"It is fortunate for Corcyrus, and for peace," said Ligurious, "that he with whom we truly have to deal is not Miles, general of Argentum, but with Claudius, her Ubar. He, I trust, is far less hotheaded. He, I trust, is more rational. He, I trust, may be expected to see reason and acknowledge, however reluctantly, the justice of our cause."
"Corcyrus is not feared by Argentum," said Miles.
"Yet," smiled Ligurious, "it seems that men with you have brought chests, bound with bands of iron, and intricately wrought coffers, to the foot of our throne."
"That is true," said Miles. These chests and coffers were behind him, on the floor.
"If the gifts are suitable," said Ligurious, "our Tatrix, after the cession of the mines, may be moved to deal somewhat less harshly with the miscreants of Argentum."
"I am sure that Claudius, my Ubar, would be relieved to hear that," said Miles.
Ligurious inclined his head, acknowledging these words graciously.
There was some laughter about me. I heard blades being returned to sheaths.
"I see," said Ligurious, lightly, "that you bring with you no male silk slaves, in chains, to be presented to the Tatrix."
"It is well known," said Miles, "that the Tatrix of Corcyrus is not interested in men, but only in gold and power."
"Beware," said Ligurious.
I did not understand, truly, the remark of Miles of Argentum. I was not interested in men, of course, I reassured myself, as a woman of Earth, but, on the other hand, I did not think that I was unusually greedy either. Such things, at any rate, were generally not uppermost in my mind. There was a difference sometimes, I supposed, between the true and reputed characters of public figures. How odd, sometimes, are fame and rumors. That I might conceivably be presented with male silk slaves took me aback for a moment but then I realized that, as a female ruler, it was not out of the question that I might be presented with such gifts. Typical gifts for a male ruler, I knew, might include beautiful female slaves, additional riches for his pleasure gardens.
"You may now open the chests and coffers," said Ligurious, eyeing them with interest.
"How is it," inquired Miles, "that the Tatrix of Corcyrus goes unveiled?"
"It is custom," said Ligurious.
"From our former messengers and envoys," said Miles, "I gather that the custom is a new one."
"Every custom has its beginning," said Ligurious. I was interested to hear this. I had not realized that the custom was a recent one. "There are many justifications for initiating such a custom. Foremost among them, doubtless, is that it is now possible for her subjects to gaze upon her with awe and reverence."
"I should think, rather," said Miles, smiling, "that you might fear that her subjects would gaze upon her not with awe and reverence, but interest."
"Interest?" asked Ligurious.
"Yes," said Miles, "wondering, perhaps, what she might look like in a collar."
"I think it is time," said Ligurious, "that you should improve your service to your Ubar. Let us see what gifts he proffers to Corcyrus, petitioning for our mercy and favor."
"Take no offense, Lady," said Miles to me, "for it is high commendation I extend to you. Though I have had many women far superior to you, and even in the alcoves of taverns, I am not insensitive to your beauty. It is not inconsiderable. Indeed, I have no doubt that in the middle price ranges you would prove to be a desirable buy."
I clenched my fists on the arms of the throne. How insolent he was! How I hated him! I wondered, too, if some men, indeed, might find me a desirable buy.
"Open the chests and coffers," said Ligurious, menacingly.
"Surely Corcyrus needs no more riches," said Miles. "Consider the lavishness of the appointments of this hall, the richness of the regalia of those here convened."
"Let us see what Claudius has sent us," said Ligurious.
