The Harem

Title: The Harem, chapter six
Author: Lady Snowblossom
Rating: NC-17
Status: incomplete
Disclaimer: I just checked, nope, still ain’t mine.


Extracting himself from his well wishers, Sage headed for his room, where he hoped to find some solitude. The combination of noise and his suddenly queasy stomach was making him sick. Rowan and Cy didn’t notice his departure, but someone else did.

“Sage.” The husky tenor was familiar and Sage stopped and turned slightly in the direction of the voice. A red-haired man was walking towards him.

Sage bowed his head slightly, acknowledging the other. “Carmine.”

“May I walk with you.” Carmine asked. Carmine was somewhat older than the other occupants of the Garden Court. He had long, flowing red hair that fell almost to his knees, and he wore it parted down the middle and tied with black leather thongs, one part streamed down his chest and the other, down his back. His emerald green eyes were heavily lidded and fringed with thick lashes. His lips were full and his well-made body exuded sensuality. He was also somewhat taller than Sage.

Sage tilted his chin up a little and nodded. “As you wish.” He then turned and resumed walking. Car fel fell in step with him and they left the room. They were halfway up the stairs before Carmine spoke again.

“Sage.” Carmine stopped, looked around and shook his head. “No, its better we talk in your room.” And he said nothing more, until they reached the room and entered it. Sage’s eunuch, Arif smiled, as the two entered, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He bowed to Carmine, who made a gesture and Arif left.

“I hope you will forgive my ordering your slave from the room without your permission.” Carmine said, as he seated himself on the one chair in Sage’s room. Sage nodded. Carmine leaned back in the chair and regarded Sage with lidded eyes. Sage fidgeted under the intense scrutiny. Finally, Carmine nodded and said, “Yes, n sen see why our lord chose you. You are a very beautiful boy, Sage.”

Sage merely nodded, and took a seat on his bed, facing the other man. A small smile curved Carmine’s lips, and his eyes glowed with amusement. Seeing the amusement in the other’s eyes, Sage frowned and gritted, “You said, you wanted to talk. What is it, you wanted to say?”

Carmine smiled, he could see right through the boy’s brave front. Hadn’t he been the same-not so long ago? “Sage, relax. I am, believe it or not, a friend. And it’s as a friend that I’m here now.”

Sage raised an eyebrow at that. “A friend?” he queried. Carmine nodded his expression intense. Sage was puzzled, Carmine was certainly not a member of the little circle of boys, that Sage was a part of.

Carmine continued, when Sage made no further comment, “Sage, I know your stomach is probably trying to tie itself in knots right now, and that you’re nervous as hell. But, it will be all right. Ryo is well ed ied in the bedroom arts, and he’ll be gentle with you your first time. But, that isn’t why I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to warn you.”

“Warn me?” Sage Interrupted. “Warn me of what?”

“Not what, who.”

“Who, then?”

Carmine leaned forward and placed his hands carefully on his knees. “Kento and Yuli.” Sage made an impatient noise, but Carmine forestalled any comment he might have made. “Listen to me, you young fool!” he snapped. Sage’s head whipped back and his eyes widened. Carmine glared at him.

“Kento and Yuli are desperate. It is a mystery to the rest of us, as to why Ryo hasn’t had them moved to the Pavilion of the Forgotten.” A shadow passed over Carmine’s face, but it passed so quickly that Sage wasn’t certain that he had really seen it.

“Anyway,” Carmine resumed, “if you please Ryo and become his favorite. I’d recommend that you have the Aga Kislar get you a food taster, because I wouldn’t put it past those two to resort to poison.”

Sage blanched white.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?” Sage cried, his wide eyes intent on Carmine’s solemn face. Carmine slowly nodded.

“Only too serious. Our history is full of murders done to acquire power, or to keep it.” Carmine rose and walked toward the door of Sage’s room. He paused and looked back at the boy, who regarded him with fearful eyes. “Remember, Sage. Get a food taster, that may be in the long run the only thing that will save your life.” Then Carmine walked out of the door, leaving a shaken Sage behind.

Meanwhile...

