by John Norman
"Better than she?"
"Certainly."
"I shall have to think about it,” said Cabot.
"If you recover the slave,” said Statius, “you would not mind our killing him."
"Certainly not,” said Cabot, “and if we do not find her, I would insist on it."
"At least, my dear Statius,” said Lord Grendel, “you cannot blame this projected treachery on the Lady Bina."
The Lady Bina, as might be expected, was with the rebel forces, as were the others who had been in Lord Grendel's camp, which had now been abandoned. In accord with the orders of Lord Grendel she had now been freed of the thick, broad, heavy, hammered-shut waist belt, with its heavy chains; had been cleaned, and brushed and combed; had been clothed, however excitingly and minimally; and had now been given an ample and nourishing diet, though one somewhat simple; and certainly some of her curves had now filled out and returned to their state of former interest, curves which, had she not been a free woman, would have been vulgarly referred to as “slave curves.” As she was no longer within the camp, confined within its palings, a number of adjustments had taken place in the nature of the security to which she was subject. The widened link on the slave bracelets, which had permitted her to separate her hands, had now again been closed, in such a way that her hands, again, were pinioned behind her back; she had also been placed in ankle shackles, with a linkage of three horts; and chained by the neck to a stake. Also, of course, she still wore the bell. Thus, even had she been free of the shackles and chain, she could not, as her hands were confined, have impeded the sounding of the bell, which would make her easy to follow and locate, even for a human.
"She has treacheries enough to her account to justify a thousand deaths by the most harrowing of tortures,” said Statius.
"You have no intention of acting on the recommendations of Flavion, I trust,” said Cabot to Lord Grendel.
"Certainly not,” said Grendel.
"Flavion does stand high in our war,” said Statius. “Most take him as indispensable, and courageous, and, I fear, he will attempt to undermine the authority of Lord Grendel."
"That of one who is at best no more than a monster,” said Lord Grendel.
"And one who acts in concert with a human, and even with one who was once a despised nondominant,” said Statius.
"He will doubtless insidiously, as he can, capitalize on such things,” said Cabot.
"I fear he will find a ready field for the sowing of such seed,” said Statius.
"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “particularly as the war does not soon proceed to some clear resolution."
"Too,” said Cabot, “it is clear he wants the death of the Lady Bina, on whom many are eager to impose justice, indeed, of a most hideous sort, and he may, thus, use your dalliance in this matter, and your reluctance to expeditiously prosecute her, as further grounds to undermine your authority, to insinuate your weakness, and such."
"Surely that can await the outcome of the war,” said Lord Grendel.
"Not indefinitely,” said Statius. “And many suspect that you will die before you permit harm to come to her. Thus, if her prosecution is forced, you may both die, she by torture, and you, as well, should you attempt to interfere, and the insurrection is then deprived of its ablest leader."
"And in his place, doubtless,” said Cabot, “would appear our friend, Flavion."
"And that,” said Statius, “would guarantee the victory of Lord Agamemnon."
"It would be easy,” said Cabot. “He might simply order a full-scale frontal assault on impregnable positions, and thus seem to many a courageous and audacious captain, one perhaps to be honored even in defeat."
"And Kurii would follow him,” said Statius.
"Yes,” said Lord Grendel, “if the orders were given. It is the Kur way."
"Then the orders must not be given,” said Cabot.
"You must permit the torture and death of the Lady Bina,” said Statius. “Even if you attempt to flee with her, Flavion will come to power."
In Cabot's translator there was an indecipherable, unintelligible, staticlike sound. It was responding to an inarticulate rumble of sorrow and misery, scarcely audible, from Lord Grendel.
Then he was again, or seemed again, himself.
"Dear Grendel,” said Cabot, concerned.
"It is nothing,” said Lord Grendel.
"It is clear,” said Statius. “You must sacrifice the Lady Bina. Our very cause depends upon it."
"I cannot,” said Lord Grendel.
