Selfish Kings and rebellious sons

As usual, themes in this story may make some readers uncomfortable.

A young barefoot fire elf runs through the castle town of Eronshire wearing red dusty rags and golden shackles. The town was full of humans and some fire elves. Most people here were slaves, doing all the work while their owners lived lavishly and lazily.

It took some time for the elf boy to reach the castle gates, the castle itself sat at the foot of the mountains. The closer he got to the castle, the more snow there was. The guards didn't bother stopping him as he rushed through, they were drunk and fooling around with whores anyway. Why would they care about a young boy running around?

The elf boy barged into the castle main hall after huffing and puffing his way through the courtyard. He tripped and fell in a loud clash, skidding and rolling on the stone tiled floor. He was a crumpled lump of rags, chains and pale flesh. He laid there in exhaustion. The letter he was given was tightly held in his hands as he wheezed.

His tired red eyes looked at the stairway as he heard the rhythmic sound of beads and metal clamoring followed with quick steps that rushed down the staircase. A soft woman's voice came from the person wearing the dark blue robes that lightly dragged upon the floor.

"You poor thing, why are you in such a state? Come, let's get you up."

The woman knelt beside the boy, carefully helping him up. Getting onto his knees he handed her the letter, still out of breath he couldn't speak coherently, muttering the word "Urgent" with a raspy breath.

She took the letter and looked it over, seeing the seal on it she knew it was for the king. The boy looked at the woman in awe. She was a beautiful Fire elf, not covered in chains and dirt like he and his family were. Her skin was a hazelnut brown color with black silky hair that went to her elbows. Her eyes were a burning pink toned red. She offered him a warm smile, her lips painted with a dark purple lipstick.

"Rest a while. I'll get this to the King." With a wave of her fingers the letter disappeared from her hand in a sparkling mist.

The boy stared bewildered, looking around for the letter with worry. "Where?" The woman only winked at him in response.

The woman stood up and took the boy's hands, getting him onto his feet. Her hands were unusually warm, and the boy started to feel his exhaustion vanish. Without even resisting the nice woman he followed her down the large entryway of the castle. His feet tapped against the stone tiles, then onto the warm green carpet that covered under the dining table. The guards seemed to allow this woman to do what she wanted, even if they gave the boy odd looks.

The dining room was massive, and lit by many candles that covered the middle of the table and hung upon the walls. The woman helped the boy into a large wooden chair that had soft green upholstery. She softly tapped his round nose with a smile.

"I'm sure you are hungry, having run all the way here from Toppin's shop by the stables." She took a seat beside him, sitting turned slightly so she could face him.

The boy gasped. "How did you know where I came from miss?"

She hummed musically. "I've seen you there before, with your parents, and 2 older brothers." Though she was lying, he would never be able to tell from how genuine she sounded.

The boy seemed confused, getting startled by the food being brought in covered dishes by 2 servants. He instinctively lowered his head, and looked at his hands. "Thank you miss.. I don't… remember ever seeing you.. But you are very kind…"

His stomach growled loudly, but he was too afraid to look up until the servants left the room. The woman gently patted his head.

"Eat up. My name is Rowan by the way, can I know yours?" She removed the metal domes that covered their plates, setting them to the side. The heavenly aroma of the food wafted in the air.

The boy looked up with sparkling eyes. "Yevestin!" He shrunk back as he spoke too loud, his excitement getting the better of him.

Rowan just smiled at him, softly chuckling. "Yevestin, a strong name for a strong young elf."

They both ate their fill, and once it was time for Yevestin to return to his home, Rowan ordered him to be brought by carriage. Rowan watched the boy leave safely. Giving the carriage driver a threatening stare to ensure the boy's safety.

By this time the King had surely woken up. Rowan made her way up the stairs in a rush, taking a deep breath before entering the King's chambers. Seeing the King half naked and asleep at his desk she rolled her eyes with annoyance. She walked over to him and poked his forehead hard.

He stirred awake, groaning with drool covering the side of his mouth and chin as his green eyes hazily looked up at Rowan. The King huffed with a roll of his eyes as he pinched his nose bridge and reclined in his seat.

"Why do you insist on looking like that Rowan? And why are you waking me up? I was having a wonderful dream."

Rowan pushed the letter on his desk closer to him with a raised brow that hid their annoyance. "Urgent news from Yagwern."

The King huffed again as he took the letter and opened it, grumbling under his breath as he read it. Meanwhile Rowan changed back to their usual form. Their skin changing to a deep blue hue, their black hair shortening into a neat swept back do. The sclera and irises of their eyes turn an azure blue color with white glowing slit pupils. Their feminine form returns back to their masculine one, growing slightly taller by a few inches. Crossing their arms as they await the King to finish reading the news so he could pretend he was shocked.

