Date: Wed, 03 May 2006 21:56:42 +0000
From: Guy Cornelius <magesofcornelia@hotmail.co.uk>
Subject: Mages of Cornelia 9

Disclaimer: Ok, so all the usual stuff applies. If you are too young or
this isn't allowed in the area where you live then you really shouldn't be
reading this but if we are honest, is anybody really going to know? I mean,
I wont tell them if you wont. Ok, good, glad we got that sorted out, now,
enjoy.

Oh, and one other thing. For those of you who have been following this from
the beginning then I am very sorry this chapter took so long, but hopefully
you will enjoy it and forget all about that! Anyway, the story...


Chapter 9


"No...no I didn't. There are other ways...other methods. I shouldn't have
done it like that." Jake was distraught. Now that his rage had passed and
he realised what he had done, he could barely look Rynor in the eye. He
knew what he wanted to know but he had just killed two men in the most
brutal ways he could think of. They suffered for a long time at his hands.
"Shh, Jake, listen to me. You needed to find out who did this and at the
time the only possible way was the one presented to you. You aren't a bad
person for it. You couldn't let Dominic die in vain now could you?" Just
then Jake broke down, tears streaming from his eyes. His knees went weak
but just before he fell Rynor grabbed him and held him close, pressing
their bodies together and letting Jake cry into the crook of his
neck. After a while Jakes tears dried up and the results of his efforts
became apparent. "Come on, let's get you home and in the bath. You need to
relax and get cleaned up." Rynor lead Jake home slowly but surely and ran
him a bath as soon as he got there.  "There you go, get yourself in there
and get cleaned up. If you need anything, give me a shout" said Rynor as he
turned to leave. As he was passing out the door he looked back over his
shoulder and saw that Jake was just staring vacantly into space, not moving
a muscle. "Jake? Jake, get in the bath" but he didn't move, he just kept
staring. Rynor realised Jake was going to need his help so he moved back
into the room and stood in front of Jake. "Jake, can you lift your arms up
for me?" asked Rynor in the most lilting voice he could muster. Jake looked
up at him vacantly and Rynor thought he wasn't going to do it but after a
minute he raised them up above his head. Rynor reached down and took hold
of the bottom of Jakes tunic and slowly lifted it up over his head and
arms, adoring his body as he did so, wanting him so much, but at the same
time knowing that he can't have him. He hung the tunic up on the door and
took Jakes hand, which had now returned to his side.  "Right Jake, would
you step into the bath for me?" He put his other hand on the small of his
back, just above his beautiful bubble butt, and pushed gently, hoping to
coax Jake into the bath, thus remove his lethargy. The pressure provided by
his hand and the gentle instructions from Rynor were enough to get Jake
into the bath but once in he just sat there looking at his body under the
water. "Jake, can you wash yourself for me? You have gone through a lot
today and we need to get you cleaned off" but still Jake didn't move. Rynor
tried splashing him a little but Jake just closed his eyes and ignored
it. Rynor sighed and stood up, debating whether to stay and keep an eye on
Jake or go and cook some food but just then Jake looked up into his eyes
and the thought of leaving seemed wrong. Instead he took of his own tunic
and hung it over Jakes on the door and climbed down into the bath with
him. It was a bath big enough for three so they had plenty of space but
Rynor chose to sit directly in front of Jake so he could wash him. He
reached for the soap, lathered it up and placed his hands on Jakes
shoulders. He marvelled once more at Jakes perfect body and then set to
work, running his hands down his chest and under his arms, down his stomach
to the water-line and then back up to do the rest of his arms and hands.
"Jake, I need you to stand up so I can wash the rest of you, ok?" This,
however, seemed to spark something in Jake because he looked into Rynor's
eyes and looked as though he was only just recognising where he was.  "No,
its ok. Thank you, I can manage the rest." Rynor's heart fell but he tried
not to let it show. He didn't want Jake to know his feelings just yet, it
wasn't appropriate. Jake looked up quickly but didn't say anything. He
looked a little confused but lowered his eyes and reached for the soap
again. Rynor felt he was violating Jakes privacy by staying so quickly
stood up and got out of the bath and muttered that he would go and cook
some food. He went downstairs without even grabbing a towel and sat at the
kitchen table.