"Our cause is then lost,” said Statius. “Our defeats, our deaths, our struggles, our hopes, our deprivations and hardships, will be for nothing."
"We will wait,” said Lord Grendel.
"Kurii are not patient,” said Statius.
"And Agamemnon is Kur,” said Lord Grendel.
"I do not understand,” said Statius.
"That is my hope for victory,” said Lord Grendel.
"There is some movement below, in the fields,” said Cabot, “between the habitats and our lines."
"The enemy is moving?” asked Statius, eagerly.
"No,” said Lord Grendel. “It is a herd of cattle humans, only a herd of cattle humans, foraging."
"Nothing then of interest,” said Statius.
"No,” said Lord Grendel.
At this point, from the rear, there was a scream.
"The Lady Bina!” cried Grendel, turning about, and hurrying to the rear. He was followed by Cabot, his human ally, and Statius.
There was another scream.
Moments later Lord Grendel pressed through a circle of Kurii and humans, and discovered the Lady Bina on her back. Her ankle shackles had been removed. They lay in the dust to one side. She was struggling in the grip of a killer human, one of their allies, who bent over her. With a hand on each ankle he had spread her legs widely. She squirmed, futilely, and screamed again.
None in the crowd about her seemed disposed to interfere.
One great paw of Lord Grendel closed on the back of the neck of the killer human and tore him from the Lady Bina, and then his fangs went to his throat.
"No, no!” cried Cabot.
Lord Grendel threw the killer human from him, he rolling yards away in the dust.
He then scrambled to his feet, and withdrew.
But Cabot discerned that he had first cast a look at Flavion, who stood in the vicinity.
Grendel cast a wild, belligerent look about him.
"Kneel, head up, near the stake,” said Cabot to the Lady Bina, and she, wild-eyed, shuddering, hastened to comply.
"What is wrong?” inquired Flavion.
"Shackle her,” said Lord Grendel.
One of the Kurii reapplied the close-fitting restraints, joined by their short linkage, with two clicks, to the slender ankles of the Lady Bina.
"Who removed her shackles?” asked Lord Grendel.
"The human,” said Flavion calmly, “but I authorized it, thinking it would be appropriate, and that you would approve, as she is a free woman. Otherwise it would have been simple enough to kneel her, turn her about, and put her head to the dirt."
"She is not a slave!” cried Lord Grendel.
"Certainly not,” said Flavion. “That is why I authorized the removal of her shackles."
"How dared you permit this!” said Lord Grendel.
"Do you disapprove?” asked Flavion, innocently.
Lord Grendel roared with fury.
"You grow bold, dear Flavion,” said Statius.
"It was not my intention to displease anyone,” said Flavion. “I regret only, Lord Grendel, that you were disturbed, when graver matters, matters of command, concerned you. I should have had her gagged."
"But then,” said Cabot, “we could not have heard her scream."
Lord Grendel motioned that Cabot should be silent.
"Surely,” said Flavion, “a prisoner, and certainly an arrant traitress, should do something to earn her keep, should provide some service i
n exchange for her food. Certainly we should strive to find some use in the camp to which she might be put."
There was a murmur of assent to this from the Kurii about, and from the humans, as well, which response Cabot could well understand.
"Surely you have no personal interest or concern in this female,” said Flavion.
"Who was the human?” asked Lord Grendel.
"Cestiphon,” said Flavion. “But do not blame him. Blame me, if you wish."
"No!” cried several about.
"Too,” said Flavion. “Is it not well past the time the traitress was judged, found guilty, and put to an appropriate death?"
Kurii present murmured assent.
Lord Grendel did not respond.
"But that may wait until tomorrow, after our secret march, our assault on the palace, and the glory of our inevitable victory,” said Flavion.
"We are not marching tonight,” said Lord Grendel.
"I have scouted the terrain,” said Flavion. “Many know this. Many are eager to march. This is a brief moment of advantage, which may never occur again. It is in our power to win the war this very night."
