"I am quite pleased you are here again, Rennis. I had not expected to see you again in person until the Conclave gathered."

Overlord Rennis D'glounaas was rather pleased himself as he accepted the proffered goblet of wine from his host. It was good to see Roquan acting so warmly towards him again. Despite the fact that he knew the animosity between them was water under the bridge in the wake of the Emperor's treachery, it was one thing to see it over Farview and quite another to see it in person.

At the same time, however, there was little that was actually social about his visit.

"We shall see how pleased you are with me once I've finished speaking with you, Roquan," Rennis said with a small, humorless smirk as he raised the goblet to his lips.

Roquan considered his friend thoughtfully. Even when they were fast friends before Yanna had interfered, the two Overlords were rather different. Rennis was always far more quick with a smile and a joke than Roquan ever was, occasionally to Roquan's frustration. They differed even in looks. Rennis was of a much leaner build, his hair black, a narrow goatee gracing his chin.

Roquan waited for his friend to taste the wine and watched the surprised look on his friend's face before folding his arms. "And what have I done wrong now?"

Rennis was momentarily too nonplussed to respond to the other Overlord's inquiry. "Hellfire, Roquan, this wine ..."

One corner of Roquan's mouth turned upwards. "Not to your tastes?"

Rennis gaped. "I should die before I have tastes as refined as this."

"I intend to serve that at the Conclave. It is some of Doran's finest vintage."

Rennis uttered a short bark of laughter. "Well, at least that will refute one thing that Gronnus has been saying about you."

Roquan raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"That you're a boor with little or no taste or refinement."

"That should not surprise me in the least."

"Oh, it gets better. Want to hear what he's been saying about your clan?"

Roquan's eyes hardened and his muscles tensed. "I can guess," he said curtly. "Perhaps we shall leave it at that."

"Unfortunately, we can't."

Roquan paused, then sighed through his nose and turned away from Rennis, walking halfway across the length of his outer chamber of his residence.

"Want the wine back?" asked Rennis.

"Rennis, is he truly going to make the relative youth of my clan an issue? When there are clearly more important things at stake?"

Rennis shook his head sadly as he stared at the other Overlord's back. This was another breach of Narlassi protocol among high-births. One never conducted a conversation with back turned, unless one were attempting to imply an insult towards the other. Rennis knew Roquan well enough to be sure this was not the case here, but others would not.

Roquan always touted that he was a "damn good Overlord", and Rennis had no dispute with this. But the fact that there was only one generation of Ronstaqs before him that held the position of Overlord, and that Roquan learned almost nothing directly from his ailing father before taking over the Manor, meant he was woefully ignorant in many finer points of custom.

And now Rennis had been tasked with the unenviable job of instructing Roquan.

"Roquan, turn around," Rennis snapped, setting down his goblet with a loud metallic thump on the desk.

Roquan whirled around, taken aback by Rennis' tone.

"You do what you just did to another Overlord, one that doesn't know you as well, and you can forget about forging any alliances whatsoever."

"Is it too much to ask for the Overlords to cease with their pedantic attention to protocol, their clandestine dealings, and ..."

"Yes, Roquan, it is!"

Roquan remained silent, though it was obvious he was fuming. Not at Rennis, but at the situation in general.

"Overlords will always be what they are. Protocol comes first. Dealing behind the scenes comes next. Everything else takes a distant third."

"Doran has made me aware of this," Roquan said bitterly. "I plan to defer to him in these matters once the Conclave begins."

Rennis was already shaking his head and advancing on Roquan. "No. You have to take an active hand in it. Think of it this way: would you arbitrarily hand off a Trainee to another Overlord for training? Of course not."

"But you have already made it clear they will not listen to me."

"The idea is to make them listen. But in order to do that, you have to show you're willing to respect the unwritten rules of order."

Roquan's eyes narrowed. "Doran put you up to this, didn't he?"

Rennis smirked. "Well, he can either rally the troops for you, or teach you the finer points of culture. Take your pick."

"I do not even know how well he is doing in that endeavor," Roquan said sourly. "I have heard very little since he last contacted me over a half-moon ago."

"I have. He is making some progress. More than I thought he would."

Roquan nodded once. "This is good news, then."

