The Knight and the Thief

The Knight and the Thief - Part 5: Conclusion

By Pfantazm

At the confluence of the Grey River and Eldan Creek stood a cabin. Two men, leading a horse between them, stood at the crest of a hill overlooking the cabin, and saw it with relief. Their hike was over.

On the horse, they could have reached the cabin from their starting point in the mountains in but a few hours. Since the horse had been put to strenuous use over the previous week, carrying both men everywhere they'd gone, the one of them decided to give the stallion what rest they could, and led the horse at the slower pace of the humans. The journey had taken most of a day. They'd spent the night in the foothills.

Exhausted though they were, the men were very happy. Only the previous day had they come to declare their love for one another. They had been travelling together, by force, for over a week by then, and although they had been intimate for most of that time, admitting to being in love had been a complicated thing.

The taller man, dark-haired and blue-eyed, proudly wore the colors of King Dunstan of Aragonia over a leather cuirass. He was handsome and well- muscled, strong and courageous and true: the ideal of what any knight of the realm should be.

His companion, shorter only by inches, lean and fair with hazel eyes, was the prisoner of the knight. His working name was the Dark Rogue, mainly because of the clothing that a thief such as he finds most useful. He was to be taken to the King's Court and tried for his crimes. His only reprieve had been the quest which the knight, Sir Madoc by name, had undertaken while on his way to the capital. The knight had had to bring the thief, known to none but the knight as Thom At-the-Well, along. And now the endof that quest was quite literally in sight.

The cabin was built of fieldstone, which might indicate wealth, but the cabin was no larger than a modest peasant's cottage. It also had its chimney in the center of its roof instead of on one side of the building. Despite the late summer heat, plumes of smoke rose from the chimney. These irregularities marked the cabin as a wizard's home.

Sir Madoc and Thom had sought out the wizard to ask for three bats' wings for a cure to a plague that had swept over a village farther up the Grey River. Thom had known of the wizard, but it was a recent acquaintance who had sensibly suggested that any ingredients that the questors might have to gather for a wizard, too busy to go looking himself, would most easily be acquired from another wizard. While the suggestion had come too late for most of the list they'd been given, it had come just in time to allow them to avoid difficult questions, such as, how do you catch a bat, and once you've got its wings, what do you do with the rest of it?

If the wizard in the cabin had bats' wings to spare, then their quest would be over, and Thom would have to stand trial. That was another difficult question that they had spent time trying to answer: How could justice be served without losing each other?

Now that the knight and the thief were completely aware of their feelings for one another, being separated would be a greater toruture than anything the keepers of the dungeons in Aragon could devise. Ever since Thom's brush with death the previous day, both Madoc and Thom were keenly aware that they never wanted to be apart again.

They spent every moment possible expressing their love for one another in every physical form, and so, were exhausted today. Every physical form, that is, with one exception.

Immediately after saving Thom and getting to safety, Madoc had gotten Thom onto his back and had plumbed the depths of Thom's bowels with furied pace. That night, they sought to make love at a more measured pace. Thom had suggested they switch places this time. Madoc had been unsure but he agreed.

They had stretched out their blanket among a small holt of trees, with Fleetfire the stallion tethered nearby. The sun had just begun to set and fireflies were congregating among the branches.

Both men were naked, seated on the blanket side by side, facing one another. Thom took the lead this time. He grasped his lover by the shoulders and drew him closer into a soul kiss. Thom's tongue passed gently, but insistently, into Madoc's mouth and entwined with its mate therein. The thief's hands slipped down under Madoc's arms, one caressing his shoulders from behind, the other reaching down to the small of his back.

Their bodies were pressed together, one focused area of heat against the chill breezes of the evening. Thom pulled himself closer, their chests rubbing together, their fleshy nipples pressing into fleshy pectorals.

Thom raised himself into a kneeling position, without breaking the kiss, and began to lay Madoc back onto the forest floor. As he did so, he moved to straddle the knight. When he was flat on the ground, Thom moved right on top of him. He gyrated on top of Madoc, grinding their cocks together.

Madoc cradled Thom's head in his hand, his fingers running through the thief's somewhat shaggy hair, while his other hand came to rest on his ass. Thom broke the kiss and moved down to the knight's neck. Madoc turned his head to the side and sighed contentedly. He kept his hands busy playing with Thom's hair and fondling his ass.

Thom moved down slowly, kissing and licking over Madoc's clavicle to his chest. He began to lave and suck the nub of Madoc's nipple. Madoc had to close his eyes. He wrapped his legs around Thom's and rubbed them against him. Thom descended on Madoc's body, and his erect cock was now prodding the area around the recumbent knight's cheeks. He made a few playful thrusts as he switched to Madoc's other nipple. Madoc flexed his muscular buttocks in time to the thrusts.

Thom slathered his tongue down Madoc's chest, down his wonderfully rippled stomach and down to his penis. It stood tall, throbbing and hot, pulsating in time with the knight's big heart. Thom planted an affectionate kiss on its head, knowing that its time would come later and moved further down again.

He licked at Madoc's thighs, hips and balls. Madoc had raised his head up and watched his lover at work. He saw Thom bring a finger to his lips and get it wet and ready to prepare Madoc. Madoc raised his knees to let Thom in. When Thom's finger was nice and wet, he pressed between Madoc's cheeks and found his pucker. He traced a lazy circle around the outside before trying to press inside. Madoc's sphincter was locked down tight.

"Just relax," Thom coached. "It'll be alright. You won't believe how good it feels. Relax, and let me open you up."

Madoc nodded and took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and felt around within himself to find those muscles and take control of them. Finally, Thom's finger was allowed inside. But just as Thom began to move around to loosen the ring of muscle, Madoc instinctively gripped his finger, immobilizing it. Thom tried to work against Madoc, but the only way he could move was out.

After a few more equally futile attempts to get Madoc to loosen up, Thom was forced to admit defeat.

"I'm sorry," Madoc said sheepishly. "I'd like to, but...."

"It's okay. We'll work on it. For tonight, you can fuck me again."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, but first I need some relief." Thom's smiled his devil's grin. "Can I use your legs?"

Madoc smiled and lowered his legs. Thom climbed back on top of him, and nestled his slightly softened dick between the knight's hairless inner thighs. He broke open one of the custard pods he was going to use for other purposes over his privates, also coating Madoc's strong thighs. Thus greased, Thom lay over Madoc once more in a half-pushup and began to pump his hips. He ground his lower body into his lover, moving long and slow. He wanted this to last, but at the same time he knew Madoc would be wanting his turn.

Thom's member prodded ineffectually at Madoc's ass, sliding through the thick cream that eased his way. Thom chewed his lips as he worked toward a quicker climax.

Madoc reached up and teased Thom's nipples, as much to pleasure the thief as to keep his hands off himself.

Thom grunted as he pushed down, feeling the familiar sensations of orgasm build within him. He came, still humping, adding to the mess between Madoc's legs. When he finished, he gave Madoc a kiss on the lips in thanks and rolled onto his back beside him. "I know you're ready, man," he said. "Take me."

Madoc eagerly knelt before Thom, while Thom raised and spread his legs, revealing himself to the knight. He reached down and scooped up some of the mixture of Thom's come and pod cream and applied it to his hot pole. He used a fresh pod on Thom once he'd used a pair of slickened fingers to prepare him.

Madoc aimed his long lance at Thom's hole and began his slow charge inside. Thom bore down as Madoc's inflated head eased inside somewhat painfully, but once that had passed and Thom grew accustomed to it once again, Madoc could enter easily.

"Let's go slow," Thom suggested. "Let's do it right."

"As you wish," Madoc replied. He pushed in gradually, feeling Thom's wonderful heat from all sides all the way up his shaft. He drew out again, feeling Thom try to close down on him to keep him there. Madoc picked up the pace slightly, getting into a steady rhythm. If this afternoon's frantic coupling had been a gallop then this was a leisurely canter that Madoc hoped he could keep up for hours. He rotated his hips, stirring up Thom's insides. Thom rolled his eyes in joy. Even though he only just came, his cock was stiffening again as Madoc rubbed that special spot inside of him.

Madoc bowed forward and engaged Thom in another long kiss. As his dick stimulated his friend's insides, his tongue made its way around his friend's tongue. Madoc loved Thom all the more for accepting him so completely when he couldn't reciprocate. He vowed he would find a way.

Thom, meanwhile, wished he could share the fabulous sensations that Madoc was providing for him. He reached down, stroking his lover's back as he felt him pistoning into him. He marvelled at the muscles at the small of his back, his ass, his legs, all flexing as Madoc moved. He gripped Madoc's ass as Madoc had done to him.

Madoc felt the pulse of Thom's own muscles from the inside as he shuddered in pleasure. He let himself go and stepped up the pace. He began to pound harder into Thom.

"Yes," Thom murmured. "Yes, go harder, faster, oh yes. It feels so good... come on, you studhorse, harder!"

Madoc went faster. His flashing blue eyes gazed directly into Thom's as he slammed his weight into Thom, his balls swinging into the cheeks of his ass again and again. Madoc's meat churned into the thief's hungry hole, feeding it again and again.

"Come on, give it to me," Thom was saying. "Fill me up with your seed. You've got me so hot, Madoc. Go, go...."

