Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2012 20:28:57 -0700
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Arden's Saga 31

Arden's Saga
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)

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This is a narrative.  It is a work of historical fiction.  The operative
word in that sentence is fiction.  Sex between males, males and females,
between females, of both contemporaries and intergenerational is common.  I
am sure, not common enough for some and to common for others.  Some of the
descriptions are graphic, others not, still others are only statements of
happening or just illusions to occurrences.  The main characters are male
and most of the sex is between them.  Most of these characters are
bisexual.

If the sexual nature is offensive or you are disqualified due to age or
location, don't read it.  You have been warned.  I hope you like what you
read and find the characters and their exploits/adventures interesting.

Nifty and I hold the copyright so posting it or making money from it
without permission or sharing, is unethical.  That said, if you wish to
quote reasonable length passages please be kind enough to sight them.  You
will find a few quotations or only slightly edited passages in some
chapters.  References are provided in the text.

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31: Earth Quakes and Other Happenings

1318, 3rd month, 14th day:

Four days ago we had a good shaking of the earth, from the earth itself, an
earthquake.  Nikias and I were laying on the bed kissing when the bed
started to shake and jump around.  His kisses are most wonderful, powerful
and welcome but this shaking wasn't the result of our passion.  I
immediately pressed my body to him, covering my precious, beloved, to the
bed.

None of our major government buildings were badly damaged.  Many homes and
smaller structures made of stone and bricks were.  My concern was toward
our boys and the staff.  In the Castle things toppled and objects placed
high up fell down.  In some rooms parts of the roof came down and many
ceilings lost parts.  Remarkably no one was killed, many were hit by things
and sustained injuries.

Karyakos immediately sent the Argoanuts, palace boys and all of Arden's
boys to the city, where they assisted the army and castle guards.  Many
citizens were trapped in partly collapsed homes and under fallen objects.
The pages were sent to help Ikaros, Drakon the Steward and Dysme.  We 10
went into the city to help.  It was fortunate that it happened in the late
morning, most people were outside.

I could see many water and sewer lines were disrupted but only in some
specific places.  Many neighbours were helping each other and the women
were gathering up the children, trying to keep them out of the way.  The
ground shook several more times but with much less force.  Each time this
happened, everyone cleared away from the damaged buildings.  We worked in
teams of two and three, helping the injured and old to safe places.  When I
came to the old man, we called grandfather, he refused to leave without his
two sabres.  Sometimes we helped to move rubble to free the trapped and
unfortunately the dead.  In one house, Volos and I worked long and hard
moving rubble to free a small girl trapped beneath.  We found her in a
little space, without even a scratch.  She was very frightened, which I
could understand.  Her mother was in a state of near panic, that only made
the child even more frightened.

Just as we moved the last, a large wooden beam, someone called, "Prince
Arden, Prince Arden," I called back and pulled the child into my arms.
Volos assisted the lady and we moved outside, meeting Dios in the street.
It took some doing to get her to release me.  I guess she is another Prince
Arden admirer.

"Prince Arden, Captain Hermogenes wants you on his ship, as soon as
possible."  He reported this in a most military like fashion.  I set the
girl down and instructed Volos to take her and the mother to the Army's
shelters, which she would allow, only after I kissed her several times.
Political office caries little weight with small children and we Princes
are not shy to indulge them.

The Army had already begun setting up tents in open spaces, all around the
city.  I assume some kind of plan must have been in place.

Dios had run all the way from the castle.  I motioned to Volos and ran off
with Dios.  We were half the way to the Prince Arden, when I realized this
was the first time in years, I was not accompanied by one of my guardians.
We saw Kleitos and his stable boys, tending the frightened animals, some
showing signs of wounds.

When we got to the dock, the Prince Arden and Prince Kastor were being
loaded with food.  A long line of carts from the castle were delivering the
cargo.

"Prince, we sail north and Kastor south.  King Iason wants to see that our
neighbours have food," an officer said.

"He wants you and Kastor to go along, representing Parga," Dios informed
me.

Just then I saw Kastor and Panther loaded down with wine, struggling under
its burden.  Dios and I ran to assist them.  Apparently, while Panther was
fetching Kastor, he found a wine shop and knowing the shortage on the
ship...

