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“You can trust him Esmal," Srei reassured. “Zysh and Sisbul have been close since they were children. He's nearly as old as the steward and served Srrket his whole life. He is a good person." Srei sat beside him, holding Esmal's hand in their bed. He tried to not bring their encounter with Zysh up, but he could not help the fear pricking at him. Eventually, Srei noticed it, too.

“I do not want to talk about my father with him."

She squeezed his hand. “Then don't. If Zysh invites you to tea or some other retreat, I can go with you, alright? But I promise you he means nothing wrong by it."

“You know him well?"

“He is practically our second steward. Every reptile knows him. Even the wyverns in the mountains admire him."

Esmal blinked. “Right, why have I not seen any wyverns yet?"

“Because you haven't left this palace, silly. They don't travel to the valley except for certain festivals, and they're nocturnal so you won't see them flying about during the day."

Esmal grimaced. “Suppose I should be getting out more."

“We can change that today, if you would like."

“I would love that."

“Oh! I can take you to the library!"

Esmal frowned. “Library?"

“It is where I stayed when I first arrived here. It would also be helpful to start teaching you how to read and write in Srrketch."

“Makes sense."

“Excellent," Srei kissed his cheek and sprung from the bed. They had both slept in for rather obvious reasons, and the morning had dragged nearly to noon. “I will go see what is left over in the palace kitchens, and after we eat we can go."

***

Srei was eager for Esmal to meet Behesh and see this side of her life. The Srrket Library had a vast repository of scrolls, some dating back two millennia. Though rarer scrolls like that were kept in a vault, copies existed for present readers. The mention of wyverns reminded Srei of the library, and she was eager to surprise Esmal with what the building kept.

It was one of the larger adobe structures in the capital: three floors counting the basement, with ramps instead of stairs connecting each level. Shelves arranged in aisles with scrolls sorted by topic, author, and date written lined the walls of all three floors while tables for reading dotted the middle of rooms. Esmal, now dressed, drew some looks as he and Srei made their way through the streets to the library. It was a rather unassuming property with its windows shuttered. They stopped at the entrance where some wilting plants sat along a garden row.

“Oh, I always forget to water these," Srei said.

“Why you?"

“You will see," Srei pulled Esmal through the doorway. “The librarian does not like to go out much."

The inside of the library was incredibly dim. Srei took a chamberstick by the door and lit it at a torch before they walked into the dark. The first floor had an overlook that peered into the basement where they saw some other reptiles reading by candlelight.

“Why is it so dark?" Esmal asked.

Srei shushed him. “Where are your manners?" she whispered.

Esmal said, “Sorry, but that does not answer my—"

“There he is." Srei spotted a hulking silhouette on the basement floor. “Come on, I want to introduce you."

Esmal complained at being tugged along, but indulged her. They went down a ramp at the far right end of the room and wove around a few shelves and tables until they reached an unoccupied end of the library. Esmal nearly stopped when he could tell the hulking shape they headed to was living.

Srei called out in a whisper, “Behesh!"

She had gotten close enough to illuminate dark green scales of something with a broad back. Wrapped in his long, finned tail were scrolls in their casings that he was likely returning. He was, at least, seven feet tall and twenty feet long. Yet the wyvern somehow managed to accommodate himself in the dark library. His torn wings fanned out as he walked along the floor. Srei had known him as long as she lived in Srrket and had never seen Behesh try to fly in that time.

“Ah," Behesh turned around, pulling his tail close so he did not bump it against anything. “Little Srei. I was wondering when you might come by, and is that Esmal?" His nostrils flared as he scented the air. “I see you have resolved his fears for him."

Esmal, mastery of Srrketch still incomplete, could only half understand them. He stood stunned at the wyvern who towered over both of them.

“We are," Srei said, taking Esmal's hand. “Though Esmal is still best at talking in Savish."

“You mean you've not whipped his tongue into shape yet?"

Srei laughed. “He is getting there, I promise you."

Behesh grumbled a little, but bowed his head to Esmal and spoke in Savish, “An honor to meet you, prince. You might be the second—no, no, third human I have ever met."

Srei bumped Esmal with her tail to remind him of his manners. He bowed and said, “An honor to meet you, um…"

“Behesh."

“Behesh," Esmal finished, “I am Prince Esmal."

“I wanted him to meet you because he had never met a wyvern before," Srei said.

Behesh chuckled, which nearly sounded like a growl in the back of his throat. He told Esmal, “Well, you won't find a poorer excuse of one in all of Srrket."

“Behesh! You are wonderful," Srei chided.

“Hmmhmm, I am not saying I am bad, little one. I am just saying I am not much of a wyvern these days. I barely remember what flight feels like," Behesh told them both. “Now, if you two are done with introductions, I must be on my way. Let me know if you need anything, little Srei."

“Thank you, Behesh. It is good to see you."

“Yes yes, take care and whatnot."

Behesh went on his way, sidling sideways into an aisle of bookcases. Esmal whispered once he was far enough away, “He seems… gruff."

“He is a very sweet person. When I first came here he helped teach me Srrketch and let me live with him."

“Ah," Esmal was silent a moment, then, “Have you two ever—"

“Oh no, wyverns are different than other reptiles," Srei said, as she began to walk back to the first floor. “Come, there are some scrolls meant to help teach our alphabet."

Esmal followed and asked, “How are wyverns different?"

“Well, unlike us, they mate for life."

“Oh," they walked in silence a moment before Esmal added, “Given the state of his wings and his opinion about himself, I can gather something went wrong with his life."

Srei sighed. “He does not speak of it. Sisbul and his consorts have offered to heal his wings, but he chooses to live here instead. He lost his mate in some accident during a storm, lost his wings as well."

“Ah, my condolences then."

“He is…" Srei stopped at the ramp to the first floor, searching for the words. “Finding comfort in a new life. But the library is kept dim for him—this is his home."

“I see." Esmal embraced her from behind, hugging her close. “I can tell his grief weighs on you."

Srei squeezed Esmal's wrist with her freehand. “He is a dear friend. And I know whatever happiness he finds here is lacking. I wish I could do more for him."

“Well, why don't we come here every day?" Esmal suggested. He turned Srei around and smiled down at her. “We can do our language lessons here, and in the meantime you'll be able to see your friend and water his plants."

Srei beamed. “You… thank you, Esmal. I would love that."

They exchanged a quick kiss. Srei told him, “Let's get started, then. You will need mastery of Srrketch if you ever hope to put Sisbul's magic lessons to use."

***

Esmal spent the rest of the day at the library with Srei. They broke from their lessons only to water the grounds and fetch food. Since reptiles lived in such a communal fashion, much of the food in the city was doled out at various eateries. The more time Esmal spent outside in the city, the more he noticed the lizards at leisure. They might work a craft or trade, but there were no market stalls hawking goods to any passerby. No one seemed concerned with wealth or exchanging it. The valley seemed replete with all the resources it needed for its people, and while they might trade in goods, no one seemed to go without food or shelter or companionship.

Srei had told Esmal all of this, across their different lessons, but to see it made it real. To see it flushed him with envy: a life lived simply, no desire to expand, accumulate, hoard, or spend as they did in his empire. It left Esmal quiet on the walk back to the library. Srei brought it up as they passed back into the library's dark.

“Is something on your mind?" she asked.

“Sorry."

“No, no, it's fine. It's just—"

“You like knowing what I'm thinking."

“Yes," Srei said with a bashful chuckle. Neither needed to add how silences between them could still leave her nervous.

As they walked up the ramp to the third floor, Esmal said, “Life just seems so simple here."

She, fortunately, understood. “I had a hard time adjusting to that when I arrived as well."

“I prefer it, I think," Esmal said quietly. “It can feel fantastical, to imagine how different my life would be if raised here."

“Not with your father?"

“Not just that. Without the demands of being heir to an Empire. My days were strictly scheduled, all my life. All so I might be the best heir, the best general, the best warrior. Most of my life I thought these things were necessary, and, thanks to my father no doubt, I convinced myself most things not related to bettering myself or serving Savish was a waste of time."

Srei took his hand and squeezed it as they approached a table at the back of the third floor. “I understand. Being a slave, most of my life I thought of as just surviving until my next moment of privacy."

“Shkhanna's slit, there I go again—bemoaning my plight while you—"

“It's okay, Esmal." They stood at the table where they had left the scrolls for their lessons, Srei now facing him. She lifted his knuckles and kissed each one, before saying, “I did not share that to say I had it worse or to silence you. I wanted to know I see you. You have your pain, things you wish to heal from. We can do that work together."