Dov had organized the ikbals into work gangs and runners. The boys, who were the runners, were sent to recruit other boys from the odas to help with the work that needed to be done before nine. The work gangs were set to building the framework of a walkway that would be lined with sheets, to keep the wind off, as Sage traveled from the Garden Court to the doorway that lead to Ryo’s quarters. It would never do for Sage to arrive covered in sand, curse this wind! Dove thought savagely. Another gang of boys; afthe the walkway was built would be set to sweeping up the sand and other debris caught in the tunnel of sheets.

He sent boys to find the gardeners and get them to cut some flowering vines, then they were to bring back the vines and twine them about the posts of the walkway. Rowan and Cy worked just as willingly as the others did. At first, Cy had been given a hammer, but after he had pounded his thumb more often than a nail, Dov sent him to gather vines. Rowan was quick on his feet, so he was made a runner, and he ran straight to Selim and his

Selim was delighted to send all his boys to help, and he came along to help supervise. As new helpers poured in, all bubbling with excitement, Dov found he soon had more help than he needed, and he had to send some of them back to the odas.

Silvio slid over to Dov, a worried expression on his face. “If the wind picks up anymore, its’ going to tear all our work apart. Damn this wind! God knows, this is a poor showing for Sage’s first night!” The brown haired boy flipped his bangs back with an impatient hand. Dov nodded, “I know. But, there’s nothing we can do about it, except hope.” A tearing sound made both boys turn, as if to illustrate Silvio’s point, one of the sheets had torn loose of its mooring. Two boys dived atand and began to feverishly reattach it. Dov and Silvio sighed in unison and headed for the spot to lend a hand.

Hours past, Sage could hear the assorted shouts, cries, and poundings from his room, but he couldn’t see anything of what was going on from his window. Arif had urged him to take a nap, and he had tried but he simply couldn’t sleep, and when Arif had brought him some food on a tray, he had only picked at it.

Finally, in desperation, Sage crawled to the middle of his bed and folded his long legs into a lotus position and began to mediate. As he concentrated, the noise and his sense of unease faded away. When Arif peeked in on him, later, he found Sage asleep.

The sun was just beginning to set, when Sage awoke to find Cy leaning over him. Cy smiled and darted away without saying a word. Moments later, Arif arrived carrying a tray, followed by Kay and Wess, Rowan and Cy’s eunuchs. When Sage sat up, Arif placed the tray in his lap and uncovered it.

“Master, you must eat.” Arif said, and he gave Sage a pleading look. When Sage nodded and began to eat, Arif straightened up with relief written on his face. All four occupants of the room froze, when they heard the brass bell on the guard tower being struck six times. Sage swallowed hard, only an hour to go before the favorites arrived. His nerves returned full force.

Sensing that Sage had eaten all he was going to, Kay took the tray off Sage’s lap and took out it into the hallway, where he gave it to a passing slave. For the next hour, Sage watched as the three eunuchs argued over what outfit he should wear. They finally settled on a sleeping robe of watered yellow silk, over a loincloth of cloth-of-gold, with slippers that matched the robe.

Outside, Sage’s small suite, there came the sound of much whispering and giggles and a few sharp hushes. Promptly, at the stroke of seven, all the sounds outside his room ceased, as Kento and Yuli stepped into the room. The eunuchs and Sage bowed. Both favorites were carrying small wrapped objects, which they presented to Sage.

“Just a small token, in honor of the occasion.” Yuli explained, after Sage had opened the objects and found boxes. He opened them and gasped. Inside the box, Kento had given him, was an armlet of beaten gold. On the armlet was the embossed picture of a hunting scene, with dogs and riders in pursuit of some kind of prey.
li’sli’s gift was a choker made entirely of matching black and pink pearls, styled so that the black pearls surrounded the pink ones, which was arranged in a pattern to resemble dots. The pattern reminded Sage of the studs on his father’s hunting dog’s collars.

“Thank you.” Sage murmured, as he handed the gifts to Arif. Yuli nodded sharply, accepting the thanks.

“Now,” Yuli said briskly, “it’s time for your bridal bath.” With those words, he and Kento fell in on either side of Sage and bore him off to the baths, followed by Arif.

In the baths, Sage was bathed, massaged and perfumed. Arif insisted that he had to attend to Sage’s intimacies himself and practically fought off, Raghib, Kento’s chief eunuch.

While Sage was in the baths, Dov and others cleaned Sage’s room, and placed vases of exotic flowers and freshly lit candles all over the room. Out in the hall, four boys-whose voices hadn’t changed waited, along with the four best musicians among the ikbals. Finished, Dov shooed everyone out and in one last act, placed a small bottle of oil on the small table at bedside. Then he left.

