City of Gold THE day began just like any other. Gallienus, a veteran of the wars that had ended the previous year, in 1130, went to his postwar duties at the gates of Constantinople, the jewel in the crown of the Byzantine Empire. He limped up and down the lines of wagons carrying all manner of goods from the East for trade, inspected the packs and wagons, and waved merchants through to the city. He gave directions to the merchants’ quarter when necessary and detained those who were smuggling items prohibited by Emperor John Komnenos the Second. At midday, he ate a small meal and drank a tankard of ale with his fellow gate guards. He smiled ruefully as they talked about past wars and how lucky Gallienus was to have survived the violent conflicts with a limp and an ugly scar from a crossbow bolt to show for them. After the meal, he returned to his post by the gates, and the business of inspecting merchant pack trains resumed.

Yes, it was a day like any other, unremarkable, his routine unchanged. Gallienus expected this to be the way his life would continue until it ended. He knew he should be grateful to be alive and allowed to continue to serve the Empire, even as a lowly gate guard of Constantinople. He was grateful, but he was a soldier, trained to fight the enemies of the Empire, to march proudly beneath the standard of the golden eagle of Byzantium. He was not meant to be languishing here, checking cargo. He should be out with the rest of his men, the men who served with honor for the glory of the Empire.

It was nearing late afternoon when Gallienus’s day took an unexpected turn, a turn that would change his life forever. He was inspecting the goods of a merchant and his train from the Far East. The merchant said they had come from the city of Gyeongju, once the capital of the Kingdom of Silla. Gallienus nodded absently, only half-listening to the oddly accented Greek that the merchant spoke as he limped down the line of the pack train, inspecting the goods that the merchant had for trade. Gallienus’s hip was aching, as it often did toward the end of the day, another legacy of the injury that had seen him gently released from the Emperor’s armies and reassigned to this duty.

Pausing for a moment and taking a deep breath, forcing his mind not to dwell on the growing pain in his hip and leg, Gallienus looked down the line of horses and mules and a few camels. His gaze stopped, lingering on one person, a man who had emerged from behind a heavily laden mule. As Gallienus stared, the man approached and gracefully bowed low, and as he straightened, Gallienus could see there was curiosity in his handsome face.

�śIs everything to your satisfaction, my lord?” The voice of the merchant jerked Gallienus out of his reverie, and he flushed, turning away from the vision in front of him to nod at the merchant. �śYes. Everything’s fine.” As he turned back to face the man who had so transfixed him, Gallienus asked, �śHave you been to Constantinople before?”

�śOh yes,” the merchant cheerfully answered as the object of Gallienus’s fascination gazed at him and shook his head slightly in the negative. �śI have traded here many times over the years, my lord.” The merchant’s voice droned on and on as Gallienus and the other man gazed at each other, unmoving. It was only when the merchant lightly shoved the young man’s shoulder, to get him to move with the rest of the train as it slowly plodded through the gates and into the city of Constantinople, that Gallienus felt himself released from that captivating gaze.

�śMisahuen, move,” the merchant said�"not unkindly, Gallienus was relieved to hear. �śWe must find lodgings before dark.”

Gallienus turned as the merchant and the man�" Misahuen�"walked past him. �śThere is an inn to the west of the main square of the merchants’ quarter called The Grape Vine. Tell the owner that Gallienus Angelos sent you, and he will see to it that you and your men are well taken care of.”

The merchant bowed low. �śThank you, my lord, you are most kind.” He barked instructions to others of his men in a language that Gallienus did not understand, and Gallienus looked again at Misahuen.

�śThank you,” Misahuen said, bowing to Gallienus. �śYou honor us.” His voice was soft, rich, educated, and his Greek was flawless. Gallienus felt his cheeks color as his heart pounded within his chest.

Returning the bow, Gallienus answered, �śNo, thank you. It is I who am honored to serve.” The ritual phrase came automatically, although the sincerity with which Gallienus said it was not.

Misahuen’s lips curved upward in the faintest of smiles, and then he was gone, walking into Constantinople with the merchant and the rest of his pack train.

Gallienus groaned and closed his eyes, looking up at the sky to seek strength to finish his working day without rushing to see if the merchant had taken his advice about the inn�Ś and to see Misahuen. He could not recall ever having been so mesmerized�"and so quickly�"by another person, male or female, in all of his life.

IT WAS evening several days later before Gallienus could find a reason to go to the inn and see his friend the innkeeper. At least, that was what he told himself he was doing as he climbed the few steps that led to the door of the taproom of The Grape Vine. Deep down, however, he knew the truth of the matter was that he was there to see Misahuen. He had not been able to get the man out of his head.

