Science or Religion?

by SVTT

Summary:

After the Ritual Master got horribly mutilated as a punishment, the Scientist had to operate on his face. As a result, skekTek starts to contemplate and realizes that he and skekZok are not so different after all.

Notes:

Thank you Kylestor for the help with corrections!
As I said this AU logically continues Counteraction https://archiveofourown.org/works/68850961/chapters/178348261

Warning: in one of the scenes of chapter 1 skekTek is dissecting a karatick for scientific purposes (not detailed), the karatick was allegedly stitched up and released afterwards.

Chapter 1

“Not bad, not bad," skekTek commented, examining the Ritual Master's snout during another bandage replacement procedure. “I must admit, I was expecting worse. A couple of weeks and I'll remove the stitches.”

SkekZok didn't react. He hadn't spoken to him once in the three days, one of which he'd spent in the lab after the surgery. The other two, he obediently came to the Scientist to change the bandages. Sometimes he began to pray in a quick, broken whisper. He didn't ask for painkillers, he seemed to be trying to tolerate the pain. The Scientist was amused, wondering how soon the priest would give up.

Apparently, today was the day. SkekZok sat on the surgical table, his fingers gripping the edge of it, his knuckles turning white. He was pale, in crumpled clothes and with his purple hair tangled in a sloppy low ponytail. He was slouching and breathing through his mouth. He hadn't eaten much, if at all, these days: skekTek had been allowed to eat in the common meals, so he knew that skekZok didn't show up once after what happened. The Ritual Master always smelled faintly of the incense that burned in golden bowls in his chamber, but after the punishment his clothes stank of it. It was as if he now spent all his free time in prayer and meditation.

“Shall I give you a mirror?” skekTek asked snidely, pulling out clean bandages. The Ritual Master did not answer. He swallowed and closed his bright blue eyes, prepared for his beak to be bandaged. Or rather, what was left of it.

When the Scientist was done, skekZok sat still for a few more minutes. SkekTek thought he had given up, that he was about to ask him to inject him with anaesthetic or a sleeping drug, or all of the above. The Scientist was already triumphant in anticipation of his small, albeit completely meaningless victory... But none of that happened. The Ritual Master slowly rose and walked unsteadily towards the exit. Already at the door, he suddenly stumbled and grabbed the door frame to keep himself from falling. The Scientist cursed in Podling language. Idiot. The priest is an idiot, but he's an idiot too. Why hadn't he thought of that before? If skekZok did fall somewhere in the corridors, or in his room, and hit his head on the floor.... Or worse, hit his face... That will make recovery a lot more difficult. The Emperor will think skekTek is not doing his job well and will once again suspend him from the common meals. Or worse, he'll decide to punish him for his incompetence. No, definitely not the kind of thing skekTek wanted.

“Stop right there!” the Scientist shouted and rushed to the Ritual Master. “What are you doing? Are you insane? Where are you going in your condition? Why don't you ask me for painkillers?” skekTek had already picked up the priest by the arm and was guiding him back to the table, securing him from falling. “Sit," the Scientist forced skekZok back onto the table. Not that he resisted. “Sick imbecile," skekTek continued cursing, standing by another table and filling a syringe. “You got your beak chewed off, and you want me to get it chewed off too, don't you?” he turned round abruptly and suddenly fell silent. Tears were streaming down skekZok's gaunt, bandaged face. It was the second time the Ritual Master had cried silently in front of skekTek. The first was right after the surgery, when he had just seen his reflection in the mirror. At that time, his suffering had given skekTek sadistic pleasure. But now, for some reason, not anymore.

The Scientist stepped towards him, and with his free hand rolled his wide golden sleeve up to his shoulder. SkekZok shuddered as the needle went under his skin. The tears continued to flow. SkekTek injected the contents of the syringe and withdrew the needle.

“It'll work in about five minutes. Sit for a while, then you tell me if you need another shot," skekTek said as he stood up and walked back to the table. Another solution had to be mixed. A solution so that the priest wouldn't faint from hunger. The half-wit seemed to have decided to, Crystal forgive, drop dead right here.

After five minutes, skekTek broke the silence.

“Another shot?” a quiet sob instead of an answer. “Another shot it is, then.”

The Scientist sat down next to him and repeated the procedure. This time he injected not only the anaesthetic, but also a maintenance solution. All in the same shoulder and several injections in a row - there would definitely be a bruise. But that's doesn’t matter right now.

“How long are you going boycott me?” skekTek asked, peering into skekZok's blank face. “I know you don't like me. I don't like you either. But which of us is better off because of this? So come on, give up your asceticism. And start eating properly. Otherwise, I will have to inject you regularly. You will get a lot of bruises on your arms. Secondary ones, too. And you'll be sleeping in the lab, because this needs to be done every two or three hours. Is this what you want?”

