A Bond of Three (9 page)

Sorran leaned forward to peer over Forena’s head and let out a gasp. “The sea.” His face shone, his olive skin glowing with health.

Tanish laughed at the look of sheer delight on his companion’s face. “Have you seen the sea before?”

Sorran shook his head. “There is a lake not far from the palace, where I swim. I’d thought it large, but now when I see this….” His face was alight with wonder. “It is so vast.”

Tanish loved coming here. It was one of his favorite places. The sound of the waves crashing over the pebbled shore, the cries of the seabirds as they soared above the cliffs, the smell of the sea, rich and salty….

Suddenly Sorran’s face erupted in a mischievous grin. “I want to swim in it.”

Before Tanish could utter a word, the youth set off at a gallop, following the track that led down to the beach. Tanish could hear Sorran’s laughter, carried on the wind. He shook his head and followed, smiling broadly.

I cannot help but like him.
Sorran seemed so full of life, so accepting of its simple joys and pleasures.

By the time he reached the pebbled beach, Sorran was off his horse and looping the reins over a large rock close to the cliff base. Tanish climbed down off Nerita and patted her flanks. “Good girl,” he murmured. She let out a soft whinny and tossed her mane. Tanish walked across the pebbles to where Sorran stood gazing out to sea.

He turned to regard Tanish with bright eyes. “Will you join me?” Sorran removed his
cashor
and placed it, folded, on the pebbles.

Tanish chuckled. “The water could be icy cold, for all you know.”

Sorran let out a gleeful giggle as he unfastened the tie around his waist and slid the long white robe from his body. “All the better! It will make my blood sing!” He slipped off his sandals and stood there in all his naked beauty.

Tanish caught his breath at the sight he beheld. Sorran’s body was smooth, but there were strange markings here and there, etched into his skin. Tanish’s gaze followed the flowing line of his back as it curved into his buttocks, his cheeks full and round. When Sorran turned to face him, Tanish let his gaze drift lower over the taut belly, down to the slim cock that hung flaccid against his thigh. Sorran’s arms and legs were toned, the prince clearly no stranger to exercise.

And Tanish’s body reacted.

Since the first time he had walked into the
Seruanal
at the age of sixteen, Tanish had only desired one man. He looked with indifference at the young men of the city, the guards with whom he trained. Feyar was all he craved, all he needed. It pleased him that it was so, as if it were proof that he and Feyar were meant to be everything to each other. He knew Feyar was his, body and soul, and no other man or woman enjoyed his body. Feyar would not have it otherwise. And yet here was Tanish, cock already half-hard at the sight of Sorran, who stood before him, beautiful, free from guile and inhibitions, innocence shining out of him.

Guilt flooded through him.
I have betrayed Feyar with such thoughts.

He felt relief as Sorran grinned and then plunged into the surf, squealing when the waves rolled over him, hiding his body from Tanish’s view. Tanish hesitated.

“Will you not join me?” Sorran called out, up to his waist in water. He dove beneath the surface, the water creating a swirl around his buttocks as he disappeared below the waves.

Tanish sighed and removed his
cashor
, robe, and sandals, laying them on the beach before walking into the water and diving below the surface. That first hit of water made him cry out with its coldness, but soon his body adjusted. He swam out to join Sorran with strong, clean strokes, relieved to feel his erection wilt.

Sorran turned on his back and sculled with his hands, face turned toward the sun. “This is heaven.”

Tanish watched the waves lap gently over Sorran’s body, the water swirling over those markings which seemed both strange and familiar at the same time. Sunlight played over Sorran’s olive skin, his short black hair clinging to his head.

Heaven indeed.

They swam together with long, lazy strokes, the sun warm on their backs. Tanish loved the sighs and low sounds of pleasure that fell unrestrained from Sorran’s lips. He pushed aside his earlier feelings and concentrated on enjoying the swim. When the sun disappeared briefly behind a cloud, the temperature of the air dipped and Tanish shivered.

“Perhaps we should think of heading back to the palace,” he said with genuine reluctance. “It will soon be time to ready ourselves for the ball.”

Sorran sighed. “You are right, of course. This afternoon has been wonderful. Rarely have I felt so free to be myself.” He treaded water, the waves curling around his shoulders.

His words echoed Tanish’s thoughts. In that moment Tanish wanted to prolong their time together. “We can sit on our robes and let the sun dry us,” he suggested.

Sorran’s delighted smile was answer enough.

They struck out for the shore, and when they could stand, they waded through the surf, both shivering as the air hit their cooled bodies. Sorran sprinted through the lacy waves and grabbed his
cashor
and wrapped it around himself. Tanish did the same, and when they had removed most of the moisture they spread out the robes over the pebbles and lay down, faces upturned toward the sun, which had reappeared from behind the clouds.

Sorran shielded his eyes and gazed to the west. “What land is that, with its mountains so huge that they can be seen even at this distance? Is it part of Teruna?”

Tanish fought hard not to look at Sorran’s nudity. He shook his head. “To the west lies the kingdom of Kandor. The border between our two kingdoms is two days’ ride from here.” He scowled at the thought of renewed hostilities between Kandor and Teruna.
Let the rumors be false, for all our sakes.

“What is it, Tanish?” Sorran was frowning. He shivered. “Something troubles you.”

Tanish straightened his face. “Forgive me. I should not dwell on such matters and spoil our enjoyment of this day. We should leave these things to our fathers and pray that between them they arrive at a solution.”

Sorran regarded him in a silence that weighed so heavily it was almost tangible. Finally he cleared his throat. “I know this makes me appear foolish, but I know nothing of these matters of which you speak.”