Esmal embraced her, fingers on her warm, pliable scales gripped tight. They hugged for several silent moments, him quivering and feeling silly. He knew it there since the day they met, but every time she gave him permission to let down his guard reminded him how important Srei was to him.

“Thank you, Srei," he whispered and kissed her brow.

A throat clearing caught both their attention. They let each other go, facing Behesh who had managed to sneak up on them both. “You two are still here then?" He stood next to a large, curtained doorway into an old storage room converted into his living space where he slept during the daytime.

Srei smiled and told the wyvern. “Yes. And we will be here probably every day, at least until Esmal has some mastery over Srrketch."

Behesh walked over to their table. “How much progress has he made?"

Esmal decided to sit at the scrolls they studied over. “I am still figuring out conjugations."

“Ah, well, it is a tongue with no known kinship to yours. You must be patient with yourself, even little Srei here took some time before we spoke Srrketch regularly."

“I was impressed she knew so much at such a young age," Esmal said.

“She is a little prodigy, isn't she?"

Esmal noticed Srei had gotten shy. Her tail wriggled and she said, “Will you two give it a rest?"

Behesh chuckled. “You could not ask for a better teacher, Prince Esmal."

Esmal grabbed her hand as she sat with him. “Every day she gives me something new to be grateful for."

Srei nudged him with her thigh, then said, “Well, if you two are done embarrassing me, I wanted to let you know we took care of your plants, Behesh."

The wyvern grinned and bobbed his head in acknowledgement. It only occurred, as they held this longer conversation, that Behesh was nearly big enough to swallow Srei whole. Once, Esmal might have been terrified to meet him. He wondered what it must have been like for Srei to have met this gentle wyvern, a stranger among her people, and find a home here with him. They carried a clear rapport in their exchange, and something else in the way Srei looked at Behesh when he spoke.

It dawned on Esmal it was the same gentle smile she gave him in their everyday conversations.

“I must go and make sure there are no scrolls to return or reptiles looking for help," Behesh said. He dipped his head to Esmal, “Prince, I am sure I will see you and Srei around." As the wyvern passed, Srei touched his tail with hers in an intentional brush of scales.

When he was gone, Esmal could not help but ask, “You love him, don't you?"

Srei winced. “Is it still that obvious?"

“I am not sure, does he know?"

Srei glanced at the doorway to Behesh's rooms. “I used to sleep with him. He knows. He knew before I did." Srei hugged her arms over her chest. “Before I even came to terms with my feelings he told me he could not be with me and to not wait on him."

“Shkhanna's slit." Esmal wrapped an arm around her shoulder and hugged her close. “I'm so sorry, Srei."

“It is okay—"

“But I almost did the exact same thing to you. Did that to you for a month, I'm sorry."

Srei reached up and caressed his cheek. “I appreciate you." She laughed wryly and shook her head. “Perhaps I have a type."

“It's okay, Srei. I'm glad I met him, glad we can give you the chance to stay close."

“You're not jealous?"

Esmal considered this. He admitted, “Perhaps a little, but I think I am jealous that you and he share years of knowing each other when we have known each other for such a short amount of time. I wish more of my life had been spent with you, is all."

Srei burrowed into him. “My sweet prince."

“Do you ever think he will share his feelings with you?"

“I do not know. I have read about how wyverns form bonds, but the way he speaks of it makes me wonder if it is even possible for him to form another one."

Esmal kissed her brow. “Well dear, we have nothing but time to figure these things out."

***

They left the library near sunset, Esmal walking hand in hand with Srei back to the palace. When they reached the entry gates, they found a tall, broad lizard waiting for them. He had a sunny orange complexion to his scales and a broad face. A pair of drake-like horns curved backwards behind his brow, and a tuft of white hair like Tezz's ran down his spine and tail. Unlike most lizards, he wore a loincloth and a sword was belted at his side.

He stepped in front of the gate and pointed a finger at Esmal. “You that human prince?" He spoke in Srrketch.

Srei leaned over and whispered in Savish, “That is Zairshkhane. He is Sisbul's marshal commander."

Zairsh was a foot taller than Esmal, bigger than any lizard he had seen before. He had a rounded gut, but the rest of his body was packed with muscle. He scowled and asked, “You are, aren't you?"

“I am," Esmal said.

Srei translated what Zairsh said next, “Sisbul told me I'm going to teach you how to fight. We start early tomorrow, meet me here just after dawn or I'll drag you out of your rooms."

With that, Zairsh strode brusquely past.

Esmal studied the lizard's broad back as it caught the setting sunlight. “He seems nice."

“I hear he can hold his own against the steward in battle."

Esmal shrugged. “I suppose I will see for myself."

“Are you worried?"

“If there's one thing I learned growing up in Savish, it was dealing with men like him."

“I can be there with you if you like."

Esmal nodded. “I'd appreciate that, at least until I know a bit more Srrketch." He bumped her with his hip. “You don't need to take care of me all the time, though."

“You say that."

“I mean it!"

***

“You have never been up here before, yes?" Sisbul asked as Esmal followed him up a spiraling ramp to the palace rooftop.

“I do have to go through your rooms to get there."

“And that is a problem?"

The honest answer was Esmal worried what he might find upon entering. However, he told Sisbul, “I do not want to disturb your space."

“It is as much mine as my consorts, as any visitors. Why, you could make it your rooms if you wished."

Esmal had seen the steward's room. It was a chamber large as the banquet hall, wrapped around the shaft in the pyramid that led down to the baths. Aside from a cushion filled depression nearly the size of a small pond that acted as Sisbul's bed, altars, desks, tables, and some statues populated the room with several kinds of overgrown bright green plants. Along one wall of the room, Esmal also spotted several string instruments hanging in a row.

Esmal joked, “And would you take my rooms if I took yours?"

“Who said I would leave?"

“Um… is that, uh, an invitation?"

Sisbul chuckled. “One extended to all the people in Srrket. You saw how I shared my body with my servants on the road."

“For better or worse," Esmal grumbled. He walked just behind the naga's torso, to the right of his long length. When he glanced up he could see Sisbul's handsome profile, and struggled not to trip over himself. It frustrated him just how attractive he thought Sisbul was but how little that news seemed to matter to anyone.

“I think we both know it was for the better," Sisbul said. They reached the trapdoor to the roof, and Sisbul stopped to face Esmal, “How are you and Srei doing?"

Esmal said, “It is going well."

“Just well?"

Esmal scowled. “Did you want to know about our fucking?"

“I can tell by the smell radiating off of you how that is going."

“I…" Esmal scoffed, then asked, “Is it really that bad?"

“We bathe so often for a reason, prince. Though the smell of lizard musk has its appeals, other reptiles will think you prefer smelling like that if you are not careful."

Esmal blushed. The thing was, he did enjoy smelling like their sex. He liked being reminded of everything he and Srei did together and would likely do again and again. Even if he didn't, Srei enjoyed coating him in her seed and musk too much for him to stop her.

“Heh, there is nothing to be embarrassed about, Esmal."

Esmal mumbled, “Srei likes it, it thrills her in a way that…"

“Makes you feel desirable," Sisbul finished for him.

A memory of the night before. Srei's nostrils flared against his neck before she exhaled and growled huskily, “Everyone will know you are my slut." It was humiliating and filthy—he felt the cum drying all over his skin as she said it. But it felt undeniably good, too.

Flustered and aroused, Esmal could not meet Sisbul's gaze until a finger slid under his chin and tilted his head up. The serpent had this sultry smile that made Esmal's chest flutter. Sisbul leaned down and whispered in Esmal's ear, “I must admit, I do find you more desirable like—" his forked tongue flicked out, stroking Esmal's earlobe— “this." He leaned back and said, “If you wanted to not parade around in Srei's musk, I can offer my own alternative."

Esmal struggled to compose himself. “Y-you mean we—"

Sisbul's laughed heartily. “If you want that you need only to ask, prince. No, I just meant I have various oils, tinctures, and perfumes that will help mask that scent. How else do you think we kept from smelling like a traveling bower while we crossed the desert?"

Esmal's brain was still trying to recover from the feeling of Sisbul's tongue stroking his earlobe. He said, slowly, “Uh… the desert's, um, natural fragrance?"

