Inca: Scourge of the Sun 4

[ismenin]

Lovely image of the Sapac Intiq Churin by the delectable Primula Baggins


Hello! I hope you're all champing at the bit (no chance!) to read the next part of my story. I am really enjoying writing it and am very grateful for the fab feedback you are all so kindly leaving. Hugs flist tight.






Thanks as always to the wonderful Lady Sunrope, who betas my stuff with such humour, and with velvet gloves, cos she knows what a tender reed I be! Giggles.

**And please remember this is an AR story and that no disrespect is meant to anyone, cos this just isn't true! :D**


Part - 4 Castigations and Compromises


It might have been because Rimac and Yupanque were lovers, that they saw in Dom and Lizhe's faces what Will had, unaccountably, missed. After they had eaten, and the inhabitants of the huts had come shyly to tell them that they would sleep with other family members so that the Messengers of God could take their rest in peace, Yupanque had whispered hesitantly in Will's ear.

"Och, aye!" he had exclaimed, impatiently, and bidding Dom and Lizhe a terse good night, left them alone.

Neither Dom nor Lizhe noticed Will's dark mood as they were far too immersed in their feelings for each other that night to divine anything beyond their love.

They had to wait until dark - not because they were ashamed, but because they had to conceal their actions. Who knew what might, in all innocence, be reported elsewhere by the simple people of the village? It could not be known that Father Damian was sleeping in the same bed as his servant.

It was only when no padding of feet could be heard outside their door, and the relieved chatter of the villagers had sunk into silence that Dom, naked and erect, knelt before Lizhe. His wrists pressed together, his fingers held out in supplication, his head bowed, he begged, in a hoarse whisper, "take me, Lord!"

Lizhe stood, and without a word, gestured to Dom to take him in his mouth, and Dom, his hands held behind his back as firmly as if they had been tied there, ran an experienced tongue around Lizhe's heat, trying all the while to remain silent, swallowing the groans that came unheralded to his throat as he tasted his love.

Lizhe leant against the wall, his hands flat against the stone, and panted softly, until he could bear no more.

"Enough!" he whispered, his trembling hands resting now on Dom's shoulders. "It is time...I am ready..."

Dom lay down and Lizhe lay on top of him, feeling his lover's need for him - revelling in it - as they kissed.

Dom thought, as Lizhe's teeth nibbled his lower lip, that he was glad that Lizhe had not known kissing until Dom had taught him. The Inca, apart from kissing his wives in affection and his children in love, had sworn - and he had kept the oath - that in his bed he would kiss no other but Dom.

As Lizhe's tongue traced around the roof of his mouth, bringing his lover to the heights needed before he took him, Dom rejoiced that this should still be so. On that thought, Lizhe entered him, and Dom knew that he must try to remain silent, although the desire to keen his joy into the night was almost irresistible.

Lizhe lay still, inside him, and gathering Dom's hands into his own, pressed them, hard, against the wall behind his prostrate lover's head. Dom, his eyes black with passion, obedient, as always, to Lizhe's tacit command, held them there, and only when Lizhe began to reach his climax, and the sensations began to ripple through his own body - only then did Dom remove them to cover his mouth as Lizhe made him his again, and marked him with his teeth as he came, where no-one could see.

" Mi alma - my soul - thou art beyond beautiful," Dom whispered in the old tongue Lizhe had taught him, lest anyone should overhear, "thou art more beautiful than the sun,"

Lizhe laughed, low, into Dom's shoulder, still trembling. "But, my only love, I am the sun - dost thou forget it?"

"Never!" Dom kissed him. "Thou art all I could ever desire."

And, sated, lying in each other's arms, they fell asleep.


It was not yet dawn when Rimac woke them. "Lord - Dom - the villagers will be awake at any minute - the sun is about to rise."

Dom rubbed his face and thanked him, and covering the still sleeping man at his side with a blanket, took a little of the water from his pouch and washed himself. Then, dressing quickly, he took the wet cloth to Lizhe, and turning him on his back, ran the rag over his taut body. Lizhe stretched and smiled at him, and rising, put on his skirt.


