Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 00:57:14 EDT From: Bwstories8@aol.com Subject: The Sword of Kings - chapter 3 Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Don't read this story if: **You're not 18 or over, **If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, **Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex. The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against violators. I wish to extend my thank you to Ed for his editorial assistance with this chapter. If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at http://www.teenboyauthors.org/thewolf, in the 'Other Stories' section. E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com. * * * * * * * * The Sword of Kings - by BW (Fantasy/Sci. Fi.) Copyright 2000 by bwstories44 Chapter 3 - An evening of discoveries and revelations. June 2000 The room Kieren was given was located on the second floor, between the room designated for Beraut and the room shared by Garreth and Romaric. On the other side of Beraut's room was King Dylan's suite and then, farther down the hall, was General Daveel's chamber. The remainder of the party had been housed on the other side of the hallway, in rooms on the outer wall. Those rooms were considered less desirable and, therefore, not fit for the more honored guests. Still smarting from Beraut's stinging admonition, Kieren slid through the entranceway to examine his temporary lodgings. Instantly, the young man forgot about the unpleasant confrontation he had experienced and he turned all of his attention to the wondrous accommodations that had been afforded him. He felt honored that such a luxurious place had been set aside for him and he wondered if his companions' rooms were as nice. This was surely the most wonderful chamber that the young man had ever seen, maybe even finer than Dylan's sitting room, where he had first been informed of his heritage. In the middle of the room was a huge canopy bed, complete with feather mattress. As he sat down on it and made himself comfortable, Kieren realized that it was far superior to anything that he had ever used. On either side of the bed were double windows which overlooked the well-manicured Inner Courtyard. Striding over to and gazing out the thick panes of glass, the lad could behold the magnificent stained glass windows lining the Great Hall. Even in the dim light, Kieren could still appreciate the beauty of the marvelous place and he couldn't seem to release his gaze from the wonderfully landscaped quadrangle. The walled in garden was filled with well-trimmed hedges, brightly colored flowers, recently pruned trees, and a freshly mown lawn. It was a remarkable contrast to the steel gray color of the building's exterior, and the crowning glory of this magnificent edifice. After many minutes, Kieren turned around to inspect the other side of the room. Looking beside the door he used to enter the room, the prince spied a finely woven tapestry draped to the right of the portal. It was an exquisite scene of an archer taking aim at a proud, well-proportioned stag grazing at the edge of the woods. He was sure that this finely made work of art was priceless and enhanced the status of the room even more. What a wonderful exhilaration this brought to Kieren. He never dreamed that such a splendid place could exist and he never would have guessed that he would ever get to utilize such wonderful lodgings. The young man resumed his visual scan of the room and he soon discovered a pile of neatly folded, freshly laundered garments on a small table on the far side of the bed. Just to the other side of that, Kieren discovered a tub of steaming hot water, which seemed to summon him. It must have been prepared just before he entered the room. Slowly, the lad peeled off the layers of clothing from his body, layers coated with the dust and debris accumulated during his travels. Having shed all of his garments, the young prince glided across the cold stone floor and eased himself into the warm embrace of the freshly filled tub. The bathwater felt soothing, gently draining the soreness from the various parts of his body, especially the parts that were unaccustomed to bouncing up and down on a horse. The youth completely indulged himself, thoroughly enjoying this simple luxury, until the water began to cool. Then he decided it was time to get out of the tub, dry his body, and dress himself in the garments that had been provided for his use. Before putting them on, however, the youth inspected these fine articles of clothing. He studied the quality and texture of the fabric and he examined the delicate stitching that connected the various pieces together. When his curiosity was satisfied, he began to put the garments on. The outfit consisted of a royal blue pair of breeches with a matching vest, a pearl colored silk shirt, a pair of snow-white stockings, and the appropriate undergarments. As he donned the various pieces, he slowly uncovered a pair of deerskin boots. These boots were of much finer quality and construction than the pair he had examined earlier at the cobbler's booth. He realized now that all of this had been prepared long in advance of his unfortunate altercation with Beraut. Feeling a little timid, the lad clothed himself quickly and waited, as patiently as he could, to be summoned to dinner. Kieren tried hard to think up interesting ways to pass the time, but he was slowly losing the battle. Even though he tried to control himself, he was becoming anxious. This anxiety was caused with his desire to see the