When Jake reached Burnam's room he knocked gently, three sharp raps.

The same Secretary that had been sent to fetch Jake opened the door. He indicated the Jake was to follow him They entered Sub-Ordinate Burnam's living quarters. Sub-Ordinate Burnam was seated on his sofa. Standing next to him was Ordinate Selig. Jake was afraid he was late despite his efforts to arrive a few minutes early.

"No, Mentor Jake," Selig said reading his mind, "you are not late, fortunately. I arrived early to seek Burnam's advice on your punishment." Selig turned to look down at Burnam. "Where shall this be carried out in another room?"

"It is to my liking to punish the Mentor here, Ordinate." Burnam said with a sligh smile on his face.

"Very well. Announce it." Selig said. Burnam rose and walked toward Jake.

"Mentor Jake you are to be switched for striking a Novice in anger, a Novice in your direct charge I may add. Ordinate Selig who witnessed the event has related the circumstances to me. I have decided to administer two dozen strikes on your bare buttocks and back of your legs. You will have a plug inserted into your anus to add to your humiliation and pain. Do you have anything to say?"

"No, Sub-Ordinate. I am guilty of the offense and I wish to be punished as you see fit. I regret my action to the Novice and I will endeavor not to repeat it."

"I have," Selig said, "requested that the switching be given in groups of three. Eight all together. I wish to question you in between."

"Yes, Ordinate," Jake said. Burnam had already opened a drawer in his large table and extracted a large, polished wooden anal _d_i_l_d_o_ and a jar of thick lubricating jelly. He now went to his closet and removed a long supple switch. Placing the switch on the table he held the _d_i_l_d_o_ up for both Selig and Jake to see.

"My experience with the Mentors," he said to Selig, "tells me that a large plug is needed if the subject is to experience any real pain on its insertion and again as he expels it afterwards." Burnam said, again with a slight smile. "Mentors, after all, are not eighteen year old Novices are they?" He took the plug and making a small circle with his forefinger and thumb, simulating an anus. He pushed the plug up through the opening. Selig watched this "demonstration" with great interest.

"It must be large enough at its thickest point to stretch the anus wide open and perhaps a little more. And the anus must remain stretched once the plug is inserted. Thus the reason for the relatively wide neck." He held his hand up, displayed the plug encircled by his thumb and finger. "The tip of the plug should extend well up into the rectum to impart a feeling of fullness and a desire to expel the intruding object. And as the subject reacts to each slash of the switch, the anus muscles must involuntarily attempt to contract more tightly around the base of the plug causing yet more pain." Burnam continued to use his thumb and forefinger to simulate the action of the anus around the neck of the plug.

"As the subject expels the plug once the switching is complete," he continued, "pain is once again felt as the plug again stretches the anus open wide -- wider than is ever encountered during elimination, for example." Burnam paused and pulled the plug back through the artificial hole he had made. "The subject is faced with a choice. Either endure the pain of expelling the plug or keep the plug inserted. The latter choice is impossible. How could he empty his bowel with a plug inserted?" Burnam slowly pulled the plug through the make-believe anus formed by his thumb and forefinger.

"Yes, yes," Selig said, "that is an excellent demonstration of what actually happens, Sub-Ordinate. Very interesting, vey interesting."

Jake realized that Burnam was putting on this show for Selig's benefit. Certainly not for Jake's own benefit, Jake thought. As a Mentor, Jake was well aware of the function of an anal plug during punishments. He had inserted countless plugs in his four-years as a Mentor and as a Novice he had had countless plugs inserted expertly up through his own anus.

"I shall now begin," Burnam said. "Remove your robe, Mentor Jake." Jake quickly drew his robe over his head and placed it on a chair. He stood naked except for his sandals. "I prefer that a man of your height lay over the back of this couch," Burnam said, indicating the sofa in the middle of the room. Jake walked to the back of the couch, followed by, first Selig, then Burnam carrying the plug, jelly and switch. Burnam waited for Selig to position himself so that he could see as much of the switching as he cared to. He then pointed with the switch to a spot on the floor. "Stand there, Mentor Jake, and bend over the sofa fully, your open hands resting on the cushions. Jake took his position and spread his legs very wide before Burnam had the opportunity to instruct him to do so. Jake felt his buttocks spread open exposing his anus and the back of his scrotum.

