Col and Andri: The Vanna Stallions

A Narrow Escape

Their first goal was in sight. The small company of travellers had left the Ruithin College at the ArMor-ys Redoubt, and several days on the High Plateau brought them to the ArMynydd horse herd. Col had followed their tracks, and now groups of horses grazed on the fresh Spring grass. The sight warmed the young Assistant Horsemaster’s heart.

“Look about for the herders. We should be discovered soon,” he cautioned his lover, Andri, the young bard-in-training.

“Look, a horse is coming to investigate us. Are we safe?”

“It looks like a dominant mare. They lead the herd, and the stallions must defend them all,” observed Col.

The mare, a beautiful grey, approached them, her ears swivelling around and her nose whiffing the air for their scent. Col made a soft, low horse sound—a greeting. The mare responded and stepped closer.

A sudden loud neigh split the air. “Here comes a stallion,” muttered Keven, who was their groom. “I’m glad all our horses are mares.”

Other horses lifted their heads from grazing, awaiting developments. Then the company heard a high whistle followed by a human voice. A rider was approaching. The stallion near them relaxed and tossed its head.

The rider was a young man with hair in a long, black braid, a sparse, dark beard and brown eyes that appraised the group of five with a look of intelligence and interest.

He addressed Col. “Greetings! I am a herder to this lot. I see a crest upon your coat of the ArMor-ys Redoubt stables, indicating you are a Horsemaster.”

“And I am Col, son of Kyan, of the Wanderer’s race. I’m assistant to Horsemaster Gabrien, leading this party on a quest for him. And I recognize you, Garyn ap Cai.”

“Wait! I know you. You travelled with us three—or was it four?—summers ago. Well, it seems you have found your place!”

Col grinned happily, remembering the dice games he played with the herders. He introduced Garyn to his companions, Andri, Keven and the two guards, Aled and Gethen.

Garyn escorted them through the herd until they reached the seasonal camp set by a river in a copse of trees.

“About half of us are here while the others tend the horses,” their guide explained. “But our Master Herder, Gleddyf Hir, is in camp. I can’t wait to see Gleddyf’s face when he finds you here.”

Master Herder Gleddyf welcomed them expansively. He heartily embraced Col and greeted the others with enthusiasm. His eyes lingered appreciatively over Andri.

Col noticed, and he laughed. “He is all mine—actually, we belong to each other. Remember I told you I was travelling to meet my heart’s companion when I was here before? This is he.”

“A Bard-in-training! Maybe you will sing for us this evening. And maybe we could interest you in a contest, perhaps? You do know that Col was acclaimed to have the most handsome cock?”

Col turned to Keven. “Why don’t you see to our horses; and bring the pack Horsemaster Gabrien sent for the Master Herder.”

“Yes, my Lord, I go . . .just when things are getting interesting!” Keven grumbled good-naturedly.

Andri settled near the fire beside Col and spoke to Gleddyf Hir. “I will be happy to sing for you, although my songs don’t have the power that my former Master, Brynnan Marec Mavrenn’s songs had.”

Garyn leaned forward eagerly. “He played for us when we met him, an old Warrior and their healer friend. They stayed at our camp. Geraint was the old Warrior’s name, and Col won a night with him!” He turned to Col, “You gave us scant details the next morning. Perhaps tonight, you could tell us more.”

Col smiled knowingly. “Perhaps,” he said.

“We will share a meal, then some entertainment, then Col and I will talk. I am sure he has news for me from Master Gabrien,” said Gleddyf Hir.

But as Col and the Master Herder spoke, Andri noticed another herdsman staring at him. This one was tall and heavily muscled, bearded and imposing. The young bard felt uncomfortable under the man’s stare, which had nothing of friendliness in it, and everything of lust.

*    *    *

Night had fallen, and after a successful evening, Col and Andri washed in the river before they retired to their tent. Andri stretched out and laid his head in Col’s lap. He felt relaxed. His songs had been well-received, allowing Col time to discuss his mission with Gleddyf Hir. Andri’s deep baritone voice, singing ballads of love, battle and sorrow, had captivated his listeners.

But now his thoughts turned to other things. Namely, his lover’s cock that was growing stiff beneath where his cheek rested. He rolled his naked body onto his stomach and curled over Col’s erect penis. He kissed it, then licked drops of pre-cum that formed on the tip.

“Tell me again of that night when your cock was acclaimed the most handsome in the herders’ contest,” Andri said.