Sisbul laughed so hard Esmal eventually saw tears running down the naga's cheeks. It gave the prince the time to recover, to realize that Sisbul had just been teasing him with his little flirtation. It left Esmal somewhat frustrated—Esmal did not just want to fuck Sisbul.

Well, he did, but that was beside the point.

Sisbul opened the trapdoor. “Come Esmal, I promise the view will be worth my teasing." The roof of the pyramid circled round the open hole in the pyramid's center. Below it, the baths waited over a hundred feet down. Surrounding the roof was a low wall with more greenery along with benches to rest at, and what Esmal would later learn was a telescope in one corner. Walking out onto the rooftop, the mountains in the west cradled the last vestiges of sunlight. It threw half the valley into shadow, while the other half the sun lit in a fiery sheen. In the light, Sisbul's scales glowed, and, as the naga gestured across the valley, Esmal was taken by the suppleness of his scales, the bands of muscle in his arms and chest, the way his body caught the light in several ways at once.

“Isn't it a beautiful sight?"

Sisbul had turned from Esmal to look over the eastern half of the valley, so he did not know Esmal stared at him when the prince said, “It certainly is…"

“There is a seat over here. We will talk while enjoying the valley's splendor."

Esmal followed Sisbul around the open roof to the northeast corner. “Can I not sit on your coils instead?" Esmal asked without realizing what he really asked for: a chance to casually touch the steward again.

Sisbul said, “If you would like, I am happy to let you. I just did not want to remind you of the unpleasantness that happened last time."

Esmal remembered. That violation made him stop in his tracks. They both knew it wrong, but Esmal now understood without that pain he might still be obstinately hiding away in his rooms. He might not have woke with his arms wrapped around Srei this morning.

Sisbul noticed he stopped and turned his head. “Is something wrong, Esmal?"

“I trust you, Sisbul."

Sisbul was silent for a moment, studying him, then, “That means a great deal to me, Esmal. Thank you."

Sisbul arranged himself comfortably so Esmal might sit on the naga's body. Esmal rested his hands on Sisbul's scales: each one about the size of his thumbnail. Smooth, pliable and warm. Sisbul always felt pleasantly warm. Esmal imagined it must be incredibly relaxing to sleep cuddled up to the steward…

“You are probably wondering why I asked we meet here of all places," Sisbul said.

“Uh, yes." Esmal had not at all been thinking about that, but he played along.

“It is a good spot for understanding our first lesson: where magic comes from."

“I believe you said it came from Shkhanna."

“Partially, but Shkhanna's powers lie dormant without a firm connection to the land and all that lives with it. The things I might do with my magic depend on a concrete sense of what I am asking for from the land."

Sisbul let Esmal consider this. He eventually said, “When you made me that cane to help me go find Srei, what did you ask for?"

“Balance, more or less."

“Balance?" Esmal frowned. “Not cane or—"

“We are part of the land. I envisioned an object to help you restore balance to you and Srei's relationship. The land understands you needed help being righted."

Esmal touched the rock wall he sat next to. “So this is living?"

“In a sense."

“In a sense how?"

Sisbul told him, “It is something you might not grasp until you can speak Srrketch fluently."

“That is not much of an answer."

Sisbul gestured in the direction of Esmal's empire. “Savish makes objects out of things Srrketch makes living. You would say 'The sky is cloudy today' where we would say 'Sky is gloomy today.' Sky is another person, another kin, not a the. Imagine if I said the Esmal is gloomy, hmm? Not only does it sound silly, it creates distance between us."

Esmal's brow furrowed. “So… because Srrketch speaks about the world differently, it taps into magic."

“Yes, but only when your will and your words are aligned and you have access to Shkhanna's power. Her power grants you the ability to reshape things, your will lets you direct her power, and your words are how you get the land to respond to your will."

“So it sounds like I cannot learn a thing about magic until I master Srrketch."

“It is a necessary component," Sisbul said.

Esmal glanced over the valley. “Then I guess our lesson is done?"

“Do you wish it to be over?"

Esmal touched Sisbul's scales—still warm. He wondered if the naga felt every little part of his body, if Esmal's touch actually counted for something. He asked, “Is there anything else?" Sisbul's face caught the light just so, black scales lit in color while the underside of his jaw took on violet tones of night. “I would like to enjoy the view a little longer," Esmal added.

“There is one thing I might show you. It is why I called you here at this hour."

“What is it?"

“A spell—not the simple magic you have seen me perform, but something complex."

“Alright," Esmal hesitated. “Do you need me to do anything?"

“Simply observe," Sisbul said. The naga closed his eyes and relaxed—a breeze worked across the pyramid as Sisbul just breathed. In the silence, Esmal became aware of the king's smell again. A musky bloom with floral undertones. The longer they remained silent, the more Esmal had to admire the Sisbul. He had seen his power and rage, but Sisbul also showed a gentleness Esmal did not know most men in his life to have, and he'd given so much charity to Esmal, despite how they met and despite how Esmal reacted to Sisbul, Srrket, and its ways when he first arrived. A month ago he considered this a curse, Sisbul's patience and generosity helped him understand his time here as a blessing. He wondered, briefly, if anyone but Srei and Sisbul would have put up with him for as long, would have tried as hard. It felt foreign to know someone just wanted Esmal to be nurtured so he might thrive for his own sake. He had not known that feeling till he came here. Both Sisbul and Srei had shown that to Esmal.

Shkhanna's slit, did that mean he was in love with Sisbul, too?

Sisbul's voice snapped Esmal from his reverie. The naga was making some sort of incantation, but the words flowed together musically. Syllables teased off each other, words rhymed, and it occurred to Esmal, as the spell went on, that Sisbul recited poetry.

And around them both, a cloud began to condense, and inside it came visions of the valley. Esmal saw roads they previously traveled, reptiles in their homes, the caves of wyverns in the mountains, the sun not from where they stood but overlooking it from the mountains it set behind. In a matter of moments, Esmal felt he saw the whole valley even as he remained enraptured by Sisbul's recitation.

When it ended, the cloud dissipated, and Esmal slumped against the wall next to him. His mouth hung open a little as he watched Sisbul come to. The naga gave him a warm smile. “Would you like to know what that was?"

Esmal nodded. “It was incredible."

“It is the steward's dusk song. Every day I retreat here to recite this spell. It allows me, in a moment's notice, to commune with the land and know if anything is amiss or wrong in Srrket."

Esmal stood, “But it was poetry you were speaking, wasn't it?"

“Why, yes it was." Sisbul's tongue flicked a moment. “I must admit, I did not expect you to pick up on that."

Esmal blushed. “Yes, well, perhaps you underestimate me and what my interests are."

“Hehe, I am glad to know you enjoyed it."

Yearnings to be closer to the naga welled up in Esmal's chest. In Sisbul's expression was a soft affection Esmal longed to stoke, to receive. He licked his lips and turned to looking out over the valley. “I will need to master Srrketch just to know what that poem was."

A hand rested on Esmal's shoulder. Sisbul had moved next to him and offered, “There is a way for you to understand it now."

Without really thinking about it, Esmal put his hand over Sisbul's. The naga's nearly dwarfed his. Esmal put together what Sisbul suggested. “You mean put me under a trance."

Sisbul said, “Of course, you have my word that I will only—"

“I already told you I trust you, Sisbul."

The naga squeezed his shoulder. “Ah, it heartens me to hear it again."

Esmal smiled. “Go ahead."

Sisbul cupped Esmal's cheek and leaned close. Esmal still felt a pinch of nerves, but they dissipated as a violet glow lit Sisbul's eyes. Those familiar tongues of flame poured out his tear ducts, and Esmal's whole body went slack. Sisbul's coils worked around Esmal, helping the prince stay upright. He realized Sisbul now surrounded him, but he felt no fear, only those eyes. The steward, quietly, intimately, began to speak:

Sun I sing your rays away

For night's arms reach to embrace me,

and long the valley today

held your splendor, but now sun see

Moon needs too my love, so soft

their lips to mine do meet, soft I

I long to keep them aloft

with poetry as wyverns cry

from their caves till night is full

of their chorus; my love's a song

for all—oh sun, hear my call

I love you but my loves are long,

I go to them, till dawn rest,

Till then stay tucked between my breast.

When the poem finished, their mouths were mere breaths away. Esmal, wanted, so badly to kiss the snake, but remained frozen in place. Sisbul, too, seemed locked in their trance in a way he had not before. Until suddenly, the naga looked away. The coils helping Esmal stand quickly unraveled from him, and he felt himself being led to a bench to sit.