Gallienus nodded to the innkeeper as he entered the taproom, the place almost empty save for an old soldier, a veteran of battles long past, mumbling over his tankard about the Crusades of the 1090s. Gallienus chose a table in a dimly lit corner of the taproom and sat, ordering a tankard of ale. When the innkeeper’s son brought it to him, he paid the boy with a small coin and leaned back against the wall. There appeared to be no one else around, and Gallienus reluctantly concluded Misahuen must be staying elsewhere. If the merchant had taken lodgings at another inn, it could be days, even weeks, until Gallienus found him. His duties prevented him from searching the merchants’ quarter�"at least unless he had good reason�"and he knew his superiors would not consider a fascination with a young man from the Far East to be a good reason.

There really was only so long one could nurse one’s drink without looking ridiculous, and he did have duties the next day. Gallienus was on the verge of draining his tankard and going to his small home�"a soldier’s billet, little more than a one-room cottage near the walls of the great city. He was about to stand and leave when there were sounds of voices speaking that language he did not understand, and the tread of feet upon the stairs. The language sounded, now that he was fully paying attention, musical, almost lyrical. As Gallienus listened and watched, the merchant and several other men descended from the upper floors of the inn and into the taproom.

One of them was Misahuen. Gallienus’s breath caught as he watched the group and listened to their conversation, even though he could not understand what they were saying. He did not want to make himself obvious, yet he hoped desperately that Misahuen would turn and see him and linger. Gallienus could not fathom why he was fascinated by this man, why he was so drawn to him. He could not explain to anyone, least of all himself, why the desire to know Misahuen was so great. This was the first time in his life that he had found himself feeling such things for another, and it was alien and unfamiliar to him. He found it confusing and strange, yet he did not want to run from it. He was a soldier, after all, and soldiers did not retreat�"least of all from situations like this. Or so he told himself.

Misahuen was silent as the rest of the party he was with talked among themselves, and Gallienus watched, hoping against hope that Misahuen would turn and see him there in the shadows. After a moment that felt like a lifetime, Misahuen looked around and his eyes met Gallienus’s. They gazed at each other, unblinking, and finally Misahuen looked away and touched the shoulder of the merchant to get his attention. Words in that language that Gallienus did not understand were exchanged, and Misahuen bowed as the merchant and the other men in the group left the inn, the door closing with a soft click behind them.

The taproom felt almost eerily silent with their departure, and Gallienus’s heart was in his throat as Misahuen walked to him and half-bowed politely.

�śMay I join you?” Gallienus nodded, gesturing to the bench opposite the one upon which he sat. �śPlease do.”

Misahuen smiled and sat down. �śThank you.” He clasped his hands together in front of him on the worn wood of the table, and Gallienus bit his lip, watching those long fingers. �śI am Misahuen of Gyeongju,” Misahuen formally introduced himself.

Biting back the instinctive answer of �śI know who you are,” Gallienus nodded instead. �śGallienus. My father named me after the emperor of the same name. Retired soldier and now a gate guard.” He was annoyed at himself for sounding bitter as he said it. �śWould you like something to drink, Misahuen?”

�śWater, please.” Misahuen was looking at him curiously, dark brown eyes like pools of rich coffee gazing at Gallienus, making Gallienus feel as if he was being stripped bare, as if all his secrets were laid out for Misahuen to see. Squirming a little beneath that intense gaze, Gallienus gestured to the innkeeper’s son and ordered water for his companion and another tankard of ale for himself.

�śSo what brings you to Constantinople?” Gallienus paid for the drinks, and they were quickly brought to the table; he was relieved that the boy did not linger after scooping up the few coins Gallienus placed on the rough wood. He felt out of his depth, for he had no idea how to talk to Misahuen. Gallienus knew only that he wanted to get to know Misahuen a very great deal.

�śTrade.” Misahuen smiled the ghost of a smile. �śAlthough I assume you are asking why I chose to leave my homeland in the first place?”

Gallienus smiled a little ruefully. �śYes, I am. Sorry, I should have been clearer.” �śIt is nothing.” Misahuen’s smile broadened. �śYour language of Greek is beautiful, but there are nuances to it that I cannot find a comparable translation for in my native tongue. So there are times when the translation is, how do you say�Ś it is not as correct as it could be.”

Nodding, Gallienus took a sip of his ale. �śI understand.” �śThere is civil war in my land,” Misahuen continued, the smile fading. �śMy family was killed, and I fled. I did not know where to go or what to do. It was luck that brought me to Merchant Yuen’s camp. He had taken on others who had fared similarly to myself, so it seemed providence had brought me to him as well. He offered me a place in his train, working with the animals and helping guard the goods he was trading as we travelled the Silk Road, and so, here I am.”

�śI’m sorry,” Gallienus said softly. �śFor the loss of your family.” Misahuen shrugged. �śWhat will be, will be. And what of yourself, Gallienus? How long have you guarded the gates of this magnificent city?”

