It wasn't the knock on the door that woke William, although the knocking was getting louder as he awakened. Rather it was his parents bustling as they dressed, asking each other what it could mean. He could tell it was the middle of the night, and that could only mean one thing. The police always came between midnight and four in the morning.

As his parents opened the door, he could hear a man's voice from outside ask if William Erikson lived here. His parents said yes, and wanted to know what he'd done, but there was no answer. William got out of bed, trying to be quiet so as not to wake his two brothers, Lucas and Liam.

"Are you William Erickson," the officer of the guard demanded as they entered the bedroom. William saw Liam, the youngest one, raise his head.

"I am," he said. He was dressed in just his worn and tattered linen underclothes, but the three members of the guard didn't care. He was grabbed, handcuffed, and pushed out into the hall. The officer continued to ignore his parents' demands to know what was going on.

"Did you strike Oscar Karlson in the street yesterday afternoon?"

"I pushed him as he was attacking me," William said. It was the truth. "I never struck him."

"He says otherwise, and he has the broken tooth to prove it."

"He broke that tooth a week ago when he fell off his bike," Lucas said. Like William, he was dressed in just under garments. Lucas and Oscar were the same age and in the same class at school.

"Mr. Karlson has claimed the rights of the Ferguson Act," the officer said to the boys' father. "Damages are in the amount of 12 gold for the tooth and 3 gold for the felony. If you cannot pay, William will serve his time in service to the Karlson family until he has earned the fifteen gold plus the cost of food and room."

"Fifteen gold?" Mr Erikson said. They weren't poor, but fifteen gold was four months wages. There was no way William's father could afford to pay that much. He said so to the officer of the guard.

"As I thought," the officer said. "Take him to the station," he said to the escorting police men.

"Don't we have the right to challenge the statements made by Oscar?" William's mother asked. William was surprised at how naive she was. The Karlson's were members in good standing in the community, always giving to charity, and ensuring the needs of the mayor were met. To question the word of a Karlson was not only futile, but dangerous.

"You may challenge as much as you wish. Court fees will be waived if you convince the court a mistake has been made." William was already out the door, and if the officer said more he didn't hear it. He didn't even get to say goodbye to his parents or Lucas or Liam. Liam, at twelve, would be heartbroken. He got along okay sometimes with Lucas, but William was his favorite brother.

Once at the police station the men decided he needed to be searched. They did it by grabbing his linens from each side and pulling until they split down the middle. When he tried to cover his nudity, they laughed and uncuffed his wrists. Then his arms were pulled behind his back and handcuffed again.

"No wonder he wants to hide what he has," one of them laughed. "My ten-year-old is as big down there as him." They all laughed and made other comments. William didn't know if his dick was normal-sized or not, all he had to compare it to were his brothers, and he was bigger than them and certainly bigger than any ten-year-old. But it was embarrassing to have them stare and laugh.

Mr. Karlson arrived shortly after dawn. He was accompanied by his sons Oscar and Elias, aged thirteen and twelve respectively.

"I see he's bound. Is he a threat to run?" Mr. Karlson asked the officer.

"They all are sir. Of course, if he does, when we catch him he'll go to Gladstoyvic."

It was a myth, a place of unspeakable horrors used to keep slaves in their place. Much like the tales of witches that roam the streets at night catching good little boys and girls who left the safety of their homes. William was scared, but not of Gladstoyvic.

"Then he needs to be fettered," Mr. Karlson said. William saw Oscar smile. "I suggest a heavy one, and with a ball, he looks strong."

"As you wish sir," the officer said. He snapped his fingers and one police man brought two iron cuffs for William's legs. They were fitted and secured by bolts that were hammered until they expanded into the frame. The cuffs were large and heavy. Another man came with an iron ball that was bigger across than the man's hand and had a chain on it with links as thick as his thumb. It was fastened to one of the cuffs and then the cuffs on William's wrists were released.

"You two, get to school," Mr. Karlson said to Oscar and Elias. "Will you deliver him to the house please? He can be secured in the basement until I get home."

"Yes sir, of course we can," the officer said.

"Can't I have some clothing?" William asked. He was not in the mood to be walked through the streets of town completely naked as if he were a small child.

A quick slap of Mr. Karlson's hand across his face made his head ring. "I am not furnishing clothing for a slave purchased for my oldest son. If you didn't have clothing when you came here that is your problem. If Oscar wants you dressed, he will pay for clothing out of his allowance."

William started to say that he did have clothing when he was brought here, but another slap, this time from one of the two men who had stripped him of his undergarments, left him slightly dazed. "Get a move on or you'll be getting a lot more than that," the man said.

"And don't drag that ball across the floors of my house," Mr. Karlson said. "Pick it up and carry it."

William got a solid kick in his butt from the man behind him. "Tell the gentleman yes sir," he said.

After two vicious slaps to the head and a hard kick to his rear, he was unwilling to risk more. "Yes sir," he said, although he doubted that it sounded sincere. Mr. Karlson grunted and turned and walked out.

The ball and chain together were not that heavy, probably around one and a half stone, but dragging it behind his left leg did slow him down. The fetters also added weight to each leg. As they got out on the street, he used his hands to cover his privates, but that earned him another kick that nearly knocked him to the ground.

"The townsfolk ain't seen a boy criminal in a long time. Keep your arms to your sides or I'll cuff you again."

The Karlson's didn't live in the small section of town where craftsmen lived, they were up higher on the hill where the big houses were made of wood instead of stone. They passed several people as he dragged the ball behind him. He could feel the shackle chaffing his ankle. And before they were half way the ball felt more like three stone than one. William was sweating in the sun and could feel the skin on his back heating up.

Mrs. Karlson answered the door. "He's filthy," she said as she looked at him. But her eyes never looked anywhere except his middle. William was glad he was too tired and sore for his appendage to grow as it sometimes did when he saw Elsa, one of the girls in his class who he fancied.

"The Mister said to lock him in the basement my lady," one of the men said.

"Is he dangerous?" she asked, still looking at only one spot, as if hoping it would grow.

"No, my lady, I don't suppose so. But I'll be more than happy to secure him properly if you wish."

"Yes, I do wish," she said. "And make sure he can't escape. I don't want to turn around and find him in my kitchen."

Ordered to bend over and pick up the ball, William was taken to the basement. The chain only allowed him to hold the ball just above his knees. Going down the narrow steps while bent at the waist he almost fell and the man behind him did nothing to help. He only just recovered and at the bottom dropped the ball into the dust on the clay floor. Down there, instead of hot it was cool. The men found ropes and secured him by the wrists to support posts.

After her initial examination of his privates, William somehow expected Mrs. Karlson to come down, but she didn't. The only way he could judge the passage of time was to watch the movement of the shadows at the top of the stairs. About the time the shadow disappeared, he heard Oscar and Elias come home and greet their mom. It sounded like they had other boys with them. They shared cakes, which reminded him that he had been given nothing to eat that day.

Then, with a lantern in hand, Oscar came downstairs, followed by Theo and Colin, who William knew were thirteen and twelve and whose parents were wealthy. Bringing up the rear was Oscar's brother Elias.

"Wow," Theo said as they approached him. "I haven't seen a boy our age naked before. Look at all the hair he has." William glanced at Oscar, who was frowning.

"It doesn't matter how much hair he has, he's a slave. My slave. And maybe I'll make him shave that hair off."

"Or burn it off with a torch," Colin said.

"Yeah, that's an idea," Oscar said. William could see the delight in his eyes at the thought and shuddered. "I think that's what I'll do if he doesn't listen to me."

"Can we keep him naked?" Elias said.

