This story contains scenes involving the _s_e_x_ual and physical abuse of young boys by adults. If you do not like such stories do not read this.
I would be glad to receive any comments or suggestions. Please send these to me zelamir@hotmail. com. The only comments I will ignore are those that tell me they do not like the story because it contains descriptions of _s_e_x_ual and physical abuse of boys by adults. That is what this story does contain. You have been warned.
"Marcus get back on the bed with your bum in the air. Now you're a slave as nature obviously intended you have to earn your keep like any other little slut."
Cassius still laughing released the boy's ears. Marcus struggled to grasp what had happened. The shock of discovering that, from the very first moment, Cassius had recognised his true identity had completely unsettled him. Slowly anger and shame replaced the initial numbing panic. It was bad enough having to pretend to be slave boy and offering his body to satisfy Cassius's lusts. Somehow it made it ten times worse to discover that Cassius had known all along his true identity.
"Move whore," Cassius said cuffing him on the side of the head, "I haven't all day. We've got a long journey ahead of us. A lot of people are looking for you. I think though we'll keep you for ourselves and use you to force your father back to Rome. Then we can extract his whole fortune from him. After that is done, well, we'll see. Perhaps the Emperor's inquisitors will be glad to have you or a boy brothel...which ever pays the best no doubt."
The blow, the realisation that his step mother's family would use him to blackmail his father, triggered something within Marcus. Without warning he drove the top of his head into Cassius's sneering face. The man taken completely by surprise fell backwards onto the bed, his open hands clasped to his face, blood welling from between his fingers. Marcus took one glance at the injured man and ran to the window. He threw the shutters open and jumped. He landed on his feet like a cat and was running again the instant he touched the ground. From behind him he heard Cassius shouting.
Two of the kennel men appeared round the house from the right. Marcus turned and sprinted to the left, aiming to cut between the barn and the house. Behind him he could hear the thud of the men's boots on the ground as they pursued him. Ahead of him a groom's startled face appeared looking over the half door of one of the loose boxes. The man quickly took in what was happening and moved out to cut off the fleeing naked boy. Marcus dodged from one side to the other and then catching the man off balance ducked below his outstretched arms.
Ahead of him he could see the yard wall and beyond the snow covered mountain slope. Once out there he would have a chance of escaping but how he would survive even one night in the freezing cold was another matter. He reached the wall and leapt for it. His hands clasped it's top. His bare feet scrabbled desperately at the rough stones. Glancing back he saw the groom almost on him. He had his right leg along the top of the wall. A hand caught his left ankle. He kicked out trying to break the hold. The man's grasp held. There was a sharp jerk on his leg and he was dragged off the wall falling on all fours on the ground. He tried to get away but the man's boot thudded into his stomach winding him.
"I'll teach you to run away," the man shouted punctuating his words with savage kicks to Marcus's ribcage.
"Get him to his feet we'll deal with the runt," another voice commanded.
Marcus was hauled to his feet and held by the groom, the man's fore arm across his throat, his feet clear of the ground, kicking helplessly. The two kennel men stood in front of him their hands on their knees panting for breath.
"Hit the boss would you?" one demanded and his fist thudded into the boys face.
Then the man stumbled forward as Musca drove the point of a broom handle into his kidneys. The second kennel man spun to face the boy only to receive a blow in his crutch that doubled him over. For a moment it looked as though Musca's intervention would be successful as he turned to deal with the man holding Marcus but another two men appeared from the house and Musca was taken from behind. He was knocked to the ground. The men took it in turns to kick the boy, his slight body lifting and shifting on the ground as their heavy boots thudded into it.
The groom watching the fun relaxed his hold on Marcus. The boy sank his teeth in the man's arm and wriggled free. He ran forward to try to protect his friend. The groom shouted and strong hands pulled him away from Musca.
"The little brute's bitten me," the groom shouted. "One of you give me a knife I'll geld the tyke."
One of the kennel man drew a knife from it's sheath on his belt. The men clustered round grinning as the groom advanced on Marcus the bare blade glinting in his hand.
"I think that's enough for a moment."
Cassius had joined them unnoticed in the excitement. He stood now slightly to one side a blood stained rag pressed to his nose.
