"Yes, Master," she said.
"You will serve him well," he said.
"Yes, Master," she said.
"You will be treated as the slave you are."
"Yes, Master," she said.
"But have no fear," he said. "You will receive, I assure you, in this sort of bondage, low and common, and absolutely uncompromising, your complete fulfillment, both as a female and a slave."
"Yes, Master," she said.
She then licked and kissed his hands, cleaning them. He then wiped his hands on her sweat-dampened hair. He then left the room. I following him. I glanced back. The slave on the perch was looking after him, her dark, wet hair much before her chained body, her eyes were filled with awe. She was pretty I thought, the slave, Luchita.
"What did you learn from her?" I asked, once the door was closed."
"You may kneel, Lady Cara," he said.
The woman from Venna, with a movement of chains, rose from her belly to kneel beside his desk. She knelt in the position of the pleasure slave, back on her heels, back straight, head up, knees spread, palms of her hands on her thighs. "We learned a great deal, in a sense," he said, "but most of it we already knew, or suspected, from various other sources. Two things, however, came as a surprise to us."
"May I inquire?" I asked.
"Of course," he said. "Otherwise I would not have brought you here in the first place. It is because of these things I had you brought here."
"Speak, please," I encouraged him. "Should I be fetched from the room, Master?" asked Lady Cara. Because of the nature of her ankle chaining, it would have been difficult for her to walk.
Suddenly cuffed, she fell to her side, blood at her mouth. "Did you ask permission to speak? he asked. In a situation of this sort it was common, though not always required, that a slave request permission to speak. Apparently this officer, in this sort of situation, did require his women to request such permission. Lady Cara, after this, would be in no doubt about this.
"No, Master," she said. "Forgive me Master."
He snapped his fingers. Immediately she resumed her former position.
"The main forces of Cos are here," he said, "in the vicinity of Torcadino, now, at the moment, investing it."
"I am sure that is common knowledge," I said.
"One would think so," he said, "but two things which disturb and puzzle me we have learned recently, only this morning, from our little informant in the other room. First, a movement of Cosian troops, originating in Brundisium, apparently several regiments, are moving eastward, parallel to the Vosk."
"Toward Ar's Station?" I speculated. This was Ar's stronghold on the Vosk. It was situated on the southern bank, east of Jort's Ferry and west of Forest Port, both on the northern bank.
"Presumably so," he said.
"It must be a diversion," I said.
"Presumably Ar's Station, if subjected to attack, could be relieved by a small force," he said, "and a countermarch to the coast could cut off the Cosians from their base in Brundisium."
"I would think so," I said.
"Why then, according to our information, and this is the second item of interest here, is Ar preparing, if this is correct, to launch its main forces northward toward Ar's Station?"
"That would be madness," I said.
"That is the information which the spies of Cos in Ar have transmitted to the Polemarkos," he said. "They must be must be mistaken," I said.
"Perhaps," said the officer, moodily.
"The main forces of Cos are here, by Torcadino," I said. "If the main might of Ar is sent northward there would be a free road from the trenches about Torcadino almost to the gates of Ar themselves. The land between here and Ar, and the city itself, would be in effect without defense."
"I think there can be only one plausible explanation for this," said the officer, "a€”That the councils of Ar do not know that the main force of Cos is here."
"That seems incredible," I said.
"What other explanation could there be?" he asked.
"That the spies of the Polemarkos are simply mistaken," I said.
"Perhaps," he said.
"There is, of course, another," I said.
"What is that?" he asked.
"Treachery in Ar," I said.
"Of this enormity?" he asked.
I shrugged.
"Unthinkable," he said.
"Surely you have thought it," I said.
"Yes," he said, "I have considered it."
"Why did you ask me about the delta of the Vosk?" I asked.
"Because I think the move toward Ar's Station is a diversion," he said. "And because the Cosians could be too easily cut off from Brundisium."
"You think they will withdraw into the delta?" I asked.
"I would," he said.
"So, too, would I," I said.
"And the main forces of Ar may be marching toward Ar's Station," he said, grimly.
The hair on the back of my neck rose.
"They could not be lured into that area," I said.
"I would think not," he said.
"No sane commander in such a situation could issue orders to enter the delta in force," I said, "certainly not without obtaining guides, accumulating transportation, organizing supplies and support, treating with the natives of the area, and so on."
"In such a place an army might disappear" he said.
"Never will Ar march northward in force," I said, "not with Cos entrenched outside Torcadino."
"Why has Ar not yet moved?" he asked.
"I do not know," I said.
"I can hold Cos here for the winter," said the officer. "That is probably all." "What would you like of me?" I asked.
"Gnieus Lelius," said he, "high councilor, first minister to Ar, is regent in the absence of Marlenus. I have here letters to be delivered to him. They outline the dispositions of the main forces of Cos and the situation in Torcadino. Too, I have letters here for Seremides, high general of Ar. They bear the seal of the silver tarn. I do not think you will have difficulty obtaining an audience with him" I had once known a Seremides in Ar. To be sure, such names are common.
"I understand," I said.
"With these letters, of course," he said, "I shall include letters of safety." "How shall we pass through the forces of Cos?" I asked. "Such letters may have their weight with those of Ar but would scarcely seem designed to impress Cosians."
"You and your party will seem to be ejected from the city with other civilians," he said, "some thousand or so who will held until tomorrow. I do not think you will attract much attention. Indeed, Cos encourages the dispersion of these refugees, as it has little inclination to care for them."
"I see," I said.
"You were intending to Ar anyway, were you not?" he asked.
"Yes," I admitted.
"You will, of course, be well paid for your trouble," he said. He threw a weighty purse upon the table.
I looked at it.
"It is mostly silver," he said, "and some copper. Gold would provoke suspicion." "I would suppose I am not the first you have entrusted with such a mission," I said.
"No," he said. "You are the fifth. I have sent others with such letters, warnings, and such, as long ago as Tarnburg, and as recently as the banks of the Issus."
"Your messages then must have been already received," I said.
"Apparently not," he said. "I have, at any rate, as yet, received no responses." "This could be dangerous," I speculated.
"I think that is quite possible," he said. "I would exercise great caution, if I were you."
"What if I do not wish to do this?" I asked.
"You need not do it, of course," he said. "Beyond that, for your trouble, and with no hard feelings, I shall give you letters of safety which will conduct you and your party safely through my men."
"That is very generous," I said.
"I place you under no pressure whatsoever," he said.
"I shall do it," I said.
"I knew you would," he said.