There was something scandalous about wanting to lie on the Emperor's bed when he wasn't there. Jale, on the other hand, was completely at ease and began to take his clothes off as soon as he reached the other side of the bed.

"This bed was Empress Crael's design," Jale informed him as he stripped. "Apparently, she found it hideous that Talbecans preferred to sleep on the ground on our bamboo sheets. She wanted something more luxurious for the Emperor. It was her present to him one year."

Teal barely registered what Jale was saying, the sight of Jale stripping was far too distracting. "I've seen one similar down in a room just off from the Emperor's main greeting room," he managed.

Even though Jale was slightly taller than Teal, he was stockier in muscle. At the same time, he was perfectly toned, and the size of his posture more than adequate to match his height. Teal had seen Jale before, here and there, at the consorts’ bathhouse or without a shirt. They were only mere glimpses but enough for Teal to cast Jale's sculptured body to memory. With one last slide of Jale's fingers under his waistband, Jale's comfortable trousers slid to the floor and just like that, Jale was standing naked before him.

"Nice," Teal breathed.

"I know," Jale said. Confidence and power, without a hint of condescension or arrogance. That was the best way to describe Jale.

Jale climbed up onto the bed and lay on his side. He patted the mattress in front of him just like he had done previously when they had been sitting in the alcove. Teal gingerly clambered on as if execution was close at hand if he was caught climbing onto the Emperor's bed.

"Relax," Jale told him. "We have access to everything up here."

Jale reached out and ran his hand down Teal's stomach, over one thigh and then, up the other leg before playfully running his fingers down lower. If it was an attempt to calm Teal, it wasn't working.

"We'll take our time tonight," Jale said softly. "You're edgy. Is it the prospect of what lies ahead?"

Teal didn't even take a moment to ponder that question. He knew where his desires lay. "I guess it will just take a while to get used to being in such fine quarters," he stated.

Without further hesitation, Teal leaned in closer and brought their lips together. Jale returned in kind and pushed Teal's shoulder softly so he came to lie on his back.

Teal lazily spread his arm over his face and allowed his thoughts to wander. They quickly went back to a rushed and fumbled first time with Cokrin who had been eager to try what he had heard men do with other men. Jale's determined but steady pace indicated a man who had no need to rush or hurry, who was happy to take his time, who was taking enjoyment in squeezing a buttock, or running his free hand over flesh and muscle as Teal moaned softly in pleasure. He and Cokrin had never taken their time like this.

The evening proceeded in shades of color and movement where some seconds seemed to last for an eternity while others were wiped clean from his memory, and Teal could not remember what had happened. Despite the blurred mixes of pleasure, there was one aspect that Teal noted. During the entire time Jale insisted on being in charge. Teal didn't mind. He took it as a residual need or an unconscious act of self-preservation on Jale's behalf. Not that Teal could ever possibly imagine hurting Jale when he was giving him so much pleasure, so deep inside.

Sweat dripping off their bodies, their grunts filling the air, Jale eventually began to mirror that of someone approaching their climax.

And then, all of a sudden, before Teal could climax as well, his budding orgasm shifted and it was as if he could feel Jale, all of him, feel all of his senses, his power, and his will. It was a complex mixture of determined, no nonsense will with a hint of humor on the edges when the business of the empire wasn't at stake.

It wasn't Teal reaching out to gain this impression though. It was the presence within him. It circled around searching and pulling what it needed, to gain an understanding of who Jale really was, of whether his intentions were really good or not for Teal.

Despite his heaving chest, Jale's eyes locked with Teal's, aware of something there, something other than the two of them. He froze and in that one instant, an image of surprise appeared on Jale's face that Teal had never seen before. Teal sat up, eager to reassure only to have Jale stagger back on his knees, but even in that small amount of time, Teal knew already that the presence was still unsure. He pushed that fact to the back of his brain.

"It's okay. It's not going to hurt you!" Teal gasped. "It's already leaving."

Jale brought his hand up, warding Teal off. "Who's leaving?" he demanded. He swung one arm around, and in a flash, he was armed, a wide thick bladed sword in his hand having pulled it from somewhere at the end of the bed by the bedpost. "For all the Gods of Eternity, what was that?!"