“As long as you continue to admire it,” replied Col. He took the root of his cock in his hand and pressed it against Andri’s lips, sighing when he felt his lover take it in his mouth.

He began his story. “The herders voted Gleddyf Hir’s as the longest cock, Geraint’s as the thickest and Brynnan judged mine the fairest, but I think he was biased,” Col laughed.

Andri paused from sucking to say, “Go on.”

Col obliged. “I was asked to roll the dice to see who I would win as a partner: Gleddyf or Geraint.”

Andri paused in his tongue work. “Let me guess, your lucky throw won you Geraint!”

“You know it did. Shut up and keep sucking. Geraint decided to teach me how to fuck ass, but first, he fucked mine. It was my first time taking it. He was incredibly gentle. It was amazing—it didn’t hurt! It’s making me harder just thinking about it . . .”

“And then what?”

“Don’t stop. Then it was my turn to fuck Brynnan. On the other hand, stop sucking. I want to take your ass while I tell you.”

The young Horsemaster felt a deeper arousal sweep over him as he rolled Andri onto his back. He clearly remembered fucking the Bard, whose lithe, muscular body and even the pattern of silky black hair that swirled around each breast, running a line down to Brynnan’s cock, aroused him so much. He recalled the expression on the handsome face when he inserted his cock in Brynnan’s ass.

Col positioned himself above his lover and scooped a hand under Andri’s knee to spread his legs. Reaching in their bedside pack for the lubricant they carried, he poured some over Andri’s ass, then brushed his cock against the opening.

“I took Brynnan as he faced me, just as you are now, and I did what Geraint had done to me. I don’t have words to describe just how I felt, no—wait—I felt loved and honoured that Brynnan was letting me do this to him—“ Col pushed his stiff rod into Andri’s rectal passage.

Andri sighed deeply as he gazed at Col by the dim, red orb light. He remembered his own first time fucking ass—also with Brynnan, his then-Master, after he had saved the Bard’s life in the caves. He reached up and stroked Col’s nipples and chest, feeling the firmness of the pectoral muscle under his hand. Then Andri felt His lover grasp his cock and jerk him off in time to the thrusts that shook his body.

“I did this to him, too,” said Col as he jerked Andri’s cock harder, and I loved how his eyes shone, just as yours are shining now—even if they are weird and red in this light.”

Andri hit Col’s chest, then pulled hard on his nipples. “You’d better take that back!”

“Ves’tacha; I do take it back. Brynnan’s eyes were never weird and red—ouch! No, your eyes are beautiful. All of you is beautiful to me.” Pausing in his thrusts, Col leaned forward and kissed Andri, his tongue wrapping with his lover’s, their mouths open and joining in hunger for each other.

Andri pulled back and said, “And how did you make him cum?”

“I thrust harder, like this, and kept one hand on his cock. I could feel his excitement matching mine and knew he was about to cum—“ Col was gasping now as he pumped his cock rhythmically. “Then we—aah! Spirits of Night! I’m cumming!”

Andri felt Col’s mind merge with his as the orgasm triggered his own helpless surrender. His cum spattered his stomach, and slicked Col’s hand.

“I do love you, my dear Wanderer,” Andri murmured.

“And you are my very heart, ves’tacha,” replied his soulmate, drawing his cloak over them both.

And the two young lovers spent a very contented night.

*    *    *

The following morning, Col took Andri aside. “I have to spend most of the day with Gleddyf Hir looking at some mares. His men are currently rounding them up for us. I’ll take Keven with me—he’s a fair judge of horses, too. Will you be alright left to your own devices?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I have some practice and studying to do. I can’t get into any trouble doing that.”

Col eyed him with skepticism. “You’d be surprised. I speak as one who is a Master of Trouble—namely, a Master of getting out of it. You haven’t had my practice. Just take care.”

Andri laughed. “What could possibly—“

Col made a warding sign with his left hand. “Don’t say it! But I say kushti bok to you! May luck attend you.”

“I’ll be good, if it eases your mind!”

After Col had left, Andri took his harp and wandered over to the cooking area, where a fire burned in the stone fire pit. He sat on a nearby bench and plucked the harp softly, playing some of the teaching songs to himself. Herders coming in from their night shift brought plates of food and sat near him to eat, listening to him sing.

After their meal, one of the herders said, “Who is for a quick dice game before we turn in?”

Several voices answered him in agreement. Another herder glanced at Andri and asked, “What about you, young bard? Does your code of conduct prevent you from joining us in a game?”

