Arden by: dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)
79
1320, 6th month, 25nd day
We will be leaving in the morning after breakfast. Hy and Spiros along with other personal assistants have taken all of our gear, musicial insterments and so on to the ships. Our assignments are: Iason, Dios, Nikias and I on the King Iason and Kastor, Poly, Justus and Jolous on the Prince Karyakos. Admeral Hermoges will move between the ships from one port to the next, Agapios will move with him. Our guardians will stay with us. Lysandros will stay with Poly and Kastor and Hellidos with Iason and I. Umar with me and Akakios with his fathers. All the others are divided. I would think Lysandros will want the company of other young boys so that may well change.
Corrodo will move between the ships as well. He will have 12 Eliet Marines on each and 20 senior Argonauts on each as well. The Princess Elips has been fitted with a new Keel that is larger then normal. She will not have any ballest and when fully rigged be even faster than she is now.
Dysme with Kalkertes and Solon will be our stewards and accounts. Ikoras will remain and run things for our family, the pages and the royal couple. Different Knights from the council will fill in for the Senior Prices in our government duties. Odo will travel on the Prince Kastor.
Iason and I are spending the night with our ladies and infent children. I sent Umar to stay with Lysandros. I am sure they will spend the evening with Father and Uncle Iason. For our time away Captain Euthymins has been brought from the Koalhurst Long Bows to supervise the pages and palace boys. Having been both, he is experienced with all but the female pages. I guess he is still unmarried and Uncle Iason is trying to move him in that direction. Knowing Uncle he would not order or even strongly suggest but he will make many oppertunities available.
1320, 6th month, 28nd day
We thought our departure would be normal and unenventful. It was anything but. Dysme made us all dress in the parade costumes Iason had redsigned. They are not much different from those of before in color or style. The tunics are much tighter fitting showing our broad shoulders and narrow mid part. The morning was cool so we all had white stockings. We now have leather stockings for riding. They are light brown in color and made of the softet leather. He has made another clothing inovation. In addition to the leather stockings, we now have leather trousers. We learnd of these when in Denmark and other Baltic places. These trousers fit the leg like a stocking but are not indipendent and not open. The buttocks are covered as is the cortch. The front is laced to allow easy removal and an opening to piss.
Ours are form fitted. Each of us was measured and the garmet was cut and stiched to fit exactly. Those for the growing boys are made with laces in differnet places to allow for this. We noticed that in Denmark men do not ware kilts if they ware trousers. Trousers are much warmer, so it is said, in the winter time. Our mountian peoples still do not favor them. For riding they are much better as all your tender parts are protected.
The young boys were absolutely thrilled to be dressed exactly as the men. I also noticed that the sailors all have short trousers with double padding between the legs. Iason claimes these short trousers offer better protection for climbing ropes and rigging.
We marched in formatin to the plaza. Once gathered around the Ganymead statue we observed our hommage. In a matter of moments no less than half the town had gathered around us. Iason, never one to miss the opertunity, raised his hands to silence the crowd.
"Have you come to see us off," he asked?
"Yes Prince."
I could see Father, Uncle and most of the council staning off to one side. Hygonis appeared with several children and an ancient woman, I took it to be their grandmother. He lead them up to Damyo and Volos.
"We dearly love our young princes and you must make sure they return to us," she announced.
While they gave her assurences Hygonis signaled to me and I came down. Kneeling on one knee I took her wrinkled, frail hand and kissed it.
We young princes dearly love our people and appreciate your support and affection. I asked her if she would have us do anything before we sailed.
"Yes Prince Arden, please sing that lovely ode to Gandymed."
Grandmother Daphne has asked us to sing the ode, I announced.
"Yes the ode, yes the ode," came the answer from the assembled. Sing we did, all of us in unifrom sang. I must say the male voices when combined are a mighty and inspiring sound.
I think it is the pitch of the male voice that causes some of this effect. That and the beauty of Odo's words, of course. When we finished we marched to our ships leaving Uncle and Father to politic along with the council members.
