Deeds of Their Past - 15. Chapter Fifteen

Once the sun finally came creeping along the stone wall, Nathan turned his body to face Brohm and poked at him softly to wake him.

“Just another hour, please?” Brohm whined.

“We should get moving.”

“Yuh, I know. Did you sleep okay?”

“With you keeping me warm? Yes and no.”

Brohm gave him a look. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Nathan laughed. “I greatly appreciated it, and we’ll leave it at that.”

After breakfast and packing up, they continued their way on the path. It was more of the same for most of the day. As luck had it, they came upon a narrow stream, water trickling its way down from one of the mountains. Both men were happy to refill their waterskins, given they only had one left that was full.

Nearing evening, on one side of the path, they came upon high ridges containing layers of multi-colour sediment. Some vegetation, mostly hardgrass, sprouted in patches, and windblown trees grew where they could. Rounding a bend, the large mouth of a cave in the ridge wall came into view.

“Think you’ll be okay to spend the night in there?” Nathan asked.

The big man eyed the black maw with apprehension. “I guess so.”

“You take care of the horses, and I’ll check it out.”

The floor slanted downward, and daylight quickly diminished as he descended. Allowing his eyes to adjust, he explored deeper, hugging the side of one wall, listening for the scrape and shuffle of animals.

“Nathan? Is it safe?” Brohm’s voice boomed and echoed across the faceted walls.

Nathan jumped in fright, and then listened again for animals. If there were any, they would surely be stirring now. Glancing back, Brohm’s large frame silhouetted against the bright sky.

“Seems to be,” Nathan said. “Come on down.”

Brohm, feet planted, peered into the darkness. “I can’t see you.”

Nathan climbed up and took Brohm’s hand, leading him into the dark. “Let’s find a place where the floor isn’t too rocky. My back’s still killing me from last night.”

Brohm’s breathing quickened as they delved deeper, his grip crushing Nathan’s fingers together.

“Ouch,” Nathan said, letting go of his hand. “Slow deep breaths, big guy.”

Brohm did so, and then nodded to continue. After twenty metres of slow shuffling along the side of the wall, the ground tapered and smoothed somewhat.

“This should do well enough,” Nathan said. “We should get some wood from the trees back on the path.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Brohm said quickly, spinning on a heel and scrambling to the exit.

Nathan couldn’t help but laugh.

He struck camp while Brohm made three trips, carrying branches and logs chopped from a downed tree. The fire brought much needed warmth to the cave, and the light revealed that the cavern narrowed and continued deeper. Once Brohm’s uneasiness subsided, they sat next to each other on a blanket, watching the fire.

“I’m proud of you, Brohm,” Nathan said, chewing a piece of tough jerky.

“Why?”

“Because a week earlier, there’d be no chance you’d be down here willingly. You’ve come a long way in a short time.”

Brohm scratched the back of his head. “It’s a stupid fear. I reckon the sooner I get over it, the better.”

Nathan nodded.

“And, uh . . . thanks,” Brohm mumbled.

Nathan leaned against him, shoulder to shoulder. They continued to eat in silence, watching shadows dance off the craggy surroundings. Nathan attempted a sidelong glance, yet found himself caught in the act. Brohm’s piercing eyes held his gaze, and he found himself breathless again. The sharp shadows accentuated the hard features of his face, and to Nathan, he was simply perfect.

“What’re you thinking about?” Brohm asked.

Nathan broke the gaze and looked away, feeling his face flush. “I figure it’s obvious.”

Brohm chuckled quietly. “Yuh, I guess it is.”

“I just . . . can’t help it. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. Nobody’s ever felt the way you do about me. It’s kinda nice.”

“For a long time, I always thought I’d never need anyone, but I realize now I’ve been a fool. I denied myself, and been miserable because of it.”

Brohm listened silently, allowing him to continue.

“What I’m trying to say is that I’ve never met anyone like you before. When you smile, my heart races. When we’re close, I feel impervious to the troubles the world brings us.”

Nathan allowed himself a long breath. “As much as I try, there’s no way I can deny that I love you, Brohm.” He couldn’t remember ever feeling so vulnerable at that moment, and watched the big man’s face with intent.

At last, he spoke. “I care a lot for you, Nathan. But I dunno if I could say I feel the same way.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“Wait, I’m not done. Maybe I do love you. I just don’t know.”

