Chapter 11
Kell woke up in a tent that wasn't his own, the slanting ceiling was too low and the walls too close. He rolled onto his back and rubbed at his eyes with the heels of his hands. And the bed was definitely too uncomfortable. Then he remembered. Will's tent. Very nice, very pleasant. But he had his clothes on so it couldn't have been that pleasant. At least he didn't have a headache.
He sat up to look for his boots and combed fingers through his hair to get it into some sort of order, he'd lost the string he had tied it with somewhere among the blankets. Or maybe Will had lost it for him; the sorcerer did have a fondness for his hair, especially loose. There were voices outside and he crawled out into the still early morning.
The highlanders were gathered around Will and Piotry and the boy, Peero. Will was speaking gently to the boy and not even the prince's appearance could break the undivided attention.
"And when Piotry have changed the color you'll be waking up. Sounds good?" Will was saying.
The boy sucked on a finger in contemplation. "Yes," he decided finally, the word just a little bit muffled because of the impeding digit. "Can we go help the animals in the forest after?" Peero seemed unaffected by what Will had said, chances were he didn't even understand the implications of what was about to happen.
Will laughed and looked to Aleeze who most definitely did, her face was pale and her eyebrows draw in anxiousness, though she seemed a bit relieved by the young sorcerer's gentle smile. "That's for your mother to decide," Will said. "But I think we can go for a few minutes and perhaps we can help the squirrel I saw yesterday to find some nuts for winter."
The boy cheered at that promise, his finger finally popping from his mouth as he clasped Will's outstretched hand with both his own small ones.
Kell pouted jealously at Will's readiness to spend time with the boy searching for said creature's food, when he knew a couple of other nuts he'd rather like for the sorcerer to find. Will stiffened and turned to look at Kell then as if he had heard the prince's thoughts. Kell blinked in surprise but collected himself and smiled innocently at the sorcerer. Will frowned for a moment, eyeing Kell suspiciously before he got back to his business, mumbling under his breath.
Kell had no idea what happened next. One moment Peero was awake and the next he was deep asleep in Will's arms. Aleeze and Poe leaned closer and the anxiousness was plain on the mother's face. Poe put an encouraging arm around her slim shoulders.
Will moved one hand over the mark on the child's cheek and even though Kell couldn't see any difference he knew something had changed, he could feel it like a stirring in the air. Piotry put his fingertips to brush slowly at the mark behind Will's hand and where they had touched the color changed. It was so slow and gradual it was hard to tell if anything really happened, but red faded to pink and pale yellow, and then turned to as much of a normal skin tone as it could ever be. It was hard to tell where the mark had once marred the boy's face.
The two sorcerers removed their hands and the boy's mother broke into tears. The mark was gone. Kell realized he was staring wide-eyed and had to blink.
The boy woke up in Will's arms and slurred just a bit sleepily that he wanted his mommy and he didn't have to wait long, Aleeze was there in an instant to shower the child's face with kisses and tears. Will and Piotry got their fair share of them as well and Will blushed so very appealingly when one random kiss fell on his lips.
Mine, Kell grumbled and frowned at the grateful woman who in her happiness didn't see or care about anything else than her son's beautiful face.
* * * * * * * *
Kell gazed back along the line of men, horses and wagons. Breaking camp had been a quick affair, the men knew they had leave coming up and were eager to get back to main camp to find out when during the coming three weeks were their well earned four days of freedom. Kell knew Will was eager too, he had spoken so warmly about seeing his family again.
Will was riding not far down the line, Kell knew, Piotry's red head was well visible among the darker and blonder ones, and Will was never far from his fellow's side when they were marching. If anyone had earned their leave it was those two, what they had done for that boy…
Almost an hour after leaving the camp at the Knee Kell was bored with riding in the front beside the as always silent and grim high commander Rión. Kell wondered idly what the man was like off duty and out of the camp; his wife must have the patience of a saint.
"Take the lead for me, Rión. I'm falling back for a while," Kell said and pulled on the reins, Runner obediently took a step to the side to let the following riders pass. Rión gave him a quick glance and nodded. It wasn't like he'd be alone up in the front; captain Teron and lieutenant Beyn were riding right behind him.
Kell let Runner pluck grass off the side of the road while he waited for the soldiers to pass. Some of them saluted him, others nodded respectfully and Kell smiled back at all of them. If any of the men wondered why the prince was relinquishing his place in the front, none of them let it show on their faces. Kell knew socializing with one of his employed sorcerers wouldn't cause any reproach, though if any of his men suspected what had happened between him and Will, they would not look at him with such respect, he knew.
