Shielded in Broken Armours
The Hunt. Interlude
The last hunt of the year was apparently going to be another sensation Marzio would not be allowed to miss during his stay in Aquiline. The event was scheduled to take place after a religious ceremony the Prince of Demonis had been forced to attend, and which had proven a very good excuse for Marzio to see the main temple of Demonis, an enormous and lavishly-decorated building called the Sanctuary. Ignis had been approached by Sanja Drak-Mer that day, but the prince had managed to get rid of her in record time, and the two of them had had a good laugh over it during their carriage ride back to the palace.
Kelan and his peers had of course refused that particular invitation, although Lord Angus had apologized for Kelan's foul mood. It turned out the old bastard thought Marzio was spending too much time around Ignis. As it was, he had no way of knowing exactly how much that was, but for him even an hour would have been too long so the general paid no attention to his accusations. Ignis had said they were probably feeling left out, so for the hunt they had all received official invitations. Marzio knew for sure that Ignis liked having them there just as little as he did, but there was no other way around the matter. Private meetings were one thing, but a huge event like that attracted attention, and everybody would expect the five Angelians to be there, seeing that they were 'important guests'. So Ignis and Marzio decided, together, to be casual about it and keep their feelings to the distinct level of friendship for the following days. Later on, they would make up for it.
Actually, Marzio could count the number of times they had made love properly on one hand's fingers; but they did not seem to be able to keep their hands off each other, and few were the nights either of them had spent alone in their respective beds. In fact, Ignis seemed to find his way to the Angelian's rooms at any hour it suited him. Marzio was slowly getting used to looking up from a book to discover Ignis studying him from an armchair, or to the numerous times the Demon had summoned him in his own rooms.
So at first two whole days of 'acting like friends' sounded like torture. Then Owen told him the prince was not one to shun physical contact with any of his friends, so unless they didn't accidentally kiss, hold hands or act like two horny lovers they would be relatively safe.
It took a whole day for all the equipment to be sent on its way to the future campsite. Full wagons loaded with tents, supplies and other indispensable things had left Aquiline together with a small army of guards and servants. The prince and his train would depart the following morning. It would take them about a day to get to the chosen spot, then they had two days for hunting, and they would return to Aquiline by dusk on the fourth day.
Marzio was actually up and ready before sunrise and well on his way to the stables when Tempesta caught up with him.
"Excited?" she grinned, sizing him up as she usually did when they met. Marzio did not know what attributes or flaws she was looking for, so he tried to always keep his composure around her. Even if they did not get along fabulously well, she could at least be trusted.
"A little, perhaps," he replied truthfully. "I have this feeling something is about to happen, something I cannot predict or control."
Tempesta kept grinning. "Don't worry, we all feel that way when Ignis is present. Something always seems to happen with him around. He is some sort of adventure magnet - I guess that's one of the reasons we rarely get bored around here."
"Fabulous! With my luck, Sanja will probably cling to him throughout the trip."
The Demon general gave him an incredulous look. "Didn't you hear? Lord Lavian and Lady Sanja will not be attending."
"Really?" Marzio asked, not believing his luck. "Why not?"
"Well, the High Priest seems to have some urgent business to attend to, and the lady came up with a sudden attack of fever. Ignis' healer was with her all night long; he gave her something for the fever, but apparently she must stay in bed for a couple of days in order to fully recover. Oh, she was really upset about it," Tempesta smiled complacently, "but Ignis said she should not risk her health for his sake."
"I see..." Marzio nodded, recalling that Ignis had purchased several herbal potions from an apothecary on their outing in Aquiline. And having Sanja out of the way meant he could relax a little and stop worrying for nothing. "He is such a caring person, don't you think?" he remarked casually.
Tempesta's smile showed him she clearly did not buy it, but also that she was happy with the situation, if only for the sake of Ignis' peace of mind. They walked in silence for a while, through the courtyard and toward the large stable area, the departure point for their small expedition.
As soon as they got there, Marzio realized that 'small' was not the appropriate adjective for it. "How many people were there supposed to be here, again?" he asked, staring in disbelief at the many people and horses present.
"Oh, just about a hundred and fifty, servants and guards included. Nothing too fancy," she replied. "Now, let me see... Ignis said you can use one of his horses, because your own would not fare well where we're going. So just go over there," she pointed at a lateral entry to a smaller building, which seemed more cared for than the rest, "and tell one of the grooms your name." And with that, she strode away to greet some men and women who had just arrived.
Shouldering his small supply pack, Marzio complied, wondering what was wrong with his own gelding. From what he had seen, the Demons would be using a mixed lot, from the swift horses Angelia was famous for to the strong and heavy Demonis mounts.
He received the answer when a stable boy brought him his mount for the journey, a splendid Demon mare already saddled and bridled who anxiously pranced the soft earth as Marzio took the reins from the boy. She was a pure breed, with a shiny black coat and long braided mane, and must have been worth a small fortune. The animal snorted and poked his shoulder as he stroked her muzzle lovingly, in order to accustom her to his scent.
Fascinated by the horse, Marzio missed the sudden silence that had swept over the yard, and only realized he had company when a hand holding an apple proffered itself in front of him out of nowhere. The mare neighed softly and helped herself to the fruit, which she munched happily as her master petted her, smiling softly at the Angelian over the horse's arched neck.
Marzio's counter-smile turned into a grin as Ignis stepped away from the horse and came to stand next to him. Wearing plain greens and browns, the prince could have been mistaken for a fetching young ranger were it not for his regal posture and bearing. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail to reveal his slender neck, loosely wrapped in a deep red scarf as a protection against the chill autumn winds. The only weapons he was carrying were a bow and an arrow-filled quiver hanging across his back, and a skinning knife strapped to his belt.
"Do you like her?" Ignis asked softly, his eyes lighting as they met Marzio's face.
Feeling a familiar stirring in his bowels, Marzio snatched his pack and secured it next to the weapons hanging from the saddle - his own, and which he had believed had been dispatched with one of the carts the previous day.