Yuli and Kento escorted Sage back to the door of his room. “Kento and i will return, shortly to escort you to the palanquin.” They nodded to Sage and left. As soon as, they had left the musicians began to play and the other four boys began to sing softly.

Sage followed Arif into his room and stared at the transformation. “Master.” Arif’s voice brought his attention back to his slave. The eunuch had come to stand directly behind Sage and he slowly began to remove Sage’s robe.

Dropping the robe onto the chair, Arif took Sage by the hand and led him to the bed. “Master, you must lie face down across my lap, please.” Arif said, as he seated himself.

Sage stared at him, then whispered, “Why?”

Arif sighed, “Because Master, I must prepare you.” With sudden insight, Sage recalled his lessons and shuddered, he knew what Arif meant to do to him. Arif tugged gently on the boy’s hand and guided Sage across his lap. Sage laid face down and reluctantly spread his legs.

Arif reached over and picked up the small bottle, Dov had left, uncorked it and poured some of the oil onto the palm of his left hand, allowing it to warm. Finally, he picked up some of the oil with three fingers of his right hand and gently probed Sage’s entrance with one finger. Sage’s muscles tensed and Arif stopped, waiting for Sage to relax.

Sage felt the pressure at his entrance and tensed, as the finger slowly entered him, Sage fought to relax his muscles to allow the probing finger deeper. As he began to relax, the first finger was joined by a second, both still slowly rubbing and stretching him, at last, a third finger was added and brushed against a spot that had Sage moaning and twitching his hips.

Arif stared down at the squirming blonde and for one of the few times in his life, cursed his condition. Sage was positively exquisite and he wished he could find out just once what it would be like to take the beauty in his lap.

Reluctantly and regretfully, he removed his fingers, before he got Sage too excited and spoiled the boy’s needful mood. Arif wiped the residue of oil on his robe and gently set Sage up. He looked into Sage’s eyes, they were bright and shining and his chest was heaving. Good, thought Arif, he’s excited. All the better, much depends on how he acts tonight.

Swiftly, Arif rose from the bed and went and fetched the clothes chosen for Sage, and helped the boy get dressed. Outside the singers and musicians stopped, abruptly. Without ceremony, Yuli and Kento stepped into the room, trailed by Carmine and three other boys, Sage knew only vaguely. They had come to escort Sage to his lord.

As Sage exited his room, he threw a glance over his shoulder. Rowan and Cy were standing in the forefront of the others; both had anxious looks on their faces. Sage held their eyes for a long moment, and then he turned his head and went to face his future, alone.

Outside, the wind was battering at the frail wall of sheets and flowers. With a firm grip on Sage’s elbow, Yuli handed him into the palanquin, and then fell back, signaling the slaves to pick it up. As Sage was borne off, Kento and Yuli, along with Carmine and the other three favored ikbals, followed.

Rowan and Cy ran along the gallery and peered out the lattice, even though they couldn’t see very much, just the tops of head and the palanquin. Cy opened his mouth to cry something, and a strong hand clamped down on it. “Don’t!” hissed Hillel. He continued, “from now on, until Sage enters Ryo’s quarters, the only people who can talk to him, or call to him are the favorites, Ryo’s bedded ikbals, and the Aga Kislar! Cry out, and you will be whipped!” Cy sagged back and paled. Rowan continued to gaze out at the billowing sheets.

Sage sat up straight among the silk pillows. He attempted to meditate, but his heart was beating too rapidly, and his blood sounded like thunder in his ears. Two guards opened the doors and bowed as the party walked past them. The closing doors shut off the sound of the howling wind and the sudden silence was broken only by the whisper of slippers on a marble floor, the crackling of the torches ieir eir brackets and the rasping breaths of the slaves bearing the palanquin.

Finally, the slaves stopped outside a pair of doors made of cedar and studded with golden spikes. Sage composed his face as the palanquin settled on the floor – determined to not show fear. Kento and Yuli reached in and each grasped an arm and helped Sage to dismount.

Sage stood frozen, and impatiently Kento pushed him from behind. “Go! Our lord awaits his pleasure!” Sage took a leaden step forward and then another, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Carmine’s encouraging smile and took heart from it. A few steps later, he was standing in the room and the doors were pulled shut.