Jake watched Rynor go and couldn't understand this feeling of
disappointment, it was like it wasn't his but how could that be? He
finished washing himself off and got out of the bath, drying himself with a
towel. He retrieved his tunic from the door and was about to put it on when
he noticed a large blood stain just above the waistline. He knew exactly
where it came from and exactly what had caused it to be there and he fought
to remove the image of what he had done from his mind but it wouldn't
shift. All he could see were the two suspended figure, bloodied and broken
before him. He wept once again but before he let the sobbing take over he
crept out of the bathroom, down the stairs and out of the house. How could
he live with himself after what he had done? How was he any better than
Angelique after what he had put those men through? Is that the way he would
rule if he did ever ascend to the throne? He wasn't prepared to find
out. He knew in his heart that he could no longer face Rynor with the shame
and hatred that he must he for him so he ran. He ran out of town and into
the woods and didn't look back. He stumbled a few times, grazing his shin
and his elbow. His face was cut as he ran through the trees and was hit by
young branches but he kept running. Eventually he became tired and
collapsed by a tree and it was only then that he noticed he was still naked
but he didn't care, nothing mattered any more. All he wanted was to curl up
into a ball and die but all he managed was to eventually fall into a light
and uneasy slumber.

Farel and Jared were brothers. Farel, the older, had been working in the
slave trade with his younger brother for many years now but things weren't
going so well at the moment. The market had slumped. Any healthy young men
and women were either in hiding or had been conscripted into Angelique's
services. It was because of this lull in trade that these two misfits could
be found living in a small, sparsely furnished hut on the far side of the
forest from the rest of the town. They wore scruffy clothes and ate well
only occasionally, living off bread and stew made from whatever they could
find in the forest. Farel was quite tall and well built but had an
extremely unappealing face. His nose had been broken so many times it
looked more like a piece of ginger root than a nose. His long, dark hair
was so dirty and greasy that he could almost stand it on end and it would
stay there and he hadn't shaved in a while so he had a short yet scruffy
beard hanging off his face. Jared, however was short, dumpy and
unbelievably stupid. He could have been good looking once upon a time but
when life had been good to them he ate rather too much and moved around
rather too little resulting in more off a ball than a human being.  As was
usual practise for these two, they were out walking in the forest looking
for food or anything else that they could make a use out of. "Jared, later
I need you to go into town."  "What for brother? To buy some nice food?"
"Don't be an idiot Jared, we haven't been able to buy nice food for over a
year. What makes you think we can do it now? No, I need you to see if there
are any decent specimens around. We have to sell something soon or we are
going to starve."  "Oh, I see. Male of female?"  "Either, it really doesn't
matter. Don't go pulling a stunt like you did back at Nolun though. I am in
no shape to go busting you out of prison again!"  "That wasn't my fault
Farel. It would have worked if that chicken had just done as it was told,"
whined Jared. Farel groaned but refrained from lashing out at his brother.
"I don't care Jared, just look this time. If you see any decent specimens
just come and find..."  "Oh look brother, a man."  "What? Don't interrupt
me with more of your drivel!"  "No, brother, look. Over there by that
tree." Jared point directly at Jake lying at the base of the tree, fast
asleep. Farel looked to where his brother was pointing and lo and behold,
there was a man lying naked at the base of a tree. He couldn't tell from
this distance but he looked to be extremely handsome and rather muscular.
"Maybe we should..."  "Quiet," hissed Farel, "you might wake him up." Farel
crept up to Jake and removed his knife from his belt. Holding it by the
blade, he crouched down and struck Jake over the head with the handle,
knocking him unconscious.  "What did you do that for?"  "Well we can't
examine him is he is only asleep. He could have woken up at any second."
"Oh" "Wow, look at the size of him. He would go down a treat on a Jaarvean
cruiser."  "He isn't that big, he looks kinda short actually."  "You
idiot. I meant look at what he has between his legs! Jaarvean cruisers are
pleasure cruisers! Flying brothels..." Farel looked up at his brother and
saw nothing but confusion. He looked down at the mans face, examining the
contours and then lowering his eyes to his chest, drinking in the sight
before him. Finally he let his eyes fall again on the beautiful penis
between his legs and his own loins stirred. Not wanting to let his brother
see this, he snapped at him to help him pick him up. They lifted him up and
Jared was about to put him over his shoulder as he usually did when Farel
stopped him.  "No, er, it must be my turn to carry. I will take this one."
Jared wasn't about to complain, he wasn't the strongest of people and he
was pleased not to have to carry this one. So, he handed Jake over to Farel
and set off towards home. Farel put Jake over his shoulder in the customary
fashion and brought his hand up to rest on Jakes butt, enjoying the
sensation of the soft, young flesh.

