The three Overlords -- Roquan, Rennis, and Doran -- emerged onto a low bluff at the northwest corner of the mansion, overlooking a wide expanse of beach through the trees. Rising up from the center was a wide, circular structure.

It was built similar in design to living quarters. Solid wood poles were spaced evenly about the circumference of the structure, buttresses holding up a pointed, sloped roof. The thatch-and-wood walls, however, rose only to waist-height, and one was missing entirely to provide an entrance. It looked very similar to a rather large gazebo.

All three Overlords were resplendent in their best attire for the occasion and the climate. Doran was a little more formal than the other two, as was his style, though he would be less comfortable from the heavier clothes.

Doran stepped forward with a critical eye. A cool breeze blew off the ocean, the entirety of the beach shaded from the morning sun that rose over the other side of the Manor. He glanced down the path that wound along the edge of the trees and down the more gently sloped side of the bluff. The path followed the curve along one side, towards a group of more wood-pole-and-thatch dwellings closer to the beach. These were smaller and enclosed, and obviously intended as living quarters.

He heaved a sigh as he turned to look back at the other Overlords. "It will do," he said in a disappointed voice.

Roquan raised an eyebrow and gave him an indignant look. "Do? You realize how much I had to pay in platinum for Guild artisans to come and construct these? I was fortunate to get this."

"This is a Conclave, Roquan. For some of them, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! They expect a bit of pomp and circumstance. They expect to be treated, well, royally."

"Well, there's little that can be done to change anything now," commented Rennis.

"I have made sure that the Overlords will have everything they need for their comfort," Roquan said tonelessly. "That includes the use of any of my slaves."

"You're not going to have to worry about that one," Doran said sourly. "And we have Gronnus to thank for that as well."

Roquan sighed. "Now what?"

"He has seen to it that when most of the Overlords make their wishes in that area known, they will all have Amanda's name on their lips."

"Now I know I don't like the sound of this!" Rennis said, stepping forward.

"Roquan, if there is something about that slave that you need to tell me ..."

Roquan paused a long moment, glancing over to Rennis briefly. "No. Nothing."

Doran sighed and shook his head. "It is a complete mystery to me why he is so fixated on her, and frankly, I do not care for mysteries!"

"I am within my rights to refuse their request."

Doran leveled a serious look at his fellow Overlord. "I would not advise that. You can't show yourself as being anything less than completely accommodating to them. If they want Amanda, they will have her."

"She is not experienced enough."

"Roquan, these are Overlords. It is their business to know these things and act accordingly!"

Roquan remained silent.

"Sirinna trained her," Rennis said simply.

Roquan ignored this, but decided to let the matter drop. "Doran, you said we may not start until the afternoon?"

"Well into the afternoon, most likely."

"I may need to have some shading set up. I had placed the meeting area here specifically to shade it from the morning sun."

"Yes, I noticed," Doran said with a humorless smirk. He raised his hands when he saw Roquan bristle. "Yes, yes, I know! You did your best and spent your platinum! We will have to concentrate on swaying them with words and deals rather than hospitality."

"When will Roquan need to Present Amanda, Doran?" Rennis asked.

"Oh, I imagine any time they wish it. Most likely right after the initial opening meeting is over."

"As I had thought," said Roquan. "I had planned to have Amanda brought to my quarters to be prepared in advance when it appeared all the Overlords had arrived."

"In that case, Roquan, you should go the gates and await them."

Roquan frowned. "To the gates? Now?"

"Yes, now! You will need to personally greet each and every one of them that come through those gates. And don't hurry them if you see them stop to peruse the wares of the merchants first. Be patient and wait for them to come to you."

Roquan sighed through his nose and carefully straightened his tunic. "This had better be worth all the effort," he rumbled.

"Few things rarely are. We can only come as close as we can."

Sirinna looked at her charge with concern in her eyes. "Love, you have to eat something."

Amanda just stared at the food on the now half-finished platter, her mistress having just pushed it across the bed towards her. She sighed softly and picked up a single apple slice and nibbled at it.

"Are you really this nervous?"

Amanda gave Sirinna a forlorn look and just nodded.

Sirinna smiled gently. "You'll be just fine. The Presenting will not last long."

"What about what comes after it?"

"If you are taken by one of the Overlords, just do as you did with Master Jollis last night."

