Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 14:21:20 -0700 (PDT) From: Zane Green Subject: Tessellations-Chapter 20 TESSELLATIONS, Chapter 20 BY ZANE HUNTER-GREEN This story is in honor of Ganymede's stories especially Puberty Blues. . If you enjoy reading these stories please help support Nifty. The copyright of this story belongs to the author, and all characters and actions are from my imagination. If you have comments or questions about the story I can be reached ar: ZaneG7@excite.com TESSELLATIONS-CHAPTER 20 One thing that scared Ron as he made his way through the grassy meadow was that he might step on something sharp, and cut his feet. He went slowly trying to make out jagged rocks or night crawlers, in the fading moonlight. Once he kicked a rock away and stubbed his toe. He stiffled his cry, but the pain was a friend as it kept him awake as he traveled. He was a daemon of night, but the protection of night was quickly waning. He knew he would have more to fear in the coming daylight. What if others discovered him? He was half dressed, looking like a barbarian in the reindeer hide he had wrapped around his waist. Without shoes or coin he knew he would be assessed as a runaway slave. He was also aware that men found him attractive. He had realized for some time that many men had given him signs, some drew close to him and he could feel the tent of iron pressed against him. Others winked or flirted, or openly expressed their admiration. He knew that if he were discovered the chances were high that he would end up being sold to a brothel. He heard that there were many in Constantinople, and he would have a hard time proving he didn't escape from one. He knew the signs that he wasn't a virgin would not read well for him. Dominic had once asked his forgiveness for the pale band of darker flesh he wore around his anus. He wasn't aware it was there, but Dominic had traced his finger on the bruised flesh once after their lovemaking, and told him that he wished he didn't have to leave his mark upon Ron. Ron knew that because he was so fairskinned bruises were obvious. Ron asked for two mirrors, and he giggled as he spread his cheeks and tried to position them so he could see what Dominic was talking about. He actually was delighted though when he saw the shape of the man's cock surrounding his anal hole. He knew it would darken and then fade in time, however now it was very obvious if one were to look for it like a moist ring surrounding the moon. If he were to be inspected by slavers the ring would mark him as a catermite. He had once requested to visit a brothel out of curiosity. He remembered that Dominic at first seemed upset and then told him that only when he was older, if he still insisted, but they were not good places to bring a boy. He begged to know more about them. In his fantasy they were exotic buildings with beautiful, happy boys and girls sharing pleasures with men. Dominic proceeded to tell him about the reality of what they were like, with such graphic detail that he wondered if Dominic had been serving in such a place, at one time. They were horrid places he had said, where young boys were auctioned to be raped. Once the boy was broken in he had no rest, his body was abused, often beaten, unless he was a star attraction, then he was treated like a piece of rare art, fawned and petted, yet spending hours having every body hair plucked, hot rocks placed on his head to making his hair curl, and wearing makeup that was often poisonous. No the idea of being sold to one of those places was frightening. He knew from the morning star that he was headed south, he had traveled a distance inland as the smell of salt had diminished. He figured he had an hour left to travel before dawn , then he would find a place to hide and sleep. He was so tired he wasn't think logically. Up ahead he crossed a dirt-track . He walked towards it as he knew that he no longer had the luxury of time to walk in circles through the grassland Not far down the road he heard men's voices shouting in anger, He halted abruptly, and silently retreated back to the grassland, he continued south now too tired to think where he was going until he was so dizzy from exhaustion that he staggered. The grassland gave way to a field, and he spotted a grove of large trees looking like a sentry of idle giants. It started to drizzle. He decided he would rest for a few minutes, and stay dry under the shelter of one of the large silver-gray trees. Taking hold of the pelt of reindeer, and untying it, he spread it out. It felt good to stop and catch his breath. His naked body shivered from the sweat cooling in the pre-dawn air. He lay down upon the pelt and folded the it over, making a cocoon of it. Within minutes he fell into a deep sleep. He was so tired that he hadn't realized that he was laying on a harvest of ripe purple-black olives. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Dominic felt that if he were to find Saffron he would have to move quickly. He figured that the boy had headed south. Fortunately he knew that the boy could use stars for direction so he would know how to travel towards Constantinople. Dominic figured that had to be Ron's destination. Now all he needed was luck, barrels of it, maybe the intervention of an angel or two. The chance of Saffron running into trouble was great as this was a popular trade route. It dawned on him with a sickening grip in his stomach that Saffron was named after a much sought after, and bartered spice. Dominic had a deep respect for names, and Saffron as much as he insisted in being called Ron was actually named after a sweet, aromatic, and pricey trade good, worth more than gold. If a trader got his hands on him, the boy would be hidden away until he was marketed. If they knew who he was it would only make his price that much higher, and the sale kept secret. He was filled with dread as he heard men's voices in the distance. They were fighting amongst themselves. He prayed it wasn't over Ron. He felt that he had no choice but to investigate and see if they had his boy. He drew his sword and crept as close as he dared. It was several men in imperial garb, they had a few servants but from what he could see they did not have a youngster with them. They traveled by horseback so there wasn't any place they could conceal a prisoner. He sighed with relief, and backed away before he was discovered. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The Court room in Romanus' estate was quiet. Only the sound of a fountain splashing could be heard as Aregund looked at her brother. I want you to get a good look at the most handsome boy in the Empire. She called out to one of her ladies to bring a message to her son. He was in the middle of lessons with his Greek tutor. He came at his Mother's call. "Turn around, Basil and let Leo see how you've grown. "Yes he is a comely lad, he reminds me of myself at that age." Leo agreed "Now run along, back to your lessons, I have important business to discuss with my cousin. Basil shrugged his shoulders and left the room. He didn't really like Leo anyway. "So as I imagine you won't have an heir, Basil would be a credit to you. Aregund insisted. "There is still one more beautiful you know, his older brother, Saffron." "Leo, the boy is dead, or will be soon. "What do you mean, I have men after his ship, WHAT DO YOU MEAN, HE IS DEAD!." "My agents were instructed to kill him. He was to have a convenient accident. It happens all the time at sea." Leo slapped his cousin. "How dare you! " She cried out. "NO, HOW DARE YOU that boy was mine, my property, what a waste. He was the sexiest most beautiful boy I have ever seen. You never discussed it with me." "It is really my problem, the best solution was to get rid of him cleanly." "YOU are a witch, Aregund you make Zoe look like a Saint." "I am a Mother, my concern must be for my sons. You have no children so you wouldn't understand. I am sorry if I had to destroy your toy." "You are beyond loathsome. Those that would have a child destroyed because he is in the way is worse than a devil. " "So you are better, you wanted to turn him into a girl." "I never said that! I love boys why should I want him to be a female, she-devil like you? "Well you had your chance with him. Is it my fault you are too stupid to hold on to him?" "I kept my word to him. I had no idea he was cunning enough to escape, or as fast as a racing steed. You did not have to order him killed." "I decided to take matters into my own hands, and that was the only was to insure the little brat would no longer stir up my household." "I am leaving, you make me sick. You can forget my EVER doing anything for your son!" Leo left in a whirlwind determined to contact his men to stop the search for Saffron. He would have to concentrate on his other interests now. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^