"Craven rabble," I said. "Why can they not be brave Re the others?" "Waitl" said Drusus Rencius, stopping. He lifted the torch, which he carried in his left hand, increasing the range of its illumination, and put out his right band, holding me back, a barrier to my advance.

"What is it?" I asked.

"I heard something," he said. "Stay back."

I stepped back. The sword of Drusus Rencius left its sheath. I now understood why he, though right-handed, had been carrying the torch in his left hand. It facilitated an immediate draw.

"I do not hear anything," I said.

"Be quiet," he said.

I suddenly saw, emerging from the darkness, three shapes. "Tal, Soldier," said one of them.

"Tal," said Drusus Rencius. He backed against a wall. I stood very near him, frightened.

"We are lost," said one of the shapes, ingratiatingly. He drew a sheet of paper from within his tunic. "I have directions here, on a sheet of paper. You have a torch."

"Do not approach," said Drusus Rencius.

The fellow smiled and, slowly, in his fingers, wadded up the sheet of paper, and dropped it to the street.

Three swords then left their sheaths.

"Give us the woman," said the man.

"No," said Drusus Rencius.

I suddenly cried out, seized from the side, and I saw Drusus Rencius, the torch flung to the side, lunge toward the man who had been in the center of the first two. One man, one of two who had been approaching us from the side, threw me back against a wall. I could not move because of his presence. My veil, not even unpinned, was. wadded and thrust back, deeply in my mouth. I heard swords clashing.

I was turned to the side and my robes of concealment were pulled forward and down, over my head. A narrow strap was then slung about my head and pulled back, deeply between my teeth, and tied tightly behind the back of my neck. This secured the entire arrangement. I then, in my own garments, had been effectively gagged and hooded. I was then turned to the wall and my hands were jerked behind my back. In a moment, with two or three loops of cord, they were fastened in place. I then felt myself lifted to the shoulder of a man. I was utterly helpless. I heard another sword, quite near me, sliding from its sheath. "Runl" I heard a man cry. I was flung then from his shoulder, striking my own shoulder against a wall, and sliding down to the street. I heard feet running away. "They are gone," I heard Drusus Rencius say.

I whimpered as loudly as I could. Only such tiny, piteous noises were permitted me by the gag.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. "There you are," said Drusus Rencius.

I heard a sword laid on the stones behind me. Then, feeling about my head, Drusus Rencius undid the strap that held my gag and hood in place. The fresh air felt good on my face. I could hardly see him, but inches from me. The torch had gone out. He, in the darkness, adjusted my veil.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. "Who were they?"

"Probably slavers," he said. "I do not know. They are gone now." "Slavers?" I whispered, in horror.

"Probably," he said. "It was you they were interested in. They did not appear to be young ruffians out for an evening's sport. Too, they seem to have handled you with an efficiency that comes with training and practice."

I was then silent, trembling.

"They are gone now," said Drusus Rencius.

"My hands are tied," I whimpered.

"Forgive me," be said. He then, after a moment, bad freed my wrists. He then picked up his blade. He then rose to his feet. I was on my knees, then, before him. I held him about the legs, and put my face against his leg. I was terrified from what had occurred. I was still trembling.

"Get up," he said, angrily. "Your behavior seems too much like that of a woman." "I am a woman," I said.

"No," he said. "You are a Tatrix."

I sobbed.

"Get up," he said.

"I could have been carried into slavery," I said, frightened, holding him. "You torturing slut," he snarled, suddenly, "I am tempted to put chains on you myself."

"Are you so attracted to me, Drusus?" I said, startled. "So attracted to me that you would be satisfied with nothing less than my total submission?"

"Torturing slut!" he said. "Get up!"

"You do desire me!" I said. "You desire me with the most powerful desire with which a man can desire a woman, that he own her completely, that she be his total slave!"

"I hate you, and despise you!" he said.

"And want me!" I said.

"Let us return to the palace," he said, "before I leave you here in the darkness, a prey to those who, more than I, would see to it that you get what you deserve."

"And what is it that I deserve, Drusus," I asked, at his feet.

"A marked thigh," he said, angrily, "and a collar-encircled neck.

"Do you think that I am a slave? I cried.

"You would make an ideal slave," he said.

"Insolence!" I cried.

"Truth," he said.

I cried out in rage.

"But you are not a slave," he said. "Get up."

"It is fortunate for me that I am not a slave, isn't it," I asked, "at the feet of a man such as you?"

"Yes," he said, "it is very fortunate for you."

"And what would you do with me," I asked, "if you did own me?' "Give me your hands," I said.

He then helped me up.

I smoothed my robes. "It is interesting to know that you desire me," I said He was silent.

"Indeed," I said, "it is quite amusing. Perhaps I should have you whipped for insolence. Do not. aspire above your station, Drusus. I am a Tatrix. You are nothing, only a guard."

"Yes, Tatrix," he said.

"I hold you in contempt," I said. "I scorn you. I am worlds above you." "Yes, Tatrix," he said.

"And do not forget it," I said.

"No, Tatrix," he said.

"What are you doing?" I asked. I had seen his arm move, with the blade. "I am cleaning the blade, wiping it on my tunic," he said., "Cleaning it?" I asked.

"In driving the men off, I wounded two of them," he said.

"Are you all right?" I asked.

"Yes," he said. I resisted an impulse to kneel before him, begging to lick the blood from the blade, begging him then to dry it in my hair.

"Is it clean?" I asked.

"Yes," he said.

"Do not sheathe it until we reach the palace," I said. "The streets are dark." "I have no intention of doing so," he said.

"At least," I said, "I have satisfied myself as to the condition of the citizenry and the status of the city."

"How is that?" he asked.

"'You heard, surely," I said. "The people make light of privations. They are loyal. They are devoted to their Tatrix."

"Such are the answers to be given.to such questions in Corcyrus," he said. "I do not understand," I said.

"The people are afraid," he said. "You have inspired terror. Your rule is one of iron."

"I do not understand," I said.

"Fool, your spies are everywhere," he said. "The people to whom you spoke probably mistook you, ironically enough, for one of your own spies."

"I have no spies," I said.

"I can name seven," said Drusus Rencius. "How many you have, of course, I do not know."

I shuddered, confused. These spies, if, indeed, there were any, must be reporting to someone else, perhaps to Ligurious.

"Will we light the torch on the way home?" I asked.

"I think it will be safer to move silently in the darkness," said Drusus Rencius.

"Perhaps you are right," I said, shuddering.

"Please follow me, a bit behind," said Drusus Rencius. "I mean this as no insult to you."

"I understand," I said. I certainly had no objections, under the circumstance, to heeling him like a slave.

"Are you coming?" he asked. He turned about.

"It is so dark," I said.

"I do not think it will be safe to remain here," he said. "Try to follow me." "I am afraid," I said. I could not see my footing.