Master Of Slaves
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Ls as
Master had once brought me to the cityscapes where the lepers and beggars like to
the travelers. I did not know it yet but this was the beginning to another
one of Master' s lessons.
I have watched this man lay here many‘ days" he spoke amongst the commotion. "He
is an outcast and would otherwise. lay lucre and smell of the dead until the day he
joins them."
Outherwise'?" I asked him.
Ah, so you are listening. Yes, this man will be taken back into our city, under your
roof, as your servant"
Not even if you were to pay me! Look! He lies in his own filthy."
But Master was stern, he was not asking. I remember thinking he has finally lost his
mind. But I was foolish back then and althought thought I did, I knew nothing of
what power reaaly was. Master was going to show me.
Eli.
Ill
The man was nearly unconscious and had to be dragged back to Elly villa. There, he
was bathed by my female slaves, clothed by my‘ maids in the finest of silk, and fed all
he could chew.
After seven moons the man was in good condition so I had him brought to
my chamber so that I may speak to him. Master had chosen this man and I needed to
know why.
Care for some wine?" I offered him. A platter with cups and gourd was placed on the
table between us- Yet he said nothing. He just stared. "f am . but you will
call me master. Yon are ' servant and in exchange I can give you anything you want.
Be it opium, women, salt, gold, but once f anoint you: your life is no longer youa‘ s. Ifi
say 'die', you bring me the knife, and show me y-‘ our neck, understood?”
Yes." The man exhaled with defeat.
So I began questioning him. He turned out to be a fugitive from Damascus and speaks
our language with a familiarity that is odd for a Syrian.
After that meeting, f assigned him to the vineyard to harvest grapes for the wordpress-
From the balcony I observed for hours, until I came upon my first clue to why Master
chose this mana-.
all r" is
The sun was at its highest point, to where the workers became taller than their shad-
ows, and uncovered skin was blistering for they could no longer bare the added dis-
comfort of their wool cloaks- I remember this vividly, because when the Syrian
removed his tunic I saw a scar. He bore a mark, the mark of . Previous to that
observation f was aware he was a fugitive, shunned and casted out from his homeland
for murder, but this wasn' t just any murder. Those who are branded with the mark of
are guilty of patricide. This man-.. killed his own father.
Later that night I drunkenly pondered over what I saw. I hosted a symposium, as I
always did during the festival of Dionisio. Master never attended for he was not one
to be seen, but I never knew of my rambunctious guests also served the master,
so I acted accordingly to his presence.
Let us see some real men fight!”
The crowd was not impressed by my Pankration- One of the fighters laid weeping in
the sand with his hands Daer his gouged eye.
do you castrate your slaves? For a moment I thought I was
watching two women groping at one another!" Gannicus mocked at me-
Only if they look like you Gannicus, I wouldn' t want such an ugly face to be repli-
cated" I yelled back at him.
Garlic's at the time held the position of senator, and he let it get to his head. I never
would give up the chance to put him in his proper place, below me.
I propose you let my personal servant fight, he was born from the
best Gallic stock. Let him show the guest you are yet my lesser. Go and summon him a
challenger, this time a man without a phallus in cowardice!"
The crowd erupted in laughter, and before I could blush I called out "bring me the
Syrian!"
I remember regretting calling for a slave whose might has not been tested, but
the Syrian was on my mind. I prayed to Zeus he would not be killed. I knew Master
delegated this man as my responsibility, and if he were to die I could very well soon
follow suit. But what happened next probably surprised Zeus himself, and instead of
any answers to what was behind this man- I was fraught with many more questions...
III
Before I continue any further, it is important I go back, back when I was a child. It
was a hot day in the outskirts of Phones, where I sat stareing. into a mirage. while my‘
father bled the sacrifice into a bowl. "Father why must you go to Athens, can? you
stay this year?"
Young , youngest of your brothers, you know I must go give my
testimony, and consult amongst the senate. For the Republic and democracy, it is my
duty. IT I put my head down and hid my‘ tears, for when my father was gone I knew my‘
brothers would make my life a living hades. " Do you know what democracy is Thre-
Hamm, something to do about men killing one another'?" I replied.
Haahaha '. Yon are thinking of war! Yes, we must go to war to protect
democracy, like tny father and his father before him, to prevent another tyrant like
curse his name- Democracy puts the nation' s power into its' people."
When it is tny turn. would you want me to go to war for democracy?"
My father' s expression quickly changed to solemn and as he looked me deep into my‘
eyes he poured the bowl into the fire and said "h For democracy, any man will give his
begotten son..."