"Fine with me," Oscar said. "Unless mama disapproves." He looked at William and asked, "I'll bet you don't feel so big and tough now, do you William."

"I didn't hit you, and I didn't break your tooth," William said.

"The court documents say otherwise. You're mine until I go to boarding school next year. Then I guess Elias will own you until he's fourteen."

Two years! William hadn't ever thought it would be that long.

"What are you going to make him do?" Theo asked.

"Stuff I heard them low-town kids do," Oscar said. He didn't elaborate, and even though William was a low-town kid he had no idea what Oscar was talking about.

Oscar walked around behind him and the other three boys followed. Suddenly William felt a finger in the crack of his butt. It pushed in all the way up to his hole and then stopped. "I think it's called fucking," he said.

William had heard that word and he knew it was what boys did with girls when they were old enough and had an apprenticeship or other means to support a girl.

Without warning a finger flicked the back of his balls, and he cried out in pain. The ropes on his arms kept him from bending over, and he could taste bile in the back of his throat. Oscar came back to the front, and again, Theo, Colin, and Elias followed him.

"I can do anything I want with him except hurt him, but there's ways to hurt a boy that can't be proved later," he said. "Isn't that right William?"

William didn't answer.

"Get me that string," Oscar said. Elias came back with some string and handed it to his brother, who got on his knees and tied it around the top of William's sack.

"Now lift that ball as high as you can," Oscar said. Theo lifted it. William couldn't see what Oscar was doing, but he had a good idea.

"I'm going to ask him a question, and if he doesn't answer it with the right amount of respect I want you to drop that ball." He looked William right in the eyes and said, "I asked you a question William. There are ways to hurt a boy that can't be proved later. Is that right?"

"Yes sir," William muttered, fearful for his balls.

"Was that good enough?" Theo asked him.

"It was, but drop the ball anyway," Oscar said.

In the moment the ball was falling William did everything he could to keep if from ripping his sack off, which was mostly nothing. The ball fell and hit the clay floor with a thud, and Oscar reached between William's legs and held up the end of the string.

"Maybe next time you forget how to speak to me I won't pretend to tie it to the ball." He laughed and let go of the string. "Mother says I need to wash you, but that's woman's work. So, I'm going to take you out back and give you a pot brush and a bucket of water and you can wash yourself."

"Untie him," he said to the other boys. "He's not going to hit me. Again."

William was untied and had to pick up the ball to carry it up the stairs. As they climbed Oscar was behind him and twice he felt his finger probing into his butt and rubbing against his hole. It felt, weird. Almost good, but not. William did not understand why he was confused by his feelings.

The pot brush was stiff and hard and the water in the bucket felt like it was right out of the stream, which was fed by snow melt from way up high in the mountain. The boys laughed as he washed, making him do his dick twice. It hurt, but William was hoping if he behaved that maybe Oscar would go easy on him.

William was just finishing when Mrs. Karlson came out back. As before, she only seemed to look at his middle.

"He doesn't smell as bad," she said. "He'll sleep in the barn tonight."

"Should I tie him up?" Oscar asked.

"No need. He'll stay unless he wants to find out more about Gladstoyvic than anyone wants to know. I've got some hash on the step. Elias, go and get it and then take it to the barn." She looked at Theo and Colin and said, "You two head on home, your mama will have dinner waiting for you and I know from looking at Oscar and Elias' bags that you have homework tonight."

Oscar took William to the barn, which was hot from the sun shining on it all day, but he knew at night it would get cold. In the last of the sunlight coming through cracks in the walls he could see dust motes, and he could smell the smell of old and rotting straw that was coming from the corner where Oscar took him.

"Make your bed here and don't touch any of the clean straw. Tomorrow you can muck this out and if you're good I'll get you some more." Elias came in with a bowl and set it on the floor near him. He and his brother left, securing the barn with a board across the outside of the door.

They didn't need to; William had no intention of running. While he was old enough to not believe in places like Gladstoyvic, he was smart enough to know that his chances of getting anywhere with the ball was zero. And the only way to get the shackles off his legs was to heat them up until the deformed pin could be pulled out.

He ate the hash, which tasted like it was something one would feed to pigs. But he was starving, so he ate it all. Then, in the last of the light, he got the string off his balls, and found some fat in a jar on a shelf and used it to coat as much of his ankles inside the shackles as he could. Then he gathered the damp and rotting straw into a pile and covered himself with it, knowing that now that the sun had set the temperature would drop rapidly. He thought about his parents and his brothers and cried.

The sun had been up for an hour before Oscar and Elias returned. Elias had more of the cold hash.

"Muck this out," Oscar said, pointing to the rotted straw William had slept in. "And use the stream to bath when you're done, you stink again. When I get home this afternoon we'll try something fun."

William ate the hash and used the straw for his toilet. He found a rake and pushed the mess outside. Then he wandered over to the stream and did his best to wash in the water that felt like it was only just above freezing. That occupied half of his day. The rest of the day he sat on the dirt floor and waited for the boys to return home.

"This isn't good enough," Oscar said as soon as he and his brother entered the barn. "Get that bucket there and fill it with water and clean the floor." William did as ordered while two boys watched. When it was finally done to their satisfaction Oscar said he hadn't washed properly and made him return to the stream. This time he was told to lay in the stream, with his entire body under water until all of the straw was out of his hair and off his body. He was shivering as he came back to the barn and welcomed its heat.

"Take your tunic, leggings, and undergarments off," Oscar said to Elias.

"Why?"

"He's going to do something low-town kids like to do, only he's going to do it to you."

"Do what?" Elias asked. William was wondering the exact same thing.

"Stop asking questions and take your stuff off or go back to the house."

It was obvious that Elias was not a willing participant in whatever plans his brother had, but he also did not want to miss out on the plan. He turned his back and removed his lower clothing and tunic.

"Turn around," Oscar said, sounding as bored as he could to hide his growing excitement.

Oscar looked at William and said, "See his little dick there? You are going to get down on your knees and put it in your mouth and suck on it. You're a lower-town boy, so you should know exactly what to do."

"He'll bite it off," Elias said as he backed away.

"He won't, or I'll crush his balls. Step up to him."

"I'm not going to do that Oscar," William said.

"What do you mean you're not going to do it," Oscar said. "You're my slave, and I order you to do it."

"I'm not going to do it. You'll have to hurt me and even then I won't do it. That's gross."

"Slaves do what they are told or they go to Gladstoyvic," Oscar said.

"Don't be a baby, there is no such place. It's a myth. And I am not going to suck your brother's dick."

"It does exist, you'll see. And I'll come and see you there and ask you if you're ready to be my slave. You are going to suck Elias' dick, and mine too. And Theo's and Colin's. And then we're going to stick our dicks in your ass. If you don't start doing it right now I'm telling my dad you won't do what I say."

"Go tell him. I'll tell him what you want me to do. He's a smart man, he'll put an end to it."

"Get dressed Elias," Oscar said. He was so angry his face was red. He stormed out of the barn, followed by his brother who was still fastening his pants as the board was dropped across the door to hold it closed.

Mr. Karlson didn't come until almost dark, and he wasn't alone. Three men dressed in military uniforms were with him. The door was opened and the men grabbed William and pulled him outside. He was never asked a question, but rather put in a cage on the back of an old wagon. The men got in front and wrapped blankets around themselves, saying how cold it was going to get before they got there. The wagon was pulled out to the road, and turned to the left, up the mountain.

As darkness fell, the air grew rapidly colder and the wind picked up. It got even colder as the wagon continued up the mountain. William huddled in the middle with his arms wrapped around him trying to keep warm.

