It wasn't so much a dream as a flashback she realised later. She watched the scene unfold as it had done just over five thousand years before. She could hear both near and distant sounds and smell scents in the surrounding air , but it was as if she were watching the whole through a gauze net. Methos' past was coming to haunt her consciousness:
CRETE 3005 BCE:
The brothel was busy as it always was during festivals. Many of the clientele had been indulging heavily in bacchanalian pursuits and were reacting accordingly. Whilst for some it had the effect of making them relaxed and jovial, for others the result was the exact opposite. Truculent customers were tolerated, however, in this as in other establishments - because no matter what the behaviour of the patrons their coin was as good as the next man's. Business was, after all, business - and businesses needed to make a profit, that much had always been true.
It was not an unusual occurrence for the Brothel Master to be approached and asked to hire out his slaves for private parties, nor was it that unusual for the clients to ask that the slaves be brought to their private residences - it was somewhat unusual, however, for the request to be made for just one specific slave alone.
Sulla frowned a little but thought of the extra coin he would earn.
"You want this one only, and for the whole three days?" he asked.
He looked at the boy, before him. Clad only in a loin cloth. He was approaching 17 years of age, tall, pale skinned, thin, lithe, with dark hair and deep clear golden eyes. Of late most of his best custom had been as the result of the exotic features of this one slave. He was popular not just for his looks but for his amiability. In the two years or so since he had acquired the boy the fortunes of the brothel had changed from being merely comfortably profitable to producing enough profit for Sulla to consider expanding his business ventures. Investing in agricultural property was his newest ambition, with the drachma earned from his brothel business he would soon be well able to achieve it.
The customer before him was a regular, or rather had become a regular. Always the man had chosen Sulla's prize slave, opting to wait if the boy was with another customer - just had he had done now. It was not such a surprise therefore that this request for a private party should include him, but for three days at the man's residence - and for this one slave alone was a very odd request.
"I will pay you triple the normal price," the man offered, "and in advance. If he pleases my guests I will add a bonus of forty silver drachma on his return."
Swallowing heavily at the thought of what he could do with the enormous sum promised, Sulla agreed the price. Taking the weighty purse the man offered him he turned to the slave.
"Meli- mateos, you are to go with Ariostos and ensure that you serve him and his guests well. Remember that you bear the honour of this house with you and I will be relying on you to bring credit to it and to your training."
The pale youth stood, head bowed, wrists shackled. His breathing rapid, as if he were afraid but he merely sank gracefully to his knees before Sulla.
"I shall serve you to the best of my abilities master," he said quietly, eyes still lowered.
Satisfied, Sulla looked at Ariostos. "Very well then, the bargain is made. I shall send my servant to collect him on the morning after the third night."
Ariostos smiled at Sulla. It was not, however, the sort of smile that spoke of joy, rather one of smug satisfaction, almost a leer. He reached for Meli and pulled him, by his hair, to his feet.
"You will follow my servant," he said, indicating the man waiting outside Sulla's door.
The boy remained still for a moment and lowered his eyes again. "As you wish sir ," he said, before moving off to follow the servant as he had been directed.
Ariostos' House
Meli-mateos was led in to Ariostos' chamber and ordered to wait. He stood in the centre of the room, trembling slightly. Still clad only in his loin cloth, wrists still shackled. Sulla may have made a prize of this slave but he was not willing to take any risks with any of his property. All his slaves were so shackled, the shackles bearing his mark for identification purposes, should any of the slaves in his brothel be foolish enough to seek escape. He had never permitted clients to remove shackles during sex with the slaves, but the addition of other restraints was by no means forbidden.
Meli-mateos tried to avoid thinking of what might happen to him over the next three days and nights. He had served Ariostos before, it was true, but always at the brothel, and never in company. The man had sought his hire almost daily in the last six months. He was clearly much taken with the youth's looks. He was not, however, much given to displays of tenderness. In all his previous sessions he had left Meli sore and sometimes bleeding. The pale skin showing livid bruises.
