(no subject)

[ismenin]

The Inca Tupac-Yupanque (in RL, son of the Greatest Inca God-King, Pachacutec/Pachacuti) - from my putie shelf! Clickie for da big.


Hello! I wonder if there will be anyone to read this with lots of folks with their heads buried in HP? I am waiting for the cd's to arrive, cos my eyes are not too hot at the mo.

So anyway, my loves - in case you have five minutes, here's part 9, for you.



** I marked this spot in the text thusly. If you need to know what happened to Dom at the Holy Shrine, and haven't read Inca - the link to part 30. is...http://ismenin.livejournal.com/80823.html#cutid1

You really need to read it all, to understand them completely, but 29 and 30 might be best if you can't face that!


Part 9 - Understandings



Thanks to Lady Sunrope for beta.


It was several days before Lizhe would allow Dom to leave his bed. Dom accepted this stricture because the healers also advised it. The bruising was far more extensive than had first been thought, and the muscles in Dom's back and buttocks and thighs protested each time he attempted to stand.

The lotion however, that Lizhe smoothed on his burning skin, helped greatly, and so did Amaru's potion. He brought some again on the second day, whilst Dom was lying on his belly having the lotion applied by Lizhe, who had just, moments before, kissed the bruised skin.

Dom turned his head towards Amaru who held out the cup, and Dom sipped, grateful for the easement that it brought him.
Amaru sat on the floor, leaning against the wall, and examined his handiwork, his face pale and set.

"I must leave for a moment, mi alma," said Lizhe, wiping his hands and pulling the soft blanket over Dom's nakedness. "I promised Kon I would see the new hutch his father has made for Pima - and I keep my promises."

Dom waited a little while until Lizhe had left, and then sighed. "I have no doubt that last comment was directed at me. Damn my Spanish temper!" he gritted his teeth as he shifted on to his side, the better to see the man sitting next to him.

Amaru smiled at him. "Manuel had very much the same trouble when first he came to the Land, God's father told me when I was a lad. But the Holy Pachacutec loved him, temper or not, just as his son loves you."

Dom's eyes widened, and he blushed slightly at the mention of Lizhe's love for him. "So you knew Manuel?"

Amaru nodded. "Manuel was a good man, and a wise. When he died, I knew the God Pachacutec would not live long without him. They were soul-bonded, just as you and God."

There was a pause, as Dom contemplated swallowing the rest of the potion, and then decided he would wait until the man had gone. It seemed Amaru wished to talk.

"I am sorry I hurt you so badly Auqui - Dom. I, too, you see, have a temper. That remark was not only intended for you. I had promised God that I would not greatly injure you, but I was furious with you for making my King weep. Oh, yes," he breathed, looking at Dom at last. "He wept because he would not be with you in Qoylurani, and, later he was near to it because you had to be punished for the blasphemy against him, and he did not wish you to suffer for it."

Amaru breathed deeply as if the memory still hurt him and bowed his head. "I was angered with you. I remember only too well how my brother made God weep, and I was harder on you than I meant to be. I am sorry. He loves you beyond life, but this you know."

Dom, feeling all of Amaru's heartache, and much more uniquely his own, put his hand on Amaru's knee. "I know it - and I know that you, too, love him. And I am jealous. It is not easy to see one's beloved in thrall to another."

Amaru's head shot up. "In thrall? You know not what you say. He is not in thrall to me, it is I who am thus. God loves me, yes - but you...you are more than this to him. You have each other's souls in bondage, and neither of you will ever be free of the other, neither in life nor in death."

He pushed his long, black hair out of his eyes, and looked again at Dom. "I am sure he has told you of Tupac. I tried to protect God from him - I knew what he was, my brother. He liked to pull the wings off butterflies and laugh at them crawling blindly about on the ground. That was the sort of man he was. He inherited my father's madness. I am grateful to the Gods that I was spared it."

His head went down again. "I have loved God since he first came to manhood. He was as beautiful then as he is now. I will never lose my love for him - nor do I wish to. He promised Tupac that he would never...never let me put my hands on him in love. I was glad to leave for Cuzco, for he burned in my flesh like fire."

Dom's heart softened towards the man who trembled next to him. Amaru straightened his shoulders. "But on this matter he keeps his word, as I keep mine to him. I have never laid a hand on him except at his express command, and that only in friendship and not in lustfulness. You must believe me, Dom. Your love - the love you share with him - is safe. He will never take me as Ray, now he has found you, not even though Tupac is dead. And I would not want him to take me from pity."

