Pueros

The Lycian Prince

(1st version)

Chapter 16 - Love

The black boy with the pretty face came to release Anthonius from the wagon. He then followed the old man to the smallest of the huts, gently pulling Anthonius along with him by the chain lead. When they reached the hut, the old man took the chain off him and roughly pulled the white boy through the door and onto the empty floor where, locking the door, he left the naked lad. Anthonius regained his feet only with some difficulty because of his awkward bondage. The unlit hut was dark but he could see some light coming in through a small hole in the wall next to the door, from where a knot of wood had fallen long ago. He peered through the hole with his right eye to see the old man enter another hut, presumably his home, and the blacks making camp some distance away. The boy suddenly realised how tired he was and curled up in a corner. He was soon asleep but not for long because the old man returned, carrying a cup in one hand and a large bowl in the other. He placed the bowl on the floor and knelt in front of Anthonius, putting the cup to the boy's lips and saying in Greek "Drink!" The boy was reluctant to do so because the white liquid in the cup looked and smelt awful, but he was worried at the consequences of disobeying and so drank. It took a mighty effort to prevent himself gagging and vomiting the horrible fluid back up. The old man left, this time for the night, and Anthonius quickly fell back to sleep despite the nasty taste in his mouth. He was woken again shortly afterwards, but not by someone else. He felt a great pain in his stomach and found himself being violently sick into the bowl. The boy was to be in great distress for a full hour until his body had fully emptied itself from both ends and he could finally sleep again.

Anthonius was woken the next morning by the sound of the black boy with the pretty face entering the hut, carrying a pitcher of water. He put the pitcher of water to Anthonius' lips and grinned, revealing his brilliant teeth, as the white boy greedily consumed the proffered refreshment. He then took the bowl with its smelly obnoxious contents out of the hut and returned with another full of soapy water. He helped Anthonius to his feet and pointing to himself said "Zeni". Anthonius nodded in recognition and responded with his own name. Zeni made several attempts to say 'Anthonius' but in the end, to mutual laughter, settled for "Antus". He then dipped a cloth into the water and started to wipe the white boy's body clean, starting at the back.

Anthonius enjoyed the application of the damp cloth on his body by the cute black boy, especially when it seemed to spend a lot of time cleaning his bum, and his thrill revealed itself in the usual way. Zeni pretended not to notice when he transferred to Anthonius' front to wipe his face before moving downwards. He initially bypassed the excited genitals before eventually returning after everything else had been cleansed to his satisfaction. Zeni could hear Anthonius' breathing become heavier and see the boy's cock harden even more when he brushed the lad's balls with the cloth. His own lust, which he had been trying to suppress, then overcame him and he could not resist performing the last cleaning task with his own mouth. Anthonius closed his eyes in ecstasy as the mouth tenderly encased his rigid cock and gentle hands caressed the curves of his bum and he soon felt his body shudder as he was brought to climax. Zeni swallowed all that Anthonius produced and greedily continued to suck and lick the white cock and balls. Anthonius kept his eyes shut and continued to moan quietly as his softened prick was gradually coaxed back to erection to enjoy a second orgasm.

Zeni stood up, grinning again and wiping some spilt semen from his chin. There was a noticeable bulge at the front of his plain grey tunic. He reluctantly turned to leave but was recalled by Anthonius quietly saying his name. When he turned back, it was to see the white boy on his knees with a pleading look in his eyes and tongue licking his lips. Zeni's grin broadened as he returned to the naked boy, lifting his own tunic as he did so.

Chapter 17 - Sacrifice

Anthonius spent the next hour or so sitting alone in the hut. His mouth had enticed Zeni to feed him three separate and delicious quantities of boy sperm but he had been given nothing else and was now very hungry, especially as any other sustenance his body might otherwise have retained had been expelled overnight. Then the old man entered carrying a thin leather cord. He grabbed Anthonius' hair and pulled the boy into a standing position, before kneeling to tie the cord very tightly round the lad's ball sac whilst avoiding the soft penis. Tears appeared again in Anthonius' eyes as the old man left and the next half an hour was very uncomfortable for the boy as his balls started to ache and turn red.

Anthonius heard noises outside and peered through the little hole to see what was happening. He saw that the old man was dragging a heavy table out of his hut, with difficulty but apparent eventual success as he brought it to rest in the middle of the yard outside. Anthonius could see that the table had four leather restraints at each corner and was heavily bloodstained but did not put the accumulating evidence together until he saw the old man return to his hut and re-emerge with a small bowl with a knife resting on top. The boy looked down at his hurting balls, becoming an even deeper red, and realised that the chieftain did not want to return to his homeland with a young white boy but with a young white eunuch.

Anthonius was on the verge of panic. He knew that he had to escape but how? The hut was windowless and the locked door was the only exit. He peered again through the hole and saw the black chieftain and his entourage approaching the yard from their camp, presumably to watch the castration performed. Anthonius now did panic. He threw himself hard against the door in an effort to open it but just rebounded onto the floor. He scrambled back to his feet and was about to attack the door again when it suddenly opened. Anthonius recoiled in terror, expecting the old man to be there to collect him. However, it was Zeni's face that appeared. The black boy grabbed Anthonius by an arm and tried to lead him towards the door. Anthonius resisted until he saw the imploring look in Zeni's eyes and realised.

The two boys ran quickly out and headed for the rocky escarpment behind the hut. They heard shouts from behind but did not at first look back as they scrambled up the slope, Zeni still holding Anthonius' arm to help the bound white boy to retain his balance. However, both looked back when they heard the sound of a dog barking. The terrified pair did not see a mere dog running towards them but a huge black hound, jaws agape, drooling spittle and revealing malevolently sharp teeth, and leaving the chasing group of men and boys well behind. Anthonius and Zeni had almost reached the top of the incline when they discovered that the quicker hound was almost upon them. Zeni turned to face the monster, producing a small knife from under his tunic. The hound jumped at him and boy and creature fought each other viciously on the ground, with the bound Anthonius standing by helplessly. Hwever, the fight was short as Zeni managed to cut through the hound's neck arteries.

The black boy struggled to stand up. He was covered in blood and much of it was his own for he had been severely mauled. It was obvious that he could hardly walk let alone run and the chasers were approaching fast. Zeni looked at Anthonius and, recognising that he was now an impediment to escape, shouted his version of the white boy's name and plunged the knife into his own belly. Anthonius had not seen it for a long time but instantly recognised the look in the dying lad's eyes as he continued his stare whilst falling to the ground. It was one not of anguish but of love. Anthonius' initial instinct was to rush to his friend but the chasers were now very close and he realised that to do so would be to desecrate his sacrifice. Anthonius therefore turned on his heels and ran over the brow of the escarpment, tears flowing liberally down his cheeks.