Just as we were about to cast off our moorings, Pyrros and Silas came
running along the quay.  I asked Pyrros how he knew where I was.  "I saw
the note Panther and Kastor left at the wine merchant's shop.  You didn't
think they would steal it, did you?"  We laughed much over it.  We knew
they would not steal but their method of acquisition was unorthodox.

Dios wanted to accompany us but his page duties did not allow for it.  I
could see him running at his full speed back to the castle. No sooner had
my ensign been raised, we begun to move, Panther was insisting we bath and
put on fresh, clean clothing.  I had no idea just how dirty we had become.

Our first port of call was Sarakiniko.  They suffered some damage but no
one was injured and everyone had shelter.  I asked the mayor if Polykarpos
could come with us, as a local water guide.  He agreed.  Polykarpos was
delighted to sail again on the Prince Arden and this time as our guide.
Our next stop was Karavostasi where he visited his parents, while we
unloaded some grain and dried beans.  They had suffered more, a few were
killed, many injured but most had some shelter or a place to stay.
Polykarpos wanted to stay and assist his parents but they insisted he
continue with us.

The next morning, we called at several more villages that were badly
damaged and the people were in great need.  Many had been killed and
injured and they had little food.  Later that day we made our last
delivery, at the eleventh village.

At each stop Pyrros and I went on shore and talked to the mayor or head
man.  Having left in such haste we could only offer grain, dried fruit and
beans, cheese and olives.  I absolutely refused any form of payment, making
sure they understood, no obligation was being placed or asked.  We only
stayed long enough to unload and departed.

Our reputations had proceeded us and at every place my name was recognized.
I am sure if we called under better conditions, many new friends would
result.  This was not the time for that.

On the way back we kept a close eye for pirates, they tend to rush into
areas under stress, to make advantage of it.  Hermogenes told me, except
for the Prince Kastor and Prince Arden, all of our ships would be at sea,
to make sure they could find no advantage to take.  Having left in such
haste, we only had about half of the usual marine complement and of course
Pyrros and myself.  I was just as happy not to encounter any.

Pyrros told me that Panther was not only a man of talents in bed but he was
becoming first rate at "getting things done".  Like the wine, you just let
him know what you want or need and he makes it appear.  He is quick of wit
and very cleaver.

Polykarpos was a valuable guide.  He knew the waters and hazards all along
this shore.  I am glad he came with us.  He was sad that we would not be
able to attend his wedding, because of our tour.  I mollified him be
promising to attend the birth of his first child, unless he had to great a
lead.  He smiled and replied, "a lead but not to great.

Upon our return we could see much progress had been made at putting the
city and castle back in order.  Small, non damaging earthquakes are common
here.  Ones that damage our buildings like this, are not.  I take it,
things like this are considered in the design and construction.  I will ask
the ingegneres about it.

One thing I figured out for myself, is why the fresh water and sewer
conduits are made as they are.  They are, in effect, truncated cones and
when fitted together and pointing down hill, no mortar is needed so they
can be removed if needed and easily be replaced.  I also think it might be
interesting to study fluid actions, when we return to school in the fall.
(TN: I think Arden means fluid machines, a discipline not yet invented in
1318.  He is correct, it is an interesting subject, even for us non
engineering, math challenged types.)

I was proud to sail on my named ship, as was Kastor.  I know the crew of
the Prince Arden were glad to have me along and I am sure the same can be
said for the Prince Kastor.  I take it Uncle Iason choose us for that
reason and had other ships of the Prince Class been in port, Iason or
Polydeukus would have been sent instead of Kastor and I.  It must be
comforting for them, to have four princes, all equally able and capable of
doing what ever job we are set too.  We are all different and each brings
his own self to the task but the results are all of equal value.

Volos told me, the little girl we rescued, was well and talks of nothing
else but how she was saved by two princes.  "I kept trying to tell her I am
not a prince but she would not believe me."

But you are a prince in her eyes and that Volos, is all that matters when
you are five years old.  Think of it this way friend, the title prince is
about as common in this family as Captain in the Royal Guard and less
difficult to obtain.  He then kissed me with as much passion as I have ever
been kissed before.  Except for Poly and Kastor, I think brothers by choice
must be even stronger then brothers by birth.

