Zelamir

Sejanus

(or The Traitor's Son)

Part 6

(chapter IX)

Marius felt the man's cock through the coarse material of his tunic, iron hard against his naked bum. He wriggled his bottom so that the man's swollen rod was lying along the cleft of his bottom. He began to rub his bum up and down against it.

"Well done boy .. Go on 3; Good little slut 3; You want it don't you, you whore.." Crastus whispered hoarsely in his ear.

The feel of the man's hard flesh lying along the lips of his anus filled Marius with intense excitement. Looking across the room he saw Pulchellus squatting between Varro's knees, his dark curly head buried in the man's crutch. Pulchellus had taken Varro's cock into his mouth and his cheeks were sunken as he pulled on it.

Marius's felt Crastus hands on his body. "Killers hands," he thought, "but I don't care. It is true I am just a tart" and he panted and strained in his eagerness. Crastus put one hand under his crutch and momentarily eased the panting boy partly clear of his body. Marius felt the man's tunic being pulled away from under him. When he went down again there was nothing between his bare bottom and the man's distended cock.

Varro seized Pulchellus by the ears dragging the boy's head forward and burying the full length of his cock in his mouth. The man began to work the boy's head backwards and forwards as he fucked the lad's mouth. Varro cried out and Marius saw him arch his body as Pulchellus sucked and swallowed desperately. Varro released Pulchellus's ears and the boy fell backward onto his bottom white fluid trickling from between his lips and down his chin.

Marius felt the blood pulsing faster in Crastus's tumid rod. Suddenly Crastus jerked convulsively and the boy felt jets of warm sticky fluid splash upwards against the small of his back. Crastus grunted and pushed Marius roughly away tipping the boy onto the floor. Marius knelt there, bent double aching with unassuaged need, his little cock still iron hard, the man's seed trickling down his back and rump .

"Pulchellus," Crastus shouted after a moments rest, "come here."

The boy scrambled to his feet wiping the man's seed from his lips and chin with the back of his hand. He trotted over to Crastus. His prick still was hard and wobbled stiffly in front of him as he moved.

Crastus said nothing but pointed. Pulchellus bent forward and licked the man's spent cum from the dark hairs that covered his stomach and crutch.

"And the boy too," Crastus rasped.

Kneeling behind him Pulchellus cleaned the man's semen from Marius's back, his tongue lapping the thickening liquid from where it had begun to trickle down the cleft of the other boys bum.

"Well Crastus," said laughing, "you've had your supper Pulchellus. It's time for you and Marius to bring us ours. Off with you both to the kitchen."

"Varro," he asked as the two boys left the room. "Was that dark haired brat any good."

"Well boss," Varro replied with a grin, "if his bottoms as good to fuck as his mouth we won't have anything to complain about."

(chapter X)

"Boss whose going to fuck this tight arsed little slut first?" Grynium asked his hand stroking the boy's bottom. Pulchellus had finished serving the final course of honey and figs and had been called over by Grynium to refill his goblet with wine.

"Well" Crastus said easily, "Me and Varro have already shot our loads so we both need some time for rest and recuperation. I think it's between you and Lucillus. Then after you Varro can go and I will go last of all. I'm the oldest of you lot so I take longer to get back on form."

He took a fig from his plate between his finger and thumb and popped it into Marius's mouth.

"As for which of you, you can decide that between yourselves. Throw a dice for it or something."

"As humane thoughtful people," Grynium said with a cruel grin, "I think the man with the smallest cock should go first. That should lead to less tearing of the brats bum."

"But which of us is the smallest?" asked Lucillus.

"Let the whore decide. It's his rump we'll be fucking," Grynium replied.

"Fair enough," Lucillus said getting a little unsteadily to his feet and pulling off his tunic. "You too Grynium. The boy can't be expected to choose between our cocks unless he can get a clear view of them both."

The two men were very similar in build, heavily muscled brutes well suited to their cruel profession. Lucillus's body however was covered with a thick matt of coarse ginger hair while Grynium's body hair was black and, except about his chest and crutch, less prolific.

Marius from his place nestling on Crastus's knees gazed in wonder at the two men's partly swollen cocks. There seemed to him little to choose between them. He wondered how Pulchellus would be able to accommodate such bloated objects within his slim body. He shivered as the thought struck him that in time he too would have to bear the agony of a man's penis forcing his bottom open.

Pulchellus glanced from prick to prick. From his expression it was clear that he was aware of the enormity of the task ahead him. Indecision, terror and excitement, in almost equal proportions, were reflected on his face as he stared at the two men's cocks already beginning to rise in anticipation of ravaging his tender rump.

"I can't think he can make a sensible decision," Crastus remarked, "with your cocks almost limp. Get down on your knees boy and use your mouth and tongue. The more you wet them both the easier it will be for you in the end because there'll be nothing else to make them slippy than your spit."

Pulchellus knelt down between the men. It seemed by the way enthusiastic he buried his dark head in their crutches Crastus's words had their full effect on him. Marius watched as the boy licked and sucked the two men's balls and cocks. Very quickly the two shafts were erect and seeming to quiver in cruel anticipation of the pleasures to come. Pulchellus hunkered back on his heels, the two rampant pricks soon to be buried in his body, blue veined and leaking pre-cum inches from his face, Lucillus's rising from it's bed of coarsely curling ginger hair curved like a scimitar, Grynium's standing upright ramrod straight from it's base among the forest of black hairs that covered his crutch.

Grynium's patience broke. With a curse he grabbed the boy by one arm, jerking him to his feet he half threw him, face down, across his couch. Pulchellus fell his legs hanging over it's side. Knowing he had no choice the boy hastily spread his legs and pushed his bottom upwards offering himself to the man's cock. Grynium took two quick steps across the room to where Pulchellus's bum was so invitingly raised and dropped to his knees between the boy's two outstretched legs.

Lucillus started to protest and then shrugged and grinned. His attitude saying as clearly as words "it's only a slave brat's bum after all so what's the fuss."

Grynium spat on his fingers and working saliva generously between the lips of Pulchellus's anus. The boy moaned in excitement. Marius saw the muscles in the backs of his legs straining as he forced his bottom higher in response to the man's probing fingers. Grynium dug his thumbs into the boy's flesh, pulling the lad's bottom open. He pressed the tip of his cock against the entry to the boy's hole. Marius saw the man's powerful haunches thrust forward. Pulchellus threw his head back and screamed his fingers tearing at the covering of the couch across which he lay.

Again and again the man drove remorselessly forward, lifting his victim bodily from the couch under the force of his assault, as he hammered the full length of his swollen prick into the boy's body . Pulchellus's face was contorted with pain, saliva dribbled from his mouth mixing with the tears and snot that flowed from his eye and nose. At last Grynium appeared to abate the ferocity of his attack. His movements became less violent as he began to steadily work his cock inside the boy with long deep thrusts. Grynium placed his two hands on Pulchellus's hips steadying the boy as he fucked him. Pulchellus's shrieks decreased in volume and then fell away to an occasional low whimper punctuated by the harsh panting of both man and boy as they copulated. Pulchellus's body began to respond to the movements of the man's cock within him. Marius could see the muscles in the boy's bum working as he tried to draw the man's cock ever deeper into himself. The tempo of Grynium's thrusting began to increase again. He shouted and drove forward. His rigid body jerking convulsively as he orgasmed deep inside the moaning Pulchellus.

Grynium heaved himself off the boy his now semi-flaccid cock soiled with a mixture of cum and blood and shit. Marius caught a glimpse of Pulchellus's bottom, a similar foul mixture oozing from his hole, before Lucillus stepped eagerly forward to take his companions place.

Grynium picked up a napkin from the table and dipping it into a water jug began to wipe the filth from his crutch. Marius became aware that Crastus was once again beginning to stiffen. Excited by the feel of the man's hardening cock pressing against his bare bottom and the spectacle of Pulchellus's multiple fucking he wriggled his smooth boy's rump tighter into Crastus's lap.

Crastus laughed and reaching out dipped two fingers into the bowl of figs and honey. Dripping with sticky sweetness he pressed them to Marius's lips. The boy took them eagerly into his mouth. Marius sucked and licked the honey from them as Crastus worked them inside his mouth.

