A lone frumentarius slipped between sparse patches of cover, creeping from shadow to shadow unseen. Not even a crack of the night’s starry ether shone through the ever constant cloud cover of the sky, making the time perfect for his mission. His markings added further to his stealth, the black and grey stripes of his bared fur breaking up his form, left light on his hooves in the absence of his armour. Without his spiked shell though he was left exposed, the chill of the desert’s evening air running its tendrils through the pointed barbs of his mane to send shivers coursing down his spine. The cold bit deeply into the scars on his flanks, burnt tissue healed yet still tender, but these sores were secondary, relegated by the necessities of his task. In spite of all that aided him his objective was still not easy, far from it, his adversaries being numerous and vigilant in their duties. Nonetheless he pushed on, he needed to succeed.

The encampment was at rest but a long way from being asleep, with patrols regularly meandering between the uniform rows of tents and sentries to be found huddled next to every other fire. Additionally the camp was ablaze with lights, a further hindrance to his progress, crackling from piles of burning timbers or else flickering from strings of unreliable pre-war bulbs hooked up to spark batteries. From above meanwhile, in a trio of hastily constructed watchtowers, the beams of searchlights alternated between scanning their eyes over the interior and the exterior of the palisaded compound. Soft oranges and softer yellows clashed with sharp white, creating the layers of a tumultuous inferno in the streets of the canvas town.

Beautiful.

Was the task at hoof not weighing heavy upon him he may have stopped to enjoy the scene, fire having always been a source of fascination for him, which had lately developed into a deep infatuation. The way it moved as if alive, flowing like a serpent one minute and then pouncing balletic the next, ever hungry, always devouring its quarry absolutely, it was all utterly enthralling. However like any good predator in a food chain it gave back as much as it took, allowing fresh stronger growth. He pushed back these intoxicating thoughts, pressing onwards towards the centre and his far superior goal than such trifling fancies.

His consciously muted hoofsteps carried him onward, treading a carefully chosen path to his destination. He had prepared his route well, picking the choicest way through the opposition who he had studied long enough to predict, pre-emptively dodging and skirting around all he passed. Finally he stood (or rather crouched in hiding) before his target: the largest of the encampment’s tents and a ring of guards encircling its fabric walls, his greatest remaining obstacle.

Wait for it.

Trying to remain as still as possible he let the seconds drag by like days, waiting for the perfect moment to strike out. Only one miniscule gap existed in the copious security: the changing of the guard, when he would be gifted his window.

Wait for it.

The tramp of rhythmic hoof-falls, carried better in the night’s cooled air, set his body further on edge in anticipation, his muscles coiling tighter behind his fur as the front tent flap was pulled aside and the inner guard exited.

Go!

Everything was in motion, the world dissolving into a blur as he broke into a sprint, racing across the small void whilst those that opposed him exchanged command of the posting. All at once he was inside but he did not stop, fully aware that fresh bodyguards would soon enter after him. He therefore continued his silent charge, passing map and planning rooms in turn, making for the pavilion’s inner most sanctum. Even as he passed the final portal, pulling closed its flap as he went, he heard his unaware pursuers make their entrance. He allowed himself a tiny satisfied exhale. He had made it.

The room was extremely dark, especially compared to the artificially bright evening beyond it, no lights being within, but he could just make out the form of his target. The sprawled shape, lying beneath layers of blanket and furs on a wide mattress, gently rose and fell to the sound of heavy breathing. Moving by memory he stalked forward, prowling towards the sleeping figure and feeling each closed step as he dispatched it.

*Clang*

Buck!

His hoof caught against something unseen in the darkness, breaking the stillness in an instant as he heard it topple.

*Crash!*

‘My Lord?!’

Lanius raised himself to sit against the cushions of his bed and fixed the four praetorians who had hurriedly burst into his chamber with a stare. ‘Apologies amicis I must have caught it in my sleep.’ He answered their concerned looks with a gesture towards the collapsed pile of his armour rack.

His bodyguards all sighed with audible relief, making nods as they moved to clear the fallen mess.

‘No, leave it, it can wait till tomorrow.’ He waved them away towards the door again, adding: ‘right now I’m rather tired.’

‘Apologies Lord Caesar’ the group echoed as one, backing out.

It was Lanius’ turn to make a relieved sigh as he turned to the extra lump hidden rather poorly beside him in the bed. Turning onto his side he pulled back the covers and a pair of sorry blood red irises looked back at him from a grey and black striped face, an embarrassed tone playing across its cheeks. ‘Ave Spikey.’

‘Sorry’ was all Malignus could manage as he looked up into his lord’s kind emerald eyes.

‘It’s okay, this is a nice surprise’ his Caesar reassured him, extending his forehooves and pulling him up into a hug.

The smaller zebra immediately settled into the cuddle, nuzzling into the warmth of his love’s chest, enjoying the all-encompassing feeling of their embrace.

‘Or at least it’s a nicer surprise than a profligate assassin, although they tend to be quieter.’

Malignus felt himself blushing again, causing him to bury himself further into the soft field of light brown fur, hiding his humiliation, whilst hearing a low giggle rumble from his mocking pillow. He burrowed deeper, curling his hooves up between them, listening to the heart beat beneath his muzzle, letting its rhythm calm him. Now cocooned, he felt Lanius shift, then a set of lips lightly brushed against his forehead and a hoof came up to slowly caress the strands of his mane. This was his sanctuary, his Elysium, and he would have gladly remained in it forever had the same gentle hoof not moved to his chin, drawing him upward to meet his love’s brilliant green eyes once more. ‘Lux Mea’ he whispered as their lips came together in a passionately prolonged kiss.

The pair shifted position, making themselves more comfortable, Malignus rolling over on to his other side whilst Lanius pulled the covers back up around them and settled behind his partner. The zebra again felt a pair of large hooves snake around him, holding him reassuringly tight. One moved down his side from his shoulders to his barrel, stroking him in all the right ways, massaging away all his cares, tension and worries. Although all he then desired to do was to remain still he found himself wincing, a jolt of pain arcing through him as the gentle caresses caught the crossed scarring on his flank.

‘I’m so sorry’ Lanius whispered, immediately recognising his error.

Malignus shook his head not wanting his own weakness to spoil the moment, but to his dismay he felt the earth stallion at his back move, drawing back. Before he could protest however, a set of lips came to touch the tender point their owner’s hoof had grazed, kissing away the sore sting. They then moved upward in a flurry the length of his back, each one sending an electric crackle through his senses, to come to rest at his neck, which Lanius proceeded to nuzzle back into.

Sleep gradually crept up on the two stallions, Malignus completely enveloped by his Caesar’s hooves, Lanius snuggling into his frumentarius' back, but with all the ranks and trappings of the world beyond lost to each other, both content in the security of their own embrace.