But then they reminded him of something he’d seen before. And he realized they were going to one of the slave dealers. Towards cages of naked slaves that smelled of urine and feces. He hung back as Thaddeus began talking with the dealers, a horrible fear building in his mind. He actually slunk away as their conversation became more animated.
At some point, Thaddeus realized Skaia was gone and turned to look for him. When he spotted the boy at the edge of the street, he walked to him, and took his arm. “You’re supposed to stay with me,” he said angrily.
Skaia looked up to him and, once again, his face was full of fear. “Are you going to sell me?” he whispered.
Thaddeus loosened his grip on Skaia’s arm. He had not even considered that this might be what the slave was thinking. When he answered, his voice was less harsh. “I should sell you, you little fool, if you can’t obey me any better than this.” And he relented further, when he felt Skaia tremble, releasing the boy’s arm entirely. “No, I’m not going to sell you, Skaia. I’m looking for a girl for Thaddia,” he explained calmly. “My daughter is old enough now to have a slave of her own.”
“
Do I have to come with you?” Skaia begged. “I promise not to move from here.”
Thaddeus canted his head. Now what was wrong? “Did I give you a choice?” he asked sternly. “Did I even give you permission to speak?”
Skaia suddenly realized he had acted very stupidly. Again… “No, Master. I’m sorry.”
“
That’s twenty strikes already, Skaia. You’re supposed to be avoiding them entirely. I suggest you come with me now and not cause me any more trouble.”
Thaddeus turned abruptly, and walked back towards a line of young women. Skaia hesitated only a moment before following him. He kept his head down, looking only at Thaddeus’ feet, or his own.
When Thaddeus found the girl he had liked from an earlier visit, he took her behind a private screen, had her strip and called Skaia to join him. He proceeded to examine the girl, feeling her body intimately, then looking in her mouth and pulling at her teeth. “Who did you belong to before?” he asked her, wanting to compare her answer with the dealer’s.
“
The wife of Tracen Maximus,” she answered directly, never breaking eye contact with Thaddeus. “She died before she could birth her last child and the master decided to be rid of me.”
“
And where did you come from?”
“
I was born in master’s house, of one of his slave women.”
“
Do you know your father?”
“
No, sir.”
“
Where is your mother?” Thaddeus pressed.
For the first time, the girl seemed to lose some of her surety. She didn’t look down, but her voice trembled slightly. “Master sold her some weeks ago, sir. I… I don’t know who bought her.”
Thaddeus nodded, satisfied well enough with her answers. He turned to Skaia. “What do you think of her?”
Me? Why would it matter?
Reluctantly, Skaia looked at the naked girl. She was young, with long, light brown hair, and brown eyes. She had small budding breasts, and sported a little hair in her crotch. Skaia lowered his glance again, humiliated for the girl and for himself. “Master, I have no opinion.”
“
Fair enough,” Thaddeus grinned. “You know nothing of women. Stay with her.” He left them and went to talk with the dealers again.
The girl turned to Skaia. “What is your household like?”
He would not look at her, but he answered. “It is strict. But not overly harsh, if you are obedient.”
“
As good as could be expected, then. Who would I belong to?”
“
The master’s daughter, Thaddia. She will be twelve soon.”
“
What’s she like?”
Skaia thought of Thaddia’s laughter, which would frequently ring through the domus. She was seldom serious about anything. He knew Glaucus adored her, but he had always been afraid of her temper. “She is a happy girl,” he finally said, hoping he didn’t give too much away with the tone of his voice.
“
And your master?”
Skaia shook his head. “I can’t talk about him.”
The girl looked at his face carefully and thought this boy was afraid. But she let it be and leaned against one of the posts that held up the screen. When Thaddeus came back, the dealer was with him. He had the girl dress again and put a light chain about her neck, handing its end to Thaddeus.
“
No, no,” Thaddeus said, pushing the chain back into the man’s hands. “Clean her up and send her to my home. Ask for Castor. He’s expecting her.”
When the dealer and the newly purchased slave girl had disappeared, Thaddeus turned and spoke more sternly to Skaia. “I heard you speaking with the girl. That’s ten more strikes of the whip, Skaia. I will not tolerate such disobedience in public.” He looked into Skaia’s ashen face and softened. “Fortunately for you, none of my friends were here. Perhaps I’ll let it pass this once. But I suggest you try very hard to please me for the rest of the day.” As Thaddeus started to walk away, he looked back over his shoulder. “That is, of course, unless you’ve decided you want to die again.”
Skaia did not speak and was glad when Thaddeus ignored him. He did not want to die. But if Thaddeus whipped him so badly, he wondered how he would bear it. Would Thaddeus really damage him so badly again when he’d just healed?
But the healing had taken only a little over a week. Perhaps, if he remained so careless, this would be the pattern of his life. Or Thaddeus would lose patience with him completely and simply let his body be ruined.
As they continued to walk and Thaddeus continued to ignore him, Skaia felt very foolish for his earlier excitement. For his assumption that, somehow, Thaddeus had intended this day be enjoyable for him.
He knew better now and followed with his eyes downcast, paying little attention to his surroundings and no longer caring. He was aware that they walked a long distance; down a long hill and then up another. He knew the sole of one of his sandals had broken. His foot began to hurt; he thought he was making a blister; and he started to limp. It did not even occur to him to complain.
