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Esmal stood along the rocky lip of a basin where waves of sand spilled beyond his feet. Dunes painted in the distance reminded him of the ocean, his father's palace—to touch the sea air again…

A hand squeezed Esmal's shoulder, and he faced his father. His father: Imad the Conqueror. His father: tall statue of a man only just beginning to look worn by years of war. He had the bearing of a statesman but the grace of a trained warrior. And in this moment, the corners of his eyes were wet with tears. He pulled Esmal into an embrace. Behind Imad waited a retinue made up of the King's Guard and servants. His father wore chainmail and carried a sword with him, all of it obscured by the black cloak he wore to keep the sun off his dark skin.

Imad shuddered once they broke off the embrace. The captain of the guard announced, “Their king approaches."

Imad squeezed Esmal's hand and said, “Remember what I told you. Use this time my son. Learn their weaknesses. For when our treaty has ended and we retrieve you, it will be with an army that eclipses these cursed sands."

Esmal nodded. “I will father."

They faced the desert as a large naga approached. He had separated from his train of guards and servants to retrieve Esmal by himself. The prince wondered if the naga truly feared them so little. Though, Esmal had faced the great beast in battle before and soundly lost, so perhaps the snake knew he had nothing to fear. Esmal's nerves pinched in his gut. He would never speak or show it, but that monster still haunted his dreams.

Emperor Imad IV, his father, had conquered vast swathes of nations and lands in his time as ruler of Savish. He had been undefeated, unstoppable. No human nation could muster a defense against him. Aside from traveling to the lands beyond the sea, the only direction their empire had to expand now was into this desert. Srrket was supposed to be small, a desert kingdom between the great mountain ranges to the north and south. On the other side of it existed other nations run by nonhumans. Esmal's father expected to overwhelm the reptiles and make them slaves like any other nation of beasts they might conquer.

They had been utterly defeated when they invaded. Underprepared, and surprised by the reptile's magic, Esmal had been captured with over a thousand of Imad's best soldiers during a decisive battle at the start of their invasion. Thousands more humans had washed the desert sands with their blood. So they made a peace treaty, and, as a show of good faith, the reptiles sent Esmal home before demanding some kind of collateral for the duration of the treaty. Imad agreed, and immediately regretted it when the snake king demanded Imad's heir be forced to live with the naga at his capital. And so Esmal, Imad's oldest son, found himself here, watching that great beast approach.

Esmal learned the naga's name and title while in captivity. He was Steward Sisbulkhanna the Sanguine. Sisbulkhanna resembled a cobra and must have been longer than thirty feet from tail to head. The last eight feet rose off the ground and towered over any human. Banded shades of black and dusty red ran down his back while his front was a soft yellow like the petals of a flower. He was masculine a figure: arms banded with muscle, chest clearly carved out. If not for his wide hood and serpent face, he might be considered attractive.

As Sisbulkhanna approached, Esmal saw he wore the trappings of his royal life. During battle, the naga had been unadorned and arrows bounced magically off his hide while he cut men down with a great axe. Now his hood carried on each end a set of golden cuffs, six arrayed along the apex of each side. Golden filigree bracelets climbed up from his wrist, and his hood had been painted in with an emerald green that offset the yellow of his underside. His brow carried the delicate makeup of women: a violet eyeshadow and golden, winged eyeliner. In his nose he wore a gold septum ring. He wore no clothes. His eyes were dark brown pools with fine black slits for his pupils.

Esmal felt every human around him, including himself, getting tense as the snake approached. Even though Sisbulkhanna came alone, it was a reasonable response: the naga looked like he could tackle a charging bull. He wove out of basin to the rocky outcropping they stood at and bowed eloquently. He spoke their language remarkably well when he said, “Magnanimous Emperor Imad, it is good to meet you." Sisbulkhanna overemphasized his s's when speaking, but otherwise showed no difficulty with Savish.

Esmal had heard enough of the snake's tongue to know it consisted of different hisses and tongue clicks, so Sisbulkhanna's mastery of a language so different did impress him.

Imad stepped in front of his son. “Were circumstances not so grim for myself, I perhaps might welcome the exchange." Esmal saw his father's hand gripping his sword belt with a strength that belied how much he struggled to bite his tongue.

Sisbulkhanna rose and offered a surprisingly warm smile for a snake. “I assure you, my lord, your heir will be safe in my coils." Sisbulkhanna's voice dripped honey, but Esmal still shivered at the thought. “My palace will offer comforts only rivaled by the great wealth of your empire."

Imad swallowed the knot in his throat before he managed, “You are too kind." It was not lost on Esmal that Imad refused to add an honorific. Sisbulkhanna's tail-tip, hanging off the basin and in the sand, flicked. Esmal wondered if that was a show of annoyance, but looked forward when Imad said, “I am honored to introduce you to my son, Esmal."

Esmal quelled any trembling and stepped to his father's side. The snake appraised him a moment before recognition flashed on his face. “Ah, I apologize for not recognizing you sooner. Your kind all look so similar, but you are the brave warrior I faced in battle."

Esmal remembered the encounter all too well. Despite his size, the snake king moved fast and supple as water. His axe had cleaved into Esmal's mount, barely missing the prince's leg as the beast was thrown to the ground by the blow. Esmal's guard were quickly decimated before the prince got out from under his mount and found his footing. By then Sisbulkhanna loomed over him, no adornments to say he was king. Just this great monster, blood coating his scales and dripping from the curved edge of his axe. Esmal had managed to stand his ground and even cut the snake, but was quickly overpowered and bested.

Now, body covered in makeup, paint, and jewelry, Sisbulkhanna nodded to Esmal. “You were the only one from that battle to draw blood from me. A great feat for one of your kind. Your son is a great warrior, Lord Imad."

At the snake's mercy, neither Imad nor Esmal felt that was true in the moment. Five years. Esmal just needed to survive the next five years. He would use this time so he could best that monster when next they met on the battlefield.

Imad said, “And Esmal will only become a better warrior in time."

A flicker of amusement in the snake's eyes. “Yes, I am sure that if your son wishes I can arrange for him to be trained in combat during his stay. It would be a shame to let such a refined warrior lose his edge."

Esmal did not know how to feel about that.

Curt, Imad said, “I am sure your kind could teach him much."

Sisbulkhanna's eyes roved up and down Esmal. “Much indeed… shall we be going, prince?"

Esmal finally spoke up. “There is no point in delaying it."

Imad embraced Esmal and whispered in his ear, “Be strong, my son. For me, for your empire."

“I will, father."

Esmal faced the snake, who had already slid off the basin's lip and offered his arm to help Esmal down. Sisbulkhanna said, “The sand's footing is treacherous for your kind."

Esmal scoffed and brusquely hopped down. The sand gave away under him, his foot slipped and ankle twisted. Esmal grunted through clenched teeth and staggered to his feet. His cheeks burned with the indignity of it, but he acted as if nothing happened and marched towards Sisbulkhanna's retinue. Each step made his ankle throb with stabbing pain that he tried his best to mask. He refused to let a single one of these scaled creatures see an ounce of weakness from him in the next five years.

Sisbulkhanna quietly follow, though, Esmal felt those eyes piercing into his back.

But after another hundred paces, with at least a hundred more to go, Esmal could not hide his limp. Still, panting through clenched teeth, Esmal only stopped when Sisbulkhanna said, “Your father and their retinue no longer watch us, prince. Allow me to carry you the rest of the way."

Esmal turned his head and found the great naga loomed over him. So close and so big, Esmal flashed back to Sisbulkhanna slamming him into the sand and wrapping him up in his coils. He fought a bit of nausea and said, “I am fine." Esmal faced the parade and took another step on his bad ankle. The sand slipped out under him again, but this time a pair of strong arms caught Esmal and pulled him to a banded chest. He tried to shove the chest away, but Sisbulkhanna remained firm against him. The banded scales were soft and pleasing to the touch, warm as sunbathed stone. Esmal thrashed in the snake king's grip, until a great, black and yellow hand grabbed his head. His was wrenched to the ground, his back arched. Sisbulkhanna dipped him backwards as if he planned to baptize Esmal in the sand, stopping only when the prince's hair nearly touched the ground. The great naga's hood had flared out and a menacing, purple glow emanated from his eyes. Ethereal, violet flames poured around them, and Esmal found his gaze caught there, and all his anger and indignity and fear began to burn out quick as parchment cast into a fire.

He stilled and the snake king told him, “You must stop struggling. From the instant you entered my kingdom your pride hurt you. Take that as an omen from your god, prince. I will carry you so your ankle does not worsen under your foolish weight. You are my charge for the next five years and I will make sure you return to your father in immaculate, if not perfected, condition. You will be a diamond among quartz by the time you leave here, but only if you humble yourself first and allow my kingdom to teach you what it must."

Esmal's mind felt foggy as he took these words in, so much so he barely noticed that Sisbulkhanna had not spoken in Savish but in reptilian. The naga broke whatever trance Esmal had been under and the human released a breath as he was pulled up again, cradled against the naga's chest. Esmal was by no means a small man, but felt like a child against Sisbulkhanna's chest.

Drained, Esmal might as well spent the last hour yelling and raging at this arrangement. His exhaustion left him breathless with little to say as Sisbulkhanna carried him through the sands.

When the prince finally found his voice, he asked, “What… what did you do to me?"

“A trance. It is a power granted by my blood, but one I use very sparingly." A glance down at Esmal—strange looking up at the naga's serpentine face like this. “I've not used it on someone new in decades. However, your needless struggling might have damaged your ankle more, so I had to." Decades. Esmal had no clue how old nagas lived, but would have assumed Sisbulkhanna to be in his prime.

Esmal watched the snake's fine, immaculate jaw move as he talked. Only now did he notice the smell of the king. Against the sharp, dry air it was a heady musk that reminded Esmal of trees that bloomed along the coast of Savish. It alarmed him that he found Sisbulkhanna's smell comforting.

He did not have time to ask more, as they soon reached the king's retinue. Twenty or so reptiles and ten camels waited on them. The camels carried supplies for their traveling, and most of the reptiles were bipedal lizards. Some smaller nagas armed with poleaxes stood guard, but most of the retinue seemed to consist of servants. Sisbulkhanna snaked towards a palanquin much smaller than what would fit a massive creature of his size. Esmal realized it must have been for him, and he admitted he would rather be carried in that than in Sisbulkhanna's arms.

Esmal was gently set down, ankle still aching while around him the reptiles hissed and spat in their barbaric tongue. The stench of reptile became pungent, but Esmal tried to block it out and reached down to check his ankle, pulling up the leg of his trousers. The leather sandals laced to his foot did little to support his ankle in the fall, and now his brown skin resembled the flesh of a bruised mango. He touched it and cringed. Sisbulkhanna was right that Esmal probably made it worse than it needed to be. He felt foolish for it. Had Esmal expected to traipse across the whole desert like this?

“Prince Esmal?"

