To Redeem His People

Interlude: Col and Andri

As Brynnan and his companions continued their journey south to the Narib City-State, the young Wanderer, Col, was approaching the final destination of his journey. As he neared the ArMor-ys Redoubt and the Ruithin College gates, he experienced a sense of wonder at the sight. He had come down from the high plateau, through the mountain gap called ‘Pass of the Sun,’ accompanying the herders and their horses that they drove before them.

He was filled with purpose. His heart yearned to behold the face of his beloved friend, the young singer, Andri, currently a student at the College. The herders said farewell to him and took their horses to rest at the nearby mountain pasture while Col approached the gates.

Guards and two Ruithin priests waited at the entrance. They greeted Col courteously despite his rough clothing and inquired of his business.

“I am sent from Brynnan Marec Mavrenn with a personal message to the Grandmaster Neven-Tanet. I met him and his companions on the High Plateau, and I also was once their friend.”

The older Ruithin priest looked closely at Col. He saw a young man with light brown skin and long, curling black hair tied back with a leather thong. His dark eyes were framed with long lashes. He was a comely youth. The red-robed priest held out a hand and lightly touched it to Col’s temple. “I feel the truth in what you say. Welcome! And enter.”

Col was instructed to follow the younger priest. They passed through courtyards and into a grey stone building.

“Here is a room for you where you can rest and bathe. An attendant will be sent to you, and we will enquire when the Grandmaster may see you. It normally takes some days, but I sense that your message is urgent, coming as it does from Marec Mavrenn.”

Col was both relieved and anxious. The herders had told him many tales of the Redoubt, its occupants, and the mysterious and powerful Grandmaster.

He settled in, and presently a young lad entered wearing the dark green robes of a student. He brought a change of clothing along with food and drink. Col was very tempted to ask if he knew of Andri but managed to hold his peace. After eating, he bathed himself thoroughly, as Geraint had taught him, to prepare himself for his reunion with his dear friend.

*    *    *

The orbs in the room gave off a soft light as evening fell when Col was summoned. A different priest in red robes greeted him.

“The Grandmaster will see you now. You must follow the protocols I will give you. Don’t be alarmed when you meet: the Grandmaster can see into minds and hearts, and no doubtful intent can be concealed from him. Just be as open and honest as you can. You will not be harmed.”

The priest led him through many passages to a different part of the building. Col looked at the beautiful mosaics and the stone carvings on portals and pediments. Stone foliate heads peered down at him, and the young man felt as if they could truly see him. A slight scent of resinous incense brushed the air. From an unknown source, he heard faint chanting of many voices. Col found it hypnotic, and he shook his head to stay alert. Finally, they reached a set of high carved oak doors. Two men dressed in the robes of acolytes opened them.

Col was led deeper inside, through three more doors until, at last, they entered a wide chamber with pillared alcoves along each side. A raised dais faced him across a shallow reflecting pool. The ancient-looking man, white-haired and bearded, seated there, crooked a finger. Col approached until he was close to the Grandmaster.

“Be seated, Col, son of Kyan of the Wanderers,” the Grandmaster said in a quietly resonant voice. “I understand you have been in contact with Brynnan Marec Mavrenn, Servant of Ravens, as he is known. You have a message for me.”

“Yes, Grandmaster. But I don’t have the words. Brynnan put the message into my mind. He said you could read it.”

“Come, sit beside me, young Col. I will touch you, and you will feel as if you dream. It will not hurt.”

Col summoned up his courage and sat beside the Master. Neven-Tanet reached out and placed a cool, dry hand on Col’s temple. Immediately he felt deeply relaxed. Images and words streamed through his mind, too fast for him to grasp. He took a deep breath and let them go, trusting that the Grandmaster would do him no harm. Then the probe withdrew, and Col felt fully aware once more.

“So,” said the Grandmaster, “The Bard is learning his mind shields. Has he spoken to you of the Invaders?”

“Yes, Lord. I have felt no troubling thoughts from them in my mind, but then I am a simple Wanderer. Knowledge of horses is my skill, not fighting strangers from the stars.”

“About your disposition. You have come to be reunited with Brynnan’s apprentice, who studies here. I have no objection. We are in need of skilled horse trainers and, as Brynnan suggests, I will appoint you as an apprentice to our very capable Horsemaster, Gabrien. And you may share accommodation with your young friend. Brynnan feels that your bond may become a significant factor in Andri’s development. He shows great promise. How say you, young man?”

Col’s heart soared. He had not expected such generosity and understanding. He thanked the Grandmaster with brief but heartfelt words.

“When may I see Andri?” Col asked.

“You may fetch your belongings, and I will have you escorted to his room to wait for him. But I expect you to report to the Master of Horses early in the morning. You will give him good service, and I shall be informed of your progress.”

Col bowed deeply and was escorted out by an acolyte.

