Someone was following him, another immortal. He had been following him for some time. Although he couldn't see him, his immortal senses could detect his presence.Making a mental note of his presence, Duncan made his way to a small borough just off the beaten path, entering a roadhouse on the edge. Accepting an ale from the woman waiting the tables of travelers, she asked, "What are the stories on the road, drifter?"
Sampling the ale before surrendering his coins, Duncan answered, "I have no tales to tell of the road, but searching for a man, of sallow skin and hair the color of fire."
Thinking for a moment, the woman nodded, "Aye, that man passed through, seven moons ago. He is long out of the area by now. What wrong has he done?"
"What makes you think he's done anything?" Duncan replied, finishing the ale.
"Why else would a traveler pursue another for so long?" the woman replied, challenging Macleod."What he has done is between him and I, and business of no one else's!" Duncan stated, ending any more chance of questions.
"Aye," the woman smiled at Macleod's outburst, "I meant no disrespect, just inquiring. He traveled to the south as he left here, towards the bluffs, that is all I can tell you."
Accepting another ale, Duncan swallowed it down before taking to the road again. The shadows were growing long on the hills, but Duncan wanted to make as much room between the tavern and the person following him as possible. It was well into the night when Duncan came to a farmyard, settling in fresh straw up in the barn.
As sleep overtook him, Duncan found himself consumed erotic dreams, so real, that his body heeded to the caress. Pulling himself out of the dream state, Duncan swore he saw a figure towering over him, yet once fully awake, found he was alone, his clothes drenched with sweat.
Giving up on any more sleep, Duncan began his journey once again, reflecting on the reason for his pursuit. Settling down shortly after he accepted his immortality, he had taken another wife from a clan so remote from the land he came from, that his name didn't cause tensions to develop. The tale of his bewitching had spread over time, it was impossible to find shelter within a hundred miles of his homeland.
Once he had found a clan that would accept him, he found a wife, only to be confronted by a wandering immortal that detected him living amongst the clan. Defeating him, but only wounding him, the man returned one night while Duncan was in the fields, taking his new wife's life for revenge.
This time, Duncan's thirst for justice was too strong. Staying two steps behind the immortal, Duncan was determined to finish the job. Wrapping his cape made of pelts around him to keep the chill out, Duncan soon picked up the trail of his opponent. Spotting a field of horses nearby, Duncan wandered amidst them, until he found a horse that his standards approved of. Before taking off, Duncan scanned his surroundings, still unable to detect where the other immortal was, but now was certain he was being tracked as well.
Riding the horse hard, Duncan made good time, catching up to the other immortal. As the sun rose high in the sky, Duncan saw signs that the immortal was only a few hours ahead. Unlike the last campfires that he had come to, the timbers were fresh, the smell of rotting meat filled the air.
Sitting down to rest, Duncan allowed the horse to wander freely and graze as he ate the fruits from an apple tree. Feeling the fatigue of his body Duncan allowed his eyes to shut for a moment. Feeling the roughness of fingers against his skin brought Duncan back to the real world.
Spinning wildly about, sword in hand, he could almost taste the immortal that had been following, but unable to determine exactly where he was, "I am Duncan Macleod of the Clan Macleod! Show yourself and fight like a man!" Feeling nothing, Duncan continued, "If not, stand back and leave the battles to the men!"
Recovering his steed, Duncan quickly found the tracks and continued his pursuit. It was sometime in the early afternoon by now. Villagers were still out working in their fields, either with the crop, or caring of the livestock. Ahead of him, he could see an angry mob start to form in front of a dwelling.
Slowly riding up to the mob, another man stopped him, "State your business for passing this way stranger, it better be good, for you are not welcomed."
"I am merely passing through, pursuing a man with hair of fire and colorless skin. I mean you no trouble here." Duncan replied, hoping one of the men was listening.
A man in the crowd hushed the others as he came forward, "Are you the overseer of this borough?" Duncan asked.
Seeing a young woman with clothes tattered and in disarray, Duncan became aware of what happened. "The one you speak of has violated my wife when offered refreshment for his horse. Taken from me, a child I retain. If you see him, bring justice to this borough and the child's safe return!"
Duncan replied, "I will see what I can do. I will try to find your child." Duncan "When did this man come through you borough?"
"At the beginning of morning's light, after the men went to the fields. It's custom, we help those who travel from afar. The transgression this traveler did will be paid for with his head!" the overseer stated.
Duncan suppressed his smile [if they only knew how true their statement is] he thought, nodding, "When I find him, your wish shall be executed."
