she said, and she swiftly knelt. “Behold,” she said, “I am at your feet. I kneel. I humbly press my lips to your feet. I humbly press my lips to your calf. I cling to your leg. I beg forgiveness for being of no interest to Master. I kiss and lick your thigh, hoping that you will forgive my mediocrity, my ordinariness, my lack of interest.”
“Away!” I cried. She might have melted a stone. I would have fought a hundred men to get a chain on her. What I would have given to have her leaping, frightened, to the snap of my whip.
She sprang up, backed away, and laughed. “You did not expect this,” she said, “long ago, in a great store, on a far world! But I am now collared. I have learned much. Be miserable, mighty Master! I am Mistress! I am kajira!”
“She-urt, she-tarsk!” I said.
“But not your she-urt or she-tarsk!” she laughed.
I struggled with the cords on my wrists.
“Clearly,” she laughed, backing away another step, “Master finds a slave of interest!”
“No!” I cried, in fury.
“Do you think a slave does not know when a master finds her of interest?” she said.
“I would that I had you in my collar!” I said.
“But you do not,” she said.
“I would treat you as you deserve, and then cast you into the markets!”
“How fortunate for me,” she said, “that I do not belong to Master.”
She then spun about, laughing merrily, and hurried away.
Tula and Mila, to one side, watched her, frightened.
“That slave,” said Axel, looking after her, “is a bold slave.”
“Too bold,” I said.
“It is easy to be bold with a fellow who is helpless,” he said.
“Too easy,” I said.
“As I recall,” he said, “you regarded her as inferior, and of little interest.”
“And I do so regard her now,” I said.
“You did admit, as I recall,” he said, “that she might be of some interest, to some men.”
“I suppose so,” I said.
“But not to you?”
“No,” I said.
“I watched,” remarked Genserich, who was nearby.
“Why did you not interfere?” I asked.
“I thought she might do well as a torture slave,” he said. “It could make a difference in her price.”
A torture slave, as is well known, is a slave trained to arouse, humiliate, frustrate, and then deny a male prisoner. Some captains, commanders, Ubars, and such, utilize the services of such a slave, usually for the pleasure of witnessing the discomfiture and misery of some hated enemy. Irons, knives, and cords are not the only means by which a helpless enemy may be tormented.
“But I do not think she is in her heart a torture slave,” said Genserich. “Few women are, particularly when collared.”
“Then she must hate our friend very much,” said Axel.
“Yes,” said Genserich, “or something.”
I did not understand this qualification. I did find it amusing that the slave might hate me. It is pleasant to take such a woman and caress her into weeping, begging submission, and then do with her what one wishes.
Genserich turned to Aeson. “Call in the guard,” he said, “align and burden the slaves, we march within the Ehn.”
“Noble Genserich,” said Axel, “a moment.”
“Speak,” said Genserich.
“About my neck,” said Axel, “as is known to several, say, Aeson and Genak, and some others, hangs a small musical instrument, a whistle, which few can sound. As you are a large, strong fellow, and leader, he of most prowess we must assume, I wager that only you, of all in the camp, could sound the instrument.”
“Are you mad?” said Genserich. “We must march.”
“I wager you cannot sound the instrument,” I said.
“And I that you can,” said Axel.
“You are both mad,” said Genserich, and he turned away.
“It would be most impressive to the men could you do so,” called Axel.
But Genserich was then busied elsewhere.
“That was a rather far-fetched, and somewhat desperate, plan,” I said to Axel.
“True,” said Axel. “Have you a better?”
“No,” I said.
“Perhaps you might recommend that I have Tiomines chew through the cords?” said Axel, unpleasantly.
“Is that practical?” I asked.
“Certainly,” said Axel, “first rub the cords with tarsk grease, and then be prepared to lose at least one hand.”
“You need not be disagreeable,” I said.
“You are in an ill humor from the attentions of the slave,” he said.
“Not I,” I said.
“Your position,” said Genak, “will be between the new slaves and the others.”
“Rather,” I said, “let it be behind all the slaves.”
“Very well,” said Genak.
“You wish to be behind a certain slave,” said Axel, “she who is last in line.”
“Yes,” I said. “And let her know that I