Date: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 17:33:22 +0000
From: Michael Offutt <kavrik@hotmail.com>
Subject: Chapter Three of "Black Dragon Rising" - Gay science fiction

      This story is protected under international and Pan-American
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      MY WEBSITE: http://slckismet.blogspot.com/p/books.html
      My email: kavrik@hotmail.com
      My art: http://slckismet.blogspot.com/p/my-artwork.html
      Forum discussion thread: http://slckismet.blogspot.com/p/discussion-board-for.html

      "Black Dragon Rising" is a dark fantasy medieval romance.

      There are many story extras including a map and artwork at my website
link above.

				   *****

			       Chapter Three

      I awaken a bit stiff from sleeping on hard ground but at least I'm
well rested. Talen's arms are wrapped around me from behind, and the
combination of our body heat has left me broiling and sticky with
sweat. However, the way he's latched onto my body, spooning as it were,
leaves me feeling protected as if he treasures me more than anything in the
world. Briefly, I raise his fingers to my lips and caress them, bestowing a
few light licks with my tongue. He squirms a little, and I feel him nuzzle
my neck; the hot breath from his little nostrils fluttering against my
skin. He's such a quiet sleeper. Honestly, Talen's cuter than a puppy.

      Angelaria's still asleep in front of me. She's wearing a delicate
night shift, refusing to bed naked with the two of us. I think it's more of
a precaution really: a thin piece of silk is now a barrier to protect her
from my roaming cock. Well, it might as well be made of iron, because I
never go where I'm not wanted. It makes me think that maybe she really was
just testing us when she asked if we'd like a menage. Or...here's another
thought...was she just testing me? In other words, do I WANT a menage?

      By Tethyr, I think I'm onto something. It's all a game, see? That's
how relationships work; it's part of the fun trying to figure out what may
or may not happen. But I have a couple of thoughts. First, are ALL girls
this complex? And second, how can I get out of bed without waking Talen? I
need to pee so badly, and my dick is so hard I could crack walnuts with it.

      I carefully untwine his fingers, and he rolls onto his back, eyes
moving rapidly behind closed lids. His gleaming chest catches what little
light peeks in through the slats of our tent and highlights a six pack of
glorious abs, trapezoidal-shaped pecs, and a perfect belly button. As
dexterously as I can manage, I slip through the canvas and stride naked
over to a tree. Steam from the hot spring floats by me and paints my white
skin with droplets of clear dew. But it's a chilly morning, and the small
pebbles under my feet hurt if I don't step lightly. Combined with the cold
it's like a slap to the face, and I realize I'm not getting back to bed. So
once I do my business, I take a quick dip in the hot spring so that I can
style my hair somewhat and not just leave it in a rat's nest of tangles. By
the time I dry off and am putting on my armor, the others are starting to
wake up.

      Angelaria emerges first.

      "Good morning," she says.

      While I brush my teeth, she immediately begins rummaging around in
her pack. I see her pull out a pot and she mumbles a few words to get a
fire going. Then she fills it with water and starts to brew coffee. I
finish putting on my breastplate, adjust my codpiece, and slip my boots
over my naked feet. The armor feels cold, but only for a few minutes. My
body quickly warms it from the inside.

      "Good morning," I reply albeit a bit late. I grab one of Talen's
shiny greaves and use the reflection to coax my still damp hair into place
with my fingers.

      She smiles and pours a cup of coffee for herself and takes a
drink. "Would you like some?"

      I nod. She pours me a cup and hands it to me, and I've to admit, it's
exactly like Talen said: sweet, thick, and quite delicious.

      I get a refill and slip into the tent. Talen blinks the sleep out of
his eyes and sits up on his elbows. I hand him the cup and he takes a long
drink all the while grinning at me from across the tin.

      "You're amazing," he says. Then he kisses me. I look down at the thin
blanket that he's pulled up over his waist and see a morning hard on has
pitched a tent right below my chin.

      "Am I? Well an amazing boyfriend should do his duty, right?" I say
this as playfully as possible, but it still causes him to raise one
eyebrow.

      I motion for him to lie back and gently take the coffee tin from his
fingers.

      "I dedicate this morning to you," I whisper. "I'm your slave, sir."
Then I carefully pull his blanket down and slip his erection into my warm
soft mouth. I massage his shaft with gentle squeezes and he turns his head
into the little pillow we share, white teeth gleaming from the roof of his
open mouth.

