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Battle Master Chapter 4 After Pride Goeth copyright 2016 comidacomida

Baedyn had spent so many years exhausted mentally and physically he hadn't realized just how tired he had become, but, as he was carried down the stairway by Ian, the Wolf had a hard time not passing out in the arms of his Sarvistinian protector. Theirs was a long and complicated past but it had meant so much that the seventeen years they'd been apart did nothing to dull the emotions that Baedyn felt flowing through him upon seeing him again. The meandering nature of his weary mind screeched to a halt when Ian stopped suddenly at the end of the stairs.

Ian looked down to the Wolf and, as the diamond-shaped pupils of his brick-red eyes dilated, Baedyn knew what concerned the lizard man: more of Izlegaol's warriors were waiting for them in the hallway ahead. As if they also understood Ian's mental warning, the two big Cats acting as their vanguard moved in concert; Willis pulled out two short blades while Choel picked up a short spear from where it had been discarded in the hall.

Just as Baedyn was about to speak up, Ian gave him a gentle squeeze, reminding him wordlessly to be silent and let the big Cats work. It had been close to two decades since the Wolf had felt the presence of Ian or been exposed to the Sarvestinian method of wordless communication but it felt as though it were as natural as breathing. It hadn't always been the case, of course, and thinking back to the first time he and Talvin had met Ian--

Baedyn snapped out of the reverie, pushing the distraction of the lizard's thoughts from his mind the moment he heard the sound of metal-on-metal. Ian's eyes continued to watch him as they stood next to the corner around which Willis and Choel had traveled. Although Ian had been attempting to block the worst of the scene from Baedyn the Wolf was not appreciative of being hypnotized. Ian started at that, taking in Baedyn's discontentment, and then smiled in rapt appreciation.

The non-verbal exchange went faster than the blink of an eye, and it left the lizard with the faintest hint of comfort in his gaze; Talvin had never mastered the art of sharing himself in the way of a Sarvestinian and chose to speak his displeasure rather than simply show it. Ian was apologetic, but felt that Baedyn didn't need the additional stress of coping with the emotional drain of being a witness to combat. The Wolf frowned, and decided then and there that he would share his experiences of being an indentured servant in much more detail once they were free.

A call from Willis signaled that the fight was over. "Come. The way is clear and Lord Bane expects us promptly."

Choel responded in a language Baedyn didn't know; it sounded a little like Diermynian which left the Wolf assuming it was probably Prossian. Where, he wondered, had Talvin obtained so many mercenaries? And with what money? Ian gave him a gentle squeeze, suggesting that he not worry about the specifics; they were all there to rescue him and they would be successful. Baedyn felt his ears blush slightly, having forgotten that he was still relaying his thoughts in a fashion, and closed himself off from the empathic projection.

Ian walked down the hall after the Cats, who had already gone farther ahead. Baedyn kept his eyes up despite his weariness (and Ian's objections), paying witness to the bodies left in the mercenaries' wake. The Wolf recognized one of the fallen guards; the passing familiarity brought a momentary pang of disquiet to him but, in the end, Baedyn realized that knowing a man's name was not the same as knowing a man. Ian encouraged him to keep that outlook. The situation changed dramatically however as they exited the keep-- that was when Baedyn set eyes upon the Lord of Stone.

Loris Pyazo had fallen dozens of feet from the cracked tower high above only to land on a gravel field. The large Ram had been thrown through the wall by the force of the imbued glove and the arc of his descent meant that most of him missed the stone walkway that encircled the structure, but it was readily apparent that the small of his back took up the vast majority of the impact, having met with an ankle-high rock accent wall that ran parallel to the path. Baedyn was about to look away until he heard a groan from the fallen lord.

Fidgeting, the Wolf managed to work his way out of Ian's grasp and the lizard man lowered him to his feet rather than risk dropping him; Baedyn provided a wordless thank you to the Sarvestinian and moved slowly closer to the Ram. He honestly didn't know what to say to the man and instead of formulating something, he spoke instead from the heart. "I meant you no harm, Lord of Stone."