"Can I please have a blanket?" he asked.

The wagon stopped, and the men got out. One of them had a bucket, and he walked up to where William was standing and dumped the water it contained on him. "Shut your mouth, and keep it shut or we'll water you down again." The three men got back in the front and the wagon continued up the mountain.

William had never been this cold in his life. As he began to think he was going to freeze to death in the cage, he saw a foreboding building ahead. The wagon pulled up to a gate, which was opened for them. At least once in the courtyard he was out of the wind.

"Welcome to Gladstoyvic," the man driving the wagon said. "Just so you know, we could have been here two hours ago, but we decided to take the long way. Just for you."

The men were met by other men in the same uniforms they wore. The cage was unlocked, and William, who was too cold to even walk, was dragged inside the walls of the building. Barely conscious, he was taken down dark passageways to an open door.

"This is your room. You will bath daily. Your room will be clean at all times. If you can follow those rules for a few days, your life will improve, although not by much. If you fail, there are worse rooms."

The room was a little longer than William was tall, and half his height in width. There was a pipe with a hose on it in one corner and a drain hole. One wall had a circular hole drilled thorough it, no bigger than his wrist through which he could see nothing. A bed made of what looked like filthy animal hides was against the opposite wall. The inside of the room was at least a little warmer than it had been outside. The walls and floors were stone. He stepped inside and the heavy metal door slammed closed behind him.

The hole in the wall did not let in light or sound. He could hear nothing except his own breathing. He stood until he couldn't stand any longer and crawled across the floor until he found the bedding.

He waited, but it never got light inside the room and he didn't hear any sound. Time passed with incredible slowness. The door opened at what seemed like random hours and the room was inspected. He found that if he hadn't bathed he didn't get fed, so he would feel along the walls and hold the hose over him. The water that came out was freezing cold. The only light he saw was when the door was opened, and then it was blinding. The man who opened it would make a quick inspection of him and the room and provide a bowl of food if he had earned it before the door closed again.

William did not know it, but all of this was by design. Food came at random times, and without light there was no way to measure the passage of time. It quickly created a sense that weeks were passing by when in fact he was there for only four nights and three days before the door opened and he was dragged out into the passage.

"You've got company," the man dragging him down the hallway said. "But first we have to delouse you." He took him to another room from which came a strong smell of chemicals. A pair of goggles were placed over his eyes.

A man came in with snips and cut the hair on his head as close to the scalp as he could. Then a spray of some chemical was applied to all of his body from his neck down. After a few minutes it began to burn, but shortly after the burning began he was sprayed down with cold water.

"Hold your breath and pinch your nose," he was ordered, and as soon as he did another powder was sprayed on his entire body. Then he was hosed down again. The goggles were removed and he was again taken into the passageway, and finally to a small room, like an office with two comfortable chairs against the back wall.

"Stand here," he was told.

William was completely disoriented. He felt like he'd been confined to that small room for weeks, maybe months. He could feel that the shackles were not as tight as before, indicating he'd lost weight and muscle. He had visitors coming the man had said, and he hoped it was his parents. Not his brothers, he didn't want them to see him like this, with his hair cut down to almost his scalp.

But it wasn't his parents who came into the room. Oscar and Elias entered, with someone else. As William started to turn to see who was behind him Oscar said, "Look forward," in a commanding voice.

"One question Slave," Oscar said after William returned his head to the front. "Are you willing to do what we discussed last time you saw me?"

William wanted to yell "No," but he was afraid. But he just couldn't say it. He shook his head.

"Too bad," Oscar said. "Maybe in a day or two you'll have a different answer." Oscar looked beyond William and said to whoever was there, "I think a day on the line will work for him. Only, I don't want him hurt."

"As you wish Mr. Karlson," a man's voice said. "Will you and your brother be participating today?"

"No, but I will observe. I will let you know tomorrow what is needed. And as for a room, maybe one a little less comfortable." Oscar and Elias got up from the chairs and headed for the door.

As he passed William, Elias said, "You look different down there without all that hair."

William looked down and noticed for the first time that he had no hair down below.

After the boys were out the door, the man behind him said, "Turn and follow me."

The sound of his ball dragging along the stone floors of the building echoed back. The walk was not long and ended at a door that opened to a dirt yard. The yard had several wooden posts driven into the ground. A boy who looked younger than William was bent over a table with his wrists and ankles attached to a post. Another boy was leaning over his back, driving his dick into the ass of the chained boy.

William was taken to the first post, but instead of bending over, he was pushed to his knees. His arms were secured in such a manner that he could not rise. A mirror was positioned on the ground, showing a reflection of the sky.

"You will look at the people who come to you. You will not speak, all questions can be answered with a nod of the head, or a shake. You will not close your eyes except to blink. If you talk, or if you close your eyes, this activity will take longer." The man walked away.

After a short wait, someone stepped up to him. Looking straight ahead, all William could see was a pair of brown pants. But in the mirror was an image of his very best friend, Vincent.

In a very flat tone that gave nothing away, Vincent asked, "Will you give me a blow job?"

William wanted to talk to him, to ask why he was here, how he got here, and a hundred other questions. But he remembered the warning to not talk. So he shook his head, and after a few seconds Vincent turned and walked away.

A few minutes later the scene was repeated, only this time it was his thirteen-year-old brother Lucas. As Vincent had done, Lucas asked if he would give him a blow job. And as with Vincent, a thousand questions sprang up in his mind. William pulled on the chains in an attempt to hug his brother. But he could not do it, and again, shook his head. Lucas left.

More time passed, and this time the man came and put a hard table down in front of William. He was repositioned so that his butt was up, his legs spread, and as before, he couldn't move. After the man left he heard footsteps behind him. The mirror had been moved and it now allowed him to see that it was a girl. He did not recognize her, but her face looked like she might be a little younger than him. She did not speak.

She bent down behind him, and he no longer could see her in the mirror. Then she grabbed his dick, and, unable to move, he couldn't resist as she encased it in something hard and cold.

She stood back up and he could see she was doing something with her hands. Then she inserted something into his butt.

He could feel the coldness of the lubricant she had spread on the wooden phallus. It was a small size, but it still required pressure to insert it. She'd been trained to ignore the cries of pain from boys as she pushed it in all the way.

It hurt going in and didn't feel good once inside. Because it was a girl, he felt his dick coming alive, and then found that it couldn't get hard. The tube his dick was in was curved and just barely bigger than his flaccid penis. It's attempt to get hard caused more discomfort.

The girl left, leaving him confused and scared.

He didn't know how long she'd been gone before a second girl came up, but it seemed like a long time and the shadows from the posts had advanced. The second girl removed the object from his butt, which allowed William to relax slightly. But it only lasted a few seconds. A second one, longer and thicker than the first, took its place in his ass. It's entry past his ass hole was painful and he cried out, but she continued to insert it until it was all the way in. Before leaving she came to the other side and he could see a wooden object that had been carved to look like a penis. She held his nose until he opened his mouth and then pushed it in and secured it with ropes behind his head.

The shadows moved again, and a third girl, with even longer and thicker devices came and repeated the actions of the first two. William was left to suffer the indignation of having his anus penetrated and a pretend penis in his mouth.

When she returned, the phallus in his butt was removed and nothing replaced it, but the wooden penis in his mouth remained. William still wished he could play with his penis, as his brain would not accept that attempts for it to get hard only caused pain.

Shortly after the third girl left, William again heard footsteps and looked in the mirror. This time it was not a girl, but his youngest brother, Liam. Liam stepped up behind him. He must have already been naked from the waist down because he immediately started driving his dick into William's butt.