Chapter 18 - North

Anthonius knelt before the Arab's now stationary camel and pleaded in both Latin and Greek "Please help me!" The Arab paused, taking in the sight before him, before tapping his camel with his whip. The animal sat down to let the man dismount. The Arab withdrew a knife from a scabbard attached to his belt and approached the kneeling boy. Anthonius scrambled to his feet intending to flee but something in the man's eyes stopped him. The man came up and aimed his knife at the boy's almost black genitals. Anthonius closed his eyes before screaming and falling to the ground in acute agony.

The Arab stood over the howling and doubled-up boy but knew that he could do nothing until the blood had fully returned to the lad's scrotum. When the boy eventually quietened, the man gently encouraged him into a standing position and knelt to inspect the damage. "You're lucky," he said pleasantly in good Greek, "it looks as if we cut the tie off just in time to save your balls. Lack of blood would soon have killed them." He stood again, looked at the boy's shackles and said "I can't do anything about the metal collar or wrist manacles but I can cut the chains that link them. Go over to that rock and lie on it face up." Anthonius complied whilst the Arab collected a large curved sword from a scabbard on his camel and used it to slice the chains. The relief in the boy's arms as he gingerly brought his hands down and round to his front was profound.

The Arab led Anthonius to his camel, gave him some water and advised "You can have more with some food when we're on the move as we mustn't remain here long." The man collected a plain tunic from a bag attached to the second camel and continued "I bought it for my son who's about your size. Put it on." Anthonius was glad of the covering as he would never lose the shame of being unwillingly naked in front of others. The Arab brought the second camel to its knees and helped the boy to mount, before fulfilling his promise of more water and food. They then set off towards the north.

When dusk came, the Arab made camp helped by the recovered boy. They ate a plain but filling meal before a large fire because the night was cold, and it was soon time for sleep. However, the Arab explained "Alas, I only have enough blankets to keep one warm overnight so you'll have to snuggle up with me." He saw the concern on the boy's face and dispelled it by saying "I have to admit that if you had girl's equipment between your legs, you might not be safe next to me. However, my nature is such that, despite your beauty, the equipment that you do possess means that you'll be unharmed." Both laughed and Anthonius was quickly asleep under the blanket, curled up in the warmth of the man's body.

They arrived in the port of Oea three days later to discover that Diocletian and his army were still in the province but at Leptis Magna to the east. However, Oea's Roman governor was aware that the Emperor had sent men to search the whole coastline for signs of his boy favourite and was happy to provide a ship so that the two could be reunited. He knew that he could expect a significant dividend in return. The Arab also received a large reward, some of which he used to provide his son with a much better education than would otherwise have been possible. Anthonius was never to discover that his chance encounter with the man was ultimately to produce one of the greatest of pre-Muslim Arab thinkers, responsible for many worthy philosophies and inventions that have passed down to the modern age.

Chapter 19 - Sura

Diocletian, who had given Anthonius up for dead, was amazed when the boy described his recent adventures. However, Anthonius had had to lie for the first time in his life when he was closely questioned about whether his body had been sexually violated. The boy did not dare confess that he had been raped by the bad Arab or that he had felt compelled to perform fellatio, with the Arab through fear and with Zeni through lust. He knew that he would not have spent a moment longer as a boy companion if he had told the truth because Diocletian covetously accepted nothing less than exclusive use of his boys' bodies. Avoiding the consequences for his homeland, that veracity would undoubtedly have wrought, was more important than his conscience. The Emperor believed instead that Anthonius had managed to protect his sexual integrity but at agonising cost and made a sacrifice to Zeus in thanks for his favourite' survival and recovery, allowing the boy to make his own donative at the same time for his late black friend. Diocletian considered Anthonius' piercings to be attractive but had the rings of base metal changed for ones of gold despite the pain that this caused the boy. Anthonius was then quickly reintroduced to Diocletian's bed and they returned shortly afterwards to Rome, where Casperius and Lysus had been busy organising their revenge on Sura.

The vengeful plotters had had Sura's trainer brought before them after the games. They explained that Sura had caught the Emperor's eye and enquired about the boy's background. They discovered that he was an orphan and that the trainer was his guardian. The pair came from Sicilia. They were also reassured that the boy remained a virgin and that they could check for themselves if they wanted. The trainer elucidated by stating that he had always discouraged approaches for the lad as he believed that it would adversely affect athletic performance. He did not confess that he had once been very attracted to the boy himself but, when the opportunity came to have him, it was too late. An injury in a drunken tavern brawl had made the man impotent. He also did not mention that he was tempted by some of the monetary offers that he had occasionally received for Sura's sexual services but they had unfortunately been made at times that could jeopardise the boy's ability to win the more lucrative games prizes, which had afforded him a comfortable lifestyle. However, Casperius made the man an offer he could not refuse.

Sura was to join the Imperial household and the trainer would be compensated for his loss. The man knew that he could not decline even if he had wanted, for to deny the Emperor his pleasures would be fatal. However, he was happy to accept because the generous compensation would set him up for life. He envisaged buying a smallholding, perhaps in Campania, which had always taken his fancy. There he would marry a woman desperately needing a husband, and there were always plenty of them. Not for sex as he no longer wanted that but she would cook and clean and manage the holding whilst he enjoyed the pleasures of the local inn. The deal was quickly done and Sura found himself being escorted by Casperius from his humble lodgings to the magnificence of the Imperial palace. His plebeian background meant that he could not be one of the Emperor's boy companions. Instead, he was to become one of the Imperial pages.

When Diocletian had become Emperor six years earlier, he quickly reassigned the group of adult servants who had served his predecessors as palace messengers, taking verbal and written communications between the various Imperial administrators. As the establishment of the boy companions showed, he liked to have pretty boys around him and the job of palace messenger seemed ideally suited for any non-patrician free boys he fancied. The major domo of the boy companions was made responsible for the pages, although in practice the task was delegated to assistants. Diocletian would often enjoy the young bodies of the boys when they delivered a message into his presence. He was also known, whilst walking through the palace, to intercept others who were on their way elsewhere and take them somewhere quiet for a quick molestation. The Imperial pages, as the group of about fifty boys became known, were informed during their training about Diocletian's habits and the consequences of resisting them. Unfortunately for Sura, Casperius kept the new recruit to the ranks isolated from the rest and somehow neglected to acquaint the boy about the Emperor's little foibles.

Anthonius arrived back in Rome with Diocletian at the end of January. Casperius and Lysus were pleased to learn about the boy's African sufferings but disappointed at his survival seemingly unscathed. However, they had already carefully planned to make Anthonius' reintroduction to court life an unpleasant experience.

A few days after his return, Anthonius was shocked to see Sura in the palace dressed in the tunic of an Imperial page, similar to that of a boy companion but brown. Casperius had deliberately arranged for Sura to deliver his first message to Diocletian during the later stages of a banquet, when the Emperor's inhibitions would be overtaken by wine. The major domo knew what Diocletian's reaction would be when he observed his pretty new page and trusted that the boy would behave as he and Lysus hoped. In the event, the plotters' aspirations were far exceeded and produced a very pleasant bonus.

