Dragon Boy Chapter 7
Punishment
Tir felt himself being chained by his
wrists to the ceiling in the blue titled punishment room, his toes barely
touching the ground. Looking wildly around the dimly lit room he watched
the two guards leave, and Esper grinned at him wickedly. The fat man
waddled up to Tir and casually slapped his face. Tir felt the sting of the
blow and tears came to his eyes, not so much from the pain as from fear of
what was to come. The oversized eunuch looked sadistically happy,
something that sent a tremble up the harem boy’s spine.
"I should
go see the King, I suppose. But first I will have you whipped and that
soft skin stripped off that back of yours. Thank you, my dear Tir, for
giving me this opportunity that I would have never gotten without such a
serious offense,." Esper hissed as he circled around Tir.
"Don’t
you have to tell the King?, " Tir asked wildly, his violet eyes wide in
fear, hoping for a reprieve of some sort. He feared the fat man before him
much more than the King.
Esper leaned up against Tir, his pig eyes
darting over the frightened boy’s face. "Oh no you little whore. You see,
you have done the unthinkable. I’ll have to inform the King of course, but
as chief eunuch I already have permission to whip you immediately, for you
will be either sold or killed depending on how the King feels," Esper
said, running his long nails down Tir’s chest as the boy trembled.
Tir now realized the full extent of what could happen. He didn’t
want to die, but even more than that he didn’t want to be sold away from
the people he had come to care about. Tir began to struggle as Esper
laughed, his high pitched voice fueling Tir’s struggles. Tir felt the cold
metal bite into his wrist as he continued to writhe in the chains,
desperate to find a way out.
Esper moved to the door and opened
it, letting in a tall, well muscled eunuch guard. His cold brown eyes were
unemotional as he looked at the frantically struggling boy. Esper nodded
to the guard, his face glowing as the man picked up a full sized whip and
went around behind Tir.
Tir’s continued to struggle as the chains
clinked wildly together and Tir felt a trickle of hot blood run down his
arm. The sensation was soon eclipsed by the searing pain of the full sized
whip, something that Tir had never felt before. Unlike the previous
whippings he had received with the smaller, thin whips or the tame sexual
discipline administered by the Baron, this was meant to bring maximum pain
with scarring. Tir knew at once that Esper was really serious and this
time there was no one to save him.
With each blow of the whip
Tir screamed in pain, unable to think of anything except the red hot
pain shooting down his back. With each new blow he felt the pain increase
as the scarlet stream of blood began to leak down his legs to puddle on
the floor. Before long the thin boy stopped his struggling, that had only
increased his misery. It seemed to go on forever; with each torturous blow
the stream of blood dripping off of him increased. Tir lost track of the
time as he felt his skin being torn from his back. An eternity passed for
the boy before his shrill screams began to die as he began to blessedly
fade in and out of consciousness.
Esper watched with glee as the
boy screamed in pain. Finally the boy was getting what he deserved. Esper
would never forget the humiliations he had to endure for the violet eyed
little punk. He had been whipped because of the brat and the punishment
administered by the Baron would remain etched in his mind forever. There
was nothing special about him, he caused problems in the harem and stuck
out like a sore thumb. Esper knew that he was taking things to far but he
couldn’t get enough of the young boy’s screams.
He was so focused
on the scene at hand he didn’t hear the knocking on the door. It wasn’t
until the guard looked questioningly at him, stopping the whip for a
moment, that Esper realized that there was someone at the door. Esper
nodded to the guard to continue even though the boy wasn’t totally
conscience anymore as he waddled over to the door. When he opened it he
was surprised to see Simeon standing with his head bowed, his golden curls
obscuring his face..
"What do you what?" demanded the obese man
angrily.
"I wished to know if you needed anything?" Simeon replied
quietly, looking up and past Esper into the room. The small, quiet eunuch
paled viably at the barely glimpsed sight of Tir hanging from his
chains.
"If I had needed anything I would have called, now leave
me," hissed the man irritably, slamming the door in Simeon’s gentle pale
face.
Simeon had known that Esper would take things too far when he
had seen Tir being dragged into the punishment room. He had listened
quietly as the guards and eunuch talked amongst themselves about Tir’s
transgression. When Simeon first heard the agonizing cries coming from the
room he was not surprised, but when they began to die yet no one came out
of the room Simeon began to worry. Unable to let the boy suffer anymore
Simeon had determinably knocked on the door of the punishment room, but
when he had seen the pool of blood at Tir’s feet he knew he needed help.
The gentle eunuch went to the one person he was absolutely sure would stop
it, no matter what the King might say.
