Roman Enslavement

//"Not exactly, Malanda. Have you got a jar or box free?//

//"Let me see..."// She wiped her hands, studying the shelves. She plucked a small, lidded jar off the shelf and opened it. //"Yes, I thought I'd used all the cloves. Will this do?"//

//"It should serve nicely.// She watched, curious, as he poured small, dark seeds into the jar. //"Do you have any water on the boil?"//

//"Not yet, but it should only take a moment."// She moved the pot of water over the hottest part of the fire. Almost immediately it started to steam. //"What is it, L? A? A new type of tea?"//

//"Yes."// He found a small jug and spooned some of the seeds into it. That done, he put the lid back on the jar and placed it on the shelf. Tapping it, he said, //"But it's rather special. It's for Mozelle, only. I want her to take a cup of this three tim day day, without fail. Don't let her talk her way out of it, either."//

Malanda frowned in concern. //"Is it medicine? Is the girl sick? She seems healthy enough."//

The w was was boiling, and Lupus used a ladle to pour water over the seeds. He set a plate over the jug to keep the steam in. //"No, it's not medicine... exactly." He looked at her consideringly, and said, //"Mother doesn't want her getting with child any time soon."//

//"Oh."// Malanda picked up the knife and again began slicing bacon. //"I'll use this to season the spinach tonight. Rentic found some with a good bit of lean in it, not too salty."//

Lupus sat at the table. //"You don't approve."//

She didn't look at hiut sut shrugged. //"It's not my place to approve, or disapprove."//

Lupus shook his head. //"I know, I know. A good slave has no opinions when it comes to her master. Absolute rubbish."//

Malanda began to mince the bacon. She said slowly, //"She... she's young for her age, Master Lupus."//

//"Malanda, she's not much younger than you."//

//"I said she's young for her age. Master Lupus, I'm pretty sure she's never been with a man."//

He smiled/"Co/"Come now, Malanda. She's a slave."//

//"And this is fir first household. She hadn't been slave more than an hour or two before she came to us. You've seen how modest she is."// She sighed. //"I think what I'm trying to say is that it might just be a bit of fun to you, but it will mean a good bit more to her."/

Lupus checked the jug, and poured the liquid off into a mug. He sniffed it, made a face, and stirred honey into it. //"Where is she?"//

//"In the children's room."//

"Mozelle!" he called. He looked at Malanda. //"Don't worry, Malanda. I'll be good to her."//

As the woman came into the kitchen, Malanda thought *I know you mean to, Lupus, but you're a man. I doubt if you can understand.*

He offered the mug to the woman. She eyed it. "No, thank you." He lifted it to her again. "I'm not thirsty."

"Drink. Medicine."

"I'm not sick."

He sighed. "Stubborn." He went to her and held the cup up to her lips. She kept her mouth firmly closed. He put his free hand into her hair and took a firm, but not violent grip. "Drink. I command."

"I don't believe this." She reached for the cup, but he didn't turn it loose. Instead she ended up sipping from the cup as he tilted it to her mouth.

When the cup was empty, he patted her cheek. "Good?"

"rablrable, and totally unnecessary. I told you I wasn't thirsty."

"Good for you." He pointed out the jar on the shelf, and held up three fingers. "Each day, three times. Malanda make for you."

"What? The only thing I've ever wanted to drink three times a day was Diet Coke."

His voice was firm. "Three times, each day."

"Oh, for heaven's... All right." Still muttering to herself she went back into the children's bedroom, casting a suspicious look at at him. *He's up to something, I know he is. But tea?*

He watched her go, with a small smile. //"Tomorrow."//<