Voyage Home

“My Lord.” Pennysort said at the open door, his hand on the knob, giving a slight bow to the man behind the broad desk. The large chamber was dark but he was bathed in the lamp light that spread out over the broad desk and was bent over slightly as he wrote with the quill.

“Pennysort?” He asked without looking up from what he was writing.

“The shipment is ready for your inspection, My Lord.” The tall gawky man said, “Your carriage is waiting for you.”

“I will join you presently.” The icy voice said from the broad desk still without looking up, “Tell Griffould as well, if you will.”

“I already have, My Lord. He has gone on ahead and will meet us there.” Pennysort said and now was given a look from the man behind the desk. The glare he was giving in the lamplight would have sent chills up most men’s spines, but Pennysort was accustomed to it and did not flinch.

“I see.” The icy voice said and put the quill down near the inkwell. He rose up out of his chair and blew out the lamp. He came around the broad desk in the dark chamber and started toward the tall and lanky man at the door, reaching him and going past him, Pennysort shut the door behind them.

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“I think that is enough reading for one evening.” Callum said softly as he looked down. Henry was fast asleep between he and Dustin on the settee. They had finished supper and had returned to the settee so that Dustin could finish reading the story for Henry. Dustin looked over and saw what Callum did, the little one slumped against Callum, his mouth open just a bit as he dreamed what small boys dreamed of that had had a long day and now also had a full belly.

“He must have been very tired.” Dustin said.

“Yes, it seems so.” Callum said quietly and touched the soft brown curls of Henry’s hair, “To be young again like this and not have a care.” Callum said above a whisper, “I never had that.”

“What did you have?” Dustin asked.

“Concerns, worries were what consumed my mind most as I recall.” Callum whispered. He lifted his eyes and met Dustin’s, “As I am certain you had a similar experience, but far worse than what I had.”

“I managed.” Dustin gave a brief smile.

“You never speak of it much.” Callum spoke softly.

“There is no need. It is in the past. I have this right now and that’s really all that I want.” Dustin said above a whisper as he closed the picture book in his lap.

“I love you.” Callum whispered.

“I know, and I love you as well.” Dustin whispered back to Callum, “And I love him.” Dustin said as he nodded down toward Henry.

“That goes without saying. He makes it easy for all to love him.” Callum whispered as he looked down at the little one next to him.

“Like his father.” Dustin whispered and Callum lifted his eyes again.

“You should put that boy to bed.” Martha said from the doorway to the kitchen. Callum and Dustin looked over toward her, “I think he is done for the night, as am I.”

“You’re going to bed, my dear?” Callum asked.

“This old woman has had a busy day of it, washing after you men and watching you try and kill each other again.” Martha said. Dustin smiled and shifted on the settee. He set the book down and worked his hands in to pick Henry up. He lifted the little body and held him to him, turning to walk toward Henry’s room off the little hallway. Martha met Dustin at the bottom of the stairs next to the kitchen doorway with his bundle in arms. She ran her hand over the soft brown hair and smiled at the soft face that was asleep in Dustin’s arms and let Dustin go by her.

“Good night, my dear, sleep well.” Callum said.

“I will see you bright and early, my boy, as always.” She said as she went around the corner into the little hallway and out of Callum’s sight. He was alone in the parlor now. He reached out and put a hand on the picture book and turned it to read the cover, ‘The Boy and The Dog’. Callum smiled and pushed the book back to where Dustin had left it. He got up off the settee and went into the kitchen. He opened the back door. The dog, Fitz, was there and came in, Callum closing the door behind him a bit. The dog stopped and looked at Callum, Callum just waved a finger for the dog to go on, which he did, going to Henry’s room to join his best friend in all the world.

“The boy and his dog.” Callum said as he watched as the dog went around the corner and out of sight. Callum opened the back door again and went out on the flagstone, closing the door behind him. He stared up as the night sky was coming, stars were beginning to shine brighter. There was a slight breeze that he felt, warm and soft. He folded his arms over his chest and stared into the southern night sky. He did not hear it, but felt it, the touch. Hands went around him from behind, holding him gently and he felt the chin rest on his right shoulder.

“Thomas and I are going into the village in the morning. I need to see Owen and speak with him and I want Dr. Stivers to look over my stitches as does Thomas.” Callum said as he put his hands over Dustin’s.

“Is Thomas having discomfort?” Dustin asked in Callum’s ear.

“He said he was having a tightening in his, as am I. It is probably nothing, but I want it checked before we go off to London.” Callum said.

“Do you trust him?” Dustin asked.

“Thomas, of course I…”

“Nooo, Dr. Stivers.” Dustin said. Callum paused for a moment as he looked at the stars.

“I would trust him with knitting me back up as I have, even you if need be, God forbid, but do I trust him? No, I do not.” Callum said and turned himself in Dustin’s arms, “Obviously, you don’t either.”

“Not with what we found out from him. Perhaps we should send word for Dr. Crawford.”

“Arthur has his practice as you know and will not make a house call just to check knitting.” Callum said.

“He would for you, Quintan, and you know it.” Dustin said, “Why are you being stubborn like this?”

“Stivers is here and is handy, Arthur is four hours away, plus I might want to have another talk with Paupling.”

“Why?” Dustin asked, “Nothing good could come from it, Quintan.”

“Possibly not, but then again, he might have further insights.” Callum said.

“You’re thinking something, what is it?” Dustin asked. Callum smiled and leaned in, kissing Dustin softly but briefly.

“What makes you think I am thinking something?” Callum asked.

“Because I know you too well, Quintan. I know how your mind works.” Dustin said and smirked.

“I am thinking that we are alone, and I am also thinking that there are several places that we have made love here, like in the stable, the pasture, the new barn, our room of course, but there are also several other places that are here that we have not made love in or at as of yet.” Callum said and smiled. He went to lean in again but Dustin leaned back to stop him.

