Baz
"Get to work boy! Stop idling, you good for nothing, lazy little tramp" I jump, startled out of my day dream and pick up the amphora I put down only a moment before.
"Yes father." realising my horrible mistake I manage to stammer out, "Sorry, sorry, I meant yes master."
"You little swine-herd, you don't deserve the bread you eat." My father-come-master slaps me across the face. I touch it gingerly, I should have seen this coming, I should have had my guard up. He leans in, until only an inch separate us, until his putrid breath is all I can smell, all I have ever smelt.
He whispers, barely audible over the pounding of my heart, "I keep you here of my own free will, pay for your food, your clothes, and how do you repay my kindness?" He crescendos to a yell, still with barely an inch between us, spittle flying, "You slack off, eyeing off every creature that comes through those gates!" Here he points towards the locked and barred gate, giving me a moment's reprieve. "If you like us that much, I'm sure a brothel would take you, although your ugly mutt wouldn't return enough for your keep."
"Yes master, sorry master." I try to keep my head high and walk away the victor, but my voice betrays me, quivering at the last second. I hitch up my tunic, made from course brown sack-cloth, so unlike the outfits I wore as a small-child, shift the amphora and walk off to the kitchens.
Halfway across the cobbled courtyard I stumble on the uneven ground, sending laughter rising from the gateway. Startled I turn, unaware that anyone else was within the open space. Standing in the middle of the gateway, wrought iron gates thrown open behind him carelessly is Snow. My cheeks blushing the darkest red, so much so that they feel as though they are on fire, I scramble upright, pausing only to check that the amphora is still in one piece and dash off to the kitchens before I can embarrass myself further. I have always been awkward around other boys you see, mostly because I do not understand them. They have always seemed rather foreign and attractive, like moths around a flame.
Lost in my own thoughts for a moment, I arrive in the kitchen, where a strong female voice brings me back to the real word. "Where have you been boy? I needed that wine half an hour ago."
I manage to bluster out, rather hastily "Sorry cook, I really am. I put down the amphora for a moment so as to avoid dropping the thing and father started at me." Embarrassed and ashamed, I turn my gaze to the shining floor. Cook Esposito prides herself on the cleanliness of her kitchen, which unfortunately results in hours spent scrubbing everything in sight.
"Look hear, my dear boy. You should know by now that your father will jump on anything that you do wrong." She say kindly, pulling me into her arms, "Since your mother's passing he has only become more prone to grumpiness and anger. Ah, Snow, back already? I hope you managed to get everything I asked for."
"Yes cook, and more besides." Seeing a questioning look spreading across her face, he goes on, a wry smile creeping across his lips "You see, I know that you have a taste for the dried fruits from Macedonia, so I got you a small gift." Holding out a small cloth bag, he gestures for her to take it. "Baz, I saw your tumble in the courtyard, I hope that you are not injured, it looked quite nasty."
"You mean you saw me fall and laughed in my face. You should be ashamed of yourself." I spit back at him, my voice deadly. Snow turns and leaves at this point, frustration showing across his face. I turn back to Cook as she starts to speak.
"You should not be so mean to him, he is only trying to be nice. I remember when your father first bought him, it was Snow this, Snow that. Every second word that came out your mouth was Snow. What has happened between you to make you so hateful now?" She grabs my cheeks, peering directly into my face, as if she is trying to peer into my soul.
"Nothing, other than I have discovered his true nature." What I really want to say is that I have become subtler, I want to confess everything, to get it all out, to be free. I don't, though, for this would result in my being thrown out of the house and being left on the street, separating me from the last remnant of my mother.