"Time to wake up, Amanda."

The black-haired girl did not respond until the summons was repeated, this time with a gentle nudge of a delicate hand against one shoulder. She groaned and made a face, her eyes still closed, and tried to snuggle further down into the furs on the bed.

Another nudge, more insistent this time, though the voice was no less gentle. "It's morning, love. You have a big day ahead of you."

Amanda finally stirred, but only to mumble something about "five more minutes." She rolled over, the chain that ran from the back of her leather collar clinking softly.

By the side of the young fourteen-year-old's bed, a woman rose to her feet with a tender smile on her face. Her lithe, nude body moved with ease as she strolled around the foot of the bed. She passed the wooden post that rose from the center of the floor, the end of the chain attached to it with a small padlock, and headed towards the window.

Sirinna rolled up the shade, allowing the brightness of the clear tropical skies into the room, as well as the gentle roar of the ocean against the shore. A breeze blew at the woman's silvery-blond hair.

On the bed, Amanda groaned again and made a face as the light prevented her from drifting back to sleep. Her eyes flickered open and squinted at the morning light as she slowly sat up in bed. The covers fell away from her body, her round but petite breasts bouncing lightly against her chest.

The chain caught under her body and gave the collar around her neck a sharp tug. This jolted Amanda to full wakefulness. Her hand fluttered at her neck for a moment as her mind struggled to catch up with the events that had happened just the day before.

Sirinna smiled tenderly at the girl as she approached the bed. "Time to get up, love. I have breakfast for us in my bedchamber."

Amanda blinked a few more times in an attempt to throw off the last vestiges of sleep. It had taken her quite awhile to finally fall asleep the night before, and she was still a little groggy. She again reached up to her neck and felt the collar with her fingers, heaving a slow sigh. "I really did it, didn't I?" she asked in a small voice.

Sirinna's smile faded just a touch, her face taking on a note of concern. She stepped over to the post and grasped the padlock in her fingers. The enchantment upon it, recognizing her as a Trainer, dutifully released the lock and allowed her to take the end of the chain in her hand. "It's normal to have some second thoughts the morning after."

Amanda threw the covers off, the rest of her body as naked as her breasts. As she swung her legs over the side, Sirinna took up some of the slack of the chain in her hands, pulling the rest of it out from under the blanket.

Amanda looked up at the woman that was her lover, and who was now her Trainer as well. "No, not really second thoughts."

Sirinna noticed the subdued tone in her new Trainee's voice. "You sure?"

Amanda paused, then nodded silently.

What had been her alternative? If she had not submitted to the collar and committed herself to being trained as a slave, she would have been sent back to Earth. Back to a foster care system that didn't give a damn about her, and to a life without Sirinna, the one she loved.

"Nervous?" Sirinna asked.

Amanda remembered what was in store for her that morning and nodded again.

Sirinna lay a hand against one of Amanda's cheeks. Amanda looked up and gave the woman a wan smile and sighed. "I'll be all right, Sirinna."

Sirinna's smile turned into a wry grin. "Did you forget already?"

Amanda stared in confusion.

"My title."

"You mean I have to call you that in private, too?"

"Those are the rules, Amanda. All Trainees have to use the proper titles of respect."

Amanda was about to roll her eyes but caught herself. "I know I'm going to forget that a lot."

"That's what this is for." Sirinna extended the chain and gave it a quick snap, which made the collar tug against Amanda's neck. "That's the usual reminder that the Trainee has forgotten something. Remember that from last night?"

"Just barely."

"It's all right. You're allowed some time to get used to the rules." Sirinna paused a moment. In a more somber tone of voice she added, "And a lot did happen yesterday, so I understand."

Amanda thought that was a vast understatement. Sirinna had almost been kidnapped back to the palace of someone named Z'haas, who she assumed was the ruler of Oceanus. At least this is what she had gleaned from the fact that Roquan had called him "Emperor". Then when Amanda had managed to stop this, Sirinna had almost died from the overdose of sleeping powder the Imperial agent had given her.

Amanda bristled at the thought. Yanna had been the one she thought she could trust. Of all the slaves Amanda had met, she had been the one person that appeared to understand Amanda's reluctance. Instead of making a new friend, it had turned out to be just another case of someone wanting something from her.

