Re: A Warrior of Gor (reserved for LadyBird Raven)

[LadyRaven]

Silver waited in silence, and then waited some more, but he didn't answer her, didn't even give a sign to answering. She began to feel her hope fading again and she turned her head away, licking her lips and tensing her jaw. Now they would both be under his heel and there was nothing she could do about it. The minutes began to tick my like hours and Silver felt more and more of her soul dying with the growth of his silence. It was unbearable.

After some time, Mama returned, happy and satisfied and she went to Daniel with her head high in thanks. Silver watched with dead eyes, knowing that her beloved mother would be trained and brought to heel like a common pet and the people would go to him to train more for simple prized pets to show off and abuse however they wished. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to stop more tears that were already welling up behind her tightly shut lids. She didn't see him crouch down, nor did she see him remove her collar. She did however, hear his words.

Snapping her eyes open, she saw the collar in his hand and him crouched down before Mama. He had set her free. All that tension and heartache suddenly evaporated with her tears and she let her breath go in sharp sighs on shock and happiness. Finally, she began to feel a smile curling her lip and she gave a small growl to Mama, telling her what Daniel had said. She was free, she could go home to her mate, her pack. Turning from Daniel, Mama went to her and she squatted down a little to be under the sleen's head. Mama nuzzled her and she put her arms around her thick neck, hugging her. The pair shared that moment, but only for a moment and then Mama bounded off back through the tall grass and disappeared. Silver stood back up again and turned to Daniel.

Swallowing hard, she nodded and looked down for a moment. This promise, she truly had made. No bargain, no compromise, no negotiation. Done all on her own and of her own free will. Keeping her silks in her hand, she moved forward to him in silence. She took a deep breath and stared at the ground before she slowly sank to her knees. With perfect execution, she spread her knees, straightened her back, pushed back her shoulders and pushed out her chest. She dropped the silks between her knees and placed her hands, palms up on her thighs. Settling there, she took another deep breath. "Master." She said quietly.

[questor]

He watched as Silver said good by to the She Sleen and it bound off into the tall grass towards the Sardar Mountains. He had a feeling that he had not seen the last of Mama. He wondered though if she would find her old Pack and find her mate. If they had not been killed when she was captured she might, though it would take her time to find them and rejoin them. He looked down at Silver and nodded. "Rise and put your garment back on." He told her.

He waited for her and then began moving back to the city. It was now getting late and the sun was begining to set. He had everything ready for the morning so all he had to do was sleep and rise in the morning. His tarn would be ready for him and they would be on their way before the sun rose. He wanted to fly south and then west so when he turned north again it would look as if he had come from the south.

The guards at the gate looked at him as the two of them entered. They did not see the sleen and asked about it. "I set it free to return to its Pack. It is not a beast that takes well to the city and I could never consider it a pet." They all shook their heads in disbelief and wonder but he had bought it and it was up to him if he freed it or not. It was his choice. Soon they were back at the house and he went to the bed chamber. "Come and sleep. We rise early and leave early."

[LadyRaven]

Silver nodded and slowly got back to her feet again. She gathered up the silks and carefully put them back on again. She began to follow Daniel back as she tied the knot again and then walked in silence the whole way home. The conversation with the guards made her smile some, but she kept her head down and her mouth shut.

Once home, Silver looked around the room and took a deep breath. Mama had only been there a day, but it felt empty without her. She made no complaint about it though and knowing that she was free was enough. While Daniel went into the bed chamber, Silver quickly tidied up any mess and then joined him in the room.

Waiting until he was in the bed, Silver then crawled into the bottom of it once more and covered herself with the blanket. She didn't watch Daniel this time, but instead, she reached out a hand and rested it carefully and lightly against his ankle. She would have to accept being touched, so this to her was the first step in that process. And doing so of her own volition made it clear she was keeping her promise. She then put her head on her arm and closed her eyes to sleep....

[questor]

Daniel laid down on his side and when Silver came to the bed she assumed a position at the end of the bed and placed a hand on one of his ankles. Oh it was a start, but he had no idea of how he was going to get her properly trained when he had a mission to accomplish. He son felt her fall asleep and he lay there thinking of everything that had happen the last couple of days. What was going on with him. He had bought her, almost on a whim, it seemed. Found the She Sleen that raised her, mastered her and then set her free.

For some reason he could not think of anything but training her as his pleasure slave and now he was going on a mission that was at the base of the Sardar Mountains, a place where the Priest Kings were said to live. Then his mind went back to the day he awoke on Gor. He had awaken from a drugged sleep, as if he had just awoken from a normal sleep. He was not drowsy, incoherant or anything like that. The others in the tent were still in their drugged sleep. That should have set off alarms in his head back then. Something or some one was guiding his life on Gor. He fell asleep wondering.

[LadyRaven]

It took a while, but Silver eventually fell into a restful, but dreamless sleep. It didn't bother her, it wasn't like she was allowed to such a fancy anymore. However, a few questions did still circulate in her mind, questions that either had no real answer, or Daniel refused to acknowledge. As the night wore on, Silver found herself shifting in the bed. First, her head became closer to his foot, then his calf and then his knee. Eventually, she found herself resting at his hip, her hair strewn over his hand. When she woke, she wondered if he had pulled her up there, for not only was her hair strewn over his hand, it was entangled within his fingers. She knew that prized slaves, the favourite slaves, their masters would hold their hair while they slept. Like a comfort, or perhaps to prevent them leaving the bed? Either way, when she realised she was fully awake, she knew she couldn't go anywhere, or it would wake him too. And so she stayed put.

dawn eventually began to grey the skies through the window and Silver turned her head just enough to watch the sky lighten. The fleet of songbirds began their morning calls. It was time to rise. Turning her head up slightly, Silver gave his hand a small tug with her hair. "Master." She said, still having a little trouble saying the word, but she would get better eventually. "The dawn has come. It is time to rise and face a new day." She kept her voice quiet so as not to startle him. Warriors were renowned for striking out when shocked from sleep.....

[questor]

Daniel woke and sterached. He felt Silver up by his hip and his hand in her hair. How this had happened he didn't know. He untangled his hand from her hair and sat up. He had slept extremely soundly. He rose from the bed and quickly cleaned up and dressed. There was no time for cooking something. Left over would have to do as well as having some dried meat as they flew.

It took him only a few minutes to get ready and then he was looking at Silver who seemed well rested. "It will be a long day today. Most of it will be flying. He made sure the fur was there for her to wear, as he picked up the saddle bags and spooned down some of the cold leftovers. "Eat something now and we will have dried meat during our time in the air."

He looked about the place making sure the fire was out in the hearth. The place had grown on him in only a couple of days. It was home to him and he was leaving it already for some time to do his duty. He knew that feeling quite well as he had done that when he joined the army and had to leave home. His parents were still there, and by now probably had been informed he was missing in action or presumed dead. There was no way back. How ever he had come to Gor was no longer around to take him back.

He went to the door and opened it. "Come let us be gone. The sooner I find out about this settlement the sooner we can return."

[LadyRaven]

As Daniel detangled his hand from her hair and rose, so too did Silver. She made the bed as he cleaned up and by the time he was dressed, she had turned the fire over to rid the grate of ash and debris and then washed her hands, face and teeth in the sink. The water that collected in the basin, she would use for rinsing out the cooking pot. She turned back to the table as Daniel spooned some of the leftovers into his mouth and then he told her to eat some also. "Yes Master." She said and quickly ate what she could as she took the pot to the sink. He then began to check around quickly and Silver swilled the pot out, throwing the used water and waste into the drainage hole in the courtyard. She brought the pot back and then made sure the back door was shut tight behind her. There were no locks, but that wasn't always a bad thing. Some landlords had the reputation enough to deter any squatters or thieves. Putting the pot on it's hook near the fire, she upturned it against the hearth wall to let it dry and then checked everything was in order before collecting the clothes bags, the food parcel and the furs.

Daniel opened the door and Silver followed him out. The sooner they got there and did what he needed to, the sooner they could be back. That made Silver feel so much better about this trip, for oddly, the place had grown on her. They had only been in the small house for a couple of days, but it just felt like home. Also, knowing that Daniel wanted to return there, it brought back the idea of the gift she had planned for him. Taking her place behind his left shoulder, she smiled inwardly at the idea and possible reaction he would have. She had promised to be a good slave and he seemed to want to keep that spirit she had, so she would use it for some good.

Once again, people on the street stopped and looked at Daniel and Silver. Some had a rather dark smile on their faces, seeing the bruises and scrapes still on Silver's skin from her punishment. In their eyes, she had been brought to heel where she belonged. Silver did nothing to change their opinion. After all, how could a man hold honour in his community if he had none at home? That was the general line of thinking anyway. That thought lingered in Silver's mind, shocking her somewhat for how quickly such a notion had taken root. Though, deep down, her own logic gave it more purpose. She had made a promise and she had all the reason in the world to keep it. Her life depended on it.

As they walked, Silver began to consider their journey to the Sardar Mountains. She had been dragged there on the pilgrimage a few times and it had never been a pleasant place to be. She wondered what Daniel expected about the place. she didn't know how long he'd been on Gor, but it seemed obvious to her that he'd never made that trip. To this end, she risked opening her mouth. "Master?" She asked, "Have you ever been to the Sardar Mountains before? do you know what awaits you there?".....

[questor]

He watched the people pass them and their strange smiles. Then he remembered Mama's punishment of Silver. She was bruised and had some scrapes here and there. It looked as if he had been the one to punish her. A normal Gorian male would have, but would not have left marks. That is something that they take pride in, and also they take pride in the looks of their slaves. However it is not the case of those that do menial work, as in the mines or fields. There the taskmasters use the whip and it can leave marks. When asked if he had been to the Sardar Mountains before, "No I have not." Though something did not quite seem right with that statement at the time.

Soon enough they were at the Tarn enclouser and as expected his tarn was saddled and ready. He greeted his tarn with affection and again pulled out some lice and placed it on the great birds toung. It could not get to that part of his body and it seemed he enjoyed eating them. Placing the saddlebags to the back of the saddle he strapped them on and made sure they were secure. He then got into the saddle and pulled Silver up in front of him, again putting the fur around her to keep her warm, and pulled the safety strap across them.

Wind Strike moved to the opening of the Enclouser and with a pull on the proper strap he rose into the air. He climbed until Daniel had him level off and turn to South. They flew for some time before Wind Strike needed to land and rest. The vast plain that they had flown over extended far south, east and west. To the west and east he could see large herds of animals. "We will continue south till night fall and make camp. Then in the morning head west to the Sadar Mountains and follow them north." he told Silver.

