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And here's chapter three. This shows a little into Trajan and Achilles relationship as the brothers and kittens take a trip to the military base.

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Chapter Three: All Good Things


“Look how big his teeth are, Loanzah!”

”If you think they’re big, just look at his feet!”

”WOW! No wonder he can carry your uncle anywhere he wants to go.”

“Yup. You’d have to be really strong to carry Uncle Achilles and Uncle Trajan. They’re bigger than Daddy.”

”And I thought your papa was big.”




**********




The sun was starting its slow trek over the expanse of the horizon. Its warming tangerine glow spilling over the distance, bathing any who came out to greet it in its soul filling light. Trajan sat on the porch enjoying the view. Emilio and Loanzah had risen nearly as early as he did, asking him if they might have a closer look at the riding lizards they saw so briefly the night before. Trajan had planned on enjoying the quiet scene of the sunrise with only his smoking pipe for company, yet he quickly found that he couldn’t refuse them their desire. So, he allowed them time with his mount, Tentuh, in the way of a chore. The kittens yielded the task of feeding the beast, a duty that he would have to later perform, anyway. Although the lizard looked fierce and predacious, he was surprisingly calm and gentle. So tepid was his nature that once Trajan showed the children the manner in which the animal needed to be fed, he felt comfortable enough to allow them to feed him on their own while he supervised from where he sat on the porch.

After a while, Kemal and Milpul arose and joined the others outside. Ever the eager one, Milpul wanted to tend to the lizards, too. However, Kemal was more than content to sit with his uncle on the porch and watch the event from there.

It had been more than an hour since the kittens had started and almost as long since Tentuh had finished his meal. Now, he simply endured the curious examination of himself at the hands of the scampering little ones moving beneath him. Kemal had realized that he was still a bit tired and curled up upon his uncle’s chest to return to the blissfulness of slumber. Trajan rubbed the boy’s head, softly, as he rested. His eyes wandered over to where the other kittens played, his gaze falling upon Emilio. He still felt abominable for what he had done to the child’s mother. He hadn’t meant to upset her. For the life of him, he still couldn’t figure out why he had gotten so angry. Regardless of the why of it, what was done was done. He searched the house for her when he awoke that morning, but found that she and Leahtrah had already gone. It was just as well, he supposed. He didn’t really think he could face her this morning, anyway.

“Always up with the sun, eh, brother?”

Trajan turned to see Achilles stepping onto the porch, a mug of some steaming brew in his hand, the buttons on his shirt all unfastened and his hair a tangled mess upon his head. “I’m surprised that you’re up so early.” he replied. “But, it would appear that you are not quite ready to greet the morning.”

”Never the morning.” he answered, taking a sip of his drink. “You’re the morning person, not me.” he added, settling down on the steps beside him. “Although, something is missing.”

”If you mean this,” he said, producing the pipe he had originally brought with him, “it is not missing, just unused.”

”Why would you fetch a thing if you had no intention of using it?”

”I had planned to, but I got a little sidetracked.” he answered, nodding in the direction of the children playing with Tentuh.

“And now?”

Trajan looked pointedly downward at his sleeping nephew. “I can’t use that around the kittens, especially not when one of them is so close to me. It really is a bad habit, after all.”

Achilles sniffed. “You let the children hamper your morning, eh?”

”Not at all.” he answered, honestly. “I allowed them to brighten it. I’d much rather enjoy the company of their laughter than the mild comfort that this pipe offers me.”

Chuckling, softly, Achilles began again. “You know, I had always pictured you being the first one of us to become a father.”

Trajan looked at his brother curiously and asked, “Why do you say that?”

“It’s your nature, brother. Your way with children has always been extraordinary. You get along with them as easily as you do with big dumb animals.” he said, jabbing his thumb in the direction of his riding lizard, Kalon. “You’ve always had that air about you even when Thorin and Layn were young. What’s more, you’re the only man I have ever known to refrain from enjoying the pleasures of a woman’s touch for concern that she might bear children. Heck, even I’m not averse to enjoying the wiles of a woman who’s willing to satisfy my needs.”

Trajan sighed. “I just don’t feel comfortable bedding a woman then leaving her and not knowing. The life of a merchant is anything but stationary. If I were to get a woman pregnant, how would I know about it?”

”They have shurinar stones.”

“Yes, and they still leave some room for error. There’s only one way that I know of to be sure.”