And now Amanda was consigned to the life of a slave. Things had happened almost too fast for her to comprehend.

"Are you all right, Amanda? "

Amanda was not sure when things would ever be all right again, but she nodded anyway. "Yes, Sirinna."

Sirinna gave her a significant look, and the chain another snap.

Amanda sighed. "Yes, mistress."

Sirinna coaxed Amanda to her feet. "It will be all right. Here, you'll feel better with something to eat."

Amanda was not sure how much of an appetite she had, but she knew she had to have something. With what she would face soon after, she was going to need all of her strength, both physically and emotionally.

She let her eyes wander as Sirinna led her from the circular bedchamber. Her chamber, like most everything else in the D'ronstaq Manor, was built for the tropics. Equally spaced wooden poles formed the frame, thatch-like material spanning them to form the walls. The window was open to the air, and the floor was elevated from the sandy ground by a few feet. Everything was designed to allow the place to "breathe" as much as possible, sheltering it from the worst of the heat. Ocean breezes helped cool it off at night.

She knew she better get used to it, since it was going to be her home for a long time.

They headed through the curtained doorway that connected Amanda's chamber with Sirinna's. Just as if she were already a full-fledged slave contracted to a client, she could come and go only through her mistress' living space. As she was a Trainee anyway, she would not be traveling anywhere by herself any longer, anyway.

Amanda could still feel the collar about her neck, a collar that would not come off until she "graduated". She could feel it pressing against her skin. Despite the fact that it was loose enough to turn easily as Sirinna manipulated the chain, it still felt tight against her neck. She wondered how long it would take her to no longer notice it was there.

A large metal platter sat in the center of Sirinna's bed, filled with cut pieces of fresh fruit and chunks of bread. Despite her initial lack of appetite, Amanda found the smell of the bread enticing. She had hardly eaten anything the night before, as nervous as she had been facing the events that had later transpired and brought her to this point.

Amanda glanced forlornly at the white gown that lay folded off to the side. Now that she was a Trainee, she'd never be wearing that again. It was one of the many rules that Sirinna had explained to her an excited rush the night before, though she had already known this particular one: Trainees must remain naked at all times.

The two of them settled down on either side of the platter, but when Amanda reached to take a piece of fruit, Sirinna gently lay her hand atop Amanda's and stopped her.

Amanda looked up curiously.

"Remember the rule?" Sirinna asked gently.

This time, Amanda could not stop herself, and she rolled her eyes. "Trainer eats first," she said in a low voice.

Sirinna smiled easily. "Don't worry, I'll know which ones you like. I'll leave you your favorites."

"Fine." There was a sullen tone to Amanda's voice.

Sirinna gave her Trainee a softly admonishing look.

"I'm sorry, Siri ... mistress ... I'm just really nervous about ... about the ..."

Amanda couldn't get herself to say it. Sirinna finished a piece of fruit before completing the thought for her. "Deflowering?"

Amanda swallowed and nodded, a frightened look in her eyes.

"Master Roquan is very delicate about these things, Amanda. He'll take it easy with you."

"Will you be there, Si ... mistress? Will you be staying for it?"

Sirinna shook her head. "No, this is between you and Master Roquan."

"I-I'm not sure I can do it alone."

Sirinna set down the end of the chain and grasped one of Amanda's hands, squeezing it gently. Amanda glanced down first at the chain and then Sirinna's hand, and her lips curled into a small smile. The simple affectionate touch helped reassure her that perhaps Sirinna was not always going to be just her Trainer. The very reason Amanda chose to stay was because of the strong feelings they had for each other, and it was harder to see this when Sirinna was holding her chain.

"Please trust me, Amanda," Sirinna said softly. "It will be okay."

"I'll try. But ... "

"Yes?"

"Do I really have to call you 'mistress' all the time? Can't you just be 'Sirinna' sometimes? Just for a little while, like in the evenings or something? Please?"

Sirinna uttered a small, soft sigh, her gaze troubled as it fell on Amanda's pleading face. What Amanda was asking was completely against the rules. Yet everything Sirinna had done that brought Amanda here in the first place was technically against the rules, something for which Roquan would likely remind her for some time to come.

Amanda sensed the hesitation and pressed further. "I mean ... we'll still have time together, right? Just like we did before all this happened? You said you still cared for me."

