Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 15:12:32
From: Ganymede
Subject: The Ring Around the Rose, by Ganymede

WARNING:


This story contains a graphic description of sexual acts
between a men and MINOR boys. I do not condone child abuse,
however boy-love as described in this story is an entirely
different matter. If the subject of man/boy sex offends you, if
this material is illegal in your place of residence, or if you
are under the legal age for such material, do not read further!
You have been warned! Read at your own risk!


Any similarity to individuals, living or dead, is entirely
accidental.


The story is copyrighted under the pseudonym, Ganymede. A copy
has been placed in the Nifty archives for your enjoyment. Feel
free to post it to appropriate newsgroups or send it to your
friends. The story cannot be used to derive monetary gain. It
cannot be placed in archives that require payment for access, or
printed and distributed in any form that requires payment.



THE COPYRIGHT OF OTHERS:

Throughout the story there are poems and songs by others. I do
not claim this work as my own. These poems and songs are included
within single quotation makes. In some cases, I have modified the
original to suit my purposes. Citations and sources have not been
provided because it would interrupt the story. I appreciate the
efforts of Ianthe, who collected and posted this material.



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FINAL WARNING:

If you are under the age of 18, if this material is illegal in
your place of residence, or if man-boy relationships aren't your
thing, then exit now and save yourself from a life of sin!



The Ring Around the Rose, by Ganymede


Chapter 2. The Making of the Ring


Barely was I out of the Master's chamber when I heard the
triumphant sound of an organ and a dozen horns calling the boys
to come together. They gathered every winter's evening in the
Great Hall. I stood back against the smooth stone wall,
fascinated by the splendid parade. Hungry though I was, I was
perfectly content to watch the slender youthful bodies pass me
by. It satisfied a hunger of a different sort. I saw lean limbs
that rippled with muscle, eager eyes staring straight ahead,
heads slightly bowed in humility. They had shed their leather and
bronze armor and chamois loin clothes and attired their lithe
young bodies in plain open-fronted woolen robes, appearing less
like warriors and more like lovers. Some boys deliberately chose
not to gird their loins with cotton under-cloths, and I glimpsed
a smooth-skinned thigh here and there, and infrequently, the
hairless shriveled sex of a prepubescent boy.

First in line, I recognized young Sandor, Libra, of Vulturnus.
He smiled at me and nodded with respect. He walked beside the
young initiate for that night. Favorius, by obvious choice, he
was a slender little lad with his brown hair brushed smoothly and
a garland woven of tiny white flowers to show his special status.
Directly behind him was an older boy. Four years older to be
precise. He was long-haired and wreathed in laurel, who was by
virtue of that circlet, a single day away from mating. It was
only to be expected that the first two rows of boys to enter the
Chapel were in order, both the last to join and the next to
leave.

Two virgins always lead the rest. After them, each row was
graded four times twelve, from oldest to youngest as well as
ranked in Order. Vulturnus was on the right of every pair for
that was their dominant nature. They could be recognized by hair
alone, for Vulturnus boys were short-haired. Kept close-cropped,
sometimes almost bald, purposefully aggressive. They were
accompanied side-by-side and matching exactly in age and order,
by Favorius. These were the passive boys, boys who would always
prefer to be the ridden ones. By contrast, Favorius boys did not
cut their hair, and in due course they would become long-haired,
reaching well beyond their waists by the time they left the
Sanctuary of the Rose. By nature, Favorius boys were less manly,
but equally as desirable to my mind.

It was the nature of the Sanctuary that no more than two of
them were virgins. Just twice I saw white sashes amid the red
ones. Any boy who was still untouched by a man was younger,
smaller, and somehow softer. He exhibited his innocence in other
ways beyond the absence of a ring of bruises between his cheeks.
As much by the way he walked or held his head, or how he smiled,
he indicated what had not been done to him. Virginity was
transient for boys upon the Mount. For two Libra boys, innocence
would be gone before the Order changed to Scorpio. Virtue,
chastity, purity, all would soon become a faint memory for once
pleasure was realized where it was least expected, inhibition was
quickly put to rest. That place considered by outsiders as being
dirty, in truth concealed the greatest treasure of all. With
sodomy, a boy was transformed, his passion instigated, his flesh
subordinated to a man's protrusion, his life changed for all
intent and purpose. Body, mind, and soul, all united, but for a
higher purpose than nature's reproduction.

The older Favorius boys were obscenely confident of their
sexuality, proudly strutting like splendid little peacocks, aware
that a face alone could bend one's will. Not only were they more
accepting of what was done by men, but with their longer hair, to
my mind, they were more erotic. Guiltily, I feasted my eyes upon
them, fascinated by how similar they were, while infinitely
different in other ways, in ways that counted for a man like me.
No boy was ever the same in the place that mattered. For both
Favorius and Vulturnus, from the very first entry, some squealed,
while others groaned, a few even lay quietly content. Some stayed
hard throughout, but most virgins quickly dwindled to a bare
morsel of maleness. Some used their muscles with incredible
pressure, some relaxed and bore the brunt of it within them, a
few squirmed about and wriggled all through climax. And there
were a few boys, the lucky ones, Favorius more often than not,
who even on the first attempt, surrendered to it more than once.
They were tormented by their ecstasy, and they writhed and
shuddered until there was nothing more to give.

As the splendid assembly of boys neared the Chapel threshold,
the doors swung wide and ninety-six magnificent unbroken voices
instantly joined in unison, singing the same words that I had
sung so long ago. Their voices ranged the upper scale. No voice
was deeper than alto, and most were pure soprano. They walked
steadily forward, bare feet treading quietly on the stones. I saw
no smiles among them for Evensong was serious enough to diminish
any levity for the time being. Up close, they were all such
pretty boys that it took my breath away. I think I sighed aloud.

