More Than Chains To Bind (17 page)

"It's possible the sea water, which soaked you both so thoroughly, may have helped keep infection at bay," Gerras said.

After Gerras had cleaned me up, he spread some unguent on my back. If I hadn't known what he was doing, the smell would have told me. I have never come across a salve that didn't have an unpleasant odor. Gerras then again dug into the small bag he'd brought with him. I saw him drop some leaves into a small bowl and grind them with a pestle before adding a little hot water. He mixed the concoction some more.

"Drink this," Gerras said.

I took a sip and grimaced at the bitter taste, but Gerras just tipped the bowl again, and I drank some more. I heard more splashing behind me and guessed Liander was taking his own bath. I couldn't help it; I turned to look. He stood there stark naked, rubbing a cloth over his body, and I so wished it could be my hands moving over his luscious skin.

"Lie down again and don't move for thirty minutes, General," Gerras said, unaware of my wayward thoughts. "By then the unguent will have been absorbed and you should feel a little better. Rest as much as you can"--his glance took in Liander, too--"both of you. You've had a very stressful experience and you'll likely be overcome by exhaustion."

"Aye, as you say. Though I've not been a general for some time. I'm a Guardian, but not too proud to answer to Hollis."

Liander held my gaze, but simply said, "Thank you, Gerras. Hollis will rest, you can be assured of that."

"Yes, he will." Gerras smiled as he pressed Liander. "And you?"

"Yes, and me, too."

"I'll make sure of that."

Liander laughed. "We've become quite adept at looking out for each other, Gerras."

Gerras looked from me to Liander and back again and then said, "I'll return in eight hours to apply some more unguent." Gerras gave a small bow and left the cabin.

Liander turned to me, and I said, "Get your beautiful body over here. I've waited long enough to get my hands on you."

Liander laughed and said, "Oh no, Gerras said to keep still for thirty minutes. And then you--we--have to rest. Eight hours at least."

I stared at him, disbelieving, until a slow smile broke out.

"You...you bastard." I laughed.

"Don't let my father hear you say that."

My smile faded. We might make plans in the limbo of our captivity, but now we were going home.

"What?" Liander asked.

"Your father. I can make all the plans I want in my head, but you're still a prince."

"So? I've made the same plans you have and I'm not giving up on them just because I'm a prince. Since I'm not in line for the throne, my father shouldn't object." He stared at me with intent. "And if it comes to a choice between you and my title, well, there
is
no choice. I love you."

I held his gaze, not knowing to say. He was offering to give up so much for me. If he abandoned his title, how would his father react? It was possible Liander might be banished from his home, from Tesla. Would he really risk so much for me?

"I can't let you do that." The words tripped from my tongue without any conscious thought on my part, but once I began I couldn't stop. "You casually say you're only the third prince and it doesn't matter. That's not true, and we both know it. You have responsibilities. Oh, Liander, you could lose everything, and I don't just mean your title. You could lose your whole family--parents, siblings, nephews, nieces. I know how much you love them all."

"I do. I love my family, yes, but whatever happens, they'll have each other." Liander knelt down beside the cot. "The love I have for you is different. I've felt this way about you for some time, but I always pushed it away because I didn't know you felt the same. Now I know you do, I can't go back to the way I was before. Before I only had dreams; now I have the reality. I feel whole, you understand? The truth is I can't live without you now. Like I said, there is no choice."

I heard his words and I couldn't speak for my heart was in my throat. I'd heard the saying before, but had never really understood what it meant. I did now. My heart was so full it felt as if was trying to crawl right out of my chest and through my mouth. I had to gasp to get breath in my lungs and I was trembling.

I finally managed to take a breath. "You're sure?"

"More sure than ever before." He hesitated a moment, frowning a little. "Hollis, Briahm said something when we were taken before him, and I've wondered ever since. He was right when he said the choice of whose Guardian to be was yours. Why did you agree to be mine?"

