Tamerlane's Boys 20

Chapter 20 – Habits

(Southern Caucasus, July 1393)

“I don’t think that you will succeed in your aims,” Vissarion retorted, very boldly given the circumstances. However, his remark wiped the smile off Toqtamish’s ugly face and caused him to ask “Why not?” “Because of this,” the young Georgian answered, as he reciprocated the Mongol leader’s recent gesture of holding his arm aloft.

Toqtamish’s visage then bore an expression of horror as his warriors were now surrounded on all sides, apart from the riverbank, by a similarly sized contingent of Tamerlane’s cavalrymen, bows and arrows ready to fire. The Mongol leader noticed that the commander of the fierce mounted enemy troop incongruously seemed to be a youth, who was accompanied by a young boy. The man, of course, did not appreciate the fact that the latter young squire was not prepared to be separated in any circumstances from his new master and saviour, and had therefore resolutely insisted on being part of this very dangerous escapade. The 10 years old had even somehow learnt how to ride a horse reasonably well, miraculously within a day, to be able to come.

Toqtamish was not the leader of the Golden Horde for no reason, and he quickly re-gathered his composure at the unexpected and highly disturbing turn of events. As a result, he now managed confidently to threaten “I assure you that Tamerlane will die first in any battle!” However, his disposition was again to be undermined, for Vissarion replied “I don’t think so because the gentleman currently accompanying me is not the great conqueror. My companion is instead an ordinary soldier known for his remarkable resemblance to my master, who is safely bivouacked back at Tiflis, totally unaware of what is happening here. He has, in fact, been told nothing about Nicolai’s abduction or your request for a meeting.”

Despite this terrible revelation, Toqtamish still managed to retain some composure and responded perceptively “I suppose, boy, that this is the reason why you’re doing all the talking?” The question was, of course, rhetorical because the shocked Mongol had already recognised the sagacity of his suggestion. He therefore continued, without waiting for an answer, by enquiring “Am I correct in assuming that you must be the wise young Vissarion of whom I have heard and the youth over there, leading your cavalry, is the very capable Arman?” His query was accompanied by the return of a broad smile, for, as with Nicolai five days earlier, the man liked and respected spunk.

“Your assumptions are correct,” Vissarion advised, “but now you must ask a question of yourself. Do you want to die here and now for the sake of some of Tamerlane’s boys because I can assure you that, if battle between us now commences, you will be the first to die? Arman’s men have been instructed to rain their arrows initially on you and I can assure you that they will be deadly accurate!” Toqtamish nevertheless maintained his broad grin whilst he contemplated his response, having realised what the young Georgian was, in fact, hinting.

“We do indeed seem to be in some form of stalemate,” Toqtamish remarked, “given that my forces and your own seem to be matched in numbers. I therefore presume that you intend to suggest that we peacefully back off each other and go our separate ways, lives intact.” “You are again correct,” Vissarion answered, “but only if you hand Nicolai and Yaroslav over to me.”

“They’re of no real consequence to me now,” Toqtamish truthfully replied, before ordering his accompanying warrior to hand over the reins of the two young Muscovites’ horses to the fake Tamerlane. The Mongol leader was rewarded with a polite “Thank you!” from Vissarion. The young Georgian then continued “There’s also one other request. I’d like you not to disturb Nicolai’s family again in future. In return, I shall not acquaint the conqueror of what has happened here for I think that you can appreciate how he would react if he ever learnt about your perfidy. He would hunt you to the end of the world!”

“Your request will be met,” Toqtamish, appreciative of the reality of Vissarion’s threat, advised before asking “but please tell me one thing before I depart. What would you have done if I had been serious about meeting Tamerlane to discuss peace?” “I’m afraid,” the young Georgian responded, “that I never seriously considered that your offer was genuine, despite any falsehood clearly breaking your people’s code of honour. Your personal history told me from the beginning that the whole enterprise was a trap. However, I also reasoned that, if I was wrong and you were truly interested in securing peace, you would not have minded my exploratory expedition to prove that my master would be safe or another 5 days' wait for the conqueror to be summoned from Tiflis.”

Vissarion did not have to add why he really thought Toqtamish would be prepared to dishonour himself. The perceptive young Georgian simply knew that the Mongol leader would be prepared to sell his soul to the devil in return for capturing Tamerlane.

