Col and Andri: The Vanna Stallions

A Hand-fasting

Col felt excited to be with his family again. He embraced his father, Kyan, and kissed his sister-in-law on her cheeks. He was anxious to see the children, but they were asleep in Rafe’s wagon.

The family’s chief stallion, Buino, was tethered behind the carts, and Col made much of him. Kyan smiled and shook his head. “Stop kissing that horse,” he joked. “Andri won’t appreciate your horse-tasting lips.”

Andri blushed as he overheard Kyan’s explicit comment. “Kyan,” he ventured. “I wonder about Col and I being accepted here. Are there some codes of conduct or tribal laws we are breaking?”

Kyan’s look was shrewd. He was a handsome older man with curling black hair, grey at the temples, that touched his shoulders and a roughly trimmed, dark beard, sprinkled with grey. His wise, dark brown eyes held much worldly experience. His sons bore a marked resemblance to him.

But now he answered Andri. “There will be a summoning tomorrow with the leaders of the vitsas—the families of our kumpania. Tribal issues will be discussed at the kris, our court that keeps the Wanderer’s Law. You will have your answer then.”

“Don’t scare the young bard,” called Eleni from where she sat with Geraint and Keven, who had returned from seeing to the horses.

Kyan relented. “Come to the fire—bring your friends—and tell me all about your journey.”

*    *    *

Col’s father had offered them his wagon to sleep in but was not surprised when Col and Andri chose their tent, which they had pitched next to Aled and Gethen’s. Now they lay naked alongside Geraint under their cloaks. Andri crouched face down over Geraint’s hairy loins, and he licked the shaft of the old Warrior’s cock. Col positioned himself between Andri’s spread legs, stroking himself, before pouring lubricant on his lover’s ass.

“Are you ready for me, ves’tacha?”

“Yes, put it in me. I’m more than ready.”

Col parted Andri’s ass cheeks with his hands, allowing his cock to probe the slicked rectal opening. He pushed himself forward and was rewarded as the cock went in.

“Ah yes, lover,” Andri murmured against Geraint’s cock that pressed against his lips. 

The old Warrior looked Col in the eye. “I want to feel you fucking him, my lad,” he said as he pushed his thick penis into Andri’s mouth.

Col obliged, giving deep and sharp thrusts of his hips, effectively driving Andri’s mouth deeper over Geraint’s cock. Andri gasped and moaned, at the same time trying to suppress the noises he made.

“Let it go, ves’tacha,” Col encouraged him. He reached forward, grasping Andri’s cock and jerking him off in time to his thrusts.

Andri knew he was close to cumming and sucked harder on Geraint’s cock.

“Let’s cum together,” said Geraint. “Remember how I taught you.”

The rhythm of their motions increased and swept them up, building steadily to a climax.

“Now!” Geraint said with a sharp breath, as he felt the beginnings of ecstasy.

Andri and Col reacted simultaneously and for long moments there was only that encompassing, wholly absorbing existence when the profound sexual energy claimed them all.

*    *    *

The following morning dawned clear. Eleni sat by the family’s fire and was directing Keven on how to brew a proper pot of cha. The young groom seemed to be in awe of her, and his respect was evident in their conversation. Just then the door of the second wagon opened and Rafe and Sara stepped down, each carrying a child.

Col immediately came to his feet to greet them. “Let me see!”

Rafe and Sara shared a conspiratorial look before Rafe handed over Miryam. Col took her in a comfortable grip and promptly tossed her up. The little girl giggled and held her arms out to Col.

“You have an admirer already,” Sara laughed.

Col spoke to the child before placing her down, where she clung to his leg. Then he took the boy from Rafe’s wife. Cradling him in his arms he looked down into a small face with black curling hair and big, dark eyes.

“He looks just like you, brother!” Col exclaimed, before adding politically, “and Sara, of course.”

Sara just smiled knowingly.

Col liked children, and he felt a strong bond of love for these two of his own family. He wanted to teach and protect them and wished his family was physically closer. But the little boy woke something in his heart and he handed him back to Sara with reluctance.

