CHAPTER 23-Tessellations By: Zane Hunter-Green This story is in honor of Ganymede's stories which should be read and re-read. This story has sex between imaginary men of all ages, and is written for an adult audience who likes these types of stories. If you are underage, come back when you're legally able. Or go find another good story somewhere...but read.
The copyright of this story belongs to the author. I appreciate comments at ZaneG7@excite.com
The foot traffic on the road was getting lighter now. It was time to stop. Earlier they halted at a town to buy some food. In the quiet evening breeze they ate what remained, and took the blankets from the cart laying them underneath as the donkey stood sentry.
"When will we get to this prison fortress you're taking me to?" Saffron whispered finally breaking the silence.
"It should be tomorrow, and it's a monastery school, not a jail."
"So this may be our last night together, is that what you are telling me?"
"We have had many last nights Saffron, Maybe in that we are fortunate. How sad for those who depart not knowing that it is for the last time."
Saffron was done with talking. He started to play with the bulge in Dominic's hose, pulling it down to reach his linen underdrawers where he teased him by reaching down and biting at the clothe belt. Dominic untied the tight knot and went to work on helping Ron undo the heavy clothes. The boy nestled his head in the sweet wiry hair of the man's genitals. As he breathed softly, Dominic grew harder with each exhale. It wasn't long before they were joined together, until the rush of seamen and sleep took its turn. They fell asleep Dominic still inside of his boy, the two nestled together sheltered from the winds.
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The monastery appeared to be the coldest and most austere place Saffron had ever seen. Only the kind smile of the Abbott gave him any reassurance. The man was heavy set, and reminded him of John, the last tutor his Grandfather had hired for him, although John had been much younger.
"I understand that you are joining us Ron. We are delighted to have you here, and I hope that you will come to feel the same way." The Abbott intoned.
"He will." Dominic answered for him.
"I am aware that we must be circumspect about your identify. We have had more than one student come here incognito. I have learned over the years that the best way to hide something is in clear sight, so we will not disguise you as anything but what you are at this time. Since your Father isn't paying tuition, you will be a charity student. What this will mean for you is that you'll be expected to work as well as study. For this you will not have the same luxuries as the other boys, but you will not have the hardships of a servant either. It will prepare you for the world of the church should you one day decide to join us."
"Saffron looked up at Dominic hoping he would disagree at once."
"That sounds like a good idea Father." Dominic agreed. "Saffron needs to know that I am leaving the fortune with you that his father bestowed upon us when we left his palace. The gold is his to use if he ever needs it."
"I am sure Ron will discover that his needs will be provided for by our mission. It will be unnecessary for him to pay us back unless one day he decides to join us. Then his earthly goods will not have any meaning for him. This is the path to heaven.
Dominic looked at Saffron and appraised that is his life; this boy had been the path to heaven. One he had never looked for or expected.
"You may use the name Ron. It is common enough. I have some clothes for you to put on, and then I will take you in to meet Father Benedict. He is responsible for our student workers." The Abbott instructed.
Saffron sighed as he looked up at Dominic. He really didn't have to go through with this did he? It looked like Dominic was resigned to leaving him here so very slowly and enticingly Ron slipped out of his long dress and in front of the two men got into the plain brown tunic. It felt like a wasp nest against his skin. Both men watched him before he covered his beauty in the course wool. Dominic looked distressed but he knew he was doing the right thing. He smiled tenderly as he watched Ron follow the Father; his eyes never blinking until Ron left the room. He wondered if he would ever see Ron as a boy again. If things went well Ron might be closer to a man when he returned. The thought depressed him so much Dominic was unable to move. He wanted to admit that it was a mistake to leave Saffron behind. He gritted his teeth and walked out the door fearing to look back.
Father Benedict appraised the new boy quickly. The boy looked weak for the work required of the boys who were mostly treated as servants regardless of what the Abbott had said. This boy looked like a bedboy if there was ever one. That would keep him busy enough. He could arrange that this boy tended the rooms of his favorite older students. Then once he was broken in, he would charge the young men to keep this one on their assignment. He had no doubt that this beautiful boy would be very popular. He would still have to make sure he got some scholarship, but if it could be proved he wasn't bright then in time his lessons could be reduced.
The working students shared a crowded dormitory in the attic eaves. They were each allocated a straw mattress, and a wooden crate to keep their few clothes and books. Ron looked about him and shuddered at the row of beds. The primitive sleeping arrangements didn't disturb him as he had slept in a tent while traveling from France, but the lack of privacy did He had never shared a room with another, except for Dominic, and before him John. The idea of sleeping and sharing a room with boys around his age was stressful. Then things got worse.