[LadyRaven]

Silver nodded to the answer and carried on walking. She had some ideas, but she wasn't sure if he would want to listen to them. Yes, he had been on Gor for a while, but did he understand fully yet their customs? Especially with strangers? Making it to the tarn enclosure, Silver strapped on the clothes bag as he strapped on his saddlebags and she offered something quite close to a real smile. He cared deeply for his tarn, Wind Strike, no doubt a lot more than he cared for her right now. That was another thought that went through her mind. If he accepted to listen to the advice and he didn't like it, he might feed her to the giant bird! She's seen it done, not with tarn, but with Sleen and even a Larn or two. A small shuddered went down her spine and she shook her head. She hoped he wouldn't do that. With the fur around her and strapped firmly to Daniel's front, Silver waited for the stomach turning moment of taking off.

The flight, for the most part, was more comfortable than before. Silver didn't tense up and fidget this time. She hated to fly, but she would be good and try not to impede. That wasn't to say she didn't keep her thighs so tight to the saddle that her knees turned white and her knuckles around the pommel too. She kept silent during the first stage of flight and when Daniel motioned for the Tarn to land, she shut her eyes tight again and held her breath. With the bird's claws barely on the ground, Silver was itching to get off and kiss the ground, but they weren't stopping.

Daniel had picked a spot that was rather exposed, but it gave him a full view all around them. This gave Silver more and more clues as to the kind of man he was. He was a Warrior through and through and that wasn't something that could be trained. That was natural instinct for him. While Wind Strike rested, Silver unpacked the water and some dried meat. "Master?" She asked as she pored him some water into the travel cup. "Were you a Warrior on Earth too? Did you fight in many battles?" She was curious about him and wanted to know more. He did own her after all and it was her duty now to know and understand everything she could about him. "Did you hail to a home-stone there? Where was it? Is there anyone there missing you?"

[questor]

Not soon after they landed Silver was asking questions about him. Well that was the nature of a slave. To know more about a master was to better serve him and please him. To do that, they asked many questions. Most masters answered the questions that were pertenat and dismissed the others, if they became to personal or would breach security or the like. He took the cup of water from her and sipped it, and had her pour herself some as well.

"Was I a warrior on Earth. Yes. But not the kind of warrior here. Here you are up close and personal with your enemy. You are looking into his eyes as you fight and kill him. On earth we had weapons that could kill at great distances. Killing was not personal like here. But that is the way of Earth wars. It use to be like here but technology changed all of that. I was fighting in a war when I was brought here. The squad of men I was with had been all killed and I was making my way back to the main company of men.

He sipped some more water as he surveyed the distance about him. "A home stone. No such thing on Earth. There is nothing like it to make one so loyal to a city or country. They could use something like that. But you could say I hailed from a city there. It was the one I lived in before joining the army. It was called Colorado Springs. As for people missing me." he closed his eyes. He knew his mother suffered greatly with the news of him being missing and presumed dead. His father would have taken it hard as well but he would have been stronger on it and help his mother cope with it. "My mother and father. They would have been informed I was either dead or missing." There was a sadness in his voice then.

[LadyRaven]

Silver listened intently as he explained where on Earth he had come from and how he had fought in wars and such. He seemed said when he mentioned his mother and father and it was a sadness she felt too, having lost her own in a similar way one could say. It gave her a connection to work with. But no home-stone? No connection between the people to bind them together? That just sounded so pointless and empty to her. She had yet more questions though. "What about a slave?" She asked, "Did you have such a thing there? Or were you contracted to a companionship?" She did pour herself some water and sipped at it, but she didn't touch the meat. she wasn't hungry yet and she was still getting used to the idea of being able to eat at least once every day without having to hunt it or steal it. "And would you tell me about Colorado Springs?" She continued, though the name sounded a little odd in Gorean to her. "Is it green and lush like its name, filled with living waters and lakes?" Living water meant rivers filled with fish and other life. There was so much she wanted to know and of course, she would answer all of his questions immediately and without hesitation.....

[questor]

He looked at her when she asked about if he owned a slave or had a free companion back on earth. "I had neither of them. On earth there are no slaves anymore. Long ago yes, much like here when my former world was like Gor. But again people changed and did away with it, probably because there were more free people then slaves and they needed to work and be paid for it so they could live a good life. Never had a Free Companion. Though here and there I courted a few women. But none seemed to measure up to what I wanted."

He then began to tell her of the city. How it was in the mountains and had rivers, and lakes, and how the snow fell and stayed for a long time on the mountain peaks. It was green yes, when there were no droughts. Of how it was a military city of sorts. It had a number of military bases around it. An Academy for Officers of one military branch, and other military posts.

"I doubt that you would have liked it there though. It is noisy at times with the type of transportation that is used. The city though nice, is not as beautiful as those on Gor." He indeed loved the cities of Gor, Their graceful towers and the bridges that connected them. Nothing on earth could compare to them.

[LadyRaven]

Silver listened with eager anticipation as he began to describe his world to her in great detail. To be truthful, he had her at no slavery. How wonderful it would be to have lived in a world without slaves. However, there weren't perhaps as many slaves on Gor as he might have thought. Less than ten percent of the general populace were slaves, but admittedly, 90% of those were women, and that wasn't always a correct figure as it varied from place to place. She didn't understand the concept of courting, but she figured it was some kind of ritual to see if a pair were compatible and by what he told her, none of those women were a good match for him.

The description of his city sounded so alien to her and by comparison, she did agree that Gor was much more beautiful. Describing the weather there reminded her some of the forest. There would be heavy snows and droughts there too and rivers that snaked their way through, bringing new life every year. Noisy? Silver had been in Ar for nearly three years and yes, the noise had bothered her sometimes, but to hear Daniel speak of it, Ar could have been silent by comparison.

After some time in thought, she began to smile and she poured him some more water. "Of course you love Gor." She said, "You're a man and a Warrior. I don't think there would ever be a time when you wouldn't be. I sometimes believe that Gor was made for men like you." Her smile dropped a little then and she knotted the water pouch again. "Sadar isn't like anywhere you know, though, Master." She said quietly, "The home of the Priest Kings is like nothing you'll ever see and it is filled with danger. Many who take the pilgrimage never return and those that do often share tales of murderers and bandits, especially among the Wagon People. Besides those from Earth, it is said they are the truest form of barbarian that ever crossed the great plains of this world." She finished her cup of water and carefully tied it back to the pouch. "Would you consider some advice about the mountains, Master?" She looked at him carefully, "From a slave, that is?"

[questor]

Daniel listened to her and raised a brow at him being made for Gor and to be a warrior. He would have laughed but he didn't think that would be appropriate at the moment. Made for Gor, well he could see that. He was a warrior, and a man of action. Life on Gor was not for the weak nor of the weak of stomach. "Well I guess someone thought that. Otherwise why would I be here."

Silver nodded, "The Priest Kings have some strange and wonderful ways of doing things." She said. He didn't answer her other question though, so she figured he didn't want her advice after all. Looking around, she could see the sun becoming low towards the horizon and knowing that he wanted to keep going until the night, she began packing up the rest of the things.....

She had asked him if he wanted some advise, he was contemplating it, but he figured he already knew what she was going to say. "You think I should not go to the sardar Mountains. That I should turn back." But then his attention was drawn to an approaching figure on a Tharilon. His hand hovered over the handle of his sword and he put his helmet on with his other hand.

Silver shook her head, "Not at all." She said, "Only that I could give you a few tips while you're there is all." She turned her head again then as she followed his line of sight to an approaching figure on a Tharilon. Getting to her feet quickly, she made for Wind Strike and moved under his breast for protection. The Tarn didn't like it much, but Silver, having seen what Daniel had done with the parasites, began grooming him and feeding him what she found to keep him sweet.....

The figure aproched and slowed down as he got closer. When he was with in a few feet he brought the Tharilon to a stop, and raised his right arm and hand in a sign of greeting and to let Daniel know he had no weapon in hand. Daniel moved his from his sword and did the same. "Tal Warrior." Greeted Daniel, seeing the red tunic and weapons of a warrior. "Tal Tarnsman." the man replied. "Where are you going?" Daniel inquired.

"To the Vosk. From there....." he chuckled, "Only the Priest Kings know.

Daniel smiled. Another one that was probably on a mission and not wanting to make it obvious. "And you?" the warrior asked.

"South. From there I am not sure." Daniel said.

The man looked over at Silver under the tarn and leaned forward to get a better look. "Lovely slave, though she does not seem to have been trained to respect a man by kneeling before him."

Daniel looked back and gave Silver a stern look.

Realising that the stranger posed no danger, she emerged from under Wind Strike. She didn't actually hear the comment, but she saw the look and she quickly sank to her knees. She kicked herself mentally for such a stupid mistake. She'd promised him not a day before she would be a good slave and already, she had messed up. Keeping her head down in apology, Silver cursed quietly to herself and hoped Daniel would not take the infarction too much to heart. After all, out here, one could attack in aheartbeat and she reall didn't fancy dying just yet.....

"Ahhhh I see you need not speak a word. White Silk? She lookes as if she is a fast learner. Would you consider selling her." the man asked.

The idea of selling her, not his thought but that of the stranger. He looked back at Silver snd shook his head, "No, she pleases me so far." he told the man.

The man smiled, "Well then you have a safe journey South." the man said and it seemed it held a note of disbelief in it. Like him, the man may have seen through him. He guided his Tharilon around the tarn and was riding north again. He went back to Silver and looked down at her.

Silver ducked her head down a little lower as she saw Daniel's sandles before her. She trembled slightly and pulled her arms about her. She leaned over a little further, presenting herself for punishment should he wish it......

Charles Santarelli: "See to it that you assume the proper position when others are around. You are new to this I know, so I will only warn you this time. Now it is time to continue our journey." he said and climbed up into the saddle. "Come." he told her.

Silver nodded slowly, but kept her head where it was for the moment, "Please forgive me, Master?" She begged, "I did not see him greet you and was frightened."....

"Come." he told her again from the saddle. He held his arm down so she could grab it and he could pull her up to the saddle.

Silver trembled again, but got to her feet and looked up at Daniel. She grabbed his arm and took tight hold of it. She then hauled herself up into place in front of him again and pulled the fur around her front rather than her back this time. The wind was blowing through gaps and making her cold....

Daniel strapped them in and pulled on the straps. Wind Strike launched himself into the air. As they circled he could see the stranger on the Tharilon. Her warm body was now pressed against him, as she covered her self from the front with the fur. They flew on and as the sun began to set, he again brought the tarn down. Once on the ground he took the saddle bags and every thing but the saddle off it and said to it, "Hunt." The great bird took off and circled over head before heading for a small herd of animals in the distance. Now came setting up the camp and having the evening meal prepared. The travel rations were made to rehydrate and be cooked. He left the cooking to Silver as he prepared the bankets for sleep.

Eager to correct her earlier mistake, Silver quickly set up a fire and then used the furs she had worn during the trip to pad the ground for Daniel. As he arranged the blanket, she rearranged them, making sure he was closer to the fire and more comfortable. Then, using a small pot from the food packs, she began cooking something quick and easy for him. The night would be cold this far out, but Silver didn't shiver, though her silks certainly didn't hide the fact she was cold. After a few minutes, the water had heated and soaked into the dried food and she tested it quickly to make sure before she pulled his bowl from the packs and dished it up for him. "Master." She said, bringing it to him on her knees....