Sisbulkhanna's voice got the prince to look up to see the naga with a lizard standing beside him. The lizard was perhaps a foot smaller than Esmal. Though they had no physical markers to tell gender, Esmal guessed her female. She was slim, with hips wider than her shoulders and a delicate, swan-like neck. A fine gold choker framed the soft blue scales of her throat which cascaded down her front. They shimmered in the sunlight like an oasis while her arms and back were a striped pattern of black, copper, and sandy brown. She wore golden anklets, and her reptilian muzzle carried heavy eye makeup: black eyeliner with more blue eyeshadow around her eyes that blended violet as it lifted up to her brow. Her large, reptilian eyes were an eggshell blue lighter than her scales. Her tail, which was nearly the length of her body, was curled delicately in the sand behind her. Like all the reptiles, she wore no clothes, and Esmal could see her slit. He could not help but have his eyes drawn there when at the crest of her sex were two more gold piercings: two small rings.

Sisbulkhanna introduced her, “This is Sreimunse. She will be your retainer."

Sreimunse bowed her head and said, “It is a pleasure to serve you my prince." Her Savish was much better than Sisbulkhanna's. She peeked a glance at Esmal, and quickly bowed her head again shyly. Her voice was a little deep for a woman's, but still light and pleasant. In a way, she was very alluring to Esmal—

He looked back down at his ankle, feeling a blush try to work its way onto his dark cheeks. He would not sleep with beasts. When he saw these two before him he needed to see a king dead at his hands and future chattel for the empire's farms.

Sisbulkhanna touched the lizard's back and she rose. They spoke quickly in their language, all of it unrecognizable unlike when the naga spoke to him earlier. Sreimunse went to one of the camels, and Sisbulkhanna leaned down to tell Esmal, “Your manner, for a prince, is unbecoming. But perhaps your kind do not return introductions?"

Esmal scowled at the naga. “I know the ways of the court far better than you could, snake."

Sisbulkhanna chuckled. “Your words must match your actions, prince."

Grunting with exertion, Esmal forced himself to his feet. He smacked away the naga's when Sisbulkhanna tried to help him up. By the time Sreimunse returned, she rushed over with bandages and a small jar of some poultice. She seemed alarmed to see him standing, but as she approached, Esmal gave the best short bow he could under the circumstances and held out his hand. A momentary pause ended when Esmal felt a delicate, scaled palm rest in his hand. The prince rose and kissed Sreimunse's knuckles. The scales were pleasingly smooth as his lips brushed them before he spoke: “It is an honor to meet you, Lady Sreimunse."

The lizard could not look up to meet Esmal's eyes. She said, trembling a little, “The honor is mine, my prince."

Esmal spared Sisbulkhanna a smirk only to notice the naga close to laughing. Whatever he was amused by he did not express. He said, “Sreimunse will travel with you in your palanquin. She will tend to your wound and teach you more about our language and ways during your stay here. She is trained to serve humans and will be committed to making sure you get the most out of your stay."

“My imprisonment," Esmal said curtly, which made Sreimunse flinch.

Sisbulkhanna seemed unfazed and spoke instead to Sreimunse in their tongue. After a brief exchange, Sreimunse took Esmal's wrist and said, “Come, my prince, let me get you comfortable." Reluctantly, Esmal let Sreimunse help walk him to the palanquin. She had a floral scent from some kind of alluring perfume. He felt completely at odds with the way his body reacted to her.

The palanquin was lined with violet and red satins and made for a soft bed. It was cool out of the sun's blistering gaze. Sreimunse helped him settle at the back of the palanquin. She reached for the ties holding up the curtain that acted as a door and it fell neatly into place as she undid the knots. Now they sat inside a small white canvas covering with a satin bed. Light came into their nest scattered and dim, and reminded the prince of frantic rendezvous with partners in his private tent when on the frontlines.

Sreimunse did not speak but busied herself applying her poultice and wrapping his ankle. Esmal felt the pain ease, replaced with a numbness. She worked with a meekness that made Esmal feel obliged to keep up his manner for her. “Thank you for—" his words were cut off as lizards lifted the palanquin off the ground. “We're already moving?"

Sreimunse settled opposite of Esmal. “Yes, my prince." Her tail, which at its base was thick as her thigh, trailed down to the other side of the palanquin. It was a finger's width from Esmal, and he felt tempted to touch it just to test the texture of her scales again. Sreimunse brought him back to the present as the lizards that carried them began walking, “Steward Sisbul wants to return to the palace as soon as possible."

Sisbul, Esmal had not heard the snake king's name shortened before. Esmal asked her, “And you intend to ride along with me the entire way, Sreimunse?"

“You may call me Srei, my lord. Munse is just a family name," Srei told him.

“Ah, I see. I am poorly equipped for deciphering the names of your tongue," Esmal said, a bit embarrassed. “I am, as you can see," he gestured to his wrapped ankle, “out of my element."

A sweet, flicker of a smile from her made him momentarily forget himself. “I hope I can help my lord find his footing," Srei said. Her tail had moved against his side. “You're curious about it, yes? Your explorations are welcome, my prince." This said with a slight giggle.

“I… I am…" Esmal struggled with what to say. “Retainers are different in your lands than mine."

“I am here as your tutor and companion. My loyalty is to you and your wellbeing."

“I, hmm, are you going to be by my side all the time?" Esmal asked, already worried about this. He did not want the lizard's affections, but he already knew he found her manner attractive and her body exotic. He did not want to spend the next five years battling with temptation when such a union would be considered blasphemy in his home.

Srei beamed. “Yes, my prince. I am the only one in this retinue aside from Steward Sisbul who can speak Savish. It is a rare tongue in our kingdom, your people being so far from ours. I was chosen for this task because of my fluency, so that I may teach you our language and culture. I have also been trained in the healing arts and many other domestic services to make sure your stay is as comfortable as possible."

“You are, uh, quite proud of your qualifications."

Srei's tail wiggled through the satin. “I am proud to serve you, my prince."

Esmal set his jaw and said, “Good, you can serve me by staying outside unless I call for you." Esmal needed solitude. He was not here to admire reptiles.

Srei recoiled like he struck her, but her fists clenched and she took a deep breath. “No, my prince."

Esmal had never had a servant disobey him. A baffled, “Excuse me?" came out more confused than indignant.

Summoning her courage, she said, “I am here for you. All people need companionship, it would not be in my best interest to let you confine yourself. If you would like, I can give a few hours of solitude, but eventually I will return so we may begin your education in earnest."

Esmal gawked at her.

Srei's tail pulled away from him and curled back towards her. “I will give you some time to think this over, my prince. I promise you I will try my best to balance your want for privacy with your need for companionship. You should never let an egg nest alone, after all." She gave him a polite bow, and slipped out of the palanquin so smoothly it did not even disturb the servants carrying it.

***

Esmal hated to admit Srei was right, but without the lizard there was nothing to do but sweat and grimly mull over his predicament. He had not lain with a woman since before his father's botched invasion, which might be why Srei now seemed so enticing after going so long untouched. Esmal simply took some time to meditate. He imagined himself on a skiff at sea, enjoying the waves and pretending the gentle rocking of the palanquin was the ocean. The meditation worked perhaps too well, for he dozed off only to be woken with Srei's face hanging over his.

“Good afternoon, Prince Esmal."

She smelled good. Esmal reached up and touched her side and she twitched, giggling a little. “Ah, that tickles." Esmal blinked and tried to sit up, and the movement left an ache in his ankle that quickly roused his senses.

“Argh, I… what?"

“You have been sleeping. One of the servants called me over when they heard you snoring."

Blushing, Esmal sat up, wanting to push Srei away but also not wanting to touch her. “Have you been hanging over me this whole time?"

She giggled. “Oh no my prince, there was space enough, so I laid down with you and slept. You were so warm I just could not resist. And you seemed inclined, you pulled me close and your snoring quelled."

Esmal shuddered. A part of him wanted to shout Srei out of the palanquin, but she was right that he needed her. Perhaps at Sisbul's palace he might replace her with some old, shriveled lizard that only inspired apathy in the prince. For now, he said, “In the future, please refrain from sleeping with me unless I invite you."

Srei did not seem to mind being admonished. She said, “I know it is not custom for humans, but our people do these sort of things quite casually. We share beds casually as we might share a cup of water. Speaking of," Srei produced a waterskin kept in a corner of the palanquin. She uncorked it and told him, “You should have a drink, prince."

Esmal's throat did feel somewhat dry. He took the skin and said, “Thank you" before taking a long swig.

“Our kind do not need water as often since we do not sweat like humans do, so I will need you to tell me when you are thirsty."

“I cannot fetch it myself?"

“When your ankle is healed perhaps," Srei said, taking the half drained waterskin and sipping from it. After a dainty gulp, she corked and stowed it back in the corner.

“I see," Esmal said, settling his back against the palanquin's wall. “I have reflected on what you told me before about your company, Srei."

She cocked her head.

“I have decided that I will not try to resist your company, but, unless there is an emergency, I do not wish to be touched by you or your kind."

Srei frowned. “Who will help wash you then, my prince?"

“I will take care of it," Esmal snapped, flustered at the prospect of Srei bathing him.

Srei sat back on her side of the palanquin, making sure her tail this time did not lie next to him. “I will respect your wishes for now, but surely your kind also needs touch? We rot from the inside if we allow ourselves to be touched starved. Even the most remote outposts of our kingdom are sure to have several reptiles there to keep each other company."

Esmal never really considered that. It was hard for him to imagine it being that bad. But five years without another person touching him also seemed unthinkable. He said, “There are other humans at the palace, yes? I will socialize with them."

“Ah, well, there were, but Sisbul had them peacefully expelled after your empire declared war on us. We could not risk one of them being spies for your father. Before the Savish conquered our neighbors, humans were not uncommon visitors to our lands."

“So I will be the only human in the palace?"

“There is a chance you may be the only human in Srrket, my prince."

Esmal balked.

Srei's expression softened and reached to touch him. She meant it as a comforting gesture, but caught herself and pulled back, sighing. “Apologies, my prince. I did not mean to cross your boundaries. I can tell this news disturbs you—"

“Will it be like this for my entire stay?" Esmal asked. “Will I be the only human here?"

Srei asked, “May I comfort you?"

“You may answer my question."

Srei grimaced, but soldiered on to answer, “I cannot say, my prince. Our people do not rely on trade with humans to survive. Steward Sisbul might keep them out of our lands until he is certain your empire will not invade when it is next most convenient."

“I… I see."

“Would you like some time alone, my prince?"

“Yes."

“Very well, the sun will set in a few hours. Before it does, we will make camp and I will bring you your dinner then. If you need me merely say my name and someone will fetch me."

Esmal nodded, feeling all the world like he had the wind knocked out of him. Srei watched him for a long, sad moment before she slipped away again.

He slumped back against the canvas wall, sliding down till he lied on his back. Looking up through the canvas, the filtered, bright blue sky seemed unyielding and impossibly open. His ankle ached. And he stank of sweat, but… when he turned his head into the satin he smelled Srei's perfume. She must have lay right here beside him. Esmal ran a finger across the satin and shuddered.

Back in Savish he already had two loyal wives. They were arranged marriages, and Esmal only saw them when he was not with his father leading the Savish war machine. But when he did see them… rare days of lounging in bliss, warm flesh, and the musk of sex mixed in one bed then another. Abiya and Mezra were their names. Abiya was pregnant before this campaign started, and likely had Esmal's son waiting for him to return. They were a continent away, and Savish a two month's journey to return to. When he left to invade the desert he did not expect to stay here for five years.

