Arden by: dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)
39: Trails of Office
1319, 3rd month, 27th day:
LIttle of notice happened today and I made no great intercultural discoveries. I worked as usual, played as usual and had more sex with my brothers, friends and boys, than usual. Panther will join the Prince Nikias' crew on the 28th day, as forth officer. The ship is not yet commissioned but his new captain will not let him live in the castle when in port. He will stay at Hermogenes' home. Agapios is with us as usual when Hermogenes is at sea, which he is now.
We learned the keel of the Prince Joulous will be laid once the Prince Nikias is commissioned and the Prince Justus after that. These two will feature a slight difference in design, a new Kannon deck is being added, just below the main deck and above the cargo holds and sleeping quarters. When I looked at the drawing it seams that this kannon deck is the main deck and the new main deck is just raised above, as are the quarter decks and so on. The masts must be taller to accommodate the sails by the same amount.
1319, 3rd month, 30th day:
Hesiodos met with us, passing on a number of letters from our friends in different countries. He told us all will be returning for Iason's wedding but not all at once. The French Connection will meet the General and his aids in Padoa and travel together here.
One letter was from Lieutenant Raffaele, who wrote to inform me (us) that Captain Arno had been mortally wounded. "You must remember him from your visit last summer. I have already sent a letter of condolence to his parents on your behalf. I trust this was the appropriate thing to do." He added that the General, his housekeeper, manservant and himself would be traveling to Parga as the General was attending Prince Iason's wedding. "Please convey the General's personal appreciation of having been invited, to your Uncle, King Iason 7th. I have already given his formal response to your Ambassador. I trust you all enjoyed your travels, as much as I enjoyed being your guide for the Florentine portion. We are all looking forward to hearing your first hand account.
The General's health continues to fail. That is why he has retained a man servant, since you departed. Between the three of us, we are able to see he keeps going. The manservant and General tell me they had heard of wonderful therapeutic baths in Parga. If these exist, perhaps you could arrange for the General to visit them?"
Hesiodos instructed me to write back quickly saying: their were such baths in Parga and urging them to come as soon as possible. Also thanking him for the news and sending condolences regarding the late Captain Arno. "Tell him your sister and brother in law operate an inn at that place and are most willing to receive the General and his "family". Our personal Venetian friend Lugo, a Glass merchant, has ships that travel regularly from Padua to Parga and you will ask him to see that transport is ready when the General arrives there. Tell him you are sure of his help, as you all attended his wedding just before you visited Florence. Suggest he ask our Florentine ambassador to communicate with his counter part in Venice, as his postal service is quicker. Tell him your friendship with Lugo is personal and long standing. You will also write to him, and both ambassadors whose wives are your cousins.
I also want you to write to Silvo and his brother asking them to come at the same time, all be it early, as Iason and Sophia have requested them play at their wedding. Use your music code to hide the truth and make it very complex, suggesting much practice will be required. Then write to the French King Phillip and ask him to release your brothers quickly as they are needed to play for the wedding. Since he knows you, he will go along with it."
From what we could read in Silvo's letters much difficulty lay in the French court that was not apparent to us on our visit. It looks as thought succession will be one issue and French/English friction another. At 24 he is still young and we got along with him very well, as I described earlier in this personal journal. We found him competent and even refreshing in his policies. Being such a young man we never dreamed he was in any kind of political difficulties.
Iason, later told me that Phillip was not prepared for office as his older brother had been. Then he made a few comments, saying his brother had made a mess of things and he had been striving to fix them. He told him he had learned much by observing his father and how he managed things. His brother seamed to learn from others. He claimed the job was thrust upon him, first as regent for an infant nephew, that lived but a year and then King. "My brother left me a mess. I did not want but did and do my duty, as best I could and can. Some say I murdered my infant nephew. I could not have done such a thing and as regent for an infant why would I."
Silvo tells us he has yet no male children and only male children can inherit the crown. Much is happening in the background as his only available successor is his younger brother Charles, at 23.
We liked Charles well enough but not as much as Phillip. He is just a little bitter and envious of his brother. It does not seam that these French prepare their younger brothers as well as we do. It is a much bigger place and often these nobles hold several titles and rich lands. He strikes me as being rather ambitious and uncompromising. He treated us well enough but we could see he was sharp with many around him. Kastor though him vindictive and likely to hold a grudge.
