His last cup of wine tumbled over as the great man's body slid forward, thumping his massive head on the planks of the wooden table. The final drops spilled out as the gleaming silver vessel began rolling towards the edge. Nimble fingers reached out from under the table and snatched at the massive goblet before it could hit the stone floor.

"The King is passed out again, Theo," a small high-pitched voice said.

Above the crackle of the roaring fire a slightly deeper voice replied from the bench beside the enormous fireplace.

"Really? I suppose we had best summon the attendants, Daniel. He's grown too fat for us to handle. What if he should stumble on the stairs to his bedchamber? I would not wish to be responsible for the death of a king, especially not this one."

"We would be roasted like frogs on a spit, they would have no mercy," Daniel said. Then he began to chuckle and repeated himself, "like frogs on a spit."

"Or maybe a hot poker up the arse first," Theo added. "You know that our position is not favored here at court. I figure we rate somewhere below the dogs in their kennel."

"It ain't got nothing to do with us, Theo. It's him that makes us what we are."

"And it will be that way until he marries again. How many times do I have to tell you that? Besides it ain't the Law, it's the Bishop he fears. Another one of those Edicts and there will be hell to pay. That sanctimonious old fart in his fancy robes is a pain in the royal arse. May the gods forgive me, but someone needs to do him in."

Theo crossed himself to square things with the newly mandated Christian God, and then just to be sure he made the finger sign the old Druid priests used. It paid to be cautious in these times of change. The Christian Bishop from across the ocean had brought new ways. Theo didn't approve of the things he had heard about the man.

"You don't mean that, do you? The Bishop is always nice to us."

"Yes, Daniel, just don't bend over in front of him or he'll give you a dose of his holy staff."

"I thought that was the privilege of his altar boys?"

"Maybe it is, and so why does that not help us in this current situation? Would you please go summon the attendants?"

"You know I hate waking Marcus up," Daniel groaned, crawling out from under the table. "He puts his hands all over me. One of these days…"

"You will do nothing," Theo said. He stood up and glared at the younger boy. "Marcus is a very important part of our survival here. If he wants someone to poke then I'll introduce him to that kitchen boy. He's afraid of the King, for now anyway, so your behind is safe for the moment."

Marcus was indeed just as worrisome as the Bishop. As King Leopold's Chamberlain the man was in charge of the castle's affairs and that was supposed to include any bed warmers. But their special position and access to the King gave Theo and Daniel some considerable privilege.

Marcus directly ruled their lives, not just as Chamberlain but as the tutor in their education. Theo didn't know where the man had come by his great knowledge of history and languages, but their lessons were never easy.

The common people spoke Old English derived from the early Anglo-Saxon settlers. But Leopold was of German ancestry and spoke almost exclusively German unless the Bishop was there. Then he spoke Latin just to prove he was an educated man. But the English of their Anglo-Saxon forefathers made learning German and Latin much easier for the boys and although it was tedious they had no choice. Daniel hated spending time with Marcus and life at the castle was not to his liking either.

"One minute I'm with me Dad walking through the Farmer's Market on me birthday and the next thing I know here I be warming the King's bed," Daniel sighed. "What did I do to deserve all this?"

"Fair Daniel turned eight years of age and his father presented him to the King as is the duty we owe to our Lord and Master," Theo intoned, a speech he had well practiced. "And did the King send you to toil in his fields, pray for his soul in a monastery or swab out the stables as his chattel until you are twelve and reach manhood? No, instead you became a Royal bed warmer because I thought you were a charming little man. End of story."

"But I'm only nine," Daniel moaned. "I don't get to run wild like the other boys."

"And soon the King will realize there is hair growing upon my body and kick me out. That will leave only you to warm his nights. You had best think about how you're going to handle it without my guidance."

"Won't there be another to take your place?"

"Yes, when it's time there will be another. Not like there is any lack of boys in the kingdom, you just better hope you make the right choice."

"But I don't want to choose the boy. Can't you do it for me?"

"Not for anything. I'm going to take my due, buy myself a small farm, get married and live happily ever after. No, it will be your choice because you'll have to live with the consequences until you turn twelve."

Daniel groaned and dove back under the table. It was his favorite spot to hide and one the King didn't object to when he was drunk. Occasionally at dinner the man would hike up his robe and Daniel would see the Royal parts. That made him giggle until he realized the King used that particular part on Theo's backside and his turn was coming.

