"Are you ready for this?" Torin asked.
Tight-lipped I hissed back in reply, "What kind of a question is that? Do you want to die?"
"No, I'd rather very much live, especially now. That said, if I do die I know I'll be alright."
His voice, though his words were spoken low, was calm and glancing at him I saw the clear evidence of his faith in what he had said. I did not understand this man!
At times he struck me as the gentlest of souls and then at others as the most courageous of men. Glancing about trepidatiously, as we made our way into the Royal Hall, upon all those gathered to surely what would be our funeral, I pondered on what it could be that gave my man so much courage in this moment, when I only felt fear that each breath I took would be my last.
We were halfway across the length of the Hall and so far we had not been stopped and yet that meant nothing. I had seen trusted friends of my father slain upon the footsteps of my father's throne before and I was but to him as a discarded daughter and of lesser value than any of them had been.
The imagery of my head, leaving my body and rolling on the floor was not a pleasant one. Softer voiced than before I asked, "What gives you so much courage? I fear what comes after life. Why don't you fear death?"
Torin's hand squeezed mine warmly, indeed the presence of his hand entwined with mine was the only source of comfort I had upon entering this place. He spoke, "My God gives me strength. As to dying, I do not fear it for to die is to be with my Savior, the Man who made it possible for me to live forever with my God. Now you on the other hand do not have the same security as I do and so I understand your fear even as without my beliefs realized as your own you have no hope of an eternal future that is good or worth dying for."
I glanced at him and asked, "You think your God is so much more powerful than my gods?"
"I do Haquara, but do not let my words convince you alone. See for yourself what my God will do in order to fulfill His will."
"And what is His will?"
"Among other things to set my people that you have here in bondage free. Claiming you as my wife, I also attribute to Him."
"How is that?" I asked curiously.
"God gives good things to those who seek Him as He is a good Father and a wife is a very good thing."
Glancing ahead toward the angry glowering visage of my father, I felt emotion rise up within me as I more to myself asked, "You think I'm something good? Something your God would reward you with on account of your faith?"
"Yes, very much so." He affirmed squeezing my hand warmly. I glanced away from my father to him only to see his earnest gaze focused upon me and not on any of the several hundred officials in this room or the menacing royal guards prepared to descend upon us and cut us to pieces.
"Haquara you are a very good thing. One of the best to ever occur in my life. Later I look forward to speaking with you more about all this, but for now watch and don't let go of my hand."
Feeling emotions well up from deep within I nodded as I met the gaze of the most fearless man I had ever met. He smiled and tremulously I returned it as the presence of something more powerful than him hung about him as if it was a sheltering cloak and in turn I felt my own spirit bolstered as well.
Strangely, at this moment I wished that we were both back in my room making love and at the same time experiencing the emotional connection we were right now in the light of facing death. I glanced forward and saw my father angrily lift his hand.
It was done. My life was over.
I closed my eyes and yet my feet kept pace with Torin's as I mentally tried to prepare for what it would be like to be dead soon. I heard the scuffle of the royal guards in their approach and I flinched as I imagined their sharp bladed swords falling upon my unprotected skin.
The sound of something akin to glass shattering echoed loudly all around us and startled by it, I opened my eyes to witness the shock of the palace guards as they gazed down upon the sand sized particle pieces of their shattered swords that littered the bright marble squares of the Royal Hall. Speechless for words I stared as my man led me on past the scene of a miracle only to come to the base of my father's royal dais and stop.
My brother was in attendance and the look upon his face was that of a scared bunny. My father's face was more watchful, as if he was weighing his options.
I glanced to Torin and beheld a man of steadfast focus. Was this amazing man really my husband?
Despite the moment and all he must be thinking of he gave me a direct glance and of all things a wink! Could he read my thoughts that easily? His look remained enigmatic as he turned his head back to view my father who had risen up off his throne.
Sternly my father called down to us, "What is the meaning of this magic? Why are you with this slave Haquara?"
Strangely, I didn't even think of speaking on behalf of myself, but instead I waited for Torin as somehow I knew he would answer for me. This was very different for me, but I found that I didn't mind at all.
"She walks with me as my wife in whom I am very pleased. She is strong, beautiful, and entirely noble of heart, truly if she represented who your people were at heart, I feel that this meeting would be one of peace instead of the provoked hostility that you have pressed upon us from the outset."
"Silver words slave man, take heed lest I cut out your tongue!"
"I shall speak only what my God commands of me and in this I state plainly, you are to let all of your slaves go and remove all the false idols from your land or you will be destroyed even as your temple was last night. Your entire civilization will collapse and never be restored, if you do not heed the commandments of my God."
Torin had spoken calmly, but my father's apoplectic reaction to a calmly said prediction of the future had me wondering just how much my father's failing heart could stand.
"You presume to tell me what shall come to pass in my kingdom!!! Who do you think you are Ar'morian Prince, of a puny upstart of a colony, to speak to me ruler of all of the Empire of Ticonga? Our army stands at over a 100,000 strong and there is not an enemy or obstacle too hard for us to crush! We will crush you once and for all! I had planned to take slaves of you, but now in three days' time we will march in force and I will kill every man, woman, and child that we find of your people and of any who have given you aid! You have my word on this!" My father sputtered out at the last as spent of all energy he collapsed back down onto his throne.