"She is magnificent," he replied, securing his sword on the saddle as well, to gain more freedom of movement for the long ride. Then he turned to the prince and whispered irritably, "If you think I will be able to keep my hands off you in those clothes, you are utterly mistaken!" His eyes travelled down to Ignis' tight leather trousers, which were indeed quite revealing.
Ignis winked at him and replied in an equally low voice, "Just try not to wonder on private lands, alright?" and then added out loud, "I knew she would please you. Her name is Onyx Star; and I believe she is equally happy to meet you."
As he could not get his hands into Ignis' hair with everybody watching, Marzio resolved in stroking the mare's mane as Ignis shifted his attention to a stallion that was just then being led out of the stable. He was a perfect match to Onyx Star, and neighed powerfully when he saw the prince. Ignis produced a second apple and offered it to him, hanging his bow on the saddle and finally mounting, to parade the horse in front of the Angelian. Marzio's mare seemed very interested in what she saw, which only led the general to believe they truly were a pair.
"What is his name?" he asked pulling himself up into the saddle and driving his mount into motion, noticing her step was steady and proud.
"Onyx Thunder, of course."
"Of course."
After a bit of a fuss over weapons and mounts that Ignis promptly stifled they were finally able to leave. They made an outstanding sight, a procession of wealthy and influential men and women trailing behind Ignis through the streets of Aquiline while people crowded the streets to admire them. The city's agitation stopped to make way for the ruler of Demonis; and Marzio was not blind to the looks of admiration Ignis received or deaf to the loud cheers that rose from the crowd. Though he rode closer to the middle of the convoy, the general noticed a girl that managed to get past the guards only to run and offer Ignis a magnificent bouquet of flowers which he took, and leaning down he caressed her cheek gently and smiled, that heavenly smile that could have charmed even his worse enemy. And in that moment Marzio knew these people truly loved him and that Ignis loved them in return, that they were the ones that really mattered to him and not those that he rode with now, not the nobles and their intrigues and Court in general. Everything Ignis did, he did for these people, for the girl that had offered him flowers or the elderly woman that watched him pass, tears in her eyes as he stopped for a moment, just one moment, to ask her a question and nod at her answer and say something else, offering her a flower from the bouquet before urging his horse onward to regain his leading position. They advanced at this slow pace, allowing the prince to stop and talk to others as well, and everywhere there were smiles and warmth and hope. Marzio knew some of the highborn were not happy with this, but he was; he had in fact expected it.
When they were finally out of the city, about three hours later judging by the position of the sun, they took on a quicker pace. Marzio, who had fallen behind to discuss with Lord Angus, caught up with the line. He always seemed to end up next to someone in the military, and he was not quite sure whether he should feel offended or not.
It was not difficult to coerce the man into speaking with him. This time, it was a wild-haired colonel by the name of Beren, who let Marzio understand he and Ignis had known each other for some time. He also became extremely cooperative after Marzio introduced himself, admitting Ignis had asked him to answer any question 'his Angelian friend' might have although Beren had thus far only suspected Marzio's identity. Apparently the officer had just returned from escorting a diplomatic mission to Terlandia, and was not yet up-to-date with palace gossip.
Caught up in the conversation none of them realized someone had approached them until Ignis' cheery voice interrupted them. "Asking my men for information again? I thought you had grown tired of this sport!"
"You really do like sneaking up on people, don't you?" Marzio protested. "And no, I have not grown tired. I will drain every ounce of knowledge from them, until there is nothing left untold, no dark secret hidden from me!"
Ignis and Beren indulged themselves into a conspiratorial grin. Then, "Marzio, I want you to get well-acquainted with Beren. He is one of my most competent men, and he will be around a lot these days. Tempesta and Owen will both be busy with the nobles, so Beren will be in charge of security and supplies. You need anything, you talk to him; he has specific orders to spoil you rotten!"
Marzio was agape. "You didn't... Ignis, say you didn't...!"
The prince's smile broadened into his 'I just did something evil and you couldn't prevent it' grin. "Tell him you are a dear friend to me, and that I want you to lack nothing at all? Yes, I did. And I meant it Beren," he warned with one raised finger. "I hold your word on it!"
"Sure, my boy," the older man replied. "Anything he wants. But I think that what he wants right now is to ride with you for a while, and only you can give him that. Besides, it would be pity not showing off this beautiful pair of horses, no?"
If there was any malice behind those words, Marzio did not detect it. Acting upon Ignis' encouraging nod, they broke into a race and quickly got ahead of the column. The massive horses were swifter than Marzio had imagined, and now they trotted like on parade, their steps perfectly matched; it must have been a delight to watch them from afar.
"So, are you enjoying yourself thus far?" Ignis asked when they were safe out of hearing.
"Tremendously. Especially since on my way to the stables this morning I was kindly informed that Lady Sanja would sadly not be attending."
Ignis shook his head. "An unfortunate incident, that one. What will this hunt become without her, I wonder... But I think we can find plenty of substitute snakes for the occasion. The woods will be prowling with them."
"There is no use to be bitter about it, my prince. You know they are not important. Although the events of this morning upset them a little - they are all hushed words, unlike the loud pack that left the palace at dawn."
"Some of them do not like it when the people show their support that openly. They see themselves challenged where it hurts most - their authority. Over me, they have very little, unlike with my father. They are all honeyed speeches, but I know what every one of them truly thinks. By now, they learned better than to challenge me, but they have the tendency to fight among themselves a lot. My friends are usually sitting targets, so your every step will probably be watched until you show them you are not someone to be pushed around and let them get away with it. The officers though, that is a different matter... you have already proven yourself to them, so any attempt at your honour would meet quite a resistance, even if you are not present to defend yourself."
"That was quite a speech. I am impressed," Marzio said seriously, but for some reason they both ended up laughing moments later. The words had been indeed too serious for the occasion - they were there to relax, not discuss the perils of life at Court.
