New Beginnings

WEEK THREE

THIRDAY

Though I missed Father, thinking of him at every idle moment, I was so busy that the time of his absence passed rapidly. It was on the Thirday of the second week, my free day of the week, that I unexpectedly found myself at a loose end. Due to heavy rain morning archery with Hi-Tui was postponed. Xi-To's wound was healed, but I had looked in on him as I did every day. He took his usual glee in exposing himself to me. Yue-Sin had been living up to his promise of spending every night with me, but he was always gone by morning. I sat on the bed staring out the window at the steady rain. I felt no inclination to be with Mother, or to attack any of my usual solitary activities. Yue-Lin would be in school. Then I thought of my old friend and fellow deviser of the metal covered wheel, Ba-Nol. I had neglected him for many weeks, and I knew that his wife had been one of the freepersons who had travelled with Father on his trip. With a new sense of purpose I trotted through the heavy rain to his workshop.

The workshop was its usual hot, loud, busy self. Though many smiths were now making iron clad wheels, as Ba- Nol's had been the first workshop to produce them he was still the busiest. He had taken on extra staff and the small space was quite crowded. One of his fire stoker's drew his attention to my presence, and a smile lit up his face. He put down what he was doing and joined me in the shelter of the over hang outside the door, getting away from the noise so we could talk. At closer quarters what I had noticed when I first saw him was more obvious. He looked as though he had put on weight. He always wore clothing cut loose at the shoulders so as to allow him freedom to swing his hammer, but what he was wearing at the moment was stretched tight, and was short also.

From his work Ba-Nol was very strong, but he was always quite fat. His trousers, the pouch of which was usually not visible as his shirt, which he wore belted, covered it in normal circumstances, was stretched tight, with material so thin that his dick and balls were all but visible. They appeared massive, straining against the close contour of the material. Realising where my eyes were focussed I quickly looked up to Ba-Nol's face. He had not noticed the site of my close scrutiny, but was just smiling down on me in warm greeting. He was a man of few ideas and not great intelligence, but he was able to build from my verbal plans with no difficulty at all. The metal rim had been successful first go, largely due to the accuracy of his interpretation of my concept. He was also one of the best, most generous men that I knew.

"Good morning, Ba-Nol."

"Good morning, my Lord," bowing a little.

"There is no need for such formality, Ba-Nol. Call me Cavon as you always have."

He nodded mutely.

"Ba-Nol, are you looking after yourself. What has happened? Your clothes are so tight and thin."

"Ah, Cavon. You know that the servant is attending my wife on her trip. I have no one to wash clothes, and I use many clothes. These are very old, and seemingly have shrunk," this latter said with a smile. But they are my last clean clothes."

"Well, we'll fix that. At lunch time you can come up to my house with all your dirty clothes, and they will be washed for you. You can stay in my chamber while you wait for a set to dry in front of the kitchen fire if there is nothing else for you to wear."

"I couldn't ask that ."

"No, Ba-Nol, that is decided. But let me tell you of my new idea."

When he heard this Ba-Nol's eyes lit up. The previous conversation was forgotten, I'm sure to be replaced by a growing pile of gold coins. Ba-Nol was quite wealthy, and this is why he was able to send his wife to the central temple in search of a cure for her barrenness. "What is your idea."

"Let's go somewhere a bit quieter so I don't have to shout."

We hurried through the rain to the inn, where in a quiet corner, with the aid of a stick to draw in the wet earth, I explained my new thought.

"Our current wheel has taken off very well. Its longevity makes up for its higher cost. It has two weak points. The central hole on which it rotates on the axle wears quickly, and soon becomes quite loose and now is the part of the wheel that causes the necessity to change the whole lot. The second is that, just like before, a nice circular tree must be found capable of producing four well cut sections of the same size. Also, the central hole is not an easy thing to cut.

"So, how to fix this. Step one. Line the inner hole of the wheel with iron just like the outer rim is capped. But what will make it stay there? If you heat iron like you do for the rim it will not help. So the answer is to build the wheel around the central hole. Instead of a single round section a number of wedges could be used, cut so that they fit together to form a circle, with the point of the wedges cut to form the hole for the axle. Then the same metal rim, but much tighter (it will need to heated to a higher temperature) is applied to hold the whole thing together."

He looked at me for a while, then it all came together in his head and his face lit up. "That will work, and I should be able to keep the secret on the higher temperature for a long time. The selling point will be the metal of the axle hole, which could be matched to a metal coated axle, and no one will think that it is in fact much cheaper to produce. I'll should be able to sell it for more though it will cost less!'

Enthused, he rushed back to his workshop, rustled up his carpenter and described what he wanted from him, then started furiously banging at iron for the inner collar. In fact it didn't take very long to put the whole concept together as the outer rims were already prepared. In the use of these something else became evident. With the form of construction of the wooden part of the wheel all wheels could potentially be made to a standard size. This would in turn make the preparation of the rims much easier, as there would be less need for individualisation of each rim to fit its appointed wheel. By lunch a pair of prototype wheels had been attached to Ba-Nol's cart and despite the continuing rain it was driven out of town for a road test. It survived this admirably, and we returned to the workshop very content.

Ba-Nol kept talking in subdued tones about it all the way back to his house where we were to stop to pick up his clothes. We walked with care as the quantity of water covering the cobblestones made them quite slippery. Wet buildings lurked around us, shedding water in a staccato but musical dripping separate to the continuous hiss of landing rain droplets. I found myself increasingly unable to pay attention to maintaining my footing and to what Ba-Nol was saying due to the discomfort of an overly full bladder. After we had taken off our coats and hung them on the knobs on either side of the door of his house I realised that I was going to be unable to wait till I got home to pass water, and begged leave to use his toilet chamber. His face turned bright red and he hurried away without saying a word, to return carrying a rather large, heavy looking chamber pot covered with its brightly patterned cloth. Without pausing to put on his coat he continued outside, to return soon wet but more relaxed.

"I have been lazy. I had not taken it to the sewer collection for emptying for some days."

By this time I was bursting, feeling so full of water that my dick was hard. I felt that I was going to wet myself. "I can't wait," I cried. "Just hold it for me!"

Which he did, without question despite the unusual nature of the request, while I let my trousers drop and pushing my hard dick downwards let go a bright stream of water, glinting in the little light that found its way into the centre of the house through the skylight on this dull day.

Watching me Ba-Nol also cried out, "I must go as well!" The sound of tinkling water had set his bladder off.

"Hold tight," I said, cutting off my stream with some difficulty. "That pot is too heavy for me to hold so you keep your hands on it and I'll point you in the right direction." Now this was unheard of, but it is a reflection of Ba-Nol's simplicity and trust in me that he didn't think to question it. I struggled to undo the straining knot of his trousers while he groaned, "Hurry!" Eventually it came free and I pulled the trousers down, grabbing his hosepipe of a dick and directing it at the pot. He let go a moment before I had him correctly positioned and the first bit hit the side of the pot and splashed to the floor, but I soon had him firmly gripped in my left hand so I could use my right to point my dick, now hard more for the presence of Ba- Nol's dick in my hand than the full bladder, down into the chamber pot and let our two streams mingle. Probably because of almost two weeks without activity his dick began to swell in my subtly stimulating hand, and soon I had him quite hard. He was quite a handful, without the thickness of Hi-Tui but longer. Without offering explanation I now continued my rubbing of it till it erupted.