“You are incorrigible, Quintan Callum.”

“And you are insatiable, Dustin Perkins. You see, I know you pretty well also.” Callum said and raised an eyebrow.

“Alright,” Dustin smirked, “where did you have in mind?”

“Down below perhaps, at the stone wall at the road?” Callum asked and gave his own smirk. Dustin was a bit wide eyed.

“What? Are you serious? What if someone were to come by?”

“What, on the road? At this time of evening?” Callum asked, still smirking.

“That would be like doing it at the wheel of Dover.” Dustin said as he was thinking about it and what he had just said, his complete fantasy. Callum came even closer and rubbed himself into Dustin.

“Something that I always wanted to do, that very thing, you, your hands on the wheel as I am behind you, taking you over and over in the full sun as we sail along.” Callum said, his voice going husky and coarse. Dustin could feel himself growing as well as Callum against him and was breathing heavily through his nose.

“So have I. You never said anything.” Dustin said quietly.

“And if I had?” Callum asked.

“I would have let you.” Dustin whispered and Callum fell into him, kissing him like he had never kissed him before, deep, hard, and so full of more than passion, more than lust.

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The large black carriage pulled up in the alley next to a great stone building. The horses moved a bit still, back and forth, the horses stamping their hooves on the cobble and the carriage rocked slightly. A hand outside opened the door and Pennysort moved off the bench seat and climbed out first. He stood there for a moment and looked about seeing no one, he turned and gave a nod toward the man still inside the carriage. He moved out of the way as the man climbed out of the carriage.

A large door was opened and swung inward, there was a dim glow from inside the stone building. The man stepped forward, his cloak billowed as he walked, Pennysort following him silently. The door was closed behind them and muted voices could be heard. The man went toward them and the soft glow of light beyond several stacks of crates.

The stone building was a warehouse, vast in size. The muted voices echoed slightly and the man could not quite make out what they were saying. He stepped into the light and saw the group of rather surly types, all shabbily dressed and in the lamplight they all looked dirty to him, their faces smudged. One of them looked up and gasped slightly at seeing him, the others looked as well.

“My Lord, shall I have one of them open the crates for your inspection?” Pennysort asked as he stepped to the man’s shoulder.

“I think only one will be necessary for my inspection, Pennysort.” The icy voice said. His eyes shifted about at the surly group of dirty men. They all backed up a step to give more room, spreading the lamplight even more in the area. One of the men that held one of the lamps bumped into something behind him, he turned and his head tilted back even further seeing what was there and his eyes went wide and he gasped seeing the scarred face, “There you are, Griffould. I was wondering when you would turn up.” The icy voice said breaking the silence echoing in the vast space they were all assembled in, surrounded by crates. The man with the lamp backed away from the giant man, his eyes still wide.

Griffould towered near seven feet tall and seemed as if he was near as wide to the men, moved forward and came toward the closest crate stopping next to it. He looked at the man that wore the cloak and was given a nod only. Fingers from hands that were as large as plates grabbed the lid of the crate, those fingers dug into the wood and there was a creaking sound that filled the vast area as the nails used to secure the lid to the body of the crate were pulled out of the wood. All eyes of the group of surly and dirty men went wide as the lid came off as if one were ripping a piece of paper in half. One of them swallowed hard as he held the lamp. The lid was set beside the crate and the man in the cloak stepped forward, looking down into the darkness of the large crate. A hand reached out from the cloak and touched something inside, something that was still unseen by the limited light that was at hand. Fingers of the hand ran over it slowly, cloth, heavy in weight and rough to the touch. He knew it was wool, English wool.

“Bring a lamp closer.” The icy voice said from the cloak. Pennysort looked at one of the men that held one and nodded his head. The dirty man stepped forward to one side of the crate and held up the lamp. He looked as well as the cloth was lifted out.

“Coats?” The man with the lamp asked as he looked at the man in the cloak.

“Obviously, you have no idea what this is.” The icy voice said, the eyes shifted only to look at the dirty man.

“Here now, we was sent to pack in coats?” The man asked slowly, his voice was shaky and definitely Cockney.

“As I said,” The icy voice said, “you have no idea.”

“What’s this here all about? Who are you, Gov’ner?”

“What this is about is none of your concern.” The icy voice said as he looked back down at the cloth that he held, “And as to who I am, all you need know is that I am the one that is paying you to be here.” The icy voice said echoing again in the vastness making the voice sound even more chilling.

“Here now…” The man with the lamp said.

“Griffould.” The man in the cloak said sharply shifting his eyes only and then looked back down. The giant of a man reached out and grabbed the man with the lamp by the throat in the blink of an eye, the large hand circling the throat completely. An evil sneer came over the lips and the broad scar that cut deeply across one cheek flashed a different color than the rest of the skin of the giant man. A choking sound could be heard and the lamp was dropped to the floor. Hands went to the large hand to try and free the grip. Griffould lifted the man slowly with his one arm with little effort, the feet were kicking rapidly as if to try and get back down to the floor and then a snapping sound was heard echoing in the vast darkened space and the struggle ended as quickly as it started. Hands dropped and hung beside the body. All the others assembled, the surly group of dirty men, watched in complete terror at what had just happened to their companion. They did not move a muscle.

“Are they what you requested, My Lord?” Pennysort asked as he stepped forward as if nothing had just occurred. The man in the cloak gave the tall gawky man a side glance.

“Spread it out for me to inspect it further, Pennysort, and I think we will need another lamp now.” The icy voice said. The sound of a thud was heard and the giant of a man turned back to the crate. Another man stepped forward with another lamp and held it high over the shoulder of the man in the cloak. Pennysort spread out the item over the edge of the crate and it was inspected very carefully.

