Vanlo leaned back in his chair with a small sigh. He put down his quill and cradled his writing hand in his other and rubbed his wrist with his bony fingers.

His eyes shifted between the two documents before him. On the left was the yellowed parchment that bore Roquan's formula for the Draught. On the right was a parchment filled with a tired scrawl that was readable only to him.

He was annoyed with himself. He had hoped to make far more progress than this.

In the absence of the ingredients he needed, he was jotting down the approaches he wished to try and the precise mixing that would be needed for each. He looked towards his apparatus, now empty and pristine, with a forlorn gaze.

He shook out his writing hand and picked up the quill again, but dropped it when his wrist twinged again.

Vanlo frowned and glanced behind him suddenly. He rose to his feet and headed to the door. "Lanno!"

Lanno looked up from where he was finishing with a patient. "One moment."

Vanlo nodded once curtly. Amanda looked up from where she was doling out doses of Kaylaxxa into vials. For once he did not look back and offer her a smile as he usually did.

The slave to which Lanno was tending slid off the table and smiled. Lanno grinned lasciviously and gave her a playful slap on the rear as she departed. The slave giggled as she sauntered out.

Lanno smiled once more in her wake before turning to Vanlo. "Yes, what may I ...?"

"What were you doing with that slave, Lanno?" Vanlo demanded.

Lanno hesitated. "Treating a very minor skin irritation. Why?"

"Did you need to use any special equipment that you were moving about the treatment area?"

"No, of course not. She just needed a salve, that's all."

"I distinctly heard an odd noise just now."

Lanno looked perplexed. "I didn't hear anything."

"I didn't either, Master Vanlo," said Amanda.

Vanlo flinched, as if only seeing Amanda for the first time now. "Oh! My apologies, Amanda, I didn't know you were there."

"Sorry, Master," Amanda said. Her schedule had been changed when Vanlo noted that they were busier in the mornings than the afternoons. Thus Amanda spent the morning in the office and the afternoon in training. Perhaps Vanlo had forgotten.

Except that would have been rather uncharacteristic of him.

"And you are sure you heard nothing?"

Amanda nodded, looking a bit confused herself.

"I am sure that I had heard something."

"Well, it wasn't from in here, Vanlo," said Lanno.

Vanlo did not look convinced, but he nodded once. "Very well. I did want to ask you if you knew when those ingredients would arrive."

Lanno rolled his eyes. "I didn't know the last two times you asked me, and I still don't know."

"It has been nearly a quarter moon since you ordered them."

"I know. But ..."

"You did convey a sense of urgency to them, did you not?"

Amanda corked the vial she was filling and put it aside without taking her eyes from the two of them. She took an empty vial in hand, but then paused as she watched.

"I told them the story we had made up about it being for a head trauma, so yes, I would assume they would be expedient about it."

"I sincerely hope you did, Lanno, for your own sake. I hope the importance of this work was not lost on you."

Lanno frowned. "Now just a moment, Vanlo. I ..."

"There it is again!" Vanlo said, his head whipping around. "Did you hear it?"

Lanno exchanged an awkward glance with Amanda. Both of them looked worried as they turned their gaze back to Vanlo.

Vanlo pause for an awkward moment. "Yes, well ... I suppose the slaves must be working the gardens outside," he said, looking terribly embarrassed despite his attempts not to. "Inform me the moment the ingredients arrive, Lanno."

"Of course," Lanno said in an uncertain voice as Vanlo turned away.

"Lanno?" Amanda said quietly.

"Huh? Oh ... um, yes, what is it?" he said absently as he walked over to her.

"Is Master Vanlo all right? Or is he always that hard on you?"

Lanno smirked. "Well, he is hard on me sometimes, but that's, um, just his way of things."

Amanda glanced dubiously towards the door that Vanlo had occupied. "I just don't remember him being like that since I started working here."

"Well, I guess he just has a lot on his mind."

Amanda looked at him. "You're worried about him, too, aren't you?"

"I never said that."

"You don't have to."

"So you think you can read me that easily, is that it?"

"Yes. I'm a slave. I'm trained to notice these things."

Some of Lanno's amused smile faded. He backed up a half step. His eyes flicked over her body until he caught himself and stopped. "Well, you don't always have to act the slave you know," he muttered.

"Actually, I do, according to Master Roquan."

"I meant around me."

Amanda said nothing.

"You know, you do have the privilege of wearing some clothing, don't you?"

"Well ... yes, I do, if I want to."