Loris Pyazo groaned, his chest heaving several times and Baedyn grimaced when he heard the sound of air seeping into the Ram's torso through a hole that wasn't his muzzle when the man inhaled. Even so, the Lord of Stone still managed to push out the words with labored breath. "You are... a stormcrow, Talvin Vune... your.... every word is... poison..."

Baedyn took a step forward, arm outstretched, but he paused. A scaled hand took hold of his wrist from behind and Ian encouraged him to leave the man where he lay. The Wolf remained a moment longer so he could speak his mind. "I am not sorry for what I've done, your Grace and MY actions are not the ones that I regret."

A wracking gurgle that would probably have been a cough in a healthier body caused the prone Ram to convulse; Baedyn didn't miss the fact that nothing below Loris' heaving chest moved in the least. The Lord of Stone's head slouched to the side, his bloodshot eyes staring at him, capturing the Wolf's gaze. "Your Sorra... still fake. YOU are not... my heir..."

Feeling an icy chill run up his spine, Baedyn took a step back from the impact sight and the sound of several pairs of feet on the stone walkway heralded-- the Wolf honestly wasn't sure what they meant. Ian did, however: closure. Baedyn recognized the voice that spoke next: it was Possig. "Father!"

The teenager raced past Baedyn and came to a stop, falling down beside the prone Ram. The next voice was also one the Wolf knew, but it was from much further in his past. "Ah. You've found him. Good."

Baedyn felt the fur on his body rise on end and he turned with held breath, coming face-to-face with his spitting image or, rather, what he would have looked like had he not been subjected to the 'hospitality' of the Lord of Stone. Talvin had changed nearly as much as Baedyn had in the time they'd been apart. The years suddenly felt that much heavier for the newly-freed Wolf. His younger brother had come into his own, possessed of a self-assured stance that had eluded him for the first half of his life. "Brother?"

Talvin was no longer the lanky, awkward teenager that needed his protection; the tables had turned as surely as their names had been exchanged. It only made sense, considering they had traded fates. Even so, despite realizing the logic behind it, Baedyn began crying. Talvin immediately dropped the bloody sabre he'd been holding, pushing away the short-furred warrior who stood beside him, and came immediately closer. "Brother..."

Baedyn didn't know what to expect; would they embrace after so long apart? Would Talvin embrace him and cry and tell him how good it was to see him again? Would he crack one of those jokes he used to use in order to avoid anything serious? Using Ian as support, Baedyn faced his approaching sibling, but was surprised when all he got was a paw on the shoulder followed by "You've lost a lot of fur, Baedyn."

Before Baedyn could respond, Talvin walked right by him to where Possig was kneeling beside his wounded father. The cold nature of his brother's tone chilled him. "So you see? He is alive. As I promised."

Speaking to nobody in particularly, Baedyn breathed the question. "What's going on?"

Ian, talon still encircling Baedyn's wrist, stepped closer. The Sarvestinian wrapped his free arm around the Wolf's chest and lowered his head so that the end of his maw rested against Baedyn's ear. The rest of the world lost almost all meaning as he heard the lizard's voice. "You are still weak, Saglahasan. You should not worry about this."

Had Ian meant to, Baedyn realized that the very words could just have easily been an order, but the Sarvestinian worded the statement carefully so that the Wolf would not be commanded. Baedyn honestly didn't know if his familiarity with Ian would have protected him from the hypnotic voice of a Sarvestinian after so long a time apart but apparently Ian was not about to challenge his rule. It had been a long time, but the honorific Ian had used, 'Saglahasan' was a clear indication that his statement was a request and meant no insult.

Even so, Baedyn felt the importance of the situation losing significance. He observed through numb eyes and indifferent ears as Talvin explained something to the younger Ram. Possig was screaming at his father, yelling and crying-- accusations. Anger. Baedyn was a Sorran; he had provided the Sorra which had indicated what was to come; the telling of the event had come from his own muzzle. Talvin opened a bloody bag to show Possig, only to have the young man dissolve into a fit of hysterics. Ian repeated softly, voice barely a whisper "Saglahasan, You should not worry about this."

