A Question of Tine - 5. Lovers and Legends…

The sun filtered down through the forest canopy dappling the bodies of the young lovers. At some point in the night, Bra-Neche had removed his wet clothing and found warmth in Tine’s presence. Tine snuggled as close as possible to Bra-Neche who eventually awoke, warm and content. They lay together, both awake, neither wanting this moment to end. Finally Bra-Neche spoke, “What do you know of the Imperials?”

“Imperials claim to have descended from the old gods. Family lines are broken into Houses, and the Houses with the purest lines are noble. They rule over the rest with the house of the Dragon Lord being the most pure, and most sought after. Some of the houses send their sons here for training, but not all of them, and never the noble. Imperials like to think they are not human, although they are shaped like one.” Tine turned to face him and grinned, “And you don’t seem to mind you and me laying together for pleasure, but you didn’t seem too happy to hear that two humans might do the same.”

“No. Well, yes, some of that at least.” Bra-Neche sighed, “All Imperials, no matter rank, have two things in common — Gavi’s blood flows through our veins and our mothers are priestesses in the Temple of the Moon.”

“Your mother is a priestess?”

Bra-Neche nodded. “All our mothers belong to the Moon, but there is more, so much more. Gavi has decreed that we choose someone -- someone like you -- that will share our lives, our very soul. Our bodies… we produce…” Bra-Neche sighed, “I am not explaining this well.” He took a deep breath and tried again, “We cannot breed with just anyone, our… ejaculate… is poisonous to all those except the Daughters of the Moon and the Sons of Suril. When we wrestled, I ejaculated on you. It could have, and should have, killed you. That is why they cleaned it off quickly and probably made you bathe afterward as well. With my pedigree being as near to pure as possible, even that little exposure should have made you very sick with immediate angry red raised welts. My soul leapt for joy when that didn’t happen.”

Tine smiled. “I’m glad that didn’t happen either. I would rather not be dead, but I did become sick. Does that mean we shouldn’t?”

“Do you feel sick this morning?” Bra-Neche asked.

“No, not at all. In fact I feel very good this morning,” then Tine realized why he was asking, “Did you? On me? Again?”

Bra-Neche blushed, “While I was sleeping. I took off my trews, but some still got on your back. There is no red at all.”

“So what does all this mean? For us?”

“Do you know the story of Suril?”

Tine shook his head, “I’ve never heard it.”

“Have you heard of Gavi?”

“Gavi the dragon-slayer? Of course!”

“Dragon-slayer? Gavi was no dragon-slayer! Blasphemy! You will not teach our sons that Gavi was a dragon-slayer!”

“There’s a different story?” Tine asked softly, having never seen Bra-Neche so upset before this.

“Gavi was not a dragon-slayer,” Bra-Neche sighed. “Maybe I should tell you the story as I learned it, then you will see.”

Tine nodded and laylaid quietly next to his lover to hear his tale.

“In the beginning of time lived the dragon, Costan. But he was lonely for there were no others of his kind. So, he coaxed the Moon Maiden to him and spilled his seed in her womb. In time, she gave birth to Gavi and the Daughters of the Moon. Now Costan was not alone, he had a son. In the fullness of time, Gavi mated with the Daughters of the Moon who, in turn, gave birth to sons and moons. Then Gavi took a male lover, Taveh, which displeased Costan, as dragons did not mate with man. In his anger, Costan cursed his son causing his seed to be poisonous to mankind. In his grief over Taveh’s death, Gavi grabbed his father by the throat, and flung him far into the heavens where his serpentine form can still be seen. Time passed and Gavi waged war on his father’s other children who could couple with whom they pleased. One day, at the end of the battle, Gavi came across a beautiful young man who was dying. He reached out to Gavi and begged Gavi to couple with him before he died so that he could know the touch of love. Knowing his seed would kill the young man who said his name was Suril, Gavi protested, but agreed to hold him closely. Suril’s blood entranced Gavi and being half-dragon, he licked it, causing the wound to heal. Suril held onto life and begged Gavi to show him love. Gavi agreed, but first Suril had to allow him to treat his wounds. Suril begged Gavi to hurry as he licked the wounds clean and closed. When he finished the last, Suril still breathed. With a heavy heart, Gavi kept his word loving Suril until he fell asleep. When he awoke, Gavi expected to be snuggled to a corpse, but was surprised to see Suril awake and whole. They spent the rest of their lives together, loving each the other.” Bra-Neche smiled at Tine then, “For me, you are Suril, and for you, I am Gavi.” Bra-Neche whispered against Tine’s skin as his hands wandered.

Tine smiled,smileda warm flush rushing over his flesh. “There could be worse things than that, Bra-Neche.”

“You don’t mind that I will someday be the Dragon Lord?” His thumbs found two small brown buds and flicked them.

“Do you mind I do not know my pedigree?” Tine smiled and enjoyed Bra-Neche’s ministrations, encouraging his lover with his actions.

Bra-Neche shook his head. “I do not care.”

“Then why should I mind if you know yours?” Tine arched his back slightly allowing his body to rub against Bra-Neche’s body.

“My uncle says we are too young…” Bra-Neche confessed as his hands trailed to lower flesh, “but I know I could find no other as perfect for me as you.”

Bra-Neche kissed his way across Tine’s shoulders,

“Do you know what I’m going to do to you?”

He shook his head.

“Do you want me to do it anyway?”

Tine nodded.

Bra-Neche pulled Tine to him as they kissed, allowing Tine to feel his need. Tine shivered as he felt a deep need and desire for things yet experienced. When they parted, Bra-Neche smiled. “Do you want more?”

“Please,” Tine said softly as he pulled his lover to his body, “Love me, Bra-Neche, love me deeply.”

Bra-Neche growled, and loved him deeply.