Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2018 12:57:46 +0000 From: Nicholas Nicholby Subject: Boys Guild Chapter 14 This story is a work of fiction. It never happened, it never will. The characters and locations are all make believe and any resemblance to any place or person, living or dead, is simply in the mind of the reader and totally unintentional. Situations and sexual activities of the characters are fantasy, don't try dragon riding at home. The story is also the first in a series of stories about Kind Draviad's Realm. Please let me know if you enjoy by email to nicholas6996 (at) hot mail dot com Copyright 2018 by Nicholas Nicholby, all rights reserved. Not to be distributed or duplicated without express written permission of the author. The author hereby grants the Nifty Archive a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, and non-cancellable license to use, modify or alter and edit copy for clarity or style, reproduce, display, make compilations of and distribute the work. The Boys Guild The upcoming chapters of Boys Guild contain some intense situations and may cause trigger events. Please read carefully if you are susceptible. Events include acts of kidnap and imprisonment. Also please consider a small donation to the Nifty Archive. Think of how many times you have read the various authors pleas and think in terms of "if I had a nickel." If Nifty would receive a nickel for every time you think that, it would go a long way toward defraying expenses and insure this free service remains available and free. The DONATE button is above the story indexes and anonymity is a foregone conclusion. No amount is too small to help. Also consider sending me your thoughts on this story. I really appreciate the reactions and comments at Nicholas6996 (at) hotmail.com Chapter 14 - Forest Frolic and Wearied Wizard Tomas stood at the windows of the aerie looking out across the forest in the early morning dawning. Unlike the view in the other direction it was a sight he had never seen. This way held nothing with which he was familiar. Instead of town walls, the distant harbor and the wider sea beyond in this direction what he could see was vast uncountable numbers of trees. More trees than he thought could have existed in the world, yet here they merged their colors together and faded into the distance. The river too was something bold and unique, a shining, glinting, golden shimmering stream winding in and out of masses of trees and haphazard meadows. It was like a living strand of gold tossed carelessly across the landscape. Tomas felt Zekial come up behind him. He leaned back into the older boy and the two looked out on the unknown together. Somehow they both knew the view echoed their future: vast, unseen, both immediate and remote at the same time. Tomas needed to return to the Print Shop. Zekial felt the Wizard needed him, although he had not been called. The two shared this companionable moment and as the sun rose and the sparkling golden river began to disappear among the rising green they turned to descend and find the Miller. Mig and Kalpak stayed intertwined like the branches of two neighboring trees. If Mig had not been green one wouldn't have been able to tell what arm and leg belonged to which boy. The Miller was at his coffee on the terrace watching the sunrise for himself. As Tomas and Zekial joined him he pointed them towards the fruit juices and bread on the table. Tomas had never seen an actual glass glass, and these were filled with brightly colored liquids that certainly could not be ale. He reached for one that was a yellow orange in color and as he brought it to his nose he smelled the crisp sharp scent of some strange tree. Taking a cautious sip the flavor of bright sunshine exploded across his mouth. He took a more complete drink and swirled the thick pulpy deliciousness around in his mouth. It tingled, waking every taste bud across his tongue. "That one is orange juice. Here, this is the fruit," the Miller pulled an orange from the fruit basket, sliced it open and then sliced off several wedges. Handing one to Tomas and one to Zekial he took one himself and put it in his mouth making the classic orange slice grin as his teeth scraped the pulp from the rind. Showing the denuded rind he laughed, "Eat it like this, this rind is good in cooking, but has a slightly bitter bite on its own." Tomas and Zekial watched each other and giggled and pointed as the orange slice grins wiggled between their lips as teeth scraped the fruit away. Tomas moved the glass so Zekial could try it. Then he choose a clear golden liquid glass. Sniffing it he smelled a different tree, this one more familiar. He took a sip hoping it wasn't golden pee, but thinking if it was the Miller would have a reason for drinking that too. It wasn't, it was crisp and sharp against his tongue where the orange juice had been smooth yet clinging. He recognized it right away, it was the same taste as the apples he sometimes bought in the market. The Millar laughed again to see the dawning recognition on his face. "Yes, pure apple juice, treated as it is squeezed to make it such a golden brilliant color. I think you know what to do with an apple," he picked