Sertial's Quest
By D. E. Sparks
Pboatboyz@prodigy.net
Disclaimer:
This is a work of fiction and in no way draws on the lives of any specific person or persons. Any similarity to actual persons or events is entirely coincidental. YA right!!! This work is copyrighted by the author and may not be reproduced in any form without the specific written permission of the author.
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts of adolescent/teenage boys. If you are under the legal age to be reading stories with a homosexual content, then you should leave. Equally if reading such material in your community, state, town, city or country is illegal then you too shouldn't read on. Or if you don't want to read about gay people in love or having sex. If however you do, then read on and enjoy the story.
Note: This story will be slow moving, and plot oriented. It is not a porno, though sex will happen. It's a fact of life.
E-mail responses to the story, questions, suggestions, criticism, and comments too: I will try to get to them in a timely manor and all will get responses as I see fit.
The boy took the seat in front of us, his hands were shaking and his eyes were on Justy like if he said or did anything bad he was going to cry. I got up from my chair and walked around the room making it known to Justy that I was going to be behind the boy to try and help him if he broke down.
Justy asked his first question.
“OH! My Lord if it weren’t for the Duke I would have died!” He cried.
I looked at Justy and he stared straight into my eyes. “What did this boy mean?” I sent.
“Tell us what happened to you?” Justy asked.
“Well it was a very bad day for me, I was out in the hills with the sheep like my Dad has always told me to do, when this man came riding up, now I didn’t know he was the Duke of course but I knew by the way he was dressed that he was someone of importance.” He said.
“Well My Lord, when he got off his horse he was a little ways away from me, I guess he didn’t want to spook the sheep and he came walking up to me and he asked me my name and I told him it was David he then asked me if I lived in the village down in the valley by the river and I said yes.” He said.
“Then he got down on one knee and told me my family was dead and that they had died in a fire at the house; I looked at him as I heard what he just told me, I just lost my Mom, Dad and a Sister too, he then grabbed me up in his arms as I started to cry we were there for what seemed like hours by the time I was calm enough, he then told me that I was to come live with him in a big place.” He said.
“What will I do with my sheep?” I asked, I guess they were mine now since he said my Dad was dead.
“Your friends in the village have already bought them so there are a couple of men waiting just over that hill to come and collect them. The Duke said.
“Ok I guess, was there anything left in the house for me?” I asked.
“The house was burnt to the ground son, but the villagers were able to save just a horse.” The Duke said.
“OH!! I hope its Firebolt; I’ve had him since he was a colt.” David said.
“Is he black with white hoofs?” The Duke asked.
“YES! YES!!” I cried.
“Then he is alive and he’s waiting just for you, now will you come live with me?” The Duke asked.
“Oh sir, I would be honored to come with you, not many people would have done what you have done for me, I get this feeling some of the people around here don’t like me because of who I am.” David said.
“Oh really now and who might that be?” The Duke asked.
“Oh, well I’m just different that’s all, I tend to be by myself a lot and I don’t make friends very well because, umm, I’m just shy. David said.
Well this hit the Duke right at home, it was a reminder of his own lost son. “Well young David your coming to live with me and I’ll give you a ride to Firebolt and then we will ride to my home.” The Duke said.
“Yes sir.” David said and he helped me up and held my hand, when we got to his horse which was as black as night he put me up in the saddle, he then climbed up in front of me and we rode over the hill. There were three men from the village that I knew and Firebolt was there too, he had a shiny new saddle and harness on him as well.
We rode over towards Firebolt and he just turned around in the saddle and picked me up and put me on my horse, he then told the men that the sheep were over the next hill and for them to go get them they all bowed and said.
“Yes My Lord.” Then to me they said, “We’re very sorry about your family David.” Then the man put his hand in mine and squeezed it tight when they said this.
“It will be all right from here on out David.” The Duke said. We then road towards the village and I had to ask.
“Sir who are you?” I asked.
He laughed, and then he said. “Don’t you recognize me?”
“I’m sorry sir but I really don’t, I never get out of the village much except to tend to the sheep in the hills and you look too noble to tend sheep.” I said.
He laughed again, “Well David I have had the pleasure of mucking out a few horse stalls in my youth, but your right I have never tended sheep before, I am your Lord Duke Richard.” The Duke said.
“OH MY LORD!!” I cried, really, “I started to cry too.”