He simply said, "Thankyou," as if what I had performed for him was the most natural thing in the world. I wondered if prior to marriage young men did get together for this kind of thing, for release rather than desire.

Later, maybe because of this shared intimacy, maybe because of his enthusiasm for the new wheel, maybe just because he trusted me implicitly, I walked into my wash room where Ba-Nol was reclining naked in a hot bath without him showing any signs of embarrassment, either at his or my nudity. His fat filled the bath, and was not an attractive site, but his dick, now I could examine it in better light, was a handsome beast. The whole thing was of the same diameter, head included unlike Hi-Tui whose head was like a mushroom even when his dick was soft, and he had no skin covering it. Asking him about this he said that it had had to be cut off because it was too tight. It would not pull back, and whenever he had become hard it stopped it from stretching fully and was quite painful. Lord Srotyr had performed the procedure soon after he attained manhood, and though he thanked him for it later, at the time he had screamed with the pain of cutting.

He pointed out the scar that encircled his dick near its head, letting me touch him once again. This touch, which I'll admit was not totally for examination purposes only, caused his dick to swell again. He calmly observed this and said, "I'm sensitive at the moment. My wife has been away a time."

"Don't you do this to yourself?" I asked as I stimulated his dick once again.

"No. The One says you shouldn't, no?"

"Not directly. I think the Book says something like don't waste your seed, but if there is no woman available to take the seed then it is not wasted. Is it?"

"I guess not. I always seem to have plenty, even though we don't have a child."

"Do you mind me doing this?" I asked, indicating my busy hand.

"No. It feels good."

"Would you do it for me?" I had become very hard.

"Sure. Just move up a bit. I've never done this before, so I might not do it well." And tentatively started to pull my skin up and down my stiff dick with a hand that completely enveloped it. "It's different with the skin, isn't it."

"Yes. Has anyone done this for you before?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Ah, because you seem like it is not unusual for you," I replied, flustered.

"Yes. My wife does it when she is bleeding, and before I married a man liked to do it to me. He said I was very big and that it was best that I had some help."

"Who was that?"

Ba-Nol hesitated. "Well, you see, he asked me never to say."

I thought for a bit. I knew he would tell me if I asked. I was curious, but didn't really want him to betray the trust, for if he betrayed that trust he might betray me. "No, you are right to keep that trust. Never tell anyone. And don't tell anyone about this either."

"Okay."

"Did you do it to him too?"

"No. He never asked. He was married and probably didn't need any help."

"You didn't want to touch him?"

"No," he said in a questioning tone. "Was I wrong not to do it for him?"

"No," I gritted out as I felt the sensation building up. "Not if you didn't want to." My seed spurted into the bath, over his fleshy belly, soon to be joined by his own.

Ba-Nol rubbed his belly with the flat of his hand. "Its slippery," he smiled, relaxed. I continued to massage his softening dick now slimy with his seed. "That feels very nice," he said.

"Good." He had let go of my dick as soon as I had cum, demonstrating that it held no interest for him whatsoever. He had not paid it much attention even as he had pulled me, had laid with his head back and eyes closed. This was more information to add to my understanding men and sex. It seemed that a man doesn't always need to be sexually interested to appreciate a "hand". Just the right situation and trust. I'm sure if I'd asked Ba-Nol to do what we had done at some other time he would have looked at me with puzzlement in his face and said, "Why?" But when it just happened he was happy to let it flow. I wondered how the other man had approached him. "Tell me, Ba-Nol, I don't want you to tell me the name of the man, but how did you know he wanted to help you?"

Ba-Nol blushed a little, a dark tinge colouring his face and chest. "You won't tell?"

"Of course not."

"I'd gone for a walk. I was alone and no one was about, in the forest upstream. It was a hot day and I decided to swim in a pool in a stream, so I undressed. After swimming I lay on a rock to dry a bit. I had never done this and I guess being undressed and outside got me a bit excited. Then suddenly a man walked out of the forest and said that I should let him help me as I was a bit big to do it all on my own. So I let him help. He then organised to meet me to do the same thing. It felt good, and he said that it was okay. But when I married I didn't feel the need anymore, as being with my wife was much better, and he said that that was okay. We would just stay friends."

"And you are still friends?"

"Yeh. We often have a drink together."

"I see." I didn't know enough about the rest of Ba- Nol's life to be able to guess who it was.

"You don't think I was bad to get undressed outside?"

"No. Not if you were on your own."

"I didn't know he was watching."

"No, you wouldn't," I said reassuringly, wondering why he had needed to add that. "Now, you'd better get out of that bath before you dissolve. It's not as big as the public bath, and not a good fit for you."

"It's a bit small. But it's much cleaner, and there isn't someone always knocking at the door to ask how long you are going to be. It's nice."

Ba-Nol was one of the few people who had permission to use the baths as often as he wanted. He, and other metal workers, because their job made them so dirty, had a tag that allowed as many entries as they desired. Other people who used the public bath had tags marked with a specific day. It had used to be that everyone bathed on Sixday, but it had become too congested as the town grew and now people were spread throughout the week. "If you want, Ba-Nol, you can come up here each lunch time till Father comes back."

"That would nice. You wouldn't mind? Look how dirty I've made the bath with the coal dust."

"We have been friends a long time Ba-Nol. You don't need to ask that. You know that the servants will clean it. Now, I'll lend you one of Father's robes till your clothes are ready."

"Thankyou. Lord Srotyr won't be angry."

"No."

"It is very fine. So soft and smooth. What is it made of?"

"It is silk."

"I've never touched silk. It is beautiful. But it doesn't reach in the middle."

"No. But we have seen each other so that is okay. I have to have lunch with Mother, but you can't with that robe. I'll bring you back some food, and you can sleep here till your clothes are dry."

"Thank you, Cavon. You are very kind."

"Not at all," I said, thinking that the pleasure of seeing that massive cock far outweighed any inconvenience.

After Ba-Nol had eaten the rice and vegetables that I had brought from the kitchen in the small, private breakfast room that Father and I use, he yawned mightily. I had sat with him while he ate. He was seated cross-legged on the floor, distant from the table as his bulk was too great to fit under. The gown was wide open, revealing his smooth chest and belly, the head of his dick just peaking out from under it between his fat thighs.

"You really are very fat, Ba-Nol. Even with your dick as big as it is it is almost hidden by your belly!"

"I know. I can't see it any more, even when it's hard. Though I sure can feel it," he grinned, then yawned.

"There is only one bed made up, Ba-Nol. You don't mind sharing?"

"No. But I hope I don't squash you."

"Do you squash your wife?" She was a small woman.

"No, but I hold her so I know where she is."

"Maybe you should hold me then to be safe."

"Okay."

So I found myself wrapped in his massive arms, my back against his belly. I had imagined the feel of that long dick against my arse, but his belly kept me too far away. He fell asleep quickly, and almost immediately started snoring loudly. I wondered how his wife managed to sleep through this, but surprised myself by falling asleep almost as soon as I thought it. I was first to wake, to find that Ba-Nol had rolled away from me and was lying flat on his back. His dick was up and hard, swaying back and forward with his breathing. Deciding not to resist the temptation I crawled up between his spread legs and took his dick between my lips. After a bit the snoring suddenly stopped, and I looked up, hot in the face with being caught.

Ba-Nol was looking down at me, his usual smile present. "Don't stop. My friend used to do that, but you do it better. It feels awful good." With the encouragement I continued, but he took a while to cum. It guess it was his third time. I took his seed in my mouth, finally able to relax my aching jaws. It did not have the flavour of Father or Yue-Sin, that somewhat unpleasant bitter tang. Maybe because Ba-Nol was younger? It was almost without taste, just a slimy sensation as it went down.

