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R3-StarWindDancer-P2

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Crown Prince Walter stood over his two panting slaves. They looked so beautiful together, as he knew they would. His Fox’s lips were swollen; his nipples pert, his genitals lying sated, and his training equipment glistened with sweat, gold, silver, and jewels. Fox looked so pretty dressed up in his new training equipment. It was almost a shame that he had to take them off, but he had to prepare him for dinner.

To Beauty’s side lay Alexei, panting just like his Fox but ready for another round. Alexei’s endurance startled Walter, but only briefly. His mother the queen demanded only the best and had trained the jade eyed pretty to perfection. It would almost be a shame to give him back for the night; Fox and Alexei had paired so well. At least this made the next part of training easier.

"It is time to get ready for dinner. Alexei, you will show Fox how to dress me."

"Yes, my Master," Alexei shivered when he realized he had called the Crown Prince his master. The prince was so different from the queen. She liked to watch as the others played with him. The prince took a more active role in sex; giving as well as he got. He had been so careful and considerate in his playing. So very different then Monn Noire and Queen Regina.

Alexei crossed over to the wardrobe and took out the necessary garments. He laid these out onto the table before leaning down to pick one up by his teeth. He positioned it just right on the floor, let his master Prince Walter step into the breeches before pulling them up those thick legs. Next he picked up the shift and put that over Walter’s head. He was mindful to lick and nibble his master in the most enjoyable fashion as he adjusted the shirt. While he was putting on the vest, Walter grabbed him, pulling him in for a kiss that set even experienced Alexei’s head for a spin.

It only seemed natural to fall to his knees before Walter and take that throbbing cock into his mouth.

"Alexei, my pet, you are supposed to be dressing me," Prince Walter said with a hint of humor in his voice. He ran his hand through sable hair, not pushing away the pretty slave. He really was quite talented. It was no wonder that Monn Noire liked to borrow him but at least that monster was out of the kingdom and no longer abusing him or any other slave. It had terrified him no end to think that Monn Noire would try for his beautiful Fox.

"I am, I must a fix your cod piece."

Walter threw back his head and laughed. "You are very inventive. Pleasing your master while making it easier for yourself."

Alexei’s only response was to moan around the huge organ in his mouth.

"Beauty, come here, closer so that you may see." Prince Walter held out a hand to pull in his lanky slave. Fox laid his naked body along the prince’s, watching as Alexei eagerly brought his master to orgasm.

After having swallowed all the seed offered, Alexei used his mouth to button the codpiece in place. It took his entire mouth, working in concert, to fasten the buttons properly. He repeated the procedure on the other side, making sure his master was well covered. He then made his way up the vest, fastening each and every button with his mouth. His green eyes met Fox’s as he was buttoning the last two. Smiling, he toyed with the buttons, demonstrating what he had done to Walter and Fox’s cock during the evening.

Next came the boots, garter belt, and royal ornamentation. Some of these required the use of hands but Alexei was able to keep this at a minimum. He didn’t want Prince Walter to not like him, then he could not come back. For the first time in a long time he had felt a little bit of peace, surrounded on both sides by Fox and by Walter, cradled like Lishia from the wolves.

Once Walter was dressed he turned his attention to his twin beautiful slaves. He knew he would be the envy of all the court with these two. But first they had to get there and he had a plan. With Alexei, he would get Fox to communicate more.

"Now, Beauty, you have not been very open. You have not told me when you were injured nor when you were hungry. I need you to learn how to communicate with me more. An unhappy slave does not become you. You should enjoy your new life here, you should learn of all the pleasures I have in store but I cannot do this if I have to worry about you. Tonight I am going to teach you about communication."

Walter took out the cock and ball belt sets. Alexei put one on Fox then Fox put one onto Alexei. Walter supervised, making sure that Fox put enough salve on the leather dildo that was inserted into Alexei. He corrected Fox several times as he was fastening Alexei. Walter really had to send him off for training; he could have hurt himself or others in his naivete at the equipment. The prince’s enthusiasm at his new slave really had blinded him.

Next came the full body harnesses. The crown prince put one around Alexei, making sure it was fast. Next he put one on Fox, pulling on the laces so that there would be no doubt that he was restrained. He fastened the dog leashes, lacing his hands through the holes so that his beauties could not go far.

"Beauty, you will have to ask me what is going on around you," Walter said as he tied the blindfold over Fox’s hazel eyes. "Communication is key to this. If you do not ask, I will not tell. I will not let you endanger yourself too much but if you are going to learn to talk to me, you will have to endure a bump or two."

Prince Walter picked up the dildo gag and the other blindfold. When he approached, Alexei whimpered. He had to yank on the leash to get the younger one over to him. Maybe some reeducation wasn’t out of line for Alexei either.

