The Strolling Players

THE STROLLING PLAYERS by Andrej Koymasky (C) 2008 written on June 3, 1992 translated by the author English text kindly revised by The Australian

USUAL DISCLAIMER

"THE STROLLING PLAYERS" is a gay story, with some parts containing graphic scenes of sex between males. So, if in your land, religion, family, opinion and so on this is not good for you, it will be better not to read this story. But if you really want, or because YOU don't care, or because you think you really want to read it, please be my welcomed guest.

CHAPTER 9 - The journey towards freedom

For several hours Vance couldn't talk again to Friar Timothy. After they had their lunch they were introduced to the Bishop, then they had to prepare their luggage for the long travel. Friar Timothy, for his previous experience as a stable groom, was charged with the task of preparing the four horses for the novices, so he asked to be helped by Friar George.

In the afternoon, as they were alone in the stables, Friar Timothy said, "Here we can talk a little."

"Before lunch we were interrupted at the most interesting point. You were telling me about your friend... that Friar Adrian if I remember well."

"Yes. Today I couldn't even talk with him."

"Who was he?"

"In the refectory he was sitting just under the lector's pulpit."

"I didn't notice him."

"Are you and Friar Patrick friends?"

"We just know each other."

"What impression did you get of the Bishop?"

"I still don't know. How about you?"

"A severe man. He should be a man of sterling character who makes all his priests behave well. One who doesn't allow himself any luxury, any pleasure. Did you see at table, he ate like a little bird, he took little bits and chewed them for a long time."

"At times all that glitters is not gold. I, in the past, had the occasion to work in a Bishop's castle, even though just for a short time. He too looked like this one. But then I discovered that when an actor's company came to his castle, after the play, he always took one young and handsome to his room, on his bed."

"Really? He was then a roguish bishop!"

"I don't think so. He just had his own needs."

"You mean that, in your opinion, he was doing nothing wrong?"

"Who am I to judge him!"

"So, in your opinion, if Friars... if by chance they do... how to say..."

"If they are close friends, it is just their business, don't you think?"

Vance studied the boy's expression. Timothy bustled to make the last horse ready, but said nothing.

Then Vance said, "Who knows, along our journey we will be able to withdraw somewhere to chat some more?"

"It would be difficult, I think, but who knows... I like talking with you."

"I like talking to you too. We can possibly find an occasion."

"I hope so. But we have to go now."

The Bishop's train was set up. The Bishop was riding between two of his Priests and wanted the novices to ride two before and two after him. At the head of the group he had Lionel and Friar Dennis. When the small train set off, Friar Timothy, from under his hood, winked to Vance, who smiled and thought that, if luck assisted him and if he wasn't wrong, he could possibly make something with that so easy-going and merry boy, that novice not abiding by the rules.

At evening they reached the Benedictine Abbey of Hertford. Here each of them was assigned a different cell in the guest quarters. Vance managed to hurriedly exchange a few words with Lionel. The following morning, after a good breakfast with the monks, they resumed their journey. They rode all the day long, and they only had a short stop at an Inn for a frugal meal, then in another monastery for another scanty supper.

At evening they reached Aylesbury. As there was no convent or monastery, the Bishop stopped at the house of the local parish priest who gave his bedroom to the Bishop. In another room he settled the two priests, Lionel and friar Dennis in the kitchen, and in the barn friar Timothy and Vance. Both the boys were happy with that arrangement.

They spread on the hay the blankets, untied their cords, pulled of their cowls, and wearing only the short breeches and the sleeveless coat, they lay down. I was not cold, so they didn't cover themselves.

Friar Timothy asked, "Aren't you going to say the evening prayers?"

"I don't feel like it, we already prayed earlier, with the Bishop. How about you?"

"The same. If I say my prayers, I fall asleep. I'd rather talk for a while with you, if you feel like it."

"Sure. I was thinking of that bishop I told you about..."

"The one about the actors? But are you really sure he took them in his bed or you just suspect it?"

"I'm sure. It was enough just to see how he touched them."

"He touched them? In front of everybody? How?"

"No, only when he thought nobody was watching him. He touched them so... here... in this way." Vance said moving his hand and touching is companion on his breeches.

As Vance hoped, Timothy didn't react and asked, "An the actor, what did he do then?"

"He just smiled and let him touch. Have you ever been touched in this way by somebody?" Vance asked without taking away his hand but not even fingering the boy's member that he could feel, soft, under the hemp cloth.

"Yes, the groom chief, when I was working for that Lord."

"And how did you feel?"

"Very bad. He was an unpleasant man."

"Nobody else, besides him?"

"Well, another one... and you too?"

"I too. By a friend."

"Did it annoy you?"

"No. Are you annoyed by my hand?"

"No, I'm not."

