Page 4 of The Laws of Nature (Heirs of the Empire #3)
“It does,” Tobi says, grinning at his bold lie. “Dark hair from my father Prince Rafus and white from my mother who comes from distant Archillia, where the people are born with dark skin and silver hair,” he laughs, tossing his head.
“Archillia?” the man says, sounding amazed, as he touches Tobi’s blond hair again.
From his accent, Tobi would guess this man grew up in the countryside west of Ceruleum and has never travelled far from his home land.
Archillia, the distant country over the Priam Sea, must seem like something from an old tale.
“And Rafus Darek, Crown Prince of the Empire.” the man continues, moving his hand across Tobi’s head to touch his dark hair.
“So it’s true. You truly are the son of a prince?
Have you met him? Have you been inside the Ivory Palace? ”
“Of course,” Tobi says. “I am my dear father’s favourite bastard son.
Not only do I often visit my father in the Ivory Palace in Ceruleum, but it's true that when I was a boy of seven, he took me to Attar, the Jewel of the Empire, to live in the Tower of the Heir in the Great Rose Palace for a full year’s turn. ”
The man lets out a long breath of amazement. “You’ve been to Attar? Truly? Is the Rose Palace as beautiful as they say?”
“Oh yes,” Tobi replies breathily. “A sparkling confection of pink stone. A great wonder of the empire. And ten times the size of the Ivory Palace.” He smiles. When the man says nothing more, Tobi leans closer. “So what is your pleasure tonight, my sweet sire?”
The handsome man has a broad face and sandy hair that is spun gold in the moonlight. He looks at Tobi with an unexpectedly wary expression. “Is it safe here?” he says.
“Of course,” Tobi chirps. He places a flat palm on the man’s chest and slides it downwards, over his belt to stroke the front of his breeches. “We are far from the eyes of the Empire here. ”
The man looks warily over Tobi’s shoulder. “Perhaps we should not,” he says, although he does not stop Tobi stroking his cock to readiness through his breeches. “I came to the performance with some friends from Fort Serus.”
Tobi raises a brow. “Soldiers?”
The man nods.
“You are in the Imperial Army?”
The man nods again. “Emperor Selim has ordered a thousand men be made ready at Fort Serus for the march into Ismagaar. They say we must leave before summer’s end.”
Tobi cares little for the military machinations of his uncle’s empire. “Summer is here. It will soon be Alios Day. All the more reason to take pleasure where you can.” He licks his lips as he curls his fingers around the man’s cock, bunching up the fabric of his breeches.
“My friends might come looking for me,” says the man.
“They might, but they might not,” Tobi says, but he can feel his heart sinking. This man is thinking too much. His mind is no longer on the pleasures of luxoli but on what could happen if they were caught.
“Perhaps I could come back tomorrow night,” the man says. “Alone.”
Tobi sighs. He knows this is a lie. This man will not come back.
Or if he does it will be with a group of soldiers meaning to beat Tobi for sins of the body.
Or worse, with enforcers. But it matters not, in any case.
“Tomorrow, I won’t be here,” Tobi says. “The Copperhead Players are going north to perform at the Alios Fayre in Riddlestone and then on for the snow melt celebrations.”
The handsome man cocks his head to one side. “Beyond Riddlestone you will be in the territory of the Wild Ambolk. Our commanders say they are raiding more this summer. They are the most fearsome of men.”
“They do say that.” Tobi grins.
“The Ambolk do not like outsiders on their land. And they are beasts of men. Ruthless and heartless.”
“The Ambolk don’t scare me, handsome,” Tobi says. “I tame beasts for my bread and butter.” He tilts his head so he can look at the man beguilingly.
“I have heard that they are savages. Some say they worship a demon and make blood sacrifices to ensure their success in any battle. Their king, they say, is a demon himself, who cannot be slain by the weapons of mortals. You ought to be careful. If they challenge you…” the handsome man pauses, “I have heard they leave none alive.”
“I heard they used to carry off the fairest maidens to serve their warriors as pillow slaves,” Tobi says. “Like poor Gold Alyse taken over fifty years ago.”
“A terrible fate,” the handsome man says, lifting his hand and stroking Tobi’s cheek. “You should tell your players not to travel north. Stay here and perhaps tomorrow night I will return alone and find you.”
Tobi takes the man’s wrist and lifts his hand away. “I’m afraid it is now or never handsome. For on the morrow I may have been snatched away by the Ambolk.”
The man bites his lip. He holds Tobi’s gaze, but shakes his head. “No,” he says. “No. I am sorry. I cannot.” He turns away and starts walking briskly back towards the lights of the circus.
Tobi chases after him, calling out, “Hey. Don’t be so hasty.” Although he doubts he will get the soldier to change his mind.
When the soldier stops walking, Tobi thinks he might be wrong about that.
The soldier turns just at the treeline. As Tobi gets within reach the soldier grabs hold of Tobi by his waistcoat and slams him up against a tree, hard enough to wind him.
The bark scrapes Tobi’s shoulder blades where they are bare above the waistcoat’s low back.
“Eager,” Tobi says with what he hopes is an enticing smile. “If you want to play Master, I’d be delighted. Would you force me to my knees for rough suck, Sire?”
“No,” the soldier spits and Tobi realises that this is no change of heart. “I told you no, you sly cur,” he says, pulling back and slamming his fist into Tobi’s belly, before storming away.
Tobi doubles over, coughing and spluttering, unable to even form a word as he leans on the tree for support and watches the soldier walk away. But it is not the first time his offers of pleasure — even to one who, he is certain, desires them as much as he does — have been met with savagery.