When Diocletian groped under Sura's tunic, the boy instinctively responded by slapping the intruding arm away and pandemonium ensued. Diocletian turned purple with fury and called for the Praetorians. The terrified Sura was soon held firmly by the arms by two of the guards in front of the raging Emperor, who stood up and smacked the boy fiercely across the face twice before focusing his attention on the lad's belly. Diocletian turned to Casperius, who had stood up from his own couch, and said "Get the brat out of here to the dungeons. I want to see him whipped in the morning and his body scarred for life!" Casperius, somehow managing to keep a straight face, bowed in acknowledgement and signalled to the guards to take the screaming miscreant away. Diocletian and Casperius sat again, with the latter waiting for the Emperor to calm before making his pre- planned proposal. "Highness," he said quietly, "will you kindly permit me to make a suggestion?" Diocletian nodded affirmatively and so the major domo continued "Two birds with one stone!" He quickly answered the Emperor's puzzled expression "I can think of one cut that would be a far more effective punishment for the urchin who has insulted you than the many from the whip. It would also help resolve a problem I have in looking after the Imperial boy companions. You see, I believe that I can improve their care by providing their eunuchs with some help. More adults would be unnecessarily expensive but a few slaveboys would do nicely. Of course, they would have to be gelded." A broad smile gradually formed on Diocletian's face as he recognised the full implication of the major domo's proposition and again appreciated why he had chosen the young man for the post. However, Anthonius' face paled. He had been sitting on the floor on the right hand side of Diocletian's couch so that the Emperor could run his hands through his hair whenever he wanted, as was his whim, and had overheard the conversation. The boy had been wondering what he could do to save Sura from the whip, and he now knew that he could not delay or his friend would be condemned to much worse. He had to act immediately before Diocletian could respond to Casperius.

Anthonius startled Diocletian by jumping to his feet, kneeling before him and begging him to have mercy on Sura. However, Diocletian's surprise rapidly changed to renewed ire He stood again and reached for one of his sandals. Anthonius immediately recognised that, not only had his plea fallen on deaf ears, it had rebounded with wrath for he had seen the Emperor inflict informal punishment on a boy companion once before. The red-faced Diocletian took up position on Anthonius' left, pulled him upright by his hair before ripping away the boy's detachable rear loincloth flap and bending him over. The undercloth just about obscured the lad's bumcrack and so afforded little cover or protection to his bumcheeks. Still holding Anthonius firmly in place by the hair, the Emperor began to slap the boy's near buttock with the footwear as hard and as frequently as he could, instantly reddening the skin and leaving the clear imprint of the tread all over the surface, before relocating to the other. The many guests in the banquet hall had originally been silent, intrigued by the goings on, but now began to laugh loudly at the spectacle of the Emperor's boy favourite being publically spanked, and harshly, by the man himself. However, there was no-one more amused than Casperius and Lysus and, watching from a remote cubby-hole, Niachiarus. The eunuch's advice to Casperius about Sura's likely instant reaction to the Emperor's advances had not only proven correct, his supposition regarding the likely response to this plight from the page's friend had also been vindicated. Niachiarus looked forward to his reward, for which he had been conscientiously and ecstatically practising over the last few days.

Anthonius' whole bottom was scarlet by the time that Diocletian's arm tired. The Emperor put the sandal back on his foot and returned to his couch, signalling Armillatus to join him, and, still enraged, ordered Casperius "Strap Anthonius later, twenty strokes all over, and I want to hear his screams whilst Armillatus here amuses me." Before Diocletian had stopped speaking, the elated major domo was already working out how the twenty lashes could be converted into many more.

As Anthonius was dragged away towards Diocletian's pleasure quarters, the Emperor turned again to Casperius and pleased the major domo further by saying "I like the brand round Anthonius' navel even though it does not bare my emblem. I want all future companions to display one that does in that place. As for my Nubian eunuchs' new gelding, I want him to have one too, as well as others round his nipples, in the hollow sides of his thighs and in the middle of his buttocks, in addition to the usual places."

Chapter 20 - Practice

Niachiarus had spent much of the previous few days in Rome's main slave market. As befitted the Empire's capital and centre of commerce, this was a huge building and actually comprised a series of different markets catering for the different types of available merchandise, based on their sex, age and prior status. The eunuch spent the days in the market specialising in freshly acquired boys. They would be brought onto a high dais and exhibited before the large crowd, not all buyers, first clothed and then naked, much as Anthonius had experienced in Africa. They would be brought down to let potential buyers inspect their nude bodies more closely before being returned onto the dais for the bidding.

Niachiarus spent much of the first day waiting impatiently for one particular kind of purchase but none of the offerings seemed to appeal to the relevant buyers who had been pointed out to him earlier. The eunuch was considering a return to the palace when a pretty blonde youth, aged about fifteen and apparently a German captive, was brought onto the dais and he perceived interest in the eyes of a nearby woman. She was standing in the crowd with two male servants and Niachiarus had been told that she was a rich widow seeking an addition to her household. The naked youth was brought before her and she examined him intimately, paying particular attention to the blushing lad's genitals, smooth except for a nice crown of golden pubic hair. To Niachiarus' immense delight, she bought the boy, who was taken to a room adjacent to the dais. Niachiarus' market informant now prepared for his first job of the day. On some days, he would be occupied almost none stop whilst on others he would remain idle, but over the years the commissions he had earned from his craft came to a tidy sum. Niachiarus was intrigued as he closely watched the man exercise his skill.

The now terrified naked youth had been bound face-up and spreadeagled to a heavily bloodstained wooden table and a gag placed in his mouth, as much to protect his lips and tongue from his own teeth as to silence him. A leather cord was tied tightly round the lad's ball sac causing him to start crying both in pain and realisation as to what was to happen. The youth's hands and feet tried to break out of their restraints but they held firm. The man produced a little bowl and a very sharp small knife. He glanced at the widow who was standing in a corner with her two servants. At her nod, the man bent over the splayed youth's groin and placed the point of the knife where the now erect penis intersected with the scrotum. As the incision began, the man was sprayed with sperm as the lad ejaculated for the last time in his life. However, the man ignored this common annoyance and expedited his task with practised precision, his well-used knife having been responsible for castrating thousands over the years.

The rent went vertically down the ball sac but the blood produced was not too distracting and the man soon squeezed one testicle to visible exposure in the outside air. Another proficient slice with the knife along the membrane that attached the testicle to the inside of the scrotum meant that it was soon resting alone in the bowl, but not for long for it was quickly joined by its companion. The wound was carefully cauterised by a waiting hot iron and covered by a clean rag. The youth's gag was removed, to accompanying cacophonous shrieks, his limbs were released from their bonds and the man's assignment was done. It had taken five minutes.

Niachiarus would watch the man operate on several more youths over the next couple of days until it was agreed that he could practise what he had learnt. The victim was a pretty Slav boy aged about ten, selected because his balls were so nicely shaped and sized to be perfect training material. Niachiarus had never been so happy as he was when his knife first cut into the beautiful sac, and the eunuch was to create two more of his own kind before it was time to return to the palace to make another.

