And The Children Shall Lead

by Michael J. Bowler

  Lance and Ricky noted, without any awkwardness, that Bridget sat beside Justin and Ariel beside Techie at the gathering. The girls, lovely as ever, Bridget outgoing and effusive, Ariel shy and timid, both smiled warmly at the boys before the gathering began and bade them a pleasant good-bye when it ended. Lance, especially, felt relieved that Bridget didn’t hold a grudge against him. But then, she’d told him that night he’d confessed the truth to her that she’d suspected it for a long time, and understood. Yep, Bridget was some girl and he hoped it all worked out for her and Justin.

  †††

  Knowing he couldn’t keep anything from Ricky, later that night as they lay side by side on Lance’s bed, Lance revealed Dakota’s story. Ricky, ever in protective mode, worried that Dakota might start drinking and encourage Lance to do the same. Lance looked over at this boy who held his heart in the palm of his hand, and smiled warmly.

  “Fool,” he said breathlessly. “The only alcohol I need is you. And I’m drunk on you 24/7. So get over it.”

  Ricky’s eyes lit up with delight. “Have I told you lately that you’re a dumbass?”

  Lance laughed. “Practically every hour.”

  Ricky grinned. “But have I told you that I love you more than I thought it was possible to love a dumbass?”

  Lance laughed again, and slipped his hand into the place where it belonged. “I think you just did. Dumbass.”

  Ricky chuckled, and squeezed the other’s hand. As uncertain as the future appeared, it would all be perfect as long as they had each other.

  But that was before Christmas, when everything changed.

  †††

  The next few weeks leading into Christmas seemed to fly past as more and more people all across the country commented on the CBOR. Lance and Ricky had shown their changes to Sam, who fostered the opinion that they were “Soundly written for now, but will no doubt be hotly debated by the politicians whenever the CBOR goes before Congress.”

  Dakota and Kai settled into the routine of school with the other young knights seeking their high school diplomas. Both had been accustomed to having a male teacher on their reservations, and sitting around a large table discussing issues was also new to them. They’d been used to the standard desks of most American schools, but quickly adapted, especially the gregarious Kai.

  When not in school, the newcomers spent their time training with the sword and shield or acquiring computer skills under the direction of Sir Techie. They watched every video related to the Round Table, especially Lance’s numerous press conferences, and voraciously devoured the Code of Chivalry in preparation for knighthood. Both declared the Code and the general precepts of Arthur’s Round Table similar to their own cultural traditions.

  Dakota told Lance and Ricky that the Lakota had a phrase––mitakuye oyasin––that meant, “We are all related” or “All my relations.” They believed that all living things were connected, and all peoples were relations, much like Lance’s explanation that within the Round Table everyone was simply “human.”

  Not to be outdone, Kai told the boys how the Diné believed there were two classes of beings––the Earth People and the Holy People––and that the Holy People taught the Earth People how to live the right way, in harmony with the earth and all living things on it.

  To Lance and Ricky, both traditions sounded similar and in striking alignment with Arthur’s beliefs, and the teachings of the Round Table. The two Indians, while vastly different in temperament and personality, obviously shared a long and ambiguous friendship since early childhood that transcended Dakota’s distaste for Two-Spirits, and since Thanksgiving they had become inseparable. Both continuously insisted that Lance and Ricky were of Native blood, too, which intrigued the boys and seemed to forge a quick and strong bond between the four of them, a bond that would be tested before year’s end.

  Because they were in college, Reyna and Esteban spent less time at New Camelot than they would’ve liked, especially during the week. On weekends, however, both showed for gatherings and training practice, and assisted the others in responding to comments or questions about the CBOR. They had all talked about the need to travel the country at some point down the line, and Reyna volunteered to organize their route when that time arose.

  She happily pointed out to Lance that Mark’s father up in Washington and Jack’s mother in Idaho had garnered much adult support in their respective areas, and were now reaching out across the country.