Dom rested his face on his hand. "I am grateful that you told me this, Amaru. It was not easy, I know, to do so. It is a rare gift you share with me. I shall not doubt you again."

There was a few moments silence, then Dom asked, "why do you not call him by his name?" although he knew full well the answer, for Lizhe had told him of it.

Amaru looked shocked. "Call God by his name to his face, whilst he still lives? Never would I think of doing so, unless in extremest need to hide his state from others - from such as the Spanish. He is God! Can you not understand it? Would Manuel have thought of using the Spanish God's name to talk with him? I think not. It is the same with me - I do not know what...how... you came to be allowed to do so. I would like to hear your story, if you will tell it to me. I have heard only the bare bones of it from others."

"I knew his name long before I knew he was God, and he asked me to use it..." Dom paused, and told Amaru to fetch a blanket to sit upon, and then continued his tale. Some time later, when he had finished relating what had happened to him in the Holy Shrine**, Dom could see Amaru's hands clasped together so tightly the knuckles showed white through the skin.

"The man who appeared to you in the dream before you awoke to life wore a head-dress that was both sun and moon, you say?"

Dom thought carefully about his dream. He closed his eyes, and succeeded in picturing it in his mind.

The sun was high in the heavens, and the day was warm, filled with the scent of honey, and the sound of bees.

He had been talking to a man - who he was, he was not sure - maybe it had been a priest. He had worn a headdress that combined both the Sun and the Moon in its design.

He did not remember what the man had said to him, only that he felt supremely happy and contented.

Then he saw Lizhe coming towards him across the grass, and smiled at his love, welcoming him. Lizhe put out his hand, and took Dom's in his, and pulled him to his feet.

"It is time to come home now, Auqui. Your sleep is over."

"Both the sun and the moon, yes, and there were little stars around the edges of it, glittering in the sunlight."
Amaru wiped his sweating face with a hand that was far from steady. "And has not God spoken to you about this...this dream?"
Dom shook his head. "Lizhe will not speak to me of what happened on the Mountain that day. We have never discussed it, so he does not know about the dream. I beg you not to tell him. For reasons of his own he does not wish to know, of this I am certain."

Amaru clasped his hands together and bowed over them. "I swear I will not repeat what you have told me. It would be blasphemy for me to do so, for I know who it was who spoke to you in the... dream."

He drew in another deep breath. "It was the Apu Con-Tiki Viracocha, God of Gods."

Dom was stunned into silence. "How...how do you know this?"
Amaru coughed as if the air had thickened around them. "The Sapa Inca is Lord of the Earth and Sky, as you must know. The first Inca was Viracocha. Those are his symbols - the Sun, and Moon and Stars. No-one else is allowed to wear all three. It was he, I do not doubt it. God has visited you - and because of this you are blessed above all men except the living God, Aralizhe." Then Amaru grasped Dom's hand in his, and laid his forehead upon it.

It was at that moment that the Inca returned, and hearing Lizhe's greeting, Amaru raised his head and quickly composed his features. "Lord, I have told Dom how sorry I am that I hurt him. He did not deserve to be treated so harshly. I have begged his forgiveness, if he will be gracious enough to grant it to me."

Dom saw the mute appeal enjoining his silence in the man's eyes. "Gladly will I forgive you, Amaru. I too, as you know, have a temper." He smiled encouragingly at the big man, who rose gracefully to his feet. He bowed to them both. "I will leave you now, if God permits it."

Dom could hear the smile in Lizhe's voice. "God gives you leave, cousin. I wish you to eat with us tonight - I have asked Will, Rimac and Yupanque to come also."

After Amaru had left, Lizhe lay down beside his lover. "If it will not tire you, of course, if they come." He examined Dom's face carefully. "I thought you would be asleep by now. Amaru's drink is usually very potent."

Dom lifted the cup. It was still three-quarters full. "I thought I should leave it until he left. He wished to talk to me."

Lizhe kissed Dom and it was a few minutes before Lizhe made a remark. "What did you speak about, my love?"

Dom kissed Lizhe's nose. "You, my Lizhe. Do you mind?"

Lizhe shook his head and laughed. "He may talk of me as much as he wishes - but you...you, Auqui Dom Huascar, may make love to me."

And there was no sound in the room for a while except the quiet murmurings of lovers. Then there was silence, as Dom slept, and Lizhe held his hand until Will came to fetch him, as Lizhe had commanded, to give final instructions to the departing messengers.