"Well, mainly. They're not won over by any means. That's where you and the Conclave come in, and that's one reason I'm here. You're going to have your work cut out for you."

"I thought I already had."

"Even more so, now that Gronnus knows."

Roquan's eyebrows shot up. "And just how did he find out?"

"I'm sure he has his sources."

"Doran told me specifically that he would keep Gronnus in the dark! It was Gronnus' idea to begin with to influence the Emperor into rescinding that treaty!"

Rennis refused to be affected by Roquan's increasing anger. He casually picked up the goblet and took a long pull at it before speaking again in a calm voice. "That will likely be Doran's plan of attack, if I know him at all. Convince the other Overlords that they didn't really want it after all, that it was Gronnus' idea and they just went along for the ride. A nice face-saving move to the other Overlords."

Roquan frowned. The intricacies of Overlord dealings were truly lost on him, but he did not want to admit it. He simply nodded once in acknowledgment.

"Roquan, Doran does plan to guide you. But you have to be the mouthpiece."

Roquan bristled mildly. "I am more than just a mere mouthpiece, Rennis."

Rennis rolled his eyes. "Don't take it personally, it's just an expression."

Roquan paused a moment, then appeared to relax slightly. When he spoke again, his voice was less harsh. "I am very anxious to get this Conclave over with. It is not what I had wanted in the first place."

"I think that's part of your problem."

"Now what?"

"You never socialized enough with the other Overlords. You never visit them at their Manors."

Roquan gave Rennis an appalled look. "And why would I want to do that?"

"The fact that you asked that, Roquan, and were serious about it, is the reason you're such an outcast today."

Now Roquan was truly surprised to hear such frank speech from his friend.

"Sorry, that was a bit harsh," Rennis amended. He paused to finish off the rest of his wine and set the goblet aside. "The fact of the matter is, Roquan, you're a very practical person, and when ..."

"And this is bad?"

"No, of course not, let me finish. As I was saying, when it comes to running a Manor, that is good. But when dealing with other Overlords, you have to do things that are not necessarily practical."

"But I compete with the other Overlords all the time. Why would I want to visit with them?"

Rennis grinned wryly. "You mean like I visit with you?"

Roquan did not reply.

"The same thing we do, Roquan. Forge alliances. Keep tabs on the other Overlords, know what they're thinking. Hellfire, some Overlords like to be visited just so they can Present to the other Overlord."

Roquan glanced away for a moment, a subdued look coming over his eyes.

"Now, this, at least, won't be something you'll have to worry about with the Conclave, since you won't have any Trainees by that time."

"Are you telling me that you would suggest I do a Presenting to the other Overlords?"

"Well, yes, if you had Trainees, of course you would."

"That is ludicrous."

Rennis paused a moment, giving the other Overlord a questioning look.

Roquan rushed into the silence. "To Present to such a large gathering of Overlords when there are more pressing matters at stake ..."

The Overlord trailed off. Now Rennis knew something was up.

"Roquan, have you taken on a new Captive? I thought you wanted to have the Portal checked out by a non-Guild Mage first."

Roquan took a deep breath and met Rennis' eyes with his own even gaze. "I have taken on no new Captives, but I do indeed have a new Trainee. Sirinna is training Amanda."

Rennis' eyes widened. "You don't mean that outworlder girl."

Roquan nodded once.

"Are you insane?"

"I might remind you, Rennis, it was your suggestion that ..."

Rennis ran a hand through his hair, looking exasperated. "Blazing hellfire, I was joking! I never thought you'd seriously ..."

"It was not at your suggestion," Roquan said loudly. "It was by her own choice."

"I didn't think you were serious about that, either. You don't give an outworlder a choice in either direction!"

"I might also remind you, Rennis, that it was her that helped uncover the plot by the Emperor."

"Then give her a present, pat her on the head, tell her 'good girl', and send her home."

"I cannot do that. She has already long since been collared and is well into her training. I do not see why this is the problem you appear to be making it out to be."

"Roquan, she hasn't had the Draught!"

Roquan fell silent for a long moment. "I am well aware of that. I felt it was an acceptable loss in this case."

Rennis threw up his hands and turned away, protocol or no.