Resuming his venture, Duncan surmised that the man rode east, farther from the hills towards the village known as Durham. It would be large enough to blend in, if not dump the child within as indigent servant, if old enough.
Checking the landscape, Duncan figured with the hills, the immortal would be delayed if he was unfamiliar with the environment. Although hilly, the flatland lay ahead. The only thing hidden within the hills were bogs that, when undisturbed, lay hidden in the banks of the hills. These areas were spots where the snows accumulated and nature never gave back.
Riding over the first few hills, Duncan saw the immortal's trail, on closer examination, the ground was moist, showing signs that the child was putting up a fight. Finding the footprints, Duncan estimated the child to be not a child, but a young adult.
As Duncan started to stand, watching the sun dip behind the hills. The rush coursed through him as the presence of the other immortal could be felt. Upon further probing, one could tell this immortal had a long lineage. Unable to recover, Duncan stumbled as the world kept spinning, although Duncan had taken a few heads, he had never encountered an immortal with so much power.
Unsheathing his sword, Duncan recovered, turning slowly to tune in to the man's psyche. With the increasing pressure, Duncan felt himself fall on his knees, a lamb waiting for slaughter, as his sword was used for support.
Feeling the fingers slowly move around his chest, he identified them as the ones in his dreams. Dropping his sword, he leaned back into the embrace, attracted to the electricity produce between them.
"That's right Highlander, relinquish yourself to me for the moment. Keep your head, and your Quickening; I want your body." the voice hissed, as the hands continued downward, relieving Duncan of his clothes.
As Duncan was laid gently on the ground, Duncan had a chance to look upon the man that his body collaborated with. To his surprise, the man was slender in appearance, with shorter hair than most men, a gentle nature on his face, that contrast to the coldness in his eyes. Within the villages, One of such appearances would easily be detected.
The man paused, watching Duncan's thoughts run across his face, smiling, "I don't travel the regular circuit, but have been following the same opponent you have. We can continue this after becoming acquainted. People call me Methos." With that said, the immortals unleashed the desire for the other.
Feverishly stripping off Methos outfit, Duncan fed off of the pure energy running between the two. Feeling the fingers, quickly massaging over his body, Duncan found his hands imitating the movements. Feeling his erection, Duncan let out a gasp as a mouth gently covered his organ. Once released, Methos continued the foreplay, caressing him gently, while changing positions.
As Duncan found resistance impossible, his body aching for more. Feeling the hands caress his entire body lovingly, he let nature take control. As Methos rode his backside, Duncan accepted the caress, responded properly. Once again they would embrace and continue with foreplay.
As night fell on the hills, Methos slept, with Duncan snuggled against him. When the chill of night penetrated their skin, both wakened and found their garments. Finding some peat from a nearby slough, the men built a small fire to keep warm by. "Tell me Methos, if that is who you are, what did this other man do to be pursued by you?" Duncan asked.
Methos smiled, "I can assure you that is my name, or the only one that I can remember. The immortal you are chasing is adversary from another life, a warring one. I have seen so much bloodshed, I have put aside the sword for the time, getting to know immortals another way."
"Then why are you pursuing him? If you don't plan to take his Quickening, what is the point?" Duncan asked, accepting meat from Methos.
"Good question," Methos said sitting back, "I guess its to keep a record of the immortals in my mind of who came and went."
"Why me?" Duncan asked, "Of all the immortals, why me?"
"Because of your Quickening," Methos mentioned, quickly adding, "You psyche is a strong one, Highlander, the strongest I have seen in centuries, I'd like you to keep that."
Duncan's eyebrows went up when he heard the word 'centuries'. "That is strange way of living, Methos. I have another problem though. One I didn't expect."
"What, the man's traveling companion? A man has to have some relaxation." Methos stated dryly.
"She is mortal! We shouldn't think of them as our toys, its wrong and I won't stand for it. Besides, he has more than one life to speak for." Duncan shouted.
"Its not the child, its the family you started, or had plan to." Methos acknowledged.
Duncan rose and stood over the other man, "How long have you been following me?"
"The question is how long have I been following Gunthar one of his many names he's used." Methos said as he rose to his own feet, "Not long before you appeared on the scene."
Going to the horse, Methos nodded, "We have an opponent and a child, as you put it, to catch up to. You get the child, I will take Gunthar."
Duncan started to object, but decided against it, knowing the mental control Methos retained. Jumping onto the back, Methos, yelled back, "Hold on, one learns to become skilled in many things after time." Swatting at the horse, and penetrating its mind, Methos set the horse running as if it were chased by the Devil himself.
