New Beginnings

WEEK TWO

FIRSTDAY

My first full week as a man had passed, and even though it is only a short time I felt that my childhood was in the long distant past. A memory, fading, of a way to live and behave that was no longer relevant. Father and I rose early, took our morning rice, dressed and mounted the horses. Lika as always followed the big stallion, this morning to the house of Xi-To where we were stopping to inspect his broken leg. Father knocked and entered without waiting for a reply, I followed behind. It was early morning, with dark rain and a heavy sky. Despite this the darkness of the inside of the hut took a while to get used to. I felt I was looking into an impenetrable gloom as I followed behind the large shadow of Father as he moved through the common room into the bedroom. The room was malodorous. Xi-To seemed in good spirits, though said he was bored. He was lying on his bed in the same position that I had last seen him, covered except for his elevated leg by a sheet. What was on view was his bare leg, looking less swollen and maybe even straight, extending up to bare buttock. He was wearing a shirt, but no trousers. This was most unusual for a person to be so undressed except while bathing, but I guess it wasn't very practical to try to get trousers on and off. Xi-To mentioned that his wife, who was buying food at the market, had said that the bandages that were wrapped around his leg were emitting an odour. He couldn't say that he could notice it, but he was here all the time.

Father asked me to support the weights while he unwrapped the bandages. To do this the sheet was removed completely from the lower half of his body, revealing both bare legs. From where I was standing at the end of the bed I had an uninterrupted view up the inner aspect of them both, to where they met in a V capped by sagging balls and wizened little dick. Xi-To was a sinewy man, smooth skinned and tough looking. I had thought that seeing his dick would be something of interest, but to my surprise it had no more interest to me than his feet. Last time I had been here I had tried to position myself so as to get a view of it, but now it was in open view I found that I was watching Father cut through the bandages and resin rather than it. It was quite obvious however that Xi-To felt quite uncomfortable exposed as he was even though the only people present were focussing their attention on his bandaged leg, so I whispered to Father that maybe he could just pull the sheet down a little so as to give Xi-To a little privacy.

This achieved, the last of the bandages were removed, revealing that the origin of the smell was an area of ugly looking skin. Father left to organise hot water and some healing salve, saying that the problem was probably due to continued pressure for a long period of time. I was left alone with Xi-To, holding the weights.

"Do you have much pain," I asked.

"In the start m'Lord, there was too much pain. I needed the medicated tea all the time. Now, if I don't move, it is as if it ain't there. I see it, but it don't feel like it `longs to me."

"I'm sure it still does," I said with no basis in any previous knowledge. I spoke only to give reassurance. "Once the bone has knitted and you can move around again I'm sure it will feel quite normal."

"But that's more 7 weeks ! With that smell my leg will `ave rotted!"

Even though he had not expressed it in Father's presence, he now demonstrated that he was very worried. I'm sure he was as aware of the smell as I had been when I first entered the room and recognised its potential meaning of gangrene. "You know that Lord Srotyr has great knowledge as a healer. He will not let your leg rot, Xi-To."

"I know, m'Lord, but I'm afraid."

"You have no need to fear," I said, in a voice to instil confidence.

"You are right, m'Lord. But I feel better for `aving heard you say so. You'll not tell Lord Srotyr the doubts I said?"

"Do not fear Xi-To. As you can trust your leg in the strong hands of my Father, you can trust your fears to be safe with me. Always feel you can ask."

"Thanks m'Lord. In truth I feel much better. But `tis a rotten smell." It was visible in his body that he did relax. He sunk deeper into the bed, his arms and hands lost their tension.

"So it is, Xi-To. But Lord Srotyr will see to that." After a pause I asked. "How are you getting on with your bodily functions, Xi-To?"

"Can I speak freely, m'Lord, cause I don't know the fancy words?"

"Of course."

"At first it was difficult. I think it was the medicated tea. I's trying to crap bits of rock. They were hard and wouldn't come out. I didn't go for 2 days until I stuck my finger in to pull it out! And going lying down with that infernal bucket of the Lord was bad. But I am getting used to that, and now I am taking less medicated tea my crap is more like usual. Pissing is still difficult. My dick is not big enough to use the bottle easily. I have to turn onto my side with the help of my woman, and with her lying behind to support me, stretch it so it reaches the bottle, and then the piss comes out like wringing water from cloth. It starts and stops, starts and stops. I'm used to pissing standing, not lying down like a baby. My woman asks 10 times if I have finished it takes so long. She complains a lot, but she always was a whinger. I try not to complain. It is in the hands of The One. I worry about not going to the service on Godday."

Asking him to talk had been like removing the plug from a water inlet. He had so much stored up that it spewed forth as if under a pressure. To try and stop him I interrupted, "The One can see that you are sick, Xi-To. He would not expect you to be at the service."

"No, m'Lord? That is good. I shouldn't`ave doubted. He can see everything and everyone."

"He can, Xi-To. You only need to have faith." Which brought to mind my conversation with Father yesterday. I had my doubts about The One with our talk about cutting through rocks and weapons that could destroy a people, but I affirm his existence to Xi-To with a heart that has no questions.

He did not continue after this. And I thought to ask, "Why do you say you have a small dick, Xi-To?"

"Because I do. You looked at it when the sheet was taken off. You saw it was small. And my thanks for asking Lord Srotyr to cover the shame of my smallness."

"But how do you know it is small. I have not seen other dicks. What are you comparing yourself to?"

"When one works in the field you can't always be completely modest when having a piss. We men often piss side by side, trying to piss further than t'other. Then we make comparisons and jokes about how big. Some men have big dicks, I have only a small one. Many men have small dicks too. Mine gets much bigger when it is excited, but it is still small compared with others. Maybe I should get it excited before I piss. But it is hard to piss when it is hard." He paused, smiling at his simple pun.

My mind found itself thinking of the world of the worker, how it was different from my world. Here was something I didn't know. I had always thought that the worker was very modest, living by the guidelines of The One to keep oneself covered at all times, and that my willingness to be naked came from my arrogance of His Commands. But now I see that all men like to expose themselves, and from the freedom from which Xi-To was expressing himself, to talk about their dicks as well.

"How much bigger do you get, Xi-To?"

"About this long," he said indicating a distance with his fingers. "Do you think Lord Srotyr will be a bit?"

"Yes. He has to make the salve. That takes a while."

"I'll show you then. I don't like you to think I'm so tiny!"

I could have stopped him, but was curious, so I watched as he pulled up the sheet and started playing with his dick.

"It'll get hard quick `cause it's not fired since I fell."

Which it did. Hard it was about 5 or 6 times longer than soft, and reasonably thick. I would never have imagined that the small bit of skin that I saw could have changed to this. He was amost the same size as Yue-Sin when he was hard. In turn I wondered if Yue-Sin was so small when he was soft. Xi-To kept fingering himself even though he had achieved his goal of demonstrating his full size. It occurred to me that maybe he was awaiting a comment from me.

"It is much more presentable Xi-To. But I can't say that I'm an expert in the size of dicks, as I have not seen very many."

"You've seen Lord Srotyr's, `aven't you?"

Xi-To was becoming very forward, but I was curious to see what he was thinking about.

"Yes I have, Xi-To. I entered manhood at the start of the week, as you know, and since then I have bathed with my Father just as you must bathe with your older boys."

"So, so. Tell, me. I know I mus'n't ask. But I'm curious. Does Lord Srotyr `ave a big dick." All this time he continued to stroke his own dick, which seemed to be swelling further. The skin could now no longer contain the head.

"As I said I have not much experience in this field Xi- To. I shouldn't even answer, but I will say that he has a bigger dick than you, or me for that matter."

"How much bigger?" he asked with excitement in his voice.

"His dick would probably make 10 of yours. I can only comment when it is soft, of course, not when it is hard like yours is now."

"I told the other men that Lord Srotyr had a big one!" With the last word his dick started spurting cum in large amounts. He rested his body back on the bed when he finished, then cleaned himself on the sheet. "Sorry m'Lord. I musn't `ave done that, but I's carried away. My woman won't do anything to help and it has been building to the point of explosion. She could have sat on me, but she won't do anything but let me fuck her in the position that The Book says is correct. She never does anything other than that. And says she don't enjoy that, only does it because I insist."

"That's all right Xi-To. No one will know."

With that there was noise outside, and Father entered. He sniffed at the air but I think it was just the odour from the leg that he was noticing. I don't think the odour of cum was evident yet, though I made a note that it must be I who returned the sheet to its original position. I thought it best Father did not know what had happened. Father washed the damaged area of the leg with hot water steeped with medicinal herbs, then applied the salve and covered this with soft sisal. The bandages and ropes were then reapplied but arranged in such a format to avoid pressure on the damaged area and to allow later access without removing everything.