"Alexei will also be blindfolded but he will be gagged. He will have to rely on you to ask the right questions. If you do not communicate with me he can get hurt. His well being is in your hands." Prince Walter blindfolded, gagged, and on after thought tied his hands together. Alexei was truly powerless and in Fox’s hands for safekeeping.

"Are you ready to lead us down to the dinning hall, Fox?"

"Yes, master," Fox said. He stumbled around for a few minutes, his hands waving in the air, exploring the room. Crown Prince Walter let him explore, not correcting his misbehavior. Eventually Fox would find the door or ask about it.

Alexei stood stonily still, not wanting to risk moving. He could hear Fox explore the room, trying to find a way out. The leather chains that fastened him to Prince Walter rattled every now and then when he jerked on the leash to give Fox room to explore. //Ask where the door is, Fox, then take my hand,// his mind screamed at Beauty. Alexei was all to aware that Prince Walter had not told Fox that he had restrained Alexei’s hands, leaving him even more help less.

The sound of a vase falling and hitting the floor resounded throughout the room like a bell. The tinkling of the porcelain shards scattering on stone froze Alexei. He couldn’t see where those shards lay. His feet could be surrounded by those sharp little bits. Thousands and thousands of little sharp pieces, ready to tear him, ready to cut into him and he couldn’t control it. This he had no power over.

"Stop," Walter’s powerful voice came out of the darkness. Alexei was already frozen where he was but Fox was not. The sounds of his continuing exploration of the room paused.

"Fox, I told you to ask me questions. You are supposed to communicate with me to be able to lead us down to the dinning hall. Now you have endangered both Alexei and yourself. The vase can hurt you by cutting into your feet and you cannot see where the pieces lie."

"I am sorry, master."

"Since I do not wish to see you hurt I will lead you and Alexei out of the room. Once outside you will have to ask questions to get to the dinning hall, understood?"

"Yes, master."

Alexei felt the leash hit the back of his legs. He did not realize that he had been panting hard until he found himself holding his breath. Without the leash he felt like a piece of wood adrift over the sea. Nothing was anchoring him to anything and he was surrounded by sharks teethes, ready to cut into his fleshy feet.

Prince Walter dropped the leashes and walked over to Fox. Carefully he lead his beauty through the maze of porcelain shards, brushing them aside from time to time to ensure Fox’s safe passage. Soon he had the young man outside his room leaning against the doorjamb. He went back inside for the other slave.

Walter was able to see that Alexei had a clear shot for the door. Only a few porcelain shards lay in the way. He put his large hands on the boy who started at his touch.

"I won’t let any harm fall you, Alexei. I will guide you out of here safely," Walter said, trying to ease the boy’s mind. He could tell that the slave was terrified. Such games as this may have been forced upon Alexei while Monn Noire played with him. It disgusted him to see the state the pretty boy had been in from the last time Monn Noire had borrowed him.

Still it took much prodding to get the boy to move into the right direction. With Walter’s gentle guiding hands soon Alexei was leaning against the other doorjamb. The crown prince gave quick orders to a servant outside that his quarters were to be thoroughly cleaned and swept. Not a single piece of the vase was to be left behind.

"Now, Fox, let us do this again."

"Master, in which direction does the dinning hall lie?"

"It is to the east."

Fox turned instinctively to his right. He had taken no more then two steps before he realized that he had no idea which way east was. He had asked the question but had been given an impotent answer. He’d have to ask more specific questions if he was to be able to get them to the dinning hall.

"Master, does the dinning hall lie to my right, left, or in front of me?"

"Very good, Beauty. It lies in none of those directions. Turn around." Fox followed Walter’s orders. "The dinning hall lies in that direction."

Fox started walking down the corridor, his hands before him, brushing against a statue or the wall from time to time. He tried to keep his right hand against the wall, keeping his way steady. It came as a surprise when the wall disappeared.

"Master, what lies at my right?"

"It is a corridor way."

Fox thought for a second. He knew the dinning hall lay this way but had not asked if the route to the dinning hall was in this direction. That was probably why he had turned right outside of the Crown Prince’s quarters.

"Will we take this corridor to the dinning hall?"

"No."

"Are we at a junction of the castle?"

"No, it is only a branching corridor. You are becoming quite specific in your questions, very good Fox."

"Thank you, master." Beauty practically glowed at the compliment. Once he got a handle on the game, it was not that hard. "To get to the dinning hall, will we continue along the corridor in the direction I have been following?"

"Yes, Beauty."

Fox carefully crossed the corridor, finding the continuing wall of the corridor he had been following. He groped his way down this. He only went a few steps before he began to wonder if he would have to turn off into another corridor, one that lay to his left.

