The Crystals of Mida

8 A journey—and a meeting in the forests

I was already awake when Ceralt and Telion opened their eyes. In the near dark of the room, faint light coming from between the wood upon the window, I had untied the leather from my collar, and was then attempting to force my hand free of the metal upon my wrist, as the metal had refused to yield to my attempts to open it. With some pain did I pull my hand against it, willing, even, to break the hand, should that free me of the restraint.

“I believe our slave is attempting escape,” came Ceralt’s voice, lazy, still, with the sound of sleep to it.

“I believe so,” agreed Telion with a yawn. “Perhaps she does not care for our company.”

I turned my head, and in the dimness could see them, studying me where I knelt by the wall, working upon the metal. The Mida-forsaken metal lay close upon my wrist, the circle of it wide enough for my wrist, yet too small, by far, for my hand.

“Are you not able to escape, slave?” asked Ceralt, his fingers upon the back of my leg. “It is only metal upon you, the metal of men. Surely the metal of men is inferior to the leather of women.”

“All things of males are inferior to those of warriors,” said I, kicking at his hand. “Had I the physical strength of males, I would find no need for the use of metal! Yet what may one expect from those who have no souls?”

“Our souls are quite as fat as yours,” said Telion, striking me sharply with his hand, as Larid had been struck. I turned and kicked at him as well, yet did he move from range of my foot, and stand to stretch broadly. “I could do with a bit to eat, Ceralt,” said he, with another yawn. “What say you?”

“Definitely so,” agreed Ceralt. Then he rose to one knee, and struck me as Telion had, before stepping from the mat. “Are you prepared to travel, girl?” he asked, reaching for his covering as I clenched my fists. “We have a distance to go, for Ranistard is not near.”

“A warrior is ever prepared to travel,” I said, remembering, as I watched them dress, that Ranistard was more my goal than theirs. When their coverings were upon them, Ceralt threw mine to me, and both watched as I replaced it about my hips. When it was secure, Telion approached me. First, to my fury, was the leather reknotted to my collar, then I was released from the wall. As I rubbed my now free wrist, I thought upon that small piece of metal that released the bonds and saw that Telion placed it within his covering. One would do well to try the small metal before one resorted to breaking one’s own hand.

I was once more taken to the room below, Ceralt following behind. Barely had the sky begun to lighten, yet were Nidisar and Fayan already there before us. Nidisar sat at the platform as he had the fey previous, and Fayan, too, knelt as she had, yet with head down, and anger in the set of her shoulders. Telion pulled me to the place beside Fayan, and I was thrust to the floor, the leather then being easily tied. On all fours did I kneel, again filled with fury, and my hair fell about my arms to frame my face as the two males did lazily take their places at the platform.

“Share my food, friends,” invited Nidisar pleasantly, gesturing toward the boards of meat upon the platform. “The old mother prepared this upon my request, therefore it is fresh and hot.”

“And welcome, as well,” said Ceralt as he and Telion chose cuts of meat for themselves. “I do not care for the acquaintance of hunger, and the sight of good food sets running the juices of my appetite. Have you ever seen that the exertions of darkness give better taste to the first food of the new light?”

“I did so notice,” laughed Nidisar as Telion grinned. “And exertions there were aplenty. Here, Jalav. You may use this.” I raised my head to him, and saw that he held a wooden comb in his hand, which he proffered to me. “Fayan has already used it,” said he, “for I dislike dishevelment in a woman. Your hair, too, should be seen to.”

Fayan’s hair lay neatly combed and unbound by war leather. My war leather, too, was gone, and when she did not raise her eyes to mine, I understood. Instead, I looked upon Nidisar and folded my arms.

“You now show better sense in choosing combs, Nidisar,” said I with an approving nod. “Perhaps you, unlike other males, possess the ability to learn.” I then unfolded my arms and extended my hand. “Give it here.”

Nidisar frowned, yet before he was able to withdraw the comb, I took it from him as though he had obeyed my word. Fayan burst out with uncontrollable laughter, and I smiled upon Nidisar, reminded of the time we had thrown spears together. Perhaps he, too, remembered the time, for a grudging smile touched him before he laughed full out and shook his head.

“Ah, Jalav, you are a terror, indeed,” said he, looking fondly upon me as I combed my hair. “I would not have the ownership of you for all the silver in Bellinard.”