  Lance thanked them for their help. Both adults were broken at the loss of their kids, but neither shirked his or her responsibility in that loss, and freely shared their culpability with the entire country as an example of why children needed more Constitutional rights – to protect them from weak or ineffectual parents like themselves.

  For his part, Esteban kept in regular contact with the former gang members keeping watch over their neighborhoods, many of whom were now part of the mayor’s task force. These knights, spread out all over Los Angeles, reported in to Esteban on a regular basis all good or bad developments within their respective areas, and he would offer advice depending upon the situation and need. Very rarely these days did he need to consult Arthur, or Lance, for both trusted him to make the right choices.

  Because Reyna was so occupied in the Computer Lab, Sylvia had taken over archery instruction in the Training Centre. She’d taken Chris under her wing, improving his technique and accuracy, something Lance was happy to see. He felt guilty for not spending more time with Chris and thanked Sylvia one afternoon before heading to the Computer Lab.

  Sylvia almost blushed to have Lance address her directly. “Oh, he’s a fun kid, Lance. I don’t have a little brother of my own.”

  Suddenly Lance realized he knew little about her background. She’d said her mother didn’t pay much attention to whether she was home or not, but had never talked about anyone else. “Do you have any older ones?” he asked.

  “One. But he’s much older and doesn’t live around here. I barely know him.”

  Lance frowned sadly and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Well, you have all of us as your brothers and sisters. Don’t forget that.”

  She beamed brightly and headed off to the Training Centre to find Chris.

  During these weeks, Lance received no more threats. The FBI had drawn a blank on the origin of the last threatening text, though they had not yet given up. The seeming randomness of these threats had them baffled. Ryan and Gibson remained on high alert at all times, but Lance and Ricky––being boys––began to worry less and less about a possible attack, instead focusing their energies on the CBOR, their relationship, and teaching Kai and Dakota the ways of the Round Table.

  As it turned out, both Indians were avid horsemen and loved seeing the pictures and videos of Llamrei. They had grown up riding, and considered themselves experts with horses.

  Ricky laughed when he heard that. “Oh great, two horse whisperers and one soul whisperer,” he said, playfully shoving Lance one day when they were all in the Computer Lab.

  Lance grinned and shoved him right back. “Yeah, and one fool whisperer.”

  Both boys laughed, and Kai joined in. Dakota, as always, remained poker-faced. “You’re not like any Two-Spirits I ever saw,” he told them.

  That intrigued Lance. “What do you mean?”

  Dakota shrugged. “The way you mess with each other, but you say you love each other.”

  Ricky grinned. “Oh, that’s cuz we’re boys.”

  “And fools,” Lance chimed in.

  “That, too,” Ricky agreed with a laugh.

  Kai looked on in admiration, but Dakota merely stared, his eyes narrowed with bewilderment.

  The Indians wanted badly to meet Llamrei and ride her. Despite having his rotation of knights grooming and caring for her, Arthur had been too busy since the wedding to take Llamrei out for exercise, so when Lance approached him the week before Christmas with the idea of he, Ricky, Kai, and Dakota going to the stables, the king at first thou
ght it a good idea. But then the threatening words from Lance’s phone came back to him, and he hesitated. True, they’d been attending mass on most Sundays without incident, but this outing sounded more questionable.

  He called in Ryan, Gibson, and Justin for their opinions. Needless to say, they were dubious at the notion of taking the boys to such an open venue as the Equestrian Center, especially if it involved riding horses through Griffith Park.

  “Talk about a shooting gallery,” Gibson remarked soberly.

  “How would anyone know we’re gonna be there?” Lance asked, glancing at Ricky for support.

  “Yeah, Dad,” Ricky said to Arthur. “You never told them ahead of time you were gonna visit Llamrei, so we won’t either.”

  “Yeah,” Lance chimed in. “We just show up and nobody’ll know till after we’re gone.”

  The two detectives exchanged a look. Lance could see their faces and he knew they were recalling in vivid detail the unannounced visit to Manic Mountain last summer that had almost gotten them killed.

