you’ve been told.” He knew Skaia was much better with their language after his time with Carden. He could only hope the child understood enough. There was no more time for him to learn.
Taking Skaia to the side of the atrium, and at a nod from Thaddeus, Castor pushed him forward.
Skaia focused all of his attention on Thaddeus, and walked straight to him, kneeling at his feet. Thaddeus hooked a length of chain to his collar, and called Glaucus from his grandfather. When his son was near, Thaddeus handed him the chain. Skaia shifted his body to face the youngster, and bowed his head to the floor. He heard Glaucus giggle. And then Thaddeus telling his son to allow his slave to rise.
The young boy flicked the chain in his hand, causing it to strike Skaia’s lip. Skaia only winced slightly, but otherwise did not move. Castor and Paulinus had both stressed to him that he must remain still and silent until Glaucus gave him permission to get up. Thaddeus was whispering to his son, and soon after, Skaia heard a young voice say, “You may stand.”
Skaia rose to his feet, and dared a quick glance at his new master. It was the boy from the atrium standing before him. Dark haired, smaller than he was. The child’s arm extended and Skaia felt fingers touch his lip. He was terrified to move, or even look up.
“ Father, I hurt him,” Glaucus was saying. Then his words were addressed to Skaia. “I’m sorry, slave boy. I didn’t mean to make you bleed.”
This was certainly not what had been rehearsed, and Skaia lifted his eyes very slowly. “I be well, Master,” he said softly.
Glaucus giggled again and climbed on his father’s knee. “He talks funny.”
“ That’s because he’s a barbarian, Glaucus. Take him to your grandfather, now. You can fetch him later. And then he’ll stay with you forever.”
Glaucus skipped away merrily and handed Skaia’s chain to Paulinus who was sitting just to the side. Paulinus hugged his grandson and kissed his forehead. “You did well, Glaucus. Go back to your party now, and I will look after your slave.”
Skaia watched as the young boy ran back to his father and then he looked down at Paulinus. “Kneel at my side, Skaia,” the older man instructed him, and Skaia obeyed immediately. A few minutes later, Paulinus handed Skaia a cloth that had been dipped in water. “Wipe your lip. You’re still bleeding.”
Taking the cloth, Skaia wiped away the blood. It was just a small cut. It didn’t hurt; not nearly as much as what Thaddeus had done to him. He handed the cloth back. “Thank you, sir.” He felt Paulinus’ hand rest on his head and at first, he tensed. But as nothing bad happened, he shifted into it, thankful for the reassuring touch.
Soon, it was time for games, and Skaia saw Thaddia for the first time. A pretty girl, who looked much like her brother. Crassus was not present.
When Skaia felt sure no one was watching him, he shifted his weight to relieve the ache in his knees.
“ Uncomfortable?” Paulinus asked.
“ Just little, sir. I sorry.”
Skaia felt something push at his mouth, and turned his head. “Just a bit of food, boy,” Paulinus assured him. “No need to be afraid.” Skaia remembered the old master saying that before, and he opened his mouth to take what was offered.
Paulinus continued to feed him periodically throughout the party. But, finally, he wanted to go back to his rooms, and called Lucius to help him. Skaia looked up to watch them, and Paulinus smiled at him. “Just stay here. Glaucus will collect you, sooner or later.”
As the sun was setting and the huge outdoor room darkened, Skaia felt hidden and he shifted his weight again as he looked up to watch what was happening. Thaddeus was playing with his children, and laughing. Skaia felt a lump in his throat and tears threatened his eyes. The scene playing out before him reminded him of his last birthday. He remembered his family that day, everyone laughing together. He had
Taking Skaia to the side of the atrium, and at a nod from Thaddeus, Castor pushed him forward.
Skaia focused all of his attention on Thaddeus, and walked straight to him, kneeling at his feet. Thaddeus hooked a length of chain to his collar, and called Glaucus from his grandfather. When his son was near, Thaddeus handed him the chain. Skaia shifted his body to face the youngster, and bowed his head to the floor. He heard Glaucus giggle. And then Thaddeus telling his son to allow his slave to rise.
The young boy flicked the chain in his hand, causing it to strike Skaia’s lip. Skaia only winced slightly, but otherwise did not move. Castor and Paulinus had both stressed to him that he must remain still and silent until Glaucus gave him permission to get up. Thaddeus was whispering to his son, and soon after, Skaia heard a young voice say, “You may stand.”
Skaia rose to his feet, and dared a quick glance at his new master. It was the boy from the atrium standing before him. Dark haired, smaller than he was. The child’s arm extended and Skaia felt fingers touch his lip. He was terrified to move, or even look up.
“ Father, I hurt him,” Glaucus was saying. Then his words were addressed to Skaia. “I’m sorry, slave boy. I didn’t mean to make you bleed.”
This was certainly not what had been rehearsed, and Skaia lifted his eyes very slowly. “I be well, Master,” he said softly.
Glaucus giggled again and climbed on his father’s knee. “He talks funny.”
“ That’s because he’s a barbarian, Glaucus. Take him to your grandfather, now. You can fetch him later. And then he’ll stay with you forever.”
Glaucus skipped away merrily and handed Skaia’s chain to Paulinus who was sitting just to the side. Paulinus hugged his grandson and kissed his forehead. “You did well, Glaucus. Go back to your party now, and I will look after your slave.”
Skaia watched as the young boy ran back to his father and then he looked down at Paulinus. “Kneel at my side, Skaia,” the older man instructed him, and Skaia obeyed immediately. A few minutes later, Paulinus handed Skaia a cloth that had been dipped in water. “Wipe your lip. You’re still bleeding.”
Taking the cloth, Skaia wiped away the blood. It was just a small cut. It didn’t hurt; not nearly as much as what Thaddeus had done to him. He handed the cloth back. “Thank you, sir.” He felt Paulinus’ hand rest on his head and at first, he tensed. But as nothing bad happened, he shifted into it, thankful for the reassuring touch.
Soon, it was time for games, and Skaia saw Thaddia for the first time. A pretty girl, who looked much like her brother. Crassus was not present.
When Skaia felt sure no one was watching him, he shifted his weight to relieve the ache in his knees.
“ Uncomfortable?” Paulinus asked.
“ Just little, sir. I sorry.”
Skaia felt something push at his mouth, and turned his head. “Just a bit of food, boy,” Paulinus assured him. “No need to be afraid.” Skaia remembered the old master saying that before, and he opened his mouth to take what was offered.
Paulinus continued to feed him periodically throughout the party. But, finally, he wanted to go back to his rooms, and called Lucius to help him. Skaia looked up to watch them, and Paulinus smiled at him. “Just stay here. Glaucus will collect you, sooner or later.”
As the sun was setting and the huge outdoor room darkened, Skaia felt hidden and he shifted his weight again as he looked up to watch what was happening. Thaddeus was playing with his children, and laughing. Skaia felt a lump in his throat and tears threatened his eyes. The scene playing out before him reminded him of his last birthday. He remembered his family that day, everyone laughing together. He had
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