Warning: This story is a work of fiction. It contains graphic descriptions of punishments, non consensual homo_s_e_x_ual activity (including _s_e_x_ with characters who would be regarded as minors should this material contain any matters of fact) and other matters which are unsuitable for minors and the squeamish. DO NOT READ if such material is considered offensive or unpalatable or if it is illegal to do so in your jurisdiction and USE THE "BACK" BUTTON ON YOUR COMPUTER NOW. The original story was typed in 1984.
9 Augustus the god (Germanicus' recollections)
Craxus arrived from Rome within a few days of Gaius and my ill treatment at the hands of Antonious and Zoticus. We two were left to our own devices and spent the days resting in my apartments. With the powers of youth, our recovery was quite quick although Gaius commented that I continued to have a peculiar walk. He said so in jest but it was true. Having been thoroughly used by Zoticus, I had great difficulty in walking properly and my nether hole ached almost continually.
Mind you, Gaius was also more than a little ungainly for a day or two, having ridden Antonious' manhood but his pain was not as acute as mine.
We both knew that Craxus' arrival would mean separation and we therefore spent our time enjoying those delights which did not cause us pain or suffering. When the trumpets heralded Craxus' arrival, Gaius and I were in tears for we knew that the moment of our parting was at hand. We also knew that there was the matter of the beating which Octavian had promised and neither of us looked forward to that. But is was the pain of our parting and not the impending pain of our beating which caused our tears.
Slaves arrived at my chamber to inform us that Caesar had commanded that we be bathed and properly dressed to attend him later that fateful morning. We had no choice in the matter and allowed ourselves to be bathed and groomed by the slaves and then held each other as the moment for our parting drew closer.
Craxus' arrival at the palace was greeted with all the ceremony possible and Caesar was dressed in a perfect white gown as he stood awaiting the pronouncements from Craxus. Gaius and I had saluted Caesar as we entered the vast hall but he had seemed not to even acknowledge our presence. It was Antonious who positioned us to Caesar's side as the moment for Craxus arrival approached.
When Craxus entered the hall, he held a scroll of parchment on which the future history of the world had been written. He saluted Caesar and slowly unrolled the document.
"Mighty Caesar," he said in a stout voice, "I bring you the greetings of the Senate and the people of Rome."
"And what is your message Senator?" enquired Octavian politely.
"Great Caesar," responded Craxus, "the Senate has declared that Gaius Octavian Caesar, being the rightful heir of the Divine Julius and being master of the Empire should rule as a king. Further, the Senate has declared that Caesar shall be declared a god upon his accepting a Triumph in Rome where he shall be anointed Emperor. The Senate has also sent by dispatch to all the legions and cities of the Empire, instructions that Gaius Octavian Caesar, First Citizen of the Empire, shall henceforth be known as the Augustus of Rome and Master of the World. These are the wishes of the Senate and the people of Rome!"
Octavian, now Caesar Augustus, smiled as the message was delivered and responded with a flowery speech appropriate to the occasion and then took Craxus to an adjacent hall where wine was waiting to celebrate the great moment. Gaius and I followed but were not invited to partake of the wine or the refreshments.
After a cup or two of wine, Craxus asked Augustus directly about Gaius' fate.
"My dear Craxus," said Augustus, "you have provided me with the means to show clemency in the matter of your son. He shall be beaten for his troubles and then banished from our sight for a period of no less than one year. I propose that he be sent to our Governor Agrippa, there to serve on the Governor's staff. You should say your farewell now, my dear Senator, for I intend that he be on the trireme when it departs for the mainland. You shall stay as my most value guest until I have arranged my return to Rome."
Craxus came over to where Gaius and I stood and took his son firmly by the shoulders. "It is for the best, my son and a year from Rome might do you good," he said and then hugged his son in a warm embrace. Straightening up, Craxus turned to Augustus and said simply: "So be it!" and returned to Caesar's side.
Gaius sobbed a little at the parting but quickly regained his composure as, Caesar, Craxus, Antonious and the others had some more wine. For my part, I shifted nervously from foot to foot knowing that my posterior was, with each passing moment, closer to feeling the rod which I had no doubt Zoticus was, at that very moment, preparing.
When we were finally taken to the courtyard for the execution of Caesar's directive, Craxus looked enquiringly at Augustus when he saw that two benched had been placed in the courtyard.
"Germanicus, my dear Senator, has earned himself a beating as well." explained Caesar, "and I have decided that they two lads should be punished together. It seems, after all, that they have become very intimate friends during their stay with us."
If Craxus was surprised, he did not show it.
The benches to which Gaius and I were led were about waist height and long enough that our hands could not reach the end. We were stripped and secured by our hands and ankles and then left, sweating in the summer sun, while Zoticus prepared to administer the beating.
I felt the warm sea breeze waft across my buttocks and thought that that would be the only comforting feeling they would know for quite some time. I watched Zoticus as he approached, holding a number of sturdy but flexible rods. I shook involuntarily as he approached and could see that Gaius was mesmerised by the sight of the approaching Nubian and the instruments with which we were to suffer.
Zoticus ran his hand over my naked buttocks as he passed and then handed the rods to one of the slaves who attended upon him. As he did so, Caesar Augustus and Craxus seated themselves beneath a canopy which provided them with a comfortable view of proceedings.
Sweat was dripping off both Gaius and I as we waited.
Caesar gave the signal for the punishment to commence and within moments the 'swish' of the rod through the air was heard, followed by a loud "crack" as it met its target. I was surprised for a second that there was no pain but the grimace on Gaius face told me that he had well and truly felt the blow.
The rod flew through the air again but it was I, and not Gaius, who reacted to the impact as the rod bit deeply into my backside. A moment after the impact, the pain had reached my brain and I gritted my teeth to avoid giving expression to my discomfort.
The third blow was directed at Gaius and it became apparent that we were to receive alternate strokes from the rod so that we might each have time between strokes to appreciate fully the pain. The alternating nature of the blows also had the effect of creating a competition of sorts between Gaius and myself to see who could withhold his cries for the longest period and as the fourth blow cut across the point at which my thighs and backside met, my resolve was sorely tested.
In the sun, we were soon sweating profusely and the odour added to the discomfort we were both feeling.
By the time we had each received ten strokes, our backsides must have been well and truly striped and each of us was emitting a slight yelp as the rod did its work.
As each stroke landed, I would relax for an instant while Gaius received the next but Zoticus was aware of this and changed his pattern so that I might receive two strokes in succession or even three. This mind game prevented either Gaius or myself from finding any respite from the beating.
After about fifteen strokes, I was bucking violently against the ropes which bound my wrists and they were oozing blood from the chafing. My vision was also blurred from the tears which fell freely from my eyes and Gaius' face was just a blur.
When forty strokes of the evil rod had been delivered, Zoticus was commanded to rest and to attend upon the newly-ordained Emperor. I could not hear the conversation but felt a great fear when Augustus and Craxus left the courtyard without instructing that Gaius and I be released.
For some time, the two of us were left, bound and sweating in the morning sun, not knowing what might await us. Wave after wave of pain wracked our bodies but our muffled sobs gradually abated and our eyes cleared. I could finally make out Gaius' features, as he lay, as I, hurting and afraid because we had not been released. Gaius was obviously in as much pain as I but he managed a feint smile as if he was taking comfort from the fact that we were suffering together. Even in his pain, our love for one another could not be disguised.
I was reveling in Gaius weak smile when Zoticus ran his hand over my bruised backside and quickly drew my attention back to my own pain. I winced, thinking that he intended again to penetrate me but that was not the case.
Momentarily a slave appeared in front of us carrying the broad leather belt which all soldiers wore in battle to hold their tunics firmly about them. Thick and as wide as a man's hand, the belt could easily ward off an ill-directed knife in the heat of battle and soldiers had to oil them constantly in order to keep them flexible.
The belt carried by the slave, which he duly passed to Zoticus, was obviously well oiled for it curved towards the ground as it was held in the slaves hand and offered to Zoticus. My racing mind quickly discerned the purpose of this change of implement since the belt would cause widespread pain but not cut the flesh, as the rod would easily do if applied too often.
As Zoticus stepped away from Gaius and my prone forms, all I could think of was who would be the first to receive the tender caress of the leather belt.
While the rod made an unmistakable 'swishing' sound as it glided through the air, the belt had an altogether different sound, much the same as the wind through the entrance of a cave or through the rigging of a ship. As soon as the 'whirring' sound of the belt began there was a solid 'crack' as it met my posterior with such force that I was pushed forward into the edge of the bench on which I was secured. A moment later my entire posterior exploded in pain as the belt had covered in one blow a goodly portion of my already tenderised backside.
The sounds were repeated and again I felt the full impact of the blow and the searing pain and quickly realised that Zoticus was intent on inflicting as much pain as possible.
Three more blows fell as I bucked against my restraints and called upon the gods for mercy.
Then it was Gaius' turn. With each blow he let out a cry of pain and I could hear him bucking against the solid bench to which he was secured. I could not see for my tears that flowed in an unceasing stream down my face blocked my eyes.
After Gaius had received five vicious blows, Zoticus returned to me and delivered in a slow and measured cadence ten more blows, which, I was sure, had stripped the flesh from my arse. Gaius then received his full measure of ten and then the beating stopped again.
Presently, Gaius was released from his bench and was taken from the courtyard. I later learned that he had been taken straight to the trireme and thence directly to Agrippa in Athens.
Meanwhile, I was left without even the comfort of my lover for company or support and the sun slowly roasted my naked and sore backside and the muscles in my shoulders began to cramp. If the Emperor or Zoticus had meant to break me then they had succeeded completely.
Eventually Zoticus took it upon himself to release me from my torment but not before striking my backside several more times to drive home the point of his dominion over me.
Nearly a year would pass before I would again see Gaius.
The End