"Then why don't you?"

"Because I've grown so used to being naked all the time that it doesn't really matter to me anymore."

Lanno looked upset, and Amanda was mystified as to why.

"All right," Lanno said, casting a stern gaze at her. "If you have to be a slave all the time, then I can order you to put something on, can't I?"

"Well, yes, but why would you want to?"

"Is a slave supposed to ask questions like that?"

Amanda hesitated. Her voice grew a touch cool when she answered. "I guess not. Should I go back to calling you 'Master' now?"

Lanno glared, but it quickly faded. He shook his head. "Look, forget I said anything," he muttered as he turned away.

Amanda put down the vial and stepped up to him. "Have I done something wrong?"

Lanno faced her. "What? No, of course not."

"Then why are you acting so hostile towards me?"

Lanno snorted and shrugged. "Maybe I decided to treat you like a 'proper' slave again."

Amanda thought on this for a moment, then shook her head. "No, that's not it."

"So you can read my mind now, is that it?"

"You said you had trouble seeing me as a slave anymore. You're not really acting like you were when you did think of me as just another slave. You're just being ... unfriendly."

Lanno sighed. "Okay, fine. I still don't see you as a slave anymore. Not really."

Amanda considered his words. "Not really?"

Lanno ran a hand through his hair. "Amanda, it's hard not to think about you as if you were a proper slave. Not ... not when you go around here naked all the time."

Amanda nodded in understanding. "You mean you can't think of me like a slave anymore, but you still want to have sex with me."

Lanno looked stunned. "Uh ..."

"So is that it?"

"Well ... yes, I guess so."

Amanda found something inherently amusing about all of this. She tried not to show it, but the corners of her mouth twitched when she spoke again. "Master Roquan says I am still a slave and will always be a slave. That's just how things are. So you can order me to have sex with you."

Lanno made a face. "I thought that was the last thing you wanted me to do."

Amanda thought she might explain to him how she had come to view him in a different light over the past quarter moon. Ever since he stopped treating her as a thing and started dealing with her as a person, he seemed different from the boorish man that she remembered.

But then again, it was more fun to keep him guessing. As much as she was coming to forgive him, part of her still wanted a bit of revenge. This was a harmless way to accomplish it.

She was still a little wary. She was still worried he might do the same thing if given the chance. But she was not having sex with men as much as she had been, and she missed that. Roquan did not bed her every night.

She had to tell herself that it was not an addiction. She simply enjoyed the act of sex.

"Maybe it doesn't matter," she said.

Lanno frowned. "I don't follow you."

"I'm a slave. I do what I'm told."

"But ... would you want to have sex with me?"

"If you tell me to."

"Oh, that is not what I meant!"

Amanda couldn't hold back anymore. She grinned and let out a giggle.

Lanno glared, then chuckled. "Now you're being a naughty slave."

Amanda simply smiled.

"Look ... if I did tell you to do it ... I won't do what I did before, all right?"

"Only of that's what you want, Master."

Lanno threw up his hands. "Argh!"

Amanda laughed. "All right."

"Huh? All right? You'll do it?"

"I'm a slave. You tell me to do it. I thought you understood that."

"Oh stop it!" Lanno snapped, but he was smiling as well. "All right, then. My quarters at dusk."

Amanda nodded. "Yes, Master."

"Now ... get back to work."

Amanda giggled again and headed back to the counter. Lanno smiled and turned away.

Amanda could not believe she had done that. That had made her feel more empowered than she had ever felt even back on Earth. At last she was finding something new to enjoy in her life again.

But she also needed to do this. In a strange way it would bring closure to the earlier incident with Lanno. It would allow her to reassert control in the same situation where she previously had felt completely powerless. She couldn't imagine a more fitting end.

Vanlo's midday constitutional, something he started many years ago in lieu of having a meal at that time of day, was usually a source of solace for the old Healer. This was especially true in his sunset years, as it helped keep his creaking joints and tired muscles from stiffening too badly.

Yet that day it was only another worry for him.

It started out well enough. The odd sense of hearing a voice just behind him faded as he strolled towards the southwest corner of the Manor, where Sirinna's quarters lay. He relaxed for the first time in days. It eased his mind, convincing him that he was suffering from nothing more than a bout with stress.

The task the Overlord had given him was indeed a burden. A high honor, no doubt, but it weighed on him just the same. He wondered if perhaps he were finally too old to be doing this anymore. This, he resolved, would have to be his last big project. He would retire and let Lanno run the show.