“Hessian.” One of the other dirty men said softly to another next to him off near the edge of the darkness. The man in the cloak turned his head toward the voice and the eyes burned into the dirty man.

“You understand what this is then?” The icy voice asked as he looked over his shoulder a bit and received a nod in reply, “Speak up, man.” The icy voice said loudly and echoed in the vastness.

“Yes, My Lord, I know what it is.” The dirty man said in a shaky voice. He watched the giant man nervously, not wanting to share the same fate of his dead companion.

“How do you know?” The icy voice asked.

“I was with the Regulars in the struggle against the Colonials, My Lord. We fought alongside the Hessians.”

“Then you understand.” The icy voice said flatly, “What is your name?”

“Gregor, My Lord.”

“Very well, Gregor. Do you know who I am?” The icy voice asked.

“You are…Lord Upton.” Gregor said nervously.

Pennysort went to step forward to silence Gregor, as the name was never to be spoken out loud but was stopped by a raised hand from the cloak, “It would seem, Pennysort, that we have found someone of intelligence in this group. Someone else to aid us in this possibly.”

“As you say, My Lord.” Pennysort said glaring at this man, Gregor.

“What about it, Gregor?” The icy voice asked. Gregor swallowed hard thinking that he was about to make a deal with the Devil himself.

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Callum leaned Dustin against the stone wall down near the corner of the property close to the road. They worked their hands over one another, rubbing, groping at one another. Callum pulled the shirt up from Dustin’s pants. He lifted it, Dustin putting his hands and arms into the air, letting Callum take it off him, he set it on the stone and looked at the smooth muscular defined chest in the light from the stars. Dustin was simply breathtaking to Callum and he stepped into him again, Dustin spreading out his feet in the tall grass. Hands slid up the back of the shirt that Callum wore, Dustin breathing in through his nose as he and Callum kissed deeply.

Dustin pulled at the shirt on Callum and it was lifted, Callum lifting his arms as Dustin pulled it off. He dropped it in the tall grass next to the stone wall he rested against as Callum leaned lower and took a nipple into his lips, applying suction to it, Dustin tilting his head back a bit, placing his hands to the back of Callum’s head, Dustin moaned softly at the feeling and then a hand rubbing his hardened length through the cloth of his pants, Dustin spread his feet a bit more and panted.

The buttons of the flap were undone one by one and it fell open. Fingers slid up and down over the soft skin of the hardened length, Callum’s thumb ran over the tip of it and worked the slit that was leaking a bit. Callum moved down with his mouth, kissing, licking, sucking on the skin, going over the defined muscles of Dustin’s stomach. Dustin kept his hands in place at the back of Callum’s head, staying with him as he moved slowly down going to his knees, Dustin closed his eyes lost to the feeling of his lover working him. Callum kissed again over the soft skin around Dustin’s hard length, but did not touch it. Dustin longed for it, wanted it, needed it, and opened his eyes, looking down.

“Take me.” Dustin whispered. Callum stopped and looked up and smiled softly. He got to his feet and kissed Dustin tenderly then pulled back.

“I will.” Callum whispered, “But first I want to taste every bit of you, every part of you before I do.” He smiled softly again and then lowered his head, kissing Dustin’s neck below his ear, then worked his way down to his shoulder. Hands went to Dustin’s hip and guided him to turn around. Callum worked his lips over the back of Dustin’s shoulder, then moved to his shoulder blade, moving over slowly toward the center of Dustin’s back, Callum using his nose to push the long tail out of the way, he kissed over the spine and slowly moved down. Dustin put his hands on the stone and arched his back toward the wall a little, closing his eyes.

Callum reached the small of Dustin’s back, the pants hung open on Dustin’s hips. Callum could see the top of the mounds in the pants, the beginning of the tight crack between then, that perfect v just between those beautifully mounded muscles. He kissed that flattened spot, pushing the waist of the pants down just a bit to access it, but not letting them fall.

“Quintan,” Dustin whispered as he was breathing harder, “take me, please. I cannot wait any longer.”

“Mmmm, when I am done, my love. Tasting every bit of you, every part.” Callum said softly, kissing the spot again. Dustin moaned quietly and dropped his head.

“You tease me so.” Dustin panted.

“No, not a tease, my love, a desire of mine, something that I have always wanted to do to you.” Callum said softly and kissed the top of one of the mounds. Dustin reached back a hand around him and put it to the top of Callum’s head.

“I’m going to simply die here.” Dustin panted as he looked down at his lover.

“No, I would never allow that, and you know it.” Callum said looking up with his eyes, seeing the look on Dustin’s face, Callum drug his tongue down the valley between the mounds till he reached the pants and then came back up to the perfect v. Dustin took in a deep breath and turned, his length drug itself across Callum’s face. Dustin moved his hips side to side a bit, dragging himself over Callum’s face again in the opposite direction, leaving trails. Dustin did it again to try to get Callum to take him, but he did not move, just kept his eyes on him.

Dustin stopped his moving and stared at him for a moment and then bent down, taking Callum’s face in his hands. Dustin kissed him and then began to lick at what he had left of himself on Callum’s face. Callum smiled softly as he knew he was driving Dustin mad.

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“What say you, Gregor?” The icy voice asked.

“I…am at your service, My Lord.” Gregor said, bowing his head slightly, but keeping his eyes on the giant man on the other side of the crate from him.

“Excellent.” The icy voice said. He lifted a finger in the air, “Pennysort, see to his instruction.”

“Of course, My Lord.” The tall gawky man said as he stared at Gregor. The man in the cloak walked away from the group and disappeared into the darkness of the warehouse. Pennysort stepped forward once looking at Gregor, an older man, “You may begin by closing up this crate. After that, dispose of your companion. You will be in charge of these others. Not a word of any of this is to be spoken to another living soul. If there is, you will have a visit from Griffould here. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes.” Gregor said as he was watching the grotesque adam’s apple move under the necktie and the high collar of the tall gawky man.