"He's too valuable for the moment to kill. Bind his hands and bring him to the house," he continued. "I promise you we will have some fun with him later."
"What's happening? What's going on?" Crastinus asked hurrying up in his turn from the other side of the yard.
"Oh Crastinus," Cassius said silkily, "I don't suppose you knew what an important and valuable guest you have been entertaining here. Let me introduce you to Marcus son of the traitor Corax."
"So you spoke the truth after all," Crastinus said looking wonderingly at the naked boy now held firmly by the arms by two men, his wrists secured behind his back, blood dribbling down his chin from where the kennel man's fist had split his lips.. "You are the son of Corax"
"Of the traitor Corax," Cassius snapped.
"I don't know about that," Crastinus said slowly. "He has always been good to me and mine."
As he spoke Crastinus's right hand moved automatically across his body to where his sword would have rested when he was a soldier. His gesture was noticed and understood. Cassius took a step backwards and the other men tensed and fell silent.
"Sir," Marcus said, breaking the tension, "Sir, please look to Musca, he was trying to help me and I think he has been hurt badly."
His intervention was deliberate. Crastinus would not have had a chance, alone and unarmed, against Cassius's men. It served it's purpose. Crastinus glanced across to where Musca's small body lay forgotten, broken and bleeding in mire of the yard. With an oath he hurried over and knelt beside him. Cassius gestured to his men and they began to drag Marcus away towards the house.
"Cassius what ever has happened to your nose?" Antonius demanded as he joined the group of men.
"My little friend there did it with his head," Cassius grated gesturing at Marcus.
"On purpose? Are you going to torture him. After one of the dinners at the palace we all went to watch a youth being tortured in the cells. You have no idea how he screamed when they used the red hot pincers on him. So shrill you know. Quite painful on the ears. I could only stand it for a little . But I suppose it wouldn't be so bad in the open air if we had it done in the yard. It would pass the time after we return from hunting this evening and would have a good effect on the other slave brats."
"No, no Antonius you've got no idea how valuable this boy is. I'll explain it all to you in the house while we get ready to ride to Rome. You will come with me won't you? The rest of our friends can stay here and hunt. I would like them to keep an eye on Crastinus. These old soldiers you know have peculiar ideas about loyalty and gratitude which make them a danger to all reasonable people. I wouldn't put it past him to try some stupid rescue mission."
"Vindex," Cassius continued addressing one of the slaves, "go to the stables. Find Argius and the two of you saddle up four of the best horses we have here. Bring them to the front of the house. Come armed the pair of you. You will ride to Rome with me."
"You two," he went on speaking to the two men holding Marcus, "keep that boy safe till we're ready to go if you value your hides."
"Now," he said taking Antonius by the arm, "I will explain all this to you."
-------------------------
Half an hour later Marcus was lead back into the yard his hands still bound behind his back. The four men were already mounted and ready for the journey. Cassius and Antonius richly dressed with thick cloaks and swords at their sides. The two grooms in heavy woollen garments, Vindex with a dagger in his belt, Argius carrying a long spear.
"Take him up in front of you Vindex," Cassius ordered.
Marcus was lead over to the slave's horse. Vindex lent down and helped the two men holding the boy hoist him up onto the back of the horse. They found little trouble in lifting the boy's slight body so that he was seated in front of the groom. The man reached round him to take hold of the reign and Marcus felt his coarse clothes against his naked back.
Cassius reached down and snatched a piece of sacking from off the shoulders of one of the watching men.
"Wrap this round the brat," he ordered Vindex, "I don't want him freezing to death before he reaches his loving step mother."
Then he dug his heels into the flanks of his mount and clattered out of the yard followed by Antonius, then Vindex with Marcus jolting about uncomfortably in front of his captor and finally the spear carrying Argius.
It was clear that Cassius wished to put as much distance as he could between them and Crastinus during what remained of the short winter's day. They rode hard and dusk was falling before he slackened his pace just after they had ridden through the town of Voisini..
"You said your father had a farm somewhere about here Antonius?" Cassius enquired.
"Yes the turning is off to our right about a mile further on. But they won't be expecting us."
