Chapter 3 (Rod's POV)
It has officially been a year since the Gul and I have been named the kings of our cities. Since, then our economies have flourished. The people are richer than ever.
Gul and I have met numerous times over the past year. From our discussions, we've decided that it would be best if we kept the laws of both of our cities the same. When I first came to power, Thebeult thought it would be a good idea if the people gave me a sort of "tribute" as a way of showing me their love. The act almost ruined the economy of Lycka due to merchants having to raise the price of meat. I wasn't using the meat anyway. I decided to give it to Gul as a way of showing him my love.
I tried to hint at him that I was in love with him. I don't think he caught on. Since I first met him years ago when we were still training, I began to lust for him. I try to drop hints at all of our meetings, but he doesn't pick up on them at all. It probably wouldn't be logical for us to mate. It was once brought up at our meetings that we could possibly merge the two cities with both of us as king but it wouldn't be logical since we both value different things and we might argue over certain things that would contradict the other one.
This didn't stop me from lusting for him. Our son could be the sole king of both. It we wouldn't have to argue about laws. This will probably never happen though. I still have no idea how he feels about me.
Tonight we are having a banquet. It will be a way of celebrating our success. It will just be Gul, me, and our fathers. Thebeult and Gul's Head of Steves will also be attending.
I walk into the dining room and check to see how things are going over. Banaltra is busy decorating the place. The table is decorated with red tulips and dandelions inside clay pots. Red and yellow banners are placed above the windows. Beautiful paintings are scattered around the walls. A gigantic chandelier made of oak wood fences and torches hangs over the table.
"This is beautiful!" I tell Banaltra.
"Anything for my king," he replies as he bows.
"You've been a great help over the year," I tell him. "Why don't you join us for dinner tonight?"
"I couldn't possibly do that! It would be a disgrace to the nobility to have a Shudra sit at the same table as them."
"I'm sure Gul won't mind. He's a very kind man."
I look out the window and notice that it's almost sundown. Gul should be arriving at any minute. I run out of the kitchen and out the palace doors so that I can personal greet him. As I get out there, I see men on horses out in the distance. A black Sheepman wearing yellow boots is on a lead beside him. They finally approach the palace.
"It's good to see you," I smile at him.
"It's good to see you, too" he smiles back. He and the other people I invited hop off their horses.
"This is my personal servant, Laura," he tells me, showing me the Sheepman he has on a lead. "Would you mind at all if he eats with us? He's been a tremendous help and I couldn't have gotten anywhere without him."
"I wouldn't mind at all. In fact, my personal servant will be joining us tonight as well."
Laura bows. "It is an honor, King Rod."
"It's no problem, Laura."
We all walk into the dining room. Gul and I each sit on opposite sides of the table. We are all famished. Banaltra brings out a bunch of cooked steak and divides it out among us. Throughout dinner, I constantly drop hints, and maybe it's just my imagination, but I think he does too. I have to know. We're colleagues so even if he doesn't love me, I can still see him. It will be torture, but I have to make a move. I have to find out if he loves me.
"Gul, would you like to take a walk around town?" I ask him.
Thebeult immediately stands up. "I don't think it would be a good idea, your majesty. You—or King Gul—might get hurt."
"We'll be fine, Thebeult," Gul says. "We can have my guards, who are waiting outside, watch over us."
"How many?" Thebeult asks.
"Two."
"Too little."
"We can just go out to the balcony then." I suggest.
"That would be fine with me." Thebeult agrees. Since I become king, he's been very stubborn. He never wants to compromise and always wants to do things his way.
Gul and I go up to my bedroom and out towards the balcony. The sun has already fallen and the moon is high up in the sky. We stand there for a few seconds looking at the stars. I finally break the ice.
"Have you ever thought about having a mate?" I ask him.
"Maybe," he says. "It would be nice to have a little bit of comfort during the night."
"The palace gets pretty lonely," I pause. "Doesn't it?"
"Very."
"I think it would be a lovely experience."
His stomach grows. He rubs it. "I'm still kind of hungry."
"Let me go get some wheat." I walk into my bedroom and get some bushels of wheat out of my chest. I have dreamed about this experience forever. I can't believe I'd planned it like this.
I walk back onto the balcony.
"Here." I toss him the wheat. Hearts appear above his head. I know it now. He wants it.
I eat my wheat too. Hearts appear above my head. When two Sheepman are in love mode, they mate with the closet Sheepman in sight. Nothing can stop them.
We rush towards each other. Our bodies are close and we kiss. I black out for a second. The next thing I know, a baby orange Sheepman is standing at my feet.