fabled Great Hall and the fine meal they would partake of. His stomach had been gradually reminding him that it had been neglected for several hours and it needed to be tended to before long. Suddenly, Kieren's thoughts were interrupted as Garreth and Romaric burst into the room. "Kieren, come quick," Garreth insisted. "You've got to see this. They have a privy inside of the building." "We found it at the end of the hall," added Romaric, "when we went out to look around. I've never even heard of anything like this." Romaric grabbed Kieren's arm, pulled him toward the door, and then he pushed his friend down the corridor. When they reached the end of the hall, the two elves directed their mate to nudge open the door to a corner room. Hesitantly, Kieren reached out and began to put pressure on the wooden barrier until it began to glide slowly back, exposing this new curiosity. As the barrier moved out of the way, it allowed the young men to see the interior of this small room. The only fixture in this miniature compartment was one isolated stone bench. This was not a typical stone bench, however, for there was something odd about its construction. Right in the middle of the seat was hewn an elliptical opening, the purpose of which was immediately recognized by the boys. "This is amazing," Kieren whispered aloud. "I have never heard of a privy that wasn't a separate little building of its own, placed out and away from the living quarters." "Well, this sure is more convenient when you need to use it," Romaric interjected, having overheard his friend's comments to himself. As the trio stood there inspecting this new oddity, they heard a familiar voice address them from behind. "I see that you have discovered one of the unique features of the castle." The boys turned to see the wizard's smiling face. "The architects that designed this fine building," he continued, "devised an ingenious way to dispose of bodily wastes. They sketched their ideas and presented them to the king. He immediately liked what he saw and he commanded them to include this design in the plans for his castle. It was King Ethelbert who first called this the 'privy room', to distinguish it from an ordinary privy." "But how does it work?" Kieren wanted to know. "How do they keep the smell from coming back into the castle?" "It's all taken care of in the design," Beraut responded. "Let me explain. The privy room on each level is slightly offset from the one above it, so the wastes can drop freely into the sewage ditch that runs below the dungeons. This ditch empties in the river which passes by the castle, and the sewage is then carried into the sea beyond." "Well, that explains how it works," Kieren offered, "but how do they rid themselves of the smell?" "That is the truly ingenious part," the magician told him. "The roof of this building is sloped in two directions. Half of it slants toward the corner above this room, while the other half slants toward another room, located at the opposite end of the building. All of the gutters on this side of the building feed into an opening above and behind the upper level privy seat. When it rains, all of the rainwater is directed into this opening and cascades down the hollow gap between the inner and outer privy room walls. This action flushes the wastes to the lowest levels and into the sewage ditch." "But what do they do when it doesn't rain for a long time?" Garreth wanted to know. "That is a very good question, my young friend. For periods when there is little or no rainfall, they have come up with another unique plan to handle this problem. During these times, the staff empties the bathwater, used in the tubs in the rooms on that level, into buckets. Then, they would dump those buckets down the openings of the privy seats, as another way of cleansing the fecal material from the building. It is because of this constant flushing of the system, aided by the perfumes that are used in the bathwater, that keeps the air somewhat sweetened. "Not all of the odor is eliminated by this flushing process, though," Beraut continued. "That is why there are two small windows high up on the walls of the privy rooms. These openings allow fresh air in and they allow the foul odors to drift out." "I'm impressed," Kieren responded. "This is truly a remarkable feat of engineering." "Yes," the mage agreed, "but this is only one of the fascinating things that you will come to learn about your ancestral home. There are many other secrets that are contained within, secrets you will learn about with the passage of time." "You said earlier," Kieren wondered, "that part of the water goes to another room, at the opposite end of the building. Is there another stack of privy rooms there, too?" "No. The water collected on that side of the building goes into a room where it is stored in a huge stone basin," Beraut responded. "When bathwater is needed, the servants scoop water out of this collection area, put it in large metal kettles, and heat it over a roaring fire in the oversized fireplace. This means that the servants don't have to lug bath water up the multitude of stairs to the upper floor. There is a smaller but similar room on the floor below, and they can redirect some of the water there, for use on the middle floor." "Amazing," commented Romaric. "I just can't believe someone could think up such marvelous ideas." Just then, a young page came to guide them to the legendary Great Hall. Kieren carefully inspected the boy, who was probably a little more than half his own age. The youth had sandy