"You to little slave." he told her and pointed to the the other bowl, "Then come here by me by the fire." he told her.

"Yes Master." She said quickly, finding the word easier and easier the more she used it. She made to dish up a portion for herself, but didn't eat it right away. When the slave had delivered the food, he had brought some powdered chocolate as well and Silver used this now in more heated water and she brought it to Daniel first. "Drink Master, it will warm you." She offered....

He drank and then put it down and put a blanked about her shoulders. No sence in having his slave get cold and not be able to do anything. "Now eat and get warm." he told her.

Once he had put the blanket around her, she collected her bowl from near the fire and went to him as he wanted. She ate and then wiped the bowl out before putting it all back again and she curled up a little in front of the fire near him in case he needed anything. "Thank you Master." She said quietly....

Daniel said nothing but ate his food and enjoyed the warmth of the fire. They were alone out on the plain. Wind Strike returned and settled down close by. He woudl let Daniel know if anyone or anything got to close. There was not much to do but sit there for a bit and then get some sleep and get a real early start in the morning. They could have flown to the West during the night but he wanted Wind Strike to be fresh for the next day. After they had finished eating he laid down and beconed Silver to come lay down next to him.

Silver watched in the darkness as Wind Strike came back from his hunt. Well, seeing wasn't strictly true. His dark colouring hid him perfectly, so it was more the rush of his wings that she heard. She sat there for a while longer, staring into the fire, but then felt Daniel lay down beside her. He beckoned her to join him and she did immediately. Pulling the fur over to cover them both, Silver snuggled right into Daniel and entangled her legs with his. He felt so warm against her cool skin and against the night air.....

The combined warmth of both of them would help keep them warm during the night out in the open. Feeling her against him and his arm over her his hand resting on her stomach, felt good. He could not deny that. He got comfortable and began to drift off to sleep.

It wasn't long before Silver was more than confortable against the cold. With her head under the furs, his arm over her with his hand on her stomach, she began to feel just a little bit more than safe. It was odd that she could feel that way with him, with any man after what she had suffered, but being there with Daniel, it seemed to take it all away. After a while and with some skill, Silver managed to turn herself over and she put her front to Daniel. She tucked her head under his chin and pressed herself tight so the furs wouldn't lift and create a draft. She pushed her underside arm back so she wasn't laid on it, while the other, she draped tenderly over his hip. The whole thing felt rather tender and intimate....

He was not quite asleep when she shifted her position and turned facing him. His hand was not on her stomach any more but on her firm ass. Her movements had made her short garment ride up some so his hand was on her bare ass cheeks. This he liked. He fell asleep like that.

Silver fell asleep not even realising, nor caring where hands were or weren't. She snuggled in further once or twice during the night, but otherwise, never woke. The night passed without incident, save for a slight snort from Wind Strike, which disturbed Silver only once and she furrowed her brow, wondering how it was possible a bird could snore, bit otherwise, she went back to sleep without a fuss. By the morning, she had barely shifted. The only part of her that had moved was her upside thigh. She had slipped it between his...

It was well before dawn when Daniel awoke and found her leg between his. He smiled and patted her ass cheeks as he spoke softly. "Time to wake up. We will be leaving shortly. We should make a good distance today."

Silver jumped some as she felt him slap her bare backside. She hadn't expected that at all. Bringing her head up, it took a moment to realise where and how she was and she swallowed hard as she carefully went about detangling herself from Daniel....

He chuckled. He had a feeling she was begining to see what he had told her was true. At least her body was at the moment. She would follow along in due time. He rose to his feet and began tieing things back on to his tarn.

This was one part of her training that Silver really wasn't looking forward to at all. To her, it was the most painful and degrading part and the main reason why she had turned so violently on her masters in the past. To make it worse, Daniel laughed at her, making her blush and she quickly turned away from him as he rose and started strapping things to Wind Strike again. She packed up the bed and everything before she threw dust over the fire to make sure it stayed out. She then brought everything to Wind Strike to be tied on, except the fur to cover her during the flight....

Pulling her up once again, he seated her before him puting the fur over her so her warm body was against him and put the strap over them. It was only the begining. Her training would take time he figured. If he had wanted her trained by others, he could but doing it himself meant that she would be more dependent on him and wanting just him. Soon they were in the air once more and moving towards the Sadar mountains.

Once again, Silver forced herself against Daniel as the Tarn took off once more. Once at altitude, she began to relax again and she settled back into Daniel to watch the clouds go by. There was some low cloud that morning and when they began to pass through it, Silver rested her head back and lifted an arm out of the furs to wave her hand through the moisture. It was magical to her that it water could float like this and she smiled as the moisture covered her face and neck. She smiled and relaxed fully, able to enjoy the feeling knowing that she as safe with her master....

Daniel looked ahead at the mountains. Wind Strike was flying and he gave him the lead,though he kept his hands on the straps. But that let him put his arms about Silver and pull her back more against him. "You are afraid of some of the training you will be receiving." He smiled. he knew she would be. From what she said she had been raped or what she considered rape. She had been used by those that could not control her. "Afraid of what I will do with you?

Silver was in a world of her own, enjoying a truly rare moment of actually enjoying the feeling of flight, when she felt Daniel's arms tighten some around her. With her head back on his shoulder, she could heard him clearly as he spoke and she shuddered. She couldn't lie. She nodded, "I am, Master." She said quietly against him. "I am afraid that you may nearly kill me, like the others did." She shuddered again, unable to push back those horrific memories that until recently, had still plagued her nightmares.....

[questor]

"Now that all depends on how you act. I can imagine how it all went when they used you. I bet you left your mark on many of them, and they whipped and beat you. That is not how one trains a pleasure slave." He had watched the slaver begin the training of slaves, so that they would be acceptable ones to be bought. Other slave girls, more experienced pleasure slaves usually taught the slaves how to use makeup, how to dance, move, and many more things. All to teach them how to please their masters. Daniel would have to the hard part. If time permitted and he could afford it, he would rent a slave to teach Silver the other things.

"You will just have to trust me and try to understand what is going on. A slave must trust her master. You must trust me and you will see that things will not be like before." When day light broke they were well on their way towards the mountains. They loomed ahead. What lay ahead for them was unknown, how they would be accepted at the settlement that was being built was unknown as well.

The feel of her against him was becoming more enjoyable. She was no longer the wild she sleen he had bought. She was slowly begining to accept her new life. It had taken him some time to get use to the slavery and the goran ways but he adapted. He was sure Silver would as well. Yes it was a mans world on Gor. Why that was he didn't know nor did he question it. He just accepted it.

[LadyRaven]

As the flight continued, Silver found herself somewhat at odds. Yes, she trusted Daniel, she had to, and he had kept his word. And yet, on the other hand, he would eventually force himself onto her and she would have to please him. He said that he could imagine what had happened to her in the past, but if he could imagine it, he could also be just as capable of doing those things too. That disturbed her deeply, but he promised it would be different. She slipped into silence to consider her dilemma. She knew it would happen and there was nothing she could do about it. It was like staring at death. One knew it was coming for them, they just didn't know when. Anticipation was a cruel thing really.

Eventually, the mountains came into sight and Silver felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She felt a great sense of foreboding overcome her and without realising it, she pressed tighter to Daniel. She was frightened. It was only after she settled again that she felt just how close she was to him. She wanted to move away from him again, but his arms seemed to tighten further around her and she couldn't. On the other extreme, she felt his warmth and the intimacy of his touch on her bare skin and it made her feel strange inside. It was this feeling that eventually made her speak her fears.

"Master?" She said quietly, "Please? Don't take a cup you haven't seen poured, I beg you, and..." she turned her head on his chest and leaned slightly to one side so she could look up at him, "And Master? Please? Leash me. I don't want to be stolen, Master, please?" As she had warned him before, these lands were infested with thieves and murderers of the lowest kind.....

[questor]

Daniel listened to what she said. Where they were going, her suggestion of not drinking from a cup that he did not see the contents poured into, was a very good one. The people that the settlement was made up, might do just that to steal what he had and enslave him. He would have to watch that and also his back, until he could establish himself as one of them. As for leashing her, that was something he had already considered.

What struck him strange was her suggestions and her begging him to do that and to leash her. Now that was something she would never have done when he bought her. She had made a promise to do as he said and obey him, but this was far more then that. He had a feeling that she was slowly realizing what she truely was, even if she had not realized it.

He turned the tarn to begin their northward flight. This would make them look as if they came from the south. "You have some sound advice. How do you know of what lies here in the Sardar Mountains? Have you been here?" he asked.

[LadyRaven]

Silver remained with her head turned up on his shoulder and she nodded, "I have." She said, "It happened to me before while the one that owned me took pilgrimage there. Thieves drugged him while he broke bread with them and they robbed him." She looked down again and then out to the mountains as they grew larger and closer. "You are a good man, Master and my life depends on yours. I would not be a good slave if I did not warn you of danger."

The mountains grew closer still and it wasn't long before Silver could pick out some details. The settlement was huge and she could see fires burning, bright red in colour. They were forges and there were lots of them. Ar Station had perhaps six or seven blacksmith's forges, but this place had thrice that number. Silver supposed that should Daniel want a new blade, the competition alone would not only keep the price down, but ensure the absolute best steel. That thought also brought a worry to her mind. All those forges, all that strong steel, could only mean one thing. This place was a war camp.

Silver wasn't naïve about war. She had seen enough of it with her own eyes and the infamy of Ar's war with Cos was still in living memory. More importantly, she was now owned by a Warrior, so she knew she would see much more of this. Not that she minded. The more men killed, the less men there would be to hunt and enslave people like her. Her logic in that however, was flawed, for the Priest Kings seemed eager to replace the lost men very quickly.

Quite suddenly, something broke Silver's reverie and she snapped her eyes slightly to the left and somewhat forward of the settlement. A single fire that started waving. They had been spotted. "Master." Silver said, pulling her arm out of the furs to point at the waving flame. "We've been seen." To confirm that, another fire sprang up at the edge of the settlement and started waving too......

[LadyRaven]

Daniel had seen the signal and it spread. As expected he saw tarns take off from the ground to meet them. Sloopy work, very lax security. Who ever was incharge of protecting this settlement was inept. They should have been stopped well before they even came into view of the settlement. He did not turn to look as if he was fleeing, but turned straight for the group of tarns and their riders. Even their formation was not proper and he could have attacked and killed them all if he had enough spears in the quiver on the saddle. They were pathetic.
"Who are you and what do you want here?" One of them called out.
I am Daniel Campbell, Tarnsman and I seek shelter." I called back.
"Where do you hail from?" The man asked again.
"Where ever my services are required." I replied. "I claim no city as my home."
That seemed to satisfy him and he motioned for Daniel to follow him down. The others fell in behind but again they were extremly lax in their formation. He landed and the five tarns and their riders landed as well. I dismounted my tarn and helped Silver down and as she requested, took out a leash and attached it to her collar. He held it in his left hand letting his sword hand be free. He now faced the five tarnsmen. They were warriors and tarnsmen but he could see that their ways of being bandits had made them a bit slopy. That might prove to his advantage in more ways then one.