"No matter provided there are beds for us and shelter for the horses and slaves. I suppose there'll be food and wine there even if it means killing a couple of chickens for our suppers," and Cassius rode forward again.
It was dark by the time they reached the farm. The house was shuttered and apparently lifeless. No amount of hammering on the front door could raise anyone. It was only after Argius had been despatched, stumbling and swearing in the darkness, to the barn that he managed to find anyone. Then it was only an old and very frightened slave who had been left as a caretaker over the winter.
"Sir," the old man mumbled nervously as he stood by Antonius's horse wring his hands, "if I had known you were coming ..... but there is only me and little in the way of food or anything here."
"No matter you," said Antonius carelessly, "open up the house for us and we will forage for ourselves. I know where my father keeps the wine and even if I do not have a key to the cellar we will soon have the door off it's hinges."
"Sir what will your father say if..." The old man remonstrances were cut short by Antonius kicking him in the face.
"Shut up you old fool," Antonius commanded. "Open up the house as I ordered if you don't want to feel the whip across your shoulders and do not concern yourself with the affairs of your betters."
It was not long before Cassius and Antonius were comfortably settled in the best room of the house. The cellar door had collapsed under Argius's assault and the two young men were enjoying a bottle of Valernian while the remains of the door fed the fire at which they warmed their feet.
"What shall I do with the brat?" Vindex asked from the shadows in the side of the room where he stood holding Marcus.
"Oh untie his wrists. He can't get away here and he can wait on us while you help Argius forage for some food," Cassius replied.
Marcus felt the man's hands brush against his bare bottom as he fumble at the cord binding his wrists. It seemed to him that the job took Vindex rather longer than necessary. Then his hands were free and he was rubbing the red bands where the rope had burnt his skin..
"Come over here boy," Cassius commanded and Marcus shuffled reluctantly forward into the light.
"Nearer boy. You can't serve us standing half a mile off can you stupid little brute? You need to be close enough to fill up our glasses when they need it which will be often enough."
"Not a bad looking little tart is he Antonius." Cassius lent forward and ran his hand up the back of Marcus's thigh and squeezed his bum. Marcus stood there tense and glowering resenting the man's touch but powerless to escape.
" Do you know back in Rome when I first made a pass at him he turned me down flat," Cassius continued. "Too proud for words but it's different now. He's learnt he's got to please his betters. He's become a really lively little whore. Likes nothing better than his master's _c_o_c_k_ up that pretty bottom of his and good at sucking too. You should try him Antonius. You'll give him a really good time won't you Marculus" ( Authors note. The Romans added ulus to a word as I have mentioned earlier in this series to indicate both smallness and contempt. Thus puerulus meant not only a small boy but a small slave boy with the further implication that the child was his masters _s_e_x_ual play thing. Thus Cassius by calling Marcus Marculus was indicating that the boy was both a slave and a whore )
Marcus shifted uneasily under the man's touch but said nothing.
"Come on speak up slut," Cassius snapped, "or I'll have Vindex take the whip to you. There's nothing he would like more. He likes the whip does Vindex and he doesn't like little boys who bite."
"Yes," Marcus mumbled reluctantly and then as he saw Cassius's face darken with anger added hastily. "Yes Sir."
"That's better Marculus. You're a slave now and must try to please your Master. A good slave loves and respects his Master and I'm going to teach you to be a good slave."
Cassius moved his hand away from Marcus's bottom and ran it up the lads ribcage. He took one of the boy's nipples between his finger and thumb and pinched it hard. Marcus cried out in pain and the man laughed.
"The slut seems a bit sulky," Antonius remarked with a grin.
"I'm afraid he is Antonius and nobody likes a sulky slave. Still I expect we'll cure him of it in time. Come on Marculus let's see you smile." Cassius twisted the boy's nipple viciously.
Argius reappeared grasping two chickens by their necks. By the time these were plucked and cooked Cassius and Antonius were well on their towards finishing their first bottle of wine. They chatted idly while Marcus saw their glasses were kept filled and endured their constant fondling of his body. He longed to escape. He was sure that if he could just get to the horses he would be able to get clear. Serving the two men and with the slaves busy in the room no opportunity presented itself. Then his chance came.