Singing is important in our culture. We sing at every oppertunity. Men and women both. Often men and women sing together here. That is not the norm in other places but in Parga it is. I have commneted on this several times before. I know as I grow and mature some of my attitudes and ideas have, an will continue to change. On this subject I can not see that happening.
The King Iason's lines were loosed and the tow boats pulled us from the quay and into the chanel. The out rushing tide pulled us through the mouth and into the open sea. As the sails were raised I was again aware how useful and important singing is to us. The sailors sing at every oppertunity. It helps to keep teams working in unison, pulling the lines and turning the wenches. I was so taken by this that I failed to noitice Umar and Akakios were not among us. I began to look franticaly for them. Pyrros tapped my soulder and pointed to the rear mast, there they were high in the rigging. I then understood why Iason and I had been kept off ships until we were older. Fortunately Euthelia was not here to see it.
I asked the captain why he did not forbid this?
"Arden, what would you have done if someone forbid you to run? Give them the freedom of boyhood, friend, it is all to short."
He is correct. I could not argue. Should anything happen to either of them it would be me forced to molify their foster mother. Another princley duty, one I sincerly hope I need never to excersize.
I think we are all boys at heart. I know I an often filled with feelings of naustalga when seeing boys doing that which I would but due to duty and station cannot. Climbing in the rigging is just one of those things. Young men and boys have no concept to their own mortality. We, for I am among them, do not understand danger unless it is extreem. We are invincable. My attitude has slowly modified over time and Iason's too. We trace the beginning of that shift to our encounter with the assians. Being victorious was not enough to remove from our minds the real possibility that we could have been killed or injured. Taking on the role of mentor has also been important in our thinking.
The breeze today is easy and we are under full sail. Guilding over the calm sea is one of the most pleasent of experiences I can think of. Once the novelty of being on the water had been overcome we all retired to our cabin for one of the most satifying round of fucking I had been involved with since yesterday. Let them say what they will but I find nothing better or more desirable than a large penis splitting the smooth round buttocks of my companions. It is almost as deisrable to view as it is to do or be done. The rythum of the waves only intenisies the pleasure.
1320, 6th month, 29nd day
Iason and I awoke to find Umar had joined us, somehow pressing his body in between while we slept. This of course demanded that he be tickled. Somehow I wound up kissing his lips and Iason's fingers in his anus. Soon he was demonstrating his oral skills on my penis. This lead to him experiencing a shuddering orgasism and climbing on my slicken penis lowered himself, taking my full length into his small body. Iason helped by placing his erection in my mouth so I could not protest. Our activities wakened everyone else who quickly joined us in a cabin wide orgy.
Akakios claimed his foster brother, as the man and boys were all expended, including himself. He took him aside for instructions on cleaning himself and I am sure other things. Now that he is so greatly experienced the need to tend his little brother and I am sure have sex with him, became apparent.
Several of the Argonauts brought our morning meal telling us they would function as our cabin stewards during the voyage.
Iason will be keeping our voyage journal. Like other expiditions I will only recored my privet thoughts and impressions. I assume our brothers on the Prince Karyakos are observing more or less the same pattern. While our boys took their lessons, Iason and I discussed the planned voyage with several others.
For reasons unknown to me I kept hearing a toon in my head. This does not often happen and I am not a composer as such. I have composed in the past and all of these songs were well received and are often played by others. This time I was compelled to write the melody down. Had I not done so I feared I would receive no peace from my personal muse. I fecthed my pipes and flute and finding a quiet place in the corner of the quarter deck sat in the shade. The results are recoreded in my music book.
Composing music is not difficult for me but it is not that often done. The melody goes like this: dum, dee,da, da, da, dum, da, dee, dee, dee,, dum, da, da, da, dum da da da; dum, dee,da, da, da, dum, da, dee, dee, dee,, dum, da, da, da, dum da da da; dum, dee,da, da, da, dum, da, dee, dee, dee,, dum, da, da, da, dum da da da. This goes on with some changes in key and of course the rythum of the waves. I call it Sea Music. This is sea music for fair weather and fair winds. I have attempted to capture the rythem of the waves. We can play it alone or with many insterments. The timing can and does change as do the keys. I find it is important to have several rythem insterments drums, blocks, symbols and so on. The King Iason glides over the waves which have three long beats and one half beat at the moment, so the durmmer sets the pattern and we play the notes; which is a simple progression of one, two, three,, three-three and so on.
