I once was waylaid by Orcs and had opportunity to observe much about them."
"I see..."
"For ten years."
"I should think they would have killed an Elf long before that time."
"If you were an Orc, you would understand the power you would gain in keeping a young red-haired Elf as a living trophy, but as you are not an Orc, I can only offer by way of explanation that Orc-culture is based entirely on domination and acquired symbols of power, strength, and endurance."
"Then it seems to me you have not entirely abandoned Orc-culture."
"Do not press him," Tsuki warned Kato, "he has told you more now and in straightforward manner than he has told most people in riddles over long period of time. You have not really won his trust by any code of Elves or Orcs, but I know Dale believes it safer for traveling companions to have a basic understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. I agree with that."
"It enables one to make the best strategy when problems do arise, or rather, make better strategy based on more accurate information."
"Precisely," Tsuki agreed. "But if your curiosity is not satisfied, ask us what you wish to learn and be satisfied with our answers. If I do find you have gone through our things again, I will take a hand."
"He'll take at least your hand," Dale added.
"I shall consider myself fairly warned," Kato said calmly. "I should like to see some of those things you carry in your saddlebags, but apart from that, let us talk about other things, such as preparations for the remainder of our journey. Do you both have everything you will need?"
"That depends on your plan," Dale said.
"Our plan," Tsuki corrected, "We should plan together. I believe that Dale has what is necessary for survival, as do I, but if some additional goal besides survival is required of us, such as keeping up a disguise for example, then perhaps we shall need a few more items."
"Particular disguises are not necessary, though we should all be prepared to answer casual inquiries regarding our business on the road. I believe it would be best if you both maintained a story of being recently in my employ, perhaps being former mercenaries or wanderers for reasons of your own."
"That should be easy enough. Tsuki was formerly a mercenary in employ of Lords to the south."
"Yes, that is correct," Tsuki agreed.
"Yes, yes, but now I think of it, in certain cities it may aid us if you presented yourself as a Wizard's apprentice, though I do not understand much of the ways of their order."
"Yes, I have been meaning to ask, which Wizards, specifically, employ you?"
"I have, of course, been instructed to not to say."
"I thought as much, but I also thought it would not hurt to ask outright. There are only five or six main Wizards at any time, though each may have various levels of apprentices below them."
"I have only ever seen or heard of three Wizards: White, Grey and Brown," Dale said, "Though it is generally said by those who are not Wizards that there are more and that some people have seen them with apprentice or assistant Wizards."
"But understand, even if you had only seen The White, Grey and Brown, that could conceivably be only one individual in times in which he wore the various robes or many more than three individuals during times they wore those colors. There are also The Blue Wizards..." Tsuki watched Kato to see if he reacted to mention of these, but Kato made no change in expression. "Those two went into the east at some time and generally have not been seen in the west. Even if a Blue Wizard should come to the west, they may not necessarily be the same individuals that left for that region. Wizards go to lengths to hide their true names and to appear unremarkable...as aged men identified by their garments. Whether they choose common robes or ornate ones, they are designed to distract from the features of the person wearing them."
"Well, if there are only five at a time, and you say they can change their robe colors, where do those who formerly wore the colors go?" Dale asked.
Tsuki gave a nod and spread jam on a chunk of bread. "There is much that is not revealed to me, and would not be revealed to anyone who serves a Wizard until they had earned it, but I have read some tomes of lore. The very first Wizards did not originate in this land, they came from elsewhere, possibly the west, possibly some unknown realm. There were only five and they had no followers. This happened many centuries ago. Since that time, their order has been established. In the ages since, some of the Wizards took on assistants, apprentices if you will. These were Men most likely, whom the Wizards deemed, for reasons they are to know, had aptitude and ability to aid them in their work. Though I do not know the order of their ranks, I do know that the colors do signify some rank. It is possible for a Wizard to perform some great feat or experience some profound epiphany that enables him to earn the robes of the next color."
"Yes, but where does the Wizard who wore that next color go?" Dale asked, "Does he ascend as well?"
"I think a Wizard must perish or depart to other lands or take action to divorce himself from the order before he can be replaced, but this is the part the wizards keep secret. They guard the details of these ascensions carefully. It could be that none of the five are still of the original five and that all Wizards are now Men who deemed destined for the order by those previous to them. I know that they do seek those that are destined, because the one I lived with spoke to me of this. I know I am not destined for the order. Two Wizards have confirmed each other on this. But the fact that they speak of this to me tells me that have some way of seeking and finding ones who are predestined for the order. Though, it could as well be that no Wizards are mortal and that each one is assigned his color and dispatched by some greater power."
"So, the five may be Men, or they may be beings from another land, or some mixture of the two?" Dale asked.