	Back in the village, Rynor had finished preparing the food and sat
down at the table to wait for Jake. He couldn't bear seeing him this
way. There had to be something he could do to make him see that what he did
was necessary. One act of vengeance doesn't turn you into a tyrant...does
it? Maybe if he told him about his old life, about what he did before, he
would see that a person can change...but no, how could he ever tell Jake
what he had done, it would break his heart. Right now all Jake needed to
know was the he was a devoted servant of his and that he would do anything
to help him, no matter what that required. If Jake knew about `Ravnar' that
would be it. Besides, those days were over, he was Rynor now.
	"Jake, the foods ready."
	Maybe he needed a break from the training. Maybe a bit of time off
would help to clear his head. Besides, soon they were going to have to
think about the next stage in the strategy. They needed to infiltrate her
regime so that they could find a weakness in her defences, both physical
and magical.  "Jake, come on, its getting cold."
	Well, we needn't think about that now, it was going to be hard
enough without Dominic's help so getting Jake back to his old self was
vital, besides, in this state he definitely couldn't rule the country even
if they did manage to get him onto the throne.
	"Jake? What is taking so long?" called Rynor. He got up from the
table and headed to the bottom of the stairs. He stood and listened for a
moment then ascended the stairs, his concern growing. "Jake? Are you still
in the bath? You must look like a prune by now!" Rynor reached the bathroom
and found it empty. Panicking he rushed into the bedroom but that was empty
too.
	"JAKE???" Rynor grabbed a tunic, realising he still hadn't put his
on after the bath, and rushed out of the house. He ran all around the
village searching for Jake he was nowhere to be seen. He came to the centre
of the village and sat on a bench, his head in his hands. "Oh Jake, where
are you? Why did you run away?" He sat there for what felt like days but
was only really a few hours and a feeling of lethargy washed over
him. "Dominic, help me! What am I supposed to do! If I don't find him he
could get hurt and we will be stuck with Angelique for good. But how am I
supposed to find him. He could be anywhere, how the hell am I supposed to
find him!"

	Farel and Jared arrived back at their hut in the early evening and
Jake was chained up in an animal shelter just outside. Luckily there
weren't any animals currently using it but he was still unconscious from
Farels blow so he was completely unaware of his surroundings. Inside the
hut Farel and Jared where discussing how much money they should ask for him
and who would be the best people to offer him to.
	"Don't but such an imbecile Jared! What the bloody hell would the
people of Arrila want with him?"
	"Well I thought you said we were going to sell him into the sex
trade."
	"We are but I don't think a planet of lesbians are likely to be
interested do you?" yelled Farel.
	"Alright, alright, calm down!" Jared shouted back, "why are you
always so mean to me. I am just trying to help."  "Well don't. Last time
you `tried to help' the biggest pay day of our lives was swallowed by a
chicken and then blown up when it ran onto a FUCKING MINE!"  All the
shouting coming from the hut had roused Jake from his comatose state and
for a while he simply lay where he was, desperately trying to clear his
throbbing head. A few minutes later he realised that he did not recognise
where he was but worse than that, he was chained up and he had a gag in his
mouth. He tried shouting for help but as he expected, the gag made that
rather difficult. He soon gave up with that and instead tried to get out of
his chains but they were too thick for him to break and too tight around
his wrists for him to wriggle out of. For a second a feeling of pure fear
washed over him but then his despondency returned and he simply slumped
back onto his side and wept.  A few hours later he woke up to find a piece
of bread placed just in front of his hands and a large numb patch down his
entire left side. He tried to sit up but unfortunately the numb patch and
the chains merely resulted in a minor struggle, a strangled yelp and a
bundle of limbs back on the floor where they had started. He tried again,
hoping the movement might have renewed some feeling but it had a similar
effect as before so he gave up on that idea. It was after that that he
realised how hungry he was so he ate the stale and slightly mouldy bread
provided to him by some unknown captor and pondered for a little while. A
little while later, Jake heard a creaking from the house. The front door
was opening and a man, Farel, was walking towards him. He walked with the
kind of self-assured swagger that just makes you wish a person would trip
over and it was no different now. He walked right up to the shack where
Jake was chained up, so close that all he could see was from his waist
downwards. Suddenly, the mans boot lashed out and caught Jake in the ribs.
"Are you awake boy? Do you know what we are going to do to you? We are
going to sell you into the sex trade. You are going to be sold to rich,
lonely people and you are going to have to have sex all day and all
night. Aren't you lucky?" This last comment was dripping with such sarcasm
that Jake felt such hatred boil in him but he did not move. He did not even
acknowledge the presence of the man before him. Farel kicked him again,
this time hitting him in the face. Jake growled in pain and heard Farel
laughing. He reached inside himself for the strongest spell he could muster
but could not bring himself to use it. For what seemed like hours more
Farel lashed out at Jake, covering him with bruises and cuts. Jakes anger
grew and grew until eventually, unbeknownst to Farel, something changed
inside him. He could feel it boiling up inside of him like lava and his
vision went red. He clamped his eyes shut in an attempt to make it stop
when all of a sudden the pain became unbearable. He screamed out with such
raw anger that Farel quickly turned and fled back into the house and then,
as abruptly as it had started, the pain stopped. It was like a switched had
been flicked back off in his mind. He opened his eyes and his vision had
returned to normal and when he looked down at his hands and feet he noticed
his chains were no longer attached. Seconds later, a stabbing pain coursed
up his spine and he passed out.