The two sorcerers saw him as they approached. Piotry leaned in closer to Will and said something that made Will glare at him, and then the redheaded sorcerer urged his horse forward to join his fellows up ahead with a wide smiled at the prince in passing.
"How come you always ride down here in the back?" Kell asked when Will's bay gelding came up beside him.
Will shrugged. "I haven't thought much about it really. Perhaps I just don't like being in the front; I'm not a leader like you, my prince."
Kell smiled. "Then how come people always do what you ask them to do?"
"What do you mean?" Will gave him a cautious glance.
"My army has been victorious in the last few battles thanks to your ideas. You got the other sorcerers to carry out your plans and you talked me into signing a treaty with the highlanders."
"Well, the treaty was all your own doing, I just asked you to talk to them, my prince. Though I wouldn't call killing men in battle being victorious."
"How so? In battle it's you or them."
Will didn't answer that. He looked down on his fingers fidgeting with the mane of his horse.
"You're still blaming yourself for the highlanders that died in that ambush." Kell studied Will's face and posture and saw him slump a little at his words. "Don't, Will. You acted on the same beliefs as the rest of us, you didn't know better. Gods, not even high commander Jayce knew better and it is his territory of command."
"You didn't know better," Will murmured so quietly Kell had to strain his ears to hear it.
He snorted ungracefully, slightly offended by the comment, even though he could tell it wasn't meant as reproach. "No, even I didn't know. But you best not tell anyone that." He received a faint smile then and that made him feel really pleased with himself.
"How will you explain to the king that you have signed a treaty with the highlanders without consulting with him, my prince?" Will asked. "As you said to them, it is the king's land. He might have decided to strike a different bargain with them."
Kell was silent for a while as he considered this; a thoughtful but determined expression came over his face. There was always the possibility that the king would be displeased with the treaty, the way Kell had dealt with a possible threat, but it had long been said around court that Kell had gotten his good sense for such dealings from his father, so he hoped the king would see it the same way he had. Or Kell would convince the king of otherwise.
"He'll see the benefits, I'm sure of it. If he doesn't I'll demand the land as my own property and proclaim myself lord protector over the highlanders. They'll be allowed to live there forever after I announce a decree."
"Is it really that easy?" Will wondered hesitantly.
Kell's jaws clenched. "It may not be so. But I'm a man who stands by his word, and so I will this time as well. I'll make my father see reason." Kell hoped his father would agree with him, having a dispute with the king would benefit no one.
Will sighed and pulled at his tunic with a grunt, then smoothed it down his side as if he couldn't decide if he should wear it or not.
"Is something wrong with your clothes?" Kell wondered, distracted from mulling over affairs of the kingdom.
"We're on the march, my prince. I should be wearing my greys."
"Well, that could be a bit difficult since they've probably been burned. You have your spare ones back in main camp though, right?"
"Yes, but I'd feel a lot better actually looking like I'm on duty."
"You're officially off duty, Will, until Piotry tells me your wound is fully healed and then I'll tell you otherwise."
Will glared but didn't argue, perhaps because he was still sore or because he knew the prince would get things the way he wanted them anyway.
"So, we'll be heading to Diamban when we get back to main camp, then?" He decided it was time to change the subject.
Will blinked and stared at him. "What? Diamban? What do you mean 'we'?"
"Oh, you didn't think I'd forget, did you? You invited me, Will," he said with a wide smile.
"No, you made me invite you," the sorcerer grumbled, frowning.
"Made you? Hummm, wait then until I get really persuasive."
Will glared and blushed. Kell laughed in delight.
* * * * * * * *
Two days of marching were made pleasant enough when one could spend them riding next to the young sorcerer, at times accompanied by the cheerful Piotry who always made them laugh. The soldiers were all relaxed and cheerful, marching on towards main camp and leave, and from time to time odd bits of not so decent songs drifted along the line.
Main camp was a welcome sight, though, and the men who had remained there greeted them to shake hands with those comrades and friends that made it back alive, and to mourn those who hadn't.
Kell hadn't more than dismounted and stepped into his tent before captain Heon – who he had left in charge – stepped in behind him and began to report on the state of business. Not even Janu was quite that fast in his duties. Kell sighed internally and endured.
Not much out of the ordinary had happened; supplies had arrived from the nearby city of Adeban and no word had yet arrived from the capital or any other city with information they didn't already have. The rangers had nothing suspicious to report from across the river either, which meant Uriche was still licking his wounds from the last battle, or maybe concocting some new mischievous plans.