Silver felt a small sigh of relief as she felt him tie a leather thong to her collar. Leashed at least meant she was protected and when she looked around at the Tarnsmen, she swallowed hard. She didn't fancy being on the scope of any of them. Sinking to her knees just behind Daniel, she carefully leaned to put her head to his thigh, but without it looking on purpose. Behind the Tarnsmen, several slave suddenly appeared and knelt behind their masters. One of them turned and nodded to the head girl and the slaves came forward with wine cups for the masters and one for Daniel. "Master." Silver whispered, "Please? Remember what I told you.".....

Daniel eyed the cups and the five men. They may have been warriors at one time but it seemed that their lives of easy pickings had taken the edge off of them. If he was in charge of them, they would be training and working their behinds off to get back to what they had once been. Instead of taking the wine cup offered him, he took the one from the hand of who appeared to be the leader of the five tarnsmen. Then took the cup meant for him and handed it to the man. He looked sternly at him as he raised his cup to his lips. He could see the surprise and the fear in the man's eyes. "You do not drink." Daniel said. "Is there something wrong with your wine?"

In response, the man took his drink, taking it all down in one just to prove a point. Nothing happened. Behind them all, the slaves began staring at Silver and whispering among themselves about her. Silver could feel their eyes on her and she wanted so desperately to pull away and make a run for it, but she had promised to be a good slave, so instead, she turned her head right into Daniel's thigh and carefully moved herself around to pur her side to them and slide her head behind his thigh so she couldn't see them at all. In response, the slave girls began to laugh quietly and one of them came to her master on her knees. She touched his knee lightly and then whispered something to him. The man came forward, coincidently, the same one that Daniel had swapped his wine with. "I like your silver eyed slave. Very rare.".....

"Indeed I do. She is not quite trained enough yet but she is coming along. A rare find up this far north, but not where she came from." He had no idea if there were more like her but it he figured there might be. Her parents were like her so there had to be more that produced them. So where ever her people came from there would be more like her and therefore he spoke the truth. Warriors seldom lied. Only when they were on a mission like he was would they make false statements to make them more acceptable. But that was seldom. Spies were sent, men that were not warriors. They could be of any of the casts. Daniel did not like lying so he kept himself on the border of the truth.
"Come then friend." the man said. I will take you to Jarl, our commander."
Daniel shook his head. "No. I will talk to whoever is incharge here. The one that commands this settlement." The man looked shocked and really didn't know what to say to that demand. It seemed no one had every demanded such a thing.
"If you will not take me, then I will find him myself and inform him of your lack of security for his settlement." Now this made the man nervous and worried. He licked his lips and nodded and told Daniel to follow. Daniel pulled on the leash to have Silver rise to her feet and follow him.

Silver stood instantly and with that same grace and balance she'd always had. This caused a stir with the slaves that were still watching her so closely and she heard several comments of jealousy about how easily she had done that if she was supposed to be untrained. One slave, a dark haired woman with deep olive skin and black eyes, moved a little closer as the slaves followed. Silver was being judged carefully. Every inch of her was scrutinised as she followed Daniel and it was making her more and more frightened. She moved a step closer to Daniel as he walked.

Daniel noticed the slack in the leash and turned his head to see why. He saw the slave watching Silver closely and gave her a very stern look. Immediately the slave became frightened and moved away from Silver. She had just displeased a man and that could mean a beating from her master. He was taken into the settlement and Daniel's keen and trained eye took in everything. It was a large settlement, filled with slaves both male and female and a large number of warriors, along with a few builders and scribes and merchants. Those of the merchant class looked as if they had delt with bandits before. They were the type that made a living from dealing with such. Making a profit of the loss of honest merchants who's goods were stolen. As from the air, he also noted the many forges, making weapons. It seemed that they were preparing for something. Defense surely was not it, as the lack of patrols and sloppiness of those that had come to meet him.

If the reports were right and Port Cos was being attacked by raiders, then the manufacture of weapons, especially spears would be ecential. But how were they succeeding when Port Cos had excellent defence measures and a well trained tarn force as well as ground troops. Unless there was one in Port Cos that was giving information on patrol routes and such. It was mainly Port Cos that had been raided, and the land it controled. But other's along the river that were allied with Port Cos also had been attacked.

Soon enough they came to the central struture that housed the leader of the settlement. It was a large stone structure of three stories and it looked well built. Here the leader of the tarnsmans that met Daniel informed the guards at the door that he was taking Daniel to see Darious. They looked as confused as the tarnsman had been but let them through. Again lax security. How could they even remain unknown here if that was the case. A few minutes later he was taken into the presence of the man in charge. He sat in a throne like chair and on other side of the room there were four more chairs on either side. Men sat in each and they seemed to be his advisors.

Silver looked around the grand room in fear and moved yet closer to Daniel. When he stopped walking, she moved to his side and slipped down to her knees, but she kept her head down, nbot daring to embarrass Daniel by being caught staring. All around in her perihperal, she could see slaves moving about the room. Every one of them were wearing red silk and Silver suddenly felt very low and out of place. Darious lifted his head at the newcomer and eyed him with some suspicion. "You have not been invited, Tarnsman." He looked to his lower ranks and narrowed his eyes. The other man lowered his head and backed off. Darious regarded Daniel again as one of his advisors stood up and moved to Daniel and seemed to walk a circle around him before going back to Darious and he whispered in the man's ear. Darious made note of what he was told, but said nothing of it. He waved them forward. "You may leave your slave there." He said as he then nodded to one of his own. "She can be penned while we talk."....

"No I have not been invited, but as you can see I have easily made my way to your chamber here without as much as being searched or having my weapons taken from me. He eyed the tarnsman that had brought him and smiled. "I have also been able to aproach this settlement without being challanged, utill I was in full sight of it and I could see it from above very well. I was able to land and pass your guards with ease." This made Darious' eyes grow wide and anger fill his eyes. Daniel just smiled a bit, not broadly but just a small smile. If I had been a scout for a large force they would be desending on your settlement now and wreaking havoc." Oh that got every one in the room looking frightened. "But there is no such force. I have traveled from the south, heading for the Vosk River. I heard that there might be need of a good tarnsman there, when I saw this settlement. It is late and I tire of sleeping on the hard ground and came here hoping to finds a soft bed for a couple of days."

Darious regarded Daniel with much more care now. He could use a man like him, even more so knowing how easily he had got such access. "We have need of good Tarnsmen here." He said as he offered Daniel a seat. Seeing the beckon from her position, Silver made ready to move. "Name your price, Tarnsman, and I will see to it you have the very best of what I can offer."....

Daniel smiled. He could feel Silver at his feet getting ready to move, but he did not move just yet. "I would say you need more then just a good tarnsman. Those tarnsmen you have are lax and sloppy. They need one to train and lead them. The one you have in charge of them I doubt is up to the job. I would have his and his pay." Darious raised a brow and actually smiled.

"Send for Lukus." he told the guards and a guard was dispatched to fetch the man. When that was done Daniel moved forward to take a seat in a chair that had been brought for him. Wine was brought but he waved it away. Again Darious raised a brow. "You do not drink? Is there a problem."

Daniel leaned forward a bit in his chair. "Would you accept wine from a stranger that you have not seen poured from an unopened bottle?" Darious laughed and nodded.

"A warrior, tarnsman, astute judge of military ways and a wise man. Impressive."

Soon Lucus arrived. Daniel could see he had been more then indulget in a good life. He had a few pounds to many on him and his tunic was stained with wine.

Silver finally moved as Daniel finally took the seat and then smiled to herself when he declined the wine and then explained the reason to Darious. She felt some sense of pride in that, having begged him to do that. And the fact that he seemed to have declined to having her penned with the other slaves away from him, Silver began to feel a little more comfortable again. Kneeling once more by his side, Silver settled herself for a long wait while the men talked. When Lucas arrived, Silver chanced looking up briefly, but she didn't meet anyone's gaze, nor did she stay long enough to be considered actually looking. With a wave of Darious' hand, Lucas was arrested and stripped of his uniform. "You've become lazy in your duties, Lucas, to the point of being disgraceful. You are hereby stripped of yor commision and replaced. Have his Tarn and all his slaves put up for auction." The shouting Lucas was then dragged away and Darious turned back to Daniel. "The position is yours, Tarnsman." He said, "And so being, to whom do I give my signature and gold?" Daniel would have to be careful now. His name was that of Earth, not Gor, so he would have to prove his honour, something past Earthmen had not been all that well known for......

My name is Daniel Cambel." he stated. He had already given his name to the tarnsman that had brought him to Darious, so it would do no good to change that now. Darious looked at Daniel intently,
"Not of Gor." he leaned back in his throne like chair. "How came you to be a warrior and a Tarnsman?"
"I helped save the life and property of a slaver rom bandits on my arrival here. I was a warrior on earth and the slaver saw to my training as one here. I helped guard his possessions and goods for almost a year. As for becoming a Tarnsman, his business took him to Ar and there I found I had an infinity for the great birds. Again being grateful for helping him become rich, he purchased a Tarn for me and had me trained in the proper ways of a Tarnsman."

One of the men seated rose and looked at Daniel. "Yes that is the man that killed three of of those attacking a slaver's camp several months ago. I recgonize him now." That seemed to do it for Darious. To him Daniel was a man without a homestone, a mercenary, an outcast that could only take on jobs as a mercenary and such.

"Excellent, then he is definately the warrior for the job. His house is yours. Welcome to Sadar Daniel Campbell." he then dismissed Daniel and Daniel rose and saluted Darius, bringhing his fist up to his heard and lowering it again. He then turned and left gathering the tarnsman that had brought him. Oh the look in the man's eyes was something. Fear, confusion, and definatly uncertainty. His actions had been unforgiveable. He could be punished severly. Daniel walked through the streets, only telling the man to take him to Lucus' house. Once there he informed the warrior to rouse all the tarnsmen and have them assemble at the Tarn Enclouser in an arn. He then dismissed him and went into the house.

Silver remained in silence througout the entire talks and when Daniel was dismissed to his new home, she followed in silence. She smiled as he ordered all the Tarnsmen to be assembled in one ahn (one hour). He then went into the house and she followed him closely. The former Lucas' house was certainly a lot more lavish then their home in Ar Station and Silver couldn't help but look around. Homes like this were usually reserved for the upper castes of the higher order! Everything was immaculately clean and well presented and Silver decided right then and there not to touch a single thing anywhere in the entire house. Seconds after they had entered, no less than five slaves quickly came and dropped to their knees. The news had been given that Lucas had been removed and Daniel put in his place. There were four women, two in red silk and two in house tunics, one man in a grey tunic. They all bowed their heads to Daniel to welcome him to his new home....