"We should stop now." Ignis suddenly said halting his horse in the middle of the field, fumbling for something underneath his long cape. "Here, I was meaning to give you this." Marzio was presented with a wonderful lily, which had him stare at Ignis in disbelief. They were within full view of the arriving cavalcade.
"Don't worry; I shared the flowers among my friends - even Owen accepted one. But I saved the most beautiful for you," he added quickly before they were within hearing range as well. "We stop for lunch!" he yelled at the first riders arriving, who spread the word around.
Marzio didn't quite know what to do with a flower but he imagined he could pin it on his lapel or something. "I was meaning to ask what had happened to the bouquet. It was quite large, there was no way you could have fitted it under your cloak without showing. What did the girl want?"
"For me to have the flowers, and her thanks for sparing her father's life," Ignis answered dismounting and fumbling in his saddlebags for his provisions. Marzio did the same and soon they were joined by others, Owen and Tempesta and a couple of unknown faces, with which they shared a frugal lunch. Still they were forced to wait for the highborn to finish theirs, which was apparently a more intricate affair. Some had even produced forks and knives in order to eat properly, accompanied by agonizing groans from the more practical ones among them and the guards, who hadn't even bothered to dismount at first. After two hours, they were finally ready to move on.
"I see now why you said it will take one day's ride when the carts probably made it in half the time," the Angelian was mumbling under his breath as they were being approached by a nobleman around Marzio's age who had 'troublesome dandy' written all over him. He too had pale skin and red hair, although his was of a darker shade and worn in an intricate complex of curls. He was handsome too, but the type of self-conscious beauty that has no qualms of conscience to use that in his advantage. His clothing was rich and tasteful, although a bit impractical for the occasion, and his weapons looked like they had been chosen for the message of wealth they displayed rather than their intended purpose. Beautiful, but not the natural beauty Ignis possessed; it was artificial, like Sanja's was, as many people's that Marzio had met had been. One of the serpents Ignis had warned against. All there was left to see was if this one bit you or strangled you to death. Marzio had the feeling he was not one of the harmless ones.
"Good day, My Lord Prince," the Demon offered bowing deeply across his saddle at Ignis. "How are you today? In good spirits, I see."
"Lord Terien," Ignis replied sharply, as if to say 'I was until you got there'. "Is it something I can do for you?"
"Of course, Your Highness," the Demon answered, pretending not to have noticed the coldness in the prince's voice. "It has been a long time since we have seen each other, and I keep hearing these wonderful things about your new Angelian friend." He threw a quick glance in Marzio's general direction and added, "I rather hoped you could introduce him to me."
"Oh dear, what was I thinking?" Ignis answered meekly. "Marzio, meet Lord Terien, Duke Merquil-Yist's son and first in line to inherit his father's land and title. Terien, this is Lord General Marzio Zain-Reil, High Commander of the Army of Angelia and heir to the County of Meralda."
From the look on his face, it was very clear Terien's ego had just taken a serious blow. Not only had Ignis considered Marzio higher in rank than he was, but he had also chosen to stress out Marzio's titles. This did not bode well to someone who was part of one of Demonis' most important families, and it also told Marzio exactly how much Ignis liked Terien. Which was very little, apparently. So now the ignoring look Marzio had received turned into intense scrutiny from two dark eyes filled with anger and suspicion and curiosity at who this new favourite could be.
Terien smiled a snake's smile, and bowed his head a little to acknowledge Marzio's presence. "It is a pleasure to meet you, General. You seem to have caught quite a lot of our prince's attention. Congratulations."
"Milord," Marzio answered very properly, his hand reaching involuntarily for the dagger at his side. The lord paled a little but regained his composure as Marzio retracted his hand.
"Yes Terien, I was thinking of giving him General Neri-Lokh's job when she becomes Master of the Monastery. He would make a wonderful Supreme Commander," Ignis intervened, enjoying the way Terien jumped in his saddle as if burned.
"Surely, my lord, you cannot be serious!" he protested, but Ignis' face was very stern. Marzio knew Ignis was only teasing and concealing his smile under a scowl, which provided enough reasons for Terien to reconsider coming there as a good idea.
So he bowed again, "If you excuse me, Your Highness, I must go now. General Zain-Reil," and he turned and urged his horse back the way he had come from, putting as much distance as he could between himself and the two.
Ignis let his mask drop and chuckled evilly, and the few who had witnessed the exchange joined in. Back in Angelia, Marzio would have been really upset after such a meeting, but now he could only share their fun. The look on the man's face had been simply too precious, and Ignis was such a good actor when he wanted to be...
"That was a really mean joke you played on him," he whispered to the prince sometime after they were on the move once more. "Can we do it again?" And Ignis, who had only recently stopped thinking about the incident, was sent into another fit of mirth.
In the next two hours, the slightly sloped plane gave way to hills covered with trees, which soon turned into a forest that got thicker the more they advanced. They reached the hunting camp about an hour before sunset, a large clearing crossed by a small stream that had by now been filled with tents of all forms and sizes. The Angelian was surprised to recognize Ignis' old tent somewhere in the middle, flanked by other two and with a rather wide space around them separating them from the rest. The other tents, some of which looked very extravagant, had been perched closer to one another, leaving a large access way leading from the forest path to the prince's accommodations and also a wider space in front of four very large tents that were most likely used to store food and supplies. There were also places specially chosen for campfires, as well as a wide encircled space for the horses; also the wagons had been placed out of the way.
A small problem rose as to how the Angelians would be accommodated, one which Ignis solved by pairing the lords and giving them two tents they could use, as for Marzio... Well, poor Marzio received an amused look from Ignis. "I was hoping you would not mind sharing with Tempesta."
The two generals looked at each other, then at Ignis. He was serious about it.
It had been known from the beginning Owen would sleep in Ignis' tent - as Captain of the Guard, it was his duty. And it would be safe like this, with Tempesta able to keep an eye on him, for the five Angelians were still hostages no matter what treatment they received. Besides, it could have been worse - he could have been stuck into a tent with his intolerant countrymen. Although Marzio doubted Ignis would ever do that to him, not after seeing the results that particular experience had produced.
