I smiled at him. “Of course,” I said. “To those with whom we deal Telima is of no importance.” I regarded him. “It is me they want,” I said. “They shall not fail to have their opportunity.”

“Do not go,” said Samos.

“There is work to be done in the north,” I said.

“Let me go,” said samos.

“Mine,” I said, “ is the vengeance.”

I turned and strode toward the door of the hall. Luma fell back before me, her hand before her mouth.

I saw that her eyes were deep, and very beautiful. She was frightened.

“Precede me to my couch,” I said.

“I am free.” She whispered.

“Collar her,” I said to Thurnock, “and send her to my couch.”

His hand closed on the arm of the thin blond scribe.

“Clitus,” I said, “send Sandra, the dancer, to my couch as well.”

“You freed her, Captain,” smiled Clitus.

“Collar her,” I told him.

“Yes, Captain,” he said. I well remembered Sandra, with her black hair, brownish skin and high cheekbones. I wanted her.

It had been long since I had had a woman.

“Tab,” said I.

“Yes, Captain,” said he.

“The two females,” I told him, “have recently been free. Accordingly, as soon as they have been collared, force them to drink slave wine.”

“Yers, Captain,” grinned Tab.

Slave wine is bitter, intentionally so. Its effect lasts for more than a Gorean month. I did not wish the females to conceive. A female slave is taken off slave wine only when it is her master’s intention to breed her.

“The tarn, Captain?” asked Thurnock.

“Have it saddled,” I told him. “ I leave shortly for the north.”

“Yes, Captain.” He said.

Chapter 2 The Temple of Kassau

The incense stung my nostrils.

It was hot in the temple, close, stifling. There were many bodies pressed about. It was not easy to see, for the clouds of incensehung heavy in the air.