Nymraiha - chapter 2

"Brat!"

Ryn's frustrated yell rang through the Dorough household as she
chased Cole through the living room and into the study. Both came to
an abrupt halt however at Howie's firm stance before them. Only one
word was uttered.

"Out."

Both gulped at the stern expression on the man's face before
tactfully retreating to continue their game elsewhere. They had
already been warned twice that the study was off limits especially
now since Howie, AJ and Brian were busy going through the old
records, books and manuscripts Howie's father had left him.

Waiting until the two had moved out of earshot, the trio then burst
into laughter when they heard Ryn's shout once more as the chase
resumed.

"Were we ever that young?"

"Speak for yourself old timer. I'm still that young."

AJ's smug expression belied the dust that had gathered in his hair
giving it a grayish appearance. A dry voice met his statement.

"Yes, you certainly look it."

Brian's face lit up as he saw his brother-in-law walk in to join
them.

"Hey, Kevin. Patrol's done?"

"Yeah."

Moving a stack of papers, he made himself comfortable in a chair by
the fireplace.

"So, how's it coming along?"

"It isn't."

Howie sighed as he eyed the remaining stacks surrounding the entire
room.

"Father had such a wide scope of interests that I haven't even
begun to decide just how I'm going to arrange all this."

"But, you have to admit. There's some pretty interesting stuff
here. Here, Kevin, we set this aside for you and Nick."

AJ handed him a beautiful, leather bound book with a solid latch
encasing it. The cover was engraved with a symbol of sorts, unique
yet familiar somehow. They all waited and saw as a hint of
recognition entered Kevin's eyes. The symbol was a variation of
Nick's tattoo.

"Father traveled a lot when he was younger and used to tell AJ and
I about the people and places he'd seen. There was this one time in
particular. He'd been away longer than usual. About two nights after
he'd come home, AJ and I sat with him and he told us about meeting
some people travelling just like he was. They were older though and
father said he was surprised to see them actually. They shared a meal
together and that's when they gave father the book. Told him to pass
it down so that they would be remembered and understood. Father
didn't want to accept it at first. He couldn't even open it he said.
What use would it be?

But, they'd reassured him that his family would find a way. They'd
gone to sleep then and father told us he'd gained more than a few
gray hairs the next morning when he woke up to find his companions
missing, not a single trace of them remaining."

A thoughtful look remained on Howie's face as he looked at the book
in Kevin's hands. Exchanging a glance with AJ, he shook his head in
slight bewilderment.

"Don't know how we could have forgotten about it."

Examining the book closely, Kevin realized the latch that held the
book was devoid of any keyhole or other obvious signs of unlocking it.

"How are we suppose to open it?"

"Beats the hell out of me."

AJ, as eloquent as ever shrugged his shoulders.

"Maybe Nick will know."

"Speaking of which, any sign of our wondering Captain."

"Not yet."

"I hope the girl will be alright."

-------------------------------

With a sigh, Nick released the girl's hand. Her breathing had
finally evened out and everyone could see she was doing better. As he
attempted to stand, Nick felt his strength give out, and was grateful
for the support of Matt's arms.

"This way, Captain."

The healer, who had done much to save the girl's life even before
Nick had arrived with the others, moved to see Nick but was waved
away by Matthew. Leading Nick to a pallet that had been prepared for
him in a separate room, Matt handed him a glass of water.

As Nick finished his drink, he could tell Matt was itching to say
something.

"Spit it out, Matt."

Never one to hold back his opinions, Matt let some of his worry
show.

"I've been serving under you a while, Captain and though I don't
pretend to understand what you do, I've learned to at least gage your
limitations. Khira knows, you certainly don't."

With a self-deprecating smile, Nick accepted his words with no
comment knowing there was more.

"The girl's wounds, they shouldn't have really affected you this
much, Captain. Certainly not to the point of exhaustion."

"I have to agree with you, Matt. I didn't think it would affect me
this much either."

Frustrated, Nick stood.

"The sooner I find out what's going on, the sooner I can put it
behind me."

Preparing to mount their horses, Nick and Matthew had decided to
leave most of the soldiers to help in the repairs as they returned to
the palace.

"Captain, Lieutenant!"

One of their men called, approaching them.

"I think you need to see this."

Leading them to one of the barns that had been burnt to the ground,
the soldier pointed out the remains of what appeared to be a troll
and another human, larger than most holding an axe in his hands. They
looked to have been caught by a falling beam.

"Trolls working together with humans! That's unheard off."

"Not just any human," said Nick as he studied the markings on the
axe.

"It's a Feratas."

The Feratas were a tribal people, who lived in the mountains,
hunting and robbing wayward travelers. Highly anti-social, the
thought that both trolls and them had decided to join forces
indicated something more sinister. Reminding the soldiers to be
watchful, Nick and Matthew rode for the palace.

His thoughts preoccupied with the attack, Nick's fatigue had been
forgotten for now, but halfway through their journey, a bout of
dizziness hit him unexpectedly. Although well trained, Nick's horse
was spooked by the sudden tilt of his rider and reared throwing Nick
off.

"Captain!"

But by the time Matt had made it to Nick's side, the captain was
unconscious, blood smeared on his right temple.

------------------------------

"Kevin, what is it?"

Brian had noticed when Kevin had suddenly stiffened up, his eyes
straying north towards the forest.

"Papa!"

Cole ran into the room, Ryn with a confused expression on her face
at his heels. Running straight for Kevin, the boy wrapped his arms
around him.

"Something's happened to Daishan!"

----------------------------

"Kevin."

The older man was moving inside him. He was on his back, in their
bed, back at the palace. Gripping the older man's hair in his hands,
he kissed every inch of skin he could reach as Kevin made a meal of
his neck. Kissing, sucking, licking, coupled with the feeling of
Kevin pulsing within him, Nick felt he was going mad with passion and
desire.

It was their wedding night. Their apartments had been altered, the
whole section of the wing designed to accommodate Kevin, Nick and
Cole, and about 20 other people comfortably. His parents had given
them an estate in the country as well, constantly being tended to by
people hand picked for their love and loyalty.

//Nezadi//

Pulling back to look into the younger man's eyes, Nick could see
how close Kevin was. Pulling him down for a kiss, he swallowed the
older man's moan as he came within his husband. Nick having come at
the same time held Kevin close, shuddering with the intense feelings
pouring through him. Kevin started to kiss him all over once again,
murmuring words of love and comfort. No matter the number, it always
felt like the first time. But tonight, something was different. There
was something more. He couldn't explain it and when Kevin had pulled
back with a look of wonder on his face, he knew his husband had felt
it too. Closing his eyes, he felt tears fall free as Kevin kissed
each of his eyelids, the tip of his nose, his lips, his chin, moving
down ever so slowly so they could start their dance once again.

Feeling the breeze on his skin, Nick looked down to find himself
fully clothed, back where it had all started. A child's voice
startled him and he followed the sound back to the fountain. There
she was, a little boy, maybe three or four years old playing before
her. Looking up as Nick approached them, Khira smiled and vanished.
The little boy turned and Nick gasped as he saw the familiar green
eyes looking back at him, framed by the same shiny black hair.

A smile appeared on the boy's face when he saw Nick, so reminiscent
of Cole's that Nick's breath caught. The boy ran directly into his
arms, Nick's hand instinctively enfolding him. Nick's mind still
refusing to put the pieces together. The point became moot however as
the child pulled back to place a hand over Nick's face, revealing the
identical tattoo over his own tiny wrist.

"Daishan."

To be continued.