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"The Ancient Kingdom "Written By: Jewel of Hell Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Yaoi, lemon (copious amounts, probably), slavery, magic, nekos, some smut, sap, peril, abuse, AU/Fantasy/Drama Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, 4+2, 3+1, 5x6, 6+2, 5+1 (good grief!) Summary: When Heero, son of the Warrior
King, conquers the kingdom Sheneva and executes the king, he finds
something unexpected " The Ancient Kingdom "
Wufei surveyed the camp with a critical eye, frowning. Beside him, the large white Wolf shifted as though picking up on his tension. Well, Wufei corrected himself with a small smile, she actually was picking up on his tension. Ghostshadow looked up at him, and though she didn't smile (another physical impossibility), he could see the smile in her eyes. "What has you bothered, Sorcerer?" she asked in that telepathic way of hers. "This man we're here to collect," Wufei replied, "we know nothing about him. Only what a traitor told us. I'm hesitant to bring such a potentially dangerous person so close to Heero." Ghostshadow shook her gleaming coat. "You are no longer protecting him alone. Windwraith and Bloodmoon take their task very seriously, and they have a lot in common with your prince. That is why Darksong chose them." Nodding absently, Wufei ran a hand through his straight, jet black hair. Thumping his black oak staff on the ground, he headed down into the camp. Ghostshadow glided along at his side, her carriage regal. Wufei couldn't help but think how she added to his overall image of mystery. Him, a powerful sorcerer from An'Cresse, and a Wolf at his side with far too much intelligence in her dark eyes. He made no attempt to treat her like some kind of familiar. The soldiers had secured this camp before allowing Wufei inside it, and now the sorcerer could see why. These men and women looked hard and bitter, clothing ragged and eyes hollow. They looked like thieves and brigands, and it was with no small amount of malice that they watched Wufei descend into the camp. Wufei showed no anxiety - indeed, what had he to fear? He could level this camp without breaking a sweat before any of these people could so much as blink. Fortunately for these people, he'd never been a violent man. He swore he heard laughter in his mind. "Lord Wufei," a soldier called, trotting up to him. "The one named Zechs is over here, in this pavilion. He's been very cooperative so far." Wufei nodded. "Thank you. I'll see him alone, but keep your men posted at the entrance." The soldier bowed and barked orders to his men. Wufei entered the pavilion, holding the flap aside for Ghostshadow. It fell back into place with a stiff rustle, and Wufei laid eyes on Zechs Marquise. He allowed himself a moment of admiration. The man was quite attractive, his long hair much paler and finer than his sister's. It reminded the sorcerer of platinum coin. His eyes were a dark, storm-blue, grayer and darker than Heero's cobalt or Quatre's aqua. He held himself as a royal, back straight and chin up. There was no fear in his eyes, but his shoulders were a little too stiff. Anxious, but not actually afraid. Wufei didn't speak, leaning idly against his staff. The piece was something of a masterpiece, polished to a glossy shine. The top had been carved to look like a coiled dragon. In its coils nestled a dark red globe. The globe was a rare mineral known as a blood ruby, found only in An'Cresse. They were marvelous for focusing one's magic powers while the sorcerer expended minimum effort. Only the royal families carried such things, and on the black market a blood ruby would sell for more than a man's life. Absurd, really. Zechs shifted. He was sitting on a high-backed chair but his hands were unbound. They rested in his lap, fingers folded loosely. Wufei didn't miss the sudden twitch they gave, slight though it was. His silence was making the man a little nervous. At his side, Ghostshadow sat back on her haunches. Her study of Zechs seemed every bit as idle as Wufei's. "Know what you're going to do with him yet?" Ghostshadow asked. Somehow, Wufei knew she wasn't broadcasting that thought to Zechs. He drummed his fingers lightly on the staff. "What's your name?" he asked at length. "Zechs Marquise," the man replied promptly. "Andreus Grascien, king of Sheneva, was my father. He sentenced me to death, but with a little help I managed to escape." Wufei quirked an eyebrow. "And you admit this quite candidly. Who's to say I'm not here to execute you for treason against your father?" "Forgive me," the man said, "but I know who you are. I know Prince Heero had my father executed, and that he is now lord of Sheneva. You are his Court Sorcerer. You could be no other." Wufei allowed himself to be flattered. "Correct on all counts. Very well, I am not here to execute you for alleged treason against Grascien. I'm here to take you to Venya, where Prince Heero will decide what to do with you. It seems being a traitor runs in your family. Your sister was every bit the traitor your father was. Now, we see if you are, as well." "I am not," Zechs said immediately. He scooted to the edge of his chair, face a mask of earnest honesty. "I will take any vow, swear under any spell, that I am not a traitor. I will