  Justin ran his hands through his mop of hair thoughtfully as he eyed Lance, a nervous habit he’d adopted since growing it out. “You know, Lance, that everybody who sees you is gonna get right on their phones and text that you guys’re there. You’re too famous to just wander around, man.”

  Gibson looked impressed. “Good point, Justin.”

  Then Lance got an idea. He turned to Kai and Dakota. “Say, you guys got any of your Indian clothes we can wear? If we all dress up as Indians and have our bows and arrows, strangers’ll either think we’re either native or crazy, but probably won’t recognize us.”

  “I brought some regalia with me,” Kai said. “Did you?”

  Dakota nodded.

  “You got extras for me and Lance?” Ricky asked.

  Simultaneously, both answered, “Yes.” Kai laughed at their synchronicity, but Dakota looked mortified.

  Lance turned to Arthur. “C’mon, Dad, my nino and Sergeant Gibson won’t let anything happen to us.”

  “I won’t either,” Dakota announced in his deep, powerful voice.

  “I’ll protect you too,” Kai added, glancing at Dakota, but the Lakota boy grunted dismissively.

  Now all eyes were on the king, as he sat in his throne and contemplated the idea. He did feel as though he’d abandoned Llamrei, who he thought of as a member of his family and a trusted asset to the Round Table. He rather liked the idea of the two new boys riding her and reminding her that she had not been forgotten. But, of course, it was the safety of Lance and Ricky weighing most heavily upon him.

  “Should you dress up in this regalia of theirs, Lance,” he said cautiously, “would that not attract more attention, rather than less?”

  Lance shrugged. “Probably, but we will look different than we usually do, Dad. We can even do this.” He yanked the circlet off his head and whipped his long thick hair right into his face where it dangled across his eyes and down his cheeks. “Who’s gonna recognize me now, ’specially if I don’t say anything. I’ll just look like one of Merlin’s head-bangers.”

  Catching the idea, Ricky flung off his own circlet and did the head banger routine, too, making both boys resemble members of a serious heavy metal band.

  Kai laughed, but Dakota looked at them aghast, Lance noticed from behind his hair. That boy needs to lighten up, he thought as he awaited Arthur’s answer.

  The king sighed heavily. “I suppose we cannot be prisoners within our own home. Our enemies will win without having done anything. Very well, but never stray from the watchful eye of either sergeant.”

  Lance whipped his hair back from his face and grinned. He missed Llamrei, too, and wanted to see how the new boys could ride. He himself didn’t feel all that confident on a horse and, in fact, had never ridden Llamrei without his dad. Still, he missed her calming presence.

  Jenny, however, was not so calm when told of their plans later that day, but the boys assured her they had plenty of protection in the two detectives and the two Indians, and they’d be armed with bows and arrows, anyway. Lance, who’d never known a mother, and Ricky whose mother abandoned him, loved how she fretted over them, but being boys on the cusp of manhood, they also felt the need to step out and handle things on their own.

  So it was settled that the trek to the L.A. Equestrian Center would take place two days before Christmas in the hopes that the riding trails would be less crowded due to holiday shopping and preparations.

  Of course, when Chris found out they were going he wouldn’t stop pestering Jenny until she allowed him to go, as well. He insisted he could wear a beanie and no one would recognize him. “Lance and Ricky are the ones on TV all the time, not me.”

  Arthur also felt badly that Chris had not gotten to ride Llamrei for his birthday, as had been planned, and talked Jenny into it.

  Lance and Ricky met Dakota and Kai in Dakota’s room the night before to decide which regalia each would wear.

  Most of the stuff was brightly colored with fringes along the cuffs and even around the ankles and Lance felt these would call too much attention to them. Dakota produced a breastplate made up of carved wooden dowels made to look like bones, strung together with leather strips and adorned with feathers.

  He eyed Lance. “Take off your shirt.”

  Lance was caught off guard. “Huh?

  Ricky looked sharply over at Dakota, but the Indian remained calm and impassive.

  “This is made to be worn with no shirt,” the boy explained.