“I... cannot," skekZok admitted suddenly. His voice was a little hoarse from the long silence.

“Yes, you can.”

“The pain," the Ritual Master looked down at the floor in shame.

“Ask the Gourmand to grind up your food. Then swallow. Or what, do you want me to ask him?” skekTek suggested with sarcasm in his voice. He was only half-mocking though. He had already learnt firsthand that skekZok was not very good at asking. So stubbornly proud for some reason…

“SkekTek,” the Ritual Master fell silent, as if gathering his resolve. The silence lasted for a moment. But in the end, he got over himself. “Thank you.”

The Scientist's jaw dropped. He was confused. He was used to being surrounded by ungrateful imbeciles. And now... a "Thank you" from one of the most arrogant Skeksis of the Castle, from his ideological rival, who has so much hubris it spreads outward.... skekTek didn't answer right away.

“You’re welcome,” the priest nodded slightly, to the Scientist's surprise. “You're always welcome,” shocked skekTek added, realising too late that the last phrase was unnecessary. SkekZok, however, did not take advantage of his misfire. They sat in silence for a moment longer. Then the Ritual Master rose no longer staggering: he was clearly feeling better. But the Scientist still walked him to the door, and even a little further down the corridor. He let him go, only after he was sure that skekZok wasn't going to lose consciousness abruptly. SkekTek watched him leave for a while longer.

Then he headed toward the kitchens. He needed to talk to the Gourmand.

***

That incident gave skekTek a lot to think about. Mainly the fact that... He and skekZok weren't so different. SkekZok had always been careful in his behavior and statements, even before the incident with the beak. SkekTek also avoided unnecessary provocation, not wanting to receive more humiliation and beatings than he had already. SkekZok was now clearly afraid of skekSo. SkekTek shared that fear. SkekZok had participated in a failed coup once, which clearly indicated that he wasn’t happy about the current politics. He wasn’t happy about the current leader. SkekTek shared this too, but he would never have dared to do such a thing himself. But skekZok had a lot to lose. His fall from grace would be painful. And yet he wasn't afraid, he'd risked his high rank then... and now he was paying the price.

But soon new details came to light. The Ornamentalist had come into the Scientist's lab. SkekEkt, of course, was eager to gossip about the Ritual Master, but skekTek waved him away, saying he was interfering with his work. And then, in an attempt to get him to talk "in secret" told about the "real reason" for skekSo's anger. He said that the Emperor was jealous because he heard that the Ritual Master was hitting on the General. SkekTek pretended not to be interested, and again told the Ornamentalist not to bother him any longer. Dissatisfied, skekEkt left. And the Scientist waited until skekZok came for the bandage replacement procedure again to ask his question.

“So, skekZok, is it true?” skekTek was quick to clarify. “Is it true that you've been flirting with the biggest jerk of our warriors?”

“No,” the Ritual Master quickly but firmly. “Never.”

“Good, because I started to think you had no taste at all.”

SkekZok remained silent. Not even a chuckle. Either he didn't get it was a joke or he was taking it too seriously.

“And is it true about the coup?” at this point the priest's face darkened. The expression was way more eloquent than any words. And so skekTek continued. “It's very brave, you know,” he admitted, glancing at skekZok. “Extremely brave,” he paused. “You are extremely brave.”

“No,” skekZok objected. His gaze suddenly turned mournful. “No, and I never have been,” he sighed, and added more quietly. “Maybe I should have...”

The Ritual Master’s words did not change skekTek’s mind. But it seemed pointless to argue with him, so skekTek changed the subject.

“Still don't want to look at yourself?” not a trace of mockery in his voice. “It's not as bad as you think. Three more days and I'm removing the stitches.”

SkekZok only shook his head at that. SkekTek shrugged. If he didn't want to, that was his right. But he'd have to live with that face for the rest of eternity. And the sooner he accepts himself, the better off he'll be. The Scientist himself was not sure that in a similar situation he would have acted as logically as he thought skekZok should. But he is a different case, he has never considered himself beautiful. But skekZok… skekZok was tall. Handsome in a dignified way. With expressive bright blue eyes. With exotic purple hair, a color no other of their brethren had. And the face… One gets used to his face quickly. Maybe, of course, skekTek is biased: he had operated on him, after all.... But still. Yes, the Ritual Master may not have been the first on the list of the most beautiful Skeksis.... But he certainly wasn't the last either.

SkekTek shook his head. What kind of stupid thoughts are these? It sounded like he was... Admiring him? How silly. Science and religion never go hand in hand. Never.

And the Scientist set about changing skekZok’s bandages, promising himself not to think about such nonsense again.

***

“Greetings!”