Despite the obvious admonition of Toqtamish’s actions in Vissarion’s words, the Mongol leader again retained his composure and instead complimented the young Georgian. “I see, boy,” the man announced, “that tales that you are wise beyond your tender years are indeed true. I could use such wise council. I’m therefore prepared to offer you vast lands and great wealth to return with me to Rus.” However, the 16 years old did not hesitate to provide a polite retort to what he appreciated was a genuine invitation. “My loyalty remains with the great Tamerlane!” the young eunuch declared.

Despite this further disappointment, Toqtamish’s admiring smile did not falter. The Mongol leader instead commented “Faithful, as well as beautiful, brave and wise. I’m afraid that I can’t help but be very jealous of Tamerlane, having such estimable young servants.” Vissarion blushed at the compliment.

“Well, boy,” Toqtamish now announced, “it seems our business here is done. I have a feeling, though, that we’ll meet again some day. However, next time, I’ll know that I’ll be up against truly worthy adversaries, and I’m not just referring to Tamerlane. Farewell!” The Mongol leader then signalled to his men, who grouped themselves round him before setting off in a northerly direction.

Arman, reacting to a signal from Vissarion, regrouped his own cavalry to permit the Mongols to pass peacefully. Meanwhile, the young Georgian and fake Tamerlane had dismounted and were busy untying Nicolai and Yaroslav. Both young Muscovites had tears of thankfulness in their eyes at their narrow escapes.

Vissarion and Nicolai subsequently hugged each other, whilst the lachrymose young Muscovite repeated “Thank you!” several times, with immense thankfulness. Arman then joined in the reunion celebrations before Yaroslav was formally introduced to his brother’s friends by the older sibling.

(North Georgia, that night)

Nicolai was lying face down and naked on the camp bed in the tent now shared not only with Vissarion but also with Arman, Teimuraz and Yaroslav. The 12 years old Muscovite’s gorgeous face exhibited a pained expression, as one of the 16 years old Georgian’s fingers gingerly entered his hurting rectum.

Vissarion’s digit was covered with proficient healing salve, designed to help to repair the damage caused to his fellow eunuch’s anal walls by Toqtamish’s mighty member. Earlier, all the lads had related their recent experiences, as well as confirming that the conqueror would never be told of what had happened. The 16 years old Georgian was intent on keeping his word to the Mongol leader. Tamerlane’s boys were also still fearful that their master might relapse into mental depression if he learnt that one of his young catamites had been seriously endangered once more.

Vissarion’s bodyguards had been appraised of his plan of subterfuge so that they would react appropriately when the fake Tamerlane arrived in north Georgia with Arman. The man might have fooled Toqtamish but he would have been unable to repeat the same feat with his fellow soldiers, many of whom knew him well. The young Georgian had also acquainted Arman of his plans when he had sent his message to the young Armenian, which particularly highlighted the need to keep their master ignorant about events.

Accordingly, Arman had left Tiflis supposedly on a hunting expedition, with a few of Sibur’s cavalry as bodyguards. This was why the numbers reinforcing Vissarion’s small force and been so few.

Sibur had not been told of Arman’s true purpose in leaving Tiflis either. The young man was required to remain behind because his primary duty, and that of his men, was to protect Tamerlane.

Arman therefore felt it best not to tell his lover of his real intentions, in case worry might somehow make the young cavalry officer unintentionally indiscrete.

(Tiflis, Georgia, two days later, July 1393)

Vissarion secured the silence of his own bodyguards and those of Arman, on their return to Tiflis and the conqueror’s main army, through a subtle mix of reward and threat. The young Georgian furtively obtained some gold from his master’s mobile treasury, the guardian not daring to question one of Tamerlane’s highly trusted boys when the request had been made. This largesse considerably enriched the men, who themselves knew better than to defy the 16 years old’s accompanying warning as to what might accrue if any later proved unwisely indiscrete.

Vissarion actually believed that the men would have remained silent anyway, out of respect for the wishes of Tamerlane’s highly popular boys and worry about the consequences if they did not adhere to the lads’ known desires. However, the gold was a reasonable reward for their help and the verbal warning was a useful reminder about the possible results of disloyalty. The young Georgian had not liked using such a threat to loyal warriors but they had been financially compensated and, after all, his master’s health was more important than soldiers’ sensibilities.

One awkward actuality to explain to Tamerlane was, of course, the sudden appearance of Nicolai’s younger brother. However, the conqueror was not told any lies about the 8 years old’s sudden arrival in Georgia, far from his home. He was instead simply not advised about the whole truth.

