“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.