The King ran his tongue over his teeth with a pissed off expression. Running a hand down his face he tapped his foot under the desk. "Stein… That fool. Why would he let ORCS into our territory?! WITHOUT CONSULTING ME!"

He stood up rashly and threw the things off his desk, grabbing his goblet and throwing it blindly at Rowan, who calmly stepped to the side to avoid it. Rowan's voice was much deeper now, warm but with barely hidden sarcasm.

"Oh, my King Spiros, what happened in Yagwern that has made you so upset?" With elegant movements he grabbed the paper and looked it over as if he didn't already know what was on it. Giving a theatrical gasp.

"By Ashuura, this cannot be true! Orcs? In your domain? Doesn't Stein know not to make a deal with them? It's no wonder over a dozen Slaves were stolen from you. High quality ones at that."

King Spiros gave Rowan a death stare in the middle of his rampant pacing. "Quiet boy. Or I'll cut your tongue off again." Spiros grumbled as he thought to himself.

"Send word to Harek and our men."

"Do you want it sent by bird or-"

"ROWAN. If you give me another snarky remark I swear, boy!" Rowan held his hands up defensively as Spiros grabbed the collar of his tunic, holding back a laugh. Rowan snapped his fingers, the desk was back to its orderly clean set up and the goblet was no longer thrown and spilled.

"Of course my King. I will go. What would you like me to tell him?" He was roughly turned around as Spiros wrapped his arms around him. His hot bitter breath burned against Rowan's pointed ears.

"The contents of the letter. And that he is to return home." Spiros kissed Rowan's neck, across from them was a vanity mirror that Rowan refused to look at.

"Wouldn't it be quicker, and better, if Harek paid a visit to Yagwern first?"

Spiros didn't answer at first, he was too busy fondling Rowan as his hands found their way into his robes. A low groan came from his mouth against Rowan's neck. "Hmm… He's still in Trivel right? I suppose it is closer to Yagwern.."

"By a week." Rowan said dully. "If I remember correctly." He spiced his tone up with a dash of happiness. Fake of course.

Spiros rolled his eyes and turned Rowan back around and forcefully kissed him. "Don't take forever. You are to come back after telling Harek of the news. And no one, is to know what you are."

Rowan nodded to Spiros, dying inside as Spiros kissed him again. He exhaled as he stepped away from him. His appearance turned into a caramel brown skinned human male in plain looking green clothes. A look he often wore when talking with the King's son.

"I'll be back my King." Rowan's body glowed as he turned into a smokey blue cloud and disappeared.

—--------------

Inside a Trivel inn bedroom, Rowan quietly manifested in the dark corner by the door. His lips curled into a mischievous grin as he could see the King's son, Harek, laying on his back as a busty woman rode on top of him with sultry cries of pleasure. Rowan kept himself hidden, watching the 2, feeling a bit envious, having never indulged in pleasure like this. This wasn't the first time he watched people have sex.

He waited until the busty lass left, admiring her curves as she walked right past him, not even seeing him as she opened the door and left.

"Rowan." Harek spoke plainly as he sat on the edge of the bed naked, with just a part of the blanket covering his privates.

Rowan's ears burned as he looked back at him, the green eyes staring him down as he came out of hiding.

"Urgent news about Yagwern. King Spiros wants you and your men to head there... To see what happened in person and head back home."

Rowan held out a letter he made from thin air and handed it to him. Harek took it and read it over. Just like his father, he had the habit of running his tongue over his teeth in his mouth while he read. Though he was much more attractive to look at. His hair was shoulder length, dark brown and wavy. He had a beard growing, which only made his handsome face a bit more rugged. His body was muscular and thick with dark patches of hair. Rowan wondered how he would feel being held by him. Yet again, he found himself looking at Harek in wanting.

When Harek looked up at him Rowan turned to the side and casually went to sit in a chair next to a small table with a candle.

"So. My father is being pissy because his slave masters got greedy, tried to do a deal with Orc's, who, lets see.. Infiltrated the Rose Maiden's den, massacred the guards and some townsfolk, and oh, look here. Stole about15 high end slaves along with Stein." Harek looked at Rowan as he tossed the paper carelessly. "Stein is worthless. A snake charmer who gambled recklessly. Why should I leave Trivel to check Yagwern? Does he really think I'll find anything important there? Just wage a war with the Orcs, why not? We are already fighting everyone else."

