Chapter Five
After bathing and dressing, I pulled a chair up to the glass wall and watched the fish. My stomach complained about the wait, but I didn't mind. I could have sat there all day and been happy.
A knock interrupted my gazing.
With a sigh, I stood up and answered the door.
I expected the Sea King, and I prepared myself for another round of “I'm so great, why aren't you fawning over me?” Yes, I thought better of him owning slaves now that I knew why the other races wanted to serve him, but that didn't change his royal-pain-in-the-ass attitude. Or ass-titude, as I liked to call it.
But it wasn't Jucai at the door. A Kaikeyo man stood there, his chin tentacles hanging in relaxed lines that mimicked a beard. Shiny black horns poked out of his black hair—pulled back in a ponytail. The symbol on his tunic was that of the Ilshi Sea—a blue sea dragon curled into a circle.
The man bowed to me, his biceps straining the sleeves of his tunic. “Lord Nadar?”
“Yes?”
“I am Bantar. The King sent me to serve you.”
“Son of a bitch,” I muttered.
“Sir?” Bantar's blue eyes widened, and his tentacles curled.
“Sorry, Bantar. We don't have slaves in my court, and I'm not comfortable with the practice. I know you’re willing to serve, but I don't want to take advantage of anyone.”
His jaw dropped. “You don't want me?”
“No, no, that's not what I mean. It's not you. I don't feel comfortable with slavery.”
“I volunteered to serve the Ilshi Dread. You are a guest here. It would be my honor to serve you.”
I sighed. “All right, if you insist. Come on in. But I'm going to think of you as a servant, not a slave.”
He bowed and entered the room, shutting the door behind him. “King Jucai has requested your presence for breakfast. He bid me tell you to await him in the courtyard.”
“Oh, thank you, Bantar.”
“Shall I suck your cock before you leave? Or perhaps you'd like to fuck me?”
I flinched. “What?”
“The King says I may pleasure you orally, or you may fuck me, but I cannot penetrate you. He insists that it is his pleasure alone.”
I gaped at the man. What the actual fuck was happening?
“Would you care to inspect my body first?” He removed his tunic.
“Wait, no, that's . . . oh, great Gods.”
Bantar was fast. He kicked off his sandals and removed his pants before I could stop him. And then he was bent over the couch, spreading his ass cheeks. My mind couldn't process it fast enough. I just stared.
“As you see, I'm oiled and await your pleasure.” He looked over his shoulder at me and grinned. “I'm tight. You are welcome to inspect me.”
“What the actual fuck?” I whispered because it wasn't enough to just think it. I picked up his tunic and held it out to him as I averted my gaze. “Bantar, you don't have to do this. Please get up.”
He stood up and turned around. I made the mistake of glancing at him and froze, staring at his thick cock.
It wasn't the cock that caught my attention, although it was a nice one.
Rather, it was the short tentacles surrounding the cock, in place of pubic hair.
They uncurled and curled as I watched. I couldn't look away.
“Do you like my tentacles?” Bantar reached for me. “Those on my chin will caress you when I suck your—”
“All right!” I flung the tunic at him and backed away. “That's enough. Thank you, Bantar. You have given me a generous offer and a lovely display that I will not forget, ever, but I can't fuck a man who has indentured himself.”
“Why not?” He held his tunic to his chest.
“I can't trust that you're willing. Honestly, I like to seduce my lovers. I don't want someone handed to me. I need to feel wanted.”
“I want you.”
I held up a hand. “No offense to you, but I can't trust that to be true. I'm sure you feel as if you have to say nice things to me. I'm sorry, but I refuse to take a man who could be unwilling.”
“I assure you, master, I—“
“Whoa! Do not call me that. I am not your master.” I shook out my arms as if that would get the icky feelings off me. “Ugh, I don't like this. I feel gross. It's one thing to rule, but to . . .” I motioned at him. “No, I'm so sorry if I'm hurting your feelings, but I can't do this.”
“I will be punished,” he whispered.
I went cold. “What? Who will punish you?”
“The Master of the Palace Slaves. He sent me to serve you. If you refuse me, he'll send another, and I'll go without dinner tonight.”
Missing a meal wasn't a horrible punishment, but I didn't like the thought of anyone being punished in any way because of me. Plus, I didn't want to go through this again with someone else.
“All right, tell the Master of the Palace Slaves that you pleasured me well. I won't tell anyone that you didn't.”
“You will lie for me?”
“To save you from punishment, yes.”
“Thank you, master.”
“No, no, no—just call me Nadar.”
His eyes went round. “I couldn't do that.”
