Akiri: The Scepter of Xarbaal Read online

  “It is,” he replied. “But my horse will need tending to.”

  Quarra groaned. “Fine. Tell me where it’s stabled, and I’ll see to it.”

  After she left, he sat at the table for a time, considering what he would say to Tuvarius once they finally came face to face. How would he convince his uncle that he was not an agent of King Zemel? If Tuvarius was really so adept at magic, would he be able to use this in order to learn the truth? Finally, with no answers forthcoming, Akiri climbed into the far too soft bed.

  Chapter Eight

  The next two nights passed by without mishap. Once he caught Quarra peeking into the room after she thought he had fallen asleep. At first, he imagined she was simply checking to see that he was staying inside as instructed. But soon her gaze developed an unmistakable look of lust. Akiri found her to be very attractive. Had she acted on her desires, he would not have resisted her. But she had not.

  When the time to prepare himself arrived, Filo returned to the room proudly carrying the clothes he had spent the past two days creating. After he spread his handiwork out on the bed for inspection, Akiri blinked, for a moment not knowing whether to laugh aloud or be angry. The entire ensemble was crafted from sapphire blue satin. The shirt had a bright yellow collar and cuffs, along with similarly colored swirling patterns running down each breast. The equally garish pants were clearly tailored for a fit more than snugly enough to fully accentuate his manly qualities.

  “What’s wrong?” Filo asked, clearly offended by Akiri’s look of disapproval.

  “Nothing,” he replied through clenched teeth. After changing into the clothes, for the first time in his life he actually felt humiliated. He had to resist a powerful urge to throttle Filo for making such ridiculous garments. The idea that anyone would see him dressed this way was almost more than he could stand.

  “Very nice,” called Quarra from the door. “I’m sure the queen will approve.”

  “I look like a…” He let out a frustrated growl. “There is not even anywhere to hide a dagger.”

  “That doesn’t matter,” she said, clearly amused by his discomfort. “They will search you for weapons before allowing you to enter.”

  Akiri gave her a sideways look. “And they’re too tight. If I so much as bend down, the pants will surely tear.”

  “No, they won’t,” assured Filo. “That’s good quality material. Try it and see for yourself.”

  In no mood to be accommodating, Akiri ignored the invitation.

  “Besides,” added Quarra. “Queen Chelia will have them off you quickly enough.”

  This did nothing to ease his displeasure.

  A short time later, a man wearing a black robe with the hood pulled over his head arrived. Without a word, he waved for Akiri to follow. A carriage awaited just outside the brothel. Sitting in the back was an older man in a fine linen suit. He scrutinized Akiri closely, then nodded with approval.

  “I’m glad to see she has sent My Lady a big one this time,” he remarked. “Perhaps you’ll do better than her last visitor. Poor lad. She very nearly broke him in two.”

  He folded his hands in his lap and paused, perhaps waiting for a reaction. Akiri merely looked at him impassively.

  “In case they didn’t tell you, this is how you must conduct yourself,” the man continued. “When you are presented to the queen, you will bow and say nothing. You will speak only when spoken to, and you will do exactly as she says. In the morning, you will be taken back to Quarra’s establishment, where she will pay you for your services. You are never to speak of anything you hear or see while inside the palace. Should you do so, you will be taken before the magistrate and charged with bearing false witness against the queen. You will be found guilty and executed. Am I understood?”

  Akiri nodded.

  “You must be the strong, silent type,” the man remarked. “All the better. And if your lust matches your body, you might even be invited back.”

  The palace came into view a few minutes later. After passing through the main gate, they rounded the eastern wing and stopped at a tall iron fence with a narrow gate. Six soldiers stood and watched as Akiri climbed out of the carriage.

  “Remember what I told you,” the man said before closing the carriage door and whistling for the driver to move on.

  Akiri approached the gate.

  “Another perfumed toy for the queen,” mocked one of the guards. “What’s it like to be a whore? I bet it beats doing a man’s work.”