Gallienus shook his head ruefully. �śA year, more or less. A little more than less, I’d wager. The last campaign was a hard one, and I was injured. Crossbow bolt through the thigh.” He shrugged as Misahuen made a soft sound of sympathy. �śI was lucky. Many others died. My commanding officer decided that I could serve the Empire better by patrolling the walls and guarding the gates of Constantinople than out in the field fighting for the Emperor.”

�śBut you do not agree?” Misahuen canted his head slightly, his expression a mixture of curiosity and compassion.

�śLogically, I do. I would slow down any fighting unit in the field. Emotionally�Ś no, emotionally, I don’t agree. I remind myself that it could be worse, though. I could be dead.”

Misahuen nodded once. �śAs you say. Consider, however, that this duty you perform now is not as useless as you may think.”

Gallienus arched an eyebrow in eloquent query. �śWhat do you mean?” �śThis city, Constantinople, it is the capital of your Byzantine Empire, yes?” As Gallienus nodded, Misahuen continued. �śTherefore, the walls which you guard and protect, the gates you patrol, are the last bastion of refuge and safety for those who seek shelter from their enemies. You and your companions who share these duties protect and defend them. You are still a soldier of the Empire�"it is just that your duties in war have changed. They are no less important than before, merely defensive in nature rather than offensive.”

Gallienus was silent, rolling that around his mind. He smiled at Misahuen and shook his head. �śHow is it that you see what I could not?”

�śI am separate from the situation.” Misahuen smiled a small smile in return. �śDoes what I said make sense to you?” �śA very great deal.” Gallienus nodded. �śThank you.” He felt better about his duties than he had for a very long time, since the fight that had led to his injuries and his reassignment from the battlefield to the city.

�śIt is nothing to thank me for.” Misahuen sipped his water. A companionable silence fell between them. Gallienus broke it by asking, �śSo, are you married?”

Misahuen blushed faintly and shook his head. �śNo. Are you?”

Gallienus also shook his head. �śNever found the time,” he admitted. �śA soldier’s life doesn’t generally include a wife and children. My father wanted me to go into the family trade and become a blacksmith, but I chose the army instead. My older brother married and had children. He lives in Anatolia now.” He paused a moment before continuing. �śI never met anyone who made me think of lasting commitments.” It was odd, Gallienus thought, as the words left his mouth, how quickly and easily he was opening up to this man he barely knew. Yet he felt comfortable doing so, knowing instinctively that Misahuen would not repeat anything he said.

�śI see.” Misahuen smiled. �śIt is traditional in my country to marry, but there are many who have lovers outside the marriage, lovers of both sexes.”

Gallienus blinked in surprise. �śIt is?”

�śOh yes. It is not�Ś what is the word�Ś taboo. As long as there are children to continue the family line within the marriage, any affairs that take place between a husband or wife and another man or woman are not illegal.”

Gallienus frowned. The idea was completely alien to him, and yet he couldn’t quash the spark of hope that Misahuen’s words gave him. To love and live freely like that�Ś he could not imagine it. �śIt is the opposite here in the Empire,” he said softly. �śThere are times, during war, that�Ś camp followers are not present and so, well.” He coughed discreetly.

�śI see.” Misahuen saved him from explaining further. �śCultures are different,” he mused. �śI have seen much while travelling here from Gyeongju. My eyes have been opened.”

�śWhere did you learn Greek?” Gallienus decided to change the subject. He didn’t want to discuss comparative sexuality�"at least, not yet. It seemed easier to talk about other things for the moment.

�śThere is a member of Yuen’s train, one of his servants, who speaks it, and he taught those of us who were not familiar with it on the journey. It was a long trip,” Misahuen chuckled softly. �śNearly a year, by your calendar.”

Gallienus let out a low whistle at that. �śWhy come so far to trade?” Gallienus was growing more and more curious. �śIt seems to be an enormous risk.”

�śIt is, but the money is good, I am told.” Misahuen shook his head. �śI am not a merchant, and I do not fully understand such things, but Yuen says that the Byzantine trade is the best and the money is worth it. For myself, seeing this land and your beautiful city is worth more than any amount of money.”

Gallienus smiled at that, proud of his city and his homeland. �śConstantinople is the wonder of the world,” he agreed.

�śShe is,” Misahuen nodded. �śI hope the wonder of the world’s people find our wares to their liking. I would very much like to stay here for a while.”

�śWhat goods are you trading here?” Gallienus rested his chin on the palm of one hand, wholly absorbed by the conversation.

�śHerbs and spices from Korea and China, silks that are also from China. We are also trading the mineral called kaolin, which is from my native province, where the city of Gyeongju is. It is used for many things, and is in great demand by the noble houses of the west, I am told. It is used for making smoking pipes, which are popular with the men, and by medical men for treatment of gastric disorders.” Misahuen paused to take another sip of his water and continued, �śKaolin is also used in cosmetics for women, for soap and as a cleanser for the teeth.”

Gallienus blinked in surprised at the last one. �śA cleanser for the teeth?” he echoed.