The clever Vissarion, who despised being untruthful, told Tamerlane that Yaroslav had been taken from his family by the Mongols as a replacement hostage for Nicolai. The boy had subsequently been taken to the Caucasus and northern Georgia, where he had somehow miraculously escaped from his captors and, even more miraculously, come across his older brother.

The tale’s outline was, of course, essentially correct but there were many dangerous questions that Tamerlane could have asked of Yaroslav about his literally fantastic adventure. However, Vissarion suggested, again not untruthfully, that the 8 years old had not fully recovered from the trauma of his experiences and so it would be best not to ask the boy to recount them. Fortunately, as ever, the conqueror followed the beautiful young Georgian’s advice.

Tamerlane’s boys, however, could not help but smile between themselves when, during their happy, embrace-filled reunion with their master, the conqueror made what was, to them, a very amusing remark.

Tamerlane declared “Well, apart from the wondrous miracle involving Yaroslav, I’m glad that my boys had a quiet, safe time on their travels!”

(Spadonis Monastery, western Armenia, August 1393)

Tamerlane and his army had relocated to Erivan [now Yerevan], Armenia, once more before intending to return to winter in Persia. This gave Arman the opportunity to visit the Spadonis Monastery, a few days west of the capital city. His interest in the beautiful Bible he had seen in the church in Tiflis had encouraged him to make the trip, accompanied by his young squire and bodyguard, to see the local monks at their excellent work. The other three boys of Tamerlane had remained behind to look after their master and the newcomer, Yaroslav.

The abbot was expecting the visit because of an exchange of correspondence between him and Arman, conveyed by one of Tamerlane’s mounted messengers, of whom there were many to keep the conqueror in touch with the various parts of his large Empire. The young Armenian had politely sought permission for his trip and the monastic leader had granted the youth’s request.

The abbot had acquiesced for two reasons. He did not consider it wise to refuse one of the boys of the dreaded Tamerlane. He also wanted revenge.

The abbot was fanatical about his unique brand of chaste monastic Christianity and, like the priest in Tiflis, he consequently hated Muslim homosexual male whores. He also despised Arman in particular, even though he had never met the youth, because he was not only one of the boys of Tamerlane, who had earlier so devastated Armenia and his monastery, but also the son of the last Emir, deposed and beheaded by the conqueror.

Although the Emir, during his reign, had respected local Christian institutions, the abbot had deeply despised the fact that Armenia had been subjugated to Muslim rule. The arrival of Arman at his monastery therefore provided the man with the ideal opportunity to reek vengeance on an appropriate symbol of all his resentment, namely the youth himself.

The abbot had already prepared Arman’s accommodation, where he proposed that the youth would spend the rest of his life. It was a large gloomy dank cellar, dominated by a wheel three times the size of a man, which used human leg power to draw water up to the hilltop monastery from a deep well.

The arduous task to provide the necessary energy to fill up the monastery’s water tanks was generally allocated to miscreant monks, with the new 14 years old eunuch amongst their number recently spending much time operating the facility. The boy’s genital wound had healed but he had found that adapting to the harsh new monastic regime was very difficult. Accordingly, he was allocated much punishment at the wheel.

Those turning the wheel were always naked, their habits having being set aside. Despite their shame, most were actually grateful for this because, otherwise, the heat and sweat engendered by their bodies would have been intolerable, despite the coolness of their surrounds. The abbot therefore did not propose to waste any clothing on the new permanent operator of the facility at all once he permanently commenced his difficult demeaning duties. Arman would always be kept nude after his painful, damaging initiation, as would his younger co-worker.

The abbot had been delighted to discover that Arman would be visiting the monastery with his young squire, as the younger boy would provide the leverage with which to induce the young Armenian to acquiesce to his dreadful fate. Naturally, both fresh recruits to the order would afterwards be converted, like all other monastic residents, into eunuchs.

Arman and Teimuraz had already been acquainted with, and had accepted, the fact that military personnel, as represented by their bodyguard, would not be permitted into the holy sanctuary. The 16 and 10 years olds had also agreed to enter the monastery unarmed. Having learnt about the young Armenian’s character, the abbot was therefore confident that he could blackmail the youth, with threats to his young squire’s life, to announce to all and sundry, including Tamerlane and his other boys, that he had seen the true light as a result of his visit.

