The Paga Diaries (30)

 

This chapter, like the last one, was written by guest writer vyeh, with collaborative contributions by Arizona Wanderer. Comments encouraged.

30.  Encore

Once inside the safety of the walls of the House of Cornelius Desneti, I began to relax. I put away my

sword, sliding it into the sheath that I had learned to carry on the back of my left shoulder blade. The trip from the public square to this House had been harrowing, unreal, something I would never forget. A gauntlet. I was not the focus of the gauntlet but I had walked through it. The genuine hatred on the faces of the citizens crowding our passage was terrifying. It was a mob, but the most curious of mobs. The vast majority of the men in the crowd were smiling, excited, eager, aroused, giddy even, jockeying for position to get a better view of the Dira show. This mix of hatred and joyful celebration was unsettling, making it impossible to identify threats.

I felt like a soldier again and I was both uneasy and exhilarated by this feeling. I had been a squad member, tasked with maintaining a position as part of a team with the mission of protecting lives and property on a perilous jaunt through unknown hazards. I had almost used my sword! Even though I feared the crowd would crush and consume us, Atticus’s commanding presence projected confidence, keeping me focused.  Unrestrained by our team of Guardsmen the crowd, in their rage, would have killed the traitress to their Home Stone, now my slave. I needed paga. 

As I reflected and thought about paga in the stout anteroom entrance, I watched as Temi, hampered by her robes, dropped to her knees, crossed her wrists, her hands holding my kajira's leash and Dirk’s switch and said through her veils, "La kajira Master."  Dirk took the leash and the switch, smiled, said, "Thank you, Temi," and led my slave to be cleaned, measured and assessed. Atticus led Geno Gattuso, Lady Julia and Temi to the private branding chamber. I walked with Dario, Tenrik and Dira to the metal-worker's shop to have the Stelcis collar removed. 

Walking next to the beautiful enchanting Dira, my anxiety over the gauntlet subsided, my mind raced and questions formed. I asked Dira in English,

"I have noticed that some masters are terrible, very strict and heavy handed with the whip." 

She smiled and said, "Sometimes my juices flow when a master picks up a whip.  They definitely flow when I am ordered to deliver a whip with my teeth, on my hands and knees, Master." 

"I have overheard masters threaten to feed their slaves to sleen, if they are not pleasing. I haven’t seen a sleen but this feeding sounds barbaric; and they call us barbarians.” 

She calmly replied, "I am valuable property. Why kill me when I dedicate myself to always pleasing my master? You may not understand this Master, but I am pleasured by pleasing those I kneel before. Who would throw away gold, when I can easily be sold?" 

"I have noticed slave rings everywhere I go and slaves spend a lot of time restrained. Isn't the loss of the freedom to stand, walk or move your limbs unbearable?" 

She replied, "I love bondage. It excites me. Do you know what a slave belly is, Master? My sexual needs have been finely developed by men and I cannot control them. They have been ignited in me and burn like a fire in my slave belly. This insatiable need is the best part about being a slave, and I submit my freedom happily for this fire. I encourage you to make every effort to develop the slave belly in your new slave. They say it should be easy to do with red haired women." She surprised me by switching to a matter-of-fact tone in English, "Master, I hope to see you soon." 

I replied, "I don't think I can share my slave with other men." 

She replied, "Master, perhaps I can educate my Master about the common Earthman peccadillo of possessiveness. I really really want to see you." 

"And Filomena,” I said.

She replied matter-of-factly, "Of course. You are an interesting Master with unexplored, unfulfilled ideas about sex, bondage, punishment and nudity. I know thousands of techniques that will blow your ...," she hesitated deliberately, continued, "... mind," and smiled innocently.

I was aroused. How did she do that?!

We arrived at the metal-workers shop. The shop was empty and hot. Dario looked apologetic as he said, "Dira, could you lift your chin?" 