But that thought troubled him almost as much.

Vanlo had grown to trust Lanno much more than when he had first arrived, but there was still a gap between them. He could trust Lanno with treatments and assistance, but he was unsure the young man was up to the daunting task of administration.

As Vanlo swung around the east side of the Manor and headed back north, the phantom sounds were playing once more at the edge of his perceptions. Surely it was indeed stress. Or an unforeseen side-effect of Jollis' potion.

The old Healer's concern grew into worry as he drew closer to the main gates of the Manor. His auditory hallucination grew more prevalent, like insects buzzing by his ears, a constant rising drone.

By the time he passed the fork that led off to a narrow, winding path into a copse of trees, his worry turned to fear as the "sounds" reached a crescendo. Was his sanity slipping away so fast that he could actually feel it?

He stopped just short of the Overlord's quarters. A wave of panic threatened to overtake him, and he had to pause to calm his pounding heart.

Vanlo finally took a few unsteady steps forward and turned down the path leading back to the Healer office. To his relief, the phantom whispers attenuated. Perhaps it had just been a momentary attack. He would still be able to complete his last project if they did not come over him too often. After that, there was no choice. He must retire. He ...

Vanlo abruptly came to a stop once more.

He turned his head, thoughtful. His body slowly followed the turn, and he walked back in the direction he had come. At once, the auditory manifestations surged once more.

He walked back towards the office. They faded.

Back towards the north again. They returned.

"Good heavens ..." Vanlo murmured, and walked as quickly back to the north as his aged body would take him.

He returned to the fork. This time, he turned down the curving path, coming to the clearing ringed by torches that glowed with blue magical fire, and rushed to the large metal doors that led into the round, domed chamber.

Vanlo grasped the handles of both doors, and with a grunt, pulled them open.

At once, golden light washed over him, casting his shadow against even the bright sunlight. Vanlo stared in rapt wonder as he took a trembling step across the threshold.

Directly ahead of him, a golden column of energy pulsed and thrummed, shining outward from a floating crystal web housing a bright, ruby-red gemstone. Great, polished reflectors at either end sent the energy back again upon itself, slowly building the energies of the Overlord's Portal towards full power.

"Oh my," Vanlo murmured, the phantom sounds now an entire, raucous chorus. It was so loud that he had to retreat.

As he took a step back, the phantoms overcame him. His mind grayed, and he stumbled as he lost his balance. Two strong hands grasped his shoulders and prevented a fall.

"Vanlo, are you quite all right?" asked Roquan. "Shall I summon Lanno?"

"Roquan ... no ... " Vanlo said in a weak voice. He gestured towards the Portal device. "Please, just ... get me away from here."

Roquan helped Vanlo out of the building and back up the path. Once they had rejoined the main path, Vanlo waved him off. "That should be far enough, your Lordship. I can handle it now."

The Overlord was reluctant to let go, and left one hand lightly on Vanlo's shoulder. "Were you looking for me, Vanlo? And are you sure you are all right?"

"Quite so, your Lordship," said Vanlo, his voice stronger and brighter.

"I happened to spot you when you first passed my quarters. You did not look at all well."

"I assure you, I am fine. More than fine. It appears I have some good news for you. It seems I may be reacquiring my Portal sense."

Roquan's eyebrows shot up. "Your Portal sense? Are you sure, Vanlo?"

Vanlo explained what had been happening to him, and how he had pieced it together from his walk. "The caveat, however, your Lordship, is that it is nowhere near what it was before. It is rather crude at the moment, and I can only tell when I am near Portal energies, and not from which direction they come. And ... it is a bit disorienting to be near them too closely."

"Yes, but this is a start. Surely this means it will come back in its entirety."

"That I do not know, your Lordship. I have already miscalculated when I first determined that the effects of the merchant's potion were permanent. I must reassess what I know of this formula he used, and how the ingredients interact."

One corner of Roquan's mouth rose. "In your copious spare time, I would imagine."

Vanlo smiled for the first time in a long while. "Hmm, yes, there is that."

"Please, Vanlo, feel free to take time from your main project to deal with this if you need to."

Vanlo was rather touched by the Overlord's offer, once again showing how much Roquan respected him. But he had already made a promise to Amanda, and he felt he had to keep that first. "I will try, your Lordship."

Roquan managed a small smile. "It is good to hear of something upbeat in the trying times we all face."

"Hmm, things are that bad, are they?"

Roquan frowned. "They could be better, let's just say that."

"Is there no movement in the war still?"