By the time he had finished my dick was really crying out for some release. Without thought I fell on his belly and started pushing my dick between his thighs. Ba-Nol made no complaint, just stroked my head gently as I thrust lustily.

The rain had almost stopped by the time we were back on the street. I walked with Ba-Nol on slippery stones. We again spoke about the new wheel. Ba-Nol had already constructed plans of building them in large numbers, but I suggested that maybe it would be better to check the durability by running them for a while on his cart. I was concerned that the wedges might become loose over time, but thought that if the wood was very dry at the time of applying the outer rim, the rim would become even more tight as the wood swelled in its usual wet state. Ba-Nol suggested that throwing the whole wheel into water at the time of positioning the outer rim would prevent the wood from charring, and make the iron harder as well.

Saying that he would try this he shook hands in farewell. He asked if I could call for him at lunch tomorrow, as he would feel very uncomfortable knocking at my door. This agreed we parted, he for his workshop, me for the main street and the town gate.

Hi-Tui was in his office. He smiled warmly at seeing me, but bowed formally as one of his assistants was present. "I was hoping you would come. We can fire some arrows at the target range."

The road was crowded with field workers returning to the fields after siesta, all walking rapidly through the heavy mud. There was a lot to do as the morning rain had been too heavy to work, so the supervisors were vocal in encouraging the workers to hurry. They left a respectful space around Hi-Tui and I, but not enough to allow us to talk freely. It was not until we were behind the shelter that housed the target that Hi-Tui said, "It will not be safe to do anything today. And I don't know if I could anyway, as my wife asked for sex when we woke from siesta."

"I thought women weren't supposed to ask for sex. That women did not enjoy sex. That it was a duty."

"Ah, Cavon, it is clear you do not know women. Women like sex as much as men, and if you do it well I think they get more pleasure than we do. Of course they will only let their partner know this. And when I say ask', I don't mean that my wife said to me, Fuck me, Hi-Tui.' But she cuddled up to me, kissing me on a part of my neck that she knows gets me excited, while tickling my nipples."

"I did not know that."

"Just part of your ongoing education. Now give me a quick kiss, then we can drag the target out into the open."

"Are all women like your wife?"

"That I can't say. I only know my wife. Other than with men, I have been faithful to her. Did you draw these circles on the target?" he said, changing the subject.

I thought it was a strange thing to ask, as he knew I did. I had even described how I had fixed a string in the centre of the target with a nail, then tied it around a piece of charcoal at different distances from the centre to make the concentric circles. I had begun to say, "Yes, Hi- Tui, but." when I became aware of the reason for his inane question. I caught sight of Yue-Sin out of the corner of my eye striding up the corridor between the fields that was the shooting range. Instead I continued, in voice somewhat strained and loud with a sense of guilt, "Do you like them?"

"Yes. It allows a more accurate way of scoring." He then waved to Yue-Sin. "Hello, sir."

Yue-Sin looked quite tense. "Hello Hi-Tui," he said tersely when he came a bit closer, returning the salute that Hi-Tui had made. "Good afternoon my Lord," he bowed to me.

"Good afternoon, Yue-Sin. All is well?"

"Yes, my Lord. I just thought I would see how your archery was progressing under the care of your expert tutor." His voice was heavily edge with sarcasm. He stood erect, shoulders back. With my close knowledge of Yue-Sin I could see jealousy written in his whole being, but I hoped that it wasn't so evident that Hi-Tui would pick it up.

"He is progressing very well. He lacks somewhat in power and distance, yet that will come with increasing strength, but his eye is good."

"I would like to see. Do you mind shooting some arrows for me, my Lord. From here."

"With pleasure Yue-Sin. But if they miss don't blame Hi-Tui as I feel as nervous as if I was being examined by Father."

"There is no reason to be nervous," was his only reply.

And the first few did miss. Hi-Tui came close to me, repositioning my body, my hands, and saying quietly in my ear, "He is looking for an excuse to remove me from the position of teaching you. Calm down or you will achieve that for him." Unfortunately the close contact with Hi-Tui caused Yue-Sin's face to darken even more.

I stood still, focusing on my breathing, meditating on my inner self to the exclusion of the outer world. I then looked again at the target, allowing it and only it to be the focus of my thoughts and vision. The next arrow hit centre, as did its chaser. Of the next 8, all hit the target, 6 within the inner 3 circles.

"That's the lad," muttered Hi-Tui.

"Good. You learn well. Now, Hi-Tui, I am also short of practice. Maybe you can loan me your bow so I can fire some arrows as well."

"Yes sir."

Yue-Sin then took some paces further away from the target, turned and let fly in fairly quick succession three red-feathered arrows. All landed in the centre circle. "See if you can match that," he said, handing the bow back to Hi-Tui.

I now saw the reason he had wanted to shoot the arrows. He wanted to show that he was as good as Hi-Tui, to request that he be allowed to take over my lessons. It was not a wise move, as I knew how accurate Hi-Tui was.

So after bowing to Yue-Sin in acceptance of his challenge Hi-Tui let fly three green-feathered arrows with a speed and fluidity that made it seem like a single movement. With so many arrows in the target we now had to walk closer to see who had shot better. I was first there, having run, to find that two green-feathered arrows had fought over the centre hole that my nail had left, and the third was a finger breadth outside the inner circle, while the red- feathered arrows were scattered randomly within the centre circle, but none near the centre of it. When Yue-Sin saw this he turned and stormed away without a word.

I didn't know what to do. He had made a fool of himself, losing face in front of one of his men. I watched him opened mouth as he stalked away, then turned to see how Hi-Tui was reacting. He was standing with a relaxed posture, but his face was serious.

"I didn't know what to do. No matter what I did would have angered him. If I had put three right in the centre, if I had placed them all over the target, it wouldn't have mattered. I tried to show him that I could shoot better than him, but that I bowed to his superior position, but I think he thought I was mocking him. If I had known you and he were lovers I wouldn't have suggested that I teach you archery. But I would never mock Yue-Sin. And not just because Yue-Sin with a sword is like facing certain death, but because I respect his integrity and loyalty."

"How do you know we are lovers?" It seemed that every secret I had was always on display.

"I didn't, but there can only be one reason for such a display of jealousy." In response to my continued puzzled look he continued. "We live in a big town, but there are not so many people that us men who like other men don't know everyone else who shares the same desire. I know about Yue- Sin, as he knows about me. And he knows I have a penchant for handsome young men. He assumes, correctly, that my teaching you archery is a cover for sex. I think he hoped that I wasn't also teaching you how to use a bow, but fortunately you shot well, after a poor start. Very well, as I would consider you were a bit beyond your strength range. He had put you there I suspect to make it more difficult for you."

"Its lucky he didn't catch us at it, as we could well have been if I hadn't been drained by my wife. My lust would have probably won over my better judgement otherwise, and we would have been caught with our pants down."

"Now, do you think you can still shoot a few more arrows?"

I nodded, thinking that it was lucky that I had been pretty much drained as well as just the quick kiss we had had would probably have been enough to get me hard, something Yue-Sin would have been quick to spot.

Hi-Tui was quiet for the rest of the session. He watched me, correcting errors that became more common as I fatigued. As we walked back to the gate he said, "I was going to suggest that next week we go hunting hun-chies to give you practice with moving targets, but I think it would be better if I didn't teach you further."