At last it was Crastus's turn to fuck Pulchellus. He lifted Marius gently from his knees and walked over to where the older boy lay half on the couch, his bleeding bottom raised ready for his enjoyment. Crastus as a consequence of Marius's wrigglings was once again fully rampant and he wasted no time. Pulchellus's bottom torn and well stretched offered little resistance and soon the man's cock was fully buried in the whimpering boy, his hips slapping against the child's bare rump as he thrust. Even now though, Marius saw, Pulchellus's body was still capable of responding to Crastus probing rod.

Crastus's rape of Pulchellus was brutal and brief. The man was soon back on his feet. He placed one hand on the small of Pulchellus's back pinning the boy to the couch on which he half lay.

"You enjoyed the honey I gave you Marius?" he asked with an evil smile.

"Yes Master," the boy replied uncertainly. The tone of Crastus's voice warned him something unpleasant was going to happen but he was not sure what.

"Good," Crastus continued and the three other men laughed in anticipation of the fun to come, "I will give you a chance to have some more. Bring the bowl of figs here."

Crastus once again dipped two fingers in the honey and then thrust them into Pulchellus's torn anus. The boy whimpered a protest which Crastus ignored. He spent a moment or two working his fingers in the boy's soiled hole and then withdrew them.

"There you are," he said holding his filth coated fingers out to Marius. "Suck them clean. There's honey there as well as other things."

Marius backed away. Varro grabbed him from behind and pushed him forward to where Crastus stood his fingers with their noisome filth extended towards his face.

"Suck them clean boy," he commanded and taking Marius's chin in his left hand he held it still as he held his fingers to the boy's lips. Marius's nostrils caught the stench of the foul mixture and he gagged. In an instant Crastus had his fingers inside the boy's mouth. The metallic bitter taste of blood and cum combined with the sweetness of honey and the sour mustiness of shit filled his mouth.

"Suck I said boy," Crastus roared. To the terrified boy the man's face seemed to fill the whole room. Reluctantly he began to suck. Crastus however was not easily satisfied. He inspected his fingers and put them back in the boy's mouth. He inspected them again and required Marius to lick between them.

"Your treats not over," he said, "there's honey for you in your little friend's hole. Get down and lick it out boy. We don't want the slut dribbling filth over the floor."

Crastus caught hold of Marius by the back of his head and pushed his face down towards Pulchellus's torn rump. He resisted feebly but the man was too strong. Soon his nose was pressed into Pulchellus's bum. "They couldn't make him do it," he told himself but then he felt a finger pressing into his own raised bottom. Delicious excitement flooded through his body. He couldn't help himself. He pushed his rump upwards inviting further intrusion and began to lap at Pulchellus's tortured hole.

(chapter XI)

"Marius wake up Marius," Pulchellus whispered urgently. "Pannychis is in the courtyard. She wants you. She's in trouble. She needs your help."

Guilt flooded Marius's young mind. Pannychis the slave girl who had smuggled him food when he was locked in the cellar to starve and no one else would help him. In his fear and misery yesterday he had not thought of her once. He did not stop to think why Pulchellus should take the risk of carrying a message for her or indeed how Pannychis could get a message to him.

In a single lithe movement he was on his feet. Cautiously he picked his way across the room to the door, the early morning air cool against his naked body. Lucillus, who it seemed was meant to be on guard, was stretched out asleep across the doorway wrapped in his cloak. There was room for Marius to step over his slumbering body and to ease open the door open the crack required for him to wriggle his slim boy's body through without disturbing the man. Suddenly Pulchellus screamed shrilly from the room behind him.

"Master, Master," the boy shouted, "quick he's trying to ran away. Marius is trying to run away."

Marius, amazed by the noise and Pulchellus's sudden betrayal stood frozen, in his tracks. Then he turned to flee but it was too late. The door burst open. Pulchellus still screaming loudly hurled himself upon Marius bowling him over onto the floor. Pulchellus was the bigger but Marius was lithe and quick, his bare skin slippery. For a moment it seemed possible that he might escape from Pulchellus's grasp but then Lucillus followed by Crastus and the other men were on them.

Marius felt his arms grasped and he was hauled roughly to his feet.

"What's this?" demanded Crastus furiously. "What's going on here?"

"Master, Master," gasped Pulchellus from where he was crouched panting on the ground. "I just woke up and I saw Marius creeping out of the door. I was sure he was trying to run away so I called you Master and then I ran after him to try and stop him.."

"He didn't," yelled Marius angrily. "He's lying. He told me Pannychis needed me and was waiting for me 3;" and then he fell silent. Suddenly he saw the sheer improbability of his story. How could Pulchellus have got a message from Pannychis, why if he had should he bother to pass it on and having done so why should he raise the alarm about his running away. He realised he had been tricked and he shot a look of impotent hatred at his betrayer.

"He's the one whose lying Master," Pulchellus shouted pushing his black curls clear of his face and looking up at Crastus with wide innocent brown eyes. "Why should I 3;"

"Yes of course I can see the brat must be lying." Crastus said impatiently. "You have done well boy but now we must teach Marius a lesson he will not forget but without damaging his looks for I want to sell him for as good a price as possible when once we back in Rome."

Part 7

(chapter XII)

"Tell me," he said to Pulchellus, "this Pannychis that Marius is babbling about. Do I remember rightly that Echios told me that she was the slave girl he caught taking food to Marius."

"Yes Master," Pulchellus replied eagerly, "I spotted her at it. I was sure something was going on so I hid in the yard opposite the cellar door and I saw her take food down there. I told my old Master straight away."

Marius wriggled in Lucillus's grasp desperate to get at the other boy's throat and choke the life out of him. The man held him firm his thumbs digging into his thin arms just above his elbows.

"Do you know what's happened to her?"

"Yes Master. Echios had her whipped and then sent her to work in the fields."

"It's just dawn," remarked Crastus, "so the field gangs will be just being marched out for their days labour." . Indeed faintly through the open windows could be heard the sound of shouting and the occasional crack of a whip from the direction of the slave barracks as the human cattle who worked the estate were roused for another days toil.

"Varro you go with Pulchellus and find the bitch and bring her back to me. I'll be down in the courtyard by the whipping post with our young runaway. And get the heaviest whip you can find from the bailiff's office I am sure the boy will know where it is kept."

(chapter XIII)

This time however he did not have that option. Lucillus had transferred his grip to his ear twisting it painfully between his finger and thumb as the naked boy waited sick with fear by the post. Marius saw Varro walking towards them dragging by her arm a slave girl dressed in a brief ragged smock that reached only half way down her thighs. For a moment he did not recognise in the shaven haired filthy drab the brisk neat serving girl Pannychis with her long dark hair and spotless gown. The whip and hard labour in the fields had not taken long to reduce her to utter wretchedness. The knowledge that he was the cause of her misery filled him with guilt.

"Master," he said desperately fighting back his tears, "please I didn't try to run away really Master and I promise I won't ever try. I'll do what ever you want Master but don't do anything to Pannychis."

"I'm not a fool," Crastus grated. "You tried to run away boy it's no point your lying. I should flog you till your back is in shreds but you're too valuable for that so your Pannychis will pay the price for your folly and you can watch her suffer."

"Come on," he ordered Varro, "get her over here and tether her to the post. We haven't all day."

"Master 3;" Marius wailed.

"Shut up brat" Crastus snapped, "the more you argue the worse it'll be for the bitch."

Marius began to sob wildly.

Pannychis was hauled over to the whipping post the iron fetters about her ankles clanking as she moved. She was secured to it, her arms drawn high above her head, her toes barely touching the ground, her body taught and ready for the lash.

Crastus stepped forward and with one savage jerk tore the ragged shift that was her only clothing from her body. Marius saw that her shoulders and rump were ribbed and scarred with the marks of her earlier whipping. Crastus held out his hand and Pulchellus ran forward eagerly to hand him the whip, a long heavy length of plaited leather that curled darkly on the ground and writhed with the vicious deadliness of a monstrous snake.

"What's this?" Crastus said running his left hand down the girls naked back. "Here below her arm. That's not caused by the lash."

"No Master," Pulchellus said, "that's where Echios used the hot iron on her. He wanted her to say who helped her feed Marius. You should have heard her scream Master an she frothed at the mouth and bit through her lip but she wouldn't talk. I wanted him to go on with it and make her howl some more but he said there was no point. He had written to the Emperor saying Marius was here and someone would come and get rid of him soon enough. So he whipped her as a warning to all the others and sent her to work on the fields."