“It’s ok David, taking my hand, I promise nothing bad is going to happen to you, just because you didn’t know who I was. I give you my word you are going to have a happy life from now on, now I know loosing your family is not what you wanted out of life but we must do as God has planned for us. I have made plans for you to live with me at the castle and you can do whatever you want.” The Duke said.
“Oh My Lord, I don’t know what to say, but I‘m sorry I didn‘t know who you were and all, except thank you so much for helping me.” David said.
“Ok David when we are alone you are to call me Richard you hear me. The Duke said.
“Yes My Lord.” David said looking down.
“Now stop that, grabbing his hand again, its Richard its ok to call me that when we are alone, it will be our deal, now if I ever get my son back I know he would want you to call him Justyn.” The Duke said.
“Oh Richard you have given me Love and your heart and you didn’t have too. Not many people I know of would have done that way out here.” David said.
“Well I’m a different kind of Lord, I treat the people of my land and the land of my Brother the King with the Love and respect they deserve.” The Duke replied.
“We are nearing the village now, so remember only call me Richard when we’re alone ok son.” The Duke said.
“Yes sir.” David said noticing that he called him son. We then came into the village; there were a lot of guards and villagers around. One guard with hair as red as mine came up to us and asked if everything went ok.
“Yes Stephen, this is David he’ll be coming home with us.” The Duke said.
“Yes My Lord. He said, he then left; I wanted to see my house I didn’t know how to ask but I guess the Duke knew what I wanted as we headed down the road towards it when we got there, there was nothing left it was all in ashes and rubble, I started to cry and as the Duke road up to me he grabbed me off my horse and just hugged me to him I just cried on his chest sitting on his lap.
I knew that there were no bodies left after a fire like this, if they we’re all in the house they would be ash too.
“The rain will spread their bodies into the earth; on the next rainfall.” I said when I had calmed myself enough as I looked over.
“You are very brave boy David and yes that will happen I will not let anyone put any structure on this site till you say its ok.” he said to me as he held me.
“Oh Richard thank you, you know that this is a great piece of land I feel that after one year has past it can then be given to a good hearted man and his family.” I said.
“Ok David I will make sure of that, your wish will be my command.” The Duke said.
“Thank you Richard now we must go, I would guess you have more pressing matters to deal with than me.” I said.
“Nothing is more pressing than my people, they are first and foremost on my mind, but we shall go if you are ready.” The Duke said.
“I guess I am Richard it will be hard but I know that they are in a better place right now so lets go to my new home and new life.” I said. He then helped me onto my horse and we road back into the village proper he told the guard Stephen that we were ready to go, the guards all got ready and we took off towards my new home I turned around in my saddle once and there were just a few of the people still there and they were waving at me so I waved back.
The next thing I knew we were at the castle by nightfall and he asked me what I wanted to do I told him I wanted to start out like he did by mucking the stalls, him and the guard Stephen laughed so hard I thought they’d fall off their horses.
“Ok David as you wish, so be it, Stephen he will go with you, Stephen set him up with you and then get him something to eat.” The Duke said.
“Yes My Lord.” Stephen said. “He then led me to the stables where we put our horses away and we took care of them ourselves, he showed me where everything was that I would need. Now I am the only one who takes care of Captain Stephen’s and the Dukes horses when they go out and now I’ve got that great white stallion that you both came in on. He then showed me to a room in the barracks right near his so if I needed anything all I had to do was come to him.” David said.
We all had tears through most of this tale the guards knew most of it by being around David but hearing it again got to their hearts again. I had put my hands on David’s shoulders almost from the beginning of his tale and I could feel his pain it reminded me of my parents and how they were gone from here. I wondered how his house could have burned to the ground I poured my love out to him just to give him strength for now. Justy could feel what I was doing and he too sent his love to David.
“David you have born a great loss as I know about loosing a loved one and I’m going to promote you today to be my page boy for now and soon you will work your way up from there.” Justy had said.
Everyone in the room had smiles on their faces as I felt they knew the courage David had gone through and that Justy was doing the right thing and we we’re happy for him.
“OH!! Lord Justyn you are so kind but I will miss taking care of the horses.” David replied.
“Don’t worry David I’ll make that just a special part of your duties, which you can only take care of our horses.” He said.
“Oh thank you My Lord.” David said.
“Oh and that thing about calling me Justyn when we’re alone, you better and this young man behind you is Sertial, we would be honored if you would be one of our friends too, not just work for us.” Justy said.