"Who was that other one? Possibly... Friar Adrian?"

"Yes, is was him. How did you know?"

"What did he do, besides putting his hand there?"

"He... he kissed me."

"How did he kiss you? Wouldn't you show me?"

Timothy turned on his side, bent towards Vance and put his lips on Vance's. At first lightly, but when Vance opened his lips, he kissed him in a more intimate and forceful manner. Then Vance searched for the boy's breeches, opening them and slipped in his hand, firmly seizing the boy's member. It started to harden immediately.

Fondling it, Vance asked, "And what else did Friar Adrian do with you? Tell me..."

"He made me undress him, and he undressed me, then... then he wanted me to lick him."

"But... did you like doing it?"

"Yes..."

"It has to be good... Do it to me too, please."

The boy at once busied himself. Vance closed his eyes and for a while enjoyed the licks of his companion, who was staying more and more on the erect member of Vance.

After a while Vance asked, "What else were you doing?"

"Then Friar Adrian ordered me to knell down, so that he could punish me for my sins."

"Oh, really? And how did he punish you?"

"He first pushed it all into my mouth, while he was spanking me. He then moved at my back and pushed it all inside my back-hole, and said - you've to suffer for your sins - and so he fucked me until his yeaning subsided."

"Did he make you suffer?" Vance asked, as he became more and more aroused.

Timothy giggled, "No, quite the opposite, I enjoyed it. So when I wanted it, I would go to see him and told him I did plenty of sins and I deserved a punishment."

"But how did you do? Not in your cells!"

"Of course not. We found a secret place in our convent. It was under the eaves of the church. He went there through the bell tower stairs, but I passed through the larder, where a small stairway led first to a storeroom then under the church eaves. So nobody saw us withdraw together. Up there we hid an old rug so we could lay on it and... I like how you're touching me. Wouldn't you like to fuck me? I think I would like that. You have a really good peg, and it's five days since I've had it there."

"Take the position, then. So, good. Do you know you have a really nice little arse?"

"Wait, I'll first suck it for a while so I make it nicely wet and it doesn't hurt... Come here, let me start."

That boy was wild and Vance liked him. For a moment he thought of Lionel chastely sleeping with Friar Dennis, but perished that thought and enjoyed his novice's hunger for sex. When Timothy had well prepared his companion's member, he turned again and offered himself to Vance, spreading his buttocks with both hands. Vance aimed his member on the little hole and started to push.

Friar Timothy had a short moan and said, "Harder... I like it harder. Break me in two..."

Vance then gave a strong push and sank into him. The boy sighed a low and guttural "yeaaaahhh..." and when Vance seized his waist and started to vigorously fuck him, Timothy began to masturbate with the same vigour. Soon they both reached their orgasm, with long, agreeable spasms, then fell on the blanket, panting.

"No, don't put on your clothes, Friar George... Let me feel some more your body. Do you know that you are really skilled at fucking?"

"I know. I had more men than years in my life."

"You are just my second man... without counting that lout that pleased himself fondling me."

"So, then, was it Friar Adrian who taught you?"

"Yes, my handsome Adrian."

"Just in two months?"

"Just in one month. The first month we did nothing. But in the second month we did it at least a dozen times."

"But how did the first time happen?"

"A day he was teaching me to read when at one point he said, "Boy, I've got the impression that you do plenty of sins."

"Who doesn't?" I asked him.

"Yes, but you do them with this?" Saying that, he put his hand here, under the cowl.

To tell the truth, after I entered the Order, I never beat my meat, but I don't know why I answered "Yes, it's true".

He then said "Come later to see me, because I have to give you the penance you deserve".

"That first time he lead me trough the church, then up the bell tower stairs and from there to under the eaves. There he told me " Pull out your cowl, you are not worthy wearing it."

I then thought he was going to really punish me and obeyed. He took my cord and lashed me, but weakly, without hurting me.

He then asked "Am I'm I hurting you?"

"No, no, not at all."

"That is because your underwear protects your skin; pull out them too".

I was totally naked.

He then took my thing in his hand and started to beat it and asked, " Is this that you do when you sin?"

I liked how he was doing it and answered yes. He then made me knell down to receive my punishment...

He then raised his cowl and under it he wasn't wearing any breeches, and I saw that his tool was already up, hard and jutting out.

Then he said "As a punishment, you now have to lick it and take it in your mouth!"

I never did such a thing before, but the thought enticed me. So I sucked it for some time.

He said, "Don't think you will get away with it! If you sin again, I'll punish you even harder. Now put on your clothes and let's go back."

"He didn't fuck you, that time?"

"No, not that time."

"He came into your mouth?"

"No, he never did. He just didn't come, the first time. He did probably beat his meat afterwards, I don't know, but I did beat mine. Then after a couple days he was acting as if nothing happened, I said, "Friar Adrian, I have sinned again. You have to give me my penance, now, haven't you?"