Sisbul, meanwhile, was speaking quickly, “I apologize if it felt as if I was trying to court you. I should have mentioned the poem in question was a love poem—not directed at anyone of course but—"

“It was… beautiful."

Sisbul froze, having sat Esmal on the bench, the two studied each other a moment. Sisbul cupped Esmal's cheek, and the prince leaned into the touch. Some inner turmoil worked behind Sisbul's eyes—then he leaned forward. Esmal's whole jolted awake when the naga's lips met his. He shuddered, leaning in only for Sisbul to dart back.

The naga still seemed very disturbed. He shook his head. “I am sorry, that was very untoward of me. I-I must go. I need to reflect on some things."

Still recovering from being in a trance, Esmal could do nothing more than watch Sisbul leave.

***

“Is everything alright, love?" Zysh asked Sisbul as he approached. Sisbul sensed him coming, but remained focused on the problem at hand.

Zysh had found him in the gardens where moonlit trees cast long shadow across both snakes. Sisbul faced his counterpart and said, “Good to see you, Zysh."

“You are not one for lonely sojourns to the gardens at night."

“I know… I am troubled by something and I am just trying to accept what it is."

Zysh slithered towards him, gently touching their coils together. Then he was at Sisbul's side, familiar fingers gently squeezing down the right side of Sisbul's hood to help soothe the cobra. Zysh whispered, “What is it?"

“My magic lessons with Esmal went well, but he asked—wanted, really—for me to put him in a trance so he could understand Dusk Song."

“I thought he disliked being in a trance?"

“It seems he has forgiven me for my previous transgressions," Sisbul said. Zysh had moved from the right side to the left side of Sisbul's hood. Repeating the tender gesture. Those touches comforted and made talking easier. “As soon as we went into trance I felt his desire for me."

Zysh gave him a wry smile. “Well, you are desirable, steward. I hate to tell you, but most in Srrket feel the same."

Sisbul grabbed his hand. “It was different, complicated and muddy and… and his affections for me are much deeper than I thought they were."

“So you are upset because our prince fancies you?"

“It is not just that. While I recited the poem, Shkhanna gave me a vision. I was not tapping my powers, but it came nonetheless."

Zysh went a little stiff. “What did you see?"

Just what did he see? That was why Sisbul came here. He did not want to face Esmal until he figured it out. He did not know if he was even supposed to tell Esmal. What if foreknowledge changed everything?

Sisbul said, “Esmal was a tree standing alone among sand dunes. Or rather, there was a tree there I knew to be Esmal. It was withered and rotten and I had come to try and nurse it back to health, and as I tended to it, not with magic but simple water and trimming, a vulture circled overhead. It eclipsed the sun a moment, then the tree's roots ripped up from the sands like a burrowed serpent striking its prey. I was pulled under by the roots, into the sand, and in the dark I saw Esmal with bloody wings split from his back."

Zysh quietly asked, “Was that it?"

“He told me we were each other's future and the vision ended."

Zysh hugged him. “Thank you for sharing this."

“Of course, you are my other half Zysh."

“And you are mine," Zysh backed away, still holding Sisbul's shoulders, “But what is it you fear?"

“It seems the two of us are linked by a fate I do not yet understand, but the violence in the vision has me afraid for both of us."

“The empire, and his father."

“Yes."

Zysh sighed, glanced down a row of trees before he said, “We always knew we were gambling a lot on this boy. If we cannot convince him to wrest control from Imad—if he does not have the strength to—"

“We will face it when the time comes. For now, we can do nothing but remain on our current course. Perhaps my life will end with Esmal's five years from now, or perhaps it will not," Sisbul said.

“Or perhaps yours and his are just beginning," Zysh suggested.

Sisbul thought of the hasty kiss he gave Esmal. An embarrassingly childish thing to do. At the time he thought he needed to feel the prince's lips, like that intimacy might bring clarity. It only made him a fool.

Zysh asked, “What did you do with Esmal afterwards?"

“I left him on the roof," Sisbul said, “Hopefully he has returned to his rooms by now. I would very much like to sleep."

Zysh took his hand. “Come, let us go check, and if not I will drive him away for you."

“My brave protector."

“I always will be, my love."

***

Esmal's strange encounter with Sisbul became stranger. The steward became noticeably distant afterwards. He stopped meeting with Sisbul regularly, and encounters with him in the palace were colder than before. Sisbul told him to work on his mastery of Srrketch then return once he felt fluent in it. In some ways, it felt like a bewildering rejection.

Esmal told Srei what happened, but she was just as baffled. She probed Tezz who, after their romp in Esmal's rooms, kept in touch with her, but the drake offered little. He told them both Sisbul was trying to understand a vision Shkhanna gave him, and it was taking all his attention at the moment. The excuse held up. As the weeks wore on, Esmal noticed Zysh had taken the steward's place in court.

Esmal did not lack things to do. Zairsh always took Esmal to train soon as dawn struck. Their training consisted mostly of sparring, and Zairsh's skill was undeniable. Esmal carried a continual catalogue of bruises that testified to how often he failed to keep up. Esmal's tutor remained gruff with him but had extended a begrudging respect for his resilience.

After training in the mornings, Esmal got breakfast with Srei and, assuming they did not become distracted with each other, they spent the rest of their days in the city. Most of that time centered on the library, but Esmal had also gotten to see more of Srrket: plays, street performances, craftsmen at work, pipe dens, children playing sports in the street. And reptiles at work—not like workers in Savish—here the pace felt leisurely. As if everyone knew what work needed to be done, and no one worried about doing any more than that.

Soon enough, Esmal's mastery of Srrketch was enough he could go out into the city unaccompanied by Srei. At the library, Behesh began to only speak Srrketch to him. By then, six weeks had passed since his magic lesson with Sisbul. The naga's absence during all that time had hurt, and Esmal's feelings for the steward had cooled because of it. Still, he felt thriving. When he woke in the mornings with Srei tucked to his chest, he could not imagine a better way to live.

This morning he woke in a sweat. The monsoon season had begun to creep into the valley, and while the rains had not yet arrived, the humidity injected into the air made the nights less cool. Esmal kissed Srei on the brow before he began to slide his arm out from under her. She groaned and scooted closer to him. “Mmm, you smell good," Srei mumbled, half-asleep.

Esmal hugged her close, letting her get more of his scent before letting her go again. “I can't keep Zairsh waiting."

Srei huffed and burrowed into his hairy chest. “He's not let you sleep in once since he started training you. It's not fair."

“You just want me to stay in bed with you."

“And? Is that too much to ask?" Srei pouted.

Esmal chuckled. “My poor Srei."

Srei pushed away from his chest and scowled playfully up at him. “Yes! We're not at war—you can skip a day."

“But I like doing this, love."

Srei rolled her eyes. “And I like sitting on your face, but I don't do that every morning."

Esmal grinned. “Like I could stop you if you tried."

Srei stroked Esmal's chin with a claw. “The reason I don't, love, is there is just so much to do with this pretty face." They kissed, Srei's mouth warm and sour with a night's sleep. Still, Esmal's chest began to stir while the little lizard bit Esmal's bottom lip and he shuddered. He needed to muster all his will to push her away.

“Alright, alright! If I don't stop Zairsh is going to come up here and find you on top of me."

Srei's sultry smile almost made Esmal not care. “It wouldn't be the first time."

But Esmal got up, cock half hard as he began to put on clothes. Srei snuggled into the spot Esmal had been lying. She ran her tail up and down the sheets, a thing she did when content. Once dressed, he leaned over and kissed her before leaving to let her sleep in.

On the northern end of the palace grounds was an open square in the gardens. It served as the meeting places for festivals and otherwise remained untouched. Zairsh liked to use it as their sparring ground. Next to it was a stand of old, tarnished weapons of every shape. Zairsh sat on a bench beside the stand, smoking a wooden pipe stuffed with a dried herb native to the mountains.

The lizard grumbled as Esmal approached. He said, “You are late."

Dawn's light had not fully filled out the valley yet. Esmal told him, “You don't even seem ready, old timer."

“Hmmf," Zairsh blew smoke out his nostrils. “Well, if that's the case, why don't you do a lap around the gardens for me?"

“You're joking."

Zairsh glared at him and slapped his tail against the ground. “Get to it boy."

