Jack's Viking Sky 4

Summer

by Mitch H

URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asm/mitchh/jacksv04.php
Summary: Jack and Daniel have found a place of peace and time for Jack to heal. They plan and prepare for the journey north toward what they hope is a working stargate. Daniel has difficulty fitting into the confines of his role as a hosted Sky and begins, with Jack's support, to explore new friendships
Info:

Series Summary: Stranded on an unknown world, Jack and Daniel struggle to survive the harsh environment and the crushing confines of a Viking society corrupted by the dead goa'uld, Nirrti. Jack has been poisoned and Daniel must find a way to exist and prosper within the remnants of Nirrti's destructive laws in order to preserve his lover's life, and to get them to a possible gate home.

Additional Author's Note: Jack's Viking Sky is an 8 book series. An index of words and names can be found at the end of each book. Many authentic Viking cultural and language references have been used in this story and are noted in the index. Alpha, research and betawork by Rosie. Additional betawork by Saladscream. Remaining errors by Mitch, and no, he doesn't want to hear about them. Trust me on that.

Chapter 16 Meadows Life

Six months had passed since Jack and Daniel had been thrust into the Viking culture Nirrti had corrupted.

In his covered cart riding from his village, Brooksmeet to his new land, Jack gazed at his lover. "Danny--" Jack said, interrupted again by another irritating cough. "What is it?"

Daniel had curled up at his side, pressing his forehead tightly against Jack's armpit. "We're there, aren't we? On Thaid's--"

"Stop. You can't-- Daniel, I know ... I do know that you don't want to be here but there's no other choice. Talk about choices, ours are shit right now. And it's not your God damned fault or mine--" A deep coughing tore through his chest and Jack clutched at his stomach. "Even my ... weakness ... not my fault ... "

"Jack?" Daniel pushed himself up and peered tensely down at his lover. "Too much talking. Too much dry air. We need to get you inside where it's warmer. Boil some water."

"Not your fault," Jack gasped out the words. "Or mine."

"You're right. You're perfectly right, Jack. I know. There's nothing we can do about it now. We'll just get you inside and ... Balin," Daniel called as he tugged at the rear cover. "Are we ... "

The cart stopped and Balin and Lemmel rolled the cover up.

"Master! Master!" Asny's bright voice broke the hushed silence that had been around the little band as they traveled. "We got it all ready for ye! Come see! What a grand place and kettles and water vapors in the air by ye bed and soup! Tal got soup and Jarngerd got ale heated and so much of a bed in there I never saw before. Big and soft! Clean sheets! Come inside and breathe the vapors, please," she chattered insistently.

"Back, steward. Or I may not lift the master out with ye in the way. Ye go tell them inside--"

"They know! They know. Saw ye coming, we did. Can see from windows. Huge windows. Some with glass gone yesterday but there new today. All warm inside it be now with the glass new. And fireplaces. Ye have to come in and count 'em. One be so big and open on two sides! Imagine that. Ye could walk through in the summer when nothing burns in it. One side ye see the great serving room and the other side ye see the sitting room. Then the kitchen has one and the master's room another. But there be more even!"

Daniel wrapped the blanket back around Jack and helped Balin lift him from the cart.

With Jack coughing so hard, Balin didn't wait for Daniel, but hurried up the front steps and into the cot with his burden. "Room with the wettest air, right quick," he demanded of Jarngerd.

She pointed through the large sitting room to a door at the left and ran before him to open it. Balin stepped in behind her and felt the hot, wet air hit his face. Jack was coughing in his blanket cocoon.

"Master's chambers," Jarngerd said as she scooted behind the big swordsman and slammed the door hard. "Bed with him," she urged.

Balin made it to the huge bed in four long strides. He laid the bundled man on it and flipped the blanket back.

"Highborn Jack?"

Jack pushed away to roll onto his side. He held his hands tightly over his stomach and coughed, trying hard to make each one shallower than the last.

Jarngerd was kneeling on the bed before him, pressing the spout of a water skin to his lips. Jack sucked some liquid out and swallowed. He took more and swallowed slowly. The coughing eased gradually, and with his eyes tightly closed, he held onto her wrist, keeping the spout within easy reach. She waited patiently.

Someone was rubbing his back in little circles.

"Highborn Jack," Asny said softly. "Ease yeself. All be well. Sky be seen to. Cot be warm. Air wet for ye."

With his eyes still closed, Jack nodded to let the kid know he'd heard her.

"Ease, Highborn Jack. Wet air. Many kettles as we could hang over the fire. Right full of kettles it be."

"Good," Jarngerd said. "Good air. We've warm ale when ye can swallow it. Now?"

Jack shook his head, then took another sip of the water. Asny's rubbing began to relax his burning, cramping back. He took a decent breath of air and didn't cough. He took another, and then nodded.

Lemmel helped Daniel from the wagon, his big hands around the unveiled Sky's waist. He lifted him down gently, then followed him inside, blocking with his travel cloak any view of Daniel from the three villagers who'd helped bring the cart from Brooksmeet.

"This way, Sky," Tal said as she held the front door open. "Highborn be this way." She pointed to the door that Jarngerd had shut to keep the moisture in. "Steward and servant tend him. Champion be in there still."

"Thank you," Daniel said, not realizing he'd made another slip-up. He went in through the indicated door, pulling it closed after him. He found Jack sipping warmed ale, Jarngerd holding the tankard as well as a towel below Jack's chin in case any spilled on the bed linens.

"Warm," Daniel said, stripping out of his cloak and the veil that was even now only about his neck. "Forgot to pull it on before I got out of the cart," he said absently, turning for a moment to the door he'd just come through.

"Daniel," Jack said hoarsely, peering across the spacious room. Jarngerd and Asny eased him back onto the mound of pillows and Jack shut his eyes for a moment.

"Whoa. That's a big bed. That's an incredibly big bed. We'll need stairs to get in and out of it." Daniel hoisted himself up on the bed and crawled up toward Jack. He sat on his knees by Jack's feet and began to rub them lightly.

"Stairs, Sky? Husband will have them as ye wish. To the top or just up a little?" Jarngerd scooted backward and off the side of the bed, taking the tankard back to the roaring fire that snapped. Wood burned in it, not coal, and Daniel noticed how bright the fire made the room compared to the fire-lit room they'd had at Jack's inn. The higher flames danced and polished the room in a golden glow.

There were two windows, both on opposite walls, with wooden shutters closed right now. Heavy draperies hung on either side of the shutters.

"A couple of steps, or three would be very nice, Jarngerd. If Ulfrik could make something like that, whenever he has time?" Daniel scooted forward and rubbed Jack's legs.

"Asny, how's Highborn Jack's number one helper doing?" he asked the worried looking child.

"Fine as ever, Sky. Fine and doing what needs be done. He needs me."

"You're doing a great job, I can tell. Jack, you need anything else?" Daniel walked on his knees up the bed to kneel where Jarngerd had been moments earlier. "Littlest steward got you breathing easier?"

Jack nodded, his eyes still closed. Asny was rubbing his upper chest now, with light circles that were timed with his breathing. She was a very observant child.

"This is a huge bed," Daniel said again. "And a huge room. It'll take a lot of wood to keep it warm. Do we have enough wood, Jarngerd?"

"More than ever could be needed. And coal. Used wood today because the smell. This place was unused for many a season. Musty in the whole cot. Them what come from the village to work helped with taking all out. Then we put in what was brought. Bed for the master from the tanner's hall. Linens for him, from the same. Them, they also brought chairs made with leather seats for his home. One chair be special made for the master. Ye'll see, it be right in the sitting room yon. By the fire there as well. Him always we seat by the fire as ye showed us to do."

"As I showed you," Daniel said idly as he continued inspecting the room. The ceiling was as expected, very high. Then Daniel realized this cot was made like a log cabin. The exterior walls were huge, round timbers of a golden-yellow hue. The windows cut through the log walls were set deep in and the shutters were made of planks of the same type of wood. The ceiling was exposed beams of the same golden-yellow timber, but much smaller logs, and between the timbers flat planks showed. He hadn't noticed what type of roofing was on the outside of the cot. He hadn't taken the time but had literally run inside after Balin.

Jack's room was furnished with a tall chest of drawers, its front showing metal handles on a series of drawers. There was a round table by one of the windows, similar to the table they'd had at the inn. It had four chairs around it, straight back chairs. They were tall, as was the table, of a height convenient for the worker castes. Daniel's feet wouldn't touch the floor if he sat all the way back in one.

There was a low storage chest along one wall and shelves by that. The shelves held stacks of linens. He saw Jack's things from the inn on those shelves. The scribing supplies were there, along with the desert cloaks given to Jack in trade back in the low desert.

In one corner of the room there was a cabinet with a basin inset. An oval mirror was mounted low on the wall above it. The height of the cabinet top was for a worker caste and someone had set a little foot stool in front of it. Daniel would be able to stand on that and wash and shave.

"You'll miss that divan you had at the inn," Daniel said. "Big room, but other than the bed, not much in here for you to be comfortable on.

"Have divans and chairs in master's main hall, Sky. Right out the door there in easy reach. Can make the main hall air wet if need be. One divan out there be like the one at the inn. That one we left there for when master returns to visit his village.

"Also a room out by his kitchen now has his tub for soaking. There be one divan there, not of a padded kind, but of wooden slats as they have at the bath house, so as water does not damage it."

"That's fine, Jarngerd. Fine. Highborn Jack will be just fine here. You've all done a great job."

She smiled and dipped her head. "Musty smell almost burned from the master's cot. All the fires have the sweet-wood from the black forest burning in 'em now for two days. House was dank. Now be not. Bright with open shutters in all his other rooms. Glass back in the windows, all the panes that were cracked. Master's kitchen be well stocked. His cellar stocked. Ice lock cleaned out and got milk in it fresh this morning. Guinea fowl come too from the village and fresh eggs are to be had each morning from the coup and hen house. Grains for 'em laid in."

"Fresh eggs? Highborn Jack will like that. Won't you, Highborn Jack?"

Jack nodded slowly, his head lolling to the left.

"Linens from the inn for the servant's beds, and towels come from the bath house. Dishes and pots some brought. Master shepherd sends over apprentices this day to do what needs done in the lambing barn so when spring brings new ones the farm will work well. That all, Ulfrik sees to, him knowing the ways of sheep. The master's cot I see to. The rest, we wait for the Champion to discuss with the steward what needs doing as he feels necessary to set the household in order here."

"Aye," Asny chimed in softly, her fingertips barely touching Jack now. "Set the household in order, he does, the fake tanner. Does it well. I guess he be a good man and we should trust him again. Not because he be handsome though, or strong and tall. He does things good. Hurts no babes. Steals from no one and takes nothing that be not his."

"That sounds like good judgment to me," Daniel told her. "Is he asleep?" he asked in a softer voice, nodding his head toward Jack. Daniel knew he was, and also knew Asny would be reluctant to leave Jack's side.

"Aye," she said, regretfully. "We go now?"

"Yes. Let's leave him sleeping here in this huge bed. Huge," he repeated as he crawled off the soft surface. "I could use something to drink. Can you show me where Highborn Jack's kitchen is? Jarngerd can watch him for a while. Right?" he asked, as he looked over at the weaver woman.

"Where else would I go, Sky?" she answered him solemnly.

Daniel gave her a kind smile and turned to follow Asny from Jack's new room. Pausing by the door, Daniel retrieved his veil from a row of pegs set in the wall there, then, looping it loosely over his head, he and Asny slipped from the room, leaving Jack to get some rest.

Jack's bedchamber led directly into the huge sitting room, the main hall of the cot. To the left there was a curtained doorway. Daniel paused long enough to peek in and confirm that it would be Balin's bedroom. He saw the man's leather armor already set on shelves in there. Balin must have stripped out of it while Jack was being settled.

Ducking back out he found that Asny was several paces ahead of him. The great sitting room did indeed have two of the one-armed divans and a large collection of chairs of various types and sizes. There was a low, reclined chair by the fireplace. It looked more like a leather sling, strung over two rails. It had padded arms covered in a furry hide. There was a matching foot stool. Jack could sit in that and be almost reclining. Maybe his back would appreciate the angle.

Asny was weaving around, running between the chairs, low tables and divans. She was talking rapidly and Daniel only half listened to her. He avoided touching anything as he surveyed the room.

Balin and Lemmel were near the front entrance, unpacking bundles of supplies. There were two square windows on either side of the front door. Unusual for this planet, the windows were low to the ground. Jack would be able to see out of them if he were sitting anywhere in this room. There was a window on the wall opposite the door to Jack's bedroom too. This window was higher and showed a view of one of Jack's seven meadows. Daniel held his veil up past his eyes and peered out. He saw sheep dotting the sloping land.

Keeping the veil lifted off his eyes, he passed through the sitting room. Then Daniel turned left and went around the great, two sided fireplace Asny was so fascinated with. It dominated the room, set in a floor to ceiling wall made of rocks. He walked through the opening between the fireplace and the back wall of the structure and came into a dining hall. There was a huge table of gleaming, dark wood. Twelve high-backed chairs ringed it and the room had a matching buffet and two taller sideboards. The back wall had four long windows on it. To the right was a small L shaped hall and he saw more of the cot ranged back that way.

The hallway was less well lit, so Daniel dropped his veil off to hang about his neck. Walking down the hall, he felt a small decline in the floor. This part of the structure had been built at a different time than the front of the house. The floor in the back, instead of being hardwood planks, was a reddish stone, cut in squares and fit snugly together without mortar.

In the sloping passage he saw a sunlit room to his left, but the kitchen was straight ahead, and Asny stood in the doorway beckoning him.

"Come, Sky," Asny called. "Milk or water? Or wine if ye need. Bottles of it here, many. Ale too. Keg here. And then this, berry juice. Pour water in with the juice, I think. Because it be too tasty."

"Water will be fine, Asny." He looked around at the spacious working area. This extension onto the house was built of dressed rocks and wood timbers instead of round logs. The kitchen was equipped with two stoves, one covered with steaming pots over its hot belly. The other had two great oven doors on the front of it. A generous supply of wood fuel sat in a rack by one stove, and a bin of coal was near the back door. Daniel glanced over the food dishes sitting on the tall work surface in the center of the room.

"Water, aye. Tal, Sky wants it but may I please get it for him? Ye be so busy with making soup and all."

"Aye, child. Right quick if ye can. Sky, anything to eat that ye may desire? Bird we have ready. Eggs fresh. There be the green stalks and roast apples that ye love so. Pie of course. Pie with meat and pie with berries and honey drip."

"Thank-- I see. You've done well stocking the kitchen, Tal. Highborn Jack will be pleased. But where did all this come from? Was there a storage cellar here?"
Daniel backed away from the food.

"All that was here we took away. None was saved. I hope that doesn't displease the master, but too many jars were cracked, seals broken. Not to be trusted, and not knowing how old or such. The cold lock wasn't being used properly, so all in it went away too, and new wood put in to line it. New door too, and block ice put in to keep the chill. Then the village done its duty, as the payment was made, no debts or owed payments come with the land, but it be the duty of them that signed the payment to make the place in working order. They bring out the food. Jarngerd says new pans and dishes so they did bring them too. Jarngerd says the old was not proper. Balin said she was right so the council saw to it."

"So all this stuff in here, it's all from the village?"

"Aye." Tal nodded.

Daniel stepped closer to the counter and nodded. "Good. I'm not hungry right now. Have you eaten? Perhaps Lemmel and Balin are hungry. Would you offer some food to them? And someone else pulled the cart, I think. Whoever that was, offer them some food too, please."

"They? As ye wish, Sky. Surely they'll want meat pie. That big Lemmel, he likes the meat pie. Champion will be pleased to have the young man get what makes him smile."

Daniel nodded absently, not meeting Tal's eyes.

Asny used a foot stool to reach the glazed, clay jug on the tall counter. She poured Daniel a glass of the liquid that would be cooler, having been stored in the clay jug. "For me to stand on," she said, tapping her toe on the stool. "So as I may reach what my master needs me to reach in his fine, grand cot. And ye too, Sky. Step on this to reach things, though ye've no need. All should to be brought for ye, our Balin says."

Daniel frowned at the footstool. There was another one in the corner of the kitchen, just like the one that had been put in Jack's bed chamber. Like the child, he'd have to use them in order to reach things. He sipped at the water Asny pressed into his hand. He saw stairs at the back of the kitchen. Balin had said the house had no stairs.

"Where do those lead?"

Tal glanced at the stairs, then back to him. "House servant's sleeping quarters, up. Loft, and attic storage. Plenty of room, even though it only runs along the back of the cot. If the household grows more, there be outbuildings that are fixed for sleeping. Some ... slept there not too long ago, maybe. Down, the stairs go to the cellars for food and to the cold lock where milk, cheese and eggs be stored. Rooms through that door yon be more for working in, as Jarngerd says one will do nicely if she may use it, her husband looming in there and her carding during the day so she be close at hand if needed, but can still do her weaving work.

"I be serving this, then return to Highborn Jack's village with them that walked out last."

"Back to see Highborn Jack's big tub, Sky? Just as the spa has. Fire bed under it. What stairs as ye said to Jarngerd? Some like them already be in and around the tub so anyone can climb in. Even one as small as ye. Champion was right glad about it going in that room instead of the kitchen, he was. Says the door be better for Highborn Jack."

"Okay, show me Highborn Jack's new tub," Daniel said, indulging her enthusiasm.

He followed her back down the narrow hallway and went into the room he'd passed earlier. The tub in the center of the room was indeed exactly like the one they'd used at the spa. It was filled with water and Daniel pulled the sleeve of his tunic back to feel if it was warm. It wasn't yet. The tub had probably only been filled recently and the coals hadn't had time to heat up that big a volume of water yet. He saw where the coals were fed into a metal box under the tub. Jack would love this.

The room also had its own fireplace, situated along the exterior wall. It had windows on either side of it. He wiped moisture from the glass and peered outside. Dry, grassy rolling landscape stretched out for miles. Jack's cot was isolated, solitary, and safe. Daniel leaned his forehead against the glass and watched the long-haired sheep work their way across the hillocks.

A few days later Tal returned to deliver pies and to collect the littlest steward. Asny was very brave, but her bottom lip trembled when she hugged Jack and Daniel goodbye. Daniel knew the separation was good for the child. She'd become too dependent on them, and if they didn't start breaking that connection now she'd be devastated when they left for good. It was time for her to start using her newfound bravery and assertiveness on her own.

They walked off, woman and child, hand in hand back to the inn. Tal had delivered some news with the pies. The old innkeeper had left, off to try his fortune to the west with some distant relative. She and Asny would be moving from the inn's attic into his quarters. Tal wanted permission to let Canlith have the innkeeper's sitting room but Daniel had said no. He worried, and rightly so that Canlith's frequent male companions in such close proximity would be an imposition on Asny's evenings. Tal was surprised as Jack explained the situation to her. She was shocked that the man would feel concerned for Asny's privacy, but readily agreed to Canlith making other arrangements.

The inn was running smoothly, making a much better profit now even with the new limitations and Tal said they could use another young worker from the children's hall if Jack thought that was okay.

He'd told her to do what she needed as long as she and Asny kept their personal space private, and that his restrictions on the use of bed companions were followed.

After they left, Daniel stood at the front window, his veil draped loosely over his head with the ends crossed under his chin and trailing back, untied. He stared up the gentle-sloping path that led back to Brooksmeet, then looked around for Jack's men. Balin had Lemmel and Ulfrik out there, pacing off a practice field the Champion wanted marked. He was going to begin to teach Lemmel how to handle weapons. Daniel hated that, but it wasn't his place to object.

Jack was by his fireplace reclining in the leather sling-shaped chair sipping at a tankard of ale. "Look at that. I can hold this without shaking," he said.

Daniel continued to stare out the window. The day was warmer than any they'd experienced on this planet. Spring was arriving fast and Summer would be hard on its heels. The wind hardly blew at all, and the sky had been dressed with a line of white clouds to the north this morning, the thickest clouds they'd seen since crashing here. Balin had mentioned rain. Daniel missed rain. This claustrophobic house would grow worse, though. The rain would keep Daniel inside.

"I want to talk to you, Daniel. Daniel?"

"What?" Daniel shifted his focus from the path to the reflection of his lover in the pane of glass. "We alone? You shouldn't say my name--"

"We're alone. The guys are all off tending to stuff. Jarngerd's busy in the back somewhere. I need to talk to you. You're not sleeping. You're staying up at night, sitting in a wad all tight. Like you're trying not to touch the bed. You're doing it now, see? Not touching the furniture around you, or the window. You're all scrunched up."

"I'm not scrunched. Is that even a word?" He frowned hard, wrinkling his brow.

"Scrunched. Squeezed. I don't know ... Shrunk in. Like you're determined to not touch this place or anything in it too much. You have to quit that."

"I'm fine." Daniel looked out at the field again. Lemmel was jogging off to one of the outbuildings, dragging a long pole with him. Ulfrik was helping Balin place stones in a line to mark off some exercise area. Balin stood in the middle of it, directing him, taking measurements, and correcting the placements.

"You're dead on your feet. Look at you. Dark circles under your eyes, shoulders slumped. You're half asleep right now."

Daniel shook his head. "Fine. I'm fine."

"Christ," Jack swore under his breath. "Sleep deprivation will make you punchy, irritable. If you're so fine why don't you come over here and sit down on this divan? Or that chair there."

A distasteful grimace flashed across Daniel's features. He darted a glance at Jack's reflection and then turned to watch the field again.

"Come here. I'm going to make that an order."

Angrily, Daniel whirled on Jack. "An order? How dare you--"

"Taking care of my team member. You're going to come over here and sit down and talk to me because it's the right thing to do. If I have to order you then it's what I should do, because even though I'm about as strong as a wet Kleenex I'm still your team leader. You're still under my command. My responsibility--"

"Mine! This whole fucking place we're trapped in? My responsibility! I caused this!"

"Gunnlaug's!" Jack dropped the stein by his chair as a coughing fit gripped his chest. He clutched at his stomach and he looked at Daniel through tearing eyes. His throat burned.

Jarngerd came hurrying from the back of the house. She grabbed a clay cup from the table by the fire and poured him a glass of water. Jack broke his gaze with Daniel as she sat him up and held the cup for him. Jack closed his eyes and sipped slowly, letting his body relax.

When he opened his eyes, Daniel was gone. Jack sighed and sank back into the reclining chair as Jarngerd positioned another pillow under his knees. "Thanks. Did you see where the Sky went?"

"Back way, master. Through ye kitchen. I heard the door there, so now he be outside. Need me fetch ye Champion?"

"No." Jack closed his eyes. "Yeah. I guess ... go let him know ... I just think ... let him know."

Balin took two long strides to his left, swinging his great sword in a full circle as he moved. "It'll do, weaver. It'll do nicely. Tomorrow we stand wooden posts along this end. Them, they be for work with lances. Distance marks on that end of the field, I think, and-- Yonder comes ye wife. See to her first, and then we walk to the road to meet the shepherds who'll apply to ye to serve the household. Commanding men, whether on a battle field or on herding, be not a simple task. Go, see what she needs."

"Aye, Champion," Ulfrik strode briskly toward the house as Jarngerd came down the stairs. "Love, ye need something?"

"Our master sends me to his Champion. The Sky has left again."

"Nay," Ulfrik said in a low whisper. He looked alarmed. "When, and how, without the Champion seeing? He sees all, even ye as ye stepped out."

"Back way," she said as she hurried by him, her skirt and apron flying in her haste.

Balin frowned sharply at her news and sent her back to tend her master. "That way," he instructed Ulfrik, pointing left. "Off round the cot, then watch for me. I go this way and we set up a pattern to seek by. Stay back from him if ye see him before me. Do not approach him. Where'd that fool desert boy get to? We need his help." He set out on the right side of the house.

A few yards past the rambling home, Balin came to a halt. The Sky was running stiff-legged at a fast pace up a rise. His veil fluttered away from its precarious position about his neck and landed on the grassy knoll. The young fool he'd been grousing about was jogging after the Sky and even as Balin raised a hand to cup around his mouth and shout nay, he saw Lemmel bend and scoop up the veil, then pursue the Sky. Balin's heart sank into his stomach.

He should have sent Jarngerd for the Sky! What a fool he was! What a fool! Hastily, he signaled Ulfrik to stop. The weaver was glancing frantically between Balin and Lemmel. He'd seen the blasphemy, seen Lemmel in his too-enthusiastic ignorance scoop up the veil with his bare hand. Balin cursed the careless youth. Nothing for it now but to beat the lad. Balin sorely didn't want to beat Lemmel. He clenched his jaw in anger.

"Sky," Lemmel called, trotting after his master's lover. Lemmel grinned broadly. "Veil for ye. Dropped it, ye did." He caught up with the fleeing man easily, shortening his long gait to match Daniel's.

"Running? Fine day for running! Fine day! Da, he says running be a man's waste of energy. Course, running most times in the sand, not a smart thing. Ma, she says run when I want, so I do!" Lemmel ran several strides at his top speed, then turned to jog backwards ahead of Daniel. "Fast, I am, but not as fast as the Champion, I'll wager--" he broke off and came to a jarring stop, making himself into an eight foot roadblock in front of Daniel.

With his vision blinded by tears Daniel almost smacked into Lemmel. He stopped and stared up at him, his lungs heaving. He blinked, blinked again and wiped at his wet face. Lemmel looked shocked.

"Sky?" Lemmel asked, sounding as if he were going to start crying any second. "Ye hurt? Oh, not a new hurt. Oh, Sky." Lemmel dropped to one knee, and gazed up the short distance that now separated them in height. "Oh, Sky, what can this one do to ease ye?"

"Lemmel," Daniel said, and took a step back, angrily wiping at his face now. "I don't ... Nothing. There's nothing that I need."

"Not from me, Sky? Need ye something from my master that be not given to ye? Perhaps I could ask him. Anything. I'd wish to find it if I could, whatever ye need."

"Why? Because you like to serve a Sky?"

"Aye. Of course. The only reason I'm allowed to have, that one. Champion says not to have any other reason. Not to feel for ye as I do. He says it be not seemly, my feelings. I mean, they not be like what I feel for him! Don't mistake that, Sky. I ... For him I want things that cannot be too. Same as I can't feel for ye as I want to. But for him, it has to do with bedding, him in me, being for him as I want him to be for me, a true mate of all my lifetime. And I cannot. My da forbade it until I fulfill my obligation to him. But ye ... Ye I see behind the veil and I grow to lust and want to touch and hold, well enough I do, of course. But it be not the same. I feel also for ye that ... "

Lemmel bowed his head.

"What, Lemmel? I'm asking. So you can say what you feel. It's all right for you to say it. It's just you and me, here."

"Sky," he whispered, then raised his face. "I love ye. Have since the desert. My heart, when Da said go, as I'd begged Ma to let me, Da says go and my heart went soaring. I love ye. Ma had another male child and he be a fine one. But not like a brother to me as ye are. He doesn't like me, and most be mean to me. Smart, but mean spirited. I be my da's best trader and inheritor. Him, my brother, he apprentices to a tinsmith on the west coast. Mean spirited.

"Ye ... be like what I'd wish for in a little brother. Though not of blood. Not of blood because I would bed ye. To bed ye the Champion would surely call unseemly. Though the truth be, I love ye. Champion would knock me silly if I said such in his hearing. I know this. I be not stupid in the ways. One cannot be permitted to love a Sky, or to dare think of him as a brother.

"Know well also that for this," he paused and held up Daniel's veil, "my hand on it, I take a beating. Even though he be not here to see, my honor makes me tell him when we go home to my master's cot. I tell and then I take the beating and glad of it, because I love ye and would pick it up again. The veil--" he swallowed. "Veil protects one who I love. So I bring it to ye."

Daniel clenched his lips into a thin line and took a deep breath. Then he took the veil from Lemmel and stepped up against the kneeling man, hugging him hard.

"Ah! Ah, Sky," Lemmel said, his voice breaking. "Ah. Love ye. Brother I should not say and love I cannot within the Champion's hearing. Though right now, I care not if the Champion hears me say it, even. All he can do, just send me from this place. Still, I would have ye know, even if I am then sent a half a world away, and not able to see ye. Still, I said it."

"Thank you, Lemmel." Daniel pressed his cheek against Lemmel's dark, coarse hair. "Thank you. And don't tell me not to say thank you to a man who just offered me friendship of brotherhood, love. I won't stand for it. I love you too. Since the desert."

"Ah, beautiful Sky," Lemmel brought a hand up and touched Daniel's waist lightly, then quickly withdrew his touch. "Sore beautiful."

"Hug me back," Daniel whispered. "If you want, do it."

Lemmel engulfed Daniel in his huge arms and stood, lifting the smaller man against his body. Daniel's face was pressed against the big worker caste man's cheek, and his feet dangled by Lemmel's knees. He hugged the massive neck and shoulders as hard as he could. "Thanks," Daniel whispered.

"Thank ye, Sky," Lemmel whispered back. "Thank ye for hearing my words."

"Brother," Daniel whispered.

"Brother," Lemmel echoed in a whisper.

As he raised his head Daniel saw two distant figures by the house. They were gazing this way and he realized it must be Balin and Ulfrik. They were watching him. He felt a flash of anger, of defiance. "The master swordsman watches. No, don't let go." Daniel tightened his hold on Lemmel. "Not until you're through hugging me. Until you want to, that is."

He felt Lemmel tighten his hold and Daniel had a flash of being held off his feet by Thaid, with the giant's arms banded around him so tight he couldn't breathe. Viciously, Daniel fought that image, conquering it, defeating the freezing fear that washed through his soul. He held onto Lemmel, bringing his freshly shaven cheek against the hairless flesh of the worker caste man.

"Thank you," he whispered in Lemmel's ear.

Lemmel groaned, moving his head to rub his skin against Daniel's lips. "Oh, my. Beautiful Sky."

Daniel couldn't help but chuckle. "Beautiful? You saw me unshaven, filthy, stinking of sweat and blood in the desert. You held me while I threw up, and pissed, and worse, didn't you?"

Lemmel matched Daniel's chuckle, keeping his hold firm as his big chest vibrated with mirth. "Aye. And ye are beautiful through it all as ye are right now in my arms again."

"You're beautiful too, Lemmel. Big, granted. And beautiful," he whispered, his lips brushing across Lemmel's ear.

"Kisses," Lemmel whispered hoarsely. "Kisses on my ear. Never thought I'd feel such. Ye do it so ... A wonderment."

He shifted his hold on the big youth's neck and brought his lips to Lemmel's cheek. Daniel kissed him there, an actual kiss, not just the brushing of lips over the youth's ear. "Like that?"

"Aye," Lemmel sighed the word. "Aye. Seen ye do it in the spa water many a time there and here. Kiss my master thus. Long to feel it, I do. Oh, I grow. Shall I put ye away so ye not feel my lust?"

"Too late." Daniel smiled and kissed the corner of Lemmel's mouth. His lips were full, like Teal'c's mouth, but broader. Daniel watched Lemmel's closed eyes for a moment, then pulled the veil up behind the big man's head to block the sight of the watchers by the cot. Then he brought his mouth to Lemmel's and kissed him gently, softly.

Lemmel groaned. He tilted his head and worked his warm lips against Daniel's. "Oh, Sky," he murmured, his mouth never leaving the lips he felt on his. "Oh, beautiful."

"Lemmel," Daniel said, savoring the way his lips fit in Lemmel's as he spoke. He felt Lemmel's huge erection against himself. It wasn't scary. It felt good. Lemmel really cared about him. This kissing was probably so wrong. Not to Jack, but to Balin. The master swordsman might see it as wrong by the Nortvegr, and maybe as a betrayal of his feelings for Lemmel. Daniel had to quit. He had to stop this before Lemmel got hurt.

He pulled back. "That feels wonderful. I like it. Like kissing you and feeling ... your arousal. But we should go back now. We don't want to upset the Champion too much. He'll be worried about you."

"About me? Why?" Lemmel looked terribly confused.

"Because he loves you. If he realizes you and I are kissing ... "

"Brothers only. Not of blood, it be seemly for brothers who are not of blood to kiss and ... and ... more, Sky. It be. Seemly things he cares most about. Seemly. We are being seemly, if he passes by the forbiddenness of being a brother to a Sky."

"But he might think it's only his place to kiss you. He might be jealous."

"Jealous I know about. My Ma, she showed me jealous women and jealous men. And I know about the jealous caring and loving that goes on. When one will not share good feelings and will keep one for only their use. That be jealous. Him, he has none. He speaks to me of ... others when we have our enjoyment in the bed together."

"Others?"

"Aye. Ones we see and like. Also ... as we sometimes hear ye ... and my master, Highborn Jack. He whispers to me and sore it does make me go off like an iceberg cracking! Crash! I go off. Oh, I sore do love to think of ye and my master naked. Not imparting! No. that would be wrong beyond wrong. But of the other, behind the veil when ye please him and he pleases ye and we hear the sounds and then, sweet Balin whispers to me and takes me in his hand and ... my rod so hard and hot ... as it be now--" Lemmel swallowed.

Daniel chuckled and realized Lemmel had pushed against him a couple of times. Daniel pushed back, undulating against the big man. "Like that?"

"Ah!" Lemmel gasped. "Oh, going, Sky! Oh, not stopping. Oh. Now I done it. Sore fast. Oh, ye think me a lad with no control now. Oh, my shame. I went off."

"I ... " Daniel smiled. "I shouldn't have made you go off. I would apologize but Skys never apologize, so that must mean I did it on purpose. I guess that means you can't have any shame about it, either."

Lemmel groaned and closed his eyes. "I went off. I can't wait to tell him. He'll think me lucky and a bastard at the same time."