"For added pain, Ordinate," Burnam said to Selig, "I use very little lubrication on the plug. I find the natural lubrication present inside the anus is usually enough to allow passage, albeit with some degree of pain. Jake felt Burnam's finger very lightly rubbing his anus. As Burnam began using more pressure, his finger separated and slightly opened Jake's wrinkled muscle. Jake felt the finger gently slide up inside. Burnam slowly twisted his finger while pressing hard against the interior of Jake's anal collar. "Young Jake, for example," Burnam said to Selig, "appears to be blessed with a naturally well lubricated anus. Not unusual for a man of his young age but Jake seems especially blessed in this regard." Jake guessed that Burnam's finger was inserted no more than to a depth of the fingernail, if that deep. Burnam now removed and reinserted his finger several times. "Yes," Burnam said more to himself than to Jake or Selig, "very nice, very tight, natural lubrication." Burnam removed his finger.

Jake now felt the tip of the plug against his anus and he instinctively pressed his anus outward to receive it as painlessly as possible. Burnam shoved the plug upward slowly, then with one hard push, rammed the plug hard up through Jake's anal collar and into his rectum. Despite his efforts not to, Jake moaned softly as he felt his anus stretched terribly for a fraction of a second. Then the feeling of fullness that Jake had always enjoyed ever since he had experienced his first anal plug at the tender age of seven. This particular plug, however, when seated, kept the anus well stretched causing mild pain.

Jake tried to take his mind off the pain of the plug. Has Burnam not been a Mentor for so long that he has forgotten that inserting the plug slowly produces much more pain than shoving it home in one single push, he thought. Or perhaps Burnam was a Mentor when Mentors rarely used anal plugs on their Novices; when, in fact, Mentors rarely _f_u_c_k_ed their novices at all or only rarely; when it was rare that a Novice ever had his anus slowly licked by his Mentor; when Mentors spanked the Novices with their open hand but never a paddle or switch and never required Novices to spread their legs to display their genitals and anus; when a Novice was never required to empty his bladder or bowel as his Mentor humiliated him by closely watching. In Burnam's day, did Mentor's sleep with their Novices and enjoy having their novices get to their knees, spreading their legs to accept a full hard _c_o_c_k_ up their tight assholes. Had Burnam never enjoyed the feeling of a Novice squirming underneath him? Had Burnam never lain naked in his bed with a Novice straddled over him releasing a stream of warm semen onto his nipples? Had Burnam forgotten or perhaps never known the feeling of the tongue of a Novice slowly licking and poking its way up into his anus? Had Burnam been away from Mentoring so long that he had forgotten the joy of seeing a misbehaved Novice tied to a punishment bench and soundly switched; the sight of a Novice straining to expel an anal plug; the sight of a Novice wiggling his buttocks trying to escape the next smack of a paddle. Has Burnam forgotten the joy of holding a Novice in his arms after switching him and leaning forward to kiss the Novice tenderly and the exquisite feeling of having the Novice as tenderly return his kiss? If so, then much had changed since Burnam was a Mentor.

These questions of Jake to himself were rudely interrupted by the sting of Burnam's first switch. The first blow landed squarely across Jake's buttocks and the sting, as always, took a second or two to reach its maximum. Jake's anus contracted around the neck of the plug even more tightly shooting more pain through his anus. Jake had not been switched as a punishment for a year or more, although he had felt the switch as he and other Mentors switched each other as a prelude to anal _s_e_x_ or mastubating. Just as the worst pain of the first strike began to subside, Burnam landed the second switch. This landed hard across the very top of Jake's legs, jusy under his buttocks. The only sound Jake made -- and this unintentionally -- was a sharp intake of breath. Jake couldn't help but remark to himself than Burnam certainly knew where to hit and knew how to time the strokes for maximum effect.

The last switch of the first set of three landed just below where the second had landed so effectively. Jake took it without a sound. "Shall I pause now, Ordinate?" Burnam asked.

"Yes, if you would," Selig said and walked around to the front of the sofa and sat turning so that his face was only inches from Jake's. "I do enjoy the sight of the plug protruding from your anus, Mentor Jake, and the sound of the switch on your well shaped buttocks but I must now ask you some questions. I'm suspect you will welcome the short interruption." Selig leaned even closer to Jake and looked into his eyes.