�śYes. Kaolin is a soft stone, and it is ground up into a fine powder,” Misahuen explained. �śThen it is mixed with a little cold water, which is best if it is flavored with mint leaves. One mixes this to a paste and it is scrubbed over the teeth, then one rinses one’s mouth with clean water and spits out the water and the paste.”

�śRemarkable,” Gallienus marveled. �śAnd it really works?”

�śIt really works,” Misahuen nodded seriously. �śIt is not easy to sell, though,” he added thoughtfully. �śMany are suspicious of such a thing.”

�śPerhaps if demonstrations were offered, more would be inclined to buy?” Gallienus asked. �śPerhaps too, if�Ś if you wished, that is, to stay longer in Constantinople, you would be willing to hold such demonstrations?” he trailed off awkwardly.

Misahuen smiled. �śI would like to stay longer,” he said softly. �śVery much, I confess.”

EVEN before his first glimpse of Misahuen at the gates of Constantinople, Gallienus had been a frequent patron of the taproom of The Grape Vine. It was no great surprise to the innkeeper or his family that Gallienus continued to drink there at the end of his shifts. That Misahuen was, more often than not, Gallienus’s companion during the long evenings did not seem strange, for Gallienus was well known to be fond of conversation and well liked by those who knew him.

However, Gallienus knew he had to be careful. The law was such that he did not dare state openly how he felt about Misahuen; even hinting at it was enough to make him nervous. He had come to the conclusion only a few days after their first conversation in the taproom that he was attracted to the man. Not only that, as the days turned into weeks and they met nearly every night, Gallienus realized that he was falling in love.

That night, it was nearing midnight, and the owner of The Grape Vine kept shooting Gallienus and Misahuen meaningful looks�"it was obvious that he wanted to close his doors for the evening and go be with his wife. Gallienus finally nodded and smiled ruefully. �śI’m going, I’m going,” he said good-naturedly, draining the last of the ale in his tankard and standing. To his surprise, Misahuen stood as well.

�śI will walk with you a little way,” he said. �śI am not yet tired. Perhaps a walk will weary me enough for sleep.” Gallienus nodded. �śAll right.” Inwardly, he couldn’t stop grinning. He wasn’t ready for the night to be over; he and Misahuen had been so involved in their conversation that the hours had passed like minutes. With a polite nod to the innkeeper, Gallienus led the way out of The Grape Vine and onto the darkened street.

The candles in the lamps lining the paths and roads cast a dull glow over the city as Misahuen fell into step beside Gallienus. They walked in companionable silence until the lamps gave way to torches, flames sputtering fitfully and set in iron rings buried in ancient stone walls. Misahuen broke the silence with a quiet sigh, an expulsion of breath that had Gallienus raising an eyebrow in curiosity. �śMisahuen?”

�śI hope you do not think me too forward, Gallienus,” Misahuen began hesitantly, �śbut�Ś I would like to see your home. If you are amenable.”

Gallienus gulped. Heat shot through him, and he took a moment to breathe, to get his voice under control so that when he answered, he would not sound like an excitable schoolboy. �śI’d like that,” he said. �śI’d like it a lot.”

Misahuen’s voice echoed the smile on his face. �śThank you, Gallienus.” The walk had never seemed longer to Gallienus. Although it was only a few blocks to his modest home, it felt as if it took forever. His emotions fluctuated between excited hope and abject terror that somehow he was misinterpreting Misahuen’s intentions, that he was seeing things that were not there, that Misahuen’s wish to see his home was born solely out of friendship, if, if, if�Ś. By the time they reached the solid wooden door set into the thick brick wall of his home, Gallienus was in a state that could only be described as nervous agitation.

Unlocking the door, Gallienus stepped inside and lit the single candle that stood on a plain wooden chest just inside his home. The tiny flicker of flame didn’t cast a lot of light, but it was enough. Gallienus led Misahuen inside his modest abode and closed the door behind them. Almost as an afterthought, he clicked the latch that locked it, threw the single bolt, and finally, unable to stall any longer, he turned and faced his companion.

The light of the candle was a finger of orange-yellow, barely enough to illuminate beyond the house’s threshold. In the dark of the single room that was Gallienus’s home, Misahuen was cast in shadow, a man chiseled out of obsidian. Gallienus swallowed hard, willing his heart to stop pounding in his chest as he looked at the outline of his companion’s figure as Misahuen looked around his simple home. There was a chest containing clothes against a wall, a basin for washing, and another door that led out to a tiny cubicle containing only the minimum of bathing and latrine facilities. A simple table, a stove, and two chairs stood in shadow against the far wall, and of course the bed, large enough for two people to sleep comfortably, stood beneath the single small window, shuttered closed against the elements.

�śYou live simply.” Misahuen’s voice was full of wonder. �śI’m a simple man,” Gallienus shrugged. �śI don’t need much.”

