From an355397@anon.penet.fi Thu Jan 4 09:01:33 PST 1996
First a note that was inexcusably absent from part one: this story owes a vigorous nod of the head to John Norman's Gor series, the "universe" in which the story is loosely set
Again, the standard disclaimer: If you are cruising the groups
hoping to be offended, please get a life and don't bother downloading this.
If you are underage the same applies. For those of you who replied to my
first post- this part is shy on the erotica, but the story goes on...
Morning came and found me fast asleep, still wrapped in the furs where Master had ravished me the night before. There was a great deal of commotion surrounding the tent and I poked my head out to see the sailors busily dismantling the camp in preparation for departure.
"Princess!" my Master called. I spied him across the campground, approaching with a purposeful stride, "Awake, lazy girl! You will attend my table this morning!"
"Yes, Master!" Attend his table? He must mean serve his breakfast or some such I reasoned, and the thought sent a growl through my belly to remind me how long it had been since I last ate. I retreated to the tent and cast about, seeking a garment...and there was none.
"Come, girl," Master commanded, tossing aside the tent flap, "You must be prepared. Anna!"
"Master!" replied a familiar voice.
"You bathed this wench when she was free, now you have one-half ahn to make her presentable at my table."
"I understand, Master."
"Obey her, Princess. Come."
I stepped out in to the morning sunlight and was faced with Anna, the girl who had been first amongst my servant-girls only a short time ago. She was a tall, slender blonde with soft blue eyes and a ready smile, only now she was all serious.
"Heel," she snapped, turning to walk away. It took a moment for me to understand...how many times had she heard that very command from my lips? I did my best to keep to the proper space, but I'd never paid any heed to my slaves before and had little knowledge of what was expected. Anna walked quickly and I struggled to keep up and stay two paces back, one to the left. She led me to a clear spot where a tub had been set up, filled with water.
"In, now."
Without a word I obeyed and nearly screamed as the icy water struck my skin. Before I could react Anna had taken a small bucket, scooped it full and dumped the water over my head. She laughed.
"Not so warm and perfumed as at the palace, eh Princess?"
"No, not at all."
"Quiet. Kneel." Anna proceeded to bathe me and shampoo my hair in just a few moments. What now seemed a lifetime ago baths had been all morning affairs, three tubs, breakfast served, a dozen girls working over the details. Anna simply yanked me out of the tub when she was done and threw a towel at me. "Dry."
"Now comes the hard part. You've got to learn to brush your own hair."
Such a simple thing! I nearly laughed, until we started. Then it was a battle of tangles, snarls, combs and brushes. Anna was impatient, and struck me with the flat of her hand until I was nearly in tears. When my hair was dry she literally dragged me across the campground at a run until we were before Master.
We both knelt, eyes lowered. Anna was visibly trembling.
"You are late," Master noted.
"Anna is sorry, Master...I tried..." tears were rolling down her cheeks now. I could not hold myself silent.
"Master, it was my fault..." but he cut me off.
"Five lashes, Anna. And two for you, Princess, for not obeying Anna, plus a third for speaking out of turn. Anna, you will find Tavo and ask for your beating straight away, Princess, yours can wait- you have duties to perform."
"I obey, Master," Anna whispered. I turned my eyes to her, saw the fear there, and tried to let her know I was sorry, but I could not tell if she noticed. She wept as she rose to her feet and left.
"Princess, there is black wine, fruit, and bread. When my guest arrives you will serve us."
"Yes, Master."
It was only a moment or two when three men arrived, two guards and a prisoner. I stole a glance and was astounded to see Captain Rollond, he who had commanded the small fleet escorting my Bridal Party. He looked tired and unkempt, but otherwise unharmed and he stood straight, his eyes fixed firmly on my Master.
"Remove the Captain's manacles and leg irons," my Master instructed. The guards did so and at a gesture from him they took their leave.
"Captain Rollond, are you hungry? I was preparing to breakfast. Please sit."
"I am not starving- you have treated my men and I well." Captain Rollond sat, but he did not allow himself to relax.
"Princess, black wine."
When Master addressed me Rollond's eyes snapped over to regard me. I carefully poured the hot brew from its kettle in to two small bowls, then presented the first to my Master. He would not take it, but instead smiled and said "Forgive my slave, for she is raw and untrained, and does not know that guests are served first. Princess, offer the bowl to Captain Rollond. When you do, you will lightly kiss the rim, then lower your head and lift the bowl as an offering."
Very carefully I moved over to Rollond and knelt. I touched my lips to the warm surface of the bowl, then lowered my head and lifted it.
"Wine, Master?"
"Thank-you, slave."
I repeated this with Master, then did the same with a plate of sliced fruit and bread. Once they had been served Master pointed to a spot by his left side and I knelt there.
"We sail in two hours, Rollond," Master began.
"Really? I have not yet seen any gallows being built- you have nearly 200 hangings to complete. Or perhaps you intend to weight us with rocks and sink us in the sea?"