Tanish arched his eyebrows. “This is, after all, the reason for your father’s presence here in Teruna.”

Sorran opened his mouth to speak but then closed it. “You are right. We should return to the palace.” He rose to his feet and put on his white robe and sandals.

Tanish scrambled up off the pebbles and grabbed his clothing. He could not help but think he had missed something vital. Sorran seemed to have lost his exuberance and vitality, as if the sun had been blotted out permanently by dense cloud.

They dressed in silence and then climbed back onto the horses. Sorran rode behind him, seemingly deep in thought. Tanish missed the sound of his laughter, the little noises that told of his delight. The carefree prince had vanished, replaced by a young man whose shoulders bowed under some unseen weight.

And I am to blame.

Tanish knew this beyond a doubt. What dismayed him was how wretched it made him feel to be the cause of Sorran’s mood change.

Why should it matter to me? He is naught but a visiting dignitary. Once our fathers have forged an alliance, in all probability I will never lay eyes on him again.

Except something deep within him told Tanish that was not to be the case.

He pushed his heels into Nerita’s flanks and picked up the pace, knowing Sorran would keep up. Tanish wanted to get back to the palace. He was filled with a deep longing to see Feyar, to connect once more with him. The afternoon, though idyllic at times, had unsettled him, and he yearned to be in his
Seruan
’s arms.

And far from this prince who tempts me.

Chapter 7

“Y
OU
WERE
very quiet last night during the ball,” his father observed.

Sorran looked up from his breakfast of freshly baked bread, honey, and fruit. “Was I?” He knew his father spoke the truth. His contemplative mood had not left him all evening. He’d made sure to be polite at all times, to smile when greeted and make small talk when the occasion demanded it, but his heart was not in it. All he could think of was Tanish’s words.

His mother cleared her throat. “I think I will go for a stroll around that beautiful garden I discovered yesterday afternoon. While you were somewhere with Prince Tanish.” Sorran caught her meaningful glance at his father. She rose from the table and left the room.

Sorran knew the signs. He was in trouble.

“You do know how much worry you caused us yesterday?”

He sighed. “I’m sorry, father. All we did was go for a ride down to the sea.”

His father frowned. “With no bodyguard. Either of you.” Sorran opened his mouth to reply, but his father held up his hand. “And all the while, your mother was frantic with worry.”

Sorran stared. “So all that talk about discovering a garden—”

“Was sheer bluff,” his father interrupted. “When she went to your room and found you were not there, she demanded I search the palace.” Sorran opened his eyes wide. King Beron shook his head. “You can imagine how
that
was received. Once it had been discovered that Prince Tanish was also missing, we assumed you were together.” He sighed. “It was not the way I wanted this visit to begin.”

Tanish’s words from the previous day came back to Sorran. “Father, why are we here?”

King Beron regarded him thoughtfully. “Why do you ask?” He stiffened. “Did… did you dream last night, Sorran?”

Sorran shook his head. “I merely ask because of something Prince Tanish said. He was talking about the kingdom of Kandor. To be truthful, I did not understand, but for some reason his words will not leave me.” He watched the deep blue light surrounding his father morph into a dark brown.

Sorran did not know what to think. When he had realized who Tanish was, he had assumed that was why they had come to Teruna. Some strange power had finally brought him face-to-face with his destiny. The time spent with Tanish had only made him more certain that they were meant to be together. But it seemed now there was more to this than his senses were telling him. Something troubled his father.

King Beron sighed. “Perhaps it is time I stopped treating you like a child.” He gazed at his clasped hands in his lap. “I should have done so long ago when you first began to share your dreams, but I wanted you to remain innocent of state affairs for as long as possible.”

Sorran straightened in his chair. “I am a man, father.”

The king nodded. “I know that, my son. So now I will share with you. I am here to forge an alliance with the kingdom of Teruna. There have been rumblings all over the land that Kandor’s new king seeks to overthrow Teruna. If Teruna falls, Vancor would be next. If we combine our strengths, we would be a force to be reckoned with, which might make Kandor’s king think again.” He gazed at Sorran. “This is why we panicked when you were not to be found. For all we know, Kandoran spies may be among us, looking for ways to prevent this alliance. If
we
are aware of how great a force our two kingdoms could become, you may be sure someone in Kandor has already arrived at the same conclusion.”

Cold spread throughout Sorran’s body. “You think they might attempt to seize me or Tanish? For what reason?”

His father shrugged. “I think they might look for any way to distract us from our purpose.” He let out another sigh. “These talks are of vital importance. We are to discuss how we can unite our two kingdoms, to forge strong links that will mean Vancorans would fight side by side with Terunans, as brothers in arms.”

Sorran nodded. “I understand, father.”

King Beron smiled. “I am glad I shared with you. After all, this is of significance to you too. What we decide during these next few days will have consequences for your future.”

Sorran caught his breath as the birthmark on his chest began to burn once more. His hands tingled, the sensation spreading over his body. Something was tugging at his consciousness.

“Sorran?”

He heard the note of concern but was unable to speak. His throat seized. Sorran gripped the arms of his chair as his vision clouded over and an image rose in his mind. He struggled to understand what he was seeing. His whole body was rigid, his breathing shallow. Never before had a vision affected him so strongly, and fighting it was wearing him out. Sorran slumped into his chair and let the vision take him where it would.

The result was almost instantaneous. Warmth spread outward from his core, filling every part of him. His spirit soared as lightness permeated his being. He was dimly aware of his father holding him with gentle hands. Sorran breathed deeply as the sensation passed and the vision faded, allowing his sight to return. He found himself on the floor, his father’s arms around him.