“Griffould is quite a renowned tracker. There is no place in this world that he cannot find you, any of you and quickly I might add.” Pennysort said as his eyes shifted about the group of surly looking scared men, “Meet me here tomorrow night after sunset. I will have further instructions for you at that time.” Pennysort half turned and looked at the giant Griffould for a moment and then walked away into the darkness following where the man in the cloak had gone. The group of men looked at the giant man with greater fear as he moved toward them slowly.

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“Find out all that you can about this Gregor, Pennysort.” The icy said as the carriage moved down the cobbled street. The eyes looked out the window of the door watching the buildings and houses of the London dock street go by.

“Of course, My Lord.” Pennysort replied, giving the man only a side glance.

“I wonder what sort of man he is. Being an older man like me, it makes me wonder. If he knows of the Hessians and what they were capable of, then…” The icy voice said.

“He seems to be rather reserved, My Lord.” Pennysort said.

“Reserved?”

“Not forthcoming I should say, My Lord.”

“I can understand that, he has great fear, fear that starts from his memories. Many things were done in the Colonies, Pennysort,…many things.” The icy voice said as he continued to stare out the window of the door, “Things not to be proud of to be sure. I have no doubt that if he was with the Hessians as he says…they committed many atrocities both to soldier and to civilians alike, especially toward women and small children, and he more than likely witnessed them.”

“I was not aware, My Lord.” Pennysort said.

“I was there. I was aboard a ship of the line that brought the Hessians to the Colonies. I witnessed firsthand when they landed in New York what the Hessians were capable of. Though none of the atrocities were publicized, all there knew and were afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation by the Hessians.” The man said, his voice calming a bit as he spoke softly, “Even General Washington would not engage the Hessians directly on their own, rather wanting to wait them out, leaving the civilian population unprotected as it were. The few engagements that did occur were brutal to say the least, and Washington learned his lesson. This lent to and made the Hessians reputation that much more fearsome by all involved. Something that I wish to continue as it were with what we are doing. It will become useful to say the least.”

“I understand, My Lord.” Pennysort said and looked down at the floor of the moving carriage. His personal feelings about all of this were tearing at him all of a sudden, “What if I discover something about Gregor not to your liking, My Lord?”

“It is quite simple, Pennysort,…kill him.” The icy voice replied.

It sent a shiver down Pennysort’s spine for the first time in a very long time. He cleared his throat, trying to shake the thought of having this man, Gregor, killed, “I did not realize that you were there, My Lord, in the Colonies.”

“Yes.” The man replied softly as he stared out the window in the door of the carriage, the memories flooding into him, “It was such a long time ago, and I was a very young and impressionable man in those days.”

“Of course, My Lord.” Pennysort said and fell into silence as the carriage rocked its way down the cobblestoned road, “Where would you like to go now, My Lord?”

“My home. I need to see my son before it becomes too late in the evening as he has just returned. He needs to know about this shipment and the possible coming of Callum.” The icy voice said as he stared out the window. Pennysort moved off the bench to the slide hatch to tell the driver.

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“Tell me what you want, my love.” Callum said as he looked up at Dustin. Dustin was holding Callum’s face in his hands and was breathing hard still.

“Oh Quintan, whatever you want to do to me. You know I will never raise complaint.” Dustin panted. Callum smiled at hearing him.

“Then I will take these to begin with.” Callum said and leaned in licking Dustin’s orbs making him hiss in through his teeth. Dustin closed his eyes as one was taken in fully, sucked gently, then traced around with the tongue tip and let go. Dustin groaned putting his hands on the top of Callum’s head, “I can tell you like that. Let me try the other then.” Callum said and then took in the next, doing to the other what was done to the first, Dustin clenched his fingers slightly into the long blonde hair below him and then was let go, “Yes, you do seem to like that.” Callum said softly as he looked up with only his eyes.

“Quintan, please…take me.”

“I will, my love, as I have said, but there are other parts of you I wish to taste first.” Callum smiled a devilish smile and put his hands on the pants and pushed them down even further, going very slowly. Dustin looked down, leaving his hands where they were as Callum leaned in again, tracing his tongue tip down Dustin’s right thigh until he reached the knee, Dustin let his hands drop away and just watched, Callum kissing the knee several times, making Dustin flinch a bit and then it became too much, reaching down he put his hands on Callum’s shoulders, being careful of the wound on the lift one and pushed Callum back into the grass. Dustin leaned against the stone and leaned forward and pulled his boots off quickly, dropping them in the grass. He pushed the pants down to his ankles and stepped out of them.

Callum looked up at him from the grass he lay in. This beautiful sight, Dustin’s naked body standing over the top of him illuminated by the stars of the night sky. A smile crept over Callum’s lips. What he wanted most was about to happen, Dustin so worked up, becoming forceful.

“You are such a total figure of beauty, Dustin.” Callum said softly as Dustin slowly lowered himself down over Callum, straddling him, “I am the most fortunate man in the world to be able to call such beauty my own. How did I get so lucky to have you?”

Dustin sat on Callum’s lap, feeling the hard length under the cloth of Callum’s pants, letting it work in between the muscular mounds, Dustin rolling his hips just a bit. He reached out and put his hands on Callum’s cheeks, holding them gently as he searched Callum’s eyes.

“I am the lucky one, Quintan. I have wanted this since the first time I put eyes on you, you know that, and now, I have you and will always have you.” Dustin said softly. He leaned in and kissed Callum deeply, Callum slid his hands around Dustin’s lower chest, around his back and grabbed the muscled mounds as he leaned against Dustin. They pulled back from each other just a bit, barely touching lips.

