Arden by: dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)
62: Trials and Tribulations
1320, 1st month, 11th day.
I noticed yesterday that Euthalia had brought our foster sons to the trial, they sat in the front row of the gallery. I hoped they would come today and when I looked up Umar waved to me. Helladios and Akakios' family sat near Euthalia. Just after we got organized Damao approached with a package in his hand. "Our searchers found this in Akakios' house, hidden under the floor tiles of his office." The size of his smile told me otherwise. I would get the details of this later, it did tell me his wife was aware of, at least some part of this foul business. I was also sure she was less than prepared for the shame and dishonor he was bringing on his family. I hoped Euthalia had the presence of mind to give the poor woman the social support she would greatly need, in a very short order.
I looked over the documents. Mostly they were notes and names and contact information and messages or copies of them. Also accounts showing how much he was being paid and in what banks those funds were being deposited.
I asked Iason to apologize to the assembled for the delay, as I was attending to special state business, it should not take long. I separated the recent material, going back to his dealings with the Company. I called the Inquisitor and Uncle into a small privet room. Here is your documented evidence of Akakios' treachery. It was found under a floor tile in his office, by our diligent inspectors. As you can see, these papers implicate Thanos and the others but no one else. They also tell us he was paid for his services, how much and by who.
"I was hoping this would not be true. It is and I can do nothing about it. What sentence will you impose," King Iason asked?
I will have no choice but death. You or Father must commute it. I suggest they both be stripped of citizenship, their assets ceased and given to their children, just as if they had died. In Akakios' instance his son is to young, I think a trustee be named but that need not be done today. As for Thanos, his sons are old enough but will be under harsh supervision and atonement for some time. A trustee may be needed in that instant as well. I believe they should be banished for ever. Their families may give them 5 gold coins per year as a pension and allowed to pay their passage to the destination of their choice.
"What of their wives?" It is clear from our investigation that Thanos' wife knew nothing of this business and her sons should look after her. Akakios' wife must have know what he was about, in general terms if not detail.
"It would be unwise to put her on trial but she must atone. It is difficult in our society for a wife to expose her husband. We must also consider that. I think she should be offered the opportunity to enter a convent as her atonement," Karkyos suggested.
No mother will willingly abandon her only child, unless assured that child will be well cared for. Kastor can make him a page. I wrote out instructions and sent a page with the message.
We went back into the court and I called the proceedings to order. Akakios you are accused of Treason and other crimes such as conspiracy to insurrections, murder and attempted assassination. Before you waste the time of his court, let me tell you that in addition to being identified by these knights, as the leader and chief, I have documentary evidence to prove it. The Inquisitor held up the papers.
Inquisitor how did you come by these documents? "They were found by our diligent inspectors under the floor of Akakios' office. His wife has verified they are in his hand."
What say you Akakios?
"I am guilty as charged." Thanos would you like to change your position? "I am guilty as charged." Then you both freely confess to the substance if not the minute detail of these crimes? They both answered yes.
I looked at the jury and they indicated they had nothing to say or ask. This court has no choice but to sentence you both to death. That is the penalty prescribed by our laws, we are given no option. The King and Consort, as in all these matters, reserves the right to commute all or part of any sentence.
"The King and Consort do not believe death is an appropriate sentence for either of you. We believe you should be stripped of your citizenship and banished from Parga forever. More than enough blood has been spilled as a result of your actions. Were it not for the brave and decisive action of our Princes in stopping the invaders before they managed to arrive in Parga, much more, some of it ours, would have been claimed.
Your wealth is now ceased by the state, as if you had died with no will. Thanos, your sons are old enough but will be under harsh supervision and atonement for some time. A trustee may be needed in that instant. Your family may give you 5 gold coins per year as a pension and are allowed to pay your passage to the destination of your choice. Akakios," He looked up at the gallery and I saw his wife nod agreement. "Your son is not old enough to manage a business. He will be appointed immediately as a Page and placed under the protection of Prince Kastor, until he reaches his age. He is now considered as a orphan. As is our custom, Princess Elpis and I are now his parents. A trustee will be appointed to manage his assets until he reaches age. Your wife has indicated she will immediately enter a convent and become cloistered for the remainder of her life. You will be given 5 gold coins a year and passage to a place of your choice."
I took over again, unless anyone here has other business to bring before this court the proceedings are closed. I looked around one knight stood and asked if the council would ever be told exactly how all of this treason business came about. I assured him of it, looking around for others. Please go in peace.
It will be a number of days before all gets sorted out. Helladios brought his friend Nikholas and introduced him to us. Kastor's long arm slid around the lad's boyish body as they walked away. Kastor has experience with this kind of thing he will know what to do.
That afternoon we held a special council meeting. After Nikholas was introduced as our newest page and Prince Kastor's ward, we proceeded to outline for the council all that had happened and how we came to know what we knew. Everything was explained except why Akakios was so motivated. I hesitated to answer and Uncle took the floor. "Knights this must remain between us. Were there not a lesson for each in it, I would not tell you. Then he explained all that had happened those long years past. How Akakios and come to him and Karyakos, shortly after our grandfather had died. "As you may remember Akakios became a firm convert to the Christine Church. This was under the influence of his wife, who herself was a devoted believer before their marriage.