Madoc was past caring about anything beyond the sensations in his dick. He took his pleasure frm Thom. His thick member knifed at Thom's guts constantly. Madoc thrust a few final times, reared up and crashed into his lover and came, raising his arms to the sky and emptying himself into Thom with an animal cry of victory. He pumped his seed into Thom, living only through his manhood.

Thom felt liquid heat cover his insides as he watched his display of prowess. He arched his own back and shot his second load up into the air. Spatters of come rained down on his chest and stomach.

Spent, the two men came back down to earth and collapsed in a sticky heap of arms and legs. Panting heavily, they hugged each other close.

Thom's head was still buzzing from the power and intensity of the experience. "I don't know how you do that," he said, "but don't ever stop." Madoc laughed.

They wrapped themselves up in the blanket and held each other until sleep took them.

Today they stood atop the hill overlooking the wizard's house, where, with luck, they would be able to fulfill their quest.

Somewhat reluctantly, they descended into the river plain and approached the cabin.

Madoc rapped on the oaken front door, while Thom stood deferentially back.

A young girl, still in her teens, answered the door. `This must be the apprentice,' thought Thom.

"Greetings, goodknight. How may we be of service?"

"I am here on an erand of mercy. A plague has befallen the people of Cairncross. The local wizard there requires three bats' wings for a cure for them. I was hoping you had some that you could spare for it."

The girl stroked her chin. "I'm not sure that we do. We may, but I cannot check at the moment."

"Perhaps you could consult your master," Madoc suggested.

"(Mistress,)" Thom corrected out of the corner of his mouth.

"Mistress, Magister, uh--"

"(Aspasia.)"

"Aspasia?"

The girl smiled. "I would, but both she and the room with our supplies are occupied with other matters. Magister Aspasia is currently casting a spell and cannot be disturbed." The girl leaned back and peered into the depths of the cabin. "She should be entering a hiatus soon, in a few minutes. If you could wait...?"

"Certainly, m'lady. And thank you." He began to step forward.

The girl put up her hand to stop Sir Madoc. "I'm afraid you can't wait inside. It would be dangerous."

"Oh, my apologies. I'll wait outside, then."

The apprentice moved to curtsy, and saw Madoc's legs for the first time. She saw his hose below his tunic and tabard, one leg shredded below the knee, the other burnt away, by the looks of the singed edge. The frayed remains of the cloth were bandaging Madoc's burnt leg. She barely suppressed a giggle and closed the door.

Madoc was staring down at his legs and blushing. Thom chuckled and said, "Don't be embarrassed. They're well-turned legs." Madoc glared at him. Thom laughed. "Well, I like them." Thom was already sitting on the ground, his back against the cabin wall. "If you're worried about having good clothes to wear, why didn't you keep the outfit Tybalt lent you?"

"Accept a gift from a criminal? I couldn't."

"But you wore them."

"To keep appearances up in your charade."

Thom smiled up at him triumphantly. "So your mighty morality allows for that, then? What will you do when you appear before the king?"

"I'll stop in at the barracks and change clothes." Madoc sat next to Thom. "My saddle and saddlebags, including more changes of clothes, should have arrived in Aragon by now."

"But you haven't. They're probably wondering whatever's become of you."

"No. They probably believe that I'm dead," Madoc said simply. Thom looked shocked. "Probably by your hand."

"Why on earth would they think that?" Thom demanded. "I've never killed before now...."

"The last time I checked in with an outpost, I had you in tow. That was when I dropped off my saddle. Since then, I have effectively disappeared. If I do not return to the barracks within a month, my belongings will be divided among the others, and I will be considered dead."

Thom looked at him, slackjawed. "That's a drastic assumption, I'd say."

"But a likely one. In all your times dealing with the law, have you ever seen, or even heard of, an old High Guardsman?"

Thom continued to stare. "No, but I thought they just retired or promoted them. Are you saying none of the King's High Guard live long enough to grow old?"

"In general, no. There is no promotion because there is no higher honor in serving the King."

"That's a bloody strange honor if it gets you killed." Thom reflected on the number of times he'd had to act to save Madoc in one short week together. "Why don't they pair you up then? You get to your position by being the best at what you do. Surely Dunstan doesn't want to - waste - you like that. Speaking as a subject of the king, of course, and not as one of the criminals."

"Unfortunately, it is for that reason that we cannot be paired up. There are too few of us to be spared. To do so would cut our effectiveness in half. You may be interested to know, by the way, that there were three Guardsmen assigned to trap you after that last diamond theft."

Thom felt a flush of pride at that. "For a man of my former profession, that is an honor."

Madoc ignored him. "If we were paired, it would take six men to cover the same ground that we three did. Men that could be put to better use elsewhere in the kingdom. And if fewer than three groups were seeking you out, we may have failed. That is why High Guardsmen work alone."

Thom looked at his friend. He saw a man committed to his duty, and that duty would most likely take his life in a few years. You hardly ever heard of a High Guardsman who had lived beyond his thirties and Madoc had started early. Thom felt very afraid for his lover.

His voice grew softer. "Can I ask you a personal question, Madoc?"

Madoc was studying the ground at his feet. "What question?"

"I was wondering why in the seven Hells you would take a job like that. You said it was very important to you."

"I'll tell you, on one condition. You tell me how you came into your profession. Fair?"

"Fair. But you first."

Madoc watched the clouds in the afternoon sky as he spoke. "I was an orphan. There aren't many options for orphans. Someone might come along and claim you as an apprentice, but I wanted to go into military service. So I became a guard at sixteen. I trained with the sword, dagger and bow, though I'm not a very good archer."

"Why did you want to be a guard?"

Madoc paused. "I'd just liked the idea. Knights are strong and brave. I just wanted to be one."

Thom thought there had to be more to the matter than that, but didn't press further.

"When I was twenty," Madoc continued, "I was doing guard duty at Lord Dunholm's palace when we were attacked. A band of drunken brutes tried to storm the gate, and they created an almighty ruckus. Most of the guards went to the gate to help stop the disturbance, but I was suspicious. My commander, Old Rustbottom, cursed me for a coward for running to the palace." He smiled at the memory. "Gods, what a miserable sod he was. But I had this feeling. Things had just felt wrong in the palace for weeks. I went to the upstairs chambers. I still don't know why. I checked on Lord Dunholm and found him fighting with his nephew, Roland. Dunholm was unarmed. Roland had a knife. I ran Roland through.

"I'd never killed a man before that night. But I'm certainly not sorry I stopped Roland's assassination attempt. The drunkards admitted they had been paid off by Roland to cause trouble at the front gate.

"Old Rustbottom himself had to tell me that in honor of my heroic rescue of Lord Dunholm, I was to report for duty as a member of the King's High Guard. I was the youngest man ever accepted to the post.

"Now what about you? How did you come to be a thief?"

Thom was about to answer when the door to the cabin opened and the apprentice beckoned them inside. "Magister Aspasia would see you now."

Inside the cabin it was quite dark. The two questors stood just inside the door, which stood open admitting sunlight.

"Mistress Aspasia, may I introduce Sir Madoc of Fieldgate and Thom At-the- Well, known as the Dark Rogue." Thom was stunned. Even he hadn't known Madoc's last name, and he was quite positive that the apprentice shouldn't have been able to know him by both identities.

"Don't be alarmed, gentlemen," said a second female voice from somewhere in the dark. "My apprentice, Odilia, likes to show off sometimes. That was foolish of you, Odilia, divining their names while I was conducting my magic."

"I waited until you were in hiatus, Mistress."

"Even so. We'll have to discuss this later. Time is short. My apprentice tells me you need bats' wings?"

Sir Madoc briefly sketched out the plague of Cairncross, Magister Eleazar's cure, and their idea about coming by the required items more quickly.

"I'm quite sure I have what you need," Aspasia said. "The difficulty is in finding it. At the moment, I cannot allow light to enter my pentacle, and it is in that room where my supplies are kept. I believe I know where they are.... Wait a moment." Thom saw Aspasia's cloaked form disappear behind a curtain, back in the direction from which she came. Moments later, she returned with a jar. She stepped forward into the light.

Aspasia was quite beautiful. She had long brown hair, bright blue eyes and a small mouth. She appeared to be young, in her thirties, belying the echo of wisdom they had heard in her voice. The jar she bore was labelled BAT WINGS.

"Marvellous. I got it on the first try. Is something wrong?" Madoc was staring transfixed at Aspasia with an odd expression on his face. "Sir Madoc?" she asked.

"I'm sorry... I..." he stammered.

Thom jumped in. "I thank you, Mistress Aspasia. This is the last item we needed. You have no idea the trouble we went through getting everything else, like that silvered glass, remember, Sir Madoc?" The knight was back to staring again.

"A silvered glass?" Aspasia asked. "Why did...? What were the symptoms of this plague?"

"Fever, convulsions, pasty yellowed skin,..." Thom said.

"You sound like an herbalist, Dark Rogue," Aspasia said with irony ringing in her voice.

"My mother was an herbalist, and all the while I aided her in my youth, I never saw anything like it."

"This distresses me," Aspasia said, putting her finger to her lip.

Odilia interrupted. "The hiatus is almost up, Mistress."

"Thank you. Please, both of you, wait outside. I'd like to hear more about this plague. You'd best get outside while we prepare." The wizard went back behind the curtain, the jar still in her hands. Odilia shooed the men out the door.

They had just taken their previous places against the wall when the trapdoor atop the cabin banged open very loudly and a great fireball spewed from the roof.