Through his tears Marius shot a glance of pure hate at the other boy. Pulchellus saw it and smiling sweetly he surreptitiously gestured his contempt with a quick movement of his index finger. Marius choked back his rage knowing that anything he said or did would only increase the sufferings of Pannychis. In his heart though he was laying up a heavy count against Pulchellus.

Crastus oblivious of the bye play between the two boys stepped back from the whipping post. Carefully measuring the distance between himself and the tethered naked body of the girl he brought the whip back over his right shoulder. Then he brought the lash whistling through the air cutting down across the girls bare shoulders with all the strength and weight of his powerful body behind it. The girls body was convulsed as plaited leather cracked against bare flesh. There was a split seconds silence and then Pannychis screamed loudly. For a moment a white line appeared across the girls shoulders where the lash had landed then it deepened in colour to an angry red and blood began to well from the spot where it's tip had ripped her skin.

"Get the brat close up to her," he ordered, "I want him to see the whip shred the bitch's back. It's his misbehaviour that has made me do this to her."

Lucillus forced the sobbing boy closer to the post so that the Marius's face was only a couple of feet away from the girl's body. The girl writhed and screamed as Crastus ripped into her with the whip. Marius felt the warm dampness on his face and chest as the lash raised a fine red mist each time it's tip struck home. The force of the blows made the girl loose her footing and her body swung and twisted under the impact of the whip. It curled round her raising angry red weals on her flanks and breasts and sending fresh rivulets of blood trickling down her body. The volume of the girl's screams diminished until the only sound she made was a low grunt as each stroke thudded into her. Otherwise the only sounds were the rich hiss of the lash as it sung through the air, the sharp crack of leather on bare flesh, the panting of Crastus as he laboured at his task and Marius's near hysterical screaming.

At last Crastus stopped. Lucillus released his grip on Marius's ear and the boy flung himself forward landing in his knees at Pannychis's feet wrapping his arms about the girls legs and resting her head against one bare thigh.

"You'll get away from there boy and get on with your work if you don't want to get the slut another cut or two of the whip." Crastus snapped. "We want our breakfasts now. Go to the kitchen and fetch it up to our room quickly."

Marius scrambled quickly to his feet and set off at the run to the kitchen.

"He seems to have got the idea," he remarked to the other men and they all laughed.

"Lucillus you go with him and see they send us up a good meal. Wheaten bread mind you not black. And tell them to get this whore cleaned up so she's fit to travel. We'll tie her on the mule so that should be no problem."

"Pulchellus come with me. I need you, using the whip allways makes me hard," turning away with his hand resting on Pulchellus's round rump Crastus called over his shoulder "Lucillus tell them to sort out a decent tunic for the boy here. He's been a good lad and he deserves a reward."

(chapter XIV)

Lucillus followed Marius into the kitchen and seeking out Daedalus he issued his orders, breakfast for himself and the other men, a tunic for Pulchellus and Pannychis to be taken down from the whipping post and her back dressed. As Marius stood in the corner of the kitchen waiting for the food to be made ready Pannychis was carried in and lain on her face on a blanket by the fire. Selia hurried over carrying a bowl of steaming water and some rags. Kneeling beside the semiconscious girl she began to wash the blood from her back. Marius sidled over and stood looking down in horror at the mess the whip had made of the girl's shoulders. Selia glanced up and caught the look on his face.

"You may well look like that brat," she muttered bad temperdly, "it's you that got the poor girl whipped. Don't we slaves have a hard enough life without the like of your father involving us in your quarrels?"

A murmur of agreement ran round the room and Marius slunk away back to his corner. Not only was he a slut and a tart, he knew that by the way his body thrilled to the touch of even that murderer of his family Crastus, but he was also the cause of poor Pannychis's agony. He began to cry quietly and hopelessly. Standing in the corner of he crowded busy room he felt utterly alone and deserted.

Daedalus told off a couple of other boys to help Marius carry the breakfast. Jugs of steaming cows milk, jars of the sweetest honey, loaves of wheaten bread, plates piled high with slices of ham, a large goats cheese and jars of various pickles there was much too much for a single boy to carry.

Pulchellus was nestling half asleep on Crastus's lap his head resting against the man's left shoulder. He stirred slightly when the food was brought into the room and made to slip from his master's knees but Crastus caught him by the waist and drew him back. Crastus dismissed the other boys and Marius found that it was his turn to serve the men. Their hands roamed over his naked body as he moved between them. He tried to ignore their fingers as they probed and teased him but it was no use. His prick small though it was seemed to have a life of it's own and even as he told himself he hated the feel of their hands on his body it contradicted him standing to attention, wobbling as he moved, a blatant and unmistakable acknowledgement of his excitement that caused a good deal of laughter and comment among the men.

"I don't know what the chances of us getting him to the slave market still a virgin," Varro said with a laugh patting Marius's bottom as he refilled his mug with warm milk. "He's a pretty boy and you can see he's ready for a man's cock. I wouldn't trust him with anybody and we've got a two day journey ahead of us."

"I don't trust myself with him," Crastus replied grinning. "He's a tasty piece of boys flesh sure enough."

" Master if you want to fix it so his bottom's safe Echios had something he used on new boys that he wanted to keep for the Lord Sejanus or any of his friends to enjoy," Pulchellus said eagerly. "I know where it is. I could get it for you if you want."

He was not too pleased with the attention being paid to Marius and resented the comments about the boys good looks. He was sure he was far prettier than Marius. Without waiting for a reply he slipped off Crastus's knee and ran from the room.

He returned within a few minutes carrying a jar in one hand and in the other a short length of light chain fastened at one end to a well polished wooden peg about the length and thickness of a man's index finger. The other end of the chain formed the hinge joining together the ends of two small semicircular pieces of metal.

Marius's heart sank within him. He had seen boys about the farm wearing the thing. Little frightened tykes, often straight from the market, terrified of what awaited them but knowing for them there was no choice no chance of escape. Sometimes he would see them a few days later, the metal ring clamped round their hairless testicles removed, walking strangely and the butt for all sorts of comments and jokes from the other slaves. Sometimes they would simply disappear. Now he was going to be forced to wear it.

"You put the wooden peg in his bum," Pulchellus said handing the object over to Crastus, "then you snap the bits of metal round his balls and fasten them, you see there are a number of holes bored through the free ends. You can adjust the fitting so it's really tight and then you adjust the chain so its tight as well. The plugs not big enough to tear him or make him loose or anything but the only way he or anybody else can get it out of his bum without unlocking the ring is to tear his balls off." The boy sounded a if he did not think that that would be a bad idea.

"I know well enough how one of these things work thank you," Crastus said sharply taking the cruel object.

"And I've got some grease for his hole," Pulchellus continued quickly.

"You think of everything," Crastus said. "Marius come over here and lie down over my knee with your bum in the air."

Marius stepped forward obediently and lay face down across the man's knees. Crastus rested the palm of one hand on the curve of the boy's rump. Marius's throat was tight with fear but he felt at the same time strangely at peace. It was the peace that came with total surrender. Deep inside himself he experienced a feeling of release and rightness. Instinctively the boy knew that lying there his bottom raised he was signalling his submission to the man as surely and as clearly as a dog does when he exposes his throat to a rival.

Crastus patted the boy lightly on his upturned rump.

"Spread your legs slut," he commanded.

Crastus ran his hand up the inside of the boy's thigh noting the goose pimples that had formed on the child's otherwise smooth skin. Excited by the feel of the man's hand Marius wriggled and pushed his bottom upwards. Reaching the junction of the boy's legs the man's hand ceased for a moment it's upward journey while he teased the boy's perineum with his thumb nail. Marius's breath quickened as his excitement mounted. Crastus dipped the tip his index finger in the jar of grease. Marius gasped at the sudden shock as he felt the cold lubricant being applied to the lips of his anus. There was a pause as Crastus's finger was withdrawn and then it was back, with a further supply of the cool grease, this time pressing firmly into Marius's body. Surprised by the intrusion the boy's sphincter tightened but it's resistance was soon overcome by the remorseless pressure of the man's finger as it probed ever deeper. Waves of pain combined with the most excruciating pleasure consumed Marius's senses. The muscles of his bottom began to contract as he tried to draw the man's finger deeper into him. For a few seconds the only thing he was aware of was the single point of pulsating lust within his body.

Then suddenly it was over as Crastus brutally jerked his finger out of the boy. Marius moaned and whimpered in disappointment. Crastus laughed as he looked down at the boy's rump quivering in frustrated need. He took the wooden plug attached to it's length of chain and pushed it's full length in one single thrust into the boy. Quickly he tipped Marius back onto his feet. The boy seemed hardly conscious of what was being done to him. His eyes were glazed, his breath came with rasping pants and his little cock rock hard shuddered as the blood boiled within it. Crastus reached between Marius's legs taking hold of the short length of chain attached to the peg now buried in the boy's bottom. He pulled it forward and clamped the two hinged half circles of iron around the base of Marius's cock and scrotum squeezing them together so that they cut off the flow of blood to the boy's rigid cock.

Part 8

(chapter XV)

Then suddenly he felt agonising pain as the iron ring was clamped tight about the root of his cock and scrotum cutting off the blood and aborting in that instant his orgasm. Marius moaned in pain and frustration. His little boy's prick, a second or two before rigid and vibrant with lust, was reduced to limpness. Crastus, content at teaching Marius that not only was a slave boy's body owned by his master but the pleasures to be derived from it were as well as their enjoyment and could be granted or withheld at will, eased the pressure on the ring before locking it in place. Marius squealed as the man checked that the plug was firmly anchored by tugging sharply on the thin chain that ran along his perineum attaching it to the iron ring about his ball sack..

Crastus had the horses saddled and brought to the courtyard ready for their departure. Then he ordered Pannychis led out to where he stood ready to mount. She walked unsteadily and was hardly able to keep on her feet. She stood before him head bowed and submissive waiting for him to decide her fate. Her only clothing was a rag wound round her waist. Marius saw with pity and guilt, for he knew he was the cause of her suffering, that her shoulders and the sides of her breasts were ribbed with weals from the whip.

"The bitch can't walk any distance," Crastus announced. "We'll have to take a mule from the stables here for her to ride on. Pulchellus will have to lead it for her. She won't have the strength to do more than sit on it. At least we won't have to watch that she doesn't runaway."

"What about Marius?" Varro asked.

"He can do some work. I've got some stuff for him to carry." Crastus picked up a small sack that clinked when he lifted it. "Those goblets we drank out of last night. No one will come looking for them when we've gone. Come here boy."

Marius moved forward and took the sack. It was a heavy burden for an eleven year old boy to carry.

"Hadn't we better tether him to one of our horses?" Varro suggested. "He might get lost or run away. Those goblets are silver and worth a bit."

"He won't ran away and he'll keep up because if he's not with us when we halt I'll whip that bitch he cares about so much till he turns up."

"Do you understand me boy? You get left behind and you'll be able to tell where we are from the screams of the slut as I whip her."

"I'll keep up Master," Marius promised bending under the weight of the sack as he shouldered it.

A few minutes later the small caravan clattered out of the courtyard. The four men riding in the front, then Pulchellus leading the mule, his short white tunic the reward for his treachery flapping against his bare thighs. At the rear in the dust thrown up by the riders trudged Marius his shoulders already aching under the weight of his load his eyes fixed on the road a few feet ahead of him. His only thought was to keep up. He was not going to be the cause again of Pannychis feeling the whip. The farmhouse in which he had grown up a privileged free boy, the master's son, receded behind him as he began a long painful journey into the most abject servitude.

(chapter XVI)

Glancing up he saw that the horse men were now about a quarter of a mile ahead of him. They were approaching a small pinewood. Then he saw Crastus reign in his horse and dismount at the side of the road. He broke into a stumbling run desperate to catch up before Crastus began to use the whip on Pannychis.

He felt as though his lungs were going to burst. He arrived at the edge of the wood and dropped to his knees, his chest heaving as he fought for breath. It seemed dark in the shade of the pine trees after the glare of the sun on the open road. The warm air was heavy with the scent of pine needles. The only sound was the trickle of running water and the murmur of crickets . A small stream welling from a tumble of rocks had been diverted to fill a stone trough before trickling away under he road by way of a culvert. The men had dismounted from their horses and given the reigns to Pulchellus to hold while they splashed the cool water over their faces and drank deeply from the trough. Marius's throat and mouth were dry but he knew without being told that he should wait until the men had finished before attempting to slake his thirst.

Pulchellus meanwhile had lead the horses to where the overflow from the trough formed a narrow brook and let them drink. The men moved away and Marius sidled nervously forward. Surely now it was all right for him to drink. He was just about to dip his face into the trough when there was an enraged roar from behind him.

"Get away from there filth," Crastus shouted. "We don't want our drinking water messed up by dirt like you. Drink with the other animals."

Marius backed quickly away. He turned towards the place where Pulchellus was watering the horses.

"Get off. There's no room here," Pulchellus sneered. "Wait your turn."

Marius squatted down on the bare earth to wait. At last Pulchellus led the horses away and Marius scuttled forward to kneel in the mud turned up by the horses hooves and at last to plunge his face into the cool water. Then he was aware Pannychis was kneeling beside him. The two of them, the naked young boy and the scantily clad teenage girl knelt side by side their heads bent to the stream their bottoms raised. Thirst and fatigue had robbed them of all sense of modesty or pride.

"Look at them boss," Varro jeered, "which rump would you prefer the brat's or the slut's?"

Marius glanced over his shoulder. The men were sitting on the grass some way away eating bread and cheese. Pulchellus moved among them pouring wine from a goatskin flask. He realised that when he was drinking he exposed his bottom to the watching men. He was too thirsty to care and he bent back to the stream. Pannychis however was more modest made a pathetic effort to pull the single fragment of cloth about her waste down over her rump.

"Leave that be slut," Crastus shouted angrily, "How can we make a sensible choice unless we can see what is available."

Pannychis hastily withdrew her hands.

"I prefer boys every time," Crastus replied after a second or so's hesitation. "There's something about a young boy's slim hips and tight little bottom that makes my cock jump to attention. A girl's got too much fat on her and in the wrong places."

"I dunno," Crinium said, "the bitch is not a bad looker. I reckon I could fuck her and enjoy it. Come over here slut and let me have a better look at you."

Pannychis scrambled hastily to her feet and stumbled over to the group of leering men. She did not hesitate but Marius could tell by the way she carried herself that she was terrified.

Crinium grinning reached up and jerked the cloth away from her. Pannychis made an involuntary gesture to hide her nakedness but quickly checked herself letting her open hands fall back to her sides. She stood facing her tormentors knowing that she had no choice to submit to their inspection and to anything else they chose to do to her.

Marius watched the girls humiliation with rage in his heart but unable to intervene. Pannychis he knew had saved his life but he could do nothing to help her. There were four men much stronger and bigger than him and even the law was against him. Pannychis and he were slaves, the men free. They could do what they liked to the girl and himself. He was sure there was worse to come but if he tried to help they would hurt the girl more just to punish him. He blinked back tears of frustration and forced himself to be still.

"Not bad," Crinium said now get down on your knees bitch and show me your bottom. No not facing me cow. That's right and put your face to the ground."

He pulled himself onto his knees and pulling off his loin cloth lifted his tunic above his waste. His cock stood out rigid in front of him cruelly demanding. Gripping Pannychis by her hips he pulled her back onto his erect rod entering her from behind. The girl moaned as he rode her body driving into her with increasing force. He caught hold of her shoulders pulling her backwards until she was kneeling upright. He gripped her breasts in both hands squeezing cruelly, digging his finger tips into the bare flesh. Marius could see the tears flowing down Pannychis's cheeks. His thrusts became harder and faster. Pannychis threw her head back. Her breath came in short rapid pants. Her whole body shuddered and then Crinium pushed her roughly away.

"Any one else want the bitch?" he asked.

There was no reply. Getting to his feet he bent to recover his loin cloth.

"Get your filthy carcass out of here," he shouted at the girl planting a hefty kick on her rump. "I've finished with you."

Pannychis scuttled back towards Marius but not quickly enough to prevent Crinium booting her once again.

"I can't think she was as good to fuck as Pulchellus was last night," Varro remarked.

"A girl is different to a boy," Crinium replied.

"Well that's certainly true," Crastus said laughing. "Nobody could deny that but which is the better to fuck."

The men began to talk among themselves remembering and comparing slaves both boys and girls whose bodies they had enjoyed. In time they grew quieter and one by one overcome by the heat of the day they dropped off to sleep.

Marius moved closer to Pannychis. She was lying on her face on the ground. He could see her shoulders heaving as she sobbed silently.

"Pannychis," he said quietly touching her hair softly, "I'm sorry Pannychis. I'm the cause of all this I know I am."