So every year my father left us in , and as I grew I took it as an oppar-
tonite to explore new things, things my father would never have approved of. One
year it was gambling, the next year the temple of fertility, until one yeall had took it
upon myself to investigate i‘ umop‘ s of a clairvoyant medium, my brothers had spoken
They say she can talk to your ancestors!" Cyrias exclaimed.
Or see into your future!" Cision blurted out
Quiet down! who knows who might be out here" I shushed them.
That night me and my‘ brothers, under cloak and moon, traveled south to the mountains
of En Dor to search for a cave said to be exhaling. sweet fumes. After hours of wander-
ing we saw a flickering light reflecting off a porous rock. “That must be itl." the twins
whispered in awe simultaneously‘- We approached slowly until I could see into the
cave, a figure sitting, rocking back and forth behind the fire. A powerful wind carry-
ing a voice shot from the figure. ", , doomed is -
chus!" My hood fell from my head showing my‘ face. I turned to my‘ brothers but they
were nowhere to be found. ‘, , come in ,
take your place beside me, in the fire" the voice continued." I became lightheaded and
looking back, I now know I was under her spell, I was entranced. Seduced I was and
dizzily I stepped toward the medium until I came close enough to see her wrinkled
face. Her only eye stayed staring into the fire. "Do you desire a seance? Maybe you
wish to speak to '?" was my‘ childhood love who had taken her own
life.
I want to speak with you, not the dead"
Oh, it is through my eye you want to see? You want to see your deadly? ft is very
painful you know."
Do not show me my death, there is something I desire, something may-‘ be you
can help me acquire."
What is it child?‘
Power... it seeks me"
ANI, so it does, so then you must pay" her voice echoed in my ear. "PAY, PAY,
PAYE."
Quiet! I will pay you!" I pulled out a bag of drachma.
NO, you must pay! I do not want your coin."
What is it yon want then?”
I will give you power, but one day you will pay.. quickly, look into the flame"
I saw myself surrounded by servants and guests, covered in riches. Our eyes all on
two men in a ring of blood and sand. They fought and fought until one rose as victor,
he bore a mark. Then soldiers burst through the doors pushing the people aside to get
to me. I tried to run but I was overpowered. " you are charged with
Treason under direct jurisdiction of the Senate!"
Suddenly I was standing there with my brothers again, staring into an empty
cave. ", . Hello‘. You there? We' re going home -
chus, we are tired and coa& This was all just a waste of time- there is no medium]"
There is no medium" I said looking into the dark. "There was no medium.“
Ls as
Master had once brought me to the cityscapes where the lepers and beggars like to
the travelers. I did not know it yet but this was the beginning to another
one of Master' s lessons.
I have watched this man lay here many‘ days" he spoke amongst the commotion. "He
is an outcast and would otherwise. lay lucre and smell of the dead until the day he
joins them."
Outherwise'?" I asked him.
Ah, so you are listening. Yes, this man will be taken back into our city, under your
roof, as your servant"
Not even if you were to pay me! Look! He lies in his own filthy."
But Master was stern, he was not asking. I remember thinking he has finally lost his
mind. But I was foolish back then and althought thought I did, I knew nothing of
what power reaaly was. Master was going to show me.
Eli.
Ill
The man was nearly unconscious and had to be dragged back to Elly villa. There, he
was bathed by my female slaves, clothed by my‘ maids in the finest of silk, and fed all
he could chew.
After seven moons the man was in good condition so I had him brought to
my chamber so that I may speak to him. Master had chosen this man and I needed to
know why.
Care for some wine?" I offered him. A platter with cups and gourd was placed on the
table between us- Yet he said nothing. He just stared. "f am . but you will
call me master. Yon are ' servant and in exchange I can give you anything you want.
Be it opium, women, salt, gold, but once f anoint you: your life is no longer youa‘ s. Ifi
say 'die', you bring me the knife, and show me y-‘ our neck, understood?”
Yes." The man exhaled with defeat.
So I began questioning him. He turned out to be a fugitive from Damascus and speaks
our language with a familiarity that is odd for a Syrian.
After that meeting, f assigned him to the vineyard to harvest grapes for the wordpress-
From the balcony I observed for hours, until I came upon my first clue to why Master
chose this mana-.
all r" is
The sun was at its highest point, to where the workers became taller than their shad-
ows, and uncovered skin was blistering for they could no longer bare the added dis-
comfort of their wool cloaks- I remember this vividly, because when the Syrian
removed his tunic I saw a scar. He bore a mark, the mark of . Previous to that
observation f was aware he was a fugitive, shunned and casted out from his homeland
for murder, but this wasn' t just any murder. Those who are branded with the mark of
are guilty of patricide. This man-.. killed his own father.
Later that night I drunkenly pondered over what I saw. I hosted a symposium, as I
always did during the festival of Dionisio. Master never attended for he was not one
to be seen, but I never knew of my rambunctious guests also served the master,
so I acted accordingly to his presence.
