Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 22:30:58 -0700
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Arden's Saga 24

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

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.

Don't forget Nifty needs financial help.  Please make a donation if you
can.

24: Adventure is Good

1317, 11th month, 17th day:

All of the older pages have been helping Dios catch up in sexual
sophistication.  He is just delighted to be receiving all this attention,
since it is so pleasurable.  None of the under 13 boys are as advanced as
Iason and I were at that age.  They can not yet ejaculate but that does not
mean they are not up for sex.

Nikias has a penchant to undress and lay on my bed with his legs spread
apart and his little stiff penis standing straight up.  This is his
invitation to me.  I find all of his smooth body attractive but his butt is
most so.  I enjoy laying next to him with his head on my chest, letting my
hand drift over his smooth skin.  He insists I to am naked and lay like him
on my back with my legs spread.  He just loves fondling my erection.  Even
more than this, he demands my penis fill his rectum until he climaxes and
rests his head again on my chest to fall asleep.  I can not get enough of
his kisses, they are so sweet and gentle.

All of the older pages are mentored by Knights as well as our guardians.
(TN: It would appear that some changes to the page core have been made,
apparently covered in the books that have been lost.)  Since the knights
are often away from the castle and the pages must stay here.  Some of the
older pages, boys over 16 that are receiving military training, still cary
messages.  They are standing by in the dining halls, offices and in the
King's apartments when the younger ones are having classes.  Some like
Adonis go on to serve as squires or in their mentor's households.  Some
into the military, mostly the King's Guard or as junior officers.  Others
move into the new Civil Service by becoming Arden's Boys.

The Page Core, as we now call it, has a long and strong reputation for
exemplary service and for its deeply felt brotherhood.  Some, mostly Palace
Boys, serve only part of a year before returning to their professional
track but all, no matter how short or long a time, find themselves
dedicated to the service of the state.  More appropriately to the
representatives of the state, its Princes.

The Pages dormitory is always open to them as a warm and comforting place
of refuge and of course pleasure.  I see from time to time many stopping
for a few hours to a few days.

One knight visits about two times a month.  He comes in unannounced and
positions himself on one of the sex benches taking all that would have him.
The older boys are much delighted by this as his ass is prized above all,
except the King's, by them.

The sex benches are a unique feature of the dorm.  They are made of wood
with soft leather padding.  The structure is flat on top and wide enough
for a man or boy to lay comfortable on, but not as wide as a man's body.
They are high enough to allow a man or older boy to stand behind and engage
the anus of his lover or in front and press his prize into his mouth.  The
layer can be on his stomach or on his back.  The the padded platform is
long enough to accommodate a body from the neck to the hips.  They have
padded rests for the feet and hands.  These benches can be used to receive
massages as well as sex.  I have seen as many as six giving pleasure to
one.  Sometimes the pages play a game with one laying and several
ministering to him.  After he as been satisfied they change positions until
all have had a turn.  Ikaros claims these benched were responsible for his
love of being fucked.  He told us as a young page he would position himself
and take on as many other pages as were around on frequent occasions.
Something he still does when we older boys aren't paying enough attention
to his needs.

I am not so sure if this experience is responsible for his longings or it
it is something within himself.  No doubt he receives much pleasure from
it, we all do but he gives much pleasure as well.  Giving pleasure to your
friends and close associates has, in itself, rewards.


1317, 11th month, 18th day:

Nothing much of note happened today in the state but something of great
importance to our wider family did take place.  Kastor and I encountered
Ikaros and Dysme on our balcony.  Ikaros was beside himself crying and
carrying on.  Dysme seemed unable to console our friend.  We were no more
successful.  Iason and Polydeukus joined us but Ikaros continued his
incoherent raving, which is much unlike him.  He often displays his
feelings and at times can be quite emotional like the women are.  Were he
more servant and served the family, it would be unprofessional and not
manly but we are family and trade greatly on our mutual love and respect.
If one of us needs being emotional, angry, distort or what ever, it is no
different to us.

