Zelamir

adapted by Pueros

The Traitor's Son

Chapters 88-96

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.

Chapter XCI

The stubby sailing ship also stirred, with sailors positioning and readying themselves for the relevant duties relating to negotiating a tricky landfall. With Drusus and Titus observing, the captain subsequently began to steer his vessel towards Capri's towering cliffs.

Ahead of them stood the narrow cleft in the rocks beyond which lay Capri's sole landing place. The ship's captain, in order to establish sufficient stability and speed on his vessel to navigate the perilous entrance safely, finally ordered some of his crew to use the sweeps.

Marius and Quintus now stood quietly in the bows of the ship as the vessel made her way into the deeply shadowed cleft. They looked on intrigued, as their transport successfully slid slowly through the gash between the towering rocks, as sailors strained on their heavy oars. Ahead of them, the boys could subsequently see the island's sole landing stage.

As well as being intrigued by the sailing ship's thankfully successful manoeuvre, Marius and Quintus also experienced yet another mix of other conflicting emotions. The thrill of the moment, emanating from their vessel's excitingly dangerous arrival, was balanced by worry regarding what they now faced on Capri. The boys were also strangely fascinated at as well as fearful of the prospect of meeting Emperor Tiberius and entering his service.

Marius and Quintus noticed that on the waiting landing stage squatted a gang of wretched clearly half-starved and near- naked adult male slaves, with shaved heads and heavy collars round their necks. Three burly overseers, carrying thick staves and with short whips tucked in their belts, stood to one side of them, talking quietly together. Behind them, some dockworkers, freemen to judge from their demeanour, clothing and well-fed appearance, emerged from one of several sheds, whilst wiping their mouths with the back of their hands, suggesting breakfast had been disturbed. Adjacent from where they had exited stood a small whitewashed guardhouse, with a few Praetorians lounging on benches outside, currently with their plumed helmets at their feet rather than on their heads.

Having emerged successfully from the narrow cleft into the small inlet beyond, the relevant sailors abandoned their sweeps to allow the stubby sailing ship to creep under the vessel's own slowing momentum and the captain's guidance towards the landing stage. In reaction to the sight, the Praetorian guardsmen stood up, straightened their uniforms, placed their helmets on their heads and began to move forwards. The overseers also shouted and cracked a few of the uplifted heads of their still crouching slaves with their wooden cudgels.

The relevant slaves responded by bowing their undoubtedly now hurting heads. They were clearly forbidden even to look at the arriving sailing ship and her high-ranking passengers. They had been mustered purely to unload the vessel and carry heavy burdens of her cargo on their shoulders up the steep path to the island's Imperial villa, which was located on a promontory far above.

Ropes eventually snaked out from the stern and bow of the now almost motionless sailing ship, which were agilely caught by the experienced freeman dockworkers and attached to sturdy wooden bollards. With a great deal of rattling, as hull touched landing stage, and shouting of orders, a gangplank was subsequently pushed out from the vessel to the quayside.

After the stubby sailing ship had become truly stationary and with the gangplank fully steady and secure, Drusus and Titus subsequently strolled down to be saluted by the now reverently waiting Praetorians. Tiberius' nephew returned the gesture before briefly chatting with the commander of this small group of Imperial guards and his men. They spoke amiably to each other, in the blunt familiar way of professional soldiers, without too much regard for rank.

The observation of this scene by Marius and Quintus was then interrupted when Glaucus, whose nose was still bent and inflamed as a result of the latter boy's kick, arrived behind them on the bow-deck. "The pair of you are to come with me," the adult slave subsequently growled with obvious bad-temper.

Glaucus next unshackled Quintus' ankle, whilst being extremely wary because of what had happened on the last occasion that he had attempted such a task. His caution existed despite the harsh lesson to which the boy had been subjected in retribution for assaulting the adult slave's nose.

"The captain wants all the livestock off his ship before the rest of the cargo is unloaded," a smirking Glaucus subsequently explained with deliberate insulting mischief, "and that means you two brats, along with the goats and sheep on board." Marius and Quintus were naturally not pleased to be associated with farm animals but the boys also appreciated that slaves were indeed perceived by much of the free human race to be no better than such creatures.

"The Praetorians will also want quickly to register in the appropriate manner all livestock, including slaves like you, being imported onto the island," Glaucus smirkingly added, now with a worryingly gloating and sinister tone in his voice. However, Marius and Quintus had little time to reflect about this verbal nuance because, holding the boys firmly by their arms, he next rapidly hustled them down the gangplank and off the stubby sailing ship.

By now, Drusus had ended his polite but brief conversation with the Praetorians and, with Titus, had begun to walk up the steep path that ultimately led to the Imperial villa far above. However, he happened to look around to observe the still naked Marius and Quintus being led off the sailing ship by Glaucus.

