Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 00:11:40 -0700
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Arden 55

Arden
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


55  Invasion Threat

1319, 11th month, day 4:

After our classes today the four of us went to the plaza.  It was an
unusually hot day for this time of year and we sought shade as we sat near
the statue.  Kastor remarked that he was in need to water but the nearest
public fountain was some distance away.  When he returned he suggested we
consider placing a public fountain in the plaza garden.  We all agreed it
was a good idea.

Soon I became the object of teasing, as Iason suggested I pose again but
this time holding my penis and water could run from it.  I retorted Panther
should be the model, given his prodigiousness the stream would be useful,
not decorative.  Captain Darkon laughed so hard he was forced to sit.
Damao suggested it have all of our heads with open mouths, for the water to
flow from and that raised almost a much mirth.  We were making so much
noise that several Argoanuts and citizens passing by came over to us.

We encountered several sailors from Rhodes.  These men were Greeks.  It was
obvious they had little love for the Knights of Rhodes that now ruled the
place, as the Byzantines had lost it to them in 1309.  Two of them asked
directions to the Eastern Christine Church and the third gave us the secret
sign and inquired about the statue.  Once his comrades were out of hearing
range he made a very brief report.  The Catalan Company was attempting to
enhance its power and would be attacking Parga during our soloists
celebrations.  His code name was Teiresias.  He hurried off to join his
friends and we resumed our seats in the shade for some time.  They
continued to chid me about modeling for the fountain.

Iason summoned a secret war council, in the king's quarters.  Hesiodos
confirmed that Teiresias was one of his spies and his information had
always been reliable in the past.  Tertius was firm in saying this was not
the Despot or Byzantium.  In fact these Company mercenaries had given
Byzantium difficulty and they would be ride of them.  In the process they
wound up with Athens.  These people are supposed to be our allies and
friends.  Obviously they can not be trusted."  (TN: The Catalan Company of
the East, aka the Catalan Company, Great Company, Grand Company)

They can only attack us by sea.  We know their navy is no match for us, in
quality but much greater in quantity.  On the ground they are formidable
but again we will hold our own having both superior weapons, the high
ground and the will.

The Prince Justus and Prince Joulous can be commissioned in the next two
weeks if needed and they will be needed.  The Sicilians are of no help with
these people, they could not control them in the past and can not help us
as before.  Florence is no friend to them but does not have the navel power
to help close enough.  Venice will help us but I do not want Venetian
solders in Parga.  The Venetian navy is dependable but I am not sure if
they can mobilize fast enough, unless the threat can be confirmed very
real.

"They must come on ships and from the south.  I am sure the Admiral would
choose to meet them north of Levkas Island but that risks some of them
getting past the fleet.  Some of their officers are Florentine, they will
not make the mistake of a head on attack.  They will try and land large
quantities of foot solders and knights on horse back," Iason offered.

Kastor thought we should abandon our fishing villages as quickly as
possible.  In those villages we should station rocket launching groups and
place our catapults and more rockets on the cliffs and make the cost of
landing very expensive.  Uncle thought not, "we should abandon them but not
until the 20th day, let them think we are all celebrating."

Karyakos thought we should make every appearance of all being normal.  "The
element of surprise will be ours not theirs.  We should keep most of our
Prince Class ships in port until the last moment.  Let them think we are
defended by only the small, apparently unarmed Princess Class vessels."

Poly suggested we have about 40 days to prepare, so we need make sure all
is ready in 30.  Since the crews for the two new ships are not ready, we
should take a few marines from each of the others to be temporary sailors.

"That we will do," said Tertius. "I think we need look at preempting this
venture if possible.  Why not seek the good offices of the Sicilian King?"

"Would that not take surprise away from us?  What is their strength and
their weakness," Karyakos asked.

Hesiodos answered, "The Catalan Company is reported to have 30 galleys with
2500 fighting men, giving 1 knight for every 4 foot solders, horses and so
on.  They would be foolish to deploy all of them against us.  I would think
they will send perhaps 20 galleys.  They may send as many as 1600 fighting
men.  I doubt they will risk greater."

"If they realize we know they intend to invade and that the element of
surprise is taken from them, perhaps they will back down," Kastor
suggested.

