Doctor Abbott Page 12

  That seemed to thrill the overly eager young man and he rewarded his new captive with a satchel of grain and dried berries. Being the first food he had seen in two days Ben dug into it eagerly.

  The boat trip lasted most of the day with and finished at the foot of an incredible island. It seemed to rise from the waters with little to no shoreline. The base of this natural fortress was made of cavernous pillars, worn and bleached by the sea water. The scattered remnants of once colossal columns littered the ocean and the Joutone maneuvered through them gracefully, only scraping one every so often and ever so lightly. If the sea had shown even the slightest sign of anger the boats would be mere splinters…as would the cargo. They sailed right into a watery cavern that reminded Ben of the fanged teeth of a bear, or maybe even the Joutone.

  What little light afforded by the winter sun disappeared as they entered the caves. Not able to see his hands in front of him Ben just sat quietly, waiting for what was to come. The boat rocked and swayed heavily as its passengers disembarked. Now much lighter in the water he felt the gravel grind beneath the hull, then a tinge of relief shot through him as one of the warriors lit a lantern.

  The action won a compliment from Ormr, “That is right, I forgot humans cannot see in the dark.” Ben was scrambling from his seat in hopes they would not bind him for the trip to their village and he stumbled at his master’s feet. Before he could apologize or right himself he was hauled off the ground and shoved towards the steps.

  This time no one made any effort to bind him and he knew full well that it was because there was no place for him to run. He followed the trail of warriors through the hand-carved corridors of the island fortress. The trail meandered between steps and pathways, at times taking them close to the sea and other times deep into the mountain. Finally they emerged into a well-lit opening that faced the sea and the trail seemed to stop. There was no place left to go and yet they were not at their destination. The warriors were depositing their supplies into pulleyed baskets and as soon as they would tug, the supplies disappeared up the side of the mountain.

  As the work load disappeared up the side of the cliff so too did the Joutone, and Ben was left with the realization that there was only one way up. Before he could protest one of the guards heaved him over their shoulder, and he clung on for dear life as they ascended the side of the mountain. Ignoring the pain of his wounded buttocks he had no choice but to endure the harsh and humiliating journey.

  The climb seemed to last forever, but it did eventually end with Ben’s feet on the ground. Looking around the walls of the island held an incredible secret, a vast and well populated Joutone village lay at the bottom of a steep ravine, and the goods that had gone up before him had already disappeared into the palace.

  Unlike the chalet of Freyr’s and the incredible cabin that housed King William, this palace was just that, a true palace. Carved stone from the very rocks beneath their feet, this place looked very much like the ancient forts and fortresses that were scattered in his own British Isles. There was no way the Joutone built this structure. They passed through the center of the village and Ben recognized the crumbled relics of an old watch tower. The stones lay in the very position they had tumbled, centuries ago. The earth now slowly consuming them back into the ground.

  At the foot, the horrors to the likes of which Ben had never seen with his own eyes. Racks for torture littered the square, and the torture going on there now seemed almost celebratory in nature. Three victims. One’s deceased carcass being removed for disposal while another Joutone writhed and groaned in pain as his torture ensued.

  Ormr caught his new slave admiring the process for a little too long. “This is how we deal with traitors and those wishing to escape.”

  “Oh, lovely. Am I here for that?”

  Ben’s comment drew a chuckle from the leader, “Of course not, well, unless you do something stupid like try to escape or betray me. I do say try because no human has ever made it off my island alive. My own father included.”

  “Well, as you said we have a common enemy, so far in my book that makes us friends.” Ben retorted smugly, hoping it was enough to hide his disgust for the acts in the square. He followed his master to the door of the palace, trying hard not to let the blood-curdling screams infect his ears too much. He could not find himself inside the closed door fast enough.

  Inside he was shown to a table, it was already set for four. The food smelled amazing and after the meager ration of berries and grain meal, the sight of it sent his heart racing. He was not sure who the food was meant for, but the king crossed the floor and took his seat offering the one across from himself to the new slave.