Sulla had been concerned, but he had not withheld his prize from Ariostos. Indeed it would have been economically disastrous to do so since the man always paid a bonus to be allowed access to Meli and free rein with him during their sessions. Given this fact, and that Meli had still been able to perform with his other clients, Sulla had simply taken the money and held his tongue. It was not for him to judge after all, merely to ensure that his customers received the best of attention and recommended his house to others, thus allowing his business to flourish further. A slave after all was merely property, and property was not something to be sentimental about but to use for whatever purpose it was fit. As long as Meli continued to perform his duties there would be no problem for Sulla.
The door of the inner chamber opened and Ariostos entered. "On your knees boy," he commanded.
Meli complied instantly, knowing that to hesitate would mean punishment and would severely anger the man. He kept his head lowered as he had been trained. 'Be submissive and do not resist and you will be safe,' he thought.
Smiling lasciviously, Ariostos reached down for Meli's loin cloth. He tugged at it and it tore, leaving Meli naked and exposed. "I think I should warm up a little before my guests arrive, what do you think Meli?" he said.
" Whatever you desire Sir. It is for you to command." Meli replied bowing his head over his knees as he had been taught.
"Indeed Meli-mateos it is for me to command. Look at me boy, I would see your eyes for which you were named."
Meli lifted his head and opened his eyes wide, looking at Ariostos as openly as he dared without appearing insolent. His throat was dry and he needed desperately to relieve himself, but he dared not speak of these needs as yet. Ariostos would be quick with him now since he was expecting visitors. Prolonged sessions would come later. He would have to bide his time and make his request after he had given the man what he required.
Ariostos looked at Meli's eyes. "Honey-eyes. So apt a name for you do you not think?"
"Yes Sir."
"Here in my house you will call me Master. For the next three days I will be your Master, do you understand Meli?"
Arisotos held Meli's face in his hands, his fingers digging into the skin painfully. Meli dared not flinch, however, since he knew from past experience that it would earn him more - rather than less - pain. Instead he bore the pain in silence, forcing himself to remain still, and his gaze to remain open.
"I understand Master." he said.
"Good, Meli, very good, now stand and go to face the wall." Ariostos commanded.
Again, Meli did not hesitate but did as he was told.
Ariostos moved up swiftly behind him and pressed him to the wall, fingering for the point of entry, pulling hard on his hair and wrenching his head back as far as it would go, making it difficult for Meli to breathe. Without preamble he thrust into the tight channel, wrenching a sob from the youth.
"Silence boy, silence, you are mine and I will take you as I wish, now that you are here finally and I have no one to interfere."
Ariostos continued thrusting hard into Meli's body, causing such pain that the boy prayed he might pass out and be spared any more of the sensation. It was soon over, however as Ariostos climaxed and pulled out, leaving Meli to slide down the wall and land in a crumpled heap on the floor desperately trying to still his sobbing and rise above the pain in his ass and his head. Ariostos regarded the youth dispassionately, kicking him and turning the boy to face him he leaned down and put his mouth to Meli's ear.
"Scream all you like boy, no one here will care, you are mine, I have you for three days and nights and for this period of time you should know that you live to serve me!"
His leer was triumphant, and his enjoyment was increased by the stark look of terror he saw on the face of the boy crouched beneath him.
Unable to control himself any longer, Meli gave in to his sobs and his bladder emptied itself. Ariostos hissed in displeasure and he slapped Meli hard across one ear.
"You will learn to control yourself better boy, or I will have to find a suitable punishment for you!"
"Please Master, forgive me. I am sorry. I will clean the mess." Meli was kneeling again, prostrating himself before Ariostos in the most submissive way he knew.
Grunting Ariostos rose and laid his booted foot on Meli's back, pushing him further down into the puddle of liquid on the floor. "Certainly you will clear the mess. I cannot bring guests to this room whilst it is so defiled. After the room is cleaned you will go with Pandros, my servant, and be bathed so that you are presentable for company. I shall fully expect you to be ready to serve us then." He lifted his foot and stepped back, looking at the mess on the floor with distaste. He called for Pandros.