"And why do you see this as a problem?"

Rennis took a few deep breaths to calm himself. Dealing with Roquan was always frustrating. In many ways, he was very traditional. But occasionally, when he felt it was more "practical" to do something another way, he simply did it. He never stopped to think of the repercussions of his actions, or what the other Overlords would think.

"Roquan, I'm not going to waste my time explaining the importance of custom to you, since it will fall on deaf ears in this case," said Rennis evenly. "All I will tell you is that, under no circumstances, must you allow any of the other Overlords to find out about this. For all intents and purposes, she had the Draught, and that's it. And you need to tell her that as well. Amanda must play the part, too."

"Why would the question even come up?"

"Because, like you, Overlords are good at spotting even the smallest quirks in slaves. She needs to be trained in her responses to that."

"But if they do not come into contact with her, what difference will it make?"

Rennis stepped up to the other Overlord. "Roquan, if you want to rally the others, you're going to have to play the game. All of it. You're going to have to bend over backwards to respect every tradition, every custom. And that means you have to Present her."

Roquan balked. "I cannot do that."

"You don't have a choice!"

"The Conclave cannot be more than another moon away. She will not be advanced enough in her training by then."

"It's far enough. You have to trust the other Overlords to be gentle with her." Rennis paused a moment. "Was she a virgin? Did you need to deflower her?"

"I did."

"How did she fare?"

"Quite well, actually. I daresay I enjoyed it myself as much as she. Sirinna was right; the girl is very sensuous."

"And how is she doing now?"

Roquan hesitated a moment. "Passable."

Rennis sighed. "I was afraid of that."

"As far as I can tell, her problem is not one of disobedience, merely of attitude."

"Not surprising, considering she never had the Draught. And you know why it's causing a problem."

There was a moment of heavy silence. Finally, Roquan said in a low voice, "We do not speak of that openly."

"Fine. We won't. But her behavior with the other Overlords cannot raise suspicion. The others find out the truth, and you can forget about your alliance."

Another silence, though not as along. "I will speak with Sirinna on the matter."

"This is the one time I will not offer to buy her back," Rennis said with an uneasy smile. "For you now need her far more than I ever did."

Amanda never thought she would be grateful for having reached this point in her training.

It was now three weeks into it. As it was most mornings, she lay helpless on her back in the shade of the trees at the Circle. Her wrists were pinned down above her head, but she made no effort to resist this time. In fact, her moans were deep and sincere, her breath a hard pant as her pussy rose for a third time that morning with as many partners.

The sex was no less intense since that talk she had with Sirinna. But now the nature of it had changed, and in such a way that it had kept Marisa away from her for the most part.

Amanda tilted her head back as her body began to jerk in rhythm with Garas' now pounding strokes into her. His hips pumped up and down in perfect time and perfect pace, a little extra swing insuring that his shaft stroked her womanhood with each thrust. Amanda had already learned how to angle her own hips in order to receive him better, and as a result, she climbed upward steadily and surely.

This new part of her training had started nearly a week ago. There had been no forewarning, other than Sirinna had told Amanda that Marisa would not be participating in her training that day. Amanda had been so happy she had not questioned it, even after Sirinna had pinned down her wrists and two other slaves had held her legs once more. It was not until she had seen that it was a man approaching her and not a woman that she had made an alarmed noise.

It had not lasted very long. Her initial panic had dissipated quickly when she discovered that there was almost no way that a male could drive her so close to orgasm and not let her go over.

So, in a way, Amanda was grateful to Marisa. Despite having been deflowered rather more pleasantly than she had expected, she had feared what would happen when she was required to have sex with a male. Having to deal with Marisa made everything else seem bearable by comparison.

And the truth was, without Marisa in the picture as much, Amanda was enjoying it more.

"Uhhh!" Amanda cried softly as her pleasure spiked. "Oh God ... ohhh ..."

Sirinna smiled down at her. "Very good, Amanda. This is as relaxed as I've seen you."

Amanda's voice was an excited pant when she spoke again to her Trainer. "Oh, God ... there's hardly anything ... relaxing about this, mistress ..."

Sirinna laughed softly.