“Yet, perhaps you would care for the use of her,” murmured Ceralt, who had not been amused by the exchange. Telion had smiled with Nidisar’s laughter, yet Ceralt had been annoyed. “You may have her, come darkness, if you wish, brother,” said he. “She must learn the proper manner with men.”

I looked upon Ceralt without expression, not ceasing in my combing, yet surely was he able to see the hatred in my eyes as I said with unconcern, “The touch of Nidisar would be most welcome—after what has already been offered me.”

Ceralt, with true anger, made as if to rise, though Telion’s hand held fast to his arm. “She is but a child, Ceralt, and knows no better,” said he softly. “Take the leather to her, if you must, but see her as the foolish child she is.”

“She is no child,” growled Ceralt, his eyes still upon me, “yet foolish she most certainly is.” Then he turned again to his meat. “The leather is a good thought, Telion,” he continued with a mouthful. “It would take much of the bite from the she-hadat. What think you of my offer, Nidisar?”

“I shall consider it,” said Nidisar with a grin for me. “Perhaps in return for the use of my comb. And the leather is most effective, Ceralt. Look here.”

Nidisar then took a bit of the meat in his hand, and held it out to Fayan’s lips. I thought him most foolish to do so, as Fayan only pressed her lips together in refusal. Her anger was strong, then, yet she did not meet his eyes.

“So you see,” grinned Nidisar, removing the meat from before Fayan’s lips. “She has learned the meaning of her actions, and what they will bring. By the next light, she will not refuse the meat.”

The other males laughed in appreciation of Nidisar’s accomplishment, yet did Fayan’s head lower further in misery and shame. I knew not what Nidisar had done to her; my hand, now free, was not kept from her shoulder. She was sister to me, and now was shamed for no reason other than that she had chosen to stay by my side. The shame was more mine than hers, and I begged Mida to make Fayan know this. Fayan’s eyes turned to me, and I was pleased to note that some small understanding was with her. When we might speak together alone, the understanding would grow.

The males finished their meat and baked grain, and downed short pots of steaming liquid. The sight of the meat did not disturb me as it had, for most of the pain of hunger had left me. In a short while, the pain would be completely gone. Ceralt and Telion offered me none of the meat, yet were pots of water placed before Fayan and myself. I was of a mind to refuse the water as well, when I saw that Nidisar prepared to command Fayan to drink, therefore I lifted the pot to my lips and drank, Fayan doing as I did. The water was tepid, and tasted as though metal had soaked in it, but I drank it without comment for Fayan’s sake.

We did not see the aged female as we left the dwelling, yet must she have heard the din that preceded our leaving. When I had finished the water, Ceralt rose from the platform and took a long strip of leather, ordering me to present my wrists to him. I gazed upon him coldly, refusing, even, to speak, and he reached down impatiently to take my wrist. As I still held Nidisar’s heavy wooden comb, I thought it only proper to rid myself of it, and therefore threw it hard at Ceralt. At so close a range, it was scarcely possible to miss my mark, and Ceralt withdrew with a loud oath, his hand to his head where the comb had struck, his light eyes blazing in anger. I attempted to rise to my feet, the better to defend myself, yet was unable to do so, for the leather at my collar did not allow that. Telion quickly held me from behind so that I was unable to move. His hands forced my wrists together despite my struggles, and Ceralt quickly bound me with the leather, knotting it tight with an angry set to his lips. Then he roughly pulled me to my feet by my collar. Ceralt said not a word, yet his demeanor promised a reckoning on the matter. I, myself, cared naught for his reckoning.

Quickly was Fayan treated as I, and briefly did we wait, Fayan held by Telion, as Nidisar departed for a number of reckid and then returned. When we emerged from the dwelling, there stood before it three kand, which the males mounted. Our kand we had not seen since we had been taken, nor was I to see them again. Telion held the leather to my wrists, Ceralt the leather to my throat, and thus, between them, was I led along the way, Nidisar with Fayan afoot behind, riding before us.

The gates to Bellinard stood opened, yet were we not to merely ride through. The males with leather and metal walked before us, demanding papers of some sort, which Nidisar, Telion and Ceralt produced. The papers were examined and returned, the males stepped aside, and then were we permitted to leave the city. The males in leather and metal were not those who had been there upon our entry, and Pileth was not among them, yet Fayan and I were looked upon as though we were known to them. It was another thing I did not understand.