“I want to taste this.” Callum whispered as he ran a single finger between the mounds. He touched the tender opening, dragging over it once, Dustin caught and held his breath a moment and then exhaled through his nose, closing his eyes. Callum drug the finger back over the tender opening and Dustin moaned in his throat, “You love being touched there, don’t you?” Callum asked. Dustin nodded rapidly and dropped his mouth open, “Let me have you then.” Dustin let Callum go. He leaned back and rose a bit off Callum, turning around quickly, getting to all fours over Callum’s legs. Callum put his hands on the muscled mounds and spread them apart and saw what he wanted and leaned in, putting his tongue to the target, Dustin felt it and moaned, dropping his head.

Callum moved his tongue over the opening again and again and then entered it. Dustin arched his back a bit with the feeling and Callum went as deep as he could with his tongue, in and out. The opening was tight and Dustin was relaxing the muscle now as Callum worked it over and over. Dustin let out a long soft moan, his fingers clenching the grass. Callum pulled his tongue back.

“You wish to be taken now?” Callum asked, kissing one of the mounds. Dustin did not answer but moved instead. He took his hands, supporting his weight on his knees, and went to the flap of Callum’s pants, pulling it free from the buttons, Callum could not see it, but felt it as Dustin had not changed position and was blocking Callum’s view. Callum went after the opening again, kissing it, licking it. Dustin let him and waited another long moment as he put a hand around what Dustin wanted, Callum’s thick length that was now exposed. He pulled on it a few times, bringing it to full arousal and then let it go. Dustin moved and spun around over Callum’s lap, facing him.

“Yes, I want to be taken. I always want to be taken by you.” Dustin said as lowered himself over the thick length, sliding up and down on it with a rocking of his hips. The wetness that Callum had left behind was allowing Dustin to slide freely and was driving him even more mad with lust.

“Mmmm, I like the feel of that.” Callum whispered as they were nose to nose. Dustin lifted himself off Callum, reaching a hand back, lifting Callum’s thick length, standing it up and placed it to himself. Dustin slowly pushed against it, letting it spread him open as he was being entered. Both moaned a bit at the feeling of the pressure, both loving it. Dustin sat down a bit more and his mouth fell open, Callum closed his eyes as he was taken in even further. Dustin lowered himself the rest of the way and sat still.

“I will always want this.” Dustin whispered.

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The large black carriage pulled to a stop in the long circular driveway in front of the manor. Pennysort looked out of the window of his door at the four massive stone columns that supported the tall portico. The manor itself was dark and foreboding, even in the daylight, but at night like this, it was even more chilling to look at. He always filled him with dread when he had to be here.

The door of the carriage opened and the man in the cloak moved by Pennysort, stepping out. Not a word was spoken by either of them as the door was closed. Pennysort watched as the cloak moved up the broad stone step as the tall wide front door of the manor was opened. A dim glow revealed a man in formal attire bowing slightly as the cloak moved by him and into the manor. The door was slowly closed, the light was gone as the carriage began to move again. Pennysort sat back on the bench seat and shivered once, thankful to be on his way.

“My son, where is he?” The icy voice asked as he removed the cloak and handed it over to an equally aged man that had followed him. He took the cloak and draped it over his arm and bowed his head slightly.

“In your study, My Lord.” The man replied.

“We are not to be disturbed, Banning.” The man said and walked along a great wide hallway to an equally great set of doors, opening the one on the right, going in then closing it behind him. He saw the young man standing across the room at the fireplace and smiled ever so briefly. Their eyes met and the younger stiffened a bit and bowed his head slightly.

“Good evening, sir.” The voice of the younger man was deep, aristocratic sounding, and confident.

“I did not receive a report from you, only that you were returning from Stockholm. What news do you bring?” The elder said with his icy voice as he came across the room toward the younger.

“I had call to meet with Captain Helms, the American. He relayed that the boy is still alive and in Callum’s possession. He is suffering from a wound that Callum apparently gave him.”

“Yes. Helms failed in his attempt, bungling it, as did the Guardsmen.” The icy voice said, raising an eyebrow.

“If I may ask, why is Callum still alive then?” The younger asked.

“I have a thought that he may be useful to us.” The icy voice said as he went to a cabinet, opening a door, setting out a glass from it and lifted a crystal decanter.

“If I may, sir, I don’t see how.” The younger said carefully, slowly, “He will continue to perform his…’duty’, and will not deviate from it.”

“Then perhaps you should have killed him when you had the chance years ago.” The icy voice said as he poured from the decanter. The younger lowered his head a bit. The elder man placed the crystal stopper back and set the decanter down, “But, that is over now.” He lifted the glass and looked at the contents, the color of the sherry in it and lifted it slowly to his lips, taking a sip, then lowered the glass, “I will use Callum without his knowledge to get closer to Wellington, and as far as the boy, I know that he is not in Callum’s possession any longer, and is of no consequence.”

“As long as the boy lives, you cannot take the chance that he might not act.” The younger lifted his head and looked at the older man.

“I will have what I want, what is my due. As I said, the boy is of no consequence. He has no power.” The icy voice said and lifted the glass to his lips again, “When Callum arrives, we will set the plan into motion.”

“Callum is coming to London?” The younger asked. The older man turned and looked at the younger and narrowed his eyes.

“Yes. I would imagine that it will be only a matter of a few days’ time. He thinks he is being clever. He will meet with Wellington and Lord Eldon. After that, we will see.” The icy voice said, “I inspected the shipment this evening. That part is ready at least. What of the other?”

“Word has been sent to Napoleon.” The younger said, “Ships and troops are at the ready. They can be underway and here in under a week once they have word.”

“What of Rofton?” The older man asked, lifting his glass again.

“He is difficult, as you know. He is becoming…impatient.”

“Typical.” The icy voice whispered after sipping more sherry.

“What do you mean?”

