I met my mistress long time ago on the slave market called Saepta, near the Roman Forum where all the best slaves were brought to be sold to the finest of Rome, why an unremarkable teenage girl like me was standing next to the top cream of slaves was beyond me but my seller must have seen something in me to put me there, were my pale unblemished skin, slender build or my big gray eyes and the wild mane of unruly brown curls that guarded my head I didn’t know why the girl from an unknown place on the North was being sold there, at a much lower price, of course.

So there I was standing for who knows how much time with my little tituli hung around my neck, being watched and dismissed by wealthy romans to whom I didn’t look too exotic or apetecible for their tastes and just when the day was almost over and I was literally sleeping on my feet after the bad day with little water and just a slice of stale bread to eat when something I can’t explain pulled me out of my famished slumber to look right into a pair of golden eyes looking back at me with such intensity that I felt all my life being read in that instant!

The head and face those eyes belong to were hidden under a thick veil of expensive cyan silk like the rest of the dress robes, fine gold chains hung from the waist and neck and nothing else, giving the impression of refined but discrete wealth; the lady, which it was clear it was a woman, leaned over to whisper something to the dark skinned man that escorted her and he nodded disappearing into the thinning crowd of buyers.

-Hey you, move over here- The rude voice of my seller brought me out of my reverie.

I half walked, half limped towards the rough man that had kept me barely alive in order to sell me, he was holding a small bag tinkling with sesterces and pointed me to the same dark skinned man.

-Go with him, and by almighty Jupiter I don’t want to see you again!-

With such goodbye I followed the man out of the slaves’ platform and around the crowd to the open space of the Forum where the lady was waiting for us, those golden eyes appraised me for a moment and then she whispered urgently to her servant who immediately picked me up in his arms as I fainted and carried me following her away from the Forum.

Next thing I know is to wake up in a well lit room, on a comfy bed, clean and wearing a clean dress too; everything was white around me except the furniture composed of red lacquered wood, chairs, a table, a small drawer and the window frame, even my new clean dress was made of cotton as white as snow; as I laid in that simple yet comfortable room I noticed that despite feeling well rested and clean for the first time in many months I was starving, famished and just when I wondered if I should get up and try to find whether someone to bring me food or search for it the door opened and the same man that had carried me came in with a tray full of food! Honey bread, boiled eggs, sausages, ham, fruit and a light wine were put in the table filling the room with a smell that made my mouth water.

-Come on girl, take a seat-

His voice was a gentle bass as he beckoned me to the table so I slid off the bed wobbled a little on my weak legs and almost stumbled towards the chair but he caught me gently and helped me to sit, I needed no further orders to began to wolf down everything within my reach and he watched me with an amused grin on his handsome face, waiting patiently until I slowed down my frantic eating.

-Haven’t seen such hunger in a while, how do you feel?-

-Much better, thank you- I said while sipping some fruity, fresh wine.

-Good, I’m Jarus by the way- He began to collect the empty plates on the tray -What’s yours?-

-I don’t have a name- I said while nibbling the last piece of that crunchy honey bread -They never gave me a name-

-And your parents?-

-Ah well, I did have them but we were separated when I was very young; if they gave me a name I don’t remember it-

-My lady will take care of that, when you see her-

-Can I see her now?- I was eager to meet my saviour.

-Do you feel well enough?- Jarus stood up -Yesterday on the way here you practically fainted on my arms, we even had a physician to see you as my lady was worried-





-You know, you’re quite perky to be a slave- He told me as we walked.

-I know, I have had my share of beatings because of that- I shrugged -Maybe I needed more-

-Don’t said that, my lady likes people, not soulless slaves; and to be honest, she doesn’t like slaves too-

-She doesn’t? Then why she bought me, and you?-

-My lady gave me my freedom, I’m a free man now and soon you will be free too-

Freedom! I couldn’t believe my ears, after all that time as slave I get bought and freed in the same day? What kind of god was watching after me? What or who was that lady?-



-You go ahead, it’s the Lady’s private bath and I’m not allowed in there-