Amanda sincerely doubted she would be able to do that. She had not told Sirinna what had happened. Sirinna had simply heard her soft moans of pleasure and assumed she had done her duty. Now she wished that Jollis had taken her. It might have at least given her some practice.

Admittedly, she knew it was the highborn status of the Overlords that was getting to her. Sex with them would likely be little different from what she had already experienced. Everything she did would reflect back on Roquan and perhaps even Sirinna. She was not being Presented as herself but as one of Roquan's commodities. She might have resented that had she not been so nervous.

"The Presenting will likely last only today, love. That's all. Then your part is done and things will get back to normal."

Amanda nodded absently and forced herself to finish the apple. She did not dare think the same as Sirinna. Each time she did, something happened to change everything again. She intended to simply do as she was told, and get through this as best as she could.

Roquan quickly decided that waiting for Overlords to arrive at the gate was the worst possible task of this entire Conclave. For a man who prided himself on taking action, to simply stand in wait for long periods of time was quite unnatural to him.

Nevertheless, he dared not show his discomfort. A dozen or so of his slaves were standing close by, consigned to the task of escorting the Overlords as they arrived and seeing to any needs they had. He would sooner look anything less than resilient to the Overlords than his own slaves.

It was fortunate for him that Narlassi custom dictated that the arriving visitor announce himself at the gate. Roquan did not remember the names of half the Overlords, though some he recognized by appearance, having Farviewed with them at some point.

However, it was quite clear to him when Freya D'yros arrived.

She was an Overlord that Roquan had never seen before this, yet it was quite clear that some of the things he had heard about her were true. She was indeed a beauty, more so than perhaps some of Roquan's own slaves. He let his eyes linger on her form, clad in its thin, clingy dress, long legs sliding out from under it constantly through the slits on either side as she strolled about the merchants' stands.

Roquan allowed himself a small measure of satisfaction. Yes, she was quite attractive, but he felt no compunction to bed her by her looks alone. She would have to do better than that if she wished to see the inside of his bedchamber.

And the Overlord that accompanied her could only be Gronnus D'yoran.

This was the first time that Roquan had seen the man. As opposed as they were in all things, they had avoided Farviewing each other. Gronnus looked a lot like Roquan had pictured him: roughly-hewn and overbearing. He could see the man's harsh attitude in the way he practically browbeat the merchants with whom he negotiated a price for some bauble or trinket that was hardly worth arguing over in the first place.

Roquan remained outwardly as patient as possible as the two of them meandered towards the gate. Occasionally, Freya would look up and flash a quick but sultry smile at Roquan, and then urge Gronnus to look at something. It was as if she were purposely delaying their arrival in order to get a reaction out of Roquan.

If this were the case, Roquan sorely disappointed them, retaining a cool and stony face towards them.

Finally, the two of them left the last of the merchant stands, and headed to the gate. Roquan paused until they were at the threshold, and then stepped forward.

"Overlord Gronnus D'yoran," Gronnus rumbled, placing a faint emphasis on his clan name with a tiny, sly smile.

"Overlord Freya D'yros," said Freya, her voice slightly husky, the sultry smile returning to her ruby lips. She let her eyes flick down and back up once over Roquan's form, her smile widening a touch.

Roquan met this with a slow intake of breath, letting it go in his greeting. "Recognized and accepted. Welcome to the D'ronstaq Manor. It is honored by your presence."

"Shame on you for waiting for such a formal occasion to invite us," Freya said.

Roquan had not expected so casual a statement from her, giving him momentary pause. His calm and steady expression did not change. "An oversight on my part, surely."

"Indeed. One would think you had something to hide from us."

Gronnus uttered a small cough and glanced sharply at his companion. Freya's eyes never left Roquan.

Roquan forced a tiny, polite smile. "We all have something to hide, do we not? It is what makes us successful in the market."

"Oh, but you play that role well, now, certainly."

"It is my intent, yes. When all is said and done, we are all, essentially, competitors."

"But not now, eh, Roquan?" Gronnus said with a smirk. "Or certainly that is what you are hoping for, hmm?"

Roquan refused to be baited, despite his already growing loathing for this man. He gave the answer that protocol dictated. "I hope for a fair hearing and for the will of the Conclave to be known."

"Oh, very good, Roquan!" said Freya with a chuckle. "You have improved."

And at this, he could not help but bristle. Freya acknowledged her victory in the first round with a smile and a wink.

