'And so they have,' he said, smiling, 'though separately, as I requested. Her name is Emily. Perhaps you know her?'
'I looked' at him, aghast.
'Do you know her?' he asked.
'Yes, Master,' I said. 'She was trained in the cycle after mine. Apparently they have now transferred her to my group.
'Doubtless as your replacement,' he grinned.
'Yes, Master,' I whispered. I looked at him. ''Then I belong to you, truly?' I asked.
'Yes,' he said, 'every inch, every hair, every freckle, every drop of sweat, every drop of intimate oil.'
I shuddered.
'Here is your new collar,' he said, displaying it for me. 'Isn't it lovely?' 'Yes, Master,' I said. It was an attractive collar of gleaming steel, with a sturdy, heavy lock at the back. In it I would be marked as well, and confined as efficiently as I had been by the collar of Aemilianus.
'See here?' he asked. ' 'I am the property of Miles of Argentum,'' he read. 'Yes, Master,' I said, miserably 'Lift your chin,' he said.
I did so.
He then snapped the collar about my throat. I wore the collar, then, of Miles of Argentum.
'It is a perfect fit,' he said.
'Yes, Master,' I said.
'It is the same size as the other collar,' he said. 'I had your collar size from the Enterprises of Aemilianus.'
'Yes, Master,' I said.
'You do not seem pleased,' he said. 'I do not understand that. I thought you would be overjoyed.'
'I am overjoyed, Master,' I whispered.
'Good,' he said. 'I like my girls to be happy.'
'Yes, Master,' I said.
'I paid fifteen silver tarsks for you,' he said.
I was startled. 'That is too high a price for me,' I said.
'I do not think so,' be smiled.
'I am not worth anything like that,' I said. For such a price one might get a fine dancer. Some of the lesser girls in a Ubar's pleasure gardens might not have cost so much.
'You are to me,' he said.
'I will endeavor to see that you get your money's worth,' I said.
'Have no fear,' he said. 'I will.'
I began to tremble, uncontrollably. He freed my left ankle of its shackle, that which had fastened me to the slave ring.
'Stand,' he said. I stood.
'You are not very tall, are you?' he said. 'No, Master,' I said. 'But you are well curved,' he said.
'Perhaps, Master,' I said. 'Thank you, Master.'
'This is the key to your slave bracelets,' he said. He showed me a key, on a string. He slung the string over my head and, by it, hung the key about my neck. It fell between my breasts. Much good it did me. I could not reach it with my braceleted hands.
'I am going to turn you over now to Krotidos, my slave master,' he said. 'You will find him a kindly and fair man. On the other hand, your least imperfection in either discipline or service will be severely and promptly punished.' 'Yes, Master,' I said.
'As I am an indulgent master,' he said, 'you will be accorded clothing from your first day in my ownership.'
'Master is generous,' I said. I was not speaking ironically. Sometimes a girl, particularly a new girl, must strive for days to earn even a narrow strip of cloth and a piece of string.
'It will be a tunic appropriate to the girls of Miles of Argentum,' he said. 'Yes, Master,' I said. He was a soldier. He probably would have a distinctive tunic, in effect, a uniform, for his females. I had no doubt, too, he being a soldier, that it would display us well.
'Clothing privileges, of course, may be quickly revoked,' he said.
'Of course, Master,' I said.
'You look well,' he said, 'my former regal slut, now reduced to total slavery, naked and in slave bracelets.'
'No,' I whimpered. 'No, no.' I shook my head, helplessly, trying to deny his accusation.
'To my lips,' he commanded.
I fled to him, and kissed him, deeply, as a slave. I drew back. I saw that I had kissed him too well. 'No, no,' I whimpered.
He took me by the upper arms and, thrusting me from behind forced me across the room. He then put me over one of the large chests at the side of the room. I felt the wood of the chest, and the iron bands. The key about my neck, on its string, made a small sound as it struck the wood.
'It is not my fault if I bear a resemblance to Sheila, the Tatrix of Corcyrus,' I said.
'You kissed well,' he said.
'Oh!' I cried, entered.
'Very well,' he said.
'Thank you, Master,' I moaned. Sometimes a slave girl does not understand the incredible power she exerts over men, what she can do to them with a kiss, with a glance, with a smile, a gesture, a touch. My wrists twisted helplessly in the slave bracelets.
'I cannot help it if I resemble her!' I said.
'You do more than resemble her,' he said.
'Master?' I cried.
'You were she,' he said.
'No, no!' I cried.
'We do not wish to keep Krondos waiting, do we?' he asked.
'No, Master,' I moaned. 'Of course not!'
'I have discussed your work schedules with him,' he said. 'You will be worked hard for some five Ahn a day. Your tasks will be such things as laundering, scrubbing floors, and working in the kitchens. These seem suitable tasks for the former Tatrix of Corcyrus. Do you not think so?'
'Yes, Master,' I moaned. 'Oh, Master!'
'You respond well,' he said. 'I always thought you were a slave.' 'Yes, Master,' I sobbed.
'During most of the day,' he said, 'you will have the run of the palace and the grounds.'
'Yes, Master,' I said.
32 The Throne Room
The throne room in the palace at Argentum was now cool and dark. I entered, fearfully, a slave girl frightened to be in such a place. It had a lofty ceiling. I walked barefoot on the tiles to the vicinity of the dais and throne. I turned, suddenly, fearfully, as the door closed behind me. I could not see, in the shadows, who had shut it.
'Master?' I asked. I knelt, not knowing what else to do. This was the afternoon of the day of the great feast, that for which, purportedly, feast slaves had been brought even from Ar. No longer now, of course, was I a feast slave. I was now a work slave and pleasure slave owned by Miles of Argenturn. Tonight, at the feast, I was to be presented naked and in chains to Claudius, the Uber of Argentum, and the council. I looked up, toward the ceiling.