"He can't be doing this to me," William thought to himself. "He's only twelve. What did they do to make him do this?" But his brother did not speak, and as he reached his happy moment William could see the expression of satisfaction on Liam's face.

Minutes later, Liam was replaced by Lucas. And after Lucas came Vincent. Both of them were old enough to produce cum, and William was horrified to feel it being shot into his insides.

When Vincent was gone, the man returned and released William, untying and removing the wooden penis from his mouth as well. Without a word, he took William to another room in the building.

This one had a large barred opening in the wall, and the sun was pouring into the room. The room was incredibly hot. There was no bed, just the hose with ice cold water and a hole to use as a toilet, which William needed to do.

The floor was covered in gravel and rocks, and they had been glued to the floor. The only spot that wasn't covered in gravel and rocks was a narrow strip with sand on the floor. But the sun was shining directly onto that spot.

William still had the thing on his penis, and it was secured in place with a lock. He was unable to remove it. From the angle of the sun he guessed it was early afternoon. He sat on the floor that was covered with rocks and gravel causing pain in his butt and wished he could die.

Once the sun moved far enough to the west that the floor was finally in shade, he moved to the sandy spot and laid down. It was very uncomfortable, but better than the gravel. The room faded into gloom, and then darkness. No food was brought to him. He eventually fell asleep.

It was still dark when a bucket of ice-cold water was thrown on him, waking him from the tiny amount of sleep he had gotten. He was told to come, and he followed the guard down the passage way and then out the door to the same courtyard he'd been at yesterday. He saw that it was light, the sun was just above the horizon in the East.

He was put in the same position he had started in yesterday. This time, the first person to visit him was a boy he despised almost as much as he despised Oscar. Arvid Berglud was the same age as him, fourteen. His parents were craftsmen like William's parents were. The similarities stopped there. Arvid was a bully. He stepped up to face the kneeling William.

"Hey Eriksson, how are you doing? You look horrible. I have one question for you. Will you suck my big fat dick?"

Not him, not ever, he said to himself. To Berglud, he simply shook his head.

"Don't worry slave boy, you'll break. And unlike your brothers, I didn't have to pay to come here. I'll be back."

He left and tears started flowing down William's face as he thought about the waste of money for his brothers to come here and see him degraded as he was.

The younger brother, Liam, was next. "Will you suck my dick?" he asked. In the mirror, William could see that his brother was fighting back tears, and correctly guessed that he had been somehow threatened if he displayed emotion about what he was doing to his brother. William shook his head again.

He remained there for quite a long time before the next person came. Only it wasn't one person, it was two. Oscar and Elias.

"William, it doesn't have to be like this," Oscar said. "I only have today for you to break. If you don't, my father will sell you. You will be taken to the basement of this place. I don't know what goes on there, and I don't want to. But you will be trained to be a sex slave to adults. And they won't care if you say no."

"You've been crying, I can see the tracks on your face through the mirror. Elias and I have been watching. This is your last chance. Will you agree to be my slave and to do what I want? You may speak if you want. And please don't say no, you will not get another chance."

"Please Oscar, you know I didn't hit you," William began.

"William, we've been over this. You did, I reported it to the police and the court accepted my father's use of the Ferguson Act as your punishment. Your parents didn't protest. If you won't be my slave, the Ferguson Act allows you to be sold for up to ten years to the highest bidder. You won't see your brothers again until you are in your twenty's. I've heard that boys like you who won't meet the conditions of the Act don't live long as a general rule."

"But, I, uh, I can't do it, Oscar. I just can't give in. I know I didn't do anything wrong, and I don't deserve this."

"I want you as a slave. My slave. I don't want my dad to sell you. It will be harder for him to get me another."

"Does your father know you like boys?" William asked. He knew it was a dangerous question, but he had to find a way out of this hell, even if it meant being killed.

Oscar paused. "Yes, he does. I think he bought you for me. Better to do what I want with a slave than a boy off the street. But if you won't be my slave than he will sell you. Tonight."

Oscar's reflection in the mirror showed that he was nervous. "Look, you know what I want and what me and Elias and others will get if you say yes to me when I ask. I don't want my father to sell you. I thought that making your brothers and Vincent use you would convince you to accept, but that didn't work. I'll consent to an agreement. You agree to be my slave and do what I tell you, and you go to court and tell them that you did hit me, but you are sorry. In exchange, I'll tell them to give you a nine-month sentence with me and another nine months with Elias. A year and a half. And I will not allow Arvid to use you."

"Not my brothers either," William said.

"No. I want to ensure that everyone understands you are my slave and you do as I command. I will allow Arvid Berglud to use you, or you will ask your brothers to use you. I leave that choice up to you."

William didn't say anything. He was considering it. But somehow, Oscar didn't seem sincere. Was he lying? Or just scared because he was about to lose his slave.

Oscar looked down and said, "How will Liam deal with knowing you were sold as a sex slave to men? That he will never see you again? That is what will happen. I'm going to give you five minutes and when I come back, I will ask you for the last time."

He and his brother walked away, leaving William alone. The decision was harsh. He hadn't believed that Gladstoyvic existed, and now he was there. He didn't think the Ferguson Act would ever apply to him, but now it did. And he thought he would never accept being a sex slave for anyone, let alone a pompous ass like Oscar. He had to give in. He would never forgive himself if Oscar was right about the basement. Liam would die of grief when he found out.

Oscar and Elias returned. "Will you accept that you are my slave and signify that by asking my brother to fuck you while you suck my dick?" Oscar asked.

William nodded his head. He kept his eyes on the mirror, watching Oscar's face as he lowered his pants and stepped forward. Oscar's dick was fully erect, as long as his middle finger, and as big around as his thumb.

"If you do, ask Elias to fuck you, and then you can taste this," Oscar said.

William paused, but he had already made his choice. "Elias, will you fuck me?" he asked as fresh tears rolled out of his eyes and dripped to the dust and clay below him. As Elias move to his back, Oscar stepped forward and pushed his dick against William's lips.

William took the whole of it into his mouth. In the mirror he saw Oscar close his eyes as he received his first blowjob. It only lasted seconds before he shot several bursts of hot, salty stuff into the back of William's throat. Elias soon added to his misery by shooting a smaller amount of cum into his bowels.

"To celebrate, Elias and I are going to switch places, and then we can take you home. Tomorrow we will go to court and make it official."

Seconds later, William grunted as Oscar drove his dick into his ass. The only good note was that his dick was not as big as the wooden one that had been used before, but Oscar was not using anything to make it easier to slip his dick in. It hurt as Oscar entered, both physically and mentally, but once he was in, the physical pain was secondary. The mental pain would persist.

When it was done, Oscar motioned for the man to come and release William. "Will you take this off too?" William asked, indicating the object that prevented him from getting erect. And prevented him from playing with himself.

"No, not now," Oscar said. "Maybe after we go to court and see if you state publicly your guilt and that you accept the agreement we have."

The trip back down the mountain began an hour later. Oscar and Elias waited as their dad signed the papers to release William, and once that was done he was released from the cell he'd been detained in.

Oscar and Elias had a private coach, with doors and curtains to keep out the sun and cold. William was chained to a post in the center of a large open wagon. His brothers got in, along with Vincent and Arvid.

Arvid made comments about William as the wagon traveled. The Karlson's wagon moved along at a smart pace and was soon out of sight, while the open wagon traveled slowly. William guessed it was also taking the long path down.

William couldn't avoid the sun as it shined down on his naked body. At one point, Vincent and Lucas told Arvig to shut up, and made certain threats to him if he didn't, but Arvig continued his derogatory comments.

