Skaia (34 page)

“
Thank you, but it was Skaia’s idea. The boy is quite talented.”

Thaddeus glanced in Skaia’s direction, annoyed to see him act so cowed. “So I see,” he said to his father. “If you’re done with him, he needs to get cleaned up now, and ready to serve dinner.”

Paulinus gave his approval, turning to Skaia. “You can go now, boy. Come back when you can.” Skaia bowed to them both, and hurried to the washroom.

Thaddeus sat beside his father for a few more minutes, listening to his plans for the new garden and his worry for Lucius. Then he helped his father up, and gave him his arm as they walked to the dining room. Before they arrived, Paulinus questioned him about his granddaughter. “Did you talk to Dia?”

“
I did, Father. She’s joining us again tonight and she’s promised to behave better.”

Paulinus nodded thoughtfully. “I hope it helps,” he said, taking a seat upon his couch and greeting Thaddia happily when she arrived, the three of them talking about the horses Thaddeus had seen that morning.

“
Only geldings, Father?” Thaddia questioned. “For the farms? I thought you would get me a pony and cart for my birthday.”

“
In the summer, Dia. I didn’t say you’d have a pony for your birthday. And when it happens, you will be getting a gelded pony.”

Thaddeus laughed when she frowned. “It is appropriate for a young lady,” he teased. “In Umbria, you will be taught to drive the cart. I would be afraid to walk the streets of Rome if you were driving now.”

Skaia had come in while they were talking, and he hurried to pass out the drinks when he realized they had been waiting. On this occasion, Thaddia took her fruit juice without comment.

By the time Skaia accepted the platters of food from Gotus, Thaddeus had begun talking to his father about the young eunuch he had met in the afternoon. Though he had not intended that Thaddia be included in this particular conversation, she was fascinated, and plied her father with questions. Skaia was offering the platter, when Thaddia gripped his arm. He was so panicked that he almost dropped it, and was not comforted by her next words. “Perhaps you should cut this one, Father, and keep him from growing into a man.”

Thaddeus extricated him by asking for more wine. He noticed that Skaia’s arm was shaking as he poured, and he braced the boy’s elbow to steady him. “He’s too old, already, Dia, and he’d probably die.” He sent Skaia away from their couches, telling him to get more washing water, and glared at Thaddia.

Thaddia paused until Skaia was gone. “I don’t understand,” she said quietly. “Why would he die? Does he have big balls, Father?”

“
Big enough. And I see no reason to cut him.”

Thaddia laughed. “But if he were cut, then he could be my slave. I’m sure Glaucus would give him to me if I asked.”

Paulinus shook his head adamantly. “You’ll be getting a lady’s maid, Thaddia,” he insisted, his tone not allowing room for argument. He glanced to Thaddeus, and back to his granddaughter. “And there is no need to embarrass that boy. The slave has feelings, too.”

Thaddia looked at her grandfather in surprise. “But father was talking about eunuchs. Am I supposed to ignore what you discuss?”

“
You’re right, Dia,” Thaddeus said with a sigh. “I brought up an inappropriate subject. But a Roman does not intentionally hurt his slaves for no reason.”

“
My friends do,” she protested. “Everyone is amused by a slave’s pain. That’s why the contests at the arenas are so popular. Besides, you hurt Skaia.” She stopped talking and just looked at her father, waiting for his reply.

Paulinus intervened and tried to lighten the mood. “Perhaps, when you marry, Dia, your husband will give you a eunuch. I’ve heard they are becoming very popular in households with young women.”

Thaddia smiled, and the talk turned to marriage, both for her and for Glaucus.

Skaia returned with a bowl of warm water and towels, presenting them in turn to each person. He listened as best he could to their conversation, trying not to be obvious. It had not occurred to him that Glaucus might marry soon. But soon was still years away.
Surely…
Glaucus would not even be home for over a year.

When the meal was over, Thaddeus helped his father back to his room. Thaddia watched them go and then approached Skaia, who was waiting for her to leave before he started to clear dishes. “I’m sorry for what I did to you the other night. I was angry with father and I took it out on you.” She cocked her head. “Did father punish you for it?”

Skaia glanced at her for just a moment, before lowering his eyes again. She had never spoken to him directly before and he felt very awkward, as well as frightened. “No, Mistress. He just whipped me for what I’d done earlier. Thank you, Mistress.”

Thaddia touched his arm and smiled. “I’m glad for that. Father was quite angry with me.”

Angry at you?
Skaia was very aware of her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry I was the cause of problems, Mistress,” he managed to get out.

Patting his arm a final time, proud of herself for apologizing, and satisfied with the slave’s response, Thaddia smiled happily as she left for her own rooms.

Skaia gathered up the dishes and platters and returned them to the kitchen. He wondered if Thaddeus had made his daughter apologize. It seemed unlikely, and yet…

As he scraped the uneaten food into the common pot, he began to think of eunuchs. He knew what they were—Glaucus had told him of ones he encountered in the brothels. He thought it would make little difference in his life if he were castrated. Except to make it easier to bear Thaddeus’ restrictions. To prevent another foolish scene like this morning, when his need had been so great and his gratitude to Thaddeus so immense. Yet—the very idea seemed abhorrent to him…

Skaia took a deep breath when he left the kitchen, once again needing to work up his courage to return to Thaddeus.

XI

After Skaia walked through the small antechamber, he found Thaddeus seated at his desk, looking through a stack of papers. His master paused briefly to look up, but quickly turned his attention back to the reports of the latest harvest.