Misahuen laughed softly. �śForgive me,” he said. �śI imagined grander things. I am a fool, sometimes.” Gallienus took a step closer. �śHow are you a fool?” �śBecause,” Misahuen paused. �śBecause I have thought of you often, very often, I confess, and I cannot get you out of my mind. I had thought that you were of high station and that I would be beneath your consideration, and that our friendship was already one-sided, let alone anything else that I was feeling.”

�śOur friendship is not one-sided.” Gallienus took a deep breath before continuing. �śWhat else are you feeling?” He was trembling now, heart pounding so loudly that he was sure Misahuen could hear it.

Misahuen was silent for a long moment, and Gallienus cautiously took another step closer. He couldn’t deny what he was feeling any longer. He wanted Misahuen, wanted him as his lover and his friend and companion. He didn’t really know how he was going to maintain such a relationship in the capital of the Byzantine Empire when homosexual relationships were loudly denounced from pulpit to parapet�"frequently hypocritically�"but that was, at that moment, merely a detail.

�śI�Ś.” Misahuen took a deep breath, a soft noise in the quiet dimness of Gallienus’s home. �śI think I have fallen in love with you.”

Gallienus’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt almost dizzy with the wave of relief and hope that crashed over him like a flood. He took another step closer to Misahuen, reaching out to brush the back of his hand over Misahuen’s cheek. �śI feel the same about you,” he whispered.

There was another moment of silence, the air between them so charged with emotion it felt thick, heavy, like a blanket. Gallienus could see the tiny shifts in the shadows that surrounded Misahuen’s body, his shape a darker outline in the soft darkness of his home. Emboldened and scared both at once, Gallienus leaned forward and brushed the softest of kisses over Misahuen’s lips.

�śGallienus,” Misahuen murmured, his voice full of longing. �śGallienus.”

�śYes?” Gallienus hesitated.

�śPlease.” Misahuen moved closer, his hand cupping Gallienus’s cheek. Gallienus closed the small distance between them and kissed Misahuen once more. Misahuen’s lips were soft as velvet and warm and inviting. They opened willingly to Gallienus’s tongue, a small moan escaping Misahuen as Gallienus kissed him deeper, trying not to rush, trying to keep things moving slowly. It was difficult, however, and he was shaking, but Gallienus wanted to make this last. He wanted to enjoy and savor every single moment of it.

Feeling Misahuen’s hand slide up to curl around the back of his neck, Gallienus groaned softly, pressing closer, his arms winding around Misahuen’s waist. As the kiss gradually deepened and became more passionate, Gallienus’s focus narrowed to Misahuen. Misahuen’s body was warm and solid against him, hard muscle beneath his hands that Gallienus longed to touch without the impediment of clothing. His mouth was enticing, his kiss slow and deep, and his fingers were smooth, the pads free from calluses, so unlike Gallienus’s own. Nothing existed for Gallienus at that moment except Misahuen, and as his embrace tightened, he wished that this could go on forever.

Gallienus was by no means sexually inexperienced; he was a soldier, and while on campaign, there was always someone to satisfy those needs men might feel while so far away from home. None of those camp followers had ever been as passionate as Misahuen was, however; none of them had elicited the kind of response from Gallienus that Misahuen did as the kiss gradually deepened. Gallienus wanted everything that Misahuen could give him, and all his fears about the law vanished for the moment as Misahuen’s other hand slipped up to tangle in his hair.

When the kiss finally ended, Gallienus felt a little out of breath. He rested his forehead against Misahuen’s, not wanting to pull away, not wanting to break the spell of the moment, content to remain as they were for as long as Misahuen wished. The silence between them was louder than speech and conveyed emotions and longing that were beyond any words that Gallienus could think of. The darkness of Gallienus’s single-roomed home was soft and inviting, and the tiny flicker of light from the candle by the door was more than enough. Gallienus shivered, not from cold but from desire, and Misahuen let out a slow breath against Gallienus’s lips.

�śI want you,” Misahuen whispered. �śA very great deal, Gallienus.” �śI want you too.” Gallienus’s voice wavered only a little. �śAlthough, I must tell you, Misahuen, I’ve not�Ś I haven’t done this with a man before.”

Misahuen kissed the corner of Gallienus’s lips. �śI will guide you,” he answered, his voice intense with desire. His hands moved to Gallienus’s tunic, and after a moment, Gallienus raised his arms, and the garment was tugged off and dropped carelessly to the floor.

Mirroring the action, Gallienus made short work of unfastening the ties that kept the robes Misahuen wore closed. Slowly, his hands trembling with nervousness and arousal, Gallienus pushed the robes from Misahuen’s shoulders, and they fell to the floor to pool at his feet. Beneath the robes, Misahuen was entirely naked, and while there was not enough light to see the details of his body, Gallienus had no desire to light more candles. His hands slid slow paths over Misahuen’s shoulders and down his chest, curious fingers mapping every line of muscle, every curve of Misahuen’s torso, down his stomach to his hips.