Trapped for half a decade without another human face to look at. It made his gut turn. “We rot from the inside if we allow ourselves to be touched starved," Srei had said. Esmal did not doubt he would rot in his captivity if he tried to lock himself in some palace tower for five years. Yet if he did not refuse these reptiles how would they try to change him? “You will be a diamond among quartz by the time you leave here," but what did Sisbul have planned for him when he promised that?

Esmal whispered his father's commands to himself, “Learn their weaknesses and return with how to destroy their kingdom." That was his goal. He did not need to be touched to learn what he needed.

Shortly after he had strengthened his resolve, the retinue finally came to a stop. Reptiles went about making camp while Esmal watched their silhouettes move through the canvas wall. Esmal poked his head out the curtain and saw they no longer walked across long sand dunes. The ground had become rockier, and a clear road presented itself. They camped beside it while varieties of cacti, small ferns, and a few flowering plants grew all around them. Esmal needed to crane his neck to the east in order to see the distant sand dunes they had left behind.

“The valley is beautiful, is it not?"

Esmal started. While he had been peering eastward, Sisbul had snuck up on him somehow. Esmal faced the snake, trying to stand so he did not need to crane his neck quite so much, but the naga stopped him. “No, no, do not strain yourself, Prince Esmal," Sisbul said. Speaking down at him like this, the naga's breath washed over Esmal. It was a strange meaty mixture that left Esmal a little dizzy. The snake's forked tongue flickered a moment before he asked, “How has the journey been? Comfortable, I hope."

Esmal said, “It has been tedious, but fine. Tomorrow my ankle should be well enough to walk on."

Sisbul made a hissing chuckle and patted the roof of the palanquin. “Believe it or not, prince, but we did not bring this for when you might injure yourself. I insist you let us take care of you. You should be using this time to learn from your retainer."

“All I have learned, my lord, is that she is disobedient, lacks boundaries, and resists my commands."

“Hmm," Sisbul brooded this a moment before his eyes lit up. “Ah, I understand: you think Srei is your slave?"

“Well if you must be crass about it—"

“We do not own people in our lands, prince."

Esmal blinked. “Ah, I… I see."

“Srei desires to help others. She is a caretaker among our people. She chose you much as she was chosen. Your orders are not her priority, your health and wellbeing are what matter to her."

This did not make sense. If a servant could not be disciplined to obey how could you trust them to do the right thing? Esmal spotted his retainer helping two other lizards assemble a cooking station. She did not notice him watching her, for once, and it dawned on the prince as he studied her.

He asked, “Are all of your servants like her?"

Sisbul said, “They consider it an honor to help me. To help you. Perhaps I will let you reflect on this tonight. Srei admits you have been difficult."

Difficult? Esmal resented the word, but supposed that of course the lizard would report to Sisbul on what Esmal spoke with her about. He slithered away, and, embarrassed, Esmal retreated back into the palanquin. An hour later, the smell of hominy cooking with peppers, dried meats, and spices made his stomach growl. He did not know what exactly he smelled at the time, but he knew after not eating since the morning that he would devour whatever was put in front of him. He peeked his head outside, but when he did he drew the gazes of reptiles and quickly retreated. He would have liked to walk around, but prodding and testing his ankle told him he would be lucky to limp a single lap around camp. Eventually, Srei appeared in the doorway. She offered Esmal a clay bowl and spoon made of polished bone.

Depositing the meal in Esmal's hands without a word, she made to leave but stopped when he said, “Wait."

Holding the curtain open, she looked back and asked, “Yes, Prince Esmal?"

Esmal forced himself to look her in the eyes as he admitted, “I would like your company while I eat, if it is not too much to ask."

She grinned. “Allow me to get my own bowl and I shall return, my prince." She trotted off and came back, with an eagerness that left Esmal chagrinned. She asked as she sat down, “Is it alright if I leave palanquin open, prince? It would be good to let some fresh air in here since you have been stuck in it all day."

Esmal nodded, now self-conscious of how much his little den of satin probably stank of sweat. He scooped up a spoonful of the soup she had brought. It had a salty, spicy taste. The heat was a welcome reminder of curry in Savish, and he ate quickly. He had nearly finished his bowl, broth dripping from his lips when he saw Srei watching him. She had a look that made Esmal put his bowl in his lap and ask, “What?"

“Hehehe, it's nothing." She took a bite of her soup, then added, “Since I was not attending to you I helped cook tonight. It pleases me to see you so taken with our food, even if they are meager rations for the road."

Esmal said, “I look forward to seeing what you can make me when you do not feel so limited." Even in the meager light of dusk, her smile was so radiant Esmal found it infectious. A pause between them as they studied each other's faces. Srei's eyes flicked away, and Esmal could sense her shyness returning.

She said, “I will be happy to, um, cook for you, my prince."

Esmal also felt embarrassed. He had forgotten himself in the pleasure of good food and company of a beautiful woman—

What was he thinking? He pulled his soup bowl close to his face to hide his expression with eating. Thank the gods the spices here might be used to explain the color to his cheeks.

He quickly finished the bowl, and felt a warm fullness in his stomach from the meal. Embarrassment passed, and he relaxed a little as Srei ate more slowly. She tried to clean up, but Esmal stopped her and bid she finish eating first. When she did, she stacked her bowl in Esmal's with a satisfied sigh.

“I will take these and clean them," she said. “Would you like me to leave you alone for the night?"

“Not yet," Esmal said. “If you are willing, I wish to stay up and discuss your kingdom."

A pleased little flutter from her tail. “Yes my prince, I will return right away."

***

They closed the curtain as night encroached. The temperature dropped quickly, but in the early summer it was a balm of cool air. A candle resting in a brass chamberstick flickered between them and offered some light. The moon was cut thin tonight, and it and the starlight barely worked in through the canvas.

Esmal said, “I wanted to know more about your king."

Srei nodded. “Steward Sisbul thought you might. His favorite color is violet and the shade of pink at sunrise. He also likes—"

“No no no," Esmal waved her off her train of thought. “Why would I want to know his favorite color?"

“He told me to tell you that if you asked about him. He supposes you might want to curry his favor at some point."

Esmal rolled his eyes. “I think he wanted me to be tormented."

Srei cocked her head. “Why would he want that? He is a very good steward. Torture is illegal in our lands."

“You keep calling him a steward. Is he not a king?"

“Oh, I had trouble with this when I first—I mean, outsiders often have trouble with this."

Esmal frowned. “Trouble with what?"

“Reptiles do not own things like humans do, Esmal. Sisbul is our leader, but he does not own the lands. So in your language steward is the closest translation to his title."

“This makes no sense."

“Which part?"

Esmal said, “If you do not own anything. How do you know your territory? How do you exchange goods and do trade."

Srei shrugged. “It will come to you in time, my prince. The people of Srrket… they carry an openness to them. They share and see themselves as all in service to one another. Just as I chose to serve you and as you may eventually choose to serve other reptiles."

“I am no servant."

“Is an emperor not a servant to the people?"

Esmal scowled. Srei was much smarter than the title of “servant" gave her credit for. Esmal recited a line from his father, “The Emperor is the will of the people."

Srei sighed. “I have heard these arguments before. I will not try to persuade you, my prince, but here Steward Sisbul is a servant to the lands and his people. All he does he does for them."

“That's fine but…" Esmal touched his temple and considered what to say. He sighed and changed tact, “Your people seem to revere him. I do not doubt you consider him a great ruler—how about this, how long has he ruled—" when he saw Srei open her mouth to correct him he said, “stewarded Srrket?"

Srei considered this, scratching under her chin with a claw. “Hmm, it has been a long time. Longer than a century? I… um, did not get a traditional education, but I know it has been a long time."

“Do all your people live so long?"

“Just him. He was blessed for this duty. He was born after the previous steward died, so we knew he must be our next leader."

“That makes no sense."

“It does not?"

“Does Sisbul have no heirs, then?"

Srei said, “Stewards are not chosen like other leaders. The next reptile born after his death will take his spirit, which has the spirit of all our previous stewards."

Esmal shook his head. “This sounds like some kind of meddling of a god."

“Sisbul is considered the child of Shkhanna, our creator."

Esmal made sure to note the name so he could look into the god later. For now, he asked, “Sisbul has powers other reptiles do not. He seemed invulnerable when I faced him in battle, and earlier today he put me under some kind of trance with just his gaze."

Srei squeaked. “You got put into trance?"

“Er, yes?"

Srei clapped her hands together. “That is considered a great honor!"

Esmal was dubious. “It did not feel like I was being honored."

“Oh, Prince Esmal, you will come to see it as one," Srei giggled knowingly. “It is usually something he only shares with his most prized consorts."

Esmal blushed. The lump in his throat was too great to speak around. Did the king plan to fuck him? He would not exactly be able to resist if he fell under that gaze.

Srei said, “It is nothing to fear." Her tail lifted and tapped Esmal's chest. “A piece of his spirit resides with you now. It will give you great strength and health. Those who he shares his spirit with will share the steward's vitality and health until the steward dies."

A diamond among quartz, Esmal thought, and if he tried to take Sisbul's life he might lose that power. Did Sisbul always plan for them to be entangled? If Esmal could not kill the naga for fear of the repercussions, he could lock the snake in any number of dungeon and leech the naga for his powers.

Esmal felt as though he stumbled into powers his god long stopped granting humans. He licked his lips and asked, “Srei, do you know how long the previous steward lived?"

“I believe it was for three centuries, but some have served for millennia."

Esmal quivered a little where he sat. He could be an emperor immortal, spread his father's rule to every corner of the world.

“Should I leave you alone to reflect on this?" Srei asked, sensing Esmal's pensive silence.

From outside the palanquin they heard a whimper.

“What was that?" Esmal asked, head turning to the closed curtain.

“Hehe, I imagine you will put it together, my prince." Someone panting and grunting in the camp. Esmal was far from naïve, he knew in camps like these men and women took care of their needs and little hid the noise and smell with only leather or canvas tents between people.

For some infernal reason, Srei pulled up the curtain, asking, “Would you like to see?"

Esmal did not, but the sight beyond left him frozen in place.

Sisbul held a lizard by her waist as she dangled upside down. Her legs were shoved open by his maw, tongue burrowing inside her. The lizard chittered, back arching before her delicate hands reached down to the naga's slit. There a second lizard with horns on the back of his head already tended two cocks throbbing in the air. The snake's hemipenes were bright, fleshy pink that glistened in the moonlight. Each one must have been the length of Esmal's forearm. The red lizard nuzzled the base of the bottom shaft while the blue pulled the top upwards to her muzzle. Her lips opened and a long, dexterous tongue wrapped around the tapered cocktip. Precum, glistening in the dim light, squirted into her mouth and dripping past her lips. She moaned.

The red lizard stroked his steward's bottom cock quickly. He had stopped teasing the base with his tongue and licked inside Sisbul's slit. Fluids there spilled out into the lizard's mouth while his tongue worked up and down. That bottom dick meanwhile drooled precum in dollops that looked as generous as Esmal's normal orgasms. It spilled on the desert floor, pointed directly at Esmal.