Chapter 21 - Strap

Anthonius was stood on the entertainment dais in the pleasure chamber and had to wait an hour for Diocletian and his boy entourage to appear, although to the petrified lad it seemed much longer. The Emperor looked at his trembling former boy favourite and smiled when he again saw the marks that he had laid on the lad's bottom. However, he was feeling tired and did not dally. He made straight for his bedchamber for he was eager to enjoy the delights of Armillatus' body to the sound of Anthonius' delectable screams.

The other boy companions sat excitedly on the couches surrounding the dais awaiting Casperius' belated arrival. The major domo eventually entered carrying, by an integrated handle, a strap made of hardened leather, with many small holes and about two thirds of a pace long and a hand wide. Anthonius had never seen it before and shuddered when he thought of the pain and damage that it would inflict. "Well, Anthonius," said a gloating Casperius, "I have to spend time chastising you again for your bad conduct in front of the Emperor. Will you never learn? Remove what's left of your loincloth and stand with your hands on your head and feet together." The boy obeyed to reveal yet again a humiliating arousal. "Dirty slut," continued the major domo when he saw the boy's erection, "but I don't think that will be upright for much longer."

Casperius took up position behind the quivering Anthonius and commanded "You will remain still whilst I apply your just punishment, unless I order you to adopt another stance, and will thank me for each well-merited blow. If you fail to do either, I start again. Do you understand, boy?" Anthonius replied "Yes sir, thank you sir" before having to wait whilst the major domo primed his swing. However, as calculated, Casperius caught the boy off-guard by not rehearsing for long before suddenly and without warning delivering the first blow to the lad's already sore rump. Anthonius squealed and jumped forward, although he did just about manage to keep his hands on his head and remember to say "Thank you sir." A smirking Casperius chided, to giggles from the watching boys, "What did I tell you about staying still. I'll just have to consider that swing as practice. Now stand still or we'll be here all night!"

The next blow was across Anthonius' upper back and this time the boy, with a mighty effort, succeeded in remaining still, and only uttered a muted groan before thanking Casperius for hurting him and hearing the major domo reply with the word "One." Nine more blows were slowly reigned on Anthonius' poor back, bum and rear legs, turning them scarlet and leaving small round wheals where the holes fell, but the boy somehow maintained his position. A smiling Casperius then came to Anthonius' front. He was pleased to see the boy's beautiful face marred with an agonised and terrified look in the eyes, from which tears flowed freely. He began to strike the boy's front legs and thighs. The major domo avoided the genitals for now, they would prove a useful later target, and gradually moved his attentions up the boy's stomach towards his chest. "Eighteen" he said before taking aim at the lad's nipple ornaments. Casperius had delayed beating this part of Anthonius' anatomy until now for a special reason and he was cheered that he achieved the desired affect when the blow fell. The boy's scream was shrill and he collapsed to the ground, grasping his tits, to hear the major domo snigger "Oh dear, did that hurt?" before adding "Now look what you've done, I have to start from one again. Get up!" Casperius encouraged the boy to stand again by tapping the lad's aching bottom with his foot. Anthonius heard the spectators chortle gleefully as he did so.

Casperius restarted at Anthonius' rear, each blow now accompanied by a loud scream which intensified Diocletian's rapture as he was simultaneously penetrating Armillatus next door. The major domo eventually returned to Anthonius' front and had just said "Seventeen" when he commanded one of the watchers onto the dais and ordered "Get him hard!" The boy knelt in front of Anthonius and began to suck the weeping lad's soft penis. His ministrations rapidly bore fruit, despite the agonies seeping through Anthonius' ravaged body, and he moved away to allow the major domo to inspect the result. The blow of the strap that then hit the rigid member was proof that Casperius had been happy. It was followed by another and the major domo said "Nineteen" to a barely audible or understandable "Thank you, sir" from Anthonius.

Casperius responded with an order to "Stand with your legs apart". Anthonius complied but with great reluctance for he knew where the next strike would be directed. The major domo rested the strap's end on the floor between the boy's legs before viciously launching it upwards. It struck Anthonius' balls square on, causing the lad to bellow and collapse to the floor clutching his boyhood. Anthonius' reaction created much loud hilarity amongst the spectators and his yelp occasioned Diocletian to orgasm deep inside Armillatus' tight anus.

Casperius joined in the laughter before eventually saying "Oh dear, back to the start again" and ordering two of the chortling watchers to help Anthonius back to a standing position, this time arms at his sides. "I'm tired," he said, "who wants to take over?" The other boy companions pleaded desperately and vociferously to be chosen, hands in the air to gain attention. "All right, all of you can have one stroke each," Casperius said to the general satisfaction of all except the boy who would be the centre of their attentions, "and concentrate on his arms first. They haven't been touched yet." It was of little compensation to Anthonius that the blows from the boys were not quite as strong as those from the major domo for they put all their strength behind their strikes, which were accordingly still very painful.

Once his arms had been turned into the same consistency as the rest of his body, the blows had returned to Anthonius' back. The strap was restored to Casperius after he had indicated "Seventeen" for the third time that night. He ordered Anthonius to "Bend over, legs apart" for he intended to launch his last three swings at the boy's anal opening but it only took the first to return the lad to a heap on the floor. The major domo had already recognised that he could carry on little longer. Anthonius' body was a rainbow of colours and blood was spurting from the wheals created by the holes and burst by later strikes. The Emperor would not want the boy permanently disfigured and the limit to avoid that had been reached. Casperius therefore informed the boy, groaning in agony on the floor in front of him, "You're hopeless. If you're hoping that I'm going to start another twenty now, you're mistaken. I need my bed and anyway I feel that I've done enough to try to correct your behaviour. It's time for someone else to have a go and I think I know the ideal person. It'll take a few weeks for your body to repair but, once it has, I'll ask the Prince to allow you to be the cup bearer at his next dinner." Anthonius' sobs intensified as Casperius turned on his heels and left the chamber.

Chapter 22 - Gelding

Niachiarus experienced more mixed feelings than usual when he tended to Anthonius' devastated body. He was happy that the boy had received such a comprehensive thrashing and that his ministrations, although careful and expert, would add to the lad's short-term woes. He was sad that he had to ensure that they also aided his long-term recovery, because the consequences of the Emperor's displeasure at failure were too horrible to contemplate, and annoyed that they diverted his attentions away from his preparations to entertain Sura later that day. However, by the fourth hour after midnight, he had finished and he could leave the quietly sobbing boy to endure an agonising night and return to his own small bedchamber. There he would continue to sharpen the new knife that he had acquired and that had already been responsible for the removal of six testicles. He was really looking forward to the seventh and eighth shortly joining them in the jar of preservative fluid that he was now keeping as a memento at his bedside.

Diocletian, Casperius and Lysus all enjoyed trouble-free sleep. Anthonius did not and neither did his friend. Sura, in his dark dank dungeon cell, had earlier been told of his impending fate by a very happy Lysus, causing terrible emotions to run through the boy throughout the night.