The court had dwindled down the past three years since the queen died. She had borne no children in all the years of her royal marriage but the King wasn't put out by this. He already had three sons and two daughters from the previous two marriages. Each of those children was away raising their own families. It made for a quiet castle.

Soon after his queen passed on, King Leopold took up with the new Christian religion. He insisted that all his subjects should become Christian and then he reinstituted some of the old fealty statutes of common law that his father had banned.

Ten year old Brian had become the first chosen bed warmer and eight year old Theo the second. Their actual title was chamber boy, but it soon became known in whispers about the castle what the true nature of the position entailed.

But many at court and throughout the country regarded the boys as necessary companions for a lonely king. And since many others did not believe the stories of bedroom activity it left the King in an envious position of being supported by both friend and foe alike. As for the boys, were they not given every privilege of the court? These poor children were clothed, fed, educated and supported by the very country and King they served.

Daniel knew Leopold wasn't really a king, not like the real King Raedwald of East Anglia. He was a Germanic cousin, tolerated because he was rich and could muster hundreds of men when needed. But even a leader of clans like Leopold had enough ego to think of himself as a king, and his people didn't argue with him. So King Leopold he was…for the moment.

When his turn came, it had taken Daniel only a few weeks to learn what was going on around him. Brian's graduation from the King's service was long over when as the new boy Daniel was introduced to the graphic nature of Theo's position.

He was invited to watch as the King mounted the boy, pulling his swollen rod from Theo's bum only to spray Daniel with his seed and laugh hilariously at the joke. Yes, the king was a total bastard.

Silent tears coursed down Daniel's cheeks as he washed those remnants from his face while across the room Theo carefully and quietly washed his backside. Leopold could have cared less, he was already passed out and snoring. So it was Theo that consoled Daniel in those early days. It was how things were learned, experience teaching the uninitiated.

In the teaching process they both discovered something…they had feelings for one another. Isolated as they were within the court by their positions and the intense level of security that surrounded a king, Theo and Daniel had only each other to love.

Daniel's body was just not ready to process the physical requirements of sexual pleasure. They talked about it, examined all the activities one might encounter with another male partner and yet only the close onset of puberty would bring Daniel to any understanding. But there was one idea he quickly grasped, and that was the act would be painful.

"It will feel like a hot poker up my bum," he groaned.

"I know this, that's how it felt to me," Theo said.

"Well, then we'll just have to scrub that one off the list."

"Afraid not, little man. The King will take his due, even if Marcus has to hold you down."

"But not soon, please not soon," Daniel pleaded.

"Soon, little man, it will come all too soon."

"But I will surely die," Daniel sniffled.

"Sweet Mother, no tears if you please." But he realized the little one was terrified.

Theo wasn't sure how he would feel watching the King have at the young boy's bottom. And when Daniel failed to give his due then Theo would suffer, he might even lose his head. Right then he decided that things would have to change. Daniel was going to be freed of this duty. And then they would only have a duty to one another.

The King did not realize that night as he drank himself into a stupor that it would be his last pleasurable moment for the foreseeable future. For when he awoke he would discover the lads gone, his pleasure stolen away into the night, and he would be furious.

Theo had been working on a plan. They would escape from the castle, taking a horse if at all possible. They would need some coins with which to purchase food and shelter. It would not be easy, the King would scour the land to find them and the rabble would be looking for them everywhere.

No, they would need a lot of coin, enough to take them far, far away. Theo pondered the problem and then he smiled. Of course, the King would be made to help with their escape.

Theo watched as the boy came out from under the table, pulling on his new boots.

"Shh, be most quiet," Theo whispered.

"What?" Daniel replied just as quietly.

"I've decided, we must forget Marcus and leave the king where he lies. We're leaving this place, now…tonight."

"Leaving but how…"

"I have a plan," Theo said and he smiled. Daniel wasn't sure what to say so he smiled back. "We need to pack a few things first."

Fortunately they had been given quite an extensive wardrobe from which to choose the appropriate traveling clothes. They packed in haste and one sack for each of them was all it took since they had few personal possessions.

Theo crept into the King's chamber next to their room and slid open the drawer of the writing desk. He took a small dagger and the little bag of coins kept hidden away at the back. These were old coins the King had kept from his father's time and before even that. It didn't matter to Theo that they might have sentimental value to the king because they were all gold.

And then there was the matter of the box. The King had never shown him the contents of the little wooden box, but Theo knew it was valuable. He had seen the King remove the box from its hiding place and gaze intently at what lay within. Theo coveted the box and felt no guilt about stealing it. It was his due after all he had endured.