�śGallienus.” Misahuen’s own hands slid over Gallienus’s shoulders and abdomen, down his stomach. They stopped at the waistband of Gallienus’s breeches, Misahuen silently waiting for Gallienus to give permission.

Gallienus’s breath hitched and he stilled for a moment. He wanted this; he was in no doubt about that at all. However, he was nervous, and his nervousness made him uncharacteristically shy. �śMishka,” Gallienus said, gathering his courage as best he could, �śjust�Ś go slow.”

�śAs you say.” Misahuen’s hands slid back up to Gallienus’s chest. His fingers lingered over the tracery of scars from battles�"old scars now, their dull pink faded to a silvery hue, the smoothness of the flesh hairless and at stark odds with the rest of Gallienus’s chest. �śPardon, what is Mishka?”

�śIt’s a pet name,” Gallienus explained, smiling in spite of himself. The incongruous question had, oddly enough, put him at ease, and his nerves vanished like fog in rain. �śDoes it bother you?”

�śNot at all, saja.” Misahuen’s voice held a smile. �śSaja?”

�śIt means lion in my native tongue.” Misahuen kissed Gallienus’s shoulder. �śIt seemed fitting.” �śI like it.” Gallienus smiled, hands sliding down Misahuen’s stomach to his groin, brushing through pubic hair. The touch elicited a soft gasp from Misahuen, and, emboldened by the reaction, Gallienus’s hands moved lower until they reached Misahuen’s cock.

Curious, Gallienus stroked his fingers over the thick hardness, feeling the length of it, marveling at how silky the skin felt beneath his fingers. Misahuen moaned, trembling, and Gallienus’s fingers continued their slow exploration as Gallienus ducked his head and pressed unhurried, lingering kisses to Misahuen’s shoulder and the curve of his neck.

This time, he didn’t protest as Misahuen’s own hands moved to the front of his breeches, didn’t tense as they were unfastened and pushed down. He stepped out of them, kicking them to one side along with his boots, which he removed almost as an afterthought. It seemed to Gallienus that this languid exploration by touch alone was a prelude to what would be a more perfect joining, a more complete discovery of each other’s bodies.

Gallienus couldn’t stop the moan as Misahuen’s hand wrapped around his cock and stroked�"once and once only. He whimpered, rocking his hips, trying to get Misahuen to do it again, only Misahuen let go and, before Gallienus could protest, took Gallienus’s hand in his own and gently tugged him back to the bed.

There were no words now, only the soft noises of passion and desire, a low whimper of need as Gallienus kissed Misahuen and was kissed in return, a hard, hungry kiss that asked and answered the question of whether this was truly what each of them wanted. Gallienus nipped Misahuen’s lower lip as Misahuen bucked up into him and wrapped his legs around Gallienus’s hips, his hands sliding down Gallienus’s back and up along the length of his spine. Their bodies rocked together, hardness against hardness, through the slick slide of precum, and Gallienus knew he was drowning, lost in the pleasure and in the love he felt for this remarkable man beneath him.

Misahuen let go for a moment, and Gallienus made a soft noise of query, only to be answered as, a long moment later, he felt Misahuen’s hand on his cock, something lubricating, cool and slick on Misahuen’s palm, rubbing his length. The meaning was unmistakable�"Misahuen wanted Gallienus inside him, and Gallienus was more than happy to oblige. With Misahuen guiding him with his touch, his noises of quiet approval, and the low, almost desperate moan that came from him as Gallienus slowly thrust all the way into his body, Gallienus was soon buried balls-deep inside tight heat and gasping into the kiss as it resumed, more passionately than before.

It was a new sensation, loving a man like this, and Gallienus did not move for a moment, simply feeling, feeling Misahuen tight around him, his strong, muscled body beneath him, his hands on Gallienus’s skin. Breaking the kiss to breathe, Gallienus panted as he slowly began to thrust, feeling Misahuen’s muscles flexing around him, the delicious friction making him ache with ecstasy. Shifting a little, guided more by instinct than knowledge, Gallienus worked one hand between their bodies to wrap around Misahuen’s cock. Stroking him in time with his thrusts, Gallienus kissed his way up Misahuen’s neck, tasting Misahuen’s skin, kissing the line of his jaw and then his cheek and finally his mouth.

Misahuen kissed him back enthusiastically, desperately, his tongue sliding erotically over Gallienus’s own, and Gallienus moaned raggedly into the kiss, his free hand finding Misahuen’s in the dark. Fingers twining, Gallienus pressed Misahuen’s hand to the bed as he rolled his hips and thrust hard and deep. The small, low groans that pulled from Misahuen’s throat as Gallienus thrust into that hot, willing body served to increase his desire, and Gallienus knew that he would not last long.

