Skaia (30 page)

“
What?” Castor’s voice was so loud that everyone in the kitchen actually turned to look. “You can’t disobey him, fool!”

Skaia forced himself to look up and his eyes shone with his tears. “I didn’t say I would disobey, sir. Just that I could not be happy about it.” His breath hitched. “And I can’t, Castor. I really can’t.”

Castor’s shoulders sagged slightly. “Of course you can’t,” he said softly. “But you must
pretend
, Skaia. Though there are some slaves who actually enjoy such things, most just pretend. You can do that, too. Please be careful not to anger Thaddeus again.”

“
Yes, sir. I will try, sir.” Skaia lowered his head and could not bring himself to ask for anything. “I need to finish cleaning Master Thaddeus’ rooms, sir. May I leave now?”

Castor gave his permission and watched the boy walk away. He regretted he’d had to be so harsh, but this pampered young slave was being very foolish. Glaucus should have taught him better. But the past was past. He sincerely hoped that Skaia would take his advice now.

Thaddeus noticed as he walked by, that the peristylium garden was looking a bit ragged, which surprised him. It was his father’s pride and joy since his retirement. Lucius admitted him promptly when he came to the door of his father’s rooms. Paulinus had obviously been playing some kind of game with his slave before he arrived. The table had two benches drawn to it, and the dice and game pieces were still visible. Lucius served Thaddeus a cup of honeyed water before stepping to Paulinus’ side and starting to kneel.

Paulinus stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Old fool. Your bones are as stiff as mine. You get down there, and I’ll never get you back up again.”

Thaddeus was amused at the little scene. Lucius had been with his father for as long as he could remember. It seemed they had always been friends. But in the last few years, Paulinus had given up any pretence it was otherwise. Lucius smiled at his old master, and gratefully took a seat on the bench beside him.

Paulinus looked back to Thaddeus, surprised to see him so late in the afternoon. “I thought you had a dinner tonight. Why didn’t you just leave from the baths?”

“
Later. I need to talk with you before I go.” Thaddeus explained the morning meetings and what he’d done. After his father asked a few questions, Thaddeus looked at him questioningly. “Do you support what I did?”

“
Of course I do. My friends and I have discussed the new law, too. We also came to the conclusion that it wasn’t possible to enforce such nonsense on private homes and small businesses. The entire city would revolt.”

Thaddeus felt as if he could breathe again. As sure as he’d been of his position, his father’s disapproval would have been crushing. “Thank you, Father. I feared you would be furious with me.”

“
Not over that.” Paulinus looked directly into his son’s eyes. “But explain to me now why you left Skaia chained so uncomfortably on the damn floor. After what we discussed at breakfast.”

Thaddeus blinked several times before he could answer. “He was already there when we had breakfast. I loosed him when I returned.”

“
Good.” Paulinus’ relief was obvious. “I would have done it myself if I could have found the damn key.”

Thaddeus nodded slowly. “He didn’t tell me you’d been there.”

“
I’m sure he was too afraid you’d punish him.”

“
It was hardly his fault that you checked on him. But I regret that you worry so much about what I do. I thought you trusted me to handle the slave.”

“
Of course I trust you, Thaddeus. I would never have turned over the running of this
household
to you if I hadn’t. And I was in agreement with what you wanted to accomplish with Skaia. To make it impossible for Glaucus to consider him the same innocent boy he left. But I am disturbed by such harsh punishments. The beatings I may understand, but now I find you actually chain him in your room.”

“
He’s not usually chained, Father. I only did it because he asked about Glaucus this morning.” Thaddeus stood to go. “I need to get ready for the baths.” He looked back one more time before opening his father’s door. “At dinner, I will try to convince Antius and Flavius to follow our example.”

Paulinus nodded and let him go. Matters concerning Rome—and his family—must always come first. But he was already determined to continue the conversation about Skaia in the future.

Skaia changed the bed and picked up Thaddeus’ discarded clothing before he scrubbed the floor. He ignored the growling in his stomach and wondered what Thaddeus meant.
Are you up to a night with my friends?
Perhaps he had invited Antius and Flavius to dinner again. Skaia’s hands clenched on the cloth he held as he thought they would fuck his ass, too. Like Thaddeus had last night. But he knew very well he could not stop it and he tried to fight down his almost overwhelming dread. He lit just two of the small oil lamps before he went reluctantly to his cushion in the corner and knelt.