"I see rich cloths here," he said, indicating the cloths spread tastefully about the steps of the dais. "I see that there is gold in Corcyrus," he said, indicating the coins in their plenitudes, seemingly casually spilled about the steps. "I see, too," he said, "that there are beautiful slaves in Corcyrus." His eyes rested then, fully, upon Susan, kneeling, chained by the neck to the side of my throne. This was not the first time that he had seen her, of course. Indeed, I had seen him picking her out more than once. I think he found her of interest. At any rate, clearly, she was not now being noticed in passing, as a mere component in a display, but was being attended to, observed, scrutinized, even studied, as a specific, individual slave, on her chain. She drew back, fearfully, with a small sound of the chain. She did not dare to meet his eyes. She clenched her thighs closely together. She was trembling; her breathing was rapid; doubtless her heart was pounding; doubtless she was aware of it in her small rib cage. Yet I had seen her looking at him. She had hardly been able to keep her eyes from him. I supposed it was difficult for mere female slaves, in their scanty garments, and in their lowly station, not to be excited by rich, powerful, handsome, resplendent free men, so far above themselves. It was much easier for one like myself, a free woman, and richly robed, to control, resist and fight femininity. In the case of the slave, on the other hand, femininity is actually required of her. Indeed, if she is insufficiently feminine she will be beaten. It is no wonder female slaves are so helpless with men. I noted the eyes of Miles of Argentum on Susan. She trembled, being appraised. I felt sudden anger, and jealousy. He had not looked at me like that! To be sure, she was a slave, and I was free. It would certainly be improper for anyone to look on me, a free woman, in that candid, basic way! Too, Susan had me at a disadvantage. Would not any woman look attractive if she were half naked and put on a chain? How could I compete with that? Let us both be stripped and chained, I thought, and then let men decide, examining us, which was most beautiful! But then I realized that Susan was, doubtless, far more beautiful than I. She was exquisite. It had been no mistake on the part of slavers that she had been brought to Gor. I then thought that tonight I might whip Susan. She could not resist. She was a slave. I could have her take off her clothes and then tie her to a ring. I could then whip her. That would teach her to be more beautiful than I! Then I thought how absurd that was. It was not Susan's fault if she were more beautiful than I, or my fault if I might not be, objectively, as beautiful as she. I felt ashamed of my hostility, my jealousy. But Susan's beauty, I realized, then, was not a matter merely of features and figure, exquisite though these might be. Her beauty had to do more intimately and basically I thought, somehow, with matters which were more psychological and emotional; it had to do, somehow, in its softness and femininity, with the slavery of her. I wondered if I might become more beautiful than I was. I wondered if I might become as beautiful, someday, as the women cited by Miles of Argentum as being so superior to me. I wondered if I might one day be so beautiful that he might see nothing to choose from, between me and them. I wondered if I might not, one day, even be their superior! But then I put such thoughts from my mind. Where was my pride and freedom!
"Let us see," insisted Ligurious, "what Claudius has sent us."
"Of course," said Miles of Argentum. He handed his helmet to one of the men about him. With a great key he unlocked the largest chest. The other chests and coffers, too, by others, were then unlocked.
Ligurious, and I, and the others, leaned forward, to glimpse the contents of these chests and coffers.
"In suit for the favor of Corcyrus, in deference and tribute to Corcyrus, Claudius, Ubar of Argentum," said Miles of Argentum, "sends this!"
He flung open the great chest, and turned it to its side. The other chests and coffers, by his fellows, were similarly treated.
"Nothing!" cried Ligurious. "There is nothing in them!"
"And that," said Miles of Argentum, "is what Claudius, Ubar of Argentum, sends to Corcyrus!"
"Insolence!" cried Ligurious. "Insolence!"
Cries of rage broke out from those about me.
Miles put out his hand and his
helmet was returned to him. He put it again in the crook of his left arm. His great furred cape, by one of the men behind him, was adjusted on him.
"I now leave Corcyrus," he said. "When I return, I shall have an army at my back."
"You have insulted our Tatrix," said Ligurious.
"Your Tatrix," said Miles, "belongs in a cage, a golden cage."
There were further cries of rage from those about me. I did not understand, clearly, the nature of this insult, or the meaning of the reference to a golden cage.