  As soon as they sat down a flurry of servants dashed in. A busty woman to serve them food, and pour drinks. A chambermaid stood waiting for orders on the slave’s quarters, while two fresh guards were issued a written order of protection for the human. He handed off two scrolls and curiosity got the best of Ben, to the point that he nearly stumbled on his own words. “D-do you need me to sign some sort of title?”

  The entire room came to a halt over the question. Both guards assessing their king’s temperament. Clearly the king was expected to react in anger as one of the guards had his hand on his machete simply waiting on order. Ormr dismissed him with little more than an eye roll and snatched a biscuit off the table. “You see, your last master may have needed some sort of document to keep control of you. Perhaps it was not clear as to the nature of your relationship. I need no such paperwork. You, like everyone else here serve me willingly or I separate your head from the rest of you. Now, here you see I provide well for you.” Ormr made his point by picking up a goblet from his place setting, and toasting Ben, “All I ask is you serve my guard and heal my warriors as they return from battle.” Then a very distinct and controlled purr followed, “…and now that I know your abilities are learned I expect you to mentor me as well.”

  Ben returned the toast and was eager to dig into the food in front of him when a knock came on the great room door. Two seemingly shy women were shown in and the door closed behind them. One dashed right over to Ormr taking to his lap eagerly, while the other one was hesitant not really comfortable with the thought of bedding a human.

  Having to tear himself from the indulgent kiss he was occupied with, Ormr rumbled to the shy girl, “Perhaps you should join your traitorous husband on the racks tomorrow?”

  She immediately darted across the floor for the human, Ben nearly stumbled off the other side of his chair to escape her, crossing his legs to avoid her trembling hands. Not really sure how to address the fact that he did not want to take part in sex with woman whose only intent in doing so was to avoid torture. “I apologize Madam, but I am married. Or I was. I am faithful to her either way.”

  The sudden silence across the table was almost expected and Ben was hesitant to make eye contact with the king. The narrow eyed stare cut right to Ben’s core, “You turn down a gift for a woman you will never see again? Whoever your master was I assure you she has long been sold, if not wed to him by now. If you want a new wife you will have one, she is lovely and obedient, or perhaps you like this one?”

  The woman on Ormr’s lap shook her head, “No, sir. I love my king. Take me as wife, I only wish to serve you.” Her long eyelashes fluttered for him but his attention was fixed on the slave.

  “Perhaps you prefer a warrior? I assure you arrangements can be made.” His patience growing shorter by the second. No matter what Ben decided this night was not going to end well.

  “You are most generous, my king. If I were not so exhausted from the journey and in desperate need a bath I would certainly love to indulge. In my current condition I barely feel worthy to sit at your table, never mind make love to a woman.”

  Ormr’s goblet clunked on the table his patience all but gone. He stood nearly dropping the woman on his lap to the floor. “Very well, human. Eat your fill and take them both to your quarters. They will bath you and be sure you are to sleep li
ke a new born cub.” He paused only to take the vixen that was on his lap a moment ago by the chin, “You report to your king anything these two inferiors do against their king.” She smiled warmly and took his knuckle from under her chin to plant a kiss on it signaling that she would eagerly do as ordered. He sneered in disgust over her display and then at Ben over his weakness in not wanting to play. The king then stormed off tossing over his should to his guards. “Escort them to his quarters when they have had their fill.

  Not a moment after the door shut Ben plucked a fork off the table and dug into his food. He was starving and the lamb was cooked to perfection. He toasted both of the women as they sat opposite him in the available chairs. “It appears I am in the company of quite lovely young women. I am sure we will have a great evening.” He took a healthy swallow of the ale, not even caring that it was a tad sour, and then something caught his eye. The table was very well set for the young king.