"Let's not decide yet. There is no reason for this conflict. Let me talk with him first."

"The only other thing would be to invite him as well, so that he can see nothing is going on between us."

"Yes, that might work."

In bed that night Yue-Sin was distant and rigid. He had arrived quite early I suspect, but he had not been asleep when I had taken leave of Mother. Yet, even despite his bad mood, his dick was still hard!

"He laughed in my face! He condescendingly put an arrow outside the circle! But close to let me know he was laughing at me!"

"Yue-Sin," I said pleading, while trying to stroke his arm. He pushed me away.

"Don't try to placate me. I know you like him and his big dick better than I. Look how small and shrivelled you are. You don't want me any more!"

I could see that this was going to get worse. I tried again. "Yue-Sin, that is not true," I said gently.

"Don't lie to me! I saw how he held you, how you melted into his arms. Just tell me to leave and I will go and never come back." He rolled off the bed to sit with his back to me.

I could see that being soft was not going to get anywhere. I watched his naked back, his laboured breathing, wondering what to do. I felt his pain, but decided that the only way to get through it was to use his reflex of loyalty as a servant.

"Don't you ever tell me that I lie!" I said forcefully, standing on the opposite side of the bed.

This made him turn around, and also stand. I could not believe it that his dick was as rigid as ever, despite the fear that had now distorted the pain and anger in his face. "I, I." he stammered.

"Never!" I continued in the same tone. "I have no obligation to have sex with you. I have no obligation to let you share my bed. I do so because I love you. So don't tell me what I feel."

He was now standing with head bent in shame. I let him suffer for a while before saying, "WELL."

"I'm sorry, my Lord. But I've heard he has such a big dick, and he is such a handsome man, that I thought that you couldn't want me."

"Why do you think I have anything to do with Hi-Tui?" I cut him off.

He lifted his head to look at me. "I know he likes young men, especially handsome ones like you. How could nothing happen between you?"

"How can you love a man who is so lacking in constancy?" I said softly.

"What do you mean?"

"Did you not believe me when I said I loved you?"

"Yes, I believed you."

"And do you think that my emotion is shallow?"

"No, my Lord, nothing about you is shallow."

"But you think my love would have disappeared because a handsome man showed me his big dick?"

"No, of course not." Then realising how I had caught him he hung his head again. "I don't know," he muttered.

"Maybe you should think before you accuse me then!"

He stood like a man lost. My love welled up even higher when he said, "Shall I leave?"

I decided to take him a bit further before letting him off the hook. I simply said, "Yes."

He looked up, tears streaming down his face, looking like he would rather die. My heart broke and I could not keep it up any more. "Yes, you can leave. In the morning, but I want you to wake me so I can kiss you good morning."

His brain was in such turmoil that he took in nothing more than the "Yes". He dejectedly reached for his clothes. "Stop," I commanded. His military training took control. "Listen! I said, `In the morning, but I want you to wake me so I can kiss you good morning.'"

This time what I said registered. He was across the bed in what seemed a single leap and had me in his arms. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he mumbled, plastering my head and face with kisses. "I doubt myself so much. I cannot believe that you can love me."

"Yue-Sin, I love you so much that I want you to be the first man who takes me. And I want you to do it tonight. I have been thinking about this all the time Father has been away. Tonight I want you to take me like a man."

Yue-Sin looked at me in amazement, but only said, "But you'll fuck me as well, won't you?"

"You bet!" and we were rolling around on the bed.

After, when we were cuddled together, he asked, "How was it?"

"It was wonderful, Yue-Sin. Father has put his finger in there before, and it felt interesting. But to be looking in your eyes, kissing your mouth, while I felt you moving within me was really wonderful."

"You won't let Hi-Tui do it to you?" he asked, but gently.

I looked him carefully in the eyes and decided that I could continue safely without causing him pain. "You misjudge Hi-Tui, Yue-Sin. He, in spite of his looks, is not an arrogant man. He said to me after you left today that if he had known you were my lover he would not have tried anything with me."

"He knows that."

"I'm afraid you made it a bit obvious today."

"Yes, I guess I did. Sorry for giving you away."

"He was not laughing at you. He didn't know what to do. He is proud enough that he wanted to show his skill, but he also wanted to show that he respected you as his superior. And by the way, his cock is so big that I would not be game enough to let it inside me. He wants to go hunting hun-chies next week and asked me to invite you along."

"You suggested that?" he questioned, but it was almost a statement.

"No, he did. To show his respect for you."

"I don't think I could go," he said after digesting it a bit.

"I would like you too."

"Really? But you won't be able to have sex with him if I'm there."

"I like being with you, Yue-Sin. Please don't question my love for you again."

"OK. I'll go."

"Good. Now let's get some sleep." I snuggled up inside his arms. He did remember to wake me to say goodbye, but I quickly fell asleep again.

FORDAY

To my surprise Yue-Lin greeted me as I entered the weapons room. He hugged me and said, laughing, "Father seems to have slept in. But he asked me yesterday to take a morning off school so as we could spar."

I returned the hug. Yue-Sin must have organised this as a way to avoid me, but it would have been done before our discussion last night, so presumably he would come. I broke the hug. "I don't think your father would appreciate seeing us hugging like girls. We better start some stretches. I'm sure he'll arrive soon."

"Yes sir."

My caution proved justified when Yue-Sin arrived after only the first few stretches. He was looking happy and relaxed. He fondly held Yue-Lin by the shoulder, and bowed to me. "I organised a surprise for you, my Lord. You've had a lot more formal training than my son, but he is bigger and stronger so he should be a good match for you." He monitored the rest of our stretches, then presented each of us with a wooden sword. "Now the aim is not to hurt each other, though I know you are too close as friends to want to do so. But make sure you pull any strokes that break through. The swords may be wood, but they hurt!"

We shaped up, each making some tentative moves to feel things out. I could see Yue-Lin was quite rough, but the couple of times we locked swords his greater strength put me at major risk of getting "killed". I managed a few taps on his sword arm, but could not get close enough to touch his body. He did not manage to touch me, but I had to dodge and weave to achieve this for he certainly came close. We worked hard and were quite hot and sweaty by the time Yue- Sin called a halt.

"Congratulations, my Lord, you did better than I thought. I thought that the greater bulk of my son would be a match for you. Now I see I will have to match you myself, you will become too confident!" This was said with a small smile. "Son, have a bath and go of to school. I told Chi- Da that I would keep you for as little time as possible."

Yue-Lin bowed to his father, then bowed to me, but the latter with a laughing smile that he carefully concealed from Yue-Sin.

"I think you had better stretch a bit or you will stiffen up, my Lord," said Yue-Sin. He knew that Yue-Lin would be able to hear all that we said from the hot tub. "And when you have rested I will take you on personally."

Yue-Sin professionally guided me through a full stretch routine the called out, "Yue-Lin, move it. Get yourself out and off to school!"

Yue-Lin appeared after a very short time. I suspect he had been standing behind the door, probably watching, but delayed a bit after Yue-Sin's command to make it appear that he had just been dawdling. He bowed again on when he was at the door to outside, once to his father, and then to me, with a muttered "My Lord".

The door closed Yue-Sin wasted no time to give me a quick hug. He said quietly, "I'm sorry that Yue-Lin was here. I didn't know if I was going to be able to face you this morning, so I organised him as my substitute."

"I understand. But remember he is my friend. I enjoyed sparring with him. It was good to see him."

