Skaia (95 page)

Skaia gazed down at the shriveled little thing that had a pointed head. “Yes, Master. She is very beautiful.” Cautiously, he held out a finger, and touched the baby’s hand. Tiny fingers curled around it, and his face lit with his smile.

The midwife fussily took the child from Thaddeus’s arms, and shooed them away. “The new mother needs to have her rest, and the baby needs to nurse,” she scolded.

Walking back with Skaia to their rooms, Thaddeus instructed him to go to bed. “You look almost as exhausted as Gallia.” He himself lit several lamps and sat for a while until the sun came up, writing letters to Glaucus, and Gallia’s parents, informing them of the successful birth of the baby, and letting them know everything was fine so far with both mother and child.

As he sealed the last post he looked at Skaia, curled up so quietly in the large bed. He knew he should see Phaelas and cancel the day’s meeting, but instead he lay beside his slave, and wrapped himself around the boy’s body.

Thaddeus turned out to be a doting grandfather, buying the baby and Gallia gifts almost constantly. Skaia too, doted on them in his own way, always making sure there were fresh blooms in Gallia’s room, and singing softly to the infant when she was unsettled.

Gallia was delighted at Skaia’s interest and fondness for her child. She allowed him to play with the baby, and even called him from the gardens to care for the little girl when she cried. He seemed to have a natural way with her.

The child was named Glauca, as tradition demanded, and Thaddeus held a grand celebration when she turned two months old. It was almost a year exactly since the engagement party. Antius and Flavius both attended, along with their new daughters—and asked Gallia to bless them, in hopes her touch would spread around her fertility. She laughed at the requests, but happily did as they asked.

Flavius pulled Thaddeus aside when Gallia’s family surrounded her. “I hope the girl can bear a boy, Thaddeus. That’s what I want passed to Trestus’ wife. I don’t want my first grandchild to be a girl.”

Thaddeus frowned at him. He was not unaware of the value of sons, but he found the comment completely inappropriate at Glauca’s celebration. “My granddaughter is beautiful,” he said, not bothering to hide his annoyance. “And in time, I’m sure Gallia will bear Glaucus many sons.”

Although he still felt girl children were useless, Flavius realized he had offended his friend, and he quickly stepped away rather than say more.

Skaia approached cautiously when the frown on Thaddeus’ face did not disappear. “Master,” he ventured softly, “his words were careless. I’m sure he didn’t mean them.”

And I’m quite sure he did.
But Thaddeus smiled at Skaia, and let go of his anger. “Thank you,” he whispered, before joining Gallia and her family again.

A few weeks after the party, shortly before Thaddia turned fifteen, she shyly requested a private audience with her father. He shoved aside the papers he was working on in his office, and invited her to sit. “Is something wrong?” he asked his daughter anxiously.

Thaddia hesitated only a moment. “I’m a woman now, Father. I need a husband.”

Thaddeus was speechless. He and his father had talked about Thaddia’s marriage. He had thought of it himself on occasion, when he watched Gallia. On some level, he knew it must happen.
But not yet. Oh, gods, not so soon.
“You are still very young, Thaddia,” he finally got out. “There is no rush.”

“
Father, some of my friends are already married. Most others have at least announced their betrothal. If I’m not married within a year, I’ll be a spinster.” Tears brightened Thaddia’s eyes. “Gallia is only a year older than me and she already has a child. I can’t be a little girl forever.”

A spinster?
Thaddeus thought the idea preposterous, and started to object. But then he remembered that Pornecia was just fourteen when they’d married. And Glaucus was born very soon after she’d turned sixteen. He sighed inwardly, hating to acknowledge that his daughter was right. “Thaddia,” he said very softly, “this is hard for me. You remind me so much of your mother. I don’t want to lose you.” He felt moisture building in his eyes, and quickly faked a sneeze to have a reason to wipe at his face.

“
Father,” Thaddia began as soon as Thaddeus seemed composed, “you have always told us two things. That everything changes, and that everyone dies. I have changed. The time has come for me to have a family of my own.”

Which means I must lose part of mine,
Thaddeus thought. Even Gallia and Glauca could not make up for the sense of loss he was feeling. “You are right, Thaddia. I have been selfish, and have not wanted to see it.” He paused, looking at the lines of Thaddia’s face. “Have you met someone?” he asked, sincerely hoping she had not.