"Good work, captain," Kell commended afterwards. "Be sure to join us at supper tonight before you take your leave. It'll be three weeks before we're all properly gathered again."
"Yes, my prince. Thank you, my prince. I'll see you all at supper, then." The captain saluted, spun on his heel and left.
Kell sighed deeply. A good man, Heon, who always carried out his orders to perfection. But if Kell heard the words ‘my prince' one more time tonight he'd throw the man responsible in the dungeons.
"My prince." Rión entered with a paper in his hand after a rap on the tent post.
Gods of mercy! Well, he couldn't very well do without his high commander. "Yes, Rión?" he said, trying to keep the impatience out of his voice and almost succeeding.
"Captain Heon gave me the schedule for the men's leave. You have asked for a week as well?" he actually sounded surprised. Not so much that the prince wanted rest from the army, but that he had asked for it when he certainly didn't have to, being the prince and all.
"Yes, I did," Kell said patiently, he knew his men would adjust to whatever decision he made, but thought it better to prepare them. "I thought it best to tell Heon so he wouldn't give every commander leave at the same time."
"Of course." Rión stood hesitant for a moment longer. Kell waited with his eyebrows slowly drawing. "Your leave wouldn't have anything to do with a certain sorcerer, would it, my prince?"
Kell met the man's eyes. "Why this concern?"
"Well, sorcerers aren't, well, normal people, my prince. I just want to make sure you'll be careful," he said with uncharacteristic uncertainty. "The king don't need for dishonest rumors to start about his heir."
Kell couldn't help it. He stared incredulously at Rión for a moment, not quite sure he had heard the trusted high commander utter doubt about his liege. Then he collected himself and hoped his shock wasn't too visible on his face. "I know this, Rión. And you needn't worry, I'll use my head."
But the annoyance beginning to seep up in him as the words and all the implications started to sink in must have been perceptible in his voice, for after one last close look Rión inclined his head and left.
Kell sank down in a chair, his eyebrows drawn in deep thought. Rión was worried. Kell knew he could trust the man not to go babbling about this to everyone, but rumors would spread eventually and he wondered what his men would think and say about the prince giving his affections to a sorcerer.
It wasn't unheard of that sorcerers took lovers of both genders, but as it was – Kell being the prince and heir to the throne – there would be trouble, most certainly among the court and perhaps even among the people as well.
The line of kings Kell descended from had been in possession of the throne for the past one hundred and fifty years. Seldom had the proud royal house had any trouble keeping the land safe and flourishing or the people assured that their lives would go on in the same, ingrained course it always had. Well, apart from a few smaller conflicts and skirmishes with neighboring countries. And never before had an heir been doubted to ascend the throne after his father. Kell didn't want for his men to doubt he ever would be able to rule as his father had.
And there was another, less favorable rumor about the sorcerers. Due to their choice in lovers it was said sometimes and in much hushed voices that sorcerers could put a spell on the object of their desire, and that rumor was especially useful among those who were less amiable towards the sorcerers when the object was a person of high stature. That rumor would most likely spread like wildfire when it became common knowledge that the prince was socializing – and rather intimately – with a sorcerer.
* * * * * * * *
Will fastened his knapsack and oiled piece of canvas behind the saddle before he made sure one more time he had everything he needed. He'd been so exited and eager to leave for home this morning; Ashiná had had to tell him to calm down several times.
"So, leaving, are we?"
Gods of earth and air! Will gave the prince a glare over the shoulder. He'd hoped the prince would've been too busy these past two days to go with him since Kell obviously hadn't forgotten, or that the commanders had disagreed so that he had been forced to reconsider his participation in this trip. But Will wasn't that lucky. The commanders had agreed – however grudgingly – just because it was Will, the sorcerer who could and would protect the prince. He sighed and turned to look at the man in question.
Kell was wearing a plain tunic and breeches, his hair loosely tied back at the nape of his neck, a few strands coming free of their restraints and framing his face. There was a worn soldier's sword at his hip instead of his own very precious, well-crafted blade, and a warm woolen cloak and a knapsack not unlike Will's were fastened behind the saddle on the back of a sturdy, brown mare.
"You're leaving Runner behind?"
"Yes, he's earned his leave as well and this old lady knows how to treat a man." The prince gave the mare an affectionate pat.
"Fine," Will grumbled. He grabbed the reins and the saddle and mounted, not as swiftly and elegantly as the prince, but much easier than those first days.