"You showed him up too. A touch to an arm does not look much, but in a true fight it usually means your death as with your sword arm not functioning you cannot defend yourself. But let's go. We haven't sparred for a bit. I'll show you!"

With which he came at me. But he was too confident and the angle of his stroke was such that I was able to deflect it above me, spin and get a touch to his arm before he could recover. He halted, a look of stunned amazement on his face. Then he released the loudest belly laugh I think I have heard. I must have thought he was going to anger, for I felt myself relax with the eruption of his laugh.

"My Cavon! You are wonderful! That was the same move I made on you on the first day of your training. On that day it was just as sloppy. On that day you were dead' in moments, today I have had my arm severed' without offering another stroke. Come and hug me again!" Saying which he took me into his powerful arms and held tight. I could feel his hard cock pushing at my groin. Just as suddenly he released me, kissed, and took guard. Needless to say I did not manage another hit against him. But in my defence I only `died' some 10-15 times in quite an extended bout of sparring.

My massage was as usual, with both of us naked. When he was happy that my muscles would not be too sore he jumped up to sit on me, riding me slow and sensuously with a look of ecstasy on his face. I had never seen his love expressed so openly. He came twice onto my belly and chest before he allowed me to cum in turn, then he leant forward, not letting my dick escape, to cover my face with kisses. He then returned to his seated position and began the process again. After the second time I came my dick shrunk down and escaped his arse. He lay on top of me, rotating his smooth chest and belly on my mine, wet with his cum. He then began a more up and down movement, culminating in grunts as he came one more time. "I love you so much Cavon!" he said adoringly before filling my mouth with his tongue.

In the bath, still wrapped in his arms, he said, "I'll teach you how to reply to all the moves that caught you. I don't want you to be at risk of hurt from anyone. You will be the best!" At the door he was unwilling to release me, kissing and hugging. His dick prodded me continuously, maintaining its record of having never been soft for me to see or touch. Finally I was allowed out, finding myself in a day of soft, wafting rain. I felt quite light headed, my thoughts disordered. I was halfway home before I remembered my promise to meet Ba-Nol. So I wandered through the zig- zag of streets running parallel to the main road in bright midday light.

Ba-Nol greeted me with a look of disappointment. Beside him was one of our prototype wheels. It had returned to its original components, spread at random over a small area. I didn't need to ask. I greeted him, shaking hands, noting how his clothes now covered his large endowment from view. I then set to study the problem. After a bit an idea arrived.

"Ba-Nol, are you able to punch holes in iron when it is hot?"

"Yes."

"What do you use?"

He took me to a shelf that supported a range of tools and selected something that looked a bit like a hard dick, with a bulbous end, though somewhat flattened, at the end of a shaft the length of 1« hands. The variation was that the end of the shaft was quite pointy.

"Could you make a punch that instead of being like this, with a smooth line to the point, had a little step near the point?"

Not understanding I drew a quick diagram on the ground. To his nod I then expounded an idea of having a series of holes in both the central circle of metal that contacted the axle and the outer rim. Nails would be made with a wide, flat head. These would be hammered into the underlying timber until their head was hidden away from harm in the recess formed by the new punch. Ba-Nol pondered for a while. I think I could see the image of the new wheel, when he had processed the information I had given, appearing in his beaming face.

"That will make the new wheel more durable than our original wheel. It also has a tendency to throw its rim," he enthused. Forgetting my new status of Lord he draped his long arm around my shoulders. "You're getting taller!" he said, then continued to enthuse about the new wheel, talking as we walked, his arm draped around my shoulders.

Mother happened to be arriving home at the same time as us, and her tolerant smile included her greeting and the comment, "I see, Ba-Nol, that you are as fond of Lord Cavon as a man as you were of him as a child." There was no sting in her comment, Mother was never malicious, but Ba-Nol reacted as if he had been slapped.

"I'm sorry My Lady. I am forgetting myself. I apologise. It will never happen again!"

Mother just nodded. The topic was dead, her point made, and forgotten. "You are visiting us, Ba-Nol and your wife is away. Will you join us for lunch."

"I would be honoured, My Lady. But I'll need to clean up first," showing his blacked grimed hands.

"I'm sure Lord Cavon will allow you to use his bathing facilities. Until lunch." She acknowledged Ba-Nol's bow with a nod, and turned away and entered the house. We followed, making our way to the depths of the house where Father's room was located. When the door was shut behind us Ba-Nol started, "I'm sorry My Lord. I"ll never let that happen again. Please forgive me."

"In truth Ba-Nol, it does not worry me. With the closeness of our friendship I like the feel of you close to me. After what passed between us yesterday it would not be honest of me to complain anyway. But I guess in public appearances should be maintained. Now run yourself a bath and get yourself cleaned up. Your clothes looked like they are bundled up in the corner over there."

"Thankyou, My Lord."

"Please, Ba-Nol, when we are alone, it is Cavon."

"Yes, Cavon."

I lay down for a little, fatigued and somewhat sore from my morning's workout. I dosed unexpectedly, coming to as Ba-Nol calling out. "Cavon, could you wash my back for me?"

I wearily rolled off the bed. Ba-Nol continued. "My wife usually washes my back for me. Because we don't have children we bath together, but with her away I have missed that."

Entering the bathroom I was greeted by the vision of Ba- Nol's bulk filling the bath, and his dick standing straight up, breaking the water like the oversized breathing tube of an underwater swimmer. "Are you sure it's you back that needs attention, Ba-Nol?"

"That as well," he said, smiling self-consciously.

Feeling excited despite my fatigue I soaped my hand and began with the "cleaning" process of his dick. His body tensed with the pleasure, his head back and eyes shut. Blindly he reached for my cock, hard but within my trousers. I let my trousers drop and his hard hand began pulling at me roughly as I continued to stimulate him. I did not felt much like doing anything after being with Yue-Sin and I had spread Ba-Nol's seed over his belly well before I even came close. So I asked him to stop thinking that I would dress and forget about it, but then feeling the need I continued, used his white gel to lubricate myself to orgasm. I stepped out of my trousers before moving up to wash Ba-Nol's fleshy back. As he sat Ba-Nol leaned over and gave my softening dick a quick kiss, whispering "thankyou".

Lunch passed in traditional silence. A guest present would have normally have meant some conversation after eating, but I was so tired that I begged forgiveness of my impoliteness and asked if I could be excused. To which of course Ba-Nol offered to leave. Mother accepted his offer, also expressing fatigue, and soon I had seen off Ba-Nol, arms loaded with clothes, and was lying on my bed. Sleep came instantly, but seemed to be terminated almost at once by knocking at the door of my room. Very groggy, I grabbed my robe and answered. Tri-Ki, my servant was at the door.

"Hi-Tui is at the door, Sire. He says he has a message for you."

Thinking that this was not wise, inventing excuses to come to see me, I felt there was no alternative but to invite him in. Tri-Ki scuttled away, to promptly return with Hi-Tui in tow. He carefully shut the door after Hi-Tui had entered, leaving us alone.

Before I had a chance to say a word of criticism Hi-Tui rose from his bow performed for the benefit of Tri-Ki and said, "A letter has just been delivered, Cavon. It is from Lord Srotyr and addressed to you. I thought you would want to see it immediately."

My open mouth transformed to a smile. "Thankyou Hi- Tui. I was just about to suggest that this was not a good way for us to meet. I should never have thought that you would do something so indiscreet."

