Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 15:12:32 From: Ganymede Subject: The Ring Around the Rose, by Ganymede WARNING: This story contains a graphic description of sexual acts between a men and MINOR boys. I do not condone child abuse, however boy-love as described in this story is an entirely different matter. If the subject of man/boy sex offends you, if this material is illegal in your place of residence, or if you are under the legal age for such material, do not read further! You have been warned! Read at your own risk! Any similarity to individuals, living or dead, is entirely accidental. The story is copyrighted under the pseudonym, Ganymede. A copy has been placed in the Nifty archives for your enjoyment. Feel free to post it to appropriate newsgroups or send it to your friends. The story cannot be used to derive monetary gain. It cannot be placed in archives that require payment for access, or printed and distributed in any form that requires payment. THE COPYRIGHT OF OTHERS: Throughout the story there are poems and songs by others. I do not claim this work as my own. These poems and songs are included within single quotation makes. In some cases, I have modified the original to suit my purposes. Citations and sources have not been provided because it would interrupt the story. I appreciate the efforts of Ianthe, who collected and posted this material. THE NIFTY ARCHIVE: The Nifty Archive needs your support. If you enjoy reading this story, please remember that it is available only because of the Nifty Archive. Instructions are provided on the Nifty home page for how to provide support. FINAL WARNING: If you are under the age of 18, if this material is illegal in your place of residence, or if man-boy relationships aren't your thing, then exit now and save yourself from a life of sin! The Ring Around the Rose, by Ganymede Chapter 2. The Making of the Ring Barely was I out of the Master's chamber when I heard the triumphant sound of an organ and a dozen horns calling the boys to come together. They gathered every winter's evening in the Great Hall. I stood back against the smooth stone wall, fascinated by the splendid parade. Hungry though I was, I was perfectly content to watch the slender youthful bodies pass me by. It satisfied a hunger of a different sort. I saw lean limbs that rippled with muscle, eager eyes staring straight ahead, heads slightly bowed in humility. They had shed their leather and bronze armor and chamois loin clothes and attired their lithe young bodies in plain open-fronted woolen robes, appearing less like warriors and more like lovers. Some boys deliberately chose not to gird their loins with cotton under-cloths, and I glimpsed a smooth-skinned thigh here and there, and infrequently, the hairless shriveled sex of a prepubescent boy. First in line, I recognized young Sandor, Libra, of Vulturnus. He smiled at me and nodded with respect. He walked beside the young initiate for that night. Favorius, by obvious choice, he was a slender little lad with his brown hair brushed smoothly and a garland woven of tiny white flowers to show his special status. Directly behind him was an older boy. Four years older to be precise. He was long-haired and wreathed in laurel, who was by virtue of that circlet, a single day away from mating. It was only to be expected that the first two rows of boys to enter the Chapel were in order, both the last to join and the next to leave. Two virgins always lead the rest. After them, each row was graded four times twelve, from oldest to youngest as well as ranked in Order. Vulturnus was on the right of every pair for that was their dominant nature. They could be recognized by hair alone, for Vulturnus boys were short-haired. Kept close-cropped, sometimes almost bald, purposefully aggressive. They were accompanied side-by-side and matching exactly in age and order, by Favorius. These were the passive boys, boys who would always prefer to be the ridden ones. By contrast, Favorius boys did not cut their hair, and in due course they would become long-haired, reaching well beyond their waists by the time they left the Sanctuary of the Rose. By nature, Favorius boys were less manly, but equally as desirable to my mind. It was the nature of the Sanctuary that no more than two of them were virgins. Just twice I saw white sashes amid the red ones. Any boy who was still untouched by a man was younger, smaller, and somehow softer. He exhibited his innocence in other ways beyond the absence of a ring of bruises between his cheeks. As much by the way he walked or held his head, or how he smiled, he indicated what had not been done to him. Virginity was transient for boys upon the Mount. For two Libra boys, innocence would be gone before the Order changed to Scorpio. Virtue, chastity, purity, all would soon become a faint memory for once pleasure was realized where it was least expected, inhibition was quickly put to rest. That place considered by outsiders as being dirty, in truth concealed the greatest treasure of all. With sodomy, a boy was transformed, his passion instigated, his flesh subordinated to a man's protrusion, his life changed for all intent and purpose. Body, mind, and soul, all united, but for a higher purpose than nature's reproduction. The older Favorius boys were obscenely confident of their sexuality, proudly strutting like splendid little peacocks, aware that a face alone could bend one's will. Not only were they more accepting of what was done by men, but with their longer hair, to my mind, they were more erotic. Guiltily, I feasted my eyes upon them, fascinated by how similar they were, while infinitely different in other ways, in ways that counted for a man like me. No boy was ever the same in the place that mattered. For both Favorius and Vulturnus, from the very first entry, some squealed, while others groaned, a few even lay quietly content. Some stayed hard throughout, but most virgins quickly dwindled to a bare morsel of maleness. Some used their muscles with incredible pressure, some relaxed and bore the brunt of it within them, a few squirmed about and wriggled all through climax. And there were a few boys, the lucky ones, Favorius more often than not, who even on the first attempt, surrendered to it more than once. They were tormented by their ecstasy, and they writhed and shuddered until there was nothing more to give. As the splendid assembly of boys neared the Chapel threshold, the doors swung