Upon leaving the gates of Bellinard, the males rode east till the city was lost from sight, and then turned north. The light grew strong above us as we went, the air was fresh and clear, the ground firm and clean beneath my feet. Much pleased was I to be free of Bellinard, yet not as pleased to be tethered to the males. They kept the leather taut between us, allowing no slack which I might put to use, and in the passing hind, the pace began to tell on me. The sweat ran down my body as I fought to match the kand, determined that I would not be dragged by the leather at wrists and throat. My hair, once combed, was now sweat-soaked, flying, again and again, into my mouth and before my eyes. Fayan, I saw, fared not much better than I, and perhaps a bit worse, for she seemed near to the end of her strength. Neither of us spoke of our difficulty, yet when the males stopped in a sunny glade, I found I wished to throw myself to the ground, and refrained from doing so only with a great deal of effort. Fayan stood nearly atremble, her head down, her breath coming hard, and I well knew that had we not been warriors, we would have been shamed. The males had set a cruel pace, one, I was sure, that was meant to break us. They did not know that Hosta are not so easily broken.

Fayan and I were tied by the side of the glade, our wrist leather tight to a rotting log, our throat leather taut to the low branch of a tree. We could not lift our hands, nor lower our heads, and thereby were the males assured that our teeth could not be used upon the leather to free us. We had been placed upon our knees before the log, a position most untenable, for we were unable even to sit upon the ground. The males had inspected us after placing us so, Telion and Nidisar with frowns, Ceralt with no expression, yet had Fayan and I neither spoken nor looked upon them. They were males and naught else might a warrior expect of them. At last they left us, to do by the kand I knew not what.

For some reckid was Fayan silent, then she looked at me with concern. “Jalav, were they hard with you?” she asked softly. “I feared they might do you harm.”

“They are males,” said I, my eyes and voice lowering of themselves. “No longer am I fit to be called war leader.”

“That is not so!” she insisted quite harshly. “What they do is at the urging of Mida, therefore has it no meaning! You are war leader, and I am—” Abruptly she broke off, and turned from me.

“What has he done?” asked I, as softly as she had. For a moment she made no answer, then her voice came, low and bitter.

“He beat me with leather,” she whispered, “yet not as you were beaten. He took my pride as he gave me pain, and then did give his word to beat me so before the others, should I do again as I did. The pain has little meaning, Jalav, and I would not be further shamed before the others, yet am I unable to see which is the greater shame-to obey him, or be beaten so before the others.”

In truth, I knew not how to answer. To each of us is shame composed of a different thing, in some places touching, so that all sometime do feel shamed at once, and then does it move apart, so that what is shame to one, is naught save the usual to another. I could not council Fayan in her actions, for I knew not how the shame touched her.

“Perhaps you might weigh one against the other,” I suggested weakly. “See the one which would shame you more before Mida, and choose the other.”

“Before Mida,” she repeated thoughtfully. “I had thought only of my shame before the males, yet is it Mida I must truly be concerned with.” She smiled faintly. “It is often hard, Jalav, to be so well-loved by Mida. Perhaps I am not worthy.”

“I, too, have had the thought,” I sighed, “Yet Mida knows what we do not. We can only act as we are, therefore that must be what Mida wishes.”

“There is much to think upon,” said she, also with a sigh, “and gladly would I do so, were I not so befogged with lack of strength. When I spoke of Nidisar as pure sthuvad, surely Mida whispered in my ear. Through most of the darkness did he use me, and again before he arose.” Her eyes closed briefly, and her smile widened. “Much would I enjoy having that one in the Hosta home tents. Disallowed of the balance of his habits, he would give constant pleasure in the sleeping leather.”

“There is ever a bright side,” I laughed at her smile. “Perhaps I should hope he seeks payment for his comb.”

Fayan, too, laughed at the thought, but our laughter was not long in continuing. The males approached us to release the leather, therefore did we prepare ourselves to continue the march. However they were not of a mind to do so. Fayan rose to her feet with some difficulty, and Nidisar frowned down upon her.

“I do not care for the look of her, Ceralt,” said he, his hand below Fayan’s chin. “I will see some food in her before we continue.”

“This one looks no better,” Telion frowned, taking my face between his two great hands. “When last did you have the taste of meat, Jalav?”

“In the darkness,” I informed him, attempting to pull my face free. “Beneath the dwelling of great size. I slew the creatures of the darkness and fed. It was sufficient.”