"Here," said Miles, reaching into a pocket on his belt, "if you of Corcyrus are so eager for the silver of Argentum, I will give you some." He held up the coin. "This is a silver tarsk of Argentum," he said. He flung it to the foot of the dais. "I give it to you," he said. "It is about the worth of your Tatrix, I think, in so far as I am now able to assess her. It is, I think, about what she would bring in a slave market."
Blades flashed forth from sheaths. I saw Drusus Rencius restrain one man from rushing upon Miles of Argentum. In the small retinue of Miles blades, too, had leapt from sheaths.
"Strip him, and chain him to the slave ring of the Tatrix!" cried a man.
I shuddered. I would be terrified to have such a man chained at my couch. It would be like having a lion there. Too, I thought, surely it would be more fitting for women, in their softness and beauty, with their dispositions to submit and love, irreservedly and wholly, asking nothing, giving all, holding nothing back from the dominant male, their master, to be chained to a slave ring. This, in its way, is a beautiful symbol of her nature and needs. On the other hand, symbolic considerations aside, it must be noted that the chain is quite real. She is truly chained there.
Miles turned about and, followed by his retinue, left the great hall.
Those about the throne, most of them, began to take their leave.
"Do you think there will be trouble?" I asked Ligurious.
"No," he said. "Argentum, upon reflection, will think the better of her rash decision. Even Claudius knows that behind us stands the might and weight of Cos."
"The ambassador, he, Miles, the general of Argentum," I said, "seemed very firm."
"He is a hothead," said Ligurious. "In time, have no fear, when there is a more objective assessment of realities, cooler wisdoms will prevail."
"I would not like for there to be trouble," I said.
"Do not worry about it in the least," said Ligurious. "Put all such matters from your mind. I assure you that there will be no trouble whatsoever. You have my word on it."
"You relieve my mind," I said. "I take great comfort in your words."
"What did you think of Miles of Argentum?" asked Ligurious.
"I thought he seemed very strong, and handsome," I said.
"I see," smiled Ligurious. "Incidentally," he said, "would you like for me to have Susan whipped for you?"
"Why?" I asked. At the words of Ligurious there was a small sound from the chain of Susan. She shrank back, cowering beside the throne.
"Surely you saw her," said Ligurious, "when she knew herself to be under the gaze of the sleen from Argentum. She was dripping to the tiles before him. Forgive me. I did not mean to offend your sensibilities."
"She is only a slave," I said, lightly. Surely I could not admit to Ligurious that I, too, had been made uneasy by the presence of the ambassador from Argentum.
"True," laughed Ligurious. "I must take my leave now. Drusus Rencius will see you to your quarters."
I nodded, permitting Ligurious to take his leave.
"Thank you, Mistress," said Susan to me, kneeling beside the throne, "for not having me whipped."
"Is it true," I asked her, "that you might possibly have experienced feelings of a sexual nature before Miles of Argentum?"
"I cannot help myself, Mistress," she said. "Before such a man I begin to secrete the oils of submission."
"The oils of submission!" I said.
"Yes, Mistress," she said.
"I have never heard them called that," I said.
"It is what they are," she said, "at least in a slave."
"Oh," I said.
"Does Lady Sheila wish to return to her quarters now?" inquired Drusus Rencius.
"What of the treasures here," I asked, "and Susan, and the other slaves chained here?"
"Scribes from the treasure rooms will be along shortly," he said, "to gather in and account for the cloths and coins. The palace slave master will be along later, too, to release the girls and put them back about their more customary duties."
I then began to precede Drusus Rencius to my quarters. "Miles of Argentum is an arrogant knave, isn't he?" I asked Drusus.
"So it would seem, Lady," said Drusus.
I remembered the sight of the silver tarsk from Argentum, in the hand of Miles of Argentum, and the way it had looked, on the soft carpeting of the dais, on one of the broad steps leading up to the throne.
"Do you think," I asked, lightly, "that I might bring a silver tarsk in a slave market?"
"It would be difficult to say, without assessing Lady Sheila naked," he said.