wide and ninety-six magnificent unbroken voices instantly joined in unison, singing the same words that I had sung so long ago. Their voices ranged the upper scale. No voice was deeper than alto, and most were pure soprano. They walked steadily forward, bare feet treading quietly on the stones. I saw no smiles among them for Evensong was serious enough to diminish any levity for the time being. Up close, they were all such pretty boys that it took my breath away. I think I sighed aloud. "I must say that I agree. They're truly delightful, aren't they?" I turned at the unexpected voice beside me. I remembered him instantly, my teacher, the Vulturnus master of 'mind over body'. How often had I heard that instruction from him? Through constant practice, I learned control, restraint, and sustenance by inner means. Mind over body was a necessary skill. With practice, even involuntary muscles could be conditioned to respect the mind's demands. I slowed my heartbeat for a moment to prove the lesson was still retained. I returned his smile eagerly. Suddenly, I felt less like a stranger than a welcome friend. "I remember you quite well," he added. "Aidan Aquarius, of Vulturnus. You were quite a sexy lad yourself. Blond-headed and quite well hung for nine or ten, if I'm not mistaken." "You haven't changed," I remarked with amusement. "It's good to greet you again, Master Aubert." "Mind over body, that's me," he chuckled. "Indeed, when the body is willing and the mind is willful, and there are all these beautiful boys who want to fuck all night, one must concentrate to go the distance. Increasingly, I find that I must use my mind to achieve control. Supreme control even, especially when they're in the mood for prolonged fun. You enjoyed your lessons, didn't you Aidan?" he asked, changing the subject back to me. "Yes." "The young Aidan I knew could keep his cock erect all night, if I recollect correct," he added with a smirk that clearly reflected both some fond memories and pleasure in his play of words. "And quite hard as well, if I'm not mistaken. You better than any of the boys I've taught, could make your heart pump harder as well as faster." "I seem to remember that I had some help from you in staying hard," I replied with a laugh. My memories of him were no less enjoyable. Master Aubert had skills that few men possessed. It was never over quickly with him. Mind over body, always. He had the technique perfected and was more than eager to pass it on to any boy who dared to visit. The loving mind informed the penis of what it had to do. It guided every thrust and throb, and one's pleasure existed as a function of willpower directed to giving and sustaining the pleasure of the other. For Master Aubert, endurance and stamina were supplanted by sheer mental effort. "Ah, yes I did." He chuckled, no doubt reflecting on the many nights he had taken me in his bed. He broke off and watched the curly headed sprite in the front row as he proceeded through the door and into the Chapel. He was attired like all the rest, except for his flowered wreath and the white sash around his waist. Master Aubert regarded him with leering eyes, but what man would not leer at such a pretty sight. What was more, the boy was visibly nervous, but what boy would not be nervous when his time of deflowering approached? "Poor Kadri's a Libra. He's been getting ready for it since the start of fall, and he's still scared," Master Aubert said candidly. "After four weeks I don't why. He's already loose enough. He takes two fingers with nary a whimper, but some lads are like that. Frightened of what they don't know. He's a small boy and Favorius so I suppose it's only to be expected. Little does he know it'll be the best time of his life once he's broken to the rod." "Tonight?" I asked simply. "That's what I've been given to understand. I'm here to watch Master Kieran do his mounting. He's gentle until the end, and then it won't matter," he ended with a knowing smirk. "You might remember him, Aidan? I'm certain he started here around your time. He's tall and, like you, he's quite well endowed. He teaches the use of swords, and it's well known by all the boys that he's quite proficient with the use of the rapier between his legs." "I remember him vaguely," I replied absently. "He came a few weeks before I left." "The boys still refer to him as Master Asparagus," Master Aubert said softly. "A long thin stalk and a tiny head, but more than ample for a Vulturnus boy." He winked meaningfully. "I remember him for that alone. Asparagus is appropriate indeed." "No doubt he plunged his sword into you as well." "He did. He taught me to thrust and parry. Poor Kadri," I laughed. "He'll need to rest tomorrow." "He's Favorius as I've already said," Master Aubert commented. "So, he'll be one of yours, Aidan. I'm sure that like all Favorius boys he'll soon prefer something a little thicker. If not asparagus, perhaps a cucumber like your's instead? " "News travels fast," I acknowledged with a grin. What man did not like to be complimented on the extent of manhood's weapon. "The Master has only just told me of my assignment." Master Aubert shook his head. "You've been expected for quite some time, Aidan. The oracle, you know. It's never wrong." I remembered the Master's ancient scroll and the reference made therein to issues I would rather others knew nothing of. I gave an involuntary shudder as the last of forty-eight rows of boys, two deep, Favorius and Vulturnus, passed us by. With growing interest, one might say, I watched their rounded little bottoms covered by their otherwise shapeless thick woolen robes. Summer seemed so far away, but well worth looking forward to, for when the weather warmed the boys would be temptingly revealed in perfect form under thin cotton tunics, or better yet, soft chamois loincloths moist with sweat and other secretions. "Quite beautiful are they not," Master Aubert remarked as he brazenly rearranged his crotch. "I've had most of them at one time or another, you know, Aidan, and I'm still excited by their hind ends." "I can only imagine what they're like, I'm afraid," I joked. He turned suddenly, following a final pair of boys closely before he smiled. "He looked at me, you saw that didn't you?" I glanced at the last of the boys and wondered which one in particular he was talking about. I favored the nearest one, the blond-headed lad on the left who could have worn a dress and gone unnoticed until he went to