"I can't keep her out of trouble forever. She will eventually grow into her body and they will know." The priestess whispered, quickly. "Keeping her among us can only work for so long. They questioned why she does not join the other children for baths. Even the other priestesses are beginning to question why she is here, at her age." The concern in her voice was all that held the Legate from striking her.
"HE. HE is getting older. You cannot continue to see him as a girl if you intend to protect him." The Legate scolded. "Even at his age, he understands how vital it is to hide the truth, what could become of him if he is discovered. You know well enough that the life of a priestess is no better than a slave, I cannot have that for my child. Caesar would make an example of him, regardless of my station to prohibit others from trying the same with their daughters." He ran a hand over his face and sighed. The priestess laid her hand upon his shoulder hesitantly.
"Though, I'm not sure why you chose to commit to such a difficult lie, I can see that you love this child. By Mars grace, you have been allowed to keep it hidden, and for that I will commit to it, with you." She lifted her hand to his face and cradled his cheek. "The God's see something in this child, what that is remains to be seen. If you want to hide him once he reaches adulthood, you must hurt him." He leaned his face into her touch.
"Why?" he asked closing his eyes.
"To make him strong, but also to hide his body. When his figure starts to show, punish him. Whether it be for poor swordsmanship, for not running fast enough, for not maintaining eye contact—you must whip him and have bandages placed around his chest. After only a few short years of this, he will be old enough to join the recruits and find his own excuses for hiding his body.
"How long do we have?"
"Hopefully not until he's thirteen."
"That's only three years…"
"Then prepare him, as you have for everything else."
"He will hate me."
"He will understand."