Published: 26 Sep 2019

The Road to Arcadia

The caravan is large and long. Andy gestures toward his wagons. “You may each ride on a wagon with a drover.” Andy and Billy are both on horseback. Kevin and Mark are only a little surprised to see they are wearing swords.

“The route from Carter to Arcadia is well-traveled, and there are inns and farms along the way where we’ll stay.” Andy grins. “The drovers who are hired for the trip will sleep under the wagons. That way, they make more money.”

“We have little money, ourselves,” Kevin says. “Maybe we should—”

“No!” Billy interrupts. “You are friends, companions, and cherished, like Andy swore. We share all we have with you.”

Andy nods agreement. Mark and Kevin stand mute. Wow, Mark thinks. I never knew it meant so much!

Mark isn’t sure, but he suspects Andy choreographs the bathing and sleeping arrangements. In any case, it seems the partnerships in the bath and bed rotate randomly but even out every few days. At first, Mark is upset, and feels he is being manipulated; then, he realizes Andy is making sure there is no jealousy and that strong bonds are created among them all. When he said he would cherish us, he meant a lot more than just ‘have sex’ with us.

Andy’s choreography puts Mark and Billy together on a night when their bed is a loft in a barn. Supper was in the kitchen; the drovers slung hammocks under the wagons; the mules are dozing in the courtyard. Billy takes Mark’s hand, and leads him into the courtyard. Billy points to the sky.

“You said your home probably doesn’t exist in this universe. Why couldn’t it be a world around one of the stars?” Billy gestures to the sky, filled with myriad stars, none of which are familiar to Mark.

“Because science is different,” Mark says. “And so is magic.”

Mark thinks for a moment. “Actually, magic may be the same, but science is definitely different. One of the rules of science is that the natural laws are the same everywhere in our universe and have been the same since the beginning of the universe. I’m pretty sure some of those laws are different, here.”

“Natural laws?” Billy asks.

“Well, like gravity. Two objects attract each other with a force directly proportional to their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. There’s a constant in that equation that’s the same everywhere in my universe. I suspect it’s the same, here, or, at least, close.”

“Square? Equation?”

“Oh, um, I’ll explain when it’s light and I can draw something,” Mark says. “For now, trust me when I say the natural law of gravity is probably the same here as in my world. But there are some things that aren’t right.”

“What is different?”

“Well, like fire. Those lucifers Kevin brought? They’re supposed to strike anywhere, but here they don’t unless you add a little magic. There’s something different in chemistry.”

“You’re an alchemist?” Billy asks.

“I studied some,” Mark says.

“You can see magic, too, can’t you?” Billy asks. “I can tell the way you touch me when we have sex. They taught me in the Temple about nodes and connectors, but I can’t see them. That’s what you’re doing, isn’t it?”

“Um, yeah,” Mark answers. “I see glowing spots and lines, and when I touch them with magic, I see them get brighter, and you and Kevin and Andy shiver and get harder. You seem to like it, a lot.”

“You can see magic, and you’re an alchemist. Someday, you’re going to be a very powerful mage,” Billy says. He yawns. “Uh, before I fall asleep, would you touch some of those spots, please?”

When they reach the loft, Mark touches Billy in the center of his chest, where the brightest of the spots is. Billy gasps and his penis surges. “That’s the strangest Asking I’ve ever heard,” Mark says.

“That is the best Telling I’ve ever felt,” Billy says, and then giggles.

The caravan enters the city gate and disintegrates as wagons turn toward different destinations. The wagons that carry Andy’s cargo go south and enter a large courtyard. “Please wait for me, here.” Andy asks. “I’ll report to Cadfael, the warehouseman—”

“The Pelican?” Mark interrupts.

“You work for the Pelican?” Kevin adds.

Andy frowns. “You should not know that.” He pauses. “We have bonds of fealty. By those bonds, I charge you, say no more of this until we can talk about it.”

Mark and Kevin look at one another. Their eyes widen. Sweat beads their upper lips. “We didn’t know…” Mark says.

“We shouldn’t have…” Kevin stutters.