The Sarvestinian attempted to get Baedyn to look away but the Wolf stood his ground, shrugging the lizard off of him. Possig took the short blade offered to him by Willis and Baedyn would have been able to guess the next thing to happen even if he hadn't predicted it. Only once the blade descended did the Wolf shut his eyes but, even then, he couldn't close his ears to the sound of the weapon striking home. In that moment, he accepted the echo of Ian's words, and he let them dig deep into his mind... and, thanks to the benevolent granting of Sarvestinian aid, he didn't worry.

Even as he fell deeper and deeper into the softly hissing nothingness, he heard Talvin's official declaration. "Congratulations, your Lordship. Long live Possig Pyazo, the new Lord of Stone."

Possig's declaration was almost drowned out. "Burn the body... please. I... I don't want him in my family's crypt."

Then: blessed blackness.

* * * * * *

Baedyn wasn't able to remember the last time he awoke swaddled in linen rather than rags and resting comfortably on a mattress rather than a cold stone floor. Reclining next to him, and with an arm around him, Ian was breathing softly and evenly. The Sarvestinian took note that he was awake, and provided him a supportive sense of well-being, suggesting he rest further. It was late in the evening, but not yet midnight, which meant that Baedyn could still have many useful hours of sleep ahead of him.

The Wolf did not agree and sat up; Ian did nothing to restrain him. "Ian? How long was I asleep?"

There was a pause from his companion and, as their eyes met, Ian blinked. His pupils were wide in the low light of the room, so oval that they almost didn't look like the eyes of a lizard save for the second membrane that wiped it clean. Baedyn was honestly surprised at the Sarvestinian's answer; he'd slept through one night and the next day!

Ian slowly rolled out of the bed, the mattress creaking slightly as he did so. That small little piece of information immediately identified to Baedyn where they were: in Izlegoal's keep the only room that had a spring mattress was Loris Pyazo's. He didn't know how he and Ian ended up in the room but-- his thought was interrupted with the answer: Ian's stare conveyed the full message that they were all guests of Possig and that the new Lord of Stone wanted nothing to do with his father's bedroom. A fresh pang of emotional discomfort washed through the Wolf as he considered the repercussions of the Sorra he had spoken.

Talvin's voice spoke up from the other side of the room. "You simply told Loris Pyazo his fate; it was his decision to do what he did with that knowledge. You did nothing wrong, Baedyn."

Baedyn almost jumped out of his fur when he realized that he and Ian weren't alone. Peering across the dark room, the Wolf saw that his brother was indeed present, seated in a large armchair; Talvin had a tumbler full of drink in one paw and wore nothing than a simple pair of undershorts. A number of possible counter-statements filled Baedyn's mind as quickly as questions, but, in the end, they were all pushed aside by Ian's reaffirming agreement; the Sarvestinian also felt that Baedyn had done nothing wrong.

Sighing, Baedyn shook his head. "Empathy doesn't require guilt, Brother. I know I didn't do anything wrong, but.... I-- I don't know. It still hurts."

Talvin set his tumbler on a small table and stood. Baedyn's brother's fur was full and of a luxurious, almost luminous silver. Talvin's build was slim, like his own, but he had a toned muscle to him that suggested health, vitality, and an activeness that had been denied to the indentured servant for years. Baedyn was unable to refute a pang of jealousy but, he reminded himself, his brother owed those traits to him. Talvin stepped up to him, raising a paw adorned with ample jewelry, and rested it on his shoulder. "We are together again, Baedyn... that pain can lessen now."

The simplicity of the statement was matched, and nearly overpowered by the confidence with which it was spoken. Baedyn was almost awestruck by the Wolf standing before him. How could the hesitant, reclusive, timid teenager that had been his younger brother have made such a transformation? Despite himself, and his vow to stand strong before Talvin when they finally met, Baedyn couldn't keep a tear from falling. "I have missed you, little brother."