I had not noticed, until I returned, that all of the temples and houses of
worship were badly damaged, more so than the other public buildings.  Were
I one to believe in such things, I would say the gods were sending a
message.  I am not, so I will not draw that conclusion.  Even I have a few
privet thoughts.  Some of them need be kept to myself, since my position
here is more political than I am always comfortable with.  Perhaps it is
less a message than just neglect.

I know some philosophers believe nothing happens without a reason or cause.
That may be true, however in the case of earthquakes, we do not know the
cause and no reason seems apparent.  Any proposed causes, I have heard of,
seem a bit far fetched.  Like volcanos, which sometimes have earthquakes
associated with eruptions, the earth does what the earth does and we men
living on it, do not know or understand how or why; we do know very well,
what the results are.

As to purpose, I think it folly that we men attributive emotions, reason
and feelings to inanimate objects.  Despite the ideas of Democrats and
others; even if things are made of small unseen particles, do they reason?
I think not.  Do animals or plants have objectives, other than the most
basic?  Plants grow and produce seeds to propagate.  Animals may show
limited purpose but always directed toward food, water, shelter or
procreation.  Animals some show limited emotions; do they reason other than
to achieve some limited objective?  Having the ability to solve specific
problems is not the same as reasoning through a philosophical text.  The
shepherd's dog does its job and is rewarded for it.  Some of that reward is
the companionship and affection of the shepherd.

Horse and rider are a team and they depend on each other.  Zephyros is
intelligent but he does not reason as I do.  He is powerful but his power
can not be sent through the rocks or air.  I am too, in a different way,
but mine can not either.  The truly faithful, substitute their faith for
reason.  It must give them comfort to attribute that which they neither
understand or can control, to a power beyond themselves.  For me, I get
comfort only from reasoning and experiment to gain understanding.  My
understanding is often limited or incomplete.

Like Socrates, I know what I know, for what it is worth, at least I have
that much, which is more than blind faith, which places all completely
outside of ones self.  A convenience for those to shy to take
responsibility for anything.  If all is predetermined and controlled beyond
ourselves, then we may as well be those sheep and do nothing but eat,
sleep, grow wool and procreate.  As to offending the gods, what this
apparently means, is offending the general society and specifically those
in power or charge of it.

I think it easy to make laws dictating the rules of conduct, in this or
that situation.  These are hard to enforce and require much effort and
structure to uniformly apply.  It is much simpler to say, this or that
offends the gods and your punishment is from the divine.  We man, who would
punish you, are only doing the divine's will.  That view absolves us of
responsibility.  I can not accept it, for justice is almost never the
result.

It is true, all societies need some kind of code, rules or customs, to
allow them to function.  We have our share here in Parga.  From what I
know, all places have three general kinds of rules: state, religious and
custom.

(TN: I think he means culture when he uses custom.  I have translated this
in other places as such.  The concept of culture as understood by modern
readers of English, was not well articulated in Arden's time.  A set of
customs alone does not equate to a culture but it certainly is a part of
what we think of or call culture.  A concept of Arden's time that we do not
apply or think of much today, is shame.  We know what it is and what it
means, of course.

In Arden's time and place, shame was a powerful social force.  Today is has
lost much of that power.  Perhaps in reality it never had all that much.
The powerful have always been more or less shameless.  Shame was always
that social force that kept the masses in check, not the powerful.  He
mentions shame from time to time but does not discuss it in any way.  For
him it was obvious and self evident.  He sometimes mentions honour in the
same context.  Shame brings on or is a part of honour lost or diminished.
I think he views this differently than we do and perhaps differently then
others of his time.  To be shamed, is to be dishonoured that is clear but
the transfer of that shame or dishonour from self to others, seems to be
beyond his understanding.  Not that it did not happen, he just seems not to
fully understand it.  He does seem to recognize it and to some extent, live
with it.  The Panther incident is a good example of this.