"I must say that I agree. They're truly delightful, aren't
they?"

I turned at the unexpected voice beside me. I remembered him
instantly, my teacher, the Vulturnus master of 'mind over body'.
How often had I heard that instruction from him? Through constant
practice, I learned control, restraint, and sustenance by inner
means. Mind over body was a necessary skill. With practice, even
involuntary muscles could be conditioned to respect the mind's
demands. I slowed my heartbeat for a moment to prove the lesson
was still retained. I returned his smile eagerly. Suddenly, I
felt less like a stranger than a welcome friend.

"I remember you quite well," he added. "Aidan Aquarius, of
Vulturnus. You were quite a sexy lad yourself. Blond-headed and
quite well hung for nine or ten, if I'm not mistaken."

"You haven't changed," I remarked with amusement. "It's good
to greet you again, Master Aubert."

"Mind over body, that's me," he chuckled. "Indeed, when the
body is willing and the mind is willful, and there are all these
beautiful boys who want to fuck all night, one must concentrate
to go the distance. Increasingly, I find that I must use my mind
to achieve control. Supreme control even, especially when they're
in the mood for prolonged fun. You enjoyed your lessons, didn't
you Aidan?" he asked, changing the subject back to me.

"Yes."

"The young Aidan I knew could keep his cock erect all night,
if I recollect correct," he added with a smirk that clearly
reflected both some fond memories and pleasure in his play of
words. "And quite hard as well, if I'm not mistaken. You better
than any of the boys I've taught, could make your heart pump
harder as well as faster."

"I seem to remember that I had some help from you in staying
hard," I replied with a laugh.

My memories of him were no less enjoyable. Master Aubert had
skills that few men possessed. It was never over quickly with
him. Mind over body, always. He had the technique perfected and
was more than eager to pass it on to any boy who dared to visit.
The loving mind informed the penis of what it had to do. It
guided every thrust and throb, and one's pleasure existed as a
function of willpower directed to giving and sustaining the
pleasure of the other. For Master Aubert, endurance and stamina
were supplanted by sheer mental effort.

"Ah, yes I did." He chuckled, no doubt reflecting on the many
nights he had taken me in his bed.

He broke off and watched the curly headed sprite in the front
row as he proceeded through the door and into the Chapel. He was
attired like all the rest, except for his flowered wreath and the
white sash around his waist. Master Aubert regarded him with
leering eyes, but what man would not leer at such a pretty sight.
What was more, the boy was visibly nervous, but what boy would
not be nervous when his time of deflowering approached?

"Poor Kadri's a Libra. He's been getting ready for it since
the start of fall, and he's still scared," Master Aubert said
candidly. "After four weeks I don't why. He's already loose
enough. He takes two fingers with nary a whimper, but some lads
are like that. Frightened of what they don't know. He's a small
boy and Favorius so I suppose it's only to be expected. Little
does he know it'll be the best time of his life once he's broken
to the rod."

"Tonight?" I asked simply.

"That's what I've been given to understand. I'm here to watch
Master Kieran do his mounting. He's gentle until the end, and
then it won't matter," he ended with a knowing smirk. "You might
remember him, Aidan? I'm certain he started here around your
time. He's tall and, like you, he's quite well endowed. He
teaches the use of swords, and it's well known by all the boys
that he's quite proficient with the use of the rapier between his
legs."

"I remember him vaguely," I replied absently. "He came a few
weeks before I left."

"The boys still refer to him as Master Asparagus," Master
Aubert said softly. "A long thin stalk and a tiny head, but more
than ample for a Vulturnus boy." He winked meaningfully.

"I remember him for that alone. Asparagus is appropriate
indeed."

"No doubt he plunged his sword into you as well."

"He did. He taught me to thrust and parry. Poor Kadri," I
laughed. "He'll need to rest tomorrow."

"He's Favorius as I've already said," Master Aubert commented.
"So, he'll be one of yours, Aidan. I'm sure that like all
Favorius boys he'll soon prefer something a little thicker. If
not asparagus, perhaps a cucumber like your's instead? "

"News travels fast," I acknowledged with a grin. What man did
not like to be complimented on the extent of manhood's weapon.
"The Master has only just told me of my assignment."

Master Aubert shook his head. "You've been expected for quite
some time, Aidan. The oracle, you know. It's never wrong."

I remembered the Master's ancient scroll and the reference
made therein to issues I would rather others knew nothing of. I
gave an involuntary shudder as the last of forty-eight rows of
boys, two deep, Favorius and Vulturnus, passed us by. With
growing interest, one might say, I watched their rounded little
bottoms covered by their otherwise shapeless thick woolen robes.
Summer seemed so far away, but well worth looking forward to, for
when the weather warmed the boys would be temptingly revealed in
perfect form under thin cotton tunics, or better yet, soft
chamois loincloths moist with sweat and other secretions.

"Quite beautiful are they not," Master Aubert remarked as he
brazenly rearranged his crotch. "I've had most of them at one
time or another, you know, Aidan, and I'm still excited by their
hind ends."

"I can only imagine what they're like, I'm afraid," I joked.

He turned suddenly, following a final pair of boys closely
before he smiled. "He looked at me, you saw that didn't you?"

I glanced at the last of the boys and wondered which one in
particular he was talking about. I favored the nearest one, the
blond-headed lad on the left who could have worn a dress and gone
unnoticed until he went to bed.