The girl moved so that her tear stained face was turned to him.

"It's not that I'm crying about. It's not what they've done to me. It's that I enjoyed having that man in me. I didn't want to but I did. A slave, that's what I am and that's what I deserve to be."

The boy sat with his hand resting on the girl's head. In time her sobbing stilled and she slept.

"I'm a pretty boy," Marius said to himself. "They all say I am. I'll be bought by a rich senator and I'll work hard to please him and then when I'm fourteen he'll set me free and give me a lot of money and I'll find Pannychis and buy her and set her free and she won't be a slave any longer. It's a long time I know. More than three years but I'll do it I swear I will." Shortly he too slept.

(chapter XVII)

Marius staggered into the inn yard and collapsed to his knees. Crastus swung off his horse and strode back to where the exhausted boy huddled on the ground.

"Look after this," he ordered up the sack of silver and handing it to Varro.

"And you," he said prodding Marius's bare bottom with his toe, "get to your feet quick now."

Wearily Marius dragged himself upright. Crastus stooped to unlock the iron ring locked round the base of his scrotum. He turned the boy round. Marius squealed as the man jerked the plug from his bottom.

"Get over there and empty yourself brat," Crastus commanded pushing Marius towards the open drain that ran down the centre of the court yard.

"Make the slut hurry up boss," Varro called out impatiently. "We're thirsty and hungry."

The boy squatted over the drain straining as Crastus stood towering above him urging him on with sharp kicks to his thigh. Exhausted though he was Marius felt his humiliation deeply.

Without giving Marius a chance to clean himself or bothering to apply further grease Crastus, once he was satisfied that Marius was finished, pulled him to his feet and jamming the plug back into his bottom locked it in place.

"Come on whore," Crinium snapped grabbing hold of Pannychis by the arm and dragging her towards the open door of the inn. "Perhaps you can earn some money for us tonight."

The man disappeared into the tavern leaving the two boys to look after the horses. After that was done Marius could hardly manage to swallow the bowl of thin porridge that was his only food before falling asleep on a bundle of filthy of straw in the stables. When he was kicked awake in the morning though foot sore and tired though he was his determination to rescue Pannychis and to make Pulchellus suffer for his treachery was undiminished.

The next morning the men were in a good humour coming out into the yard, where Marius was waiting with the horses, laughing and talking loudly.

"Pannychis," Crinium shouted, "get out here you lazy tart or I'll bloody your shoulders again."

"I don't see why she shouldn't walk and I ride on the mule," Pulchellus suggested slyly.

"If you made as much for us as the bitch did last night you'd have a point," Crinium replied clinking some coins in his hand, "but you didn't. Just spent your time with Crastus's cock up your bum."

(chapter XVIII)

Leaving the horses at a livery stable the men shouldered their way trough the crowded streets as Marius plodded wearily after them bent under his heavy burden. Skirting the Capitol hill they passed through the meat and livestock market. It was on the point of closing and the many stalls were being dismantled or locked up but the stink of near rotting meat was nauseating. Then the streets became progressively narrower and dirtier as they penetrated deeper into the slums of the Aventine. Tenements towered upwards on each side of them, the air was still and fetid, the noise of a busy city, people quarrelling, tradesmen shouting their wares, a smith busy with his hammer, echoed about them.

Crastus stopped outside a building indistinguishable from those that crowded about it on either side except that perhaps it was, if that was possible, even dirtier and more run down than its neighbours.

Part 9

(chapter XIX)

Crastus settled himself on the edge of the bed and his men settled themselves either on one of the stools or on the floor. Pulchellus was despatched to fetch some wine. Marius hesitated on the landing and was told roughly by Crastus to get inside and to hand him the sack full of silver goblets. The boy obeyed and then sidled off to huddle up against Pannychis who was trying to make herself inconspicuous in the corner of the room.

"Well lads," Crastus said cheerfully once Pulchellus had returned with the wine, "another mission completed for our Emperor."

"I hope it pays better than some have done in the past," Varro remarked gloomily.

"I don't see why it shouldn't," Crastus replied. "Apart from our fee we've got the boy and the girl to sell. But the best to my mind is silver goblets. They should fetch more than all the rest put together."

"There's two boys and the girl," Crinium said with a hint of belligerence in his voice.

"One boy," Crastus replied evenly. "I'm keeping Pulchellus. Apart from being a good fuck he's a handy sort of boy and I reckon he'll be of use to me in my business."

A sullen silence greeted this announcement and after a minute or two Crastus continued.

"All right then so there's no ill feeling I'll put him in the pot at five sesterces and buy him off you lot. Is that all right."

There was a mutter of agreement and Pulchellus turned and grinned triumphantly at Marius.

"But the problem is how best to turn them all into cash?" Varro, who seemed intent on taking the gloomy view, grumbled.

"I'll take the silver to Balbinus in the Emporium in the morning. He'll shift them for us. I'll take the boy too. He's not in Balbinus's usual line but he's a classy bit of goods and he'll tell me the best way to turn him into cash."

"The brat doesn't look all that classy to me," Crinium interjected with a laugh. "Look at him filthy dirty and his legs all grazed from where he's stumbled on the march."

"He'll sell well once he's cleaned up and rested," Crastus said confidently. "Take my word for it there's quality there."

"If he's so good why don't you just put him up for auction and cut out the middle man?" asked Varro.

"Same reason as why we sell the goblets through that crook Balbinus. So he can't be traced back to us. The Emperor has spies everywhere and it wouldn't take him long to put two and two together if he found out I was selling a good quality boy in the slave market after he's sent me to kill one."

"As for the girl," Crastus continued, "she's nothing in particular. We'll sell her for what we can get to some pimp."

"I'll look after that," Crinium said downing his wine and scrambling to his feet. "I know a brothel owner near the forum who'll pay three or four sesterces for the tart. I'll take her now. I've had enough of boozing."

He began to walk across the floor to where Pannychis and Marius cowered. The girl shrank away from him. Marius instinctively put his arm around her in a pathetic attempt to comfort and protect her although she was much older and bigger then him.

"Come on tart," Crinium said reaching out and grabbing her roughly by her arm.

Pannychis allowed herself to be hauled to her feet. Marius, desperate at the thought of being parted from the one remaining person in the world who had shown she cared for him, threw his arms about her waist.

"Let go boy," Crinium growled cuffing him on the side of the head.

"No, no please don't take her 3; Please 3;" Marius pleaded keeping his arms tightly clasped about the girl though his ears were ringing from the blow.

"Let go I said," Crinium reinforced his order this time with a heavy blow of his fist on the side of Marius's head that knocked the boy to the floor.

"What a fuss," he remarked to the room in general, "about a slave bitch."

Pannychis made a movement to go to Marius's aid but was halted by a sharp order from Crinium. With a final glance over her shoulder at the Marius's small naked body, thin shoulders heaving in uncontrolled sobbing, sprawled on the bare planks she followed Crinium from the room. She was after all only a slave and had no choice but to obey her betters.

Crastus produced a length of cord and threw it at Pulchellus.

"Tie the brat up," he ordered, "now we've got rid of the girl there's nothing to hold him here."

Wrenching Marius's arms behind his back Pulchellus obeyed this command enthusiastically.

"You've got to learn to be good and obedient," he said unctuously as he tied his wrists ad ankles together. "I've been a good boy and I'm all right."

This advice did nothing to stem Marius's weeping and he was carried out of the room to spend the night in the darkness of the landing. He lay there in the cold knowing that he was utterly alone and friendless in a cruel uncaring world. Pulchellus on the other hand enjoyed the warmth of Crastus's bed thus illustrating the truth of his own advice.

(chapter XX)

Eventually Pulchellus appeared at the door way of the room.

"Mariullus has peed himself Master all over the floor," he called gleefully over his shoulder.

"There's no need to bother about him. We'll be rid of him today. Leave the dirty little animal to lie in his own filth and fetch my breakfast as I told you to," Crastus shouted back.

Grinning broadly Pulchellus kicked Marius in his ribs as hard as he could. He had always in the past envied and resented Marius, the free boy, the son of his master's employer, and he felt no pity for him now. On the contrary he enjoyed his utter humiliation and took pleasure in adding to his sufferings.

Crastus took his time over his breakfast. There was no hurry. Balbinus would not be at his premises in the vast complex of stalls and passageways that formed the Emporium until well on into the morning. He ate slowly and methodically. When his own hunger was satisfied he passed his plate to Pulchellus so that he could finish off the scraps.