"Make your threats now," Arvig said to Lucas at one point. "Maybe tomorrow when you're a slave I'll be getting a piece of your ass."

The wagon stopped in the higher part of the village and the other boys had to walk down to low town. Oscar was there to meet it and took William to the barn, where he was given some cleaner straw to use as a bed, and also given some real food, which he needed.

The next morning, he was sent to the stream with a brush and soap and told to bath. When he returned, he was given a tunic to wear. It obviously was an old one of Oscar's, for it barely fit, and barely covered his privates, but it was the first item of clothing he had worn since he had been removed from his home and he didn't complain. He had to walk along beside the coach that Oscar and his parents rode in on the way to the court.

Upon arrival at the court, he was surprised to see his brother Lucas being brought inside by the officer who had first arrested him weeks ago.

In front of the five members of the court, William stood and confessed his guilt in attacking Oscar Karlson. The court asked him to confirm his statement, warning him that it would end any defense he may want to bring later. William confirmed it. He was then asked if his confession had been coerced in any way. He said it had not been, but not until after first looking at Oscar.

"May it please the court," Mr. Karlson stood as soon as William's confession had been officially recorded. "Based on a limited number of witnesses to the act and a denial of guilt expressed by both this boy and his brother, we had originally asked only for a one-year possession. Now that we have secured his sworn confession, we ask the court to grant a full five-years of ownership in the name of Oscar Karlson and one month of ownership of Lucas Eriksson in the name of Elias Karlson."

"Wait, that's not what I agreed to," William yelled. He looked at his brother, who was sitting with his face in his hands. He wondered what Lucas had been threatened with to keep him from rising and challenging the charge against him. Or if he had actually attacked Elias.

"You stated there was no coercion," one of the judges said. "Now you claim there was an agreement? Mr. Karlson, please explain."

"I honestly don't know," Mr. Karlson said to the court. "My son, Oscar, told me that the boy known as William Eriksson had relented in his rebellion to be my son's slave and accepted his responsibility for it, and said he thought I should push for the maximum sentence, which I did. My son also told me of an incident involving the brother of William in which Elias was attacked. The attack was reported to me by a guard at Gladstoyvic who witnessed it."

Oscar stood, looking very nervous and scared. "Your honors," he began. "William wanted to protect his brother, and I did make an agreement with him. I told him that if he stopped claiming that he had not struck me and satisfied the court of his guilt that I would convince my dad to use Amendment 3a of the Ferguson Act to acknowledge Lucas' for his assault on my brother, but to not charge him with a crime, and to not punish him."

"Elias Karlson, stand," one of the judges ordered. Elias stood. "Tell us of the alleged assault committed against you by Lucas Eriksson."

"He grabbed me by my balls, excuse me sirs, I mean my testicles, and threatened to rip them off," Elias said. "It hurt, and it scared me very much."

"Mr. Karlson, is this the assault reported to you by a guard at Gladstoyvic?"

"The guard reported that Lucas Eriksson grabbed my youngest son's testicles and that Elias appeared to be in pain. He did not hear the conversation between the two boys."

"And he would testify his observation to this court?"

"Yes, your honors, he would," Mr. Karlson said. "My son, Oscar, did ask me to not charge Lucas with a crime. However, considering that the maximum penalty for such an action could be castration, I felt that a one-month sentence under the Ferguson Act to be almost as generous as no punishment at all, so I did not take the advice given to me by my oldest son."

"Lucas Eriksson, Stand and enter your plea to the charge of assault against Elias Karlson," the judge ordered.

Lucas stood. He felt faint. "Your honors, I was upset at being told I could not talk to my brother at Gladstoyvic except to ask him for sexual favors, which he refused to perform. In a moment of anger, I did reach under Elias' tunic and grab him as he described. I am sorry, and I thank Oscar for asking his father to not make a criminal charge against me."

"William Eriksson, is what Oscar said to this court a correct statement of the deal you and he agreed to?"

William could see how this was all pre-arranged. His confession was being used to get the maximum sentence against him, and now his brother Lucas was also to be punished. As bad as that was, the statement that Lucas could be castrated could not be ignored. William didn't think that was uttered by Oscar's father as a casual statement, he saw that it was a warning. A warning to him. His brother's fate now rested on how he answered the court's question.

"Yes, your honors, it was," he said.

"You told us you were not coerced to admit your guilt. Are you in fact guilty of attacking Oscar Karlson, resulting in the loss of a tooth?"

"Yes, your honors, I am," William said.

"You have a third brother, Liam, I believe, don't you?" one of the judges asked.

"Yes, your honors, his name is Liam. He's twelve years old."

"Well, should he ever be brought before this court, I for one, will remember the actions of his brothers and will not be interested in minimal sentences. And you and Lucas had better not appear in this court again except to hear that your time of service has been completed." William understood that this judge was working with the Karlson family, and that his statement was another warning. Do everything Oscar and Elias wanted or be brought back to court. And the same statement applied to Lucas as well.

The center judge held a quick and quiet meeting with the two judges on each side of him before speaking.

"Given all that I have heard, the court sentences William Eriksson to five years' service to Oscar Karlson under the Ferguson Act. In addition, Lucas Eriksson is sentenced to two months service to Elias Karlson under the Ferguson Act. The court recognizes that Mr. Karlson asked only for a one-month sentence for Lucas, but we feel that since the Eriksson family has demonstrated a preference for the use of violence rather than the court system a doubling of what was recommend is in order. We did consider a two-year sentence for Lucas, but considering his confession and his apology, we agreed to only the two months ordered. Are there any other statements to be made?"

The court was dismissed and Oscar and Elias escorted their new slaves outside. Elias' first order almost made Lucas refuse, but he remembered the threats against him, his father, and both of his brothers for refusal to go along with the deal.

"Remove your clothing, all of it," Elias ordered. When Lucas was naked, Elias added, "Hold your clothing over your head and walk to your house and leave it there. Then return, and do not cover yourself at any time. Come to our house, and don't take too long to get there.

Walking naked through town, on a day when school was out and all of his schoolmates would see him, was a horrifying concept for Lucas. But the danger of not doing as Elias ordered was much worse. With his clothes above his head, he got on the road going down to the low town area. As he approached the low town area, he thought about how ridiculous he must look. Naked, erect, and with his clothes held in his arms above his head. He started to lower his arms, after all, how would they know. Then, with his arms just down to his face, he caught a reflection in a store window. Behind him, but not close, was Elias, following and watching. Lucas raised his arms back up.

Back at the Karlson's property, William and Oscar entered the barn. Once inside, Oscar began removing his lower clothing. William knew what was coming, and that he was going to have to do it.

"I know you hate me for what happened," Oscar said. "It was all my father's idea. He knew I needed something to keep me away from, uh, contacts with boys. Especially at finishing school, where I'd be staying for four years."

"Why me?" William asked. "I'd never done anything to you. And why Lucas, especially after you made a deal with me."

"My father chose you," Oscar said. "You were smart, and I admitted I like you. Even though you are a year older than me, it was your intelligence that got you selected."

"Well, I haven't been all that smart so far. I'm your fucking slave for five years, and I never did anything wrong."

"Don't let my parents hear you swear. It isn't allowed at our house, especially from a slave." Oscar was now naked except for his tunic. "You need to strip too," he said as he sat on a bale of hay.

"My father knew you'd never accept my needs. He knew you'd resist. So he planned for your trip to Gladstoyvic. Only he was fooled, you didn't break, even after a week there. He was angry and I was desperate. It would be next to impossible to get me another slave, especially one as smart as you."