bed. The changed tone of Master Aubert's voice was ample indication of an emotion that I had seldom observed as a boy upon the Mount. It was not encouraged for tutors and their charges to become lovers. Indeed, it was even frowned upon for a boy to have been initiated by the same man who then sought his everlasting love. Such affairs of the heart were promptly truncated, unless the recipient of love was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of manhood yet to come. Few boys did, and few masters would even consider the daunting loss of love. "Which one?" I asked boldly. Master Aubert smiled without reservation, admitting affection was present but still not love. "The dark-haired gamin in the third last row. I fear I'm further imprisoned by his every look. He's quite charming and, for Vulturnus, a pleasure to take to bed. The little Leo's only ten and I've found him hotter there than any boy I've had. You'd think he had a fever in his bowels." He gestured to the open door to the Chapel. "You'll witness the mounting with me I hope, Aidan?" I shrugged and prayed that I had appeared as if I were disinterested. Yet, the possibility of watching had charged my mind with yearning. The opportunity to see a boy, a nine-year-old boy, lose his virginity, was cruel temptation for a man like me. To say the least, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any boy, and not much difference for the ones who watched him do it. In one way, that Etienne had died no longer restrained me, for it had become apparent to me during my interview with the Master of the Sanctuary that my desire had not died with him. I could not change that. Since then, my penis ached with a hardness that would not go away. It seemed that life, or at least erections continued regardless of the pain within my heart. I would survive in order to keep Etienne's memory alive by living life for him. I nodded to Master Aubert and tried to hold my eagerness back. I followed him into the Chapel, skirting the gathered throng of singing boys by keeping to the side aisle. We were in the shadowy area behind the columns, where the masters and tutors gathered to witness Evensong and monitor the mounting celebration. The Chapel seemed even more sacred than I remembered. The words of 'The Glory that is My Lover's Dream' echoed back and forth with an evocative vigor that was less spiritual than it should have been. It was sexually arousing. Etienne had sung that song every evening and my heart quaked as I silently mouthed the words. Song followed song. Some were sung in unison, with ninety-six voices matched in harmony. Some songs were solo, or led by boys could hold their own and let their voices reach into the lofty ceiling. Even in my weakened state, it was a joy simply to listen to them. I rested against the marble base of a column and closed my eyes. The man who led the ceremony was very old. Of the few men who I had met, he was hardest to recognize. It was his effeminate gestures that had not changed. Master Aleyn, was old and bearded even when I was a boy. He trembled noticeably when he talked, yet his soft voice commanded the respect of every man and boy who was present. Master Aleyn was both Master of the Favorius novitiates and Master of the Spirit. I understood that he was close to death and I was his replacement. In his condition he would be hard pressed to even masturbate a novice, let alone give instruction to an eager boy where it was most needed. Then, the organ rose in volume and the sound of jubilation resounded through the Chapel. I felt my spirit being lifted, pulled from within me into the shared power of all who stood there. I felt the glow within me. Together, there was strength for all of us. One boy began to sing. Poor Kadri. His virgin voice wavered, gaining strength from the hopes and goodwill that flowed from all to him. I sent my own silent blessing. He was one of those boys who doubtless would have been happier if he were born a girl. Just as his reedy voice began to lose its timbre, all the voices joined in and a single voice became a compelling accord that soared to the heavens. My mouth stayed open, not daring to add my own baritone to the magnificent harmony, but kept silent in sheer amazement. 'Though the pale white within your cheeks compris'd, And doubtful light unto your eyes confin'd, Though short of breath not from itself unloos'd, And careless motions of your equal mind, Argues your beauties are not all disclos'd; 'Yet as a rising cock, when first 'tis grown, Points fairer than when it ascends more red, Or as a budding rose, when first 'tis shown, Smells sweeter far then when it is more spread; As all things best by men and boys are known;' Even as the song reached its glorious culmination, the boy was led closer to the Altar by an older boy, his partner in the triumphal march. This boy was no less Favorius, but four years older. His glistening hair hung almost past his waist. Long golden curls that would be pleated into a single tail once he was mated to a man. For one boy, this was his first time, for the other boy his last time in the Chapel. Tomorrow, one boy would be sore but happy, and the other boy would be taken away by his warrior. He would be no less happy in his new life. That very same day a new Favorius boy would be brought into the Sanctuary. This was the way of things and it would not change because the progression through the Sanctuary had to be uninterrupted. I was pleased to see that the older boy was patient with his charge and I regarded him with growing affection. It was not so long ago that Etienne had performed the same rites, albeit to a Vulturnus boy. It was best that he calmed and consoled while taking charge of what needed to be done Master Aleyn offered a brief prayer and a celebratory embrace before the younger boy was guided to mount the steps that preceded the Altar. Only once in a lifetime did a boy lie upon that stone. Just once. No boy forgot what happened on the Altar. I watched, as everyone else watched. First, the older boy untied the sash of white shiny satin. It was placed diagonally across the stone altar. Kadri's woolen robe opened at the front, revealing a milk-toned body and a puny sex that showed his gender, but not much else. The lucky boys were the ones who came to the altar with erections. I prayed for him, and hoped that his body would reveal his desire before the initiation was complete. 