The Satyr Lover: Chapter four

Krateros lounged in the courtyard, discussing his financial affairs with his steward, Aristocles. The merchant was fast approaching his fiftieth year. On this day, he’d dressed in white linens, with a fabulous purple cloak draped over his shoulder. Krateros drank from his cup and, seeing it was empty, handed it to a nearby servant, thinking all the while,

How I wish my personal Ganymede was pouring into my cup, not this dull diakonos.

He smiled to himself, musing,

Ah, I could have bought twenty such as he, but I truly am a man of the people. It was I who chose to employ all these free men when they came home from the war. My rivals, they filled their estates with slaves, while I, in my efforts to help my fellow citizens, purchased only one slave for myself: Helios, that lovely, golden-haired Oinochoos.

Aristocles’s eyes wandered over the parchment before him, stating,

“Your vineyards had an especially healthy grape harvest this year.”

Krateros smiled wryly, raised his glass to toast the statue of Dionysus at the center of the garden, and cheered,

“The god of wine has showered me with his blessings!”

He took another sip, then asked,

“How fare my ships? Has the cargo arrived on time?”

Aristocles double-checked the scroll, answering,

“There are four that have already reached the port of Athens, but the final vessel is behind schedule.”

Krateros, brows knit, remarked,

“I can only hope Poseidon hasn’t seen fit to sink her.”

He sat deep in thought, absent-mindedly stroking the styled ringlets of his beard. After a few moments of silence, he decreed,

“Go! Send an envoy to the nearest temple of Poseidon. Have them present a barrel of my finest wine as an offering.”

Aristocles nodded and rolled up the scroll, taking his leave.

As his steward hurried away, Krateros rose from his recliner. He wandered over to the statue of his chosen deity, placed a hand on the marble figure’s shoulder, and whispered,

“My lord, I pray we shall one day meet in the flesh, so I may taste of thy divinity.”

He thought back to his visit with the local oracle a few months past. During the ceremony, the seer had proclaimed that, if a satyr was present during one of Krateros’s grand galas, Dionysus would be sure to join the festivities.

Sadly, none of the hunters he’d sent into the woods had returned with one of the goat-legged sprites.

Undaunted, Krateros instead hired the most imposing men he could find in the local bathhouses, paying them to dress in fur and horns, then ravish him in front of a banquet of his closest male associates.

He stiffened as he recalled being mounted by the faux satyrs, of how his insides had been stretched to their limit with every thrust of those men’s thick, hot scepters...

Yet, in spite of his (admittedly delightful) attempt, Dionysus failed to make an appearance.

The sound of fast-approaching footsteps intruded on the peaceful silence of the courtyard. Krateros turned, only to see Amyntas running towards him. At ten paces, the guard fell to one knee and began panting,

“Despotes, my partner and I have retrieved the slave Helios!”

The lord of manor gave a sigh of relief and asked,

“Is he unharmed?”

The soldier answered,

“Yes. It seems he was cared for by a satyr who found him in the woods.”

Krateros, surprised, spat out his wine, showering Amyntas in purple mist. The merchant, unable to believe his ears, stuttered,

“A... a satyr? Did you manage to capture him?”

Amyntas nodded, replying,

“Indeed. The creature was difficult to ensnare, but we managed to bring him in. Right now we have him locked in the barn. My partner is guarding the door.”

Krateros smiled broadly, absolutely beaming with visible joy, and said,

“I will send an attendant to verify your claim so you may receive your reward. I’d go check myself, but seeing the beast at this point might spoil my plans.”

He murmured to himself,

“But first...”

Krateros glanced at a nearby servant, calling out,

“Ozias, tell the kitchen staff to prepare a great feast for tonight. Let them know they are to bake the finest wheat loaves and delectable dishes of eel or mullet, depending on what they can find at the market. Most importantly, line the table with the best stews and spreads!”

Ozias bowed slightly, then ran off. Krateros considered what he would relay to his messengers about the invitations, but then remembered the matter of his slave,

Helios must look quite shabby after serving his role as bait. It won’t look good for me to have such a lovely prize wandering around the estate in such a disheveled state.

He turned back to Ozias, shouting,

“One more thing! See that Helios is bathed. Every curl upon his lovely head should be perfectly coiled. I want his skin properly perfumed with the finest oils. Also, he must be dressed as Eros, for tonight he will be pouring wine for a god!

The servant waved in affirmation, then disappeared into the manor.

Krateros turned to Amyntas and said,

“In the meantime, join your partner in guarding the barn. We can’t have that satyr escaping anytime soon.”

Amyntas rose in response, swiftly walking towards the garden’s back exit.

Now alone, Krateros contemplated the marble statue once more, sidling up to it and crooning softly,

“Tonight, Dionysus, I will kneel before thee.”

He ran his hand down the sculpture’s bare abdomen, resting it on the vine lord’s groin, sighing dreamily.

***

Helios lay soaking in the bathing room’s marble tub while the servants puttered nearby, showering him with handfuls of fresh rose petals and repeatedly pouring jugs of heated water into the basin.

A few drops of precious lirinum oil had been added to the water beforehand, filling the entire space with the fragrant scent of white lilies.