“Those!” exclaimed Telion, his face and eyes, for some reason, ill. Nidisar, too, seemed sickened, his eyes upon Fayan, who shrugged and nodded agreement, showing that she, too, had thus fed herself. Ceralt alone showed no disgust, though he seemed much disturbed.

“They shall both be fed,” proclaimed Ceralt, holding fast to the leather of my collar. “They have not the wit to see properly to themselves, therefore must they be seen to.”

“Scarm!” said Telion with a shake of his head. “She eats scarm, and considers such sufficient! Bring them along before I lose what I have eaten!”

Telion walked first to the kand, from the folded leather upon which he drew forth a portion of nilno. Nidisar brought Fayan, and Ceralt took me, and when we had reached Telion, he handed a slice of nilno each to Nidisar and Ceralt. Ceralt turned to me, and held the meat to my lips.

“This shall do for you for now,” said he. “Too much will sicken you.” As I made no move to touch the meat, he frowned, and ordered, “Eat!”

“Jalav does not feed from the hand of a male,” said I, holding his eyes. “Do what you will.”

“You are being fed, not punished, you she-lenga!” said Ceralt in high exasperation, his eyes angry, his fist tight upon the leather. “Is there no understanding within you?”

“Of a certainty, I have understanding,” I nodded. “I understand that Jalav shall not feed from the hand of a male.”

Ceralt closed his eyes, attempting, I thought, to hold back his rage. Nidisar, too, was angered, for Fayan also refused the nilno, then did Ceralt’s eyes open, and he looked upon me once again.

“In the Palace of the High Seat, you were punished for disobedience,” said Ceralt, still angry. “Should the need arise, I am able to do as they did. You shall eat at my bidding as you did at theirs, else shall I match them blow for blow.”

I felt the fire touch me in memory, and turned from Ceralt that my eyes not betray me. “Do as you will,” said I again, standing as straight as I might. “I shall not feed from your hand.”

“Very well,” agreed Ceralt evenly. “What number of blows were you given before you obeyed? Five? Ten?”

No answer did I make, being fully occupied with the need to gather strength, therefore did Fayan speak for me. “The war leader Jalav was given four hands, then three,” spoke my warrior proudly, “and still did the city males find need to force their vile creation upon her! She does not fear you, male!”

Ceralt’s hand grasped my arm and again turned me to him, his face showing great disbelief. “Thirty-five?” said he in a choked voice, his light eyes wide. “With the lash?”

“The last hand of them were unfelt,” said I. “You need not taunt me with my weakness. This time, I shall be stronger.”

There was a deep silence, and I looked up to see that all eyes rested upon me, Fayan’s with pride, the males’ with I know not what. A curious look was upon the faces of each of them, a look of disbelief, and hurt, and anger as well, that I did not comprehend.

Ceralt was first to act. By the arms did he take me, and quickly seated me upon the ground. “Sit!” said he very shortly, then he placed the nilno in my hand. “Now, eat!”

He crouched beside me with his arms upon his thighs, a stern look to him, and only when the first of the nilno was in my mouth did he grunt in approval. Telion came to crouch by my other side, making no sound, yet did he watch me carefully as I chewed, angry as well. Slowly I fed upon the nilno, understanding naught of what had occurred to so change their position. Males are strange creatures indeed.

Fayan was pleased that it seemed I was not to be beaten, and she watched but a moment before turning toward Nidisar. “I, too, shall accept the nilno,” said she, her bound arms outstretched, one hand open. “Give it here, male.”

“Shall you, indeed,” murmured Nidisar, a thoughtful look about him. “I do not recall offering it to you, slave.”

Fayan closed her hand and withdrew her arms, her back stiff and her head high. “A Hosta warrior is well able to do without,” said she coldly, and then turned from him.

“Nor do I recall saying you were to do without,” said Nidisar, taking her by the collar to turn her to him again. His hand raised with the nilno, and flatly did he say, “Eat, slave.”

“Fayan is no slave!” hissed she, her angry eyes flashing upward toward his. “You are only a servant of Mida, and may not speak so to me!”

“I may speak as I wish,” said Nidisar, annoyed. “It is you who may not speak so. Do you obey me, or must you be punished again?”

“No!” cried Fayan, struggling to escape him, though his fist was tight upon her collar. As she could not free herself, she raised her right foot and kicked with strength, sideways, catching him just below the knee. Nidisar grunted with pain, and true anger flooded him. He thrust Fayan off balance, and then struck her resoundingly upon the back of her clan covering. The force of the blow sent her, with a cry, flat to the ground upon her bound arms. Before she could rise, Nidisar was quickly beside her, his hand upon her neck, his knee in the small of her back.