Sirinna smiled. She had to remind herself that Amanda was unique among all the other slaves she had trained. Not just that Amanda was her lover, but that the girl had never had the Draught of Forgetfulness that all Captives had before being collared. She remembered her past, and her own ways of expressing her need.

And, truth be told, Sirinna had her own needs as well. She could not go long without the ability to openly express her love for Amanda any more than Amanda could.

"Yes, I do care for you, Amanda, very deeply." Sirinna's fingers tightened around Amanda's. "All right. Late evenings before going to bed will be our time together. You won't have to use my title then."

Amanda allowed herself to smile. Having that to look forward to would make the rest of the day at least bearable to her.

Despite his greater need for sleep in his advanced age, the Master Healer of the D'ronstaq Manor was already at work before Amanda had been roused from her slumber. It was precisely because of Amanda he was once again hard at work when his body demanded rest.

Just outside his lab, the first rays of morning sunlight were diffusing through the smoky skylights in the treatment room when Vanlo G'tort finally finished his work. He withdrew the flask from the end of the apparatus, straightening his tall, thin frame and stroking his long beard thoughtfully. His crinkly eyes critically examined the slightly frothy fluid in the flask. He shook it gently, breaking up some of the foam.

"Hmm. Well, well. I have not forgotten after all."

Vanlo smiled to himself with a twinkle in one eye as he lowered the flask and turned from the table. It was only after his aging eyes scanned the room and reminded him that he was quite alone that his smile faded. He uttered a small sigh.

It had been less than a day, and Vanlo already missed Yanna. Despite the fact that the woman had been only pretending at being a slave, he felt her absence. While he was past the age for sexual escapades, he had valued her companionship and sensuality. The fact that it had been an act put on to destroy the alliance between Roquan and his fellow Overlord and friend Rennis, not to mention an attempt to take Sirinna from the Manor, did not detract from the fact that he had enjoyed her company.

Vanlo took a deep breath and let it go, and wondered if he might impose upon the Overlord to give him another slave for his use. He doubted, however, that Roquan had another as skilled at the Healing arts as Yanna had been.

"Alas," Vanlo lamented to no one in particular.

The Healer stoppered the flask securely with a piece of cork and headed out through the treatment room and reception area, and into the now bright sunlight of dawn.

The coolness of the night had already evaporated in the spreading heat of morning. A cloudless sky was a sure sign that it was going to be hot, as the march of days carried the Manor further into summer. Already the air was growing moist with humidity drifting in from the ocean.

Vanlo self-consciously examined the potion he had concocted even as he walked down the sandy path, the warmth radiating through his shoes. It had been some time since Roquan had a new Trainee, so he had not had much opportunity to make this particular potion. When the Overlord had informed him that Amanda had chosen to stay in Narlass, it had come as something of a surprise to the Healer.

But then again, the idea of giving an outworlder an actual choice in the matter was unprecedented to begin with.

As Vanlo turned down the wider path that curved around the north end of the Manor, he smiled and nodded his head in simple greeting to the slaves that he passed. Most that he encountered were female, if for no other reason than most of Overlord Roquan's clients desired females. Most were also nude, and Vanlo still delighted in the appearance of the young, female form despite his advanced age.

Many of the more experienced slaves were glancing at the flask he held with interest, as they knew exactly what it contained and what it meant. Slaves were a gossipy lot, Vanlo mused, when left to their own devices between contracts. By the time Amanda was ready to be taken to the Overlord for her deflowering, the entire Manor would know there was a new Trainee among them.

Vanlo hastened his step, despite his joints still sore from the excitement of the day before. He wanted to make sure the Overlord needed nothing further from him that morning.

The Healer did not announce himself when he came to the door to the Overlord's residence, as he knew he would be expected. Yet as he opened the door and stepped inside, the voice that boomed at him made him rethink his forwardness.

"Blazing hellfires, Roquan! You are not telling me that Rennis' preposterous story is actually true?!"

It was most decidedly not Roquan's even, calm tones that came to Vanlo's ears. Even on the rare occasions that the Overlord did raise his voice (which had happened with increased frequency the past few days, the Healer recalled ruefully), it was not as strident and blustering as this voice was.

Vanlo paused for a moment, halfway across the threshold, as his eyes beheld the scene in front of him.

