Chapter 2: Chapter 2
The sun must have been close to setting when they finally came to a stop. Pan had felt the heat abating for a while and now there was even a hint of the desert night chill in the air. He felt hands on his legs and the powerful arms of the rider working in unison to lower him roughly from the horse. As his feet touched the ground, his muscles failed him and he fell to the sandy ground, grimacing as the weight of his body came crashing down onto one elbow.
“Get up, boy!” one of the men growled.
He struggled to right himself and used his bound hands to push himself upwards, but again he failed. He felt a hand at the back of his neck, and grabbing fingers. Someone pulled him up by the scruff of the neck as though he were an errant puppy.
“Walk!”
Pan put all his concentration into placing one foot in front of the other while trying to stay upright; not such an easy task on sand. Yet after no more than half a dozen paces, he was walking as well as he ever had and in doing so escaped any further manhandling.
After only a short way, the ground became hard, like rock. And cold. The rapid change in temperature made him shiver and he could feel his flesh contracting. There was a knocking sound and the squeaking of a gate or a massive door opening, then more walking. More doors opened until finally they came to what must have been a large room for the sound of the guards’ footsteps echoed.
“Is this him?” The voice was loud and deep, and strangely familiar.
“Yes, my lord,” came the reply.
“Show me.”
Pan felt suddenly alert. His weary body flooded with adrenalin. My lord?Who could warrant such a title? There was no other king but Seronisis.
The bag was removed and standing in front of Pan was a slightly older version of Seronisis. The man’s hair was dark and long, though his face was devoid of hair. His torso was slender and toned. The desert sun had tanned it a deep brown, which accentuated the whites of the man’s eyes and teeth. He wore a simple robe, which flowed to the floor and was open at the front so Pan could see the shaved pubic area above the man’s pendulous cock and balls.
“So you are Pan, consort to Seronisis?”
Pan nodded once.
The man stepped forward. “My brother has chosen well,” he said, tracing the palm of one hand down the length of Pan’s torso.
Brother?Never before had Seronisis mentioned a brother. Often he had spoken fondly of his mother and father, now with the gods, but never a brother.
“I am Bathor, brother of Seronisis. Exiled brother.” Bathor grabbed Pan’s cock and squeezed it. “No doubt you’ve heard of me?”
Pan bowed his head and backed away. “No, sir,” he croaked. His cock slid from Bathor’s hand.
“I guess that’s to be expected. I’ve no doubt the shame my brother feels for treating his own flesh and blood in the unfortunate manner he has gets to be quite overwhelming.”
Pan remained silent. While he listened to Bathor, he wondered why the king had never mentioned his own brother before. Why had his beloved Seronisis banished him? Knowing the king as intimately as he did, he knew without any doubt that whatever the reason, it must have been a damned good one. Still, he would listen carefully to this man and reveal nothing. Whatever had happened between Seronisis and the man claiming to be his brother was between them. There was no question of him betraying the man he loved.
“You!” Bathor pointed to one of the guards. “Why are you standing there like a dog without a tree to piss on? Go and fetch my guest some refreshment. And you, and you! Go and prepare a bath.” Bathor placed a hand on Pan’s shoulder. “I’m afraid these savages are incapable of having a single original thought of their own. Alas, those beneath the table must be thankful for crumbs.”
The sound of footsteps hurrying across the floor towards them had Pan’s attention. The guard had returned with a tray containing a large pitcher, two glasses and some grapes. In the blink of an eye Pan had downed two glasses of fresh water and had plucked a trio of grapes from their stems in readiness to eat once he had finished the water.
“Careful, my friend,” said Bathor. “You don’t want to make yourself sick. There’s plenty of food and refreshment here. You shall have more than enough, but for now I think it best if you follow my guard to the bathroom.”
Without a word of thanks, Pan plucked a few more grapes from the bunch and pushed them into his mouth as he followed the guard across the white tiled floor of the large room.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone