When Sextus had started exerting his physical wiles on Philandros, Hylas had assumed that would be the end of the game and resigned himself to being handed over to whatever awaited him. How could Philandros resist such below-the-belt coercion, when he was being offered everything he could be wanting? He was about to slip discretely from the room and leave them to their heated reunion when Philandros suddenly drew away from his lover and regained control of the situation with a strength of resolve that must have stunned Sextus as much as it did Hylas.

Frozen by the doorway, Hylas listened in slack-jawed astonishment as he heard Philandros calmly inform Sextus that he had intended to buy him outright, wondering what it was about him that suddenly made everyone want him! But then, this really wasn’t about him at all. He was simply the unwitting catalyst that had occasioned a long-overdue confrontation and airing of differences between his two masters.

He heard the resolution in Philandros’s voice as he informed Sextus it was equality or nothing, and actually admired his strength of will, knowing what it must be costing him emotionally to throw his every hope of happiness into the balance. Equality was something Hylas knew he could never have for himself, and he wasn’t even sure he wanted it if it brought about the sadness and regret for lost hope he saw in his young master’s eyes. But Philandros wasn’t like him—he was a free man of noble birth and deserved to be treated as such. He had the right to demand equality and if Hylas could have uttered a squeak at that moment, he might have cheered.

As it was, he just unfroze and moved quickly to open the door as he saw Philandros rise from his chair and start moving towards it. He kept his eyes downcast, not sure if he should follow Philandros out or if he was expected to remain behind at Green Acres now. But Philandros had one more surprise left for him, and this was the granddaddy of all the day’s surprises.

"I wish no obstacle between us now, Sextus. If you will do the same, I will give Hylas his freedom this very day..."

“Huh??” said Hylas, before he could stop himself. Then swallowed deeply and faintly added “Oh, Dios…”

Freedom was a foreign concept to Hylas, something he couldn’t remember ever having since he’d been sold into slavery so young. It was something that was granted to others, not to him. The very idea of it had always terrified him, but… he suddenly remembered Rufio demanding in exasperation after his last refusal of freedom whether he truly never wanted to be anything better. At the time he had obstinately denied it, believing he had everything he could possibly want—the love of a handsome and desirable master, and the sly cunning to work it to his advantage. But events since he’d returned from Stabiae had made him question and even begin to doubt the wisdom of that carelessly-made decision. He’d never truly had as much as he thought he had.

He stared at Philandros, then turned slowly to look at Sextus, knowing the question of his future was now in the Roman’s hands.