Pueros

The Lycian Prince

Chapters 21-30

Chapter 21
Strap

Anthonius was stood on the entertainment dais in the pleasure chamber and had to wait an hour for Diocletian and his boy entourage to appear, although to the petrified lad it seemed much longer. The Emperor looked at his trembling former boy favourite and smiled when he again saw the marks that he had laid on the lad's bottom. However, he was feeling tired and did not dally. He made straight for his bedchamber for he was eager to enjoy the delights of Armillatus' body to the sound of Anthonius' delectable screams.

The other boy companions sat excitedly on the couches surrounding the dais awaiting Casperius' belated arrival. The major domo eventually entered carrying, by an integrated handle, a strap made of hardened leather, with many small holes and about two thirds of a pace long and a hand wide. Anthonius had never seen it before and shuddered when he thought of the pain and damage that it would inflict. "Well, Anthonius," said a gloating Casperius, "I have to spend time chastising you again for your bad conduct in front of the Emperor. Will you never learn? Remove what's left of your loincloth and stand with your hands on your head and feet together." The boy obeyed to reveal yet again a humiliating arousal. "Dirty slut," continued the major domo when he saw the boy's erection, "but I don't think that will be upright for much longer."

Casperius took up position behind the quivering Anthonius and commanded "You will remain still whilst I apply your just punishment, unless I order you to adopt another stance, and will thank me for each well-merited blow. If you fail to do either, I start again. Do you understand, boy?" Anthonius replied "Yes sir, thank you sir" before having to wait whilst the major domo primed his swing. However, as calculated, Casperius caught the boy off-guard by not rehearsing for long before suddenly and without warning delivering the first blow to the lad's already sore rump. Anthonius squealed and jumped forward, although he did just about manage to keep his hands on his head and remember to say "Thank you sir." A smirking Casperius chided, to giggles from the watching boys, "What did I tell you about staying still. I'll just have to consider that swing as practice. Now stand still or we'll be here all night!"

The next blow was across Anthonius' upper back and this time the boy, with a mighty effort, succeeded in remaining still, and only uttered a muted groan before thanking Casperius for hurting him and hearing the major domo reply with the word "One." Nine more blows were slowly reigned on Anthonius' poor back, bum and rear legs, turning them scarlet and leaving small round wheals where the holes fell, but the boy somehow maintained his position. A smiling Casperius then came to Anthonius' front. He was pleased to see the boy's beautiful face marred with an agonised and terrified look in the eyes, from which tears flowed freely. He began to strike the boy's front legs and thighs. The major domo avoided the genitals for now, they would prove a useful later target, and gradually moved his attentions up the boy's stomach towards his chest. "Eighteen" he said before taking aim at the lad's nipple ornaments. Casperius had delayed beating this part of Anthonius' anatomy until now for a special reason and he was cheered that he achieved the desired affect when the blow fell. The boy's scream was shrill and he collapsed to the ground, grasping his tits, to hear the major domo snigger "Oh dear, did that hurt?" before adding "Now look what you've done, I have to start from one again. Get up!" Casperius encouraged the boy to stand again by tapping the lad's aching bottom with his foot. Anthonius heard the spectators chortle gleefully as he did so.

Casperius restarted at Anthonius' rear, each blow now accompanied by a loud scream which intensified Diocletian's rapture as he was simultaneously penetrating Armillatus next door. The major domo eventually returned to Anthonius' front and had just said "Seventeen" when he commanded one of the watchers onto the dais and ordered "Get him hard!" The boy knelt in front of Anthonius and began to suck the weeping lad's soft penis. His ministrations rapidly bore fruit, despite the agonies seeping through Anthonius' ravaged body, and he moved away to allow the major domo to inspect the result. The blow of the strap that then hit the rigid member was proof that Casperius had been happy. It was followed by another and the major domo said "Nineteen" to a barely audible or understandable "Thank you, sir" from Anthonius.

Casperius responded with an order to "Stand with your legs apart". Anthonius complied but with great reluctance for he knew where the next strike would be directed. The major domo rested the strap's end on the floor between the boy's legs before viciously launching it upwards. It struck Anthonius' balls square on, causing the lad to bellow and collapse to the floor clutching his boyhood. Anthonius' reaction created much loud hilarity amongst the spectators and his yelp occasioned Diocletian to orgasm deep inside Armillatus' tight anus.

Casperius joined in the laughter before eventually saying "Oh dear, back to the start again" and ordering two of the chortling watchers to help Anthonius back to a standing position, this time arms at his sides. "I'm tired," he said, "who wants to take over?" The other boy companions pleaded desperately and vociferously to be chosen, hands in the air to gain attention. "All right, all of you can have one stroke each," Casperius said to the general satisfaction of all except the boy who would be the centre of their attentions, "and concentrate on his arms first. They haven't been touched yet." It was of little compensation to Anthonius that the blows from the boys were not quite as strong as those from the major domo for they put all their strength behind their strikes, which were accordingly still very painful.

Once his arms had been turned into the same consistency as the rest of his body, the blows had returned to Anthonius' back. The strap was restored to Casperius after he had indicated "Seventeen" for the third time that night. He ordered Anthonius to "Bend over, legs apart" for he intended to launch his last three swings at the boy's anal opening but it only took the first to return the lad to a heap on the floor. The major domo had already recognised that he could carry on little longer. Anthonius' body was a rainbow of colours and blood was spurting from the wheals created by the holes and burst by later strikes. The Emperor would not want the boy permanently disfigured and the limit to avoid that had been reached. Casperius therefore informed the boy, groaning in agony on the floor in front of him, "You're hopeless. If you're hoping that I'm going to start another twenty now, you're mistaken. I need my bed and anyway I feel that I've done enough to try to correct your behaviour. It's time for someone else to have a go and I think I know the ideal person. It'll take a few weeks for your body to repair but, once it has, I'll ask the Prince to allow you to be the cup bearer at his next dinner." Anthonius' sobs intensified as Casperius turned on his heels and left the chamber.

Chapter 22
Gelding

Niachiarus experienced more mixed feelings than usual when he tended to Anthonius' devastated body. He was happy that the boy had received such a comprehensive thrashing and that his ministrations, although careful and expert, would add to the lad's short-term woes. He was sad that he had to ensure that they also aided his long-term recovery, because the consequences of the Emperor's displeasure at failure were too horrible to contemplate, and annoyed that they diverted his attentions away from his preparations to entertain Sura later that day. However, by the fourth hour after midnight, he had finished and he could leave the quietly sobbing boy to endure an agonising night and return to his own small bedchamber. There he would continue to sharpen the new knife that he had acquired and that had already been responsible for the removal of six testicles. He was really looking forward to the seventh and eighth shortly joining them in the jar of preservative fluid that he was now keeping as a memento at his bedside.

Diocletian, Casperius and Lysus all enjoyed trouble-free sleep. Anthonius did not and neither did his friend. Sura, in his dark dank dungeon cell, had earlier been told of his impending fate by a very happy Lysus, causing terrible emotions to run through the boy throughout the night.

Casperius asked Lysus to organise the late morning entertainment, telling the fat Lycian that the Emperor had agreed that it should be watched by all the Imperial boy companions and pages as an example of what could happen to them if they misbehaved. Lysus decided to extend the invitation to some others. He also decided that the main banquet hall would be the best location for the event and arranged for the new wooden table that Niachiarus had acquired specially for the purpose to be placed in the middle of the large dais.

By the eleventh hour of the day, the boy spectators, all very pretty and almost seventy in number, had been gathered to stand around the table in a wide circle. Anthonius was one of them. He had been dressed in a longer than normal tunic because his loins were too sore for a loincloth and had been helped to the hall by Niachiarus and two fellow boy companions. The slow walk had been extremely painful and not just because of his wounds for Anthonius knew that there was nothing that he could do to save his friend. Pleading with the Emperor clearly had not worked and Anthonius was in no physical shape to try a daring rescue. Though he was unconcerned about his own safety, Anthonius also realised that, if he had been able to make an attempt, the consequences of either success or failure could have been disastrous for his homeland.

When they finally reached the hall, the boy escorts had to maintain a light grip on Anthonius' aching arms to ensure that their colleague's obvious physical distress did not cause him to fall to the floor. They both shivered slightly when they clearly noticed, despite the blackness of the tunic, some blood seeping through. Niachiarus took up position at the foot of the central table, placing his bowl and knife underneath. Anthonius had been shocked to discover that it was to be Niachiarus who would perform the awful deed and had been unable to elicit from the Nubian why or how he had acquired the skill. For the first time, doubts about the eunuch's role in his life entered the boy's mind.

It was just half an hour before midday when the crying Sura was dragged into the hall by Praetorians, stripped of his tunic and loincloth and firmly bound face- up on the waiting table's smooth surface. Niachiarus grinned at Sura as he gagged the hysterical boy and tightly tied the boy's ball sac to cut off the flow of blood. He placed the bowl on the table, resting against the splayed lad's lower buttocks, just under the beautiful form of his genitalia, and finished his preparation by cruelly placing the handle of his knife on Sura's navel, the point directed downwards towards the boy's penis. The eunuch then moved to the head of the table to await the guests of honour.

Lysus arrived shortly afterwards, closely followed by Diocletian's son, accompanied by his tutor and fellow pupils. The 11 years olds looked disdainfully at the surrounding throng before crowding round the table and laughing at the sight of the naked 14 years old boy spreadeagled there. "Now, Highness and young masters," the tutor said in a rather effeminate voice, "please remember that we are here to learn. It was very kind of Lysus to suggest that I supplement my talks on animal husbandry and human anatomy with a practical demonstration of castration." The tutor picked up the knife from Sura's body and, to the terrified bound boy's utter astonishment and disbelief, lifted the lad's cock up with the blade and began to discuss his topic.

