Skaia (25 page)

It distressed him to soil this beautiful place, but he had no way to stop it. He would have cried at the helplessness he felt, but there were other slaves here and he refused to show such weakness before them. He forced himself to be calm and slowly looked around at the others. They were all older than him, some of them much older. They were all looking at him, too, and he lowered his head again.

The others resumed their quiet discussion and Skaia listened. They spoke of Caesar pursuing Pompey into Greece and of who would win. Skaia understood little, but he worried that Glaucus would be in danger.
Stupid,
he told himself. He could do nothing. And, as Gotus had so often told him, worrying never helped anything.

When one of the bath slaves brought someone else to chain to the wall, the young man noticed the blood at Skaia’s foot. “What happened?”

Skaia did not look up. “I got a blister walking here. It burst. I’m sorry.”
I’m sorry—that’s all I ever say,
Skaia thought.
Even here.

The bath boy did not seem upset. There was even a bit of levity in his voice. “Well, we’d best take care of it before you make a bigger mess. I’ll be back with a bandage.”

Skaia watched the man leave, and heard the other slaves talking among themselves. This time about him. “You see, everyone takes care of the pretty ones. Even other slaves.”

There was laughter, and Skaia faced them angrily. “Being pretty is not a blessing for a slave. Even if it means my foot is cared for.”

There was more snickering, but it stopped when the bath slave reappeared. He knelt at Skaia’s feet, cleaned away the blood on the floor and wrapped the injured foot carefully with a soft, clean cloth. “Pay them no mind,” he said softly. “Those of us in this place know that beauty is a curse. Used until it’s gone, and then thrown away.”

Skaia lifted his head to look more closely at the slave. Mid-twenties. Perhaps late twenties. Too old to be a pretty boy much longer and serve as a decoration in this beautiful place. “What will happen to you?” he asked quietly.

Bitterness covered the young man’s face. “I will be sold to one of the city’s poorer brothels or sent to the basements here to stoke the fires that keep the water hot for the baths.” He stood. “It is the natural progression here.” When he left this time, there was no more chatter.

Shortly after, Skaia was unchained and taken to the dressing room. Thaddeus motioned to him impatiently when he stood back. “Make yourself useful. Help me dress.” Skaia worked quickly, and Thaddeus was soon leading the way to another room.

Here there were luxurious couches and tables, and slaves moving around the room serving wine. Everywhere, boys stood naked, waving fans of feathers, creating a gentle breeze. Thaddeus and Antius sat at a table with several other men, and Thaddeus motioned Skaia to kneel before his couch. The talk was again of the new law requiring businesses to use one third freemen instead of slaves. The men were wondering if the costs of the baths would increase. If they were themselves also required to have paid employees in their homes. Most of them laughed at the very suggestion of such a thing.

Antius was the first to speak of hoping Pompey would defeat Caesar and retract the law. Most of the other men agreed, but Thaddeus, Skaia noticed, did not participate in this part of the discussion in any way.

Skaia was afraid to move, or even shift his weight, in front of all these men. His knees were aching when Thaddeus finally indicated it was time to go, and he stood gratefully, although that hurt as well and walking was difficult until his muscles loosened. The trip back to Antius’ home was as long as he remembered, but more comfortable with the cloth wrapped around his foot. He didn’t limp and even dared to look around as they passed through the city.

Once they arrived, Antius suggested that Thaddeus take the litter home, and he agreed. Skaia looked up, hoping Thaddeus would let him ride as well, but no invitation was forthcoming.

After they were back within in the familiar walls of the Sutonius residence, Thaddeus told Skaia to return to his rooms. The slave bowed low as was appropriate, and did not speak. He was more than happy to leave the man’s presence. This trip, for which he’d held such great anticipation, had been a terrible disappointment.

VIII

Skaia was lost in his frustrated thoughts as he walked to Thaddeus’ rooms.
I hate him
, he thought, at the exact same moment as he felt a hand on his arm. He looked up fearfully, thinking he might have said the words out loud, but relaxed when he saw it was only Gotus. “What are you doing here?” he asked in exasperation. “You frightened me.”

Gotus removed his hand and held both his palms up in mock surrender. “Frightened of
me
?” he teased, and then quickly became concerned. “Why, did Thaddeus hurt you?”

Skaia shook his head quickly. “No, of course not. You… you just startled me.”

“
I’m glad it was only that. You had an awful scowl on your face,” Gotus smiled. “Now I want to hear all about your trip,” he added eagerly. “Where did you go? What did you see?”

Skaia did not want to discuss this day and was very temped to refuse, but Gotus was dear to him, a friend from his earliest days here. Gotus had even listened patiently to his foolishness as he cared for his back.

And Skaia knew how special such accounts were to all the slaves. It was often their only opportunity to learn of life beyond the walls that defined their lives. He had often questioned the kitchen slaves—along with everyone else—when they’d returned from the expeditions that Castor would send them on to buy household goods.