Daniel gazed at Lemmel as the big man grew solemn. Then Daniel tilted his head, closed his eyes and gave Lemmel an open-mouthed kiss. He felt Lemmel shift, but never stopped the kiss. He knew they were moving, but let his hands roam up over Lemmel's hair. Then as they parted he found himself on his knees, with Lemmel on his knees too. They knelt together, groin to groin on the hillside. Daniel leaned back and gazed intently up into Lemmel's half-lidded eyes.

"Brother whom I love," Lemmel whispered. "But I dare not speak of the love to any others, Sky. I do not wish to be sent from ye. I do not wish to leave ye side. Grant this?"

"Yes," Daniel said. "Highborn Jack would never send you away, but he'll never mention it to anyone. I'll tell him, because he'll understand. He'll approve, Lemmel." Daniel smiled at him and was glad when Lemmel smiled back. He had too many secrets from Jack already. He couldn't add another.

The big man sank back onto his heels, then his hip and finally laid prone on the ground. Daniel sank to rest on his side in the crook of Lemmel's arm. They studied the wispy clouds in the northern part of the sky as the afternoon sun warmed them. The season was growing warmer.

Finally, Daniel pulled at Lemmel, urging the young man to his feet. They strode down the hill, Daniel taking as long a stride as possible while Lemmel took short steps to match him. Sheep had moved into the area, silently grazing, and Daniel wasn't appreciative of the smell. He laughed as Lemmel bleated at the horned animals and wagged his ass at the ones they passed.

When they got to the steps of Jack's cot, Daniel donned the veil, crossing it loosely under his chin again. He had quit tying it. He'd have to start doing that again so Lemmel wouldn't have to pick it up.

"Champion!" Lemmel called to Balin who was still working on his new practice field. "Been lazing about, and very sorry to not have done work."

"Go on with ye, lad. Tend the Highborn. That be ye duty first above all, and shut about lazing, hear?" Balin spoke solemnly.

"Aye," Lemmel answered, his tone still light and breezy. "And I'm for a beating when ye've time. Did a bad thing, I did. Touched what no common man should. Beat me before supper or after?"

"Hush! Fool whelp. Speak not so in front of the Highborn. Go on with ye." Balin glared now, his fists on his hips.

"Aye." Lemmel looked wistfully at the big swordsman as he followed Daniel up the stairs onto the wide porch.

Jack's porch ran across the front of the entire width of his cot. It was covered, and blocked the direct sunlight. Daniel felt cold. He shivered and pulled the collar of his tunic tight as he and Lemmel crossed the wooden decking. Inside Jack's cot it was warm and humid. Daniel unbuttoned his tunic quickly, amazed that he'd been able to tolerate this heat earlier.

"Babe?" Jack called, bleary from sleep, he pushed himself higher in the sling-like chair. "Oh. There you are."

"Jack. I was outside with Lemmel. It's pretty warm outside today." He tossed the tunic on a nearby chair.

Jack sank back, closing his eyes in exhaustion.

"How about we get you in your bed, Highborn Jack? I didn't realize I was gone so long. You look worn out."

Jack drew a deep breath and forced his eyes open. He gazed up at Daniel. "I'm tired, but first ... we ... " he drew a deep breath, "are going to ... talk. I need to ... "

"Sleep, apparently." Daniel began to gather Jack's blanket about him. "Lemmel can carry you back into your bedroom."

"Lemmel, go outside now. Obey me," Jack said softly. He locked his gaze on Daniel.

Silently and instantly, Lemmel withdrew from the cot.

"Sit," Jack said.

Daniel stood half crouched over Jack, his hands still clutching the blanket edge.

"Or don't," Jack said, his voice still soft. "You reacted to something that wasn't happening that moment. You were reacting to feelings that are linked to the attack, and to the stress you've been under since we crashed here. You've got PTSD and we both know-- We've already discussed the fact that I know what I'm talking about on that subject. So, now you are going to sit ... or stand there and talk about it. Talk to me. Tell me what happened when you went in that room and Thaid jumped you. Tell me what happened to you. Tell me."

"Bastard," Daniel whispered, letting go of the blanket.

"Me or the miner?"

"Does it matter? Both!" Daniel said angrily. He turned his back on Jack and reached his hand up to lean against the fireplace mantle, staring into the flames of the burning wood.

"PTSD is that way. Something little happens and you react way out of proportion. You keep running away from wherever reminds you of the attack."

"I can't be doing that. It'd be stupid. This ... your house, that whole village? It never ends."

"Tell me about the attack."

"I could run forever and never get away."

"You went upstairs to get a new quill to finish a scribing job."

"I could run in any direction, Jack. It would make no difference." Daniel's voice was flat and tight.

"When you went down the hall, Thaid was already waiting in the room for you to come in."

"I left a while ago because I don't want to think about it. Why are you trying this with me? Playing shrink?" His voice was still tight, but rising in timbre

"Thaid was in the room, Daniel. Waiting. You went in. Was the door open or closed?"

"Closed. I opened it."

"And went in," Jack prompted, then remained quiet.

After several moments of silence Daniel spoke. "I got inside the room and felt like something was different, wrong. I stood there looking around. Just stood there. How stupid."

"You had no expectation of danger. It wasn't stupid."

"I had the bucca on over the veil. I forgot to say, the hallway was colder than usual. There was a window open somewhere. The one Thaid came in, I think. So when I came in, he didn't see the veil. It wasn't his fault."

"I don't want to talk about fault. I want to talk about how you felt, what happened to you."

"I felt shitty. I got attacked," he said, anger elevating his tone more now.

"You came in the room with the bucca on." Jack's voice was strong and calm in comparison to his lover's.

"And just stood there. Okay, then he was hiding behind the door. He must have shut it. Yes. He shut it. I remember that. And he grabbed me very quickly. I didn't even have time to turn around."

"He grabbed you from behind."

"They're big, Jack. These people. I mean, Teal'c is big, but these people? Not just tall. They're big. His wrists were so big I couldn't get a grip on him. Didn't matter anyway."

"Why not? What happened next?"

"He lifted me off my feet. Not like Lemmel did. I need to tell you about where Lemmel and I were just now."

"After we finish talking about the attack, Daniel. Tell me what happened after he lifted you off your feet."

"I remember trying to stomp his insole, then I was in the air, kicking his shins. I tried to butt his head before that. He was too tall, though. I hit his chest with my head. Hit his sides, hip, with my fists. Whatever I could reach, I hit and kicked."

"You felt frightened at that point?"

"Not really. Kind of more alarmed, like adrenalin flowing kind of thing. Fight or flight response. I fought like crazy."

"And he lifted you off your feet." Jack waited for Daniel to continue.

"He wrapped a rope around my neck. I got my wrist in the way and he just tightened the rope, trapping my wrist against my throat. He lifted me by the rope. I'd forgotten about that. Don't think at the time of the attack I realized it. He hung me by the rope around my neck for a moment. Guess he was used to hauling sheep by ropes around their necks." Daniel's voice grew tight and flat again as he continued, "I don't think he even realized it could kill me."

"You felt helpless at that point?"

"I felt panic. I kept kicking. I was scared."

"Angry?"

"No, just panic." Daniel shook his head then leaned his forehead against his arm on the tall mantle.

"He had the rope around your neck and your wrist. Then what?"

"Tied my other wrist and dragged me to our bed. I hate that he did it to me in our soft, warm bed with the sunlight streaming in the room. Hate that."

"Me too. struck me as so ... Well, all of it was horrible. The bed I spent so much time in."

"I hate sleeping in his bed here."

"Ah. It's not his bed. That's a new bed in there. All the furniture in this house, none of it was here before. All of it's new. You not realize that?"

"New? Oh." Daniel pushed off the fireplace and gazed around the large sitting room. "None of this was his stuff?" he asked thoughtfully.

"No. None of it. In any of the rooms, none of it. I told them to clean the place out. Told Balin to make sure it wasn't the same at all. But, Thaid wasn't living here anyway. He was staying in a small hut down by the road. Closer to town. He'd stopped being able to take care of the place a long time ago apparently. This place was unused, Balin said. Still, I had them gut it just so we would have a fresh start. Balin tore the hut down."

"Why didn't you tell me that?" Daniel asked angrily.

"Didn't realize ... I should have. I don't think clearly all the time. Pain gets bad. I forget things. Overlook things."

"All new stuff." Daniel's tone grew thoughtful again and he walked around the room, touching some of the furniture.

"He tied you to the bed?"

"You know that. Ulfrik had to cut me free, remember?"

"I do. Tell me about being tied to it."

"Face down, Jack. Face down," he said with disgust. "That was the worst. He couldn't see the veil. Couldn't see the warning to stop. Or my eyes. Before, when I have to give one of them sex, it's always face to face. They see what they do to me, but also, they try not to hurt me. He ... hit me," he said, his voice faltering now. "I was fighting him. He hit me. Told me to ... open."

"Open?"

"Let him in. In my body. Let him ... rape me. He told me ... I was being bad."

"Shit," Jack swore softly.

"He hit me hard on the back of the head. I felt sick from it, more sick from that than when he finally pushed into me. That hurt. I screamed. The rope was choking my breath away but I managed to scream. Asny must have heard."

"You left out the miner."

"Crap," Daniel said and went to the window he'd looked out of earlier. He didn't focus on anything outside, though. "He was hitting me in the head and it hurt so bad. I remember thinking it felt like being hit with a sledge hammer. I don't think Teal'c could hit that hard. And then the door opened and Gunnlaug came inside. He didn't know it was me. He thought it was you. Called Thaid something. A moron I think. Or dummy. Something like that. Told him to get off because Gunnlaug wanted to fuck you first before Thaid stretched you out. What a bastard."

"Yeah. Gunnlaug didn't know it was you. Were you scared for me during this?"

"Yes," Daniel said in surprise. He glanced over his shoulder at Jack and then turned back to the window. "How did you know that? I was. I was scared that Thaid would realize he got the wrong one of us and go after you. He'd have killed you instantly. He'd have crushed you."

"I think you're right. You were covered in horrible bruises, Daniel. Your ribs, hips, arms. Your neck. I think every time he grabbed you or squeezed, he left bruises. You were covered in them. Wrists too."

"I didn't realize," Daniel said softly.

"Neck too. He came close to paralyzing you."

"Scary," Daniel murmured absently.

"Very scary. That was a hard fight you were in. So outmatched. And it wasn't over quickly. He hurt you badly even before he started the rape."

"I guess so."

"Your body remembers the beating, the hitting, the bruising. Your body responds to that memory. And of the rape. That too. Understand?"

"Yeah. I ... When Gunnlaug tried to make him wait his turn, Thaid fell on me as he reached out to hit Gunnlaug. I couldn't breathe. I was crushed under him, but I heard the blow, and the breaking sound of Gunnlaug's neck. A wet sound. One blow. Did I tell you that? He killed the miner with one back-handed blow. That's when I got frightened. I was scared then."

"Tell me about it."

"Nothing else to tell. He told Gunnlaug no, and when the man argued, called him a name, Thaid swung at him and killed him without even trying, without even realizing it I think. He just wanted to have a blessing, get a wife."

"You couldn't have let him, Daniel. Even if you'd accepted a bargain from Thaid, he might have killed you during it. If he'd been on you face to face he might have broken your back by pulling your legs up too high. He might have smothered you. If he'd come in you, he'd have torn you. He didn't understand restraint. These men you bargain with use restraint. You said so yourself. They have to work hard at not hurting you too much. But it still hurts. I know that. You cried out when Lars was in you. I remember that much. I remember that. I've seen Balin and Lemmel nude. They hurt you when you go with these men. Thaid might have killed you or at the least hurt you so bad you might not have recovered. It wasn't an option, sleeping with him. Wasn't. Scary. All of it. You were scared for your life and for mine."

"I was. Scared," he said, sounding as if his thoughts were miles away.

"Tell me what happened after he killed Gunnlaug."

"He told me to let him in, so ... I did. I let him in me. Tried to relax and open up. Stopped struggling. I knew then that I would die if he didn't get his way."

"So you were raped under the very real and present threat of death."

"Yes." Daniel nodded briefly.

"And everything in this society reminds you of it, puts you back in that moment constantly. Constantly."

"Yes. All of the impartings I've done, all of it seems to run together in my mind and it all feels like rape now. Months of it. Months of submitting to rapes, so many I can't even--" Daniel's voice broke and he took a ragged breath before continuing, "can't even count them now. I know that's what's messing up my thinking. Clouding my judgment, Jack."

"You're responding to things out of proportion. You're responding to things that are in the past, not what's happening right now. That's PTSD."

"All right. We've labeled it all nice and tidy. Now what?" Daniel asked, sounding desperate. He turned back to Jack and went to his side.

"Now we talk some more about it, get the feelings connected with what happened, and when something makes you upset or angry or scared, we talk about that too, and figure out if the feelings are in proportion to what's actually going on, or if they're echoes of the attack."

"Simple. Got a few months free on your schedule, doctor?" An ironic smile lifted one corner of Daniel's mouth.

"As it happens, mister smarty pants, I do."

Daniel snorted out a laugh. "I see. So I'm stuck here in your house, with your servants, on your land, and now I have to put up with you as my therapist?"

Jack frowned and shook his head. "My land? In their eyes only, Daniel. You know that. You're not my sex slave. You're my team member. You're my lover, not my property."

Daniel closed his eyes and sighed. "The reality that I'm dealing with is that I am. For all practical purposes, here and now, on this planet and among these people, I'm nothing but a whore that you keep in clothes and shoes. I can be nothing more here."

"That's not the reality. They may say that, pay lip service to it, but you do interact with them as a person. You can scribe, earn money, walk among them, refuse-- refuse" he repeated loudly, "any advance from any of them you wish to, and expect to be treated decently. You can have an effect, a positive effect on their daily lives whether they like it or not."

"I can't constantly battle them--"

"Yes, that's true. No one can live in a constant state of battle. You have to walk within their rules, just as I do. And you have to continue to find ways to be true to yourself. You took Gunnlaug's' money and had a huge effect on this village in a very positive way. You refused him, stood up for your rights. You've forced them to stop using children at the inn. You have made them think about things in a new way, and consider things from a different perspective. You've caused good changes here like you have in so many places we've gone. Don't you dare discount those changes. I'll get Asny to kick your ass. Or worse I'll force Balin to let her take you back to the orphanage. Don't think I didn't get an earful from him about that little side-trip. I thought he was going to have that stroke you keep claiming I'm going to give him. It's that little girl that's risking the big bad swordsman's health here. She almost did him in."

Daniel chuckled. "She's an unstoppable force."

"Is now. Wasn't," Jack said, shaking his head at Daniel. "And who made that change?"

"The man who gave her a title. You," Daniel said accusingly.

"I told her stories. You gave her a job. You gave her a sense of responsibility, of being depended on to do important work. Self-worth. So shut up about giving her a title. And while we're on the subject, there's the weavers. I know it pisses you off to admit it but your status as a Sky, and the fact that you chose to buy from them, that's what saved them from starving. They lost everything before they got to the inn, and you made their work marketable. You did. A simple act, but the ramifications were far-reaching for them. So, you can't keep denying that you do have a role on this planet other than sex slave."

"I just have to keep myself in check."

"You have to talk to me. You have to rely on me to be your lover."

"Then I suppose you will listen calmly when I tell you I was just out in the field now, making out with Lemmel, right?"

Jack's eyebrows shot up, very far up.

"Yeah. I said making out. And I dry humped him until he came in his pants."

"Uh. And this is part of your self-assertion therapy?" Jack asked calmly.

"Well, actually it was more about the two of us talking about old times, fun hiking in the low desert, and how great we both feel about each other."

"He bucking for a promotion up the friend ladder?"

"No. Just got the hots for my body. I like him too. He thinks of me as a little brother. Definitely something he thinks Balin will frown on. Completely unseemly. Plus, Balin would rather he not be emotionally involved. Of course, it's too late for that. Puppy love, like you said, puppy love, but of the long-lasting variety. He's got it. And ... I like it. Like him. He treats me like a real person and I like that."

"But the sexual attraction? That's not freaking you out, Daniel?"

"No. Because it's ... Just let me think about it for a while. No use in doing all my therapy in one day, Doctor O'Neill. You'll never keep patients if you cure them too fast. String them along some. That's how it's done."

"I see. What you're really saying is you want me to shut up, go to sleep and let you go hot tubbing with that big guy." Jack dropped his eyebrows and projected a look of complete indifference.

"Never without you, lover." Daniel leaned over and kissed the tip of Jack's nose.

Jack smirked, but protested. "No. No, if you don't know by now that you're free to hot tub and more with him to your heart's content, I'm failing my part in this open relationship we have. We made that clear when we started sleeping together back a million years ago. Love, but not strangle. It's how we've done things up to this point and we don't change now. That's the only way we can be lovers and still be viable team members. Go. Make out. Hot tub. Roll in the hay. Then tell me all about it and let me suck you while you do."

"I'll do the sucking until further notice," Daniel said sternly. "You do the flat-on-the-back listening thing. And if I do any hay rolling, I'll fill you in on every juicy detail. Promise!"

Chapter 17 House Ondeil's Meadows Holding

Jack was up from his nap, freshly soaked, freshly dressed in comfortable cotton and back in his reclining chair, ready for the evening meal.

"What about the bread, Jarngerd?" Daniel asked. He sat on two cushions, cross-legged on the floor at the low table by Jack's recliner chair. His veil was laying loosely about his neck looped in back so it would not slip off.

Lemmel and Balin sat on the floor across from him, their huge build making it a tight squeeze on that side of the low table. Jarngerd was supposed to be sitting by Daniel but she kept getting up to fetch things for the evening meal. Her husband sat at the end of the little table, opposite the master of the household.

"Ach! Good that ye say it, as I can bring it when I come back with the red mash beans. Eat! All ye lot eat. Don't wait on the other food or the mutton will go cold."

"It truly be not seemly," Balin complained again. "The big meals in the hall are unseemly enough, House, without ye household eating on the floor by ye fire. This we must not get used to, lads. Must not."

"If my Sky says eat in here to keep me company, that's making him happy, so that's what you do, Balin. Got it?"

"Aye. Then for that reason of course, the entire household, servants and all, sit on the floor and share the House's table with the Sky. But never do we speak of it outside this cot, nor do we do it when any visit, even the littlest steward we ask not to keep this secret. This I say because it keeps the household safe. Above all, my duty be to keep the House and his all safe." Balin met Jack's gaze levelly.

"I'm glad you agree with me," Jack said sternly.

"Aye," Lemmel said. "And for proper times when the house entertains others, the master with his Sky sits at his table and the Champion may join him. The steward may sit at the sideboard. No other servants sit in the room, as it be not seemly. House Ondeil be seemly when other eyes are around."

"There be a good lad," Balin said with an approving nod. "And this does not get ye out of the beating due ye."

"Beating?" Jack asked in alarm. "I don't like the sound of that."

"It be unavoidable," Lemmel said happily. "When a servant does something that wrong there be nothing for it but that he be beaten by his master or the steward or, in House Ondeil, there be a Champion so it falls to him after the master."

"It will be seen to shortly after the meal," Balin said solemnly. "Done quick so the lad can do his night chores and help with closing up the outbuildings, securing all as it should be."

"Aye," Lemmel said with a nod.

"Report to me after the meal. This has to be explained first, Balin," Jack said, again being as stern as possible from a near-prone position.

"Bread," Jarngerd announced cheerfully as she reappeared in the room. She sank in her spot but stopped, looking from silent man to silent man. "Something wrong with the meal?"

"Nay," Ulfrik said frankly. "Lemmel be due a punishment and master calls for a telling I think. Not sure--"

"Weaver!" Balin cut him off. "Speak not of it no more. What be said by the master between him and his Champion be not for discussion ever, nor gossiped about when he be there plain to see at ye elbow to take insult. Show respect."

"So, Balin," Daniel said calmly, ignoring the Champion's edict, as if it didn't apply to him, because it did not, and also ignoring Jack's assumption that he would be the only one to receive a full debriefing on it later, "you've delivered beatings like this before?"

"Aye, Sky," Lemmel said excitedly. "With what will he beat me, do ye think? Whip, Balin?" he asked as he turned to the master swordsman. "Have ye a whip or maybe one of them thick canes what grows by the water paths? My Da, he says for whipping, a man often uses a strip of leather--" He yelped in surprise as Balin pinched his ear.

"Question the Sky? Then ye speak on after it's been said by ye master and again by me to speak of it not at the table? Daft child."

"Sorry master swordsman. Sorry, Sky. Sorry House Ondeil," he said, bowing his head toward Jack.

"Even this ye do wrong. First the Sky, then the House, then me. Always the Sky first. Always. He be the glory in the crown of House Ondeil, understand? Always the Sky first when ye say things not for his delicate ears."

"Aye master swordsman."

"Balin," Jack said thoughtfully, "I think you need to start giving Lemmel formal lessons on etiquette. I want him trained to stand in for Asny when she's not available. When we travel, Asny will need to stay here with Tal. If Lemmel is going north with us, I want him trained to be her stand-in, like a second steward of the house."

"Stand in as steward?" Balin pondered this idea. "Could be done. Train him I can, of course. Train him to carry a sword also. The lad does have a head on his shoulders, just lacks discipline to make himself do as be correct."

"Like not touching my veil. I know he shouldn't have done it today, Balin, but there was a reason and I appreciated it."

"Aye." Lemmel nodded shyly. "And me, I get a beating out of the thing. Anxious to make another letter sent to my folks. They'll be right pleased to hear I do so much that I even can have a beating too."

"You think they'll be happy you got a beating?" Daniel asked in surprise.

"Course and sure they will. Me doing so many things I never done before. Never had a beating. My da, he whollops but doesn't do a real beating. I hear they are powerful much of pain and sometimes a grown man lies in bed for days after. I can't wait to see for myself!"

Daniel realized Lemmel was going to be disappointed. Very disappointed.

"I'll write a letter for you tomorrow, in repayment for a chore you did for me today."

"Chore?"

"Yes. You picked something up for me today. I owe you for that. No arguments. You never argue with a Sky, Lemmel. Apparently a Sky is never wrong. If I say a debt is owed, a debt is owed."

"Uh," Lemmel blinked rapidly, but avoided voicing any further questions.

"Lad," Balin said quietly. "Ye will learn to keep a mindful tongue around the Sky. They be so little, so dainty, Skys are. Think ye on that for a while. Think on how ye must always speak only of the pleasant things when with him."

"Dainty," Daniel muttered disgustedly.

Jack laughed low and long as he gazed at Daniel.

"Answer my question, Balin. You've delivered beatings before?" Daniel asked sternly

"Aye. Duty."

"Give me an example of one. Answer Lemmel's questions, Balin. What do you use to deliver the beatings?"

"Sky," Balin said worriedly, "to speak of such be not a concern ye should have. The ways of men be not for the likes of ye to know."

"You and I have already had this discussion, if you'll remember, in the hallway of the inn. You answered me then. Answer me now."

Jack shrugged at Balin when the man gaped at him for help.

"A Sky should never know-- It be done most often with a leather strap. Wielded, ye'll ask next, wielded over-hand so as to strike the upper back. This way no damage be done that doesn't heal, and the servant can return to work soon." Balin sat there, his jaw tense.

Lemmel began to squirm on his cushion.

"How do you determine how many times to strike him?"

"Determined by the offense, Sky."

"For touching my veil?" Daniel prompted calmly as he picked through the seed pods on his plate.

"Twenty to start. Then if he still has his feet under him, more until he goes down. It be a harsh beating that the lad has bought for himself." Balin had his head bowed but he spoke calmly.

"Down," Daniel repeated. "On his knees, right?"

"Aye."

"Where? Where will you do this to him?"

"Yonder new practice field."

"It'll be cold out there by the end of this meal. Too cold for Highborn Jack to go out."

"It be not necessary--"

"In Highborn Jack's ... a commanding officer always watches ... " Daniel paused and looked up at Jack.

With his gaze locked on Daniel's needful one, Jack spoke calmly. "In my household I am the commanding officer. I will observe all punishments. Any beatings delivered or any disciplinary actions must be cleared through me. I'm responsible for my men. This is what my Sky is trying to tell you, Balin. This is not up for discussion. It's my way. A commanding officer always takes responsibility."

"Aye. This be the ways I spoke of when I gave to ye my fealty. Ye know the ways of battle, of warfare, and now I see ye know the ways of training men to do what ye ask of them, even unto their death. Weavers, desert lad, this will never be spoken of, ever. No Highborn lives thus, understood? It endangers the household, puts the household in the eye of the old woman, of any on the council in this village or in any village between here and the City of the Highborn. North of here there be more, more villages and people living close so as to get in other's business. North of here it be impossible to go through the world and not get the notice of others. Brooksmeet be at the edge of all that. What I left the north for, to get from the notice of others and breathe free a bit."

"Then the beating has to be delivered in here," Daniel said.

"Mayhap the room where the spa be?" Balin suggested. "Room to swing in there, and spars on the ceiling to tie his wrists."

"You'll tie him up?" Daniel asked loudly as he dropped his fork. "But he's supposed to be able to fall to his knees when he's had enough." He wrapped his arms around himself.

"Tied loose with long rope so he can, Sky. But tied for the lad's sake so as he holds still and doesn't end up with a lash in the wrong place for his jerking about. For the lad's sake."

Daniel bowed his head and shuddered.

Jack reached out and touched his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"

Slowly Daniel looked up at him. "That. You know. That. The rope around my neck. It was scary. I'm scared because of that memory, that feeling of being hung by my neck."

Mutely, Jack nodded at him and squeezed his shoulder.

"Okay," Daniel said, his jaw hard with determination. He rolled his shoulders and then gradually loosened the grip on himself.

The rest of the meal passed uneventfully and then Jarngerd and Ulfrik went in the kitchen, only a room away. Jack was again in his reclining chair which Balin had carried to the Spa room. He watched as Balin fastened the ends of two dangling ropes to Lemmel's wrists. The six oil lamps mounted high on the walls around the room had it incredibly bright in the warm and inviting space. The big youth was shirtless, bare to his waist and the lamplight glowed on his café au lait skin.

Daniel stood as still as a statue at Jack's side, his arms again wrapped around himself. His veil was draped loosely about his neck, the ends untied.

Jack had already argued himself breathless, trying to make Daniel leave. This had to be done. Lemmel's pride wouldn't allow it to be stopped.

The room was warm from the coals kept constantly under the hot tub. Daniel left Jack and closed the door firmly, blocking out the noises from the kitchen, then he took off his tunic and laid it over one of the hardwood benches. He went back to Jack's side.

"Now hold here," Balin instructed Lemmel softly as he wrapped one of Lemmel's hands around the dangling end of the rope near the ceiling, then he positioned the other hand. "Ye keep a grip on this part of the rope as the blows come. Count each loud as it lands. Loud, mind ye lad. After twenty when ye must, ye let go and down to ye knees ye go. Understood? Any time after twenty, when ye feel the lesson be learned." Balin moved around behind Lemmel and placed his hands on the young man's bare back. He ran his fingertips down and stood silently for a moment. "Ready?"

"Aye," Lemmel nodded.

Balin went to the bench by the door and picked up the leather strap. As he moved back to take up his position, Daniel stepped in his way.

"I'll be delivering the beating," Daniel said calmly, then firmly took the strap from Balin's hand.

"What!" Balin sputtered, nearly choking as he lurched back a step.

"I was the one wronged, so the beating is my prerogative to deliver. I'll hear no argument on it. A Sky is never wrong, Champion." Daniel didn't bother to look at the sputtering master swordsman.

"Ye?" Balin asked, his voice quavering. He glanced rapidly between the Sky and the House who held his sworn allegiance.

"But--"

Balin was cut off as Daniel held his palm out to the man, his own gaze locked on Jack's tight features. "My prerogative."

Jack took a deep breath, but didn't speak. Daniel turned his back on the stunned master swordsman and went to Lemmel.

"Sky?" Lemmel said nervously, twisting around as far as he could without letting go of the ropes where Balin had placed his hands.

"Turn back around," Daniel commanded.

"But ... aye?" he said questioningly, looking past Daniel at the master swordsman. Then he turned around.

Daniel raised the strap over his shoulder, then flicked it forward. It landed with a little pop, but slid feebly off Lemmel's right shoulder.

"Count!" Daniel shouted.

"One?" Lemmel said.

Daniel took a half step closer and delivered another blow. This one made a little firmer pop sound, and slid down the youth's broad back.

"Two?" Lemmel said.

Daniel adjusted his stance a few inches to his left and delivered a firmer strike. This one had the same pop sound, and slid down.

"Three," Lemmel said timidly, but with the questioning tone gone from his voice. It was colored now with disappointment.

"Four," he said softly, the disappointment clearer. Then he glanced briefly over his shoulder.

Daniel raised the strap again and brought a firm, cracking blow down on Lemmel's left shoulder blade. He stepped hastily to the young man and reached up high to trace his fingertips over the skin. Lemmel shuddered and arched his back to bring his skin firmer in contact under Daniel's fingers. He groaned. Daniel leaned closer, letting his warm breath wash over Lemmel's dark, smooth skin. There was no welt or reddening of the skin. He stepped back and hit Lemmel again.

At ten Daniel stopped again and, with the strap draped over his own shoulder, he ran both of his hands all over Lemmel's back. He felt for hot spots, for welts and looked closely to see if he'd broken any skin. He leaned his cheek against Lemmel, blindly searching with his fingers up the tall man's spine, then traced the curve of his shoulder blades and ran his hands down and around Lemmel's ribs. Lemmel was clenching and working his hands on the ropes now, his body swaying back and forth against Daniel. He was moaning in protest, seemingly in agony as Daniel caressed him.

Finally Daniel pushed himself away from Lemmel, but kissed the low desert youth's back. Lemmel gave an open-mouthed groan of terrible frustration.

Daniel took two steps back and brought the strap up again. He delivered five more blows, each firmer. At fifteen he tortured Lemmel again with his bare hands, with kisses on his spine and ribs, and with roaming touches around his sides, up to his bare chest and down to his hip bones.

Then he stepped away again as Lemmel's protesting, needy groans filled the air.

Daniel flicked the strap on him again and again and Lemmel began to count louder, shouting the numbers and bucking in wanton arousal against the ropes binding him. When Lemmel finally called out a frantic, needy twenty, Daniel let his arm hang at his side. Lemmel was panting desperately.

Behind the tied youth, Daniel took several deep breaths, then brought the lash up again. With a swift and hard motion he brought it overhand and struck the tied youth with a cutting blow.

Lemmel howled, barked and shuddered, his body jerking hard against the ropes. "Oh Sky!" he shouted. "Oh, beautiful Sky!"

Daniel threw the strap on the floor and dashed around to Lemmel's face. He lunged up against the man, viciously grabbing a fistful of Lemmel's coarse, black hair. With all his weight, he pulled Lemmel down toward him. The big man fell to his knees with a resounding thud.

Daniel brought his mouth to Lemmel's, his hands groping around the broad shoulders, his fingers pressing, and exploring down the naked flesh he'd just whipped.

Lemmel was thrusting his groin against Daniel's legs and Daniel met him thrust for thrust, his hard cock firmly against Lemmel's lower chest. Daniel's fingers felt the wet, stickiness of blood where the final blow had broken skin. Lemmel hissed into his mouth. Daniel backed off the injured skin and went down to his own knees, bringing himself firmer against the big man, feeling Lemmel curl to him now, bend over him and begin to hump against him in earnest. With his arms tied over his head, Lemmel couldn't grip Daniel, so Daniel wrapped one leg around Lemmel's huge body as far as he could and rode with the big man as he thrust. Lemmel reached an orgasm and shuddered hard as he came in his leather pants.

Dizzy with unfulfilled lust, Daniel pulled himself to his feet using Lemmel's broad shoulders. Then he saw Jack over the kneeling man's head. Jack had his blankets thrown back and was working his hard cock in plain sight. Surprisingly, Balin stood at his side, with his own pants loosened. The master swordsman had his hand inside, under his untucked shirt. He was caressing himself.

Balin began to approach Lemmel.

Single mindedly, Daniel walked toward Jack. He stopped by the reclining man's face.

"Babe," Jack whispered harshly as he reached for Daniel's pant laces.

Daniel helped Jack free his aching erection and stepped up against the chair so his cock brushed Jack's lips where he lay reclining comfortably. Daniel hissed as Jack engulfed him. With his groin pressed to Jack's face, he rocked in tiny thrusts into his lover. Behind him he heard Balin whispering nasty words of encouragement to Lemmel.

Quickly he glanced back and saw Balin, his cock pushed into Lemmel's mouth. Lemmel was straining at the ropes, trying to suck more of Balin in him.

Daniel looked down and watched Jack pump himself. Jack was leaking already, his cock was slick and shiny with a constant drizzle of precum. Jack was close, very close. The head of his cock was dark, and the veins were prominent. Jack was coming. White fluid pumped from the slit as Jack ran his hand down to the base of his cock, paused to squeeze, slid his hand up and squeezed right behind the corona. He gave it two more strokes, squeezing the same way, then rested his hand at the base.

With his eyes locked on the drips of cum sliding down and over Jack's fingers, Daniel gushed in his lover's mouth. Jack slurped noisily, drawing out every last drop from him. Daniel backed away when he became too sensitive. He shucked out of his boots and pants, and with his shirt still dangling on his body, he straddled Jack's chair. Then he let his knees rest on it and crouched over his lover. He brought the veil up, letting the fine cloth drape smoothly between his fingers as he used it to caress Jack's face and neck. Daniel began to lick, lick Jack's neck and strong jaw line. He licked his lover's chin, then his lips and finally kissed him deeply.

He heard Balin come in Lemmel's mouth, heard him urge the young man to swallow, heard Lemmel beg for more.

Beneath Daniel's hands, Jack lay languorously, his eyes closed as his lover kissed and caressed him. Breaking the kiss, Daniel whispered. "Hot tub. Soak away the day."

"Yeah. Soak in what I just saw, what I just felt. Soak it in so deep that I never forget, never let go of this feeling. Love you, Danny."