one from the basket and sliced in it quarters. "Just remember the seeds are poison if you eat a lot of them. One or three won't hurt you." He saw the look of alarm on Tomas face and knew like every boy he had probably eaten almost every bit of an apple except the stem and maybe the deepest part of the core. Zekial reached for the smallest glass, a pink liquid similar to the orange juice except for the color. He took a sniff and it made his nose crinkle, but not in a bad crinkle way. He tool a healthy sip and as it flowed across his tongue he scrinched up his face setting the Millar to a hearty laughing. "Grapefruit! Neither grape nor sweet, it packs a punch, yes?" Zekial could but nod agreement as he tried to swallow the bitterness still in his mouth. "Still good, it looks like this," the Miller dug a large grapefruit from the basket. He sliced it open, but did not slice it into wedges. "See, if we treat it with the Baker's sugar," he placed some salt like granules across the fruit. "Or break up a candy across it then it tastes less tart." He used a spoon to scoop carefully between the inner skins and bring a mouthful to his lips. "Try it now," he pushed the fruit and spoon to Zekial. Zekial was skeptical and took a smaller scoop than the Miller had dredged up, but as his face lit up and he went back for more Tomas was trying to wrest it away. Zekial feed him a scoop and pushed the glass of juice towards him. Tomas took a little sip and scrinched up his face even more than Zekial had. The Miller poured the rest of the orange juice in with the grapefruit and took a long drink and passed the glass back to the boys. Still cautious they took drinks between their bites. "These citrus fruits do not grow here, but every week or so of spring and summer old friends from the port bring me a bag of oranges, lemons, grapefruits, even the stranger kiwi. Keeps us healthy too, lots of goodness grows inside those thick skins. Here, try a banana," the Miller pulled some scimitar shaped yellow things from deep within the basket. Zekial held his up by the end and Tomas laughed. He had seen lances just like that, well maybe not as yellow. He took his and mimed working it with his mouth and Zekial blushed and the Miller laughed, "Yeap, I'm sure they've been used on both ends." Tomas blushed scarlet as the meaning of that dawned and he quickly placed the banana on the table. What a strange name he thought. The Miller took one and began to peel it and as he popped it in his mouth and mimed too when he brought it out Tomas could see a goodly piece had been bitten right off. The Miller was chewing. Tomas skinned his banana with not so much finesse and a lot more messy goo, but as he took a bite his eyes looked at Zekial and Zekial could see the surprised happiness. "It is soft and pliable and mushes in the mouth," Tomas said. Zekial took his own bite and soon it was a race to see who could bite down the yellow lance the fastest. "Don't over do, that can choke you just like a real lance can," the Miller guffawed. Tomas thought about some of the lances he had tasted and choked on and slowed down to savor the sweet mushiness. As the boys finished their fruits and juices Tomas told the Miller, "I must return to the Print Shop today. The Wizard sent word I would be gone yesterday, but I will have cleaning and work to do tomorrow." "I must find the Wizard, I feel he might need me, but he has not called," Zekial added for himself. Mig and Kalpak stumbled sleepily onto the terrace and both boys were pushing up against the Miller for morning hugs. He was obliging while steering them toward chairs. "The Wizard said he would return, but I am sure things were more difficult on the ship than he might have expected." "They went aboard the ship?" Tomas asked. "Yes," the Miller explained. "Yesterday the King's Marines were to capture the crew and many people were sent to the ship to begin the rescue of the captives. If things had gone badly we would have heard, so I am sure it is fine, yet it will not be as easy to finish a rescue as to start one." "Why don't you boys play a while this morning, at lunch time if we have not heard from the Wizard we will decide what to do. It is but a candlespan's walk to town. You can be back well before nightfall." Mig and Kalpak had finished their juices and the fruits and were full awake now and ready for a day. They grabbed Tomas and Zekial and before anyone had a chance to do more than squawk they were pulling them out of the mill tower and down through the mill, out the front door and up the path toward the river. A morning of less daring do and more exploring and investigating kept all four boys occupied in the near forest and the river bank. As a weeks end ritual the Miller had stopped the large wheel grinding, but he had cleared the two small stones and now had rye berries grinding. One wheel produced a pumpernickel dark rye and one a light rye. Although not in as much demand he himself preferred the rich full bodied taste of pumpernickel rye bread and always kept a few sacks on hand. Humming to himself as he added whole rye berries into the middle of the stone he also checked the finished grind resulting at the outer edge. This farmer's rye