Amanda's panting was the only thing that broke the silence, save for the faint wet sounds of Roquan's manhood inside her excited sex. She tilted her head back and closed her eyes, some of her pants becoming soft gasps and low moans.

Her legs were splayed wide around the Overlord's body. They trembled with her need for release, her pussy already straining at the edge. She was not to orgasm until he was close, and then in time with him. He show no signs of getting there quickly.

Amanda could sense someone's mood by his lovemaking. Both Roquan and Lanno changed their technique when things weighed heavily on their minds, but in different ways. Lanno became frantic and intense. Roquan was the opposite. He became more meticulous and exacting, as if he were calculating the exact touch and pace.

Roquan shifted position and angle. Amanda arched her back and shuddered as she nearly went over. Her hands clutched at his arms. His body pressed down upon her, until her breasts were squeezed against his broad chest. Her nipples tingled at the touch against hard muscle.

Amanda welcomed the distraction. It kept her mind off her own worries and troubles.

For one, she was not welcome in the Healer office that morning. Vanlo was to apply the Draught antidote to Evella, and he thought it best that there were no naked slaves in the vicinity. Amanda understood the need to shield Evella from the shock, but no one had thought to ask her if she were willing to simply put on some clothing.

For another, she caught Sirinna tossing and turning in her sleep again. Sirinna had already been acting increasingly subdued and distracted the past few days but would not admit to anything wrong.

And then there was Freya.

Amanda gasped as Roquan's pace abruptly increased. Her body rocked with his thrusts. She clung to him and moved her hips in tandem with his. She nearly let go, thinking he was about to reach his peak. She had to remind herself of the enormous discipline that Roquan could command over his body.

Freya was the one thing that kept creeping into her thoughts, even the intensity of sex failing to drive it away. It hovered in the back of her mind like a dark pall. She had not come into contact with the Overlord -- or was it former Overlord now -- since she had arrived. Yet just her presence seemed to touch off a vague fear.

Amanda closed her eyes tightly, struggling to keep control and banish thoughts of Freya. Finally, she felt a shudder from the Overlord. She waited as long as she could, her pussy straining so hard that it ached.

It was all she could do. His thrusts were relentless. Her control crumbled, and her pussy began to throb. She clenched her teeth to hold in her cry, until at last Roquan groaned loudly and his manhood pulsed inside her tunnel.

Everything else was driven from her mind. She rode the orgasm, letting it play out naturally. Roquan's skill was such that he alone could keep it going, his manhood slow to lose its erection even as his climax waned.

Roquan left himself inside her and deftly rolled them over so that he was beneath her. Only then did he slip from her and wrap his arms around her. She let out a slow sigh and snuggled up to him.

Her sigh was only partially from sexual contentment. Some of it was frustration. It seemed every time she did a slave duty, her thoughts churned in rebellion. She knew she was having doubts about her status in this world, but it seemed to be crystallizing into something else ever since Freya had arrived.

Perhaps that was the real reason she was fearful of Freya. It was not the Overlord herself, but what she represented. Amanda had her own doubts under control. She could simply not think about them and continue to play the part. Freya was a constant reminder of those doubts.

Amanda tucked her head under Roquan's chin and closed her eyes, letting out a very small sigh. Roquan's arm squeezed her briefly.

"You are troubled," Roquan said evenly.

Amanda remained silent for a long moment. She wished he could not read her so well. "It's nothing, Master."

"Do not be evasive. I vowed to be honest with you. I insist on that in return."

"Is that why you didn't tell me about the visit from Jollis, Master?" Amanda said, her voice icy.

"I was intending to inform you about that. There was much that was happening, and I simply did not think of it immediately."

Amanda understood, and wished she had not said it. She felt guilty for obtaining the information from Vanlo by pretending that the Overlord had already told her. Yet she did not feel a pressing need to apologize. "What are you going to do with Freya, Master?"

"I will hold her here until I can seek guidance from the other Overlords."

Amanda sensed tension in the Overlord's voice. "And then what?"

"And then we will see justice done for her crimes."

"And just what were her crimes, Master?"

Roquan shifted a bit. "Do you need me to answer that, Amanda? You are aware of what she has done as much as I am."

"Yes, Master, please, I need an answer. What will the other Overlords think her crimes are?"

"She modified the Draught in a manner inconsistent with Overlord aims," Roquan began. "She attempted to enslave native Narlassi. She attempted to kill a slave. It likely can also be shown that she has engaged in a pattern of slave abuse over the years."

Amanda remained silent and still in the wake of the Overlord's response.

"You do not agree with this assessment?" Roquan asked.

"What is wrong with enslaving Narlassi?" Amanda asked flatly.

Roquan tensed. "You are a student of Oceanus history now, Amanda, from the scrolls that I had procured for you. You should know the answer to that."

"They just say that we don't do it anymore, Master, that it fell out of favor. It doesn't say why it is wrong now."