"Castration of human males is performed for two reasons and they are often, as in this case, inter-connected. The first is to punish and the second is to make the male more suitable for his assigned role by removing his sexual capabilities. Such roles are often in the service of a household's females or sons where it is important to eradicate any sexual temptations male servants might otherwise have towards their mistresses or young masters. The removal of just a penis such as the boy's here is called a penectomy and is an excellent punishment but very poor preparation for service of the type that I describe. You see, the male's sex-drive, which is driven mainly by the contents of the ball sac here," the tutor continued whilst rubbing the point of the knife gently over Sura's tied and reddening scrotum, "would remain intact but he would be unable to satisfy it because he would have no means of achieving relief. A person having to endure such torments of frustration would be too dangerous to serve in any household, although I believe that your father, Highness, has sent many traitors in such condition to the Illyrian salt mines. The removal or destruction of the male's testicles would have to be arranged to annul the sex- drive and this gelding can be achieved in several ways. Please, Highness, feel for the boy's testicles" and the tutor stood back to allow the 11 years old Prince to squeeze each of Sura's 14 years old balls in turn before inviting his eleven elated friends to do so as well. Sura writhed in agony at the mistreatment to his boyhood.

The tutor eventually continued, after the boys had finished examining Sura's scrotum, "These testicles could simply be squashed with a hammer or tong but the chances of the male losing his life as a result would be greatly increased. Instead, two safer methods are generally preferred. You see how this boy's ball sac has been firmly tied around the base. At this moment, the tie is cutting off the blood flow. See how red the sac is becoming. Soon it will be purple and eventually it would turn black as the lack of blood kills the testicles. Over many months, the dead testes would gradually disappear, dissolved by bodily fluids. It is a neat but prolonged and very painful method of castration and, because of the latter, a second method is usually considered superior and will, I understand, be the one that we shall witness today. A cut is made along the sac here," the tutor said as he ran the blade down from the underside of Sura's cock, "the testicles exposed one by one and sliced off. The tie has been placed to restrict blood loss. Sometimes the resultant wound is helped to heal either by cauterisation or stitching. An advantage of gelding is that the penis is untouched and is therefore still available for urination and for ornament, although it might have a tendency to shrink over time. If needed, the genitals can still be attractive to look at if the sac heals well, despite its lack of contents, although I do know of some establishments of a certain type where the eunuchs' own balls have been replaced by ones of wood or metal to restore full or even greater roundness to their sacs."

"Another method of castration would be to sever the genitals entirely. This is called nullification and, I believe that the Nubian here is one on whom this has been practised." Niachiarus' facial expression remained unchanged despite this reference to his own unmanning and the tutor continued, to titters from his audience, "A bit too drastic for my taste, especially as the emasculated male often has to use a straw to urinate tidily. However, again I know of establishments of a certain type where such eunuchs are prized. Some are occasionally mistaken for girls after hair has grown to cover their wounds, and I believe breasts can be developed to increase the illusion."

The tutor concluded his talk by informing his chortling young audience "The long-term affects of testicular castration are primarily the elimination of the male sexual organs as a source of sexual pleasure and regeneration. No more will the penis become hard, orgasm or produce seed, although some pleasure can still be achieved by the insertion of some object in the anus long enough to tickle the prostrate. The development of facial and body hair is stopped or severely restricted and any growth still due in the whole body often reduced. However, eunuchs can gain fat rapidly if not properly exercised."

The tutor ran the knife once more over Sura's now semi-hard penis and purple scrotum, and was beginning to wonder what to say next when Diocletian arrived with Casperius and several Praetorians. The tutor returned the knife to its original position and he and his pupils stood back to let the Emperor see the spreadeagled naked boy, whose dread had been heightened considerably by the lecture. Diocletian walked up and felt the lad's genitals, squeezing the ball sac and stroking the penis. With his own cock rapidly hardening, the Emperor looked into Sura's terrified tearful eyes and smiled before raising his head to nod at the waiting Nubian and moving to one side. Niachiarus transferred to the foot of the table again and picked up the knife. He did not have to lift up Sura's penis because the Emperor's handling had brought it to full erection but he held it in his left hand anyway, pointing it towards the boy's navel, whilst his right hand positioned the tip of the blade on the upper scrotum. Sura felt his own semen splash onto his face and upper body as the Nubian began to cut. At the same time, a loud shout of "No!" came from amongst the watching boy companions.

Niachiarus was to be disappointed in having Sura's testicles added to his collection for the Emperor, after inspecting them in the bowl, had ordered that they be sent to the palace kitchens. They were to be ground, mixed with appropriate spices and cooked, one for his new boy eunuch and one for Anthonius. Neither was to be given any other food until this delicacy had been consumed and both took several days before succumbing. However, the two boy's torments were far from over.

Two weeks after being gelded, Sura was taken from his dungeon cell and moved into an adjacent larger chamber. The very scared boy would have known instantly what was to occur even if he had not been told days earlier by a crowing Casperius. The glowing brazier, with three branding irons embedded in the coals, located next to where he was chained suspended from the ceiling, provided clear indication. The same two irons that had marked his friend months earlier were roasting nicely but the same man who had applied them had had to have the third one recently made to the Emperor's specifications. It portrayed a small circle of tiny interlocking Imperial eagles. Sura's feet were off the ground but fixed taughtly in place to it by manacles. The now gagged boy was therefore unable to move when the man pricked the upper fronts and side hollows of his thighs and the middle of each bumcheek plus, a belated choice from the Emperor, a place directly above the lad's damaged genitals. The man did not have to highlight the spots where the circular iron would be used because they were already naturally demarcated.

The man approached Sura with the first red-hot iron with exactly the same look as he had Anthonius, and received the same look back from the aghast boy as he had from his friend months ago. The man used the new iron first as its initial target was just below the boy's appalled eyes. The smell of burning flesh pervaded both his and the boy's nostrils as the circular iron was firmly laid around the lad's left nipple. The man only had to wake Sura four times from a faint during the ordeal, which was lengthy because the irons had to reheat after each application. However, after he had finished two hours later, the man was very pleased with the quality of his work and the two other men, who had been watching from nearby seats as they eat some grapes, complimented him. Casperius and Lysus inspected the seven black eagles and three round emblems now painfully decorating Sura's body and felt immensely satisfied. They knew that their revenge would soon be complete. Within a couple of weeks, the boy would be performing his menial tasks within the Emperor's boy harem, attired only in a tiny black thong to hide his gelded state but not his lovely demeaning brands. The new eunuch would also undoubtedly have to endure frequent snide comments from most of the boys he served as a slave.

Meanwhile, Anthonius was waiting in dread for the day of the young Roman Prince's next formal dinner.

Chapter 23
Dinner

(March 291 A.D.)

Anthonius was standing in place, to the right of the Prince's couch and dressed in the usual tunic and loincloth, waiting for the 11 years old and his eleven similarly aged friends to enter. When they did, all surveyed Anthonius up and down with clear contempt, despite the fact that the lad was at the peak of boyhood beauty and perfection. Their eyes also revealed eager anticipation. Once the group had reclined on their couches, adult slaves started to serve them drinks and the first course of food. The Prince's cup was placed in Anthonius' hands so that the boy companion could present it to his Imperial master for the evening whenever required. However, Anthonius almost spilled the contents when he saw one of the slaves bring in, and lay on the Prince's low table, the heavy leather strap that had hurt him so much over a month previously.

A rather good conjurer provided the initial entertainment, followed by a troupe of twelve girl acrobats and dancers, all aged about twelve, attired only in skimpy green thongs and deliberately selected by Lysus to add to his half brother's humiliations, for Anthonius was to be the third act. Throughout these diversions, preliminary to the final highlight, Anthonius recognised that the Prince and friends were frequently glancing at him, some showing impatience but all with equally obvious signs of exhilarating expectation. The boy himself could not stop glimpsing at the leather strap, shivering at recognition of what its presence meant.

At the end of their performance, about two and a half hours into the dinner, the girls did not leave the Prince's entertainment chamber but instead each stood behind one of the twelve couches surrounding the entertainment dais. The Prince turned to look at Anthonius and said with a smirk "Now your turn, bed boy. Give your cup to the girl behind me and step onto the stage!" Anthonius reluctantly obeyed. The Prince addressed the unhappy boy "Well, bed boy, you've been naughty again and your major domo has been unable to correct your misbehaviour, despite generously spending much time and effort in a kind attempt to do so. He has asked me to try. I was of course reluctant to bother again with such a sluttish nonentity as you but I have been persuaded as I don't want you to cause my father any more embarrassment. I am advised that you are still due twenty stokes of the strap for causing nuisance at one of my father's recent banquets and are due further correction for your annoying shout whilst that brat from Sicilia was being gelded. I won't have the energy to conduct the full beating with the strap myself but I'm sure that my friends here will not mind helping, and that will give me time to consider what would be most appropriate for your other punishment."

The Prince then asked his friends "Right, who wants to strip him?" Eleven hands shot into the air to accompanying loud pleas. The Prince nominated two for the removal of the tunic telling them "Cut it off with your knives. He won't be wanting to wear it later." They quickly cut off the waist cord with their dinner knives before clumsily, but eventually successfully, shredding the sides of Anthonius' tunic, revealing some of the splendour underneath as the front and back of the apparel began to part. They eagerly began to slice through the cloth on the shoulders before giving in to impatience and finishing their task by grabbing the bottom of the cloth to rip it off. The ruined garment fell to the floor. There were chortles all round as Anthonius' body, with its nipple rings and brandmarks, was exposed to view with just the small loincloth as cover, and everyone knew that that would not be there for long.

Another two boys were chosen to remove the rear then the front loincloth flaps leaving Anthonius in just his sparse thong-like undercloth. There were giggles from the boy and girl spectators when they saw the unmistakable outline indicating that the wearer was aroused. One last boy was selected for the concluding part of this pleasurable opening to the third act, to the initial disappointment of the six who had not participated in Anthonius' denudement until they were assuaged by a promise from the Prince that there would be other tasks for them to do. The delighted and gloating boy pulled on the bow of the undercloth's waistcord and allowed the tiny cover to fall onto the dais. Anthonius' excited genitals, with their gold casing, popped into sight to happy laughter from the watchers and a comment of "Dirty whore" from the Prince.

"Well, bed boy," the Prince now continued, "We'll first give you the twenty strokes of the strap that are overdue. Then we'll test how much discipline we've managed to instil before finally deciding the nature of your other punishment. Let me see, how many are we? Twelve! I'll therefore deliver the first nine blows, leaving my friends one each. Usual rules apply. Stand still, count and thank me for trying again to improve your attitude, but I suspect that I'm wasting my time. I think that my father should dispense with you, perhaps by sending you to the quarries of Lucania where I'm sure you'd learn self-control very quickly. I think that I'll suggest it to him. I hear life there is very hard but mercifully usually very short. However, that's for the future. Let's concentrate on the present. Turn round and bend over, legs apart, hands on shins and bum nice and high, for I think I'll concentrate my nine strokes there."