Esmal pursed his lips but did not argue. Their lessons also included physical fitness, so this was not something unheard of Esmal. Jogging around the palace grounds would take Esmal some time. He did not try to hurry his pace, careful to let this exercise warm and wake his body. Not that he needed much warming in the humidity. He began sweating before he made a third of the way through the route. He kept things steady, circling around until he reached the south side of the palace and saw a figure loping towards the gates and back into the city.

Esmal stopped and called out, hesitation ringing his voice, “Behesh?"

The great, green wyvern stopped and turned his head back over his shoulder. In the morning light, Esmal saw his horns actually had a waxy yellow color instead of the brown he originally assumed. Behesh dipped his head in acknowledgement as Esmal approached him. “Ah, Esmal, I did not expect you to be up at this hour."

“You're out of your library," Esmal said. He stopped beside the wyvern, arms akimbo and catching his breath.

“And you seem to be exerting yourself far too much."

Esmal wiped sweat from his brow. “This is nothing." He tried to still his panting. “I'm training with Zairsh."

“Hmm, the hybrid, right?"

“Hybrid?"

“He is Tezz's son. Sisbul does not keep his consort on a tight leash and he's sired many children. Zairsh is his eldest."

Esmal glanced back at the palace. “That explains the horns…" then he asked, “But what are you doing out?"

Behesh scratched his snout with the claw of his winged hand. “Bathing, my boy. Even a sad shut in like me shouldn't stink."

“I see," Esmal said. “So you go at this time because—"

“The baths are mostly deserted, yes. And the palace baths are really the only ones big enough in the city. There are lakes in the mountains that wyverns fly to and use, but, well, that trip would be quite inconvenient for me to make."

Esmal reached out and touched his side. “Understandable. I should not keep Zairsh waiting. It was good to see you."

Behesh bowed his head again. “A pleasure."

When Esmal returned, Zairsh had finished smoking. The older lizard said, “You took your time."

“Sorry, I ran into a friend," Esmal said. “I did not realize you were—" Zairsh tossed Esmal a sword and the prince scrambled to catch it.

“Less talking, more chopping," Zairsh said while he picked an axe off the rack. It was heavy enough Esmal needed to wield it with two hands, but Zairsh hefted it as easily with one as Esmal did his sword. “You want to know how to kill Sisbul right?"

Esmal flinched out of the stance he was about to take. “Who told you that?"

Zairsh lunged at him. He closed their distance in a moment and Esmal backpedaled to dodge his swing. Even blunted the weapon would have smashed his ribs like an egg with the force of Zairsh's blow. Esmal held his sword in front of him. It was a straight edge blade Zairsh likely got east of Srrket. Most reptile weapons had curved edges.

Esmal said, “It is what my father wants me to learn."

“Father, huh?" Zairsh came at him with vertical chop, Esmal struck the blade away, stepping to the left at the same time. It opened up the lizard's side, but as Esmal readied his thrust, Zairsh snapped towards him with his teeth. Esmal yelped and fell on his rump to avoid getting bitten. Zairsh had a drake's sharp, carnivorous fangs. He scrambled backwards onto his feet.

The lizard took a few more swings at Esmal, driving him back until he paused to ask, “What about you?"

Esmal paused, catching his breath a moment. He said, “No."

“You fight for the steward?"

Esmal hesitated. Zairsh came bulling forward. Esmal cursed, wishing for a shield. Zairsh kept his axe drawn close, going for an underhanded swing that Esmal deflected, but his whole arm numbly stung from the effort. Before he might even react beyond that, Zairsh grabbed him by the throat with his free hand. Esmal coughed and was lifted off the ground.

“No, you don't fight for Sisbul," Zairsh answered for him.

Esmal stomped his boot down on the lizard's face, using the blow to push himself out of Zairsh's grip. The prince's throat burned as he got back into his footing. Zairsh had taken a step backwards. Esmal knew it to be a moment of charity when the lizard could have pressed the attack.

Zairsh asked, “What do you fight for?"

Esmal felt an answer come to him, but it still felt… wrong. Incomplete.

“You don't know," Zairsh answered for him.

“I fight for my freedom," Esmal snapped. “What is this about?"

“Lately your mind wanders when we train," Zairsh told him. Esmal scowled but did not argue that fact. He had sensed it, too. His first few weeks training with Zairsh he expected magic to be added to it, expected to be working out actively how he might strike his own path away from his father when the time came. Instead, Sisbul had practically abandoned him, and Esmal lost the one mentor he thought might help him find his way.

“Even now, hmm? I see the clouds over your eyes, boy."

Esmal charged Zairsh. He slashed at Zairsh's left, unarmed side, but the lizard stepped into his guard and caught Esmal's wrist like it was a tossed ball. “Sloppy," he hissed. Zairsh spun and hurled Esmal by his wrist. The prince careened several feet through the air, rolling hard across the ground till he landed on his back, groaning and dazed.

He heard Zairsh's heavy tread approach him. The lizard knelt beside Esmal. “You need goals, boy. A focus. If you can't focus you are wasting both our times."

He rose and turned to leave, but Esmal grabbed his ankle. “Wait—fuck, a second." He sat up, his shoulder and side aching from where he landed on them. Talking through pain-grit teeth, “You are right—but I still want this."

Zairsh responded with a barking laugh. “Shkhanna's slit, boy! You enjoy getting your ass beat?"

With some effort, Esmal got to his feet before he said, “Maybe." He tried to smile but it came out more a grimace. “Sisbul seems to have shunned me. It…" Esmal searched for the words, “discourages me. But I still want your help."

Zairsh grunted, the hint of a smile at the edge of his lips. He nodded and said, “I see your honesty. We will continue, but you must give me all of your attention or I will kill you." Zairsh said it not as a threat but as a matter of fact.

Esmal admired his honesty. “You will have it."

“Good, grab your sword. We will run drills before fighting again."

***

Sisbul watched two figures sparring out in the grounds. The sun had come up and Sisbul sat at the northward facing windows of his rooms. Tezz nudged the naga's arm with his head. Sisbul stroked his snout affectionately but did not turn away from the window.

“Watching those two go at it again?"

“Your son is merciless towards our prince."

Tezz sat down beside Sisbul. “Zairsh got his manners from the lizards in his family."

“Hmm, and his size from you." Sisbul idly ran his fingers through the soft hairs running down the back of Tezz's neck. Tezz quietly purred as the morning continued to brighten. Out in the grounds, the smaller of the figures managed to land a blow.

“Hmm," Tezz said. “He has never done that before, has he?"

“No, we've not seen it at least."

Tezz yawned and leaned into Sisbul's side, head resting just below the naga's shoulder. “You know, I've not cared much for this new morning ritual of yours."

“Bored?"

“Lately Zysh heads to the library every morning and you pine for a human you refuse to talk to. You. The incarnation of Shkhanna."

Sisbul grunted. Despite landing a blow on Zairsh, Esmal still barely held his own. “I do not feel any more ready to confront that vision, Tezz. It is not the human, but the goddess inside me I am afraid of."

“You think she fancies the human?" Tezz chuckled. “Her tastes are as mysterious as her visions, then."

Sisbul laughed. “You know what I mean."

“I suppose I do. I feel her shudder in me, too, when he is near."

“You feel her anger."

They both watched the two figures fighting a moment longer. “Have you thought about killing him?"

Sisbul's tongue flicked out. On the air he tasted his and his consorts lovemaking from the previous night. How could his connection to his consorts be so strong but this one with Esmal all wrong? Granted, it was with a human and Sisbul did it as one part of an intricate gamble. Tezz and Zysh he made connections to after great amounts of consideration and time spent with them.

“I've considered it," Sisbul said. “But if my future is his and I kill him, am I dooming our people?"

“Hmm, maybe when Shkhanna said his future is yours she meant you will switch bodies with him."

“Tezz!"

“What?" Tezz gave him a haughty look, “You're bandying about ridiculous fantasies."

“I… you're right. I'm not going to kill him." Sisbul looked back out the window. Zairsh had finally disarmed Esmal. “But I can't shake the anger I feel from Shkhanna when watching him like this."

Tezz grunted. Quietly, he asked, “Have you considered her anger is towards you?"

Sisbul had not. After a long moment of silence, he muttered, “Huh…"

“None of us felt this before you started avoiding him. Perhaps she understands much as you do that we need his help to stop Savish from overrunning and razing our home," Tezz said. “Oh, it looks like they're finished. Thank Shkhanna." The drake stepped away from the window and asked, “Would you like to get breakfast together, love?"