With these words, SkekNa bursted into the lab three days later. He had only recently been taken out of the oubliettes, and he didn't look very well. He was disheveled and limp, but, judging by the smell, he had already been to the baths. And the kitchens. The timing was unfortunate, though: skekTek had just removed skekZok’s stitches, but had not yet had time to put on bandages. In truth, the Ritual Master didn’t need them anymore, but he had asked skekTek to continue bandaging his face: he was not yet ready to appear in front of others uncovered.

“Oh Thra!” the Slave Master exclaimed in feigned surprise when he saw the Ritual Master. He turned away at once, but skekNa jumped up to him, peering into his face. “SkekZok, my friend, who did this to you? Did the Gourmand undercook the nebrie and it attacked you at lunch? Or, um… did the Ornamentalist run out of Podling and tried out his new cosmetics on you?”

“Yes yes, we're happy to see you too, but now could you please leave?” skekTek said, displeased by the intrusion. “You're interrupting something here.”

“Me? How could I be interrupting?” skekNa pretended to be offended. “I came to visit my best friend, we are practically lovers, there has been so much between us! And you are separating us? Not nice, you know!” he turned back to skekZok again. “Come on, don't be shy. I know it was our dear Emperor who bit off your face. I'm just wondering, did he kinda chew it up and swallow it in the end? Or did he just leave it lying around?” the Slave Master asked with a nasty grin.

The Scientist noticed that the Ritual Master was shivering profusely. He clasped his hands together in front of him and closed his eyelids tightly. His mouth opened slightly and his tongue moved as he uttered a silent prayer.

“And this beak of yours, is there any way to find it and pick it up?” skekNa wouldn’t stop. “Is it still here somewhere? I'm just curious.”

SkekZok exhaled raggedly. He was on the verge.

“SkekNa,” the Scientist pointed to the door. “Out.”

“Why?” the Slave Master widened his only eye, feigning stupidity. Though in skekTek's opinion, he didn't even have to pretend.

“Out.”

“What's wrong with you, skekTek? We were having a nice little chat here!”

SkekTek hissed. His quills would have stood up if it weren't for the layers of clothing.

“I said get out!” he abruptly snatched up the shiv and pointed it at the Slave Master. “Leave now or you will crawl away with this in your other eye socket. I'd be happy with either outcome.”

“Hush, hush,” skekNa put his hands out in front of him in a conciliatory gesture. He didn't want to clash with skekTek: the Scientist shared his political views. And could be a useful ally. “Firstly, my hook is longer than your pointy thingy here. Secondly, you're a bit jumpy today, you need to rest more often. All right,” he moved toward the door, careful not to let skekTek out of his sight. “If you insist, I'll come back another time. Crystal bless you,” skekNa mimicked the prayer gesture with a grin and walked out.

As soon as they were alone in the lab, skekZok leaned his shoulder against the wall, covered his face with his hands, and shook.

“This is unbearable...” he whispered haltingly. There was desperation in his voice. “This wretch... Him and the Chamberlain...”

SkekTek returned the shiv to the pocket of his work apron. He walked up and gently touched the Ritual Master's shoulder. The priest continued to tremble slightly.

“Ignore them. They're all imbeciles.”

“They destroyed me...”

“Only if you think so yourself.”

“Why, skekTek?” skekZok suddenly took his hands away from his face and looked at him point-blank. His bright blue eyes glistened with tears. “Why do you care about me? Is there something you want to get in return?”

In fact, the Scientist had been asking himself the same question for the past couple of weeks. But today he could answer it.

“Because I know what it's like. I get abused and beaten on a regular basis. And just as you were humiliated by skekNa today, I am humiliated by the Emperor. And the General. And all of you. Except I can't threaten the Emperor or the General with a shiv and make them go away.”

“But you weren't punished like this... You are not disfigured,” the last words were clearly hard to say for the Ritual Master.

“As you are fond of saying, "It is the Crystal's will." Embrace it. Learn to live with it. Sooner or later, you will feel better.

His words didn't seem to be much consolation to skekZok. His blank gaze was now directed into space of the room, and his hands were still shaking.

SkekTek sighed. If someone had told him an unum ago that he would sympathise with the Ritual Master, he would never have believed it. But here he was, comforting one of the highest ranking Skeksis. And he could have taken advantage of his condition and capitalised on it. He could have. But he was no Chamberlain.

“Hey, skekZok," the Scientist began mundanely. He seemed to have found a good way to distract the priest from his depressing thoughts. “Science or religion? And why.”

“Decided to mock me too?” skekZok asked, as if he had already accepted his fate.

“Not at all. Just answer the question.”

“Religion.”

“Why?”

The Ritual Master seemed to perk up. He turned his gaze to the Scientist: something new appeared in his eyes. Some kind of… weak excitement?