"I do not understand the point of your question."

Amanda raised her head. "It's not okay to enslave Narlassi, but it's okay to go to other worlds and snatch people away and enslave them. No one thinks twice about it."

"This is the way that it is done," Roquan said firmly.

"But that doesn't answer the question, Master. Why is it okay to do that but not the other?"

Roquan sighed. "You are asking questions that have no easy answers."

Amanda stared at the Overlord, fixing her dark and dubious eyes on him. Finally, she turned her gaze aside and lowered her head to his chest again, feeling both guilty and frustrated. It was the same response that Doran had given her. She had hoped that Roquan would offer her more insight, or even say something to her that would assuage her fears and somehow make it sound all right.

"The only thing I can tell you, Amanda, is that this is how it has been done for two centuries," Roquan said. "It is not about to change anytime soon. But it does not change the fact that what Freya has done must be addressed. She must be held responsible for her actions."

Amanda swallowed. "Master ... I ... I don't see much difference between giving a Narlassi the Draught and giving it to an offworlder. Both are destroying the old person just so you can have another slave."

"It is not ... memories alone do not ..." Roquan began, paused, then sighed in frustration.

Amanda closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, Master," she said in a very small voice.

After a long silence, Roquan finally said, "Do not be. I have given you the privilege to speak more openly to me. I do not intend to hold you to task for anything you say to me in private. But I do not have any answers for you, nor can I tell you that things will change to your liking. This is simply the way things are and must be accepted for now."

Amanda opened her eyes. For now?

Could she dare to hope that he might be willing to change his ways after the war was over? She was afraid to ask. Then she wondered if she were being too presumptuous. Who was she to tell this world what it should or should not do? Was she taking some high moral ground or was she simply seeking something better for herself? Were her motives altruistic or self-serving? Or somewhere in between?

"Yes, Master, I understand," Amanda said in a soft voice.

Or was she just a confused teenage girl still caught in the throes of growing up?

Evella could not stop crying for nearly a full candlemark, clinging to Lanno fiercely as the only thing that was familiar to her. She would not let go, forcing Lanno to sit with her in his lap. All he could do was hold her, as no words would soothe her. Meanwhile, Vanlo camped out in the reception area of the office and turned away most of the slaves that came to him that morning unless it was serious enough to warrant immediate treatment.

By the time the young Healer's tears stopped, Lanno's shirt was damp, and her eyes red and puffy. He still thought they were beautiful when they rose to his. She blinked a few times and opened her eyes wide. "L-Lanno ... how ... h-how did you ... how did I get back?"

Lanno smiled. He could not help it. It was the first intelligent thing that he had heard Evella say. Vanlo had not been completely sure it had worked. "Vanlo figured out how to counter these effects of the Draught."

She stared at him for a few moments, as if struggling to think. "Vanlo ... Vanlo! Good gods, not Vanlo G'tort?"

"Yes, I thought you might know him."

"Know him? Of course I do! He's the best in ... in the field of ... um ..." Evella frowned and looked off to the side. "Chemistry. Yes, chemistry, that's it. Why did I have to struggle to remember that? It's like my head is full of molasses."

"Vanlo said you might need a second dose for complete recovery. He wanted to make sure there were no ill effects from this dose before he administered the second."

Evella nodded slowly and looked back at Lanno. Her eyes glistened as if she were about to cry again. "Oh gods, I wish i-it could get rid of the memories of what I did after she gave ... gave me ..."

Lanno hugged her tightly. "C'mon, don't dwell on that. It's over. Overlord Roquan is going to make sure no one does this again."

Evella gasped and tried to push out of Lanno's embrace. "Wait, we're at another Overlord Manor?"

"Evella, it's all right, please. No sane Overlord would have done what Freya did. In fact, I think the other Overlords will want Freya's hide. And no one is more angry at her than Roquan."

Very slowly, her panic retreated. She had to tell herself that someone with Vanlo's ethics would not work for an Overlord like Freya. He had the strength of courage that she did not. At this thought, she did dissolve into tears.

"I'm so sorry!" she wailed. "This is all my fault! I did this for her!"

"Shh ... please ... don't worry about that now," Lanno said softly.

"M-maybe you should have left me like I was ... just a mindless slave ... it's all I-I'm good for now ..."

Lanno had no more words to stop her self-recrimination. He had the uneasy feeling that the Healer Guild would not relent, either. Once word got back to them, life would be very hard for Evella. If they even let her remain a Healer.

Evella squirmed in Lanno's lap. "Vanlo's potion didn't do everything," she whispered in a voice that was both despairing and needful. "I still ... I-I ... my sex still burns like ..."

Lanno let out a breath slowly. He tried to push any erotic thoughts out of his head. Though the way her body wriggled against him was not helping matters.

