Sharon Green - The Will of the Gods

“You are truly to be congratulated, Ramsarn,” said Nobain, as he delved deep within a furiously thrashing Ilvin. “This one has great spirit, so great that a man is challenged to tame her. Think you shall find it possible to master her?”

Bared teeth flashed briefly in the face of the male Ramsarn, the single forward step he had taken halted by the hand of Gengan upon his shoulder. Still were the males unwilling to face those who were gray-clad, even in the face of the laughter to be heard from Nobain.

“One such as she must be taught a proper fear of men,” said Nobain withdrawing from Ilvin and handing the leather sack to another. “Such teaching brings great amusement to one who does not himself fear the wench. For what reason have you not yet taught this wench to fear you, Ramsarn?”

“The wench has been mine less than one full fey,” said the male Ramsarn, with a growl. “Should I wish her fear I shall have it, as easily as any other man!”

“The Serene Oneness teaches that we are to seek respect from our wenches, not fear,” said the male Gengan cautiously, perhaps more to Ramsarn than Nobain. “Are we to liken ourselves to the followers of the beast god, those who will have naught save fearful service from their wenches? Are we not far better than they, in that we follow the teachings of one greater than their god?”

“Are we not men as they are, with hungers like theirs which must be fed?” returned Nobain, sharply. “As we follow the true god, who may say that our desires are not his? Does he not know our desires, does he not know our beliefs and needs? Were these desires, beliefs and needs contrary to his wishes, would we have been accepted to raise sword in his name? It is you who follow a false path, man, and we who truly know our god, as he knows us! No true man will have respect from his wench, when he may, instead, have her fear! Should he be able to have her fear.”

Again did the gaze of Nobain fall upon the male Ramsarn, a male who seemed filled with less reason even than other males. With the eyes of the gray-clad male upon him his chin rose high, and sharply clear was the set of his jaw.

“I am able to have the fear of any wench,” said Ramsarn, “even a wench such as that. I shall take her now, and teach her deep fear.”

“She is not yet able to appreciate the lesson,” said Nobain, a victorious glance at Gengan. At Ramsarn’s words Gengan had left his former male’s side, to stand stiffly silent with the others of his males, all stepping back from the male Ramsarn, who had chosen the stand of the gray-clad ones. “When once the salve has thrown her into a frenzy of need,” said Nobain, “her fear will be deep and complete upon realizing that it is you she must look to for relief. Should you be uncertain, the place you must enter her is here.”

Amid the loud, howling laughter of the gray-clad males, Nobain again put a hand to Ilvin, again causing her to throw herself about. Ramsarn, deeply shamed before his men, threw himself forward with hand to hilt, clearly intent upon battle. Deeply flushed was the face of Ramsarn as his sword began to clear his scabbard, foolish, mindless rage blinding his eyes to the doings of Nobain. The second male had drawn at the first rushing steps of the other, and swiftly, before Ramsarn might raise his blade, leaped forward and cut the head from the first male. Deep red blood fountained into the deep red of the end of fey’s light, and Ramsarn’s body fell to Mida’s sweet ground, soon to be one with it.

“The fool should have heeded the wisdom of your words, Gengan, and kept his blade sheathed,” said Nobain, sparing no whit of attention for the other, deeply shocked male. “His unprovoked attack merely ended his life—and left this lovely wench unspoken for. I shall have to see to her myself.”

The gray-clad males chuckled as Nobain wiped the smears from his sword upon the unmoving thigh of he who had been Ramsarn, then sheathed the weapon. Even I, who knew full well the lack of honor to be found among males, could scarcely credit the doings of the leader. Full clear had it been that the male Ramsarn could not have faced Nobain and been victorious; the youngest of my warriors would easily have fared better. No more than slaughter had the action been, Nobain cravenly refusing to face the other male in honest battle even for the brief moment Ramsarn would have stood against him. I gazed upon this male called warrior with hand closed tight about sword hilt, nearly ill with the need to ask his life of Mida, yet was there Ilvin and the Summa to consider. Little pleasure would have come to me, were I given Nobain’s life at the cost of Ilvin’s.

In the moments I frothed in helpless rage, the craven Nobain had returned to Ilvin. Well was one able to see that it was she he had coveted, and for that reason had lured and slain the other male. Rarely did warriors bare blades over a male among the Midanna, for even a male who chose to follow a given warrior was shared among clan sisters when desire arose. Often had Midanna been called barbaric, yet never had I seen so barbaric a thing as two males at sword’s point over a single female. The doing was entirely beyond reason, a thing to curl the lip of any warrior who witnessed it.

At a gesture from Nobain, Ilvin was straightened upon her knees and turned about, so that she might see the remains of the male who had first claimed her. Nobain watched closely as my warrior looked about in great anger, something of a smile turning his lips, and then did he take a single step forward.

“As you can see, wench,” said he, “you have now become mine. Through battle prowess have I won you, and therefore shall you give me whatever pleasure I demand.”

“Battle prowess,” said Ilvin with a snort of disdain. “Ever have I seen greater battle prowess even among our warriors-to-be. Should you wish to prove battle prowess, face me instead—if you dare.”

“You think to escape me by falling to my blade?” asked Nobain, greatly amused. “No, wench, you shall not escape my use, the use you will soon be in dire need of. When that need comes upon you, you will know me for your master; you will beg then, and pray I grant your pleading, yet perhaps I shall not. I may perhaps allow you to bear your need without relief, and only when it has passed put you to my use. You will then, perhaps, speak more respectfully to your master.”

Again did Ilvin make a sound of contempt, yet had Nobain already turned from her to look upon those in colored body cloths. The males stood all in a clump, silent and unmoving as though they, too, had taken the edge of a blade. The touch of Nobain’s gaze seemed to draw their attention yet did they make no effort to speak before him. This he noted with a smile of satisfaction, then gestured to the others of the captive females.

“First use of those wenches is yours, I believe,” said he, full pleased with the silent, fear-filled attention he had from those he so clearly looked down upon. “You will need to spend very few reckid upon them before you are able to take them to your furs, for the salve touches quickly. When once you have finished with them, you will then be responsible for the preparing of the nilno, which my men and I mean to take part of at the end of our-entertainment. Be very sure our provender is not allowed to burn.”

Coarse laughter sounded about the clearing, low yet speaking well of the consternation felt by the hand of males in colored body cloths. Had they wished it, they might have drawn the blades hung at their sides, yet no other choice had they been given save, perhaps, to die. Warriors, in their place, would have chosen the glory of death in battle much the sooner, yet these males had not the stuff of warriors within them. I knew not what use those males might be of in any manner save as the very slaves they emulated, yet was not surprised to learn that they would continue to be allowed the use of their captives. Males have a fondness for slaves, most especially ones which need not be faced before they might be chained.