Dom had not wasted any time; his supposed message for the village, now truly from the Sapa Inca, was knotted tightly into one of the red and gold strings on his quipu.

Lizhe had laughed and said it would be no lie if he told Dom exactly what to include in the edict, and Dom nodded, knotting expertly to Lizhe's instructions. He was glad of this for he did not like lying; it was not in his nature. He realised, however, that if they were to live - if Lizhe was to live - lies would have to be told and many of them at that.


Dom appointed a new village leader, and giving him the string, told him to be more worthy of his people than was his predecessor. He took a message from the man for the Inca, and Dom said to him, with complete truthfulness, "I promise you faithfully, that God will receive your words as you have received his. Remember the Laws of God - do not lie, do not steal, do not be lazy. God expects each man and woman in the Tiwatinsuya to work for God and the Land with all of their ability, as does he - the weak as well as the strong. All can offer the labours of their hands, and the knowledge in their hearts, to God."

They spent two more days in the village before pressing on into the tall grasses and trees surrounding the enclosure.

As they plodded on through the thickening undergrowth, Rimac came to Lizhe's side, and nodding towards the Scot, who was forging ahead of the group, clearing the way before him with a thick stick, asked, "Lord, what ails Will? He is far from being himself."

Lizhe thought for a moment, frowning. "I had noticed he seemed quieter than usual. Dom, what do you think?"

Dom, who was scanning the undergrowth for snakes and other such poisonous creatures that Will might have disturbed, turned to Lizhe with a smile.

"I expect he is missing Pima and the boys, as we miss our children and our loved ones. It is not like him to be so distant. I shall speak to him tonight when we stop to rest."

However, they did not have to wait until evening to be enlightened. As soon as they had left the dense undergrowth and come to a clearing in the centre of a group of shady trees, Will turned, and said to Lizhe, "I would speak freely to you all, Lord, if you will give me permission to tell what is in my heart without fear of incurring God's anger."

Lizhe, surprised at the tense request - for never before had Will asked permission, when they were alone, to speak to him - and concerned by the paleness of his face and the frown lines between his eye, nodded.

"You may say all you have in your heart, Will. I owe you my life; I do not forget it. Even if what you have to tell us displeases me, I shall not be angry with you. Say on."

Dom sat at his love's side and wondered what Will had to say to them that occasioned such heart-burning sadness in his dear friend. The man sitting before him, his tense hands clasped about his knees, his head bowed, was so unlike the Will he knew, that he suddenly became afraid of what he was about to hear.

They sat under the trees, and waited whilst Will brought his thoughts together. Then he lifted his eyes and Dom was almost burned by the fire in them.

"I'll speak, aye, and not one had better interrupt me before I've finished, or by God, ye'll answer for it!"

Lizhe nodded, and Will, unable now to contain what he felt, started speaking.

"I mind well that ye - Dom and Lizhe that is - have wives and children, like mine, who have gone on a difficult and dangerous journey into the mountains. But that I'm feart for them doesn't begin t' cover what I feel about how things have gone forward since our journey began."

Here he paused and took a deep breath. "Rimac and Yupanque have behaved from the first as if it's a summer's day out with friends in the countryside, and ye twa -" here he glared at Dom and Lizhe -"Ye have taken to fucking each other senseless at every opportunity that comes your way, regardless of the danger to yourselves and us if ye're discovered. Aye, I say so, Dom, and I mean it."

He took a deep breath. "Have ye given any thocht to what we're getting intae? Imagine if we are discovered. Dom will be safe, aye, for his Da has sent out a search party fer him that must have cost him dear. Dom is after all, the Pope's nephew and the King's cousin. He'll gang hame covered in glory, back to a place that will welcome him with open arms.”

He leaned forward and his voice became even more intense.