This went on for some time.  We examined every aspect of this threat even
its' voracity.  We have no reason to doubt it but we also need to confirm
it.  They must have spies here and one would think people that have at
least visited.  Could it be they lack good information?  Perhaps they feel
we are not strong without the navies of Venice and Sicily to defend us.  If
they have spies here we are not aware of them.  It is always possible.
Perhaps our information is the poorer and they are using this as a way to
identify our spies in their midst.  If we run to our allies for help that
is not needed, we loose credibility.  If we admit knowledge of this plot,
which is not, it may identify our people.  We have fed false information to
others by this method, many times.

The consensus was: If they are to invade, they will group up on the north
end of Levkas Island.  We will incase our patrol of this area.  We should
increase production of arrows, rockets and gunpowder.  We should set
maneuvers for the period just before the Soloists and announce that.  We
will gather all intelligence possible.  We will ask our ambassador to make
a call on the Catalans in Athens, on his way home and we will ask Dario and
others for any hint of knowledge of this in other capitals.  The Admiral
should up date his battle plans as should the armey.

I thought and said, that the plan to attack Bejaia, which was never used,
should be revised to defend against this invasion, should it come about.
If they stop or gather near Levkas, our Princess Class ships could
devastate them while they lie at anchor.  This would also minimize the loss
of life as we need only damage a large number of them.  Our friendly Despot
would not be to troubled by this, even if that is his domain.  He is not
all that pleased with them as we know.  They are to his east and he does
not want them on his west as well.  Even if it is a small enclave.

Everyone thought that was also reasonable and we will meet again with the
military leaders.


1319, 11th month, day 5:

We have been spending much time of late in our philosophy studies,
examining this seemingly universal urge of men to seek immortality.  This
had been going on for some months now.  It would seem that men have thought
and written endlessly on the subject.

Some believe men have a sole that transcends death and others not.  I do
not know yet what I believe.  I can and do argue both sides of the
question.  As if only two sides exists.  It seems to me truly great leaders
achieve immortality, like the Great Alexander.  Who does not know his name?
Truly great minds and teachers also.  Of course all those of gods and
heroes of mythology are immortal, because they are remembered.

If that be the situation, that we are immortal as long as we are
remembered, we cease being so when forgotten.  Those that believe men's
soles are immortal and they go to some place after death my be so but I am
not so sure of this.  Some of the far eastern beliefs talk of soles coming
back being reincarnated.  Every living thing has a sole and they are
continuously being recycled.  I am not fond of this idea either.  It seems
to me these are nothing more than stories designed to control men and hold
the society in some kind of order.

Many feel that they must leave monuments behind.  Others feel their
reputation is their monument.  They must then feel they are immortal as
they are remembered for good or ill, it matters not.  I have come to a
slightly different conclusion.  It is not yet fully fixed and I am sure
will take me much thought, for years to come, before it is.  I have written
my first poem to express my non rational self.  I ask Odo to help me.  He
is now working up the music to make it a song.

The sea sings waves roll onward over the waters

Explanation of our lives Lay in our children We look upon them for answers

Children can not tell us with words We see the answer in their faces

Sure as the sun rises Sure as the sea Sure as the wind

We will rise again In the faces of our children We will rise again In
voices of song We will rise again In the waves on the sea We will rise
again

We look to reincarnation We look to resurrection We look to salvation For
explanation of our lives

A child can not tell us why We will rise again We see the answer in their
faces

Sure as the sun rises Sure as the sea Sure as the wind

We will rise again In the faces of our children We will rise again In
voices of song We will rise again In the waves on the sea We will rise
again

We see the answer in their faces In the faces of our children We will rise
again

[based on the song lyrics "We Rise Again" by Aselin Debison. A young, born
in 1990, Canadian pop and Celtic music singer.]

(TN: I hope Odo can fix this up for Arden.  In Greek it does scan better.
In English it lacks musicality because many articles and preparations are
English not Greek.  A good illustration is from Schiller's Ode to Joy.  The
German reads: "Freude, schoner Gottefunken" (both o's have umlauts), the
English reads: Joy, beautiful spark of the gods.  I think Odo's job as
family poet is secure.)