hair, cut straight across his forehead. The rest of his full head of hair fell limply toward his billowy shirt, where it was trimmed evenly above his large, ruffled collar. He was also dressed in knee-high pants and long white stockings. After this visual examination, Kieren realized how grateful he was to see this young man. He was beginning to feel acute hunger pangs and the appearance of this boy meant they would be eating soon. Eagerly, the young prince and the others followed the page's lead, down a series of corridors, toward the Great Hall. It seemed as though the route this young fellow was leading them along was a constant maze of twists and turns. Without question, they continued to follow their pint-sized guide on this zig-zag course, until they were standing beneath a mammoth arch of the double doorway that led into the fabled hall. Now, they waited excitedly for the doors to be opened, so they could witness the splendor of the Great Hall for themselves. As the giant doors swung outward, Kieren and the others had to step back before they were able to pass through the portal. The boys were barely able to breathe as they looked around the storied room. Suddenly, the boys were confronted by so many wonderful sights that they didn't know which ones to study first. There were displays of battleaxes, shields, and other armor hung on various sections of the wall. They were tastefully interspersed with several large, ornate tapestries and a multitude of fine paintings. When he had finished examining these displays, Kieren lifted his eyes to examine the vaulted ceiling, which loomed many feet above the floor. It crisscrossed the upper chamber with a plethora of elaborately carved beams, with various coats-of-arms attached at regular intervals. When he tired of looking at this, the young man let his gaze fall to the freshly waxed parquet floor, which shone like glass beneath his feet. Upon this fine floor stood three extremely large tables, set and ready for dinner. These tables were arranged in the shape of a large triangle, so the diners could see the various others in attendance. Kieren continued to absorb the magnificence of this splendid room until Beraut summoned him to be seated. His place was at the head table and he was located between Beraut and his two young friends. The other tables quickly filled with the other guests and soon an army of servants poured out of the kitchen. The first wave of domestics brought vast assortments of fresh fruits and vegetables and large pitchers of a deep red wine. Then came the next surge, ladling soup from large ceramic tureens carried by a caravan of teenage boys. The group was followed by a bevy of maidens carrying a multitude of baskets filled with freshly baked bread and rolls. These were placed at various intervals along each of the tables. During the whole time these first courses were being delivered, serving wenches were busily running back and forth, from table to table, refilling the diners' goblets with wine. Without slowing down, they would continue this frantic ritual throughout the remainder of the meal. The meats came next, carried out on large platters by big, broad-chested men. There was a roast boar, served with an apple in its mouth, fresh venison, roast duck, roast pheasant, and a large pile of beef. This came from a freshly slaughtered cow, specially raised and fed in the royal herd, and it had been cooked sparingly over an open fire, then left to soak in its own juices. There was so much food that Kieren soon found himself stuffed from just sampling the assortment and, when he thought that he couldn't hold any more, out popped the serving army with new delights. This time the servants were bearing an assortment of pastries. There were cakes, pies, and a selection of sweet rolls, some filled or topped with jam. This was the finishing touch to the formal banquet. As the last of the help offered their wares, a young man, just a few years older than Kieren, strode into the hall to entertain the guests. Romaric and Garreth immediately recognized their newly met friend and they relayed the story of their meeting to Kieren. As Daimon began his first song, the guests hastily ended their conversations and began to enjoy the melodic voice and the soft sweet sounds of his instrument. The two young elves, excited that they had met up with Daimon again, waved coyly at the minstrel and tried to gain his attention. Unaware of their efforts, the troubadour continued to play song after song, some of which the duo had heard earlier in the day. Finally Daimon caught sight of them at the head table and the surprise quickly registered on his face. Astounded at seeing the two elves in such distinguished company, Daimon regained his composure and continued to play on. He briefly wondered why they would be present at such an occasion and he decided that this gathering was probably assembled to form some new craft guild. He figured that the boys were here to be accepted as novices into that trade. Once in a while, Daimon would give a special wink to them, but he never faltered in his performance. After completing each of his tunes, he would receive a hearty round of applause from the gathering in recognition of their appreciation of his talent. At times he would be offered a drink from one of the guests, to give him an opportunity to moisten his throat and take a short breather before he moved on to his next set. The two elves beamed as they disclosed the details of their previous meeting with the musician to Beraut. Then they offered to