The Praetorian officer, whom Drusus had just left, had also noticed the same development and was now rapidly approaching the three disembarking slaves. "Ah," he eventually suggested to the escorting Glaucus, whilst closely eyeing Marius and Quintus, "I see that you have some precious goods for the Emperor."

Noticing the signs of recent severe beatings on the normally lovely naked bodies of Marius and Quintus, the Praetorian officer added, with a degree of both amusement and lechery evident in his voice, "I see that the precious goods are a little soiled." "It's superficial damage only, Sir," Glaucus commented in response, whilst matching the humorous tone, "caused by a need to correct certain blemishes, and should mend easily."

"I'm sure it will," the Praetorian officer replied, "and let's hope that the relevant blemishes were properly corrected or even worse damage might soon be inflicted, which might prove permanent. Such a development would be a sad loss of precious goods but I'm sure that the Emperor can easily secure rapid replacements with less flaws."

"I presume, Sir," Glaucus next sniggered, with, to Marius and Quintus, a worrying sense of eager excitement as well as increased amusement evident in his voice, "that you'd now like to register the import of these precious goods into Capri in the normal way." "Of course," the Praetorian officer answered, "so take the brats to the back of the guardhouse!"

Drusus, who had paused his progress up the steep path to watch, now observed Glaucus lead the two slaveboys as instructed to the back of the guardhouse, whilst fully knowing what would subsequently happen there. He felt strangely reluctant to leave the scene and allow Marius to face what was to come on his own without his support.

Drusus somehow felt Marius deserved better and this tempted him to reverse direction. He soon caught up with Glaucus and, without saying anything, took the boy from him, gripping his arm firmly.

Drusus and Marius subsequently passed round one side of the guardhouse together. The perplexed Glaucus, still tightly holding Quintus, and the equally puzzled Praetorian officer trailed them.

As they reached the back of the guardhouse, Drusus felt Marius' naked body tense stiffly in fright. At the rear of the building was an open-sided lean-to with just two furnishings, one being a sturdy table with some tools on top. However, it had been the sight of the other item that had caused the boy's scared reaction.

Marius had seen charcoal glowing dully in a brazier, from which protruded a couple of iron rods with wooden handles. The purpose of this sinister equipment had become immediately obvious to the clever boy, who now realised in horror what the registration of the import of precious goods into Capri in the normal way entailed. He and Quintus were truly to be treated in the same manner as the goats and sheep currently being disembarked from the nearby moored stubby sailing ship in order to restock the local Imperial herds.

Meanwhile, Drusus had detected Marius' realisation of the horrible immediate fate that suddenly awaited him. The boy's clearly frightened bodily reaction had provided the necessary clue.

"Come on, boy," Drusus therefore felt obliged to urge softly, "be brave. You danced over the hot coals in that whorehouse. Surely, you can be courageous enough to face this too with bravado!"

Drusus subsequently displayed a slight smile as, in clear reaction to his urging, he now noticed Marius raise his chin, square his slim shoulders in an obvious attempt to display the necessary boldness and barely hesitate in walking towards his immediate fate. After a few further paces, the Prince also turned to command of the trailing Praetorian officer, whilst offering the boy to him, "Take this one first!"

Drusus had decided that Marius would benefit best from having the deed done quickly, without having much time to dwell or watching Quintus suffer before him. The Praetorian officer was naturally happy to grant the Prince's wish.

The Praetorian officer accepted Marius from Drusus' charge and led him towards the waiting table and brazier, where two other soldiers also gathered in readiness to assist. All of the military personnel were happily smirking, as they rather enjoyed this aspect of their duties, albeit only in respect of boys. The mere branding of imported animals was delegated to the freemen dockworkers.

Marius advanced towards the waiting brazier in the firm grip of the Praetorian officer with natural reluctance. Nevertheless, the boy did not resist, despite appreciating the horror of what was to come.

Having in his opinion seriously disappointed Drusus twice whilst aboard the stubby sailing ship, Marius did not want to do so again. The hero-worshipping boy instead wanted to impress the Prince by obeying his urging to display courage. However, his ability to do so was not helped when one of the Praetorians briefly pulled one of the branding irons from the coals in order to study the red-hot glowing end.

The scary sight not only caused Marius to hesitate in his advance towards his immediate fate in the Praetorian's firm grip but also almost to faint. However, both reactions were rapidly overcome by a strong tug from the escorting officer and a reprimanding shout from the still watching Drusus of "Go on, boy, be brave!"

By this time, Titus had again appeared at the side of Drusus, who asked "Why does Tiberius insist on branding his slaveboys? Most other owners are content just to see them wear bronze identification tags." "There are three reasons," Titus answered.

"First," Titus explained, "the brandmarks make the brats more easily identifiable if they attempt to run away and Tiberius is very eager that none ever escape. He's very touchy about the stories going round about his behaviour here and doesn't want anyone untrustworthy to be in a position to confirm such tales."

