'Yes, Mistress,' said Sita, and went back to the floor.
'So there is trouble between Mirus and Hendow?' she asked.
'Perhaps, Mistress,' I said. 'I do not know.'
'And it is over you?'
'Perhaps, Mistress,' I said. 'I do not know.'
'I wonder how that could be,' she said. Then she walked about me, looking at me. 'Yes,' she said. 'I suppose it is possible.' She stopped in front of me. 'Do you know what is to be done with you?'
'I am to be kenneled, belly chained and back-braceleted,' I said.
'So you were used here?' she said, looking about.
'Yes, Mistress,' I said.
'That is my impetuous Mirus,' she said.
I was silent.
'Did you yield well to him?' she asked.
'Yes, Mistress,' I whispered.
'He teaches us our slavery well, doesn' t he?' she asked.
'Yes, Mistress,' I whispered. 'Please do not whip me, Mistress.' 'Why would I do that?' she asked, lightly.
'I thought you might be angry,' I said, 'about Mirus.'
'We are all free to the men of the house,' she said. 'And you are pretty.' 'You are not angry with me?' I asked.
'Of course not,' she said. 'What were you to do? You are only a slave.' 'Thank you, Mistress,' I said.
'Follow me to the kennels,' she said. 'I will chain and bracelet you there. Too, I will not make the belly chain any tighter than necessary.'
'Thank you, Mistress,' I said.
'And I will bring you a pastry later from the kitchen,' she said, 'and put it on the floor of your kennel. Though you will not be able to use your hands I expect that you will enjoy it, just the same.
'Thank you, Mistress,' I said.
'Speak well of me to Hendow,' she said.
'Yes, Mistress,' I said.
'If I am kept on as first girl,' she said, 'I will make you third girl, second only to myself and Sita.'
'Thank you, Mistress,' I said.
I then rose to my feet and followed here down the passageway, to the stairs leading to the basement, where most of the kennels were. She was as good as her word, and did not make the belly chain tighter then necessary, and, too, she brought me a pastry later from the kitchen.'
'Speak well of me to Hendow,' she said.
'Yes, Mistress,' I said.
I then, lying on my side, and turning my head, ate the pastry. Afterwards, as I could, with my teeth, I pulled the blanket up about me. I then lay there in the darkness, in the kennel. I pulled a little at the slave bracelets. They were not too tight, but they were on me snugly and well. They would hold me, perfectly. I remembered what a man had done to me, and how much of a slave he had made me. Hendow had told me later that I was never so thoroughly imbonded as now. I remembered the sensations. It was true. I did not know whether to weep with the power of men over me, or cry out with joy. I did not know. I was a slave, and, in spite of its vulnerabilities and terrors, loved it. I would try to serve well.
I was frightened by the intrigues of the slaves, Tupita and Sita, and the other girls. I did not really want to be involved in them.
I lay there then and loved the men of Gor. I had not really, in spite of strong feelings and intuitions on Earth, begun to understand my sex until I was imbonded, until I found myself in my place in nature, subservient to men. I now loved my sex. I now loved being a woman. It was marvelous, and wonderful!
14 Punishment
I knelt on the rug at the foot of the dais, that surmounted by the curule chair of my master, Hendow, of Brundisium. My head was to the rug, the palms of my hands on the floor. I had been summoned into his presence.
I trembled, kneeling before him, my head down.
I was afraid in this room. I had been here, before. It was the receiving chamber of my master, Hendow. Too, to one side was the panel which opened, admitted the gray hunting sleen, Borko. Somewhere in the dark, simple, terrible brain of that beast my name and scent had been imprinted. It could now be commanded with respect to me, even in my absence.
I trembled.
I did not know why I had been summoned into the presence of my master.
'Lift your head,' said Hendow, of Brundisium, 'stand.'
I obeyed.
'Approach me,' he said, 'and kneel there, before the chair.
I climbed the broad, carpeted steps of the dais, and knelt before him. He leaned forward. 'Turn your head to the left,' he said. 'Now, turn it to the right.' 'Good,' he said.
My ears had been pierced. It had been done yesterday morning. The metal worker had put tiny, circular training pins in them, to keep the wounds from closing. I was relieved. It seemed my master had only wished to inspect the results of the metal worker' s work. Too, I was pleased to note that he seemed pleased with the work.
'You may now return to the foot of the dais, and stand,' he said.
I backed down, my head down, to the foot of the dais, and then stood there, erect and graceful before my master, as would be expected of a female slave. I expected to be dismissed.
But I was not dismissed.
I became afraid, again. 'May I kneel, Master?' I asked.
I would feel more comfortable kneeling in the presence of Hendow, such a man. Too, as I was frightened, it would be easier, in a kneeling position, not to falter, or fall.
'No,' he said.
I remained standing. I trembled. Standing as I was, and at the foot of the dais, I feared he would have little difficulty in reading my body. My slightest tremor, or the slightest weakness in my legs would be visible to him.
'The metal worker did his work well,' he said. 'Your ears are excellently pierced.'
'Yes, Master,' I said. 'Thank you, Master.' I was pleased, too, of course, that the work had been well done. Indeed, I was eager to adorn myself with such devices, that I might be rendered even more attractive to men. Too, I had some understanding of the meaning of earrings to Gorean males, and the effects upon them of such things.
'Remove your garment,' he said.
I reached to the disrobing loop at the left shoulder of the brief silken tunic I wore. It was opaque silk, for it was morning, and not the diaphanous silk we customarily wore in the evening, when on the floor, when serving our master' s customers. Silk such as this we might even wear outside the tavern. To be sure, it was silk such as would be worn only by a pleasure slave. We are dressed according to the preferences of men. I had never, incidentally, been allowed outside the tavern grounds. I did have the liberty, at certain times, of walking in, and exercising in, a small, enclosed back court of the tavern.
Then I was naked before him, the garment at my feet.
He regarded me.
I was now more sure than ever that he wanted to read my body. I trembled. Sometimes it seemed to me that he could look upon me, and know my most secret thoughts. I caught myself, my knees weak. I regained my