Sage stood looking around, the room was filled with vases of jasmine and roses and their scent was heavy in the air. He noted the fireplace and the lamps hanging from the ceiling. His eyes shied away from the bed; instead he focused on the doors on the far side of the room. They were open.

“Sage, come here to me.” Ryo’s voice called to him from the other side of the doors. Sage walked slowly across the room and went outside. Ryo was looking over the balcony’s railing towards the women’s quarters. There were lights burning over there at a time of night when there normally wasn’t, and he had been wondering if he should send and find out what was going on.

He turned as Sage fell to his knees and bending gracefully touched his forehead to the floor. Ryo stepped over to him and raised Sage to his feet. Ryo stared into Sage’s eyes and gravely said, “Don’t prostrate yourself in front of me again. It is the act of a slave, not of an intelligent young man.”

Sage flushed lightly and whispered, “Yes, my lord.” Ryo smiled and backed up to get a good look at his lovely slave. Sage’s flush deepened under Ryo’s approving gaze. Ryo’s smile widened wickedly, as he took Sage by the hand and led him back into the room.

Co to to a halt in front of his bed, Ryo turned Sage until he was facing the rest of the room, and stood behind him. Leaning forward and bringing his mouth close to Sage’s ear, Ryo whispered, “Do you remember that I promised you a scented chamber. Do you smell the flowers?” Then he gently took the lobe of Sage’s ear into his mouth and sucked on it. Sage gasped at the sensation that flowed through him.

Ryo gently bit into the bit of flesh and Sage whimpered. Releasing Sage’s lobe, Ryo pulled the boy around and softly parted his lips with his tongue, and then he claimed the sweet tasting mouth and drove his tongue into the wet heat.

Sage’s senses reeled at the pleasurable sensations that Ryo’s tongue were creating, slowly, tentatively he sent his own tongue upwards to do battle with Ryo’s. Finally, the need to breathe drove them apart, and Ryo exclaimed, “You didn’t faint! Dare I try again?” Sage’s soft laugh went straight to Ryo’s groin and set it to aching. “Yes, lord. I would like that.” Sage murmured.

Ryo pulled Sage close and kissed him a little more forcefully. This time, when he pulled away Sage’s lips were bruised and he was panting. Looking into Ryo’s eyes, Sage could see the gleam of desire that resided there, and he trembled. Ryo noted the slight movement of Sage’s beautiful body.

“Cold? I’ll soon warm you.” Ryo promised. This time when he kissed Sage, he reached around and gently squeezed Sage’s rear with both hands. Sage moaned; he could feel his sex hardening inside the loincloth that was now way too small. Sage groaned, when Ryo feeling Sage’s hardness against his thigh moved to rub his own against the boy.

“My golden one,” Ryo murmured as he undid Sage’s sash, “you are wearing too many clothes.” A final tug and Sage stood before his lord with his robe hanging open and tantalizing glimpses of his chest and a long elegant thigh, showed through the gap. Sage’s breath came faster and a part of him was appalled. Where was his control? His dignity? Where was his pride?

Sage made to draw his robe shut, and Ryo’s voice lashed out. “Hold! It pleases me to look at you!” Sage flinched at the harshness of Ryo’s command. Ryo smiled and reached into the robe and pushed it off Sage’s shoulders, the silk pooled at Sage’s feet, leaving him in only his slippers and loincloth.

Ryo slowly knelt, his eyes never leaving Sage’s face. Once he was on his knees, Ryo tenderly ran his hands up Sage’s legs, all the way to the curve of his rear. Sage sighed, as Ryo’s fingers got busy and undid the tuck that held up the loincloth.

As the cloth fell away, it exposed Sage completely to his lord, and Sage flushed, unable to hide his beginning arousal. Ryo gazed in satisfaction at the proof of his effect on the delicious blonde. he planted a kiss on Sage’s thigh, causing Sage to gasp and was delighted with the quivering reaction he got. Ryo rose from the floor and brushed his fingers across Sage’s cheek, inwardly smirking as Sage leaned into the caress.

Leaning forward, Ryo delicately parted Sage’s lips again and sucked in Sage’s lower lip. Sage made a soft sound in Ryo’s mouth, as his lord deepened the kiss. Taking his time, Ryo explored the inside of Sage’s mouth, relishing tasttaste of his sweetness. With a little more confidence, Sage sent his tongue up to meet Ryo’s and their tongues began to twine like snakes. Finally, the need to breathe drove them apart. Ryo let go of Sage, who looked disappointed.