After some time it became apparent Ikaros' distress was self directed.  We
still had no idea the cause and without that no idea of the cure.  Dysme
confided he feared for him doing harm to himself.  Now if he had
dishonoured himself, disgraced his family, us in this instance, offended
the gods of any faith, we would not stand in his way.  We would not be
happy about it but in our society that is his right of atonement.  We knew
Ikaros was not capable of doing any of these things.  Kastor and Poly
positioned themselves between Ikaros and the balcony railing.  Finally
Ouranos came out of our Fathers' apartment, onto the common balcony and
demanded Ikaros take hold of himself and stop acting like an old woman.

Ikaros quieted down and Ouranos waved us away.  "Come here Ikaros, sit on
daddy's knee and tell me what is upsetting my little boy."

Ikaros turned bright red, no one, not even his father, had talked to him
like that since is was a small child.  I thought he would react badly but
he didn't, he bowed his head and pressed his face against Ouranos' chest.
Ouranos, the toughest of the tough, the hard as nails solder, bodyguard,
draped his arms around his son as gently as I have ever seen.  He turned
and with Ikaros walked along the balcony away from our ears and eyes.
Dysme was quickly quizzed but we learned little, except Ikaros had approved
his taking Kalkrates, Ikaros' oldest son as his lover.  He told us Ikaros
had been so happy for both of them as the lad desired to follow into the
stewardship business.  Dysme thought Kalkrates would be living with him in
the next few days and Ikaros seemed so happy yesterday.

I noticed he had mentioned Solon several times but could not understand the
context.  Dysme reminded us Solon was his other 12 year old son, from a
different mother.  He is a few months younger than Kalkrates.  The two boys
look quite a bit alike, both more resemble Ouranos then Ikaros.  Dysme
added, "my children of that age are dead or girls."

Poly asked about Solon's whereabouts.  Dysme answered he and Kalkrates were
with the pages.  Iason went into the pages' dormitory.  When he came back
he had a sardonic smile on is face.  We all began trying to get him to tell
us what he either knew or suspected.  To my beloved's credit he would not.

"We must consider Ikaros' feeling and sensibilities.  No matter what he is
to say or what we may privately believe, our friend has done no wrong.  We
must make him believe that."

Ouranos gently pushed Ikaros into the room and standing behind him, with
his long arms around the diminutive man.  Ikaros looked down at the floor,
he was obviously embarrassed.

"I am very sorry.  I thought I had made a terrible mistake and sinned
against the gods and my family."

"Mistakes are always possible but sins against us?  No mistake could be
that bad," Iason said.

"I did two things I thought would be unforgivable, one that stands in the
face of what this family, my family, stands for.  Ouranos, my father,
insists I have done nothing wrong."

"Ikaros believes he has unfairly favoured one son over the other.  I told
him, what I have told all of you in the past, what your fathers have all
told to you.  You must treat all your children fairly and evenly, you must
give to them the support and guidance they need.  Sometimes one will need
greater than another.  It does no added good to give more than needed but
harm to give less."  To this we all agreed.

"He believes he has sinned against us and the gods because he loves one son
in more ways than another.  Dysme has taken Kalkrates as his eromenos.
Ikaros who loves this son as a father should has blessed this, as is our
way.  But for Solon, he has declared his love of him to be both as his son
and his eromenos."

"That is incest and forbidden, I have sinned."

"No Ikaros, you have not sinned.  Incest is forbidden between females and
males of close blood relation.  That has more to do with procreation and
protection from abuse of power, than anything else.  Sex between fathers
and sons is frowned upon because it may not be freely given.  That does not
mean it is wrong for fathers to teach their sons and it can never be wrong
for a father and son to fall in love.  When Eros shoots his arrows we
mortals must live with the results," Iason said.

Poly added, "We take it you have consummated that love with Solon.  That
tells us he must truly be your eromenos since you have never consummated
with any of us, though we share our bodies freely."

"That is the kind of love Polydeukus and I share, Ikaros, it goes beyond
and is in addition to.  We both have mentor--lovers and we both love and
share with our brothers but between us is something special.  You and Solon
must have that something special.  Honour it, revel in it, let us marvel at
it and enjoy it with you," Kastor said.