introduce Kieren to him, as soon as they found an opportunity. The clean-up crews were now removing the last of the leftovers and dirty dishes from the tables as, mercifully, the meal was finally completed. Everyone in the hall flung themselves back into their well-cushioned chairs to relax, unable to hold another morsel, and they continued to listen to the fine music. As they allowed their food to digest and the servants set about straightening the hall, many of the men were lighting up pipes, enjoying an after dinner smoke. The room fell into a trance-like stupor, caused by the combination of good food, good song, and good drink. The only noise that could be heard was that of the musical bard and the movement of the work crews shuffling across the floor. Kieren took this opportunity to glance over the assemblage and observe the order in which they had been seated. Beraut and his three young wards sat at the table located near the front wall. The wizard and his wards were joined there by the Elf King and the elfin general. At the table to Kieren's right sat the dwarf representatives, and at the table to the left sat an assortment of men representing the various segments of Tarolian population. Kieren sat thinking about the different races and the many differences that separated them. He couldn't help but wonder how so many dissimilar groups could become united in such a venture. Madumda, he conjectured, must pose a mighty treat to Tarolian life to force such uncommon alliances as could be found in this arena. The prince now became aware that the bustle within the room now ceased, as the servants finished their cleaning and the musician had rendered his last arrangement. When everyone else had gone, the dinner guests found themselves alone in the Great Hall. Kieren also noticed that all of the doors leading into the room had been closed and they were now left in complete privacy. Pushing his chair from the head table, Beraut rose and began to address those assembled. "My dear friends and fellow countrymen," he began, "I believe you all realize why we are met in this hallowed place. I will only briefly explain some of the information that you may be lacking. As you know, the old fox, Madumda, is gathering his armies at Treblanc, readying them for an attack on our collective forces. His armies, however, are straggling to his stronghold and do not seem to deem the need for haste. This, therefore, is providing us with dearly needed time to make our preparations. We have, though you may not know it, two plans to prepare. The first plan will be for the combining of our forces before we march northward to encounter our adversary. The second plan is for a mission of great secrecy. It is into this latter plan that we will delve first. "Although all of you have been told, at one time or another, of the prophecy concerning Madumda's eventual destruction, none of you, except King Dylan of the Elves and myself, has known of the missing piece of the puzzle. An heir of Ethelbert has survived and eluded Madumda's bloody sword." There were multiple gasps heard around the room and the guests began to stir, then everything went deathly silent again. After things settled down, Beraut continued his address. "This individual has grown up, under cover of the Woods of Wildoness and under the protection of the elfin people. I believe that now is the time to introduce him to you and to explain the nature of the quest that he is about to embark on." At that moment, Beraut turned to his right, held out his arm in Kieren's direction, and he made his announcement to the august body. "May I introduce to you Kieren, the great-great-great-great-grandson of King Orthilue and heir to the throne of the beloved King Ethelbert." Another commotion began, this time as everyone strained for a better look at this young man. They wished to see the newly proclaimed heir to the throne. Each of the individuals began talking excitedly to his neighbor about the disclosure until Beraut finally hushed the gathering. The necromancer then went on to explain how Princess Tayce had not been at Leander at the time of the massacre of her family. Painstakingly, Beraut traced the lineage from the Princess to Kieren, filling in the gaps of history that the assemblage had been oblivious to until that moment. With the introduction completed, Beraut bowed and whispered for Kieren to rise. Red-faced and trembling, Kieren rose to the tumultuous thunder of applause made by this small gathering. Unaccustomed to the attention, Kieren was embarrassed by the introduction and ovation. As quickly as he could, however, he inconspicuously reseated himself and let Beraut gesture to the mass that he was ready to continue. "I would like now to explain to Prince Kieren and those of you here the details of the mission that he will undertake." Kieren was momentarily dumbfounded by Beraut's introducing him as Prince Kieren. He had never, even after being told of his parentage and heritage, associated the title to himself. He barely had time to deal with this concept of his new rank before he became aware that he was missing the important description of the task, as Beraut rendered it. "With the destruction of King Orthilue and his family, Madumda's commander, Moustapha, took the Sword of Kings back to his master at the ancient fortress of the Council of Wizards. This was now Madumda's stronghold and the location where he could best hide and defend his new prize. There the Sword has remained throughout the years, under the guard of the Dark Lord's henchmen and