Daniel rocked back, slid the veil from his shoulders and let it brush lightly across Jack's exposed cock, getting his lover's cum on it. "Balin, scrub off. Lemmel too. Time to soak our Highborn Jack's weary muscles." Then he dropped his voice to a whisper as he brought the veil in an embrace about Jack's softening cock. "Love you too."

Cleaned with soap and fresh water, Daniel sat in the tub, water up to his neck. He cradled Jack in his lap and nuzzled his lover's neck.

Balin had blown out all but one of the lamps before climbing in beside Lemmel. Then the big youth had turned and straddled the master swordsman's lap, sinking down and laying his head on Balin's shoulder. Balin held him, one hand keeping Lemmel's head against him.

"Good lad," Balin said as he traced the fresh cut on his back. "Sweet boy. But only one mark to show off. Will ye still want a letter home to ye folks?"

"Aye. Leave off the mention of marks to show for it, I will. Think ye if I go shirtless for a while the mark will darken? Some say rub salt or ash in it to make the showing stronger."

"Ash, aye. Works well, and sure as ye have it, none must ever know it was the Sky and not me that gave the mark. Now hush ye and let the House rest as he needs."

"Wonderment, it were," Lemmel whispered. "Wonderment. And knowing that ye watched along side my master. I near to come from that alone. Then he touched his to me and I was done. Gone off. Oh, Balin, I love him. I cannot stop that," Lemmel said, his voice breaking.

"I know, lad. I know. Nothing for it now but to return what he gives ye."

"Love of a brother," Lemmel said, his voice cracking with emotion.

"Aye. Say it not again. It frightens me so, lad. A Sky cannot be brother to any man. It may not be. Ever. Love of a Sky may not exist for the likes of us. Both be as wrong as wrong can be. Ye know in my heart that I do so feel the same, but say it not again."

"I won't. I won't. Asked me, the Sky, he asked me if it would make ye love me less. I told him no. He understands what I want from ye."

"What ye want from me, lad?"

"Aye. Of a mate, that kind of love. He knows. I ... I cannot ask it of ye until I fill my obligation to my da. Him, I must first answer to and have a wife who agrees to the way I feel and that I will love a man. I know this. The Sky knows I would mate ye for life if I could."

Balin bowed his head and Daniel looked away from them. He felt Jack shift in his hold, turning from the two big men to give them privacy.

"Aye," Balin finally said. "We'll find a way, lad. Find a way and have our union in a proper way. Seemly way."

"Seemly," Lemmel said with a nod, and then grew silent.

They'd been living at Jack's new cot for two weeks when their peace was disturbed. Tal arrived saying that the council waited at the boundary marker, wishing to speak with the House today. She'd come to deliver pies, leaving Asny to supervise the inn and the two new orphans the child had brought from the children's hall to work there.

Balin stood on the porch to greet her, his gaze far focused on the winding road that led back to the village. "Aye. Whole council come?"

"Aye," she said. "Waiting for permission to step on the land and deliver to him the coin tributes paid since the village became his."

"Nothing but to let them come, then. Nothing I can think of to bar them from it and still be seemly. Ulfrik! Run yonder to the marker stones on the road and let in Brooksmeet's council of elders. They come to pay tribute to ye master. Fetch ye finest cloak first, and be right proper and smart there and back. Hold ye head high, lad. Mindful that ye serve high in a household with a Sky. Ye be their better and are charged not to let them forget it for even a moment. Go on now, titled servant."

"Shall I help Jarngerd set things in order for an audience?" Tal asked.

"Aye. I round up the fool lad, get him dressed up as a proper servant, then see to my own self. The House be too ill to receive them, I'm thinking. That be a bad thing. I want this watching settled and done. Want the old one's eyes elsewhere but on House Ondeil. Our Sky ... " Balin shook his head.

"Our Sky what?" Daniel asked. He'd slipped out the front door and eased up behind the two tall worker castes. His veil was tied loosely around his neck. He'd had it on properly at breakfast, imposing himself in the kitchen to eat with Jack's servants.

Balin started. "Move again as the mountain lynx do, Sky."

"Not really. But don't try to distract me. What's up?"

"Tal needs to be off to see what Jarngerd needs." He waited until the wench had gone inside. "Ye, Sky, I must tell that the household needs to get in order right quick. Council comes to pay tribute due to House Ondeil this morn. They'll be brought up the road as soon as Ulfrik can fetch them. Best not to leave old ones waiting too long. Sours 'em. Now though, Sky, the visit ... I've got to speak with the House. He'll know how to protect ye."

"Highborn Jack's sleeping, Balin. Tell me what you need."

"I need naught. The House needs his Sky to be as all Skys must when any visit a Highborn's own cot. We be on posted lands. They come on business, come to pay the tributes due the House for passage through his village as has happened this past month."

"They're coming to pay Highborn Jack today. But he's too ill to receive them. His steward ... But she didn't come today. Do they have to see him? Can't his Champion take care of it?"

"Aye. I could, but it would be best to end the old woman's eyes on House Ondeil. She comes not just to pay the tribute. She comes to see if the Nortvegr be followed. And, I fear, she comes to see if ye be ... as a Sky should be when on posted lands, when properly hosted by a Highborn House."

"I am. I'm fine. There's no problem here."

"Sky," Balin said reluctantly. "I need to speak with the House. I must rouse him. It be for the safety of the household, and in this, I will do my duty. He must see to it that ye are as ye must be." Balin gave a small, and quick bow then skirted Daniel and went in the cot.

Daniel stood on Jack's porch, almost quivering beyond control. He clenched his fists and worked his jaw muscles. Balin was going to tell Jack to make him behave? That bastard! He threw the door open and stormed in the cot.

Balin was in Jack's bedroom, bending over him, speaking in low tones. Jack was sleepily rousing himself, pushing the covers back as he listened to Balin's urgent, low tone.

Daniel gripped the doorframe, fury stiffening his posture. Behind him in the sitting room Jarngerd and Tal were rearranging furniture, clearing floor space.

With angry determination Daniel stepped into Jack's room and closed the door, shutting himself in with Balin and Jack. "Tell me what you're talking about," he said, keeping his tone as level as possible through the choking fury that flooded his body.

"Hey," Jack said wearily. "Got company coming. Sounds like a platoon of politicians. Review board if I ever heard of one. We gotta make nice and then boot them outta here."

"Boots?" Balin asked. "Nay. Not needed. Ye in slippers and the new drape made of House Ondeil colors will do. Fine in the reclining chair by ye fire, House. With servants in their finest, colors to be seen and ye Sky as he should be."

"And just how is it that I should be?" Daniel demanded through clenched teeth.

"Ye Highborn will say," Balin answered, keeping his head bowed as he stood by Jack's side.

"You tell him, Balin. I'm tired," Jack said, using the excuse that had worked so well many times before.

"Seemly," Balin said reluctantly. "Veiled, covered decently. And ... Sky ... as one should be. Not ... not speaking."

Daniel snorted through his nose. "That all? Covered and keep my mouth shut?"

"Nay." Balin brought his head up, facing into the deadly fury of a Sky, a man who could take his life with the smallest of whims. "Dressed as a Sky should be when in the company of the House who hosts him. The clothes yon, which ye do never wear."

"Those?" Daniel retorted as he looked at the flimsy stuff Jarngerd had put in the room one day. She'd made no statements, no comments about them. They were just suddenly there, on the shelf by Daniel's scribing supplies and the other items that were for his use, not Jack's. He had no intention of ever wearing the outfit, but didn't bother to tell the woman. Why should he?

"Please, House. It be not seemly for me to insist. If Jarngerd or Tal can come dress the Sky, that would be best."

"Dress me? I'm capable--"

"Daniel," Jack interrupted softly. "Sky."

"I won't do it," he shouted. "I won't dress that way. It's too cold. That stuff is--"

"What about me, Balin? Other than slippers and my undies, that new cover is enough to make 'em sit up and take notice? Make all of 'em leave us alone after this visit?"

"Pants to show ye feel more well than ye do. If they see ye servants doing as should be done, see the cot in order, land working well, they all might turn their eyes elsewhere. But if they do not see the Sky in his proper place, see that all be as it should, they'll be making excuses to come again and again. Then when another Highborn passes through come summer, we'll expect to be called to take him to be judged. Eventually, someone will want the Sky to be judged. Ye'll lose him, House. Forever."

"I'm not going to risk that, Daniel. You know I won't risk that."

"I'll go out for a walk. Tell them I'm gone--"

"Skys do not go for walks. It be no use, Highborn Jack." Balin shook his head.

"Tell them ... I'm out counting fucking sheep! I'm off doing what needs to be done for the proper running of the house!"

"Daniel, what are you angry at right now? What are you feeling angry about?"

"I'm ... " Daniel stopped and sighed heavily. He shook his head the same way Balin had just shaken his. "This ... I don't want to wear those clothes. I don't want to be out there with that veil on and have to keep my mouth shut."

"Pretend it's a briefing and everyone at the table thinks archaeologists are nothing but canon fodder. You're not going to sink to their level--"

"Jack have you seen these clothes?" Daniel protested. He went to the shelf and held up the shirt, what there was of it. The pants fell off the shelf, fluttering to the ground. He scooped them up, holding them out to show the gathered pouch at the groin, and the slits in the front of the legs that extended from ankle to hip bone.

"Put it all on and then throw your cloak over it," Jack suggested.

"No cloak, House," Balin protested. "Not in the cot. The weather be too warm now that spring be here. No excuse for covering him in the cot proper, not on posted land, and certainly not while in the company of a seemly House who hosts the Sky. Ye endanger him, House."

"I'm sorry, Danny--"

"Just shut up about it!" Daniel yelled at Balin. "Leave Jack alone. He's not endangering me. I'll put it on and I'll be quiet and the veil will be on. Just shut up about it. Get on with setting things up, Balin. Go get Lemmel and make sure he knows what to do. Go on. Get out!"

The big man left instantly.

Jack rolled onto his side and watched as Daniel stripped.

"This is absurd. These pants are slit open on both legs, all the way down the front. Look at this ... this is supposed to be underwear? It's cut so damned low and is going to ride up my ass crack, keep my nuts in a sling! My God, these are two straps! It goes on like a jock strap. My ass is ... Oh, shit. This ... Look at what this does. It makes my crotch bulge out. On purpose. What in the hell was Jarngerd thinking?"

"This is proper Sky wear. That's what she told me."

"She told you about these clothes? You knew she was making this stuff?"

"I think I knew it. I forget," Jack said. "I think she told me before she started, asked about if I wanted your nipples to show or not. I said not."

"Thanks!" Daniel sneered. He got the binding underwear on, feeling the smooth pouch cup and lift his genitals forward. It had an odd ribbon woven through the material. He had no idea what it was for, so he tucked it inside out of his way. The pants slid on perfectly, settling low on his hips. It was a good thing that he still shaved his groin. The waistband came barely an inch above the base of his cock. In the back half of his ass crack showed. He turned away from Jack. "Look."

"Oh, that's gotta be less than comfortable."

"If I move too fast these things will be around my knees."

"I can see your ... I can see a lot. Nipples wouldn't have made much difference, I'm afraid."

"This top? It's like a freaking band-aid. These shoulder straps are nothing but strips of suede. My nipples are covered but my ribs and my stomach aren't. My upper chest isn't. More of me is uncovered than covered."

"I'll say," Jack said appreciatively. "Sorry," he added quickly, burned by Daniel's angry glare. Jack shrugged his shoulders and looked contrite.

"Look at the pants. My cock and balls are on display. If I take normal strides my thighs come out the slits and I'm bare from hip to ankle."

"What about the color, Daniel? At least they're a decent color."

"The color makes me look even more naked. It's like a light beige, Jack, almost white. From a distance or in a dark room I look naked."

"I'll say," Jack repeated. "Sorry! Sorry. I ... Just shoot me. Put the veil on."

"Oh, believe me. I will."

"What. Veil or shoot?"

"Leave me alone," Daniel said resignedly. "Am I eventually going to have to parade through the city of the Highborn in this?"

There was a knocking at the door. "Come," Daniel said tensely.

Tal had returned with Jarngerd in tow. The wench brought a wash cloth and warm bowl of water to the bedside table and began to wash Jack's face and hands. "Be here soon, Highborn Jack. What needs doing?"

"A comb," he said. "And my pants. Jarngerd? My leather pants. I'm not going out there without pants on."

Jarngerd climbed into the middle of the big bed and began working his pants on his legs. Then she got socks on his feet and a new, clean shirt on. Tal left Jarngerd to finish her task and was leaving the room when she stopped to take a closer look at Daniel.

"Not right, Sky." She bent down and tilted her head to the side, scrutinizing his crotch hard. "The ... Ye should be more ... Oh, not my place to say. I fetch the Champion."

Daniel stared in confusion at the doorway as she left through it.

Balin, regal in his leather armor came back quickly with Jarngerd and silently regarded Daniel. Then he spoke to the wench as they both studied Daniel's crotch. "Ach. Nay. Not right. I know there be more ... I've seen ... He has more ... "

"You're talking about me like I'm not here. The company hasn't even arrived and I've already disappeared." Daniel backed up to the heavy, round table and slumped, leaning his ass back against the edge of it. He crossed his arms and glared at them.

Balin dropped to one knee in front of Daniel, his gaze still locked on the angry man's groin. "He's not pulled the loop. I've no idea why, other than obstinacy, or possibly anger. We can't risk him ... running ... but it must be pulled. "

"What?" Daniel demanded. "You don't like the fit? I don't either. I'll just slip back into--"

"Nay, Sky, they be seemly," Balin said, trying hard to speak softly now. "Just, they ... the ... ye have not pulled the loop so they fit not as they should. If ye wish it be done as proper, by a maid to dress ye, then Tal be here to do it since Jarngerd be busy with the House. Please, Sky, just don't grow so angry that ye run."

"Pull my loop?"

"She can take the pants open and fix all for ye."

"She's not opening my pants," Daniel said flatly. "I'm not letting a woman open my pants."

"Understandable. Then it be for me to do," Balin said and reached to unlace the front of the suede trousers. His fingers were nimble and quick.

Daniel tried to dance away but he was against the table. He gasped in shock as Balin tugged the underwear down and scooped his thick fingers between Daniel's legs. Daniel uncrossed his arms and grabbed at Balin's shoulders to push him away. The big man lifted his nuts and cock, pulling them forward and out from his body. Daniel froze, his mouth gaping open.

With Tal watching intently, Balin pushed the underwear back up against his hold on Daniel's genitals, pulling the pouching underwear around them. Then he grasped the threaded ribbon and pulled both ends. It snugged up around the base of his balls, bunching everything into the gathered pouch. Then Balin tied a bow in the ribbon over the top of Daniel's cock and pulled Daniel's pants up swiftly. He relaced the front and let go of the shocked man.

"Fuck!" Daniel finally managed to shout. "What the hell was that about!" He looked down at his crotch. The bit of loose, gathered fabric that had been at his crotch now bulged out with his cock and balls filling the pouch of the underwear underneath. "Oh, crap. Jack!"

Daniel turned to the bed and saw Jack rolled on his side. He was dressed now, except for his boots. Jarngerd had put the fleece-lined slippers on him. Jack's eyebrows were climbing his forehead.

"Holy ... Uh." Jack shut his mouth.

Tal was on her knees now, her face inches from Daniel's bound groin. She was forcing suede slippers on his bare feet.

"The council draws near," Balin announced as he stood. He scooped up Jack and carried him to the sling chair by the huge fireplace. Coals burned low in it, and a steaming kettle added moisture to the air.

Daniel snatched his veil from the table, snugged it on his head, then took a long stride in Balin's path. He quickly pulled himself up short. The ribbon Balin had pulled tight around his genitals hurt! He couldn't take big steps. He tried a few mincing, light steps. That was much better. It didn't feel like his nuts were going to bounce off his body. Daniel tried to take the little steps quickly, but slow was much safer. He made it to the sitting room as Balin was lowering Jack into his reclining chair.

One odd beneficial side effect of having his nuts and cock in bondage that way was that the pants were now held up by the bulge. He was less in danger of having the lower half of his nearly naked ass on display if he stepped wrong.

Tal covered Jack's legs with the fine, new throw that Jarngerd had made. It was a deep green with fancy needlework decorating the edges in browns and golds. She smoothed it carefully over his legs, then tucked a matching pillow behind his head.

"Highborn," Balin invited Daniel to a low chair at Jack's side.

Tal knelt by the chair and gazed up at him. "And whatever ye need ask now before them that come are here? I'll fetch it, I will. Right quick so ye have no wait."

"I don't need anything," Daniel said, his words almost choking him with the raw fury that had ahold of his throat. Daniel worked hard to appear civil as he stopped by the chair Balin wanted him to sit in. Tal was only trying to help him and didn't deserve to be treated rudely.

Lemmel stood behind Jack, slightly away from the fireplace. Daniel glanced back at the big youth, dressed in a clean, crisp shirt and sleeveless jerkin of House colors. He looked excited, but was also obviously working to appear detached, calm. Daniel sank into the chair, realizing he had to go slowly, let the underwear shift to accommodate his movements. He could easily wrack himself in the damned things! He checked his own posture and straightened himself perfectly upright.

The slits in his pants had fallen open when he sat. His bare thighs showed. With the veil on, his clearest field of vision was of his own naked legs, naked up to his hipbones. He tried tucking the pants cloth over his skin, but there wasn't enough of it.

"Tal, fetch the Highborn's cloak," Jack said.

Daniel glanced at his lover, seeing concern in Jack's dark eyes.

"You look cold. Isn't it my job to determine if you're cold or not?"

Tal was back with the cloak and draped it about Daniel's shoulders. Gratefully, he took hold of the hem and laid the sides across his thighs. "I can't walk in these. I walk like Brynvold's Sky walked. I thought he was naked under those pants when I first saw him. I didn't see underwear."

Daniel lifted the cloak edge and looked at his naked thighs. "Now I know why I didn't see the underwear. Crap."

"They come," Balin said as he looked out the window, "Ulfrik a few lengths ahead. Come in lad," he said as he opened the door for the tanner. "Stand tall now, by yon desert lad. Good. The cloak, House. If ... To satisfy the old woman, if she could see his ... The room be perhaps too warm for a cloak to be sensible, seemly."

"Oh fucking hell," Daniel swore in resignation. He let the cloak edges fall away and spread his knees. "This much?"

"Aye, Highborn," Balin said as he nodded. "Household!" he shook his finger at the three servants and including Tal, "I'll brook no mistakes. Mark my words. Not one mistake. I want these old ones to turn their eyes to other affairs than House Ondeil. Understood?"

Daniel grimaced. The warning was delivered to the servants, but it was for him. He had to work hard not to nod. Then he had to work hard not to let a lump grow in his throat as Jack reached out and squeezed his knee. Jack's hand was still so thin. The tendons on the back of his hand stood out in stark relief. Jack deserved peace and quiet. He deserved the solitude and protection the Meadows provided him. If the old woman would leave them alone, he'd have it. If Daniel could control himself ...

"Sky," Jack whispered quickly using the form of address for the veiled man just to reinforce his role, "the old woman has a nasty temper, a nasty tongue. Don't let anything she says or does get to you. I've had a few battles with her before, when you were ... recovering. She sees right through me. Don't let her see through you or we're in big trouble here."

Daniel started to reply, but Balin opened the door. He glanced up at the opening, the flood of light splashing across his veil and obscuring his vision. Daniel bowed his head. In this get-up he was unable to see clearly, couldn't walk at a decent pace and had his equipment literally pulled out and on display for anyone who cared to look. Then, of course the point was they were forbidden to look, because the veil was on. He shook his head in anger, and then realized he was doing exactly what he shouldn't. He took a cleansing breath and relaxed his body. Jack's hand was gone from him. Relaxing was not easy.

Surreal. Incredibly surreal. That's all Daniel could think of. They filed in, these very elderly people. Had they honestly walked all the way from the village? It must have taken them hours. Surely they rode in a cart most of the way. But he thought Balin had said they walked. They walked all this way just to pay Jack some coins? They could have given them to Asny. Balin was right. There was too much unspoken about this visit. Daniel flushed with anger. Hadn't he and Jack been through enough?

After the village elders were all kneeling, foreheads to the floor, Balin moved forward to stand a few feet in front of and to the right of Jack. His arms were crossed and his gold tipped horns gleamed in the sunlight streaming through the unshuttered windows. He addressed them, speaking a formal greeting and asking their business with House Ondeil. Daniel could easily have heard Asny speaking those same words.

As Balin spoke to the elders, Daniel felt himself again becoming swamped with anger toward these people, their intrusion on his and Jack's refuge here. Once again he felt what little sanctuary they'd achieved was being ripped away. He tried to dampen that dangerous emotion by turning his focus on Jack.

Then he realized one of the many reasons he'd fallen in love with Jack O'Neill. Everyone in the SGC was familiar with Daniel and Jack's constant power struggles, their verbal sparring, their give and take. Daniel continually challenged Jack's military protocols, his adherence to militaristic concerns. But secretly, he had fallen in love with Jack's authoritative bearing. Jack would walk in a room full of very high powered people to deliver a briefing or face a hearing, and he might appear to be disrespectful, might even make derogatory comments and project a ridiculing attitude. But he had a bearing about him that showed he knew without any doubt that he was in the right, that he did or would do everything within his power to complete a mission successfully, honorably, well. And Daniel admired that. Secretly. Jack knew. But, not many others did.

He flicked Daniel a little smile and a fast wink, then regarded the visitors, projecting that same bearing. Daniel felt his own breath quicken. He loved this man!

The old woman rose onto her knees and looked up at Balin. "Tribute, Champion. We bring for House Ondeil, what be owed House Ondeil, a House that follows the Nortvegr. Be pleased to bring it, we are, to a House that follows the Nortvegr. Coins from them workers that trade and pass through, and one Champion who come on his way to hunt the claw beasts. Come he did from the eastern shore where he'd wintered. Paid his tribute and set off. No time to tarry and pay his proper respects here at the cot, he regretted, but the summer waits for no man, Champion."

"His name," Balin asked.

"Alfarin, Champion archer."

"Ah. And as to House Ondeil business, wise-woman?"

Briefly Daniel wondered if the mention of this passing Champion and his possibility of visiting House Ondeil had been a threat from her. Balin questioned her for a name. Maybe he thought she was lying. Maybe he too felt it was a threat.

She held out a pouch which jingled with the sound of coins. "Ten gold marks from the Champion from the east and forty-seven coins from them that work, Champion."

So owning a village was a very profitable business for a Highborn. Daniel thought about all the posted land Balin said they'd have to cross on their way north. It was going to be an expensive trip he realized with dismay.

Balin uncrossed his arms and flicked a finger toward Lemmel, then pointed to the little pouch the woman held high.

Daniel turned his head very slightly so he could watch the young man get the sack. Lemmel moved swiftly and gracefully. He took the bag and brought it to Balin. The swordsman took the bag, peered in it, then held it out to Jack. Jack took it and held it laxly, dismissively out to Jarngerd.

That was a lot of handing off, Daniel mused. Then he studied Jack's bored expression. His lover then snapped his fingers.

"Ale," he said to Tal.

"House Ondeil is pleased," Jack said, his tone matching the boredom on his face. "Brooksmeet follows the Nortvegr. Is that all?"

Tal was now kneeling by Jack's side, a tray with two tankards balanced skillfully in her hands. Jack took one, and handed it over to Daniel. Then he took the other.

Daniel felt the lightness of the tankard. Tal had only filled them a little ways, making it possible for Jack to hold the metal container without threat of trembling.

"More business, if it pleases the Highborn Jack. A trader wishes to know how she may discuss horses. It was known in the village that horses were desired by House Ondeil. She waits in House Ondeil's village, a hand's worth of the great black horses to select from. They be stabled for consideration in Brooksmeet proper. At ye leisure, Highborn Jack."

"The big horses," Jack said thoughtfully. He held the stein out to Tal who took it wordlessly. Then she came to Daniel's side and held the tray out, her head bowed. Daniel put his stein there.

Jack held himself very carefully, Daniel noted. He didn't give the old woman his attention, but conducted everything through Balin. It was a tactic that seemed to be working well. They were succeeding, he thought. Taking his cue carefully from Jack, Daniel kept his face emotionless and his head turned from the elders. He stayed focused on Jack.

"Balin, make arrangements. I'll speak with the woman. Have her come here tomorrow morning. Jarngerd, give half the workers' coins to Tal. Tal, I want the steward to take those coins to the children's hall. From now on, half the coins collected from the workers go directly to the children's hall. I do this to indulge my Sky."

It all seemed so very anticlimactic. One moment the house was in a panic preparing for their arrival and the next moment the old ones were being escorted out the front door. As the door closed Jack called for Tal's attention.

"We don't even offer them a drink of water? They have to walk all that way back now?" his imperious tone completely gone as he voiced genuine concern.

"Aye. Help waits at the boundary markers. Balin's set the household in order, Highborn Jack. Ye've a shepherd there who watches. Any who approach the boundary markers and asks for an audience, he relays the word here to the cot. None enter ye land without permission and it was only given to the elders, not them that accompanied on the long walk."

"I see. We have a doorman."

"Can I get out of this now, Highborn Jack?" Daniel asked, feigning calmness, acceptance.

"Can you wait until Balin gets back in here? I want to make sure everything's good to go."

"Yes. Mind if I get up and put the cloak on?"

"Go for it."

"Ach. Such strange way to use words," Tal said, shaking her head. "Go for the it and I'm not knowing what the it be, or how good to go it be. Strange speech ye of the far northern reaches have."

"Far north?" Daniel prompted as he stood and adjusted the binding crotch.

"Balin, Champion, says House Ondeil be one of them on the far northern reaches where cold never leaves. Where ice sheet never leaves. Heard of such far places. Never met none from that far away."

"We come from very far away," Jack said honestly.

"Far," Daniel echoed.

"When ye grew and left the sweet home, Highborn, left the Forbidden Garden of the Highborn women, it must have been such a hardship then, until ye went north with Highborn Jack. But, I pry. Forgive." She bowed low and stayed down.

"When I left the Forbidden Garden. Yes," Daniel said slowly. "So long ago. Tal, stand up. It's all right."

"Thank ye, Highborn. I should never inquire of such a time. For a Sky it be said to be the most traumatic time, being thrust out in the world among us, and to see for the first time Highborn men with their dark eyes. Highborn men of any eye, I suppose, none being allowed to stay in the Garden. Strange, to imagine living a whole life separate, men from women, Sky from Highborn. So separate. Me, I live among men but never do I take them as Canlith does. I walk among them as Highborn women never do, but am still just as separate. Rare as that be, it be my way."

"You prefer women," Daniel prompted, with a tilt of his head.

"Prefer? Nay. For bedding?" She giggled. "Nay. Canlith, she'll bed women if they've the coin, men if they do and some that don't. Me, I will not bend to the will of any man, will not be under the roof of any man. Ah! Oh, Sky. Oh, I ... Highborn ... " She clamped her lips and dropped to the floor.

She'd called him Sky, though his veil was on. And she'd insulted him. Daniel looked at Jack, and then back at Tal. She'd insulted him terribly, and done so in front of the Master of Brooksmeet, the master of House Ondeil. Bend to the will of men. Daniel fought the queasiness in his stomach.

"Tal ... " He felt completely at a loss as to what to say. "I'm not insulted ... " He was. He was insulted. He turned his back on her and hugged himself, feeling his naked ribs. He was insulted because she had just insisted she'd never sink to the depravity of a whore. But she'd meant Canlith, not him.

"It's okay," he tried again. "You didn't mean ... " Under any man's roof. He was under Jack's now. But recently he'd been under the roof of any man who had the coin. They'd rent a roof, or take him to their own bed, and he'd be under whatever roof they wanted, on his back, legs in the air, taking their cocks and their cum and their coins. She meant him. She did.

Daniel took hasty steps toward the door, then pulled himself up short before he grasped the handle. Jack hadn't said a word, hadn't called to him, asked him to stop, hadn't forbid him to run. And if he'd gone out the door he'd have run right past those elders, run right past them and probably kept going down the road until exhaustion or Lemmel stopped him.

He clenched his hands against his naked ribs. He'd stopped himself. He'd saved Lemmel from a beating probably. And he'd stopped himself. No tears! He admonished himself. Hold it together.

She'd meant him. She'd compared him very successfully, very accurately to a tavern whore and it had hurt. Again that ugly idiom rose in his mind. You can't rape a whore. Self flagellation. He was raped. It was an assault. He was attacked, bruised and raped and it was over and done with and no amount of beating himself up would make it fade away.

Daniel shook his head, then turned back to his lover. Jack and he were alone in the big room.

"Take the veil off," Jack said calmly. "I want to give you my eyes. Nothing obscuring your vision. Nothing blocking you from seeing that I love you. I know you feel it. I know, in your heart that you feel it. But you need to see it, Daniel."

He did what his lover told him to. Daniel untied the veil and let it slip down around his neck. He looked at Jack sitting solemnly in the reclining chair. Jack's cheeks were still sunken in. Wrinkles bracketed his mouth, wrinkles that had not been there the last time they'd stood in the gate room preparing to depart. Jack's face looked haggard, his hands showed his emaciation. But his eyes were bright, strong and piercing. His jaw was firm and his brow drawn in earnest concentration.

Daniel took a step toward Jack, then shortened the next one, realizing he'd worked the genital pouch too hard in his haste to flee toward the door. He reached his lover, then knelt, his knees on the trailing, very soft cover. He sank onto his hip and laid his head against Jack's covered thigh for a moment. The rich hues of House Ondeil surrounded them. Daniel lifted his head and gazed up into Jack's eyes.

"I know," he said softly. "You're going to say you love me."

"Of course, Danny. It's my favorite thing to say. I get the biggest kick out of watching your face when I say it. Do you realize your eyes light up like a kid at Christmas?"

Daniel dropped his head for a moment and smiled. Then he looked back up at Jack. "Really?"

"Yeah. I love you. See? That look. Right there. I love you, Daniel Jackson."

"I love you, Jack O'Neill."

"Ondeil. That's Jack of House Ondeil. King on high of the Meadows Cot. Lord high ruler of Brooksmeet. And if the town had a Pizza Hut, that would really mean something."

Daniel snorted and shook his head. "There you go, making the moment a real memory keepsake. I think that's why I love you."

"Cause I know how to keep it real? It should never get old, Daniel. Like I keep telling George, this should never get old. A truly fine pizza is nothing to turn your nose up at. Telling you that I love you should never get old."

"Get Tal back in here, would you? I can't let this sit between us. I don't want her to feel bad, and the longer I let it go, the harder it'll be to settle it."

"All right, on the condition that you teach her how to make me a pizza."

"It'll have to be with goat cheese. You're not going to like it."

"Ya never know until ya try," Jack quipped.

"You're feeling good. I see color in your cheeks."

"Tal!" Jack bellowed.

She returned and got down on the floor again.

"Sit up," Jack ordered. "The Sky has something to say."

Silently, the serving wench sat up on her heels. She was only a little taller than Daniel in that posture.

"You spoke truly, Tal. I'm not angry with you."

"My foolish, thoughtless mouth hurt ye, Sky. As it be true that this be the lot in life of a Sky, still, I know ye, know it hurt. Ye are not as other Skys. I know this. I am shamed. Even if ye are not angry, I am shamed for my own sake."

Jack reached out and caressed Daniel's exposed hair. "I know you were hurt too, babe. I'm sorry too. This world keeps hurting you and for that, I'm sorry."

"I'll ... Let's let this go, Tal. Not speak of it to anyone. I want you to tell me something, and I know it's not proper to speak of it, but if you do, we'll be even. It's a kind of bargain I'm offering. Will you accept it?"

"Speak of what be not proper?"

"Yes." Daniel felt Jack tug at him but he shook his head, hushing his lover's objection.

"I want you to tell Highborn Jack of what you know about the Forbidden Garden. Tell him about how life is inside the garden, and what you were talking about, how ... traumatic it is for a Sky to leave. I want to make sure you understand how I feel."

She looked puzzled, and at the same time, frightened. "Aye," she answered slowly, then turned to face the man who was responsible for her livelihood, who determined whether she had a place to work tomorrow, to sleep, and food to eat.

"The Nortvegr says, all know this, Highborn Jack. In the heart of the city of the Highborn where the temple of Nirrti sits be the forbidden garden where all Highborn women live. Among them are the chosen women of Nirrti, they of the female body who have her marks, her blue eyes and light hair."

"Wait," Jack interrupted. "Describe the goddess, Nirrti."

"Hair of honey and eyes of sky, she be fairest to look on. All men grow full at the sight of her." She said it as if repeating a ritual phrase.

"Different host," Daniel muttered. "She was here a long time ago."

Jack nodded. "Continue."

Hesitantly, Tal began again. "The forbidden women choose among those Sky who return to the temple to seek a blessing of coins or her circle necklace to wear. Those that are of sound spirit and body give their essence to the forbidden women, to one who be ... ready. For this worshipful act, the Sky may receive coins or if desired, the circle to hang on a string about his neck.

"In the Forbidden Garden, if from that union a child comes out bred true and be of the Sky caste then this be good. If a male child be not bred true then that babe goes forth on the day of his first naming day to the hall of the Highborn lads.

"Some Highborn, those such as yeself, Highborn Jack, with the earth eyes, they who have enough coin to pay Nirrti's guardians may come and give their essence to the Highborn women. Sometimes it be said such a union might produce a Sky child, and that child be given proper homage, his or her proper place among the Sky caste babes.

"If the male child of any union in the temple has earth eyes, he goes to the hall of the Highborn children on his first naming day. His father may claim him, or another Highborn adopt him and raise him proper or he stays and be educated, trained thus in the ways of the Highborn, to be a trade master or craft master or ship's master. Many skills and knowledge are given to him.

