Page 15 of Dominion
Mateo turned to see his dominus walking toward him.
“He is doing well, dominus,” the medicus said.
“How well?” Rama asked.
“His fever is gone, finally. He’s been able to hold down food, so we have moved from broth to soup. His wounds are healing very well, dominus. The scars should be barely visible,” the medicus said.
Rama waved his hand dismissively. “I care not about his scars. For a gladiator, they are the trophies of his victories. He should regard them as such… that is if he ever sees the sands again. There is still his training. When can that begin?”
“Not for at least two months, dominus. That is if you really want him to have a fair chance.”
Rama groaned. “He will have a month. I need to see what the god, Eloy, saw in this boy.”
“Apologies, dominus, but I must insist. You risk entering a gladiator into the Games who is not fully healed. It would only lead to a poor showing and the gods will be angered,” the medicus warned.
Rama groaned as he pondered that predicament. “Kijani’s cock! What herbs do you need to hasten his healing as well as Osiris’?”
“Wickleberry is the best. I can make a paste and juice from it. That will hasten the healing,” the medicus said.
“I will have some acquired.” Rama looked at Mateo. “Tell me, boy, what is your name?”
So much had happened to Mateo, he had completely forgotten that these men who had decided his fate didn’t even know his name, nor did they seem to care before.
“Mateo, dominus,” Mateo replied.
Rama nodded. “Mateo… I suppose I could let you keep that name. It is a good, strong name, worthy of a gladiator. You will begin your training in three weeks. Take care of yourself so you can survive. You will be trained in the style of Sakata.”
Mateo sat up a little, bracing himself on his elbows as he looked at Rama. “What is that, dominus?”
“With your body type, I think it’s best you learn to master the kitana andwakizashi…ashort sword,” Rama added when he saw the confusion on Mateo’s face. “Of course, your body will be put through physical training, as I want you to bulk up. I watched you in that arena, you are agile, and that is good.”
“That style will suit him well, dominus,” the medicus agreed.
“It will. Now, the god, Eloy, spared you, even though he is known to be unforgiving of failure, yet he saved you from your own as you could not best Haraka. Perhaps while you heal, we can appease Eloy in other ways,” Rama said, then he took a few more steps closer to Mateo. “Are you virgin?”
Mateo blinked several times, having been taken aback by the boldness of the question. Such things just weren’t asked of people so openly in the badlands. The longer Mateo was exposed to this so-called civilized society, the moretheyseemed like the wildlings they claimthemto be.
“Yes, dominus,” Mateo answered truthfully. He was only nineteen, and though he had feelings for other men, he had never once indulged in them.
Rama smirked. “Let’s see if you speak truth.” He slipped his hand between Mateo’s thighs and Mateo tried to shove Rama’s hand away, but was rewarded with a backhanded slap across his face, which laid him out flat on the bed. “Filth! You belong to me. Never seek to refuse me again. Comprehend?”
Mateo caressed his cheek where the newly forming bruise stung. “Yes, dominus, apologies.”
“You think because a god granted you his favor that you don’t belong to me?” Rama growled. His cruel gray eyes bored into Mateo’s brown, conveying his rage at being checked by his own slave.
Mateo shook his head. “No, dominus.”
“Good. I will do with your body what I wish and you will obey. The only free will you have is what I give you, comprehend?” Rama’s cold gaze bored into Mateo, demanding his obedience.
Mateo nodded. “Yes, dominus.”
Rama, now satisfied with his slave’s answers, continued to slide his hand between Mateo’s legs. “Open wider.”
Mateo tried to keep calm, for he’d never had anyone touch him so intimately before. Even when he had been with the bandits and on that stage, strange fingers hadn’t gone where Rama’s fingers were going now. He felt his master probe his anal passage and winced as the tip of the finger breached his opening.
“Ooohh, that is lovely. Fresh and untouched. So tight, I almost want to enjoy taking you myself, but I will save you for the god, Eloy. Yes, that shall please him greatly, for when was the last time he’s had a virgin?” Rama speculated as he smiled devilishly, thinking about how much fortune his house would get if he could make Mateo something a god would desire.
“For such activity, dominus, may I suggest three more weeks of healing?” the medicus asked.
“Two weeks. He can simply lay still,” Rama stated.
“That he can, dominus, but may we consider that the god, Eloy, may not desire such inactivity?”
Again, Rama groaned in annoyance that he couldn’t get his way because his medicus continued to advise against it. “Fine. Three weeks. Make sure he is ready to please the god then.”
“Yes, dominus,” the medicus said.
Mateo wasn’t as worldly as the other men he’d been imprisoned with, but he knew damn well what was being discussed in front of him and about him as if he wasn’t there. He knew he didn’t have a say in the matter either, which enraged him. They would give him to the god, Eloy, to sate his sexual desires with his body. The thought made him want to rage out and attack everyone in the room, but he didn’t have the full strength of his body yet… or even the physical skill to pull off such an attack.
Never before had he felt so helpless. Still, he didn’t regret being alive, because there was always hope. He was never without hope.