Rynor woke on the bench cold and stiff. He rubbed his eyes and stretched
his back before running back to the house. Once there, he grabbed some
food, a little water and both his and Jakes swords before heading back out
into the village. As he was entering the outskirts of the woods, he felt a
dull ache in his head but ignored it and carried on. He didn't know why but
something told him to head north, head to the centre of the woods. Some
hours later he came upon a tree in a clearing. He did not know why, but he
knew Jake had been there, had slept beneath its branches. He searched
around the base and before long he found tracks, human tracks. He grabbed
some bread from the supplies he had bought with him and ate it quickly. As
soon as he was done he followed the tracks. They headed west, deeper into
the woods. The spoor was young and easy to follow but this was no longer
all he was following. As he continued to travel, something in his mind was
growing. It was like a presence right at the front of his mind. He had no
idea what it was, but at the same time, he knew it was Jake. With every
step he took, this presence, this essence that was his feelings for Jake
grew. For over two years now he had denied his feelings but he couldn't do
it any more. If he lost Jake...no, he wasn't going to think like that. That
wasn't going to happen. "Please hold on Jake, I'm coming, please..."

As Jake woke up, he was aware of the words `I'm coming, please' ringing
around his head. He also discovered that he large erection resting on his
stomach and blushed as he figured he had been dreaming about Rynor. His
erection quickly subsided as the cold evening air caressed his naked body
and he shivered quite violently. He knew he could escape now, he wasn't
chained up any more after all but what would be the point, he could never
go back to Rynor now. Despondent but resolute he simply sat and waited for
the man in the house.

