WEEK SEVEN - THE EXPEDITION
SECONDAY
Wi-Su and I returned from a morning exploration of the uplands to find that a second tent had been erected in our clearing. It was smaller than the first, though bigger than the travelling tent we had slept in on our journey here. When I looked inside the first tent I noted that all of Wi- Su's possessions had been removed, replaced by those of Father. Father had arrived! Do-Si informed us, when he came up from the camp of the field workers, that Lord Srotyr and Yue-Sin had arrived a while previously and on his recommendation had gone for a walk to view the waterfall. My heart was torn. I didn't want to lose Wi-Su from my side. I had become accustomed to see him without clothes, and now Father was here I knew that this would no longer happen. Father would take me into his possession. Not that this was an unpleasant concept. I longed to see Father. There had been so little time between his return and my departure. I wanted him very much. But I wanted Wi-Su as well.
I thought my reunion with Father would be dampened by this ambivalence that I felt but when I saw him, his powerful frame, his handsome face, I found that all I wanted to do was embrace him. Of course what I did was bow politely. Yue-Sin followed behind, and I acknowledged his bow with a nod of my head. Father was breathing heavily and looked a little grey after the climb up to the campsite, but he improved during lunch, and by the time we were retiring to sleep he seemed his normal self. In reply to my question as to his health he replied that all was well, and better now for seeing me. He took me in his arms and held me tight. I felt like my legs were jelly, overpowered by his virile aroma. He then suggested that before sleep he would like to bathe. He had heard so much about this miraculous pool.
With Yue-Sin guarding our privacy we disrobed by the pool. It was the first time that I had seen him undressed in full daylight, and he was truly magnificent. The fur that covered his body seemed to gleam in the light of day, its darkness contrasting more with the palidity of his skin and making him seem hairier than ever. I wanted to take there and then, but worried about our discovery he restricted our embrace to a arm in arm grip similar to that I had shared with Wi-Su. Unlike with Wi-Su though I managed to snare his lizlion with my free arm. Father returned the favour, and soon had me erupting. When I tried to reciprocate he stopped me, saying he wanted to save that for later when we were more comfortable, reminding me that he had the ability to fire only one arrow a day. After we had slept, curled together as was our custom, I had the pleasure to let that arrow fly.
After siesta Father was keen to see the uplands that Wi- Su had talked about with such enthusiasm after lunch. With Wi-Su in accompaniment Father and I made our way down the stairs to the pool.
"Wi-Su, I heard your report about this pool when you returned from collecting the black substance to surface the Town Square, but doubted the veracity of your description. It did not seem possible, though I did not say as much to you. But now having seen it, and felt its powers, I don't believe that you gave adequate expression to its qualities." This was spoken by Father as we passed beside the pool on our way to the steep climb of the path up to the top of the ridge.
"It is difficult to describe, my Lord. I do not have the eduction that you have, the power of words, to explain such things. Lord Cavon, with the beauty and power of his speech and written word would be able to do it justice."
"The young Lord does have a way with words, I'll grant you that. But I suspect the sense of well being and repose that seeps little by little into one as one soaks in that warm water is, as you suggest, beyond description."
"I agree, Father. But though beyond description I have felt the benefit of its effects after our many hard treks exploring this upland area that this path is leading us to."
Father nodded then craned his neck up to try to see the top of the path. "Looking at this path I think it will be sufficient to cause me to have need for its succour."
We were less than half way up when I noted that Father was again breathing heavily, clutching his chest, with his face drained of colour. Not wishing to draw attention to his problems I used the excuse of the clarity of the day to point out the various landmarks of the valley. It was so clear that the rising spray of the waterfall was visible. I think Wi-Su picked up on my motive for he chimed in with his own points of interest. While he was looking around Father reached into his pocked and took out what appeared to be a small leaf. He chewed on this as he nodded in acknowledgement of each of our comments, and soon he seemed okay once again. Feigning sore legs, Wi-Su, who was leading, slowed the pace of our ascent, and Father managed to arrive at the top with only a moderate increase in his respiration.
The view from the top over the rolling red uplands took away what breath he had however, and it was a while before he managed to say anything.
"Wi-Su, again your descriptive powers leave something to be desired. The only thing I can compare the breadth of this with is a view over the open sea."
"I apologise for my humble knowledge of the language, my Lord. But not is it only breath taking in its expanse, can you imagine the use we can have for this infinite quantity of grass. And not only that, something I didn't mention is that the top of the drop that falls down to the river is infested with Ironwood."
"Ironwood," exclaimed Father. "That I would like to see. Lead the way, Wi-Su."