This was the outer chamber of Roquan's quarters. Since it was often used as a reception area, its construction was more permanent and impressive, largely solid wood with stone accents. Magical enchantments helped maintain the flow of air through the structure. The floor was covered in soft furs, and on the other side of the room was the curtained doorway to the inner chamber.

The Overlord, Roquan D'ronstaq, was standing before the hearth of the fireplace. Made of decorative stone, its purpose was largely for mood rather than heat, save for the coolest nights during the winter season. Yet it served one additional purpose well, and that was as a reception area to grant a Farviewing audience.

The other Overlord, which was the source of the indignant shout that Vanlo had heard, stood as a shimmering form upon the hearth, facing Roquan. Like Roquan, the other Overlord was strong of build and imposing in form. The similarities ended there. Roquan stood with relative calm and equanimity, his blue-gray eyes like cool steel, his dark brown hair streaked with bits of silver. The other was quite agitated, his eyes wide and wild, his hair having gone mostly gray.

"And why would Rennis concoct such a story, Doran?" Roquan inquired. His voice had a definite edge to it despite the calm manner in which the Overlord delivered his response. From the flowing satin robe he wore, it was obvious to Vanlo that the Overlord was in the midst of preparations for Amanda's deflowering when the audience occurred.

It was further obvious from the lack of a glowing blue pearl at the feet of the shimmering form that it had been the other Overlord that had summoned Roquan. Upon making this realization, Vanlo began to silently excuse himself.

Roquan, having caught sight of the Healer from the corner of his eye, gestured urgently and silently, without taking his eyes from the other Overlord. Vanlo paused, then stepped further inside and closed the door quietly behind him.

Overlord Doran D'jorus uttered a great snort and leaned back, part of his image fading into the fireplace. "He would have me believe that Emperor Z'haas concocted this ludicrous plan simply to discredit you!" he thundered.

"Not just that, Doran. He also nearly deprived me of my best Trainer."

"But for what possible purpose, Roquan?"

"To train his own slaves."

"That is ridiculous! Why would he do such a thing?"

Roquan bristled, his voice raising just one notch. Vanlo's past experience told him this was generally enough. "Think, Doran. He had already infiltrated an Overlord Manor with one agent disguised as a slave. Think if he had been successful in his plans, and he had more slaves to use for his purposes!"

Doran's face was faintly red with fury. "Great gods ... the Emperor, training his own slaves!"

Roquan sighed softly. He hated to think that Sirinna would have actually done it had Amanda not disrupted Yanna's plans. Yet if Amanda had gone through as well, and the Emperor had both of them, he might very well have tried to trade Amanda's safety for Sirinna's loyalty.

For the third time now that morning, he doubted the wisdom of granting Sirinna's request to train Amanda herself. Sirinna may indeed be too close to the girl, despite her claims to the contrary. It was Sirinna's unfortunate propensity for forming attachments when she shouldn't that had brought Amanda into this world in the first place.

"Yes, Doran, training his own slaves." Roquan folded his arms and fixed his steely gaze on the other Overlord. "Rennis is not one for making up stories. And I am even less so, and yet I am corroborating his story. Z'haas did send an Imperial Agent into our midst; he did attempt to sow disobedience amongst my slaves; he did attempt to shatter the alliance between myself and Rennis D'glounaas; and he did attempt to abduct my best Trainer."

Doran was utterly aghast. Vanlo allowed himself a satisfactory smile. Doran D'jorus was, when he was not so agitated, one of the most well-spoken and persuasive of the Overlords of the nation of Oceanus. To have him on Roquan's side would be priceless. It was obvious that Rennis had been counting on this when he had informed Doran of the events that had transpired recently at the D'ronstaq Manor.

"An Emperor training slaves! Unheard of! Unnatural! A perversion of the highest order!"

Roquan narrowed his eyes, and his voice became ice. "And I would like you to inform me, Doran, that you and the other Overlords truly had no idea of the Emperor's treachery."

Doran's eyes became saucers. "What? Are you mad?!"

"Any more so than you and the others were when they influenced the Emperor into canceling the trade agreement with Colos? And cutting off my only route to the Far West markets?"

Vanlo stroked his beard thoughtfully. Now this was a little detail he had not known. The Healer felt privileged that the Overlord was allowing him to be privy to it. Privileged, and a little concerned as well. The more one knew about such things, the more one tended to be pulled into the events that surrounded them. As if he had not already had more excitement than he could handle.