Arman would declare his sudden miraculous conversion to Christianity and desire to remain as a monk in the Spadonis Monastery, a wish to be shared by Teimuraz. Members of the order were renowned not only for their literary artwork and chastity, enforced by a knife, but also for their obedience to the requirements of silent solitude. Only the abbot was allowed to speak and receive guests, whilst his colleagues were expected to refuse to meet any outsiders.

Hence, after their coerced entry into holy orders, no-one outside the monastery would expect to be able to see Arman and Teimuraz again. The abbot therefore smiled as he mulled over his clever evil plans once more. He now believed that they could not fail to achieve the retribution he felt was his due against a young person who was not only a Muslim, and one of Tamerlane’s boys, but also the son of the last Emir of Armenia.

(Erivan, Armenia, one week later, August 1393)

Vissarion was shocked to receive Arman’s letter, delivered by his friend’s bodyguard contingent, who had returned sadly to Tamerlane’s encampment in Erivan, without the popular youth they were supposed to protect. However, the writing, in Armenian, was definitely that of the 16 years old.

The letter described Arman’s miraculous conversion to Christianity and desire to remain as a monk in the Spadonis Monastery, a wish shared by Teimuraz. However, Vissarion simply could not believe the veracity of the message and so set out for the monastic establishment, with both his own and his friend’s bodyguards, to check.

Vissarion did not want to trouble his master with the news until he had ensured that Arman’s appalling announcement was true. Fortunately, the conqueror was away from his encampment on a lengthy bear hunting expedition, accompanied by Nicolai, Rezan, Yarolsav and Sibur. Tamerlane had decided that it was time to acquire at least one fresh bearskin for his huge bed for the winter ahead, given that he now usually slept with three boys. The conqueror was also aware that it appeared that the delightful younger Muscovite was to stay on a long-term basis.

Vissarion had remained behind in Erivan to await the return of his oldest closest friend, intending that he and Arman would follow his master later. However, the young Georgian instead sent a truthful message to Tamerlane stating that, for now, he had decided to visit Spadonis Monastery first because the young Armenian had embarked on an extended stay there.

Naturally, Vissarion did not indicate, in his message to the conqueror, how prolonged Arman intended his stay to be.

(Spadonis Monastery, western Armenia, a few days later, August 1393)

Vissarion and his similarly mounted bodyguard had negotiated the narrow vertiginous path, which climbed the crag on which the grim foreboding Spadonis Monastery was perched. The beautiful young blonde blue-eyed eunuch was now looking up at the walled battlement above, from where Arman, Teimuraz and the abbot peered down at him.

Arman had already shouted down, in Georgian, a language the abbot knew, that, although the youth could speak, as he had not yet been fully initiated as a monk, he was not permitted any guests because he had begun his training to be a novice. Apparently for this purpose, the young mounted visitor now noticed that his handsome young Armenian friend was already wearing a coarse short-sleeved habit, which extended to just below his unclothed loins. The 16 years old had also had his once lovely long dark brown hair cropped short, in a rather ugly fashion.

Teimuraz’s voice and appearance then confirmed the same circumstances for him too. It was accordingly frustratingly obvious to Vissarion that he was as close to his friends as he was going to achieve and that therefore their discussion would have to proceed in these awkward inhospitable circumstances.

Nevertheless, Vissarion, ignorant that all of the members of this particular monastic order were eunuchs, proceeded with his delicate interrogation of Arman and Teimuraz with great care, trying to avoid upsetting any delicate sensitivities whilst, at the same time, reaching the truth about his friends’ positions. However, the response from both 16 and 10 years olds concerning their situations was bravely convincing, given their perilous predicament. They even proficiently gently repudiated their young visitor’s attempts to change their minds about the action they proposed to take, despite the fact that the 16 years old Georgian had delivered his genuinely heart-felt entreaties with skilled diplomacy, necessitated because he was challenging decisions supposedly induced by people’s religious convictions.

The stance of Arman and Teimuraz was, however, considerably reinforced by the fact that arrows, in bows carried by certain senior monks within the monastery, were not only furtively aimed at their backs but also at Vissarion’s chest. The abbot’s courageous young captives actually felt little trepidation for their own welfare but cared much for that of their friends, sufficient not to want to endanger them in any way. Their acting was therefore nobly proficient, much to their captors’ delight.

Vissarion, having finally been convinced about the truth of his friends’ intent, and his inability to dissuade them, eventually made his distant, heart-rendering farewells to his oldest and newest friends, before leaving the scene, unashamedly crying profusely. As the sad young Georgian and his bodyguard made their way back down the crag to the plain far below, the 16 years old’s thoughts centred round Arman’s last-ever words to him.