Father Benedict turned to him. "You must be hungry my boy, it is lunchtime. I will show you to the Dining hall where you will meet the other Charity boys. You lads must serve and then you get to eat when the others are finished. I will assign one of the older boys to instruct you. After lunch-time will be your lessons, and then I will assign your evening chores. "Come with me, follow." He spun around to make sure his beautiful new charge was behind him before they descended the narrow stairs. He had been tempted to stop and push the boy on a mattress, and explore his boyhood, but there would be plenty of other time for that. It was best not to upset the boy right away and make the Abbott suspicious.
The dining hall was filled with boys who were impatiently waiting to be served. All heads turned to watch the newcomer who walked gracefully in. As he walked a leg came out, and Ron used to walking with his head up tripped. Peels of laughter hid one or two catcalls. Ron wanted to die. As he picked himself up from the cold stone floor, and brushed himself off, a boy came over. He was scraggly, and tall with the beginning of dark facial hair.
"Come then, I'm Riculf, and I'm to show you how to serve", under his breathe he said "the pigs."
It was not easy work carrying tray after tray of hot meats, and breads. Lunch was the main meal. Ron was smart enough to avoid being tripped again, but his arms and shoulders ached from the labor.
To him the others were a blur of faces; he heard some rude remarks, like "look it's fresh meat." And "Do you fuck as good as you look."
After the boys and faculty were finished eating he carried the trays back to the kitchen. He was told not to throw the food away, it was to be fed to them, the servers. So what would have been given to the dogs at home was now his lunch. It was a bad sign to be treated worse than a dog, because even a dog wasn't expected to work this hard.
The other boys filled out for their leisure time. Riculf told Ron they would eat first, and then they had to scrub the tables and floors.
Ron sat down, but there wasn't time to feel remorse. He saw another boy sit beside him, a handsome boy with straw colored hair.
The boy whispered "Hi, I'm Falkon. You need to eat, as all we get at supper is the stale bread from lunch.
Ron continued to play with the lump of food.
"Look," Falkon took his bread and cut a heart shape in it and gave the heart to Ron. "This is for you."
Ron sighed, and put it on his wood plate without saying a word.
See it's for a beautiful young boy, the top of the heart is an ass, and the bottom point is the point, you know the prick."
Ron looked at it open-mouthed, he would have to find a way to send a heart to Dominic, and tell him what it really meant. He started to giggle as he ate the bread.
"You don't look like a charity student"
"What do you mean?" Ron asked.
"You are too fine, you look like an aristocrat. It doesn't make sense really. If your family were improvised with your looks you would be made a eunuch, to help you rise in the government. The Empress has a thing for beautiful eunuchs. Well, whatever or whoever you are I'm glad you're here, and I'll help you stay out of trouble. The first rule is pretend you like all the church things, if you can sing they'll put you in the choir, and then you won't have to work as hard."
"I have a decent voice." which Ron knew was an understatement. So he would sing, he loved to sing, at least that was good news."
"But don't sing too well." Falkon advised.
"Why not?"
"The eunuch threat again, if you are the star they might want to try and preserve your voice."
Ron shuttered, but he knew that they really couldn't do anything to him. He wasn't really a charity case at all. He had his own wealth in France, even if he didn't inherit the land or property. There was also the money that Dominic left with him. He would find a way to have his money invested for him. He had heard that Constantinople was full of Jewish moneylenders. There had to be a way to find a Jew to be his banker.
"Do we ever get to leave this place?"
"Only on the long holidays but you need a family to sign you out. My mother would do it. She is rather silly, and does whatever I ask of her. If I didn't want to be educated so badly I wouldn't be here."
"You would really let me go home with you? I'm a stranger." Ron protested.
"There is something about you that draws me to you. It isn't how you look, it's like you don't belong here, but I sense you are smart, and can help me learn."
"I don't know, I can try."
Well we better hurry and finish. They'll want to test you and find out what grades you'll be in."
"Should I try to act smart, or stupid?"
"Oh show off what you can do. They treat us poorly when we're not in class but we are equals in the schoolrooms. They have agreed to educate us fairly. That's why I'm here."
Ron walked off with Falkon, as Riculf walked up to him. "You shouldn't be with him. I'll show you where to go for class."
"Thank you Riculf, but Falkon is going to help me."
"You were assigned to me."
"That was because I didn't have a friend to help me."
"Just who do you think you are! There are no friends here."
"I'm nobody, but that doesn't mean I can't have a friend."
"Just remember that then, you're nobody."
Saffron decided at that moment he would be a somebody, and he would earn the reputation on his own. Meanwhile he decided this wasn't the place where it would happen. This was a place like his grandfather's home where he had to manage to survive. The cheerful innocent smile on Falkon's face gave him some hope.