Thaddeus came in and glared at him. “Why the fuck didn’t you tell me my father was here? Get your ass up and light some candles so I can see.”

Skaia wanted to scream back at Thaddeus, but even Glaucus would have punished him for such audacity. He got up quickly to do what he was told and reluctantly walked to Thaddeus, who had taken a seat at his desk. “I… I didn’t know your father was here, sir,” he barely whispered. “When the door opened, I shut my eyes. I don’t know who came in. I’m sorry, sir.”

Thaddeus did not reply, but a smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Just like Skaia to try to hide by closing his eyes.
“Undress,” he ordered abruptly. “Show me your back.” Thaddeus stood when Skaia had obeyed, in order to look closer. He ran his fingers across some of the scars and felt Skaia tremble under his hands. The boy’s back was certainly no excuse not to take him and Thaddeus felt a bit like a fool. But his decision was made.

“
You will not come with me tonight. I’ll tell my friends you were in too much pain.” Thaddeus walked to the cabinet where his tunics were kept. “I originally promised Antius I would bring you to his dinner,” he explained as he selected one of his finer tunics and turned to grin at Skaia. “I told him you would help teach his new slave girl how to swallow.”

Skaia froze for only a moment before he hurried toward Thaddeus. “Do you wish my help to change your clothes, Master?”

Thaddeus’ grin disappeared when Skaia remained so composed. “Aren’t you grateful, Skaia?” he pressed.

Skaia raised his head and met Thaddeus’ eyes directly. “I would do whatever you wanted, Master. I would never disobey you, sir.” He hoped he had not given away his relief.
I did the best I could, Castor.

Thaddeus said nothing, just held out his arms for Skaia to release his belt. And as Skaia pulled the new tunic over his shoulders and attached a different belt, Thaddeus began to wonder if he was the one most grateful to have an excuse to leave the boy behind.
Only for my father,
he told himself.
This slave is not Thane.

Skaia relaxed when Thaddeus left. He had no idea why the man had decided on such a course, but he was indeed very grateful. He was hovering over his pallet, wondering what to do with it, when Castor opened the door. Holding a plate.

“
Why…”

Castor interrupted Skaia before he could get the question out. “Thaddeus said he heard your stomach growling. He told me to bring you some dinner.” He sat on one of the benches close to the desk and motioned Skaia to take the other before he handed him the plate. “Why didn’t you say anything earlier, Skaia, when you were in the kitchen this afternoon?”

“
I couldn’t, sir.” Skaia refused to discuss how embarrassed he’d been, and started to eat. When he looked up, he spoke softly. “Master Thaddeus was very kind to me, sir.”

“
Yes, he was,” Castor agreed. “You must have done something to assuage his anger.”

Skaia shook his head. “I… I just agreed to do anything he wanted, sir. Like you told me.”

“
Good, it will save your back,” Castor said, smiling as he stood to leave. “Do you need anything else?”

Several things… A fresh pallet was the most important, but another matter had preyed on his mind. “Please, sir. Can you please tell me what has happened to Menion, sir? Was… was he sold?”

Castor sat again. “I’m not supposed to say. But, yes—Menion was sold.” Even at Skaia’s obvious grief, Castor still hesitated. When the boy remained silent, his eyes focused on the floor, Castor told the rest of the tale. “He was sold to a wealthy Greek he knew, who had been searching for him. When the man discovered he was with Thaddeus, he wrote asking to purchase him. Thaddeus made sure Menion was content to go—the old Greek intended to reunite him with his family.”

“
So he went home?”

Castor nodded. “Of course. Thaddeus would never have sold him off just for money.” Skaia’s face broke into a smile and Castor quickly added, “Please do not let Thaddeus know I told you.”

Skaia nodded gratefully. “I would never betray your trust, sir. But… but why would Master Thaddeus want such good news kept secret?”

“
Believe it or not,” Castor smiled while he shook his head, “there has been some unhappiness among the other slaves at the way you’ve been treated. I’ve had to punish Gotus three times just this week. Thaddeus noticed blood on his tunic and questioned me.”