Roquan stood to one side and gestured down the path. On this cue, several slaves stepped forward. When he spoke, his voice was a bit stiff. "You will be shown to your accommodations, and your needs will be be met. This is now your Manor as well as mine."

The two walked past him, Freya casting a lingering gaze at the Overlord, and putting an extra wiggle in her step as she passed. Roquan's gaze followed, darting down to the curve of her ass as she receded.

Roquan took a deep breath and let it go. He felt he had passed the first test. He had resisted the charms of the female Overlord. In his mind, he was unaffected by her wiles.

The stirring in his nether regions said otherwise.

Amanda did not have her normal training that morning, as she was to remain available for when she was called. She was told that she would be "properly prepared" before bringing her before the Overlords, but she had not wanted to ask what that meant. She did not want to give herself something else to worry about.

Sirinna did manage to keep her distracted by going over points of protocol and giving her another reminder about loyalty. She also replayed in her mind over and over again what Roquan had told her. She had to remember that she was to act as if she had had the Draught of Forgetfulness. She had thought this the easier of her tasks, but after thinking about it, she was more nervous about this than anything else.

Her reasoning was this: Roquan would not have told her to do this if he were not worried about it being revealed. And if that were the case, then perhaps he suspected someone would try to trick her into admitting it rather than coming right out and asking about it.

So now she had to be wary for any attempts to ask her about her past. She had to give the standard answer that she did not remember anything before waking up in Narlass.

The morning came and went and there was no word. At least she was able to eat at the midday meal. Having had little for breakfast allowed her to have an appetite despite her anxiety.

It was right after the meal, just as Sirinna was restraining Amanda again for her trip back to their quarters, when another slave came up to them and said, "Master Roquan wishes Amanda prepared for her Presenting."

Amanda's heart thumped. Sirinna smiled and nodded. "Thank you. We're on our way now." She snapped the chain lightly. "We need to go to Master Roquan's quarters, Amanda."

Amanda paused and swallowed. "Yes, mistress," she said in a quavering voice as she started out.

Suddenly it again felt like the first day, when she was to be deflowered. She wondered if this would be her life, a series of anxious thresholds to cross, each one a test, each one more important than the last. And each one harder than the last.

To her surprise, Roquan was not present when she was brought inside. Instead, there were three of Roquan's slaves, all of which Amanda recognized as ones that had participated in her training at one point or another.

Sirinna released her from her restraints, her chain, and her collar. The feeling of it being pulled away from her neck was so unexpected that she nearly grabbed at it as if to prevent it from being taken from her. There was only one thing for which her collar was removed, and it gave her an idea now as to exactly how she was to be prepared, and it made her relax somewhat.

"She is yours," Sirinna said with a small smile. "Prepare her in time for Master Roquan's return from the Conclave."

Amanda blinked. The Conclave! So it was about to start, or it had started already. All the Overlords from Oceanus were here, in this Manor, not far from those quarters. The thought of that made her shiver.

The three slave girls smiled at Amanda, saying a few encouraging words to her as they escorted her into the Overlord's bedchamber, and then into his bath.

The memories of her deflowering came back to her in a rush as she was gently helped into the steaming waters. The rush of heat around her body made all of it flash vividly through her mind. She remembered how she had felt, both emotionally before he had begun breaking down her defenses, and physically when he had finally laid bare her desires.

Two of the other slaves slid into the water with her, one on each side of her. The third remained seated at the edge, her legs splayed around Amanda. The two in the water scooped up water in their hands and poured it slowly over her head, wetting her hair. Amanda's body grew warm, both from the heat of the water and the simple pleasure of being bathed. She even smiled. Someone was waiting on her for a change, seeing to her needs, instead of the other way around.

One of the girls dropped some powder into the water, and soon the entire pool was churning with soft suds. The girl behind her slowly worked it into Amanda's hair, while the other two soaped down Amanda's body.

Amanda let her breath go as a soft sigh. The touch of the other slave girls was both soothing and sensuous. As their hands slid over her skin, she was again reminded of Roquan's touch, and how it had affected her. As if in time to her thoughts, the two slaves flanking her each lifted a hand to a breast, slowly soaping it, running her fingers slowly in and around it.

Amanda let out a soft moan, unable to suppress her growing excitement. The two girls sensed this immediately and encouraged it. They stroked her nipples until they grew hard and perky. Her body quivered as their hands slid along her thighs and coaxed them apart. One returned to washing her while the other slipped her hand under the water and over Amanda's sex.