He would never do anything to dishonour his family but his family is often
referred to as the people of Parga and his immediate circle and his
birth/adoption relationships.  Since Parga is different from most of the
other places, in Arden's time, it may partly explain this.  Most places
viewed women and children as the property of men, slaves of course were
property and the sovereign viewed his subjects as property.  Shame then was
something that reflected both ways from the owner to the owned or from the
owned to the owner.  It meant the owner was not in control of his property,
if a women or child brought shame on the family or group.

Parga is somewhat different, slavery is outlawed.  It is a patriarchal
society that did not give ownership of women or children to the patriarch.
Embarrassment for sure but not dishonouring shame.  Some of this may have
to do with the realization, in Parga every person is needed and important.
As Arden has pointed out, the carrying capacity of the place has known
limits.  It is like an island, to many people and all suffer, to few and
all suffer as well.

Arden seems to have a keen understanding of "face" or perception.  From my
reading of his text so did his contemporaries, his culture.

One last thought, Arden talks about slaves the same way we think of
slavery.  In ancient Greece pre the Roman conquest the word did not have
the same meaning as post conquest.  A slave was a non citizen, someone who
lived there but was landless and therefore not able to feed himself,
i.e. grow his own food.  It did not mean servitude and overnship in the way
we think of it.  The salve or non citizen could earn money, be educated,
have skills, sell his skills or the goods of his labor and so on.  This all
started from a farming base so the salve worked along side the property
owner or citizen, not his master and was given food, lodging and other
goods.  Non citizen or slave artisans could rent space and by food in the
market that is how they lived.  The down side was they had no real say in
how the Polis ran and could not own land. They were always beholding to a
citizen(s).)


1318, 3rd month, 15th day:

Today I became so angry in the council I was not able to contain myself and
had to leave the chamber for a time.  All I could do to contain myself, was
run and run more.  I ran for over 15 stadion at my fastest pace, until a
could move no more.  I wanted to cry, I wanted to shout, I wanted to do
harm to others.  I was so disappointed and so angry at some of my clansmen,
if I had stayed in the chamber, I swear I would have personally dispatched
the lot of them.  Pyrros and Volos caught up to me with houses.  Kleitos
personally saddled Zephyros.  It was not until I had exhausted my anger and
energy, that Volos was able to talk any sense to me.  I would not listen
before that and they both knew it.

General Zokitos was making his report to the council.  He had been in
charge of keeping order and rescue operations, after the earthquake.  He
reported on how many men he deployed, what they did and how many people
they were able to help.  How many were killed and wounded and so on.  This
was all quite factual and in no way emotional.  He then reported on the
number of looters his men had apprehended and killed.  He said that 50 were
now in the dungeon, having been apprehended stealing from their neighbours
or public buildings.  He added that his men had killed 15 and wounded
another 10.  This was in the city.  He was still receiving reports from the
rural areas.

What pushed me over the edge, was when he said that five Argoanuts were
trapped and injured and that the looters proceeded to steal from that
place, ignoring their cries for help, leaving them to die.  It was only
luck that the looters were discovered, which lead to the rescue of the
trapped Argoanuts.  Iason was angry, I was that but hurt too.

I was devastated that my fellow clansmen would do such a thing.  To steal
from your neighbours is bad enough but to not assist our boys, whose whole
purpose is service to the people, is unthinkable.  It is to me anyway.  I
could not stand it and just rose and left the room.  No sooner was I out
the door, I started running.  I had to run away from the castle, from the
dungeon.  Not to do so would have seen me do that which I would regret.

I ran until my legs would no longer work and collapsed under an Acacia
tree.  It was in bloom and the sweet smell combined with my exhaustion
overwhelmed me.  Pyrros and Volos were gentle and supportive as they always
are.  They held me in their arms and I cried like a small child.  They
kissed me too and stroked my body, trying to reassure me.

Once my emotions had sufficiently been spent I was willing to talk.  Not
explain, just talk.  They knew or at least thought they knew what this was
all about.

They made me return to the council.  I did not want to go.  Volos
admonished me to do my duty.  "but I want to kill them Volos, I want to
take my sword and run them through," I shouted.

"Why Arden, because they acted from greed and selfishness or because they
disappointed you?"  I did not answer.  He was correct and we both knew it.

