Arminius sat in his study, tapping his stylus on the table top as he waited. He was not exactly prepared for this, especially in light of his own past...yet something had to be done! There was a sound at the door as Yorik entered, and approached quietly. Arminius pointed to one of the stools across from him, and the boy sat nervously. When he started to speak, Arminius shook his head negatively. "Wait."

Shortly after, another sound from the door-way was followed by the entrance of Marcus, Arminius' just-turned-adult oldest son. When he saw Yorik seated across from his father, he faltered for a moment, then continued into the room. He too sat when Arminius pointed to the one remaining place.

"Now, we begin..." Arminius said quietly. "Marcus, you know how slaves are to be treated, especially if that slave is one of long service..." and he waited for his son's nod. "Yet I find out you have been abusing your rights." He pointed with his stylus in the direction of Yorik. Both boys looked at him in confusion, one as surprised as the other.

"Your mother, Marcus...saw you and Yorik engaged in behaviour that was not...um, appropriate...for a master and slave. Yorik, I am surprised that you participated in such an act!" Arminius waved off the protestations of both boys, and was about to continue when a comment of Marcus' stopped him short.

"Father, what of the relations between Germanicus and yourself? I can just remember from when you governed Sardinia...and mama was carrying the twins..."

Arminius cleared his throat noisily, and stopped his pacing to stare down at the two seated boys before him. When he spoke, his tone was calm...his 'explanatory voice' as the family called it. "Germanicus has no place in this...I owe my life to him several times over--and we were raised as brothers...that is why I freed him some years ago, and he serves now as my steward...."

"It is the same with Yorik and I, father...he has not saved my life, but I love him like my own brother Rutilius....I see no difference!"

"We are at cross-purposes--let me explain without interruption if I may. Certain things are not done by Romans, they are unmanly. What Maria saw was one of them..." he held up his hand to forestall Marcus' angry retort. "It matters not who started it, you are both at fault, and steps must be taken to prevent it from occurring again."

Marcus jumped up, tears on his cheeks. "Father, don't sell him! By the gods, we will do whatever you want! Please, tata!..." Arminius saw tears in Yorik's eyes as well, though the boy said nothing. If he was to be sold or punished, there was nothing he could do about it!

Arminius swore, something he didn't do often. "Damn it all! I said...let me finish! Me Hercule! I don't entirely care what the two of you do--just do it someplace private!--with this one exception: a roman man never allows himself to be 'used' by another...he is always the active party, not the passive. It is not manly. Have I made myself clear?"

After Marcus had composed himself, the two boys looked at each other, faces red with emotion and embarrassment. They both looked at Arminius and nodded. Arminius sat back down at his table, and motioned for them to go. Just before they left, his voice halted them.

"Good....Discretion, and dignitas Marcus. Tomorrow, we will go to the slave market in the Velabrum, and see if we can find the two of you a 'tutor'."

Puzzled expressions could be seen on their faces as they left.