So what interest had Miles of Argentum in me?
Surely he did not think that I might be the real Sheila.
In his treatment of me, and in calling me Sheila, and so on, surely he had been only playing a game with me.
He could not remember me that clearly, I hoped, from his appearance before me in the great hall, when I had sat upon the throne, for from the time when he had had me locked, naked, a captive, in a golden cage.
No He was only playing with me.
I was merely Tiffany, a feast slave, brought to Argentum with others to serve at the victory feast.
It was not my fault if I bore some remote resemblance to Sheila the Tatrix of Corcyrus.
I reminded myself that Miles of Argentum did not own me I reminded myself that he had only rented me for an eve-fling, for a night, as men may rent women such as I.
Alin, in the morning, I would be returned to my keepers. I would then forget about me. In a matter of days, probably some three or four days, I would be on my way back with the others.
I had nothing to fear.
He did not own me. That was what was most important He could not even harm me, at least seriously, or permanently, without paying some form of restitution to the Enterprises of Aemilianus. I was, after all, their girl proper not his. I then, toward morning, fell asleep.
I awakened rather late. It must have been around the eighth Ahn. The room was flooded with light.
There had been a knock at the door. lt must have been girl keeper coming for me, I thought. I struggled to my knees. is in such a position that a slave girl commonly greets a ft man. I did not wish to be kicked or cuffed for discourse braceleted as I was, I could not keep the sheet on me. It fell across my thighs. But it was someone else, I saw. Miles Argentum, dressed and shaved, answered the door.
"She will be with you shortly," he said. I did not understand that remark. He then closed the door. I gathered the man might be waiting outside. I did not recognize him.
"I see that you are up, Lady Sheila," he said.
"Yes, Master," I said.
"It is just as well," he said. "It is now past the eigth Ahn.
I did not understand, at that time, the reference to the eighth Ahn. Was that supposed to have some significance me?
I was then startled. I felt Miles of Argentum, from the back, pressing a tiny key into my collar.
"Master!" I cried.
He then, to my astonishment, opened the collar and I moved iL "Master," I said, "what are you doing? How can you this? Where did you get the key?"
"In Ar," he said, "several days ago, the first day after saw you in the city. I paid for you then, but the transfer ownership, as specified in the contract, as I wished, did not become effective until this morning, at the eighth Aim. A few Ehn ago, unknown to you, you became mine.
"Surely you jest, Master," I wept. "Feast Slaves would not wish to sell me in this fashion. I am needed. There is no replacement here for me. There is no girl to attend to my duties!"
"I did not realize one serving slave was so significant," he said, amused. "They like to have a full complement of slaves on hand," I assured him. "If I were to be sold to you, they would have sent out an extra girl, an addition to my group."
"And so they have," he said, smiling, "though separately, as I requested. Her name is Emily. Perhaps you know her?"
"I looked' at him, aghast.
"Do you know her?" he asked.
"Yes, Master," I said. "She was trained in the cycle after mine. Apparently they have now transferred her to my group.
"Doubtless as your replacement," he grinned.
"Yes, Master," I whispered. I looked at him. "'Then I belong to you, truly?" I asked.
"Yes," he said, "every inch, every hair, every freckle, every drop of sweat, every drop of intimate oil."
I shuddered.
"Here is your new collar," he said, displaying it for me. "Isn't it lovely?" "Yes, Master," I said. It was an attractive collar of gleaming steel, with a sturdy, heavy lock at the back. In it I would be marked as well, and confined as efficiently as I had been by the collar of Aemilianus.
"See here?" he asked. " "I am the property of Miles of Argentum,'" he read. "Yes, Master," I said, miserably "Lift your chin," he said.
I did so.
He then snapped the collar about my throat. I wore the collar, then, of Miles of Argentum.
"It is a perfect fit," he said.
"Yes, Master," I said.
"It is the same size as the other collar," he said. "I had your collar size from the Enterprises of Aemilianus."
"Yes, Master," I said.
"You do not seem pleased," he said. "I do not understand that. I thought you would be overjoyed."
"I am overjoyed, Master," I whispered.
"Good," he said. "I like my girls to be happy."
"Yes, Master," I said.
"I paid fifteen silver tarsks for you," he said.
I was startled. "That is too high a price for me,' I said.
"I do not think so," be smiled.
"I am not worth anything like that," I said. For such a price one might get a fine dancer. Some of the lesser girls in a Ubar's pleasure gardens might not have cost so much.
"You are to me," he said.
"I will endeavor to see that you get your money's worth," I said.
"Have no fear," he said. "I will."
I began to tremble, uncontrollably. He freed my left ankle of its shackle, that which had fastened me to the slave ring.
"Stand," he said. I stood.
"You are not very tall, are you?" he said. "No, Master," I said. "But you are well curved," he said.
"Perhaps, Master," I said. "Thank you, Master."
"This is the key to your slave bracelets," he said. He showed me a key, on a string. He slung the string over my head and, by it, hung the key about my neck. It fell between my breasts. Much good it did me. I could not reach it with my braceleted hands.
"I am going to turn you over now to Krotidos, my slave master," he said. "You will find him a kindly and fair man. On the other hand, your least imperfection in either discipline or service will be severely and promptly punished." "Yes, Master," I said.
"As I am an indulgent master," he said, "you will be accorded clothing from your first day in my ownership."
"Master is generous," I said. I was not speaking ironically. Sometimes a girl, particularly a new girl, must strive for days to earn even a narrow strip of cloth and a piece of string.
"It will be a tunic appropriate to the girls of Miles of Argentum," he said. "Yes, Master," I said. He was a soldier. He probably would have a distinctive tunic, in effect, a uniform, for his females. I had no doubt, too, he being a soldier, that it would display us well.
"Clothing privileges, of course, may be quickly revoked," he said.
"Of course, Master," I said.
"You look well," he said, "my former regal slut, now reduced to total slavery, naked and in slave bracelets."
"No," I whimpered. "No, no." I shook my head, helplessly, trying to deny his accusation.
"To my lips," he commanded.
I fled to him, and kissed him, deeply, as a slave. I drew back. I saw that I had kissed him too well. "No, no," I whimpered.
He took me by the upper arms and, thrusting me from behind forced me across the room. He then put me over one of the large chests at the side of the room. I felt the wood of the chest, and the iron bands. The key about my neck, on its string, made a small sound as it struck the wood.
"It is not my fault if I bear a resemblance to Sheila, the Tatrix of Corcyrus," I said.
"You kissed well," he said.
"Oh!" I cried, entered.
"Very well," he said.
"Thank you, Master," I moaned. Sometimes a slave girl does not understand the incredible power she exerts over men, what she can do to them with a kiss, with a glance, with a smile, a gesture, a touch. My wrists twisted helplessly in the slave bracelets.