"How far down this corridor until we reach a branching corridor that leads to the dinning hall?"

"I would say about 150 paces."

"Will you tell me if your estimate is off?"

"Yes. You really are quite bright. I’m sure you will have us at the dinning hall in no time."

"Thank you, Master."

Fox continued down the corridor. It seemed as if his body was hypersensitive. He could feel the air brushing across his body, the dominating presence of stone around him, and the shuffle of feet against the floor. He could hear Alexei’s flesh sliding on stone nearby, sharply contrasted by Walter’s booted, confident walk. Not thinking he called out, "Alexei, are you doing ok?"

"Alexei can’t answer you. He’s been tied and gagged."

"Tied?"

"Yes, his hands are tied behind him."

"You didn’t tell me you tied his hands!" Fox screamed. He had, wrongfully, assumed that Alexei had been following the walls just like him. He fumbled in his darkness, trying to find the other slave, knowing the younger man was probably scared out of his mind, totally helpless and at Crown Prince Walter’s mercy. The image of the bloody and beaten younger man huddled in the emptiness of the halls came clearly into Fox’s mind. Who knows what may have happened between the time Walter blinded them to this present time?

"Alexei? Where’s Alexei, Walter?"

"To the left, two steps," Walter responded. He felt no remorse at his failure to tell Fox about Alexei’s further bondage. The young man should have been more thoughtful about his companion. He could tell Fox realized just the depths of responsibility placed in his hands. Communication was absolutely essential.

Fox’s hands finally encountered warm flesh. Soon Alexei’s sweating body was encompassed in Fox’s arms. He felt sorely tempted to rip off the blindfold and check his companion over. He knew that Walter would never let either of them come to harm but still he wanted to make sure the younger man was all right.

"Can I take off the blindfold, make sure Alexei’s all right?"

"No, we need to continue towards the dinning hall."

"Please, I need to make sure he’s alright."

"Alexei is fine, Fox. Please continue."

"Are you all right, Alexei, can you continue?"

"Alexei can’t talk, there’s a gag in his mouth."

"I don’t care. He can still tell me somehow if he’s ok. You want me to practice communication; I’m practicing. I can feel what he’s trying to tell me." Fox hugged Alexei harder, brushing his hands through damp hair. In the younger man’s ear he whispered, "are you all right, Alexei?"

Against Fox’s neck he felt Alexei nod. He let out a sigh of relief.

"I won’t let you go, Alexei, I won’t let you go," he whispered before moving back to the wall. Fox held onto Alexei tightly as he walked down the corridor, counting out the steps.

When the trio reached the intersection, Fox asked specific questions about the dinning hall. He was mindful to ask about branching corridors, doorways, and statues in the way. Once he was satisfied with Walter’s answers he moved down the corridor again, holding tightly to the helpless Alexei.

Suddenly Fox felt Walter pull back on the leashes, stopping their forward movement.

"Shit, that was close."

"Master, what’s happening?"

"You’re at the top of the stairs. I misjudged the distance."

"Are you going to take off the blindfolds so we can see?"

"No. I need you to learn how to talk to me. I won’t let anything happen to you. I’ll tell you everything that’s going on."

"How can I trust you? You didn’t tell me that you had bound Alexei. He could have been hurt while you were watching me."

"No, slave. When I say that you or Alexei will not come to harm, I mean it. Do you doubt my word of honor?"

The sound of the word slave felt like a physical blow to Fox. It truly defined their positions, something that Fox was beginning to understand more and more. He should have taken Alexei with him after the witch woman had attended to his wounds and left for his home kingdom. Fox knew he was more then just a toy for Walter to play with. He had a mind, a brilliant mind and other skills that were wasting away in this prison.

For the first time, Fox realized just what situation he was in. He was imprisoned, held a slave. He had to escape, he had to survive, and he had to get away. Truly nothing in his life had prepared him for this.

"Where is the hand rail?"

"To the right, three steps."

Fox grabbed onto the rail with all the strength that he possessed. His other hand held Alexei close, anchoring them both to the stone handrail.

Slowly they walked down the steps. Walter would call out each and every step, watching them as they cautiously made their way down. He held on tight to the leashes, wishing he could stop this game. His two beauties were shivering in fear; they were so frightened. Walter did not want such fear in his slaves’ mind but could do nothing to stop it. If he stopped his instructions he would be deemed a coward.

It seemed to take forever, going down step after step. When Fox felt the hand rail end, he froze. He heard Walter say there was a step but could not make himself move. Without the handrail he felt absolutely powerless. If he were to misstep he could send himself, Alexei, and Walter to their deaths.