Sisbul stared out the window. Shkhanna had not started expressing her anger until after Sisbul started distancing himself. Of course he was the cause of her displeasure. Sisbul faced the drake and told him, “Yes, I would like that, and afterwards I would like you to send a dinner invitation to our prince."

***

Esmal ached all over, but it was a good ache. Pain that showed progress to something. He sat under the branches of an orange tree with Zairsh beside him. Esmal had his eyes shut, panting while soreness worked through his senses.

Zairsh had lit his pipe again. The lizard took a puff of it then purred. Whatever he smoked had a floral, nutty scent. The lizard offered the pipe to Esmal. “Here, a reward for fighting well today."

“Thanks," Esmal reluctantly took the pipe. “What does this stuff do?"

“Eases the pain, gives you strength. It will fill you with warmth."

Esmal was drenched in sweat. He said, “It's hot enough as it is," but he took a hit from the pipe. The acrid smoke blossomed down his lungs before he released a breath. He coughed, once, but shook it off and handed the pipe back to Zairsh.

“Huh, you handle dungweed better than most first timers."

“Dungweed?"

“It is a weed grown in wyvern shit in the mountains. It's Srrket's finest delicacy."

Esmal nearly wretched. “Forgive me if I do not take another hit of it."

“Hmmhmm, your frail human body won't need more than one."

“What does that—" Esmal stopped as his cheeks and chest flushed with a buzzing warmth. An irresistible smile spread across his face. Esmal felt silly not being able to control it. He fought back a giggle. “O-oh."

Zairsh started laughing at him. Esmal laughed, too, until the big lizard clapped him on the back. Still, for once it did not hurt too much to be hit by Zairsh.

“You see?"

“I see," Esmal said. His senses felt a little… brighter. He noticed a smell under the pipe-smoke and sweat he had not before. Esmal reached over and touched Zairsh's round, but firm gut. The scales carried just the lightest touch of moisture.

“Having trouble telling what's real? This stuff really is too strong for you!" Zairsh laughed again.

Esmal shook his head. “No, I just didn't notice… you sweat?"

Zairsh took another hit; smoke fled through his nostrils before he said, “Yes. Something I get for being half drake."

“Right… your father is Tezz."

“Mmm, so he is. More my sire than father."

Esmal couldn't keep his hands to himself. He touched the orange lizard's side. A little more fat here before another wall of firm muscle. Scales slick with sweat and smooth to touch. While half his mind was split on touching his unphased instructor, the other half asked, “He did not raise you?"

Zairsh grumbled. “We drakes are, hmm, bandits. We go in and plunder something then leave the way we came. I was raised by my mother's family—though, I am special." Zairsh slapped his stomach. “The spawn of drakes end up drakes, regardless who the mother is. Even my hatchlings have. Guess my mother happened to be made of tougher stuff than most."

Esmal stopped touching him—brain finally realizing how inappropriate it was when he nearly reached to cup Zairsh's round, left pec. The initial buzz of pleasure had started to fade, but his body still tingled with heat all over. It smoothed out the edges of his aches.

“You have kids?" Esmal asked.

“About ten or so. Most in the valley, but some scattered through the lands west of here when I was a traveling mercenary."

Esmal gawked. He asked, “How old are you, Zairsh?" Esmal knew he was older than Srei dueto the wrinkles around his eyes and some patchiness on his scales where they had lost their bright orange color.

Zairsh scratched under his chin with the stem of his pipe. He said, “I am not sure. I know I am over forty years old. Old enough now for my father to pass off as my younger brother." Zairsh chuckled and took another hit. When he exhaled he added, “Not that anyone believes me when I tell them he's my sire, anyways."

Esmal's mind struggled with that fact. His connection to Sisbul could make him live like Tezz. He would watch his loved ones, his children weather then wither with age while he stayed young. Esmal swallowed the lump in his throat and asked, “Do you think it bothers him, to know you will get old before he does?"

Zairsh laughed again. “I'm already old! Or at least I feel it. You hit me today. Ten years ago and I would have deflected that blow without batting an eye." He tapped his pipe. “I'm not worried about it. Tezz sows his seed knowing it will bring later grief. The steward does the opposite because he knows he would get too attached." With a groan, Zairsh rose from the ground and offered his hand to help up Esmal. “Come. You need a bath, you stink of you and your little lizard."

Esmal blushed. “I can take care of that on my own—"

“Nonsense," Zairsh shook his head, tail mirroring the motion. “You want to be more reptile, yes? We bathe together."

Esmal realized Zairsh's offer was, in some ways, like the pipe he offered before. A show of mutual respect. He could not exactly tell his teacher no, so Esmal took Zairsh's hand. Zairsh remained conversational as they walked towards the bath. When they entered the pyramid's second floor, Esmal saw about a dozen other reptiles were scattered about the massive chamber.

Zairsh led the way, asking over his shoulder, “You were hurt when the steward stopped speaking to you?"

Esmal said, “Yes, I had thought he was my mentor. Maybe even my friend."

“Just friends? You never—"

“No." Esmal thought of his last moment alone with Sisbul. How long the feeling of the snake's lips lingered on his.

Zairsh grunted. They circled around one of the larger pools, walking to one of the corners of the room. “You loved him?"

Esmal almost tripped over himself. Zairsh did not stop walking, and Esmal needed to jog to catch up. When he did, he said, “I thought I did. I realize I was taking acts of kindness for romantic gestures. It is what it felt like when I spent my whole life without it."

“This is why I'm not nice. Reptiles will follow like lost chicks once you do one nice thing."

“Speaking from experience?"

“I used to give children trinkets from my travels outside Srrket. They still follow me around the city asking for things. Call me uncle Zair, bah!"

Esmal could not help laughing softly. “For one so gruff, you are nothing like the men who used to train me."

Zairsh grumbled. “I hope not. I'm much better looking for one."

Esmal did not know what to say to that, but when he watched Zairsh's broad shoulders as the big lizard walked, he could not help but agree: years of refined muscle still covered his body, his bright orange scales were eye-catching as his polished horns, and his soft peach, reptilian eyes occasionally revealed a warm gentleness beneath all that raw power. That's when he noticed they were going to a secluded spot in the baths. Far away from others, at a pool slightly obscured by a support column that held up the upper floors.

The pool was empty, but a pipe pushing out its lip had a lever that, once pulled, began to spill lukewarm water inside it. Zairsh started the flow of water before undoing the loincloth he wore. It dropped in a moment, revealing a heavy hanging set of balls and sheath. The scales there were a darker, duskier orange. Esmal remembered the sight of Tezz's endowment when the prince walked in on Srei and him. He supposed he should not be surprised Zairsh carried this gift from his father, as well.

Zairsh stepped into the pool, settling into a stone bench that ran the circumference of the pool. Only then did he notice Esmal hesitating.

Zairsh's brow furrowed. “What are you doing standing there?"

Esmal glanced over his shoulder. “Perhaps I should go—"

“Don't get shy on me now, boy. You didn't have a problem touching me while we spoke outside."

Esmal wished he might be able to take another hit of Zairsh's pipe for his nerves.

He took off his clothes, which were coated in sweat and dirt anyways, before he gingerly got into the pool opposite of Zairsh. The pool had only filled to their calves. Zairsh snorted, and leaned forward and offered his hand. “Come on, boy. We know what this is. Either get over here next to me or quit wasting both our time."

He looked at the hand Zairsh offered. It was just the two of them and the flow of water.

“You're sure?"

“I'm thinking of changing my mind," Zairsh growled. “I didn't invite you back with me thinking I'd have second thoughts."

“I've just only slept with the one reptile—"

“I've been plenty of folks first reptile." Zairsh opened and closed his hand. “Last chance."

Esmal gulped and the moment he took Zairsh's hand, the larger lizard tugged him over into his lap. Esmal's breath caught as scales pushed against his back, Zairsh's chest and belly rubbing against him. The lizard wrapped Esmal in his arms. A claw touched Esmal's chin and tilted his head up. “Better," Zairsh growled. Their lips met. Unlike Srei, Zairsh tasted smoky, his kiss forceful immediately. His large, thick tongue filled Esmal's mouth, dragging soft and firm along his tongue, cheeks, gums, and teeth. Esmal moaned a little. Zairsh's tongue pushed deeper inside him. Zairsh's maw opened so it looked like he was biting Esmal's face—fangs grazing his skin. Zairsh's tongue wriggled into Esmal's throat, stroking places Esmal usually only felt used when deep throating Srei. It made him forget where he was for a moment.