Skaia waited only a moment and, when he wasn’t acknowledged, went to his corner gratefully and knelt. After a while, Thaddeus rubbed his eyes and looked in his direction. “Come here,” he ordered. When Skaia was near, he held out a piece of paper. “Can you read this?”

Looking down at the ledger page, Skaia quickly took in what it was. “Yes sir,” he answered, and then looked at Thaddeus questioningly.

“
My eyes are hurting,” he admitted. “I need more light these days to make out such scribbling. I’m going to rest in bed until my bath is prepared. I want you to read out the name of the crop to me. Tell me how much was sold, and at what price. Try the first one, so I can be sure you can do it.”

When he was satisfied with the boy’s ability, Thaddeus moved to the bedroom, removed his rough outer tunic, and lay down while Skaia took his seat at the desk and read the information he wanted.

It was a long list, and many of the names were unfamiliar to Skaia. He mispronounced several of them, and had to repeat them back when Thaddeus called out corrections.

He had just finished, and was putting the papers back on the desk, when Gotus came into the room from the small hallway to announce that the bathing pool was ready. He and Skaia exchanged glances, but neither spoke. Skaia waited until he was gone before looking at Thaddeus, still lying on the bed. “Do you wish anything else of me, sir?”

Thaddeus shifted to look at him. “Light all the lamps in the bathing chamber if Gotus didn’t already, and draw the curtains. Let me know when you’re done.”

When Skaia returned, he spoke softly. “Everything is prepared as you requested, sir.” Thaddeus rose and walked past him without a word, and, after only a moment’s hesitation, Skaia followed behind him.

As soon as Thaddeus started to pull off his soft, light inner tunic, Skaia hurried to assist him; and then untied his loincloth as well. Thaddeus paused to look at the boy critically before he sat on the bench and extended his long, muscular legs. “Remove my shoes,” he commanded coldly.

I was going to,
Skaia thought angrily. I
know how to undress you!
He knelt between the man’s legs, refusing to look at his groin, and carefully released the laces that ran to Thaddeus’ calves. With the shoes off, Thaddeus moved forward and stepped into the water. Skaia watched as his master moved to the deepest part of the pool and dunked his head several times.

When Thaddeus settled on one of the rounded steps, he sprawled and seemed to relax comfortably, occasionally flexing his arms and legs. Skaia began to wonder if he would sleep, but suddenly Thaddeus looked up. “Undress and join me.” The command was at least partially expected, and Skaia obeyed easily, looking forward to this rare opportunity to clean himself so thoroughly.

When several minutes passed, and Thaddeus only lay quietly in the water, Skaia felt at ease enough to approach him. “Master, may I speak?” he asked very softly.

Thaddeus looked at him and arched a brow. “That’s ten lashes.”

Skaia sat back, silent. At
this rate, my back will never heal.
He wondered if he was capable of going a full day without earning a whipping.
At least Thaddeus doesn’t always deliver on what I’ve earned.
Still, Skaia remained tense, his heart beating rapidly, even after several minutes had lapsed, and he heard Thaddeus sigh.

Eventually, though, Thaddeus looked at him. “What is it you want to talk about?”

“
Master Glaucus, sir.” He saw the expected anger pass over Thaddeus’ features and added quickly, “I only want to know if he is in danger. I won’t ask anything else, sir. I promise.”

Thaddeus stared at him coldly. “I told you explicitly not to mention his name again. Sometimes you are very foolish, Skaia. That’s twenty lashes now.” Thaddeus looked off toward the window sullenly, before turning to the boy again. “Besides, what makes you think I would send my son into danger?”

“
I didn’t, sir. But the… the slaves at the bath before, where I was chained…” Skaia stammered, “they were talking about the fighting and thought… they thought Pompey might be… dangerous.”

Of course the slaves would talk, without any real knowledge.
And now Thaddeus could understand why Skaia was concerned. “What do you know of the war?” he asked abruptly.

“
Only… only that Caesar has pursued Pompey into Greece, and that he seems disadvantaged. But, sir…” Skaia hesitated, not sure how to voice his worry. “Neither side would hurt students, would they?”

“
That is to be hoped. Although,” Thaddeus pointed out, “my son and the other young men have received the toga virilis—in the eyes of the world, they are men now and no longer just students.” When Skaia remained silent, and obviously still anxious, Thaddeus continued. “If either Caesar or Pompey will take a decisive victory, then the danger will definitely be over.”

Skaia’s mind raced, trying to fit together the comments he’d heard over the months. “Do you hope that Mark Anthony will go to Caesar’s aid, sir?”

“
Yes and no.” Thaddeus eyed Skaia again, wondering why he was explaining such things to a slave. “Caesar’s successful bid for power will be the end of the Republic. He is sly, and not so easily defeated as my friends seem to think. Pompey has made no headway against him. Perhaps if Anthony’s forces join Caesar, he may make a quick end to the war. And peace may be the best alternative we have now.”

Skaia nodded thoughtfully. He had become aware of the problems in Rome when Glaucus and the household slaves talked of them. Usually such things did not affect him in any way, and so he let them pass without thought. But, if Glaucus was in danger because of them, they suddenly did matter. Roman troops under Caesar had destroyed Skaia’s home, and his life.
I should hate the man,
he thought. But, after all these years, the only thing that mattered to him was Glaucus.
And this home I have now.
“
How would Caesar’s victory affect you?  I don’t understand, sir.”