"Why have you stopped, Beauty?"

"I am afraid."

"What are you afraid of?"

"I’m going to fall. If I step forward I’m going to fall and kill us all."

"I won’t let you fall." Walter pulled on the leashes, reminding them that he was there to stop their fall. "There are only two steps then we’ll be done. Just two steps, Fox, and you’ll be done."

Walter took out all the slack in the leashes. Fox had to physically drag him forward as he leaned over, exploring with his feet the edge of the stair. Carefully he put his foot out until he connected with the step. He waited in silence, hearing Alexei explore and take a step himself.

Fox pushed down his fear, knowing there was only one more step until they were done. He took a deep breath before taking that last step. Once there he felt around, feeling solid floor beneath him. He was on level ground. He had done it.

Alexei took the last step. When he felt his feet connect on stone he felt himself pulled forward. He shivered in fear, not knowing what was going on around him. He felt hot tears plastering the blindfold to his cheeks as he felt Fox’s arms come around him. Soon those arms were joined by Walter’s.

The crown prince held his two slaves tightly. He could feel them shiver from their ordeal. //I may have overestimated them, pushed them too far,// he thought to himself. He whispered comforting words into their ears, saying that they had done good and that it was over. He stroked their trembling flesh, trying to ease their fears.

"You did very well, Fox. You talked to me, told me about your fears and asked me what to do. You should be proud of yourself. I’ll take off the blindfolds, gag, and untie Alexei. I promise that I will not do this again, as long as you remember to communicate with me."

"I promise, master." Fox didn’t even wait for Walter to take off the blind fold. He ripped it off himself. The whole world immediately invaded his missing sense, the brightness stabbing into his eyes after the all-encompassing darkness.

At Fox’s side, Alexei shivered as Walter slowly and methodically untied him. As soon as his hand was free he found it in Fox’s. Their fingers intertwining with a silent promise to look after each other. Alexei looked over, once his eyes were uncovered, to meet worried hazel eyes. They looked very unhappy. Alexei tried to go over to Fox, tell him everything was ok, that he was only scared but Walter had already picked up the leashes and was moving down the corridor.

The nova of flickering candles light coming out of the dinning hall promising heaven.

The doors of the dinning hall opened up. Like a wave, the sight, sound, and smell of the hall rolled over them. Lords and Ladies with obedient slaves, most on leashes, wandered about, showing off their prizes. Voluminous skirts rustled as ladies walked, sat, or danced about. The sounds of slaves panting, crying, screaming, moaning, and whimpering was a constant undercurrent to the tinkling of musical instruments at one end of the hall.

Crown Prince Walter stood straight, adjusted his jacket, and stepped inside, knowing he would be the envy of all the people gathered there. His exquisite twin slaves obediently following him. It was not long before the din died down just a bit to see the Crown Prince with his two human jewels.

"Walter, my son. How beautiful they look together. If I had known I would have borrowed your Fox for myself instead of lending my Alexei out. Please tell me you will allow me to borrow your Beauty?"

Walter greeted his queen and mother with a light kiss on her hand. "I regret, my Fox is not something to be lent out. He has much training to go through as he is very inexperienced."

"But can he perform," a voice shouted. A small throng of interested guests surrounded the queen and prince, watching the twin beauties. The exotic slaves entranced them. Their bodies lean and limber, looking like they would fit together like the newest rage in the castle, the puzzle dolls.

"Oh, yes," the queen actually clapped her hands in delight. Her cruel eyes glittered at the thought of her trained slave and Walter’s new slave performing for them all. "You will have them perform, my son."

"I am sorry, my queen. I do not feel they are up to it. They are tired from their afternoon with me."

"Nonsense, they are slaves, they will perform for us where ever and when ever we ask." She waved a ringed hand towards the stage.

"Mother," Walter warned. He could see his slaves’ down cast faces, looking so much like they wanted to sink into the earth. He knew it was too soon but could do nothing as his mother’s eyes, crinkled with more then age, turn towards him.

Walter took the twin slaves up to the entertainment stage. The showman, who had been whipping another slave, picked up the leashes to the body harnesses. The showman clucked when he saw that the slaves skin was not accessible, as he would have liked them. The harnesses came off and two simple neck collars came on. He oiled the two beauties, slicking their skin until it glowed. The straps came off, letting him have free access to their buttocks and cocks. He was about to lead them to the main part of the stage to make them perform when Walter stepped onto stage and forcefully took the reigns out of his hands.

"I will make them perform or not at all." His command left no doubt to the showman that Walter would be in charge. "Bring me some deserts, pudding and the lick."