“That men that smell power to be grasped cannot wait to obtain it. They become impatient and make mistakes. If he acts out of his impatience, it will be his undoing.” The icy voice said.

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Dustin was breathing hard as he sat still on Callum’s lap. He leaned his head forward going forehead to forehead with his lover. Callum rolled his hips in the grass a bit moving himself inside of Dustin and Dustin exhaled through his nose with a soft moan.

“You feel so good to me.” Callum whispered. Dustin opened his eyes and Callum leaned forward and kissed Dustin softly, “So warm inside you.”

“You fill me so much.” Dustin whispered putting his hands on Callum’s upper arms, “I love it so.”

“As I said, you’re insatiable.” Callum whispered. Dustin smiled wide and flashed his eyes. He let go of Callum’s arms and shifted his weight, sitting back, putting his hands in the grass beside Callum’s legs. He slowly started to move his hips up and down, sliding the thick length in and out of him. Callum closed his own eyes and let Dustin do what he wanted as there was no stopping him now. The movements were slow and steady and Callum could feel the tightness on him and loved it himself.

“I think you’re just as insatiable.” Dustin said as he was breathing hard.

“I am.” Callum whispered, “Is it better this way, alone like this?” Callum asked as he opened his eyes and looked down watching where they were connected, “Or would you prefer at the wheel of Dover?” Dustin groaned at the questions, the thought of his fantasy spurred him and he moved quicker, sliding himself on Callum, and Callum began to feel it, “I see, you like the idea of being at the wheel, don’t you?”

Dustin slowed and sat back a bit more, resting on his elbows in the grass, bending Callum’s length even more inside of him, thrusting it to a different angle, resting against his internal spot. Dustin rocked his hips and groaned at what he was doing to himself and loved it. He moved again and slid himself up and down on the thick length. The motion was filling him with a wondrous sensation as he was feeling complete pleasure from what he was doing.

“Oh God.” Dustin groaned. Callum could see the look on Dustin’s face, the eyes glazing, Dustin’s mouth open, his breathing stopped and then Callum felt it, the tightening of internal muscles, the clamping and Dustin erupted, sending volley after volley all up his own chest and tight muscled stomach. Callum groaned at the sensation and was about to lose control himself. Callum could not help himself and started to move on his own, counter thrusting into Dustin with rocking his hips. There was a groan from Callum’s throat and Dustin felt it, the pulsing and throbbing of Callum letting go inside of Dustin. Dustin took in a deep but short breath as he knew. He let it out slowly as Callum fell back to his own elbows in the grass.

“Oh my God.” Callum said as he looked toward the stars, then lowered his head and looked at the love of his life. Callum was trying to ease his own breathing.

“Are you alright?” Dustin asked.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Your stitches.” Dustin said softly and ran a hand over his chest and stomach, pushing what was covering him about on his own skin. Dustin smiled out of the corner of his mouth and flashed his eyes again as he rolled his hips a bit still feeling Callum inside of him.

“My stitches will hold.” Callum smiled in returned. He shifted his weight a bit to one hip and reached out his hand, touching Dustin’s softening length, taking it in his fingers gently and rubbed it, “I am wondering though if you are wanting to go again?”

“Would that be alright?” Dustin asked.

“You are insatiable.” Callum smirked.

“I think that we have already established that.” Dustin said and gave Callum a smirk and rolled his hips again ever so slightly, “Just as much as you seem to be.” Callum looked away toward the road, Dustin looked at him, “What is it?”

“Did you hear that?” Callum asked.

“Hear what?” Dustin asked as he cocked his head a little.

“That.” Callum said after a moment.

“I didn’t hear anything.” Dustin said and listened, “What did you hear?”

“A tapping sound.” Callum said. Dustin went to say something more but Callum held up a finger, “There.” Callum said softly and Dustin heard it and nodded his head.

“Yes, I hear it now.” Dustin said and listened another moment, “What is that?”

“I don’t know.” Callum said above a whisper and went to move. Dustin shifted his weight and rolled off Callum and groaned softly at losing the feeling inside of himself. Callum got to his feet and was startled as he stood up and looked. They couldn’t see the road from being down in the grass, but now Callum saw someone standing there on the other side of the stone wall fence out on the road right there.

“Excuse ‘e, gentlemen.” The man said and Dustin was wide eyed as he stood up and saw the man standing there. “Could ye tell me…is this be Birmingham?” The man asked. Callum was doing the flap of his pants without looking as Dustin was standing there completely naked still, eyes still wide and his mouth open a bit. The man standing out on the road carried a long staff and was shabbily dressed, covered in a long heavy cloak that was more like tattered blankets strung together. The most striking thing though was that there was a strip of cloth that was wrapped around the man’s head covering his eyes completely, tied behind the head pinning the long greasy hair down.

“Indeed, my good man.” Callum said composing himself, “You are very close to reaching it.”

“Thank ‘e kindly, good sir. I did’na mean to interrupt.”

“That’s quite alright.” Callum said, getting the feeling that this blind man looked familiar to him somehow, “What are you doing here?”

“I be lookin for someone.”

“And who would that be?” Callum asked.

“You, sir.” The blind man said and smiled, putting both hands on the staff and leaning on it.

“Me?” Callum asked and was shocked a bit.

“Ye be Cap’n Callum, would’na ye?” The blind man asked.

“Who are you?”

“It be fair to say, ye would’na remember, nor care to remember a blind man, methinks.” The blind man said and then the recognition set in fully to Callum and his mouth fell open a bit.

“Norris,…Shill Norris.” Callum said, looking at Dustin for a moment and then back toward the blind man in utter amazement.

“I be touched.” The blind man said with a smile and cocked his head a little.

“Who?” Dustin asked as he looked at Callum.

“One of the finest gunners that ever-graced Dover’s decks and Captain Powers best Master at Arms.” Callum said as he stared at the blind man dumbfounded, “What brings you to see me, Shill?”