away from our use. Now has come the time for Kieren, leading a small party of warriors, to gain entrance to Treblanc and recover the Sword. He will use the dark, secret passages known only to me to reach Madumda's hideout. Once he has completed this first task, he will have to use the Sword to destroy our nemesis." Kieren's heart nearly stopped beating with this last announcement. How could he, not yet a man, do battle with someone as powerful and evil as the Lord Madumda? How could he stand up to the one whom all of the people of Tarolia feared, the one who causes people to tremble at the mere mention of this name? Kieren had trained with the elfin soldiers, but he had never had his training put to the test with any true foe, let alone one with the strength and supernatural ability of the Dark Lord. How could these people put any faith in one so untested and unproven as himself, to perform such a gigantic undertaking? Beraut had continued to drone away, completing the details of the adventure as Kieren's thoughts raced elsewhere. Just as Beraut was about to take volunteers to assemble the bulk of the party, Kieren brought his attention back to the words of the wizard. "We must now select from among you, volunteers to accompany the young prince upon this journey. I have already granted permission for two young elves to be included in the group. It was not because of their strength or their skill as warriors that I have permitted their inclusion, but it was because of their love and devotion for Kieren. These qualities might well prove beneficial on this journey, though they may later regret their fealty. I would now like for you to meet them. Romaric and Garreth, will you please rise?" The two young elves looked at each other and then at Beraut before slowly rising to their feet. They had not changed their minds about accompanying their childhood friend on his mission, but they were a bit embarrassed by the attention they were now receiving. They had no idea of the significance of the adventure that they had previously volunteered for and they felt, at this time, that maybe they should have remained silent back in Aurelia. Kieren would have been far better off with two mighty elfin warriors to protect him and they would never forgive themselves if their inclusion caused the mission to fail or cost Kieren his life. Now it was too late for these thoughts, so they just sat back to observe the remaining selections to this little band. At this point, Beraut turned his attention to the far left end of the head table. During the banquet, none of the trio of youths had recognized the fact that there were two additional elves seated to the left of Dylan and Daveel. These elves had not traveled with them from Aurelia and their faces were unfamiliar to the trio. The first of these new elves was introduced as Rombaire, Balaster or leader of the city of Eurielle, home of the river elves. The other was Alaric, the most skilled warrior from his elfin troops. Alaric volunteered, on behalf of his people, to join the party for this mission. The boys sat in awe as Alaric, who was larger than even Daveel, stood in recognition of the enchanter's introduction. The sight of this gladiator helped to allay Garreth and Romaric's doubts about having volunteered their services in this matter. No two elfin warriors who might have taken the youths' place could have added any more protection than this splendid representative of the elfin military forces. Next, all attention was focused on the table occupied by the dwarfs of the Amber Mountains. Brolin, King of the Dwarfs and Master of Thorold, the dwarf capital, was acknowledged by Beraut. He rose to address the gathering. "My colleagues, on behalf of my people, I am offering the service of three dwarfs who have proven themselves, not only in battle, but also in their allegiance to our people. No finer representatives could I offer than the trio seated to my right. May I present to this august body Sedain, Quintain, and Doenilio." The three dwarfs rose and bowed toward the head table, then toward the table of men, and finally to the three remaining members of their own table. Besides the King, there were Elgin, Commander of the Dwarf Army, and Baith, Captain of the Royal Guard. All three of the dwarf volunteers were short, as is characteristic of their race, and they were powerfully built. Each one looked as sturdy as the trunk of the giant oaks that grew in Wildoness. Although Kieren had never met any dwarfs prior to this evening, he was sure they would be able to handle nearly any adversary that they might encounter along the way. Everyone's attention was now directed toward the table of men. Three separate delegations were seated there, representing the three main factions of their race. It was easy to distinguish each group from the others by the dissimilarity in their garb and by the different physical characteristics noticeable in their features. Nearest to the head table sat the contingent from Nardin. They were broadly built men with pale skin and very dark hair. Being from the foot of the Dragon's Head Mountains, a very rugged country, they wore sturdy work clothes. Their pants were created from a very heavy, coarse thread and their shirts were made from a thick flannel. They were not attractive in their appearance, even judged by the normal standards of Tarolia, but each man possessed an exceptional amount of courage. The paleness of their skin and the earth tones of their garments gave them a bleached out, almost spectral quality, which made them