Finally he said, "You're leg is healing well Xi-To. It is straight and looks as if it will be the correct length. This problem that your woman noticed is only a small thing - it will get better. I will put more salve on it tomorrow. I will show you how to prepare the salve and what herbs to use in the water tomorrow Cavon, and then you can come each day to dress this."

"Thankyou Father."

Father left the house without saying more, but I paused to say goodbye to Xi-To. He thanked me, and said he looked forward to me doing his dressing. Outside Father wished me farewell, saying Yue-Sin would be waiting for me. He took the side street that lead to the central street, while I guided Lika up through the stepping of back streets (streets that run at right angles to the main street do so uninterrupted, but those parallel to the main street are stepped, so that the exit onto one of the cross streets is not in line with its take off after) to come to the house of Yue-Sin by its back entrance. This door opened into the armoury, usually left open in our peaceful times. I entered quietly, hoping to surprise Yue-Sin. I had not got hard while I watched Xi-To masturbate, but felt quite excited now. I was very curious to see Yue-Sin with his dick soft, and thought that if I was quick enough I might get his pants down before he had time to respond.

I found him in the weapons room, sharpening a sword. He was seated, so it took a bit to get him on his feet and his pants down. He had immediately realised my goal, and by the time it was achieved, even though he had helped, he was rock hard. So I took to sucking him anyway while he chuckled, "This is a lovely good morning!" He lifted me to meet his waiting lips. "How is my love today?" he asked.

"Well, and hungry for you!" I also laughed.

"Let's go then!"

In no time he had me undressed and we had assumed what I called a "69" position so as to pleasure each other. By the time we had finished, with me stooping over his kneeling form and my dick in his arse, I think he had cum 5 times, but there was still no sign of his dick softening.

"I must stop," I said, collapsed on top of his kneeling form. "I will have no strength left for training."

He stood, the action popping my soft dick out of his arse, and turned to meet me in a long kiss, his dick prodding my lower belly. He looked me glowingly in the eyes. "I am happy that I have waited so long for this happiness, of loving you!"

"I am happy also, Yue-Sin."

For a time we stood embracing. It seemed a short while, but could have been half the day. I really did feel happy when with Yue-Sin. He made me feel so special, that I was indeed all his life. It was he who eventually broke the hold, directing me into the bath with him for a quick clean up prior to his pulling his trousers up over his stiff manhood. Then started the routine of stretching exercises, drill exercises and finally sparring to learn the skills and subtleties of sword use. I was feeling more comfortable with the sword, feeling it more like an extension of my arm than a piece of wood that I was gripping tightly for fear of letting it drop. Yue-Sin complemented me on my progress, but I did not know whether this was genuine or his love talking.

"You flatter me, Yue-Sin," I said. We were getting out of the bath. He had massaged me, my aching shoulder's suffering the pleasure of the pain caused by his strong fingers. He had stripped to perform the massage, and was stiff by the time he had dropped his pants, and remained so in the bath and until we dressed again.

"No, my love. I do love you with all my heart, but I can still be objective about your abilities. And because of my love I can tell you what I believe. To Lord Srotyr I would always say that you are doing well, but to you I can tell the truth. You show a very rapid ability to learn, and an intuition of what is the best thing to do. Of course, you are still a new novice and any man of experience with a sword would be able to kill you after a few strokes, but you are learning as fast as I have seen anyone learn.

"Now the only problem is the length of time till I can be with you again. I would have liked to take you for your bow training, but Lord Srotyr asked me to ask Hi-Tui to give your lessons. I don't question that Hi-Tui is a better bowman than me, but a beginner does not need the best to learn. But that is your father's request and I cannot alter it. I will miss you though."

"I too, Yue-Sin . Take this kiss in memory of me till ForDay."

After a long kiss Yue-Sin escorted me to Lika and waved me off home under the still heavy rain and dark sky.

Mother was in the dining room, waiting for Father and I to join her for lunch. I kissed her, and, as Father was washing up for lunch, held her in the way of my childhood. She in turn hugged me as if I was still a child. But not for long, as the sound of Father closing the door to our chamber was audible soon after the embrace commenced. I bowed formally to Father, who was dark of visage, as he entered and he bowed formally in return.

Lunch complete Father sat back in his chair. "The river looks like it might rise again. I fear we might lose our first rice crop, and not have enough seed to plant much of second crop once the water subsides."

I now understood the dark look, his stiff formality.

"I will pray to The One that the rain lessens," was Mother's response.

"Has that happened before?" was mine.

"No. But I am trying to get an extra crop in this year in lieu of planting as much extra land as we need as there is not enough seed rice put aside to plant for this. Our population grew more during the winter than I expected, with many tradespeople and freemen joining us to benefit from the strong trade position we now have, and I was forced to break into the seed rice to feed the people. I thought it would be okay, as from my observations the river has never risen again after this part of the year. But I have only been here a few years, I cannot say that this is always so."

"Then we must all pray," I said, half ironically.

Father nodded in mute agreement.

Together in bed for the siesta I played with Father's chest hair while we talked. He was so full of worry that his dick was a dead fish, not that I had much energy left after the morning with Yue-Sin . I tried to reassure him. "If worse comes to worse we can buy seed rice from Ti-Lung."

"But that would cause me such loss of face!"

"Ti-Lung would not see it that way, and if you asked he would keep it quiet. Imagine if you were buying rice from me, would you feel as though you had lost face?"

"Not so much."

"And aren't you as close to Ti-Lung as you are to me?"

"We were, but time and distance has changed that somewhat. But yes, we are still very close, and you are correct, it is something in which he would be happy to help me. No, it would not be so bad. But it would be much better if I didn't have to ask!"

All his chest thoroughly explored I bent my lips to one of his inviting nipples. Before taking it in I said, "Yes, it would be better." Then concentrated on running my tongue around the areola in diminishing circles until I took his nipple gently between my teeth and gnawed on it. It started to swell, but he pulled my face away then lifted my head up to meet his lips in a gentle kiss. He indicated for me to roll away from him so we could cuddle together in our sleeping position.

"Sleep tight, my love. You are my balm. You have such wisdom that I feel humble in you presence."

"Thankyou Father, but what wisdom I have I have learnt from Mother and you."

"I don't know what it would take to swell your ego, my son. You will make an admirable ruler here once you succeed me."

"Let's not think of that day. We will remained curled together like the unfolding fern leaf forever."

"Let's not think." He kissed the back of my neck, and was soon lost to the soft breath of sleep tickling me like his kiss. I did not remain in the wakeful world for very long either, exhausted by a morning of exertion and emotion. My last conscious memory was the pleasure of the sensation of his dick against the cheeks of my backside. Soft as it was, it still felt like a mighty implement.

It was the day for Father to sit in judgement. He had said that many Lord's do this once every seventyday, but he preferred that people did not have to wait so long to receive justice. Also, he found it quite demanding, deciding the right and wrong, and a heavy case load on any one day would tire him. Last week's the session had been moved forward a day because of my birthday and the time required to set up the party, but today was on the usual day. Po-Wei was waiting at the Lord's entrance to take the horses, leaving us to enter and put on our robes. He had informed us that two cases awaited judgement, but that one could be a little difficult.

Father had requested that the simpler be heard first. It was a simple case of robbery, witnessed by one of the servants of the wronged merchant and clearly demarcated, a field worker stealing a pot of oil from a not so well-to-do merchant. The field worker proclaimed innocence. Father retired into the dressing room, indicating for me to followed. Po-Wei appeared a little puzzled, presumably seeing this as a very simple case that did not need any deliberation. When the door had shut Father asked, "Well, Cavon, what do you think."

Not expecting to be asked, I had to pause to organise my thoughts. "It seems fairly straight forward. Yi-Cho stole and must be punished."

"And that is all?"

The way Father looked a me I knew that there must be something that I had missed. My puzzled look was all that Father needed and he continued.

"There are always a few questions you must ask yourself before coming to a judgement. The first is there is nearly always a reason for why someone does something wrong. In this case why should Yi-Cho steal a pot of oil from Gri-Go? No field worker in our province should lack the means to buy oil. As you know the first jar they buy each seventyday is priced so that it can be bought with the minimum salary that field workers earn. More is considered luxury, and the second is charged at the same rate charged to freemen. It is possible that his wife had broken their pot of oil, or his children had, and he had no money to replace it, but if this was the case you would think he would have said this when I gave him the chance, as a mitigating circumstance. It was obvious that the situation appeared poor for him. Something you don't know, and something no one knows, is that I was quite, could you say, friendly, with Yi-Cho some four or five years ago. He was quite handsome as a young man, and was quite willing to enjoy, ah, a pleasurable diversion with me in the time prior to his marriage. He could have easily approached me before the case was heard today to ask for assistance, and that he didn't reflects favourably on his moral nature, something I had always held in high standing. And Gri-Go. His business has fallen on hard times, largely because he drinks and keeps a couple of mistresses that use much of his money. It is quite probable that the price of a jar of oil has become important to him, and he sees this a failsafe way to gain a little income enforced by law. At present having one's servant as a witness is not all that strong, as servant's can be easily discharged if they don't do there employer's will, as at this moment there is an excess of servants in our province due an influx of freemen from other provinces, all having heard that there is plenty of well-paid work here.