Gunthar walked along the bog, his clothes covered with the muck. Falling in as his horse abruptly stopped, brought the worst out in him. It was good that the child was strapped down over the back of the horse, or he would have been gone. Taking the teen down, he untied one of the legs, only to restrain it to one of two trees. After several practice sessions, the teen had been broken, accepting anything that was received. Pulling the cloak off of him, Gunthar caressed the child lovingly, as his body reciprocated, "You learn quickly, child." Gunthar smirked, as the child loosened Gunthar's clothes with his teeth.
Coming to a valley of bogs, Methos and Duncan dismounted, "We'll have to go in on foot, you have a sword." Duncan whispered, feeling the presence of the immortal nearby.
"I told you, I gave that thing up!" Methos answered.
"Either I fight, or you use this sword! Which will it be, Methos?"
Grasping the sword firmly, Methos disappeared down a footpath leading through the bogs. Watching Methos take his leave, Duncan went around the opposite way, sensing the immortal nearby. A gasp escaped from Duncan when he compared the potency within Methos and Gunthar. Methos, though considered the man's equal, was no comparison to Gunthar's, who had beheaded many lately.
Watching from a short distance, Duncan spotted the youth, a boy hanging limped on the ropes that bound him. Duncan watched the immortals, waiting for the right time to get the boy.
Methos approached the the clearing where the other stood, ready and waiting. "Our paths cross once again Methos, this time, and for once, the student is the master." Gunthar stated,
"Its not like you to get the assistance of another immortal."
"This is between you and I, Gunthar. It has always been this way." Methos stated, as they sword danced, Now the student will be put to the test." Methos said, a touch of barbarism in his voice.
"So it be, Methos," Gunthar snarled, as the duel began as their swords clashed at lightning speed. Seeing Methos falter, Duncan quickly turned his attention to the boy, still hanging limp on his bonds.
Realizing sleep had overtaken the youth, Duncan freed the boy with care [its probably for the best, than witnessing the Quickening], Duncan thought, slinging him over his shoulder as he carried him to safety.
Once out of range of the duel, Duncan realized the change in the weather, watching the dark storm clouds rumble in at an unnatural speed. "There can be only one!" reverberate from the other side of the knoll, the potency within the voice made it unable to differentiate which man it was. Duncan watched the Quickening, realizing his mistake of giving Methos his sword.
Feeling his vulnerability, and his inability to fight without his sword, Duncan felt the fear bubble up in him. Whirling around wildly, he came face to face with his sword, readied to behead him. Seeing the savagery in Methos eyes linger for the moment, the words coming from Methos, carved into his memory, "Be strong Highlander, live another day."
Withdrawing the sword, turning the handle towards the Highlander, "Don't so blindly give your trust to another immortal. Luck is on your side today, for I have justified the wrongdoing committed."
Hearing a groan behind them, both men turned their attention to the youth, now waking from his sleep. Smiling weakly, the boy stood up unabashed by his nudity, "Gratitude is in order." he stated. "That is not necessary," Duncan said, putting the cloak around the boy.
The boy hung his head in shame, " My governor will apply the appropriate punishment for offending you. then, for its written in the pact between my owner and the one who bore me."
Stunned into silence, Methos murmured into Duncan's ear, "We come from very different cultures than he, we should show some respect for their rituals."
Feeling the charge of energy engulf him once again, Duncan leaned into Methos loving embrace, allowing energy to bathe this time, returning the gesture that awakening his desires.
Automatically, the youth dropped to the ground, lovingly stroking Duncan's manhood, emotion taking over. As the energy engulfed youth, he too became invigorated, alternating between the immortals, as the night turned into day.
As the trio entered the borough, they were greeted by the Governor once again, "I see you have returned the thrall, he has been missed. What of the rogue that caused the offense?"
Taking a pelt down from the horse, Methos handed it to the Governor. "This should answer your question." watching the response of the other man.
Showing no expression, the man nodded as he looked within at the contents. Pulling the head out, he took it to a post in the center of the square, placing atop with others in various stages of decay.
Thanking the immortals, Duncan quickly asked, "What of the youth? What will happen to him now?"
Shrugging, the man replied, "he is the product of a debt unpaid. Once the debt has been paid off, he will attain an honorable position within the borough. You need not concern yourself with this matter."
Methos interjected before Duncan could protest, "We have traveled many nights to rescue the boy, is there a place of hospitality where we can refresh ourselves?"
"The tavern in the square, will you need assistance?" the governor asked, as he pushed the youth forward.
"The youth has already shown his gratitude, our debt is paid." Methos nodded, "We will take our leave."
At the tavern, the men consumed a meal and ale, before heading for the rooms for a night of rest and rambunctious play before heading out together.
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