Srei's tail brushed down his back. “You are welcome to join them, prince."

Esmal now noticed that, from behind the lizard he ate out, Sisbul looked across the camp right at him. He snatched the curtain from Srei's hand and yanked it close.

“Can you tell them to stop?" Esmal hissed.

Srei frowned. “This is commonly what we do at night. Not everyone joins in but—"

“Every night?"

Srei giggled. “Yes, my prince. We take lovers very casually in our lands, you will likely be subjected to this at the palace as well."

The sound of other reptile pairs becoming intimate began to crowd around them. He started to smell the musk of sex. Potent and sharp, each breath made his chest pound harder. He was trembling. His own dick ached inside his trousers.

A tender touch to his cheek—Srei's hand, her face in front of his, “Esmal? Esmal what's?"

Why was all of this having such an effect on him? Usually he had better control over his faculties than this. He had never even been attracted to males—he should be repulsed right now—but he could not get the sight of Sisbul's… endowments out of his head. And the look the naga fixed him with. He became short of breath, struggled to breathe past pain spiking in his chest.

“Esmal? Esmal?" Srei asked. “Oh dear, this is too much for you. Stay right here—I will be right back."

Esmal doubled over when she left, over the spot Srei had been sitting. Esmal did not mean to, his world was a brick of panic and pain, but his nose touched something damp. It smelled good. Smelled like Srei. He wanted to bed Srei—

He had not allowed himself to think that at all today, but from that thought came also a curse. A curse for Sisbul, for Esmal's own weakness. Then Srei was back in the tent, pushing Esmal down with surprising strength. She held in her hand a blue opal—polished and beautiful like her eyes. She pulled up his shirt and his cock flexed at the thought Srei knew his desires. His hand reached for her, fingers stroking her sharply defined cheekbones. She responded by shoving the opal against his sternum. It was a ball of ice on his skin. Srei's shoulder muffled his pained groan.

She cradled him to her, whispering, “Shhh, prince. This will let you sleep. We use it when our ill and wounded are in too much pain to rest. I promise no one will harm you… Let go. Sleep."

Esmal squirmed against her a moment more. His body's strange panic and arousal both burnt out, overwhelmed by a greater force of numbing fatigue. With a soft whimper, the last thing he remembered was Srei cooing warmly in his ear.

***

When Prince Esmal went still, Srei waited a few minutes more before she removed the enchanted opal from his chest. She slumped down beside him, her terror and worry abated for the moment. She could have guessed Esmal might react to Sisbul's nightly couplings with disgust, but a panic attack caught her off guard. Truly, she should have warned him, but a tiny part of her hoped he might let the moment take him and let his guard down.

She lay down beside him, surreal to see his peaceful slumber while the sound of sex still surrounded them. Srei's hand touched the skin of his chest, ran a finger down his abdomen to the dark, curly hairs at his beltline. He had the athletic build of a warrior who spent his whole life fighting. A pale scar cut across the side of his stomach, visible against his brown skin. He was sweating all over, but Srei actually found the scent of humans enticing.

Perhaps in order to survive her abuse, when she had been a slave for the Kingdom of Ruskerrat, she had grown to appreciate the sights and smells of humans. She had no choice really: either learn to take pleasure in them or continue to take every violation as pure torture. She had very mixed feelings about humans, but she had volunteered to be Esmal's retainer. Srei was born into slavery, and had only been in the desert for a few years now. It was actually Emperor Imad's invasion of her previous master's lands that gave her the opportunity to escape Ruskerrat in the first place.

In some ways, because of her captivity, Esmal felt less alien to her than the reptiles she shared kinship with.

Srei savored touching the prince a moment longer. She yearned to sleep beside him like they had earlier in the afternoon, but she would respect Esmal's requests. More than anything else from the prince, Srei wanted his trust.

She sat up and studied him. His finely kept sideburns went down and along his jawline. His hair was thick and dark, with natural curls setting in a way Srei found fetching. The sideburns worked with his strong jawline. His lips were plump and pouting, parted ever so slightly in sleep.

Srei leaned down and kissed his cheek. “Sleep well, prince."

Before Srei had realized what was wrong, she could barely contain her cock in her slit with the excitement in the camp, but after Esmal's panic attack, she wanted away from the revelry. The lizard crept outside, ignoring scenes of carnal lust to walk out down the road. They had risen in elevation and would rise more the next few days. Already the stars felt very close, crowded together in bright mosaics of light. She walked until she no longer heard noises from the camp and settled on a small boulder beside the road.

She curled her tail around herself and listened to the quiet night. The stroking calls of insects, a coyote's howl, drowned by the calls of a clan of wyverns nearby. When she had been a slave to the north and east of here, she was almost always cold, but here she could linger in the night air naked and at ease. She did not intend to sleep there, only wait until the fervor of her kin died down.

Before she decided to leave, however, the sound of something sliding up the path caught her attention. It was Sisbul, the steward cleaned now but Srei smelled the evening's festivities on him.

Sisbul said as he closed the distance between them, “It is unlike you to go off and brood like this. Is our guest responsible for your mood?" He spoke their native tongue, a language Srei barely felt she mastered.

“He… had a poor reaction to your sport, steward, so I used a soothing stone to let him sleep through things."

Sisbul snickered. “Prince Esmal will be spending much of his stay sleeping if he has such reactions."

“I will try to take him out of camp tomorrow night. He needs time to get used to our bodies."

“He should be used to your body at this point, yes?"

Srei's tail hugged tight around her legs. “I do not know about that."

“Come Srei," the great naga said, approaching her and resting a hand on her shoulder from the ground. “You are a beautiful creature. I know he sees this."

“Is this because the connection you share with him?" Srei asked, the question coming out more of an accusation than she meant.

“Ah, he told you about the trance. And no, I saw the way his eyes lingered on you when he first saw you. He is confused, but he will not be forever."

“Can you really sense that from him?"

Sisbul laughed. “He is easy to read, surely you could see clearly if you did not let your desires cloud your judgement."

Srei studied him in the dark for a moment. She asked, “And what are my desires, steward?"

Sisbul offered her a hand. “Come, let us head back to camp and I shall tell you." Srei took his hand and hopped off the rock. The naga circled round her, coils brushing her ankle as he began slithering back to camp. Srei walked in step and he said, “There were ten reptiles in Srrket qualified for your position. Most consider the Savish a vile sort yet you volunteered."

“I suppose I do not think kindly of the human empire, either."

“Mmm, but I also know you preferred serving humans here before I had to have them exiled. You long for the company of a human, and Prince Esmal might be the only one here for years."

Srei squeezed her bicep, claws digging into her scales as she muttered, “You are very perceptive, steward." They traveled in silence for a few paces before, watching the dirt, Srei added, “I should not. I should hate humans of all kinds after everything I went through as a slave."

“Yet you still desire their company over your kin," Sisbul said as if finishing Srei's thought.

“It's not that," Srei snapped, stopping a moment on the road. She realized who she spoke to and bowed, “I'm so sorry, my lord."

Sisbul touched her cheek and lifted her face. “I am sorry for being assumptive. You do not need to apologize for speaking back to me. I may be your leader, but I am not your master. No one is Srei, remember that."

A wave of relief washed over her. She had heard all this before—many times in the last few years, but she still had trouble accepting it sometimes. Srei hugged her arms around Sisbul's thick torso. “Thank you, steward." Sisbul returned her embrace before she released him. A little shaken up, Srei spoke quietly when they continued walking: “I do prefer the company of my kin, but… I still crave the approval of humans. I feel broken saying it, but that is the reason why I volunteered to be his retainer."

They had reached the camp by then. Things were quiet and the smells of sex had thinned in the open desert air. Sisbul placed a hand on her shoulder, “He will come to cherish you, and not just because you will be the only person he can speak to his first few months here. I believe your kindness will win him to our ways."

“Hehe, thank you, Sisbul."

The naga kissed her brow. “Come, sleep within my coils little one," the naga said as he entered the camp. He spared her an affectionate look, which reminded Srei of her previous question.

“Wait, but why did you put Esmal under trance?"

Sisbul deflected her question. “We have talked enough, little one. Come, sleep." Knowing not to expect any more, Srei went to join him.

***

Srei woke tangled in limbs and warmth. Several other lizards and one naga slept with Sisbul. His soft coils provided a warm if uneven bed. Birdsong roused the little lizard from a fitful rest. Carefully, while others began to stir, she climbed off Sisbul and hopped into the dirt. She faced the still-greying horizon and stretched her arms wide, tail arcing up and twitching as she stretched it, too.

While the camp slowly woke, she went to check on her prince. Pulling up the curtain she found him on his side, still sleeping. His hands had balled up satin as if he might have been groping for something in his sleep. Srei spared a wistful look, remembering the tenderness with which he held her in his sleep, how it seemed to soothe him. Sisbul said be patient, but Srei was accustomed to anticipating and solving the discomforts of others her whole life. Anxiety pricked up and down her insides when she knew something was wrong but had to simply ignore it.

Esmal breathed, though, which was all she came to check. Srei went to the bags of one of the camels and retrieved a small mirror. Her makeup had been smudged in her sleep: not a surprise. She went about washing her face and reapplying it: normal morning routines. Routines helped soothe the dread she did something wrong with Esmal.

The sun had begun to rise by the time Srei made herself presentable. Some lizards not concerned about personal appearance had begun stoking last night's fire to make tea. Breakfast would be dried meats and nuts collected from the foothills farther in Srrket, and a bright violet citrus fruit. Some might also eat a dried chili or two if they wanted some heat on their palette for the morning.

Srei let Esmal sleep a little longer, secretly hoping the prince might wake on his own. It did not happen, and so she eventually returned to the palanquin with a small stick.

She prodded his side with the stick and whispered, “Prince Esmal… Prince Esmal… please wake up."

The prince groaned, a sleepy sound that turned into a growl when Srei poked him again. He swiped at the stick feebly and Srei tossed it out onto the dirt.

“Why?"

Srei blinked. This said into the satin which the prince had buried his face in.

“Why, you must eat, prince, and there is still much to teach you in the world of the living."

“No…" the prince sounded almost petulant in his half-sleep, “Why were you prodding me with a stick? I am not some half-dead animal."

“Ah," Srei wringed her hands and said, “I just… yesterday you seemed very upset to be touched by reptiles so I was trying to respect your boundaries and—" She stopped babbling when she saw him staring at her.

He sighed and said as he sat up, “I suppose my request was ridiculous to insist on."

“My prince?"

“You did nothing wrong, Srei," Esmal grumbled. “I… I am upset that yesterday—especially last night—was not some sordid dream."

Srei grimaced but had expected he would not be taken with what happened the night before. “How is your ankle feeling, my prince?"

“Better, I hope to walk on it soon. I feel like a soldier forgotten in the physician's field tent."

“Um…"

“Worthless and bored," Esmal clarified.

Srei's tail swiped in the dirt behind her, a nervous tic. She wanted inside so other reptiles might not see the gesture but was also scared to ask for an invitation. She tried to smile for Esmal when she said, “Well, tonight should be no different than the last. They will not stop on our account, seeing as we are considered the rude ones in this land. But if my prince would like, we can walk together outside of the camp and return when things have settled down."