"But what of Kalkrates?"

"I am surprised at you friend, Kalkrates is a fine young man he loves you
and his brother.  I will meet his needs, he will not want for anything.
You did your duty to him and he loves you for it.  I can not say he will
not lust for you or any of you; I promised him and I promise all of you, he
will not want for my love and affection, as none of us ever wanted from our
mentors.

Ikaros turned and kissed his father and whispered something that made the
hard old solder blush.  He turned away and disappeared onto the terrace.
We all embraced our friend admonishing him not to take all this so
seriously.  Reminding him we were all together in this family we would
never let him sin as he would never let us.  Iason made some comment about
"you know you have been struck by Eros' arrow when just the thought of your
lover's smooth little butt caused your penis to attention and the just
touching of his skin would make it erupt".  Our Ikaros was back, he kept
saying just because he could not keep his member out of Solon's ass didn't
mean he was ready to fuck any of us.  The size of his smile told us all we
needed to know.

I know Iason and I both find it necessary to sleep with our fathers every
once in a while.  Somehow it reinforces what we know to be true, that they
do love us and respect us and desire us.  That we are glad they are our
fathers and we are glad to be their sons.

This love business is still most puzzling to me.  We seem to be able as
men, to love our boys, our children, our partners, our siblings, our
mentors, our brothers and our friends.  We seem to have a capacity to just
keep on loving and allowing ourselves to be loved.  That does not mean sex
is always involved.  For some it is, for others not.

Not all love needs sex and in fact sex could diminish some.  Sex is good,
sex is great.  Sex is pleasure, tool, machine.  It is the objective and the
object.  Later as we spent quite time with our young lovers, I could see
Ikaros and Solon locked in an embrace kissing and teasing each other.  They
were in love as are Nikias and I.  It was good now that every one of us had
a boy to love and mentor.  All of our boys had men to love and be mentored
by.


1317, 11th month, 21st day:

Word came today that Lugo and Dario would be with us for the solutes
celebrations.  Dario included a number of sketches as a form of
illustration in his narrative.  He reported on the state of affairs in the
glass industry, in the state and with Lugo.  It would appear that Dario has
been taking lessons from some of the masters in Venice as his sketching is
markedly better with each letter.  Archimedes has made several improvements
in his printing press, so now it is possible to produce what he calls
engravings and text on the same page.  Dario's letter would be a good test
if this would was to be made public.  Something that will not happen.

We received several other communications as well.  Those from France, the
German lands and Britain are all positive and worrisome at the same time.
The winter is harsh but at least the crops were harvested and people are
not starving.  Political intrigues seem common in these courts as in
Epirus.  The Byzantines have softened their attitude toward us.  It would
seem they now choose to pretend we do not exist.

Of late, the Epirus navy has kept a good distance from ours.  The Venetian
ambassador to Epirus has also reminded them, Parga is a navel ally of
Venice and Dubrovnik.  It would be unwise to do anything that would weaken
our contribution to stability on the water or to cause us to increase our
strength.

Count Nikholas Orsini of Kephalonia has finally responded to the message
sent via his envoy.  Karyakos found the letter not to his liking and made
no hesitation to say so.  Orsini made no apologies or take ownership of his
actions, refused to pay reparations by any name or to make any arrangements
to take away men, who he still refereed to as hostages.  Karyakos' response
was simple.  He had the scribes copy the Count's letter and on the other
side responded to it, calling the Count a coward and other unkind names.
Since he would not accept responsibility for his people and arrange their
transportation, Parga would, at his expense.  The donation expected is
simply doubled for our trouble.  This would be printed by the new printing
press on large sheets of paper.  He would circulate it in Parga but also in
Kephalonia and along the mainland coast.  Our navy would cease the first
Kephalonian vessel to pass and force them to cary the solders and spies
home.  It was so ordered and that would be that.