He wandered out onto the landing and stood looking down at Marius his nose wrinkled in distaste.

"Smelly little tyke aren't you," he remarked kneeling to undo the cords that bound the boy's ankles.

He pulled the Marius to his feet. The boys legs were numb after his night pinioned on the cold floor. He stumbled and Crastus grabbed him by the arm to stop him falling.

"Stay on your feet can't you, you stupid slut," Crastus growled coughing him on the side of his head with his free hand. Marius with his wrists still tied behind his back cowered away from him.

Crastus hustled Marius down the rickety staircase of the tenement and out onto the street. They set off back down the Aventine hill followed by Pulchellus, the sack of silver slung over his shoulder. He amused himself by taking occasional kicks at Marius's ankles.

Balbinus was a small wizened man who sat in his stall observing the world through beady eyes that were never still. His shop was not a large one and it's shelves were almost totally bare. Some old rusty cooking pots and a broken statue of a water nymph seemed to be the total amount of stock on hand. It was difficult to see how trading in such goods could yield sufficient profit to maintain even so desiccated and meagre a bodies as his.

The silver tankards were produced and examined. Balbinus mentioned a sum equal to what both he and Crastus knew was a quarter of their open market value. Crastus protested loudly and in the end after some half an hours haggling they arrived at a price about double that which Balbinus had originally offered. Both men had known that that would be the eventual outcome of their negotiations but the niceties of business etiquette have to be observed.

"You interested in making me an offer for that?" Crastus asked sweeping up the small pile of silver coins that Balbinus had reluctantly counted out. He nodded at Marius who was squatting on the floor just inside the door watched by Pulchellus.

"A boy," Balbinus said in a tone of disgust. "I don't deal in such goods, nasty, smelly, dirty things. You buy one and he dies on you or runs away or something. No profit in it."

" I wouldn't be surprised that one's got lice," he continued looking more closely at Marius, "or fleas or worms; probably all three."

"And what's worse than all that he's got a tongue and tongues can tell tales. Take my advice Crastus slit his throat now before he can get you in trouble. Yes that's my advice to you, you're a young man I think highly of and whose custom I value, slit his throat. Fuck him first if that's what you like but be sure to kill him afterwards."

"That one won't be telling any tales," Crastus said confidently. "He's got too much to loose himself."

"Loose! Loose!," Balbinus almost shouted. "What's a thing like that got to loose."

"His life," Crastus replied confidently. "He won't talk."

"His life, what's that worth to him or anyone else for that matter. Take my advice and stick to gold and silver. Good valuable stuff which can't talk and get you into trouble. Still if you have to risk your life for the sake of a few measly sesterces take him to Scythax. His house is in the eleventh district near the Circus Maximus, he'll give you a fair price for the brat."

(chapter XXI)

"Fair for something you daren't sell on the open market," Balbinus replied coldly.

Scythax's house presented a blank wall broken only by a massive metal studded wooden door to the world. Crastus marched up to the door but there was no latch or handle to open it. He pushed at it but it was unyielding. There was a heavy door knocker and he plied that vigorously. He pausing he looked at it and laughed. The knocker was shaped like an enormous penis. He was about to use it again when a small panel set high up in the centre of the door swung open.

"Who is it and what do you want?" A deep voice enquired.

"My name is Crastus and I wish to see Scyrax. I have a boy he might like to buy"

Hr squinted upwards trying to a sight of the person who addressed him. However the spy hole was so small and so high that he could only see an eye and a small area of almost coal clack skin.

"My Lord Scyrax does not deal with casual pedlars of boy's flesh" the voice announced contemptuously and the panel began to close.

"Balbinus sent me," Crastus said desperately.

"Wait." The voice commanded and the panel was slammed shut.

Crastus waited impatiently as the busy life of the street flowed past him. Marius too tired and dispirited to notice or to care about his surroundings stood beside him drooping in his grasp. Eventually the door swung open. A vast Negro stood just inside it, his oiled and hairless chest and massive arms glistening darkly like polished ebony.

"Enter," he growled. Crastus holding Marius firmly in his grasp stepped through the door way. Pulchellus moved to follow them but the Negro put one large hand on the boy's chest and pushed. Pulchellus staggered backwards and loosing his balance sat down in the street. With out a further word the Negro swung the door closed.

Crastus saw that he was standing in a large pillared hall. An intricate and rich mosaic decorated with scenes from the arena stretched ahead of him. Immediately ahead of him two naked boy gladiators fought to the death, one the retiarius had entangled his opponent a swordsman with his net and was on the point of plunging his barbed trident into his opponent's body. Further on more boys fought with each other or with wild animals in a confusion of bare limbs and bleeding bodies. The walls were covered by expertly executed frescoes. On the one side a forest in which again pretty boys played and sported among the trees. On the other the Goddess Diana bare breasted and wild haired was pictured with her hounds in full cry, great black beasts with glowing eyes and sharp white teeth. These themes were carried forward and repeated on the surface of the pillars that formed a double row down the centre of the hall.

While Crastus's eyes and brain were still struggling to take in the plethora of decoration presented to their view, a real boy, quite as beautiful and just as naked as any portrayed in the murals, materialised out of the shadows at his side. The boy said nothing but bowing deeply turned and led the way further into the hall, tiny bells on a thin silver chain about one slim ankle tinkling as he walked. Crastus saw that three angry red welts marred the smooth curve of the lad's bottom. The child had been recently marked by the cane - marzipan marred by cochineal.

As they passed down the hall Crastus saw that the wall paintings changed. Men then satyrs, half men half beasts, appeared in the forest joining the boys in their games and those games at first innocent became more gross until at the far end of the hall men and satyrs both with monstrous pricks were shown penetrating the tender bottoms of their young victims. Mingled in this scene of cruel debauchery were the hounds of Diana who had caught and pulled down their prey, the beautiful stripling Acteon.

The boy ushered them into the central courtyard. A wide marble colonnade surrounded a spacious garden where fountains played and the sun glinted on ponds in whose depths exotic fish cruised lazily. Lounging on a couch in a shady vine covered pergola was an enormously fat man. Beside him knelt a dark curly haired boy, his only clothes a tiny scrap of white cloth between his legs, holding ready for his master a heavily chased silver bowl. As Crastus watched the fat man reached out and took from the bowl a fig dipped in honey. He lifted it to his mouth and chewed, honey dribbling down his chin. The man caught sight of Crastus. He licked his fingers and then wiped them clean on the little slave's black curls.

"Crastus sent by my friend Balbinus," he said rising ponderously to his feet. "In what way can the humble Scyrax assist you?" The man's voice was soft and full of breath like a breeze gently ruffling dead leaves in a winter wood.

"I have a boy to sell," Crastus replied.

"A boy," the fat man's little pig like eyes rested on Marius. He saw a grubby, exhausted, half starved brat, whose knees and shins were grazed and cut. He saw more as well. He saw a under the filth a well proportioned boy with firm well rounded limbs, a delicate ribcage, the neatest little nipples, a pert dimpled rump, reddish golden hair and a face that if the dirt that encrusted it was washed away could make a man's heart melt. He had seen enough and his eyes flicked away. He saw these things but he was a business man, a trader in high class boy's flesh, buying cheap and selling dear.

"Why should I be bothered with a low quality slut like that?" he sneered.

"Clean him up and feed him a bit, get some of the bloom back on him, he'll make a first class tart. He's a virgin but I can tell you he's a hot little bitch.," Crastus expostulated.

"Of course he's a virgin," Scyrax scoffed who'd want to fuck him?"

"I tell you 3;"

"All right," Scyrax interrupted Crastus wearily, "since I've let you bring the brat into the house I might as well take a look at him. I only hope I don't catch a disease of some sort. Come here boy."

Crastus released his grip on Marius's arm and quickly untied the cord that bound his wrists behind his back. The naked boy stumbled forward to stand in front of the fat man. Scyrax took the boys chin in one hand and tipped his head back. Marius stared up into the man's face. He could feel Scyrax's breath, it's staleness not quite masked by the sweet smell of the honey he had been eating. The man's fat fingers strayed over his head, parting his hair, pulling up his eyelids, twisting back his ears. Scyrax reached his right hand behind him and dipped his index finger in the bowl of honey and figs. He pressed it's tip against the boy's lips. Marius took it into his mouth, eagerly sucking at the sweetness. Scyrax felt the tip of the boy's tongue working against his finger. He moved his left hand from the boy's chin sliding it down the child's naked body. A smile fleetingly lifted his heavy jowls when his fingers closed round Marius's tiny boy's prick and found it stiff and throbbing. Scyrax pushed his finger deeper into the boy's reaching right back into his throat. Marius gagged and seemed for a moment in danger of choking but still he sucked, gazing up into the man's face, his cheeks sunken as he drew on Scyrax's honey coated finger.

