Zelamir

adapted by Pueros

The Traitor's Son

Chapters 78-90

Chapter LXXVIII

After Maccius' friend compliantly rose and stood up from his couch in order to grip Marius, the evil youth leant forward to pick up the oil lamp from the table in front of their couches. However, in reaction, the appalled boy instinctively twisted away from the hands holding him, aided by the fact that his naked body was still sweaty and well-oiled.

Marius subsequently fled from the scene, heedless of the consequences of displeasing some clients. The boy considered a beating in penance better than having his nipples tortured by a hot flame.

As Marius fled, he could hear Maccius screaming behind him "Stop that boy. Stop him now!"

Marius next saw a clearly displeased Fabius and two adult slaves moving forward to intercept him. Other men, patrons of the boy brothel, stood up ready to join in the hunt for fun.

Marius knew he did not have a chance of escape but he believed that he had to run whilst he could, as he could not think of alternative action to delay being tortured by the flame of the oil-lamp. The boy therefore desperately twisted and turned about the great hall, dodging around couches and slipping under tables whilst the growing mob bayed at his heels.

Marius' elusiveness could not, of course, last and actually came to an end when, whilst attempting to dart past some couches on which two men were reclining, taking no part in the chase, one of them suddenly reached out and caught him by the wrist. The boy pulled desperately against his capture but this time there was no escape.

"Please, Sir," Marius begged, whilst panting and tearful, and as the chasing mob closed in, "please let me go. "I don't think I shall," the very well-dressed young man concerned responded in a highly refined accent, whilst demonstrating his strength by gathering the helpless naked boy close towards him.

Without rising, the man pulled Marius towards him and forced him down onto the floor to squat at his feet. By this time, the chasing mob had finally caught up with the frightened panicky boy.

"Mariullus, you're a very naughty boy," Maccius, who was at the head of the mob, subsequently commented, "for running away like that, just as we were beginning to have fun." The evil youth then addressed the young prostitute's still reclining captor.

"Thank you, Sir," Maccius said, "for catching our little friend. Please hand him to me and I'll personally supervise his penance for being so naughty!"

Maccius was simultaneously panting slightly as a result of his recent running, as well as giggling in excitement at the prospect of what he imminently proposed to do to Marius. The evil youth also reached out for the still squatting boy, who cringed away from his hands.

Maccius' attempt to retrieve Marius was, however, halted when the young man declared quietly but confidently "The boy stays here with me!" "But he's mine," the evil youth protested, "for I had him first and I want him back. Give him to me or we'll simply take him from you!"

Maccius' friend, plus several of the men, who had joined in chasing Marius, also muttered menacingly. However, a greater number began discreetly to fade away into the background.

"Stay where you are, boy," the young man commanded authoritatively, whilst standing and releasing his hold on the still squatting Marius. The latter was, of course, now happy to comply.

The young man's movements as he stood were unhurried but controlled and smooth. Looking up at him from where he crouched, Marius noticed that he was, although only of medium height, powerfully built with broad shoulders and a general air of mental assurance and physical competence.

The young man's tunic was relatively plain and simply cut but was also spotlessly clean and made of the finest and undoubtedly very expensive cloth. The belt that he wore was of well-oiled hide and was fastened by a heavy silver clasp.

There was a suggestion of the army in the young man's dress and decorum. Marius also thought that he detected an air of the highest ranks of the nobility about him.

"You can try to take the boy from me," the young man replied to Maccius' threat, "but I assure you that you'll deeply regret your attempt!" The evil youth initially believed that this promise related to having to fight to retrieve Marius but suddenly he perceptively realised that there was something even more sinister behind the threat.

Maccius' fears proved well-founded when his friend tugged at the sleeve of his own tunic and whispered to him urgently, whilst the backing crowd dissipated further. The cause was not recognition of the young man by anyone who had remained in support of the evil youth but identification of his older companion.

Whilst whispering, Maccius' friend had nodded towards the young man's drinking companion, a fat middle aged individual with a face marked by great dissipation and self-indulgence. He had remained reclining on his own couch, apparently observing the scene with an innocent amused smile on his face, as though he was in no way involved in the unfolding drama but was highly amused by the incident.

Maccius finally recognised the young man's older companion. "Titus Caesonius Priscus," the evil youth requested with increasing nervousness evident in his voice, as his earlier confidence in his rights began to wane considerably, "please ask your friend to give the boy up to me!"

Maccius might not have recognised the young man who was confronting him but did know Titus Caesonius Priscus, holder of the office of Imperial Master of Ceremonies. This role included the post of 'Comptroller of Pleasures', namely organising the Emperor Tiberius' entertainments on the island of Capri, which necessitated an unceasing supply of fresh boys to satisfy the old despot's still voraciously sadistic pederastic lusts.

"I don't think I shall," Titus coolly replied, echoing the earlier answer that the young man had given to Marius when the boy had begged to be released from his grip. "You see, Maccius," the old rake continued in explanation, "I have no authority whatsoever over Drusus Julius Caesar, nephew and heir apparent to our illustrious Emperor Tiberius and just back from victoriously fighting rebel tribes on the Germanian border."

"In fact," Titus added, "Drusus Julius Caesar, nephew and heir apparent to our illustrious Emperor Tiberius, has considerable practical if not legal authority over me and I suggest everyone else in this establishment, and indeed the whole Empire, by virtue of his status. I also understand that you and your close friend, Scyrax, benefited considerably from the recent Germanian campaign in terms of acquiring fresh boys. You therefore appear to be being very greedy in asking for this particular delicious specimen to be handed over to you by the person most responsible for your windfall!"

Maccius' face turned white in fearful shock, as making an enemy of the putative next Roman Emperor was not a wise move. However, the evil youth somehow managed to overcome his momentary trauma to move quickly from a threatening attitude towards Drusus to an obsequious one.

"Please forgive me, Sir," Maccius fawningly requested of Drusus, "for not recognising you. Please also excuse my earlier attitude towards this boy but I was upset at his antics in refusing to serve me and instead running away. Of course you can retain him. I'll gain my pleasure with him at some other time, if he survives his nightly performances on the horizontal bar!"

Maccius subsequently glanced at Marius. "Well, sweetest," the evil youth commented to the boy, whose face displayed a slight grin of happiness at his narrow escape, "you seem to have found yourself some nice and very important friends for now. However, I'll be back tomorrow to see you dance over the flames and, if you survive, I'll demand of Fabius and Felicia that I be allowed to punish you for the trouble you've caused me tonight."

"You'll then learn how it feels to burn," Maccius sinisterly added, whilst wiping the smile off Marius' face, "although perhaps now your nipple won't be suffering but somewhere even more tender. Contemplate that lovely prospect, sweetest!"

Maccius returned to looking at Drusus, bowed respectfully and smiled insincerely before turning on his heel and walking away in chagrin. By now, the only other person who had remained at the scene was the alarmed Fabius, with even the evil youth's friend having already retreated quietly back to his couch. The brothel-keeper, like many others present, had not originally recognised the Emperor's most important nephew.

"I don't think, Lord," Titus remarked privately to Drusus, "that involving yourself in a drunken brawl in a house of ill repute immediately on your return from the Germanian campaign would necessarily be the best way of making a good impression on your uncle." "Well, I'm actually completely sober," the young man replied, "and anyway what would be a good way of endearing myself to the old lecher, apart from losing a number of years in age and turning myself into a common boy tart like this little whore here?"

Marius, who was still squatting for safety at Drusus' feet, overheard the insulting description of him but was not hurt by the comments. The boy was simply too grateful for his recent rescue from Maccius' perfidious clutches to be upset by the words, which anyway summed up correctly what he had become, although he believed that the term 'common' might not yet apply to him. After all, he still served in a superior brothel and had just proven himself to be an accomplished acrobat.

"Oh, what is it, fellow?" Drusus subsequently snapped, after noticing the still hovering Fabius. "Excuse me, Lord," the brothel-keeper answered obsequiously, "but I should like to add my apologies for the recent unsavoury incident. I'd also like to know whether you both have everything you wish. Please feel free to order anything else you want and it will be an honour to provide it to you free."

"Meanwhile, I'll take the cause of the recent trouble away," Fabius added, "and have him soundly whipped for his impertinence in forcing himself on your Lord. We have many equally pretty young boys who can serve you for free and be worthier of your attention than him. If you would permit me to send a selection of the finest to you, I should be honoured to do so!"

"No, we'll will keep this boy and want nothing further," Drusus answered before changing his mind. "On second thoughts," he corrected, "bring me a pitcher of cold drinking water, a mug, half a white loaf and a decent amount of goat's cheese."

"A pitcher of cold drinking water, a mug, half a white loaf and a decent amount of goat's cheese," Fabius repeated uncertainly. "But we have much better fare available, Lord," the brothel-keeper then advised, "including the best Falernian wine available in Rome. Would you not prefer some of these delicacies?"

"No, I do not want wine or delicacies," Drusus retorted, "because, if I did, I would have said. Please provide just what I've requested and perhaps you would have it delivered here now and be good enough to leave us to our discussions!"

"Very good, Lord," Fabius replied, as he backed quickly away, knowing when he was not wanted. He did so whilst respectfully bowing deeply and muttering to himself in an unbelieving voice "A pitcher of cold drinking water, a mug, half a white loaf and a decent amount of goat's cheese."

"Well," Drusus next commented to Titus, "if I can't endear myself to my uncle by having disputes in brothels about pretty little boy whores, how do I do so? I'd be glad of your advice, although, considering what the Emperor indulges in on Capri, I would have thought that he would have found such behaviour on my part to his liking than otherwise. My presence and actions here would surely seem to suggest to him that we, he and I, have similar tastes!"

"If I may be candid, Lord," Titus responded, "the first action that I would recommend is that you would be wise to stop showing disdain for Tiberius' sexual tastes. He has spies everywhere and you never know who might be listening. Your words could be reported back to the Emperor, offending him and landing you in trouble. Anyway, you do share his passion for pretty boys."

"I do indeed share Tiberius' taste for pretty boys," Drusus responded, "but I only want to make love to them. I definitely don't have the Emperor's blatant sadism."

"There's also only you and me here to overhear my words," Drusus continued, "and you will not report them back to Tiberius for the simple reason that you have decided that I am my uncle's most likely successor and have therefore cast in your lot with me. You will not betray me because it would not be in your own interests to do so."

"That's as may be, Lord," Titus suggested, whilst nodding with meaning at Marius, "but there may be people in a position to overhear whom you've neglected to consider." "The boy tart," Drusus replied, "but who'd take any notice of a little slut like that, a common whore?"

"Your Uncle trusts no one, Lord," Titus contested, "and, as I've said, has spies everywhere, almost certainly some of them here and others following you. This boy will not be one but he could easily be approached, now he has been seen in our company, and quizzed about what we spoke about today."

Marius, listening to all this conversation, still felt no resentment at the way Drusus described him. The boy well appreciated what he now was and he knew that the Emperor's nephew, when he referred to him as a tart, slut and whore, spoke no more than the truth.

In continued gratitude for his recent, albeit perhaps sadly only temporary, salvation from Maccius' wicked clutches, Marius also resolved in his heart that every spy in Tiberius' pay could cross-question him about what had been said between Drusus and Titus and he would not tell. They could whip him and sear his flesh with their heated pincers but he would not betray the young man who had saved him from the evil youth.

Marius, of course, did not dare to relate this undertaking to Drusus, for a slave does not speak unless addressed. However, whilst now sitting rather than squatting on the marble floor, the naked boy attempted to convey his devotion by discreetly resting his head against the young man's thigh.

In instinctive response, Drusus dropped his hand onto Marius' head and idly ruffled the boy's silky golden hair as he listened to Titus. "Tiberius is now old, ill and failing, Lord," the latter commented, apparently after accepting that the young prostitute was not a threat, "and you are his obvious heir. You have only to survive to ascend the throne but you have enemies and rivals who'll attempt to poison the Emperor's opinion of you. You've already spoken too often, openly and disparagingly about the nature of his pleasures and he resents your indiscreet insulting attitude."

"But I resent what he does to many of his boys," Drusus answered, "with his taste for acute sadism often actually maiming or even killing some of them. Most might only be slave chattels but the waste is appalling!"

"Well, Tiberius destroyed your elder brother, Lord," Titus replied, "because of similar attitudes towards him and suspicions that he was plotting against him. He'll do the same to you if you give him grounds to have the same concerns. You must therefore, above all, guard your tongue. Do not criticise him. You shouldn't have to remain silent for long. Meanwhile, do nothing that'll give him motive for thinking you are disloyal but instead take action to show the opposite!"

"And how," Drusus asked, "do I do that Titus? I am loyal. I may think that my uncle is an evil old pervert but I do not plot against him. After all, what's the point, as he will soon be gone?"

"Oh, what is it now, fellow?" Drusus interrupted his conversation with Titus to snap suddenly at the returning Fabius, who had reappeared carrying a silver salver and was standing by the table bowing deeply. The brothel-keeper personally serving guests was a very rare occurrence in the 'House of Ganymede'.

"I have brought a ewer of cold drinking water, a cup, half a white loaf and a decent amount of goat's cheese, as ordered, Lord," Fabius responded, with disbelief still evident in his voice. The brothel-keeper found difficult to accept that Tiberius' nephew and prospective next Emperor wanted such simple plebeian fare, for which he had taken steps to improve the presentation by serving the stuff using utensils of precious solid silver.

