Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
JAMAL
Was it wrong that I enjoyed the two barbarians fighting over me?
There was something thrilling about being so wanted that it caused an actual fight.
I chose not to say that only because the clan leader was present.
Life long lessons from my father rang in my ears, reminding me to be respectful to the leaders lest I wanted to end up with my head on a spike somewhere.
It was a hard lesson to accept, but amongst the barbarians, I felt for now it was better to be polite.
At least until I had a better lay of the land.
“Perhaps, for now, you should come sit with me,” the woman who’d interrupted the fight suggested.
I had to purse my lips to hide just how much I didn’t want to do that.
Given how the clan leader hovered at her back, I assumed she was someone important, and I didn’t want to insult her.
I didn’t want to give up the attention of the two barbarians either.
Perhaps after a while I could sneak away.
They might not like the fighting, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Who wouldn’t want to be fought over by two gorgeous men?
The barbarian to my left offered me a hand to help me stand, and I flashed him a sultry smile when I took it and allowed him to pull me to my feet.
The other one stayed quiet, but the look on his face was dark, and I could tell he wasn’t happy he hadn’t thought to do the same first. I chuckled to myself, following the woman away and over to the other side of the fire where the clan leader had been sitting before the fight broke out.
The woman pulled me down onto a cushion next to hers, her expression finally softening into a smile. “We haven’t been introduced properly yet. I’m Frida, Idrull’s bondmate and Clan Mother of the Velgraz Clan.”
“Jamal,” I replied politely.
“It’s nice to meet you. My husband tells me you’re here because the king wants to check in with the clans?”
Nodding, I accepted a bowl of food when a barbarian showed up to hand them out to the three of us.
I looked him over curiously. What was it about these barbarians that they were all so gorgeous?
He noticed me watching him when he handed me my bowl and gave me a wink before returning to the tent nearby where more of the clan had been standing in line to retrieve their own meals.
I enjoyed the special treatment of having my food brought to me.
I didn’t retrieve that kind of royal treatment in the castle.
Distractedly, I spit out what the king had mentioned before I left.
“Your clans have been part of Al Nuzem for a few months now. The king asked me to visit with the clans, see how things are going, and report back to him. He wanted me to visit the clan settlement, but I thought a clan that moved often would be better. Only a small portion stayed in the settlement, yes?”
“That’s true. Two clans stayed in the settlement.
The rest all wander, as is our way. But we were planning on heading back to the settlement for a rest and trade in a few weeks.
You’re welcome to travel with us back there.
That way you can report on both,” she offered kindly.
She spoke my language better than the others who had tried to speak to me in my mother tongue before now, and when she noticed my curious look, she smiled at me.
“I was a teacher once upon a time. I’m a quick learner and started studying Erabi when we first arrived. ”
“Ah.”
It was nice to speak with someone in my mother tongue without struggling to understand one another, but I couldn’t help but let my gaze drag over to where I’d been sitting with the other two barbarians.
They’d separated, one standing with a group of barbarians on the right, the other sitting with another group across the fire on the left. And both were watching me.
My mouth twisted as I fought back a smile. This trip might end up being more entertaining than I originally thought.
The music began again, and I looked in that direction, studying the group that played.
I’d heard plenty of music in the capital, but living and working in the castle meant the music was often gentle and sweet.
That wasn’t how the barbarians played music.
The two playing drums made a quick beat, and the man with the other instrument played a jaunty tune that seemed to have the whole clan swaying with the music.
It was much more entertaining than the music played in the castle.
“That’s Henry,” Frida said, pointing at the man in the middle. “He’s bonded to Garrun. He’s a joy to our clan. He brings peace to those who need it.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Peace?”
Entertainment I could understand, but peace? The music wasn’t what I would consider peaceful.
Snickering, Frida nodded. “In the evenings, he plays to bring joy. When his bondmate struggles to rest well, he plays to bring peace. You’ll hear him throughout the day. He plays a wide range of styles, depending on the situation.”
“I like what he’s playing now,” I commented absently, poking around in the bowl to see what the barbarians offered me. “Slow music is boring.”
Someone on my right snorted. “It’s less boring with some alcohol,” the barbarian commented.
He had some kind of wrap around his eyes and scars peeking out around it, but he didn’t hesitate when grabbing a bottle from near his hip and offering it to me.
“Grab yourself a cup, boy. You’ll see how amazing Henry’s music can be with a little alcohol in you. ”
Barbarian ale was more potent than I’d originally expected.