'So in your untouched and innocent estate A beauty is discern'd, no more worthy love That which further does not itself dilate, And those degrees of variation prove, Our vulgar needs so much do celebrate. 'Thus, thought your eyes dart not that piercing blaze Which doth in some mens' looks appear, It is because you do not need to gaze On other objects than your proper sphere, Nor wander further than to run that maze. "The boy who presents him is Carlin. He's an interesting lad with a good mind and a strong will. He's got a reputation of being quite the filly," Master Aubert whispered in my ear. "Even the little boys have ridden him. Favorius as well as Vulturnus. Whoever he mates with is sure never to need a saddle to stay on top of him." I smirked. That certainly had not been the case with Etienne. However, like me, Etienne was a true Vulturnus. He was always eager to take a turn with me beneath, even if we had yet to share the rides equally. There were certain advantages with passive boys that one did not realize until their semen flowed. "He's not been picked?" I asked. I could not remember what day it was. "Not yet. The competition ends tomorrow. I hear the challenge had been quite strong. The favorite for Favorius is reputedly bigger than a horse. If it's only half that big, it will be enough to keep young Carlin happy, I'd wager." With an exaggerated gesture, Carlin lifted the robe from Kadri's shoulders and eased it down his thin arms. Perhaps he was frightened or cold, for he shivered. Unnecessarily so, for the pretty lad had a body that could bind a man's eyes and never let them go. Some boys were brown, others were almond-skinned, and some like Kadri were the color of goat cheese. Like milk, like the silvery full moon beyond the lead-glass windows, he stood pale and smooth and as bare as any boy could be before a multitude of eyes. His beauty was even more astounding with the Altar of Initiation directly behind him. There was no secret made about its purpose. With a single palm placed upon the younger boy's thin chest, Carlin directed him to hop up onto the Altar. Thereupon, Kadri obediently lay down and brought his knees up to his chest. He had a small white bottom with dimpled cheeks, and a tiny pink flower awaiting what came next. The boys' voices raised as the meaning of the song became evident. 'So, if you want that delight which must succeed, And give at last a puncture to your hole, It is because neither in outward deed With inward finger you yet admit that lard For within your cheeks a guilty bruise should need. 'So, if your breath do not so freely flow, It is because your love seeks to consume That vital treasure which you do bestow, As well to mount as much to pleasure Your virgin anus, his shaft must go.' "I hope he doesn't pee," Master Aubert remarked in the momentary break between the verses. He sighed sincerely. "It happens sometimes as you know and the boys will tease him afterwards if he does." The voices rose again, carrying the song to its loudest level yet. The gathered boys parted, standing twelve rows to either side to make an aisle for Master Kieran to approach. He strode between them and I offered my silent wish of hope that the sight of a man's naked body would be sufficient to reward Kadri with an erection. Master Kieran was attired in the red embroidered robes of his intended function. He bowed and knelt before the recumbent boy until the song drew to a close with the final verse. Carlin applied the slimy grease, two fingers coated with a copious lump of lard pressed between the boy's rounded cheeks. I held my breath. How many years had passed since a boy had done that to me? Too many, but I could still feel the fingers slide into my anus and expertly widen the entry to my rectum. The younger boy trembled after his anointing. However, he stayed reclined and even moved his hands to spread his cheeks apart, listening as the other boys sang in his honor. 'Yet stay not there, love for this night must call, You were not born to serve only one man's will; Nor can your beauty be perpetual: 'Tis your perfection your ring to darken still, And to be enjoy'd to find that love is mutual.' I wanted to applaud, but applause was insignificant. All eyes were upon the boy upon the Altar. A virgin about to be deflowered deserved to be the center of attention. Honor was important for the first time. That was why Master Kieran kneeled before him. Kadri had selected him from all the others. He had been honored and he would honor Kadri in return. Virginity and pride went hand in hand, and he would make the boy proud of what he'd lost. Still kneeling, he pronounced his prayer of tribute loudly enough that everyone in the Chapel could hear. By then, the preparation had been completed and Carlin stood aside, resting his hand upon young Kadri's shoulder to comfort him through the final two verses. 'Over sweet-toned affections - but the joy That enters to the spirit of a boy Is deep as his young heart: his very breath, The simplest sense of being, is enough To ravish him, and like a thrilling touch He feels each moment of his life go by. 'Beautiful, beautiful boy! with a joy That like a robe is palpable, and flung Out by your very motion! delicate bud Of the immortal flower that will unfold And come to maturity in heaven! I weep your earthly glory. 'Tis a light Lent to the new-born spirit that goes out With the first idle wind of east.' They were beautiful words, made even more wonderful by the splendid setting of the Chapel bathed in amber candlelight and the ninety-five other boys who had gathered to celebrate his initiation with him. Kadri was immortal at that moment. Boys had preceded him, and boys would follow him, and life for all of them would go on to eternity. The chain went on unbroken unless a boy relinquished what he was. All eyes were upon Kadri's naked body, all minds were focused on his, wishing felicity. The unspoken prayers suffused the reluctant lad and he hardened. His tiny part grew instantly to the very apogee of stiffness. With relief, I smiled. That flower of his virgin boyhood had indeed unfolded, and from the tip, that very tiny partially unveiled tip, appeared a delicate bud with no equal. It was crimson red, like mine, like Etienne's, like any boy or man who stood there in the Chapel. It was the sign of who we were. Carlin's hand moved a fraction of an inch and formally pulled the skin right back. It was truly a rose revealed and ready to blossom. "Thank goodness," Master Aubert whispered to me. "That