“Climb on the bed.” Ryo murmured as he began to shed his own clothes. Walking on trembling legs, Sage went to the side of the bed and climbed in. He turned on his side, as Ryo now fully stripped walked to the other side and climbed in beside him. Ryo took Sage into his arms and pulled the boy against his chest under his forearm he could feel Sage’s heart fluttering like a trapped canary.

“Sage,” Ryo whispered feather soft in Sage’s ear, as he breathed in the scents that Sage had been anointed with and the heady underlying scent of the boy, himself. “I want you. But, if I must wait to have you, I will.” Sage shook his head and twisted in his lord’s arm. “Yes, lord.” he whispered and for the first time kissed Ryo of his own accord.

Ryo deepened the kiss and sent one hand questing across Sage’s chest, rubbing a thumb in circles around a little pink nub of flesh. Sage gasped into Ryo’s mouth; the new sensation swept like a wave along his nerve endings.

Ryo broke the kiss and began to nibble his way down the blonde’s body. He sucked a nipple into his mouth and gently took it between his teeth and tortured it, by alternately sweeping his tongue across it and tugging on it with teetteeth.

Sage began to whimper as Ryo swept still lower and tongued the curves of his abs and dipped lightly into his navel. Involuntarily, his hips thrust upwards, as he sought to bring his aching hardness into contact with his tormentor.

Ryo leaned back up for another searing kiss, as his knee spread Sage’s legs and he cupped the soft sac in the palm of his hand. Sage groaned, as Ryo rolled the hard ovals contained within between his fingers. Breaking the kiss, Ryo went back down and spread Sage’s legs wider, then he licked the head of the small tower that thrust up from the bed of blonde curls.

Sage gasped as he watched his sex disappear into Ryo’s mouth. Ryo licked the tiny jewel of pre-cum out of the slit in the crown and then he began to move up and down on Sage. On each stroke, he’d take Sage a little deeper and when he pulled up, he’d wrap his tongue around the hard shaft and then flick at the head.

Sage’s head began to whip from side to side, as his world focus narrowed to the heat that was concentrating in his groin. He began to thrust upwards and Ryo grabbed his hips and pinned them to the bed. Tighter and tighter the heat spiraled until Sage, unable to take anymore shattered. Sage strained against the hands restraining him, as he screamed his completion.

Ryo backed off a little, so he’d be able to swallow every precious drop age’age’s submission. After he had sucked every last drop out of Sage, he released the shrinking flesh and went up and captured Sage’s lips in a hot kiss, using his tongue to spread the warm taste of Sage around.

Breaking the kiss, Ryo sank down beside the panting boy. He slowly began to caress him, gradually fanning the embers of Sage\'s desire back into a roaring flame.

Moaning, Sage gave into the expert touches on his sensitized skin that were slowly consuming his senses. Ryo nuzzled Sage behind his ear, whispering, “I want to take you, so badly, my beauty.” Nervously, Sage licked his lips and nodded, “Yes, lord, I’m ready.” he whispered.

“My dove, I want you to get on all fours. It will be more comfortable for you, and I will be able to pleasure you better.” Ryo whispered, as he sat up. Sage rolled over and got into the requested position. Ryo’s breath caught in his throat at the sight. Never before had he been faced with perfection and here was perfection. The knowledge that soon he would possess this beauty in every sense of the word sent a powerful shaft of warmth straight to his groin, and his sex hardened even more.

He reached on his bedside table and removed a small round container. Opening the container, Ryo scooped out a small amount of the contewithwith his fingers and spread it over his rock hard sex. Sage’s nostrils flared as a spicy scent joined the other scents in the room, adding to his arousal.

Ryo knelt behind Sage and slowly stroked the young man’s back, as he dropped a few biting kisses down Sage’s back. Sage moaned in response. He spread Sage and taking up a little more of his cream, he slowly slid a finger into Sage’s entrance and began to move his finger in and out. He was aware that Sage’s eunuch would have prepared the boy, but he didn’t want to risk hurting him.