I reentered the council chamber, looking like a man that just ran 15
stadion, as I had.  Every face in the room turned toward me.  I was
prepared to prostrate myself and beg forgiveness but all I saw were smiles.
The room had fallen completely silent.  I could hear my footsteps as I
approached the King and Consort.  I was about to kneel before them when
King Iason stopped me.

"No Prince Arden, do not seek our forgiveness, you have done nothing to
forgive.  Turn and face your council so they may recognize your courage and
strength of character."

I was shocked.  I must have offended them by leaving unannounced, had I
not?  I turned, they all began clapping their hands together.

Zokitos spoke for them, "Thank you Prince, for reminding us that passions
when raised, cloud good judgment.  We were all as angry and disappointed as
you.  You are the only one with the courage to show it.  We all let our
mouths run ahead of our heads.  Only you had the inner strength to work off
his passion before speaking."

I now had to say something and I had no clear idea what that was to be.

I thanked them for their support and for their confidence in me.  I was
about to babble on when Karyakos saved me.

"Arden son, the council, in your absence, has decided to delegate the job
of Chief Judge to you, your panel will be Princes: Iason, Kastor and
Polydeukus.  Sir Zokitos will be the Inquisitor.  King Iason and I will
entertain appeals of your judgments, should any be made."

I guess the meeting had officially ended some time before my return and
everyone was just waiting for me.

The next thing I am aware of was Iason telling me I smelled of sweet and
horse, and with Kastor's help, pulling me toward the bath.  It was true, I
did smell.

Now that I am clean, fed and rested, I can think more clearly.  It is a
wise move to make us judges.  That alone prevents us from visiting the
dungeon or even talking about it.  It will keep us all from saying or doing
anything we had best not.  It also means we must set aside our emotions,
fairness is both expected and demanded.  I think this is one big test for
us.  This will give the council a good measure of how we conduct ourselves
under pressure.


1318, 3rd month, 16th day:

Justice in Parga is not slow and the next morning, which is today, we are
called to the bench.  Instead of the Council Chamber, our court was held in
the main dining hall.  It has more room, if nothing else.

The four of us were to be seated behind a large table that was elevated on
a platform, about one foot, so we would look down on everyone and
everything but not to high.  We were all dressed in our finest tunics of
office, with our laurel wreaths.  Several scribes and two scholars sat at a
large table to our left.  Two pages sat just behind us and to our right
side, in the event they were needed.  Three of our guardians sat with them
and the other three were positioned in the back of the room.  Along the
right wall, a number of tables had been arranged for Uncle Iason, Uncle
Tertius, Father and a number of councillors.  The palace guards were spaced
along both sides of the room and along the back.  Several were in control
of the entry way.  I saw a number of Argoanuts, solders, palace boys and so
on, along with many citizens.  I assumed they were available to provide
information should it be necessary.  The inured Argoanuts were seated close
to us on the left side.  The mayor and several other civic officials sat
with Father.  The other pages, including our younger brothers, were seated
with many of our friends and acquaintances.

The Stentorian (TN: town crier in Arden's terminology) announced that court
would now begin and asked for the guards to bring the accused forward.  A
long line marched into the room and took seats in a special area, directly
in front of us.  We were given a scroll that contained all the names of the
accused and what the charges were.  They had been divided into 5 groups.
Group one, were those who plundered public buildings including churches,
temples and inns.  Group two: businesses, shops, stalls and so on.  Group
three: homes.  Group four those plunders that caused injury to others, in
the process.  Group 5: those who failed to assist others in need, when
plundering.

General Zokitos' men had escorted them in and took up positions off to the
side.  The General had 5 scrolls.  Each group was named and specific
information was against each name.  The Stentorian called the court to
order and identified us as the judicial panel.

"Each judge can ask specific questions of any defendant.  The defendant
should answer those questions directly to the questioner.  If anyone wished
to address the court, not in a response to a question, he should do so to
the panel as a whole, not to a specific panel member.  The inquisitor will
call the accused, state the offence and the evidence.  The accused will be
asked to state his guilt or innocence.  Further questions will be asked
depending on the response given.

Zokitos addressed the first name on the list.  The man stood and listened
but did not choose to make a statement, except "nolo contendere". (TN: The
term means literally `I do not which to contend', it is Latin and not used
today in most judicial systems other than the United States.  I doubt that
it is being used here in the same sense but it is what Arden wrote, in
Latin as part of a sentence written in Greek.)

