The Book of the Blue House: Chapter 34

Ten

Connleth and Gabriel

An Azul Ierateíon of the Fourth Grade, Gabriel Rokomont was born of Doman and Armorian stock in the Blue Temple of Nassagora to a Blue Priest and the Red Priestess Sharadon Rokomont. The Rokomonts, though of Sendic and Doman origin, have deep roots in the Blue, Red and Green Orders, seeming to have turned from their original Doman faith during the time of Sir Wylan Rokomont in the Disposession.

According to legend he married into an old Royan family and the Rokomonts, though white in appearance have several notable kindred among the women of the Rootless Isle and the priestly families of Chyr. Noted for his skill and poetry, Gabriel is also famous for his relationships with Calon Everidon and Connleth Aragareth…

The Encyclopedia of Westrial, 56th Edition,

edited by Andi Lincoln

The rules of the Blue Priesthood were that once one was consecrated he was a priest forever. There had been many people for many reasons who had come to the Blue, and so many circumstances were different. But the rule for one who was to remain as a Blue priest living in the household, was that he serve in the rooms and in the sanctuary three times a month for three years, once a month for four more, and once a year for three before being forever absolved of the duty to lay with men.

“Fifty one,” Quinton had said, ‘That is the number everyone knows. Technically anyone who has served in the offering rooms or the pleasure rooms fifty one times never has to serve again.”

“Seems like a lot,” Matteo said.

“Less that a streetwalker,” Quinton said, philosophically. “A lot less than a married person. If you think about it, most of us go in three times a week and usually, when we go in, it’s a few men we’re with. Eventually you lose count. I imagine we have all been fifty one times.”

“Gabriel figured out early on that he wanted to be a singer and scholar,” Derek said, “and you know he was raised in a Blue temple down south, so he actually—and I’m not sure if you’re supposed to do this—just did all fifty-one in a year.”

Conn thought on this in surprise. The surprise was followed by the keen ache of regret that still came when he thought of Gabriel. No matter how much he loved Derek, or how deep his bond was with Matteo, no matter the trysts with Jon, he was never able to think of Gabriel without thinking of how he’d missed the chance to know him, and fearing that, having gone to the wars, he might never return.

“If one worked in the temple less than two months for just a few days a week, he would pass fifty one,” Derek said.

Conn realized that he had not even had his first. He had been in training, and accompanied Derek into the Blue Rooms and the offering rooms. The best thing he had ever done was decide to become a Blue, for now that he was united to Derek in this, there was none of the stanrge jealousy and none of the dread he feared. It was professional. He was Derek’s servant and attendant, and when he accompanied his lover as Derek lay with other men, he never felt like those men were taking things from him. If he was called to be in the room to attend, he never felt like he was watching his lover be unfaithful. And he never felt like he was engaging in something erotic. He felt like he was learning his vocation, and like he was fulfilling a task. And Derek always treated it that way.

“You don’t even have to think about the fifty one,” Derek noted one night as they drifted off to sleep. “You’re leaving soon. You won’t live here anyway.”

He didn’t say it in an accusatory way. He just said it.

When Cal and Gabriel had left, Sara had been full of sadness, and then she’d gone to her brother Theo who said, “Well, don’t you be too worried about it. We are Westerman too. I’ve signed up for the war. You come along with me!”

He treated it all as a great adventure, and for his sake and the sake of seeing her friends, Sara did too. She had left with her brother at the end of winter, kissing them all on the cheeks, Nialla last of all. Nialla had wept all through the night, and when Jon had mentioned that he thought maybe he should leave, she had slapped him hard across the face.

That same night, Conn had been touched by a strange pang when Jon had talked of leaving as well. What had gone on between them in the dark, he had never questioned. He didn’t know everything, but he knew better than to discuss it with his sister and he didn’t think Jon had either. He did not ask what Jon was playing at, for it was well known that many men who courted women enjoyed the pleasures of other men, and despite Conn’s disbelief and guilt, there had been pleasure in Jon’s mouth on him, sucking him so thoroughly, so expertly, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

That night, Conn gave in to his desire for Jon, melted in that bathroom with the plush floor rug, and though Jon was so greedy for his cock, he could barely stop sucking him, when he rested, Conn returned the favor amply. But this was not what he was after. He turned Jon around and buried his face in the cakes of his ass, thrusting his tongue deep in him. He tasted of honey, so he had cleaned and prepared for this,

John let out staggering moans and soon Conn understood the words, “Not enough. Not enough,” and “more.”

His penis, more stiff, more engorged and full of feeling that it had ever been, understood more. There were always bottles and vials of lubricant in the bathrooms, and with the sure knowledge of one who knew this place, he took a small bottle, opened it and rained a small trail of it on his stiff penis in the cleft of Jon’s ass. He turned on the dim light by the floor so he could see Jon’s shoulders, his back drawing down to his round buttocks, the look of lust and need on his open mouthed face as he gazed back at Conn.

“Fuck me, Conn,” he begged even as the begging stopped at the silent groan of Conn’s entry, and they both had nearly passed out from the fulfillment, before returning a little to themselves and taking up a rhythm, Conn pushing in, Jon pushing back. They had joined bodies, locking together, and giving themselves to this long building passion.

In the world outside of the Temple, Conn would never have thought this would be the beginning of a friendship, but after this night, he was easier with Jon. Nialla had always said she suspected that Jon’s nature leaned to men as well as women, and she would ask no questions about what he did when he wandered about the temple. Conn decided if she could live like that, he would say nothing. And he would certainly say nothing to Derek. By certain signs and gestures, he and Jon made arrangements to meet in bathrooms, in the empty apartments and dorm rooms of the temple, and other hidden places. The curiosity and lust they felt for each other had many secret permutations, and the laughter and gentle touching between them made the strange and attractive beau of his sister something like a brother.

Even after Gabriel and Cal had left, the rooms of the suite were still full of life, and of course there were new priests and new attendants. Quinton was always there with Matteo now, and Brian had been ordained and was attended by a young boy called Kyro. When Cal was gone, Derek moved into his old room and brought Conn with him.

The Kings of Westrial

The Kings of Westrial claim their descent from the God Wayland. According to their Chronicle, Wayland, of old, begat Wulfsun, Wulfsun begat Sevard, and Eoga, the first king of the West Ayl was descended of Sevard.

Wayland
Valkyras
Sevard
Rurgi
Sigmilund
Sigi
Sigir
Balda
Bældæg

House of Oesc

OEGA 622-647
Brond 647-665
Friðgar 665-678
Freawine 666-690[1]
Duncan 692-710[2]
Giwis 710-725
Esla 725-744
Elesa 744-765
Cerdic 766-790[3]
Athelstan the Great 790-831[4]
Anthal I 831-876[5]
Ceol 876-919
Ceolwulf 919-927
Cynegils (Kenneth) 927-953[6]
Gillem 953-975[7]
Cenwalh 975- 1003
Gillem II 1003- 1019[8]

INTERREGNUM

THE HALE KINGS

A combined force of Domans and Senach sweep into Westrial and rule from Londres. Cenwalh calls himself Duke of Londres and then, in 1030, King of Londres and the West Ayl

Edric of Daumany- 1019-1025
Edric II- 1025-1047
Edric Henry- 1047-1059
Richard Cenfus - 1059-1063
Henry- 1063-1085

With the aid of the people of Armet and Rheged, the Westrians come behind the Lady Rowena, a descendant of Cenwahl and a Rhegedi descendant of the House of Oesc called Jerami. He changes his name to Æscwine. After a long war, the Westrians expel the Senach-Hale dynasty, sending them into Senach or back to Daumany.

HOUSE AESCWINE