"But for the blessed babes such as ye Sky, life be pure and sweet. He lives in the Forbidden Garden with the Highborn women, to be cared for and tended, all his needs met. He be not bothered with schooling or having to think of troublesome worries. He lives without care until he grows and reaches the first day of his manhood, old enough like ye handsome servant Lemmel. Then he be ... some say, let free.

"Some who've witnessed the coming out say it be harsh. Some say the young Sky come out and show sorrow and fear to be thrust among us full-size folk. Some say they come out with a sense of wonder and power. Some come out and show their understanding of what they are to us, and what we will do simply for a touch, for a touch such as ye gave freely to me the first night in Brooksmeet. They come full in their power and glory and walk free in the city of the Highborn.

"When the Sky leave the Forbidden Garden, they come with the long summer veil and the gift from their mothers, an imparting cloth. They make their way among the city streets and by sunset find what they need. A ... roof. My shame, Sky. My shame," she repeated, her voice breaking as she bowed her head.

Daniel couldn't speak. What they did to these young men was horrific!

"Summer veil," Jack said, as if he were confirming what she said. "Yes. You've seen a summer veil of course?"

"Aye. Long and thin, to flow about and cover them as they wish. Such delicate skin. Such soft, delicate skin."

"My Sky lost everything in the low desert. In our crash. He's lost his, and summer is coming. You could instruct Jarngerd on how one should look, on how to make one?"

"Aye. Though, I think it likely she knows. May have seen one. May not. I'll speak with her before I leave to take coins to the littlest steward."

"Good. Okay, Tal. You've done a good job of showing me that you know ... about the roof thing. You can take off now." Jack urged her to leave.

Daniel felt himself quivering with anger. "We have to do something for these men. We have to ... "

"Not yet, Daniel. We have no cavalry waiting over the hill to ride in here and save our asses. You've been telling me for the past month, ever since I really got alert enough to hear you, don't buck the system too much. We have to be very careful. You've seen the extremes these people go to, what they're willing to subject themselves and you to in order to follow the laws Nirrti left in place here. There's a crap-load of territory between here and their gate. Nobody, and I mean nobody back on Earth knows where in the hell we are. You wanna do something. I know. I really do know. But it'll have to wait until we get our asses home and can get back to these people and show them some kind of proof that Nirrti's a pile of snake dust."

"We have to do something," Daniel said tersely, "before the next time they shove some young man out half naked and force him to start prostituting himself just to have a ... a roof ... over his head."

Chapter 18 House Ondeil's Wealth

"Expensive," Balin said stubbornly, shaking his head.

"I want to go see them," Daniel insisted. He strode back and forth on the covered porch as Jack reclined in his leather chair well out of the gentle spring breeze.

"Bring them here, Balin. Have the seller bring her horses here and let's have a look."

"I could go with you back to Brooksmeet," Daniel insisted as he strode up to the tall man. "It'd only take a half a day at most if we walked quickly."

"Ye go to the village in the cart, Sky. As be seemly," Balin said sternly, his arms crossed on his chest.

"That'll take forever--"

"Champion," Jack interrupted Daniel's tirade, "he's right, and he's staying here. Get your ass into town and ride back out with the horse trader. If she's serious about selling she'll let you ride one of the string back here with her."

"None but her mount be broken to the saddle, House."

"Well then we don't want them."

"But Jack, they're the Flemish horses. They're the ones like Brynvold and his party rode. We could pack an amazing amount of supplies on just one of those horses. They're not the smaller Icelandic ponies we've seen down south or around here pulling carts. We'd be really well off trying for a couple of the Flemish horses."

"A couple of them? Our party's grown, Sky," Jack said, emphasizing the correct form of address. "Balin is coming north with us, and I want to take Lemmel too. He's doing well in his training to be a steward. We'll need him. Four horses."

Daniel gaped at him. "Four? You realize how much that will cost?"

"We'll sell some of the sheep. Offer the trader free room and board at the inn. Give her a get-in-free card for Brooksmeet. We'll work something out."

"Four horses?" Daniel grew silent. Jack was thinking they'd each need a horse to ride. He wasn't about to point out that he and Jack could ride double on one of those mighty horses. They were of the same stock that armored knights rode, that the great dressier chargers were descended from. They'd been bred with stocky ponies to produce the warm-blooded draft animals that many Scandinavian countries were famous for.

"Four, House?" Balin echoed Daniel. "One as pack animal? It'd be far cheaper to have one pack horse be of the pony breed, the light colors which ye Sky calls Icelandic."

"I'm thinking a horse for each of us, Balin. We're not leaving here until I'm strong enough to ride anyway. Why not--"

"Odin! Ye think not to have one for ye ... Nay." Balin was staring at Daniel, but addressing Jack.

"Oh crap," Daniel swore softly. He turned from Balin and strode to the other end of the porch.

"What?" Jack demanded of his master swordsman.

"A horse for the Sky to ride. I mean, ride ... alone?"

Odamari had been led from the inn, and lifted gently to be placed in a double saddle in front of one of the armed men of House Halfdain. Odamari probably had never touched a reign in his life. His hands were probably considered too delicate.

"How would he stay on, House? Alone?"

"Oh ... crap," Jack said softly. "What was I thinking. Uh. Yeah."

"Four horses, Balin," Daniel said flatly. "Go tell the trader that House Ondeil wishes to negotiate for four of her horses, saddle broken or not. We'll have time to train them ourselves. Go on. I'll stay here. Get going now, and show up here with four horses or I'm going to go to Brooksmeet myself." He turned and faced the huge Champion. "Go!" he said, making a shooing motion.

Balin glared at the porch decking, then at the thatched roof overhead. Finally he bowed stiffly and tore out at a fast, angry pace down the lane.

"Okay, while he's gone I'll get the guys started on a--"

"Daniel. Something you need to tell me? Something about Sky castes not riding alone?"

"Look. I'm conceding the need for us to sell some of this land, maybe some sheep or whatever we can to raise money to buy these horses. Fine," he said, his voice rising as his anger built. "But if you think I'm going to put up with being held, held," he repeated at the top of his lungs, "in Balin's lap while he rides me across the country, you're out of your mind!"

"Jeeze. Touchy. You can ride. I mean, I know you can ride. I've seen you. Even without a saddle. That time Sam was kidnapped? You can ride. I'm not going to argue the point. But how's it going to look, you trotting across the meadows, your veil plastered to your face?"

"Fuck the veil!" Daniel left the porch, taking the short flight of steps two at a time. He found Ulfrik near the lambing barn. There were two new men somewhere about near the Cot today, shepherds who'd been hired to tend the flocks. He tugged his veil up and tied it in place, realizing he should never have been on the porch bare-headed. And he certainly shouldn't have been acting unseemly out where they might have seen him.

"Hey, Ulfrik. Where's Lemmel? We've got some work to get done. Highborn Jack is going to buy some horses. We'll need a place to corral them, a shed or something. Grain and water. Any of these barns equipped to handle horses?"

"Highborn," Ulfrik greeted him formally with a bow. "I will send these two in the barn from ye presence, Highborn. They be not for seeing ye out and about. They be both men."

"Ah, right. Where's Lemmel?"

"Yonder. That barn by where the guinea fowl roost. May be that barn likely. Aye. It be for the ponies used for cart work in the past. A paddock on one side suits the master's new horses? Drains well, the soil there. And sweet grass could be brought in easy enough. Water hauled there for drinking would be no great chore.

"That'll do nicely. We'll have to see if there's any tack around. Saddles, bridles. If House Ondeil buys these horses, they'll need training. We'll need space to work with them."

"Aye. Sending these shepherds to the back meadows today, Highborn. That done, I'll come to ye in master's fair cot," Ulfrik said.

Daniel realized the man was gently urging him to get back where he belonged. He had a lighter step as he moved off toward the horse barn. Lemmel waved at him, but didn't stop his chores. Daniel pushed open the barn door and explored its contents. It would be perfect. He found old bridles, most too small for the Flemish horse breed. But there were a few halters of woven hemp, and riding pads that might fit the girth of the great animals. He also found farrier's equipment. That was a surprise. He hadn't seen any shod horses here. But at some time someone must have felt the need to put shoes on horses here. They'd need the trimming knives and files to keep their horses hooves well cared for, but would most likely not shoe the horses for riding across the Nortvegr terrain to the western shore.

Satisfied, he went back to Jack's cot.

Late that afternoon, Balin took the freshly drawn document from Daniel and carried it out to the porch where the horse trader sat with Ulfrik. She'd bargained for one of the seven meadows. Jack had given her a choice of two at the far end of his land. Two were parallel and both bordered the black forest. Her intention was to move her small family there and use the forest to increase her trade possibilities. She could sell wood in the winter, and horses after foaling time in the spring. It was a good deal for both of them.

Jack got six horses and any amount of grain he would need to feed the animals for as long as he owned them, as well as sizable bridles for the huge animals. Four of the horses were his choice among the string of black Flemish stock she'd brought today. She'd also be bringing him two of the lighter, smaller Icelandic ponies that were cart trained. They were a breeding pair.

Having land adjoining the black forest, she was to supply the cot with ten cords of wood each fall for as long as she owned the land. If she or her ancestors decided to leave, the land would revert back to House Ondeil.

Ulfrik was delighted with the two cart-trained ponies. He'd have speedy, easy transportation for the lambing season and for the shearing season that was due to begin now.

Daniel had insisted that two of the saddles she offered to make be made to his specifications. Of course his insistence was done to Jack and Balin, since the horse trader wasn't allowed into the Cot. That wouldn't be seemly. Balin and he had actually argued until Daniel sketched out a design and watched Balin's face go from stubborn to astonished.

The saddles would be made to Daniel's specifications, incorporating the close contact elements of an English hunt saddle, and the high, cupping back of a polo saddle. Unlike an English hunting saddle, Daniel's sketch had high poleys, ridges in front of the rider's thighs which would keep them well seated on downhill stretches. The stirrup straps were wide, and could accommodate a thicker stirrup which would be more comfortable on long rides. The saddle proper did not extend much beyond the tree, so he and Jack would be able to ride in closer contact to the animal.

Balin was so intrigued with the saddle that he requested all four be made in that style, one larger, and two smaller. The fourth saddle Balin discussed with her in private.

The horse trader drew her signature on the document to seal the deal and Balin brought it back to the House to keep until all goods were delivered. Then she'd receive a deed to the land.

"I still don't like the idea of parceling off this place," Daniel said softly. "It makes me feel ... sad to make a profit off it. It's not right."

"She'll work that meadow well. Her whole family will benefit."

"I don't like it. I feel guilty." Daniel stared at the document that was lying on the table before him in Jack's sitting room.

"When we leave here I'd like to leave the remaining six meadows with Jarngerd and Ulfrik. They can't ever be released from their contract with House Ondeil unless the house is proven to have no heirs for fifty years or some such nonsense Balin was telling me about. We'll have to set things up so they'll live here as ... like caretakers or something. And give them the right to the land for them and any of their descendants. They'll inherit it from me eventually."

"Yeah. Sounds good," Daniel said absently.

"And the inn, to Tal. With the stipulation that she use the profits to take care of Asny and herself."

"And the children's hall," Daniel said.

"The monthly tributes. I figure by the time we cut out of here this place will be self-sustaining, food wise and all that. So Jarngerd and Ulfrik won't need any of that money to keep themselves in food. It could all go to the children's hall."

Daniel turned to stare into the glowing coals of the fireplace by Jack. "We'll have to sell some of the sheep for tribute money, won't we?"

"Yeah. I've got Ulfrik working on that. He'll tell me how much we can sell and still leave the meadows viable. He's all for selling more of the land. Says the place is actually too large to maintain. Says too much of the land has gone wild, sheep scattered, unmanageable. We could sell off the soggy flats to the south. It's useless for sheep farming, but could be of use for crops, which he says are a whole different way of life. We could sell that and still have the six meadows intact. It's a big bunch of land."

"And not rightfully ours." Daniel shook his head. "I feel sick thinking of using it for our own purposes."

"Getting home. We'll use it to get home."

"Yeah." He kept staring at the fire. "Yeah."

"We get home, Daniel. Then we come back here with some way to show these people that they don't need to follow Nirrti's laws any longer. They can go back to how they did things before she popped in here and messed with them. Whichever of Thor's people it was that dropped them here, they must have set things up pretty good. Let them go back to how it was then. We'll use the money from this land to make that happen."

Daniel looked up at his lover. "Use it to end her damage here. We should do that."

"We will."

Finding a buyer for the lowlands wasn't hard either. Balin mentioned the possible availability to the horse trader and the next day a group of farmers showed up to offer a price on it. They were a small co-operative group and had a decent offer. Jack almost took it without discussing it with Daniel first. But he resisted that crazy temptation. Daniel would have been so angry with him.

The parcel was sold and the final payment wouldn't be made in full until a season had passed. It was a very large sum of money. If they left for the west coast in fall, and passed through the equator in full winter, then the farmers had plenty of time to gather the rest of the selling price. Jack felt satisfied that things were coming together for once.

Combining that money with what Daniel had earned prior to the attack, Balin decreed they'd have enough money to travel to the city of the Highborn without having Daniel traded for passage across any posted lands.

Things seemed to be going smoothly between the big swordsman and the Sky of House Ondeil until the saddles were delivered and horse training was to begin.

Balin had come out to the corral and found a veil-less Daniel being hoisted onto the bare back of one of the great black horses, Lemmel gamely providing the foothold. As the youth stepped back and the horse shot out around the corral, Balin had screamed like he was being speared through and through.

Daniel laid along the big black steed's back, the horse's withers digging into his chest. His fingers were tangled in the coarse mane. He grinned wildly as the steed galloped around and around.

They were not saddle broke, that was true. But these animals had been raised in close contact with humans, loved, petted and hand fed daily. They were amenable to lead ropes and would readily accommodate someone sitting on them. It was only a matter of careful introduction to go from standing still for petting to following a human's directives. Daniel knew this. He knew horses.

Balin knew horses too. He'd battled on horseback. He'd charged through the craggy mountains of the great divide on wild hunts and had ridden for weeks on end to far destinations. He knew the great black steeds, knew what they were capable of. And to see a fragile little Sky on the back of one of the wild brutes scared him witless. His fright, his babbling and his demands did nothing to stop House Ondeil's Sky from mounting up the next day, or the day after that. All the threats and promises to beat any servant who assisted the Sky in such insanity did nothing other than get Lemmel several mind-blowing orgasms and a few bruising kicks in the ass when Balin caught them both unaware before the Sky could issue his usual edict.

No amount of pleading and prostrating himself to the master of the Meadows did any good. The Highborn man was indulging his Sky and Balin tasted bitter defeat in his effort to keep the household seemly in this matter.

The unveiled Sky succeeded in riding first the uncut stud, and then each of the three mares, bending them to his will, his reign and then allowing the three worker caste men to mount and ride.

In just a few weeks, they had begun riding the Flemish horses across the rolling meadows, getting the animals acclimated to longer and longer times under the saddle.

With the three worker caste men trailing close behind him, Daniel kicked his steed into a faster gallop. The gauzy summer veil flapped around his neck and streamed out behind him. His thin, cotton cloak flapped fast in the passing air. He leaned lower over Freyfaxi's thick neck, digging his fingers into the stallion's coarse mane and squinted his eyes against the onrush of air.

The hooves of the great beast beat the earth in a fast rhythm that sounded like the racing heartbeat of a giant. Daniel grinned and clung as tightly as possible with his legs wrapped down along the sides of the heaving belly of his horse.

He spared a glance back over his left shoulder and saw Balin in a similar crouch, trying his best to catch Daniel. The man had abundant skill, but with his greater bulk and less responsive mare he had no hope of passing his blue-eyed companion. Daniel laughed at the man's grim determination, then bent again over his own horse's neck.

Ulfrik was riding gamely neck in neck with Lemmel, the younger man whooping in sheer delight. Daniel spared another glance back and saw Lemmel hanging too hard on Frost Mane's bit. The youth would take another spill if he didn't learn to balance better. For a moment Daniel thought about pulling up, ending this mad dash across the green valley, but the creek basin was just over the next little rise. The horses would slow down when they caught sight of it. Unless ... unless Daniel turned Freyfaxi north. He pulled the reigns gently, with just a move of his fingers, and signaled the steed by pressing with his leg. Right. Right, he willed the huge beast thundering beneath him.

"Sky!" Balin called in a scolding tone when he saw Daniel taking a new direction. "Sky! Bring ye beast down!"

Daniel laughed into the wind, feeling his gleeful sounds snatched away and flung behind him by the ripping air. He dug his fingers in anew and spurred the steed on. Freyfaxi responded by gathering his muscles tighter and surging beneath his light rider.

If Lemmel tumbled off at this tremendous speed, he'd end up rolling head over heels. He'd done that so many times before that Daniel had lost count.

These people were not merely engineered to grow taller, and wider. The density of their bones was thicker than Daniel and Jack's. They could take a blow that would shatter Daniel. Time after time Lemmel had landed on the hard packed earth of the little corral by Jack's cot, rolled and gotten up with no more than a grunt or sigh of disappointment.

Balin had given Lemmel and Ulfrik instructions on how to fall with less risk of injuring wrists, ankles and knees. He'd demonstrated the skill and put the two worker caste men through the same moves over and over in the warming sun of spring in the practice field he'd created. The green field was situated on the side of the long porch where Jack could sit in his sling chair and watch the drills Balin conducted with his two charges. Jack loved it. He'd call out encouragement, suggest moves, and discuss techniques with Balin until he was too hoarse to speak. Then Jarngerd would come out and scold Balin mercilessly for wearing out her master, and how dare he, being a Champion and all, and should know better.

As the field around him rose, Daniel's steed worked hard, blowing air through his great nostrils as he churned up the fresh earth. Far in the distance to his right Daniel saw dots of white where some of Jack's sheep grazed in the warm sunlight of Nortvegr. It was a glorious day and Daniel was free. No one, no custom or law or moral could stop him here, deep within the boundary stones of Jack's sprawling, rich land.

Daniel's skill on horseback far outstripped that of even Balin, which never ceased to amaze all the worker caste men. When he was four years old Daniel had learned to ride the quick Arabian horses, bridleless, and bareback. He galloped on the little, agile horses across open land with his father's friends in Egypt. Then he learned to ride big warmbloods pell-mell across fences and hedges at his mother's side in the New England countryside. He'd never quit riding, never quit anything his parents had taught him to value.

Ulfrik was catching up now. Daniel heard the weaver shouting out yipping noises of triumph as he passed Lemmel and gained on Balin. The weaver rode Sleipner today.

"Crazy irresponsible weaver!" Balin shouted. "Hold ye beast back! Chase not the Sky or I'll have ye head."

Lemmel shouted at his horse, stringing together curses at the animal for being so lazy as to let Ulfrik pass them.

"Encourage the Sky in this nonsense," Balin shouted, "and I'll knock ye over a cliff, Lemmel! Back! Back, ye rotten ... ye left-footed ... Lemmel! Shame on ye!"

Daniel risked another look back and saw that Lemmel's mare had gotten some kind of crazy second wind and sprinted past both Ulfrik and Balin. Frost Mane was unreliable and strong headed.

"Ha!" Daniel shouted encouragement. "Lemmel!"

"Sky! Sky!" Lemmel shouted back, wild with success.

His own horse's pace grew rough and Daniel turned back in time to see the dip that led to the base of the waterfall. The sharp rise of the cliff at the edge of the meadow formed a beautiful waterfall that splashed into a wide, shallow pond.

Recently, they'd walked Jack out here on Sleipner's back to swim. The water had felt magnificent. Daniel had stripped down to his linen underwear and swam, while the three worker caste men stood with their backs to the water, sweating in the mid-day sun, shading Jack as he rested on the grassy bank.

That had been a glorious day and Daniel wanted to see the pond again. He wanted to explore the sheltered hollow behind the pounding waterfall. As he saw a glint of sunlight on water past Freyfaxi's massive neck, he began to pull the beast up, slowing him to the rough, teeth-rattling trot and then finally to a fast, swaying walk.

"Sky, I swear ... I swear by Odin's blood! Ye try my patience!"

"What's this?" Daniel said as Balin slowed his horse to walk on the left side of Daniel's snorting steed. "Are you saying I did something wrong, Champion?"

"A-- I-- " Balin snapped his gaping mouth shut, then shook his head, slinging his thick braids back and forth across his broad back. "Never, Sky."

"Was a wonderment!" Lemmel exclaimed, maneuvering his horse beside Balin. "Did ye see me, master Balin? My beast and I flew past ye! We did. Though, sore ashamed to have done so. It was wrong of me, wasn't it. I be most sorry. I truly am, master swordsman. Be not angry with me. I swear it was an accident that I bested ye."

"Why, ye ... ye ... " Balin rose up in his stirrups and twisted around to glare at the youth. "Tomorrow, no breakfast until ye complete five drills with sword. Do sloppy work and ye give me ten."

"Five?" Lemmel protested. "Before eating? Even my own da be not that harsh."

"I be not ye da, ye rotten scoundrel!"

Daniel snickered and exchanged grins with Ulfrik who rode at his right.

"Oh, I'm quite sure of that, Champion. Quite I am. Specially in bed when the lanterns be not lit. Specially then."

Balin hissed at him, but then took charge of the party. "Our Highborn's Sky risks much, and ye are not to encourage him. Ye neither, Ulfrik."

"I fear," Ulfrik answered, "none could encourage the Sky more than he does himself. But he rides better than even ye. This saddle and with stirrups of foot. Never have these been made in such a way as to keep a man so in the saddle. My wife, she says they be pure magic."

"We'll have no talk of magic, from ye or her, weaver," Balin scolded.

Ulfrik ducked his head. "Sorry, Champion."

"Ye know better. They be merely of a design from our Highborn. No magic about the Highborn. No magic talk of House Ondeil. I'll stand for much, but not what might endanger the household."

"I'm just used to these types of stirrups, Ulfrik. And this style of saddle. Give Balin time and he'll be besting us all." Daniel nodded at the weaver to reassure him.

"Lets one feel the beast's air," Balin said. "Good for racing. Though, not much good for fighting, and would never do for hunting in the great divide."

"Well, that's not something I think I'm ever going to be doing."

"Odin!" Balin swore nastily. "Never, Sky. Never."

"Yeah," Daniel said, growing irritated. He'd tasted such freedom on the run out to the third of Jack's web of meadows. They were in the third of six that stretched out in a wandering line from Jack's cot and outbuildings. Jack was spending the morning on the shaded porch, with only Jarngerd to look after him today. He'd started a journal and intended to work on it while Daniel took the men out for a long run on the four larger horses.

Their horses were breathing slower so Daniel felt the neck of his beast. "They've cooled down enough. Let's hobble them by the water and take a swim. I'm sweatier than Freyfaxi."

"Saddles and bridles off, Sky?" Ulfrik asked.

"Yes," Daniel answered. "Unless ... Balin, do you think it's necessary?" He knew he shouldn't answer something, then ask Balin's opinion. It pained the master swordsman to risk disagreeing, and possibly, accidentally contradicting a Sky.

"Hobbled they won't roll and destroy these flimsy little saddles. Leave 'em be, Sky."

One odd little quirk about Daniel's status as a sacred being was the inequality of forms of address. Jack was always addressed with a title, as ,Highborn Jack Ondeil, as House Ondeil, or Master. And Daniel, the exalted religious icon, was simply Sky, or Highborn.

Horses hobbled and grazing near the water's edge, Daniel began to strip down.

"Sky," Balin said cautiously, "we wait by yon boulders. Call when ye wish to leave the water."

"What?" Daniel protested, his leather breeches halfway down his legs. "No." He sighed and frowned. "Just get in the water, all of you. I'll ... rest here on shore until you're done. Don't argue with me. Get in. Cool off."

He pulled his pants back up, but didn't step back into his boots. He turned his back to the three men, then he decided to reinforce his order. He pulled the trailing veil up and settled it in place over his head and eyes. As he pulled the ends under his chin he heard the three men undress. Daniel laid the veil ends over his back, then turned to see Lemmel, tall and dark, splashing his way into the clear water.

"Warm!" he called out. "Most warmest water I ever felt outside of the bathhouse. I like the north! Like it!"

"Aye," Balin agreed as he splashed in beside Lemmel, wading past the young man until the water lapped at his dangling balls and the dark cheeks of his ass.

No tan lines, Daniel noted. The dark skin of the worker caste seemed particularly resistant to the effects of the sun. Balin's hands and face were no darker than the skin on his muscular ass. But then he himself hadn't tanned at all in the summer sun. There must be some element in the atmosphere that blocked out tanning rays, but still bleached his hair.

"Ah! Found some cold, I did," Balin said as he flinched and backed up to the shallower water.

"Come!" Lemmel shouted and made a leap toward Balin. He caught the Champion about the neck and they both went down under the water.

Balin cuffed the younger man and hoisted him in the air, and then threw him to deeper water. Lemmel broke the surface, sputtered, coughed, and then laughed hard at himself.

Ulfrik stood in the shallow edge, water only up to his knees. He turned back and shot Daniel a broad grin.

Daniel waved at him, studying the new muscles on Ulfrik. He'd been thin the first time Daniel saw him in the great hall of the Ram's Head Inn. With better food and steady workouts, he'd gained muscle mass through his shoulders, and definition across his ribs and stomach. He looked strong.

Jack couldn't gain muscle as fast as these men. He ate high protein meals, walked around the grounds as much as he could and still his recovery was incredibly painful and arduous. His system had been so severely damaged, so severely compromised that muscle regrowth was proving to be more time-consuming than he or Daniel had ever imagined. And the pain of his stiff tendons and joints sapped his strength constantly.

Standing in the beautiful meadow, warmed by the yellow sun high overhead, Daniel felt cold fear as he remembered how horrible it had been to watch Jack waste away to not much more than a skeleton with skin stretched over it. He'd been so emaciated, so horrifically underweight that back before arriving at Brooksmeet, Daniel was afraid to let any of the worker caste see him unclothed. He knew Jack looked like he was on the other side of death and was afraid of their reaction if they'd seen him.

Asny had seen. She'd never commented on Jack's emaciated state. Perhaps she'd thought it was normal for a Highborn to be so thin? The stories always talked about how fragile the Highborn were.

Thinking of the tumbles Lemmel took, of the bone crunching hits that Ulfrik absorbed so easily during sparring, and the easy way Balin would take a hit from one of the others gave Daniel some understanding of how these men must see him and Jack.

They treated Daniel like a porcelain doll. When he came near the horses, Balin and even Lemmel seemed to hold their collective breaths. Once, when Daniel took a tumble, Balin almost had a heart attack and had refused to speak to anyone for a couple of days. They saw him as something like a spun glass figurine. Daniel chafed as he stood there on the bank.

"Damn them, and damn their prudery," he swore. Quietly Daniel slipped out of his pants and the cotton underwear he loved so much. He tugged off the white cloak and shirt and let them flutter to the ground. The veil came off last, and Daniel walked softly down into the water.

It was cold! He eased himself deeper in until he was chest deep, then leaned forward and did a quiet breast stroke as he moved into deeper water. He approached the three taller men who were busy splashing each other. Ignoring their antics, Daniel swam between them, squinting as Lemmel's big splash soaked his eyelashes. Daniel paddled on toward the grotto behind the waterfall.

"Get out," Balin commanded, interrupting the splashing antics. "Out, now lads."

Daniel rolled over onto his back, kicking with his feet as he continued toward the grotto. "You will not get out of the water until I do. A Sky is never wrong."

"Aye," Balin said dourly.

With a graceful swirl of his hands, Daniel turned back over and swam leisurely toward the waterfall. It was probably thirty feet high, he guessed. The water hit the pool with a force that sent up a fine mist, and he saw a banded spectrum of colors prismed through the suspended water molecules.

"No. A rainbow," he corrected himself softly. "It's just a rainbow."

Kicking harder, he looked back at the knot of men standing in the deep water. "Come see this," he called, waving an arm at them. "Come see the colors!" He kicked on, floating on his back as he watched them reluctantly follow him. Balin was in the lead, striding through the water that was now up to the tops of his shoulders. It was over Daniel's head in that spot. Ulfrik bounced along, swinging his arms to paddle himself through the water. Lemmel walked a few steps, then dove under, surging past Balin who scowled at the younger man's back when he broke the surface.

Lemmel grinned at Daniel, then looked up where the man was pointing. "Ah! What magic be this?"

"Balin," Daniel called to the sullen swordsman. "Have you seen colors like this before?"

"Colors," Balin said as he squinted into the sunlight. "Aye. Seen 'em while hunting the claw beasts up in the divide. Rainbow. Sign of good fortune. Caused by Odin."

"Some day maybe me? Ye take me to hunt so I get me claws like ye got, Champion? Master swordsman?" Lemmel asked as he swam past Daniel.

"Champion and master swordsman, be it?" Balin snarled. "Aye. And when ye want nothin' from me, it be plain, old Balin."

"Ye always be Champion to me," Ulfrik said with a respectful nod.

Lemmel splashed Ulfrik, kicking hard with his feet. For his trouble, he got water up his nose when Ulfrik attacked him and dunked him deep.

Smiling, Daniel did a relaxed back stroke under the edge of the waterfall, feeling the line of the fall sting his forehead hard, and creep down his chest as he passed under it. He let his body sink a few inches, then kicked into the pool of the grotto. It was dark under the overhanging rock, with light filtered by the falling water and hanging ferns around the opening. The three men followed him and Daniel found a submerged rock to balance on. He stood and wiped his face, flinging his long hair back.

Balin eased past him and climbed halfway out of the water to rest his back against one of the wet boulders piled along the back of the grotto. He closed his eyes and rested his arms over his head on the massive boulder. Ulfrik and Lemmel explored the nooks and crannies of the grotto.

Out of the corner of his eye Daniel saw Lemmel in a far shallow spot. The big low-desert youth stood up and gazed solemnly at Daniel, his fist idly pumping his erection. He cupped his balls with his other hand and stroked a little harder.

With his face placid, Daniel slowly turned toward the sheet of water over the entrance to the grotto.

The waterfall was loud. A constant rumble filled the air, punctuated by chattering, wheeling black birds which darted in and out of the grotto, winging around the falling sheet of water in search of food and nesting materials.

Daniel balanced on the round, submerged boulder and watched the birds, watched them snatch insects from the air. It was a beautiful place. Jack wouldn't be well enough to swim out here for at least a few more weeks. So Daniel wanted to soak in the details to tell him tonight while they cuddled in bed. He wanted to describe the roar, how it filled his senses, how he could feel the beating of the air on his wet skin. The water in the spacious grotto felt warm now, and he wanted to describe that too. The air smelled of rich soil and healthy ferns.

Lemmel had stopped exploring and he swam over to Balin. Daniel looked back at the two and watched Lemmel reach up and touch Balin's muscular thighs. The younger man stroked the swordsman's solid muscles and spoke his name softly. Balin was lean enough to be agile, but ample enough to best Lemmel in any contest of strength. Lemmel was huge, but lacked the definition of muscle evident in Balin.

Slipping down off the boulder, Daniel treaded water for a moment and then worked his way closer to Balin. The bigger man's face was placid, his eyes closed. He reached one hand down and idly stroked Lemmel's hair and then put his hand back up on the boulder. Daniel heard Balin say Lemmel's name in a warm, loving voice.

Lemmel drifted back in the water and then climbed up onto a half-submerged flat-topped rock on Balin's right side. His lower legs were still in the water. He struck up a pose deliberately copying Balin's, eyes closed, arms laying against the big rock at his back.

Daniel's feet touched the pebbled surface again and he took slow steps through the water toward the two men. As the submerged surface rose, the level dropped gradually to his chest, and then his hips. He stood there, studying the two in the subdued lighting. Their wet skin glistened. Daniel stepped up closer and saw Ulfrik approach to stand on Balin's left. Ulfrik's eyes met his, and then the weaver flinched and dropped his gaze shamefully. His cock was hard, Daniel saw. The weaver was pumping his fist languidly up and down his dark shaft. Though he'd dropped his gaze, he didn't stop working his burgeoning erection. He paused on the head, squeezing the tip between two fingers, then stroked down again.

Licking his lips, Daniel put one foot up on the wet boulder between Balin's spread feet. He hooked his fingers over a crack in the big rock and pulled himself up, letting his naked skin run along Balin's bare, wet legs.

Balin smiled, his eyes still closed. Daniel stared up at the big fighter, and reached a hand up to touch his broad chest. The man seemed huge. Daniel put one foot on a break in the rock and hoisted himself up until his cock was level with Balin's. His head was still below the big man's chin.

"Lad," Balin said deeply, his voice husky with arousal.

"Wh--" Lemmel pushed himself away from the boulder and stared at Daniel.

Mutely, Daniel glanced up into Lemmel's dark face. He didn't smile at the young man, didn't frown. He saw Lemmel's gaze flick downward and Daniel glanced down at himself. His own cock was hard, the head flushed with blood. His long, wet hair shifted across his back as he turned and looked across at Lemmel's cock. It twitched several times, and slowly rose up, thickening again against his stomach.

Daniel knew Balin thought it was Lemmel rubbing against him and he saw in Lemmel's eyes that he knew Balin's misconception. But his silence indicated that he was a willing participant in Daniel's actions.

Lemmel touched himself, stroking his shaft and squeezing behind the corona. Then he ran his fingers down to his balls, lifting them, hefting them in his hand.

Daniel licked his lips, then reached his left hand out to touch Lemmel's stomach just above his cock head. Lemmel groaned loudly.

Under his right hand, Daniel felt Balin shift, startle and stiffen. The swordsman had stopped breathing. Balin had realized who was touching him.

Daniel took his hand off Lemmel and put it on Balin's chest, pushing against the big man. In a contest of strength, there was ... no contest. Balin weighed twice as much as Daniel. The big man's cock began pressing insistently against Daniel's stomach. He kept his head down, but knew the Champion was looking at him now. He could feel the man's eyes on him, could feel all three of them watching him as he wantonly ground himself against Balin's erection.

