Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 20:41:47 -0700
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Arden's Saga 30

Arden's Saga
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)

Dear Readers: I do not usually publish chapters so close together but I
make an exception.  Today is December 21, 2012 the winter solstices. Two of
my friends and I had started a tradition of photographing the Alpen Glow,
if any, at sunrise on this day.  I stood tripod ready in the snowy, very
cold predawn, before the Rocky Mountains in preparation this morning.  The
color was disappointing but the view spectacular. As I pulled the hood of
my parka tight my mind drifted off to Arden.  For him the solstice was a
very impotent time.  For us three it is important too, signalling as it did
for Arden the renewal of nature and start of a new life cycle.  Some things
never change and some of them are not only a part of our fictional
narrative but also in the real narrative of our personal lives.


This is a narrative.  It is a work of historical fiction.  The operative
word in that sentence is fiction.

If the sexual nature is offensive or you are disqualified due to age or
location, don't read it.  You have been warned.  I hope you like what you
read and find the characters and their exploits/adventures interesting.

Don't forget Nifty needs financial help.  Please make a donation if you
can.  Every little bit helps.

http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html


30:  Back to Normal?

1318, 3rd month, 1st day:

We are almost returned to normal.  Everyone wanted to see us and we have
become weary of retelling everything.  That will pass.  Our boys were upon
us in an instant and have been like glue bound to us.  Our ladies were most
happy with the fine gifts and very appreciative.

Our fathers have been more reserved but I can tell they are glad to see us
safely returned.  They have been spending much privet time in our quarters.
I know they are happy to have us returned as both are in exceptionally good
and playful moods.

The Eparchos of the sailing Argoanuts brought Lyuben to us and to meet his
new King.  Lyuben was rendered almost speechless.  King Iason and Father
quickly overcame his shyness.  It was quite amazing to watch.

Lyuben was quite something to behold too.  Now that he was clean, had been
given a proper hair cut and was dressed in a uniform that fit, he had been
transformed into a Boy Adonis.  His long legs and narrow body moved with
grace.  His large eyes were also very appealing and the boy has a most
engaging smile.  Even though we had all told him this meeting was very
unofficial and was family, he was still very formal in his interactions.

Father seemed to understand saying, "Lyuben, my beloved Iason and I are now
your parents.  We are father and Princess Elpis is mother.  All of these
boys are now brother.  In privet, as we now are, you must stop using titles
and formal language."

Lyuben looked at the floor.  "Come son and sit at my feet as Nikias does,"
my mentor said in a soft voice.

Lyuben sat and mentor gently touched his head letting the lad's cheek rest
against his leg just as Nikias.  Karyakos began asking simple questions.
He was playing the Question Game, each person is allowed 10 questions to
guess the secret.  Lyuben recognized this and began playing.  The question
quickly focused on how he came to be on the Prince Arden and so on.  In no
time at all he was sitting on Karyakos' knee and looking them both in the
eyes when he answered.

The royal couple departed soon after, leaving us and our boys to our love
making.  I noticed that our fathers had poor Lyuben charged up for sex and
when they left the room he momentarily looked lost.  The Eparchos hands
soon found their way under his kilt and the two settled on a couch for the
evening.  Soon after the lamps were snuffed, the sounds of sex grew louder
and louder.  This seemed only to increase my ardor and that of my bed
mates, my beloved Iason and our eromenoses.

I am continually amazed that our love, Iason's and myself, grows stronger
each day.  Just when I think it could not possible be greater some new
level is reached.  I am also amazed at my capacity to love others, as well.
As my brothers and some friends sleep with their boys, I am completely
enthralled with each and everyone of them.  We may have helped Lyuben to
avoid the life of a pleasure slave but he is now like all of us, a slave to
pleasure.

I can see why he was picked for that, he has long and slender legs that are
toped by the most desirable round globes, of firm and smooth flesh.  Except
for a few blond hairs at the base of his penis, as a smooth as a girl.  His
arms are long and shoulders wide.  He is very thin and looks his young age.
He will be very popular here and in his Argonaut House.

In conversation, I learned that his eunuch acquaintance told him, by being
castrated at the right age, the eunuch remains more boy like, as he ages.
The acquaintance told him "boys or men like me" are much desired and fetch
a high price to our masters for our service.  That he spends much of his
time giving pleasure to men his master arranges.  At least in Parga
prostitutes receive the benefits of their labours.  I suspect not that much
real love and possibly a questionable amount of real pleasure.