“Now, hark ye to what will happen tae the rest of us. Rimac and Yupanque will be killed. No, do not interrupt me! No-one will want anything from them - unless they find out who they are. Then they'll ransom them, and then kill them. Savage princelings and their spouses - man or woman - mean nothing to the Spaniard, I can assure ye o' that."

"And are ye concerned at all what may become of me? Has it ever entered your love-filled minds that I'll be taken to Spain in irons and put to the torture by the Inquisition so that I tell what I know? What witchcraft was used by the Sapa Inca to make Dom so...besotted...with the Inca? Why did I go along with such devilry? I will yield to their branding irons and their pincers, I’ve nae doubt. I’ll die screaming in the flames but, good gentlemen, that’s nae the way I wish to end ma days."

"And Lizhe? If Dom rebels against Lizhe's capture, as he will as sure as there are stars in the sky, the Inquisition will say it is further proof that Lizhe has cast evil spells over him by witchcraft, and the torture I'll endure will be nothing compared with what he will suffer. God alive, Dom, have ye not thocht what will happen tae him? What horrors will be inflicted on the man ye are bound to? My ane mind can imagine many things but I canna bear to think on Lizhe’s fate for the terror of it all."

Here he looked at Dom, more in sorrow than in anger.

Dom was beginning to grow angry. He knew very well of what the Inquisition was capable. He had been forced by his father - and the king, his cousin's edict - to attend an auto de fe where heretics who had recanted their beliefs had a public mass said for their souls. Later they were mercifully strangled before they were burned. Those who did not recant were burned alive. He remembered the smell, the screams...and the sight of their mangled bodies before the flames took them.

...Will was speaking. "I love my wife and bairns with all my heart, Lizhe. I would see them again...and there are times I’m not sure I will."

Here Will stopped, his throat choked by tears, and Lizhe rose and sitting down beside Will, put his arm around his shoulder.

"Will," he said quietly, "we would all see our wives and children again. Tell us what we should do, and I swear to you, we will do it."

Will cleared his throat, swallowing a few times whilst composing himself. "Well, I ha' noticed a few things the Spanish soldiers would think strange, for I believe we'll encounter more than yon scouting party before we're through."

"Firstly, Lizhe, your eyes. You are the only blue-eyed man of your race in the whole of the Land. Now, it's unlikely the Spanish know of this - so few men having seen your face - but, my God, if they catch sicht of them, they'll know something is afoot! A native with eyes like yon will occasion great speculation, and we dinna need that. You need a big hat to cover your face, and - keep your eyes down. I ken ye can do it - after all, ye pretended to be a water-carrier when we first met ye, did ye not?"

Lizhe nodded. "I did - it shall be as you say, Will."

Will looked at Dom. "Now, ye ken very well, Dom, what the Spanish think of these people - because it's what y' thocht yersel' when ye first came here."

Dom, willing to help, now his anger at Will was evaporating, thought back to his early days in the new country. Ignorant, mindless, soulless savages - Barbarians - is what he had thought them. He nodded.

"Now, nae man of any standing whatsoever is likely t' allow a servant to walk at his side. Lizhe can walk in front of us, as he is supposed tae be our guide, or behind us - but never at our side. We dinna ken who may be watching, even if we think we're alone."

Here Will stared at the floor. "And no sleeping in the same bed. The servants would sleep together and we, Dom, would share the same sleeping place - but not them. Until we are safe, there can be nae mair...coupling between ye that folks might see. Understand?"

"I understand," Lizhe said in firm tones, as Dom remained silent. "But what about Rimac and..?"

Rimac was holding firmly onto his lover's hand. He looked bemused, as if he had not fully understood what was happening. Dom knew that Rimac would not easily countenance his God taking orders from anyone, but that did not matter. The more Dom thought of it, the more he realised Will was speaking the truth. It would be the little things that gave them away, if they were not very careful of them.

"Och! They are supposed to be servants - they can do as they please, within reason. Except, Rimac - do not, whatever ye do, give that high-bred stare y' sometimes get on your sonsy face, to the oppressor, eh? Nor you, Lizhe - head bowed at all times - remember it!"

