Heart's Captive

Chapter 6

Remy lay in the bedding panting a little as he thought about what had happened. He didn't have the cold, bad feelings he normally got when a man took him in aggression. It was strange, but what Logan had done was give him what he wanted.

He could admit that to himself now.

He got up from the bed and walked slowly to the wash basin. Splashing some water on his face he let his fingers trail over the bites on his neck and a shiver ran from the spot to his groin making him moan softly.

Logan had claimed him and Remy found he didn't mind it one bit, in fact he was happy for it. Belonging to Logan had suddenly changed in meaning.

In the space of an afternoon he had gone from a bored slave washing the lord's clothing, to an excited consort receiving the lord's full attention and passion.

Cleaning himself up, he fumbled around in his pallet and found the other pair of trewes Roe had given him and pulled them on. Shrugging into his tunic, he tied his hair back low on his neck with a thong and moved to go down to the kitchen house, as his lord had instructed him.

As he made his way through the feasting hall, he noticed that the maids were buzzing about in a flurry of activity. Catching one by the sleeve as she passed he questioned her.

"Katarina what iz all de exzitment about?" he asked smiling at the dark haired girl. She blushed at the handsome boy and blew a lock of hair out of her face.

"The Lady Darkholme is coming to sup with the Lords." her voice seemed to waver on the woman's name.

"Lady Jean wants everything to be perfect." she added before slipping away to finish what she was doing.

Remy kept moving toward the kitchens thinking to himself. He had heard the others whispering about the Lady Darkholme. Nothing they said had given the boy the impression that she was well loved by the lords of the clan.

In fact, the impression Remy had gotten was that given the chance the lady would do a clan member any harm she could. Strange that she would be coming to sup in the hall and that such a fuss was being made over her.

As he stepped into the kitchen, the place was a flurry of activity. Pots boiling, bread kneaded to rise on the flour dusted boards and over the huge fire a lamb roasted on the spit.

The aromas tantalized the boy's nose, making his stomach rumble in response. He slipped through the moving bodies to snatch some cheese. The Lady Roe was making pastries and caught sight of the boy as he foraged for food.

"Remy." her melodic voice called to him over the chatter and noise. She waved him over with a floured hand. Remy have a sheepish grin and moved to her side.

"Greetingz, M'lady." he said respectfully. Roe's snowy brows creased at his formality and she shook her head.

"How many timez muzt I tell you to call me Roe?" she said in a sweet scolding tone. Remy smiled and cocked his head.

"Me pappa would clout me good for not zhowing rezpect." he said softly. She nodded her head and handed the boy a half a loaf of bread to go with his cheese.

"Break your fazt, my brother and then go help Robert with ze animalz." she said and patted his shoulder.

Remy bowed his head in thanks and slipped out the side door. He munched on his snack as he crossed the yard. Outside was just as busy as inside.

Remy moved to the stables and found Robert shuffling the animals around to make room for the guest's steeds. He raised a hand and called out to the gypsy when he saw him.

"Remy, kin ya help me with Logan's mount. Ya know that horse is the devil for anyone but him or ya." he said sounding beleaguered. Remy chuckled and nodded his head.

Finishing the bread, he saved a piece of cheese and made his way to the big black stallion. Two boys were trying to coax the big animal out of his stall but Eboni was having none of it.

The gypsy moved between the boys and clucked in the back of his throat, the horse's head came up. Remy held out his hand with the lump of cheese as he waved the boys off.

"Come heer, baro grai." he cooed to the animal. The horse responded to the boy's soft voice and gentle approach. He nuzzled the gypsy's hand and nibbled up the cheese.

"Datz it, come on." Remy coaxed and drew the horse from his stall and led him down the stable to the place Robert had set aside for him.

"Juz a little while, den you go back to your bed." he promised and stroked the horse's flank. Once Eboni was in his new place, Remy brushed him down. The gentle hands of the boy calmed the big animal and soon he was whickering contentedly. Robert shook his head smiling.

"Never let it be said tha' a gypsy can't charm anythin' under the sun." he said in admiration. Remy chuckled as he left the horse munching his oats.

"Hez a good grai, juz needz a little extra convinzing." he said and set about helping with the other horses. As the afternoon grew late, Remy was sent back inside to help with the last of the preparations.

In the hall he passed Henry and gave the big man a smile. The blue man nodded as the boy passed and then froze in place.

"Remy?" he said turning his head and grasping the boy by the elbow and pulling him aside out of the bustling.

"My friend, are ya a'right?" he asked his gentle eyes worried and scanning the boy. Remy's brows went up and he looked confused.