Simeon ran outside of the harem and down the hallways
heading straight for the dragon pens. The man reached the large door
marked Ebony but stood motionless before the door, very afraid of the
dragon inside. Wringing his hands he looked around, hoping to see the man
he was looking for without having to ventured any closer to the door.
Suddenly the image of the young violet eyed boy hanging above a very large
pool of blood flashed before his eyes. Simeon lifted his hand and knocked
loudly on the door.
It was only a minute
before the large door swung inward, revealing a frowning Drake to the
scared eunuch. Simeon fell to his knees before dark haired man as he
trembled slightly
"Simeon what are you doing here of all places?"
Drake questioned, surprise written on his face as he knelt down to pick
the boy off the ground. "Remember the last time you served me I told you
not to do that?"
"Sir there is a boy being punished by the chief
eunuch. I know he deserves it, he snuck out of the harem and had sex with
someone, but still if someone doesn’t stop Esper he is going to kill the
boy. Please my lord, please will you stop it?. He was the King’s favorite
and I know that it is inexcusable, but the boy doesn’t deserve to be
whipped to death. Please I know you care even about us slaves," Simeon
begged.
Drake stood motionless as all of the color drained out of
his face. Suddenly Ebony let out a cry sounding so loud and shrill that it
made Simeon fall to the ground again, covering his ears. Drake ignored him
as he ran towards the harem, ignoring everything in his way as Ebony
continued her almost human cry.
Drake hit the door to the
punishment room at a run to stop in horror at all of the blood soaking the
into the blue tiled floor. Mesmerized by the crimson lake pooled before
the boy’s feet he couldn’t move.
"My Lord what are you doing here?
I thought you refused to visit the harem?" Esper asked servilely, walking
around the hanging body of the little harem boy as if it were nothing out
of the ordinary.
Esper’s words awoke Drake from his daze as he
instinctually punched the man hard enough to send him flying against the
back wall. Drake walked over the crumpled man and kicked him over to
retrieved the key in his front pocket. Drake approached Tir, his black
eyes flashing with a fury that made the guard drop his whip and back away.
Tir dropped into Drake’s muscular arms as the rider heard a
familiar voice bellow from the other room.
"Where the hell are you
Drake? Feras and Ebony are about ready to go crazy, all I can get out of
Feras is it is about. . ." Marek stopped in his tracks as he entered the
room and took in the scene.
"I’ll kill him," snarled Marek as he
stormed over to the unconscious eunuch on the floor.
"Later,"
barked Drake. "Get over here now! If you want the boy to live get your ass
over here Marek."
"Get a healer, I can’t heal," Marek said as he
whirled around to face Drake.
"Look at the blood Marek he is beyond
a healer, only a mage can save him. Now get over here and channel your
power through me so I can heal him."
"No mage can do that," Marek
said shaking his head.
"Do it," yelled Drake.
Marek shook
his head but walked over to the man with the limp, blood soaked boy in his
arms. Kneeling down he closed his eyes feeding his mage gift into Drake.
He almost lost his concentration when he felt the presence of not only
Feras but Ebony joining him. He felt Drake pour the combined power into
the boy. Suddenly he felt Drake shut down the connection and he opened his
eyes to see Tir’s back completely healed.
"How?" Marek asked,
amazed as he tentatively touched the boy’s back.
"I can’t use mage
powers, but I can channel them. I also know that our gift stimulates
healing. Why do you think all of us dragon riders heal so quickly? It’s a
theory I have been working on, about our gifts and the dragons. I didn’t
expect Ebony and Feras to help though. I thought your powers would be
enough to seal up the worse of it and replenish enough of his blood to
survive, but with their powers, well you see," Drake said in awe at their
work.
"I am still going to kill him," Marek said standing
up.
"Later, Marek he isn’t going anywhere but our dragons need us,"
Drake said, standing up with Tir in his arms.
"My Lord, you can’t
ju..," one of the guards at the entrance began but stopped as a pair of
storm black eyes and a pair of sharp emerald eyes landed on him. He
swallowed hard and quickly bowed, moving out of the way.
Drake and
Marek walked back down the hallways of the palace and into the now quiet
dragon pen. As soon as Drake entered Ebony almost knocked him over to get
close to the boy.
"Ebony enough, if I drop him he will be even
more hurt. He needs to rest," Drake said gently.
Ebony back away
slightly to reveal that she was not the only one occupying her pen. Her
scarlet mate, Feras, had joined her, making the large pen looked cramped,
filled with two very large, worried dragons. Drake shook his head and
moved over to the bed on the platform, laying Tir on the soft surface and
covering him with a light blanket. Marek, who had followed him, looked at
the large man strangely.
"How do you and Ebony know him? Feras
refuses to tell me anything now that the boy is out of danger," Marek
asked, puzzlement in his face.