The crowd groaned as chocolate moose, candied fruits, whipping cream, bits of honey treats, frosting, and custard were brought forth. Like an artist painting a picture Walter brushed the food on. Soon their delicious bodies were covered in food.

"No hands but you can eat all you want. If you need more, you’ll have to apply it yourselves."

Jade green eyes met kaleidoscoping hazel in a mixture of mad lust. Already their cocks were hard and soon were brushing against each other’s bodies as they started licking and tasting the dessert before them.

Fox started at Alexei’s mouth, tasting the lemon custard lining his lips. With a bit of a laugh, Alexei moved fast, capturing Fox’s mouth. He plunged his tongue between those pouty lips, opening them for the gift they were about to receive. He passed a candied fruit to Fox using just his mouth.

The two took turns, tasting each other, licking the desert from each other’s bodies. The crowd moaned in delight, cat calling at the twin beautiful slaves as they enjoyed each other and their dinner.

Soon their bodies were naked, uncovered by their tongues from the desserts that Walter had applied. Not wanting the fun to end, Alexei walked over to the dishes. He dipped his hard cock into the chocolate pudding, making sure to cover its entire length. He walked back to Fox, kneeling on the floor, quivering in anticipation; to put his chocolate covered cock on that luscious lower lip.

The chocolate eased his passage into Fox’s mouth who sucked eagerly. Alexei pushed himself deeper, letting those lips pleasure his organ. Soon he was panting as Fox eagerly sucked him.

"Come here, boy," Walter grabbed Alexei.

The crowd booed and hissed. A few pieces of food were thrown on stage but this stopped when they saw the Crown Prince dominate the slave’s mouth. One by one, they started clapping as the slave rubbed slutishly against Walter. Fox, not wanting to be left out, rose and pressed himself against Walter’s back.

"Boy, do you think you can dominate my Beauty," Walter’s voice was husky with lust. His hands roamed over the slick body, feeling the strong muscles beneath skin. "You forget your place, slave. Let me put you back into it."

Walter backed up until Alexei’s legs hit the table. He kept pushing the jade-eyed slave until he was lying on top of the table, resting on the food. Walter stroked him, making him writhe and whimper with need.

"Fox," Walter took Fox’s hand, guiding him in front of him, making him look down upon the offered bounty once again. "He’s my gift to you. Your own little slut to play with. Yours to control and make sure he doesn’t get out of line. He’s properly trained and he wants it. Do you see how much he wants it?"

Walter trailed a long hand over Alexei’s engorged cock. His hand wandered over the pulsing organ, trailing down until his fingers slipped between parted thighs.

"He’s your to take, just like you’re mine to take," Walter whispered in Fox’s ear. He rubbed his own cock, trapped by the codpiece, between Fox’s thighs.

"Right here, right now?" he panted back.

"Yes, take him here. They’re all waiting. They all want to see what he looks like writhing on your cock. Take him, Beauty, he’s yours. They’re all watching."

Fox looked around the room. Indeed all eyes were watching him, watching Alexei. He could even see one lord had taken his own cock out and was shoving it deep into a slave’s mouth. But that man was watching him, they all were.

He shivered before looking down.

Alexei lay sprawled on the table. His body arching and writhing on the table. His body covered in sweat and the cloying scent of want radiated off his body in waves.

Fox’s cock pulsed with need. He took hold of his cock, steadying it before walking between those parted thighs.

Alexei spread his legs further, putting his feet on the table next to his bottom. Soon he felt Fox at his entrance, pausing before he penetrated him.

"Please," he moaned. The fire inside him begged to be filled, it begged for Fox to be inside him.

Walter thrust against Fox, taking the decision out of his hands. Once his beauty was sheathed in the slave, Fox’s back arched followed by a long keening wail of lust filling the room.

The crowd gasped, eating the performance up.

Soon Fox began to move, thrusting in and out of the hot opening. Walter let go of his arms only once, to undo his codpiece, before recapturing them again. To Fox it was agonizing to be pushing in and pulling out of Alexei and not touch him. His arms were pinned uselessly to his side as Walter reached around to play with both the slaves.

Alexei wrapped his legs around them both, feeling Walter push Fox into him. He grabbed the edge of the table to hold himself steady, trying not to slide over the food underneath him.

Their combined rhythm got frantic as Walter pounded into Fox. Fox in turn pounding into Alexei who whimpered on the table, writhing as Walter started pulling him to completion.

Fox threw back his head as he felt his orgasm approach. He screamed out his pleasure as he came, filling Alexei. On the back of his orgasm he felt Walter fill him with his seed and watched Alexei spill his pleasure over his body.

The crowd cheered and clapped at the performance. Whistles and catcalls filled the dinning hall as Walter pulled out of Fox and Fox out of Alexei.

