Chapter 23 | The Tale of Two Kingdoms

A Very Warm Room

That night, Temmin dreamed of Mattie, of kissing her in the garden at Whithorse as she turned into Sedra, then Ellika, and then back into herself, over and over. Sometimes in the dream, he was Issak and she was Allis, but it always came back to Mattie and himself. He woke up very early, feeling nauseated but aroused nonetheless, to the point that he took a few minutes to take care of himself before slipping into his riding clothes and out of the Keep.

Not even Jenks was awake yet this Nerrday morning. Fog hovered just above the meadow as Temmin walked to the stables. What a strange week, he thought, and it's not even Paggday yet. A few sleepy grooms and stable boys wandered among the stalls; they greeted him with knowing but cheerful smiles and a knuckle pressed to their foreheads, and one cheeky boy piped, "A blessed Nerrday to you, your highness!" before an older boy smacked his cap off his head.

"No, it's all right," said Temmin to them both. He took the smaller one's hand and shook it. "And a blessed Nerrday to you, too." As he walked off he heard the boys whispering to each other, awestruck and giggling, and he allowed himself a smile. He found Cappel already in the tack room, and wished him good morning.

"Good mornin', y'r highness! My, 'tis odd to see even you out this early." The old man turned away discreetly and tugged at an invisibly recalcitrant strap. "Nerves, y'r highness, beggin' my impert'nence?" he said softly, looking at the tack wall rather than directly at Temmin.

"Oh, it's all right, Cappel, I know it's the first thing people are going to think of when they see me today. Yes, I should say so. Wouldn't you be nervous?"

"I cudn' say, y'r highness. Such a thin'k as this, it's out of mind to the likes of me. But were I you, young sir, I sh'd be a-shiver." Temmin sighed. "Jus' know this, y'r highness. We cudn' be more prou't of you." Cappel finally looked Temmin's way, his face lit from within and looking a good 20 years younger. Temmin returned his smile, hefted Jebby's saddle and headed off to his stall.

Once he had the big horse saddled, Temmin mounted and they cantered off over the open fields. The early morning wind, filled with the smells of spring, blew the dreams fully out of his head, the muscular horse moving beneath him calmed him, and he felt his nerves settling. He rode through the King's Woods, up toward the Fairy Meadow. When he finally reached it, he let Jebby wander, cropping the greens.

He saw the flattening in the grass where the pavilion had stood a few days earlier, and thought about that pleasant afternoon with Allis. He thought about the man he saw beaten the day before, about the frustrating conversation with his father the night before, about his mother and Ibbit, about his beloved sisters and their destiny as line items in a treaty agreement. He thought about the Gods and his relationship to them, how little he really knew about religion. He thought about the Teacher, how compelling, attractive and frightening that black-robed figure was all at the same time, and what the Teacher had said when the story of Warin and Emmae had started: "Rape is in the history of every royal family." He thought about Mattie, and he wondered about her mother, Tellis.

Jebby turned in his search for succulent shoots until they were facing out away from the mountains. Temmin looked down at the still-awakening land he would some day be responsible for, the forest, the city, the farms beyond it. For the first time, he felt at peace at Tremont Keep. He felt at peace with his role as the Heir, and he felt at peace with his decision to be with Allis and Issak. For in spite of all his grumbling, he knew his sisters were right; he'd made the decision the moment he'd seen her. The religious part of it, maybe he was meant to learn more about the Gods this way. Maybe They'd help him find a way to atone for what he'd done to Mattie last summer, and for what his family had done to Emmae so long ago.

Time to ride home and begin.

Jenks fussed quietly, combing Temmin's already-tidy hair before the cheval glass. "I wish I could come with you, young sir. I should love to be there."

"If you came with me I'd never get up the steps. You'd be chasing me round the Promenade with the lint brush, and that'd never do."

"No," chuckled the valet, "I suppose it wouldn't. Now. Let me look at you, your highness." He motioned for Temmin to turn slowly, and the prince genially complied. "I do like the cut of that suit, sir." The gray trousers and cutaway coat emphasized Temmin's height, and gave him a bit more of the breadth that nature would provide on its own in time. He wore a waistcoat of dark blue silk with a discreet pattern of scrolls in Tremontine red, a neatly tied cravat in the same red, and his ruby cabochon cufflinks and watch fob. Temmin observed himself in the mirror. He looked handsome. He looked grown-up. He looked like a man on his way to an assignation.

