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Subject: {ASSM} Amanda's Choice 5/19 (FF Fm Fdom bd)
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<1st attachment, "Chapter05.txt" begin>

WARNING: This is a work of erotic fiction. It contains depictions of
nudity and graphic sex.

Author: A Strange Geek
Title: Amanda's Choice
Summary: A 14-year-old girl with a troubled home life is swept away to
another world by an older female lover, where she must make the
ultimate choice between love and freedom.

Part: 5 of 19
Keywords: FF, Fm, Fdom, bd

Note: Story codes are for this Chapter. See Chapter 0 for complete list
of codes

Copyright A Strange Geek, 2005

Feedback welcome! Please email me at astraYOURngegeek@comMINDcast.net
( lose YOUR MIND to email me )

Or to send anonymous feedback, use the form at bottom of HTML version:

http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/A_Strange_Geek/www/novels/AmandasChoice/Chapter05.html



---------------

Amanda opened her eyes in a strange room.

It took her a moment to shake off enough of her lingering sleep to
remember where she was and what had happened the night before. She
turned her head towards the brightest part of her room, and gazed out
into a nearly cloudless, cobalt blue sky through her window, someone
having raised the shade for her before she had awoken.

Amanda blinked a few times, struggling to remember what had happened to
her. It came back to her in a rush when she tried to sit up and placed
some of her weight on her injured arm. The pain flared hot, and she
squeezed her eyes shut at the fierceness of it, bringing her other hand
up to clutch at the injured limb, furs falling away from her as she sat
up.

Something brushed against her legs, and she felt something circling her
wrist.

Amanda opened her eyes again, which were watering from the pain in her
arm, and she had to rub at them with the hand of her uninjured arm to
clear them, but stopped in sudden surprise when the thin gold chain
dangled in front of her eyes.

Her mouth dropped open as she looked at her wrist. "What the ...?"

Shocked to alertness, Amanda struggled to pull the covers from her more
fully using only her uninjured but restrained arm. She glanced down at
herself, cheeks coloring when she remembered she was still naked, and
swung her legs over the side of the bed facing the curtained doorway.
She held her wrist up, and followed the chain with her eyes to where it
coiled on the floor, and then finally ended atop the post that rose
from the center of the room.

Amanda panicked. "Sirinna!" she cried. "Sirinna, where ...?"

A hand pulled the curtain aside just far enough for Sirinna to slip
into the room and very quickly pull it closed behind her. In her other
hand she held a small platter, filled with sliced fruit and thick
chunks of bread. She smiled gently. "Good morning, Amanda," she said
pleasantly. "I hope you slept well."

"Sirinna! What ... what's with this??" Amanda cried, holding up her
wrist.

Sirinna paused a moment, her eyes flicking to the chain. "Um, yes ... I
... I just didn't want you wandering far without me, Amanda, since
you're not familiar with this place."

Amanda gave Sirinna a dubious look.

Sirinna chided herself silently. She should have realized someone the
likes of Amanda would not fall for something that simple. She sighed
softly and stepped up to her, placing the tray on the bed. Amanda's
eyes were drawn to it for a moment, her stomach rumbling as it realized
it had not even had dinner the night before. "All right, Amanda," she
said in a more serious voice. "I had to do that because that's the
rules for outworlders, at least ... at least at first."

"At first?" Amanda said, not sounding mollified, but not as frightened
as she was. "So you'll let me go eventually?"

Sirinna hesitated a moment, then said, "Yes, eventually."

Sirinna was not exactly lying. Since Roquan had decreed that Amanda had
to return to Earth, they naturally would have to release her at that
point.

Amanda looked at her wrist again and sighed, letting it drop to her
side. "I don't understand this place."

"Amanda, please, don't worry too much," Sirinna said. She lifted her
hands and lightly grasped Amanda's arms. "You're as safe here as you
..."

"Oww!!" Amanda cried, wrenching away from Sirinna's touch, tears
trickling down her face.

"I'm sorry!" Sirinna said. "Here, turn around, Amanda. No, I won't
touch it again, I just want to look ... oh dear ... "

Amanda's injured upper arm was covered in large, ugly purplish-blue
bruises that had only grown worse during the night. It looked swollen
as well, the skin taut and inflamed. That was no simple bruise, Sirinna
realized now.

"We're going to have to have that looked at," Sirinna said.

"It really hurts, Sirinna," Amanda said in a choked voice.

"I know, love. Okay, now, just stay here and I'll be back in a short
while."

"But ... wait, Sirinna!" Amanda called out to Sirinna's retreating
back.

Sirinna turned around. "I'll only be gone a bit, Amanda, now ..."

Amanda was squeezing her legs together as she sat on the edge of the
bed at the now urgent pressure in her bladder. "I really need to go!"
she cried as she gestured towards the small room off to the side.

"It has a lot of slack in it. It will reach the sanitary. Now, please,
just try to stay calm until I get back, and have some of the breakfast
I brought you."

"But ...!"

Sirinna ducked past the curtain and was gone.

Amanda sighed despondently. As she pushed herself off the bed, she
heard murmured conversation from the other side the curtain, and then a
clinking sound, very similar to the one her chain made as she moved.
She walked over to the curtain and pulled it aside, but only in time to
see a door open to bright daylight and a sandy path and admit a
Sirinna-shaped figure silhouetted against golden sunlight, only to
close immediately behind her, leaving Amanda's eyes briefly dazzled.

She looked behind her. The chain was off the floor, pulled almost taut.
It would have let her advance at most two more steps past the curtain.

She sighed despondently and turned away from the curtain, looking
towards what Sirinna had indicated was her bathroom, or so she hoped.
She grabbed the chain in her good hand and gave it a few sharp yanks,
but it did not come loose from the post.

/This better reach, or Sirinna is going to have a puddle on the floor
when she gets back,/ Amanda thought.



Vanlo chose to dress himself in more formal robes of emerald green that
morning. After all, it was not every day that another Overlord chose to
visit the D'ronstaq Manor. Also, while Vanlo was not directly privy to
his Lordship's dealings, he was observant enough to know that there was
a purpose beyond a mere social call. Relations between the two
Overlords were strained lately, despite having formally declared their
mutual alliance some months ago. It was in the Healer's best personal
interests that the alliance continue, as it was how he acquired Yanna.
Following Narlassi tradition, the two Overlords traded one slave to
each other as a way of sealing the deal.

Vanlo very much wanted to keep Yanna, at least for a little while
longer.

When the Healer walked into his lab, he found the slave already busy at
work carefully pouring the now completed Kaylaxxa salve into individual
vials, each representing one proper application for one slave.