"Yes Master!" She said, and lifted her chin. He unclipped the leash, and helped Tenrik unclench his right fist. As the leash fell, Dira pulled the leash through her legs lightning quick, coiled it despite her bound wrists, dropped to nadu with her thighs showing her exposed inflamed red mound, kissed the coiled whip, touched her sex and magnificent breasts with the whip, extended the whip and said, "Master! A slut desires to serve you." 

Dario looked at me, looked at Tenrik, shook his head, took the coiled whip, glanced at the wet spot near the handle, looked at Dira's inflamed sex, shook his head and clipped his leash to his belt. As he clipped his leash to his belt, Dira looked at his groin, looked at the floor and looked at Tenrik. He nodded. She screamed at Dario, using the same emphasis she used during her recent performance, "Master! A slut begs use!" 

Dario jumped back a pace, looked at Tenrik, who shoved him toward Dira and said, "After all Dira did, you must need release." As Dira started using her bound hands to unfasten Dario’s belt, Tenrik clapped me on the shoulder. Tenrik, who seemed familiar with this place, said, "Rykart, I'll give you directions to my house outside,” and suggested, “Let's leave these two be and get some air.”

Surprised, I followed him out the door. As soon as Tenrik closed the door, I blurted, "If I bought Dira, I no give use to another. I first to use her. You buy, but no use her?" 

Tenrik, looking at me with mild amusement, said, "Friend, I guess from your accent, broken Gorean and question, you come from a far off land, yes?" I nodded. Tenrik said, "There are plenty of women. Every paga tavern, every bath house. I have twenty one pleasure slaves in my garden." 

I gasped, "Twenty one! You make all slaves happy?" 

Tenrik chuckled at my naivety, "The purpose of a slave is to make me happy. I don't have to make her happy." Tenrik continued, "One night, my slave Nina crawled to me, naked, with some guard's whip in her mouth and mumbled, 'Master, I beg ten lashes and use by the ugliest guard.'" 

I goggled. His woman was so needy she would take ten lashes for use by a guard!!! 

Tenrik continued, "I said 'Submit.’ Nina ... Friend, you've seen Dira submit?" I nodded. I was astonished. In all of the paga taverns I had been in, I had never heard of a woman who would beg for the lash to get use. 

Tenrik continued,” Nina mumbled, 'Yes Master,' dropped to the ground in nadu, crossed and extended her wrists and mumbled through the whip clenched in her mouth, 'La kajira.' I tied her crossed wrists with binding fiber and said, 'Stand.' 

She mumbled, 'Yes Master' and stood. 

I said, 'Leading position.' 

She mumbled, 'Yes Master,' bent over at the waist and put her head at my left hip. 

I put my left hand on the back of her head, gripped her hair, led her to a slave ring on the floor and said, 'Bow to the whip." 

She mumbled, 'Yes Master,' then knelt in nadu before the ring, used her bound hands to sweep her long loose blonde hair over her left shoulder in front of her, bent at her waist, grabbed the ring with her hands and put her head, whip still in her clenched teeth, on her crossed hands and her firm breasts on the cold stone floor. 

I waited several ihn, and said, ‘Nina, can we end this foolishness?’ 

She mumbled through the whip in her teeth and her crossed wrists holding the slave ring, 'Nina begs ten lashes and use by the ugliest guard.' I crouched by her head, grabbed the whip, stood up, moved to the left side of her beautiful back, uncoiled the five-bladed Gorean slave whip and struck her with the maximum force across the small of her back. She screamed, her body jumped, she trembled, tears flowed from her eyes and she said,

'Th ... Thank y... you Mas...Master. A G... Girl is grate... grateful.' I said

'Enough?' 

Through gritted teeth, she said, 'No Master! Nine more lashes and use by the ugliest guard!' I whipped her a second time. She partially rolled over from the force of my blow, stuttered, 'Th ... Thank y... you Mas...Master. Tw... Two.'

'Enough?' I asked again. 