"Vanlo saw no need to counter that," Lanno explained, struggling to keep his thoughts purely academic. "He did not want to risk messing with the formula. He thought the effects of that would fade over the next quarter moon since they were no longer supported by the memory and intelligence effects. Or he could make something separate for that if it bothers you too much."

Evella closed her eyes tightly. One of her hands on his chest curled and clutched his shirt. "She f-fed more more of that when she gave me the Draught ... I have to do something, Lanno, I can't ..."

Lanno sighed in desperation as he felt a tingling in his nether regions. "Look, I can give you some privacy somewhere. You can ... you can take care of it yourself."

Evella looked up, her cheeks pink. She squirmed again. "You don't understand ... it's really hard to satisfy myself like that ... I-I mean, I can, but it doesn't last."

Lanno swallowed. Now his manhood stirred. "Maybe it's different now, since the other effects are gone. Maybe you should try."

Evella paused as if considering. But then she shifted in his lap again and felt something stiffening against her backside. She blinked and glanced down for a moment.

"I'm sorry!" Lanno blurted. "Please, ignore it. It's just ... it's only physical, because you're sitting there and moving around and ..."

Evella looked up. Her lips twitched as they curled into a faint smile. "You mean you don't want to do it with me?"

Lanno stared, wide-eyed. Finally he let out an exasperated sigh. "Don't ask me questions like that, Evella."

"You did back in the Guild Hall. I had to keep putting you off."

"Yes, I know. It's your choice."

Evella nodded once, paused, then slid closer to him. His now hard manhood pressed into her rear. She shivered. "So ... I-I can choose to do it with you now."

Lanno bit his lip. He shook his head. "It's not a choice now. You're being affected by what Freya fed you."

"I know! ... I know ... But Freya just f-forced partners on me. She ... she made me do it with other girls, and I'm not like that. Please, Lanno, the only other thing I could do would be to do it with a girl! You're the only man here that I know and that I trust."

Lanno looked surprised. "Wait ... you trust me?"

Evella smiled faintly. "Back in the Guild Hall, you knew 'no' meant 'no.'"

"But I kept pestering you ..."

"But you never tried to force yourself on me. And when I broke it off completely, you didn't pester me after that, even after you insisted on keeping the Farview pearl." Her smile widened. "See, I remember that. It's coming back to me a little easier now."

"I just don't want you to regret this."

"Honestly, Lanno? I might. But at least I can trust you that you won't pursue anything else with me if I tell you not to."

"I still have my doubts about this."

Evella squirmed against his hard manhood. "Part of you doesn't."

Lanno had little resistance left. "All right. Let's go back to my quarters then." Evella clutched at him as he was about to stand up, forcing him to pause. "What is it?"

"Just ... just don't ... don't treat me like a slave when you do it ... be a little more gentle. Take some more time. Okay?"

Lanno slowly smiled and hugged her. "Of course I will, Evella," he said softly into her ear.

"Lord Admiral, I insist you procure more dreadnoughts for your fleet," the Emperor's Farview image demanded. "They are the only ships that have the necessary reach."

Lord Admiral Vortas V'quenna sighed, his hands folded behind his back. His great broad chest stretched across the Farview image as he stood resplendent in his ornate uniform. In a deep baritone voice, Vortas replied with as much calm and aplomb as he could. "With all due respect, my Emperor, I explained this to you yesterday. The nearest dreadnought-heavy fleet I could call upon is the Fourth Fleet, which is stationed along the northern coast to support the northern incursion."

"Those orders have been changed. They are no longer needed."

"Very well, my Emperor, but it will still take them at least a half moon to reach where you want them at full sail, and that is assuming they spend no days becalmed."

"I am not sure we have that kind of time, Lord Admiral."

Vortas' eyebrows rose. "You expect an attack that soon, my Emperor?"

"I ... I don't know, Lord Admiral," Z'haas said. "I don't know! Duric may be on his way here now. Or he may be waiting for another opportune moment. I simply do not know!"

Vortas was distressed by the tone of the Emperor's voice. He had never heard Z'haas so anxious before, even panicked. "My Emperor, I am currently sailing with the Sixth Fleet, which is the closest fleet to the Imperial territories. We can reach you in five days, four if we encounter a good strong tailwind, and the Captain's Weather Mage tells me the odds are good. We have three dreadnoughts and four frigates that might have enough range if the approach close enough to the coast. I think this will suffice."

The Emperor glowered. "Very well, Lord Admiral. But I will be ordering the Fourth Fleet southward as well."

"Understood. If I may ask a question, my Emperor?"

Z'haas looked impatient. "Yes?"

"Has consideration been made about the merchants?"

The Emperor frowned. "Merchants? What are you blathering about?"

Vortas stiffened. His eyes became cool and his voice tense. "What I am 'blathering' about is that firing upon the southern approaches to the Imperium will risk striking merchant caravans traveling the roads. Has the Merchant Guild been forewarned?"