*    *    *

Left alone in Andri’s room, Col could hardly contain himself and hoped the wait would not be extended. He gazed around the chamber, small but with sufficient space for a surprisingly large bed, two carved chairs with curved legs, floor cushions and a table where books and scrolls were laid. A lap-harp of polished oak sat on a stand in the corner. Col noticed a long, ash-wood staff, such as was used in certain forms of hand-to-hand fighting and was surprised. Then he remembered Brynnan telling him that martial arts were part of the student curriculum, taught for mental discipline.

He heard footsteps approaching in the corridor. They paused, then the door opened, and Andri came in. He did not notice his friend’s presence for a few moments while he set down a scroll. Then he straightened and turned.

Col thoroughly enjoyed the range of expressions crossing Andri’s face: surprise, shock, realization and joy.

“Col!” he shouted and threw himself into his friend’s arms. Col embraced him in return, and they kissed with eager abandon. Tongues probed and intertwined, lips were gently bitten. They could not get enough of each other.

Then passion took over. Without a word, they were stripping off each other’s clothes until both were naked. They were of similar height, with Col being a handspan taller. His light brown skin, black hair and dark eyes contrasted with Andri’s pale skin and blond-streaked unruly hair. Both were of a lithe build, although Col was more muscular in arms, chest and shoulders due to his work with horses and outdoor living. Andri was sporting the downy hairs of his first beard. He was younger than Col by about three turns. Both men’s cocks stood proud and erect in their eagerness for one another. Col’s cock was a handsome and shapely, dusky brown in colour, and Andri’s cock was pale and smooth and slightly larger. Pre-cum dripped from the tip. As they embraced, they pressed their bodies together tightly, grinding hips and rubbing their dripping cocks one upon the other.

“I want you so much,” Andri murmured to Col as he pushed him to the bed. They lay together, and Andri immediately began to suck his friend’s penis. Col moaned and caressed Andri’s hair, guiding his head down on the straining prick. Andri sucked deeply. Having been trained in the art by the old Warrior, Geraint, his skills had their effect. Then he released Col’s cock to suck his balls one at a time, massaging each one with his tongue. Andri’s left hand played with Col’s ass, inserting a finger to probe for the prostate gland, while his right hand stroked Col’s penis.

“Stop now, my dear one and lie down for me. I have a surprise for you. Geraint instructed me in this gift I am about to give you,” breathed Col.

Andri complied, lying on his back and gazing expectantly at his friend. Col positioned himself between Andri’s legs, hoisting his ass into position. Then he took the bottle of lubricant he had found and liberally poured it on his cock, smoothing it in with his hand until the dusky shaft glistened. Col poured more on his hand and thrust two fingers into Andri’s rectal passage. Without further pause, he pushed his cock into Andri’s willing ass.

Col had recently been an ass-virgin when he encountered Brynnan, Geraint and Nijal on the High Plateau. The first time he had met them, travelling with his family in distant mountains, Geraint had shown Col how to give head, and Andri and Col had taken turns with each other, but there had been no occasion to fuck each other’s asses. Now that Geraint had recently instructed him, getting Col to accept his huge cock anally and then teaching him how to fuck Brynnan’s ass, the young Wanderer couldn’t wait to show Andri his newfound skill.

As his cock pushed past the first constriction, he managed to pause as he had been taught, but Andri begged him, “Just put it all in deep. Fuck me now.”

Col complied and thrust all the way in. Sensing no objection, he started to pump his cock, slowly at first, then faster until he was fucking Andri in a robust and steady rhythm. Andri, in response, bent his knees to allow his lover deeper access.

“You still wear our rope harness,” Col gasped, gazing at Andri’s chest where he had tied the harness with lover’s knots as a pledge of their bond. It excited him to see it, and he thrust faster.

Andri said, “Cum in me, Col. I want your seed. Please, do it now!”

“Yes, I’m going to cum inside you . . . I’m cumming now! Ooh, I love you,” Col groaned in his ecstasy.

He collapsed over Andri, and they hugged tightly, then covered each other’s mouths with kisses. But Andri still had plans.

“Now you,” he said when his breath had slowed. “Roll over for me. I, too, have been taught the gift by Geraint.”

Col swiftly complied, positioning himself on all fours on the bed. “I bathed myself for you, Andri, ves’tacha. Fuck me, please.”

Andri knelt and rimmed and tongued Col’s ass. It was his first time doing so, but it felt so natural. He wanted all of his Wanderer friend—body and soul. Then, after pouring lubricant on his cock, he grasped Col’s hips, guiding his dripping prick to the moist hole. He pushed his cock inside the tight passage and felt the warm membrane and the rectal muscles squeezing him tight. He almost ejaculated on the spot. As Col urged him on, he started pumping furiously, holding nothing back.

