Skaia (63 page)

“
How do we compare to your other masters?” Glaucus asked.

There was no hesitation. “You and your friends have been wonderful, Master Glaucus. You never hurt me just for your own pleasure when we have sex. I am usually fed regularly. And you let me bathe.”

“
We hardly sound wonderful, Nicea,” Glaucus laughed. “And, we let you bathe because we don’t wish to dirty ourselves.”

Nicea said nothing, not willing to talk more of his past. But when Glaucus urged him to ask questions of his own, he finally did. “What is your home like, sir?”

Explaining the way it was when he’d left, Glaucus admitted he knew little of the additions that had been added in his absence. That led to Nicea asking questions about Glaucus’ upcoming marriage, and then what he would do when he got home.

When Glaucus said he would be traveling to outer provinces, Nicea asked questions about them. Laughing, Glaucus replied, “I will be learning as I go, hopefully learning the answers to your questions.”

“
Will I travel with you, sir?”

Glaucus had not considered it. Since his father asked for Nicea, his assumption had been the boy would go to him. But… maybe… Nicea was submissive and well trained—and very adept at traveling.
More proficient than Skaia
. “Do you want to?” he asked.

“
I will do whatever you say, sir,” Nicea responded automatically.

“
I know that. But do you think you would
like
to travel like this?”

This time, Nicea thought for a moment before answering. “I would like to see these strange places you will go to, sir. But, you already have a personal slave at home. Will you not take him?”

“
I don’t know. Skaia does not have the skills you do. And my father took him when I left. The bond I shared with Skaia may be gone.”

“
Bond, sir? You care for this slave?” Nicea asked, slightly confused.

“
You wouldn’t understand, Nicea. I grew up with Skaia. He was my friend, as well as my slave.” Glaucus turned his back on Nicea at that point.

Nicea whispered softly. “I’m sorry, sir, if I spoke out of turn.” Glaucus said nothing in return, just pulled the blanket tighter, and tried to sleep. Nicea pondered their conversation, and cursed himself for speaking and asking questions. It took a very long time for him to relax enough to sleep.

Skaia was getting better. He had asked to resume his work in the gardens, and occasionally would even freely volunteer information about what he’d done. Thaddeus would always pay attention, and encouraged him to talk more. Just this week, he had asked Skaia to go to the baths with him, and the boy had agreed. Once there, he’d even spoken to Thaddeus’ friends, when he was addressed.

One afternoon, in the lounge chamber, Flavius shared exciting news. The appointments had been approved by the Senate for both Bessus and Glaucus. Antius announced his own good news, that the marriage contract had been signed with Marcus Renius. His son’s engagement to Marcia would be celebrated shortly after his arrival back in Rome.

Thaddeus called Skaia to him when he spoke of Glaucus’ marriage contract to Gallia. Their engagement was also to be celebrated soon after he was home. He took hold of Skaia’s hand when he was through talking, and looked at his face, pleased to see that the boy did not appear to be overly upset. Antius and Flavius noticed Thaddeus’ action, but did not comment. By now, they knew of their friend’s affection for the slave, and accepted it.

On their way home, Thaddeus walked with Skaia through the forum. It was bustling, as it always was this time of day. “Would you like to see the Temple of Jupiter?”

Skaia looked up at him. “I thought slaves were not allowed there.”

“
Not inside,” Thaddeus agreed. “But it’s impressive from the outside, too. Come.”

They walked together up the grand road that approached the complex at the side of the Capitoline Hill. It overlooked everything else in the forum. “This is where Caesar always came in his triumphs. He and all his generals would stop to worship Jupiter, before going to the Senate,” Thaddeus explained.

After he had sent the captives to the slave markets,
Skaia thought, determined not to be impressed by the place. But he was. Huge carved friezes adorned all three of the buildings. Massive marble columns supported the structures. The gardens were formal, which were not to Skaia’s tastes, but beautifully done. He could see that there were several slaves attending them, even at this hour.

Thaddeus waited for the boy to take it all in before he led the way back to the forum. “Look around,” he instructed, “and let me know if you see anything you want. Just don’t lose track of me,” he told Skaia, gripping his arm as they were pushed and jostled.

Skaia looked up. “Master, I think we need to choose somewhere to meet, sir. I don’t think I will be able to find you so easily if I look around on my own.”

Grinning, Thaddeus tousled the boy’s hair. “You’re right. How about over there, by the steps?” he suggested, pointing. “I want to look around, too. But I’ll check for you.”

“
Yes, Master. Thank you.”

