Shane

"And after you finish dusting you can go have your supper in the kitchen. Understand?"

"Yes, Sir, I understand," I answered.

"Good. Now can you read?"

"Yes, Sir. My dad was a scribe before he died and he taught me to read and write when we had time."

"He did, eh? So much the better. I might need you to copy down some of the scrolls since most of them are about to fall apart. I will give you a copper coin each time if you do it well."

"Thank you, Sir. If there isn't anything else, Sir, I will dust the shelves now."

"Okay, came back here at sunset and I will check your work."

"Err, Sir, if I have time, can I read the books?"

"Only if you have finished your work and you must put them back where you found them. You cannot read the scrolls or the books in the last three shelves unless I am there with you. Is that understood?"

"Yes Sir. And thank you Sir."

I ran off to the library with the duster and start dusting. When the sun started to hide behind the hills I was already running to the librarian's room. Just as I was about to knock on the door, the door opened and a boy my age came out. I quickly stepped out of his way when I saw how expensive his clothes looked. He smiled at me as he passed by.

Larg, the librarian, saw me and asked me if I had finished my work. I nodded my head and he told me he will checked it. I followed him to the library and stood at the door nervously while he checked the shelves. I stood there hoping that he would be satisfied with my work because I didn't think that I would get a second chance. He came back smiling and said, "you got the job, Boy. Come with me and I will show you where the kitchen is. You will get lodgings and three meals a day in addition to three copper a week."

"Thank you so much, Sir. I promise I will do a good job."

"Tell me about yourself, Boy," he said as we started walking towards the kitchen.

"My name is Shane Hamilton, Sir, and I just turned twelve. I lived in Icatia until my parents died during the pirate raid a month ago."

I started crying as I thought of my parents. Larg put his hand on my shoulders to calm me down. "Shane, why did you came to Ikuta? Don't you have any other relatives?"

"N-no. My parents had no brothers or sisters and my grandfather died in the raid as well. I followed the road and arrived here this morning. When I saw you drop those books, I ran over to help you and you know the rest."

"How did you live on the road for a month?"

"Well at first I had some of the food I found in the village and latter I just ate the fruits and nuts that I found in the trees along the road. I slept in the trees at night and continue along the road by day."

We reached the kitchen and he told the head cook that I was his new helper. She was a stout old lady who looked very fierce. She gave me a plate of delicious stew and then they went of to the side and talked. When they came back Larg told me to listen to Mistress Ivra and that I was to be in the library after I had my breakfast tomorrow. He left the room after that leaving me at the mercy of Mistress Ivra.

"Do you want some more dearie?"

"Y-yes, please."

She gave me more stew and I continue eating, as I was very hungry.

"Better?" I nodded. "Okay, Shane, Min here will take you to your room and show you where the washrooms are. You shouldn't wonder around the castle until Min has the time to show you the areas that are off limits but you can go out to the town if you have time. Since you work in the library you can have your breakfast at any time. However if you are not eating with us you will be eating the leftovers and maybe whatever I am making at that time. Lunch is at noon and supper will be after the Lord has his, which is after sunset. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am."

"And don't call me ma'am. Everyone calls me Ivy and that includes you, Young Man. Now scoot."

Min was Ivy's helper, a pretty girl of seventeen. She led me out of the room and across the yard. "Don't be scared by Ivy's looks. She's a very kind woman and a softy at heart. She promise Larg that she will look out for you, so you don't have to worry."

"Thanks. Err Min, how come the castle is so empty?"

"Well sweetie, most of the guards, and some of the kitchen help, are at the eastern border to keep out the orcs." We stopped at a door in the hallway. "Okay this is your room and you can sleep in that bed in the corner. The men who sleeps here are at the border and won't be back for a long while so you have this room to yourself for the time being. There is a lamp on the table here. You know how to light it with the matches, don't you?"

"Sure I do but I don't think I will need it tonight, I'm very sleepy."