      "Kian, that feels so good," he says.

      A second later, he slides his muscular thighs a little farther apart,
and I work his glans until it lathers up with a combination of precum and
my spit. He lovingly combs his fingers through my blond hair, sometimes
taking a fistful and at other times smoothing it over my ears. I suck until
I feel my teeth might cut through the back of my lips. No pain is too great
for my Talen. Ten minutes later, my boyfriend gasps, his belly contracts,
and his balls tighten. Four hot squirts splash the back of my throat and
Talen quivers like jelly in the aftershock of nerves made hypersensitive by
my attention.

      "That's the best goddamned good morning I've ever had," he says,
sweat dripping from his bangs.

      I kiss him and he's suddenly giggling. That goes on for a while, with
some added tickling for good measure.

      "So are you going to get dressed anytime soon, or are we just going
to lie around all afternoon?" I ask. I do so while trailing one finger up
his stomach.

      He blinks. "Fine. I'll get dressed. But tomorrow morning it's my turn
to be your slave...to show you thanks."

      I hold his head carefully in my gloves. "You've done that already. My
thanks IS seeing you every day, Talen. That's all I ever need...it's all I
ever want."

      "Tethyr's teeth you're going to make me cry. I demand that you stop
it." Then he pecks me on the nose and slips out of the tent to wash up and
don his killsuit armor. I press my nose to the pillow because his scent
lingers there like a sweet musk. I can't get enough of him.

      Dawn is so beautiful here in the mountains. I root around in my pack
for something to eat and find the remains of a ham that I packed for the
three of us. Talen breaks out some slightly stale bread and we make do,
passing the food between us.

      "I wish I had some gravy," I lament.

      "If wishes were fishes the sea would be full," Angelaria states.

      It's a curious saying, and I imagine an entire ocean filled with
fish.

      "We've got a few potatoes left, a bag of dried fruit, and a small
block of cheese," Talen says to no one in particular. "But no more meat. We
should fish if we come across a stream."

      "I thought about that down there at the plunge pool," I say. "But
I've no equipment...no fishing rod...no hook."

      Talen giggles.

      "What?" I ask.

      "I can make the equipment, silly. All I need is some string, a rod
and a hook. There's plenty of trees around if you haven't noticed, and I'm
sure Angelaria could come up with a sewing needle and thread."

      "Oh really?" she asks. "Is that because I'm a girl? I've tits so I'm
just naturally supposed to have a needle and thread. That way I can sew for
my two boys when their pants need mending, right? If you expect me to be
barefoot and cook what you bring home for dinner, you've got another thing
coming."

      This time, it's my turn to chuckle. "Well do you?"

      "Do I what?" she asks.

      "Have a needle and thread? It's a simple question. I'm just taking a
poll."

      She frowns. "I'm the only one allowed to take polls. And to answer
your question, I might but it's my motto to 'be prepared.' This has nothing
to do with the fact that I've a vagina between my legs."

      Talen smirks at her comment; then quickly catches himself.

      "What?" she asks. "I GET him, but I don't get you."

      Talen shrugs. "Nothing. I'm just grateful that we have someone like
you along. You think of things that we don't, and that's a good thing."
Then he smiles. "Sorry if I come across rude or chauvinist. I don't mean
to...honest."

      Angelaria stands still for a moment, considering Talen's heartfelt
answer. "Well, you're welcome," she says.

      I brush my long bangs out of my eyes; I'll need to get Talen to cut
my hair again soon. While he packs our tent away, I look back down the
meadow. The sunlight streaming just over the peak to the east highlights
flowers bursting with color amidst knee-high emerald grass. The sky above
is a gorgeous robin's egg blue.

      "We can't go into the mountains," I state. "Not without
re-provisioning somewhere. Maybe there's a trader's outpost nearby or a
town." I watch the tree line about three miles down from where I crouch,
thrumming the tops of grass blades with the tips of my fingers. Suddenly, a
figure emerges from the trees; it's gaunt and skeletal and instantly
familiar.

      A war ghul.

      But Luck told us they wouldn't climb the Stairway. He was certain of
it, yet here one is plain as the sun on my face.

      Before long another appears followed by a third. I stop counting
somewhere around ten.  There are so many, and just seeing them sniffing at
the ground for our tracks makes my blood thicken into slush. One bends his
nose to the earth and howls to the others.  Its cry shakes the trees, and I
hear it moments later when it rebounds off the rocky slopes all around us.