"Oh good, give it to the young tart here," Drusus casually commanded. "The boy, Lord?" the startled Fabius queried in intensified disbelief.

"Yes, man," Drusus impatiently confirmed, "to the boy. You don't think I would touch such stuff myself. The tart's no doubt thirsty after his performance over the flames and he's sure to be hungry as well. Show me a slave of his age who is not. So give your salver to him and be off. I have private matters to discuss!"

Fabius did his best to hide his incredulity and anger when he bent forward and thrust the salver at Marius. The boy took the tray from him and without troubling to use the silver cup provided lifted the ewer to his lips, gratefully gulping the cold water inside down his throat. With his immediate thirst slaked, he next started on the bread and cheese with eagerness.

Meanwhile, Marius fully appreciated that he was going to be in immense trouble when Drusus had gone. The clearly disgusted and now departing Fabius would undoubtedly salve his frustrations on the boy's back and bottom with a crop, and there was the prospect of another perilous performance on the horizontal bar to come, plus Maccius to face if he survived. However, for the moment the young prostitute was content to enjoy his good fortune.

Drusus briefly watched Marius gorge on his food, with a half-smile on his face, before returning his attention back to Titus. "Well, my friend," he now asked of the older man, "what do you suggest that I should do to display my loyalty to Tiberius?"

"I believe you must, Lord," Titus answered, "place yourself in a position where you cannot be suspected of plotting because it would be all but physically impossible for you to do so." "Do you mean," Drusus queried in return, "that I should behave like the old man himself did in the reign of Augustus and exile myself to Rhodes?"

"I do not believe, Lord," Titus replied, "that would be sufficient. Augustus unfairly suspected Tiberius of plotting against him even when he was on Rhodes. I do think that you should go to an island but not to that one. There is only one place where you can live that'll give you a chance of convincing your uncle that you harbour no plans against him."

"And where is that?" asked Drusus. "Capri, Lord," Titus responded.

Seeing the immediate expression of horror on Drusus' face, Titus hurried on with his explanation. "Consider, Lord," the older man said in clarification, "if you are there under his eyes. You can do nothing without him becoming aware. He will not suspect you of plotting because he will simply know that you are not doing so. Living there might also enable you to ingratiate yourself with him, thereby protecting yourself even more."

"But I hate the place," Drusus retorted, "because my uncle has turned Capri into a vast boy brothel catering for his own diseased sadistic tastes. I hate being witness to his perverse cruelty."

"It should not be for long, Lord," Titus suggested, "and such a manoeuvre in my opinion represents your best chance of surviving long enough to assume the throne. Indeed, such a move might be your only realistic opportunity to fend off Tiberius' suspicions and the nefarious schemes of your enemies and rivals. The Emperor has you in his sights already and, unless you show him that his worries are groundless, he will kill you, just as he killed your elder brother."

Drusus sat up for a moment on his couch, with his legs stuck out straight in front of him and his eyes fixed gloomily on the floor, whilst contemplating Titus' recommendation. He then made a decision.

"Very well, I shall do as you suggest," Drusus announced, whilst also now looking at Marius, "and you may buy this boy for me as well. I'll give him to my uncle on my arrival on Capri."

"The young tart's the sort of gift the old lecher would appreciate," Drusus remarked, "especially when dancing dangerously for him over red hot coals!"

Chapter LXXIX

"There'd be nothing more delicious for Tiberius," Drusus suggested, whilst gesturing to Marius, who was still sitting at his feet and listening, "than watching a pretty whore like this fall to an agonising fiery death. The fact that the boy was a gift from me should truly help to disguise my disgust."

"Only, Lord," Titus remarked, "if your face or overall behaviour do not give your own act away." "Well," Drusus replied, whilst managing a grim smile, "I'll therefore simply have to become a consummate actor whilst on Capri!"

"Anyway, I'll have less conscience for this young tart," Drusus confessed, "than for some other victims of Tiberius' sadism. This slut is just a slave and therefore dispensable, although I dislike the waste. The ones I really feel sorry for are the free boys, especially from the upper classes, whom you procure or others supply for the Emperor's perverse pleasures."

"Well, Lord," Titus commented in defence of his procurement activities, "the Emperor does enjoy variety. Having some sons from the upper classes, whose families seek his favour because they have fallen on very bad times, perhaps after somehow upsetting him, or are simply exceedingly ambitious, forming part of his large retinue of boy catamites pleases him enormously."

"Tiberius likes the contrast, Lord," Titus explained, "between these boys and the born slaves. The former sons of the upper classes often start their new lives by complaining snootily in their posh voices that they shouldn't be expected to perform such demeaning roles."

"They invariably complain that they're not slaves but Romans of the highest rank, Lord," Titus continued, "and therefore shouldn't be treated by Tiberius as mere catamites. However, most are inevitably soon cowed if not beaten into reluctant but compliant acceptance of their fate. The Emperor enjoys observing their moral and psychological collapse into obedient whores."

"Born slaves are accustomed to obedience and demeaning roles, Lord," Titus added nonchalantly, "but a boy of free background, after eventually accepting the ruination of his status, experiences much more mental trauma when serving Tiberius, particularly sexually. The Emperor thoroughly enjoys their deep personal discomfort, which has actually led some to suicide, normally by throwing themselves off Capri's tall coastal cliffs."

"Well, at least this boy," Drusus remarked, whilst referring to Marius and again ruffling his golden hair, "should not suffer similar suicidal trauma. He's just a slave, who'll probably be no worse off with my uncle than he would be here. In fact, he'll probably be better off on Capri when you consider that he's scheduled to perform over the flames again tomorrow and, if he survives, the youth I quarrelled with tonight will be after him once more."

"As you well know, Titus," Drusus continued, "my uncle's easily bored. I suppose that he'll only want to see this tart's death-defying act once and not repeatedly like the slut could probably expect here. The young whore's chances of survival, at least from dancing dangerously, should therefore be greater on Capri unless Tiberius decides to sabotage the boy's prospects, as he often does with other similar performers."

Marius, who had been listening to this conversation about him, remained remarkably unconcerned about what was being said about his status and prospects. After all, fate was apparently allowing him to escape the 'House of Ganymede' and Maccius' clutches and Drusus might be right in suggesting that he now stood a better chance of survival on Capri.

Marius was unfazed by the likely challenges ahead, even facing the man who had ordered the destruction of his family, namely the Emperor Tiberius. The boy recognised that the gods had enabled him to survive many anguishing difficulties so far. He now sincerely believed that the deities could not be so cruel that they were planning for him to meet his demise on Capri but instead, having allowed him to live until the present, surely had a far better destiny in mind for him.

"How much should I be prepared to pay for the boy, Lord?" asked Titus. "Whatever is necessary," Drusus answered, "but that shouldn't be too high a sum for two reasons."

"First," Drusus explained, "the boy appears now to be a dispensable item for the brothel's owners and so his value here must have diminished considerably of late. Second, advise our host that I'm prepared to pay a fair price but no more and he would displease me a lot if he proved unreasonable with his quotation. I'm somehow sure that he would not want to make the Emperor's senior nephew unhappy!"

Drusus subsequently stood up again from his couch and, having decided to make no further use of the amenities available in the 'House of Ganymede', including the sexual services of the many pretty boys offered to him by Fabius for free, he strode off and out of the brothel. His mind was too worried and focused on how to regain and retain his uncle's favour to continue to seek solace with the available young prostitutes.

Drusus left Titus behind to conduct the bargaining with Fabius for Marius' purchase.

Chapter LXXX

Fabius had quickly agreed to sell Marius to Titus, who was buying on behalf of Drusus, for a fair market price. This was far less than that for which the boy had been originally purchased but truly reflected the current value for a well-used young prostitute such as him in the currently bloated trading conditions, given the recent influx of fresh slaves from Germania.

Despite the lucratively popular spectacle that Marius' dangerous act on the horizontal bar had suddenly become, Fabius, as Drusus had assumed, did not want to displease Tiberius' nephew by seeking to haggle a higher valuation. The brothel owner wanted to keep on the right side of the man who might soon become the next Emperor. The boy had anyway easily more than repaid his original enormous purchase price whilst working in the 'House of Ganymede'.

Marius had subsequently that same night left the 'House of Ganymede' for ever and been taken to Titus' town house, thankfully for his modesty dressed in a short sleeveless tunic found by Fabius for him at his buyer's insistence. Despite the fact that his purchaser was a well-known rake and Tiberius' 'Comptroller of Pleasures', the man clearly did not want tongues wagging about him taking a naked young prostitute home with him.

Marius had subsequently been placed in the charge of Titus' domestic steward, who treated him decently, perhaps because he knew that the boy was destined for Imperial service, which might lead anywhere, including to the Emperor's favour and subsequent freedom and influence. Despite the unlikeliness of the scenario, the very cautious senior household servant was taking no chances that a powerful courtier, whom he had once maltreated, might someday return to seek revenge.

Marius was allocated a small but relatively comfortable windowless basement cell in the slave-quarters of Titus' town house in which to sleep. On the next morning, after a reasonable breakfast and after bathing and grooming, he had been given a new white sleeveless tunic of better quality to wear, which was nevertheless still very short, extending to just below his groin.

Over the next few days, with Titus apparently absent, Marius' relative good treatment continued. The boy was also not allocated any household duties, with the steward seemingly not knowing precisely what to do with him during his stay other than to ensure his welfare. The 12 year-old therefore had a lot of time on his hands, which he asked to spend reading some of the books in his host's small library.

Despite being surprised to discover that such a slaveboy, a former prostitute, was both literate and interested in reading Titus' books, the steward granted the request. He appreciated that his absent master never read anything from his library, keeping the relevant works only for show.

Marius rather enjoyed his leisure at Titus' house. However, the boy's break from service as a slave was all too brief.

Suddenly one evening Marius was bundled without any explanation into the back of a covered cart, where he was to spend most of the next few days, including sleeping, under the supervision of two rather muted wagoners, as the vehicle trundled slowly southwards along the Via Latina. Stops at some dowdy inns on the way afforded the only opportunities to eat and wash, usually using water from wells.

Then one morning Marius awoke to the shape of Mount Vesuvius in the distance and that evening the cart reached Naples. The wagon had subsequently been taken to the docks and the transported human goods, namely Marius, were loaded aboard the stumpy sailing ship.

Apart from one man ordering him to stay on the foredeck, whilst keeping out of everyone else's way, nobody had spoken to him. The boy therefore could not confirm where he was being taken or why but presumed to Capri in order to perform his dangerous act on the horizontal bar for the Emperor.

For some time, Marius stood peering over the ship's rail, watching other carts being unloaded on the quayside and a wide variety of cargos being brought aboard. However, such activity eventually died down and the boy settled himself in a sitting position on the deck, with his back against a side-rail, and began to slumber, only to be roused by the sound of shrill cries for help and men's voices cursing.

Marius now noticed that two burly adult slaves were dragging aboard another boy about the same age as him, also onto the foredeck. The struggling child's tunic was torn half off his shoulders and blood was running down his face.

One of the men eventually managed to hold the resisting boy, who was kicking, screaming and shouting, down in a sitting position, whilst the other chained him by an ankle to a metal ring firmly embedded in the foredeck. "There, the brat should be secure there," the latter subsequently commented, after standing again, satisfying himself as to the accuracy of his remarks and kicking the child nastily in the ribs for the trouble that he had given them, being rewarded with a pained squeal in response.

"A night on the open deck might tame him," the man next suggested, oblivious to the boy's continued vociferous shouting in protestation and testing of the efficiency of his manacling. The other burly adult laughed and they then disappeared from the scene together.

Having discovered that his chaining to the deck was resolutely sound, the boy, himself apparently oblivious to the nearby presence of Marius, perhaps because of the tears filling his eyes, rolled over onto his side and curled into a ball. He also began to sob loudly.

Marius felt that he could not just watch the other boy's misery and so crept over to him and sympathetically gently touched one thin shaking shoulder. However, the other 12 year-old jerked away from him, apparently too angry or distressed to receive comfort from anyone.

With his attempts at comforting the boy rejected, Marius returned to the place where he had just been sitting. The stumpy sailing ship sailed from port shortly afterwards.

Chapter LXXXI

From the opposite side of the deck, Marius could hear the other boy sobbing steadily. He was himself cold and he assumed that the other child would be too.

Marius concluded that they should both be warmer if they lay together. He also thought that the situation might be less lonely for them both and, rather naughtily, possibly more fun as well. He had not only learnt a lot about being a good boy prostitute over the previous months in the 'House of Ganymede' but also his pubescent sexual appetite had been seriously awakened.

Consequent to his conclusion about the sense in seeking mutual warmth and his desire for companionship of either the platonic or sexual kind, Marius crawled over to the other boy and gently wriggled up tight against his back. "We'll both be warmer like this," he whispered in explanation.

The other boy, however, became angered. "Get off me!" he commanded furiously, whilst his sobbing suddenly ceased and he drove his elbow harshly into Marius' stomach.

"How dare you touch me," the boy went on to complain snootily in a posh accent, "for I'm not dirt like you, you filthy slave brat. Leave me alone!"

Marius did not argue. He was not only somewhat breathless from the elbow into his stomach and in no mood for a dispute. He was also really in no position, as a slave, to impose himself on a boy of apparently still free standing, although, given his current predicament, this status was seemingly unlikely to last for long.