Daniel pulled his groin from Balin's and looked down. He saw a drop of moisture on the tip of the big warrior's cock. Was it water? He stared and saw it grow bigger, ooze from the slit in Balin's personal weapon.

Daniel shivered with desire. With his gaze still locked on that growing drop of moisture, he reached out blindly to his right and touched Ulfrik's chest. The weaver instantly pushed forward, bringing his body against Balin's. Daniel glanced up from Balin's leaking cock to Ulfrik's chest. The weaver was breathing heavy, his naked body swaying with each breath.

He wanted to touch them all! Touch all three at once! Daniel wanted to feel their hot skin, feel their hot breath, touch their hard cocks and have them touch him. No eye contact, no reverence, no veil at hand, no whispered words of worship. He wanted sex. He wanted naked, raw, pure sex.

Balancing his groin against Balin while he continued to stare at the weaver's chest, Daniel let go of the big man's chest and grabbed behind him. Immediately Lemmel shifted to lean over Daniel, his hands touching Daniel's naked back, his hips, his shoulders.

Daniel pushed his damp forehead against Balin's chest and took Ulfrik's right hand and placed it on his pale chest. He pushed Ulfrik's fingers against his right nipple and moved them around for a moment, then left the weaver to take initiative.

Balin hadn't touched him yet. Daniel reached up past the big man's stomach and ran his hands across Balin's biceps. He tugged, urging the man to bring those big arms down and around him. Balin encircled Daniel's waist and Daniel pushed the man's hands lower, down to his hips and around to his ass. He lifted one leg and tried to climb up the towering master swordsman.

Lemmel hooked a hand under Daniel's raised leg and lifted, helping him get higher. Suddenly Daniel found himself face to face with Balin, so he closed his eyes and tilted his head back, facing up into the mist-filled, dark grotto. His long, wet hair dangled behind him, brushing cool tendrils across his back. He groaned in pleasure as his cock was nestled snuggly against Balin's hard stomach. Even better, Balin's slick cock was under his ass, the man's drizzling pre-cum being rubbed all over Daniel's tight opening. He brought his other leg up, hunting blindly with his toes for a purchase on the boulder.

"Ulfrik," Balin whispered. "Lift ... " his voice barely heard above the beating sound of the waterfall.

"Yes," Daniel hissed the word loudly, his sound being echoed, amplified and sent back to him by the moisture-covered, curved wall of the secluded grotto. Ulfrik obeyed the Champion, lifting with his right hand under Daniel's knee.

His legs held up and spread wide by the two younger men, Daniel turned now to Lemmel and kissed the man's chest. He ran his lips down to one very brown nipple and sucked it inside, while he guided Lemmel's right hand to his own nipple. "Mm, rub. Please, rub," Daniel implored the man around the fat nub in his mouth. He sucked again and Lemmel whimpered.

"Ah, Sky," Lemmel gasped out. "Ye torment me."

"Want me to stop?" Daniel asked as he withdrew his mouth. Then he started licking Lemmel's chest.

"Nay. On my life, nay." Lemmel's hands roamed up and down Daniel's sides, down to his exposed ass.

Daniel sucked in air and threw his head back. He locked his legs on either side of Balin's broad chest as Lemmel's fingertip entered him.

"No veil near," Balin growled out. "If ye wish to stop--"

"No veil!" Daniel said angrily. "Sex. Just sex. No imparting. Just sex." He pumped his legs, rubbing his cock up and down Balin's stomach, as Lemmel pushed his thick finger in deeper. Daniel gasped and concentrated hard. He managed to reach to his right for Ulfrik, pulling the man's face to his neck by one of his long braids.

Ulfrik moaned against Daniel's skin. Daniel turned his chest toward Lemmel. "Me," he demanded, "here." He stroked his own nipple.

The young man responded to Daniel's urging and brought his thick lips down to Daniel's nipple. He sucked weakly.

"Hard," Daniel urged, his eyes still firmly shut, and his head thrown back. He reached under his right thigh and found the weaver's pre-cum slick cock bumping into Balin's larger rod. Daniel grasped Ulfrik's hot flesh and felt the girth, felt the oozing pre-cum slick on the head. Ulfrik was the smallest of the three of Jack's servants. He was still extremely thick by human standards. Daniel pushed the tip of that cock against his entrance and Ulfrik barked out a sound of shock, but at the same time, he thrust forward to where Daniel was urging him.

At his left side, Lemmel hunched over him and thrust his hips against Daniel's body, trying to lick and suck Daniel's nipples while pushing his cock against Balin's and Ulfrik's.

Daniel hissed again in pleasure." More, Lemmel," he whispered harsh enough to make himself heard over the constant roar of the waterfall. He felt all three oozing cocks surging against his ass. He canted his hips, bringing his right side higher and trying to let Ulfrik gain entrance into his body.

"In, Ulfrik," he urged, bringing his head down to push against Balin's broad chest.

Lemmel, squeezed back out of the way, then tried to lap at Daniel's nipple by pushing up under Daniel's left armpit.

"In me. Oh!" Daniel shouted, sagging weakly against Lemmel as Ulfrik breached him painfully. His wet hair plastered onto Lemmel's chest.

The weaver, his way slicked by the precum of Balin and Lemmel's cocks, slid in past the resistance of Daniel's ring.

"Oh, fuck," Daniel gasped out the epithet as pain lanced through his ass. "In. Go in past ... yes-- Oh! Yes!" He clung to Balin's broad shoulder with his left hand, and clutched at Ulfrik's neck. "Fuck me. Close your-- Oh, fuck!" He threw his head back again, his eyes tightly closed. It didn't matter, not really. Whether Ulfrik had his eyes open or closed didn't really matter to Daniel. The weaver wasn't staring into his eyes. This wasn't happening because the weaver was making Daniel stare at him while he used his body.

Was it mutual? Was this a group of guys getting off together? Was Daniel using these men, forcing them, the way he'd forced, tricked them into the water with him?

"St-- Ah! If you want to leave ... If you-- Ulfrik, I don't want to force ... you."

"Sky," the worker caste man gushed the name out reverently. "Not forcing this one. Sky."

"Beautiful Sky," Lemmel said, matching Ulfrik's reverence. "Just sex ... as ye do with ... our master."

"Oh, fuck," Daniel sobbed, his eyes suddenly wet with tears. "Fuck. Just sex."

Visions of Jack seated nearby blasted Daniel's mind. Jack watching him as he sucked in Odamari's sweet cock. Jack urging him to listen to Lemmel and the Champion masturbating because he and Daniel had just had loud sex. Jack sitting on the covered porch at his house, grinning and nodding at Daniel because Balin was in the exercise yard with Lemmel, cupping the young man's ass and promising to fuck him senseless if he got a certain maneuver right.

Jack doing his damnedest to make sex just sex for Daniel again. Just sex. That's what he'd been doing. Making it acceptable. Making it normal. Dragging sex out of the closet where Daniel had shoved it when the veil took that pleasure from him and twisted it into something bitter, joyless. Jack, leading Daniel back to the connection with that side of himself after the attack at the inn. Jack never turned away from anything, never swept anything under the rug. He was harsh, most people thought. Stone-cold military nerves, Jack did have. He had an ability to face dark things and make them nothing more than they were. Whether it was a goa'uld who ruled millions through terror and pain, or an irrational fear of taking pleasure from sex, Jack tolerated no nonsense.

"Just ... sex," Daniel agreed, his eyes still screwed tightly shut. He was shocked that he could have let his mind wander so when Ulfrik was giving him such exquisite sensations of pleasure and pain. That's what the veil had done to him, made him so distant from his own body's need to be filled as to not revel in every in-stroke of the magnificent cock thrusting into his body.

He could have pleasure with Lemmel tied to the ceiling beams. He could lash him into a frenzy, then run to the safety of Jack's arms, but this, this was wild abandonment. No safety net, no boundaries! This was fucking! He was being fucked!

"Yes," Daniel hissed. "Harder." He slumped toward Lemmel, hanging from the young man and from Balin now as Ulfrik thrust up in him.

Beads of moisture from the mists around the waterfall coated each of them, and Daniel kept losing his grip on Balin. Lemmel clutched Daniel around his chest, supporting him more. Daniel sagged into the younger man and let his legs go limp, spread wide around Balin's chest.

"Fuck ... me," Daniel urged.

"Sky," Ulfrik panted the word. "Sky," he repeated again, then again. His voice was colored now with a sense of urgency. His strokes became harder, faster.

"Oh! Oh!" Daniel shouted out in time with the deeper thrusts of the weaver. The pain was gone. His body had adjusted to the invasion.

He felt Balin's cock bump along his ass, thrusting gently against his balls. The big swordsman rocked against him with small movements as Ulfrik lost his sense of rhythm.

"Odin!" Ulfrik bellowed, thrusting deep and holding himself buried to the hilt in Daniel's body. The man's great shout echoed around and around the damp grotto walls.

Daniel clenched his ass, something he tried hard not to do when a working caste man was in him because it always hurt so much. Ulfrik held motionless against him and Daniel could feel the man's cock spending itself in his body. He was gasping almost as hard as Ulfrik was.

"S-- Sky," Ulfrik gasped out the name. He bent his knees and slipped gently from Daniel's body.

An incoherent moan was all Daniel could manage. His own cock was hard against his stomach, quivering there, untouched. He felt Ulfrik start to back away and he jerked a hand up to grab at the man, snagging one of his long braids.

"No. Don't go. Don't go. Here," he urged, twisting toward Ulfrik and getting his arm up around the man's neck. "Hold me so Lemmel ... Go on, Lemmel." He flung the words over his left shoulder. "You ... I want you ... "

"In, Sky?" Lemmel asked, but didn't wait for confirmation. He slipped his hands from Daniel's body and held his fat cock against Daniel. Ulfrik's cum slicked his way in and Lemmel didn't pause once on the in-stroke. He sank to the hilt with one thrust.

Daniel arched his back and wailed, harsh and lustfully. Pain blossomed through his bowels. He tossed his head from side to side as Lemmel began pounding at him. Faintly, he heard Balin saying something about caution.

"Fuck me hard!" Daniel shouted, drowning out the Champion's words and the ever-present roar of the waterfall. "Lemmel, like you ride! Don't hold back!"

Lemmel's arm came across Daniel's chest, tugging, pulling. The increase in pressure had Daniel gasping for breath. He pried at Lemmel's hand, pushing his hold lower to his hip bones. Lemmel pounded up into his ass.

Daniel could feel Balin's cock battering against him and against Lemmel's thrusting manhood. The Champion's arms shifted to grip across Daniel's back better. He bore all of Daniel's weight now.

Supported securely, Daniel rounded his back and looked down at his own cock. Frantically, he snatched at Ulfrik's right hand and shoved it onto his cock. The weaver grasped him, engulfing Daniel's whole shaft in his hand, and began a smooth pumping motion.

Ulfrik's hands were sensitive and skillful. He spun thread for a living, worked with fine materials, understood texture and sensation. With Ulfrik's fingers on him Daniel was in a state of bliss. His ass clenched and worked the cock deep in his body, the spasms of pain and pleasure in time with the licentious hand on his cock.

"Sky," Ulfrik started chanting under his breath in time with Lemmel's fucking.

Daniel closed his eyes, shutting off the site of his cock engulfed by the big worker caste man's hand. He threw his head back again, his face upturned to the dark expanse above the four of them. Lemmel's fat cock was battering him at a rough angle. His prostate was being raked over on the deep in-stroke, and Daniel felt as if he was constantly orgasming, though he wasn't.

"I ... I ... Hold him, Balin!" Lemmel shouted and reached the pinnacle of his lust. His body spasmed hard against Daniel's.

Balin grunted as he clung to Daniel's body, clamping his arms down along Daniel's knees, spread so wide around his broad chest.

"Ye do it, Lemmel," Balin encouraged the young man. "Ye handsome lad. In ye master's beautiful Sky. Yes," he said, letting the word linger on his lips.

As Lemmel thrust for the last time Daniel dragged air into his lungs. Weakly he said, "Fuck me," but he doubted if any of the men heard him over the noise of the waterfall. Lemmel pulled out of him then, not holding himself in as Ulfrik had. Daniel switched his hold, bringing his almost useless arms up around Balin's neck. He laid his right cheek on the man's shoulder, trapping Ulfrik's hand against the big swordsman's stomach.

"Fuck me, Balin. Fuck me," Daniel urged the Champion. Ulfrik, unable to slide his hand up and down Daniel's cock now began a gentle squeeze and release motion. Daniel squirmed his body in time to the sweet pressure as Ulfrik milked him. "Fuck ... Oh, yes. Oh, yes."

Cum was running out of his body, he knew. With his legs spread so wide by Balin's big chest, his knees pulled so high this way, he knew his ass was gaping open. He yelped softly as fingers probed around him.

Daniel opened one eye and looked under his left armpit through the clumps of his scraggly, wet hair. He saw that Lemmel was working one hand around under him. Lemmel was probing at his ass, moving the cum around his hole. Then Lemmel glanced up at Balin, his eyes dark, intent. As he watched Lemmel stare at the Champion, Daniel realized Balin's cock was being moved around against his ass. Lemmel was guiding the older man into him, slicking his way with cum. Daniel shivered in anticipation of the biggest cock. Balin was not only big around, but he had a long staff.

Pulled wide as his legs were, Daniel knew Balin would be able to sink balls deep into him in one stroke. He started clenching up in nervous anticipation, then realized that would only increase the pain. And there would be pain. He tried to concentrate on Ulfrik's milking, but his breathing hitched as Balin's fat cock opened him up.

The big man's hips left the boulder as he shoved his way up into Daniel's wet opening.

A ragged cry of pain tore from Daniel's throat. Through the red haze that engulfed him, he shouted at the big man. "Deeper!" He didn't know if it was possible for Balin to get any deeper, but that was the only way he could think of to get the man to keep fucking him. If Balin realized how much this was hurting, he'd pull out immediately and Daniel was going to do whatever he could to prevent that.

"F-- fu--" He couldn't speak any more. But Balin was thrusting at him, fucking him, fucking him as deeply as Daniel's body could accommodate the huge phallus.

Daniel felt boneless. His body spasmed now with pleasure as the terrible pain began to mate with that sweet sensation in him. Balin was driving into him, raking across and past his prostate with each thrust. He was bottoming out in Daniel, reaching the smaller man's capacity with each stroke. Balin shifted, spreading his legs and leaned himself back against the bolder. He began to lift and lower Daniel onto his cock, impaling him easily, then hoisting him high. The length of his stroke was fantastic.

Hands roamed over Daniel's body and he let them manipulate him, move him wherever they wanted. He was leaned back, back away from Balin's comforting chest. He groped at the two younger men, but his fingers refused to grip their wet flesh. The roaring of the waterfall permeated his brain. Daniel felt himself being held out in the air, fucked, stroked. Oh, how fantastic Ulfrik's hand felt on his cock. And Lemmel was sucking at his nipples again, moving from one to the other. Then Lemmel's tongue trailed down his stomach.

He realized he was whimpering when Lemmel began to lick and tongue-fuck his navel. Daniel opened his eyes and stared down at the big head pressed against his pale stomach. Past Lemmel, Daniel caught a glimpse of Balin gazing down at him. For a moment Daniel flinched away, then stared up at the Champion. Balin looked lost in sexual need himself. This wasn't a look of religious rapture, or of lust. This was sweet passion. Balin stared lovingly at Daniel's eyes for a moment, then looked at Lemmel's face. His tender expression changed to one of pride.

"Handsome lad," Balin said, and Daniel saw how much he loved Lemmel.

"Yes," he said, and got the swordsman's gaze again. Balin's eyes closed in passion and Daniel shouted in joy as the swordsman thrust more vigorously. Balin had closed his eyes! Daniel felt freed.

Ulfrik's hand slipped from his cock and Lemmel's tongue trailed down around that hard phallus. Daniel could stand it no longer.

"Suck me!" he shouted up toward the dark, moss-covered roof of the grotto. "Suck me! Lemmel, for god's sake, Ulfrik!" he urged frantically, his eyes screwed tightly shut. "Oh please, Balin! I want-- Suck me!"

As Lemmel engulfed him in his hot mouth, Daniel screamed. His ass clenched tight. He couldn't help it. Balin shouted, his deep voice mingling with, then drowning Daniel's cry of sexual release. The big swordsman was coming.

Balin threw his head back and bellowed long and hard, his cry of triumphant release echoing in the cavern. Daniel let go of every hope of sanity as his body was wracked with the inrush of cum deep inside. His legs were worthless appendages. His arms were limp rags. His head lolled, and Ulfrik shifted his hold to support him. Daniel looked down and saw Lemmel bobbing up and down on him.

Cum churned in Daniel's nuts. The weaver was caressing them. Daniel's cock pulsed, pulsed even as Balin held still, mated deeply in him. Daniel's cum shot through his cock and a volley was sucked up by Lemmel. The young man jerked a hand up, grabbing a fistful of Ulfrik's braided hair and jerked the weaver down. He pulled off Daniel and Ulfrik engulfed Daniel's cock and sucked, sucked him, swallowing a volley of cum. Then Lemmel pushed the weaver roughly away and grabbed Daniel's erupting cock with both of his big hands. He pumped as a last shot of cum left the smaller man, catching the cum.

Then Lemmel brought his cum covered fingers up to Balin's mouth. He pushed them in. Balin closed his eyes and sucked. His lips worked around his lover's fingers, gathering in every drop of precious, white fluid, Balin sucked and slurped as Lemmel fed him Daniel's cum. The big man moaned, his stomach vibrating against Daniel's groin. Daniel watched in stunned amazement.

Lemmel pulled his fingers out and Balin shifted his hold, catching Daniel under his arms. He lifted Daniel off his cock and held him high in the air, bringing Daniel's cock to his mouth. Balin sucked him in.

Daniel gasped at the over stimulation. He bent his hips, trying to escape the torment. His wet hair fell forward over his shoulders shrouding his face and neck. Wordlessly he cried out, but he was too spent, too weak. Balin pulled off him and licked a couple of times on his balls, making sure he had every drop, then slowly lowered Daniel down to rest against his chest.

Unable to speak, Daniel put his arms around Balin's neck and laid his head back on the big man's shoulder. He closed his eyes and wept silently until he fell asleep.

The warmth of the sun woke Daniel. He was lying on soft cotton spread beneath him and the firm earth by the water. In the distance he heard the sound of horses snorting, and the low roar of the waterfall. He sighed contentedly and opened his eyes. The blue sky filled his view from side to side. Nothing but clear blue stared down at him. He smiled and then stretched.

"Oh," he groaned as his ass reminded him of what he'd been doing recently. "And to top it off, I'm hungry," he said.

"Food ye need? We brought none, Sky," Balin said. "Must ride back to the cot. Weaver's wife will have plenty. Roasted mutton again, I'll wager."

"Aye," Ulfrik chimed in. "Her so happy to have such a grand kitchen. Though, bread she has no time for. Right glad I am. Bread be for me to make."

Daniel rolled to his left and looked at the three men seated on the ground near him. They were partially dressed, just pants and boots. He was lying on their summer-weight shirts, he realized. His own cloak was draped over his naked body. He smiled and sat up, but another groan escaped him. At least he wasn't leaking cum on all their clothing. He shifted around and realized someone must have washed him on the way out of the water. He was glad. That would have been a lot of cum to deal with.

"I'll throw my clothes on, then we'll start back." He let the cloak fall away and pulled his underwear and leather pants on, groaning happily with each movement of his hips. Lemmel came over to hand him his socks. "Thanks," he said, then smiled up at the tall youth.

Daniel gasped as his gaze met Lemmel's. The whites of Lemmel's eyes were blue.

Lemmel froze, his now-bluish eyes wide in alarm. "Sky?" he said.

"What be the danger?" Balin asked as he scrambled to his feet. He rushed over to Daniel and Lemmel, scanning the horizon.

"Lemmel--" Daniel began, pointing at the kneeling young man. He cut himself off as he caught sight of Balin's eyes. They were blue. Rather, the sclera, the area around the retina was an intense shade of blue that seemed to have a glowing, or shimmering quality about it. The unnatural color spread less noticeably across the corona and iris.

Daniel rose to his knees and looked past Lemmel at Ulfrik. The weaver was coming to him. His eyes had the same intense blue shimmering, too.

"Danger?" Balin demanded. "Sky, what alarms ye?"

"Your ... " Daniel clutched at the cloak he'd cast aside. "Your eyes ... "

"The smile? Odin's smile?" Balin asked, letting his defensive stance ease away. He knelt at Daniel's side and glanced from him to the two big worker caste men. "Aye. Ye were startled, I see. Has it been that long since ye've seen the blessed sign in the eyes? Granted, it can be a shock. First time I saw it in the eyes of my sword's master, him of Gaerhialm's House, I was as startled as a babe. Embarrassed me, I did. Felt a fool."

Lemmel cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow as he stared at Balin.

"Oh, nay, Sky. I fear that came out wrong. It ... I meant not to make light of ye startlement when ye woke. Perhaps ye were not expecting the blessed sign to show so fast. But ye've been asleep here for a while. That be all, Sky. Time passed and ye did not know it."

"The ... Odin's smile," Daniel said slowly, cautiously.

"Aye. Ye blessed us with the smile and told Lemmel to take the blessing. Right shocked I was when ye called for each of us to share. I have never heard of a Sky with such a heart in him."

"The ... share?" Daniel echoed, trying to hide his bewilderment. Oh, he'd called out to Lemmel to suck, and then he'd called out the other two men's names.

Daniel nodded, then began to pull his shirt on. "Okay." He worked keeping his attention focused on getting his socks and boots on. "Yes, I called for you to share," he said, trying to sound positive, sound confident. He'd called out to Lemmel to suck him off, but ... when had he said anything about Odin's smile? What the hell was that?

"Aye," Lemmel said. "Never have seen a man with Odin's smile in his eyes. Never have. Don't think my da has either. First I see it be here in Balin's eyes. This be a wonderment. I need to have another letter scribed to my ma!"

"Ye'll be using up all the parchment in the land, lad, telling them of all the things ye see. Best save it up a while. In the city of the Highborn seeing Odin's smile be not that rare. Seen more than a handful in a month there, I have."

"Sky, ye feel well?" Ulfrik asked.

"I ... I'm just tired," Daniel said carefully hiding his confusion. "Aren't you? Or you two? That was a hell of a great workout. Water was ... cool. Good."

"Aye. Was, Sky," Balin said with a nod of his head.

His veil lay at his feet. Daniel picked it up and looped it around his neck like a winter scarf, one end trailing down his back, and the other end down his chest. He'd called out to Lemmel to suck him. He'd practically begged the man. And he'd shouted out Balin's name and Ulfrik's name. Was that how he'd asked Lemmel to share his cum? His cum was Odin's smile. Why hadn't he realized that before now? And it caused the whites of the worker caste eyes to change to a blue hue, a hue so intense it seemed, now that he'd had a second look, it seemed to shimmer across their entire eye.

As Daniel limped toward Freyfaxi, he thought back on the times he'd heard that phrase. In the desert, Lemmel's mother had asked if there'd been issue. She'd been trying to ask if her husband had made him come. He hadn't then. He hadn't in all the times with all the countless men who'd used him between here and the southern tip of the low desert. That's what Lemmel's mother wanted to know; if he had come during sex. And he never had in all those times. But he finally had, in her son's mouth.

His step faltered. Lemmel was at his side instantly, solicitously offering his hand.

"Sky?" the young man asked worriedly.

"I'm all ... all right. Just a little sore. Been a while, Lemmel. I mean ... Highborn are ... You know we're small. Tight. It ... When we don't ... I mean, if a Sky hasn't done an imparting in a while, he gets ... tight, and then afterward he's a little sore. Kind of like you feel when you fall off a horse too many times in a row."

"Oh, aye," Lemmel said readily. "Aye. But what about ye being with our master? Just a day ago I heard--"

"Lemmel!" Balin shouted. He stepped up and rapped the young man hard on the back of his head. "Ask not!"

"Balin," Daniel warned the big swordsman. "Leave him alone."

"Sky, as ye say. And I'll tell ye, the lad must learn before our master takes us on a journey to the city of the Highborn, or even to another Highborn's house here in the southern lands. For it will mean this lad's death to so speak to another Sky. Ye must understand, this lad knows not the difference, knows not to appreciate the liberties ye grant, and when to hold himself in check. Nor does the weaver. If another Highborn came a visiting, this lad would die at his swordsman's point within the first hour."

"You're right," Daniel said, finding himself unable to look into Balin or Lemmel's blue hued eyes. "I appreciate your reminding him of the ways to conduct himself safely. It was my mist--" He clamped his lips together. A Sky didn't make mistakes. They were never wrong. They might forget. They might be too tired to pay attention, but they were never wrong.

"I'm tired and hungry. Let's go home. Jack's waiting."

"Aye," Balin said with an obedient nod. "House Ondeil waiting on us, lads. Take the hobbles off and let's get away to him. Not the mad dash mind ye," he said sternly.

"Oh, hell no," Daniel swore. "My ass has no intention of ... Who's going to give me a leg up? Wait. I think I need to walk a bit."

He finished the ride back to Jack's home leaning pretty far over Freyfaxi's neck. The big horse was frisky. His run out to the waterfall had been much easier than the other horses. Supporting Daniel's light weight gave him a distinct advantage in duration and speed. They needed to rotate riders more among the horses, Daniel knew. But his strong preference for the spirited horse swayed him too often to mount Freyfaxi himself.

His cum was Odin's smile? Or, what had she called it? Issue. And issue caused Odin's smile, the blue glowing quality in the eyes of a worker caste. The blue glow was Odin's smile. What purpose could this possibly have served for Nirrti? Why would she engineer this? Was it merely a byproduct? No. She'd done it to make the worker castes worship the Highborns, to make her laws last so she could return to examine her control subjects at a later time. The blue sheen in the eyes was a continuing sign to the worker caste that Nirrti's power, given to her by their god Odin, was potent.

He glanced over at Lemmel's eyes. Very potent. But why hadn't he seen any other worker caste with that shimmering blue cast to their eyes? Maybe it faded. Maybe having Odin's smile was incredibly rare. But it couldn't be that rare. Balin said he'd seen five within a month in the city of the Highborn. Maybe it was incredibly rare outside the city. Or maybe it faded quickly.

"How long, Balin?" Daniel asked, keeping his question vague and hoping that the big swordsman would fill in the gaps without discovering Daniel's ignorance.

"How long, Sky? We will be at the heart of House Ondeil's land very soon. Next time, I'll bring food for ye. I will."

Daniel nodded, hiding his disappointment. He couldn't ask more specific questions.

As they topped the rise on the south side of Jack's cot and rode past the outbuildings Daniel worried at his bottom lip, pinching it between his thumb and forefinger. Jack was going to ask questions the second he saw the blue eyes of all of Daniel's companions. One, two, maybe might be an easier thing to explain, but how was he going to face Jack and admit that each of the men who went riding with him that day had swallowed his cum? Not to mention the fact that he'd ridden each of their cocks until they blasted him full of their white cream.

"Yeah. When I finally do it, I do it big," he muttered.

And he had to keep Jack from showing his ignorance of Odin's smile. "I'll go greet Highborn Jack alone," he said to Balin, laying out a plan. They were nearing the main house now, and Daniel pulled Freyfaxi to a halt. The big steed worried at his bit, tossing his head in protest. "If you'll put Freyfaxi in the paddock for me ... " he let his request trail off as he slid from the huge animal, landing as lightly as possible on his feet. His ass still twinged with the impact. Daniel started stiffly for the house.

"Aye, Sky. Lemmel take the weaver's mount and ye, Ulfrik, see to it that the Sky has food right quick. Wash up first, mind!" he scolded as the weaver dismounted and ran after Daniel.

As he climbed the short set of steps to the front porch Daniel glanced about for Jack. The rocker on the front veranda was empty. Maybe he was around on the side of the house, sleeping in the sling chair there or the hammock. But most likely this late in the day, Jack was back in bed asleep in the darkened bedroom. Daniel opened the door and strode in, the weaver at his heels. "Ulfrik," he said over his shoulder to the man, "if you could let Jarngerd know we're back, I'll--"

A woman's high pitched scream rent the air. Daniel whipped his head around and saw Jarngerd standing in the middle of the room. Jack was awake, seated comfortably on the low, padded chair across the room. His feet were propped on the footstool and a warm blanket was snuggled around his legs. Daniel scanned the room for danger, for what Jarngerd was screaming about. She was still screaming. He ran to Jack's side and knelt beside him.

"Jarngerd!" Ulfrik screeched at his wife. "Have mercy! What--"

The woman's wordless scream cut off instantly. Daniel put his hands protectively on Jack and looked rapidly from Jarngerd to Ulfrik and around, still trying to see what had alarmed her.

She dropped the basket of clothes in her hands and rushed to her husband. He was only a few steps inside the door. Jarngerd fell to her knees and pressed her face to the man's boots. She began kissing them and hugging his legs, crying in sobs and gasping about a blessing over and over.

"Please," Ulfrik said, "ye scare the master. Such carrying on. Nay, woman. Nay." He squatted and tried to pull her to her feet but she was unmovable.

"What the hell?" Jack demanded.

"I ... Oh ... dear," Daniel said softly. "I think this has something to do with his ... eyes."

"Master, please, this one apologizes for the ... But truly it be joyous. Forgive her, master, please," Ulfrik begged as he kept tugging at his hysterical wife.

"What the freaking hell?" Jack said, this time much softer. He stared at Ulfrik's eyes.

"It's--" Daniel took hold of Jack's shoulders and turned him away from Ulfrik.

Jack kept his head turned toward the weavers. "His eyes are ... Do you see what I see?"

"Yeah. You need to ... Oh, hell. Just, Jack, it's the ... " Daniel leaned close and whispered in Jack's ear. "Act like you've seen it many times before, the blue glow. It's ... It's ... "

"His eyes are blue. Do you see his eyes? They're blue."

"Hush, Jack!" Daniel whispered forcefully. "You need to act as if you've seen this in other worker caste before. Take it in stride. It's something that you've seen before. They'll suspect if you don't ... It's something they all know about and all expect us to know about, so stop sounding so surprised. Jack."

"But ... " Jack gaped at Ulfrik.

Daniel whispered urgently. "It's called Odin's smile. It happens to them when they ... with a Sky caste ... they ... they ... "

"They what with a Sky caste?" Jack asked, slowly turning his head to look at Daniel. "When they what?"

"When they swallow semen." Daniel said, fighting to keep his eyes on Jack's face. "When they swallow a Sky caste's semen, apparently ... there's this physiological ... chemical ... reaction," he finished slowly. "To the ... cum."

"Cum?" Jack asked in utter bewilderment.

"To a Sky caste's cum," Daniel said.

"Sky caste's cum?"

"Yes. If they swallow it, the act is called-- I mean it gives them Odin's smile."

"Are you saying that Ulfrik ... That you and Ulfrik ... That he ... sucked you off?" Jack's eyebrows were climbing his forehead.

Daniel shifted, changing his weight from one knee to the other. "Uh ... yeah. Odin's smile, the glowing, blue eyes is a sign of a blessing."

"And you came," Jack said, tilting his head toward Daniel. "You came and he ... swallowed ... "

"Yeah."

"And now he's doing an impression of an extra from the movie, Dune," Jack said, his eyebrows miraculously climbing a little more.

"Uh ... yeah. I guess ... I guess you could say that. Yeah."

"You and he ended up having a ... I mean on this ride today, he gave you a ... blow ... "

"Job," Daniel finished meekly. "Yeah. Sort of."

"Sort of," Jack repeated. "Is that like, Mom, I'm sort of pregnant? That kind of sort of?"

"Yeah." Daniel pursed his lips and drew his eyebrows down. "Yeah. Pretty much like that."

Jack sat back and studied Daniel's guarded face. "I see. So now he's got a nice, glowey blue gaze that apparently drives his wife crazy. Hmm. Odin's smile. I see. So you let him suck you off, is that right? I understand that right?" Jack asked, his tone of voice still shocked and now very slightly amused.

Daniel rolled his lips in and stared at Jack. "Yeah. Pretty much."

"Uh huh. Interesting ride," Jack said, his surprise and amusement now hidden by a mask of restraint. "Pretty much," he echoed Daniel's words in a mocking tone.

At that moment young Lemmel came striding in. He stopped beside the squatting weaver who was still pulling at his wife. Lemmel grinned down at the two, then looked over at Jack and Daniel. His mouth was stretched wide in a toothy grin. "Silly Ulfrik, never going to get her up that way, eh, master? Women do as they want. Had food yet, Sky?"

"Babe," Jack said, drawing the word out very quietly as he stared at Lemmel's now-blue eyes. "Just how ... interesting ... was that ride you had?"

Daniel sighed and slid from a kneeling down to a sitting position, leaning against Jack's chair.

Balin strode in, pausing to side-step around the kneeling weavers. He prodded Lemmel out of his way then stopped when he saw Jack staring at him.

"House?" he said, his blue shimmering eyes meeting Jack's wide, brown ones.

"Never mind answering that," Jack said under his breath, his mask slipping away and revealing his restrained amusement. "I think I just got a pretty good idea of how interesting."

"Yeah," Daniel said, stretching the word out. "Yeah, but that's only half of it. My ... my ass is sore."

Jack's mouth formed a soundless oh as he stared at the three big worker caste men. Then a little grin crept in at the corners of his lips. "I'll bet it is. I'll bet it sure as hell is." He sank back against his chair and chuckled softly. "Not ... not all three that way too," he said. "Surely not all three in your ... "

"All three," Daniel said solemnly. "It's ... really ... sore."

"Whoa," Jack said admiringly.