  His remarks drew gales of harsh laughter from most of the other soldiers.

  “Careful, Pram,” said the man closest. “This one looks tougher than the rest.”

  “Is that right?” Pram said. “You a tough whore? We’ll see. Turn around and raise your arms.”

  Akiri’s every instinct yearned to show these men what being tough really meant. Only with great self-control did he manage to hold his tongue and do as instructed.

  After searching him for weapons, Pram waved a hand. “No blades.”

  He grabbed Akiri’s arm and shoved him through the gate. The palace wall stood around a hundred yards away at the top of a sharp slope. Accompanied by all six soldiers, Akiri allowed himself to be pushed and prodded toward it. Eventually, they came to another gate and a narrow staircase on the other side that descended into a dimly lit passage.

  “Head straight down,” ordered Pram. “Gertie is waiting for you, so you’d better move your ass.”

  As Akiri continued, he heard the soldiers behind him talking.

  “We shouldn’t give these fella’s such a hard time,” said one. “I’d give anything to fuck the queen.”

  “Well, how ’bout we dress you up in satin and send you in?” suggested Pram.

  This roused more laughter, which faded with each step Akiri took.

  As the end of the passage came into view, he saw an elderly woman wearing a simple blue dress. She was standing just beyond an open door with a lantern in her hand. Her eyes ran over him and she smiled.

  “It looks like Quarra has got it right this time,” she remarked, her tone kindly. “There is no need to be concerned.”

  “I’m not,” Akiri told her.

  “Good. I am Gertie, and before we proceed, there are one or two things you should know. In spite of what you have been told, you are to enjoy yourself. Do not feel shy. My queen is not fragile, and she likes it when her lovers take the initiative.” She let out a sigh. “By the time most men arrive here, they’re usually too scared to utter a sound. But you don’t seem to have that problem.”

  She took Akiri’s hand and led him to a staircase a few yards further down. At the end of this lay a long, barren hallway. After a few twists and turns, all of which Akiri committed to memory, the passage came to a sudden dead end. Gertie reached down to press an indention in the stonework. The sharp clack of a mechanism followed as the wall swung outward.

  Gertie took a moment to peer through. Then, satisfied there was no one about, she gestured for Akiri to follow.

  They stepped into another hallway, but not one that bore any similarity to their previous surroundings. This was a broad passage with highly polished marble floors. Artworks of spectacular design decorated the walls, and gold lanterns placed upon evenly spaced marble pedestals illuminated the way more than adequately.

  After a few more turns, they stopped outside a pair of imposingly large doors, each one bearing an intricately carved depiction of a lion.

  “This is my queen’s private bed chamber,” she told him. “No one will disturb you. I will be in the room across the hall.”

  “There are no guards?” asked Akiri.

  “Of course,” she replied. “But they stay well clear of here. If any were to actually witness one of the queen’s lovers entering her chambers, they would be duty bound to report it to the king. And that would be most unfortunate for everyone.” She patted him on the shoulder. “But you needn’t worry. All will be well.”

  Akiri opened the door. With a final gla
nce over his shoulder at a smiling Gertie, he stepped inside.

  The queen’s chamber was massive. A glowing hearth to the left revealed a sofa and four chairs set around a small glass table. It was utterly unremarkable. He felt like he had been in dozens of rooms just like it. To the right was a dining area that could easily accommodate a dozen guests. Further back beyond the hearth stood bookshelves and a desk with papers and scrolls strewn haphazardly about the top. The bed itself was by far the largest Akiri had ever seen – at least fifteen feet across and nearly twice as long. It was shrouded in a cloak of sheer silver material and surrounded by golden lanterns held aloft on marble pedestals. A door to the right was partly open, allowing him to see that this was a bathing chamber.

  Behind the silver cloth Akiri saw a figure moving toward the edge of the bed. Suddenly he was uncomfortably aware of how ridiculous he must look in his unmanly attire.