"What I would like you to do is watch the faces of both when I give my verdict, and see if you can read whether I am correct.

Father passed judgement, and proportioned a punishment on Gri-Go for having made a spurious charge. This punishment was that he would have to supply the household of Yi-Cho with a jar of oil every seventyday for the next year. Watching the faces told the story. Yi-Cho's expressed the open joy of someone delivered from punishment they knew they didn't deserve. Relief, happiness, and righteousness mixed. Gri-Go however became dark, shadowed with guilt and shame, realising he had been caught out in his lie. He began to protest loudly.

Father looked at me and I shook my head. He then held up a hand for silence, reinforced by Po-Wei, and informed Gri-Go that if he didn't respect the court's judgement his punishment would be increased. Once all parties to the case had been ushered out and Po-Wei had returned, Father asked Po-Wei to make quiet enquiries of the servant of Gri-Go, emphasising that Gri-Go must not know that the servant had been interviewed, to see if she had in fact been coerced into giving false witness. (Po-Wei informed Father the following day that this is in fact what had happened.)

I now understood why Father had such a reputation as an administrator of law. It came from his close knowledge of his people (which must become more difficult as our province grew) and his deep understanding of human nature.

The second case was indeed more complicated. A female field worker had been found naked in the bed of a pot maker by the pot maker's wife. The wife was requesting divorce on the basis of proven adultery. Fieldworkers and freemen were not allow to marry, nor associate sexually. This was a local law that Father had introduced because he felt that the morals of the field workers would be under excess pressure if they could sell their bodies for monetary gain. This was not a problem in other provinces as field workers were not allowed to have money, so receiving money was of no value to them. They could receive in kind, but once again the types of things that would be likely to be of interest to the field worker were also forbidden in most provinces with punishment attached to their possession, and those things that weren't forbidden were in fairly free supply so did not provide enough incentive to prostitute one's body.

Open and shut case. But the tradesman claimed that he had found the field worker in the bedroom when he had come home unexpectedly early one morning from his employment. He worked in the factory of a merchant who, to increase his profit, had taken to employ the influx of pot maker's coming to learn the new methods of our province so as to produce pots more cheaply than he could purchase them from local pot maker's. The pot maker claimed, as he had been feeling unwell, that he had entered the house quietly and gone direct to the bedroom to find the female field worker naked in his bed. There was noise of someone in the kitchen. Rather than try to discover what was happening, seeing the risk if he was found in the bedroom with this woman in his bed, he left as he had come and went to a tavern where he rested.

The field worker? She denied that she had ever been in the house!

Father asked a few questions, then asked if the household employed a servant. The answer was no. So how could one account for this fieldworker in the marital bed of the pot maker? Asked when she had found the field worker the wife said that it was during siesta time, that she had delayed talking to other women on her way home from making purchases at the market. Of the pot maker Father asked if anyone had could act as witness for his presence in the tavern. He did not know. He had been quite unwell and didn't look around him. He had fallen asleep with his face in his arms on the table, and when he awoke he had struggled back to his now empty bed where he had slept further.

Once again Father indicated for me to join him in the dressing room. "This time I need your opinion."

"Something that I don't know Father. You and I are interested in people of our own sex. You have found pleasure, so you told me a little while ago, with a field worker. Are there also women who find pleasure with people of their own sex, who might find these pleasures with a female field worker?"

"Are you suggesting that the wife and the field worker were lovers, and that the pot maker had chanced to enter the marital bedroom at the same moment his wife had gone to the kitchen for some reason, leaving the field worker in bed. Realising she had been found out the wife and the field worker concocted this story, knowing that punishment for breaking the law of associating with field workers rests completely on the freeman and thinking that no one would consider that she had been in bed with the field worker. The field worker would deny her presence completely as this would seen as helping her male lover prove his innocence."

"Well, I hadn't got quite so far, but, yes, along those lines."

"But why couldn't the pot maker not just be lying?"

"He could, but why put the field worker in the bed at all if he is going to lie. Looking at him as he spoke he seemed quite puzzled by the presence of the field worker in the bed. So why make it up if he couldn't use it to explain anything. If one is going to lie shouldn't there be some advantage to the person making the lie?"

"Yes. Like there is a motive for wrongdoing. You know, I think you are correct. Maybe the woman wasn't in bed with the field worker, maybe she had only employed the field worker to set up her husband so that she could file for divorce. That is probably more likely than that she and the field worker were lovers.

"Once again, watch the faces as I give judgement," he commanded.

Father announced that the request for divorce was granted. I saw the smirk that passed between the two women in question and the look of grief on the face of the pot maker. I nodded when Father looked my way.

"But that there will be no support to Eo-Su from Eo- Bue."

The look of surprise on the face of the pot maker, Eo- Bue, and the anger on the face of his wife said it all, and on my further nod.

"If you, Eo-Su, wish to withdraw your request for divorce you may do so. This will be approved if your husband agrees to remain married. Do you wish to withdraw your request?"

Eo-Su looked at the ground for a while before showing again her face, now resigned. "I do."

"Eo-Bue, you have one week to decide if you accept this. Please communicate your desire at the end of this time to Po-Wei."

(The truth of this case was never revealed. Eo-Bue accepted the return of his wife, and they continued as a married couple.)

SECONDAY

Rain fell outside. It was the silent rain, made up of a seemingly impenetrable mass of tiny droplets, so small they fell without noise. But it was heavy. Father, worried that the river might flood, had ridden out to inspect, to decide if there was a need to pull the newly planted rice to save some of it from being washed away. I had already visited Xi-To with Father to change his dressing, learning how to prepare the medicated water and apply the salve. It was looking and smelling better. Now I was sitting on a bench beside Hu-Wi, sipping on hot, fragrant tea prepared by him, trying to drive away the dampness. Water trickled through various small leaks in the thatched roof of the stables - this type of rain found every hole - and tapped and plopped musically into a motley collection of receptacles around the stables. It was insidious and all enveloping. I had spent the morning learning about care and grooming of horses, about their dietary needs and likes. Of how to examine a horse, to know good health from poor, to know strengths and weaknesses. I had learnt a lot, but now my mind was limpid as it soaked in the fragrant steam and washed over by the rain.

"One day all this will be yours," said Hu-Wi. He was also drinking tea, his wise, youthful face contrasting with his long, white hair. He had told me that after a bad fall a lot of his hair had fallen out, and when it grew back it was white.

"I don't want to think about that."

"Are you frightened of the responsibility?"

"A little, but I love Father very much and if this is, as you put it, mine, it means he will no longer be with us."

"We will all miss your father when he passes on. But it will happen one day. And when he goes it will be much harder to keep this all together."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Lord Srotyr has made many changes in the way of life of the field worker. Giving him money to purchase food and luxuries has made his life much more comfortable. Lord Srotyr makes sure that all the houses are kept in good condition. The field worker here has a much better life than anywhere else in the realm."

"But why should that cause things to be more difficult?"

"It is the nature of man. The older field worker knows that he is receiving a bounty that he could not have imagined as a young man, but there are those now who have grown up knowing nothing else. We are very isolated here and field workers have no contact with other provinces, and have no comparison. But they do see the merchants, the tradesmen, the freemen, men who earn and pay for things with gold. And they yearn for the same, to be able to buy their freedom with gold. Lord Srotyr tries to control this by being the only exchanger of local currency and gold, but desire makes man look for other ways to get what he wants. And there are merchants who will secretly exchange gold for local coins with these men, but at three times the official rate. So they become wealthy exchanging their illegally gained coins for three times the amount of gold they originally had. It is easy money, limited only by the supply of local coinage that can be accumulated by the field workers. But wealth breeds jealousy, and to protect their wealth they hire men of low morals, men fleeing from trouble in other provinces, men who would kill you as soon as look at you, to act as their guards, to make others beware of crossing them. Field workers do not have much above their needs, so it will take a long time for any to have enough gold to start causing problems, but you will see this in your time."

"Does Father know of this?"

"I think so, though I have never spoken to him. It is not my place and it could be easily seen as criticism. Even though Lord Srotyr is a good man, it is never wise to make any comment of any member of the nobility that could be seen as a criticism."

