The Slave

The meeting

description: slavery has been outlawed in Araluen; however, there are still those few that own them, and of course there are illegal slave traders. what happens when King Duncan and his group come upon a young slave that has them all falling in love with him, even the emotionless Halt? a young slave has somehow found himself to be the company of the king and some of his men, what will happen to him? and just exactly who it this slave?

warning: punishment of slave, mentions of inappropriate touching, blood, memories, beatings, and so on. ALMOST RAPE!

disclaimer: all known characters belong to author, John Flanagan! not me!

This text is directly from the book "The kings of clonmel"

Will's POV:

As I had originally thought, this meeting is turning out to be really interesting. It just started and Horace immediately started trying to piss Halt off.

"I can't get over the fact that King Ferris is your brother," Horace said. It wasn't the first time he'd said it.

"So you keep saying," Halt said. I've only know them for a sort time but even I recognized the tone of warning in Halt's voice, it's quite obvious that he wants Horace to drop the matter. Unfortunately, it seems as if Horace isn't all that bright.

"Well, it's a bit of a surprise, Halt. I'd never have thought of you as ... well, being royalty, I suppose."

Oh, here it comes. I'm having trouble keeping my laughter in as I listen to Horace bait Halt. Although I now know that Horace isn't doing it on purpose, he just doesn't know when to keep his mouth closed.

"Horace, remember when I said that I was related to the royal line of Hibernia?"

"Yes. I seem to recall words to that effect," Horace said. He is so dead.

"Well, then, did you think I was lying?"

Horace cleared his throat nervously. then in a small voice he said, "As a matter of fact, yes."

"You think I was lying? You challenge my basic honesty? am deeply, deeply hurt! Tell me, Horace, when have I ever lied?"

It is getting more and more difficult for me to not give into my urge to laugh. My sides hurt from trying to keep it in, and I can't help but try to remember the last time I ever felt like this. Its sad, but I can't remember a time when I felt so care free and actually wanted to laugh.

"You lied when we were on that trip and we came across those girls," Horace said. I swear I could hear the self satisfaction in his voice.

Halt hesitated. Then, gruffly, he replied, "It was for your own good."

I lost it. As soon as those words were out of Halts mouth I was reminded of a small child that didn't get his way. As soon as I started laughing I couldn't stop. I hate my laugh, it sounds like a girls. Its light, soft, and sounds more like giggles. I know that Halt and Horace are now staring at me, probably with weird looks on their 's been so long since I've laughed like this, that I actually feel as if my life is taking a turn for the better, just because these two men in front of me has actually managed to make me laugh.

I finally managed to stop laughing, and looked over at Halt and Horace. They were both looking at me as though they've never seen me before, probably because this is the first time they've seen me calm.

Horace is the first to speak. "I don't think I've ever heard a laugh like that"

His words caused me to blush, knowing that I was never going to live this down now. I sigh as Horace looks at Halt.

"I say we try to make him laugh as much as possible, it looks good on him." Horace says. I find myself hoping that Halt will tell him to shut up, but instead he gives a soft smile.

"For once, Horace, you and I are in agreement." Halt say. "Now, back to the meeting."

"Halt, I think you need to tell us more about you and your brother." I said, trying to move to topic along so as to make them forget about my laugh. I know I'm prying into Halt's past, but its time we learned all the facts about King Ferris and his relations ship with his brother. Halt is now watching me with those calm, serious eyes of his.

"Yes, you're right," the Ranger said, "You should know all the facts behind the current situation. For a start, there's one pertinent fact you should be aware of. Ferris and I aren't just brothers. We're twins. That's why I grew a beard and cut my hair with my sax. so no one will recognize me."

"Twins?"

"Identical twins," Halt said. "We were born seven minutes apart."

"And you were the youngest?" Horace said. He shook his head. "It's funny, isn't it? But for that seven minutes, you'd be the King of Clonmel now."

"You're not exactly right there, Horace. I was actually the one who was born first. Ferris is my younger brother."

"Then what happened? surely as the elder brother, you should have become King? Or isn't that the way it works here is Hibernia?"

"Yes. That's the way it works here, just like everywhere else. But I had a problem. My brother resented those seven minuted bitterly. He felt he had been cheated out of his birthright. Cheated by me," he added.

Horace shook his head in disbelief. "That's crazy. It wasn't you fault you were born first."

Halt smiled sadly as Horace. "He made himself blame me. That way, it was easier for him when he tried to kill me."

"He tried to kill you? His own brother? His twin brother?"

"Yes. But that is a story for another time," Halt said. "For now, let us go back above and I will tell you more of my family. It is getting a bit stuffy in here and fresh air might help me tell my tale."

It's short, but it's here.