Free Skaia by Ayden Sadari Page A

forgot to tell me I would love you.”

IV

    Love, Skaia thought. Does Glaucus love me? He supposed his young master might see it that way. Glaucus had certainly been good to him over the years, better than any slave had a right to expect. Skaia wasn’t stupid; he knew that. But there was a vast difference between them and he thought Glaucus could not see it. Still, he burrowed his head on Glaucus’ shoulder, willing in the moment to believe and to take that comfort.
    Would there be more, he wondered, his heart beginning to race when Glaucus continued to hold him. Would they have sex tonight?  They had come close before and, in truth, Skaia wondered endlessly what it would be like to be so totally possessed by his young master. Not awful, surely. Perhaps… perhaps it would be a good way to say goodbye to Glaucus as he left for his long tour. Perhaps he could ensure Glaucus didn’t forget him. He lifted his head from Glaucus’ shoulder to look into his eyes.
    But the moment had passed.
    Glaucus’ eyes were dreamy now, and he was already moving to lie down. Skaia shifted him gently and pulled the sheet up to cover him. Walking back to his own mat at the foot of the bed, he felt a deep sense of disappointment. He and Glaucus had talked about sex often. Glaucus always told him of his visits to various brothels, and even of his exploits with his friends’ slaves when he visited their homes. They had spoken of the possibility of sex between the two of them. It was Glaucus who put it off, saying he wanted to be more experienced before he took Skaia. When the trip grew so near, they planned to have their first experience together while on the journey to Greece.
    Only now there would be no trip. Not for Skaia.
    I’m brooding, he realized and wished desperately that he might drink as Glaucus had done, to push away his sense of despair. His mind was relentless, turning over and over with thoughts of the life they had shared for the last nine years. He remembered Glaucus teaching him to play Bones that first night, and so many other games after that. He remembered clearly that he had never expected to ever enjoy any of them.
    Only something had changed… Glaucus had seemed to learn patience with his ignorance and had begun to explain the rules of the games, and had even ceased to be angry when he sometimes won.
    Actually, looking back, Skaia knew Glaucus had usually been patient with him, explaining his lapses without punishing him. Skaia had been grateful for his kindness and, in turn, had sought to obey and please him.
    There were exceptions of course. Skaia also remembered the times Glaucus had punished him. Those occasions had been infrequent, and usually at the insistence of his father. Just once did Skaia remember Glaucus being truly angry with him, and the incident was burned into Skaia’s memory… Glaucus had just turned ten, so he must have been twelve.
    Glaucus was supposed to be practicing his Greek letters. Though he had become quite conscientious about his lessons, on this day he wanted to practice Latrunculi moves instead. Skaia had picked up his wax tablet and made the letters himself. He had been thrilled when he compared them to the tutor’s precise patterns. But Glaucus had taken his enthusiasm as disapproval of his own lackadaisical attitude. He had pulled the tablet from Skaia’s hands, and thrown it on the floor, breaking it.
    When Glaucus saw the broken pieces, he had been childishly furious, and ordered Skaia to strip and lean against the wall. Skaia had argued before obeying, and even then had been none too quick. Glaucus had beaten him without counting the strokes. None of the whip blows had been particularly hard, but the multitude of strikes had eventually been very painful. Skaia had cried out before he collapsed on the floor.
    And Glaucus had run to fetch his father.
    Which made everything worse. Thaddeus had lectured his son for losing his temper and had then chastised Skaia for his lack of