Marius therefore simply let go of the boy and moved away to return to his former position. As a result, the subsequent night unnecessarily proved lonely, cold and miserable for both of them, interspersed by only fitful amounts of sleep.

Chapter LXXXII

Marius heard footsteps approaching and he saw Drusus. The boy still thought of the young man, who had saved him at least from the nefarious attentions of Maccius, as his new lord and master, even though he knew that he was destined to be gifted into Tiberius' service.

Drusus approached the foredeck, with his eyes fastened on the horizon ahead of the ship. The young man did not notice the sitting boys but instead leant his elbows on the ship's side-rail and stared thoughtfully ahead.

Drusus also began to munch an apple, which he had been carrying. On seeing this sight, Marius' hungry stomach rumbled and the young man, stirred slightly by the noise, glanced down and around.

Drusus' eyes were somehow initially drawn not to the source of the rumbling but momentarily to the hunched figure of the other boy on the foredeck and a look of distaste crossed the young man's face at the sad dishevelled sight. However, he next saw Marius and his expression brightened.

"Well, boy," Drusus gently commented, "we do seem to have a habit of meeting each other unexpectedly. I didn't know that you were on this ship."

Marius began to scramble to his feet in order to stand reverently before Drusus. However, the young man gestured to him to remain still.

"I came here," Drusus advised, "to see if I could catch sight of Capri, as the island should soon come into view, though why I should be eager to see the place I do not know." He subsequently paused for a moment and then shrugged.

"You think I'm free, boy," Drusus added in remark, "don't you? However, I'm not, for I am about to be just as much a slave as you are already."

"I'll also be a slave to the same master, boy," Drusus continued, "for you are to be gifted by me into Tiberius' service but I'll simultaneously be as much at the servile beck and call and mercy of the Emperor as you will be. I can see the horrible little island of Capri being my appalling prison as well as yours for as long as my wicked old uncle lives or until we die!"

Despite Drusus' depressing words and obvious pessimism, Marius did not currently share the young man's negative attitude. The boy instead somehow remained optimistic that the gods would allow him to survive Capri and Tiberius' service for a much better future. He was also strangely comforted that he might be sharing the possible dangers and privations ahead with the Emperor's nephew, whom, ever since his rescue from the 'House of Ganymede', he had begun to hero worship.

"I tell you what, though, boy," Drusus suggested, whilst evidently, from the smile suddenly appearing on his face, lightening a bit in mood, "if ever I do leave Capri, I predict that I shall do so as the new Emperor. Also, if such a happy development materialises and you're still alive, I'll take you with me for luck because you must have brought such good fortune to me!"

Marius could not help but develop his own smile on hearing this promise. Drusus, correctly appraising that the boy's cute grin indicated that he was very happy at the prospect of leaving Capri with him, rewarded him by tossing his unfinished apple at him.

"Have the apple, boy," Drusus simultaneously commented, "as the fruit will undoubtedly be needed more by you." The young man subsequently turned on his heel and walked back to the poop-deck, leaving Marius, who had not spoken once, munching eagerly on his prize.

Marius then looked over at the huddled shape of the other boy. With his knees pulled up to his chin, the hem of his tunic had slipped up his thighs, revealing a band of paler skin. The cloth and embroidery of the currently damaged and dirty garment also indicated previous quality, suggesting that the child emanated, at least originally, from a privileged background.

Marius noticed the coloration differences of the boy's legs, which was in stark contrast to his own evenly tanned body and was further evidence of the pair's recent difference in standing. A slaveboy prostitute like him had generally been allowed little or no clothing, whereas the other's freedom would have required the decent covering of clothing. Judging by the quality of the latter, his standing had also been of the upper Patrician or Equestrian classes, or at least of rich Plebeian status.

Marius looked at his still unfinished apple and initially hesitated in carrying through with the kind thought that had suddenly entered his mind. After all, the other boy had indicated in no uncertain terms on the previous evening that he wanted nothing to do with him. However, the young slave's better nature prevailed.

Marius therefore stood and walked over to the other boy to proffer his apple and ask tentatively "Would you like some?" "I don't take presents from slave brats," was, however, the disappointingly rude and ungrateful answer, "and, when my father finds me, he'll have you beaten for insolence!"

In reaction to this disappointing, rude and ungrateful rebuttal, Marius just shrugged philosophically and returned to his previous sitting position, from where he eventually threw a chewed apple-core into the sea before dozing to catch up on his fitful sleep of the night previously. The boy was subsequently aroused by the sound of shod feet approaching, which was a noise that he had come, like many other slaves, to recognise as a potential danger-signal. Accordingly, on awakening, he sat very still and quiet, whilst trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

Drusus' older companion in the 'House of Ganymede', Titus had appeared on the foredeck, accompanied by the two adult slaves who had dragged the other boy aboard ship on the previous evening. Tiberius' 'Comptroller of Pleasures' had obviously only just finished his breakfast for he was patting his thick lips with a napkin.

Titus subsequently deliberately dropped the napkin on the foredeck. Suddenly, a small almost naked boy, who only wore the tiniest of loincloths, darted forward from behind his master and snatched the cloth up before scuttling back behind his owner.

"So, the brat gave you trouble last night, did he?" Titus asked one of his adult slaves to confirm. "Yes, Lord," the man replied, "by screaming and fighting us all the way here!"

Marius immediately instinctively feared that Titus and his slaves might somehow be referring to him, despite the clear inconsistency with facts. False accusations sadistically made just to see others suffer were, after all, not uncommon in the Roman Empire, which was supposed to be civilised but was also based on the often cruel suppression and treatment of vanquished peoples and the enslaved. However, his worries were quickly dissipated when the subject of the conversation proved to be the other boy.

Now standing next to the other sitting boy and stirring him contemptuously with his foot, Titus commented "He doesn't look as if there's much screaming and fighting left in him now." However, in reaction to the irritating toes poking him and this remark, the child did nothing, which was in stark contrast to his energetic resistance of the previous evening.

In partial response to the boy's apparent current lack of liveliness, Titus commanded his adult slaves to "Unchain the brat and get him on his feet. I want to have a proper look at him!"

One of the adult slaves subsequently compliantly knelt down to unfasten the relevant chain securing the boy's ankle to the deck. The manacle soon fell away and at that moment the child opportunistically lashed out with his foot, catching the man full in the face and causing him to tumble onto his back.

The boy then sprang to his feet and dashed down into the well of the sailing ship. "Help me, help me," he simultaneously screamed to no one in particular, "I'm the free son of a Senator. I've been kidnapped. Please help me!"

One of the older sailors, who had been lounging in the well of the sailing ship, immediately stepped forward, with his arms spread wide and his face smiling. "All right, lad," the man suggested in a friendly comforting manner, "come to me and I'll see that you're safe from these nasty kidnappers!"

The boy, believing this promise from such a mature amiable countenance, immediately ran trustingly into the sailor's outstretched arms. The man subsequently grabbed and held him in a far from friendly way and began to drag him back towards Titus, whilst laughing heartily.

The boy, realising that he had been betrayed, again began to struggle to escape by screaming and kicking but he could not shake free of his captor. Meanwhile, the slave, who had earlier been struck in the face by the child's foot, was by now back on his feet and, with blood streaming from a nose that appeared to have been knocked out of alignment, was quickly approaching the young captive with his fists menacingly clenched.

"Don't harm the brat," Titus commanded of his affronted and injured slave, as well as of his other almost equally aggrieved servant, "but instead just bring him here and hold his arms tight for me." The two men knew better than not to comply.

The two slaves therefore advanced to claim possession of the boy from the sailor and, holding one of the child's arms apiece between them, obediently brought him without real harm to face Titus. Nevertheless, in obvious partial retaliation, the men's grip was certainly more painfully fierce than was actually necessary, causing their young captive to whimper in genuine anguish as well as trepidation.

Each slave had held one thin wrist, twisted the boy's arms backwards and locked them there, whilst forcing him forwards with their other hands clamped on his elbows. By the time of the child's arrival before Titus, some tears in his eyes were added to his whimpering.

Nevertheless, the boy at first began to beg again to be allowed his freedom, as he finally realised that physical struggling was futile. "Sir," he desperately pleaded of Titus, "please let me go. My father will pay you well if you return me safely to him. I promise you he will!"

Titus initially laughed heartily in response but eventually ceased in order to tell the boy, whilst for the first time revealing the child's name to the watching Marius, "I'm afraid, young Quintus, that you are mistaken in several ways. You've not been kidnapped, as your own father has instead gifted you as a slave to our illustrious Emperor. In return, your parent will gain an Imperial favour, which is much needed because your Patrician Senatorial family has recently been bankrupted by some very unwise investments."

Titus used the phrase 'Patrician Senatorial family' with clear contempt. As an Imperial freedman, and therefore ex-slave, he secretly possessed much disdain for a lot of the Roman aristocracy. He particularly disliked those families that would do anything, including offering the prettiest of their youngest sons from a large brood to become Imperial catamites, in order to save themselves from the likes of Tiberius' political displeasure or from ruinous financial straits, or just to help further their ambitions.

"I'm afraid for you, young Quintus," Titus advised, "that your father, knowing the Emperor's tastes, was more than happy to come to me and offer you to me to become one of Tiberius' young slaves in return for a financially lucrative state sinecure. His stance was undoubtedly helped, like most others who make similar proposals, by the fact that you have several other brothers who can carry on the family line."

Quintus' clear earlier confusion about his current status had been caused by the fact that he had suddenly been plucked without explanation from the garden in his, unknown to him, heavily re-mortgaged luxury family residence by Titus' two adult slaves. Although present in the house, his parents and siblings and their own servants had mysteriously not come to rescue him from the men's clutches, despite his very loud shouting in protest.

Quintus had perhaps only naturally initially believed that he was being kidnapped, despite the fact that someone in the house surely should easily have heard his vociferous protestations and come to his rescue. However, unknown to him, his parents and siblings and their slaves had instead been guiltily hiding, allowing the unhappy but much needed event to occur unhindered.

Within the family, Quintus and what had happened to him would simply be subsequently quickly forgotten, as if he had never existed. The boy, who had been selected for Imperial service because of his exceptional prettiness and for being of the age favoured by Tiberius for his catamites, had been sacrificed for the overall wellbeing of the rest of his relations.

Having delivered his devastating explanation of Quintus' appallingly suddenly changed status, Titus smiled down into the boy's horror-stricken face to await a reaction, which was not long in coming. "You're lying," was the anticipated accusation.

"No, I'm not," Titus calmly replied, "and I can prove that I'm not." He subsequently produced a scroll from a tunic pocket, which he unrolled and showed to the appalled boy.

Quintus recognised his father's signature and seal at the foot of the scroll. He also perceived from reading that the document was a bill of sale, a certificate detailing the reassignment of property from his parent to the Emperor in return for a government post. Unfortunately for the boy, the named transferred asset was himself.

"But my father can't do this!" Quintus next protested, on reluctantly acknowledging the authenticity of the document. However, even as he spoke these words, he knew that he was, in fact, incorrect. Titus' response was therefore not only expected by the boy but also immediately accepted by him as being completely true.

"Oh, but he can, young Quintus," Titus retorted, "and I'm disappointed that you either in your ignorance don't know Roman law about a father's powers or refuse to accept the relevant rights. Until he officially recants his claims over a son or dies, he can do almost anything with his offspring, even after they become adults, including having them executed for perfidy affecting family honour or enslaved at his whim. In your case, he has chosen the latter."

"You are to be gifted, young Quintus, to our illustrious Emperor to be one of his slaveboys," Titus continued, "and this is a development that you must quickly accept. The alternative is to suffer the very serious consequences of being rebellious, which will probably be fatal for you and ruinous to your family."

"Surely, young Quintus," Titus concluded, in his attempt to ensure that the boy now became acquiescent to his new distressing situation, "you still have some regard for your own life and family. Surely, as an honourable Roman, in order to help the latter in straitened times, you'll also want to be brave and unselfish enough to sacrifice your previous privileged status in order to save that of your kith and kin!"

Titus was well-versed in persuading boys like Quintus to accept their fates, using a mix of 'carrot and stick'. He did not want bothersome fresh slaves of previous free status being presented to Tiberius, as the Emperor only liked such boys if their wills had already been broken.

Tiberius might become, dangerously for Titus, seriously displeased about being offered boys of previous free status whose spirits had not already been crushed. The Emperor might also order any troublesome catamites to be killed, which would be a great waste of relatively rare and precious resources.

The carrot comprised Titus' play on something that was very important for Roman boys, especially those of upper-class birth, namely their honour, with him suggesting, as now with young Quintus, that they should be brave and selfless enough to sacrifice themselves for the wellbeing of the rest of their families. The stick arose from his quite genuine threats of severe punishments and possibly worse if they failed to succumb acquiescently to their fates. Such tactics on the part of Tiberius' 'Comptroller of Pleasures' were generally successful, with failures usually only manifested by an occasional suicide amongst the Imperial catamites.

Titus was, of course, highly experienced in the sort of critical situation that had now arisen with Quintus, with the boy on the brink of either reluctantly accepting or defiantly rejecting his planned destiny. The man therefore easily recognised the meaning behind the sudden alteration now in the child's demeanour.

Quintus' facial expression now changed from one of horror to that of utter dejection. The boy's head additionally dropped and, instead of further verbal protestations, he began once more to sob, with his shoulders shaking and tears falling onto the foredeck below.