I’d been pleased to take the drink offered, but I was used to the alcohol in the city.
It was sweet and could be drunk quickly without ending up with me falling over my own feet.
The alcohol the barbarians offered me was significantly more dangerous.
One cup made me feel dizzy. I couldn’t stop smiling either, and the noise of my father’s voice scolding me into behaving in the back of my mind went quiet.
Frida’s attention was eventually stolen by another, allowing me to escape.
She was good company, friendly and kind, but it wasn’t her attention I was hoping for.
I pushed to my feet, swaying a little and chuckled to myself as I tried to keep my footsteps steady.
I headed toward one of the barbarians who’d fought over me earlier, a sultry smile on my lips when he immediately excused himself from the group he’d been speaking with to come to me.
The music changed, and I found myself swaying to it, smirking at the man as he moved to my side. He didn’t interrupt, but the heat in his expression told me he liked when I danced for him.
When I stumbled, he caught my elbows, his touch gentle as he righted me on my feet. I leaned into him with a purr, sliding my hands up his arms so I could properly admire all that thick muscle.
“You’re gorgeous,” I murmured.
“And you’re drunk,” he grinned. “Many say our ale is too strong for them.”
I scoffed, pulling out of his arms to stand on my own. “It’s not too strong for me! I’ll have another!”
He shook his head, his smile indulgent, but he didn’t move to give me what I wanted. I looked over my shoulder toward the direction the other barbarian had been sitting. Maybe he would give me what I want.
To my delight, he was already headed our way, and was that a cup in his hand?
“Are barbarians mind readers?” I asked as he stepped up to us. “How did you know I wanted a drink?”
He looked surprised, and a little confused, but he allowed me to take his cup without complaint, steadying me with a hand on my back when I stumbled tipping it back.
After finishing what was left in the cup, I smacked my lips, looking between them with heavy lidded eyes. “Are barbarian cocks really magic?”
It was what Zakai said when he was in the capital for his wedding. I’d been curious ever since, but those who attended the wedding were all bonded and uninterested in a third. Which was a pity because being pressed between two gorgeous men sounded like a dream come true to me.
The one who’d brought me the cup frowned deeply. “Magic?”
The other snorted. The clan leader told me their names, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember what they were. I’d been too distracted by the muscles and heated glances to pay much attention.
“Who told you that, little one?”
Waving that away, I stumbled toward the one smiling at me, pressing myself against him. “I want to experience the magic. Will you show me?”
That heated expression came back, and his big hands settled on my hips, but before he could get a word out, the other one snapped at him.
I didn’t understand what was being said, they switched to their language, and I didn’t speak the barbarian tongue, but it made the one holding me stiffen and scowl at the other one, and the look that promised sex and fun disappeared.
“No… Don’t listen to him,” I pouted. “It’s just a bit of fun.”
His friend said something else, maybe translating? I wasn’t sure. I didn’t have the capacity to speak even the common tongue right now. Whatever he said struck a nerve because the barbarian holding me closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. “You’re drunk, little one.”
“So? That doesn’t matter,” I complained. “I’ve had plenty of fun while drunk.”
He didn’t seem to know how to answer me, but the other one spoke up for him. “The…uh… magic only works when there is no alcohol involved.”
My nose wrinkled. “Seriously?”
The other barbarian nodded, taking my arm to steady me when I pushed away from the first one. “Yes.”
I looked between the two of them suspiciously. I knew some chivalrous men didn’t partake in sex when their partner had been drinking. I wasn’t one of those men, though, and I didn't think I’d need to worry about that among the barbarians. But… if the magic only worked when I was sober…
Did Zakai ever mention drinking when discussing the magic of his barbarian’s cock? I couldn’t remember.
“Why not rest for now, varakai?” the first one asked.
I made a face. “That’s boring.” I wriggled free of them, spinning on my heel and looking around.
If I couldn’t have the magic, then I’d at least find more to drink.
It was too early to go to bed now, and I wanted to have more fun.
Maybe the first barbarian who’d offered me a drink would provide more.
Before I could wander away, the second barbarian wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me back. “Where are you going, tavi?”
“For more ale,” I explained crossly. “If I can’t have barbarian cock, I can at least drink more.”
For a moment, the pair was quiet, and when I tipped my head back to look at them, they seemed to look at each other like they were having a silent conversation. Were barbarians able to speak with their minds as well? How much magic did they have, exactly?
Voice tight with irritation, the first one finally spoke. “Come sit with us, varakai. If you want more ale, we can provide it.”
Now that sounded a lot more like it.