“He will rest for the night. I can manage on my own, but tell me something. Who is Marcus? He called his name.” Julius said.
“Marcus Tiberius is Master Flavius’ father and Saul’s previous Master. I prefer to remain here to help you with him if you don’t mind. Tomorrow morning, I might go talk to Marcus Tiberius to let him know what happened tonight and find out if he knows his son is missing. Someone has to do something. If nobody else wants to, then it is my turn to risk the punishment.” Nara gazed at Saul’s pale face.
“Don’t take any initiative without my consent. You can stay with him until he wakes up. Tomorrow, we will think about what is to be done,” Julius said frowning and raising the index finger in front of his face.
“What is his condition?”
“At the moment, stable. His life is not at risk. The wounds on his face won’t leave any visible marks, as they were superficial, so his beauty will be untouched.”
“What about his eyes?”
“I'm not sure he will be able to see again.”
“You mean he might be blind?” Nara asked, terrified.
“Possibly.”
“Don’t you have a more comfortable place where he can rest?” Nara asked.
“Let’s bring him into the back room. I have a small bed there” Julius took Saul in his arms. “Rest a bit with him. It has been a long night. Call me if he wakes up.”
“Thank you, Julius.”
“It’s my job.”
Nara fell asleep beside Saul and soon a new day dawned on lit Rome and its inhabitants. As the streets became busy with vendors setting up their stalls and people running their daily errands, Julius’ ambulatory received a couple customers.
Nara woke before Saul and watched him sleep. From there, he could hear if some patients were still in the room or not.
Saul stirred. “M-Marcus,” he whispered. He tried to open his eyes, trying to recall the memories from the fog on his mind. His hands flew to his face and touched the bandages. He tried to pull them off.
Nara gently stopped him. “You can’t take them off yet.”
“Nara…” Saul whispered.
“Yes, it’s me. How do you feel?”
“Where am I? What happened? Why are my eyes… Oh my God, it wasn’t a nightmare… was it?”
Nara took his hands. “It wasn’t a dream. Whatever happened to you last night was real. You are in Julius’ ambulatory; he took care of your eyes and wounds. I know it is maybe too early to ask, but what happened yesterday? Who or what harmed you like that? Why?”
Saul tried to recollect his memories. Everything was blurred in his mind, and he was not sure if he was remembering the truth or not. He couldn’t focus on anything from the previous night’s events, and the bandages befogged his mind even more.
“I don’t know what I remember. My head hurts, and I feel confused. Reality and dreams are racing against each other, and I can’t discern one from the other.”
“Don’t you worry, but whenever you feel like it, please tell me.”
“I need to see Marcus Tiberius. He has to know. Go him, tell him what happened,” Saul pleaded, grabbing Nara’s hands tightly.
“I was thinking to go, but Julius ordered me to remain with you and tell him when you get up.”
“Well, I’m awake now. Inform Julius, then tell Marcus Tiberius about me. Tell him about Flavius as well. He needs to know what is going on with his son’s family.”
Nara didn’t reply, and neither did he move from the bed, unsure whether he had to comply or not. He couldn’t see any use in rushing to let his former Master know.
“Nara, why are you still here?”
“Because there are other patients in the room, and I can’t interrupt Julius. I don’t know what I am supposed to do. Perhaps the best thing is to wait and see what Julius says.
“I can’t wait. I am begging you, take me to Marcus Tiberius’ house. I will tell him everything myself. Help me to walk there. At this point, I am no more worried about any punishment, if you have to tell Julius about me. From that point on, I will be exactly where I need to be,” Saul insisted.
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.