“Andri, come see my niece and my nephew!”

Andri greeted each child in turn, kneeling to meet Miryam. He was more cautious around children, not having grown up in family-oriented surroundings like Col, but Miryam seemed to take to him in any case. Then he peered at the boy in Sara’s arms.

“He does look like Rafe, and like you, dear one,” he said to Col. Then he turned to Rafe and Sarah, an earnest expression in his blue-grey eyes.

“May the Mother-of-All provide for your children and keep them safe. I give you my blessing, such as it is.”

Rafe wordlessly embraced him.

*    *    *

Andri, Keven and Gethen, with Col and his family, accompanied by his friend Kashi, attended the tribal assembly. There were seats for the Elders and Eleni, as an important phuri dai, was rated a seat of honour. The two young men and their companions were presented to the Rom Baro, an ancient title for the elected headman of the kumpania, whose name was Silvanus.

It felt odd to Col to be greeted as a guest, but he recognized the formality of the event and was circumspect in his replies. Like most of those in attendance, he was dressed in finery—an embroidered shirt and vest, and polished high boots. A blue silk scarf adorned his neck.

Andri looked like a proper bard— albeit a young one—in a long robe worn over breeches and his best dark-green cloak, with his badge of rank and the double-lion pin.

Col prepared himself for a long stretch at the kris assembly and tried to relax his mind into patience. Something concerning Andri and himself was brewing, a premonition he could feel. He sensed a life-altering occurrence coming, but couldn’t fathom how it would turn out—he was too close to the event. Then, to his shock, he sensed more than one event and he breathed deeply.

‘One thing at a time,’ he told himself. ‘Andri and I will get through this.’

Col tried to speak to Eleni’s mind and found that she was mentally engaged with another phuri dai of a different vitsa, or family group. He waited.

Then he heard her mind-voice. ‘Take what comes, grandson,’ she sent. ‘It will be a test of your manhood.’

Col found this hardly reassuring, but he resigned himself. ‘Just don’t let Andri be harmed,’ he thought to himself.

At times, people moved about in the assembly, fetching cups of cha and food, or coming forward to present their issues. Kashi kindly brought carved wooden cups of hot cha to Col and his family, serving Eleni first. Col found the drink a welcome distraction. Then he and Andri were called up before Silvanus and the Elders.

‘Courage, ves’tacha,’ he sent to Andri. ‘We stand together in this.’ Boldly, he took Andri’s hand and waited.

Silvanus’ wise eyes swept over them. “Today, we keep this council short to make room for a particular matter. There will be other days for us to meet, but now, I would speak to the people about you, Col son of Kyan, and your heart-friend, Andri, Ruithin apprentice of ArMor-Ys. I have heard how you partner with each other, and how you, Col, have made your own road with those of ArMor-Ys. Phuri dai Eleni tells me that you do well there, using your skill with horses. You also come seeking stallions of our Vanna breed. Thus, we render our judgement.”

Col squeezed Andri’s hand.

Silvanus continued. “By the very nature of being a Wanderer, sometimes our drom—our road takes us far. But you have roots here and have contributed to your family’s duty. Your spirit will remain among us, your people . . .”

Col tried to suppress his sigh of relief. He had feared the headman would have him exiled, a terrible fate for one of his people. But the headman was still speaking.

“As for your heart-friend, he will be welcome among us if you two will pledge yourselves to each other. To guard and keep each other’s hearts and nurture any children that come to be with you . . .”

Silvanus spoke traditional words said to couples who wished to create a family together. Col was shocked, but mostly because it seemed he and Andri would be accepted as a couple.

“To that end, we ask that you pledge to each other before witnesses.”

There was no time to think, but to both young men, time wasn’t necessary. They knew each other’s hearts. Col turned to Andri.

“Andri, ves’tacha, take my hand and my heart. Let the Bari Devlaika, the great Earth Mother keep us.”