The changed tone of Master Aubert's voice was ample indication
of an emotion that I had seldom observed as a boy upon the Mount.
It was not encouraged for tutors and their charges to become
lovers. Indeed, it was even frowned upon for a boy to have been
initiated by the same man who then sought his everlasting love.
Such affairs of the heart were promptly truncated, unless the
recipient of love was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of
manhood yet to come. Few boys did, and few masters would even
consider the daunting loss of love.

"Which one?" I asked boldly.

Master Aubert smiled without reservation, admitting affection
was present but still not love.

"The dark-haired gamin in the third last row. I fear I'm
further imprisoned by his every look. He's quite charming and,
for Vulturnus, a pleasure to take to bed. The little Leo's only
ten and I've found him hotter there than any boy I've had. You'd
think he had a fever in his bowels." He gestured to the open door
to the Chapel. "You'll witness the mounting with me I hope,
Aidan?"

I shrugged and prayed that I had appeared as if I were
disinterested. Yet, the possibility of watching had charged my
mind with yearning. The opportunity to see a boy, a nine-year-old
boy, lose his virginity, was cruel temptation for a man like me.
To say the least, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for any
boy, and not much difference for the ones who watched him do it.

In one way, that Etienne had died no longer restrained me, for
it had become apparent to me during my interview with the Master
of the Sanctuary that my desire had not died with him. I could
not change that. Since then, my penis ached with a hardness that
would not go away. It seemed that life, or at least erections
continued regardless of the pain within my heart. I would survive
in order to keep Etienne's memory alive by living life for him. I
nodded to Master Aubert and tried to hold my eagerness back.

I followed him into the Chapel, skirting the gathered throng
of singing boys by keeping to the side aisle. We were in the
shadowy area behind the columns, where the masters and tutors
gathered to witness Evensong and monitor the mounting
celebration. The Chapel seemed even more sacred than I
remembered. The words of 'The Glory that is My Lover's Dream'
echoed back and forth with an evocative vigor that was less
spiritual than it should have been. It was sexually arousing.
Etienne had sung that song every evening and my heart quaked as I
silently mouthed the words.

Song followed song. Some were sung in unison, with ninety-six
voices matched in harmony. Some songs were solo, or led by boys
could hold their own and let their voices reach into the lofty
ceiling. Even in my weakened state, it was a joy simply to listen
to them. I rested against the marble base of a column and closed
my eyes.

The man who led the ceremony was very old. Of the few men who
I had met, he was hardest to recognize. It was his effeminate
gestures that had not changed. Master Aleyn, was old and bearded
even when I was a boy. He trembled noticeably when he talked, yet
his soft voice commanded the respect of every man and boy who was
present. Master Aleyn was both Master of the Favorius novitiates
and Master of the Spirit. I understood that he was close to death
and I was his replacement. In his condition he would be hard
pressed to even masturbate a novice, let alone give instruction
to an eager boy where it was most needed.

Then, the organ rose in volume and the sound of jubilation
resounded through the Chapel. I felt my spirit being lifted,
pulled from within me into the shared power of all who stood
there. I felt the glow within me. Together, there was strength
for all of us. One boy began to sing. Poor Kadri. His virgin
voice wavered, gaining strength from the hopes and goodwill that
flowed from all to him. I sent my own silent blessing. He was one
of those boys who doubtless would have been happier if he were
born a girl. Just as his reedy voice began to lose its timbre,
all the voices joined in and a single voice became a compelling
accord that soared to the heavens. My mouth stayed open, not
daring to add my own baritone to the magnificent harmony, but
kept silent in sheer amazement.


'Though the pale white within your cheeks compris'd,
And doubtful light unto your eyes confin'd,
Though short of breath not from itself unloos'd,
And careless motions of your equal mind,
Argues your beauties are not all disclos'd;

'Yet as a rising cock, when first 'tis grown,
Points fairer than when it ascends more red,
Or as a budding rose, when first 'tis shown,
Smells sweeter far then when it is more spread;
As all things best by men and boys are known;'


Even as the song reached its glorious culmination, the boy was
led closer to the Altar by an older boy, his partner in the
triumphal march. This boy was no less Favorius, but four years
older. His glistening hair hung almost past his waist. Long
golden curls that would be pleated into a single tail once he was
mated to a man. For one boy, this was his first time, for the
other boy his last time in the Chapel. Tomorrow, one boy would be
sore but happy, and the other boy would be taken away by his
warrior. He would be no less happy in his new life. That very
same day a new Favorius boy would be brought into the Sanctuary.
This was the way of things and it would not change because the
progression through the Sanctuary had to be uninterrupted.

I was pleased to see that the older boy was patient with his
charge and I regarded him with growing affection. It was not so
long ago that Etienne had performed the same rites, albeit to a
Vulturnus boy. It was best that he calmed and consoled while
taking charge of what needed to be done

Master Aleyn offered a brief prayer and a celebratory embrace
before the younger boy was guided to mount the steps that
preceded the Altar. Only once in a lifetime did a boy lie upon
that stone. Just once. No boy forgot what happened on the Altar.
I watched, as everyone else watched. First, the older boy untied
the sash of white shiny satin. It was placed diagonally across
the stone altar. Kadri's woolen robe opened at the front,
revealing a milk-toned body and a puny sex that showed his
gender, but not much else. The lucky boys were the ones who came
to the altar with erections. I prayed for him, and hoped that his
body would reveal his desire before the initiation was complete.


'So in your untouched and innocent estate
A beauty is discern'd, no more worthy love
That which further does not itself dilate,
And those degrees of variation prove,
Our vulgar needs so much do celebrate.

'Thus, thought your eyes dart not that piercing blaze
Which doth in some mens' looks appear,
It is because you do not need to gaze
On other objects than your proper sphere,
Nor wander further than to run that maze.