Despite the comfort of his present surroundings, Helios found himself thinking of Charoúmenos,

Our time in the forest together may not have been so luxurious, but I felt unbound within your presence. Dear satyr, you truly were my guardian in the wilderness.

When the time came, he got out of the tub reluctantly. Even though the staff had bathed and dressed him multiple times by now, he still felt shy whenever they saw his naked body.

The men dried him thoroughly, rubbing sandalwood perfume into his fair, slender flesh, and began styling his hair, winding every blond curl around a heated bronze instrument while kneading in a mixture of beeswax, leaving him adorned with the perfect set of golden ringlets.

Helios was dressed in his usual gown of white linen, an outfit hemmed at the bottom so it hung one inch below the tip of his crown of glory. As they strapped on the white wings of his Eros costume, he wondered,

Sweet Charoúmenos, will I ever see you again?

***

Krateros paced along the corridors, passing several members of his staff who rushed by, busily hefting several banquet loungers towards the courtyard. Normally, he would have strode alongside them, checking to make sure everything was in order, but his excitement was too overwhelming.

As far as he knew, none of his friends had gone so far as to capture a satyr.

Oh, what it would be, to encounter a horned, randy demi-human, teeming with the most lascivious, untamed instincts; to witness those dark, animalistic eyes hunting me..

Krateros’s heart beat faster as he imagined what might happen at the whim of the wild man.

All I have to do is wait until Nyx, goddess of night, once more blankets the world in darkness.

He glanced out the nearby window, noting how bright the rays of the sun shone through. It would surely be several hours before he could...

Krateros ceased his pacing. Impatient and aroused beyond compare, he muttered,

“How can a man possibly be expected to put off such an unbearable need?”

His sharp gaze rested on one of the household guards, a broad-shouldered man of thirty. Krateros considered him, noting the stern, battle-hardened face that peered out from behind the bronze helmet.

The merchant licked his lips hungrily, murmuring,

“Mm, you’ll do.”

He swiftly walked up to the guard, stopping a few feet before him. The large man gave him a puzzled look and asked,

“Is something the matter, sir?”

Krateros grinned as he replied,

“We’ve never been properly introduced. What is your name, soldier?

The guard gave a curt nod and answered,

“Nektarios, sir.”

“Ah, your name translates to sweet nectar. How appropriate for one of such a flattering physique.”

Krateros gave Nektarios an inviting look, but when the man only stared back at him blankly, he decided to change tactics and continued,

“How long has it been since you started working for me?”

Nektarios paused, counting on his fingers, and said,

“I believe it’s been well over three years.”

Krateros grinned wider as he leaned in and whispered,

“I take it you are aware of my more sensual predilections?”

Nektarios nodded, answering,

“Your appetites are well-known throughout the whole of the countryside.”

It was then the soldier realized where the conversation was going. Nektarios stared at Krateros and mumbled,

“Sir, if you mean to ask if I am interested in... engaging with you in activities beyond my duties, I’m afraid I must decline, as I have only ever felt such affections towards women.”

The merchant raised an eyebrow at him and said,

“I see. Well, in my experience, every man has his price. Would you be willing to attend to me in private for... shall we say, ten drachmas?”

The guard frowned, considered the offer, and replied,

“For two weeks wages? That is quite generous, but I’m afraid I must decline.”

Krateros met his gaze and, in a steady, dispassionate voice, responded,

“Not generous enough, then. Would you reconsider if I were to raise the amount to thirty drachmas?”

Something flickered behind Nektarios’s eyes. Recognizing what was likely going through the man’s mind, Krateros added,

“It’s my final offer, a far more generous fee than any awarded those working boys who hang around the docks. Why, I’d be paying you the rate of an esteemed Hetairos, only asking for a single session in return, after which we would go on our ways as if nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.”

Nektarios, brows knit, exhaled sharply and muttered,

“I... might be persuaded by such a sum, depending on what the job entailed.”

Krateros bent in and began whispering in the guard’s ear.

Initially, Nektarios’s expression remained as still as stone. He gave a slight nod at what he heard, murmuring,

“Alright... yes...”

But then his employer began elaborating a scenario which caused the soldier’s eyes to widen. When Krateros stood back, awaiting a response, Nektarios answered,

“I’d be willing to... assist you in that way, but are you sure that’s what you want?”

His lord clasped his hands together, responding gleefully,

“Oh, absolutely!”

The merchant turned, striding down the hallway with Nektarios following behind. The other servants were so focused on preparations that they paid the men no mind.

Soon, the pair were standing in front of the large doors of the master bedroom. Krateros pushed them open, gesturing for Nektarios to enter.

The soldier, astounded by such a lavish chamber, marveled at its intricately designed mosaic floors and small chiseled statues of beautiful male figures. What really caught his eye, however, were the painted vases set on the shelves running along the walls. Nektarios leaned in for a better look and noticed,

Each of them features a satyr with an enormous cock...

Krateros closed the doors, slipping the bolt into place to ensure they’d be uninterrupted. He turned to face Nektarios and chuckled,

“Time to earn your bonus, soldier.”

The burly man cracked his knuckles and said,

“As you wish.”