Date: Thu,  3 Jan 2002 22:40:11 -0500 (EST)
From:  <zaneg7@excite.com>
Subject: Tessellations-Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22-Tessellations

This story is in honor of Ganymede's stories which should be read and
re-read.

The copyright of this story belongs to the author. I can be reached for
constructive criticism at ZaneG7@excite.com



A simple meal consisting of seasoned goat, goat milk, and bread was
served to Ron by the old man. "I know this isn't much of a breakfast,
but we make do with what we have. I wish I could offer you something
finer, cheeses, or frumenty."

Ron gave Jerdin his most seductive grin. The old man was ready to give
Ron the entire platter of goat, and let everyone else starve. However,
Ron did not eat a lot even when hungry so he brushed the additional food
away, trying to be polite as he picked slowly at the oiled meat.

Dominic stood up, helping himself. He finished eating as Ron was just
beginning. Taking a handful of raisins he turned to Ron. "Take your time
sweetheart. Jerdin and I will be right outside as I want to look over the
cart to make sure it won't fall apart on us the first mile. I probably
will have to make some repairs. You stay here where it's comfortable,
and I'll come back for you as soon as I'm done.

Ron seemed to acquiescence. Dominic and the old man left him alone. He
took the time to gaze at the stone walls, and airy windows, trying to
image Dominic here as a small child. He could tell by the empty shelves
that this room had once been more than a barren cell. He figured that
this was not the main house, which he figured had been burnt down but he
hadn't discussed it with Dominic. There were crude foundations left near
the field house. If he asked Dominic it would disturb him, and with his
reluctance to bring up his past not a prudent idea. He decided to
explore. He wanted to see as much as he could of Dominic's boyhood which
might help him figure out the puzzle of the man he loved.

He left the table with his meal hardly touched, went outside and wandered
over to the stalls where he could hear voices drifting downwind. He
didn't mean to spy on Dominic, but he was entranced by his voice, like a
dragonfly hypnotized by a lily pad, he leaned against the outer wall and
listened.

"Are you really sure Dominic that you should return with the boy back to
Constantinople? Aren't you bringing both of you into danger?"

"There isn't many options, I was told to take the boy out to sea with
me, but that turned out to be a death sentence. He didn't last one day
before he was thrown overboard. With an enemy aboard the ship if that
hadn't occurred we would have been fortunate not to be poisoned. I could
have and would have sent him to Iceland with a friend however Saffron saw
fit to run away. Perhaps it was for the best. I am starting to believe
that even his father conspires against him. By birth Saffron is entitled
to so much. Is it fair for him to have a long life as a servant for
another ruler out in the barbaric wasteland? He is such a beautiful boy,
but more than his beauty is his mind. He can be taught to be an
outstanding member of this land, and the fact that he was raised
elsewhere gives him a clearer few of life. He is of Byzantine heritage
but seems to bare no scare from the poisons that dwell in those of our
royal house. I plan to take him to a school where he will not only be
safe, but taught the skills of leadership. I plan not to even tell his
father where he is. In fact after I have him settled I will return to my
mission at sea which I must not fool myself, is very dangerous even
without internal enemies. I may not return."

"You are wise to leave the boy behind."

"NOOOOO Saffron wanted to scream, but he was of two minds. He didn't
want to go back to sea, but he wanted Dominic to stay with him. He went
back to the field house with a cold metal noose around his heart.

Dominic returned with a smile on his face. "The wagon is in better shape
that I supposed. We should be on the road as soon as we can load up."

"We're going to Constantinople, right?"

"Yes, we're going in that direction." Dominic said.

"Thank you for breakfast Sir" Saffron offered.

""My pleasure young Sir. I hope to meet you again and next time for a
longer stay."

"Yes, I'll be back with Dominic." Saffron said with pronounced
conviction.