Andri felt the challenge in the herder’s words. Did he think himself above their simple pastime? Almost despite himself, he answered, “Well, no. But it is forbidden to wager certain things, like disclosing secrets of our craft. What do you normally wager?”

“Nothing, you can’t pay. A service or skill. We can’t wager any part of our food rations or anything that would prevent us from working effectively, such as our tools. In your case, we would deem a song of value. Come, try your hand!”

Against his better judgment, Andri was drawn in. “Very well, but I won’t make any payments until after the game is done—I don’t want to keep anyone from his well-earned sleep.”

The others laughed. Six of the herders were up for the game, and they unrolled a large piece of horse hide as their gaming surface. They took bone dice out from a box kept near the fire.

“Our cook keeps track of them. Don’t worry; they are fair dice!” the herder who had invited Andri said.

The six men introduced themselves to Andri and settled around the horse hide. Taking turns to throw, they soon had a lively game going, and Andri was relieved the wagers were mostly all service-oriented.

“My throw. I wager any harness repairs the winner needs,” said one.

And so it went. Andri’s luck appeared no better or worse than the others, and he was beginning to relax when another herder announced his presence.

“Room for one more?” a deep voice announced.

As the others made room for him, Andri looked up and only just managed to conceal his surprise. It was the man whom he had noticed staring at him the previous evening, who had made him uncomfortable. The man introduced himself as Evynn and grinned wolfishly at Andri, although his smile did not reach his eyes.

Andri wanted the game to end, but there was no way he could bow out gracefully. He continued playing, and when he lost to Evynn, he recalled Col’s parting words and cursed himself for a fool. But it was only a song, wasn’t it?

Andri owed three songs after the game ended, and he paid two of them to the satisfaction of his listeners. But when he asked Evynn what song he wanted, the herder would not be satisfied but that Andri give it to him privately in his tent. The others tried to intervene, but the man would not be dissuaded.

Andri gave in. ‘After all, I am not helpless now,’ he thought. Resigned, he followed Evynn to where he lodged.

As the Spring Camp was semi-permanent, round hut circles had been constructed of stone, open and roofless. The herders pitched their shelters inside these, giving themselves much-needed protection against the strong winds that could blow across the plateau.

Evynn led Andri to one of these. There was headroom inside the canopy and a simple greenwood table and cot. Sheepskins made the bed look comfortable, though the place smelled of horse and sheep.

“Sit there, young bard, and I will tell you what I want.”

Andri complied, and Evynn settled beside him. What happened next was something Andri didn’t see coming. A large fist connected with his gut, knocking the breath from him. As he doubled over and gasped for air, he was hit again, now on the side of his head. He lost consciousness.

He awoke to find his wrists tied behind his back. His head throbbed. He was face down on the cot, and Evynn pulled his clothes off.

Surprisingly, the big herder spoke. “Relax and enjoy it. This won’t take long. But if you tell anyone of this, I will deny it and say it was by mutual agreement, and you will have an uncomfortable accident before you leave.”

Andri struggled to speak, but his gut pained him, so he stopped trying. Instead, he cast his mind out desperately towards Col. Andri’s mental communication skills were patchy at the best of times, and besides, even if he received an answer, it would be too late, he thought. But the young bard mustered his strength and called again, hoping against hope. He could hear Evynn fumbling with his clothes in haste to get to his victim.

Then—‘Ves’tacha, what is wrong?’

Andri desperately pictured his current circumstances, and just that image was enough.

‘Hold on, Andri, I will be there faster than the wind. And tell your attacker these words . . .’

As the words poured into his mind, Andri felt Evynn’s cock raking at his ass. He clenched himself tight but knew Evynn would strike and knock the breath from him again if he continued resisting. He had to speak now!

“If you rape me, it will spell your doom. My partner has the Sight, and he foresaw this. You have one warning. Don’t throw your life away.”

Evynn hesitated. “You are just trying to delay the inevitable. Open up to me, and I won’t hurt you.”

Andri gasped as his assailant’s cock pushed again at his ass. “It’s on your own head. Judgement comes now!”

Even as Andri spoke, the tent flap was ripped aside to reveal the imposing figures of the two guards, Aled and Gethen. Both had swords drawn. Evynn shouted in shock and reared back.

The older guard, Aled, forced the herder away at swordpoint while Gethen crossed to Andri and unbound his wrists.