"Okay I get the idea. I still have to wash the dishes anyway. Now the washroom is over there," she pointed down the hallway, "and Ivy and I sleep in the rooms across the yard," she said as she pointed back the way we came, "so if you need anything in the night you can came and get Ivy or me."

"Thank you Min. I am so happy I got the job," I told her as she walked towards the kitchen. I went to the washroom and took off my clothes and started to wash myself. After that I went to my room to lie down. I laid there thinking of my parents, and I cried myself to sleep as visions of their bodies and the burning village flooded my mind.

In the kitchen:

"So, what's the kid's story, Larg?" Ivy asked as Larg came in to the kitchen. Larg told her what he knew as he ate his supper.

"Pirates. The kid must have the devil's own luck to survive this far. Either that or he's lying, which I doubt. I am surprised that none of those perverts got their hands on him, for he is a very cute kid" Ivy said.

"Now that he's with you I doubt any of them will be able to get their hands on him. And I don't think he's lying either. If he is, he's one hell of an actor. Well, now that I've stuffed myself with your delicious stew I think I will go to sleep now. Night Ivy."

"Night Larg, and don't worry, I will make sure he doesn't come to any harm," Ivy replied, clearing away the dishes from the table as Larg left the room.

"Wake up Shane or you will be eating leftovers for breakfast," Min said as she shook me.

I woke up in a flash and tried to push her away before I remembered where I was. "Morn' Min."

"Go wash up in the washroom then come to the kitchen for your breakfast. You better get use to getting up early by yourself cause I won't be doing this every morning."

"Thanks Min. I will be there in a flash."

She left the room and went towards the kitchen. I went to the washroom to wash the sleep from my eyes and then went to the kitchen. Min and another girl was just leaving the room with a large tray of food each. Ivy was putting down a bowl of porridge on the table.

"That's Jenny and here's your breakfast. How was your night dearie?"

"Thanks Ivy. I had a good night's sleep," I lied, not wanting her to think that I didn't like it here.

"Good, now eat. I have a lot of things to do today. Larg was here earlier and he wants you in his room after your breakfast."

"Okay Ivy," I answered even as I was eating the porridge.

"Not so fast or you will choke to death. If you want more just get from the pot over there, okay."

I nodded my head and slowed down a little. After stuffing myself silly, I went of to Larg's room. Larg was waiting for me in his room with a bunch of papers. "Okay before you start, I want you to copy this scroll down. Do it well and I will have more for you next time."

He gave me the scroll and several pieces of paper and motioned me to a small table in the corner of his room. I started to copy the scroll down neatly in fear that he might kick me out of the castle if I didn't do well. As I copied the scroll I found that it was a treaty of some sort between two nations I had never heard about. After an hour or so, I finished copying the scroll and handed it over to Larg for inspection. As I stood there nervously, hoping that he would like my work, the door open and the boy I saw yesterday came in to the room.

The boy was very cute with short blonde hair and sky blue eyes. He was about my height, around 4'9". He was wearing very expensive clothes and had a beautiful ring that could probably have fed my whole village for a year. Larg looked up from my work and greeted him, "sit down, Ryan. I will start your lessons after I am done with Shane here. Well, Shane, I don't see any problem with your work so I will give you more tomorrow. Here's a copper for your work. Now go to the library and start dusting the shelves. Later in the afternoon you can arrange the books that will undoubtedly be all over the place. Make sure you put them back where they belong."

I left the room as Larg went over to Ryan with some books. As I was walking to the library I heard Ryan asking Larg about me. He had a beautiful singsong voice that compelled one to listen to him. I went down to the library and climbed up the ladder to dust the top shelves first as Larg had told me. It was long past noon when I finished dusting. I went to the kitchen for lunch. As I went down the hallway, I passed a young man of about twenty dressed as a guard. As I walk pass him, I saw him staring at me. Thinking that he was just wondering whom I was I gave him a smile and continue down the hallway.