Zairsh's hand groped Esmal's pec, palm massaging and pushing into his nipple before thumbs teased the bud. Esmal felt himself melting in the bigger lizard's arms, totally complacent until Zairsh drew his head and tongue back. Drool spilled down Esmal's chin as he gasped for breath. Zairsh wiped away the spittle with a thumb and said, “You just let daddy take care of you, son."

Esmal was too dazed to really think about what Zairsh said, or what he was asking him to entertain. He just knew he felt good and would go along with anything. He nuzzled into Zairsh's neck and took a deep breath of his masculine, reptilian scent. Zairsh caressed down Esmal's back and grabbed a handful of his ass. Zairsh squeezed it and whispered, “Relax, son. I'm going to make you feel good." Zairsh dragged his tongue across Esmal's collarbone and up his throat. It was thick and long and made Esmal weak. Zairsh asked after, “You like daddy's body, yeah?"

“Y-yes…" Esmal breathed.

“Want to worship it?"

“Please."

“Heh, good boy," Zairsh said. In the same tone Srei used it. Esmal wondered if it was a reptilian thing. The water filling the tub had reached their knees. It sloshed about as Zairsh got Esmal off him and turned around, leaning over the lip of the tub with his knees on the bench. He lifted his ass in the air and flagged his tail, giving Esmal a perfect view of the lizard's taint, solid and round ass, and his heavy hanging nuts. His cock had spilled some from his sheath. Zairsh looked over his shoulder and growled, “Get to work, son."

Esmal burrowed his face into Zairsh's taint. He rubbed his nose into the lizard's tender scales and got a pleased rumble from his “daddy." Zairsh smelled intoxicating back here. The sweat and musk of his body was sharp and concentrated, masculine in a way no other scent had been for Esmal. It was strange to taste this salt and strength. A scent of petrichor mixed with sex—he wanted more of it. He licked up the scaly taint. Hands grabbed fistfuls of Zairsh's fat and firm ass while lapping up the scaly crevice. Esmal reached Zairsh's rim and shuddered. He felt his now hard dick flex, bobbing in and out the rising water. The earthy musk of Zairsh's pucker made his body quiver with need. He kissed the asshole and swirled his tongue around the dark, wrinkled flesh. His daddy pressed back into Esmal's probing tongue. The prince pulled those ass cheeks apart so he could bring his face closer. His nose was nearly smothered by Zairsh's scales, and he nearly forgot to breathe as he lapped and lavished that entrance.

Zairsh's back end was pliable and soft, clean and tasting enticing. Soon Esmal's spit coated the pucker. Zairsh reached over and shut off the water, which now nearly reached Esmal's waist while he worked. The prince licked until his tongue ached, seeking more of that scent and taste until the ring of muscle yielded a little more. Esmal's cock twitched while he burrowed his tongue into Zairsh's fat ass. Zairsh hissed and wagged his hips to encourage Esmal. He was saying something, but the prince was too caught up in pleasing his daddy's rear to notice.

Sharp talons pushed into Esmal's stomach, finally breaking his reverie. He looked up and met the orange lizard's gaze. “Fuck me, son," Zairsh ordered. He crawled onto the lip of the pool, knees still spread. He was so big that when Esmal stood on the bench he was at the perfect height for the larger male. Zairsh's dick smacked against his belly. The long, equine thing was around the size of the massive shafts Esmal saw Sisbul wield. Zairsh squeezed the unflared head, hissing as precum squirted across his palm. He reached around his balls then and smeared the fluids across his entrance. When he finished, Esmal stared at the glistening rim a little in awe. Saliva, sweat, and pearly smears of precum—a lewd set of swatches that made Esmal need to be inside him.

“Don't just stand there," Zairsh snarled.

Esmal swallowed the lump in his throat and listened, setting his cock next to the lubed entrance. Zairsh's heat felt so good he didn't wait to push inside. Truly, it was the first time Esmal had fucked an ass. He struggled for breath as Zairsh enveloped him. Soft, yielding heat flexed around Esmal's dick. “Shkanna's slit…" he cursed as he hilted, waist flush with that smooth scaled ass.

Zairsh sighed, his tail twitching a little. He said, “It feels good, doesn't it?"

Esmal huffed, nodding while his dick throbbed inside Zairsh's heat. He struggled not to blow his load inside his daddy right away. It had just been so long since he penetrated something.

“Tell your daddy what you feel," Zairsh urged while humping up and down Esmal's dick.

While Zairsh stirred himself up on Esmal's prick, the prince said, “It's… hot, warm and soft… fuck its tight… Zairsh I-I—"

“Call me daddy, son," Zairsh ordered, before hissing as Esmal's cockhead rubbed something firm in the lizard.

Esmal quaked saying it aloud, nearly whimpering, “Daddy I'm going to cum." He did not understand why it felt so good to say it like that, but his balls tensed up just from that.

“Fuck me, son. Use my body." Zairsh's toes curled as he kept rubbing that spot inside him. “Work your cock on daddy just—fuck—like this."

Esmal bit his lip and did not wait for anymore permission. He began pumping his hips. His balls smacked loudly against Zairsh's taint while he tried his best to hold back his orgasm. Zairsh arched his back. He moaned long and loud. Esmal shut his eyes so he would not see that yielding entrance pull and suck his dick in on every stroke. He wished he could block out all his senses but the feeling of his daddy's walls flexing, clenching, gripping, milking his shaft so he might last longer. Though, that alone was going to make Esmal cum. It embarrassed him a little. He felt helpless as he careened to the edge of pleasure, goaded on by Zairsh who ordered him to fuck harder, faster. Esmal moaned loudly and Zairsh growled, “Rrrr—that's it, son, cum inside me."

Esmal did not know why this incestuous fantasy held so much sway, but hearing Zairsh say that threw him over the edge. He hilted Zairsh, hugging tight to the bigger lizard's tail as he cried out. Zairsh let out a pleased hiss. His tail wrapped around Esmal's back to keep him in place. The prince trembled, each quake timed with the clench of his balls. They unloaded wave after wave of cum inside Zairsh. Esmal released the breath he did not notice he held, and he opened his eyes to see Zairsh watching him with a sultry smirk.

Zairsh rocked forward and Esmal gasped as his cock came free. The humid, warm air felt cold compared to Zairsh's heat. His daddy turned around and sat at the bath's edge, a pleased, rumbling chuckle as he caressed Esmal's jaw. “I hope you know we're not done," Zairsh growled, “It's daddy's turn now."

Zairsh's dark orange shaft nearly rose up across his belly, flare not far from Esmal's chin. The prince stared at it, a little lost for words at its size, the way it continued to throb and leak, throb and leak. Like precum flowed out the tip at the rate of Zairsh's pulse.

Esmal wanted to take it, but he had no clue how he might manage that. Zairsh patted his lap. “Up here, boy." Awkwardly, Esmal clambered on top his lap, feet balanced on Zairsh's much bigger thighs. Zairsh grabbed Esmal's hips and told him, “Hold onto my shoulders and ease down." As Esmal listened, Zairsh released his hips and guided his cock so Esmal sat right against it. He huffed as the heat of the shaft teased his entrance, its precum smeared against his pucker. Esmal squeezed Zairsh's shoulders and tried to both relax and steel himself.

“You want daddy's cock bad, don't you?" Zairsh asked. The unflared head continued to press and rub against Esmal's entrance, but anytime he pushed down, Zairsh made sure his dick slipped away, stroking along his back.

“Y-yes daddy," Esmal said, unable to look Zairsh in the eyes while they played this game.

Zairsh didn't accept that. He grabbed Esmal's chin and turned the prince's gaze to his. Zairsh said, “I'm going to make you feel real good, son. Now kiss me."

Panting, Esmal leaned forward and his lips met Zairsh's again. That meaty, oral organ shoved inside of Esmal's mouth. He whined but did not break the kiss, exhaling sharply through his nose as slick muscle filled his mouth, teased his throat. At the same time, a heavy hand on Esmal's ass guided the prince down. Esmal sucked on Zairsh's probing tongue, grazed the thick flesh with his teeth, and continued kissing his daddy. Zairsh's smoky taste made Esmal's world start to spin again, but it came back into focus soon as an unflared cockhead nudged his entrance.