"The boy who presents him is Carlin. He's an interesting lad
with a good mind and a strong will. He's got a reputation of
being quite the filly," Master Aubert whispered in my ear. "Even
the little boys have ridden him. Favorius as well as Vulturnus.
Whoever he mates with is sure never to need a saddle to stay on
top of him."

I smirked. That certainly had not been the case with Etienne.
However, like me, Etienne was a true Vulturnus. He was always
eager to take a turn with me beneath, even if we had yet to share
the rides equally. There were certain advantages with passive
boys that one did not realize until their semen flowed.

"He's not been picked?" I asked. I could not remember what day
it was.

"Not yet. The competition ends tomorrow. I hear the challenge
had been quite strong. The favorite for Favorius is reputedly
bigger than a horse. If it's only half that big, it will be
enough to keep young Carlin happy, I'd wager."

With an exaggerated gesture, Carlin lifted the robe from
Kadri's shoulders and eased it down his thin arms. Perhaps he was
frightened or cold, for he shivered. Unnecessarily so, for the
pretty lad had a body that could bind a man's eyes and never let
them go. Some boys were brown, others were almond-skinned, and
some like Kadri were the color of goat cheese. Like milk, like
the silvery full moon beyond the lead-glass windows, he stood
pale and smooth and as bare as any boy could be before a
multitude of eyes. His beauty was even more astounding with the
Altar of Initiation directly behind him. There was no secret made
about its purpose. With a single palm placed upon the younger
boy's thin chest, Carlin directed him to hop up onto the Altar.
Thereupon, Kadri obediently lay down and brought his knees up to
his chest. He had a small white bottom with dimpled cheeks, and a
tiny pink flower awaiting what came next. The boys' voices raised
as the meaning of the song became evident.


'So, if you want that delight which must succeed,
And give at last a puncture to your hole,
It is because neither in outward deed
With inward finger you yet admit that lard
For within your cheeks a guilty bruise should need.


'So, if your breath do not so freely flow,
It is because your love seeks to consume
That vital treasure which you do bestow,
As well to mount as much to pleasure
Your virgin anus, his shaft must go.'



"I hope he doesn't pee," Master Aubert remarked in the
momentary break between the verses. He sighed sincerely. "It
happens sometimes as you know and the boys will tease him
afterwards if he does."

The voices rose again, carrying the song to its loudest level
yet. The gathered boys parted, standing twelve rows to either
side to make an aisle for Master Kieran to approach. He strode
between them and I offered my silent wish of hope that the sight
of a man's naked body would be sufficient to reward Kadri with an
erection. Master Kieran was attired in the red embroidered robes
of his intended function. He bowed and knelt before the recumbent
boy until the song drew to a close with the final verse. Carlin
applied the slimy grease, two fingers coated with a copious lump
of lard pressed between the boy's rounded cheeks. I held my
breath. How many years had passed since a boy had done that to
me? Too many, but I could still feel the fingers slide into my
anus and expertly widen the entry to my rectum. The younger boy
trembled after his anointing. However, he stayed reclined and
even moved his hands to spread his cheeks apart, listening as the
other boys sang in his honor.



'Yet stay not there, love for this night must call,
You were not born to serve only one man's will;
Nor can your beauty be perpetual:
'Tis your perfection your ring to darken still,
And to be enjoy'd to find that love is mutual.'



I wanted to applaud, but applause was insignificant. All eyes
were upon the boy upon the Altar. A virgin about to be deflowered
deserved to be the center of attention. Honor was important for
the first time. That was why Master Kieran kneeled before him.
Kadri had selected him from all the others. He had been honored
and he would honor Kadri in return. Virginity and pride went hand
in hand, and he would make the boy proud of what he'd lost. Still
kneeling, he pronounced his prayer of tribute loudly enough that
everyone in the Chapel could hear. By then, the preparation had
been completed and Carlin stood aside, resting his hand upon
young Kadri's shoulder to comfort him through the final two
verses.



'Over sweet-toned affections - but the joy
That enters to the spirit of a boy
Is deep as his young heart: his very breath,
The simplest sense of being, is enough
To ravish him, and like a thrilling touch
He feels each moment of his life go by.


'Beautiful, beautiful boy! with a joy
That like a robe is palpable, and flung
Out by your very motion! delicate bud
Of the immortal flower that will unfold
And come to maturity in heaven!
I weep your earthly glory. 'Tis a light
Lent to the new-born spirit that goes out
With the first idle wind of east.'



They were beautiful words, made even more wonderful by the
splendid setting of the Chapel bathed in amber candlelight and
the ninety-five other boys who had gathered to celebrate his
initiation with him. Kadri was immortal at that moment. Boys had
preceded him, and boys would follow him, and life for all of them
would go on to eternity. The chain went on unbroken unless a boy
relinquished what he was.

All eyes were upon Kadri's naked body, all minds were focused
on his, wishing felicity. The unspoken prayers suffused the
reluctant lad and he hardened. His tiny part grew instantly to
the very apogee of stiffness. With relief, I smiled. That flower
of his virgin boyhood had indeed unfolded, and from the tip, that
very tiny partially unveiled tip, appeared a delicate bud with no
equal. It was crimson red, like mine, like Etienne's, like any
boy or man who stood there in the Chapel. It was the sign of who
we were. Carlin's hand moved a fraction of an inch and formally
pulled the skin right back. It was truly a rose revealed and
ready to blossom.

"Thank goodness," Master Aubert whispered to me. "That boy is
more Favorius than all the rest, I think. A good replacement for
young Carlin when he leaves."