"Good morning, master," Yanna said as he entered, cheerful and vibrant
as ever.

"Good morning, Yanna. My, my, you were the early riser this morning,
hmm?" Vanlo said, stroking his beard thoughtfully and giving her a
small smile. His eyes darted over the few dozen vials she had already
filled.

"I wished to get an early start on this task, master, since we will
will need them by the time the morning meal is over."

"Indeed." His smile widened a touch. "You know, Yanna, they say that a
true master at potion making will test his concoction upon himself --
or herself -- before allowing others to use it."

"Oh, yes, master, and I have already done just that," Yanna replied. "I
used it on myself before beginning this task."

"Ah," Vanlo said, not allowing his disappointment to show. He would
have so loved to have applied the salve to the lovely and sensuous
Yanna himself. He was sure her little pleasured cries would have been
delightful upon his aging ears.

The Healer turned away from Yanna and headed over to the corner, where
his experiment lay, still very slowly brewing and condensing. Yanna
risked a glance over to him when he appeared to stand over it silent
and unmoving for a rather long time.

Finally, Vanlo reached down and nudged a valve back, the same one that
Yanna had turned up.

"Now that was foolish," she heard him mutter.

Yanna turned away and smiled satisfactorily to herself.

Vanlo sighed. "Now I shall need to watch this another day," he
commented to no one in particular. "Precisely what his Lordship does
not need, another delay in knowing the answer. Ah, well."

Yanna pretended that she was not listening. This was not difficult.
Slaves were trained to be loyal to their masters, which in part meant
ignoring anything they heard that might be considered private
conversation.

Healer Vanlo turned to his slave. "Yanna, I will be requiring much of
your assistance today, as I will be needing to check on this experiment
frequently through the day."

"Of course, master," Yanna said smoothly.

Before Vanlo could say another word, he heard a noise from outside the
room, and then a voice calling out politely. "Master Vanlo?"

Vanlo stepped around Yanna and emerged into the treatment area. Diffuse
but bright light filled the oval-shaped chamber through milky
skylights. Like with Roquan's outer chamber, the use of this structure
dictated a more permanent construction. It was nearly all stone, with
wood as accents, or to frame doors and windows. The gentle air flow and
circulation provided by the lighter design was accomplished here with
magic spells imbued in the stone. Several padded examination tables lay
in a rough line in one half of the room, separated by thin curtains
designed more to block distraction rather than to insure any sort of
privacy. In the other half of the room lay the Healer's equipment, as
well as shelves filled with salves, potions, and elixirs.

Through this he walked to the outermost chamber, which consisted
largely of several comfortable chairs and some very basic first aid
supplies. It was here that Vanlo found Sirinna, and he smiled warmly at
her. "Ah, good to see you again, Sirinna," Vanlo said. "Welcome back to
Narlass."

"Thank you, master," Sirinna said with a small smile.

"I had sensed you had made it through the Portal in one piece," Vanlo
said, his eyes flickering up and down Sirinna's nude body in a largely
academic fashion. "Are you here to tell me this is not quite so?"

"Oh, no, Master Vanlo, I am quite fine. But ... another is not."

"Another? Did you bring someone back with you?"

"Yes, I did. A girl."

"Hmm," Vanlo said, stroking his beard. "I was under the impression his
Lordship needed no more Captives."

"She's not a Captive, master."

"Not a Captive, you say, but she is in Narlass? Interesting! I am sure
there is quite the explanation behind that," the Healer said with a
small chuckle. "But that will have to wait for another day."

Sirinna looked relieved.

"So what is the problem?"

"It's her arm. She was struck by a rather large hailstone before coming
here, and it is very badly bruised and hurting her something awful."

Vanlo nodded. "Sounds like a very simple trauma. Well, just bring the
girl here and I will get her fixed up straight away."

"Um ... Master Vanlo, is there any way you can come to my quarters to
examine her instead?" Sirinna asked hopefully.

"I am afraid not, Sirinna. I will need to use the Viewer on her in
order to check for fractures, and the device's mobility is limited, you
see."

"But Master Roquan said she must remain in my quarters."

"Ah, then you have yourself a dilemma," Vanlo said with a gentle smile.
"Either seek Roquan's permission to have her leave your quarters, or
have the girl continue to suffer."

Sirinna sighed to herself. Healer Vanlo had a rather unique way of
making one see that a choice was really no choice at all. "I
understand. I will speak with Master Roquan right away."

"Excellent. I will look forward to your return," Vanlo said. "Oh, and
Sirinna?"

Sirinna had turned to leave. "Yes, Master Vanlo?"

"Since she is an outworlder, Captive or no, I will need to do a more
thorough examination on her if she is to be allowed to have contact
with others."

Sirinna nodded slowly. "Of course."

She left the Healer's chambers with a sense of foreboding hanging over
her. It was barely the next day, and already things seemed to be
spinning out of control.



Back in the lab, Yanna quickly returned to what she was doing before
her master returned, so he would not know she had been specifically
eavesdropping.

So, Roquan was harboring an outworlder that was not a Captive? That was
unheard of. Yet as she thought about it, she realized this was
something she could use to her advantage, for her plan had been missing
only one thing that it needed to be a complete success, something that
an outworlder, someone with absolutely no stake in what was to
transpire, was in a perfect position to provide.

A witness.



Roquan emerged from his bedchamber carrying two goblets of wine,
resplendent in his finest silks, his formal gray cloak swirling about
his legs as he advanced on his guest. "I am quite pleased, Rennis, that
you continue to make these trips to see me," he said as he offered one
of the goblets and a single, slow nod of his head. "I only hope that
you bring me better news this time."

Overlord Rennis D'glounaas accepted the goblet and gave his fellow lord
a polite nod in return to complete the formality of the greeting. His
own clothing was not nearly as fine as Roquan's, as he tended not to
wear his best while traveling, and was not nearly as formal as his
friend anyway.

Indeed, he was quite the contrast to Roquan in many ways. His hair was
black, save for some bits of silver around the ears, and he wore a
small goatee, whereas Roquan kept himself clean-shaven at all times. He
was thinner than Roquan and a hair taller, giving him more of a lean
and lithe appearance. And when he spoke, his voice had a decidedly
higher cadence than Roquan's. "That depends on what you wish to hear
from me, Roquan," he said, taking a sip of his wine.

"Only the truth," Roquan said.

"Are you quite sure of that?" said Rennis mildly.