Casperius asked Lysus to organise the late morning entertainment, telling the fat Lycian that the Emperor had agreed that it should be watched by all the Imperial boy companions and pages as an example of what could happen to them if they misbehaved. Lysus decided to extend the invitation to some others. He also decided that the main banquet hall would be the best location for the event and arranged for the new wooden table that Niachiarus had acquired specially for the purpose to be placed in the middle of the large dais.

By the eleventh hour of the day, the boy spectators, all very pretty and almost seventy in number, had been gathered to stand around the table in a wide circle. Anthonius was one of them. He had been dressed in a longer than normal tunic because his loins were too sore for a loincloth and had been helped to the hall by Niachiarus and two fellow boy companions. The slow walk had been extremely painful and not just because of his wounds for Anthonius knew that there was nothing that he could do to save his friend. Pleading with the Emperor clearly had not worked and Anthonius was in no physical shape to try a daring rescue. Though he was unconcerned about his own safety, Anthonius also realised that, if he had been able to make an attempt, the consequences of either success or failure could have been disastrous for his homeland.

When they finally reached the hall, the boy escorts had to maintain a light grip on Anthonius' aching arms to ensure that their colleague's obvious physical distress did not cause him to fall to the floor. They both shivered slightly when they clearly noticed, despite the blackness of the tunic, some blood seeping through. Niachiarus took up position at the foot of the central table, placing his bowl and knife underneath. Anthonius had been shocked to discover that it was to be Niachiarus who would perform the awful deed and had been unable to elicit from the Nubian why or how he had acquired the skill. For the first time, doubts about the eunuch's role in his life entered the boy's mind.

It was just half an hour before midday when the crying Sura was dragged into the hall by Praetorians, stripped of his tunic and loincloth and firmly bound face- up on the waiting table's smooth surface. Niachiarus grinned at Sura as he gagged the hysterical boy and tightly tied the boy's ball sac to cut off the flow of blood. He placed the bowl on the table, resting against the splayed lad's lower buttocks, just under the beautiful form of his genitalia, and finished his preparation by cruelly placing the handle of his knife on Sura's navel, the point directed downwards towards the boy's penis. The eunuch then moved to the head of the table to await the guests of honour.

Lysus arrived shortly afterwards, closely followed by Diocletian's son, accompanied by his tutor and fellow pupils. The 11 years olds looked disdainfully at the surrounding throng before crowding round the table and laughing at the sight of the naked 14 years old boy spreadeagled there. "Now, Highness and young masters," the tutor said in a rather effeminate voice, "please remember that we are here to learn. It was very kind of Lysus to suggest that I supplement my talks on animal husbandry and human anatomy with a practical demonstration of castration." The tutor picked up the knife from Sura's body and, to the terrified bound boy's utter astonishment and disbelief, lifted the lad's cock up with the blade and began to discuss his topic.

"Castration of human males is performed for two reasons and they are often, as in this case, inter-connected. The first is to punish and the second is to make the male more suitable for his assigned role by removing his sexual capabilities. Such roles are often in the service of a household's females or sons where it is important to eradicate any sexual temptations male servants might otherwise have towards their mistresses or young masters. The removal of just a penis such as the boy's here is called a penectomy and is an excellent punishment but very poor preparation for service of the type that I describe. You see, the male's sex-drive, which is driven mainly by the contents of the ball sac here," the tutor continued whilst rubbing the point of the knife gently over Sura's tied and reddening scrotum, "would remain intact but he would be unable to satisfy it because he would have no means of achieving relief. A person having to endure such torments of frustration would be too dangerous to serve in any household, although I believe that your father, Highness, has sent many traitors in such condition to the Illyrian salt mines. The removal or destruction of the male's testicles would have to be arranged to annul the sex- drive and this gelding can be achieved in several ways. Please, Highness, feel for the boy's testicles" and the tutor stood back to allow the 11 years old Prince to squeeze each of Sura's 14 years old balls in turn before inviting his eleven elated friends to do so as well. Sura writhed in agony at the mistreatment to his boyhood.

The tutor eventually continued, after the boys had finished examining Sura's scrotum, "These testicles could simply be squashed with a hammer or tong but the chances of the male losing his life as a result would be greatly increased. Instead, two safer methods are generally preferred. You see how this boy's ball sac has been firmly tied around the base. At this moment, the tie is cutting off the blood flow. See how red the sac is becoming. Soon it will be purple and eventually it would turn black as the lack of blood kills the testicles. Over many months, the dead testes would gradually disappear, dissolved by bodily fluids. It is a neat but prolonged and very painful method of castration and, because of the latter, a second method is usually considered superior and will, I understand, be the one that we shall witness today. A cut is made along the sac here," the tutor said as he ran the blade down from the underside of Sura's cock, "the testicles exposed one by one and sliced off. The tie has been placed to restrict blood loss. Sometimes the resultant wound is helped to heal either by cauterisation or stitching. An advantage of gelding is that the penis is untouched and is therefore still available for urination and for ornament, although it might have a tendency to shrink over time. If needed, the genitals can still be attractive to look at if the sac heals well, despite its lack of contents, although I do know of some establishments of a certain type where the eunuchs' own balls have been replaced by ones of wood or metal to restore full or even greater roundness to their sacs."

"Another method of castration would be to sever the genitals entirely. This is called nullification and, I believe that the Nubian here is one on whom this has been practised." Niachiarus' facial expression remained unchanged despite this reference to his own unmanning and the tutor continued, to titters from his audience, "A bit too drastic for my taste, especially as the emasculated male often has to use a straw to urinate tidily. However, again I know of establishments of a certain type where such eunuchs are prized. Some are occasionally mistaken for girls after hair has grown to cover their wounds, and I believe breasts can be developed to increase the illusion."

The tutor concluded his talk by informing his chortling young audience "The long-term affects of testicular castration are primarily the elimination of the male sexual organs as a source of sexual pleasure and regeneration. No more will the penis become hard, orgasm or produce seed, although some pleasure can still be achieved by the insertion of some object in the anus long enough to tickle the prostrate. The development of facial and body hair is stopped or severely restricted and any growth still due in the whole body often reduced. However, eunuchs can gain fat rapidly if not properly exercised."

The tutor ran the knife once more over Sura's now semi-hard penis and purple scrotum, and was beginning to wonder what to say next when Diocletian arrived with Casperius and several Praetorians. The tutor returned the knife to its original position and he and his pupils stood back to let the Emperor see the spreadeagled naked boy, whose dread had been heightened considerably by the lecture. Diocletian walked up and felt the lad's genitals, squeezing the ball sac and stroking the penis. With his own cock rapidly hardening, the Emperor looked into Sura's terrified tearful eyes and smiled before raising his head to nod at the waiting Nubian and moving to one side. Niachiarus transferred to the foot of the table again and picked up the knife. He did not have to lift up Sura's penis because the Emperor's handling had brought it to full erection but he held it in his left hand anyway, pointing it towards the boy's navel, whilst his right hand positioned the tip of the blade on the upper scrotum. Sura felt his own semen splash onto his face and upper body as the Nubian began to cut. At the same time, a loud shout of "No!" came from amongst the watching boy companions.