For a foolish moment Fox considered bowing but the crowd was already drifting away. Their attention else where as the performance ended.

"Did you like that, slave," Walter said as he helped lift the dazed jade-eyed beauty off the table.

Alexei nodded, a happy smile splitting his face in two. It was wonderful to see Fox over him, taking him while Walter had been taking Fox. The image of when Fox coming was burned into his memory, the sound of his screams still roaring in his ears. He stumbled on stage, nearly falling to his feet but Walter’s hand was still there, holding onto him.

"Thank you, master," Alexei said, raising his eyes to look at Walter.

He froze. On the Crown Prince’s breast was a jewel catching the light just right. The image wavered, becoming something different, something dangerous. Magic, bad magic seemed to drip from the glass like blood.

Alexei reached up, grabbed the pin off Walter’s vest, and smashed it against the stage floor. He didn’t even stop to cry in pain as the glass shattered in his hand. Instead he was jumping to his feet, already intent on flying across the room.

The young slave jumped onto the serving table, seeing the queen near the end. His feet pounded over the wooden table, heedless of where they landed. Food, dishes, and silverware went flying as he passed over them.

In seconds he was over the queen, seeing a similar jewel on her vest. This one too was blazing with evil intent. Alexei leaped for the queen, knocking her to the floor. His frantic hands grabbing at her vest, trying to get the pin free.

Strong arms wove themselves around Alexei’s waist, bringing him off the queen.

"No, you don’t understand. The queen, the pin. Get the pin, get the pin," Alexei screamed as the solders dragged him farther from Queen Regina. He twisted and fought, trying to break free. One of the guards grabbed him around the throat and held fast until the twinkling candle light faded into darkness.

"What is the meaning of this!?" the queen screamed. She brushed at her clothes, covered in seed and food from the attacking slave. Several servants tried to help her, wiping frantically at her ruined dress.

"I don’t know, mother. One moment he was at my feet the next grabbing something and then charging across the tables." Walter stood there shocked, his hand tightly twisted around Fox’s leash.

"How dare he attack me, how dare a slave touch me with out my permission. Take him to the dungeons." The queen pointed a long, clawed finger at Alexei, condemning him. The guards dragged the slave out of the queen’s sight.

"What did he take?" asked one of the ladies standing close by.

"He ripped my royal signet pin and smashed it against the floor," Walter said.

Fox lifted up the broken pin; the one he had scooped up from the floor before Walter dragged him across the hall. "Alexei said to get the pin."

"I heard what he said, slave. That act alone is tantamount to treason." The queen suddenly sat down, her face pale, her hand clutching at her throat. "He was trying to kill me, my own slave. He was trying to kill me."

"Mother, what do you mean?"

"It was Monn Noire, Monn Noire did this to him. He poisoned my slaves mind to kill me."

"Mother, are you sure? He’s had better opportunities."

"When? When you first came in he was bound to you. He was not free until after the performance. Monn Noire left him here, poisoning his mind that last night to kill me. This is an act of treason, an act of war. I will not take threats to my life kindly."

The queen rose to her most regal baring, trying to look like the ever-powerful monarch that she was. She barked out orders for her generals to be brought forth at once.

"You cannot mean to call a war with Monn Noire. As much as I like to see him dead, isn’t this rather rash of you mother? Think of the consequences."

Queen Regina slapped her son Walter hard across the face.

"I will not have my own son question me. I am queen and ruler here. I have with stood enough of Monn Noire’s insolence. He will not return the slaves he has taken and has now poisoned my own personal slave to kill me." She pulled out a knife and cut the leather leash leading from Walter to Fox. "I claim this new slave, one not touched by Monn Noire, as Alexei’s replacement."

"Mother, I cannot allow you to do that," Walter yelled. He tried to grab Fox back, bring the beautiful young man back to his side.

Another slap reddened Walter’s other cheek. The crown prince took a step back, shocked to the core that his mother would humiliate him like this. Keeping his eyes on his mother, he backed away, his hand on his face where his mother had slapped him that last time.

* * *

Alexei stared at his hand in the darkness of the cell. He had came to, knowing he did not succeed from getting the pin from the queen. He had failed, failed to protect the queen from Monn Noire’s magic.

In the darkness Alexei’s left hand glowed a bright garish orange. The glass shard imbedded in his hand still radiating magic.

He broke the meal bowl and picked up the largest piece. He started cutting into his hand, methodically sawing at it, trying to dig out the pieces of glass.

* * *

Crown Prince Walter staggered around his room. He did not want to go to bed yet; he was not sleepy.

He took another swallow from the wine flask, feeling the alcohol burn it’s way into his stomach.

