Skaia (72 page)

Standing and bowing, Skaia turned to leave quickly, but not before he heard Thaddeus address the other boy.

“
Nicea, you will rest with me. Return to the bedroom now.”

When Thaddeus went to his dresser, he saw Skaia’s ring and turned to Nicea. “Why is this here?”

“
I don’t know, sir. I didn’t touch it, Master.” It was obvious Nicea anticipated Thaddeus’ anger. “It was there when I returned from breakfast,” he added very quietly.
Skaia must have put it there.

Thaddeus only nodded, went to check his wardrobe, and saw that Skaia’s clothes were gone. “I suppose Skaia is forgetting me,” he sighed. “As he should.”

Nicea was very hesitant to say anything to his new master. It went against all he had learned through the years.
Keep quiet, obey—and simply survive
. And he knew he should not care about Skaia’s plight, not when it could threaten to jeopardize his own status with this man he so desperately wished to please.

Nonetheless, Nicea found himself dropping to his knees, and speaking. “Please forgive me, Master, but… I think it is not Skaia’s choice.”

“
What do you mean?” Thaddeus questioned, turning to look down at the young Greek. “Did Skaia say something to you?”

“
Only… only that Master Glaucus didn’t like the ring, sir. Nothing else, Master,” Nicea told him, fighting the nervousness that was building inside him.

“
No, I suppose Glaucus wouldn’t like it,” Thaddeus mused as he moved to sit on his bed, motioning with his hand for Nicea to get up. “I am going to rest briefly before we go to the baths. You can do the same.”

We?
“You will take me with you, sir?” Nicea asked, surprise and relief obvious in his voice.

Thaddeus smiled at the reaction, remembering Skaia’s first time outside the domus. “Unless you don’t want to go,” he teased.

Though it was difficult, Nicea managed not to avert his eyes. He could not remember the last time he had been given a choice. About anything. His face reflected his gratitude. “I would be very pleased to attend you, Master.”

As Nicea walked towards his pallet, Thaddeus started to stop him, to tell him to come to his own bed. “Nicea,” he called. But when the boy turned back, he shook his head. “Nothing. Go ahead.”

I will not replace Skaia with this new boy. I absolutely will not care again.

XXI

Glaucus looked past his wardrobe when Skaia entered the main room. “Where were you?” he demanded.

Skaia accepted the anger this time, knowing he’d brought it on himself. “I was helping Nicea, sir.” When Glaucus’ frown only deepened, he tried to explain. “After getting my clothes from Master Thaddeus’ rooms, and… and returning the ring, I was late for breakfast. I asked about Nicea, and Castor told me he was not familiar with the cleaning of the bathing pool.”

“
And you are, of course,” Glaucus said sarcastically.

Skaia hesitated. He knew he shouldn’t have asked about Nicea… shouldn’t have volunteered to help him, but he wondered why Glaucus would be angry just that he knew
how
to help. He answered carefully. “Yes, sir. Cleaning Master Thaddeus’ chamber was part of my duties. As… as it will be for you, Master.”

Glaucus looked back in the wardrobe, noticing Skaia’s tunics and his shoes. The thought of Skaia being so familiar with his father’s rooms was infuriating. And yet, he knew his anger with Skaia was not warranted.
I should send him away, before I really lose my temper with him.

When he turned to Skaia again, his voice was clipped and cold. “I think you should go elsewhere, Skaia. I am taking a nap before going to the baths with my father. Your presence is not required here.”

“
But, Master,” Skaia almost begged, “you told me I should stay here.”

“
An order you quite promptly disobeyed,” Glaucus pointed out sarcastically.

Skaia lowered his head. He knew Glaucus was upset with him—with everything he did—but he wasn’t sure why.
Thaddeus?
He was equally unsure of what he was
allowed
to do. “Master,” he asked nervously, “am I still permitted to work in the gardens, sir?”

Glaucus snapped out his reply. “Of course. But be sure to have your dinner before you come back here for the night.”

Skaia looked up, glad at least that he was supposed to come back, but still disappointed to be dismissed. “You will not take me to the baths with you, sir?”

Glaucus sat on the bed, trying to control his growing rage. “I suppose father took you there, too?”

“
Yes, Master.”

“
I will not.”

For just a moment, Glaucus was glad to see the hurt on Skaia’s face. And then ashamed. He lay down—to calm himself and to rest.

Skaia bowed carefully, and left as silently as he could manage, to go down the steps and into the gardens. Little needed to be done, of course, after all the work to prepare for Glaucus’ return, but he kept himself busy for some time, watering anywhere the soil seemed dry, kneeling to build more earth around the roots of the taller plants, picking away the drooping leaves or flowers—and trying not to think of Glaucus.
Without success.