Remembering Father's eyes only last week when I had pushed him away from an embrace he desired made me just nod in response to this, and ask, "But why are you telling me?"

"You are greater than any man I have known. You have the wisdom of a wise elder in a young body. I do not feel fear when I am with you, for I know that you are able to see that what I say is not meant as a criticism of Lord Srotyr, but rather a comment on the nature of man and how it will always be the cause of grief. You can see my heart, not just my words. And though I would never wish the passing on of anyone, and will severely grieve if I outlive Lord Srotyr, I also look forward with much pleasure to a time when I might work in your service."

"Hu-Wi, I hope one day I can grow to be the man you see in me."

"My lord Cavon, you are already that man! I hope you can hold on to it!"

"But I have so much to learn!" I exclaimed.

"You have a quick eye and a quick brain my lord. You will learn all you need to know. But I am talking of something that comes from the spirit, not from the mind. It is born to us, but we can lose it if we don't respect ourselves."

I turned away from the silent rain to look at Hu-Wi, to see a brilliance in his eyes. Hu-Wi was a man I had always respected because Father had always spoken highly of his knowledge of horses and his wisdom. But I doubted his wisdom at this moment, though intensely flattered at the same time. "Hu-Wi, I hope I can live up to your faith."

"My lord, you will!" he replied simply.

We sat in comfortable silence, broken eventually by Hu- Wi. "There is nothing more I can teach you here today. You may as well go home to lunch early. I'll help you with your coat."

Riding slowly amongst the streams of water spilling down the cobbled streets, between houses so wet they looked like they were weeping, I contemplated my future. Riding behind Father on his massive steed towering above all I had foreseen my future only with pride, but now I could see that it would be much more difficult. I questioned how I could satisfy the demands of all around me, fill Father's place, take my place in the marital bed. Knowing his true history, and of mother, I questioned whether I had sufficient birth to be Lord. But Father had confidence, so I decided that I shouldn't question too much, and gave myself to the sensation of swimming through the silent rain, and the image of his warm arms that would be holding me again tonight.

"Ti-Lung has sent me a message," Father began, "asking if I can aid him with organising his field workers." We were together in the bath in our interlinked leg fashion, Father thawing out from his long day in the silent rain. The rain had lightened during the afternoon, but the world remained wet and heavy. "It looks as though the river won't flood so I have decided to set out on ForDay if there is no more heavy rain."

My face as always gave away my inner self. "I would love to take you with me, but your little mare would not be up to the trip. Its three days on a big stallion like Trugo, little Lika would drop in her tracks trying to keep up. And she would try. She has a big heart."

"Just like you have a big dick," I joked, trying to make light of my pain while grabbing the spoken of member.

"Yes, just like I have a big dick. Ti-Lung wants to set up a system of payment for his field workers similar to what I have here. He has been impressed with the increase in yields I have achieved without increasing the workforce, and wants to do the same."

"How long since you've seen Ti-Lung?"

"Yes Cavon, there is that as well. I can't hide anything, can I. We haven't seen each other for three seventydays. Ti-Lung is not like you and I, or like Yue- Sin. He does not have any problems with women, and he has a normal relationship with his wife. But our friendship and love goes back before he met his wife, and that love is still strong. We like to see each other, to make love."

"Do I remind you of him?"

"Yes. I do love him too, but that does not mean I don't love you, Cavon. Just like you said with Yue-Sin. You love Yue-Sin, but it is different to how you love me. Ti-Lung is the same with me. I love him, but it is an old love, and I am not his sexual preference though I was his first love. It is different. And I do love you more!"

"So you have sex, though he doesn't have interest in sex with men?"

"Its confusing. My theory is that some men just like sex, and it doesn't matter much if they are with man or woman. It is the relationship that triggers the desire rather the physical. And as society promotes the relationship of man and woman this is the easier way to go. I believe that if Ti-Lung and I had not started experimenting during our youth we would never have begun. If he had married before we met we would have been good friends, but he would have remained faithful to his wife and the idea of sex with me would have never crossed his mind."

Father's dick was well swollen by now and I began to give it more intense attention. "Will you be away long?"

"Maybe 2 weeks. It will seem a long time but you will have much to do, and Yue-Sin and Hi-Tui to keep you satisfied."

"They cannot replace you!"

"Thankyou. But I cannot tell Ti-Lung about us, and he would not understand any other reason. It will only be a short while, and we have all our lives together." Putting his hands over mine to hold them still he added, "Let's wait until we get into bed. I want to show you real love tonight!"

I let go of his dick to hold his hands, squeezing them tightly.

"But there is no reason I can't suck your little lizlion, as he will be quite able to perform later." Father pulled me forward so I was standing with my legs straddling his belly. He grabbed my buttocks then ran his tongue around the end of my dick, edging back the skin before taking the whole thing into his mouth. He started me in a slow fucking motion controlled by his hands on my buttocks then moved so that one hand was on the small of my back while a soapy finger of the other explored between my buttocks and finally penetrated my anus. The sensation took my body at the moment of penetration, more intense than ever before. Weak in the legs I sat on his lap while my head cleared. When I opened my eyes again I was greeted by a huge smile on Father's face. "I think something came out that time! I could taste it."

"It certainly felt different!"

"Different?"

"More powerful, more intense."

"So, you have answered the question you asked of me."

"I guess I have," I replied.

"Now let's move before your Mother thinks we are making love!" he joked as he levered himself out of the bath, his half hard dick wagging from side to side with every movement.

I lay sleepily in his arms, slowly rubbing my face against his fragrant, furry chest, intermingling the rubbing with little kisses. I had just cum for the fourth time, the last time in his hand after I had taken him in my mouth. The taste of his cum surprised me, vaguely unpleasant, but that did not stop me from wanting to do it again. I hadn't liked the taste of tea first time either. This had been preceded by a mutual body exploration with hands and mouth so detailed that I felt I knew his body better than my own hands. I had pleasured his arse with my tongue, making it sloppy and slippery for the entry of my straining dick, which he had encouraged to stay for two courses. I wished my dick had been bigger so as to give him more satisfaction. This had been preceded by a quickie in his mouth near the start to take away my sense of urgency. And now I was ready for sleep, snuggled up with everything that was important in my world. And he was going to leave me in a couple more days. I pushed the thought aside to savour the moment, and fell asleep.

THIRDAY

Thirday. My first day caring for the leg of Xi-To on my own. I felt nervous, the novice, but Xi-To obviously did not share my doubts. The house was empty except for him. I didn't question why.

"'morning, m'Lord!" he said warmly. "I hope that you are well on this day."

"Thankyou, I am, Xi-To. And how do you feel?"

"Very well, m'Lord, but always better for seeing you. You fill me with confidence that I'll be whole again one day."

"Why is that, Xi-To?"

"Not sure I know, m'Lord. But when you're here I feel as if I'm filled with the spirit of The One."

"Let that spirit stay with you, Xi-To. It will help you heal."

"It already is helping. The smell has gone, even the woman says that it smells better."

"Yes, it does."

"I asked her to leave water over the fire to be ready for you."

"Thankyou, but I will remove the dressing that is there first." With that he pulled forcefully on the sheet that covered him till it came untucked from the end of the bed. It floated up to leave revealed his nakedness.

I went to help him cover his dick but he said, "No no, m'Lord. Leave it out if it's okay. It likes to see some air, and I know you aren't offended."

"No, I am not offended," and proceeded unwrap the bandage that covered his wound. While I did this his right hand fiddled with the little piece of skin that was his dick, encouraging it out of hiding. By the time I had returned with the bowl containing the medicinal herb steeped water it was fully hard, its head purple and swollen.

"He likes it when you are here, m'Lord."

"He certainly appears to, Xi-To." Internally I questioned why this man wanted to show me his dick, why this excited him, why he thought it was something that would not cause him trouble. Thinking of Hi-Tui, it seemed that there was something about me that made men comfortable about exposing themselves. I didn't mind, without doubt enjoyed it, but how did they know?

Placing an empty bowl under Xi-To suspended leg I began to gently wash his wound with the medicated water. He continued stroking his swollen dick, watching me intently. I placed the salve Father had prepared, the re-wrapped the leg. As I removed the bowl from the bed Xi-To asked, "May I be so bold as to ask a favour?"

"Ask away Xi-To."

"I've always been curious to know what the lizlion of a Lord looks like. Can I ask you to show?"

I hesitated, my eyes resting not on his eyes where they should have been but rather on his angry dick and stroking fingers. I knew what was correct, but believed that no harm could come of it. "If you promise never to tell."

"Of course, m'Lord."

On the moment of exposure of my dick, not hard but maybe a little swollen, the dick of Xi-To exploded its load of white liquid and he fell back into the bed with a sigh of satisfaction. "Thankyou m'Lord," he eventually said.

"Remember, only between us."

