Skaia (15 page)

On the eighth, he screamed. And again on the ninth and tenth. The beating stopped then, and Castor came forward, touching his arm. “I’m taking you with me, Skaia. I’ll clean you up. Lean on me if you need to.”

“
Shut up, Castor,” Thaddeus demanded, turning on the older slave. “Do not offer him comfort. He deserved this beating.”

Castor withdrew his hand. In all these years in Paulinus’ household, he had never seen Thaddeus like this before and he was frightened for himself. “Yes, Master.”

Thaddeus stepped up to Skaia before Castor could leave, motioning the older slave to stay. But he addressed only Skaia. “I expect you to behave yourself after this. Do
nothing
without my permission. If you ever embarrass me before my friends again, you will be sold. I swear it.”

Sold… No, no, no.
Skaia could barely remain on his feet; he did not look up. “I will not, Master,” he said, his voice barely audible. He heard Thaddeus walk away, and collapsed on Castor when the man came near, trying not to sob. “I only wanted to see Glaucus leave, Castor. I didn’t think I was doing anything wrong.”

Castor patted his shoulder. He, too, was disturbed at Thaddeus’ behavior, but he certainly knew better than to question it. “Come now. I’ll clean you up before I take you back to the master’s room.”

“
Please Castor,” Skaia suddenly begged. “I don’t want to stay with him.”
I don’t want to be near him.

Castor withdrew his support in amazement. The boy had been a slave long enough to know better. “Stop it, Skaia,” he said firmly. “Those decisions aren’t up to us, and you damn well know it. If you try to fight, I don’t doubt that Thaddeus will sell your ass.”

As soon as Skaia had been sent to the washroom, Thaddeus approached Castor in the kitchen and handed him a lock and key. “The boy is to be chained in my antechamber. Do not approach him again unless I tell you to. And tell the others they are not to speak with him.”

Castor did not look up. But he was sure Skaia had done nothing to deserve such harshness and wondered why Thaddeus was so angry with the boy. Surely he had known that Glaucus and Skaia would become close over the years. Like he had with Thane. But it was not his place to object to anything Thaddeus demanded. All he could do was take what Thaddeus gave him and do as he was told. “Yes, Master.”

When Thaddeus was gone, Castor joined Skaia in the slaves’ small wash room, and wiped away the blood on the boy’s back. Not so much a boy any longer, he realized. Past eighteen now.

Six of the strikes had cut through the skin, though none to the bone. Still, Castor was sure they would leave permanent scars. He applied a salve after cleaning away the blood, to relieve some of the pain, hoping Thaddeus would not object.

After Castor had finished with Skaia’s back, he examined the boy’s anus again. There was not really anything more he could do at this point, so he allowed Skaia a loincloth and told him to dress.

When Skaia entered the kitchen, Castor looked to be sure Thaddeus was nowhere near, then had the boy sit, and gave him some stale bits of bread and olive oil. Skaia ate little, having no appetite, but he thanked Castor and sat quietly.

Castor sat at the table as well, writing on a wax tablet what was needed from the markets today. It was only when Meera approached and sat down next to Skaia, talking to him quietly that Castor knew he must return the boy to Thaddeus’ room. “Meera, you have to go now. Master Thaddeus does not want anyone talking to Skaia today.” He fervently hoped the prohibition was only for the day. With Meera gone, Castor stood. “Come, Skaia, I have to take you back now.”

Inside the small antechamber, Castor picked up a chain from the floor that Skaia had not noticed before. He hooked it to Skaia’s collar with the lock. “I’m sorry about this,” he apologized, “but Thaddeus wants you confined here. If he asks, I’m putting the key on his desk.”

“
Why, Castor?” Skaia asked, looking up at him.

“
Shut up, Skaia,” Castor replied angrily.
I don’t know the answer.

“
What am I supposed to do?”

“
Nothing. Just stay here.”

Skaia shook his head. “It’s awful here, Castor, and dark. What if I… if I need the chamber pot?”

“
Hold it. Ask Thaddeus to unlock you when he gets here. And stop whining. It will do you no good.”

Skaia felt his heart sink. Even Castor was angry with him. “Yes, sir,” he whispered, and watched silently as Castor went into Thaddeus’ sitting room. And then left the chamber without speaking.

When Castor was gone, Skaia sat down carefully on the pallet and thought about what had happened. He had not sought Glaucus out. His young master had been the one to approach him.
What was I supposed to do,
he thought angrily.
Run away from him?

Yet, in his heart, he knew he should never have been there. He should have just gone back to Thaddeus’ rooms as Castor had told him, even though it seemed so immensely unfair.
Glaucus had been the center of his life for nine years.
How could Thaddeus, or anyone else, expect him to just walk away without saying goodbye? But he knew the answer to that as well. He was a slave.
Only a slave.
He should have no expectations of fairness. Glaucus had been an aberration. And Paulinus. Although he had never felt such a closeness with the old master as he did with Glaucus, he still liked Paulinus, respected him, and loved to work in his gardens. And the man had been much more than kind to him over the years.