Roquan's face darkened. "Lord Duric thinks the Emperor is planning an attack. Finally. Though if it were me, I would have brought the war to Z'haas' doorstep as soon as was expedient rather than wait for the Emperor's first move."

"Perhaps he did not think it expedient, yes?"

Roquan raised an eyebrow. "So are you going to tell me the same thing now?"

"And what would that be, your Lordship?"

"That I ought to leave the soldiering to the soldiers."

"Ah, well, soldiers do tend to be trained for soldiering, all things being equal. One would assume that makes them qualified for the task."

Roquan gave the Healer a stony gaze. Vanlo offered a tiny smile in return.

"Even when you say nothing, you manage to tell me off," said Roquan.

"Well, I must be a man of quite many talents, then."

The Overlord laughed. Vanlo was quite pleased to hear that again as well.

Upon returning from the midday meal, Lanno noticed with some concern that the old Healer was not back yet. Amanda was absent as well, having had to return to Sirinna for training that afternoon.

As he set about his next task of the day, he suddenly glanced about him. He thought someone had called his name. It was only when it happened for a second time that he realized he was being summoned to a Farview. Surprisingly, it was Yarlo G'slan, his old mentor back at the Guild Hall. He had not heard from the man since the first year of his studies.

Lanno eagerly headed into the storeroom. "I accept the summons," he announced.

The image of a wizened, thin man appeared. "Good day to you, Lanno," said the elderly Healer in a raspy voice, a very faint smile on his thin lips.

"Master G'slan! It's an honor to hear from you again," Lanno gushed with a wide smile. "I do hope this call is to congratulate me on my posting."

"Please, Lanno, you're a Master now, no formalities. Call me Yarlo. And yes, I see you have done quite well for yourself. Forgive me for not contacting you sooner."

"Not a problem, Master ... er, Yarlo. I know you're a busy man."

Yarlo smiled weakly. "Not busy, just lazy. I understand you're working under Vanlo G'tort."

"Yes, indeed. I would even go so far as to say I am honored to work with him."

"Good heavens. Is this the same Lanno that bristled at the suggestion that he might want to stay and learn from us old codgers for an extra year before seeking to be certified as a Master?"

Lanno managed a smile. "I guess I've learned a few things while I'm here," he said in a subdued but sincere voice.

"Apparently. I am happy for you in any respect. I fear that my call is not a social one, however."

"Oh? Is something the matter?"

Yarlo folded his hands before him and looked as though searching for words. "You had placed an order for some restricted herbs not too long ago, did you not?"

The question had been asked neutrally, but Lanno was wary of it just the same. "Um, yes, I did. But if you're concerned that I am not experienced enough to handle them, realize that I made this request on behalf of ..."

Yarlo raised a hand and shook his head. "Vanlo's experience is revered at the Hall even if his career choice is not. No one is questioning this."

"Is this the reason we have not yet received the items?"

"In part, yes, but they are on their way now. I personally cleared them for shipment."

"You personally ...?" Lanno trailed off. He was a bit confused by all this, and had a strange feeling that he had done something wrong. "Uh, thank you, I appreciate it. But what's going on, Yarlo? Why was it held up in the first place without informing us?"

A short but uncertain silence followed. "Are you alone, Lanno?"

Lanno nodded quickly.

"Your Overlord has requested more Draught ingredients at roughly the same time," said Yarlo.

Lanno was careful to contain any reaction. Surely they had not figured it out that easily? Did they even know about that effect in the first place?

"Why should this be a concern?" Lanno asked carefully.

"Normally, it is not. But ... apparently, another Overlord has ordered a great deal of Draught ingredients, and her Healer has also ordered ingredients similar to your last order in roughly the same time period."

Lanno paused as the pieces fell into place. "Her Healer? Are you talking of Freya D'yros?"

Yarlo let out a small sigh. "Yes, but that is not something to be spread around. It is not important who is doing it."

"I guess I still don't see the problem."

Yarlo again paused and struggled. "Lanno ... I am not even supposed to be speaking to you about this, or to anyone outside the Healer Elders, but we are concerned what someone might do if they combined the Draught with some of the ingredients being requested. The reason I am contacting you is that I know Vanlo very well. I know he would not do anything to willfully abet in any ... any scheme to augment the Draught ..."

Lanno carefully guarded his reaction, but not very effectively. He was too taken with the idea that someone would wish to augment the Draught any further than it already was.

"Assuming that Roquan was even foolish enough to reveal the formula in the first place ..."