He shoved away his dark feelings and began to talk. “We walked forever,” he grinned. “Through the forum and up another hill to Antius’ home. The forum was amazing, Gotus,” he said as he warmed to the idea of sharing. “There are shops on multiple levels built right into the side of the hill. We didn’t go there,” he added as Gotus seemed about to ask.

“
Were there really women shopping?” Gotus pressed. “Free women, I mean.”

Skaia realized he had taken in more than he originally thought about this trip, even though he’d made little effort to do so. “Oh, yes. Finely dressed ladies would arrive in covered litters. And then they walked around and into the shops.”

“
I wonder if Thaddia goes there,” Gotus mused. But, of course, Skaia would know as little of that as he did. “What else? What sorts of shops?”

“
They sell everything there.”
Even slaves
, but this Skaia did not share
.
“As well as the shops, there are many street vendors, too. They seemed to attract poorer people—those not dressed so well. But everywhere men were selling something and there were throngs of people buying.”

“
What kinds of people?” Gotus lowered his voice. “Did you see thieves and hooligans?”

Perhaps,
Skaia thought. “There were all classes. Some of the crowd was rough looking.” Dirty, obvious stubble. “Even slaves were there. Shopping alone, Gotus.”

“
Like Lia and Carus,” Gotus said, recalling the kitchen slaves’ trips. “I wish Castor would send me sometime.”

Not like them,
Skaia thought.
Far better dressed.
But Skaia did not speak of this, either. He continued to talk for several minutes, suddenly thinking the day had not been such a waste after all.

“
Did you go to the baths?” Gotus asked. “What were they like? As grand as we thought?”

Grudgingly, Skaia realized he had to end the conversation. “Another time, Gotus. Master Thaddeus has not loosened my restrictions. I’m sorry.” He looked around to stress that they were in an open area where they could be easily spotted. “I can’t have him find out I’ve been talking to you without his permission.”

Gotus nodded reluctantly. “I know. But I wanted to be the first to hear. You’re the only one of us who has actually walked in the forum—or seen the inside of the baths.”

“
You can’t tell,” Skaia warned him. “If Thaddeus should hear…”

Gotus leaned over and kissed Skaia’s forehead. “I won’t get you in trouble,” he promised. “I’ll just ask Castor questions over dinner.
He
can talk.”

Skaia smiled, too, and hoped Castor wouldn’t realize why Gotus was so suddenly curious. And he was pleased to note that his somber mood had been lightened by talking with his friend.

There was work to be done when Skaia finally arrived in Thaddeus’ chamber. To his surprise and dismay, he found the bed linens had not been changed. Not even Thaddeus’ washing bowl or towels. He sat and re-wrapped his injured foot before he began. The bleeding had stopped, but the blister was raw. He decided not to wear his sandals, and put them by his pallet.

When he went to the kitchen, he took Thaddeus’ bowl and cup, the used towels and sheets as well, doubting that the slaves who would have taken them in the morning would still be on duty. The young slave girl who had been purchased this morning was already working. Castor had set her to scrubbing pots. She was dressed like the other women, in a long, plain tunic of indistinct gray. She looked up when Skaia passed her on the way to the washroom and smiled at him. He smiled back though he did not stop.

When he returned with Thaddeus’ clean supplies, she smiled again, and he decided to approach her. “I am Skaia,” he offered.

She wiped her hands on her tunic. “Thera.”

Castor moved toward them immediately. “Thera, you are not allowed to speak with Skaia. And you, boy,” he said as he turned to face Skaia, “you know very well you are not allowed to talk to anyone here. Get back to Thaddeus’ room, before I have to report you.”

Skaia blushed with shame to be berated before this girl and bowed his head, forcing himself to submit. “Yes sir. I’m sorry, sir.”

When Skaia was gone, Thera turned to Castor and spoke bluntly. “What has he done, to be pun
ished so harshly?”

“
Nothing.” At her startled look, he added, “Master Thaddeus does what he wants. We do not question it.”

“
Does he belong to Thaddeus? Is that why he's dressed so finely?”

“
Yes,” Castor answered, somewhat taken aback by the girl’s boldness. “Your clothing will be better, too, once you go to Thaddia.”

“
Oh, good,” Thera smiled as she felt at her rough tunic. “My old mistress would never have dressed me like this.” She grinned up at Castor.

Unconsciously, he moved his hands to smooth down his own rich tunic. He looked at the girl again. She was not a beauty. She would not distract attention from her mistress. Nonetheless, he was flattered that she flirted with him and decided he would give her a pastry after dinner tonight.

Back in Thaddeus’ chambers, Skaia re-made the bed and set out the clean items for his master. Looking around once more to be sure everything was tidy, he walked to his pallet, removed his tunic, folded it carefully, and lay down to rest.
The floors need scrubbing, too,
he thought. But he couldn’t deal with it now. He was almost too tired to move.
I have to rest first…