"My glass is almost empty Marculus," Cassius said crossly looking up from his plate of chicken stew, "pay attention to what's going on can't you."
"The bottle's empty Sir," Marcus replied.
"Well go to the cellar and get a fresh one. Hurry boy. You should know better than to keep your betters waiting."
Marcus darted from the room. Behind him he heard Cassius say in a satisfied voice, "there he's learning. Slave bred you know. It comes naturally to the little brute."
In a few seconds he was outside in the yard. It was a dark night and he had no idea where the stables were. Dimly he could see farm buildings looming above him to the right. He ran across to them. He knew he had little time before the men began to wonder where he had got to. Feeling his way along the side of the barn he listened at each door he came to. Behind the third one he heard a rustle of movement. He pushed it open. It was pitch dark inside but ahead of him he heard a horse whinny. Forgetting all caution he moved quickly forward and stumbled headlong over a bundle lying on the floor.
Marcus scrambled to get up but a hand closed round his ankle in an iron grip.
"What's happening?" A man's voice demanded.
Marcus recognised the voice of the old slave that had welcomed them when they first arrived at the farm. Marcus tried to wrench his ankle free but although the man might be old he was still stronger than a twelve year old boy.
"What are you doing here?" The man demanded pulling Marcus towards him.
"Please let me go. Please," Marcus pleaded. "I'll ...I'll do what ever you want if you'll let me go. I'll suck you Sir any thing Sir. I'm good at sucking.. You can have me up the bum if you'll let me go."
"A run away eh?" The old slave said.
"Yes Sir please don't take me back to them Sir please." Marcus was almost crying now.
"It's no good my boy. You'll have to come with me. I can't take the risk. If let you go I'd be lucky to get off with a flogging. The young Lord's a cruel master and I've seen men nailed up for less."
Holding Marcus firmly by the scruff of his neck he marched the naked boy back into the house. In the hall way they were met by Vindex.
"So there you are boy," he said reaching out to take him from the other slave, "come with me you're in for a thrashing now."
"I found him," the older man said retaining his grip on Marcus's neck.
For a moment it seemed as though a tug of war was going to develop between Vindex and the old slave. Then Cassius's voice interrupted their contest demanding what was going on.
"I caught him Sir," the old man said brushing past Vindex and pushing Marcus ahead of him into the room where Cassius and Antonius sat. "He was trying to run away Sir. He was in the stables after a horse and I caught him."
"Well leave him here now and we'll deal with the brat," Cassius commanded.
"He said he'd suck me Sir if I let him go and let me have him up the bum too."
"Oh I see that's what you're after. Well you'll get your reward in the morning. Masters before slaves you know. Now get out of here. You smell of the farm yard."
Cassius walked up to Marcus and without saying a word hit him hard with his clenched fist full in the face at the same time kicking his feet from under him. Marcus crashed backwards full length on the floor. Cassius pinned him to the ground with a foot pressed into his stomach.
"Argius," he ordered, "Fetch your spear. Now bind the little tyke's ankles to it about a foot apart. Now you and Vindex take hold of each end of the spear and lift it up waste high."
Marcus lay on his back, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth where Cassius's fist had split his lips, gazing up fearfully at his tormentor.
Cassius picked up a cloth from the table and dipped it in a pitcher of cold water.
"Have you noticed Antonius how delicate a boy's feet are. Look at Marculus's here, clearly a slaves feet, dirty and calloused yet so small and fragile." As he spoke he sponged the dirt away. "Really rather pathetic and although the souls have been hardened the nerves are still very much alive, look how his toes curl when I do this." He ran his thumb nail firmly along the arch of Marcus's foot.
Smiling faintly he replaced the damp cloth on the table and picked up his riding crop. Without warning he landed a vicious cut between Marcus's legs catching him across the scrotum.. The boy screamed shrilly and clasped his hands to his crutch.
"Just pull his hands clear, would you Antonius, please."
Antonius dropped to his knees and reaching forwards pulled his hands away from his balls pinning his wrists to the floor above Marcus's head. He bent forward and kissed the whimpering boy full on the lips.