Esmal said while rubbing sleep from his eye, “And I cannot walk down the road by myself? If I am the rude one, I hardly want to deny you your 'sport.'"

His acerbic words made Srei flinch, but forcing down her strong desire to beg forgiveness, she said, “I… We both know you cannot be allowed to leave camp without accompaniment."

His sharp, brown eyes settled on her like he just noticed her.

“I will let my lord rouse and return with breakfast—"

“Wait, Srei—" Esmal grabbed her wrist. The touch, unexpected, made Srei start. She broke away and fell backwards like Esmal's touch was a snapping dog. He stared, taken aback. She felt the gazes of other reptiles on her as well. Humiliation bubbled in her throat.

She fought back tears as she said, “I… I must go."

Needing away from everyone, she ran out of camp and down the road.

***

Esmal stared at the spot Srei had been before she darted away quick as a fox under a fence. In the camp, morning routines had been disrupted with hissing and clucking in Srrketch. Some lizards made to go after Srei, but Sisbul called them back. A mixture of embarrassment and confusion left Esmal at a loss for words as the naga slithered towards him.

Sisbul ducked his head into the palanquin, cobra hood blocking the rest of the entrance. “You will have trouble being more than a pariah if you scare away your retainers, prince." He spat the word, a fury that Esmal had not seen since they last met in battle. Esmal remembered his gut clenching when the naga lunged towards him. It happened again when Sisbul hissed something and clapped a hand against the dirt. Sparks fluttered off his hand, and he slowly slid back to standing. As his hand lifted off the ground, it pulled dirt up with it into a rod, then more clearly, a cane.

“Get up," Sisbul ordered.

A lance of pain did not stop Esmal from standing fast as he could.

Sisbul pushed the cane into Esmal's hand. “Go find your retainer. She is your responsibility much as you are hers. We will wait until you bring her back. If something happens to her, it will happen to you in equal measure."

Esmal swallowed the knot in his throat and mumbled, “Very well." The cane held firm, like it was made of fired clay. Esmal hobbled down the road for Srei, feeling sharp, reptilian glares digging into his back.

Srei he spotted perched on a boulder in the distance: the little lizard quivering. He knew before he heard that she was crying. When she finally noticed him, he was only a few paces away from the boulder. The normal eye makeup she wore had gotten smudged and ran in streaks from her tears. Her gasp, nearly a pained sound, made Esmal grimace.

“M-my prince!" she turned her back on him, “You should not see me like this it is unbefitting—"

“May I join you?" Esmal asked. He had reached the boulder and leaned the cane against it.

“I… my prince can do as he pleases."

“Your prince wishes to comfort you," Esmal said. He grunted as he hopped onto the rock. The rough stone scuffed his palms, but he got next to Srei. She leaned away from him a little, and still refused to show him her face.

“May I touch you?" Esmal asked.

“My prince can do as he pleases," Srei mumbled.

“Srei, would my touch comfort you?"

“I…" Srei hugged her knees with arms and tail. “I do not know."

Esmal could not remember the last time he asked permission for something. Yet now, uncertainty locked him from moving. His hand hovered near her, but did not touch her. He sat gingerly back on his knees. “I am sorry for upsetting you."

“You did nothing wrong."

“Clearly I did. Sisbul would not have ordered me to go out here if I had done things right."

“Ah, Sisbul sent you, then?"

Esmal pursed his lips. “No, Srei…" He sighed. “I wanted to come out here, truly. I was worried about you. When I tried to take your hand earlier and scared you… I was just trying to stop you from leaving because I could tell something was off. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

A shuddering exhale. “Please hold me."

Esmal scooted closer and embraced her, pulling the lizard to his chest. She began crying again. Esmal, actually, was not a stranger to soothing others. He had held men, friends, as they panicked or even died on the field of battle. Two decades of conquest and expansion by his father had costs even for the conquerors.

Esmal rubbed just the fingers of a hand up and down her spine. Her scales there were rougher, but still pleasing to the touch. With her brow against his chest, he smelled her floral perfume again and felt a stirring in his diaphragm. “It is alright," he whispered, “Thank you for letting me comfort you."

Srei sobbed. “I am… s-sorry."

“Sorry for what?"

Her voice was muffled by his chest as she burrowed into it. “I embarrassed us both."

“You did nothing wrong," Esmal said. “Perhaps you did embarrass me, but it will be a small thing in time."

She quaked against him. “I'm just so used to being punished…"

“What do you mean?" Esmal frowned down at her. Srei sobbed a moment more, before Esmal said, “Come on, Srei. I promise you are safe."

Srei managed to quell her weeping, her head turned so she looked out over the desert, cheek still pressed to Esmal. “I am not from here anymore than you are."

Esmal kept his tone even, but he suspected he knew the answer even as he asked, “Where are you from, Srei?"

“I was born a slave in Ruskerrat," Srei admitted. “I escaped here when Savish invaded my old master's kingdom."

Esmal led that campaign. Strange to think how they shared this threadbare connection. “You have only lived in Srrket for four years."

Srei nodded.

“How old are you, Srei?"

“I…" an embarrassed moment of hesitation, “seventeen, my prince."

“Gods, you were practically a child when you made your escape."

“Perhaps. I know I am young for your kind, but I matured by the age of ten." Srei finally looked up at him. She seemed to have relaxed.

Esmal chuckled, and his grip slackened. “You might have stopped growing, but I was hardly wise even when I was the age you are now, much less when I was thirteen." He squeezed her shoulders and said, “You were very brave to make your way here, to risk everything for your freedom."

Srei bowed her head shyly. “Thank you, my prince." She took a deep breath and admitted, “I have been free and happy here, but I still feel like an outsider among my kin."

Esmal hugged her again. “Well, I am grateful you chose to be my retainer. I swear, I will never treat you like a slave. We can be equals, outsiders here together."

She returned his embrace, tail wrapping around them both. “Thank you, my prince."

“Esmal," he whispered, “You can just call me Esmal."

***

“Oh come now, Esmal!" Srei exclaimed before leaning towards him. “Watch how my tongue moves."

Feeling a little flustered leaning in close to Srei's lips, Esmal listened to her. It was their fourth day on the road—the two sat in the palanquin while Srei tried to teach Esmal Srrketch.

Srei exhaled, tongue vibrating behind her teeth along the roof of her mouth.

Esmal tried to do the same and some spit accidentally struck her face.

She giggled and wiped her face. “I suppose that is what I get for telling you to get so close."

“Are you sure humans can learn this language?" Esmal asked.

“I have seen humans speak it at the palace. Mind you it is accented, but so is Sisbul's Savish.

“And you?"

Srei smirked and told him, “I have always been good with my tongue."

Esmal chuckled nervously and observed to ignore her obvious flirtation, “So you know many languages."

“About eight, actually."

Esmal blinked. Even with a noble education, he only knew four.

“Really?"

Srei nodded. “My masters wanted me to know the languages of the foreigners that might visit their castle. No one expects the slave to know their native tongue, so they often let things slip around me."

Esmal shook his head. “I am sorry your education came from such a vile place, but Srei, you do realize you are brilliant yes? To know so much at seventeen—"

Srei shyly looked away and muttered, “My prince flatters me too much." Esmal noticed her beaming, though.

“Can you read and write as well?"

Srei giggled. “Of course." Esmal smiled, in awe of her.

“Is there anything you can't do?"

“I am not much of a singer," Srei joked.

Esmal grinned. “Perhaps I could teach you."

“You?"

“I took singing lessons as a child. My father forced me to stop when I was an adolescent, to pursue manlier arts, but I was able to keep my voice honed with marching songs and the like."

Srei said, “Perhaps when we get to the palace we can teach each other. For now, though, let's practice a different sound…"

***

The road they took led up the mountains. It was a slow, steady rise over four days, and each day the air grew sharper, the sun harsher. Despite being able to walk unimpeded again by the end of the second day, Esmal did spend most of his time in the palanquin. Srei spent most of her time in there with him.

Srei was a patient, generous teacher of Srrketch, and she spent many hours simply coaching Esmal through how to make the proper noises of the language with his mouth. He needed to learn to hold his tongue in new ways, to occasionally pull sounds down into his throat, and needed to master all manner of hissing and clicking noises.

On the final, full day of their journey, they camped on a bluff that looked down into a wide valley that held Srrket's capital. It was a city surrounded by lush groves of trees, small farms, and several settlements on the outskirts of the valley. In the distance, all Esmal could tell was adobe buildings made up most of the city and it held no defensive structures to protect it. Years spent on the warfront made him keen to notice how fragile it all looked, how unprotected.

The night was a little more full of light in the waxing moon. Esmal sat on a rock outcropping on the bluff's edge with Srei beside him. The air this high up was a little chilly at night, and he noticed as they sat that Srei was trying to keep from shivering.

He said, “You are cold."

“What? Oh—I'm fine—"

“Nonsense Srei," Esmal said, scooting closer and pulling her against him. “I can share my warmth."

“Hehe, thank you, Esmal." Srei leaned against him. They still did not touch often. Mostly because the sort of casual touching reptiles did was something Esmal usually thought of as reserved for lovers. He had noticed it over the last few days: touches along the small of the back, one thigh against another, hands held. Reptiles exchanged these gestures natural as they did words. Srei and Esmal only touched when called for—mostly because it scared him how much of a temptation his retainer continued to be. But if it was for warmth then Esmal could excuse it, never mind how content he felt to have Srei's weight resting against him.

Srei stayed quiet, eyes closed and a gentle smile on her lips. It was infectious, though, he was glad Srei could not see how happy it made him when she was this close.

Eventually, Esmal asked, “How do your kind stand making camp up here in the cold?"

“Um, well, I am certain what they are doing right now is keeping them very warm."

“Right… of course. I am sorry you must suffer out here in the cold, then."

“It is alright," Srei said. She nuzzled into Esmal's chest, left hip practically resting in his lap with how close she was.

Esmal knew it a stupid, insecure question to ask, but it came out before he could stop himself: “Do you miss it?"

Srei tensed up against him, hesitated. Very quietly: “Yes."

Esmal's mouth felt a little dry. Just ask her to lie with you, a frustrated part of him thought. His breathing picked up. Srei let the silence build between them. He ran his hand down her side, savoring her scales a moment before he said, “You can go be with them. I will not runoff, and I have a good sense for how long to wait."

“I know," Srei said, but she did not move.

Esmal bit down his frustration and asked, “You do not want to?"

“I like keeping you company more, Esmal."

Esmal felt this some test from the gods. He continued to stroke down her side, a question swelling in his mind like the knot in his throat. Did she want him? Esmal could not bear to ask it, was horrified what might happen to his restraint if she said she did. He reminded himself of his wives, of the tenets of his god: to lie with a nonhuman was akin to bestiality. No matter that Srei seemed smarter and more intellectually capable than anyone he ever met. He would not let his lust humiliate him. That was surely all this was.

He needed all this to just be feelings of lust.

It had to be that—she was effortlessly beautiful with her shapely figure, eye-catching scales, her alluring scent, the way her laughter made it impossible not to smile…

“Is something wrong, my prince?"