As if his words had been a key, they suddenly unlocked Talvin, and Baedyn found himself pulled forcefully against his brother's chest. Talvin buried his muzzle into the top of Baedyn's head and he felt his brother's sobs before he could hear them. It took a moment before Baedyn could wrap his arms around Talvin's shoulders, but eventually he held his sobbing sibbling even as Ian moved to embrace the both of them. It was the moment that Baedyn had truly sought, and one he so desperately needed.

Surrendering the thought of being able to keep his promise to not cry, he simply suffered it with dignity, keeping his breath steady as the tears came and went. Even through the tightness in his chest, Baedyn managed to speak. "We are together again."

He lost track of how long they remained in the whole embrace that had been lacking for so long, but he didn't care. Baedyn also didn't know who it was who took the next step, but he let out the same weary sigh of a man in the desert finally quenching his thirst; Ian's serrated teeth gently nibbled his shoulder even as Talvin's tongue brushed along the underside of his chin. He leaned back against the Sarvestinian, opening up more of himself to his younger brother's attention. Talvin's words came out along with his hot breath against Baedyn's collar bone. "Hold me like you used to, Brother."

In that one statement everything that had been Talvin returned. His fearful younger brother was there again, coming to him for comfort, just as they had done for most of their life. They had been there for one another, and would be there again. Forever. His breath came quicker as Talvin wormed his way out of his undergarb, member stiff in anticipation. Behind him, Ian let out a reverbrating rumble and Baedyn felt the previously smoothness of the Sarvestinian's crotch suddenly disrupted by a thick spike of slick flesh. Baedyn had always been the center of their group; it left him wondering how Talvin and Ian had managed without him. No, he realized, it didn't matter since that time was behind them.

Even as Talvin settled into his lap, Baedyn was repositioned by the lizard beneath him and he let out a desperate gasp as he felt his brother's opening part before him so eagerly it was as if they'd never been apart. In unison, Baedyn arched his back as his own tail hole was stretched by Ian's increasingly thickening flesh; the tapered shaft pushed him further and further apart as he slid down it inch by inch.

It had been a lifetime ago when he was last able to feel his brother and his bonded Sarvestinian so intimately. It felt like ages since he had even been interested in such pleasure, and it took its toll on his body. Groaning, Baedyn's hips began quivering, his flesh buried in his brother even as the movements caused his own insides to feel the ravages of the textured lizard shaft press into him. His orgasm attacked him like a starving beast and he cried out with the same ferocity, the sound emerging like a primal howl as he lost himself to the act. He should have felt embarrassed over losing himself so quickly and shamed at his lack of self control, but Ian continued to tell him that all was well. Talvin only smiled at him, and that was when everything faded.

Baedyn threw off the haze of the Sarvestinian hallucination implanted into his mind. He merged from it as if he were standing up after being submerged in a bath of honey; images and impressions of the phantasm cling, sticking and dribbling from him as the last of the shared dream fell away, leaving him in Ian's caring embrace. The Wolf realized that his shaft was imbedded firmly in the lizard's tight genital slit, caught between the smooth, damp flesh within and a rock-hard, still-pulsing serpentine member, which was, in reciprocity, still pumping copious amounts of seed into Baedyn's own body.

Ian leaned forward, nuzzing the Wolf's collar bone lovingly. Baedyn found it difficult to be angry at the misdirection, especially because of how carefully and meaningfully the illusion had been portrayed. Ian had not deceived him out of scorn or desire to lie maliciously; it was to provide comfort. Sarvestinians saw the world differently and, after having been bound to one, Baedyn understood far more than their actions; it was just like their communication being about far more than words.

Ian's relatively unexpressive face was still readable for the Wolf, and Baedyn found himself blushing when he realized that he was subconsciously broadcasting his thoughts in a way that the Saervestinian could 'hear'. Ian's next words were spoken aloud rather than conveyed. "I love you too, Saglahasan."

It was not normal for a non-Sarvestinian to be able to take in the words of one of the lizardfolk without being struck into a deep hypnosis but, then again, it was unheard of for anyone other than a Sarvestinian to be one's Saglahasan. There were a number of reasons Baedyn knew he could communicate in such an open way with Ian, not the least of which being that he was a Sorran; the soft glow from his fildoma only accentuated that fact as Baedyn grunted, adjusting his leg so he could sit in the lizard's lap with a little less discomfort. "Where is my brother, Ian?"