"Now Marculus pay attention or you'll get another one across the same place. Are you paying attention brat?" Cassius raised the cane to strike again.
"Sir yes Sir," Marcus gasped desperately.
"Good I'm very disappointed with you Marculus. I thought last night you had learnt to be an obedient willing little slave boy eager to please your Masters but today you have behaved badly. You've been sulky and bad tempered and I really can't allow that in a slave brat. And now trying to run away, to steal a horse, when you knew that Antonius here had said he would honour you by _f_u_c_k_ing your bum. That is very ungrateful and wicked. You've been put into this world Marculus to serve and give pleasure not to have ideas and wishes of your own. Clearly you have been spoilt and I must cure you of this foolish wilfulness."
Once again the crop cut down between Marcus's legs and the boy howled in agony.
"Do you understand boy?"
"Yes Sir...Please Sir..."
"You can let go of the child's wrists if you wish now Antonius."
"It is fortunate you know," Cassius continued as Antonius came to stand beside him, "how providence supports the natural order of things. Here we are with a slave brat that needs a beating, whom I do not want to mark in a noticeable way before I deliver him to my sister and who needs to be prevented from trying to run away again. All that can be achieved in one operation."
With these words he raised the crop and brought it down hard across the bare soles of Marcus's feet. The boy yelped and threw himself about on the floor.
"Hold him steady now," Cassius commanded the two slaves and struck again.
Again the pain caused through Marcus's body. Cassius plied the cane vigorously raining a series of short sharp strokes down on the boy's feet. Before long it seemed to Marcus as if every nerve in his body was being wrenched and twisted into a knot of all consuming agony. He no longer felt the individual blows fall just the overall excruciating pain that gripped his body and drove out all other sensations. Held firm by his ankles his body threshed and rolled on the floor as the man continued his merciless assault. His hands and head drummed on the ground, while snot and tears streamed down his face and a shrill constant scream was forced out between foam flecked lips.
"I think," Cassius said pausing at last in his cruel work, "that that will probably do."
He bent forward to examine the souls of Marcus's feet. Slipping the loop of the crop over his wrist he took one of Marcus's feet in his hand and pressed his thumb nail firmly down into the tortured flesh. The boy's screams reached a new intensity.
"You two unfasten his ankles. Antonius we will have a drink to refresh ourselves and give the brat a minute or two to recover before you enjoy him."
Cassius and Antonius returned to their seats by the fire where they lounged at their ease sipping their wine. Marcus released from the cords that bound his ankles to the shaft of the spear rolled himself into a ball on the floor and sobbing quietly.
"Marculus," Cassius drawled after a little time had passed. Marcus raised his head and looked at his tormentor threw eyes blurred with tears.
Marculus," Cassius continued, "you seem to be forgetting your duty. Our glasses are empty fill them at once."
Marcus began to pull himself gingerly upright dreading the moment when he would have to rest the weight of his body on his raw feet.
"Vindex the boy seems to have difficulty in standing. Be a good fellow and help him."
Vindex stepped forward and with a cruel smile hauled Marcus roughly to his feet.
The boy screamed. It felt as though he was walking on burning coals. He began a grotesque jig as he tried to ease the agony as the pulverised flesh on the base of his feet touched the floor. The four men watching roared with laughter.
"Why Marculus," Cassius sneered, "what ever is the matter. You'll never be able to pour wine hopping about in that ridiculous manner. You really are the most useless slave boy I've ever had the misfortune to own. Still never mind go and lie on the couch over there. On your face whore with your arse up in the air ready for Antonius to _f_u_c_k_ your miserable carcass. Get on boy."
There were further howls of laughter as Marcus half hopped half staggered across to the couch. He stretched himself out on it as commanded, hating the man for the pain and humiliation they had inflicted on him, hating himself for bearing them.
Antonius stood up and pulled his tunic up over his head. He undid his loin cloth and let it drop to the floor. His prick already stood erect and distended. He had been greatly excited by watching Marcus's punishment. He spat on his hand and lubricated his swollen _c_o_c_k_ with his own saliva. Cassius also got to his feet. Casually he thrust the poker into the glowing embers of the wood fire. He glanced at the two slaves and nodded. Grinning evilly they too began to approach the couch.