Torin glanced around at those of the court who seemed to have already forgotten the miracle of the shattered swords as they now snickered among themselves, even as my brother had managed to regain his usual smirk of dignified disdain. I on the other hand was trembling.
I felt power. Power beyond any known to man. Torin's hand seemed to burn mine with the power I felt coursing through him and yet it was just warm to the touch in the physical.
I feared greatly for my people. My father's words were unconscionable, and in some way I now believed in the words of my husband when he'd said that his God was far stronger than any of my father's gods could ever hope to be.
In mute fear I waited for judgment to fall. Torin spoke, "You boast that in three days that you will go forth to a great slaughter of my people. I tell you now plainly that there is only one God, and He commands the days and all that shall occur in them. You have said that in three days you will go forth, but I tell you the judgment of my God has been passed on your hard heartedness this day! Your judgment is that this day has become Ticonga's last day!"
Immediately as Torin spoke the abundant light of the sun spilling into the Great Hall through its many windows was diffused to that of only the faintest of glows. Tears streamed down my face as I heard both the pronouncement and the evidence of the end of my people.
As one all those within the Hall rushed to the windows tripping over each other in the darkness. Hastily a few guards went about lighting some torches and light was reintroduced to the Hall.
Torin and I stood there seemingly alone in the turmoil of everyone's worst nightmare. A finger wiped at the tears on my cheek and without a word I stepped into the willing enclosure of my husband's arms.
Here I felt peace, but elsewhere everything was chaos of the highest order. People finally started pulling themselves from their panicked arguments and the view of the darkness that had fallen over all the lands of the Sand People of Ticonga to silently gaze upon Torin with dread.
Outside a great cloud had appeared that had utterly blocked our view of the sun and yet in the far distance the light of the sun could still be seen as it continued to shine down upon the lands beyond the limits of the Empire. At long last I heard my father's voice break the silence that had descended upon the Hall, "What is the meaning of this plague of darkness?"
Torin's voice spoke out from beside my head and respectfully, I moved back to his side as he answered, "It is a plague suitable for the elevated pride of your people. You have in your pursuit of worldly greatness as a people lost all that makes one wealthy as a human. You oppress others of your own kind harshly to do your work for you and you have no humility or love for others not of your people. Indeed, you have turned upon your own in the act of standing by while a Princess of your people was offered to those who say they are gods but are not. This night of darkness shall continue as long as there is one slave left oppressed and as long as one idol yet remains in this land. These are the words of my God and the proof of His judgment you will bear as long as you wish to hold onto your pride. If you require my presence I shall be with my wife in her chambers."
That said Torin turned to go and once more I walked with him hand-in-hand. Nearing the end of the Hall a guard stepped forward and offered a torched to Torin, which he took and thanked the guard with gratitude for.
The guard withdrew respectfully and looking around at the faces of those visible I beheld the universal bewilderment on their faces as to what to do. It was as if they were all wishful of wanting to wake up from a bad dream when the reality of their cure was right before them.
Shaking my head mournfully I wished for a reality of where my people were better than what they were. Instead of repenting and doing as ordered everyone in the room out of a desire to continue worshiping a sun god that had been blocked out by of all things a cloud, as well as not having to do their own manual labor would continue on in his darkness for who knew how long.
My gaze caught sight of something skulking in the shadows. It was Horgan and upon me seeing him, he bared his sharp teeth, but then with abruptness his mouth clamped shut and he was gone from view.
I turned my head and beheld Torin gazing off after where Horgan had been. Speaking softly I asked, "Will you teach me of your God for truly I believe He exists and not only that, but that He is greater than all."
Torin smiled warmly and said, "It would be my pleasure Haquara."
As we stepped free of the Hall and made our way back to my quarters located in a far off wing of the grand palace Torin told me of his God and of God's Son Jesus and even of the Holy Spirit. It was a lot to take in as the beliefs of the Ar'morians were strictly forbidden from being discussed by any of Ticonga's populace.
Now, though I put together the pieces of a puzzle that I had always wondered about. The faith of the slaves had always seemed more sincere than that of the lewd and bloody debaucheries practiced by my people, but I had thought their faith meaningless, just the same as their God had never intervened to free them from the life of being a slave, but now He had and He had done so in a way that cast all doubt aside.
We were at my quarters and hurriedly I out stepped Torin into them. Going quickly to an alcove in the room, I seized a hold of the carved statues of ivory inlaid with gold. Carrying them quickly across the room I headed for my balcony.
The cold objects within my arms felt loathsome to the touch and with eagerness I pitched them over the railing of my balcony. I went back into my room and commenced pulling out, even ripping off anything I felt tied in with my false ungodly past.
I don't know how many trips to the balcony I made, but at long last I felt like my room was clean and the feeling of freedom I felt was intense. It was like a depressive influence had been lifted from off my life and I sucked down each breath as if experiencing life anew.
I'd been leaning over my railing in the darkness, as if I could see the smashed remains of my idols, but I straightened up as the conscious reality that I wasn't alone re-occurred to me. Looking back, I saw Torin standing there just inside the room.
