Skaia (38 page)

Skaia blushed at Paulinus’ anger. “I have no other shoes, sir. When my foot is wrapped with a cloth, they are serviceable.” He tried to take the sandals back. “I’m sorry, sir. I shouldn’t have bothered you.”

“
Nonsense,” Paulinus objected and slapped Skaia’s hand away.

“
Please, Master Paulinus,” Skaia begged, rising to his feet. “I am to go to the baths with Master Thaddeus this afternoon, and I will have to make do.”

Paulinus noticed that Skaia winced slightly when he stood and suspected an additional injury of another sort. “You’ll do no such thing, Skaia,” he said, returning the sandals to his desk. “Thaddeus should have seen to this. What did he say when you told him?”

Skaia flushed. “I didn’t tell him, sir. I… I’ve made him angry so often…”  He stopped. “It’s my fault, Master Paulinus. You’re right, sir. I should have told him.”

Nodding, Paulinus though he understood why Skaia hadn’t.
Because my son terrifies him.
“Sit, Skaia. When Lucius gets back, I’ll send him for Castor and we’ll see what he can do.”

But Skaia did not sit. Instead, he walked closer to Paulinus’ desk to see what the old master had been drawing. “You’re making changes to the garden,” he said in surprise. “We will have a pool here, sir?” Skaia asked, pointing to the picture.

Paulinus finally smiled. “Since the builders will be here anyway, I thought I should have a pool added in my garden.”

Builders.
What Castor had mentioned. “What is being built, sir?” Skaia asked.

Paulinus canted his head and eyed the boy, realizing Thaddeus hadn’t told him what was happening.
Ah, but of course, my son would think slaves too insignificant to explain things to. Or care to see that they had proper shoes…
He sighed in exasperation before he started to explain. “We are going to put on a whole new floor, right above the existing structure. Above ground rooms for the slaves. A library. An upstairs bath. Two privies upstairs. And another down, just off Thaddeus’ room. Also, a new chamber, suitable for Glaucus and his wife.”

Skaia felt his throat constrict.
His wife.
“Will Glaucus marry soon, sir?”

Paulinus’ attention was back on his sketches and he did not notice Skaia’s apprehension. “Not immediately, Skaia. But certainly within a year of getting home. Thaddeus is negotiating matches. And the new chambers must be ready for him,” he said, before going on to talk more about the changes that were to be made to the house. The rooms on the bottom were to be revamped as well. Thaddia would move to Glaucus’ old rooms and Crassus to hers, while the youngest child’s vacant room would be expanded and converted into the new library.

Although Skaia listened politely, his mind was riveted to the idea of Glaucus marrying. And what it would mean to him. Would Glaucus keep him in his new chamber?  
Would Glaucus keep him at all?

Paulinus tapped at his sketches, talking now of the plants they would need, and Skaia forced his attention back to the master and his drawings. There would be tall, thin shrubs at the corners of the garden, short shrubs and small grasses between them. Ivy and small clumps of flowering plants in circles would adorn the areas around the pool. More formal than what Paulinus had now, but still flowing within the formality.

“
It will be beautiful, Paulinus,” Skaia murmured in appreciation. And then realized what he’d said. He dropped immediately to his knees, and bowed his head to the floor. “I’m sorry, Master. I’m sorry.”

Paulinus laughed softly, and touched the bowed head. “Get up, silly boy. Stop the sniveling. I’m not angry with you.” He leaned from his chair and pulled at Skaia’s arm until the boy was standing again. “I assume you would only make such a mistake because you like me, and feel comfortable with me.”

“
Yes, Master,” Skaia said, blushing deeply and keeping his eyes focused on the floor. “But I should never have made such a mistake, sir. I’m truly sorry.”

Paulinus smiled, but his voice was serious. “You must never be so careless around my son. That much is certainly true. But…” He tapped Skaia’s arm until the boy looked at him. “I believe that in another world, in a different time, we would have been friends, Skaia. Not master and slave.”

Skaia felt tears build in his eyes. “You are very kind, sir.”
You always have been.
“But this is not a different time, or another world. I must be more careful.”

“
Yes, you must,” Paulinus agreed. “But don’t be upset today, not over something that didn’t bother me.”

“
Yes, Master.”

Frowning, Paulinus thought he had best let the subject be.

The lingering tension was broken when Lucius came back with a bowl of fruit. Skaia looked up immediately. “Are you feeling better today, Lucius?”

“
Much better,” Lucius smiled. “I just got too hot out in the sun. After a good night’s rest, I’m feeling fine.” He put the bowl on Paulinus’ desk and saw the sandals. “What’s this?”

“
There are any number of problems today, Lucius,” Paulinus answered. He quickly scribbled a list. “Take this to Castor and tell him I want him here immediately. While you’re there, see if anyone else in the household has a pair of sandals that can be borrowed for the day. This boy has only one pair,” he added, not even trying to hide his disapproval. He handed Skaia’s sandals to Lucius. “Match any possibilities to these.”