Master's voice was cold when he spoke next. "Is that what you prefer? I can arrange it if you like, but I find it hard to believe you would expect that from me. We have been allies, Rollond."
"That was long ago, and we are at war."
"Yes, we are, aren't we?"
There was a prolonged silence during which both men took the time to sip their black wine and sample the food. I began to suspect that what I was witnessing was a ritual as old and as entrenched as the one I had performed the night before when I knelt and made myself a slave. It was Rollond who finally spoke.
"So, what is your intent here Garth?"
Garth, I thought, my Master's name is Garth.
"The Tah have no pressing interest in this war. We have only offered hostilities in response to the Isallana's closing of the Drehadi straights- we can no longer conduct business."
"The Tah were supplying war materials to the Haffeni. We closed the trade routes to stop that."
"The Tah supplied the Isallana as well. We were neutral. Closing the straights cut us off from all of our customers. You gave us no choice. I did not enjoy attacking you, Rollond."
"But you found profit, didn't you?" Rollond spat, his voice full of disgust.
"Profit? Of course! But of what kind? I am rich, my men are rich, but in a year what wealth will we have? I lost twenty men in this battle. Twenty widows will have little joy from this profit. How many sons are now without fathers? How many daughters will be sold in to slavery? There is damned little profit to be had here!" Master leaned across the table and looked deep in to Rollond's eyes, "We can end this, Rollond, you and I!"
"Us? Do you speak for all the Tah?"
"Of course not! But I am a member of the High Council! If I talk peace, many will listen. We are traders, and there are many who see no profit in this war, just as I. You are known by the Tah, you are respected. If you carry the message, many will be willing to see what fruit it will bear. Will you? Will you carry the message of peace?"
"What are your terms?"
"You and your men will give parole: you will not bear arms against the Tah for one year. My men have truncated the ram on your vessel, you may have it and one round ship to return to Isalla. Present my offer to the King. Peace. The Tah will not supply war material to Isalla or Haffen. No reparations, no further hostilities. Simple enough?"
Rollond waited for what seemed like forever, but could not have been more than a minute, then said "This is acceptable to me. I can speak for my men- we offer our parole under your conditions."
There was more, but I did not listen. I was overjoyed. Peace with the Tah! Father was horrified when word arrived of hostilities with them. The Haffeni were bad, but the Tah were known as fierce warriors and devilish seamen. I served food and black wine as two enemies began recalling past camaraderie... Then I heard a loud CRACK! followed instantly by a piercing scream.
The men took no notice, but I knew instantly. I jumped involuntarily as a second blow landed and the screaming and sobbing grew nearly hysterical. My belly was tight and hot, churning as the third, then fourth blows landed. By the fifth my vision was beginning to blur.
"Princess, it is time for your beating."
"M...master?"
"Your beating, girl. It sounds as if Tavo has finished with Anna. You may go."
"Yes, Master."
It took all the strength I had to stand and walk towards the sound of the beating. When I turned the corner I saw a large, shirtless man unbinding Anna's wrists from a tall pole set in the ground- a whipping post. Her back was bright red, she was shaking terribly, but I noted there was no broken flesh, no blood. Numb with fear, my heart hammering in my chest I knelt and waited.
Anna stumbled past me, sobbing, her breathing deep and ragged. The man, Tavo, stepped up before me.
"And how many for you, little flower?"
"Three, Master."
"Ah, so many disobedient girls today. Stand at the post and extend your arms over your head as far as you can."
I did as he ordered and he swiftly bound me, looping a leather cord about my crossed wrists, then through a ring mounted in the top of the post, pulling it tight until I was on the very tips of my toes. The post was smooth and hard against my naked body as he carefully pulled my hair forward over my shoulders to expose my back.
"Now understand, girl. I greatly dislike this task which is why the Captain gives it to me. We'll get this over with and send you on your way and you'll promise not to force me in to this again, eh?"
"Yes, Master," I whispered. And I waited.
I don't know how long it really was, but it seemed an eternity. Then there was a whistling "CRACK!" and my entire back exploded in agony. I didn't realize I was screaming until I had to draw a breath, the pain was so hot and intense, spreading like a wave to envelope my entire body in a grip like a thousand blades splitting my flash. The second blow tore my breath from my body and my vision went from red to wavering darkness, the bonds on my wrists cruel against my skin as I hung there, unable to hold myself up, my chest heaving in spasms as I desperately sought air. The third blow did not fall, and as my senses returned, I understood. Stiffly, every nerve screaming protest I straightened myself. A third blast of rippling agony quickly followed.
Before the scream had a chance to die in the air, I was being untied and set on my feet. I gazed about me and the world seemed warped, strange. I couldn't hear, the blood thundered so in my ears, and my legs refused to work. An arm slid under mine and I saw Anna had come to help me away.
"You are a fool, Princess," she whispered in my ear, "never invite the whip, never!"
"I did not know ," I wept, my words feeling fuzzy and weak on my tongue, "I did not know..."