Through gritted teeth, she said, 'No Master! Eight more lashes and use by the ugliest guard!' I did everything I could do to make the lashing severe, varying the rhythm, pausing twice for several ehn, whipping the same spot twice or three times. She said, 'Thr... Three,' 'F... Four' and 'F... Five,' and in response to my repeated 'Enough?’ 'Seven,' 'Six' and 'Five.' She passed out after the sixth stroke. I poured water on her red back. She got back on her knees. 

For the sixth time, I asked, 'Enough?' 

She said, ‘N... No Mas... Master! S.. Six' and 'Four more lashes and use by the ugliest guard!' 

After the eighth stroke, I said as usual, 'Enough?' 

She said, "No Master! Two more and use by the ugliest guard!’ I made the last two the hardest ones yet. After the tenth, she said, 'Th... Thank y... you Mas...Master. A G... Girl is grate... grateful. Use by the ugliest guard!'

‘I said, 'Nina, if you ask for the ugliest guard, no one would use you.' She thought for a moment, 'The handsomest guard.' I said, ‘They'd all be dueling to first blood.' 

She said brightly, 'All of them?' 

I said, ‘Who would guard the estate?' 

She thought and thought and wailed, 'I need use!' I kissed her. She squealed 'Master!' Despite her lashing, she was insatiable and brought herself to slave orgasm six times. 

The next evening, Sula and Bina crawled in naked, whips in their mouths and muttered through their mouths, 'Master, we beg ten lashes each and your use.'" I goggled. His women were so needy that three of them would take ten lashes for his use!!! 

Tenrik continued, "The next night, Anna, Karla and Wanda crawled into my chambers, naked, whips in their mouths, begging for ten lashes and my use. Worse yet, the next day, Nina, Sula, Bina, Anna, Karla and Wanda were all naked, their bare pubes glistening. At my banquets, they are initially silked. My pleasure slaves conform to the current Ubar court standards for kajira beauty. The six were turning to and fro. My remaining pleasure slaves, wearing their tunics of the softest threads, were looking at the naked ones, particularly their striped backs and pubes." 

A thought crossed my mind; Tenrik had promised two naked serving sluts for each of us, one for food and the other for use. With twenty one pleasure slaves, he wasn't going to grab a couple of his mat and kettle slaves. A pleasure slave for food was awfully extravagant. I said diffidently, "Why not say no to Sula and Bina?" 

Tenrik said, “Rykart, pleasure slaves are temperamental. If they are treated differently, they become jealous and unhappy. The Ubar and my other guests can see unhappy pleasure slaves. That's why I can't give them to my guards. Pleasure slaves are very caste sensitive. Any abuse they would accept from an Ubar makes them unhappy when it comes from a guard. Maybe you can help me out when you visit and use Nina, Sula, Bina ..." 

I interrupted before he listed half his harem, "Friend, I a no caste barbarian…,” 

Tenrik interrupted in turn, “Dira said you both shared a Home Stone on the Slave World. I nodded and he continued, “She said men sworn to your Home Stone had strange ideas about women.” I nodded. Tenrik said, “Dira said you don’t want to share your new slave.” I nodded. Tenrik said, “No problem. I want to talk to the former Filomena about her former companion, the urt Marden Stelcis. I find that naked kajirae, back braceleted in nadu, very rarely lie. You can enjoy Dira without sharing your slave. She explained that men from the Slave World are conditioned to treat women with respect.” 

I nodded. Tenrik said, “She said you have reservations about multiple men using a kajira simultaneously, restricting a kajira tightly for long periods, lashing on a whim, and depriving a kajira of food.” I nodded. Tenrik concluded, “Then my pleasure slaves are safe in your hands!” 

I nodded and said, “Three kajirae at once…”

Tenrik, grasping my question, despite my limited Gorean, laughed and roared, “Three? Six!" 