“Now, slave!” said Nidisar to an immobilized Fayan, “is it to be the punishment?”

“No!” cried Fayan again, in true distress. I attempted to rise and go to her aid, but Telion and Ceralt prevented me. The broad strength of their hands held me fast as Fayan choked out, “I shall feed.”

“On your knees, then,” said Nidisar. Briefly did Fayan hesitate, then she raised herself slowly from the ground to her knees, her hair falling about her arms in disarray, her shoulders rounded in defeat. Her eyes lifted miserably to Nidisar as she knelt there, and he held the nilno to her lips again, so that she might take a bit of it. She did so without commenting, chewing in a manner which showed she would have been happier without such. Nidisar’s face held no expression, yet were Ceralt and Telion smiling in amusement. I bit again from the nilno, looking not upon Fayan’s shame, knowing that she did as she did for Mida’s sake.

When Fayan had finished the portion of meat, Nidisar drew her to her feet by the leather at her collar. “You have been a good slave,” said he in approval. “For good behavior, you are to be rewarded.” He drew her quickly toward him, his lips dropping to hers. She struggled at the unexpected touch of him, yet were her struggles not long in continuing. Surely was she remembering the pleasure he had given her, for her body moved toward his, her bound wrists held high between them. Nidisar held her so for unhurried reckid, then released her abruptly.

“Should your behavior continue in good form,” said he, grinning at her flushed confusion, “the darkness shall find you further rewarded. Now we travel.” He then took the leather of collar and wrists, and pulled her with him to his kan. Furious was Fayan at being treated so, yet did she hold her fury within her. Again Ceralt and Telion laughed, then they pulled me after them to their kand so quickly, barely had I opportunity to rise to my feet. A water skin was passed about, to Fayan and myself as well, and then we continued upon our journey.

The pace was slower than it had been, yet had we covered a good distance of ground by the coming of darkness. We traveled upon a road, of a width sufficient for three kand to ride abreast and then some, which wound through a lovely forest well peopled by the children of the wild. All three of the males carried sword and dagger, and spears were borne by Nidisar and Ceralt as well. Telion alone carried a bow, unstrung and bound to the side of his kan beneath his left leg, a leather quiver before his knee to the right. I had wondered upon the unstrung bow, thinking, perhaps, that Nidisar and Ceralt would spear-hunt, yet had it not been so. No hunting had the males attempted, nor did they seek a place where the darkness might be spent. It seemed they meant to travel without stop.

Darkness was complete when we left the road, moving through the forest to the right. Fayan and I stumbled often, the darkness being too deep to see well in. However, it was a mere matter of reckid before I knew our destination. Far ahead, through the trees, were bright campfires, speaking either of a large number of unconcerned travelers, or a small number of foolish ones, and toward these fires we moved. We had nearly reached them, when the bushes before us moved, and six males, armed with bows, stepped in our path. Immediately we halted, and one of the six males spoke.

“What do you do here?” he demanded from the darkness, the others holding steady with their bows. “This camp is a private one!”

“We have taken passage with the caravan,” said Ceralt without anger, “and your master expects us. Our pavilions should stand waiting for us. I am Ceralt of Bellinard, of the brotherhood of hunters.”

“Indeed.” The male nodded, gesturing to the others to lower their bows. “We were told to expect you, Ceralt of Bellinard. You may enter the camp.”

Ceralt urged his kan toward the fires. The males stepped aside to allow our passage, looking upon Fayan and myself with wide grins. One placed his hand briefly upon me, patting deliberately, and the others howled their laughter. As the leather pulled me ahead, I could not turn upon him, and truly great was my fury. When next I stood before a male, a sword firmly in my grasp, each insult that I suffered would be avenged.

We halted by the largest fire, before which a male awaited us. Short was that male, and narrow of chest, yet did he hold himself with pride, and wear a swordbelt with familiar ease. He nodded pleasantly toward Ceralt.

“Well met, hunter,” said he, his voice warm with greeting. “You are here sooner than I had expected.”

“We left not long past your time,” said Ceralt. “The slaves were coaxed to a fair pace, therefore are we here. It is fortunate you halt early the first fey from Bellinard.”