"Why does my intelligence matter?" William asked as he removed the borrowed tunic.

"You're going to go to finishing school with me. Except that only students are allowed to be boarded. You are going to be a student. Still my slave, and we will share a room, but you will be enrolled, with your tuition and room and board paid for by my dad. He expects me to use you for all of my, uh, special needs so that I can focus on my studies. But the good news is that you are smart enough to be successful. You can graduate with a degree."

"Is this another trick to get me to do the stuff I despise?" William asked. A degree was far beyond any hope he could otherwise have had for a future life. And it would free up room for both of his brothers to apprenticeship with their dad and take over the family business someday. There would be enough money for the two of them, but not for three.

"It is not a trick. You could not be there with me, even as a slave. The rules at Wilkershire are very strict. They have far more applications than they have rooms for, so only students can be boarded. But keep in mind, that is a year away. My dad will be watching, and I will be reporting to him. You don't need to be cheerful about your lot in life, but you do need to at least act like you don't mind doing stuff. The basement at Gladstoyvic is real. My dad took me there. It made me sick. Physically sick. I vomited on the floor, which really embarrassed my dad. They made a student, a boy about your age, eat it. I had nightmares about it. My dad warned me that was where you would be sent if I could not break you."

"But still you lied to get me to confess," William said. "And the accusation against Lucas."

"First off, I was lying about the nine months to me and nine to Elias. I had to in order to be sure you'd go for it. It's the same reason I used your love for Liam to seal the deal. Once you confessed in court, the five-year sentence would be recorded and you'd be bound to it or the basement at Gladstoyvic. But Lucas did assault Elias. That was not just an accusation. He did it after we had our agreement, after Elias and I fucked you and you sucked us off. And it was witnessed by a guard."

"Did you really ask your dad to not punish Lucas?"

"I can't prove it, but the truth is, yes, I did. You had accepted being my slave. I didn't need to hold that over your brother. What happened in court was my father's decision. He didn't lie when he spoke to the judges. But I do think he paid Judge Oleson to double the sentence he asked for. He knew I'd be pissed at him so I think he had a judge be the bad guy and increase the sentence beyond what he wanted. If Lucas hadn't done anything, he never would have been brought to court."

"What about this," William asked, pointing at the steel trap around his penis. "You said you'd take if off after court if I did as I was told."

"I said maybe," Oscar said. "And I didn't say immediately after court, just after court. I want to see how you and Lucas behave. And I want you to suffer it for a while longer. It will always be a punishment I can apply if you forget your status over the next five years. Enough talk, bend over, I'm going to fuck you, nice and slow."

After another agonizing week and a half, the chastity device was removed from William as he stopped arguing and acted as if he didn't mind being used. Over the next two months, Oscar and Elias used both William and Lucas daily. Sometimes to fuck, sometimes to get blown, and sometimes both. They interchanged. Both of them also brought boys from their class home to do it as well.

He allowed their brother Liam to come, and Vincent, and Nils, Lucas' best friend, to come, but only if William and Lucas agreed to blow them or allow them into their ass. But Oscar did keep one part of the agreement–Arvid was never invited. Lucas had many kids from his class come, but only two, not counting Vincent, came from William's old class.

William asked why so few people from his class were invited. At first Oscar just shrugged his shoulders, but then answered the question.

"Boys, well I guess the girls to, in your class and mine know that I lied and that you were wrongly convicted. They won't say it because after your confession saying justice wasn't properly served could make them be charged under the Ferguson Act too. But they know, and most of them in your class have no interest in adding to your punishment."

"It is different for Elias. Word is that Lucas did assault Elias, and more boys there don't see getting blown or allowed to have a fuck as wrong.

Once Lucas' service time was up, he became a regular visitor. He was allowed to talk freely and even stay after business was done. He said he hated having William suck him, but allowing it, in fact asking for it, was the only way he and Liam were allowed to visit. He kept William informed on how things were at home.

And with Lucas no longer a slave, life actually improved for William. He was moved from the barn to the house. Perhaps because winter had arrived and the barn remained freezing cold, but even when spring came he was not returned to the barn. He was allowed a simple tunic to wear at meals. He was allowed to sit at their table and was served the same food as the Karlson family.

One day he had a surprise. Oscar said they were going to the jail, which terrified William no end. But once there, the men stationed there used hot bars to heat the shackles on William's legs. William had grown and the shackles were so tight they were squeezing his legs. When the shackles were hot enough (and burning William) a hammer and pliers were used to pull the pins and the shackles came off.

The burns hurt but were not severe, and Oscar told him to just man up. Strong words for one who hadn't been burned, but William stopped complaining. As the burns healed and the skin stopped peeling, he worried that he would be fitted with bigger shackles, but he never was. After nine months of carrying the extra weight around his ankles and dragging a ball, he now felt like he could run and jump faster and higher than anyone. The thought of running did occur, but Oscar had shared with him other things he saw in the basement at Gladstoyvic and William believed him. Oscar had a simple mind, not prone to being imaginative, and he couldn't have made up what he described.

The following fall, he and Oscar, along with Oscar's father and Elias, took a private wagon to Wilkershire Academy. William had never completely believed that he would really be enrolled and allowed to take classes, but he sat and watched as the paperwork and payment were completed. Oscar had not lied. The only warning the Mr. Karlson gave him was that if Oscar was not meeting academic requirements or was not being kept happy, he would come home and there would be no further use for a slave.

Their roommate, a boy named Valter, had been informed that he would be rooming with a slave, and he was happy to have all the contact with William that he wanted. As they got to know other students, the word slowly spread, and soon Oscar had to start turning away those who stated their need for relief from their sexual urges was interfering with their studies. Being constantly used was interfering with William's studies, and since he was tutor to Oscar, that couldn't be allowed.

Oscar was studying finance, the field his father worked in, so most of William's classes were also in that field. But while Oscar was struggling and would not have been able to pass without help from William and Valter, William found the work easy and had time to take classes in Law as well.

The next year Elias came to be enrolled, and for William the best thing in the world happened as Elias had convinced his dad to bring Lucas and Liam. Not to be enrolled, but just to be allowed to visit their brother.

With the addition of Elias, they moved to a bigger dorm room for he, Oscar, William, and Valter. During winter break, Oscar was 'invited' by two of the professors to stay at the school and repeat a few classes, and his father approved. More than that, when he came to bring Elias home he also brought Lucas and Liam, who stayed for the four-week break. William was surprised at how much his brothers had grown, and thanks to Oscar's demands, he also had the misfortune to see how much certain parts of their anatomy had grown.

As the year passed William was challenged by working on two degrees at once and was becoming physically exhausted. He managed to work enough with Oscar to enable Oscar to remain enrolled. At the end of the final school term, Oscar managed to be distinguished as the bottom of the graduating class, but he and William both went through the line and received their diplomas. William received two, one in finance and one in law. And shortly after that, back in the Karlson home, it was time to return to court. William was now nineteen years old. His father had passed the family business to Lucas, and Liam was still apprenticing but would become a co-owner in a year.

The court heard testimony from Oscar and Mr. Karlson, and quickly determined that William had met all obligations as assigned under the Ferguson Act and was now a free man. Oscar begged him to stay with him, but William thanked Mr. Karlson for paying for his stay at Wilkershire and then returned to his family's home. He knew he had to find work. Lucas had married and his wife was expecting, and the business would not produce enough income for him to live for free. And he didn't want to be a burden to his brothers.