That slave, that traitorous rat, had cost him his Beauty. His own personal slave taken from him by his own mother. It was the most heinous act of humiliation he had ever suffered.

The jade-eyed rat would pay. Walter would take his price out of Alexei’s hide, one stroke at a time.

He staggered through the castle corridors, going down steps haphazardly as he made his way to the dungeons.

The smell of waste and rotting flesh drifted to his nose, leading him like a beacon to the under carriages of the castle. He came across two guards who directed him to where the rat was holed up.

"Alexei, Alexei," Walter chanted as he walked down the corridor. The alcohol’s burn seemed to disappear from his mind as he saw revenge within his grasp.

Walter took the dungeon key from the peg by the watchman and also a whip. He snapped the leather, hearing the harsh whine before the sharp crack. He could scar the pretty slave all he wanted. There was no doubt that Alexei would be executed at dawn, if he survived Prince Walter, that is.

"My slave, my pet," Walter chanted, "I’m coming for you, Alexei."

Walter turned the key and opened the door. The cell was dark, the only light coming from the torches lining the corridor and the full moon in the window. Like a specter, Alexei crouched on the floor, framed by the moon's glow.

Frantically Alexei hacked at his left palm, the blood streaming over his hand. At this sight, Walter howled with rage.

The little rat was trying to kill himself before Walter had his pound of flesh.

"You will not die like this," Walter screamed as he grabbed the bleeding hand. "You will not deny me my revenge."

Walter watched as Alexei bared his teeth and hissed at the crown prince. His body was coiled to strike, to kill. The young slave’s eyes glowed with an unnatural light. His jade eyes slitted like a beast's.

Not sure what he was seeing, wondering if it was the alcohol in his system or an actual sight in front of him, Walter pulled Alexei into the shadows.

The young man seemed to disappear, swallowed by the darkness of the night. Only those taunting jade eyes and the white gleam of teeth visible.

Walter would account it to a vision if he were not holding Alexei’s hand tightly; solid, hot flesh against his own.

The storytellers and minstrels had told tales of the beast men to the north. Everyone had dismissed it as just that, tales, but living proof stood in front of him. He should not have dismissed those tales. Already he had met, and claimed, a legend, a tale from an enchanted castle.

From the tales that Walter could remember, the north men lived outside. When they did make houses, they made them out of snow, in domed piles or underground rooms dug out of the frozen earth.

They lived from the land, depending upon it for sustenance. Game traps had killed many solders when Queen Regina’s army had invaded. Their skills as huntsmen had dragged the war our far longer then was expected. In frustration the queen was about to have all the north men slaughtered but they surrendered right before she gave the order. The words had actually been on her lips before the King and Queen of the north men appeared suddenly in the camp to surrender.

The tales had said that the north men were not born beasts but the land, that magical land changed them into beasts over time. As they approached the age of true manhood, that of 18 seasons, the children would change, start seeing visions of the past, present, and future. They could see magic and could handle the simplest spells. The north men were not true mages but part magic themselves, absorbed from the land over time.

"What do you see? Why take those pins?" Walter asked.

"Monn Noire spelled them. He means to kill both you and the queen."

"How?’

Alexei hissed as Walter tightened his hold on the slave’s wrist.

"Tell me, slave, tell me what you see!" Walter roared. He shook the jade-eyed slave, nearly pulling him off his feet.

Alexei hissed until Walter calmed down enough to let the slave talk. Alexei looked around the room; his eyes focused on something else. As whatever vision came to him passed before his eyes, the jade glow got brighter, and the slits narrower.

"I see you, Crown Prince Walter," Alexei’s voice a mockery of the title, "at the head of an army. A great army of the best warriors of the kingdoms. You are there on a white steed, dressed up in your finest armor. Your generals at your side, like so many popinjays, waiting for your command. Over the field Monn Noire waits. His beasts on the ground, in the air, and in tunnels under the earth. You, Walter, swear never to give up and say you will fight to the last man. You raise your sword. It glitters in the sunlight, whole and pure. Then the fighting begins. Throughout the day and night your men fight. Battling beast they have never seen before. They fight bravely and wildly but their weapons never pierce even one monsters’ skin. In the light of the new day, your sword lies broken, covered in the mud and filth of your own men. Not a single human," Alexei twists the word, "moving alive on the battle field. Only the carrion eaters slurping the blood of the dead."

"I will die fighting Monn Noire?"

"For you, he will have the monsters spare your life, so that he may see your death in person. They will rip and tear at your flesh, sending your blood in streams across the room."

"What can I do, what can stop it?" Walter screams at the cocky slave. He shook the slave, trying to loosen the answers, try to find a way to fight these monsters.