I nodded slightly but did not shift my eyes from what was
unfolding before me. Master Kieran had exposed his sword. What
added length it had was fairly uncompensated by a lessened girth.
There were some men who claimed that a long thin member made a
man ideal for boys. However, even a Vulturnus boy appreciated
that depth without width was never as satisfying. With nothing
more than a single glance, I estimated half-a-cubit, the length
of one hand, and quite big enough to hurt if it was rushed.
Unlike my penis which could more than fill the breadth of a man's
two hands side by side, Master Kieran's much thinner member could
be easily held by a boy as young as Kadri. Little wonder that
they called him Master Asparagus.

The man stood tall before the altar, as tall as I would. He
even bent his knees outward slightly to bring the height to match
the boy who lay before him. From the other side of the Altar,
Carlin reached around Kadri's legs. Very little could be seen
from behind or from the sides, but every one realized what was
happening. The rose had to be positioned just right for the de-
flowering to be done. And that was Carlin's role, to aligned the
master's penis with the waiting hole. Kadri stared straight
ahead, doubtless seeing what was pointed as his anus, but no
longer caring. Indeed, it would have been hard for him to miss
it. The distance closed between them. Everyone fell silent. Every
mind was directed to a single goal, that of aiding and abetting
in the loss of innocence. My mind joined in too. And Master
Aubert. Even Master Kieran was issuing the same plea for the rosy
head to enter without undue difficulty.

Kadri heeded the instructions whispered from behind him. I
watched his face become tense as he strained down and tried to
push his feces out.

"Push harder," Carlin advised a little louder. "Just the way
you're doing it, only harder."

The boy shuddered and I shuddered with him. Our minds had
joined. All of the minds had joined. A single mind. An intense
and overwhelming unity of thought and spirit of ninety-six pre-
pubertal boys and twelve masters. And me. I felt what Kadri was
feeling. The timeless surge, the rigid pressure, the bearing
down, the pushing into him. I strained with him, forcing just as
he needed to force out to take the man inside him. My penis
glowed, throbbing like Master Kieran's penis, like Kadri's little
shaft. Then, without warning, Kadri quaked and groaned.

"Thank the lard," Master Aubert said softly. "That's it. A
virgin gone. The Rose is done"

"He's opened well," I said admiringly.

"I was worried about him, I have to say. I'm glad to see him
smiling, I tried to tell him that once he's ringed he'll be all
the happier for it," he added proudly.

Indeed, the boy's happiness filled my thoughts. He had
succeeded at what he had wanted to achieve. The smile of triumph
was upon his face. The pain was bearable, but only just. Now came
the waiting. It took time to stretch wider and for the muscles to
relax. Carlin stroked the boy's shoulders, gently touched his
cheeks and forehead, and smeared away the gathered beads of sweat
that formed. I smiled at him, at the gathered boys. Of all the
ceremonies on the Mount, the mounting was the most important.
Patience was a virtue for a virgin, but for the rest of the boys
who watched, patience was a sin when a penis had barely entered
them.

"Poor thing. He must be very tight," I said frankly.

"Only the once. He's not a virgin after this. Besides, he's
not nearly as tight as you might think, Aidan," Master Aubert
whispered back. "I spent some time with him earlier today. He's
already got the basic idea down, and he can take two fingers
without a whimper. Even three is not much harder. He loosens as
fast as any boy I've ever had."

"Mind over body," I acknowledged. "Still it's asking a lot of
such a small body, no matter how much he wants it in him."

"Yes it is. It's quite a task, and you're a great deal
bigger," he winked. "You'll need the patience of the Gods until
he opens properly. Keep him well anointed with lanolin and he'll
be fine once the mark is done. Another week or two and then he'll
be hot and horny for something bigger to fill his rectum. I
wouldn't be at all surprised if he starts backing up for a second
effort with you before Scorpio is out."

I smiled and did not answer. If one did not know better, what
Master Aubert had said was impossible to believe. The waiting
appeared to be over, judging by the renewed interest of the
others gathered. From my own experience, I knew that it seldom
took longer than a few minutes for a boy's anus to dilate.
Already, Master Kieran was testing the little orifice with gentle
motions. He barely moved his hips, yet it was far enough for the
boy to tremble. It took an inch or less of penetration to weaken
the guardian of the portal. Two or three inches was certain
defeat.

"Well, push it in him," someone suggested light-heartedly
from the aisle. "He's as ready as he'll ever be."

Master Kieran glanced back at his audience. He was smiling
widely. Of all of us, he knew what was needed. He could feel it
around his impaled member, that quivering muscle yielding way. He
held the boy's feet, one in each hand. That would be comfort in
itself, keeping the boy's tender feet off the cold stone slab.
However, it served an added purpose, that of restraining the boy
from pushing him away should the urge occur. From the other side
of the Altar, Carlin grinned. He lifted his hand above his head,
holding three fingers apart from the rest.

Three fingers? Already that far inside? The wanton little
wretch was taking Master Kieran's penis like he had done it for
months before. However, for a Favorius boy, even a young one,
opening quickly was the norm.

Another push, now visibly harder than the gentle prodding that
had preceded it. This time, the bare-assed boy groaned and
wriggled, but not in discontent. I heard a murmur of approval
from the boys. All of them knew that feeling, the final
inexorable inward push, of breaking past the muscle band and into
the void beyond. The man's penis took possession of them, then.
They were mastered by the man when they were captivated by pure
gut-wrenching pleasure. This was how teaching began. Kadri had
begun to learn. From this moment forth, he lived to serve, and
learn, and then to love, and love again. Facing Kadri, Master
Kieran started thrusting. Slow deliberate thrusts, the kind of
thrusts that moved the glans from rim to open void, in and out
and back and again.