Garas' noises were more muted, only soft, barely audible moans, but he was no less excited either. He enjoyed doing this for Amanda, as he had only just graduated and lost his collar a few days before. He was eager to do his part for the Manor before he was contracted out to a client, and wanted to show his former Trainer Hiatha that he was worthy of his new position.

And the simple truth was, he fancied Amanda. He thought her so much more vibrant and interesting than any of the other slaves. Now that he had the opportunity to have sex with her nearly every morning, he discovered something else he liked about her as well: her tunnel was very tight. He loved the way it seemed to grip his cock when it was inside her. It always ached pleasantly after he was done with her.

Amanda's pussy, however, already ached. Intercourse was more stressful on her than just oral sex. At least, however, she did not chafe. With each and every tryst, her partner -- sometimes helped out by the other slaves -- took the time to arouse her properly. Each time, when her partner slipped inside her, she was nicely wet and slick.

Amanda closed her eyes, her back arching as she soared upwards. Her breath gasped almost in time to Garas' body slapping against hers, her body rocking back and forth from the force of his thrusts. Finally, all her muscles tensed as she hung at the very edge for a few excruciating seconds.

"Ohhh!"

Amanda's pussy throbbed hard, more so than she thought it capable of the third time around. Garas continued thrusting hard and fast, but still as carefully controlled as his slave training had made it despite how close he was to his own climax. His strokes carried Amanda's orgasm along until he shuddered and uttered a deep groan. He plunged himself back into her, pulsing deep inside her, his cock sliding back and forth just enough to keep himself going.

Amanda let her breath go in one last, long sigh. Garas slowed, but did not pull from her quite yet, some lingering hardness in his manhood even as his orgasm expended itself. He dropped slowly onto Amanda and embraced her warmly. Amanda felt his hips grind against hers one last time, briefly renewing her orgasm for a few seconds. One last moan escaped her lips as she hugged him back.

She managed a small smile when he drew back from her. This made Garas smile widely back in return.

"Thank you, Garas," Sirinna said pleasantly as she helped Amanda to sit up.

"My pleasure, Sirinna," he said in return, flashing Amanda another smile before turning away.

Sirinna paused for a moment and spoke to her charge in a softer voice. "And that was much better, Amanda."

Amanda was still in something of a daze. That last one had been rather taxing on her. "Much better? How? I'm still not really doing anything except lying there."

"I meant that you seem to be enjoying it more."

"Oh, that. Well, not having Marisa every day anymore helped."

"I'd like to think it was more than that."

So would Amanda. But the simple truth of the matter was that she was not sure. Yes, she was enjoying the sex more than she had before, and she no longer panicked at the idea of sex with a guy. Yet Sirinna suggested she should not just be enjoying it by now, but looking forward to it as well. That was the part Amanda was not so sure about.

It didn't help that Sirinna had hinted at some of the things she could expect in her future training, and they were making her feel pressured again. For instance, it seemed that slaves could be expected to become sexually aroused on demand, or with minimal effort on the part of the master or mistress. Amanda was not at all sure she could do that.

Amanda saw that Sirinna was looking at her expectantly. Amanda smiled slightly, pushing away her troubling thoughts for now, not wanting to sound like a complainer again. "I think I'm getting there. It's nicer when I don't have to worry if someone is going to hold me back from cumming."

Sirinna played with a lock of Amanda's hair. "We'll have to work on the other at some point."

Amanda nodded absently, not wanting to think about that right now. "Mistress, do all slaves get this much sex when they're contracted?"

Sirinna gave a single gesture with her hand, and Trainer and Trainee rose to their feet. "Some do, but most don't. It's a little like the orgasm denial Marisa was doing. It makes the slave more eager to please so she'll receive her reward."

Amanda just nodded, carefully controlling her expression. She had to admit that the idea did not sit well with her. She could not understand how all the other slaves managed it, or how even Sirinna managed it. Now that she was a Trainee and could see everything that happened at the Manor in the course of a single day, she was stunned by how easily the other slaves fell into casual trysts with one another.

Even Sirinna did so, despite her relationship with Amanda. Sirinna would sometimes engage in a short tryst right after the midday meal, or before retiring with Amanda in the evenings. She would make no attempt to hide it from Amanda, either, often doing it right in full view of her.