"I like the cut of this suit, too, Jenks," grinned Temmin. He caught the valet's reflection in the mirror over his shoulder, and turned in alarm. "Are you all right?"

Jenks was quite, quite ruddy and his eyes were wet. "I'm sorry, your highness," he said, working to control the emotion in his voice. "It's--I've been with the family since I was a boy, since before your mother married, since before--before Lord Patrin died. I've been at Whithorse or with him on the battlefield my whole life. I've been your manservant since you put off dresses and began wearing pants, when you were just a little boy. And here you are, all grown up. You favor Lord Patrin so much. I'm just a bit...sentimental, I suppose, young sir." He smiled weepily. Temmin smiled back, his own eyes pricking a bit. Jenks cleared his throat and patted Temmin's back. "Enough of that. Off with you to the Temple."

Ellika came bouncing up behind him as Temmin walked down the stairs, and took his arm. She wore her new dress, a white lace confection with Tremontine red ribbons and sash. "You look like a wedding cake," said Temmin, kissing the top of her head.

"Thank you!" said Ellika. "Put your gloves on, Temmy."

"Is Sedra coming?"

"Sedra is waiting for you in the hall," came her voice from the bottom of the stairs. "None of us are coming but Ellika, Temmin, she's the only one devoted to that Temple and it's right that she should go. Mama and Papa are already waiting by the carriage. Honestly," she said, kissing her brother on the cheek, "I'm used to waiting for Ellika, not you, but you do look splendid."

His parents stood beside the carriage, waiting. "Come give me a kiss, sweetheart," said his mother, and he gratefully kissed her and hugged her tight even though he knew it wasn't quite the thing for a grown man to do. She had tears in her eyes, but remained composed and smiling. He shook hands with his father; for a moment, they clasped both their hands, and Temmin realized it was probably the most physical contact he'd had with his father since he was a small boy. Sedra kissed him on both cheeks and squeezed his hands. He handed Ellika into the carriage and followed her in himself.

The ride to the Temple was quick, quiet and cheerfully apprehensive. Even Ellika was quiet, and the siblings gazed out the windows and occasionally at each other. When they pulled up in front of the rose-colored stone building, Temmin was relieved to see that a crowd did not await them; while "everyone" knew he was becoming a Supplicant, apparently only those at the Keep proper knew when, and they hadn't talked.

Temmin stepped out onto the walk and helped Ellika down. He looked up the long flight of stairs to see the elderly High Lover, the equally elderly High Beloved, Allis and Issak waiting for him at the top. "Isn't there something odd about one's sister participating in something like this?"

"Not," she said, keeping slow pace with him up the stairs. "when she's the main patroness of the Temple, not at all. And I'm not participating in everything, just your presentation. The rest, little brother, is up to you." They reached the top of the stairs.

"Ellika of Tremont, why are you here?" said the High Lover.

"I am here to present my brother, Temmin of Tremont, as a Supplicant to the Temple of the Lovers," she replied to the old man.

"Child," said the High Beloved, "do you understand what it is you're about to undertake?"

Temmin gawped at her for a fraction of a moment. Ellika hadn't told him about this part. "I--" He really didn't understand, at all. Should he tell the truth? He glanced at Allis. She returned his gaze coolly, giving him no hint as to how to answer. He thought quickly and fell back on his mother's teaching. "No, ma'am. I don't. But I'm here to learn."

The High Beloved and High Lover broke out into huge smiles. "You come to us wise in one respect, I see," said the High Lover. Ellika nudged him imperceptibly. He took the High Lover's hand, bent low over it, and then did the same with the High Beloved. He took Allis by the waist, leaned down, and kissed her; it was brief, but it sent a thrill down the back of his head to the base of his spine. When it ended, she gave him a small, intimate smile, and the thrill traveled back up the way it came.