boy is more Favorius than all the rest, I think. A good replacement for young Carlin when he leaves." I nodded slightly but did not shift my eyes from what was unfolding before me. Master Kieran had exposed his sword. What added length it had was fairly uncompensated by a lessened girth. There were some men who claimed that a long thin member made a man ideal for boys. However, even a Vulturnus boy appreciated that depth without width was never as satisfying. With nothing more than a single glance, I estimated half-a-cubit, the length of one hand, and quite big enough to hurt if it was rushed. Unlike my penis which could more than fill the breadth of a man's two hands side by side, Master Kieran's much thinner member could be easily held by a boy as young as Kadri. Little wonder that they called him Master Asparagus. The man stood tall before the altar, as tall as I would. He even bent his knees outward slightly to bring the height to match the boy who lay before him. From the other side of the Altar, Carlin reached around Kadri's legs. Very little could be seen from behind or from the sides, but every one realized what was happening. The rose had to be positioned just right for the de- flowering to be done. And that was Carlin's role, to aligned the master's penis with the waiting hole. Kadri stared straight ahead, doubtless seeing what was pointed as his anus, but no longer caring. Indeed, it would have been hard for him to miss it. The distance closed between them. Everyone fell silent. Every mind was directed to a single goal, that of aiding and abetting in the loss of innocence. My mind joined in too. And Master Aubert. Even Master Kieran was issuing the same plea for the rosy head to enter without undue difficulty. Kadri heeded the instructions whispered from behind him. I watched his face become tense as he strained down and tried to push his feces out. "Push harder," Carlin advised a little louder. "Just the way you're doing it, only harder." The boy shuddered and I shuddered with him. Our minds had joined. All of the minds had joined. A single mind. An intense and overwhelming unity of thought and spirit of ninety-six pre- pubertal boys and twelve masters. And me. I felt what Kadri was feeling. The timeless surge, the rigid pressure, the bearing down, the pushing into him. I strained with him, forcing just as he needed to force out to take the man inside him. My penis glowed, throbbing like Master Kieran's penis, like Kadri's little shaft. Then, without warning, Kadri quaked and groaned. "Thank the lard," Master Aubert said softly. "That's it. A virgin gone. The Rose is done" "He's opened well," I said admiringly. "I was worried about him, I have to say. I'm glad to see him smiling, I tried to tell him that once he's ringed he'll be all the happier for it," he added proudly. Indeed, the boy's happiness filled my thoughts. He had succeeded at what he had wanted to achieve. The smile of triumph was upon his face. The pain was bearable, but only just. Now came the waiting. It took time to stretch wider and for the muscles to relax. Carlin stroked the boy's shoulders, gently touched his cheeks and forehead, and smeared away the gathered beads of sweat that formed. I smiled at him, at the gathered boys. Of all the ceremonies on the Mount, the mounting was the most important. Patience was a virtue for a virgin, but for the rest of the boys who watched, patience was a sin when a penis had barely entered them. "Poor thing. He must be very tight," I said frankly. "Only the once. He's not a virgin after this. Besides, he's not nearly as tight as you might think, Aidan," Master Aubert whispered back. "I spent some time with him earlier today. He's already got the basic idea down, and he can take two fingers without a whimper. Even three is not much harder. He loosens as fast as any boy I've ever had." "Mind over body," I acknowledged. "Still it's asking a lot of such a small body, no matter how much he wants it in him." "Yes it is. It's quite a task, and you're a great deal bigger," he winked. "You'll need the patience of the Gods until he opens properly. Keep him well anointed with lanolin and he'll be fine once the mark is done. Another week or two and then he'll be hot and horny for something bigger to fill his rectum. I wouldn't be at all surprised if he starts backing up for a second effort with you before Scorpio is out." I smiled and did not answer. If one did not know better, what Master Aubert had said was impossible to believe. The waiting appeared to be over, judging by the renewed interest of the others gathered. From my own experience, I knew that it seldom took longer than a few minutes for a boy's anus to dilate. Already, Master Kieran was testing the little orifice with gentle motions. He barely moved his hips, yet it was far enough for the boy to tremble. It took an inch or less of penetration to weaken the guardian of the portal. Two or three inches was certain defeat. "Well, push it in him," someone suggested light-heartedly from the aisle. "He's as ready as he'll ever be." Master Kieran glanced back at his audience. He was smiling widely. Of all of us, he knew what was needed. He could feel it around his impaled member, that quivering muscle yielding way. He held the boy's feet, one in each hand. That would be comfort in itself, keeping the boy's tender feet off the cold stone slab. However, it served an added purpose, that of restraining the boy from pushing him away should the urge occur. From the other side of the Altar, Carlin grinned. He lifted his hand above his head, holding three fingers apart from the rest. Three fingers? Already that far inside? The wanton little wretch was taking Master Kieran's penis like he had done it for months before. However, for a Favorius boy, even a young one, opening quickly was the norm. Another push, now visibly harder than the gentle prodding that had preceded it. This time, the bare-assed boy groaned and wriggled, but not in discontent. I heard a murmur of approval from the boys. All of them knew that feeling, the final inexorable inward push, of breaking past the muscle band and into the void beyond. The man's penis took possession of them, then. They were mastered by the man when they were captivated by pure gut-wrenching pleasure. This was how teaching began. Kadri had begun to learn. From this moment forth, he lived to serve, and learn, and then to love, and love again. Facing Kadri, Master Kieran started thrusting. Slow