      "We don't have a choice," Angelaria says, gripping my arm to spin me
around.

      The mountain to the south bears a huge gash as if from a gargantuan
axe thrown from the heavens. It scars the rock face only a few hundred feet
away from our present position, but it looks to be a tight squeeze.

      "Let's head for the ravine," Talen orders. "I'll take lead."

      He sprints away on his feet, jumping to several moss-covered boulders
that rise above some runoff from the hot spring.  I don't move for several
seconds, transfixed on the movement of the monsters. More howls bounce off
the granite peaks around us; the whole lot seems to lurch and shift like a
single organism, trampling everything in its path. Having their next meal
so close to them injects haste into their loping gait. They look like black
flies racing across a green blanket.

      By the time I unfreeze, Angelaria's back is already disappearing up
the crag to the south.

      I swear and sprint after them, clearing several of the holes and
steaming tributaries that flow across the meadow.  Once I reach the ravine,
I grasp a hold of the rock and propel myself forward, scraping my armor
against the unyielding stone.  Walls of granite squeeze my body on both the
right and the left, and the climb is even steeper than I feared. It's
filled with treacherous footing on loose rocks and pebbles. I catch up to
Angelaria and assist her when she slips. She's scraped her leg against a
rock and torn a hole in her leather breeches; I spot a bit of blood on the
stone.

      Talen calls out for us to stop.

      I gaze past him and note a large chasm at the front of his boots. I
can hear the sound of rushing water coming from the bottom of this gorge,
but it's so deep that I don't want to imagine falling into that place of
darkness. If I survived, I'd be swept god knows where.

      "We're in trouble," Talen says.

      "How far's the jump?" I ask.

      "It's at least twenty feet wide, but we might have a chance if you
remembered to bring the rope we used in Varkir. There's a boulder the size
of a small house, directly in front of me."

      I follow his finger and see where the path continues on the far
side. The boulder has plugged the path and rises another six feet over
Talen's head forming a makeshift shelf. Its awkward angles afford many
areas where a grappling hook could take hold.

      Behind my back I hear claws scraping against rock. Howls soon follow.

      I reach into my pack and remove a coil of silk rope along with a
six-inch rod I've carried with me since we left the coast. Previously, we
used it to scramble over the rooftops of the Varkir Souk to avoid patrols
while looking for other Tethyrites. I never expected to use it again so
soon and under such desperate measures. Without hesitation, I snap the rod,
form a hook out of it, and then tie it to the rope.  I hand it to Talen.

      "A Black Dragon Assassin is never without ropes and knives," I say.

      "Amen to that," he states, taking the rope into his hands.

      I turn around, watching the ravine with fear.  It's so narrow; I
could possibly take them on one at a time and buy Talen and Angelaria
enough time to get away. That's all that matters. Talen has to be safe. He
means the world to me.

      More scrambling and then...the first of the undead monsters
appears. It's hundreds of feet down the slope, yet it pauses long enough to
regard me with a pair of soulless eyes.  I swallow hard, watching it,
mesmerized by the blackish skin stretched tight over ropy muscles and veins
of putrid yellow puss. Then another of them appears, followed by a third
and a fourth. But the point of the ravine just below us is too narrow for
them to pass. These things have exceptionally broad shoulders and thick
waists. When something unexpected happens, I thank my lucky stars. But my
elation is short-lived.

      The first ghul lunges forward and gets stuck in the wedge between the
granite walls. It howls in frustration and pain. But the others behind it
don't slow. They plow into the first and its eyes grow wide. I hear flesh
tearing, bone snapping, and blood splattering the walls. Its hide starts to
stretch eventually tearing in several places. Red gore and smelly bile
spills all over the rocks. Bones shatter with horrific snaps; they send
chills down my spine. Right before my eyes, the ghuls reassemble into a
taller and thinner skeleton with huge sweeping arms. Multiple eyes and
faces emerge from its head in a horrendous melding of grotesque flesh. It
roars at me and amazingly, starts to move forward, leaving bits of itself
behind on the stone.

      At my back, Talen swears repeatedly, the makeshift grappling hook
falls short with his latest effort. It clangs against the boulders, and I
swear it sounds like a death knell.