"Yes, and we are most likely not to know."
"Before...you said 'or six'," Kato pointed out."
"Yes, because some also count The Black. It is another secret of Wizards whether the Dark Lords of the past were ever of their kind or eternally their enemies. It is unknown whether a Wizard can turn towards Necromancy and Dark Art and simply become The Black, or those Dark Lords ascend along some separate path."
"I have heard that The White is head of the order and that if he should depart or turn against the order or be slain the Grey becomes the White," Kato said.
"Not automatically," Tsuki said. "There must always be some action on the part of the one who ascends. It may be that for a short time there will be no proper Wizard of a certain color, until the next one comes upon the right act that earns their ascension. I do not know what the acts are, only that they exist. I am not certain that all Wizards do have apprentices. The Brown seemed to know the proper rites of ascension for those who are apprentices to improve their rank, but I have not seen him with an apprentice of his own."
"So, which Wizards do you think Kato is working for? He has admitted that to us. It couldn't be The Brown."
"The Brown at present has chosen to work with the Rangers and we have been fortunate, I think, to know him. I really do not know which other Wizards would be involved in whatever intrigue we have become involved in."
"But do you think it could be the one you knew? You said he was The White?"
"I said that eleven years ago he was latest The White. I do not know if he is yet The White or he has perhaps departed or perished. Our contact was severed."
"Then he is no longer among the five," Kato said, "The stories I heard of Wizards ascending involved The White and they happened since the time you mentioned."
"Then, I likely shall never see that one again."
"I tend to think that best," Dale said.
Tsuki nodded. "If Kato will not tell us the why and which of who has given him orders, then we are not to know. Our Orders come from Lord Barad. We are his Rangers to command."
"Yeah, but I suppose I am a bit curious myself," Dale said quietly.
Tsuki made a slight smile. "Sometimes I think you are not the sort to be a soldier. You truly dislike being controlled."
"That is true," Dale agreed.
"So," Kato said, "It seems we are getting to know each other better. It will probably be best if you are less forthcoming with others we meet and confirm my story about hiring you to protect my trade. We will be in town tomorrow if you need anything. It is not an overly large town, but a good size for the north. Less craftspeople than River Forge, but perhaps as many goods, as the town is more dependant on trade. We get good ale and weed from the west and the occasional trinket from the sea."
"I will want some basic traveling clothes if they are available, but I do not anticipate needing anything else."
"I can shop with you, unless Kato has need of one of us?"
"I highly doubt I will be attacked in my own home town."
Dale shrugged, "We have some goods to trade. If the clothes are not to your liking or size, I may advise you on how they might be altered."
"You sew?" Kato asked.
"It's more mending. I know how to fix a lot of things." He stuffed a link of sausage into his mouth.
"And Tsuki whittles?"
"Passes time between battles," Tsuki said.
"Not a muse duty, then?"
"No, though being good with one's hands is."
"I can imagine." For the inference, Tsuki slit his eyes as he looked toward Kato. Dale laughed. Kato ignored Tsuki's glare. "I have no such skills, I can barely cook for myself."
"It is a fine meal," Tsuki said politely.
Kato commented that this was polite of Tsuki and asked if the others would join him in a drink of ale, as he had a barrel in the house.
"One," Dale said.
"Yes, perhaps a mug before bed."
"Just a mug?" Kato said, laughing, "I shall drink a whole pint, maybe two."
"If it is good ale, you do not need much."
"If it is good ale, you should enjoy as much as possible!"
Dale sighed. "A pint then, for me. Some pleasures should be enjoyed as often as possible!"
"I can drink to that!" Kato agreed. He got up from his chair to fill three mugs of various sizes from the tapped barrel in the corner of his great room.
The three toasted each other and the success of their journey and drank. Tsuki did stop at one mug, but Dale drank two pints. He thought he might be able to get the courier drunk enough to relate more details about the mission, but he had no such luck. Kato had a high tolerance for drink and was not a fool. It was comforting to Tsuki and Dale that it seemed unlikely anyone else would be able to take advantage of Kato as they had tried to. Their mission would fail if whatever message Kato carried were made known.
Dale refused another drink. He was plotting in the back of his mind how he might best take advantage of being assigned a room alone with his newest lover. If other Elves knew, they would likely disapprove. If other Men knew, they likely would not understand. Devotion to the same gender was difficult enough a concept to explain to some Men; explaining casual sharing in itself was difficult with some Men; casual sharing between males of different races when there were females available and in which one partner really was devoted to the other but pretended not to be...was something Dale was not certain he fully understood.
To Dale, it seemed life would be less complicated if the strong just took what they wanted from the weak and the weak acknowledged their position and sought to please the strong as best they could while working to attain strength of their own.