_My prince—s_he no longer said it as a title but with a soft affection. A reminder that he was hers much as she was his.

He snatched on the first lie he could, “I am just thinking of what palace life will be like." This turned into an actual concern he voiced. “Will we still be spending our days together?"

“Only if you want, Esmal. I will still be around, but there will be others to speak to and spend time with, if you are so inclined."

Esmal was not so sure he was inclined. “I would prefer to keep you at my side," he admitted.

A giggle from her stirred his longing all over again. “Hehe, that makes me happy to hear, my prince."

Esmal took a deep breath before he asked, “They should be done by now, yes?"

“Hmm? Oh, I suppose so," Srei said. As she got up, Esmal noticed finally that his shaft had hardened down the length of his thigh. He hesitated to get up, so Srei offered her hand to him with a question, “Esmal?"

Hoping that the dark hid both his blush and his bulge, he mumbled an apology and took her hand. When she helped him up, she did not let go of his hand. He did not let go of hers. Quietly, they wound their way around prickly pear back to the trail, Srei leading the way. When they reached the road, she did not let go of his hand. He did not go of hers. They walked along as Esmal's heart raced. He felt stupidly adolescent. Like he was the teenager and this his first love.

He wanted to mention that hand holding meant a certain kind of intimacy for humans, but knew Srei would let his hand go if he did. So he did not. Besides, Srei knew what this gesture meant to him. They walked in step, both of Esmal's palms sweating. Things were quiet when they reached the camp: some light snoring, the camels dozing, and coyotes and some other creatures calling somewhere further along the mountain. Srei walked him to the palanquin and glanced down at their joined hands.

She lifted his hand to her lips and kissed his knuckles. A deep, lingering touch. She breathed in his scent, then exhaled warm air across his hand. He felt stunned in place by the gesture: desperate for more but knowing how dangerous all this felt. Her eyes flicked up to his, and Esmal's breath caught in his throat.

Srei let go of his hand, whispering, “Sleep well, my prince."

Esmal was almost staggered when she released him. Had she invited herself into the palanquin, he would not have stopped her, would not have protested anything. But he had told her not to sleep with him unless invited. Now he cursed himself for the frustrating mixture of making that rule, not having the strength to invite her, and longing for her so much. He watched her hips sway, pert rear end an inviting sight beneath her tail as she approached a group of tangled lizards. She curled up next to them, back remaining firmly to Esmal, as if she did not want to know if he still watched and longed for her. Much as a man could yearn for someone with just a look.

Taking a deep, steeling breath, he retreated to the palanquin, lying so his head rested in the satin where she had sat all day: trying to linger longer in her scent.

He knew better. Knew this connection Esmal shared with Srei was nothing more than some pathetic need to not be entirely alone in a strange land. He rolled on his back and sighed. The wind tugged on the roof of the palanquin canvas. He knew better. Esmal knew there was no future with Srei. He could not just take her with him back to Savish. Unless it was as a slave, but the thought of doing such a thing to Srei made Esmal sick. And Imad might have them both killed if he tried to marry Srei.

Marriage? Was that what he wanted? He had spent less time with his wives before being wed to them. It was not a foreign concept. What was foreign was denying himself something he wanted this badly.

His length remained stubbornly hard. He knew at least one thing he wanted from her for certain. Esmal imagined it often in his moments alone: what she might taste like, the noises she would make, the smell of her sex, the feeling of her scales shuddering against his bare skin… He continued to ignore his carnal needs for now; when he had a private room in the palace he could allow himself a moment's weakness. Not now, though. Not when Sisbul slept mere paces from him.

***

Esmal did not sleep well. He woke before dawn, groaning a little as he rolled over and out of some nightmare. He sat up, felt the need to piss, and decided to just stay awake. He stepped out and away from camp. Steam rose from the spot he watered.

In camp, reptiles were coming to. He retreated back to his palanquin and let them go about their morning routines. He was not needed, and sensed now might be the only solitude he would have for the coming day.

His privacy lasted only a few minutes before the curtain was lifted. Srei's cute muzzle appeared, blue eyes shining in the dim light. She said, “Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

“Fine enough," Esmal lied. “Was there something you needed?"

“Sisbul would like to speak with you, actually," Srei said. Reluctantly, Esmal followed her outside. Sisbul reclined on his coils near the campfire. Two lizards were applying makeup, one to Sisbul's face and another to the naga's hood. He beckoned both Srei and Esmal with a hand.

Srei casually sat on Sisbul's coils while Esmal opted to stand.

“You can relax, prince," the naga told him. “Sit like your retainer does." When he spoke, the lizard working on his eyeshadow paused until she could go back to her work.

“I would rather—" Srei nudged his ankle with her tail. The look she gave Esmal said he was about to commit some kind of cultural faux pas. Awkwardly, he said, “Thank you, steward," and sat like Srei did on the naga's coils. The weight seemed not to bother Sisbul at all. His scales yielded a little, but remained firm, and unlike the other reptiles there remained a heat coming off his body. He understood now why they slept clustered around him.

Esmal kept his hands in his lap and back straight. He still had trouble relaxing around the naga. When Sisbul captured him, Esmal had been wrapped in these coils and near suffocated until he passed out. It was hard not to just dwell in that memory of helpless, smothering, darkness.

Sisbul seemed to peer into his mind. “Really, prince, you may relax. We are no longer enemies on opposite sides of battle but friends who I hope will put their blood thirsty ways behind them."

Esmal glanced at Srei, who watched him. Having her here made him more cautious—he did not want to upset her even if they all knew the truth of the matter.

“I go where my father commands me," Esmal said to Sisbul. “He commanded I invade your lands, just as he commanded I return here as your prisoner."

“Surely there is more to living than invasion, though, hmm?"

Esmal set his jaw. What did Sisbul want him to say? “Of course. There is the gathering of resources, the resting and training of soldiers, the redistribution of power when a new land is conquered, the bolstering of Savish's coffers with the wealth of the conquered."

“Ah," Sisbul said, unbothered by Esmal's response, “The script of conquest. Well-rehearsed by you it seems. Your father must be very proud of how good an actor you have become." He spoke like they might over a pipe while debating philosophy.

Srei studied him as if the prince was a different person. One she was scared of. It crushed him a little, but he also knew this was the truth of his life and who he was.

Esmal said, “You speak as if my father is my puppeteer."

“You seem very willing to dance on his strings, do you not?"

Esmal knew Sisbul would win if he allowed himself to get angry at the naga. He did not want that—especially while Srei sat next to him. He glared at Sisbul while thinking of what to say. The lizards applying his makeup finished and now Sisbul returned his gaze. There was a strange beauty to the way his eyeshadow and golden eyeliner framed his face.

Esmal said, “I serve my father because it is an honor. His conquest was an order given to him by the God Verishna, and his blessings have carried us to endless victories."

“Till you came here."

Esmal balled his fist. If not for Srei…

Sisbul slid forward on his coils, leaning close so his face was mere inches from him. Esmal, refusing to be cowed by the cobra, stared back. “Prince…" Sisbul whispered while a violet glow radiated from around his eyes. The light came in purple flames, small tongues of it. Esmal knew with alarm what was happening, but again could not turn away. He shuddered. Sisbul whispered, “You are not being honest with us, hmm? I can see it—have watched the struggle worm through you like a parasite. You cling to your beliefs, but what is the real reason you follow your father's every order?"

It was like Sisbul dug into his mind for something Esmal had long buried.

A memory of playing at the palace, on a balcony over the sea. His older sister, Niluf, was there with him when his father came onto the balcony yelling something. His sister, a teenager, got between him and Imad. They argued. Imad grabbed Niluf by the throat, and with his great strength, tossed her, screaming, off the balcony. His father turned on Esmal and snapped, “This is the cost of disobedience and disloyalty. Remember it well, son."

A single word escaped Esmal's lips: “Fear."

“That's enough!" A hand shoved Sisbul's face away and Esmal was pulled into the dark blue scales of Srei's chest. His retainer had broken the trance and now blocked Sisbul with her body to make sure Esmal was safe. He only noticed, then, that tears ran down his face.

Strange, he did not remember the last time he cried.

Like the first time Sisbul put him into a trance, Esmal found his limbs slow to wake. In a daze, Srei helped him to the palanquin. She sat Esmal against the back of it and took his face in her hands. “Esmal? My prince? Say something for me, what is my name?"

“Srei…" he whispered. Head still full of fog, he barely managed a, “Thank you."

“He will never do that to you again," Srei swore. Her thumb stroked his cheek, wiping away a tear. She seemed so… frightened. Esmal wanted to comfort her. Wanted to kiss her.

She hugged him again and kissed his brow. A gesture meant to sooth. She rocked him back and forth and whispered, “You are safe. You are safe."

Idly, thinking of his long dead sister, Esmal wondered if this was the first time in his life he felt safe. Safe, not in his home, but here, in a strange land protected by a girl he only met.

***

They broke camp at their normal time. Esmal stayed inside the palanquin like he did the first day, only leaving to use the bathroom once. When they reached a settlement on the valley's outskirts, reptiles swarmed them. Most paraded around the steward, but some tried to peek into the palanquin while Srei did her best to defend his privacy.

Esmal had time enough to think about what happened between him and Sisbul. In some ways, he felt humiliated, but knew only Srei understood their conversation. More than the humiliation, though, was fear; fear that Sisbul could pluck a truth Esmal did not want to admit even to himself. Keeping Srei near seemed more important than ever.

And Srei… willing to defy Sisbul and strike him to protect Esmal. Since his… admission, she had been incredibly tender with him. It made his feelings for her all the more complicated. He wanted, badly, to show her how much she meant to him, but the prince did not know how without crossing the boundary he knew he needed to hold. Once crossed, he feared he might not be able to let her go. He welcomed arriving at the palace if only so he might busy himself with something other than spending all his time with and thinking of Srei.

Around noon, they stopped. Srei had been teaching Esmal various basic words like “sun" and “food" in Srrketch. She ducked out of the palanquin, then quickly poked her head back in to say, “We are near the palace. Steward Sisbul wishes to speak with you."

They exchanged a look and Srei said again, “I won't let him hurt you, my prince." She offered her hand and Esmal took it. Like the night before, they did not let go of each other when he got out of the palanquin. They were in the middle of the train of people and camels while Sisbul stood at the front. They had stopped on a wide road, surrounded by adobe buildings, some painted bright colors, most with greenery growing out of windows and on trellises. Chiles, tomatoes, and beans grew on many of these plants. All along the edges of the road stood crowds of reptiles: nagas, lizards of different size and shape, and four-legged drakes. Guards, more than they traveled with, kept the crowd back with their presence.

Strangely scared, Esmal squeezed Srei's hand and was led to where Sisbul waited for them. The naga smiled at them both and bowed. Esmal, knowing how many watched them, returned the gesture with Srei.

“It is good to see the two of you so close," Sisbul commented, with a wry, knowing look at Esmal. The prince fought back a blush, but before he thought of something to say Sisbul told him, “I am sorry for what happened this morning. I wish to make amends, so I will never again put you under trance unless you invite me to."

The tension in Srei's shoulders relaxed a little, but Esmal still stayed on guard. The crowd around him made it difficult to relax.