Teal heard the shuffle of the guards only a short distance away, and he held up his hands in submission. "I think it was checking on you."

"I- I-It?" Jale spluttered. He held his free hand up, informing the guards to stay where they were for now.

"There's some things I haven't told you," Teal managed meekly.

"Some things you haven't told me?!" Jale exclaimed, and Teal was amazed at how Jale's arm did not waver or shake with the large weapon in his hand. "Speak now!" he ordered.

"My eyes don't glow because I'm scared," Teal said quickly, very quickly.

Jale's eyes narrowed. Surprise and anger managed to mix in voice at the same time. "You lied to me?!"

"I didn't want you or the Emperor to change your mind about me."

"You lied to me!" Jale hissed the words this time, and they weren’t a question.

"Please!" Teal gasped ever so aware that the presence was holding back, giving Teal the freedom to act if he so desired. It was unsettling. It was a contradiction to how he felt. "Ever since I was a child, ever since I could remember, I've had this thing, this presence inside of me that protects me. Well, it stops me from doing stupid things, from attacking people. Whenever I'm in danger, it assesses whether I should attack or not. It stops me from hurting or killing anyone."

Jale looked like he was struggling. His only weakness: an inability to hide his emotions from his face as he looked like he was a man following the path of a sceptic turning into a believer. And even in his disbelief and confusion, he was still sharp-minded. "And what about now? Your eyes, your presence," and he emphasized those words harshly, "have not glowed to stop you from attacking me!"

"It's giving me the ability to attack right now if I want to," Teal said quietly.

Without knowing it was possible, the sword became even more rigid in Jale's hands.

"But I don't want to hurt you! Really! I think it was just trying to find out whether your intentions were good or not." Teal dared to edge closer on his knees until the blade tip rested on his chest. "I knew I had some underlying fears of your real intentions for me. It usually knows people motives immediately. Maybe it was being extra careful with you."

Jale didn't even look offended. "So, when I ordered Ladet to put that blade on your throat back at Cleaven Estate, you were being warned off from attacking?"

"Yes,” Teal confirmed straight away. “Because the presence knew it was a bluff. Although, from the way you had me bound and guarded, I don't think I would have been able to do much even if I had tried.” Teal paused, taking a breath. “I don't want to hurt you, Jale. Not when you gave me pleasure in the way you just did," he added the last part to try and lighten the mood.

Jale ignored the comment. "Does it do anything else?" he asked.

Teal nodded. "There are some other things but mostly it keeps me in line, so to speak. It’s not controlling me right now, but I won't hurt you."

Jale scoffed. "But if the legends are true, you would be too strong and too fast for me if I tried."

Teal shrugged. "I probably would be, but I wouldn't be quick enough to kill the guards at your back as well."

For a long cold hard minute, Jale stared him down allowing the blade of the sword to dig into his flesh. Teal looked down, and his eyes landed on the evidence of Jale on his skin.

"Do you still trust me?" Teal asked.

Jale didn't answer, his next words suddenly so out of context it took Teal a moment to catch up. "We need you, Teal," he said, his voice so earnest it caused Teal to freeze. "More than ever, we need you."

Teal frowned. "Need me for what?"

Jale tossed the sword aside, and it clattered on the stone ground. "We just need you. That is enough of an explanation for now. Does this presence have a name or are we to just call it the Presence?"

Teal's tense shoulders relaxed, and he dropped back onto his haunches. "I've never given it a name."

"The Presence will do," Jale sighed.

Teal reached out and braved to touch Jale's arm. "And just so you know, you have me, Jale. Whatever you need from me, you can have. I'll do whatever you or the Emperor want."

"I hope so," Jale said, his tone showing his usual calm manner was reasserting itself. "Tell me more about this Presence you have," he ordered. "The truth this time, Teal. All of it. Don't lie, don't keep anything back."

"Okay," Teal agreed.

They settled on the bed, their backs leaning against the bed-board with the guards standing a short distance unwilling to move since their little misunderstanding.

Teal started to talk explaining how he first became aware of the Presence when he was younger. Jale listened closely and started to ask questions, drilling Teal for more and more information. They talked for a long time until Teal's stomach dared to rumble.