"Ah, Father," I interjected. "I thought we might leave that till tomorrow. A stream cuts down from this upland down to the river valley. Its bed is broad and reasonably even. It would be interesting to see how well a horse can cope with its grade, so if we rode down into the valley we could head up river, it is not very far, and could test out their climbing ability, have a look at the Ironwood, and at the same time see if the horses find this grass to their taste. It has some similarities I have noticed with water weed, and horses won't eat water weed. I'm not sure that they will been keen on this grass either."
"How far is it from here to the edge of the valley?" Father asked.
"It took Wi-Su and I most of a morning to arrive at its crest."
"I think what you suggest has merit. I would not like to be arriving back at camp without a light to guide us. It could be dark, as we have started late. Let us sit here and admire the view before returning to camp."
The balm of the water was needed again that evening. I floated beside Father, with Yue-Sin, whom I had asked Father's permission to invite, nearby. We had dined well and now felt very relaxed, a few cups of rice wine under our belts. With Father's prior approval I led Yue-Sin away into the dark towards the far edge of the pool, and their proceeded to make love. It was his first chance to show any emotion, and he was almost in tears as he kissed and told me of how much he felt my absence after the weeks of closeness while Father was away. I told him that I understood and held him close, then balanced him on a step for another fucking.
In bed that night Father said in my ear, making sure his words would not carry as far a the foyer where Yue-Sin was bedded, "You are truly a wonder, my boy. You have an ability to let everyone know they are wanted, without causing anyone to feel left out. Yue-Sin is truly pining for you. I have never seen him so. You did the right thing by making him feel special. And at the same time you leave me with no doubt that it is truly I that you love, even while the ripples of your fucking were washing over my swelling lizlion."
"The water gave us away? I did not think of that. But you knew why I wanted to show him the pool."
"I did. But even without knowing I would have been informed."
"I will have to take care if anyone else is around."
"There won't be anyone else, so there will be no need. Goodnight Cavon," said Father, ending the conversation with a wet kiss.
"Good night Father." I rolled so my back was too him, fitting its curve into the curve of his body. I reached between my legs to find his mighty member and placed it between my legs, thrilling at the feeling of having it in my possession.
FIFDAY
It was good to be on the move again. As beautiful as the valley was, and as interesting the exploration of the upland, it was wonderful feeling to have Kito underneath me again and a long ride ahead. The ride up the streambed to the upland had been a only a partial success, with the horses making the climb without too much effort but turning up their noses at the upland grass. Also having Father and Wi-Su together had not been so successful. We made the journey on ThirDay morning, and it was the only time that Father left our elevated campsite in the two full days he spent there after the day of his arrival. I think Father had sensed something in my attitude to Wi-Su and he was very stiff and formal in all his dealings with him. Wi-Su on his part was very quiet. On the final climb up to our campsite Father again appeared to have difficulty, despite having started to chew on a leaf prior to undertaking the climb. I suspect it was this more than anything that caused him to not move from camp for the remaining time, but when I suggested that I was going for a walk in the uplands in the afternoon with Wi-Su his face clouded a little, and on return he was morose and monosyllabic. The pool thawed him out, as we held each other in the water, but I decided that I would not be able to go with Wi-Su again. In response to which Wi-Su made himself distant. The next day was spent sitting doing nothing other than listen to Father talk while Wi-Su's location was unknown except during meal times, when he ate with Yue-Sin and Do-Si.
So it was good to be up early and be on horseback, though it would be better still when we caught up with the rest of the group, which had moved on ahead while Father rested with me, and Wi-Su could make himself scarce. Now we had no option but to stay in a small group, and I had no option but to suffer in silence while Father made snide but not so soft remarks about Wi-Su's horsemanship, his incompetence with a sword, his effeminate nature.
To distract myself I observed in detail the land through which we were passing. For the most part the river was its usual tranquil summer self, though in one spot it did run through some rocks and form some white water. The red grass continued to be grazed by lizrabs. Occasionally my close scrutiny was rewarded by the view of a lizlion charge and the bouncing escape of lizrabs. Most of the time a lizrab ended up in the jaws of the lizlion though who would swallow it in what seemed like a single action then after some time resting would make a leisurely return to the water. Whintox and miscal continued to dominate the valley walls, but, possibly because I knew it was there, I thought I was now aware of the deeper green of the Ironwood behind them.
What had appeared to be a larger version of the travelling tent I had shared with Wi-Su on the initial leg of our upriver trek proved to be the tent Father and I were to share for the Expedition. That first day it was set up close to the smaller version in which Wi-Su slept with Do- Si. This closeness was for security purposes, as Father seemed to quite uncomfortable with the presence of the second tent. He spoke in a whisper whenever he said anything affectionate, would not partake in any sexual activity, nor let me do so with Yue-Sin, even seemed uncomfortable about our usual sleeping embrace. This was a Father I didn't know, one concerned about what other people thought.