His first job came to him. Vincent's father was ill, and the business that had been in his family for generations was at risk. An outstanding member of upper town wanted the business, and Vincent had no money with which to hire an attorney to represent him, so he appealed to William, who gladly took on the case. William was successful, the business passed on to Vincent, but more importantly more people heard of William.

He started a firm and set his fees at what his clients could afford to pay. Many times, it was a free meal, but there was enough silver and the occasional gold for him to live. His business grew and expanded to high town, where he started taking cases for those who could afford to pay him. Suddenly he was making more money alone than his brothers' business made, and he made sure none of his family was wanting.

Two years later, other attorneys recommend their clients settle rather than go to court when they found that William was to defend against them. William now had enough income to ensure that Lucas and Liam each made more than their father ever had, and they were expanding the family business. With his family secure, William sponsored two deserving fourteen-year-old boys from low town to Wilkershire Academy, and each year after that he found another one to send.

When the first two graduated and began earning money, both began to pay William a portion of what they earned, as was the way in low town. William was slowly becoming rich, and his brothers had grown the family business so large that they had a dozen boys as apprentices.

William realized that he had failed in one regard. He had benefited greatly from being enslaved to Oscar Karlson, and now was far more successful than Oscar or Elias. But he had not returned to them what they had given him. Oscar and Elias did not expect it, for that was not how deals worked in the high town sector, and they were surprised when William knocked on their doors and asked each what they needed most.

Elias had a solid need. He wanted to expand his business, but it would take years for him to set aside the money necessary to do it. William offered to loan him the money at an interest rate far below what any bank would charge, and they drew up an agreement that day.

Oscar's need was different. He was financially okay, not as successful as his father had been, but still able to maintain his father's house for him and his mother and a nice house for him. But too many people knew why he was not married and raising kids as his brother was. And that knowledge made most people ignore him and use his competitors. His income was never secure and he had to travel far and wide to find clients. By this time, William knew people in the towns and cities around where they lived, even as far out as three days ride. He offered to use his influence to secure solid, long-term contracts for Oscar.

Having lived up to the expectations of the low-town area, William returned to the house he had built. So as not to mock his neighbors, it was built from stone. Although it was larger than any house in low-town, it was not insultingly large. Only the inside was lavish.

His first visitor other than his brothers was Elsa Kirkmiser, the girl, now a woman, he had fancied when he was a boy. His brothers had first enjoyed the company of a girl by the age of sixteen, but William never had. He invited her inside, nervous as a school boy.

Elsa had known that the boy William had like her. She had kept secret the fact that she like him. She had been both thrilled and embarrassed to see him naked in the street the year he was first charged under the Ferguson Act. And now she had her own business. A place where people could meet. She had standards, married men and women were never allowed in her place. But she knew which men liked other men and got them together. And she knew how things worked in low town.

"I wondered if you were ever going to pay your obligations to Oscar and Elias Karlson for what their father did for you," she said. "Yesterday, Oscar had money to spend, and he invested in my business, saying his new-found wealth was due entirely to you. I did some checking and found that you had also helped Elias."

William knew of the business she ran. His only experience with sex had been with boys who then turned into men, and he was not like that, so her business offered nothing to him that he wanted except for Elsa herself.

"Yes, it took me too long, but I eventually set aside my anger and acted like any member of low-town would act," William said. "They are both secure in their ventures and my debt is paid." He wondered why she was here.

"I loved you too, as a girl," she said, surprising him. "I hated the Karlsons for what they did to you." She blushed, and added, "But it did give me a chance to see the boy I liked undressed. And I was not put off by what I saw."

William was embarrassed. He'd never known she had seen him, although he knew it was likely she had. So many boys and girls from his school had. But he felt that she hadn't come to his house just to tell him what she had said. Was it possible she still liked him?

"I, uh, hope you don't mind the mess," he said. Although he kept the house mostly neat, he didn't have a maid, that would be rude in low-town, and he had scrubbed enough floors as a boy to know he didn't enjoy it. "I'm alone and accept it, unless I know I have company coming." He immediately regretted saying it.

"You're wondering why I'm really here," she said. "And you wonder if I still like you."

William wondered if she could read minds. He felt his penis stir inside his linens.

"The answer is, yes, I do. And I wonder how you feel about me. But that is not why I'm here. I have a need. Beyond sexual."

William blushed even deeper. "How can I help?"

"I have two boys in my place. Hidden safely away. I have established that they are orphans and I wish to adopt them."

"And if they are orphans, then they are wards of the state," William said, remembering his law lessons. "Unmarried women would find it difficult to obtain permission. And women who provide, uh, the type of service you provide, would be quickly deemed unsuitable."

"They may have mentioned that there is an outstanding accusation of misconduct by the older one," Elsa said. "And that he missed a court hearing to determine his status under the Ferguson Act."

The mention of the Act brought to the surface many suppressed memories of his court hearing and his time at Gladstoyvic. He'd thought he'd successfully put it all behind him.

"You want me to represent him," William said, perhaps a bit too harshly. "Do you know if the accusation is factual?"

"The boy says no, but that kids will come forward claiming they witnessed the fight. Sound familiar?"

It did. Very familiar. "I'm good, but I won't be able to prove innocence with witnesses unless I can prove the witnesses are lying. And the fact that he missed a court appearance and ran away will be used to prove he is guilty. I seriously doubt that I can help him."

"His accuser is Ander Berglud. Arvid Berglud's son. They live in Gladstone now."

That was all she needed to say to convince him to help. William remembered how eager Arvid had been to fuck both him and Lucas. How much he gave up to get a promise from Oscar to not allow Arvid access to him.

"I'll travel to Gladstone tonight," William said. "I want to meet the boy first."

The boy was small. He said he had just turned thirteen, but he looked younger by far. He said his brother was eleven, and if he didn't give in to Ander Berglud he'd been told they would get his brother and send him to Gladstoyvic. He didn't believe such a place existed, but he was scared for his brother. William knew he didn't know just how scared he should be. Ander's father had been a visitor to Gladstoyvic. He knew it existed.

"I will try and help, but I doubt that I will succeed in court. My best chance is to get an agreement from Ander and his father describing the length of service and terms of service. In order to do that, I will have to give you up to the authorities. First, I want to know if you can accept becoming a slave to Ander, because that is going to be the outcome."

"Can't you hide me and my brother?" the waif asked. William could see the desperation in his eyes.

"Maybe, but not likely. You will forever be a fugitive. They will never stop looking for you. And if you are caught and they find out that Ms. Kirkmiser or myself knew where you were and did not take you to the authorities, we would both end up in jail."

"I'd never tell," the boy said. Until William related his experiences with the Ferguson Act and his time at Gladstoyvic. "They will make you tell," he concluded.

The boy sat stunned, unable to say anything.

"I am sure I can protect your brother," William said softly. "I think I can lessen what happens to you. But you will become a slave to Ander. He will make you suck his dick and do the same for his friends. He will fuck you and allow his friends to do it too. You can survive that. But you must be willing to accept that. And you must never do anything that will get you sent to Gladstoyvic."

"Ms. Kirkmiser said you were good in court. Can't you win?"

William discussed the reasons why he would lose. He didn't mind losing, but he did mind the severity of the punishment the court would impose on him for running. "I do think I can strike a deal with the Berglud family. Not to keep you from being a slave, but to reduce the time. The court will sentence you to between three years and the maximum of five. I might be able to get that down to one. And like I said, I can do more for your brother."

They travelled together to Gladstone that night in a private carriage paid for by William. When they got to Gladstone, though it broke his heart to do so, he took the boy straight to the sheriff.

"There is a reward for this one, and for his brother as well," the officer said.

"I didn't know he had a brother," William lied. "What did the brother do?"