I was not sure how philosophy would translate to poetry, I think rather
well.  Behind this elementary idea is much rich thought and discussion.
Odo assured me he could make a song of it.  He may need change some of the
phrasing but he would keep my ideas.  He does like my reference to answers
in the faces of our children.  Like Helladios' resemblance to his grand
father or Kass and Poly's resemblance to Father, he understands my
thinking.

I wonder if I should keep a philosophical journal as well as a scientific
one.  I have been keeping copious notes on all the projects in science,
mathematics and engineering, in that volume.  So much so that I have
started to lock it away, as I do this one.  As tempting as this may be I
should not.  It is a matter of time.  My days are now filled and to take
more time from my brothers and boys would be most undesirable.


1319, 11th month, day 7

Water is an important symbol in every faith I am aware of.  It is essential
for life, all life needs water, be it plant or animal.  While we made light
of the fountain's form, few others did.  The idea was accepted by all but
the design caused much discussion and acrimony.  So much so that I became
prepared to abandon the entire idea.  Since water holds this aura for so
many they all descended on the King.  Each wanted his symbols incorporated
into the design.  Uncle listened to each but when they started squabbling
among themselves he grew angry.  "The only thing this king must and should
do is his duty to the people of Parga.  The only honor we must all pay is
to Mother Parga, who nurtures and sustains us.  Parga was here before men
walked on the earth and will be here long after we are gone.

Since I am paying for the instillation, I will make the artistic decisions.
This fountain will be highly functional and completely utilitarian.  It
will have no symbols or decoration save the Crown of Parga.  (TN: Arden has
refereed to the Crown of Parga several times.  He has not described it.  I
think we can interpret this to mean the Coat of Arms of Parga.  We know
from earlier entries Parga's symbol was an Eagle in flight, clutching the
Greek letter ∏ (Pi), with a Laurel wreath underneath it.)

Should any of you wish to establish public fountains at your houses of
worship, that incorporate your symbols, you are free to do so, at your own
expense.  I would think the Mayor would be most pleased.  Our public spaces
should be adorned by our historic symbols, not those of any specific
group."

He then commissioned the ingegneres, sculptors and stone cutters to present
designs to him in one week's time.

That settled that.  I was glad none of us even suggested our faces or any
of our bodies with water spewing from any orifice.  I think he might have
ceased on the thought to spite the religious.

Odo brought in his revisions of my poem.  I was most surprised that they
were so minor.  The song required some reorganization.  I think it will be
most powerful even though the melody is quite simple.  He made it into
three verse with the refrain after each.  It is not to long and can be
easily remembered.  I have copied the lyrics and music into my music book.
(TN: Arden's music book or books have been lost.)  When Father heard us
practicing, he came in and inquired; giving both of us much praise.  He
thinks the boy's choir should perform it with the Argoanuts in the plaza on
the 21st. It will need to be properly arranged. "Like the ode this song
touches the hearts of all who hear it.  If the boys sing the verses and the
choir as a whole the refrain, it will be most powerful."

Iason will make good theater of it I am sure.  He is planning to have the
Argoanuts lead the procession from the castle to the statue.  They will
sing their marching song as we go.  This became an annual event since the
first but moved to just at sunset three years ago.  Now that the plaza has
these new lamps more citizens will come.  The mayor is planning several
large fires on the beach.  Every day from the 20th through the 26th, plays
and music are offered in the afternoon at the citiy's theater.  A number of
parade permits have been issued to different religious groups and several
guilds.  Iason told me at the annual art festival Justus and Joulous will
unveil the figure heads for their ships.  Iason's and Alexandros' wedding
portraits and a new family portrait will also be unveiled.  I think my
beloved is holding something back from me but I do not yet know what.  If
he is, it will be at the expense of my modesty, I am sure of it.  I saw
that Polydeukus had approved some special expenditure but when my official
saw that I was looking at it, he suddenly found something to draw my
attention away and when I looked back it had disappeared.  The Prince
Helladios is being rushed into construction.