“Do you agree?” Andy asks. “Please remember, our oaths bind us as long as they do not conflict with an earlier oath.”

The boys nod. Andy smiles. “Don’t worry about this. I’ll be back, soon.”

Shortly afterwards, Billy leads Kevin and Mark to a plain room inside the warehouse. Andy is waiting. The room holds only a table and chairs. Light comes from windows high on one wall. Clerestory windows, the boys remember from the stories.

Andy gestures for them to sit. “I swore to protect you, provide for you, and cherish you before I knew very much about you. Nevertheless, I am bound by that oath.

“Your oath of fealty includes obedience, and more. I did not think clearly when I offered the oath. You are from a different world with different customs. When you took the oath did you understand all of what it means? If you did not, then the oath is not valid.” Andy looks across the table at Kevin, expecting him to speak for the two. But it is Mark who replies.

“You took a chance on us when you offered the oath. I knew it, and because of that, I was willing to swear. We truly understand that fealty means more than the words of the oath, itself. We know it means obedience, and a lot of other things. It means we would defend you with our lives. It means we would do what you say. It also means you will give me what my father never gave me and my mother forgot to give me. It means you are going to help me find meaning in my life. At least, that’s what I think. It means if I swore the oath, things would get better. That may sound silly,” Mark’s voice softens, and tears come to his eyes. Kevin leans into Mark’s shoulder and hugs him. Andy sits very still trying hard not to show the emotions he feels.

“Yeah,” Kevin says. He takes Mark’s hand. “Yeah, what he said, and more. It means you are so what Mark just said. Fealty means family, to me. My mother abandoned me; my father looked the other way when my brother raped me. Andy, even though you are only a few years older than I am, you were going to be the father I never had, and the older brother I wanted to have. And Billy, because he is part of the package, Billy is going to be the little brother I wished for.”

Kevin is jolted by the sudden realization that both Andy and Billy might be decades older than he is. Nevertheless he continues.

“Andy, when Mark and I came to this world, we said we loved each other. I know that love on this world isn’t exclusive, it’s inclusive. In the past three weeks – I mean ‘two tendays’ – I’ve come to love you and Billy, and I know Mark has, too. I can see it when he looks at you, and I can feel it when he shares with either of you. And I’m happy with that, because I love Mark and am happy when he is happy.

“About the Pelican. I think it’s time we tell you the rest of the story.” Kevin looks at Mark, who wipes tears from his eyes.

“Say what you will,” Mark says.

Andy and Billy sit quietly as Mark and Kevin explain the stories they’d been reading in the coffee house, the stories Rudy claimed to have written, are from The Book of Heroes and are about World. “The people in the stories are all the time swearing fealty, so we knew, we really knew, what it meant.”

Then, Kevin describes reading about Patrick and Alan, and James and Kenneth, and their commissions from the Temple and from the Pelican, head of the Arcadian intelligence service. They tell how George came from their world with a knight named Arthur.

“We were afraid to tell you these stories because, well, we think some of them haven’t happened yet, and we don’t want to change history, or anything. Everything we ever heard says that’s dangerous. It could kill thousands of people; it could destroy the world.”

Billy is enraptured. Even Andy is silent for several minutes before he speaks. “I don’t know all the people you read about in Rudy’s book,” he says. “But I’m sure it’s his. He’s always been a storyteller. And, I have seen some of the heroes of this Age. It wasn’t that long ago some of those boys were honored by Prince Auric. Patrick, an elf; Alan, his human companion and son of a privy councilman; two elven boys; a cleric; the son of the Duke of Carter; and a dead companion, known as Thom.

“I did not know, however, these boys were working for my master. That is something I should not know.”

Kevin explains they had read other stories, some of which were probably ancient, some of which might be in the future. “It’s pretty clear Rudy, the author, has lived in many times. It’s possible, of course, there’s more than one author, but we met Rudy, and, well, I think he’s the only one.

“I think, too, that we may end up in one of his stories,” Kevin adds.

“You see,” Mark summarizes. “We know much more than we should and much less than we need to know.”

