Sands Of Time

Chapter Four

The Maganacs

That first night was awkward. Too late for an extra bed to be brought in, and unable for a pallet to sleep on the floor (ants and mosquito's were the main woes in Kum and *no-one* slept on the floor. The legs of all the beds set in basins of water to deter the ants, and nets and foul smelling jars of lotions and rubs deterred the flying insects), Trowa had to sleep in the rather large bed with Quatre.

It was a fairly common practice, especially amongst the poor, but Quatre had never slept with anyone but family- and Duo and Heero, at a few Inns along their way (but they didn't count, Quatre reasoned. Duo practically *was* family already). But for Trowa, it was awkward for another reason entirely.

Along his own journey, as a slave, he'd encountered several children and older men that the traders had referred to as 'bum boys'. It didn't take Trowa long to discover why these pretty ones were so much more well kept than others. Several traders had been interested in *him* for this kind of work. And Trowa had fought tooth and nail to ensure that no-one wanted a hellion such as him for their bed. And, at twenty-two, he was much too old by most preferences, so he'd been spared that route in life.

Trowa knew deep inside that this Quatre was different, and probably wasn't into the practice as others were. And Trowa was free now, and could refuse if Quatre propositioned him. But Trowa didn't want to find out. He didn't want to be in that position to *have* to refuse.

As it turned out, Trowa needn't have worried, for Quatre kept as far away as possible in the bed. By morning, though, the edges had grown uncomfortable, and they'd both moved in their sleep to the more comfortable center of the bed. His first thought was very negative towards Quatre when Trowa awoke first to feel a warm body snuggled up next to his. But his second thoughts canceled that, because his second thought was in noticing that it was *his* own arms wrapped around Quatre. That is was *his* leg tossed carelessly over Quatre's.

He un-wound himself and scrambled from the bed before Quatre could wake, horrified. Before he'd been a slave, he'd shared beds with others. His family had been poor, and owned only one bed for the four of them, and after, during his travels, he'd still been relatively poor and had ended up having to share a bed more often than not. But he'd never woken up *cuddling* someone. Even on the occasion he'd bedded a woman... he'd never awoke wrapped around them. He'd been afraid that Quatre would proposition him. Foolish, when here the exact opposite was true! Horrified, he wondered if, he'd not been a slave himself.... would he have been one of the traders, using pretty little boys?

The day went by smoothly, and the next. Quatre brought more clothes for Trowa... clothes that fit properly. They'd found a motherly trader's wife to cut Trowa's hair to a more respectable length; the back now clean cut, the front falling over his face and hiding his eyes... much the same as it had before his life as a slave. And Quatre had explained to Kushrenada the situation in between bartering and exchanges of their mercantile goods.

A bed never was able to be found, so the next night, and the next, Trowa spent restlessly, not wanting to wake up wrapped around the petite blond again. He remained silent throughout the days, and found an odd sort of companionship with Heero, whom he learned had been in his exact situation, and as confused then as Trowa was now. He got on well with Duo, who reminded him of his own sister... wherever she may be now. And Quatre- well, with Quatre things were... different. The blond was friendly and kind, and Trowa found himself speaking to him more and more; an odd, wary friendship blossomed between them. There was something about the other that was unlike any other merchant or noble that Trowa'd ever encountered.

But Trowa was still afraid. Oh, he trusted Quatre- so far there was nothing the blond had done to be distrusting of. Trowa was afraid of himself, of the new and un-familiar feelings inside him.

Like Heero, he busied himself with small tasks, taking care of the horses, playing guard, and often simply shadowing his 'master'. Despite himself, Trowa found himself enjoying the routine. Mornings were often spent following the merchant and apprentice as they went about their business- which Trowa didn't even try to understand. Trading one hundred of these things, for fifty of those, just in turn to trade them for seventy-five of something else and so on. Often, things would be bought and sold before Trowa had a chance to blink.

It was unusual for him, but interesting sometimes to see his little 'savior' bartering and arguing with older merchants; most of the time, Quatre left smiling- having got what he wanted. Trowa questioned Heero about it, waiting outside a tent while Quatre and Kushrenada, with a little translation help from Duo, were inside haggling over some spice or other.

Heero shrugged. "Duo does what he does because he likes it. He's getting paid to talk- which is what he does best," he added with a grin. "But Quatre... I'm never sure of. He enjoys this.... but I don't think it's what he's meant to do. Like Duo and traveling... Only, Quatre's yet to find his destiny."