He had Daniel watch the door as he crept behind the King's bed and pressed on the carved lion's head. The small panel slid open revealing the box and within lay the treasure bound in golden cloth. It was small, maybe hand span across, and quite flat. Theo closed the box and nearly dropped it…by the gods it seemed heavy. He smiled and slipped it into his sack.

They crept down the servant's stairs towards the kitchens, wary of the evening guards that occasionally patrolled the castle hallways. No one was about as Daniel grabbed a loaf of bread and stuffed it in his sack. Theo used the dagger and sliced off a section of the smoked mutton hanging in the pantry. He wrapped it in a cloth and added it to his sack.

Once through the rear door they would face a larger danger. The nightly patrols made their rounds of the castle grounds on a frequent basis and Theo didn't know how good they were. The moon was not out quite yet, but there were stars shining brightly in the early summer sky. The pale light lit them as they darted through the shadows in the courtyard until they reached the outer walls of the stables completely out of breath and yet unseen.

It was sheer folly to take a horse, the beasts could be quite noisy and that would attract attention. But Theo slipped past all the horse stalls until he came to the small pen at the rear near the outer stable door. Daniel had never seen the likes of the small horse that stood within.

"It's an ass," Theo said.

"What's an ass?" Daniel asked.

"It's a pack animal and it can carry the two of us," Theo replied. "Now if it will just be quiet…"

The ass snorted at their approach and Theo looked around for the bag that held the animal's feed. The small leather bag of oats was hanging on the wall and he pulled it down. The animal sensed food and came quietly towards the gate of the pen.

Theo slipped a rope around the animal's neck and gave it some of the food. He opened the gate and the ass followed the feed bag as Theo led it towards the castle door. He was about to slide open the huge bar that locked the door when he heard a sound that made him freeze.

The clank of metal alerted him to the guard standing outside the doorway, and then the man burped. Theo brought a finger to his lips and signaled Daniel to be quiet.

"That was mighty fine ale we had tonight," they heard the guard say.

"I told you, he makes it with a new recipe this time of year. It's got more of a tang, don't you think," a second guard said.

"Well I know I drank too much of it, I have to piss something fierce," the first man said.

"Me too, now that you mention it. We can't be doing it here where the sergeant might see us. Let's ease on down the lane towards the tower. I certainly don't want him catching me, do I?"

"I don't suppose anyone will be about stealing the King's horses in the next few minutes, I'll go with you," the first guard said.

Theo and Daniel listened to the guards move away from the door. Carefully sliding back the well-greased bar, Theo eased the heavy door open, praying it did not squeak and alert the guards.

The ass pawed impatiently at the ground behind him as Theo swung the door open enough for Daniel to scamper outside. The ass followed the feed bag in Theo's hand and he pushed door closed behind them.

He could not lock it from the outside, but that was not his concern. The lane was dark here under the shadow of the outer wall and yet…he saw shapes in the lane down beyond the tower and heard the clatter of armor.

The trees of the orchard were across the lane and they immediately slid beneath the canopy of leaves, grateful that any guard on the walls could not see them. Theo led them for some distance before he stopped.

"Let me lift you up on the ass," Theo said.

"Why, you don't think I can mount the beast?" Daniel replied.

"Go on then, just keep quiet if you fall off."

Daniel hopped onto the animal's back and sat there proudly. "Your turn," He grinned.

Theo held the rope and swung himself up in place behind Daniel. The ass didn't seem to mind the weight one little bit, but then he didn't move an inch either.

"How do we make him go?" Daniel asked.

"I think all I have to do is give him a little kick, like this," Theo said, slapping his boots against the sides of the animal. The ass just turned his head back around and looked at him. He repeated the move several times but the beast wouldn't budge.

"Are we escaping yet?" Daniel giggled.

"Now I know why they call it an ass," Theo said.

"Let me try," Daniel said.

The boy reached over to one of the fruit trees and snapped off a branch. He hung the feed bag on the end of the stick and held it out before the ass's nose. The animal began to move forward.

"How'd you figure that out?" Theo asked.

"Food is the only thing the beast understands. It motivates him."

"But I doubt if there are any of the oats left in that bag," Theo said.

"And that's why he's an ass, or is it a she?"

"I sure don't know," Theo replied.