He has only had sex with Odo and his Eparchos, not that others showed no
interest.  His Eparchos has kept him close to himself.  I can understand
that.  The Eparchos wanted him to fully understand his new life and gain
sufficient self confidence, as not to be easily or even inadvertently used
by others.  Those were my instructions to him.  He is also no fool and
recognizes the lad's charms.

Given the number of Argoanuts there is a shortage of good mentors for them.
Those boys that truly desire one can be accommodated but unless a boy asked
and actively seeks, he will be without.  I think Lyuben needs a mentor and
soon.  I think I just might know who would be the best man for that job
too.  I will ask Thanatos and if he declines, Uncle Tertius.  It would be
best if both would court the boy, as men did in the old days.  That would
truly give Lyuben the feeling of independence and self love he needs.


1318, 3rd month, 2nd day:

Princess Elpis, asked us to bring this new Argonaut to the mid day meal, in
the family dining room.  I knew that both Thanatos and Tertius would both
be attending and spoke to the Eparchos about my idea.  He would be very
busy over the next month in preparation for our next voyage, one Lyuben
would not attend and which would last almost 6 months.  He was not pleased
but he could also see, he could not possibly look after him properly, until
the fall at the earliest.  I didn't mention that he was also to young at 20
to be a boy's mentor.  He needed to establish himself professionally first.
Which will take several years.  I knew that Tertius has picked him as
officer material, that is why he leads the Argoanuts on the Prince Arden.
I doubt that he will ever return as Eparchos of his house, except for a
short transition visit.

Volos had taken Lyuben on a tour of the castle and to watch the Council in
action.  We princes were in our usual positions and pages were running in
and out.  Admiral Pantaleon accompanied by Captain Hermogenes and several
others came in.  Each captain had a junior officer with him.  Panther was
with Hermogenes and the other junior officers were all former Argoanuts.  I
must say their uniforms were new and they looked very smart in them.  I was
a little shocked to see Panther among them.  He has the age but not the
experience of the Argoanuts.

The Admiral introduced the new junior officers, not by name but as a new
class of junior officer, recently created, called a Captain's Assistant.
(TN: bohyow kattetaniou, a rank which seems unique to Parga) This is the
lowest rank of commissioned officer in the navy.  Panther and his comrades
all stood behind their captains and all carried cases of documents or other
things.  They are aids I thought.

Dios was sitting with the other pages, trying not to look to excited on
seeing his father.  Agapios was in the gallery, I could see his bright red
hair.  I was surprised as he should be in his classes at this time of the
day.  After the reports were give and the business of the day neared
completion, Karyakos asked the new CA's to come forward.  They all did so,
standing in a very straight military line before King and Consort.  We
four, could not keep wide smiles from our faces, knowing each of these
young men intimately and expect for Panther, for many years.

"Panther, you are the only one of these new junior officers not to have
been an Argonaut.  You should send a message to your mother telling her of
your appointment, mothers are always interested in knowing about their
children."  He named each of the others, 7 in all.  "Your mother and father
wish to congratulate you and have asked me to extend their invitation to
join them and your Princes in the family dining room, for our evening meal.
Panther and his captain are expected to dine with the pages and the others
in the Princes' quarters."

King Iason and I are very pleased to see such a fine group as you are,
taking up this newly created position.  Parga's navy has a long and proud
history.  This place is one of great and long standing traditions.  Our
navy is leading the way, in modernizing those traditions.  We are the first
sovereign state, we know of, to have rid ourselves of galleys.  All of our
war ships are now oar free, sailing vessels.

Our ships are of the finest design and among the best constructed in the
world.  These are called the Prince Class.  Prince Class ships can cary a
complement of 175.  Our older trimens carried 200 of which 170 were
oarsmen.  Of the 175 on a Prince Class: we have 45 sailors, a carpenter and
10 support staff, 6 officers, and 100 marines as a standard complement.  We
can accommodate an additional 100 marines if necessary.  Combined with our
four cannons, catapults and such, this is one of the most formidable
warships ever devised by men. (TN: He obviously had no knowledge of the
Chinese ships of the day)

In addition, the size of these ships allows us to stay at sea for up to six
months without landfall, with its full potential 270 complement.  They have
been designed to be refitted with the most modern weapons of war
imaginable.  The Prince Class will be formidable well into the future.