Zokitos was not getting any answers or cooperation.  We discussed it among
ourselves.  I asked the man if he understood the implications contained in
that Latin phrase.  He said yes.  Poly said, "you are then saying I am
guilty, now the court must prove it."

"No," he answered.

"If you do not contest the charge or facts presented, you leave us with
little choice," Iason added, "but more perhaps than you barged for."  I
could see where he was going and picked up the thought.

Justice will be done here today and it will be seen to be done, as well.
Since you do not contest the charge or facts, we find you guilty.  That is
not justice, it is only a statement of the situation.  This court does not
believe that exacting some punishment, being punitive for a misdeed, is
justice.  Justice repairs and restores.  Punishment is little more than
retribution.  You will spend the next week in isolation and given only
leavened bread and water.  During that time, it is hoped you will come to a
willingness to take ownership of your deeds and form some idea of what
would constitute atonement.  He sat down.

We moved to the next and the next through the first 4 groups.  Some
contested, most did not.  Those that contested were allowed to explain
themselves.  Zokitos presented his evidence which was, in all but one case,
compelling.  In the one non compelling case, we ruled not guilty, an
incident of mistaken identity.  We asked for various acts of atonement,
from restoration, through and mostly, rendering assistance in repairing the
aggrieves property.  The last group were the four that failed to assist the
trapped Argoanuts.

They quickly admitted to taking things from the house, expecting us to just
give them the same level of atonement as the others.  That is not quite
what happened.

Iason stood and declared himself bias, being the Patron Prince of the
Argonaut organization.  "They cary my name in theirs, my brothers sit as
directors, as do others, they can be objective, I can not."  He stepped
down.  "Inquisitor, may I fill your place for this set of defendants?"

Zokitos bowed with a sweeping gesture, to indicate the way clear for my
beloved Iason.  He was on stage and he was planning to make this into some
kind of statement.  He asked the five injured Argoanuts to come forward.
He asked them to tell what they saw, knew and said at the time.  They did.
He asked the solders what they knew and what they did.  He asked the
physicians, if having gotten them out sooner would have lessened their
injuries.  They thought so but were not sure.

"Prince Iason," Kastor asked, "what is the crime here?"  All you have done,
is illustrate that the accused are of lesser character then your Argoanuts,
who were injured while they performed service to strangers.

"That is just the point.  No crime as such has been committed."  He turned
to the accused.  "Was leaving my trapped brothers to die, by refusing them
aid, a crime or a failure of character?"

"Neither," Their spokesman replied.

"If not a crime or a character failure, than pray tell what is it?"

"It is nothing."

"No you can't have it both ways.  We all accept no law or code of the state
was broken here.  I for one do not accept no moral, ethical, religious or
civilized code was broken.  Let me recast the question, was it the right
thing to do in leaving those men die?"

"Since we would have revealed ourselves to be braking the law, by doing so,
it was not wrong."

"If the circumstances were different, what would you say?"

"If the circumstances were different, it would have been wrong."

"Then it is acceptable to not assist, if that would expose a crime but not
acceptable to just refuse, if no other crime were involved?"  He knew he
was had and said nothing.

"Is it not a crime to actively conceal a crime?"  Iason looked at the
scholars.

"Yes, Prince Iason that is called conspiratorial, however one can not
conspire to hid his own crime, with one's self."

"So then, not doing the right thing, in an attempt to cover ones crime, is
not a separate crime.  This kind of action or lack of it, in this instance,
must by necessity, add weight to the original crime or is it to be
completely ignored?  I submit it must add weight, it must make a minor
crime all the more argues.  Had those Argoanuts perish, as a result and not
been rescued, we would be calling this murder would we not?  Of course we
would!"

Iason was on stage and he was making the most of it.  He turned to the
accused again.

"Do you still say you have only one crime to atone for?"

"Yes, one crime but we would agree, the atonement is greater because of our
actions or lack of them."