      "Try again," Angelaria says. "Concentrate!"

      "How can I concentrate?" Talen asks. His hands are shaking. "There's
a monster coming up the ravine behind me, and you're telling me to be
calm. Right. Like that's going to happen."

      "Talen," Angelaria says, placing her hand on his arm. "If you don't
do this, you're going to see Kian ripped apart in front of you. Then it'll
be me. And when we're gone, they'll come for you."

      Talen stares at my frightened eyes, and I see steel resolve grow
behind his pupils.

      He turns and swings the rope underhand and gives it a strong upward
curve.  This time it catches on the boulder. He tests it only a second
before swinging across. The hook slips an inch, but holds Talen's
weight. He pulls himself up, gripping a hold of the boulder with feverish
claws. Once on top, Talen plants the hook deeper with a swift kick and then
tosses the rope to Angelaria.  She ties it about her waist and swings out
over the gorge. Talen pulls her up in a matter of seconds, the flex of his
biceps causing his armor to bulge in places. Sweat falls from his pale face
in droplets.

      The huge war ghul has become a twelve-foot tall one foot wide
monstrosity, and it's now twenty feet away. It will be on me in just a few
seconds. I race to the edge of the chasm with the monster scrambling over
rocks and pebbles, snatching at my heels with elongated arms and fingers.
Talen struggles to loosen the knot around Angelaria's waist but
fails. Finally, he gives up, slams his visor shut, and springs the blades
on his armor.

      "Hurry," she says, all the while still picking at the knot.

      Talen cuts through it with one swing of the cibrian wrist blades.

      The hideous, slavering thing raises its claws to grab my feet and
yank me into its mouth. I turn and leap into the gorge and barely catch the
rope mid-flight, my sudden weight causing it to jerk and dislodge pebbles
and fine grains of sand that rain down over my face.  I slam into the wall
on the far side while the ghul skids to a halt. Above me, Talen grips the
rope, pulling on it with all of his strength.

      The war ghul stands on the precipice a full twenty feet away. I can
only imagine its frustration to see its food getting away when it reaches
up to its face with both claws and rips itself apart. I avert my gaze just
in time as the ghul showers the chasm with bits of flesh, blood, sinew, and
bone. Individual ghuls assemble from the whole and crowd the precipice. One
particularly hungry one leaps at me with teeth bared.

      "Watch out!" Angelaria yells.

      I swing to the side, dangling from the rope that's now got me placed
in the overhang of the gargantuan boulder. It misses me with a huge
sweeping claw and instead slams against the rock face.  Before it can fall
to its death, its grasping hands catch hold of the silken cord beneath my
feet. I look up into my boyfriend's eyes.

      "Talen!"

      The line snaps taut and breaks under our combined
weight. Desperately, I jump upward and my fingers catch a crack that's
barely an inch wide while my whole body dangles over empty space.  There I
am, hanging, suspended between life and death. I watch the undead monster
swallowed by the black at my feet, arms and legs flailing about uselessly,
and its screams filling the canyon.

      My companions can't see me from where I'm hanging. And my two fingers
holding my weight are already growing tired.

      "Kian!" Talen calls out.

      "I'm here!" I respond.  I pull myself up, painfully, thrusting my
other fingers into the crack that bares my weight. Talen leans as far over
the gorge as he can, Angelaria holding onto his feet, and manages to grab
me by the wrist.

      "I've got you buddy," he says.

      I nod and release the boulder so he can pull me to safety. For a
moment there's the sensation that I'm falling, but Talen doesn't let go. I
put my arms around him lovingly, my body shaking with a combination of
adrenaline and fear. When both of us are finally safe, we slide down the
far side of the huge rock and onto the path. He removes my helmet and runs
his hands through my sopping wet hair and just holds me.

      "Tethyr's teeth don't ever scare me like that again," he says kissing
me over and over.

      "I'll try not to," I say. But I can't disguise the fact that my
body's trembling. And it's only a matter of time before the ghuls figure a
way to cross and are upon us once more.

                                    *****

      Here ends Chapter Three. Tune in next week for Chapter Four. I'm
still working on that colored drawing of Talen I promised. I got him
completely done, but I'm wanting to put some kind of background behind the
painting before I post it online on my website. He looks absolutely
gorgeous. I could probably be persuaded to show you the rough drawing
pre-Photoshop enhancement if you pester me enough.