"Yes, m'Lord, do not doubt me."

I left puzzling about what was happening between Xi-To and myself. I did not feel for him like I felt for Father, or Yue-Sin, nor did seeing his dick, hard or soft, trigger the lust that I felt with Hi-Tui, but still I felt myself drawn to the situation, looking forward to a repetition. I would be seeing Xi-To every day with Father away, and I felt curious as to how things would progress. What I didn't understand at all was Xi-To's side. I tried to imagine putting myself in the situation of asking someone, particularly someone my superior, to watch me masturbate, but failed. Maybe it was related to the behaviour that Father described to me, of men wanted to show their hard dick to an unknown woman.

Not coming up with any clear answers, but remaining curious, I turned my thoughts to something that did not puzzle me. Meeting Hi-Tui. It had been organised that we meet at the town gate, so I nudged Lika rightward along the line of the wall till I came out at the central street just a short distance from the entry gate. I could see him immediately, giving instructions to his substitute. A collection of bows and quivers of arrows were resting against the wall of the small shed, rather dangerously I thought, but he was wearing a sword as well so I assumed he thought that he could protect them if needed. His face lit in a smile when he looked up in response to Lika's hoof clips on the stone of the main street.

"Welcome, my Lord," he called in his powerful voice.

Fortune had provided us with a rain free day for my lesson in archery. I admired Hi-Tui's face, his massive frame, but finding my eyes most strongly drawn to the well- filled pouch revealed by his open coat. When I had come close enough to respond without shouting I replied, "Thankyou, Hi-Tui. How are you today?"

"Well, my Lord. And how does The One find you?"

"Also well." I then noticed a horse tethered just outside the town gates, enjoying the wild grass growing there. "Are we not going to the archery range, Hi-Tui?"

"If you agree, my Lord, as it is such a fine day, I thought rather than use the targets, which can be very tedious, we would go to an area of lantern trees that I know. It is not too long a ride, and I see you have Lika. They will be in flower and are quite beautiful, as well as making good target practice for shooting above."

"That is fine, Hi-Tui?"

Hi-Tui rapidly gathered up the collection of weapons and placed them in the deep saddlebags of his horse. "Here, I have brought a short sword for you. I know you are having lessons and it will be useful to defend ourselves if needed."

We rode side by side. Hi-Tui chattered casually, talking of the late rain, Lord Srotyr's trip and the extra duties he would have in Lord Srotyr's absence. Field workers stopped their work hoeing empty fields or weeding the already established fields of oolito to bow a greeting to us as we passed. At then end of the town road we turned right, pushing the horses into a slow trot. It was the first time I had ridden this road, and we passed the entrance to the pool that Yue-Lin and I frequent in a very short time. Soon also the cultivated fields were also behind us and we were out of earshot of the field workers. Here the valley wall was close to the river, the ground, other than the road, sloping steeply upwards. It was populated with the stumps of the many dionel trees that had been used in the construction of the town wall. Over these grew low red scrubby bushes, yellow ferns and the slender trunks of new dionel trees with small crowns of yellow leaves hurrying to replace there parents.

"We have a good day for our first day together," I said.

"Yes my Lord. I've been planning it from the first time we spoke. It would not have been very good though if it had been raining like it was two days ago."

"Tell me, Hi-Tui. How did you know that I was interested?"

"My Lord, you will need to learn to take more care where you direct your gaze if you don't want men to know that you are interested in them."

"What do you mean?"

"My Lord, when you look at a man you must look them in the eye, not downwards at his pouch. But I'm happy that you did, though you must promise me that you will not do the same with any other man."

"Are there other men who are interested in this thing?"

"There are some, my Lord. It has been a long time since I have been with anyone other than my wife, but there are some. They are not beautiful like you, but there are some."

"You think that I am beautiful, Hi-Tui?"

"My Lord, you are the most beautiful man I have ever seen. You are the son of your mother, who is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You do not have anything of your father. Lord Srotyr is a handsome man, he is a mighty man, he is a wise man, but he is not beautiful."

"Hi-Tui, please call me Cavon."

"Yes. Cavon," he said, savouring the sound. "I would like that."

"A man cannot be both beautiful and handsome?" I asked.

"Yes. You are both beautiful and handsome. But a man can be handsome yet not beautiful. I am not beautiful, though some have said that I am handsome."

"You are handsome, Hi-Tui. Have you been with many men?"

"Not many. We live in a small town and one must be very careful. When I was a young man living in the KingsTown it was easier."

"Do you prefer men or women?"

"I feel I'm on trial, Cavon."

"No Hi-Tui. I'm just trying to understand how this thing works. I've just entered manhood and it is all new to me."

"Yes, I forget. I don't think I can answer anyway. I like all things. I like food." He said this rubbing his belly. "I like drink. I like breasts. I like pear shaped female buttocks. I like cunts. I like the form of a man's chest. I like the trim, muscular buttocks of a man. I like dicks. I like balls. I like it all. I don't like having to chose one over another, though."

"When did you know that you liked everything, Hi-Tui?"

"I always liked everything. I did not know I was different from anyone else for some time after I entered manhood. I know I liked the things that all the other young men liked. I liked looking at women, I liked talking about breasts. I did not know that other young men did not like looking at men. I thought that it just wasn't talked about. And though I never approached a man who did not want to be approached, I learnt that not all men liked to be with other men, and that one had to look for the signals that showed interest. Fortunately, men who are not interested in other men also don't tend to notice that your eyes drift down to their pouch from time to time, or that maybe you brush against them a little more than you should."

"So they only see in you what they do themselves, and if you do something outside their experience or interest it is like they are blind?"

"That expresses it beautifully."

The formed road ended suddenly and we were forced single file onto a dirt track. Only the timber cutters came here and their mules dragging logs back to town largely maintained the trail. On the formed road they put them on small carts, one tied to each end of 2 or 3 of logs, so that two mules, one in front for pulling and one behind for braking, could move a number of logs, but on the dirt it required a team of 2 or 3 mules and a lot of swearing to drag one log. But now was the time of planting, log cutting was for winter, so there would be no one in this area.

A bit further on the land spread out again and the number of lantern trees began to increase. They were not good for timber, their trunks made of layers similar to their wide, strappy leaves, so they were spared the axes of the woodcutters. Consequently, though once uncommon, they were becoming the dominant tree in some areas. They were very pretty, with their red leaves spreading out like the frayed end of a bamboo supporting blue, downward hanging, box shaped flowers for which they were named. Hi-Tui led through a gap in the more solid wall of trees on our right and I followed. Weaving between trunks we arrived in a sort of a clearing, with many stumps of large dionel trees forming a series of tables amongst youngish lantern trees and grass. A small creek cut through in front, acting as a barrier to easy logging, but a small pool also made this an attractive resting spot. Hi-Tui dismounted, unloaded the bows and arrows, checked the pool, though small, for the signs of lizlions then led his horse to the pool to drink. I rode Lika to the edge of the water and dismounted so as to be at his side. He turned to me and immediately took me into his arms, his lips meeting mine in a kiss of passion. Our hard dicks pushed out our pouches with mine prodding between his thighs and his my belly.

He broke, saying "Let's settle the horses."

We tied each of the horses in areas of longer grass for them to enjoy. Hi-Tui lay a clean horse blanket on an area of short grass and removed his clothes. My first view of him naked, of his formed chest, his largish but solid belly. His dick had gone down and I now saw it with its head withdrawn - though unlike the few other men I had seen the tip of the head remained visible outside of the skin. It was thick, sitting up on large balls. It quickly came to life though as he watched me undress, assuming its more familiar, upward curve with its massive head rampant. Again we fell into each other's arms, then onto the blanket, Hi- Tui underneath and me riding on top. As we kissed he ran his hands down my back, exploring my buttocks and thighs, reaching between to tickle my balls. He then lifted me up so that he could suck my dick, my legs straddling his chest. Lifting further up I ended up kneeling with legs either side of his head, my arse sitting over his mouth. His tongue explored around the opening vigorously then dived in, giving me a sensation of an intensity unfelt from this area before. Anxious for a closer view of his cock I spun myself around like a top on the point of his tongue then lay on his belly. His cock lay prone on his belly and seeing it so exposed I realised that it was not only thicker than Father's, it was just as long or longer, this facet disguised while he was standing by the overhang of his belly.

With my tongue I began an exploration, from the tip to the solid tissue of the rim of the head, down its massive shaft. I licked his sack, then struggled to get each ball into my mouth. He tasted of fresh sweat, of horse, and also of fresh soap. This was not the taste of 4 days. He had washed specially for our meeting. He probably thought the same of me, for he would have no reason to think that I bathed every day.