Thaddia colored just a little and lowered her head for a moment. “I… I met Senator Razium’s son, Marcus, at Glaucus’ betrothal. We have corresponded since. And last week, I saw him at the baths.” She hastened to explain. “I was leaving late, and he was early, waiting outside for his father.”

Thaddeus nodded.
I should have known it would happen,
he thought. Thaddia was a beautiful young woman.

Razium… Razium… he pondered. Not well known, but a respectable family. And wealthy enough to buy a senate seat. A friend of Marius. “Is Marcus the second son?” he asked.

Thaddia frowned. “Of course not. I’m not stupid, Father. Marcus is the family heir. We would make a good match.” She colored more deeply. “Marcus told me his father was not upset at the prospect.”

Oh, gods… I’ve failed her,
Thaddeus realized. Thaddia should never have had to search for a husband on her own. Nor seek the approval of the man’s family.
It was my responsibility.
“I will look into it, Thaddia. I promise. I apologize… ”

Standing, Thaddia quickly wrapped her arms around her father’s neck, cutting off his comments. “It’s alright, Father. I do understand. I fear losing you, too.”

Thaddeus held her until her trembling stopped. Then he released her and watched her leave. It still distressed him that his children seemed to be growing into adulthood so quickly. The thought of losing Thaddia to another family was especially hard. But his daughter was right. The time had come.

And he couldn’t put it off any longer.

That night in his rooms, Thaddeus looked at Skaia’s body as the boy moved about quietly, setting things in order before settling to read from a scroll. Except in the generic term that applied to all male slaves, he was no longer a boy. Almost twenty-one now, he’d grown taller, his body changing, turning from an adolescent into a man.

Thaddeus made himself read the farm supervisor’s letter one last time. But he couldn’t focus, as he found himself continually worrying that all the changes in Skaia’s body might portend changes in his feelings as well. That the boy would want to leave him.
Gods, I couldn’t take it.
Not with all the other changes. Not with Thaddia’s marriage taking her away.

Later, in bed, Thaddeus handled his slave’s collar, reading the inscription.
The boy has no choice. He can’t leave me.

Skaia touched his master’s face when he held the collar so long. “Is something wrong, Thaddeus?”

“
No.” Thaddeus met his eyes and released the collar. “Everything is fine.” He cupped the back of Skaia’s head and leaned down to cover his mouth.

It was not the tender show of affection Skaia anticipated. Instead, it was a brutal display of dominance, and Skaia suddenly fought to push him away. But he couldn’t succeed and, in the end, he surrendered to Thaddeus as he always did… taking pleasure in the pain and the power that always overwhelmed him.

In spite of Thaddeus’ intentions, Skaia’s own passion soon changed the course of their lovemaking. It was not possible for Thaddeus to take what was so freely offered.

When it was over, and Skaia finally slept, Thaddeus continued to look at him and touch him tenderly. He regretted the bruises that formed on the boy’s skin, but he had needed to exert his authority and control. To be certain that Skaia was truly his…

And that nothing could take him away.

XXVII

Julius Caesar had returned to Rome and had brought the foreign Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, and his own new child, with him. Animosity and outright hostility was rising throughout the city. Even in the Senate, there were speeches condemning his actions.

Senator Baro Razium and his family had become regular, if not quite frequent visitors, to Thaddeus’ home. Often, after the socializing at dinner was over, Thaddia and Marcus were allowed to roam the gardens. Almost alone…Thera remained her mistress’ constant companion, and when Baro’s wife, Fabia, was not present, Thaddeus always sent Skaia along as well. The boy was distinctly uncomfortable with this new duty, but the young couple accepted the scrutiny without complaint, and ignored him. Thaddia even began to tease Skaia about it when Marcus and his father would leave.

It was after their last visit that Thaddeus began to contemplate moving his family to Umbria for an extended stay. Baro had announced that Caesar accepted the designation of Dictator for Life after he had twice refused the Kingship. “For all else he may be,” Baro had said quietly, “he knows the pulse of the people. It was only the fear of the Plebeian mobs that have prevented Rome from having another king.”

My father predicted this twenty years ago,
Thaddeus thought.
And outright civil war.

Still, it was not until after a party at Razium’s home, when Thaddeus had been able to speak frankly with Antius and Flavius, that he had made the final decision. And his initial move the next day was to call his children to his office, with Crassus being the first. He accepted his father’s decision with few questions, just a general excitement to be doing something new. Still, he was somewhat disappointed when he learned that a tutor would accompany him.