The male chuckled as he looked upon Fayan and myself. Slumped did we stand behind the kand, road-weary as never before. Walking to the urging of leather is difficult, for the leather allows no rest nor change of pace. A warrior is able to march far afoot, yet not when bound in leather.

“You slaves seem well-coaxed,” commented the male, and then he raised his arm to his right. “Your pavilions stand there, the red and the yellow. Roast trencha has been placed within, for we knew not when you would arrive, and renth, as well. We break camp at first light.”

“Till first light, then,” said Ceralt, raising his hand in farewell, then turning toward the tents the male had spoken of. Large were the tents, of red silk and yellow silk, and Nidisar took Fayan toward the red one, as Telion and Ceralt halted by the yellow.

“We shall rejoin you at first light,” called Nidisar, dismounting by his tent and tying the kan. “I must now see if I possess a slave who wishes to be rewarded.”

He then pulled an outraged Fayan within the tent, to the accompaniment of laughter from Telion and Ceralt. They, too, dismounted and tied their kand, and I was taken within behind them. Five paces by five was the tent, floored with lenga pelts, and softly lit with candles within boxes. At the center of the rear wall a narrow wooden post had been placed in the ground, and there was I taken, to be placed again within the metal by my left wrist, the other end closed about the high post. The leather was left upon my collar so that Telion and Ceralt might fall upon the meat left for them upon a cloth, and I sat without strength by the post as they fed and drank of renth, then did I take the meat which was given me by Telion. Ceralt looked upon him with curiosity.

“I would know,” said Ceralt, “why you insist that we join the caravan upon its way, rather than while still in Bellinard. And also why we ride east, rather than north, from the gates.”

“I dislike leaving a city in caravan,” said Telion as he stretched out upon his side on the lenga pelt. “The dislike is irrational, I know, yet there is little I may do. As for the direction in which we rode, I considered the possible presence of certain of that one’s females, watching to see if she were taken from Bellinard. It would be to Ranistard’s benefit, did the gaggle of them ride east in search of her.”

“An excellent point,” said Ceralt, reaching for the skin of renth, “yet I fail to see how I may trade for the release of my men, should Jalav’s wenches ride east. I go to Ranistard solely for that purpose.”

“That had not occurred to me,” said Telion, then he grinned at Ceralt. “Happily, I saw no sign of watchers, therefore all should be as we hope. We will find the females somewhere about Ranistard.”

“Or, so we hope,” corrected Ceralt with dryness, and then did he drink from the skin. He had scarcely removed it from his lips, when the silk of the tent was moved aside, and Nidisar entered, carrying another skin.

“As the kand have been seen to by the caravan slaves,” said he, smiling pleasantly about him, “I have come to visit a short while. Your meal is over?”

“It is,” said Telion, looking about behind Nidisar. “You came alone?”

“Indeed I did,” said Nidisar, walking over to join the other males by the cloth. “My slave was careful of her behavior, and thereby earned a reward, yet did she refuse to request that reward. I have therefore left her within the pavilion, suitably warmed, to reconsider her position. Should she request her reward upon my return, she may receive it.”

“The wench deserves her anguish,” laughed Ceralt as Telion grinned. “When she says, ‘male,’ she might the well say ‘slave.’ Perhaps you would now care to reconsider my offer, Nidisar. Jalav would keep you well primed against your return.”

“I had not remembered that,” said Nidisar slowly, turning to gaze thoughtfully upon me as I sat with the meat part way to my mouth. This male was to torture my warrior, and then come to me for release? He grinned and put down the skin of renth. “I do believe,” said he, “that I shall accept your offer.”

He then came to stand above me, and I looked upon him in irritation. “I have not completed my meal,” said I, “therefore may Nidisar look elsewhere. Preferably, in a pen of gandod, which is surely his proper place.”

“Such a temper,” laughed Nidisar, and then did he crouch before me. “I see, Jalav, that you sit cross-legged to eat, as before. I have not allowed this to Fayan, for a slave must kneel in the presence of her master: Your masters are kind indeed to allow you such liberty.”

Easily did I see that he attempted to incite Telion and Ceralt against me, therefore I smiled faintly. “Beware your actions and words, Nidisar,” I warned him softly. “None may know the intentions of Mida, and should the spear be cast again, who knows who will then be slave and who free?”

“Yet, this spear cast is not done with,” said Nidisar with a grin. “I also do not allow Fayan her skirting when alone in my presence. Clothing makes a slave feel less a slave, and therefore more prone to rebellion.”