All this time I felt Hi-Tui's tongue exploring deeper and deeper inside me. I felt that I was filled by its flickering muscle waving me around like a baton. My backside moved around in circles trying to keep up with its rotations. In return I started to bury deeper between his legs, but seemingly on realising my goal he picked me up and spun me around, filling my mouth with his eager tongue. Then he whispered, "I don't like being touched down there."

I nodded, surprised by the sudden change in position.

"But I would sure like to fuck you!"

"I don't think that would be a good idea. You are so big!"

"Yes, I know it is not possible. I would do nothing to cause you harm. But I would love to fuck you," he finished sensuously. He then inserted his dick between my thighs, slippery with an overflow of saliva, and begun thrusting at the same time as grabbing me by the hips and moving me in the opposite direction to his thrust. Somehow at the same time he managed to kiss me, and rub my dick up and down along his smooth belly.

Soon I had cum with the wonderful sensation of his thick dick rubbing across my arse, then he groaned and squeezed me so tight I thought my pelvis would break. Hot wetness spurted into the crack of my arse. We lay still, both of us breathing heavily.

I lifted my head to kiss him. He was not keen, giving only a peck, and replying to my questioning look, "I don't like to kiss after. With my wife too, not just you."

I felt let down. "Don't you love me, `Hi-Tui?"

He looked at me carefully, then replied, "No, Cavon. I don't love you. I do love sex though, and you and I make wonderful sex together!"

Realising I had to be satisfied with this I let myself relax, and thought, "Why do I need him to love me? I already have two that love me, and one more who loves me as a friend. Why do I want more. And it was wonderful sex!" My cock got hard again at that thought, but I could feel that Hi-Tui was soft between my legs.

"Let's have a wash in the pool before commencing your lesson."

He kept to himself in the pool, dressed immediately on coming out even though he was wet. With the cold water his dick had shrunk down to be as small as I had seen it, the head now hidden from view. Then began a very professional lesson in archery. Though he stood close, arms around me to adjust my hand position on the bow, I might have been with another person than the one who had buried his tongue in my arse. He taught me how to judge distance, how to let go of the arrow in a clean manner, where to aim to successfully hit a target. Our first targets were the boles of the lantern trees, arrows piercing their soft flesh easily enough to not fall to the ground. As my accuracy improved he directed me to more distant trees, then upwards, aiming at the high hanging flowers, showing me how the higher the flower the more you had to allow for arrow drop so as to successfully pierce the flower. He then showed-off by scything the stem of one of the flowers so that the flower fell down complete. He made a formal presentation of this flower to me, saying "To our first day."

I took the flower and the kiss that followed, and soon we were on the blanket once again. This time he had me kneel and he attacked my arse with his tongue from behind. When saliva was running from my crack he knelt over me so that his hard cock was pushing at my dripping arse.

"I'll not enter," he whispered hoarsely in my ear, "I'll just push against you a little bit."

Even so I felt that the vestibule of my arse was being questioned by a horse, then a scream of pain erupted as the head of his dick thrust past my sphincter.

He put his hand over my mouth and whispered, "Be still my little one." He did not pull out though he did not move, but even so I soon I felt his dick pulsating as his hot seed filled me and he moaned wordlessly. Reaching below he found my dick, shrivelled in response to the pain. I think he then realised what he had done and pulled out of my arse, apologising so profusely that I felt sorry for him. "I didn't mean to go in. It just happened. Then I was cumming and I had no control. I'm sorry my little one, I'm sorry. Let me see if I did you any damage. Oh, you are bleeding my little one. Let's wash you in the pool."

This time he was very different, full of attention to make sure I was clean, kissing every part of my body that came near his face, vowing that he loved me more than anyone in his life. In truth I think his fear spoke. I think he had indeed gone further than he had intended and what had happened was an accident, but he doubted if I would keep my mouth closed. If I was to report he had raped me I wouldn't even have to show my damaged arse for it to be believed and his life would be forfeit. I decided it was time to take control.

I requested he leave the water. He went directly to his clothes but I ordered him instead to the blanket. When he sat, legs crossed, I stood above him.

"Hi-Tui, what you did was very wrong. You took my trust and betrayed it completely. You are well aware that I could have your life for this, but I won't. But you will not go unpunished. You will receive what you gave."

"Kneel!" I ordered.

He knelt without question. I wet his arse with my tongue, penetrating him in the same way that he had done to me. He obviously felt no pleasure from this, but tensed his body bravely. I then stood behind him with knees bent enough to put me at the correct height for entry. And I entered without subtlety. I entered with force, pushing my dick through his unwilling muscle, pounding into him. I paid no heed to his whimpers of pain. I was surprised how much this was exciting me. Cumming was as good as I had felt. I did not go down though, so I continued plugging him until I had cum once again. Then I pulled out and turned him around.

I looked at him and my heart melted at the look of contrition on his face. "Hi-Tui, I seem to be different from you, for I do love you. Even though you caused me enormous pain I still love you. Aren't you big enough to let love into your heart?"

"I don't know what to say Cavon. If you will ever let me near you again I promise that my cock will not go anywhere near your arse so it will not be tempted to do things it shouldn't. And I do believe I am big enough to say I love you. So much that I am happy for you to do anything you want to me. If you want to fuck me you can fuck me. Anything at all. But now I want to take you in my arms and kiss you."

With that I leapt into his arms and we kissed. We washed again in the pool and rode home slowly. My arse was uncomfortable and I rode with straightened legs a lot of the time to keep it off the saddle. I had let Hi-Tui examine me more closely and he pronounced that there had been very little damage and that he didn't think it would take long to heal. He had had something similar when he had had an episode of constipation and had passed something that had felt like a brick, and it had healed in a few days.

I bade him farewell at the town gate. The man who had stood in for him took his horse to return it to the stables. It was close to lunchtime and many people were returning from the fields, so I limited the goodbye to a handshake. Though I would have preferred to walk beside Lika to get home, I decided that this would look rather strange so I tried to hide the pain from my face as I sat normally in the saddle. I was glad to dismount. Walking was comfortable, but I didn't know what it would be like when I had to go to the toilet. Fortunately Father was leaving early in the morning and would not be around if I moaned a little.

Father was waiting for me in our chamber. I kissed him on entering and sat on his lap, wriggling to find a comfortable position. He asked about my morning. "It went well. My accuracy has improved, but I need to work on distance. He suggested some arm exercises to do every day. Then he shot and took down a lantern flower from at least 10 times the height of a man by cleanly lancing its stem. I was able to catch it before it hit the ground and it looked like he had hit the stem dead centre."

"He is a marvellous archer. He has a very good eye. But I was more asking about the other side of your lesson."

"Ah." I felt uncomfortable. With Yu-Sin I had never had to say much as Father had experienced him much more than me, but here I was opening a new door. "I feel uncomfortable Father. I feel I am betraying something very personal."

"You are. But you are with me and there is nothing so personal that you cannot talk with me."

"Okay. His dick is big. I told you it was thick, but not so long. I was wrong. His belly hides it. It is as long as you, maybe longer. He liked putting his tongue in my arse. He likes to fuck, but he didn't do so with me because of his size. But his strength is enormous and he was able to, lying on his back, lift me up and down by the pelvis at the same time as move me my dick up and down on his belly and thrust his dick between my legs."

"Sounds acrobatic."

"I guess so, but it felt very good."

"I have no doubt it did. Unfortunately I think I would be too big even for his strength but I would be curious to see his dick. It sounds like a wonder, and maybe I would be big enough to take it inside. The stretching caused by a thick dick, once it stops hurting, feels rather amazing."

"I would fear too much to let him enter me."

"I would not want him to enter you. If I could get hard enough, I would not enter you until you had grown some."

I repeated all the archery part to Mother after we had eaten lunch, ending also with the severing of the lantern flower. She expressed disbelief at this, but I told her I had caught it as it fell and the stem had been cleanly severed not just knocked down.

"He is truly a great archer then," said Mother.

"He is. He did it with ease, and on the first go. I hope that I can imitate him. After only one lesson I have improved enormously."

"He is such a big man though. It will be hard to match his strength."

"I don't think I will ever match that. My competitions with him will have to be at close range," I laughed.

Cuddled into the curve of Father's body I slipped quickly into sleep

FORDAY

Forday morning, before dawn. I rode through chill, sharp rain at Father's side. He had agreed that I could accompany him till we came to Rocky Ridge. I now regretted it. I would now only be able to coldly watch his form disappear into the dark, feeling alone and desolate. It would have better to say goodbye hotly in bed, as we did, and then not have seen him after he left the room. But my pride would not let me turn back before the Ridge. Father's guard rode around us, with two extra to escort me home. Several private people, taking advantage of the protection of Father's guard, made up the rest of the party. We did not talk. Even if the others had not been present there seemed nothing to say. The horses hooves splashed in the mud as they patiently followed the guidance of their riders, not questioning why anyone would be mad enough to want be out in this dark wet morning. "I should be like Lika," I thought, "and not question." From where I was the sides of the road were not visible, but a hint of greyness in the eastern sky promised that some light would be present before Father found himself on more unfamiliar road. This was not long, as the rocks that gave Rocky Ridge its name soon formed a silhouette against the morning sky. I shook hands formally with Father, feeling empty and inadequate. I wanted to hold him so tight that I became one with him, but instead this rigid hand was all I could hold on to.