The Emperor fumed at what he found to be the disrespectful tone of the Lord Admiral's voice. The Oceanus Navy was second to none in Narlass in power and prestige save for the Emperor himself. Its officers tended to flaunt that. They were willing to risk the disfavor of the Emperor for voicing their opinions because they knew they were so indispensable.

"I have no need to consult anyone about my decisions, Lord Admiral."

Translation: no, he didn't, Vortas thought to himself in resignation. He uttered a windy sigh and said in a clearly irritated voice, "Very well, my Emperor. I can only hope that we are not refused supplies the next time we come into port."

"You will concern yourself with your own responsibilities, Lord Admiral. Do not attempt to tell me how to carry out mine!" The Emperor's image flickered out.

Vortas closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself. "You heard?"

From the other side of the cabin, a younger man in more muted attire and a more relaxed stance nodded. "Yes, I heard."

Vortas opened his eyes and turned his head. "Captain, what are your thoughts on a bombardment against our own lands?"

Captain Boddas V'yed shook his head, his lips curling into a small smirk. "Not our lands, my Lord. The enemy lands. The rebel lands."

The Lord Admiral's face became sour. "I suppose I still have trouble believing that. And really, what we are being asked to do is sheer madness. Firing that far inland? It will be a miracle if we actually hit Duric's troops!"

"I think I can do it, my Lord."

"But not without a great deal of collateral damage, I wager."

"Some. But small price to pay for defending our glorious Emperor."

Vortas' eyes narrowed. "Be careful, Captain. That sentiment is not shared universally among the ranks. Or even among command."

The Captain laughed. "Relax, my Lord. I'm not here to play politics, just to do my duty. Now, may I go up above and do just that?"

The Lord Admiral frowned, but nodded his head once. "Dismissed."

Boddas saluted and left.

Vortas did not like this one bit. Whenever they went up against a pirate base holed up in some coastal village, they took great pains to avoid using the mage-fire batteries when possible, or waited until they could close with smaller, faster ships that had pinpoint accuracy.

The Navy shall not become an instrument by which the Emperor frightens or coerces the populace. That was written in the Charter, and every navy officer memorized it. It was impossible for the population to not be frightened by these actions, whether intentional or not, no matter how accurate the Captain claimed to be.

The crystal goblet lowered from High Lord Ardon's lips. He stared across his private study at the man seated in the plush chair. "You are quite mad."

Norlan put his goblet aside, its amber contents untouched. He was in no condition to imbibe, as tired and wrung out as he felt. He had accepted the drink out of politeness, a desire to adhere to protocol as much as he could afford given the circumstances. He folded his hands in his lap. "I am not the one that makes this offer, only the one that delivers it."

"Yes, but the fact that you passed it along at all implies you believe it has merit!" Lord Ardon frowned. He put the goblet down loudly and turned away, folding his hands behind him. "It is madness in its purest form. You are asking us to accept -- for His Majesty to accept -- a conquest of one of the most powerful nations on Narlass."

Norlan stood up. "And do you believe we have much choice in the matter?"

Ardon turned. "We have every choice in the world. We can choose not to accept it."

"Yes, true. Meanwhile, the Inonni do what they please anyway, and instead of having a friend to our west, we will have an enemy."

Ardon made an exasperated noise. "This is ludicrous! We are asked to accept him at his word that he will not act hostile towards us once he takes Oceanus. You of all people know that a man's word is worthless unless it is backed up by action."

"Yes, I am aware."

"And this bold claim of his, that he can take Oceanus so quickly from within. I would have less trouble believing that Oceanus is about to be conquered by Faeries sprinkling magic dust."

Norlan remained where he was as Ardon paced out a path around the periphery of the room, turning placidly in place to remain facing the High Lord. "My Lord, you know of Mandas' reports, do you not? Did he not uncover that Oceanus knows of an enemy with an advanced Portal technology?"

"More fantasy! Our Mages assure me that this is impossible, that there has been no serious advancement in this area in centuries because there is none to be had."

"What if they are wrong, my Lord?"

Ardon stopped, his face creased with both anger and worry. "You had best hope that they are not."

"I most certainly do hope, but my instincts say otherwise."

"And this man never claimed to be using Portals for his plans."

"I know. But he is likely unaware how much we knew of them through Mandas. He would not want to tip his hand."

"And yet he expects you to believe it anyway!" Ardon declared. "He could be playing us for fools, Norlan."

Norlan rubbed his eyes as if it were the dead of night instead of early morning. "Do you not think that I considered this? I have spent many sleepless nights wrangling over it. It took me this long to bring it to you. I kept going over it many times, trying to determine some other angle. I came up with nothing."

High Lord Ardon frowned deeply. He shook his head and sighed. "This is not for the High Lords. You need to take this to His Majesty at once."