Just as the final good-byes where finished, taking a prolonged time there
was a pounding on the door. Saffron was bid to hide, he was told to hop
on the stone mantle of the fireplace-oven and lean against the back.
After he crawled into the large fireplace. Jerdin moved a false front.
Air coming from the chimney kept him from suffocating. He wondered why he
had to hide, but he figured that the two men didn't want anyone else to
know that he was there. Meanwhile Dominic put on a raw tunic, and hunched
over Saffron's unfinished meal like a field hand taking a noon break.

It was one of Leo's men; they gave a cursory glance around the room not
expecting to see anything. "Have you heard from your old Master?" He
demanded.

"Are you referring to Leo or Dominic?" asked Jerdin

"Dominic. Leo knows that he comes here from time to time." The stranger
replied

"I haven't seen him in three seasons. Do you bring news?" questioned
Jerdin

"Perhaps, I will tell you he has gone to sea with some boy that he stole
from Leo. The boy is dead, and Dominic will be dangerous with revenge. If
you see him tell him that Argund, and not Leo is his enemy. Perhaps
though you will never see him again. I am sure that Argund's agents will
make sure he dies as well. Dominic took the boy into the floating lair of
his enemy like a fool. He may not even be alive as we speak, but Leo
wants to know for sure what befell him and believes you may be the first
to hear about him"

"Dominic never spoke of any boy, what boy was this?"

"Never mind, I am looking for information, not giving it freely. If off
the rare chance you hear from Dominic send someone to the estate to
inform us of it for Dominic's own good."

"I will, but it has been quiet here of late. The only new faces around
here are the serfs we hired for the grape harvest. If I hear from Dominic
again I will inform him of what you told me. I am sure that he would want
to speak to Leo himself if what you said is true, but even if he weren't
at sea he, knowing my great age, left with a kiss of passing, but you
don't want to hear the sediments of an old man."

"No indeed I don't! Well there is nothing here of interest to Leo so I
shall be on my way. It smells of old goat. Is that what you eat?"

"When we don't have guests."

"Poor old man, well I'll be off. I brought my own rations. Do you have
any vintage yet."

"There is one bottle left from last year's harvest. I was saving it for
company, you may have it. It's still in the store cellar."

The man followed Jerdin. In a few minutes he returned alone.

Dominic quickly opened the hidden wall and motioned for Saffron to get
out. Instead of the clothes he expected to wear, Dominic had taken a long
girl's tunic that had been his sisters. Because they had been searching
for a boy, Saffron would go in disguise. It was providence that they
believed Saffron to be dead. For now he could pass as a girl. Later the
monks would know of a better false identity for him. With the cover of
his own demise, Saffron would be safe. Before Ron could protest Dominic
helped him take off his clothes, he sighed anew at the lovely angular
proportions of Ron. No girl had his perfection of sharp angles and soft
skin. No girl was such a masterpiece of pale lean cheeks barely rounded,
and walnut gems with a small emotional springboard which was happily up,
if only there was time to play with it! His boyish clothes were put in a
bundle, with his precious necklace, to be taken with them. He was a
fetching girl. That could cause other problems. He hurried Saffron out to
the stable and they walked the horse and cart until they were off the
property. Jerden would explain away the field hand; after all he was only
a day laborer. They left as quietly as possible to abate suspicion.

Finally when Dominic was confident that they hadn't been followed. He
told Saffron to get in the cart.

"Can I take off this dress?"

"No, you better get used to it `daughter' besides if you ever did
dress up like a proper young Byzantine Lord your robes would look not
much different from a young ladies."

"Like I care for Byzantine fashion. I would rather dress like a
Viking."

"Well you are too young to be a member of the Varangian guards, as are
the Vikings at court and even they make concession as to their dress. You
are too much a wild Frank at times. I find it charming how you wear two
sashes instead of one, and seem to always wear leggings that were not
meant for the tunic. The colors please me, but Saffron you have your own
way of dressing."

