"Captain," said Talena, "in the room of the Ubar, in the Central Cylinder, we are planning a small supper this evening. I do hope you will honor us with your presence."
The Cosian regarded her.
"There will be delicacies from as far away as Bazi and Anango, she said, "and we shall open vessels of Falarian from the private stores of the Ubar."
"A sumptuous supper, indeed, he commented.
"Nothing pretentious," she said, "but nice."
"There is hunger in the city," he said.
"Unfortunately," said the Ubara, "there is not enough for everyone."
"I see," said he.
"Let them suffer for their crimes against Cos," she said.
"Of course," said he.
"Shall we expect you?" she asked.
"Is there to be entertainment?" he asked.
"Czehar music," she said, "and, later, the recitation of poetry by Milo, the famed actor, to the music of the double flute." The instrument which is played by the flute girls is a double flute, too, but I had little doubt that the player involved would not be a flute girl but someone associated with one or another of the theaters of Ar. Similarly the instrument would undoubtedly be far superior, in both range and tone, to those likely to be at the disposal of flute girls.
"I was referring," said he, " to entertainment."
"Whatever, Captain, could you have in mind?" she asked.
"I have duties," he said.
"Surely you do not mean "entertainment' in which females might figure?" she said.
"Is there another sort?" he asked.
"You have free woman in mind," she asked, "perhaps lute players."
"No," said he. "Females, female slaves."
"I see," she said.
"Dancers," he said.
"I see," she said.
"Or perhaps such as might figure as contestants in games, or as prizes, and such."
"Of course," she said.
"Perhaps Earth-girl slaves," he suggested.
"That would not do at all," said Talena. "They are the lowest of the low."
"Some are rather nice," he said.
"Perhaps we could find some girls from Turia," she said.
"Or Ar," he said.
"Captain!" she exclaimed.
"Ubara?" he asked.
"The women of Ar," she said, "are not suitable for such things."
"What of the women you consigned to the chain?" he asked.
"Well," she conceded, "such as thosea€”"
"I assure you," he said, "that the women of Ar, imbonded, grovel and lick and kiss, as well as other women."
"Undoubtedly," she said.
"It is necessary only to put them in their place," he said, "the place of females. The woman of Ar, in her place, the place of a female, is as hot and helpless, as eager and obedient, as devoted and dutiful, as any other slave."
"Undoubtedly," she said, angrily.
"Forgive me, Ubara," said he, "if I have offended you. I am not a courtier, not a diplomat. I am a soldier, a plain man, and I speak bluntly."
"I take no offense of course," said Talena, Ubara of Ar.
"I meant only to suggest," said he, "that there are women in Ar who are marvelously beautiful and exciting."
"I understand," she said.
"Ubara?" he said.
"I was thinking," she said. "What you say is undoubtedly true, that there must be some women of Ar at least, in all Ar, who are not only suitable for the collar, but belong in it."
"Of course," he said.
"I can think of some entertainment in which you might be interested," she said. "Ubara?" he asked.
"By nightfall," she said, "Claudia Tentia Hinrabia, of the Hinrabians, will be a collared slave."
"Yes," he said.
"Would you not be curious to see her dance?" she asked.
"She is not a dancer," he said.
"Surely she could be put through slave paces, and made to perform under a whip," she said.
"Of course," he said.
"And do you men not say that any woman can dance?" she laughed.
"To one extent or another," he said.
"And to the extent that her performance is unsatisfactory, she may be whipped," she said.
"Of course," he said.
"And perhaps I myself shall reserve the judgment on that matter," she said. "As is your prerogative, Ubara," he said.
"I think that will be amusing," she said, "to have the Hinrabian brought as an entertainer to my supper party, and have her perform as a slave, before men, in my viewing."
"Quite amusing," he said.
"When you return to your headquarters," she said, "please request your polemarkos, Myron, to also honor us with his presence."
"Your wish," he said, bowing, "is my command."
"I wish to have her perform as a slave before him, as well," she said.
"Your vengeance on the Hinrabian is profound indeed, Ubara," he said.
She laughed.
"The performance of the Hinrabian will be reserved for late in the evening, I gather?" he said.
"Yes," she said. "To accompany dessert."
"That seems fitting," he said.
"Superbly fitting," she laughed. "But come early. You would not wish to miss the czehar music nor the performance of Milo."
"You are retaining the czehar player and the actor then," he asked.
"Yes," she said. "I promised him."
"I shall come early," he promised, "and I do not doubt but what I shall be accompanied by Myron, my polemarkos."
"I shall look forward to seeing you both," she said.
"By the way," said he, "how will the supper be served?"
"By slave girls, of course," she said.
"Good," he said.
"Decorously clad," she said. "In long, white gowns."
"I see," he said.
"But their arms will be bared," she said.
"Oh, excellent," he smiled.
"Do not fret, Captain," she laughed. "The decorum of their attire will contrast nicely with that of the Hinrabian."
"Which will consist of a collar and a brand?" he asked.
"Precisely," she said.
"Excellent," he said.
"Let her see the contrast between herself and higher slaves," said Talena. "Superb," he said.
"After I withdrew for the evening, you may, of course," she said, "do what you wish with the serving slaves, and the Hinrabian."
"Our thanks, Ubara," said he, "those of myself and my polemarkos, and, too, of course, those of our staff members, guards and accompanying officers."
"It is nothing," said Talena.
The captain bowed once again, and then withdrew.
In a few moments the dais, and then the platform, was cleared. The crowd had long ago drifted away.
The long chain of women had been permitted to kneel after the last additions had been made to it. An auxiliary guardsman had come back up the line making certain that the women knelt with their knees widely apart. The heavy chain came to the belly of each, and then lay over the right leg of each, as she knelt, passing back then to the woman behind her. Their wrists, held closely together, were before their bodies. When they were to move out they would pass through a certain station where a Cosian slaver's man, with a marking tape, would measure them for their collar size. This number then would be written by another fellow, with a grease pencil, on their left breast, for the convenience of the fitter. The left breast is the usual place for the temporary recording of such information, presumably because most men are right-handed. In the Street-of-Brands district over a hundred braziers would be waiting, from each of which would project several irons. They were all to be marked with the cursive Kef, as common girls. That is the most common brand for female slaves on Gor. Claudia Tentia Hinrabia had already been branded, of course, long ago, so she needed only be recollared. Her brand, if it is of interest, was also the cursive Kef. It had amused Cernus to have that put on her, such a common brand, she a Hinrabian. But I did not think she objected to it. It is not merely a familiar brand, but, more importantly, a particularly lovely one.