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The men of Ar looked angrily at Thandar of Ti and his men.
"No," said Thandar of Ti, again.
The sword, too, of Clitus Vitellius, my master, the captain of Ar, had left its sheath. He had placed Thurnus's paga on a nearby table. He stood between Thumus and Bran Loort, and the men threatening them.
"I must agree with my fellow of the warriors," said Clitus Vitellius. "It is not proper that you should attack with. steel those who defend themselves with wood."
"What he says is true," said a man. "We are of Ar!" He resheathed his blade.
"Free paga for all!" cried Thandar of Ti.
"And I," called Clitus Vitellius, "will fee the second round of cups!"
"Cheers for the peasants!" cried a man, with bloody face.
"Cheers for the peasants!" they cried. Then they surrounded Thurnus and Bran Loort, pounding them on the back.
"I shall not sing," promised Thurnus.
"Bring paga!" cried Busebius to the girls, who had drawn back, frightened. With a scurrying flight of bells they hurried to their work.
"And what are you doing here, miserable Bran Loort?" demanded Thurnus.
Bran Loort put down his head. "I have taken service here," he said. "I am shamed that you should find me here."
"Rightfully so," roared Thurnus. He had retrieved his goblet now, handed to him by Clitus Vitellius, and, throwing his head back, splashed its contents down his throat.
"What are you doing here?" asked Bran Loort. "Is it not time to harvest the Sa-Tarna?"
"I thought you might have forgotten," said Thurnus.
"No," said Bran Loort.
Thurnus regarded the young man. "It is certainly a great surprise to me," he said, "to find you here. But, as it turned out, it was fortunate."
"I am pleased," said Bran Loort, "if I could be of service."
"An amazing coincidence," marveled Thurnus. Clitus Vitellius smiled.
"Yes," admitted Bran Loort, puzzled.
"More paga!" called Thurnus. A girl filled his cup. Swiftly again the contents vanished.
"But what are you doing here?" asked Bran Loort, suddenly, shrewdly. "It is time to harvest the Sa-Tarna."
"I am looking for men," he said, "to aid in the harvest."
"I am strong," said Bran Loort. There were tears in his eyes.
"Good," said Thurnus. Bran Loort embraced him, weeping. "Drink a cup of paga," said Thurnus. "Then we must go. The Sa-Tarna grows impatient."
Bran Loort cried out with joy and whirled about, arms uplifted, like a child ru
"He has much to learn," said Thurnus, "but someday he will be a caste leader. He will have, too, his own Home Stone."
"I am pleased," said Clitus Vitellius, "to have been of service."
Thurnus grasped his hand. "My thanks, Warrior!" said he.
Bran Loort looked at me. "I am so happy!" he cried. "You are so beautiful, Dina! So beautiful!"
"I am pleased if Master is pleased," I said. I was very happy for Bran Loort.
Bran Loort looked to Clitus Vitellius and the warrior smiled, and lifted his hand.
"Oh," I cried. Bran Loort seized me by the hair, which was now long enough to permit a master to grasp it.
"Come, Slave Beauty!" he cried and, bending me over, my hands trying to grasp his wrist, ran me, stumbling, to the nearest alcove. He did not even draw the curtain. I turned. I shrank back, my back against the rear wall of the alcove. I drew up my legs.
"How beautiful you are, Dina!" he cried. "How beautiful you are! I nm so happy, and you are so beautiful! You are so beautiful!"
"Remove quickly your garment," he said, happily, "or I will tear it from your body!"
I undid the five buttons, red, which ran from the throat of the garment to the waist. Buttons, interestingly, were a relatively recent i
"You are beautiful, Dma!" he cried.
"Please do not hurt me," I begged.
Joyfully he seized my ankles and dragged me to him, and then, with a peasant's roughness, thrust them widely apart.
"Please, Master," I begged.
"I am so happy," he cried. "And you, Dina, pretty little slave, are so beautiful!"
"Oh!" I cried. "Oh!" And I seized him. I threw my head back. I think that Bran Loort, overcome in his joy, had little time or patience for either his own pleasure or mine.
"Oh!" I cried.
Then he was finished with me and I was shaking. He covered me with kisses.
"I am so happy!" he cried. He then crouched beside me, and kissed me again. "The Sa-Tarna must be harvested," he said.
"Yes, Master," I said.
"I wish you well, Dina," he said.
"I wish you well, Master," I said.
He then leapt from the alcove to find Thurnus. They left the tavern together. I was left lying on the furs. After a few minutes, I pulled my garment over my head, buttoned it and retied the sash. I went to kneel behind Clitus Vitellius. He was drinking with Thandar of Ti, and his four men. They were being served by Slave Beads.
"The Salerian Confederation," Clitus Vitellius was saying, "is a threat to the security of Ar."
"Correct," said Thandar of Ti.
"You seem distracted," said Clitus Vitellius, who apparently wished to discuss politics.
Thandar of Ti was watching Slave Beads who, head down, was pouring him drink.
"A pretty little slave," said Clitus Vitellius.
"Yes," said Thandar of Ti. He reached forth and, gently, touched Slave Beads about the throat, as she poured the drink. She blushed, and trembled, head down. "Kneel before the table, Slave," he said to her. She did so, putting the paga vessel to one side. She knelt in the position of the pleasure slave. She was briefly silked, perfumed, collared and belled. I had learned earlier, in speaking with the girls, that Thandar of Ti, when in Ar, came often to the Belled Collar. I had little doubt that the small beauty, Slave Beads, was the reason. "Do you think I should buy her?" asked Thandar of Ti of Clitus Vitellius, as he regarded the lineaments and beauty of the girl. Slave Beads shook with emotion. She almost broke the position of the pleasure slave. "She is a beauty," said Clitus Vitellius. "If she pleases you, make an offer to Busebius."
"Busebius!" called Thandar of Ti.
I thought Slave Beads might faint.
"I have taken a fancy," said Thandar of Ti to Busebius, who had hurried to the table, "to this little slut of a slave," indicating Slave Beads. "I will give you a silver tarsk for her."