Having eliminated oarsmen means we can substitute marines.  The standard
Trimens type, of our neighbors, carry only 20 or at best up to 50 marines.
Our design is less top heavy and has a deeper draft than the old.  They are
more stable, able to keep more sail on at all times and run faster under
most conditions.

This new navy needs new kinds of sailors and new structures.  The position
of Captain's Assistant is the first of these new structures.  Other new
positions will be created in the future.  Innovation is not new for us.  It
was in King Iason the 1st's time that we abandoned the old Athenian way, of
having the captain being a political appointee and the ships military
operations commanded by the helmsman (kybernetes).  Our navy was made fully
professional by him.  The largest and newest of the Prince Class ships is
the King Iason 7th.  It is Admiral Pantaleon's flag ship.  That vessel is
experimenting with several new positions and jobs among the ranks of the
sailors and some innovative ship to ship and ship to shore communications.
Another tradition we have changed is the naming of our ships, instead of
giving them female names, as the merchants and others do.

Admiral Pantaleon has also informed us, like the King Iason 7th, each
Prince of Parga will be an honorary captain of his named vessel."

At our mid day meal, Lyuben was the centre of attention.  He was still
quite shy but Princess Elpis soon had that emotion overcome.  He was seated
between her and the King.  "Lyuben, you should write a letter to your
mother so she knows you are safe and well."  Lyuben looked down, "I don't
know how to write and my birth mother does not know how to read."

"Iason," she said to the king, "have Odo write for him and I will include a
note from myself.  You can have our ambassador read it to her."  Uncle
Iason nodded in agreement and Odo smiled widely.

"If Augusts Grantzities knows where I am, he try and take me back.  I like
it here."

"Fear not little one," Tertius said, "the next time you see this Augusts
Grantzities, if ever, it is he who will be serving you, not you him."

"Arden."

Yes mother.

"I don't think Lyuben should study with the others his age, until he has
learned basic reading the writing skills.  Why not send him to study with
Helladios and Lysandros.  Alexandros can assist him with the sports and
military.  I assume he will be living in your apartments."

I agreed to that.  I was also thinking that Princess Eudoxia could try her
hand at teaching with him as well, since the female pages are close at
hand.  This would be good for both since he will not be embarrassed, since
the others his age have these skills.  Mother is very perceptive and very
protective of all her children.


1318, 3rd month, 3rd day:

I don't know about the others but I had more wine then I should have had.
My head is just a bit hurting and I feel very tired.  Most of the drinking
took place after mother retired.  I know all of the Argoanuts were deeply
honoured by her presence.  I am sure they will display that honour in the
years to come, many girl children will have the name Elpis.  I am also
amazed at my beloved Iason.  He so readily shares the love and affection of
his birth parents with all of us.  It is his duty as Crown Prince but even
the Crown Prince is human.  If he has a jealous part I have never seen it
and he never displays it.  Even a fine actor as he is, can not play that
role for so many years, so well, as to keep it from me.

We have become as Kastor and Polydeukus, twins in all but blood.  Sometimes
I think in blood too.  Perhaps it is the seed we so often share with each
other.  I know not how that could be, though.  I believe in a few years, we
four will all be so well tuned together that any one could act for any
other, without thought.

I have noticed of late that Joulous, Justus and Nikias are forming the same
kind of bond as we four.  In their example, Nikias is the leader and the
twins more follower.  As I recall the Dioskourol were more like them at 12,
not today.  Today they are our equal, all be it in a more reserved outward
appearance.

It is now evening and I take up my pen again.  Silas and Lt. Drakon
(Translator's note: I have placed the (Lt.) next to Darkon's name as to not
confuse the guardian with the Steward.) have volunteered to look after
Lyuben until we depart.  Dysme will watch over him and all of our boys
while we are absent.  Between them and Alexandros he will be well cared
for.  It is hoped he will be ready to join his house in the fall, unless he
chooses one of the men as a mentor.  I suspect, even then he will be sent
to his house for periods of time, if for no other reason then building
those relationships.

Hermogenes is taking Agapios to his home until that time, leaving Panther
and Dios with us.  This is only for the night, Panther will report to his
ship each morning and Agapios to his classes

Polydeukus has taken it upon himself to further reorganize our apartments.
He is creating two special baths on the main level.  One for males and one
for females.  In addition, he is having special stair cases put in place,
connecting our apartment directly to the male bath and the female page's
dormitory to the other.  Drakon will staff and look after both.  Given the
connecting stair cases, guards will be stationed at the main floor
entrances to both, baring entry to all except us and the pages of course.