Anthonius carried out the order and he could see, from the upside down perspective through his legs, the Prince pick up the strap and advance to take up position behind him. The 11 years old took several practice swings as he was again determined to impress his 14 years old victim with the ferocity and accuracy of his strikes. He then teased Anthonius by rubbing his hands over the boy's smooth light pink buttocks and said to his sniggering friends "They're nice and cool at the moment. Let's see how hot we can make them!" Anthonius tensed himself when he saw that the Prince was ready and soon heard the swish of the strap as the first blow headed for his defenceless posterior. Anthonius yelped in pain as yet again angry red stripes and tiny round wheals appeared on his backside, but he stayed in position and said "One, thank you Highness." In fact, Anthonius managed to stay in place and remember his lines throughout the Prince's wickedly concentrated attack on his bumcheeks. To the Prince's disappointment, the older boy's first sad experience with the evil implement had apparently prepared him well for the second, although it could not stop his screams and tears or his raging erection becoming even harder.

The Prince slowly fulfilled his quota, making sure that Anthonius fully appreciated each blow but unable to make the agonised boy move or forget the verbal response. The Prince realised that paying attention exclusively to Anthonius' bottom had perhaps been a mistake but his friends could now correct this. He handed the strap to one of them with the order "Forget his bum for now, I want the rest of him nice and red." The boy told Anthonius to stand, legs together and hands on head and experimented with his own swing whilst his order was obeyed. Fortunately for Anthonius, the Prince's friends could not match the Imperial youngster's aptitude in applying the strap, let alone Casperius', and Anthonius did not falter even when his nipples were hit. However, under the Prince's pre-planned directions, the most delicate part of Anthonius' anatomy was to be the target of the last two strikes. The first landed heavily across the top of the erection. Anthonius somehow managed to stay put but, when his posture was changed so that his legs were wide apart and it was obvious where the twentieth blow would land, the boy knew that he would be unable to prevent his hands going to the relief of his assaulted balls. Anthonius closed his tear- stained eyes when the eleventh of the guests placed the end of the strap on the floor under him, and the naked hurting 14 years old waited for the uppercut that would surely break him, but for once the boy was lucky. The last 11 years old completely fumbled his swing and the strap missed Anthonius' dangling balls. The end instead struck the underside of Anthonius' rigid cock. Anthonius again somehow remained still and croaked "Twenty, thank you sir." The Prince was not amused that the strapping was coming to an unexpected premature halt but contented himself with the fact that Anthonius was due further chastisement, which could include more strokes if it suited the young Imperial whim.

The Prince stood again and walked onto the dais. He circled the quietly sobbing 14 years old to inspect the damage. He was not displeased. Anthonius' face was covered in tears whilst his whole body, from upper chest to lower legs, was bright red and a few of the wheals had burst producing droplets of blood. The older boy's bum had suffered most, being a much deeper shade of red and a lot bloodier, and his hard penis was a nice scarlet colour. The Prince returned to the couch to say to the sad child "Well, bed boy, you showed a little better discipline during this well-deserved overdue thrashing than you did last time. Perhaps there may yet be some hope for you and I'll now test this possibility out. Turn round to face me but leave your hands on your head and keep your legs wide apart." Anthonius turned round and as he did so he noticed that the watching group of twelve boys, and the twelve girls behind them, were all grinning broadly. The Prince nodded to one of the girls and pointed to one of the boys who had not participated in Anthonius' disrobing. The girl produced, from the floor at the back of the couch behind which she was standing, a small light cloth bag with a string attachment and gave it to the boy. "Tie it to the base of bed boy's dick" ordered the Prince and the 11 years old was more than happy to obey.

Anthonius felt the tingling as soon as the boy had left the bag dangling by the short string from the base of his erection. "A Nubian idea," said the Prince nonchalantly, "the bag contains some bees which are very agitated by their confinement. This is the test. Prevent your dick from making that horrible white mess again by the time we finish our last food course and I'll know that your discipline has indeed improved and that you will only need one slap across your bottom from each of my friends here as your second punishment. Disgrace yourself again and I'm afraid that it will be two slaps, plus one from each of the girls, and I'll finish off with another twenty strokes with the strap. The tears in Anthonius' eyes became fuller. He knew that, despite his fear of further punishment, his penis would not be able to resist the pleasurable feelings being gradually introduced down its full length by the vibrating string.

The Prince nodded to a slave and the dishes containing the last course were brought in. The Prince and his 11 years old guests proceeded to eat their food with a distinct lack of haste, unusual in boys so young, whilst amusing themselves by observing the 14 years old desperately trying to repel encroaching orgasm. The course was half-complete when the Prince decided to provide Anthonius with some helpful encouragement. A nod sent another girl scurrying to the intensely aroused Anthonius. She knelt behind the nude boy and began to lick the whole length of his bumcrack before gently prising it apart and placing her tongue on his opening, tenderly moving inside. The first copious spurt of semen occurred less than half a minute later.

Chapter 24
Milking

(April 291 A.D.)

By the time that Anthonius' recuperation was complete, Diocletian had just set off to campaign in Dacia. He had left no instructions for Anthonius to follow but not because of continued disfavour, rather the opposite for the Emperor did not want to repeat his African experience, when his boy favourite was almost lost forever. Two weeks later, Anthonius had become desperate. It had been a total of six weeks since he had climaxed on the Prince's entertainment dais and he had not been allowed to cum since. It had not mattered during the early stages of his recovery but his needs gradually increased and now he was in a constant state of intense but frustrated sexual desire. He did not know that Niachiarus had deliberately boosted this condition by putting extra strong aphrodisiacs in his food and drink.

Anthonius delayed the inevitable for as long as he could but eventually succumbed and asked for an audience with Casperius. The major domo knew from Niachiarus what the meeting would be about and so gathered the other boy companions together in the pleasure chamber to witness Anthonius' humiliation. When Anthonius saw that Casperius was far from alone, he thought about not carrying through with his request but could not think of anything else to say. That would inevitably provide Casperius with an excuse to beat him, for wasting the major domo's precious time. Casperius smiled when Anthonius politely asked if he could be milked and replied "Already? The Emperor's only been away for a fortnight and here you are demanding satisfaction of your dirty bodily lusts." The major domo paused to enjoy the deepening flushes on Anthonius' face before continuing "Very well, I'm feeling generous but don't think of returning with the same request too soon. Remove your loincloth. Sura, help him to take off his chastity belt!"

With the help of the boy eunuch, Anthonius was quickly naked in front of the smirking major domo and the other boy companions, with his need clearly visible. "Sura, masturbate him and collect his seed in a bowl" commanded Casperius. Sura collected a small bowl from a nearby table, knelt before his friend to grasp the horizontal cock and began to pump. White liquid soon splashed into the small dish. "Anthonius, clean up your own mess before you go" ordered the laughing major domo, before pulling his tongue at the boy so that he understood what method he was to use to fulfil the task. Anthonius completed the cleansing of the bowl to sniggering from everyone except Sura and Armillatus, who always blanched instead when their friend was discomforted.

Niachiarus now increased Anthonius' secret level of aphrodisiac intake and the shame-faced boy found himself in another audience with Casperius only ten days later. The major domo feigned surprise and anger at the boy's early return, declaring "This time we'll have to make sure that every last drop of your seed is expelled from your seemingly rampant and totally out of control filthy organs!" A couple of the Nubian eunuchs were ordered to bring a low wooden table into the chamber and place it in the middle of the dais. Anthonius shivered when he saw that the table had leather ties at each corner and with reason for his hands and feet were soon attached to them. Casperius stood over the now nude and splayed boy and said "You won't be released from there until every one of the other boy companions brings you to orgasm. I think eighteen ejaculations should drain you!" The major domo then nominated one of the boy companions to start the fun.

The table was low enough to enable each boy companion to kneel to perform his task, usually with Anthonius' penis in one hand and the same bowl in the other, apart from the three who were left-handed. They also knelt on the opposite side to the rest. Anthonius was at first brought to multiple climax speedily and produced plenty of semen. However, as his needs were eventually satiated, and his cock became redder and redder, not only did orgasm and ejaculation become more difficult and time-consuming to achieve but also simple erection was becoming progressively awkward to coax to his increasingly sore penis. Anthonius was therefore allowed time to rest on the table between climaxes before the next boy started to pump the soft scarlet cock. These intervals also provided the opportunity to permit the still-bound boy to consume a little water and to urinate into a jar, and they gradually had to become longer and longer to prevent the subsequent pumping hands, aged from 9 to 16, from becoming too weary.

Thirty-six hours later, one hour before midnight of the following day, Anthonius finally experienced the 19th orgasm. During this period, Casperius and the off- duty boy companions had left to attend to their own affairs and enjoy dinner, although all returned at regular intervals to see how the boy's cock was performing. A good night's sleep was also had by all, although for some this was interrupted when it became their turn to entertain Anthonius. They went about their various business the whole of the next day too. For the boys, this mainly meant practising their dancing and musicianship, having their bodies tended to by their Nubians and filling the remaining hours as usual with idle chat. They were happy to conduct the latter in the pleasure chamber where there was also a nice show on this day to monopolise their conversation. As a result, during the daytime, there were never less than six crowing spectators observing, and loudly and insultingly commenting on, Anthonius' distress.

About two hours before midnight, all eighteen congregated with Casperius to see how long it would take the last masturbator to complete his task. The continuously sobbing Anthonius' climaxes were taking longer and longer to reach, despite the rests his raw penis had been permitted, and resulted in less and less. The copious white semen, which was evidence of his early orgasmic success, eventually became just a trickle of colourless fluid. Nevertheless a second small bowl had had to be employed to store the product. Everyone was sure that Anthonius would enjoy his first drink after being released from the table.