Doran's eyes shifted nervously. "Er, well, yes ... (ahem) ... about that ..."

"It is one thing to attempt to force me to toe the line with the others," Roquan said darkly. "But not at the price of my reputation."

"Now, see here, Roquan ...!"

"I am through attempting to reason with you or the others, Doran! I will not be intimidated in this manner."

"And I tell you, I knew nothing of these machinations of Z'haas! I am beside myself thinking that the Emperor could do such a thing!"

Roquan paused, looking thoughtful. Vanlo was impressed with the dramatic effect. Naturally, Roquan knew that the other Overlords likely knew nothing of the sabotage of Roquan's slaves. Their only interest had been business and the bottom line. They tacitly acknowledged that Roquan had the best slaves in Oceanus. The market to the east, in the Urisi Nation, was clamoring for them. Roquan refused to deal with them. To him, the Urisi were barbarians who mistreated slaves.

Roquan unfolded his arms and clasped his hands behind his back, giving Doran a carefully schooled look. "You will have to prove it to me, Doran."

Doran's face took on an even ruddier color, and for a moment it appeared he was about to explode. Instead, he took a few calming breaths and leaned forward again. "Prove it, Roquan? I will do better than that!"

Roquan raised an eyebrow.

"Something must be done about this! Z'haas has acted the scoundrel! His actions are reprehensible!"

"And those actions committed by you and the other Overlords were not?"

"Business, Roquan! That's all that was! A trade agreement, nothing more. It was as you said, a means to keep you in line. We knew nothing of ..."

"And you cared not for Liri, the one slave I had sent abroad to the Far West that now has no way back?"

Doran blinked in surprise. "Er ... I didn't know about that."

Neither did Vanlo, and looked on with interest.

No matter how ruthless Overlords may compete with one another, it all came down to their slaves. No Overlord made money by purposely mistreating a slave. No Overlord struck at another through their slaves. Thus the fellow Overlord's remorseful look was sincere.

Doran recovered swiftly despite Roquan's cold gaze. "That is not as important as this, Roquan! I can assure you, I knew nothing of Z'haas' other actions. But now that I know, the other Overlords must know, and we must do something about it!"

Roquan gave a single nod of his head. "This is what I have been saying all along, but I have been unable to get the Overlords to listen."

"Well, by hellfire, they will listen now! You must call a Conclave at once!"

Roquan gave the other Overlord a look of surprise, an unusual reaction for him. "But ... surely, Doran, we can simply Farview with the others and ..."

Doran was already shaking his head. "No, Roquan, this is too damned important. You need all the Overlords together, where you can keep an eye on them."

"And why would I need to 'keep an eye on them'?"

Doran laughed. "Ah, the inexperience of youth."

Roquan fumed. "I am no younger than the lot of you!"

"I don't mean your age. How many generations of Ronstaqs have been Overlords?"

There was a long pause. "Two."

Doran flashed him a smug smile.

Roquan gaped. "Surely you're not ... you don't mean that all this time, the reason the other Overlords ignored my protests is because of my clan?"

Vanlo sighed inwardly. It was as he had always thought. Roquan dearly need to get out more often. For one that was so successful in what he did, Roquan's knowledge of how the world worked was woefully limited.

"No matter what you do, the other Overlords will seek to make deals with each other to better their hand."

"But surely in light of this, they will set aside ..."

"No, they will not! Listen to me, Roquan! You need to stop being aloof. You need to play the game this time. Host the Conclave, and ..."

"You want me to host it? At my Manor?"

"Yes! If you truly want to show how important this is to you!"

Roquan's face took on an impassive look, but there was no mistaking the change in his stance; the idea of a Conclave did not sit well with him at all. "I will need time to prepare."

"You will have it. It will take me at least a moon, if not two, to arrange it."

"For you to arrange it?"

Doran chuckled. "Do not the others call me 'serpent-tongue' for a reason? Yes, I will arrange it. You can consider me as much as an ally for your cause as you can Rennis. I will not have Z'haas trampling upon the Overlords and their traditions!"

Roquan was a bit beside himself, another new experience to him. But he was not such a fool that he did not know a good deal when it presented itself. He assumed he did not have to consult Rennis on this decision, since it was Rennis that had contacted Doran. "Agreed."