On their third day there, a messenger arrived around noon to tell them that the Maganac caravan would be leaving at first light and to give them the location of the caravan's departure. So Duo and Quatre made all their goodbyes to Kushrenada's group.

As the evening progressed, Quatre stopped Trowa just after dinner, inside of the tent they'd been sharing.

"I'm going tomorrow with the Arab's," the blond said. "You can accompany us, or you can stay in Kum for a while longer. I can arrange for Master Kushrenada to take you back as far as Venice- it will be easy for you to reach France from there." At Trowa's narrowed gaze, he smiled. "You are French, then. You speak it, and you have the looks. I just wasn't sure. So, it is up to you. I can arrange for you to work for my father, if needs be. Anything you like."

"Which would you prefer I do?" Trowa asked, after a moment's thought.

Quatre blushed scarlet and backed up, eyes wary. "I've told you... you're free. I *am not* your master, and I don't want to be."

"I didn't ask what you would *command* me do," Trowa returned. "But questioned what you would *prefere* I do."

Quatre swallowed, looking at this new side to Trowa. What would he prefer Trowa do? It would be best for Trowa to work his way back to civilization with Kushrenada, earn enough money by working in Venice to afford his way to France- to his family. That was the sensible thing. But the sensible thing and what Quatre wanted were two different things.

"I'd like for you to come with us," he said softly, eyes lowered. "It will be a strange land for me, and strange people. As far as I know, I'll only know Duo and Heero. It would be nice to know someone else. I will not have a slave, but I will *pay* you for whatever you consent to do; I could use another friend on this journey. I know my father expects me to return soon, after visiting family in Arabia, but I will travel on through China, and then it will be even harder going. Heero doesn't accept many people, but he seems to get on well with you, as does Duo. I think it would be easier... more interesting, more fun... if you traveled with us. It would be most sensible for you to return to your own family... but I would like for you to come." Truth be known, he felt some odd kinship with this former-slave. A man that towered over him, yet seemed as meek as the mice of the field; a man that was a newly freed slave, and yet still walked with the bearings of a prince. He couldn't explain it, only that he *knew* he wanted this man to stay close, for a little while longer at least.

Trowa nodded. "Then I'll come with you."

Quatre looked startled. "But... what about your family? Shouldn't you go back?"

Trowa shrugged. "I left them many years ago. My parents are dead... my sister probably married and with children by now. They have no need of me. You need me... and yet you set me free. In five years of slavery... no-one's shown me that much kindness. I'll come with you, when you leave."

Realizing he was pressing Fate, Quatre nodded. It also occured to him that this was the most Trowa's spoken in a single day. He settled for simply smiling up at his new friend.

"Okay."

Quatre had truly thought he'd be traveling into unknown lands with people he didn't know. But how surprised he was when he saw that dark skinned, hulking Arab at the lead of the caravan.

"Rashid!"

A small smirk played across the Arab's lips at the enthusiasm of the petite blond bouncing up to him.

"Master Winner. It's been awhile, has it not?"

"Ages," Quatre replied in Arabic. "How is Abdul? Is Auda recovered from that horrible knife wound?"

Rashid laughed heartily. "Thanks to you, my friend, my family is safe and whole."

"I had no idea I'd be traveling with you. You never mentioned the name Maganac before."

Rashid shrugged. "It never occurred to us. But now, you will travel with us! You will be a Maganac. My brother!"

Quatre laughed as Duo looked on with a queer look on his face.

"No-one'd ever believe we were kin!" He turned to his three onlookers... the brown-haired Duo, the blue-eyed Heero, and the green-eyed Trowa. "Duo... This is Rashid Kurama. Remember, I told you about the scuffle on that ferry? These are them!" Turning back to Rashid, he smiled brilliantly.

"Well, then. Shall we head out? We've got so much to talk about you and I."

"First, why don't you introduce me to your companions, Master Winner? We have a long journey ahead of us... plenty of time to talk."

"Oh, of course. Rashid, this is Duo Maxwell originally from Trieste- an interpreter of many, many languages. His traveling companion, Heero Yuy, well versed in Market Latin and fluent in several of the oriental languages, with some Arabic. They've come with me since Venice, and I've traveled with them to Verona once before. And Trowa Barton, of course," he added with a bright smile.

"Trowa? I believe the letter we received said only two companions traveled with you, Master Quatre."

"Trowa's a recent addition," Quatre explained. "He only just joined us a few days past. It's a rather odd story, but he will be coming with us."

Rashid Kurama just smiled knowingly, and waved at his caravan.

"Then come, friends of Quatre. Let us be off."