Roquan exhaled deeply through his nose. "If you mean do I wish to hear
that the other Overlords of Oceanus have finally come to the senses and
..."

Rennis shook his head. "Roquan, you are already making this difficult."

Roquan's eyes hardened. "I did not ask you to come in order to tell me
that I must 'play nice' with the other Overlords. Again!"

Roquan turned away from his friend and took a few steps, quietly
fuming, his fingers gripping the stem of his goblet tightly.

"Then what would you have me tell you, Roquan?" Rennis asked tiredly.

"I wish you to tell me that the other Overlords have finally seen now
how disastrous a course Emperor Z'hass is pursuing," Roquan rumbled.
"If he continues at this rate, he will practically invite rebellion!"

"All for the loss of a single trade agreement, Roquan, affecting but a
small handful of Overlords in his dominion?"

Rennis' words hung in the air. Roquan turned and narrowed his eyes.
"What are you saying, Rennis?" he asked darkly.

Rennis put down his goblet on a nearby table. Roquan did the same.
"You're hurting because the Emperor rescinded Oceanus' trade agreement
with Colos," Roquan said. "So now you've lost the Far West market for
your slaves. That was your only overseas market, was it not?"

"Yes, Rennis, so surely you can see how ..."

Rennis raised a hand. "Please, Roquan, let me finish for once."

Roquan reluctantly fell silent.

"Roquan, did it ever occur to you that perhaps the effect of that
treaty was limited? That the Emperor would do such a thing specifically
because it would not affect too many business interests in his realm?"

"Yet he would risk upsetting the Overlords with this ... this whim of
his?"

"No. Not all Overlords. Just you."

Roquan looked aghast. "That makes absolutely no sense," he declared. "I
have given Emperor Z'haas no cause to wish to lash out against me
specifically, unless he knows we have spoken of the need for change at
the Imperial Palace."

"Talk does not bother Z'haas," Rennis said evenly. "Emperors rarely
respond to such things. But the other Overlords do."

Now Roquan fixed Rennis with an uncomprehending stare.

Rennis paused and retrieved his goblet, taking a slow drink from it
before speaking again. "Roquan, I've come into some new information,"
he said softly.

Roquan tensed. He already sensed it was not good.

"I know why Emperor Z'haas canceled that treaty. He did it at the
behest of the other Overlords."

"/What?/ That's insane!"

"No, it is not, and here is why," Rennis began. "Roquan, you refuse to
play politics with the other Overlords. You refuse to toe the line with
the others. The other Overlords apparently are fed up with that. They
want you to fall in line. So when you started making noises about
Emperor Z'haas' bad policies ..."

"But they agreed with me, Rennis," Roquan pointed out.

"Yes, they did. They know the Emperor is not making good decisions of
late. But they also discovered they had influence over the Emperor,
Roquan, so now they are not so enamored of a coup. Not until you give
them what they want."

Roquan's eyes became steel. "No."

"Roquan, I have defended your stance strenuously," Rennis said. "I,
too, agree with you on this. But now things have changed."

"Nothing has changed," Roquan said tersely. "I will not deal with the
Urisi. They are utter barbarians. They abuse slaves. A slave to them is
nothing more than a cock or a pussy with a warm body attached. I will
not have my slaves treated that way. I ..."

He paused, and looked past Rennis.

"Um, ah, I beg forgiveness for interrupting, master," said Sirinna from
where she stood just inside the door.

Rennis blinked and turned around. A smile suddenly curled his lips.

Sirinna's eyes widened. "Master Rennis!" she cried brightly. "I did not
know you were here today!"

"Sirinna, you look quite well," Rennis said warmly. "It has been far
too long since you graced the inside of my Manor. Or my bedchamber."

Sirinna smiled broadly at the praise. "Thank you, master."

Roquan was looking cross, but before he could inquire what his slave
wished of him, Rennis turned to him with a smirk. "Roquan, I still say
you practically stole her from me. She was worth far more than what you
paid me for her."

Roquan normally enjoyed this little friendly sparring over Sirinna. It
was true that Roquan acquired Sirinna from Rennis not long after the
other Overlord had finished training her. Rennis had hit a streak of
ill fortune financially and was forced to sell off a slave or two.
Roquan was more than willing to help, but at the time he was trying to
build up his own Manor, and would only accept one of his best. Rennis
had to admit to harboring some resentment towards Roquan for awhile
after that.

"I should still try to buy her back from you, you know," Rennis said.

Sirinna felt herself blush at the praise being heaped upon her by her
former Overlord. Sirinna was very fond of Rennis, even after about ten
years now since she was sold. She never resented him for selling her,
as she always remembered the gentle but firm touch he had in training
her, something she has sought to duplicate in her own efforts. But the
memory that truly defined her feelings for him was back when she was
first taken to Narlass. She was a complete virgin and scared out of her
wits. Rennis had personally deflowered her, and it was a treasured
experience.

Normally, Narlassi protocol dictated Roquan make the customary offer at
this point, and simply pick an exorbitant figure that Rennis could not
possibly match. But he was increasingly impatient, and his social
skills broke down. "She's not for sale," he said tersely, and then
turned to Sirinna. "Sirinna, what is it? This had better be important."

Rennis did not look taken aback by the rebuke. He had come to expect it
from Roquan. It was one of the reasons Roquan was in such poor standing
with the other Overlords. Rennis simply stepped to one side and let
Roquan deal with his slave.

"Yes, master, it's ... it's about Amanda."

Rennis raised an eyebrow minutely, but said nothing.

Roquan sighed. "I told you last night what was to be done with her, and
that there was no further discussion on it."

"Yes, master, and I do not dispute that but ... she needs to see the
Healer."

Roquan looked at her in exasperation. "Bring the Healer to her."

"He cannot. From what I told him, he believes she may have a fracture."

"And how by the gods did she acquire that?"

"When she was out in the storm, before ..." Sirinna's eyes flicked over
to Rennis briefly. "Before she arrived."

Rennis raised his goblet to his lips, looking thoughtful.

Roquan paused and took a slow, deep breath. "Very well," he said.
"Escort her to the Healer, then take her immediately back. She is to
have no other contact with anyone."

"Yes, master." Sirinna immediately turned and left quickly.

"I thought you could not afford to take on another Captive, Roquan,"
Rennis said evenly.

"Amanda is not a Captive," Roquan said. "She will be going back with a
few days."

"Wait a moment. Are you saying you have an outworlder here who is /not/
a Captive? Who will /not/ be made into a slave?"

"Yes."

"Great gods, Roquan, do you realize what the other Overlords will say
if they hear of this?"