"But isn't escape from Capri impossible, given its high cliffs, sole landfall and insular isolation?" Drusus interrupted to enquire. "You'd think so," Titus replied, "but a good swimmer might achieve the feat if they were lucky enough to come across a passing boat with a sympathetic crew quickly."

Drusus nodded, indicating that he understood. Titus accepted the signal as giving him the right to move on to give his second and third reasons for Tiberius' insistence on having his slaveboys branded.

"Second," Titus explained, "Tiberius believes that branding boys who were previously free helps to hammer home to them that they're now truly slaves. The relevant mark is a permanent reminder of their new servile status."

"Third," Titus added, "Tiberius enjoys the cruelty of the practice. In fact, he often comes to watch his supply ships being unloaded and any anticipated young human cargo aboard being branded. He's even been known to wield the irons himself. In fact, I presume that the only reason that the Emperor's not currently here is because of the early hour. He's probably still in bed, sleeping off a hangover after another pleasurable night of drunken dissipation!"

Meanwhile, the Praetorian officer led the staggering Marius towards the sturdy table in the lean-to. By now, the rightly highly nervous boy's lithe legs lacked co-ordination and his throat was so dry and tight that he could hardly breathe.

The thought of having the red-hot branding iron being pressed against his bare flesh filled Marius with sick terror but he was resolved not to exhibit such trepidation any more if he could. He was instead set on showing Drusus, the young man who had saved him from the 'House of Ganymede' and Maccius and whom everybody, even the Praetorians, treated with reverence, that his faith in the boy's fortitude was not misplaced.

Marius had been reduced over previous months from a proud free boy of high standing to a broken slave brat of the lowest kind. However, Drusus' recent words of encouragement had rekindled for a brief moment at least a spark of spirit within his young hero-worshipping soul.

The Praetorian officer handed Marius to the two other waiting guardsmen. They firmly gripped one of the boy's arms above the elbow apiece and hustled him forward to the sturdy table, against which they bent him over face-down so that his bottom was raised nicely in the air ready for the branding iron.

Somewhere behind, Marius could hear Quintus sobbing fearfully. The other boy had obviously realised too what was about to happen to him.

The two Praetorians subsequently changed their positions so that one firmly grasped Marius' wrists to hold his outstretched arms resolutely flat on the wooden surface from the other side of the table, whilst the other manually pinioned his ankles to the floor. The boy then heard the grating of metal, as their officer now withdrew a red-hot branding iron from the brazier.

Marius now braced himself with as much bravery as he could muster for the touch of the red-hot branding iron against his bare bottom.

Chapter XCII

'I won't scream,' the naked Marius thought to himself, 'I won't. Instead, I'll show Drusus 3;'

Marius' thoughts would undoubtedly have led on to hoping that he could show Drusus how brave he was. However, his mental processes suddenly froze when he felt searing heat approach his smooth and cute but currently highly vulnerable uplifted bare bottom.

Marius later believed that he might have subsequently reacted better if the Praetorian officer had now branded his bottom without delay. However, the man unfortunately did not do so, although his tormenting hovering of the searing hot iron just over the boy's flesh was not entirely deliberate mental torture.

The Praetorian officer sadistically enjoyed the occupational perk of branding the smooth cute bottoms of pretty boys, of which species he fully appreciated that Marius was a particularly fine example. He did not, of course, realise that his latest young victim was ironically the son of the former commanding Prefect of his regiment of Imperial guards.

The Praetorian officer's cruelty also did extend to delaying the act briefly to allow his young victims to be psychologically tormented by feeling the heat of the iron hovering above their flesh, which would soon mark their rears for life. However, there was an additional practical reason for the momentary dawdling.

The Praetorian officer fully appreciated that he would be in serious trouble with Drusus and perhaps the Emperor, if he ever became aware of the error, should his aim with the red-hot iron, which depicted the Imperial eagle, be inaccurate. Tiberius was a stickler for tidiness and he only liked his boys to display brandmarks on their two buttocks that were correctly upright and centrally positioned.

The Praetorian officer was actually displeased to see that his latest young victim was not currently whimpering cowardly or exhibiting resistance. The enjoyment that the man acquired from the act of branding, which always caused his cock to harden secretly underneath his military tunic, was only enhanced by boys' cries and the punishment he and his soldiers inflicted to overcome opposition.

The Praetorian officer, though, knew how to eradicate Marius' exhibition of bravery. The man achieved his objective by simply accurately pressing his branding iron initially onto the flesh of the boy's left buttock.

Marius' whole world suddenly became a tearing vortex of pure agony and he lost all mental and physical control of himself. Acute excruciation of an unprecedented nature drove his previous resolve to be brave away.

Marius screamed shrilly and his bladder emptied, with the stream of urine, flowing from his suddenly amazingly hard cock, just missing the Praetorian pinning his feet to the ground. Copious tears also began to flow from his tightly closed eyes.