"I must tell you, Jake, that I have wanted to see you switched for some time but not having a valid reason I remained patient. I knew that, in time, you would provide the reason yourself, although I could have ordered you switched by my Subaltern in the privacy of my rooms at any time. But I do not generally do that, Jake. Not with Mentors in any event. I am not a mean person, only a lustful one." Selig paused and looked at Jake for a long time. "Look at me, Jake."

Jake turned his head slightly to look into Selig's eyes. "Administer the second three, Burnam," Selig said without removing his gaze from Jake's face. "Rather quickly, if you don't mind," he added. Burnam deliver three more strikes. They were hard. All landing squarely across both buttocks. Selig looked closely at Jake as the switches landed. Tears formed in Jake's eyes. These were not the tears of weeping, but tears induced solely by the intense sting of the switch. Jake was a long way from weeping. Selig's face was now blurred in Jake's vision but he continued to look directly at him.

"Tell me, Jake, do you recall your Initial Ordeal as a young Novice here?"

"Yes, Ordinate," Jake said, trying not to blink, lest the tears spill onto his cheeks humiliating him more.

"As I do Jake." Selig said. "It was very soon after I rose to Ordinate here, some ten years ago. Your were how old then, Jake?"

"Eighteen, Ordinate."

"Yes, yes," Selig said softly. "I think, Jake, that yours was perhaps the first Initial Ordeal I had the pleasure of observing. Does that surprise you?"

"It does, Ordinate," Jake said truthfully.

"The next three," Selig said, looking up at Burnam briefly. "Not quite as quickly as before and with more force. We must allow the sting of the switch to have its full effect." Selig returned his gaze to Jake. He watched Jake's face carefully as the first of the next three landed. Jake closed his eyes tightly forcing the tears down his cheeks. Several seconds later the next switch landed with tremendous force striking Jake's legs again. Jake moaned softly. "They begin to take their toll, Jake?" Selig asked.

"Yes, Ordinate." Just then the third landed, low on Jake's buttocks. "Yes, Ordinate," Jake repeated with the intense pain he felt registering in his voice.

"Tell me, Jake, do you feel this punishment deserved?"

"Yes, Ordinate. I should not have struck young Paul, Ordinate."

"I do enjoy watching you in pain, Jake. But you know that do you not?"

"Yes, Ordinate," Jake said softly.

"Indeed." Selig reached up and ran the fingers of one hand through Jake's thick hair. "Yes, you were the first, Jake," he said softly. "A handsome Novice you were too. Do you know that you are handsome, Jake?"

"I have been told as much, Ordinate." Jake said.

"Oh yes. Jake. You can be assured that you are very handsome. I watched you taken by your Mentor twice, Jake. Do you recall?"

"Yes, Mentor."

"Yes, yes, I recall it vividly, Jake. You offered just the proper amount of resistance then gave in so sweetly. Watching your efforts to resist the penetration of your anus then giving in to enjoy it..... You were such a beautiful Novice, Jake. Tell me Jake, do your Novices find you handsome do you think?"

"Some do, Ordinate."

"Oh? Do they say as much?"

"Some do, Ordinate."

"And do you find some of your Novices handsome as well?"

"Yes, Ordinate."

"How many Novices have you trained, Jake?"

"Eight, Ordinate."

"Young Novice Paul is your eigth?"

"My ninth, Ordinate."

"Yes, I see," Selig said. "The next three, please." Burnam immediately landed a hard switch to Jake's legs. Then after a pause one to his upper buttocks, then one to both buttocks. These seemed especially hard to Jake who winched in pain at all three. "Yes, they take their effect, I see. Tell me, Jake, do you believe that being switched from time to time might make you a better Mentor to your Novices. That it might give your own applications of the switch more compassion?"

"May I speak freely, Ordinate?" Jake said.

"By all means, Jake. We are all intellectual equals here."

"I have often thought that the better Mentors were those that had a healthy relationship with their own Mentors as Novices, Ordinate. And a healthy relationship includes compassion."

"And understanding and empathy...?" Selig asked.

"Yes, Ordinate."

"The next three, Burnam." Selig said. "I would like to see the skin broken. I would like to see Jake in severe pain." Burnam delivered three hard switches to Jake's buttocks. Jake could feel that at least one of the three had broken the skin.

"Tell me, Mentor Jake, do you know that, from time to time, I invite members of The Order to my chambers and that I enjoy watching them...shall we say 'enjoy' each other?"