Niachiarus was to be disappointed in having Sura's testicles added to his collection for the Emperor, after inspecting them in the bowl, had ordered that they be sent to the palace kitchens. They were to be ground, mixed with appropriate spices and cooked, one for his new boy eunuch and one for Anthonius. Neither was to be given any other food until this delicacy had been consumed and both took several days before succumbing. However, the two boy's torments were far from over.

Two weeks after being gelded, Sura was taken from his dungeon cell and moved into an adjacent larger chamber. The very scared boy would have known instantly what was to occur even if he had not been told days earlier by a crowing Casperius. The glowing brazier, with three branding irons embedded in the coals, located next to where he was chained suspended from the ceiling, provided clear indication. The same two irons that had marked his friend months earlier were roasting nicely but the same man who had applied them had had to have the third one recently made to the Emperor's specifications. It portrayed a small circle of tiny interlocking Imperial eagles. Sura's feet were off the ground but fixed taughtly in place to it by manacles. The now gagged boy was therefore unable to move when the man pricked the upper fronts and side hollows of his thighs and the middle of each bumcheek plus, a belated choice from the Emperor, a place directly above the lad's damaged genitals. The man did not have to highlight the spots where the circular iron would be used because they were already naturally demarcated.

The man approached Sura with the first red-hot iron with exactly the same look as he had Anthonius, and received the same look back from the aghast boy as he had from his friend months ago. The man used the new iron first as its initial target was just below the boy's appalled eyes. The smell of burning flesh pervaded both his and the boy's nostrils as the circular iron was firmly laid around the lad's left nipple. The man only had to wake Sura four times from a faint during the ordeal, which was lengthy because the irons had to reheat after each application. However, after he had finished two hours later, the man was very pleased with the quality of his work and the two other men, who had been watching from nearby seats as they eat some grapes, complimented him. Casperius and Lysus inspected the seven black eagles and three round emblems now painfully decorating Sura's body and felt immensely satisfied. They knew that their revenge would soon be complete. Within a couple of weeks, the boy would be performing his menial tasks within the Emperor's boy harem, attired only in a tiny black thong to hide his gelded state but not his lovely demeaning brands. The new eunuch would also undoubtedly have to endure frequent snide comments from most of the boys he served as a slave.

Meanwhile, Anthonius was waiting in dread for the day of the young Roman Prince's next formal dinner.

Chapter 23 - Dinner

(March 291 A.D.)

Anthonius was standing in place, to the right of the Prince's couch and dressed in the usual tunic and loincloth, waiting for the 11 years old and his eleven similarly aged friends to enter. When they did, all surveyed Anthonius up and down with clear contempt, despite the fact that the lad was at the peak of boyhood beauty and perfection. Their eyes also revealed eager anticipation. Once the group had reclined on their couches, adult slaves started to serve them drinks and the first course of food. The Prince's cup was placed in Anthonius' hands so that the boy companion could present it to his Imperial master for the evening whenever required. However, Anthonius almost spilled the contents when he saw one of the slaves bring in, and lay on the Prince's low table, the heavy leather strap that had hurt him so much over a month previously.

A rather good conjurer provided the initial entertainment, followed by a troupe of twelve girl acrobats and dancers, all aged about twelve, attired only in skimpy green thongs and deliberately selected by Lysus to add to his half brother's humiliations, for Anthonius was to be the third act. Throughout these diversions, preliminary to the final highlight, Anthonius recognised that the Prince and friends were frequently glancing at him, some showing impatience but all with equally obvious signs of exhilarating expectation. The boy himself could not stop glimpsing at the leather strap, shivering at recognition of what its presence meant.

At the end of their performance, about two and a half hours into the dinner, the girls did not leave the Prince's entertainment chamber but instead each stood behind one of the twelve couches surrounding the entertainment dais. The Prince turned to look at Anthonius and said with a smirk "Now your turn, bed boy. Give your cup to the girl behind me and step onto the stage!" Anthonius reluctantly obeyed. The Prince addressed the unhappy boy "Well, bed boy, you've been naughty again and your major domo has been unable to correct your misbehaviour, despite generously spending much time and effort in a kind attempt to do so. He has asked me to try. I was of course reluctant to bother again with such a sluttish nonentity as you but I have been persuaded as I don't want you to cause my father any more embarrassment. I am advised that you are still due twenty stokes of the strap for causing nuisance at one of my father's recent banquets and are due further correction for your annoying shout whilst that brat from Sicilia was being gelded. I won't have the energy to conduct the full beating with the strap myself but I'm sure that my friends here will not mind helping, and that will give me time to consider what would be most appropriate for your other punishment."

The Prince then asked his friends "Right, who wants to strip him?" Eleven hands shot into the air to accompanying loud pleas. The Prince nominated two for the removal of the tunic telling them "Cut it off with your knives. He won't be wanting to wear it later." They quickly cut off the waist cord with their dinner knives before clumsily, but eventually successfully, shredding the sides of Anthonius' tunic, revealing some of the splendour underneath as the front and back of the apparel began to part. They eagerly began to slice through the cloth on the shoulders before giving in to impatience and finishing their task by grabbing the bottom of the cloth to rip it off. The ruined garment fell to the floor. There were chortles all round as Anthonius' body, with its nipple rings and brandmarks, was exposed to view with just the small loincloth as cover, and everyone knew that that would not be there for long.

Another two boys were chosen to remove the rear then the front loincloth flaps leaving Anthonius in just his sparse thong-like undercloth. There were giggles from the boy and girl spectators when they saw the unmistakable outline indicating that the wearer was aroused. One last boy was selected for the concluding part of this pleasurable opening to the third act, to the initial disappointment of the six who had not participated in Anthonius' denudement until they were assuaged by a promise from the Prince that there would be other tasks for them to do. The delighted and gloating boy pulled on the bow of the undercloth's waistcord and allowed the tiny cover to fall onto the dais. Anthonius' excited genitals, with their gold casing, popped into sight to happy laughter from the watchers and a comment of "Dirty whore" from the Prince.

"Well, bed boy," the Prince now continued, "We'll first give you the twenty strokes of the strap that are overdue. Then we'll test how much discipline we've managed to instil before finally deciding the nature of your other punishment. Let me see, how many are we? Twelve! I'll therefore deliver the first nine blows, leaving my friends one each. Usual rules apply. Stand still, count and thank me for trying again to improve your attitude, but I suspect that I'm wasting my time. I think that my father should dispense with you, perhaps by sending you to the quarries of Lucania where I'm sure you'd learn self-control very quickly. I think that I'll suggest it to him. I hear life there is very hard but mercifully usually very short. However, that's for the future. Let's concentrate on the present. Turn round and bend over, legs apart, hands on shins and bum nice and high, for I think I'll concentrate my nine strokes there."