“First of all, it puts the right beliefs into the heads of the races under our control. It ensures order and prevents unnecessary questions: fewer questions, fewer threats to the rule of the Lords of the Crystal. Of course, our internal society is also affected by this...”

SkekTek listened to this heated speech with satisfaction. It was exactly the reaction he had been expecting, and he was right. The Scientist now knew for sure: he had won.

Regardless of what arguments skekZok would make.

***

“SkekZok, what is the meaning of this?!” skekVar shouted as he saw the Ritual Master at the other end of the corridor and strode determinedly towards him.

“What exactly?” skekZok asked. It was his custom to stroll around the Castle in the morning, while most of the Skeksis were still in bed. But the General was a special case - he was now in charge of the Castle Guard. From time to time, he personally conducted the morning formation.

“Why did you-“ he stopped talking as two Gelfling from the guard marched past them. They saluted him, but received only an angry snort in return and hurried away. SkekVar continued. “By what right did you fuck my new captain last night?!

The new captain... Ah yes, a pretty Stonewood girl with green eyes and a strong aura. She agreed to his offer quite enthusiastically.

“It was consensual,” skekZok saw no point to deny. What could he do, Crystal knew he had weak spot for the Gelfling. “And she liked it.”

“Isn’t there somebody you forgot to ask?!” the General pointed to himself angrily. “I don't care if she liked it or not, I didn't!”

“Because you didn't try it.”

SkekVar grimaced.

“Ugh, disgusting! Stop it, skekZok! Just stop. I've already made it mandatory for them to wear fully covered clothing... Turns out this was not enough for you! Do I have to tell them not to speak to you at all?! Is that what you want?!” the General snorted and fell silent, catching his breath, but then continued his angry tirade. “There is no higher honor than for a Skeksis to lie with another Skeksis! Calm down and find yourself someone already!”

“Like who?” asked the Ritual Master. “Most decent options are already taken," it was true. Over so many hundreds of trine, some permanent couples were already formed. The Gourmand and the Ornamentalist, the Scroll Keeper and the Collector.... The Emperor and the General. Those who had left the Castle could not be counted on. But there was someone who occupied skekZok’s thoughts with enviable frequency. “The Scientist, perhaps…”

Dozens of trine had passed since skekZok’s punishment. They had maintained a neutral relationship, only occasionally exchanging formal phrases in the dining hall or in chance encounters in the Castle corridors. Occasionally, skekZok would come into the lab, and skekTek would get annoyed at him trying to argue about whether science or religion was better. Then skekZok would leave. SkekTek never visited him himself. They had never even touched each other ever since.

“Scientist? No way!” the very thought that someone could think of the Scientist as a potential lover struck skekVar to the core. “He's a weakling!”

“What happened to no higher honor than for a Skeksis to lie with another Skeksis?” the Ritual Master grinned, arching an eyebrow.

“Not with this Skeksis!” the General started to backpedal. SkekZok found that amusing. There is no worse disgrace for a warrior than dating a weakling and yet… the Scroll Keeper, for example, wasn’t particularly a strong one...

“Who else is left? The Slave Master? The Treasurer? Ridiculous.”

“Actually,” the General put a finger to his knobby chin and looked away, thinking. “I could ask the Spy Master to ask you out...”

“SkekUng is not my type.”

“Well, who is your type then?!” skekVar blew up. “It's stupid in your position to refuse without even trying!”

“There's also the Chamberlain-” skekZok said, but only to see the General's reaction. He wouldn't have agreed to get together with that dirty rat. Especially not after he'd set him up like that.

“That smipp?! No!” the General cut him off, as if he'd already decided everything for skekZok. “Anybody but him!”

“And the Scientist?”

SkekVar fell silent, as if he was thinking hard. Thinking wasn't easy for him, and it took a lot of concentration.

“The Scientist is better than the Chamberlain," he finally concluded.

“And the Gelfling?” skekZok asked again, expecting a new incredible revelation from skekVar.

“The Gelfling are better than the Chamberlain.”

“The Gelfling stand in the middle, then?” the priest tried to clarify. He had a great deal of self-control not to laugh at the General's conclusions.

“The Gelfling stand above the Chamberlain, but not by much. They are just different types of disgusting.”

“So, I'm doing it all right?” the Ritual Master asked calmly, barely suppressing a chuckle.

“No! You're doing it all wrong!” skekVar was pissed off. Trying to defend his position in the argument was not easy. “Fuck whoever you want, but not the Chamberlain! And not my guards! Just fuck off already!”

“But it was you who started this conversation-”

“Fuck off!” the General waved him off and started to walk away, but the Ritual Master caught up with him.

“How about this: you abuse the Scientist no more, or do it less, and I’m leaving your guards alone.”

“What's the link?” skekVar snorted, without slowing down. But skekZok didn't lag a step behind.

“I want to try and court him. I can't do it while he's always stressed out.”

