"Come with me now," I said to her. "Comehome with me now." "I do not wish to do so," she said.

Kliomenes again gestured to the half-naked slave with the belled ankle that she refill the girl's cup.The slave did so deferentially, smiling. Her hair had been cut short and there was a steel collar on her neck.

"Come home with me now," I said to the girl. "Kliomenes is buying me a drin," she said. "He is a gentleman and a true man."

"I did not know she was yours," said Kliomenes, amuzed. "That is delightful."I am not his!" said the girl. "I am a free woman."

"Are you his companion?" asked Kliomenes. "No!" she said. "Is she your wench slave?" asked Kliomenes. "No," I said angrily."I share his quarters," she said angrily. "We are not even friends."

"Are you concerned for her?" asked Kliomenes."I wish her to return home with me now," I said."But she does not wish to do so," he smiled. "Do you wish to go with him now," he asked?" No," she said, snuggling against him. "You see?" asked Kliomenes.

"I am a free woman in all respects," she said. "and may and will do precisely as I please." "You have heard the Lady," said Kliomenes, putting his arm about her shoulders.

"You have heard the lady," said Kliomenes, putting his arm about her shoulder. "Kliomenes, meet Jason," she said. "Jason meet Kliomenes." Kliomenes inclined his head, amused.

"We have met, " I said. I remembered the tavern of Tasdro. I would presumably have been slain there had it not been for the intervention of the derelict, Callimachus, once a warrior of Por Cos.

"Begon, Buffoon," said Kliomenes, not pleasantly. I felt again the points of the swords of the two pirates at my chest."Begon, Buffoon," laughed the girl. "Have no fear," grinned Kliomenes. "I will see that she is taken care of properly." There was laughter in the tavern. "Begon, Buffoon," laughed the girl.

"Unless, said Kliomenes, rising to his feet, "you care to meet me with steel.My hand, wet with sweat, fingers moving against one another, opened and shut at the hilt of the sword I wore.Kliomenes looked at me grinning.

"Please Master," said Hibron, the proprietor of that low tavern, "I do not wish trouble. Please, Master!"

I turned about, angrily and strode from the tavern.There were tears of fury and helpless rage in my eyes. I knew myself no match for Kliomenes or the others.

I did not even know the first uses of the steel which I wore at my hip.As I left the tavern, I heard the laughter of Kliomenes and his men behind me, and the laughter too of the girl.

Outside the tavern I paused, fists clenched. I heard Kliomenes within call out. "More wine for the Lady Beverly, the free women!" There was laughter, "Yes, Master" I heard the slave with the wine vessel say, and heard the sensuous ring of the bells locked on her ankle as she hastened to comply.

I then returned home. I waited late fot the return of Beverly. In the morning I went as usual to the hiring year. When I returned home that night she had still not arrived, nor again, by the next morning.

21. I Hear the Ringing of an Alarm Bar; I am Not Accompanied to the Wharves

"Forget her Master," whispered Peggy. She lifed her head from the furs and kissed me. There was a tiny rustle of clain and collar. She was fastened by the neck to a ring at the back of the alcove.It had pleased me to so secure her this evening.

"I have," I said. Peggy laughed. "I am a slave," she said, "but I am not stupid."It is hard to forget the little slut," I said. "It is well known in Victoria how she betrayed you," said Peggy.

"Where did you hear that?" I asked. "And am I only a dock worker, known in Victoria?" I looked at her."Tasdron spoke of it in the tavern to free men and I and other slaves heard him speak."

I supposed there was little in Victoria that was not known to its nude or half-clad tavern slaves. Such girls in spite of their collars often know more of what transpires in a town or city than many free folks.

"Doubtless I am a laughing stock in Victoria," I said bitterly. "No, Master," she said, "But it is true that many are puzzled as to why you did ot at that time make her your total slave."

I said nothing."Your are known and respected in Victoira," she said. "You are known for your ability with your fists, a thing which Gorean men can understand, and for your work on the docks and for your strength."

"Is it also known how I withdrew from the tavern of Hibron the Pirate's Chain, when I sought there the Lady Beverly?" I asked."You call the little slut a Lady" she asked.I looked at her sternly."Forgive me Master," she smiled. "but I saw her in the restaurant on Earth. I assure you that she is as much or more a slut than I, and fully worthy or more worthy than I for the degrading circlet of bondage."

I looked up, lying on my back, at the low ceiling of the alcove.

"Yes," she smiled. " it is well known in Victoria what occurred in the tavern of Hibron but none blame you. You are not the master of the sword and even had you been, you were grievously outnumbered. None blame you, I assure you. Indeed many feel you were courageous to have even entered the tavern under the circumstances to attempt to extract the unwitting little fool from the situation in which she had placed herself."

"I did not fight," I said."You had no choice," she said."I withdrew," I said. "You had no choice," she said."I am a coward," I said. "That is not true," she said. "In such a situation only a master swordsman or a fool or a madman, would have fought." "I see," I said.

"A wise man would have withdrawn as he did," she said. "Or a coward," I said."You are not a coward," she said. "Glyco, the Merchant of Port Cos, has spoken freely of your bravery on the wharves, in your recovery of his purse. "Oh," I said.

"And the thief, Grat, the swift, who has long been a nuisance in Victoria, has fled the town, obedient to your command."

"That is interesting," I said. I had not even know his name.

"There are even those who say there should be guardsmen in Victoria, and that you should be chief among them," she said. We were silent for a time.

"The stronghold of Policrates is impregnable," she said. "You are an intelligent woman," I said. "Do not attempt it," she said. I was silent. I had, I knew the means whereby I might, if I wished, gain admission to that dark, rearing fortress, the walled river cove at its base.

"Forget her, Master," advised Peggy."I have seen Glyco of Port Cost, in the tavern," I said. "He had wished to see Callimachus once of Port Cos. I have seen them more than once on various nights engaged in conversek Glyco earnest and Callimachus sullen and noncommital."It is true," said Peggy. "Of what do they speak?" I asked."I do not know Master," said Peggy, "We girls are warned away from their table, save when we are called forth to serve, and then they remain silent, except to give us our commands.

"How long is Glyco to remain in Victoria?" I asked. "I do not know Master," said Peggy. "Perhaps he is gone now, for he has not been tonight to my knowledge in the tavern." Peggy fingered the chain dangling from her collar. "Master seems curious," she said. "Master seems curious," said said.

"I would like to know the business of Glyco with Callimachus," I said."I will tell you one thing I know," she said. "Glyco stays with the guardsmen of Port Cos near the wharves. "Not in an inn?" I asked. "No," she said. "Interesting," I said.

"And it is said too," she whispered, coming close to me, the chain on her neck touching my chest, as she put her head over me, "that Glyco is not only a merchant but stands high in the merchant council of Port Cos."

"I wonder what such a man is doing in Victoria, speaking with Callimachus," I said. "I do not know Master," she said. Then suddenly she pressed her softness against me, in a slave girl's piteous need. "I am only a slave permitted to live on the sufferance of men that she may please them," she said.I then took her in my arms.