”And you’ve never…”

”No.”

”…not even…”

“No!” he said, incredulously.

”Just asking. But, you really don’t know what you’re missing.”

Trajan sighed again, rolling his eyes toward the clear blue sky. “Say, what does Mary think of all this?” he asked, softly.

Achilles shrugged. Trajan was of course speaking of his lover back at home. As it was, Achilles was planning to marry the girl when they returned home. He had proposed the last time they were there and after she agreed, promised to hold the ceremony when they came back. “She knows and she understands. The nights and days we spend traveling can be demanding and lonely. Sometimes I need a woman’s warmth to see it through. I’m a man. I have needs. When she’s not here, I have to find someone else to fulfill them.”

Trajan was silent for a moment as he watched the clouds drift lazily across the heavens. “I guess…” he all but whispered, “a woman’s needs can’t be expected to be so far from that of a man’s.”

Achilles looked over at his brother whose gaze was fixed on the rolling clouds above him. He knew what he was thinking, the hurt in his eyes that went unnoticed by others could not escape the view of his twin. Gently, he reached his hand behind his brother’s head and touched his forehead to his. “Let it go, brother.” he whispered. “You cannot change things that have already been done. Better to leave the past with the past.”

”I know you are right. But, it is hard to forget when the pain won’t let you.”

”Then don’t forget. Just move on. The longest journey you will ever walk in this world is the life you live. That is far too long a thing to endure in sadness. Remember the follies of the past and learn from them, but don’t make them chains that will bind you to misery. Your heart is too good for that.” He chuckled, wryly. “My heart on the other hand…”

Trajan couldn’t help but let out a small blurt of laughter. His brother could always do that for him. No matter how bad a situation looked, he could always count on Achilles to make it right, again. With no more than a handful of words, he could turn darkness to the brightest of day.

“You see?” Achilles said. “A smile always suited your face best.”

The smile of which he spoke spread across his face, filling it with light and the promise of tomorrow. “Thank you.”

”Hey, that’s what big brothers do. Even if I am only seven minutes your elder.”

He laughed again and said, simply, “Right.”

“Oh, now this is too precious.” a voice called from the doorway. Both Trajan and Achilles turned to see Layn and Thorin standing in the doorway grinning from cheek to cheek. “I’ve never seen you act more tender, Achilles.” Thorin continued to say.

”I’ll say.” Layn agreed. “You’d almost expect to start going at it any sec- YAAAH!” he shrieked as Achilles tossed his scalding beverage onto his sibling’s trouser fronts. The younger Leonius fell to the ground sprawling on the floor like a fish out of water, nursing his burning crotch. Thorin quickly ducked behind the door, ignoring his brother’s suffering, opting to protect himself from suffering the same fate. Cautiously, he dared to peek outside.

”You want some of this?!” Achilles challenged, holding up the cup, albeit mostly empty, in a threatening manner.

”No, no!” Thorin protested. “I actually just wanted to tell you all that we’ll be heading to the base in about an hour. But, since you’re all ready to go, when can just head over there once the kittens have bathed and we’ve all had our breakfast.”

”That’s fine.” he replied, turning his attention to the children at play.

”Do you need any help, Thorin?” Trajan asked.

”No, I think I can manage.” he said, walking over to his dark brother and scooping his sleeping son up and out of his arms. “Thanks for keeping the kittens busy this morning. Were the any trouble?”

”None at all. In fact, they were a big help to Tentuh and me.”

”Everyone’s helping everyone but no one’s helping me!” Layn cried. “What’s a guy got to do to get some ice around here?!”





**********




It was a packed jeep as Thorin pulled into the military base. It wasn’t an official outing, just an informal one. Layn had wanted to see for himself the advances Thorin’s comrades had made versus that of his own military consorts. Thorin had boasted so greatly about the accomplishments of his troop that Layn was eager to see them and their amazing feats.

Emilio had also tagged along. Leahtrah had informed Thorin earlier that morning that she and Kichoro would be busy finishing their preparations for the festival. She had taken Thea and Mela with her to lessen the load he and his brothers would have to bear, but asked that he keep Emilio with them as he would have a more enjoyable time with the other kittens rather than holed up in the house with them. From the boisterous laughter erupting from the backseat, Thorin knew that she was right.