She settled back, her eyes closing. The girl behind her stroked her hair as she worked the lather out of it. Gentle fingers slid into her pussy and lightly caressed her womanhood. It swelled in arousal, her slickness joining that of the soap. Despite her growing desire, she felt relaxed and at peace for the first time in a long while.

Then the second girl was done, and her hand joined that of the first. One stroked her nub with the tips of her fingers, while the other slid deep into her tunnel. Amanda moaned with swiftly rising pleasure. As the girl behind her rinsed the last of the suds from her hair, she came, giving a single short cry as she crested. The two slaves eased off slowly, letting her descend easily.

As her orgasm faded, they withdrew their hands briefly, then returned long enough to finish bathing her. Amanda let out a long sigh as they drew her to her feet. Much of the stress was gone from her now.

"Thank you," she told them.

They led her out of the pool and toweled her dry, save for her hair. This they patted down until it was no longer dripping, then brought her back into the bedchamber.

Amanda did not know how they expected to get her hair dry in time for the Conclave. When they entered the room, one of the slaves retrieved something from Roquan's dresser. It was a large hair brush.

It was a few minutes into it that Amanda realized how it worked. The brush was enchanted. It had magic in it that dried her hair as it was brushed, and then restored a luxuriant, full-bodied look to it.

The three led her to the Overlord's bed and sat her down at the edge. "You will need to wait for Master Roquan's arrival, Amanda," said one of the girls. She smiled. "Good luck to you."

"Thank you," Amanda said with a small, wan smile as the others left her alone.

She drew in a deep breath and let it go, and waited.

Roquan finally had to admit to himself that his patience was now wearing thin.

It was halfway into the afternoon. Despite the fact that the last of the Overlords had arrived in time for the midday meal, it had taken this long for all of them to finally begin to drift into the gazebo.

Already, he could see signs of what he had been warned about. Overlords gathered in groups of two or three during the late morning and early afternoon, conferring and debating, already making deals and contracts before Roquan had yet to say a single word. They remained in these groups to the very last moment, parting company only after stepping across the threshold. They were very careful to keep their voices low as they approached so Roquan would not hear them.

Roquan folded his hands behind his back and waited for the last of them to sit and for the drone of conversation to dissipate. It would not vanish entirely. Finally, Doran made a small gesture and nodded once.

Roquan paused, going over his words once more, and then spoke.

"Fellow Overlords."

Slowly, conversation ceased. Attention now finally rested on Roquan. His eyes flitted over their faces briefly. There was something different to see in each one. Some were mildly interested. Some looked bored. Some, like Gronnus, looked on with an air of amused smugness. And then there was Freya, who simply crossed one bare leg over the other and drew her dress up her thigh, a sly smile on her lips.

"I welcome you to this Conclave and to my Manor," Roquan continued. He kept his voice even and cool. "I thank you for tolerating the inconvenience of making this journey. I promise that it is for an important cause.

"The matter for which we have gathered is a grave one. I do not make my statements lightly, or without the utmost confidence that they are true."

Roquan caught movement from the corner of his eye. Doran was making another gesture with his hand, one that meant he should speed his thoughts along.

"The situation is this: Emperor Z'haas has committed several acts of grave insult against myself personally and against the Overlords in general. One: he is training his own slaves."

Roquan paused just a moment. The first part of his statement had drawn amused looks, but most of these stopped the moment the second part of his statement was spoken. Now the silence became absolute.

"Two: to further this end, he has attempted to kidnap one of my Trainers.

"Three: to do so, he engaged a mage of the Oceanus Mage Guild to sabotage my Portal.

"Four: a slave that the Emperor trained infiltrated this Manor and poisoned several of my slaves."

A few Overlords frowned deeply. Nearly all had already heard the scope of Roquan's complaints, but not all dared to believe such blatant accusations against the Imperium. Some did not believe they had heard correctly at all.

Yet the expressions of the two most important players that could make or break the Conclave -- Gronnus and Freya -- did not change in the least.

"My request to the Conclave is this: agree to seek a new sovereign on the throne of Oceanus."

This statement, even though it was largely expected, caused an immediate stir. Many shaking of heads. Many looks of disapproval. One or two snorts of derision.

