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"In My Master's Arms "Written By: Jewel of Hell Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words Rating: NC 17 Warnings: Yaoi, lemon, violence, slavery, cruelty, possible OOCness, AU/Fantasy/Drama Pairings: 1x2 Summary: In a society where sorcerers are feared
and hated, Duo is given as a slave to a powerful warrior in order
to keep his tremendous power under control. All he wants is freedom
from his cruel master, but nothing is as it seems . . . "In My Master's Arms "
It took about thirty minutes for Duo to take him and the Black King to Cefalai, a city which lay some two hundred leagues from Cera. Though most of Corai was known for its darkness and danger, Cefalai was a cut above the rest. Home to criminals, thieves, rogues, and convicts, it was about the last place on Harboura Duo would like to be. Ever since seeing Heero shot down in the streets of Cera, he'd kept up a low-maintenance ward at all times. The ward let him know if anyone within a league of the king was thinking about harming him in any way. Which, he thought with an inward smile, was how it had been so easy to stop that bolt on the day of Heero's coronation. Child's play, really. Magic was becoming second-nature to him now, and he was grateful. He didn't want anything happening to the man. And not just because it would seal his own fate. Why do I care so much about him? Duo wondered, collapsing the last gateway to Cefalai. He'd opted for gate traveling instead of blinking, capable of spanning much greater distances this way. It was difficult to form a gate to a place he'd never been, but his senses stretched farther and wider than ever before. Probably because he's trying so hard, and fighting this great, uphill battle for a kingdom that has no idea the trials he faces for them daily. And he wants nothing in return from them. Emotion abruptly flooded up into Duo's heart. There was nothing he wouldn't do for Heero to keep him safe. He gingerly felt the cut on his lip with his tongue. Including suffer a little pain. In fact, he hadn't cared about anyone so much since his mother and father. And I loved them. Can't care much deeper for someone. Heero, he was very easy to love. Duo blinked. Love. And blinked again, eyes widening slightly. Love. Yes. That was how he felt. He loved Heero. He looked at the back of the man's head, all those emotions suddenly feeling tangled and complicated. He'd spent his maturing years hating pretty much every person on the planet. And it hardly seemed possible that his first (and last) master would be so caring, so compassionate, so kind. He thought about yesterday, when Heero had whispered in his ear, their bodies so close. His reaction had been instinctual, but it had felt strangely good to feel the warm buff of air on his skin. He loved Heero's touch. "I won't announce my presence when we enter the city," Heero said, "but I'm sure my face is better known than any on this continent." He loved Heero's voice. "I could disguise it easy enough," Duo offered. Heero flashed him a small smile. "Not necessary. I do know how to avoid drawing unwanted attention, I just choose not to, most times." He loved Heero's smile. He answered it with one of his own. "Fair enough." "Are we close enough to determine the mood of the city?" Duo stopped walking and closed his eyes, opening his senses. A plethora of things scrambled for his attention, things that made him want to be sick. The aura of this city was dark and sticky, like a fine layer of filthy oil on the top of stagnant, scummy water. Malice as black as murder drifted over the top, a general lawlessness, lies, deceit, and everything in between. These people were drowning in their own foulness, and beneath it all was a sickly undercurrent of fear and despair. He swallowed back bile. "This city isn't dying," he hissed. "It's dead and rotting." Something fleeting and dark as shadow passed over Heero's countenance. "Most cities in Corai are like this one. People constantly fighting and killing each other, fleeing one to another, malcontents and warmongers and liars and cheats. This is thanks to the influence of the Council of Nine, Duo. They redirected the focus of our kings from the people of Corai to their own growth and importance. Do you see now why I must destroy them?" Duo had seen why a long time ago, but he merely nodded. "Stay behind me but stay close," Heero instructed. "Don't display any fear, Duo. These people will eat you alive if they sense it." With a soft snort, Duo fell in behind the Black King again. What reason had he to fear? These lowly normals couldn't hurt him, the most powerful sorcerer in the world. The only Black. How fitting that he should be the weapon of the Black King, the most powerful normal in the world. No one challenged them as they walked into