Later I fucked Nikias in exactly this same rythum and we both found that most enjoyable. I was also surprised that we wanted sex so soon after our orgy. Perhaps Odo can find some words for my sea music. I also think the rythum can be easily changed to reflect the different moods of the sea and winds.
Like all or all that I know of, ships use a chip log and reel device for measuring the speed of a vessel through the water. It consisted of a triangular piece of wood, weighted on one side and attached to a line with marked (knots) lengths. When thrown from the stern of a vessel the line is allowed to run out for a specified time. The number of knots that had come off the reel determined the vessel's speed. Most call this knots as do we.
The length between the knots depends on the units of measure being used. We have divided the degrees of longitude into stadion which is 600 feet. Each knot is spaced 1 akaina (10 feet) apart and we time this for 2 to 5 minutes or until the rope if fully extended. (TN: Arden goes into a long discussion of how to calculated the speed of shpis and the speed of the King Iason. He again talks about the ananmonator he wrote about earlier. He mentions that every hour on the hour the position, speed of the wind, the ship and all weather conditions are recorded in the ship's log.
When translated to modern nautical miles and knots, the King Iason, with a moderate breeze, would average about 7 modern knots/hour. If the winds were stronger much faster and if lighter much slower. A 20 to 30 Km/hr breeze would move the Prince Arden at 8 to 9 knots. If an 8 knot speed could be sustained the Prince Class ships could cover close to 200 modern nautical miles or 325 km in a day. This is about the reported speed of a Triman galley at crusing speed, although Arden claimes Prince Class ships are faster. Merchants under sail would have been half that. The Princess Class would have been faster based on his earlier descriptons. He does not tell us how much sail the King Iason has up at this time.)
Night fell and we prepared for bed. I was quite surprised that Umar immedatly took a place in our bunk. If this keeps up I will need to find him a mentor.
1320, 7th month, 2nd day
The moment you feel the tip of your nose touch his scalp, purse your lips and kiss him, the while you inhale a deep breath of air that is redolent with the exquisite odor of his hair, it is then but a few inches to his ear. Touch the rim of his ear with your lips in a brushing motion. Breathe gently into the delicate shell. My Nikias reacts passionately to this subtle act, as does my beloved Iason. From the ear to his neck is but a few fingers. Let my lips traverse this distance quickly and then dart into the nape and, with my lips well pursed, nip the skin there, using the same gentleness as would a cat lifting her precious kittens.
Then, with a series of little nips, I bring my lips around from the nape of his neck to the curving, swerve of his jaw, close to the ear. Gently kiss the lobe of his ear. But be sure, to return to the tender softness of his jaw. From then on, the way should be clear. Nuzzle my lips along the soft, downy expanse until I reach the comer of his lips. Suddenly, I will feel a strange stiffening of 'his shoulders under your arm. This is how I kiss my beloved boy that and any other way I can make my lips contatct his or any other part of his delightful body.
I do not understand just why it is that kisses are so important to us humans. They are what they are and no matter who gives or receives they are welcomed and desired. The lips, nipples, penis and anus seem the most sensative. I like kisses and like to give them too. Nikias is most desireous of them, mostly so from me. He likes giving them to me and others also.
We, those of us older who have them, find our ladies are like us in this respect. I know I have written this before, however I truly mean it, I thank the gods, any and all, for keeping Parga in the old ways. I can not imagian having only female partners. I love them, most notiably Euthelia. I would not want to forsake sex with them or social contact. I truly love my girl children. I can not imagian not loving and having sex with Iason my beloved partner or my eromerns. I can not even concieve of not being a erastes for them or young Iason when his time comes.