"By the gods," Thom muttered, but in an instant, Madoc was on his feet and knocking at the door.

"Aspasia? Odilia? Are you alright?" He pounded on the door three times. Thom had arrived in time to hear someone knock three times back.

They heard Odilia's voice, muffled by a thickness of door, say, "Everything is fine. That was supposed to happen."

Thom exhaled. "Wizards."

They returned once more to the side of the building. Thom looked up at the lingering smoke and thought the better of leaning against the cabin. He sat a couple of feet away.

"You were about to tell me how you came to be a thief," Madoc said as he sat, back against the cabin.

"Well, since I no longer have any secrets, it seems, I may as well tell you the whole story.

"I've already told you about my parents," Thom began. "We were wanderers. We travelled from town to town, doing whatever jobs needed doing. I was too young at the time to contribute much for farm work or what-have-you, so I helped Ma tend to the sick.

"We came upon one town, I don't even remember its name. My mother's brother, Uncle Timmit, was there at the time as well. I got to visit with him while my parents did their work. Timmit was a wanderer as well. He always seemed better off than my parents were when they met. We'd all assumed he was a merchant. Anyway, while my uncle and I were in the tavern for the afternoon a man came in and said the blacksmith's had been burgled, lost half a pound of gold. All that he had. The guards had captured two strangers for the crime.

"It was my parents. They's been arrested just because they were strangers, I'm sure, and tinkers like my father have always had a bad, undeserved reputation. I know they were innocent. They were good people. They'd taught me right from wrong, and before you go making any remarks about how well they did, I'll thank you to wait until I'm finished.

"The man hadn't mentioned me. My parents hadn't said anything either, to keep me safe. I was with Uncle Timmit and there was no point putting me in the orphanage. No offense, Madoc.

"I never saw them again. They died in the local lord's dungeons. It might even have been Lord Dunholm for all I can remember. My uncle just told me he'd found out somehow.

"As you've no doubt guessed, my uncle was not a merchant, but a thief, and a damn good one. Well, good at it. He taught me everything he knew.

"He knew someone who was a guest of the lord whose gaol held my parents and this prisoner managed to get word to Timmit. There was a fever that had swept through the dungeon. My mother had wanted to help the prisoners, but the guards wouldn't let her get her hands on supplies. They called her a witch and tortured her.

Thom picked under his fingernails. "I hadn't thought about my parents in years, then all of a sudden Timmit comes and tells me they're dead. I started thinking about them after that.

"I thought about right and wrong, and about Uncle Timmit. Uncle Timmit had taught me my letters and especially my numbers, but thievery was everything to him. He was greedy. He took as much as he could whenever he could. I'd done enough jobs with him to know how much business he did. That's how he lived so well, and how he gave the impression he was a wealthy merchant, above petty theft. But it didn't take me long to figure out that it had been Timmit who'd nicked that blacksmith's gold.

"Timmit had kept track of them, you see. But he was too cowardly to help his own sister out of jail by admitting to the crime himself. He could even have busted them out if he'd wanted to. I know how easy that is. Most lords guard their jewels better than their prisoners. But he didn't want to risk that either.

"I decided that I couldn't be like my uncle, just taking all the time. I remembered what my father had taught me about right and wrong. But I also couldn't forget how callous those guards had been, thinking that dead prisoners were easier to feed, so let 'em die. I had to do something else.

"I became the Dark Rogue. I didn't have the training to do much else but steal. But I could pick my targets. I could limit myself to those people who deserve a little bad fortune for the way they treated others. I had some lean times when I just couldn't find anyone who was deserving of my talents. My stomach was empty, but my heart was full, thinking that just briefly, the world was a better place. It never lasted, of course.

"I don't know whatever became of Timmit, and I don't really care. I hope he's rotting in a cell somewhere. He was always afraid of getting caught, and it would be a fitting end for him."

"What do you do with the things you steal?" Madoc wanted to know.

"Fence 'em. The stuff usually went back on the market, the black market anyway. I've kept track: there's been one diamond necklace I've stolen on three separate occasions from three different people. One of them had actually sold his son into slavery before he came into his money. I think he was the worst of my targets. A real rat, that one. That necklace keeps calling me, I think."

Before Thom could lapse into more nostalgia, Madoc asked, "What about the money from the fences?"

"I took some to live, usually for about a month, supplemented with whatever I could get for free. I never paid for a room, for example, if I could stay in the forests. The rest I distributed as I saw fit. Some of the people my victims had wronged suddenly came into found money, though not right away, since that drew attention to them. The rest usually went to good works.

"But sometimes I would make myself proud. You recall the man who sold his son? I tracked the son down. Took a couple of long winter months to do it, but I did it. First I bought the man - he was grown and about the same age as me by then - and gave him the rest of the money from that necklace to set him up after setting him free. He's living in the north now, as far away from his father as he can get. The old bastard doesn't even know his boy's alive."

Madoc looked at Thom with new eyes. "I had no idea you did that sort of thing. It's too bad you had to use thievery to correct those wrongs."

"I took what power I had and used it for good. I didn't see what else I could do." Thom was beginning to blush.

"So we're really not so different. Two means to the same end."

"Does this mean you approve, Sir Madoc?" Thom said jokingly. "Will you let me go to return to my crusade for justice?"

"I don't ever want to let you go." Madoc stood up and approached Thom. He offered a hand to help him up. When Thom was upright, Madoc hugged him. "I don't suppose you have any idea how we can stay together?"

"No, but I'll have three days' ride between Cairncross and Aragon to think. Barring further adventures." Thom kissed Madoc tenderly. Then they began to exchange ideas.

They had still gotten nowhere and were feeling somewhat depressed when Odilia came to collect them.

Aspasia's spell was finished. Sunlight illuminated the pentacle which had been burned into the floor. Unreadable letters circled the outside of it and candles, which Odilia was now collecting, had been placed at its points.

"May I ask what you were doing here?" Thom said.

"I don't see why not," Aspasia said, looking up from her book. "There has been a growing disturbance in the spirit world for some time now. I have been trying to determine what the problem is. I haven't found it yet, but I know now where to look. I wouldn't concern myself with it. It shouldn't affect this plane." She continued to leaf through the pages in her tome.

Madoc was trying very hard not to look at Aspasia, and instead took in the room. It smelled vaguely of sulphur. The points of the pentacle all led the way to a doorway, covered over with heavy cloth. On the walls between the doorways were stout bookshelves crammed full with jars, bottles, small chests, and thick leather-bound books. Aspasia pulled a second one off the shelf nearest her and sat down crosslegged to find the page she wanted.

Aspasia looked up at Sir Madoc when she realized she was being stared at again. "I do hope you're not smitten with me, goodknight, that you stare so. What they say about wizards and celibacy is true."

"No, it's not that, it's that you remind me so much.... I'm sorry. I won't let it happen again."

Aspasia seemed satisfied with this, and went back to her book. Madoc looked for the jar of bats' wings. Odilia swept the floor. Thom tried not to think about the spirit world.

"That's what I thought," Aspasia announced. "I can't find any kind of cure in my books that requires a glass mirror, but I have the sneaking suspicion I know what Eleazar is up to. What were the other things he requested of you?"

Thom named the items from memory.

Aspasia nodded. "It sounds as though your plague is the Flavid Ague. As you've guessed, it's a magick-based disease. This," she said as she turned the book in her lap around, "is the spell you need to cast it."

All six of the items they had been sent for were needed, in much smaller amounts than Eleazar had requested, and one more: two drops of blood from an infant boy.

"Obviously, Eleazar couldn't ask you for that. One of the villagers' children would have to do. These figures, one sawgrass pod, one scale from a bat's wing, and so on, will make enough base to infect one person."

"So little?" Thom interrupted. "I thought spells take more than that."

"Some do," Aspasia explained. "It depends largely on what you're trying to accomplish. My explorations of the other planes from today required a lot of ingredients, and much ceremony. A curse or plague doesn't need raw materials, but it will sap the caster's energy. If we did have to use so much for the simple spells, we'd be forever collecting ingredients and never getting any work done.

"On the other hand, if he's infecting the whole village, and keeping them sick, then he's going through these things like water. Also, he must already have one or more spritestones and mirrors, since the village was sick when you arrived, yet he still needs more. I would say that Eleazar is gathering enough supplies to make the entire kingdom ill."

"Why would he do that?" Madoc asked.

"My guess is to incapacitate everyone long enough to take over the kindgom. You can't fight if you're sick."

"What can we do about it?"

"For a start, don't bring him the horsephlox you've got there. I could certainly use it; it is also part of the cure for Flavid Ague. I could prepare a curative, but it will take time. Meanwhile, we don't know that Eleazar hasn't got someone else gathering ingredients for him. He may be readying his spell even now. You two must stop him. What I don't understand is why you haven't caught him at it before now. To keep that many people sick for that long, he'd have to be recasting the spell periodically. But you always come when he's not. And he couldn't be leaving his extra supplies lying around for you to see. He must know when you're coming."

"One moment, Magister, why must we stop him?" Thom asked. "As a wizard yourself, wouldn't you be better prepared?"

"I'd never get near him," Aspasia explained. "He'd be able to detect any magic that came within 100 feet of him. Which reminds me." She closed her eyes and let her shoulders relax. "It's one of the most basic protections...." Suddenly Aspasia opened her eyes and looked at Madoc's hand.