Min was washing the dishes as I came in and told me to finish my stew before she finishd washing the other dishes.

"Where's Ivy, Min?" I wondered out loud.

"She went to town to buy more food. When you are done with that, just put it here and then get out of here. I have to wash the kitchen today before Ivy comes back from her shopping."

I quickly finished my stew and went back to the library to find a book to pass my time. I found a book about the other races in the world and settle down on a window ledge to read my book. As I was halfway through the book, I heard someone coming towards me. I thought that it was just someone who wanted to get the ladder to get a book from one of the top shelves so I didn't bother to look up.

"What are you reading?"

"Huh? Oh, I am sorry, Sir, I didn't notice you just now."

"You don't have to call me Sir, I have a name you know. My name is Ryan and you still haven't answered my question."

"Err, I am reading about the other races around, Sir, I mean Ryan."

"You are Shane, aren't you? Have you finished your work?"

"I finished dusting the place but I have to wait until sunset so that I can put the books back where they belong."

"Well no one said that you have to wait here. Come on, I need someone to practice with me," he said as he dragged me up.

"Practice? Practice what, if I may ask?"

"Practice the sword, of course, what else? Come on, there is still an hour before sunset."

"The sword? B-but I have never even touch a sword, not to mention using one. How can I practice with you?"

"I can teach you how to hold a sword as we practice. Don't worry, we will be using wooden swords for practice."

"But--"

"No buts. I need someone to play with as well as practice with. Since I am not allowed to leave the castle and you are the only boy around my age you will have to be my playmate. I don't take no for an answer so come on."

He was already dragging me out of the library, leaving my book on the window ledge. As we were leaving the library I saw Larg standing in the doorway of his room smiling at the sight of Ryan pulling me towards the other end of the hallway. We emerge into a guardroom. The room's only occupant was grinning openly at the sight of my surprised expression as Ryan led me into the room with his hand firmly on my wrist. Ryan told the guard to go get him two wooden swords for us to practice with.

We continue out of the room as Ryan led me through a series of corridors and into a courtyard. The guard followed with two wooden swords a minute later. Ryan waved him away and gave me one of the swords.

"This is how you hold the sword. Now attack me with the sword."

So I charged at him with the sword. He easily evaded my clumsy strikes and after a while he started to strike back. He didn't hit me very hard but still his strikes hurt my pride and me. He started to give me pointers on attacking and defending as we continue. At sunset, I was able to avoid or deflect most of his attacks but every once in a while he would break through and at that time he would hit me with everything he had. I wasn't even attacking him as I was trying my best to deflect his attacks.

So I was a very happy, and bruised, boy when the sun started its journey down the horizons. He led me back to the library, as I couldn't remember the way. As he left me in the library he said he would look for me the next day. I waved goodbye and started to put the books back to their places in the shelves. As I finished Larg entered the room and motion for me to continue.

"So did you have a nice time with Ryan?"

"I had a very nice time, sir, even if it was a bit painful."

He laughed at that and said, "Good. Now Shane I just want to tell you that as long as you finish your work, I won't mind if you play with Ryan. It will do both of you good to have friends of your age. You have probably guessed that Ryan is the Lord's son, but I want to tell you to treat him as you would any of your friends. Don't treat him as if he is anyone special or he will have a very big head when he grows up."

"Okay, Sir."

We started walking towards the kitchen to have our supper when he said, "Here's a piece of advice, try to remember what he taught you today cause tomorrow he will probably get serious."

"Get serious? You mean he was just toying with me today?"

Larg just laughed and nodded his head. I shook my head with disbelief as we enter the kitchen. Ivy greeted us and set our dinner on the table. We made small talk as we ate and after that I went to the wash room to take a bath. When I was done with my bath I went to my room to lie down on the bed. On my way I notice the young guard I saw yesterday looking at me. I smiled at him and went to bed. I fell asleep immediately, as I was very tired from my workout with Ryan.