  “What is your name?” called a soft, feminine voice.

  “Akiri, Your Highness.” Remembering what he was told, he bowed low.

  “And do you know why you are here, Akiri?” she asked.

  “I do, Your Highness.”

  “Is that so? Then tell me.”

  Akiri considered his words carefully. “I am here to provide you with pleasure.”

  “And you do not think my king able to do so?”

  “That is not for me to say, Your Highness.”

  There was a long silence before she spoke again. “You do not sound like the others that have come here. Come closer so that I might get a better look at you.”

  Akiri approached the bed, stopping when only a few feet away. He could see the silhouetted figure of the queen kneeling on the bed, facing him. “Am I to your liking?” he asked.

  “Indeed you are. It would seem I have been sent a real man this time. A man of strength. And of danger, unless I miss my guess.”

  “Your Highness is perceptive.”

  “But it begs the question: Why would such a man be sent to my bed? Someone of such obvious power could possibly harm me.”

  “I mean you no harm, Your Highness,” Akiri replied. “You have my word.”

  “You have an air of honesty about you that is most refreshing,” the queen said. “I will take you at your word.” Easing aside the curtain, she stepped off the bed with slow, seductive movements.

  Dressed only in a white silk nightgown that did little to cover her ample curves, she regarded him with large, deep blue eyes. A cascade of auburn hair tumbled halfway down her back in loose curls, and her flawless skin bore the lush olive complexion of the women from the far west. Akiri was immediately transfixed by her beauty.

  “I wonder why they would dress you in such gaudy attire?” she said, a tiny smile forming on her full lips. “A man of action should not be wearing such things.”

  She moved in close to run her hands over Akiri’s chest, where his heart was pounding wildly. She was far, far beyond anything he might have been expecting. It felt like an eternity since he had been with a woman. Every aspect of the queen was perfect – from her sensual touch to the sweet scent of honeysuckle she carried, and even the way she simply looked at him with those enormous eyes. All of this and more sent his passions into a raging inferno.

  Her hands drifted slowly down, and he felt himself becoming hard. By the time the tips of her fingers were tracing the outline of his shaft, the strain was almost painful. The queen licked her lips and moaned softly.

  “Definitely a man of action,” she sighed, the promise of pleasure dripping from each word. Taking a step back, she slid the nightgown from her shoulders, allowing it to shimmer its way down her body and gather gently at her feet.

  “Do you find me beautiful?” she asked playfully.

  Akiri nodded. “You are stunning, Your Highness.”

  Her breasts were full and perfectly shaped, and though tall, her curves were in exact proportion to her height. The small area of hair between her legs had been neatly shaped to form a strip an inch long and no wider than a man’s finger.

  Remembering what Gertie had said, he stripped off his shirt and moved in closer. Before the queen could react, he wrapped a powerful arm around her waist and pulled her roughly to him. She gasped, though whether this was in surprise or delight, he wasn’t sure. For a moment, he ran his fingers through her hair, then with a firm jerk, pulled her head back and kissed her deeply.

  She responded eagerly, her tongue searching for his and her hips pressing hard against his aching member. When their lips parted, her eyes were closed and her breathing was rapid.

  “A real man at last,” she gasped in what was barely a whisper.

  Scooping her up into his arms, Akiri carried her over to the bed. His lust was driving away all other thoughts. Pausing only to remove the last of his clothing, he moved in beside her, propping himself up on one elbow to loom over her naked form, delighting in every inch of her beauty.

  For the briefest of moments, it was obvious to Akiri that she reveled in his adoration, but impatience quickly overcame her. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him down to her waiting lips. No further words were needed. The fire of passion was all they knew. Still clinging to him, she rolled so that she was the one on top. It was the first time Akiri had experienced a woman assuming the dominant position in lovemaking, but he willingly went along with her desire. She straddled him just above his eager manhood and he felt the heat radiating from between her legs.