Finally, he sat on Paulinus’ bench, and tried to remember happier times here.

Paulinus’ calm, thoughtful manner. His kindness. His comment that in another place and time, they would have been friends rather than master and slave.
What I had hoped for with Glaucus.
But it still was not another place or time.

Skaia gave up and let his tears fall.

When he had cried all he could, he was determined that he would adapt to be what Glaucus wanted. Like Nicea—provide whatever his master demanded—and nothing he did not. Standing, he walked back to the washroom off the kitchen and washed his face and hands, and then the dirt from his knees. Castor saw him, noticed his distress, but said nothing.

Glaucus still slept when Skaia returned to his rooms. He sat on his pallet, his back against the wall, until he heard Glaucus stir. Reluctantly, he got up and approached. His master looked up when he came into the bedroom, but said nothing. Skaia moved toward him slowly. “May I help you, sir?”

“
Was there nothing to do in the gardens?” Glaucus snapped as he selected a tunic from his wardrobe.

“
I… I worked very hard to make them ready for your homecoming, sir. I did what little needed to be done today.”

Glaucus dressed himself before looking at Skaia again. “Well, if you have nothing else to do, go ask Castor for something.”

The tone was biting, and Skaia came very close to breaking his resolve. To kneel before Glaucus and beg.
But for what?

Sitting in one of the chairs at the table, Glaucus began putting on his shoes. After only a few attempts at threading the laces, he glared at Skaia again. “Make yourself useful.”

It was not an apology, but Skaia took it as a sign he was needed. He gladly did as he was told, sitting at his young master’s feet to assist, and caressing Glaucus’ calf softly in the process.

He had just stood again when there was a soft knock on the door. Before he could get to it, Thaddeus walked in, with Nicea following, through the antechamber and into the main room.

Glaucus stood as well, and glanced from Skaia to his father. “I’m almost ready.” After he filled his small waist purse, he started toward the door.

Thaddeus hesitated, noticing that Skaia’s tunic was dirty, and he called out to Glaucus. “Aren’t you bringing Skaia?”

Glaucus looked back only briefly. “No. He’s staying here. Let’s go.”

In time, Skaia went to find Castor. When he explained he needed something to do, the old slave sent him to Phaelas.

“
Looking for work?  Very well. You can scrub the kitchen floor.” Phaelas fully expected the soft, spoiled boy to object, but Skaia only nodded and went to collect the brushes. When he returned, Phaelas wordlessly handed him a bucket of hot water.

Skaia knelt and began working, while Castor steered others away, to keep the floor from being messed even before the boy could finish. By the time the women who would cook dinner arrived, the floor was dry, and Skaia had taken a seat at the large table next to Castor.

Castor stared at the boy’s face, and knew from the look of his eyes that he had cried. “What happened, Skaia?  Why were you looking for work?”

“
Glaucus told me to. Castor, my Master… ” He stopped.

“
What, Skaia?” Castor prompted. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“
Nothing, sir. I’m sorry. Apparently, I don’t know how to be the slave he wants now. Do you have anything else for me to do?”

“
Skaia… ”

“
I need something else to do, Castor. Please,” Skaia interrupted.

Phaelas walked up. “The dirty sponges are outside. They need washing.”

When Castor started to protest, Skaia stopped him, standing up from the bench. “It’s alright.” His voice became bitter. “I’m sure Master Glaucus will be pleased.”

Castor watched him leave before turning on Phaelas. “What do you think you’re doing? That’s the worst job in the household. It should be saved as a punishment.”

“
Isn’t Glaucus punishing him?” Phaelas grinned.

“
The boy hasn’t done anything wrong, Phaelas,” Castor said, lowering his voice. “Glaucus just doesn’t know how to deal with him yet. But I’m sure he never intended this. And Skaia doesn’t deserve it.”

Phaelas was still not taking Castor’s objection seriously, and he laughed. “I have yet to meet anyone who deserves that job.”

Castor frowned, before standing stiffly and limping outside to join Skaia. Phaelas hesitated only a moment before following. “What are you doing? Castor, come back inside,” he insisted.

Ignoring him, Castor lowered himself to the ground next to Skaia and reached for one of the dirty sponges. Skaia tried to take it back, and Castor slapped his face. “If you can do this, then so can I.” Skaia automatically started to bring his hand to his burning cheek, but Castor grabbed his arm and laughed. “You really don’t want to do that.”

Skaia looked at him and smiled. “No, sir. I guess I don’t.”

Phaelas stood back. “You’re both insane,” he said softly. He felt guilty for upsetting Castor, regretted that the old man had chosen to join Skaia. “I’ll have bathwater prepared, so you can both wash thoroughly when you’re done,” he offered, trying to make amends.