The boy's face contorted momentarily while he tried to
understand the difference between sensations. Some were still
painful, and would remain so for quite some time, but the others
were nothing short of pure euphoria. His ecstasy was obvious to
anyone who cared to look. It was such a pity that those outside
the Sanctuary could not understand this miracle of love. A man
could love a boy and give him joy like no other.

"He's getting looser I'm glad to say," Master Aubert
acknowledged quietly. "Listen. You can hear the sucking in his
bowels."

He was right. The sound was unforgettable, a soft wet suction,
slurping with each withdrawal. One had to listen carefully to
hear it, but every ear was trained enough. Definitive movement.
Undeniable, powerful, movement. Above his groans and whimpers
came the lush slippery sound of sodomy, the sweet noise of a boy
being fucked into oblivion.

"Asparagus dick is in him all the way," giggled one of the two
boys standing closest to me.

His companion elbowed him in the side. Both Vulturnus boys, it
was only natural for them to show some disrespect when a Favorius
boy lay upon the Altar.

"Hush lads," Master Aubert chided.

I watched relentlessly, enticed by the vision of heavenly
delight. Little Kadri had released his ankles to lift his feet
and lock them around the master's back. In turn, the man had
lifted him still higher and was pumping with all his might. His
reputation for gentle patience was visibly in doubt. However,
there was no fear of Kadri regretting his impetuous position. He
gazed up, eyes wide, as attentive as any boy had ever been. There
was a smile on his pretty face that conveyed much more than words
ever could. I knew that look, the face that showed sheer
untrammeled rapture.

There was a reason why boys referred to the inner contentment
as the Seventh Heaven. Only a boy could appreciate the deep-
seated bliss, the ultimate pleasure that welled up within their
bodies as they were brought closer to the edge. Some Favorius
called it 'madness', sensations that consumed their sanity. Still
other boys acknowledged unbridled joy, others termed it
'frightening', and 'close to death'. Vulturnus boys were more
reluctant to admit to anything other than they liked it. The
masters knew better and taunted Vulturnus boys to do it often if
only in the spirit of good fun.

At the beginning, as for the end, both expertise and
experience demanded the pace be set accordingly to the lad.
Master Kieran began slowly as the rule required, timing his
strokes to match Kadri's hesitant breathing, exhale and out,
inhale and in. With added looseness, he became much faster, going
deeper and harder on every stroke. He finished exactly as he
should. Once for every heartbeat of the lad, and even that
increased when he came closer to the end. The master's pelvis
moved with the agitation reminiscent of a dog mounting on a
bitch. Rapid jerks that were barely at that hidden gland before
departing. Poor Kadri certainly whimpered like a pup in heat.
Faster, harder, deeper, was the inspiration offered by all of us,
and faster, harder, deeper it became.

The noise, surging, sucking, sloppy, became louder. Lard was
churned to slimy foam, adding to the mess. The boy was straining,
writhing on the stone, abandoned to the urgent pounding provided
my his man. He had chosen well. Faster, harder, deeper.

"One of them is close now by the look of it," Master Aubert
said with amusement.

"Just one?" I commented, no less delighted.

He laughed. "The lad's to come first is my bet."

"Mine too. I'll not wager though. The look on Master Kieran's
face is something to behold," I smirked.

"So true. Ah! There he comes!" Master Aubert exclaimed.

Which of them he was addressing, it was impossible to tell.
Kadri was ecstatic. His heated head was thrown back, his eyes
closed shut, his teeth gnawing at his fist. The muscles in his
thighs were blatant, stretched tight as he forced his body onto
it. He kept it there, the man's hard sex lunging deep within,
pumping into the only place that could not get enough. And Master
Kieran? His mouth was open, uttering a silent yell of triumphant
pleasure as he spurted. I could only imagine what they shared,
although I knew it well. Hot thick seed was squirting, filling up
the tightened cavity. Every muscle squeezing to get the last drop
out. The boy's anus would be clamping down, again and again,
gripping the pulsating penis with frightening might.

It only lasted a few heartbeats, just long enough for both of
them to know that they had lived, and in orgasm, experienced the
agony of immortality. I felt relief, a burden lifted that the
Rose went on. It mattered not that Etienne was gone. These boys
were as much his brothers as they soon would become my sons.

With due deliberation, and a groan of exasperation, Master
Kieran withdrew slowly. He had performed his task above every
expectation. There was no sound except a murmur of approval when
the sword appeared. For an instant, a misty steam rose up in the
cold air of the Chapel. There was no blood, on the glistening
steel-hard blade, which was to be expected given its proportion.
A long thin penis was ample for a virgin. Kadri smirked up at
him, the man who had initiated him. Instinctively, his hand felt
between his cheeks. All boys did that, to ascertain the dimension
and condition of the hole that was there. It was tender and he
winced as his finger sank within, but still he smiled. Doubtless,
he could feel the fluid seeping down, the fluid that proved that
love was real.

Master Kieran stayed in position, his drawn weapon poised to
enter once again should the lad demand it. He nodded once, barely
conscious. That was the difference between Vulturnus and
Favorius. Etienne would have balked and been exhausted. More than
likely he would have suggested that he would rather mount me
instead. A second round was underway before I had a chance to
wonder at the young boy's strength. This time, Carlin's
involvement was minimal. Kadri's anus was wide open and needed
nothing more than a sudden push in order breech the entry again.
The lad groaned loudly when the penis sank within him. One
thrust, from beginning to end, until Master Kieran's shaft was
completely hidden. I thought of Etienne holding the curved blade
of my scimitar within him, of the spasms inside his rectum,
contracting, expelling, satisfying spasms. Etienne was of the
type who bear it quietly.

"Mind over body once again. I swear it works best with young
boys," Master Aubert chuckled. "I think the lust and tightness
help to keep it still as well. If anything, I think it's harder."