Andy smiles and then says, “Thank you both for your trust. It is a great gift.”

He continues with the issue that had been ignored, even though it stands in the room like an 1,800-pound Clydesdale. “I find myself on the horns of the bull. I must tell Cadfael you know about the spy network, and I know Patrick and the others are part of it. But, what you know and how you know it is your secret that I am oath-bound to protect. Besides, I’m not sure I know how to explain to Cadfael how I know. I don’t know what to do.”

Kevin feels Andy’s anguish, yes, anguish. He’s truly conflicted, Kevin realizes. “Tell Cadfael,” Kevin says. “Tell him everything. He’s smart, and he’s Good. Nothing bad will come from telling him.”

“You say you had known some of the people in the stories,” Mark says. “I don’t know if Rudy has written the last of those stories, yet. What we know must be kept secret, even from you, I think. And, things like the Pelican, things that should be secret: we shouldn’t talk about them either, except, perhaps, among ourselves.”

Andy agrees. “You are right. There are things even I should not know.”

“Kevin, I guess you’ve figured out I’m older than you.” Billy says that night.

“Yes, I know. You’re not my little brother, after all.”

“But I want to be,” Billy says. “I want to be your little brother, that is.”

Kevin looks at the little boy who lies, naked and vulnerable, beside him. He wraps his arms around Billy and kisses him. “Thank you, Billy. I will always be big brother to you.”

Two days pass. Mark and Kevin spend most of the time with Billy, exploring the city of Arcadia. On the third day, over breakfast, Kevin asks, “What do we do, now?”

“That’s the right question,” Andy replies. “What do you think is the answer?”

“I thought you’d tell us,” Mark says.

“No,” Andy says. “You have sworn fealty, which means until we agree otherwise, you are bound by my decisions and you will obey me. But, nowhere in that oath is there anything about my making arbitrary decisions. I will, whenever possible, ask your opinions and ideas. That’s what I’m doing, now.”

“I think we should find Rudy,” Mark says.

“That’s because you had sex with him,” Kevin retorts, and immediately regrets it.

“Not so!” Mark says. His laughter reassures Kevin. “Yes, I had sex with him, and he’s really cute; but that’s not the reason!”

Kevin ducks his head into his breast, abashed, before looking at Mark. “I know and I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Why do you think we should find him?”

“Because,” Mark says. “We’re in the middle of a trope. You know, like Rudy said, a plot device. I know that he wondered if he were real and if we were real.” Just like I wonder if that stinking trailer I lived in was real, Mark thinks, and shudders at the memory.

“I wonder, myself, sometimes, if we are real. At least, until I share with you or Billy or Andy, and then it is so intense, I know we are real. I think we need to find Rudy and make him know this is all real, and he needs to write more about it so that other people will know what’s real. If that makes any sense.” Mark looks from Kevin to Andy. “Come on, guys, help me here.”

Andy waits, not wanting to step on the boys’ thoughts. It works. Kevin speaks up. “I know what you’re saying. We need to find Rudy so he can write what is real. And, like Arthur tells George in that story, the stories of Light and Dark? They might show people what’s important, and help them remember.”

“Do you think there’s a chance?” Kevin asks the question he had hidden for so long. “Do you think the gate didn’t drift too far?”

“Yes!” Mark asserts. “It wouldn’t dare! It would be the wrong trope. It would not serve harmony – balance. And, I really believe we’re supposed to meet Rudy again.”

“I hope you are right,” Andy says. “We will search for Rudy. I am glad you want to. I’ve spoken to Cadfael. He agrees that we should travel to Barrone. He has business, there. More to the point, it is the place Rudy would try to reach. Almost certainly, it is the place he would seek no matter where he appeared on World.”

“Um, can we – I mean you, since Mark and I have little money – afford this?” Kevin asks the practical question.

“Yes,” Andy says. “Cadfael wants more trade with Barrone – and information. He wants to put you on the payroll. If you agree, you will meet him, and take an oath to become part of the Arcadian Intelligence Corps.