Chapter 19 Obligations

High in the horse barn loft, Daniel gazed from a window down at Jack's cot, lit bright by the summer sun. He watched Asny as she sat on the porch beside Jack, showing him sheaves of parchment covered in the runes she'd learned to draw.

The fresh smell of dry hay was all around Daniel. Dust motes danced in the shafts of sunlight. Sheered sheep flocked across the meadow stretching north from the cot. The rasping of insects set up a low undertone as they busily worked their way through the waving grasses blanketing Jack's peaceful meadow.

In the exercise field by the cot, Daniel could see Balin worked himself through a routine. Shirtless, the big man's café au lait skin gleamed with moisture as he swung his mighty sword in great arcs, stepping, swinging and turning in graceful patterns. Occasionally a whistling swish would reach Daniel's ears, the sound of Balin's shining blade cleaving the air.

Early that morning Balin had been in the same field, familiarizing Freyfaxi and Frost with being under a man wielding a sword. The horses would need much more training to be as steady as needed for such activities. And now Balin was working the tension of the morning from his own body, swinging his weapon, flexing and turning gracefully. He was a powerful man. His movements were harmonious and beautiful.

The day was warm enough that Daniel felt comfortable in his thin clothing. As the season grew warmer Jarngerd had replaced the suede pants on his shelf with several pairs of soft linen, slit from ankle to hip as the suede ones were. His new shirts were a sleeveless loop of fabric, tacked together at shoulders, and hung down just far enough to cover the dark circles of his areolas. His body was exposed from just above his cock, to above his nipples if he lifted his arms. He wore the bare-assed underwear but was very inconsistent about keeping the restrictive loop pulled and tied.

Daniel leaned his right shoulder against the jamb of the high window and looked down at the paddock. Freyfaxi, Daniel's favorite mount was nuzzling Svaolfari, nickering and pestering the mare. Finally, he got a nip for his trouble and wandered away in search of a stray piece of hay or overlooked bit of grain.

Behind Daniel, the ladder to the upper level of the barn creaked. Someone was coming up to the hay loft. Daniel pulled his summer veil back on his head and peered under the edge of it as he watched the scenery out the window.

Far off by the cot's kitchen door, Jarngerd was draping bright yellow dyed fabric on lines to dry. Daniel heard Ulfrik just below the barn's main entrance. He leaned out the window a bit and saw the weaver retrieving another bushel basket from the stack of new baskets by the barn door. Ulfrik strode back to the rear of Jack's cot and began bundling green-dyed fabric off drying lines and into his basket. The weaver man stopped gathering the cloth when his wife drew near his spot. He abandoned his basket and came to her. He took her in his arms and kissed her, his hand resting protectively over her lower stomach.

Two months had passed since Ulfrik's eyes first showed Odin's smile. The young weaver couple were determined to conceive a child while the blessing was still on them. Ulfrik was concerned it might disappear too soon, since he'd had a third of a share with others. He wanted the favor for his child. To be conceived by a father showing Odin's smile was believed to an assurance of intelligence, of fair disposition, and great fortune.

Balin, Champion and master swordsman had been born under Odin's smile.

"See ye how he cares?" Lemmel said softly.

"What?" Daniel startled. He'd forgotten to check to see who was coming up the ladder. There were several shepherds living and working on Jack's land now. Though they avoided Daniel at all costs, still he occasionally came face to face with one of them. If it was a woman, the encounter wasn't traumatic. But they'd had a male shepherd leave after accidentally encountering Daniel barefaced in a paddock. The man had embarrassed himself and felt unable to chance facing Highborn Jack Ondeil after coming on the man's own land. It was beyond unseemly to lose such control on posted land.

"See how yon weaver husband cares for his weaver wife. Me," Lemmel said as he stood close to Daniel's back, "I'm thinking I won't ever feel that. Even with Odin's smile I've not got the desire in me to find one who will help fulfill what I must, what I owe my da and ma. Right sorry for that. Balin says not to worry. It will come with time. But I fear it will not, Highborn. I fear there be not in me the will to lie with a woman even for that which I am sworn to do."

"You talk about it with Balin much?" Daniel toyed with the edge of his veil. The summer veil was larger than the winter one, but of thinner fabric, more like a piece of fine gauze. It stayed on well, because of the seams running down by his ears. He could drape it around his neck and not get too sweaty when he rode. It was also easier to see through, so he wore it more often than the winter veil that was now heavy with gold beads along the front and gold marks stitched in the back hem.

"Aye. Master swordsman says have patience. Things will come when they should."

Daniel leaned back, resting against Lemmel's chest. He ran a hand down the low desert youth's hip and caressed the bulge in his leather pants. Lemmel wrapped his arm around Daniel's bare stomach.

"Went to the village again with him, walked at his side in the tavern and looked at wenches, maids, at the women who seek a mate. None could I even speak to in that mating way. The need be not in me."

Far below them, Jack sent Asny inside. Daniel peered down and saw the young girl reappear quickly with more writing implements in her hands. By default Jack was learning to read and write the language. Daniel smiled. "Maybe Balin can help you find a woman who's willing."

A cool breeze through the open loft window brushed over the two embracing men, and soughed down through the trap door at the top of the ladder.

"Master swordsman has tried, Highborn. Still tries. Talks to me. I can't find it in my heart to approach any. I've not got a desire in me."

Daniel reached up and back to stroke Lemmel's strong jaw. "I feel a desire in you." He pushed his back against Lemmel's plump cock.

Slow and soft, Lemmel growled out his arousal. "Ah. None for any when I'm in Brooksmeet. Here, plenty. Oh, sore I feel there be such sweet abundance here."

Daniel smiled and moved against the big man. He turned in Lemmel's loose embrace and ran his hands up the broad, muscular chest. Lemmel had gained definition since he'd begun to work out with Balin.

"Sweet abundance," Daniel whispered and offered his mouth up to Lemmel.

Bending low, Lemmel brushed his lips across Daniels, then stepped back, drawing Daniel with him to a pile of hay. The big worker caste man sank down, spreading his body out flat on the hay. Daniel knelt, one knee between Lemmel's legs, the other up by his hip.

"How sweet?" Daniel asked teasingly.

"More than honey drip. More than--" Lemmel jolted up, and suddenly pushed himself away, scooting half out from under Daniel. He turned his head away. "Veil. I ... was not thinking. I ... touched and ye are still veiled," he said, his voice quivering with remorse. "Forgive. My beautiful brother. I have done wrong--"

"Hush. I touched first. I'm sorry. Look, it's coming off. See? I'm naked for you, Lemmel. Just me. Naked. No veil. Nothing between us. Please. Touch me."

Lemmel stayed sitting up, still holding himself stiff, but looked back at Daniel. "We must never forget again. It be wrong upon wrong. To do as we do be wrong enough. To forget and despoil the veil be ... I think it would be death for me, Sky. And for ye, we might never see ye again if some wandering stranger happened to see? Ach. Sky," he said urgently as he grabbed Daniel by his arms and pulled him into a gentle, but desperate embrace. "I love ye. Please, Odin, I must not forget again. I must learn and remember and be for my beloved brother as I am needed to be."

"No one saw," Daniel said. "No one. But you're right. Such carelessness. I get so overwhelmed sometimes. It ... You and I need to be together more. It's so rare that we ... Kiss me. Have fun together with me. Odin's smile, Lemmel."

Daniel had come again in Lemmel's mouth only five days after that first time in the grotto by Jack's waterfall. He'd sat on the edge of Jack's tub with Balin and Jack watching, touching, caressing Lemmel and Daniel. It was something that had been repeated many times since, and in various combinations of the four men, whatever Jack could accommodate, whatever position Jack could enjoy at the time. It wasn't rare, as Daniel claimed.

"Bring Odin's smile from ye. As ever I will, beautiful Sky. Here and any place ye wish. Days of joy-making with ye. I will give ye the joy and hear ye lusty with my staff in ye. Oh, Sky."

Daniel knelt, straddling Lemmel's lap as the big man sat on the bedding of hay. Daniel's silly loose strips of clothing would come off so easily. Lemmel lifted him to his feet and attacked the lacings of his low-slung pants, stripping him down to the uncinched underwear. As Daniel peered down at the eager steward, his sun-bleached hair fell down around his face, swaying past his nipples to brush at his upper stomach. It had grown several inches since the move to Jack's grotto, the daily rides bleaching it lighter and lighter. Lemmel had him down to his underwear and Daniel hadn't pulled the loop, rarely did unless there was some company to face. He needed to be able to walk! So Lemmel had him free of the underwear in seconds, his growing erection beginning to rise and point at Lemmel's eager mouth.

"Sky, I would suck ye, as ye say it. Suck and lick to get Odin's smile in me. Wish ye to ride my proud staff first? I've no oil. Ach! No oil at hand. Turn. Turn and ... "

Daniel chuckled as Lemmel practically lifted him and spun him in the air. Then he found himself on his hands and knees, straddling Lemmel's long legs. Suddenly his hips were in the air and Daniel screeched as Lemmel licked his exposed opening.

"What ... Lemmel! Oh! Oh ... don't stop. Oh!" He gasped in shocked pleasure as Lemmel breached him with his tongue. "Oh fucking ... Oh, my God! Yes!"

Daniel shook his head, but kept calling out for Lemmel to give him more. It was deliciously amazing, being invaded by the big youth's tongue. His knees were quivering, though Lemmel was supporting him completely.

"Wet," Lemmel announced breathlessly. He dropped Daniel back down over his extended legs and freed his own erection. Then Lemmel hoisted the breathless man up and brought their two bodies together, with Daniel seated on his lap facing away from him. Lemmel let Daniel's body weight sink him down, impale him.

"Fu-- fuck," Daniel stuttered in ecstasy. "Oh," he groaned as his body sank as far as it would go on Lemmel's fat cock. "I ... fuck. Going to ... c- come. Fast. Tongue fucked me."

"Sweet little brother," Lemmel said, his voice low and his lips against Daniel's ear. He began to work the smaller man's nipples, so easily accessible in the little cropped, cotton shirt. "There. Say the lovely words, little brother. Talk as the swordsman does and when ye do to shock him. Makes him so flustered."

"Fuck me. Lemmel, fuck me and close your eyes. No veil near in case I change my mind. Sex. Give me sex. Play with my nipples and wrap your hand around my cock. Do it like that nasty drawing in the outhouse of the inn. The one over the door that never gets rubbed out. Shove in me and fill me with your cum. Brother. Love you. Brother."

"Love between us. Nasty, dirty talk, ye sweet one. Aye, brother. Eyes closed and me touching ye cock. Nasty talk. No veil anywhere near!"

"C-come. I can't take much more. I'm going to. Odin's ... Odin's ... "

"Oh, glory!" Ulfrik swore in shock.

"Wha--" Daniel barked out, startled. He lurched halfway off Lemmel's huge impaling staff. Ulfrik's head and shoulders were sticking up through the trapdoor.

"Just we-weaver. Sit," Lemmel said breathlessly as he kept pumping his cock up into the man on his lap. "Hush weaver. Let no others come up."

"Me alone in the barn. Ye do ... Ye do it even here? With master's blessing? Glory, be right," Ulfrik swore, still hanging on the top rung of the ladder with just his head and shoulders showing. "Heard the strange noise when I come for another basket--"

"Shut-- Get up here." Daniel said breathlessly. "Shut the ... oh, fuck. Ulfrik come here. Shut--"

The weaver scrambled into the loft, banging the wooden trapdoor shut with a thud and sending up more dust motes from the scattered hay.

"Odin's ... Odin's--" Daniel tried to speak. "Ulfrik." He panted as Lemmel pumped him mercilessly. "Coming. Here, Ulfrik. Now! Want the ... Odin's sm-- smile? Oh!" Daniel felt his body slammed down on Lemmel. The big desert youth pulled him down hard, holding him by his shoulders.

Ulfrik scooted on his hands and knees and dived his open mouth down on Daniel's cock. The smaller man fisted his fingers in Ulfrik's hair, hunching over the head in his lap, pulling some of the coarse, black strands from their orderly braids. He thrust himself into Ulfrik and cried out as Lemmel's cock bloated with orgasm and began to twitch deep in his bowels.

His head arched back, Daniel felt his entire body expand with the cum flooding him. He felt as if his skin was stretching and his frame was growing the more Lemmel pumped into him. The orgasm had his head spinning!

Ulfrik sucked Odin's smile from him. The weaver's talented, sensitive fingers manipulated, worked Daniels nuts as volley upon volley of cum was swallowed by Ulfrik.

What seemed like hours later, Daniel was lying flat on top of Lemmel, both men facing the barn rafters. Daniel's golden, unbound hair fanned out across Lemmel's dark shoulders and draped down to the loft floor. Ulfrik sat cross-legged by them, idly toying with bits of straw, working them into little star-shaped figures. He'd made several of the little braided objects. He was smiling as he worked.

"Oh. I've gotta go piss," Daniel said. "I'm going to explode if I don't get out of here right now."

"I'll take ye down," Lemmel said.

"I can get down all by myself. Go on, Ulfrik. You ... look happy," Daniel said with a shy smile.

"Am. For ye, Sky," Ulfrik said as he laid a braided star on Daniel's naked stomach, centering the inner ring over Daniel's navel. Then he placed one on Lemmel's dark forehead. "Gone, I be now, Sky." Ulfrik gathered the rest of his little creations and disappeared down the trap door opening.

"Ah. Explode, little brother? Piss in yon bucket. Then I'll carry it down."

"I can wait," Daniel said with mild amusement. "Got to get myself off your cock first. You're still a little hard." He pushed himself off Lemmel's chest, sitting up and winced as the movement sent Lemmel's shaft deeper in him.

"Me," Lemmel said and hoisted Daniel's hips in the air.

As Lemmel's cock was suddenly taken out of Daniel's body, he yelped. Lemmel leaned him forward so once again he was kneeling over Lemmel's long legs. Then Daniel gasped and tried to holler but no sound would come out. Lemmel's tongue lapped at his hole. Then he trembled. Lemmel was tongue fucking him again. Daniel spasmed endlessly in the big man's grip, his mind a white blank of unbearable pleasure.

He had a shatteringly huge dry cum with Lemmel's tongue buried deep in him.

"All out," Lemmel finally said. Then he licked Daniel's balls for a moment, pausing when his tongue reached Daniel's stretched hole again. "Aye, none of me left in ye," he decreed. "Pants on and then it be down the ladder for evening meal, little brother. We tarried here too long. Still, the sleep was good, eh?"

"Oh, my God," Daniel groaned in protest. "I feel like a bowl of Jell-O. Oh lord. Oh."

"What be Jell-O, sweet brother?"

"Oh, hell. Never mind. We can't do that again ... unless we shut and lock the trap door first. I can't get my pants on. I can't ... That was so incredible!"

"Aye. And tonight the Champion master swordsman will feel my tongue in him. I've a mind to be in him. Not done it before. But tonight it will be."

"I'm half hard again," Daniel protested. "These pants look completely obscene."

"Wrap ye summer veil not in back, but down front to cover. See? As this way, little brother. Kiss? Balin says never ask, but me, I do. Must never do so when others are around. But then, must never put my tongue in ye sweet, little ass when others are around! Nay! That surely I must not, more than anything I must not!"

Lemmel engulfed Daniel in an embrace and kissed him deeply.

"Wh-- Lemmel, I ... I had no idea anyone here did that. The tongue thing. I mean, during sex. Oh, wait. I saw a drawing in Coldback. That's what they were doing. It was hard to tell. Wasn't a sky and a worker caste in the drawing though. Definitely not."

"Don't know what others do. Champion, he teaches me many new things I never knew were done."

"And that was one of them?" Daniel asked. "I shouldn't have asked that. Ignore that question."

"Aye. Will ignore it and not tell ye that the Champion loves me to be on my knees, forehead to the floor when he does that to me with his tongue. Won't say, little brother. Or say that then he stands over me and fucks me that same way. Him grunting and sweaty and bending down with his knees and such force, I swear! Such great force when he fucks me that way. I won't say the names he calls me when he does that and how I get so hard I come a puddle on the floor. Won't say."

"Good. Glad you're not going to say. I still can't tie my pants very well. I'm gapping. Oh, fuck it. I've got the veil to cover with. Let's go eat supper." He tugged the veil around his neck and let the ends trail down to cover his crotch.

Lemmel climbed down the ladder first, and lifted Daniel off the bottom rung, setting him gently on his feet in the barn. Freyfaxi wandered in from the paddock, whinnying at the sight of Daniel. The steed tried to shoulder past Lemmel to get to the shorter man. Lemmel gently pushed against the black beast's nose.

"No apples today, Frey," Daniel said. "Get your over-hungry self back out in the paddock and stop harassing everyone else. You're going to need to be on their good side on the trail soon. We'll be leaving in fall."

"Fall be a long way off, Sky-- Hold, shepherd. House business in here."

"Sorry, steward," the young boy said and hastily backed out of the barn, averting his eyes from the Sky's unveiled figure.

"That one," Lemmel said with a slight disapproval. "Always exploring. I'm for having him sent to my master's sixth meadow. He can cot there under the eye of old Helf and spend his curiosity in the black forest. Quick lad he be, but too much nosing about for the good of the House. I'll see to it by the morrow." Lemmel nodded, asserting his new role as second steward of House Ondeil.

"Don't make him feel punished," Daniel said. "Curiosity is a good trait. You have it, don't you? And so does that damned horse. Freyfaxi!" Daniel admonished the pushy horse.

"Aye, fall be a long way from today. Summer's just got her flower coat on and we've many a day yet here."

Daniel walked beside his tall companion. The seasons were at least twice as long on this planet, he and Jack had confirmed. The orbital distance was more like that of Mars, than Earth. They had plenty of time left here in the meadows cot. "Will you be sorry to leave the meadows?"

"Nay. Though, I go with my love, Balin, I will regret we not go as life mates. I have it not in me, Sky. There be no woman who I could ... It be not seemly to speak of it." Lemmel lengthened his stride a bit.

A hearty laugh rolled out of Daniel and he jogged a few paces to keep abreast of Lemmel's average walking gait. "No you don't. Pulling Balin's favorite line out just to avoid talking about what you'd rather avoid. I know you'd rather not lie with a woman. It's not a big deal, just to say it."

"True," Lemmel said reluctantly. "But not something I be that proud to say, my heart scared of a woman's ... parts. And ho, but they be a mysterious lot!"

"You think so?"

"And of a temper, most. That wench, Canlith? What a fright! Her and her ... " Lemmel held his hands in front of his chest, imitating large breasts. "Wields 'em like my Balin does his weapons, she does. Fright! Then there be the ones so timid that to say a greeting makes 'em faint. I think it could be their death if I say I would bed them. Delicate, fragile things. Same as yon Champion says of ye, though," Lemmel paused and chuckled evilly, "I know he be far from right. I know how delicate ye be when my weapon be deep in ye, or my tongue. Ha! Fragile? Ha!"

"Stop that!" Daniel said in mock seriousness. "But you've got time to figure this out, Lemmel. Time for Jack to start building up his stamina. He can sit a horse for one slow trip around the field here, but that's a long way from being able to ride from one village to the next, isn't it?"

"Aye. Oh, my senior steward waves to ye, Sky. Asny. Veil on as be seemly?"

Daniel tugged the cloth up onto his head, then had to turn his back to the porch and recinch his pants.

"There she be, Highborn. Tal come with pies and to collect our Asny. I must walk ye up the steps before I go greet her on the road."

Daniel squinted up the narrow trek that ran west from the cot to the road south to Brooksmeet. Tal was riding one of Jack's white ponies. She had saddle-packs slung over the back, big wooden boxes that he knew would be full of freshly baked pastries and pies. Asny streaked past the two men, running full-tilt to greet the former serving wench who was now Jack's official innkeeper.

"Tal ... Lemmel," Daniel said thoughtfully to the big man at his side as both walked backward a few steps toward the cot. He watched Tal slide from the sturdy Icelandic pony and embrace the little girl. "Tal has said she doesn't want to live under any man's roof. I wonder if she'd consider an alliance ... of convenience. If she wants to have a child of her own ... "

"What, Highborn? Tal has a roof. She lives under the master's roof. Commands it, thought. That be strange, think ye?"

"I don't know. But what do you think of Tal?"

"Think? As an innkeeper?" Lemmel stopped and held his hand out to assist Daniel in climbing the stairs.

Absently Daniel followed protocol and laid his hand on the back of Lemmel's. They'd gotten very good at public posturing. Balin had begun to brag on Lemmel frequently now.

"As an innkeeper, what do you think of Tal?"

"Finest I ever did meet. My ma, she'd like Tal. No nonsense. No credit and no chance to let a man or woman come to ruin over ale. Some do that, Highborn."

Jack, abandoned amid Asny's scribbles, pushed himself slowly to his feet. "Where've you two been?" He walked to the porch railing and stood by Daniel. "What'cha looking at?"

"Tal," Daniel said thoughtfully.

"Why?" Jack asked.

"She's ... I'm thinking ... I was wondering if Tal would consider an alliance, something that would give her status, keep her from all the unwanted attention and at the same time, give her status that she ... Well. I'll ask her and find out."

"I'm sure you will," Jack said. "And is this question one that a Sky should ask? Something ... as seemly as what the two of you have been up to all afternoon?"

"What?" Daniel asked, startled. He looked sharply at Jack.

With a little flourish of his fingers, Jack plucked straw from under the front of Daniel's veil, and then turned and pulled straw from Lemmel's hair.

"Oh. That."

"Yeah. That," Jack said, a snide grin on his face.

"We were just ... admiring the view from up in the barn loft. Ulfrik helped us ... admire things at the end of our ... admiring. He's got an extension on his blessed fatherhood deadline now."

"Ah. He'll be happy about that. God, I hope he tells her outside the house. My ears can't take it."

"Jarngerd? She be like all women. Mysterious, master."

"You got that right, Lemmel," Jack said.

"You two. Stop it," Daniel said irritably. "What about your ma, Lemmel? Nothing mysterious about her."

"Course not, Highborn."

"And Jack, if Sam were here she'd kick your underweight ass."

"So? She's not here, babe. That's why I'm saying it."

"Saying what?"

"What?" Jack narrowed his eyes.

"Highborn says ye be in danger, master. Ye ass be in danger. Shall I defend it for ye?"

"Yeah, Lemmel. You just do that." Jack glared at his lover. "Lemmel's going to defend my ass."

"I hope he defends it as well as he defended my ass up in the hay loft. You'll be in for a real treat, Highborn Jack." Daniel grinned.

"Exit only! Exit only, buddy boy," Jack said in a mock threatening tone to Lemmel.

Lemmel backed up a step and dropped to one knee, his head bowed.

"Leave him alone, Jack. He has no idea what you're talking about and besides that you'd love what he did. It doesn't qualify as a non-exit maneuver. Least, I don't think it does. Well, it probably does. So forget it, Lemmel. Highborn Jack will never know the incredible delights of your tongue. Show him what he's missing."

"Tongue?" Jack asked loudly. "Tongue?"

Lemmel looked up and smiled at Daniel, then he stuck out his tongue. It was, of course, of a proportional size to the rest of his large body.

"Ho ... my ... God," Jack said.

"House Ondeil!" Asny called as she drew near with Tal. "Comes the innkeeper. See? The innkeeper be here!"

"She loves Tal's title," Daniel said, as Lemmel rose and took up a seemly post at the foot of the stairs.

"Ought to. She gave it to her. That kid would give Tal the world if she could."

"I wonder how much of the world Tal would need in order to do what I have in mind?"

"You dog," Jack muttered. "Got designs on the serving wench?"

"No. Yes. But not that kind. You know, you're being a very, very dirty pervert, don't you? A Sky and a worker caste woman? Get yourself thrown in prison here for even thinking such thoughts."

"I forgot myself. Clap me in handcuffs, officer." Then he spoke to the new arrival. "What kind of pies did you bring today, Tal?"

"Same as last, Highborn Jack. Asny steward won't have no others. Same every time, be what she demands the cook send ye."

"Routine can be a good thing," Jack quipped, then went back to his chair and sank in it gratefully.

"Off with 'em," Tal said as she pulled the boxes from the horse.

"Lemmel, could you help Tal, please?" Daniel asked.

Lemmel shot him an odd look and so did Tal. Daniel squared his shoulders. "Lemmel, I require you to carry one of the boxes and follow Tal with it to the kitchen. Go on."

"Much better," Asny said brightly.

"I'm glad you approve," Daniel said, hiding his smile by turning to Jack and rolling his eyes. "Asny child will help with the boxes too!" he declared.

Daniel sat beside his lover and pulled his veil off as the pies and other supplies were taken around the cot to the kitchen door. He turned his attention to the paddock and watched the horses milling about in the warm summer air. Freyfaxi was annoying Frost Mane now.

"When we leave, the land here will keep churning out House Ondeil profits forever. It belongs to you until someone in Nirrti's temple registers fifty years have passed since the end of the Ondeil line. We'll need to leave papers showing the ownership of the inn is transferred to Tal's family in the event that House Ondeil's line ends. Same for the meadows. Ulfrik and Jarngerd will need a clear title."

"I want some stipulation that Balin and Lemmel can live on the meadows. Balin likes the peace here. I think if we hadn't come along, he'd still be a tanner in Brooksmeet," Jack said.

"Think he'll return to that after we go through the gate?"

Jack nodded. "Yeah. And I'd like him to have a chunk of this place to build on if he wants. Him and Lemmel."

"I think Ulfrik and Jarngerd would like that. They're pretty close, those four. Family."

Jack nodded again.

Tal was back quickly, ready to give her report to Jack and deliver the tribute sent by the village elders.

"Inn does a fine profit," she said as she settled into a chair by Jack and Daniel. "Not nothing going to waste in the kitchens. We spare some of the late night cooking and do more in the mornings now. When some doesn't get eaten soon enough it goes down to the children's hall. Nothing wastes now."

"How about not being able to rent out those front three rooms?" Jack asked.

Daniel adjusted his summer veil across his lap to cover his bare thighs.

"Been meaning to ask, Highborn Jack. Not the front room which be for only ye and ye Highborn, but the two for servants quarters, if Asny and me were to move there, share when the weavers or ye swordsmen are about, then the back rooms could be used for them that work the kitchens. Lay in sleeping platforms along the walls, and free up where they stay now for rent rooms upstairs."

"I see. And you'd have that door at the end of the hall to keep yourselves safe at night. I like that idea. What about you, Dan-- Sky? Think that would work? Have the girl and Tal occupy the weaver's old room? They'll probably only come to town once or twice a year from now on. They could share or better yet, let them have our room on those occasions."

"Tal," Daniel said slowly, "what do you think of young Lemmel?"

"Him? How often he'll be staying at the inn?" she asked in confusion at the change in subject.

"Do you like him?"

"Aye. Right nice enough lad. Quick. Not lazy as some men are. Doesn't be rude to women or children. Deals fair as far as I can tell, Sky."

"Babe? Sky?" Jack probed for Daniel's reason for the change in subject. "We were talking about rooms at the inn?"

"Yes. And I was just wondering how Tal felt about Lemmel. You see, Tal, Lemmel is ... He prefers not to bed women."

"Daniel!"

"Just a minute, desire," Daniel said, pressing his hand on Jack's. "I was just wondering if Tal ... thought Lemmel was a nice person."

"I ... Sky, he ... I suppose," she answered.

"Do you think he's handsome?"

"All right, Sky. That's enough. I think you've had too much sun today. Or too much ... tongue." Jack began to pull himself to his feet.

"You'll have the evening meal with the House, Tal," Daniel said. "The newest steward, House Ondeil's Champion and the innkeeper will join the House and his Sky. The littlest steward can eat with the weavers. She'll have a great time talking with them about dyes. Let's go in, shall we?" Daniel smiled as he stood and waited at Jack's side.

"What are you doing--"

"Seeing to House business, Highborn Jack," Daniel said confidently as he put his hand under Jack's arm. "A happy household, that's what you want, isn't it?"

Jack glared at his lover, but let Daniel support him into the cot.

The dining hall was a very cheery place in early evening. The sunset shone brilliantly through the floor to ceiling windows on the end wall, and though the great fireplace wasn't lit, the room was very bright. Balin had lit the massive chandelier overhead, so as the sun set, the room stayed warm and pleasant.

The sideboard was heavy with food as was the table. Daniel sat, veiled and proper, seemly in his slut-wear at Jack's left hand. The conversation flowed well. Balin was at Jack's right hand, with Lemmel at his side, and Tal was on Daniel's left.

"So, Tal, what we were discussing on the porch earlier?" Daniel asked in way of changing the subject, hopefully more smoothly this time. "Lemmel has very fine prospects as the newest steward of House Ondeil. He'll have status, money, and long term prospects of helping to manage House Ondeil business here. But like I said, he's not looking to take a woman under his roof."

"Highborn?" Tal asked, her tone of voice showing her bewilderment at the topic.

"Yes. That's right, isn't it Lemmel?"

"My roof?" Lemmel asked slowly, glancing rapidly between Daniel and Balin. Then he stared at Jack.

"Lemmel will be traveling for quite a while. He's going north with us in the fall, then will most likely travel with Balin for a while after Highborn Jack and I return to his lands. Lemmel might return here some day. He'll have the right to live on the meadows land for as long as he wishes, as will Balin, their ancestors too. That's a good prospect for a man, isn't it? That, along with the training he's getting from Balin. Training as a steward and as a swordsman."

"You putting him up for auction, Sky?" Jack asked, using formal address for his veiled lover.

Daniel bowed his head, then turned to speak in a low tone to Jack. "Not exactly," he answered.

"Prospects?" Tal asked.

"I've prospects?" Lemmel echoed her.

"Aye, lad. Fine future ye have," Balin said, sounding very troubled. He was looking hard at his plate. Then he glanced up at Lemmel, his eyes bright with longing and possessiveness. "Personal training by a Champion, master swordsman. Training and status of a steward. These assure work for ye any place ye wish to go. Make ye a fine catch for any woman ye might wish to marry."

"One thing you should know, Tal. Lemmel is committed in his friendship to Balin. Champion, master swordsman, Balin. They'll be life partners one day. No one will ever come between them."

Balin sat back in his chair and took a swig of his ale, then set the stein down hard and squared his jaw. "Aye. None will. The Highborn knows the truth of it, lass. My honor on that. I love the lad."

"Oh," Tal said softly. "I am glad for ye. But ... confused."

"I imagine you're wondering why I'm mentioning this?" Daniel said. "Well, Lemmel has a small situation. He has certain ... obligations, family obligations. He's to carry on the line. Oh, I forgot to mention, his father is well off."

"God," Jack said with a loud snort. "Why don't you strip him down and put him up on an auction block?"

"Lemmel, would you stand?" Daniel said. "Turn around for us?" he asked, getting immediate obedience from the low desert youth.

"No! Sit down, Lemmel," Jack said. "My Sky is just messing with me."

The big youth sat, his face red with confusion.

Daniel leaned his elbow on the table. "Tal, Lemmel would welcome an alliance with a woman of great intelligence, a woman of quick wit and someone who is self-reliant. He'd welcome a ... an equal partnership with a woman who could appreciate his chosen mate, and who would like to keep her own roof over her head, instead of having to come under his roof."

"Aye," Balin said. "The lad would find such an intelligent woman and offer to marry her, if she would wish it. He would wish to start a family with her, and would support her, he would. No other woman would ever come before her. That, the lad could guarantee, I assure ye. This woman, she'd have him and his right arm, with no bending to his will or his carnal needs. She'd also ... she'd have claim to kinship with a Champion, if that would help persuade her. Champion, and his earnings to help support the babe, if one came from the union. Though, the lad ... fears the feat of making a babe. That best be said up front too." He turned to Daniel. "A woman needs to know that up front, Highborn."

"Oh! With her? With ... Oh!" Lemmel said, his face even redder.

"And why do ye say it thus?" Tal demanded of Lemmel. She leaned toward him, glaring hard. "Be I so of a repelling nature?"

"Oh! Nay! Nay! Ye be not. Him, my love, my Balin, he speaks great and high of ye. He be of a mind that ye be one who always knows what must be done and done in a right way. He says ye be comely and he says many men think ye so fair and run after ye. He says ye are most beautiful in and out. My Balin, he says--"

The woman interrupted him. "Ye Balin be not the one in need of a wife, silly Lemmel. Ye are. And it be ye who must be offering. Stand and turn, lad, as the Highborn said." Tal grinned boldly at him.

"Ach!" Lemmel exclaimed, echoing the sound he'd picked up from Balin. He shook his head, but then he stood and turned in a circle.

Daniel broke into a broad grin and clapped his hands. "Told, ya, Jack," he whispered. "A happy house."

"Now ye, lass!" Lemmel said, suddenly bold, his fists on his hips.

Tal scooted her chair back far and jumped to her feet. She lifted her stein high and pirouetted quickly. "Well formed I am, and not one drop spilled, mind ye!"

"I've great prospects!" Lemmel declared.

"I'm keeper of a Highborn's inn!" Tal matched him.

"I've training as a swordsman and ... and learning stewardship!"

"I'm trusted to collect the tribute for the great House Ondeil!"

"I ... I" Lemmel paused, then continued in a whisper, "I've Odin's smile."

"Oh," Tal's voice dropped to a whisper like Lemmel's had. "And that blessing would be for my child. Never did I consider such a thing coming into my life. Oh. A child with a double blessing. Touched, I have been by the Sky. And then, to bed with a man seeing the world through Odin's smile. Has ever such occurred in all of Nortvegr?"

"Aye," Balin said. "North it has, but of a few times. The Sky touched ye for a blessing, not for pay. This be so very rare. That and Odin's smile in the same union? I've never seen but have heard. It be very rare. I would take part in this union. I would be named as such. I would ... with my beloved Lemmel, and be for the babe, godfather."