Cefalai, and Duo felt a deep pang of sadness. Obviously, this city had once been great. The buildings had graceful, powerful spires and columns, sending their towers into the sky. Now they looked bent and worn, all the colors faded and the wood rotting away. Some buildings on the edge of the city had collapsed altogether, leaving a pile of disregarded rubble none had even bothered to clear away. Heero spared it not so much as a glance, striding with purpose out into the city proper. Things looked slightly better here, but only slightly. The streets were littered with rubbish and grime, the store fronts dirty and the signs barely legible. There was no open market, which was strange to Duo, but something about the streets told him it was a wise decision. Here where everyone watched everyone like prey sizes up a potential meal, an open market surely wasn't safe. Moving with confidence, Heero walked without the usual arrogant tilt of his head. Even his eyes wore a more neutral coolness rather than the glacial chill for which he was renowned. But the casual grace with which he moved and carried his sword would tell any who looked too closely that here was a man who knew how to use the weapon. For his part Duo kept pace but allowed no submission in his posture. With his cloak drawn up none would see the collar, and the slave cuffs were tucked away under his jacket. He wasn't visibly armed, which might draw attention from some, but he obviously carried nothing. Heero walked, unchallenged, to a dingy shop that claimed to sell trinkets and hunting knives. Duo blinked, thinking that an odd combination in a shop. Pushing the door out of the way, Heero strode inside. A rangy old man sat behind the counter, stringing together some garish, colored beads. Heero didn't so much as look at him as he headed toward the back. He'd almost reached the door when the man jumped up with a loud, "Hey!" He pushed himself between Heero and the door. "Customers hain't be allowed back there," he said in a warning tone. Duo narrowed his eyes. This man's movements were far too spry for a man apparently so old. A disguise then. A good one, considering it wasn't magical in nature. "Sit down," he said softly when the man's hand strayed toward his back. The man's eyes widened in surprise when he found himself sitting back down. Heero watched him with a frosty, amused look. "I'm not a customer," the Black King said, pushing the door open. Back here was a room that looked like a tavern common's. At least a dozen men sat around tables that didn't quite look up to the task of supporting their burdens. All the chatter and conversation died when Heero stepped inside, all eyes coming to rest on Heero. Duo saw the tension in their frames, felt the decision enter their minds nearly all at once, saw them take their cues from each other and rise to their feet within heartbeats of each other. Duo let himself be impressed with the speed and skill of their actions as they drew bows, crossbolts, and daggers. Arrows, bolts, and knives sailed through the air toward them, and all this in the time it took them to blink. Duo stepped in front of Heero and made a slashing motion with his left hand. Each item burst into blue flame that in seconds incinerated them. Then the flame raced back to Duo's hand, and with a flinging motion sent it snapping through the air toward the armed men. It greedily gobbled up each weapon, which had the men all yowling in alarm and scrabbling backward to avoid the icy flames. Heero let out a low laugh, soft and cold as the grave. "Now that I have your attention," he said, sounding pleased. "Shall I have you all executed for attempting to kill your king?" Duo felt their fear change to panic, and they flung themselves down at his feet. "Y-your Majesty!" they squeaked. To Duo's amusement, each of them felt sure they would suffer an eternity of torment in Hell for this. Still looking contemptuously amused, Heero shoved at the nearest one with his boot. "Get away from me, worms. Either take me to your Guildmaster or bring him to me. Do not make me wait!" The men scrambled to their feet, and in moments the room was deserted. The Guildmaster glided out a heartbeat later, and Duo was surprised to see it was a woman. Tall and lithe, her shiny black hair was cropped close to her face. She walked right up to Heero, giving an elegant bow that somehow drew attention to her legs, encased in tight black breeches. "My king," she murmured. "I am Lucrezia Noin. How may I serve you?" "A private place to talk, for starters," Heero said, tone mild and condescending. "And a public execution or two." She cast him a startled glance as though not sure whether he was serious, but she nodded nonetheless. "Your wish is my command." She led them to a study of sorts, the walls lined with shelves. Books, vials, bottles, and satchels