Ekleipsis (Fantasy Romance - LGBT, manXman)

Chapter 5

"So beautiful," said Ithildin reverently.

He lay in the grass, next to Lielle, arms behind his head, and stared at the moonless sky dappled with stars. The steppe had drunk in the summer sun, and now the earth was warm against his back. Blades of grass prickled lightly. A breeze cooled the skin pleasantly. The night had spread her black sequined velvet over them. In the dark, countless points of multi-colored light twinkled like fireflies, like sparks of magic fire blooming within a crystal.

It was like floating over a bottomless deep, dotted with the reflections of elfin lanterns. Ithildin could imagine himself back in Greyna Thialle, under the overhanging tree branches that blocked out the stars, looking into the depths of the SiallamainYlarLake, waiting for the celebrations to start.

He could. But why would he? There would be absolutely no point to it. Not for a moment could he forget where he actually was: in the Wild Steppe, under the dark boundless sky, on his way to the unknown. Lying next to his lover, exhausted by wanton caresses. From the distance, where the campfires burned, came the noise of the Essanti's raised voices, laughter and shouts that mingled with the crackling of wood on the avid flames and the hiss of fat droplets on hot coals.

They were alone. Their insatiable Essanti stud went, after their lengthy roll in the grass, to bid his friends farewell. This had been a nightly ritual, ever since they had left Kintaro's camp and traveled through the Essanti lands heading for the borders of the distant mysterious Arislan, a country no elf had gone to before. Or, if he had, never told his kin about it.

They were alone, but Kintaro's invisible presence still hung around them. Unusually, they could not hear his voice, but his clothing and sword lay nearby; his agate earrings swung from Lielle's ears (the Chevalier had tried them on and forgot to give them back); his scent still clung to skin. Ithildin no longer thought it gross, but arous ... just rousing.

Since they had left Kintaro's camp, the now ex-chieftain did not bother them much. As if he was giving Ithildin the time to get used to him before they would be spending all their time together. Before it would become just the three of them under one roof, in one bed, sharing more than just their feelings for the green-eyed red-haired Lielle.

These very feelings the barbarian stubbornly denied, even after having vaguely alluded to them himself. For example, once Alva pressed him about why Kintaro, whose tribe was one of the three largest in the Wild Steppe, suddenly fancied stepping down as chief and taking off in search of adventure. He was fishing for a compliment. But he had forgotten he was talking to an uncouth barbarian instead of a court sycophant.

"Wanted to split for a long time," Kintaro said, nonchalant. "Learned everything there is about fighting, got to the top, screwed every guy worth screwing. What's left? So made up my mind to go. See the world, try my luck. Maybe, use my sword to get myself a throne. Conn of the Thousand Battles did, after all. You'd be my queen, and the elf could be the Prime Minister."

"So I'd be your bedwarmer, and the elf would be responsible for the affairs of state?" asked Alva sulkily.

"You both would be my bedwarmers. He'll be the Prime Minister because of his premonitions and things."

And Kintaro kissed Alva to shut him up. And he never even told him how gorgeous and desirable he was, as Alva, spoilt by his previous lovers, was angling to hear. Ithildin doubted Kintaro had ever said anything like that to Alva.

"They say that the new moon is an auspicious start to a journey," said Lielle pensively. "Kintaro said that today we reached the end of the Essanti lands. Moonless nights make me antsy."