"Wait a moment, Yarlo, just wait a moment," Lanno said sharply, frowning. "Augment the Draught? Is that what you think Freya is doing?"

"It is all very circumstantial, Lanno. We have no proof, only concerns. We admit we do not understand the Draught formula well enough to ..."

"What, you know the formula?"

Yarlo shifted in his seat. "Really, Lanno, who do you think gave the Overlords such a thing in the first place when the current slave trade system was put into place? Of course we know it. Or rather, the Healer Elders have access to a copy of a very basic formulation. We imagine the Overlords have tinkered with it a bit since then."

Lanno's head was spinning. Each time he turned around, some new inconvenient truth was revealed to him that shattered his worldview. "When you mean augment, Yarlo, just what are you talking about?"

"To be honest, Lanno, we are not sure. We know that Freya's Healer is ordering very deep mind-altering herbs. Combined with the Draught, they could seriously alter its basic behavior."

Lanno was relieved that they were not talking about what Vanlo was doing. If all they had was the original formula, they likely had no idea about the side effects, or even the additional ingredient that enhanced sexual arousal. He felt safe now in denial.

"I can assure you, Yarlo, that Vanlo is not involved in any such augmentation of the Draught," Lanno said. "The purpose of those ingredients is what I told you and nothing more. Really, I think he would be insulted to think that the Guild would suspect ..."

Yarlo waved his hands. "You made your point, yes, and I feel bad about bringing it up," he said in a tired voice. "Forgive a bunch of old men set in their ways, Lanno. We see Oceanus marching into hellfire in this civil war, and thus we tend to see conspiracy at every turn. For once there are Elders here that believe Vanlo was right in staying away from the Guild Hall."

Lanno nodded. "So perhaps it is the same with Freya? Perhaps there is nothing to that, either."

"Perhaps you are right in that respect," said Yarlo, though his tone was hesitant. "In any case, I sincerely apologize for disturbing you over this matter."

"Not at all, Yarlo. It was good to see you again."

"Likewise. And, please, keep this conversation quiet. There is no point in alarming anyone."

Lanno nodded, though reluctantly. "Is that all?"

Yarlo shook his head somberly. "Good day to you, Master G'sallan."

"And to you, Master G'slan."

The image faded from sight and was gone.

"And you're sure you want to do this?" asked Sirinna.

Amanda sighed and had to resist rolling her eyes. "You've asked me that like three times now."

"I know, I just remember how upset you were after the last time with Master Lanno."

"I don't think that will happen again, Sirinna."

Sirinna's face expressed only mild concern, a cover for what she was really feeling at that moment. "I can make an excuse for you if you need it ..."

"No, it's fine. I'm all right with this. I want to do it."

"I just don't want to see you hurt, that's all."

Amanda hugged Sirinna. "Really, it's okay. And Master Roquan said I am still a slave and have to act like one."

Sirinna smiled and nodded. "Yes, and you are a very good one, too."

Amanda smiled faintly at the praise. Positive comments about her slave duties did not have as much of an effect on her as they once did. "I'm actually looking forward to this, Sirinna."

This appeared to make Sirinna feel better.

It was a partial truth. Amanda was looking forward to the sex itself, but she was a still a little wary of Lanno. Part of her worried he would indeed revert to the way he had acted before. She was taking a chance in trying to assert herself and set things up more to her own liking.

It reflected a bigger concern that lurked in the shadows of her mind, that she was setting herself up for failure. Roquan was letting her assert herself, but she worried if she would take it too far and hit some sort of ceiling, or come to a line she was not supposed to cross. Or Roquan would decide that this was not a good idea after all and relegate her back to pure slave status.

Amanda was not quite sure yet what she ultimately wanted. She could only see in the short term. She was still struggling with placing herself in this society in a way that would satisfy what was expected of her and her own as yet vague desires.

"All right, then, let me take you to him," Sirinna said with a faint smile, placing a hand lightly on Amanda's shoulder.

Amanda nodded and took position before her Trainer and lover. Sirinna lined up behind her and gave her a small nudge. The two of them walked out of their shared quarters and into the twilight.

The Manor was tinged faintly with the last remnants of orange sunset glow that rimmed the western horizon. The vault of the heavens overhead was deepening indigo, dotted with stars that emerged as night chased away the remaining light.

Amanda tilted her gaze skywards. She wondered how many times she had traversed this path and never bothered to look. She used to stargaze back on Earth in the few times she had the chance. It had been a means of comfort, a way to convince herself that there was something bigger out there beyond her immediate plight.