Gallienus wanted to drag this out, to make this last, to make it special, but lust was taking over, and soon he was thrusting hard and fast into Misahuen. Misahuen squeezed Gallienus’s fingers tightly as he rocked into Gallienus’s hand encircling his cock. With a low, keening moan into the artless, lustful kiss, Misahuen arched into Gallienus’s body and came, hot and thick, over Gallienus’s hand.

The feeling of Misahuen’s orgasm, the knowledge that it was he, Gallienus, who had done this, who had made Misahuen come apart in passion and desire, added fuel to the fire of Gallienus’s own need. It was only a few more thrusts later and he, too, was coming, biting his own lip hard enough to draw blood so as not to cry out with his release.

They lay together, panting, sated, touching each other and kissing each other gently, softly, as the darkness enveloped them in its protective embrace. Gallienus could not remember ever feeling so content, so at peace. His hip ached a little, but not so much as to be more than a minor nuisance, although he did not complain as Misahuen rolled them so that Gallienus lay on his back on the bed. As Misahuen slowly pulled off Gallienus’s cock and lay comfortably on top of him, Gallienus smiled and wrapped his arms around Misahuen and held him close.

�śI suppose I should leave before dawn,” Misahuen said quietly, finally breaking the comfortable silence.

Gallienus sighed regretfully and nodded. �śYes,” he agreed sadly. �śThe law�Ś.” He trailed off, unable to finish.

�śYour laws are strange to me,” Misahuen confessed. �śHowever, I have a question. May I ask it of you?”

�śYou can ask me anything you want.” Gallienus pressed a gentle kiss to Misahuen’s forehead.

�śYou are very kind.” Misahuen’s voice was fond. �śMy question, then, is this: may we do this again?”

Gallienus’s arms tightened a little around Misahuen’s body. �śI’d like that a lot,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. �śI really do love you, Misahuen,” and he realized that was the first time he had actually said it aloud. �śI do not want this to be�Ś a short-lived thing between us.”

Misahuen kissed Gallienus’s collarbone once and nodded. �śI am honored,” he said. �śAnd I love you as well, Gallienus. I do not wish this to be as you say, a short-lived thing between us, either.”

�śWe’ll have to be careful, though,” Gallienus said quietly.

�śI know.” Misahuen hummed. �śThere is�Ś there is another option, apart from hiding in the dark here in Constantinople?”

�śWhat’s that?” Gallienus couldn’t contain his curiosity.

�śWe could leave,” Misahuen said simply. �śWe could ride out together in the night and go east. My homeland is in turmoil now, but not all the lands between here and there are in the same way. And not all the lands between here and there share the laws that the Byzantine Empire holds dear regarding�Ś regarding loving relationships such as ours.”

Gallienus frowned slightly, mulling it over. The darkness was, he thought, the best place for this conversation. He wasn’t sure that Misahuen should see his expression, and he was quite sure that he could not look Misahuen in the eye right at that moment, either. Finally he said, �śCan I take some time to think about this?”

Misahuen kissed him gently. �śYou may take as long as you need, saja.”

�śThank you, Mishka.”

Misahuen kissed Gallienus then, soft and slow, and Gallienus kissed him back, wondering how on Earth he had ever lived without this man in his life. IT WAS just over a week later that Gallienus was able to get a moment to himself. The word had come down from the palace that the Emperor would be going off to war again, and soon, and so the troops stationed on the walls of Constantinople had been doubled and their duties increased. Gallienus had been exhausted by trying to get new soldiers to do as they were ordered, frustrated by the cocky bravado of young men who had never seen battle, let alone war. His usual companions, whom he patrolled the wall and guarded the gates with, veterans of various wars and battles themselves, found these newcomers just as annoying.

Finally, after a brief conference, the sergeant at arms�" commander of the troops stationed on the wall�"set the new recruits stationed there to the dogwatch, that hour of the night that was a few hours after midnight and a few hours before dawn.

The city itself was in turmoil as troops gathered, soldiers buying supplies and trading for various items that would be needed while on campaign. Some of those items were legal; some of them were not. Gallienus, kept busy with inspecting cargo as the traders continued to arrive and depart Constantinople, had his hands full with some merchants trying to smuggle contraband into the city. It wasn’t long before the city jails were full of smugglers from all countries involved in trade along the Silk Road.

Now that he had a night to himself�"after telling the gruff sergeant at arms that if he did not get one soon, he’d not be responsible for boxing the ears of one of the brash newcomers who seemed to feel he was above everyone else�" Gallienus had his brief reprieve. He did not look forward to war, not this time. He did not want to be drafted into the campaign as it dragged on, as the young, rash troops seeking glory and honor were injured or killed and the older, wiser soldiers, many retired or stationed in such outposts as Gallienus’s own atop Constantinople’s walls, were recalled to serve their Emperor on the battlefield.