After Armillatus had spent three quarters of an hour trying gingerly to coax his friend's very tender cock to full erection, he found himself having to change his tired hands frequently and still could not induce the desired result. Casperius pretended to be impatient and complained "Well, Anthonius, the boys have kindly worked very hard to help you. They have disrupted their schedules to help drain you and many have spent time to comfort you with discourse, but you still want to enjoy your bodily pleasures to the full and keep everyone waiting. Your ingratitude really is disgraceful. If you don't bring this to an end by the time this candle expires, I shall cane your backside." Anthonius' tears cleared just sufficiently for him to see that the candle to which Casperius had been referring was almost spent. The boy then concentrated his eyes on Armillatus' gorgeous features and eventually his body convulsed yet again, his penis shuddered and a small drop of clear liquid emerged from the slit in the cockhead. Unfortunately, the candle's light had extinguished just moments previously.

Chapter 25
Trap

(May 291 A.D.)

Diocletian returned to Latium a month later and preparations were in hand for his triumphal re-entry into Rome after another successful campaign. Niachiarus informed Anthonius that the major domo had agreed to Lysus' request that Anthonius and Armillatus dance together as a pair at the triumphal banquet and that they must spend the earlier daytime in practice. Niachiarus did not advise the boy that his food and drink were still spiced with the strongest aphrodisiacs and that the same had been arranged for his fellow dancer. The eunuch also did not tell him about his half-brother's panic.

Accession to the Lycian throne did not automatically go to the eldest son. A great council of the country's Elders was first convened to decide the issue, although Roman suzerainty meant that, in recent centuries, the Emperor's preference was always selected. Lysus felt that the throne was rightfully his, especially as he had spent so many years ingratiating himself with Diocletian and his predecessors whilst waiting impatiently for his father to die. However, he was sure that his half-brother would soon be back in the Emperor's bed every night, and he was worried that pillow talk might produce a different outcome from the one that he wanted. Casperius agreed with him that they could wait no longer to destroy Anthonius. Niachiarus had conceived the plan and the major domo promised the Nubian his freedom if it succeeded. The eunuch was now confidently looking forward to increasing his collection of testicles by many times over the forthcoming years.

Anthonius and Armillatus had practised over many hours on the dais in the pleasure chamber and had produced a well-executed and highly erotic dance routine under Niachiarus' supervision. The two exquisite boys had somehow managed to suppress the urges that their raging hormones were creating inside their near-naked bodies, which intensified acutely whenever their act necessitated touching or holding each other. It was late afternoon when Casperius entered and spoke to Niachiarus. The boys were surprised when they were then left alone in the chamber with the instruction that they should help each other prepare their bodies for their later performance, as their Nubian slaves were urgently needed elsewhere. They were told to use the facilities in the Emperor's adjacent bedchamber. Neither had ever before been asked to help ready another boy, as this was always the job of the eunuchs, but both knew what they would have to do. They would have to carefully wash, groom, massage and perfume each other. They would not need enemas as that had been done before they began their practice.

The boys walked into the Imperial bedchamber and found themselves holding hands as they did so. They removed their loincloths and giggled when they saw that they were both hard. Anthonius opened the sluice that would allow warm water to fill the enormous bath and soon both he and his friend were larking with each other amongst the suds. Time passed and the two naked boys eventually emerged from the water to complete their bodily preparations. They dried each other slowly, lingering especially in the loin regions. Their eyes regularly met to confirm the excitement that they were causing each other, evidenced also by their throbbing erections.

They decided that Anthonius should be finished first and he sat on the Imperial bed on which both boys had been deflowered more than a year ago and had since spent much time. Armillatus combed Anthonius' beautiful hair, each strand like a thread of gold. Then he encouraged his friend to lay down whilst he began the massage. He ran his perfumed hands over Anthonius' neck and chest, carefully avoiding the nipple rings, before moving downwards. It was then that his hormones finally overcame his resistance and he found that he had withdrawn his hands, encasing his friend's rampant cock, in favour of his lips, quickly bringing the taste of sweet boy cum to his mouth. Anthonius had closed his eyes in ecstasy and did not attempt to resist when he felt his legs being raised by his lover and the touch of a young penis on his sphincter.

Diocletian then entered the bedchamber.

Chapter 26
Flight

Anthonius guided Armillatus along a maze of narrow corridors and it was apparent from the lack of decoration on the walls that they were in the servant quarters. The boys were surprised but grateful not to come across anyone. It was only later that Anthonius would realise that this was because the servants and slaves would be busy preparing for the Emperor's return. They eventually came out into a huge yard, full of horse-drawn wagons, wooden crates and massive jars. Anthonius recognised that this must be where the palace's supplies were delivered and that beyond the gate on the other side lay the outside world. However, the yard was busy, with many slaves unloading the wagons. Anthonius pulled Armillatus to one nearby that had already been emptied and the two boys dived under the now slack and vacant tarpaulin that lay on top. Anthonius had chosen well because the driver soon came and the wagon made its way slowly across the yard and out of the gate, heading for Ostia.

The journey took two hours and it was dusk by the time the wagon eventually came to a halt. The naked boys waited a while before emerging from their hiding place to find that they were on a quiet quayside. They were very hungry, having not been allowed food since the middle of the previous day so that their enemas could guarantee clean anuses for Diocletian's pleasure. It had been considered likely that the Emperor would bed at least one of the dancers if the plot to entrap them had not succeeded, and so the usual preparations had been followed just in case. They were also shivering as it was becoming rather cold. The boys had to find food and warmth quickly.

They eased their way along the quayside, full of crates and other cargo but apparently empty of people, moving carefully to try to avoid detection if someone did appear. There were several galleys alongside the quay, all seemingly deserted. Anthonius chose one and led his friend up the gangplank and on board. They sneaked below deck where they first came across a large cabin full of beds, presumably the crew's communal sleeping quarters. The boys ran across to the far end and into a corridor with several doors on either side. Anthonius listened at one of the far doors and, hearing nothing, opened it. It was the wrong choice for a man looked up at him from behind a table where he had been eating. The boys turned to flee but, as they ran back along the corridor, Armillatus, who was leading, tripped and Anthonius fell over him. Anthonius quickly regained his feet, hauled Armillatus up and began to run again but, when he glanced round to see how they were progressing, he saw that his friend was limping and that the man was upon him. Armillatus shouted at the man to let him go and tried unsuccessfully to wriggle from his tight grip. Anthonius stopped and turned round and also shouted at the man to let the captured boy go. "Now, why should I do that," asked the man, "for I think I've caught myself a sneak thief?"

"We're not thieves," protested Anthonius, "we were just looking for a little food and shelter." The man looked at the gorgeous nude boy with the erotic piercings and brandings and seemed to mellow a little before enquiring "Well, why didn't you just ask instead of running away?" Anthonius perceived the change in tone and replied "I'm sorry, sir, we were just scared. Can you help us please?" The man said "Come join us then" and dragged a still-struggling Armillatus back to his cabin. Anthonius stood for a while considering his options but eventually followed to find the man re-seated with a now quietened Armillatus held firmly on his knee. "Close the door," said the man "lock it with the key and throw the key to me." Anthonius obeyed. The man placed the key in his tunic pocket and released Armillatus, who immediately ran to hold his friend's hand. The man smiled at the sight of the two beautiful naked boys displaying their friendship before him and pushed his plate forward. "You two can have this. I wasn't really hungry. Do you want the wine or would you prefer water?"

Chapter 27
Farewell

The two naked boys asked for water, and both that and the remainder of the galley captain's meal quickly disappeared, forcing the man to go for more. He locked the door behind him, telling the boys that it was not to keep them in but to prevent others from entering. He explained that he did not want his crew to see them in their current condition. He did not add that their bums would be far from safe if the crew did discover the new cargo like that, or the fact that he could not let the give-away Imperial brands be noticed until he found out what was going on. The captain returned with a large pail and some bread and cheese. Whilst the boys were rapidly consuming the fresh rations, the man opened a cupboard and pulled out a couple of his oldest but clean tunics. The garments would be far too big for the lads but he thought that they would excuse their ridiculous appearances in return for the cover and warmth afforded. The captain then waited patiently for the boys to finish their second course before asking them the obvious, what brought them here and without clothing? Anthonius was grateful for the captain's kindness and thought that he could detect genuine goodness in the adult's eyes. Anthonius had also perceived that the man had recognised his brandmarks, so he told him the truth.

The captain digested the news in silence for a long time before declaring "Then, you must sail with me. The ship heads for my homeport of Tarraco in Hispania the day after tomorrow. There's a hold already loaded where you can hide, although it would be too uncomfortable to do so for too long. Therefore, once we're a day or so out into the Mare Internum, I'll tell the crew that I've found a couple of stowaways. You'll have to work your passage then, and work hard, to justify my decision not to throw you into the sea, but you'll do so under my close supervision. I don't trust many of the crew and quite a few will think that your duties should include servicing their cocks." Looking especially at Anthonius, the captain continued "It's essential that none see those eagles you have on your thighs. I also hope that the Praetorians search for you doesn't reach Ostia before we sail. There'll undoubtedly be a large reward for your recapture and none of the crew would hesitate to inform on you as soon as we reach Hispania. You'll then be in chains on the next boat back and I would probably be with you. However, if we get away before the guards arrive, we won't be returning here for a while, by which time the search and talk of it will have stopped. I don't think that any of the crew will then be putting two and two together! " Anthonius recognised that the captain's offer was the boys' best chance of escaping Diocletian's wrath and agreed to the strategy, despite lingering worries about the man's true motives for helping them. Why, for example, did he himself not succumb to the temptation of the prize on their heads?

The captain checked that his crew had not yet returned from their drunken reveries in Ostia's many taverns and led the boys to the hold. "You'll be safe here," he said, "the crew will be too busy curing their hangovers and filling the other holds to revisit this one. I'll return with some food in the morning." Looking at the boys dressed ridiculously in immensely baggy tunics that reached down almost to their ankles, the captain laughed and added "I'll also buy some clothing that fits!" He placed the refilled pitcher on the floor, said "Sweet dreams" and left. Anthonius and Armillatus huddled together for warmth and were soon asleep in each other's arms despite their dangers.

Meanwhile in Rome, Casperius and Lysus were congratulating themselves on the perfect execution of Niachiarus' plan. They considered that it did not matter too much that the two boys had escaped the Emperor's fury for now. They would soon be found with such a large reward on their heads and half the Praetorians and the garrison of Rome searching for them. After all, how could two naked boys, one clearly displaying Imperial ownership, disappear permanently without trace? Even if they did, the conspirators' main objective had been achieved. However, if the Emperor ever got his hands on Anthonius and Armillatus again, the poor boys would soon be suffering horribly and that would be a very pleasant end to their plot.