When Lucius had left, Paulinus led the way outside and looked over the garden, trying to calm himself. He had Skaia sit beside him on his bench. “I have enjoyed this garden,” he said thoughtfully. “It saved my sanity after I left the Senate. But times have changed. With the addition of the pool, I have an excuse to start again.” His gaze turned to Skaia. “I still remember you and Glaucus playing here when you were children. I hope I may live to see Glaucus’ children play here as well.”

He would probably have said more, but Castor was approaching with Gotus in tow, carrying a small bucket of water. Paulinus nodded when Castor bowed. “Take the boy into my rooms. See to his foot and… and his other injury.”

“
What other…” Castor started.

But Paulinus interrupted. “Take him in my rooms. Make
him
tell you.”

Castor bowed again, in acknowledgement, and looked at Skaia. Then, along with Gotus, the three of them left Paulinus alone in the garden.

Skaia sat on one of the benches, and Gotus knelt at his feet to wash them. Castor took another bench and watched. “How bad is his foot, Gotus?”

“
It’s nothing, Castor,” Skaia interjected before Gotus could speak. “Just a blister that broke. It’s healing on its own, sir.”

“
It was enough to worry Master Paulinus,” Castor retorted sharply. “I hope you don’t mind that I examine it.”

“
No, sir. Of course not, sir.” Skaia blushed profusely and lowered his eyes.

Gotus cleared his throat and held Skaia’s injured foot toward Castor. “I concur with Skaia, sir. A broken blister that is healing on its own.”

Castor nodded, not really able to see clearly. “You still shouldn’t be going around without shoes. Thera is right about that. Does he need a bandage, Gotus?”

“
Yes, sir,” Gotus answered immediately. “To keep dirt out until the new skin forms completely.”

“
That’s all I wanted,” Skaia murmured very quietly. “Master Paulinus was just upset when I asked.”

“
You still should have come to me when it first happened, Skaia,” Castor chastised softly. “Gotus, you may go. Prepare several bandages for the boy.”

Gotus glanced at Skaia one more time, smiling slightly, before bowing to Castor and leaving.

“
I’m sorry you were bothered, sir,” Skaia said to Castor after the door was closed.

Castor ignored the comment. “What is this other injury Paulinus mentioned?”

“
I… Master Castor, it is nothing,” Skaia whispered.

The sun was flooding through the window and Castor could see that Skaia blushed deeply. “Take off your loincloth and bend over the bench.” He pulled the bucket out of the way. “How badly were you hurt?”

Skaia’s voice was shaking when he answered. “I don’t know, sir. There was just a little blood.” He tensed when he felt Castor’s hands on his buttocks.

“
Relax,” Castor said softly. “I won’t hurt you.” Skaia obeyed as best he could. In time, Castor was rubbing some smooth cream inside him. It numbed his pain immediately. Castor stood up and washed his hands in the bucket of water. “You’re right,” he finally said. “The ointment I put in you is just for the pain. You don’t need anything else.”

Skaia stood up quickly, pulled on his loincloth, and lowered his tunic, never lifting his gaze from the floor. “Thank you, sir. I’m sorry you had to be called.”

Castor touched Skaia’s face and lifted his chin gently. “From now on, any time you are hurt, come to me. I won’t let anyone else know. I promise.”

Skaia was ashamed that his eyes filled with tears, but he continued to look back at Castor. “Thank you very much, sir. Sometimes, I feel…” 
Like I’m being abused. And then like I’m being pampered…
“I’m sorry, sir. I will come to you if I’m hurt again. Thank you, sir.”

“
If you don’t, I’ll whip you with my strap,” Castor said sternly, wishing he could hold the boy and offer him comfort. But it wasn’t possible.

“
Yes, sir. I promise to be obedient,” Skaia smiled, remembering Castor’s whippings from his childhood.

Castor grinned back. “See that you do.” He picked up the bucket and opened the door, going back out into the garden.

Skaia saw him talking with Paulinus and Lucius, and waited until he left before approaching the old master.

Paulinus looked up. “Not a word, young man. I’m old enough to be worried when I want to be.”

Lucius was laughing behind his hand and Skaia smiled at both of them. “It’s fine, sir. I don’t mind… I mean, thank you.”

Paulinus laughed, too, and took a pair of shoes from Lucius. “My old slave found these. Try them on and see if they’ll do.”

Skaia pulled them on and tightened the laces carefully, bending the leather to fit his feet, before walking several steps away and back. “They fit very nicely, sir. And they’re comfortable. Thank you, and you, too, Lucius.”

Lucius nodded, and Paulinus stood up and walked to the border of the garden. “This is probably a waste of time, but I think the thick clumps of grasses in the back should be separated, and some of them planted where you put the ones yesterday. The statue won’t move, so if they survive, they won’t have to be moved again.”

“
For at least a week,” Lucius called out.