Skaia shook off the disturbing thoughts. Everything had changed. He belonged to Thaddeus now and must learn to please him. At least until Glaucus returned. In the meantime, he was alone here with nothing to do. He knew, of course, that Castor was right. Complaining or whining would accomplish nothing.

He thought he was being foolish and should be grateful to be left alone. But he was terrified to be so isolated. Always, the others, especially Gotus, had been there for him when Glaucus was away. Never had he been forced to be so absolutely cut off.

He told himself that he would be fine for a few days. Resting and recovering. His body was in pain, and he was still distraught at being separated from Glaucus. He would just rest.

But it horrified him that Thaddeus might mean to keep him here, in this dark place, the entire time Glaucus was gone. Glaucus’ father had always frightened him. And now, the man seemed almost mad. For a moment Skaia was close to tears. But he pulled himself together and thought of how he could survive. Thaddeus had told him he wanted him to work.
He will give me something to do.
And Skaia became determined he would do
anything
to please the man. Anything just to stay alive until Glaucus returned.

Skaia had almost fallen asleep when he heard the door open. He hastily pushed himself up and knelt forward, placing his forehead and hands on the floor. Thaddeus glanced at him but kept walking, and did not speak. Skaia waited until he was sure Thaddeus had moved into his bedroom. Then he rose to his knees, and rested his hands on his thighs. He waited patiently, hoping for some recognition. But none came.

He was not sure of the passage of time, but thought it must be getting dark; he could tell from the sounds he heard that Thaddeus was lighting lamps. And still no word, or any other acknowledgment. Skaia’s doubts and fears rose anew. He was hungry now—and he needed to piss.

When Thaddeus started to leave the chamber, Skaia looked up. “Please, Master Thaddeus, sir, I need to use the chamber pot.” To his horror, Thaddeus ignored him and walked on. Skaia sat back on the pallet, a terrible fear running through him that Thaddeus really did mean to leave him here.
It’s just the first day,
he reminded himself.
He’s still angry with me. It won’t last forever.

But Skaia wasn’t at all sure.

At dinner, Thaddeus was surprised to find that Paulinus was angry. “I heard about the beating, Thaddeus. It’s the talk of the household. All of the slaves are terrified.”

Thaddeus looked at his father in amazement. “That’s very foolish. Glaucus’ boy is the only one who has angered me.”

Paulinus lifted his cup and Gotus hurried to fill it. “What did Skaia do that was so awful that you’d whip him in public?”

“
He came out to see Glaucus leave. And when Glaucus saw him, my son held the damn slave and kissed his mouth before he would go. In front of everyone.”

Paulinus nodded thoughtfully. He could agree the behavior was unacceptable. Thaddeus would never have done such a thing, and even if he had, Thane would have found a way to thwart it. “My grandson may be more to blame than the slave,” he said eventually, meeting Thaddeus’ eyes. “But you acted appropriately. What will you do now to put an end to it?”

Thaddeus almost sighed with relief that his father agreed with him. Though he was not so ready to put the blame on his son. He told his father of the comments his friends had made at their dinner last night. And explained that he intended to break the bond between his son and his slave. “I will use him like any other pretty slave. Make him whore for me and my friends. Make him not so pure and innocent as my son seems to think he is.”

To this Paulinus agreed as well, though a part of him grieved for Skaia. In so many ways, the young Gaul truly was pure and innocent. But such foolishness on Glaucus’ part had to be stopped. And destroying the slave’s appeal was probably the best way to go about it. “I trust you to handle the matter, my son.”

Skaia’s confinement, being totally ignored, lasted for three days. Castor came for him twice a day. He unhooked Skaia’s chain and took him to the kitchen to have his back treated, to eat and wash and to use the chamber pot. Then Castor brought him back and chained him again.

But on the evening of the fourth day, Thaddeus himself unhooked the chain from Skaia’s neck, and then called him into the sitting room. Skaia stood straight and quiet before him, his head down, trying to appear totally submissive, wanting desperately to gain approval.

Thaddeus poured himself a glass of wine, and sat on a couch. “Kneel.” Skaia did not look at him, just quickly obeyed and slipped to his knees. “There are new rules for you, Skaia.” The boy looked up briefly. “You will not speak again unless I give you permission, or ask you a question.” He looked to see if he could determine a reaction, but Skaia had cleared his face of all expression. “And you are not to leave my rooms without my express permission. For any reason.” Thaddeus sipped leisurely at his wine before he continued. “The punishment for any lapse is ten lashes. No exception.”