One of the knights wanted to know how the 2000 florins would be collected.
Karyakos told him and all of us, he would tell them how it was done once
the money was safely in our treasury.  "In this you will just have to trust
that I can and will collect."  I wanted to know the answer to that as well;
since he would not tell his trusted council, in effect his source of
authority, I guess he is not about to tell me either.  He did say to us in
privet, that he did have a plan and that he needed to keep the details of
it secret even from us.

"You boys will need do the same in your time.  There are a few secrets that
are so important you must, in effect, take them to your grave."

I do not know why he keeps calling us boys as we are now men?  I guess it
is force of habit, as has been so often said by our parents, we are always
children even when old and gray.

The Prince Arden and three other ships will sail as soon as the printing is
finished, he told us.  I was quite surprised at his attitude, it was almost
boyish in delight.  The thought of using our new printing presses to
completely embarrass the Count, not at his court but with his people,
seemed to completely delight him.  Later I thought about the assassins.  No
mention was made of them.  I inquired of Thanatos about this.  He told me
the assassins would be tried, found guilty, pardoned, exiled and returned
with the others.  He told us they had come here under much duress, not for
money as we first thought; their families were being held hostage on
Kephalonia.  I felt somehow better about all this.

After speaking to Iason, Kastor and Poly we decided that the pardon should
be granted at our request and if we were allowed, by us directly.  Uncle
Iason just smiled and nodded when I asked him.  Then he kissed my forehead
and held me to himself for a moment.

"Arden, I am very pleased that the princes of this place have learned so
much in so short a time.  You four have grasped the concepts of
statesmanship and leadership better then Karyakos and I ever did at 16.  I
think you have also learned a bit of the politics behind Parga, as well.

When you request a pardon you should state your reason.  I will find it a
request based on sound logic and delegate the privilege of doing so.  That
way your pardon will have all the authority needed and stand beyond
question; the pardon will cary the State Seal as well as your own.  Another
princely adventure for Odo to compose about."

I asked when this would take place?

"When the Admiral delivers the transport.  I would guess several days from
now."

Later this evening Alexandros and Adonis came to see us.  They came into
our apartment with a few jugs of wine and we quickly sent the pages into
their quarters.

After consuming most of the wine, Alexandros broached the point of their
visit.  Not the only point, since the fellowship we shared was certainly
one of the more important.  He thought that we should mount some kind of
embarrassing prank against Count Nikholas Orsini of Kephalonia.  Something
that will be costly to him but not endanger to many others.  Adonis
suggested it should be something done by stealth; he does not appear to
have suffered from his mistakes or transgressions.  What ever we do should
demonstrate attacking Parga is costly as well as difficult.  We all agreed
and did much laughing and joking about it.  Alexandros said he had an idea
but we would need to get Admiral Pantaleon's cooperation.  We all of course
begged him to tell us but first made sure our guardians were in on this and
our fathers were not listening out on the terrace.

The plan was simple, our newly trained frog men, using bladders made of
sheep's stomachs, to breath under water, would plant devices on the wooden
docks of Argostoli and burn them down.  If we use Greek Fire, a Byzantine
invention and military secret, they think only they know, the blaze can not
be put out.  If we can do this with full stealth they will never even know
who was behind it.  Of course they will suspect and of course will accuse;
but King Iason can rightly claim ignorance. (TN: In modern terminology,
deniability.)

One of us suggested that when the Prince Arden sails to deliver the
propaganda that it be turned into a training run for the marine division of
the Royal Guards.  Alexandros had already thought that too and added that
the engineers have devised a device that can be placed under the wooden
structure of the quay and activated by a high or low tide.  It is a long
tube with a pole with an iron striker on one end of a pole that slides in
the tube.  The top of the tube is glass filled with the components of this
incendiary device.  If planted a low tide for example it can be set to
activate at high tide some 12 hours later.  Since our ingegneres have
devices to calculate tides, accurate in time and magnitude, at any port
along the coast, it will be easy.  Not only that but they will think that
information could only be provided by locals and spend much time looking
for spies that simply do not exist.

This is a dangerous game we play brothers, I told them.  The dangers go
beyond one or more of our people being killed or captured.  These are risks
a solder accepts in his business, that we know.  But we are asking them to
take the risk for a prank.  All be it a prank with a message.

