For the next several days Cantru and I rode out together, always with guards. Each day we went a little farther. I observed not only the cultivated fields but the pastures and animals, which appeared healthy and well-fed. We rode to the river where the horses waded across and continued over hills and through valleys with lush turf. Cantru explained that when the Conquerors had first come, all of this land had been jungle. Slaves had spent years clearing it and planting seeds for the turf. Each year they had to work at the edges of all the fields to keep the jungle from encroaching, for if left alone, the jungle would quickly reclaim the fields.
One day as we observed the slaves in the cultivated fields, I asked, “Ammirus, why do you have slaves?”
“How else would the work get done?”
“I work for you, but I am not a slave.”
“But you don’t do the hard work in the fields and in the jungle.”
“I would if you wished it and if you paid me.”
“Paid you?”
“Yes. If you gave me food or goods I wouldn’t have to try to raise my own food and make my own clothes, and then I would work for you.”
“But wouldn’t that be costly?”
“I don’t think so. I believe that if you paid me, I would probably work harder. You have said before that the Conquerors consider the slaves lazy. Of course, they are lazy. They are beaten, they get nothing for their work except very poor food and clothing, and they have to live where you tell them to and apart from their families. Why should they work harder? And, Ammirus, I simply don’t believe it is right to own people. Do you know how much more willingly I serve because you no longer own me?”
“We’ve always believed that the slaves were not as good as we were,” replied Cantru. “We have thought that they were not intelligent, and I guess we have treated them more like work animals than like people. I assumed that was true of you when I bought you. I bought you for your beauty and because I wanted you to teach me to play. But you have shown me that you are very intelligent and that you have all the feelings we do, that you are our equal, not inferior. But even if I wanted to free all the slaves, I don’t believe it would work to suddenly announce that they were free. Their owners would object. They would want to know why they should pay workers for whom they have already paid.”
“You are right, of course,” I responded thoughtfully. “It would not work to announce it suddenly. But what would happen if you began to free your own slaves? Not all at once, but gradually with the promise that they would all at last be free. Then the other owners would see that your new workers were actually working harder and producing more so that you need fewer workers.”
“It might work,” Cantru replied a bit doubtfully. “So you are saying I should start on a small scale and let the other owners follow me. What if they did not?”
“Then I suppose you would have to pass a law, but the slaves could still be freed gradually.”
Cantru nodded slowly. On the way back to the palace he was very thoughtful. Over the next few weeks he considered the problem carefully, talking often with me.
Meanwhile, we continued exploring and satisfying each other in bed. We found new ways to enjoy our feelings, and as time went on, we grew so close we became almost like twins. We could each understand what the other was thinking and feeling without even talking about it. The only thing that spoiled my happiness was being unable to see my family.
Cantru, once again read my thoughts. On a fine, sunny day, he asked, “Ammirus, would you like to ride to your village to see your family and friends?”
Of course, I was delighted. We rode out of the palace with the usual guard then turned to ride through the city and the fields. Entering the jungle, we had to ride single file, for the trail was narrow. Guards rode before and behind us. In front of the first guard rode a slave trader who knew the way.
There was much excitement as the procession rode into my village, and my own heart was beating wildly. At first, the people were fearful. Children, mouths agape, stood staring at the king, the soldiers, and especially the horses. Seeing the slave trader, the adults held back until my mama realized who was astride Lady. She came running forward as I dismounted and fell into her arms, weeping tears of joy. My papa was not far behind. Little brothers and sisters wrapped themselves around my legs, jumping up and down.
Cantru dismounted as everybody fell back. “Is this what I have kept you from, Ammirus? Is this the love of your family and friends of which you told me?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said happily.
“I have never seen such love. Everybody seems so happy. And it is my father and I who have kept them from being happy, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I replied quietly.
“You have made me decide, Ammirus. How can I keep people from such love and joy? When we return to the palace, I shall tell my advisors at once that I intend to begin freeing my slaves.” Then he moved forward and hugged me firmly and for a long time.
The villagers were astonished. They had no idea what the king had said nor had they any idea of the high esteem in which he held his servant, their brother and friend. They had assumed I was still a slave. While most of them had never seen a king, they knew who he must be, and they did not understand how their lowly village son could be so familiar with the king.