"Now, young Quintus," Titus reprimanded, recognising that the boy was on the brink of submissively accepting his fate, "don't be such a baby in front of everyone here. Be a brave Roman instead and show courage in the face of your new status in life." "Your revised role also shouldn't be too bad," the man also lied, "if you behave yourself and prove to an obedient little slave."

Titus subsequently waited for his reprimand to work, which usually happened when challenging a boy of privileged background to behave like a brave Roman and not a baby. There was to be no exception with Quintus, who soon stopped sobbing, dried his tears, wiped his running nose and looked back up at the man, whilst now clearly attempting to show courageous self-control.

Titus smiled in a friendly manner back at Quintus before his grin suddenly changed to one more resembling a lecherous leer and announcing "Now let me see fully what sort of new plaything I have obtained for the Emperor!" The man then grabbed hold of the boy's already ripped tunic and with a single sharp strong downwards tug tore the garment from his young body.

Quintus, who had already somehow lost his sandals amidst his struggles on the journey from Rome to Naples, was subsequently too shocked to prevent Titus performing a similar deed with his by now rather soiled loincloth underwear. Consequently, the acutely ashamed boy was soon standing completely naked on the ship's foredeck in full view of many the sailors who currently had no duties to perform, as the gentle breeze powered their vessel towards Capri, and so had gathered nearby to watch the fun.

Quintus' early paralysing shock quickly passed, however, and, having instinctively covered his suddenly exposed genitals protectively with his hands, he resumed his protestations. "You can't shame me like this," the boy shouted in anger.

Quintus was rewarded by a harsh back-handed slap across his face from Titus, who advised "Oh, but I can, boy. You must remember that you are now no longer the free son of a Patrician Senator but the slave property of the Emperor, just like the other brat over there." The man gestured towards Marius, who was still sitting quietly whilst witnessing the dramatic scene along with the intrigued and amused sailors.

Whilst Quintus rubbed his suddenly sore face in renewed shock with one hand, with the other still protectively covering his smooth genitals, Titus continued "And I'm officially the Comptroller of the types of Imperial property that you both represent. I am authorised to do whatever I want with such of the Emperor's possessions, including carefully examining them."

"You're now no better than one of Tiberius' animal pets, young Quintus," Titus sinisterly added, "which can be beaten for disobedience or even disposed of entirely if deemed unsuitable. I could, for example, have you thrown off this ship into the sea forthwith and no one would question my action or bother about you disappearing and drowning in Neptune's realm."

"Now, if you want to be something more than worthless jetsam, young Quintus," Titus suggested, "I would place your hands at your sides and let me continue to determine in an intimate manner what sort of plaything I have obtained for the Emperor." Everyone witnessing this scene, including the two protagonists and the watching Marius, appreciated that this was truly the defining moment for the boy's future.

If Quintus now obeyed Titus, he would clearly and publicly be acknowledging his devastatingly dire diminution in status from son of a Patrician Senator to slave chattel, which was a standing no better than that of a domestic animal or other personal belonging. The current situation therefore represented the defining climax of his first meeting with Tiberius' ‘Comptroller of Pleasures', which had been cleverly deliberately manufactured by the latter to destroy any residual resistance within the boy towards his fate.

If Quintus now exposed his genitals for Titus to inspect, he would be conceding his revised social ranking and the man's total authority over him. Many of the witnesses' eyes therefore focused on the boy's hands to see what they would do.

Currently, Quintus' hands, both now returned to covering his genitals, were nervously shaking, for he too was fully aware of the significance of the moment.

Chapter LXXXIII

Marius' eyes were no exception and for the same reasons that those of the other witnesses were similarly focused on Quintus' groin. He wanted to see whether the other boy would signal his acceptance of his fate and submission to Titus' will. He was also eager to view the uncovered genitals, not because of what they would symbolise but because of guilty sexual attraction.

Quintus' physique was rather dirty and dishevelled at present because of what he had recently suffered, with his face in particular covered with the stains from dried tears and blood, with the latter running from his nose, presumably as a result of a knock or smack. There were also discoloured markings round his wrists and ankles, suggesting that he had recently been tightly tied up, presumably to keep him quiescent on the long journey from Rome to Naples. Nevertheless, it was obvious to all that the underlying boy possessed immense beauty.

Quintus was, in fact, similar in many ways to Marius, apart from having dark hair and eyes. He was slim but not too thin, with very pleasant overall bodily proportions. His currently exposed bare bottom was literally outstanding and, if his genitals matched these features, he could be described as a perfect specimen of 12 year-old boyhood.

Time passed but Titus, experienced in such situations, did not become impatient. He could tell from the defeated look in Quintus' eyes that the boy would eventually submit to his will and he was proved correct.

Finally spurred into action by wanting the degrading impasse in which he found himself ended as soon as possible, Quintus' previously clasped hands separated themselves from each other, whilst still protectively covering his genitals. Then, as if watching the curtains rise in a theatre, they very reluctantly and therefore slowly moved apart sideways in different directions to reveal what they had been hiding.

As Quintus' hands subsequently reluctantly came to rest at his sides, appreciative murmurs emanated from the nearby crowd of watching sailors, which were generated for two reasons. The mariners admired the quick way in which Titus had brought the new young slave to heel, as if he were training a previously unruly dog. They also liked what they were now viewing, namely a lovely set of boyish genitalia, which were completely smooth and hairless and as perfectly proportioned as the rest of the child's form.

Titus also glanced at Quintus' now exposed genitals and smiled at the lovely sight, which was important not only for the significance of the moment but also to obtain Tiberius' approval later for the acquisition of this particular boy. The 'Comptroller of Pleasures' recognised that the young sexual organs concerned truly complemented the rest of the new slave's delicious form and would be most pleasing to the Emperor.

Titus had never seen Quintus before their meeting on this day on the sailing ship's foredeck. He had simply accepted the word of the boy's father. The latter, who had a lot to lose if he was being deceitful, had advised that this particular son was especially pretty and should match Tiberius' tastes.

Titus was consequently now pleased to note that the father's word had been good. His son should indeed be highly attractive to Tiberius, and might therefore suffer even more because of such Imperial esteem.

As common in such circumstances, Titus now decided to compound Quintus' humiliation by publicly eradicating any vestiges of resistance to his fate that might remain. He began doing so by reaching out to feel the boy's currently flaccid genitals, and was pleased to experience no opposition.

As Titus gently felt the genitals in question, causing Quintus' already shamed blushing face to intensify in redness and the young cock, which he was fondling, to stir and grow, he asked "Now, tell me, boy, what are you?" However, there was hesitancy in answering.

In case the delay in replying was as a result of Quintus being unsure to what the question referred, Titus decided to make matters clear. He commanded "Tell me, boy, that you're now just a common slave, completely subservient to your Master's will!" However, he encountered further hesitancy.

Titus was unsure what was causing Quintus' hesitancy and apparent speechlessness, namely acute shame at his public nudity and the fondling of his genitals, immense lingering shock at just learning about his revised situation in life or genuine residual resistance. However, to the man, his uncertainty about the source did not really matter.

What really mattered instead was to end Quintus' hesitancy and make him confess that he was now a mere slave, thereby surely shattering any remaining resistance to his fate. Titus therefore took action to terminate the boy's speechlessness, although the child did not at first emit any words.

Quintus instead initially uttered a shrill scream, after Titus had taken the boy's small hairless scrotum between a finger and thumb and unmercifully began to squeeze the immature balls within. "Child, child," the man simultaneously advised, "you must learn to be totally obedient to your Master, including responding quickly and efficiently to his demands. It's a slave's duty to be completely compliant and proficient, not to be surly or unruly. Do you understand?"

Titus then relieved the pressure on Quintus' testicles to allow the boy the breath and opportunity to answer. However, he met with further hesitancy and so began squeezing again, gaining the same loud anguished reaction.

"P….P….Please….n….n….no….m….m…more," Quintus, though, eventually managed to beg amidst his genital anguish and therefore Titus again relieved the pressure on the boy's testicles. "Do you understand what a slave's duty is?" the man subsequently again asked.

On this occasion, Quintus managed to reply "Y….y….yes….I….understand. Please don't squeeze again!"

Titus had noticed that Quintus had not attempted to struggle against or flee from what was being painfully perpetrated on him. The man assumed correctly that this lack of fight confirmed that the boy's mental resolve had already been very badly damaged if not entirely destroyed and only a little bit extra coercion would be needed to break him completely.

"Then, tell me what you are," Titus responded to Quintus' plea. There was now no further hesitancy on the boy's part and the broken child finally confessed "I'm just a common slave, completely subservient to my Master's will!"

Whilst still menacingly gripping Quintus' scrotum, Titus next asked "And who is your Master at present?" "You are," the boy admitted, "on behalf of the Emperor."

"Good boy," Titus commented, "as you're learning fast but you must remember to address me as your Master. Perhaps this will help you do so!" He then harshly squeezed Quintus' balls once more, eliciting another loud scream.

After subsequently finally letting go of Quintus' genitals, Titus suggested "You may now kneel before me to thank me, slave, in the appropriate manner for teaching you about what you now are and what your obligations are in your new role." However, the man could barely hear the resultant response from the boy.

"No, slave, that won't do," Titus reprimanded, after Quintus had humiliatingly subserviently knelt before him and given the appropriate reply, "as your situation is not a secret. Give your thanks loudly so that everyone can hear!"

Quintus, who was now shedding copious tears, somehow drew enough breath and bravery to comply, although he could hardly recognise his own voice as he did so. "I thank you, Master," the kneeling boy loudly announced, "for showing me that I'm now just a common slave, who has to be completely subservient to your will and therefore exhibit total obedience, including responding quickly and efficiently to all demands!"

More appreciative murmurs now emanated from the nearby crowd of watching sailors, as they again admired the rapid manner in which Titus had brought Quintus to complete humiliating submission to his fate and to the man himself. Even Marius was awed by the way in which the other boy's morale had been so utterly destroyed so speedily before him.

"Now, slave," Titus next advised Quintus, "given your new status, you won't expect me to ignore the insults that you've recently hurled at me. First, I recall that you attacked one of my servants, who was only trying to carry out my orders. Second, you accused me of lying about your father's disposal of you. Third, you protested at me stripping you, when any Master has every right to disrobe and inspect his human property. Fourth, despite clear orders from me, you hesitated in both revealing your genitals and confessing about what you have now become. All of these misdemeanours are clearly worthy of severe punishment and so I shall now beat you!"

"My crop," Titus subsequently called out, whilst extending his right hand. In an instant, his little slaveboy emerged again from behind his back.

Like a good slaveboy, the child had anticipated his master's needs and had previously quietly scampered off to retrieve the crop as soon as Quintus had made his earlier fruitless dash for freedom. Consequently, he was able to place the cruel and well-used hard leather implement in Titus' waiting palm almost simultaneous to hearing the relevant command.

The little slave grinned broadly as he delivered the crop to Titus' outstretched hand, whilst his minuscule loincloth ballooned slightly at the front, suggesting that he was experiencing an erection. In fact, his small cock always became strangely aroused when watching another boy other than himself being beaten.

Titus' two adult slaves, who had earlier released Quintus when their master was sure that the boy would not attempt to flee again but was instead ready to indulge in his acts of submission, did not have to be ordered to grab his arms firmly once more. They were also very happy to assist in the boy's imminent punishment, given what he had earlier done to one of them, whose damaged nose was still hurting so much that the pain suggested that the proboscis was broken.

Quintus actually allowed himself to be grabbed by the two adult slaves without any struggle. The boy was both too shocked at the announcement that he was to be subjected to imminent punishment and too shattered in spirit to exhibit any early resistance.

Titus subsequently raised his crop and laid the cruel leather gently but menacingly across Quintus' bare chest, whilst carefully measuring his distance. This disturbing action caused the boy finally to react.

"P….P….Please….please….I'll do anything...b….b….but….please….don't beat me!" Quintus begged in stutter. "As a slave, you'll do anything that I want anyway," Titus initially suggested in response. "You must, in your addresses to me," the man also reminded, "additionally always call me Master!"

"Master, please don't beat me, Master," Quintus quickly replied, whilst now remembering to use the necessary title and with his urgent desperation somehow eliminating his earlier stutter. "That's better," Titus retorted, "but you must also learn that, as a slave, you do not speak without permission, as you've just done with your entreaty, which will therefore only earn you extra punishment."

"You see," Titus continued, "I know from extensive experience that the best way to ensure that a lesson is well learnt and remembered in future is by beating the message into a slave brat like you, which is what I'll now do!" He subsequently raised his crop menacingly over his right shoulder and briefly paused, whilst grinning into the tearstained face of the clearly petrified Quintus.

Titus' grin then transformed into more of a sadistic smirk, as he brought his crop hissing downwards with all of his energy behind the movement, which was aimed at the boy's bare chest. The fierce whistle of the implement during the descent was followed by the sharp crack of leather striking vulnerable flesh and soon afterwards another shrill scream, as acute agony coursed through a young body.

"You will never again, slave, deny your new status or insult, question or defy your Master," Titus firmly suggested to Quintus after this first blow and again momentarily pausing. He also happily sadistically observed the thin white line created by his crop fill with blood, consequently turn red and subsequently begin to deepen in colour at the edges as bruising spread. Teardrops also arrived at the scene, after streaming down and falling off the cheeks of the boy's crying face onto his hurting chest.

A little bead of blood also began to form where the tip of the crop had nipped Quintus on the outer edge of his left nipple. More incongruously, after previously returning to flaccidity in reaction to his testicles being agonisingly squeezed, the boy's cock additionally began to show signs of renewed growth.