“By staying,” Arman had announced with confidence, “I follow the old Georgian proverb that ‘Heaven expects loyal prayers’!”

(Western Armenia, the next night, August 1393)

The deeply unhappy Vissarion and his bodyguard had advanced halfway back towards Erivan and had camped for the night. The melancholic young Georgian eunuch was now alone in his tent, incapable of eradicating Arman’s last words from his mind.

Vissarion kept hearing over and over his oldest closest friend declaring “By staying, I follow the old Georgian proverb that ‘Heaven expects loyal prayers’!” Meanwhile, unknown to the young Georgian, back at the Spadonis Monastery, Arman was gaining an early introduction to his awful new existence, as the naked 16 years old Armenian approached exhaustion whilst turning a huge wheel.

Arman, hands chained to stationary posts either side of the wheel, was encouraged to work well by a monk behind him, holding a vicious multi-thonged whip, which had already left a number of sanguine lines on the youth’s bare back and bottom. Nearby, a nude and much more diminutive Teimuraz waited fearfully for his turn to operate the dreadful contraption.

(Spadonis Monastery, western Armenia, the next night, August 1393)

Arman was escorted into the main chapel of the monastery by the two stern adult monks who had been training him for this defining moment and for his future life. Loud droning incantations emerged from the many other monks present, lining the walls of the chapel, as the 16 years old advanced towards the gloomy altar, illuminated only by a vast array of candles.

The petrified Arman noticed that the altar was decorated by a huge golden cross and an icon depicting a Biblical scene, showing Abraham, knife raised, about to sacrifice a naked Isaac at God’s request.

The customary old sturdy trellis table had also been temporarily positioned before the altar and Arman was soon led in front of its dark surface. The 16 years old’s body visibly quivered at the close-up view, for he knew full well what the sanguine ingrained stains on the tabletop represented.

Arman was terrified but nevertheless now followed his instructions well, being even more fearful of the consequences for Teimuraz, of which he had been appraised, if he did not. The 16 years old therefore knelt before the table and altar to pray briefly before standing again and allowing his pair of attendant monks to remove his crude short sleeveless habit, which represented his only cover.

Arman’s sublime naked form, genitalia recently shaved of all hair, now came into view in the candlelight, his cock rigid. The 16 years old was not shocked at this humiliating phenomenon, despite the frightful circumstances he found himself in, for he had been prevented from securing final sexual relief through masturbation, whilst resting in chains on the cold floor next to the terrible wheel.

The nude Arman knelt and prayed briefly once more before allowing his pair of attendant monks to help him lay himself face up on the waiting table. The petrified 16 years old, penis still hard and throbbing, then meekly permitted his spreadeagled limbs to be bound securely to the leather cords located at each corner of the cool wooden surface. A gag was firmly inserted into his trembling young mouth, not primarily to silence him but rather to prevent his teeth causing any harm during the dreadful ritual to come. Meanwhile, the loud monastic chanting continued remorselessly.

Arman, now barely capable of movement, then felt his ball sac being tightly tied, before his attendant monks stepped to one side and the abbot approached the scene.

The abbot knelt before the table to utter his own prayers before standing at the side of the nude splayed Arman. The man’s arm was raised into the air and the 16 years old saw for the first time the ancient knife that had emasculated all of the monks present, and their predecessors, and was now about to do the same to him.

The abbot introduced his knife to the middle of Arman’s ball sac, just underneath the large vertically erect throbbing penis. Copious amounts of white cum then shot, like a fountain, out of the youth’s cockhead slit, to land all over his chest, belly and legs, and down the sides of his rigid penile shaft, as his beautiful young body spasmed in intense ecstasy whilst the abbot began his delicate expert incision. The man ignored the not uncommon final ejaculation of semen, when the substance began to flow over the 16 years old’s smooth scrotum, and instead concentrated on finishing his cut down the middle of the sac.

The abbot then exposed the tiny cord that connected Arman’s body to a white testicle that, with its partner, made the owner a true male. However, the man did not intend to leave the new novice, lovely form still quaking in final acute orgasm, waiting long to have his sexuality ruined permanently, as he aimed his razor-sharp blade to sever this initial orb.

Meanwhile, nearby, Teimuraz again waited fearfully for his turn to follow Arman.

(To be continued in chapter 21 – ‘Proverbs’)

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