“Oh you have made me so happy, you’re whole family has and the people here have been so kind to me, all of them except the ones I don’t like that is.” He said.
“Oh there’s someone you don’t like?” Justy asked.
“Yea that Holdtree guy for one and a couple of the other guards just treat me the wrong way.” He said.
“Well we’re going to fix all that today, we hope, so try not to worry your pretty red head over it.” Justyn said.
That made him blush, Justy then told him to go and to see Stephen and tell him what had happened here and make sure you’re alone with him when you do, and that he was to put him in the room next to ours.
David jumped from the chair and ran from the room, we all started to laugh at his happiness even the guards.
“I found that when I touched him he was like us, or will be, as he gets older. It’s so sad he had to loose his family the way he has, maybe we can change all that and give him a new one. I said.
“Oh Drinn that would be so COOL!! I’ve always wanted a brother, and if he is like us we will help him in anyway we can. Now let’s get this mess over with.” Justy said.
Justy nodded to the guard and we started again, we found that there were two of the older stable hands that weren’t telling the truth then Stephen brought the guards in, he came in first and just had a great big smile on his face so I knew that David had already been to see him.
We went through the guards pretty quickly it seemed finding 5 of them not trustworthy all the guards that were posted with us ended up being the best out of them all.
“Wow that’s a lot of people, I think we’d better get my Dad and Stephen in here now, to get this all sorted out.” Justy said.
“I agree there is too much hate here and when Holdtree gets back in the morning he’ll know something is up and with everyone not where they’re supposed to be.” I said.
Justy told one of the guards to go get the Duke and Captain Stephen while we waited it wasn’t long before they showed up Justy got up and went to hug his father.
“I guess this means you heard what happen to David, huh.” Richard said.
“Oh Dad, you have a heart of gold, you too Stephen. I am so proud to be you’re son. I want to ask a favor tho?” He asked.
“What is it Justyn?” His father asked.
“I want David to become our brother; we both Love him and he needs the support of a family right now and I feel he will be a great supporter of our cause.” He said.
“Oh Justyn, I was hoping you’d say that, when I had heard of what had happened to his family and when I got there and when I met him I fell in Love with him too, I was just worried that you would be mad at me if he were here before I was able to find you.” Richard said.
“Oh Dad, for that I could never be mad at you, I would have known that you would have done it out of love for him, he is a great kid too I can feel it deep down. After being with Sertial and in his realm and having the Heart of Raycor I am able to feel the love or hate of other people. With David all I feel is love for us.” Justy said.
“Well as soon as this mess is all cleared up we will get you’re Uncle up here to make it official, ok.” Richard said.
“Great Dad this will be so perfect, but he can’t know about it we want to surprise him with it.” Justy said.
“Ok son, if you can keep it a secret, now it’s my turn to find out about who we have here. I’m not going to do it one on one either, I want them all in here at once and we’ll let them rat on each other.” Richard said.
“Ok Dad, your right we need to settle this once and for all.” Justy said.
Richard then instructed the guards to bring in the people that were in the other room Justy and I had gotten two other chairs for the table and the four of us were all seated at it Stephen had posted more guards around the room these guards were armed with crossbows and they were ready to fire.
Richard then spoke, “You people have been chosen by my son and his friend in what we believe to be a conspiracy against the King and the royal family, now I find it very troubling that you all have come to this poor judgment as I felt that you all have been treated fairly. You all have one chance with me right now, one at a time to say that this is not true. I will start on my left and work towards the right; you only have to say nay to this accusation when I point to you, we will know if it is the truth or not.” Richard said.
He then started to point at them, and one at a time giving them a few seconds each to say nay before moving on, not one of them spoke up saying nay.
“This is a sad day indeed, now I must ask you, all of us here know who is really responsible for this crime and who it is who is behind all this. What I want to know is how did he kill the Duchess?” Richard asked.
They all stood there and looked around at each other, but no one spoke up.
“You all know me, I am not a mean man, I treat everyone justly, but as you can see all around this room and at all the guards, I will have each one of you killed if I don’t find out. Now all I want to know is how, or I will raise my hand and these guards will start firing.” He said,
The girls started to cry; some of the men were visibly shaken. Then one of the young maids spoke up.
“My Lord he threatened to kill our families, most of us didn’t know what to do.” She said.