"To be honest, Ordinate, I have heard of this."

"Does this surprise you, Jake?"

"No, Ordinate."

"Mentors watch their Novices enjoying each other or Mentors enjoying Novices, do they not?"

"They do, Ordinate."

"Do you engage in this voyeurism?"

"I do, Ordinate. But Mentors and Novices do it openly, Ordinate."

"Voyeurism is the act of passively watching, Mentor Jake. It need not be furtive or done in secret."

"Yes, Ordinate. I am corrected."

"The guests I have in chambers are all invited, Mentor Jake. They are free to decline my invitation. Would you, Mentor Jake, look upon such an invitation favorably?"

"Might I choose my partner, Ordinate?"

"Of course. I did say I like to watch my guests 'enjoy' each other, did I not? Would your guest perchance be Mentor William?"

"Very likely, Ordinate." Jake was surprised that Selig knew of his relationship with William.

"Would you, Jake, enjoy seeing Mentor William switched?"

"In all honesty, Ordinate, I would," Jake said.

"Even if it meant being switched in front of him?"

"Yes, Ordinate."

"Propose the matter to him, Jake. At your leisure. We shall talk again. I need to discuss your new Novice – Paul, isn't it? -- with you still. He is an unusual boy."

"Yes, Ordinate," Jake said as he felt several drops of blood trickle down his buttocks.

Selig looked up at Burnam. "Have his expel the plug. I wish to watch him."

"You heard the Ordinate, Jake," Burnam said as his pressed against the plug. Jake slowly pressed hard to force the plug through his anus. Selig watched Jake's face closely, smiling.

"Insert it again, slowly," Selig said. Burnam presented the tip of the plug to Jake's anus and began pressing it through the tight hole. Jake groaned, his face contorted as his anus was stretched wide.

"Is this the largest plug you have," Selig said to Burnam.

"Yes, Ordinate. It is quite large, Ordinate. Shall I have a larger one made?"

"For young men of Jake's experience, yes."

"As you wish, Ordinate."

"I must be away. I have duties before Supper Bell." Selig stood and addressed Burnam.

"I am satisfied with this punishment, Burnam. In any event, I must leave the two of you now. You may administer the remaining switches -- nine more, I believe -- at your discretion." Selig quickly took up his hat from the table and left the room.

"Remain as your are Mentor Jake," Burnam said as soon as the door closed. "You have nine more. But first I want the pleasure of seeing you expel your plug again. Start now." But before Burnam could make Jake's task more difficult -- which is surely what he intended -- by holding the base of the plug in place, Jake exerted one strong push and the plug exploded out and to the floor.

"Yes, Burnam," Jake said holding back a smile as he felt his anus close tightly. Burnam could not justifiably say anything since Jake had done no more than what he was told. But denied the pleasure of seeing Jake grunt and strain the plug free with the accompanying pain such an effort would entail, Burnam decided to enjoy another pleasure.

"Your punishment is not completed, Mentor Jake. You have nine more strokes to receive. And since you so quickly and efficiently made your anus so nicely accessible, you shall feel it switched." Out of Jake's view, Burnam went to the bookshelves which nearly covered on complete wall of his room. He lifted a small three-step stool used to help in reaching the upper shelves and brought it back to the sofa. Jake listened as Burnam placed the stool close behind his widely spread legs. Burnam climbed the first two steps and turned facing almost completely away from Jake. This placed him high enough above Jake's butt to allow him to bring the switch down vertically between Jake's buttocks. Ideally, Burnam wished to aim the switch from this height so that the very tip of the switch landed on Jake's well exposed anus. This would cause the maximum sting to the sensitive area. Jake thought how he solves this same height problem by having the Novice kneel on the floor. But either Burnam hadn't thought of this simpler solution or he wished to employ this more theatrical method.

Burnam placed the switch on its intended target to gauge the distance. The switch was too long, extending beyond its target. Burnam ascended the third step and again tested the length and found the height of the third step allowed the tip of the switch to just reach Jake's anus.