Here, the sky was likely far more rich than the polluted skies back home. The irony was not lost on her that her life was even more constrained than back on Earth.

She lowered her eyes and tried to put that thought out of her mind. Instead, she thought about Lanno. Both desire and anxiety washed over her. The former made her sex tingle and glisten in the fading light, the latter made her heart pound.

Behind her, Sirinna was so quiet it was as if she were walking alone. Several times Sirinna appeared as if she wished to speak, only to stop herself and occasionally shake her head.

Sirinna did not completely understand the feelings that were coming over her. They were not at all anything she thought she should be feeling. Bringing Amanda to service another for the evening was always a source of joy for her.

Now she reflected on those past times, and those moments when she knew Amanda would have problems with the Master to whom she had been promised. She remembered how anxious Amanda had been about her Presenting to the Overlords at the Conclave.

And Sirinna remembered how her feelings had barely changed in response to Amanda's fears.

She could not understand why she was questioning these things now. She was doing what any Trainer ought to do, and she felt what any slave would feel. It was right, and it was her world. It was the way things were. Yet the odd emotions continued to tug at her thoughts in the present.

They came upon the Healer's quarters. Sirinna placed a hand upon Amanda's shoulder and squeezed it before they both stepped inside.

Sirinna performed the ritual. The smile, the greeting, the plea to treat Amanda well and the hope that she would please him. Then she left.

Sirinna walked away and rejoined the path. Suddenly she stopped and looked back.

Ghosts of the past lingered in her head. She was worried about Amanda now. She was not sure why. Nor did she understand the small twinge of guilt that nagged at her as well.

She head back towards her quarters as some clouds drifted before the stars overhead.

Lanno was at a loss.

He stood with his satiny robe wrapped around his body, staring at Amanda. He had not said a word during the customary protocol from Sirinna. Now that he was alone with Amanda, words eluded him.

Amanda afforded him a tiny smile. Lanno had the wild idea that she had sensed his awkwardness and was enjoying it. Without taking her eyes from his, she lowered herself to her knees and spread them apart. She settled back on her feet, lowered her gaze, and placed her hands palms-up on her thighs.

Lanno looked on as if he had not expected the gesture. Yet his manhood became engorged until it tented the fabric of his robe. He swallowed, feeling as if he had done something inappropriate.

She's a slave, he told himself as forcefully as he could. It's okay to treat her as one.

"Stand up," Lanno said in a firm voice.

Amanda rose. She lifted her eyes to his. There was a touch of sultriness to them. Her gaze flicked down to the bulge in his robe for an instant. Another tiny smile tugged at her lips.

"You are enjoying this, aren't you?" Lanno said in a faintly accusing tone.

"A slave is supposed to enjoy this, Master," Amanda said softly.

"That's not what I meant."

Amanda looked at him quizzically, but she had a fair idea what he had meant.

Lanno seized her hips. Amanda resisted for just a moment. She let her breath go as a quavering, desirous sigh.

She looked back into his eyes, and her heart calmed its thunderous beat. They were dark and lustful, but there was something about his face that softened their intensity.

Amanda's lips parted in wonder. She felt one of his hands leave her hip, but she kept her gaze steady. She drew her breath in sharply when he touched wet flesh, then let it go as a husky sigh as his fingers sank into her warm folds.

Her eyes became half-lidded as his strong fingers massaged her womanhood. Her lips parted further, her breath a soft pant. Her feet slid apart in silent invitation.

Amanda moaned when two fingers eased into her tight passage. His free hand slipped over her rear and gently pushed her further onto his fingers.

"You really do still enjoy this," Lanno said urgently. "Not just because you're acting the part of a slave."

Was he stating a fact, or trying to convince himself? Amanda was not sure which.

"Yes, Master," Amanda breathed, her hips slowly humping against his hand as her eyes closed. "I really do enjoy it ... I like the sex very much ..."

It was the first time Amanda was able to admit it this openly without blushing. She could finally believe it was her saying it, and not the slave that did what she was told.

Lanno believed it as well. It allowed him to push past the fact that she was not a Draughted slave. His let his desire for her consume him. "Remove my robe for me, Amanda."

Amanda shivered at the wanton lust in his voice. Her hands trembled as she undid the sash on his robe. Her breath quickened from sheer anticipation more than from his fingers still tight in her slit. When she parted the folds of his robe and his erect manhood stood proudly from his body, the lust deepened in her own eyes as well.