After ending his brief pause, Titus subsequently set to work in earnest, slashing his crop alternately rightwards and leftwards across Quintus' bare chest. In agonised reaction, the naked boy howled and bucked in the grasp of the two burly adult slaves. He also occasionally raised his feet instinctively from the deck in a fruitless defensive act.

The tip of the cruel implement, when it curled round the Quintus' ribcage, sometimes ripped the tightly drawn skin to draw more blood. However, such injury did not cause Titus to reduce for now the ferocity of his assault.

Titus had been responsible for the infliction of severe beatings on many boys over the years, most at his own sadistic hands. He was therefore expert at appraising and controlling the relevant damage and fully knew when to stop to prevent permanent harm.

Quintus was valuable to Titus, as long as he was thoroughly broken in spirit. However, the boy would be a worthless asset to him if damaged.

Tiberius liked physical perfection in his young catamites, at least until he himself began to destroy such an attribute. However, Titus' expertise indicated to him that Quintus' body was still capable of receiving further blows from his crop without sustaining permanent damage.

Throughout his vicious attack, which was pleasing the watching sailors, who all sadistically liked to see a bit of cruelty being displayed against a slave, particularly such a young and pretty one as Quintus, but horrifying Marius, Titus delivered further verbal reminders with each stinging blow. He was determined that the boy would never forget the lessons to be learnt from his beating.

Titus had shortened these verbal reminders from that delivered with his first blow. He now simply suggested to Quintus, simultaneous to each subsequent hit, "You will always be obedient!"

Eventually, Titus again paused. Quintus now barely stood before him, as the naked boy had to be held upright by the two adult slaves gripping him or otherwise he would certainly have collapsed to the deck.

Quintus' recent screams in reaction to each blow from the crop had also become more subdued and in between he was reduced to sobbing relatively quietly. The experienced Titus therefore recognised that much further punishment at this stage would be inappropriate.

Quintus' ability to feel the pain from every hit was now too diminished to make the effort worthwhile, as his senses had defensively effectively overloaded and were shutting down. Anyway, further flagellation of the boy's chest by the crop would soon cause irreparable damage, which could not be allowed to happen.

The experienced Titus could expertly judge that the current injuries to Quintus' chest would completely heal. However, such a situation would quickly change if too many more vicious blows were inflicted.

Titus therefore collected Quintus' chin in his free hand and tipped the boy's now drooping head upwards in order to look down again into his face, which was wet with copious tears flowing from his glazed eyes and mucus leaking from his nose. "Now for….the final part….of your lesson today….slave," the man subsequently announced, with his voice somewhat breathless because of his recent exertions but still thick with excitement.

"Hold….the brat….very still now," Titus next commanded of his two adult slaves, whilst releasing Quintus' chin, "as….this….takes….considerable skill." He then stepped back and laid the tip of the cane fully across the centre of the boy's left nipple.

On being released by Titus, Quintus' head had drooped downwards once more. However, the man's latest command to his two adult slaves and the resting of the cruel crop on the boy's left nipple reactivated some reaction because the young victim of the beating had somehow sensed what was to come.

Quintus raised his head, focused his tearful eyes on Titus and again begged between his sobs "Master, no….p….p….please don't!" However, the boy's desperate pleas were cut of by another shrill scream, as the cruel crop slashed down yet again, this time splitting his left nipple open.

"Mmmm, it's….nice to observe….that I haven't….lost my accuracy," Titus subsequently commented to no one in particular, on inspecting the fresh damage that he had just inflicted on Quintus' ravaged chest. "Now, continue to….hold….the brat….very still," he then instructed of the two adult slaves, "as….I attempt….to see….whether my aim….can be as good….with his other nipple!"

As Titus uttered his latest order, Quintus' sudden return to lively reaction to his penance was confirmed by him now screaming hysterically and writhing energetically in order to try to escape the firm grasp of the two adult slaves. However, the boy's attempts to avoid his right nipple suffering a similar excruciating fate to that recently experienced by his left quickly proved fruitless.

Quintus instead screamed more loudly than ever when Titus' crop now accurately split open the boy's right nipple, with the associated pain being worse than with any other blow. Some blood also trickled down his chin because the agony had induced him to bite both his lip and tongue.

Titus subsequently stood back again in order to admire his handiwork and regain his breath. He had no intention of continuing to address Quintus in a stuttering manner because of his recent exertions.

After Titus had finally restored his energy, he again raised Quintus' chin, which was now damp with tears, mucus and blood, so that he could once more look into the boy's face. "For the catalogue of misdemeanours that you perpetrated earlier, slave," the man then informed, "you should rightly receive a more comprehensive beating than I've just delivered. The rest of your front, including your genitals, as well as the whole of your rear, should be thoroughly flogged too. However, I'll mercifully take into account the fact that you're new to your new status, and I also want you to be in a fit enough condition to meet the Emperor soon."

"I'll therefore suspend the remainder of what should be a more deserving sentence," Titus announced, "unless you re- offend in the near future, when I'll deliver what I've described. Do you understand, slave?"

Quintus' deeply distressed mind somehow perceived Titus' message and the boy therefore answered "Y….Y….Yes….Master!" "Good," the man replied, "and now you can thank me, slave, for instilling this important lesson into you, and for showing mercy in not delivering your full rightful punishment!"

Quintus again could barely recognise his own voice when, between sobs, he managed to say in response "Thank….you….Master….f….f….for….the….l….l….le sson….and….f….f ….for….your….mercy!" "You're welcome," Titus remarked in return before throwing his crop onto the deck, from where the now bloodied implement was obediently collected by his attendant little slaveboy.

Titus next once more addressed his two adult slaves and commanded "Now chain the brat to the deck again. I don't want him doing anything silly like jumping overboard and cheating the Emperor of his pleasures in that way!"

Titus simultaneously looked at the damaged face of one of the two men, as the pair again chained the now unresisting Quintus' ankle to the metal ring embedded in the deck. "The brat appears to have rearranged your nose somewhat, Glaucus," he subsequently remarked to the adult slave, whom the boy had earlier kicked.

"Yes, the brat has, Master," the adult slave angrily growled. "I wish that you'd let me do the same to him!" he added.

"Don't make such a fuss, Glaucus," Titus retorted, "as you weren't much to glance at before. I bought you for your muscles not your looks, and anyway the Emperor wouldn't appreciate a new catamite whose nose is disfigured. Still, I suppose that you deserve some compensation from the brat for the pain and damage he's caused you."

Titus paused whilst he pondered what this compensation should comprise. "Ah, yes," he ultimately concluded, "you can teach the brat what our Emperor's little minnows are sometimes required to do when their Imperial Master is in his swimming pool. I believe, Glaucus, that you know what I mean!"

Glaucus' damaged and hurting face suddenly smirked in delight on hearing of Titus' compensation proposal, for he did know what his master meant. As the Roman historian, Suetonius, was later to allege in his 'The Twelve Caesars', Tiberius' young catamites were often required to swim in the pool between the Emperor's legs to perform underwater fellatio.

Quintus' imminent first literal taste of fellatio was, however, to be performed above water.

Chapter LXXXIV

"Well, get on with it then, man," Titus subsequently smilingly commanded, as he observed the clearly excited Glaucus apparently hesitate over what precisely to do next. The adult slave, now grinning broadly despite his hurting nose, obeyed by quickly deciding to shed his tunic and remove his underlying loincloth underwear to stand unashamedly naked on the foredeck. He proved to be a heavily muscled brute, whose strong body was covered in a mat of coarse red hair.

"Oh, Lord," Titus simultaneously shouted, "how long have you been there?" He had finally noticed Drusus standing nearby.

Without waiting for an answer, Titus added, with clear amusement in his voice, "Anyway, Lord, regardless of how long, please come and watch the fun more closely. I think that you'll find the spectacle entertaining, as young Quintus literally gains his first taste of some of his slave duties to come!"

Marius, whose attentions had been fixed on the humiliation and punishment of Quintus, now noticed Drusus standing on the foredeck with a rather unfathomable expression on his face. "I've been here since you started to beat the brat," the boy subsequently overheard the young man replying to Titus' original question.

"I heard screaming and I thought that it might be coming from…." Drusus added before, whilst glancing briefly at Marius, terminating his explanation without completion and instead changing subject by requesting "Tell me, Titus, why did you choose to beat the boy on his chest rather than his bottom. Isn't the latter the commonest target for punishing such brats?"

"In part because of personal preference, Lord," Titus smilingly answered, "as I have to confess that I rather enjoy looking into the eyes of the brats I'm flogging to see the terror and pain there." "The Emperor also has similar tastes," he added, in a way that was boastful rather than regretful and whilst rolling his finger and thumb together suggestively, "and he especially likes to have boys about with tender and therefore easily hurt nipples!"

Another sharp cry from Quintus then resonated around the foredeck. "Ah," Titus exclaimed cheerfully, "it sounds as if Glaucus is just beginning to give our new young slave his next lesson. Do watch this, Lord, as the scene should put you in the right mood for the pleasures of Capri!"

Glaucus had gripped hold of Quintus, who had just been returned to a sitting position, with his ankle firmly chained to the foredeck, by his hair and had pulled him to his knees. The adult slave was also forcibly directing the boy's reluctant face up towards his exposed crotch, from which an enormous erection, ribbed with red and blue veins, already excitedly jutted out of a great forest of ginger hair, with the swollen tip touching the man's equally hirsute stomach.

Quintus was again crying and doing his best to resist the movement, causing Glaucus to command "Come on, slut, lick and suck it or suffer the consequences." However, the boy's reluctance to co-operate was defiantly maintained.

"All right then, slut," Glaucus vengefully commented in annoyance, "let's see how you like this!" Twisting his right hand in Quintus' hair, the man subsequently bent forward and squeezed the boy's damaged right nipple, from which blood was still oozing, between the finger and thumb of his other hand.

Quintus howled again in pain and his body jerked convulsively. His head was then thrust into Glaucus' crotch and, with the boy's resistance now completely overcome by his recent reintroduction to nipple torture, his tongue and mouth began to work furiously but rather clumsily.

Quintus, although not entirely ignorant about sexual matters, had previously been innocently completely unaware that such a deed as fellatio was ever indulged. The boy was therefore totally inexperienced in the art, as well as being literally nauseated by what he was being forcibly directed in shame to do by the vengeful Glaucus, particularly as the environment in which he was compelled to work was so disgustingly hairy, sweaty and smelly.

Meanwhile, the watching sailors welcomed the sight of Quintus' latest surrender, as was evident by renewed appreciative murmuring, although most were also jealous of Glaucus. Some additionally wondered whether Titus might later be equally generous with them in allowing the still humiliatingly naked boy to practise some of his likely future duties in Imperial service on them too, or allow Marius to do so.

Meanwhile, Titus commented nonchalantly to Drusus "Isn't it amazing, Lord, what an excellent motivator pain is?" He subsequently began to issue instructions to Quintus, being initially dissatisfied with how clumsily the clearly inexperienced boy was performing his first act of fellatio.

"Quintus," Titus observed, "that's not the best way to provide Glaucus with the fullest satisfaction." "Instead," he went on to suggest, "first run your tongue up and down the full length of his cock."

Quintus, mindful of his partially suspended sentence for supposed previous misbehaviour, immediately complied with Titus' suggestion. The boy did so despite the fact that such public action in the maintained shame of nudity was to him not only thoroughly debasing, especially as he was pleasuring a mere slave, but also truly distasteful in all senses of that word.

Quintus' fear and broken spirit actually now helped him to pursue his horrible task in line with Titus' instructions with reasonable proficiency. The boy also somehow simultaneously managed to prevent himself from gagging and vomiting.

"Yes, that's right," Titus commented on happily viewing Quintus' newly found compliant competence, "lick Glaucus' cock right from the tip to the root and back again, and do so on all sides." He subsequently watched for a while as the boy continued to obey.

"Now, lick around the engorged tip of Glaucus' erection," Titus later instructed. "Yes," he then elaborated, "roll your tongue around the cockhead, also giving some attention to the slit."

"Good boy," Titus eventually remarked on observing Quintus' decent efforts to continue to comply, "you're doing well now. Weren't you a silly lad to try to resist giving Glaucus some pleasure?"

"Now, take as much of Glaucus' cock into your mouth as possible," Titus subsequently ordered after another time gap, "until you can feel the shaft penetrating your throat and temporarily blocking your air-supply. Then withdraw and continuously repeat the process, whilst ensuring that your lips and tongue are always in contact with his penis."

Titus could subsequently tell, from the look of pure pleasure on Glaucus' face, that Quintus was somehow managing to fulfil this latest difficult instruction quite well too. He therefore allowed the action to continue for another while before announcing "Now for something different!"

"Move your oral attentions downwards, boy," Titus next commanded, "to kiss and lick Glaucus' scrotum. Also, try to locate his balls and carefully take each one in turn into your mouth and suck gently. You'll have to bend over a bit lower and push your bottom out a little further in order to do so."

Quintus again reluctantly complied, although his mouth and tongue encountered difficulty in kissing and licking anything other than hair, such was the thickness of the red hirsute coverage on Glaucus' large and heavy scrotum. Whilst, the boy also subsequently attempted to locate the man's testicles, Titus reached forwards, placing one hand on the 12 year-old's curvaceous bottom whilst gently pressing the forefinger of the other against his invitingly now exposed sphincter.