  He clearly deemed himself worthy of extravagances meant for any king, From the silver dinner ensemble to the vases of dried flowers. He put his cup down and snatched one of the plants from the vase in front of him, twirling the brittle plant in-between his fingers for a moment as he realized he may just have a way out of this evening’s amorous activities.

  He sat back in his chair smiling, “You know, I think I am ready for that bath now.” While the timid girl dropped her gaze in fear of what was to come, the obedient little strumpet across the table was proving to be more than he could handle already. She sat back and teased open her blouse for him to admire her cleavage. It was indeed nice, but it wasn’t his dear sweet Luta’s. Ben plucked a couple of rolls off the table and stood to follow the guard taking the flower with him.

  Chapter 16

  Come morning Ben was awoken by a chambermaid and a guard arguing outside his door. The maid furious with the new slave having not one but two Joutone women in his bed in various stages of undress.

  The guard peeked in the door not really sure he had heard the old bat correctly, and to his own surprise the frigid creature the human had taken to bed the night before was passed out on the bosom of king’s latest lover. He grinned at the human, “That is impressive. Your master will be pleased.”

  Ben sat up in the bed trying to throw on a fresh tunic that was left for him by the maid, as he replied, “Not sure why, humans are known to be strong mates. I had them both swooning for me all evening.”

  That comment won him a sinister growl and before the guard could reply Ormr was in the room assessing the pile of exhausted flesh on the bed. He grinned, “Excellent, I knew you were just like me. You will see, how good I treat you in due time. You will be ready to perform your duties soon after a night like that, I am sure!” The young king was overly excited about what the morning revealed about the human’s nature.

  It was the human that found himself unable to come to terms with what had happened. The two empty goblets of ale on the nightstand still had the crushed remnants of the flower seeds in it. A potent plant thought to be extinct, he had recognized it instantly last night. Common in colder climates the plant was often used in sedatives and salves. Although still passed out, both women would wake up in a while. They would have no memory of last night and an incredible headache later.

  Following the king around the village for a few days Ben found himself at the homes of a warriors that had old wounds, and some ill with fever. While the king’s home and life seemed lavish, his people were either very poor or had mere remnants of lives once richer. One woman paid her king in a family heirloom. A box with a clock in it. As they left the home Ormr tossed the item into Ben’s hands “I have a palace full of these, take this one for yourself.”

  “Well it seemed rather hard for her to part with, perhaps we should return it and collect something more useful?”

  Ormr spun on his heels, snorting, “Nonsense, human. That was the most valuable thing she owned. I assure you nothing she can offer me will hold any value in my court. Better to remind her of her place here.”

  “Sir, the man I just treated got his wounds in a battle on your behalf did he not? Was that not payment enough?” As soon as the comment left his mouth, Ben knew it was wrong. It stopped the king cold in his tracks.

  His nose crinkling as he sneered, “Perhaps if he had fought harder for me he would not have received such wounds. My father never would have tolerated that. I have granted him mercy by even letting you tend his wounds. He will pay for my service.” The flare in his master’s eyes and nostrils were sobering and Ben bit his tongue rather than reply to such a statement.

  Ben found it odd that a warrior that would kill his own father could still hold his reign in such high regard. He could only speculate as to the dynamic between the two. It must have taken great strength for a human to rule in a world where the nature of these people was so unpredictable. Whoever Nathan was, he had to be an amazing man.

  Ben opened the box with the clock in it and poured the item from its home into his hand to get a better look at it. The device was linear in design. Only a moment ago he was keeping good pace with his master and he paused to marvel over the brilliance of it. There were gears controlled by a spring, each number on a separate gear and there were three brass rods to keep it in alignment and in suspension for the time to keep proper pace. It reminded him of his digital clock back home, and he found the technology interesting.

  Ormr realized he was no longer being followed and waited impatiently. “You cannot still be in regret of this meager payment, human I swear…”

  “No, that is not it. I’m afraid I don’t know how to read this.” In-fact the only part of the device he did not understand was the numerals on it. His master chuckled, and then laughed.