“Alright gang, we’re here.” Thorin announced as he brought the vehicle to a halt. “Everybody out!”

“What are we gonna do here, Daddy?” Milpul asked as he hoped down from the car.

“Your Uncle Layn wanted to see what it looks like where I work.” he answered, stepping out of the jeep, slamming the door shut. “So, here we are.” he added, scratching his son’s head.

Milpul giggled at his father’s attentions and laughed out loud when he was suddenly lifted into the air and settled upon his father’s massive shoulders. “So, where do we go now?” he asked.

“Hmm…I don’t know. Let’s ask your uncle. Where to, Layn?”

“Why, to the arms room, of course.” his sibling answered with a grin. Thorin regarded the man with cool reservation. He glanced down at the numerous kittens clambering out of the vehicle before returning his gaze back to his brother. With an exaggerated roll of his eyes, Layn said, “Fine. The motor pool, then.”

“Better, much better.” Thorin agreed. “Well, let’s go.”

The band of eight set out for the first of what would be many destinations that day. From the motor pool, to the barracks, to meeting a troop of soldiers and joining them for lunch, which lead to a subsequent tour of the mess hall, they were shown it all. Layn found that his brother’s base had made several advances over his own. He was especially impressed with their vehicle mechanics. They had made modifications and improvements to nearly all of their motor vehicles and were even launching projects that would redesign the face of military locomotion. It was an incredible thing to be witness to. He hoped the knowledge he had gained on this outing would benefit his base as much as it had obviously assisted the troops here.

The day had grown late and virtually the entire compound had been explored. The final destination on the tour was now coming into view.

“Well, this is the last place. I think you kittens will like this one the best.” Thorin said as they came to their journey’s end. Standing before them was a partially constructed enclosure made of strong wooden beams and planks. The roof, slanted downward on two sides creating an overturned “V” shape which, when completed, would allow rain to easily fall from its cascading ribbing. The base of the enclosure had no flooring and from the looks of it, had no plans for one, either. The span of the building was immense, a necessary element for mass storage, but of what, was anyone’s guess. It was a peculiar structure. It was taller than most of the squad quarters, but not quite as tall as the mess hall or motor pool, suggesting that it was neither intended to house man nor machine. Still, as the sound of hammering and sawing drifted across the ears of gathered men and children, one had to wonder just what the thing was being built for.

“Thorin, what is this?” Layn asked, finally.

“Well, it’s not exactly finished but, when it is, it should serve its purpose quite well.”

”I see. So…what is it?” he asked again.

”You mean you really can’t tell?” Thorin asked with feigned surprise.

“If I could I wouldn’t be standing here asking you, now would I?” he replied, flippantly.

“Well, since you’re unable to grasp the nature of this building I will just have to show you. Come on, follow me.”

The others followed Thorin on along a winding dirt path. As they traveled, the sound of busy carpentry was slowly replaced by the commanding calls of drill sergeants as they barked out their orders and exercises to their soldiers as they executed their daily routines. A trumpeter was practicing off in the distance, the wails of his instrument a painful testament to his inexperience. The group of men and children had never been happier as they continued on their way and out of earshot of the cries of the trumpeter’s horn. Yet, as they walked further the cries of one were slowly replaced by the cries of another, one that commanded greater acknowledgment than the previous calls they had encountered. It was shrill and powerful and called to mind the sensations of something distant and primitive. It was the ancient call of…

”WOW! Look at all the lizards!” Loanzah cried as she pointed her small white finger towards an enormous holding pen where several riding lizards were corralled. The lizards housed in the holding area showcased many colors and sizes. Some ranged in hues as light as gold and gray to as dark blue and crimson. The smallest of the bunch stood as tall as a grown Hoplite male while the tallest towered more than one and one half that.

Loanzah, Emilio and Milpul raced over to the corral, eagerly wanting a closer look at the majestic beasts.

“Be careful you three!” Thorin called out after them. “Don’t get too close.”

”Okay!” they answered in unison, not bothering to slow their pace.

Thorin sighed, then frowned as he noticed that only three of the children had run ahead of them. He glanced down looking for the missing child, spotting him against Trajan’s side holding onto his hand as they walked. “Son, don’t you want to see the lizards with the others?”

“Yes, but I’d rather get there when you do, Daddy.” he answered. “And I like walking with Uncle Trajan, too.” he added, giving his uncle’s hand a squeeze.

