Read The Surrogate Online

Authors: Ann Somerville

Tags: #Rape, #mm romance, #Slavery, #noncon

The Surrogate (32 page)

Seve smiled briefly to acknowledge the unwanted compliment—his looks were a curse to him after Minas—then explained, “I was just wondering about my parentage, since you and I look so similar.”

Nikolas stared at him, as if he’d never really looked at Seve properly. “I suppose we do. But I assure you, all my late mother’s offspring are accounted for.”

Seve gave him a light punch on the shoulder. “I didn’t mean...oh, never mind. We need to move faster.”

They walked together in silence for a bit, then Nikolas asked, “Would there be no records at all of your family?”


Possibly, if the temples kept them, and didn’t burn them to cover their guilt. But I may have been an orphan.”


Someone took you to the temple. Even if they couldn’t care for you themselves, they wanted to know you were safe.”


Pity they got that so wrong. Not just for me and Jai...for those lovers who...how many of us died?” he whispered. “How many did Minas destroy, use their love for each other as weapons? What happened to their crushed and broken spirits?”

Nikolas stopped again, and took Seve’s hands in his. “We Jendonese have two gods—our Father, Sar, and Pir, our Mother—who gather the souls of the dead to their bosoms in the after life, then judge, heal, and punish where it’s needed, so that the soul goes to a new life cleansed of all sin and pain.”


We’re not Jendonese,” Seve said roughly. “Your gods have no dominion over us.”


I believe they wouldn’t have abandoned their children, for all they might have been ignorant of their existence.”


Then why did they abandon
you
,” Seve cried, pulled away from the hand on his arm. “Why did they allow
you
to suffer so? Or any of us?”

Nikolas’ face contorted briefly in pain. “Sar and Pir don’t have power over the living. It’s only after death we face the consequences of our unacknowledged sins. Minas had a choice. He chose unwisely. His victims will have had justice in the afterlife.”


I don’t believe in your gods, Nikolas. I don’t believe in any. I’ve been a god. It’s nothing at all.”

Nikolas nodded. “As you say. Let’s not fight, Seve.”

Seve grimaced and strode on, wishing he hadn’t brought any of it up, but he didn’t have much say over what his thought processes threw up lately. They walked along in uneasy silence, Seve still gnawing on the subject of his family, and the other victims of Minas’ perversion. He would dearly love a day when his tormentor didn’t come to his mind at all. He wondered if that would ever happen.

They’d reached the city limits now, and were forced to more actively avoid the carts and horses and palanquins and rushing people. He found himself quite lost, but Nikolas knew where they were headed. Seve knew so little of towns and cities—he’d barely seen a thing of Egin, and he’d always been so distracted by his fear, that he couldn’t really concentrate on his surroundings on his few and disastrous visits into Hamer.

Nikolas kept a friendly hand on his arm the whole time, which helped—Seve thought that was ironic, considering they were there to mend Nikolas, not him. They pushed their way through the crowds, and Seve did his very best not to flinch, concentrating on the warmth of Nikolas’ hand through his shirt sleeve. He wished he had taken Jaime up on his offer now, but he had to do this. He had to get past this or he’d never get Minas out of his head.


Nearly there,” Nikolas murmured. “That building there—that’s the house of the healers.”


Why did you never go here before?” Seve asked as they approached the tall stone building. It was bigger than the houses they’d passed, though much more modest than the academy. It might have been mistaken for a residence, but the signs outside proclaimed the true purpose.

Nikolas didn’t answer, but they were at the solid dark wood door now, knocking, so Seve didn’t press. Another matter Nikolas didn’t want to talk about. Seve understood that.

A neatly dressed servant led them to a side room where it became clear they weren’t the only ones in need of help. Looking at the twenty or so other people sitting on chairs, or on the floor, Seve was overcome with panic. “I can’t....”


I won’t let you come to harm, Severin,” Nikolas said with that odd fierce light in his eyes that had so puzzled Jaime and Seve two nights before. Then he relaxed. “But if you want to wait outside...?”

Seve swallowed and shook his head. “No. Where can we sit?”

They attracted curious looks as they squeezed into a corner, Seve close to the wall and wishing he’d worn a scarf again, though it was much too hot to do so. But it was only the curiosity of the bored, and people soon lost interest, turning back to their own companions and ignoring them again. Seve could relax then, and bend his mind to what ailments these people might be suffering from—in a couple of cases it was obvious which part of the body was afflicted, from the bandages on hand or head, but mostly, it was hard to divine.


Who do they treat here?” he asked. He knew so little of the practice of healers. His only contact had been with those in the palace of the Gidinian king, and he guessed they were hardly typical.


Anyone who needs help. They don’t charge, so all can come—but a donation’s expected when the patient can pay. The rich pay a tithe to the temples, and the temples support the healers’ work. They’re all lay brothers here, you see.”


Oh.” Seve tried to imagine the priests in the temples of Paon doing something like this, and failed. The temples weren’t known for their charitable interests. “I meant—what do they treat?”

Nikolas shrugged. “All kinds. The kind of things the street physickers can’t deal with, or the wisewives mend. They work with the academy and train as well as treat, so they like unusual cases.” He smiled without humour. “I suppose I’m one of those.”

Hesitantly, Seve reached over and patted his hand. “Injuries gained with honour, Nikolas.”

Nikolas’ mouth tightened. “I screamed like a baby and told them all they wanted to know. I’m a coward, so it’s all I deserve. I should go.”

Seve grabbed his arm painfully hard and refused to let him stand. “No. Stay, fix this,” he said in a fierce, low tone, trying to control Nikolas with that as much as his hands. “You aren’t a coward. Jaime and I are alive and free today because of your bravery. I won’t allow you to denigrate that.”