  Lance shook his head. “No way, Dakota, I can’t ride around in public with no shirt on. Especially in December. It’s cold.”

  Ricky giggled. “C’mon, Lance, try it on anyway.”

  Lance smirked. “You just wanna see me with my shirt off.”

  “Course I do,” Ricky remarked with a laugh. “Now off with it. Show these guys your buffness.”

  Reddening slightly, but not wanting to appear weak in front of Dakota, Lance slipped off his shirt and dropped it onto the bed.

  Ricky heard Kai gasp slightly, but he couldn’t pull his eyes from Lance’s smooth, defined torso. Dakota eyed the others with amusement, his own gaze sweeping over the obviously embarrassed Lance with admiration. He slipped the breastplate over Lance’s head and stepped behind him to tie the leather strip around his neck. Then he stepped back.

  Lance felt naked and exposed, but Ricky’s heart fluttered with excitement. He glanced at Kai and saw genuine interest there, too, which he didn’t like in the least. Still, he blew out a breath. “You look kick-ass, Lance,” he blurted. “Beautiful as hell.”

  Kai smiled shyly. “You do.”

  “You gotta wear that, Lance,” Ricky added with an excited laugh.

  Lance shook his head vehemently. “Hell, no,” he said with an embarrassed chuckle.

  “It suits you, Lance,” Dakota said, giving him an appraising once over. “But I have shirts too.”

  Dakota untied the leather strip, and Lance gingerly lifted the breastplate up and over his head, handing it back to him. Then he smirked. “I think it’d look better on Ricky. Why not show these guys your buffness, huh?”

  Now Ricky suddenly looked mortified and shook his head. “No way I’m goin’ naked either. We need real clothes.”

  Kai laughed and it almost seemed like Dakota cracked a smile. Almost. Lance slipped his shirt back on and the four finally settled on long fringed leather pants, and for Lance a red long sleeved shirt Dakota had brought with rectangular strips down each sleeve and down both sides of the front. These strips contained colorful triangular shapes that Dakota said were tribal symbols.

  Ricky took one of Kai’s long sleeved shirts, white with Southwest patterns of orange and yellow and blue, also in triangular shapes, adorning the front and sleeves. Dakota pulled out a beaded headband made up of red, white, blue and orange beads, with a big colorful wheel in the center of the forehead and dangling feathers from each temple.

  Kai produced something similar, also beaded, b
ut in more muted colors, with a bigger circle in the center and rather than dangly feathers, his sported long strings of large beads with a circular hoop at the end. The Indians laid out similar clothing for themselves and suddenly everything was set for the outing.

  Lance and Ricky left Kai and Dakota to return to Lance’s room, and plopped onto the bed, as had become their nightly ritual. Lance lay back and Ricky placed his head in his lap. Lance grabbed Ricky’s hair and tugged.

  “Ow!” Ricky cried out, looking up at Lance with surprise. “What was that for?”

  “For making me take my shirt off in front of them,” Lance replied with a playful shove at Ricky’s shoulder. “Dakota looks like he’s pretty built and you embarrassed me.”

  Ricky smirked. “Can you blame me for showing off the body I love?”

  Lance laughed. “Fool.”

  Ricky grinned and reached for Lance’s hand. Suddenly, he frowned, his heart rate increasing. “You think Dakota looks built? You checking out other guys, Lance?”

  Lance smiled with amusement. “I may be the soul whisperer, but you’re the jealousy whisperer.”

  “Am not,” Ricky protested, but then relaxed into a grin. “Well, sometimes. How can I help it when you’re, like, the hottest boy in the world?”

  Lance blew out a breath and chuckled. “I only love you, fool. What part of ‘for now and always’ didn’t you get?”

  That settled Ricky’s thumping heart, and a graceful peace swept over them.

  “You sure we’re gonna be all right tomorrow?” Ricky asked quietly.

  Lance shrugged. “What could go wrong at a stable?”

  Ricky fell silent.

  Little did either boy know just how much could go wrong at a stable. Especially when someone wanted you dead.