"We do not march tonight,” said Lord Grendel.
"But why, Lord?” asked Flavion. “What could possibly be the reason?"
Lord Grendel did not respond, but appeared stricken.
"If I may answer that,” said Cabot, “it is because the omens are inauspicious."
"What omens?” said Flavion.
"I feared it,” said Cabot, “when I first heard the screams of the Lady Bina, and grew more fearful when she screamed thrice, for that is the number of screams. I only hoped then that a fellow would not be involved whose name consisted of three syllables, as well, and my heart sank, when I learned her accoster was named Cestiphon. For the omens are unfavorable when a free woman screams thrice and he who accosts her has a name with three syllables, such as Antiphon, or Leander, or, say, Cestiphon. No action of import is to be undertaken on such a day."
"That is absurd,” said Flavion.
"I do not doubt it,” said Cabot, “and I myself take little stock in omens. I merely call attention to the omen, for I should feel remiss did I not do so."
"I myself,” said Lord Grendel, “am similarly dubious of such portents, but one hesitates to risk a great enterprise when the signs are against it."
"Clearly, surely,” said Statius, “the signs are against marching tonight."
Several of the Kurii exchanged uneasy glances, and the humans, too, looked to one another, apprehensively.
"Return to your duties,” said Lord Grendel to the Kurii and humans about. The group disbanded.
Lord Grendel, Statius, and Cabot then regarded the Lady Bina.
"You do not have to kneel back on your heels,” said Cabot to the Lady Bina. “You may kneel up."
She did so.
"She is beautiful, is she not?” asked Lord Grendel.
"Yes,” said Cabot. “Quite beautiful."
Cabot would have preferred for her to remain kneeling back on her heels, for that was more like a slave. But she was, after all, a free woman. If she were a slave, the proper modalities of kneeling before free persons would be taught to her. For example, such things are taught in the pens.
"For a human,” said Statius, for he perhaps had his mind on his own female.
"You must not think too badly of Cestiphon, and other male humans,” said Cabot, “for such a female is like delicious food to a starving man. Though she is a free woman, yet, secured as she is, clothed as she is, she has something of the allure, the inadvertent seductiveness, the sensuous vulnerability, the helplessness, of a Gorean female slave, or kajira."
"Interesting,” said Statius.
"She should be collared,” said Cabot.
"She is a free woman,” said Lord Grendel.
"That can be easily changed,” said Cabot.
Lord Grendel and Statius then returned to a place of vantage, forward.
"May I speak?” whispered the Lady Bina.
"You are a free woman,” said Cabot. “It is not necessary for you to ask permission to speak."
"I am not supposed to speak,” she said. “My tongue may be torn out."
"Who says so?” asked Cabot.
"Lord Flavion,” she said.
"I see,” said Cabot.
"Despite his public demeanor,” she said, “I think he is my only friend."
"Secretly, of course?” said Cabot.
"Yes,” she whispered, looking about. “He dare not reveal his concern for me."
"I see,” said Cabot.
"And Grendel,” she said, bitterly, “is my secret foe."
"I doubt that,” said Cabot.
"It is true,” she said.
"You have that on the authority of Flavion?” said Cabot.
"Lord Flavion,” she said.
"I see,” said Cabot.
"I am beautiful, am I not?” she asked.
"Yes,” said Cabot, “quite beautiful."
"I am a free woman,” she said. “I will use my beauty. I will dangle it before men, and entwine them in its toils, and they will obey me, unquestioningly, for gifts as small and costless to me as a glance or smile."
"You know what should be done with you, do you not?” he asked.
"What?” she asked.
"You should be put on a block and sold,” said Cabot.
"Kiss me,” she said. “No one is looking. I will permit it."
"Kneel there,” said Cabot, who then turned his back on her, and went forward to join Lord Grendel and Statius.
On the way he met Flavion.
"You think quickly, for a human,” said Flavion.