deliberate thrusts, the kind of thrusts that moved the glans from rim to open void, in and out and back and again. The boy's face contorted momentarily while he tried to understand the difference between sensations. Some were still painful, and would remain so for quite some time, but the others were nothing short of pure euphoria. His ecstasy was obvious to anyone who cared to look. It was such a pity that those outside the Sanctuary could not understand this miracle of love. A man could love a boy and give him joy like no other. "He's getting looser I'm glad to say," Master Aubert acknowledged quietly. "Listen. You can hear the sucking in his bowels." He was right. The sound was unforgettable, a soft wet suction, slurping with each withdrawal. One had to listen carefully to hear it, but every ear was trained enough. Definitive movement. Undeniable, powerful, movement. Above his groans and whimpers came the lush slippery sound of sodomy, the sweet noise of a boy being fucked into oblivion. "Asparagus dick is in him all the way," giggled one of the two boys standing closest to me. His companion elbowed him in the side. Both Vulturnus boys, it was only natural for them to show some disrespect when a Favorius boy lay upon the Altar. "Hush lads," Master Aubert chided. I watched relentlessly, enticed by the vision of heavenly delight. Little Kadri had released his ankles to lift his feet and lock them around the master's back. In turn, the man had lifted him still higher and was pumping with all his might. His reputation for gentle patience was visibly in doubt. However, there was no fear of Kadri regretting his impetuous position. He gazed up, eyes wide, as attentive as any boy had ever been. There was a smile on his pretty face that conveyed much more than words ever could. I knew that look, the face that showed sheer untrammeled rapture. There was a reason why boys referred to the inner contentment as the Seventh Heaven. Only a boy could appreciate the deep- seated bliss, the ultimate pleasure that welled up within their bodies as they were brought closer to the edge. Some Favorius called it 'madness', sensations that consumed their sanity. Still other boys acknowledged unbridled joy, others termed it 'frightening', and 'close to death'. Vulturnus boys were more reluctant to admit to anything other than they liked it. The masters knew better and taunted Vulturnus boys to do it often if only in the spirit of good fun. At the beginning, as for the end, both expertise and experience demanded the pace be set accordingly to the lad. Master Kieran began slowly as the rule required, timing his strokes to match Kadri's hesitant breathing, exhale and out, inhale and in. With added looseness, he became much faster, going deeper and harder on every stroke. He finished exactly as he should. Once for every heartbeat of the lad, and even that increased when he came closer to the end. The master's pelvis moved with the agitation reminiscent of a dog mounting on a bitch. Rapid jerks that were barely at that hidden gland before departing. Poor Kadri certainly whimpered like a pup in heat. Faster, harder, deeper, was the inspiration offered by all of us, and faster, harder, deeper it became. The noise, surging, sucking, sloppy, became louder. Lard was churned to slimy foam, adding to the mess. The boy was straining, writhing on the stone, abandoned to the urgent pounding provided my his man. He had chosen well. Faster, harder, deeper. "One of them is close now by the look of it," Master Aubert said with amusement. "Just one?" I commented, no less delighted. He laughed. "The lad's to come first is my bet." "Mine too. I'll not wager though. The look on Master Kieran's face is something to behold," I smirked. "So true. Ah! There he comes!" Master Aubert exclaimed. Which of them he was addressing, it was impossible to tell. Kadri was ecstatic. His heated head was thrown back, his eyes closed shut, his teeth gnawing at his fist. The muscles in his thighs were blatant, stretched tight as he forced his body onto it. He kept it there, the man's hard sex lunging deep within, pumping into the only place that could not get enough. And Master Kieran? His mouth was open, uttering a silent yell of triumphant pleasure as he spurted. I could only imagine what they shared, although I knew it well. Hot thick seed was squirting, filling up the tightened cavity. Every muscle squeezing to get the last drop out. The boy's anus would be clamping down, again and again, gripping the pulsating penis with frightening might. It only lasted a few heartbeats, just long enough for both of them to know that they had lived, and in orgasm, experienced the agony of immortality. I felt relief, a burden lifted that the Rose went on. It mattered not that Etienne was gone. These boys were as much his brothers as they soon would become my sons. With due deliberation, and a groan of exasperation, Master Kieran withdrew slowly. He had performed his task above every expectation. There was no sound except a murmur of approval when the sword appeared. For an instant, a misty steam rose up in the cold air of the Chapel. There was no blood, on the glistening steel-hard blade, which was to be expected given its proportion. A long thin penis was ample for a virgin. Kadri smirked up at him, the man who had initiated him. Instinctively, his hand felt between his cheeks. All boys did that, to ascertain the dimension and condition of the hole that was there. It was tender and he winced as his finger sank within, but still he smiled. Doubtless, he could feel the fluid seeping down, the fluid that proved that love was real. Master Kieran stayed in position, his drawn weapon poised to enter once again should the lad demand it. He nodded once, barely conscious. That was the difference between Vulturnus and Favorius. Etienne would have balked and been exhausted. More than likely he would have suggested that he would rather mount me instead. A second round was underway before I had a chance to wonder at the young boy's strength. This time, Carlin's involvement was minimal. Kadri's anus was wide open and needed nothing more than a sudden push in order breech the entry again. The lad groaned loudly when the penis sank within him. One thrust, from beginning to end, until Master Kieran's shaft was completely hidden. I thought of Etienne holding the curved blade of my scimitar within him, of the spasms inside his rectum, contracting, expelling, satisfying