One of Henry's large hands came up and bushed a lock of the boy's hair back from his neck, exposing the still livid bite mark. The big man's face darkened and he looked into the boy's exotic eyes.

"Did 'e hurt ya bad?" he asked, his excellent senses telling him what had happened to the lad and by who's hand. Remy's face blushed pink and he shook his head quickly.

"Na, Henri, it'z not bad. M'lord didn' do anyting....bad." he whispered his eyes darting around looking for eavesdroppers. Henry nodded his head but his face remained dark.

"Let me give ya somethin' fer that so it don't fester." he said and led the boy to his own modest quarters. Remy felt a bit odd at the way Henry was acting.

Most men steeped in religion tended to have an aversion to the boy and the reactions he invoked in some. But contrary to form Henry wasn't angered by Remy, in fact if the boy was reading him right the big man was concerned and worried for the him.

In Henry's rooms, he gave the boy a small pot of ointment.

"Let me clean it fer ya." he offered and sat the boy on a stool and set about doing so. He moved Remy's hair out of the way only to find two more bites.

The depth of the one on the back of the boy's neck made the usually passive man growl in his throat. Remy suddenly feared that he shouldn't have let Henry know.

"It'z not bad, Henri." he repeated clasping the man's hands. His red and black eyes pleading with him.

"Don' tell, pleaze." His long fingered hands began to shake a little. Henry's face softened. Remy looked down at his feet.

"Been zo long zince Remy feel zafe. Logan make Remy feel zafe." he whispered and then he looked back up at the furry healer.

"He didn' do anythin Remy didn' want" he finally spoke the words aloud.

Henry's body relaxed and he sat in his chair across from the boy. He held out his hands to Remy and clasped the boy's in them.

"It's nothin' ta be ashamed of, Remy." he said softly. "I know that out there things be very differn't." he said waving his hand at the walls.

"But here, in this clan, ya got nothin'ta fear." When the boy looked disbelieving Henry chuckled.

"I know of what I speak." he said and nodded his head. He finished cleaning the bites and then went back to his work table. He gave Remy a second pot, this one a little bigger.

"Git Logan ta use this. It'll help smooth the way." he said a twinkle in his brown eyes. Remy gasped slightly and colored deeper.

"Tank you, Henri." he mumbled and made his escape quickly. He scampered through the hall to Logan's quarters.

Closing the door behind him, he leaned against the wood gasping. The emotions that raced through him were intense and vast. He moved over to sit on the edge of the bed, still rumpled from the events of earlier.

He calmed himself by taking deep breaths and closing his eyes. So caught up in his attempts to settle his nerves he didn't hear Logan's approach until the door creaked. Shooting to his feet Remy gasped as Logan came in and closed the door behind him.

"Here ya are." the gruff lord said, his rugged face splitting in a smile. He breathed in and his face fell.

"What's wrong?" he asked moving to grasp the boy by the shoulders.

"Ya smell off, what happened?" his voice pitching to a low register. Remy shook his head and forced a smile.

"Nothing wrong. Henry noticed Remy had zome markz and he give Remy zome ointment." he said holding up the pots. Realizing his hands held two jars, Remy blushed. Logan's brows went up and he looked amused.

"What's tha other fer?" He asked, knowing full well what it was. Remy seemed to stammer a bit and Logan chuckled.

"Calm yer self, lad. I know ya probably have a head full o'religious clap trap. It ain't like that here." he said and pulled the boy closer.

"We got that Saxon Bitch comin' fer supper but I need ta talk with ya." he said and his lips caught the boy's in a slow deep kiss.

Remy felt a warmth bubble up from his belly, making him sigh into the kiss. Breaking from the lush lips, Logan grinned and brushed the edge of the boy's jaw with his thumb.

"It donna always have ta be rough and hard." he said softly. "And I know I was rough with ya b'fore. But ya vexed me on purpose. Why?" he asked his voice still low and calm.

Remy looked down, licking the taste of Logan off his lips. The lord's hand lifted the boy's chin, making eye contact.

"Didn' know any ozer way to get you to..." Remy said in a breathy whisper. Logan nodded his head and cupped the boy's cheek.

"Ya been treated badly I kin tell." It was a statement not a question. "I ain't the gentlest man but I'm no' an animal. If ya vex me yer gonna git me anger, but Remy..." he said uncharacteristically using the boy's given name.

"Ya donna have to vex me to git a tumble." he said and smiled at the confused look on the boy's face.

"I donna have the time right now ta show ya what I mean but after the supper and guests I'm gonna finish this lesson." he promised and pulled the gypsy to him again drinking from the sweet lips again.

Remy couldn't wait for the feast to be over.