Skaia (6 page)

But he pushed the thought away and got back in the pool, rinsing himself of the oil. “I changed my mind,” he said abruptly when he stepped out again. “Get the towels and rub me dry.” He saw the relief on the young face and smiled.
Another day,
he thought.
When you are older. If Glaucus doesn’t object by then.

Skaia practically ran to the bench with the towels and brought them to Thaddeus. He knelt to rub the soft fabric on the man’s legs and buttocks, and watched Thaddeus dry his own chest and back. Hesitantly, the boy moved to the front of the master’s body, and very, very carefully dried the erect cock and swollen balls.

When the boy was done with wiping him, Thaddeus wrapped a towel around his hips and, without saying a word, he walked back toward the bedroom.

Looking around the bathing room, Skaia wondered if he was expected to clean it, but Thaddeus was calling him impatiently. Picking up his discarded tunic, Skaia quickly followed.

Once back in the bedroom, Thaddeus motioned him closer, took away his tunic and stared openly at the youngster. Then he pulled off his own towel, and wiped Skaia’s body dry. “Get in bed.”

Skaia looked up at him, thinking he had misunderstood, hoping he did. But in the next moment, Thaddeus made it clear, pulling the boy forward abruptly and pushing him towards the bed. Skaia climbed in, feeling himself tremble.
Would Thaddeus do what the men in the pictures did… push his penis in him?
“Master, please no hurt me,” he begged.

Thaddeus looked down and frowned. “Obey me.”

Lying still, Skaia waited. He was as afraid now as he had ever been. He had seen his mother and father. They came together and joined, but his father had told him only males and females did such things. Skaia knew females were different. He had often watched the animals mate and knew the females had a passage for the males to enter them, and they bore their young from the same place.

But males did not have such a thing. In the pictures, men seemed to enter boys between their buttocks. He started to shake when Thaddeus climbed onto the bed, and fought not to cry. Thaddeus paid his distress no mind and stroked his body, pausing to pinch the tiny nipples to hardness. More time was spent lower, as Thaddeus handled the small penis and ball sac.

Skaia was amazed to discover that it was not unpleasant, that he actually enjoyed these strange sensations coursing through him. Still, he was afraid and wanted it all to stop. “No, please, please no,” he whispered.

Thaddeus pulled back, surprising them both. “Turn over.”

The small boy obeyed, sure now that his master intended to enter him like the pictures showed. He pulled the bed coverings to his mouth to cover his cries if it should hurt.

Thaddeus’ hands rubbed the raw marks on the little slave’s back, and Skaia flinched. Then the master’s hands went to his buttocks where they stroked gently, and did not hurt him. Gradually, Skaia relaxed. He did not even notice at first when Thaddeus’ fingers crept between his cheeks, but soon enough he was aware of the pressure against his opening. Every instinct was to escape and he whimpered slightly, but he was determined to remain obedient, and not anger Thaddeus again.
To not be whipped again.

Hearing the low sound, Thaddeus left Skaia’ soft cleft, refraining from actually entering the small body. He felt a little embarrassed by his hesitancy, but as he had told Antius, such a child did not appeal to him. Young men, certainly. Even very young men. But not children.
And,
he reminded himself,
this boy was intended for his son…
Glaucus should be the one to take his slave’s virginity.

He pushed Skaia to lie on his back again and began to stroke the child’s smooth chest. “Do you know, boy, that Castor is your master as well as me?”

Skaia lifted his head, puzzled. “Not understand. Castor slave, too.”

Shifting to lean over the youngster, Thaddeus said sternly, “He still has power over you.”

Skaia cringed and dropped his head back on the bed, wanting to be as far away as possible from the threat that Thaddeus had suddenly become. He understood almost nothing. And words tumbled from his mouth, in his own language. Apologies, begging for more information.

Thaddeus frowned as the child babbled incoherently. “Are you cursing me, you little fool?”

Tears filled Skaia’s blue eyes. “No understand. Please—no understand.”

Thaddeus lay back, staring at the ceiling, as the truth occurred to him. The slave was simply speaking in his own barbaric tongue. And Castor had assumed the harsh, guttural sounds were curses. “Do not speak in your own language again. We do not understand you.”

“
Yes, Master.”

“
Get dressed and return to Castor.”

The boy got up immediately, grateful for the reprieve, and pulled his tunic on quickly. As usual, he had not understood completely, but he knew to put his clothes on and thought he must go to Castor. It was enough. He could escape.

“
Thank you, Master,” he whispered and turned to leave before Thaddeus could change his mind.

“
Skaia,” Thaddeus called out just as the youngster got to the sitting room. “Tell Castor to send Meera to me.”