“Yes, you could. We can be friends. Friends use first names.”
“Friends?” Bantar's eyes went wide.
It occurred to me that using my name might get him punished too. “But if it would get you in trouble, just use my name in private.”
“Yes, mas—Nadar. Thank you. But, what shall I do now?”
“Whatever you wish. If you want to get back to what you were doing before, do that.”
“I am supposed to serve you. That's my new job.”
“Well, I have little for you to do. Have you eaten?”
“Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“I had some porridge several hours ago.”
“Why don't you get a breakfast plate for me and bring it here to eat?”
“You want me to eat your breakfast?”
“Sure. I don't need it. I'll be eating with the king. Tell them to make your favorites.”
He chuckled. “You are mischievous.”
“I'm a Dragon. It's our responsibility to take care of those who aren't as strong as we are, especially if they are serving us. So, get some breakfast and anything else you might like. You can eat here. There are books in the study if you want to stay and read.”
Bantar bowed deeply. “I am grateful. If there's anything you need, please let me know.”
“Oh, there are some dirty clothes in the dressing room. I'd appreciate it if you could get them cleaned.”
“I will see to it immediately.”
“Thank you.” I left, my face red, and hurried downstairs to the first floor.
My face was hot. I never got embarrassed.
Many men had offered me more than Bantar had and with more .
. . creativity, and I hadn't batted an eye.
It wasn't his body or words that had embarrassed me.
It was his gratitude. He shouldn't have to thank me for rest and food.
And I shouldn't feel as if I had to hide the way I treated him.
It was the way everyone should be treated.
My stomach turned. I was back to being uncertain about slavery in Kansu.
“Lord Nadar?”
I stopped for my guards to catch up with me. “Are all of you comfortable?”
The men shared a strange look.
Lord Anfar stepped forward. “Lord Nadar, they, uh.” He cleared his throat.
I sighed, suddenly knowing what that look was about. “I know about the slaves. Evidently, they serve willingly for five-year terms. I'm sorry if you're uncomfortable. I don't like it either, but a diplomat's job is to observe without judgment. Just try to ignore them.”
“Ignore them?” Lord Mahden looked as if he'd swallowed a lemon. “Do you know what they do at dinner?”
“No, but if it makes you uncomfortable, dine in your rooms.”
“We're supposed to be accompanying you.”
“I'm fine. King Jucai is taking me on a tour of the city.”
“Great!” Lord Raje waved toward the main doors. “Let's go.”
I frowned at them. “I believe he wants to give me a private tour.”
“We're supposed to stay with you.”
“I'm not a king. You're here to ensure that I'm not taken hostage or anything. I'm fine. I'll be back in time for dinner.”
“Dinner.” Lord Anfar grimaced.
“What is wrong with you?” I looked from man to man.
Lord Raje blushed.
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What happened at dinner?”
Lord Anfar cleared his throat. “Nothing.” He smacked Raje. “We'll take a separate carriage, Lord Nadar, but we must attend you.”
“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “Let's go then.”
As we walked out of the palace, out to the front courtyard, my thoughts returned to slavery.
There were some Land Dragons who believed our race was superior to all others.
I wasn't one of them, but I didn't mind their arrogance as long as they used their superiority to serve instead of dominate.
I was of the belief that the Gods put Dragons on Serai to rule the other races because we were strong enough to protect them from each other.
If we didn't make Serai better with our power, what was the point?
But even the most arrogant Land Dragon kings, who contributed nothing to Serai, still didn't believe we had the right to enslave the other races. Rule, yes. Enslave, never.
There was an open carriage waiting at the bottom of the palace steps. I went up to it. “Hello, there. Are you waiting on the King?”
“Yes, my lord.” The Gashi man bent his head.
“We'll be needing another carriage for my guards.”
“Oh, uh.” He looked up, over my shoulder.
“Nadar?”
I turned to see Jucai coming down the palace steps. My guards separated to let him pass, two to either side.
I inclined my head. “Your Majesty.”
He waved at the carriage. Black enamel with gold accents, the carriage had an extravagant look.
Blue velvet seats gave a pop of color, as did the blue uniform on our Gashi driver.
I stared at the blue sea dragon on his tunic.
Dragon kingdoms on land never used dragons on their kingdom's device. It felt unnecessary.
The driver jumped down, bowed to us, and opened the carriage door.
“I was just telling our driver here that we'll need another carriage for my guards.” I motioned at them.
Jucai frowned from me to them. “If I have no need for my guards, you shouldn't either.”
“I tried to leave them behind, but they are quite adamant.”