He then helped me up.
I smoothed my robes. "It is interesting to know that you desire me," I said He was silent.
"Indeed," I said, "it is quite amusing. Perhaps I should have you whipped for insolence. Do not. aspire above your station, Drusus. I am a Tatrix. You are nothing, only a guard."
"Yes, Tatrix," he said.
"I hold you in contempt," I said. "I scorn you. I am worlds above you." "Yes, Tatrix," he said.
"And do not forget it," I said.
"No, Tatrix," he said.
"What are you doing?" I asked. I had seen his arm move, with the blade. "I am cleaning the blade, wiping it on my tunic," he said., "Cleaning it?" I asked.
"In driving the men off, I wounded two of them," he said.
"Are you all right?" I asked.
"Yes," he said. I resisted an impulse to kneel before him, begging to lick the blood from the blade, begging him then to dry it in my hair.
"Is it clean?" I asked.
"Yes," he said.
"Do not sheathe it until we reach the palace," I said. "The streets are dark." "I have no intention of doing so," he said.
"At least," I said, "I have satisfied myself as to the condition of the citizenry and the status of the city."
"How is that?" he asked.
"'You heard, surely," I said. "The people make light of privations. They are loyal. They are devoted to their Tatrix."
"Such are the answers to be given.to such questions in Corcyrus," he said. "I do not understand," I said.
"The people are afraid," he said. "You have inspired terror. Your rule is one of iron."
"I do not understand," I said.
"Fool, your spies are everywhere," he said. "The people to whom you spoke probably mistook you, ironically enough, for one of your own spies."
"I have no spies," I said.
"I can name seven," said Drusus Rencius. "How many you have, of course, I do not know."
I shuddered, confused. These spies, if, indeed, there were any, must be reporting to someone else, perhaps to Ligurious.
"Will we light the torch on the way home?" I asked.
"I think it will be safer to move silently in the darkness," said Drusus Rencius.
"Perhaps you are right," I said, shuddering.
"Please follow me, a bit behind," said Drusus Rencius. "I mean this as no insult to you."
"I understand," I said. I certainly had no objections, under the circumstance, to heeling him like a slave.
"Are you coming?" he asked. He turned about.
"It is so dark," I said.
"I do not think it will be safe to remain here," he said. "Try to follow me." "I am afraid," I said. I could not see my footing.
"Do you wish for me to carry you?" he asked.
"And how would you do that?" I asked, apprehensively.
"In my arms, with honor," he said. "Did you think I would throw you over my shoulder like a bound slave?"
I was silent. How did I know how Drusus Rencius would carry a woman, particularly a woman such as I sensed I might be. I did know how the other fellow had carried me, over his shoulder, bound, absolutely helpless, perhaps, indeed, like a slave.
"It would be better for you to walk," said Drusus Rencius. "In that fashion my sword arm would be unencumbered."
"Are these streets not supposed to be patrolled by guardsmen?" I asked. "Most of the guardsmen," said Drusus Rencius, "have been sent to the west, to the front."
I was silent.
"The forces of Ar will be difficult to hold," said Drusus Rencius.
"Of Ar!" I said.
"Yes," said Drusus Rencius. "Forces of Ar entered the fray after the seizure of the mines. Argentum, as you know, is an:ally of Ar."
I had not known this, basic though it might be. Many things, it seemed, bad not been made clear to me. I did know that we were supposed to have strong ties of one sort or another with the island ubarate of Cos. Susan, I knew, had been bought in Cos. I knew almost nothing of Ar. I did know that Drusus Rencius had once been of that city. Too, I knew it was one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful, City on Gor. In known Gor, it was rivaled only by Turia, in Gor's southern hemisphere.
"Our forces will be victorious," I assured Drusus Rencius.
"The enemy is already within twenty pasangs of Corcyrus, be said.
"Take me back to the palace," I said, "swiftly, please."
"Yes, Lady Sheila," he said.
He then turned about, and started off, through the darkness. I hurried along behind him, heeling him like a slave.
I felt miserable, and terrified and sick In the palace I would be safe.
11 Susan Has Been Beaten; Ligurious Speaks With Me; There is Nothing to Fear; I Am Safe in the Palace
I was thrust into my quarters by a guard, and the door was shut behind me. A lamp was lit in the room. I heard whimpering.
"Susanl" I cried.
The girl lay on her belly, naked on the tiles. Even the silken collar sheath, of one color or another, which was usually worn, selected to match a tunic, was gone. Her neck was encircled by the bared, unadorned steel alone. She had been terribly whipped. I knelt beside the, girl. "The brutesl" I cried, softly. I touched her hair, gently. Tonight I knew she had danced the whip dance.
"This was not done to me by guardsmen, Mistress," she said. Then she began to sob.
"By whom, then?" I demanded.
"It was done to me by the slave master of Ligurious, on the orders of Ligurious," she said.
"But, why?" I asked.
"Because I did not inform Ligurious that you had had Drusus Rencius summoned tonight to your quarters."
"How did he learn of this?" I asked.
"Doubtless from a guard, and, too, that you had left the palace," she said. "I am sorry, Susan," I said. It had been I, I recalled, in the prosecution of my own plans, and in my desire for secrecy, who had suggested to Susan that the summoning of Drusus Rencius to my quarters need not be made known to Ligurious. "Why have you been put here?" I asked.
"That you may see me, Mistress," she sobbed.
"It is all my fault," I said.
"No, Mistress," she said. "It is my fault. I was not pleasing to my master." Ligurious apparently bad been disturbed, particularly that I had left the palace. He, with guardsmen, with lanterns, had met Drusus Rencius and I at the small postern gate in the east wall of the palace grounds, that through which we had returned. Drusus Rencius had been detained there, and I had been hurried to my quarters.
There were suddenly two blows on the door, loud knocks. "Ligurious, first minister of Corcyrus," announced a guard, from the other side of the door. I stood up, and went to the center of the room. I tried to stand very straight, very regally.
"Enter," I said.
Ligurious entered.
Susan, frightened, with an effort that must have been painful for her striped body, knelt, with her head down to the tiles, the palms of her hands on the floor, in that form of obeisance apparently required by Ligurious of his women. "To your kennel, Slave," said Ligurious.
Susan lifted her head. "Yes, Master!" she said.
"Get out, Slut!" be said.
"Yes, Masterl" she cried, and, springing to her feet, fled from the room. "You are up late," observed Ligurious.
"I was in the city," I said, defiantly.
"It can be dangerous' in the city," he said, "especially in these times, and at night."
I tossed my bead. He need not know what bad happened on the darkened street. "You must understand," he said, "that I have a responsibility for your safety." "It was not necessary that you treated Susan as you did," I said.
"Do not attempt to interfere in the relationship between a man and his slave," he said. "That relationship is absolute."
"I see," I said. I stepped back, frightened.
"In the future," he said, "you are not to leave the palace without my permission. In the meantime, you wilt remain here, confined to your quarters." "Not" I cried.