There was no accusation or concern to the question; had Talvin been able to join them then Ian wouldn't have needed to create the illusion and if it had been an emergency then they certainly wouldn't have spent the time 'reaquainting' without him. The lizard laid back against the mattress, leaving Baedyn alone in sitting up; although the Wolf's flesh had since slipped out of the lizard, Ian was still firmly imbedded in Baedyn's backside. Only after a long pause did the Sarvestinian convey the message, doing so once again wordlessly. Talvin was speaking with the new Lord of Stone.

Baedyn flexed his legs and finally unimpaled himself, grunting when the lizard's flesh came free from him as he stood. The effort culminated in a messy release of the fluids that had pent up inside the Wolf's tail hole; apparently it had been a long time for Ian as well. Baedyn moved to the edge of the mattress and hopped onto the floor, his feet cushioned by the plush carpet. Despite knowing that it was real, the Wolf still couldn't help but feel that he was still living in a dream. It was enough of a surreal sensation that he had to know. Looking back to the lounging Sarvestinian, he spoke his question "You aren't still having an effect-- I mean... clouding my mind, are you, Ian?"

The lizard ran his digits down the length of his softening member, drawing the spent fluids off himself first before wiping his digits on the linen. Afterwards he looked up even as he responded to the inquiry with his voice rather than empathic projection. "How so, Saglahasan? You have awakened from the Veil and I would never hold your mind against your will."

The term 'Veil', or at least how it was translated into Tenevrian, was a term the lizardfolk used to describe the fake reality they shared with others when their minds were entwined. Between Sarvestinians Baedyn understood it served as a dream realm wherein the inhabitants could control every aspect of reality; to non-Sarvestinians it served as a 'holding-cell' of sorts where their consciousness was trapped while they were held under the sway of a lizard. The few times Baedyn had found himself within the Veil with Ian it had never felt like a prison-- definitely not in the way Izlegaol had.

The Wolf continued looking at Ian, who continued looking at him. The Sarvestinian blinked, his ruddy eyes gleaming faintly in the half-light in the room. The coloration had unsettled Baedyn on numerous occasions, having a far different gleam than that of the settled races, but it was just one of his dearest friend's many traits he had come to know and love. Ian opened his mouth, making the effort to pull back his scaled lips into the close approximation of a smile; he was thankful for Baedyn's fondness. The Wolf sighed, realizing that his thoughts had been open to the lizard one again. But what, Ian countered, was wrong with that?

Smiling, Baedyn rolled his eyes as he chuckled. It felt good to chuckle again. "Nothing is wrong with it... it's just been a long time since I've had to think about such things."

The Sarvestinian's tail brushed across the blanket, drawing it away from his body as he moved to the edge of the bed and stood. Reaching out, Ian moved to embrace the Wolf, who let out a sigh, laying himself against his scaled bond mate. Only as he felt the arms surround him so completely did Baedyn's thoughts finally settle and in that moment he realized what felt so surreal. Slowly disengaging, the Wolf sighed. "Remove it, Ian."

The Sarvestinian remained where he was, arms still spread as he conveyed confusion as to the request. It was theatrical, of course, as attempting to lie via an empathic connection was not feasible. Baedyn scowled since the implied guilt suggested that there was still some kind of mental illusion at work. "What's wrong? What are you hiding from me, Ian?"

Letting out the hissing cough that suggested buying time with a throat-clearing, Ian shifted from one foot to the other, his tail wrapping around one of the posts of the bed, and he spoke hesitantly. "Nothing is wrong, Baedyn."

Even if Ian hadn't chosen to speak aloud the Wolf would have known that the lizard was hiding something. Sarvestinians didn't need to 'ahem' like mammals and the uncomfortable shifting of weight was a give-away. Even the way the Sarvestinian's tail-- Ian immediately freed up the bed as he uncurled his tail. Baedyn grit his teeth; he was STILL projecting his thoughts? The lizard blinked encouragingly, speaking aloud "You are out of practice, Saglahasan. You will relearn in time."