"You might consider begging me not to cause you this pain and added humiliation, Mentor Jake. Otherwise I will begin. You well know what is about to occur." Jake said nothing but steeled himself for the sting. "Very well." Burnam raised the switch high in the air and, keeping his eye hard on the target, quickly brought the switch home. Jake gasped loudly as the tip of the switch landed with great velocity squarely on his anus. Jake was quickly reminded how much a well placed switch against the sensitive tissue of the anus could hurt. For a blinding moment, it was as though Burnam had placed a hot poker to his wrinkled, tightly closed hole. For a second, Jake considered begging that there not be another. But he knew that hearing him beg would only inflame Burnam to deliver yet another and perhaps a third such blow. And in the end begging would not lessen the number of switches he would receive, it would only allow Burnam the satiscaction of hearing Jake plead. With great difficulty Jake remained silent.

"Will you not beg me, Mentor Jake?" Burnam said as he lightly tapped the tip of the switch on its target again. "There could be as many as eight more of these switches. You'll beg me in the end so why not now?" Jake said nothing. "You are an impudent slut, Jake," Burnam said, raising and forcefully lowering the switch again. Again it hit its target squarely. It took all of Jake's concentration and self-control not to yell out loudly. Jake heard Burnam climb down off the steps. Was he finished, Jake wondered. If so Jake had won.

Burnam leaned forward over the back of the sofa and spoke softly into Jake's ear. "No, I should have known. You will not beg, will you, Jake?"

I am not," Jake said, "an eighteen year old Novice, frightened and very anxious to please his Mentor."

"No," Burnam said, "that you certainly are not. Yet, like Selig, I knew you when you were." Burnam gently ran his fingers down Jake's bare back. "I am willing to forget the remaining switches, Jake," he said.

"And what will that cost me, Burnam?"

"Only what I'm sure you give freely to others, Jake." Burnam's hand now began rubbing Jake's buttocks. "Let me have you Jake and the switching will end. I've wanted you since you were a Novice. Now that you've matured into a man instead of a boy, I find myself wanting you even more. Consider the remaining punishment satisfied and completed, Jake. It is done."

"May I speak freely, Sub-Ordinate Burnam," Jake asked.

"Of course, Jake."

"Am I worth only eight strikes of your switch, Burnam? Surely, _f_u_c_k_ing my ass would be worth more than that. And yet that is what you suggest. You'll dispense with the remaining eight strikes in return for a _f_u_c_k_." Burnam immediately stood back, rebuffed, rejected and angry.

"How dare you use such terms, such language in front of me, Mentor Jake. I could take you now where you stand. I've had others on that exact same spot, standing as you are standing. I could take you now, Jake. I could squeeze your testicles until you agreed to my wishes!"

"Novices have their balls squeezed, Burnam, not Mentors. Novices are sometime raped by their Mentors. Mentors are not raped by Sub-Ordinates. And if you place your hand, mouth or _c_o_c_k_ anywhere near my balls or asshole, Ordinate Selig will know of it."

"Jake!" Burnam was now almost in shock. "I...I...I am not one of your Novices that you may talk to me in that way."

"I would never, ever, ever speak to a Novice that way. Nor would any Mentor that I know. Nor, when I was a Novice, did I ever have a Mentor address me that way, Sub-Ordinate Burnam. You lead me to believe that you have forgotten the special relationship that exists between a Mentor and his Novice. But I will amend my statement, Sub-Ordinate. If you place your hand, mouth or penis anywhere near my genitals or anus, Ordinate Selig will know of it. I apologize for my former language. It was out of place."

"Jake, you shock me."

"I am not accustomed to being either coerced or threatened into giving myself, Sub-Ordinate. I am not a Novice any longer to be ordered on my knees. You will gain more with kindness, than otherwise, Burnam. You were once a Mentor. I am told a good one. Surely you have not forgotten how kindness will gain you what you want faster than threats. Surely this is what you taught and showed your Novices -- that kindness and love are a man's most important traits. You will never know the pleasure of penetrating me Burnam. You would need to have me bound to reach that goal. I know of no one who would assist you in doing that and you could not do it yourself."

Burnam turned red with contained rage. "Your punishment is ended, Mentor Jake. Stand." Burnam picked up Jake's robe and handed it to him. "You are dismissed." Jake quickly pulled the robe over his head and stepped into his sandals.

"Forgive me, Burnam," Jake said as he started to leave. "You tried my patience and -- "

"Hear me, Mentor Jake," Burnam said, "Selig is now your protector. Selig will not be Ordinate forever. There may be a day in the future when I am Ordinate here. On that day, Jake, I will indeed have you firmly bound and I will take you and, unlike today, I will hear you plead for mercy."

Jake bowed, turned and left the room.