slightly eerie to behold. Seated next to the Nardinians were the men of Mitiku. The Mitikuans were much taller than the Nardinians and they had very strong, rough features. These men were noted for their great strength and expert fighting skills. They were clothed in a material made from a much more refined material than their neighbors, though they used mainly dark colors for their attire. This darkness in their dress added to the ferociousness of their appearance. They were, as a group, regarded as the best fighters in the known world and they were often called upon in times of greatest peril. At the farthest end of the table of men sat the Akiktites. This was a race of great, dark-skinned warriors. These men were nearly as tall and as strong as the Mitikuans, but they dwelt in the coastal city of Akikta. Their ancestors had traveled to Tarolia many generations before from a land far across the Great Western Sea. Their forefathers were determined to keep intact as much of their heritage of possible, including their food, lifestyles, and clothing. Their garb had a lighter, more colorful look, which somehow masked the impetuousness of their nature. Their deceiving appearance often caused their enemies to misjudge their efficacy with weapons, a usually fatal miscalculation. The leaders of each group rose, one at a time, to offer the services of their countrymen. It had long been a tradition of each of the great cities north of the Citadel Mountains to be ruled by a Thane. The Thanes would offer allegiance to the crown of Leander, and they would also offer assistance in time of need. Each Thane would rule his people as a separate entity, with laws and a government of their own making. These Thanes were as powerful in their own cities as the King or Stewards were in the rest of Tarolia. Each Thane had only to answer to the elected aldermen of his city, but he ruled for life, once chosen by that grandiose body. The first Thane to rise was Mladen of Nardin and he began his address in a very soft voice. "Noble brethren of Tarolia. It pleases me to offer to your service the veteran soldier to my left, Hadwin. He is the most decorated officer in our small army and he comes with the highest qualifications. Hadwin has had much experience fighting the distant, but evil, cousins of the dwarfs, the gnomes of the southern reaches of the Dragon's Head Mountains. He has also had some experience as a war leader against the Akiktites' distant relatives, the Merropites. The Merropites had also cast their lot in with Madumda and would also be part of the opposing army. Hadwin should greatly benefit this select group, on this all-important mission, and my people volunteer his services with the greatest confidence in his ability and with all of our best wishes." With these final words, Mladen bowed slightly toward the head table and reseated himself. Almost immediately, Aylwin, Thane of Mitiku, rose and began his brief dissertation. "Your Highness, I beseech thee to utilize the service of two of the most renowned knights to ever swear allegiance to Mitiku," he began in the highly stylized, almost archaic speech of his people. "Amongst foemen and brethren in the Mitikuan Army, this pair is exalted for their strength and prowess. I doth wish to present mine brethren, Selvaggio and Turguinine, to aid our liege and defend his person on this perilous journey. May the Gods protect them all." He sat down quickly, turning to whisper something to his two champions, as Eryk, Thane of Akikta, rose to speak. "As the last of this War Council to offer his assistance in this quest, I surrender to the future King of Tarolia the assistance of my dearly beloved right hand man, Rhys. He is, by far, held most revered in the Court of Akikta. With him goes not only his services, but everything that I and the Akiktites hold dear. He is a mighty warrior, having proven himself many times in the past, and he is the gift that we have to offer in defense of our nation. I pray that the Gods will look with favor upon this journey, for the future of all Tarolia may rest upon its success." As Eryk took his seat, Rhys rose and bowed to the head table and then reseated himself. As the various contingents representing the races of Tarolia fidgeted in their seats and mumbled to each other, Beraut stood and lifted his hand high in the air, in a gesture requesting silence. As the various groups complied, in due time, the sorcerer gave his final admonition to the volunteers. "I will also join this company, but at a later date. I will not begin the quest with them, for I must remain a while to parley with the leaders of the various tribes. It is my duty to assist them in planning the strategic deployment of our combined forces in the upcoming conflict. When the preparations for battle have been completed, I will journey to Thorold with King Brolin and join the prince and his companions on the second leg of the venture. While we are separated, you must heed my warnings. Remember, all of you, to always to be watchful and vigilant. Take nothing for granted and do not judge anything to be harmless. Above all else, you must protect Kieren. He alone remains our only hope of destroying my misguided brother. Never forget, Madumda has many spies abroad and the road is filled with other dangers not of his making. Therefore, you must remain attentive at all times and trust only in yourselves." With this, the party had been completed, twelve members in all. There were two wood elves and a river elf, four men from the three northern cities, and three