“I want your seed, too, my ass-fucking lover,” Col moaned, overcome with lust.

It was enough to drive Andri over the edge. With a glad shout, he shot his load, pumping his cum into his friend’s sweet ass. They lay together in a sleepy and contented afterglow.

“I never thought I’d see you again,” Andri murmured. “Then Brynnan promised I would know love again, after parting from my Sex-Master, Geraint, to study here. When they left, I accompanied them to the Pass of the Sun. Then Brynnan let me know that it was you who would come to me. I wonder how he knew?”.

“He must have the Sight to predict that, like my grandmother Eleni,” replied Col. “I came to find you as I promised I would. Maybe Grandmother Eleni’s gifts lie in me because I mostly followed my intuition. Then I met Nijal, Geraint and Brynnan as I travelled North with the horse herd on the high plateau. That’s when Geraint lessoned me in ass fucking, and Brynnan gave me a message to carry to the Grandmaster.”

“So, you have seen him?”

“Yes. The Master took the message from my mind. It was a strange experience, but I wasn’t afraid. Grandmother has done similar things.”

“And . . .? What did he say about us?”

“I am to share your room, and he approves of our love. Also, I am to be apprenticed to the Horsemaster, Gabrien, to help him train and care for the ArMor-ys horses! Isn’t that wonderful?”

“I . . . I don’t know what to say! I can’t believe our luck!”

“Thank Brynnan and the Grandmaster. It was Brynnan’s plan.”

“I am so glad you met with him again, Col. He was a good teacher to me in the arts of music, and I still consider him my Master, even though currently I am Music Master Daraou’s apprentice, along with Celyn.”

As Andri lay back in Col’s embrace, the door opened, and the Music Master’s very apprentice, Celyn, stepped into the chamber. He stopped and stared, open-mouthed, at the scene of the two naked young men embracing on the bed.

Andri was unfazed but told him, “Celyn. It is customary to call or knock when you want entry to someone’s chamber. I have told you before.”

Col leaned up on one elbow and regarded the apprentice with some amusement. Celyn was a little shorter than Andri. He had dark brown hair, loose curls framing his face and green eyes. A ruddy complexion and curving lips made him a handsome youth. Right now, his complexion was flushed with embarrassment and consternation.

“Andri—what you are doing . . . you can’t just—”

“Just what? Make love to a dear friend of mine who has now arrived after journeying for two moons to find me?”

“But you know it’s forbidden for first-level apprentices to form . . . sexual relationships!”

“But my dear friend, Col, is not an apprentice! He will be working in the stables with the Master of Horse.”

“A stable lad? You are fucking a stable lad?!”

For the first time, Andri frowned. “Such an attitude does not become you, Celyn. Besides, Col is a skilled horse trainer and breeder, and scrolls could be written about his knowledge.”

Col smiled at such gentle exaggeration, but he had been helping his father select, breed, and train their special horses for most of his life. But just to make a point, he turned and kissed Andri tenderly on the mouth. Andri responded.

Celyn lowered his head and groaned, “You put me in a tight position, Andri. I am duty-bound to report you to our Master, Daraou.”

Andri laughed, “Don’t stress yourself, my brother apprentice. I am sure by now, Master Daraou has been informed. The Grandmaster Neven-Tanet himself gave Col permission to share a room with me. Are you sad about being left out?”

Celyn lowered his head and blushed, unusual for him.

“You are!” crowed Andri. “Do you desire me?”

“Actually, yes, Andri. I have wanted to fuck you since we first met, but I won’t, of course. But you have been a loyal friend to me.”

Andri slipped off the bed, walked over and embraced Celyn. “Patience, friend. In eight moons, I will graduate to being a second-level apprentice, like you are now.”

Celyn began to embrace Andri in return, then flinched back at the feel of his naked skin.

Andri leaned in and kissed his cheek with a laugh. “Now go away, Celyn, and knock on the door next time. I have some studying to do—perhaps,” he grinned, “then we will see you in the refectory hall for the evening meal.

Celyn looked over at Col. “Forgive my stupid comment about you being a stable lad. If Andri says so, I guess you really are a fine horseman. I hope we can be friends.”

Col responded, “Don’t worry about it. My skin is as thick as a stallion’s. Though if you know the sport of wrestling, I will challenge you to a match whenever you want.”

“Actually, I do wrestle. We will have to arrange a bout, with my Master’s permission. He is generally reluctant to get his singers roughed up, although he can’t stop our training in hand-to-hand skills. It’s part of our curriculum.” He looked much more relieved as he turned and left the chamber, carefully closing the door.

Andri walked over and locked it, then turned to Col. “Just in case,” he said and grinned.

Col smiled back, then opened his arms again. “Come, my dear one. Where were we? Are you going to work on your assignment, or are we going to do a second round of lovemaking?”

Andri’s rising erection answered for him.

* * *