Amanda was trying desperately not to feel the least bit jealous, knowing how ridiculous an emotion it was in this context.

Sirinna picked up the leather cuffs. Amanda automatically turned around and crossed her wrists behind her and let Sirinna restrain her.

"I doubt that Marisa was doing it to make me more eager to please," Amanda muttered in a low voice.

As she expected, her comment earned her a snap of the chain. "Hush."

"Sorry, mistress."

"You've been better about watching what you say the past few days. Try to keep that up."

Amanda sighed. "Yes, mistress. But what difference does it make when no one can hear me anyway?"

"Because you must always assume someone else is listening, my dear Amanda."

Amanda was so startled at the sound of the Overlord's voice behind her that she stumbled as she turned, nearly pulling the chain from Sirinna's hand.

Sirinna was a little surprised as well to find him standing there, though she did not react outwardly at all. She simply turned and gave her master a respectful nod. "Good morning, Master Roquan."

Roquan acknowledged the greeting with a single, curt nod, his attention focused squarely on Amanda. Amanda looked up at him and had to will herself to stop trembling. She hated how he could still intimidate her like that, despite having seen a bit more of his human side during the deflowering. At times like this, however, with his eyes so cool and focused, it was very hard to see him as anything but the Overlord.

"Are you having a problem with her, Sirinna?" Roquan asked.

"A little, master. But it is nothing I cannot handle."

Amanda was initially taken aback by Sirinna's response, and she felt betrayed. It took a few moments for her to realize that Sirinna was just doing her duty to the Overlord, and that it was nothing personal.

Yet it was obvious now that Roquan had noticed and understood her reaction, despite how brief it had been. "Attitude is not something I would consider 'little'."

"I have been working closely with her on this, master."

"Understood. But I will be expecting to see some more improvement before long."

"I'm trying," Amanda blurted before she could stop herself.

Sure enough, there went the snap of the chain, rather hard this time.

Amanda sighed. "I'm sorry, mistress."

Sirinna gave Amanda a look that was part in sympathy, part in exasperation before turning her gaze back to Roquan. "Master, Hiatha was as much a handful before her, and I handled her fine."

Amanda felt her heart sink at being compared to Hiatha, the one that Sirinna had said had been her hardest to train.

"Just so you know, Sirinna, your skills as a Trainer are not in question here," said Roquan. "I seem to recall you needed a little help with Hiatha as well."

"Yes, Marisa assisted me with her."

"Ah, yes, I remember. She was quite good at helping correct Hiatha's rebellious streak."

Amanda bit her lip, her eyes shifting between the two of them nervously.

"Perhaps you should look into utilizing her again."

Amanda gave Sirinna a stricken look.

"Well ... Marisa has been offering her assistance, master," Sirinna said cautiously. "Though at this point ..."

"Please avail yourself of it when she does, then."

"Of course, master."

Briefly, Amanda hated Sirinna for giving into the Overlord so easily, even though she knew it was the only thing Sirinna could do. Certainly, after the events that had transpired before Amanda's collaring, she did not want to see Sirinna get in trouble with Roquan again.

"Now, Sirinna, I wish for you to return Amanda to your quarters for the remainder of the morning. I need to discuss something with you urgently."

"Yes, master. I'll be there very shortly." She gave the chain a light tug. "Amanda, come along."

Amanda could not help but give the both of them a sullen look as she marched out ahead of her mistress and out of the Circle.

Amanda held her tongue through the walk back to Sirinna's quarters with great difficulty. The moment they were inside, it was all she could do to stop from shouting when she rounded on Sirinna halfway to Amanda's room.

"Sirinna, I don't care what Roquan says! I don't want Marisa near me anymore. She doesn't want to help train me, she just wants to torture me! Please, Sirinna, I've finally been able to cope with all this now, and this is going to ruin it! Can't you tell Roquan to just let you handle it? Can't Roquan just ... will you quit yanking that damn chain?!"

"Amanda."

To Amanda's disappointment, her name had been spoken in the same tone of voice Roquan used to silence a slave he no longer wished to hear speaking.

"What is my title, Amanda?"

"Didn't you hear a word I said?!"