Norlan stepped forward. "My Lord, please think this through. If this man's boast is true, and there is much circumstantial evidence in favor of it, then there is nothing we can really do. If I inform the King, and he intends to try to rush to Oceanus' aid, or warn them in some manner, or both, we will be making a very powerful enemy."

"So this merchant claims!"

"All right, consider this, instead," said Norlan. "Say we take him at his word, and we find that his boast was so many empty words. He cannot do what he claims, or this invasion is more conventional in nature, and thus takes more time. We have freedom of action again."

Ardon made a face. "After we look like idiots for believing it in the first place!"

Norlan shook his head. "No. Only we will know. We will not reveal anything until the eve of the supposed invasion. Then we inform the Council."

Ardon looked alarmed. "And then we will be hanged for treason for keeping information critical to Urisi security from His Majesty!"

"No. For if we are right, then this will make many Royals and Nobles very rich. The High Lords will once more be in the ascendant, and the King will be little more than a figurehead. He will be forced to bow to their will."

"And you will conveniently have your title back."

"If the High Lords see fit to restore it, yes. Why should I not reap the benefit, considering that I was unfairly manipulated by His Majesty in the first place?"

Adron's face darkened. "And if we are wrong, former Lord Ambassador? If this invasion comes to naught?"

Norlan smiled. "We claim erroneous intelligence of course. Or perhaps something more believable. Something like a member of court planting false information based on a grain of truth to embarrass a rival."

"I do not have any serious rivals on ..." Ardon paused and raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about Mandas."

"It's very plausible. He's quite the boor, you know. One wonders how he suddenly is in the ascendant. Obviously must be duplicity involved, since everyone knows he hardly has an ounce of sense or talent."

Ardon did not reply. Norlan could see the vacillation in his mind in the way his eyes flicked about the room.

"Let me give you another scenario, my Lord," Norlan said. "We warn the King. He somehow manages to successfully aid Oceanus. The Emperor in turn pushes back the Nobility and wins their internal war."

Ardon's lips curled into a frown.

"Yes, I see that you can put two and two together." Norlan had counted on Ardon having heard the rumor about Z'haas' attitude towards the slave trade. "Short term gain for a long term loss, it would seem. I am sure His Majesty would not mind seeing the slave trade slacken, either, considering it ..."

"All right, enough," Ardon said in irritation. "We will play it your way. Honestly, Norlan, I do not know whether to hope for you being right or wrong at this point, despite the folly of the Oceanus Emperor."

Norlan smiled. "It's not about that, my Lord. It's about making sure you can win no matter what happens."

"It is good to hear that Evella will recover, Vanlo," said Roquan as he stood with his Healer in the office. "This means hope for the other four Narlassi."

Vanlo stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Your Lordship, where are the other of Freya's slaves at the moment?"

"Taya and her two graduates are normal slaves, so I have given them proper quarters at the Manor befitting their status. They appear to be integrating with the other slaves well. The four Narlassi are with Sirinna for the time being."

"And I trust she knows not to train them as real slaves?"

"Yes, I have instructed her as such. She is simply to see to their immediate needs and keep their exposure to other slaves at a minimum. Though surely now we can begin to reverse the damage that Freya has caused."

Vanlo let out a small sigh. "I am afraid there are implications here that neither of us realized at first."

Roquan tilted his head. "I do not follow you."

Amanda was standing near the back of the treatment room, tending to a cut that one of Roquan's slaves had obtained while tending to the gardens. She glanced at the two men and tried to listen.

"There are several issues. First is the trauma that will result from countering the Draught."

Roquan nodded. "Yes, we knew there would be some, but you told me that it appears Evella will recover."

"Yes, but she is a Healer, an intellectual. These four other girls are peasants."

Roquan frowned. "Rennis always did say that I needed to get out into the world more often to understand these things. Please, Vanlo, enlighten me."

"Peasants are much more reserved with it comes to matters of sex. They will likely experience far more shame, especially since peasants are generally taught that when a woman is forced into a sexual tryst she did not wish, it is likely the woman's fault."

Amanda' turned her head. Her eyes widened very slightly, and she tensed. She had to force herself to return her attention to the slave she was treating and complete applying the salve to knit the wound.

Roquan raised an eyebrow. "You are not serious."

"It is quite unfortunately the truth, yes."

"But clearly in this case, it is obvious that this is not true."

"Realize, your Lordship, that you are asking a largely uneducated peasantry to accept some sophisticated ideas."

Roquan sighed. "Perhaps if an Overlord explained it to them, they would accept it. They are supposed to respect the words of the Overlords to whom their lands are bound."

"It is possible, yes. But there is another issue. Each of the girls was also given a Draught of Infertility. That causes a permanent change that cannot be reversed to my knowledge. Peasant women are valued for their fertility. They are expected to marry and bear children by the time they leave their teen years. A woman that is effectively barren will be an outcast."

"That is barbaric."

"Nevertheless, your Lordship, it is reality."

