The Darkest Sword

its mane but otherwise didn’t protest. Ashiyn used his legs like one did to command the bulls, and the horse trotted forward until Ashiyn stopped it in front of Rhadamanthus. He smirked. “Looks like your guards just don’t have the same touch with the animals that humans do.”
“Maybe the horse just knows I eat his kind in stew,” Rhadamanthus said in disgust, then turned to storm off down the hallway.
The horse snorted and flattened its ears in alarm. Ashiyn stroked its neck soothingly. “Don’t worry. I won’t let him eat you. I think I’ll call you Illusion.”
The horse bobbed its head as though it agreed the name was fitting.

CHAPTER FOUR
Ashiyn wandered from the boring meeting with dignitaries. He was tired of listening to the nobles of the land prattle their allegiance to Rhadamanthus. Like they had a choice. His Master ruled them with a fist of iron. Any who disobeyed were punished with very public torture and death. No one dared to cross Rhadamanthus, or now, even Ashiyn.
“You are quite a bit more powerful and handsome than I expected, young Prince,” a female voice said from the shadows, startling him.
Ashiyn cast a glance over, trying to look as though she’d merely irritated him. It was one of the older noble women who had apparently also grown bored with Rhadamanthus’s meeting. He vaguely remembered that his Master had instructed him to treat the nobles with respect, so he bowed his head slightly to her. “Thank you, Lady…”
“I am Lady Anushka,” she replied, with a curtsy. She appeared to be an older woman, middle aged for a Rizaron, one of his Master’s race. She beckoned him closer with a long black talon. “Perhaps I can have a private audience with you, my lord?”
Curious, Ashiyn followed her into the empty room. He watched, unconcerned, as she closed the door behind them. “What may I help you with, Lady?”
“I see that your Master has taught you a great many things, young Prince. But, I wonder? Have you yet learned to please a woman?” Lady Anushka asked, as she came close to him. Her hand trailed down his abs, left bare by his decorative armor, then down the front of his pants.
Ashiyn fought panic. He’d seen Rhadamanthus take many women over the years, but he hadn’t done it himself. And somehow he didn’t think that was what the woman referred to. He had only seen Rhadamanthus with servant women. Would his Master treat a noble woman differently? Ashiyn’s body, on the other hand, responded well to the woman’s expert touch, and it was quite distracting trying to gather his thoughts for an intelligent response.
“That’s what I thought,” She leaned close and whispered in his ear. “How inappropriate of your Master to deny a young man his needs. Come, allow me to teach you, young Prince. You will enjoy it, I promise.”
Ashiyn found himself quite unable to resist her. Not that he wanted to. And he did enjoy all of it quite a lot, at least until Rhadamanthus burst into the room and found them.
Rhadamanthus roared and stormed over to grab Lady Anushka by her long black hair and forcefully dragged her off Ashiyn. “I do not remember giving you permission to touch my Prince, Lady.”
“Surely you’re not keeping him for yourself, my King. Only your brother has such habits, I’m told,” she laughed as she freed herself and adjusted her skirts. “You should have him trained, my lord. He is beautiful and strong and well endowed. Many of the women of the court would be enthralled by him if only you had him taught. Send him to the Seducer to be trained.”
Ashiyn was in such a languid state of relaxed pleasure, he couldn’t be bothered to worry that his Master seemed so upset by the developments. He nearly missed her suggestion until his Master’s dark gaze locked on him. He scrambled up and fixed his clothes at his Master’s displeased look. Great. He would pay for this misadventure later.
Rhadamanthus returned his gaze to the woman, now thoughtful. “How long does that take?”
Lady Anushka shrugged as she started for the door. “Just a year. Surely you could spare him that long? To gain full control of those ladies of the court that don’t find you handsome or charming?”
Rhadamanthus glared at her as she left. Then, once she was gone, he lashed out to grab Ashiyn’s arm and dragged him out of the room and down the hall to his chambers. “Cleanse yourself and prepare. It seems you are quite unable to control your urges now, so I will send you to learn to control them.”
Ashiyn stared at the door as it slammed shut behind Rhadamanthus. Then he did as he was told, wondering what this development could possibly bring.
The next day he was sent away, along with Illusion and enough of his possessions to live comfortably for a year. They rode for nearly a day before a sprawling desert palace came into view on the edge of the harsh black stone that made up Rhadamanthus’s kingdom. The brightly painted buildings, trees, and fountains of water seemed garish to Ashiyn after having grown up in such plain black surroundings.
All around the courtyard young men and women lounged in various states of dress and undress. They watched him with curiosity as he was escorted inside. Ashiyn wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but the man sprawled across a dais in the center of the large room was like nothing he’d seen before. The man wore barely more than a loincloth, but gold and gems covered his body in elaborate jewelry. Long hair the same color as his golden adornments flowed like water around pointed ears were so long, they reminded Ashiyn of insect antennae. The man’s features were androgynous and ethereal, and he rose to meet them with grace flowing through his lengthy limbs. “Oh, look, my