Thaddeus watched Skaia, as he walked through the crowds. Even without a collar, Thaddeus thought his clothing still clearly marked him as a slave. Yet he continued to draw admiring looks, and occasionally hands would reach out to touch him. Thaddeus saw the boy flinch, and started to go after him several times, but stopped himself. Skaia was handling things on his own, and would only be more humiliated by his interference. Nonetheless, Thaddeus was distressed—and suddenly determined to find some way to protect Skaia, when he was in public places.

He thought of it as he wandered, and then noticed a beautiful young woman with a wide bronze collar about her neck. She was laughing as she looked through fabric goods, constantly unrolling bolts and then setting them aside. Thaddeus moved closer until he could read the inscription on her collar.
Rainus House.
When she left the stall, Thaddeus moved in to question the slave that ran it.

“
Do you know that girl?”

He was just a youngster, chained in place. And obviously intimidated by Thaddeus leaning over him. “Ye… yes, sir,” he stammered. “Ma… Marci. Sh… she belongs to Ma… Master Rainus.”

Thaddeus deliberately softened his voice. “Does her master allow her to roam freely in the market?”

“
Yes, sir. Ev… everyone knows Rainus. H… he would kill anyone who bo… bothered her.”

Interesting.
Thaddeus slipped the youngster a coin. And began to notice other collared slaves on the streets. Most of them were young women, though there was the occasional boy. There was some sort of engraving on each collar. A name—no doubt of the owner.

How did I miss these before?
Thaddeus wondered.

He finally pulled an older male slave aside. “Forgive me, please. I do not mean to keep you.” The collar read,
Property of Marcus Portius Cato
, and Thaddeus released him immediately. Cato had become a dangerous man, one not to be trifled with for any reason. “I’m sorry,” Thaddeus murmured, and stepped into the crowd.

The slave walked away confidently, without looking back, and Thaddeus breathed easier.
Not an enemy I want to make.

For some time he wandered aimlessly, and eventually found himself at the jeweler’s stall—the very one where he’d bought Skaia’s earring.

The owner approached him immediately. “Where is your lovely boy today, great sir? Surely you haven’t sold him already?”

Thaddeus looked at the man, and mentally shook himself to get Cato out of his mind. “No, of course not.”

The little man smiled conspiratorially. “Another trinket, perhaps?” He waved his hand over a selection of small items.

Thaddeus looked where the man suggested, after the trader had left to attend another customer, but he quickly shifted his attention to the selection of collars and necklaces.
I should have bought Thaddia’s necklace from a nicer shop,
he thought. Though she had liked it. Or said she did.

He was about to leave when he spied a ring. A thin silver band, with just a small polished stone of lapis lazuli. Like the earring. Thaddeus handled it, and could not get it even over the knuckle of his little finger. He looked at the quality, comparing it to his own, heavier, ring.
Nothing I would wear.
But appropriate for a slave.

The owner returned. This time his gaze was straight-forward. “I saw you looking at the collars, sir. If you are interested, may I ask what would be its purpose?”

Thaddeus hardly wanted to talk with this man. But neither did he want to talk to the owners of better businesses, where he might be recognized, or where word might spread of his intentions. “I noticed several slaves today with special collars, bearing the names of their owners,” he ventured.

The man was quiet for a moment. “Do you seek to protect your boy from unwanted attentions? If he’s walking around freely, I’m sure there are many who will think him a prostitute.”

Gods…
Thaddeus nodded.

The man reached beneath his counter for a large tray sporting a variety of collars. “You may take them behind the curtain, sir, to examine them in private if you wish.”

Shaking his head, refusing to hide, Thaddeus looked through the assortment. Some were heavy, and these he set aside immediately, as well as those too small to carry an inscription. Two he held up and compared. Both were in the same shiny silver finish as Skaia’s earring, and each set with small lapis lazuli stones. One was solid, with a swinging hinge, and Thaddeus quickly decided against it as it looked too much like the one Skaia had worn with Scipio, and would be too likely to bring back unpleasant memories.

Which left,
this.
Chains, made up of rectangular ringlets that were in no way feminine. The chains held on to a rectangular plaque in the front which could be inscribed. There was a latch at the back that could be locked in place.

After a moment’s thought, Thaddeus motioned the stall-man over. “I want it imprinted.”

Property of Gaius Thaddeus Suetonius.

By the time he was finished giving his instructions, Thaddeus was sure he was late, and he hurried to the steps where Skaia was already waiting. A rough looking, tall man, who was propositioning Skaia, was startled to be interrupted. He quickly stepped away when he realized he faced the slave boy’s owner—who was most definitely not a pimp.

“
Are you alright?” Thaddeus asked.

Skaia looked at him gratefully. “I… I’m fine. Thank you, Master.”

“
Are you sure?”

This time Skaia grinned at the concern. “I’m fine,” he said confidently.