"Then this shall be explained to them as well."

"I am afraid it will fall on deaf ears. It is too firmly ingrained in the thinking of the peasantry."

"Hellfire, Vanlo, we cannot leave them as slaves!" Roquan declared. "It is against everything the Overlords hold dear. It is immoral in the extreme."

"I understand, but I am duty bound to inform you of the risks of anything that I might do."

"But you are telling me that I have no correct decision. No matter what option I choose, it will cause a problem."

Vanlo nodded sagely. "This is unfortunate, but it is hardly your fault."

"Yes, but it is up to me to fix it. I do not have a decision for you now, I must think this through."

"Of course, your Lordship. I am sure they will be safe with Sirinna until then."

"Please inform me if you obtain any further insights as well," said Roquan. "I will be in my quarters."

The Overlord left.

Vanlo took a deep breath and let it go slowly. He turned in time to see Amanda smile to her patient and send her on her way. He waited until the slave had left before approaching Amanda.

Amanda looked up. "Yes, Master?"

"I trust you heard the conversation just now?"

Amanda paused and nodded.

"Do you have an opinion on what his Lordship should do?"

Amanda took a few moments to put away the supplies she had used. "I don't know what would be best, Master, not after hearing that."

Vanlo nodded. "It is unfortunate the peasantry have such backward beliefs."

"We're a little more enlightened than that back in my homeworld," Amanda said with just a bit of loftiness in her voice.

"Such enlightenment exists in professional circles," said Vanlo. "For the most part."

"Sort of," Amanda said in a lower voice.

Vanlo smiled. "Would that I could cure the foibles of this world with a potion or a salve. Or at least make it easier for his Lordship to decide."

Amanda nodded in agreement. She did not envy Roquan the decision he had to make. This was one time where she hoped he would not seek any advice from her.

"So what was it you were working on while I was speaking with his Lordship?"

"Oh, a slave had a cut in her hand from a stalk of sawblade grass," Amanda replied. "She apparently didn't listen when she was told she needed to wear the gloves when she trimmed it."

"Hmm, yes, they get so used to being naked they sometimes neglect such things. Was it bad?"

"It looked worse than it was. It was a long cut and it hurt, but it wasn't deep at all. But she was freaking out a little at all the blood."

Vanlo smiled gently at that particular euphemism "freaking out." He was actually taking a liking to it. "Did you use Lanno's salve, the one that retards scarring?"

"Yes, Master." She looked around. "Come to think of it, Master, where is Lanno?"

"Ah, well, he is ... tending to Evella."

"Tending to her? Is she all right?"

"Yes, quite. She is simply still suffering from the sex drive enhancement. Lanno is ... assisting her with that."

Amanda's eyes widened. "Master, is that ... well, I mean ... isn't it too soon after ...?"

"I was dubious as well, but Evella appeared in her right mind, and I did not have a clear medical reason to tell her no. I trust Lanno will act with appropriate restraint."

"Um ... of course, Master."

"If you will excuse me, Amanda, I need to get back to my apparatus. I wish to start a new batch of the counter-Draught in case his Lordship decides to apply them to Freya's Narlassi slaves."

Amanda nodded absently as Vanlo exited.

Something was bothering her. She told herself that it was the same as Vanlo's concern, that Lanno was taking things too fast. But she felt it on a more emotional level as well, as if she were upset simply over the fact that he was having sex with her at all.

She shook her head. No, that could not be it. She was not jealous of him. They didn't have more than a casual relationship between them. There was nothing to feel jealous about. Nevertheless, as she returned to her work, she kept glancing towards the entrance, hoping to see Lanno return soon. Alone.

Evella finally allowed herself to make some sort of sound, just a low, soft moan and a gentle pant. Her hands had finally stopped trembling, and now they gripped Lanno's hips with increased confidence. The tension in her body eased, and her legs fell further apart.

And now that she was relaxed and accepted him, she was bemused to find that it was Lanno himself that was still trembling. It did not slow him down. His manhood rocked gently into her, each long stroke gliding into her sex like oil, sending her pleasure rising steadily and slowly. Almost too slowly.

She could not help but smile at him. The tension seemed to leave Lanno as well, as if he were waiting for this moment. Not even his very first attempt at sex had made him this nervous.

Evella had submitted to him. She still felt a nagging guilt, that she was still acting as a slave, like a slut with wanton disregard for decorum or her own feelings. There was also anger at Freya. If it had not been for her, she would never have thought of letting Lanno bed her. She had to tell herself again that Lanno did care for her feelings. The fact that he was being so easy on her was proof. Neverthless, part of her rebelled, and she closed her eyes tightly to try to push it out of her mind.

Lanno saw her reaction and misinterpreted. He suddenly slowed.

"No!" Evella cried softly. She pulled at his hips. "Keep going ... in fact ... I-I want it a little faster."

