The Dark Touch of Silver [boyxboy]

In which Anid and Taymullah are on the move

The next day was cool and breezy and Anid's father Ansell was raring to go. He was barking orders and was in a general mood of being less than happy. He was always a little anxious before such journeys but this was the first time Anid was coming along. "Anid get in the wagon. Taymullah, follow him and stay there. You are under my orders for this trip until other notice." Taymullah nodded. "Yes, sir." He obeyed and got into one of the six wagons that were lined up and sat on the hard floor beside Anid who was sulking like a little boy. Couldn't he be a little more adventurous, Taymullah thought feeling a little rebellious.

"Budge up, Anid." Ansell poked his head in the wagon taking a break from supervising the packing. "You will have a miserable time if you don't." the son grunted and sat uncomfortably on the stack of blankets on the bench. The atmosphere was already uneasy and Taymullah could sense that the moment he woke up. Anid was going to make his first trip out of the city limits miserable. He sighed and tried to find a comfy spot on the wood. "I hate this too." Anid grumbled lowly with his arms crossed. Surprised, Taymullah looked at the leggy man and for a moment was hoped he might have a change of heart. "And I'm stuck with you."

~

I hate this, Taymullah thought keeping his face as expressionless as much as he could. The wagon rumbled and rattled on the wide road, passing the travelers on their way back home and visitors to the city. The road was hard and sitting on the floor was even worse as he felt every single bump and dip. Naturally Anid complain every moment he could about how miserable this was. And to think this is how he's going to be like the entire time, Taymullah bit his tongue and frowned.

"How are you holding up?" Ansell had stopped and peered down at his grumpy son. "Fine." Anid replied shortly still sulky. "We'll be stopping for noon meal in a few hours." He rode off on his horse to the front of the train to inform the others about the meal time. "I need a drink." Taymullah obediently dug out the water skin and offered it to Anid. "No, you donkey! Not water!" He snapped shoving the younger man hard into a box. "Anid, what in the hell are you doing?" Ansell's voice rang out angrily. He rode up and grabbed the young man's arm. "You do not hit our servants. Ever." Ansell snapped a vein in his forehead looked like it was pulsating. "Father!" Anid protested yanking his arm from his hard grip and rubbing it exaggeratedly. "You are already testing my patience. Don't ever pull something like that again. Taymullah is not there for you to take your frustrations out on. Grow up."

Ansell rode back to the front of the line leaving Taymullah with his head bowed and shrinking into himself. "I hate him."

~

The next several days, the weather grew warmer and warmer and Anid along with the younger men stripped down to their lightest layers to escape the heat. "I don't think this could get any worse." Anid moaned draping his lanky body over the blanket covered boxes. Taymullah was covered from head to toe, wearing long sleeves and covered shoes to protect his light skin from being burned. Anid on the other hand was barely respectable and was already getting a light tan. I bet that will last until we return to the manor, Taymullah mused wishing he wouldn't turn bright red from even ten minutes in the sun.

It was high noon, food and drinks were shared among the men, Anid was standing off to the side, bored as can be. His father attempted to include him in the conversation but Anid shrugged him away and Taymullah was reluctant to follow his master. "Boring, boring, boring. I wish something exciting would happen. Perhaps there will be when we get to wherever the hell we're going." It was getting uncomfortably stickier and going through the forests did little to provide shade.

The group packed up and returned to their wagons to continue on their way. Taymullah and Anid sat as the wagon got pulled along, each in their own thoughts. The silver haired man was tense as if the atmosphere had changed. "Master Anid?" Taymullah nearly reached out to touch the other man but stopped short. "What do you want?" He asked with his eyes closed. Taymullah's stomach rolled unpleasantly. "I think-!" He covered his mouth and lurched to the side of the wagon and empty his stomach over the side. "Oh my lord!" Anid shot up and pulled the younger man from falling over. "Ugh, disgusting. Go clean yourself up."