Gallienus had something to live for now. Someone to stay whole for. It was with enormous relief that Gallienus saw Misahuen sitting alone in The Grape Vine at a small table in a corner. Buying himself a tankard of ale, Gallienus made his way through the crowded taproom to join his lover.

�śGallienus?” Misahuen looked up in surprise. �śI did not think I would see you for some time.”

�śI got the night off,” Gallienus said. He could not stop grinning. �śI’m so relieved to see you’re still here.” �śWhere else would I be?” Misahuen asked whimsically. He sighed and shook his head. �śNo, forgive me, that was uncalled for. It is simply that Yuen has left Constantinople, taking his goods, his money, and his people with him, and I fear I will be leaving myself on the morrow. I am nearly out of money,” he explained as Gallienus gazed at him with growing apprehension. �śI do not want to leave, saja, but your city is expensive.”

Gallienus nodded. �śI know. But�Ś.” He took a deep breath, lowering his voice as he continued. �śIf you still want�Ś you know. What you suggested. That we go.”

Misahuen’s face took on such an expression of grateful surprise that Gallienus was hard-pressed not to kiss him right then and there. �śYou are certain?”

�śYes.” Gallienus smiled. �śI’ve thought of nothing else since that night. Well”�"he lowered his eyelashes coyly�"�śI’ve thought of other things too, but that particularly.”

�śGallienus,” Misahuen laughed even as he blushed. �śI confess, I have thought of little else, either.” Gallienus’s smile grew soft, fond. �śSo,” he said quietly, his voice barely a whisper, as he did not want them to be overheard, �śhow do you feel about leaving tonight?”

�śYou are certain?” Misahuen asked again.

Gallienus nodded. �śI’ve never been more certain about anything in my life.”

Misahuen’s smile was like the sun coming up. �śThen I could not wish for anything more, saja.” Draining his tankard, Gallienus forced himself to remain calm. He was, in his own mind, deserting, although he had penned a brief letter of resignation from his duties, explaining that he wished to go south to where it was warmer in order to find respite from the aches of his injury. He knew his superior officer would understand, even though the man would grumble, but it was within Gallienus’s rights to resign and to retire to a place where there was sun in order to live with less pain.

�śI will be a moment,” Misahuen interrupted Gallienus’s thoughts. �śI will need to collect my belongings. I do not have much,” he added, �śbut there are a few things that belonged to my family that I do not wish to leave behind.”

�śOf course.” Gallienus nodded. �śI’ll be here.” Together, Gallienus and Misahuen walked toward the gates of the city of Constantinople. Gallienus had purchased horses on the way, haggling down to the last penny, refusing to be cheated in his own city. He felt a small pang of sadness at leaving, but he was honest enough with himself to admit that remaining when the call to war was loud throughout the Empire would not be wise, not if he wished to remain with Misahuen. There were no questions at the gate, and the bored guard on duty wearily waved them through.

Beyond the city walls, Gallienus mounted his horse, and Misahuen followed suit. They both had packs behind them laden with their belongings: clothing, food, money, and in Gallienus’s case, his armor and weapons. With one final look at Constantinople, Gallienus sighed and turned away from the city he had always called home.

�śAre you all right?” Misahuen regarded Gallienus with fond concern.

�śYes.” Gallienus nodded. �śI’m fine.” He smiled reassuringly. �śSo, which way do we go, Mishka?” Misahuen smiled and turned his horse’s head eastward. �śThis way,” he said and, setting his heels to the animal’s flanks, cantered down the road.

After a moment, Gallienus followed him and rode away from Constantinople, the city of gold, toward a new life with his beloved Misahuen.





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About the Author





L.J. LABARTHE is an Australian woman living with


disabilities and her cat. As a young child, she won a competition for drawing a picture of Australian Humpty Dumpty, complete with Aussie hat, corks hanging from strings dangling from the brim to keep the flies away. The drawing was accompanied by an adventure story with Humpty Dumpty she wrote set in Australia. From that moment on, she has not looked back.

She spends her free time watching television, reads newspapers online for fun, and enjoys a good novel. She loves to cook and enjoys a snifter of absinthe from time to time.

L.J. would like to take a moment to let her university professor in creative writing know that knowledge of iambic pentameter isn’t necessary in order to be able to enjoy the craft of writing, no matter how much he may have screamed to the contrary.

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Copyright

City of Gold ©Copyright L.J. LaBarthe, 2011 Published by

Dreamspinner Press

4760 Preston Road

Suite 244-149

Frisco, TX 75034

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors’ imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Cover Art by Catt Ford This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of International Copyright Law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. This eBook cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this eBook can be shared or reproduced without the express permission of the Publisher. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press at: 4760 Preston Road, Suite 244-149, Frisco, TX 75034 http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/

Released in the United States of America June 2011

eBook Edition

eBook ISBN: 978-1-61372-023-3