It was odd what a change of clothes could do to a man's appearance and value in the eyes of others. Will thought it to be due to the plain clothing they both were wearing since hardly any of the soldiers so much as looked at them, much less bowed or saluted to the prince as they rode past on their way out of camp. Kell seemed both surprised and intrigued by this new discovery and his mood lightened even more.
"Gods of earth and air!" he breathed as they got out of sight of camp. "It feels good to be on the road without hundreds of men trudging on in the dust behind you."
"I suppose so. It certainly feels better not having to swallow all that dust."
Kell looked at him and laughed. "Lets quicken the pace, Will. I want to be well into the woods before noon."
Will was about to protest since he wasn't really used to riding much faster than walk or trot, but the prince urged his mare into a canter and it complied obediently. Will's gelding snorted and followed without much heed to its rider's wishes, so he grabbed a good handful of red mane and clung on.
They stopped to let the horses rest sometime around noon and let the animals quench their thirst in a stream not far from the road. They shared a piece of bread and dried, stringy meat and then continued on their way.
They rode in silence for a while and Will found he liked the company when it was quiet and pensive. Kell's face was relaxed and his eyes dark blue under lowered lashes. Will studied the prince out of the corner of his eye, putting to memory this moment of perfect stillness.
~Yes, I must admit he looks his best right now.~
~Gods, Ashiná! Stop sneaking up on me.~
She laughed. ~I didn't, but you hear and see nothing else when he's around.~
~Not true,~ Will objected.
~No? Did you see the red elk at the edge of the field, then?~
Will spun in the saddle to look for the rare animal and almost toppled himself off his horse. Ashiná laughed loudly.
~I should…~ Will growled at her. ~There's not even a field.~
~Point proven.~
"Something the matter?" The prince was looking at Will curiously with an eyebrow arched.
"No. Just… No." Will busied himself with uncorking his flask and taking a mouthful of water.
* * * * * * * *
They spent the first night in the shelter of a large, old pine with low hanging branches that kept most of the cool night breeze at bay. The food was sparse and simple, and Will knew the prince would have gladly had the camp's cook and his supply wagon there right then.
That was the difference between them. Will knew he couldn't have everything his heart desired and settled for what he had. And while the prince certainly wasn't spoiled and could do on his own without his manservant at hand all the time, he was used to a certain level of comfort. Will wondered why the prince had insisted on going with him on this journey.
Will rolled out his bedroll and got ready for the night. Kell sat still with his back to the trunk of the pine and his sword within reach.
"There will be no need to use that." Will peered sleepily up at him from behind the edge of his blanket.
"Someone might venture past; the forest is not that remote."
"I've set wards. We'll be well and truly warned in time, my prince. You should go to sleep."
The prince shot him an unappreciative glance, but after a while Will heard him lie down, muttering something about "don't my prince me" and roll into his blanket.
~You realize, he likes to play the champion,~ Ashiná murmured.
~I know, and that is what's bothering me. I don't need a champion, I need for him to return to camp in one piece or they'll hang me for it.~
~Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on you both. Can't have my charge hung, now can I?~
~Thanks, Ashiná,~ Will said and just smiled at her antics of finding the joke in everything. He loved her for it.
~Always, Will.~
* * * * * * * *
They rode into more populated areas the next day and the roads became more traversed. The fields and forests between the cities of Adeban and Diamban were far enough from the battlefields and not likely to be under attack with the army encampment between the cities and the river. They passed other riders traveling between the two cities, wagons loaded with merchants' wares and commoners and farmers pulling their carts filled with the produce they were selling on the markets.
They even passed one or another group of upper-class men and women from the one city visiting the other. The prince lowered his head on those few occasions and urged his horse on past them, as if he was afraid he'd be recognized. However, Will thought it unlikely – this far from the capital and the aristocracy the prince usually associated with – that none of them would venture this far north. Though one hardly understood the machinations of nobility all the time, just look at the one riding in front of him now.
When evening neared the prince insisted on spending the night at a roadside inn when Will wanted to move on into the next expanse of forest; home was alluring and much closer now than it had been for what felt like a lifetime.
"I'm not spending one more night under a tree, I'm telling you," the prince declared. "I swear I have a bruise the size of my palm on my hip."
"You're not supposed to lie on the roots," Will informed helpfully and received a venomous glare. "Besides, I don't have the coins to rent a room." Let alone two, he thought to himself.
"But I do and I'll be damned if I don't spend it on proper food and lodging."