  Looking down at him one final time, the queen cupped his face in her hands and then slid slowly down until he was fully inside her. Throwing her head back, she let out a wild scream of ecstasy.

  The pleasure was shared equally. Never before had Akiri known a woman who filled him with such erotic bliss. He was soon utterly lost in the oblivion of lust.

  He had no idea how long their lovemaking lasted. It was raw and primal – like a raging tempest. The explosion of his seed erupted inside her, brought her to a climax that made her entire body shudder for more than a full minute. Even when it had passed, she refused to let Akiri withdraw for several more minutes while her body continued to jerk erratically.

  Finally, she rolled beside him and looked into his eyes. He could see that her passion was still burning fiercely. It was little wonder that the king could not satisfy this woman.

  She kissed his chest, smiling impishly. “I hope you are not completely spent.”

  Before Akiri could answer, she began making her way down, kissing and lapping up the love sweat that now covered them both. In only a few seconds, her skillful lips and tongue had him fully erect once again.

  For hour upon hour, they continued in this way. Never had Akiri known a woman fired with such unyielding lust; it felt as if the very life force within him was being drained away. By the time she was eventually exhausted, he knew that he could not have continued any longer even if she had demanded it of him. He couldn’t help but wonder at the caliber of men who had passed through her bed before him. How many of those had possessed the stamina to satisfy her lust?

  “I hope you will choose to return,” she said, throwing an arm over his chest, mercifully with a contented smile now on her face.

  He watched her closely until her eyes closed and her breathing became regular and deep. With great care, he then lifted her arm from his chest and slipped out of the bed. The thought of putting the ridiculous clothes back on brought a frown to his face. But it was either that or wander the palace naked.

  On reaching the door, he glanced back over to the bed. The queen had not stirred. He peered into the hallway and listened closely. The door across the hall leading into Gertie’s room was closed. He had thought about using her to discover where Tuvarius’ quarters were, but realized such a move might risk alerting the guards. Even so, unless he wanted to wander aimlessly, he needed to find someone to guide him. That much was certain.

  After softly closing the queen’s door, he made his way to a broad archway at the far end of the hall. More doors lined the wal
ls at regular intervals. Akiri paused at each one, but they were all empty guest rooms. It seemed Queen Chelia had ensured that the entire wing was empty of any potential prying eyes.

  He moved on, eyes and ears both constantly alert. The next hallway he came to was lined with open archways leading into various parlors and rooms designed for entertainment. Halfway to the end, he heard hushed whispers coming from a room to his right. Crouching low, he peered around the corner of the entrance and saw a young man talking to one of the house maids. Drawing back again, he continued to listen. Apparently, the youth had arranged a secret rendezvous.

  “Your mother will have me whipped if she catches us,” whispered the girl, a slight tremor in her voice.

  “What do you think she’ll do to me?” said the boy. “She’ll disown me for sure.”

  “She will not.”

  “Of course she will. She doesn’t care a lick about me. All she cares about is my older brother and securing his place in the royal court. To her I’m just the bastard she had by accident after her husband died. This would give her the excuse she needs to rid herself of me once and for all.”

  “That’s dreadful,” remarked the girl, with no small measure of pity. “But why risk so much?”

  “Because I love you.”

  There was the brief sound of the two lovers sharing a passionate kiss.

  “I can’t,” she said, her breathing rapid. “Not here. Not like this.”

  “But don’t you love me?”

  “I do.” Her voice became firm. “And if you truly love me, you will not treat me like a common whore. This is not a suitable place. And I will not do it.”

  “I… I’m sorry,” the boy stammered. “It’s just that you drive my passions wild. I didn’t mean to… well… you know.”

  “It’s all right.” Her tone softened. “Be patient. If the gods want us to be together, they will provide a way in the end. But for now, we can’t risk being seen. I have to go before I’m missed. You should wait here for a few minutes.”