*****

A few days later, Dom stood by Lizhe's side in the warm morning sun, and examined Pima's hutch. It was very finely crafted and Kon was justifiably proud of his father's handiwork.

"You see how much room there is!" Kon pointed out, expanding on his theme. "Tayta says there is space for her to have a mate and babies, too, in there. He says every living creature should have a mate."

Dom glanced over the clearing to where Maita was carving something with Will, watched by a pretty woman with a small child - a girl - on her knee.

"The Auqui is showing my Tayta how to make a poppet for Pacha - she is Quilla's daughter, there. She hasn't a Tayta to make toys for her. He died, Pacha said." He pointed to the woman sitting at Maita's side. "She is nice, Pacha is. She wants a cuy of her own, like my Pima. She may put hers in the hutch, too. It may be they will have babies together."

Dom and Lizhe walked away laughing quietly. "Well, we shall see, my love," Dom whispered. "Who knows? Hers might be a male."

Lizhe sighed and Dom saw immediately that his love was no longer smiling. "I pray that they are safe, Dom. I ask Holy Viracocha every night to keep them safe for us...and us for them. By now they should be at Ixtil where no-one will know to look for them now the road up the mountainside has been destroyed."

Dom nodded. He knew how much Lizhe loved their children, and that he made no distinction between those sired by his own body and Dom's.

"The place is well hidden, Lizhe - and no-one will find them, unless..."

He stopped abruptly. Lizhe picked up the unspoken thought. "Unless the man or woman who betrayed the Holy City to the Spanish invaders knows where it is, and leads them there. I know, it has been in my mind also."

They stood by the water watching the wide expanse of the river and the waters flow past them, down to the sea. They saw Rimac and Yupanque standing on a high rock, with fishing nets clasped in their hands. Both men were anxious to provide food for the community into which they had come, although there was no need for them to do so.

Yupanque had never before seen a river, and was much taken by the power in the water, ruled by Yaku-mama, goddess of water and rivers, and he wished to learn to fish. Dom watched as a man skilfully cast his net out into the water, and motioned to Rimac andYupanque to do the same.

Rimac's net flew out in a graceful arc, but Yupanque got his tangled in the small rocks sticking up from the riverbed surrounding them, and Lizhe laughed, as he could imagine the stream of invective coming from his pursed lips as the youth dragged free the net and cast again.

However, Lizhe's laugher changed abruptly to a cry of concern, for Yupanque over-reached himself in his anxiety to succeed, and, losing his footing, toppled into the water.

Dom could do nothing to help, but stood by, impotent, as Lizhe ran down the slope to join Rimac and the three other men who had leapt in to rescue the young man.

He could see Lizhe sending a man off for help, and Dom stopped him as he was running past. "What has happened to my friend?" he enquired in an urgent voice.

"The Auqui Yupanque has broken both an arm and his leg, and God has sent me to fetch helpers and something to carry him back to the healers."

Dom detained him no longer but walked as quickly as his mending injuries would allow, back to the settlement to speak to the healers.

Within minutes Lizhe, holding Yupanque's undamaged hand, and Rimac, dazed with shock, stumbling beside his love, arrived in the clearing. Amaru rushed out and directed the men bearing the improvised stretcher to the healing house. Rimac was allowed in with Lizhe, but no others, and Dom was reminded that before Rimac found Yupanque, he too had been Lizhe's lover.

And who better... Dom thought, sadly, mindful of Yupanque's pain and Rimac's distress...to offer consolation and relief to the sick and fearful, than their God?

Will came hurrying up the path from the opposite direction, and sat with Amaru and Dom outside the healing house, waiting for news.

Soon they heard the sound of pipes being played - a low, hypnotic tune - and a voice chanted, and smoke rose through the roof, the sweet scent of it perfuming the air.

Lizhe came out some time later, and the three men rose as he approached them. He held out his hand to Dom who took it and squeezed it gently. Lizhe looked tired and pale, and he was trembling slightly.

"How is he, my love? Is he badly hurt?" Dom realised as soon as the words had left his mouth what a senseless question it had been. In this climate, broken bones could swiftly fester and kill - he had seen it.

Lizhe took Dom's arm, and tried to walk, but instead abruptly sank onto the log on which the three men had sat waiting. Dom knelt in front of him, still holding his hand, and gazed at him in concern.

Lizhe licked his dry lips. "He is asleep. He took the last of Amaru's powder before they set his bones, which helped him. The pain of the setting would have caused him great pain - but, Dom, I am afraid for him. The bone had broken through the flesh. If it should putrefy, he will die. Rimac...poor Rimac..."