  “You have been here for how long? How is it you cannot read a simple clock?” The warrior closed the distance so fast Ben had to step back to keep from collision. The beast snatched the device from his hand and pulled a lever on the side of it winding it and setting the lever again “It reads day, hour, minute. If you turn it on its side you can see the month and year you are in. Set it to mine when we return to the palace. The great room is precise.” Ben’s blank expression left Ormr with the conclusion that the human still did not have a clue. “You are totally at my mercy, you cannot read our tongue can you?”

  “I’m afraid not, sir. Although I’m eager to learn.” The comment was seemingly dismissed by the king, leaving Ben to wonder if the warrior had lost his patience as he strode quickly towards the palace.

  The king stopped short, and spun on his heel again, “Very well, tonight I teach you to read a clock, tomorrow you teach me to heal the broken, agreed?” Ben nodded and smiled over the offer and the king continued, “Excellent. I think we have a lot to learn from each other. Perhaps you will be a more reliable teacher than my father was. Trust is hard earned in my world, human. You are well on your way to great privilege though.”

  That evening two different women were shown into the great-hall for dinner and ritual entertainment. This time they were both eager to please and Ben had to distract his paramour with drink so he could focus on the content the king was teaching him. They went through many Joutone symbols, and before the evening was finished Ben had the Joutone calendar pretty much memorized. The months aligned with the seasons and stars almost exactly as human calendars did. The hours were verbatim, there was no major differences in how the years numbered Instead of the year of our lord, they counted from the birth of their people. A little over two thousand years. The two worlds much like the human races hand synced over time. Perhaps again a survival attribute. Harvest and trade all relied on these people keeping dates and times straight.

  He found all of the information valuable, and more importantly he found the king eager to teach him. Perhaps just having someone to listen to him was all he needed. Ben had the feeling he was simply young and misguided.

  They finished laughing over dinner and as soon as they were done eating Ormr yanked one of the busty women to h
is lap. He kissed her heartily as the second flung herself onto Ben’s and copied the other. It was clear by the second kiss that she was watching her friend for cues and was far more interested in what was going on with the king than with the puny, human slave.

  Just then it had occurred to Ben that Ormr was unwed. Up until now both kings he had met had wives. The women were eager to please because they were set on seducing the king. In an island wrought with poverty the leader was an easy way to a comfortable lifestyle, and Ben could not help but wonder why he had not picked a bride just yet. It seemed until now that most Joutone picked a mate, and mated for life. Then again Ormr had human blood, perhaps there was a dominant gene in there somewhere that drove him to sow his oats a little first?

  The woman on Ben’s lap grew ever more aggressive, and when she dropped to her knees to open his pants he could not help but pry her claws off with a nervous giggle. “Um, Sir, this is fun and all. But perhaps I can take my beau to my chambers like before? I tend to have performance issues when there is an audience.”

  Just like the flip of a switch the king was instantly enraged, he took to his feet, and this time instead of the girl tumbling from his lap, he had a fist full of her hair and before the horror of what was happened set in the woman’s face was planted firmly and forcefully on the table. The king had no quarrel with the girl, she was simply a convenient puppet in his hands. “Again I bestow gifts on you and again, you abandon me and my company!” Those words rolled of his tongue in a growl, while the next present in a full roar “I have no tolerance for ingrates!” His foot stomping like a tantrumed child.

  Even the eager being at Ben’s feet was petrified to move on seeing her friend in agony. He had to think quickly and the only way he could see to bring relief to the injured female on the table was to comply. His hands trembled as he released his trousers, “I’m sorry, sir. I didn’t realize my manners had run away from me. I enjoy your company. You’re very witty, and generous.” Before he was finished the Joutone girl sucked his limp cock into her mouth taking him by surprise and along with each passing of her eager mouth and scary fangs Ben’s voice rang an octave higher.