"Safe journey, Father."

"Thankyou Cavon."

And without anything else he rode on, disappearing in the greying light ahead. I signalled to the guards and headed home. First stop was in the house of Xi-To. I was very early, finding them both in bed. Xi-To's wife jumped up to get the stove going to boil water, quickly dressing while I turned my back.

"The Lord's left," was how Xi-To started conversation once his wife had left.

"Yes. I've just seen him off."

"You'll miss him."

"That I will Xi-To."

Xi-To's arms were under the sheet and there seemed to be activity in the area of his groin, which was revealed as the sheet was taken off his damaged leg. I left his good leg covered, but he sneaked his dick out of the side and stroked it without pause except when he heard his wife returning with the water. During this time he covered it temporarily. The leg was stable, so I re-dressed it and bade him good bye.

For the first time he put out his hand to shake farewell, then slyly asked, "Shake him goodbye as well," referring to his rigid lizlion. Hesitating made him add, "He won't bite, I promise." Thinking that nothing would be lost I took his dick in my hand and gave it a squeeze. To my surprise he groaned and came as soon as I had gripped him. I wiped my hand on the sheet, and he just smiled. My puzzlement continuing I rode to weapons training and Yue-Sin

"Lord Srotyr has gone away," was how he greeted me.

"Yes, for two weeks."

"Your face is very long, don't you like being with Yue- Sin any more?"

"Yes I do, Yue-Sin, but."

"But you miss your Father. He is good in bed, is he not?"

This jolted me to alertness, fright replacing my long features.

"Its OK. Your Father and I were lovers for many years. I know that you have replaced me but I don't resent it."

"No, Yue-Sin, I have not replaced you."

"Now, don't fib to me Lord Cavon. I can see by your sad face that you are missing his massive dick."

"No. That's not it. Yes, Father and I are lovers, but that has only been for the last week and its not why he stopped seeing you."

"Do you know why?" he asked, his eyes open in expectation.

I didn't know what to say. There was genuine curiosity in Yue-Sin's face, but mixed with something darker. Could he have thought of some kind of vengeance at being, as he saw it, dropped? But I didn't like to tell of Father's weakness if he hadn't wanted to tell of it himself.

After a prolonged silence Yue-Sin, the dark look now stronger, said, "Well?"

I felt trapped, so took the safer option. The truth is always better. "He has been afraid to tell you why, Yue- Sin. He knows you think he was seeing someone else, but that is not true. The truth is that his dick does not get hard anymore, and knowing how much you enjoy taking his dick he felt ashamed to be with you but be unable to perform."

It was Yue-Sin's time for silence. The dark expression was replaced by one of dawning understanding. "I did notice that over the last few seventydays that he had not been so hard, but I had thought that he was just losing interest. And then the last time he was so bendy he could not get in." A smile appeared. "So he still loves my arse!"

"He does Yue-Sin."

"So what do you do with him then?"

"Now, that is prying."

"Sorry, it is. Don't blush. But I have a surprise for you!"

He paused and waited till I asked what it was.

"I will replace Lord Srotyr in your bed while he is away, so as you won't be lonely. Would you like that?"

Looking at his eager face, recognising his honesty and love, I could only say one thing. "I would love that. But how can you get in without anyone knowing."

"The same way I did for years visiting Lord Srotyr. Come with me this evening on my round and I will show you. It is something you should know anyway. I'll come and get you before I start, usually when the light is a hand from setting. Now, let's start with some stretching."

The rain was still cold and sharp while I accompanied Yue-Sin on his round. It felt quite strange seeing the professional Yue-Sin after knowing the loving version, seeing how the sentries feared him, his voice, his strength. Side by side through the darkening, narrow road that ran beside the cliffs that backed the town he checked that each sentry was at his post and awake. He would come up on them as quietly as he could, trying to catch them unawares. He rarely did as the men who had guarded these posts had done so for years and knew the result of being caught. They also knew that Yue-Sin often made rounds at random times. Anytime he couldn't sleep he would make a circuit, any time during the night, so they could never relax. Sentries were located at a number of points along the cliff wall that were thought to possibly give access to invaders from above, at the water tank, several at the waste outlet and regularly spaced along the walkway that clung high up the wooden wall that faced out into the valley.

It had been a good round, with only a couple being caught unawares, but not because they were asleep but rather because we were too quiet. Yue-Sin had let them of with just a tongue lashing, for as he pointed out, they should be constantly looking around them. Otherwise they would be dead before they knew that someone had penetrated the defences. We had started on one side of our house that backed onto the cliff, and consequently finished at the other, where our stables were situated. They were joined to the house, but had a gap between them and the cliff to try to avoid dampness. It was dark when we entered this gap, and I could see nothing when Yue-Sin asked me to look up.

"This is not meant to be used from this side, so it is out of reach and difficult to see. Now, jump up onto my shoulders and explore the wall." With his massive strength he had no problems lifting me, and soon my exploring hand found a metal spike. "Now pull yourself up, and reach up higher." With a hand and a foot on the first spike I reached up to find another within easy reach. "Now, come back down." I hung from the second spike and Yue-Sin lowered me to the ground. "Those spikes go up, then across, then down again within the courtyard outside Lord Srotyr's bedroom. They are low there, hidden behind the large redpalm in the pot against the wall. They form an escape route to the stables in case of being under siege, or there are spikes that go up to the cliff top as well. I will climb up here to visit you tonight so make sure you pull the redpalm away from the cliff face for me!"

It was now quite dark. I was aware of his presence as a deeper darkness in the dark, then as arms enveloping me. He found the back of my head then guided my lips to his for a long, tender kiss, counterpointed by his hard dick pushing into me. Breaking the kiss he said, indicating his middle regions with a downward rub by his nose on mine, "He is eager to see you."

"Likewise," I said, aware of my own arousal.

He kissed me again, then reluctantly pulled away, whispering, "Till later" before disappearing into the dark. I waited a while, unsuccessfully tried jumping to catch the lowest spike, wondered how Yue-Sin was going to reach it, realising he must have a way as it was something he had done repeatedly. But the time all this had passed my hardness had settled sufficiently to enter the house.

On coming into a lighted area I noticed a heavy rust staining of my hands so I went to my room to wash up, remembered to pull back the redpalm (and taking note of the rising line of spikes up into the night) before joining mother for dinner. It was lonely dining without Father. I had never thought this before, had usually been pleased to have Mother to myself. But in those days Father had been a more distant figure with whom I only had a few close moments a week and my life had centred around Mother, school and my friends. After dinner Mother and I talked, she played and sang for me, including a new song she had composed during the last week. The song was about a boy entering manhood. It was obviously about me, though my name was not mentioned, and it made me feel proud but embarrassed. It was a good song. Mother was an accomplished song writer.

Kissing Mother good night I used the moment of closeness to thank her for my song, humming a little of its melody to let her know I had already committed it to heart. She kissed me, thanking me for my thanks. I faked a yawn so as to get away, not because I was bored but because I was worried Yue-Sin would arrive before me.

Which he had. He was lying prone, sleeping, when I entered the chambers. I crept carefully into the wash room so as not to wake him, undressed and cleaned my teeth, before entering the bedroom. Despite all my stealth he turned to his head to me, smiling.

"Welcome, my Lord. I'm all greased up so why don't you jump on? Sorry I fell asleep waiting."

"You are very welcome, Yue-Sin. I'll take up your offer." I mounted him and tried to slide a hand underneath him to hold his dick.

"No don't touch him. I'll cum if you do and I'll dirty the clean sheets. That will be hard to explain, no? You just go for it."

Which I did. When I had finished for the second time I rolled off. He turned to face me, kissing, then, "Could you just suck me a little?"

"With pleasure." Ducking down I took his dick into my mouth, but he did not take long. He then pulled me back up to kiss.

"Only once, Yue-Sin?"

"Once is enough to take away the urge. Any more are roused by the wonderful feeling of having you inside me. As you are no longer inside me, once is enough. Now, let's clean up and sleep."

I washed quickly, but Yue-Sin took a quick bath to get the oil off. I waited expectantly, thinking that after this much time his dick would have gone down. But no, when he exited it was still pointing heavenward.

"Don't you ever go down?"