They passed through the orchard and were soon on the lane that led them towards the village. It was less than ten miles to the coast and the port of Baleen. The Bishop lived there, afraid to leave sight of the bay and his only means of escape.

The kingdom had not always been friendly to the emissaries of Roma. The new Bishop was fearful of the deep dark forest that covered much of the kingdom. His predecessor had been martyred there by the Druid priests.

The ten miles would be covered before the boys were discovered missing, Theo was sure of that. The only other thing Theo knew was that the Bishop would have to go back to Roma in the near future. He had overheard the King talking about it. It was a necessary part of the plan.

Theo had been born at the coast and his father was a fisherman. The water had been a great part of his life before his mother died of the fever. Theo planned to use the knowledge he had gained as a mere boy to help in their escape. It would not do for his father to know of their plans, but the fishing village was miles north of the town.

Surely the Bishop would sail off in a grand ship and large vessels such as that always needed boys to work upon them. He wasn't sure how Daniel would take to the water, but then he had no choice now, did he? All they had to do was seek out the sailors from this ship and get a passage out of this place.

The ass took them into the village streets outside the walls and there Theo left it tied to post. Surely someone here would find a use for the beast. At least there were no markings on the animal that would lead back to the King.

It was only an hour before daylight would bring the village streets to life so they moved quickly down towards the ocean. Daniel stared in awe at the great body of water and Theo had to drag him along towards the beach.

Theo searched amongst the small watercraft pulled up on the shore until he found what he wanted. The old boat didn't look like it had any voyages left and so the owners had turned it upside down in the sand. Theo looked up under the craft and motioned Daniel to crawl inside.

They shared half of the bread and a portion of the mutton before settling down to sleep. Theo knew he would need to rest before beginning to search the port. Perhaps the ship he wanted might not even be at the dock unless the Bishop was planning to leave within a few days. But every day they remained in the kingdom would put them at risk of discovery.

They slept away most of the morning in the shade of that boat, awaking only when the fishermen moved the other boats out to perform their duty. Theo awoke in the afternoon with Daniel huddled in close beside him.

This would have been a lot easier without the younger boy, but then Theo knew it was because of him that they had to run away. Those first few months with the newly widowed King had scared him something frightful. Of course devious little Brian, that first chamber boy, had made light of the King's private needs.

Just why this King had chosen to share his bed with boys was a mystery. He could have had a mistress or even a chamber maid, but there was never a mention of that. Theo had begun to think that the new religion worried the King. Maybe the Bishop would have found fault if an unmarried woman was discovered giving those nightly pleasures to his majesty.

But a boy used in such a manner seemed to be ignored by one and all. Well, except the boys involved didn't ignore it. But Brian had been given wealth and property, something that Theo himself might have enjoyed, but not now. That damned Bishop had been the cause of this.

When the new emissary from Roma had arrived six months before, the King had thrown a lavish dinner in his honor. The King was a robust man, large in girth and manners. His loud boisterous style seemed in direct contrast to the tall, reedy figure of the new holy man. The Bishop was pale despite weeks of ocean travel and he seemed constantly nervous about something.

The Bishop had his own retinue of followers. Each of them appeared to be in sharp contrast to the King's own courtiers, a brawling bunch that had been ordered to be on their best behavior. That meant no bare breasts at table and the cursing was held to a minimum for this one night at least.

Theo had watched the affair from his station behind the King's table. His duty was to hold the chamber pot in case the King needed to pee or throw up, depending on the moment. Daniel was relegated to the floor under the table with the dogs.

But the Bishop's retinue included several quiet priests in their dark robes and what could only be described as young fops, boys in waiting, all dressed up in lacy coats and frilly pantaloons.

Theo watched the two boys serving the Bishop and discovered that their well-groomed looks did nothing to disguise their feminine mannerisms. He almost laughed when one of the boys almost fainted as the King's favorite dog leapt upon the table and stole a whole chicken right off the platter.

The King roared with amusement at his dog's antics. The Bishop seemed above it all. But when the dog seemed to aggravate the holy man from beneath the table, one of the fops crawled underneath to shoo the unmanageable beast away. The whole time it was as if he had only heavenly thoughts, because at one point the Bishop's eyes elevated to the ceiling as if in prayer.

It was later, after the feast ended, that Daniel told Theo what he had seen of the activity hidden beneath the table cloth. The fop had sat there to fend off the dogs and the Bishop had slowly hiked up his robe until his knees were bare. Taking his cue, the fop had stuck his head under the Bishop's robe and serviced the man sitting above him.