was particularly good and he was always pleased when it came to the mill. He wondered if the farmer's neighbor would ever figure out that good clean grain, dried carefully and uncontaminated during transport would always fetch a higher price. That neighbor's grain was never good for anything beside stock feed and he always complained about his payment, but never took the care to increase his profit. Magically near midday the boys showed up thirsty and then hungry. Laughing them up the stairs the Miller and Kalpak set out thick pumpernickel bread, butter, nuts and a soft cool cheese. Tomas had not seen a black bread before and thought maybe it was burnt, he had seen plenty of that. Upon tasting it though he knew there was no burnt taste and the smoothness of the butter made it all taste yummy on his tongue. He asked the Miller what made the bread black and set himself to remember and ask Cobar if his Baker could make such a strong tasting loaf. After lunch the boys asked again about returning to the town. "I think it best if you walk now. Like I said it is no more than a candlespan and if you stay on the roads you will meet the Wizard should he be coming this way. Mig and Kalpak can go with you through the woods, but it's best if Mig stays among the trees. That green skin and brown clothing is designed perfectly to hide in the wood. Not all the Elts are like that, just the Wood Elts," the Miller said. "You know other Elts?" Mig asked. "Have known," the Miller agreed. "Not very often one comes around now a days, used to be more traffic between the different beings. You might find another Wood Elt or even a Green Elt, they are not green by the by. There have been some few Ice Elts from the farther North which have passed by in Wintermoons." Zekial and Tomas had just waved goodbye to Mig and Kalpak at the edge of the forest and continued on the road toward town. Zekial suddenly reached out and stopped Tomas and pulled him to the side of the road. Quickly diving into the ditch he had Tomas beneath him as he tried to hide themselves in the tall grass. Tomas could now hear the thundering hooves beating against the road bed and joined in trying to be invisible and quiet. It didn't work. Just abreast of them two King's Guards on massive black horses stopped. "Come out you, we mean no harm." One of the guards shouted down at the boys. Zekial slowly rose and brushed grass and dust off his shirt and breeches, he had signaled Tomas to stay down. He was not yet sure what these Guards might want. "I recognize you, you have saved us some trouble. The King has sent us to fetch the Wizard's Boy and the Printer's Boy from the Mill. You are the Wizard's Boy, right?" the Guard asked as the horse stamped and blew at the small boy in front of him. "Yes, I am Zekial, this is Tomas the Printer's Devil. Is there trouble that the King sends for us?" Zekial asked. "I'm not privy to why the King commands, just that he commanded, and now we can bring you more quickly. Get up, both of you, come, you will ride behind us." Both Guards reached one arm down and as the boys clasped them the men effortlessly pulled them up and on the horses' rump. "Take care to hang on, the horses are enjoying their run." Tomas had barely got a handful of tunic when the Guard wheeled the horse and with a snort and a rearing it took off down the road toward the town. Entering the town gates the Guards went toward the docks, not the castle. Stopping at one of the King's Custom House warehouses along the harbor landing the Guards slid off the horses and then helped the boys down. Tomas found it somewhat difficult to walk, his legs had been splayed open and his living stones pummeled by the pounding gait of the horse and now the firm solid ground seemed almost to be moving away from his feet. "Steady lad," the Guardsman laughed. "Take small steps for a bit, just think of it as a morning adjustment after a round of night games. You'll be right before you're in the door." Tomas blushed but smiled his thanks for the advice and did take smaller steps as he followed Zekial into the Customs House. He was surprised to see a troop of Guardsmen and several horses around the inside of the doorway. Further down the vast open room there was a massive table created from shipping crates and seated around it were many finely dressed men and King's Officers. The area was ringed with a number of torches as if the men might have been seated there all night. The light from the high windows was bright and focused on the table, but at night Tomas thought the torches might not be sufficient to really do more than move back the shadows. "Ah, our boys," Tomas heard and as he looked at the table he saw it was the King himself who was calling them forward with a wave of the arm and smiles. Tomas had never been this close to the King and he didn't know what to do. He watched as Zekial walked towards the table and stopped about halfway and bowed. Tomas quickly followed. "No, no, not here. That's all well and good for big parties and fine occasions, but here we are all just working together. Colin, see that the boys have a drink and a bite to eat if they are hungry. We'll be ready to talk with them in a while," the King waved his