Claiming a Wizard as his lover, even one who was not a legitimate Wizard, would have really been impressive. Dale grinned as he thought about it. A Wizard trumped an Elf.
Some remaining urge to display dominance was not why Dale wanted Tsuki. The urge exited and was repressed even as it was acknowledged, and was yet able to influence Dale, but it was not the singular or primary influence involved. There was the fact that Tsuki had offered him medicinal herbs. That showed a will to please and perhaps genuine concern. There was also the threats made against Dale. That showed Tsuki was not going to be dominated against his will. Dale appreciated that. He was working to avoid dominating others against their will. He wished to be better than those that had hurt him and so the 'willing' part was very important to him.
There was also the fact that Tsuki knew Wizardry, and as much as Dale hated Wizardry, he was intrigued by the power of Wizards. He would not mind having one who knew Wizardry on his side. If one could not dream of making a wizard his pet, then being the favorite pet of the Wizard was the next best thing. Ah, or being the equal of one who knew Wizardry, that sounded good.
And the main reason he wanted Tsuki was simply that he was attracted to him. Dale liked the way his eyes resembled moons and the wings painted on his back. He liked the slight sly smile Tsuki made sometimes and the way his hair fell over his eyes when he had been riding. He liked the way Tsuki moved like one who had been dancing with swords all his life.
He liked that most of what Tsuki knew of his past he had not had to tell Tsuki.
He especially liked that Tsuki was devoted to him. If someone was going to return Tsuki's devotion, Dale hoped it was he, though he was not ready yet.
And the kiss. Dale had really liked the kiss, even if it terrified him.
"I want to go to bed," Tsuki announced.
Dale raised his head and swallowed. Tsuki made that slight sly smile.
"I apologize that the bed is so small, I do not know if you will be able to share it," Kato said.
"What makes you think we would share?" Tsuki asked calmly.
"When we traveled, one of you slept beside the other."
"That is true. It is safer that way. If we ever are sleeping at the same time, when traveling, it is lightly. Therefore, the bed presents no problem. I will wake Dale when I need to sleep."
"When we travel and make stops in towns, should we all share a room? I would prefer my own, but I expect you will have to refuse for sake of your mission."
"It would be safer," Tsuki agreed, "Otherwise we might not be able to guarantee your safety."
"I might not want you in the room all the time."
Dale stood up. "Sometimes you just have to give up some things...sacrifice...for the good of others."
"It would look strange if I did share a room...it is not what I would normally do. People would wonder why you were both staying with me."
"Perhaps we will find rooms that are near each other then," Dale sighed, "But if not, we will just have to make do."
"I think Dale could use some sleep," Tsuki said.
"I could at that," Dale said honestly.
Kato watched the Rangers go into the guestroom and silently cursed them for hanging their clothes across their room. He wondered if they would notice anyone watching from the window.
Tsuki pulled the mattress from the bed, the bed did not seem wide or long enough for even one of them to sleep comfortably, but on the floor it would provide some comfort, and there would not be so far to fall if one rolled off the side. Tsuki sat on the mattress as dale came into the room and closed the door. "How long does it take?" Tsuki asked.
"How long does what...take?" Dale peeled off his pants so that he was in a shirt and loin coverings. That was as naked as most people got to see him.
"Sex. Does it take a long time?"
Dale laughed. He sat down on the mattress, near Tsuki and smiled to him. "'Sex' takes not long at all, sharing properly, on the other hand, takes as many hours as you have available."
"Really? Is it so different? Not that I am complaining...exactly."
"Oh, yes. That thing that Men will do casually is all about working toward release as soon as possible, which is not bad, but our deal is that I am not the one you are devoted to and you are not a Man, so that means we must do what Elves would do casually."
"And that means prolonging the sharing?"
"You are an Elf. Yes. It was a lesson I was glad to learn." Dale pulled at the laces of Tsuki's shirt with one hand. "The very best longest times were when everyone was preparing to go to war. There would be long hot baths and massages with perfumed oil and hours of slowly dying in each other's arms...you know what I mean."
"Of course. I am an Elf. I know all about the dying."
"Helps keep the spirit feel young."
"I want to..." Tsuki was thinking that he wanted to do something he had seen Dale do with Gwindor, but he knew it was not proper to refer to Dale's previous lover, even if they had been content to allow him to see. "I want to do it the way that I sit on top of you."
Dale laughed.
"Was I supposed to use more poetry?" Tsuki whispered.
"You said it perfectly, only you have not even embraced me yet. There are a few things we might try first."
Tsuki put his arms around Dale and pet his braided hair. "Share everything with me. Do it...as if we were going off to battle tomorrow and might die."
Dale pressed his lips to Tsuki's throat. "Yes, but gently. We both have to ride tomorrow."