So the inn it was. The horses at least seemed grateful for the grain they got and the company of several other horses. The inn was as good as fully booked already and Will realized they would indeed have to share a room. Well, as long as there were two beds he'd be fine with it and if not, the barn had looked quite cozy.
There were two minstrels sitting on a tabletop in the middle of the main room, the state of their clothes – wool and linen mixed with the odd glimpse of richer cloth – and the small mound of glinting coins in the worn leather cap on the table in front of them, told of their quite extensive and well utilized talents as far as entertainment went. They grasped hold of every guest in the room and held them during the course of the evening. The prince was no exception.
One indecent song after another poured from their mouths accompanied by clear notes from the flute and lute they played. The prince was delighted, he laughed and clapped his hands just as cheerfully as the other patrons, though he was a bit more generous with the coins he tossed at them; he could afford it.
"You shouldn't flaunt those around so carelessly, my prince," Will murmured quietly as he leaned closer. He dared not raise his voice or the other men around the long table they shared might hear.
"Oh, don't ruin my fun, Will," the prince said with a smile still lingering on his lips from the last very detailed song. "And use my name; we don't want to attract attention, do we?"
"My point exactly!" Will looked up at him from under his dark bangs to hide from everyone else the serious look in his eyes.
Kell frowned displeased, but he was much more careful the rest of the evening.
After the minstrels had performed their last song for the night and Will had had one too many ales, he decided it was best to go to bed. He wanted to be up and away early the next morning, there was still some way to go, but if they pushed the horses a bit they could be in Diamban by nightfall.
Will padded up the stairs in the back and the prince trudged up after him, not quite willing to leave the still awake and cheerful company in the main room and not quite willing to stay alone.
The room was small and as Will had feared it held only one bed, except for the one chair and wobbly table by the wall where the washbasin perched. He tried not to show it but he was not quite comfortable with the idea of having to share the bed – even if it was quite wide – with the price, he knew the man wouldn't be able to keep his hands to himself. Thankfully, Ashiná didn't give any comment on the situation.
They both made use of the washbasin to get rid of the worst of grime and dirt, and Will realized the water had been scented with one flower or another. Not that that was particularly surprising; the prince had flirted outrageously with the innkeeper's wife and one or two of the young girls that worked in the establishment. Will wondered disgustedly how much the prince had paid for the room and food.
When Will began to roll out his bedroll on the floor by the door, the prince gave him a crooked smile and a wink.
"I'm sure the bed is much more comfortable than the floor, Will. It's large enough for the both of us." He patted the mattress next to him.
Will eyed him suspiciously. Kell's hair flowed down over his shoulders like a golden waterfall, still a bit damp from being washed. His torso was naked, but Will had noted he'd kept his smallclothes on. Gods! He looked good lying on the side like that, leaning on one elbow with his head propped up in the palm, the blanket had slid down a bit and reveled a tempting expanse of bare skin. Will wondered reluctantly what it would feel like to kiss those nipples and then immediately pushed the thought away. There was only so far this relationship could go before they risked too much. But now, out of camp, what excuses would he have that they both could believe?
"I won't share a bed with you because you won't be able to keep your hands to yourself," he explained and sat down to pull off his boots.
"Of course I can!" The prince sounded awfully self-confident. "I'll make you a deal, sorcerer. If I cannot restrain myself from touching you without permission, I'll sleep on the floor for the rest of the night."
Will studied him out of the corner of his eye. They had kissed before, and how good it had made him feel! Kisses never hurt anyone, but if this were to develop into something more? How much harm could be done and how many would suffer? They were playing with more than just their own hearts.
"On my honor, Will." Blue eyes were intent on his face and he just couldn't see any other motive behind that promise than the small comfort of a warm bed that was offered to him. Besides, what harm could it do if he made sure to keep it as chaste as he could? And despite his reservations he was a bit curious to see whether the prince would be able to keep his promise.
Will sighed resigned and got up off the floor. "Fine. But no hands!" he warned.
"Not unless you allow it," the prince smiled.
Will turned his back and took off his tunic and breeches, though he kept the shirt and smallclothes on to be at least half more decent than his companion. It felt strange at first to be so close to the prince even though he had his own blanket. He felt the expectation and tension in the warm body so close behind his back and he began to wonder if this wasn't a bad idea. He made sure all his limbs were safely on his side of the bed.
"Will," Kell murmured so close to his ear that he started and reflexively jerked his shoulder up to fend off the warm breath that wafted across his skin. He hadn't even noticed the prince moving closer behind him.
"What is it, my prince?" he asked warily.