“For now, I would like to take you on a tour of the palace. If Srei would be willing to leave your side to make sure your rooms are readied, that would be expedient. But I can tell how important she is to you…" Sisbul trailed off, eyes lingering on where Esmal and Srei still held hands.

Esmal glanced at his hand then up to Srei, who gave him a look that said, “I am happy to stay."

And yet… it scared him to keep Srei so close. Longing that held no futures grumbled inside him. Esmal touched the back of her hand and said, “I will be fine, dear." He had never called her that—the word just slipped out. She hugged him, a brief moment of her scent close to him under the noonday sun. A breath where it was only the two of them here.

Then she stepped back and bowed to them both. “Enjoy the tour, my prince. I will see you in your rooms."

She trotted off ahead through an outer gate. The palace did have a wall, but it was barely taller than a man, more meant for privacy than defense.

Sisbul said, “The two of you have become very close in such a short time."

“It is none of your business," Esmal said, watching Srei go.

The naga's snicker was a stutter of hisses. “You do not need to be so defensive, prince. I had hoped your retainer might also become someone you would hold dear."

“Shouldn't we be going?"

Sisbul began slithering towards the palace and Esmal walked in step. “You want her, do you not?"

Esmal kept his eyes straight ahead and kept walking. His longing swelled in his chest and made his breathing feel labored. He did not show any sign of it, and he did not answer Sisbul.

The snake laughed as they approached the gate. “Not answering is still an answer, prince!"

Esmal said, “You insist on meddling."

“I insist you let go of your fear while you are here."

Sisbul might as well have slapped him. He stopped just within the palace gates. Inside the grounds were olive trees offering shade along garden paths. Directly ahead rose a low-sloping steppe pyramid. Its first level unroofed, and each layer of it connected not by stairs but ramps.

Sisbul placed a hand on his shoulder. He said, “I saw what happened, Esmal. Your father is a vile man, not fit to be a ruler."

Knowing that Sisbul saw what he did made Esmal feel violated all over again. He smacked the hand off his shoulder and snapped, “You know nothing." He wished now he had kept Srei with him.

Sisbul acted as if nothing happened and asked, “Shall we tour the gardens first?"

“I see them, we can move on."

Sisbul shook his head. “Be careful with who you turn your fangs on, prince." They began moving again. “I only wish to help."

“Reptiles have an interesting notion of help."

“Consider it one of our many charms."

The first floor was still almost entirely open to the sunlight. Awnings with intricately woven patterns of different reptiles lined walls that stood with no roof. They provided a mixture of shade and sunlight. A scattering of statues with fountains and delicate looking flowering plants rested on this first level. Here, Sisbul explained, citizens usually practiced leisure. Different sets of furniture could be found around the place, spots where one might take a meal or play some sort of board game involving small stones.

The second floor took them inside a single, massive chamber with paths to the third floor to their left and right. This entire hall offered a lush oasis. More greenery grew along walls and columns and the inside carried an unexpected humidity. The chamber's middle contained a large pool of clear water where reptiles leisured. Smells of lotions, perfumes, and other sundries of soaps wafted from the room. Light cut from the roof spilled into the pool with torches lining the wall. Along with the large pool, several smaller baths dotted the room.

“This is the public bath," Sisbul said while Esmal blushed a little. Several of the reptiles were in the casual process of lovemaking. Some others seemed to watch it for sport, but none seem perturbed by the fucking that happened.

Esmal forgot his anger for the moment, looking down at his dusty shoes. “Are there, um, private baths?"

Sisbul chuckled. “A tub can be brought to your rooms, but no. I am happy to bathe with my people."

“Humans value their privacy a little more."

The naga shrugged. “There is no need to be shy. No one will bother you without your invitation, but if the spirit moves you, there is always great," a long hiss, “entertainment here."

“I will take your word for it," Esmal said. “Is this all there is to this floor?"

“You do not wish to go down and see all we have to do here? I thought you would miss the water and might like a swim—the center pool becomes quite deep you know."

Esmal began walking for the ramp along the chamber wall that was a few paces away.

Sisbul caught up to him and said, “You should allow yourself some joy while you are here, prince. If I thought the next five years here would be torment I would have arranged rooms for you in our dungeons."

“Do your kind fuck in there as well?"

“Are you curious to find out, prince?"

“Not with one your kind."

“Snakes not to your liking?"

“Scales are not to my liking."

Sisbul snickered again. “With the way you look at Srei, you could have fooled me."

Esmal stopped at the top of the ramp to the third floor. “That's!—" but stopped himself from more flustered arguing. The naga's smug grin only made it worse. He took a deep breath, then said, “Is trying to embarrass me some sport for you?"

“It is not my fault gentle teasing has you so undone," Sisbul said. Another laugh. “For a battle-hardened warrior, you seem very fragile."

“I am used to the people around me knowing to respect their betters."

“Ah, there is your problem, Prince Esmal." Sisbul said this as he casually wound around Esmal, coils not quite touching the prince. “In this kingdom, we are all equals. No one is above anyone else." He leaned in and Esmal leaned back and turned his head away in alarm. He thought Sisbul planned to put him in another trance, but instead the snake king simply whispered in his ear, “Though, if you would someday like for me to be above you, I would be inclined to know what your tender flesh offers. I saw, after all, how you looked at me your first night in my kingdom."

A sickening mixture of disgust and desire blossomed in Esmal's gut. Hot breath on his ear made him feel tender all over, but Sisbul did not touch him. The naga pulled leisurely away and it was just the two of them. No guards had accompanied them on their tour, and no one from the baths could see them on the ramp. Sisbul's smirk told Esmal that the naga knew exactly what kind of effect he had on the prince.

“I will never be interested in males," Esmal said, but he could not look the naga in the face. Esmal should have said reptiles did not interest him, but Sisbul already knew what Esmal felt towards Srei.

“Hmhm…" Sisbul coils still twisted around Esmal, not touching but also not letting Esmal move. Sisbul said, “Five years is a long time prince. You should open yourself to… exploring as much as possible."

“I am here to learn how to kill you," Esmal snapped.

Esmal's outburst bounced off Sisbul. “If that is what you want, prince. I will offer you an exchange: let me take you to bed and I will tell you how to kill me."

Esmal clenched his fists. “A sharp enough blade will hack off that head of yours eventually."

Sisbul's smirk this time did not reach his eyes. “Let us continue our tour, shall we?" The naga released him, and Esmal felt a wave of relief and a small joy: this exchange felt like one he won for once.

***

On the fifth and penultimate level of the palace is where they planned to have Esmal stay. There a single room suite held a view of the mountains. On the opposite end of the floor were Sisbul's own rooms.

Inside Esmal's suite a large, low-to-the-ground four-poster bed waited in the middle of the room. A chest at its foot held extra blankets for the winter seasons as well as space for clothes more in a style with the desert. Though, they likely would need to be tailored. Along the inner wall hung heavy tapestries over the smooth cut stone. These depicted religious scenes of Shkhanna, a winged drake, founding Srrket. On the wall facing the outside, a wide window filled the room with light. Esmal had a good view of the city, valley, to the mountains in the west. Along the windowsill were several potted, flowering plants. Set along it, a wide stone desk offered both a space to write and to eat. It had two chairs, and on one wall rested a low wooden table with cushions around it for taking guests with tea. An intricately woven rug of alternating desert colors covered most of the stone floor.

When Srei entered the room, everything was immaculate. The sheets of the bed were being smoothed out by two broad paws. Srei stopped in the doorway as a silver drake faced her. His eyes were a bright amber, and from his head down his spine to the tip of his tail ran a streak of soft white fur. His sleek black horns arched backwards, and, though he walked on all four legs, his front paws were quite dexterous. And on his throat, the pale scar of Sisbul's claiming bite. He was one of the steward's consorts.

He smiled at Srei and said, “Oh, I was told you might be coming. You are Prince Esmal's retainer, Srei, is it?"

“You are Tezzbelst." Srei said, feeling she walked into some kind of ploy.

The drake flashed his fangs when he smiled. “Tezz, please. There is no need for formalities." Tezz the silver drake. With his spirit linked to Sisbul's, he was one of the lands' most skilled mages.

“I don't believe we've met before. The pleasure is mine," Srei said, her bow a little too stiff.

“Oh come now," Tezz padded over to her, weaving around her back and nuzzling her shoulder. “We've not even got to the pleasure yet," he whispered. Srei heard the drake shut the door with his tail.

Tezz was about twelve feet long from snout to tail. Srei only came up to his shoulder. Most drakes dwarfed her and he was big for a drake.

“Sisbul sent you here?" Srei asked, still a little on guard.

“Ah, perceptive, dear. He did! He sent a messenger ahead to the palace and told me I should get Prince Esmal's rooms ready." Tezz strutted past Srei, tail lifted to show off his ample backside and low hanging, heavy balls. He reached the bed and twisted around, “And he added that, if a little lizard named Srei arrived, I should do my best to make up for all the days she spent not being touched by her prince."

“That not—I don't…" properly flustered, Srei fought for something to say. “Sisbul need not meddle in our affairs."

“Oh not meddling, darling," Tezz said. He sat back on the bed, forepaws resting on the bed for balance while he leaned back and spread his hind legs. The round tip of a dark cock poked out his sheath, and Srei smelled his musk in the room already. Drakes had very potent… everything. Srei knew from experience. And she felt heat in her slit as her eyes lingered on the twitching sheath. Tezz said, “Sisbul just wants to make sure your needs are being met. It must be so hard to spend all that time with a human who cannot take a hint."

“I'm not interested in your opinion of him," Srei snapped.

Tezz snickered. “But I can see I have your interest."

Srei crossed the room to the drake and knelt between his legs. She touched the strong, muscular thigh of the drake a moment, testing the sparkling flesh before glancing up at Tezz. “Sisbul is annoyingly perceptive."

“Hehe, some of us admire that quality about him, darling," Tezz said. “It is okay for you to need this."

Srei did need this. It was, in some ways, becoming torture to spend so much time with Esmal but also refuse her desires. She had taken for granted how used to regular intimacy she had become. It had gotten to a point that sometimes she needed to make an excuse to leave Esmal alone just so she wouldn't jump on him. The night before, lying against his lap, sharing warmth, had been so lovely. She had taken things far as she thought she could, but Shkhanna's slit! She wished Esmal would have pulled her into his palanquin. Srei could not remember ever wanting someone as badly as she wanted Esmal. After he comforted her the morning of her breakdown, she saw that, whatever he carried beneath all the troubles of his homeland, there was a kind, noble spirit she wished more than anything to nurture.

“You do need this, don't you?" Tezz asked.

Srei blinked and shook her head. “I'm sorry, what?"

Tezz laughed, forepaw settling on the back of Srei's head. “Here, dear, let me help you enjoy yourself." Tezz shoved her face into his sheath. The scales there were a bit oily, and the smell of the drake's musk made Srei completely forget about Esmal for a moment. The little lizard whimpered, nuzzling into the sheath. Her tongue dragged across the fine scales, and the welcome taste of male left Srei heated. Her cock began to peek from its sheath while she let the masculine, earthy scent of drake musk coat her snout and tongue.