“I came ‘re to give ye warning, Cap’n.”

“About what?” Callum asked.

“Who be ye friend there?” The blind man asked, cocking his head and looking directly at Dustin.

“Dustin Perkins.” Callum said still dumbfounded.

“Ah, helmsman by the scent of ye.”

“How do you know that?” Dustin asked.

“The wheel of Dover, lad, a special kind of oak, there be none else like it anywhere nor in the King’s fleet. Ye have the scent of it on ‘e.” The blind man said cocking his head a bit the other way and Dustin was shocked.

“I haven’t touched the wheel of Dover in months.” Dustin said softly. He watched the blind man cock his head over again slightly still looking directly at him.

“Ye don’t have to, lad, it be on ye the rest of yer days.” The blind man said and flashed a brief smile.

“Shill, my God, where have you been? It’s been years since I’ve seen you.” Callum said as he stepped closer to the stone wall fence.

“London, Cap’n.” The blind man said, looking in Callum’s direction now, “It be five year now, since the accident.”

“Accident?” Dustin asked, completely forgetting he was naked.

“We were in the north of Spain, an engagement with the Spanish.” Callum said as he stared at the blind man, “I was the 2nd Lt. and had the starboard gun crew. Shill was the finest gunner as I said, he was lining up the shot to take the Mainmast on a Spanish frigate when the broadside came in, the gun that Shill was standing over sparked and misfired, it exploded in the muzzle, the flash burnt and blinded him and the gun erupted killing the rest of the gun crew, knocking me to the deck.”

“Ye were so kind to me, Cap’n, takin good care of ‘e the way ye did.” The blind man said, cocking his head a bit.

“You were an important man to me, Shill. You taught me so much, made me a much better officer.” Callum said.

“Thank ye, Cap’n. Ye make an old blind man warm inside.”

“My God.” Callum whispered and shook his head, “Shill, had I known…”

“No pity on ‘e, Cap’n. I be needin none.”

“No, Shill, not pity. Concern is what I mean.” Callum said.

“Most kind, Cap’n. Ye always had a good heart.”

“Let’s get you inside, Shill. I think we need to talk.”

“Most kind, Cap’n, but I not be wantin to dirty ye house and all.” The blind man said, “Not with the lady bein there inside.”

“Lady?” Dustin asked and the blind man looked in Dustin direction again.

“There be a fine lady that lives ‘re, ‘e can smell her. She cooks and cleans after ye.” The blind man said and lifted his nose a bit, “And there be a young’un ‘re too, boy by the scent of ye.”

“How do you know?” Dustin asked in almost a whisper. The blind man looked at Dustin again.

“Tell ‘e, your hair, lad, it be long and brown, curled at the end of ye tail? Yer eyes, they be brown like ye hair?” The blind man rolled his nose about in the air a bit, “Ye have muscle, good muscle from work, not sailin, and today, ye worked about in the straw. Young’un helped ye, with the young colt, ye gave hm a hug ‘cus ‘e made ye happy.” Callum was smiling broadly and Dustin’s mouth fell open even more.

“Shill, there is a gate further up the road in the stone fence. Allow me to bring you in, please.” Callum said softly.

“Most kind, Cap’n.” The blind man said then flashed a smile toward Dustin, turned and started to walk along the stone fence, tapping his staff end along it. Callum looked at Dustin, smiled and winked at him, then leaned in and kissed Dustin on the cheek.

“We’ll continue this later.” Callum whispered. He turned and walked toward the gate leaving a shocked Dustin standing there completely naked and in awe as the blind man had just described to almost detail of what Dustin and Henry had done together in the stable earlier in the day.

Callum went along the stone fence, watching the blind man walking along tapping his long staff along the stone until they reached the gate together. Callum opened it and swung it inside letting the blind man come through. He used the staff and touched the edges to either side and stepped through. Callum waited for him to clear the opening and closed the gate behind him. Callum stepped near close to him and just stared at the blind man.

“Ye be thinkin to take ‘e inside the house?” The blind man and cocked his head a bit, “Don’t. Give ‘e your arm and take ‘e down to that stable. We can talk there.” The blind man said and Callum narrowed his eyes as the blind man held out a hand, palm down. Callum put out his right arm and the palm rested on it, the small of it and they began to walk up the knoll, around the house to the backside and then down through the tall grass together. Callum looked over toward Dustin down at the corner of the property as Dustin was finishing getting dressed and started walking toward them, “’E seems a good lad, Cap’n. I be thinkin ‘e cares a great deal about ye.”

“I’m certain he does, Shill.” Callum said as he watched Dustin coming toward them.

“Better than Mr. Dunhill, Cap’n.”

“You remember Farrow?” Callum asked as they reached the stable, “Duck your head a bit, the roof is a little low here at the edge.”

“Thank ye.” The blind man said, lowering his head, “Not many say things like that to be sure. They rather laugh when a blind man bumps inta somtin.”

“People can be cruel, Shill. Sometimes that’s the way of it.” Callum said as he opened the half door, guiding the blind man through.

“True, Cap’n, but not with ye.”

“As I said, Shill, you were important to me, and apparently still are.” Callum said, “Wait just a moment.” Callum said, lowering his arm. He went over to the window ledge and found a sparker and struck it, light a candle on the sill as Dustin came into the stable. The blind man heard and smelt him and cocked his head a bit. Callum stepped over to him again, “Let’s take you over here and you can rest in the straw.”

“Thank ye, Cap’n. It was a long walk from London.” The blind man said as Callum led him over to the pile of straw and stopped. The blind man touched the pile with the end of his long staff several times. He leaned forward and leaned the staff against the stable wall, turned and settled into it, sitting down.