"Can I please touch you?" the mellow voice asked. "I promise I won't do anything improper."
Will looked over his shoulder up into deep blue, hopeful eyes and how could he deny? "Nothing improper," he echoed.
"I promise." A hand slid under the blankets and around Will's waist, then the prince rolled closer and their bodies were touching. The prince's thighs and hips nestled up close to Will's backside and he pulled Will closer against his chest. Will tried to relax but the very nearness in this gentle, intimate way was a bit disconcerting.
"I won't hurt you, Will," Kell was murmuring against the nape of his neck, his nose tickling the hair and warm breath finding the skin of his scalp. It made Will shiver. "I'll be true to my word."
And he was. All he did was hold Will close, the one hand brushing fingertips across Will's belly and chest through the shirt or tangle gently in his hair. Somewhere between the lazy caressing and the soft tickle of breath against his neck, Will fell asleep.
* * * * * * * *
He woke up with a heavy weight across his chest and thighs. Will blinked into awareness and realized the prince had one of his arms and a leg draped over him, the blankets tangled around their hips, and Kell's face was buried in the curve of his shoulder.
The prince was still deep asleep and Will – just a bit guiltily – took the opportunity and allowed himself to take a good look at the expanse of bared arm and torso. The color and texture of the skin was too alluring not to touch and his fingers slid down the arm to the ribs and waist almost of their own accord. It must have tickled because the muscles underneath twitched and Kell grunted something unintelligible against Will's shoulder.
He put a firmer touch on the skin then and let his hand move back up. Strong, wiry muscles honed from carrying around pounds of armor and weaponry under surprisingly soft, warm skin. Noble smooth, his grumpy old grandfather would call it, as he always grumbled when he spotted a noble or another that he thought had never done a good day's bodily work in their life. Will smiled; he knew this noble had done more than his share.
He moved his hands slowly up and settled with the strong beat of Kell's heart under his palm. He found himself counting the beats, measuring them against the rhythm of the breaths, and hastily moved his hand further. That was the path to more danger and concern than he cared for. His master had warned him of this; once he submerged in the rhythm of another being he'd be binding it to himself. A dangerous business, not physically or mentally so, but there were other conflicts that could arise, especially if the other being was the prince heir.
And that brought back the worries he had had the night before, matters of importance that the prince didn't seem to be too concerned about, but that Will of late couldn't help thinking about. He wanted to be with the prince, as a companion and sorcerer in the king's army, serving under the prince, but also on a much more intimate level which his heart was so insistent he be.
He could understand if the prince would have reservations about them being intimate, disrupting the royal line of heirs by taking one of them as a lover wasn't something one did lightly, not even a sorcerer. It could have serious repercussions and the result could be more devastating than anyone could foresee. But it seemed Kell didn't contemplate any such concerns. And that confused Will. So he needed to be the wiser of the two and keep things on a level that didn't threaten anyone or anything. But, gods, it was tearing him apart.
He must have found a particularly sensitive spot in his distraction, because the prince exhaled sharply through his nose and the arm across Will's chest tightened to hug him closer.
"Not fair, sorcerer," Kell murmured against his neck. "If I'm not allowed to touch, then the same should go for you." Kell's mouth found an earlobe and sucked it in between his lips to tickle it with the tip of his tongue. A hand crept up to caress Will's right nipple through the shirt and that sensation sent a jolt of pleasure through him. His own hand moved boldly down the prince's back to press him closer and he turned his head to find the mouth he wanted to kiss so badly.
And kiss they did; deeply, hungrily with tongues caressing and twining around each other. Kell propped himself up on an elbow over Will for a better angle and deepened the kiss. It left Will breathless.
"Breakfast is ready!" someone yelled in the corridor outside their room and banged rudely on the door.
The prince shot up in the bed, one hand fisted and raised as if in defense. "Gods of mercy!" he exclaimed followed by a string of foul curses when nobody broke through the door. The moment allowed Will to gather his breath and his wits.
"Oh, I forgot," he grumbled, a bit frustrated none the less. "I asked the matron to wake us early."
The prince looked down at him from his vigilant crouch, indignation in his eyes. "Why did you do that?" he wanted to know with just a little bit of annoyance in his voice.
Will sighed and pulled his legs free of the tangle of blankets. "Because we need to be up early and on our way. There's some way to go yet and we won't be there before nightfall anyway as it is now."
The prince muttered something not so princely, but got out of bed to put on fresh clothes anyway. Will wondered how long his mood would last this time and what he would have to do to soothe it.
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