"That is not true. I sorely miss your soft lips and hard little dick, and it is only knowing that meeting here would generate gossip that stops me. But as I am here, can I have a quick kiss?" He did not wait for a reply but took me in his arms, bringing his head down so our lips met

I broke the hold, anxious to see what Father had written. Hi-Tui handed me the letter.

The envelope was of heavy paper, sealed with Father's signet. I wrenched it open eagerly.

Cavon,

Due to circumstances beyond my control I will be away a week longer than planned. Could you please adjudicate the court on FirstDay as I don't like leaving cases so long, and interview Wi-Su about his progress on cleaning the Square. Give my love to your Mother,

Your Father,

Srotyr

The last was Father's flourish. I felt my heart stop. Father did not want to be with me! He preferred to be with Ti-Lung! I dismissed Hi-Tui without thinking, not seeing his concerned look as he backed out of the room. I lay down and stared at the ceiling. Words could not describe the mˆl‚e inside my head. Emotions fought amongst themselves. Rejection, anger, anguish, loneliness. One following another in no rational order. Somehow in amongst this swirl I fell asleep. Waking feeling little better, I rose, dressed and headed direct to the stable.

The emptiness of the streets declared that I had not slept for very long. Lika's hoofs clattered noisily in the silence. I left my destination with the siesta guard at the gate and rode out onto the quieter dirt, away from town, without seeing. My concentration was directed inwards. Coming to the cross road I had to decide on a destination. Remembering the location I had given at random to the siesta guard I pushed Lika into a trot and turned her head right, upstream, on the near bank. I had given no thought to the location, but rules were so strongly ingrained that I did not contemplate breaking the one stating that anyone heading out of town must leave a record of their destination. Lizlions and thieves were not common now, but both still posed a threat, so the old rules introduced for safety were still adhered to. The area of lantern trees had been my stated destination, but on arriving there I still felt to restless to stop so I encouraged Lika up the old log-fellers track. When she could no longer penetrate I tied her to a tree and continued on foot, pushing through clinging, red foliage of new growth, my mind paying no attention to what my body was doing. I collapsed with fatigue after penetrating only a short distance. I fell asleep.

I awoke to a rustling in the dense growth. My hand fell to the haft of my dagger, but fell away when a familiar voice called, "Cavon!" Not wanting company, but understanding the worry of my friend, I tiredly called out, "Here, Hi-Tui."

Shrubs collapsed in front of me and the huge body of Hi- Tui appeared. "Ah, here you are. Do you like to make me worry? My heart began racing from the moment I heard you had left the town."

"I'm sorry, Hi-Tui. I needed to get away. Looking around at the enveloping growth I asked, "Where am I?"

"In amongst the new growth of a logged area. If something had happened to you here you would never have been found." By this time he had enfolded me in his arms and was raining kisses on my head. He sat on a pad of the crushed soft growth, placing me on his lap and wrapping me in the protection of his body. We sat so for some time. I felt safe for the first time since reading Father's letter. I felt wanted, loved, maybe even back in the womb as he rocked me gently in his powerful arms.

"My love," he whispered, the sound of tears on his breath. "Cavon, I didn't realise how much I loved you until I received the handover report from the siesta officer. When you forced me to say I loved you only a week ago I said so without any feeling in my heart. It was wrong, but I thought it was what you wanted to hear and that it could do no harm. When I started feeling like this I don't know. You are more important to me than my wife. Maybe because you are so alone, in spite of your nobility."

I hugged into him, a stray that had found shelter at last. Tears that had refused to form now poured out of me onto his chest. Eventually when we had both settled Hi-Tui started talking again.

"It is not good to have a physical relationship with one's father."

This brought me back to awareness. "What!" I exclaimed.

"I think of myself doing something with my daughter who is not much younger than you and I shiver with the horror. It is not right."

"Why do you say this?"

"Sorry Cavon, I know it is not my place to interfere in the ways of my betters."

"But why do you think that I and Father.?"

"Your face said it all on reading the letter."

Nonplussed, I stuttered over a number of thoughts before getting out, "How can you read me?"

"You are young Cavon. You have not learned the ways of the world, the lies and deceit. You are intrinsically honest, and nothing is hidden from view."

I sunk in on myself, huddling within my new cocoon of safety. I had become a child again. Gone was the knowledge that beneath my buttocks was the biggest dick I had seen. Gone was the lust caused by the massive chest in which my face was buried. I was safe, protected from the world, without responsibility.

Of course this did not last. I sat up straight after a while. Hi-Tui seemed to come out of a doze as he lifted his head from where it had been resting on mine. Without words we hugged and stood, forcing our way back through the luxuriant growth to the where the horses waited.

"How did you find me?"

"That wasn't hard. Lika responded to smell of my stallion, Longbow. I think she must have been worried that you had been gone for so long. Then your path through the shrub was fairly clear."

"You are so good Hi-Tui. I love you very much."

"Likewise."

We rode side by side once the road had widened. Hi-Tui seemed to be doing his best to cheer me, joking and talking about inconsequential things. And it worked for a while, at least until I thought that the next step was that he would be leaving me once we entered the town. He would be returning to his wife, me to an empty room. From feeling content and safe I again felt isolated. I said goodbye coldly, though I hope he would have thought that I was just being cautious. Lika made her way home without guidance from me. I stared blankly. Noticing only that she did not take the shortest route. First she followed the main street till about half way she turned left. Turning right on arriving at the town stables she then weaved her way through the staggered vertical streets until she was in front of our house. There she made direct for our stable.

In my room I sat at my desk, but only gazed. Somewhere amongst thousands of circling, interlaced thoughts I decided that I would ask Mother about my father. After dinner Mother showed me a page of meticulously arranged dots that she had spent the afternoon preparing. She wanted to play squares, a game of cunning that she and I had concocted some time ago. It had been a while since we had played, and I surprised myself at lifting from my numbness to feel pleasure at the idea. But my plan was still there.

Mother was happily putting her "M" in a run of some 20 squares that I had "accidentally" let her have when I said, "Tell me about my father." My voice, I think, was emotionless.

She looked at me, startled, pausing in her gleeful run of line drawing. "What can I tell you about Lord Srotyr that you don't already know?"

"Not Father. The man who impregnated you," I responded bluntly.

"I prefer not to think of him," voice flat.

"But I want to know. I have a right to know about my father."

"It would be better if you never knew."

"Tell me all." I was surprised how forcefully this came out, upset by the pain that flashed across her face, as if I had slapped her. But I decided not to withdraw.

"Okay. I'll tell you all. I don't think it will make you happy."

I nodded.

"I first met Ri-Va in a garden in our house. We lived in a large house, with grounds maintained by field workers. This was in KingsTown. There was no danger there, so large grounds were common. He shouldn't have been in the garden, and I was only allowed there as the garden was walled and considered secure. But he was there. I initially shied away, ready to run, but he reassured me, saying he was a friend of Ti-Lung, and that he was waiting so as to meet him. And he began talking. You must remember that I was young, about your age, just entered womanhood. I was innocent and naive. He talked. His words were smooth and honey filled, but at the same time not condescending. He treated me like an equal, not as a woman. He was intelligent and witty, and soon had me laughing. He talked till I noticed that the light had dimmed. I should be inside by this time. Saying that it seemed that Ti-Lung must have been detained I bade him goodnight, suggesting that he leave by the way he came as otherwise I would be compromised. He agreed to this on one condition. This was that I meet again on the afternoon of the next day. I knew I should say no, but I was quite enchanted and instead agreed, then ran away.