Will knelt and put his arm around Lizhe's shoulder. "You need t' rest now, Lord. What have ye been doin' to cause yersel t' be so weak?"

It was Amaru who answered. "He has performed the shamanic ritual of healing. There is no-one who dare do it, whilst God is present. There are shamans here, but none have the power that a God has to summon the healing spirits. I have not known him to do it before. It is very taxing. Indeed, God should rest now."

Dom was looking at Lizhe whose eyelids were indeed drooping. He wondered whether, when he had been sick or injured and had found Lizhe lying asleep at his side, his lover had performed this ritual for him.

He was about to gather Lizhe in his arms, but quickly realised he did not have the strength, yet, to do so. Dom smiled at Amaru. "Will you take him to his bed, my friend? I will answer for the fact that he would give you permission to do so."

Lizhe breathing deeply, leant against Will's shoulder, his eyes closed, and when he spoke his voice was a barely audible whisper. "I do give permission," he sighed, and Amaru, without hesitation, swept up the exhausted man and carried him to his bed.

Comments

[silvermere.livejournal.com]

Have been saving this for my holiday. Yesterday I read Regency Tale, today Inca 2, tomorrow HP.

I love them both; you never fail to get it just right. Only problem is that I've now got to wait till next Sunday to see what happens. I've been spoilt reading them all in one go!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm impressed! That's quite a bit of reading! Thank you! :D

Hope you continue to enjoy it! xxx

[pattilovesviggo.livejournal.com]

*The Auqui Yupanque has broken both an arm and his leg,*
Yikes! Are they going to be able to travel further? I hope God can help him.
I like the new trust between Dom and Amaru. Sweet.

Am I the only person in UK not to have read HP? I may one day :) I love the films though.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

There are a few non-readers - Prims is one! :D

I like Amaru - I want everyone else to as well. xxx

[verangel.livejournal.com]

Are you kidding?? I have been looking for this since early this morning. Now goes off to print and savor slowly. hugs...v

[laeliacatt.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. Poor Yupanque. Broken bones during that time, no matter what the climate, could kill. Did they know how to set a fracture of that type back then?

I'm glad that Dom and Amaru have an understanding now. They also share a new bond: Dom's dream/vision. Amaru knows what the visit from Apu Con-Tiki Viracocha means. Is it good or bad? Only future chapters will tell. :D

As for HP, I am among only 11 people in the universe who don't care one whit about that young wizard. The only wizard for me is Gandalf. ;)

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Future chapters will tell, indeed. The next one proves the visit was most useful!! ;D

Giggles. Go Gandalf! xxx

[primula-baggins.livejournal.com]

Thanks to Apu Con-Tiki Viracocha, God of Gods, that you are here to give us this story, Issi, today of all days! For those of us who are not reading HP it is a god-send. : )

Again, the statue you show above is beyond beautiful. I’ve saved the two photos of these statues so I can keep them. They are exquisite. Where did you get them, if I might ask?

I loved the talk Dom and Amaru had. But poor Yupanque! I do hope he heals well. Even so, what a bad time for this to happen. So many other troubling things are happening, that it is doubly bad.

I wonder what was the ritual that Lizhe did that made it so taxing? He cares so much for his people.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I got them on ebay. Prims. There is this one as well...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Leonardo-Inca-EmperorPachacuti-Queen-Roca-Figurine_W0QQitemZ180106761579QQihZ008QQcategoryZ13833QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem...

but he is in exactly the same pose as my single Pachacuti, so there was no point in getting it.

They do look good, though, even if they are cheapies!! :D

There are a couple of us not reading HP, even though I have the book, I haven't been tempted. Listening to Stephen Fry's voice reading it (when they come - will be far better.

Glad to oblige you, my love - I hope you'll enjoy the next part, too! :D

[frolijah-fan-54.livejournal.com]

Even if I hadn't finished HP last night I would have stopped to read this!! Thanks so much for the link back to Chapter 30 of Inca - I re-read that before I read this and enjoyed it much more that way.

OK, OK - Amaru is a good guy.

Now I have to start worrying about Yupanque - hope Lizhe can heal him - Rimac will be heartbroken and Lizhe will feel so guilty if he dies.

