Aquila Et Noctua

by P J Mann

  Nara glanced at him and bit his lower lip. “Let’s see what Julius has to say. I can’t take you there without his permission.”

  Saul grabbed his hand. “He is not your Master and definitely not mine. Take me to Marcus Tiberius’ place.”

  “And neither are you my Master. Off with that attitude. I’m trying to help you,” Nara protested.

  “It doesn’t seem like it.”

  Nara sighed. “Take my hand. I'll lead you to your former Master.”

  Saul smiled. “I knew I could count on you. Thank you.”

  “You are bringing me to trouble. I hope you appreciate my efforts,” Nara sighed as they walked out onto the streets.

  Saul couldn’t wait to be in the only place where he could find protection and safety, the place where his slavery began.

  “When can I take away the bandages from my eyes? I can’t stand not to see where I am going.”

  Nara glanced at him, unable to tell him that he might never see again.

  “I don’t know. You have to ask Julius.”

  “Didn’t he tell you anything? Haven’t you asked him?” Saul insisted.

  “We didn’t have time to talk about anything. You were bleeding and needed immediate care. When Julius stabilized your condition, we were both so tired we went to bed.”

  “Is there something you are not telling me? Your voice is trembling,”

  Nara didn’t know what to say, or how to tell Saul the truth.

  He wondered how he would explain to Julius his bringing Saul away without having consulted him first; he felt trapped. “Last night, Julius and I slept very few. We couldn’t understand what happened to you, and why, in the dead of night, you were wounded like that, and now you tell me that my voice is trembling. What do you expect? I can’t tell… forget it.”

  At the desperation in Nara’s voice, needles of guilt pricked Saul. “I am sorry, Nara, forgive me. You’re right. Take me back to Julius. I have no right asking you to do this and I don’t want you up in trouble.”

  “No, let’s go to Marcus Tiberius, then when he is aware of the situation, we will go back.” He hoped his former Master would help him.

  They walked in silence until they arrived at the house of Marcus Tiberius. Nara knocked on the heavy door, waiting for someone to appear.

  A slave opened the door looking suspiciously at both. Saul kept his head lowered. He felt humiliated to show his eyes covered by a bandage and scared, thinking of what Marcus Tiberius’ reaction might be.

  “What are you looking for here?” the slave asked.

  “We need to see your Master, Marcus Tiberius. It is a very important issue.”

  “You can tell me, and I will forward your message,” he replied, unwilling to disturb his master.

  Saul raised his head. “Caleb, I really need to see Marcus Tiberius, please. I know I am not serving this house anymore, but what I have to say is really important.”

  Caleb barely recognized Saul. His tunic was dirty with blood and dust, his hair wasn't combed, and that bandage startled him.

  “Saul, is that really you? For all the gods, what happened?” He guided him inside.

  “It is a long story, and I will tell you when you bring me to Marcus Tiberius.”

  Caleb looked at Nara, then back to Saul. “I will tell him you arrived.”

  Hesitating in front of the door of his master’s room, Caleb didn’t know how he should introduce the visit to his Master. He took a deep breath and entered the room.

  “Master, forgive my intrusion. Saul arrived with another of your son’s slaves. He asks to see you about something very important. I barely recognized him.”

  Marcus Tiberius raised his gaze to him. Why would Saul come here? He thought.

  “Bring them in. What could be so important for Saul to come here?” Marcus Tiberius ordered.

  Caleb to escort the visitors into the presence of his Master. When Marcus Tiberius saw Saul, he realized something very serious had happened in his son’s household.

  He walked toward him and held him by the shoulders, taking a good look at him. His eyes getting wet, and his heart aching in his chest.

  “Saul, who did this to you?” he said with trembling voice.

  As soon as he felt Marcus’ hands on him, Saul could not contain his grief anymore and held himself tightly to his former Master, barely able to breathe through his cries.

  “Caleb, you can go. As for you, slave,” Marcus Tiberius glanced at Nara. “You can stay with us.”

  As Caleb left, Marcus Tiberius parted from Saul and took a careful look at him. He had given a flawless slave to his son’s household, and what stood before him resembled the dirty creature he had bought from the Forum.