Equally concerned and angry, Baedyn faced Ian squarely. "If I am really your Saglahasan then you will stop hiding whatever it is you're hiding from me."

Ian's expression didn't changed in the least but Baedyn could tell that what he'd said had hurt the Sarvestinian. The Wolf felt a momentary pang of regret in the harshness of his demand, but he had to know. A moment later the stone walls within the room slowly fizzled away in a haze of mindfog, revealing what it had been Ian had been blocking from his mind: mirrors. The room, catering to Loris Pyazo's vain self-interest had apparently been adorned with wall-to-ceiling mirrors.

It took a moment for Baedyn to come to figure out why it was Ian had gone to such great lengths to hide something as simple and mundane as mirrors from his notice, but all of that changed when he saw himself. Barely two days prior he'd seen himself in the wash room mirror and what he'd seen had caused him distress, but he had no idea just how much the humidity had concealed of his naked body; even the tailor's mirror didn't show as much because he'd been clothed by that time. His muzzle fell open at the mangy creature gazing back at him in perfect clarity.

The shock of having seen himself in the wash room had been bad enough, but the crystal clear reflection made him realize that it hadn't done him justice. It was still dark in the room but Baedyn's vision was still good enough to see that he was little more than skin and bones; he was a Wolf's scabrous and flaky hide thrown onto a skeleton. He honestly surprised himself that he could even stand, and that realization very nearly caused his legs to give out, but Ian was there to catch him. He felt Ian's rumble against his chest as the Sarvestinian supported him from behind. "Would that I could take your pain."

It was a statement that he'd heard from Ian before; a sense of empathy that was translated from a prayer spoken by the lizards in their own tongue. Baedyn turned away from the mirror with tears in his eyes-- only to encounter another on the next wall. He turned away and was again met by another. Shivering, the Wolf covered his face with skeletal paws, sobbing silently. "I should have trusted you, Ian... I-- I shouldn't have said--"

The Sarvestinian's scaled muzzle brushed against the side of his cheek; there was so little fur and such thin flesh that the reassuring touch almost hurt. Ian wanted him to know that such suffering was temporary; he would return to health soon. Baedyn, still trembling, looked up to the wall so he could meet Ian's gaze in the mirror, only to find that the blessed mind fog had returned, providing him a view of nothing but an empty stone wall once more. His eyes lowered to his paws; thin and malnourished, but mercifully disguised to look as though he weren't as close to death as the reality suggested.

It mattered little; Baedyn realized the truth, and it devastated him. There was some comfort, however, in knowing that he had taken it upon himself so that his little brother would not have suffered. Surely, if Talvin had been subjected to the harsh life inflicted upon him by the Lord of Stone then his seventeen years would have ended in death. That realization suddenly forced his self-pity to the back of his mind. Slowly turning in Ian's grasp, Baedyn looked up into the concerned red eyes gazing down at him. "Ian... Talvin... how is it he came into possession of an army? How was he able to stage this? What happened these past seventeen years?"

The Sarvestinian blinked, pupils turning to mere lines before opening back up into diamonds. The lizard's rumbling voice spoke with the surety and severity of a Sorra. "You do not wish to know."

Having already forced Ian's hand once, Baedyn was hesitant to ignore his advice again, but he also truly did want to know. "He can tell me himself then."

Ian appeared immediately relieved, and his empathic projection suggested as much. Extending an arm to Baedyn, the lizard motioned to the door, indicating that, if they were not going to sleep more, there were other important issues for them to address. Baedyn nodded, taking a step toward the exit, only to have his legs give out. His hips hurt, bringing back the memory from a short time past; had he and Ian really been... intimate? How had they even been able to considering his condition?

Ian scoffed, expressing that Baedyn was beautiful to him regardless of what the years mistreatment had done. The Wolf had to smile despite himself, speaking his concern aloud instead. "I mean physically, Ian... I can barely walk-- how could I have had enough energy to--"

The lizard hazarded another attempt at a smile. It was the only answer the Wolf received.