Daniel had to smile. He now had several slaves even though they had been ordered to be auctioned off, he might have that order cancled. One of the female slaves in red spoke. " I am Friska, first girl." one could see the smile on her lips as she had seen Daniel and knew he was alot better then Lucus.
"Wrong Friska, you are no longer first girl." he said, "Silver here is first girl and you will do as she says." All the slaves took a glance at Silver and one could see the smile on the girl's lips fade quickly and fear show in how her body trembled.

Silver had to blink dumbly for a minute. She was first girl? In some ways, it made sense as the slaves were soon to be auctioned off. Slowly standing again, Silver moved to Friska and took her place as she moved back a step. Both women then sank back to their knees and Silver smiled as she lifted her head. "Master." She said, "This girl is grateful for your choice." She knew the etiquette to being given a higher place in a house and she had promised to be a good slave. But somewhere deep down, Silver actually did want to please Daniel. She didn't see him so much now as her jailor, but someone she really could trust. He had kept his word and more and he had been gentle with her, despite her underlying nature and lack of respect....

[LadyRaven]

Daniel looked at the slaves now. "What are your duties here?" he asked.
The man spoke first. "I am the gardner and cook master."
The one that had been the first girl spoke next. I was master Lucus' pleasure slave." The other girls in read repeated the same and the two in grey said they were the ones to clean the house and do the meanal tasks. It was a good size house and he could see they looked tired.
"You pleasure slaves will now help in maintaining this house and the cooking as well. Silver will tell you what your duties will be." he moved up to the one that had been First Girl, "You will also instruct Silver on the ways of a pleasure slave, those things a master can not teach them."
"Yes master." the girl said, and he could see that tears ran down her cheeks. She was no longer First Girl and she was to help with menial work. That made the other slave girls smile a bit and he could imagine she had not made their lives to easy. That was the way of Goran slave girls though.

Silver kept her mouth shut and listened as the other slaves stated their position. Friska, the former First Girl had really been blown off her pedestal and Silver could see the fear and shame in her eyes as she battled not to cry. In that, however, Silver could see that this girl would have no shame at all in making Silver suffer if she slipped up. That put more pressure on her then to make sure they all stayed in line. Perhaps some sleen tactics would come in handy there. On top of that, Friska was tasked with helping Silver learn the ways of a pleasure slave, ways that Daniel could not teach and that made Silver's stomach sink into her feet. Friska saw this and smiled again. "Absolutely Master." She said with some dark glee, "I will have her ready for you before my sale, Master." And Silver had no doubt the girl would and it looked as though if she had her way, it would be as painful and degrading as possible. The second red silk slave behind Friska lifted her head some and looked at Silver with a small nod of support. She would help by keeping a check on her former example.

This second slave then came to Daniel and knelt before him, "Master." She said with respect, "May this girl prepare you a hot bath and warm your furs when you return? This girl would be grateful in all ways to please the Master.".....

"If that is what Silver has you to do." he told the slave girl. "She is first girl and she warms my furs." When the time came he might keep some of them, but not all. He would have to see what Silver had to say about the lot. Once he had that settled, he turned to Silver. "I will return in an arn or two. Insure the evening meal if prepared and ready to be served." he looked around at the slave, "For everyone." He then left to meet with his tarnsmen.

Silver lowered her head and nodded, "Yes Master." She said and then looked at her fellow slaves as Daniel left. They all looked shocked, even Friska, that he had ordered them all to eat the meal. Waiting until he had gone completely, Silver stood up again and turned to the slave. She looked to the male slave first, "What is your name?" She asked.
"Hector." The man said, "You?"
"Silver." She said with a smile. She wasn't sure exactly what Daniel's meals were his favourite, so she thought of something that all men seemed to savour. "The Master will have the fattest, juiciest steak in the pantry, lean and medium rare with vegetables and meat gravy. We will have the leftovers in a strong broth. A good slave is a healthy slave."
"Right away, Misstress Silver." Hector said with a smile. He'd never been allowed more than gruel before now, so this would be a real treat for all of them.
Silver turned to the second red silk, "What's your name?" She asked.
"Moira." The girl said.
"Moira, I'd like you to make sure the Master's bed is clean and ready for him when he returns and have a hot bathed made ready." She said.
"And me?" Friska asked, "What do you require of me, Mistress Silver?"
Silver thought on this for a moment, "The Master's things will be arriving soon." She said, "You can help me place them."
"As you wish." Friska said, "And then? Perhaps I can introduce those wild curls of yours to a comb?"
Silver narrowed her eyes some. Yes, her curls were wild, but Daniel had not complained about them and she rather liked keeping her hair, for she knew Friska would be as rough as possible. "Only if I get to repay the compliment." She said knowingly.
Friska swallowed carefully and smiled with a nervous nod, "As you wish." She said, deciding she would be as gentle as possible. She liked her hair.

The house went about being set up for Daniel, but Silver knew this wasn't home and it never would be. Still, she had to give the impression that it was. The meal was prepared, Moira was hard at work readying Daniel's new bed and his bath. By the time he got back, everything would be ready and Silver hoped that he would like what he found. As expected, Friska had suddenly had a change of heart and was actually helping Silver.....

Daniel went to the Tarn Enclouser and looked at the Tarnsmen that were gathered. "You call yourselves warriors and tarnsmen." He walked up and down the line. "You are lax, and lazy." he told them. Tonight there will begin a patrol about Sadar. The patrols will be ranged out far enough for any to return and warn the settlement of any incomming force. Individual intruders will not be intercepted by a lone tarnsman. That tarnsman will return and have four others go with him. No intruder is to be allowed near the settlement unless they are cleared by me. They will be detained away from Sadar until I arrive." Most seemed to have been drinking and that was about to change. "There will be no drinking while on duty or a day before you are on duty. You will shave, clean your selves up and look like warriors and be warriors. Training and manuvers will begin in the morning, so you had best get your sleep for you may not be getting any for a long time. Any one that fails to meet my standards will severly punished." There was grumbling and some remarks made, Daniel drew his sword and faced them. Any man that thinks he can beat me, kill me and take my place is more then welcome to come forward. That seemed to make them keep their mouths shut. He turned to the one that had brought him in. "What is your name?
"Arculis." he replied.
"Select five men and have them fly an arn out and then another five to releve them in three arn. Do that until the first have returned and had time to rest and then send them back out and the others on the same rotation. Have my instructions followed to the letter."
Arculis saluted, "Yes Commander." then went about doing as he had been ordered.
He then made his way back to the house to see how Silver was faring.

What was presented to Daniel was a home that was spotlessly clean and ordered. All the treasures and images of Lucus had been removed and Daniel's things had been placed with care. The whole house smelled of the meal and both house slaves were waiting to take his cloak and sandals. "Welcome home again, Master." One of them said, "Your meal is waiting and Moira has drawn you a hot bath and cleaned your bed. Mistress Silver is waiting to serve you in the courtyard." This far south, even in the mountains, the weather was warm and temperate, so most of the living was done in the open.....

Daniel smiled and nodded and headed to the courtyard. Once he saw Silver, he smiled more and sat down. "Make sure that the others serve themselves and then return to me to eat with me." he told her.

Silver smiled also as Daniel entered the courtyard. He had noticed her efforts and he looked pleased. Time of course, would tell, but for now, she felt content in that small achievement. He ordered that she get the slaves fed first and she nodded, "Yes Master." She said and left to do as he asked. They were all shocked when she told them and she smiled knowingly at them. "If you serve him well, he treats you well." She explained, "And he is pleased by our efforts today." They all tucked into their broth and all enjoyed it as Silver plated up Daniel's meal and then a bowl of the broth for herself. She then returned to Daniel and put her bowl down near his chair. On her knees, she held his plate out with her head low, but a smile on her face...

[questor]

Daniel took the plate and sat it on a small table and began eating. it was good and he cut a nice piece off and put it into her bowl. "Eat." he told her and stroked her hair. She had done good and it looked as if she was becoming more the slave then wild beast. But that was something he didn't think he would see fade away, even with time. She would always retain that wild side. But that was part of her spirit and that would not be taken from her.

Silver smiled as he took the plate, but when he dropped a good slice of his own steak into her bowl, Silver felt over the moon and she quickly devoured it, "Thank you Master!" She said with delight. She ate quickly so that she would be done before him and could take his plate and she enjoyed every mouthful of the broth. She would have to spend some time with Hector, she thought, and learn his recepies....

He had inflitrated the Settlement and now had command of the tarn force there. This gave him access to the entire settlement and all it's defences. He would have access to Darious and his advisors and be privy to their plans. Perhaps he could find out who was supplying him with information on Port Cos. The next few day were busy and tiring for Daniel. He was up early and home late. He began retraining his tarnsmen, seeing how good they were with the sword and spear on the ground. He had them training hard every day for hours and then off on patrol and traing them in the air as well. Their training brought ther old ways back. They began to become a cohesive unit. Why he was training them to be such an effective fighting force he didn't know. One day they might be be up against those of Ar Station or their allies. But his efforts had not gone unnoticed and Darious was highly empressed and pleased. Even the Ground force Commander had got of his rear and begun an intensive training program to keep his men fit and ready to fight.

When Daniel came home he was tired and at times exhusted. But he always had time for Silver. He would see how she was comming along. He noticed the makeup, nothing heavy but slight. Her hair was combed and trimmed. "How goes your dance leasons?" he asked when he came home.

The next few days saw Daniel working hard trying to get his new men into shape and Silver questioned why he would do that. Wasn't he there to report on them and undermine them if possible? It all seemed a little too odd to Silver. His days were long and hard and he would often fall asleep before doing more than letting the house slaves take his cloak and sandals before falling asleep and Silver did feel for him. However, he did always seem to find the time and energy to sit with her and speak with her and she liked that. For the effort he made in doing that, Silver stepped up her efforts to become better for him. Moira had begun teaching her to sew, Hector had reluctantly shared his recepies and Friska had started teaching her the use of make-up and had finally started to succeed in taming some of Silver's wild curls. However, with Friska, it had taken some harsh measures.

Not long after her first supposed change of heart, Friska had returned to her coniving and deceitful ways and in the end, Silver had been forced into something drastic. Thankfully, Daniel hadn't been home when it happened. The former First Girl had made Silver look a fool, a complete and utter barbaric idiot and that had been the final straw. Normally, the First Girl would take a switch to the insulting slave, but Silver had decided that wasn't enough. Her sleen nature came into play and she literally hunted the girl through the entire house. Much had been destroyed in the fight, tapestries torn, ornament and statues smashed and the like. Friska eventually gave in and begged mercy, so Silver stopped hunting her and made her clean the mess they had made instead. It seemed after that, Friska was more receptive to being led.

When Daniel came home that night, Silver had not long finished learning a new dance from Moira and both were sat waiting for him in the courtyard. Silver wanted to show him, so when he did arrive home and ask, she was fileld with excitement. With the firepit ablaze in the middle of the courtyard and a full silver moon high above them, Moira took her place at Silver's nod. "Let me show you, Master." She said with promise and got to her feet....