Andri replied, “Col son of Kyan, grandson of Eleni, you already have my heart, but I pledge myself to you before the people gathered here, and before your family—“

“Your family too, now!” Rafe called out and was greeted with nods and calls of agreement.

Silvanus turned to the people. Who upholds our judgement?”

People cheered and called out, and Col felt a wave of emotion pass through him.

Then the headman said, “And who disagrees? I ask for serious objections only, not those of personal whim or prejudice.”

The crowd waited, then one man stepped forward. “A couple joins together so that a man and a woman can share their life’s burden and raise children. How can two men together produce children?”

Silvanus was about to answer, but a woman shouted out, “Each man is capable of producing a tribe, Soli, albeit with our help!”

“But that would mean they were unfaithful to each other!” Soli replied.

He was greeted with a chorus of catcalls.

“Do you dare define what ‘faithful’ means?” Another man called.

Then Eleni rose to her feet, and the crowd became respectfully silent.

“There are many ways to ‘produce’ a child. Do we not take part in that when each one of us imparts his teaching and knowledge to our young ones? It takes an entire kumpania to bring up a child properly. Col has two children through his brother and his wife. However far he and Andri travel, they will always return and take part in the upbringing of these children. I have seen this!”

And that silenced the objections. No one wanted to argue against Eleni’s visions. Col himself was shocked. Eleni had never before stood up and made blanket prophecies to a crowd. He felt humbled by her support.

“I thank Phuri dai Eleni,” said Silvanus. “Now let us turn our minds to a celebration. Three couples have declared their hand-fasting today, including Col and Andri. I welcome Andri to our kumpania. He is now Family! The vitsas of these couples will now celebrate these new pairings, as is traditional! Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa.”

Andri simply looked stunned, but Col kissed him soundly. “Let your heart be at ease tonight, ves’tacha. We have taken not just a step today but have achieved an ending to a very lungo drom, a very long road that we have travelled upon, and there will be a new beginning. Now come and let’s have some fun. I will show you how we Wanderers celebrate!”

*    *    *

Many people from Col’s extended family and various friends gathered near the family’s wagons. Col insisted that Gethen, Aled and Keven join in; after all, they had been welcomed by Silvanus himself. Platters of food appeared, as well as musicians with lute and viol and drum. Soon, a lively dance started: young women with their swirling skirts and flashing gold and the young men in their Gathering finery. Col took the centre, leading the dance, tossing his curls and looking happy with a gleam in his eyes. Despite his proclaimed status with Andri, the young women danced up to him, flirting, and Col responded good-naturedly. Then the other young men chased them back. It was all a choreographed part of the fun.

Andri sat back with Geraint and Eleni to watch. He admired his lover’s sensual moves and his physique, especially after Col stripped off his vest and shirt to dance bare-chested, like some of the others, for the night was warm.

Presently, after catching on to the rhythms and chords of the tunes, he took his lap harp and played along with the musicians, who nodded at him and grinned.

He noted a cloaked stranger near the trees of the woods. The newcomer had a harp, taller than his own, of plain wood. Andri had to shake his head because at one point it seemed a rainbow light played over the man, but he sensed no threat. Indeed, the man played along with the musicians and harmonized with Andri’s own playing. Then Andri’s attention was caught up with Col’s dancing again.

Eventually, the young people moved to the perimeter of the clearing to rest, and the older people took to the space. Kyan turned out to be a fine dancer, and Andri supposed he had trained his sons.

When Eleni entered the circle of dancers, the onlookers called out in applause. Col took her hand and danced with her.

Andri watched her graceful moves. He remembered the first time he had met her. Eleni had been gravely ill and fading, until Nijal, their surgeon friend, had healed her with a transfusion of his blood. It was wonderful to see her now, looking vital and alive. She wore her advanced age lightly.

Finally, the dancers rested, as did the hard-working musicians who headed for the food and wine.

Col flopped down beside Andri, flushed with joy under his tan skin. He leaned over and kissed Andri and the young bard caught the scent of his lover’s sweat. It aroused him.

“I want to drag you over to the tent and fuck you really hard,” he whispered.