The immense agony, as the red-hot iron etched the Imperial insignia onto the centre of his taughtly drawn left buttock, drove everything else from Marius' mind. He did not even at first register that he was screaming, shrill shriek after shrill shriek being wrenched from his lungs by the all-consuming excruciation.

Such was Marius' suffering that he also did not initially notice that the Praetorian officer had eventually withdrawn his iron from his flesh and returned the implement to the brazier, whilst collecting the other still there. However, when the pain gradually began to relent, the boy did detect the smell of burnt flesh, as well as the return of searing heat, this time hovering just over his right buttock.

The branding process was then repeated, with Marius reacting in a similar manner to his first experience of the activity, apart from urinating because his bladder was now empty.

Chapter XCIII

The naked, tearful and groaning Marius only now realised, amidst his acute mental distress and agony, that his hands and feet had been released from the grip of the Praetorians, their work in respect of the latest victim of the cruel branding irons having been concluded. Despite an urge just to remain where he was whilst his excruciation receded, the boy somehow, whilst attempting to stifle his tears and sobbing, managed to react to the officer's command by standing and staggering away from the table across which he had been stretched.

As Marius staggered away, a feeling of acute shame added to his mental and physical agony. The boy believed that, despite his earlier good intent, he had ended up thoroughly disgracing himself by cowardly screaming, crying and emptying his bladder.

The realisation that his cock, although now quickly returning to flaccidity, had somehow simultaneously debasingly hardened, only added to Marius' sense of acute shame. The boy had hoped to impress Drusus but the man would surely now judge that he was no different from any other miserable little slave brat.

As Marius staggered away and, despite the intensity of the pain afflicting his buttocks, some of his senses began to return to some semblance of normality. His ears consequently heard from the nearby quayside shouts and the sound of wooden cudgels thumping down across bare shoulders, as the overseers urged the slave gang into action.

Appreciative of the fact that he should not go too far away from the Praetorians until they handed him over to someone else, Marius now stopped and momentarily stood trembling, with his head bowed in shame. Subsequently, after blinking back his tears, he eventually forced himself to look towards where Drusus had been. He dreaded but expected to see on the man's face an expression of disgust in reaction to his cowardly weakness.

In fact, Marius did not espy such an expression because he now discovered that Drusus had disappeared, presumably up the steep path that ultimately led to the Imperial villa far above. Perhaps, the boy hoped, the man had left before the branding irons had first been applied to his young buttocks.

Marius sincerely hoped so. However, he was also realistic enough to appreciate that Drusus had more likely walked off, disgusted by the sight of the boy cowardly screaming, crying and emptying his bladder.

As a result of this notion, Marius momentarily remained motionless, whilst continuing to stare through damp eyes at the now empty spot where Drusus had recently stood. Feeling utterly ashamed and humiliated, further copious tears then began again to flow down his normally exceptionally pretty face.

Yet, had Marius been able to view himself dispassionately, he would surely have realised that the very depth of the mortification that he was experiencing showed that his spirit had not been totally crushed. A slaveboy, when he was fully broken, does not feel shame.

Marius was next suddenly aroused from his own misery by the sounds of Quintus screaming. He now saw that Glaucus was dragging the naked boy to where the Praetorian guardsmen stood.

Quintus, panic stricken, was struggling desperately. The boy was throwing his nude body about in an effort to shake off Glaucus' firm grip and was driving his bare heels into the local quayside paving in a vain attempt to halt progress and escape the inevitable.

"Well, friend, you appear to be having a few problems with that brat," the Praetorian officer called out whilst laughing. "Yes," the struggling Glaucus agreed with a scowl, "he's a right little trouble maker!"

"Come on, curse you!" Glaucus subsequently shouted at Quintus, whilst jerking savagely on his arm. However, the terrified boy screeched hysterically and buried his teeth into the back of the man's hand.

Glaucus swore loudly in anguish and released his hold. Quintus made use of the opportunity to dart off along the quayside towards the steep path up the cliff.

Glaucus did not follow but stood cursing furiously, whilst shaking his wounded hand from which blood poured. The still laughing Praetorian officer instead ordered his own men to pursue the boy.

One of the overseers supervising the gang of slaves, who were currently unloading the recently moored ship, also noticed what had occurred and moved to block the path up the cliff. Quintus was therefore compelled to check and turn but he had nowhere else to go.

Consequently, the pursuing Praetorians, who were hallooing cheerfully as a sign that they were obviously enjoying their sport, soon had Quintus cornered. They subsequently managed to grab him with military proficiency and hauled back towards their waiting officer, after first kicking the boy's balls to pacify him.

"You're a bit too ready to run away, brat," suggested the now sinisterly smiling Praetorian officer after Quintus was eventually brought before him, "and it's an affliction that we'll have to cure!" However, the boy was at first barely able to appreciate the man's words, as he was still suffering the after-effects of the kick to his balls.