As for Tempesta, she simply shrugged. "If it's alright with you."
Marzio nodded, and took his things into the woman's tent, the one set at the right of Ignis' own, noting that the larger items he had sent by cart were already there. He resigned himself to spending his nights all alone on his cot, dreaming of Ignis being there with him.
The efficiency with which the hunt had been organized in advance was a little scary. On the first morning, Marzio awoke only to find the camp bustling with activity. Even some of the nobles were up and about at that early hour, grouped around campfires and sharing tales of the previous year's hunt, or discussing whatever it was they fancied at the moment.
Locating Ignis in the crowd proved a difficult task; Marzio finally found him in one of the empty tents, surrounded by not a few officers and guards. The Angelian had previously noted that almost half of the people that would take part in the hunt - excluding the guards - were military, a fact not so surprising in Demonis but which said very much about the support a Dreak Prince might receive. 'Good for him,' the general thought.
"Marzio," Ignis called as soon as he noticed his presence - sooner than expected, with all the people going in and out of the tent -, "I was meaning to speak to you before we left. What would you prefer to do today: go on with the highborn and such, or stick with me and the guards?" Seeing the puzzled look on the general's face, he explained, "They're hunting for sport; we're hunting for dinner." The last remark was met with cheery laughter from Ignis' companions.
There was really no question to what Marzio's answer will be. "I'll stay with you. That way, I'm less likely to be asked to kill foxes for some lady's cloak lining."
"Whoa there, General!" Beren replied. "Our ladies usually chase their own pelts! Though I am certain they might have asked you to do it for them, as a favour. I bet there will be many hearts broken by your decision. No Prince and no Angelian General... Lord Terien will be crushed!"
Marzio doubted it, but Ignis obviously didn't, for he snorted in the commander's direction. "Beren, if you value your hide you won't mention that cocky duke son's name in my presence! I'd rather be off campaigning then spending one hour in his company! Now, if you excuse me," he nodded at the other Demons, "I am going to see that everything else is in good order."
Marzio followed Ignis out of the tent, matching his stride to the prince's. "So, Terien's that awful, huh?"
Ignis turned his head to face Marzio, stopping for just an instant to voice his discontent. "Don't talk to me about Terien. He is worse than Lavian. At least with the High Priest I know what to expect. But with Terien Merquil-Yist..." He shrugged and exhaled heavily before starting to walk again. "Take this little piece of advice, Marzio. Stay as far away from him as possible, and try not to get on his bad side. It will prove difficult, seeing that you are my friend and all, but try it nonetheless."
Marzio nodded and kept silent for a while, digesting the implications. 'Well, you didn't expect him to be well-liked by everyone, did you? Were he not a prince, there would still be many to envy him. All you can do is watch both your and his back for as long as you're here.'
"So, what are you supposed to be doing now? I've rarely seen you so energetic when it came to business." Marzio asked.
Ignis smiled, but did not stop walking. "I am going to make sure there are enough guards going with the main hunting party to prevent any incident. Afterwards, I am going to personally see to it that nobody is left behind when they leave. And then, I am going to get on my horse and get the rest of my hunting party and scour these woods for anything that could remotely be called dinner. And you are coming with me, so that I can make sure you won't 'accidentally' get shot."
Marzio could not help agreeing about the last part, and forced himself to keep his hands at his sides and try hard not to hug Ignis. "Sounds like a plan to me. And what do I do until then?"
"You, my dear, can either go wait in your tent, or give me a hand by finding Owen and helping him with the supply mules." He turned to Marzio and grinned. "And if I am satisfied with your behaviour today, I will find a way to arrange for some entertainment tonight. What do you say?"
Marzio grinned back. "You are evil, you know. One of the most twisted-minded, devilish persons I have met! So, for your own sake, I hope the 'entertainment' you have in mind does not involve me sharing a tent with your Supreme Commander again. She snores!"
And with that, Marzio turned and made his way to the mess tent, having previously caught sight of the Captain of the Guards going in. 'Secrecy be damned! I will find a way to sneak into your tent tonight, Ignis, even if it kills me!' he swore to himself.
The preparations took less time than Marzio had predicted. About two hours after dawn, the main hunting party left the encampment, and with it the other four Angelians. Marzio had judged their departure as the perfect time to get his own gear, so he had managed to avoid any confrontation with either the four lords, or the rest of the Demon highborn.
'Strategy becomes helpful when one least expects it,' he reasoned, watching the trail of dust the horses had left behind. After finally placing his supplies inside the saddle bags - water, food, extra arrows, - and making sure his sword, crossbow and quiver were secured about his person, he mounted and steered his mare toward the mess tent, where the prince and his escort were supposed to gather.
Ignis was not there yet, but Beren was; Tempesta and Owen had ridden off with the nobles, but only because Ignis had ordered them to. The prince had reckoned that, with the Angelians present, it could never be too safe; but since he trusted Marzio he had spirited his best guards to keep the others away from trouble. Or trouble away from them, if necessary.
"So, General," Commander Beren greeted him, "are you ready for the hunt of your life?"
"It's hardly that," Marzio assured him. "The hunt of my life involved a rabid desert tiger. It was great fun, too, until one of my companions decided to take the beast down with a knife!"
"And you were there just in time to retrieve that knife for him, no?" Ignis' voice came from behind, making Marzio and Beren turn to face him. The commander bowed his head, and Marzio followed suite, afraid that his familiarity with the prince might look suspicious.
"How did you know?" 'I mean, aside from seeing the claw marks on my left thigh,' he added in his mind.
Ignis smiled. "Call it a lucky guess. I can easily picture you rescuing someone's life without thinking about your own."
One of the present officers snorted. "Just what we need - two of them!"
"Come now, Lynn," Ignis tsked. "You'll only scare my guest, and before the hunt's even started. What will he think of me?" And without waiting for an answer, he urged his stallion on, leaving the poor woman shaking her head after him.
