Skaia (77 page)

“
Are you happy with Thaddeus?” Skaia asked after a particularly bad throw of the dice.

Why do they ask these things?
Nicea wondered.
Master Thaddeus wants to know how I feel about Glaucus. And now Skaia…
He focused on the board. “He is very kind, Skaia. I… I’ve never been owned by someone so considerate. When he found out I once played the flute, he said he would get me a new one.”

Skaia was amazed at the surge of jealousy he felt, the almost overpowering urge to lash out at Nicea. He fought it down, and managed to speak calmly. “Do you play well?”

“
I doubt it,” Nicea replied with a faint smile. “I told Master Thaddeus it has been years since I last played.”

Skaia vaguely remembered the older man and young woman who had sometimes made music. He forced himself to smile. “The sounds of music cannot be constrained to the masters. We will all enjoy it equally.”

“
Or, in my case, it will be forced on all equally,” Nicea said, smiling back in return.

The self-deprecating smile was too charming to resist, and Skaia laughed with him. “I’m glad Thaddeus makes you happy.”

Nicea threw the dice again, and moved his game pieces. “I don’t think of happiness as you do,” he said softly. “I just… I want to avoid misery.” He looked up to meet Skaia’s eyes. “But I am not unhappy with Master Thaddeus.”

Skaia nodded, thinking that Nicea was like most of the other slaves. Accepting whatever happened to them. A skill Skaia still hoped he could develop. Only without all the hard lessons Nicea had been through.

At least everything with Glaucus had seemed much better today. His master had not been angry. They had talked together, even laughed over the toga.
A perfectly acceptable life for any slave,
Skaia mused. Much better than most…

But he had hoped for so much more.
Oh, Thaddeus…

He forced his attention back to the game, and watched as Nicea took his next turn.

XXII

Skaia lay on his pallet after he had cleaned what little mess there was in Glaucus’ rooms. His thoughts turned constantly to Nicea and Thaddeus.
The masters could change everything.
There was no doubt that was true, but if somehow things were to change—it would probably be to Nicea’s detriment. He was satisfied with Thaddeus, and from what Skaia could tell, such simple satisfaction was Nicea’s highest goal.

I was supposed to hate him,
Skaia reminded himself. But that had become impossible almost immediately upon meeting the beautiful blond boy. Even more so as he’d gotten to know Nicea better. Having Thaddeus, or gods forbid, Glaucus, dispose of him, was not something to be wished for.

He had almost fallen asleep when the door was pushed open, and Glaucus walked in. Skaia rose immediately, glad he had not undressed, and followed his master into the public room. As he lit some of the small lamps, he thought Glaucus in a very good mood and dared to ask a question. “How was your party, Master? Did it go well?”

When Glaucus turned to look at his slave, a smile covered his face. “Help me get out of this toga.” As Skaia started to unwind the toga and fold it, Glaucus began to talk. “Everything was splendid. Antius outdid himself. The food. The entertainment. The guests… Not only Senators Scipio and Marius, but seven others as well.” He stopped and took a breath. “Get me a cup of wine, Skaia, and I’ll tell you the rest.”

Skaia carefully handed him the toga pins before he went for the amphora and cup. Glaucus held the small pins in his hand and thought about his grandfather. Scipio had made a point of praising Paulinus’ public service, and called for Glaucus to follow his path and honor his memory. Much better than it might have been—Glaucus had heard others criticize Paulinus for leaving the Senate. And his father too, for having no such aspirations.

Glaucus was aware that Skaia had poured his cup of wine. And he knew the boy was waiting. “Tomorrow, I begin my training in the Curia.” He looked up, smiling, and met Skaia’s eyes. “Senator Scipio is anxious to go over the past treaties with Sicily, and make sure I know as much as I should before the trip. In many ways, it will be like going to school again. I’ll have to leave home in the dark, and probably won’t be back until time for dinner.”

Skaia nodded. “It sounds very exciting, sir.”

Glaucus invited Skaia to sit, and for some time they discussed the history of Sicily, and how Rome offered the province protection in exchange for annual tribute. “Rome, of course,” Glaucus grinned, “always wants to increase the tribute, while Sicily wants to cut it.”

“
Will you work with the Senator closely, sir?”

Glaucus hesitated, and his smile disappeared. “Hopefully, not as closely as you did.”

Blushing, Skaia lowered his head. But he refused to apologize again.

“
I also met Gallia,” Glaucus announced after the silence had become awkward. When Skaia only looked at him in puzzlement, Glaucus laughed. “My future bride, Skaia. Gallia will be my wife.”

Skaia felt his belly tense, but he controlled his voice and spoke calmly. “Did you find her… pleasing, Master?”

“
Far more than pleasing. She’s beautiful, Skaia. And intelligent and funny. I… I think I love her already.”

It is proper,
Skaia thought, as he stood to help Glaucus undress.
A man should love his wife. Like my mother and father…
Yet his heart ached. “That is wonderful, sir. I am glad for you.”

Glaucus talked on excitedly about the engagement party, already being planned for the following week, far sooner than his father wanted. “I hope that the date of the marriage may be moved up as well. Gallia says she will press her father to agree.”