“I don't see any link here.”

SkekZok rolled his eyes.

“Let me put it another way: you don't bother the Scroll Keeper because your sister-in-arms is dating him, do you?”

“That's different,” skekVar frowned. “You're not my sis.”

“It's the same thing.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Yes, it is.”

“No.”

“Yes,” the Ritual Master stood his ground.

“Not… Fine! I'll see what I can do,” the General finally gave in. He was getting tired of their argument. “Just leave the Guard alone,” he added tiredly. “Please.”

“It's a deal,” skekZok summarised contentedly, and, having overtaken skekVar, turned into one of the gloomy galleries. The General stopped.

“Gelffucker,” he muttered to himself and headed in the opposite direction.

***

The bloody tool landed in the bowl with a metallic clinking sound.

SkekTek was thinking. Today he decided to test one hypothesis and dissect a karatick. The small bird lived in the Crystal Desert, and resembled Skeksis in appearance and in many other ways. The Scientist was interested in one particular internal organ: if his assumptions were correct, it would allow to significantly increase the effectiveness of certain types of medicine. The karatick was planned to be sewn up and set free after the surgery... Even though it would be better to observe him for some time, but where to keep him? It's not like he planned to turn the lab into a menagerie, really...

Footsteps and rustling of clothes were heard from behind. SkekTek, standing over the small cut-open body of the karatick, straightened up to take a quick look over his shoulder. However, he already knew by the smell who had decided to visit him.

The Ritual Master in his shining golden robes looked out of place in the middle of the lab. As he always did. It even seemed to the Scientist that he was wearing more gold and jewelry than usual. His usual smell of incense was interrupted this time by his own perfume.

“Weird” thought the Scientist. But the priest was always weird. So skekTek turned back to his unwilling patient.

“Since you've come, pass the scalpel,” he said instead of greeting, and, holding out his hand in a bloody glove, stood waiting. SkekTek didn't care at all that skekZok was probably hearing that word for the first time in his life.

Something fell into his palm. It was a small book with golden ornaments. The Scientist turned round sharply.

“You idiot, I asked for a scalpel!” he threw the book at the Ritual Master, who was quite pleased with himself. He easily dodged it, chuckling.

“This is better. A compendium of all the rules and laws of our society. In Skeksis language,” skekZok said, squinting slyly. “You can read it at your leisure, it will be very useful for you. You don't have to return it, I've got more of them.”

“Really? Why is it so thin then? Not a lot of laws,” skekTek's voice oozed sarcasm. “Do you even do your own job anymore?”

“This is an abridged version,” the priest approached smoothly without breaking eye contact with the Scientist. “But if you want, I'll show you the expanded one too...”

“SkekZok, what are you-“ skekTek drew in air through his nostrils. There was another smell besides incense and perfume. And that smell was unmistakable. “Have you gone mad?”

“Why?” the Ritual Master stopped right in front of him. He was taller than skekTek, so the Scientist had to look up at him.

“I'm not interested in one-time entertainment. And it seems like the spring ended a long time ago.”

“Me neither. And what does spring have to do with it?” skekZok replied. “Aren’t the Skeksis allowed to fall for one another anymore?” he looked into skekTek's eyes. “Wouldn't that be divine?”

Me neither. Aren’t the Skeksis allowed to fall for each other… Realisation flashed through like lightning. Did the Ritual Master... really want to build a long-term relationship with him? No, no... skekTek didn't understand. How? With him? He was so low in the hierarchy, one couldn't even get any benefit from having him as a mate... None at all... What did that mean, that he was the one skekZok truly desired? It's impossible. Impossible. All the times the priest had visited him since the beak incident came to mind. The fact that the Scentist had operated on his face had brought them closer together in a strange way, but he never thought it would come to this...

The Ritual Master had somehow wilted as he waited for an answer. The Scientist, immersed in his own thoughts, did not utter a word, and then skekZok spoke slowly.

“It's because of the face, isn't it?” one could see through his awkward, apologetic smile how much the thought hurt him. He took a step back. “Of course… I can understand that.”

SkekTek realised he had been silent for too long.

“No,” the Scientist stepped forward and took his hands in his own under the surprised gaze of bright blue eyes. “No, of course not, skekZok. I-" skekTek noticed how the blood from his gloves was staining the well-groomed fingers and gold cuffs of his vis-à-vis. But letting go now would not be a good idea. “SkekZok. You are attractive, really. Very attractive, and... I'd like to...” the right words just didn't come to mind easily. “I'd like to try it with you. But... You see..." skekTek was starting to get annoyed with himself. How pathetic his mumbling was! But he had to hand it to skekZok: he waited patiently. “I had no one before you. No one at all. I'm afraid to disappoint you,” the Scientist finally admitted. “I don't understand what you see in me. I haddn't even realized that with your visits and religious-scientific arguments you were flirting with me...”