So far Daniel had not used Silver. She would sleep with him in his bed but he never did anything to her except hold her to him when he slept and giver her playful smacks on her ass. In bed he made sure she was naked and he enjoyed the feel of her body against his.

When she have Moira a nod and told him to let her show him, he nodded and waited to see what she did. He had noticed a couple days ago some things had been broken and tapestries torn. He had not asked her about it, but he saw some bruises on Friska. This made him smile and he remembered the bruises and scrapes when Mama disciplined Silver. He knew that Friska would be a good slave after that. Now he sat back and sipped some wine and watched silver

On the far side of the fire, Hector began to bang lightly on a drum and the two house slaves began to sing in a harmony with Friska playing a small lute type instrument. Moira slowly began to move around Silver as Silver started to turn, swinging her hips in a circle as she went. Had she bells, she would have looked much like the belly dancers of Earth. She lifted her hands above her head and crossed her wrists as Moira continued to move around her and give her silent cues as to which way to turn. Hector's drum began to louden as the dance progressed and Silver began to move with more purpose. She moved her hips in an incredibly enticing and erotic way as she began to dance about the fire in tight circles and then wider ones. The tempo increased and Silver began to step as well as sway to the beat and sound and her movement began to produce a sheen layer of sweat on her. Having bathed earlier that day especially for this, she smelled sweeter than usual. Her hips seemed to become fluid and she stayed on her tiny toes as she turned and then flicked out her arms, arching the palms of her hands to make graceful shapes. Under the silver moon, she seemed to glimmer and Hector began to nod with pleasure at what he was seeing. He had seen her practice earlier and had announced quite vocally to the entire house that Silver had been touched by the Priest Kings for what she could do with so very little instruction.

As the music continued, Silver closed her eyes and let herself get lost in it. During a turn, Moira moved around her and pulled the knot of her silks, revealing Silver to Daniel and to the moon in tribute. The way she moved her hips then seemed far more erotic and graceful and once againm Hector thumped louder on the drum. Silver was becoming breathless, but it only seemed to add to her allure. Her turns became faster until she was practically spinning on the spot. Her curls began to lift from the central force of her turns until it had a life of its own. Her whole body sang with the music it seemed.

As the last beats of the drum thundered across the courtyard, Silver danced around the fire once more to come in full view of Daniel and with barely the blink of an eye, she dropped to her knees and bent herself back until her head touched the floor. The move was the grand finale of her dance. Crossing her wrists above her head again, she arched her back as deep as it would go and lifted her hips up into a graceful Gorean love bow. As the music stopped, Silver was fully exposed in all ways to Daniel and there she remained for him.....

Daniel watched and could not take his eyes off of Silver, He drank in every movment, every gesture and his hear began to beat faster as he became aroused and filled with desire. Perhaps it was time for his lovely slave to know the touch of her master and to feel what it truely was like to make love to her master.

As Silver remained in her love bow, Moira turned and knelt to Daniel. "Your slave awaits your release, Master." She offered quietly, meaning Silver was waiting for Daniel to say she could move, though to Moira, it looked clearly that his release may mean something else entirely. Sensing the latter to be true, she nodded to the household to vacate and they did. Moira also followed them, bowing her head and the pair were left alone. Silver did not see or hear everyone leave and so remained as she was, breathing heavily as her heart thudded in her chest. Every inch of her seemed to scream to be touched....

"Come here." he told Silver and held out a hand to her. She had indeed learned many things. She still needed to learn music, how to play insturments and such. Later when she had pleased in in bed and with her other skills she would graduate to Yellow Silk Girl or even directly to Red Silk.

Silver finally moved. Lifting herself up again, she let her arms drape back as she lifted her shoulders, keeping that incredible grace she had always seemed capable of. She slowly rose to her feet and moved to Daniel. With her head down, she sank to her knees and spread them wide. She lifted her head and pushed her shoulders back as she sat back on her heels. She rested her hands palms up on her thighs and settled there. Still somewhat breathless, her skin glistened with sweat and now being so close, the sweetness of her scent could be tasted almost. "Is Master pleased?" She asked....

He stood up and moved to her and picked her up from her kneeling position and brought her to his chair and agains sat down but brought her to sit on his lap, and he put an arm about her. He turned her face to face him and kissed her lips for the first time, gently. "Extremely Pleased." he said

Silver jumped a little as he came to her and picked her up. When he sat her in his lap, she became nervous and when he kissed her, she took sucha sharp breath in, she felt she may suck his entire mouth into her nose! Every inch of her being suddenly became electric and her skin tingled where it touched his own. She really hadn't expected him to like the dance that much, for she had made some mistakes, she was sure. He was extremely pleased. As the ksis ended, Silver looked around quickly and found they were utterly alone. She swallowed hard, nervous of what was to come next. She tried to smile and she nodded, but wouldn't meet his gaze. "Thank you Master." She said quietly....

He smiled and said, "Do not be afraid or nervous. I told you before that I am not like those that abused you." Again he pulled her face gently to him and kissed her but deeper this time letting his toung push past her lips and duiel with her toung.

Silver held her breath as he pulled her in for that second kiss and once again, her entire body felt that shock again. She tensed up some as she felt his tongue push past her teeth. Before now, when a master had tried that, she had bitten the organ off and ran during the distraction. She was tempted again, but he had promised he would be different and so far, he had been just that. And so, she parted her teeth and turned her head slightly to let him deepen the kiss. Not knowing it, she tenderly traced his cheek and jaw with her fingertips and leaned back slightly across his lap tp be more comfortable.....

When he broke the kiss he caressed the side of her face. "They were not like this were they?" he asked her. "I am sure you have talked to Friska and Moria about it. What have they told you?"

Silver slowly shook her head and turned her cheek into his hand. "No Master." She said quietly, "There was nothing like this." She looked away some as he asked what her fellow females had said. Both women had agreed that Lucus had been a hurtful sadist to a long degree and had enjoyed hurting them, but they too had felt the difference in Daniel and had advised her not to be afraid anymore. "They said I should not be afraid of you." She told him, "That they believe you will be gentle with me.".....

He smiled warmly at her and nodded. He ran his hand lightly over her tits. "How does it feel to have my hand caress your sweet tits?" he aske her. "This is part of what goes on between a master and his pleasure slave." he told her, "Also we have talked alot when I have returned from my duties. I have discussed much with you, that to is something a master does with his slave."


Silver shuddered lightly from his touch at her breasts and she had to admit, it did feel very nice. Her cooling skin had made her nipples quite sensitive and when his palm bushed over it, she took a sharp breath and sighed softly. She began to nod, "Yes Master, I know it makes you happy to have me to discuss things with."....

"You see, the relationship between master and slave is more then having sex. Though that is an important part of it. A pleasure slave helps her master relax after a hard day." he chuckled. He had several of those now. "Having his slave to talk to and to help ease his tire muscles and just to be there is important to keep him in good health, physically and mentally. You are therefore not just a toy or something to discard when done with." he began squeezing her tits as he talked and kissed her neck and the side of her face.

"Yes Master." She said and then sighed again softly as she felt his touch and his skin again on her skin. She felt the rise of goosebumps from it and she shuddered again, though this time in admitted pleasure and need. She was still very nervous of it, but she wasn't perhaps dreading it so much now. In the pit, the fire began to die down a little and Silver felt a slight chill on her skin, not to mention, she heard movement from the shadows and knew either Moira or Friska were watching.....

Charles Santarelli: The night was begining to get cooler so he stood up with her in his arms and he carried her up to his bedchamber and laid her on the furs. He sat down next to her as the fire in the fire place blazed giving warmth to the room. He again squeeze her tits one at a time and then began moving his hand down her body, and between her legs.

Lady Raven Bird: Silver gripped Daniel tightly as he stood and kept her in his arms. She then let her head drop to his shoulder as he carried her inside and to his bed. Once there, she laid down and stared up at him as he sat next to her. The fire made her eyes glitter, showing the nervousness and fear of what was to come, there was nothing she could do about it. Once more, he caressed her breasts and then as his hand moved down between her thighs, she sucked in her breath and held it. The move inadvertantly pushed her breasts up with her chest and her stomach in and she shivvered at the intimate touch....

"This is better is it not?" he asked her. "This is how it is with a master and his slave for the majority of them. Intament and enjoyable." he saw her neverous eyes and just smiled warmly. He caressed her pussy, rubbing her clit before he movd a finger over the soft lips of her pussy and slipped a finger within. "Tell me what you are feeling and how you like it."

Silver wasn't entire sure what she felt about his touch there and when his finger teased at her bud and then slipped inside her, she took another sharp breath. She arched her back deeper, suddenly aware that she ached inside and badly. Silver was far from pure, but it had been a long time since that part of her had been touched and it showed. Without her having to say a word, her hips lifted, showing that she very much liked what he was doing. "Oh, Master!" She sighed, "Please! More Master, please!"...

He removed his tunic and the resto f his clothing, then bent down and kissed her deeply again as he squeezed her tits some more. She was pleading with him to use her. It seemed he had awaken that part of the slave in her. Breaking the kiss he moved down to he tits and kissed them and suckled on them as he moved his hand back down to her pussy.

Silver had shocked herself by how much she had enjoyed that and she visibly shuddered as he quite suddenly stopped. Disrobing, he got back onto the bed and when he kissed her this time, she responded with much more conviction. Breaking the kiss, she felt him then move lower and when she felt his lips at her nipples, she arched her back again, pushing the flesh into his mouth. And then, feeling his fingers at her folds once more, she lifted her hips as well and sighed loudly. "Oh Master!" Her hands went to his head, her fingers into his hair and she cradled him almost and she slowly began to part her knees. She lifted her right knee and let it relax away from him....

He moved slowly with her, taking his time and not rushing it all. Even though he wanted to sink his hard cock up inside her he waited and let her continue building up to a climax. Also he did not want to make her nervous or frighten her. Again he slipped a figner up inside her and began fingering her pussy.

Silver's fingers tighened in Daniel's hair as he slipped his finger up in side her again and she felt a jolt of something very passionate and very urgent deep inside her core. And then something began to burn and it caused her skin to flush with colour. She'd never felt anything like this before and though it shocked her, it didn't frighten her. She lifted her hips higher, driving his finger deeper into her and then she felt it brush over something incredibly sensitive now, she cried out and lifted her hips higher still. The move also caused his thumb to rub on her bud and that made the feeling so much more intense. "Oh Master!" She cried, "Master, I burn!".....

"Much better is it not." he asked her. "I told you that it would be differnt." He kissed her tits some more and suckled on them, as a second finger entered her pussy and he moved them in and out. After a bit he moved and spread her legs far apart and moved between them. Slowly he moved up and guided his hard cock up to her pussy and began pushing it up inside her.

By the time he felt her ready for him, Silver was already somewhere between bliss and extacy and so, when he did push into her, she instantly orgasmed hard and deep on him. It caused her to scream in a primal and gutteral way. Behind her closed eyes, she could see starsflashing and exploding and the whole feeling made her dizzy with passion. Her body acted and reacted instinctively now and as he pushed up into her, she gripped him with her knees, the furs with her fingers and she held on tightly to both....