spasms. Etienne was of the type who bear it quietly. "Mind over body once again. I swear it works best with young boys," Master Aubert chuckled. "I think the lust and tightness help to keep it still as well. If anything, I think it's harder." "He will be sore tomorrow," I replied. Fully ensconced with that small hot abode, there was only one thing left for them to do. I heard a murmur of approval, general encouragement for their rutting to continue. Instead, for a while they stayed immobile, joined and sharing the intimacy of being united as man and boy. Master Kieran leaned down and pressed his lips to the boy's forehead. At the same time, the boy licked and nibbled on the man's nipples. His small hands stroked the man's arms and the little ankles pressed into his flanks to incite him to begin again. Love was and had been present throughout. It was embodied in every move, every word, every deed. That was the nature of the Sanctuary, and the initiation feat was where love first began. Yet, it had been there all along if one chose to look. This act was simply the celebration, the final recognition, a boy's announcement to his brothers of what he was. The second time took much longer for both them. It was supposed to be that way. The boy had lost his fear and gained respect. He copulated now, simply because he wanted to, and to show what was in his heart. He copulated freely before one hundred and eight admirers, now themselves consumed by his delight. The thing inside him was as hard as forged metal and driven deeply, as deeply as I had ever been within Etienne. This was the realm of pleasure, uncontrollable, indescribable, over- whelming pleasure. Kadri was orgasmic with the blink of an eye. His legs clamped, then twitched and jerked and with great difficulty remained locked around Master Kieran's hips. Master Kieran reached out, took Kadri's hands in his and lifted him completely off the Altar. He turned around, supporting the boy's slim body perpendicular to his own. The lad hung there, impaled precipitously, abruptly wriggling whenever the shaft sank deeper. From where I stood, I would have said that there was nothing left to give, or take, so closely was the union made. However, the Master arched and leaned backward. The boy dropped another miraculous inch, his face contorted as he grunted. Someone giggled, another boy pointed and whispered to his mates. The accumulated juices were dripping on the flagstone floor. Then, Kadri barely cognizant of what was leaking from inside him, was lifted back again onto the Altar, no longer virgin for the shaft was completely buried in his core. The Master raised his haunches, pausing, then withdrawing to the brink. He paused again, and without warning plunged in once again. The boy shuddered, gripping his ankles even tighter to place his legs in a seemingly impossible position. I saw his teeth clench. His head was shaking, still watching between his thighs and nodding eagerness and lust. Then faster, sliding on the slick seed already there, their bodies sweating profusely, giving it everything they had. First one groaned, and then other, and the frantic slamming started. I glanced at Master Aubert and he smirked in restrained amusement. This boy had needed coaxing? I nearly laughed. He bucked and writhed and twisted, and begged for more, like an older boy. And then he came, squealing out his panicked joy. Even for Favorius, it was startling for just his second time. "Look at that! The little wretch has come again," Master Aubert chuckled. "That's two, and I'll wager he'll go another one before he's done. I suppose I should have expected it the way he wriggled on my fingers. And to think that he was terrified this afternoon once he'd made his choice of Master Kieran. He was so sure he'd lose control and pee." I smiled. Vulturnus boys were different. They had no choice in who mounted them. The masters drew a straw for who would do it. The boy knew nothing until the end, when he lay upon the Altar and the man came forward and opened up his robe. Like everything else, a Vulturnus boy would take it in his stead, which only went to show that for an aggressive boy, his first mounting was merely an another obstacle to be overcome. Both Etienne and I had agreed that a boy's virginity was best taken by a man he didn't choose. That made it impersonal and less quiescent. Now, as I watched Kadri gazing up at Master Kieran with wanton love in his eyes, I was not so certain. There was a certain dormant longing in every boy, a latent need, a joyous potential that could best be realized with an appropriate partner. "It looks as if they're fighting a losing battle," I observed. The thrusts came slowly, pumping out waves of pleasure. Each thrust was timed to meet the boy's upward lifting. It was mutual pleasuring and each was willing to push the limit. However, the inevitable conclusion was simply too close to postpone much longer. I could see the concentration on one face, grim determination on the other. Mind over body made orgasm reluctant, yet abeyance could not last forever. The boy's strength was visibly flagging. He breathed through an open mouth, quick gasps that ended in a drawn-out whimper. Still Master Kieran plowed onward, using his arms as well as legs to drive inward. He used a long stroke, bearing down upon the last few inches until he crushed the boy beneath him. Lest one think the recipient was unwilling, the boy's legs strained and tightened every time. As each inward thrust bottomed out, they stayed together for a while, man so far into boy that he could barely breath. By then, my own member was aching hard, and threatening to lose control. My testicles were pulled up tightly, the root of my problem throbbing mercilessly. From long experience I knew that it could happen by merely watching. In time, Kadri would learn a host of ways to prolong the ultimate joy, but for that brief repetition, his anus clutched and squeezed, closing tightly to hold the penis in him. That slowed the Master, yet like any man, he hardened further and used brute strength to overcome increased resistance. On the outward stroke the boy's anus was inverted, seeming to open outwards with each pull backwards, and on the inward stroke, it completely disappeared. The noise was loud, both groans and the succulent mess of moving flesh. Sometimes erratic, sometimes rhythmic, but always moving. There were even times when the boy shoved back and took it harder. He would be sore