Laughing softly I brushed a beaded strand of hair away from my face. Still laughing, I shrugged and asked, "Why am I laughing? You must think I'm crazy."
Shaking his head, he said, "No."
"Well, what are you thinking?" I asked playfully.
"I'm thinking that I want to hear your laugh for the best part of the next 100 years."
Smiling, I went to him and looping my arms around his neck I kissed him. I kissed him like I'd never imagined kissing a man.
Pulling back completely out of breath I felt another laugh bubble up out of me. Torin laughed in response and I said, "I can't help it!"
"Did I say to stop?" He queried.
"No, but I... hmm.... I might have a solution." I said melodramatically.
His eyebrow lifting as his whole face smiled with amusement as he asked, "What's your solution?"
I kissed him again. Feeling wanton I bit his lower lip and held onto it with my teeth for a moment before I let it pull free.
I gave him a smile with all the erotic sensuality I was coming to feel for him and watched with delight as the look of happy interest faded from off his face to be replaced by one of sensual desire for me. I had his attention and keeping it, I slid down to my knees before him and undid his pants.
His manhood was already swollen to the full and with desire I said, as I closed my hand around the thick base of his shaft, "My solution is that I should fill my mouth with something."
I let my lips slide over the head of his shaft and with intent to pleasure him I swabbed my tongue aggressively about him even as I heard my reward in the sound of a deep groan followed by an unsteady stance as I sought to fill my mouth to the full with this amazing man. I took in all of him that I could without gagging and I stayed there a moment as I forcefully breathed in his musky male scent.
The scent of him made me crave to have him and the thickness of his length made me ache to feel him. Sucking hard I pulled my lips back up his shaft until he popped free of my mouth.
He stood there braced for pleasure and smiling I got up off the floor. He was breathing heavy and his shaft was huge.
With a lightness of spirit I'd never felt before I backed away even as I motioned for him to follow. He did and with a grin I turned away and with a few simple movements my dress was undone and slipping off me to the floor.
The bed was before me and I did not hesitate, but brought my knee up onto it and advanced upon it until he had plenty of room. I leaned forward onto my hands and then my elbows even as I arched my back down and spread my legs apart for him.
The bed moved and then he was powerfully there behind me. His shaft was poised within the folds of my womanhood even as his hands stroked down over my hips in a possessive fashion that I now adored.
Glancing back as his hands gripped down on my waist I smiled at him as I took in the heavy look of sheer lust he had directed upon the sight of my rear displayed before him. I felt like a new woman since he had tried to take me this way this morning and with a breathy exclamation of surprised pleasure I felt him plunge deep.
I pressed my face into the bed and moaned as his shaft drove into me again and again. His grip on my hips was intense and I hung onto the bed and pushed back into his dominating strokes that made me pulse alive with desire.
Something snapped and I seized up inside tightly as his plunging shaft forced a way in through the tightness of my orgasm. Screaming I pushed back against him all the harder while begging for him to take me harder.
He did and I came again at the exact moment he cried out and shoved wildly into me through the height of his orgasm as he bathed my insides with his seed. I collapsed beneath him and he followed only to hold himself up on his elbows in order to avoid from crushing me. He was ever the considerate man.
Smiling against the coverlet I huffed out, "I'm really sorry about this morning. I..."
"Shhhhh." He shushed into my ear before then wetly kissing the sensitive spot behind my ear.
Still smiling I said, "I like being your wife."
"Are you sure?"
His voice had a serious tone to it and finding energy from somewhere I turned over so that we were face-to-face. Puzzled, I asked, "What do you mean?"
He gestured to the outside with a shake of his head, "I've brought ruin to your people."
Nodding slightly I said, "Yes, you have, but they deserve it. I don't fault you in any way for what is happening. We did this and we should be punished. I just hope that some good will come out of this for my people." I said, at the last as sudden tears threatened, as the noise of everyone going crazy outside registered for the first time to me since we had started making love.
Framing my face with his hands he whispered, "So do I Honey." He kissed me then and it was an exchange of love.
We kissed, just kissed and then we snuggled and kissed some more, and then as the light of the solitary torch in the room flickered brightly he spread my thighs apart and used his mouth to pleasure me in an endless buffet of pleasure that had me screaming until my voice grew hoarse and I begged for him to stop. He did stop, only to fill me again with his shaft.
His desire for me seemed endless and helpless to resist I lay a willing vessel to his possession as he surged forcefully to yet another climax in me. Covered in sweat, we clung to each other, until with a groan, he pulled free of me and lay over onto his back on the bed that not one cover remained upon.
I nestled into his side and lay my head against his shoulder. I was exhausted and yet I couldn't get enough of this man.
My hand moved down to where his manhood now rested in the curly mat of his pubic hairs. I adored this part of my man. To me his shaft was beautiful and it felt wonderful to my touch even in its relaxed state.
The curly hairs of his groin were soaked with our combined juices, but instead of being repulsed by the feel of wetness I only felt more connected with him. Idly I cupped my hand lovingly around his balls and that was how I went to sleep.