Marzio made a mental note to ask her what that exchange had been about, and followed the riders eastward, in the cheers of those few guards and servants that would remain in camp.
Their hunt turned out to be rather rewarding, for there was plenty of game in the ancient forest. Marzio took down two deer and a few rabbits, but mostly he was fascinated by the ancient trees that reigned supreme. This was a thick oak forest, nothing like the rare woods of his native country. Several steep climbs convinced Marzio that the Demonis-bred mare was a more suitable mount for this region than his own horse, and he praised Ignis' insight again. As for the prince himself... well, he was magnificent as usual, and more at ease among his fellow warriors than he had been at Court. Riding side by side with Marzio, he satisfied some of the general's curiosities about the forest, or pointed out where his lover could find the information that eluded him.
Sometime early in the afternoon they decided they could head back for camp, having hunted enough game to last them for dinner and breakfast. But as they rode back for about ten minutes their scout stopped abruptly and dismounted, studying the ground for a few moments before looking up directly at Ignis. "Bear," he announced calmly.
"Male?" Ignis inquired.
"Most likely. And a great one at that, by the size of these marks."
"Right," the prince nodded, turned to Marzio. "How good are you at handling a spear?"
"Good enough," Marzio replied. "Why do you ask?" But Ignis' smile did not require any interpretation. They were going after that bear.
Ignis only kept Marzio, Beren, the scout and nine of the guards with him, and sent the others back to camp with the collected game. They followed the tracks, each armed with two spears and being as silent as possible. When the tracks got fresh enough, they acted extra-careful. They were still mounted - Ignis was not planning to risk anybody's life because of a bear they really didn't need to go take down. But Marzio suspected there was something else behind this sudden pursuit.
He found out the reason very soon. Motioning for them to stop, the prince turned on his horse so he could face Marzio and looked him straight in the eyes. "It's time to put all that theory into practice, my friend. I hope you still recall what you have to do. This is not one of those small specimens that you find on the plains; it will be a really large one, by the size of the tracks. So if you have any question, ask it now. If you are afraid something might go wrong, now is the time to turn back."
"I want to do this," Marzio said firmly. In the end, it all came down to one thing: huntsman's pride, pure and obstinate. "And I'm sure you won't let it kill me if things do go wrong."
Nothing went wrong, though, except he had to use five spears to kill the beast. They caught up with it at the river, and it was indeed a magnificent specimen, with a thick dark fur that was greying around its neck and nuzzle. It was quite heavy too, considering winter was coming and the animal was preparing itself for hibernation during the cold season. Marzio had no doubt it could have easily taken down a bull. The first two spears only managed to gain its attention. But as it raised itself on his hinder legs, in a breathtaking display of animal strength, there could be no hesitation. Two of the three spears went straight into its heart, the other barely missing but hitting the chest as well. The animal gave a tremendous roar as it fell onto the pebbles of the riverbed, and groaned in agony a few more times before meeting its demise. Still Ignis would not let Marzio get closer then a few feet, checking it was truly dead for himself, his dagger held tightly in his hand as if the Demon half-expected the beast to get up. But then he let out a relieved breath and motioned it was safe to come near, so Marzio did so only to realize how large the animal truly was - twice as large as any of the bears he had seen in Angelia, and he had seen plenty. Something worth risking your life for, Beren said while he helped Marzio to skin the beast. And Ignis threw himself at Marzio, nearly trampling him as he hugged his lover tight, and kissed him on both cheeks, and spun him around a few times before releasing him and saying Marzio had done well, really well, and that he was proud of him.
They left the meat there, covered by a pile of rocks; they had no use for it anyway. But the bearskin, Marzio's trophy, was laden on one of the spare horses and taken back to camp, where it would be properly prepared for the long route back to Angelia.
It was nearly dark when they arrived, and the Demons gave him a triumphal entry into camp, just to spite the highborn that had more than likely returned by this time. Marzio had heard marching songs in his life, but the one his ears were treated to had nothing to do with the lewd things soldiers usually came up with when being short of a good lay for too long. This one was a ballad about a great huntsman, it seemed, and after hearing the chorus a few times he just had to sing along, especially because Ignis prompted him to. Needless to say, they raised the whole damned camp from their dinner, and everybody gathered to see what the fuss was all about. And if Marzio had thought he had seen Kelan's worse face, he was treated to a spectacle as the advisor stared at him as if he had suddenly grown a second head and swallowed a horse at the same time. Which meant the old man would probably be mad for days and avoid Marzio as much as possible.
And then the party in his honour began. Ignis wanted no less, nor did Beren and Tempesta and Owen and gods knew how many others. Marzio was fed roasted deer and white bread, watered down with three cups of Ignis' favourite wine, and he was forced to narrate the event about half a dozen times before the prince declared nobody was to ask again or he would burst. Hunting tales were exchanged around the campfires; there was music and dancing and Marzio almost pulled Ignis up for a dance, but he noticed Terien eyeing him hungrily and decided against it, retreating to his tent earlier then it would have been expected. Luckily he had the excuse of a tiring day so nobody thought about it twice. His head was still swarming with the thrill of the hunt, but his body demanded its due share of rest, so he decided to go to bed immediately.
But no sooner had he pulled away the woollen blanket his pallet had come with than the tent's flap parted to allow in not only Tempesta, but Owen as well. And as if it were not enough, they were kissing!
It was impossible for them not to have known he was there; he had bid them good night only a few moments ago. The general had the uncanny feeling something was at play here, something he didn't know about. What were these people up to?
Breaking the kiss, Owen cleared his throat in Marzio's direction. "Say Marzio, you don't mind staying awake a little longer, do you? There's a stunning moon out tonight."
The Angelian, beet-red by now, took the suggestion and got out of the tent as soon as he possibly could. Only when the cold air struck him did he realize he had left both his tunic and his cloak inside. He swore, but there was no way he was not going back in there any time soon! He resorted to wrapping his wings around himself against the wind. Not too much of a protection but at least the feathers would keep him warm for a while.