Anthonius carried out the order and he could see, from the upside down perspective through his legs, the Prince pick up the strap and advance to take up position behind him. The 11 years old took several practice swings as he was again determined to impress his 14 years old victim with the ferocity and accuracy of his strikes. He then teased Anthonius by rubbing his hands over the boy's smooth light pink buttocks and said to his sniggering friends "They're nice and cool at the moment. Let's see how hot we can make them!" Anthonius tensed himself when he saw that the Prince was ready and soon heard the swish of the strap as the first blow headed for his defenceless posterior. Anthonius yelped in pain as yet again angry red stripes and tiny round wheals appeared on his backside, but he stayed in position and said "One, thank you Highness." In fact, Anthonius managed to stay in place and remember his lines throughout the Prince's wickedly concentrated attack on his bumcheeks. To the Prince's disappointment, the older boy's first sad experience with the evil implement had apparently prepared him well for the second, although it could not stop his screams and tears or his raging erection becoming even harder.

The Prince slowly fulfilled his quota, making sure that Anthonius fully appreciated each blow but unable to make the agonised boy move or forget the verbal response. The Prince realised that paying attention exclusively to Anthonius' bottom had perhaps been a mistake but his friends could now correct this. He handed the strap to one of them with the order "Forget his bum for now, I want the rest of him nice and red." The boy told Anthonius to stand, legs together and hands on head and experimented with his own swing whilst his order was obeyed. Fortunately for Anthonius, the Prince's friends could not match the Imperial youngster's aptitude in applying the strap, let alone Casperius', and Anthonius did not falter even when his nipples were hit. However, under the Prince's pre-planned directions, the most delicate part of Anthonius' anatomy was to be the target of the last two strikes. The first landed heavily across the top of the erection. Anthonius somehow managed to stay put but, when his posture was changed so that his legs were wide apart and it was obvious where the twentieth blow would land, the boy knew that he would be unable to prevent his hands going to the relief of his assaulted balls. Anthonius closed his tear- stained eyes when the eleventh of the guests placed the end of the strap on the floor under him, and the naked hurting 14 years old waited for the uppercut that would surely break him, but for once the boy was lucky. The last 11 years old completely fumbled his swing and the strap missed Anthonius' dangling balls. The end instead struck the underside of Anthonius' rigid cock. Anthonius again somehow remained still and croaked "Twenty, thank you sir." The Prince was not amused that the strapping was coming to an unexpected premature halt but contented himself with the fact that Anthonius was due further chastisement, which could include more strokes if it suited the young Imperial whim.

The Prince stood again and walked onto the dais. He circled the quietly sobbing 14 years old to inspect the damage. He was not displeased. Anthonius' face was covered in tears whilst his whole body, from upper chest to lower legs, was bright red and a few of the wheals had burst producing droplets of blood. The older boy's bum had suffered most, being a much deeper shade of red and a lot bloodier, and his hard penis was a nice scarlet colour. The Prince returned to the couch to say to the sad child "Well, bed boy, you showed a little better discipline during this well-deserved overdue thrashing than you did last time. Perhaps there may yet be some hope for you and I'll now test this possibility out. Turn round to face me but leave your hands on your head and keep your legs wide apart." Anthonius turned round and as he did so he noticed that the watching group of twelve boys, and the twelve girls behind them, were all grinning broadly. The Prince nodded to one of the girls and pointed to one of the boys who had not participated in Anthonius' disrobing. The girl produced, from the floor at the back of the couch behind which she was standing, a small light cloth bag with a string attachment and gave it to the boy. "Tie it to the base of bed boy's dick" ordered the Prince and the 11 years old was more than happy to obey.

Anthonius felt the tingling as soon as the boy had left the bag dangling by the short string from the base of his erection. "A Nubian idea," said the Prince nonchalantly, "the bag contains some bees which are very agitated by their confinement. This is the test. Prevent your dick from making that horrible white mess again by the time we finish our last food course and I'll know that your discipline has indeed improved and that you will only need one slap across your bottom from each of my friends here as your second punishment. Disgrace yourself again and I'm afraid that it will be two slaps, plus one from each of the girls, and I'll finish off with another twenty strokes with the strap. The tears in Anthonius' eyes became fuller. He knew that, despite his fear of further punishment, his penis would not be able to resist the pleasurable feelings being gradually introduced down its full length by the vibrating string.

The Prince nodded to a slave and the dishes containing the last course were brought in. The Prince and his 11 years old guests proceeded to eat their food with a distinct lack of haste, unusual in boys so young, whilst amusing themselves by observing the 14 years old desperately trying to repel encroaching orgasm. The course was half-complete when the Prince decided to provide Anthonius with some helpful encouragement. A nod sent another girl scurrying to the intensely aroused Anthonius. She knelt behind the nude boy and began to lick the whole length of his bumcrack before gently prising it apart and placing her tongue on his opening, tenderly moving inside. The first copious spurt of semen occurred less than half a minute later.

Chapter 24 - Milking

(April 291 A.D.)

By the time that Anthonius' recuperation was complete, Diocletian had just set off to campaign in Dacia. He had left no instructions for Anthonius to follow but not because of continued disfavour, rather the opposite for the Emperor did not want to repeat his African experience, when his boy favourite was almost lost forever. Two weeks later, Anthonius had become desperate. It had been a total of six weeks since he had climaxed on the Prince's entertainment dais and he had not been allowed to cum since. It had not mattered during the early stages of his recovery but his needs gradually increased and now he was in a constant state of intense but frustrated sexual desire. He did not know that Niachiarus had deliberately boosted this condition by putting extra strong aphrodisiacs in his food and drink.

Anthonius delayed the inevitable for as long as he could but eventually succumbed and asked for an audience with Casperius. The major domo knew from Niachiarus what the meeting would be about and so gathered the other boy companions together in the pleasure chamber to witness Anthonius' humiliation. When Anthonius saw that Casperius was far from alone, he thought about not carrying through with his request but could not think of anything else to say. That would inevitably provide Casperius with an excuse to beat him, for wasting the major domo's precious time. Casperius smiled when Anthonius politely asked if he could be milked and replied "Already? The Emperor's only been away for a fortnight and here you are demanding satisfaction of your dirty bodily lusts." The major domo paused to enjoy the deepening flushes on Anthonius' face before continuing "Very well, I'm feeling generous but don't think of returning with the same request too soon. Remove your loincloth. Sura, help him to take off his chastity belt!"

With the help of the boy eunuch, Anthonius was quickly naked in front of the smirking major domo and the other boy companions, with his need clearly visible. "Sura, masturbate him and collect his seed in a bowl" commanded Casperius. Sura collected a small bowl from a nearby table, knelt before his friend to grasp the horizontal cock and began to pump. White liquid soon splashed into the small dish. "Anthonius, clean up your own mess before you go" ordered the laughing major domo, before pulling his tongue at the boy so that he understood what method he was to use to fulfil the task. Anthonius completed the cleansing of the bowl to sniggering from everyone except Sura and Armillatus, who always blanched instead when their friend was discomforted.