"All evening I couldn't stop thinking about him. His soft smile, the sparkle in his eyes, his delicate features and gestures, his well groomed but slightly long hair that hung free. I could not tell anyone, not even Ti-Lung, for fear of what would be thought. Next afternoon found me waiting for him eagerly, and the next, and the next. I was soon in love with him, and we were talking about marriage. I was promised in marriage with a date already set. It was to an older man, a man close to the king, whose wife had died in childbirth. I did not want to marry this old man. So together we hatched a plan. We would make love until I was pregnant, then, when the old man would not want me anymore, he would offer to marry me.

"Are you sure you want me to continue. To hear of my shame?"

I again only nodded. I was feeling very bloody minded, but also curious.

"As you wish. The plan was put into action, and soon I was pregnant. I told him one afternoon after we had made love. He smiled an evil smile, and said nothing. Next afternoon he was not in the garden, nor the one after.

"After some weeks I was desperate. I considered suicide. Why had he disappeared?' I asked myself. What could have happened?' I finally decided to ask Ti-Lung. When I spoke of his friend Ri-Va he looked at me blankly, saying that `Ri-Va had never been a friend of his.' With this my heart broke and I collapsed to the floor. Face fixed on the floor I stammered out all that had happened, then when no word was said in response I looked up to see Ti- Lung face looking blacker than a winter downfall. I cried, wailing in fear, thinking he would beat me. I think he suddenly realised what I had seen and thought, and was quick to pick me up and reassure me that he was not angry with me. That he would fix things up.

"I don't think that he expected that Ri-Va would call him a liar to his face, leaving him with no proof as to paternity other than my word, which he knew would not be believed. But he told me not to worry, that he would find something. Some days later he came back and asked if I would marry his friend, Srotyr. I had never met Srotyr, but I knew him to be, though a friend of Ti-Lung, low born. I instinctively said no. Ti-Lung explained that he had explored every other option, but all had been fruitless. I still said no, that I would prefer to die than marry a man of low birth.

"He eyed me with a look of sorrow. Ti-Bel, do you think, even in such desperate circumstances, that I would match you to someone who was low born? What I am about to tell you must go with you to your grave, no matter when that may be. Do you promise that on The One?' I muttered that I would, still too riled with fury to be curious. So what Ti- Lung had to say next had to be repeated. My friend Srotyr is the son of the King.' I had to be told the whole story to believe this. I also had to be told what was in it for Srotyr, to marry a woman he did not know. When I had tallied it all up and saw that it made sense I agreed. You might say I am evil for not trusting my brother, but I also knew that he loved me so much that he would have done anything to avoid my execution.

"So I married Srotyr. At the start we slept in the same bed, but even so he never touched me. In truth I thought I understood this, and really did not expect him to touch me. When you were born and I was well enough to go walking, who should I encounter on my first walk but Ri-Va. He came to me full of apologies. His courage had failed. He had believed that when it was discovered what we had done that we would both be executed. In fear he had stayed away, heartbroken. My love for him welled anew. I found myself confessing the coldness of my marriage bed. His smile then lit up. If that was the case we could then renew our love, that the most beautiful things were secret."

I interrupted loudly. I could not stand to hear anymore. "You know why Father wouldn't fuck you," I said, crude and harsh. "It's because he only fucks, or is fucked, by men!" All the anger and anguish I felt with the desertion of Father was behind my words.

Mother looked at me with such pain that I immediately bowed my head.

She continued. "Yes, that is what Ri-Va informed me, though expressed more delicately but with equal intention to shock. And it did shock. So much that I declined his advances at this time and returned home stunned. I had never heard of such things. I thought that it was so ridiculous that it must be lies, and I guess this was what made me stop and think before running blindly back to him. I thought I would ask Srotyr, but with the words ready to spill out of my mouth I stopped in fear. I didn't know how he would react. I did not at this time know him well.

"So I ran again to Ti-Lung. By this time Ti-Lung was also married. He had married well and was a respected man. Once again I prostrated myself and told the floor all, the cold marriage, the accusation of Ri-Va. Once again his face was dark, and once again I quailed in fear. Such words spoken against his best friend were provocative.

"And once again he picked me up and vowed me to secrecy. He asked if he thought he was a good man, in any way different from other men. I replied that of course he was different, he was better than anyone I knew. Then with seeming shame he explained that Srotyr was indeed a lover of men. And that he, Ti-Lung, was the man he loved, and that in turn loved Srotyr. And that Ri-Va also loved Srotyr, but Srotyr remained faithful to his love of Ti-Lung and would have nothing to do with Ri-Va. Ri-Va in truth was dying to have Srotyr's large member, of which he had heard rumour, up his arse. He considered himself beautiful, intelligent, of high birth, that a low born man like Srotyr could not say no to him without punishment. Ri-Va knew of our love, and decided that the best way to punish Srotyr was to punish him, Ti-Lung.

"So he seduced me. But when this plan did not have the desired end he decided that he would make a cuckold of Srotyr, and then declare it to the world. He had heard rumour of this as Ri-Va was a boastful man. And with his looks and wealth he had people who would listen, but some did not like him and what he had been boasting had been reported in secret to him. He said that he had only heard the previous day, and had not had time to warn me.

"He then waxed about the wonderful virtues of his friend, Srotyr, how he may appear cold but it was only be for fear of being asked to perform an act of which he was not capable. How he respected me with all his heart, in fact he feared me. He did not understand women. He thought that I resented his aloofness, judged him for it. Ti-Lung said that all it would require was a word of acceptance from me, acceptance of the correctness of the lack of physical contact between us, and I would see a different Srotyr.

"It took weeks for me to contemplate all this. I passed through stages of anger, of abhorrence. But I also thought of what Srotyr had done. He had not in truth done it for me. He had done it for Ti-Lung. How much love must he have to sacrifice himself to a false life. And though he had been distant, even cold, he had never treated me with anything but the utmost of courtesy. And he doted on you, the seed of another man! Eventually I found the courage to say what I had been advised. He asked if we could sleep separately. I agreed. He said we could say it was due to his snoring, which in truth could be loud when he had drunk too much. Which was every night.

"And the promised change did occur. He stopped drinking. He treated me with warmth equal to Ti-Lung. It was the love of a brother, not of a husband, but I knew the reason and had come to accept it. I did not believe I deserved any more. And I felt content. I had my son and a good man beside me. What more could I want? But I did want more. I wanted revenge. I knew that the keen hatred that had grown within me was wrong, but I could not quench it. I worked out a plan.

"I let it be known that I wanted to meet Ri-Va. I had contact with people who spoke with him. A meeting was arranged. My heart was in my mouth as I unfolded what I had thought over many times. I told him that my marital bed was no longer cold. That Srotyr had only waited an appropriate length of time to let the stink of the man who was the father of his son to leave my body and now we made love every night. That the member of Srotyr was so big and so hard that it made the memories of love making with him, Ri- Va, feel like the memories of childhood. And that I could read his jealousy, his motives. The member of Srotyr was mine, and Ri-Va would never, ever have it filling his arse. But maybe the sword of Srotyr would pierce his body if he did not desist from his stories. I told him that Srotyr was unaware of the true father of Cavon, unaware of his deceit and treachery, but that it needn't stay that way. I turned and left without giving a chance to reply, without looking back.