He neared the bearskin that had been stretched in front of the tent between two spears. He looked at it fondly - he knew his uncle would love this trophy. His little nephew and niece would stare at it in awe, and say what a great hunter their Uncle Marzio was. He smiled at the thought of his family, and ran his right hand through the black-brown fur.
A cloak was placed around him, still bearing the heat of the person who had worn it previously. An elegant hand covered his and another one was placed on his shoulder, warmth seeping through the gloves and into Marzio's cold flesh. "Magnificent," Ignis' voice came from aside him.
Marzio pulled the cloak closer about his body. "Tell that to your cursed captain! One would think the champion of the day deserved a little respect!"
Ignis shook his head. "I doubt those two will be out of there until dawn. Come with me. No friend of mine is going to freeze to death in this camp, and that goes double for you."
The guards outside the prince's tent overheard their discussion but did not give any sign of suspicion. They saluted and Ignis asked not to be disturbed until morrow. "And tell Captain Alisi-Feit that, since he's made his own sleeping arrangements, now he's stuck to them permanently." Marzio was sure that the two men had exchanged curious glances after they retired.
The tent looked empty without the opulent desk to fill the space. A rack of weapons and other items that had previously been stored in the back had taken its place, though. Marzio was led through the dividing curtain to see a coal burner and an additional pallet had been placed there. Also, the thin covers on Ignis' pillow-bed had been replaced by a thick coverlet.
"I doubt I'll ever be warm again," Marzio sighed, wrapping his hands around himself while Ignis removed the cloak from around him and threw it on the pallet.
"You will tonight," the prince announced as he picked up the pillow and threw it for Marzio to catch. "I am really sorry that my suggestion left you out in the cold like this. Put this next to mine please."
Marzio did as he was told, sat down on Ignis' makeshift bed and began removing his boots, praising whatever god or goddess was listening for the warmth inside the tent. "Is it always so chilly in Demonis this time of the year? It feels like Midwinter," he mumbled as he looked up at Ignis for an answer. But he was left speechless as he caught sight of his lover, now naked to the waist, in the process of stretching himself, lean muscles tense as his arms were pulled upward, hands joined above his head.
'And those damned leather trousers are not leaving much to the imagination, are they?' Marzio asked himself, guiltily thinking of how easy it would be to simply get up and go where Ignis stood and persuade him to let Marzio remove the rest of his clothing, and then perhaps kiss every inch of the white skin until Ignis just begged to be taken...
'No!' his conscience ordered, trying to fight down the rising sensations in his body. 'You cannot do this; not now, not here! Too great a risk, for both of you!'
"Are you having evil thoughts about me, beloved?" came Ignis' voice, moulded into a seductive purr as the prince let his arms down and came toward Marzio, one leg carefully placed in front of the other, hips swaying enticingly with every step he took.
Marzio forced his head aside, trying not to look. "Khest, Ignis! You are not being any help! You know we can't..."
"Can't what?" Fingers ran down his face and neck, following the curves of his shoulder and arm. "Can't make love? Why, because I said so before we left Aquiline? I meant it then, but after today... Besides, I thought you enjoyed a little adventure, taking risks... I am not wrong, am I?"
The general looked up, defeated. "You are not. But the scandal..."
Ignis shook his head, kneeling in front of his lover and gently picking up Marzio's arms, placing them around his waist and crossing them at his back, his eyes pleading for Marzio to keep them there. "No scandal, I promise you that. We just need to be careful not to make too much noise, that's all. Kelan is at least two hundred feet away, and the guards will make sure no one gets close enough to hear or disturb us."
"The guards?" Marzio stifled helplessly
"Come now, you really didn't think we could keep it from them, did you? There are always two of them stationed on the corridor at night, and we have not been particularly careful not to be overheard. But they are loyal to me and me alone. Had any of them betrayed us, we would have known long ago."
His breath was warm against Marzio's chilled skin as he drew close, so close... It would be easy to close the distance, to give in to temptation. And Ignis was right, damnit! He was right and they both knew it. Fighting temptation was so much harder than just accepting it, letting it envelop you...
"I know you want me, Marzio. I saw it in your eyes the first moment you laid your eyes on me, that day inside your tent. You wanted me in your bed right then and there."
"Yes," Marzio whispered, his fingers flexing as they felt the line of Ignis' trousers, making their way to the lacings in front. "Hell yes... though I denied it with every breath."
"Then what is keeping you from it now? We have done this before. By Drako, I am more than willing and so are you." The lean arms were now circling Marzio's neck, and Ignis was deliberately keeping himself just inches away, daring Marzio to close the distance. Daring him to acknowledge his own desires.
And the general gladly took the challenge. They kissed passionately for minutes that seemed like eternity. The offending leather pants were quickly disposed of, as well as the other items the two wore - all except Marzio's shirt.
Into the dim light of the single candle lit inside the tent, Ignis smiled as he stopped Marzio's hands just when he was about to rid himself of the silk shirt he was wearing. "And how exactly did you come to wear my clothes, General?"
Marzio was horrified at first, recalling that the shirt he had on happened to be the one Ignis had lent him one night after his own had been 'damaged'; the same shirt he had deliberately put on that morning, in order to have something of Ignis' close to himself, since the real person was 'forbidden ground'.
But Ignis was only teasing as usually, and with the same smile he said "Keep it on!" so Marzio did, and lowered his now naked lover onto the soft pillows, joining him promptly and pulling the coverlet over them both in order to keep away the cold.
Ignis had by now become somewhat cooperative in bed, though he did by far more than simply lie there and let Marzio take him. But somehow the Angelian always landed on top lately, which had turned from mere coincidence to a thought that haunted Marzio.
"Why do you let me do this to you?" he asked while caressing the now familiar body. He knew every curve, every muscle, every single inch of that body. He could have found any of Ignis' pleasure spots blindfolded and into a dark room, if the man were standing in front of him. A gentle touch here, a bit more pressure there, and the Demon would be squirming in delight. "Why do you let me take you, night after night? I know what submitting to me like this must do to your pride."