Doran was also looking at the Overlords. He saw what Roquan did not. He saw the bits of nervousness and doubt. He saw the delayed shock of the gravity of the situation. It was that he had to work with, and he intended to take maximum advantage of it.

"This concludes my statement," said Roquan. "I now invite Doran D'jorus to speak in my support."

Roquan swiftly stepped to the side and sat down as Doran smoothly rose to his feet. Unlike Roquan, he was in his element. He moved to the center stage with ease and anticipation. Even the others sensed it, and seemed to want to pay more attention to him then they did Roquan.

"Fellow Overlords!" Doran began. "I wish you to think on this word: tradition."

Silence fell over the others.

"Tradition is our lives. Tradition means everything. Tradition is immutable. Tradition is sacred."

Rennis exchanged a smile with Roquan. This is why they needed Doran. He knew how to touch on the things most important to the Overlords.

"And one of those traditions is that the Imperium does not interfere with the Overlords or the slave trade."

Roquan could not tell if Doran's words were having an effect. He did note that all the Overlords were paying attention now.

"Now, it is true that an unspoken tradition of the Overlords is the status quo. You must ask yourself what is more important: this tradition, or the ones that the Emperor would trample."

Freya finally showed a reaction. She turned her head and inclined it towards Gronnus. One corner of her mouth twitched upwards. Gronnus simply flicked his eyes over to her and folded his arms across his chest.

"Consider carefully, fellow Overlords. Consider very carefully."

Doran paused to narrow his eyes and sweep his gaze across the assembled Overlords for dramatic effect, then quickly retook his seat.

Roquan was surprised at the man's short oratory. He had expected something a lot longer. Obviously the admonishment about being short and to the point was not just meant for him.

He rose to his feet again and turned towards the Overlords. "I thank you for indulging us. The Conclave is declared open. Debate will conclude when three Overlords other than myself and my immediate allies concur it is time for a vote."

Roquan had not expected anything more from the Overlords at this point, for Doran had told him not to. Overlords were loathe to jump into such debate immediately. Yet he had barely begun to turn away when Gronnus spoke up. "I daresay, Roquan, that you will not have to wait very long on that score."

Doran gave Gronnus a narrow-eyed, indignant look.

Much of the rest of the Conclave lapsed into silence again and looked on with mild interest. Freya, however, glanced over to Gronnus with an almost bored look on her face.

Roquan drew himself up and stared down the other Overlord, his gaze icy though his words were calm and polite. "I would imagine, Gronnus, that the Conclave is unlikely to so flippantly decide a matter of this magnitude."

Rennis tensed and glanced over to Doran, wondering if Doran thought Roquan was ready to begin an open debate such as this.

"Oh, now, let us not try to assume what the Conclave will and will not do. That would be rather presumptuous, hmm?"

"Indeed it would. Which is why I have no intention of doing as such. The Conclave will decide the matter as it sees fit. Unless you intend any undue influence upon it yourself, but I am sure that is not true."

Gronnus' expression darkened. Doran allowed himself a small smile. Roquan was handling himself better than he had expected. Insulting another Overlord without sounding like you were insulting him was an art form that was not easily mastered.

"Influence can take on many forms, Roquan," Freya said, a sultry edge in her voice that made several heads turn. She extended one leg before her, tugging at her dress such that it fell away from her leg through the slit in the side. "Not all of it would be considered 'undue'."

Roquan smiled tightly. "We shall see. Certainly the D'ronstaq Manor itself may act as its own influence of a sort."

Several Overlords appeared thoughtful. Doran gave a small nod of his head. Very good. That was a subtle hint to the other Overlords that Roquan was indeed ready to deal for their support without coming out and stating as such. It at least suggested that Roquan had something to offer.

Yet now Rennis cast a suspicious look at the female Overlord as her lips suddenly curled into an almost wicked smile. "Oh, I am quite sure that it will," she said in a low, husky voice. "And perhaps now, Roquan, you would indulge us and show us a sample of what this Manor has to offer."

Rennis blinked. That was rather blatant. He glanced over to Doran and saw that the other Overlord thought so as well.

"Yes, Roquan, please indulge us," Gronnus said with a smug smirk. "Now that the formalities are over, show us some hospitality that I understand your father at least was famous for."

Doran's face soured. That was a direct shot at Roquan's lack of social graces. It was not even a veiled insult, it was a direct one. He was distressed by the other Overlords' lack of overt reaction to it. Two of them had even already risen and lapsed into quiet discussion with one another as they wandered away.