“Are you alright? Has harm been done? Say the word, and we will slay this one who dares lay a hand on a Ruithin bard!” said Gethen, the fires of anger smouldering in his dark eyes.

Andri was shaken but managed to control himself enough to consider his options. He drew on his training to seek the correct solution. One option was to give Evynn a Shadow-song that could cripple his mind if he could muster the power, and although he was tempted, he rejected that path. Such an act could rebound on him in the future, and it went against his nature.

“I will not have blood spilled in this camp,” Andri said. “We are guests of Gleddyf Hir, and this man has broken the constraints of hospitality. Let the Master Herder judge him, although I will have my say, as will Col.”

Gethen helped him dress, even as Aled directed the herder to clothe himself. There was no fight in Evynn now. He seemed thoroughly taken aback by the swift response Andri’s words to him had wrought. At that moment, Andri suddenly heard the voice of Col among the herders gathered outside at the commotion.

Col’s mind brushed his with a feeling of love, relief and anger. ‘You have been beaten and nearly raped, but I am here now, ves’tacha. After we left, I had misgivings and contacted Aled, who has the mind-gift, to find you. It seems he arrived in time.’

Andri left the tent with Gethen close at his side. Spotting Col, he strode towards him. It was unusual to see this severe and commanding attitude in his lover, who was in frank conversation with Gleddyf Hir. Col turned and briefly embraced Andri, then held him at arm’s length. “You have a pretty bruise swelling up on the side of your face, but I am relieved to see you. What on earth did you get up to while we were gone?”

A herder volunteered an answer. “He just played a game of dice with us, Horsemaster. It seemed harmless, and the wagers were simple. Andri offered us his songs here, but Evynn insisted he listen to the song he won privately.”

“And no one thought to stop Evynn?” Gleddyf Hir addressed his men.

“We didn’t like it, but we did not think Evynn would attack an honoured guest,” said another.

“It is upon all of you to look after our guests. But I will not let this one man’s actions shame our camp or jeopardize the negotiations Col and I have.”

Gleddyf then turned to the unfortunate Evynn. “Do you have anything to say before I make a judgment?”

“I don’t know what came over me, Gleddyf,” he said, barely raising his eyes to the Master Herder. “I laid eyes on this young bard, and I . . .just wanted him. I have no excuse.”

“Col, what say you?” Gleddyf asked with a sigh.

“My judgement would be to send him back to the Redoubt, to the Ruithin court. Let them examine his mind and motive. All I know is that if he cannot be trusted with a guest, he cannot be trusted with the horses.”

“A good point,” said Gleddyf. “I agree with you. Now, Andri, would this judgement satisfy you, or do you wish to appoint an avatar to challenge him to a fight?”

Andri wistfully imagined asking his very competent lover, who had gained considerable expertise in sword-fighting from horseback, to beat his assailant. Instead, he recalled his erstwhile Master, Brynnan, who advocated justice tempered with mercy, and he answered simply. “The judgment is satisfactory.”

“You have two choices, Evynn,” said Gleddyf. “You can go directly to ArMor-ys with an escort, who can return with your replacement, or you can rebel and choose to become a wolf’s head, in which case every man’s hand would be turned against you. I am sorry I can’t trust you to be in our brotherhood any longer. May the Earth Mother guide you.”

Evynn hung his head. He seemed crushed but managed to say, “I will go peaceably to ArMor-ys.”

A herder stepped forward. He wasn’t tall but had a sturdy, compact frame and looked tough as old leather. “Gleddyf Hir, I volunteer to escort Evynn. He knows I don’t put up with nonsense, and besides, he might need someone to talk to.”

“I thank you, Caden. Prepare today and leave in the morning. In the meantime, I want you to stick to Evynn in the event he changes his mind.” Gleddyf addressed his men. “You lot: the fun’s over. Get back to work. I’ll see you in the field tonight.”

*    *    *

At the fire, a grizzled herder, the camp’s cook, handed Andri and Col clay cups of hot soup. “My soup will put the hairs back on your chest,” he said to Andri with a sympathetic look. “Go relax and think about better things, like the roast venison I will prepare for tonight’s meal. Where there’s food, there’s hope!”

Andri suddenly felt easier and laughed as he and Col headed towards the river. They found a spot on the bank where they could sit and watch the reeds waving at the river’s edge, with a pair of waterfowl swimming by.