Harek's rant ended with a low growl-like sigh as he rubbed his face with his hands, sounding defeated.

"I suggested he have you go to Yagwern first, I suspect he wanted you to go there anyway."

"What the fuck for? We already know what happened. That is just a waste of time."

Rowan and Harek just stared at each other. Rowan's gaze was implying something, silently he raised a brow and leaned a bit closer. "Must I really say why?"

It took a second for Harek to catch on. In a flash Harek stood up and grabbed Rowan by the neck, lifting him off his feet to look him in the eyes, he didn't even bother to catch the blanket that covered him. His emerald eyes burned into Rowan's.

"What do you know? What does HE know? Spill it, or I spill your blood."

Rowan held onto Harek's burly arm, tapping it as he couldn't speak from his large hand crushing his throat. When Harek didn't let him go, he played dead, going limp in his grasp until Harek rolled his eyes and dropped him.

Rowan dropped onto his feet effortlessly, rubbing his neck. "Ahem. Well, to put it plainly, I know all about the operations you have been planning in Trivel. The store houses, the slaves you're hiding, or shall I say, the ones who died from a 'mysterious plague'." Rowan held his hands in air quotations with a snarky grin.

Rowan dodged Harek's swing when he tried to grab him again, grinning like a Cheshire cat as he kept avoiding him as they played cat and mouse in the room. "Now, now, Harek. I said that I know, not the King. Did you really think you could hide it from him without help?"

The naked and angry Harek huffed at Rowan as he stared him in the eyes suspiciously. "Are you not his.. Whatever are you to him? You warm his bed and carry out his orders and shit." Harek threw his hands dismissively. "How would you know, and not him? You think me to be dull?"

"Dull? Of course not. But Spiros is. And I will make sure he doesn't know about your rebellion.. But, I'd like to make a deal. But first, please get dressed, that 3rd leg is very distracting."

Harek gave Rowan a bitter laugh as he looked around for his pants, swooping them up as his eyes stayed on Rowan's while he got them on. "You have seen me fuck countless times. I'm aware you enjoy seeing me naked. Now spill it boy. What do you want?"

Rowan grimaced as Harek said 'boy'. He inhaled deeply with his eyes closed, making sure no one would hear them as he expanded his senses, he then put a barrier around them as a precaution so no one could hear their conversation. His eyes glowing as they opened and looked at Harek.

"Firstly… Don't call me boy, it makes me feel gross… Secondly, no one must be told about what I am going to say, so I need to know that I can trust you."

Harek raised a brow and tied the lacing of his pants. "I am an honorable man, you keep your word, I'll keep mine. Simple."

Rowan sensed no deception within him. He sighed and stood up, letting his glamour fade so his true form was shown. His blue skin and eyes caused Harek to give him an odd look.

"You.. How?" Harek laughed in disbelief. "You can't be an Azure, I've known you my entire life, you.. I know you knew magic, but.. No. No, this is some trick Rowan." He walked closer to him and looked him over with a confused look.

Rowan sighed, clenching his fists as he crossed his arms. "Yes… I am an Azure… I-"

"They're extinct! Shit, no one even knows for sure they even existed." Harek cut him off as he ran a hand through his hair, exhaling harshly as he paced.

"I'm assuming my father knows?"

Rowan nodded. Harek's eyes widened, then narrowed with a seething hate, darting around as he gathered his thoughts before they focused on Rowan once more. "You… are his.. What? His pet or something? If you're an Azure, why can't you just escape him? Aren't your kind fabled to be ultra powerful or something?"

"When he.. Found me, he placed a seal on me that bound me to him." Rowan opened his tunic and showed his chest, a white rune seal was etched into his dark blue stomach. "I can't break it. Only he can, or perhaps you can… But either way.. I want to be free. Or just.. Bound to someone else. Anyone but him. Help me, and I will help you. Deal?"

Harek gave it some consideration, but nodded. "If it means going against my father, and helping another person gain freedom… Then yes…." Harek hesitated before speaking again.

"So you and my father... You don't.. You know…" He cleared his throat at Rowan, which earned him a dramatic eye roll in return.

"Seriously?" Rowan gagged. "Of course I don't love him. If I could kill him myself I would. I cast illusion spells for him to get off to so I don't have to bed him."

Harek laughed with a disgusted look, patting Rowan's shoulder before walking to grab a dark glass jug of wine. "I didn't not need to know that. Are you going to leave immediately like usual, or do you want a drink?"

Rowan's ears and neck flushed as Harek patted his shoulder, watching him with a bit of longing. "I… I can stay for a bit.."