Niachiarus now increased Anthonius' secret level of aphrodisiac intake and the shame-faced boy found himself in another audience with Casperius only ten days later. The major domo feigned surprise and anger at the boy's early return, declaring "This time we'll have to make sure that every last drop of your seed is expelled from your seemingly rampant and totally out of control filthy organs!" A couple of the Nubian eunuchs were ordered to bring a low wooden table into the chamber and place it in the middle of the dais. Anthonius shivered when he saw that the table had leather ties at each corner and with reason for his hands and feet were soon attached to them. Casperius stood over the now nude and splayed boy and said "You won't be released from there until every one of the other boy companions brings you to orgasm. I think eighteen ejaculations should drain you!" The major domo then nominated one of the boy companions to start the fun.

The table was low enough to enable each boy companion to kneel to perform his task, usually with Anthonius' penis in one hand and the same bowl in the other, apart from the three who were left-handed. They also knelt on the opposite side to the rest. Anthonius was at first brought to multiple climax speedily and produced plenty of semen. However, as his needs were eventually satiated, and his cock became redder and redder, not only did orgasm and ejaculation become more difficult and time-consuming to achieve but also simple erection was becoming progressively awkward to coax to his increasingly sore penis. Anthonius was therefore allowed time to rest on the table between climaxes before the next boy started to pump the soft scarlet cock. These intervals also provided the opportunity to permit the still-bound boy to consume a little water and to urinate into a jar, and they gradually had to become longer and longer to prevent the subsequent pumping hands, aged from 9 to 16, from becoming too weary.

Thirty-six hours later, one hour before midnight of the following day, Anthonius finally experienced the 19th orgasm. During this period, Casperius and the off- duty boy companions had left to attend to their own affairs and enjoy dinner, although all returned at regular intervals to see how the boy's cock was performing. A good night's sleep was also had by all, although for some this was interrupted when it became their turn to entertain Anthonius. They went about their various business the whole of the next day too. For the boys, this mainly meant practising their dancing and musicianship, having their bodies tended to by their Nubians and filling the remaining hours as usual with idle chat. They were happy to conduct the latter in the pleasure chamber where there was also a nice show on this day to monopolise their conversation. As a result, during the daytime, there were never less than six crowing spectators observing, and loudly and insultingly commenting on, Anthonius' distress.

About two hours before midnight, all eighteen congregated with Casperius to see how long it would take the last masturbator to complete his task. The continuously sobbing Anthonius' climaxes were taking longer and longer to reach, despite the rests his raw penis had been permitted, and resulted in less and less. The copious white semen, which was evidence of his early orgasmic success, eventually became just a trickle of colourless fluid. Nevertheless a second small bowl had had to be employed to store the product. Everyone was sure that Anthonius would enjoy his first drink after being released from the table.

After Armillatus had spent three quarters of an hour trying gingerly to coax his friend's very tender cock to full erection, he found himself having to change his tired hands frequently and still could not induce the desired result. Casperius pretended to be impatient and complained "Well, Anthonius, the boys have kindly worked very hard to help you. They have disrupted their schedules to help drain you and many have spent time to comfort you with discourse, but you still want to enjoy your bodily pleasures to the full and keep everyone waiting. Your ingratitude really is disgraceful. If you don't bring this to an end by the time this candle expires, I shall cane your backside." Anthonius' tears cleared just sufficiently for him to see that the candle to which Casperius had been referring was almost spent. The boy then concentrated his eyes on Armillatus' gorgeous features and eventually his body convulsed yet again, his penis shuddered and a small drop of clear liquid emerged from the slit in the cockhead. Unfortunately, the candle's light had extinguished just moments previously.

Chapter 25 - Trap

(May 291 A.D.)

Diocletian returned to Latium a month later and preparations were in hand for his triumphal re-entry into Rome after another successful campaign. Niachiarus informed Anthonius that the major domo had agreed to Lysus' request that Anthonius and Armillatus dance together as a pair at the triumphal banquet and that they must spend the earlier daytime in practice. Niachiarus did not advise the boy that his food and drink were still spiced with the strongest aphrodisiacs and that the same had been arranged for his fellow dancer. The eunuch also did not tell him about his half-brother's panic.

Accession to the Lycian throne did not automatically go to the eldest son. A great council of the country's Elders was first convened to decide the issue, although Roman suzerainty meant that, in recent centuries, the Emperor's preference was always selected. Lysus felt that the throne was rightfully his, especially as he had spent so many years ingratiating himself with Diocletian and his predecessors whilst waiting impatiently for his father to die. However, he was sure that his half-brother would soon be back in the Emperor's bed every night, and he was worried that pillow talk might produce a different outcome from the one that he wanted. Casperius agreed with him that they could wait no longer to destroy Anthonius. Niachiarus had conceived the plan and the major domo promised the Nubian his freedom if it succeeded. The eunuch was now confidently looking forward to increasing his collection of testicles by many times over the forthcoming years.

Anthonius and Armillatus had practised over many hours on the dais in the pleasure chamber and had produced a well-executed and highly erotic dance routine under Niachiarus' supervision. The two exquisite boys had somehow managed to suppress the urges that their raging hormones were creating inside their near-naked bodies, which intensified acutely whenever their act necessitated touching or holding each other. It was late afternoon when Casperius entered and spoke to Niachiarus. The boys were surprised when they were then left alone in the chamber with the instruction that they should help each other prepare their bodies for their later performance, as their Nubian slaves were urgently needed elsewhere. They were told to use the facilities in the Emperor's adjacent bedchamber. Neither had ever before been asked to help ready another boy, as this was always the job of the eunuchs, but both knew what they would have to do. They would have to carefully wash, groom, massage and perfume each other. They would not need enemas as that had been done before they began their practice.

The boys walked into the Imperial bedchamber and found themselves holding hands as they did so. They removed their loincloths and giggled when they saw that they were both hard. Anthonius opened the sluice that would allow warm water to fill the enormous bath and soon both he and his friend were larking with each other amongst the suds. Time passed and the two naked boys eventually emerged from the water to complete their bodily preparations. They dried each other slowly, lingering especially in the loin regions. Their eyes regularly met to confirm the excitement that they were causing each other, evidenced also by their throbbing erections.

They decided that Anthonius should be finished first and he sat on the Imperial bed on which both boys had been deflowered more than a year ago and had since spent much time. Armillatus combed Anthonius' beautiful hair, each strand like a thread of gold. Then he encouraged his friend to lay down whilst he began the massage. He ran his perfumed hands over Anthonius' neck and chest, carefully avoiding the nipple rings, before moving downwards. It was then that his hormones finally overcame his resistance and he found that he had withdrawn his hands, encasing his friend's rampant cock, in favour of his lips, quickly bringing the taste of sweet boy cum to his mouth. Anthonius had closed his eyes in ecstasy and did not attempt to resist when he felt his legs being raised by his lover and the touch of a young penis on his sphincter.

Diocletian then entered the bedchamber.