“I can see I will have to broaden your curriculum: how to spot potential trouble and avoid it,” said Col, “and maybe some dice lessons. You have been too sheltered in the College and must have forgotten the lessons you learned on your journey from Torrent Mountain.”

Andri sighed deeply. “I know. It was foolish of me to go with that herder. I already felt uneasy with him but ignored my intuition. You were right to warn me of trouble.”

“I wouldn’t have left you, but Gleddyf and I discussed what to look for in the mares we need for the breeding program. There are some outstanding horses in the herd. I’d like to choose greys if they have the qualities we need. I can just see the foals they could produce with our Vanna stallions.”

Andri smiled despite the pain stiffening his face. “I’m glad you are looking forward to this, lover. I’m afraid my idiocy might have spoiled your enthusiasm.”

“I am a resilient person, ves’tacha, if you haven’t noticed by now. I think you are too. Or are you going to swear off sex forever after this incident?”

“Don’t be crazy! I have no intention of swearing off sex.”

“Good, because it was a trick question. So that means I can give you a quiet fucking up against that tree? No one is around,” Col winked suggestively.

Andri took Col’s hand, led him under the heavy cape of tree branches that surrounded them from the spreading willow and kissed him.

“Mmm . . .do it more,” murmured Col.

They embraced each other, with Col reaching down and unfastening his breeches. Andri turned around and grasped one of the multiple trunks of the willow, allowing Col to push down his own clothing enough to expose his ass.

“And I just happened to find some woundwort. The juice will be good for your bruises, but it’s also good for—other things,” Col said, crushing the leaves in his hand. The slippery juice coated his fingers, which he then pushed inside Andri’s ass. “Does that feel good?”

“Yes . . .”

“It will feel even better in a moment.” Col stroked his cock into hardness, coating it with more of the juice. He pressed the tip of his cock against Andri’s opening.

“Put it in!” Andri implored.

Col obliged. Once past the initial restriction, his cock slid inside the moist passage that gripped his member like a tightening fist. He groaned.

But just as he began to thrust, they heard a horse neigh. It seemed to be approaching them.

“Don’t stop,” begged Andri. “I don’t care who it is; they can just go away or come and suck my cock or something.”

“Is that an invitation?” said the familiar voice of the young herder with the long black braid, Garyn ap Cai.

“Garyn!” exclaimed Col. “Either go away or come here and join us!”

Garyn needed no further urging. He pushed himself between Andri and the tree and knelt. He grasped the young bard’s erect penis and slowly moved his hand back and forth before licking the pre-cum from the tip.

“Suck me, Garyn,” Andri said.

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, take my cock in your mouth.”

Garyn swallowed the entire length of the cock in one smooth move as, simultaneously, Col thrust hard into Andri’s rectal passage, knowing it would drive his lover wild. Andri, pinned between the two forces, could only moan and surrender to the feelings evoked. Between Garyn’s practiced throat muscles working his cock, and Col’s intense thrusting, it did not take long for Andri to reach the peak of his excitement.

“I can’t hold off! Cum in me, too, lover.”

Col directed Garyn, “Jerk yourself off harder while you suck, so I can see.”

Garyn did as he was told, timing the rhythm of his sucking, and jerking his exposed cock in time to Col’s fast pumping.

Andri was already cumming in Garyn’s mouth. Col, however, held himself back until Garyn reared back and coaxed the spurting cum out of his cock. The creamy liquid splashed out and coated his hand, and the sight of it triggered Col’s ejaculation.

“Take my cum, ves’tacha!”

As Col’s spasms subsided, Andri twisted in his arms to face his lover, and they kissed with intense fervour. Garyn stood and joined them, and the three shared deep kisses and embraces.

Andri was aware of feeling deeply relaxed and comfortable with Garyn’s participation, which had been loving and respectful. The contrast between that and the herder Evynn’s attempted use of force reassured him that he was safe and welcome in the camp. It was as if Garyn had been sent to redeem the uncomfortable atmosphere that had persisted in the face of Andri’s assault, and perhaps he had.

Col sent a thought into his lover’s mind; ‘I can see Gleddyf Hir’s hand in this. Would you like to repeat the experiment tonight? Garyn is a fine lad.’

‘I’d like that. I’m comfortable with Garyn. It’s like when we get together with Celyn at the College.’

As they walked back together, with Garyn leading his horse, Col framed the question. “Andri and I would like your company tonight if you are not on duty. Will you come?”

“I will come any way you like,” laughed Garyn.

*    *    *

To be continued . . .