"I will contact you again in a few days, and formalize it. Until then, Roquan, I bid you farewell."

The image of Doran D'jorus flickered out, leaving stony silence in its wake.

Roquan slowly turned to Vanlo. "A Conclave," the Overlord said tonelessly. "Here at the Manor."

"Ah, but it is interesting times in which we live!" Vanlo said with a wry smile.

"I understand that is a curse on some worlds."

"It does not do much for Narlass, either, I am afraid."

Roquan set his face hard. His eyes were drawn to the flask that Vanlo had placed upon the desk near the outside door. "The Infertility Draught?"

"Indeed, your Lordship. I believe I remembered the proper formula."

One of Roquan's eyebrows rose. His Healer smiled impishly back at him.

"I should fire you for that joke." Roquan surged forward and swept the flask from the desk, lifting it to the light. He flicked it once, the last of the foam on the surface dissipating.

Vanlo continued to smile. "One would think a deflowering a pleasant occasion."

"That is the common wisdom, yes. But this is Amanda we are dealing with."

The Healer tugged at his beard. "She has surprised you before. I daresay she may surprise you again."

Roquan considered this. He had once said that Amanda would be a challenge to train. That was before she had decided to stay. He never imagined she would make that decision. Now as he remembered everything he went through with the infernal girl, he wondered if training her would instead prove impossible.

Vanlo noticed the doubtful look on Roquan's face. "Your Lordship, if you do not believe me too presumptuous ... may I offer some advice?"

Roquan looked up and gave a single nod of his head.

"She is not your ordinary collared Captive. Do not treat her as such."

On some level, Roquan already understood this, even though it went against all his instincts as an Overlord. Every Captive that had come through his Manor in the twenty years he had been its Overlord had received the Forgetfulness Draught, the potion that erased a Captive's memory of her past. They were far more tractable than Amanda ever would be. He specifically had not wanted to have her as a slave because of this. Yet he had given her a choice for some reason he could no longer fathom and had to abide by his word.

He almost laughed. That was another first: an Overlord actually wishing he had not collared someone.

Interesting times indeed!

Amanda did not realize how truly frightened she felt until after she had finished what she could of breakfast and rose to her feet at Sirinna's bidding. "I'm not sure I can do this."

Sirinna stepped up to her and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "I know you're nervous, love."

Amanda swallowed, her body trembling slightly. "I'm not nervous, I'm scared."

Sirinna gave her charge a sympathetic look. "You have to do this. You can't back out of it now."

"I know."

"Are you worried he'll hurt you?"

"Yes, but not ... not intentionally."

"Oh?"

Amanda sighed, her cheeks coloring. "Sirinna ... I mean, mistress ... I'm not ... I'm not, well, excited by any of this." She gestured vaguely towards her nether regions. "Down there, I mean."

Sirinna uttered a short, soft chuckle. "Master Roquan will take care of that."

Amanda looked up, alarmed. "I don't want him using any of that Disalla on me!"

Sirinna quickly shook her head. "No, love, he won't use that. He never uses any of that. And I doubt he wants to touch it anymore, considering all the problems it caused."

Amanda nodded in resignation. She had no choice but to take Sirinna's word for it. The last time that Amanda had sampled the Disalla soap powder was the last time she ever wanted to touch it again. In small doses, it raised sexual arousal. She accidentally had received a rather large dose of it during the whole mess that had happened over the past few days. It had forced her into an embarrassingly intense sexual escapade with Tanyee, the girl that Sirinna had been giving remedial training to at the time.

While Amanda had not necessarily hated it -- she was rather fond of Tanyee as a friend, and had already voluntarily had a sexual tryst with the girl -- she had hated how she had felt so out of control. She never wanted to feel like that again.

Amanda heaved a long sigh. "All right. I guess I'm as ready as I'll ever be, then."

"Well, there is one more thing we need to do before we go."

Amanda gave Sirinna and inquisitive look. Sirinna turned away briefly and dropped to one knee. She reached under her bed and pulled out something that made Amanda's face fall when her eyes fell upon it.

"Oh, no. You're not really going to ..."

Sirinna let the leather cuffs dangle from the chain that joined them. "I have to, love."

"Another stupid Trainee rule," Amanda grumped, folding her arms indignantly.

