dagger, catching the early afternoon sun on the blade.
Donna wept in her bonds, at the feet of Genserich.
“Be done with it quickly,” said Genserich.
“Who will be first?” inquired Axel, surveying the prisoners.
“I,” said Genserich. “I am first here.”
“Why not this fellow?” I asked, indicating Rorton.
“No!” he said. “Genserich is first.”
“I thought you wished to be first,” I said.
“Genserich is first,” he said.
“Very well,” said Axel, and he bent to Genserich, and Donna shrieked in misery.
With a few swift strokes, he cut Genserich’s bonds away.
“Master!” cried Donna.
“What are you doing?” said Genserich.
“Cutting your throat,” said Axel, “but I missed. I am apparently little better at this than estimating arrayed forces in the field.”
“I do not understand,” said Genserich, struggling uncertainly to his feet.
“You might have killed us, but did not,” said Axel. “Now we might have killed you, but do not. Some weapons, and goods, are at the river shore. They should be enough to get you somewhere. Free your men, but do not fetch your things yet. We wish to be first away. Surely you understand.”
“Indeed,” said Genserich.
I glanced across the emptied camp at the three slaves. Seeing themselves observed by a free man they knelt, immediately. Tula and Mila seemed beside themselves with relief. Did Tula’s eyes seek out Aeson amongst the prisoners; and was Genak the possible object of Mila’s bright regard? The other slave, in contrast, seemed alarmed. I regarded her with a grim satisfaction, and she trembled in her place. How attractive, and helpless, are women on their knees, where they belong. I was well pleased that there were two sexes in my species, and that they were so different.
“I took the liberty, earlier,” said Axel to Genserich, “of emptying your purse.” He then handed Genserich a small but weighty sack of coin. “Do not fear,” he said. “Our friends from the coast have done well enough here, in both coin and weaponry. Too, they have acquired four slaves, at least two of whom should do well off the block. Accordingly I retained your fee from the Laurius and the original fee gold dispensed to four women who no longer have need of it, and, as slaves, may now own nothing, not even a collar on their necks or a copper tarsk-bit.”
“My thanks,” said Genserich.
“Free us!” demanded Rorton, struggling.
“I was dispatched,” said Axel, “to reclaim a slave, but there are two others in this camp, whom I now declare unclaimed.”
Whereas cities have laws, and most castes have caste codes, there is only one law which is generally respected, and held in common, amongst Gorean municipalities, and that is Merchant Law, largely established and codified at the great Sardar Fairs. According to Merchant law an unclaimed slave, one legally subject to claimancy, may be claimed, and then is the property of the claimant.
Axel went to the kneeling Tula and Mila, seized them by the hair, and pulled them to the prisoners. There he flung Tula down before Aeson, and Mila before Genak.
“I claim her!” cried Aeson.
“Master!” said Tula, kneeling with her head to the dirt before him.
“I claim her!” said Genak.
“You are my master!” cried Mila, kneeling before him, her head to the ground.
Axel then turned to me. “As you know,” said Axel, “time presses and a rendezvous is imminent.”
I recalled the departure of the larl and its two trainers.
“I will gather our gear,” I said.
“To me, Tiomines!” said Axel, sharply, and the large, low, sinuous beast, with a growl and a turn of its long spine, was at his side.
“Free us, free us now!” cried Rorton.
Genserich looked to Axel.
“You may free your men,” said Axel, “but keep them from the shore until we are clear of the camp.”
“I understand,” said Genserich.
He then unbound his lieutenant, Aeson, and Genak, as well, which two then turned to others, who, in their turn, set themselves to free others. I saw Rorton freed. He sprang up, and glanced to the shore. Genserich, to my annoyance, bent to Donna. “Oh, no, please, Master!” she protested. “I am a slave. There are free men to be freed.” But he, nonetheless, bending down, freed the slave, who, dismayed, but laughing, wept with happiness. Then she was at his feet, covering them with kisses. At least she, I thought, understood the protocols in such a situation. Genserich seemed a good commander. Surely he could not be such a fool as to care for a slave. Still, she looked well in her collar. But then what woman does not? Too, of course, his men were