I sputtered, "S... Six?" I could barely wrap my mind on satisfying three needy kajira let alone six.

Tenrik laughing, said, "The fourth night: Vera, Rina, Nara and Cala; the fifth night: Gia, Eve, Iona, Dena and Jini; and the sixth night: Leda, Mini, Orli, Paz, Tina and Zena, crawled into my chambers naked carrying whips with their mouths. I asked Nina, 'Why are you naked when your tailored slave tunic with gold and silver threads and encrusted with diamonds, sapphires and rubies, cost more than you do?’

She smiled and said, 'To show off the beautiful stripes Master has given this poor slave!' 

She turned away from me so I could admire my handiwork. There were several silver linings. The kitchen master reported the production of the mat and kettle slaves had risen to a level he had not imagined possible and way beyond anything that directly punishing the mat and kettle girls had accomplished. My employees only disturbed me for the direst of emergencies. For years, I had been encouraging more initiative. Finally, they solved problems themselves, including a problem using an elegant solution which I wouldn't have thought of. Nina walked into a work area in her glorious nudity, hoping to be thrown on a work table and gang raped. The employees thought I had sent her with a vivid red back as a subtle warning. To Nina's disgust, they ignored her and refocused on their work. My pleasure slaves are she-sleen in heat. Do you know that she-sleens occasionally kill the males in the middle of mating? Last night was the sixth night. I felt like that doomed sleen, somehow engaged in mating with six she-sleen simultaneously.”

I said, "So, you too sore for Dira; give to Dario." 

Tenrik laughed, "An important aspect of slavery is transforming a former Free Woman, an object of veneration, into a slave, an object, not only in her mind, but in the mind of everyone. Think about your recent acquisition. Do you see her as the venerated high caste Scribe, Lady Filomena Viducia Barbietia, magnificent in her robes, veils and slippers, or a nameless commodity, unworthy of sympathy or pity?" I thought hard. I did feel sympathy that Marden had manipulated Gorean justice to enslave her permanently without any hope for freedom, but I did see her as a kajira. 

Tenrik continued, "One way to avoid emotional attachments from either the master or slave is for a new master to give his best friend use of the new slave. The slave knows her new master will give her to other men. The friend knows the new master values their friendship because the new master defers his own gratification. And the new master knows that the new slave is an object like a sword." Tenrik thought for a moment and said, "Although I've heard of Warriors who sold their daughters into slavery rather than part with their swords. Dario isn't a friend yet, but we shared an experience which will put both of us along with Dira in the stories told in paga taverns for years to come.”

"Dira is worse than Nina and the other twenty pleasure slaves. Dira's slave belly is so intense it caused Free Women to flee. I wouldn't be surprised if there were several self-enslavements and several cases of conduct unbecoming in the coming days. Dira's extended dance of neediness came close to provoking an entire crowd to overrun Atticus, his Guardsmen and you, to satisfy her belly. After Dario and you have slaked her fires ...” 

I interrupted, startled,"I?" 

Tenrik slapped me on the left shoulder with his right hand and said, "Of course! I will see you frequently in the upcoming years!" 

I protested, "I a no caste barbarian. You high caste, rich and with influence." 

He said, "That doesn't matter. Dira deduced my special interest, ravished your kajira on the mouth and encouraged your interest by ravishing your mouth and conversing in that barbarian tongue. I prefer to give Dira what she wants. I want my pleasure slaves happy and I prefer to watch her exercise her techniques on your new kajira rather than on me. So we'll be eating and drinking watching Dira seductively consume your slave. I like what I've seen of you so far. I know you must be curious about Dira." 

I grinned and said, "Thank you, friend," and clasped his right forearm with my right forearm. 

I thought about Temi and something I was confused about.  I said, "So Temi is livestock." 