And he "Yes, I have to. Come with me". He took me there again and that time, after making me suck it, he spanked me, then he fucked me in the arse."

"Wasn't it painful?

"No, it was just a little annoying at first. But Friar Adrian has a smaller peg than yours or mine, just thinner and longer, but he knows how to fuck! After he came inside me, we dressed again and he then showed me the other means of access. The day after, I again told him I had sinned, and so that time he undressed me totally and taught me how to lick him all over his body, always pretending it was a penance."

"Did he never suck you?"

"No, never."

"Wouldn't you like being sucked?"

"I really think I would..."

"Then, if we can find time, I'll make you come, giving you head."

"Why not now?"

"No, now it's better to dress and sleep. Tomorrow we have to travel all day long, don't forget it."

"You're right. But it's a pity. Hey, Friar George, did you enjoy fucking me?"

"Yes, Timothy, of course I did. Let's sleep, now."

The day after they stopped and slept in a great Franciscan convent in Oxford, where they were all put in separated cells. The following day in an Augustinian's convent in Chetelnham. As there were only five free cells, three were for the Bishop and the two priests, in another, Vance and Lionel were housed and in the last, Friar Timothy with Friar Dennis.

As soon as they were alone, Lionel whispered, "If we keep very quiet, we can at last make love!"

They undressed and in silence they made love on the narrow bed for a log time, taking each other in turns. While Vance was taking Lionel, he thought of Timothy. He surely preferred Lionel, but the young novice was agreeable too. He thought that he would have liked to have both of them. With Lionel it was something sweet, long lasting, tender and passionate. With Timothy it was something fiery, fast, intense and filled with lust. Vance felt that while with Timothy it was nothing but a passing adventure, with Lionel it was something much more serious and valuable.

Before falling asleep, and for safety reasons, they dressed in their underwear and lay down head to toe, avoiding any embracement while sleeping eliminating any risk of being caught in a compromising position, as in that convent the doors could not be locked from inside.

The day after, they spent the night in the Cheltenham inn. As the inn was almost empty, each of them got a room.

Lionel whispered to Vance, "Tonight I'll come to your room..."

"No, it's too dangerous. We are better to avoid it."

"But I want you."

"I want you as well, but just think, if they caught us... No, it's really too risky."

Lionel resigned himself. Vance went to sleep. He was just falling asleep when he heard a scratching at the door. He thought it was Lionel and get up, hesitant of telling him to enter or not. When he opened the door, being very careful not to raise any noise, he recognized from the size of the shadow that it was instead Friar Timothy.

"What are you doing here?" Vance whispered.

"Let me in, go on. Let me come in."

Vance moved aside, the boy slipped inside and Vance bolted the door.

In a whisper, he said, "It's too dangerous, go back to our room."

"Everybody is asleep. Come on, there is no risk, here. We aren't in a convent, are we? We just have to keep silent. Look, I'm wearing nothing under my cowl."

"Pull it out, then. I too want to fuck you."

"You told me that this time you would suck me."

"Then let's lay on the bed, so we can suck each other. But then you too will drink all my come, agreed?"

"As you like. Come..."

Vance went on the boy on all fours, head to toe, and they at once started to give head, while caressing each other. Vance performed so that they came at the same time. When both had unloaded in the other's mouth, Vance turned again.

Timothy whispered at his ear, "You were right, it's great this way too. I really liked it a lot."

"I did too but now, put on your cowl and go back at once to your room. We are running a great risk"

"No way! Well, good night, brother."

"Night, Friar Imp!"

Timothy silently slipped back to his room and Vance went back to his bed. " I could really not complain about the journey", he thought feeling satisfied, while starting to doze.

The day after they slept in the Franciscan convent of Tydfil where each of them had a different cell, so they could do nothing.

They finally reached Llanelly port. They again spent the night in a Franciscan convent and again they couldn't make love. The day after, after the lunch, they embarked on a ship sailing for Cobh, in Ireland. The sea was rough and Friar Dennis was sick most of the time. At dusk they landed in Cobh.

There were several people waiting for them. Two priest from Cork were waiting for their Bishop, a wiry Friar from Mallow was waiting for Friar Dennis and Friar Timothy, and another hefty Friar waiting for Lionel and Vance, who were officially to be taken to the Youghal convent.

The hefty Friar knelt in front of the Bishop, saying, "Benedicite".

The Bishop blessed him. The Friar stood up and said, "I am Friar Benedict. His Reverence the Youghal Prior sends me to fetch Friar George and Friar Patrick. Are those two the novices?" he asked pointing to the wrong two novices.