His lover merely silenced him and smoothed his brow - Marzio had not realized he had been scowling.
"It has only been four times, beloved; tonight not included. And why would I find it degrading? Because I let you have your way with me, is that it?" And when Marzio nodded, he went on. "Has it ever occurred to you that I might prefer it this way?"
"What!?"
"You heard me. One night not so long ago, you told me once that you liked being the one who dominates, remember?"
"Yes but..."
"But nothing! I, on the other hand, enjoy letting my control slip away for a couple of hours. If I do not consciously drop it a little every now and then, things get ugly, remember?"
Marzio understood now. "Like with Kelan. How long had it been? Three months? Four?"
Ignis laughed a little, all amorous intentions forgotten for the moment. "Two years, nine months and five days. I can tell you that, because it was the day right after Rasya's funeral, the day I had last given in to despair and cried myself into unconsciousness for at least five times in a row. Afterwards, I just locked my heart away."
"And what happened?" Marzio could not help asking. Ignis rarely spoke about these things, and never so directly.
"My defences backfired. I hold you directly responsible for that, by the way. And just in time, too," he added, sensing Marzio beginning to panic. "Now, why don't you resume your earlier activities, hmm? I was just starting to enjoy myself."
During the whole discussion, Marzio's body had not been completely unresponsive to Ignis' proximity, even if his mind had been elsewhere. The prince's body showed equal signs of arousal as he felt around under the thick coverlet, and soon Marzio's hand was busying itself with bringing Ignis to a full erection while the Demon returned the favour. Their mouths joined in a warm, wet sparring of tongues until Marzio had to pull away as breathing was getting harder with his mouth busy savouring Ignis' honey-sweet lips.
"Oil," he asked looking down at Ignis, all that exquisite pale skin now flushed pink, and the untameable eyes looking up at him from behind long, dark lashes. What had he done to deserve such a perfect lover? Was it a cruel joke from the gods, or perhaps a reward for some deed unknown to him?
"At your left, under the pillows. Either that, or top nightstand drawer. It's always there," Ignis said, his breath a puffy cloud in the autumn night. "Hurry up!" he commanded when Marzio had troubles finding what he was looking for. His right hand joined the endeavour and the troublesome vial of oil was finally located.
"Now who's the eager one?" Marzio asked recalling Ignis' words their first night together, and spreading some of the oil on his hands and his erection.
"You should talk! You have no idea how - ahhh - hard it was to keep from - mmmm - truly kissing you today... tonight - ohhh, Marzio, deeper, please! Yes, that's it! Ahhh!"
It was hard not to give in at his lover's every command while two of his fingers were being sucked hungrily by the prince's feverish hungry body. So Marzio did what Ignis asked, knowing his fingertips were pressing against the Demon's pleasure spot by the sounds Ignis was making. The prince's voice was a bit hushed, but then again they did not want to wake the whole camp!
"Ready?" the general asked, feeling his lover was about to come and he himself was hard as hell. He pulled out his fingers and purposely spread more oil on his erection, then he pulled Ignis' legs up and apart and let them rest on his shoulders for support as he positioned himself. The coverlet was still around their bodies - a wonder really, with all the trashing around -, a shroud against the world. The head of his manhood was pressed against Ignis' opening and all Marzio had to do was wait for the right time, for Ignis to draw his breath and then -
It was in; soon the rest followed. They had developed some kind of pattern, a system to not unnecessarily harm the prince nor keep Marzio waiting for too long. It was amazing what one as inexperienced in these matters as Ignis had been could come up with. But then again, Ignis had confessed of having had anal sex with women before. Marzio suspected it had been in order not to get them pregnant, but what did he know of such things? He had never been with a woman, nor was he planning to.
His thrusts got faster after a bit of half-conscious coercion from Ignis, and the general knew that his lover was about to come, felt it in his own being as the burgundy eyes grew large and the sensuous lips parted, and Ignis' body began spasming.
With a last coherent thought the Demon pulled Marzio's head down, pressing their mouths together as he orgasmed and forcing Marzio to swallow his scream of release. He then went utterly still for a few moments, and Marzio began to fear he had passed out when the closed eyes parted, and his mouth finally released Marzio's. And even if nothing was said, he knew Marzio had yet to come, that he was still aroused and painfully so, and buried deep into the heat of his body.
"Would it be easier for you if we changed position?" he suddenly asked, and Marzio released a breath. For a moment, he had thought Ignis would just push him away. But no, he would never do that!
"Beloved, are you alright?" He was being shaken lightly, and realized that for a moment he had been somewhere else, with someone else. A ghost from his past, someone whose cruelty he would never forget.
'What do you think I am? Your fucking catamite? Get away from me right now! I don't want you anywhere near me ever again!'
"I'm sorry," Marzio whispered, pushing away some of the red strands that had plastered themselves onto Ignis' face, in order to kiss his temple. "You were saying?"
"I was asking you if you would like to change position." And though the candle had almost burned itself out, Marzio saw the tenderness on the prince's face, in his eyes.
"If you don't mind. Could you get on your side?" he asked pulling out and releasing his hold as Ignis repositioned himself so Marzio would be behind him now. It went a bit difficult with the wings but soon he was as comfortable as he could get and let Marzio lift his leg and slip inside him again.
"Take your time," Ignis told him, but it did not take long - Marzio had been nearly there to begin with, so all it took were a few deep thrusts before he felt his orgasm hit him, and he allowed himself the luxury of keeping an arm around Ignis and pressing their bodies together, desperate for the contact, for the man's presence.
When he could move again, he realized he was tasting blood, and it was not his own. He was also aware of a hand pressing against the back of his head, hard; a hand which released Marzio as soon as he moved, whose fingers were soon pressed against those of the general's hand, against Ignis' flat stomach. There was a ruffle of black feathers as Ignis did pull away this time, to turn around and gather a few red drops from the corner of Marzio's mouth. The prince sniffed at it and then looked up. "Gods, but you bite hard!"
