Warning: include(lrreturn.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/xarraco/public_html/fiction/dakbath.php on line 1
Warning: include(lrreturn.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /home/xarraco/public_html/fiction/dakbath.php on line 1
Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'lrreturn.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in /home/xarraco/public_html/fiction/dakbath.php on line 1
Lyer & Aluraios | Dak Has a Bath
"My lord's bath is ready." The slim sandy haired servant said, backing away dutifully from the large carved stone basin sunk into the ground on the lower floor of Lord Dakram's castle. He peaked up through the fringe that hung slightly in his eyes and studiously forced his face to stay passive when he saw that the hand maiden that the House Maid had appointed to his lord was still hanging about by the door.
He dropped his eyes as Dakram's dark blue frowned on him for such a display of discourtesy, and kept them lowered, sensing instead of seeing the displeasure turned onto the maid. "Since when did a maiden help her lord bathe?"
The maid's swallow was audible, "House Maid Lireta thought..."
"Wasn't it my express orders that I will have only man-servants help?"
"There are rumours my lord..."
"There is my authourity." A dangerous note slipped into the velvet voice. "If Lireta wishes to countermand my orders, she can take it up with me personally."
The maiden recognised the dismissal and walked out gracefully, shutting the door firmly. Dakram frowned, walking over and locking it with a wrench before taking a deep breath. "Can't they get the hint?" The voice relaxed even as the lord dropped the authority that he had worn like a cloak.
"Lireta is worried about you." The servant said softly, immediately looking up and reaching to massage the firm shoulders as he manuveoured the lord to the bath. "You know what the maid said about the rumours were true. You're a good lord, Dak, but if people start suspecting,"
"Oh, I'm meant to let a maid bath me, try to seduce me, and then tell the entire Court when she fails to get any response out of me? Good plan Ferel." Dakram turned to face his servant, divesting himself of his outer clothes deftly, the manner suggesting that he'd done it by himself plenty of times in the past.
Ferel sighed. "Maybe you could pretend?" he suggested uncomfortably. "You managed when Lady Rosdera came to Court."
Whatever he was going to say next was shut off as Dakram placed a firm kiss on his lips, wrapping his arms around the slimmer man. "I am not going to pretend again. Rosdera stayed for a few days, Lireta would be having me bathed by maidens every day. And Rosdera never saw me naked." He answered when he lifted his lips to look into Ferel's eyes. "And aren't you going to help me bath?" He raised his eyebrows, Ferel chuckling softly, knowing the arrogance his lover had slipped into his voice was only in humour.
The servant bowed at the waist, "Whatever you ask, my lord." He said diffidently, before planting his own kiss on Dakram's mouth. "It'd help if you got in the bath though." He added doubtfully.
"Alright!" Dakram grinned, stepping up the small stone flight of stairs into the spring-heated water. "You won't join me?"
"You have a council meeting later, Dak." Ferel reminded him with a sigh, picking up the sponge and starting to rub the muscular back, letting his fingers run from memory around it. "Ring for tea when you return though? I don't have any Court duties tonight."
The lord smiled lopsidedly, closing his eyes in the warmth and rich scents rising from the water. "Of course. As long as you'll be allowed to bring me tea."
"And Lireta having to face your wrath for countermanding orders?" Ferel shook his head. "I'll be allowed. If it wouldn't arouse suspicion I'd stay here on duty, but,"
"But everyone knows I've been doing some dangerous magic recently in here, and they'd wonder why I let you stay in here."
© Clare Selley 2009
Return to Lyer and Aluraios