Theo was startled by a thump on the old boat's hull over his head. He flattened himself on the sand and peeked out only to see the four legs of their trusty steed, the ass had followed them. Great, the beast would certainly attract attention.

"Daniel…Daniel," Theo said, "wake up."

"What?"

"The beast slipped its rope and followed us here. Crawl out and lead him away."

"Me? Why me?" Daniel asked.

"No one here could know your face and I might be recognized by one of the fishermen," Theo said. "Besides, I think the creature likes you."

"What should I do with it?"

"Lead it back to the trees and tie it fast, someone will steal it sure."

Daniel crawled out and led the ass away. Theo sat back with a sigh, he wanted night to come. Under cover of darkness he could sneak into the town and look at the docks, maybe even find a friendly sailor.

He was under no illusions of what might have to transpire for them to gain passage. It could be no worse than what the King had done, but it was Daniel he worried about. They had coin, they might pay their passage…and he had whatever had been in the box.

Theo grabbed his sack and reached inside, his fingers encountering the familiar shape. He pulled it out and hefted the weight, now it seemed lighter. The gold cloth was bound tight and Theo picked at the knots with his fingers until it came undone.

Theo wasn't sure what he expected the treasure to be, but it wasn't this. A plain linked chain held a medallion shaped like an oak leaf with three acorns embossed on the front. This is what had held the King's rapt attention?

He held up the medallion and smiled. Yes, this was a Druid piece, and something the King had kept hidden, probably in fear of the Bishop. If so then it might be of some value, at least it didn't seem so heavy now. Theo slid the chain around his neck and the oak leaf fell against his chest.

Daniel slid back under the boat and looked around, Theo was gone. The ass had been given to a farmer in exchange for two flasks of ale and two loaves of bread. Where had Theo gone?

"Damn, Theo…have you left me?" Daniel whined.

"I would never leave you," Theo replied. "I love you."

Daniel started, and spun around. "Where are you?"

"Here," Theo said, and his body slowly materialized out of thin air.

"De…De…Dear Lord," Daniel stammered.

"Not at all," Theo said, holding up the medallion. "This has no bearing on the Christian god at all."

"Where did you go?"

"I just heard someone coming and wished I could disappear…and I did. It's the medallion, it must be magic."

Daniel looked down at the oak leaf sitting on Theo's chest. "Where did you get that?"

"The King had it hidden away…I just borrowed it," Theo said with a grin.

"Oh…"

"He's already going to be quite mad at us, this won't matter. So you really couldn't see me?" Theo asked.

"Not at all…what else can it do?" Daniel asked.

"I don't know, but I think I better be careful what I wish for," Theo said. "Is it dark out yet?"

"Almost, where are we going?"

"To the docks, I want to see what ships are in the harbor. I was thinking we might get berths as ship's boys, but now I have a better idea. The King will have his soldiers out looking for the two of us, but alone you might go undetected."

"Oh no, don't leave me alone," Daniel whined.

"I'll be right there with you, it's just that now no one will see me," Theo said.

"Oh…yeah, fine."

"We'll get you on board a ship and I'll stay invisible until I can find a place to hide," Theo said. "Um…Daniel, you'll have to be careful, some of the sailors might think to take advantage of you."

"Oh," Daniel said, "you mean like the King was planning to do?"

"Yes, but I'll be there to protect you. I was hoping we might get on the Bishop's ship, I bet nothing bad would happen to you there."

"Unless the Bishop wants my arse," Daniel said.

"Yeah, we know about him, don't we?"

They ate some of the bread and drank some ale, a vile brew compared to what they had at the castle. But once their bellies were full they set off towards the town gate. Theo carried both sacks because once he went invisible he discovered they went with him. Maybe if he carried Daniel the boy would become invisible too, but he didn't want to press his luck.

The single watchman on duty paid the boy no heed because he was busy eating his supper. Daniel walked right up the middle of the road and under the gate's arch where the smell assaulted his nose. He picked his way carefully around the piles of horse droppings and garbage strewn about the street.

Like many towns there was a ditch on either side of the street with offal floating away towards the harbor. Daniel immediately hated this place and strode purposefully towards the docks. When he reached the town square he could see the water in the near distance.

"Go straight towards the dock," Theo whispered in his ear, and Daniel jumped at the sound.

"I almost forgot you were there," Daniel giggled.