Madoc held up the dog trainer's ring that Eleazar had so helpfully provided so that he needn't worry about his prisoner wandering off. "That's how he's doing it. He can see us coming." Madoc was furious. "He's been using us all along."

"I know how we can stop him," Thom said. "Is there some way we can know when he's vulnerable?"

"Once he's in the process of freshening the Ague spell, he will be unable to defend himself. It's quite difficult to break out of the spell without infecting yourself. And you'll be able to tell that he's begun the spell. You'll be able to see a yellow haze in the air if you're near his hut, but not inside his sanctum."

"Sanctum?" Thom asked.

"He needs to reserve a small space around him, so he is not affected by his own spell."

"So if I was inside the sanctum while Eleazar was casting the spell, I would be safe, but I wouldn't necessarily know when Eleazar was vulnerable," Thom reasoned.

"However," Madoc continued, "if someone else were outside the sanctum, he could signal you when the spell began."

Thom looked Madoc in the eye. "But that second person would take sick."

Madoc looked back. "There is a cure. He would be alright."

Thom looked to Aspasia. "How large would the sanctum be?"

"Hard to say. He would want to keep his workspace inside the sanctum, and it would be a globe shape. It could be as large as 100 feet in radius."

"Leave it to us," Madoc assured her.

Thom and Madoc rode toward Cairncross once more. When they were almost 100 feet from the hut where Eleazar did his work, Thom dismounted gracelessly.

"Are you sure you trust me to do this and not run off?"

"Of course. I know you to be a good man." Madoc put the flat blue stone of the ring that had bound them to each other at all times for over a week to Thom's forehead. It left a red circle on his forehead that soon started to fade. The stone had also returned to its original red color. Thom was free.

He began to take his breeches off. Since neither man could accept killing Eleazar then and there, they had to take his magic away before he did more harm. Aspasia had reminded them that a wizard must remain celibate all his or her life, otherwise he or she loses the ability to do magic. The only way to be sure that Eleazar lost his virginity is for him to fuck one of them. And Madoc was unable to accommodate anyone thus far. Thom would have to.

Madoc greased him with custard pods while Thom put his boots back on - awkward, yes, but they had to hurry. Thom ran up to Eleazar's cottage and moved into position by the door. Madoc waited for the haze to come.

When Thom reached the cottage, he peeked surreptitiously in through the window. Thom saw three mirrors, including the large one they'd supplied, and five spritestones. Aspasia had been right. Eleazar was breaking open sawgrass pods and grinding them up. Thom heard a faint cry. He looked over and saw a very pale baby in a basket. Thom crouched down and waited. He fingered himself occasionally to keep himself open.

After about a half an hour of waiting, Madoc saw a change in the air. He could see a haze building up. Madoc took off his tabard and waved it in the air. The spell was under way.

Thom peeked inside one last time to see where in the room Eleazar was. He had his arms out, and he was muttering words that Thom didn't recognize.

Thom burst through the door and tackled Eleazar. As he fell to the floor, the wizard's eyes were wide, but he kept his arms out and he continued to mumble. Thom opened Eleazar's robe.

Eleazar began to kick Thom away. Thom sat on Eleazar's legs and pulled down the protesting wizard's underwear. The man was erect! This might be easier than he thought.

Eleazar stopped struggling. Thom hopped forward and sat on Eleazar's dick. The mage stopped in his cant. While Thom sank slowly onto the his prick, Eleazar reached down and felt around his cock, feeling the thief's ass gradually enveloping it.

Thom pulled up off the wizard, who pushed back up into him. The two had fallen into a comfortable rhythm by the time Madoc appeared at the door, sweating and somewhat pale.

Eleazar pumped into Thom once, twice more and cried out. He was coming. It was after all, his first time, and he could hardly be blamed. All things considered, it was for the best. He lay back on the floor and began to sob. Thom stood up. It hadn't taken long at all.

Madoc said, "Eleazar, I arrest you in the name of the King for crimes of magic against the people of Cairncross. I also arrest you for endangering the life of this child and on suspicion of treason against the crown."

Thom and Madoc helped the wizard to his feet. Madoc bound his hands behind his back with the rope and they led him toward Fleetfire and town, with Thom carrying the baby's basket.

Sir Madoc had left the ring on Eleazar's workbench. They would not need it any longer.

By the time Madoc had arrived in town, he was showing all the same symptoms as the other villagers. He was barely able to walk.

Thom saw a man in a red tabard riding into town before them. Thom bellowed out to the other Guardsman, who redirected his bay steed to meet them.

Sir Madoc and the newcomer greeted each other like old friends.

"Sir Sayer, 'tis good to see you."

"Sir Madoc, we were not sure what had become of you. We'd heard that you'd apprehended the Dark Rogue. You look not well."

"I have Flavid Ague. Don't worry. It's not catching. It's a magical plague. He's responsible and he's under arrest."

Sir Sayer dismounted. Thom saw Madoc falter on the other side of Fleetfire. Sir Sayer caught him.

"Perhaps it would be best if Sir Madoc rode your horse through town until we can get him to a sick bed," Thom suggested. "He's too weak to ride without a saddle and easily too weak to walk much further."

"And you are?"

"Thom At-the-Well," the thief responded before Madoc could raise the energy to speak. "I've been helping Sir Madoc this past week in his efforts to save the people of Cairncross, afflicted similarly to the good knight."

"Helping in what capacity?"

"I was at Sir Madoc's side gathering the items that this knave claimed would cure Cairncross. But this is a long story to tell and we should deal with Sir Madoc first. There'll be time after that."

Sir Sayer looked to Madoc, who nodded. Sayer protectively helped the ill knight in the bay's saddle. Thom could see the concern on Sayer's face. So suspicious, that one. Worried about Madoc certainly.

"I shouldn't be concerned about the wizard. He's been defrocked. Still, why don't I take your horse's reins, while you take Fleetfire's. The criminal, I think, should be in your charge," Thom said amiably.

"My thoughts exactly, goodman," Sayer said.

Once they were under way, Thom asked Madoc, "You and Sir Sayer are good friends, then?"

"I hardly know him," Madoc answered.

"The way he was looking after you, I'd have thought you were closer than brothers."

"It's like that among the High Guard. You never know whether you'll see the other man again. It makes you close, even if you don't know each other that well."

Thom looked over at Sir Sayer and feared for Madoc again. It was asinine not to pair them up. If they did, they'd stay alive longer and they get more recruits. If Thom went to jail - or worse - Madoc would be fighting his battles alone. He wished there was something he could do.

Suddenly, it came to Thom. He knew how he and Madoc could stay together. He dropped his voice to a whisper. "I think I've got it, Madoc. The answer to our problems. It's risky. If it doesn't work, it could be dangerous for us both. Do you trust me?"

Sir Madoc nodded.

"I won't do anything irrevocable until you're well enough to be clear- headed. I'll handle all the loose ends from Eleazar and Tybalt, or at least pass them over to Sir Sayer. Even if Sayer doesn't believe me, there's Aspasia coming soon and Melydia's in the area. They should convince him. And maybe Melydia can help us figure out whose child this is."

Once Madoc had been laid in the church with the others, Sir Sayer demanded to hear the story of how the entire village came to be sick. Thom explained that when he and Sir Madoc came to town, they'd met Eleazar. The wizard had sent them off to fetch six items. (Thom showed him the list in Eleazar's hand.) They'd reovered most of them, including a silvered glass, which they had now identified as a stolen art object from the manse of the merchant Tybalt. They had a witness to these crimes who should be just outside town on the Coopersmith lands named Melydia. Tybalt was still awaiting arrest. They'd also encountered Kraid's Marauders while fetching the sawgrass pods and Thom had had to save Madoc's life with quick thinking and quicker legs. They had the idea of contacting another wizard to fetch the last of the items, since a wizard was more likely to have the items in stock rather than having to ride across the countryside two men to one tired horse. The wizard Aspasia had identified the ingredients not as a cure for the plague but a cause, borne out by the fact that Sir Madoc had succumbed while Aspasia would be able to verify that he was hale and hearty earlier that day, and she will be able to do so because she was at that moment preparing the real cure and would arrive on the morrow with it if Sir Sayer could spare the time to tarry and help minister the sick. No mention was made of how Thom and Madoc had come to meet, of precisely how the mirror or the spritestone were collected, or of romantic encounters of any kind.

All the while, Sir Sayer listened to Thom's tale, seated on edge of Sir Madoc's sickbed, with Thom on the other side. Sir Sayer asked for confirmation of the story at intervals of Sir Madoc, who provided that confirmation and little other contribution since Thom seemed to be better at spinning a yarn than Sir Madoc could ever hope to be. Leave it to a con man to have a silver tongue. Several eavesdroppers applauded weakly when Thom was finished.

Sir Sayer decided that his own business could wait until all was well in Cairncross. He would escort Eleazar to the nearby garrison and fetch a cart for the oversized mirror and dispatch a team of guards to arrest Tybalt now that they had both evidence and witness. Thom, meanwhile would fetch Melydia and do what he could for the villagers until Aspasia arrived.

Once Sir Sayer had left, and having received directions from a helpful soul, Thom ran straight for the Coopersmiths because he needed Melydia's assistance with his own plan. Melydia was only one of a few people who could send it awry and she needed to be included in the scheme once again. To say nothing of the fact that he had no idea what to do about the baby.