serve Prince Heero as well as any and better than most." "I smell no lie," Ghostshadow commented. Wufei concluded the same. "You will take that vow, and you will swear under spell to serve Heero," he agreed, "but until that time you are a prisoner. I'm taking you with me to Venya. Don't resist. I'd hate to have to . . . subdue you." Leaving that threat hanging unpleasantly in the air, he strode out of the pavilion, once more holding the flap for Ghostshadow. "My lord?" the soldier said, snapping to attention. "What are your orders?" "Restrain him and take him to that rise," Wufei said, pointing to a small bluff a short distance out of camp. "I'll take us directly back to Venya." "Yes, m'lord," the man said, bowing. "What of the rest of this ilk?" Wufei shrugged. "We are not in Venya. We are not even in the Highlands. As long as none of them have acted against our prince, I see no reason to do anything with them. Leave them some coin for their trouble." The soldier looked surprised, but Wufei ignored it. He strode to the edge of camp, also ignoring the hostile looks directed at him. Ghostshadow kept pace. "You are a kind man, Sorcerer," she observed. Wufei smiled. Sometimes, yes, he could be. o0o 0o0 Heero found Duo wrestling with Nightwing on the large bed in his and Quatre's chambers. The pair didn't stay on the bed, long. After tangling the sheets and making a mess they tumbled to the floor, Duo giggling wildly and Nightwing panting laughter. Windwraith and Bloodmoon, flanking Heero, both looked up at the prince with laughter in their eyes. Heero grinned. "Kittens and pups," he said with a shrug. Windwraith had told him Nightwing was the youngest Wolf here, only very recently matured into adulthood. Barely older than Duo. Windwraith burst into laughter in Heero's mind. Nightwing, who was bigger than Duo, managed to get the Myda beneath him. He immediately grabbed onto the back of Duo's neck, which almost made Heero start forward in alarm. Duo didn't have thick fur to protect him from those wicked fangs. But a split second later he saw Nightwing wasn't actually biting Duo, merely holding him. And that was still mirth on Duo's gamine face. "Heero!" he chirped. "Help meeeee! Get this savage beast offa me!" Nightwing promptly flopped over onto the ground, rolling over and obviously laughing. Giggling, Duo launched off the ground and jumped at Heero. He caught the Myda easily and held him. "I came for pleasant conversation, and here I'm attacked by some wild cat." Windwraith and Bloodmoon sniggered. Duo stuck his tongue out at them. "Conversation, eh?" Nightwing said, rising and shaking himself. "About?" "It's late, I'm going to the bathing rooms. You four want to join me?" "Of course," Windwraith said. "I heard you had hotsprings right in the castle. I've been anxious to see them." "Why didn't you say so?" Heero said as he led the way. "What about you, kitten?" Duo, who had started purring, nodded and grinned. "I like the hotsprings. The water's so warm!" The bathing room was empty, but only a handful of people used this particular one. Heero closed and barred the door behind them. Setting Duo on the floor, he started shucking his clothes. "Where is your father?" Nightwing asked as he started exploring the room. "Away at the moment," Heero replied. "This time of year he always goes and visits family in the eastern part of the country. He also said he wants to be gone when I summon the new regional governors." "Oh?" Bloodmoon said. "Why is that?" Heero eased himself into the deliciously hot water. "He wants them to see me as the authority. He told me he plans to step down and cede the throne to me by my twenty-first birthday." "What?" Nightwing exclaimed, trotting to the pool's edge. "Why?" Heero frowned. "I don't know. He hasn't said. All he tells me is that when the time is right, he'll tell me everything." Duo slid into the hotspring and immediately snuggled next to Heero. "I wanted to meet the Warrior King." "Truth is," Heero said, slipping an arm around Duo's shoulders, "I've run things for awhile now. My father has been giving me more and more responsibilities these last two years." Duo, who was plastered against Heero's side, nudged his nose right under Heero's chin. "That's 'cause you can handle it." "Hey, this pool isn't as hot," Nightwing observed. "How come?" "The hotspring is farther down, and there's a natural spring of cold water that happens to sit right on top. So you've got a mix of hot and cold." Nightwing went running at it and jumped in. Windwraith and Bloodmoon followed him a bit more sedately but every bit as happily. Heero smiled, feeling content and impossibly peaceful. He lifted his hand to run his fingers through Duo's hair, then frowned. "Why didn't you take the braid out first, little baka?" Duo glowered at him. "Unlike stupid humans, I actually know that language. And I'm not an idiot!" Heero kissed the bridge of his nose. "No, you're not." Grunting, Duo grabbed the base of his braid and pulled off the leather tie. Heero took the thick tail of hair and began carefully unbraiding it. The action had Duo resume his purring in an instant. In thanks, he leaned forward and pecked a kiss right on Heero's mouth. Heero's fingers froze for a second before continuing, and he looked at Duo. The kitten was smiling, probably