Let us see some real men fight!”
The crowd was not impressed by my Pankration- One of the fighters laid weeping in
the sand with his hands Daer his gouged eye.
do you castrate your slaves? For a moment I thought I was
watching two women groping at one another!" Gannicus mocked at me-
Only if they look like you Gannicus, I wouldn' t want such an ugly face to be repli-
cated" I yelled back at him.
Garlic's at the time held the position of senator, and he let it get to his head. I never
would give up the chance to put him in his proper place, below me.
I propose you let my personal servant fight, he was born from the
best Gallic stock. Let him show the guest you are yet my lesser. Go and summon him a
challenger, this time a man without a phallus in cowardice!"
The crowd erupted in laughter, and before I could blush I called out "bring me the
Syrian!"
I remember regretting calling for a slave whose might has not been tested, but
the Syrian was on my mind. I prayed to Zeus he would not be killed. I knew Master
delegated this man as my responsibility, and if he were to die I could very well soon
follow suit. But what happened next probably surprised Zeus himself, and instead of
any answers to what was behind this man- I was fraught with many more questions...
III
Before I continue any further, it is important I go back, back when I was a child. It
was a hot day in the outskirts of Phones, where I sat stareing. into a mirage. while my‘
father bled the sacrifice into a bowl. "Father why must you go to Athens, can? you
stay this year?"
Young , youngest of your brothers, you know I must go give my
testimony, and consult amongst the senate. For the Republic and democracy, it is my
duty. IT I put my head down and hid my‘ tears, for when my father was gone I knew my‘
brothers would make my life a living hades. " Do you know what democracy is Thre-
Hamm, something to do about men killing one another'?" I replied.
Haahaha '. Yon are thinking of war! Yes, we must go to war to protect
democracy, like tny father and his father before him, to prevent another tyrant like
curse his name- Democracy puts the nation' s power into its' people."
When it is tny turn. would you want me to go to war for democracy?"
My father' s expression quickly changed to solemn and as he looked me deep into my‘
eyes he poured the bowl into the fire and said "h For democracy, any man will give his
begotten son..."
So every year my father left us in , and as I grew I took it as an oppar-
tonite to explore new things, things my father would never have approved of. One
year it was gambling, the next year the temple of fertility, until one yeall had took it
upon myself to investigate i‘ umop‘ s of a clairvoyant medium, my brothers had spoken
They say she can talk to your ancestors!" Cyrias exclaimed.
Or see into your future!" Cision blurted out
Quiet down! who knows who might be out here" I shushed them.
That night me and my‘ brothers, under cloak and moon, traveled south to the mountains
of En Dor to search for a cave said to be exhaling. sweet fumes. After hours of wander-
ing we saw a flickering light reflecting off a porous rock. “That must be itl." the twins
whispered in awe simultaneously‘- We approached slowly until I could see into the
cave, a figure sitting, rocking back and forth behind the fire. A powerful wind carry-
ing a voice shot from the figure. ", , doomed is -
chus!" My hood fell from my head showing my‘ face. I turned to my‘ brothers but they
were nowhere to be found. ‘, , come in ,
take your place beside me, in the fire" the voice continued." I became lightheaded and
looking back, I now know I was under her spell, I was entranced. Seduced I was and
dizzily I stepped toward the medium until I came close enough to see her wrinkled
face. Her only eye stayed staring into the fire. "Do you desire a seance? Maybe you
wish to speak to '?" was my‘ childhood love who had taken her own
life.
I want to speak with you, not the dead"
Oh, it is through my eye you want to see? You want to see your deadly? ft is very
painful you know."
Do not show me my death, there is something I desire, something may-‘ be you
can help me acquire."
What is it child?‘
Power... it seeks me"
ANI, so it does, so then you must pay" her voice echoed in my ear. "PAY, PAY,
PAYE."
Quiet! I will pay you!" I pulled out a bag of drachma.
NO, you must pay! I do not want your coin."
What is it yon want then?”
I will give you power, but one day you will pay.. quickly, look into the flame"
I saw myself surrounded by servants and guests, covered in riches. Our eyes all on
two men in a ring of blood and sand. They fought and fought until one rose as victor,
he bore a mark. Then soldiers burst through the doors pushing the people aside to get
to me. I tried to run but I was overpowered. " you are charged with
Treason under direct jurisdiction of the Senate!"
Suddenly I was standing there with my brothers again, staring into an empty
cave. ", . Hello‘. You there? We' re going home -
chus, we are tired and coa& This was all just a waste of time- there is no medium]"
There is no medium" I said looking into the dark. "There was no medium.“
...
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