“I’m begging you. Tell me what’s going on in that head of yours!”

Brohm let out an exasperated sigh. “I like what’s going on between us, but at the same time, it scares me something awful.

“I’ve only ever been with women, but they never really interested me. All the other guys would just talk on and on about girls, but I couldn’t see what was so good about them.

“Meanwhile, all I could think about was my squadmate, Tucker. But there was no way I was gonna act on that. The guys would’ve killed me.”

He took a deep breath and wiped his eyes before continuing. “You’re the first person I’ve ever told what I really wanted. Gods. If pa had ever found out . . .”

“Who cares if he did? So you happen to enjoy the company of men. Whose business is that but your own?”

“But it’s wrong, isn’t it?”

“Lots of folk would have you believe that nonsense,” Nathan scoffed. “Aside from one small detail, we’re no different than anyone else.”

Nathan allowed him to digest the information. He felt awful for pushing the subject and putting him in such a state. Nevertheless, he was apologetically and selfishly happy to understand exactly what was going on between them.

“I won’t lie. It feels good being with you,” Brohm said. “But let’s just take this slow, yuh?”

“Your friendship means too much to me. I wouldn’t risk it by doing something you wouldn’t want.”

Brohm glanced back through wet eyes. “You’re a good friend,” he said, pulling him into a crushing hug, releasing the tension Nathan felt between them.

They spoke quietly for another hour before settling down to sleep. Brohm coaxed him to lie down on his side, laying a thick blanket over him, and snuggling up as the night before.

“You warm?” he asked in his ear.

With the fire at his front, and Brohm’s warm body at his back, the cold air had no way to reach him. If Brohm was using it as an excuse to be close, Nathan didn’t care. He enjoyed it all the same.

“I am now,” he replied, a smile on his face.

* * *

Nathan woke some time during the night. The fire had died down, and in the dim light, the cave seemed different. More expansive, oppressive. It was then he realized the blanket was cold, and found himself alone.

“Brohm?” he called out, peering about.

There was no answer, however Nathan assumed he was simply relieving himself. Rising up, he placed another log on the fire, stopping short as a man’s voice called out, distant and unclear. He held still as stone and strained his ears, yet heard nothing more. Blaming his imagination, he tucked himself under the blanket, waiting for Brohm’s warm embrace.

The voice spoke again, and he knew without a doubt that it came from deeper within the cavern. Retrieving his dagger, he padded over to the entrance of the dark passageway. Firelight did little to penetrate far in, but the walls glistened with moisture, helping to reveal the way. After a few steps in, he listened again. The voice was closer, and while he still couldn’t make out the details, one word stood out. Stream.

Several metres farther, the passage veered to the right. He peered into the black, astonished to see faint flickering light coming from deeper within.

“Can you see a way across?” echoed toward him.

It sounded like Brohm, and Nathan called his name, but no reply came. With careful steps, he headed toward the mysterious firelight.

“Okay, I’ll go first to make sure it’s safe,” Brohm’s voice continued.

The passageway split into two, and he continued left toward the light. It grew in brightness very gradually, allowing him to scout ahead and step with more confidence.

“Okay, your turn. But be careful. That one rock is really slippery,” Brohm’s voice said, very close now.

“Brohm!” he yelled out.

Still no reply.

The path split again, but the flickering firelight emerged from both directions, and he was puzzled which route to take.

“What are you talking about? If you know you’re going to slip, you can be prepared for it. Just be careful.”

Nathan sprinted left toward the sound of Brohm’s voice. The light source originated from a cavern ahead, and he could hear water flowing.

“Careful. Nathan!”

He skidded to a stop at Brohm’s warning, and then heard a sudden splash. The firelight went out. All was pitch black.

“Brohm!” he cried. “Damn it, answer me!”

All he could hear was the rush of water at the end of the corridor, and his own ragged breathing as he slipped into panic. Feeling his way along the slimy wall, he carefully stepped back the way he came, yet found himself at a dead end. Unbelieving, he felt his way back along the opposite wall, yet it led him to the same cavernous room with flowing water. Unable to find a way out and overwhelmed by fear, Nathan collapsed to his knees.

“You’re so close.”