"Oh," I said.
"Does Lady Sheila wish me to assess her naked in her quarters?" he asked.
"No," I said. "No, of course not!"
We continued to walk along the carpeted, ornamented corridors toward my quarters.
"But, from what you know of me," I said, "do you think that I might bring a silver tarsk?"
"As a Tatrix," he asked, "or only as another woman in the market, another mere female, up for vending, one about whom there is nothing politically or socially special, one who, like most others, will be priced and sold only on her own merits?"
"Like that," I said, "one whose price is determined merely by what she is, and nothing else."
"Are you serious?" he asked.
"Yes," I said, "as one whose value is determined only by herself."
"I would think, then," he said, "the price would be too high."
"Oh?" I said, angrily. "And what do you think I would go for?"
"Lady Sheila must remember," said Drusus Rencius, "that even if she might prove to be quite lovely, she is still untrained."
"Untrained!" I cried.
"Yes," he said.
"You speak as if slaves were mere animals!" I said.
"They are," he said.
I turned to face him, angrily. "And if I were such an animal, and for sale, what do you think I would bring?" I asked.
"May I speak with impunity?" he inquired, smiling.
"Yes," I said, "of course!"
"My remarks," he said, "will be based on the hypothesis that Lady Sheila's figure is acceptable, that her curvatures fall within suitable slave tolerances."
I looked at him.
"Am I entitled to assume this?" he asked.
"I suppose so," I said. I had no idea what these tolerances might be. I did regard myself as being rather pretty.
"We shall further assume," he said, "that Lady Sheila's figure is not merely acceptable, but quite lovely. This, I think, from what I know of her, would be a fair assumption. In any event, it will enhance the speculation."
"Very well," I said.
"Your face, for example," he said, "is quite delicate and lovely. If your body matches it, I think you would clearly have the makings of a superb slave."
"Proceed," I said. It pleased me to have received this compliment from Drusus Rencius. Too, I had little doubt but what my body, which is slender and lovely, and not overly developed, well matched my face. Surely I would bring a high price.
"Let us further assume," he said, "that your beauty has been enhanced considerably, by being branded and collared."
"Very well," I said. I was beautiful. I would bring a high price indeed!
"Even so," he said, "you have had no previous owners, as I understand it."
"That is correct," I said.
"Having been unowned," he said, "it seems natural, then, to assume that you are inexperienced and u
ntrained."
"Yes," I said.
"And there are many beautiful women," he said. "There is no dearth of them in the slave markets."
"And what, then," I asked, "do you think I would bring?"
He looked at me, smiling.
"What?" I asked.
"I would think," he said, "that you would bring somewhere between fifteen and twenty copper tarsks."
"Copper tarsks!" I cried.
"Yes," he said.
"Beast!" I cried. "Beast!"
"But remember," he said, smiling, "it is slaves who are assessed and have prices. Free women are priceless."
"Yes," I said, somewhat mollified, stepping back. "Yes!" I must remember that I was priceless. I was a free woman.
"Shall we continue on to your quarters?" he asked.
"Yes," I said, and then, turning about, once more preceded him down the corridor toward my quarters.
I had had matters out with Ligurious earlier, about such things as the barring on my door. My door, now, was no longer barred. The guards remained outside but that, of course, was an understandable precaution, one clearly in my own best interests, one pertinent to my personal security. Furthermore I was now free, almost whenever I wished, to go forth from my quarters. The only restriction was that I must be accompanied by my guard, Drusus Rencius. I could now leave my quarters even at night. Best perhaps, I was allowed to leave the palace whenever I might please, provided I did so incognito and in the company of Drusus Rencius.
6
The Sirik
"There are places you have not taken me in Corcyrus," I said to Drusus Rencius.
We stood on the height of the walls of Corcyrus, on a stone riser behind the parapet, which permitted us to look out over the parapet, rather than through its apertures, on the surrounding fields.
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