At his last phrase, the Ritual Master suddenly leaned over and, reaching out to him with his snout, rubbed the bare bone of his beak against skekTek’s beak in a soothing gesture. The Scientist's yellow eyes widened, but he did not move away. Only closed his eyelids for a moment.

And he also suddenly thought that skekZok didn't feel anything with that part of his face. He had done it only to comfort him.

“Don't be afraid. I am not taking you to punishment, so why be afraid of me,” he smiled. “But... Perhaps you would like to punish me instead?” skekTek looked at him perplexed. “A lashing, burning my skin with hot wax, cutting me with a ritual knife...” the priest made a low vibrating sound above the Scientist's ear hole. “I can arrange that...”

“Sounds like fun...” skekTek had suspected before that skekZok had some very unordinary predilections. “But I think we should start with something a little less... Extreme,” skekZok looked at him incomprehensibly, and then the Scientist brought his hand to his mouth and kissed it gently. The glandular taste of blood appeared on his tongue. The Ritual Master blinked slowly, and skekTek was about to regret what he had done, but the priest spoke.

“I...” a quiet purring began to build in his chest. “I could get used to this,” he murmured and brought skekTek's hand to his own beak in the same way and returned the kiss. The Scientist felt the color rush to his cheeks. No one had ever touched him like this before, and maybe... maybe this really was his chance?

“Only thing, skekZok, I... I need to finish up here,” skekTek glanced at the karatick on the surgical table, still under anesthesia. “Wait for me in your chambers. I'll be there as soon as I sew it back up.”

“Of course,” the Ritual Master, in the back of his mind, however, fearing that the Scientist might change his mind and not come. He crossed his gaze to skekTek, and his eyes seemed to betray his fears, for skekTek took his hand in his own again.

“I'll definitely come,” assured the Scientist. “I’m not looking for excuses," skekZok nodded, calming down. SkekTek released his hand, and he headed for the exit.

“And, skekZok," the priest turned around at the call. “Before use, the ritual knife must be disinfected. I won't let the cuts fester and give you pustules like the Collector’s.”

The Ritual Master smiled at the Scientist again and left, happy.

Chapter 2

“We must make a bloody example of these treacherous Gelfling,” the Ritual Master said.

“And of the Chamberlain!" the General added with a smirk, and skekZok agreed with him more than ever. For too long, skekSil had gotten away with everything. For too long, he'd been able to get away with it, dodging like a locksnake. And the priest has long wanted payback for what has happened to his face centuries ago...

And so, the Chamberlain appeared. Stopping in the middle of the throne room, he began to talk. Talk, talk and talk. Turning the situation in his favour. And the more he talked, the paler skekTek turned.

SkekTek... their relationship had been developing all these trine, but it had remained secret. There were romantic dates, and long nights full of vivid sensations... And they used the ritual knife too.

When the Scientist told everyone that it was because of the Chamberlain that the Gelfling escaped with the vial of essence, it seemed to skekZok that everything went well. The Emperor didn't dismiss skekTek's complaint: it seemed that even he was fed up with the Chamberlain.

But everything went wrong. And the worm stood there and twisted himself out of it. Once again.

“The vial was clearly the Scientist's responsibility,” the skekSo finally concluded.

“But, Emperor-“ skekTek began, but was interrupted.

“He must be punished!" the Emperor ignored the Scientist's attempt to justify himself. His scepter clanked once on the floor, as it did when skekSo announced his will.

The Skeksis began to offer punishments. Light ones, more just humiliating than traumatising. But suddenly...

“No. The Scientist's errors require a more permanent discipline," the Emperor objected to the Gourmand and the General.

“You speak truth, Emperor," the Chamberlain squinted slyly. “But Scientist is still Skeksis, yes? Perhaps Scientists would most benefit seeing… peeper beetle.”

SkekZok went cold. Peeper beetle was his most adored of the Five Ocular Castigation, though it had only been used once – on the Slave Master, but... not on the Scientist, oh absolutely not! SkekZok never wanted to see his beloved going through such ordeal. And skekSil... this rat was now trying to do to skekTek what he had once done to him...

“What an excellent suggestion!” the Emperor approved.

“I object,” skekZok said, and the throne room fell silent. Everyone in the room turned to look at him in bewilderment. SkekTek looked at him with desperate hope. “Sire,” the Ritual Master stepped forward. The expression on the Emperor's face did not change. “This is not quite the appropriate punishment for such a wrongdoing,” skekZok's wording was deliberately streamlined. He knew how skekSil liked to cling to words. Who, by the way, was glaring at him right now. “According to the law, peeper beetle can only be applied to those who have previously been seen encroaching on the highest authority. But skekTek is not skekNa. He is not a renegade. We must be lenient with him.”