She pushed the robe from his shoulders. It slid from his body into a heap at his feet. His hands left her sex and rear and grasped her upper arms.

Amanda lifted her gaze to his. He pushed her back and shoved her hard onto the bed. Her eyes never left his. There was no fear, only rising need. His body was tense with desire for her. She submitted, spreading her legs and leaving herself open and helpless.

Lanno was at the gates of her sex and past them in a single swift motion. Amanda let out her breath when he sank into her with a soft squelching noise. A husky sigh passed her lips as he pushed himself into her tight tunnel, filling her so completely that she whimpered.

Lanno's body descended. She moaned as her sensitized nipples pressed into the hard muscle of his chest. She rode the wave of pleasure as his manhood slid hard against her nub.

Amanda closed her eyes and wrapped her legs tightly around him, as if trying to pull him towards her with each descending thrust. She did not concern herself with acting as his slave. She let her pleasure rise uninhibited, until she soared, strained, and crested hard. Her fingers curled and dug into his arms.

Lanno's movements became frenzied. His pants were heavy and blew hot against Amanda's ear. The two of them rocked in concert against the bed. Amanda let out several moans, each one rising in pitch as she climbed once more. She tilted her head back, her body again trembling with the need for another release.

It was granted only scant moments before his own. Her body shuddered, her moans rose to a shrill cry, and her tunnel clenched his manhood in the initial throes of climax. Lanno uttered a strained groan, his hips coming down hard as he released. Amanda felt him throbbing inside her, pulsing against the tightness of her passage.

Her own orgasm continued along with it. She clutched at him, grinding her hips against his to put more pressure on her womanhood, making her own orgasm continue with and then past his. Finally but reluctantly she had to relent when a spent Lanno tried to gently pull away. She loosened her hold on him, her legs falling away and her hands sliding from his arms.

Lanno rolled onto his back with a thump that made the bed quake and let out a long sigh.

Amanda closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the warm afterglow of her orgasm. She turned on her side and draped an arm across his chest, snuggling up against him.

Lanno looked nonplussed. "Amanda ..."

"That was very nice, Master, thank you," Amanda purred.

"You don't have to be nice to me."

"I enjoyed it."

Lanno paused. "You did?"

"Yes, very much."

Lanno put an arm tentatively around her. "But ... I thought you didn't want it rough."

"I didn't want to be hurt, Master. There's a difference."

After an initial hesitation, his arm tightened around her. She closed her eyes and snuggled closer to him. He was still a bit mystified over what exactly had happened and Amanda's reaction to it.

Things had not gone quite as planned. He had intended to be a lot more gentle with her, to force himself more into the role of someone courting a Narlassi woman for intimacy. Instead, he had fallen back into the Master role and did not want to leave it.

Yet this time she was all right with it.

It finally dawned on him what Amanda had meant. She had not been hurt physically by their previous tryst, she had been hurt emotionally.

Lanno wanted to slap himself in the face for being so dense. Now he had a glimmer of understanding about Amanda's concerns for other slaves. Now he understood better the implications of how the Draught worked, not just the unwanted side-effect but the desired ones as well. Now he could not help but think about what other slaves must feel in similar situations had they been allowed to feel.

Lanno was not sure he wanted to examine the implications of such a thing much more closely than that, for his own sanity's sake if nothing else.

The Portal opened in a swirling cavalcade of light, a tunnel opening into the distance. A shadow raced forward with impossible speed until it resolved itself into the shape of a man that stepped resolutely across the threshold back into realspace.

He did not appear quite as the Overlord had expected. Most Urisi Roquan had met were lean and mustached, a very common fashion among aristocrats. Instead, this fellow was a shade heavyset, devoid of any hair beneath his nose save for a small beard. Thick sideburns curved along a sharp jawline. Both were black peppered with gray, as was the crop of neatly groomed thick hair upon his head. A high forehead was dappled with small discolorations.

The man folded his hands behind his back. The Portal entrance imploded with a resounding boom that made Roquan's ears ring and the walls of the chamber tremble. The visitor seemed unperturbed, and gave the Overlord an imperious look.

Roquan stepped forward. "You honor me and all the Overlords of Oceanus with your visit, Ambassador," he said in formal greeting, bowing his head once.

Lord Ambassador Norlan dipped his head as well. When he spoke, his voice was nearly as deep and resonating as Roquan's. Despite the lofty nature of his manner, he offered what appeared to be a genuine smile. "It is an honor to be here, Overlord Roquan. A direct meeting between the Oceanus Overlords and the Urisi has been long overdue."