Melydia was only too thrilled to help once the baby was identified as her nephew Wynn, who had gone missing some days ago. Both Melydia and Tilda, her sister and Wynn's mother, came to town to care for the sick. When Melydia heard Thom's plan to allow the couple to remain together, she agreed and approved. Her part was primarily to forget that he and the Dark Rogue were the same person. Only she, Odilia, and Aspasia could be considered reliable people who could identify him as such. He asked Melydia also to say that she, or rather, her betrothed, who was Tybalt's stablemaster at the time, had found the cart that the "Dark Rogue" had used in his escape from Tybalt's manse the same night overturned in a ravine by the side of the road.

"I'll do it, Thom, because I can see you have a good heart, though I still say that I can't understand what you feel for Sir Madoc."

"You love your fiance? What's his name?"

"Rab. And yes, I love him. Can you say the same?"

"Yes. And I've told him as much."

Melydia raised an eyebrow at him. "You weren't willing to say it the last time we met, were you?"

"No, but I know it now. I'm willing to pay for my crimes, but I can't see how I could go on without him."

"Then everything will be alright. You'll see. That kind of love is unbreakable. Go now and see to him while I fetch water for soup to feed these people. Rab will be by later with stock and vegetables. We'll see to these people."

The Coopersmiths' farm hadn't been affected by the plague, but they'd suffered from loss of trade at the market and the grief of Wynn's disappearance. Now that all the tragedy was nearly at an end, they were pleased to be able to help.

Sir Sayer returned with the cart, and without the wizard, ready to collect the mirror and Melydia. The latter declared that she wasn't going anywhere until everything was right in town, or at least until her soup was done. She offered to drive the cart to Eleazar's cottage, but Sir Sayer assured her he was capable. He and Thom went together to get the mirror. Once that was done, Sir Sayer dropped off Thom in Cairncross and continued on to the outpost, vowing to return the next day. The others were dispensing soup to the stricken villagers.

At the end of the day, Melydia and her family returned to their homestead. Thom spent the night in the church at Madoc's side.

Aspasia and Odilia arrived early the next morning with their remedy, which they called an elixir, to be specific. They instructed Thom in how to administer it. His first patient was Sir Madoc, of course.

Soon enough, Melydia and Rab arrived, without Tilda, who stayed behind to tend to Wynn, and they also began to dole out the elixir.

Thom met Rab. A massive man, burly and 6'6", with a pleasant, friendly face, square jaw, brown eyes and a shock of light brown hair, he was a good match for Melydia, with her own black hair tied up, strong, angular features and brown eyes. They made a good-looking couple.

After about an hour, Sir Madoc was well enough to begin giving doses of the elixir himself. As discreetly as he could, Thom sketched out his plan for keeping them together. He did not want to act on it until Madoc was agreeable to it, since it could be argued he was risking more then Thom. On the other hand, Odilia seemed somewhat chatty and if she revealed his secret identity to Sir Sayer the game would be up before it ever started.

Madoc heard Thom's plan. He said he had to think about it, but by all means tell Aspasia and Odilia to forget they'd ever met the Dark Rogue.

Thom went to the wizard and her apprentice. He told them of his position, that the Dark Rogue would be retiring one way or the other, and it would be best if they forgot they'd ever heard the name.

Aspasia turned to Odilia, who looked embarrassed. Apparently, this reminded her of a recent lecture about respecting the privacy of others. Odilia said she would help and she was sorry for reading his mind.

Aspasia also agreed to his request and apologized for her apprentice's behavior. "She should not have read your mind in the first place. It matters not to me what you have done in the past. I'll keep your secret, Thom, but don't be surprised if I call you back for a favor one day." Thom accepted both and gave his thanks, but the idea of owing a debt to a wizard worried him deeply.

Sir Sayer arrived some time later. The day starts earlier for country folk than some guardsmen, Thom mused. The knight brought word that Tybalt had been apprehended last night, and that he and Eleazar had already started their journey to Aragon.

Since the medicine was mostly finished and nearly everyone had already recovered, Sir Sayer would be moving on to finish his business in Karelia. He and Sir Madoc exchanged fond farewells. He even risked shaking Thom's hand. Madoc also decided it was time to depart. Melydia saw them off and Madoc reminded her that she would be expected in Aragon to testify against Tybalt. She promised she would be there and wished them luck.

Once out of town, Thom, seated in his usual position behind Madoc on Fleetfire's back, asked Madoc whether he had made a decision yet.

"Give me the day," Sir Madoc replied. "There are some problems with your idea that I should try to work out before making up my mind.

"Problems? With one of my ideas?"

"Details about the workings of the Guard that you couldn't be expected to know about." Sir Madoc wouldn't say more than that.

When they made camp for the night, and while dinner was cooking, Madoc discussed the plan.

"Let me first be sure I have the original idea right. You want to petition the king to allow you to become my aide or assistant, or something, instead of serving your time. The extra hitch is that he will not be told that you are who you are. You will just be a concerned subject who wishes to serve."

"That's it exactly. Now what's wrong with that?"

"High Guardsmen don't have aides or attendants, and if you were to serve the King, you would simply enlist. It also does not solve the problem of how I explain that I'm returning without the Dark Rogue."

"Did I not tell you that part?" Madoc shook his head. Thom told him his other plan. "I, the Dark Rogue, am your irrefutable source about the authenticity of the mirror's origins. This I said before I managed to escape your clutches. Using this clue, you tracked me to Tybalt's manse, where you saw me leaving the scene of the crime with Tybalt's cart, the mirror strapped thereon. You gave chase. I, tragically, crashed the cart, but the mirror had not a scratch. The same could not be said for me, more's the pity, and you buried the body nearby. With Melydia's and Thom's help, you recovered the mirror for Eleazar to use for his so-called cure, and to be used against Tybalt later. No Dark Rogue to worry about, the love of your life is still in the picture and all's well that ends well."

"That could work. Still, you would not be able to work by my side if you made clear your intentions. If I were to become a knight-errant though, then I could go where I please, and you would simply accompany me. It would be even better if you were a knight-errant yourself, but that would take years."

"That's fantastic! Are you saying that you just need to become a knight- errant and our troubles are over?"

"I suppose I am. But no High Guardsman has ever become a knight-errant. I don't know how the king or Sir Rhys will take it."

"Sir Rhys?"

"The king's military advisor. My ultimate superior. But I am willing to try."

"Oh, Madoc, thank you!" Thom cried as he came around the fire and embraced the knight, almost knocking him backwards to the ground.

"If the king doesn't believe us in court, however, he will probably hang us both."

"And you are still willing to do this?" Thom asked, looking him in the eye.

"Either way, we will be together," Madoc said, completely serious.

"I'd much rather we be together and alive," Thom said with no small irony.

"We are alive tonight. As I will prove after dinner." Madoc smiled.

Thom kissed him once before seeing to the duck, a gift from the people of Cairncross, roasting on their fire.

After the duck, they went to a nearby lake to get Madoc cleaned up. Both were keen to continue to try to get him to open up, to relax enough to accept Thom inside himself. Thom showed Madoc the extra steps he had forced upon himself in taking care of his hidden lockpick. Thom suggested that Madoc wear the pick awhile tomorrow. Madoc's reply was that he would consider it.

Thom cleaned himself up and then inspected Madoc's ass. Madoc used his own finger to check for traces of unpleasantness and found none. They splashed each other to keep themselves wet and mounted the bank.

They embraced, naked, lying on the grassy bank. They rolled back and forth, kissing and grinding their cocks together. After a few minutes of foreplay, Madoc's training continued. He got on all fours and Thom lay beneath him. He drew Madoc's cock into his mouth and sucked on it. He took it all the way in and tongued the shaft, while his throat worked on the head. All this was just a distraction to try to get Madoc's mind off what Thom's hands would be doing. Thom reached up and eased a wet finger into Madoc's crack.

Madoc tried to relax, to concentrate on the hot wetness on his prick, but it was no use. When Thom tried to enter him, Madoc's asshole squeezed shut.

Not a problem, thought Thom, we'll just change sides. Thom got up and got on his hands and knees behind Madoc. He reached under and began to massage Madoc's sloppy dick. He leaned down and licked around Madoc's hole. If it worked for Lennox, perhaps it could work here.

Madoc was breathing heavily. He couldn't help but feel what Thom was doing to his ass. He could hear his tongue smack, feel his hot breath in that most private of places. Madoc really wanted to feel Thom's tongue inside of him. His anus winked open.

This was what Thom had been waiting for. Thom shoved his tongue inside, spreading Madoc's cheeks open with both hands.

Madoc was spooked by the sudden assault and tensed up. Thom fought to keep Madoc open, but it was no good. When Thom finally removed his tongue to stick in a finger, Madoc was locked tight. Thom sat back and sighed.

Madoc turned around. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. You probably just need time to get used to having something in there. We'll work on it."

Madoc lay down, his face in Thom's lap. He took a quick swipe with his tongue at Thom's balls. "I could make it up to you," he said. "Stand up." Madoc got up and allowed Thom to stand. Madoc sat down and opened his mouth. "Fuck me like this," he said.

Thom stepped forward. Madoc had to slouch a little to be at the right height for him, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Thom eased into Madoc's mouth until he hit the back of Madoc's throat. Madoc tried not to gag. Thom pulled out again. He judged how far he could move and slowly pumped away into Madoc's face.