"I heard you. And I'll respond to it in a moment. Now, what is my title?"

Amanda gave Sirinna a frustrated look. "Mistress."

"What is the Overlord's title?"

"Master."

"And what is the rule about speaking with the Overlord?"

"I can't say anything unless he asks me a question or gives me permission."

"And was that look you gave him at all appropriate?"

"No, mistress."

Sirinna sighed in exasperation at the continued hard edge she still heard in her charge's voice. "Amanda, I have told you this before. You have to follow the rules. I can't make an exception for you."

"But ...!"

"No, Amanda. I understand you're upset, but it can't excuse you. It's getting close to a full moon since you've been training. If you do this again, if you speak out of turn or you're disrespectful, I'm going to punish you. Do you understand me?"

Amanda's eyes shimmered. "Yes, mistress."

Sirinna paused a moment, her expression softening. The sympathy in her eyes was genuine. When she spoke again, her voice was softer. "Amanda, I'm sorry. I know dealing with Marisa is hard for you. And I know you're taking a little longer to get settled into this."

"I'm really trying!"

Sirinna caressed Amanda's cheek. "I know you are, love. That's why I've held off punishing you for so long. But if I don't start doing that, Master Roquan will think I'm being soft on you. Do you want to be given to Hiatha instead as a Trainee?"

"Oh, God, no."

"Neither do I. So, please, love, try a little harder when it comes to protocol."

Amanda sighed. "All right. But are you sure there's nothing you can do about Marisa?"

Sirinna shook her head. "It's out of my hands now. Really, the best way to deal with her is to try to be on your best behavior. Here, we need to get you to your room. Master Roquan is waiting for me by now."

Amanda remained silent as she was led to her room. Sirinna opened the cuffs and secured the end of the chain to the post in the middle of the room. The chain would be just long enough to allow her to use the sanitary but not to leave the building.

"Now, I'll try not to be too long, love. I don't think Master Roquan wants me for sex. He generally waits until the early evening for that. I should be back by the time the midday meal starts."

"Yes, mistress."

Sirinna managed a tiny smile before quickly heading out of the room and back out into the summer morning.

Amanda gave vent to her frustration by grabbing the chain in the middle of its length and giving it a vicious throw to the side, where it clinked loudly against the floor and bed frame. She folded her arms in a huff and frowned.

Roquan regarded Sirinna for a long moment as she stood before him with her hands folded demurely before her, her eyes slightly downcast as she awaited to hear what her master wished of her.

He considered her his best slave. Before Roquan had made her a Trainer, she had commanded a high price from clients, and many had requested her by name. She was the only slave he ever owned that, for a time, had a waiting list of clients wishing to contract her.

In each case, Sirinna had never let him down. She was what Roquan wished of all his slaves: sensual, loyal, obedient to a fault. It was only the incident with the Imperial agent that had caused her to have trouble with the last one, but it was born out of her intense loyalty, so he no longer faulted her for that. Overall, her conduct was beyond exemplary.

Such was the case as a Trainer as well. Every slave she ever trained was someone he would not hesitate to contract to a client. Once his clients heard Sirinna was no longer on the market, they instead requested the ones she had trained.

Thus Roquan would expect no less of her now, especially with something this vitally important to him.

"I have a problem, Sirinna, and I need you to help me solve it."

Sirinna was surprised enough at this admission that she looked up and met his gaze with a curious one of her own.

"But first, I need you to tell me exactly where you feel Amanda is in her training right now."

Sirinna's voice was a bit cautious as she spoke. "Amanda has started to show improvement, master. She really let herself go these past few days. She's really starting to enjoy the sexual pleasure the others are bestowing upon her."

"Only in the last few days?"

Sirinna hesitated a moment. "I will admit she's taking to it slowly. She was truthful when she said she was trying."

"Even though she spoke out of turn?"

"I have reprimanded her for that, master."

"Punishment?"

"Not yet. I impressed upon her that it will be punishment if she misbehaves again."

Roquan considered this for a moment. While he realized it was his prerogative as Overlord to involve himself in training as intimately as he wished, he normally tried to take a hands-off approach where Sirinna was concerned. She had shown herself more than capable, and did not want to dispirit her by implying she was not up to the task.