“That is not an excuse. NOW TELL ME!!” He yelled.
Then one of the healers spoke up.
“My Lord, Holdtree did threaten some of us and our families, but some of us were paid off, he had a bottle of liquid silver that he had us put into her food. I don’t know why he used it but he told us to give it to her. He first tested it out in her drinks but it wouldn’t mix right so he then had us put it in the food that we had to give to her, and he was always there too, just to make sure we didn’t make any mistakes.” The healer said.
“Shut up you fool.” Said one of the stable hands. There was a “Whoosh” sound in the room. He was the first to die, as an arrow pierced his heart.
There were screams around the room the people that were standing next to stable hand had moved away quickly as they must have felt they were next.
“Ok that’s one down any other takers.” The Duke said.
Everyone in front of us was shaking his or her heads, and then the healer continued.
“We were told not to say anything or the ones who have families would loose them and the rest of us got paid in coin. I don’t know why we did it, but I’m sorry My Lord.” He said.
“SORRY!! You’re SORRY!! My wife, Justyn’s mother is dead because none of you had the balls to stand up for yourselves, the rest is just greed, and if just one of you had come to Captain Stephen or I or even my son she would be alive today. You all disgust me you are all lucky I just don’t have you all killed like him, I am going to do the only thing I can.” Richard said.
“The ones whose families that were threatened you will be taken to them and all of you will leave the country and never to return. You will then teach your children right from wrong so that when they are of age only then they may be able to return.” He said.
“The ones who were paid you will work for only food in the slop houses in the villages I select and no they won’t be in your homes you will never marry, as you will not be worthy of that. If you feel that this is too harsh you can be like him for what you have done to my family.” Richard said.
“Now all of you leave my sight before I change my mind and take him with you and bury him outside the castle walls where you throw the pigs shit.” Richard said.
There were a lot of yes My Lords around the room he then ordered one of the guards to get someone to get the blood up Richard then got up and we all followed him out of the room we went to the dinning room and the evening meal was being set for us.
“When Holdtree gets back he is in a world of hurt I just want to string him up by his balls.” Richard said.
“Dad I know he took Mom away from us, but he must have had orders to do it. What I want to know is how he found out about her and who she really was. If I didn’t know about her how he did?” Justyn asked.
“Yes son that is the big question, well he’ll be back in the morning you boys did great work I am proud of you both. If this had gone on any longer who knows what might have happened.” He said.
“Now I’ve ordered all of the people left to join us for this meal tonight to celebrate a new beginning, so they will all be coming in shortly everyone will eat with us as one.” Richard said.
“Can we have David sit up here with us? I know it’s not real proper but just this once, please Dad.” Justy begged.
“Ok Justyn, yes he may this once and only until he becomes part of the family, it will be a real treat for him too. HE! HE!” He laughed.
We all laughed too, then the people of all the groups that Justyn and I had interrogated walked in, it was not customary for them all to be here so his Dad told them to mix it up and sit all around. When David came in he was wearing new clothes, as was his new station. Justy called out to him.
“David, please come here!”
David ran to the front where we were. “Yes My Lord.” He said.
“Well look at you, turn around, yes you look very good now I have you’re first official duty to perform.” Justy said.
He looked kind of sullen as he thought he was going to be a part of this party he then stood up straight and hollered. “YES MY LORD!!”
“David for your first act as our pageboy I want you to sit up here next to Sertial and have dinner with us.” Justy said.
His mouth dropped open and tears started to fall down his face but he stood his ground and yelled, “YES MY LORD!!”
We all laughed and I clasped him on the back when he sat next to me he was grinning like he had just won a prize and was waving at all his friends that he had made since coming here.
When everyone was in the room and all the food was there Justy’s Dad then spoke.
“I want you all to know that we are glad you all are here, if you look around you will notice some faces missing in this crowd. Well I hate to say this but I must. The few that are not here have belonged to a conspiracy to overthrow our King and myself now I want you all to know we have put a stop to all of this fool heartedness today and we are going to need your help in keeping it at bay.” He said.
“I am proud to be your Duke; I feel I serve you justly and as Honorably as I can, you have all shown that you trust us to guide you as much as we can, because that is all we can do is guide you, that is what we truly are here for. You all have your own paths to lead and hopefully you will all choose the right path and know when to ask for help when you see trouble come you’re way. Not like the ones who are not with us tonight. Now enjoy your meal.” Richard said.