"Champion as godfather." Tal stood there, her hand still clasping her stein. "Though, Asny child I will not put from my side!" she added sternly

"Never would my lad ask it," Balin said. "He'll not take ye under his roof, but would go under ye roof if this be as ye ask. The inn for all time, the House has said. This where ye will make home for ye and for the babe. More than one babe if the future holds such."

"Aye," Lemmel said. "And would ye be of a mind that Balin help me to ... I fear I've never lain with a woman."

Balin glanced worriedly at Daniel. "This be not seemly for the Highborn's delicate ears--"

"Stuff it, Balin. Go on, Lemmel." Daniel leaned forward.

"If ye've of a mind, then my Balin should help. He done lain with women before and ... could ensure that things go right, that ye being a woman and all, ye see glory in the mating. He'll know what to do with my seed, how to place my staff and ... In ye--"

"Lemmel!" Balin complained. "Speak not of seed in front of the Highborn--"

"Shut up, Balin!" Jack ordered. "Go on, Lemmel. I mean, if you wish."

"Aye," Tal said firmly. "Done."

"Whew!" Daniel said and leaned back in his chair. "Congratulations! I think she just said yes, Lemmel! You're going to be a husband and someday, a da!"

"Oh, mercy," Lemmel said weakly as he sank back into his chair.

Balin rose and strode around the table. He knelt on one knee at Tal's side and took her hand. He kissed it then, and looked up into her eyes. "Ye always have been fair in my eyes. What needs my young lover doesn't meet, I will, gladly, if ye'll have me do so."

"Aye, Champion. Under my roof, that suits me fine."

"And as to your roof," Daniel interjected, "what I was talking about earlier? The rooms at the inn. House Ondeil will not be staying in residence at the inn anymore. We'll come to the village for a day here and a day there, but I can't see the front room going to waste. That should be your room, Tal. You can move in it whenever you want. And the room with the door, for Asny when she grows up a bit. Put a door back on the other room for your child when the time comes."

"'Well, the Sky has spoken. And, as you all know, a Sky is never wrong." Jack smirked.

"You'll have ... well I suppose I should let Highborn Jack tell you that you're to keep the profits of the inn when he leaves for the north. Use them for yourself and Asny, and of course, your children. Go on, Highborn Jack. Tell her."

"Jeeze, thanks Sky." Jack sneered, but none took his feigned ire seriously. "Yeah, that's right. When I take my Sky north with me, all the profits from the inn are yours to keep. I want you to keep taking the tribute from the village and give half of the worker's coins to the children's hall just like you're doing now. You can spend the other half on whatever project you think best, wherever you see a need. The weavers will be in charge of the cot here. I've already talked this over with them. They'll use the cot and meadows however they want. Lemmel and Balin, if they choose to return here will have the right to live on the land, work it and have half the profits they help bring in. Or they can just build a house on one of the meadows, do tanning, whatever."

"Someday, returning to the ways of a tanner may be the right path for me," Balin said as he returned to his seat beside Lemmel.

The young man was still sagging in his chair, looking as if he were overwhelmed by the immensity of the agreement that had just been struck. Balin took his hand and held it.

"Think ye might wish to return some day from the north? Live again here or at the inn?" Tal asked Jack. "Not seemly to ask into a Highborn's affairs be it? Not as if I'm asking if ye want ale or wine, now."

Daniel grimaced. He'd come to care so much for the people under this roof, those seated at this table, the weavers and Asny out in the kitchen. To leave them, some sooner than others, was going to be hard.

Jack pondered his tankard for a moment. "My plans are to go to the city of the Highborn. Once there, my Sky and I will be traveling on alone."

"But--" Lemmel startled and began to object.

"It's not that we want to leave you there, Lemmel, or Balin either. But we will be safe from there to our home. I can't explain now, but we will. And, as for returning? I'm not sure if we will be able to do that."

"We'll try," Daniel said softly. "There's something very important that we'll be leaving undone here. If at all possible we'll return to finish it. But we won't be coming back to live here."

"Unless real estate prices in Florida soar through the roof and retirement there becomes out of the question," Jack quipped lightly. As Balin had done, Jack reached out and took his lover's hand.

"Retire here?" Daniel asked softly, his head bowed. "If that change could be made ... Truthfully, I'll miss this place, Jack. I'll miss the people, I'll miss the horses, and riding across the meadows. I'll miss the summer weather and the lakes and streams. You could bring back your fishing rod. I'm pretty sure there are no fish in the rivers around here. You'd have a good time." He smiled.

Jack chuckled, his eyes sparkling bright in the last strands of evening sunlight. "Here's to good company," he said as he lifted his stein.

The bonding ceremony was conducted shortly after the meal was finished. Tal said she wasn't for putting it off to do something fancy in front of townsfolk, and having Highborn present for their exchange of oaths was more important than anything.

To make the bonding official Tal paid Daniel to scribe out a beautiful chart of the lineage for Tal and Lemmel, with Balin's listed to the left of Lemmel's, as was traditional in the Nortvegr society. The crest on the document was Balin's Championship, an incredibly impressive sight, Tal explained to Asny as the child looked on.

Then Daniel was instructed to note that Tal bore a Sky blessing, and that Lemmel, at the time of their union was showing Odin's smile. Space was left on the document for the names of any children of their union. Tal described for Daniel that she wanted room for a symbol after each child's name, to be indicated at the time of birth whether they were Lemmel's child or Balin's. The first space she directed him to fill in now with Lemmel's symbol. The first child would be his. If Lemmel and Balin returned to Brooksmeet, future children would be discussed then.

Balin puffed with pride as Tal explained this, but he managed to remain stoic and masterly during the evening.

Lemmel tried to look brave, but didn't succeed very well. He surprised Tal then, by presenting her with a bag of gold marks. His da was rich, just as the Highborn had claimed. Lars' grandchild would come into the world wealthy. A letter would be dispatched to Lars, informing him of the new branch of his family, Odin's smile, the Championship crest and Tal's impressive status.

Jack kept asking Daniel to clarify the paternity symbol options for him. Daniel would only glare at first then finally said Jack knew, that he was only asking because he'd switched from being a Nortvegr pervert to an Earth, western culture pervert.

The worker castes were too polite to dare ask what Jack and Daniel's far northern reaches expressions meant.

Tal spent the night at the cot. Asny, as usual, was in the back of the cot under the care of the weavers. With most of the lanterns extinguished and the cot quiet, Balin ushered Tal and Lemmel into the room that guarded Jack's sleep chamber.

Daniel had refused to go to bed, despite Jack's many hints. As Balin pulled the curtain closed over his doorway, Daniel rose and held his hand out to Jack. "Time now. I just wanted to make sure ... "

"That she wasn't gonna change her mind?" Jack asked as he took Daniel's offered assistance to get to his feet.

They walked quietly past the curtain. "Not her," Daniel whispered.

As they entered the door Jack took his hand from Daniel's and held it as Balin had been instructing Lemmel to do. "Gotta start practicing this. Now that I don't need a death grip on you just to take a few steps across the room, I need to learn this stuff too."

Daniel paused, then let Jack usher him into the bedroom a few feet. "You going to close the door this time, then?"

"I can get it. It's not that heavy."

"All the doors here are that heavy, Jack. Too tall, too thick and too heavy."

"Ouch. Okay, you could be right. No nudging this thing closed with my bony hip."

"No nudging anything with your hip. Be careful. I need you in good shape tonight. I want to show you what Lemmel taught me today. Well, didn't so much as teach, as he did remind me of what fun rimming can be."

"Rimming?" Jack said with obvious delight. He began removing his clothes.

Daniel pulled his veil off and hung it by the shelves. "Well, not exactly rimming. No. Not rimming. We're talking tongue fucking. Did you see the size of his--"

"Don't remind me. Did he honestly do that to you in the hay? What if someone had walked into the barn?"

"We were up in the loft. When Ulfrik came up, I had him shut the trap door. We were alone."

"Good. You gotta be careful. Keep it in the tub room if you can, Danny. I know you're feeling good and all-- Did you hear that?" Jack asked, cupping his hand behind his ear.

"Think she's okay?" Daniel had his pants halfway off. He stared at Jack.

"Think that was her? Kind of deep for Tal's voice. I think it was the kid."

"Lemmel's voice is deeper than that. I think that was Tal-- Oh, that was Lemmel there, the giggle. The other was Tal."

"And that?"

"Balin. Definitely, Balin. I think he's giving orders!" Daniel said incredulously. "He shouldn't be--"

"Crack the door open," Jack whispered as he took off his pants. "Just a little."

Daniel dropped his own pants and underwear on the floor, and then eased the big door open about a foot. As he listened, Jack came and joined him. Daniel pulled his cropped shirt off and threw it in the general direction of the shelves. He toed out of the slippers he wore indoors, and then knelt and began unlacing Jack's boots. Jack's hands rested on Daniel's head.

Grinning, Daniel slowly brought his head up to look at his lover. Jack's semi-hard cock was inches from Daniel's open mouth now. He reached out and licked the head.

Jack yelped and took a hasty step back, now in full view of the partially open door.

Balin bounded from behind the curtain, a short blade in his hand. At the same moment, Daniel stumbled forward on his knees, having been pulled out of balance by Jack's hasty retreat. He looked up at Balin, seeing the man in nothing but the starched, long sleeved shirt he'd worn to the formal dinner. Daniel tried not to grin. The hem of the shirt hid Balin's erection, but the tent his hard staff made in the fabric showed exactly how aroused the man was.

"Aye. Not used to ye being well and about after I retire, House." Balin didn't allow his eyes to linger more than a fraction of a second on Daniel's unveiled and completely naked body kneeling in the doorway.

"Not a problem, Balin. As you were." Jack made shooing motions at the tall swordsman. "Go back to what you were--"

Lemmel held the curtain aside and Tal was there peering over the big desert-youth's shoulder. What of the woman Daniel could see looked totally naked. Lemmel was still fully clothed.

"Uh oh," Daniel said softly.

Lemmel was looking at Jack, then he squatted to look at Daniel. "Need help, Sky?"

"I ... No. Do you?"

"Aye," Lemmel said, nodding his head rather vigorously.

"Back in there, lad," Balin said sternly.

Tal who'd been modestly hidden behind Lemmel until he squatted, put her hands on her hips. Her hair had been pulled from its long braids. It hung in thick waves, black and voluminous about her body. "A fine try he be making of it. Though, me, Highborn Jack? I'm thinking a man needs his trousers off to make babes. Think I be too picky?"

"Trousers off? Yeah, Lemmel. That's the way to start. I'd definitely recommend you take them off."

"Off?" Lemmel squeaked, looking more frantically now as his eyes darted from man to man. He squeaked again as Tal laid her hand on his shoulder. She pulled him to his feet.

"Maybe I could help with the pants," Daniel chimed in.

"No!" Jack and Balin said at the same time.

"Seemly--" Balin said.

"Decency--" Jack said.

Daniel protested. "It's not like I'm going to--"

"-- with a woman in the room," Balin continued. "Her in a fertile way and a Highborn seeing? This be bad enough. But for a Sky?" he said, sounding too scandalized to finish his sentence.

"--taboo above all taboos, and you know better. If the kid can't get it out by himself I don't think you need to go--"

"Just the pants," Daniel said, ignoring all the objections as he crooked his finger at Lemmel.

Jack stepped in front of Daniel and began to shove the door closed. Balin had Lemmel by his collar and was marching him backward into their bedroom. Tal had dissolved into a fit of giggles, holding her sides at the men's antics.

With the door shut, Jack leaned his naked body against it. "I just flashed every one of them. Full Monty. Full frontal nudity. When I stepped in front of you? You realize that? My dignity is now shot to hell."

"I could kiss your dignity and make it better?" Daniel asked, on his knees.

"Do you realize how taboo that was? What you were talking about just now? Tal's a woman in case you didn't notice. We're not supposed to be around them when they're doing the horizontal mamba. Big no no. You said so yourself."

"But it's just Tal. She doesn't ... Well, I don't think she minds, Jack. She knows you and I kind of don't follow the rules. She knows ... "

"That you and Lemmel act like a couple of hormonal teenagers? Fucking like bunnies all the time? I don't think so." Jack pushed away from the door and grabbed a blanket from on top of the chest at the foot of the huge bed. He wrapped it around his waist.

"I think she does, Jack. I think Tal knows and accepts and is fine with me and how I live. She's covered for me, for you enough times ... "

"Why are we having this discussion? You're not going to help Lemmel get his dick out. Balin can handle that assignment. You need to be making my dick hard. And wasn't there some allusion to tongue action tonight?"

"With Lemmel's tongue or my tongue? I wager he'd be in here like a shot if we called--"

Jack tilted his head and cupped a hand behind his ear. "Did you hear that? Man, these walls are thin. I think that was Tal giggling. Yeah. It's Tal. Least she's seeing the humor in all this."

Daniel stood and carefully opened the door again, but only a few inches this time. He struck a listening pose, then nodded. "Yeah," he whispered. "That's her. She does sound like she's having a good time. And Balin does. I don't hear Lemmel. Oh. That was him. I recognize the groan."

"Think that means they got his pants off?" Jack shifted the blanket and unfolded it more, wrapping it over his shoulders. He came up behind his lover and opened the blanket, then wrapped it around the both of them. "Oh, that sounds sweet," he whispered very quietly, his mouth near Daniel's ear.

"Does," Daniel said with a slight nod of his head. "Oh. That's him again. He's liking it. Or at least, he's getting closer to what he needs to do. I imagine Balin's helping ... We could probably peek in the curtain--"

"No way!" Jack whispered forcefully. "That is ... unless ... "

Carefully, Daniel pushed the door open wider. Jack had a good hold on him with the spread blanket. They inched forward until they were at the curtain. Daniel pushed one side of it open just slightly, then had to move his head to the side so Jack could see too.

Tal was on her back in the middle of the big bed Lemmel and Balin slept in. Her knees were bent and Lemmel was kneeling between them. She held Lemmel's head and shoulders, patting his back.

"Aye, lad. Such a brave lad," Balin said encouragingly.

He was kneeling behind Lemmel, both of the men naked now. Their backs were to the curtain. Balin stroked Lemmel's sides. His hips were snug against Lemmel's ass.

"My brave lad. Breathe slower. There. See? I do all the work for ye as I promised. Ye sheath this mighty weapon ye have now lad. Let me ... slide it ... in."

Tal's feet came off the bed and she cried out in pain.

"Slower, lass. I'll move him in ye slower. Brave lass, I know the first one hurts. Ye maidenhead. Right sorry I be. It hurts ye so. But ... there. I've got him in all the way. There, gentle sweetling. See? Ye've his staff in ye and ... Breathe ye slower too, lass. Brave lass."

"Balin," Lemmel said querulously.

"Hold, lad. Ye do well. My fingers down ... here. See, the lass, she's got pain from it being her virginity ye just passed through. A journey ye both took together. Sweet for the both of ye. Even if never ye pass again this way together, I will make it sweet for ye both. Feel my touch, lass? Stroking there."

Tal arched her back and tightened her hold on Lemmel's shoulders. She hissed through clenched teeth and began to rock against Balin's touch.

"Ah, but she does, lad. Her pleasure. I give her more this way and ye give her some too. Do not think ye have no hand in the smile she'll feel. Ah, and there's my lad's orbs. Love them. Love them. A babe will come from them into the lass. Wondrous. With her and ye in the child's face? A beautiful babe. Sweet, of a love made and dear to three hearts. How could the babe be otherwise?"

"Oh, sweet mercy!" Tal called out.

"Me," Lemmel said gamely.

"Then thrust, lad."

"Help, Balin. I'm not for thrusting. Help."

"Aye. Feel me!" he said sternly as he began to thrust his hips, sending his own weapon deep into Lemmel.

The big youth lifted his head and cried out in pleasure as his lover pumped his massive erection into his ass. Lemmel's hard body was ground by waves of force into Tal's body under him. She bucked and lifted her legs higher, trying to wrap them around Lemmel, but with Balin in the way, she couldn't gain purchase.

Tal was crying out little mewlings of pleasure and breathing heavily with each thrust of Lemmel's hard cock into her body. Balin drove his lover into her without mercy now. Tal began to thrash her head from side to side.

Daniel turned in Jack's embrace, bringing his lips in contact with Jack's ear. "I can't believe they're ... "

"Succeeding," Jack whispered. "Balin's ... amazing."

"Yeah. His ... Oh, that ... is so deep in ... " Daniel's quiet voice trailed off.

"We should go," Jack mouthed at Daniel.

Daniel nodded but didn't back away.

"My lad! Oh, ye grip me! I feel the juices rising from ye manhood. Ye give to make a babe ... in the beautiful lass. Oh, lass. Here he comes. I ... Lass! My lad, he gives ye ... oh sweet Lemmel. Love the lady Tal. Love her, lad. Love her as she deserves. Oh. Oh, I cry for the sweetness. Oh!" Balin shouted, his deep voice ringing off the thick timbers of the cot.

Jack pulled Daniel back, pulled him away from the curtain which fell soundlessly into place. He led his lover back to their huge bed, behind the solid door, into solitude.

Silently, Daniel crawled up beside his reclining lover and molded his naked body to Jack's.

"How would you have me, Highborn Jack?"

"Are you my sweet lad?"

"I'd be your sweet lad if you'd have me be that for you. If you would make love to me, I'd come for you, give you any of me that you desire."

"Oh, that word! That's something I will never let go. Desire. Danny, it makes my toes curl," Jack said as he closed his eyes. "It sums up everything I feel about you. Desire you. I really desire you."

"What does the word mean to you?" Daniel asked. He began to nuzzle his lips in the crook of Jack's long neck.

"Means I have a burning need in my gut to be with you. Need to hear your voice and see your face. Touch you. Hold you. Desire all those things and a million more with you. No matter where we are. Briefing room. Gate room. My back yard. Desire you. So different than just saying I love you. Desire. It's ... active."

"Active," Daniel said with a smile. He got up on his hands and knees so he could rain kisses down on Jack's chest and stomach. "A-- active."

"Linguist. Know what active means. You do. Ahh. Kiss there. Hip bones. Lower. Yeah. I desire you."

"Jack. Love." Daniel kissed the head of Jack's weeping cock. "Desire." He licked the shaft from base to slit. "Desire to suck you."

"Want in you, Danny. Don't suck me. I want in you. Want to fuck you before I explode."

Jack got his wish. His beautiful lover sank down on him, taking his shaft deep and Jack found sexual release in his lover's body.

Hours later, with Jack sound asleep, Daniel slipped from the huge bed and opened the door. He peered out into the gloom, lit by a flickering lantern burning low in the sitting room. He saw no one about. He snatched up his white veil and draped the gauzy fabric over his shoulders, letting it fall like a toga down to cover his groin. Then he walked barefoot and silent toward the kitchen for water.

"Sky," Tal whispered as he passed one of the divans by the fireplace.

"Oh, sorry. Didn't see you there."

"Was good, Sky. Young Lemmel. Sweet and dear."

Daniel stepped around Jack's reclining chair and stood before Tal. He was startled to see Lemmel seated on the floor by her hip, his head resting back on the couch. He was asleep and she was lightly combing her fingers through his hair.

"Sweet of heart like so few men are. Timid. His Balin be a force. The lad will be in good hands, your Highborn Jack and his Balin. As will ye," she added shyly.

Daniel perched on Jack's foot stool, pulling the gauze carefully over his groin. Tal was naked, wrapped loosely in a fur cover. Lemmel was wrapped in one of Jarngerd's bright weavings. He had on a shirt, but nothing else that showed outside the blanket.

"Left Balin sleeping?"

"Aye. Sleeping sound. Lemmel wanted to sit by his master's door. I came to see my new husband in the moonlight through the windows. Strange to hear that from my lips. Husband. Never thought to have one."

"Me either," Daniel said. "Funny how things work out."

"Ye be truly not as any other Sky. For that, I have fear. I would have my husband's duty to ye last many a line of years going into the future. I would not see ye ended for the strangeness."

"I'm trying not to be so strange. I promise, I'm working at it. I just had a hard time for a while, with Highborn Jack so ill."

"Plenty ill he was too. Seen him, as the littlest steward did in the first days. Him past death. Ye brought him back from there as I've never seen one brought back. So I'm thinking, stop worrying about the Sky. He can do things no others can. I'm thinking if ye wish to move among ye kind and not trip, ye will do so. As ye did when House Halfdain were in the inn. I think this, then fear grips me and I'm knowing how dangerous the ways of a Sky be. Ye dare not step wrong. Such power all Skys wield. Recently ye had a perfect right to ask for my head because I made a wrong. Ye have the right and the power then and there to order my death. And ye do not.

"Many times, beautiful Sky, many times in the days ahead ye will come to moments when ye will have the power to order a death of man or woman, even child. Some Sky do so, order the death every time. And some Sky ... will cause times to happen, will ... perhaps trip into a man and claim a touch, or stop in a path to make a man hurt him. Some Sky grow so with hurt and anger in their hearts that they lash out and cause the deaths of many worker castes. And readily those deaths are given. Until some council or other Highborn or even a Champion question the Sky's sanity. Then he be off, taken to Nirrti's temple and judged and never comes back. Never. They never return, so what kind of judging be that? I'm thinking naught. I'm thinking it be only in name, a judging, but in truth, death for the Sky every time.

"I warn ye of this, and I warn ye of the other way too. To always pass over, to always forgive and always allow the touch or the insult or the hurt, this too will cause ye to be judged. If a man bump ye or grab and always ye forgive, then that too will lead to ye death."

Daniel put his elbows on his knees and slumped, hanging his head low. "I can't do that. I can't ... I have enough innocent blood on my hands."

"He whose name be not spoken. I see it in ye face. I know. Balin knows. My husband does not, I think. Asny child does and whispered it to me and to no other will we ever say it. Highborn Jack knows?"

"Yes," Daniel said sadly.

"Then ... be of a stone heart. Take his death and ... do not waste it, Sky. Let Highborn Jack use it again and again to tell that ye've ordered another's death. Let him tell the village and the inn name, but not the man's of course. Tell that a wrong was done and two were buried face down in the earth for it. For surely, did my love's brave swordsman go and defile the graves of both. He turned the nameless one to face Odin, and turned the dirty miner face down. He never will admit it, but I know he did this. I watched him there at the inn following the dark deed when all others fell to the ground with their faces hidden, cursed and waiting to die. Balin was not among them, Sky. He was not there, but gone that day.

"When Balin come back and learned of the deed I watched him as he questioned all and searched the inn himself. Then I followed him as he left. The nameless one had been buried far from the village and so it was not easy for me to track Balin. But he was lost in grief for what happened to ye and not careful in his walk. He found the nameless one's grave and dug it open, his face down and hidden from Odin. Balin turned him, Sky. Then went to the dirty hole where hateful council dropped the miner--so many hated that man and denied him an honorable pyre--but did not curse his journey into the next life by turning him face down. So Balin did. Turned his face from Odin for all time.

"So ye can claim two, though one be not still cursed thus. I would have ye claim two and keep ye alive and free. Please, Sky."

Daniel closed his eyes. "I can't do that to Thaid's memory. I will never do that to Thaid's memory."

"Even to save ye own life?"

"No." Daniel shook his head decisively.

"Then, the miner only. The one whose name should properly be forgotten. Him. One be better than none to carry north if ever asked. If ever bumped or wronged or slighted ye have the protection to say ye be weary of death, having it so close just recently. That be true. And of course, ye can claim all the terrible beatings ye give my young husband. Him with that ... well, almost visible mark he has. One mark that he's shown to every man who'll look and who must then tell him that aye, they see some horrendous big scar or he buys them no ale. Silly lad. Silly lad," she said softly as she stroked his hair. "Ach, I think I love him."

"I think you do. And in his own way, he probably loves you too, Tal. He has a big heart."

"Truth, I did tell him and the Champion, that it be known between us. I had fancied the Champion before he declared himself. I would not hurt this young lad for him to not know my true feelings toward Balin. Secret feelings breed jealousies. But my young husband, what a wonderment he be. I'm for writing his da and ma and seeing if they ever travel this far north. I've a mind to meet them, my new kin."

"I could scribe a letter for you to send."

"I could pay ye in gold. My purse be too fat now. What shall I do with such wealth? I've no need of more skirts or shoes. I've no need of anything, and I've sacks full of coins and gold and more in the future to be made from that inn. I've too much."

"That's quite a problem to have."

"Need ye any for the journey north?"

"Charity, Tal?" Daniel sat up and looked at her in mock horror.

"Nay. Payment for this and future scribings. I can pay and have credit. I allow me to give but not others to owe the inn. Thus I will have life be. How many gold marks will ye be able to carry in ye bargaining cloth? Have ye plenty now?"

"I have plenty. Of all the silly things ... yesterday Jack gave me more coins to sew onto my veil. Isn't that silly?"

"Love. He said sew them? As the Sky of House Halfdain. His were many and rich on the veil. All saw that he was desired above money by his House."

"Above money?"

"Aye. Enough to pay a crossing fee if he chooses to. If his desire reaches posted land, gold on his veil be to show that he can pay instead of be forced should he ever be offered as trade for passage by House Halfdain."

"I see."

"Need anything, Sky? Here I be babbling on and ye out for some need. Pie? Or milk maybe? I rouse my husband to move off my leg and I fetch it for ye. Serve ye as I will always want to do."

"No. I was just going to get some water. I'll get a pitcher and take it back to the room with me. You get some rest." Daniel slipped silently through the house, feeling the cold stone of the back hall under his bare feet. He walked back to the sitting room carrying a pitcher of water and paused at the far side. Balin was in the room, rousing Lemmel and pulling him to his feet. Lemmel protested sleepily, then kissed Balin. The big swordsman helped Tal to her feet, holding her for a moment as he snuggled her covering about her shoulders. Then he walked both of them toward the curtained room. At the doorway Tal stopped him with a hand on her chest. Silently she pointed back at Daniel in the darkness.

Balin looked back at Daniel. Tal took Lemmel's arm and turned him around, then she pointed toward Daniel and gave the sleepy young man a little push.

"Go on, lad. Lass and I will sleep together while ye be with the unbounded beauty yon. Come bed ye wife in the dawn hour as be seemly. Go on."

Daniel entered Jack's room and climbed into the big bed, Lemmel right behind him. He spread out in the middle. Jack was snoring on the far side, almost out of reach in the monstrously huge bed.

"My sweetling. This I heard him call her," Lemmel whispered against Daniel's ear. "I would take that word and use it with her too. Think that wise?"

"Yes," Daniel breathed the word as Lemmel's fingers played softly over his cock. "I want you to do to me what you did to her."

"Have my love drive me in ye? But he be not here."

"Okay, then not that way. I want your cock in me. I want you to fuck me, start out quiet, and then build and build until I'm so loud that we wake up Highborn Jack. I want him to wake up with you fucking me here in bed. I want him to see it, like it's done in the dirty drawings, like in the outhouses and that nasty drawing scratched into the inn brick wall. I want to be on my hands and knees and I want you to do it that way."

Lemmel got on his knees and Daniel rolled over. He rose to his hands and knees, as he'd said he wanted to get fucked, and then had a moment of panic, flashing to the feeling of fighting off Thaid who had him face down in a bed. "Wait!" Daniel said harshly. "Sorry, Lemmel. Sorry. Bad memory. Can't do it like this with you. You're too big." He sank down onto his hip and looked back at the silent man. "Sorry. I really wanted to do it that way. It ... just ... You're too big. I've done it with Highborn Jack that way, but you ... I can't. Not that way."

"Worry not, little brother. There be more ways than we could ever use up and get tired of. Many other ways of making pleasure. But I fear we've spoiled the surprise ye planned. My master be awake now."

Jack coughed, then cleared his throat. "You two ... need to ... Ah, go ahead. I'm not going back to sleep any time soon. Hey, why aren't you with your new bride? Did the Sky go lure you out of bed?"

"Tal ... wife ... sent me to be with the Sky, master. Though it not be seemly, me in this bed. It be nasty, and she seems to not care. She beds the Champion until dawn, though he does not enter her with his staff until a babe catches. He makes love other ways until that future date. At dawn I am to return and bed her again. My staff. My seed. They say a babe made at dawn be fair of temper, full of a promise of a new day."

"And you're going to be able to bang ... the Sky and then go bang her? You won't have any cum left."

"He will," Daniel assured his lover. "He has no shortage of cum, and he's only done it ... Oh, I forgot about the loft earlier today. So that and while ago and then if he's going to do it again at dawn, then yeah, he should hold off. Four times is probably pushing his limit."

"Hell. Four times in one day?" Jack asked in envy. "I ... I'm going to sleep. I'm frickin' going to sleep now!"

"Uh oh." Daniel crawled over to Jack and kissed his neck. "You remember that non exit maneuver I was talking about earlier? Well, he can do that and save his cum for later."

"Not on your life. Unless it's you he's making a u turn in."

"That traffic reference doesn't even make sense, Jack."

"What be trah fick?" Lemmel asked.

"Coming and going of people who are traveling. Carts and horses and people. That's traffic. I don't know another term for it," Daniel said.

"Travelers," Lemmel supplied helpfully.

Daniel chuckled and nodded. "How about we just roll up with Highborn Jack and get some sleep? That way you'll have plenty of stamina."

Balin came and got Lemmel at the dawn hour. Daniel raised his head up a moment to see the big man guiding Lemmel toward the door, whispering something about being unseemly. It was wrong to sleep ... actually sleep in the same bed with a Sky. But that wasn't the last night Lemmel spent in bed with Daniel, or the last night Tal spent sharing her time with the swordsman and his young protégé.

Chapter 20 - Season's Change

During the seven months they'd lived in security on Jack's Meadows holding, summer had come from the north. They'd been on the planet almost 400 days, a year and a month. Summer had come from the north, then fall came from there too. Leaving the security of the cot, leaving the weavers, Asny and Tal had been more painful than Daniel wanted to think about. How could he detest a culture so fiercely, and yet love some of its people so deeply?

Tal had been pragmatic, stoic and Asny had cried like her life was over. But as they rode over the rise from Jack's cot, Daniel got one last look at Asny comforting Tal as the tall woman began to weep. Lemmel rode staring straight forward and blubbering like a baby.

After five days on the trail Daniel was still stubbornly riding Freyfaxi daily. He knew he would ride Frey again tomorrow. Rotating between the heavier riders and light riders was the smart thing to do, he knew. Balin had said as much once again that morning as they packed up out of a poor farmer's cot. But Daniel had silently pulled Lemmel over to help him mount. He felt so miserable at leaving the sanctuary of the meadows that he felt he deserved to indulge himself and ride the eager, wonderful steed another day.

"Want to ride double, babe?" Jack asked, standing by Freyfaxi and holding onto Daniel's boot.

"Could," Daniel said, adjusting his hold on the reins. His veil hung around his neck as usual. He took his left foot out of the stirrup.

Balin stepped behind Jack and lifted him by his waist instead of giving him a leg up as Daniel had received. Balin held him high enough that Jack got his foot in the stirrup and swung his right leg over. He snuggled up against Daniel right behind the ridge of the saddle and well on the blanket. Balin picked up Daniel's saddle packs and slung them across Frost Mane's saddle. Then he handed Frost Mane's lead rope to Lemmel who was already in the saddle.

"Saddle made for two riders," Balin said with disgust, "and not used for it. A waste," he said, shaking his head.

He'd had a saddle made to his specifications, the fourth one made by the trader who'd sold Jack the huge Flemish horses. It was intended to hold a worker caste in back and the delicate little Sky in front between the worker caste's thighs. Daniel had not touched it once.

They rode out from the farmer's little home, Balin in the lead as was proper; Lemmel in the rear.

Jack wrapped his arms low around Daniel's hips and leaned his cheek against his lover's veil-draped shoulder. "I know. I miss 'em bad too."

"It's crazy, isn't it? You'd think I'd be ready to get away from that place. I resisted so hard going to your Meadows Cot."

"It was a good place for us to be. Good memories."

"Yeah. We have to come back to them sometime. After ... after we let these people know what ... you know," he said, glancing back at Lemmel to make sure the man wasn't too close. Jack and he had sworn they wouldn't expose Lemmel and Balin to any more talk about Nirrti. It wasn't fair to the two men, to expect them to drop their entire cultural structure on Jack and Daniel's say-so alone.

They'd never been in this position before, with the knowledge that a culture was based on such falsehoods and absolutely no way to prove it to the people trapped within the system of slavery set up by some goa'uld. SG-1 had toppled many false gods, had dismantled many destructive, harmful slave systems. But before they'd always had access to some kind of proof, some kind of goa'uld technology or advanced weaponry. Something. They'd always had some kind of evidence to back up their claims. On this continent, on this planet they had nothing but the belief that the great ring in Nirrti's temple was a working stargate.

They also allowed no doubts that they would be able to dial out and get home.

Jack rubbed Daniel's bare stomach. "Without a GDO, we'll have to go to the Alpha site, or maybe Chulak. If you think Bra'tac will be there? We could go there, then use his GDO signal to get home."

"I like that idea. I like that much better than the plan of going to the Alpha site. I want to get a change of clothes before I step out of a gate in front of any SGC personnel. I think I'm going to need some cool-down time."

"I still can't get my mind wrapped around the concept that we're not going to cool down too much on this little trip north. We're going north. We should be getting colder. Winter comes from the north like summer did, right?"

"Except," Daniel explained patiently, "We're riding toward the equator and on this planet their jet stream doesn't move like you expect it to. We're moving into warmer weather for a while. Or, at our pace, actually just staying in the same temperature. It'll be fall all the time we ride northeast. It'll be the end of fall for the southern part of the continent by the time we reach the sea, but warmer on the coast."

"That's just not right. If the cold air comes from the north toward us, and we're riding into it, we'll meet it faster by going north."

"Yes, except we're going toward the equator and we're--"

"Never mind. I'll take your word for it. Thank God I don't have to listen to Carter babble this at me too. Balin! What's Lemmel's protocol lesson for the day?"