Scyrax withdrew his finger from the boy's mouth. Now his hands worked their way methodically down the front of the boy's body, pinching his hard little nipples, squeezing and prodding his ribcage. Now they reached the boy's crutch. Wordlessly he flicked the iron ring locked about the base of Marius's scrotum. Crastus stepped forward and released it, letting the short length of chain hang loose from the base of the wooden plug still lodged in the lad's bottom. Scyrax rolled the boy's two tiny hairless balls, hardly larger than pair of olives, between his fat fingers. He pulled back Marius's foreskin. His face wrinkled in disgust. Then he was on his knees his fingers needing the boy's thighs. Marius whimpered as the man prodded the broken flesh on his knees and shins.

"Turn round." These were the first words that Scyrax had spoken directly to the boy.

The man pulled at Marius's ankles forcing him to raise each foot in turn. As the boy wobbled precariously on one leg Scyrax examined his feet, so small and fragile in appearance, now torn and bruised from his long march. Then the man ran his hands up the back of the boy's legs.

Scyrax scrambled laboriously to his feet, grunting as he heaved his bulk upright.

"Lean forward and part your legs boy," he commanded in his soft breathless voice.

He pulled the plug from Marius's bottom, forcing a yelp of pain from the boy. His fingers pried at the lips of the child's anus and Marius cried out again. Pulchinus who had been left to deal with the plugging and unplugging of the other boy had not been over gentle in the performance of his duties and the plug had chafed the entry to the boy's hole raw.

Scyrax grunted and moved his hands upwards straying over Marius's back and narrow shoulders, kneading the back of his neck.

"Well," he sighed his examination of the boy completed, "I still don't know why you brought him here. You would need to pay me to take him into my house."

Part 10

"He's dirty and broken down and if you think he'll make a good price why don't you sell him direct instead of bringing him to me? I'd be ashamed to put the miserable little brute up for sale in his present condition. I've got my reputation to think of. As for feeding him up and the rest of it, he'd never fetch enough even in peak condition to cover the cost."

"If you don't want to do business with me no doubt I'll find someone else who is," Crastus rejoined turning as if to leave.

"I'm a soft hearted man," Scyrax said holding up his hand to halt him. "To save the boy being dragged round from house to house - the poor slut's gone through enough in all conscience, I doubt if he'd survive much longer in your hands - I'll pay you two sesterces for him though I'm sure to loose on the deal. My kind heart will be the ruin of me I know."

"Two sesterces! I wouldn't take a denarius under ten 3; 3;"

Marius stood quietly between the two men as they argued over his price. He knew he had, no more than any other item of livestock being bought and sold, no part to play in the negotiations which would decide his whole future. Crastinus and Scyrax bickered over his price for some fifteen minutes each moving by almost imperceptible steps nearer to the others sum. Eventually a figure was agreed. It was more than Pannychis had fetched but quite a bit less than Balbinus had given for the silver goblets. As always demand and the quality of the goods on offer had decided the price.

"If by any chance you have any similar merchandise you wish to dispose of in the future you will remember me," Scyrax suggested counting silver coins from a purse into Crastus's open hand.

"I'll remember you as being a man who drives a hard bargain," Crastus growled pocketing the money, "and I'll hope for a better price next time."

"A man can always hope," Scyrax replied and they both grinned.

(chapter XXII)

"Dictys," Scyrax commanded, "you will clean up my new toy."

One of the youths, a boy of about sixteen, took hold of Marius by the arm and guided him over to the bath.

Marius stood quietly as Dictys gently sponged the accumulated filth from his body. He caught his breath as the warm water stung the open cuts on his legs where he had stumbled and fallen on the march. The sponge moved higher up Marius's legs and despite his exhaustion he began to feel the excitement mount inside him. Conscious of Scyrax's amused gaze resting on him as he lounged at ease on his couch Marius moved his hands to cover his stiffening cock.

"No, no Mariullus," Scyrax breathed. Without warning he lashed out with the rod cutting Marius painfully across the knuckles. The boy cried out and moved his hands quickly away from his crutch.

"That's right Mariullus," Scyrax's voice was as soft and sweet as honey. "I paid good money for you and you mustn't hide anything from me. You haven't got much down there but I want to see it just the same. Little slave sluts like you mustn't be shy."

Marius hung his head in shame. His body had betrayed him yet again, just as it did when Crastus had him face down over his knees. He knew Scyrax's reprove was justified. He was just a slave boy without rights or protection who existed only to serve and please his Master.

Dictys moved behind him and he felt the lad's hand pressing against the small of his back. Obediently he bent forward and the sponge touched the soreness between his legs. He whimpered but fearful of another cut from the rod stood still as the young slave washed him down. Soon he was standing once again facing Dictys his eyes screwed tight shut as the youth washed his face. Then he felt hands on his shoulders forcing him down onto his knees. He knelt in the bath. Looking upwards he saw Dictys wore nothing under his short tunic and that the youth's, prick much larger than his own, too was stiff.

Dictys caught his eye and winked. Then filling a bowl with warm scented water he tipped it over Marius's head. Water got in Marius's eyes. He blinked and rubbed them with his knuckles as more and more water was tipped over his head and shoulders running down his back and chest. Then he felt a soft towel wrapped about his shoulders. He was lifted from the bath and set on his feet.

He opened his eyes and found that Scyrax himself was kneeling beside him towelling him dry.

"There you are my pretty," Scyrax crooned softly as he dried the boy off. "Nice and clean now for your kind Uncle Scyrax."

"What's this then. Funny little thing isn't it." Now he had reached the boy's crutch. "You like that don't you. You're a hot little bitch."

As Scyrax rubbed away with the towel he spoke softly to Marius, commenting on his young body while describing and speculating on his ability to please some future Master. Marius stood still the only sign of the effect these attentions were having on him was his rigid little prick wobbling erect in front of him.

Having dried Marius off Scyrax guided him, one hand on the boys slim shoulder, across to his couch. Seating himself, he spread the towel over his knees and drew Marius face down across them.

Scyrax rested his hand a moment on the curve of Marius's bum. The boy felt the man's plump soft thighs with something hard pressing up between them under his body.

"Now spread your legs and push that pretty little rump up in the air for me," the man murmured.

"Good boy. This is going to hurt a bit but it'll make your poor sore bottom better so be a brave boy now for your Uncle Scyrax."

Marius yelped as he felt the mans finger pressing against the rawness in the centre of his bottom. In a split second the pain drove the blood from his penis reducing it to a shrivelled piece of limp flesh. The man persisted and increased the pressure. There was some ointment on Scyrax's finger that felt cool at first touch but then stung bitterly. Marius whimpered and twisted on the man's knee as his finger pressed further into him. Scyrax clamped the boy steady on his lap with his free hand pressed hard down on the small of his writhing back. Dictys caught hold of Marius flailing ankles forcing the boys legs once more apart.

"There it's not going to take long now," Scyrax said softly working his finger deeper into the boy. Marius's whimpers rose to a shrill scream. It felt to him as though Scyrax's finger was a rod of fire plunged deep into his body. Then the finger was withdrawn. The boy's screams abated, his struggles became less frantic. After a time Dictys on a signal from his Master released Marius's ankles. The boy's naked body now lay still across Scyrax's lap except for an occasional convulsive shudder.

Scyrax eased the boy round so that the child was now sitting on his knees his head resting against his chest. He slipped his hand round the boy's waste pulling him tight down into his lap his fingers idly toying with the child's shrunken prick.

"It's over now Mariullus," he murmured softly, "the pain will go soon all together and your bottom will heal. Silly people putting that hard nasty wooden plug in my little pet. There are much better things to do with you than that my sweet 3;"

Marius wriggled closer up against the man. His thumb stole up into his mouth. He was grateful to be shown some kindness after so many days of suffering, even though as he dimly recognised it was given contemptuously and with no interest in his well being except as a source of future possible profit to his owner. It was better to be cared for even on that basis than not to be cared for at all. After all, as he knew, it was the most he could expect.