Lanno hesitated, as if unsure she were serious. Finally, he repositioned himself, drawing himself a bit more forward, and began thrusting in greater earnest.

Evella let out a moan and tried to lose herself in the moment. Her fingers curled, and her hands pressed more firmly into his hips. She started rocking her own body in time to his without realizing it. Lanno responded in kind, quickening the pace again. Evella was panting hard, final flickers of doubt flitting through her head.

Why am I doing this? Why did I let him do this? Why did he agree? He should have pushed harder and made me do this myself. He should ... he ...

Her thoughts dissolved in the rising tide of pleasure as she soared upwards and crested hard. Evella arched he back as she let out a loud cry, her orgasm sweeping over her. Lanno pumped frantically and let out a loud groan. He shuddered as she felt him pulsing inside her tunnel. It seemed surreal to her, a vivid waking dream.

And then it was over. Panting hard, Lanno withdrew from her. Evella let out one last moan and draped the back of one hand across her forehead. What did I just do? was the thought that reverberated through her head. She took a breath and let it go. I did what I wanted to. He did what I told ... no, what I begged him to do. It's all right.

She slowly opened her eyes. Lanno looked down at her. He opened his mouth, but closed it again without a sound.

"You're speechless," Evella finally said, her voice still a little breathy. "That's new for you."

Lanno blinked in surprise, then let out a bark of nervous laughter. "I don't know what to say. This ... this was not quite how I wanted to do this with you."

Evella tilted her head. As far as she could tell, he was being sincere. In fact, he was acting very unlike the Lanno that she knew. If he had acted more like this when I knew him at the Guild, perhaps ... Her smile faded and she shook her head slightly.

"Something the matter?" Lanno asked in concern.

"Um, no, it's fine." She smiled again. "It is, Lanno. You did what I wanted you to do. I'm ... I'm very grateful."

Lanno slowly smiled. "It was really nice." But the next moment, he suddenly gasped and looked at her in horror.

Evella was so jolted by the sudden change that she flinched. "Lanno! Wh-what is it?"

"I can't believe I was so stupid! I didn't even stop to ... I didn't even think that ..."

"What?" Evella demanded with alarmed urgency.

"Birth control, gods damn it! I could have had Vanlo mix up a ..."

Evella lifted her hand and cradled Lanno's cheek. "No no no, shhh, it's okay. Please. Overlord Freya ... gave me the other Draught. The infertility one."

Lanno looked relieved. "Oh thank the gods for ... oh ... wait, I didn't mean it like that ... I ..."

"Stop it. Please. Don't ... ruin the moment by getting upset over this."

"But that Draught is permanent, Evella. It can't be reversed like the other one can."

Evella let out a sigh. "I know. But having children was never really one of my long range plans anyway. It would take too much time away from being a Healer."

She was not actually sure of that. She knew in the short term she did not want to be bogged down with caring for children, but she could not predict what she might think ten years in the future. Yet the alternative was to have Lanno get excessively upset over it.

Evella withdrew her hand. "I think this did it. It satisfied the urge."

"Oh, good. Um ... well ... you're welcome to stay here in my quarters if you want. If you want to stay in bed and get some rest."

Evella clutched at him. "Wait! Don't go just yet, okay?"

Lanno settled back down. "All right. What can I get for you?"

"Just lie with me for a bit. I ... I need some comforting." Evella drew in her breath and let it out as a shaky sigh. Her voice quavered when she spoke again. "I need some reassurance it will be okay, that's all."

Lanno nodded and settled down next to her. Evella tugged at him until he embraced her softly and pulled her body to his.

The great doors to the throne room opened.

Two guards marched inside as soon as the doors were open far enough to admit them. Each held an arm of the prisoner. His feet scraped and shuffled along the floor in a vain attempt to force his battered body to keep pace. His breath was a raspy pant, the metal chain of the shackles on his wrists clanking behind his back.

The former Overlord Gronnus stumbled. The guards yanked him viciously to his feet, causing him to yelp in pain as metal cut into his wrists. His pant became a wheeze as he struggled to breathe against the stabbing pain of a broken rib.

The Emperor watched impassively, his eyes even and cold, his hands resting upon the sides of his throne. The guards took Gronnus to the edge the dais and stopped. Then there was silence, save for the labored breath of the former Overlord. He swayed between the two guards.

"Remove his restraints," said Z'haas in a low voice. "Then stand away."

The guards obeyed. The shackles fell away, and they released his arms. The Overlord teetered and collapsed to the floor, breathing hard into the stone, face contorted in pain. His once fine clothes, bought with the proceeds from the sale of his slaves to Jollis, were ripped and tattered. Wherever skin was exposed, blotchy red-and-purple bruises appeared.

Z'haas waited until the guards had stepped aside. He tilted his head, as if finding the sound of the Overlord's breathing fascinating. "Get up."

Gronnus closed his eyes and groaned, but did little else.