He pushed up inside her and felt her climax. Then he began moving in and out of her slowly, letting her feel his hard cock up inside her. She felt good and he was enjoying her. She would now know what it felt like to have sex with her master the way it was suppose to be. He would use her in other positions as time went on. She would know soon that the mere touch of her master would make her beg for him to take her. But now he wanted her to feel the pleasure that could be felt between the two of them.

With each movement, Silver felt her whole body rise to meet him and she coulf feel every ripple in his shaft as he pushed it into her. On the other hand, she could also feel the scars she had inside from her past, but for the moment, they and the memory of them were easily forgotten. A second orgasm quickly gathered up and took her and she cried out again in pure ectasy, gripping both him and the furst once more tightly. Her whole body flushed with colour yet again and she now wantonly used her hips against Daniel to pleasure herself.....

He rested one his weight on one arm and used his other hand to squeeze her tits. He began to move faster and a bit harder, as he felt her have a second orgasm. He was close to his release but he wanted to enjoy her more.

Her second orgasm roared through Silver and she tensed up more than before, using her whole body to liift up and meet his thrust. Her hands went from the furs to bove her head where she then crossed her wrists. The move was by instinct and she had seen many slaves do it without even knowing it was a beg to be held there until the Master had finished. She began to writhe beneath him, her body moving in such a way to pleasure him the most, she couldn't help it and it wasn't long before she felt yet another fire take hold of her and burn deeply...

He thrust harder as he felt her move beneath him making his cock rub up inside her pussy more. He bagan moving in and out of her faster and harder. Finally he rammed his cock up inside her and held himself there as he filled her with his hot cum, growling out his satisfaction. he looked down at her a find sheen of sweat covering his body. He lowered himself to her and kissed her passionately again as he slowly with drew from her.

That final moment had come and as Daniel slammed himself into Silver that last time and cast his seed in her, she felt that burn take her over completely and orgasmed again. She screamed out loudly and threw her head back into the furs as he held her there, spilling more and more of his seed in her. And it was done. Something then in Silver's mind suddenly took her and as Daniel lowered himself to her and kissed her, withdrawing, Silver became utterly limp in his arms. Her breath was shallow, her heart calmed and she looked at peace. Her body was there, but her mind was now someplace else entirely.....

He moved and laid down beside her bringing her to him. There was a look on her face and he called her name.

Silver did not respond to his movement, nor his voice calling her. She was completely unresponsive to anything he did and just laid there, her bright silver eyes staring into nothing. she didn't even blink....

They had been enjoying everything now she was limp, and unresponsive. This worried him. She was a live, but it looked as if her mind was somewhere else. He caressed her face and whispered her name.

Silver still did not respond, just laid there. Outside the doo, hearing that it was all over and how much Silver had seemed to enjoy it, at least by how vocal she had been, Moira knocked on the door and entered with a tray and a jug of wine for him. She sank to her knees, "Master." She offered, "This girl brings you wine.".....

[LadyRaven]

Daniel waved his hand at Moria to send her away as he gently slapped Silver's face. "Send for a physican." he called back over his shoulder to her.

Moira quickly put the tray down and came to the bed. "The master had me serve as house healer." She said, "With your permission?" She put her hand towards Silver with caution....

Daniel moved out of the way to let her examine Silver. Something was going on and he had no idea what.

Moira looked Silver over quickly, checking her pulse and her breathing and then pulled her eyelids down a little before she closed Silver's eyes completely for her. Moira smiled and nodded before looking openly at Daniel. "Silver is fine, Master." She said with an inordinate amount of joy and a bright smile. "She is dancing with the Priest Kings in the stars." She laughed, gathering Daniel had no clue what had just happened. "On Earth, we used to call it spacing out. We're so overloaded with pleasure that it shuts us down for a while."...

Now that was something he had never heard of happening. Especially on Gor. "Are you sure, I have never heard of anything like that happening." he told her.

Moira laughed and nodded as she carefully turned Silver onto her side, "I lived a similar life to this on Earth before I was brought here. It's only ever happened to me once, but what an experience it was! I felt like I was flying through the tail of a comet.2....

Daniel nodded and then dismissed Moira. He was tired and since she was alright, he laid down next to her and drew her close to him. He would see how she was in the morning. He would see what she dreamed of when she was in this trance like state.

Moira nodded with a smile and left, "Sweet sleep, Master." She said as she closed the door. Silver remained pretty much as she was the entire night. By dawn, Silver slowly began to open her eyes and she looked across the bed a Daniel. He was still asleep, but he looked worried over something. Had she not pleased him? It didn;t register what happened after their lovemaking, she couldn't know that she passed out. The last thing she remembered seeing and hearing and feeling was Daniel growling his pleasures and feeling in utter bliss about it....

As Silver stired he awoke and pulled her back to him. He kissed her neck. "Well now how was dancing with the Priest Kings." he asked her.

Silver furrowed her brow somewhat as she snnuggled into him, "Master?"

He chuckled. "After our first enjoyment of each other it seems you overloaded your body with pleasure. Moria said it was Dancing with the Priest Kings. You were like in a trance."

Silver furrowed her brow again, "I was?" She asked, not having a clue what he was going on about. Was he referring to the point she no longer remembered anything. Deciding not to press the matter further, she simply smiled, "It was not I that overloaded me, Master, it was you." She said in high compliment....

He grinned and said, "Well in any ways, I told you it would be different and that you would enjoy it." He kissed her cheek and ran a hand up and down her body. He sighed and then said, "I guess it is time for me to return to the training and leardership of the tarnsman here." He had still not learned anything of how they were getting information on Port Cos, and why exactly they were just attacking them and their allies and not the other river ports.

Silver smiled, her bright silver eyes glittering at him through the dawn light. She nodded as she touched his cheek lovingly. "Yes Master, you did." When he said he should get to his tanrsmen, she dropped her hand and furrowed her brow, "Master?" She asked, "Forgive me for being blunt, but why are you helping them? You are here to spy on them and undermine them, are you not? So why improve their training?"....

Daniel chuckled. "The more I improve their lot the more Darious will trust me and perhaps even bring me into his confidence. Also if need be I will know all the tactics that they are trained on and what their strengths and weaknesses are." He grinned. "So if I have to I can lead a force against them and overcome them."

Silver nodded, agreeing with his logic, but it also had a major flaw. "But they will know also your tactics in return." She said....

"Not necessarily. Remember Ar Station has its own commander and he has his own tactics. I can lead a force against these tarnsmen with Ar Station's and still defeat them." He slid from the bed and headed to get cleaned up. He looked back at her and she looked radient. "I think being a pleasure slave becomes you. Now that you see what you can do and how it truely feels."

His words brought her some comfort, but not much. Battle tactics weren't necessarily her style, but as a hunting sleen, she needed the same logic to bring down the prey. This didn't sound at all logical or safe and she began to worry for her master. What if his tactics were known in Ar Station when the marauders attacked? Would he not face the same justice as they did? It rolled around in her mind as she watched him slide from the furs and she turned on her side as he looked back at her. She suited being a pleasure slave. "Only to you, Master." She said with conviction, "You gave me permission to protect myself against another's advance and I intend to use that permission with deadly force. No other will touch me as you do, Master.".....

He grinned at that. "Well that was back in Ar Station." he said. "I would have to again asert that command in public so that there are witnesses. So don't do anything that will get you killed." he told her and began cleaning up. No one here knew she had been such a wild one. That fact might have been a good thing for there could be one day someone from there that the warriors of Sadar would capture and get such information. When he came back and dressed, and belted on his sword, he leaned down and kissed her lips gently. "I think today I will end their training a bit early. They have come a long way in a short time and can use that as an excuse." he grinned and patted her ass with a hand.

Silver lifted her head some and rested it on her hand, her elbow digging into the furs and she smiled at him demurely. "That sounds wonderful Master." She said, "Would you like to send me dancing with the Priest Kings again?" She was joking, but if it pleased him and she could get to that place again, she would do her best. "What would you wish of the house while you're gone today?".....

He laughed. "Now that I am not sure of. I have not had so many slaves before. "What do you think should be done?"

That question also stumped Silver. It was a big house and no doubt there were a hundred things that could be done throughout the day. At Ar Station, their true home wasn't a fraction this big and it was easy for Silver to get everything in order for him. Silver kept that in mind she began to rise from the bed. "I'll figure it out." She said and moved across the floor to wash up a little. She ached deeply inside and her hips and legs felt stiff. She decided she would find a quite place and stretch out a little and loosen the muscle. But it was still a good ache, for she had made him happy, it was written all over his handsome features and she smiled. After she had cleaned herself up some, she left the bedroom to gather her silks and start her day.

Outside in the main court, Moira, Friska, and the two house slaves began to clap at Silver. She furrowed her brow, wondering why they were doing that. She shook her head and pulled her silks on before shooing them away to their chores. Only Moira lingered and the women began to talk.....

[questor]

Daniel left the house and would eat at the barracks, for the tarnsmen. Everything now was running smoothly and regular reports were being made on the patrols. Port Cos had patrols now a bit further out, probably hunting for encampments on the plains. But mostly there was only pilgrams going to the holy sites at the base of the Sadar Mountains. His lieutenant, Arculis made his report to Daniel on the nights patrols. He had been worried when Daniel had taken over, and surprised when he made him his lieutenant. Nothing like a little incentive to change a man and have something that he does not want to lose.

Darious sent for him and Daniel went to meet him in a private room off the throne room. "We will be raiding Port Cos again." he told Daniel. "Untill we can manage to grow crops and raise our own livestock we will continue to raid them and their allies." Daniel had noticed a lack of farms and they did need produce and meats and such.

"If I may ask, why just Port Cos and its allies. There are many fat river port cities along the Vosk." Daniel asked.

Darious smiled and shook his head. "I have my reasons." he told Daniel, "You have done wonders with your tarnsman force. The Ground Commander has taken your initiative to get his men ready as well." He handed Daniel a sealed letter. This is the route you will take in and out. Study it and then burn it."

He then dismissed Daniel and he left the palace and began his walk back to the Tarns Enclouser. The settlement that Darious called Sadar was primarily made up of bandits, mercenaries with out a home,and those cast out of their cities for what ever reason, normally something very bad. Darious had gathered them here and now and then more arrived. It had many thing that a normal settlement would have, except one thing. A home stone.

[LadyRaven]

For the first half of that morning, Silver found herself being stared at and smiled at and it did become pretty annoying. To her, nothing that spectacular had happened, but it seemed to the rest of the house, it was just that. It took her actually having to shout for the attention to stop and the chores to be done.

By mid afternoon, the house was cleaned, Daniel's meal had been prepared for the evening and Silver settled down to learn her lessons with Moira and Friska. Today, it was perfecting her dance and then something musical. Silver had great rhythm, as her dance had proven, but drumming wasn't really something delicate and feminine. She tried the lute, but she couldn't seem to hold it right and pluck the strings. Eventually, Moira suggested a simple singing exercise instead.