Ryan:

"Ryan, are you asleep yet?" Larg asked from outside my room.

"Not yet, Larg, come in," I replied, sitting up on my bed.

Larg opened the door and placed a small lamp on the my table before sitting down, gesturing to me to stay in bed.

"I won't keep you up too long, Ryan, I just want to talk to you about Shane," Larg finally said after making himself comfortable in the chair.

"Shane? You are not going to tell me that I can't play with him anymore, are you?" I asked quickly.

"No, Ryan, I am not going to do that. In fact, I am encouraging you to be friends with him. You need someone your age around you and Shane seems to be a good choice. I gather from your reaction just now that you like him?"

"Yes, I do like him. I feel comfortable when I am around him, once he got it into his head that I was just another boy," I replied truthfully.

"Well, I just wanted to tell you not to ask him or talk about his past. His family and friends were killed during the pirate raid that destroyed Icatia, and that incident is probably weighing down on him. He might break down emotionally and even mentally if he has to think about it. My guess is that he has subconsciously adopted a 'don't mention, don't think' approach to his memories," Larg said.

"Wouldn't it be better if he talked about it then keep it to himself? Isn't that what you have been teaching me?" I asked after thinking through what Larg told me.

"Yes, it would be better to talk about things like this, so that people can help you get over it, but for people like Shane, who pushed his memories to the back of his head, you can only help them when they really trust you. As he has just arrived, none of us would be able to help him, he would just push us away and could possibly shut down his mind to stop the memories if we pushed him. What you can do, is be friends with him and help him forget the past until he is old enough to be able to deal with his own memories. Hopefully in a few years or so, you will be able to help him get over the death of his family and friends," Larg replied.

"Help him forget his past? How?" I asked.

"Well, you can keep him company and limit his time alone to the times he is sleeping or busy with something else. That will limit any opportunities for him to brood and go over the edge. Ivy told me that she looked in on him last night before she went to sleep and he was tossing and turning in his sleep. His face was also wet, indicating that he had cried himself to sleep. That shows that he is still deeply affected by what happened," Larg replied.

"Larg, why did you tell me all this? I am not saying that I don't want to help Shane, I really do, but why me? Shouldn't you be the one to help him? After all, you are my teacher as well as mother's advisor," I asked curiously.

"Ryan, I am telling you this because I can't do it, I don't have the time needed to devote myself to him. Also, what he needs is a friend, not an inqusitive adult trying to poke his nose into his life. You also need a friend, and I think Shane would be a good one. And finally, I am not asking you to do anything but be his friend and not ask about his past. It will be a long time before he will get over this and be able to deal with it, by that time, I think you will be more than prepared to help him," Larg said seriously.

"If that is the case, then I will be glad to do it, Larg. Like I said, I really like him, and if all I have to do is not talk about his past, then I don't see a problem with it. I don't have to know his past or background to be his friend, I only want to know him," I replied, slowly but firmly.

"I thought you would agree," Larg said, smiling for the first time since he came in. "If my guess about him is correct, I think he will be a very good friend for you as well, Ryan. Perhaps, the gods know that there will be few that you can trust when you take your father's place, so they brought Shane here to help both of you at once. Well, I will have to go now. Good night Ryan."

"Good night Larg, and thank you for telling me about Shane, I promise I won't mention a thing about his past or our conversation tonight to him. I also promise I won't let you down," I replied as Larg rose from the chair.

"I believe you Ryan. Now go to sleep," Larg said as he let himself out of the room.

Shane:

For the next six months, my life fell into a routine. In the morning, I would dust the library and also help Larg copy the old scrolls and even a couple of old books. After lunch, Ryan will came looking for me and we would either practice with the swords, play some games, read some books or sometimes I would help him with the work Larg set him. Ryan would try to teach me the languages that he learned from Larg after discovering my love for reading. Shortly after Ryan began teaching me, Larg started to spend some time teaching me the three languages, which I assume was Ryan's idea.