Esmal knew the kiss was meant to distract him. He focused on it. The smooth texture of Zairsh's tongue had a few rough pads and spots. It added different sensations to Esmal's oral stimulation. The hand on Esmal's ass slowly added more and more pressure. Esmal also did the same. When his rim yielded, it was a little like the first time Srei penetrated him. A burning ache teased all through his rim. Tongue muffled his moan. A hand on Zairsh's shoulder moved down to the lizard's pec for better support, in time to feel the lizard's rumbling growl. His ass slowly descended on the spire of flesh. Esmal felt the tool's heat; its pulse so strong each heartbeat like it twitched inside him. Precum drooled into Esmal fast enough it began leaking out around his split rim.

Zairsh began working his hips, but did not pull Esmal further down. Sitting as he was, he did little more than stir up Esmal's entrance. That tool churned and stoked heat inside Esmal's crotch, loosening him even more, so every ten seconds or so, Esmal slid another inch down the shaft. Soon enough, the unflared head had reached Esmal's prostate. The sensation became too much. His kissing became sloppy, with Zairsh doing most the work at both ends while his cock eroded all Esmal's senses. Having his prostate rubbed and ground all over made Esmal's balls feel tense, his abdomen clenched and precum leaked in thick dollops every time Zairsh stroked in and out. Though, it quickly stopped being the cockhead working Esmal over, but the broad meat of the shaft.

Zairsh grabbed Esmal's hips with both hands. He broke their kiss and Esmal came free, mouth dripping with Zairsh's drool while he panted. He felt so full that breathing was difficult. He saw the outline of Zairsh's cock inside him. The lizard whispered, voice tense, “You're, ah, doing great son. Right at my medial ring. Close to taking it all."

Esmal couldn't speak. He whined and hooked his arms around Zairsh's neck, leaning against his daddy's shoulder. With his great strength, Zairsh lifted Esmal up. Feeling so much cock pull out of him made Esmal wail loud enough to be heard throughout the baths. The tip of Zairsh's dick tugged on Esmal's entrance, and he realized it had ballooned out. His daddy's flare tugged deliciously on his rim. Zairsh growled in Esmal's ear before dragging his son down his shaft. Esmal didn't have the wherewithal to scream. That fat tube of flesh forced itself all the way inside Esmal and nearly knocked the wind out of him. The fullness left him totally stunned. Esmal's dick ached against his belly, and his balls clenched and pulled, but nothing happened. He was just too full to actually reach orgasm at the moment. The flared head of Zairsh's cock made an outline above Esmal's belly.

Zairsh ran fingers up and down Esmal's spine. He whispered, “F-fuck you're so good son. You feel so good. Daddy's so proud you took his cock."

Esmal whimpered and squirmed in his daddy's lap. He struggled for words, but eventually, shuddering, one fell from his lips. “M-more."

“Hehehe, good boy," Zairsh whispered. Unlike the previous thrust, Zairsh now pumped Esmal's bowels in much shorter motions. His daddy's medial ring plugged in and out his rim. At this angle, not only was Esmal getting fucked and stimulated all over inside, his dick frotted against Zairsh's scaly belly. Esmal felt a familiar plateau that Srei put him on from time to time. He knew he was cumming, but his prostate was being forced through so much he could barely cum. A little bit would spill out, just enough to make Zairsh's scaly belly slick with his son's cum. Esmal went from whimpers to moaning and begging.

When he found his voice, he unabashedly asked, “Please daddy! Cum in me—b-breed me!"

Zairsh snarled hearing that. “You'd like that wouldn't you? Squeeze out daddy's eggs?"

Caught up in the lewd fantasy, Esmal mewled, “Yes, give me your seed. It's all I'm good for, please."

“That's right!" Zairsh nearly roared. Then in a snarling whisper said, “It's what I raised you for."

He hilted Esmal and hugged his son tight. Esmal quaked against the broad, sweating scaled body. The smell of sex fresh on his senses as he felt the dick inside him flex before cum spat into his belly. Liquid heat quickly rushed inside Esmal, making the prince whine as he began to feel far too full of everything. His stomach swelled, the pressure dizzying but good. Zairsh whispered to Esmal, “F-fuck son… just relax… accept daddy's seed." Esmal tried his best, panting while he remained on his little plateau of pleasure. He felt barely conscious as his stomach became taut and bubbling with cum. Each shot from Zairsh he felt: thick virile spunk throbbing through that shaft as it flooded Esmal's insides. Eventually his body took as much as it could, and his tightly stretched hole began leaking all over Zairsh's lap.

The next few minutes passed in a strange, quiet haze. With gentle affection, Zairsh helped a limped-legged Esmal off his lap. Zairsh then went about bathing them both since Esmal was still a little too weak and exhausted to do more than accept the care. The older lizard did it with a strange set of affections that did remind Esmal of past caretakers. Not his father of course, but his mother and servants used to treat Esmal with this sort of tenderness when he was very young.

By the time Esmal was washed up and down, he had recovered enough to soap and rinse Zairsh's back. As Esmal did, Zairsh quietly rumbled, “Thank you."

Esmal stopped with the soapy rag he held against Zairsh's broad shoulder-blade. “Of course, it's not like you could reach back here."

“You know what I mean." Zairsh's tail nudged against Esmal's hip playfully. “Not everyone is willing to indulge me."

Esmal admired the lizard's muscle as he worked around it. “I did not know I would until we were in the thick of it, if I'm honest."

“Heh, like an unblooded warrior won't know if they run or hold their ground in their first fight, eh?"

“Something like that." Esmal hesitated. With his free hand he touched the line of spinal hairs that ran down Zairsh's back. That streak of white fur the lizard got from his father. “What am I supposed to do with this?"

“Just leave it for now," Zairsh said before sitting back in the tub. Water flooded over the sides as most of the massive lizard's body became submerged. “It's not worth dealing with for the time being."

“Then we're done."

“Are we now, boy?"

Esmal leaned over his back and kissed the lizard's cheek. “For now. I need to check on my retainer, I'm usually not away for so long, and I don't want her to worry."

Zairsh said, “Then go."

But Esmal didn't. He hooked his arms over Zairsh's shoulders and lied against the lizard. Esmal said, “I would like to do this again."

“Mmm, fight well in the mornings and I will see what I can do."

Esmal hugged Zairsh tight. “You are…" but whatever words he wanted to come did not, so Esmal settled for, “I wish I had known you growing up Master Zairsh. If had a teacher like you, I would have been unstoppable and not afraid of anything."

Zairsh grunted. “And you would have been my incorrigible slut as well."

“There's still time for that, at least."

“Get out of here boy, before I carry you out into the street and fuck you for everyone to see."

***

When Esmal opened the door to his room, he noticed a familiar smell of sex to the one he just got very intimate with. Srei stood by the desk, lighting a stick of incense with a candle.

She grinned. “Enjoy yourself, my prince?"

Esmal hesitated in the door. “You-you knew?"

“Tezz stopped by. He said he had a message for you, but you seemed indisposed. Something about you riding Zairsh's lap and calling him—"

Esmal cut her off by slamming shut the door. Blushing furiously, Esmal said, “I get it."

Srei laughed at him so hard her whipping tail knocked over one of the stools under the desk.

Esmal hands bunched into fists and he said, “Do I get to know what message Tezz had for me?"

“Hehehe, you should see your face, Esmal!" Srei grabbed her side, struggling for breath. “Oh… Shkanna's slit, you get so embarrassed and it's always so cute—"

“Srei!"

“Okay! Okay!" she said, hands held up placatingly. “Well, since it was clear you would be busy, I took some time to fuck Tezz again. Then after we got cleaned up, he told me Sisbul wanted to have dinner with you. Alone, at the end of the week."

Esmal blinked. “Dinner?"

Srei went over to him and took his hands. “That's what I thought. I asked what you could expect from it, and Tezz said Sisbul wanted to apologize and explain himself for, in Tezz's words, 'shunning' you."

Esmal sighed. “Something to deal with when it comes up. You up to going to the library today?"

“Are you?" Srei said with a slight smile. “Your legs still looked a little wobbly when you came in."

“Sreimunse, I love you," Esmal punctuated this with a kiss before finishing, “But hush."

Even when her laughter was directed at Esmal, it still filled him with joy to hear.