"Not that you will ever see, my love, unless maybe when I'm sleeping. If I am naked and near you or thinking of you there is nothing that will make it go down. I've tried. It was hard all the time I was waiting for you, and it is now starting to become uncomfortable. Sleep should fix it," with which, after kissing good night, he cuddled in behind me in the same form as Father, with his rigid lizlion questioning the opening of my damaged arse. I fidget slightly to move it to a less tender area, and fell asleep without further thought.

FIFDAY

I awoke alone. I had not heard Yue-Sin leave. It felt strange to wake alone, without the fur of Father's chest warming me. Then I thought that this should not feel strange, as it had been the usual for me for the first 6 years of my life. But still it felt strange. Like I wanted to shiver, even though I wasn't cold. I hoped that Yue-Sin had slept well , as I understood that he was accustomed to sleep alone. Looking out the window I decided that it must be quite late as everything seemed bright. The cold sharp rain had given way to soft muggy rain. At least I would be able to ride today, though I doubted it was going to be a comfortable experience. Going to the toilet raised a groan of discomfort as the torn tissue was stretched, but it settled rapidly.

Hu-Wi wanted to take advantage of the good weather to take me out so as to ride over a longer distance, to learn to canter, possibly to gallop. This excited me, but I wondered what my rear was going to think of it. Saying that I had been constipated, as Hi-Tui had said he had been, and had injured myself, I asked Hu-Wi if he could help. In response he set up a couple of saddle blankets on top of the saddle, fixing them securely but leaving a hole in the middle. Testing this out I found it was a lot better. We walked the horses through the close houses in single file till we came to the main road, where we rode side by side. We saluted Hi-Tui (who managed to give me a wink after he had distracted Hu-Wi) and left the town. On the open road Hu-Wi demonstrated the correct method of cantering, riding around me. I watched and tried to copy. Hu-Wi made some corrections and I tried again. And again. Eventually I apparently had it all under control, and we cantered together towards the river, not stopping till we had reached the permanent road on the opposite side. The horses were breathing heavily by this stage, especially Lika who had successfully kept up with the bigger horse Hu-Wi was riding, so we slowed to a walk, heading left.

"We will stop and let the horses take water when we reach the stream that cuts through the road," said Hu-Wi. This break in the road was an unusual feature. It was the only place I knew where the ancient road had been damaged. There was evidence of the debris of a bridge below in the stream. The strange thing was that the edges of the broken stone were fairly sharp, as if the bridge had collapsed only a few years ago. What could have caused such powerful materials to have collapsed? In its place now was a wooden bridge that spanned the short gap, and to its left a narrow track that led down to the stream.

We walked the horses down, leading them by their reins. The stream flowed rapidly down the mountain, but was halted into a dam by the debris from the ancient bridge. We tethered in a small flat area with access to still water and grass, and ourselves, after drinking, sat on rocks under the shelter of the bridge. My coat dripped moisture lightly, my legs damp where they had been exposed.

"You canter fairly well, m'Lord. At times you lose rhythm, but only for short periods." My face must have expressed my sentiment, for Hu-Wi continued, "Yes, that could have been due to your, ah, `problem'. I don't think we should gallop today. Let's canter a bit more, concentrating on manoeuvring accurately while moving quickly, then we shall return at a walk to rest the horses."

Back on the road Hu-Wi uncovered a collection of posts mounted on flat boards. He placed these strategically, then demonstrated how he wanted me to weave between them, turn sharply at the end and repeat the process on return. I think Lika had performed this exercise many times before as she did not even need to be guided. She took each post with a grace and agility that if anything was better than Hu-Wi, and I only had to let her have her head to appear like a master horseman.

Hu-Wi applauded when I arrived back at the start. I took a bow, then indicated for Lika to do the same. With this Hu-Wi laughed loud, head up, grey hair shining with moisture like a fountain down his back, throat exposed.

"I'm sorry Hu-Wi. The only way I could have done that badly would have been if I had forced Lika to go in the opposite direction that she should have. I think she could do that by herself."

In between his laughs Hu-Wi managed to say, "I'm laughing at your modesty, my Lord. I know Lika knows this drill with her eyes closed, but I have never seen any other student allow her to do it to such perfection. Every other student has tried to push her to take the line they believe is correct, and obedient as she is she tries to follow. The result is usually quite ugly. You are the first who has recognised her ability and let her follow her own line through the turns. But, my Lord, I'm afraid to say that she wouldn't do this drill by herself. Left on her own she would do the natural thing and take a straight line. Why make all these difficult turns? Without noticing you were giving the gentle directions of a master horseman that allows the natural ability of a horse to show itself. A horse, given a direction, easily picks the best line. He only needs a hint."

"Are you sure, Hu-Wi? I really felt like I was doing nothing."

"I'm sure my Lord."

I still felt doubt, and gave Lika a hug of gratitude before attempting the course once again, this time with the posts distributed differently. Lika perfomed magically again, and again for each new course until I showed signs of fatigue. The posts returned to their storage, we watered the horses and let the horses follow their noses home as we talked.

Hu-Wi did something that I had not heard him do before. He spoke of himself, his past. How he had had the good fortune of catching the eye of the young Lord Srotyr, at that time known only as Srotyr. At the age of 7, in response to a dare by a friend he rode, or rather stood, on the back of an unsaddled horse while the horse trotted. Unbeknownst to himself the horse that he had "borrowed" for this feat was owned by Srotyr and by chance witnessed by him. What he had gained from this dare, rather than heavy punishment, was a recognition of his abilities that catapulted him out of the life of a field worker eventually, once the debt incurred during his year of training was repaid, into the world of freemen. He received formal training in horse lore before taking up the post of looking after the horses of Srotyr. It was on attempting to repeat the stunt of standing bareback years later that he had fallen, not having the balance he had as a young man, and injured himself badly. Lord Srotyr's knowledge of medicine had saved him, but could not return his hair to its youthful colour. He now received a salary in gold, and generated extra income by giving lessons in his own time. He lived well, and could leave and set up on his own at any time as his reputation was kingdom wide, but he would never leave Lord Srotyr voluntarily, and in turn would never leave me.

I had not considered it before, but now wondered if Hu- Wi had been one of Father's early bed mates, but something about Hu-Wi made me think this was unlikely. I knew from Hi- Tui that the presence of wife and children had no relevance in deciding whether or not a man would have sex with another man, but there was something in the upright essence of Hu-Wi that said that this was something he would not do just for advantage. And I suspected that it was something from which he would not gain pleasure, like most men. Thinking on it I could see one of the abilities that made Father such a successful ruler. He was able to read the inner person, and put in positions of power people who were naturally good. Even in men who he had taken as lovers he was able to choose on intrinsic qualities unbiased by lust. Yue-Sin for example, though there had been a motive of physical pleasure that must have entered into the equation, was as honest and upright as the day was long. His loyalty, once given, was permanent.

"Thankyou, Hu-Wi."

"No my Lord. It is not your role to thank. It is my role to give thanks for the pleasure of knowing and working for one so noble."

Recounting my morning to Mother after lunch she confirmed the truth of what Hu-Wi had said. And it was to be a day of revelations as Mother spoke about her early experiences with Father, from words spoken by her brother to the offer to save her from death and disgrace to her coming to know his goodness as a person. She expressed no resentment, though also did not touch on the topic, of Father not taking fully his role as husband, only spoke of his nobility, his wisdom, his goodness of heart. He was proud, which was not the way of The One, yet one born son of a King would have difficulty to not suffer from this sin. But it was a pride tempered by reason, tempered by intelligence, by tolerance.

Physically exhausted by the morning's riding, aggravated further by the need to keep myself a fraction off the saddle for much of the time, I embarrassingly repeated my feat of the previous week and fell asleep while sitting at table. Mother kissed me awake and my shame burned so red on realising what I had done that I wanted to disappear into the floor. In truth I had been fascinated to hear her talking about Father, but sleep had just swept me away. I begged her forgiveness repeatedly but she just laughed in her musical way and said that she was at fault for the fatigue had been engraved on my face and she should have chosen another time to talk. But she had been triggered into her own reminiscences on hearing of those of Hu-Wi, and had wanted to share them with me. I fell asleep in my solitary bed without a thought passing through my mind.

I awoke feeling well refreshed, not too sore of leg and improved from my injury. It looked as if Hi-Tui's prognosis of 3 days to cure would be correct. I had spent a very physical week, and felt a craving for knowledge. I pondered my collection of numbers devisable only by themselves but, other than adding a few new numbers to the set, I found myself no closer to seeing a pattern. So I decided to go in search of Lo-Si. When found Lo-Si was more interested in his newly found discovery of my literary talent and I promptly found myself back home going over the speech that he insisted that I give on Godday in Father's absence.