covered the shelves, and parchment and scrolls littered the large desk. She only sat at her chair when Heero sat. Duo stood right behind Heero, finally removing his cloak so the light from the oil lamp caught the black collar and made it glitter. Though she was in marvelous control of herself and her emotions, she still gave it a glance and fear slivered through her. "Please accept my humblest apologies," she murmured, bowing her head. "The men around here are . . . shall we say, impulsive? They tend to kill first, ask questions later. I am pleased your sorcerer was able to react so quickly to their idiocy. What may I do for you? It has been long since last you visited Cefalai." "Too long, it seems," Heero mused in a pleasant tone, but his eyes were chips of ice. "On the day of my coronation, a man attempted to kill me. Right there, in front of all of Cera. The fool met the same result as your assassins. He told me after much blubbering and weeping, that he'd been sent from right here. The guild in Cefalai." Lucrezia raised an elegant eyebrow. "I will not insult you by pretending this is not an assassin's guild," she began, "but I would never sanction the assassination of our king, you least of all. We did send an assassin to Cera with our typical enchantment of silence, but we certainly were never told the intended target was our own Black Pr-forgive me, Black King." Duo tried not to sigh. "She's telling the truth," he said. "Please allow me to look into this for you, my king," she said swiftly. "We have an intensive network, and normally I would never betray the identity of a client, but you are our king. I will kill this individual myself when I find them." Heero let out that chilling laugh of his. "While I appreciate your zeal, Lucrezia," his tongue almost caressed her name, "that won't be necessary. However, you will find this information for me. If you don't, you'll join your assassins at the noose for sheer incompetence. My sorcerer will be at your disposal while you locate this mystery client." "Thank you, my king," she said. "I won't let you down." "No," Heero agreed, rising. "You won't. Duo, I'll expect you to have concluded for the day by sundown." He paced out of her study. Duo cast a quick glance at the woman, then followed Heero. "Wait," he hissed, making sure none could overhear. "Let me place some protections on you." The frostiness momentarily thawed in Heero's eyes with a tiny smile. "All right, but hurry." A pale blue nimbus surrounded Heero for an eyeblink, then it seemed to seep into his skin and disappear. It would repel any physical attack and a substantial magical one, as well. "There," he murmured. "Where will you be?" "The finest inn I can find," Heero replied, "but not for some time." The mask fell back into place, and Heero headed back for the front shop. Duo watched for a second before rejoining Noin. She was waiting patiently, hands folded. When he reappeared, she rose. "The best place to start would be one of my contacts in the city," she said, "so we can track down our original client. It could be anyone from Cera to Candros." Her eyes flicked down to his collar, and Duo narrowed his eyes at her thoughts. "No," he forestalled her, "you cannot order me around. The king is my master, no other. And he didn't command me to obey you as if you were him." He let his feelings on that matter fill his eyes, which were no mask. He hated belonging to anyone. Heero included. She didn't press. "Very well. Then that is what I suggest. I will follow your lead." A bit surprised, he nodded. "You know Cefalai better than I do. Where first?" Lucrezia led him out onto the streets by means of a back way, and Duo allowed himself to be impressed by the way she carried herself. Tall and almost regal of bearing, there was no wasted movment or effort. She glided through the shadows, a mere shadow herself, and he found himself glad she hadn't been the one to go to Cera. She might have succeeded where Kershac failed. Then Duo shook his head. No. That wasn't worth wasting the energy on thinking. She led him into a seedy tavern. Men with beer bellies and men with their hoods drawn up sat at the stained tables, and Duo could see cobwebs stretching across every corner. Noin walked up to the bar. "Shagon," she called in a voice laden with scorn. The fat barkeep turned from wiping glass pints with a dirty rag. "Noin," he said in a rusty voice. "What be your business here?" "The back," she said, jerking her head to the right. "Now." "It be too busy for a chat now," he said, shaking his head. "Come back in a few hours." Reaching down to her thigh, Noin rested her hand on a long, wickedly curved knife. "I'm here now," she said in a pleasant way, "so we'll talk now." He swallowed noisily. "Now be fine," he agreed, and he led her into a private office of sorts. It was cluttered