TALES OF GOR - #1
   By Mara
With great appreciation to John Norman for the rich world he created.

     The battle was lost. I stumbled ahead of my pirate captor, prodded on by the point of his sword. With a shove, and a stinging slap on my backside from the flat of the sword, I sprawled into the midst of my fellow prisoners who already knelt on the deck.. The pirate laughed and turned to his Captain. "This one will surely be a first sword when he gets a little size on him. He was nearly the death of me," he said, displaying a cut on his neck that was superficial, but still leaked a thin line of blood.

     The Captain, broad shouldered and swarthy, with a mane of black hair, surveyed my slight form skeptically. "One of my finest swordsman nearly done in by this wisp of a boy?" he asked, arching an eyebrow.

     "Aye. By the Priest-Kings I swear it is true. I'd even wager my share of the spoils that if you faced him with a sword in his hand he'd wipe that smile from your face."

     "That good?" he asked, sounding genuinely impressed. "Well, I'm always looking for recruits, and I could use a cabin boy."

     He looked at me and I looked away. I certainly had no wish to join him and could only hope I didn't end up as an unwilling member of his crew. It wouldn't be the first time a sailor found themselves in that predicament.

     Just then there was a commotion as the Captain of our ship was dragged by two of the pirates to stand before their leader. "He's the last one," a particularly unsavory looking rogue announce. "The ship is secure."

     The Captain stood unsteadily between his captors. There was blood matted in his hair.

     "Captain Flavius I presume," said the pirate Captain. "Let me introduce myself, I'm Captain Haakon."

     "How do you know my name?" Captain Flavius demanded.

     "I'll ask the questions. Where's the Lady Alexina?"

     Surprise showed for a split second on the face of Flavius, then he masked it. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.

     "Come now," Haakon cajoled. "We know she's a passenger on your ship."

     Flavius said nothing.

     Haakon turned to a subordinate. "Search the ship. She couldn't have gotten far."

     I, most probably like Captain Flavius, wondered who had given away the fact that Lady Alexina was a passenger. It was suppose to be a closely guarded secret. I didn't think that the betrayer was among the crew. There were several crewmen missing, but they were most likely dead or badly wounded. It had been a hard fought battle. I was still amazed that I hadn't been killed. When I had been over powered by my much larger opponent, my sword knocked from numb fingers, I had thought that was the end. I had taken one last look at gleaming Thassa, the sea, and closed by eyes. Instead of felling a burning cut of the sword I was taken prisoner. I was surprised. I had neither expected nor asked mercy from a pirate.

     As the pirates searched the ship their Captain paced restlessly. His mood grew blacker as more time passed. I didn't really blame him. His prize was eluding him The Lady Alexina would be a valuable captive. Her father was a very wealthy man and she would bring a high ransom. She was of the caste of merchants or the city of Cos. While the merchants weren't considered one of the high caste, her father still had considerable power and influence. His daughter was being given in companionship to the son of another wealthy merchant family from Atla, a small, but prosperous port city. It would unite their houses. She was traveling to Atla to be joined in what should prove to be a highly profitable, if loveless, companionship.

     It was decided that it would be safest for her to journey incognito. She would be tempting prey if it were known who she was. She had donned simple, inexpensive robes of concealment and had booked passage without so much as a maid in attendance. Unfortunately the plan had gone awry. Someone had talked.

     Nearly half an ahn had passed when a pirate, obviously unhappy with the task, reported to his Captain that the woman had not been found.

     Haakon turned angrily to our ship's Captain. "Where is she?"

     "I," replied Flavius, "was rather occupied that last ahn. How should I know what became of her?"

     They gazed steadily at each other and the pirate Captain seemed to come to a decision.

     "Bring me that crewman," he said, pointing to one of the prisoners. The man was dragged to his feet and brought before him. "Throw him overboard," he ordered.

Flavius's face drained of color, but his mouth set in a stubborn line as they pulled the struggling man to the side of the ship. They obviously intended to carry out their threat.

     "Captain Haakon," I called, my voice hoarse.

     "No! Do not!" hissed Captain Flavius, before being struck to silence.

     "What is it boy?" asked Haakon.

     "I," I said after taking a deep breath, "am the Lady Alexina."

     There was a stunned silence. The pirates stared at me in surprise and disbelief. My fellow prisoners looked grim. They, of course, had known who I must be. Previously they had seen me only heavily veiled, but they were aware there had been no cabin boy this voyage. They seemed honorable, brave men, and I didn't doubt that some of them would have taken my secret into the sea. Now, with my identity known, the pirates victory was complete.

     Then Captain Haakon threw back his head and let go a mighty laugh. His crewmen joined in. It had been a rich joke. The men of Gor are fond of jokes.

     "Bring her to me," he said, when he had at last calmed enough to speak.