As the servant entered Meli finally managed to still his sobs and draw a deep breath. His throat was still dry but he dared not ask for water after what had happened.
"Pandros, Meli here is in need of cleaning tools and supervision. After he has cleaned the room and restored it as it was he is to be taken and bathed in readiness for my guests."
"Yes Master." Pandros bowed low, avoiding looking at Meli he backed out of the room to fetch the necessary equipment for cleaning.
When Pandros returned Meli was still in the same position, but Ariostos had left the room.
"You can get up now boy, the Master is no longer here." he said, a little roughly.
Meli barely registered he words, but he blinked and came more to himself as the servant repeated his utterance. Slowly he rose to his feet. His skin was flushed with shame at the position he found himself in. He dared not look at Pandros for fear of the disgust he would see in his face. Pandros walked forward to Meli, bucket in one hand, cloths and sweetened oil in the other. Setting them down he reached out a reassuring hand to the boy's shoulder.
"Do not fret lad, we shall soon have this cleaned and then you can relax in the bath for a while."
The voice was still rough but the tone compassionate. Surprised, and not a little afraid that it might be a trick, Meli raised his head.
"No Pandros, I must do it myself. The Master will want to know that I carried out his orders to the letter. Thank you for your offer but I must do this myself, besides I made the mess it is not right that you should have to help me clean it ." He said.
Pandros watched the still naked boy as he knelt once again to his task. He noticed the graceful movements as he worked, and this despite the shackles which restricted his hand movements and the obvious bruises which were beginning to form from Ariostos' handling of him. He could see why his Master had fallen so hard under the spell of this youth. He could also see that this boy had been well trained not only in the arts of sex but also in the minutiae of care of the household by the ease of familiarity with which he undertook his task
"How did you come to be a slave in the brothel?" He asked, unaware that he had spoken aloud at first until Meli raised his head to look at him.
"I was bought by Sulla at the general sale two years ago." Meli replied.
"But you were not always a brothel slave were you?" Pandros persisted.
"No. I was training as a steward to my previous Master, but he died of a fever and all his property was sold on his death."
"And were you always part of this man's household before Sulla bought you?"
"No Pandros, I was sold to him by a merchant trader in Epirus when I was but seven years old." Meli replied.
"So where were you before that?"
"The trader had me as his own slave for some years before that, I do not know where he got me from I was too young to remember."
Pandros shook his head a little sorrowfully at the thought of so young a boy ripped from his home, but now was not the time to ponder on such things. Meli had thoroughly cleaned and sweetened the area. He was flushed and a little sweaty now and in need of the bath Ariostos had ordered.
"Come Meli, we must to the bath and ensure that you are prepared for the Master and his guests when they return from the temple and their feasting." He said. He offered Meli his hand and helped the boy to his feet. "Where are your clothes, and is there a key to your shackles Meli?" He asked. "It would be easier in the bath if we remove them."
" I have no clothes, I had only my loin cloth and that is now torn. As for a key for the shackles, I have never seen one since they were put on," Meli replied frankly, as they moved away in the direction Pandros had indicated, "and if there is one I doubt that Sulla would have given one to Ariostos."
"When were they put on?" Pandros asked. He was curious about this boy. He appeared far more serene and accepting than any other brothel slaves he had met.
"At the sale." Meli replied.
Pandros stopped walking and looked hard at Meli. "Two years ago, and in all that time they have never come off?"
Meli shook his head. "Sulla does not allow it." He said simply.
Pandros took the boy's wrists in his hands and looked closely at the restraints. There were two close fitting metal bracelets and a thick chain running between them, giving a space of two hand widths from wrist to wrist. Each bracelet was flattened on the inner side and held by a large rivet.
"These were put on by a blacksmith?" He asked.
"Yes."
"And there is nowhere for a key to go."
It was a simple observation, but it tugged at Pandros' heart. He knew well what sort of life the brothel slaves led, and how those his master bedded fared. That Sulla should further add to that burden of misery by permanently shackling his slaves made him feel a deep cold anger. Sadly he let Meli's hands drop back and silently led the way to the bath.