and smelled strongly of stale sweat and beer. An incredibly offensive combination, Duo noted with a grimace. "What, boy?" the man demanded with a leer. "It be too strong a man's musk for your delicate sensibilities?" For a moment, Duo was distracted by the way the man spoke. Big words for such a fat fool. Blue fire sprang up around him, surging way from him in an icy wave until it scoured every last particle of odor from the air. The man screeched in an unmasculine sort of way, leaping back against the wall with eyes wide as saucers. Satisfied, Duo sat. "Not anymore," he said. "Let's get what we came for, please." This to Noin. She looked at the man called Shagon. "Not long ago, an assassin was sent to Cera," she said. Shagon shrugged. "What would I know of that? I be a humble barkeep." "You keep an ear to the ground," Noin retorted, dismissive. "I know it wasn't you who sent the assassin-you couldn't afford the fee. But you have heard something, yes?" The man fidgeted long enough a pulse of annoyance made Duo snap his fingers to regain his attention. "I can get the information out of you with or without your cooperation," he warned. Another noisy swallow. "I want no trouble from no sorcerer," he said, a bead of sweat gathering on his brow. It streaked a greasy trail down his cheek and jaw. "Although, I did hear word from Tamarkin. Now him be a gossip, that one. He was telling the boys here a few days back about some big score in Cera that he heard of. I weren't listening. It not be polite to eavesdrop on customers." Noin snorted. "Such a polite barkeeper you are." She rose and flipped a few silver pennies down on his desk. "For your time." Duo wouldn't have left the foul man so much as a copper, but he didn't object as he followed Noin from the room and out of the tavern. He didn't miss the looks he garnered, some hungry, some merely curious. He would be so glad to leave this city. o8o o8o It took until long after the sun had set. The streets came alive with lurkers and prowlers, and as Duo led Noin to rejoin Heero, he had to deter one or two from attacking him. They didn't even seem to notice Noin. The rest seemed to get the message pretty quickly, when they saw how spectacularly their fellow scum failed. Duo had never been so glad to get inside a building in his life. What was wrong with this city? Heero had a room, and he gestured them in looking impatient. "Well?" he demanded, seating himself by the fire. Noin moved to stand opposite, bowing low. "My king," she greeted. "It took some digging and legwork and threatening, but Kershac was hired by a mercenary from Dobraia. Apparently, this mercenary was hired by one Earl Jarviser." Heero raised an eyebrow. "Hn. That would make sense. Jarviser controls the province that will come under attack first when my army marches on Dobraia. And how convenient that he's not someone I could arrest and interrogate." He rose again, seeming restless. Duo could sense multiple things flashing through Heero. Amusement. Massive annoyance. Anger. Scorn. Noin stood by quietly, watching her king pace. She was tense and uncertain, though one couldn't tell by looking at her. "Everyone she questioned was telling the truth," he offered after a moment. Heero flicked him a glance. Then, "Very well." He looked at Noin. "Leave us." The assassin bowed again, then straightened and glided from the room. Alone once more, Heero looked at the sorcerer. "Do you believe Jarviser arranged this?" Duo shook his head. "I just believe that's where we're meant to think it came from. All it means is Relena was very, very careful. Maybe you won't get her for plotting your assassination. But you will get her, Heero. She'll trip and hang herself eventually." Heero snorted. "Come here," he said in a low, gentle tone. Not a command so much as a bossy request. Already smiling, Duo moved to his side and they sank into the armchair by the fire. It wasn't quite big enough for two, so Duo wound up half on Heero's lap. Not, he mused as warm hands stroked up his arm, such a terrible place to be. o8o o8o "Is this the place?" "Yes, Master. It's faint enough I can't tell exactly where, but somewhere at least very close to here strange magic was performed." "There's nothing here." "No, but there was. I've never felt magic like this. Some sort of . . . doorway. Or gateway. Master, it wasn't a sorcerer who did this." "How can you tell?" "Thanks to the collars we wear, all sorcerers' magic leaves a faint . . . residue, if you will. It makes their individual signatures easy to trace so we don't go tracking down sorcerers who are already collared and have masters. This is a rogue, someone who has somehow escaped the Tower's notice." "Are you saying . . . ?" "Yes, Master. Somewhere in Corai there's a magic
user who was never collared."
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