Pileth led me toward a wide doorway to the rear of the room. The doorway was one that had seen much use since my arrival, it being the one from whence the slavewomen came, and also the one through which many of the males had passed, only to return at a later time, seeming much satisfied. Pileth led me to and I saw that we were preceded by a male who had a slavewoman in tow by the hair. The slavewoman whimpered, yet made no attempt to escape the grasp of the male, and then had little chance of doing so. The male thrust her through one of the many small doorways inside, and then pulled the door shut behind him. Most of the small doorways were also closed, but some few still stood open. Pileth chose the first of these that he reached, and drew me past him to the narrow space beyond, then pulled shut the door and slid a bar into place. Barely two paces wide by three long was the space, and it had naught save a lenga pelt upon the floor, and a single candle within a box upon the far wall. As Pileth began removing his leather and metal covering and swordbelt, I, too, removed my swordbelt and put it aside. Quickly, then, were the male’s hands upon me, giving me pleasure as Fideran had so often done. It is truly said that a warrior loses half the pleasure to be had when she must use a male who is bound. As we took ourselves down to the caress of the lenga pelt, I heard the sob of a woman not far off. The sob had not been one of pleasure, and as Pileth’s lips sought me, I surmised that the slavewoman had now been taught the foolishness of not at least attempting escape. Therefore, I thought only of the pleasure of Pileth.
4
The Palace of the High Seat—and its dungeons
I stretched lazily upon the lenga pelt, then rose to my feet and retrieved my sword. Pileth had already gone. He was angry, which I truly regretted. Magnificent had he been in use, although he much resented the presence of my dagger, which had assured that the war leader Jalav would not receive from a male. He, too, had had pleasure, of this I was certain, yet did the maleness of him resent the position in which he had had his pleasure. He had dressed and quickly left, speaking no words, and this had caused me to sigh with regret. Why must males be as foolish as they are? From their actions, one would think they thought themselves of the Midanna.
I retraced my steps through the narrow area, seeing more of the small doors standing opened, then pushed through to the large room once again. The same number of males seemed present, and Larid and Binat sat laughing with the hunters, he who had been pursuing Larid now all smiles with his arm about her. Pileth sat with the males he had brought, his back stiffly toward me, a pot of renth tight in his hand.
“More renth!” called he who sat by Larid, a large grin upon his face as his arm tightened about her. “Renth for me, and renth for everyone! I now have the price to bathe in renth!”
All laughed at his gleeful words. However, as I approached the hunters and my warriors, Pileth and his males rose from the cloth and as cold as the depths surrounding the Entry to Mida’s Realm were his eyes.
“I would know from whence came your sudden riches,” Pileth said to the hunter, pointedly not noticing my presence. “I feel the High Seat shall find interest in such information.”
“Do not fear, Guardsman,” laughed the hunter, swallowing at his renth and spilling a good deal of it upon his covering. “There is more than enough to allow me to bathe in renth, and still leave the High Seat’s proportion untouched. Look you here.”
The hunter removed his arm from about Larid, and then opened his hand. I smiled when I saw two of the bright stones that are given to males by Midanna, to ease the male’s insult at being used. Greatly pleased must Larid have been with the male, for never had she given more than one stone in the past. I, too, carried a number of the stones in a small pocket on the underside of my clan covering, and I regretted not having thought to give one or two to Pileth.
“More than enough indeed,” nodded Pileth coldly, staring at the stones in the hunter’s hand. “Yet, I have still not heard from whence they came.”
“They were given me by this lovely child,” laughed the hunter, replacing his arm about Larid. “I have often said that my performance is fit to be paid for by famales. This one has merely proven the point.”
All about laughed at this comment, all, that is, save Pileth and his males. His eyes were still as cold as they had been, yet something unnameable gleamed from within.
“No mention was made of this when first you entered the gate,” said Pileth, and a great silence fell all about us at his words. “I, myself, was present, and clearly do I recall that no mention was made.”
“I had not known that you would earn nor desire such a stone,” I answered, “Gladly will I give you two of the same, for surely your use has entitled you to them.”
Pileth’s lips tightened to a straight, thin line, and the hunter beside Larid rose quickly to his feet in the silence, his face considerably paler than it had been.
“Captain, I had no knowledge of this!” he cried, his fist tight about the stones. “And surely do I believe that these females knew not what they did! In the name of the blessed High Seat, allow them to declare the jewels now!”
A murmur of agreement arose from the other hunters who still sat upon the cloth, although I did not understand what disturbed them. Pileth smiled coldly.
“As Captain of the Guard of the High Seat,” said he in a flat voice, “I arrest you for smuggling, for attempting to evade the payment of the just proportion to the High Seat, and for attempting to bribe an officer of the High Seat. Guardsmen! Gather the others of these she-gandod!”
I still had no understanding of his words, but his actions required no explanation. As his hand moved toward my sword, abruptly he found it already unsheathed and pointed toward him. He jumped back quickly with an oath, losing no time bearing his own blade, and then began to advance upon me again.
Now was there much shouting about us in the room, and Pileth’s males had also drawn their blades. Larid and Binat were quickly upon their feet with blade in hand, and two of Pileth’s males moved to engage each of them. The final two, moving before Pileth, remained to try the ability of the war leader, and forward they came with confidence, sure of the protection they had with their leather and metal covering. I joyfully sounded the battle cry of the Hosta and charged, my sword slashing at them as they moved, forcing them to defend themselves, and retreat. The male on my left reacted foolishly to a low thrust, and the point of my blade rose quickly and entered his left eye, ending his sight and his life as well. As quickly as thought, I slashed to the right, causing that male to scream as his head was shortened, yet quickly did the scream end as his body fell, and none save Pileth still stood before me.
Pileth glanced at his fallen males, his face pale with the realization that now I came toward him. I was Jalav, war leader of the Hosta of the Midanna, and in battle there can be no forgiveness nor quarter. Well I knew that my eyes shone with battle joy, my body alive and readied, my hand firm upon the hilt of my sword. Pileth, his eyes clearly upon me, raised his sword and stood his ground, and that pleased me mightily, as a warrior dislikes the slaughter of the helpless and fearful. Again I stepped toward Pileth, but one farther step from him—and was struck from behind upon the head, a blow hard enough to make my senses blur. I felt that I sank to my knees, unable to stop myself, my hands before me upon the brown and green cloth. Well I knew that Pileth would now be free to take my life, and I called a greeting to Mida even as I attempted to rise once again to my feet. I would die erect as a war leader should, yet was this glory denied me. Again a blow came from behind, and the chill of darkness claimed me.