Then Temmin came to Issak, and hesitated for a moment. Issak was slightly shorter than he was, but it felt odd to put his hands on Issak's waist as he had Allis, so he took his hands instead. He'd never kissed another man before, only in that dream, and he and Allis's brother hadn't ever exchanged more than a few words. But here Issak was, waiting to be kissed. Temmin looked shyly into Issak's eyes--and he was in that dream again, floating in green, tangled in black, kissing Issak with his hands meeting at the back of the other man's neck. He was flushed all over, he was sharing Issak's breath, he was kissing him at last, and when it ended, he stared at Issak and saw him for the first time. Issak stood, his mouth still open, his expression somewhat dazed and surprised. Temmin glanced over at Allis; she was grinning slightly at them both. The twins put their arms around him. "Welcome to the Lovers' Temple, Temmin Supplicant," they said together. "Come inside." With an Obby on each side, Temmin walked into the Temple, Ellika and the Highs bringing up the rear.

As soon as they were out of public sight, Ellika launched herself into Temmin's arms, and he rested his chin atop her head for a moment before kissing her tear-stained cheek. "That was beautiful, Temmin!" she whispered. "Well done!"

"Now what?" muttered Temmin in her ear.

"Now, your highness," said the surprisingly sharp-eared High Lover, "we'll take tea, and then bid goodbye to your sister." He led them to a sitting room furnished with wide, low, soft furniture that were either rather small beds or rather large couches. Several small fires warmed the room, and Temmin resisted the strong urge to take off as much of his clothing as possible. The company sat, Ellika between the elderly couple and Temmin between the Obbys. A beautiful young man wearing little but a smile and an interestingly wrapped scarf brought tea on a tray and put it on the low table, bowed, and left the room, hips swaying ever so slightly. Temmin tried not to stare, then looked across at his sister and raised one eyebrow just a bit, which she ignored. He was beginning to see what brought her to the Temple. Allis poured the tea and Issak served it round; when he gave the prince a cup, his hands lingered on Temmin's just a touch longer than necessary.

"So, what happens now?" said Temmin when he found his voice.

"So impatient," tsked the High Beloved. "Tell me, your highness, have you ever undressed a lover?" Temmin reddened and shook his head. "No, I'd suppose not since you're here, hm? How silly of me, I'm getting old. There is something to be said for the deliberate tease, the slow revelation of the body. A bare shoulder, an ankle, the first glimpse of a breast, the little dimples at the base of the spine." She was watching him closely, and he reddened further. "Don't be in a hurry, my dear."

"Then again," said the High Lover, "there is something to be said for the heated stripping of a lover's body of all impediments. The feel of hands that won't be denied access, the ripping of cloth, the sudden rush of air against bare skin. Wouldn't you say?"

The High Beloved reached behind Ellika to take his hand, and kissed it. "There is something to that, yes, I'd very much agree," she smiled.

Temmin's head was in a bit of a whirl. The words were arousing, and yet the speakers looked like nothing so much as his grandparents. Even more bewildering were his seatmates. He had to keep himself from looking at Allis on his left; the difference in their heights meant that if he turned his head, he could see right down into the depths of her bosom, where he very much wanted to bury his nose. Worse, he was achingly aware of the heat of Issak's thigh pressed against his own. Why did they keep it so damned warm in here?! He realized someone was speaking to him and blinked. "I'm sorry?" he bleated.

"I said, my dear," smiled the High Lover, "that it's time to say goodbye to your sister." He'd completely forgotten Ellika was there. They all stood, and Ellika genuflected before the Highs before giving Allis and Issak each a relatively chaste kiss.

"The carriage will be back for you at the end of the day," she said as she stood on tip-toe and kissed Temmin on each cheek. "Off I go to tell Sedra and Mama all about it." The barely clothed attendant reappeared and led her from the room.

"And with that," said the High Lover, taking his partner's arm, "we shall take our leave and return to our duties. Welcome to the Temple, your highness, though from now on you should know that if anyone here addresses you at all it will be simply by your name, with no disrespect intended. You are a Supplicant here, not the Heir. You will call me Most High, and style the High Beloved similarly."

"I understand, Most High," he said, adding, "Thank you for your gracious hospitality."

"Oh," said the High Beloved with a sly smile, "trust that the pleasure is entirely ours. We leave you young people to it."

And with that, Temmin was left on his own in a very warm room with the objects of his intense curiosity and desire. He felt one set of fingers slipping into the hair of his nape, and another set sliding his cravat from round his neck. "And so we begin," whispered Allis.