They were especially pleased at how well they had managed to time Diocletian's return to his bedchamber. Whilst Lysus had been watching the boys' antics through carefully hidden spy-holes, with Niachiarus at his side waiting to deliver the message that would bring their plan to fruition, the major domo was occupying the Emperor by showing him some new erotic art that had been purchased to decorate the walls outside the pleasure chamber. The Nubian soon interrupted them to advise that Anthonius and Armillatus were missing, although it had been reported that they had last been seen opening the door of the Imperial bedchamber. Diocletian never did bother finding out who had made the report, although a compliant boy companion had been lined up for the role as a precaution.

The galley captain was as good as his word with breakfast and later fresh tunics, although without undergarments. They were a little large to allow for growth, in good plebeian thrifty fashion. Throughout the day, the boys could hear the crew as they went about their business but always elsewhere on the ship. The day was long and boring, especially as the boys felt it too dangerous to move or whisper to each other much, and it seemed that an eternity had passed before the captain returned with their dinner. However, as dusk came, the man's prophecy that no-one would invade their privacy proved wrong. Two men entered and the boys, hidden safely from view, gathered from the men's hushed voices that one was quite young whilst the other sounded much older. Anthonius and Armillatus quickly discovered what the men were about as they heard belts and garments being discarded, followed by the clear sound of lusts being satisfied. From murmured comments and groans, it appeared that the elder was sodomising the younger whilst at the same time masturbating him. The boys required great restraint to prevent themselves from tittering aloud. However, their attitude changed once the men's passions had been sated and the lovers engaged in a brief post-coital conversation whilst redressing, for the boys were the only topic. Soldiers were already now searching for them in Ostia!

Once the men had gone, Anthonius decided that he had to distract Armillatus from the clear fright and panic his friend had suffered. He concluded that, as the ship was now quiet with most of the crew probably back ashore, the best way to calm Armillatus was to initiate the full consummation of their friendship. They would finish off what they had started on the Emperor's bed the previous day. After two hours of sublime pleasure, the two boys finally slept, and peacefully too.

The galley captain continued to keep his word and brought breakfast again. He told the boys of the bad news of which they were already aware and tried to reassure them that they could still remain secure by staying hidden. The voyage would be much less pleasant but at least they should save their skins. The ship sailed on the morning tide. Anthonius now firmly believed that Armillatus would be safe under the captain's protection and the men's talk of the previous night only reinforced his determination to do what he felt he must. As the galley moved away from the quayside, Anthonius told a horrified Armillatus of his plan and resisted his friend's desperate pleas to change his mind. He reassured Armillatus that the captain would prove a good protector and bade tender farewells, kissing his friend with passion. Somehow Anthonius managed to wriggle out of Armillatus' resistant grip, quickly strip himself of his own tunic and place it in his right hand. The now naked boy then speedily slipped through a nearby porthole into the harbour waters, still cold from the winter months. He knew Armillatus could not follow because the boy could not swim, being terrified of deep water.

The galley captain was sorry to learn of Anthonius' departure but not too much so. He could not risk the sudden appearance of two boys now the crew knew that the Imperial army were looking for two similar lads, with a large fortune to anyone providing information leading to their arrests. Anthonius' brands would also have been very difficult to hide for long. However, Armillatus had no such markings and the sudden appearance of a solitary new captain's cabin boy would not arouse too much suspicion. He could also protect the one boy better from the lecherous attentions of the crew by making it clear that any pleasures to be derived from the lad's orifices were exclusively his, not that the man had any such intentions. Anthonius' appraisal of the captain had been correct, for the man did have inner goodness, although this was not the prime motivation for risking his life and foregoing riches. The captain had just lost his only son to a fatal fever and his wife could bear no more children. The man had hoped that the two boys would accept adoption. The family could relocate their home to his wife's remote home village deep in the Hispanian countryside, where the boys would never be found unless Anthonius' brands were seen and recognised. However, this was not now a problem as there would just be one adopted son.

The journey to Tarraco passed peacefully with none of the crew suspecting the new cabin boy's true identity or risking the captain's displeasure by interfering with the pretty lad. Armillatus did accept adoption and later rewarded his kind new parents with retirement in great luxury for the happiness of his remaining childhood. There was only one blot and that was concern over Anthonius and it would be twenty years before he came to learn fully about his friend's fate. Meanwhile, Armillatus was determined to overcome his innate timidity so that he could emulate his friend's selfless bravery, which had now twice saved his life. He began by learning to swim.

Anthonius had chosen the right cabin door after all.

Chapter 28
Rescue

Anthonius had swum to a quiet part of the quayside, where there were some steps leading down to the water's edge. He attracted little attention because the sight of boys swimming in the harbour was not unusual, as many were beggars trying to encourage passengers on the arriving and departing boats to throw some coins to them. The shivering Anthonius quickly put on his wet tunic before climbing the steps to prevent anyone noticing his distinctive bodily markings and adornments. The soppy garment only added to his chill. The boy moved a short distance along the quay towards a large group of crates and hid amongst them until darkness fell. As he lay there, his body quickly became warm again as the sun beat down.

Anthonius emerged from his place of concealment after dusk and carefully proceeded down the quay towards the town. He hoped that one boy walking alone would not attract too much attention but he was wrong. He reached the promenade and advanced along it for at its end began the road to Rome. Halfway along, Anthonius looked behind and saw that he was being followed at a distance by two soldiers. The boy did not know whether they were just innocently going about their business or were tailing him. He dared not run for that really would gain their attention if they suspected him. He therefore decided to turn off the promenade into a side thoroughfare to see whether they continued the pursuit. Anthonius realised his mistake as soon as he turned the corner for the street was crowded with people. He guessed correctly, from the many busy taverns on both sides as he walked up, that he had entered Ostia's main pleasure quarter. He also noticed that there were clearly other places of entertainment, outside a number of which stood scantily clad women, girls and boys inviting passers-by to enter. There was a lot of additional activity going on in the dark side-alleys, presumably where clients, mainly sex-starved sailors far from home who could not afford the brothel prices, were entertained by cheaper prostitutes. It suddenly dawned on him that there would only be one reason why a pretty boy would be walking this route alone at this time of night. He looked behind to see that, not only had the soldiers turned into the street, they had also gained much ground on him, as if they had run to the corner.

Anthonius had ignored the lecherous shouts aimed at him as he progressed along the thoroughfare but now chose to listen to the next. Four men walked from the opposite direction towards him and, as they neared, one of them said "Well, what have we here, a nice tasty piece of boy flesh. How much do you charge?" Anthonius looked around and saw the soldiers closing. "One sesterce" he answered. The men stopped directly in front of the boy and the original questioner responded "I hope that's for all four of us." Anthonius said that it was and headed for a nearby alley with the men following, all delighted at obtaining a boy so cheaply for the going rate was indeed one sesterce each. Passionate noises revealed that there were obviously others in the dark lane but the gloom prevented them from being seen. "Right, off with the tunic," the men's spokesperson continued, "and bend over. We'll take you two at a time."

Anthonius was not sure what he meant by this but complied by casting his tunic to the ground nearby and bending over whilst still facing down the alley, hoping that the darkness and his posture would hide his brands. The boy waited in trepidation and shame for the men to assume their starting positions. He had only ever had anal and oral sex with four people previously, disagreeably with Diocletian and the obese Arab and pleasantly with the young soldier in Germania and, the previous night, with Armillatus. He was suddenly and quickly going to double the number in the most inauspicious of circumstances and with some rather nasty brutish people.

One of the men came to Anthonius' front and the other positioned himself at the boy's rear. The latter fondled Anthonius' hardening cock, saying "Very nice!" As the men, stinking of ale, pulled their undergarments down, Anthonius now fully appreciated what they had meant about 'two at a time'. The boy soon had a dirty sweaty erection in his mouth and a large penis pressed against his sphincter. The front man held Anthonius harshly by the hair and moved the boy's head on and off his rigid cock, slowly at first but gradually increasing tempo. Anthonius almost gagged several times as the cockhead was thrust deep down his throat. The back man had gripped the tops of Anthonius' legs to aid his own thrusts, the earliest of which were extremely painful but the boy's mouth was too occupied to utter a cry. Anthonius was eventually being shaken violently in two parts of his anatomy as the men gradually rose to climax. However, there was one consolation for the boy. He had seen through his legs that the soldiers had paused at the entrance to the lane, seemed satisfied with what they were seeing and departed back towards the harbour.

The men came almost simultaneously and a large amount of hot sperm poured into Anthonius at both ends. Both men held the boy rigidly in place as they enjoyed their orgasms and the lad was almost choking when they finally released him and withdrew. However, there was another task to perform for the back man. He came round to Anthonius' front and told him to clean his mess off the softening cock. As the boy had not had an enema for a couple of days, he had to lick off more than he was accustomed. The other two men now took their turn. They had not waited patiently for they had continuously barracked the first couple to encourage them to finish quickly so that they too could enjoy the whore. Anthonius eventually found that servicing the second pair was a remarkably similar experience to the first.

Once Anthonius had cleaned the second back man's cock, he began to stand up but received a rebuke from the spokesman. "What do you think you're doing whore, it's turn about time!" The boy sadly knew instantly what this meant and, because he could not afford trouble, resumed his original stance. When Anthonius had finally completed his second tour of duty, the men walked away laughing. They left no money. Their spokesman instead said "You must be new to this business whore. Always get your wages first!"

Anthonius stood, semen drooling from the sides of his mouth and down his bumcrack to his inner thighs. He looked behind, tears in his eyes but, to his disgust, with his own throbbing erection. The boy observed that there was a small queue of what appeared to be more customers. He quickly gathered his tunic and ran with it in his hand into the deeper recesses of the alley. Anthonius eventually stopped when he reached an intersection and saw that no-one was following. He was about to put on his tunic but his hard cock was demanding attention. The boy withdrew to a doorway and started to masturbate but something within him was telling him not to be so shy, and it lured him back into the middle of the intersection where moonlight filtered through. It was there, excitedly bathed in the silvery moonlight, that he quickly brought himself to climax and spurted his seed over the ground.

