Part XXXVI

Joel's hands were tight up again, luckily not behind his back, and he was led out. For a brief moment Joel thought that he will get his horse and the fine saddle back but surprise, Mat's ass was already placed there. Mat was throwing glimpses at Joel before he left. Joel raised his head and was wondering whether he will be running behind a horse. Soon everything became clear. There was a wagon with a cage and Joel was placed there and covered so nobody could see him.

The cage wasn't very small, Joel even managed to sit comfortably. They moved. The steady movement of the wagon made Joel drowsy and yeah, he fell asleep. He had a very weird dream, he was back with the duke and they were drinking tea in the garden. Joel was wearing one of those fancy dresses the duke ordered for him while the duke was shirtless. They were looking each other in the eyes and smiling. That was fucking weird. They had never done that.

The wagon stopped and Joel woke up. For a brief moment he didn't know where he was but then it all came back. He lost his saddle, the fortune he had to work so hard for and even his freedom. He was a loser on his way to wherever, probably not back to the duke. Joel tried to lift the cover to see where they were. It was hard but Joel managed to see that they were in front of an inn. Joel was hungry, it was a while ago since he had a proper meal. He heard the commotion, the lord's men were getting off their horses. Soon his cover was raised and the cage's door opened. A young man with short curly hair helped Joel to get out.

"Lord Morrice is waiting for you in his room, be good and make no problems." The young man looked a bit nervous.

"Of course. Can I take a piss I really need to." Joel asked, looking the young man straight in the amber eyes.

The guy blushed and nodded in agreement. However he was standing right behind Joel and watching him all the time. Yeah so much for the piss comfort and what's worse, escaping will be a problem.

"Where are you taking me?" He decided to fish for some information.

The young man looked at him and then very slowly answered Joel's question.

"I'm taking you to lord Morrice's room."

Actually Joel was surrounded by so many gormless people that he shouldn't be surprised anymore.

"I mean where are we heading after we stay in that inn?" Joel tried to make himself as clear as he could.

"Oh, I see. We are going back to lord's castle." He smiled, pushing Joel in the right direction.

Lord Morrice was sitting in his room and apparently waiting for Joel to join him.

"My lord, I brought the prisoner." The young guy bowed and left. Joel was standing unsure what to do.

"You may sit down." He pointed to the table with food on it. "Eat."

"Thank you." Joel was hungry. For a moment he hoped that the black lord will untie him, but no. Joel was eating and the lord was staring after a while Joel started having problems swallowing the food. That Morrice was literally burning holes in his face. Joel stopped eating. He looked at the lord.

"My lord, what are you planning to do with me?"

"To be honest, I don't know. Thus I won't let you go, you are a suspicious person and someone has to keep an eye on you and keep you away from the duke." The lord crooked his head and drank a bit from his cup.

"Stand up."

Joel felt nausea, he didn't feel like undressing again and letting that freak touch him. This lord hated gay people so why did he behave like that.

"Come here."

Joel came closer and the lord stood up, he touched Joel's curls. Then he touched his cheek and even rubbed Joel's lips with his thumb.

"How much do you charge for a night?" He finally spouted out, making Joel feel even more uncomfortable than before.

"I'm not a whore my lord." Joel answered looking that bastard straight in the eyes. A strong slap in the face.

"Fucking liar. You seduce men, you are very skilled at it. Because of that abnormal look of yours, men lose their minds."

Joel was silent. There was no point to say anything right now. The reason and that lord went separate ways. Joel's cheek hurt, he lowered his eyes.

"Go to sleep, on the floor next to my bed. Don't try anything funny, I'm a light sleeper." The lord calmed himself down and Joel without a single word laid himself on the floor, the lord threw him a blanket and even a pillow. What a fucking generosity.

Joel had problems sleeping, after a very long while he heard that the lord fell asleep. Joel waited some more time then he stood up, and went to the window. He was trying to open it when a tight grip sent him to the floor.

"I told you I'm a light sleeper."

The lord was pissed right now and Joel knew he was screwed as he was caught red handed trying to escape. Joel knelt in front of the lord and raised his head looking at him sheepishly.

"I'm sorry my lord. Please don't punish me again."

The lord stopped and after a moment of silence added.

"Good, if you know your place I will let it slide. This one time." He said it putting his hand on Joel's head. The rest of the night Joel was trying to sleep. He managed, however he woke up early in the morning only to see how Morrice was getting dressed. The lord's back was full of scars. They were thin and they were scattered all around his back. That looked really strange, they didn't look like some battle scars, rather from a whip.