Today the lamp group, that is what I now call them, reported progress.
Helo had redrawn several lamps of different shapes for different purposes
and the lamp maker placed dimensions on them.  Mohammed found that a lamp
that gave as much light as 20 candles was the most cost effective.  Lamps
that produce less light than 5 candles or small oil lamps were slightly
more expensive, unless those candles and lamps were to burn all night.
Then they became cheeper.  Lamps that replaced more then 25 candles with a
single flame, were not yet practical to manufacture.  The first experiments
to improve the efficiency of the koallime water reaction are promising.  It
appears that the reaction chambers of existing lamps need not be replaced,
a small piece added and better control of the koallime granular size will
do much.

I have adjusted to not sleeping with Iason on a frequent basis.  Nikias has
been a great help as have all the others.  I no long miss him so terribly
when I sleep, just during the day.  Now that his is returned to us I am
much more happy.  Klass, Poly and our boys have made sure I do not want,
nor Dios either.  Father and Uncle have made much extra time for the three
of us and for that we are thankful.

Without Iason my lust has become so intense I am having sex, it seems
almost continuously.  I do not complain nor have any of my companions.  All
of the younger boys seem to line up for my penis.  I must admit that when
it is being driven deep into one of their bodies I do not miss him.  It is
only after I have spent and the blush of climax has passed that his absence
become so pressing.


1319, 11th month, day 9:

Yesterday and today we attended classes and the council as well as our
administrative work.  In the afternoons we were all on the sports field
with all the coaches.

Inventing a new game over several mugs of wine is quite easy.  The details
of rules, size of the pitch, shape of the goal, even the correct number of
players is hard work.  Parga Football does not require to many skills to
begin.  It will take some practice to get good at this.  Iason has taken
this as his sport.  He and I began by passing the ball between and moving
it from one end of the pitch to the other.  He soon sent me to the side as
my superior running ability was not being helpful.  After trying several
distances between the goals and different boundary widths, we settled on 2
stadia in length and 1 in width, with 12 players on each side and one goal
keeper.  The goal keeper will be the only one permitted to handle the ball
with his hands, others must not touch it, except with feet.  We quickly
learned that players must often contact the ball with parts of their bodies
so we allowed that but not with the hands.

After playing for some time the ball came apart.  That will need some
changes in construction.  The test players all liked the game.  The younger
boys thought the pitch size should be smaller for them.  Probably the ball
as well.  We can use our normal timers to control game length as they can
be stopped and started and if not set back to zero will accumulate time.
The length of the match is yet to be set.  Mohammed should be interested in
this use of the zero.  Now that we use it in real life I see most of what
he is talking about.

Parga Polo is being looked after by Kastor.  He has produced a number of
sticks, they still need a name.  Some suggested bat, others club, still
others, stick.  I like Polo Stick.  Again they did not let me play very
long, none could keep up with me, as we ran up and down the field or pitch.
They would call it field.  Passing the ball to another player is much fun
and with only a little practice Kass and I were completing most of our
passes between.  We will try playing this on the same size field as
football.  With the same number of players on each side.

The younger boys found the sticks to long for them to control easily.  Also
the field to large for their little legs.  It would appear that the field
size need be reduced for those less than 12 for both the boys and girls.  I
also found the sticks a little to short for me.  I think the stick length
needs to be relative to the player's stature.  Kastor agrees with this.

Polydeukus had charge of the Parga Ball testing.  He did what research he
could and found some ancient references but none very specific in details
of how it was played.  He reasoned this game could also be played on the
same size field as the others.  He began experimenting with the same size
teams.  Each of these games has a different size goal.  Two posts with a
cross bar and a fishing net to catch the ball.  We found the net important
as it kept the ball from being sent off the field of play and made it
simpler to judge if a point had been scored or not.

He experimented with a small ball, leather covered cork with a weighted
center.  Also a ball made of wood.  For his stick he settled on an upside
down and more open shepherd's crook or a Latin alphabet J.  The shaft was
shorter and the crook end more open and shorter.  I think the J is a better
description.  He found as long as sheep were allowed to eat the grass short
the ball would roll well.  The wooden ball required strong arms and a very
strong stick.  He settled on the leather.