I stared at him. If he had asked me that a few months earlier, I'd have lied, but not now. "When I told your father I wished to retire from the army, he offered me the honor of being Guardian to one of his sons. He told me that with my meritorious service it was my right to choose his heir if I wanted and he would reassign the heir's present Guardian. But I didn't want to serve your brother. Before my audience with your father, I had already decided if he offered me the chance, there was only one prince I wanted to serve."

"But we hadn't met before that day. I'd seen you occasionally, but only from a distance."

"I know, but I knew even then there was something about you."

Liander sucked in a breath.

"I'm not saying I loved you then," I admitted, "but I wanted to be around you." I shrugged. "Maybe my heart knew what my brain was still working out."

"I'm so grateful you let your heart lead you to my side, Hollis." Liander leaned in then and kissed me, and I felt as if fire was racing along my nerves. I wanted to hold him, but I was still lying on my front. I twisted so I could lift my arms to hold him and I inhaled sharply as the sudden movement pulled at my back. Liander broke the kiss.

"It's not been thirty minutes yet," he said with a grin.

"Don't give a damn. Come here." I shifted onto my knees as I spoke, and he rose onto his knees. I wrapped my arms around him as he gripped my biceps. "I love you," I whispered into his ear.

"Move over."

I did, and Liander climbed into the cot next to me. It was too narrow for two men, but we didn't care. He lay flat on his back and I rested against him, half across him and half on the bed, one arm draped over him. He slipped one arm under me and around my hip; his other hand slid up and down my upper arm. I kissed his hair, and he tipped his head up to look at me.

I yawned. "Damn, I had such plans and suddenly I feel so tired. I can hardly keep my eyes open." I yawned again.

Liander laughed gently. "Did Gerras give you something to drink?"

"Well, yes... Damn, I thought it was for infection. He gave me...something to...make..."

Even though I had similar plans to Hollis, I wasn't sorry to see him drift off to sleep. He had been running on empty for longer than either of us cared to admit. I was exhausted and a resourceful healer hadn't drugged me. I made sure Hollis was secure in my arms and that his back was relaxed, so he was less likely to roll over onto his back, at least for a while. And I above all liked the feel of his weight on me. I watched him for a while, but my eyes got heavier and heavier and I gave in and let sleep take me.

A knock at the door wakened me, though it took me a few moments to realize what the noise was. I eased out from under Hollis, leaving him lying on his stomach.

"Just a moment," I called, while I grabbed up my pants and slipped into them. I opened the door to find Gerras waiting. "Has it been eight hours?"

"Yes," the healer replied, glancing over at Hollis. "He's still sleeping? Good." He looked at me. "And you, too, Your...Liander?"

"Since shortly after you left until you just woke me up."

"Excellent." He nodded toward Hollis. "Let him sleep until he wakes. As he slept through my knocking, I guess he still needs it. The captain asked, if you were up to it, would you be kind enough to attend him on deck?"

"I'd prefer not to leave Hollis to wake up alone. Did the captain say it was urgent?"

"He did not go into further detail with me." He coughed. "However, I do believe from the conversation I overheard with the first mate that the captain would appreciate your input into where we dock."

I frowned, not being sure what he meant, but perhaps it was important to the captain. I glanced at Hollis.

"If you wish, I could stay with Hollis and if he wakes, I can tell him where you are."

"That sounds as if you think I should attend the captain. You believe it likely it's urgent?"

The healer shrugged, and I sighed. "Very well. If he awakens, give him the information and then please inform me."

"Yes, of course. I will treat his back while he is still asleep."

With a last look at the sleeping Hollis, I hurried up on deck. I saw the captain on the command deck and climbed the stairs. The captain saw me coming and strode to meet me.

"I'm sorry to drag you up here, Your Highness, but I thought it only right to ask your wishes and I didn't want to disturb the general. I know how well Gerras' sleeping potion works." He grinned.

Ignoring the preamble, I got straight to the point. "My opinion on what, Captain?"

"We can make landfall in about four hours on the south coast of Tesla."

"Four hours?" I was surprised we were so close to my homeland. The storm must have blown us much farther west than Hollis had judged.