  “Master, I…I need protection, and no one can grant it to me but you. I beg you not to reject me, under the clause of the wedding contract,” Saul cried.

  “One thing at a time. How could Flavius allow something like this happens to you?” he asked.

  “Your son is missing. No one knows what happened to him. He hasn’t returned home yet, and neither have any of the slaves who traveled with him. I am worried.”

  “He hasn’t returned yet? Why hasn’t Claudia told me? That woman has some explaining to do, including your condition.” With a hint of sarcasm, Marcus Tiberius said, “Don’t tell me she is missing too.”

  “No, Master, she is at home; she doesn’t know I’m here, and it is better if she doesn’t.”

  “This is something we will solve later. Now, tell me what happened to you,” Marcus Tiberius asked anxiously.

  “I…I can’t remember everything.” Saul knew he couldn’t tell the truth. Claudia’s cruelty had no boundaries.

  He began, “It happened last night. I was sleeping like all the others when I heard noises coming from the garden. I stood up from my bed, and someone grabbed me. They held me down. I can’t recall what they said.” His voice rose in anguish. “I thought they were thieves and I got scared. I tried to get free, but in the commotion, one of them wounded my eyes.

  “Julius came almost immediately. After that, everything is blank. I woke up this morning in Julius’ ambulatory and needed to see you; I felt in danger and scared.”

  Marcus Tiberius remained silent, thinking about what Saul said. He could not believe or put things together. Thieves broke into his son’s house during the night while he was gone. His son was possibly missing, and Saul was probably ruined permanently. Yet, Claudia didn’t tell him. Maybe Saul was lying, but his body said more than his words, and the bitterness in his tears told a more terrifying story.

  “Saul, when can Julius take off your bandages? When will you be able to open your eyes to look into mine?” he asked, his tone gentle.

  “I don’t know, Master. I need to ask him.”

  Marcus Tiberius looked with questioning eyes at Nara, who shook his head, indicating the gravity of Saul’s condition. Silence became a heavy curtain between the three.

  Saul could hear the slight sigh, escaping Marcus Tiberius’ mouth, and started to fear that his condition was more serious than he could have ever imagined.

  “Master… Nara, please… you don’t mean that I…, please, don’t say…” he tried to say, but his tears choked the words in his throat.

  Marcus Tiberius held Saul tightly to his chest, allowing him to shed all his tears, dampening the tissue of Marcus Tiberius’ tunic.

  The sobs became cries, and the cries became screams that resounded through the walls of the room. In his own language, Saul cursed everything he knew as liable for his fate. First of all, his God, the one that was supposed to guide and protect him. He cursed his father and his mother for bringing him to that life. He cursed Rome and the militia, which tore him away from the comfort of his home.

  He wanted to curse Marcus Tiberius, but his affection for him stilled his tongue. Neither could he curse Flavius, who perhaps had found a crueler destiny.

  Soon the screams subsided, becoming cries, then sobs.

 
Marcus Tiberius whispered in his ear.

  “Saul, calm down. I can’t accept this behavior from the best of my slaves.”

  “Master, I am the most worthless of your slaves. I just want to die,” Saul breathed, slumped within his former master’s arms.

  Marcus Tiberius kissed his forehead, knowing that bringing Saul to his duties would be a hard task, and worst of all, he understood his feelings. His heart cried in tandem with Saul’s cries. Frustrated by his feelings and his inability to be the guide he was expected to be, he parted from Saul, grabbed his face with one hand, and slapped him.

  Shock registered on Nara’s face. Saul’s former Master had seemed to be a man who wouldn’t harm his slaves without justification.

  Saul was obviously a victim, and Marcus Tiberius, without any apparent reason, had hit him.

  Marcus Tiberius tenderly looked at Saul, caressing his mussed hair.

  “Master,” Saul whispered, “forgive me, please.”

  “You know how hard it is for me to punish you…”

  “I deserve it, and I will accept any punishment you find appropriate.”