Over all, the young nobles and sons of nobility made up a good group, in all the places we visited. Those that had no chance at ultimate power showed little pretension. We did find exceptions, that is true. Most were likable and friendly. Many had formed friendships with counterparts. Like here, many were related. The oldest brother or son in law of the oldest daughter were favored, more so than Parga. These French and others too, seam to be more concerned with birth order than competence or merit. I take it this is due to the old Roman influence. I will ask the scholars about this.
We examined the letters as always and found they had all been opened and obviously read once and possibly more than once. I knew what to do with this and did it. Many of the nobles we visited were also invited but that was more of courtesy than expectation. A few would send representatives and we looked forward to that. Most politely declined as we so often must do ourselves. That is just diplomacy and distance. Some gift or greeting is almost always sent, of course.
1319, 4th month, 1st day:
Miltiades, has made quite an impression on everyone. Now that most of his bruises and wounds are healed, he looks as handsome as I knew he would. Kleitos has spent much time with him. He trains and educates with the pages and does sports with us. Darkon and Silas are teaching his military skills. I see he wares a squires' tunic with our colors and Kleitos' crest. This indicates to all, he is part of our family.
The boy is tall and very well built for one so young, just 15 by a month. He will be as tall as me I think, with probably a more powerful upper body. After I train him to run, with legs that rival my own. He has much body hair for a boy and his testicles hang lower them mine and are larger. His wide set large brown eyes and long curly brown hair give him a look that sets everyone's loins on fire. Mine included.
Kleitos has his heart and his body as I can see. He is so proud of his new squire one would think him in love. He is the boys mentor and will love him in that, but I think it is more. Kleitos seams not interested in women and I have just assumed him to be only interested in horses. I think now I see he is interested in this boy. I hope Miltiades does not brake his heart. Kleitos is strong and I think mature enough.
Lyuben and his house returned today as part of the rotation. It is good to have him back in the castle again. He is making strong progress as an Argonaut, His group elected him demisquad leader, after less then 1 year. I am impressed; not only that he is working so hard but that he is keeping his word. I thought it was mostly the bravado of youth but his officers tell me, not so.
I expect Lyuben to begin living with Thanatos, his mentor, when this quarter ends. It would appear we will have him close to us for some time to come. Euthalia tells me the palace girls are much impressed with him and also look forward to his staying. I was also surprised to learn that she has organized several of her friends to sleep with me over the coming weeks, all with the view of bearing my children. Since we returned from our tour all of the men in our family have sired young except me. Nine girls are pregnant from them, even Iason. I am the only one not, that she feels it is from lack of trying, since I have been loyal to her and our children.
I know she appreciates this, telling me so; she was quite pointed in telling me it was my duty to follow my father's example in all parts of my life. Iason and I do have some help from Kas and Poly. I for one will not complain, I like sex and I like sex with girls almost as much as sex with boys. I must admit I like sex. I am not special in this, it is the way of humans, were it not the population of the world would not be rising so quickly.
1319, 4th month, 5th day:
We traveled to the northern hunting lodge on the 2nd and returned today. This was supposed to be a highly secret journey. It may have been so, our mission is and was most confidential, but I fear some news must have escaped. It was that or mighty speculation. As we returned, our party was attacked by bandits and several of us were wounded, me included. Pyrros and Silas are recovering from arrow wounds and I was stabbed in the left side with a dagger. The fellow that stabbed me will not, as Iason dispatched him, cutting his head mostly off with one blow of his sword. We were set upon from ambush by 13 assailants all well armed, if not as well trained.
I was much dismayed that all chose death to surrender. In death they can not reveal why we were attacked or how they knew we had something of value with us. Hesiodos assured me he will root out the informants and traders.
With three of us wounded, the remaining 7 had much killing to do and that they did with frightening efficiency. Three had engaged me as Iason and I stood to protect our fallen comrades. We stood back to back as we had been trained to do. Iason engaged one and I three, dispatching one quickly with a thrust to his mid section that pushed him into the third. The second was a bit better and we paired a bit, when the third rushed me from the side. My sword was momentarily caught in the chest of the second when I felt the knife in my side. Just then Iason spun around and cut off the assailant's head with one might blow. I sank the the ground. The wound hurt much but it did not hit anything vital. I did bleed much. We came back to the Hunting lodge and our wounds were cleaned and dressed.
Had we not had our armor on I am sure our wounds would have been more serious and perhaps even fatal. Volos was beside himself with both his prince and Pyrros wounded in the same battle. I was glad of the all the training forced on us by him and the others. Father and Uncle Iason were furious and I think many changes at this lodge are about to happen. If Hesiodos can not get to the bottom of it, the changes will I am afraid, be broad and I suspect harsh. He told us the special unit of the Argoanuts was being sent to the lodge and would take over all its operations until the source of this business could be found.