My swordplay improved to the point that I could give Ryan a serious workout but never once were I able to beat him. The young guard I saw when I first arrived was called Will and would sometimes teach me a thing or two but Ryan would always recover from any advantage I obtained quickly and after that I would share whatever Will taught me. Occasionally Will invited me to his room so that he could teach me more but I was always too tired at night to agree.

The war with the orcs in the East had reached a stalemate with both our army and the orcs unable to gain any clear advantage. In the meantime I had been able to master three other languages besides the language used by humans in our country. I was able to read, write and speak dwarven, elven and even orcish. Larg was surprised that I learned the three languages so fast while Ryan would complain that I make him look bad because it took him two years to master the three languages.

Anyway, back to the present. I was reading a book on mental powers when Ryan burst into the library and asked me what I was reading. I let him look at the cover while I continue to read the book. Then I asked him, "Ryan, what is the meaning of puberty."

"You don't know? I thought you knew everything. Puberty is what everyone goes through. Boys will grow hair on their bodies, produce sperm, and their voice will start to deepen. I don't know what the girls go through. Father Olasson wasn't very forthcoming about it. Why?"

"Well this book says that if a person has the gift, his powers will manifest when he enters puberty. The book also has several tests that you can perform to see if they have the power. So, when do we reach puberty?"

"Well, Father Olasson said that I would reach puberty anytime between the ages of eleven and fifteen. I don't have any hair on my body and but I have started to produce sperm. What about you?"

"Well I don't have any hair on my body other than on my head."

"What about sperms?"

"Well I don't know what they are so I really don't know."

"Sperm is the white stuff you produce from your cock when you it gets hard and you masturbate. You do know how to masturbate don't you?"

"Err, not really."

"What? You are so smart but you don't know how to masturbate? Didn't anyone teach you? Don't answer, I already know the answer."

"Well, you can teach me how now. I want to know if I have any powers."

"What!!! I can't teach you now! But if you want, you can come to my room tonight after everyone is asleep and I can teach you then."

"Why can't you teach me now?"

"Cause it's a private thing. Come on, let's read together that book. I want to try those tests tonight."

I made room for him on the window ledge and we continued to read the book together. The book was written by a group of people who also have mental powers themselves. Besides the tests to see if one was gifted in any of the mental powers it also outlined training procedures for those who do not have anyone to teach them. When we had finished reading, it was time for me to start putting the books back to the shelves. He told me to go to his room when I was sure no one would miss me as he helped me to clear the library table. I was always amazed that his mother, Larg and the few people allowed access to the library could make such a big mess. We then parted ways in the hallway to go eat our supper.

After supper, I went to the yard and practiced my swordplay with the wooden sword that Ryan insisted I keep. I then went to take my bath before going to bed. I stayed awake on my bed waiting for Min, Larg and Ivy to go back to their rooms. After they were all in their rooms I waited for a while and then I went quickly to Ryan's room, carefully avoiding Will and the rest of the guards making their rounds. Since this was not the first time I went to his room(day or night) I had no trouble finding my way there.

When I reached his room, I knocked softly on his door. After what I considered a very long wait, I just open the door and went in. Thank God that he didn't bar his door tonight. As I thought, I found him on his bed sleeping. I took one of his many pillows from hi bed and put it on his face. Then without warning, I sat on the pillow and started tickling him. After struggling with me for several minutes he was finally able to push me of his face. I moved aside and then I look at his face.

His face was red from my actions and he was trying to catch his breath at the same time cursing at me silently. I'm sure that if his mother heard even a tenth of what he said tonight, she would have a fit. Lady Irini Shauku would probably hang everyone who taught her precious son such language, including Lord Disa Shauku himself. And from what Ryan told me, Lord Disa was probably the source of his vast vocabulary of foul language.