“You walked all the way from London, Shill?” Callum asked as he knelt down in front of the blind man, resting his arms on his thighs.

“I did, Cap’n. As I said to come and give ye a warning.”

“And what warning would that be?” Dustin asked as he stepped up behind Callum.

“Ye be walkin into a trap, the both of ye if’n ye be goin to London.”

“Actually there will be more than the two of us.” Dustin said.

“Ye be takin an army then?” The blind man asked and cocked his head again, but as before he seemed to be looking directly at Dustin behind Callum.

“No, but there will be more than just the two of us.” Dustin said.

“What warning, Shill?” Callum asked as he was still knelt down. The head of the blind man shifted and looked directly at Callum.

“Upton, Cap’n. A man that is evil, pure and plain, like the Devil. He wants ye dead, Cap’n, ye and all with ye.”

“Why? What do you know of him, Shill?”

“E be said that ‘e knows how to keep people to be doin what ‘e wants, and it be true, I seen it, Cap’n, many a time in London. ‘E stop at notin to get what ‘e want, and there be ‘is boy, and ye be knowing who ‘e is as well.” Shill said looking in Callum’s direction. Callum narrowed his eyes and shook his head.

“I have never met Upton or his son.”

“At yer school, Cap’n, Sheflands, ‘e be the one, the boy that took ye.” Shill said cocking his head a bit and Callum felt a shock go through his body. His eyes went wide and his mouth dropped open. Callum stood up fully to his feet.

“That’s not possible.” Callum said and turned away. Dustin was watching Callum and then looked at the blind man.

“E be true, Cap’n, ye know it, ‘e be the one.”

“No.” Callum whispered. Dustin turned and put a hand on Callum’s shoulder.

“What is he talking about, Quintan?” Dustin asked. Callum hung his head down.

“E be not your fault, Cap’n. Ye didna know what would be all them years ago, but a blind man ‘ears things, Cap’n, and ‘e knows. They be settin a trap for ye. Ye ‘ave caused them trouble and they want to see ye pay for it.”

“What is he talking about, Quintan?” Dustin asked as he came beside Callum. Callum was shaking his head over the thought and the memory of it all. He looked at Dustin briefly and turned to face the blind man in the straw.

“You know this to be true?” Callum asked.

“Aye.” Shill said, giving a nod.

“When did you find out?” Callum asked.

“I always knew, Cap’n, but never said a word, to no one. It bein no one’s business as it were.” Shill said.

“What the hell is going on?” Dustin asked as he stared at Callum, “Quintan…?”

“No’ne pays any mind to a blind beggar in the street, Cap’n.” Shill said.

“Quintan…?”

“Many years ago…I was at school…at Sheflands…” Callum said as he stared at Shill sitting in the straw, “there were a few…Farrow for one…the Headmaster….and Atch…”Callum said and closed his eyes for a long moment, reliving the memory, “they would take turns…in…taking me…during the night…” Callum said and almost staggered as he took a step forward, Dustin holding him by the arm.

“You mentioned that once before, Quintan. Who is this…Atch?” Dustin asked.

“Atchwood Franklin Penrose.” Callum said slowly, the memory pounding his mind and his skull. Callum drew up inside of himself and became angry, “You’re telling me that Atchwood Franklin Penrose is the son of Upton?” Callum asked. Shill sat there in the straw and nodded a bit, “He tried to kill me once before I was assigned as a midshipman aboard Dover.”

“Ye know it to be true then, Cap’n.” Shill said and cocked his head to one side.

“Dear God.” Callum said as he sank to his knees next to Dustin’s leg. Callum put his hands to his face and sobbed heavily in deep pain. Dustin sank beside his love and put his hands around his shoulders, holding him.

“Quintan.” Dustin said above a whisper as he was near falling apart himself seeing Callum this way. Callum lowered his hands and looked at Shill.

“Why…why bring this to me?” Callum cried out.

“Cause, ye be a good man, Cap’n, a man that does good by all ye meet. Ye gave kindness to a crippled man once, a man who n’er forgot that. Ye called us all ‘family of Dover’, and that crippled man can n’ver ferget that. Ye are the son that ‘e n’er had, but wanted. Love, Cap’n, love makes a good man great, ye be that man, Cap’n. I be ’er to keep it an to protect ye.” Shill said. Callum just stared at him as the tears flowed. Dustin was horrified by it all, what this was doing to his love, his rock, and then looked at the blind man for a moment and then back at Callum.

“Quintan.” Dustin whispered as he tightened his grip a bit. Callum looked over at him as he turned his head.

“I am so sorry.” Callum said.

“For what?” Dustin asked.

“I never told you.”

“You didn’t have to, my love. It was in your past and has nothing to do with us, what we mean to each other.” Dustin said.

“But it does, don’t you see? I am who I am because of him.” Callum said.

“No, Quintan, you are who you are because of you, no one else, not Farrow, not this…Atch, just you. I love you, Quintan because of who you are, and not who you have been with. This Atch sounds like a coward or a monster of some kind. The man I fell in love with is right before me, a man of deep caring, compassion, consideration for all that are around him. The man that I love has an inner strength that has no limit and will go on and on, and hopefully I will be there to see it all.” Dustin said and kissed Callum on the cheek, “That man that I fell in love with is Quintan Callum. There is no equal to him, and never will be in my eyes.”

“I said to ye, ‘e cares a great deal about ye, Cap’n. I was right in that.” Shill said. Dustin smiled as he heard the blind man as he continued to stare at Callum.

“What would I do without you, Dustin?” Callum asked.

“I told you once, you would be lost without me to steer your course, I was right. I will never leave your side, Quintan, I will always be right here with you.” Dustin said and smiled again. Callum put a hand over Dustin’s that was on his shoulder and then looked at the blind man.

“Alright, Shill, you know much more, I can tell. What is the rest of it?” Callum asked.