Our privet quarters, that is the dormitories, our sleeping chambers and
privet common room, can then function as a true gymnasium, in the ancient
sense of the term.  We can and will be naked in them, at all times.

Father came to see us just before our evening meal.  He told Poly and
Kastor that they are now betrothed to the twins as they requested.  "The
wedding will take place in two years time, when the girls are 14.  In the
intervening time they will be brought to the castle to continue their
education.  "Your birth mother will supervise them, except for the time
they are serving as pages.  It is wise that you inform Justus and Joulous
privately; give them your expectations of their relationship to these new
lovers.  It is best too that you inform your concubines of this prospect, I
would not show any real delight in it to them.  It is a game that you two
must play for the harmony of our greater family.

Iason's position has always been clear in this, as is Arden's but you two
have choice.  My advice, keep the facts between the five of us.  Let them
think that it was I and the twin girls father that made this decision, as
is the truth.  The fact that you expressed interest in having wives and
them as those wives, should remain between us, a father and his sons."

At first I was not quite sure why Karyakos was saying this in front of
Iason and I, we are only the brothers.  After a short reflection, I
realized this was his way of telling us; keeping this father and son
confidence was our duty to him and our brothers.  At first I was not quite
sure why he just did not requested so.  We would honour that request no
matter what the reason.  He did not offer much, save his advice.  Since we
are all callow in these matters, we would take it to heart.  For Iason and
I the rules are clear and defined.  I can not and he must.  Zoe and
Euthalia and others realize they can never be more than concubines, their
role is to produce children and give us female companionship and hopefully
some romantic love.  They trade maidenhood for the chance to have children,
receive perks and a measure of additional respect from others.  Not every
desirers women, can or will be, the concubine of a future king and his
prince consort.

Kastor and Polydeukus are also princes but they can have wives and not just
of someone else's choosing.  Perhaps they hoped for something more, perhaps
not.  By letting everyone think this was an arrangement made by the fathers
and probably for some political or economic reason; should those hopes be
dampened, it was by someone else's doing.  After all, is it not a father's
job to do the best he can for his children.

I guess our lives will only become more complex with time, not less.


1318, 3 month, 4th day:

Today we received our first lectures about the customs, manors and social
structures, we will see on our tour west and north.  We learned that
personal and public hygiene is mostly lacking.  From Naples north and west,
people seemed not to bath much or at all.  Soap was used for textiles but
only sparingly.  While the Romans spread the use of public baths and
frequent washing, that seems to have fallen completely by the way.  Large
cities will be highly offensive to our noses, as animal and human waste is
common litter in the streets.

As we had noticed, in Athens and other places in the east, water is
delivered to wells and fountains but not to homes.  Sewer systems are no
longer in existence or are simple open trenches in the streets.  Over the
past few years we now have water delivered to almost everyone in Parga who
lives in a city or village of any size.  Sewers, in closed clay pipes, run
from every dwelling to central collection points.  The castle has now been
completely altered, every toilet and washing room, has clean water from a
copper spigot, to fill basins and remove our wastes into the sewer system.

Our university alchemists have developed several different kinds of soap.
That for the body, textiles, kitchens and eating bowls, spoons and such, as
well as that for stone, metal or wood structures.  They mix different
clays, animal fats or plant oils and wood ash in different proportions for
these.  These products are prepared under the direction of the soap guild.
Hand washing stations are available in every part of the castle.  Most
notably at the entrance to the dining rooms and kitchens.

We will not find such in most other places.  They told us how to make sure
we remained clean and pleasant smelling, while away.  Several of the
Argoanuts, marines and sailors are taking or have taken barber training, as
being clean shaven or having well trimmed beards and hair is important to
us.  In addition to the barbers we will have a highly qualified physician
among our scholars.

In the afternoon, we gathered in our apartments for some refreshments and
conversation.  Odo and Lyuben came in shortly after and occupied my little
writing table, which is off in one corner, by the large windows.  Everyone
was assembled except the young pages and our new guardsmen, when a knock on
the door interrupted.  The guard told us five young pages accompanied by
the Captain of the Palace Guard, required one of us.  We all looked at each
other.  We had been in this situation before, every one of us, on the
receiving end.