dwarfs. There was also Kieren, who represented Leander and central Tarolia, and the mage, Beraut, who signified the occult and the good that remained of the Council of Wizards. The total group represented all of the major factions of Tarolian life, and the destiny of the land was intertwined with this small band's ability to successfully carry out its mission. "Before you leave this sacred hall," Beraut continued, "I have some special gifts for your new leader. These offerings are presented to him as the future king and primary advocate of our cause. Kieren, first I give you a cloak to wear on your journey, to protect you from the elements as you travel." The magician handed Kieren the cloak and winked at him. "In addition to this gift, I would also like to present you with the ancestral symbol of authority of the Tarolian Royal Family, the Golden Medallion of Ethelbert. On the front of it is engraved the Golden Seal of Ethelbert, an upraised lion encircled by a kingly crown. This is the emblematic crest of the rulers of Tarolia, your forebears." Beraut now lifted the chain adorning the medallion, raised it up and over Kieren's head, and arranged it upon his shoulders. The wizard then stepped aside for all to behold the young prince and the symbol of his rank, bowing slightly as he slid from the young man's presence. A thunderous round of cheers swept through the Great Hall, as the gathering recognized the long-lost heir to the Tarolian throne. "May the Gods protect the young Prince," shouted some. Others broke out with the cry of "Long live the King. Long live Tarolia." Still others echoed the chant, "Kieren, Kieren, Kieren." These chants reverberated throughout the hallowed hall, bouncing off of the thick stone walls for many minutes. Finally, as the hoopla died down, the wizard addressed those gathered once more. "My friends, it is late and we must all get some rest. I suggest that you all retire, straightaway. Fare-thee-well and pleasant dreams." As the others were making their way from the hall, Beruat turned aside and whispered to Kieren and his companions. "I wish for you three to remain after the others have departed for I have one more morsel of information to share with you." The trio nodded to the wizard and then they looked at each other, wondering what final piece of information their mentor had to share. They had already learned much from all of the countless stories, anecdotes, and trivia he had divulged since their first meeting. Restlessly they sat, as the delegates filtered slowly from the Great Hall, silently wishing they could urge these people into greater haste and end the intrigue that was beginning to engulf them. At long last, the final procrastinator left the hall and Beraut began to impart his information. "Kieren, the cloak I gave you is similar to my own and processes the same qualities I demonstrated to you in King Dylan's chambers. This exquisite garment has been in my keeping for quite some time, while I have waited for the one who would fulfill the prophecy. As you remember from the exhibition in Aurelia, this cloak can make you virtually invisible and protect you when nothing else can. Wear it wisely and in good health. "Second, there is much you should know about the emblem of your rank. I wish to share that information with you now, as I did not dare to reveal it in the presence of the others. There is only a handful of people still living who know the history and the purpose behind the Golden Medallion of Ethelbert. You must also possess this knowledge before you begin your journey. This relic was created for King Ethelbert by the dwarf smiths of old, early in his reign. It was a talisman to help him rule the land and protect him from evil beyond his imagination. This last part was ensured by the special powers fused into it by the Council of Wizards. "This insignia was to be passed from king to king, as long as one of them ruled this land. It was a symbol of the Council's allegiance and cooperation with the realm. It was endowed with its own set of mystical powers, powers that were meant to long serve the rulers of this great land. Each side of this medallion was endowed with special powers, each with a distinct purpose, though both were intended to keep the Tarolian throne safe and in power. King Orthilue might have been able to use it to defend his family, if he had realized exactly what was happening. The events, however, unfolded so quickly and unexpectedly that the magical potential of the medallion and its use was not even considered until it was too late. Fortunately, Moustapha didn't realize its value either and he left it behind in the Royal Apartments. It has remained in my possession over the years, as I waited for the moment when I could pass it along to Ethelbert's heir. That is, pass it on to you." The two locked eyes and Kieren could feel the fatherly concern that Beraut had for him. "The front side of this medal bears the insignia of Ethelbert's crest and can be used as a powerful weapon. When held between the palms of both hands, the thumbs and fingers of the hands forming a triangle, this side will magnify the will of the bearer. It will focus the one word thought of the owner into action. It is to be used sparingly and only in times of dire distress, as its use drastically drains the strength of the user. "The reverse side is made of a transparent crystal, which allows the user to utilize its two unique abilities. First, the user may behold scenes taking place at other locations by concentrating upon an individual, object, or