“Very soon, my betrothed, my hand-fasted one.”

“Did you know?” Andri murmured.

“Grandmother knew. And my father, I suspect. I think they plotted it along with Silvanus. But no, I had no idea. I only felt the premonition of a life-altering event about to occur, for good or ill.”

Andri pondered this information before he asked, “And who was that cloaked stranger by the trees, playing the harp?”

“A stranger! I did not see him. I trust it was not one of our assassins. I must inform my dad and Aled, although I sensed nothing untoward.”

“I didn’t get the sense of an assassin,” Andri replied. “But then I am pretty blind when it comes to premonitions.”

“Not so, ves’tacha. You must trust your instincts. I have told you this before.”

“You have “ admitted Andri. “Why don’t we take a little walkabout and see if we can spot him.”

“I have a better idea: why don’t we take our washing equipment and a bucket and go for a little cleanup?” Col winked suggestively.

“Very well, I feel like celebrating anyhow.”

They made their farewells to Kyan, Rafe, Sara and Eleni. Sara had the baby sprawled over her knees, sleeping quietly. Again, Col felt that unexpected warmth for someone so young and helpless.

Eleni said, “Did you tell your lover that we celebrate for three days? The stallions will have to wait, but your father Kyan, and Rafe have already gathered some likely ones for you to look at.”

“My thanks, grandmother Eleni.”

But Eleni hadn’t finished. “Tomorrow, we will tell stories that I’m sure you will want to hear, Andri. You may memorize them. I give you permission, but some you must not repeat, like our Origin Tale, which I’ll recount in the morning, while my soul is fresh.”

“I will be honoured, Grandmother.”

Eleni presented her cheek and Col, then Andri kissed it.

“Good night, children. Let no stranger into your tent, unless it is one of the Good Angels.”

*    *    *

After their washing, Col and Andri headed to their shelter. They encountered Geraint on the way.

“Tonight you two can have the tent to yourselves. I’ve been invited to sleep in Kyan and Eleni’s wagon. This night is for you two alone—unless one of the Good Spirits should bless your union,” said Geraint, and winked conspiratorially.

“You can give us your blessing, Geraint,” Andri suggested.

Geraint laughed. “You have it!” He kissed each of them on the forehead.

In the tent, Col and Andri wasted no time. In the pale light of an orb, they kissed. Col stroked Andri’s jaw then pulled his head towards him. Their mouths melded as they feasted on each other’s love. As they touched each other’s bodies, a sense of wonder enveloped them.

“We really are accepted here. I am so relieved. I know how much your people value children,” said Andri.

“It is a core belief in our culture. Now lie back, ves’tacha, and let  me suck your cock.”

Andri accepted his lover’s proposal. He sighed deeply when he felt Col’s mouth over his stiff member, and caressed his lover’s black curls.

The orb’s light flickered and emitted a brief flash of rainbow light. Then its colour changed to pale violet.

Col paused. “I’ve never seen it do that before, yet I sense no threat.”

“But something is happening,” said Andri.

The temperature in the tent dropped, and Col pulled his cloak over Andri and himself. He shivered and took Andri’s hand.

“Hold on tight,” he said.

“I did not mean to disturb you . . .” said a voice, a familiar voice, as a man simply materialized beside them. He was cloaked but immediately drew back the hood. Long, nearly black hair flowed to his shoulders framing a sculpted, close-bearded face. Deep brown eyes like pools of night, long-lashed, framed by winged eyebrows regarded them. He was a handsome man in his prime, but still young.

“Brynnan? Brynnan? But how—?” Andri questioned, the expression of disbelief on his face turning to joy.

“Accept what you are seeing,” said their visitor, “I will explain in due course.”

“Is it you in the flesh, or is this your spirit body?” asked Col.

“What do your senses tell you, Col?” Brynnan said.

“It is you, Brynnan Marec Mavrenn, dear friend. You are not a fetch or semblance. I can feel the touch of your soul,” Col replied, gripping the Bard’s arm and squeezing the warm and solid flesh. Then Col closed his eyes. “I can seeyou. You look different through my mind’s eyes: all rainbow light and blue sparks! What have you become?”

