I myself had been outside of the palace grounds only infrequently in weeks, since my visit to the house of Kliomenes. I had been out, of course, in the grand victory parade, staged shortly after the seizure of the mines.
I then turned away from the window. I would now await the arrival of Drusus Rencius. I had seen him privately scarcely at all since the house of Khomenes and the inn of Lysias. Our relationship was totally professional. Twice he had requested to be relieved of his duties, to be assigned to a new post, but I had refused to grant this request. That he might be restless, tortured or bitter in my presence meant nothing to me. I was a Tatrix. He was a soldier. He would obey me. I considered his apparent discomfort in my presence. smiled. It pleased me. Let him suffer.
10 I Have Taken Cognizance in Corcyrus; We Are Returning to the Palace
Through the darkened street, along the crooked way, Drusus Rencius and I were making our way back to the palace. He carried a torch. The smaller streets of Gorean cities are often dark at night. The pedestrians carry their own light. "I would prefer," said Drusus Rencius, "that we had kept to the main thorough fares."
I wished to speak to citizens in lesser known districts, as well," I said. "Is Lady Sheila satisfied?" he asked.
"Yes," I said, "on the whole, though the people often seemed reticent, or frightened."
"are troubled," said Drusus Rencius.
I had stopped many passersby, particularly in the larger streets, making inquiries. I had even stopped in some of the more respectable taverns, those in which free women, without difficulty, might enter. The people seemed enthusiastically appreciative of the governance of the Tatrix and made light of shortages. They discounted and belittled rumors of discontentment or unrest in Corcyrus. Things in Corcyrus, it seemed, were much as Ligurious had assured me. The people were supportive of the policies of the palace, loyal to the state and personally devoted to their beloved Tatrix.
"Many of the shops," I said, "'are boarded up."
"Many merchants have left the city," said Drusus Rencius, "taking their goods with them."
"Why?" I asked.
"They are afraid," he said. "The Street of Coins is almost closed." This was actually a set of streets, or district, where money changing and banking were done. "ere are other types of establishments in the area, too, of course. "'Private citizens, too, many of them," said Drusus Rencius, "their goods on their back, have taken their leave of the city."
"Craven rabble," I said. "Why can they not be brave Re the others?" "Waitl" said Drusus Rencius, stopping. He lifted the torch, which he carried in his left hand, increasing the range of its illumination, and put out his right band, holding me back, a barrier to my advance.
"What is it?" I asked.
"I heard something," he said. "Stay back."
I stepped back. The sword of Drusus Rencius left its sheath. I now understood why he, though right-handed, had been carrying the torch in his left hand. It facilitated an immediate draw.
"I do not hear anything," I said.
"Be quiet," he said.
I suddenly saw, emerging from the darkness, three shapes. "Tal, Soldier," said one of them.
"Tal," said Drusus Rencius. He backed against a wall. I stood very near him, frightened.
"We are lost," said one of the shapes, ingratiatingly. He drew a sheet of paper from within his tunic. "I have directions here, on a sheet of paper. You have a torch."
"Do not approach," said Drusus Rencius.
The fellow smiled and, slowly, in his fingers, wadded up the sheet of paper, and dropped it to the street.
Three swords then left their sheaths.
"Give us the woman," said the man.
"No," said Drusus Rencius.
I suddenly cried out, seized from the side, and I saw Drusus Rencius, the torch flung to the side, lunge toward the man who had been in the center of the first two. One man, one of two who had been approaching us from the side, threw me back against a wall. I could not move because of his presence. My veil, not even unpinned, was. wadded and thrust back, deeply in my mouth. I heard swords clashing.
I was turned to the side and my robes of concealment were pulled forward and down, over my head. A narrow strap was then slung about my head and pulled back, deeply between my teeth, and tied tightly behind the back of my neck. This secured the entire arrangement. I then, in my own garments, had been effectively gagged and hooded. I was then turned to the wall and my hands were jerked behind my back. In a moment, with two or three loops of cord, they were fastened in place. I then felt myself lifted to the shoulder of a man. I was utterly helpless. I heard another sword, quite near me, sliding from its sheath. "Runl" I heard a man cry. I was flung then from his shoulder, striking my own shoulder against a wall, and sliding down to the street. I heard feet running away. "They are gone," I heard Drusus Rencius say.
I whimpered as loudly as I could. Only such tiny, piteous noises were permitted me by the gag.
I felt a hand on my shoulder. "There you are," said Drusus Rencius.
I heard a sword laid on the stones behind me. Then, feeling about my head, Drusus Rencius undid the strap that held my gag and hood in place. The fresh air felt good on my face. I could hardly see him, but inches from me. The torch had gone out. He, in the darkness, adjusted my veil.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes," I said. "Who were they?"
"Probably slavers," he said. "I do not know. They are gone now." "Slavers?" I whispered, in horror.
"Probably," he said. "It was you they were interested in. They did not appear to be young ruffians out for an evening's sport. Too, they seem to have handled you with an efficiency that comes with training and practice."
I was then silent, trembling.
"They are gone now," said Drusus Rencius.
"My hands are tied," I whimpered.
"Forgive me," be said. He then, after a moment, bad freed my wrists. He then picked up his blade. He then rose to his feet. I was on my knees, then, before him. I held him about the legs, and put my face against his leg. I was terrified from what had occurred. I was still trembling.
"Get up," he said, angrily. "Your behavior seems too much like that of a woman." "I am a woman," I said.
"No," he said. "You are a Tatrix."
I sobbed.
"Get up," he said.
"I could have been carried into slavery," I said, frightened, holding him. "You torturing slut," he snarled, suddenly, "I am tempted to put chains on you myself."
"Are you so attracted to me, Drusus?" I said, startled. "So attracted to me that you would be satisfied with nothing less than my total submission?"
"Torturing slut!" he said. "Get up!"
"You do desire me!" I said. "You desire me with the most powerful desire with which a man can desire a woman, that he own her completely, that she be his total slave!"
"I hate you, and despise you!" he said.
"And want me!" I said.
"Let us return to the palace," he said, "before I leave you here in the darkness, a prey to those who, more than I, would see to it that you get what you deserve."
"And what is it that I deserve, Drusus," I asked, at his feet.
"A marked thigh," he said, angrily, "and a collar-encircled neck.
"Do you think that I am a slave? I cried.
"You would make an ideal slave," he said.
"Insolence!" I cried.
"Truth," he said.
I cried out in rage.
"But you are not a slave," he said. "Get up."
"It is fortunate for me that I am not a slave, isn't it," I asked, "at the feet of a man such as you?"
"Yes," he said, "it is very fortunate for you."
"And what would you do with me," I asked, "if you did own me?' "Give me your hands," I said.