"Thank you,” said Cabot, and continued on his way.
Chapter, the Sixty-Second:
THE CONVERSATION IN THE REDOUBT
"We may speak here,” said Flavion.
Cabot was on watch, at one of the forward outposts. He had a power weapon at this place, but it was not assigned to him but to the post itself.
It was four days following the accosting of the human female, the Lady Bina, in Lord Grendel's camp.
"Yes,” said Cabot.
They were alone in the small redoubt, but the ground they surveyed also fell within the purview of two similar redoubts.
Each watch in each redoubt contained either a human and a Kur, or two Kurii. Flavion had arranged to be posted with Cabot this night.
"I still have much to offer,” said Flavion.
"Oh?” said Cabot.
"You were very troublesome earlier, in the camp,” said Flavion.
"What need would you have had for me,” said Cabot, “if you had had the war won in a night, with the ambush amongst the habitats?"
"You are very clever,” said Flavion.
"I fear far less clever than you,” said Cabot. “Had the secret march been undertaken, victory would have been Agamemnon's. And, if it was not undertaken, many in Grendel's forces would be convinced that it should have been undertaken, and thus the standing of the generalship of Grendel is reduced."
"Your subterfuge of omens was transparent,” said Flavion, “an obvious stratagem to buy Grendel time."
"You are certain it was a subterfuge?"
"We consulted with several of the men of Peisistratus,” said Flavion.
"It proved useful at the time,” said Cabot.
"That must be admitted,” said Flavion.
"It seemed to me wise to appear to favor the cause of Grendel,” said Cabot.
"You are aware that many favor a frontal assault on the habitats?"
"That would be madness,” said Cabot.
"Perhaps,” said Flavion, “but many feel that it is now the only chance for victory, and despise Grendel for not ordering the assault."
"And in the abeyance of such an order seeing him as timid, even cowardly."
"Certainly,” said Flavion.
"You have done your work well,” said Cabot.
"It would be useful i
f Grendel were removed,” said Flavion.
"Have you not planned for that,” asked Cabot, “by demonstrating his concern for the welfare of the much-hated traitress, the Lady Bina, his defense of her against the human, Cestiphon, and urging her trial, conviction, and execution, confident that Grendel would defend her, and thus die with her?"
"He delays the trial,” said Flavion, “and he is still too much respected in the camp to be gainsaid in the matter."
"But this does further undermine his stature,” said Cabot.
"Certainly,” said Flavion. “But it is too slow."
"Agamemnon is impatient?” said Cabot.
"His patience is not endless,” said Flavion.
"And how may I figure in your plans, and for what recompense?"
"When the forces hesitate to acclaim me commander,” said Flavion, “I want your support."
"I am so important?” said Cabot.
"You are more important than you know,” said Flavion, “with humans, with Kurii. Too, you are close to Grendel, and if you turn on him, this will weigh heavily with many."
"I see,” said Cabot.
"Only you know my allegiance to Agamemnon,” said Flavion.
"Your treachery might be broadcast,” said Cabot.
"None would believe it,” said Flavion.
"I suspect that is true,” said Cabot.
"Power on Gor would be yours, and palaces and cities, and armies, and gold."
"I must trust you on this?"
"Perhaps you would like a token, of good faith?"
"Perhaps,” said Cabot.
"One, say, cast naked, in chains, to your feet?"
"That is a small token,” said Cabot.
"Perhaps such a one with a sack of gold tied about her neck?"
"I wonder if you could find her."
"One can always try."
"I had thought,” said Cabot, “that you might be interested in something other than my support in some coup. I had supposed you would be interested in something other, something as simple as an assassination, a knife in the night, plunged into the heart of a commander."
"That will not be necessary,” said Flavion.
"Oh?” said Cabot.
"Arrangements have already been made,” said Flavion.
Chapter, the Sixty-Third:
WHAT TOOK PLACE IN THE FIELD