The three of us talked briefly and I gave the verdict.  "This court finds
you guilty of looting in an elevated degree.  Your atonement will be one
day of labor each week, for the next 12 weeks, in service to the city."
That is what most of them got; if not civil service, than restorative
service to the property owners.  "In addition and to be served before the
12 weeks are to start, you will replace the injured Argoanuts at their
normal labours, until they are recovered and can resume them for
themselves."

I thanked Zokitos, the witnesses and Prince Iason.  The heart of justice in
Parga is atonement.  We do not seek to be punitive.  The heart of
citizenship is acceptance of responsibility for our actions, ownership of
the results and atonement, when something is shown to be contrary to the
public good.  Laws are, or should be, nothing more than rules to keep order
between citizens or with the state.  In Parga, the citizens are the state.
Justice results from the fair application of those rules and when
necessary, appropriate atonement for transgressions.

The fact that it was necessary to constitute this special court, for this
extraordinary happening, is significant and we citizens of Parga have much
cause to be proud.  We four believe justice was served here today; it was
done and seen to be done.  The innocent were identified.  The guilty for
the most part accepted their responsibility and the atonement specified,
seemed reasonable and fair.  Like it or not, we are all a part of this
place.  We all take much and we are all asked to contribute much.  We all
hope, tomorrow Parga will be a better place for us and our children, than
it is today.  We all work toward that end.  We Princes would like to think
that is the result of our leadership.  In our hearts, we know it is only
the result of representing the best citizens any Prince could dream of.
Kastor touched my arm, I was beginning to go on longer than necessary.  I
adjourned the court and ask all here to go in peace.

Just as we were about to leave, Prince Helladios came swinging down on a
thick rope, from the balcony, landing just at our feet.  He gave a loud
warning call, like that of some animal, as he came.  He smiled, gave us a
quick wave and ran off with a small pack of young boys, followed by
Alexandros and one of his new female guard/trainees.  I looked over at
Uncle Iason and Karyakos.  They were facing the wall, trying very hard to
conceal their laughter.  At some point the boy will be getting his bottom
warmed by Uncle Iason.  I guess he did not believe Nikias or maybe he
forgot.  Perhaps he figured a few slaps on the butt a reasonable price to
pay.

Just as we were entering our quarters, Solon informed us Helladios was
hiding under our bed and that, "he does not think I saw him."  With that he
ran off giggling.  This was going to be fun for us.  It will be at poor
Helladios' expense but we will not extract to high a price.

I grabbed Nikias, Dios and Iason, we four flopped on the bed, placing much
strain on it.  After kissing and rolling around, we started speculating on
what punishment Father would meat out to our little brother.  We all
reminded each other of our various punishments, from cleaning stables to
having our butts warmed.  We knew Helladios was listening and that his
anticipation was growing greatly.

After a time Ikaros went to fetch Helladios' father.  Karyakos and Uncle
Iason came into the room and we pointed to alert them to his presence.

"Have you seen Helladios," Uncle asked?

No Sir, we have not seen him since he ran out of the dining hall.

"That is to bad," Karyakos added. "If he comes forward on his own, I think
his father will be quite lenient but if we need search him out of
hiding..."  Uncle gestured for someone to say something.

Nikias burst in, "you mean if I hadn't hidden under your bed you would not
have let Iason paddle me so hard?"

"Probably not but you must also remember the difference between, doing
things in the belief that your are above the rules and doing things to just
get attention of the adults."

"I'll bet Helladios is hiding because he just wants us to find him, its a
game."  Dios suggested.

"No it is because he is afraid," Nikias added, "Helladios is afraid,
Helladios is afraid," he sang.

"I am not, afraid."  A little muffled voice, said.

"Yes you are, yes you are, Helladios is afraid," Nikias chided.

In an instant Helladios was out from under the bed and attacking Nikias.
He came flying onto the bed pinning the laughing Nikias to it and trying to
punch him.  Iason and I did not let that happen.  We tickled him instead.

Uncle Iason swept the lad up and carried him away.  This brother will be a
delight and I'm sure a few problems for us.  Nikias had the twins but
Helladios has only himself.  He already shows great musical and artistic
talent and love of adventure.  His creative mind needs some direction.  I
will talk to Eudoxia about this, perhaps as she tutors Lyuben, something
can be done for Helladios.


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