His two small children became very sick. She was beside herself and he was not much better. The physicians had all but given up hope, except for the waters at the Temple of Apollo. She refused to allow this, as it was a Pagan shrine and "unholy". Akakios was as concerned for his children, as any of us would be for our children. He truly loved them. He loved his wife as well and felt her religious concerns need to be honored. Even the Bishop of the day could not dissuade her from this belief and he tried most fervently. He offered to send one of his priests with her to Apollo, to prove it was not sacrilegious but she would have none of it. Nothing short of the King taking the Temple away from the Pagans and giving it to the Christine Church would satisfy her. The Bishop would not approach us, Akakios was forced to do so. He begged us saying. `if we did not we would be killing his two babies'.
Akakios would not listen to reason. Karyakos tried to reason with him. We could not do what was being asked. To do so would have precipitated civil war and she knew it. So did Akakios. The result is an example of passion and faith overpowering reason. Once committed to a faith based position, irrational or not, he could not admit it was wrong. She could not either and she apparently never let him rest, that he allowed those wicked Princes to kill her babies."
"I told her at the time that it was not the King but herself that would kill her babies. I was perhaps less than diplomatic as I told her she could have her sins absolved in the confessional but if we sinned against Mother Parga and her people, no absolution would be available. At the time I think she thought I trivialized her faith. As this council knows, that is and was far from the truth," Karyakos said.
Sir Gavril asked, "Since she was a party to this evil business, why was she not put on trial?"
"There was no need, being cloistered in a convent and giving up her only living child to the care of those she blamed for her misfortune, seems atonement enough. We humans are very good at rationalizing our poor decisions and errors. In the end we must face the truth. Some how the basic ideals of their faith were twisted and warped. Now they both must live with that realization," King Iason answered.
"Why does my brother still live?"
"To execute him would consummate his martyrdom. The Christens talk about the seven deadly sins. Thanos committed most of them. They are not talking about physical but moral life. He is dead, but he still breaths. He is dead, but will suffer with his pain as along as he draws breath. While he may have his sins forgiven by his god, he will never forgive himself. By banishing him and stripping his citizenship, he is dead as far as Parga and its people are concerned.
You Gavril must now be the head of your family. I know you do not want that job, until some other leader comes forward, you are all they have. If you do half the job for them as you have for this council and Parga, all will be mended in the end," Karyakos answered.
Helladios had brought young Nikholas to us and he sat for the first time as a page. I was a bit concerned that he hear all that was said; on reflection he now knows all the facts of this sorted business, except his father's involvement in the previous adventures. That we kept to ourselves, not wishing to share it or bring up old memories.
On reading through the correspondence and notes, we confirmed many suspicions and corrected some misunderstandings. It also gave us some clues about how we should be doing our spying in the future. Several information gaps appeared and we will strive to fill them. It is less important for us to know detail as it is to know who is doing what with who.
I am still most puzzled by Akakios the merchant's action, over such a long period of time. I think Uncle's explanation is not adequate. I can understand his grief and I can understand his disappointment. I can even understand his anger. What I can not understand is how this could fester for longer than I have been a Prince. This seems to me the most vindictive and possibly ignorant of all I have knowledge of.
It is, as though the man is not one person but two. One going about his business and the other seething with anger. It is, as though one did not speak to the other, yet they lived in the same head. One pious, the other vengeful. One caring and gentle, the other uncaring and violent.
I do not believe this was an act or some kind of subtle theater on his part. No man could play that part for so long and not have given sign. I can understand how once committed to some belief, a man will make any and all rationalizations in its defense. This goes beyond that. It is in reality, as aggressive in nature as our defense. Many lives and much treasure have been squandered in the pursuit of this dream, I can scarcely calculate. Most of what he did, was in direct violation of the faith he so desperately clings to. It makes no sense. It is not rational.
It would appear that he takes no thought or accepts no responsibility. I can understand a man having a public self and a privet self, both being different. The difference seams more in degree than in his example.
Twice he used deluded clerics to further his ends. He is a cleaver person and must have recognized the instability of each. I can only conclude he has something aims in his brain but I know or understand it.
1320, 1st month, 12th day
Today was a glorious warm day and I ran and ran. I may no longer compete for honors but I still must run and train, I know nothing else. I met the architects to looked over the plans for my privet Koalhurst home. When I showed them to Euthalia she was most impressed. What they showed me was quite different from what I had envisioned. It has 10 bedrooms, a huge kitchen, a large dining area, office, embroidery room and a place for entertaining. A stable and several other out buildings, including rooms for staff; toilets and baths, a large court yard, large garden. It would be set close to the boys' swimming place. Edward and Philon were already planning the gardens.
None of my brothers want places of their own, remote from the Castle. None of them have ever lived differently and they know little else. I have no great desire for ownership or grander, just to have a place that I can visit, which does not cary with it the duties of office. I also want my children to know the freedom of living in a rural setting.