"I said GET UP!" Z'haas bellowed. "Stand before your sovereign and pay your respects, or I will have you killed where you stand!"

Gronnus whimpered and stirred. His teeth clenched, and his body shook against the pain as he first forced himself to his knees, then rose on shaking legs. Several dots of crimson stained the stones where a gash had reopened in his fall.

The Overlord lifted his eyes. They were red and bloodshot. One was ringed with blue-black and was nearly swollen shut. He breathed heavily through his mouth.

Z'haas' face hardened. "Bow."

Gronnus made the attempt, almost biting his tongue to hold back the pain. His legs gave out and he sank to his knees.

The Emperor gave the former Overlord a dispassionate look and gestured towards a guard. The guard surged forward and pulled Gronnus viciously to his feet. "On your feet, you pig," he growled at the prisoner. He stepped back. Gronnus teetered again, but managed to stay on his feet. His was visibly shaking.

Z'haas rose. He folded his hands behind his back and slowly stepped down from the throne. "So tell me, Overlord," said Z'haas in a voice of frightening calm. "Or do I call you that anymore? I suppose without a Manor, without any slaves, without any platinum, I cannot really call you that. So ... what shall I call you?"

Gronnus swallowed, wincing at the pain from his parched throat. His eyes shimmered as the Emperor recited the list of things he no longer had, all the things that had defined not just what he was but who he was.

Z'haas frowned and spoke in a deadly voice. "I asked you a question. I expect an answer."

Gronnus' eyes widened in panic. His mouth worked but no sound came out for a few moments. Finally, in a cracked and weak voice he croaked, "I-I don't know."

"You don't know," Z'haas echoed in a hollow monotone. He gestured to the guard.

The guard stepped forward and rammed his fist into Gronnus' gut. The Overlord doubled over and fell to his knees again. He gave several dry heaves as he struggled to breathe. The gaurds pulled him to his feet despite the horrible ache in his gut and his lungs. His face twisted in agony.

"The correct answer is: whatever I wish to call you," said the Emperor. "You are not an Overlord. You are a liar. You are a thief. You are a traitor. But worse than all that, you are an imbecile."

"I tried!" Gronnus suddenly cried out.

The Emperor raised a single eyebrow. "And just what is it you supposedly tried?"

"I-I-I ... I tried to do what you wanted! I tried to b-bring down Roquan!" He clenched his teeth, his fear turning to anger. "I tried. But that ... that bastard had too many allies. He seduced them with all his talk about ..."

"This isn't about Roquan anymore!" Z'haas screamed into Gronnus' face.

Gronnus fell silent, too frightened to speak.

"You prove my point, you small-minded coward," the Emperor sneered. "You prove your lack of mental faculties right in front of me. I care not for Roquan anymore. You were nothing to me in the wake of your failure. Just a tiny little man with tiny little ambitions in his own tiny little world that no one cared about, not even your own kind!"

Gronnus' eyes glistened, and it was a struggle not to let the tears flow.

"Only one thing matters to me now, Gronnus. But you have seen fit to deny me this."

"P-please ... I told the Commander over and o-over again ... I don't know where he is! I don't know where Jollis went!"

"I could ignore it if you were simply being incompetent again," said Z'haas as if the former Overlord had never spoken. "I could let you be if I thought you were simply mentally impaired. But I will not tolerate being LIED TO!"

Z'haas screamed the last two words barely a few fingerbreadths from Gronnus' face. Gronnus whimpered. "I don't know!" he wailed. "He was supposed to take a Portal back to his h-homeland. Back to the Far West!"

"LIAR! Nothing but lies, lies, and more lies! He is not gone! He would not leave! He has a mission here, and he intends to complete it! He is trying to bring Oceanus to ruin, and you are helping him!"

Tears trickled from the former Overlord's eyes and traced wet, irregular tracks through dirt and dried blood dowm his cheeks. He shook his head, weakly gasping out "no" over and over through a tightening throat.

Z'haas turned to the guards. "Take him to a cell. Get him a potion from the Healer to ease his pain. Then leave him there until twilight. Then you will put the question to him again about Jollis. Break one bone in his body for each time he refuses to answer or claims he does not know."

Gronnus' feet would barely move when the guards pulled him away from the dais and towards the doors. He was beyond words at this point. He simply wailed in despair and fear as he was dragged out of the audience chamber.

Z'haas let out a long sigh, his eyes never wavering or showing the least compassion. He waited until the doors closed, leaving him to solitude. He confidently ascended the dais and sat upon his throne, holding his head high in regal splendor.

Soon he would have what he wanted. He would have the information that he needed. Gronnus would cave in sooner or later. All cowards did when faced with real hardship. And then Z'haas would destroy the foreign menace once and for all. He would be remembered as the savior, as a messiah, for all ages to come, and all of Oceanus will bow down at his feet in gratitude and adulation.

The Emperor's lips curled into a smile.

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