Drake whirled around to face the
man, anger still written in his face, as he walked past the now sleeping
boy. The large golden frame was tense as he walked briskly toward the
door, brushing past Marek as if he wasn’t there. Marek reached out,
grabbing the man’s wrist, his own emerald eyes narrowing.
"What the
hells is going on?" Marek demanded with a growl.
Drake broke the
grip, his jaw tightening as he whirled around to face the lean man, his
eyes blazing, as Marek’s eyes glowered at him. Both men glared at each
other as the seconds slide by, until Ebony growled softly, turning her
attention away from the sleeping boy to look over at her
rider.
Drake averted his eyes and turned around heading for the
door. "Come on if you want to know. I need to see my father, you might as
well come along, I imagine you will hear the answers you are looking for,"
Drake growled, opening the large door to the pen, looking back at the
Baron.
Marek nodded, following the man out of the door, lengthening
his strides to keep up with the fast pace that Drake had set. When they
entered the halls of the palace everyone cleared out of their way with one
glance at the stormy face of Drake and his blood covered clothing.. When
they reached the doors of the King’s chamber Drake burst through the door
and into the King’s room, to hear the sex cries of a woman.
"Father, get out here right now!" demanded Drake in a loud voice
as they made their way into the room.
"Drake what in the seven
hells. . ." the King said, coming out of the inner room a minute later
tying on a robe, his playmate still in the bed room.
"Did you order
Tir to be whipped to death?," Drake said, advancing on the King slowly,
his eyes flashing.
"Tir? What are you talking about?" the King
asked in a even voice, despite the angry man advancing on
him.
"Simeon came to me to stop him from being whipped to death by
your chief eunuch," Drake said, face to face with the King as he spit out
the words, venom hang on Esper’s title.
"What the hell is going on?
I ordered no such thing," the King murmured, a little anger creeping into
his voice.
"It looks like the little pig decided to take matters
into his own hands, but why was Tir being punished?" Marek said walking up
to the two men.
"Because he betrayed His Majesty. He left the
gardens, and I was the one who found out he had left. Esper was just doing
his job. The little slut gave his body to some nobody," hissed a black
haired girl from the doorway of the King’s bedchamber. Her voluptuous body
on display as she stood boldly in front of the three men, proud of her
body and her part of the capture of Tir.
Drake turned his attention
to the girl resembled his mother so much in her proud bearing and
coloring. Drake advanced on her, his eyes sparking as he briefly felt his
father’s hand on his wrist.
"Get out of here little girl, before
this nobody does something you won’t forget," snarled Drake, his temper
completely shattered.
"Sasha, leave now," commanded the King as all
the color drained out of the girl’s face. Darting back into the bedroom
she soon returned dressed as she quickly exited the room with a low
bow.
"Drake, calm down please. I will do whatever I can, but first
I need to know what is going on," the King said in soothing
tones.
"I will second that, come on Drake, the boy is fine now.
Tell us what has been going on," commented Marek, sitting down on a
comfortable chair.
Drake looked over at the Baron, glaring for a
moment before closing his eyes and reaching for Ebony. He felt her
instantly as cool greens and blues washed over him. He saw a picture of
Tir’s face peacefully asleep and felt her assurance that both Feras and
herself would protect the boy. He allowed her calming colors to sooth some
of the anger from him before he opened his eyes.
"Tir snuck into
Ebony’s pen a few days before she mated," Drake said briefly as he took a
chair a crossed from the Baron, who had sprawled out into his
own.
"What?!"exclaimed the King, stopping himself as he was about
to sit down in surprise.
"Why am I not surprised," Marek’s ironic
voice added.
"Father, he isn’t from Terma, he doesn’t know anything
about the dragons. All he knew is that he saw a stunning creature gliding
a crossed the air and wanted to see her closer. I actually walked in on
him and Ebony together," Drake explained.
"That close to mating, I
am surprised he wasn’t hurt," Marek said.
Drake shook his head.
"No, she actually protected him. She shielded him like a nestling when I
came in, until she knew I wouldn’t hurt him. She adores the
boy."
"What is it with that kid," the King asked, exasperated.
"Every one seems to love him."
"Not everyone," Marek said with a
scowl, turning to Drake. "So are you the one that fucked him?"
"Yes, right before Ebony’s flight he came to her pen again. We
polished her scales and he was covered in sand. While I was helping him
clean off I couldn’t help but suck the little harem boy off. It was so
close the Ebony’s mating I thought that was what was wrong with me, but I
was wrong. I warned him not to come back until after Ebony mated, hoping
that I would be able to control myself. As soon as he found out from you
that she had, he was back. I tried to control myself, but he was insistent
and I really didn’t want to restrain myself," Drake said quietly, the
guilt of his actions washing over him.