Quintus' awareness, though, was subsequently rapidly revived when the Praetorian officer produced a meat cleaver, which he held before the appalled boy's eyes before announcing "This is the cure, brat!

Chapter XCIV

Nevertheless, the Praetorian officer gave Quintus the unwanted details of the planned cure. "I'm going to use the cleaver," the man declared, "to sever your big toes at the first joint. I'll then cauterise the wounds with a branding iron before using the same implements to burn your bum with the Emperor's mark!"

"You'll subsequently find," the cruel Praetorian officer sniggered, "that it's hard to run at all without your big toes intact, let alone run away." The man then knelt to one side of Quintus, firmly grabbed the boy's right ankle to keep the relevant young foot still and raised his cleaver in readiness to commit the first part of the threatened deed.

In reaction, Quintus' bladder suddenly decided that now was its time to empty.

Chapter XCV

The relevant excruciation, however, did not strike and so Quintus gingerly reopened his eyes to attempt to discover why not. The boy subsequently saw the wickedly grinning Praetorian officer releasing his ankle to stand in front of him, with his meat cleaver, still free of blood, in his hand.

"I changed my mind," the Praetorian officer lied by way of explanation. "I decided instead to make this an example of what will happen if you try to run away again whilst on this island," the man added.

In fact, the Praetorian officer appreciated that he had no authority at all to inflict such a punishment without the approval of the Emperor, for whose service Quintus was destined. The man had instead just deliberately petrified the boy for two reasons.

First, the Praetorian officer hoped to scare Quintus into being more quiescent and compliant. Second, the method of trying to do pleased the man's sadistic nature.

The first aim proved to be fulfilled when Quintus next advanced quietly and obediently to the nearby table and allowed himself to be stretched across the furniture in readiness for the branding of his buttocks. The second objective was further satisfied when the Praetorian officer again subsequently happily accurately wielded the red hot irons to mark one of the Emperor Tiberius' new boys with the Imperial insignia.

Later, the two boys concerned, namely Marius and Quintus with their very sore bottoms, were led by the Praetorians and Glaucus up the steep path towards their new home, the cliff-top Imperial villa, the rumoured setting for much extreme debauchery.

Chapter XCVI

Accordingly, the Praetorians and Glaucus took Marius and Quintus to Sisyphus' office within the Imperial complex. Having completed their duties in respect of the two latest new boys, the soldiers left them there with the two adult slaves, although they did not intend to return immediately to their quayside posts. They instead first visited some colleagues, charged with guarding the villa but currently off-duty.

The Praetorians anticipated sharing some jugs of wine with their off-duty colleagues, as well as some of the Emperor's spare catamites, who were invariably made readily available to satisfy military lusts whenever desired. After all, manly thirsts and libidos, recently boosted by the branding of two very pretty young boys, needed quenching.

The Praetorians also anticipated again seeing Marius and Quintus sometime if they survived their early months on Capri. After the boys were no longer considered new and fresh, they would probably at times be considered spare to immediate requirements and made available for use by the soldiers and other loyal Imperial servants on the island.

Sisyphus glanced at the two young naked boys now standing in front of his desk, with Glaucus just behind them. He noticed with distaste that the new nude young arrivals, who obediently kept their arms at their sides, having previously learned the hard way that attempting to shield their genitals from view was not recommended, exhibited clear signs of receiving recent severe beatings.

Sisyphus was not against physically chastising boys who had committed misdemeanours and so deserved punishment. After all, discipline had to be maintained, especially in the service of the Emperor. However, he was also aware, from past personal experience as both victim and witness, that too many young slaves were beaten or otherwise suffered severely for little or no reason and, being essentially a kindly man, he had great sympathy for them.

Nevertheless, Sisyphus also had his Imperial function to perform and in the service of an immensely perverse and sadistic Emperor could not afford as a slave himself to allow his sympathies to jeopardise him. He therefore carefully hid his compassion behind an outward façade of proficient officialdom and personal indifference to the boys who passed through his office.

Sisyphus now had another reason to demonstrate proficient officialdom. He had never liked Titus' slave, Glaucus, whom he considered to be a rather nasty character, and so wanted to conclude the present meeting as speedily as possible.

Sisyphus was sitting with his back to a window that overlooked the sea far below. He now scrabbled amongst a jumble of scrolls that littered the top of his desk, found a wax tablet and stylus and raised his eyes again to look at Glaucus and the boys in his company.

As usual, Sisyphus attempted to display outward disinterest in the newcomers, instead exhibiting every sign of wanting to do his duty and dismiss them from his presence as quickly as possible. Unlike virtually every other adult in Imperial service on Capri, he never showed any sexual interest in the Emperor's catamites and definitely never took advantage of the easy access of some of them to indulge his lusts.

In an age when bisexual pederasty was common, Sisyphus' attitude was considered unusual amongst his colleagues, given the ready availability on Capri of some especially gorgeous boys who were specifically trained to satisfy the most perverse lusts. Many wondered whether he was just so completely heterosexual that he could not be tempted by such splendid specimens or, more likely in most opinions because he had never been known to be associated with any woman either, simply but strangely not interested in sex at all.