Madoc licked at Thom's member, trying to get at the head as it went by. Thom felt waves of wonderful pleasure all through his groin.

Madoc thought this was nice, but he wanted to do more for his lover. He grabbed Thom's ass and pulled him forward faster. Pulling him back out again was not so successful, but Thom got the message. Thom bucked faster, while still being careful of Madoc.

The knight, still wet with Thom's spit, played with himself.

Thom leaned forward and laid his hands on Madoc's head for stability. He wasn't moving very far, but he was moving fast.

Madoc was almost drooling. He didn't know why he enjoyed being used like an object this way. He was getting close.

Thom's knees were getting weak. He wasn't tired, but he felt as though he was going to collapse from the pleasure. He kept humping into Madoc. He was close now.

Madoc rolled his eyes upward to look at his lover. He didn't have the best view, but he could see the look of joy on Thom's face.

The thief pumped a little harder as he lost control and he unloaded into Madoc's face. He swallowed it all down. For a while afterward, Thom just stood still, eyes closed and breathing heavily, still inside Madoc's mouth. Then he sat down in front of Madoc.

The knight continued to fist himself until he too erupted, spilling his seed on the ground and his legs. Thom watched, exhausted, as he finished himself off. "You'll have to wash again now," he joked.

"Tomorrow," Madoc replied. "Right now I just want to sleep."

"Tomorrow then." Thom grunted and got to his feet. He held out a hand to help the knight stand. Thom pulled him upright and, arms over shoulders, they headed back to camp.

They'd slept rolled up in the blanket. Madoc was on top this time, and now he was looking at Thom, who was still asleep. He couldn't help but remember the first time he'd wakened like this, just after his evening of torture among the Marauders. He'd been sore and beaten. By all rights he should have been dead. Instead he was alive, safe and in Thom's arms. He'd awakened to see Thom observing him. The thief had saved him, taking a beating and risking his own life. It had been that morning that Madoc had begun to fall in love with Thom. And he knew that Thom loved him as well. At the time Thom had modestly downplayed his actions, but then Thom had always been able to think two steps ahead in any situation. Madoc would not have been ready to admit his feelings.

Thom awoke then to see tears brimming in Madoc's eyes. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Madoc hugged Thom around the neck and shoulder, and buried his face against Thom's chest. He muttered something Thom couldn't hear. Thom rubbed Madoc's back inside the blanket comfortingly.

"Madoc, please, I didn't hear that. What did you say?"

The knight raised his head and looked Thom in the eye. Thom looked concerned and more than a little afraid. His voice was unsteady. "You've been so good to me. I've never known anyone who has done as much for me as you have." A tear rolled down his cheek. "I love you so much."

Thom relaxed and smiled. "I love you as well, Madoc. Do you have any idea what you've done for me? I've never been close to anyone since I lost my parents. You may not realize how it is for someone like me out there, since you do have friends among the High Guard. It gets cold and lonely out there.

"You treated me with respect, with kindness. Think what you like about the other guards, but I've been captured and roughed up before. You allowed me some dignity while I've been your prisoner. You opened your heart to me and made me your friend. In a few days' time you are going to risk your position and your life to redeem me. Just to be with me. I don't ever want to go back to the life I lived before. I couldn't stand it. I didn't know what I was missing until I met you."

Thom gazed deeply into Madoc's sad sapphire blue eyes. He felt as though he could see into Madoc's soul. "I cannot believe how much I love you." He kissed away one of the tears on Madoc's face. Madoc snuffled. He put his head back down on Thom's chest and smiled. The thief managed to work one arm free and rested his hand on Madoc's head. They held each other like that until they fell back to sleep.

The rest of their trip north to the capital was uneventful. Madoc and Thom spent much of their time in the mornings and evenings enjoying each others' company as much as they could. Thom was not making any progress in trying to get Madoc to relax, but he was good-natured about it.

During their third day on the road, soon after the road bent to the west, Thom caught sight of the majestic palace of King Dunstan. He'd seen it before. He's committed burglaries in the city of Aragon, which surrounded the castle. Once, it had been an impressive sight to him. Tall towers topped with pennons, grand arches vaulting skywards, a massive showcase of the intricacies of the mason's craft.

Today, it looked the same, but he looked upon the castle with a sense of impending doom. Now Thom could only see it as so much dark stone, reaching up to cover the setting sun. It beckoned to him to come inside and to be swallowed up, to be lost inside the bowels of the building, forgotten by the rest of the world. Thom shuddered. Well, he reasoned, he no longer had to worry about imprisonment. Either he would walk away from his trial a free man, or a dead man. It was too much to have to face alone. Though he was sorry Madoc would face the same fate if they failed, he was glad the knight would stand with him.

The palace loomed larger as they entered the city, a black silhouette against a bloodied sky. Thom turned his attention to the city streets. The torchbearers were igniting the lamps in the avenues. Most shops had already closed for the day, but hostlers and taverns were doing a brisk trade.

At the entrance to Dragon's Keep, the area near the castle where both the city guards' and High Guards' barracks were, Sir Madoc informed the sentry that Thom was a witness in an upcoming trial in the High Court and needed to be quartered. The sentry summoned a young soldier, who led Thom away. As he left, Thom heard Sir Madoc tell the sentry to expect Melydia Coopersmith.

The soldier opened one of the doors in a rather small building and ushered Thom inside. He lit a torch just inside the door and Thom examined the room. It had two straw beds, blankets, a couple of chairs and a table. Behind a screen, Thom found a honeybucket and an empty wash tub.

"Where can I get this thing filled?" Thom asked.

The soldier looked pained. "I'll do it for you," he replied. "I'll lug in the water after I bring you dinner."

"I can help you do it if you've got a spare bucket."

"No, sir. You have to stay in your room here. Security reasons."

"Security?" Thom asked suspiciously. "Aren't I among the guards here? Doesn't that mean I'm safe?"

"Yes, but we still prefer that witnesses stay in their room and keep the door closed. An enemy archer's shaft could find you."

Thom supposed it made some sort of sense in general, but since one might say he'd be testifying against himself he doubted there was any danger. He couldn't very well tell the soldier that though.

Thom sat in one of the chairs when the soldier left. He heard the lad engage the lock. To keep would-be assassins out, to be sure. Thom hated to be kept under key, even as a valued guest of the court. While the soldier was fetching his dinner, Thom cast about the room to see what he could use.

The soldier came back with a tray. Thom was being treated to a stew, with good meat in it, bread and butter, and ale. It had been a long time since he's eaten like this.

"I'll begin filling your bath now," the soldier said with resignation. Thom wondered what the soldier had done wrong to earn him this duty. He took off his boots and looked at the breadknife thoughtfully.

The soldier came and went several times while Thom ate. When he was finished, he went over to see the soldier's progress. The tub was nearly half full. With his own body mass in it, it would be almost overflowing.

"Thank you," Thom said. The soldier rolled his eyes and left, locking the door, and taking the tray, dishes and utensils with him. Thom went over to the doorframe and checked that his thread was in place. Seeing that it was, he undressed for his bath.

A cake of soap had been provided for him, and Thom found a washboard behind the tub. Perhaps he'd be able to wash his clothes properly, something he'd not been able to do in the past weeks. Since he'd be appearing before the king himself, perhaps that was the reason the washboard was there at all.

Thom realized this was the first time in almost two weeks that he'd been separated from Madoc. He wondered what the knight was up to. Missing him acutely, Thom hoped Madoc would visit him later. He scrubbed himself everywhere, including those parts of him that were remembering Madoc all by themselves, soaked a while, then saw to his black clothes. The color was not the best for appearing to be an innocent bystander in court, but it would have to do.

He hung his clothes to dry and lay on the bed, unsure of whether to prepare for court the next day or sleep. The decision was made for him. He drifted off after only a few minutes.

It was the crash that awoke him. He lay naked atop his blankets in the guest room. The torch had burned itself out. The room was pitch dark.

He found his trousers hung up on the screen and put them on. He felt his way over to the doorway. With his foot, he pressed against the door, pushing as far out as the lock and latch would allow, in order to give him the best possible angle. He found the thread, and slowly pulled it, straight out, on the horizontal. Inside the little hole in the doorframe, where the bolt of the lock was holding the door shut, there was a small wooden chip, whittled from the foot of the bed where it wouldn't show. The chip was tied up in the thread. Thom had tucked the chip into the hole while the soldier had been pouring the last bucket of water for the bath. He was now pulling the chip toward the door, pushing the bolt out of the hole. If the thread didn't snap, he'd be able to get out.

Thom heard the bolt click as it slipped past the doorjamb. Thom turned the handle and crept outside.

There was no guard in the corridor. The apartments were designed to protect their occupants, not to keep them from escaping. The hallway was lit with windows which were allowing faint early sunlight in. Thom couldn't see what had caused the crash from here. He padded barefoot to the main door of the residence. Two soldiers stood guard outside the door. He could just see the sides of their helmets through the small hatch in the door, left carelessly open. From here he could see what the commotion was. Thom grinned and shook his head.