Antonius in a state of high arousement wasted no time on preliminaries. He knelt between Marcus's legs and thrust forward impaling the boy on his shaft. Marcus groaned as he felt the man's member invade his body. Antonius brutally rammed his _c_o_c_k_ into the boy. With three powerful thrusts he forced his way past the lad's sphincter and buried his prick's full length in his body. His balls slapped against the child's bare bum as he drove forward. As always, despite the pain, despite his own wish not to do so, Marcus began to respond to the man's invasion of his body.
Cassius pulled the poker from the fire. At the same moment Vindex and Argius gripped Marcus's by the ankles. Grinning broadly Cassius pressed the glowing tip of the iron bar against the bottom of one of Marcus's feet. The boy screamed and his whole body was convulsed. Antonius cried out as the child in his agony clamped himself tight and writhing about his _c_o_c_k_. With a loud groan the man came in a many phased orgasm deep inside the boy.
After a moment or two Antonius rolled away from the boy. He got back on his feet and stood panting by the couch looking down at Marcus's naked sobbing body.
"I'll lay a small bet that you've never had a more lively boy than that one," Cassius said laughing.
"You'd win it if you did. It's a trick I must remember for the future. I think it might be something that we could use in the Golden Palace. I don't think that I've ever heard of it being used even there."
"The only trouble is that it leaves the boy in a bit of a mess. Chuck this boy out in the hall one of you. We don't want his sobbing disturbing us," Cassius ordered.
"Isn't there a danger he'll try to make another break for it?" Antonius asked
"Not with his feet like that," Cassius replied reassuringly. "He wouldn't make it to the yard even."
There was further hilarity so far as the men were concerned the next morning when the old slave came to claim his reward for betraying Marcus. Cassius refused to allow the man in the house because he was so dirty. Marcus therefore had to service him in the yard with the other men standing round and jeering as he laboured. Indeed at first the boy was unwilling to perform but this reluctance quickly vanished when Antonius proposed a further application of the hot poker to the soles of his feet.
After the old fellow had been satisfied Vindex tied Marcus's wrists behind his back. He then wiped the lad's bottom clean with a handful of grass before lifting him onto the back of his horse for he did not want the saddle stained with filth.
They rode hard throughout that day and it was still some hours before sunset when they trotted through the Colina Gate and Marcus was once again back in Rome. He sat slumped in the saddle held in place by Vindex. Head bowed sunk in misery he took no notice of the crowds that jostled about them as they forced their way through the crowded Roman streets. This feeling of numb hopelessness stayed with him when he was pulled roughly to the ground and he saw that he was standing at the base of the broad flight of marble steps leading up to the portico of his old home.
"Get that lazy brat moving Vindex," Cassius called over his shoulder as he and Antonius hurried up the steps.
"Go on boy don't keep your master waiting," the slave ordered giving Marcus a push in the back to encourage him.
Marcus hobbled forward each step sending waves of pain through his body. He did not move fast enough for Vindex who reinforced his order with a savage kick on the boy's bum. Marcus staggered forward and loosing his balance fell to his knees. Passers by turned to see what was the cause of the commotion. Among them was a stocky country woman who had appeared from the side of the house. Her eyes rested on Marcus for a moment as he crouched on the steps sobbing and then wrapping her shawl about her head, she hurried away.
"Hurry it up," Vindex shouted, "crawl like the filthy brute you are if you must but get up those steps now."
The slaves brutality ignited a spark of spirit in the boy. He had not much pride left to him but he was not going to crawl into his own house with the slaves and freemen sneering at him. Marcus forced himself to stand up and then, biting down hard on his lower lip to stop crying out, walked, despite the agony that each step caused, him up the stairs.
"Take me to your Mistress, my sister, at once," Cassius commanded the porter.
The man's gaze strayed past the young man and rested on Marcus. His eyes widened as he recognised in the naked slave boy his master's eldest son.
"But Sir..." The slave stuttered gesturing at Marcus.
"But what you stupid brute. You've seen a plenty of dirty little slave tarts like that one I'm sure. Get a move on man and do as your told if you don't want a thrashing. And Marculus, you idle lump of dog's _s_h_i_t_ don't lag behind if you don't want the same."