“That's it," Tezz growled. The drake rubbed his sheath up into her nuzzling, and his cock grew and grew. Srei kept licking and worshipping his sheath, while her hands grabbed his shaft. Even still soft, the girth was great enough she could not wrap her fingers around it. The cock was mottled black and grey and equine in shape. A blunt, unflared head quickly began to droop under its own weight. She stroked it while the stronger, sharper scent of his shaft joined what Srei already smelled. The paw on the back of Srei's head guided her up. Tezz's shaft was hot against her tongue, and the soft flesh's distinct flavor made her moan. Srei's cock already pushed fully out her slit and dripped on the rug.

Srei reached the head of the meaty, equine shaft, and her lips opened wide to take it into her mouth. She suckled on the tip, toes curling when precum spilled across her tongue. Srei reached down and stroked herself. Her tongue swirled and pressed against the drake's wide urethra, getting the most potent taste of his maleness from there. Once sated, she bobbed her head. Tezz sighed and stroked the back of her neck with a forepaw. “Mmm, I can't wait to have you bounce on my lap."

Tezz assumed much about Srei in the moment. She loved cock and loved to worship it.

She, however, was not a bottom.

Srei popped off Tezz's throbbing shaft and stood up, pulling the drake's mouth to hers. The larger drake's beastly maw met hers and they exchanged a brief kiss. Srei let him taste the potent mixture of his sex, drawing him in before she put a hand on his chest. She needed to throw her weight into it, but she shoved the drake onto his back.

Tezz practically squawked when he fell into the bed. Srei stood at the edge of it, over his tail and between his legs—the drake put together what was about to happen. He purred, “My, for a little one you are quite…"

Srei squeezed the base of her shaft. “Large?" she finished for him. Her cock was nine inches, which on her small, five foot tall body, seemed especially obscene. Its flesh was the same blue of her eyes and tongue, glossy with slit fluids. Firm, full veins ran along its sides, and a constant flow of pre drooled from her tapered tip.

Srei told him, “Much as I'm flattered that you want to take me, I can't spend all evening leaking drake cum."

Tezz spread his legs, “I can see you have something else in mind."

“You don't mind?"

“Eager to see what you can do, daring," Tezz told her. He seemed comfortable lying back on the bed, so Srei knelt down. His back end just barely hung off the bed—that muscular rear big and warm when Srei squeezed it. Beneath his tail, in the cleft of his cheeks was his entrance. The puckered flesh was a darker grey compared to the rest of his silver scales, and seeing it flex a little for Srei made her lick her lips. She could not resist tasting her partner first. Holding his cheeks open, she nuzzled in against his crack and kissed his rim. Tezz rumbled with approval when she dragged her tongue across the dark flesh. The wrinkled pucker was a little puffy with repeated use: the drake clearly not a stranger to being penetrated. Srei's dick leaked watery precum all over Tezz's tail. She ravished the hole, licking and pushing against it, teasing and tantalizing her partner.

She sat up and growled. It had been so long and she could wait no longer. She mounted the drake, who watched, panting while his massive cock drooled across his belly. Srei pointed her tip to his entrance and Tezz lifted his hips. She entered him, just spreading Tezz before, with a snarl, Srei speared down. Both reptiles moaned as the drake's warmth wrapped around Srei's cock. She huffed and grabbed Tezz's fat hamstrings for support as she angled downward and began thrusting into him.

Tezz's hole was loose enough that Srei hilted him quickly. Her hips, smaller than Tezz's backside, smacked against him. His interior was a passage of rippling pleasure. Srei's profuse leaking quickly made him wet inside, and his asshole messily leaked her fluids as her dick rammed him over and over. Tezz made rakish calls that might be heard in the gardens below, but Srei could care less at this point. The lizard grit her teeth and felt her internal testes clench as her first orgasm began to near. She did not slow down her pace. Her thrusts merely became sloppier, more frantic as she sought the release so long denied.

She groaned when she came, hilting inside the drake as her cock jumped. Thick gouts of seed spilled inside Tezz: one jet, two. The drake responded to the new warmth, releasing a shuddering sigh. He looked up at her to speak—only for Srei to start humping his backside again.

He grunted. “Oh ah… fuck, you-you're one of those, aren't you?" Tezz asked.

Some reptiles had two cocks, some massive ones like Tezz's drake endowment. Srei did not have a refractory period, and right now she had a lot she needed to vent.

Tezz cursed as she kept stirring him up. Her seed, thick and plenty, began to be forced out around her dick as she fucked him. Srei lay down between his legs. She was just tall enough to reach his cock with her mouth in this position. She licked it once while her hips continued to rut. Every once in a while, a fresh wave of cum would spill into the drake while her tail shuddered. Meanwhile she pulled his cock into her mouth and started sucking. Tezz bucked his hips when she did, and Srei gagged a little, but did not fight the feeling of his cock sliding into her throat. Tezz cursed, closed his legs around Srei, trapping her in place.

The drake began to work his hips with Srei, milking her obscenely productive cock while pumping his into the little lizard's gullet. Srei got lost in the feeling of her face being used. She almost enjoyed oral more than fucking, and while he worked her shaft she was getting the best of both worlds. Her balls kept pumping Tezz with cum. His stomach a little bloated with it, and a slick, musky mess of seed coated Srei's thighs, Tezz's tail, and the rug beneath them. In the moment of bliss, Srei completely forgot Esmal.

Tezz had gone a little quiet. The drake seemed to be concentrating on the wet, suction and pleasure Srei's mouth gave. He'd gone from moans to whimpers and huffs and breathy sighs. His dick began to flare and its outline could be seen in Srei's throat. He shuddered every time he humped into Srei now. His toes curled, and he whined before his forepaws held Srei down on his shaft. He went still, and when his cock erupted inside her, Srei finally felt sated. She moaned, the sound muffled as she swallowed wave after wave of drake cum. The essence far thicker than her own cum, potent in a way all reptiles were well aware of: drakes could breed females of any species. And that heady cocktail came so fast it spilled up her mouth and around her lips, so much came it went back through her sinuses and cum leaked from her nostrils. Her eyes watered as she swallowed, content as a nursing babe on the drake's shaft. Her own cock felt spent for the time being as well.

When Tezz finished and released Srei, the lizard gingerly pulled out at the same time she released his cock. Panting, she crawled on top of the drake and lied across his chest so her lips could meet his. His thick, large tongue eagerly scooped the cum from her mouth into his. Tezz murred and held her close, chest to chest. And in their shared warmth, Srei even felt her longing for Esmal soothe a little.

Then door to the room opened.

Srei squeaked and rolled off Tezz, scrambling to her feet only to see Esmal there in the doorway. He had a perfect view of the rump Srei just finished abusing and the lizard's front smeared with cum from both of them. Her cock, still hard, throbbed when she noticed Esmal staring at it. Embarrassed, Srei turned her back shouting, “It's not what you—"

“Prince Esmal!" Tezz happily proclaimed over her. While he sat up, Sisbul pushed into the room with a stunned, blushing Esmal in tow. “Sorry about your room," Tezz said, “I did not expect your retainer to be so messy. We were going to clean up before you arrived but—"

Sisbul, holding back laughter, said, “The prince was not interested in seeing the gardens or the baths, so our tour was cut short."

“S-Srei?" her name came out a question that Esmal could not finish.

She shivered, and said with her back still to Esmal, “I told you last night, my prince, that I missed it."

“Really you are missing out, Prince Esmal," Tezz added. “She is an excellent lover."

Sisbul laughed. “I know all too well. She was selected for her many talents, after all."

“Please," Srei nearly begged, “Can the three of you leave so I may ready Esmal's room?"

“How about we tour the garden now, hmm?"

Esmal, not speaking a word, let Sisbul lead her out of the room.

***

Tezz, helpfully, had stowed behind the bed supplies to clean up their mess. Srei used them to clean the carpet, changed the sheets with the ones Tezz had brought, and lit incense in the room to help with the smell. Soon the scent of jasmine replaced any musk in the room, and things looked pristine as Srei would have hoped. It took less than half an hour to clean their mess. Once she finished, Srei hesitated to leave. She thought about making some tea for her prince, but did not want to leave the room to fetch things. She worried that, when Esmal returned, it might be her only chance to explain herself.

And what did she say? In some ways he frustrated her. She played out in her head how angry he must be, and she got defensive as well. Srei was used to dealing with masters yelling at her, but if Esmal berated her she had the mind to lose her temper right back. He could not control who she spent time with. Certainly, it might have been inappropriate to have sex on his bed without permission, but she was as much to blame as Sisbul and Tezz. In fact, she was not sure she would have done anything if Esmal just… just…

She worried a trail in the rug, pacing back and forth. She did not know how much time passed before the door opened and Esmal stepped inside. He paused when he saw her, then shut the door behind him.

Srei was wringing her fingers again when she asked, “Umm, Sisbul did not accompany you?"

“I knew my way back," Esmal said. She nearly cringed. He sounded… sad.

Srei, feeling suddenly responsible for hurting him, asked, “Did you want some privacy, my prince? I could leave you alone for a few hours."

“In a moment," Esmal said. “Please, sit." He gestured to the bed.

Feeling nervous, Srei did. Esmal took one of the stools under the desk and pulled it over so he could sit across from her. He spread his legs, palms slid down his thighs till he squeezed his knees. He stared at the floor between them.

He sighed. “What Sisbul got me to say this morning, it is true you know."

She hesitated, then asked, “That you are afraid?"

“I had forgotten. My father killed my sister in front of me, when I failed him as a child he would beat me. For better or worse, he molded me into what I am. He ordered me to spend my time here figuring out how best to raze these lands."

Srei hugged herself and asked, afraid of the answer, “Is that still what you wish?"

“It is about what he wishes for, Srei," Esmal said. “He loves me, you know. But if I had not ended up such a useful tool for him, he might have disposed of me like my sister. Now that I have a son, he still might."

“My prince," Srei whispered, “Why are you telling me all this?"

“Because, I want you to understand, Srei. I felt… a lot of things when I walked in here earlier, but when Sisbul took me outside, all that lingered was jealousy. I was jealous of that drake."

A flutter in Srei's chest lifted to her throat. She had to swallow before she babbled, “My prince, there is nothing to be jealous of. You can have me—r-right now if you wish!"

Srei nearly got up to embrace him, but at the same time Esmal looked up and through her. His gaze pinned her where she was. There were tears in the corner of his eyes.

He said, “I am afraid of having you. Letting myself have any of this Srei. What happens in five years when I must leave? To me you are… the most vibrant and stunning woman I have ever met. The sort plays and epics should be written about."

Srei's jaw slackened at that. No one had ever said such a thing about her.

“I just want you to understand why I will continue to keep my distance. It's… It is not you. It could never be you."

“Esmal…"

“I will keep you as my retainer, but please Srei, do not wait on me."

“Esmal…" she took a deep breath to hold back tears. A dry stinging in her throat told her they might yet still come. She told him, “I will not wait on you. But should you ever come to me my prince, sweet prince, I will welcome you like the desert here welcomes the monsoon." She swallowed down a sob. “I will take my leave."

“Take care."

Srei hurried out the room, only able to withhold her tears until she shut the door behind her.