I am not happy at all, since I am confined to bed for the next several days. I feel most bad that only Iason and I know the real reason for this attack. On further thought, I am glad the assailants are all dead. Should any have survived, one of us would need kill them, to preserve the secret. I know Uncle Iason will see to it that any who are found to know, will also be killed.
None of us knew these people. They were strangers to us and when shown the bodies, no one at the lodge claimed to know them either.
1319, 4th month, 10th day:
They have finally released me from bed. I am more or less healed, as are the others. My left side is still tender and it will be some weeks before I will be able to run long distances again. I did run some shorter distances today and it did feel good in my legs to do so again.
Hesiodos reported yesterday that the puzzle had been solved and five more were executed in secret. That means 18 in total lost their lives. It was good that none of the lodge staff were involved. The secret had been discovered by one of them, quiet by accident, while poaching wild game. The bandits thought to take advantage of this knowledge, knowing few if any others knew it. Me thinks they would be been found out had they been successful. I also wonder what they thought the King would do if two Princes and their guardians had all been killed. It is possible they thought we would surrender and it is quite possible they did not know who we were. I do not think we will ever know for sure.
The Special unit of the Argoanuts had done an outstanding job and Hesiodos praised them greatly. Iason thought they should be given some other name and kept at the lodge, as a permanent training base. This would also add to security at the lodge and keep prying eyes, whiting or unwitting, away.
I suggested Iason's Elite but was out voted. They will be call Prince Arden's Elite Marines. Corrado will be made Captain in Command but they will report to Iason and I jointly and be funded directly by the royal treasury. The PAEM force will be adjunct to the Royal Guards but not directly a part of them. Their numbers will be increased to 35, allowing 25 to form an off base unite, when needed.
I was not all that happy about not including our brothers but Hesiodos advised against it. The twins agreed with him. This was a function of office not brotherhood. The King and Consort had some duties and responsibilities other princes do not, so too the Crown Prince and Consort. Among ourselves, we can do as we will, some things are just expected from us and no other. I guess that goes along with keeping some state secrets.
Iason wanted to know what happened to the families of the dead. We were assured they knew nothing of the reason, just that this group had attacked us and were all killed in the battle. Of the 18, only 12 had wives and nine had children. The childless widows would be sent back to their fathers. The nine widows with children would either be remarried to their husband's brothers or first cousins, taken in and cared for by the late husband's families, or remarried.
Of the children, 5 were over 12, three boys and two girls. I asked for them to be brought to the palace and placed in the palace boys and girls programs. The younger children knew little of what happened or why. Those over 12 would have been told. I thought it important they be quickly made to feel accepted. I felt sorry for the families of the 5 later implicated and killed without trial or due process and in secret. Nothing was ever said about how these two groups were linked or that in fact they were so or who held the sword that took the five.
We decided that it would be best for these women to remarry some of our trusted military people, who should also adopt the children and do so quickly. The five children brought here are to be quickly made a part of us. Iason is to sleep with the girls, with the objective of quick pregnancies; while Kastor, Ikaros and Poly will see the males are prepared as chamber boys. Once we are sure of their loyalty, other professions will be made available for them to choose from.
It is an honor to be chosen as concubine for the Crown Prince and chamber boys for our family. Once the boys are well indoctrinated into our ways, they will be loyal to us. That loyalty is of great importance. I am looking forward to this. Up until now the only boys to grace our beds were volunteers. These boys will volunteer too but only after they have been seduced and prepared.
1319, 4th month, 12th day:
Miltiades, is making much progress in his schooling and military training. He is learning to navigate the family as well. Kastor wants him to work with the new boys. With his size and poise he will easily gain the trust of these new boys and make them a part of the castle system. His ability to get others to reveal themselves and their thoughts, seams to be his most important talent. Miltiades will need serve as a page in the next year or two.
Nikias has been much more attentive than usual, since we were wounded. I think, the realization that one of us could be killed or wounded has become a reality for him. I have been longing to feel Iason's penis in my anus for these many days now. He, Nikias and the others have been most generous in making sure I was given as much oral attention as I could deliver and receive for that matter. It is my beloved's penis in my ass that I desire the most. Followed by the others as well, but Iason most of all.