“You may well ask, my friend. I have changed and I’m still dealing with it.”

Andri sat upright and he, too, gripped Brynnan’s arm. “Whatever has happened, it’s wonderful to see you. I don’t care if you turn into coloured light. It is you: you are here, and we love you. Welcome, a thousand times welcome!”

“I missed your graduation ceremony at the College: I could not miss your hand-fasting. But it was not my intention to disturb your lovemaking.”

“How were you aware of it? Even we didn’t know this morning.”

Brynnan replied, “I knew of it the moment it happened, just as I was thinking of you both. Then I just put out my awareness in the aether where all probabilities reside. After that, it wasn’t too difficult.”

“Not difficult for you, perhaps. I don’t quite understand you, my dear master,” said Andri. “And were you not the cloaked harpist at our celebration?”

“Yes.”

“I saw a plain oak harp. What happened to your own harp, Mavrenn?”

“She was there. I have learned how to disguise her. But come, enough questions for the moment. I came to congratulate you both.”

“Join with us, Brynnan. We have missed you so much. There is no question of you leaving just now,” said Andri earnestly, as Col nodded in agreement. He added, “Col was just starting to suck my cock, but let us suck your cock and fuck, if it is permitted.”

Brynnan smiled at them, and it eased their hearts. “My own beloved, Lord Samir, has given his permission. I have not travelled, except to my Father’s realm, since—no matter: I will not speak of that here.”

Col and Andri leaned forward, helping their friend to undress, removing his cloak and black silk robe: he was naked underneath it. The dog-headed torc, or collar, of otherworldly gold, gleamed around his neck. They stroked his muscular but lithe body, seeing the three branded glyphs on his chest, feeling the swirls of silky black body hair that contoured his curved pectorals and trailed down to his groin.

The three of them embraced, kissing, touching and licking in a fluid demonstration of their shared love. Then Brynnan murmured, “Let me take you.”

“Yes . . .” replied Andri, lying on his back, looking up into his friend’s eyes.

Col wordlessly took their bottle of lubricant and poured some on Andri’s ass before putting the lotion in his hand and slicking it on Brynnan’s erect penis. He moved his hand back and forth, delighting in the feel of the smooth skin sliding over the rigid muscle beneath.

Brynnan sighed deeply. As Andri bent his knees, the Shadow Lord’s son pushed his cock against the rectal opening, supporting himself on arms extended and hooked under Andri’s legs. He opened his mind to Andri and their emotions flowed together before Col’s mind linked with them. Thus as Brynnan’s cock entered the sweet passage, Col was fully engaged, feeling each stroke as if Brynnan was fucking him too.

Andri threw his head back and gasped, lost in the intricate interlacing of their three minds. Thus he was fucked for a time until the Bard withdrew and turned him on his side. He entered Andri again from behind.

Col knew what the others desired and joined them, positioning himself so that his dusky cock pushed in alongside Brynnan’s. In the hot, tight passage, their two cocks slid against each other as they fucked Andri in tandem.

As the sexual tension built, Andri had a hard time separating what sensations belonged to whom. Together it was entirely overwhelming and he cried out, helpless to stop himself. He felt himself/themselves about to cum, as Brynnan and Col thrust deeper and faster, alternating their strokes.

The wave of ecstasy claimed all three, flooding their minds and bodies, and they seemed to meld into one being. Time stretched out into a long, whirling universe until awareness returned and they became individuals once more.

“That was an amazing gift for Andri and me,” said Col, kissing Brynnan on the mouth.

“It should be your night alone,” the Bard said, “But I love you both and have missed you . . .”

“You are a vital part of our journey and Col and I owe you so much—“

“There are no debts, no payments; just us three sharing our joy,” Brynnan replied.

Col smiled, “Grandmother said a Good Angel might join us. I don’t know if she was quite thinking of the Grey Huntsman’s son, but you are definitely our angel.

*    *    *

To be continued . . .