"Now, Amanda, you ..."

"What, are you afraid I'm going to run away?"

"That is not the reason we do this, it ..."

"I've already agreed to be a slave, why do you have to ..."

Sirinna gave the chain a sharp snap. Amanda yelped at the sudden hard tug of the collar at her neck and fell silent.

"Don't interrupt your Trainer, Amanda," Sirinna admonished, her tone serious though her voice was soft.

Amanda stared hard at Sirinna for a few moments, then finally drew in a deep breath and let it go. "I'm sorry," she said curtly.

Another snap of the chain, lighter this time. "Try that again."

Amanda finally realized in that moment that everything Sirinna had told her the night before was true. When Amanda had first voiced her intention to stay, Sirinna had taken the girl aside to make sure that this was truly what she wanted to do. Sirinna had attempted to impress upon Amanda that she was not going to treat Amanda any differently than she would another Trainee. The concession that Amanda got out of her during breakfast was more than Sirinna likely ever gave any other Trainee before Amanda.

In effect, Sirinna was treating this seriously, and now Amanda finally understood that she had to as well.

"I'm sorry, mistress," Amanda said in a more contrite tone of voice, though there was still a very slight edge to it.

"It's all right."

"Am I going to be punished for this, mistress?"

Sirinna did indeed detect the slight bit of sarcasm in her charge's voice, but she let it slide. "No, not this early in your training. I understand this all takes getting used to."

Amanda paused and then nodded wordlessly.

Sirinna raised the cuffs. "Now, let's get these on you and get you over to Master Roquan."

Amanda swallowed, forcing herself to drop her arms to her sides. Reluctantly, she turned around and lifted her wrists behind her back.

She closed her eyes for a moment and tried to calm herself, but to little avail. Her heart hammered in her chest as Sirinna closed the cuffs snugly around each of her wrists, securing each with a tiny padlock. The chain had enough slack that it was not truly uncomfortable, at least not physically. The restraint was meant as a reminder of her station, as was the requirement she remain nude at all times.

Trainees that graduated into full slaves did not have to be escorted with restraints, and were allowed to wear simple pullover gowns if they desired. Most opted out of the latter anyway. Narlass was a parallel of Earth, and the D'ronstaq Manor was located on what was the Bahama island chain back on Earth. This meant the weather was warm all year round, and it was simply more comfortable to go around naked most of the time.

Amanda could not resist giving the restraint a single tug, but it held fast. Amanda felt extremely vulnerable.

"There." Sirinna took up some of the slack in the chain and smiled at Amanda as the girl turned back around. "Now we're ready to go."

"Is Roquan going to ..."

"Master Roquan," Sirinna corrected immediately.

"Is Master Roquan going to leave me like this all through the, uh ..."

"No, he won't. He'll likely remove the chain as well."

"But not the collar."

Sirinna shook her head. "No, never the collar. Now, we better get going, Amanda. He's waiting for us by now."

It was the moment that Amanda stepped outside and into the full sunlight of morning that she realized how truly helpless she felt.

Only now did Amanda appreciate how open and exposed everything in the Manor was. Save for the small quarters that housed the slaves at night, there was little shelter, nowhere to hide from observation. Amanda walked a few feet ahead of her mistress, her initial steps faltering from how nervous she was.

Sirinna's quarters were located in the extreme southwest corner of the Manor. Roquan's were located at the north end, which meant a walk along the entirety of the path that ran along the west edge of the grounds.

With the morning meal finished, there were more slaves on the path than when Vanlo had traversed it earlier. Amanda felt as though she were being subjected to their constant scrutiny, even though she knew in her mind that they were merely curious about the Manor's newest Trainee. Seeing something like this was ultimately nothing unusual to them. Yet her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment at being paraded around on a leash.

I don't know how I'm going to get used to this, she lamented in her own mind with a small sigh.

The path wound its way northward. Slave quarters appeared through gaps in thick foliage on the left, while the Manor gardens spread outward to the right. Trees occasionally shaded the path as a welcome respite from the hot tropical sun. Amanda tried to avoid the direct gaze of the others as they passed. Finally, someone approached that made her heart skip a beat, someone that she could not ignore.