“He let traitor Rian escape – what is that if not an attempt on the highest authority, mmm?” the Chamberlain interjected, staring at skekZok unblinkingly.

“Your preaching, Ritual Master,” the Emperor shifted his bored look to his right hand, studying the rings on his elegant fingers. “Does not interest me in the slightest. Everything has already been decided, there will be punishment. So, unless you have something else to say, and unless…" the ice-blue eyes stopped on the priest again, and the mouth with its rows of outer teeth contorted into a mocking sneer. “You want to take the punishment in the Scientist's place, you have nothing to offer.”

SkekTek lowered his gaze to the floor at those words and slouched down harder. He didn't want to look at SkekZok. He stood up for him, but... Who in their right mind would even want to lose an eye for him? He didn't dare even hope for that. He didn't dare and he had no right. If the Ritual Master backed down now - and he would, the Scientist would certainly understand...

“If this is the Crystal's will, do be it,” the priest said firmly, and his voice did not waver.

SkekTek stared at SkekZok with wide-open eyes. The rest of the Skeksis stared at him, equally shocked. SkekSo, still sitting on his throne, leaned forward slightly. SkekVar snorted sullenly, crossing his arms over his chest. SkekSil stretched his mouth in an even wider smile, it seemed like just a little more and his face would crack.

“Mmm, how noble of you, Ritual Master!” exclaimed the Chamberlain. “And considering your...” he pointed at his face snidely. “Condition, yes?”

SkekZok gave him a glare of annihilation, but remained silent. SkekTek gave a barely audible hiss. If it were up to him, he'd throw himself at the Chamberlain right now and scratch his eyes out. But... the Scientist shifted his concerned gaze back to the Ritual Master. He wasn't looking in his direction. He was looking at the Emperor. Who finally spoke.

“I knew you had a thing for pain, skekZok, but this much... So much so that the last time wasn't enough for you... I have to admit, I'm impressed,” there was a sneer in his ice-blue eyes. “Well, go prepare yourself,” he said with a wave of his hand. “The punishment will take place tonight. Don't be late,” he grinned. A few chuckles echoed through the hall.

The priest bowed silently, then headed away from the throne room with a straight back. After he left, the Skeksis seemed to lose interest in what had happened: a satisfied Chamberlain went to provoke the General, and their hissing at each other quickly became the new main entertainment. The Scientist hurried away as quietly as possible.

A few minutes later, he caught up with the Ritual Master in the corridors. Noticing skekTek, skekZok stopped and turned to him as if nothing had happened.

“You imbecile!” shouted the Scientist. He was shaking. “Imbecile and a half-wit! Why?! I didn't ask you to! Now they will... They will...” tears welled up in his eyes, and he took the Ritual Master's hand in his own, kissing the back of the it. “How will you be without an eye...? Forgive me, oh please, forgive me, skekZok!”

SkekTek felt himself being gently pulled closer, wrapped in an embrace. A moment later, he was crying into the richly embroidered golden robes.

“You didn't ask for it, but you needed it. Don't blame yourself, it was not your fault,” skekZok spoke monotonously and in a lower than usual voice. The Scientist had long known this trick of his: skekZok used this when he wanted to calm the listener down or lull their vigilance. If one let him speak in this tone for long enough, one could enter a trance. “You need your eyes for your work. Don't worry about me,” he smiled sadly. “I have always loved pain.”

“For your work.” For work, yes... skekTek pressed himself harder against the priest.

“I will make you the most beautiful golden prosthetic, I swear. It will see as clearly as a real eye,” the Scientist said firmly. He had already decided that after the ritual and the treatment of the wound, he would go to the Ornamentalist and would not leave until he had the best design skekEkt could make.

“No doubt,” skekZok put his fingers behind skekTek's chin and gently lifted his face. Their gazes met. “You are very talented, after all,” he said, not a shadow of mockery in his bright blue eyes.

“SkekSil... that rat... That...” the Scientist swore in Podling, then suddenly wiped the last of his tears away with his sleeve. “How about I inject you with painkillers before your punishment? Would you like that? Ah wait, why do I ask… I will do it, and that's final. Or… I can mix something that will make you lose consciousness as if from pain, but in fact no.. I'll give you a capsule - you'll bite into it when you need to, and... you won't feel anything... you won't feel this horror,” he sobbed again, but tried to pull himself together. SkekZok wasn't crying. And he was about to lose an eye. So, he had to be strong, too. For skekZok. “You fainted from the pain last time, didn't you? They must believe...

The Ritual Master smiled slightly at him.

“Thank you, skekTek,” he gently stroked his cheek with his hand. “I appreciate it. I really do.”

“SkekZok.”

“Yes?”

“Why... why are you so calm?” that question had plagued the Scientist all this time.