"I do not care for the situation either," Roquan snapped. "And I do not
wish to discuss it further. This is a matter internal to my Manor. I
will handle it."

"And if the Overlords protest?"

Roquan set his eyes cold and hard. "That is not my concern. Or yours."

"Listen to me, Roquan!" Rennis said, stepping up to the other Overlord.
"I entered into this alliance with you as a bulwark against the
Emperor, not to pit us against the other Overlords. If you want them to
join us, you will have to concede something."

Roquan narrowed his eyes. "Why have you had this change of heart,
Rennis? Or have you been speaking to the other Overlords?"

Rennis paused, then said softly, "I have."

"I thought so."

"Because you refuse to!"

"Rennis, I am an Overlord!" Roquan thundered. "And I am a damn good
one! That is what my life is! I do not have time for petty politics."

"Yes, Roquan, you are damn good!" Rennis countered. "You have perhaps
the best slaves in Oceanus. Perhaps even on this side of the world. I
will freely admit that. But there is more to being an Overlord than
having well-trained slaves. You have to play the game, Roquan. The time
of riding on your reputation alone is over."

Roquan fell silent. The irony was not lost upon him. His reputation was
indeed all he had. Now, with this sudden streak of disobedience in his
slaves, what was to become of that as well?

"A good reputation will take you only so far," Rennis said in a lower
voice. "It does nothing for you if you have no market for your slaves
in the first place."

"Is that a threat?"

"From the other Overlords? Yes."

Roquan said nothing in reply, his gaze sliding from Rennis, staring
straight ahead, lost in thought.

Rennis put down his goblet. "I have journeyed much of the night to get
here and I am in need of some food and rest before we continue."

"You still wish to discuss our plans against the Emperor, do you?"

"Yes, Roquan, I do. For if we do get the other Overlords on our side,
we must have some sort of plan to convince them of the merits of our
arguments. Now, there is just one more thing. I wish your leave to
visit with your slave Yanna."

"The one you traded to me?"

"Yes. I simply wish to see how she is doing. I understand she has been
doing some fine work for your Healer."

Roquan paused, then nodded. "Granted."

"Thank you, Roquan. We will talk again soon."



In the short time that Sirinna was gone, Amanda began to understand
just how astonishingly different this world of Narlass was from her
own.

Much to her relief, the chain indeed did reach, becoming taut only if
she attempted to go towards one of the other two curtained entrances to
the room. At first, it appeared that the facilities were depressingly
primitive. A simple basin with no faucet or drain, just a large jug of
fresh water on a nearby shelf, and a chamberpot. Yet after she did her
business and washed up in the sink, she turned to find that the
chamberpot was shiny clean again, as if she had never used it. When she
turned to look at the sink, it was empty and dry as well, and the jug
was again full.

When she returned to her room, she again tried to free herself, pulling
on the chain with all her strength, sure that the links would separate
easily. This did nothing, as the chain was apparently stronger than it
looked.

Amanda sighed and dropped the chain from her hand. The implications of
what had happened to her, of how truly far from home she was, were
beginning to frighten her.

By this time, Amanda's hunger had become great enough to force her to
abandon her explorations. As she approached the tray, however, she
wondered how exotic the food was going to be, and if she would even
stomach it. Yet much of what she saw looked familiar, and when she
tried it, discovered that it was. There were slices of apple, melon,
strawberry, and banana. There was only one she didn't recognize, a
sweet bright green fruit, but it tasted good just the same. The bread
was also very good, and not much different from fresh baked bread from
home.

Now her confusion about this world was compounded.

Her appetite sated, Amanda wandered over to the other side of the room,
towards the window, and looked out. A small strip of white sand
surrounded the room, becoming broken and rocky ground that tumbled down
steeply about ten feet or so to the churning edge of the sea. She could
hear the breaking waves and see the occasional spray in the air. The
ocean continued almost unbroken, save for some distant islands, until
it met the sky.

/I'm in the middle of nowhere in the middle of nowhere,/ Amanda thought
despondently as she slid her hand along the sill.

Still, it was better than being taken to a foster care home. She simply
wished she knew more about this place. Why was she chained? Why was
Sirinna going around naked? Why did they not give her any clothing? And
most of all, what were they going to do with her?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft, metallic noise.

Amanda jerked her head towards the sound. It was similar to what she
had heard just before Sirinna had left, only this time it was coming
from the other side of the sanitary.

Slowly she walked back towards the sanitary, her own chain making soft
noises as she moved. She paused a moment and listened, and heard it
again. She entered the sanitary warily, and glanced between the two
other exits. One obviously led back into Sirinna's chamber. The other
led ... where?

Amanda gave a start as she saw a faint outline of movement through the
curtain.

Nervously, Amanda tried to take another step closer to the curtain to
pull it aside, but the chain stopped her.

"Um ... h-hello?" Amanda called out softly.

There was a brief movement and a clinking noise again, and then
nothing.

Amanda swallowed. "Is ... is anyone there?"

Light spilled in from the other exit as the door to the outside was
opened. Amanda quickly retreated from the sanitary, her cheeks burning
as if she had done something bad and did not want to be caught. She was
standing by her bed when Sirinna reentered the room. She was carrying
something white draped over one arm.

"Sorry that took a bit, Amanda," Sirinna said. As Sirinna placed the
white object on the bed, Amanda could see that it had sleeves, and felt
a bit of measured relief. She felt even better when Sirinna took the
tiny padlock in her fingers and it came open with a snap, the chain
falling away from her wrist, though she puzzled over the fact that she
had not seen Sirinna use a key. "I had to speak with Master Roquan for
a moment before ..."

"Master Roquan?" Amanda asked in confusion.

Sirinna picked up the garment and unfolded it. It was a simple white
pullover gown. "Here, let me help you into this so you don't injure
that arm any further."

Amanda raised her arms. "Who's (ouch) Roquan?"

"Roquan D'ronstaq," Sirinna said as she pulled the gown down and over
Amanda's body. "He is the Overlord that owns this Manor."

Amanda blinked. Overlord? From what she had seen, she half-expected
Sirinna to say something like Duke, or Earl, or even King, but
Overlord? Somehow, she didn't like the sound of that.

Sirinna tugged the bottom of the gown and smoothed it out along her
sides. "There, that's a good fit."

Amanda looked down at herself. The gown was very light and very airy.
It hardly weighed anything against her skin. The sleeves were a bit
billowy and came down to just short of her elbows. But the real concern
was the bottom hem that swirled against her legs as she moved. It
barely reached halfway down her thighs.