Sage moaned, as the finger moved inside him, stretching and rubbing. He reached down and rubbed his own erection, hoping to ease some of the ache there. Ryo felt the movement and whispered, “ let me.” And he grasped Sage’s hardness with a slippery hand and began to pump. Sage groaned and pushed into Ryo’s hand.

Convinced that Sage was ready, Ryo placed a kiss on the small of Sage’s back and releasing Sage, he took his lovely rear in both hands and widen him further, then he pressed the tip of his aching sex against the small bit o puckered flesh. He stopped moving, when the muscles in Sage’s channel clamped down. Soothingly, Ryo stroked Sage’s back and flanks, murmuring to him; as he waited for the boy to relax.

Sage tried hard too not tense up, but the barely familiar pressure frightened him a little and his muscles clamped down on the hardness that was invading him. When Ryo stopped, Sage slowly began to relax. That was what Ryo had been waiting for, tightening his grip on Sage’s hips, to an almost bruising pressure, he pressed all the way in with one smooth shove. Fully buried in the virgin channel, Ryo held still, biting his lip, as he waited for Sage to adjust.

Sage groaned at the pain/pleasure of being taken. He moved restlessly on Ryo’s cock, seeking a position that didn’t feel uncomfortable. He lowered his body and raised his rear a little, and Ryo’s tip touched a spot that made Sage go weak in the knees.

Sage whimpered, and began to move his hips and then he pressed back against Ryo, who gasped at the feeling of his sex being stirred inside his lover. Taking his cue from Sage’s actions, Ryo grasped Sage’s hips in his hands and began to thrust into Sage’s willing body.

Ryo began to move around inside Sage, seeking the spot that would give the most pleasure. Suddenly, Ryo hit the gland deep inside Sage, who screamed with pleasure. Ryo moved faster and harder, rubbing that magic spot over and over. Leaning forward, Ryo grasped Sage in his hand and began to pump his hardness, Sage moaned and whimpered with need.

Unable to take the twin sensations of Ryo riding him and pumping his aching sex, Sage threw his head back and climaxed with a wild cry. Sage’s cry sent Ryo over the edge and he filled the beauty with his hot seed.

Sage’s trembling limbs were unable to support him any further and he collapsed taking Ryo with him. Ryo twisted at the last second and just missed squashing Sage. Sage felt Ryo’s shrinking organ leave his body, as Ryo drew him into his arms. A soft kiss was pressed to the back of his head and they both fell to sleep.

Ryo woke to a hand shaking him. “My lord! The doctor is calling for you! Lady Saran has been brought to bed!” His eyes sprang open and the duty slave backed away. Sage woke at his side, blinking and confused. “My lord?” he said. Ryo ignored him to roll off the bed. He ordered the duty slave to send for his body servant and for the slaves and Sage’s palanquin.

Ryo’s body servant ran into the room and Sage snatched up a sheet to cover himself with. Dressing quickly, Ryo turned to Sage and beckoned to him. Sage dropped the sheet and inched down to the foot of the bed. Ryo kissed him, quickly. “Get dressed, Golden One. You must return to the Garden Court. I will not be here the rest of the night.”

Sage got off the bed and retrieved his discarded clothing and dressed quickly. As he dressed, he tried to suppress the worry, as to whether or not he had pleased his lord. Suddenly, two arms circled his chest and a warm voice fell on his ear, murmuring. “If all goes well, I will send for you tomorrow night, my dove. I’ve not finished tasting your pleasures.”

Sage couldn’t resist asking, “Then I please you, lord?” Ryo turned him to face him and buried his hand in Sage’s spun gold hair; he pressed a quick hard kiss to Sage’s mouth.

“Yes,” he growled, “you please me.” Then Ryo led Sage out the door of his quarters, where four sleepy slaves waited. Ryo handed Sage into the palanquin, much to the slave’s astonishment. Then he dismissed them.

The court was quiet, when Sage returned and snuck into the building. He slipped upstairs to his room and wearily slipping out of histhesthes, he crept into bed. After fruitlessly trying to sleep, he finally sat up and began to think.

That he was inexperienced, he knew. That Ryo had held back and saw that he was pleasured, was also a given. Had he been like this with the others? The others! Sage burned briefly with jealousy. No, he decided, Ryo would have expected them to act as they had been taught.

The cocks were crowing, when Sage gave up on his pondering. He lay back against his pillows and finally succumbed to sleep.