"You are a complete idiot.
You put him in danger, when as the heir you could have easily gone to the
harem," Marek said angrily.
"Enough Marek," the Kind said holding
up his hand. "I know why you didn’t Drake, but was your pride worth
it?"
"No, father," Drake said looking down at his
hands.
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Marek
demanded.
"I told father, when Simeon was his favorite and he was
doing things to the boy that you two now do to Tir, that I would have no
part in it. Simeon was a gentle boy who hated the games father played, and
I myself disliked the brainless pieces of fluff that inhabited the harem.
I want my partners willing but also intelligent. I vowed never to step
foot in the harem until I became King," Drake explained.
"Whatever,
it’s a pretty lame excuse," Marek scoffed. "So what now?"
"What do
you mean? I don’t intend to punish the boy anymore. I will send a healer
to the harem to see to the boy," the King said with a
shrug.
"What?" Drake growled his temper flaring.
"What more
do you want?"
"Tir is to remain exactly where he is. As for a
healer, if we had waited for a healer the boy would be dead," Drake said
flatly.
"Not only that, what are you going to do about the fat pig
you have as a chief eunuch? If you don’t do something about him I will,"
said the Baron dangerously.
"Ok, both of you, stop it. What do you
mean Tir would be dead? Nobody dies of a whipping in the harem. I am sure
that he is in a lot of pain. . . "
"They do if they are whipped
with a full whip continuously. I found him hanging above a pool of his own
blood. Just look at me, this is all Tir’s blood," Drake said, glaring at
his father.
"Esper did that? I can’t have that," the King said,
thinking for a moment. "I will have to dismiss him, but who can I have
take over?" His mind turning to administration matters totally forgetting
the slave boy that was hurt, and he could do nothing
about.
"Dismiss him, that’s all?!" Marek growled.
"I guess I
could kill him," the King said with a shrug.
"No, put Simeon in
charge of the harem. He better than anyone knows what those children need,
he was one of them after all. As for Esper, death is too easy for him.
Make him the lowest ranked eunuch in the harem," Drake said
firmly.
Marek laughed, "You’re right, that would be worse than
death for that little worm."
"Very well, but what about the boy, is
he dead?" the King asked softly.
"No, he is in Ebony’s pen. Marek,
I, and our dragons combined our powers to heal him," Drake
answered.
"Is that even possible?"
"Well we did it,
obviously," Marek said sarcastically.
"The boy can’t stay there.
We’ll move him back to the harem," the King said after a moment’s
thought.
"No you aren’t, unless you want to go through Ebony and
Feras you’re not. Ebony is adamant, she isn’t letting him out of her sight
right now," Drake said firmly. "Also, there is another
problem."
"What more could there be? I don’t think I can take many
more shocks today, son," the King said tiredly.
"Tir is the bastard
son of Prince Tristan of Recura,"
Both the King and Marek looked at
Drake as if he were mad. Neither of them spoke as Drake looked at them
both.
"Remember Tristan’s eyes father. Tir told me his story and it
seems plausible, I don’t think he was lying," Drake added when neither man
spoke.
"Shit, I don’t even what to know," Marek said shaking his
head.
"Drake, bastard or not Tristan is not going to be happy," the
King said, remembering the blonde haired man with captivating violet eyes.
A stubborn, proud man that was above all else honorable. "We will have to
contact him at once."
"Tir doesn’t want us to. He wants to stay
here; apparently between the dragons, Marek and I he doesn’t want to
leave," Drake said wearily.
"Me?" Marek said in surprise.
"I
thought the same thing,:" Drake said, looking over at the man in disgust.
" I don’t think he should serve in the harem any longer father, and for
right now Ebony wants him where he is. With her pregnant I am not about to
piss her off. Although with Feras joining her in watching Tir we need to
take down the east wall to increase the size of the pen."
"I agree,
right now, Your Majesty, I think it is for the best," Marek
said.
"Very well I ...." the King started, but was interrupted by a
knock on the door.
"I bet I know what that is about," Marek
said.
"Both of you get out of here, for now I will deal with the
fall out. Drake, we will talk later," the steely haired monarch said
tiredly.
Both men nodded and opened the door to find three guards
and Esper waiting. Esper backed away, frightened, as both men glared at
the eunuch before heading down the hallway.
"I still want to do
something to him," Marek said darkly, cracking his
knuckles.
"Later, Ebony said Tir has been restless. I think he
might be waking up soon," Drake replied.
"It’s always later with
you. Hey, since Feras and Ebony are going to share the same pen with Tir,
doesn’t that mean we’re all going to be sleeping together?" Marek said
lightly.
Drake snorted and continued on, ignoring the implications
of the Baron’s words, wanting to get back to Ebony and Tir.
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