Marcus stumbled along behind the two men as they followed the porter further into the villa. The porter took them to what Marcus recognised as his father's old study. He knocked on the door. A shrill bad tempered woman's voice told him to enter.
"Your brother to see you Miss and another gentleman," the slave said holding the door open for Cassius and Antonius.
"Ah Philomela," Cassius said as he entered the room with a satisfied air, "I have a gift for you.
"And for you too Father," he added catching sight of a fat worried looking man and bowing slightly.
He glanced over his shoulder and clicked his fingers impatiently
"Just put your boot up that brat of mine's bum. I want his useless idle carcass here now," he snapped at the porter and then turning back to his father and sister said, "I think you both know my friend Antonius."
The porter remained unmoving by the door. As Marcus made his painful way past him he bowed slightly and closed the door. Cassius who was busy talking did not notice the man's disobedience. Nor would it have occurred to any of the adults there to wonder, if they had noticed the man's bow, whether it was addressed to the slave brat rather than to themselves.
"What idiocy are you up to now Cassius?" His father demanded impatiently. "Your sister and I have problems enough without you wasting our time with your play boy friends and some little slave tart that you've purchased out of the gutter."
"Father I am surprised at you. Surely you recognise your nephew by marriage. The slave collar sits naturally about his throat don't you think? That's not surprising considering his breeding."
"It is Marcus," Philomela confirmed. She did not sound pleased.
"Why have you brought him here?" Cassius's father demanded fiddling nervously with the broad silver ring on his left hand.
"I thought you'd be pleased to have him," Cassius protested. "You can use him to force his father back to Rome and then to surrender his wealth to Philomela."
"The problem now is not getting Corax back here. It is keeping him away. When we moved in every free man of his seems to have disappeared. The slaves profess to know nothing and if they do know anything they're not saying, even under torture. Every creditor of his is pressing for payment and we have no idea of who owes him money. As a result we haven't been able to pay the monies we promised either as bribes to the imperial freemen or as contributions to the treasury we promised the Emperor. Now the Emperor has lost patience and I understand he has been negotiating with Corax for some time now to persuade him to return."
"I..I didn't know all of that Father."
"You don't know anything," his fond parent snapped. "Now you've brought the boy here what are we to do with hi?. If you'd left him up in the mountains there'd have been a good chance of him starving to death before the summer. Then your sister's son Lucius would have been Corax's heir and we'd have at least salvaged something from the wreck."
"Couldn't we just kill the brat Father. Then Lucius would be his heir anyway."
"That might have been a solution if you hadn't brought the little brute here. Every slave in the place will know by now that we have him. Kill him now and our corpses will be found floating in the Cloaca Maxima (the main Roman sewer) once Corax is back."
"Couldn't we murder both of them father?" Philomela suggested. "Then we could tell Corax that we killed Cassius to punish him for murdering Marcus."
"That idea is not without it's attractions but it won't work my dear. Not now that the whole household knows that the boy is here with us."
The fat man sat slumped in his chair thinking drumming his fingers on it's arms.
"I have it. There's that young man in England, Titus Cornelius, who's been bothering us about the provision in Corax's deed of manumission by which his eldest son was to be surrendered on reaching his thirteenth birthday to be a slave of his father Julius . The father has died, drunk himself to death I believe, and now young Titus is chasing his dues under the deed. I think Corax had some hold on the Cornelius's but his agent in England disappeared when Corax fled abroad and I can't find out what it was. They probably owed him money but I can't prove it. We'll send Marcus to him and that will be that. Otherwise we might have had to let him have your son Philomena when he reached thirteen."
"You can't take my Lucius to be a slave," Philomena protested angrily.
"Well it would be either that or paying young Titus a sizeable sum of money to forgo his rights under the deed. Anyway that won't arise now. And there's another advantage. I happen to know that Titus has been made priest of the Divine Claudius in Britain. He's desperate to lay his hands on as many boys as he can for the games at Colchester he has to give to celebrate this. Marcus will make good boy's flesh for the arena. He'll be killed and we won't be blamed. All we have done is to hand him over as we were legally obliged to under the deed of manumission."