In actuality, Sisyphus was homosexual and strongly attracted to pretty boys. However, after his own experiences when young, he could not bring himself to take advantage of any of the catamites in Imperial service on Capri.

Sisyphus secretly yearned for sex with a boy but only if freely offered in love. Given that he considered that the latter situation would never arise, he instead indulged his passions furtively using his own right hand.

Sisyphus generally feigned his outward indifference towards the boys who passed through his office with well-practised efficiency. However, on glancing up again to look at the latest arrivals, the sight somehow caused his normal façade to slip a little.

Despite the temporary blemishes of the bruises created by their recent severe beatings, Sisyphus suddenly judged with furtive admiration that the latest two boys in his office were particularly beautiful. Of course, only very pretty specimens were offered to the Emperor as catamites but the newest arrivals were in his opinion exceptional. His cock, safely hidden under his clothing and desk, hardened in agreement and his mouth dried.

Marius' head was respectfully bowed, although he now stole a surreptitious upward glance. He had then himself seen a slight middle-aged balding man, wearing a clean but somewhat threadbare tunic and displaying a somewhat complex expression on his face.

The complexity of this expression resulted from Sisyphus attempting as usual to exhibit disinterest in the boys whilst in reality his thoughts were completely the opposite. However, he somehow rapidly recovered his composure.

Sisyphus straightened his face to try to exhibit some apparent boredom and coughed to eradicate the sudden dryness in his throat in readiness to speak. However, he was a little late to disguise his real emotions from the young but maturely astute Marius.

Marius' mental processes had returned to normal, despite the continued physical anguish caused by his freshly branded bottom. From the original expression on Sisyphus' face, he somehow instinctively instantly knew that the Imperial slave sitting at the desk was someone whom he not only need not fear but also might sometime cultivate to become a friend. The boy had detected both inherent kindliness in the man and sexual interest towards him and Quintus.

After his time in the House of Ganymede, Marius was no longer too ashamed or reluctant to use his undoubted attractions to pederasts to better his existence. Having apparently lost his pride, he now considered that he had no assets other than his boyish beauty to offer in return for an easier life. This assumption was actually wrong because he also possessed other attributes, such as a bright mind, agile body and considerable bravery, which, as this story will eventually reveal, would be equally as important in his destiny.

"Particulars?" Sisyphus asked brusquely of Glaucus in respect of the new boys. He had managed to recover his composure sufficiently to be able to convey this question in his usual verbal business-like manner, which was in stark contrast to the untidy confusion both on his desk and in his mind.

Glaucus, being as equally happy to offload Marius and Quintus into someone else's care as the Praetorians had been, and for similar reasons, answered concisely, whilst pointing at Marius. "This one's called Cycnus," he announced, whilst referring to the name given to the child in the House of Ganymede, "and he's been brought here from a high-class boy brothel by Lord Drusus as an entertainment gift for the Emperor. As well as being experienced whore, he apparently performs dangerous gymnastics over red-hot coals."

"This," Glaucus continued, whilst, instead of simply pointing, cuffing the relevant boy on the side of the head, causing his young victim to sway sideways, "is called Quintus. He's of Patrician background and has been brought here by my Master Titus to be one of the Emperor's upper-class little fishes."

By 'little fishes', Glaucus was, of course, referring to the boys who attended and entertained the Emperor when he relaxed in the villa's pool. Amongst their duties was occasionally to swim to Tiberius' submerged groin to perform underwater fellatio.

"He's a troublesome little brat," Glaucus added, "and needs watching carefully. He's attempted to run away twice and he's been beaten as punishment and threatened with the loss of his big toes if he tries again!"

As Glaucus said these words, he simultaneously surreptitiously winked at Sisyphus in order to confirm that he was aware that the threat of losing his big toes was just that and nothing more, being designed to frighten Quintus into compliance to his fate. Both men were aware that the Emperor did not like damaged goods.

Glaucus subsequently hit Quintus on the head once more to confirm his annoyance at the boy, whilst Sisyphus commented "I see that the boy's beating was comprehensive." The Imperial slave's job was hard for a kindly man. Children were regularly brought before him, often very frightened, bruised and dirty, to be recorded as the new property of his master, the Emperor. All too often he would afterwards receive, perhaps within a few days, instructions to remove the name from the register.

For such reasons, Sisyphus disliked his job. However, being a slave himself, he had had no choice but to accept the role when he had been assigned.

Sisyphus again scrutinised the two small cowering but, despite their bruises and current haggard appearance, clearly essentially extremely attractive figures in front of him and wondered gloomily how long they would last in the service of the cruel Emperor. He judged that the boy with the golden hair looked quite hardy, with a healthy build. He could perceive that he had probably learnt the necessary skills to survive as a young slave and could understand how he would be a good gymnast.