The Bishop pointed him toward Lionel and Vance. Also the two boys knelt and asked the Bishop's blessing then they followed Friar Benedict. All three left Cobh on horse. As soon as they were on a deserted stretch of road, the friar who went to fetch them stopped his horse and got down. Also Lionel and Vance followed suit, and Lionel literally flung himself in the spread arms of the friar, and they laughed and patted greeting upon each other.

Then Lionel said to the amazed Vance, "He is my brother John, the eldest, the chieftain of O'Neil clan. And this, John, is my friend Vance. But... you too have the tonsure!"

"Of course, a small sacrifice I had to make for my little brother. The disguise had to be perfect. The hair will grow back for you too. Who is this friend of yours Vance? Isn't he an Englishman?"

"He is a dearest friend who was in prison with me. I decided he had to escape with me. He is an Englishman, that's true, but he doesn't like the English too much. He was sentenced without reason to twenty years jail for something he never did. What's more, in prison he shared his money with me when I didn't get it any more. So he is now with me."

"You know what you're doing, Lionel, and if he's your friend, he's welcome." John exclaimed giving his hand to Vance. "But now, let's hurry up, we have to go beyond Kinsale and reach Clonakilty."

"Our people are there now?"

"Yes, almost all our clan. Our mother and all our brothers are waiting for you anxiously. We will throw a huge party for your coming back. On the saddle, now!"

They went at gallop, riding in the last light of day. Vance followed them and thought that, who ever may seen those three Friars riding at a wild gallop, would have thought they were being chased by a full legion of devils.

Dusk was advancing fast and the road was barely visible, and yet John went on hurriedly. They passed a village through the desert main street. Only some faint light behind some windows showed it was inhabited.

Vance was following the two dark shapes, but was afraid that he would soon not be able to distinguish them any more in the impending night. It was evident that both John and Lionel were skilled horsemen and also that they knew the road very well. Vance was miraculously remaining on his saddle and was trying not to lose them. All the merit was to go to the horse rather than that of the young actor.

They were amidst a new group of houses. Here the horses slowed down and at trot they turned in a narrow lane and stopped in front of a dark, massive building that seemed to be something half way between a big farm and a castle. While approaching the building John had blown a horn so, while still approaching, the big gate was opening and men with lit beacons in their hands, appeared.

They entered in a wide courtyard at a slow trot then stopped their horses and dismounted. High festive yells welcomed Lionel who went to embrace several of the men.

Then Lionel took Vance by an arm and said, "Follow me, my mother is waiting for us. Come to greet her. I will then introduce you to my family and to the Clan, then we will have a good bellyful and a long drink!"

They went into a wide hall full of light, sumptuously laid tables and benches, and plenty of noisy and merry people. At the end, in front of a table with chairs with a tall back, was a middle aged, solemn lady, dressed soberly but elegantly. With a wide smile and clear strong voice said something. Lionel knelt in front of her and the woman took his head on her lap and lightly caressed him. Then she asked him something. Lionel then went again near Vance.

Speaking in English, aloud and clearly so that everybody could hear him, he said, "Dear Mother... brothers... all you my friends..."

Possibly more because of his tone, and the fact that he started to talk in English instead of Irish, at once attracted everybody attention and in the entire wide hall silence fell.

Lionel went on, "I've the pleasure to introduce to you Vance Elton, a really dear friend. He has been my captivity companion. He will be our guest and will live with us."

A murmur arose in the hall and a voice, in an approximate English with a strong Irish accent, but clear enough, asked, "What's he doing here amidst us? He is a bastard Englishman!"

Lionel mother shouted one only word in Irish and silence fell again in the hall.

Then shifting to English, she said, "He is Lionel's friend, and John, the O'Neil chieftain introduced him here, he is a guest of this house and of this Clan. This is enough to make him not only a welcome, but also a sacred guest. Any offence made to him is made to the whole O'Neil Clan. It is a promise I have made. Have I made myself clear enough? Add a seat to our table, between that of John and that of Lionel. Started be the feast to celebrate the return of the O'Neil puppy!"

Then the lady made a sign to Vance to approach and with a smile told him, "Here we don't like English people that much, this is certain. But you have nothing to worry about, my boy."

"I thank you, milady. I don't like English people myself too much at this time, but I can't change the colour of my hair or the features of my face, but with Lionel's help and that of you and your clan, there is one thing I will do, and that is to learn as soon as possible your language and your customs."

"You have a likeable aspect and a courteous tone. Come, let's sit at the table. Just a word of advice, you will have nothing to fear from those who are here this evening, but never go about the land alone. You could risk your life. The hate for the Englishmen is deeply embedded in the heart of any true Irishman. We will have time to talk about that in the following days. Let's now enjoy this feast for Lionel's return to his home and homeland."

CONTINUES IN CHAPTER 10

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