At first, when they passed houses and approached a rounded brick wall, he thought they were home again, but quickly realized it was someone else’s domus. He heard a voice call out to greet his master. Obviously Thaddeus was known here. In spite of his growing curiosity, Skaia kept his head down as they passed through the entrance, by the slave who had spoken and the large frightening dog that stayed by his side.
As they approached a large courtyard he did look up briefly when he heard footsteps, and recognized Antius approaching. A shiver ran up his spine and a sudden fear that he was here for more
lessons.
It took all his courage to continue into the atrium behind Thaddeus.
But Antius did not acknowledge him, nor did Thaddeus speak to him. Skaia listened to the conversation as Antius led them past the atrium into the inner courtyard, the peristylium. Nowhere near so lovely as the one at Thaddeus’ home, he thought. The garden was stiff and formal, with none of the easy flowing beauty Paulinus had created. Skaia pushed aside those thoughts and listened as Antius and Thaddeus talked.
“
Gods, Thaddeus,” Antius exclaimed, “did you walk all the way from your domus to mine? You surely know there are litters to be hired.”
Thaddeus shrugged and smiled. “The day is pleasant, Antius. Besides, I enjoy walking and I needed the exercise.”
Antius raised his brows as if he thought his friend insane, but he laughed good naturedly. “After our lunch, I plan to take a litter to the baths. I hope you will join me.” Thaddeus laughed and agreed.
Taking a seat on a bench before a cloth covered table, Antius motioned Thaddeus to the bench opposite. Thaddeus, in turn, called for Skaia to kneel beside him. Instantly, slaves came forward with food and drink, quickly filling the top of the table. Skaia looked up as one of the slaves squealed. Antius had taken the wrist of a young woman, holding her in place.
“
My newest acquisition,” he told Thaddeus, pulling the girl into his lap. “Her Greek name is unpronounceable, so I’m just calling her Puella.”
“
Puella?” Thaddeus laughed. “Little slave girl. How inventive.”
Antius frowned at Thaddeus’ amusement and forced the girl back to her feet. “She needs to learn the same things your boy is working on. I think I will take the same tact you did, and let her serve at my next dinner party.”
“
It works very well. This one,” Thaddeus said, twisting Skaia’s head toward Antius, “did very well this morning. Didn’t spill a drop.”
Antius released the girl and grinned. “But his mouth is so much prettier after he sucks more than once.”
Thaddeus looked down at Skaia’s red face. He ran his fingers over the boy’s lips, thinking they were lovely. But he nodded to Antius. “Yes, I’m much too easy in the mornings. But that will change as soon as his ass can be used again.” Skaia looked down as soon as his head was released.
My ass is available now. Castor said so
. It would probably happen soon. A new worry.
The masters’ talk turned to things Skaia did not understand. The theft of the Roman treasury, and its reclaiming by Caesar. New taxes. The possibilities of civil war. Skaia let his mind wander, trying to ignore his thirst and growing hunger. He was shocked when a cup touched his lips, and he looked up briefly. Thaddeus was giving him water. Skaia steadied the cup with his hands and drank gratefully.
As the men continued to talk, Thaddeus would occasionally hold bits of food to his slave’s mouth and Skaia took them gladly. He was confused when Thaddeus thrust empty fingers towards his mouth. Thaddeus looked down at him. “Lick them clean.” Skaia was embarrassed to be asked to do such a thing, but he obeyed quickly, swirling each digit with his tongue and sucking until they were clean. Still Thaddeus did not remove them, so Skaia continued to suck gently. It must have been pleasing—Thaddeus patted his head when he finally removed his hand.
In time, the men were ready to go to the baths and Antius ordered that the litter be brought. Skaia stood after Thaddeus did, and followed him back to the atrium, but then held back as the men walked to the gate of the domus and the waiting litter. Thaddeus turned to him. “You’re coming, too. Follow us.” Skaia nodded and took a step. The blister on his foot was worse now, and he almost stumbled. Noticing the boy’s limp, Thaddeus frowned, and Skaia became much more careful to hide his pain. He walked beside the litter, being careful to maintain the proper distance, and to not let his awkward gait become obvious. Yet, he was aware when the blister broke and began to seep liquid.
When they stopped, they were at the entrance to the one of the city’s many baths. Skaia could not help but look up. He and all the other household slaves had often wondered what they looked like. The building was large and, to Skaia, it seemed quite magnificent. Each block of stone on the outside wall was painted with colorful scenes. The courtyard entrance was of pale marble, and he looked about in awe, until he saw Thaddeus glaring at him. Hurriedly he lowered his head and followed the men inside.
Thaddeus halted when Antius turned a corner, and called for one of the bathhouse slaves. “Chain my boy with the others and I will send for him before I leave.” Thaddeus followed after his friend and the bath slave led Skaia off into a back room. A chain was quickly attached to his collar and he was left there.
Skaia glanced around and saw he was only one of several slaves in the small dim room. He followed their example and slipped to the floor, pulling his knees to his chest. Now that he was still, he became more aware of the throbbing pain in his foot, and pulled off his sandal to look at the blister. It was beginning to bleed now and the drops fell to the floor. There was no one to ask for help and so he just leaned back against the wall, watching as the blood accumulated.