and silver.”
I inclined my head to -Drusus Rencius. He was a darkhaired, tall, supple, lean,
long-muscled, large-handed man. He bad gray eyes. He had strong. regular
features. In him I sensed a powerful intelligence.
“Lady,” said lie, bowing before me.
He seemed quiet, and deferential. But there was within him, I did not doubt,
that which was Gorean. He would know. what to do with a woman.
“He is to be your personal guard,” said Ligurious.
“A bodyguard?” I inquired.
“Yes, Lady,” said Ligurious.
I looked at the tall, spare man. He carried - a helmet in the crook of his left
arm. It was polished but, clearly, it had seen war. The hilt of the sword in his
scabbard, at his left hip, too, was worn. It was marked, too, with the stains of
oil and sweat. His livery, too, though clean, was plain. It bore the insignia of
Corcyrus and of his standing in the guards, that of the third rank, the first
rank to which authority is delegated.
In the infantry of Corcyrus the fifth rank is commonly occupied for at least a
year. Promotion to the fourth rank is usually automatic, following the
demonstrated attainment of certain levels of martial skills. The second rank and
the first rank usually involve larger command responsibilities. Beyond these
rankings come the distinctions and levels among leaders who are perhaps more
appropriately to be thought of as officers, or full officers, those, for
example, among lieutenants, captains, high captains and generals. That Drusus
Rencius was first sword among the guards, then, in this case, as his insignia
made clear, was not a reference to his rank but a recognition of his skill with
the blade. That these various ranks might be occupied, incidentally, also does
not entail that specific command responsibilities are being exercised. A given
rank, with its pay grade, for example, might be occupied without its owner being
assigned a given command. The command of Drusus Rencius, for example, if he had
had one, would presumably be relinquished when be took over his duties as a
personal guard. His skills with the sword, I suppose, had been what, had called
him to the attention of Ligurious.
These, perhaps, had seemed to qualify him for his new assignment. To be a proper
guard for a Tatrix, however, surely involved more than being quick with a sword.
There were matters of appearances to be considered. I felt a bit irritated with
the fellow. I would put him in his place.
“The guard for a Tatrix,” I said to Ligurious, “must be more resplendent.”
“See to it,” said he to Drusus Rencius.
“As you wish,” responded Drusus Rencius.
Ligurious had then left.
Drusus Rencius looked down at me. He seemed very large and strong. I felt very
small and weak.
“What is wrong?” I asked, angrily.
“It is nothing,” he said.
“Whatl” I demanded.
“It is only that I had expected, from what I have heard, that Lady Sheila would
be somewhat different than I find her.”
“Oh,” I said.
He continued to look at me.
“In what way?” I asked.
“I had expected Lady Sheila to seem more of a Tatrix,” he said, “whereas you
seem to me to be something quite different.
“What?” I asked.
“Forgive me, Lady,” be smiled. “If I answered you truthfully I would fear that I
might be impaled.”
“Speak,” I said.
He smiled.
“You may speak with impunity,” I said. “What is it that I seem to be to you?”
“A female slave,” be said.
“Oh!” I cried, in fury.
“Does Lady Sheila often go unveiled?” be asked.
“Yes,” I said. “A Tatrix has no secrets from her people. It is good for her
people to be able to look upon their Tatrix?”
“As Lady Sheila wishes,” he said, bowing. “May I now withdraw?”
“Yes!” I said. He had seen me without my veil. I felt almost naked before him,
almost as though I might truly be a slave.
“I shall be at your call,” he said. He then withdrew.
I twisted on the couch and turned
I inclined my head to -Drusus Rencius. He was a darkhaired, tall, supple, lean,
long-muscled, large-handed man. He bad gray eyes. He had strong. regular
features. In him I sensed a powerful intelligence.
“Lady,” said lie, bowing before me.
He seemed quiet, and deferential. But there was within him, I did not doubt,
that which was Gorean. He would know. what to do with a woman.
“He is to be your personal guard,” said Ligurious.
“A bodyguard?” I inquired.
“Yes, Lady,” said Ligurious.
I looked at the tall, spare man. He carried - a helmet in the crook of his left
arm. It was polished but, clearly, it had seen war. The hilt of the sword in his
scabbard, at his left hip, too, was worn. It was marked, too, with the stains of
oil and sweat. His livery, too, though clean, was plain. It bore the insignia of
Corcyrus and of his standing in the guards, that of the third rank, the first
rank to which authority is delegated.
In the infantry of Corcyrus the fifth rank is commonly occupied for at least a
year. Promotion to the fourth rank is usually automatic, following the
demonstrated attainment of certain levels of martial skills. The second rank and
the first rank usually involve larger command responsibilities. Beyond these
rankings come the distinctions and levels among leaders who are perhaps more
appropriately to be thought of as officers, or full officers, those, for
example, among lieutenants, captains, high captains and generals. That Drusus
Rencius was first sword among the guards, then, in this case, as his insignia
made clear, was not a reference to his rank but a recognition of his skill with
the blade. That these various ranks might be occupied, incidentally, also does
not entail that specific command responsibilities are being exercised. A given
rank, with its pay grade, for example, might be occupied without its owner being
assigned a given command. The command of Drusus Rencius, for example, if he had
had one, would presumably be relinquished when be took over his duties as a
personal guard. His skills with the sword, I suppose, had been what, had called
him to the attention of Ligurious.
These, perhaps, had seemed to qualify him for his new assignment. To be a proper
guard for a Tatrix, however, surely involved more than being quick with a sword.
There were matters of appearances to be considered. I felt a bit irritated with
the fellow. I would put him in his place.
“The guard for a Tatrix,” I said to Ligurious, “must be more resplendent.”
“See to it,” said he to Drusus Rencius.
“As you wish,” responded Drusus Rencius.
Ligurious had then left.
Drusus Rencius looked down at me. He seemed very large and strong. I felt very
small and weak.
“What is wrong?” I asked, angrily.
“It is nothing,” he said.
“Whatl” I demanded.
“It is only that I had expected, from what I have heard, that Lady Sheila would
be somewhat different than I find her.”
“Oh,” I said.
He continued to look at me.
“In what way?” I asked.
“I had expected Lady Sheila to seem more of a Tatrix,” he said, “whereas you
seem to me to be something quite different.
“What?” I asked.
“Forgive me, Lady,” be smiled. “If I answered you truthfully I would fear that I
might be impaled.”
“Speak,” I said.
He smiled.
“You may speak with impunity,” I said. “What is it that I seem to be to you?”
“A female slave,” be said.
“Oh!” I cried, in fury.
“Does Lady Sheila often go unveiled?” be asked.
“Yes,” I said. “A Tatrix has no secrets from her people. It is good for her
people to be able to look upon their Tatrix?”
“As Lady Sheila wishes,” he said, bowing. “May I now withdraw?”
“Yes!” I said. He had seen me without my veil. I felt almost naked before him,
almost as though I might truly be a slave.
“I shall be at your call,” he said. He then withdrew.
I twisted on the couch and turned
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