place. Second, it may be used to communicate directly with me, no matter the distance. There are drawbacks, however, and I must offer a word of caution concerning the use of either side of this medallion before you leave. My warning is that you must be careful where and when you use these powers. If you use the medallion in the vicinity of or focus upon another creature with magical powers, you will be discovered and your location pinpointed immediately. I'm sure that I need not elaborate on the ramifications that this might suggest. Therefore, use the Golden Medallion with all due caution and only as a final resort, for not only could it save you, but it could also help to lead to your destruction." Kieren sat with his mouth agape as he listened to this concluding warning, finally comprehending the extent of his role in this undertaking. Suddenly he felt as though the weight of the entire world had been placed squarely upon his shoulders and that there were no others who could relieve him of his burden. As he left the meeting hall to retire for the evening, Kieren wandered aimlessly back to his quarters, all consumed with his role in this endeavor. Both Garreth and Romaric tried to engage him in conversation, but soon they discovered the effort fruitless. Instead, they merely walked silently beside him the rest of the way. The young prince went to bed that evening not knowing how he had gotten to his room or how he had dressed in his bedclothes. He remembered nothing beyond leaving the Great Hall, including Garreth and Romaric's tender attention as they put him to bed. The two young elves brought their friend into his room, removed all of his clothing, and laid him on the bed. They knew that he was concerned and they wanted him to relax. Garreth tried to kiss Kieren, but it was like kissing one of the stuffed animal heads that hung throughout the castle. He gave no response to Garreth's attention and he did not try to reciprocate in any way. Instead of kissing his friend, Garreth lowered his head and began to stimulate Kieren's chest. He licked around the nickel-size aureole until the fleshy little nub became erect. He continued to play with it, stimulating that tiny flap of skin, until he took it into his mouth and began to suck on it like a hungry infant. Although Kieren groaned and writhed in pleasure, he wasn't consciously aware of what was being done to him. For several minutes, Garreth licked and sucked on his aroused breast before he moved to the other side of the body and he began to repeat his actions on the other nipple. While Garreth was administering to Kieren's chest, Romaric decided to give some attention to Kieren's boyhood, to try to relieve his tension in that manner. He rubbed his hands along the smooth side of Kieren's thighs and he bent forward to lick the delicate skin of his scrotum. He bathed it in that fashion, occasionally playing with his testicles while he did so. He would take first one, and then the other, into his mouth, suck on them for a short time, and let his tongue roam all around it. Then he would do the same to the other, until he was ready to move on. Slowly he ran his tongue up and around the length of his shaft, as it lay against his abdomen, and soon it was lifting itself up and coming to life on its own. Within a minute or so, it was completely hard and pointing up and away from his body. Romaric slipped his mouth over the partially exposed head, used his lips to push the foreskin back behind the head, and then he began to suck on his friend's magic wand. Automatically and instinctively Kieren gave into the pleasure, though he had no conscious awareness of what was being done to him. His hips began to buck up and down, subconsciously trying to match his friend's motions, until his penis began to swell and then explode in Romaric's hungry mouth. The young elf swallowed each shot as it pulsed from Kieren's tiny slit, and he sucked on his rod until it was empty. He licked the head clean, pulled the foreskin back over the crown, and he let it fall against Kieren's thigh. Garreth and Romaric now slipped his bedclothes over his head, placed him under the bedding, and tucked him in for the night before they slipped out of his room and into their own. Kieren would later have no recollection of their efforts to make him feel better and his mind would be consumed by the terrifying dreams that would haunt his sleep. Throughout the night, he would experience dreams of monsters and beings beyond description, situations so real yet at the same time beyond belief. These encounters were so vivid that he would awaken, sit upright in his bed, with a cold sweat running down the surface as his body. At one point in the evening, he let out such a bone-chilling scream that he brought the entire entourage racing to his side. After that, Beraut spent the remainder of the evening propped up in a well-cushioned chair next to Kieren's bed, clenching the boy's hand firmly between his own. The prince's restless slumber finally ended as the first signs of morning split the darkness. Kieren awoke and dressed, preparing for the start of this monumental assignment. He was eager to begin, yet hesitant to proceed. He was thrilled with the prospects of the journey, yet terrified by the possibilities. He was a mass of confusion, taking his first giant leap into manhood. * * * * * * * * If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at http://www.teenboyauthors.org/thewolf, in the 'Other Stories' section. E-mails may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.