"He will be sore tomorrow," I replied.

Fully ensconced with that small hot abode, there was only one
thing left for them to do. I heard a murmur of approval, general
encouragement for their rutting to continue. Instead, for a while
they stayed immobile, joined and sharing the intimacy of being
united as man and boy. Master Kieran leaned down and pressed his
lips to the boy's forehead. At the same time, the boy licked and
nibbled on the man's nipples. His small hands stroked the man's
arms and the little ankles pressed into his flanks to incite him
to begin again.

Love was and had been present throughout. It was embodied in
every move, every word, every deed. That was the nature of the
Sanctuary, and the initiation feat was where love first began.
Yet, it had been there all along if one chose to look. This act
was simply the celebration, the final recognition, a boy's
announcement to his brothers of what he was.

The second time took much longer for both them. It was
supposed to be that way. The boy had lost his fear and gained
respect. He copulated now, simply because he wanted to, and to
show what was in his heart. He copulated freely before one
hundred and eight admirers, now themselves consumed by his
delight. The thing inside him was as hard as forged metal and
driven deeply, as deeply as I had ever been within Etienne. This
was the realm of pleasure, uncontrollable, indescribable, over-
whelming pleasure. Kadri was orgasmic with the blink of an eye.
His legs clamped, then twitched and jerked and with great
difficulty remained locked around Master Kieran's hips. Master
Kieran reached out, took Kadri's hands in his and lifted him
completely off the Altar. He turned around, supporting the boy's
slim body perpendicular to his own.

The lad hung there, impaled precipitously, abruptly wriggling
whenever the shaft sank deeper. From where I stood, I would have
said that there was nothing left to give, or take, so closely was
the union made. However, the Master arched and leaned backward.
The boy dropped another miraculous inch, his face contorted as he
grunted. Someone giggled, another boy pointed and whispered to
his mates. The accumulated juices were dripping on the flagstone
floor. Then, Kadri barely cognizant of what was leaking from
inside him, was lifted back again onto the Altar, no longer
virgin for the shaft was completely buried in his core. The
Master raised his haunches, pausing, then withdrawing to the
brink. He paused again, and without warning plunged in once
again. The boy shuddered, gripping his ankles even tighter to
place his legs in a seemingly impossible position.

I saw his teeth clench. His head was shaking, still watching
between his thighs and nodding eagerness and lust. Then faster,
sliding on the slick seed already there, their bodies sweating
profusely, giving it everything they had. First one groaned, and
then other, and the frantic slamming started. I glanced at Master
Aubert and he smirked in restrained amusement. This boy had
needed coaxing? I nearly laughed. He bucked and writhed and
twisted, and begged for more, like an older boy. And then he
came, squealing out his panicked joy. Even for Favorius, it was
startling for just his second time.

"Look at that! The little wretch has come again," Master
Aubert chuckled. "That's two, and I'll wager he'll go another one
before he's done. I suppose I should have expected it the way he
wriggled on my fingers. And to think that he was terrified this
afternoon once he'd made his choice of Master Kieran. He was so
sure he'd lose control and pee."

I smiled. Vulturnus boys were different. They had no choice in
who mounted them. The masters drew a straw for who would do it.
The boy knew nothing until the end, when he lay upon the Altar
and the man came forward and opened up his robe. Like everything
else, a Vulturnus boy would take it in his stead, which only went
to show that for an aggressive boy, his first mounting was merely
an another obstacle to be overcome. Both Etienne and I had agreed
that a boy's virginity was best taken by a man he didn't choose.
That made it impersonal and less quiescent. Now, as I watched
Kadri gazing up at Master Kieran with wanton love in his eyes, I
was not so certain. There was a certain dormant longing in every
boy, a latent need, a joyous potential that could best be
realized with an appropriate partner.

"It looks as if they're fighting a losing battle," I observed.

The thrusts came slowly, pumping out waves of pleasure. Each
thrust was timed to meet the boy's upward lifting. It was mutual
pleasuring and each was willing to push the limit. However, the
inevitable conclusion was simply too close to postpone much
longer. I could see the concentration on one face, grim
determination on the other. Mind over body made orgasm reluctant,
yet abeyance could not last forever. The boy's strength was
visibly flagging. He breathed through an open mouth, quick gasps
that ended in a drawn-out whimper. Still Master Kieran plowed
onward, using his arms as well as legs to drive inward.

He used a long stroke, bearing down upon the last few inches
until he crushed the boy beneath him. Lest one think the
recipient was unwilling, the boy's legs strained and tightened
every time. As each inward thrust bottomed out, they stayed
together for a while, man so far into boy that he could barely
breath. By then, my own member was aching hard, and threatening
to lose control. My testicles were pulled up tightly, the root of
my problem throbbing mercilessly. From long experience I knew
that it could happen by merely watching.

In time, Kadri would learn a host of ways to prolong the
ultimate joy, but for that brief repetition, his anus clutched
and squeezed, closing tightly to hold the penis in him. That
slowed the Master, yet like any man, he hardened further and used
brute strength to overcome increased resistance. On the outward
stroke the boy's anus was inverted, seeming to open outwards with
each pull backwards, and on the inward stroke, it completely
disappeared. The noise was loud, both groans and the succulent
mess of moving flesh. Sometimes erratic, sometimes rhythmic, but
always moving. There were even times when the boy shoved back and
took it harder. He would be sore in the morning, but he lived
only for the moment. The pummeling of his anus was guaranteed to
produce more than aching soreness. Kadri would have a ring of
rose-hued bruises whose size was equal to the stake contained
within him.