Sirinna smiled and took Amanda's hand. "All set? Let's go, then."

"Wait, Sirinna!" Amanda said desperately, not budging.

"What is it, love?" Sirinna asked.

Amanda paused before responding, only realizing now that this was the
second time Sirinna had called her "love". For a moment, she felt a bit
flustered. "Um ... is this it?"

"Is what it?"

"This," Amanda said, gesturing at her gown. "Don't I get anything else
to wear under this?"

"Oh," Sirinna said softly. "Um ... we, uh ... we don't exactly have
underthings here."

Amanda stared at her.

"It's a ... a different culture here than you're used to, Amanda."

"Can't I at least get something a little longer? Or just give me my old
clothes?"

Sirinna was starting to feel exasperated. She almost wished now that
Amanda was indeed a Captive-soon-to-be-Trainee. The issue of clothing
would not even be relevant anymore. "Look at it this way," she said.
"You're in a different world, with different ways of doing things, and
you're a stranger here. Do you want to stand out too much?"

"You mean, everyone here dresses like this?"

"Very much so. Or go without, like I do."

Amanda sighed. "So you're saying I had the luck to wind up in the
middle of a nudist colony my first day in a new world?"

Sirinna looked at her oddly. "Nudist colony?"

"Never mind." Her arm twinged. "Let's go. I'm tired of this arm hurting
all the time."



As Amanda was led across the grounds of the D'ronstaq Manor, her senses
beheld yet more odd combinations of the exotic and the familiar.

She was taken upon a path packed with a strange, soft sand that felt
pleasantly warm against Amanda's bare feet, despite it sitting in the
full, bright sunlight. In fact, she found the sensation of walking
around without shoes to be more comfortable than she thought it might
be.

Forks on the path led away to more structures like the one in which
Sirinna lived. They all appeared to be designed in the same way,
circular huts of wood and thatch with peaked roofs, usually set about a
foot or two above the ground.

Interspersed between the buildings and lining the sandy paths were lush
patches of greenery and flower, and she recognized many all of them.
They occasionally passed through shady patches formed by large trees,
trees which looked quite Earth-like as well, even if she could not name
the species.

And then there were the people.

Sirinna had indeed been correct. Most of the others that appeared to
live at this Manor wore as little as Amanda did, or wore nothing at
all. Some were tending the gardens, some were simply walking along the
path. Most were female, but she saw a few boys in the mix. To her
relief, the few that she saw were clothed in white gowns.

Yet despite Sirinna's claim that wearing the gown would prevent her
from standing out, Amanda appeared to draw stares from nearly everyone
that passed.

She knew it could not be the bruises on her arm that attracted the
attention, for the sleeves were long enough to hide much of it.
Instead, they were looking at her face, as if trying to place it, as if
they knew already that she was a stranger here. Several times, someone
would greet Sirinna, and then glance at Amanda and started to ask a
question, but Sirinna would quickly cut the person off and hurry Amanda
a little faster down the path.

"Sirinna, I think they know I'm not from around here," Amanda said in a
low voice.

"It's all right, Amanda," Sirinna said soothingly. "Remember what I
said, you're safe here. No one is going to hurt you or take you away
anywhere."

Amanda just nodded absently.

Sirinna was glad when they came upon the path that led to the Healer's
office. She knew exactly what the problem was, and only now realized
that there was no way Amanda could not have drawn attention. She was an
unfamiliar face to them, and she was very young. That combination meant
only one thing: a new Captive. And new Captives do not go around
wearing clothing, or completely unrestrained.

Amanda was also glad to see that they were approaching a building, one
designed with more familiar materials of stone and wood, though now a
new set of anxieties beset her as Sirinna let her into the skylight-lit
structure. She felt her heart start to beat faster as they passed
through the entry chamber into the one beyond, and caught sight of the
examination tables.

"Master Vanlo?" Sirinna called out, letting go of Amanda's hand. Amanda
glanced at Sirinna and edged a little closer to her. Had she the
ability to stand and look outside herself, she would have been quite
surprised at what she saw. Here only a few days before Amanda had been
the one in the role of the responsible one, having had to look after
her foster father for so long and watch his every step, not to mention
make sure the groceries were bought and the meals were made. Here only
the day before she was declaring she was not a child. Now she was
acting exactly what she said she was not: a needful, scared child.

Amanda turned her head when she saw the tall, emerald-clad gentleman
approach, a small but warm smile on his face. "Ah, so this must be
Amanda. Good morning to you."

"Um ... g-good morning," Amanda said nervously. She saw movement off to
the side and turned her gaze towards Yanna, who was standing near the
next examination table over, giving Amanda a curious look.

"I am Master Healer Vanlo," the Healer said, stepping up to Amanda. "I
understand you have an injured arm, yes?"

Amanda nodded and pulled up her sleeve. Vanlo inspected it briefly.
"Hmm, yes. Most likely a mild trauma. Looks -- and I can imagine feels
-- a lot worse that it is."

"I just want it to stop hurting," Amanda said in a small voice.

Vanlo paused, then glanced at Sirinna with a sly smile.

Sirinna was at a loss. By rights, Amanda should be using a proper title
and address her superiors as "master" or "mistress". But she was not a
Captive, so that technically did not apply. Yet she was an outworlder
...

This was hard. Now she understood why Roquan was so upset. There wasn't
any tradition for this. Or precedent.

Fortunately, Vanlo's concern was more for the welfare of his patient
than on a point of protocol, and he let it slide. Straightening up, he
gestured towards the examination table. "Amanda, if you would remove
your gown and lay down on the table, we can take a look at that."

Amanda looked at him in surprise. "Remove my gown? But ..."

Vanlo had already turned and stepped away from her in order to fetch
the Viewer.

"Amanda, it's all right," Sirinna said. "Here, I'll help you."

Amanda realized any protest she made now would fall on deaf ears, and
she let Sirinna lift the gown from her body, her cheeks burning. Even
back on Earth doctors never made you strip anymore for an examination,
especially if it were just for an arm.

Unless the intent was for more than her arm.

"Sirinna, he knows I just need my arm treated, right?" Amanda asked
softly.

Sirinna sighed. "Amanda, here, climb up on the table," she said.
"Master Vanlo needs to do a full examination, love. It's required for
Ca ... er ... outworlders."

"Are you going to stay here with me?" Amanda asked.

"Indeed she is," Vanlo answered for her. A low squeaking noise preceded
him as he approached, a wheeled cart being pushed in front of him. On
the cart was a rather odd but simple-looking apparatus. It looked no
more than a very large magnifying glass attached to a metal arm, the
arm attached to a column. At the base of the column were a myriad of
little dials and switches. "For she can take this opportunity to
receive her Kaylaxxa treatment."