  Marcus Tiberius smiled at him. “Not this time, but beware, the next time I won’t forgive you,” he replied, caressing Saul’s wet cheeks.

  “I sounded like a fool to you, didn’t I?” Saul asked.

  “Not at all, but now that you have discharged your grief, it would be appropriate to behave like the slave I've raised up. It doesn't matter if you won't be able to see again. I am the only one who can decide if you are worthless or not, and I still find your services useful. You are a wise youth, and can still work as an interpreter, at least in my household. Perhaps my son will find you useful for other tasks. It is never up to you to decide your usefulness, so stop crying and feel grateful you have a Master who is willing to find a way to make you useful,” he said.

  “Of course, Master. I didn't mean to be ungrateful.”

  Nara watched the scene incredulous as it unfolded before him; he could not understand their relationship. Nara asked, “Marcus Tiberius, should we return to Julius’ ambulatory? He will get upset if he knows I took Saul away without asking his permission. Claudia made him responsible for Saul’s health and my behavior.

  “I will come with you to inform him that I’m taking Saul back. Flavius got my slave on the condition that nothing would ever happen to him, that he wouldn’t be mistreated nor damaged. He wasn't able to keep his promise, so I will take him back to serve me.”

  “But this wasn't Flavius’ responsibility.”

  Marcus Tiberius’ tone harshened. “I haven’t asked for your opinion. Whatever happens to a slave is his Master's responsibility. Claudia should have known it and has to explain to me why she hasn't informed me of Saul's accident or that Flavius is missing.”

  Nara bowed his head in submission. Marcus Tiberius held Saul's arm and guided him back to Julius’ ambulatory, with Nara in their wake.

  Inside, there were no patients. As Julius saw Nara come in, anger colored his puce.

  “Who gave you permission to leave this place, and who gave you permission to take Saul away?” he yelled.

  Nara knew he had disobeyed, and he hadn't any good excuse. “Saul wanted to see his previous Master. I thought that I should—”

  Julius didn't let him finish his sentence. He hit him across his cheek.

  Nara lost his equilibrium and fell on the floor, knowing that this was only the beginning of his punishment. He was sure Julius would report to Claudia what happened, and she would vent her rage on him.

  “You hadn't any right to act on your own. I told you to ask me before taking any action that came to your mind.” Julius raised his hand to strike the slave again.

  Saul pleaded, “Julius, please. I am responsible. I insisted that he would take me to Marcus Tiberius. I needed to talk to him. Please understand. Can't you just forgive him?”

  Julius turned his flushed face to him and poised his hand to hit Saul.

  “Don’t you dare touch my slave,” hissed Marcus Tiberius, grabbing Julius’ wrist.

  “He is not your slave, Marcus Tiberius. He is Flavius’ slave,” he challenged.

  “Don't question me. If I say that Saul is my slave, so it is,” he replied, holding Saul tightly.

  Saul couldn't remember the last time he felt protected like that. It was like going back in time to when Marcus Tiberius had lifted him in his arms from the dirt road. Even when he punished him, he felt protected, as every punishment felt in his heart like the one a father imposes on a child when he is making the same mistakes. There was no hatred in those punishments, rather a sort of care.

  Held tightly to Marcus Tiberius’ chest, Saul felt embedded in the warmth of Marcus Tiberius’ body, and instinctively his arms encircled his Master’s waist.

  Julius knew he couldn’t contradict a free Roman citizen, particularly when he had no arguments to oppose; therefore, he turned his gaze down to look at Nara.

  “Of course, Marcus Tiberius,” Julius replied with a lower voice.

  He offered his hand to help Nara stand up. “Assist me to take care of Saul's eyes.”

  Marcus Tiberius parted from Saul so that Nara could guide him to the examining table. Nara held him tight as Julius firmly pressed the base of his neck, rendering Saul unconscious.

  Marcus Tiberius watched with wondering eyes as they lifted him onto the table. “How? What did you do to him?” he asked, amazed.

  “Better for him not to be awake. He won't be able to lie still. Don't worry; I'm not harming him,” Julius replied as he gently removed the bandages from Saul’s eyes.