"Are we not exceeding our authority here," suggested Polydeukus?

"Might there be repercussions from Nikholas," Iason asked?

It was decided we were probably exceeding our authority but this was one of
those times that seeking forgiveness was truly easier then seeking
permission.  Had not Nikholas provoked us in several ways?  Besides, his
self image needed be more severally damaged than just the public rebuke and
a monetary fine.  He needed to be taught that the cost of attacking Parga's
princes was far higher then he ever dreamed.  Our intelligence tells us
this young man, who is a nephew of Thomas, is both power hungry and overly
confident in himself.  Did not reliable informants tell us he was
vindictive and often acted as a spoiled child.  In fact, he is not much
more than an child and is certainly spoiled.  We decided it was time to
brake a few of his toys and spank his ass.  It was agreed but when we four
wanted to know when to be ready, we were told, in no uncertain terms, to
stay home and make love to our boys.  This was a job best left to
professionals, ones who are masters at their craft.  Adonis would not go
but Alexandros would, as part of his training.

Alexandros summed up: "It is decided then, we will sail on the Prince Arden
as soon as it returns from its present mission.  In five days the tides and
moon will be favourable for us.  We will have a slack tide in the early
evening just after dark and a full moon about two hours later, that gives
us about 6 hours between setting the devices and the high tide."


1317, 11th month, 25th day:

The Epirusian officer was brought before the council and given a release
for himself and his men.  The King made a big show of giving him back his
sward and impressing on him and everyone else that he and his men were
never hostages.  That since his leader, the Count, was not interested in
providing them with transportation as requested, we made other arrangements
for them.  He went on to say that Count Nikholas had made a very generous
2000 florin donation to the University, in place of reparations.  He wished
them well and asked them never to return to Parga in a military capacity.
To the spies he was less generous telling them never to return under pain
of immediate execution.  To which Iason added, "that is not because of your
purpose or methods but your utter incompetence."

The three assassins were given a swift trial and found guilty and sentenced
to death.  I could see the look on their faces, it was one of abject
hopelessness.

I asked the king if I might speak to this.  He nodded.  I made a short and
I feel thoughtful speech about why I thought they had paid for their crime.
I pointed out this was not a crime motivated by greed, averse, ill will or
faith but one forced by a immoral political system.  They were as much
victim as we, perhaps more; they were three dead one disabled.  It would be
punishment enough to send them back to a place where the nobles found it
acceptable to hold a man's children hostage, as a way to force them into
doing what they would not for any other reason.

What is most egregious is, that nobleman is unwilling to take any
responsibility for planning and executing this illegal and immoral act.
That he displays the highest level of hypocrisy as defender of a faith
which preaches love, humility and forgiveness; yet his actions say
duplicity, obsession with power and delusions of self importance.  Prince
Iason and myself wish to grant a full pardon to these three survivors and a
posthumous pardons to their three dead companions.  We wish to remind Count
Nikholas his atonement has not yet begun and any time he wishes to confess
his sins we will gladly prescribe an appropriate penance.  Atone he shall,
be it willingly or unwillingly.  King Iason replied that my reasoning was
sound and compassionate.  He agreed that the pardons should be granted.  He
delegated that act to Crown Prince Iason and his Consort, Prince Arden.
The three were visibly relieved.

After the public part ended Karyakos told the council about the 2000
florins.  He told us the florins are now in our treasury.  The gold came
from a Byzantine repository.  It was being shipped to Argostoli.  Our
people simply removed the 2000 florins and replaced them with a receipt and
brief note thanking him for the generous donation to the University and
naming him as a Patron of Knowledge.  Since this gold was being sent
secretly to him it will be interesting to watch how he deals with the
situation.

Uncle Iason later told me he sent another privet letter to Thomas informing
him of what transpired today and included a copy of my short speech.  I
think he fears for Thomas' well-being as he again offered to give him
refuge, should he need it.  He also praised Eutukos saying he thought him a
worthy and honourable officer, one that could be trusted.