"Very well," Lizhe stood and brushed the dust off his skirt. "We will start as we mean to go on. Will, you walk beside Dom, I will go in front and Rimac and Yupanque will follow you. That will be the way of it. Who knows we are not, as you say, Will, being observed from the mountains?"

Will shook his head almost in despair, but there was a weary smile on his face, nonetheless. "Ah! Y'see? That's what I mean. Lizhe, Lizhe lad - ye canna help leadin' even when ye are supposed t' be following. Let Dom order things for a change. He'll get used t' it again, never fear. After all, he was well used tae it before he vowed to ye in the Holy Shrine tae be obedient t' your every word."

As the men started to move, Will held Lizhe's arm until the others had moved a short distance ahead. "Lizhe, ye canna now bring the ways of your bed intae the daylight hours. Dom has t' lead, and ye mun follow - d'ye understand?"

Lizhe patted Will on his shoulder, a wry smile on his handsome face. "I learn quickly, my friend. It shall be as you command. You and Dom may order things, but I lead the way. For no-one but the Sapa Inca ever knows the way to Qoylurani."

As Lizhe strode to the head of the group, Dom returned to Will's side, and stood for a moment, looking carefully at his friend.

"Will, do you think we can get away with the imposture? I see, now, why you were so concerned. Lizhe is not used to following, and Rimac...and myself...follow only him. Yupanque does what Rimac says, so he'll be no trouble, but will Lizhe be able to sustain it? If someone strikes him, or spits on him? Sangre de Dios,, Will, you have frightened me more than I can tell. I want us all kept safe."

Will sighed. "As my dear Granny used t' say, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. We'll not know that until it happens. Just pray that he holds, that's all - and remind him often, whisper tae him when you're alone. It's the only chance ye'll get - in private. And mind... nae coupling, Dom, unless ye are well hid behind a tree and it take's twa minutes frae start t' finish. The army moves by night as well as by day, y'ken."

Dom shrugged his shoulders and answered that he could see it might be best if they refrained from love until they knew it was safe to do so. "But you know, Will, none better, how difficult I will find that..."

Will nodded and lifted the wood and silver cross that rested on Dom's chest, inspecting it carefully. It, too, was Manuel's, gleaned from the golden box. Dom's own gold, diamond and ruby crucifix was far too opulent an item to belong to an ordinary priest, and had been left, instead of this one, in the box.

Will gently laid it back against the heavy black cloth. "Why did y' never tell Lizhe, Dom - you didna tell him, did ye? I understood that in his rooms before we left, when ye said about the Mass. Why did ye not tell him about being a priest?"

Dom looked at the ground. "It never seemed to be the appropriate time - and after I...died...things were never the same again. I was never the same. There was no point. I am not what I once was, Will."

Will was about to comment when Yupanque yelled from the edge of the clearing, "God says he is waiting!" and Will slapped his forehead in frustration, and hurried forward to inform God, and his mouthpiece, that they would do well to remember what he had just told them.

Dom took his place bedside Will, and Lizhe strode on ahead. Behind them Dom could hear Rimac berating his lover in a low voice, and Yupanque's chastened apology.

No-one, of course, corrected Lizhe.

Dom was grateful, too, that Will seemed disinclined to repeat the question he had asked Dom earlier. Dom was not sure he could answer it, in any case. It was all best forgotten.

They spent the night in a grassy clearing, surrounded by tall bushes, and well hidden from any eyes, except those who might be looking down from above.

They marched onward, following Lizhe for four more days. The undergrowth grew thicker, the terrain rougher. It seemed odd to Dom that neither Lizhe, or the other two Incas, seemed to suffer from the discomforts of travel that he and Will had encountered. They had both worn boots, thinking their feet would be better protected than in the sandals the other three wore, but this proved not to be the case. Will and Dom had become badly afflicted by blisters.