unaware of the effect of his simple act. Finished, he cupped the back of Duo's head and pulled him against his chest, tucking the kitten's head under his chin. Duo's purr rippled through him, and the kitten rubbed his nose over the skin of Heero's chest. Ticklish. And ever-so-slightly arousing. "Hmm," Duo purred, "I've never thought about intimacy before." Heero blinked, thrown off. "Why would you?" he agreed. "Silly kitten." Duo pushed back to look down at him. "I'm not a kitten," he said with a grumpy little glare. Then he smiled again. "Why are people intimate, Hee-ro?" "Hn. Good question," Heero conceded, reaching up to stroke Duo's ears. "Because it feels good." Duo's ears perked. "Really? How does it feel good? Like it feels good after eating a good meal? Or after a good sleep? Or after a good game?" The Wolves had taken interest now, which amused Heero. "No," Bloodmoon inserted, "it's more concrete than that. Intimacy involves a lot of physical sensation that feels good. It's more than an impression of satisfaction." "Though it is quite satisfying," Windwraith added, and Heero could sense his amusement. Bloodmoon looked over at Nightwing, and Heero put it together. Those two were mates. Duo frowned. Then he brightened. "Like when you touch my ears," he said. Heero smiled. "That feels good?" Nodding, Duo beamed at him. "Really good. A little ticklish. I like it." Windwraith rose out of the water and shook his great body. "Heero, why don't you show him? I'm sure you know something about intimacy by now." Heero gave him an incredulous look. "That'd be taking advantage. Pure and simple." "No," Windwraith argued at once. "It's not. In the wild, Myda adults show maturing Myda what it's like. Duo is the right age to be shown. If you don't, his gold friend will." He padded to the door. "Would you like that?" And he blurred out like a puff of smoke. "Where did he go?" Heero asked, looking over at Bloodmoon. "He passed into Dream," the Wolf answered. "I think Nightwing and I will, as well." Heero watched them go, anxiety curling in his gut. Because now Duo was looking at him with wide, curious eyes. "I wouldn't mind Quatre showing me," the young Myda said presently, "but . . . I also wouldn't mind if it was you, Heero." o0o 0o0 Quatre curled up in the stuffed chair by the fire, and Darksong lay beside him. Trowa sat on the floor facing Stormchaser. "I am curious about Wolf packs," the human said. Stormchaser dipped his head briefly. "I thought you would be. There are six. Dream pack is my pack. We are the leader of all packs. Healer pack is where our healers are born, or eventually join. Moon pack roves this world most freely, keeping in contact with other Mystics. Runner pack is our messenger pack. They are the swiftest runners, and they carry messages from Mystics to other Mystics, from Wolf pack to Wolf pack. Earth pack is deeply connected to the life energies of this world, watching them ebb and flow. Interpreting the flow. And Warrior pack is our fighter pack. Windwraith is leaving Dream pack soon to join Warrior pack. They defend all packs." Quatre listened with half an ear. He was more familiar with the packs than a human, of course, but Myda seldom interacted with Wolves. It was interesting to hear them talk of it in more detail. Trowa looked interested, too. "Do the six packs have smaller packs within them?" "No," Darksong picked up. "The six packs are all part of Dream pack, though, much like your Highland kingdoms are all ruled by Venya." Trowa frowned. "Is it all right for the leader of Dream pack to be here?" "This is the place I must be," Stormchaser replied. "This threat of the lich in Tsorkran affects us all. It is my responsibility to meet any threat to the Wolves and address it." "Wolf leaders," Darksong put in, "are not like human leaders. We do not direct our kin from the safety of the sidelines. We would ask nothing of our kin that we would not ourselves do." Quatre bit back an unkind grin. Trowa merely nodded. "Nor would I. I am curious why you bonded to me and not Heero, though. He is leader here." "Yes," Stormchaser agreed, "but you are his protector. You are also the leader of his army. There may be things we must keep from him for his own safety. And you will play a pivotal role in this, I sense." That piqued Quatre's interest, but the two Wolves rose then, bidding them good night and taking their leave. Quatre let his eyes settle on Trowa, who was watching him with an unreadable look on his face. "To a Mystic, how do I seem?" he asked after a time. Quatre shifted, resting his chin on his folded arms. "Strange," he answered. "Most people are one way, or another. You aren't." "What do you mean?" "When I first met you, I thought you were weak. Then I saw something come boiling up from under the weakness. A powerful strength that you bury so well I wasn't even aware of it. Then it was gone again. But sometimes I see the barest hints shine through." He rose off the chair. "It's distracting." He moved to the door. "I don't like it." He opened it and paused, throwing Trowa a look over his shoulder. "I don't think you know who you really are. You should figure it out." He pulled the door shut behind him. Figure it out soon. Because I want to see who you
really are, too.
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