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,' be 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 plentitudes, 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 Argenturn on Susan. She trembled, being appraised. I felt sudden danger, and jealousy. He had not looked at me like thatl 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 wayl Too, Susan had me at a disadvantage. Would not any woman look attractive if she were half naked and put on a chain? flow 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 freedoml '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 be unlocked the largest chest.
The other chests and coffers, too, by others, were then unlocked.
Ligurious, and I, and the others, leaned forward, to i.h 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 Argenturn, '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 Argenturn, 'is what Claudius, Ubar of Argenturn, sends to Corcyrusl'
'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 Argenturn, I will give you some.' He held tip the coin. 'This is a silver tarsk of Argentum,' be 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 Tatrixt' 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, as king 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 bf 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?' ords of Ligurious there was a 'Why?' I asked. At the 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 I 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 Argenturn.
'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 sexuW 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.'