Trajan smiled and returned the gesture with a warm squeeze of his hand.

“You see, what did I tell you, brother?” Achilles said. “It’s a gift that you might as well acknowledge that you have.”

A bashful smile fixed itself on Trajan’s face as he answered, “I suppose.”

”Wait…what?” Layn asked, unsure of what exactly it was his brothers were speaking of.

“Your business, little brother…mind it.” Achilles said, gruffly.

”That’s not a very nice thing to say to your dear, younger brother. I mean you’ve only got…well, you’ve got two…three if you count Trajan…”

”Why wouldn’t I count Trajan?”

“Uh…because he’s…old…” he replied matter-of-factly.

“Say, you don’t still have the mug of brew, do you, brother?” Trajan asked, dryly.

“It was a joke! I was just kidding! Couldn’t you tell that I was just kidding?!” he cried, distancing himself away from the older Leonius’s. “So, Thorin, why did your base gather these lizards, anyway?” he asked, hoping to change the subject.

“The military is experimenting with them. They want to see if they can be used in place of motor vehicles. The theory is that a man on lizardback could get to places that would otherwise be off limits to a man driving a truck or jeep. With any kind of luck, we’ll be able to use these animals to penetrate areas of dense vegetation, rocky terrains and other obstructive passages with ease. What’s more, unlike a car that makes a lot of noise when driven, these lizards can move about in near silence and with a fair amount of speed, too. It’s stealthy and efficient.”

”Amazing!” Layn said with awe.

“Yeah and depending how well they test here your base may be seeing these guys soon, too.”

“Heh.” he chuckled. “Who’d have thought that the way to go forward in military advancements was to go back? But, then I guess-“ he started, but was interrupted by the aggrieved cry of one of the riding beasts. “What do you suppose…?” he asked as another cry so tortured and pained it might have just as well been born from the lungs of a man pierced the air.

The children, too, recognized the agony in the animal’s howls and hurried over to see what was the cause of creature’s suffering. They rounded the corral where the lizards were caged, bringing them to another, smaller pen where only one lizard was kept. In the pen, also, was a Hoplite man brandishing a long-handled whip. He circled the animal, shouting out calls to the miserable, staggering animal. Whenever his orders weren’t obeyed, the lizard suffered a lashing for its insubordination until it submitted to its master’s whims. Thorin, Layn and the others had caught up to the children just as the admonishment of the lizard trainer’s was being exacted. With a mighty swing, he cracked the whip upon the lizard’s back once, then twice, then once more bringing the animal not into submission but crumbling to the ground, thrashing and bleeding and unable to return to its feet.

The soft sounds of a child’s sniffles followed the disturbing scene that had played out before them. Turning slowly, her large eyes welled with heavy tears, Loanzah sought the comforting embrace of her father. Kneeling down he took her into his strong arms and held her close.

“Don’t cry, Sweetheart.” he said, stroking her flame-colored hair. “He has to train the lizards so the soldiers can ride them. But, when they don’t listen to him, he has to discipline them.”

”Why does he have to be so mean?” she sobbed. “He didn’t have to make him cry like that!”

Thorin sighed. He didn’t really know how to answer his daughter’s question. He wished he could offer her something more than silence, but at the moment, it was all he had to offer.

“Lieutenant?” a gruff voice called out.

Thorin looked up to see the approaching figure of the trainer nearing the pen’s edge. “Afternoon, Quartermaster.” he greeted. “Everyone, this is Dahearn our chief officer of supplies and construction.”

”H’lo everyone.” he said, nodding his head to the gathered onlookers. “Aww, what’s the matter there, little darlin’?” he asked of Loanzah. Her only reply was to bury her head deep within the folds of Thorin’s shirt.

“I’m sorry.” Thorin spoke up. “She’s a little upset because of the training. I don’t think she’s ever been so close to an animal in pain before.”

”I reckon it can be a powerful upsettin’ thing for a little lady to see. But, don’t you worry. He ain’t hurt none. These here lizards have skin that’s as thick as you are tall. He’ll be fine, believe me. He’s a stubborn one so sometimes I have to give it to him a little harder just so he’ll feel it. This here whip is the only thing that gets through to him. If you want ‘em to listen to you, you gotta make sure they can hear you. This” he said shaking the whip in his hand, “is the only way to do that.”