Anthonius gradually worked his way through the myriad of small lanes, avoiding any that were crowded, until he finally reached the road to Rome. This was the busiest avenue in the Empire for along the wide cobbled way passed, from its main port, most of the supplies upon which the capital relied for existence. There was a large amount of traffic even at this late hour. Anthonius, aided by the light of the full moon that had helped bring him to earlier ecstasy, therefore shadowed it by walking along amongst the trees and bushes on the righthandside. This meant that he faced the oncoming traffic for the Romans always drove their wagons and rode their horses on the left.

After an hour and a half, Anthonius had entered the outskirts of the great city and now chose some quieter streets by which to reach the Imperial palace, carefully running between places of cover in order to avoid being spotted by any passers-by. However, these thoroughfares were largely deserted and he came to the back of the palace within another half-hour. He located the gate through which the wagon, that had been the saviour of him and his friend a few days before, had left for Ostia. It was still open because the work of the palace never stopped. However, it was much easier to transcend the inner yard at this hour, in the middle of the night, because there were far fewer servants and slaves on duty. Anthonius, by keeping to the shadows as he quickly ran between wagons and crates, successfully reached the servants' quarters without detection. The boy found these quiet too, although he did have to pretend once that he was a young slave on some errand when he turned a corner and could not avoid passing some servants coming the other way.

Anthonius eventually came to the place where the Emperor's bath water was prepared. It would be empty for some hours as Diocletian rose late. The boy entered the lukewarm water channel and gingerly made for the sluice-gate on the other side of which the Emperor undoubtedly slept with another of his boys. Anthonius perceived snoring on the other side and remembered how he had often been kept awake in the Imperial bed, with Diocletian's loud noises preventing him from sleeping almost as much as his sore mouth and bum. The boy carefully prised the gate open, allowing the water to flow into the bath on the far side only very slowly and virtually silently.

Anthonius had to wait patiently for a while until the gate was open wide enough to squeeze through. Disaster threatened when the lad did so for he almost lost balance. However, he managed to retrieve the situation and lower his legs quietly into the bath water. The bedchamber was, at this time of night, illuminated only by a single wall-torch. Through the shadows cast, Anthonius saw Diocletian, who would surely kill him if he were captured, on the bed with a boy. He cautiously extracted himself from the bath and tip-toed towards the bed for he had to make certain that the boy was not Sura. The boy was not and so Anthonius made for the door, which creaked slightly when he opened it. Fortunately, no-one stirred. Anthonius crept outside, across the empty pleasure chamber and through the door opposite. The boy gingerly made his way along a couple of passageways towards Sura's own tiny quarters. Detection now would be fatal for the Praetorian night guard would not be far away. As he finally stood in front of Sura's door, Anthonius prayed to his gods for his friend to be within, not imprisoned somewhere. The boy opened the door, stepped inside and whispered "Sura" into the blackness.

"Welcome back, Anthonius" said Niachiarus, "I've been expecting you." The boy turned to flee but as he re-opened the door a huge Praetorian was standing outside and grabbed him firmly. The Nubian emerged from the blackness of Sura's room to express his true feelings for his former charge. The eunuch punched Anthonius in the balls.

Chapter 29
Inquisition

Casperius had not believed Niachiarus' theory that Anthonius would return soon to attempt to rescue Sura. However, the major domo recognised that the Nubian had proven many times that he knew the boy better and decided to take no risks. Casperius agreed to humour the older eunuch's suggestion that the younger should be temporarily returned to the dungeons whilst his tiny quarters were closely watched, particularly at night. The major domo was very surprised as well as immensely delighted that Niachiarus' supposition had subsequently been validated.

A handsome Praetorian captain, in his mid-twenties, recently appointed to his post because, it was rumoured, he had once been Diocletian's lover, reported the capture to the major domo and awakened the Emperor. A still-struggling Anthonius was dragged to the pleasure chamber by his huge captor, now accompanied by several more soldiers as well as Niachiarus. Diocletian and Casperius awaited him and they were soon joined by the other boy companions and their eunuch slaves, all woken up by the clamour.

Diocletian looked at the terrified Anthonius, held tightly now between two Praetorians. His early hot fury at the treachery of the two young boy lovers, whom he had considered his favourites, had been transmuted into cold rage, and a desire for grisly revenge. He approached the boy, now stilled by fear, and slapped him hard across the face. "How dare you," he said, "in return for all my love and kindness, you and that other whore betray me and you have the cheek to conduct your sordid little affair on my own bed. I suppose that it had been going on for a long time, probably ever since Germania where I noticed that you were close. I even took you both into my bed at the same time there, little knowing that I was harbouring perfidious vipers. Where's the other?" Diocletian reinforced his question with another hard slap. Anthonius managed to rely, amidst tears, that he did not know. He repeated the same answer after four more heavy slaps across the face and one in the groin. "Dirty treasonous whore," said Diocletian, "we'll get you to talk soon enough." Looking at Casperius, the Emperor ordered "Torture him until he tells us!", before delivering a kick to the lads balls and returning to his bedchamber with his bed boy for the night, gesturing the major domo to follow. Casperius ordered the Praetorians to take Anthonius to the dungeon torture chamber, adding that the boy was to have no less than eight guards at all times. He did not want the slippery eel to escape again.

Anthonius, now quietened by the blows that he had received, was led by the guards through the opulent corridors of the main palace to a large courtyard, bathed in moonlight. They crossed this to some large double doors on the far side, with a Praetorian standing watch in front of them. The soldiers exchanged words and the doors were unlocked. They were confronted by a long flight of stairs down which the delivery party, with its reluctant shipment, proceeded into the chilly bowels of the palace dungeons. Anthonius was taken to a large chamber, even better equipped to inflict distress than the one he had encountered in the obese Arab's fortress. One of his escorts went to wake the torturer. The man, very skilled in his craft, soon came scurrying and the boy recognised him at once for it was the same man who had branded his thighs.

Anthonius was stripped of his tunic and his wrists were attached to manacles suspended from pulleys attached to the ceiling. The naked boy was hauled up so that his feet were well off the ground and more manacles were attached to his ankles with loose chains dangling underneath. The torturer attached two very heavy weights to these, stretching the boy severely and causing the manacles to bite nastily into the skin of his wrists and ankles. Anthonius started crying in agony and trepidation of what was still to come. The torturer ignored the boy and started instead to chat idly to the soldiers about the forthcoming gladiatorial contests, apparently waiting for someone to arrive.

Half an hour later, Casperius and Lysus arrived. "I'm glad to see that you're comfortable, Anthonius," said the major domo as he approached and looked up at the tormented boy, "because we may be here for some time before I'm satisfied that you're telling the truth. We certainly won't finish until say, mid- afternoon, for the young Prince and his friends, soundly asleep in their beds at present, have never seen anyone put to the question before, and I'm sure that they would like to watch after they have breakfasted." Casperius and Lysus walked round the tautly suspended nude boy slowly, taking in the magnificent sight that proved that their plans had come to full fruition. When at Anthonius' rear, which was at the height of Casperius' head, the major domo ran the fingers of his right hand over the lustrous perfection of the boy's buttocks and, when back at the front, he weighed the lad's balls in the palm. The lad's penis reacted in the usual way to such attention, causing Casperius to comment "You really are a tart, aren't you, Anthonius" before conjecturing aloud "I wonder if these will survive the Emperor's wrath until you are put to death?"

"Now, Anthonius," Casperius continued, "I repeat His Imperial Majesty's question. Where's the other whore?" Anthonius responded in a weak voice "I'm sorry, sir, I don't know. We split…." The boy did not manage to finish his sentence for it turned into an agonised wheeze instead when his balls were struck again. The major domo waited patiently for Anthonius to regain his breath before saying "That is not what I want to hear. I want to know where Armillatus is and you will tell me. I also want to know how you obtained your new tunic Did you have a collaborator?" Anthonius received another hit in the groin for his reply.

Casperius tried another route to try to extract the required information. "After your misbehaviour," he said, " the Emperor kindly invited your poor widowed mother and younger sister to Rome to live under his protection. How well they live, if at all, will depend on your co-operation in a number of matters, including answering my questions." Anthonius did not know that he had a younger sister and the major domo recognised the boy's puzzled expression, amongst the pained contortions of the lad's tear-stained face, and placated it by saying "Oh, didn't I tell you that you had a baby sister, although I can't understand how. According to your mother, your senile sick old father somehow impregnated her with the child. I think that it's more likely that it's a case of like son, like mother. She's probably as much a whore as you are and lusted with some courtier somewhere. Probably doesn't even know who the father is." Casperius did not inform Anthonius that Lysus' Lycian spies had advised that the king had responded to his wife's tender loving care by making a significant recovery and that the child was indeed the boy's full sister. Nor did he elucidate that this improvement in health had prompted Lysus to lose patience and he had sent funds to Lycia so that one of his spies could bribe one of the King's Roman guards to poison the venerable monarch. The major domo did give Anthonius yet another slap on the reddened genitals for the repartee to his questions, and finished by advising that he would leave the boy's further interrogation to the expert, although Lysus would like to communicate something first.

Anthonius' fat half-brother wandered over to one of the walls where a wide variety of wooden paddles hung on hoops. He selected one and approached Anthonius, looked into the boy's blue eyes with intense hatred and, without saying a word, walked to the lad's rear and launched the implement viciously against the buttocks, turning them scarlet instantly. However, seven more nasty blows across the boy's bum tired him and he stopped, despite the fact that he was thoroughly enjoying seeing his actions causing the boy to shriek in pain whilst swaying and rattling the taut bondage chains. He threw the paddle to the floor and joined Casperius, who was now standing at a distance to give the torturer plenty of space to practice his art.

The man collected two evil-looking clamps from a wide selection on a nearby table and unceremoniously reached up to attach one to each of Anthonius' nipples. The boy screamed instantly and begged "Take them off, please take them off" because they were even more severe than the ones he had suffered at the hands of Impheli. The torturer instead attached heavily weighted chains to the lad's balls, causing the ball sac to drop noticeably. The man then asked "Where's the other whore? Where did you obtain the tunic?" Anthonius sobbed that he had already told them what he knew.