Glaucus’ eyes were sparkling as he admitted that he and Gallia had kissed.

Skaia looked up from putting the toga away. “What was it like, Master? Is it very different… from kissing a man?”

Glaucus looked at him strangely. He had seldom kissed Skaia, and never a real kiss.
His father must have…
“You’ve never kissed a woman?” he finally asked.

Skaia flushed. “No, Master.”

“
Any other man, besides my father?”

“
Only you, Master,” Skaia answered quietly. “I’m sorry, sir,” he said, shaking his head. “I shouldn’t have asked.”

“
No, you shouldn’t,” Glaucus agreed angrily. “A very stupid question.” He finished his own undressing, throwing each item at Skaia. How dare the little bastard kiss his father like that?

When he and I never did…

By the time Skaia returned from putting out the dirty clothes, Glaucus had calmed somewhat, slipped on a robe—and realized his slave was not at fault.
Again.
He wouldn’t apologize, but he looked around his rooms and spoke evenly. “Everything here is so masculine. I wonder what changes Gallia will want.”

Skaia said nothing. Just stood straight, with his eyes fixed on the floor.

“
Well,” Glaucus prompted. “What do you think?”

Looking up, Skaia knew Glaucus did not want his opinion, but he was making an attempt to ease the tension. “I know nothing of women, Master,” he answered very carefully. “I think your rooms are beautiful just as they are. Perhaps you could ask Mistress Thaddia?”

Glaucus smiled. “That’s probably a better idea than two men trying to guess.” He looked around again. “The wall paintings are splendid. Maybe too colorful, though. And the curtains… ”

Skaia ceased to listen, and let his mind wander to what it might be like to have a mistress. He could imagine himself bringing her flowers. And maybe Nicea would play his flute for her.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp tap on his arm.

“
You’re not listening to me,” Glaucus snapped. “Pay attention, when I’m talking. I want another cup of wine.”

Skaia bowed quickly. “Yes, Master. I’m sorry, Master.” He hurried to the front room to pour the cup and when he returned, he found Glaucus seated in his large padded chair, attempting to remove his own sandals.

Handing Glaucus the cup, Skaia knelt before him. The laces of the sandals wound around his legs, ending only just below his knees. “Why,” Skaia asked softly as he released the bindings and worked the laces down, “are such slender shoes laced so heavily?”

Glaucus laughed and touched the boy’s red curls softly. “They show off the muscles and curves of my legs. They make all the ladies want me.”

Skaia looked up and smiled. “I’m sure you did not need special lacings for that, sir.”
Besides, the toga covered everything.

At seeing the smile, Glaucus removed his hand from Skaia’s head as if it burned. And when the slave moved to put the shoes in the wardrobe, Glaucus addressed him again, his tone coming clipped. “Gallia will be bringing her maid servant when she comes here to live, Skaia.” He pulled off his rings. “You will not be permitted to stay in our chambers.”

Skaia felt as if all the air had left his lungs. Yet somehow, he managed to reply calmly, “Yes, Master. Your grandfather told me it might be so.”

Glaucus handed Skaia his rings to put away, and noticed the slave’s unadorned finger. “Did you give the ring back to my father?”

“
The day you told me to, sir. I… just put it on his chest, Master.”

“
Has he said anything to you?”

“
No, sir.”

“
Sit,” Glaucus instructed, kicking out a bench.

When he had been sitting for some minutes, and Glaucus still remained silent, Skaia finally looked up. “Is something wrong, Master? Do you… do you want me to leave your rooms now, sir?”

“
No. Not yet. But soon. We’ll discuss it later.” Glaucus leaned forward and ran his fingers along Skaia’s lips.
Gods, what am I doing?
Skaia doesn’t deserve this.
He sat back in his chair. “I’m glad you’re not upset, Skaia. I was afraid you would be.”

Upset? Every foolish dream I held to all my life is gone…
“No, Master,” he relied calmly. “Your father made sure I was prepared for this.” As best he could
. Oh, Belenus…

Glaucus studied Skaia’s face, and thought he had spoken the truth. He sipped his wine again. “It’s still very hard for me to think of my father as the wise man of our family.” He took a deep breath, remembering his grandfather. “But I’m glad his advice helped you.” Then, draining his wine, he sent Skaia to his pallet and approached his own bed… alone.

Settling down on the mattress, Glaucus thought of Skaia, feeling a certain amount of guilt for breaking the news so abruptly. But he wasn’t
selling
Skaia—just moving him to the group of household slaves. The new slave quarters were open and bright, far better than the old underground cells. Skaia should be satisfied there.

Pushing Skaia from his mind, Glaucus focused again on Gallia. He was aware he’d become enamored of her very quickly. He hadn’t expected it—he knew very well that marriage was more a business concern than a romantic one. But the sight of Gallia—her radiant beauty—had stunned him. Her smile, her soft laugh, all had only drawn him in more.

Gods.

He felt certain that neither Trestus’ wife, nor Bessus’, would come close to her loveliness. Both his friends had been taken with her too, as soon as they were introduced. Trestus had teased him about her throughout the evening—but rather than his scorn for Skaia, he had only compliments and praise for Gallia.