in the morning, but he lived only for the moment. The pummeling of his anus was guaranteed to produce more than aching soreness. Kadri would have a ring of rose-hued bruises whose size was equal to the stake contained within him. Just when it seemed that the end was near, the man began that ultimate sensation. His glistening, steaming penis pulled completely free, exiting with a pop. Then back again, punching swiftly into the frenzied, slurping body until only his fat scrotum could be seen. Then out again, with an even louder 'pop'. I wondered how long he would be able to keep that up. With Etienne, I seldom lasted longer that a dozen times, and that was after using every trick I had learned upon the Mount. The final thrusts seemed to take forever, such was the emotion shown. They worked together, exploring passion at an elementary level. The climax came as I slipped my hand into my cassock, seeking the opening within the deepened pocket. My penis spasmed immediately with that first grasp. I ejaculated into my hand, spilling my white hot seed between my fingers. I shuddered, felt my penis jumping relentlessly as spurt followed spurt, seemingly endless. Thick slime gathered, oozing wetly, shamelessly squeezing the last of it out. So much of it. Had only five days passed since my penis had been in Etienne? My knees felt weak, my face burning red, my heart slowing, no longer pounding. And upon the Altar, a naked no-longer virgin boy was shaking. One hand was held within his mouth, his entire body jerking from spasms from within him, the engorged penis squashed against his gland. The second orgasm, while less, still produced a flood. Doubtless from his enigmatic smile, the lad could feel his master's penis squirting, that over-powering male explosion, splattering against the clutching tender walls of his 'boy- vagina'. My semen dribbled from my hand and I absently smeared the rest of it against the woolen fibers. It had been a long while since I had soiled myself. Yet, the mess I had made, was nothing compared to Kadri's behind. The Master eased away exposing the gaping hole between two widespread cheeks. Every boy craned forward. Some giggled, some grinned, some were silent in astonishment at what they saw. I saw red. Not the red of blood, but the red of well-used flesh opening to within. I saw the crimson red of a deflowered boy, a boy whose secret passage had been opened for the first time. From the shy smile of contentment, there was no question that another Favorius boy was more than ready for those who would follow. As Master Kieran, rearranged his robe, Carlin assisted Kadri to climb down from the Altar. The boy stood weakly, legs apart, dribbling semen, needing his companion's arm to keep him steady. The woolen robe was placed upon his shoulders. Now dressed, Master Kieran, came forward. he took the boy's hands in his and lovingly pressed their lips together. I heard a murmur of approval. Master Kieran's voice reached to the heavens: "'Long years ago there came to me in sleep The vision of a boy divinely fair; His eyes were moon-kissed seas, serene and deep, Elysian blossoms crowned his golden hair; Light flowed around him, gently fell his voice Like a soft-singing shower of silver dew, Long time he gazed, then smiling, spoke 'Rejoice! Seek only for me, for I alone am taken!'" I sighed in approval of the sentiment. I could not have expressed it better, that wonderful realization of what it meant to love a boy. Then, the Master stepped back and he was handed a folded sash in brilliant red satin. He opened it, and held it out for all to see. As the voices of all the boys joined in song, he closed the robe and knotted the sash at Kadri's slender waist, a brilliant red sash for all to see and know that he had been ringed. "'Bold erectness of the boy who is not afraid of his first test. Small white flowers were in his hair, knees pressed firmly to the chest, but the fingers in practice were extended for the first touch. 'Ah, that is the boy's role, not pretended lying over the sacred Altar stone, we are waiting for it to fill us like a sweet wave, but instead we are engulfed in the seed of man that enraptures and then immediately joins us.'" As the song finished, little weak-kneed Kadri was taken by the hands, Carlin on one side and Master Kieran on the other. They led him down the center aisle, between Favorius and Vulturnus and as they walked unsteadily, the other boys flowed in seamlessly behind them. Finally, when they were all gone, Master Aubert and I followed them. "Well, Aidan?" he asked softly. "It was very beautiful," I admitted. "I know of nothing to compare." "Neither do I. Every time I watch the Mounting, and to my credit, I count no less than a thousand, I am still amazed." "A thousand?" I asked in surprise. "Twenty-four boys per year," he explained. "And I have been a master here for nearly forty-three years." He rubbed his hands together. "And the best thing is that the boys will be horny tonight. They always are after a mounting. I'll not get any sleep until tomorrow, I expect." "But isn't there another ceremony," I asked. "The Libra from Vulturnus, the boy named Sandor?" "Yes. He's on the Altar for tomorrow night. But for now the Making of the Ring is done for Kadri. I was quite worried for him. He's very sensitive, even for Favorius. Now, that young Sandor tomorrow night, will likely take his Master's cock with a grin," he laughed. Master Aubert bade me farewell when we reached the stairs. He would ascend to the floor above, and for a night, just one more night, I would sleep alone. For once, my mind was clear of memories of my sweet Etienne. Halfway up the stairs, he stopped and slowly turned around. "It's good to have you in the Sanctuary again, Aidan. Sleep well tonight. I hope you'll join me in the morning for the Making of the Rose in Bud and Bloom?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. Master Aubert nodded thoughtfully. I watched him turn and continue up the stairs, his words becoming fainter and sadder as he climbed. "'To love thee brings me sadness, for I know each time the time will never come again, -- that every moment brings the darker stain of riper manhood. Liker as we grow, Love stirs its wings, impatient to remain. 'Each night of such a love from such a love doth part thy forward-looking self. At each remove from boyhood thou art further from my love, though nearer to the knowledge of my heart. Love joineth us the closer to dispart.'"