"Samos," said he, "first slaver of Port Kar."
She shuddered with misery. A tiny moan escaped her. I saw she had heard of Samos, of Port Kar. "What hope have I?" she asked.
"None," said Samos. "Remove your veil."
"Make my maidens slaves," she said. "They are good for little else. But I am a free woman!"
"Do you think you are better than they?" asked Samos.
"Yes," she said.
"You are no different from them," he said. "you, too, are only a female."
"No!" she cried.
"Remove your veil," he said.
"I am too beautiful to be a slave," she said.
"Your veil," said Samos, gently. She was, after all, a free woman.
Some of the slave girls, some naked, some scantily clad, looked at one another. Had they so dallied in their compliance, hesitating perhaps even an instant in their immediate and absolute obedience, serious punishments would doubtless have been theirs. They were, of course, only slaves.
"Please, no," said Lady Rowena.
"You are my prisoner," said Samos. "Doubtless you are aware that you could be stripped absolutely naked at my slightest word."
She put her hands to the veil and, delicately, unpinned it, dropping it to the side.
"Brush back your hood," said Samos.
She did so and, putting back her head, drew forth and freed, with both hands, long, golden tresses, which she arranged before her. They were in two plaits, one before each shoulder; they hung almost to her knees.
"Unbind your hair," said Samos.
She unplaited her hair and, with her head down, shook it loose, and smoothed it. She then, again, lifted her head.
"Put your hair behind your back," said Samos.
She did so.
She then stood before us, regarded, as a woman.
"What is to be my fate?" she asked.
Samos and I regarded her admiringly. Several of the men did so as well. Several of them changed their position, to come about, near and behind our table, where they might see better. I heard soft cries from more than one of the slave girls. They, too, were impressed. The woman straightened her body. She could not help but bask in the warmth of our appraisal.