Skaia by Ayden Sadari Read Free Book Online

explain. “Yes, Skaia, you were fine. I’m sorry I complained. I’m sorry you were whipped… ” He remembered the child’s nightmares over the past weeks and thought he should have offered solace without Castor’s instruction—even if the others in their cell ridiculed him. “Now that we know it helps, I’ll hold you at night. With luck, your bad dreams will be held at bay.”
    Skaia understood little of what Gotus said, except that, by his tone he obviously meant to be encouraging. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
    “ Get up now, Skaia. Get dressed. We have to eat and get to work.”
    “ Yes, sir.” Skaia stood on shaky legs, and picked up his tunic. He hadn’t folded it properly when he’d taken it off, and now it was badly wrinkled. Once he’d pulled it on, he looked down at himself in dismay. One of the few things Castor had made sure he understood was that he must always care for his clothes. He knew Castor would notice and was almost sure he would be punished again. After Thaddeus’ beating yesterday, and Castor’s last night… he was desperately afraid.
    On the way upstairs to the kitchen, Skaia hid as best he could behind Gotus. When they arrived, though, Gotus took his usual seat and Skaia moved to his. He sat quietly, not taking anything from the plates that were passed.
    In time, Castor looked at him and frowned. “You look awful, Skaia. You know better, don’t you? Your clothes must always look neat.”
    “ Yes, sir. I know. I sorry.” Skaia’s blue eyes brightened with tears as he looked up.
    Castor shook his head sadly. In their final discussion of the night, Thaddeus had not only given him the right to punish the child—but the responsibility to discipline him. To make sure he was obedient and ready for Glaucus. “Get up, Skaia. Remove your tunic and brace against the wall.”
    Skaia looked at him. He wanted to protest. To beg. But he knew that arguing would not be tolerated and would only make Castor angrier. He had watched the others in those first days after arriving here. They always folded their clothes neatly before they wrapped themselves in their blankets to sleep. He’d just been too upset last night to remember. He’d been careless. For such a lapse, his father might have punished him, too. Though never in public—and not with a whip.
    By now, he had seen many of the other slaves punished. It was almost a daily occurrence that someone made a mistake, and the consequences were always the same. The slave would remove his tunic and lean with his hands braced against the wall, as Castor had instructed him last night. All the other slaves had just accepted it, taken their punishment silently and then gone about their duties. And Castor was seldom harsh. On some level, Skaia understood that he was just doing his own duty.
    The youngster lowered his eyes, willing himself to stand. He pulled his tunic over his head, and, after taking a deep breath, put his small hands against the wall.
    To everyone’s surprise, Gotus stood up and protested. “He’s just a little boy. You said so yourself, Castor.”
    “ Do you want to join him, Gotus?” Castor asked sharply.
    “ No, sir.” Gotus sat again, remembering clearly why sympathy for others was frowned upon.
    Nodding, Castor picked up his strap. He looked at Skaia’s back. The marks from the prior day’s beating were still visible. There were a few scabs from cuts Thaddeus had made, but nothing likely to scar. He struck quickly three times and none of the blows hard. Skaia jerked slightly with each blow, but made no sound.
    Castor was satisfied, and looked at Gotus, his brows raised in question. Gotus canted his head and a ghost of a smile reached his eyes. Castor had made his point, but had not been severe. “That’s all, Skaia,” Castor said softly, encouraged by the change in the boy’s attitude. “Put your tunic back on.”
    Skaia looked at Castor when he was dressed, his little hands smoothing down his