"We should eat," Jale informed him.

"That would be wonderful," Teal said.

Jale started to hop off the bed, but he stoppd and turned back to face Teal. He leaned over and cupped Teal’s head with his hand.

“Thank you for telling me,” he said. He leaned in and brought his lips to Teal’s.

Kissing Jale was profound and intoxicating, in a way that was completely different to kissing the Emperor. It was a sideways shift, on the same level of power and authority almost, the same level of experience. There was an extra edge to Jale's actions though that reminded Teal of someone who had allowed himself to take a step back for many years in the name of the Emperor. A man who was very sure of what he wanted and how he wanted it, and Teal strongly believed Jale would let him know exactly what that was. Obeying Jale's every whim and having Jale's complete approval, gave him a sense he would be accepted into the harem, although Teal had never felt that he needed Jale's acceptance do so before. Teal had no doubt in his mind he would stay working for the Emperor indefinitely. It was funny though, this connection with Jale had never been a stated prerequisite.

>>

Jale saw Emperor Rathner enter his tower from the corner of his eye. It was mid-morning, and he must have deemed he had given Jale and Teal enough time to have enjoyed each other's company in the early morning as well if they had so desired. Neither had left the Emperor's private chamber so the Emperor would have taken it as a sign that everything had gone well.

Jale stayed at his table waiting. They smiled when they looked at each other, and the Emperor leaned down and kissed Jale hard and long on the lips. He picked up a piece of bread from Jale's plate as he pulled away, took a bite and sat down on the chair next to Jale. Jale watched the Emperor’s eyes fall onto Teal only a short distance away. He was peacefully asleep in his bed with a thin sheet covering the lower half of his body.

Jale also admired the view. Teal’s naked back was brown and smooth in the morning light, and his thick, wild bed hair with its signature streaks covered the features of his face. He could see Teal’s chest raising steadily, a sign of someone in a deep slumber. It was a beautiful sight.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" the Emperor asked.

"Very much so." Jale frowned slightly, his eyes falling on Teal. "Very exciting being with someone else."

The Emperor chuckled. "I told you it would be."

Jale nodded in agreement. "He was more innocent than he has led us to believe. I kept it very simple. I didn't want to push him but he was willing, very willing."

"Good, I'm glad that you both took pleasure from last night."

"I think so." Jale leaned over the table. "It appears that Teal did not tell us everything about his Lombock self."

The Emperor's light-hearted expression fell away. "Why?" he asked, his tone serious. "Are you all right? Did he do something to you?"

"No, nothing like that," Jale said, and he began to fill the Emperor in on Teal's omission regarding his eyes and the Presence within. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he asked. "Do you think these legends could possibly hold some truth?"

"It's looking more and more that way, but there are discrepancies in The Lost Seas Sagas. I want to hear his thoughts on what Captain Fretner had to say," the Emperor told him thoughtfully.

As if on cue, Teal began to stir. He lifted his head, ran a hand through his hair and twisted to see both the Emperor and Jale watching him.

"I didn't mean to sleep so late." He gazed quickly at the sky trying to assess just how late it was.

"It's not a problem, Teal. It's still quite early," the Emperor stated. "Come join us and break your fast."

Teal eyed the table the Emperor and Jale were sitting at and went to climb out of the bed. He stopped.

"Still so shy," Jale said shaking his head as Teal twisted and turned on the mattress most likely looking for his shorts.

He pointed to a chair near the end of the bed. Teal sighed, and he rose to retrieve them. Jale couldn’t pry his eyes away until Teal sat at the table with them.

"Early yesterday morning I jumped ahead a few pages in The Lost Seas Sagas and saw the Lombock race mentioned," the Emperor told Teal. "I thought it was best if Jale was here as well while you read."

Teal sat up straight. "You've already read it, haven't you?" he asked. “There hasn’t been anything about the Lombock race yet. Have you come across something?”

"I love how smart he is," the Emperor said quietly, his eye narrowing in Teal's direction. "Yes, I have and I think the three of us should discuss it."

A servant suddenly placed the book in front of Teal.

The Emperor nodded and when he spoke, his tone was serious. "You may start."

Jale gave Teal an encouraging smile before Teal ducked his head and started to read.