Then, head down, she trembled and wept. How shamed she was that her slavery had been so clarified and manifested before Callimachus. I glanced to Callimachus. He did not seem concerned with the girl. What to him, were the helpless confessions of a lovely, meaningless slave?
"Aemilianus is not here," I said. "When he unbound me and sent me from his compartment," she said, "ordering me to return to my master, he did nothing but dismiss me. I do not know if he will come or not."
"At least Aemilianus knows how to handle a woman," said Tasdron. "Yes, Master," said the girl.
I put the chain with the girl bell and coin box on the low table. There was a sound of bells, and Tasdron had agains locked slave bells on Peggy's left ankle. He picked up the tiny bit of slave silk which we had earlier ordered her to remove, before disguising her as a Coin Girl and sending her into the streets to fetch Aemilianus to our meeting. He tossed her the bit of silk. "You may put on the silk," he said. "Yes Master," she said.
It amused me to see how gratfully she slipped the brief bit of scandalous, diaphanous yellow silk about her body, how pleased she was to do so, though it was naught but a laughting mockery of a garment, one obviously only for a female slave. Some free women think they would rather go naked than wear such a garment, but then they have not yet been made slves. It they were slaves, then they too I believe would find it very precious.
"Bring us food and drink," said Tasdron to Peggy."Yes, Master," she said, and swiftly with a rustle of bells left the room.
"Where is Glyco?" asked Tasdron. "He had only to fetch Callisthenes, whom he knows. There should be no difficulty in that. They should have been here more than an Ahn ago." "I do not know," I said. "Perhaps they have met with foul play," said Tasdron. "I do not know," I said. "Spies are everwhere," said Tasdron, miserably. "Perhaps our projects have already been uncovered."
"The tavern has not yet been burned," I pointed out. "Oh excellent," said Tasdron irritatedly. I smiled."You do not understand the dangers implicit in these endeavours, do you not?" inquired Tasdron. "I think so," I said.
"There is someone now at the door in the back." said Callimachus.
Tasdron hurried through the rear door of the room and down the corridor to the alley door. He slid back a narrow panel and then shut the panel and opened the door. Two figures were admitted, and the door was closed and locked behind them. I recognized the figure of Glyco, portly and short-legged, breathing heavily, warpped in a long brown cloak, which concealed the white and gold of the merchant's in advance. The second man, tall and rangy, was he who had interrogated me in the headquarters of the men of Port Cos a few days earlier, when on the asseverations of Miss Henderson, I had been taken into custody. I had been released after the testimonies afforded by Tasdron, who had made it clear to him that I, well known in Victoria, and having arrived from the east on the river, could not be the courier ofRagnar Voskjard. He had also taken Miss Henderson into custody as I recalled. He had turned her over to me, bound, when I had been released. I had not, however, slain her nor sold her into slavery. I had returned her to my house, unpunished and in honor. She was, after all, a woman of Earth. Later of course, she had been captured by Kliomenes, the lieutenant to Policrates, the pirate, and taken to the stronghold of Policrates. There in full Gorean legality she had been again enslaved, as months before, she had been in the House of Andronicus, in Vonda, when first she had been brought to Gor as a helpless Earth girl to be branded and collared and sold to Gorean brutes for their pleasure. Indeed in my visit to the stronghold of Policrates, she had served me, and well, as a slave, though not knowing it was I whom she served. It was in that visit that I had learned thaat the little Earth beauty belonged in a collar.
The tall man, behind Glyco, entered the room. He wore a brown cloak over his uniform. In his left hand, held against his body, there was a helmet, crested with sleen hair.I know knew him to be Callisthenes.His left shoulder was hunched. His right hand, strong long-fingered, wide, seemed fit for the hilt of the Gorean blade.
"Greetings, Callissthenes," said Callimachus, rising to greet him.
"Greetings Captain," said Callisthenes. "Glyco told me that you would be in attendance." "I am no longer captain," said Calllimachus. "It is now you who are the captain." "There are various captains in Port Cos," grinned Callisthenes. "How are the men?" asked Callimachus. "They remember you, as I do," said Callisthenes, "with warmth."
The two men clasped hands. This pleased me, for I had feared there might be friction between them. It had been on the evidences supplied by Callisthenes that Callimachus had been removed from his command. Callimachus, however, bore him no ill will on this account. Callisthenes in the circumstances, to the thinking of Callimachus, had had no choice in the matter. He had done his duty as he should have, unpleasant and painful though it might have been for him.
"We used to drink together," said Callimachus to Tasdron. "It was largely on the recommendation of Callimachus, after he was relieved of his command," said Callisthenes, "that I was promoted to the captaincy." "A noble act," said Tasdron to Callimachus.
"He was the best qualified man to replace me," said Callimachus. "Otherwise, in spite of my affection for him, I would not have acted as I did."I have tried to live up to your trust," said Callisthenes. "To the trust of a fallen man, a drunkard?" smiled Callimachus."We shall always think of you as our captain," said Callisthenes.
"You are a fine officer," said Callimachus, "and it is a splendid command."You taught me much," said Callisthenes, "and you trained it well."
Again the two men clasped hands, warmly. I stood to one side, not speaking. "Do I not know you?" asked Callisthenes, turning to me. I saw some recollection in his eyes. "I was one of several suspects you brought in for interrogation in the matter of the serach for the topaz," I said.
"Yes," said Callissthenes. "And here is Tasdron, is it not, who testified on your behalf?" "It is," said Tasdron. "What is your name?" asked Callisthenes. "Jason," I reminded him. "Yes," said Callisthenes, "Jason, from the docks." "Yes," I said.
"I would have been here earlier," said Glyco to Tasdron, "but I could not readily find Callisthenes."I was about my duties," said Calliathenes.
"Your shoulder," said Tasdron. "It seems injured,"I fell," said Callisthenes. "Is there anything we can do for you?" inquired Tasdron. "It is nothing," said Callisthenes. He then looked about from one of us to the other. "What is afoot here?" he asked Callimachus. "Is it true that you have some news of the topaz?"
"We shall explain all shortly, I trust," said Callimachus. "What is the delay?" asked Callisthenes. "We are waiting for one more person," said Callimachus. "Who?" asked Callisthenes. "One whom it is important that you meet," said Callimachus. "Very well, "Said Callisthenes.
There was a knock on the door leading to the central room of the tavern. "Enter," said Tasdron.
Peggy, a tray balanced in one hand, opened the door. "Masters," she said, lowering her head."Serve," said Tasdron to her. "Yes Master," said Peggy.
"Sit," invited Tasdron, and we took places about the low table, sitting about it, cross-legged. Callisthenes put his helmet beside the talble and threw back his cloak. His tunic bore the insigna of Port Cos. Peggy knelt before the table and beagn to place the cups, the bessels, and plates on the table. One plate was of meat, another of breads, another of sliced fruits, ther fourth of nuts and cheeses. Each of us, with our fingers, would eat as we wished from the common plates. She had brought, too, paga, Cosian wine and water.