Chapter 16

Standing with his back to the window, Vaysh was unsure who would be making the first move -- or what exactly that move would be. He was about to apologize for being awkward when Apollo broke the short silence.

"I want you to know, you don't have to do anything you don't want."

Vaysh laughed softly. "That's kind of you to say, Apollo, but actually I think I'm all right -- I seem to want to do everything at the moment. I can't decide what first though." Succumbing to a sudden urge, he threw himself onto the bed, where he looked up at Apollo from amidst the soft cushions. "I feel like after my Inception, so hungry, although less fearful."

Apollo sat down on the opposite side of the bed. "Oh, so I get to initiate you?"

"If you like..." Vaysh responded pleasantly.

"No, it's whatever you like," Apollo corrected.

"I like you," Vaysh said, continuing their word play. With slow precise movements Apollo was unbuttoning his silk top. "I still don't know you very well, but I definitely like you."

Apollo slipped out of the top and let it fall the floor. "Now I'm blushing, Vaysh." Turning away, he bent to take off his shoes.

Vaysh let his eyes rest on Apollo's back, lean and muscled, with its luminous white skin, utterly flawless. It was as if he were completely untouched.

"Tell me," Vaysh began softly, "have you ever had a partner in your life? A chesna?" For a moment, he thought of Ashmael, but he quickly ushered the thought to a waiting room in his mind.

"No, not really. You know, my father discouraged such things... well, you know that too well perhaps." Apollo, sans shoes, stood up and began to undo his pants. "Anyway, I didnt' necessarily agree, but my beliefs were never tested. My hostling and I simply moved around too much. Always another village, another city, another tribe..."

Naked, he flopped onto the bed, hands clasped behind his head. Like Vaysh he was gazing up at the ceiling.

"All those places, all those hara, and you never found anyone?"

There was a silence then and Vaysh felt it stretch, growing like the longing inside him. Finally he felt Apollo's hand rest gently upon his own, then hold it tight.

"No, I never did. I think I was just waiting for you."

"You're romantic," Vaysh murmurred.

"I'm also soume."

Their lovemaking was slow and langourous, for despite the passion on both sides, it seemed each of them had a need to stretch out the moments as long as possible, savoring every touch, every shuddering breath, every wave of tingling, ecstatic pleasure. Achingly conscious of the gift he had been given, Vaysh straddled Apollo with confidence, full of a vigor he hadn't felt in a painfully long time. Over the years he'd undergone much healing, chiefly through aruna with Pell, but only now did he feel he had truly recovered from the scouring he'd received from Thiede. Now there was nothing he could not do. His essence was healthy and strong.

When the moment approached, he and Apollo had melted together into the bed. Then all at once their bodies gathered together into solidity, muscles spasming.

Apollo cried out, hands flexing and unflexing on Vaysh's back. "That was perfect," he announced quietly, some moments later. "Can we do it again?"

Vaysh didn't reply, instead covering Apollo's mouth with a kiss.

Hours afterward a loud knocking was heard, far off, all the way at the main entrance door.

"Stay there, I'll get it," Vaysh sighed. Pulling on a robe, he regretfully left the room and went to the entrance hall.

Out in the hall stood Moon, wide-eyed and surprised. No wonder they'd been able to hear the knock -- Moon couldn't have known how loud he was knocking. He made a gesture, indicating he wanted to come inside and Vaysh stepped back, waving him in.

Moon eyed his robe and smiled. "You enjoyed your afternoon?" he inquired.

Open to the mindtouch, Vaysh nodded. "Yes. Today... it changed my life."

"I'm glad." Moon glanced over to the door leading towards the bedrooms. "And my son?"

"Apollo, too." Thinking of him, Vaysh wished he were there beside him. Already he had the feeling the wish would become constant. "Tell me, Moon, do you think Apollo will be able to stay here in Immanion?"

"It's funny you should ask," Moon replied, moving to the couch. "The Triad and I have discussed that."

"Oh? What exactly do you mean, you 'discussed it'?" Vaysh asked. Silently he called out to Apollo to come out from the bedroom and join in the conversation.

"They asked me what I would be doing now. I told them I'd like to stay and talk with Thiede some more, see what this city is like, visit some old, old friends who live here now. After that, though, I'd probably go back out into the world to do as I've always done."

Moon looked over to Apollo, who'd just sauntered into the room, wearing a flaming red robe he'd borrowed from Vaysh's closet. "Then they asked me about my son, if I thought he'd like to stay here."

"And what did you say?" Apollo asked urgently. "I hope you said--"

"I told them yes, don't worry. They were fine with that and in fact, they said it wouldn't be any trouble, they could get you a position right here in Phaonica... assuming you're amenable."

"Amenable?! Of course I'll stay, of course I'll work here!" Apollo was so excited he rushed forward and took his petite hostling in his arms, squeezing him tight and he spun him round. "Vaysh, did you hear that--"

"Well, in a matter of speaking -- your hostling's mindvoice is quite clear. It's safe to say I'm looking forward to having you here. One afternoon was nice but..."

"A lot longer would be nicer." Apollo grinned, releasing his hostling, who promply went to the drinking cabinet and opened it.

"Care to drink on that?" Moon asked, pulling out a long, green bottle of wine.

Vaysh nodded approvingly; it was an exceptionally fine vintage he'd been saving for a special occasion. Stepping beside Moon, he pulled out three glasses and pulling the cord, readied the glasses for the inevitable toasting.

Each of them took a glass.

"To the the future," Moon toasted first.

"To a lot longer in Immanion," Apollo rang in second.

"To Thiede," Vaysh pronounced.

Chinking their glasses together, they all agreed. "To Thiede."