Glad Dom and Amaru had their talk - hopefully Dom can keep that jealous streak in check now!! Thanks so much for another fabulous chapter - I wish it was next Sunday already!!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Amaru is, indeed, a good guy! :D

I'm glad you liked it. Poor Dom has to keep his mouth shut! I wonder if he'll manage it? Who knows? Certainly not me. xxx

[slipperieslope.livejournal.com]

Dom is so sweet when he isn't being a pooh, but he better be careful I like Amaru an awful lot. And poor Yupanque! Dom's dream is fascinating, I am bemused about this and will wait to see how you have it all play out. Lovely story as always. Thank you for sharing!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Thank YOU for reading! I like Amaru myself - but Dom is my Lizhe-guy of life and limb, and of earthly worship!! :D Bless em both! xxx

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I was glad that Dom and Amaru were able to talk and come to an understanding. But, poor Yupangue. What a shocking accident. I'm anxious to know if he'll be all right.

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Yup, feel sorry for Panque myself, broken bones are not funny. Bless him. Poor Dan. fighting Voldie and now his limbs are broken! :D xxx

HP?

[sumisu78.livejournal.com]

Harry Potter?? Who? ;-)
The adventures of Lizhe are enough for me :-). I enjoy reading your story.

Re: HP?

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I enjoy writing him - he's cute. Hope it continues to be as much fun as this. :D xxx

[chickenlegs-11.livejournal.com]

"He wondered whether, when he had been sick or injured and had found Lizhe lying asleep at his side, his lover had performed this ritual for him."

Oh of course he did!! Darling Lizhe! And how I loved that last paragraph. Sweet Lizhe, exhausted from giving so much to his people. Oh can you tell this chapter has me swooning a little! :) And as far as I'm concerned ole Harry Potter can just be patient and wait in the corner till I'm done reading about our Dom and Lizhe. Thank you again Issi. *hugs*

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Aw! I'm glad you like my Lizhe - he is so sweet. Snogs him - and you! :D xxx

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

I was pleased and relieved to read the part where Dom and Amaru had their time together, coming to a new and better understanding and sharing confidences.

Then the accident and poor Yupanque's fractures, they sound serious. Beloved Lizhe performed the shamanic ritual of healing and if anyone can heal him, the Sapa Inca can. But he was so exhausted afterwards, bless him... He's such a caring man as well as a great God-king, I adore him along with Dom and all his people!

A fascinating chapter as always, dearest Issi! Thanks to you for the hard work and to LSR for beta. I'm really enjoying where this tale is taking us. No sign of my HP from Amazon as yet, but no worries, I have plenty of other reading to keep me occupied!

*hugs*
XXX

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

He is such a darling, isn't he? Hugses. And he does care, very much, about all his people. Awww!

My HP came on 21st from Amazon. Has yours been held up by the flooding I wonder? I'm waiting for my cd's - that'll be nice for me - I'd listen to Stephen Fry reading his shopping list! :D xxx

[janejanejane.livejournal.com]

He's wonderful and I love him to bits! *bless*

We've had our HP on order for months as you probably have, but still no sign. Chris checked last night and it said it had been dispatched so we'll wait and see if it comes soon. Could be the flooding, I suppose.

Stephen Fry has a lovely voice. Hope you enjoy listening to him read HP. Just heard it's been the fastest-selling book, *ever*... No real surprise there ;D

[lisabellex.livejournal.com]

I love the bond of trust that's growing between Dom and Amaru now. Thank goodness he was spared the madness that took his father and brother. Am very concerned for Yupanque, although I also have a kind of faith that things will work out well for him... God has certainly proven himself in the past, and never more so than when he brought his own beloved Dom back from the dead.

Fingers crossed that healing's meant to be this time, too!

Loving this, Issi.

x

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

Aw! I'm glad it pleases you, my dear. Lizhe is such a doll - and Dom, too. Hugs them. :D xxx

[http://users.livejournal.com/saura_/]

"He may talk of me as much as he wishes - but you...you, Auqui Dom Huascar, may make love to me."

I LOVED this sentence. It's so... Elijah! For some reason I can see our Lij saying that! It's lovely!!

I like how Amaru's role is developing. He looks very much in love with Lizhe, the kind of love that respects everything, that prefers the happiness of the other which is just pure. You were right when you tell me I would like Amaru :)

And poor Yupanque!!! Don't let him die! Poor Rimac!!!

[ismenin.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you have come to like Amaru - I like him a lot! :D He does love Lizhe, so much. Bless him.

And the vision of Dom Huascar making love to Lizhe is very, very nice indeed. Wibble. :D xxx