     I was pulled to my feet and brought before him. I felt frightened and weak. I leaned heavily on the man who held me. I feared I would faint. I had not been this afraid even as I fought for my life with edged steel. The need for concentration and the excitement had pushed fear from my mind. I knew myself to be good with a blade. It had started when I was a child and my twin brother had begun receiving instructions in sword play. He would show me what he had learned and it was soon discovered I had a talent for it. Although I lacked strength and reach, I had speed and a certain cunning. My three older brothers found me to be a challenging opponent. I doubted if they ever told their friends, but we sparred frequently.

     Now, as I stood before the pirate, I knew there was no escape. I was only a woman, barefoot and face stripped, at the mercy of brutal men.

     I could not help but gasp as the point of his still bloody sword lifted my chin. I was unable to meet his gaze. He used his sword to pull my cap from my head and my long hair spilled out. With the blade at the side of my cheek he turned my head one way then another, inspecting me. What happened next I had both dreaded and expected. It would have doubtlessly been the fate of any woman who found herself a captive on Gor. The point of his sword went to the collar of my tunic and the razor sharp steel easily parted the fabric. A pull by one of the pirates tore the tunic completely from me. I stood before them naked except for a strip of cloth I had wound about my breast to hide my womanly form as best I could. I am slender of build and the cloth, along with the unexpectedness of my disguise and the loose fit of the tunic, had been sufficient to conceal my sex from a casual look.

     A movement of the sword untucked the cloth and it fell at my feet.

     Haakon was shaking his head and grinning. He was still finding amusement at the unexpected turn of events. "Torm," he called, and the man I had wounded came forward. "Chain her in my cabin."

     "Aye Captain," the man said, matching his grin.

     My knees gave way just as he reached me and I would have fallen to the deck except for his hands upon me. Seeing that I could not walk, the man threw me lightly over his shoulder.

     "And Torm," said the Captain, "Be sure to keep any swords out of her reach."

     The men again rocked with laughter.

Torm, sounding more amused than angry, addressed the throng. "If any here feel my skills are lacking we can contest the matter."

across the gang plank to the other ship. I was taken across the deck and through a door into the Captain's cabin. I felt numb and limp as he slid me from his shoulder and laid me on the floor. I felt the clasp of metal about my ankle.

     Torm leaned over me and gave my head a friendly shake. "You made a convincing boy," he said, "but I like you better as a woman. Perhaps the Captain will give me your use."

     Unable to help myself a groan escaped me.

     Torm laughed at my discomfort and left the cabin.

     I laid for awhile in a daze. Overcome by the events of the day. When I at last began to take notice of my surroundings, I realized I was in a well appointed cabin. I sat up and ran my fingers through the fur that carpeted the floor. The chain on my ankle ran to the foot of a couch that was plied high with pillows and sleeping furs. There was a table bolted to the floor and rich hangings on the walls. I inspected the chain on my ankle. There was no slipping it. Even if I could, where would I go? I was on a ship in the middle of the sea. By the commotion on deck I knew they made ready to sail. A shiver ran through me. Captain Haakon would soon return to his cabin and claim his prize. I wondered at the fate of Captain Flavius and his crew.

     Some time passed and I was sure we were under way. Still The Captain did not return to his cabin. Perhaps the duties of the ship kept him occupied. Incredibly, I slept. The fur on the floor was soft and inviting and I was emotionally and physically exhausted.

     I awoke at the sound of the door opening. The light was fading and my sleep drugged mind took a moment to register where I was. When I recognized the tall, powerful figure of Captain Haakon, panic seized me. I irrationally scramble to my feet and backed to the wall away from him. The wall and my chain would allow me no further retreat. I realized the picture I presented, a trembling creature cowering away from it's captor, but I was to frightened to have any pride.

     "I . . . I will bring a high ransom," I stammered, barely above a whisper.

     "Of course," he said, smiling, showing white, straight teeth.

     That smile frightened me more than anything he could have said.

     After lighting a lamp he removed a slave whip from it's peg on the wall and strode forward.

     Terribly afraid, I slipped to my knees before him. It was a submissive gesture that I hoped would at least somewhat placate him. I had dared much, and I did not wish for him to think me a defiant prisoner in need of the whip. Even with my sheltered life I had seen slaves being beaten in the market place and knew the effectiveness of the whip. I did not want to feel it. I feared I would be beaten no matter what. From over heard conversations of my brothers I knew it was a custom of Cos, and many other cities, for a man to beat a newly acquired slave. It was thought best if the woman clearly understood her position from the beginning. Although I was legally a free woman, I doubted that would matter much to a pirate.

     I crossed my wrist beneath me and put my head to the floor. Kneeling to the whip as I had seen slaves do. Better to submit to a light beating than to anger him and be severely beaten.

     I knelt that way for several ehn with him standing before me. As no blow fell my trembling became evident and a moan escaped me. I wished he would get it over with.

     "Look up," he said at last.