”Actually, it isn’t.” a steely voice said. Dahearn turned his eyes to the disapproving face of the copper-eyed Leonius brother who had just voiced his thoughts on the matter. “In fact,” he continued, “there’s a much easier way.”

“An easier way, eh?” Dahearn mused, stroking his chin with his dirt covered hand. “Well, why don’t you just get on in here and show me your easy way.”

“If you like.” Trajan answered with a light shrug of his shoulders. “Stay here with your father and uncles.” he said to Kemal, gently patting the boy’s head.

“Alright.” he answered, a look of uncertainty playing across his features. He watched as Trajan stepped toward the pen and nimbly leapt over its wooden posts. With great, purposeful strides of his long legs, he traversed the distance between himself and the ailing beast and knelt beside it. He placed his hands on animal’s massive head and gently massaged it, taking time to pay especially close attention to the areas near its nose and eyes. From the distance, the others could tell that he was speaking to the animal, though what he was saying was a mystery. He withdrew something from a pocket on the inside of his vest and slipped it into the lizard’s mouth. It made a small grunting sound and attempted to raise its massive head. With a bit of struggling, it managed to sit itself upright. Reaching into his pocket, Trajan withdrew another morsel the thing he first fed the animal and offered it with an outstretched hand. Sniffing, curiously, the lizard licked the man’s palm a couple of times before finally accepting the foodstuffs from him. His trust was rewarded with a gentle caress over its head. When he had finished his soothing ministrations, Trajan stood and took a few backward steps away from the animal. The assembled watchers could hear him urging the beast to stand as he called in a calm, clear voice, “up”.

“This ain’t gonna work.” Dahearn mumbled with a cocky grin spread wide across his face.

“I wouldn’t bet on that.” Achilles said, confidently.

“I’m tellin’ ya it ain’t gonna work.” he challenged, squaring off against the eldest Leonius. “These beasts don’t understand to plain talk of men. They only listen to the sting of a hard lash against their backsides.”

”I fully agree that they aren’t the brightest of creatures in the world, yet, I believe…no, I know that they can be taught to follow the will of men without resorting to measures of harshness.”

”I-…I ain’t…I mean, you don’t think I’m a harsh feller do ya?”

Achilles smiled one of his bright, sun-challenging smiles and said, “No, I do not think you are harsh, only your methods of instruction. I can plainly see that you are a kind man.”

Dahrean gave a heartfelt sigh of relief. “To tell you the truth, I ain’t cut out for this sort of thing. I’m a quartermaster. I should be overseein’ the construction of them there stables over yonder. I only got this post because Lieutenant General ordered me to it. He figured that these critters was likened to supplies of sorts so that made ‘em my problem. I tell ya I just ain’t got what it takes to whip these rascals into shape, especially since they sound an awful lot like people when they holler out like they do.” He chuckled, gleefully. “I tell ya, if that feller could get these critters to listen to him without whippin’ ‘em, he’d sure be doin’ me a favor.”

“Is that so?”

”Well heck yeah! These critters can be awful randy, but they’re still critters. I don’t want to see them beat no more than anyone else.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that anymore.” He said, a lazy grin painted across his face. “Take a look.”

”Eh?” the quartermaster mused as he returned his attention to the pen and the two figures within its keep. “Well I’ll be…” he breathed as his eyes took in the sight before him. In mere moment Trajan had accomplished what he could not in days. With simple commands he had gotten the lizard to follow him about the pen, to halt and come when he commanded and even to lie down, a move that would facilitate the mounting of the animal when it came to riding. Each time the beast executed a maneuver its competence was rewarded with a small portion of food, a direct opposite to the quartermaster’s method of punishing the creature for not performing in the way that he had desired. It just went to show that a little patience could stretch much further than a great deal of frustration. His point proven, Trajan made his way back to his family.

“Well stranger, I reckon you sure showed me!” Dahearn admitted.

“I assure you that my intentions were not to show you up, just to show you another way.”

“I can see that now. Thank you kindly, friend. And hey, no hard feelin’s little lady?”

Loanzah happily shook her head. “No, it’s okay. You’re not gonna hurt him anymore, right?”

”Darlin’, I wouldn’t dream of it.”

The girl smiled, shyly then looked up at her father who smiled down upon her. “Well kids, the festival is only a couple of hours away and we need to get home so we can get ready for it. Come on, we’d better get going.”