Just when it seemed that the end was near, the man began that
ultimate sensation. His glistening, steaming penis pulled
completely free, exiting with a pop. Then back again, punching
swiftly into the frenzied, slurping body until only his fat
scrotum could be seen. Then out again, with an even louder 'pop'.
I wondered how long he would be able to keep that up. With
Etienne, I seldom lasted longer that a dozen times, and that was
after using every trick I had learned upon the Mount. The final
thrusts seemed to take forever, such was the emotion shown. They
worked together, exploring passion at an elementary level.

The climax came as I slipped my hand into my cassock, seeking
the opening within the deepened pocket. My penis spasmed
immediately with that first grasp. I ejaculated into my hand,
spilling my white hot seed between my fingers. I shuddered, felt
my penis jumping relentlessly as spurt followed spurt, seemingly
endless. Thick slime gathered, oozing wetly, shamelessly
squeezing the last of it out. So much of it. Had only five days
passed since my penis had been in Etienne? My knees felt weak, my
face burning red, my heart slowing, no longer pounding.

And upon the Altar, a naked no-longer virgin boy was shaking.
One hand was held within his mouth, his entire body jerking from
spasms from within him, the engorged penis squashed against his
gland. The second orgasm, while less, still produced a flood.
Doubtless from his enigmatic smile, the lad could feel his
master's penis squirting, that over-powering male explosion,
splattering against the clutching tender walls of his 'boy-
vagina'.

My semen dribbled from my hand and I absently smeared the rest
of it against the woolen fibers. It had been a long while since I
had soiled myself. Yet, the mess I had made, was nothing compared
to Kadri's behind. The Master eased away exposing the gaping hole
between two widespread cheeks. Every boy craned forward. Some
giggled, some grinned, some were silent in astonishment at what
they saw.

I saw red. Not the red of blood, but the red of well-used
flesh opening to within. I saw the crimson red of a deflowered
boy, a boy whose secret passage had been opened for the first
time. From the shy smile of contentment, there was no question
that another Favorius boy was more than ready for those who would
follow. As Master Kieran, rearranged his robe, Carlin assisted
Kadri to climb down from the Altar. The boy stood weakly, legs
apart, dribbling semen, needing his companion's arm to keep him
steady. The woolen robe was placed upon his shoulders. Now
dressed, Master Kieran, came forward. he took the boy's hands in
his and lovingly pressed their lips together. I heard a murmur of
approval.

Master Kieran's voice reached to the heavens:



"'Long years ago there came to me in sleep
  The vision of a boy divinely fair;
His eyes were moon-kissed seas, serene and deep,
  Elysian blossoms crowned his golden hair;
Light flowed around him, gently fell his voice
  Like a soft-singing shower of silver dew,
Long time he gazed, then smiling, spoke 'Rejoice!
  Seek only for me, for I alone am taken!'"



I sighed in approval of the sentiment. I could not have
expressed it better, that wonderful realization of what it meant
to love a boy. Then, the Master stepped back and he was handed a
folded sash in brilliant red satin. He opened it, and held it out
for all to see. As the voices of all the boys joined in song, he
closed the robe and knotted the sash at Kadri's slender waist, a
brilliant red sash for all to see and know that he had been
ringed.


"'Bold erectness of the boy
who is not afraid of his first test.
Small white flowers were in his hair,
knees pressed firmly to the chest,
but the fingers in practice were extended
for the first touch.

'Ah, that is the boy's role, not pretended
lying over the sacred Altar stone,
we are waiting for it to fill us like a sweet wave,
but instead we are engulfed in the seed of man
that enraptures and then immediately joins us.'"



As the song finished, little weak-kneed Kadri was taken by the
hands, Carlin on one side and Master Kieran on the other. They
led him down the center aisle, between Favorius and Vulturnus and
as they walked unsteadily, the other boys flowed in seamlessly
behind them. Finally, when they were all gone, Master Aubert and
I followed them.

"Well, Aidan?" he asked softly.

"It was very beautiful," I admitted. "I know of nothing to
compare."

"Neither do I. Every time I watch the Mounting, and to my
credit, I count no less than a thousand, I am still amazed."

"A thousand?" I asked in surprise.

"Twenty-four boys per year," he explained. "And I have been a
master here for nearly forty-three years." He rubbed his hands
together. "And the best thing is that the boys will be horny
tonight. They always are after a mounting. I'll not get any sleep
until tomorrow, I expect."

"But isn't there another ceremony," I asked. "The Libra from
Vulturnus, the boy named Sandor?"

"Yes. He's on the Altar for tomorrow night. But for now the
Making of the Ring is done for Kadri. I was quite worried for
him. He's very sensitive, even for Favorius. Now, that young
Sandor tomorrow night, will likely take his Master's cock with a
grin," he laughed.

Master Aubert bade me farewell when we reached the stairs. He
would ascend to the floor above, and for a night, just one more
night, I would sleep alone. For once, my mind was clear of
memories of my sweet Etienne. Halfway up the stairs, he stopped
and slowly turned around.

"It's good to have you in the Sanctuary again, Aidan. Sleep
well tonight. I hope you'll join me in the morning for the Making
of the Rose in Bud and Bloom?" he asked.

"Yes," I answered.

Master Aubert nodded thoughtfully. I watched him turn and
continue up the stairs, his words becoming fainter and sadder as
he climbed.



"'To love thee brings me sadness, for I know
each time the time will never come again, --
that every moment brings the darker stain
of riper manhood. Liker as we grow,
Love stirs its wings, impatient to remain.

'Each night of such a love from such a love doth part
thy forward-looking self. At each remove
from boyhood thou art further from my love,
though nearer to the knowledge of my heart.
Love joineth us the closer to dispart.'"