Tenrik said in a serious tone, "No, I disagree with my friend Julian Lepidus. She was traumatized. She had the symptoms of a new Warrior, captured in battle, subject to horrific degradation before being rescued when the enemy city fell. I would have consigned her to the Physicians at the city's expense with an order that any conduct unbecoming be excused until the Physicians had healed the wounds of her soul. If my friend Vito had not stepped in, I would have purchased her, bought the combination pleasure slave dancer course, housed her in my pleasure gardens and told Dira and the other pleasure slaves to raise her and restrict her use to me. After five years, when she was mature and had been certified by Vito, I would release her to regular pleasure slave duties surrounded by her surrogate mothers.”

I was stunned. Tenrik's clear analysis was so different from Julian Lepidus' pompous speech. I saw the possible miscarriage of Gorean Justice. Tenrik gave me the directions to his estate in the Western Hills. Our reminiscences about our recent trip were interrupted when the door to the metal-worker’s shop opened and Dario came out staggering and shaking. 

He said, "Could one of you help me out?" 

Tenrik laughed, "Dario, is Dira too much for you?" 

Dario said, "By the Priest Kings, yes! She knows these pressure points that restores male virility. In the time I would normally come and recover, I have come three times!" 

I said, "That is good! More pleasure." 

Dario said, "I am exhausted!" 

Dira's voice came through the open door in a sing-song, "Master! A needy slut begs your touch!" Dario paled. Fortunately for Dario, the metal-worker arrived. 

Tenrik said, “This will take time. Collars are made to be difficult to remove!” 

I joined Dario on the raised platform against the wall opposite the door to the metal-worker's shop. We sat cross-legged facing the closed door. I said, "Dario, she is special."

"Aye, Rykart.”

"You did a good job!” I said.

"I did a horrible job!" and sobbed. I put my right arm around his left shoulder and pulled him into my right chest. 

After an ehn, he said, "My father, Commander Magnus Agrippa Licinius, dotes on his grandsons."

"That is great,” I said.

"Better than his fuck-up son."

"You no fuck-up, Dario," I said. 

"I dropped my leash!"

"You were distracted.” I said.

"I am a Warrior!"

"Dirk said, 'That was amazing, Dario!'" I replied. 

"He did, didn't he?"

"Yes, he did!" I said.

"But, I let Vito slip in next to Temi."

"He is going to buy her; he cares for her," I said.

"Will he be a good Master?"

"He is rich," I said.

"Right."

"And seems kind," I said.

"Yes."

"He has entire House of pleasure slaves, Dario."

"Is that an advantage?"

"She want training, he can do that," I said.

"She needs use."

"Yes," I said, not knowing what else to say. 

"I flinched from Dira."

"The crowd love your act. They say you are great actor,” I said.

"I am."

"What?" I asked. 

"Not great, but an apprentice to the Players of Western Hills. We spent a summer rehearsing 'The Ubara's Dilemma' before the production fell through and the Players dissolved."

"You had fun?" I asked. 

"Yeah, in the production, I was the Ubara's guardsman. I learned to direct the viewer's attention to the Ubara."

"So you direct mob attention to Dira?" I asked. 

"By the Priest Kings, no! If I had the ability, I would have directed the mob away from her!"

"Yes, Dira gets attention," I said.

"I'm so ashamed I flinched from her kiss!"

"How that happened?" I asked.

"I felt strange sensations. My mind was divided. I wanted to seize her; I wanted to flee."

"Why you flinch?" I asked. 

"I panicked. I felt she was going to consume me, that I would lose control."

"I see," I said.

"My father is going to be so angry when he hears about my behavior."

“How he hears, Dario?" I asked.

"Captain Atticus reports to my father, Commander Magnus Agrippa Licinius!"

"Oh, Dario!" I exclaimed. 

At that moment, Tenrik, the metal worker and a collarless, nude Dira, her hands still bound in front, emerged from the metal-worker's shop. 

Tenrik said, "Dario, where is Dira's tunic?"

"Sorry, Sir, I left it on the dais." 

Dira cooed, "Master." 