“That is a point I have heard mention of before,” said Ceralt thoughtfully. “Our slave, Telion, is extremely prone to rebellion. What say you?”

“Such rebellion should be stemmed whenever possible,” agreed Telion soberly. “She should be made to earn her bit of cloth.”

“It is agreed, then,” said Ceralt, and Nidisar’s grin grew broader. “Slave, remove your skirting.”

It is said that there are many ways to take the pelt of a lenga, yet are certain ways more pleasant than others. To do battle, unarmed and chained, with three males, each of whom was larger than I, would be tantamount to hunting the lenga in a like manner. When a warrior is unarmed, she does well to lure the lenga to a trap.

I threw the balance of the meat left aside, uncrossed my legs, and lay back in the deep furs, and then said, “Perhaps Nidisar would be good enough to do so for me. I have not yet thanked him for the use of his comb.”

Nidisar looked startled, Telion seemed surprised, and Ceralt frowned. My eyes directly upon Nidisar, I moved my hips in the furs as the female of the pink and orange tent had moved within her silks.

“Is a Hosta warrior to neglect thanks due?” asked I, the words of Fayan returning to me, and making me unreluctant for Nidisar’s touch. “Come, Nidisar,” I urged, raising my left wrist slightly, “I cannot escape you, for I am chained here. You may do as you will.”

It has been shown by males that I was pleasing to their eye, and so was it then with Nidisar. He went to one knee beside me, his hands moving toward my covering, his eyes taking in my form. I raised my right hand to his broad shoulder, thinking to draw him closer—and Ceralt took my wrist while placing his own hand upon Nidisar’s shoulder.

“She must not be rewarded for taking such a manner with men; brother,” said Ceralt to Nidisar. “She has disobeyed an order, therefore must she be punished”

“I shall punish her as soon as I am done with her,” mumbled Nidisar, attempting to lean farther toward me against Ceralt’s restraining hand. His eyes blazed hot, and eager indeed was he for the nearness of Jalav. Ceralt, however, showed by his stern look that that was not as he wished.

“No, Nidisar,” insisted Ceralt, moving him yet farther away by the shoulder. “A slave must be disciplined quickly, else the action loses meaning. Surely you understand?”

Nidisar groaned with feeling, his eyes closing briefly, then he looked away from where I lay in the fur. “I understand only,” said he to Ceralt as he rose to his feet, “that my own slave had best be prepared to request her reward. Else I shall beat her.”

He then retrieved his renth skin from the fur by the cloth, and hurried from the tent to the accompaniment of chuckling from Telion. I attempted to raise myself once more to a sitting position, but Ceralt prevented me.

“As for you, slave,” said Ceralt angrily, “you shall not be allowed to disobey me.” He then turned me in the fur face down, and removed my clan covering. I struggled uselessly, and his hand returned to find that I had had some interest in Nidisar. He turned me from the post again, saw the anger in my eyes at his actions, and his own anger grew stronger.

“This time, first use is mine,” said he, his voice low, his hand upon my thigh. “I shall ever see you well used, Jalav, no matter that you prefer the touch of another.” His hand moved around and about my thigh, causing me to strain to keep a groan from escaping, and then he ceased abruptly, seized the leather trailing from my collar, and tied it close to the post. “You shall, however,” he added as he stood from me, “await my pleasure. There is yet renth in the skin.”

I snarled as he turned from me, and then attempted to remove the leather from the post, but it was well beyond my reach. I lay upon my back in the fur, my throat and left wrist held close to the post, my fury high, my body bared to the inspection of Ceralt and Telion, who reclined in the fur at their ease, drinking renth. Slowly did they drink the renth, commenting upon various parts of me, till Ceralt wiped the renth from his mouth with the back of his hand, rose again, and approached me. He did not remove his covering to take me, nor did Telion take his eyes from us. Well used was I before Telion, then was well used again by him and before Ceralt, and that was the bitterest to bear. Each saw the shame of my use by the other, each gloating over my debasement before and by him. At last were the candles extinguished and the males placed themselves to either side of me for sleep, and truly was the darkness welcome. It occurred to me that perhaps I had offended Mida in some manner, and was to be punished and shamed before being allowed to serve her once more. If that was the case, my punishment was full, and my shame complete. Again had I cried out to Ceralt, and would not again be able to meet his eyes. I was indeed well shamed and punished.