"God's teeth, Will. The things are the size - and the colour - of ripe plums! How are yours?" Dom hissed, painfully inspecting his sore feet.

"Much the same. I'd gi' anything for a bowl o' hot water and some salt tae soak them in, by God, I would!"

Lizhe picked up one of Dom's feet, and winced. "We must rest," he said, firmly. "Neither of you can continue until these have healed. Yupanque!"
he called to the young man who came swiftly to his side.

"Are there leaves you know of, that could help?"

Yupanque shook his head. "Not here, Lor...Lizhe," he amended swiftly, mindful of Will's oft-repeated injunction to use the Inca's name, even when they were alone. "I do not know this place - the plants are not the same as in the fields I worked when I was young."

Lizhe smiled, and so did Dom. The man was barely twenty, and yet talked of his boyhood as a thing long past, Dom thought, carefully propping his injured feet on Lizhe's lap.

They bathed their feet in one of the streams that abounded in the area, and Dom had just put on his boots and was congratulating himself on the ease the soaking had afforded his blistered toes, when it began to rain.

In minutes they were soaked to the skin, and the rain fell so heavily none of them could see more than a few feet ahead.

They were now in the rocky outcrop of the foothills again, and Will and Rimac, after a prolonged search found a cave for them where they could rest, as Lizhe now had to assist Dom to walk. Dom’s feet were rubbed raw by the soaked leather, irritating the huge blisters, so he had been forced to remove the boots and walk in his stocking feet.

The cave was not large, but it afforded them shelter, and there was room for a small fire, and for them all to sit or lie in comfort.

Yupanque employed his firestone, and Dom was fascinated to discover that if one knew what one was about, a fire could be kindled with wet wood and grasses.

Lizhe found a cooking pot in Yupanque's pack and put it outside the cave for a few minutes to fill with rain. Then he took a piece of soft cloth from his own pack and, stripping off Dom's stockings, began to wash Dom's muddy feet.

Yupanque's eyes were as round as saucers as he watched his God. It had never before been known, and Dom knew it was far beyond the young man's understanding, that a God should so far condescend towards one of his subjects as to wash his feet. Rimac, who, since being taught, had read Father Manuel's Book, smiled sweetly, and took another pot to tend to Will.

However, he did not go as far as Lizhe, who, when he had finished his task carefully lifted Dom's foot, and gently kissed it. Instead, Rimac washed Dom's filthy, mud-caked stockings, and hung them over a stick to dry.

It was not uncomfortable in the cave, and although Will and Dom were in their underdrawers and Lizhe and the others were completely naked, they were not cold. They ate the last of the dried strips of cuy and dried fruit they had brought from the City, and put their minds to turning their steaming clothing which was drying on twigs propped around the fire, lest they became singed.

Rimac and Yupanque whispered together, and Rimac asked Lizhe's permission to go out to gather any vegetables they could find. Lizhe smiled and gestured to Will, who graciously gave his permission. "We have to eat, after all," the Scot commented, as the two men collected a bag and left the cave, hand in hand, totally naked except for their sandals.

They returned, grinning, and soaking wet, their bag bulging with potatoes and other vegetables, including a few tomatoes.

Dom, who had become an expert on cooking the potato - one of his favourite foods - buried the tubers in the ashes surrounding the fire, whilst the two men dried themselves, and before long they had a sustaining addition to their earlier, somewhat meagre meal.

Dom thought rather wistfully that it would be good if he had a knob of creamy butter to add to his, but quelled the traitorous thought with a frown. The potatoes were delicious without any accompaniment.

It was growing dark, and Will insisted the fire be doused as its light would be clearly seen from the valley. The men covered themselves in their blankets and fell asleep, well-fed and warm, before the still hot ashes of the fire.

Several hours later Will shook Dom's shoulder hard, and indicated that he be quiet. Lizhe was woken, too, and rousing the others, put his fingers to his lips, enjoining silence as he heard, as had Will, the rumble of distant voices.

The men stared at each other in alarm. The voices became louder - someone was approaching the cave.