The other boy, though, the one with darker features, was a much softer looking little creature and was clearly more frightened about his current circumstance, which, unlike for the other child, was far changed from what he had previously experienced as a young Patrician. Sisyphus could imagine the helpless confusion and terror that he was experiencing, as he was degraded and forced into a life of prostitution and probably pain and sorrow.

Sisyphus could identify this boy's current mental condition from the way he stood, with his shoulders slumped, and the expression on his pale and presently grubby face, which exhibited obvious fatigue and fear. He instinctively wanted to draw this particular naked child into his arms, to kiss his soft sweet rosy lips and to tell the poor terrified creature that his nightmare was over.

Sisyphus always felt secret pity for the boys who passed through his office but for this one he somehow experienced more. There was an innocence and helplessness about the child that seemingly cried out for him to offer assistance and comfort. However, he was also fully aware that he could not give such succour.

Sisyphus instead could only process the boy into the Emperor's service, where, like with the others, he would need good fortune to survive. The Imperial slave appreciated that staying alive was a matter of chance and needed luck.

Much would depend on the mood of the Emperor when he encountered the boy, and how the child reacted to the circumstances in which he found himself. If Tiberius was in a good temper and the new catamite proved attractive to him, he could be favoured and pampered for a while.

Unfortunately, however, the evidence of the register maintained by Sisyphus suggested that his Imperial master was becoming increasingly fickle, sadistic and bad tempered. Even previously favoured boys could experience his sudden wrath over very minor issues, sometimes fatally.

Even adult Imperial slaves such as Sisyphus himself felt obliged to remain as anonymous as possible as far as the Emperor was concerned. Their main aim was generally to maintain very low profiles until his death, when custom dictated that they would be granted their freedom. However, all knew that Tiberius would consider any such thoughts about their futures on his demise to be treasonable, even though, given his advanced age, the event surely could not be too far distant.

Sisyphus had long since decided that he must just keep on doing his work in as quiet and efficient way as possible. Meanwhile, he would keep himself to himself and not become involved in any of the sordid goings-on taking place around him, or in any intrigues or even mere exchanges of gossip. He hoped that by maintaining such a low profile and avoiding upsetting any of his superiors, especially the Emperor, he would survive to gain his freedom.

As part of this policy, Sisyphus decided, despite his instinctive urge to comfort Quintus, to conclude his current chore as soon as possible. He therefore asked of Glaucus, whilst pointing his stylus at Marius, "Age, date and place of birth and name and status of parents?"

"I've no idea," Glaucus smirkingly replied in a dismissive tone. "Is such information really necessary," he added, "as I don't expect that the brat even knows the answers? He's probably just the son of slaves or is an unwanted bastard, sired by some master on a slave-woman."

Despite Marius' recent acceptance of his drastic change of circumstances, he immediately felt enticed to dispute Glaucus' insulting suggestions. The boy's pride had somehow been spurred by the man's comments to reappear from the depths of his young soul, to where his self-esteem had earlier fled to avoid being hurt by the many degradations to which he had been subject.

Marius was lured towards revealing that he was not the son of slaves or the unwanted bastard offspring of some callous master. The boy was tempted instead to announce that he was the child of Lucius Aelius Sejanus, of proud Patrician status and for 17 years Praetorian Prefect. However, sudden recall of his raped and murdered brother and sister quickly quashed such folly and he remained silent.

"The register that I'm charged with maintaining," Sisyphus responded to Glaucus, "requires such information. You wouldn't want to be the cause of incomplete record-keeping would you, as such shoddy work might seriously displease others of higher status than me?"

Sisyphus' response instantly wiped the smirk from Glaucus' ugly face and instead encouraged him to acquire the data asked for by the Imperial slave. He did so by now slapping Marius' head and instructing the boy to "Give the man the information he needs, brat!"

Marius did so but not, of course, with full truth. He gave his age correctly as being twelve but followed Crastus' fictional precedent in lying about his background.

"I believe, Sir, that I'm the offspring of unknown Roman citizens," Marius lied, "who fell on hard times and sold me into slavery on a rural estate, where I became a companion of the master's son. I was therefore educated with him."

"Do you mean that you're literate and numerate?" an amazed Sisyphus interrupted to ask, incredulous that a former boy prostitute could have such skills. "Yes, Sir," Marius answered, "and such education also explains my accent and grammar."

Marius was keen to pass on this information so that Sisyphus did not dangerously delve further into why he had such refined diction. Fortunately, the Imperial slave nodded in response, apparently satisfied at the explanation for a young slaveboy's unusual attributes.

The relieved Marius therefore continued with his lies. "My precise place and date of birth are also unknown, Sir," he suggested in order to assist further his desire not to be identified, "but the time was rumoured to have been sometime during the early autumn twelve years ago."