The torturer then advanced to Anthonius' rear and roughly placed part of a long leather enema tube up the boy's anus, causing the lad to yelp. He then moved to Anthonius's front with what looked like a thin but hard plant stem in his hands. He masturbated the boy's penis to full erection, exposing the cockhead slit, and, to the lad's horror, began to push the stem carefully into the slit, causing discomfort more than pain. The stem was twice as long as the erection and over half had disappeared inside by the time the man stopped and attached an equally thin long leather tube on the end. To Anthonius' continued terror, both tubes were attached to large leather enema bags, which were suspended from pulleys and hauled into the air. The boy immediately felt cold water flowing slowly into him. He was well accustomed to it flooding into his rear but never into his front. Casperius and Lysus were provided with chairs and drinks by the soldiers and sat to enjoy the fun.

After about a quarter of an hour, Anthonius' belly began to swell and ache and he desperately wanted to urinate but could not because liquid was flowing the other way down his penis. He began to beg "Please, please turn it off" several times, but the spectators just laughed. After another quarter of an hour, Anthonius' stomach was grotesquely distended and the boy was almost delirious with pain. The torturer placed clamps on the tubes to stop the water and asked the lad "Where's the other whore? Where did you obtain the tunic?" Anthonius croaked the same answer as previous. The man did not restart the water because he had recognised, from experience, that to do so would risk causing irreparable damage to the boy's innards and he had been quietly told, by a clearly disappointed major domo, that the Emperor had ordered no permanent damage for now. However, he was happy to leave what was already inside in-situ for the moment and instead attached weights to the nipple clamps and heavier weights to the chains attached to the Anthonius' balls, and repeated his questions. He received no answer as the boy was in too much pain to speak.

Whilst waiting for Anthonius to have his fill of water, the torturer, in front of the constantly groaning boy, had lit a brazier and placed three branding irons in the coals. They were the same three he had used on Sura, two of which Anthonius had already had the pleasure of becoming intimately acquainted with previously. "I think you know what I'm going to do with these," the man eventually teased, "the Emperor wants your body decorated with his emblems in many more places, unless you provide us with answers we can believe." Anthonius splutted "I've already told you the truth!" The torturer sighed "We don't believe you."

The Prince and his eleven friends entered at this moment, escorted by other Praetorians. They had been too excited for breakfast.The 11 years olds immediately burst into laughter at the sight of the 14 years old suspended from the roof, with weighted clamps attached to his nipples and chains to his red balls, tubes sticking out of his cock and scarlet bum. They thought the very fat tummy was particularly hilarious. Casperius and Lysus stood and bowed, as did the torturer and the guards already present. The Prince asked Casperius and Lysus "Has the former Imperial bed boy told the truth yet?" The major domo responded negatively. "I didn't think he would," continued the Prince, "he's compulsively bad. I've told my father that death, even a very slow and agonising one, would be too good for him. Instead, inflict excruciating pain on him for a long time, then perform a penec, a penec, oh, you know what I mean, cut his dick off but leave his balls intact for lifelong torture, and send him to the Lucanian quarries. I think my father may accept my proposal."

The Prince stood in front of Anthonius and said "It's alright, former bed boy, you don't have to bow in the circumstances", before closely examining the lad's new bodily attachments. He was delighted to receive an instant yelp when he pressed Anthonius' engorged belly and invited his friends to follow. They obtained the same reaction. The Prince turned to the torturer and asked "What's next?" The man indicated the branding irons. "Oh, marvellous," declared the 11 years old, "where will they be applied and can we help?" "Well, Highness," answered the man, "I thought first, to match the eunuch Sura, I would place one round each nipple, one in each of the side hollows of his thighs and one on each buttock before burning another just above his genitals. Then, we could add to his enjoyment and improve his bodily decoration further by progressing to his arms, hands and feet before moving elsewhere. By the end, both he and everyone else will be sure about who owns him. And yes, Highness, some help would be appreciated." "You're a good kind man," the Prince said, "I shall make sure that my father rewards you accordingly." The torturer thanked the Prince ingratiatingly.

The torturer lowered Anthonius' feet towards but not onto the floor, until the boy's head became level with his own. He removed the weights attached to the ankle chains and fixed the chains instead firmly to rings embedded in the ground about half a pace apart. The man proceeded to pinprick the positions for the brands where required and, with his right hand, collected the new circular and now red-hot iron from the coals to gleeful shouts of "Yes, yes" from the watching 11 years olds and pleas of "No, please, no" from the 14 years old. The latter was silenced when the torturer, with his left hand, encouraged Anthonius to bite on a short leather strap, explaining "It'll save your lips and tongue from being bitten off." He next addressed the Prince and his friends "Now, Highness and young masters, please watch carefully as I apply this brand around the boy's left nipple. If you feel confident afterwards, you help place it later around the right one and the others elsewhere." Anthonius perceived the same look in the man's eyes as he had seen over a year previously as the torturer gave him a close view of the iron that would imminently scar him for life. The torturer moved the iron just above the intended target, and Anthonius could feel the intense heat. The man asked whether the boy wanted to change his testimony but the lad, with his teeth clinching the strap, nodded a reluctant "No". The torturer therefore took careful aim and lowered the brand onto the 14 years old's skin to wild cheers from the 11 years olds and the instant aroma of burnt flesh.

The torturer woke Anthonius up from his faint with cold water to the face before again asking his question and receiving the familiar response from the agonised boy. The man allowed the iron to reheat in the coals until it was ready again and gestured the eagerly waiting Prince to him. "Now, Highness," he instructed, "carefully take hold of the handle here with both hands. It's not heavy." The Prince obeyed and the tool felt comfortable in his grasp, although he too could clearly feel the heat emanating from the end. "Carefully approach the boy and show it to him like I did and ask him the same questions. If you don't like his answers, centre the circle precisely round his right nipple with one of the tiny eagles at top and slowly lower it onto his skin. Hold it there until you count to ten and then withdraw it directly backwards like I did. Are you happy that you can do that?" The delighted 11 years old, awed by what he was about to do, just nodded affirmatively and advanced determinedly towards the terrified crying 14 years old. The Prince grinned broadly when he showed a sickened Anthonius the red-hot brand and asked the question. Anthonius just closed his eyes this time in response. However, the Prince was not going to be cheated of the pleasure of the look in the 14 years old's eyes as he burned his body and signalled to one of his friends to smack Anthonius across the back with the paddle discarded onto the floor by Lysus earlier. As the paddle struck and Anthonius opened his eyes in shock, the Prince lowered the brand.

The Prince's gloating friends followed. Despite their tender years, they all had erections as they wielded the cruel irons. Strangely in the circumstances, so too did Anthonius for, as brand after brand was applied, his nude cock became harder and harder to amusement all around, and this display of libido only added to the boy's woes as orgasm was impossible because of the catheter.

After several hours of branding, Diocletian himself arrived and he did not at first recognise the tortured boy. Anthonius' face was awash with tears, his nipples and scrotum had been stretched repugnantly as more and more weights had been applied, his belly was still grossly enlarged and his brands not only now matched Sura's but exceeded them. Additional eagles were displayed on the boy's upper arms, hands and feet. None of the Prince's friends had been denied the pleasure of marking the lad, who had had to be re-awakened six times in all during his torment. The Emperor walked around Anthonius and was pleased with what he saw, congratulating his son and his friends on work well done, adding "Now, the traitor will know who his body belongs to!"

Diocletian was less pleased to discover that Anthonius had maintained, annoyingly in various pitches of voice and amidst much crying and screaming, the same confession all through his torture. It was to the affect that the boy runaways had stolen the tunics in a Roman market and had later split up, with Armillatus heading south towards Neapolis. The Emperor asked the torturer, whose skill he respected, for his opinion. The man stated that he thought that Anthonius was telling the truth for the boy was, after all, only 14 years old and he had already suffered much more than most men had in this chamber before they broke. The torturer added that, of course, he could test this further but probably not without damaging the boy permanently or possibly causing his death. Diocletian considered this opinion, remembering what his son had told him previously, that death was too good for the unfaithful slut. He ordered the torture to be stopped, although the treacherous whore could hang round in his present state overnight. The Emperor left with his cheerful son and friends and the less happy Casperius and Lysus. The torturer returned to his quarters and eight Praetorians were posted outside the torture chamber door. Inside the door, Anthonius was left alone to continue to suffer, by Imperial command, the severest agonies until the next morning. It was not yet the third hour of the afternoon.

Chapter 30
Friend

It was less than an hour after Diocletian and his entourage had departed that the new Praetorian captain arrived with eight fresh soldiers to relieve those outside the torture chamber, despite the fact that a change of guard was not due for many hours. Naturally, those relieved were happy not to argue why this was. The captain had not been present during Anthonius' torment, being required elsewhere, but had heard about it. He entered the torture chamber and was horrified by what he saw. He quickly lowered the groaning boy onto the floor, removed what bodily appendages could be removed and released him from his shackles. In so doing, the captain had to supervise the release of a stream of pink fluid pouring from both penile and anal apertures and prevent the lad from collapsing to the floor. He gently carried the semi-conscious but deeply hurting Anthonius out of the awful chamber, the guards outside acting as lookouts to help him, and conveyed the boy to another much smaller chamber nearby, which he had already prepared.

The captain gingerly placed Anthonius on a soft bed and opened a bag placed at its side. He smeared some cream-like substance on the fingers of his left hand, for he was left handed, from a small pottery jar and very carefully began the process of applying the healing ointment, one of his late mother's special recipes, onto the boy's many wounds. He also encouraged the lad to drink a milk- coloured liquid from another small jar, another maternal concoctions. Anthonius was soon virtually covered in the salve and thankfully sleeping as a result of the medicine. The captain maintained a vigil over Anthonius for the rest of the day and all of the night, applying more lotion and giving more potion whenever needed. He was relieved at dawn by a colleague and went to have words with the torturer before retiring to his own bed, completely exhausted. Diocletian never learned that Anthonius had not continued to suffer overnight for he was busy inviting suggestions for Anthonius' ultimate fate. He had decided that his son was right in wanting the treacherous harlot to live to experience an horrific existence but was not happy that the Prince's choice of means was the best. Various suggestions were made but, as usual, Niachiarus' was the finest and was, as usual, promoted as Casperius' idea.