“
Yes, Master.” Skaia did not look back, but stopped at the doorway to the antechamber and spoke again, very softly. “You wish anything else me?” Castor had told him to always ask that before leaving a room, and he had almost forgotten.

Thaddeus smiled. And realized he did have one more question. “How did you know to ask me to let you die?”

The boy turned to face him. He thought he understood and tried to answer. “Other slaves say at dinner. I listen them.”

Thaddeus nodded. He had never tried to censor what his household discussed. Other Romans did, but his father had convinced him that to try would only engender unnecessary hostility. “Nothing else now,” he finally said. “Just have Meera sent to me.”

“
Yes, Master.” Skaia hurried through the other rooms and left.

Relaxing back quietly on the bed, Thaddeus stroked his cock almost absently as he waited for Meera. It occurred to him that he would have to seek more instruction for this boy to learn their language. Glaucus could certainly not be expected to deal with such ignorance.

Skaia remembered the way back to the kitchen and made his way quickly, without taking time to look at the pictures again. Castor wasn’t there, but one of the older kitchen women was. “Excuse,” he said softly. “Need Castor.”

She looked at him curiously, and pointed to a doorway. “In there.”

Nodding, Skaia entered the room, tapping lightly on the wooden frame of the door. Castor looked up from where he sat at a small desk. “Ah, I’m glad to see you’ve returned. I didn’t think he would keep you, but one never knows.” It was obvious to him that Skaia did not understand. “Do you have something to tell me?”

“
Master want Mera.”

Castor canted his head. “Do you mean
Meera
?”

“
Yes, sir. I sorry. Master want Meera.”

“
Very well. Come with me.”

Skaia was relieved when Castor led the way down the now familiar steps to the underground cells where the slaves slept. There were not as many torches here as in the upstairs halls, but enough that doorways could be seen. Castor stopped at one Skaia did not know, unlocked its latch, then leaned in. “Meera,” he called out. “The master wants you.”

A young woman rose from the floor and walked to the door, naked except for her collar. Skaia dropped his gaze to the floor as he felt himself flush.

“
Now?” she asked irritably. “I already had to entertain his guests.”

“
Of course,
now
. Do you want to be whipped like this child?  Brush your hair and get dressed.” Castor waited until she re-emerged and checked her over. “Drink some juice to freshen your breath, and get your ass to his room.” She huffed for just a moment before she turned to go upstairs.

Castor looked down at Skaia. “Bedtime for you.” The boy bowed his head and followed the man down the hall. When the next door was unlocked, Skaia stepped into the familiar space and looked for his blanket. Castor waited until he was sure the boy was situated before he closed the door, leaving Skaia in the dark with the five other men who slept in the room.

Skaia removed his tunic, just dropping it at his side, not folding it neatly as he usually did. As he lay down and huddled in the blanket, he thought back over the day. He had given in. He had done what these Romans wanted. Shamed, he prayed to The Shining One of his people.
Oh, Belenus. Tell my father I’m sorry. I’m not brave like him.

But he was just a child lost in this strange place, with these strange people. He would hold onto any hope.
Maybe, if I’m good enough,
he thought,
it will not be so bad.
Castor had not seemed so angry after he gave in. And though Master Thaddeus had frightened him tonight, he had not actually hurt him.

He felt tears fill his eyes and tried to choke back his cries. He knew the other men in the room were tired of him now. They had threatened him last night when he cried. Yet in spite of his best efforts, he knew he would do it again. He shoved the blanket into his mouth, determined not to disturb them this time, and when he wept, he thought he was very quiet. But there was a sudden pounding on the door. And someone calling for Castor.

Skaia sat up quickly. “I sorry. I sorry. I stop.”

In just moments, the door opened and Castor looked in. “Again?” he asked.

“
Yes, sir. And you said we should call you.”

Skaia looked toward the open doorway, trying to see who spoke, but he couldn’t; it was too dark. “Skaia, come out,” Castor ordered.

Shaking, the boy got up and walked to Castor. “I sorry.”

Castor pushed him against the wall and lifted the strap he used to discipline the slaves. “Brace yourself with your hands.” When Skaia only looked at him, Castor picked up his small hands and put them on the wall, using the handle on the strap to make him back his feet out. Then he struck Skaia three times, being careful to avoid the existing welts. The boy bit his lip, determined to be strong and make no sound. But he almost slipped to the floor when Castor was done, and barely succeeded in remaining silent.

“
Gotus,” Castor called, and one of the men came out from the small room. “Wrap him in his blanket and hold him tonight.”

Gotus met Castor’s eyes, all the time shaking his head. “Why me? Why do I have to take care of him?”

“
Are you questioning me?” Castor snapped.

“
No, sir,” Gotus sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I’ll do as you say, sir.”