"I have read treatises on the subject. I think our bodies should be quite accommodating to each other's size. Appropriate lubrication would aid matters."
"No Wizard Speech. Give me some poetry and let me take care of such practical matters." Dale fished a crystal vial on a true silver chain from inside his shirt. "It was a gift from the Elf-Lord who rescued me."
"Supple maples of deep purple and darkest red; I have seen your trees."
"That was lovely, Tsuki. More. Please."
"The grey moon rises over the glistening wood; autumn chill brings dew."
"You are so beautiful. Take off your clothes. I will make you feel like a king being sent off to war."
Tsuki pulled off his remaining garments and lowered himself to the mattress. Dale pressed close to him and they expressed passion in every way that they knew, in poetry, in muffled cries of pleasure, in soft caress and desperate grasp. They shifted against each other, though for this night it seemed Tsuki was more often atop Dale. Sometimes he was seated upon him and riding until he found his own balance of pain and pleasure. Other times hunched low, with Dale's arms and legs wrapped around him; he penetrated his lover and sent him into ecstasy.
Dale liked the glow of moonlight on Tsuki's face as it came in through
the window and wanted him to remain above. Tsuki could see the same glow
on Dale's pale Elven skin and he seemed radiant.
Tsuki kissed and caressed every bit of Dale that he was permitted. He
even gave kisses through the cloth of his garments, and received many
similar gestures from Dale. At times they rested, saying nothing, before
turning to each other again. They were at times desperate in their longing,
but never hurried or violent. This night everything was slow and gentle.
And when it seemed they truly had used every available hour, Dale fell asleep. He was not afraid of anything that might happen in the night, because he had been prepared better than many who had gone off to war.
In his own room, Kato lay in his bed thinking that Dale and Tsuki must have removed themselves to some place on the floor, for even lurking outside the window he had seen nothing. But the sounds he heard through the open windows and thin wall convinced him that the Elf and the Man of the East made beautiful music together.
When he woke and found them sharing some joke about a conveniently placed vial of oil as they did their laundry in his great room, Kato thought they did not hide it very well. So contented and happy were they that they could not look upon each other without smiling.
Meanwhile, miles to the east, Gwindor and Gib were also traveling as escort to a messenger. They had been three days on the road between Stone Keep and River Forge, as they had moved slowly with the caravan of pack horses and many other new Rangers. One day and night they had been in River Forge, barely enough time to receive their cabin assignment get a meal and some sleep and then be ordered out again.
They would not even have had opportunity to take their leave of Lenaduiniel if they had not met her as they hiked out of town. Gib had presented a true silver and moonstone ring to Lenaduiniel and Gwindor did not know what to think of that. There had been no promises spoken, but Lenaduiniel had accepted the ring.
They traveled on foot, Gib and Gwindor dressed in green pants and jackets they had been issued. Gib wore a short grey cloak, an ax on his belt and a large pack on his back. Gwindor wore a sword from his belt, had a quiver and bow on his back and carried a light pack consisting of bedroll and a few necessities slung from one shoulder.
Their companion was an Elf introduced to them as Galadhir, messenger in route to a Lord in the south. Gwindor did not question the need for extra protection for the messenger. Even an Elf should not travel alone in these parts, the mountains directly to their east were riddled with caves and mines and had long been known as a haven for Orcs. Gwindor was a thousand years old and he had faced many different sorts of Orcs, and they all hated Elves. He had seen what they might do to an Elf, and killing them was not the worst they might do.
Gwindor's party had been on the road nearly four days since river Forge. They followed the river that flowed in a vaguely southwesterly direction, but did not travel on the trade road along its eastern banks directly. They foraged in the lands along the road or between the road and river. It was safer, Gwindor thought, than making a course more directly south, along the mountains. This road would lead to an even more traveled trade road that would continue south, and the lands to their east were likely populated by Orcs.
Their small company took meals at dawn and dusk and made camp when it was too dark to see far distances. They all agreed it would be better to defend their camp and flee along the road or into the river than to risk walking right into a band of Orcs. To make themselves less likely targets at night they kept no fire and slept in or under trees, using fresh leaves to cover them, to disguise their scent.
Gwindor thought of Dale often. He had asked Galadhir if he might share, but the slight dark-haired Elf had indicated that he was devoted to another. Even if Gib were a Dwarf and could understand sharing, he seemed more interested in Gwindor's sister, and Gwindor was not really attracted to Gib anyway.
When Gwindor was on watch at night, he remained alert, but when he took his turn at rest, he thought of that day that he had said goodbye to Dale and Dior. It was a most pleasant memory, and it terrified him. It had been an experience worthy of a Prince being sent off to war. Every time Gwindor had gone off to war, those he led had died.
It was his curse.