Tenrik said resignedly, "Dira may speak."

"I am branded," turned her thigh to show her brand, said, "I am bound," lifted her crossed wrists to show her bounds, said, "I am naked," shimmied her head, shoulders, breasts and hips that left Dario, Tenrik, the metal-worker and me stunned, and said, "Dira will learn her slavery if she heels Master to his home, barefoot, completely naked, not even a collar, and bound to his home." 

Tenrik thought a moment and asked Dario, "What is the duty status of the five Guardsmen?" 

Dario said, "Harod, Mirin and Ren will accompany Atticus back to the public square to impale Marcus Piero. I'm off duty as soon as I officially deliver Dira ..." She smiled lasciviously at him. He quailed, said, "... to you. Dirk is off duty as soon as he delivers Rykart's ...," indicated me with his head, and finished, “… new slave to him in the waiting room." 

Tenrik said, "Why don't we go to the waiting room?" Dira gave another lascivious smile and shimmy. Tenrik finished, “Then you find Dirk, tell him I will pay each of you a copper tarsk, the hospitality of a late lunch and Dira's services. ..." Dira and Dario looked at each other like a tarn and a tabuk looking at each other. Tenrik finished, "... I have the best table in the city and would enjoy reminiscing about today's trip,” turned to Dira and said, "Dira, are you happy with this arrangement?" 

Dira said, "The Guardsmen lead this slave on twin leashes, ravish her on the threshold, tie her bound wrists to a hanging chain, give her the customary three lashes and order her to service their feet." 

Tenrik perked up, looked at Dario, who paled, said to Dira,

"That's splendid," turned to Dario, and said, "Share the details with Dirk." 

Dario, Dira, Tenrik and I went toward the waiting room. As we approached the service entrance from deep within the House, we heard a rhythmic angry roar. I couldn't make it out. Atticus came rushing up. He looked like he was defending a fortress. He looked at Dira and said, "By the Priest Kings! We need you, Dira!"

"Yes, Master! How may I serve you and your men?" There was a hint of lasciviousness and need in her voice. Dario and I looked at each other. Surely the professional Atticus wouldn’t... 

Atticus looked at Dario and me, and growled, "Lads, get your minds out of the paga tavern alcove!” He snapped at Dira, "Dira, lesha!"

"Yes, Master!" She turned her back to Atticus, turned her head to the left and froze. 

Atticus said, "Dario, leash Dira." 

Dario said, "Aye, Captain," and looking confused, fumbled, unclipping his leash from his belt.

Atticus turned to Tenrik, "Master Builder, before we turn Dira over to you in the waiting room, we need her to deal with her fans, who haven't dispersed. Harod, Mirin, Ren and two House Guards are holding the service entrance against the mob." Dario finished clipping his leash around Dira's neck. Atticus snapped, "Dario, Dira, run as fast as you can to the entrance and put on a show. 

The two ran, leaving an intermingled, "Yes, Aye, Master, Captain," in their wake. 

Atticus gestured to Tenrik and me to follow, trotted, Tenrik and I trailing, and said, "Rykart, draw your sword." 

I said, "Aye, Captain,” and drew my sword. My heart beat faster and adrenaline coursed through my blood. The rhythmic roar became, "Dira! Dira! Dira!" and beating Gorean applause, over and over again and again. 

Trotting, Atticus continued, "Master Builder, this could get ugly. Perhaps you should wait in the office of Cornelius Desneti." 

Tenrik said, "I'm coming with you. I've got an idea." I thought, what idea could get this crowd to disperse?

At the entrance, I joined Harod, Mirin, Ren and two House guards, their swords drawn, in a tight block in front of the door. Dario and Dira were in a tight embrace between the mob and us. The mob had settled into a chant of “Dira! Dira! Dira!" and steady Gorean applause, devouring the sight of Dira kissing Dario. Atticus and Tenrik conferred, then Tenrik stepped next to the couple.