Brian strode into the training field, having heard the commotion coming from the arena from the courtyard at the front of the castle. It had sounded like natural bickering between men but then the sound had erupted into loud voices and a pain-filled cry.

Locating his second in the middle of the fray, breaking the crowd up and urging them to continue their training, Brian immediately searched the throng of men for the guilty parties. It was easy enough to spot the man that had been injured. Young Justin was tending to what looked like a deep cut on one of the soldier's shoulders.

Brian watched for a moment, transfixed by the look of concern in Justin's eyes as his fingers gently and meticulously cleaned the wound as best he could. The man was amazing. After everything that had happened to him in the past two years, one would think that he might be as steely edged as the other men. Even more so. Yet, from what Brian had seen within the past week, it seemed that Justin was focused and determined to remain grounded. To remain human in all aspects.

As Justin continued to work on the young warrior's arm and shoulder, his eyes strayed upward, locking and holding with Brian's.

"Milord." Brian tore his eyes away from the blonde man and turned his attention to Benjamin, feeling somewhat guilty for having been caught staring.

"What happened?"

"Garrick, sir," he sneered, indicating the scruffy looking older man at his left side. "He struck Edward unfairly."

"Unfairly?" Brain asked, arching a dark brow.

"He was unarmed, sir."

"I was under the impression that we was trainin' yer lordship," the man's mouth disappeared into a thin white line. Brian saw the anger in his eyes. Saw the hatred. The need for blood. And...the faintest glimmer of fear.

"Garrick, we do not train to attack unarmed men. I believe you should cease your training for the remainder of the day."

"Bu-"

He cut the man off quickly. "Instead...you will help the men and women in the village. Help in the fields. Perhaps that will help you appreciate your place here and help you stay focused on the task at hand."

Without another word, Garrick pivoted and stalked away from the training field. Ben looked as though he wanted to argue, but he remained silent. After only a few seconds, Brian shook his head. "Say it."

"Say what, milord?"

"Say that you think the punishment was unjust."

Ben stared at the ground, collecting his thoughts. "It is not that the punishment was unjust. But...perhaps you should have heard the man out. And spoken to Edward as well."

"Could it be that Edward provoked the action?"

"I cannot be sure."

Brian folded his arms across his chest and glanced around the field, taking in the sight of the men, swords clashing, arrows flying, and then Justin, who was absently wiping Edward's blood from his hands with a cloth. "I stand by my decision."

"Of course."

"His eyes. They were full of malice. Just as they have been in every one of these men since they've arrived back."

"Fresh from battle. Their minds are set on the kill."

The two men looked on as yet another skirmish broke out among the men. Already, Justin was rushing to part the sword-wielding pair. "We can only hope that they don't kill one another."

***

It was dusk when the men finished their day's work. Knowing that he had hours before he would meet with Melanie, Justin followed the familiar overgrown path through the woods and to the small reservoir in the clearing.

Stripping the layers of clothing from his body, Justin studied his hands. Where his arms were slightly pink from the sun, his hands were brown, caked with dirt and blood.

He would have to check on Edward before he went to see Lady Melanie.

That had been quite a close call. Edward had been speaking with him about his last sparing match. Then, without warning, Edward had pushed Justin aside and had acquired a deep cut to his left shoulder. If the other man had not pushed him... He knew the proximity of the strike and he was certain that the sword could have sliced him in half. But he wouldn't jump to conclusions.

Garrick was and had always been too aggressive. Too over anxious. Too irrational. It was likely that the man was simply striking out at some unknown specter of his mind.

Vowing to worry no more over the matter, Justin stepped to the edge of the boulder that he had been standing on, and plunged into the still water, creating a loud splash around him. The water was warm and soothing to his aching muscles and he sighed loudly with contentment as he surfaced and slicked his hair back with his hands.

"Obviously our minds are running the same course."

Justin who had began floating in the gently sway of the water, floundered and sunk beneath the surface at the shock of the unexpected voice. He resurfaced to the sound of his own sputtering cough and laughter.

It was a gruff laugh. Harsh, as though the man hadn't actually laughed in a long long while.

The young man rubbed his eyes with the tips of his fingers and blinked, working to bring his vision into focus. "L-Lord Brian!"

"Quite a show. Forgive me if I frightened you," he said, though his amused smile said that he was anything but apologetic.

"I didn't...I mean...how did I not hear you approaching?" It was a fair question. There were leaves and fallen branches scattered over nearly every inch of the forest floor. Surely he would have heard something.

Brian's smile faded into a serious frown. "Perhaps you chose not to hear me."

Justin was unsure of what the man meant by the reasoning, but before he could ask, he realized that he had a bigger problem. McKinnon swiftly worked the shirt over his head. Pushed his breeches down and off. Justin felt something in him stir and he forced himself to turn away from the sight of his leader's naked body.

"Do you wish to shield your eyes? Protect your innocence?" Brian mocked him after seeing him turn. "Surely I have nothing that you have never seen."

"Of course...only..."

Brian ignored him and pressed on into the water. "I had heard of your father."

"Yes sir." Justin felt his stomach lurch. It had been a week and there had been no mention to him of what position McKinnon took on the matter. It was almost a relief to finally know where he stood.

"You must know that I will not tolerate traitors." Justin hung his head. He was going to be held accountable for Joseph Winterberry's actions after all. "Yet, I am assured by a trustworthy source that the feelings of your father are not representative of your own."

He shook his head slowly. "N-no...no milord."

"So your loyalty is solely to the McKinnon name, secondary only to England and the crown."

"Yes sir." He said with fierce conviction.

"Good," he said brusquely. Then, in a quieter, more controlled voice, he murmured, "Turn around." Justin's eyes went wide. "Turn around, Justin." He could feel McKinnon's hot breath upon the back of his neck. It sent chills racing up and down his spine. Sent a sensation through every part of his being. He felt his shaft harden and he flushed with the thought of being caught in such a state.

"Sir...I cannot..."

"You deny me, when only days ago you were proclaiming to be at my beck and call?" He could hear the smile in Brian's voice, but there was also an undercurrent of tension, that did not ease Justin's fears at all.

He shook his head, but did not turn. "No, m'lord. I said that I would do as you commanded."

"You see a difference?"

"Yes. I am your servant. A servant may refuse his lord, can he not?"

"At a price to be sure."

"Then I will pay that price."

"What have you to hide, my young warrior? What keeps you from facing me? Meeting my eyes?"

Justin felt hardness upon his lower back and trembled. Strong arms wrapped around his chest and McKinnon pulled him back, his cock pressing into Justin. Large, capable hands smoothed their way down his taut stomach and gripped his own hardness.

His hands wrapped around Brian's biceps, willing him to move. To do something. Anything. The sweet pain was pure torture and he wasn't sure how long he could hold on. Brian's hands moved slowly, languidly over him. Quickly, Justin came, spasming as he rested back against McKinnon's chest.

His mind was completely blank. Waves slapped against the inside of his head and he could feel his mouth hanging slack from the exertion.

As quickly as it had covered him, the fog in his mind abated and his body tensed. Justin pulled himself from Brian's arms and pulled himself as quickly as he could from the water. He climbed back onto the boulder and picked his clothing from the rock before turning and dashing back through the grove of trees.

To Be Continued...