  “Retrieve clean bandages, Nara,” Julius ordered as he took some jars from the closet.

  Nara came back and held Saul's head firmly so that Julius could apply the medication.

  “Won't he be able to see anymore?” Marcus Tiberius asked as he observed Julius at work.

  “I am afraid not, Marcus Tiberius. The knife caused irreversible damage. What I can do is prevent infection as they heal.”

  He changed the bandages. “Within a week or ten days, they can be safely removed. What will you do with him then?” Julius asked.

  “I haven't thought about it, but he has always been a very useful slave, and I believe he can continue to serve me,” Marcus Tiberius replied thoughtfully.

  “But shouldn’t we consult Master Flavius?” Nara said.

  Marcus Tiberius snapped, “My son is missing and, at least until he returns, Saul stays with me.”

  “Of course, I didn't mean to offend you. I just thought that Master Flavius... Well, nothing. I'm sorry,” Nara replied, lowering his gaze.

  Julius pointed at Nara. “That is your problem. You think even when nobody gave you permission to do so, and you speak without permission. Mistress Claudia won't be happy when she finds out what you did.” The physician carried Saul into the back room.

  Marcus Tiberius looked at Nara, observing him carefully. He was a handsome youth. Perhaps his previous Master treated him more like a companion than as a slave, which was possibly the reason he could not keep from telling what was in his heart.

  In the young slave’s eyes, he saw fear, something he never saw in any of his. “Nara, this is your name, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “What scares you so much?”

  “I don't understand. What do you mean?” Nara graciously bent his head to the side.

  “As soon as Julius mentioned Claudia, your expression changed.”

  “I'll be punished later, as soon as Julius tells her that I disobeyed him. I am afraid that I will also be punished because I brought Saul to see you.”

  “Maybe I should talk to her. You disobeyed, and you deserve to be punished, but in this case, I would consider making an exception. She hadn't told me about my son, and I felt disappointed to find out such important news from a slave, rather than from my daughter-in-law.”

  Nara smiled at him. “I appreciate your words, but this won't change my situation. It
wouldn't have cost me much effort to ask Julius’ permission, and probably he would have granted it. I am not afraid of being punished. It is the kind of punishment that scares me,” he said, shaking his head.

  “I'll see what I can do for you.”

  Nara observed, “You seem to hold Saul truly dear, and he is deeply affectionate toward you as well.” In the same moment, Julius came back.

  “I understand Claudia does not have the same philosophy of treating slaves as I do. Julius, couldn't you punish Nara by yourself? From my point of view, he does not deserve to be punished this time, as he gave me a considerable service. Would you reconsider?” Marcus Tiberius asked.

  Julius looked at Marcus Tiberius and at Nara's pleading eyes and knew he could not resist.

  Julius smiled. “This might be your lucky day, Nara. Thank Marcus Tiberius for having mercy on a slave like you.”

  Nara's expression lit up with hope. He knew that whatever Julius would do to punish him would be ten times less painful than what Claudia would have planned. The vivid memory of her tying him up in an empty room without food for days and lashing him still haunted him.

  He turned to Marcus Tiberius. “Master, I... Thank you,” he whispered, his gratitude genuine.

  Marcus Tiberius smiled as Julius guided Nara to the same table where, minutes before, he had taken care of Saul's eyes. He tied Nara firmly and exposed his upper body. Then walked to the back room and came back with a horsewhip.

  He sighed, raising his hand, he swung the whip in the air and started to administer the lashes. Nara's screams grew louder and louder with each strike. After ten lashes, blood dripped on his trembling back as he cried in pain, his sobs filling the room even after the whip no longer slashed through the air.

  Julius whispered in his ear in a gentle voice, “It's over, son. Now try to behave like a good slave for a change, will you?”

  “Yes, Julius,” he wept.

  The physician pulled clean bandages and a jar from the closet. “Nara, I know this will burn, so clench your teeth and be prepared,” he said as he started to spread the thick fluid on his back. “I will take care of your wounds tomorrow morning,” he added as he covered the slave’s back with his tunic.