"Oh, is it that time again?" Sirinna asked.

"Indeed. And I will insist you do it now, since you just came yourself
from off-world."

Sirinna smiled slightly. "Of course."

"Master," Yanna said. "If Amanda is from offworld herself, should she
not receive it as well?"

Amanda lifted her head in alarm. She had no idea what Kaylaxxa was, but
she was sure she did not like the word "treatment" attached to it.

"Hmm," Vanlo said, pausing.

Sirinna saw the panicked look in Amanda's face. "Um ... I don't think
she will need it, master," she said quickly.

Vanlo gave her a look of wry amusement. "And when did you begin
studying the healing arts, my dear?"

Sirinna's cheeks colored.

Vanlo glanced at Amanda and then back to Sirinna. "But you do have
jurisdiction in these matters, I suppose, as you are a Trainer."

Amanda was growing wary of the odd words that were passing back and
forth. A trainer? A trainer of what? And why did she and the other
woman call him "master"?

"I will at least insist on taking a swab of her, so that we can tell if
she needs it," Vanlo said. He had finished positioning the apparatus
near Amanda's injured arm, and was adjusting the height of the device's
arm and the angle of the lens. "But if she does, I will insist she have
it done."

"Of course, Master Vanlo," Sirinna said.

"Yanna, if you would tend to Sirinna, please."

"Yes, master," said Yanna. "Sirinna?"

Vanlo pulled up a stool from off to the side and sat behind the device,
Amanda's heart fluttering when she saw Sirinna disappear behind the
curtain separating the two tables.

Vanlo smiled gently at Amanda. "Now, my dear, since this is likely your
first time you've been under the Viewer, I will best explain it by
simply showing you. Look at my face through the lens."

Amanda lifted her head and did so, framing his elderly face within the
glass.

Vanlo flicked a switch, and the device hummed.

Amanda gasped. Suddenly it was as if the Healer's old face had been
peeled away, and she was seeing muscle, nerve, blood vessels, and bone.
She quickly looked away as her stomach lurched.

"A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say," Vanlo said. He
adjusted the lens so that Amanda could no longer see through it. "Now,
let's take a look."

Amanda was stunned. It had to be some form of magic. That was the only
explanation that fit, as fantastic as it was. It would explain how the
sanitary facilities worked as well.

"Now, Sirinna, if you would spread your legs for me, please," Amanda
heard Yanna's voice say.

Vanlo adjusted a knob on the device, allowing him to see a little
further into the injured limb. "A nasty contusion," he murmured. "Much
bruising, indeed. Ah, there it is. No wonder you are in pain, my dear.
You have a hairline fracture."

Amanda sighed. That's all she needed was to have her arm in a cast for
the next few weeks. Unless this place had solved that sort of thing as
well.

There was a soft, squishing sound from behind the curtain, and a brief,
sudden intake of breath.

Vanlo angled the lens to peer down towards the elbow and then up to the
shoulder. "No other damage that I can see. I can treat this straight
away. Now, just lie here for a moment, Amanda."

Vanlo rose from his seat and strolled over to the cabinets in the
corner of the room.

Suddenly Sirinna uttered a set of ever more strident moans, her
breathing a heavy pant. Seconds later, she cried out, gasping.

"You may have another one, Sirinna," Yanna said. "I need to apply it
inside you now."

"Y-yes, go ahead," Sirinna panted. "Uhhh ...!"

Amanda's eyes were wide. She swallowed, feeling her skin flush. The
sounds Sirinna was making sounded exactly like ... but it couldn't be
that!

What was going on in this strange place?

Vanlo returned, carrying two small bottles filled with viscous fluids
and a stick with a ball of fabric at the end of it. He sat down on the
stool again and peered through the lens as he opened one of the
bottles. "First, we take care of that bone. Now, this will sting quite
a bit."

As Sirinna began to moan stridently again, Vanlo dipped the
fabric-ended stick into the bottle, allowing it to soak up some of the
fluid. He then drew the applicator across Amanda's arm with a single
swift movement.

It felt as if liquid fire had touched her skin.

She flinched, looked at her arm in horror, sure that she would see
actual flames shooting up from it. Instead, the intense burning
sensation seemed to burrow into her skin and down into her bone. Once
it reached that point, however, the sensation began to abate, as did
the worst of her pain.

"Ah, that's knitting up nicely now," Vanlo said as he peered into the
glass. "We'll give it another moment."

Sirinna cried out loudly. "Great gods!" she gasped, panting heavily,
along with jerking movements against the cushions of the examination
table.

"Just a little bit more," Yanna said. There was a chuckle. "I might as
well bring you myself to a third, since I'll get you part of the way
anyway."

"Uhhh! Y-yes, please!" Sirinna begged softly.

Amanda blushed.

Vanlo caught sight of this out of the corner of his eye and smiled
slightly. "Have I done something to embarrass you, Amanda?"

"Er, no," she said awkwardly, which only made her blush deepen. "Is
Sirinna all right? Master Vanlo?" she asked in a lower voice, deciding
to use his full title at the last moment.

Vanlo chuckled. "I would say she is having a rather nice time of it,"
he said, smiling. "Unless you're not familiar with the sound one makes
when one orgasms, Amanda."

Amanda's face turned scarlet. "Yes, I am aware of that," she said in a
quavering voice.

Vanlo peered down into the glass. "There, the bone is healed. Now we
shall take care of the bruising."

In her embarrassment , she had forgotten about her arm. Then she flexed
it briefly and understood why. Much the pain was gone.

"Uhhh!" Sirinna abruptly cried. "Uhhnn!"

"There, that should do it," Yanna said. "Now lie still for a few
moments. It will take a bit for the effects to wear off. You may have
one more spontaneous orgasm before that."

Vanlo began to prepare the other bottle, dipping the applicator into
it.

"Um ... Master Vanlo?" Amanda asked, hoping that form of title was
sufficient.

"Yes, Amanda?"

"Just what is Kaylaxxa, anyway?"

Vanlo began to apply the other salve to Amanda's arm. This one simply
produced heat rather than pain. "An antiseptic," he said. "For the
genitals."

Amanda swallowed and nodded. "Oh."

"But by itself, it would sting and be most unpleasant. So it is mixed
with other substances that produce a far more pleasurable effect, as
you heard."

Amanda turned her head towards the curtain. She could still hear
Sirinna panting softly, as if it Yanna were still stimulating her. Yet
the girl was already peering around the corner at Amanda, watching her
closely.