Roquan had been told to note not only what Norlan said, but how he said it. Doran had called him a "master of the spoken word," which was high praise indeed from that man. He was also told to be mindful of his own words, as this Ambassador was very much attuned to detail.

"I hope we can come to an equitable arrangement," said Roquan, hoping that this indicated that he intended to get to business quickly. And he hoped the next words he spoke would set the tone for certain items. "It is important that both sides be satisfied with any agreement that we may decide upon."

Norlan's face was unreadable. "Indeed. We have been at an impasse for too long. It will be important that flexibility be maintained in the negotiations, so that both of us will attain the maximum benefit."

Roquan interpreted that to mean he was going to meet resistance if he insisted on all his conditions. He was not looking forward to this. "If I may, I would like to show you to your quarters."

Norlan nodded once.

The Overlord led them out of the Portal chamber and into full night. "I offer you full access to my slaves during your visit," said Roquan. "You need only ask and I will provide."

"I will indeed avail myself of that, Overlord, as I do wish to see for myself what merchandise you have to offer," Norlan said. "Especially if the good things I have heard about them are true."

Roquan had his first test of diplomacy, quelling any immediate reaction to the comment. He hated the idea of slaves being "merchandise," despite knowing the Urisi treated slaves as a commodity rather than as a service. He would always feel that the Oceanus system was better. Confining ownership of slaves to those that knew how to properly care and train them was better in the long run for both slaves and clients.

"I thank you for the praise," Roquan said. "I am sure I can provide some lucrative new contracts for your nation. I will provide only the best, which should reduce your need to train them further."

They reached the main path, at which point Norlan stopped and turned to face the Overlord. He smiled. "You do not wish us to send any of your slaves to our slavemasters, do you?"

Roquan had not expected so blunt a question. He tried to be as diplomatic as possible. "I mean only that I wish to spare you additional work. You should expect to receive slaves that are fully trained and ready to serve. I would give you nothing less than complete satisfaction in that regard."

"I believe, Overlord, that in order to conduct these negotiations properly, we need to be direct and honest with one another. I know of your reluctance to deal with us and why. It is imperative that we get past this."

Roquan drew himself up, refusing to allow Norlan to capture the initiative from him. "Very well. The easiest way to do so is for you to accept certain conditions on the use of my slaves."

"Ah, but that is the impasse, you see. There is pressure to loosen such restrictions rather than tighten them."

Roquan did not want to spar over this now. "Perhaps that is something we can discuss when we formally open negotiations in the morning."

"It has been my experience that negotiations tend to begin the moment the Ambassador sets foot on foreign soil. Everything that is said, every action taken, even every glance of the eyes is all part of it. Diplomacy, Overlord, is a richly nuanced thing, and is quite more than the sum of its parts."

"Be that as it may, you must realize, Ambassador, that there are certain inviolable tenets of the Oceanus system of slave trade, and I will seek to preserve those."

Norlan folded his hands before him. "In that case, Overlord, I will challenge you to further your thinking a bit."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Treaties of trade are often another form of cultural exchange. It is a chance for each of our peoples to learn from one another. I hope to impress upon you some of the imperatives from our system. This new agreement simply must take into account a bigger world view, a true synthesis of cultures that, in the long run, will bring our nations closer together. Anyone would wish to strive for such a noble goal, Overlord."

Doran had been right. The Ambassador did indeed have a way with words. Roquan saw how one could easily lose sight of the original point and be sidetracked by lofty distractions.

But Roquan feared that any attempt by him to force the conversation back to the original track would make him appear too single-minded. "Naturally, I strive for understanding between us. I will be keeping that in mind during our talks, rest assured."

"It is my experience that the best agreements start at the ends and work towards the middle," said Norlan. "Now, that said, I wish to see my quarters and avail myself of your hospitality."

Roquan nodded and continued leading Norlan onward.

The Overlord was concerned. He thought he had understood the art of negotiation after he had concluded the Conclave. Instead, it was clear that he had barely scratched the surface.

He silently cursed Doran and the other Overlords for burdening him with this task. Surely there were others that were much better suited to this than he. Or perhaps this was intentional. Perhaps they intended for the Urisi Ambassador to run rings around him so that he would more easily cave in to the Urisi demands.

Roquan took some solace in the fact that Norlan knew nothing of Amanda, and thus she could be safely excluded from any deal he might propose.

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