A cart, still wedged up against one of the gates, was sitting in the opening that separated the Dragon's Keep, as the guards' barracks were collectively known, and Dragonkeep, the area of the city next to the castle on that side. A young woman, who still held the reins of the horses in her hand, was heatedly arguing with the sentries. About the crash, maybe? A man, who stood next to the woman, was trying to calm her down. The dark- haired maid turned to her larger companion as though to snap at him, but she sagged before she said a word. The man kissed her, held her, and then helped her off the cart inside the compound. The man sat in the driver's position and, with the sentries' help, got the cart inside and then turned around. Once the cart was clear of the gates, the sentries shut them.

Ah, Thom thought. So that's what the argument was about. The woman, of course, was Melydia. Thom heard Madoc register her as a witness, but not her fiance, so the sentries weren't going to let him in longer than it took to get the cart out. She had protested and Ran had assured her it was alright. Melydia was becoming quite a terror on that thing. Thom couldn't imagine how she'd gotten the cart down the narrow streets. How would Rab get it back out again?

No matter. As long as he was stuck in here there was nothing he could do to help anyway. Thom walked silently back and wondered how he'd get light in his room.

With the door open, he dressed. Sir Madoc arrived just as Thom was pulling on his boots. "These doors are supposed to be locked for your protection," he said.

Thom smiled and shrugged. "I hate being locked up anywhere. Are we ready to go?"

"Yes, but..."

"Then let's go." Thom stepped past him into the corridor.

"But how did you...? I mean you couldn't reach... You don't have..."

"How badly do you need to know?"

Madoc looked upon Thom's grinning face, then back at the door. He inhaled. "Let's go."

"I thought not."

Sir Madoc escorted Thom to the court. On the way, Thom asked, "I saw Melydia arrive. Where is she?"

"She's already here." He stopped at a door and ushered Thom inside before him. There were two soldiers in the small chamber with Melydia.

"Good morn, Thom, Sir Madoc!"

"You seem excited, Melydia," the thief said.

"That I am, Thom. I can hardly wait to get started."

"Most people are anxious about testifying before the king," commented the knight.

"The king? No, I'm thinking about how that old goat Tybalt is finally going to get what's coming to him."

Just then, the trio heard the herald sound. The king was about to hold court.

Sir Madoc and his witnesses entered the throne room and sat on the bench to the king's right. It seemed they were the only witnesses that day.

Thom didn't pay much attention to the pleasantries and dedications that preceded the actual trials. He looked the room over instead.

The ceiling must have been thirty feet high, with thick, oak rafters, of which Thom professionally approved. Tall thin windows illuminated the room from the three walls the king faced, and between these were many intricate tapestries, depicting portraits, scenes of great battles or great hunts. The room must have been 100 feet on a side, enormous. Behind Thom and above him, there was a balcony lined with archers at the ready should any trouble begin. Similar balconies adorned the wall opposite Thom and behind the king. To the back of the room were spectators, filling up half the room easily. In the two corners near the throne were the witnesses' room and the prisoners' room cutting into the square chamber. Between them was the King's dais, upon which sat various unrecoginzed councillors. Nearest the king were Sir Rhys, on the king's left, identified by his tabard, identical to Sir Madoc's, but white where his was red. On the king's right was the man whom Thom guessed was the chancellor, a weaselly- looking man dressed in grey. Below them stood a young, serious-looking man. Thom didn't know who this would be.

Seated in the center of it all was King Dunstan. The ruler of Aragonia was 40, with dark brown hair just beginning to go grey. He had a bushy mustache, thick eyebrows and a stern face. Beneath the fur-lined robe was a well-muscled body. Strong arms rested on the sides of King Dunstan's intricately carved throne, and thickset legs were enveloped in fine royal blue hose. His trim, red tunic was tailore to accentuate his built chest. The tunic was cut high, only to the waist, revealing his endowment. Dunstan truly had no need to be modest regarding it. A narrow crown studded with rubies completed the image of this man, whose nobility was as apparent as his virility. The king made quite an impression.

They were ready to begin. "Clark, call the first case," said the king.

The serious youth stood up. "Sire," he said, "Tybalt of Westhall, a merchant living near Karelia, stands accused of piracy. Making the charge is Sir Madoc of Fieldgate with the aid of Thom At-the-Well and Melydia Coopersmith."

Sir Madoc rose and asked that Thom and Melydia do the same. They walked to the center of the room, before the dais, as Tybalt was led in in shackles, chained hand and foot. When the red-faced merchant spied Melydia, he bellowed, "This is your doing, is it, wench?"

One of the soldiers gave Tybalt a shove, saying, "There'll be none of that, now."

"Sir Madoc," commanded the king, "present your evidence."

The knight bowed. "Your Highness, I had been dispatched to the area near Karelia in search of the Dark Rogue. I captured him a day after his latest crime." There was a brief murmur from the crowd. "He told me that his next target was to be some pirated art objects at the merchant Tybalt's home."

The knight paused uncertainly. "When the Dark Rogue escaped from me, I followed him to Tybalt's manse. So as not to alarm him, I posed as a gentleman adventurer lost in the rain to gain entry to his house. Thom, here," - who bowed - "posed as my servant. He had been of assistance to me on another matter which we will be coming to later. Tybalt insisted that I dine with him. When I did so, Thom went belowstairs, where he met Melydia Coopersmith." She curtsied. "She related to him that indeed several of the art objects were stolen, pirated from a shipment bound for an auctionhouse in Karelia."

"Have you proof that the art objects in question were stolen?" asked the king.

"We should, Your Highness. I left instructions with the outpost near Cairncross to verify that a mirror we recovered from Tybalt's house was among the items in the shipment."

"Have we received this verification?"

"Aye, my lord," said the chancellor. The auctionhouse identified the mirror, and listed a number of other items found in Tybalt of Westhall's house."

"Is there aught else?" asked the king.

"Aye, Your Highness," said Melydia. "While Tybalt did not actually perform the piracy himself, he hired a captain by the name of Caradoc to do the deed for him."

"And you are?"

"Tybalt's chief maid, sire." She curtsied. "I quit his manse that very night. I did not wish to remain in his employ any longer."

Sir Rhys spoke up. "Sire, Caradoc is a known pirate who sails in and near the Polyny Sea. We are searching for him even now."

King Dunstan nodded. "Tybalt of Westhall, have you anything to say in your defense?"

"I do, Your Majesty, I must protest. I bought those items in good faith. The man who sold them to me must have been the pirate." Melydia rolled her eyes.

"Tybalt of Westhall," the king began, "you will be held in the dungeons on suspicion of piracy until Caradoc is captured. We will see who he names as his employer in this matter. Until then, your lands and property are hereby seized by the crown, to be maintained by the present staff until this matter is settled."

Thom gulped. It was a very harsh decision. He wondered if the king was in a bad mood this morning. This did not bode well.

Tybalt was led away sputtering and crimson.

"Clark, call the next case," the king ordered. "You may sit down, gentles," he added to Sir Madoc and his companions.

Thom and Melydia began to return to their seats when the clark announced, "Sire, Magister Eleazar of Cairncross, a wizard, stands accused of crimes of magic, attempted murder of a child and suspicion of treason against the crown." The king raised his eyebrows. "Making the charge is Sir Madoc of Fieldgate with witnesses Thom At-the-Well and Melydia Coopersmith."

The two witnesses were already halfway to the bench when they heard this. They looked at each other, turned around and rejoined Sir Madoc.

Eleazar had been brought out but he seemed distracted, lost in his own thoughts.

"Sir Madoc, present your evidence," said the king.

Sir Madoc told the king that he was escorting the Dark Rogue to the capital for trial when he passed into the village of Cairncross. He told the king about the plagued citizens he saw. Here he deviated slightly from the truth to account for Thom's presence.

"I met Thom At-the-Well in the town before meeting Eleazar. He said he was an adventurer who had just arrived. Together we went to the church which Eleazar was using as a hospital.

"Eleazar gave us a list of items which he clamied could be made into a cure. Over the next tennight, Thom, who claimed he knew where some of the items could be found, and he and I gathered these items."

He went on to describe briefly how they had come by the sea fungus, the sawgrass pods and spritestone, including Thom's rescue of the knight, the mirror, the horsephlox and the bats' wings.

"When we asked Magister Aspasia for our last item, she became interested in our quest. We showed her the list. She became suspicious and asked about the symptoms of the plague. She identified it as Flavid Ague and she identified the ingredients we'd been collecting as among those needed to inflict the plague on others."

"Magister Tauroch, what say you?" said the king.

An elderly man rose from his seat among the councillors. He cleared his throat. "This is all true. Those ingredients are needed for Flavid Ague."

Sir Madoc resumed his recounting of Eleazar's capture. He told the king of the yellow haze coming from the wizard's hut and of the symptoms he suffered immediately thereafter.

"Is there aught else?" asked the king.

"Aye, Your Majesty," said Sir Rhys. "We searched the wizard's hut and found quite a number of small blue spritestones and glass mirrors, as well as pouches and sacks full of the other ingredients. I have consulted with Magister Tauroch. Eleazar had stockpiled enough to afflict the entire kingdom." Thom guessed that Sir Sayer had accomplished quite a lot while he had retired to the outpost that day. He recalled the knight had arrived late in the morning on the day after.

"That is plenty of evidence for the charges of crimes of magic, and for treason if he intended to sicken the entire kingdom, but what of attempted murder of a child?" the king asked.

Sir Madoc continued. "The final ingredient in the plague's spell, sire, is blood from an infant boy. Melydia's nephew Wynn was abducted and bled for the spell. Thom and I retrieved him from the hut."

