Skaia (51 page)

“
Count,” Thaddeus commanded. Even as he readied himself to deliver the first blow, he reminded himself to hold the strap in such a way that only the flat of it struck Skaia’s skin. More bruising. More long-term pain. But less likelihood of cutting and permanent scaring.

Though Thaddeus struck far harder that he usually did, Skaia managed well enough for the first twelve strikes of the whip. But, on the thirteenth, he cried out before he could call the number. Tears were falling down his face, and the count was wrung from him.

When the whipping did not stop at fifteen, Skaia thought the total might be twenty. But then the whip hit for the twenty-first time. “Please, Master,” he begged. “Please stop.”

“
I told you to count,” Thaddeus snarled.

Skaia screamed out the count until thirty-one. On the thirty-second strike his legs collapsed under him, and he fell to the floor.

Thaddeus was hardly satisfied. “Get up! Count!”

Skaia knew that Thaddeus was saying something to him, but he could no longer comprehend the sounds through the blazing agony that engulfed his body. He covered his head with his arms, and sobbed wildly.

Lowering the whip to his side, Thaddeus stared down wordlessly at the beaten boy. Blood was running off Skaia’s back to the floor from the few cuts that had been made. But worse to look at were the bruises. Inflamed red, and lurid blue… already.
Maybe oozing blood…

Skaia’s body was shaking violently with his sobs. And Thaddeus was disgusted. With Skaia, and with himself.

He took his seat again, and waited until the boy regained some control and quieted his weeping. “You ran from me, Skaia. Do you realize how serious that was? If you’d managed to get out of this house, you would have been caught, and crucified. What in Hades were you thinking?”

Crucified? Oh, Belenus…
“I didn’t think,” Skaia admitted in a choked voice. He couldn’t even remember why he’d run. He curled himself into a tight ball, and only gradually released his hold on his head, tucking his arms to his chest.

“
Have you learned your lesson now?” Thaddeus asked more calmly.

“
Yes, Master.”

“
Tell me what you’ve learned,” Thaddeus insisted.

Skaia whimpered softly. His voice was shaking, but he got out the words. “That, I must always obey you. That, I must never run from you.”

Thaddeus dropped the strap on the floor, even though he knew he was being far too easy on the slave The punishment should have been at least fifty strikes. And not with that flat little whip. It should also have been performed in public—witnessed, to serve as a lesson to all slaves in the city. Such leniency as he was showing was disgraceful. More disgraceful than anything Glaucus had ever done with this slave… He glared at Skaia almost in disbelief. That the boy would be so stupid. That
he
would.

“
Thank me for showing you mercy,” he ordered.

Skaia’s breath hitched in pain as he tried to lift his head, as he forced himself to say the words. “Thank you, Master.”

“
For what?” Thaddeus demanded.

“
For not beating me to death, sir.”

Thaddeus closed his eyes and almost laughed. The statement was close enough to the truth. Skaia was not strong enough to survive the fifty lashes he deserved. Not with a scourging whip, or even a simple knotted one.

Coming to his senses, Thaddeus picked up the strap from where he’d dropped it and pushed it against Skaia’s lips. “Kiss it.”

A puny effort,
Thaddeus thought when the slave obeyed. But he threw the strap aside, knelt, and picked Skaia up, ignoring the boy’s hisses of distress—and the blood that smeared on his tunic.

He glanced in the direction of the antechamber, but already knew he wouldn’t put the boy there. Instead, he took Skaia to his own bed and laid him carefully on his stomach. “Stay put. I have to get Castor.”

There was no response, and for a moment Thaddeus panicked. But Skaia was still breathing, and Thaddeus realized he’d fainted. Just as well. At least his pain would ease for a while.

Castor came, along with Gotus, who carried a bucket of water, and Aulus, who brought a tray of cloths and small jars.

Thaddeus lit the large candles near the bed as Castor looked over Skaia’s back. “Is the light sufficient?”

“
Yes, Master.” Castor’s voice betrayed his concern. But then he took charge, as he always did, spewing orders to both Gotus and Aulus.

Thaddeus backed away and sat in his chair to watch. He noticed that Gotus had tears in his eyes, and that Aulus’ hands shook.
Weaklings,
he thought. But they were Skaia’s friends, and so he said nothing to chastise either man.

Castor washed Skaia’s back gently, and at first he applied the salve that stopped bleeding only to the cuts that needed it. But when he saw blood begin to leach from the worst of the bruises, he rubbed a thin layer over the entire injured area. “Gotus, empty the bucket, and bring fresh water to clean up the mess on the floor,” he instructed.

