Skaia by Ayden Sadari Read Free Book Online Page B

bucket. “Water dirty,” he almost whispered as Lucius reached out to take it.
    “ It doesn’t matter,” Lucius chuckled. “We’ll be using it in the dirt.” He knelt again and started to pour small amounts on the ground around the plants he and Paulinus had just moved.
    Skaia watched them work silently. He knew his mother had always used her scrub water and wash water in her garden. But he wasn’t sure how the Romans might feel about doing the same. He was glad to see there might be some commonality; it made him feel just slightly less strange in this new place.
    When Paulinus looked up again, he was pleased to see something other than fear on the small face. But he wondered how Thaddeus was able to whip the child. Did he not see how much Skaia was like Glaucus? Even as the thought occurred to him, Paulinus pushed it from his mind. Slaves were different from free men. And when he had given up leadership of his family to his son, he had given up the right to make such choices. Thaddeus was the one who must make this boy ready to serve his grandson. And he couldn’t interfere.
    Still, he had Skaia assist him for several minutes with the plants and regretted that he had to set the boy back to scrubbing. “Lucius, show Skaia where to get fresh water. He must complete his work.”
    Skaia looked from one to the other and realized his respite was over. Lucius looked distressed about the order, but he obeyed without questioning. And Skaia followed him with the now empty bucket.
    By the time Skaia had finished the walkways in the peristylium, his knees ached horribly, and he was almost overjoyed to see Gotus approach. He pushed himself to his feet. “I finish, sir.”
    Gotus looked around to be sure the work was acceptable. When he determined it was satisfactory, he smiled at the small slave. “You’ve done well, Skaia. Come with me now. Castor has someone for you to meet.”
    To meet? Skaia almost stumbled he was so surprised.
    Castor was waiting at the entrance to the kitchen and sent Gotus on to his next task, but he stopped Skaia. “Go wash yourself and put on clean clothes.” When Skaia just looked at him, he asked the boy if he understood.
    “ Yes, sir. But… but who I meet, sir?” He regretted the question as soon as it was out of his mouth. He wasn’t supposed to question, and Castor, of course, would not answer.
    But he did frown. “Don’t question your orders, Skaia,” he said sharply. “Just obey.”
    Obey. Skaia bowed slightly and went to the small washroom. While he washed himself, one of the household women brought him a clean tunic. He thanked her and was surprised to see her smile. It lightened his heart and he smiled back.
    When he returned to the kitchen, he looked around for Castor and spotted him with a man he’d never seen before, standing together by one of the side entrances to the domus. Skaia studied this new man for a moment. He was obviously a slave; he wore a collar. About the same age as Gotus, Skaia thought. He had longish brown hair and brown eyes. He was slim; his legs shapely beneath his short tunic. Even Skaia knew he was attractive and as his eyes rose upward again, he realized the man’s collar was leather. He handled his own metal one unconsciously, wondering if the material had any significance. He was startled when Castor called out to him, but he walked to them without delay.
    “ Carden, speak to him. Make sure you understand each other.”
    The new slave spoke to Skaia slowly. “My name is Carden. What are you called here?”
    Skaia looked up in amazement. It was the first time anyone had spoken to him in his Gallic tongue since he had been separated from the other slaves in the auction house. “I am…” He hesitated, tempted to use his real name, but no one in this household had ever spoken it. “I am Skaia,” he finally said. “How did you come to be here?”
    “ Your master sent for me, to help you learn their speech. You understand me?”
    “ Yes,