He what? "Damn! Ignis, I'm sorry, I didn't realize..."
"No!" Ignis stopped the general from throwing his hands up in self defence. "I was the one to pull your head down. You were about to... umm, how can I put this? Growl rather loudly."
"Khest! Let me see this, I hope it is not bad... oh hell!"
It was deep, and right above the intricate Dreak tattoo on Ignis' right shoulder. And what was worse, it was still bleeding, red rivulets making their way down Ignis' back.
Marzio snorted. "This could leave a mark. Maybe you should ask Tempesta or Owen heal it for you tomorrow morning. But we need to clean it first."
"You are quite a sight, you know, fussing over me like my old nurse used to. You can clean it if you want; I don't mind the mark though. It will remind me I am merely human."
Marzio revolted. "But Ignis, what if anyone sees it? It is clearly not from an animal, not in this part of the body, and..."
"Marzio, listen to me. Just forget about it. I could heal it myself if I wanted to. Now why don't you get it clean and we can both get some sleep? There's a cloth next to the water basin, and water in the pitcher. Go get them."
Prompted into movement, Marzio got up and soon returned with the soaked cloth, and washed away the caking blood, not missing Ignis' hiss when he touched the swelling marks.
And he also realized something. "You can heal yourselves? The Dreak, I mean."
Another soft hiss as Ignis snatched the cloth from him to remove other bodily fluids from their persons. The wound was as clean as it would get, anyway. "All the Dreak? No. Me in particular? Yes, but only minor wounds. It requires a lot of concentration, and I would simply be too weak to do it if the injury were severe." He aimed for the basin and the cloth splashed around a bit as it landed inside it. "No come here, before you start worrying again."
Marzio was pulled into Ignis' arms quite unceremoniously, and struggled a bit to get into a comfortable position. Ignis blew off what was left of the candle and they just held each other in the dark.
"Asleep?" Ignis whispered after a while.
"Not yet."
"Would be indiscreet of me to ask a personal question?"
"What is it?" Ignis rarely asked personal questions, and never before had he been so cautious. Was it something that could make Marzio uncomfortable? Probably, but the general felt that he could trust his lover with anything. "Come, say."
It came as a whisper in his ear, at the same time Ignis tightened his hold as if to make sure Marzio knew the prince cared about him strongly enough. "What did they do to you, to shatter your trust like this?"
Marzio knew who they were, and why Ignis had been careful in asking about them. His former lovers. Fortunately there was a great difference between them and the Demon prince, and Marzio knew how to appreciate that properly.
"It is an irony, really. As Kelan said, I like handsome men. But you rarely find any in the Angelian army, and most of those you do find do not have the right inclinations. So the best place to look for a suitable partner is at Court."
"Courtiers," Ignis agreed in a whisper. "Most of them are a flimsy bunch, always plotting but lacking the backbone to carry out their plans. They haven't even heard about the concept of morality, and you must always beware the pretty ones."
"A good advice. I wish I would have followed it and save myself from having to learn this the hard way. Being born a nobleman myself, one would think I would fit in easily. Unfortunately, it was not the case - even if my uncle is a count and I his heir, a country nobleman is always looked down on until he does something to gain their attention - something like becoming Crown Princess Selena's friend and confidant." Marzio looked at Ignis expecting him to be surprised, but the Demon shook his head; he had already known that particular information.
So the general continued, "It was silly; all those that had avoided me before seemed rather interested in me now. And having gained some military achievements did not hurt either. There were many who wanted me in their beds, but it turned out I was somewhat of a disappointment. I don't know what they actually expected from me in that area; the truth is that every lover I had quickly tired of me and moved on. I always knew that was bound to happen sooner or later, but I still held some little hope I would find someone who would care about my feelings and not throw me away like an old toy.
"With my last lover, I had dared believe it would be different. His father was Uncle Derek's friend, and Venris and I had practically known each other our whole lives. What I had not realized was that he had changed greatly since I had last seen him, which was before I entered Military School. He had become one of them, and only cared about himself. He hurt me even more than the others, because he made me give up hope to ever find someone else. And then..."
Marzio sighed softly. "... and then you came along. Fierce and proud, and incredibly beautiful, you just walked into my camp and told me that you did not want to kill me, because you thought I was worth something. I was awed that a Demon, someone I had been taught to hate with all my heart, would be able to see me as anything more than one who threatened to conquer his country. And then you saved my life, my worthless life, and gave me so much in return." Marzio looked up, to be able to see Ignis' face as he answered the Angelian's coming question. "Why did you do it, Ignis? You barely knew me, and certainly you could not be feeling as you do now."
A ghost of a smile crossed the prince's face. "But you are wrong; I felt something for you even then. I had been told who you were, by Tanis and a few others, and certainly knew you were an honourable man. I didn't know I would like you the moment I saw you, though." His brow creased a bit. "And there were other reasons as well, reasons you would not comprehend at this point. Anyway, I suspected that underneath that submissive mask you wore so well hid a kindred soul, and I never could resist a good challenge. The fact that we were attracted to each other physically did not exactly come as a surprise, either. However, sex has always come second on my agenda; it is your personality that draws me to you, the reason I will keep you in my heart for as long as I live."
Marzio buried his face deep into Ignis' hair, and drew himself closer to the prince's warm side. There were strange forces at work there, and he was certain that Ignis knew a lot more about them then he let people believe. However, he did not doubt the fact that Ignis' feelings were genuine. They had to be, for the prince had never lied to him concerning what he felt about a person, and especially not when the person in question was Marzio himself.
"I just hope you know what you're doing, my friend," he whispered against Ignis' shoulder.
Ignis' breath was warm against the Angelian's cheek, his voice coming out sleepily. "What was that, Marzio?"
"Nothing, my prince. Good night."
"Pleasant dreams to you, beloved."