"Sorry for that, but that was the only way I could think of that wouldn't have you crying for the guards."

"Like hell it was. Well, I guess I probably deserve that for falling asleep. Did you bar the door?"

"Yes I did, since you said it was private and had me sneaking up here to your room. You said you would teach me to masturbate so that I can see if I have any sperm yet."

"Okay, start stripping."

"WHAT? Why?"

"Hush, not so loud. If you want to masturbate you will have to be naked."

"Sorry. Okay I will strip if you will. I am not going to be the only one shuddering from the cold."

"Don't worry, I will also strip of my clothes. I can't show you how to masturbate with my clothes on anyway."

He had already jumped of his bed and was starting to take off his clothes as he was talking. Not to be outdone, I started taking of my clothes. After we were both naked, we just stare at each other for a while, comparing and studying each other. He was very fit and I couldn't find any baby fat on his body. His thighs were very pale compared to the rest of his body.

His cock was half-hard and was just a little bit shorter than a man's thumb and just a bit thicker. His balls were drawn closed to his body and I could see that he was uncircumcised like me. His body was very smooth. In fact, we look like brothers except that I have very light blue hair. Even our eyes were the same color.

"Now do what I do."

He started fondling his cock and balls. I followed his movements and before long we were both fully hard. Hard we were both the same sizes except that he was a bit thinner than me. Our cocks stood at attention and pointed forty-five degrees from our stomach. I notice that his cock veered slightly to the right while mine was straight up. He then took hold of his cock between his thumb and two fingers and started stroking. I followed his movements exactly.

Soon we were stroking our cocks faster and faster and then I suddenly felt a wonderful sensation coming from my cock and spreading to my whole body. With a loud moan I saw some white stuff shooting out of my cock to hit Ryan's cock. I felt my knees give way and I fell to the floor as Ryan's cock started to shoot back at me. After that, Ryan fell backwards on to his bed. After we both got our breath back, Ryan helped me up on his bed. I started to ask him all sort of questions about what happen.

"You just had an orgasm and the white stuff is the sperm our bodies produce. It is what a man has to put into the woman's c**t to produce babies. We have to do it frequently because if we don't our body will do it anyway when we sleep. I do it everyday since I saw Will doing it when I was eleven. Besides, it feels great. But you better not tell him that cause he doesn't know that I spied on him that day.

"You spied on Will? No, never mind that, lets talk about the fact that you knew of this fantastic sensation but you never told me? What type of friend are you?"

"I thought that you knew about it. Besides it is something private."

"Okay, I understand but next time you have something like this you had better include me in on it. After all, I always share the sweets and other things that I find in town, the same town that you cannot go to."

"Okay already. You don't have to rub it in. I promise I won't keep any secrets from you again. Anyway now that you can also shoot, then we can do the test together."

He gave me a small cloth to clean myself as he did the same with another cloth. After cleaning up he took the cloths and threw them into the small fireplace that he had in his room. As winter was already approaching he had a small fire going to keep out the cold. Then he sat back down on the bed.

"Okay we are suppose to sit with our legs cross, like this so we can face each other, then we are suppose to clear our mind and relax. After that we are suppose to close our eyes and envision the room in our mind. Now we will do the tests one by one to see if we have any of the powers described. I hope you remember the tests."

"Of course, I remember. Now lets do it."

When we finished all but one of the tests we were both very excited that we were both gifted with some powers. He had telekinetic power and could also manipulate energy while I could only manipulate energy. But I was excited because the book said that those with the gift normally would have one or two different powers. Besides we had one more test to do. He took a pin a closed his eyes and stab his finger.

As the blood started to flow, I took hold of his hand and closed my eyes and tried to picture my energy flowing into his hand. He give a small squeak and pulled his hand away as I too reacted the same way when I felt a bit of my energy flow into his hand. I started smiling like mad and soon he was doing the same.

Written by: Atheist Lee Edited by: Boy on a String