1317, 11th month, 27th day:

This afternoon all the princes were summoned to the family dining room for
some kind of meeting.  The entire family was present except for Princess
Melitta, Princes Lysandros and Helladios.  Princes Elpis had called the
meeting and sat in Uncle Iason's chair with Princess Eudoxia next to her.
Our aunts, uncles and cousins over 12 were mostly present as well.  I had
never seen such a non social gathering of the family before.  Princess
Elpis set the tone of the meeting, it was being run by the women and us men
are expected to sit quietly and listen.  She started out by noting the
women in our society are mostly kept out of politics by tradition and laws,
that they understood.  However, the women of Parga are getting a little
tired of being thought of as nothing more than producers of babies and
cloth.

"Traditions aside we are not the property of males as no man can own
another.  The simple reality is there are almost as many females as males
in the state and as a society Parga is not making full advantage of our
human resources.  A few rules need to be changed and we, the women of this
family are telling our men: husbands, sons and brothers, that we expect you
to make those changes, sooner rather than later."

She looked right at the King,

"It is time to recognize that your daughters have abilities as great as
your sons.  That they are just as deserving of education, responsibilities
and opportunities as are the boys.  As fathers and brothers we know your
love is as great for the girls as the boys.  It is time you acted.

Iason will be 17 this spring.  You and I will be selecting his bride and
she will spend a part of that year being tutored by me.  As the young lady
will be no more than 15 or 16 her education will have thought to be
finished.  That is far from the truth.  As you well know, being the
Princess Wife of a Crown Prince means she will need to continue learning
for years.  Running a household the size of this castle is no small job or
easy task.  If that woman, like myself or our oldest daughter desires to
make a wider contribution to the society, such as medicine or art, it is
impossible.  I suggest we are the poorer for it.

Eudoxia has a talent for teaching.  You husband and the boy's fathers are
grooming a young man to be her husband.  You have plans for him that
involve future service to the state, yet your daughter, who can also make a
strong contribution to the society, is being treated as little more than a
baby factory to provide us with grandchildren.  There are several palace
girls who are every bit as strong and skilled as some of the young men you
have taken into the Royal Guard.  Why not take them into it as well and
they can provide service to the women of the castle and free those young
men to other useful purposes.  Several of our nieces are fine athletes and
artists, yet no training is provided as it is for our sons and nephews."
She went on for some time giving examples.

I looked at Iason and he at me.  We both knew where this was to lead and
knowing our sister's talents and those of our cousins it was obvious what
we should do.  Since none of us men had yet been given leave to speak we
kept our council.

Karyakos took the floor next.  It was a wise move I think, since Uncle
Iason must be both King and husband and Karyakos is less emotionally
involved, at least that is what I thought.  After hearing him speak I am
not convinced.  On thinking about it he may not have a wife but he does
have daughters and sisters.  None of us men are completely isolated from
the female sex.  Were it not for our mothers none of us would be here, a
father alone produces no children.

"Princess Elpis, you are absolutely correct.  This society has been remiss
in our treatment of women.  What is obvious to me is that many of our
traditions are decidedly one sided.  They were written down by men who in
the ancient way thought political life somehow superior to the home.  It
was not that long ago that my brother told the guilds and academics that
institutions and professions must be opened to women or he would take some
action.  Iason was much more polite than that.  Eudoxia, your name was
mentioned.  What are your desires?"

"I want to be a teacher of children, a wife and mother."

"There are those who will say they being a mother is also being a teacher
and that being a wife and mother is in itself a full time job.  They are
partly correct and partly in error.  Mostly, we as a people, have forgotten
how great a contribution to our society our mothers made for us.  I
remember my grandmother telling me about working in the fields along side
my grandfather and it was only when my father grew old enough to help that
she could devote most of her time to the household and younger children.
In reality the women of Parga have always done several jobs at once, just
as the men have.  We, as in Iason, myself and our senior princes, will see
to it that a quality education to the level of doctorate is made available
to women by the 10th month of the new year.  We will assist you and opening
up or creating guilds for those professions you identify as important for
women, such as teaching and midwifery.  The princes will, starting
immediately, establish an all female unit of the Royal Guards."