The new prison is almost finished. Making the modifications to the old will not take long. Mommahad has finished his analysis and we will be setting a price in the next few days. We will be renting spaces. The rate is an annual amount and fixed for a five year term. Each cell has its own double door. Each with a double seal. Ours and the renters. Each of the old dungeon cells, will have many smaller ones inside. It is these smaller ones that are being rented. They come in different sizes and different costs. Each of the old cells has its existing door which is also sealed and locked but only by us, unless one renter takes the whole. The old guard station will now be the access control-guard station. New doors are being built to control access to the passages and the cells.
Kleitos wanted us to inspect his boys before they were sent to their assigned units. He invited 15 of the most senior family members to the Argonaut bath. When we arrived each of us was greeted by a very naked, very handsome and ready for action solder. All around the bath were massage tables. They stood proud and tall displaying their manhood and their well shaped hairless bodies. I sensed a real desire to impress and a true pride in both their maleness and their accomplishments.
My boy introduced himself and kissed my ring. He lead me to his table and assisted me with my tunic and kilt. I lay on the table and he proceeded to administer one of the best massages I had ever had. He was skilled and worked with dedication. While he worked I could see his erection was close to maximum. He spoke softly as his fingers dug into my flesh. When he moved to a place where my hand could easily reach his body, he made sure to direct it to his masculinity or butt, which ever was closer. I learned they were not allowed to masturbate, nor were they allowed to lay with women. Their satisfaction was to be gained from giving and sharing pleasure.
I turned on my back and after he did my feet, hands, shoulders and legs; he spent some minutes on my masculinity. When he finished I was as primed as possible and ready to test this pleasure business. I rolled off the table and taking his hand assisted him onto it. The boy positioned himself to give me complete access to his buttocks and anus. That is when I noticed the leather plug in his ass. I pulled it out, gently so, it made a sound and produced a gently noise from his throat. "Please Prince, I am in great need," he said. That was the first thing he said to me, which indicated his personal feelings.
I added more oil to him and myself and entered him in a steady, but gently thrust. I wanted to fuck him and he wanted to be fucked. I also wanted to deliver pleasure, as I had already received much. I soon realized the massage had readied me more than I thought and it took much will power, not to deliver before he could be readied.
I pretended I was running a long race and concentrated on doing just that. Setting into an easy rhythm, my cock slid in and out. He was sending all the signals of pleasure to me. I had no way to know if they were real or some skill learned from the prostitutes. Presently I was unable to hold and just as I began discharging my hand reached around and fondled him he ejaculated also. His vocalization left no doubt in my mind, this was real, not acting.
We moved into the water and he proceeded to wash my body and I his. I shared several kisses with him as well. If all the boys here performed as he did, Kleitos was more successful then I ever dreamed he would be.
From what the others said he apparently was. I noticed our spy had been assigned to Hesiodos. He told me his young man was being assigned to the Royal Guards and winked at me. I had wondered how he was to reclaim such a valuable spy. The young man played his part to the end and I am sure that only the three of us know his truth.
Just as we were to leave Lysandros entered. He was less than happy that we all received pleasure and attention and he, the patron prince, none. Uncle took pity on him and allowed the spy boy to give him a massage which ended with his finger up Lysandros' anus and his lips on his penis, producing immense pleasure. He soon arched his back up and shuddered then relaxed. This was much to Lysandros' delight. Now that this has been demonstrated, I imagine he will be a constant visitor to us, demanding like attention. Perhaps our spy boy will stay on for a while with us, to do just that.
His name is Herakleides. He is quite small for a man, in stature. His shoulders are broad and his hips his narrow. He is very well muscled. He buttocks are rounded and proportional to his stature. Herakleides, I learned when we entered our apartments, was 24 years old and this was his real name. The name he used before the name he took for the court, was false. He came from the most eastern village in Parga and had begun his training as a mountain fighter. These are very tough and special fighters, almost as versatile as the Elite Marines. I say almost, as none of them seam to have ever served on a ship.
Once away from his former associates he seemed to change his personality considerable. He was full of humor and laughed mightily at almost any joke. Looking at Lysandros standing next to him I judged the boy will soon be his stature, if he keeps growing at his present rate.
After Lysandros was sent to his mother for the night, we had opportunity to get to know him. Kleitos was most surprised by him as he never once suspected he was already in our employ. Herakleides was quite open with us and quick to admit he had partly scrummed to Kleitos' training, even though he quickly realized what it was about. "I never thought I would become so willing a slave to male sex, as I have. I am so much so now that I wish to keep this brass ring in place, even if my role is to change. I hope that sharing pleasure with me several times a day will not cause a problem." He was most sincere in this. We assured him the only problem he will have is keeping it to several times a day. That produced much laughter.
I asked if meeting with Phokas in the near future would damage his spy position. Hesiodos thought not as he would need keep the little collar for some months yet and Phokas wares the colors of his knight. Herakleides the colors of his unit, the Royal Guard. Since everyone but Phokas changed his name that would be easily explained as well.