Now another voice filled his ears. It oozed menace, and Nathan instantly recognized the source. It was the daemonic face he saw at the farmhouse. He cringed as warm breath crept along the back of his neck, and two clawed hands roughly grabbed his shoulders, digging into his flesh, holding him down. Nathan dropped his dagger, gasping in pain.

“You’re so close, I can taste you, and I’m so very hungry,” the hellish voice continued in his ear.

Burning red eyes floated into view, emitting enough light to expose the face he dreaded. Thick lips pulled back to reveal a slimy tongue snaking its way across jagged teeth, and Nathan choked, on the verge of being sick as it licked his face. Satisfied by his reaction, the beast shoved the thick tongue into his open gagging mouth, and wrapped its lips around his in a grotesque kiss.

Nathan tried to pull away, but the daemon held a firm grip. The disgust was too much to take and he vomited into the beast’s mouth, and it moaned ecstatically, relishing the act. Nathan’s body suddenly went limp, as though the kiss stole from his lifeforce, and fighting back now seemed impossible.

Pulling away, the beast gently lay him down on his back. Cold and paralysed, Nathan stared wide-eyed as the daemon hunched over his naked frame, its genitalia sitting heavy on his chest.

“Try to enjoy this,” the daemon whispered.

Nathan cried out in hysterical, all-encompassing terror as the beast leaned forward, forcing its phallus into his open mouth.

* * *

Brohm shook Nathan awake.

He gasped and coughed, reeling about in the dim glow of the fire, now only embers. Sullen morning light emerging from the cave’s exit did nothing to illuminate their camp. Heaving at the remnants of the putrid taste lingering in his mouth, he managed to control the urge to vomit. Brohm held him close, his face creased with concern.

“What’s wrong?”

Nathan managed to catch his breath, and peered deeper into the cave. “Just . . . just a nightmare.”

“Again? Come on, let’s get outta here.”

They packed up quickly and climbed out of the cave to find a dusting of snow covering the ground. The stark contrast between the falling white snow and dark wet stone lent an air of desolation. A leaden sky completed the scene, complimenting Nathan’s mood perfectly.

The path widened, allowing them to ride next to each other, yet they travelled in silence for most of the morning. Finally, Brohm asked the question Nathan knew was coming.

“So, what was the nightmare about?”

“It was awful. I was trying to find you, but got lost in the dark.”

Nathan decided to keep the worst part of the dream to himself.

“They’re just dreams though,” Brohm said.

“I’m telling you, this is different. They don’t drift away like forgotten memories.”

“It’s nothing to be afraid of once you’re awake.”

“That’s what I’m trying to say. These don’t seem like dreams. They feel too real.”

Brohm briefly looked over to Nathan. “C’mon l’il buddy. Just try to forget about it.”

Despite Nathan’s best efforts, the nightmare kept repeating in his head.

Grey skies continued unabated, and the light flurries became a cold drizzle by evening. Despite Brohm’s few attempts to lift his spirits, Nathan’s stubbornly dark mood remained. In the end, they set up camp under a small overhang, sitting with their backs against the wall. Without a word, Brohm pulled him close, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. The simple gesture helped to soothe his mind, allowing him to close his eyes without fear of his dreams.

The next morning brought a thick fog, slowing their progress, but it soon melted away to reveal blue skies. A crisp breeze blew at their back, and the oppression he felt dissipated with it, lightening the mood between the two men.

By early afternoon, they crested the final rise. Beyond held a majestic view of a wide, green valley that Nathan judged to be at least a kilometre down from their location. The vale cut its way west, veering north farther out, with colossal mountains lining both sides. A river, sparkling blue in the sunlight, snaked its way through the greenery.

“Beauty, yuh?” Brohm said in wonder.

Nathan nodded, taking it all in. After nearly a week of grey rock, the sudden colour seared his eyes, yet he found it impossible to look away. The trail lazily switchbacked down the side of the mountain. Once halfway down, they came upon a great cascading waterfall that fed the river below. The water crashed its way across many ledges, with a particular shelf large enough to step onto safely.

Nathan dismounted and called back to Brohm. “Want to take a shower?”

“You know that water is going to be just above freezing, yuh?”

Nathan nodded with a sly grin, and quickly stripped down to his loincloth while Brohm looked on.

“You coming?”