Uncle Iason added, "Princes: Iason, Arden, Kastor and Polydeukus will
present a plan to Princess Elpis that integrates females into the Royal
Page Core.  Elpis do you have any specific ideas for them to consider?"

She did but would meet separately with us on those details.  She also
though something like the Argoanuts should be created for girls but with a
less military emphasis.

"I will proclaim the creation of Princess Elpis' Amazons, a core of the
Royal Guards.  As to the female Argoanuts, I think Princess Eudoxia's
Eagles will do.  Their symbol will be an eagle over an olive branch.  Your
Uncle Tertius will assist you in organization, as he has experience in
these matters.  I think this should be proclaimed during the Soloists
celebrations."

The discussion continued for a while longer but no other decisions were
made.  We four knew that we were expected to make this page business happen
smoothly and quickly.  I could already hear the four terrors complaining
they were not about to be bossed by the older sisters.  It was clear to us
that Olympia and Eudoxia would be are first female pages.  The experience
would be critical for them.

I wondered if this would change Uncle Iason's plans for Alexandros and
Eudoxia.  It just might.  She was very happy and made a big show of
thanking daddy.  Funny she acted just like Iason and I, not all that long
ago.  I guess we underestimate the women being separated from them for so
long.  I wonder what Euthalia will say when I tell her.  For me I needed to
run.  Running always clears my mind.  Things are much easier to understand
after a long run.  I got Dios and we went for a long run along the lake
shore.

Nikias was just a little coy as we settled in for sleep.  "Arden, will the
girls be naked too," he inquired?

How should I know if they dress or not in their privet quarters?

"But the pages are almost always naked in our dorm."

Naked girls are as nice to look at as naked boys, don't you think?

"I don't know, mother never let us go naked when I lived in her apartment.
I like being naked, especially in bed with you."

I kissed him.  Thank you Nikias and I like being naked with you too, but I
don't think the girls will like it and I don't think our fathers would
allow it, do you?

"Oh nooo, father will paddle my butt like Iason did.  You won't let him
will you?"

No little one, I won't let him but he is father and the king so maybe you
better not do anything to make him want to spank you.

"Yes, but how will it work, I mean from the time we are little the girls
and boys have always been kind of separated and now I am 12 and we are kept
very much apart."

That is correct.  I think it has to do with becoming men and women but you
know that.  I don't know yet but I am sure we will find a way to be
separate and together at the same time.  It is not our sister and cousin I
am concerned about, as they are both old enough to keep themselves out of
trouble.  It is in the future, when we get younger girls, not related to
us.  My sisters were accustomed to seeing me naked when I was younger and
living in Koalhurst.  You have been naked with girls in the bath when
younger, remember.  Now that we are sexually active things change, for them
too.  What ever happens, Nikias we will always be able to be naked in bed
together, that I promise you.

Nikias is correct we can not have the boys and girls sharing the same
dormitory, as much as they might like it.  Now that I have more experience
with females, it is clear to me that they enjoy sex as much as we.  I am
told they share between themselves as we boys do.  Something I just assumed
was the situation.  Some of our girls are like some of the boys, they
prefer their own sex to the opposite.  This is not talked about much by the
boys except to joke and poke fun.  I am sure they joke about us.

Some of our women are more masculine than some of the men.  I know women
much larger, stronger and with deeper voices then Ikaros or Dysme.  A few
have expressed to me their disappointment at not being born boys, as we can
easily do things they would like to such as fencing, archery, equestrian
activities and wrestling.  They must often work hard to be included and are
often not taken seriously by the male instructors.  I know a few boys that
would be girls if they could arrange it as well.  I thought at first
meeting Ikaros to be that way but he is not.  Dysme has expressed that
thought a few times but except for keeping his body hair completely removed
seems happy to dress as a man.  None I know are willing to go through the
monthly cycle or bind their breasts.  I guess the girls that would be men
do have some inconveniences we boys do not.