"Before we moved here I asked Ti-Lung what Ri-Va was doing. I had not heard of him for some time. I thought he might be travelling. Ti-Lung told me that he was dead. He had suddenly gone silent, then started to look sickly. He developed a cough, lost weight, and died. I was mortified. I had wanted to punish, I had not wanted to kill him. Even though he had plotted to kill me. I explained to Ti-Lung the vengeance I had had on Ri-Va, telling all that I had said. He smiled. He said that Ri-Va had deserved that and more. It was not exactly ladylike, but he saluted me and wished he could have been there to see his face. But he did not think that Ri-Va was the type to pine away from love lost. The silence was possible. He was not a brave man and would not have liked to face the sword of Srotyr. Not many men would, as he had quite a reputation. But he was too supercilious and proud to have suffered.

"I remain with my doubts, but what is done is done. I have prayed and asked for forgiveness. I hope I am. One day I will find out. Now, shall we continue our game?"

In silence I played. I felt guilty at having set her up with an opening for the 20 squares, which in turn gave me some 50. I pretended it was an accident, then proceeded to let her win. I kissed her goodnight, holding her tight in my arms, whispering apologies for my bad behaviour. She accepted these, but as she said goodnight she quietly said, "Cavon, you of all people should not be critical of the love of your Father." She left without further explanation.

I walked slowly to my chamber, wondering if my bad blood came from my real father. How could I presume to own Father? How could I think that because I had come of age and wanted him that he should forget all his past? He did not tie me down in anyway, this brought home by the sleeping form of Yue-Sin in my bed. And what Hi-Tui said about it being wrong between father and child I could not feel. I really didn't believe that Father could do anything wrong. I curled in beside Yue-Sin. I had come to bed quite late, and he did not stir. His dick was visible, and soft. It really was insignificant, a tiny little nub amongst his pubic hair, but looking at his peaceful face, the love expressed even while asleep, I did not feel that this was of any importance. I kissed him gently on the forehead and fell into a profound sleep.

FIFDAY

I woke to his gentle kiss in the morning. He had not got out of bed yet and I threw myself on him, kissing him his face, his chest, his dick, his legs. I sucked his balls, then lifted his legs and stuck my tongue in his arse. As soon as this was wet enough I replaced my tongue with my straining dick and fucked him quick and hard. I then fell on his dick and took him in my mouth. Resting for a bit, I enjoyed the sensation of moving his rigidity around my mouth, the taste of his cum. I met his eyes, bemused with love, when I looked up. He lifted me up on top of him and pulled my head down for a long kiss. After this he held me a bit away, just looking. His eyes glistened with tears. He said nothing except, "I must go, it will be light soon," and got out of bed. He left the bedroom, I assume to clean himself up, dressed on returning and kissed me again. Goodbye. But no words. He moved out into the dark and the last I saw was his coattail and feet disappearing up into the wet dark. I fell back into, still full of the taste and smell of him, and was soon asleep again.

Morning was quite advanced by the time I awoke. "You slept well," commented Hu-Wi on my late arrival. I was still mounted on Lika. His next comment was, "We'll have to lengthen those stirrups. I hadn't noticed how short they have become." The day was spent in control exercises in moderate rain. We crossed the river and ran the obstacle course. Lika performed immaculately. On our way back Hu-Wi asked if I would like to have a go on Kito next week. I questioned my capability, but he said that he thought I had grown enough to try.

I met Ba-Nol in his workshop. He was placing the last of the nails in a new wheel. Grinning proudly he rolled it around the workshop, then demonstrated how he had hammered the nails of the inner metal ring. I praised his ingenuity and was soon helping him place the new wheels on each end of the axle of his cart then pushing his stolid horse to pull it down the main road. It rode well, but so had the others on their first run, I reminded him.

"This will be different," he said. Lika had been tied behind and patiently followed, though I think there was reproach in the way she eyed me from time to time. I waved to Hi-Tui as we went through the town gate, and finally encouraged the cart horse into something akin to a trot. Field workers returning for siesta made a space for us as the metal wheels whirred through the hard packed mud of the road. They waved and smiled, I waved in return. The wood of the bridge set up a hollow vibration but soon we were on the hard surface of the ancient permanent road. Here the sound was more of a controlled screech with the occasional spark when a wheel hit something more prominent.

Ba-Nol examined the wheels at the turning point, swore they were as good as new, and climbed back up. Gold mounted high in his thoughts and words as we returned at a more leisurely pace. I had opted to ride Lika, as much for the comfort as to salvage her pride, for in truth the solid cart made for an uncomfortable ride. We talked about ways that this stiffness could be cushioned, but reached no conclusions.

By the time we had arrived back at his workshop and the wheels were still seemingly intact Ba-Nol was already postulating on ways to increase production. I suggested greater caution, waiting a week or two to see the end result before committing resources to the production of the new wheel, but he talked of nothing else till we were soaking in the bath. Then his attention turned to his freshly stiff dick and its satisfaction.

After lunch Mother engaged Ba-Nol in conversation, asking after his wife, his parents. Letting Ba-Nol enthuse further about the new wheel. With this topic still fresh, and Ba-Nol indicating that he wanted to talk over further details with me, Mother suggested that he sleep here rather than return to his empty house. Ba-Nol accepted politely, and soon we were cuddled up in bed.

"I like the feel of you in my arms", said Ba-Nol, echoed by his dick that had sprung up and was pressing out past the limits of his belly and against my backside.

"Thankyou, Ba-Nol. But I'm sure I'm no replacement for your beautiful wife."

"No. I guess not. But it is much more interesting talking with you, and my dick seems to not know the difference."

"I noticed that."

After a comfortable silence Ba-Nol suddenly asked, "Can I fuck you?"

Caught of guard I begged that Ba-Nol give me a moment to think. His dick is long, I reasoned, but it is not thick like that of Hi-Tui. It should not hurt when it went in or cause damage. It was thicker than Yue-Sin's, but not too much. "Okay, we can try. But you must go slow, and stop if I say."

"Naturally."

"And if you are going to use my arse I want to cum in your mouth."

This set him back, and his body moved a little away from mine, but he must have thought it through and decided that it was a reasonable exchange, for he pushed against me again and said, "OK. Maybe next week you can try my arse too." With that his hand went down and started wiggling his dick around, I assumed looking for my hole.

"You'll need to wet me up a bit if you want to get in." With the lubrication of saliva applied to me and his dick he then proceeded to push once again. He was surprisingly slow and gentle, in great contrast to Hi-Tui, taking it in such gradual stages that I hardly picked when had made full entry. Having experienced it twice before I was probably more aware of how to relax as well. The initial sensation was of being exceedingly full, but this soon was replaced by a deep pleasure as he began to move. Still, by the time he had finished I had had enough. I didn't experience the degree of pleasure that Yue-Sin seemed to derive from the activity, but I was still quite excited and didn't give Ba- Nol much choice as I pushed my groin towards his face.

I fell asleep feeling myself buried in the soft flesh of Ba-Nol's chest, contemplating one of my favourite topics, the strangeness of the human condition, particularly the sexual aspect. Ba-Nol was different again from all I had experienced to date, maybe something like how Father described my uncle. Yue-Sin liked men exclusively, as did Father. Hi-Tui liked both men and women, but it was the physical aspects that attracted him to both. I suspect that Ba-Nol was somewhat insensitive to the nature of the genital organs the person he was with was equipped, of greater importance was his feelings for the person. Remembering back to the warmth I had felt for Win-Som on the night of the dinner at her house I wondered where I stood. Marriage would resolve that question, and for the first time I felt myself not so frightened of the proposition.