The priest was silent for half a minute before answering.

“You call me brave. But I have always been a coward, always, skekTek. I was afraid to stand up to the Emperor, I couldn't put the Slave Master in his place.... When I couldn't protect you today, I thought, maybe it's time I did one brave thing in my life.”

“Come here,” skekTek pulled him lower by his bloody-red collar. A collar that very soon would indeed be stained with blood... but the Scientist tried not to think about that right now. He opened his mouth, and soon their beaks joined in a tender, long kiss.

When they pulled away from each other, skekTek asked. “Is there anything else I can do for you? In the last hours before-" he hesitated, afraid to say “punishment”.

“Stay with me,” the Ritual Master smiled affectionately at him. “That will be enough.”

“Of course,” skekTek took him by the arm. “Shall we?”

SkekZok nodded.

On the way to the priest's chambers, the Scientist thought of only one thing.

“Crystal help us get through all this.”

***

“Wrong. wrong...” the Scientist mumbled to himself, picking at the prosthesis with a tool. There were five more of them lying nearby, which he rejected, starting over and over again. Something was bothering him. Whether it was the squeaking and rustling of the caged animals, or his lack of knowledge and experience in this field, or the fact that his hands were shaking today...

The scene of the punishment still played over and over again in his head. The peeper beetle crawled into skekZok's eye socket and savoured the eye with a wet slurping sound. SkekTek didn't want to watch, but he couldn't look away either. He must know in great detail how the injury had been inflicted, so that he could treat more effectively later. He hated himself for his powerlessness, even though he had done what he could: injected the anaesthetic and provided the capsule. The capsule had worked perfectly - the Ritual Master had passed out almost immediately after the punishment began. But he still gave a muffled, painful groans now and then, and unconsciously twitched with each new chew of the peeper beetle's jaws. The Scientist flinched as he felt a hand lay on his shoulder. Soon the priest sat down on the bench next to him. SkekTek looked up at him, concerned. For the last twenty-four hours since the punishment, skekZok seemed as if his thoughts were elsewhere. He hadn't expressed any emotion, hadn't spoken. Not even a prayer. And that was what worried skekTek. He had injected him with all sorts of painkillers and sedatives, of course, but the effect shouldn't have been... this strong.

SkekTek noticed that the Ritual Master sat down with the healthy side of his face towards him and turned round in profile. Clearly intentional.

“How are you feeling?” the Scientist asked. The motives were not entirely clear to him: the injured part of skekZok’s face was now carefully bandaged, and it was bandaged by skekTek too. He saw, and knew that there, under the bandages, was the gaping hole of a gnawed-out eye socket. It was painful and sad to look at, but he would never show it. SkekZok shouldn't be in any more pain than he already was.

“No pain,” the Ritual Master said tonelessly, and the Scientist was delighted to hear it. No pain and he speaks again. That's progress.

“And... psychologically?” skekTek asked cautiously.

After that question, skekZok stared silently into the void with his remaining bright blue eye for some time.

“I don't regret anything,” he finally said. “My face was already horribly disfi-“

“Don't say that!” skekTek cut him off. “Don't ever say that, do you hear me?” he took him by the arm. “SkekZok,” he tried to look into his face, to cross his gaze, but the priest turned away harder. “Not once did I think you were unattractive, not then, not now. Not once. You are beautiful. SkekZok, you are so beautiful, do you hear me?” skekTek wrapped his arms around the Ritual Master's golden cloaked shoulders, pulling him closer. He didn't resist. “You are the most beautiful Skeksis on Thra, and I don't care! It doesn’t matter how many punishments you've endured. I mean... it does matter, and I'll be eternally grateful to you, but... I will always love you, for all eternity. You're certainly not worse looking than the Emperor, and his beak is...” the Scientist hesitated. He was not allowed to speak of this with anyone. Ever. “Anyway. I love you, and I will do everything to atone for my guilt, albeit indirect,” He fell silent, not expecting such a fiery speech from himself.

The Ritual Master sighed heavily, at last shifting his gaze to him. His bright blue eye stared with wistful indifference.

“Perhaps you are right...”

“I'm definitely right.”

They were silent for a few minutes.

“SkekZok, science or religion?”

The priest paused for a moment, then sadly replied. “Science.”

“I think religion.”

SkekZok turned to look at him. Out of surprise, he even forgot to keep the injured part of his face out of skekTek's sight.

“Good,” the Scientist remarked to himself and then moved over to the Ritual Master's lap and sat upright, pressing his thighs with his own. Wrapped his palms around his snout and licked him lightly on the bony bridge of his beak. He knew skekZok wouldn't feel anything, but he did appreciate such gestures greatly.

“So,” skekTek continued, pleased to the interest that was beginning to dawn in skekZok’s only eye. “I think religion. And here's why...”