"Magister Eleazar," said the king, apalled, "have you anything you might say in your defense?"

Eleazar just stared at nothing, his lips trembling. One of the guards at his side gave him a shove.

"Why does he not speak?" demanded the king.

"Apparently, Your Highness, he hasn't spoken since his arrest," the guard said.

Magister Tauroch rose. "If I may, Your Majesty?" The king gestured that he should proceed.

With the aid of a page, the old wizard made his way to the defendant. Tauroch turned the head of the now-submissive criminal to look in his eyes. Tauroch squinted. He pulled a crystal hanging from his neck out of his shirt and peered at Eleazar through it. "This man has no magic!" he announced.

"What do you mean, Tauroch?" asked the king. "Sir Madoc has just told us that he caught him performing magic."

"Oh, he had magic once, recently, but he has lost all potency."

"How did this happen?"

Sir Madoc spoke up. "It is common knowledge that a wizard must remain celibate to have his power. Eleazar is no longer celibate. It was the only way we could find to stem the spreading of the plague quickly, without killing him."

"And who deprived Eleazar of his virginity?" The king looked at Melydia, who blushed.

"I did, Your Majesty," Thom said. "Melydia was not there at the time. I was the only... able person there when the spell was begun for the last time." Thom held back a shiver as King Dunstan stared down unwaveringly into his eyes. He felt as though the king could see into the depths of his soul.

"This does not explain why he does not speak now," Dunstan said.

"I have seen this before, sire," the Royal Wizard stated. "He is in shock, grieving the loss of his magic."

As Tauroch was helped to his seat, the king passed judgment. "In that case, Eleazar, you will be taken to the gallows tomorrow at dawn, and hanged by the neck until dead." Eleazar did not react. He merely moved his legs to walk while he was taken to the prisoners' chambers.

"You may sit down now, citizens. Clark, the next case." This time neither Melydia nor Thom moved.

The king was about to say something when the clark read off the last case. "Sire, the Dark Rogue stands accused of many counts of thievery, most recently of a number of diamonds from Caractacus the Jeweller of Karelia." The crowd began to mutter amongst themselves. Finally they were coming to the good part. "Making the arrest is Sir Madoc of Fieldgate, with Thom At-the-Well and Melydia Coopersmith as witnesses."

King Dunstan looked at the clark, or rather, at the back of his head. If the young man hadn't been assigned his position because he had no sense of humor, the king would have thought this was a joke.

When no prisoner came out to face his judgment, Dunstan said, "Sir Madoc, it seems you have been most busy these past two weeks, and yet I see that the Dark Rogue is not present to answer for his crimes. Why?"

"Your Majesty, it is not possible. The Dark Rogue is dead."

The crowd at the back of the room spoke to each other excitedly. The king called for silence. Then he bade Sir Madoc continue.

"After the Dark Rogue escaped me, I followed him to Tybalt's manse. He stole the mirror, lashed it to Tybalt's cart and left. Melydia provided a horse for Thom and we gave chase. At a sharp bend in the road in the forests north of the manse, the cart flipped over. The Dark Rogue fell down a ravine, while the cart merely fell against some trees. The thief did not survive the crash. While I used the cart to deliver the mirror to Eleazar, Thom buried the body. I came back for him after returning it to the manse."

The king was silent for a long time. "Sir Madoc, could I see you in private for a moment?"

"Of course, sire." Sir Madoc bowed.

"Young woman, you may sit down - assuming you are not a witness in any further trials today."

"No, Your Highness, thank you." She returned to the bench.

"Thom At-the-Well, you will wait in the witness' chamber until we are finished. Sir Madoc, come with me."

Thom watched as the knight went over to the dais and followed the King and Sir Rhys out of the room. He watched this from over his shoulder as two soldiers escorted him back to the chamber. Inside there were the two guards from before, making a total of four. In the now-crowded room, Thom had never felt more alone. It had not gone well, Thom sensed.

"Kneel, Sir Madoc," the king said in his private throne room. Sir Rhys stood at the king's side and back a step.

Sir Madoc went to one knee, his head down.

"Sir Rhys, I would speak to this man alone."

"But sire--"

There was ice in the king's voice. "He is a member of my own High Guard. Can he not be trusted in a room alone with me?"

"Of course, sire." Sir Rhys bowed and exited the room.

"Did you really expect to fool me, Sir Madoc?" the king began.

Oh, shit, thought Madoc. "Sire?"

"Thom At-the-Well is the Dark Rogue, is he not?"

It hadn't worked. Madoc decided he would face his end with as much dignity and integrity as he could. "Yes, sire."

"You were sent out to Karelia to find and bring back this notorious thief, and this you did, but he appeared in my court a free man and not in chains." Dunstan let the anger show in his voice. "You lied to me in my court! You will tell me the truth now. How much of what you said was false?"

Madoc said, "Only how I met him and how the mirror was removed from Tybalt's manse. Thom helped me to gather the evidence against him I could not have gotten in any other way." Sir Madoc still kept his head down. "In all other respects, my testimony was truthful. Those two men deserved the punishments they received." 'As I deserve mine,' Madoc thought with despair. 'Oh, Thom, I'm so sorry.'

The king paused a while before continuing. Composed once more, he said, "I have heard things about you, Sir Madoc. Good things. Sir Rhys has told me that you are uniquely committed to your duty, as your swift promotion to the High Guard has shown. He said that you are, you were," a chill ran down Madoc's back, "one of my better men."

Be brave, Madoc told himself.

"In two short weeks you have managed to bring to justice a conspriator to piracy, and a traitorous wizard. You even captured the Dark Rogue, and though he is not in a cell, neither has he been set free. I am impressed by your work, if not by your conduct today. I cannot help but wonder what you hoped to gain by perpetrating this charade."

"Thom has been of great help to me over these weeks. He saved my life twice, he incapacitated Eleazar, planned the removal of the mirror and tended to me while I was stricken with the plague. We hoped to continue to serve the King's Justice together as knights-errant," Madoc said, still down on his knee.

"Instead of taking up valuable space in my dungeons or at my gallows. How commendable. There remains one question, then. By what sorcery did he manage to convince you to go along with this?"

Madoc closed his eyes. He gave his answer quietly, almost in a whisper.

The king moved to stand directly before the knight. "Sir Madoc, look at me." Madoc looked up, fear in his eyes. "What did you say?"

There is no shame, Madoc reasoned. I'm as good as dead anyway. "We are in love, sire. To be separated would be more punishment than either of us could bear."

The king was staring into the knight's eyes again, calculating, measuring the man. Could the king trust him again? The knight wanted to cry, to scream, to curl up and die, anything to get away from the monarch's gaze.

"Summon Sir Rhys," he said finally.

Madoc rose and went to the door. He knocked and in almost no time at all, the military advisor was entering the room. "Yes, Sire?"

"Where is Sir Bastian now?"

"He is on his way to Annisport to transfer prisoners to our dungeon, sire."

"When will he be back?"

"In two weeks, sire."

"Very good. For the next two weeks, you are to train Thom At-the-Well. He and Sir Madoc are to become knights-errant."

Madoc's eyes went wide. He didn't dare hope....

"But Your Majesty, no member of the High Guard has ever gone errant," Sir Rhys protested.

"You have told me numerous times that Sir Madoc is a most exceptional man. This is not a demotion, Sir Rhys. Sir Madoc will continue to have all the rights and privileges associated with being a High Guardsman, and he will be expected to take assignments when called upon, but in the mean he and At-the-Well will work together."

"Yes, Sire."

"Working together, these two have produced phenomenal results. I will start them off with an assignment. Let us hope they do as well." Tersely, without a flicker of emotion in his expression, the king outlined the assignment. Then he said to Sir Madoc, "You will have but two weeks to prepare."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Sir Madoc said.

"One final thing, Sir Madoc. The king may not always be right, but he is never wrong. I am not certain of you and even less certain of Thom At-the- Well. If you fail me in this, no one will ever find out. Do you understand?"

"I do, sire."

The three went back into the main throne room to adjourn court after declaring the Dark Rogue officially dead.

Sir Madoc entered the witness' chamber and excused the other guards. Two left through the door into the throne room and the others left through the rear door.

Madoc couldn't hold back any longer. He rushed forward and, hugging Thom, picked him up and spun him around. "We did it, Thom! We'll be working together!" Madoc kissed him. "Oh, but it was a close thing. King Dunstan saw through us." He told Thom what the king had told him.

"It sounds as though the king is drawn," said Thom, still in Madoc's arms, but feet on the floor. "He doesn't trust my motives at all, and he's unsure of yours, but at the same time, if we really are as efficient as we made ourselves out to be, he doesn't want to lose us. Since we really are committed to this and each other, we should have no problems.

"But what about this assignment King Dunstan has for us? What would he have us do?"

"We must capture Kraid and his Marauders."

Author's Afternotes:

Watch for the next chronicle of Thom and Madoc: Knights of the Road.

Interesting thing about the word "testimony": it comes from Latin, and was first used in the courts of Ancient Rome. Since they weren't Christian, a witness certainly wouldn't be swearing upon a Bible, so he had to swear on something else he cherished a great deal beginning with "testi-". Needless to say, women were not eligible to be witnesses in a Roman court.

In case it's not clear, I'd welcome hearing from any of you. Write at pfantazm@hotmail.com .