the World’s End,” said my captor. “But, if it should, a strange cargo, contraband, may tip the balance in the scale of war, the stakes perhaps two worlds.”
“Is there no way in which this may be drawn to the attention of the Pani?” asked Axel.
“It is too late,” said my captor. “The voyage is begun.”
The large vessel was now in midriver. I marked a slight adjustment of the large, single rudder. Most Gorean vessels with which I was familiar were double ruddered, with two helmsmen. The vessel was six-masted but no sail was set. She would be carried by the current.
“Tal,” said my captor, half moved from his place of stand, by the rough caress of the sleen’s snout, and the brush of its long, furred body.
“He is fond of you,” said Axel.
“I did not think so before,” said my captor.
“We were together in the forest,” said Axel.
“He was prepared to attack,” said my captor. “Did you not note the menace of the growl?”
“You know little of sleen,” said Axel. “The growl was one of recognition.”
“It sounded threatening enough,” said my captor.
“Only to one unfamiliar with sleen,” said Axel.
“He would not have attacked me?” said my captor.
“No,” said Axel.
“You knew this?” said my captor.
“Of course,” said Axel.
“I did not know it,” said my captor.
“Neither did Tyrtaios,” said Axel. “Else others might have been consigned to accompany me.”
“You said the interval of separation had been sufficient,” said my captor.
“I wanted you to believe that,” he said.
“I see,” said my captor.
“The sleen is a terrible beast,” said Axel, “but, too, it has a long memory, and it is capable of affection.”
“There is much I do not know of sleen,” said my captor.
“That was fortunate for me,” said Axel.
“How did you know I would not do the bidding of Tyrtaios and join the ship?”
“I did not know,” said Axel.
I shuddered.
“I would have known,” said Asperiche. “He is mad to possess this slave.”
“No!” said my captor.
“He followed her from Brundisium, and sought her for days in Tarncamp,” she said, “before finding her in Shipcamp.”
“Silence,” said my captor.
“It is my master, noble Axel of Argentum,” she said, “who should silence me, if I am to be silenced, not you, Master. You are not my master. You sold me,” and here Asperiche looked pleasantly at me, smiling, “— for a gold tarsk.”
“Far more than you are worth,” snapped my captor.
“Not more than I was worth to Axel of Argentum,” she said.
“His aberrations are of little interest to me,” said my captor.
“My judgment is notoriously suspect,” said Axel.
“Master!” protested Asperiche.
“But she does have lovely ankles,” said Axel.
“I have always found then so,” said my captor.
I glanced at my ankles. I was told they took shackles, and thongs, well.
“What if I had done as you seemed to wish,” said my captor, “slain the slave and rejoined the ship?”
“You would not have rejoined the ship,” he said. “I would have struck you down from behind, you unsuspecting, as you entered the boat.”
“Why?” asked my captor.
“That Tyrtaios have one less minion at his disposal,” said Axel.
“You would have permitted me to slay the slave?” asked my captor.
“I would have attempted to intervene,” he said.
“Honor?” asked my captor.
“You have heard of that?” asked Axel.
“It is within my recollections,” said my captor.
“I suspected so,” said Axel, “from the forest. But, too, aside from questions of honor, there are better things to do with a slave, I am sure you will agree, than cut her throat. We have two lovely slaves here. It would be absurd to slay them. It would be a waste. Slaves have their uses.”
“Slave uses,” said my captor.
“Certainly,” said Axel. “And if one does not want one, give her away, or sell her.”
I was suddenly frightened. For all my fear of him, I did not want my master to sell me. And yet I knew he could do so. I must try so to please him that he would not wish to do so.
“On your feet,” said Axel to Asperiche, who leapt up.
“Rise,” said my master, and I, too, stood.
The two men then regarded us, and we stood as slaves, regarded. I recalled that Axel had spoken of two lovely slaves. Asperiche had her head lifted, so I, too, lifted mine. The men were obviously comparing us, as properties.
“Nice,” said Axel. “But mine is better.”
“Obviously,” said my captor.
I jerked angrily at the slave bracelets which confined my hands behind my back.
“I think, however, Master,” said Asperiche, “that we must admit that Laura, for a barbarian, is attractive.”
“Many barbarians are