The big man laughed, leaping from his horse and proceeded to do the same. The fine spray alone gave Nathan a shiver, and as he dipped a foot into the water, a shriek escaped him, astounded at how ludicrously cold it was. He turned to glance back at Brohm, and nearly lost his footing at the sight he beheld. The big man lumbered toward him, completely naked, his manhood swinging like a mesmerizing pendulum. Nathan averted his eyes in a lame attempt not to blatantly stare, but found himself unable to wipe the ridiculous grin off his face.

“If you want to do it right, off with this,” Brohm said, pulling at the cloth around Nathan’s waist.

Once again, Nathan found himself aroused by his forward nature. He did as Brohm suggested, and stepped into the falling water, immediately regretting it. The cold was so intense it burned his skin. Meanwhile, Brohm seemed unfazed and happily scrubbed his face and body. Nathan did the same with numb hands, but could only last a minute before needing to escape the frigid water.

“What? You done already?” Brohm teased, slapping his behind roughly as he passed.

Nathan jumped in surprise and laughed, nearly slipping on the wet rock. Donning his loincloth, he padded over to a large, inclining rock nearby. The warm sun beaming down made it hot to the touch, but laying on it helped to regain his strength lost from the biting cold. With eyes closed, he listened to Brohm’s heavy gait, water dripping from his frame. With a grunt, he lay beside Nathan to dry off.

“That was nice, yuh?”

“Mmhmm,” Nathan assented, eyes still closed.

Once Brohm was settled, Nathan peeked over with one eye to find him reclining, hands behind his head and one foot planted to hold himself in place. He ogled his thick form, powerful muscle rippling under the surface. The urge to roll on top of him was nearly overpowering, but he held back, telling himself Brohm would be the one to initiate anything that would happen between them. After that dam broke, the big man would just have to deal with Nathan’s torrent of lust. Lost in his fantasy, he hadn’t notice Brohm catching him in the act of staring, again.

“Enjoying the view?” he asked, chuckling.

By the time they reached the valley floor, the sun was nearing the top of the western mountains, drawing massive jagged shadows in their wake. Using the light they had left, they decided to push their horses to a gallop. The flat terrain allowed them that luxury, something they couldn’t do safely while traversing the mountain range.

That evening, they set up camp in a copse of trees surrounded by thick grass swaying in the mountain breeze. Wood was collected, and Brohm soon had a roaring fire built while Nathan cared for the horses. They sat together and ate, their backs against a large oak.

“What I wouldn’t give for some real food,” Brohm grumbled as he tore a chunk of tough jerky with his teeth.

Nathan patted his leg in consolation. “Any idea how much farther we have to go?”

“I reckon another couple of days at the rate we were riding this evening. Once we hit the main road, there should be an inn we can visit on the way to Morringstone.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, big guy.”

“But my back is killing me. I miss sleeping in a bed.”

Nathan sighed. “So do I, but it’s a big risk. The less we’re seen, the better.”

Brohm pouted, tearing off another chunk of jerky while Nathan lay back to gaze up at the stars peeking through the canopy of leaves. A gentle breeze passed through, bringing with it a familiar smell.

Jasmine.

The dream of the meadow flashed in his mind’s eye. Even now, he could hear the distant rush of the narrow river fed by the mountain waterfall. He sat up suddenly, catching Brohm by surprise.

“Everything alright?”

Nathan scratched his head, peering around. Even in the dark, he could tell this wasn’t the place from his dream. He felt crazy to even consider it should’ve been. “Yeah, I just remembered a dream I had.”

“Another nightmare?”

“Not quite. You were in it though.”

“Yuh? What was I doing?”

“You saved me, bringing me to a meadow similar to this.”

Brohm grinned. “Sounds like an okay dream to me.”

“I’ll take first watch. I’m not very tired,” Nathan said.

“That’s good, ’cause I am.”

While it was much warmer than nights past, the chill from the mountains still seeped down into the valley. Pulling up his hood, he wandered away from the copse and into the grass. The jasmine breeze returned, filling him with a sense of longing, melancholy. Everything seemed so right in his dream, and it was something he desperately wanted now in his waking life.

He glanced back at the copse, the firelight flickering from within. While he couldn’t see Brohm, knowing he was there filled him with a trace of comfort. A smile crossed his face, bringing with it hesitant hope for the future.