"This should do it," Vanlo said, withdrawing the applicator.

Amanda looked at her arm. There was hardly any pain at all now, and the
blotches and bruises were slowly fading before her eyes.

"Any lingering ache should be gone by midday," Vanlo explained. "You
may have a bit if lingering yellowing on the skin. That should be gone
by tonight. If not, I will tend to it in the morning."

"Thank you, Master Vanlo," Amanda said sincerely. She flexed it again.
It felt as if nothing had happened to it.

Vanlo stood. "I need to check on something in the lab," he said.
"Yanna, if you would be so good as to swab her for me?"

"Of course, master."

Amanda started to sit up, but Yanna stepped over and gently pushed her
back down. "This is easier if you're lying down. Amanda, is it?"

Amanda nodded mutely.

"Yanna, but you already know that," she said with a gentle smile. She
reached under the examination table, where a small cabinet lay. After a
moment, she straightened up, holding something similar to the
applicator Vanlo used, but the end was smaller and more compact.

Amanda eyed the object nervously. "Is this going to hurt?"

"Well, that depends," Yanna said. "If you're wet or not when I insert
it."

Amanda could not believe this was happening to her. Things were simply
going too fast. "Yanna, I-I don't know about this."

"Amanda, it's okay," Sirinna's breathy and slightly strained voice came
from the other side of the curtain. "Just ... uhh ... just let her do
what she needs to."

"What if I just don't want her to?" Amanda said sharply.

Yanna looked taken aback. Amanda did not care. She was feeling defiant.
Sirinna had told her so little about this world she found herself in,
and yet this woman was expecting her to follow orders. The only thing
she had gleaned was that this world had casual nudity. Now she was
being told that it had casual sex as well?

She was not sure she liked that. And she definitely did not like
hearing the term "master" being tossed about.

"It's okay, Amanda," Yanna said in what Amanda was sure the girl
believed was a soothing voice. "I would be happy to help arouse you
enough to ..."

"No!"

Amanda scrambled off the table and onto her feet. Yanna gave her a
thoroughly confused look.

"Is there a problem, Yanna?" came Vanlo's voice as he strolled back
into the room, hands clasped behind him. He looked on with a carefully
neutral expression, and his voice betrayed no upset.

"Amanda does not wish me to swab her, master" Yanna stated.

"Hmm, indeed?"

Sirinna struggled to get to her feet. As she swung her legs around, her
movements trigged another orgasm, though weaker this time, but it
prevented her from doing anything except breathe heavily for a few more
moments until it passed. She finally stood up and parted the curtain.

"Amanda, it will be all right," she said, her voice still a bit
breathless. "Please trust me."

Amanda looked at Sirinna, remembering the last time she had heard
Sirinna say those very words, just before their first sexual tryst. She
realized now that she had deferred to Sirinna on a great many things
since then, not the least of which had been using the rope on her.
Perhaps she had been willing to play the submissive then, with Sirinna,
someone that she loved, but not with anyone else. Not even on Sirinna's
word.

"No, Sirinna," Amanda said. "I won't do it."

Vanlo glanced over to Sirinna with interest, as if curious as to what
the Trainer's next move would be, a small, amused gleam in his eye
suggesting he was treating this almost as an observer at a sporting
event, wondering what the next volley would bring.

Sirinna was torn. She knew what her duty was. Even though Amanda was
not a Captive, Sirinna was responsible for the girl by Roquan's decree,
and by rights could order her to do what was needed, even to the point
of forcibly restraining her if needed. Yet with Amanda, she could not
bring herself to do it. She still did not understand quite what was
wrong with herself. She had had affection for someone like Amanda
before, but never to this depth, and never to the point where it made
her fail in her duty.

"Amanda, put your gown back on, and wait for me in the other chamber,"
Sirinna said.

Amanda came close to refusing, despite the fact that it was what she
wanted to do anyway, just to defy Sirinna and show that she was still
of her own mind. Instead, she hesitated only a moment before slipping
on her gown and heading quickly out of the room.

"Sirinna," Vanlo said in a low voice, his tone and manner now serious.
"I chose to have Yanna merely swab her as a deference to her obvious
reluctance, but regardless of what that told me, I would have her
return for the Kaylaxxa."

"Is that really necessary?" Sirinna asked, nearly whispering. "Master
Roquan has decreed she will be returned to her world in a few days."

"And if she chooses to have sexual relations with anyone here during
that time, hmm?"

"I doubt she will want to."

"Even with you?"

Sirinna's eyes widened a touch and her cheeks grew pink. "But wouldn't
my own treatment protect me? Or for that matter, the treatment of any
of the other ..."

"For a day or two, yes," Vanlo said, though from his clipped tone of
voice it was evident that he was growing impatient with the debate.

Vanlo was excellent at reading people's emotions and body language. He
had spotted immediately that Sirinna had feelings for the girl. Any
opinions he had about how wise this was he kept to himself. Sirinna's
reaction at his statement only confirmed his thinking. At the same
time, he had a responsibility to the Overlord and to the health of his
slaves that he could not ignore. "Sirinna, please find a way to return
her here no later than tomorrow morning," Vanlo said. "On this point I
will not argue. And do not think to go to his Lordship. He always
defers to me in matters of health. Since she appears healthy and
hearty, I may forgo a full examination. But she must have the Kaylaxxa
treatment."

"Yes, Master Vanlo," Sirinna said despondently. "I'll try."



In the guest quarters, Rennis brooded as he unpacked his travel
satchel.

Damn Roquan and his obstinacy! Was he truly willing to toss away
everything he had on a point of principle? Was he so blinded by his
elitist attitudes that he could not see the forest from the trees?

Rennis shook his head. Roquan was the only Overlord he knew that wished
he could train clients as well as slaves. Overlords by nature are picky
about their customers. Surely they do not want to send slaves to
households that will not appreciate them and make use of them properly.
It does nothing for an Overlord if a slave returns from a contract
Abroad with no experience gained for it. Roquan, however, was obsessive
about it.

Rennis sighed. He used to be that way himself. After getting over his
initial resentment towards Roquan for "stealing" Sirinna from him, he
realized that Roquan was successful for a reason, and tried to emulate
the other Overlord in every way possible. But now Rennis was realizing
that there was more to it than that. Sometimes, concessions must be
made. He hated to be the one to make Roquan see this.

Rennis peered into his satchel, and his face hardened as he reached in
and pulled out a small pouch.