The goal keepers for Parga Polo and Parga Ball will need to ware leather
pads, like old fashioned military armor, as the ball when hit or thrown
hard will really hurt.  In Parga Polo and Parga Ball the keepers will also
have sticks.  They are not allowed to handle the ball with their hands
either.  For these games that means throw it.  They can catch it but it
must then be dropped to the ground.

It will take some weeks to settle on the rules and order of play.  We
decided if the ball goes off the field of play the clock should be stopped
until it is returned.  We also determined that for Parga Polo and Parga
Ball the boys will need to have hard leather braces to protect their
manhood.  Since we need tunics of different colors to distinguish the
teams, we boys will not play naked.  The girls would bind the breasts
anyway and ware short kilts and tunics.

We would also need strict rules so players did not strike each other with
the sticks.  These games will need judges. (TN: Arden obviously means
referees or umpires.  He clearly uses the word judge without any qualifier,
as he does in reference to his foot races', place judges.  I will translate
this position as referee.)  the referee will need a signal to stop and
start the play.  One of the coaches suggested they use a whistle made from
a willow twig.  If we specify the diameter and length of the twig all the
whistles will sound alike.

Our boys were having fun learning new skills as were we.  I am sure when it
comes to developing rules for play they will be less interested.  Iason
wants to demonstrate these new games at the soloists sports competitions.
Thoren was interested in learning about the stick games as well as
football.  He still could not understand how anyone could catch the polo
ball but he did get the idea of stopping or trapping the ball with the
stick and sending it to another player.  If that player made a noise, such
as striking his stick on the ground, he found it possible but we had no
good way to alerting him of a ball sent to him.

The same for football.  Not seeing the ball he had no good way of knowing
how close it was or from exactly what direction it was coming.  In the bath
Thoren knew exactly what direction Nikias and I were coming from and he was
soon in our bed with him and Nikias giving each other oral pleasure while I
filled his anus with my penis.  Thoren's mentor keeps his body free of all
hair and his skin is as smooth as Nikias'.


1319, 11th month, day 10:

Some reports are beginning to arrive on the activities of the Company.  It
would appear they are getting ready for some kind of military adventure but
if Parga is the target or not, is still unknown.  One thing we have learned
is they do have several spies here.  One of Hesiodos' special people has
infiltrated a group that is planning another assignation attempt.

These spies are headed by a monk at the monastery.  His group of assassins
are young zealots.  It is obvious the Heguman (TN: Abbot) is not aware of
this activity as it is in contravention of his order's rules.  I am also
sure the Patriarch is not aware of it either.

Apparently they have already killed the local sheriff and two knights, in
the past six months.  These were attacks with Greek Bows.  They are
planning to strike us during the Christmas celebrations.  This monk has at
least one group of 12 that has been infiltrated.  We think they have a
second group of the same number but nothing is known of it.  Hesiodos has
this monk, the monastery and local community, being closely watched.

Iason has ordered all of our mountain fighters to travel only in groups of
6 and to look for evidence of any infiltration, winter snows or not.  He
does not want the infiltrators killed if it can be avoided.  Followed if
possible.  Messages should be sent as soon as any sign to them, even if
unconfirmed, is noticed.

My beloved is so cleaver when it involves the theater.  He has proposed
that we do two things to draw these assassins out.  First the Heguman is to
forbid any of his monks from travel between the 19th day of next month and
the 1st day of the new year.  He need not be told why, just that the king
as asked the Patriarch to convey this.  It is a matter of safety for his
monks.

Second we must announce a royal visit to a place near the monastery on the
18th day.  We must do this now.  In place of the King and Consort, Arden
and I will suddenly and unannounced take their places.  Our places will be
taken by Elite Marines dressed like us.  "Only if Kastor and I can go along
dressed as marines."

"I think your plan has merit but don't be surprised if the King and Consort
refuse to stay home," Hesiodos commented.

"You must convince them so, Hesiodos and if that fails at least convince
them to dress as marines or guards.  Arden and I have little choice as he
is far to tall for anyone to impersonate him and I have much to distinctive
a voice."

I think Iason is correct about my height but his voice, sweet as it is, the
distinctiveness is in his mind alone.  Me thinks he desires the adventure
and would share mine in real, not from afar.