I have been thinking about all this of late. I seems to me that sex, as used by us in Parga and mostly in the castle, is everything suggested by the philosophers and poets. It is more. I have come to the conclusion, sex when practiced between members of a goup, such as our extended family, causes those members to form a bond that out lives the need for physical contact. That bond is stronger and longer lasting them the pure sexual attraction that brings us together in the first place.
I think I have to much time when at sea. I take no part in the sailing of the ship except to learn skills, methods and proceedures. Most of these I mastered some time ago.
1320, 7th month, 4th day
We were pleasently surprised on arriving in Catania to see Etna (TN: known as Murcibeddu in Sicilian) erupting. It was not a major event just some smoke and a little fire. We were told this was quite common. Apparently it does this most of the time. In the past it has done so most violently, causing much distruction. The most recent major eruption occured about 1300 years ago. That is what we were told.
After a brief stop in Syracuse we sailed south and around the island for Palermo. I am not sure why we did not sail north toward the Messino Straight but we did not. The talk was of little else but paying a closer look on this woundrous mountain. This place is ruled by Frederick. It has seen much conflict and difficulties of late. Frederick is much loved by his people. Not all of them, I am told most of them. He reformed and extended the powers of his parliament composed of barons, some church officals and repersenatives of the towns.
I rather liked him when we met on our grand tour. I know Father and Uncle hold him in high reguard. I am most fond of his oldest son Peter. He is just 16 and full of youthful spirit. Like his father he is qite handsome and very bright. His younger brother Manfred, who is 14 is less a leader but every bit as handsome and spirited. I thought our family was large but Frederick has no less than 8 children by his Eleanore and 5 from his mistress. Several of the older ones we already had the acquaitnece of.
We were received most graciously and Kastor's request for permission to visit Etna was quickly granted. The twins and Nikias seemed to find much common ground with Peter and Manfred. Being princes and close in age had much to do with it. They were most desireous to accompney us on our expidition. It was Hellidos that stepped forward to plead their case. A wise choice I thought. Fredrick agreed if we would also include two of their half brothers, Alfonso and Roland. They are quite a bit older, Alfonso at 26 and Roland at 24. He thought they should function as our guides. Iason and I were most pleased as we knew them already.
Iason has described all of this in complete detail, listing the names of all the officals and nobels we met. As before, I will only describe those unoffical details and my privet thoughts. Iason and Kastor can do all the other reporting. We sailed from Palermo to Catania on the Princess Elips; along with our 24 Eliet Marines our guests and all of us including our schlors.
In Catania we outfitted with horses and pack animals. Alfonso was most helpful in this. He seemed to be well known and was highly organized. I noticed Roland seemed a bit shy and reserved. He was no fool and impressed me greatly with his quiet competent approach to organizing things. He seemed to quickly reacquant and make friends with our guardians, expressing much interest in military matters. We would travel about three quarters of the distance and camp. That would give us most of the day to assend the mountain and see the wonders of an active volcano.
While in Catania one of our spys contacted me by giving the secret sign. He told me that a small band of local malcontents was planning to take Peter and Manfred hostage. Apparently Roland and Alfonso were not of interest to them, believing the Crown Prince would provide more leverage with the king. How these malcontents had learned of us or them accompying us, he did not know. Iason has recorded all of this in great detail. We informed Kastor and Poly immedatly. Kastor thought it best if he spoke to Alfonso privetly as soon as he returned to the Princess Elips.
Poly thought that the two princes should dress in our colors. I agreed and told Joulous to suggest it, as a way to allow them freedom they might not normaly have. When Alfonso returned with the Mayor and other digunatries we invited them on the Princess Elips to inspect the Princes of Parga and our guardians. Our guardians put on a little show of precision marching finishing up by forming a second rank behind us. Iason, myself, Kastor, Polydukes, Nikias, Peter, Justus, Manfred, Joulous, Hellidos and Lysandros. I must say we all looked very handsome in our dress uniforms. Lysandros was most excited to be included and to be dresses as his older brothers. We all stood at attention as the Admeral introduced each of us. The look on the mayor's face when Peter was introduced as Crown Prince Peter was astounding. Everyone played his part in the little play as if Peter and Manferd had always been a part of our group. Alfonso had all he could do not to laugh. This was obviously a surprise to him but he played the part with skill and polish. The mayor, an experienced politician was at a total loss for words as Peter and Manferd were introduced. All he could do was shake the boys' extended hands as he had all of ours.