Nikolas pulled Seve’s hand off his arm. “You’re causing a scene,” he muttered, and indeed they were attracting looks.

Seve wanted to apologise, but Nikolas had retreated, and there was no point in forcing it. He just didn’t know why Nikolas was interpreting what had happened to him in such a derogatory way. If Minas had broken his hands, Seve was sure he would have screamed too. Minas had always been careful not to injure permanently. Stringing out his toys’ usefulness as long as possible, Seve guessed. Even when he....

He clenched his fist. Remembering what had happened to Jaime while he was helpless and bound and forced to watch, had been the stuff of nightmares for years, and unlikely to cease any time soon. But Minas had never got to the point of maiming Jaime. He’d come awfully close though.

They had to wait nearly an hour. Nikolas said not a word, but nothing in his expression was giving away whether he was angry with Seve or merely lost in his thoughts. Seve used the time to watch the other patients, trying to guess their histories. There were women here, and children. He knew very little of women, or families, or children in the care of their parents. One of the young ones, a red-haired child with ruddy cheeks and dribble on her chin, kept looking at him as if she found him fascinating. He had no idea what to do under such bright-eyed scrutiny. He was deathly afraid she would come over and demand he play with her or something of that sort. But her mother, caring for a sick babe-in-arms, didn’t allow her to wander. He and Nikolas were left alone.

Finally the servant came and requested that he and Nikolas follow. They were led to the back of the building—behind closed doors as they passed, Seve heard a muffled moan or two, and even a cry, quickly bitten off. The sounds made him flinch, and Nikolas cast a quick glance his way. Seve murmured, “I’m fine,” and Nikolas nodded. No one was being tortured or punished here. This was a place of healing, not false and destructive gods.

They were ushered into a bright, many-windowed room, and greeted by a short balding man with a wide smile and piercing blue eyes. He wore a simple white robe of some lightweight material, which looked somewhat priestly to Seve’s eyes—but of course, he was some kind of priest, according to Nikolas.


Welcome, my friends, please—be seated.” The servant took up a place by the door as Seve and Nikolas sat on two sturdy wooden chairs in the middle of the room. There were three other chairs, and a long couch—as well as a table at whose purpose Seve could guess. The walls were lined with books, and bottles of liquid and powder stood in a tall cabinet in the corner, which contributed to the strong, though not unpleasant medicinal odour in the room. The healer’s desk was covered with books and scrolls. Seve was pleased to know the man didn’t only rely on his own memories for advice.


I am healer Karel. This is my assistant, Riki. He will observe today, with your permission,” he said with a little bow. Seve now noticed the young man standing silently to one side. “Do you mind?” Nikolas shook his head, as did Seve. “Thank you. Now, which of you is Nikolas...?”


That’s me.”


Ah yes. I should have guessed really,” the healer said, beaming at Nikolas. “You look a little like your brother, Piet. The resemblance between you two confused me.”


Nikolas isn’t kin to me,” Seve felt obliged to point out.


We’re all kin, when it comes to it,” the healer said mildly. “Nikolas, be so kind as to remove your shirt. Your friend may stay or go as suits you.”


He can stay...if you want, Seve,” Nikolas amended.


I will. I’m supposed to be learning how to help.”


In good time, young sir, in good time,” Karel said calmly.

The examination was thorough but not unduly lengthy. Nikolas was ill at ease, but that was no surprise. Finally Karel took a seat near them, and looked at them solemnly. “I need to examine your hands with my gift now, Nikolas. But I need to talk to you about your experiences while I do so. This may be a little distressing for you. Your friend may keep his hand on you or comfort you as you like.”


Excuse me—your gift?” Seve asked.

Nikolas didn’t look at him as he answered in a low voice. “Some of us can move small things small distances. I can...unlock locks. It’s how I...the slave collar...in the temple.”

The healer was puzzled by the exchange but he understood the question. “And I use my minor talent to look inside the body, at the things which would only be revealed by a scalpel. I can do and would do no harm, I assure you.”


I know that, Karel,” Nikolas said tightly. “Please, go on.”


Nikolas, do you...want me to...?” Seve didn’t want to shame him, but he wanted to help.

The rigid line of Nikolas’ back, the clenched jaw, looked to Seve like a man very much in need, but too proud to ask. So he didn’t wait for an answer, he just moved his chair a little closer so he could lean unobtrusively against Nikolas’ back, and be ready to offer more if needed. He thought Nikolas relaxed minutely, though he was still very tense. Was he afraid of being hurt...or of his memories?

The healer looked at them, noted Seve’s position, then nodded. “This shouldn’t hurt too much, Nikolas. We can stop if it does. Are you ready?”


Yes.” His voice was thick. Seve pressed a little closer.

Karel took Nikolas’ hands in his. “Then, begin by telling me how you came to meet master Jaime.”

This much, Seve already knew, since Jaime had told him, and what came stumbling, uncharacteristically, from Nikolas’ lips was only different in that his perception was altered by lack of knowledge of the true situation. The healer listened in silence, still holding Nikolas’ hands, his eyes half-closed as if he wasn’t actually listening to the words so much as engaging all his senses.

Nikolas halted at the point in the narrative where he’d bid farewell to Jaime and Seve, and gone to wait for nightfall. This had been the fateful time for all of them, him the most. Seve and Jaime had waited, desperately anxious, for their friend, and then when he hadn’t come, had set in motion the events which had led to Nikolas’ rescue. But not before....


Tell me about the questioning. When you were captured,” Karel said in a quiet voice. Nikolas’ body immediately tensed. “Take your time. We’re in no hurry.”


Your other patients....”

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