Balin rose in his saddle and twisted around. Svaolfari walked on obediently despite the imbalance of her rider. "A steward's duty be first and foremost to the House, unless the Sky has even the smallest of needs. I want some examples, lad. If yon Sky drops his shoe, and at the same time ye master calls for a quill, which do ye tend to first?"

"Be my master engaged in trade and need the quill for household business?"

"Aye! Smart question, lad. He be listing purchases and gold marks for the trade."

"Quill first, Champion. Provided it be another Highborn he treats with. Then I see to the Sky's need. But if the trade be with Champion or common worker caste, Sky first, always."

"Well said. Household business, money deals with equal status traders comes before Sky's petty needs. If Sky needs something not petty, then of course, all wait. All wait."

"All wait, Champion. All wait for the Sky."

"And if the trade be for other than coin, the only thing that takes precedence be if ye master bargains time with his Sky, to bed him by a Champion."

"Unh," Daniel grunted.

"Explain that to Lemmel, Balin," Jack said. "I want to make sure he understands. Examples." Jack brushed Daniel's unbound hair to his left, pushing it forward over his lover's shoulder so it wouldn't tickle his face as he peered over Daniel's right shoulder at the Champion.

"Aye." Balin settled back into his saddle and spoke loud enough for Lemmel to hear clearly. "Ye master meets a Champion who has a great skill and ye master wishes to see it used, wishes a battle waged for his entertainment. His Champion and the one new met. Or perhaps he wishes the Champion's companion in his bed for a night, of course, being only if the companion be no woman. Then he bargains to trade for a night or pay for the entertainment with his Sky's body. If such be the bargain working, then fetch the quill first."

Lemmel was silent for a moment. "Champion, be such a trade, one Sky bedded for another, be that seen as behind the veil? I mean, it be not imparting of course. How could it be? Highborn lying with a Sky. But what I wonder truly, how that be seemly?"

Now Balin stayed silent. "Highborn Jack, House, wish ye to explain this to the lad? It ... Not delicate, the telling."

"You better tell him, Balin," Jack said. Daniel nodded. Jack rubbed his back and whispered in his ear. "We already know this. I could ask him to change the subject."

"We should listen. These formal lessons, they're filling in holes in our information, Jack. I think we should listen."

"--bargains for the night, sunset to sunrise. In the master or Champion's chambers all that goes on be not considered behind the veil. Veil protection stops at the door. It be not considered seemly, the bargain. None of it. Not from the goddess Nirrti's temple, this practice be taught. It just exists, lad. Hard use can be made. Not ... not what some would consider wise-- House, forgive me for speaking plainly. This, he should know."

"Go on," Jack said. "He needs to know. We'll meet other Highborn on this trip, other Houses. Lemmel needs to know what to expect when their steward approaches him." Then he brought his mouth to Daniel's ear. "Hard use? I hadn't heard that before."

Daniel shook his head, letting Jack know he hadn't heard it before either.

"Aye. Lemmel, lad, it be part of the offer, that the Sky thus traded may be used in any way wished. He must only be able to walk back to his House in the sunrise hour. Anything that may be done to him ... "

"Give some examples, Balin." Jack said that often during the earlier lessons, those given on the front porch of the cot.

"Examples even of what might be done, House?"

"Yes. Be specific. Speak bluntly to your lad."

Balin shook his head but began to speak. "If Champion, and they be big, strong all, in their prime, before they grow so old and stooped, then the Sky can expect he may be ridden ... quite hard. Bruises are common. Bone might be bruised if the Champion has too much ale. They never kill. Never has been done. Most try to be sweet, but the lust of an unveiled Sky, no imparting ritual, it be nasty. Dirty. Ye duty, steward, be to escort-- They be so delicate, so fragile. Often Sky comes back with some beastly Champion's cum on his skin or ... even ... in his mouth. Sick. I feel sick."

Taking the reins from Daniel's numb fingers, Jack kicked Frey up in gait. He trotted up beside Balin. "You sound hurt, Balin. There's more to this. Tell me."

Balin shook his head, as if he were refusing a command. He'd never done that before. Jack waited silently.

The big Champion looked at Jack for a moment, then bowed his head. "My heart sickens, House Ondeil. Sickens. Ostergott, he'd use his Sky hard. Wring every coin possible from his use at every port, every crossing of posted land. Traded him to Champions just to watch me battle and cut 'em asunder. They'd have their night with his Sky, then face my blade in the morrow only to die on my point. House Ostergott's steward was a cold woman. Hard of face and hard of heart. Her duty to fetch the Sky from his night. She'd walk him to the House, him pale, silent. Time after time I witnessed it. Him, he never spoke. Never. Never a word to anyone. Did his duty to Nirrti. Followed the Nortvegr.

"Then one day he was fetched for a trade and never come from his rooms. Steward come to tell old Ostergott the news. The Sky did shame Ostergott in the deepest way. I fear that shame, the curse, it killed Ostergott. Hung over him like a death shroud for the few weeks he lived after that dark day. When he went down off the deck of his own vessel, I left that land and with a vow to never look upon it again."

"What happened," Daniel asked, his head bowed like Balin's. His long, blond hair draped down to cover his face in a pale, golden veil.

"The Sky took his own life." Balin spoke quickly, harshly, as if the words dirtied his lips.

"I can understand that," Daniel whispered, his voice breaking.

A cry was wrest from Balin's throat. He kicked his mount into a run. Jack had to hang onto Frey's reins to keep the animal from bolting too.

Lemmel trotted up beside Freyfaxi. "Dark deed!" he swore in fright. "Dark deed. Master?" he said, his brow wrinkled.

"It's ... He needs to run it off, Lemmel. Stay here with us. Let your lover ride hard for a bit. He's filled with hurt. That was a hard thing to tell us."

"I fear ... I think he feels guilt," Lemmel said softly.

"Maybe he does," Jack said. "But with the Nortvegr so rigid, he had no other options."

"I can't understand why more of them don't commit suicide," Daniel said bitterly. "I can't understand why every Sky on this planet isn't under lock and key on suicide watch daily."

"Daniel," Jack said softly, then flicked his gaze to Lemmel for a moment. The big youth didn't appear to have heard him say Daniel's name. But, it was allowed in front of a steward. Jack kept forgetting that. He could say it in front of Asny, and now in front of Lemmel, and his House Champion. "It probably has to do with how they pull guys in for testing at the least provocation. It'd take someone mentally strong to live this life. We both know that. It'd break a lot of them. Maybe the women in the garden are more worried about suicides than they are about keeping the genes strong, keeping mental illnesses out of the gene pool."

"Same result." Daniel shook his head in disgust.

"But the publicity of a suicide has got to be much worse."

"I ... If that happened to me ... being stuck here without you, Jack? I'd go crazy if ... I ended up with someone like Ostergott. I'd go crazy. Starve myself to death. I don't know. I'd kill Ostergott. I'd slit his throat. I'd slit the throat of any Champion who made a deal to rape me. I'd kill them while they were busy unlacing their boots."

Balin was waiting for them over the second hillock. He was off his horse under a tree, brushing her sweaty coat down. He didn't look at them as they stopped.

The track they'd followed ran parallel to a meandering stream and Jack thought this was a good place to rest for a while.

"Break for some food," Jack announced and pulled Freyfaxi to a halt. Lemmel dismounted quickly and dropped his horse's reigns, ground-tying the animal. She'd wander around in the immediate area, grazing, but had been well trained not to run if her reigns were down. He let the mare he'd been leading graze too and met Balin at Freyfaxi's side. Lemmel helped Jack dismount and Balin took Daniel down from the tall steed.

"I want to go down to the water and wash up. That okay, Balin?" Daniel asked, his head tilted back as he looked up at the tall Champion. His unbound hair streamed back over his shoulders halfway down his back. It had been hard to shift from relying on Jack for security, to letting Balin take that role. But the farther into densely populated territory they would get, the more vital it was that Daniel always be conscious of the Champion's role in their traveling band.

"Aye, Sky. This little valley be secure. Steward will go too. House? Ye wish food?" Balin sounded stoic.

"Yes," Jack said as he walked around to ease his muscles. His hips were aching already. They'd only ridden a half day today and he was pretty stiff. He watched as Daniel and Lemmel went down the incline to the creek. Freyfaxi and Frost Mane wandered after them. The horses wouldn't roll with packs and saddles on them, but their bridles would get wet in the stream. He saw Lemmel catch at the dangling reins and loop them up so the horses could drink. Daniel squatted down at the water's edge upstream of them.

"Balin--"

"I hurt so when I think on his death. It was ... He had no life in House Ostergott. None loved him. None even treated him as human. I never knew ... never knew until I met ye love. Him, he changed so much in my mind, made so much clear for me. Showed me how a Sky be also a man, he has. Men with minds and souls as we have. Never many are treated that way. House Halfdain, he does. A handful of others, they do. Some Sky live as free men in the City of the Highborn, taking impartings as they please for coins here and there. Living in the fine, great inns with fancy rooms and servants to tend them, rented all from some innkeeper. Some will have a long bargain, and some be hosted by a House or even rarely a Champion who sees to certain of their needs. Some, Highborn, some fall in bad with the likes of Ostergott. Dirty bastard."

"He's dead now."

"Aye and sore I be that it was only a tossing sea which took him. I swear, when Thaid was found in the Sky's bed, I was so overcome, House, I was so overcome ... I was not the one who did him in, but sore, I wanted to have been. Blind red with rage I was. And such pain in my chest. Took my mind from me for more than a hand of hours! Oh, if I had been there when council said for him to die! Oh mercy. So glad I was not there!" Balin squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. "So glad I was not there to take that poor dolt's life. I would have with my bare hands. Wrung him asunder. My shame would have been unbearable."

"You know, then. Daniel said you knew Thaid wasn't responsible. It was Gunnlaug."

"Knew it, but only after my mind came back from insanity's hall. Knew it and saw the truth of it with my eyes. House, the rage took my mind. I was feeling for the dead, the sadly dead that has marked the guilt on Ostergott's damned soul. Ye hear all this, I speak ill. I follow not the Nortvegr to say such of a House. I know this. I know this as I know the love of my life be yon lad. Sickens me to think now of the life that Sky had under Ostergott's roof. I would never see another Sky live thus."

"Me either. And I intend to do something about it."

"Naught. But to stop the Sun from flying over us and turn him back to go eons ago? Naught for it, House. Sky be Sky. Worker be worker. Nirrti wrote, thus it be."

"Nirrti--" Jack stopped himself. "There are truths you don't know yet, Balin. But I swear to you that I will do my damnedest to show you those truths some day. Some day. And the truths I'll show you, show all of the people, will change the way the Skys have to live here. It ... Balin, trust me. You've spent enough time with my Sky to know, there's another way for them to live. I just need to be very careful if I'm going to make that a reality for all Skys. Understand me?"

"Time and ye think all could live as he?" Balin showed clear disbelief on his face as he stared down the rise at Daniel.

"Not immediately, and maybe not even in a generation. Such huge changes take time. Careful work and time. But trust me. Trust me."

"What of this can I do to bring it about? I will. I be ye man. I be ye man and will do whatever be needed of me, but only within what our goddess Nirrti has writ at the command of Odin."

"Get us safely to the city of the Highborn, to the standing ring of Odin. The first step of this change is there."

Daniel and Lemmel returned from the stream and the big steward took the other two animals to drink.

"Balin," Daniel said softly as he approached the Champion. He paused and slipped his veil off.

The master swordsman stood by the tree he'd been under when they arrived. He had his head down.

"Balin," Daniel repeated, and laid his hand on the Champion's arm above the leather bracer. Then rose up on his toes, reached up with his other hand and encircled Balin's thick neck. He tugged gently, bringing Balin's mouth down to his own. The huge swordsman bent as if Daniel were the strongest being he'd ever encountered. Balin put one arm lightly around Daniel's waist below his veil and the ends of his hair, and returned the kiss, his eyes closed.

Jack watched, his arms crossed as his lover comforted the muscular killer. Balin had admitted to fighting to the death countless men for the entertainment of his employer. But then, Jack had killed many men too. So had Teal'c. Teal'c had enslaved and tortured people at the whim of a false god. He'd chosen Daniel's own wife to be possessed and her life forever taken. And Daniel had reached out to Teal'c time and time again. Jack watched Daniel's capacity to love and to care. That same caring and love had saved Jack from suicidal actions long ago on Abydos. That same gentle soul had saved Jack from choosing death over life.

He felt an ache in his chest then, but it eased when he had Daniel back in his arms on Freyfaxi's broad back.

A large chunk of continent was at their back, and still miles upon miles stretched before them to the eastern shore of Nortvegr. Jack stood in his stirrups, bending at hip and waist to relieve the pressure on his lower spine and thighs. The other three riders with him were sitting easy, handling the hours in the saddle well. He was so grateful to be sitting up, to be out of bed and breathing like a normal human being that Jack refused to complain, refused to call yet another halt today. He'd bear it for another hour. Just one more hour. He'd hang in there and do it.

"I need a break," Daniel called out. "Gotta take a bathroom break. Balin?"

"Aye. Time and space enough here from any. Soon we reach farmlands. Best break here, Sky. Ah ... House, though, right it be for the decision to be mine, best remember when we near folk that ye veiled Highborn speak only to ye. He speaks to ye and of course, then ye speak for him to all others. Long, ye were sick and ye fell out of doing things the seemly way, I know."

After dismounting, Daniel walked with Jack a few paces from Balin and Lemmel, and the waiting horses. He moved slow to ease Jack's strained legs. "I wanted to talk to you about something, Jack."

"What is it, babe?" Jack stopped and bent over, stretching the backs of his thighs. Then he unfastened his pants to do what they'd stopped for.

"I'm a linguist. My skill is in translation, but also in communicating thoughts and ideas. But my first reaction to Balin earlier wasn't to talk to him, to tell him I understood or that he was trapped in an impossible situation. It was to kiss him. My reaction was to offer him physical comfort, to ease his mind with sex."

"Sex? You just kissed him."

Daniel turned to him, his face tight. "I'd have started dry humping him if he hadn't responded, hadn't loosened up. I'd have climbed up his body and rubbed my cock all over him. My reactions are shit here. My knee-jerk reactions are screwed up so bad--"

"No. You ... you've always shown people love. You've always shown that you care. You just knew that Balin would respond to that, to a kiss quicker, more honestly than anything you might have said. You showed him what he needed to be shown."

"And what the hell was that? What did he need--"

"That a Sky trusts him. That somewhere on this crazy planet a man with blue eyes and light hair can open himself up to Balin, can put himself in Balin's hands and trust that the big guy will love him back, will do his duty the way he sees it and keep you safe."

"Think so?" Daniel asked, much calmer now.

"When you were laying one on him that's exactly what I was thinking. And I'm still thinking the same thing. You show love and genuine caring. That's all I need to say on that subject. Except, yes, your reactions are a little off balance. You've said so yourself. This society is affecting us, both of us. No way it wouldn't. We're immersed deep in it. Part of black ops training is to learn to recognize this phenomenon, work with it, and realize fully that we'll leave it some day and go back to where we belong. When guys go native-- you've heard that nasty expression--when guys go native is when they forget they have to go home some day."

Daniel put his arms around his bare stomach and hugged himself. "No chance of me forgetting that. I want off this planet so bad ..."

Jack studied his lover's posture. Daniel used to, a very long time ago, Daniel used to hug his arms across his chest, wrapping his hands around his biceps. Now though, he'd started doing it again, only lower. He was unconsciously covering bare flesh. When the weather cooled a little more he could begin to wear the thin, inner cape Jarngerd had made with such pride. It was some of her finest work, and Ulfrik's finest thread went into the weaving of that cloth. Daniel looked like some deified religious figure in that and the white veil. The cloth seemed to float around him when he'd worn it briefly so Jarngerd could check the fit. In winter that cape was intended to fit under the heavier winter cloak, the one of House Ondeil colors, the colors that marked Daniel as Jack's rental property.

So what they'd learned well was that not only did Jack rent Daniel on a day to day basis, pay him in clothing, food and lodging, but he could also rent Daniel out like he was an empty apartment, and Jack the landlord. And the damage deposit seemed to be pretty slim.

Shaking himself back to the present, Jack put his arm around Daniel's lower back and walked with him to the horses and waiting men.

Shortly after remounting, Balin suggested Daniel don his veil properly. Daniel pulled the white cloth up from around his neck and tied it correctly over his hair and eyes. Then before Balin could ask, he tossed his mount's lead to Jack, but kept the reins resting on the mare's neck. Just as Balin thought, they encountered farmers quickly. The steward spoke with them, very proper and formal in the colors of his master. He asked directions, the names of local land owners and inquired if any lands nearby were posted.

Balin sat astride Freyfaxi today, leather armor polished bright and Champion horns gleaming in the autumn sun. He was above speaking to the simple farmers. If no steward were present, then he would do so, but with his horns on, the intimacy he'd known with other worker castes in the southern reaches was gone from his grasp. He held his chin high and Freyfaxi danced in place.

Soon Lemmel returned and made his report to the House. Jack held the lead rope of Daniel's mount and tugged the horse closer so Daniel could hear too.

"Farm be free land so ye cross as ye wish, master. To the north down this road here be posted lands of a Champion. His name, the farmer did not know, though I doubt he spoke true on that. I never see many men that lie. Ma says a man who lies--"

"Lad," Balin said gently.

"Aye. There be a Champion north of here. He lives a day's ride past an unposted inn. Rooms could be had there, the farmer said. A bath house within too. They've good food, but he did say not rich as a Highborn should need. I said nothing back to him of a personal nature. I was a proper steward."

"Well done," Balin said with a nod. "Inn, House?"

"They got a spa I could soak in? I think that'd be a good thing. Sleep in a real bed tonight instead of on that ridiculous pad. Daniel, you want to be under something a little more solid than that tarp tent tonight?"

"Yes. Let's go soak. And I'm all for having someone else cook and wash our dishes tonight. Let's be decadent."

"Decadent," Balin said with a grin. "I would like to reacquaint myself with that word. Haven't been decadent since we left the cot. Sleeping on the ground and eating Lemmel's cooking teaches a man to appreciate decadence."

"My cooking?" Lemmel said in a coy voice. "Balin, I've--"

"None of that, lad. It be always Champion now that we travel, even when ye not want something from me. Ride on." Balin settled into an easy pace by Jack's mount for a moment. "Be coming back in among folk now, House Ondeil. Seemly use of names, we should practice again. So ... so ye untried steward will be ready."

"Yeah," Jack said with a nod. He'd have to stop using Daniel's name now. Jack grimaced and clucked at Daniel's mount to get the mare to move closer up to him. As Balin resumed his post at the front of the group Jack looked back at Daniel's veiled face. "Love you," he said softly. He couldn't see Daniel's eyes.

"Going to be more careful about using my name again and you know that's best," Daniel said frankly. "It's best for all of us. I need help remembering too."

Jack frowned. "Get your light cloak out. That way you won't have to pull the loop. It's not too warm for a cloak."

The small cluster of buildings they reached at sunset was a poor excuse for a village. Balin was pleased with the size though, saying it was a good place to start putting Lemmel's new skills to use.

The inn door was so short Lemmel had to bend to enter. Balin bowed to avoid removing his horns. The usual gathering of big people grew completely silent at the sight of Balin's Championship. When Jack appeared, escorting Daniel inside many of the people attempted to continue conversations, activities. It reminded Daniel of when he and Jack had first entered the Ram's Head Inn. Everyone tried to give them the courtesy of a shield of privacy. Highborn were not to be gawked at, especially a veiled one. But Daniel was very grateful for the pale cloak that hid his slutty clothing.

The inn had only one room to rent. It was occupied and the occupant was thrown out quickly, his possessions and himself marched out as House Ondeil had a meal. Though the former occupant sputtered in confusion, he shut up instantly when he saw who was to take his room.

"I feel like an ass," Daniel whispered in Jack's ear.

"Well, don't. He gets to tell about this and get free drinks on it for a long time. He gave up his room to a Sky."

After the meal, Balin held a lantern high as he led the two smaller men to the room behind the kitchen. This place was comfortable and clean, but very small by worker caste standards. The hallway was narrow. Lemmel stayed at the table in the great hall to settle the coins due with the innkeeper for their lodging and for stabling the great black horses.

"He's good with numbers," Daniel said when the three were alone. "Lars gave him quite a practical education in accounting."

"Aye. Lad was to be a trader. Good basic knowledge for a steward to have. Ye could find none better with understanding value of coin than yon lad."

"So," Jack said, eyeing the lumpy but ample mattress on the hard sleeping platform. "Who gets the bed? Let's draw straws."

"Yeah, right," Daniel said with a snort. He shoved his veil off as Balin closed the door. "You and I end up on the floor and Lemmel and Balin take the bed? That's gonna happen in which lifetime?"

Balin snorted out a deep guffaw. He sat the lantern on a tall shelf in the windowless room and began to strip out of his armor.

Daniel turned around to grin up at the big man. "Good, Balin. I like that. You sound more like Balin, the tanner. I miss him."

"Ah, bright little Sky. The tanner in me be there still. He just knows to bow to more important moments in time. I frown not in anger or sadness at his loss, but to remind me that first above all duties, my life for ye."

Without saying a word Daniel leaned into Balin and hugged him. "Your life is just as important--"

"Torture not my ears, Sky. I follow the Nortvegr."

Daniel nodded, his cheek rubbing against Balin's leather chest plate, its straps already undone and hanging loosely at the big man's sides.

"So where's the hot tub?" Jack asked, having stripped down to his socks and underwear. Supposed to be in this place, right? I can go waltzing through like this, right?"

"Aye." Balin answered as the Sky left his arms. "Mind waiting for ye steward? Him to walk behind, me ahead as be--"

"Seemly," Jack declared and flopped back on the bed. "Just nudge me awake when he shows up."

Daniel stood by the polished sheet of metal that passed for a mirror here. He'd taken off everything now, and put his light cloak back on. Jack rolled on his side and watched Daniel study his own reflection in the rippled and distorted mirrored surface. Daniel stared thoughtfully. Then he picked up the summer veil and put it on. Slowly he slipped the cloak out from under the veil and pulled the gauzy fabric around his body. It hung just below his ass in back, and brushed his upper thighs in front. The diaphanous cloth wasn't thick enough to obscure the sight of his cock and balls. He turned to the side and arranged the flowing cloth, doubling it over his hips. He could still see his cock, even in the subdued light of the inn. What would be visible in daylight?

He went across the room and got his imparting cloth from his bundle of supplies, then returned to stand in front of the mirrored surface again. He opened the double layer of the veil in front and held the imparting cloth against his groin and studied his reflection.

Balin was idly polishing his leather armor. He glanced up and watched Daniel for a moment, then averted his eyes.

"Babe?" Jack said.

"Hum?" Daniel turned around and tried to see his reflection over his shoulder. "What."

"What'cha thinking?"

"Hum? Nothing. Just ... " He frowned.

"Troublesome day," Balin said softly, "the manhood day. All Sky come from the forbidden garden thus. Veil, cloth. Naught else. Even no shoes for the cobblestone streets. Some weep in terror it be said. Some strike out brave right off as if they know the world."

"You've seen the ... manhood day before?" Jack asked Balin, his gaze still locked on Daniel.

"Aye. Been to the portal, the half round doors. White, they are, so as to not compete with the eyes when them that are of the age are given to us."

"Given?" Daniel said, looking at Balin's reflection in the mirror.

"I have offended?" Balin asked. "None should speak of this day to a Sky. I have offended." He knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

"You said given. Why?" Daniel asked more forcefully. He turned to face the big swordsman. "Look at me. You said given."

"It be, I fear, the way we think of that day. Ye think not of it as such. That troubles me. Some who come out among us, they think not of it that way, seem not to understand they are given to us by Nirrti as a vegr, a pathway to the gods. They ... seem so confused, though we believe they've been taught, one and all, the Nortvegr. They should know what place Odin decreed for them--"

"Nirrti said this. Not Odin," Daniel said harshly. "Lemmel's da, Lars said that to me in the low desert. Said Odin decreed a place for the Sky caste in the Nortvegr society. But he ... Odin ... "

"I follow the Nortvegr," Balin said solemnly.

"And what about those Sky who come out on their manhood day and don't think the way you do?"

"They follow not the Nortvegr. Most ... most are taken to be judged before nightfall."

"Explain that. You've seen that too?"

"Aye. Truly, Highborn, ye wish to hear that? Have ye seen it yeself in the city of the Highborn before ye left it?"

"Just answer me." Daniel clenched his jaw.

"Young ones, they all on manhood day. Young as my love, Lemmel. Innocent as babes. More innocent than he ever was, though. I'm thinking, more innocent than he was even the day he was born. Some I've heard get put out and bang against the door to go back. But it never opens no more for any to go in. Please, Highborn, speak no more on it. Instead, think of those like ye who come among us and live and impart and gain a House to live under. Of those, speak ye only. Of the ones who find a roof and impart and have what they need to survive."

"Am I dwelling on morbid things here, Jack?"

"You're looking for answers that aren't there. Let's go soak. You want to put the cloak back on."

Daniel threw the imparting cloth in the tuc that held his supplies and pulled the cloak under his veil around his body.

There was a rapping at the door and Lemmel asked for admittance.

"'Bout time," Jack said.

The spa was through the kitchen. It was one large room, showers, scrubbing sponges, soaps, and had only one tub. They had the room completely to themselves, as expected.

By the time they returned to the room, Jack was half asleep.

Daniel pulled the covers back, satisfied that the coarse sheet and blanket had been changed when the rightful tenant had been kicked out. Balin tried to take the covers from him.

"Not seemly for me to do anything, is it?"

"Not when there be any others about whose duty it be, Sky."

"You do your duty well enough," Daniel said, gazing up earnestly at the tall swordsman.

"Sometimes I fear I never do," Bain said solemnly. "Failed in the worst way, him who was under Ostergott's roof."

"Oh, we forgot to draw straws," Jack said, stifling a yawn. "Got straws, Balin?"

Daniel snorted. "I'm going to bed," he said to the tall fighter. "Me and our House Ondeil in that huge bed, you and Lemmel here on the floor close at hand. And if in the dark of night your Champion heart needs to touch more than your lover tonight, know that I want you. Know, Balin, that I sleep naked in my lover's arms and that he would welcome your attentions to me. Know that I would welcome you in me." He reached up as he had earlier, putting a hand around Balin's neck and laying his cheek against the man's broad chest.

Balin groaned and brought his hands up to encircle Daniel. His huge frame engulfed the smaller man.

Darkness came swiftly and Jack lay, spent and curled over Daniel's naked body, a drop of cum drying on his thigh. He whispered almost soundlessly in his lover's ear. "I ... I feel so good when we make love now. So sweet," he said with a sigh as he toyed with Daniel's long hair. He brushed strands back from his lover's ear. "What you said to Balin earlier? You said it in such a poetic way. The way they talk, that's how you said it."

"You do welcome him, Jack." Daniel stared into the near-total blackness of the room. He could barely make out Jack's profile. "You respect him as a warrior, like Teal'c. Brother at arms."

"You said it for a reason," Jack continued in the same hushed tone. "Trying to give him back something he's lost."

"Maybe. Or spark something in him that Lemmel sees. Balin is his own man. That trust thing you mentioned. That's part of what he needs to appreciate more about himself. People do trust him. I do. Even after what I heard today."

Jack stroked his hand down Daniel's naked spine, not needing to see the flesh under his fingers. "I want him to have it too. I want him to know you trust him. I trust him."

"If he doesn't come up here to the bed on his own ... " Daniel grew silent in the dark room.

"I could ... "

"Call him?" Daniel asked.

"Or maybe it might be better ... " Jack was silent for a moment, then he called out softly, "Lemmel."

There was a rustling of bed covers on the floor. "Aye, master. Ye steward hears."

"Is Balin awake?"

"Aye," Balin answered clearly.

"I was just wondering if you two were ... busy or ... asleep."

"Ye steward be not asleep, master. His rod be so stiff that there be no way to sleep lest he roll over and accidentally poke the floor a new hole. Best I stay awake and watch my weapon, master."

"We make you horny with all this carrying on up here?"

"Aye," Lemmel answered readily. "Me hearing my master poking his rod in my sweet Sky's fuckable ass--" He yelped in pain.

"Balin," Daniel said, his tone light with a giggle, "he did that on purpose you know. Lemmel said that just to shock you. He likes tripping your trigger." He raised up and peered down at the two. Their forms were little more than silhouettes, though they were more lit there by candlelight flickering under the bottom of the bolted door.

"Trigger?"

"A Northern expression, Balin. I mean he's playing with you. You'd better figure that out. Why, you should hear the disgusting, dirty things he says to me when it's his own rod poking me."

"Wha! I never! Little brother be the nasty one. Sitting on my rod with his eyes closed and his back even to me. Him, he be the one, Champion. Him, and he makes me love him, tells me the word and then rocks his naked flesh on me saying I must close my eyes and think of him as my brother. Some day I fear he'll make me say his name just to see how hard my cum will blast out."

"Ach!" Balin rustled the bed covers more.

The bed Daniel and Jack laid on creaked as one of the big men jostled it.

"Nasty, dirty whelp. Saying such of a Sky. Ye and he both ... Though, a Sky can do no wrong. So it all falls on ye, nasty steward. Ye foul talk. Next it be that what ye started about ye master swelling even as fair Tal were naked and ready to be bedded before his own eyes. Nasty!"

"Kinky," Jack chimed in. "She really was naked, wasn't she? Her breasts and--"

Daniel clamped his mouth over Jack's then knelt, straddling his lover. "And you never did let me finish tongue fucking you. My tongue in your ass, like Lemmel's tongue was in mine so deep ... so deep."

"Ach!" Balin protested again. "My lad speaks true. Such words from ye mouth, Sky. Tongue ... "

"And I liked it, Balin. I want more. I want to be tongue fucked. That's what we call it. Tongue fucking."

The bed jostled again and Daniel grinned in the near pitch black. He put his hands on either side of Jack's face as he felt big, worker caste hands roam up his thighs. He shifted under the touch, moving his legs outside of Jack's. Lemmel's breath was hot on him now. His breath quickened at the thought of Lemmel's tongue filling, stretching him again. Lemmel was so big!

"Jack, I'm ... Lemmel's going to do it again. Oh, I ... feel him licking the back of my ... thigh. That ... right there. You need to ... see. Light. Unh! Lemmel! Spread me open. Oh, Jack's cum is in me. You'll taste ... Jack's cum ..."

The tongue was working across his opening now, thick and wet and insistent. Daniel dropped his head onto his lover's shoulder as he straddled the prone man. "Lemmel's going in ... in"

"Nay, sweet Sky," Lemmel whispered in the darkness inches from his and Jack's face.

"Wh-- Oh! Balin!" Daniel called out in surprise.

"Tongue fuck ye say," Lemmel said. "And for my turn was last, so now it be my love's to be in ye so. Fact be true that my turn has been spent many times and still my love's not had one turn to do this. He feels it be not seemly. Silly Champion. Seemly, of course not. Tongues do not belong in a Sky's ass but still, there mine has been and his be now--"

"Shut up," Daniel begged him. "He's tongue fucking me. Let me enjoy ... Oh, Jack!"

"Daniel," Jack said, his voice full of wonder and love.

End of Book 4

INDEX

Asny - young upstairs maid of Ram's Head Inn, Brooksmeet, number one helper and First Steward to the Highborn House of Ondeil
Balin - Tanner, Champion, master swordsman in sworn fealty to the Highborn House of Ondeil
Brooksmeet - a southern divide village owned by the Highborn House of Ondeil
Brynvold Halfdain – Highborn, host to Sky Odamari, master shipper, Fairwood
Bucca – detachable hood
Canlith - bar maid at Ram's Head Inn, Brooksmeet
Daniel – Sky hosted by House Ondeil
Freyfaxi - A horse of House Ondeil, Flemish stallion, Daniel's favorite mount
Frost mane - A horse of House Ondeil, Flemish mare
Gunnlaug - Guild and master miner, Brooksmeet
Harv - Ram's Head Inn patron, Brooksmeet
Helf – elderly resident of Brooksmeet, daughters Kagain, Lyda, son Timmon
Herger Gunnlaugson - son of master miner, Brooksmeet
Hulda – caravan leader, Low Desert
Jack Ondeil – Highborn, host to Sky Daniel, master of the Meadows holding, master of Brooksmeet village
Jarngerd - weaver of cotton and wool, wife of Ulfrik, Brooksmeet,
Landvaettir - an authentic Icelandic term meaning land demons
Lars - caravan leader, Low Desert
Laxdale - Highborn, Northwestern House where Champion Balin served
Lemmel Larsson – caravaner from the Low Desert, recently indentured to House Ondeil
Meadows Cot – Center dwelling in a vast web of seven sheep meadows, farmland and forested land owned by the Highborn House of Ondeil
Nortvegr - an authentic Icelandic term meaning the northern way, used in the story to mean a religious way of life, and the name of the world.
Odamari - Sky hosted by House Halfdain.
Odin - Father of all gods, the Allfather
Rimthurses - an authentic Icelandic term meaning ice demons
Skagg - western port city, authentic Icelandic village
Skeld - caravan worker, Low Desert
Sleipner - A horse of House Ondeil, Flemish mare, named for Odin's horse
Svaolfari - A horse of House Ondeil, Flemish mare, means silver mane
Tal - serving wench at Ram's Head Inn, Brooksmeet, new innkeeper of Ram's Head, regent to the First Steward of House Ondeil
Thaid - brain damaged shepherd, Brooksmeet
Thorbalstead - most southern village on Nortvegr, authentic Icelandic name
Tuc - a shoulder bag
Ulfrik - tanner turned weaver, husband of Jarngerd, Brooksmeet, titled servant to the Highborn House of Ondeil
Various Ram's Head Inn patrons - Hacklang, Herstein, Isleif, Gaerimund, Arnfenn

Next: Stone