     I straightened and he crouched before me, fastening a hand beneath my chin. He forced my head back, applying just enough pressure so that it was clear what he could do if he wished. My breath was coming short and fast. For the second time that day I felt as if I would faint.

     "I do not wish to be inconvenienced with the demands of keeping a free woman," he said. "Particularly the spoiled brat of a rich merchant. Therefore, while my prisoner, you will behave toward free men as a female slave. Do you understand?" He asked, looking into my eyes.

     "Yes master," I said, my voice a hoarse whisper. The title master came more easily to my lips than I would have thought. With him looming before me and his lean, strong fingers at my throat, it seemed natural to call him master.

     He stood up, releasing my throat. "You are obviously and intelligent and cunning woman," he mused. "Do not forget who is master."

     "No master," I said through dry lips.

     To my relief he turned and replaced the slave whip on the wall. From a rack he took a bottle of wine. Uncorking the bottle he poured a goblet half full then diluted it with water from a pitcher.

     He came to me with the goblet and cradled me back in his free arm. I was stiff with fear, but as he brought the goblet to my lips I realized how thirsty I was. I'd had nothing to drink since before the pirates attacked.

     Haakon forced me to drink slowly, but seeing my need he allowed me to drink it all.

     When I was finished he poured and undiluted draught for himself. He sat on the couch and sipped it slowly, watching me.

     I began to feel the affects of the wine and was less tense. Haakon clearly wanted my ransom. I did not think I would be killed or seriously injured. His speech and manner seemed unusually refined for a pirate, and so far he had not truly laid a harsh hand upon me. Even so, I could hardly guess at the strength of such a man, and I could still picture his bloody sword and remember that he'd been willing to throw helpless men overboard to obtain his goals. I was disinclined to test his leniency.

     "So obviously a woman," he reflected, after drinking some of his wine. "It's hard to believe we were fooled."

     "One sees what one expects to see," I said with a shrug.

     "That is surely the truth," laughed Haakon. "The supposedly gently raised Alexina wearing men's garb and wounding my first mate in a sword fight was highly unexpected. Where did you learn the sword?" he asked.

     "My brothers," I said simply.

     "They taught you well for you to have faced Torm and lived. Few can claim as much."

     "I had little choice," I explained. "I was cornered."

     "Ah," he said. Both warriors and hunters knew to be wary of cornered prey. Then he beckoned me to approach and my original terror of him returned. Feeling unsteady, and not daring to rise to my feet, I crawled to him. He reached down and pulled me onto his lap. Haakon put a hand in my hair, not cruelly but firmly, and pulled back my head. His mouth came to mine in a surprisingly gentle kiss. I felt his tongue enter my mouth. I had never had a man do that before and I tried to pull back, but his hands held me fixed in place. When I stopped resisting, the futility of it clear to me, I again felt his tongue slip between my teeth. The arrogance and possessiveness of the gesture showed to me, as never before, my helplessness. He laid me back, his mouth still clinging closely, onto the rich softness of his couch. His mouth left mine just long enough for him to remove his heavy sandals and pull his tunic over his head. I turned my head from my first sight of a man's body. Again he joined me on the couch, his mouth finding mine and his hands caressing my neck and hair. He kept all his caresses above my shoulders and soon the rest of my body began to feel an unfamiliar ache, a longing for what I did not know. When I whimpered and tried to press my body to his he laughed and held me from him Finally, when I could stand it no longer and again sought to press my body to his he allowed me to do so and his hands began to freely caress me.

     I could not believe my sensations. When he at last positioned me beneath him and slowly entered me I wanted him so badly that I barely felt the pain of my first use. After throughly satisfying himself he rolled from me and was soon asleep. I was grateful to him. I had expected to be brutally attacked, but he had not done so. Although he had taken full advantage of my helplessness, he had not been cruel in his pleasures. He did not even spurn me from his couch, forcing me to sleep at it's foot as one might a slave.

     Sleep did not come so easily for me. I laid there wide eyed, trying to sort out my feelings. The events of the day had changed me. I was no longer the naive girl meekly doing her families bidding. I had found strengths in myself that I did not realize I possessed. I had fought men with steel, I had shared the couch of a pirate. I did not think I could now be content with the sheltered life of a companion to some rich merchant. Even if the man still wanted me for a companion after I had been in the hands of pirate, I did not think I could be happy with that existence. I began to consider things I had not dared to think before. There were places on Gor where women lived in true freedom, unfettered by robes of concealment or customs. One such place was the northern forest where women known as panther girls lived by hunting, outlawry, and trading the skins of animals. It was something I would have to think about. For now survival was the important thing. I didn't doubt that my family would ransom me, but it could be months before it was arranged. Until then I would live only on the sufferance of men not known for their patience with women. Gazing at the beast of a man that slept beside me I smiled. I was confident of my ability to please him, or any to whom he might give me. Such a thought would have scandalized me less than a day before. The smile still on my lips I closed my eyes and was soon asleep.

Mara
marascribe@hotmail.com