Rynor was close, he knew he was close. The throbbing at the front of his
mind was so intense that it was almost painful. Suddenly he knew where he
was, he knew exactly where Jake was and exactly who had him.  "I'll kill
`em. I'll fucking kill `em." He was no longer looking at the spoor he was
following or even paying attention to the presence in his mind. He had been
to this part of the woods before. This was where Jared and Farel used to
live but he had been sent to arrest them years ago. Maybe someone else had
taken over. Paying little attention to his surroundings he headed straight
to the spot where their house used to be. As he arrived at the clearing he
saw a small shack in the garden and instantly knew that that was where Jake
was being held. He crept over, trying not to be seen from the house and
waited behind the shack for a few seconds.  "Jake?"  "Rynor? What are you
doing here?"  "What do you think I am doing here, I came to get you!"  "You
shouldn't have bothered, I'm not worth it." These words stabbed at Rynor
like a sword. He crept round to the front of the shack and almost burst
into tears as he saw him.  "Oh Jake, what have they done to you?" He
reached out and tentatively brushed his finger tips across Jakes
cheek. Jake smiled but pulled away.  "Jake, what's wrong?" asked Rynor.
"What's the point Rynor? I can't go back no. I am no better than her. How
can I justify overthrowing one tyrant only so they can be replaced by
another? What I did in the woods to those men was unforgivable. I'm not fit
to be a King. But more importantly, how can..." Jake started sobbing, his
body shaking violently. Rynor took his face in his hands, looking Jake deep
in the eye as he rubbed his cheeks with his thumbs.  "How can what Jake?"
Jake took a minute to compose himself before saying "How can you ever love
me?"  "Oh Jake." Now Rynor started sobbing. He couldn't say the words he
wanted to say so instead he placed his lips over Jakes, gently,
lovingly. He lingered there for a few seconds before pulling away and
looking back into Jakes eyes. "I have always loved you, I always will love
you. What you did was necessary. We needed to make sure that is was
Angelique who sent those men after you and that was the only way it could
be achieved at the time. But now you know, now you know not to do it
again. That's what makes you different. You did it and you have recognised
that it is something never to do again so please, please come home." He
finished talking and he was still staring straight into Jakes eyes but
seconds later Jake leant in and kissed Rynor but this was a kiss unlike the
two of them had shared before. This kiss was full of their love for each
other. They kissed deeper and longer and they would have kissed forever but
Jake suddenly became aware of his nakedness when his penis began to
grow. They both looked down and for the first time in two years Jake was
embarrassed to be naked in front of Rynor. He blushed and tried to cover
himself up with his hands but Rynor placed his hands on his chest and said
`Don't' before kissing him again. Jake took his hands from over his crotch
and placed one on the back of Rynor's head and the other on his back. They
sat there kissing for many minutes until Rynor heard someone open the front
door of the house and shout something back to someone inside. He let his
hand drift down Jakes body and gave his cock a quick squeeze before rushing
out to behind the shack.  "Jake, can you hear me?"  "Yes."  "I know you
don't want to kill these people but we have to make sure they never do
something like this again. If they are who I think they are then they do
not deserve to live but you have to decide what to do now. They have to be
stopped."  "I can't. No more killing. What if I just scared them?"  "That
could work but only if you use your magic. You have to really scare them,
make them think that you are letting them live."  "But I am" Jake pointed
out.  "That's not the point. Quick, he is coming over, what are you going
to do?"  "I don't know. I will just have to see what happens." By now Farel
was almost at the shack so Jake decided to make this meeting on his
terms. He moved to the front of the shack and stepped out into the cool
night air. Farel's step faltered but he kept coming.  "So, thought we would
escape did we?" he asked when he was close enough to Jake.  "Do not flatter
yourself that you have kept me here against my will. I could have left the
moment I first woke up."  "Oh yes, and how were you thinking of doing
that?" asked Farel but he did not wait for an answer. He quickly stepped in
and punched Jake on the jaw. Jakes anger flared but he restrained
himself. He merely looked Farel in the eye and said: "There is a lot you
don't know about me," he said.  "Oh yes. And what might that be?" asked
Farel, again not waiting for the answer and punching Jake in the stomach
this time. When Jake had recovered from the blow he looked again into
Farel's eyes but did not say anything. He could feel the lava inside him
and his vision was tinged pink.  "Just as I thought," said Farel, "all
brain, no balls." As he said this his hand shot out and grabbed Jakes
balls, squeezing tightly. Jake roared in pain but not because of Farels
rough grip on his balls. He once again felt the shot of pain fly up his
spine and his vision turned red but this time he did not try to stop it. He
let the pain surround his skull and suddenly it was gone. Farel screamed
and fell to the ground quivering. Jake, highly confused at this, looked
down at his body and saw it was shrouded in fire. He smiled and looked at
Farel.  "Power," said Jake, but it was not his voice that passed his lips
but a deep, booming voice. Again he smiled and carried on. "Power greater
than you can possibly imagine is at my command at the click of a finger."
Farel flinched as Jake clicked his fingers and the flames around him flared
up. "Go. Take your companion with you and leave this land but know this, I
will see you always. I will know your actions no matter where you run to
and if I ever see something to my dissatisfaction I will hunt you down and
I will show you no mercy." Farel didn't move so Jake took a step towards
him. This was all the encouragement Farel needed. He shot up and off
towards the house, yelling for Jared to get out and run. A few seconds
later Jared came to the door of the house and looked out. He saw Farel
running towards him and behind him, a man shrouded in fire. Within seconds
the two were gone, consumed by the woods.  Jake turned back to the shack
and saw Rynor staring at him. His heart sank as he saw this, expecting him
to run off petrified but it was quite the opposite. Rynor slowly walked
towards Jake and stopped about two paces away. He stretched his arm out in
front of his and gently reaches out towards the flames. Satisfied that they
weren't going to burn him he took the two paces to Jake and pulled him
forward with a hand behind his neck. With their bodies in full contact
Rynor kissed Jake long and deep while his hands strayed up and down his
back. Jake, who had become very tense during the confrontation, relaxed
into Rynor's arms and put his hands on the back of his head, pulling his
mouth closer to his. Neither of them could tell but the flames surrounding
Jake were slowly turning blue and as Rynor slipped his hand in between them
and down onto Jakes cock, they disappeared completely but they were now far
too engrossed in each other to notice. Jake ripped the tunic from Rynor's
body and pushed him down to the ground. He stood over him for a few
seconds, his erection waving around in the breeze, and then lay down on top
of him smiling.



OK, so I hope you enjoyed this one, and as always, I would really
appreciate your feedback at magesofcornelia@hotmail.co.uk. After all, if
you hate it you really need to tell me so that I can make it better (and if
you like it then its always nice to be told!).