With the mood Roquan was in now, if he knew what Rennis intended to do
with this, he would have refused Rennis' request to see Yanna.
Truthfully, Rennis had not wanted to do this in the first place. It was
considered ill-mannered for an Overlord to give anything to a slave of
another Overlord without seeking permission first, and to give
something that was considered to be the equivalent of contraband on top
of that ...

At the same time, Rennis felt for the girl. Having been given to a man
who could not satisfy her sexually himself was bad enough, but where
Yanna had trouble occasionally getting herself aroused, and where
slaves were conditioned to need sexual stimulation on a regular basis,
providing her the means of doing so clandestinely would at least allow
her to keep some sense of pride.

Rennis made a face. No, he was still much like Roquan in many ways. He
still cared for his slaves to a fault, even after they were given to
another Overlord.

He opened the drawstring and reached into the bag, picking up a pinch
of the waxy Disalla soap-powder inside and letting it run from his
fingers. He hoped this would last her for awhile, and that she was
careful to keep this separate from the soaps she used in the public
bath.



Amanda and Sirinna said not a word to each other as they left the
Healer and headed back across the Manor.

Amanda was indignant. She had felt anger over being told to submit to a
far-too-intimate procedure, and then guilt over having refused it, as
she was somehow sure that it had made Sirinna look bad. Nor did it
reflect well on herself. As she had fallen into deep sleep the night
before, many thoughts and images passed through her mind, and one of
them was the idea that perhaps here she could find some sort of
happiness that had eluded her on Earth. It had been but a fleeting
thought, almost lost in the hypnogogic imagery that often accompanied
the fall into slumber. But in order to do that, she would have to be
accepted here, and she doubted that what just happened had done
anything to help.

She just wished she knew exactly what it was that she was dealing with
on this world.

Sirinna glanced occasionally at Amanda as they walked, wishing the girl
would talk to her, or at least look in her direction. It pained her
that she might have just upset Amanda to the point that the girl would
want to shun her. Sirinna could not stand the thought of not being
close to her in the little time they had left together.

Sirinna was caught between trying to protect her, wanting acceptance
from her, and obeying Roquan's orders. The fact that there ever was any
conflict with that last one was unprecedented for her.

Ahead of them, the path started to curve to the right back to Sirinna's
quarters. Another path came in from the left, through one of many
decorative stone aches that dotted the gardens. As they approached, two
others emerged from the archway and started in their direction.

Amanda was so astonished at what she saw, she nearly came to a complete
halt.

Approaching them was a man and a woman, or more accurately, a boy and a
woman, for the male of the pair could not have been but a handful of
years above Amanda's age. He was tall and a bit gangling, though with a
handsome if boyish face, and tousled sandy hair.

The boy was also completely naked.

Amanda felt a rush of heat to her face, and then over her body. She
swallowed nervously, her eyes glazed. Despite her best efforts, her
eyes flicked in directions over the boy's body that made her tremble
with embarrassment as much as it piqued her curiosity.

She had never seen a male naked. This was not to say she was ignorant
of male genitalia. But it was one thing to see it in a medical textbook
in a sexual education class, and quite another to see it in person. Her
eyes were drawn to this particular area, and she stared at his penis as
it swayed slightly with his walk, until she realized what she was doing
and lifted her gaze, only to meet another part of the picture that made
her heart pound.

Around the boy's neck was a collar. A chain was attached to the back,
the other end held by the woman that walked behind him. From the way
the boy held his arms, it was clear his hands were bound behind him.

/Oh my God,/ Amanda thought, eyes wide.

The woman, tall and statuesque with flaming red hair, smiled at Sirinna
and stopped before her, giving the chain a small tug, causing the boy
to stop and turn respectfully towards them. "Oh, Sirinna! I had not
heard you had returned. Did you just arrive?"

Sirinna had hoped to just nod a greeting to her, but she was obligated
now to stop. It would have been unpardonably rude to treat a fellow
Trainer any other way. "Er, no, Hiatha, I got home last night. It, um,
was a bit of a rough trip."

"Sirinna, I heard a rumor that Tanyee has been made a Trainee again,"
Hiatha said. "Is it true?"

"Um, yes, but hopefully not for long."

"Master Roquan gave her back to you, no doubt."

"Yes, he did."

Hiatha shook her head and sighed. "Tanyee being disobedient. I would
never have suspected it of her."

If Sirinna did not have Amanda with her, she would have informed Hiatha
exactly what she thought of the situation. Instead, she temporized.
"I'm sure I'll get her back into shape before long."

Amanda was listening carefully, looking back and forth between them as
they spoke, trying desperately not to look at the naked boy again.

Hiatha's lips curled into a wry smile. "Hopefully I won't have that
problem with Garas here," she said. "He's been more or less the good
boy these past months, though he does have his moments."

Sirinna could not resist giving the boy an evaluating look, her eyes
flitting down the boy's lean, handsome body and back up to his eyes.
The corners of his mouth edges upwards slightly.

"As you can see now," Hiatha said with a smirk, and gave the chain a
sharp yank.

"Uh, good morning, Sirinna!" Garas said quickly.

"Garas, Sirinna is a fellow Trainer." Hiatha snapped the chain a second
time. "Try again."

"I mean, good morning, Mistress Sirinna."

Amanda's mouth dropped open. Mistress?

"That's his only weak point, Sirinna," Hiatha said mildly. "We'll see
if ten strokes later helps him remember this time."

"If he's just fine in every other way ..." Sirinna began.

"He is. In fact, I can lend him to you if you need him for Tanyee, if
what I heard correctly on what she supposedly did." Hiatha's eyes
dropped to Amanda, and she cocked her head questioningly to one side
and smiled. "And is this what you brought back from offworld?"

Amanda flinched and retreated a step back.

Sirinna placed an arm protectively around Amanda. "Yes, but ..."

"Is she not yet a ..."

"She is a guest," Sirinna said quickly.

Hiatha looked dubiously at Sirinna. "A guest?"

"Yes, a guest. It's a long story, Hiatha," Sirinna said. "One I don't
have time to tell you now."

"Oh." There was an awkward pause. "Well, ah, I should get Garas here to
the Healer for his Kaylaxxa treatment, then to some training with the
other slaves in the Circle."

Amanda felt her heart leap into her throat. /Slaves?/

"Perhaps you can bring Tanyee along, as well as ..." Hiatha began, eyes
wandering to Amanda again.

"Yes, perhaps. Well, I need to be going, Hiatha. Good day to you."

Sirinna hustled Amanda down the path and away from Hiatha and Garas.
<1st attachment end>


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