“She is so different!” said Julian.
“Yes,” said Otto. “Now she is not only collared, but now knows herself collared.”
“I did not recognize her,” said Julian. “She is far more beautiful now.”
“Surely,” said Otto, “the collar does much for the beauty of a woman, in a thousand dimensions.”
“It is more than a collar,” said Julian.
“Of course,” said Otto. “It is the being of a slave.”
“She was the one, the assassin planted by Iaachus amongst slave girls?” said Julian.
“Yes,” said Otto.
“There was a knife,” said Tuvo Ausonius.
“Yes,” said Otto.
“Slaves fear even to touch a knife,” said Tuvo, “for fear of having their ears and nose cut off, and their hands.”
“At that time,” said Otto, “she naively thought herself free, thought to accomplish her act, and be rushed away to safety and wealth. Doubtless she grew disabused of this notion when she found the cattle bell of the Heruls chained about her neck.”
“It seems a shame to waste such a slave on Heruls,” said Julian.
“Perhaps she would be safer with them than the Farnichi,” said Tuvo Ausonius.
“I do not like the delay,” said Julian, looking about.
“Other mercantile delegations wait, too,” said Otto.
“Surely some have been admitted,” said Tuvo Ausonius.
“I am sure of it,” said Otto.
“You have wandered much about the compound,” said Julian.
“It seemed well to do so,” said Otto.
“Did you discover the housing of the princesses?” asked Julian.
“No,” said Otto.
“I thought not,” said Julian. “The princesses would be concealed, and guarded. Thus, there is little point to such peregrinations.”
“Perhaps there is more of interest in the compound than the princesses,” said Otto.
“What?” asked Julian.
“Let us not concern ourselves,” said Otto. “It is just a thought I have.”
“Is the ship ready for departure?” asked Julian.
“Yes,” said Otto.
“Somehow,” said Julian, “we must contact the princesses.”
“I fear there is little prospect of success,” said Tuvo Ausonius, “if we must fight our way free.”
“Subterfuge is in order,” said Julian. “There are slaves about, you have seen them. Drisriaks, like all strong men, are fond of slaves, and will have them. They particularly enjoy enslaving women of the empire. Supposedly they make excellent slaves. I wonder if they, in their silken, golden beds, know that. We will meet with the princesses, I trust privately. We carry with us collars, and tunics. We shall disguise the princesses as slaves, and conduct them to the ship, and make our departure. Of the hundreds of men in this compound, I suspect few would recognize the princesses, and fewer yet, in the guise of slaves.”
“It is a bold plan,” said Tuvo Ausonius, “but fraught with danger.”
“I trust the princesses, in their haughtiness and royal modesty, will approve of our plan,” said Otto.
“I have brought along soft cloths,” said Julian, “and a potion which, soaked into these cloths, might be applied perforce to the lovely visages of possibly reluctant princesses, producing almost immediately a state of unconsciousness. One need then only strip them and replace their doubtless splendidly concealing attire with a garb more suitable to slaves. We may then carry them, half naked, with collars on their necks, to the ship.”
“But we have not yet made contact with the princesses,” said Tuvo Ausonius. “And we have been here for days.”
“We must be patient,” said Julian.
“Surely you are apprehensive,” said Otto.
“Of course,” said Julian.
“Each of these other delegations were contacted, and invited here, by agents of Drisriaks,” said Otto. “I determined this by inquiry.”
“It is also clear, or seemingly so,” said Julian, “given the need for secrecy, and concealment, there has been little, if any, communication between such agents and Tenguthaxichai. A breaking of radio silence might soon cloud the sky with imperial ships. Thusly we pose as having been invited, a ruse which, if hazardous, appears vindicated, as we have not been challenged or molested. Our stay here has been, thus far, if trying, untroubled.”
“Look,” said Tuvo Ausonius, “one of the delegations is being summoned.”
“Good,” said Julian.
“Where is Rurik?” asked Otto.
“I have not seen him today,” said Julian.
54
“All other delegations have been summoned,” said Julian. “I do not care for this.”
“One delegation must be last,” said Otto.
“Where is Rurik?” asked Tuvo Ausonius, uneasily.
“He must be soon about,” said Julian. “Surely he must be aware of the imminence of the summoning.”
“He must be here,” said Tuvo Ausonius. “He is taken to be first in our group. He is the only member of the Farnichi family in our delegation. We are seen as agents, at best. He is the only one properly informed of the value of our goods. The rest of us might error in our representations. I, personally, cannot tell a false stone from a true stone, or the silk of Talis IV from that of Talis III. Let him appear swiftly! All may otherwise be undone!”
“We must speak boldly, and appear knowledgeable,” said Julian.
“Rurik would not have brought inferior goods,” said Otto.
“And what would be the intelligent asking price for a square foot of prime Sorbian slipper leather?” asked Tuvo.
“Surely Rurik will be here presently,” said Julian.
“And if he is not?”’ asked Tuvo Ausonius.
“In the false bottom of the red jewel case is a pistol with four charges,” said Julian.
“Perhaps these concerns will be for naught,” said Otto. “We may meet with the princesses privately.”
“Let us hope so,” said Tuvo.
“Where is Rurik?” asked Julian.
“Woe,” said Tuvo Ausonius, “I fear it is too late.”
“How so?” said Julian.
“A servitor approaches,” whispered Tuvo Ausonius.
“Gentlemen,” said the servitor, bowing slightly.
“Sir,” said Julian, rising.
“You are the Farnichi delegation,” said the servitor.
“Yes,” said Julian. “How is that we have not been summoned until now? Do you know with whom you deal? Do you not know the weight of a Farnichi delegation? Are you unfamiliar with suitable priorities?”
“Ten thousand pardons, noble sir,” said the servitor. “No slight, but rather great honor, was intended. Is not the king the last to enter the feasting hall? Is not the finest wine the last served, the most exquisite slave the last to dance before the Master’s table? The glory of the Farnichi is well known. Whose goods could compare with those of the Farnichi? All else, until now, is naught but preface and prologue.”
“Nonetheless, the delay grew tiresome for our leader, the high merchant, Rurik, scion of the high Farnichi,” said Julian.
“He must be about,” said Tuvo. “I am sure he will soon be present.”
“I do not understand,” said the servitor. “He is already present. He is in the selling chamber, the reception chamber, awaiting you.”
“Of course,” said Julian.
“Please be so kind as to gather up your goods,” said the servitor.
The goods were gathered up by Julian, Otto, and Tuvo Ausonius. Julian made it a point to carry one of them himself, a red jewel case.
“We are to be conducted into the presence of the daughters of the kings,” said Julian.
“How could it be otherwise?” said the servitor. “Please, follow me.”
55
“Who are you?” asked Julian. “Where is Rurik? We bring our goods. We would display them. Surely we have not come to lovely Tenguthaxichai in vain. Where are the daughters of kings?”
“Rather,” said Farrix, “who are you?”
“Members of the Farnichi delegation,” said Julian, “invited to assist in the gowning and bejeweling of the daughters of kings. Where may the fair maidens be?”