When Cantru broke our embrace, I told the villagers what the he had said, and they cheered and laughed and clapped and danced joyously. Then I asked them to prepare a feast for the king. Quickly, they all set to work. They prepared a special area for the king to sit, they brought food and palm wine from all their huts, they fed the horses, they gave the soldiers a place to eat, and they even found a place for the slave trader, who had suddenly realized that his occupation had just been abolished.
The feast was a merry event. Along with eating and drinking, there was dancing and singing. I eagerly joined in, dancing joyously with my family and friends and taking my turn to sing in my new tenor voice while Cantru watched and listened, enthralled.
Before leaving, Cantru very graciously and solemnly shook hands with all the villagers, from my elderly grandpapa to the youngest child.
When it was time for him to depart, Cantru turned to me and asked, “What will you do, Ammirus? You know I need you at the palace, but I cannot keep you any longer from your family and friends. The choice is yours. You can stay here, or you can return with me.”
I grinned broadly in thanks. “I know now that I can never be parted from you for long, Ammirus. You own my heart. I ask that I be allowed to remain here for a week and then return to the palace. In the future, I would like to return here from time to time, but I understand that my place now is with you. That is where I want to be.”
Cantru nodded happily, embraced me a final time, and the procession departed, leaving Lady for me to ride back at the end of the week.
I spent a wonderfully happy week in the village. In the evenings I told tales about all that had happened to me, although I downplayed how important I was to the king. I told about being captured and sold, about being beaten by Hiwah, about slowly becoming friends with the prince, about being ordered to be castrated and starving myself, about my recovery and swimming in the palace pool, about dancing at night in the prince’s garden, about the slave uprising, the capture of Hiwah and finally the punishments in the square, adding that the worst of those punishments had now been abolished. The villagers listened, spellbound, to this seeming fairytale come true. Finally I told them that I loved Cantru and wanted to be with him always. My parents looked worried until I assured them that I would return to the village often.
During the days, I gave rides on Lady to all who wanted them. Most were terrified at first, as I had been, but by the end of the week, all of the children were clamoring for the next ride.
At the end of the week, I hugged each member of my family, promising to return often, then rode back eagerly to the palace. I was homesick no longer. I knew now where I belonged.
When I arrived, I learned that Cantru had already told his advisors of his plan to free the slaves. Once again the prime minister had objected strenuously. He was a slave owner himself and could see that this change would affect him eventually. In fact, he resigned and had already left the palace when I returned. Others had also advised against the plan, but the king was adamant, and so the first slaves were freed. Among them were Jiraha and the caregivers who had taken such excellent care of both the king and me. Jiraha and all but one of the caregivers decided they would remain at the palace but would take time occasionally to visit their families. The remaining caregiver wished to return to the jungle, where his skills were needed in the villages.
When I entered the throne room, Cantru broke off what he was doing and rushed to me, embracing me joyfully. Some in the room looked on with disapproval. Cantru turned to them and said, “This is Ngammiwiha, my new prime minister. He is young, I know, as am I, and we will both rely on your advice and ideas. We won’t always agree, as we have not agreed about freeing the slaves, but we must all agree to work for the good of the kingdom and of all the people in it.
“You may go now. I wish to catch up on matters of state with Prime Minister Ngammiwiha.”
They all dutifully bowed out, some smiling and some scowling.
When they were gone, I asked, “Do you think that was wise? Have you made enemies?”
“No, I don’t think I have. It will depend, of course, on how you and I treat them, but if we accept their ideas and their wisdom, if we are courteous and thoughtful of them, then I think in time they will accept the situation. The first thing we need to do is find something where we can consult them and accept their advice without going against what we believe.”
And so the two of us talked busily over our evening meal. We drank perhaps more wine than usual as we conversed far into the evening.
When we had finished, Cantru said, “Now, I have an important matter of state. Come with me.” He took my hand and led me to our bed. He kissed me, his Ammirus, murmuring, “Oh, I have missed you so.”
I responded happily. “I’ve missed you too — terribly.” I felt myself grow hard and became aware that Cantru was doing the same. “I love you, Ammirus,” I said.
Slowly, gently, he removed my robe and shorts. I did the same for him. We embraced so hard we barely breathed. Then together we lay on the bed and surrendered ourselves completely to our new-found pleasures.
Finally, when we had finished, my Ammirus, with another long, satisfying kiss, said, “And I love you, my beloved friend.” Then we peacefully fell asleep in each other’s arms.