We learned today that the General and his group should be arriving in the next week. Iason and Alexandros' weddings will be on the 8th day of the 10th month. Since the king proclaimed it National Wedding Day in honor of our exploits, I guess he thought it a most fitting date for his first born son and daughter. I have also noticed he has used that date to join all male and all female unions last fall. I am looking most forward to sharing a bed with Raffaele again, as it was most pleasurable in Florence.
I am not quite sure what to do with Justus and Joulous. They have been spending much time with Helladios and his young friends. I know they have been sharing sex as best the prepubescent boys can. I have observed it. My concern is how these younger boys will relate to older men who try and seduce them, before they reach 12. Those older men include us. I know Iason and I have all we can do to keep our cocks out of Helladios' butt as it is. This has not and will not be all that successful either.
1319, 4th month, 13th day:
We have had some most interesting meetings of late. We are getting ready to send out the first graduates of Prince Arden's State Service Core, Arden's boys and girls. I am sure this will all prove successful but it will take some years yet to see true results.
Several of the knights wanted to know the details and circumstances of our injuries. Uncle Iason would not give direct or detailed answers. He did say our injuries were the result of bandits who were all killed. He did not feel stronger security measures were needed, that this was an abnormal situation.
Hesiodos has seen that secret security people have been placed in the communities near the different lodges and estates. He feels by careful secret work, incidents like this last one can be nipped in the beginning.
Now that I am third in the financial organization of government I can start to properly evaluate some the business opportunities perceived while traveling. I have been giving the idea of a secure depository for valuables and treasure much thought. Parga does have its treasury well secured and safely stored. It is stored in several places besides the castle. Several of those places are highly secret and well guarded. I think if one is to store treasure for others, the place can not be secret but must be well guarded. If we have no direct knowledge of what is being stored and refuse to publish the names of our clients, then little attention will be paid to this service or Parga. I have begun asking if this kind of service would be used and what price people would be willing to pay for it.
Since we have instituted, the naked in our privet quarters policy, all of the family members are taking care with their personal presentation. Be it the youngest boy or the oldest man, everyone is taking extra care with their appliance. It is most stimulating with all this naked male flesh on display. Even the young boys, when they visit seem to pose. We are very fond of games and play many: Dominoes, Backgammon, Drafts, Chess, Dice Toss and a host of card games. While many knights and solders like to gamble, we do not allow it with the younger boys or pages. (TN: Most of these games would be recognized by us today, except some of the card games.) We make much music together, tell stories and recite poems to each other as well. It is best when Odo and Thoren are both present.
Helladios and Alfred have been paying much additional attention to Iason, Dios, Nikias and myself. It would appear these boys want more than just brotherly social interaction. I am finding it very hard to resist them, as are the others. Our boys seam to be determined to assist the younger ones in this. They have been having sexual interactions with them for some time now, apparently in preparation for this attempted seduction. Helladios has been in our bed on more than one occasion but not on any kind of regular bases.
Ikaros tells me the new boys will be ready for their chamber duties in about another week. Their training is now in its final phase. They are spending most of their time on the love benches in the page's dorm. Miltiades has convinced them that they need to forget who they were and where they were from and become palace boys. The training they received, in addition to school and general orientation was designed, like Kleitos' animals, to assert control without destroying spirit. To gain cooperation and compliance from a desire to please, receipt of pleasure and reward, not pain.
I am still not sure having sex with our mostly 10 and 11 year olds is all that good an idea but I must admit the thought of my penis sliding into Helladios' pert butt is most exciting. I know how Iason feels about young ones and Alfred will have little effort to gain his attention if he truly desires it. From what I observe he does that and more. The young singers seam to be receiving special attention from Odo and Alexandros. So much so that I suspect they are already prepared for their not to distant move to the boys gymnasium, away from their mothers. William strikes me as a boy who loves boys but I do not know him all that well.
So far the younger boys have not been included in our sex games and family orgies. Of late they have not been excluded from the room or the bath. It is clear they know what is being done, by who, with who. The boy's chores is also being included more and more, with our little ones. I was concerned that our eromenoses would become jealous but they seam not. All including Agapios are supportive and friendly toward them. The ringleaders of this effort seam to be Dios and Helladios, I am sure encouraged by the three terrors. Hilarus is not yet assertive but I can see he is game for just about anything suggested to him by the other young pages or Kastor.
His running is getting much better and he is now able to surpass Dios. I must say his body is most attractive to me and to Nikias and now that I am healed, he will find his way into our bed often but we will need pry him and Agapios from our mentors first.