Quintus felt the intrusion of Titus' finger gently bypassing his sphincter to enter and wiggle inside his virginal anus. However, he now fully appreciated that he could not protest or otherwise resist such debasing intimacy, even if his mouth had not been fully preoccupied with other concerns.

Titus' gently fingering of Quintus' anus was quickly rewarded and he was soon able to look up at the still watching Drusus, whilst again grinning broadly. "Look, Lord," he happily suggested, "for our small snooty son of a Senator has just proven himself to be no better than a common whore, as his own little cock has suddenly become hard. The slut's taking to his new role like a duck to water!"

Titus subsequently extracted his forefinger from inside Quintus and wiped his digit on the boy's dark hair. He then straightened and stepped back in satisfaction at demonstrating his point.

"Now, boy, I think that Glaucus is almost ready to release his seed," Titus next declared, after observing the literally ecstatic expression on his adult slave's face. "You've therefore done very well, child," he added, "but must now complete your duty in the appropriate manner."

"Stop sucking Glaucus' balls," Titus went on to command, "and instead just run your tongue again down the underside of that big rod of his, from the base to the tip." On observing Quintus once more obey, he subsequently instructed "Right, now take the end in your mouth and suck gently."

"Good boy," Titus then commented, on seeing this latest instruction obeyed, "and now you have quite a mouthful, don't you?" However, Quintus was in no position to answer.

Meanwhile, Glaucus, who was close to climax, suddenly released his tight hold on Quintus' hair to grab his ears instead and pull him forward so that the boy had to take the full length of the man's cock into his mouth and throat. Everyone watching, including Marius, saw the child's eyes consequently bulge and roll in horror and terror.

Quintus' chest soon also heaved painfully, as he attempted desperately to gasp for air. Fortunately, Glaucus briefly relaxed his hold, allowing the boy to pull back and drag a breath, only for the man to pull him forward again just afterwards.

Thankfully for Quintus' ability to breathe, Glaucus subsequently repetitively pulled the boy's head backwards and forwards. The man was effectively sodomising the attendant young lips, tongue and throat but also allowing some air to slip by in the process.

"Try and swallow Glaucus' seed, boy, when it gushes in," Titus next advised on witnessing the scene and the fact that his adult slave was so obviously close to undoubtedly highly productive climax, "as doing so should make what's about to come easier for you. You'll probably choke otherwise!"

Glaucus simultaneously increased the speed and urgency of his thrusting until, with an accompanying ecstatic exclamation, he suddenly froze, with his body arched and the muscles of his hairy bottom pulsing, and as he pumped his seed into Quintus. Titus was subsequently rewarded for his earlier suggestion by the sight of the boy's throat gulping frantically, as copious manly semen poured into the new young slave's innards.

Meanwhile, Marius continued to watch. The boy's current main emotion was fascination at the fact that Quintus had proved to be such a quick learner in the art of fellatio, albeit only out of needful desperation.

Titus now ceased uttering his instructions. Consequently, the only sounds that could presently be heard were again the slap of waves against the ship's hull and the occasional cries of seagulls wheeling overhead, plus the gulping of a boy's throat and the harsh panting of a man enjoying ecstatic sexual climax.

The sated Glaucus next eventually released his hold on Quintus' ears and stood back, simultaneously withdrawing his erection from deep down the boy's now sore throat just before the young host might have passed out through lack of oxygen. A string of extraneous cum still dribbled from the man's engorged cockhead.

Marius subsequently noticed the stricken expression on Quintus' now bright red face, as he collapsed thoroughly ashamed and exhausted onto the deck, with semen also dribbling down his chin. He felt a pang of sorrow for the other boy and was briefly tempted to go to his aid before reality drew him to the conclusion that he would probably only be punished for his efforts in being so presumptive to act without orders.

"That was excellent, boy," Titus crowed at Quintus, who remained lying in a shamed and exhausted heap on the deck, "as you've proven yourself to be a natural little slave whore in front of everyone here. Don't therefore let me hear any more nonsense from you about being a free boy."

"You've demonstrated to us all," Titus continued, "that you've found your true vocation in life, as a natural little whore. I'm sure the Emperor will be pleased with you, and just think how happy that will make your father!"

On hearing these insulting words, more tears flowed from Quintus' dark sensuous eyes, this time to fall onto the wooden deck of the sailing ship taking him to his new prospectively perilous and deeply demeaning life.

Chapter LXXXV

The watching sailors also reluctantly dispersed, having realised that Titus was not to grant them any treats with the two boys on the foredeck and that they dare not grab such pleasures for themselves. The mariners also had some duties to return to in readiness for the anticipated arrival soon at the island of Capri.

Meanwhile, the comprehensively humiliated and hurting Quintus rolled himself into a ball on the foredeck, pulling his knees up to his chest and thrusting his hands between his legs. The still naked boy's body also began to shake again, racked by silent sobbing.

Whilst watching Quintus' display of abject misery, Marius felt rather guilty because he still had an erection. This shameful phenomenon had somehow developed when he had recently been witness to the other boy's suffering.

As well as guilt, Marius also felt immense pity for Quintus for what he had just suffered. His compassion was increased by the fact that the other boy was clearly completely unaccustomed to such humiliation and hurt.

By now, Marius was more accustomed to being punished, although the associated suffering could never be dismissed as inconsequential. After his many months as a young prostitute in the 'House of Ganymede', the boy would also have been little bothered by being made to perform fellatio on Glaucus with others looking on. Modesty and pride had mostly been eradicated from his emotions after what he had recently experienced as a new slave.

Quintus, though, was different. He was just starting life as a new slave and therefore still had the inherent feelings of a free boy.

Marius tried to think back to the time, not long ago, when he too had been free and had those same feelings. However, to his own amazement, he found that he could not do so, such had been the success of his recent fundamental emotional conversion to the servile attitudes of a slave. He assumed that Quintus would soon experience this too, especially as the process had already obviously been considerably advanced by what had just happened to the boy.

Marius contemplated such thoughts for a while, whilst still witnessing Quintus' painful misery. However, the kindly boy eventually could bear his own passivity for no longer.

Marius' previous attempts to befriend Quintus had been dismissively and insultingly rejected by the other boy but he did not care. He now felt that he had to do something to bring his current sole companion on the foredeck some comfort.

In any case, Quintus' earlier dismissive and insulting attitude had been displayed prior to his recent bad experiences with Titus and Glaucus. Marius therefore crept across the foredeck and sat beside the other boy.

After at first momentarily hesitating, whilst fearing another dismissal and insult, Marius summoned the necessary spirit to rest his hand gently on the bare shoulder of Quintus, who shivered in reaction. However, on this occasion, he made no attempt to drive the compassionate boy away but instead eventually sniffled loudly.

"My…. father didn't…. do that," Quintus subsequently suggested in a muffled voice between further sniffles. "I m…. m…. mean," the boy added in explanation, "that he d…. d…. didn't sign m…. m…. me over t…. t…. to be an Imperial s…. s…. slave, I d…. d…. don't care w…. w…. what they s…. s…. say. He'd n…. n…. never do that to m…. m…. me, at l…. l…. least not v…. v…. voluntarily."

"My father was either f…. f…. forced to s…. s…. sign," Quintus went on to protest, whilst sitting up and resting his head on his knees, "or the d…. d…. document they showed m…. m…. me was f…. f…. forged!" Encouraged by the melancholic boy's apparent radical change in attitude towards him, Marius slipped his arm about his shoulder and hugged him encouragingly.

"I'm n…. n…. not a slave," Quintus went on to declare defiantly to Marius, whilst allowing himself to be hugged and suggesting that Titus' recent determined attempt to break the boy's spirit had not entirely succeeded. "I'm free!" he added.

Marius was young but he had learnt much in the last months, often in anguish, and he now replied to Quintus' defiant assertions with the benefit of the wisdom gained from such lessons. He wanted the other boy to accept his situation in order to avoid further trouble with Titus and so decided that he had to be cruel to be kind.

"Quintus, you were free," Marius suggested, "but I'm sure that you are no longer. An important man like Titus, a senior Imperial official, would not forge and would not need to forge a document such as the one enslaving you. Your father might have been forced to sign it for some reason but sign it he undoubtedly did."

"Consequently," Marius continued firmly, "you are now lawfully a slave, just like I am, and, for your own sake, you must accept the situation. If you don't, you'll only experience even worse at Titus' hands than you've already suffered."

There was a subsequent silence between the pair because Quintus did not reply. However, Marius felt the other boy's body tense in potentially rebellious annoyance at what had just been suggested.

"Quintus, can I tell you a secret that you promise to keep?" Marius consequently urgently asked. After receiving an affirmative nod from the other boy, he subsequently told him "Not long ago, I too was free. My father was rich and powerful and I lived mainly at one of our country estates with many slaves to look after me. Then, the situation changed dramatically and disastrously. My parents, brother and sister died and I was enslaved."

"Your own situation has also sadly changed dramatically and disastrously," Marius added, "and you too have been enslaved. Like I did, you must accept your new position in order to survive!"

Quintus, however, remained silent in the face of this sage advice, although his head slumped a little, hinting that his earlier potentially rebellious annoyance at what was being said had dissipated. Marius consequently decided to say no more for now in order to allow his sage counsel fully to sink in to the other boy's consciousness.

The two boys therefore just continued to sit quietly for a while on the ship's foredeck. Marius' arm was still wrapped in attempted comfort around Quintus' shoulder, whilst the only noises were the lapping of waves against the hull, the squealing of seagulls above and the sounds of sailors at work nearby.

Chapter LXXXVI

"If Titus returned," Marius enquired of Quintus to break the silence between them, "and asked you, as he did before, what you now are, how would you reply?" The other boy's body stirred on hearing this question, as if he was about to provide a momentous answer.

Quintus sat up straight, attempted to rub some of the grime from his face in order to make himself look a bit more dignified by wiping with the back of his hand and stared into Marius' own eyes. His compassionate companion subsequently initially thought that he detected more defiance in the other boy's fresh expression but then quickly realised that he was mistaken.

Quintus was instead trying to exhibit brave fortitude in the face of the calamity that had befallen him, as he answered "I would tell Titus, as I did before, that I'm now just a common slave, completely subservient to my Master's will!" In response, Marius asked "But would you mean what you said?"

Regardless of any beliefs that Titus might earlier have harboured about Quintus reaching a critical point in his acceptance of his fate, the astute Marius realised that the boy's answer now to his latest question was truly the defining moment. He therefore waited with bated breath to hear the reply.

Quintus' attempt to show steady courage in the face of adversity now faltered a little, as his face momentarily lowered in shame at what he was about to announce. However, the boy quickly recovered his composure to stare again at Marius whilst declaring "Yes, I would mean what I said!"

"I'm now just a common slave, completely subservient to my Master's will!" Quintus went on to repeat in realistic confession.

Chapter LXXXVII

Such questions represented to Marius another symbol that Quintus had finally truly accepted his fate. This revised attitude was a relief to the former because the alternative might ultimately have been fatal for the latter.

The questions eventually came to focus on the topic of potential, if not actually inevitable, future sexual duties, after Marius had reluctantly but candidly confessed about his time spent as a boy prostitute in the 'House of Ganymede'. He related his experiences to that just endured by Quintus with Glaucus.

"I know that you didn't want to lick and suck that horrible Glaucus," Marius came to comment on the subject, "but, when Titus simultaneously tickled inside your bottom, your own cock became excited, didn't it?" Quintus could not deny this or the fact that this very topic of conversation was somehow causing his penis, which was currently hidden within his uplifted legs, to harden once more.

Like Marius prior to his arrival in the 'House of Ganymede', Quintus had not previously encountered sexual orgasm. The temptations of the flesh, including masturbation, did not yet permeate his young soul and so the recent unusual reactions of his body, especially his cock, were strange to him.

"That suggests to me," Marius next maturely remarked, "that our inherent natures are not entirely innocent but actually share some frankly impure aspects. I mean no malice in saying this. I'm just being bluntly realistic, which might actually stand you in good stead in future. You see, if you begin to gain some pleasure from being forced to have sex with a man, like I confess that I did, you'll find that such duties become less distressing."

"Forgive me for asking such a personal question," Marius subsequently requested before shamelessly enquiring "but have you ever played with your own cock to give yourself pleasure?" Quintus did not answer but rather naturally blushed fiercely instead in embarrassment.

Marius noticed Quintus' embarrassment and attempted to comfort him by reassuring "I'm only asking because, if you've never enjoyed sexual pleasure, you probably won't really understand what I'm talking about. I also believe that, if you want me to help you to become accustomed to your new life, we need to be frank and truthful with each other."

Marius' reassurance worked, encouraging Quintus finally to confess, in answer to the question, but whilst still fiercely blushing, "No!" "Well, then," was the reply from the other boy, "perhaps it's about time that you did experience sexual pleasure!"

Marius next glanced around the foredeck, which was empty apart from the two boys, and whispered "Perhaps now is as good a time as any!" "W…. W…. What do you mean?" a shocked Quintus stuttered in response.

Marius' free hand had already rather instinctively drifted, without either of the boys really noticing, towards one of Quintus' bare knees, upon which his palm current gently rested. In answer to the latest question, his fingers now began to slide down the inside of the other boy's thigh.

The naked Quintus initially contemplated resisting such an intimate intrusion towards his genitals. However, the touch of Marius' fingers gently brushing his thigh on their way downwards to their target was giving him such pleasurable tingling feelings that he quickly chose instead to do nothing but literally sit and await developments.