Page over and the Page took Tomas and Zekial off to the side. Zekial seemed to know Colin, "Hi Colin, this is Tomas, he is the Printer's Devil. Where is the Wizard? Is everything alright? Why is the King meeting here?" "Last I saw the Wizard he was aboard the ship. I think all is well, the King wanted to be close because they are letting very few people on and off the ship. I was there yesterday, it is horrid!" Colin quickly advised. "Are the boys that were chained alright? I spirit walked among them but could do nothing to help them, it was very frightening," Zekial told Colin. "They are mostly fine, there were some dead I think, I was spared the need to see the bodies. Those boys have been protecting the Wizard, at least that is what the Marine Commander said," Colin answered. "If you spirit walked among them that must be part of what raised the alarm. I'm glad you did, those slavers have to be captured and made to pay." "They are protecting the Wizard?" Zekial asked incredulously. "That's what the Commander said, it is all confusing and strange aboard the ship. The Captain and crew are chained at the rail, the boys are on the main deck and the Wizard was sleeping in the middle of their pallets. The captives are all on one side of the hold and the Armorer's men were making a huge racket cutting the cells out of the other side of the hold. The only thing I could see that was good were many of the boys were smiling and the bread and soups smelled good." "Colin," the King called. "Yes Sire?" Colin ran back to the King's chair side. "Bring the boys here, let them bring their drink or food," he indicated two chairs to the right where some advisors had left. Colin quickly brought the boys to the table telling them not to be nervous. Tomas wondered how that could be possible while sitting at the King's Council Table! "Zekial, one of the boys aboard told the Marine Commander that it was much harder for the Wizard to clean things than he probably anticipated. He said that the boys had joined together to lend him their strength to finish the forward hold and half the aft, but that he would have to rest before finishing the hold and that the boys didn't have much strength left either. Do you know about this lending of strength?" the King asked. "Yes, Sire. It is an advanced technique employed in difficult circumstances. The boy on board the ship must be a major Wizard's apprentice to be able to help by channeling the other boys too. It is very difficult to master," Zekial thought through the times when he was learning the skill. "But you are not an apprentice, and yet you can do this lending and channeling?" the King asked. "I mean no disrespect, you said he would need to be an apprentice and yet you too can accomplish this?" "I had not thought of that," Zekial was embarrassed. "I know the Wizard tells me I can do many things that others can not, perhaps this boy is like me in that way." "Yes, perhaps. That is what I am trying to determine. Please don't be worried. Our Wizard thinks very highly of you, although he would probably not tell you himself. Now, can you go aboard and see this other boy and assess the Wizard's condition?" "Tomas, I am told you think clearly and in unexpected ways? You should go to as it might help," the King saw the look of worry in Tomas' face that he might be in trouble at the Print Shop. "Wait Tomas, I know you must get back to the Printer, but that can wait a while yet. If he couldn't refuse to loan you to the Wizard, I doubt if he will have a problem loaning you to me." "Yes, Sire. I mean No, Sire. Oh, I mean... of course I will help Zekial if I can," Tomas was all tongue tied trying to decide what the correct answer was and how the King could know of things he thought. Colin quickly broke in, "If it please you Sire, may I go too? The Marine Commander was very busy. I have been all around the ship and may be of some help to Zekial and the Wizard too. The boy's aboard have seen me also and will know me a little bit." "Good idea," the King agreed. "Help the Marine Commander too if you can, I'm sure he may need it. At least find out if there are any needs that we can supply." The King turned to the Guard Captain behind him, "Take these three aboard please and check with the Physicians, the Cooks and the Marine Commander about any needs." "Boys, be careful that neither you nor the Wizard over extend yourselves. Those wretched souls have been confined long enough, but a few more days or even weeks will hardly matter now that basic needs are being met." "Also Zekial, the Commander and the Wizard both know of an idea for the boys. Tell them that it is agreed to and ready if the boys are willing. The gold is set aside for supplies and will flow as needed. Go now and help the Wizard. Clerk, see that the Printer is informed." The King turned to a pile of papers and all three boys knew to rise, bow and follow the Guard Captain. As they passed through the doorway and out onto the harbor landing Colin turned to a group of pages waiting at the doorway, "Cyril, take Connor, you have the King's side." Cyril grabbed the shoulder of the young page who had waited outside the bedchamber last night and they ran to be at the King's ready command.