"Yes. We could put you ashore in the same area from which you were taken. Of course, that would mean you'd have to proceed to the capital cross country."

The idea of facing the villagers after escaping, while leaving the other captured villagers behind, was like a lead weight in my stomach. I knew there was nothing we could have done for any of the others, but that didn't make me feel any less guilty. Then the captain's final words registered.

Travel cross country?

"I don't understand. Are you not sailing up the coast to Pergoria?" The port was only about an hour's travel from the capital city, whereas if we landed on the south coast, it would take about three days to reach Teslor.

"Eventually, Your Highness, but we were on a mission when the storm blew us off course. Finding you and the Diolis ship was pure chance. We are due to report to the Admiral of the Southern Fleet in Harira tomorrow, which, as you know, is in the opposite direction to Pergoria. If you choose to stay on aboard it will likely be four, maybe five days until we could take you on to Pergoria."

I chewed my lip, a sure sign I was struggling with what I was debating doing. Using my standing to get my own way was something I very rarely did, but this time I--we--deserved it.

"Captain, I am a prince of the Royal House of Tesla and, while I am not normally inclined to trade on my position, this is one time I am going to do so. I am going to ask you to delay reporting to the admiral and take me and my Guardian directly to Pergoria. I am sure you can understand my position. I have to get home; I have much to report to my father. I am sure the admiral will understand when he learns of the reason for the delay. If he has any problems with your tardiness, tell him to speak to the king, who I am sure will be very pleased to see his son safe and sound again."

"Am I to take that as an order, Your Highness?"

"Yes, Captain."

The captain smiled. "As you command. I was not happy at the prospect of delaying your journey home, but it is not in my power to disobey the admiral. I needed your order to do so. I will change course for Pergoria immediately."

I laughed. "I feel like I've been played by an expert. You and Hollis should get on famously."

"I take that as a compliment."

Slowly I came to and as my senses returned, I realized I was warm and comfortable, but alone. Where was Liander? I sat bolt upright, making myself a little dizzy, but I brushed that aside in my concern.

"Be calm, Guardian," a familiar voice said.

"Gerras. Where's Liander?"

"He is on deck talking with the captain. He asked me to stay with you and explain if you should awake. There's no need for concern, I assure you."

I looked at the healer and his clear, steady gaze convinced me of his sincerity so I relaxed.

"He's sure to be back soon," Gerras added, and to prove his words, the door opened and Liander came in. "There you are," Gerras said. "Is all well now, Your Highness?"

"Yes, thank you, Gerras."

"Then I will leave you." As he reached the door, he turned back to say, "Oh, and Hollis' back is much improved."

Liander moved closer. "Good to hear. It seems we're nearer home than we thought. Captain Dolato says we should dock in Pergoria around mid-day tomorrow. Then another hour or so and we should reach Teslor."

"And your father."

"I can't imagine how worried he's been since we were taken."

I stood, surprised at how much easier my back felt, and moved toward him. "Liander, can we forget about that for now? The future is too much of a quandary. I'd much rather think about us."

Liander grinned. "Is that why you're standing in front of me stark naked? You trying to tell me something?"

I laughed. I hadn't even realized I had no clothes on. All I could think about was that I loved him so much. "Well, not with words."

He wrapped me in his embrace, this time not worrying about my back. I hugged him back and then we kissed. I'd never tire of kissing him, of the way he tasted, of how soft his lips were, how mobile. We parted, and Liander said, "Let me lock the door."

It struck me I was going to get my hands on the body I'd craved for so long. Anticipation sent a tingle racing up my spine and, as he came back to me, I made a grab for Liander and tossed him onto the cot, throwing myself down alongside a laughing prince.

"Oh, if you knew how long I've waited for you to be like this," Liander said huskily.

"Like what?" I asked, my gaze drifting over his body.

"So desperate for me, you can hardly keep your hands off me," he answered hoarsely, as I proceeded to push his tunic up and touch his skin.

I placed my hand flat on his chest, feeling his heart beating strongly under my palm. Liander reached up, putting a hand behind my neck and pulling my face down until he was so close I could feel his breath on my lips.