Marius' fingers eventually reached and gently stroked their first target, which was rapidly becoming even more erect, before moving on to cup and feel the underlying completely smooth scrotum. "Your cock is nicely hard," he subsequently commented, whilst brushing his thumb along the shaft in verification.

"Mine is as well," the clothed Marius then confessed, "as you can probably guess from the bulge at the front of my tunic." "I've learnt," he continued, "that it's no good struggling against such reactions, as they're natural to natures such as ours!"

Quintus again stirred and Marius felt the other boy's hand reach out towards his tunic to disappear under the hem in order to explore his crutch and check the accuracy of at least part of his statement. The two boys subsequently sat together for a while, with their hands resting on each other's stiff little cocks.

Marius then took the initiative in beginning to rub the cock in his own hand. Quintus happily reciprocated, whilst the first infusion of real sexual pleasure started to tingle his naked body.

As Marius was rubbing, he appreciated that what he was doing was punishably wrong, at least in the eyes of his new masters. The strict rule in Scyrax's house and Fabius' brothel was that the slaveboys were not allowed to enjoy each other sexually without permission, and both Drusus and Titus would undoubtedly expect similar restraint.

Marius had been taught that slaveboys' bodies were the properties of their masters and so were the pleasures that could be derived from them. This lesson had been driven home when he and Narcissus had been forced to beat each other harshly and publicly in the 'House of Ganymede' after the Major Domo had discovered them indulging in forbidden sexual activity. However, alone on the sailing ship's foredeck, hidden from the rest of the vessel by an intervening rail, and so unseen by any beings other than the seagulls wheeling overhead, they would surely not be caught.

Anyway, for Marius and now increasingly for Quintus, the temptations of the moment, in particular the immensely pleasurable feelings running through their cocks to pervade their bodies intensely, were too much to ignore. The boys' eyes also closed, as they inexorably brought themselves towards ecstatic climax.

The boys subsequently both became too engrossed in what they were doing to hear the sound of footsteps approaching. The first that Marius then knew about anyone else joining them on the foredeck was a boot thudding into his bottom.

Marius immediately released Quintus' cock and opened his eyes in pained shock, to discover Drusus glaring down at him, with his face distorted in rage.

Chapter LXXXVIII

Drusus' ire and distaste had also arisen despite the fact that, given his poor opinion of the slave class, he should not really have been surprised that Marius was indulging in such activity after his recent background as a boy prostitute. Such a young whore should be expected to practise private perversions if he thought that he could do so undetected by his betters.

Drusus additionally did not believe himself to be hypocritical in believing that Marius and Quintus should not be indulging in mutual masturbation despite his own similar activity in childhood. The difference was that then he was free whilst the two boys now were merely slaves.

As Marius himself had already correctly guessed, Drusus and Titus, like Scyrax and Fabius previously, regarded slaveboys' bodies as being the properties of their masters. So too were the pleasures that could be derived from them.

Drusus and Titus consequently firmly believed that slaveboys sexually playing with themselves without permission was a form of theft. They also considered that stealing from their masters should merit severe punishment.

Drusus' current anger was especially directed at Marius. Quintus was new to the status of slave but the other boy was not and so should have known better.

In fact, in Drusus' enraged opinion, Marius' disregard for the conventions surrounding the role of a slave was an insult to his master. The boy's perfidy was compounded by his apparent quick introduction of Quintus to forbidden behaviour.

Drusus had actually earlier experienced a mix of emotions in respect of Marius, some of which he was reluctant to admit to himself. The latter included a strange compelling compassion towards the boy's plight in the 'House of Ganymede' and an even more unusual feeling of strongly burgeoning affection.

To Drusus, the very idea of being overly sympathetic towards and fond of a mere slave, especially a young one whom he had just removed from prostitution, was both debasing and ridiculous for someone of his standing, namely an important member of the Imperial family. He therefore attempted to displace all such notions from his mind, partly by not even taking the trouble so far to discover the name of the boy concerned, which, if an enquiry had been made, would, of course, have been revealed as Cycnus.

To someone of Drusus' standing, Marius should just be a slave of no consequence, with his own status considerably worsened by his disreputable background as a former prostitute. The boy was admittedly extremely pretty, with a bloom of health and vitality to him that was certainly very attractive. No decent person could also avoid admiring the spirit and skill that he had displayed when in danger of dying in the flames at the 'House of Ganymede'.

Drusus, however, firmly believed that Roman sense of honour and decorum should disqualify such a slaveboy from being considered to be anything more than a handy chattel, to be used in any way and discarded at any time in accordance with the whim of his owner. Any other attitude would be disgracing.

Nevertheless, Drusus could not entirely dismiss certain strange and unusual compassionate and affectionate feelings for Marius from his psyche. For personal honour, he was therefore doing his best to suppress them, especially now when he believed that he had a duty to punish the boy severely for behaving very naughtily.

Drusus was still wearing his favourite belt, namely the broad one of well-oiled hide, fastened by a heavy silver clasp, which Marius had first seen him sporting in the 'House of Ganymede'. The currently rightfully fearful boy now watched as the young man removed this accoutrement from around his tunic, obviously as a prelude for alternative use.

Marius continued to watch in trepidation as Drusus subsequently doubled the two ends of his belt together in his right hand. The broad heavy leather would, as the worried boy well knew, gain extra weight and force when wielded in such a manner.

Drusus next kicked Marius' currently covered bottom again and commanded him to stand and divest himself of his tunic, which represented his sole attire. The boy reluctantly complied and was soon standing on the foredeck naked before his new temporary master, with his hands at his sides as he had been taught was right for a slave to do in such shaming circumstances.

The little in size but major in implication erect cause of Marius' current trouble was now clearly visible, standing out horizontally and apparently with impertinent pride from his smooth groin. On viewing this sight, Drusus' throat momentarily dried, as he again appreciated the boy's naked beauty. However, he quickly recovered to instruct "Lean forwards with your hands on the ship's rail over there. Bend your head downwards with your legs wide apart and make sure that your bottom's lifted upwards and so nicely presented to receive the attentions of my belt!"

After Marius had again reluctantly complied, Drusus suggested "I presume that you know why I'm about to beat you, boy, and why you deserve your punishment." He subsequently added, in case the young slave believed the question only to be rhetorical and therefore not requiring a verbal reply, "You may answer!"

"Y…. Y…. Yes, M…. M…. Master," Marius meekly responded, with acute nervousness evident in his quaking voice. "That's good," Drusus commented, "because let's hope that your imminent beating will teach you not to steal other people's property, in this case the pleasures that can be afforded by Quintus' body!"

"You, who was already a slave," Drusus added, "should have known better than to be doing what I've just caught you doing and so you thoroughly deserve your imminent beating. However, I'll forgive Quintus on this occasion because he's newly enslaved. I'll just hope instead that he too learns from the lesson I'm about to give to you!"

Drusus then focused on the target for his belt's impending agonising admonition, namely Marius' now bare bottom. As he looked down at the relevant curvature, he considered the sight extremely nice, with the cute dimples on the sides adding to the deliciousness of the scenery, which was therefore rather a shame to mark. However, he also realised that he had his duty to perform and, as when he was soldiering, such obligation did occasionally necessitate unpleasantness and damage.

Drusus next gauged his distance from this target by extending his doubled belt to ensure that the leather would hit the inviting buttocks in the required fulsomely excruciating manner. The resultant gentle touch of the makeshift implement of chastisement suddenly brushing against Marius' bottom caused the relevant cute curves to break out in fright with goosepimples.

Satisfied that he was in the correct position to beat Marius with the necessary accuracy and harshness, Drusus subsequently raised his belt to deliver his first hard blow across the centre of the young bottom before him. He had already decided that he did not want to break the boy's flesh, as such damage would displease Tiberius and so disqualify the child from performing his dangerous act for the Emperor until his injuries had repaired. He therefore proposed to be more sparing than the 12 year-old slave perhaps deserved and cause only bruising on a concentrated area that should heal quickly.

Nevertheless, Drusus remained angry at Marius and also felt duty-bound to hurt the boy a lot to punish his recent mischief. He had concluded that his belt, used on the tenderest parts of the child's rump, should do the necessary job.

Drusus was sure that, as a slave, Marius would have been beaten before in similar circumstances. He consequently did not now feel obliged to remind the boy of the traditional rules, namely that he was to stay in position until his punishment was over and he was given permission to move.

Drusus therefore now simply summoned his strength and took careful aim, whilst simultaneously noticing that Marius' slim body had tensed in fright and in anticipation of the blow to come. He suddenly also appreciated the boy's rather diminutive size and felt a momentary pang of pity. However, this soon passed, with his sense of duty returning to the fore, and he finally brought his belt whistling down with all his might.

The vicious blow struck squarely across the centre of Marius' clenched buttocks with an explosive crack. The boy's body subsequently jerked convulsively, as the resultant agony seared through him. He also simultaneously grunted, albeit not because he was too proud to cry out more loudly but because the shock of the blow had temporarily driven most of the air from his young lungs.

Indeed, Marius was now a slave and, as such, the bulk of his pride had long been shattered and lost. If he was hurt, he would generally scream without any consideration for his personal honour. Nothing better would be expected by anyone for someone of his base servile status.

In fact, Marius began to scream in reaction to Drusus' second accurate and harsh blow, which landed below and neatly parallel to the first. Such loud noise began to attract the sailors back to the foredeck to watch the further fun.

Quintus was, of course, also a witness. Although the boy was extremely grateful for Drusus' mercy towards him, he was also currently very sorry for Marius' plight. Having just been the recipient of a harsh beating from Titus, he now fully appreciated how much the associated agony hurt.

Quintus additionally felt rather guilty about two matters. The first involved Marius' present plight, into which, after all, the boy had only fallen after attempting to introduce him to sexual pleasure, which he had been thoroughly enjoying until Drusus' interruption. The second related to his own cock, which had amazingly stubbornly remained hard despite the fact that the delightful rubbing of the relatively little shaft had sadly stopped.

By the time that Drusus had accurately created two more broad parallel stripes on Marius' bottom with his belt, Titus and his two adult slaves had arrived on the foredeck as well to watch the fun. They had been drawn by the loud noises of leather cracking against tender flesh and of the young victim's continued agonised shrieking.

"I didn't know that you enjoyed beating boys too, Lord," the smirking Titus felt obliged to comment on his arrival, simultaneous to a fifth blow being delivered and another pained yelp being heard. "I don't, as I'm not a sadist like you," Drusus replied, whilst not being insulting to the other man. The very Empire was based on much cruelty and many Romans actually took immense pride in being savagely ruthless.

"I do, however, believe in duty," Drusus continued, "and this brat has been insultingly mischievous by playing with Quintus' private parts and so he needs to be punished to teach him a lesson that such pleasures are reserved for masters not slaves!" In reaction to this explanation, Titus and most of the watching sailors burst into laughter.

Of course, such chortling resounded around the foredeck not as a product of Drusus' seriousness and sincere sense of duty. He had sounded somewhat pompous but no one was going to exhibit public amusement at the disposition of Tiberius' senior nephew and possible next Emperor. The laughter had instead resulted from the discovery of the embarrassing offence for which Marius was currently being painfully punished.

Titus' arrival now prompted Drusus to pause and inspect his handiwork so far. As part of this process, he ran a finger along one of the five livid welts that ran across Marius' bottom and felt the boy shudder at his touch.

Marius was crying but, despite his sobs and the screams emitted from his rosy lips in agonised reaction to each vicious blow from the belt, Drusus could not help but again admire his bravery. Regardless of the excruciation he was obviously enduring, the boy had somehow courageously managed to maintain his demeaning posture, although his bruised bottom had sagged a little lower in reaction to the assault being inflicted.

Drusus was aware that many other boys in Marius' desperate situation would by now have collapsed to the deck. They would probably also have needed to be held in position for the completion of their punishment.

"Lift your bottom back upwards a little, boy, as you're beginning to lose position," Drusus next commanded in order to rectify Marius' slight slump in posture. However, the order was uttered in a gentle tone, which hinted at his possession of some sympathy for the young slave's plight and admiration for his bravery.

As Marius subsequently bravely strained to push his bottom upwards as commanded, he somehow also managed to respond to the order with a muffled but polite "Yes, Master, and I'm sorry, Master!" These words secretly increased Drusus' sympathy and admiration for the boy but did not decrease his angered determination to fulfil his duty, which would not be served by a mere five blows against relatively fleshy buttocks.

Drusus, whilst now readjusting his aim to other delicate parts of Marius' lovely anatomy, instead realised that the truly skilled part of his chastisement of the boy was about to start. To him, the beating had so far been fairly routine, with the young slave undoubtedly already having encountered many alike thrashings in his short life so far, as well as expecting similar in the future too.

Because of his maintained anger, however, and perhaps as an antidote to his secret feelings for Marius too, Drusus now wanted the current punishment to stand out as exceptional in the boy's future memory. He told himself that he wished to ensure that his young victim never again disrespected any master but perhaps the true motive lay in a peculiar subliminal desire that the child never forgot him whatever next happened to their respective destinies.

There were, of course, better ways to ensure that a special slaveboy never forgot a previous master than delivering a harsh beating, at least for the young victim. However, Drusus' mind, which was trying its best to deny any infatuation, somehow successfully suppressed the relevant ideas.