Everyone else came forward to be recognized: all our boys and the ship's officers, Corrodo and the schlors. Odo was in his glory translating for those who did not speak fluent Sicialian, which is a varient of Italian, the situation for most of us. The mayor and Alfonso told me that about 15 trouble makers were thought to be hiding in the hills along our route. Iason took the stage and assured them that Peter and Manferd were under his protection and that no less than 50 troublemakers would be required to cause us real concern.
Later that day Rolend and I talked over the situation with Corrodo. Rolend suggested we take an alternate route. It would add a day to our journey but placed us in more open country with fewer possible ambush points. His route was to approach the mountain from the south instead of the east as is the most commonly used approach. Corrodo was most willing to take the shorter, if more dangerous path, feeling his men could easily handle anything a band of undiciplined farmers could present.
Rolend did not disagree but thought placing the rabble under control was best left to his father's people, not guests from another country. I had to agree with both of them and since we were guests in Sicilie we should allow our host to make his political gains. It would do him no political benefite for us to pick a fight. If this group chose to attack us, probably on our return, we would have no choice but to defend ourselves and those under our protection. I assumed this rabble was willing to cease an oppertunity should we hand it to them.
He told us his mother's relatives lived in a village well along that rout and we would be assured of their cooperation and assistance in reprovisioning. Corrodo suggested he ride with himself and the Eliet Marines as an advance party to secure the route. That was agreed to and they went off to rest for the night. I figured Corrodo had designes on Roland's body and from the looks Roland was giving him those designs were mutuial.
The Princess Elips is to small for everyone to have seperate accomidations. We princes and our party shared the first deck with the officers. The marines and sailors second deck and the captain, admeral and schlors the main cabins. I was not sure what these Sicilians would think of our male to male sex. When I entered the sleeping area I found all the young princes naked and in a knot of sex. If one did not know better it would be assumed Peter and Manferd had always been a part of our group.
In the tight quarters it seemed that little groups quickly formed to fuck and suck each other. For many it was the pleasure of being sucked and fucked at the same time or being fucked as you yourself fucked. All and I mean all, worshiped at the alter of Phallus tonight. I am amaized at how handsome and manly all, even the boys in our group, are. The archery, swimming and other sports combined with military skills produce large muscles in the arms and very broad shoulders and breasts. The riding, walking, running and so on, giving strong, well formed legs and my favorite boby part, butts. Naked we are all the same and yet all so different that none can take their eyes of the others. Our training is a large part of it. No excess fat is to be seen, every waist is small. We all look as if sculpted by a master artist in his interpertation of the ideal form. Iason and I contented ourselves, fucking each other. Just as sleep was overtaking us we were joined by Umar, Lysandros and Herkeidies.
I am continuly amaized at Herkeidies. He is in his 20's but seemes to relate to his young charges well. He is patient and forgiving, often protecting four or five young ones. Being small of stature and Lysandors being quite tall for a boy, he seems to blend in becoming almost invisible. I have spared with him and he is quick and powerful as well as skilled with: sword, spear, pike and fighting stick. Herkeidies is also skilled at most athletic persuites. He is gracious in teaching all who would learn. He leaps and jumps and tumbles showing great athletic skills and adjility.
All of our guardians are more than that. They are friends, lovers, confidants and companions to us. Herkeidies is that to Lysandros but also he is friend, confidant and companion for all the young boys. To his great credit his is only lover to those of proper age or with their father's permission. To the credit of all other family members his needs are more than met. He is welcome in any of our beds.