Saul felt tired, but he could not fall asleep thinking of what Flavius told him about his new mistress, and all the advice his father gave during the trip to Rome in chains.
His father had reminded him how that this was all a design of God. “As God freed our people from slavery in Egypt, He decided we didn’t deserve the given freedom and made us a slave to Rome. The Master is another, but slavery does not change. We won’t be together anymore, so remember my words and accept your slavery as an order from God, and you shall be rewarded for your faith. Be loyal to your Master, whoever he might be. Be the man I have taught you to be, Saul. From this day on, you shall no more be a child; you shall be and behave like a man.” His father then hugged him in his arms, longer than ever before trying not to cry or to show any weakness. He needed to be strong to give strength to his son. His heart was breaking, as he parted from Saul and glanced into his questioning eyes.
Even with all the faith in God that Saul held in his heart, he could not avoid feeling scared as a lamb brought to the sacrificial altar.
“How can I be worth the Heavens if I even doubt my own God?” he whispered. There was nothing he could do that would change the course of his life. His no longer belonged to him.
So far in his short life, he found himself lucky. He was not free anymore, but at least he was treated well. His mind wandered to the time when Marcus Tiberius had carried him to his new home. Reliving that soothing image and the feelings it engendered, he fell into a peaceful sleep.
Chapter 8.
As each day passed, Saul’s understanding and acceptance of his slavery grew
Thoughts of his family decreased in frequency; the painful memories faded away, like nightmares. Saul found himself able to push them aside as soon as they emerged from the past.
He had a new life and was trying to find his identity, to live as if he’d never known any other condition as if he’d never known freedom.
The bond with Marcus Tiberius grew stronger. Saul felt his life belonged to him and that reality didn’t bother him like it used to. It was almost comforting, and Saul felt protected by his power.
In the beginning, he spent time with him only to help with the translations, at home, and during his trips, then Marcus Tiberius spent his free time with him, as well. Saul became very dear to him, and Marcus Tiberius opened his soul to him whenever he needed to talk to a trusted person, other than his wife.
It was undeniable that Marcus Tiberius fell under the spell of that mild, little and beautiful creature. His heart found in Saul a trusted and dear pet.
He wanted to take back his words and deny the slave to his son. He wanted to keep him for himself as he’d expected to do when he’d bought him, and he felt more affectionate toward him than any other slave.
He raised his head from his work and saw Saul standing in silence, waiting for his orders.
“Is there something that bothers you, Master?”
Marcus Tiberius nodded slightly, still half-immersed in his considerations, trying to find a solution to the thoughts that troubled his soul.
“Maybe, Saul… I need your help with this document,” he replied, moving the written paper toward him.
Saul walked to his desk and looked at the paper. He couldn’t understand why he asked for help with such an easy text, but he wrote a note on the translation.
“Here it is, Master.”
“Tomorrow is the engagement ceremony…” Marcus Tiberius started to say.
“So this is what bothers your mind, Master?”
“Yes… somehow it does, even though I know it shouldn’t. Do you think I made a mistake promising you to my son?”
Saul tried to find the right words to answer him. He understood that he didn’t want to leave Marcus Tiberius. Or that the house.
“Master, I am probably the last person you should ask this question, for I feel sad to leave this house. However, you gave your word, and this cannot be taken back. It seems that you would like to keep me here at your service. Am I really so useful that you can’t replace me with another slave?”
Marcus Tiberius thought a bit about the right answer, then he shook his head, relaxing his expression. “I might find slaves even more skilled than you are, but none of them could ever compare to you. I trust you fully, and the kind of relationship I have with you could never be replaced,” he explained, clenching his fist and bringing it to his chest. “I trust that you will try to find the answer to my worries. It sounds odd that I have these feelings for a twelve-year-old boy.
“Nevertheless, the gods gave you another gift besides beauty, your mild character, and intelligence—they gave wisdom beyond your years. I could never find another slave who incorporates all these qualities. You are the most valuable of my slaves.” he replied sadly, letting his hand falling opened on his lap.
Saul had no words.
“Master, why don’t you talk with Master Flavius? Better to tell him these worries. I have no solution this time.”
“You’re right again. You can go now. I need to cogitate on this. I will call when I need you.”
“Yes, Master, thank you,” he replied, and with a slight bow, he walked away from the room.
As he walked through the house toward the garden, Flavius called him.
“Saul.”
“Yes, Master,” he turned his face toward the direction of the voice.
“I need to talk to you concerning tomorrow.”
“Are you nervous about it?”
“I am, and I thought that you might help me out,” he replied, uncertainty in his tone.
“How can I help you?”
“Well, I know that tomorrow you will be busy serving our guests, but I would like to introduce you to Claudia. I wish you to be around when I need you.”
Saul was baffled. “If I have to serve your guests, how can I be around? The patio is large, and the guests are going to be numerous.
Flavius sighed. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but he didn’t want to be with Claudia the whole time. Certainly, this was what was supposed to happen, but the idea scared him.
“Master, she is not a monster. She is just a woman. How can she possibly elicit such fear in you?”
“I don’t know, and I am not scared. I don’t like her, and I don’t want to spend the entire afternoon in her company.”
Saul shook his head, amused. From his point of view, his Master was overreacting to his engagement.
“Saul, I want you to meet your future mistress so that you can get a picture of the person you will have to serve. Moreover, I need your opinion about her. It is possible I am overreacting; therefore, I need another point of view. Yours,” he reformulated his request.
“Now it starts to make more sense, though I hope I can do that without leaving my other duties neglected. I wouldn’t like to be punished for having misbehaved with your guests at such an important event.”
“You don’t have to worry about this. I am sure the other slaves will be able to take care of them while you are being introduced to Claudia.”
Saul smirked, “I will do everything possible to satisfy your orders.”
“I knew I could count on you. Now you can go wherever you were before I called you, as I have to talk to my father.”
“Goodnight to you, Master.”
It was still dark when Saul woke up in a sweat. His heart beat fast, and his breathing was shallow. He could not recall the dream. Perhaps he was nervous about tomorrow when not only Flavius’ future would seal, but also his own.
Unable to go back to sleep, he sat on his bed and looked out the window, at the stars shining in the darkness of the night. A tomb-like quiet prevailed. It seemed he was the only one who could not sleep.