Now that Drusus had nicely warmed Marius' bottom and laid a foundation of pain on which to build further, he next intended to give the boy a lesson that he would surely not forget until the end of his life. As he prepared to do so, he also reminded himself that he was not a cruel man, who gained pleasure from flogging children. However, he then guiltily suddenly realised in shock that his own cock, thankfully well hidden under his tunic and inside his loincloth underwear, was hard and throbbing.

Drusus was not accustomed to such a phenomenon when delivering punishments, even to pretty children. He therefore could not explain his current penile state to himself, although he had to admit that Marius was exceptionally lovely and the boy's bottom, with deepening bruises and welts, now somehow even more alluring to him than previously.

Drusus attempted to ignore his curious and embarrassing state of arousal and changed his grip on his belt. He exchanged the doubling of the broad leather for strapping one end around his right wrist.

Drusus subsequently swung the remaining length of belt back over his right shoulder. As expected, the single strap was both lighter and suppler than the doubled version that he had previously wielded.

Drusus now aimed at the inside of Marius' thighs, between his bare splayed legs, and with carefully judged precision slashed the free end of his belt accurately towards the vulnerable target flesh. On hitting with bite, the broad leather tip snapped loudly and curled firmly round the relevant limb, inducing another scream. However, the boy still somehow bravely managed to maintain his position, even keeping his bottom steadily uplifted.

Aided by Marius' amazing courageous steadfastness in the face of his renewed assault, Drusus subsequently slowly worked his aim upwards on both sides of the boy's inner thighs, whilst coming closer and closer to the junction of his splayed legs. Judging from the way that the young victim howled and shivered in reaction to each blow, the deliveries were proving highly successful in bringing him to fresh peaks of agony. However, there was worse to come.

With further carefully judged precision, Drusus finally concluded this aspect of the beating by hitting the inside of Marius uppermost thigh so that the end of the belt landed just below his vulnerable dangling scrotum. The boy's resultant shriek was louder than ever, although partly in fearful reaction to what might have been struck than what actually had been.

After Marius had calmed again, if a tearful whimpering child can be so described, Drusus commanded him to spread his legs even wider. The intensely anguished boy did not at all like the potential implications behind this order but nevertheless obeyed.

Drusus subsequently waited until he was satisfied that Marius bottom was completely still and fully exposed to his belt then again fiercely and accurately lashed the harsh leather downwards, on this occasion landing the tip squarely across the lips of the boy's anus. He was rewarded by another shrill scream, as a young body was once more convulsed by acute agony, although the form concerned continued miraculously to remain in position.

Drusus now again waited for Marius' body to absorb the resultant agony, for there was no point in hurrying a beating, as the aim should be to make the chastised person feel every blow to the full. Slow delivery of such a punishment was therefore desirable both to inflict the maximum physical pain and mental torture.

Whilst waiting, Drusus again doubled the belt in his hand in readiness for the final blow, as he believed that Marius had now been punished enough. The boy was currently clearly in such an anguished state that he might hardly feel further hits, which would therefore be unnecessarily superfluous. Also, unless attention was changed to other parts of his anatomy, the ravaged flesh of his rump might soon begin to cut seriously, which was not a desired development.

After patiently waiting and becoming satisfied that Marius was ripe for the last blow, Drusus slashed viciously upwards between the boy's splayed legs, delivering a heavy blow to both his scrotum and cock, which had amazingly somehow remained semi-hard throughout his beating. In reaction to this supposedly concluding hit, the young slave's brave discipline finally broke and, clasping both hands to his agonised crutch, he collapsed moaning onto the deck.

Drusus' own reaction was not to allow his pity for Marius to come now to the fore. His mind instead focused on what he considered to be his duty, as slaves could not be allowed to escape immune from a flagrant flouting of the rules whilst being punished.

Drusus again kicked Marius, and commanded "Return to your position, boy." "That was supposed to be the last blow that I was going to inflict," he also informed, "but your lack of discipline has earned you not only another but also another delivered to the same place. I'll also continue to hit you there until you learn to remain steady afterwards!"

After recovering from his genital shock with remarkable quickness in the very anguishing circumstances, Marius somehow slowly dragged himself to his feet in order to resume his previous stance. He subsequently again stretched out his quivering hands to find the ship's rail, despite the relative blindness in his eyes because of the copious tears present, and painfully bent forward and spread his legs.

As Marius did so, he was aware of the all-consuming agony searing his body. However, in addition to the pain, he was also conscious of an overwhelming sense of shame.

Marius believed that he had again shamefully failed Drusus, this time by breaking one of the fundamental rules that governed the conduct of a slaveboy when he was being justly punished. Moreover, he had disappointed the hero who had rescued him from the 'House of Ganymede' and Maccius.

Whilst witnessing Marius resume his position, Drusus again experience some pity, which on this occasion caused his stern attitude to relent a little. Consequently, he gently rested his free hand in an instinctive gesture of sympathy on the boy's bruised and aching bottom, feeling him shiver once more despite his very light touch.

"I'm sure you know that I am duty-bound to do this, boy," Drusus subsequently commented in a low voice, in which his tinge of compassion could now be detected. "Just be brave one more time," he went on to suggest, "and stay in place after my next hit and we'll be finished."

Drusus was simultaneously amazed at his own compassionate reaction, for someone who believed so strongly in discipline and order. However, such incredulity had somehow not prevented him from expressing his newly found sympathy.

"I…. I…. I'll try, M…. M…. Master," Marius managed to reply between sobs in answer to Drusus' suggestion, "and thank y…. y…. you, M…. M… Master." However, moments later the boy was again sprawled on the deck, with his hands clasping his once more acutely agonised genitals.

Titus and the still watching sailors again laughed at the sight, just as they had done when witnessing Marius' earlier collapse. They also began to wonder in amusement whether the boy would be converted into a eunuch before he finally managed to remain in place after a blow from Drusus' belt to his sexual organs. However, such humorous conjecture was quickly terminated.

To everyone's amazement, not least his own, Drusus now reapplied his belt to the original function around his tunic and left the foredeck, after watching the brave Marius begin another attempt to resume his original posture in readiness to receive another blow to his genitals.

Chapter LXXXIX

Marius looked for his previously shed tunic on the way. However, the boy could not find the garment and presumed that Titus, whose property the garb was, or one of his adult slaves had reclaimed it or, more likely, one of the sailors had stolen it for use by a child he knew or resale.

"You won't receive another beating for lying here next to me, will you?" the similarly naked Quintus asked anxiously in reaction to Marius' change of position. "No," was the answer, hoarsely whispered because the boy's throat was sore as a result of his recent vociferous screaming, "as long as we don't do anything we shouldn't to each other!"

Nevertheless, despite this warning and his anxiety, Quintus' hand was briefly drawn into gently smoothing Marius' golden hair in a compassionate attempt to soothe his new friend's obvious residual pain. The boy's fresh instinct was now to exhibit sympathy for a fellow young slave, who had just suffered in a similar manner to what had previously been inflicted on him at Titus' cruel hands, albeit the respective beatings had been focused on different parts of their normally lovely anatomies.

Quintus' revised instinct was in marked contrast to his original attitude towards Marius and was, of course, further evidence of his reluctant acceptance that he was now of similar servile status to the other boy. His stance was also indicative that he was beginning to believe that fellow slaves should stick together and help each other whenever possible because there was no guarantee that anyone else would do so.

The prevailing wind had by now fallen away and the air was still. As a result, the stubby sailing ship lay becalmed with the island of Capri still not quite in sight.

The sailing ship did possess sweeps, which were long oars fitted for use in becalmed conditions. However, the captain chose not to utilise them because of the distance still to go. He did not have slaves to row and did not want to exhaust his crew. Consequently, little progress towards the destination was being made.

Several hours passed and, as their ship drifted aimlessly, Marius and Quintus began to do the same but into spasmodic slumber. Their sleep was most commonly interrupted by pangs of physical or mental pain that occasionally caused their bodies or brains anguish.

Eventually, whilst Quintus still fitfully slumbered, Marius had had enough of sleep and instead began to take account of his injuries. Albeit far more dully than previously, his bottom, inner legs and genitals were still hurting and would probably continue to do so for a few more days. Nevertheless, overall, he considered that his punishment had been relatively light. After all, recalling what had befallen Nisus and Giton in Scyrax's house, he appreciated that he would have faired far worse if he had been caught having sex with another slaveboy there.

The flesh on Marius' normally cute but currently vividly marked bottom had not been broken. The similar bruising on the inside of his legs, although still stinging, had also not cut and bled. Consequently, the boy recognised that these injuries were capable of healing quickly and completely.

Meanwhile, Marius' genitals were still discoloured and pained but thankfully that appeared all. There seemed to be no permanent damage and there could so easily have been if Drusus had continued to beat his sexual organs mercilessly.

The shadows eventually began to lengthen, indicating the encroaching end of another day. By this time, Quintus had fully awoken too and, despite their mutual residual hurt, the boys had consequently engaged in whispered conversation, with their chatter now concentrated on what might await them on Capri.

Marius only knew about Tiberius' tastes from the snippets of conversation that he had listened to Drusus and Titus sharing. However, Quintus had become acquainted with more substantial rumours about what happened on Capri from overhearing his father and older brothers.

Despite the fact that both boys might soon feature in similar frightening scenarios, Marius and Quintus nevertheless shared their knowledge. The relevant tales of gross obscenities and orgies, and of Tiberius' extreme cruelty, somehow did not encourage them to be grimly taciturn but strangely the opposite. Their whispers were not only prolonged but also full of noticeably excited awe that they might soon find themselves at the centre of this perverted regime.

This strangely excited whispered conversation finally came to an end when Marius and Quintus were startled by the sound of approaching heavy footsteps. After what the boys had already painfully experienced on the foredeck, they immediately stopped chatting and instead huddled together in fear. Their instinctive reaction was understandable for they had no one else in the whole world to worry about or protect them.

The instinctive concerns of Marius and Quintus quickly proved, however, to be unnecessary because they discovered that a sailor was rapidly approaching them on the foredeck, holding a large bowl in one hand and a bucket in the other. "Here you are, brats," the ugly middle-aged man subsequently announced on arriving at their side, and in explanation of what he was carrying, albeit with hostility evident in his voice, "bean stew and water!"

"The young Lord instructed me to bring the stuff to you," the sailor continued in further explanation of both what he was carrying and his hostility, "although I suggested to him that he was spoiling you. I told him that brats like you are easier to handle if they're hungry and thirsty, being more manageable if they think that they'll be rewarded for obedience with some food and water. However, he just ordered me to do as I was told."

"What sort of Emperor would an overly generous man like him make?" the sailor went on to ask in complaint, whilst, of course, not expecting any answer from Marius or Quintus to his essentially rhetorical question. "He'd have all the Empire's slaves so mollycoddled," he added grumpily, "that there'll be no food left for poor citizens like me, whilst our taxes would be crushing in order to pay for your luxuries!"

"Well, at least our current Emperor knows how to treat slave brats like you," the sailor next suggested, whilst a wicked grin formed on his face, "and I'll tell you now that he won't mollycoddle you but instead will deal with you as you deserve. In fact, I doubt that you'll survive to see Lord Drusus succeed to the Imperial throne!"

With these concluding unpleasant words and whilst maintaining his wicked grin, happily knowing from their disturbed facial expressions that he had increased the undoubted trepidation of the future already within the boys' souls, the sailor turned on his heel and walked away. He had been most displeased to be ordered to serve food and water to mere slaves but was now content that he had secured revenge by further troubling their minds.

Nevertheless, despite the sailor's clear hostility to his task and to the boys and his worrying suggestion, both Marius and Quintus speedily and evenly shared their food and drink. They had to use their hands to do so, as no utensils had been provided apart from the bowl and bucket.

Just as they finished what was to them, in their famished and thirsty state, luxurious fare, a breeze arose. The sailing ship's crew considered the development most favourable, as the wind blew in the direction of Capri.

Marius and Quintus were, however, far from sure whether they too should consider the wind favourable.

Chapter XC

Approaching the tiny and tricky landfall on the rocky island of Capri was simply too dangerous in the swiftly enveloping dark, even on a calm night with a full moon. Disembarkation would instead commence at dawn.

The clear full moon cast a silvery light over the relatively still sea. The naked Marius and Quintus, still sore from their respective beatings but with fairly content stomachs, huddled together for mutual warmth on the bare foredeck and attempted to sleep.

Overnight sleep was again fitful, with dreams, or more accurately nightmares, now being the main reason for the boys' periodic reawakenings, which were usually associated with a sudden bodily shudder. The thought that their immediate destinies were to be decided on the nearby island of Capri unavoidably dominated their apprehensive minds.

The fact that the full moonlight rather eerily and sinisterly silhouetted the nearby tall craggy island did little to appease the boys' apprehension. Neither did the thought that the cruelly lecherous Emperor Tiberius awaited them there.

For the fitfully somnolent boys, the most frightening aspect of the night, however, occurred when they awoke with a shudder simultaneously. Both believed that they had done so in reaction to detecting a scream, not from their ship but from Capri.

"Did you hear a scream from the island?" Marius asked in whisper of Quintus. "I think so," the other boy answered in fright.

"What do you think might have caused the scream?" the scared but curious Quintus went on to enquire. "I don't believe that we should speculate," Marius replied, without having to add that such conjecture would not be in their best interests, as such guesswork would surely only disturb them more.

Nevertheless, sleep thereafter became even more nervously fitful.

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