At the same time, he could not help but suspect that Sirinna was treating Amanda a little differently than she had her other Trainees. Roquan was well aware of Sirinna's unfortunate propensity to form attachments to her Trainees. He was also aware that she had denied this was the case with Amanda. He would have to hold her to that.

"I am very concerned about her attitude, Sirinna, especially in light of the Conclave that will be coming to this Manor."

Sirinna paused a moment. "Master, did you not tell me that Amanda would not be Presented?"

"Yes. This has since changed."

Sirinna did not reply immediately.

Roquan, like most Overlords, was very good at reading his slaves' feelings from their body language. Sirinna was especially easy in this regard, as she was his favorite. So when he next spoke, it was a statement and not a question. "You do not believe she will be ready."

"No, master, I don't think she will be."

"Unfortunately, the decision is out of our hands."

Sirinna, who likewise knew every one of her Overlord's mannerisms, thought it rather odd that he said "our" and not "your".

"You now clearly see what my problem is. Sirinna, I must insist you accelerate her training."

"Master, I have been working hard on her attitude, but it will take time. She cannot be rushed or she'll just get more rebellious."

Roquan scratched at his hair above one ear, looking thoughtful, giving Sirinna an even but not harsh gaze.

Sirinna took this as an invitation to keep speaking if she so desired. "I must admit, master, I am rather surprised that it took this long to get her to this point, considering how sensual she is. Could it have something to do with the fact that she never had the ..."

"I must impress upon you the importance of this Conclave," Roquan said quickly. "It is vitally important that a good appearance be maintained before the other Overlords."

Sirinna admitted to herself that she did not understand how Amanda would fit into that. To her it sounded like that would precisely be the reason not to Present her charge. Yet it was not her place to question her Overlord's wisdom in these matters, and thus she did not give voice to her thoughts.

"How much longer were you planning to work with her before advancing to the next stage of her training?" her Overlord asked.

"I prefer to see my Trainees enjoying the sexual activity for nearly a full moon before I start teaching them about pleasuring another."

"That is far too long for the time we have. I need you to start teaching her this immediately."

Sirinna looked taken aback before she could restrain herself. "Master ... I'm not sure that would work," she said in a tentative voice.

"You'll have to make it work, Sirinna. I do not like asking this of you, but perhaps giving her some basic skills at pleasuring others will compensate for her deficiencies."

"Yes, master. I assume I should concentrate on her pleasing men since most of the Overlords are male?"

"Correct. But do not forgo remediating her attitude. Try to work on it in tandem with this. She must learn to maintain at least the trappings of a properly submissive slave before the Overlords."

"Of course, master. I will do my best ... May I ask a question?"

Roquan nodded once.

"May I choose not to tell her she is to be Presented?"

The Overlord raised an eyebrow at this.

"It may make her too nervous to know this."

"I would think it might impress upon her the importance of her good behavior."

Sirinna knew that it would likely have the opposite effect. Despite having once stood up to Roquan when she thought he was wrong about something, she did not feel confident enough to do it again. So she would not come right out and suggest he was wrong. Instead, she chose a roundabout approach.

"It likely would, on some level, master," said Sirinna cautiously. "But she tends to respond better when she does not feel she is under pressure."

Roquan considered for a moment. "I will leave it to your judgment, then."

Sirinna relaxed. "Thank you, master. Is there anything else?"

Roquan looked intensely thoughtful. "Yes, there is. Has Amanda yet received her Traditional Twenty?"

Sirinna looked uneasy. She had so hoped this would not come up. The Traditional Twenty -- twenty strokes with the paddle on the backside -- was given to every new Trainee at some point regardless of how good or how bad his or her behavior was. It was meant largely to demonstrate to the Trainee what punishment would be like. It had the secondary effect of allowing the Trainer to see how the Trainee responded to it.

With all her other Trainees, Sirinna had few qualms about delivering it. With Amanda, however, she felt it would make things worse. She also feared what it might make Amanda think of her.

Sometimes she wished she had not fallen in love with the girl. "No, master, she has not."

"See that she does before much longer. Perhaps it will help."

Sirinna sincerely doubted that. "Yes, master."

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