From the very second Silver opened her mouth, the entire house was mesmerised. They simply could not believe that such a sound come from someone with absolutely no training and had never sang before. Friska even suggested that should Daniel have the notion, he should open his house and have her sing and dance for entertainment. Such an accolade would surely lift his standing among his superiors. Silver wasn't so sure, but she did like the idea of being able to sing.

The day wore on and more lessons were taught. By evening, with everything else done, Silver sat down in the courtyard with a length of heavy cloth and began sewing it. Daniel's cloak was looking a little shabby anyway and perhaps would like a new one. It was simple to make and gave her a good stead in her sewing practice. And she began to sing quietly as she sewed. All around the courtyard, the evening birds seemed to begin singing with her and Silver smiled as she worked her way along the heavy hem of the new cloak, quite oblivious now to the house watching her and smiling in some distant, fantasy dream-state way. "If only the master could hear this." One of the house slaves mused as she waited for him to come home.....

[LadyRaven]

Daniel returned to the tarn enclouser and called all the tarnsmen that were not out on patrol in. He informed them of the upcoming raid and he could see the anticipation in their eyes. He had a hundred tarnsmen but he could only take half of that so he could still maintain security about the settelment. He selected those that would go and the rest would be on standby for their return flight that might be pursued. He would have his reserve waiting to attack any that pursued the raiders. He found it intresting. He was now of Ar Station and making a raid on Port Cos. Something every warrior in Ar Station would love to do, but couldn't because of the truce.

When the plans were formulated, he left and returned to the house. Here he heard singing as he neared the courtyard and was surprised to see it was Silver singing as she sewed. He stood in the doorway to the courtyard smiling.

The two house slaves that were meant to be waiting for him to take his cloak and sandals, didn't hear him enter, they were both still mesmerised by Silver's singing. When one did noticed, she rushed to him and dropped to his knees, the secondd shortly after. "Master." They both said, "Please forgive us? We did not hear you enter." But whaty the hell, the beating would be worth it to have listened to Silver. As for the girl herself, she was still sat sewing and singing without a care in the world.....

He looked down at the house slave and raised a brow. He removed his cloak and handed it to her as she knelt there. He to was mesmerized by her singing. It seemed she had learned something else and very rapidly it seemed. He strode outinto the courtyard and up behind her.

The two house slaves took his things and then quickly ran off to store them away and let Hector know Daniel had arrived home so he could prepare the meal. Silver remained exactly where she was, still unaware that her Master had arrived home. As she checked her work, an idea began to form in her mind and she picked up a small cutting knife that she used for trimming rough edges on the cloth. She gathered a small lock of her hair that was silver and put the knife to it. She would cut it off and sew it into the collar of the cloak. Of course, she wouldn't tell him this, she would say she had found some silver thread. She didnt know why she wanted to do this either, only that she wanted him always to have a piece of her with him. Some would call that being in love....

He raised a brow again seeing what she was doing but said nothing but watched and listened. He let her finish before speaking. "A new cloak?" he asked.

Without a though, Silver carefully cut the lock from her hair and laid it out. The tied it off at one end and braided it before she carefully started sewing it into the collar. It looked exquisit and she hoped it would be his pride and joy when she had finished. She sang quietly the whole time. When she had done with it, she carefully folded it up and started putting the sewing things away. It was then Daniel spoke and she turned quickly to see him. A new cloak? He had asked. Silver swallowed hard, wondering how long he'd been stood there. She quickly got to her knees and put her head down. "Master, yes Master." She said and reached to hold it out to him for him to look at....

He smiled down at her and took the cloak and looked it over. "It is beautiful." he told her. "I will wear it on the Raid on Port Cos." he told her. He knew he had to tell her some how of the raid and this was the best way.

Silver lifted her head quickly, "Master?" She asked in some shock. He was going on a raid? The compliment was forgotten entirely, "A raid Master?" Men died on raids and Port Cos was hardly an easy target. Her eyes held the fear for what he was about to do, but she managed to hold her tongue. She wanted so badly to beg him not to leave. To their left, Moira arrived with Daniel's meal and she came forward quietly, getting to her knees with his tray....

Daniel sat down to eat. He nodded to Moira that informed her that her and the others could eat as well. He had made sure that there was plenty of meat and bread for them to eat as well. They were a happy lot of slaves and were now well fed and happy.

Before he ate, he pulled Silver up and on to his lap. "Do not worry my little slave. I have trained my men well and we will return." he kissed her cheek and handed her the bowl of food that was her. "Soon I hope that we can return home. If I succeed in this raid, I am sure Darious will bing me into his full confidence."

At least he hoped that Darious would. He ate his dinner with Silver there on his lap, enjoying her company, and tring to calm her fears.

Silver swallowed hard and looked down at her bowl as he spoke. "I pray the Priest Kings will watch over you." She said quietly and then watched as he ate. She ate hers, but she had to force it down some. Soon, they would return home. That lifted her spirits some and she began to smile once more. Sure, it had only been their for a couple of days and technically, they had been here longer than anywhere....

Once done eating and the house servents gathering up the dirty dishes, "I heard you singing." he smiled. "Sing for me." he told her. He still had her on his lap and and arm about her. He wanted to forget about what he would be doing in the morning and just wanted to relax with Silver.

Once done, Silver lifted her eyes again to Daniel as he asked her to sing for him. She smiled softly and began a simple tune. She sang of the forest and how she missed it, the snow as it fell on the trees above and the song of the winter birds that she used to catch and play with. Her tone was light and her voice was smooth as silk. Around the courtyard, the evening birds also began to sing again, complimenting her almost. As she sang though, there was a deep undertone of something else, something much more loving and intimate. It only seemed to be there when she looked at him and though she never sang his name, nor any hint of him, it was most definitely there....

Her song was interesting and he did note that it held something more, especially when she looked at him. Silver had come a long way, and now was settling into being his slave. He listened to her sing for some time then he sat her on her feet and patted her ass. "I must be up and gone very early. We fly when it is still dark." He took her up to his bed chamber and to bed. But he was wanted to enjoy his lovely slave again, but he needed sleep. He was content to have her naked body agains his though, caressing it, feeling her soft smooth skin.

He awoke very early. He kissed Silver's cheek and rose to get ready for the Raid. He smiled down at her as he finaly dressed, strapped on his sword and shield. He put his helmet on and quietly left. The fifty were ready when he arrived and he mounted up on Wind Strike. They rose into the air and headed north to Port Cos.

Silver sang for quite a while and Daniel seemed happy to simply sit there and listen to her. Eventually though, he needed to sleep and he took her to bed. Laying there, Silver watched him fall into sleep. Had he no reason to rise the next morning, she knew he would have wanted to use her again, but that didn't bother her. All night and while she slept too, she stroked his hair and cradled him as he slept on her. The slave was most definitely falling deeply in love with her Master.

The morning was yet far away when Silver felt him rise and she opened her eyes when he kissed her cheek. He'd never done that before, nor had he left her in bed before like that. She watched him dress and buckle on his blade and then smiled as she watched him put on his new cloak. The small silver braid of her hair sat neatly just around his neck and she hoped it would bring him good luck on the raid. Then, with a smile, he was gone and Silver sat up on the furs and took a deep breath.

Dawn came and Silver knew Daniel was already well on his way to Port Cos. She went out into the courtyard as the sun began to rise over it and she greeted the dawn with a prayer. "Priest Kings." She said quietly as she bathed in the dawn light, "I beg of you only one thing. Please, by all your powers, bring my Master back to me? For I know not how to live without him." Whether they decided to grant her prayer or not, Silver didn't know, but she hoped they would. After that, Silver tried to put it all out of her mind and continue her day as was expected.

During the flight, Arcius drew his tarn nearer Daniel's and nodded his head in respect. "Commander!" He called over, "I was passing your home last night on my way from the tavern and I couldn't help but overhear." He smiled at his commander, "Never before have I heard such a beautiful sound. Have you sent Friska for more training, or was it Moira?" The notion of Silver never entered his mind....

Daniel laughed. "Neither. It was my slave Silver. Seems she has a knack for singing." They flew on and circled about Port Cos to the west so it looked as if they were coming from Ar Station. It was dawn when they began their Raid. They had flown in on the route given to him by Darious. They flew in low as not to be seen from the ground and there were no Tarn patrol in sight. A hole in their defenseive perimeter. They were not after the town which had tarn wire up to protect it from an attack from the sky. But they were after the warehouses and what looked to be barges and river ships full of cargo. We swooped down, attacking the guards and landed. We had to be quick before the garrison could be brought to bare on us. Had it not been for his training, many of his men would have died. But they were now well trained and attacked with coordination and team work. Food stuff was placed in large nets and attached to rings on the saddles of the tarns and anything that seemed that the settlement could use. Silks and other fabrics, metals, and wine. They completed their tasks rapidly and we were again in the air with nets filled with booty and heading out in another route. The alarm had been raised and as they flew they could see tarns rising into the air to give chase. But they flew on and as the tarnsmen of Port Cos drew closer another group of tarns rose from the ground behind them. Daniel smiled as he turned his tarn towards the tarnsmen of Port Cos as did the others with him. They were weighted down but this too he had trained them in. As they approched, faster then those behind those of Port Coss, they rose, usinge the netted goods as weapons to batter the oncoming tarnsmen. Some were hit by the heavy crates and battered and thrown in to confusion as the others caught up and hurrled their spears at them. It did not take long for them to break formation and fly back to Port Cos. Our flight path was again towards Ar Station and then once out of sight of the other tarnsmen, we changed course and flew back to Sadar.

Though Silver could not have known it, the Priest Kings had indeed heard and listened to her prayer and so, it seemed someone was watching over Daniel and his raiders that morning. Their new training had seen to much of their success, but even in the greatest of success, there should always be losses to consider. This raid held not a single man lost or injured. During their escape, there were at least two occasions before the Cos Tarnsmen retreated, that Daniel should have been hit with bolts. Both times, he was missed. The odds of such an escape were very little.

Such was the success of their raid, the lower ranks began talking among themselves on the flight back and the gossip soon reached Arcius, who in turn, flew forward with his haul to ride level with Daniel. "I do believe, Commander, you've been touched by the Priest Kings themselves." He called, "Never before have we all made it back out again with such a bounty as this. No wonder you wore such a fine new cloak, knowing you had been blessed. You must tell me of the person who made it for you, for I feel I wish one for myself!" He began to laugh and relax in the saddle as the flight continued.

Back home, the day had begun tense and it continued as so throughout. Silver being on edge meant everyone else was on edge and Moira was quick to spread the news to them about the raid on Port Cos. And knowing how Silver felt about their Master, they all tread carefully around her for the day. They all knew it was dangerous and they all prayed he would come back safely, for after all, their lives depended on him and there had been rumour that he may not send them to auction, so that made his survival all the more important, but mostly, they hoped for Silver's sake, for they could see it as plain as sunlight how much she loved him....

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