While Marius nestled, fitfully dozing, in his lap, Scyrax worked. For a man in his line of business there was much to do. There was a great deal more to trading at the top end of the slave boy market to simply buying cheap and selling dear. Existing and new suppliers and markets had to be nurtured. Intelligence gathered on events in the provinces and on the borders of the empire. A revolt in Gaul, a punitive expedition against an unruly African tribe, a famine in the Caucuses, all could represent buying opportunities to the man with the knowledge to exploit them.. The vagaries of fashion and taste had to be considered and if at all possible anticipated. One year black boys from Nubia were all the rage, the next the whole world was crying out for blonde children from beyond the Rhine. Then stock once acquired had to be fed prepared for sale and marketed.

Scyrax worked steadily and methodically. He was wealthy and successful because he took care of all these matters. His secretary a plump young man whose soft chubby face and high voice betrayed his emasculated condition made his report, took notes of his masters instructions and introduced visitors, soldiers and officials on the way to the provinces, other traders in human flesh and misery, sea captains who might if the occasion arose turn their hand to piracy and kidnap.

At last the final visitor had been seen, the last report considered and it was time for Scyrax to turn his attention to domestic matters. Although even here business and private interests overlapped for his own household served as a training ground for the choicest of his merchandise before they were sent to take their turn on the auction block.

(chapter XXIII)

"You seem to have a full list Felix," Scyrax remarked. He did not sound as if he was displeased with the thought.

"Very full Sir," the Secretary replied in his high effeminate voice giggling excitedly.

As they spoke youths carrying buckets of fine sand appeared and began to spread it evenly over the marble paving stones of the loggia. A great gong sounded deep in the house followed by the sound of many lightly scampering bare feet. Boys and youths began to file into the great courtyard, some naked, some dressed only in narrow loincloths, others wearing the briefest of tunics, all beautiful. As each one entered the courtyard he knelt for an instance before Scyrax pressing his lips to ground before scuttling off to take his place in the swelling ranks of kneeling boys ranged at a respectful distance from where their Master sat. Scyrax meanwhile observed the scene, a benevolent smile playing on his lips, while Felix stood beside him his eyes glinting in excited anticipation. There were however no smiles on the boys' faces.

A low bench was pulled forward and set on the sanded floor. Dictys appeared carrying a great pot in which fully a dozen canes were soaking in brine. He bowed to Scyrax and took his place standing to one side of the bench. The gigantic Negro porter, attended by four burly grooms, strode in a heavy whip clasped in his right hand. As he too bowed to Scyrax a susurration of in drawn breath, an involuntary murmur of terror, rose from the huddled crowd of boys.

Scyrax waited a second or two after complete silence, apart from the tinkling waters of the many fountains, had fallen before speaking.

"First," he said, "we have a new addition of our family." He spoke hardly above a whisper but every word could be clearly heard by all. "He is called Mariullus and he will live in this house and serve here till he is ready to be sold."

"Dictys take Mariullus and show him where to kneel among his fellows."

The blond youth stepped forward and taking Marius by the hand led him over to the front rank of boys. Marius still half asleep stumbled after him. The boys shuffled sideways and made just enough room for Marius to squeeze in between them. There he knelt his naked body squashed tight against those of his companions.

Scyrax waited until Marius was settled before he spoke again. Still he spoke quietly but now their was a harder menacing tone to his voice.

"I speak of us as a family and you as my children because that is what we are. I am your father for you have no other in this world. As your father I care for you and part of that care is to chastise you when you are bad. It is bad for a child to disobey his father. It is doubly bad for you to disobey me for not only am I your Father I am your Master too.

"I, out of the goodness of my heart have bought you and taken you into my household to serve me. But too often my kindness is met with ingratitude. Instead of working hard to please me you are lazy and dishonest. But as is the way with a Father I do not disown you at once. I try to correct your faults, to teach you the error of your ways."

"I can see Felix has a tablet full of names of boys who have failed me today. Yet you are lucky boys, lucky to be the slaves of so kind a Master as I, lucky, those of you destined for the slave market to be trained in my household so that you will realise a good price at auction and be valued by your purchasers."

"But still some of you are disobedient or lazy. Remember in the end my patience is limited. If I find any one of you so sunk in laziness and ingratitude as not to profit from my efforts on his behalf then he will be sent away to be branded and sold for labour in the mines or fields, condemned to a living death of constant labour."

Scyrax paused again to allow the full weight of his words to be felt. Some of the youngest boys were already snivelling in anticipation of what was to come. Then once again he heaved himself from his seat. Knowing that every movement of his was watched with dread by his youthful audience he moved slowly across to where Dictys had placed the pot containing the canes beside the whipping bench.. He selected one and lifted it from the container. Deliberately he weighed it in his hand and then swung it experimentally making the supple rod sing in the air. A shudder ran through the rows of kneeling boys.

"Felix who is the first offender?" He enquired in the mildest and quietist of voices.

"Sulis Sir."

"Sulis come here boy."

A naked round bottomed child of about nine years rose from the front rank of kneeling boys and stumbled forward. He moved stiffly. His arms and legs, indeed his whole body, appeared to have lost co-ordination.. His face was twisted in such a grotesque expression of misery and terror that Scyrax almost laughed out loud and a flash of white crossed the Negro's dark face as he revealed his teeth in a broad grin. The child dropped to his knees before Scyrax pressing his face to the ground, elevating his bum invitingly in the air

"Felix tell me what has this brat been up to?" Scyrax enquired his voice shaking with hardly suppressed amusement.

"Lack of respect to the Household Gods and the Images of the Divine Emperors Augustus and Claudius Sir. He failed to bow to their effigies when he passed their sanctuary."

"Failed to make obeisance to the Gods 3; 3; That is impiety and treachery. Does not the boy know the prosperity of my house depends on a proper observance of the rites?"

"He must know Sir but it would seem he does not care."

"Well we'll have to make him care. However I am a fair man. Before I flog a boy I always give him an opportunity to speak. Well Sulis speak up you miserable little brute, what have to say for yourself?"

Sulis raised his tear stained face from the floor. His lips moved but no sound came. Terror had robbed him of speech..

Suddenly Scyrax lashed the cane diagonally across the child's bare chest. A deep red bead of blood began to form where the tip of the rod, curling about the Sulis's rib cage, had nicked the boy's tightly drawn skin.

Sulis howled and clasped his hands to his tortured flesh.

"Don't you know better to raise you're hands when I'm thrashing you boy?" Scyrax demanded in a cold fury. "Put your hands down by your sides. Now keep them there."

He raised the cane above his left shoulder. He stood a moment with the rod poised to strike looking down at the naked child cowering at his feet. Sulis in his terror lost control of his bladder. Amber fluid gushed from him creating a dark patch of dampness on the newly spread sand.

"Filthy little animal," Scyrax remarked.

He slashed the cane in a vicious back handed blow once more across the boy's chest. This time the tip of the cane caught Sulis across the edge of his right nipple splitting the flesh.

For a moment Sulis's mouth worked silently as the pain drove the breath from his body. Then he screamed shrilly. Somehow Sulis kept his hands down by his sides.

"That's better," Scyrax said softly. "That's one lesson you seem to have learnt. Now since you seem to have regained the use of your voice you have an opportunity to tell me why I should not have your bottom sliced into ribbons for your behaviour."

"Master," Sulis's voice was rendered shrill and uncertain by terror, "please don't hit me again. Felix sent me on an errand to the kitchen and he said he would flog me if I wasn't quick and so I was running and I forgot about the sanctuary. I didn't mean to. I won't do it again Master I promise."

"No doubt child, no doubt," it was clear that Scyrax was enjoying himself, "but boy's memories are very short unless assisted. We must ensure that you don't forget again. It seems too that you were more concerned to avoid a sore bottom than to show a proper respect for the Gods. We must take action to make certain that you achieve a better understanding of the relative values of a slave brat's hide and the dignity of the Divine Emperors."

"Tell me Felix if Sulis had been slow in performing his errand how many strokes would you have given him?"

"Well Sir he's a small and young and doesn't cause overmuch trouble. I should think three cuts would have been enough."

"Then six should be sufficient to make him realise that respecting the Gods is more important than avoiding a sore backside."

Sulis, who had been kneeling looking up into his master's face with imploring eyes, on hearing this let his head drop forward. His narrow shoulders shook with sobs.

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