It was reassuring, Theo was right there beside him. The waterfront was filled with people walking the streets and going in and out of the tavern on the edge of the square. Daniel could see several watchmen with torches patrolling the dock and wondered why they were needed.

He heard a laugh beside him, Theo was happy. "The Bishop's ship is here, we are saved," Theo said.

A large ship sat beside the dock and there was no mistaking to whom it belonged. The large cross painted on the bow and the flags all said this was a holy ship belonging to the Bishop. Theo knew little about the Christian King, the one called Pope. But there was no doubt that the ship would sail soon, they were loading bales and boxes off the dock even in darkness.

The Bishop was probably still up in his church lodgings on the hillside above the town, but Theo knew he had to get Daniel on board somehow.

"The tavern, go stand by the tavern door and let me look inside," Theo whispered in the boy's ear.

Daniel walked across the street and sat on the stone bench beside the door. Several men were drinking from a flagon and talking loudly, none of them paid the boy even a cursory glance. Theo looked through the doorway and then stepped inside.

He needed an officer, someone of rank from the ship. Across the room he saw sailors of all ranks, but the Bishop's men were marked by the uniform they wore. The sailors in their gray tunics filled the tables, but there in the corner sat two officers, their purple and white uniforms making them stand out.

Theo slid back out the door and sat down beside Daniel. "I'm back," He said and Daniel jumped at the sound.

"I wish you wouldn't do that, you scare me half to death every time," Daniel said.

"Sorry. There are two officers inside and you need to talk with one of them when they come out."

"What do I say?" Daniel asked.

Theo set Daniel's sack down beside the boy and looked around, no one was looking. The moment he let go it appeared. "Reach in the bag and pull out that small rope we used on the ass," Theo said, and Daniel complied.

"Now what?" The boy asked.

"Remember those knots I showed you? I want you to start tying the two ends together with that complicated splice, make sure it's tight and clean," Theo said.

"That takes a while," Daniel said.

"Exactly, but it shows you know something valuable, something a sailor will appreciate."

Daniel began the laborious process of unraveling the two ends and then laid them side by side to begin the splice. Theo got up and looked in the door. One of the officers was standing up and the other soon joined him, they were leaving.

"Daniel, when the guys in purple and white come out the door I want you to cuss something fierce. And when they look at you just smile."

"What for?" Daniel laughed, he loved to cuss but rarely did it in the castle because either the King or the Chamberlain might catch him and that meant a whipping.

"Trust me, it will get their attention. Then you ask if they have room for a ship's boy, simple? Here they come."

Daniel was neatly splicing the ends of the rope together as the officers stepped through the doorway. "Now," Theo whispered.

"Damn it to hell, what dried out pieces of dung these are," Daniel said.

The officers laughed and one of them spoke. "What's the matter, boy?"

"This damned rope is almost dry rotted, my splice will break," Daniel replied.

"Let me see," the man said, taking the rope from the boy's hands. "Hmm, you did this quite well, but the rope is of poor quality. You did this yourself?"

"Yes sir, you have room for me on your ship?" Daniel asked.

"How old are you, boy? Where's your Momma?" The man asked.

"I'm an orphan, she died," Daniel said.

"So you want to run away to the sea, is that it?"

"Yes sir, you got a mighty fine looking ship there," Daniel said.

"Do we need another ship's boy?" The man asked his companion.

"The two we have are lazy as goats, and neither of them can splice a cable like that, Lieutenant," The second man replied.

"No parent's, you wouldn't be telling me a lie and running away from home would you?" The Lieutenant asked.

"No sir, I don't lie, God forbids it," Daniel said, crossing himself.

"A convert as well," The Lieutenant said. "You may come with us to Italia, young sir. I will personally put your talents to good use."

"Thank you, sir," Daniel said.

"See, he is polite too," The Lieutenant said, "I may have to teach him myself and leave the other two in your care, Marco."

"You do me no favors as always, a blessing on you child, the Lieutenant has his good deed for the day and he will work you hard," Marco said.

"Come on, grab your belongings and follow us," The Lieutenant said. "We sail with the morning tide and the Bishop can't wait to escape this land."

Standing invisibly beside the boy, Theo could only smile. They would soon escape the King's clutches. The Lieutenant seemed like a nice man, but they would still have to avoid the Bishop if at all possible. The tide would come early and by dawn they would be away from the land. Theo sighed inwardly…it would be good to feel the sea beneath his feet once again.


On to Chapter Two

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