"Hmmm, twelve, early autumn of the year dcclxxiii after the foundation of the city of Rome 3; unknown 3; unknown 3; Roman citizens," Sisyphus remarked to himself, as he wrote down Marius' answers regarding respectively his age, date and place of birth and name and status of parents. The Imperial slave had already entered the new arrival's name as 'Cycnus' as reported by Glaucus, and the boy was happy to be continued to be known by this pseudonym in order further to protect his true identity.

Sisyphus subsequently acquired similar data from Quintus. During this process, which was clearly mentally painful for the boy, he had been unable to prevent his eyebrows from rising in surprise on hearing details of the child's noble parentage.

Despite having now lived on Capri in the service of Emperor for several years, Sisyphus was aware from his time in Rome of the Patrician family concerned. He was truly shocked that their circumstances had become so desperate that they had given up one of their sons to be an Imperial catamite.

Having obtained the information required for his register, or, in respect of the boy with the golden hair as much as was possible to secure, Sisyphus gladly dismissed Glaucus. The latter was equally happy to depart.

After Glaucus had left, Sisyphus waited, as the sound of the man's footsteps receded down the outside corridor. He then looked again at the two grimy and obviously apprehensive naked boys standing side by side, with their heads bowed and shoulders stooped. In his opinion, the pair, especially Quintus, epitomised utter dejection and, remembering his own time as a child slave, were also probably very hungry. At least, he thought, he could do something about that situation and about their grubbiness.

Sisyphus had never previously personally done what he now proceeded to perpetrate. However, his strange concern for Quintus in particular stirred him into unprecedented action.

"Stay here," Sisyphus ordered the two boys and hurried from the room. Marius and Quintus subsequently looked at each other, with the pair independently contemplating making use of the opportunity of being left alone to try to escape. However, the bright minds of both boys soon concluded that any such attempt, on a small secluded island like Capri, infested by Praetorians guarding the Emperor, would undoubtedly prove not only futile but also highly precarious if not fatal to their health.

On both realising this truism independently in their minds, the boys, instead of fleeing the scene, just smiled briefly at each other before, as their thoughts returned again towards their uncertain futures, their expressions resumed being rather morose and their eyes once more contemplated their own toes. Their current lack of spirit was not helped by the continued soreness still afflicting their freshly branded bottoms, which, although finally thankfully dulling, remained painful.

Sisyphus returned a few minutes later carrying a large earthenware bowl filled with bean stew. He contentedly noticed that the two boys were still obediently standing where he had left them.

The boys glanced up at Sisyphus as he re-entered the room and their hungry eyes immediately fastened on the steaming bowl in his hands. The Imperial slave felt their eager gaze on him, as he walked over to his chair and sat down, simultaneously clearing some space on the top of his desk on which to place the dish.

Sisyphus subsequently pushed the bowl to the other edge of his desk and suggested "Well, eat it then and quickly." The famished boys needed no second invitation and were soon shovelling the warm and nourishing stew into their mouths with their cupped hands.

As Sisyphus simultaneously watched, he reflected that his suggestion to the two boys to be quick had been unnecessary. He also perceptively noticed that, as he had anticipated, the child with the golden hair, Cycnus, was surely going to consume the majority of the food, so fast and furious was his shovelling of the fare.

Sisyphus, however, realised that the boy was not necessarily being greedy. The child was clearly more accustomed to servile status and was therefore just making best use of the moment to fill his belly, probably knowing from experience that such attitudes improved his prospects of survival as a slave, whose next meal was uncertain.

Quintus, on the other hand, being new to the status of slave and given his Patrician background, would not be accustomed to fighting for survival. The darker-featured boy would also undoubtedly possess a residual of good table manners as befitted someone of previous noble status and so would not yet race to consume most food.

Having somehow accrued considerable secret concern for the future welfare of Quintus in particular, Sisyphus decided that he would intervene to ensure that he received his equal share of the stew in the bowl. However, being a fair man, he also determined not to do so until Cycnus had consumed his half, which he was about to do.

Sisyphus was subsequently about to command the boy, whom he knew as Cycnus, to cease eating when the relevant point had been attained. However, to his immense surprise, before he could do so Marius stood back on his own initiative, away from the bowl and whilst wiping his mouth clean with the back of his hand. He then remained in this position, watching quietly until Quintus had cleared the residual food.

Sisyphus knew that the boy with the golden hair remained hungry from the way in which he watched with envy Quintus clearing the bowl. However, he still remained selflessly motionless, seemingly wanting the other child to have equal shares as much as the observing Imperial slave had done.

The amazed Sisyphus did not comment in reaction. However, he did think to himself that he might be advised to ensure that the two boys, who would imminently be heading for different duties, subsequently remained apart.

Sisyphus knew from experience that close friendships between boys in their circumstances could be deep and passionate. They could therefore easily give rise to problems through divided loyalties.

Only one loyalty was allowed on Capri and that was to be the Emperor.