"In France we have a freer way to dress you know, the Byzantine's
should copy us"

"That will be the day when the world copies the dress of Parisians"

Saffron huffed.

"Now now your Mother brought you up better than that, I am taking you to
the home of your new husband, and you better make a good impression."

"Then his name better be Dominic."

"Silence, I will have none of the allowances that the upper-class
permits their daughters. That is the downfall of our society. Girls are
just good as housekeepers and baby makers. I am a stern father and I
taught you not to speak until you are spoken to."

The road was crowded, and Saffron knew this was Dominic's way of telling
him what their excuse for travel was, if asked."

"So what do I call you dear father?"

"You may call me Sire when you must speak"

"And do I sleep with my father, Sire?"

"Impertinent child, act like the innocent virgin you are."

"And if I don't agree to marry you are taking me to a Nunnery."

"You're half right, I'm taking you to a Monastery."

"Dom-in-ic, I do not want to go to a monastery. I will languish away
with 25 monks all called Basil."

"You will be protected, and educated. Where I am sending you are much
like a University, but say no more. There are ears everywhere so no
more"

"I would do better to spy on my Uncle."

"Saffron, you do not have an inkling of the price we would both pay for
that. I will only have peace of mind to know I have left you some place
of safety. Besides now you are dead, Ron, Dead. They think that you have
died, and we are going to use their ignorance to protect you."

"You really are going back to sea then? If you don't come back I will
kill myself, and they will be right."

"Yes I have no choice in the matter, and you really do have some growing
to do. Our responsibilities are greater than our desires. After all you
are a bundle of talent, and we both know that the Greek translation is
responsibility."

"I have no talent."

"There you're wrong."

"What is my talent?"

"That is what you will discover at the place I'm taking you to."

"My talent is as a lover, are you taking me to an ancient cult of
Aphrodite?"

"No love that is one talent you have too much of. Perhaps this is the
time I must tell you this. Ron there will be other boys where you are
going and men as well. I do not bind you to me. It would be unfair if I
did. If you fall in love with another, and he is worthy of you, he can be
me in abstention."

"Dom."

"Ron, I may not be back."

"Then I will..."

"No, you will not. I ask one pledge of you, and you will give it to me
now if indeed you truly love me."

"I do, I do love you, with all my heart. Dominic you know that."

"Then swear on our love that you will do everything in your power to
stay safe, and follow orders to keep you that way. You will live a full
life, and if I am not a part of it, you will remember me through your own
great deeds."

"You ask too much!"

"I ask too little. That I have shared even a moment of your starlight
time has been a great honor. I will never ask you for another thing but
this vow."

"Good because I think it is more than I can promise. I can't even ride
a horse without falling off."

"That's because you stand on the horse instead of sit like a normal
squire, you would think you were pretending to ride the waves or
something."

"It is more fun to try to stand up and keep your balance..."

"You are changing the subject, I want a kiss as your vow."

"Or..."

"No more kisses."

"That is bastardly of you Dominic! If I don't promise you won't kiss
me."

"Never again, that's how much this means to me!"

Saffron started to lean back with his arms crossed. Dominic wasn't
getting this kiss, and yet he saw the travel wary face concerned only for
Ron. Ron figured out this pledge wasn't for him but for Dominic, to give
him one less burden, and some peace of mind. Ron knew that he could not
be selfish. He had to give this gift. It was the one that any who truly
loves another asks for. It was the only one worth buying.

Saffron inched closer and he moved his face, where with no effort he
could reach Dominic. It was nothing to press his lips to the man's
mouth; it was warm, pleasant, begging for another. But the meaning of
this kiss left another feeling behind. It had the hollowness of fear of a
life apart. Already Saffron was wondering how to insure that Dominic
wouldn't leave him, or if he did that his return would be swift. He
dreaded living with a pack of boys like a pack of wolves. Why did life
have to be a piece of hard iron, unyielding to his own simple desires,
which were only to be with Dominic?