The young Praetorian captain was lucky that Diocletian was in a happy mood, and still had feelings for him, when he suggested clemency instead. However, the Emperor did agree to his former boy lover's suggestion that, in Niachiarus' absence, the captain was probably the best person to supervise Anthonius' full recovery. Diocletian was aware of the potency of the captain's remedies from campaigning with him but was unaware that his own motive for allowing such aid, so that further horrors could be inflicted later on Anthonius' restored body, contrasted sharply with that of his Praetorian officer. The Emperor instead suspected that the captain was really manoeuvring a position to have sex with a boy he fancied, but no longer cared if that was so. The major domo was more wary.

Casperius had, for once, acquainted Diocletian with the fact that it had been Niachiarus' prediction that had finally caught Anthonius. He did so because it was his only way of fulfilling his promise of securing the Nubian's freedom, not that he would normally be too bothered about promises made to slaves. However, Niachiarus was different for he knew too much, and simply having him disposed of might attract too much suspicion at this time. It was therefore sensible expediency just to buy him off by persuading the Emperor to grant the eunuch his freedom in reward for his role in the capture of Anthonius. The major domo was also feeling sufficiently contented with affairs that, totally out of character, he gave Niachiarus, as a parting gift, one twentieth of the bag of gold that the Emperor had awarded for the Nubian's own original idea. Nevertheless, this small proportion was more than enough to enable the eunuch to produce many more of his own kind. His acquaintance at the slave market was ready to retire, having served the Empire loyally over so many years by unmanning thousands of young boys and youths. He was more than happy to sell his business to such an enthusiastic and capable successor. By the time of his death from sudden heart failure fourteen years later, the then obese Niachiarus had easily exceeded his predecessor in volume and had over a hundred large jars to prove it.

Once the captain had secured the Emperor's permission to assist Anthonius' recuperation, he had the boy's chamber made warmer by finding a better use for one of the torture chamber's smaller braziers. The officer and some colleagues continued to use the salve to repair the lad's body and several medicines to help reduce and eventually eliminate the pain and other after-effects. Anthonius was, miraculously in the circumstances, fully recovered within the week, although the captain pretended otherwise for as long as he could, with his still regular visits to the boy explained as continuing ministrations. In fact, the officer spent the time providing company for a boy who would otherwise be very lonely and frightened, and formulating plans to help the lad further. Anthonius was grateful to but initially suspicious of the Praetorian who had been responsible for nursing him back to full health so expertly. The captain was aware of this and bided his time, filling conversation with small talk until he thought that he had gained the boy's trust. Then, one evening, the officer offered to help Anthonius escape and he made a confession to ensure that the boy realised that the offer was genuine. He explained to an astonished Anthonius that he knew about the boy's presence in Ostia. The captain had been sent to the port with a detachment of Praetorians as part of the search for the runaways. He had taken the opportunity to meet a friend who shared his secret beliefs. It was the captain of the galley on which the boys were hiding and he appraised the captain of the Praetorians of the fact for he knew that the young officer would help not betray. There had been an order issued for all galleys to be searched but the Praetorian officer had ensured that this did not apply to the one on which the boys were concealed. When he subsequently saw the ship sail, he was happy that the two lads were on their way to safety. "If only I'd known that that Nubian eunuch was right about your intentions," he continued, "for I could have made sure that both you and Sura were safe!" The captain did not relate that his willingness to help Anthonius stemmed almost as much from his tremendous admiration for the brave boy as from his beliefs, which he shared with a small group of other Praetorians. The lad had not only made the very brave attempt to rescue one friend but had also managed to hide the truth about the other under extreme torture.

Anthonius knew that he had to decline the captain's marvellous offer for his mother and baby sister were on their way to Rome as hostages against his future conduct and, presumably, acquiescent acceptance of whatever fate the Emperor decided should befall him. The officer was saddened by the rejection of his offer but the reason for it and the alternative suggestion made only heightened his esteem for the boy, who had asked him instead to save Sura.

The captain told Anthonius two days later that Sura had mysteriously disappeared from the palace, to the great anger of the Emperor and major domo, and that he had been put in charge of the hunt for the boy eunuch. He declared "However, I doubt that I'll ever find out who spirited him out of the palace and where the boy's now hiding" to mutual delighted hilarity. When they had calmed, he added that he would see what he could do for Anthonius' mother and sister when they arrived in Rome. He could then try to resolve Anthonius' plight.

Anthonius was naturally very appreciative of the captain's help and goodness and knew that he had only one thing that he could offer in return. The Praetorian had tried his best to hide his true feelings for the boy but had been unable to disguise them all, and the lad had seen. It was the little signs. The lingering of the captain's fingers on, and their subsequent noticeably reluctant withdrawal from, certain parts of Anthonius' body when the lotions were applied. The regular dryness in the officer's mouth and formation of little beads of sweat on his brow that caused the man to try to avoid looking directly at Anthonius for too long during their conversations. The invariable finding of a place on the wall to focus his eyes instead as they sat sideways on the bed next to each other to talk.

Anthonius thought that it must be the captain's inherent decency, and consequent unwillingness to force himself on a vulnerable boy, that was preventing him from making the move that he obviously would like to make. The lad therefore decided to make the first move himself. Anthonius wore only a small thong in his cell, ostensibly because his new brands, with their ointment protection, could not be covered by clothing until they had fully healed. However, they had actually been healed for a few days and this was just a ruse to convince the guards and any visitors that the boy's recuperation was incomplete so that the lad could remain comparatively safe for a little longer. Anthonius made several unsuccessful indirect attempts to seduce the captain and resisted the frequent temptations to play with himself to do so, for his celibacy kept his body at the necessary height of sexual need and desire. In the officer's presence, the boy had ensured that he always displayed an unmistakable bulge in his thong, tried sitting and moving as erotically as possible, frequently accidentally on purpose rubbed his hands and body against the man and always tried to exhibit an alluring and lustful stare, but the Praetorian had frustratingly maintained his resistance. Anthonius therefore decided to be more blatant. One evening, when the captain tried to start a silly conversation about the weather, Anthonius stopped the man instantly by beginning to push the waistband of his thong downwards. The Praetorian could not believe what he was seeing as the tiny garment was slowly removed and thrown to one side, revealing the boy's hard-on. Anthonius smiled erotically and asked "Can't we talk afterwards, sir?"

The captain now did not try to resist his urges or the dazzling sight presented to him. Anthonius soon felt the man's lips encase his erection and the boy was coaxed to gradual climax so that the Praetorian could taste the delights of sweet young semen.

Anthonius, without prompting, then lay fully on the bed lengthways, turning over so that he was facedown, head on the pillow, and splayed his legs in an obvious invitation to the acutely excited, almost breathless, captain. The man stood up and fumbled with the straps on his uniform. He was having a difficulty with the objects that he had not known before and accidentally tore one off. Anthonius had moved his head to the side to observe the officer and giggled before jumping off the bed to help. The Praetorian looked into the boy's eyes and thought that he noticed intense sexual desire there, an impression reinforced by the fact that he also saw that the lad's cock had quickly hardened again. Once the outer uniform had finally been removed, Anthonius gave the captain a heavenly but all too short kiss on the lips before returning to his position on the bed. The boy gave a quiet gasp when the man eventually managed to strip off his final item of clothing to reveal a very large, engorged and throbbing penis. The Praetorian sat on the bed next to the boy and gently ran his hands over the whole of the lad's naked back, lingering particularly at the perfect symmetry of the smooth young buttocks. The boy tensed and moaned quietly. The captain then removed a jar from his bag, opened it and dipped two fingers of his left hand into the grease within. The officer thought that he was in paradise when he carefully prised apart Anthonius' bumcheeks with his right hand and located the lad's sphincter with the greased fingers. He whispered to the boy, who was now breathing heavily and whose cock, lying flat out underneath pointing rigidly towards the foot of the bed, had started to soil the cover with precum. He asked "Are you sure that you want me to continue for your anus looks tight and I'm sure that I will hurt you?" Anthonius did not answer with words. He just pushed his bum upwards a little.

The captain gingerly pushed his fingers forward. He felt the sphincter at first seemingly try to resist the intrusion before giving way. More precum flowed from Anthonius' cock. The Praetorian's fingers delicately advanced to further quiet moaning from the boy before reaching their maximum extent and beginning their withdrawal. The man felt the lad's anus trying to grip as if it did not want the invaders to retreat. He therefore slowly and cautiously moved the fingers up and down inside Anthonius, who began to writhe. The Praetorian was unsure whether this was in pain or pleasure until he saw semen spurt downwards along the bed. The fingers had seemingly performed a double task. The officer greased his own rampant cock and adopted a position to mount the boy. He again prised the bumcheeks apart and, with his engorged cock streaming with its own copious precum just above Anthonius' exposed hole, again asked "Are you sure?" Anthonius replied "Yes", for once forgetting the 'sir'. The Praetorian pressed the cockhead against the anal opening and gently pushed but entrance was not forthcoming. The man was therefore forced to push harder and harder until the resistance gave way and, with a shudder and a little cry from Anthonius, he proceeded to gain entry. The captain edged his rigid penis forward inside the boy with great care until finally he felt the lad's smooth buttocks against his balls. The man then began a vigilant retreat before returning to the advance. The officer gradually built up the speed and forcefulness of his withdrawals and thrusts until he achieved what was, for him, the perfect rhythm. Meanwhile, Anthonius' usual initial pain subsided and it was increasingly replaced by pleasure as his anus became more accustomed to the size of the man's ploughing cock and the attentions that the invader was paying to his prostrate became more and more predominant. Anthonius' cock hardened again in cadence with the rise in pleasure and the boy started to utter more ecstatic moans. When the captain heard this, he felt his orgasm approaching swiftly and he gave out a yell of supreme pleasure when he came again and again deep inside the boy. The sight of Anthonius splashing the bed with the product of his own third climax intensified the man's unprecedented sensations still further.

Afterwards, as they held each other, Anthonius questioned the captain about his beliefs. The man informed the boy that he believed in only one God, that there should be love, peace and goodwill between all and, looking deeply into the young sky-blue eyes as if to emphasise the relevance to the lad's situation, that sins should be forgiven and mercy applied not revenge. A long but interesting philosophical discourse then ensued between the two, although it was interrupted by two further bouts of intense lovemaking. Anthonius eventually whispered to the captain "Do you realise that I don't know your name." The Praetorian replied "Don't you? That's very inconsiderate of me. You can use it when we talk in private if you want. My name is Sebastian."

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