"There is nothing, nothing you can do. It is fate, a time already written."

"A fate that you want, one that you desire." Walter spits out the words in disgust. "You would have us, my kingdom fall just for your freedom."

"It does not matter what happens to me. Fate has already written what will happen. But then I will survive, the last of my people, chained to the base of Monn Noire’s throne surrounded by his beasts."

"And what of Beauty, what will happen to him?"

Alexei’s eyes scanned the room but already their light dimmed. Soon only human eyes glanced back at Prince Walter.

"That I cannot see. He could return back to his enchanted lands, safe from Monn Noire’s monsters, surrounded by the fairy magic of that kingdom."

"I should send him home, if any of us is to survive it will be in the enchanted kingdoms," Walter said. The enchanted kingdom that Walter had claimed Beauty from would probably fade back into the mists of time. Fox and his kingdom would reappear when it was safe, when the dark evil that was Monn Noire had disappeared. Fairies always took care of their own and Walter had no doubt that Fox was from a fairyland, just as Alexei was from a magic land. Both of them from tales, legends of old.

Alexei turned around suddenly, his body curled to pounce. Walter stood still, watching the young man, knowing that he was seeing something nobody else saw.

"Run, master," Alexei screamed.

The sound of a beast’s scream ripped through the air. It’s cold promise of a long, painful death.

The wall of the castle exploded, the stone surrounding the window crumpling to the ground. Two huge, monsterish shapes came in. Their leathery wings beating the air around them. Their round heads were perched on bodies that looked like they were made out of wooden sticks bound by sackcloth. Pointed zigzags of teeth lined their long mouths.

One of the monsters grabbed at Alexei, his claws trying to catch slippery, struggling flesh. The other monster swooped in, biting down on Alexei’s left arm, near the bleeding hand that had the magical glass shards imbedded.

Alexei screamed as the second monster dragged him outside the castle.

Prince Walter grabbed the sword from the watchman who had rushed into the cell upon hearing the bestial scream. He rushed to the ruined wall, looking out into the night. The two beasts were in the courtyard just below fighting over Alexei, who fought like a wild beast, weaving in and out of those spindly bodies. The two monsters hacked at each other in their attempts to capture the fleeing young man.

Underneath the cell was a mud pit, filled with pigs. Walter, heedless of his safety, jumped down, landing in the soft mud. He was on his feet in an instant, charging across the yard to aid the jade-eyed slave.

Like a flash, Alexei ran between the two beasts who then collided together in their mindlessness to capture the pray.

Walter raised his sword and brought it down onto the beast’s wing. The sharp metal edge bounced off, sparking from the impact as if it were stone and not flesh he had struck. He swung again, getting the same result.

"Their heads, cut off their heads," Alexei screamed.

One of the monsters turned around from his pursuit of the slave and came at Walter. He swung wildly with his sword, fending off the long claws trying to rip into him. His anger flooded through him, pounding inside his skin like the beating of his heart. He raised his sword again and again, hacking at the monster, cornering him. A last time, Walter raised his sword, swinging it with all his strength. The blade went cleanly through the monster’s neck. The head falling off it’s shoulders to roll on the ground.

The monster crumpled to the ground. Walter poked it with the end of his sword. Its form crumbled like ashes or dust to leave no hint of what it had been, other then a dark dirt stain on the ground.

A cold shriek brought Walter back to himself. He looked over and saw that Alexei had climbed onto the monster’s back. The slave had a wing twisted back so the monster flapped around lamely in the courtyard.

Crown Prince Walter rushed in. The sight of the monster’s neck the only thing he saw.

The monster bucked and twisted in the courtyard, trying to dislodge Alexei. The young slave held on tight but to no avail. The beast threw Alexei off and across the courtyard. The monster stopped, ready to change direction to capture the young slave once again.

Walter chose that moment of distraction to slice the monster’s head from its neck.

This head, too, rolled on the ground. When it came to a stop the monster crumbled into dust.

Prince Walter looked around, seeing the jade-eyed slave crouched. He took no more then two steps before the scream of more monsters cut through the air once again.

"The gargoyliens, the queen. They are attracted to the magic in the pin," Alexei panted as he held his injured left arm to his side. "They will attack her, trying to get to the magic." Alexei turned his bleeding hand over. The orange glow of one of the evil magical shards clearly visible only to him, poking out of the flesh of his hand. He tore the glass out and threw the evil away from him. The orange glow of magic died on the ground.

Walter shouted at the guardsmen who flooded into the courtyard, yelling at them to protect Alexei. He bounded up the steps of the castle, knowing that Beauty and his mother, Queen Regina, were in danger as long as that magical pin attracted the gargoyliens.

* * *

Nicole's next!