“Besides, and this is secret. Cedar isn’t the only thing on those wagons. In fact, trade in cedar hardly makes any money – barely enough to be worthwhile. Serious traders think I’m foolish and a coward for trading in cedar, because they know it creates little profit.

“What they don’t know is that the cedar is a cover. Each of the wagons also holds cases of books. And, we’ll be shipping books to Barrone, concealed in pallets of cedar planks.”

“Books! You’re preserving books against the coming darkness,” Mark says.

“Is that from a story?” Andy asks.

“Yes,” Kevin says. “But it’s not a future thing.”

“The College of Magic at Barrone … there is a huge library, there,” Mark adds. “Arthur and George and the rest are searching for some books that a mage had hidden, and that’s not a future thing, either.”

Andy shakes his head. He chuckles, and then says, “We’ve got to find Rudy, just to get all these stories and people straight!”

The Dawn Trader sits low in the water. She bears a cargo bound for Barrone, including several pallets of cedar planks. Tongue-and-groove edges were milled onto the boards. The boards would become liners for chests, to protect clothing from insects. That is one of the greatest values of cedar. Cedar does not grow in Barrone, well south of the wet, sub-tropics of Elvenhold, and Andy expects to make a significant profit. “Being a member of the intelligence network doesn’t pay much. We have to earn enough to pay our way, and support others who cannot easily earn a living,” he explains.

Andy found places on the ship as supercargo for himself and his companions. Supercargo from ‘supervisor of cargo,’ means passengers – but not high-paying passengers. They would not have a luxurious trip. Andy would rather they be listed as crew. It would be less expensive. The boys, however, did not have the skills. Well, at least I’ll have a chance to give them some training, he thinks. I hope they get their sea legs, quickly. I can’t train them if they’re seasick!

The first morning at sea, two of the tween sailors, high in the ship’s rigging, whistle their appreciation when Andy and the three boys, wearing only loincloths, walk onto the after-deck to begin their training. Kevin feels the sailors’ lust; his loincloth becomes tight. Mark blushes. Billy waves and whistles back. The sailors are wearing no more than the boys are.

“We’ll start with unarmed combat,” Andy says, before leading them in the opening moves of what on Earth would be called, T’ai chi ch’uan – the Supreme Ultimate Fist. Andy shows a side the boys had not seen before. He is uncompromising, demanding of perfection, tolerant of mistakes, but utterly intolerant of slacking off. There is no room for humor, sexual innuendo, or laughter.

Billy seemed changed, too. He knows the movements Andy is teaching, and helps Mark and Kevin, but he, too, is brusk and efficient. Both Mark and Kevin understand quickly and accept this. They both remember what Arthur told George: There really are wicked witches and ogres. World is a dangerous place.

The training lasts until noon, when Andy leads the boys to the stern, lowers a bucket, and scoops it full of seawater. “Take off the loincloths,” he says. Andy and Billy unraveled theirs quickly and stand naked on the deck.

Kevin and Mark follow this example, but more slowly. Two of the tween sailors who were lounging nearby, whistle. Mark feels himself growing hard, and blushes. Billy, however, calls to the two tweens, “If you mean that, you’ll share with us tonight; if you don’t mean it, keep it to yourselves.”

The sailors laugh. They exchange glances and one says, “The first thing you said. After supper?”

Billy agrees. “After supper.”

The three boys are distracted by the conversation, and yell when Andy douses them with the bucket of cold seawater. Mark’s erection shrivels. Andy had mixed magic with the water cascading down their bodies, washing away dirt and sweat.

Andy washes himself, and then sets another bucket of seawater on the deck. He dips his hand in it, withdraws the hand, and flings away a few drops of water.

“You’re a mage!” Kevin whispers. “You magicked the salt out of the water. That’s real magic.”

“I can do a few things,” Andy says. “Now, let me rinse the salt off of you.”

This book wraps up many of the stories of World, though we hope it is not the last from the fertile mind of David. Let David know you are reading: David dot McLeod at CastleRoland dot net. He deserves your feedback.

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