Thaddeus glanced to where Skaia had fallen. He knew there would be blood, but in the brighter light of the candles he could see urine as well. Skaia had pissed himself.

With Gotus gone, Thaddeus went to the bed and looked at the damage he’d caused to his errant slave. The bruises were getting worse, not only darkening but swelling as well. The whole area, from Skaia’s shoulder blades to the tops of his thighs, was an angry red color, blotched with black and purple.
Oh, Jupiter…

“
How bad is it, Castor?” he asked quietly.

The old slave looked up. “I… I don’t think he’ll die from it, sir.”

Aulus gave a sob, and Castor faced him angrily. “Get out. You’re no longer needed.” As soon as Aulus was gone, he turned back to Thaddeus. “I’m sorry, sir. That should not have happened. I’ll punish him tomorrow.”

For being upset by what I’ve done?
Thaddeus almost laughed.
Perhaps I should have you punish me as well…
“What about Skaia?” he asked again. “Do I need to call a healer?”

Castor looked down at the unconscious boy. “I don’t think so, sir. The… the cuts will heal. The damage to his flesh—beneath the skin—will not be known for some days. But… but if it’s worse in the morning…” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Master. I don’t know what else to do now.”

Thaddeus took a deep breath to calm himself. “It’s alright, Castor. I was the one who beat him. It’s not your fault.”

“
Thank you, Master. May I… may I put numbing ointment on him?”

“
Yes.”
Of course,
Thaddeus thought, as he sat again in his chair.

Just as Castor was ready to leave, Skaia moved a little. “I think he’s coming to, sir. Are you sure you don’t want him moved from your rooms?”

Thaddeus shook his head. “Not tonight. I’ll decide tomorrow.”

Gotus had already cleaned the floor and been dismissed. Now Castor bowed and left.

Moving to sit on the bed beside Skaia, Thaddeus questioned him quietly. “Are you waking up?”

“
Yes, Master,” Skaia said weakly, shifting his head a little to see Thaddeus. “I’m sorry, sir. I’m really sorry.”

Thaddeus nodded, and stroked the boy’s head gently. “Can you tell me why, Skaia, why you would do something so stupid?”

At least Skaia remembered now the reason why he had run away. And though he didn’t think he could make Thaddeus understand, he tried. “I… I don’t want to belong to both you
and
Master Glaucus. Please, Master Thaddeus. Please don’t make me do that.” Tears leaked from his eyes before he could stop them.

Thaddeus considered the boy’s answer carefully. “So… if you had to choose between my son and me, or just me, you would choose me?”

Oh, Belenus.
“Yes, Master. I would choose to be only with you, sir, if… if I had such a choice.”

Thaddeus did not let Skaia see him smile as he began to gently run his fingers through the boy’s hair.
If you are obedient, I will not hurt you,
he vowed silently.
I will never force you to accept another. I will try to make you as happy as you think you would have been with Glaucus.

And, in that moment, Thaddeus meant it.

By morning, Thaddeus had to admit that there was far more involved in caring for Skaia’s injuries than he was willing or able to give. The boy had slept fitfully, seeming to shift in the large bed continuously, occasionally groaning, and sometimes even sobbing.

When Castor finally came to wake him, Thaddeus was already out of bed and sitting at his desk, frowning ferociously. “What the fuck is wrong with him, Castor?” he questioned immediately, glancing at Skaia. “Why can’t he just be quiet?”

Castor bowed wordlessly before crossing to the bed, frightened for himself as well as for the boy. Had the master not realized how much pain Skaia would be in? But of course not… everyone assumed the strap was just a minor instrument of punishment.
Since it’s what I am allowed to use.

The old slave spoke quietly as he looked over Skaia’s back. “The strap doesn’t often cut the skin, Master” …
not when it’s used with skill…
“but it can do great damage when… when it is applied with great force. The tissue beneath the skin can be badly bruised.” He turned to face Thaddeus. “I can take him away, until the worst is past. The bruising will heal, but it may be a while, sir.”

This time Thaddeus agreed without argument. “Remove him. Make him as comfortable as you can,” he ordered, dismissing Castor to make the arrangements and going to sit beside Skaia. “Can you hear me?” he asked. “Do you understand me?”

Skaia looked up, large dark circles showing under his eyes. “Yes, Master. I’m sorry I disturbed you, sir.”