Roquan, however, did his best to let it slide, and even tried to turn it to his advantage. "Yes, Gronnus. Thank you for making me aware of an area in which I have been inexcusably remiss these past few years."

Doran's eyebrows rose. That was good. That got a reaction. He had not expected so humble (for Roquan, anyway) a response, and it had definitely taken some of the wind from Gronnus' sails.

"To the members of the Conclave, I wish to announce that I have a Trainee I would be most happy to Present to you for your critique and your pleasure. If I have your leave, I will bring her."

"Yes, please, Roquan," said Freya with a sly smile. "Do bring her forth."

Rennis frowned as Roquan nodded once and left. He did not like the look in the female Overlord's face as she said that.

Amanda tried very hard to be patient and failed.

She knew she was supposed to sit quietly upon the Overlord's bed until Roquan called for her. As the time passed, it became increasingly difficult to remain still. She finally stood up and wandered about the room to occupy herself.

Her fingers fluttered up to her neck. This was the longest time she had gone without her slave collar. It felt both strange and familiar to her. However, she felt no less a slave with it off. So had her training sunk in to that level now?

Her thoughts flitted about as quickly as did her eyes. She thought of the merchant again. He was so odd. His behavior towards her could not have been typical. There had been an exotic look to him. Foreign, perhaps? She wished she had been able to speak on her own. Having to hold her thoughts until they were summoned forth was maddening to her. It was like having the answer to the teacher's question in school and not being allowed to raise her hand.

Amanda finally stopped and closed her eyes.

She had to stop her anxiety from overcoming her again. The Overlords were expecting her to be a happy, perky little slave. Or at least as close to one she could be this far into her training. But her biggest fear by far was whether she could arouse herself enough to satisfy any of them sexually were they to call upon her for their pleasure in that manner.

The other slaves and Roquan took the time to get her wet. Would the other Overlords act in the same manner?

Her thoughts were cut short by a sound in the outer chamber. She quickly returned to the edge of the bed. Roquan found her seated, her hands folded in her lap. She looked up at him expectantly.

"It is time," Roquan said simply. In his hands were her collar, chain, and cuffs. "Come here."

"Yes, master," Amanda said in a subdued voice. She swiftly stepped over to him and turned around, crossing her wrists behind her back.

"This will be a very important moment for you, Amanda," Roquan said quietly as the collar was slipped around her neck again. "And for me."

Amanda just nodded once.

He wrapped the cuffs around her wrists. "You must remember everything you have learned. And you must remember everything I have told you."

"Yes, master. I have had the Draught of Forgetfulness like any other slave."

Roquan finished closing the locks and lifted the chain to her collar. "Be wary, Amanda."

Amanda almost turned her head towards him. There was a faint hint of worry in his tone. "Master?"

The chain was done. There was a long pause, and then finally a single, brisk snap. Amanda smoothly turned around to face him, and looked up into troubled eyes.

"I suspect the intentions of some of the Overlords."

Amanda's mouth opened and then closed without uttering a sound. She was confused. Why was he telling her this?

"I do not normally share my thoughts in this manner with any slave, Amanda. But in this case, there is too much at stake."

Amanda swallowed, her body quivering. "Master, may I ask a question?"

Roquan nodded once.

"Do you believe they might hurt me?"

Roquan answered after a very small hesitation. "No, I do not believe this. It would be an unconscionable breach of Overlord ethics."

Amanda nodded, feeling a little better. The conviction in Roquan's voice had been strong. She had not noticed the slight pause that had preceded it.

"But that does not mean they would not attempt to deceive you."

Her heart thumped. She had been right. They might try to make her slip up and indirectly admit that she had not had the Draught.

"All I ask, Amanda, is that you do what you have been doing. Use your intelligence."

Amanda stared at the Overlord in astonishment. That was the first time since she had been collared that someone acknowledged this other than Sirinna.

Roquan smiled. "Finally ... I managed to surprise you."

Amanda was too stunned to reply.

Roquan snapped the chain again. "Come along, Amanda."

Feedback

Did you like this story? Hate it? Printed it and lined the birdcage with it?

Please take a moment to send me some comments about this story. Your comments may remain anonymous if you prefer, or you can include an email address in your comments if you wish a reply.

Since this is a multi-part story, you may wait until the last chapter to send feedback about the story as a whole if you wish.