“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.
“I'd like to bring Saul back home right now if you think it convenient,” said Marcus Tiberius, looking at Julius.
“As a physician, I'd prefer to keep him here another day. As a slave, I obey at your will, Marcus Tiberius,” he replied diplomatically.
“I will listen to the doctor, and I will, in the meantime, talk to Claudia. I want to know all the details regarding my son missing,” he added, turning his back to the two slaves.
Chapter 18.
Marcus Tiberius left Julius’ ambulatory at the sixth hour of the day. Immersed in his thoughts, he walked to his son's house, afraid that the only son the gods had given him was dead.
Flavius was the most precious thing in his life. They’d had arguments and divergences, but he was proud of the man he had become.
As he passed the Temple of Minerva, he stood still, looking at the building and feeling thankful for the gift of Flavius. He felt hopeless to know that the gods who gave him such a great gift, could also take it away.
He raised his eyes to the sky and pleaded.
“Bring my son back; he is still so young and dear to me.”