'Yes,' said Aemilianus. 'He is a good fellow.'
I gathered that it would be inopportune to inquire further into this matter, at least at the moment. But surely there could be little, or nothing, to fear now, at least for free persons.
'Commander,' said I.
'Yes, Warrior,' he responded. 'I thank you for your mercy in the case of the former Lady Claudia.' 'Was it mercy?' he asked.
'I think so,' I said.
'Well,' he said, 'her treacheries, however heinous and grievous, considered in the light of grander and more insidious designs, seemed paltry.'
'And doubtless were,' I said. 'Is that why you spared her?'
'I spared her primarily,' he said, 'because you wished it.'
'I am grateful,' I said. 'Too, I think she will make an excellent slave.' 'I am sure of it,' he said.
'Even Calliodorus thought she was born for the collar,' I said.
'She and Publia,' said Aemilianus.
'Yes,' I said.
'I think he was right about both,' he said.
'I think so, too,' I said.
'My friend,' he said.
'Yes,' I said, startled.
'You said to her,' he reminded me, 'that you had no intention of imperiling your life for her.'
'Yes,' I said.
'Yet I think had I not spared her,' said he, 'that you would have drawn your sword on her behalf.'
'I said what I did,' I said, 'because I knew it would not be necessary to imperil my life for her.'
'How could you know that? he asked.
'Because Aemilianus, and those like him,' I said, 'are honorable men.' 'You were counting on that? he asked.
'Yes,' I said.
'And had we not, in your opinion, behaved honorably? he asked.
'Then I would have drawn my sword,' I said.
'I thought so,' he said.
'I am sorry,' I said.
'Even were I other than I am,' he smiled, 'I do not think I would have wanted you to draw your sword against us.' I did not respond.
'Particularly over a woman,' he said. He held out his hand to Shirley, and she came quickly to kneel beside him and took his hand, and lifted it to her lips, kissing it, softly.
'Of course,' I said.
'And in particular,' said Aemilianus, 'one who was soon to become a mere slave.' 'Of course,' I said.
Shirley, holding and pressing her lips to the hand of Aemilianus, looked up at me.
I smiled. Swords are often drawn on Gor over women, and particularly over lovely slaves. Women are prizes, perfections and treasures. It is no wonder that men fight over them with ferocity.
Wars have been fought to recover a stolen slave.
I then, quietly, withdrew from the presence of Aemilianus, permitting Shirley to attend him.
I went forward. In doing so I passed some slaves and masters, amidships. How beautiful were the slaves in their collars and brief tunics. I then proceeded farther forward, taking my way beside free women, and some children, and climbed to the tiny bow deck, forward of the stern castle, immediately behind the prow. I stood there, and looked down the river. I could see the advance ships some quarter of a pasang, or so, ahead. I wondered what the warnings of Calliodorus, if Aemilianus had read him aright, might have been about.
22 Publia, Slave
Publia lay before me, on her stomach, over a pile of rope, aft on the Tais. Her head was down. Her neck was chained to a ring in the deck.
'You? she said.
'Yes,' I said.
'Please be kind to a woman who is now only a slave,' she said.
I laughed, softly.
She shuddered.
She was pretty, lying on her belly, over the ropes, her head down.
But yet, I thought, as she is a slave, surely she should be permitted to beg for kindness.'
'Do not hurt me,' she begged.
'That is muchly up to you,' I said.
'To me?' she asked.
'Yes,' I said. 'I do not have any intention, at least at present, of hurting you. On the other hand, if you prove to be in the least disagreeable, do not fear, I will not hesitate to inflict discipline, and severe discipline, upon you.'
'I understand,' she said.
'You were once Lady Publia, of Ar's Station,' I said.
'Yes,' she said, frightened.
'Who are you now?' I asked.
'Publia,' she said, 'a slave.' 'Lift yourself, Publia, slave,' I said.
She cried out, softly, perhaps not anticipating the sternness of my grip upon her.
'Master,' she said.
She clutched ropes in the coils on which she lay. 'Ohhh,' she said, suddenly. Then she began to gasp, and make helpless noises.
The moons were full. The slave was pretty. It was late. We were two days yet from Port Cos.
I then crouched beside her, and turned her, and lifted her. I held her knees up, close to her belly. Her body was a small, curvaceous delight. I then put her on her back, on the coils of rope. I bent over her and then, with one hand, behind the back of her neck, gripping it, lifted her head, bringing her face beneath mine, forcing it there. I then kissed her, and let her lie back on the ropes. Her eyes were wide, and soft, and frightened.
'You were a pretty warder,' I said.
'I am a slave,' she whispered, 'only a slave.'
'Perhaps you desire to be pleasing?' I asked.
'Yes,' she said fervently. 'I desire to be pleasing!' She then reached out for me and put her hands behind the back of my neck. She then lifted her lips timidly to mine, fearing, it seemed, that her overture might be refused, that they might be rejected. 'I do desire to be pleasing, Master,' she whispered. I permitted her to kiss me.
Later we lay together, side by side.
It was near morning now. I had waited until the crew had finished with her, until late, before I had approached her. In this way I could have more time with her. I supposed that in an Ahn or so a fellow would come by, to release her from the chain, to return her to the hold. They were no longer kept in the tiny cages. They were free in the hold, though the hatch was locked. Claudia had been put at the ring earlier and returned to the hold earlier. Publia had been put at the ring later, and would be returned to the hold later. For a time during the evening, both had been at the ring. Tomorrow night, as it was on alternate nights, Claudia would be put at the ring later, and Publia earlier.
'On the day after tomorrow,' I said, 'we reach Port Cos.' 'I know,' she whispered.
'The ship will be decorated,' I said. 'You and Claudia will be displayed at the prow.'