"He was to testify against this one in court but failed to show up to give his statement."

"How about if you keep the reward. Use it for things the jail needs. I'm not in need of any reward."

The sheriff's entire demeanor changed, as William hoped it would. "Yes sir, I'd be pleased to."

"And I came to like the little brat," William added. "I'd hate to think he'd show up in court with bruises or cuts that he doesn't have now."

The sheriff's face showed his disappointment, but he nodded and took the boy to a cell. William left, knowing he'd done all he could do for the boy here. He got directions to the Berglud's home and found a small and dirty stone house. Even though it was late, he knocked at the door.

It took several knocks, each louder than the one before it before he saw light from a lantern through a window. The door was opened, and Arvid Berglud said, "What the fuck do you want at this time of night." And then Arvid looked at William.

"Ahh, William Eriksson, I remember you. I hear you're rich now. Living like a king. But no wife. You still enjoy having men and boys fucking you instead?"

William wanted to strike him, but as when they were kids, that was a dangerous idea. Arvid had been bigger and stronger than him when they were both fourteen, and the years that had passed hadn't changed that.

"I've come to make a deal with you regarding the charges your son is bringing against another boy," he said, keeping his voice between even and pleasant.

"Ahh, Roscoe Hansen," Arvid said. "That little runt has done run off somewhere. But we will find him eventually and then he'll learn what you learned."

"You can stop looking. I gave him to the sheriff minutes ago. I want to deal before going to court."

"Really now," Arvid said. "Step inside."

The inside of Arvid's house was more decrepit than the outside. It smelled remarkably like Oscar's barn, and then William realized that instead of regular beds the family slept on old hay stuffed into bags.

"My son was ravaged by that runt, but only because he chose not to fight back. He don't want to give up his chance to be a slave owner. No matter how rich you are, you don't have enough to keep us from going to court and charging him. So how much are you offering and what do you expect for it?"

Negotiations began in earnest, and by midnight William left the house with a signed document and a much lighter purse. He'd gotten more than he had expected, but he knew the real hard part would be the judges and what they would decree for Roscoe not showing up in court as ordered.

William had hardly slept, but he was at the court as soon as it opened. He sat and listened to a case against a farmer who was behind in taxes, gauging how each of the five judges acted.

After a short recess, Roscoe Hansen was brought in. He looked none the worse for wear, and William was relieved at that. The Berglud's came in and William got his first look at Arvid's son Ander. He was a mirror image of what his dad had looked like at that age. And he had a sour face. William hoped he hadn't convinced his dad to change anything in the agreement they had signed.

The case was laid out, describing the reportedly frightful attack Roscoe had made on Ander. Four of the judges could be seen comparing the size of Ander against that of his accuser. Once the charge had been made, the lead Judge called upon Roscoe to stand and asked him for his plea.

William and Roscoe had rehearsed this in the coach on the way to this town, and the kid did it perfectly. He first expressed remorse, apologizing to Ander and his father, and to the court for running. And then he said the statement Mr. Berguld had made to the court was mostly accurate.

At that point, Arvid stood. "May I if it pleases your sirs," he said, looking not at the lead judge but at the one to the far end. It was the judge that William had guessed was getting something out of this process.

"Given that the boy has stated his guilt and apologized for his actions, I call upon you to give him a lenient sentence of two months."

The five judges conferred, and there was a lot of discussion that William couldn't hear. Finally, they separated and the lead judge banged his gravel.

"Given the testimony provided, the court sentences the orphan boy known as Roscoe Hansen to four months service to Ander Berglud under the Ferguson Act. The court recognizes that Mr. Berglud asked only for a two-month sentence, but we feel that Hansen's attempt to evade the court's ruling is justification for doubling of what was requested. However, in light of his apology to the court, the court will at this time waive the customary two-week stay at a training camp." The head judge was looking to his side at the one judge who had apparently argued for this. "Instead, we will have Ander Berglud return to this court in two weeks and tell us if his charge under the Ferguson Act is meeting all of his responsibilities. If not, we will then reconsider the training camp."

William had paid dearly for that clause, and he knew that a lot of the gold he had given to Arvid had gone to the judge at the end. But if it kept Roscoe out of Gladstoyvic it was worth it. William had given explicit instructions to Roscoe on how to act, what to say, and never refuse to allow Ander to have his way. He told him the best he could hope for was four months, and to expect six months to a year. Now it was up to the boy to do what he'd been told.

Before anyone could leave, the lead judge banged his gravel and called for order.

"There is another matter in this case for us to deal with. Roscoe Hansen returned to this court, but his brother Tyrel has not. Tyrel was given a summons to appear, and since I do not see him in the court I can only decide that he be held in contempt."

William had anticipated this. He stood.

"If it pleases the court," he said. "I am William Eriksson, and I brought Roscoe Hansen to serve his sentence for the crime he admitted to. I know the location of Tyrel Hanson. Since Tyrel's summons was for him to give testimony against his brother, which is not needed due to his brother's confession, I elected to leave him be. I would like to offer to pay the court a fine levied against him for his failure to serve his summons and thus have charges for fleeing the county to avoid court removed."

William could see the casual mention of his name was having the desired effect. His reputation was well known, and the judges did not want to battle him over such a simple manner.

"And why would you be so inclined to offer that, Mr. Eriksson," the head judge asked.

"I want to apprentice him, but that is difficult to do if he is in danger of being found and arrested. I will probably ask for Roscoe when his sentence is up for the same reason."

The head judge seemed to consider the request. "I know how you make your money Mr. Eriksson. And I find this request to be somewhat odd. The boy you wish to apprentice cannot be of much service to you. He would need schooling. And discipline. He is an orphan, who is as likely to enter your service and steal from you as not. I don't think…"

"Your honor, excuse me, but it is not for me," William said. "There is a woman, and she wants the boy adopted. She is not wed, not yet. But I intend to offer my engagement when I return home. I intend to marry her, and together we will adopt the boys."

The judge sat there for a moment. The judge at the end said, "It's always for a woman, isn't it. While I think your intent to use the boy to win the affections of a woman is admirable, it teaches the boy the wrong lesson. I can forgive the training camp, but I insist he be punished and fined."

"Two gold," the head judge said. "And I sentence him to one-week service to Ander Berglud under the Ferguson act. When can you deliver the boy?"

"In two days' time," William said. He was crushed. He'd gotten the best deal he could have for Roscoe, but he'd promised Roscoe he would protect Tyrel and now he'd failed at it. There was no turning back at this point.

"Pay the fine when you bring him. And when you return in four months to collect Roscoe, I expect you to bring your wife and Tyrel with you, or I will charge him again."

William stayed in town for the week after returning with Tyrel. The boy had cried most of the way here. When the week was up, William was again first in court. Tyrel came in, barely able to walk. William could tell from the way he struggled to walk that he'd been fucked. His heart broke seeing the boy. But when the boy turned and looked and saw him sitting there, he smiled.

"Remember my terms," the head judge said to him after announcing that Tyrel was free. "Four months, you, he, and your wife, or he be charged anew."

Four months later, William was back in the same court. Tyrel sat next to him, and next to Tyrel sat Elsa Kirkmiser, now Elsa Eriksson.

A very tired and haggard looking Roscoe was brought in. It was obvious that he'd been treated much worse than William had all those years ago. But when he saw his brother sitting next to William, he managed a smile for both of them.

Two days later, the Missus and Mister Eriksson had two sons. Roscoe and Tyrel. And William was already putting money away for their eventual trip to Wilkershire Academy, having every bit of confidence that they would both finish head of their class.

The End