Kastor replied, "Send them in and come yourself.  This will be a bit of fun
I suspect."

When they came in I pointed to a place on the floor for the pages to sit.
Captain Consus, how nice to see you, I see you came with an honour guard, I
said pointing to the pages.

"At least I didn't need to chase them, as I did you four, at that age."

"It was us, not Euripides or Helladios, we three need be punished, not
them," Nikias announced.

"Is that why you came here Consus, to report some mischief on the part of
our five young pages."  Poly asked?

"Yes that is the reason.  These five seemed to have revived or reinvented,
the old mischief of placing fresh manure under the chairs in the main guard
house.  I saw them running away myself and gave a brief chase."

At this point we were all desperate, including Consus, to not burst into
laughter.  Like our fathers, when we did exactly the same thing, it was
important not to.  Euripides did you five do that mischief?  "Yes Prince we
did and Helladios and I were a full part."  I suppose you just thought this
up, as you returned from the sports field passing by the stable?

"Yes Prince, how did you guess," Justus answered?

Iason smiled widely, "Our Fathers punished us by making us clean the mess
we made and continue to clean the guardhouse, all to Captain Consus'
satisfaction, for 4 additional days.  This was done on our way to the
sports field, not on the return.  Do you think that is sufficient atonement
Captain?"

"Yes Prince Iason, I think it fair and that it is sufficient to put an end
to this for another 4 or 5 years."

"Good," Poly said, "guardian would you escort these five to Drakon, so he
can arm them with clearing materials and then to the Guard House, please."

The boys got up and filed out heads just a bit bowed and somewhat sullen.
Once the outer door had closed, we all began laughing and reminiscing about
our exploits in general and this specific little prank.  Captain Consus
praised these five, saying they had done a much better job of it then we
had, but the best was still himself, King Iason and Karyakos, who managed
to do it and not get caught.

I realized Odo and Lyuben were still sitting at my writing table and paying
close attention to everything we had said.  You boys will forget anything
you have heard here after the pages departed, is that clear, I told them.
Knowing full well that after five or six days that admonishment would be
forgotten.  The captain finished his wine and left us.  I went over to the
boys to check on the letter writing progress.

Odo was doing a masterful job of it.  Lyuben related his story and the
reason he had run away, how he concealed himself in a load of fruit and hid
on the Prince Arden until discovered.  He went on to apologize for "the
worry, Princess Elpis said I must be causing."  He described his new
situation and proudly told of his new name and status.  He is now reborn as
Lyuben of Parga a free man and citizen of Parga, Argonaut third class in
Prince Iason's Argoanuts.  He is a ward of King Iason the 7th and Princes
Elpis.  Who insist they are now his parents, mother and father, which he
should address them as such, when in the family setting, just as all the
other children do.  His new brother Argonaut Odovacar is writing this for
him, as he has not had enough lessons to do it himself yet.  He did manage
to sign his name and express his love for his mother in his own hand.

The Princess' note to his mother arrived and we combined them into one
package, along with a short message to our ambassador.  She explained, all
children without parents or guardians in Parga are automatic wards of the
crown.  "My husband and I take this very seriously."  She told her they
were mother and father to over 400 children.  She can not give every child
the personal attention they deserve but that they did know every one by
name and they all know a mother and a father are here for them when needed.
We are a very large family, family cares, nurtures and supports.  "Lyuben
was having a meal with us, just yesterday and when I learned he had not
told you of his journey and adventure plans, I insisted he write so you
would know he is safe, well and now part of our family."

I ask the ambassador to do two things: personally read the letters to
Lyuben's mother and answer her questions as truthfully as he could; second,
to tell Agoustus Grantzities enough about Parga, so he would no longer
consider Lyuben his property and assure him that we did not steal the boy,
that he was not discovered until almost home.  That fact could be checked
by reviewing the captain's log as it was noted at the time.  I went on to
say, we Princes judged any boy of 13, that could do what he did, as a
valuable asset to the Argoanuts and Parga.  He should also explain to
Augusts how they work and what they do beside march and sing.

Iason added, Augusts struck us as someone who cared for Lyuben more deeply
than just another slave and we thought he should know he is safe and well
cared for.  Our ladies greatly appreciated the silk we purchased from him
and look forward to purchasing more in the future.