A lanky, almond-eyed girl came strolling around the bend of an adjoining path, her very long, black hair hanging straight down her back. She was decidedly younger than the woman that walked alongside her, a slightly taller woman with a fuller figure and shorter, light brown hair that flowed in gentle waves around her roundish face. Both were naked, much as the other slaves at the Manor were that morning, save for the ones that were working in the gardens.

At first Amanda thought she would avoid having to say anything to the seventeen-year-old girl. Yet just as she and her companion stepped onto the main path, she looked over to Amanda, blinked once in surprise, and came to a stop. "Amanda?"

Sirinna gave Amanda's chain a tug, but Amanda had already halted. She pulled nervously at her restraints. "Um, hi, Tanyee," she said in a sheepish voice.

It was only a few days ago that the situation had been reversed. Tanyee had been the one in restraints and a collar, having had been "demoted" back to Trainee for an act of disobedience that ultimately turned out to be no fault of her own.

The older woman beside Tanyee smirked. "Isn't she the girl that I saw visiting the Circle a few times the last few days?"

"Huh? Oh, uh, yes, Marisa, this is my friend, Amanda. But I thought ..."

Amanda glanced over to the older woman. The woman had indeed looked familiar to her. Amanda remembered seeing her assisting with Tanyee's remedial training.

"Amanda's my Trainee now, Tanyee," said Sirinna. There was a definite tone of pride in her voice.

"But I thought she was going back to her homeworld when the Portal was energized last night."

"Plans changed. She decided to stay after all."

"Really? But I thought she didn't like it here."

"Well, she ..."

"I changed my mind, that's all you need to know," Amanda said loudly. The irritation in her voice was apparent.

Tanyee hesitated a moment, exchanging a look with Marisa. The older slave turned a dubious gaze towards Amanda. "Sounds like you have your work cut out for you, Sirinna," she commented mildly.

"Well, she is new to this," Sirinna said.

Tanyee smiled softly. "Actually, I'm glad you decided to stay, Amanda. I think I would have missed you if you left."

Amanda's cheeks flared. "I guess you'll get your chance to ... to h-have sex with me more often now. I know you wanted that."

"Well, yes, I'd look forward to that, but that's not what I meant."

Amanda looked up at Tanyee and felt a sense of relief. Perhaps she had made a friend after all.

"So are you two on your way to Master Roquan?" asked Marisa as she flashed an amused smile at Amanda.

"Yes, so we don't have a lot of time," Sirinna replied smoothly. To her credit, she was making the attempt to spare Amanda any further embarrassment.

Marisa, however, was in no hurry. She chuckled. "Is she being deflowered today?" Amanda was unable to repress a shudder, which made Marisa grin all the more. "Do tell if you need help deflowering her in other ways, Sirinna. I would be most happy to ..."

"No, thank you, we have that covered already," Amanda said in a curt voice.

Marisa raised an eyebrow. "Oh, do you, now?"

Tanyee gave Amanda a stricken look, and at once Amanda knew she had likely said the wrong thing. Nevertheless, she stood her ground when Marisa stepped past Tanyee and stood before her.

"Shall we put that to a test, hmm? Shall I come by later and see what you would do if I sat my pussy on your face?"

"I wouldn't do anything at all."

"Oh?"

"You're not my Trainer, so I don't have to listen to you."

Marisa looked rather taken aback at this. She gave Sirinna a disdainful look. "It appears you have another Hiatha on your hands."

Sirinna gave the chain a brisk snap. "Move along, Amanda."

"Yes, mistress."

Marisa finally yielded and allowed the two of them to pass.

"You were rather rude back there, Amanda," Sirinna chided a few moments later.

"I'm sorry, mistress." Amanda's tone was still terse, but less spiteful. "I just didn't like being talked about like I wasn't there. And I didn't like Marisa's attitude."

"I understand, but Marisa is one of the oldest slaves here."

"So?"

"She's not someone you want to cross. And you're going to have to expect a little of that treatment for a bit, Amanda."

"You don't mean I have to do what she says, do you?"

"If I've invited her to help with training, yes."

Amanda just sighed, her shoulders slumping.

"She's not that bad, really. Not if you remember your place when dealing with her. You must remember, Amanda, you're a new Trainee. You have to earn the respect of the others."

"I'll try, mistress."

So long as I don't have to earn your respect like that, Sirinna, Amanda thought to herself.

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