At dinner we were witness to the most interesting little play.  Tertius and
Thanatos had both begun to actively court the boy, although I don't think
he realized it until later, when Nikias told him.  Corrado, Alexandros and
Adonis sat across the table from Tertius and Thanatos who were flanking
Lyuben.  This was all very strange for Lyuben since he had never been
courted before or seen how the knights and princes of Parga socialize.

All through the meal they talked to him and to each other.  I could see
them filling his cup with child's wine.  After the food was finished many
knights including Alexandros, Adonis and Corrado, left the room, that is
when our boys invaded.  Ikaros and Dysme and their two joined us all at a
huge table.  Uncle Iason and Father held their two Ganymedes.  This gave us
a chance to introduce Lyuben to some he had not yet met.

Uncle Iason had given his boy a little more wine, full strength wine, than
he normally would.  With much fanfare he asked the lad to give his special
nectar.  lifting up the boy's kilt and fondling his penis to hardness in
seconds.  The boy took his hand and began masturbating himself, while Uncle
held the cup to catch his special nectar.  Ganymede then added some wine,
kissed the rim and gave it to the King, smiling so wide his face almost
disappeared.  Now that this was performed, every young eromenos at the
table immediately did the same thing for his Zeus.

Lyuben's eyes were as wide as I had ever seen them.  I could see he was
game for this and had Corrado been in the room would have joined.  Thanatos
reached for a fresh cup and held it to Tertius, who nodded.  They gave it
to Lyuben and together lifted the lad's kilt letting him spill his nectar
into it.  Wine was added.  Lyuben must have been instructed, as he kissed
both sides of the cup and holding it out both men drank, tipping it first
to one then the other.  I could see they were both fondling him and playing
with is ass.  He was frozen not quite knowing what to do, never the less
pleasure and excitement was clearly on his face.

Karyakos announced it was late and the pages should head to bed so the
party broke up, Lyuben joining them.  We prepared to depart as well but
held a moment to hear what King Iason was saying to Tertius and Thanatos.
He quietly admonished them not to press the lad hard or fast.

"He is new to our ways and if one of you is to gain his favor, you must be
easy with him.  Remember he has little experience in making his own choices
and decisions.  He is clearly willing to share adventure.  Every boy dreams
so, this one is living it.  His decision to join our sons, was less through
thought than limit of choice.  Not all Argoanuts have mentors, those that
need or ask are accommodated.  For him we think it important that he has
and that it be someone in a position of power and authority.  Someone who
lacks guile and is less interested in his own needs and more in the boy's.
Unless I am mistaken the three terrors are at this very moment explaining
to him what happened tonight and how he should make advantage of it.  My
sons and the others will see you spend sufficient treasure in this, be
assured of that.  Make a friend of him first, the love part will come in
its own time.

All the while both he and Karyakos had their hands busy under the kilts of
the two Ganymedes.


1319, 3rd month, 8th day:

The census data was presented in summery form on the 5th day.  I found it
very interesting.  I could also see that the Argoanuts and Arden's boys,
when combined, were able to do a remarkable job.  In general, our
population was slowly growing.  This was true in all age groups, for both
genders.  Since none of us are bound, except by simple contracts, that can
be terminated or amended, much mobility is happening.  Trades that had
greatly improved productivity or for which demand has lessened, saw a
decline in apprentices, while trades in demand saw an increase.  Production
from agriculture had increased by 1/8 and farm labor had decreased by about
the same amount, while the plethrons under cultivation remained the same.
The number of sick and injured apprentices was half of just three years
ago.  (TN: This is phenomenal change.  That is almost a 25% change in
economic benefit.  I doubt that economic theory was that much advanced in
1319. Arden does seem to understand these changes are a good thing and
meaningful.)

The army and navy were about the same size as were the herds of food and
draft animals.  The number of public buildings had increased by almost 1/4,
due to the building of new schools and hospitals.

Many trades had made real advances: potters, weavers, wheelwrights,
building trades and glass making, to list a few.  Our exports of
agricultural products are increased slightly but our exports of
manufactured goods and objects of art, are increased greatly.

The Argoanuts are able to keep their ranks filled without having to
recruit.  Kastor suggested we institute an examination process since the
numbers needed were far fewer than applicants.  Iason thought that a good
idea.  Corrado suggested we increase the size of each house by 10.  We
debated this and agreed, one new Dathapatish for each house.  Poly and I
will make up the examination with several of our scholars and the house
Eparchoses.  It is our intention to keep the academic and physical
standards as high as possible.


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